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How To 'Fix' The Sunday Morning Shows
Commented Dec 29, 2009 at 23:16:40 in Media
“"Now let's hear from the other side." How often have we heard this lead-in from the broadcast media? How much harm does that implicit way of seeing things do our public discourse and our people?
Usual metaphor? A coin. Just two sides. More appropriate metaphor? A single die. Usually it has six sides. In other circumstances it has many more.
Yes, on talk-radio (mostly from the right, but also from the left) and Fox, there will always be just two sides: "our side" and the "bad guys' side." The two-sided, simplistic world view is well represented. What we need is a multi-sided, mature, and civilized perspective.”
Usual metaphor? A coin. Just two sides. More appropriate metaphor? A single die. Usually it has six sides. In other circumstances it has many more.
Yes, on talk-radio (mostly from the right, but also from the left) and Fox, there will always be just two sides: "our side" and the "bad guys' side." The two-sided, simplistic world view is well represented. What we need is a multi-sided, mature, and civilized perspective.”
Motorized Bar Stools, Porn-Loving Cats, And More: The Stupidest Criminals Of 2009 (PHOTOS)
Commented Dec 14, 2009 at 16:10:33 in Comedy
“Considering the history of the Dole company in Hawaii and Central America, it's sadly ironic that the American is using Dole as a weapon.”
White House Thanksgiving Dinner: MENU
Commented Nov 26, 2009 at 17:05:45 in Style
“Has anyone mentioned that the Menu article cites O's favorite as pumpkin pie, while the headline under the image at the top cites it as sweet potato pie?”
greymom replied on Nov 26, 2009 at 18:37:56
“Well, he was raised by white people after all. I'll bet he really likes pineapple pie.”
mssreader replied on Nov 26, 2009 at 17:10:37
“Both are on the menu.”
dwright replied on Nov 26, 2009 at 17:09:30
“well what can you expect from folks that barely graduate high school english”
![Va. Rep. Tom Perriello, On Health Care Vote: 'He Didn't Come To Congress To Get Re-Elected' [UPDATE]](http://images.huffingtonpost.com/gen/118550/thumbs/s-TOM-PERRIELLO-POSSESSES-THE-BALLS-small.jpg)
Va. Rep. Tom Perriello, On Health Care Vote: 'He Didn't Come To Congress To Get Re-Elected' [UPDATE]
Commented Nov 13, 2009 at 20:58:25 in Politics
“A guy who votes for what's morally right rather than for what's politically expedient? This congressman represents an endangered species. He should be protected. If this move reflects the whole of his voting record, I for one will contribute to his reelection campaign!”
putovanja replied on Nov 13, 2009 at 21:24:48
“I'm from sixth congresional district, but I'll contribute for his campaign.”
Newthron replied on Nov 13, 2009 at 21:19:21
“Word up. Like that, feel ya.”
msjimmied replied on Nov 13, 2009 at 21:07:06
“I'm with you!”
Study Paints iPhone Users As Porn-Watching Egomaniacs
Commented Nov 05, 2009 at 14:56:34 in Technology
“Who sponsored this not-really
But in response to your query, my wife (retired educator), my daughter (college professor), my son-in-law (nationally known medical researcher), and I (retired college professor) all use iPhones, and none of us fits the profile.”
But in response to your query, my wife (retired educator), my daughter (college professor), my son-in-law (nationally known medical researcher), and I (retired college professor) all use iPhones, and none of us fits the profile.”
Very Short Skirts: Which Celebs Are They Good For? (PHOTOS, POLL)
Commented Jul 24, 2009 at 17:56:44 in Entertainment
“They all look sad and pathetic. Real women are lilies already (of myriad shades of skin), and don't need expensive "gilding." Indeed, the "gilding" of these hothouse flowers encourages one to look for disguise and misdirection.”
Beer-Drinking Muslim Model, Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno, Sentenced To Public Flogging In Malaysia
Commented Jul 21, 2009 at 18:49:01 in World
“Lots of Muslims drink; so it's not about being Muslim, but about being fundamentalist. Fundamentalist Muslims have a lot in common with fundamentalist evangelical Christians.
Is one allowed to quit being a fundamentalist Muslim and start living in the 21st century? (Christian ex-fundamentalists do this frequently
Is one allowed to quit being a fundamentalist Muslim and start living in the 21st century? (Christian ex-fundamentalists do this frequently
pcplz replied on Jul 21, 2009 at 19:17:24
“I would probably win a lot of money betting on whether or not the same could happen here if we allowed the fundamentalists to come into power. Of course....
Ultra-Orthodox Protest In Israel Over Arrest Of Woman Suspected Of Starving Son
Commented Jul 16, 2009 at 10:52:00 in World
“Domestic terrorism in Israel. Like they don't have enough problems with foreign terrorists.”
O'Reilly Suddenly Distancing Himself From Past Tiller Rhetoric
Commented Jun 03, 2009 at 10:42:14 in Media
“This is like a guy who shouts "Fire!" in a crowded theater. Then, after people die, denies having yelled it. Then, when he sees it on YouTube, insists he was shouting "Flyer!"”
US Holds Journalist Without Charges In Iraq
Commented May 23, 2009 at 20:28:08 in Media
“Say what? We complain because Iran does this to one our journalists? We complain because North Korea did this to two or our journalists? And then we do the very same thing ourselves?
What's the legal, let alone moral, justification for this? And what are the implications for every U.S. journalist, serving anywhere in the world?”
What's the legal, let alone moral, justification for this? And what are the implications for every U.S. journalist, serving anywhere in the world?”
cinesimon replied on May 23, 2009 at 22:21:04
“This story is about an Iraqi Journalist who works for Reuters - so we are doing it to people of other nations - though I'm sure we do also do it to ourselves.”
Ali Soufan Interview: FBI Interrogator Of Zubaydah Breaks Silence, Condemns Torture Tactics
Commented Apr 26, 2009 at 21:21:40 in Politics
“I've had great respect for Michael Isikoff. But this article really bothers me.
First, it wasn't the CIA but "CIA contractors" who were in control? WTF! Our nation's honor and credibility have been trashed by unnamed contractors, hired by unnamed individuals, representing an unnamed organization?!?
That shouldn't be slipped in casually, so that most people wouldn't even catch it. That's BIG!
Second, "The administration, believing it faced an extraordinary threat that justified extreme measures…". To start with, an "administration" can't believe anything. Only individual persons can do that. Furthermore, how can Isikoff possibly know what any particular administrator actually believed? That's an inferential judgment. Judgment should never, ever be presented as fact.
Not that he gives a rat's ass, but I'll never again trust Isikoff's reporting.”
First, it wasn't the CIA but "CIA contractors" who were in control? WTF! Our nation's honor and credibility have been trashed by unnamed contractors, hired by unnamed individuals, representing an unnamed organization?!?
That shouldn't be slipped in casually, so that most people wouldn't even catch it. That's BIG!
Second, "The administration, believing it faced an extraordinary threat that justified extreme measures…". To start with, an "administration" can't believe anything. Only individual persons can do that. Furthermore, how can Isikoff possibly know what any particular administrator actually believed? That's an inferential judgment. Judgment should never, ever be presented as fact.
Not that he gives a rat's ass, but I'll never again trust Isikoff's reporting.”
Frank Rich: The Banality Of Bush White House Evil
Commented Apr 25, 2009 at 23:20:59 in Politics
“Don't have to go for infinite regression, but I do think one more step would be appropriate: Why torture? To justify the invasion of Iraq. OK. But why invade Iraq? Shouldn't that also be part off the picture? We don't hear enough about that.
[BTW, shouldn't Hannah Arendt get a h/t?]”
[BTW, shouldn't Hannah Arendt get a h/t?]”
nurseattorney replied on Apr 26, 2009 at 00:05:04
“I have followed everything this corrupt bunch of war mongers did from the Florida recount until Bush slunk out of DC in January. I've read O'Neil's book, Richard Clarke's books, Ron Suskind, Seymour Hersch, and Jane Mayer.
To this day, I cannot understand WHY Cheney and Rumsfeld, and the rest of the neo-cons really wanted to invade Iraq. Bush would have done anything his advisors told him to do after 9/11, bec. really, everyone knew it was a failure by his administration that allowed it to happen. And more than anything, he wanted to distract public attention from that failing, and get re-elected in '04...and become a two term president, which had eluded his father. So a war SOMEWHERE was likely sold to him as a way to save his reputation and get re-elected. But WHY Iraq? The Project for a New American Century, which was the primary proponent of a new era of AMerican empire building, wanted the US to be the dominant force thruour the MidEast. I've always assumed that was proposed to surround Israel with US influence and protect it from the Arabs. But why did Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld buy into that motivation? I hope we hear that explained some day.”
To this day, I cannot understand WHY Cheney and Rumsfeld, and the rest of the neo-cons really wanted to invade Iraq. Bush would have done anything his advisors told him to do after 9/11, bec. really, everyone knew it was a failure by his administration that allowed it to happen. And more than anything, he wanted to distract public attention from that failing, and get re-elected in '04...and become a two term president, which had eluded his father. So a war SOMEWHERE was likely sold to him as a way to save his reputation and get re-elected. But WHY Iraq? The Project for a New American Century, which was the primary proponent of a new era of AMerican empire building, wanted the US to be the dominant force thruour the MidEast. I've always assumed that was proposed to surround Israel with US influence and protect it from the Arabs. But why did Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld buy into that motivation? I hope we hear that explained some day.”
thirteen13 replied on Apr 25, 2009 at 23:41:03
“Invading Iraq was the beginning of the financial collapse created by the lawlessness of the Chaney/Bush regime. We hear about this financial collapse every day.”
Jordan Honor Killing: Man Confesses To Brutally Stabbing To Death Pregnant Sister
Commented Apr 12, 2009 at 16:48:26 in World
“What does "honor" mean in this context? Seriously. Can one assume it has something to do with religiously motivated obsession with female sexuality?
As I understand the concept, what this guy did is not just the opposite of honorable; it's subhuman. I was especially struck by the comment that he didn't actually know but merely suspected his sister was seeing other men.”
As I understand the concept, what this guy did is not just the opposite of honorable; it's subhuman. I was especially struck by the comment that he didn't actually know but merely suspected his sister was seeing other men.”
Pantless Protesters During Obama's NATO Meeting (SLIDESHOW, NSFW)
Commented Apr 03, 2009 at 16:48:18 in World
“The putz has his face covered but not his tattoo.”
Vegas Mogul Slams Corporate Spending Backlash
Commented Mar 03, 2009 at 22:09:48 in Business
“To start with, can we dump the goofy euphemism "gaming"? It's gambling, folks. *Gambling*. You might like it; you might loathe it. Either way, you ought to be honest in naming it.
And to the billionaire, the point is symbolism. Las Vegas is emblematic of "adult" (not grown-up) diversion: gambling, porn-lite stage shows, legal prostitution, etc. You can't have it both ways, pal. You can't promote the symbolism when it profits you, and then deny it when it hurts you.”
And to the billionaire, the point is symbolism. Las Vegas is emblematic of "adult" (not grown-up) diversion: gambling, porn-lite stage shows, legal prostitution, etc. You can't have it both ways, pal. You can't promote the symbolism when it profits you, and then deny it when it hurts you.”
Big0725 replied on Mar 03, 2009 at 22:43:26
“Just so you'll know in the future, prostitution in NOT legal in Las Vegas nor anywhere else in Clark County NV. Seeing that you found it necessary to remind others about gaming and gambling, I thought you might appreciate the correction.”
Foreclosure Rescue Plan Under Fire From Lawmakers Over Mortgage Adjustments
Commented Mar 01, 2009 at 13:01:17 in Business
“If the persons and institutions that got us into the mess in the first place are against the proposal, then it can't be all bad! And they'd better not be using public tax dollars to lobby against the general public interest.
What specifically do these birds dislike? As a banker I have a house on which I must either reduce principle/interest rate to current market values, maintaining a steady if somewhat reduced source of income; or I must foreclose, sell the property at a big loss, and consequently see the value of every other property I own go down.
If Republicans and Blue Dog Democrats don't like this, then they have a public responsibility to explain why they think it will not be in the interest of home-owning Americans. Not bumber stickers, name-calling, or worn-out cliches. Cogent, documented explanation.”
What specifically do these birds dislike? As a banker I have a house on which I must either reduce principle/interest rate to current market values, maintaining a steady if somewhat reduced source of income; or I must foreclose, sell the property at a big loss, and consequently see the value of every other property I own go down.
If Republicans and Blue Dog Democrats don't like this, then they have a public responsibility to explain why they think it will not be in the interest of home-owning Americans. Not bumber stickers, name-calling, or worn-out cliches. Cogent, documented explanation.”
Pope Keeps Finding Himself In Hot Water: Analysis
Commented Feb 03, 2009 at 20:36:11 in World
“Why does the article not mention as well the promotion of the American bishop who claimed Katrina's destruction of New Orleans and killing of so many people was God's punishment? It matters, because patterns are more important than individual events. (As Jefferson said in the Declaration of Independen
Maybe the guy thinks the Catholic Church will inevitably fragment, and he's trying to solidify its ultra-conservative element. Maybe he really is anti-semite, anti-Muslim, and racist. Or maybe he's just incompetent. He might be infallible when he speaks ex cathedra, but otherwise he's just another guy. And the Peter Principle is just as operative in the Church as in every other institution.”
Maybe the guy thinks the Catholic Church will inevitably fragment, and he's trying to solidify its ultra-conservative element. Maybe he really is anti-semite, anti-Muslim, and racist. Or maybe he's just incompetent. He might be infallible when he speaks ex cathedra, but otherwise he's just another guy. And the Peter Principle is just as operative in the Church as in every other institution.”
FCC Reviewing NBC's Golden Globes Telecast: Complaints About 'Wrestler' Director's Middle Finger
Commented Jan 14, 2009 at 18:21:14 in Media
“Should consistency matter here? It's OK for Dick Cheney to say "F__k you!" to a colleague on the Senate floor, but not for an actor to say the same thing in a fictional show about the senate? It's OK for George W. Bush to give the middle finger (literally, not just figuratively) time after time, but not OK for some TV producer to do it? Ditch the hypocrisy.”
Village Voice Runs Down Dubious Achievements Of The Conservative Blogosphere
Commented Dec 30, 2008 at 19:35:16 in Media
“Maybe McCardle (and others) should follow your example in skimming her own past public utterances before launching into a new one.
Yes, I know. Emerson said that "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds." And Whitman blustered, "Do I contradict myself? Very well, then I contradict myself, I am large, I contain multitudes
But the point is that both guys did at least acknowledge their respective inconsistency and self-contradiction.”
Yes, I know. Emerson said that "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds." And Whitman blustered, "Do I contradict myself? Very well, then I contradict myself, I am large, I contain multitudes
But the point is that both guys did at least acknowledge their respective inconsistency and self-contradiction.”
Who's The World's Worst Banker? (POLL)
Commented Dec 03, 2008 at 16:46:44 in Business
“Thanks for the nudge. Count me (formerly) among the clueless 90%. I'm doing a lot of reading now to catch up.”
Who's The World's Worst Banker? (POLL)
Commented Dec 03, 2008 at 16:40:13 in Business
“Problem is, there might oughta be some subcategories as well as overall "worst in show." How about "most corrupt," for example?”
Scientists: Revolutionary Device Can Harness Ocean Currents To Power The World
Commented Nov 29, 2008 at 19:34:25 in Green
“Whoa! A program designed to find ways to generate clean energy rather than protect and fatten Big Oil? They must have kept a very, very low profile in recent years. Otherwise? Dick Cheney would have shut them down.
This is the sort of project in which our nation should be investing. How many jobs would be created by a significant effort to implement this?”
This is the sort of project in which our nation should be investing. How many jobs would be created by a significant effort to implement this?”
Congressman To Sleep In The Capitol
Commented Nov 22, 2008 at 16:36:00 in Politics
“What's new about congresspersons sleeping in the Capitol? Considering the legislation they've passed, some of them have been developing instant narcolepsy the second they step on the floor. That is *if* they bother to show up.”
Intelligence Report: Al Qaida Cells Throughout Britain Planning Mass Casualty Attacks
Commented Nov 09, 2008 at 20:56:28 in Home
“Question is, if you're aware of it, then why advertise it? This afternoon I was watching a documentary about the effort in California to capture the "Night Stalker," Richard Ramirez. Diane Feinstein, then mayor of San Francisco, revealed in a presser everything the police knew about him. Immediately Ramirez dumped all the incriminating stuff he had off the Golden Gate bridge. So what's the deal? Why would British security reveal such info? A mole? And why would the news media share the info? A "scoop" matters more than the safety of innocent citizens?”
Takae replied on Nov 09, 2008 at 22:41:33
“I'm largely new to Huffington, so I don't know if this report appears here a lot or not, but I can tell you that this kind of reports appear in the British media somewhat regularly. It's for two reasons: a) to inform the public to be on alert whenever in commuter zones, and b) to inform the planners that they're being closely watched. It usually works. It's an old safety routine, started by the antics of the IRA during 1970s.”
Carolab replied on Nov 09, 2008 at 21:55:40
“It's a set up for another false flag.”
AmandaBC replied on Nov 09, 2008 at 21:49:31
“"Question is, if you're aware of it, then why advertise it?"
Maybe the goal is not to warn people about an impeding attack (as if they could do anything about it...) but actually to get them really scared... Sounds like the last eight years in America, doesn't it?”
Maybe the goal is not to warn people about an impeding attack (as if they could do anything about it...) but actually to get them really scared... Sounds like the last eight years in America, doesn't it?”
Iraq's Security Agreement Demands Revealed: No US Attacks On Neighbors
Commented Oct 29, 2008 at 21:17:34 in Politics
“Lots of chaff in this post, but it comes down to the nexus among and weighting of a number of factors: justice, honor, respect, legality, strategy, tactics, ….
For the U.S. to try to profit from bullying and extortion ("dire consequences" if Iraq refuses to kowtow, according to Mullen--whom I used to respect) is myopic in terms both of morality and of reality. Rational Americans are about honest negotiation, not bullying; hope, not despair; compassion, not cruelty; courage, not fear; love, not hate....
Is there a chance that our nation will reclaim its place in the world as a beacon of true, honest democracy? as a beacon of morality? I'm not holding my breath, but I do see a glimmer of hope.”
For the U.S. to try to profit from bullying and extortion ("dire consequences" if Iraq refuses to kowtow, according to Mullen--whom I used to respect) is myopic in terms both of morality and of reality. Rational Americans are about honest negotiation, not bullying; hope, not despair; compassion, not cruelty; courage, not fear; love, not hate....
Is there a chance that our nation will reclaim its place in the world as a beacon of true, honest democracy? as a beacon of morality? I'm not holding my breath, but I do see a glimmer of hope.”
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