Saved comments for April 2019
May. 1st, 2019 12:37 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
neonvincentMy comments on Biblical Anxieties.
I used the cover art for "Justinian's Flea" to illustrate Pandemics and collapse. That was a story I had not known about before I researched it. It's not like the folklore around Ring Around The Rosie, which is better known, even if the nursery rhyme may not actually be inspired by later outbreaks of the bubonic plague in England.
By the way, Happy April Fools Day! Today's silliness is Mike Lee's presentation against the Green New Deal, which Anderson Cooper and Stephen Colbert mocked in turn. Also, beware fake news!
Magic Monday April 1, 2019.
Haha, that's an appropriate image and "honored" occultist for today!
Before I get to my question, I'm giving an answer of sorts. For the past two weeks, at least one reader has asked about the egregores of diseases. What immediately occurred to me both times was Anthraxus, Bubonix, and Typhus from Dungeons and Dragons, three disease daemons from Hades created by E. Gary Gygax. However, I doubt there is enough thought and emotional energy invested in any of them to make them "come alive," despite Anthraxus having its own Wikipedia entry.
Now the question. I recall you responding to one of your readers that invoking King Arthur and Camelot is bound to fail, as failure is baked into the cake. Would the same eventually apply to the Society for Creative Anachronism, as they invoke the ideals of King Arthur's Court?
My comment on Wanker of the Day: Sen. Mike Lee
Happy April Fools Day! When I read the title, I expected it would be about Mike Lee's presentation against the Green New Deal. Fortunately, Anderson Cooper and Stephen Colbert mocked it for you.
My comments on Midweek Cafe and Lounge, Vol. 110.
I promised April Fools drink recipes this week. I begin with Mac & Cheese Shots - Tipsy Bartender.
There's a meme for that.
Here's another disgusting joke drink recipe, Finals Week Bomb - Tipsy Bartender.
Now the most disgusting recipe I've seen so far, Kim Jong-Un Nuclear Bomb Shot - KelseyDarragh - Tipsy Bartender
My comment on SHOCK HORROR! May to talk to Corbyn
The words "SHOCK HORROR!" remind me of Female of the Species by Space.
Given PM May's ineffectiveness, I find the title of the song ironic.
My comments on The Curse of the Thinking Class
"Print money to save the environment" — LOL. On the one hand, if only it were that easy. On the other, don't give the people in charge any ideas. That sounds like a suggestion they would like.
As for what you quoted from our host about "this diseased animus," that reminds me that a lot of people were talking plague and ebola last week, including me. That inspired me to write more about disease this week, both about the 2018-2019 flu season and the measles outbreaks in the U.S. Not the illnesses our host is talking about today or what his readers where talking about last week, but diseases nonetheless.
My wife already did yesterday and, wow, were the results scary! I then looked it up today and they were even worse! Talk about a pathogen that has become the hot newsworthy topic!
My comment on Magic Monday for April 8, 2019.
I mentioned egregores for diseases last week. Wouldn't Ebola-chan qualify?
My comment on A comparison of two measures of media bias.
Attribution for the tip jar
Originally posted as A comparison of two measures of media bias shows readers and viewers respond to both ideology and quality at Crazy Eddie's Motie News.
My comments on Midweek Cafe and Lounge, Vol. 111.
This week, I'm serving German-themed drinks for a German band. I begin with The Hugo - Germany - (International Week) - Tipsy Bartender.
Whew! No, I had nothing in mind. Looking forward to whatever you post.
Cascading Cat Litter.
My choice for the Nobel Peace Prize is Greta Thunberg, who started the Youth Climate Strike. Better her than Assange or even the student activists from Parkland, Florida.
My comment on Could Buttigieg make it?.
"Remember that until Obama, every President had had a family name originating in either the British Isles or the Netherlands."
You forgot one, Dwight David Eisenhower, although I consider it to be the exception that proves the rule. Eisenhower was originally Eisenhauer, which is German. However, the Eisenhauers/Eisenhowers settled first in Pennsylvania before moving to Kansas and became "Pennsylvania Dutch." Despite the name, they're ethnic Germans. However, I could see how that could confuse people into thinking Eisenhower's family came from the Netherlands.
Twitter response thread to lemon's tweet.
"objectively further left then the rest of the Dem primary field"—Let's test that claim with data from Voteview. First, the DW-NOMINATE score and relative placement for @TulsiGabbard: Ideology Score: -0.279. More conservative than 77% of Democrats in the 116th House.
Here's the link to her Voteview page.
https://voteview.com/person/21324/tulsi-gabbard
Next, the announced and considering candidates from the U.S. House of Representatives, beginning with Seth Moulton @sethmoulton: Ideology Score: -0.279. More conservative than 73% of Democrats in the 116th House.
https://voteview.com/person/21525/seth-moulton
Correction: Moulton's DW-NOMINATE score is -0/299, not -0.279.
Continuing on, Eric Swalwell @RepSwalwell: Ideology Score: -0.365. More conservative than 59% of Democrats in the 116th House.
https://voteview.com/person/21306/eric-swalwell
Now Tim Ryan @Timothy_F_Ryan: -0.403. More liberal than 55% of Democrats in the 116th House.
https://voteview.com/person/20343/timothy-j-ryan
In conclusion, @TulsiGabbard is not "objectively further left then the rest of the Dem primary field"—no, she's objectively further right than the rest of the Democratic field. No wonder her "message resonates better with the right."
As for Bernie, the claim that he's "objectively further left then the rest of the Dem primary field" worked better in 2016, when he was the most liberal candidate running for the Democratic nomination. This year, not so much.
The most liberal candidate according to Voteview is Elizabeth Warren @ewarren who is also the most liberal Senator: Ideology Score -0.762, the most liberal member of the 116th Senate.
https://voteview.com/person/41301/elizabeth-warren
Next, Kamala Harris @KamalaHarris: Ideology Score: -0.702, More liberal than 97% of Democrats in the 116th Senate.
https://voteview.com/person/41701/kamala-devi-harris
Next, Cory Booker @CoryBooker: Ideology Score: -0.618, More liberal than 95% of Democrats in the 116th Senate.
https://voteview.com/person/41308/cory-anthony-booker
Now we get to Bernie @SenSanders: Ideology Score: -0.521, More liberal than 96% of the 116th Senate—but not "objectively further left then the rest of the Dem primary field" this cycle when there are 3 candidates to his left.
https://voteview.com/person/29147/bernard-sanders
Just for fun, the rest of the Senators running, beginning with Kirsten Gillibrand @SenGillibrand: -0.42, More liberal than 79% of Democrats in the 116th Senate.
https://voteview.com/person/20735/kirsten-gillibrand
I'll finish the night with Amy Klobuchar @amyklobuchar: -0.25, More conservative than 75% of Democrats in the 116th Senate. Finally, a Democratic candidate more conservative than Tulsi Gabbard!
https://voteview.com/person/40700/amy-klobuchar
"Thanks for the research project. I'm going to read literally none of that, just to piss you off."
Ignorance is bliss. Also, here is another link for you to ignore.
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/02/27/why-facts-dont-change-our-minds
"I'm open to my mind being changed. I'm doing this purely to spite you because of how over-the-top your response was."
My comment on Useful Idiots on Parade.
One shouldn't be surprised by Slate's take on Assange. Ad Fontes' Media Bias Chart rates the publication as hyper-partisan liberal, which means it explicitly expresses its political views, so of course the panel would take a negative view of Assange after his role in the 2016 election. As for the quality of the panel's comments, they're probably not living up to the other dimension of Slate's rating, which is complex analysis and fair interpretations of the news. Well, that's what happens when one rates the text version of the site instead of its podcasts.
Slate probably didn't contest their rating. Wonkette did, saying that the Media Bias Chart confused their satire for propaganda. The writers and editors there in particular protested that they were not to the left of Jacobin and The Intercept (speaking of publications friendly to Assange), and did not make up stuff for the purpose of misinforming their readers, just for their amusement. The Media Bias Chart kept them where they were, even if they did find Wonkette hilarious.
Since no one else seems to have mentioned it yet, "Happy" Tax Day! The political pendulum on tax rates seems to be swinging rapidly, from the lowered tax rates that took effect last year to proposals to raise the top rate dramatically and tax wealth directly. Take your Dramamine; you might get motion sick!
My comments on Wonkette reacts to its Media Bias Chart placement at Booman Tribune.
Attribution for the tip jar.
Modified from Wonkette reacts to its Media Bias Chart placement, an update to 'A comparison of two measures of media bias shows readers and viewers respond to both ideology and quality', originally posted at Crazy Eddie's Motie News.
Wonkette's placement being a case in point. The system used to rate organizations could not distinguish satire from propaganda and did not care that it couldn't. Just the same, I generally find it useful, even if it failed in this specific instance.
My comment on On Biden, Sanders and a Brokered Convention.
"[W]e’re now seeing stories about how they’re wringing their hands trying to figure out how to stop Bernie."
I started to see people trying to "stop Bernie" on CNN, where Erin Burnett and her two guests, one Democrat and one Republican, trashed him. I embedded the video in More candidates releasing tax returns than tax marches this year, it seems at my personal blog, but here it is, along with my commentary on it..
My comments on Midweek Cafe and Lounge, Vol. 112.
I don't recall ever mentioning it here before, but I am a big fan of marching bands and drum and bugle corps, so my contribution to the cover versions of this song will be by two drum corps. Today, I am sharing Crossmen and Genesis from 2016. Both corps are from Texas, although Crossmen used to be from Pennsylvania.
Now the other performance, DCI Cavaliers ENCORE Performance of 'Africa' by Toto from 2018.
That's enough of that. I have a parody of the song in mind for tomorrow.
The bar/cafe is open
Tomorrow is National Amaretto Day, so all of the drinks I will serve while this diary is on the rec list will contain amaretto. I begin with How to make the Amaretto Sunrise - Tipsy Bartender.
My comment on An Empire of Bullshit.
"[T]heir apparent job of speeding up this bus to the cliff’s edge" — I remember where I first read this as the metaphor for our current situation, in "Escape from the Zombie Food Court" at Joe Bageant's blog, which is now defunct along with Joe. I described how our host and Joe had a conversation of sorts through their blogs when I wrote about Joe's death eight years ago. I'm glad to see that image of our predicament still survives.
Speaking of food courts and going over cliffs, the Retail Apocalypse rolls on. Company Man's saga of JCPenney's decline is merely one of many tales of the Retail Apocalypse, the latest being Sears Holdings former CEO "Fast Eddie Lamprey" being sued by Sears unsecured creditors for asset stripping.
My comment on Ominous Tendings in the Nervous Here and Now.
Happy Earth Day! One of the ways the government is trying to keep the oil industry afloat is the EPA relaxing fuel efficiency standards so that Americans burn more oil, exactly what we don't need to do.
Our host mentioned "the burgeoning marijuana industry" as an example of stealth succession from the system. That reminds me that Saturday was the first 4/20 since recreational marijuana became legal in Michigan. Not only is the state adjusting to the change, but at least one member of its Congressional delegation is calling for it to become legal nationwide. I expect she'll eventually get her way.
My comment on SPP Vol.714 & Old Time Froggy Botttom Cafe
You have final exams to grade, too? I can relate. On Facebook, I just posted "Yesterday, I gave both my last lecture and my first final exam of the semester. The end is in sight!"
My comments on Midweek Cafe and Lounge, Vol. 113.
Since you're featuring a Canadian band, I'm going to serve Canadian drinks. For that, I'm leaving Tipsy Bartender behind this week; he doesn't have any Canadian cocktails that I can't find better videos of elsewhere. I begin with How to Make a Caesar Cocktail (Spicy) from Baro Toronto.
My comments on Blowback Is a Harsh Mistress.
Hi, K-Dog! I was happy to see you respond to me on Monday, but I never got around to expressing my appreciation for your comments until now. You wished me, a fellow "green," a happy Earth Day. I return the favor today, wishing you a happy Arbor Day. I also wish to thank you for your invitation to look at your "ball" on your blog. I got to see the dot representing me and all the rest of your readers. Nice to see I'm not alone.
Our host wrote of consequences. One of them is being visited upon Treasury Secretary Mnuchin for his time as a board member of Sears. He and his college roommate "Fast Eddie Lamprey" are being sued by Sears Holdings for stripping assets from the corporation. When I shared that link on Facebook, the image I used prompted several to comment that Mnuchin and his actress wife looked like a pair of Bond villains. Personally, I think they would fit better in Austin Powers.
Speaking of the Treasury Department, smaller tax refunds for many were a consequence of the tax cut passed at the end of 2017. That has not made the tax cut any more popular; Americans like their refunds.
Our host also interjected "they're stuffing little children in cages" into today's essay as an example of a sentimental argument. Sentimental or not, the story that elicited that exclamation earned Jacob Soboroff a Cronkite Award for MSNBC's coverage of family separation at the border. That was a happy consequence, at least for Soboroff and MSNBC. An unhappy consequence of the same story befell Kirstjen Nielsen, who was apparently forced to resign because she wasn't brutal enough in enforcing immigration restrictions for Trump's taste. I could not imagine two more divergent reactions to the same story.
My comment on Tom Petty was Right.
That was an impressive list of avoidances of reality, but it failed to include the actual fantasies on screens, particularly the big silver ones. The superhero fantasy "Avengers: Endgame" had the best opening weekend box office ever with more than $350 million in North America and $1 billion worldwide. While Marvel's superheroes were saving the world, 6,000 stores have already announced they are closing in 2019, more than all of 2018. Welcome to the Retail Apocalypse, where Thanos doesn't have to snap his fingers to make things disappear.
I used the cover art for "Justinian's Flea" to illustrate Pandemics and collapse. That was a story I had not known about before I researched it. It's not like the folklore around Ring Around The Rosie, which is better known, even if the nursery rhyme may not actually be inspired by later outbreaks of the bubonic plague in England.
By the way, Happy April Fools Day! Today's silliness is Mike Lee's presentation against the Green New Deal, which Anderson Cooper and Stephen Colbert mocked in turn. Also, beware fake news!
Magic Monday April 1, 2019.
Haha, that's an appropriate image and "honored" occultist for today!
Before I get to my question, I'm giving an answer of sorts. For the past two weeks, at least one reader has asked about the egregores of diseases. What immediately occurred to me both times was Anthraxus, Bubonix, and Typhus from Dungeons and Dragons, three disease daemons from Hades created by E. Gary Gygax. However, I doubt there is enough thought and emotional energy invested in any of them to make them "come alive," despite Anthraxus having its own Wikipedia entry.
Now the question. I recall you responding to one of your readers that invoking King Arthur and Camelot is bound to fail, as failure is baked into the cake. Would the same eventually apply to the Society for Creative Anachronism, as they invoke the ideals of King Arthur's Court?
My comment on Wanker of the Day: Sen. Mike Lee
Happy April Fools Day! When I read the title, I expected it would be about Mike Lee's presentation against the Green New Deal. Fortunately, Anderson Cooper and Stephen Colbert mocked it for you.
My comments on Midweek Cafe and Lounge, Vol. 110.
I promised April Fools drink recipes this week. I begin with Mac & Cheese Shots - Tipsy Bartender.
Let's get cheesy! This is one of my favorites!I have at least two more equally disgusting recipes to share this week. Stay tuned.
HERE'S THE RECIPE:
MAC & CHEESE SHOT
Vodka
Macaroni
Cheese Powder
Cheese in a Can
PREPARATION
1. Rim edge of glass in spray cheese and cheese powder. Set aside.
2. In a small bottle add macaroni and cheese powder and top with vodka. Shake well to infuse.
3. Pour mixture in shot glass and garnish with spray cheese.
DRINK RESPONSIBLY!
There's a meme for that.
Here's another disgusting joke drink recipe, Finals Week Bomb - Tipsy Bartender.
Cheap beer, Ramen Noodles, Coffee and Liquor, everything from your college days rolled into one shot...THE FINALS WEEK BOMB! There is Ramen Noodle juice in this one. It's a super disgusting shot but Meghan handles it like a champ!I first posted this recipe video to my personal blog as An entire college drinking and eating experience in one glass. Below the video, I wrote "It does look disgusting, but the idea is hilarious. And, no, I'm not ever going to drink this thing. I remember my college days at UCLA well enough not to try this."
Now the most disgusting recipe I've seen so far, Kim Jong-Un Nuclear Bomb Shot - KelseyDarragh - Tipsy Bartender
We invited Kelsey over to try our most difficult shot ever; THE KIM JONG-UN NUCLEAR BOMB SHOT! To make this shot we blended some of McDonalds' most popular menu items; a Big Mac, Fries, Milkshake, BBQ Sauce, Diet Coke and then added vodka. Kelsey Darraugh is a youtuber and a friend of the show. Enjoy!I embedded this recipe in North Korea tests fifth nuclear device. Before the video, I wrote "While I take North Korea's nuclear threat seriously, I don't take 'Kim Young One' himself that seriously, so I'm going to have some fun at his expense with the assistance of Skyy the Tipsy Bartender." After it, I wrote "That thing looks more disgusting than the Finals Week Bomb I featured in An entire college drinking and eating experience in one glass. Yuck! It's certainly what 'Kim Young One' deserves!"
My comment on SHOCK HORROR! May to talk to Corbyn
The words "SHOCK HORROR!" remind me of Female of the Species by Space.
Given PM May's ineffectiveness, I find the title of the song ironic.
My comments on The Curse of the Thinking Class
"Print money to save the environment" — LOL. On the one hand, if only it were that easy. On the other, don't give the people in charge any ideas. That sounds like a suggestion they would like.
As for what you quoted from our host about "this diseased animus," that reminds me that a lot of people were talking plague and ebola last week, including me. That inspired me to write more about disease this week, both about the 2018-2019 flu season and the measles outbreaks in the U.S. Not the illnesses our host is talking about today or what his readers where talking about last week, but diseases nonetheless.
My wife already did yesterday and, wow, were the results scary! I then looked it up today and they were even worse! Talk about a pathogen that has become the hot newsworthy topic!
My comment on Magic Monday for April 8, 2019.
I mentioned egregores for diseases last week. Wouldn't Ebola-chan qualify?
My comment on A comparison of two measures of media bias.
Attribution for the tip jar
Originally posted as A comparison of two measures of media bias shows readers and viewers respond to both ideology and quality at Crazy Eddie's Motie News.
My comments on Midweek Cafe and Lounge, Vol. 111.
This week, I'm serving German-themed drinks for a German band. I begin with The Hugo - Germany - (International Week) - Tipsy Bartender.
It's International Week on Tipsy Bartender and today we are bring you...THE HUGO from GERMANY. A mix of Mint, Lime, Elderberry Liqueur, Prosecco and Soda water.German model Sophia returns for How to make the German Chocolate Cake Martini - Tipsy Bartender.
Sophia loses it as we make this awesome drink....THE GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE MARTINI! Cake vodka, amaretto, and milk give this creamy cocktail a taste close to the real thing, and the addition of chocolate syrup, caramel syrup, and cream of coconut takes it all the way there! We rim the glass with caramel and coconut flakes, giving it an extra decadent and extra sweet taste. This is definitely the best dessert flavored cocktail we've made...it's our new fave!I am celebrating this entry returning to the rec list with How to make a German Chocolate Cake Shot - Tipsy Bartender.
This incredible shot taste like...GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE! And we have our lovely German import, Sophia, here to help! This shot boasts chocolate and coconut flavored liquors to bring the authentic cake taste to every sip. We love it and you will too!Will you be posting a Midweek Cafe and Lounge this week?
Whew! No, I had nothing in mind. Looking forward to whatever you post.
Cascading Cat Litter.
My choice for the Nobel Peace Prize is Greta Thunberg, who started the Youth Climate Strike. Better her than Assange or even the student activists from Parkland, Florida.
My comment on Could Buttigieg make it?.
"Remember that until Obama, every President had had a family name originating in either the British Isles or the Netherlands."
You forgot one, Dwight David Eisenhower, although I consider it to be the exception that proves the rule. Eisenhower was originally Eisenhauer, which is German. However, the Eisenhauers/Eisenhowers settled first in Pennsylvania before moving to Kansas and became "Pennsylvania Dutch." Despite the name, they're ethnic Germans. However, I could see how that could confuse people into thinking Eisenhower's family came from the Netherlands.
Twitter response thread to lemon's tweet.
She struggles in the Dem field but actually performs well across the aisle. It's just like Bernie—despite being objectively further left then the rest of the Dem primary field, their message resonates better with the right. It's not a R vs D battle. It's people vs establishment.
"objectively further left then the rest of the Dem primary field"—Let's test that claim with data from Voteview. First, the DW-NOMINATE score and relative placement for @TulsiGabbard: Ideology Score: -0.279. More conservative than 77% of Democrats in the 116th House.
Here's the link to her Voteview page.
https://voteview.com/person/21324/tulsi-gabbard
Next, the announced and considering candidates from the U.S. House of Representatives, beginning with Seth Moulton @sethmoulton: Ideology Score: -0.279. More conservative than 73% of Democrats in the 116th House.
https://voteview.com/person/21525/seth-moulton
Correction: Moulton's DW-NOMINATE score is -0/299, not -0.279.
Continuing on, Eric Swalwell @RepSwalwell: Ideology Score: -0.365. More conservative than 59% of Democrats in the 116th House.
https://voteview.com/person/21306/eric-swalwell
Now Tim Ryan @Timothy_F_Ryan: -0.403. More liberal than 55% of Democrats in the 116th House.
https://voteview.com/person/20343/timothy-j-ryan
In conclusion, @TulsiGabbard is not "objectively further left then the rest of the Dem primary field"—no, she's objectively further right than the rest of the Democratic field. No wonder her "message resonates better with the right."
As for Bernie, the claim that he's "objectively further left then the rest of the Dem primary field" worked better in 2016, when he was the most liberal candidate running for the Democratic nomination. This year, not so much.
The most liberal candidate according to Voteview is Elizabeth Warren @ewarren who is also the most liberal Senator: Ideology Score -0.762, the most liberal member of the 116th Senate.
https://voteview.com/person/41301/elizabeth-warren
Next, Kamala Harris @KamalaHarris: Ideology Score: -0.702, More liberal than 97% of Democrats in the 116th Senate.
https://voteview.com/person/41701/kamala-devi-harris
Next, Cory Booker @CoryBooker: Ideology Score: -0.618, More liberal than 95% of Democrats in the 116th Senate.
https://voteview.com/person/41308/cory-anthony-booker
Now we get to Bernie @SenSanders: Ideology Score: -0.521, More liberal than 96% of the 116th Senate—but not "objectively further left then the rest of the Dem primary field" this cycle when there are 3 candidates to his left.
https://voteview.com/person/29147/bernard-sanders
Just for fun, the rest of the Senators running, beginning with Kirsten Gillibrand @SenGillibrand: -0.42, More liberal than 79% of Democrats in the 116th Senate.
https://voteview.com/person/20735/kirsten-gillibrand
I'll finish the night with Amy Klobuchar @amyklobuchar: -0.25, More conservative than 75% of Democrats in the 116th Senate. Finally, a Democratic candidate more conservative than Tulsi Gabbard!
https://voteview.com/person/40700/amy-klobuchar
"Thanks for the research project. I'm going to read literally none of that, just to piss you off."
Ignorance is bliss. Also, here is another link for you to ignore.
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/02/27/why-facts-dont-change-our-minds
"I'm open to my mind being changed. I'm doing this purely to spite you because of how over-the-top your response was."
My comment on Useful Idiots on Parade.
One shouldn't be surprised by Slate's take on Assange. Ad Fontes' Media Bias Chart rates the publication as hyper-partisan liberal, which means it explicitly expresses its political views, so of course the panel would take a negative view of Assange after his role in the 2016 election. As for the quality of the panel's comments, they're probably not living up to the other dimension of Slate's rating, which is complex analysis and fair interpretations of the news. Well, that's what happens when one rates the text version of the site instead of its podcasts.
Slate probably didn't contest their rating. Wonkette did, saying that the Media Bias Chart confused their satire for propaganda. The writers and editors there in particular protested that they were not to the left of Jacobin and The Intercept (speaking of publications friendly to Assange), and did not make up stuff for the purpose of misinforming their readers, just for their amusement. The Media Bias Chart kept them where they were, even if they did find Wonkette hilarious.
Since no one else seems to have mentioned it yet, "Happy" Tax Day! The political pendulum on tax rates seems to be swinging rapidly, from the lowered tax rates that took effect last year to proposals to raise the top rate dramatically and tax wealth directly. Take your Dramamine; you might get motion sick!
My comments on Wonkette reacts to its Media Bias Chart placement at Booman Tribune.
Attribution for the tip jar.
Modified from Wonkette reacts to its Media Bias Chart placement, an update to 'A comparison of two measures of media bias shows readers and viewers respond to both ideology and quality', originally posted at Crazy Eddie's Motie News.
Wonkette's placement being a case in point. The system used to rate organizations could not distinguish satire from propaganda and did not care that it couldn't. Just the same, I generally find it useful, even if it failed in this specific instance.
My comment on On Biden, Sanders and a Brokered Convention.
"[W]e’re now seeing stories about how they’re wringing their hands trying to figure out how to stop Bernie."
I started to see people trying to "stop Bernie" on CNN, where Erin Burnett and her two guests, one Democrat and one Republican, trashed him. I embedded the video in More candidates releasing tax returns than tax marches this year, it seems at my personal blog, but here it is, along with my commentary on it..
This video did not discourage Bernie's supporters at all. It merely pissed them off.Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) released a decade of tax returns, providing new insight into how the senator became a millionaire during his two presidential runs.Wow. I wrote "I think they are right to consider CNN biased, but I think it's a personal bias against Trump, not an ideological bias against conservatives" in A comparison of two measures of media bias, the Booman Tribune version of A comparison of two measures of media bias shows readers and viewers respond to both ideology and quality. I think CNN, or at least Erin Burnett, has a non-partisan but personal bias against Sanders, too. Her guests showed that, too, as she had Sanders critics from both left and right, befitting Ad Fontes Media's rating of her show as "Neutral or Balanced Bias."
My comments on Midweek Cafe and Lounge, Vol. 112.
I don't recall ever mentioning it here before, but I am a big fan of marching bands and drum and bugle corps, so my contribution to the cover versions of this song will be by two drum corps. Today, I am sharing Crossmen and Genesis from 2016. Both corps are from Texas, although Crossmen used to be from Pennsylvania.
Now the other performance, DCI Cavaliers ENCORE Performance of 'Africa' by Toto from 2018.
That's enough of that. I have a parody of the song in mind for tomorrow.
The bar/cafe is open
Tomorrow is National Amaretto Day, so all of the drinks I will serve while this diary is on the rec list will contain amaretto. I begin with How to make the Amaretto Sunrise - Tipsy Bartender.
Your girl will love this drink...THE AMARETTO SUNRISE! This is one of the prettiest drinks we've made--it truly looks just like a magical sunset in a glass, with the hue changing from a yellow to orange to red in subtle layers. Plus, it tastes incredible! Amaretto, orange juice, and grenadine give it a nice fruity almond type of flavor that is sweet and smooth. This is one recipe to hang onto--with just three ingredients, it's super easy to make, and yet beautiful and tasty!Today's recipe video is How to make Homemade Amaretto - Tipsy Bartender.
Try out this awesome recipe for...HOMEMADE AMARETTO! Amaretto is such a great liquor and so versatile. You can recreate the same exquisite almond taste as Disaronno with this recipe. This homemade amaretto is sweet and flavorful, and making it yourself is super fun and handy. It's easy and the results are delicious, so whip up a batch and serve it to your partygoers, or just impress your girl or guy with a custom bottle of amaretto!
My comment on An Empire of Bullshit.
"[T]heir apparent job of speeding up this bus to the cliff’s edge" — I remember where I first read this as the metaphor for our current situation, in "Escape from the Zombie Food Court" at Joe Bageant's blog, which is now defunct along with Joe. I described how our host and Joe had a conversation of sorts through their blogs when I wrote about Joe's death eight years ago. I'm glad to see that image of our predicament still survives.
Speaking of food courts and going over cliffs, the Retail Apocalypse rolls on. Company Man's saga of JCPenney's decline is merely one of many tales of the Retail Apocalypse, the latest being Sears Holdings former CEO "Fast Eddie Lamprey" being sued by Sears unsecured creditors for asset stripping.
My comment on Ominous Tendings in the Nervous Here and Now.
Happy Earth Day! One of the ways the government is trying to keep the oil industry afloat is the EPA relaxing fuel efficiency standards so that Americans burn more oil, exactly what we don't need to do.
Our host mentioned "the burgeoning marijuana industry" as an example of stealth succession from the system. That reminds me that Saturday was the first 4/20 since recreational marijuana became legal in Michigan. Not only is the state adjusting to the change, but at least one member of its Congressional delegation is calling for it to become legal nationwide. I expect she'll eventually get her way.
My comment on SPP Vol.714 & Old Time Froggy Botttom Cafe
You have final exams to grade, too? I can relate. On Facebook, I just posted "Yesterday, I gave both my last lecture and my first final exam of the semester. The end is in sight!"
My comments on Midweek Cafe and Lounge, Vol. 113.
Since you're featuring a Canadian band, I'm going to serve Canadian drinks. For that, I'm leaving Tipsy Bartender behind this week; he doesn't have any Canadian cocktails that I can't find better videos of elsewhere. I begin with How to Make a Caesar Cocktail (Spicy) from Baro Toronto.
On this week's episode of Baro in the City, Niall Harrington teaches you how we make The Colin Classic - our take on the Canadian classic Caesar.
My comments on Blowback Is a Harsh Mistress.
Hi, K-Dog! I was happy to see you respond to me on Monday, but I never got around to expressing my appreciation for your comments until now. You wished me, a fellow "green," a happy Earth Day. I return the favor today, wishing you a happy Arbor Day. I also wish to thank you for your invitation to look at your "ball" on your blog. I got to see the dot representing me and all the rest of your readers. Nice to see I'm not alone.
Our host wrote of consequences. One of them is being visited upon Treasury Secretary Mnuchin for his time as a board member of Sears. He and his college roommate "Fast Eddie Lamprey" are being sued by Sears Holdings for stripping assets from the corporation. When I shared that link on Facebook, the image I used prompted several to comment that Mnuchin and his actress wife looked like a pair of Bond villains. Personally, I think they would fit better in Austin Powers.
Speaking of the Treasury Department, smaller tax refunds for many were a consequence of the tax cut passed at the end of 2017. That has not made the tax cut any more popular; Americans like their refunds.
Our host also interjected "they're stuffing little children in cages" into today's essay as an example of a sentimental argument. Sentimental or not, the story that elicited that exclamation earned Jacob Soboroff a Cronkite Award for MSNBC's coverage of family separation at the border. That was a happy consequence, at least for Soboroff and MSNBC. An unhappy consequence of the same story befell Kirstjen Nielsen, who was apparently forced to resign because she wasn't brutal enough in enforcing immigration restrictions for Trump's taste. I could not imagine two more divergent reactions to the same story.
My comment on Tom Petty was Right.
That was an impressive list of avoidances of reality, but it failed to include the actual fantasies on screens, particularly the big silver ones. The superhero fantasy "Avengers: Endgame" had the best opening weekend box office ever with more than $350 million in North America and $1 billion worldwide. While Marvel's superheroes were saving the world, 6,000 stores have already announced they are closing in 2019, more than all of 2018. Welcome to the Retail Apocalypse, where Thanos doesn't have to snap his fingers to make things disappear.
