1

stupid!

Jane! Downie’s got some ’splaining to do.

nahant, you are fast tonight. looks like you got the single-single.

Next week in the Washington Post-It: David Duke on Obama’s candidacy.

Sorry for the repetition. But I posted this at the end of the last thread:
People who claim to be change makers should be bold enough to challenge convention. There’s no rule barring a potential nominee from debating an actual nominee. Only convention stands in the way. Either Obama or HRC should call out McCain and challenge him to a debate. The only condition would be that the other Dem. would also challenge McCain to a one on one debate. Wouldn’t you like to see, in real life, how each of these candidates stacks up against McCain before the decision is final? If the other Dem. won’t issue the same challenge, it’s a sign of weakness. And if McCain won’t accept the challenge he’s a really a weenie instead of a hero.

Charlotte Allen: How about an accurate picture?

A self portrait, obviously…!

…the picture…it burns….

Jane!!!

I’ve got this feeling of deja vu, as though I’ve seen this post before…

FunnyD

LOL
How are you doing tonight?

Heh, you’re as evil as always…! ;-)

Kinda digging their hole deeper aren’t they?

Bonne Soir, Ma Cheri!

not as bad as that darkblack a/c picture of the mouth that roared

I think Donald enjoys seeing his mother’s newspaper trashed. The pattern of editorial incompetence is too recurring to be random stupidity.

the following week: Karl Rove on the state of the Democratic Party

It seems that at least one female member of the Post staff was not amused. Caitlin Gibson, legal administrator for The Post, co-wrote a piece along with writer and actor Rachel Manteuffel, slamming Allen’s work as “A Dumb Argument.” They open like this:

It’s hard to know what side Charlotte Allen was arguing for in her March 2 piece, “We Scream, We Swoon. How Dumb Can We Get?” Her thesis seems to be that “women are dumb,” which is certainly provocative, but the article is so illogical and incoherent that it more forcefully argues that women who think women are dumb are dumb.

Women are silly for a variety of reasons, according to Allen, starting with the way they gush and swoon over politicians who inspire them. Barack Obama, Allen points out, is responsible for a grand total of five women fainting in the past six months. Without granting legitimacy to this pointless observation, let it be noted that there’s no way to determine exactly why these women fainted. Perhaps they hadn’t eaten, or locked their knees, or were overwhelmed by their own feeble-mindedness. But we can at least be reasonably sure that they didn’t pass out because, say, they were so intent on watching football on TV that they forgot how to chew a pretzel.

It gets better. Have fun and click through for the whole piece.

All right. Class went okay, the young minds got corrupted.

Now you’re talking.

Heh, you’re as evil as always…! ;-)

In all fairness, it seemed an obvious cheap shot to me.

Then your day was a complete success.

If the John Pomfret cover story is that it’s “satire,” nobody told Allen about it. She thinks she told some great truth.

Harking back to an earlier comment I made:

When Pomfret was saying it was “tongue in cheek”

Tongue in cheek? You know, Pomfey probably believes this. Because bashing women is funny haha. Just like jokes about blacks used to be so “funny”.

Heads up- hate speech against women (generic, but not by the legal definition, alas) is still fine and dandy. Whereas racism does get slapped down. Just try rewriting that column imagining it was written by a black person, saying blacks are dumb, bad drivers, etc. and its hatefulness is apparent.

I look forward to the time when it is every bit as unacceptable to bash women as it is to do race bashing/ racism.

This wasn’t degrading “groups”, it was a slur on over half the population. Some of them can read too, and perhaps slightly less can write. (Tongue-in-cheek)

Still no public mea culpa from the WaPoo folks?

Now you’re talking.

Just pray they’re not listening.

Laura Rozen is a great journalist.

WarandPiece por vida!

Any thoughts on Modo’s ’shoulder-pad feminism’ opinion piece in this morning’s NYT?

Going to sic Horowitz on you. You probably made them more “liberal“

women who think women are dumb are dumb.

Perfect analysis.
And men who think women are dumb are also dumb.

They say that they’ll say something on Sunday.

TeddySF is not holding his breath.

what more could one ask?

*g*

Some of them can read too, and perhaps slightly less can write…

They can? ;-)

Not sure this can be handled by Len Downie, actually.

I’d very much like to hear new publisher and WP President Katharine (II) Weymouth’s take on it all.

Dugg
http://digg.com/2008_us_electi.....tupid_Does

Maybe they’ll do a rebuttal piece:

“Most Chicks Are Not Lamebrains”

Going to sic Horowitz on you. You probably made them more “liberal“

They’re anthropology majors. If they aren’t liberal yet, they’re in for a very rude awakening.

thanks nahant :)

Deborah Howell is better left to covering pie eating contests — it’s Len Downie who needs to explain what the Post’s standards are for publicly attacking and degrading groups people with crap like this.

They serve cow pies at the WaPo?

I think I’ll pass on their coffee too. Probably served in dribble cups.

Jane,

can you read this without moving your lips?

Heh, only the ones that write for the WaPoo…! ;-0

OFG- cracked me up with that one! ;)

“Most Chicks Are Not Lamebrains”

Another fun blurb from Gibson and Manteuffel, with emphasis added:

Her essay doesn’t prove anything so much as raise a question: Is this the best an anti-feminist can do? Perhaps Allen could have some space in the Post each week for her finest material. She could point out that women wear pink and smile a lot and can’t lift heavy things. Once a month, women go crazy and eat a lot of chocolate! Did you know babies come out of women sometimes? Yuck!

Does FDL really want to go wwaaaay out on a limb, and suggest that measuring an indvidual’s intelligence using the average weight of their group’s brains is bad science?

I suppose you are going to take on the science of One Million Years, BC next. I mean, really. That established beyond a doubt (for me, at least) that cave women were totally hot, and I suppose you consider that sexist too?

BTW, is it true that Deborah Howell asked, in the pages of the WaPo, people who did not read the WaPo to contact her? That is another thing I read this week that I am not sure whether it is a joke or not.

BTW, is it true that Deborah Howell asked, in the pages of the WaPo, people who did not read the WaPo to contact her? That is another thing I read this week that I am not sure whether it is a joke or not.

Yes, Deborah Howell is a joke.

uh, are you snark-tag impaired?

or, uh, are you serious?

I don’t even know that that means. I am confused again.

did it really NEED a snark tag?
I mean, rilly!

FunnyD

“Yes, Deborah Howell is a joke.”

I’m still waiting to hear the punchline…

You should have them dig threw the trash middens of the Rethugican Party to see if they can figure out why the party went bad and turned rancid.

”New research shows that young girls may learn language more completely than their male peers”

link

Is she a knock-knock joke?

link

WaPoo Bulletin:

Top Doc Sez All Babies Born Male; Penises Removed From Dumb Ones.

/snark?

You should have them dig threw the trash middens of the Rethugican Party to see if they can figure out why the party went bad and turned rancid.

I bet you could find “artifacts” in the Republican convention garbage that would make a brave soul quake.

uh, maybe not. But, I have been teaching freshmen. And I remember when he called me a Stalinist moderator. It was a dark moment in my FDL history.

cave women aren’t totally hot?

time to cancel the Carlsbad trip.

Laura Rozen project much?

“So, Deborah Howell walks into a bar, and the bartender says…”

i had that same exact feeling, especially reading the chat with allen.
especially when i got here:

Boston: Did you write your article to criticize women or feminists? You seem quite delighted to have gotten such a rise out of “the feminists” and puzzled by the hostile reaction of “women.” What do you think is the difference between the two?

Charlotte Allen: Not all women are feminists, but many women exhibit some of the silliness I wrote about.

_______________________

Boston: I hope you saw this piece. Thoughts?

washingtonpost.com: A Dumb Argument (Post, March 5)

Charlotte Allen: Sorry–I don’t have time to read comments without doing a disservice to other chatters in this forum. If you have something yourself to say, please say it.

Still no link…!

Is that a missing link?

Yes. Jan 27, 2008:

Post editors are concerned that young women with children are not becoming Post readers as they get older. Younger mothers, ages 18 to 34, read The Post daily at about half the rate of men with children. That is true for women who work outside the home and those who are college-educated.

A Post task force is looking at the problem and will make recommendations. I’d love to hear from young mothers about this. If you know anyone who fits this demographic and doesn’t read The Post, please send them my way.

Jeez!
Glad you’re back!

I was asking if you were serious about the first two paragraphs. Sometimes you confuse me.

“So, Deborah Howell walks into a bar, and the bartender says…”

“…writing another column, right?”

serious, but OT, question:

If elected, will HRC be a threat to Dean’s 50 state strategy? That is my only real concern about HRC -that her crowd will try to bring back the failed DLC electoral strategies.

Is my fear realistic?

I don’t like the obsession with the presidential race. Would prefer to concentrate on how Democratic Party can continue making progress in the right direction, no matter who wins.

Keeping 50 state strategy approach going is one of my obsessions, right next to more progressive and aggressive next Congress. What is best approach to helping keep progressive, grassroots approach to politics alive in Democratic Party?

Charlotte Allen: Not all women are feminists, but many women exhibit some of the silliness I wrote about.

Keep digging…! ;-)

I’ve hasd it with these fascist freaks. They are a menace to society and should be wiped out.

let’s be careful when straddling that very fine line and not advocate that which will result in comments being pulled

Lord help me. if I ever get Laura Rozen, Lindsay Beyerstein and Jane Hamsher mad at me at the same time. A lot of really stupid men are mishandling this situation.

OT - Alaska’s Governor Sarah Palin announced two hours ago that she is seven months pregnant, expecting her fifth child in mid-May.

First things first;

((((((((Valley Girl))))))))))

Now then,
Is the Post so desperate for material it looks to the cleaning lady?
Or did they find her at the lunch counter?

After reading this post I swooned, had the vapors, pitched right over and hit my head. I will never be able to do math again. Couldn’t do it much before. Wait right there. I have to go pee on a stick in the bathroom to see if I am preggers. Oh wait . . . . I already went through the change. Forgot.

Is Pomfret still employed at the Post-It?

Except I’m sure all the best/worst trash is classified.
FunnyD

spew

Yay, the eliminationists have arrived!

This isn’t very complicated. The just-having-fun backoff has been demolished by the article’s author:

West Lafayette, Ind.: Your idea of fun is to paint a (horribly inaccurate) picture of your sex as stupid?

Charlotte Allen: How about an accurate picture?

A slam dunk! Offense indended! It is now time for Len Downey and Jim Brady to apologize or be fired. It’s not complicated at all.

They didn’t find her at a lunch counter. They found her at a fascist think tank.

ET…did no one notice your gov was so far along?

Is she married?

boosh has a pooper collector when he travels out of the us to prevent his scat from falling into the hands of enemies of freedom

she hates feminists, but her role model is … Cleopatra??

My role models: Cleopatra, My college Greek teacher, the late Hazel Hansen, Hildegard of Bingen, and Sister Mary Madaleva, scholar of literature par excellence.

Oh, oops. Didn’t know there was history there.
What are you teaching (trying to teach?) freshies?

FunnyD

May need to be a contest.

Can you guess the state?

Sound familiar?

The state legislature will be in special session this summer to try to hammer out a health insurance plan that would require almost all residents to have coverage, order insurers to offer it to everyone regardless of the status of their health, and impose fees on some employers to help pay for it.

The plan is being pushed by the nationally known governor, who got it through the legislature’s lower house, only to have it die before a Senate committee. One of the reasons for its failure was the state’s dreary budget outlook. So the governor has asked legislative leaders to form a “working group” to see what consensus can be arrived at before trying again.

The governor in this case is former Democratic presidential candidate Bill Richardson; the state is New Mexico, and the forecast is — well, if they can figure it out, I’m moving.

Does anyone really expect anything from the WaPo? It’s been nothing more than a mouthpiece for the neo-cons for a very long time. Only until pressure is put to bear on the editors at such media outlets will anything change. If you thought Allen’s article was bad, just wait until the campaign for the POTUS heats up. McBush will be knighted, sainted, glorified and just a swell man’s man.

But, wigwam, it got better… See 58!

No, the first too paragraphs were beyond snark. I read the article and wondered why reporters are writing science articles who
1) seem to have never taken one science or statistics or math course in their whole lives
2) cannot do on an once of library research
3) cannot spot quacks and charlatans
4) cannot perfrom due diligence in vetting their sources (For many of the awful nonsense I have see published lately, calling the local community college instructor would do).

I asked Watertiger when they killed all the science reporters. She said it was back in 2001.

I wanted to be a science reporter once. Main, that would have been a mistake. I’d have been killed off by now.

The post article was a disgrace, one among many.

Condi’s job?

wow - knew it warm today: but prune season already?

I never even had a Santa Rosa…

ACK!!!!!!!

link

Cleopatra’s her role model? Somebody get her an asp!

Here is a good article about your OT question:

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080317/berman

I thought all his traveling poo was collected, whether foreign or domestic.

Which proves my thesis (oft-invoked at watertiger’s):

Dude’s a tweaker.

.
.
.

Just sayin’

Hildegard von Bingen was kind of a lunatic and a grouchy one at that.

(((Spidey))) An early appearance for ya! *g*

Condi’s job?

She could hold a second job. She seems to be pretty idle in the one she has.

wigwam! that is great! Yes, offense intended, as you point out.

What is the Post’s business model?

We already have a tabloid press and sucessful national papers like the National Enquirer which would run any kind of story to drive up circulation and provoke readers.

If the WA PO Editors use freak-show columns to drive up page views and create “controversy” they’re taking on the tabloids.

Once the Post decides to legitimize the Enquirer’s business model, they’ll have their heads handed to them.

Can’t you picture her lounging on a barge?

Spiderpaws, were your ears burning on Sunday? The bear creek firepups were chatting about horoscopes and horses and your name came up….

mr tuttle, am barely awake over here

perhaps it was charlotte’s audition to be the new ann coulter or the new melonie morgan or whatever the post-it was looking for

spiderpaws and neurophius,

I’ve got a picture up at my place, taken fairly recently at the DC Gov’s conference, that makes it obvious. But she fooled a lot of people. She’s slim, hasn’t been jogging this winter like last winter, and has been tending recently to make statements while sitting behind desks or standing behind lecturns.

She’s married, has four kids ranging between 19 and six, I believe. Her oldest enlisted in the Army late last summer. She’s 42, and announced that she and her husband Todd know the baby’s sex, but are keeping it private. I’m sure she had amnio, and the late announcement might mean they were concerned at some point.

She is definately NOT going to attempt to take Ted Stevens’s US Senate seat right now. We may see some other GOP figure declare for that seat by Friday, with this news.

So who is the picture of on this post?

A distant descendant of Mel Brooks’ Piss Boy, right?

Can’t you picture her lounging on a barge?

Or barging into a lounge?

Wow! WaPo editors need to get their asses kicked. I’m not sure what leverage would cause that to happen. It might take an advertiser boycott. Their world view is unconscionable.

…yes, let us not forget our wonderful wild horses which have fallen into the hands of the bad boys at BLM

That’s what I was saying, you’re an night owl…! *g*

A distant descendant of Mel Brooks’ Piss Boy, right?

Gives a whole new meaning to “The king looks like the piss boy!”

bargaloungers are in her future decorating plans i’m sure

*chuckles*

I think her campaign is. I don’t know that she has anything against it, but she’s run a big-state party-officials campaign, and the people around her are the people who ran that sort of campaign. It’s possible they would see the value in it, but I wouldn’t count on it.

“Sorry, Ma’am, for a second there I almost mistook you for a journalist!”

yeah, pretty lame but you try to come up with something from barges and lounges
i’ll be here all week, try the veal

Did Cinnamonape leave?

Isn’t Benson running for Ted’s seat or is it Don’s…?

Night pups.

In the mid 80’s I lived in Northeastern PA. in the mountains. I remember sitting in a restaurant overhearing a table of older ladies talk about feminism. One said that she sure wouldn’t let a woman fix anything like her sewing machine. Could trust the work that was done. I think Charlotte was at the table with them. Or maybe she was waiting them.

No, the first too (sic) paragraphs were beyond snark.

Well, thanks! (No, really, seriously). I was trying to come up with an abbreviation of “beyond snark”. But, “BS” has been used before. Okay, I got it anyway, and thanks. I guess “beyond snark” means… well, never mind.

I didn’t know that you had considered becoming a science reporter. Please turn the clock back on that one!.. You can’t imagine the drivel I read that passes for “science reporting”.

And, for Funny Diva, the class I am teaching, a Freshman Seminar, is entitled “Science and the Citizen”.

If the WA PO Editors use freak-show columns to drive up page views and create “controversy” they’re taking on the tabloids.

I believe this is what they’re doing. The educated audience is rapidly fleeing to the internet, leaving them with the National Enquirer strategy. This is why I think they would only care about subscriptions being canceled or a boycott.

When I was growing up, I watched the Sunday News shows religiously. I loved them! Not anymore.

hmmm. what’s not to like?

g’nite OFG

while it doesn’t feel at all good, it is an improvement for me over seeing pictures of mccain.

Aloha, OFG!

Imagine what a couple they would make.

I read the article and wondered why reporters are writing science articles who

4) cannot perfrom due diligence in vetting their sources (For many of the awful nonsense I have see published lately, calling the local community college instructor would do).

They’re imitating the NYT’s Gina Kolata?

While describing her coverage of pure science as “terrific” and her reporting of mathematics similarly “with one exception”, he found fault with her environmental reporting. In an interview Dowie described her reporting on broad environmental topics as being characterised by “a hard, pro-technology, pro-corporate line on products or issues that are very controversial: silicone breast implants, irradiated food, experimental AIDS drugs, and breast cancer. In fact, Gina took a strong position that breast cancer has no environmental etiology at all, and took every opportunity to make that point even as her sister, Judy, was struggling with breast cancer. Gina reviewed “Rachel’s Daughters,” a film made on breast cancer, and strongly criticized the film’s inquiry of environmental causes.” [12]

Dowie described that on investigating the sample of Kolata’s stories and contacting her named sources he found that “there were many she had, in fact, interviewed at great length and had not included in the stories. I’m not saying she’s a dishonest person, but I am saying she has practiced dishonest journalism and wasted a great talent in those stories.” [13]

Dowie zeroed in on Kolata’s reporting on endocrine disrupting chemicals such as organochlorines and their impact on the health and fertility of wildlife. Following a meeting between the New York Times science editors and Dr. Theo Colborn, Dr. John Peterson Myers and Dianne Dumanoski, about their book, Our Stolen Future, the story was assigned to Kolata. In her March 1996 article Kolata cited TASSC adviser Bruce Ames of the University of California, Berkeley, and Dr. Stephen Safe of Texas A&M in response to Colborn and her colleagues concerns. [14]

Dowie noted that “both Safe’s and Ames’s names were on a list of “experts” circulated to the media by the Chemical Manufacturers Association, the American Crop Protection Association and the American Plastics Council in response to Our Stolen Future. Another name on the list is that of Michael Gallo, a professor of toxicology, whom Kolata quotes in the main piece describing Colborn’s work as “hypothesis masked as fact”-a phrase used repeatedly throughout chemical industry briefing materials.” [15]

While the NYT’s science editors had been provided with a statement by a senior environmental health researcher supporting the authors hypothesis and recommendation. “If she saw them, Kolata ignored them all. Instead she repeatedly misstated the authors’ conclusions in terms that echoed the twenty-two-page press advisory circulated by the Chemical Manufacturers Association.” [16] Dowie notes that many scientists complained about Kolata’s coverage but none were printed.

“Science and the Citizen”.

Featuring the common cricket in a cameo appearance.
Lol.

(Inside joke)

Washington Post-It

well done. how’re you doing?

This is way cooool!

SF Chron

1888 Photo Depicts Helen Keller, Teacher
By MELISSA TRUJILLO, Associated Press Writer

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Researchers have uncovered a rare photograph of a young Helen Keller with her teacher Anne Sullivan, nearly 120 years after it was taken on Cape Cod. The photograph, shot in July 1888 in Brewster, shows an 8-year-old Helen sitting outside in a light-colored dress, holding Sullivan’s hand and cradling one of her beloved dolls.

Experts on Keller’s life believe it could be the earliest photo of the two women together and the only one showing the blind and deaf child with a doll — the first word Sullivan spelled for Keller after they met in 1887 — according to the New England Historic Genealogical Society, which now has the photo.

…

Thanks for the Nation article. That an another commment makes me fear the old DLC elctoral politics of HRC even more.

Seems like people should wake up and quit worrying about which Democrat will run. They are both imperfect, and problems facing us are too big for even a very good president to solve. Maybe if one of them turns out to be one of the greatest presidents EVAH, they can do alot to solve problems, but that is but a hope.

so, better to think and work for long term on political reform, and not depend on this or that poltical savior at all, think beyond primaries and next president.

g’nite OFG - sleep well!

i always tell myself i’m not going to open his pics and then i always do. except last night, i was strong and good and didn’t open. it took great strength.

wow, how cool is that photo. thanks

Educational credentials are secondary to a writer understanding and supporting the scientific method.

I don’t know if things are worse off today or not. Certainly there are historical examples of science being used to justify “inferior” races of humans. It’s not new. The WA PO didn’t even try to pass the column off as legitimate.

I see the concern for maintaining quality and standards in print media dropping at the same time influence and readership is falling off. Whether that’s new or just more transparent because we have better tools to understand what Editors and Publishers think and want.

Oh Kirk! Thanks so much for that link! Gina Kolata is married to someone whose bad science caused me enormous grief. I read that with relish!!!

CT - Diane Benson, Ethan Bekowitz and Jake Metcalfe - Dems - Gabrielle LeDoux and Don Young - GOP - are running in the primary races for Don Young’s seat.

Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich and ex-state representative Ray Metcalfe - Dems- Dave Cuddy and Ted Stevens - GOP - are running for Ted Stevens’ seat. The primaries are in late August, which sucks.

I agree wholeheartedly, GW, in regards to Dark Black pix… Beware…! ;-)

well done. how’re you doing?

Today went smoothly enough. I’m going to take tomorrow as it comes. I’ve been out of it for a good long while here, so I don’t want to make myself any big promises just yet.

Hey Busted! That was really my all time fave of the youtubes I made for my animal behavior class. I wish I knew how to link for late nite enjoyment! Thanks for remembering!..I was a classic, if I may say so myself!

Who do you like for Teddy’s seat, Begich or Metcalfe?

Linkie please. Some suffering is worth it.

707.

It is an amazing image.

In general, Mary! I wasn’t specifying a particular link…! ;-)

OT: Nafta-gate continues, with a twist:

Seems the NAFTAgate leak started with — surprise, surprise — the Chief of Staff to Canada’s conservative PM Stephen Harper. Only the first hint wasn’t about stuff the Canadians had heard from the Obama camp. It was about reassurances the Canadians got from the Clinton campaign. According to a reporter who heard the original conversation, Brodie said “someone from (Hillary) Clinton’s campaign is telling the embassy to take it with a grain of salt. . . That someone called us and told us not to worry.”

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/181749.php

Classic Rove maneuver. Time for conservatives in the Canadian government to STFU.

I can read it but only if someone helps me move my lips.

How about TS for TurboSnark? (it gets beyond regular snark faster…)
I can’t remember which contributor at the Language Log blog takes on bad science writing, but it’s as bad for social science as it is for “hard”er sciences.
I’m pretty sure it has to do with newspapers and the like hiring journamalism/communications types rather than scientist types who can write. And, yes, there are quite a few of us out there (I’m sooo modest/TS).

At least the Intellectual Property types have figured out that it’s a good idea to send scientists to law school so they can help handle biotech patents and the like.

Do you have a syllabus/reading list for your seminar online somewhere? Communicating with “the Citizen” is an ongoing issue for us scientist-types.

FunnyD

Yeah, that is what I was thinking too. The media has become a pure money making business and nothing else. That probably explains many of the editor-written slanted headlines and header summaries that contradict the story (if you read it all the way to the end).

Editors and reporters consider themselves to be an arm of coroprate and political marketing. Nothing more. Completely empty irresponsible people.

I guess for solid reporting these days, we should stick to the sports and gardening sections.

That was perfect!!!!! LOL!

VG, my distinct pleasure for the link.

Gina Kolata is to purulence as ethics is to hygeine.

neither.

A whole new load of shit coming down up here over the next two weeks. Rumors include the names of two prominent Democrats for the first time - Mark Begich and ex-governor Tony Knowles. Knowles probably got some of the illegal polls from Veco that brought down Frank Murkowski’s ex- chief-of-staff Monday, and Begich has made hundreds of thousands of dollars in questionable or illegal land leasing and sale deals with Ted Stevens’ family and partners.

Greenwarrior,

I just went in and told Ron what you said. He loved it.

There’s a reason the eds at WaPo keep crying about losing their lady readers, with our tiny, easily piqued lady brains.

The media has no incentive for good science writing because the (American) general public is so horribly scientifically illiterate. Their audience doesn’t appreciate it, so there’s no good reason to pay for it.

Classic Rove maneuver. Time for conservatives in the Canadian government to STFU.

I agree, but, one little prob; the Tories have a slim majority in Parliament, and, Harper is Shrub’s lapdog! As Blair has been retired…

cut the reporting and then use the lack of informed knowledge by the citizenry as justification for the cutting of the reporting which resulted in the lack of informed knowledge

Good thoughts. I think kirk murphy’s example is a clue. Corporate concentration has changed the mindset of editors and reporters. Or there is a corporate selction mechanism that controls the type of people who are successful in the business.

Need to break up the media conglomerates -both print and broadcast. That is the first step.

Picture seems to be of careerist employees whose first worry is pleasing the corporate bosses who are counting on crony capitalism to legislate more favors for them.

It has always been a problem, of course. Problem is that corporate concentration has limited competing voices.

Also chase for big readership on the cheap (for bigshot corporate profit targets) has blurred the line between reporting and breezy BS.

Borrowing from the Goopers playbook:
De-fund education (or insert program here) and complain that it’s busted, and not deserving of funding…

Amen, a self-perpetuating cycle… The dumbing down of the electorate is in full stride…! 8-(

I wonder how Charlotte and Hillary would do at afternoon tea together? Talking about the virtues of St. John McVain, no doubt…

We need to make a concentration effort to stop buying these papers, watching these networks and supporting the corps that advertise on them.

FunnyD- no syllabus alas- total experiment for me, and I am making up as a go along. Main idea was to get students to embrace the web, and see what they could discover about scientific issues, and for me to see what was important to them. Groups have been working on postings and videos, after class poll showed that the top topics were global warming, STDs/AIDs, stem cell research. These are college freshman. So refreshing. They all abhor Bush!

I agree in general, but with the caveat that we’re blessed with some really good science writers, too.

The English-speaking blogoshpere (outside the US) loves them they’re George Monbiot. IIRC, he’s the most read English-speaking bloger (OTTUS).

I like New Scientist (though at times they can’t see their reflexive technophilia)

But - yeah - on the whole - “science” news in the US is pretty damn sucky - cheerleaderish.

In response to RobZuber @ 155

cut the reporting and then use the lack of informed knowledge by the citizenry as justification for the cutting of the reporting which resulted in the lack of informed knowledge

Thanks, Suzanne! Couldn’t have said it better, or more succinctly, myself!

FunnyD

It’s remarkable watching movies from the late 40s early 50s because the scientists are looked up to and respected characters. Nowadays the scientist is almost always the bad guy and the good guy is the musician or artist.

Women are silly for a variety of reasons, according to Allen, starting with the way they gush and swoon over politicians who inspire them. Barack Obama, Allen points out, is responsible for a grand total of five women fainting in the past six months.

I’ve also heard rumors that there have been six childbirths (okay,two…since one event was reportedly quintuplets) at Clinton rallies. And five cases of sex with lobbyists in lobbys of hotels on the McCain circuit. Four heart-attacks at Thompson ralleys. Freddy reportedly had two “silent but deadlies” himself, and the other two occurred from overenthusiastic individuals at talk-radio stations who mistook him for Ronald Reagan. There have been 17 cases of children peeing in their pants at Giuliani events, not to mention scores of mysteriously lost dogs.

Yes, there are some really good science writers. Top of the list for me is Natalie Angier of the NYT. (Tuesday science section). Oh, she won a Pulitzer. Those dumb science broads. (Turbosnark)

I have a question is “Pomfret” an Anglicized form of “Pomme-Frites”?

oh, poo

“loves them their George Monbiot.”

(Jeebus, homonyomus spelling and forgeting the link - and it’s only 9 PM)

I have a question is “Pomfret” an Anglicized form of “Pomme-Frites”?

I wondered the same thing. God, we’re geeks, aren’t we?

My role models: Cleopatra, My college Greek teacher, the late Hazel Hansen, Hildegard of Bingen, and Sister Mary Madaleva, scholar of literature par excellence.

Of course these were outliers. Most women are simply dumb. In fact. maybe they were men, but cross-dressing.

And which Cleopatra is she referring to? There were SEVEN.

I can’t say yes knowing the facts, but, to this francophone ear’s, it sure does.

Evening pups.

Well, it’s been real, but bed and book are calling me. Be excellent to each other.

My comment in #172 was intended as snark, Puuuuuleese!

:) And lots of people changing their minds at Romney events.

lots ‘o humping in the Gonzales volunteer pool….

Very cool, good luck. Are these college-type freshmen? as in old enough to vote?

The web’s a great tool and I hope they’re learning a lot from you how to evaluate sources and identify BS. Soon they’ll have some really good critical thinking skills without realizing what was happening! Bwahahahahaha!

FunnyD

francophone’s ears. See What did I rell you…

dayam, i need a new monitor now (laughing)

thanks for the link, Peterr,
Note sure this should appear in a family paper, though:

“Did you know babies come out of women sometimes?”

Think of the children.

I have a question is “Pomfret” an Anglicized form of “Pomme-Frites”?

I wondered the same thing. God, we’re geeks, aren’t we?

How sad to be named after a lonely, solitary cold French Fry ;-(

g’nite EDP

Good night y’all. I have to go cuddle with Wally the dog. He lost his bestest buddy, Ted, on Saturday and he doesn’t look happy. I miss Ted, too.

Good night, EDP - sleep well. Glad to see you here again.

tell you…

Of course these were outliers. Most women are simply dumb. In fact. maybe they were men, but cross-dressing.

To use FunnyD’s coinage, would this perhaps qualify as TurboSnark? Looks like it to me.

There has been a rash of rich white male farts dithering in public at GOP compaign rallies. Reported to be the candidates. What does that tell you?

I attended a Hillary Clinton speech in Tucson last month. Two people fainted. Certainly not because they were “stupid” or that the Senator was even all that exciting. It was hot, her plane was late, and security made everyone stand outside in a mile-long line outside rather than be seated inside the building during the two-hour wait. It’s a wonder more people didn’t faint. I’m sure we could find more incidences of women swooning at other Hillary events … start counting, it’s another way she could be tied with Barack and we could divert attention from the doesn’t-deserve-it Charlotte Allen.

(((Mary and Wally))) (((Ted)))

I’m sorry, Mary.

oh mary, i’m so sorry - g’nite

nite mary
(((ted and mary and ron))))

In response to cinnamonape @ 169

I have a question is “Pomfret” an Anglicized form of “Pomme-Frites”?

I wondered the same thing. God, we’re geeks, aren’t we?

Heh! I was chuckling over the pomme frites thing yesterday, too.

Geeks and Nerds Rule!!!!!!

Back in December someone in my symphony chorus said: wouldn’t it be interesting to program a concert of “music that Handel stole or recycled for The Messiah”? Talk about geeks and nerds. We’re now rehearsing Bach’s B minor mass(ive) and I’ve had the same thought vis a vis recycled materials.

FunnyD

I’m sure we could find more incidences of women swooning at other Hillary events

No doubt Hillary has a same-sex thing going on. All women in power are like that.

/Ts

i appreciate the interesting questions you raise - you make me think.

ow - brain hurt

hehe- I see you have picked on Funny Diva’s great idea too- TurboSnark!

But, as this is a new moment in FDL history, should it be /Ts or /TS ?

RIP Ted. You were loved and are missed.

(((2- and 4-footed McCurnins)))

FunnyD

is that like ice cream brain?

Or even /T-snark.

Whatever works; don’t think it’s worth codifying. I’m flattered my little idea is catching on. Something tells me there’s going to be plenty to get “beyond snarky” about as the conventions and general election get closer…

FunnyD

But, as this is a new moment in FDL history, should it be /Ts or /TS ?

I don’t know which way to go.

Are women who faint at Hillary Clinton events more stupid, or less stupid, than women who faint at Barack Obama events? /TS

OK, I’m going to go play a relaxing computer game now. Catch y’all in a bit at Late-late Lake.

FunnyD

that’s not fair. i’m almost ready for bed. hoping for dreams, not nightmares of rightwing retards.

I would like to interject that sometimes the best snark is that which leaves the reader wondering.
$.02

a typical san francisco answer *ducking*

see ya in a bit, FD

cains kills able

The fifth page of google image search results returns images of McCain.

Yep…. the ice cream served at Gumby Theatre

I’m glad to hear that today’s been comfortable for you. Hugs.

Amen, and hugs.

FunnyD, I don’t know if you are still reading or not.

Yes, the freshmen are college freshmen. And, I’ve gotten some great (albeit sometimes disturbing) links thanks to their research. Movies and video games are a great source of interest.

This link was one that made me particularly pissed off. Because of the content. Video game sold (free? ) by the US military:

Check this out

http://www.americasarmy.com/intel/missions.php

~~~INFANTRY MISSIONS
To participate in these missions, you will need to pass all basic training requirements including Basic Marksmanship, Eagle Tower, and Weapons Familiarization. Infantry missions cover a wide range of topographical terrain and environments. From the industrial complex of Pipeline, to the cramped buildings and alleys of Urban Assault, to the remote village setting of Border, these missions will test your ability as a virtual member of the US Army Infantry.

Most of you will be armed with the M16A2 assault rifle, while others may deploy in support roles with the M249 Automatic Rifle or the M203 Grenade Launcher. Some of you who have passed Advanced Marksmanship Training may choose to enter combat carrying the M24 or M82 Advanced Marksman Rifles, and hopefully at least a few of you will be qualified as Combat Field Medics.~~~

Hi to you both! I’ll be back in R.C. at the Marriott again from April 9-19. I’m hoping we can get together.

Should this be read forwards or backwards?

Margot!
Ice storms galore! Voter chaos…
Chris

the endocrinie disruptors did it. their confession:

“it was a fair cop, but society is to blame”

I have my priorities: The Return of Habeas Corpus and then The Deconglomeration of the Media.

VG, what pisses ya off? That’s an accurate description and the Video Game is free…! The fact they’d post it on the web?

oh sure, blame the endocrine system when we really know it is a vascular inversion.

Add me to geek list. I wasn’t wondering it, I just assumed it.

Maybe this is OT - even for late night.

Alaska’s Governor, Sarah Palin, just announced three hours ago that she is seven months pregnant. She is 42. commenters at the Anchorage Daily News political blog are calling her a lot of nasty things. Some think she should resign. Others say that her pregnancy explains her recent “bitchiness.” A couple of commenters on the radio have stated only a stupid woman would get pregnant at 42. Yeah, he was a guy.

On the lighter side, Wonkette - not AMC - suggested she got pregnant to avoid being John McCain’s running mate.

CT- what pisses me off is that they are trying to make inroads into the teen crowd to make war and shooting people seem glamorous.

That is some very excellent OT, even for Late Nite.

only a stupid woman - appears to be exactly on topic to me et.

oh hug wally for me too!

On the lighter side, Wonkette - not AMC - suggested she got pregnant to avoid being John McCain’s running mate.

The best reason of all.

Sign me up for Ts

And, by presenting it as a video game, it gives the message that war is just a game, and shooting people is just a game. It’s all virtual. No blood.

Have you seen the video games and what passes for television these days? ‘24′ in particular…! ;-)

lets see, has baby in may, is expected to back in fighting shape by june and hit the campaign trail. general isn’t until november - she could still make it.

ET– I really don’t get it…the woman is married, she is pregnant, she is 42–the age my mother was when she gave birth to my youngest sister, which was definitely not a stupid thing…do these people think that the fact that she is a public figure entitle them to question her intelligence or motives for becoming pregnant? Maybe the WaPo would like to write a column on this… tongue-in-cheek, of course…

I mistyped. Gawd, I miss edit. Preview just doesn’t quite hack it…

LOL - tongue in cheek, though.

Alaska’s Governor, Sarah Palin, just announced three hours ago that she is seven months pregnant. She is 42. commenters at the Anchorage Daily News political blog are calling her a lot of nasty things. Some think she should resign. Others say that her pregnancy explains her recent “bitchiness.” A couple of commenters on the radio have stated only a stupid woman would get pregnant at 42. Yeah, he was a guy.

Sooo…getting preggers honks off the knuckledragging pro-lifers?

In the news box the other day there was bout United Technologies making an offer on diebold as well as the makers of Grand Thief Auto.

mods: is there a good way to search the news ticker?

if i wasn’t so dumb i’d be pissed off about that very thing. /Ts

you shoulda caught all my mistypo’s sun nite after the meetup. i was so forking tired (eyes rolling)

You’ll get no argument out of me as far as the portrayal of blood and gore that our youth are bombarded with these days…! 8-(

i just keep hitting the previous entries page of the news page (at the bottom left) until i find the article. i do not know if there is any other way or not.

good question.

No, probably not. More like the pro big oil people who hate her for destroying their slimy oil-dominated GOP machine and rebuilding the Republican party on somewhat ethical lines.

This country is bubbling up into a grotesque parody of an empire in decline.

-G

rebuilding the Republican party on somewhat ethical lines.

That can be done?

there are some ethical republicans but they are nearly extinct in the beltway

We’ll see. She’s been trying. She shows up at some Dem fundraisers, which may indicate something interesting…

Evening Suzanne.

Wanna see my snow bank?

Starting with cell cultures, yes.

is that like looking at etchings, q?

I’m working on a parody piece about the GOP being a pack of racists and sexually frustrated closet cases.

For shits and giggles you know.

-G

does wordpress do xml rest services so you can query the news feed?

Yeah, that’ll do it for ya!

:)

a bit more graphic…
http://picasaweb.google.com/pi.....YxSD9TUmAI

I’m back…but verrrry sleepyyy after staying up most of the night waiting for the Tayhass Caucusites to finish up and give me their results! Then I found out they had adjourned…so I’d stayed up hours for no good reason.

Maybe stay up another hour or so before a long slumber.

Women have this power, you see. Only women! Yeah, it honks off the knuckle-draggers. Not that they (the k-d) want it, but that ONLY WOMEN HAVE IT.
Hah!

Alaska’s Governor, Sarah Palin, just announced three hours ago that she is seven months pregnant. She is 42. commenters at the Anchorage Daily News political blog are calling her a lot of nasty things.

Of course these commentators were not conceived through normal means, I guess! They should start their own religions.

Some think she should resign.

What she SHOULD do is bring the baby to news conferences and change diapers in front of them…or ask the reporters to do so. Funny, these guys freak out when there is a kid in Pampers near the “seats of power” but barely react when a Senator pays a prostitute to baby hime while he’s dressed in Pampers!

Others say that her pregnancy explains her recent “bitchiness.”

Yowza! Bring it on!

A couple of commenters on the radio have stated only a stupid woman would get pregnant at 42. Yeah, he was a guy.

Hey! She was probably only 41 when she got pregnant. And aren’t all women, well with the exception of Charlotte Allen (and perhaps Michelle Malkin and Ann Coulter) supposed to be “stupid”?

On the lighter side, Wonkette - not AMC - suggested she got pregnant to avoid being John McCain’s running mate.

“Wait!” The pundits yammered, “Look what a great chance she gave up!”

BTW What’s to prevent her from being McCain’s VP? Imagine having to debate a nursing opponent…that would certainly throw one off form! And the audience would always be saying “Isn’t she beautiful! And isn’t the baby so Cuuuute!” throughout the debate when the Democrat was trying to make a key point on NAFTA. A guanteed loss for the Democrat…and even Hillary would lose her advantage with female voters.

And as VP? As once said by a VEEP “this office isn’t worth a bucket of spit”. That could be changed to “this office isn’t worth a hamper of diapers…or a warddrobe covered with earp!”