Linkapalooza

My brain is just not set on "insightful analysis" these last two days. (Guy in the Peanut Gallery calls out, "Was it ever?" Ba dum dum.) Anyway, these are a couple of links I had been meaning to write more about, but I don't think it's going to happen, so I'll just post them up here for your interest and edification. Enjoy ...

From the L.A. Times, via Kos: "Some senior Democratic operatives say unease about a Dean chairmanship is widespread among congressional leaders and many governors. But almost none of those grumbling privately have expressed their concerns publicly -- in part, some believe, because they fear crossing the ardent grass-roots, Internet-activist community still backing Dean." As Kos points out, nice that they're finally fearing people, not special interests. I'm cautiously optimistic about Dean's chances on the 12th.

On the opposite side, this numbskull's enough to make you want to become a neocon. In it, he calls the WTC victims "little Eichmanns," and refers to the "gallant sacrifices" of the "combat teams" that killed three thousand Americans. You can read his full essay here if you have the stomach.

Two startlingly racist moments in Johnny Carson's Tonight Show legacy were captured on film here. (Do I think he was racist? No, not really. But the sketches display remarkably poor taste, especially jarring given Carson's usually impeccable sensibilities.)

"Manna," a rather interesting science fiction short story/economic forecast (that does speak heavily to economic policy, so it's not really out in left field for this blog).

Angelina Jolie, with regards to celebrities advocating for charities: "Celebrities have a responsibility to know absolutely what they're talking about, and to be in it for the long run." Beautiful and not afraid to be politically incorrect: a wonderful double whammy.

New York Times, "Men Are Becoming the Ad Target of the Gender Sneer": "The 'man as a dope' imagery has gathered momentum over the last decade, and critics say that it has spiraled out of control. It is nearly impossible, they say, to watch commercials or read ads without seeing helpless, hapless men. In the campaigns, which the critics consider misandry (the opposite of misogyny), men act like buffoons, ogling cars and women; are likened to dogs, especially in beer and pizza ads; and bungle every possible household task."

Are you an urban dweller? Wonder what you'd do if the subway caught fire? Read this guy's firsthand account.

Roger Ebert condemns neocon movie critics (e.g., Michael Medved) who spoil the plot to further political agendas in their reviews — specifically in regards to "Million Dollar Baby." Warning: the essay contains a large plot spoiler for the movie, although Ebert (appropriately enough, given the subject of the article) warns you off if you've not seen it.

And, finally, a grammatical tidbit, just 'cause I feel like it: e.g. = exempli gratia = for example = useful if you're giving one example of something, when there's many available = "many vegetables (e.g., peas, carrots) taste gooky." i.e. = id est = in other words = think "synonym" = "the most corrupt President in our nation's history (i.e., George W. Bush) stays away from pretzels nowadays."