'Cause there is just one cure that they know for sure
You just become a heavy metal believer
more...

Posted by: Ace at 05:41 AM | Comments (115)
Post contains 24 words, total size 1 kb.

Male-centric Movies: The Bechdel Test

Back in the 80's lesbian cartoonist Alison Bechdel came up with a test with three questions to decide if a movie was male-centric or not. Since then it's become known as the Bechdel Test:

1. Are there two or more women in it that have names?
2. Do they talk to each other?
3. Do they talk to each other about something other than a man?

Plus most movie protagonists are male so it's hard to fit into the script a conversation between two side female characters that doesn't reference the main male character. This makes question 3 a tough condition to meet. This article claims that screenwriters are deliberately trained albeit unconsciously to fail the Bechdel test. But some argue that real life itself would probably fail the test (the third question again) so why shouldn't movies reflect this too. According to this the percentage of movies passing the B-test jumped considerably during the 90's.

Interestingly a lot of movies that you wouldn't expect actually DO pass the Bechdel test:
Aliens
Kill Bill
28 Days Later

And there are some 'chick' movies that fail:
My Best Friend's Wedding
Forrest Gump
Casablanca

Then there's the Reverse Bechdel Test. And quite a few chick flicks would
fail this one e.g. The Joy Luck Club, Steel Magnolias, and Terms of Endearment. more...

Posted by: Maetenloch at 05:46 PM | Comments (693)
Post contains 1067 words, total size 11 kb.

The rules are simple - feed 2 people for $1 or less, and I'm not talking about splitting a McDonalds dollar menu cheeseburger in half.

Its gotta be enough food that its going to leave both feeling satisfied they really did eat something rather than just kinda smell it.

Obviously macaroni and rice dishes are good core candidates, so I'll toss one out that I've found to be quick,easy, and tasty.

You can get a pound of elbows at Big Lots for about $.80. 8oz of elbows cooked up is a LOT of macaroni, easily enough for 2. Total price so far, $.40.

Add a half can of Chile with beans from Dollar Tree. Now we're up to $.90.

Add 2oz of El Patio Mexican style hot sauce from Big Lots (1qt can $1.30) to give it some zing. That brings the total in just under $1 to feed two people.

Posted by: Purple Avenger at 05:22 PM | Comments (380)
Post contains 163 words, total size 1 kb.

Headed back to U Cal Berkeley, and here's hoping she can go back there and do some good.

Romer, who has a 13-year-old son entering high school in fall, told MSNBC her decison to leave the West Wing and return to teach at the University of California at Berkeley “was purely for family reasons,” and not the result of friction inside the administration. She insisted to Bloomberg TV that Summers had become one of her “dear friends.”

Romer became toxic last year after The Chart™ got chewed to death by AceofSpadesHQ new chief scientist Geoff, picked up by multiple big time newsmedia outlets. It became patently obvious she had co-authored a bullshit promise projection with Sheriff Joe's Chief economist (there's a resume enhancer!) to rally support for Obama's stimulus plan, that promise being "unless we pass this thing we'll see unemployment rise above 8%".

Even Factcheck.org piled on a year ago, as the Obama team began to splain how things were worser than even we geniuses thought they were, and birthed the "jobs saved" economic measure of nothingness. So Obama's team chose to keep her out of the public eye, even as an "explainer of big economic things you rubes are just too dumb to understand."

She served her purpose, first as a wonky eco-brainiac to push the superbribe program over the goal-line, and later as a fall-gal for the "projection" excuse.

And then they dropped her like a used rubber.

I mostly wrote this so I could use that analogy. I'm not smart or nothin, but it's a good analogy.

Posted by: Dave in Texas at 05:13 PM | Comments (79)
Post contains 269 words, total size 2 kb.

As most expected, Lindsey didn't have an epiphany when it comes to amnesty, he's just trying to sweeten the pot for conservatives and border enforcement supporters.

FOSTER: IsnÂ’t a bit of this, frankly, strategic? ArenÂ’t you looking for ways to bring conservatives on board with the more comprehensive immigration reform that you favor? Is that fair to say?

GRAHAM: Yeah, I think itÂ’s fair to say that I need to go home to South Carolina and say: listen, I know weÂ’re all upset that we have 12-14 million people illegally. IÂ’m going to have to be practical. WeÂ’re not going to deport or jail 12-14 million people. A practical solution is not awarding this citizenship on day one, but to allow them to stay here on our terms, learn our language, pay a fine, hold a job, and apply for citizenship through the legal process by getting in the back of the legal line.

That to me is a practical solution. But, I have to be able to say, as part of doing that, we looked at all the incentives that led to the 12-13 million coming, and we changed them. That we did secure our border, unlike any other time in the past, that we now have laws that make it possible to verify employment; we now have a temporary worker program that will allow people to come here and work on our terms temporarily, and help our employers with labor when they canÂ’t find American labor. I have to be able to say that, because I think most Americans are willing to clean this mess up. TheyÂ’re not willing to perpetuate it.

Look, I'm all for being wooed and a secure border, strong employer verification, no amnesty for criminals and an end to birthright citizenship (for the record, I lean towards supporting that but I'm not 100% on board with it. I simply haven't thought about it enough) is a pretty attractive package. If we can get it. Right now though, we don't have any of it. It doesn't look like Democrats will even give Graham his hearing on this. (How's all that bi-partisan good will working out for you Lindsey?)

If there's going to be a grand deal cut, and that is a gigantic if, the liberals are going to have to bite the bullet and give us our stuff first. We've been down the road of amnesty now, enforcement never.

To begin with, amending the Constitution is a BFD and takes a good long time with no guarantees the states will buy in. Congress simply taking up the matter or even passing an amendment, isn't good enough.

Consider what Ronald Reagan wrote in his diaries about the 1986 amnesty bill...

“Al Simpson came by to see if he had my support. After 5 years of trying (during which I’ve been on his side) the House finally passed his immigration bill. They have one or two amendments we could do without but even if the Senate in conference cannot get them out, I’ll sign it. It’s high time we regained control of our borders and his bill will do this.”

Or you know, not.

So for the amnesty proponents out there...after you.

Unless and until we get all our stuff into law and working, I think we have to look to a wise figure for his take on this Graham led deal in the making. more...

Posted by: DrewM at 02:53 PM | Comments (151)
Post contains 826 words, total size 6 kb.

Part II of her long examination of racism -- and also "racism" -- in America, and the deliberate creation of ill will between the races to forward leftist ends.

Very hard hitting -- read the whole thing. The essays she links to are important too.

That Leftist politicians and shapers of the mainstream media content are labeling the Tea Party Movement as racist is a fortuitous example (for them) of how to use the indoctrination which they have implemented. Oh, they know that the Tea party movement isn’t actually racist in its foundation, principles or goals. They do, however, know this: in the mind of the black on-looker who sees the Movement’s mostly white makeup and who does not recognize that he/she has been indoctrinated with an incomplete view of American history or that his anger/vengeance is being purposely inflamed, all the Leftist conditioning will spring up at the first flinging of the epithet ‘racist.’

As a result, whites who know that their opposition to the policies of the Obama Administration and the Democrat-controlled Legislative Branch of government is totally based on principle are even further angered. The Left uses this conditioning and the anger of being unjustly accused to paint the Movement as anti-black, shaping it in their own image as the fruit of the Racial Discord tree which they have planted and so diligently have fed and watered.

White and all other Americans—some who are keen observers of the history of Leftism, of Statism and who understand how and why this country was founded; others who merely want to provide for their families and live as free as possible--are easily able to visualize the path on which this country has its footing and are justifiably angry with those in our government who are purposely leading the United States of America toward tyranny. This is not “white” anger; this is American anger.

The tactics educated into both sets of the American populace are designed to do two things: 1) dis-empower both to the point of believing that their fellow citizens are their enemies, and 2) inflame negative and violent emotions to the point at which actual violence will take place. Fear, anger, and--the progenitor of the two—covetousness; the Left’s long-stoked Race War cannot begin without these.

Related: Black Conservatives Unite. Good video. "Horror show for the left," I Own the World says.

Thanks to EdwardR. (I think -- I've had that open since this morning.)

Posted by: Ace at 01:34 PM | Comments (128)
Post contains 422 words, total size 3 kb.

This is one of those stories you can just make up, because how could it ever be proven you were making it up? There's no external fact reported here, just an internal state, an emotion.

So... sure the Enquirer gets some good factual stories but do I trust them not to make something up that can't be checked?

They're still media, aren't they?

But I'll treat her with the same fairness the media treats Sarah Palin.

"Michelle believes Jill doesn't respect her. What's got her seething is that Jill doesn't seem to treat Michelle with the reverence the first lady expects.

"And it drives Michelle crazy!"

And to take the edge off, she decamps to to a glitzy Spanish pleasure dome.

[W]hile most of the country is pinching pennies and downsizing summer sojourns - or forgoing them altogether - the Obamas don't seem to be heeding their own advice. While many of us are struggling, the First Lady is spending the next few days in a five-star hotel on the chic Costa del Sol in southern Spain with 40 of her "closest friends." According to CNN, the group is expected to occupy 60 to 70 rooms, more than a third of the lodgings at the 160-room resort. Not exactly what one would call cutting back in troubled times.

Reports are calling the lodgings of Obama's Spanish fiesta, the Hotel Villa Padierna in Marbella, "luxurious," "posh" and "a millionaires' playground." Estimated room rate per night? Up to a staggering $2,500. Method of transportation? Air Force Two.

...

Perhaps it could be that the Obamas, who seem to fancy themselves more along the lines of international celebrities than actual leaders, espouse a different view of sacrifice....

The Obama modus operandi is becoming clear. From lavish trips to Spain to reportedly flying Bo, the President's Portuguese water dog, on a separate aircraft to vacation with them in Maine, to a date night in New York City that perhaps cost nearly $100,000, their idea of austerity is really just the lap of luxury, at least for ordinary folks.

Interestingly (I think), that ran in the NY Daily News, a Zuckerman paper, and one that's pretty liberal generally and was supportive of Obama in the past (at least until Zuck got buyer's remorse).

Maybe it's a syndicated conservative columnist (though I haven't heard of her).

Oh: Obama's not exactly cutting coupons either.

Is it unfair to use the class warfare card against these two? Is it hypocritical, after years of condemning Democrats' own use of that card?

Here's a better question: What happened on Psych this week?

I missed it. I think that's a more interesting question, though.

Thanks to Dr. Spank.

Posted by: Ace at 12:20 PM | Comments (152)
Post contains 471 words, total size 3 kb.

I bet you weren't expecting him!

How psyched are you dude? Like totally or only halfway?

The velvety-voiced host eagerly moved in to unveil the surprise of the night:

“The voice again of a man whose second of eternity was woven up with yours, Reverend Tanimoto. Now you have never met him, you’ve never seen him, but he’s here tonight to clasp your hand in friendship. Ladies and gentlemen, Captain Robert Lewis, United States Air Force, who along with Paul Tibbets piloted the plane from which the first atomic power was dropped over Hiroshima.”[1]

With a harp flourish, the co-pilot of the Enola Gay walked out from behind the sliding door and shared historyÂ’s most awkward handshake with Tanimoto. The audience applauded this unprecedented meeting.

And that's how we roll in America, Reverend Nippon.

Via AllahPundit.

Posted by: Ace at 11:52 AM | Comments (219)
Post contains 182 words, total size 1 kb.

Prior religious status: Agnostic.

Current religious status: Curious.

Gov. Joe Manchin‘s office confirmed today that state government officials have been contacted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office this week regarding an ongoing investigation. The target may be Manchin himself, according to a source who asked to remain anonymous.

...

According to the government source, Manchin was subpoenaed as part of a federal grand jury investigation. The subpoenas asked for contracts and records for businesses that have done work at the governorÂ’s mansion as well as provided services for parties there. The investigation is into whether Manchin has complied with bidding and state contract requirements.

Hm... a little anodyne at the end there. But those requirements to keep these transactions transparent -- and uncorrupted. If he did not comply with them, one imagines he had reason not to, no?

Posted by: Ace at 11:35 AM | Comments (51)
Post contains 163 words, total size 1 kb.

Neat piece -- citing both Hitler and Doc Zero (frequently seen at Hot Air).

The original Volkswagen was intended as the "people's car" (that's what Volkswagen means). The idea of a cheap, safe, reliable car for the working man was popular before Adolf Hitler embraced it, but as a self-proclaimed man of the people, he made the idea his own....

And then there's the electric-gas hybrid Chevy Volt, aka the "Voltswagen." At $41,000, about as much as the average American makes in a year, this is no people's car. GM, owned by the government and the labor unions, is pitching it to affluent hipsters who don't need a lot of space for a family. Deloitte Consulting says that the demand for such cars is from "young, very high income individuals" from households that make more than $200,000 a year, which is why the Volt will be rolled out in upscale, trendy urban markets. (Meanwhile the Chevy Cruze, the gas-only version of the Volt, has more room inside and is a mere $17,000.)

Because the Volt's sticker price might be too high for even that crowd, the government is offering a federal subsidy of up to $7,500 (Californians have a state subsidy, too), which means that working-class people will be helping to pay for playthings for upper-income people.

"Like the EV1 that GM tried to peddle in the California market," Kenneth Green, an environmental scientist at the American Enterprise Institute, says, "the Volt is a vanity car for the well-off that will be subsidized by less well-off taxpayers at all stages, from R&D to sales and to the construction of charging stations."

...

[N]o matter how you crunch the numbers or the science, there's no disputing that this is a political car, designed to meet the demands not of an economic market but of an ideological one, directed by the collusion of big business and big government. In this sense, the Volkswagen and the Voltswagen have a lot in common.

Well it is Government Motors, dude.

Posted by: Ace at 11:28 AM | Comments (85)
Post contains 347 words, total size 2 kb.