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In fact, on further reflection I suggest that you do not even click on the video link, and only the most sanguine amongst you should even click on The critical blog post about it. more...

Posted by: Open Blogger at 11:55 AM | Comments (128)
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At least the Cowgirls won't lose today.

As far as yesterday goes. Too bad OSU. And too bad OSU.

You coulda been somebody. You coulda been a contender. Contenders. Somethin. Hey, you both scored 24 points. There's a coincidence. Somethin.

Posted by: Dave in Texas at 08:56 AM | Comments (283)
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Story Time

Good morning morons and moronettes and welcome to the award-winning AoSHQ's prestigious Sunday Morning Book Thread.

Hubris

On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. And the people were shouting, "The voice of a god, and not of a man!" Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.

(Acts 12:21-23)

I just love happy endings, don't you?

Politics As Story

If you haven't yet read the landlord's article from a couple of days ago, The MacGuffinization of American Politics, kindly do so at once. If you're like me, you will have two reactions. The first will be "wow, that's brilliant" and the second will be "wow, that's depressing".

This is actually not a brilliant new insight from ace, but rather further development of an idea he has discussed a number of times in the past: beneath the obvious bias of media coverage of Obama (and liberals in general), there is a subtler bias at work, namely, that the news coverage is written and produced in such a way that Obama, or the liberal politician, or whatever aspect of the progressive agenda they're covering, is always presented as the side they want you to root for, the side you're supposed to want to win.

And thus politics becomes narrative.

On the one hand, this is an insightful observation. On the other, it really should be obvious: we're just doing what human beings always do, namely, tell stories to each other. We always overlay a narrative on top of events in order to better understand them. This struck me as I was watching the intro to the Auburn v. Missouri football game yesterday. The narrator was explaining how the two teams got here, what they had to do to play in a championship game, and it just sounded like they were setting up backstories for each team, and, unlike how the MSM promotes one and only one political narrative, in this contest, you could choose the narrative you liked best and that was the team you root for. It certainly wouldn't do for CBS to, say, talk up Auburn and trash Missouri. Why would they want to, they're not AuburnTV. They'd lose tons of viewers. If you suggested they do this, they'd think you were nuts, and they'd be right.

But they do this with politics ALL THE DAMN TIME. And it never occurs to them how outrageous this is.

And doesn't the WWE do this sort of thing, too, adding backstories? At any given wrestling match, isn't there always something else going on, some personal conflict or dispute between the performers that is calculated to make the actual outcome more significant than it would be otherwise?

I've touched on this topic in a previous book thread:

I don't think there's ever been a civilization that didn't have storytelling in one form or another. It seems that human beings are just wired that way and stories exert a powerful effect on the human psyche. There's something very compelling to us about hearing a good story.

And what's interesting is that the story doesn't have to be true in order for us to feel the effects of its power.

We just love to tell stories. It's why we write books.

The Reagan biography President Reagan: The Role Of A Lifetime by Lou Cannon is along these lines, positing Reagan as lead character in a story, a movie in this case. I remember rolling my eyes when this bio came out, but in the MacGuffin thread, moronette rockmom says it's actually a pretty good book.

Although I think I'd prefer just reading his diaries and letting the man speak for himself more...

Posted by: Open Blogger at 07:07 AM | Comments (163)
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In honor of South Eastern Middle School in Fawn Grove, PA, today's gun thread is imaginary but apparently still just as deadly.

A fifth grader in [Pennsylvania] has been suspended for shooting an imaginary arrow at a classmate. The 10-year-old also faces possible expulsion.

The Rutherford Institute, which is defending Johnny Jones, says he was told he violated the schoolÂ’s zero tolerance policy on weapons. TheyÂ’re working to get the suspension reversed and lifted from his permanent record.

On Friday night’s The Kelly File, defense attorney Jonna Spilbor reacted to the ordeal. “Here’s how ridiculous it is. If we’re going to punish this poor kid for pretending to shoot a bow and arrow, let’s ticket his parents for parking their unicorn in a fire zone.”

OTOH, this could spawn a whole new branch of the "Little Johnny" joke genre, so there's that.

Posted by: andy at 05:03 AM | Comments (283)
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... Late Start Edition

Posted by: andy at 04:09 AM | Comments (174)
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Here's some silly nonsense for your Sunday morning:

I love it when Picard tells Wesley to shut up.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 07:05 AM | Comments (16)
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Clearly something has gone awry at the USS AoSHQ if this thread is appearing.

But welcome to your temporary back-up stunt CatSaturday night ONT anyway.

And don't you have something else better to be doing than hanging out here?

No? Okay then come on in.

Posted by: Maetenloch at 06:46 PM | Comments (501)
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This is what the 8th circle of hell looks like

Open thread.

Posted by: Purple Avenger at 05:12 PM | Comments (371)
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Just trying to keep it from getting stale around here.

Remember that 'Jesus Save Me' ad from Mark Pryor? No? Well, here it is again.

Well, I think I've seen it before.
more...

Posted by: Open Blogger at 10:32 AM | Comments (138)
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A couple of young men died this week while racing down a city street in Santa Clarita, CA. Many people died that day, folks from all over the country, but we know of these particular deaths because one of the dead was a Hollywood star. The fact that he was famous and drawing so much press coverage sent many on Twitter into a faux rage about all the attention he received due to his fame. And, I agree that his death is not more tragic simply because he was famous. However, I would also argue that his death was not less tragic either. A young man died and left behind a family who loved him. The fact that we know this due to his fame simply means that we can put a name and a face to the death and that fact alone makes it more personal. Nothing more, nothing less.

R.I.P. Paul Walker

Driving is a dangerous undertaking which is only made more dangerous when speed and/or alcohol are introduced into the environment. There's a reason why racing is conducted in a controlled environment. That's not to say that we haven't all done it. We have, and are blessed to have survived our foolishness. And, that's not to say that all speed is bad. In fact, you're better off not being the slowest guy on the road when every one else is doing 75 mph, but racing down a public street is not the ideal for either the driver, the passenger, or those in close proximity. Toss in some distracted drivers, a few selfish assholes, and a foreigner or two trying to adapt to driving on the right side of the road and, well, it's one big crash-stew on simmer.

Originally, when composing this post, I captured images of famous accident scenes but, in the end, it was all too ghoulish to post. However, it served as a reminder that no person is immune in a car crash: Not the young and beautiful. Not the very wealthy or famous. Not the elite. Not the politician. (See Princesses Grace and Diana, Dodi Fayed, James Dean, Sam Kinison, Harry Chapin, Jayne Mansfield, and Mary Jo Kopechne to start). Hell, even in a controlled environment and with the very best-in-class behind the wheel...

With all the latest advancements in safety in use...

With the latest in automotive design applied...

Even when the accident looks completely survivable...

Speed can kill.
more...

Posted by: Open Blogger at 11:25 AM | Comments (252)
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