Mickey Z
Cool Observer
Monday, December 19, 2005
Have Yourself a Merry I.F. Stone Day
Good morning Mickey and all you Expendables.
Only 99 more posts to go.
I found the multi-volume set of Izzy’s articles in a used book store for cheap about twelve years ago, and read them straight through. Lately, I’ve determined that, in today’s environment, he would’ve met with an unfortunate “accident,” or would have been extraordinarily renditioned to a cinderblock building in Poland, after which legends would’ve arisen along the lines of the disappearance of Ambrose Bierce. Izzy didn’t take any guff from anyone, and he wasn’t afraid to go after the slimeballs of his day. If he wasn’t dead already, the existence of Halliburton and Enron would finish him off for sure.
Thanks for the memories, Mickey. You really do hit all the right notes here. It’s a great “place” in which to start my Monday.
Posted by Hawk on from Boulder, CO 12/19 at 08:47 AMnot really read any of stone’s pieces but will have to get round to it.
105 posts yesterday. wow.
about the football match mentioned yesterday. there was a great comedy show that used to be on that was set in WW1. they were to go over the top and were going ot be killed the next morn and are reminiscing....
“do you remember the football match?”
“of course, how could i forget it… - i was NEVER offside i couldn’t believe that decision”sorry, i thought it was funny.
Posted by michael on from scotland 12/19 at 08:59 AMGood morning, Hawk. Looks like we broke the 100 mark last night after I left. The Expendables forgot to say ,"Good night”, to Grandpa, Mary Ellen, John Boy, etc.
Last night I watched part of Born on the Fourth of July. I think that the real Abbie Hoffman was in it. Am I mistaken?Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 12/19 at 09:06 AMGood morning, michael. We were posting at the same time.
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 12/19 at 09:07 AMA bracing draught of Vonnegut to start my day! Who needs a cold shower?
From the Panexa link:
“Muscle: In a small number of tested cases (84%) PANEXAwas found to cause abdominal wall muscle breakdown coupled with spasmodic activity in lower back/spinal muscles, resulting in most patients violently bending forward like a book slamming shut.”Ah, side effects.
Hi, Hawk! Stone’s stuff is amazing. I haven’t read anything like all of it, but he was a dynamo of indignation, and for all the right reasons.
Huge media conglomerates are never going to support muckrakers in this day and age. The Internet is the next place to be corporatized, and they’re working out how at record speeds. I feel evrmore like we’re living the reality of the movie Brazil.
RMJ, good morning! I think you’re mistaken about Abbie Hoffmann. Pretty amazing to break triple digits yesterday?! Busy, busy day.
Michael, a little sports humor to liven up a morning is never a bad thing. I have no idea what it means. However, I know more men who’d think about sports after death than I care to admit. Cold better?
Posted by Mudge on from Dear, dead Austin 12/19 at 09:45 AMI only just noticed, MZ...excuse me, Poodle Precious...that Panexa is made by Merde Pharmaceuticles! That’s a riot!
And, JFYI, poodles were bred to be hunting dogs, are very brave, and have all those curls to help insulate them for cold-water plunges. More athletric than a poodle? Ha! (I once dated a poodle-rancher’s son, I’m still defensive.)
Posted by Mudge on from Dear, dead Austin 12/19 at 09:51 AMHawk, from yesterday: Pimento cheese (pause for drool-wiping) is grated American cheese suspended in a bath of mayonnaise and flavored withh miscellaneous goodies including pimentos, like from olives. Scooped up in a Frito, it’s real close to heaven. Honey and coriander ice cream sounds nummy too.
In NYC, I lived on Washington Place between 6th Ave and Washington Square for a couple years. There was an ice-cream place on, I think, 3rd St, called “Pravinie.” They sold Asian flavors of ice cream, as well as their take on American flavors (cookies and cream, f/ex, made with fortune cookies in green tea ice cream. Still wouldn’t eat it, I really loathe fortune cookies as much as I loathe Oreos). They had the most unusual flavor of them all, though...durrian ice cream.
Durrian fruits are the size of basketballs, wrinkly, hideous smelling, rank things. Their smell is so vile that subway or bus riders in Singapore are fined for carrying them on the transit system. The Pravinie folks bought the fruits and made the ice cream for the very, very few who knew what it was. I blundered in one night and said, in my slurred drunkenness, “Gimme the weirdest thing you got.”
Durrian ice cream is WEIRD. The custard base is sweet, of course, but the overpoweringly rank fruit is like a blast of sewer gas to your sinuses while you have a mouthful of sugar.
I was hooked. The Pravinie folks were appalled. I learned about durrians, their first recorded Western consumer was an Englishman (naturally) who reported that eating durrian was like “eating carrion in custard.” I bow to the perfectly turned phrase and make no attempt to better it.
James, from yesterday: Roddy’s education will be deep but narrow if you enroll him in Expendable U. He’ll lack Consumerism 101 and Groupthink 101 and Conformism 101...do you really want your puddy to lack these essential survival skills? Does Frank get to come home today?
Interesting post, Dr. Livingston (I presume you’r a doctor?).
Posted by Mudge on from Dear, dead Austin 12/19 at 10:22 AMG’morning, all. Glad to see such appreciation for Mr. Stone today. I’m just back from Manhattan. No strike yet...but it’s looming.
Mudge, the durrian is in fact the dessert treat for the raw food crowd. You crack it open (not an easy task) and eat it like custard.
Poodle rancher?
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 12/19 at 10:25 AMYes, poodle rancher. One who raises poodles for showing, breeding, sale to stupid fools who paint their innocent nails and coif their curliness into topiary shapes that should be outlawed.
Be around enough poodles for enough time, you get to see the real dog, not the clown image. Likable creatures, actually.
Never knew durrian made it so big here! I’m no big fan of the room-temp raw thing. It’s the liverwurst of fruits. What’s the “raw-food crowd?”
Posted by Mudge on from Dear, dead Austin 12/19 at 10:58 AMGood morning, RMJ. I haven’t talked with you yet, though I’ve experienced a growing “interest” in doing so. I take it you’re from the Canadian Expendables outlet?
Posted by Hawk on from Boulder, CO, USA 12/19 at 11:00 AMHawk, here’s an interview I did with Rosemarie (RMJ): http://tinyurl.com/byb6w
Mudge: http://www.living-foods.com
I’ll see everyone in a little while. Heading out again...another mild sunny December day here.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 12/19 at 11:05 AMMudge: Your description of Pimento Cheese reminds me what I ate during my third childhood, when I worked at an indpendent record store, plugged away on a Sociology B.A. degree, and lived in a tiny room in a party house next to the university—for six years starting in 1991. It’s amazing what you can barter for with a few promotional cd’s. Free pizza, free smothered beef burritos, free fries, free beer, free candy bars, free lattes, free fish tacos, free chicken wings—and I put sour cream on most of it. I lifted weights during that period, telling myself that it would counteract any artery-clogging from the food, but I doubt there was enough arobic benefit to make a dent. Luckily, I met my future wife, who was vegetarian at the time. The guy at Dairy Queen noticed that I wasn’t coming in anymore, and stopped me on the street one day. “Girlfriend?” he asked. I hung my head in shame. But, apparently, it worked, because she not only didn’t run away, she married me two years ago. She’s still wondering what kind of spell I cast on her....
We tried a live food diet a couple years ago, because it’s really good for the digestion (which is an issue for Mrs. Hawk). We bought cookbooks and assorted tools of the trade, but it took up so much of our time and energy that we had to drop it. We do, however, eat a lot of raw food—dip it in salad dressing, and it does tend to run interference for your colon. I’m actually coming to like all that rabbit food, which is really weird for me.
I wonder what Mrs. Hawk would say if I whipped up some Pimento Cheese? I’d have to avoid telling her about the mayo, but if I tell her the pimentos are organic, it might fly.
Posted by Hawk on from Boulder, CO, USA 12/19 at 11:10 AMThanks for the Rosemarie link, Mickey. I’ll read the interview now.
Posted by Hawk on from Boulder, CO, USA 12/19 at 11:12 AMThe IF Stone piece is one of my favorites from 50 AR, along with the Eugene Debs one. Too bad I wasn’t in jail during the RNC long enough to run for any office.
Yes, Mudge and everyone, I have to be sure to leave Brooklyn Heights to be up on West 72nd Street by 6pm to trade $930 in exchange for a presumably recovered (unblocked) Frank the Auto-Free Kitty. I wouldn’t worry about their education-- it’s anybody’s guess what they’re surfing when Daddy’s away. Or what blood offerings to Satan they’re making.
A Hamsun chat email later tonight… And oddly enough, when my dad came here in the 60s, he lived on Bleeker just under the park. I always thus pictured him in the Beat phase with beret and turtleneck and cigaretter holder, but of course that wasn’t him. Also, the real whammy would be for the place I’ve been working at here to hire me ‘permanently’, not just temp for this proofreading, etc. project. That would be the gift that keeps on giving. Or taking, depending how you “feel”.
Posted by James Langergaard on from Hell's Kitchen 12/19 at 11:13 AMSpeaking of RMJ, she has a new article up: http://tinyurl.com/7wboj
James: Good luck with Frank.
Okay, now I’m really outta here…
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 12/19 at 11:15 AMWow, Rosemarie! I seem to have picked up a little of your story from the conversation here, but Mickey’s interview really spells it out. I’m proud of you. Please count me as another supporter, okay?
Posted by Hawk on from Boulder, CO, USA 12/19 at 11:28 AMHi everyone
I F Stone is a new name to me, but anyone who sticks it to the man gets my general vote of approval and a mental note to check out later. I have some dinner to prepare (bagel with balsamic vinegar, maybe some cheese - ah, what a gourmet!) & will check the link.
Anyone here have a favourite humourist? Mine would have to be P G Wodehouse, but anyone checking Mencken, Bierce, Perelman etc would be on the right lines in my view. Names, folks, names! Give Christopher people to look into & new things to discover.
Posted by Chris Wood on from Manchester, England 12/19 at 11:55 AMVexed I missed yesterday’s 100. Typical, you all type your asses off and I’m busy sleeping (reminds me of college).
Posted by Chris Wood on from Manchester, England 12/19 at 11:56 AMRe: Rosemarie. That’s a bloody outrage! Handcuffing a peaceful protestor, arresting a peaceful protestor, lying about charges ... shit, where’s the fucking constitution in all this?
I’ve only read the first bit as well - will be back shortly.
Posted by Chris Wood on from Manchester, England 12/19 at 12:01 PMThat’s a total bloody disgrace. Rosemarie, you are heroic in my book.
Posted by Chris Wood on from Manchester, England 12/19 at 12:04 PMOkay, to celebrate IF Stone Day in the misdst of this holiday season, the WWI soldiers from yesterday and Bukowski from last week, a friend of mine sent me this, a true patriot showing some holiday cheer:
Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 12/19 at 12:59 PMHey everyone,
Tsk, those dumb south americans, they just can’t seem to vote for the Right person.
I particularly love “His critics fear a Morales government could jeopardize the country’s flow of multi-million dollar economic aid from Washington.”
Its just perfect.Chris - I missed our “ton” too, but I always find it impossible to be vexed. As soon as I think “oooh, I am vexed”, I just snigger uncontrollably.
Posted by Mew on from England 12/19 at 01:18 PMA fair point, Mew. The word “vexed” is, ironically, relaxing. Whowudvethunkit?
I was going to put “gutted,” but wasn’t sure if that bit of slang translates transAtlantically.
BTW, do you often think “oo, I am vexed”? I love that Wodehouse phrase - “He wasn’t disgruntled, but looked very far from being gruntled.” Wonderful.
Posted by Chris Wood on from Manchester, England 12/19 at 01:32 PMOne of my favorite humorists is Ms. Dorothy Parker...who believed “Brevity is the soul of lingerie.”
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 12/19 at 01:37 PMGood one! (is this a victory for poodle power ...)
Posted by Chris Wood on from Manchester, England 12/19 at 01:38 PMDurian Fruit is considered an aphordisiac looky here: http://tinyurl.com/dmm8s
Money is best thing in the world, say primary children:
http://tinyurl.com/b7wayPosted by tm on from in a grove 12/19 at 01:46 PMThat sweatshops suck graphic on the main post reminds me that there are some animals I am not so sympathetic towards:
http://tinyurl.com/6wvtjIt’s just time for them to go… less than four hours now!
Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 12/19 at 02:22 PMJames, that’s sick and twisted. Any more?
Posted by Chris Wood on from Manchester, England 12/19 at 02:27 PM-
And there’s a sequel listed there, too.
Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 12/19 at 02:31 PM Good morning, Mickey and all you MZ’ers/expendables!
I heart I.F. Stone and I heart Vonnegut - and Mickey, and all of you of course ..
It is 6:35 on a Tuesday morning, and it will be quite warm today: about 86F.Posted by Helga Fremlin on from Daylesford, Australia 12/19 at 02:36 PMAnd this re poodles, my dear fellow expendables: aren’t they the most intelligent dogs along with border collies? Our dog is a mixture of border collie and kelpie (Australian sheepdog), so I would have to say that wouldn’t I?
And there were 105 comments yesterday? WOW!!!
Captcha ‘ill’ - yesterday’s speech by George W. Bush made me nearly ill ..Posted by Helga Fremlin on from Daylesford, Australia 12/19 at 02:41 PMThanks, as always, for the links, TM. James, I’m not sure if I should thank you for that suicidal bunny.
Hi Helga. You’ve convinced me. I’m a proud poodle.
Btw, Vinnie the Chin’s “life” is over: http://tinyurl.com/7waby
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 12/19 at 02:49 PMJust read the interview you did with Rosemarie, Mickey - so interesting!
And I have started reading Robert Fisk’s ‘The Great War for Civilisation’ - that should keep me out of mischief for quite a while - the book is 1,283 pages long, plus bibliography, notes, etc.
Lastly, like you, I am a bit of a stickler for spelling, Mickey!Posted by Helga Fremlin on from Daylesford, Australia 12/19 at 02:51 PMI know, the Piss on Pity folks from the 50 AR piece would have a hard time with it… what can I tell you, rough few days.
Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 12/19 at 02:53 PMJames, is Frank home?
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 12/19 at 02:54 PMNo, I’m at work and he’s at the vet; I pick him up at 6pm… I’ll let you know when he can come to the computer. Probably have a photo for you, knowing me.
Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 12/19 at 02:57 PMRe: Vinnie the Chin. Ok, he was a gangster, racketeer and all that, but anyone who avoids jail by wearing slippers has something going for him.
Posted by Chris Wood on from Manchester, England 12/19 at 03:09 PMHi All -
Delightful links and conversation, thusfar.“Washington considers Morales an enemy in its anti-drug fight in Bolivia...”
Ah, what a shocking announcement.
We have so many “fights,” so many wars -
We have the war on terror, the battle against obesity, the war on tobacco, the war on drugs, the war on cancer, the war on poverty, the fight against aging, the fight for energy independance, the fight against tooth decay, the fight for better schools, the fight against sexual and child abuse, the fight against high prices, the ongoing war on crime…Whew! I sure hope we can win `em…
Thanks for the piece on Mr. Stone(s), Mickey. It’s wonderful to be reminded, from time to time, that such people exist… ( Or, gulp!, used to. )
Rosemarie - a very interesting article. You weren’t going to tell us, though, were you?
You’re right that having to remove wallets from pocket or handbag is one of the few things still capable of waking people up… It would be a great argument starter, and some truth might actually sneak out.
By the way - here’s a link for you, my friend:
http://tinyurl.com/c6xpzThat polar bear stuff just beats me up, Mickey.
Damnit.
God Damnit.“less”
Posted by joe on from Oregon 12/19 at 03:31 PMFor all you poodle fans:
Posted by joe on from Oregon 12/19 at 03:36 PMJoe, thanks for that AH link...so that makes me think he was in the movie last night.
Hawk and Chris....thanks for your support. It is a bloody outrage, what is happening in this country now. Hummmm, maybe I should try walking around town in my robe and slippers. Do you think that would keep me out of prison?
Cheers to Helga, James, Mew, Mickey and anyone else here today.
Mudge, my “Reparations” article was inspired by things that you said a few days ago. I know that you don’t agree with me on this issue, but you should know that you are a constant inspiration.
About the Bush speech last night...he again said the the US was not in Iraq before 9/11. I have not seen any reports of the Press picking up on that piece of misinformation. It is important because it feeds in to the big lie that there was no explanation for 9/11.Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 12/19 at 04:03 PMHey, RMJ, this might explain why I’m not on C-Span:
http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=2764Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 12/19 at 04:24 PMHey-- can anyone remind me how to post an image here later? Should be an extremely vital one coming…
Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 12/19 at 04:50 PMI’m not the cleverest fellow but…
“Mr. President,” one aide in the meeting said. “There is a valid case that the provisions in this law(PATRIOT Act) undermine the Constitution.”
“Stop throwing the Constitution in my face,” Bush screamed back. “It’s just a goddamned piece of paper!”
Capitol Hill Blue Dec. 9, 2005
http://tinyurl.com/9d8fwBush said he approved the action (domestic eavesdropping program)without such orders “because it enables us to move faster and quicker. We’ve got to be fast on our feet.
“It is legal to do so. I swore to uphold the laws. Legal authority is derived from the Constitution,” Bush added.
NBC News Dec. 19, 2005
http://tinyurl.com/78248Posted by Cart on from near Warshington DC 12/19 at 05:34 PMThe polar bear story just kills me. Tonight I’m reading an article in a major Polish weekly magazine that harshly criticizes Jared Diamond. His writings are so threatening to racists and enemies of the environment (and highly recommended for any of you who haven’t yet had the pleasure).
Greetings to you all from snowy Poland. Sorry to say I don’t have much time to join in what appear to be very lively and completely wacky conversations these days.
Posted by Keir on from Poland 12/19 at 05:35 PMHawk #12: Pimento cheese probably won’t make a hit with Mrs. Hawk; the greasy loveliness of mayo will most likely make her sick as a dog. But it shore ‘nuff toasts my bagels.
James #14: Be careful what you wish for, dear.
Chris #17: Mrs. Parker was crazy as a bedbug. I love her stuff! She wroote reviews for The New Yorker in the 1920s under the name “Constant Reader;” I am still laughing at her unkind review of Winne the Pooh: “Tonstant Weadew fwowed up.”
Familiar with Fran Lebowitz? “Don’t wear clothing with cute sayings on it. If no one wants to hear from you, why would they want to hear from your sweater?”
How about poet/humorist Ogden Nash? “Shake and shake/the ketchup bottle/none’ll come/and then a lot’ll”
Or Felicia Lamport? “The quahog cried “Damme!"/because of the whammy/imposed on that chamois-/
soft clam//For snails had run rife on/his succulent siphon/He spent his whole life on/the lam”The late Joe Keenan’s gay Manhattan sophisticate novels Blue Heaven and Putting on the Ritz are like the 1930s screwball white-telephone movies; I like that kind of humor, and I had a six-pack from laughing after reading these two back-to-back.
Mew #22: Silly silly Bolivians, thinking they can runtheir own contry! Tsk! After Bush warned everyone last night that being our President (I have a choice? I say “no, thanks, cretinous mushroom!") meant “doing what I think is best,” the world’s on notice...three more years of this asshole. I extend my personal apologies to each of y’all.
tm #26: Durian’s good for everything from impotence to childbirth pains! Which, come to think of it, has a certain lovely symmetry, doesn’t it....
James #27: My family has a tradition of eating rabbit on Easter.
Helga #31: Poodle Precious will become used to his inclusion in the quite noble and honorable line of poodles, but thanks for helping things along. Whatinahell’s a kelpie doing in dog form?! They’re Celtic sea beasties with magical powers! For some reason I can’t get to TinyURL (Cannot find server my lily-white one!) so here’s a regular link: http://www.pantheon.org/articles/k/kelpie.html
Hi Joe!! >smooch<
RMJ #40: No dear, we don’t agree on this issue, but so what? I’m pleased to have inspired you! I’d far rather disagree with someone of your caliber than agree with, say, a lesser mortal like...oh, never mind.
SO James! When Frank comes home, tell him Uncle Mudge says, “HISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSfftfttffffft” okay?
Posted by Mudge on from Dear, dead Austin 12/19 at 05:41 PMJames: I do not know how to post an image in the comments section. Sorry.
Cart: I heard Bush is gonna give our Constitution to Iraq. He figures, we ain’t using it anyway.
Keir: Welcome back. As Dubya sez: “Don’t forget Poland.”
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 12/19 at 05:42 PMI get it! The President meant to say, “Stop throwing that piece of paper I swore to uphold in my face!”
Posted by Cart on from near Warshington DC 12/19 at 05:43 PMKeir! Glad to see you back, however briefly! What are you doing in Poland?
My neighbors across the street are a very weird bunch: Whitebread Murrican husband, Tanzanian wife, their three kids, and their Polish lover Rad. The Polish guy’s a trip and a half. His dad moved to the USA in 1981, when this guy was about 2, and raised a family with another Polish emigre. Rad joined their menage from Poland when he ws about 7, and he’s shuttled back and forth ever since.
I thought Collapse was amazing and wonderful. No wonder it “riles” folks up, huh?
Posted by Mudge on from Dear, dead Austin 12/19 at 05:47 PMJames #42: Go thump Michael’s tub, he knows how to do it.
Cart #47: Exactly. To Shrub it’s a piece of paper with some more-or-less sensible suggestions on it. He follows the ones he likes, ignores the others, and hang the consequences for the world, not to mention the future holders of his office! Whenever the Repulsivecans do something egregiously stupidly partisan, I secretly snigger and think, “wait’ll they’re out of power! hoohoohoo will they be pissed to suffer the same stupidity!”
Posted by Mudge on from Dear, dead Austin 12/19 at 05:54 PMHalfway to 100, and on a Monday! Chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarge!
Can we break the “record” set only yesterday?! The captcha-oracle says so!
Posted by Mudge on from Dear, dead Austin 12/19 at 05:58 PMThe movie Brokeback Mountain was really weepy stuff for me, but the story it’s based on I’ve never read until now. Because the movie’s so popular, a hardcover edition of JUST that one story was released recently. My book club offered it for a few bucks, so my foster mother ordered it s a Christmas gift.
Oh my God.
I haven’t cried that much at a book since I was a kid reading One Hundred and One Dalmatians. Proulx is a wonderful writer, she gets voices in a way I am floored by and jealous of, but Ennis and Jack are...well, pitch-perfect is the best way I can describe it.
It’s a wonderful read, I really do recommend it...I doubt anyone not queer as a $3 bill will get all sniffly over it, but it’s still just wonderful. Treat yourselves!
Posted by Mudge on from Dear, dead Austin 12/19 at 06:46 PMMudge, your last post got me thinking that we might wanna start voting soon on a book to read as a group and/or a movie to see.
I’ll make an official post about it this week, but let’s all dig out those Expendable thinking caps.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 12/19 at 06:54 PMKeir, are you enjoying some of that great Polish food? Tell us more. You are in the homeland of my ancestors.
Mickey, That article about C-span was a little troubling but I agree with it. That is exactly why they need you. Hey everybody, HAVE YOU BEEN WRITING TO C-SPAN AND REQUESTING THAT THEY INTERVIEW MICKEY?????
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 12/19 at 07:00 PMMudge, I love the idea of getting a six pack from laughing. That’s the sort of work out we can all use!
Do you know Edward Lear at all? He has some splendidly silly verse: You are old Father William , the young man said / and your hair has become very white / and yet you incessantly stand on your head / are you sure, at your age, it is right?
The Fran Lebowitz phrase, while very funny, shamed me. I used to have a penchant for “amusing” t shirts, a bit of a pisser when you realise even the wittiest one liners wear thin after three hours or so.
Some of the others I hadn’t heard of - many thanks for the suggestions - will check some out soon!
Cart, your posting surprised me. I didn’t realise Bush had heard of the constitution! “Just a piece of paper ...” Doh is for Democracy in this day and age.
(BTW, the constitution is written on hemp paper. Bush is giving pot smokers a hard time ... some connection?)
Posted by Chris Wood on from Manchester, England 12/19 at 07:14 PMHere are the e-mail addresses for C-span. They need to interview Mickey either on book tv and/or Washington Journal.
-SPAN EMAIL ADDRESSES
C-SPAN PROGRAMMING: SEND COMMENTS/QUESTIONS
Book TV:
C-SPAN Radio:
Washington Journal: Ask a Guest a Question
Washington Journal: Contact the Producers
PROGRAMMING QUESTIONS & SUGGESTIONS
Viewer Services: Questions about our schedule, how to buy videotapes, and for any other general comments about C-SPAN -
Suggest Events: Submit a public event that you think C-SPAN should cover -Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 12/19 at 07:21 PMOkay, here’s a thought. None of us could seriously suggest that coke use, rampant skirt chasing and drink driving are the best lifestyle choices. Anyone who read that book on Don Simpson has to agree to that.
However ... IF Bush didn’t have that seminal meeting with the preacher (if that’s true and not just some grass roots fundy pitch), and never “cleaned his act up”, while we would all be better off, would he?
Obviously it’s much better for society if idiots sired by rich daddies went about the place being an asshole and full of blow rather than being an asshole with aa full arsenal, but how about himself?
(Not that I really give a shit about the prez, but surely at some point - SURELY! - he will have a moment of self appraisal and say, shit, if only I’d stuck to being a playboy)
I’m dreaming, of course. If these guys were capable of self analysis, Cheney would sob through the night about selling his heart & balls to Halliburton. About as likely as Rumsfeld collecting for Amnesty International. Hum.
Posted by Chris Wood on from Manchester, England 12/19 at 07:21 PMRMJ, good point re C-SPAN, will follow that up.
BTW, is there anyone we can email regarding your situation? Or would some noisy wanker from England not exactly help the situation?
Posted by Chris Wood on from Manchester, England 12/19 at 07:25 PMChris, we wank quietly here in America, per orders from Pat Robertson. Oh, and by the way:
Bush did once handle the constitution but he didn’t inhale - I mean, uh, read it..Keir - I’m with Rosemarie, I’d like to hear more about Poland, as well. Lawd, it’s the site of so many 20th century horrors, - of Polish and German and Russian origin - I imagine you can hear screams and anxious whispers in the winds…
Oh, and Rosemarie - yes, I did write. I’ll write again.
Mickey - I’ll try to make a list…. old folks like lists.
Mudge, your reference to Brokeback Mountain reminds me of a piece I read yesterday at Huffington Post. I generally avoid Huffington’s Posts, because whenever I visit I feel under-dressed. I feel I need to pick up some Gucci, Armani and Lauren and finish with a nice, subdued cardigan, draped across the shoulders, with just the gentlest twist of the arms across my chest…
However, I followed a link from Chris Floyd, and entered the soiree “as is.” There followed a pretty good article declaring that Bush has made no errors, but intended to destroy Afghanistan, Iraq, the US and our various international alliances…
Below were scores of links, most of them in full agreement with the analysis, though I felt the constant presence of deep longings for the Hah! “revival” of the Dems as the “opposition party.”Anyway, someone named “Dynapro,” posting twice, was kind enough to opine:
“all this loss of much-needed religious support is over Abortion Rights and Homosexuality. If we could distance ourselves from them, we would have at least an equal footing of support among religious voters.
Isn’t there a way for Democrats to priortize? To practice battlefield triage? ..... Couldn’t we just focus on winning the elections and leave these losing social agenda items alone. Yeah, in my dreams...”
And… this fellow’s a “friend…”
Here’s the link, in case anyone would care to read the article…
It’s a very good piece.
Posted by joe on from Oregon 12/19 at 07:35 PMJames should be posting soon with news of Frank’s return home.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 12/19 at 07:53 PMThanks, RMJ, for your efforts to get me on C-Span. Btw, you and I are posted on the home page here today: http://www.counterbias.com
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 12/19 at 07:58 PMChris, noisy wankers from England are always appreciated...the noisier, the better. My local newspaper here, The Bennington Banner, refused to publish most of the wonderful letters that they received from the gang here at Mickey’s....that’s not right for so many reasons. The local folks in my home town know less about my case than you do. You could try writing to the Banner, or maybe the Boston Globe, or the CBS TV affiliate in Albany, NY. They did a good job and sent a whole crew over to cover all of the trial and then came all the way back a few weeks later to cover the Sentencing. They also showed my photographs of the bombed Iraqi children on the news that night. That was a big victory...might have been one of the first times that those photos were ever seen on US TV. I had the photos in Court with me but the Judge would not allow the jury to see them. The whole point of what I did was to have the photos shown, so I consider my Trial a success even though the jury found me guilty with less than 10 minutes deliberation. Now, Mickey often posts the link to the Fisk photos so I am very happy.
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 12/19 at 08:00 PMThanks Mickey. I had missed that one on CB. We are looking good there.
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 12/19 at 08:05 PMAlways my pleasure to share a webpage with you, RMJ.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 12/19 at 08:10 PMRe: wanking & Pat Robertson (words that ought to be put together far more often, in my view): a friend and I one stoned evening invented the cock silencer, a kitchen roll screwed over the end of the old chap like a spy with a pistol, a la James Bond films. Why? #### knows. We enjoyed it.
(BTW, also works as a spliff silencer. Joints don’t need silencing, true, but ... why not?)
RMJ - I will be delighted to contact them.
Posted by Chris Wood on from Manchester, England 12/19 at 08:23 PMOkay okay, the 51st American Revolution is back (no not Cindy Sheehan). Rather uneventful, which I suppose is for the best. The heat’s on here now, and he settled in near the corner with the radiator, so I can’t get him to pose for photos or comment himself, but he appreciates everything. Mudge, I’ll be cooking them special low-magnesium bladder-health rabbit stew in your name. And I hear ya about the perm job thing, but if I have to go back to overnight temping again, I’ll be sleeping during all the action here. Not to mention struggling in general.
More later, must go commiserate…
Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 12/19 at 08:24 PMWelcome home, James & Frank!
( Were these rabbits killed, or did they take their own lives...? )
Posted by joe on from Oregon 12/19 at 08:40 PMOrganic free-range suicidal rabbits. I left a tv with the presidential address on out in the woods, and forest creatures were ending it all by the dozens after that. Too cruel, I know…
Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 12/19 at 08:47 PMMZ #52: Yeah, good notion to get the caps on for media to appreciate en masse. Reminder to all that the best policy is to keep it recent so libraries will have it, whatever “it” is.
RMJ #53: Yeup, sent an email to C-SPAN, but another can’t hurt, I hope. Good reminder! Thanks for staying on topic!
Chris #54: Love Lear! Just LOVE that stuff! Fran’s dictum about sweaters is salubrious for most everyone I know. I don’t buy stuff with sayings on unless I am still chortling about whatever it is a month later. Currently I own one item with a Dickens cartoon about the famous beginning of A Tale of Two Cities: “Well, which was it, Mr. Dickens? It can scarcely have been both!”
Joe #58: He’s scarcely alone in his opinion. My sisters, to a woman, voted for their various states’ constituional amendments against gay marriage. Even the lesbian! It’s just not right for queers to have the same rights as normal people. I am quoting here, from conversations I have had with the ladies. You’re not normal, don’t remind us of it and we’ll keep quiet...but don’t you dare open your yap about it! The lesbian thinks marriage is slavery and women deserve reparations for it. I counter that all those men who supported women deserve reparations and she hung up on me.
We, meaning gay people, have no political friends except ourselves. It’s a fact of life, and it’s an unpleasant one, so I tend to swish right past it by not talking about it.
James #65: Was magnesium the culprit in Frank’s episode? Why wasn’t Robby affected? Thank Goodness he wasn’t, but it seems a little weird. If you’re feeding the cat a teat, rabbit would be a lovely one!
Posted by Mudge on from Dear, dead Austin 12/19 at 09:05 PMJames #67: you should be horsewhipped, sirrah, for such a heinous abusive behavior! Innocent animals subjected to Bush! Factory farming is preferable!
Posted by Mudge on from Dear, dead Austin 12/19 at 09:09 PMMudge, I believe a lot of gay people have very good taste & this is some natural compensation for the prejudice. Your enthusiasm for Lear ties in here, surely.
(BTW, the “very good taste” dictum doesn’t extend to my friend Mikko, whose Quorn stew was simply toxic and should have been stored in large, well sealed vats)
Similarly, anyone who saw the contents of Bush’s Ipod can only agree, methinks, that he has been royally snootered by nature. Except, spookily, he liked one of my favourite guitarists ... I felt uncomfortable for quite some time about that.
Posted by Chris Wood on from Manchester, England 12/19 at 09:12 PMI think James is being judged too harshly. After all, who says wild animals don’t have a sense of a) status and b) humour. Probably made them feel very good about themselves. I get the same warm feeling when I watch him try and communicate and compare it to some of the people I’ve taught.
Posted by Chris Wood on from Manchester, England 12/19 at 09:15 PMWell, I’m off for a well deserved snooze, probably to dream of George Bush being interviewed by a wild rabbit on TV ... it’ll be a close race.
“But Mr President, we know Saddam Hussein didn’t steal any carrots ...”
Posted by Chris Wood on from Manchester, England 12/19 at 09:18 PMOh my, Chris, did you really just say this: I believe a lot of gay people have very good taste & this is some natural compensation for the prejudice.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 12/19 at 09:18 PMMickey, sure - how many prejudiced people do you know with good taste? How many people who are prejudiced against that have either been born with or developed excellent taste? Sorry if it came off as crass, but a society that distinguishes is a double edged sword. Appreciating great literature is a greater asset than a marriage certificate.
The political thing is fucked up, certainly; but at the end of the day people are individuals and whatever the situation, have to make their own sense. Remember that Bill Hicks: Go back to bed America, your government has it all figured out ... do many people who are discriminated against buy those lies?
Posted by Chris Wood on from Manchester, England 12/19 at 09:22 PMMZ #73: Why not? I’d rather have good taste than the alternative, and besides, the “irony” emoticon isn’t widely available yet.
Snooze away, Chris. I’m off to do the same, even so very early, because this has ben a very nasty day. Out 8:25pm CST.
Posted by Mudge on from Dear, dead Austin 12/19 at 09:25 PMI guess I wasn’t aware of the natural compensation gene.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 12/19 at 09:26 PMI have to go and wash my face ... lot of egg on it.
Posted by Chris Wood on from Manchester, England 12/19 at 09:32 PMWell, in my post 57 I did describe myself as a “noisy wanker.” Guess I got that right, at least!
Posted by Chris Wood on from Manchester, England 12/19 at 09:42 PMDon’t sweat it, Chris. You’re amongst friends. However, I can’t speak for those sneaky lurkers collecting evidence.
Getting ready to shut down for the night. Still no idea if there will be a transit strike, so I have get up at 5:15 and then check to see if I can take the train into Manhattan.
I’ll come back to sign off (and pad the comment board numbers) but first, here are some gems from Dorothy Parker:
“If all the girls who attended the Yale prom were laid end to end, I wouldn’t be a bit surprised.”
“If you want to know what God thinks of money, just look at the people he gave it to.”
“How could they tell? “ (upon hearing that President Coolidge had died)
“Wit has truth in it; wisecracking is simply calisthenics with words.”Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 12/19 at 09:44 PMChris -
I lived in San Francisco for years… proportionally, a very gay city. I was once standing out on a deck with my boss, Ron, who was gay. I said to him: “Ron, is this an incredibly beautiful city, or what?”
Ron said: “Of course it’s beautiful… there are so many gay people involved in running and designing the city… its…
it’s a veritable ‘fairyland.’”
He wasn’t kidding.I believe he was right.
Posted by joe on from Oregon 12/19 at 09:53 PMMickey - fantastic. Thanks.
“peace”
Posted by joe on from Oregon 12/19 at 09:55 PMThanks, Joe. On that note, I “feel” it’s time to say good night from Astoria. Who knows? By the time I wake up, there may be another 19 posts here...and the subway strike may be in full effect.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 12/19 at 10:10 PMIf enough of us take “action,” we’re sure to blow past the century mark two nights running....
Posted by Hawk on from Boulder, CO 12/19 at 10:13 PMI “feel” we can do it....
Posted by Hawk on from Boulder, CO 12/19 at 10:13 PM...if it’s in “our” destiny....
Posted by Hawk on from Boulder, CO 12/19 at 10:14 PM“Boy,” that sure seems unlikely, Hawk.
Posted by joe on from Oregon 12/19 at 11:05 PMI don’t think it will happen again, in a “million” years…
Posted by joe on from Oregon 12/19 at 11:06 PMYet - could it be “true?” Are we already closing in on the 90% mark?
Posted by joe on from Oregon 12/19 at 11:08 PMOk, Expendables, tell me what your favorite color is and I’ll tell you if you are right or not.
Posted by Cart on from near Warshington DC 12/19 at 11:41 PMPerhaps it’s not something we “need” tonight, Joe.
Posted by Hawk on from Boulder, CO 12/19 at 11:42 PMMy favorite color is blue. And that’s absolutely wrong.
Posted by Cart on from near Warshington DC 12/19 at 11:45 PMIt seems my “efforts” were all for naught.
Posted by Cart on from near Warshington DC 12/19 at 11:58 PMHawk, my captcha word is: district.
Two or three hours ago, I might have been able to do something with that. Now, however, I can’t even find an insincere chuckle…Cart, I don’t have the slightest idea what you’re talking about, but your last few posts are a delight. Reminds me of Monte Python’s “Holy Grail,” where the knights come to the ‘Bridge of Death,” and have to answer three questions before being allowed to cross. If they err, they’re tossed into the ‘pit of eternal peril...’
The first guy approaches solemnly and stands before the bridgekeeper:
- What is your name?
- Sir Galahad ( ? )
- What is your quest?
- To find the Holy Grail.
- What is your favorite color?
- BlueOK, you’re off, then.
So, the next guy is pretty relaxed - stupidly relaxed, about the whole thing…
- What is your name?
- Sir Bob ( ? )
- What is your quest?
- To find the Holy Grail.
- What is your favorite color?
- Green… no.. bl… “Aaayeeeee.....”I have a few more tricks up my sleeve but, for tonight, you’ll have to settle for “district.”
Posted by joe on from Oregon 12/20 at 04:40 AMSorry.
Posted by joe on from Oregon 12/20 at 04:41 AM
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