Mickey Z

Cool Observer

Friday, February 10, 2006

Let's start with a question about free speech

Posted by Mickey Z on 02/10 at 07:22 AM

i think i will exercise the right too…

wwws.schnews.org.uk

Posted by michael on from scotland 02/10 at 07:52 AM

This was illuminating, particularly the Medieval Muslim depictions of Mohammed with a fiery aura (as a sign of holiness).

Still, freedom of speech should never be an invitation to be a fool. Those cartoonists, besides being second-rate and occassionally racist, seem to be fools.

I will read the Whale book if I can find it here.

Posted by Keir on from The Hague 02/10 at 08:40 AM

Good morning All,

Oh how I dislike Michelle Malkin! I will say no more - I see no need to sling shit so early in the day and I’ll only get grumpy. Suffice to say I don’t like her. So much so that I couldn’t read what she has to say, I know I’ll vehemently disagree. (I’m having a bit of a mcdonald’s drive through with SUV moment about her)

Anyhoo..GW looks like he belongs at a shriners parade in that get up!

The entire argument of free speach is a facetious one, I think. Take your rights and excercise them with thoughtfulness and respect. Neither have been done and they now act like children; and like children who abuse their priviledges perhaps the NUtI would revoke those priviledges temporarily until they could suitably accept responisibility for the consequences of their actions. A little quiet time spent in contemplation with no favourite games or distrations is in order.

Stand in the corner and think about what you’ve done.

From last night: Mudge I agree and endorse your appointments of CatLady, MZ & Michael. Keir will be minister of Music - you’ll have to come up with some ueber-funky song for the Imperium, ok? (c’mon - give us a try at running the world...it’s guaranteed to be better than the current situation)

And...I will read A Whale for the Killing now, and happily read Camus’ The Rebel later.

Posted by Amelopsis on from Canada 02/10 at 09:50 AM

Thanks for the couterpunch article, which I don’t have time to read all of now at work, and for the mention of the issue at the main post. For the record, I’d like Denmark as whole to be taking less heat, literally in the case of their embassy building and elsewhere, but I do think the cartoons are idiotic. And I agree-- Danes are typically the least funny people around. We have to make up for it in general wit and looks and sex appeal and Legos. My dad and I have only been such jokers due to so much time spent in New York.

Man, I know that Ward got some death threats, but not any actual physical violence, right? But I get the idea. Aaaaa, so much reading do. I’m in the middle of The Wall and Other Stories-- do most people here seem to prefer Camus to Sartre? Shall we read some Kirkegaard next to balance out with one of Denmark’s prouder moments? Though he wasn’t appreciated in his lifetime, but still. Or maybe we’ll read Bartleby the Scrivener. If I have to live it…

Later sometime--

Posted by James on from work 02/10 at 09:52 AM

Simultyping… Amelopsis, you’re right-- it was that Malkin woman who got me so upset about right wingnuts going on saying how we’re all Danes now. Ugh.

Posted by James on from work 02/10 at 09:54 AM

i’m off for today.

have a good weekend everyone...and i found this picture. now i don’t want to be throwing out wild allegations but it looks to me like someone came home early…

Posted by michael on from scotland 02/10 at 11:44 AM

RMJ’s article: “We need a real women’s liberation movement. One that will include all women. One that will give women the choice to stay home and be financially compensated.”

Have I said lately that I love you, RMJ? How much better a world will it be when this is a quaint, old-fashioned interchange about irrelevancies?

Empress...NUtI social “programs” business...mothers/teachers/caregivers, plus garbage people, at the top of the NUtI Pay Scheme? Seal all teenagers into caves, force feed them “be nice or else” propaganda 24/7 through games/TV/random execution of miscreants? Let’s not stop at suspension, however temporary of abuses of free speech...let’s put some teeth in the enforcement policies!

Oh dear...I sense an irony coming on....

CatLady! Kierkegaard? That second-rate pseudo-philosophe who never picked a style or metier?! The Christian Apologist (albeit through paradox)? Actually, upon reflection, maybe today’s world will make more sense after reading On the Concept of Irony. Objection withdrawn.

Posted by Mudge on from Austin 02/10 at 11:50 AM

Mudge, a quaint, old-fashioned interchange about irrelevancies? Hum, I was suggesting the opposite of that...the freedom to create, live, think, resist, participate, debate, read, write, inform, laugh, sing, and protest. None of those things are possible when you owe your soul to the company store.

Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 02/10 at 01:49 PM

You don´t owe your soul to anybody, though I do love that song. Sure there are a lot of people crawling around through life at the moment but don´t worry about their situation, the best thing you can do for them is get up and walk.

Posted by Owen on from Barcelona 02/10 at 02:21 PM

Hm, Mudge I guess you answered your own objection. The coolest thing about his style was his lack of a consistent one. And the irony. And sometimes he was just plain funny. Christian apologist, maybe but better that than the Danish church at the time. Or the established church at just about any time.

And he’s just so quotable, but again in too much rush to dig up my favorite one again… well, I think I’ve got it now-- title of my next writing project: Divagation Nation. Thanks again!

Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 02/10 at 02:28 PM

Owen, thanks for the comment. I spent too many years of my life working 80 hours a week because I had to. I am mad as hell about it. Then, just when I am about to finally start to live my life, I get rear-ended by a gigantic truck.

Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 02/10 at 02:30 PM

RMJ #8: I meant that the interchange we were having would be, someday in a better world, quaintly old fashioned. At least I hope it will...that would mean things are so much more advanced and we’re all able to “create, live, think, resist, participate, debate, read, write, inform, laugh, sing, and protest” at will and in such measure as our innate selves support.

Owen #9: That’s the truth...the best thing we can hope for is to have the strength and courage to “stand up and walk.”

James #10: I love the idea of a piece called “Divagation Nation!” Where will the divagations be based?

Posted by Mudge on from Austin 02/10 at 02:42 PM

Shows you how much I know. I thought Divagation Nation is where Mariah Carey has residence.

Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 02/10 at 02:45 PM

Everywhere!

But probably mostly around here. Hm…

By which I either mean Manhattan, or Cool Observer. Hmm…

Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 02/10 at 02:45 PM

George Clooney interview: http://tinyurl.com/b9gns

Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 02/10 at 02:48 PM

Or maybe Lithuania and Italy. But I’ll save that for storytelling Saturday sometime, when we’re discussing all these potent news stories with all this penetrating analysis.

Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 02/10 at 02:49 PM

Wow - great post, Mickey, and a great cartoon greets one when one opens the comment thread, Michael! Watch your back, though ..

So it’s not Camus? Have to try to get hold of the Whale book.

And hello to all you expendables - won’t name everybody who has commented so far as I always forget someone.

The weekend has started here - it is 6:58 am on a Saturday morning and Mr Helga has arrived from Melbourne.

Auf Wiederemailen ..

Posted by Helga Fremlin on from Daylesford, Australia 02/10 at 02:58 PM

Well, I for one prefer Camus over Sartre, James.

And I just laughed at the photo of the naked man, Michael - wonder where he escapes from or to .. Vielen Dank!

Posted by Helga Fremlin on from Daylesford, Australia 02/10 at 03:17 PM

Helga #17: “Auf Wiederemailen!” ROFL

MZ, from main post: I forgot to say how much pleasure itsmyfault.org’s random button has supplied. I love it!

Ciao for now

Posted by Mudge on from Austin 02/10 at 03:18 PM

Hello Expendables. I’m hoping we get more shout-outs in terms of reading the whale book. If anyone can get their hands on an extra copy, perhaps that can be mailed to someone who can’t find it? Just a thought.

As has been my MO this week, I’m too far behind to catch up. However, I’d like to pick up on some thing Owen and RMJ stated, re: owing your soul to the company store. It’s a tricky proposition. As Michele and I consider the daunting option of buying a small co-op apt., this concept is front and center for us. Owning your personal shelter offers many advantages but one large disadvantage: higher bills. That means less time playing and agitating and more time working and worrying.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that there are no hard and fast rules here and life involves a fair amount of flying by the seat of one’s pants. I’m just surprised I’m not a fat bastard considering how many of my own words I’ve eaten over the years.

Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 02/10 at 06:37 PM

Ah Mickey, I kind of meant my statement in reference to one’s employer but I see your point. You are thinking along Thoreau’s lines.

We all wish you and Michele the best, either way that you go. You didn’t ask for any advice but this is what I always say when someone does ask for my opinion. I always suggest that they should make the decision that they think that they would be most satisfied with 20 years from now.

Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 02/10 at 07:13 PM

In a world where it seems no one can see past the next fiscal quarter, that’s good advice, RMJ.

Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 02/10 at 07:21 PM

Surprised I’m not fatter given my fondness for sub-contintent cuisine…
I know my quota of soul-selling-out has gone to The Store this week; I’ve built web-site modules for an article essentially apologising for Google’s position on China.cn; for spending cash on fucking valentine’s day (just don’t get me started - at least my editor wants to have an anti-valentine module running next week); and pimping Iron Maiden’s DVD. I quite like Maiden, so maybe that won’t take much off of my karma, I’m not sure how it works.
The most I get to do is write some cynical or sarcastic copy - but that gets edited too, and I’m not a great one for one-liners. (James, the English are spectacularly unfunny too, we just get to quote the handful of comic geniuses our country has produced).

I’ll get onto finding a copy of Mr Mowat, shouldn’t be hard in London, once you get over having black snot (ewwwwww!) the advantages of having cool bookshops everywhere become apparent. Theres a very groovy one just down he road in Brixton that specialises in left-wing literature, how cool is that? It’s just opposite Liquor Supply, not Liquor Store mind, Liquor Supply. Me and my sister were joking that they sold IV drips in there…

Posted by Mew on from the indian food centre of bedfordshire 02/10 at 07:54 PM

Hey Mew...glad you’ll be joining us on the whale. What about Hawk, Joe, TM, Old Glen, Luna, Hope, Nancy, Mark, and all the rest?

Ah well, they’ll be back. See everyone tomorrow...remember yer stories.

Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 02/10 at 10:35 PM

Well, I went and did it again. I was at the bookstore. I know, I know, I shouldn’t even go in there. I told my wife I was going to wait outside, but she insisted I accompany her inside. Of course, 99% of the store is Chinese language. But there’s this one shelf of English books, New York Times bestsellers and such. Last time in, I didn’t see anything interesting. This time, they had:

* “The Buying of the President 2004”
* “Collapse” by Jared Diamond (I HIGHLY recommend “Guns, Germs, and Steel"-a fascinating read)
* “The Exception to the Rulers” by Amy Goodman
* “All the President’s Men” by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward
* “Confessions of an Economic Hit Man” by John Perkins

No “Whale for the Killing”, unfortunately (if I ordered it, y’all would be done by the time it arrived—so I’ll have to opt out this time around, though I hope to join in future book readings/discussions), but I bought the rest. I just can’t help myself. I think I need help.

Someone mentioned “Confessions” the other day (RMJ?), which was all the more incentive to buy it. So now I’m even more backed up on my reading (gee, thanks a lot!)

Love that cartoon, BTW.

Posted by Jeremy on from Taiwan 02/11 at 07:00 AM