Legal humor here. “Why the page boy and glasses? Because they kill, little man.” “Without you I’m nothing? The way I see it, you’re the problem and I’m the solution.” “What part of ‘Stop staring at my ass’ don’t you understand?” “Yeah? Well, I can out stand you, and out stare you too.” “I’m taking…
Author: Alan Vanneman
Who’s worse, Leon Panetta or the New York Times?
Okay, not the whole New York Times. I mean, their food criticism is pretty bitchin’, and their coverage of the fashion scene is consistently awesome, but when it comes to world events, they’re not so hot. A case in point is a recent “article” attributed to Thom Shanker and David E. Sanger bearing the head…
Republicans who want to break something
These days, all the Republican talking heads are talking the same thing: refusing to approve an increase in the debt limit would be a disaster for the GOP. The Wall Street Journal, the National Review, Newt Gingrich, they all agree: now is not the time, guys, now is not the time. Let thre Prez win…
Max Weber, astute in theory if not in practice
Like a lot of people these days, I’ve been dipping into Max Weber’s dated but fascinating study, Ancient Judaism.* Weber argues that much of the bloody warfare described in the Bible was imaginary, created in times of peace by prophets hungry for a glorious past and dismayed by a prosaic present characterized by the tedious…
The Atlantic, making the New Yorker look good, almost
The Atlantic magazine is in hot water for publishing “Sponsor Content” (aka “native advertising”) in the form of a fake article touting the “religion” of Scientology as the greatest thing since sliced bread. Perhaps even more embarrassing for the 150-year-old mag, the Scientology folks evidently conspired to fill the comments section with gee-whiz remarks along…
Chait doubles to left
In the past, I’ve used Jonathan Chait as my go-to doesn’t get it liberal* but thanks to liberal godhead Jon Stewart, Jonny C has been on a roll. Last week, Chait pointed out that Stewart’s efforts to enlighten and entertain are somewhat hampered by the fact that he doesn’t know anything about economics. In fact,…
Coltrane on Coltrane—Ravi plays “Giant Steps”
Ravi Coltrane plays an extended version of his dad’s famous composition in 2002. I’m not sure if the harmonica works all that well, but it’s there. Ravi on sax, Gregoire Maret on harmonica, Luis Perdomo on piano, Darryl Hall on bass, and E.J. Strickland on drums. Posted by sigmundgroid2
Pseudo-New Yorker
Legal humor here. “Yes, Jerry, I do think that, next time around, I should pick the travel agent.” “Jerry, I think it’s time for Mohammed to come to the mountain. Because this is seriously not working.” “I threw my poles away the same time you did as a comradely gesture. Now shut the fuck up.”…
New Republican Strategy: Do Nothing, Blame Obama
Over at the National Review, James Capretta has both short- and long-term advice for Republicans. In the short-term, when the issue of whether to raise the debt limit comes up in February, the Republicans should threaten to blow up the nation’s economy, but not actually do it. It is perfectly appropriate to use the occasion…
Behind the Candelabra, or Underneath it?
Behind the Candelabra is the widely hyped (how could it not be?) bio-pic starring Michael Douglas as Liberace and Matt Damon as Lee’s live-in lover, Scott Thorson. It will have to go some to match the one-two punch of Liberace and Liberace: Behind the Music, two made-for-TV movies about Lee that aired in successive weeks…