March, 2014 archive
High Crimeas and Misdeamors 0
At Asia Times, Daisy Sindelar offers six lesson that can be drawn from Russia’s annexation of Crimea. Here’s one, which also serves to explain the modus operandi of Fox News and the Wingnut World News Network; follow the link for the rest:
4. It’s Not Lying If They Believe It
Both Adolf Hitler and his propaganda chief Joseph Goebbels were avid proponents of the “Big Lie,” a falsehood so flagrant, and so consequential, that people choose to accept it rather than believe its teller capable of such underhandedness. Putin, whose KGB training and rumored plastic surgery have rendered his expression all but unreadable, has employed several Big Lies — and innumerable little ones — in his Crimea campaign:
1) Russians are having their rights violated;
2) He is upset by the idea of Russians having their rights violated;
3) Power in Kyiv has been seized by fascists;
4) The situation is so dire Ukrainians themselves are fleeing to Russia;
5) No Russian troops entered Ukraine;
6) “We are not considering [annexing Crimea].”
Even in instances where such claims were demonstrably false — as in Crimea, where Russian soldiers willingly identified themselves to journalists — there has been no tangible downside to the lie. Cracking down on the few remaining free news outlets in Russia has only made it easier to sell this alternate narrative at home.
And in related developments.
Nothing To Do, Nowhere To Go 0
Still a slight positive trend.
(snip)
The four-week average declined to 327,000 from 330,500 the week before.
The number of people continuing to receive jobless benefits increased by 41,000 to 2.89 million in the week ended March 8 after reaching a three-month low the prior period.
Wasted Potential 0
Listen all the way through. It starts slow, but it’s worth it.
Warning: Language.
Privilege in a Nutshell 0
White privilege is being able to claim with a straight face that saying “tar baby” is not ipso facto racist and having persons take you seriously.
I’m a Southern boy. I know racism when I see it.
Racism is not dressing in sheets; that’s merely the extreme and the extremists. Rather, it’s an implicit, almost subconscious, way of viewing the world and interpreting events.
Afterthought:
If you think “tar baby” is not a racist term, rent and watch Song of the South, in all its candied Disney glory. I watched it a couple of years ago (my only previous exposure was seeing the cartoon portions on the old Walt Disney Show when I was a young ‘un); watching the complete movie while knowing that it was a ginormous hit when it was released was painful and embarrassing.
And it damn well should embarrass Disney.
Zero Tolerance, Zero Sense 1
The razor’s edge cuts deep in Zero Tolerance world.
Instead of getting praise from the school administration, Adrionna got a 10 day suspension with recommendation for expulsion. The interesting thing — the only reason Adrionna got suspended was because she admitted what happened. The alleged weapon was thrown away, and it was her word alone that led to her suspension.
The razor blade she confiscated and discarded was adjudged to be a weapon, so down came the boom of zero tolerance.
How stupid do you have to be to become a school administrator? Inquiring minds want to know.
Aside:
This was on the evening news on the telly vision at Steve’s Dawg House, where we dining on the most excellent barbecue made by Steve himself.
Words failed me.
Misdirection Plays, Welfare Queen Dept. 0
Thom explains:
In a typically long post on the same issue, Chauncey Devega also addresses Republican racist dog whistling. Here’s a snippet:
Paul Ryan and other conservatives can claim that they are innocent of their racist political arson. But, they are repeatedly caught, hiding behind the dumpster, or in the bushes, as the building burns. One hand is busy, down the trousers, working in onanistic fervor as the conflagration spreads. The other hand is concealing a lighter. The police approach, shake their heads, and say “you again!”
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society,” Tinkerbell Thinking Dept. 0
Just yesterday, I was behind a gun fetishist sporting a bumper sticker claiming that more guns mean more safety. That is Tinkerbell Thinking: If you just believe . . . .
Tinkerbell Thinking works only in Never Never Land.
Under the Radar 0
Dave Johnson explains “sneak” laws:
Follow the link for some appalling examples.
The Regent Goes to the Dance 0
The Regent’s defense lawyers are trying every trick in the book to blow smoke around his prosecution for taking favors from Jonnie Williams, purveyor of magickal nicotine pills.
Follow the link for the dance card.
Stormy Weather 0
I remember that, after 1962’s Ash Wednesday Storm, my father drove us to Chincoteague, where we saw commercial fishing boats sitting high and dry in persons’ back yards.
Normal nonsense resumes tomorrow.
Afterthought:
If you have not seen commercial fishing boats, they are not small.
A. Because a Fetish Isn’t Rational 0
Q. (From Tony Norman) Why can’t gun lovers handle rational limits?
.jpg){kind=link}