First Looks category archive

Daniel Ruth finds Waldo.

Full disclosure:

I’ve been through Waldo on the train. I don’t remember noticing it.

Off to drink liberally.

Jim Wright takes a look at Republicans’ presidential prospects. A nugget:

Republicans are headed into 2016 the same way they went into Iraq and Afghanistan: ass backward into the unknown and no idea what the hell they’re going to do if they win.

Their election strategy, hell their plan for the country should they win the Senate and maybe even the White House in 2016, is based almost entirely on “We hates Obama, Precious, we hates him!” while gleefully rubbing their hands together and cackling maniacally – other than that they’ve got nothing.

Do read the rest. It just gets better.

Fun and fellowship for liberals. Join us and talk about anything in a relaxed atmosphere.

When: Thursday, August 28th, 6 p.

Where:
Croc’s 19 Street Bistro
620 19th Street (Map)

More here.

This blog turns nine today and shows no sign of going away.

I’m old and I’m outraged and I’m not planning on going anywhere.

The Virginia Beach NAACP and the Virginia Beach African-American Leadership Forum are hosting a Keep Our Children Alive prayer vigil at Mount Trashmore Park, Virginia Beach, at 7:00 p. m., Thursday, August 28, 2014.

Click for more information (PDF).

Akismet has caught well over 200 spam comments in the last 24 hours. The bottom-dwellers have been restless.

Not one of the spam comments has made it to the front page.

Ravel’s Bolero a la jazz trio. It is delightful.

Via Classic Arts Showcase.

Facebook can be a lonely place

Connie Schultz had one recently. Read her report.

Let the young discover politeness.

A 3-year-old boy was rushed to the hospital Friday evening after an accidental shooting in the West Garfield Park neighborhood, police said.

(snip)

Police say the boy discovered a gun, which went off while he or a playmate was handling it. The 3-year-old sustained a head wound.

Under siege last night in Ferguson, Mo.: It’s a painful listen, but you need to listen all the way through.

You can see a snippet of video here.

Via C&L.

Dan Simpson wonders who influenced President Obama to authorize increased involvement in Iraq.

Which of his genius advisers is he listening to? Secretary of State John Kerry and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, both Vietnam War veterans, should know better. Or is it his non-combat-experienced counselors — ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power, White House adviser Valerie Jarrett, National Security Adviser Susan Rice or Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes — who are now calling the shots for the bored president?

It is hard to imagine that he pays any attention to people like Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., or Sen. Lindsay Graham, R-S.C., the Bobbsey Twin advocates of any war they can find. Or, perhaps, more credibly, Mr. Obama is listening to the representatives of the U.S. military-industrial complex who he hopes will help finance the Democratic 2014 and 2016 campaigns rather than having them try to kick out the Democrats in favor of a Republican Congress and then a Republican White House, both of which would love whatever wars they can tee up to improve their profits.

Read the rest.

The truth that Americans don’t want to admit is that we can’t “fix” other countries by force. Choosing war is admitting failure.

This is a hoot.

Full story here.

Things to do.

Image via Sampler, an image site (some images NSFW).