tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-148570922012-01-29T01:15:45.904-08:00<i>"Bad jokes and gay marriage are destroying this country. But torture can save it." –<a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=226621&amp;title=guess-whos-coming-to-dinner">Jon</a> <a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=215905&amp;title=Six-Days-Seven-Nights">Stewart</a><p></p> (Periodic long-form blogging. <a href="http://vagabondfootnotes.blogspot.com/2007/10/about-vagabond-scholar.html">More</a> about VS.)</i>Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.comBlogger11551100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-6136272050008588642012-01-27T00:15:00.000-08:002012-01-27T01:14:00.114-08:00

(Photos from BoardGameGeek of the board game "Juden Raus!")This year for International Holocaust Remembrance Day, I wanted to look at a Nazi-era board game titled Juden Raus! (Jews Out!) It was not made or marketed by the Nazis themselves, but the game company thought it would sell well in the climate of the time. The Wiener Library for the Study of the Holocaust & Genocide in London has a copy

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-33621876617461303142012-01-26T22:30:00.000-08:002012-01-26T22:30:01.945-08:00

RIP. This is the obvious pick, but there's a reason this is her most famous song. Then there's her duet with Mike Finnigan, "You Gonna Make Me Cry."

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-89101721915274025482012-01-25T00:54:00.001-08:002012-01-25T08:32:32.555-08:00

English-born conservative political commentator, former Newt Gingrich press secretary and former child actor Tony Blankley died of stomach cancer on January 7th, 2010, at the age of 63. I'll modify what I wrote elsewhere. I was sorry to hear this. Blankley was a regular on Left, Right and Center (produced by one of my local NPR stations, KCRW) and I heard him often. He was more moderate there

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-55883345856876047442012-01-20T00:30:00.000-08:002012-01-20T00:30:00.417-08:00

Election coverage has a number of silly rituals and tropes. NYU journalism professor and media critic Jay Rosen at PressThink has a great piece up called "A Viewer’s Guide to Iowa Caucus Coverage" (1/3/12). Some of it pertains exclusively to the Iowa Caucus completed two weeks ago, but much of it applies to election coverage in general. His key point is:The Iowa Caucuses are presented as a

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-67500230432006287452012-01-19T22:00:00.000-08:002012-01-19T23:40:33.966-08:00

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-36636691674001819642012-01-19T19:44:00.000-08:002012-01-19T19:50:06.702-08:00

If you went on the internet tubes at all yesterday, you probably saw that Google, Wikipedia and many other sites protested the SOPA and PIPA acts, and provided readers information about contacting their members of Congress. On one level, this battle has involved competing corporations, but their positions have not been equally valid, and smaller entities and bloggers has overwhelmingly opposed

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-79279591299891143632012-01-16T23:10:00.000-08:002012-01-17T00:26:35.302-08:00

In previous years for Martin Luther King Day, I've featured King's words and other civil rights material (see the "MLK" category below). This year, I wanted to at least link a few pieces focused on MLK himself (along with the Guantanamo piece). It's sometimes startling to remember he was only 39 when he was assassinated. Democracy Now ran "Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in His Own Words."Rick

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-85776210938151484492012-01-16T01:11:00.000-08:002012-01-16T01:11:00.457-08:00

This past Wednesday, 1/11/12, marks the ten-year anniversary of the first prisoners' arrival to Guantánamo Bay. The American facility at Guantánamo remains a shameful stain on our national honor. The facility itself isn't as important as what went on there – torture and abuse, and prisoners known to be innocent being held for years – and what's still going on there – the indefinite "detention"

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-34244691179040206812012-01-12T22:15:00.000-08:002012-01-12T22:15:01.652-08:00

"Phantom Blues Band in the first music video from their new record, Inside Out. Group members are Tony Braunagel, Mike Finnegan, Larry Fulcher, Darrell Leonard, Johnny Lee Schell, and Joe Sublett."

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-1510393420502570452012-01-09T23:32:00.000-08:002012-01-10T01:33:22.638-08:00

A few friends kept raving about The Hunger Games trilogy, a series for young adults by Suzanne Collins, so I checked it out. It's well done, certainly markedly superior to what little I've read of the Twilight series (ouch). The first book is the strongest and most self-sufficient, and features some artful and memorable touches. It's not for young kids, though, given the plot: gladiatorial

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-84839991262239893512012-01-04T23:53:00.001-08:002012-01-06T01:17:42.489-08:00

The American Institute of Certified Tax Coaches has a neat graphic of the Republican presidential candidates' tax proposals. Three want to impose a flat tax, that would of course massively benefit the rich. In a similar vein, six would seek not just to lower the estate tax, but eliminate it altogether (alas, a standard position in their party). Because the estate tax already has a very large

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-41509213714111436682011-12-27T18:45:00.000-08:002011-12-30T20:49:09.006-08:00

(The Best Posts of the Year, Chosen by the Bloggers Themselves)Welcome to a tradition started by the much missed Jon Swift/Al Weisel. He left behind some excellent satire, but was also a nice guy and a strong supporter of small blogs. As Lance Mannion puts it:Our late and much missed comrade in blogging, journalist and writer Al Weisel, revered and admired across the bandwidth as the “

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com45tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-536981918392229842011-12-23T20:04:00.000-08:002011-12-23T20:11:02.893-08:00

CBS News:"Yes, a card makes Christmas complete." These are the first (and only) words in this 1968 short video made by Terry Gilliam. The Monty Python member made this festive cut-out animation for the British TV show "Do Not Adjust Your Set" – a show that featured several other members of what would become "Monty Python's Flying Circus." As you could probably guess, it's odd, funny, and very

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-87680197875337813712011-12-15T22:00:00.000-08:002011-12-15T22:00:13.040-08:00

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-3166731702403453772011-12-13T23:36:00.001-08:002011-12-13T23:45:51.235-08:00

Asimov, Krugman and America deserve better. Teresa Nielsen Hayden makes an authoritative case that "Krugman is from Trantor; Gingrich ain't: Far be it from me to discourage mainstream political commentary that’s framed in terms of science fiction, but Ray Smock’s Newt Gingrich the Galactic Historian gets it wrong: If men are from Mars and women are from Venus, Newt Gingrich is from the planet

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-77060134976076528782011-12-01T20:30:00.000-08:002011-12-01T20:30:00.515-08:00

This version comes from Tommy, directed by Ken Russell, who died this week. Roy Edroso has more. Russell made some seriously weird films, but he came by it honestly, which made for some interesting and memorable moments in a long career. (Lair of the White Worm is bizarre and unforgettable; I haven't seen most of Russell's many and highly-regarded artist biopics.)I also have to include this

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-2753182236635638952011-11-30T23:13:00.000-08:002011-11-30T23:22:54.718-08:00

Rumproast blogger StrangeAppar8us has suffered a traumatic brain injury that has, among other things, left him blind. The Rumproast crew is holding a fundraiser to help him out. Follow the link for far more information.

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-79434631362097691492011-11-28T22:15:00.001-08:002011-11-28T22:16:37.157-08:00

Two similar bad bills are under consideration in Congress, the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the House, and the Protect IP Act (PIPA) in the Senate. While some elements in the bills may be well-intentioned, these bills could severely restrict the internet. This video by Fight for the Future spells out some of the issues:CNET has a FAQ on "How SOPA would affect you."Kos has more information

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-6780388528945250582011-11-27T18:00:00.000-08:002011-11-27T18:01:01.673-08:00

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-88172812460575373472011-11-19T14:07:00.000-08:002011-11-19T14:58:07.266-08:00

The VS blog redesign is now live. I've been tinkering with it off and on in the background for a while. There are some drawbacks to the latest Blogger layout interface, but it's much easier to share posts and scroll through category archives. Recreating my blogroll took some time. Regular readers and commenters should find themselves included. If you're not, and you'd like to be, shoot me an

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-90579526202573137152011-11-18T23:45:00.000-08:002011-11-18T23:45:00.165-08:00

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-9531653364144104702011-11-14T20:00:00.000-08:002011-11-14T20:00:00.869-08:00

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, this is a good time for those with the means to donate to their local food banks, or for those in need to get assistance. The Los Angeles food banks make a little go a long way. The Feeding America site has a useful national food bank locator. Best wishes to all those in need.

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-56231418267182177342011-11-11T20:00:00.000-08:002011-11-19T17:32:59.817-08:00

In the spirit of Armistice Day.

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-63570026720606629982011-11-11T11:11:00.000-08:002011-11-13T21:42:27.759-08:00

(Click on the comic strip for a larger view.)In 1959, Pogo creator Walt Kelly wrote:The eleventh day of the eleventh month has always seemed to me to be special. Even if the reason for it fell apart as the years went on, it was a symbol of something close to the high part of the heart. Perhaps a life that stretches through two or three wars takes its first war rather seriously, but I still

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-35548892979041354402011-11-11T02:50:00.000-08:002011-12-12T00:48:55.959-08:00

See better, Lear, and let me still remainThe true blank of thine eye.- Kent, King Lear, 1.1, 159-160. If the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month every year is somehow special or sacred – and it is – then it seems the date 11/11/11 should hold some added significance. Armistice Day, or Remembrance Day, or Veterans' Day, should be about pausing to reflect on war. More

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-44965328506522616152011-11-03T21:00:00.000-07:002011-11-03T21:00:00.803-07:00

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-522870960577432912011-11-02T08:00:00.000-07:002011-11-02T08:00:09.556-07:00

Reliable sources inform me that it is the indefatigable, multi-talented Blue Gal's 7th blogiversary. Head over and say hi. Also, it'll be the 100th podcast of the Professional Left Podcast this Friday, but since you're a regular listener, you already knew that, didn't you?(She's the brainy, crafty sort.)

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-38941957355338639472011-11-01T00:25:00.000-07:002011-11-01T08:36:26.440-07:00

To follow up on a recent post on the death penalty and Ross Douthat, Justice Antonin Scalia, a Catholic, made a remarkable statement that has garnered attention:[Scalia] said he found no contradiction between his religious views and his support of the death penalty. "If I thought that Catholic doctrine held the death penalty to be immoral, I would resign," he said. "I could not be a part of a

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-44547200489340916952011-10-27T20:30:00.000-07:002011-10-27T20:30:01.414-07:00

Mariachi El Bronx is the mariachi version of punk band The Bronx, based out of... Los Angeles. Here's their full KCRW set.

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-1425561434804785732011-10-27T01:24:00.000-07:002011-10-27T09:13:15.935-07:00

Last month, Ross Douthat wrote an extremely immoral – and not coincidentally, poorly-argued – piece in favor of the death penalty. The occasion was Troy Davis' execution in Georgia. If you're not familiar with the Davis case, this and this cover the main points. (He may have been innocent, and several eyewitnesses who testified against him recanted, raising the issue of reasonable doubt.)

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-60726412837023074632011-10-16T18:04:00.000-07:002011-10-16T18:34:06.261-07:00

Oscar Wilde was born today in 1854. Roger Ebert has a nice post up for the occasion, featuring one of the best appreciations of Wilde I've seen, this one by Stephen Fry:Ebert also has the classic Monty Python sketch featuring Wilde and Shaw posted (head over to see it). Wilde's later life was tragic, and the subject of many a biography, play or film itself. His own legacy is formidable. I had

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-79908105002481808752011-10-13T20:00:00.000-07:002011-10-13T20:00:03.342-07:00

I know it's fashionable in some circles to slag off on Coldplay, but I like some of their songs, including this one.

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-77600635364652562852011-10-11T21:07:00.000-07:002011-10-11T21:16:46.265-07:00

TPM helpfully recaps it, and summarizes: Repeal everything! Also, jail Barney Frank - but apparently, don't prosecute anyone on Wall Street (and don't investigate any war crimes committed by their buddies in the last administration). Meanwhile, I imagine many folks realize Herman Cain's 9-9-9 tax plan would severely cut revenues and would be a massive giveaway to the wealthiest Americans, but

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-44689912141525747702011-10-10T22:45:00.000-07:002011-10-10T23:57:59.861-07:00

There's another Republican debate looming, and the past ones do not bode well for the Republic. The conservative faithful keeps looking for a savior, finding and then rejecting one candidate after another... and rejecting reality, history and compassion as well. Scott Horton looks at the succession of conservative sweethearts in "A Snapshot from the Age of Distraction":It’s not unusual for a

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-38494812952789223582011-10-10T22:32:00.001-07:002011-10-10T22:45:10.435-07:00

The outpouring of posts and pieces on Steve Jobs on blogs and Facebook has been overwhelming. I won't link all of them here, but Apple and Pixar are two impressive legacies. Many people have a very warm and personal connection with their Apple devices and even more so with the Pixar films, and it shows in the reaction.NPR ran a snippet of the commencement speech he gave in 2005 at Stanford,

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-3193254215339009322011-10-06T20:00:00.000-07:002011-10-06T20:00:03.528-07:00

A wealth of great music has come from the British Isles, including some stunning tunes in Gaelic. I caught this tune on The World. Julie Fowlis' website is here. The lyrics are:Bothan Àirigh am Bràigh Raithneach (A sheiling on the Braes of Rannoch)Gur e m' anam is m' eudailchaidh an-dè do Ghleann Garadh:fear na gruaig' mar an t-òris na pòig air bhlas meala.O hi ò o hu ò, o hi ò o hu ò,Hi rì ri

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-80817170377957807262011-10-04T22:49:00.000-07:002011-10-04T23:39:00.301-07:00

Over at Crooked Timber, John Quiggin has written a piece arguing for a "Tobin tax" (or Robin Hood tax) on financial transactions. The idea is to discourage "high volume, short-term financial transactions" and to raise money by doing so. Head over to CT for the details, and a link to an earlier Quiggin piece on the subject. In the meantime, since I'm a fan of Richard Curtis and Bill Nighy,

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-74544954154437222382011-09-29T20:00:00.000-07:002011-09-29T20:00:00.842-07:00

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-42973729416331312132011-09-25T20:02:00.001-07:002011-10-01T11:29:00.597-07:00

This year, Banned Books Week runs from September 24th to October 1st. The main site is here. You'll find a map of censorship attempts, a handbook of materials (including the posters featured in this post), a list of local events by state, and social media links. This year, the big featured event is the Virtual Readout, in which participants make videos of themselves reading a passage from a

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-30492328398625381592011-09-22T21:36:00.000-07:002011-09-22T21:39:38.443-07:00

I saw Low perform live ages ago. Their full KCRW set (audio) is here.

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-6192743111648508752011-09-21T23:10:00.000-07:002011-09-25T11:25:36.216-07:00

This is a great line I've seen a couple of times, but it's sadly timely tonight with the execution of Troy Davis (in Georgia). It's somewhat similar to the line currently posted above on my blog, from Jon Stewart: "Bad jokes and gay marriage are destroying this country. But torture can save it." There are times we should ask ourselves, and certainly press others - what exactly are your values?

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-74460006543254483212011-09-19T23:56:00.001-07:002011-09-19T23:59:56.874-07:00

In honor of Talk Like a Pirate Day, I thought I'd use the English-to-Pirate translator on an infamous rant from one of Wall Street's scurvyiest dogs. If the original was satire, it was satire that National Review and other corporate conservatives sincerely endorsed:We be Wall Street. It’s our job t' make doubloons. Whether it’s a commodity, stock, bond, or some hypothetical piece o' fake paper,

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-63924521915734907472011-09-08T20:30:00.000-07:002011-09-08T20:30:00.734-07:00

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-80513555818407877202011-09-05T14:56:00.000-07:002011-09-05T16:01:25.671-07:00

Since it's Labor Day, it's a good time to revisit some labor history, both from the last century (the Great Depression and the New Deal) and more recent times (the battle in Wisconsin and other states, and the lackluster discussion of jobs in Washington). Here's a roundup of sorts. A new book is out on labor icon Joe Hill. New evidence strongly suggests that he was innocent of the murder

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-37638820455347821722011-08-25T20:00:00.000-07:002011-08-25T20:00:04.872-07:00

RIP Nick Ashford.

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-79463503572613743442011-08-23T20:18:00.000-07:002011-08-23T20:45:57.491-07:00

I recently finished reading an intriguing article summing up social science research on political ideology. The direct link is here, but you can also access it by going to NYU Professor John Jost's webpage here and scrolling down until you find this item: Jost, J.T., Federico, C.M. & Napier, J.L. (2009). Political ideology: Its structure, functions, and elective affinities. Annual Review of

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-75393304182511446932011-08-22T21:55:00.000-07:002011-08-22T21:56:47.169-07:00

The American national media's main failing during the recent debt ceiling hostage situation was its frequent refusal to describe it accurately, instead insisting that 'both sides are equally to blame.' However, some supposedly sober, responsible "serious" journalists and political players not only failed to halt the madness – they joined the far-right and urged it on. Jonathan Chait

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-59863919925178275122011-08-18T20:00:00.000-07:002011-08-18T20:00:00.359-07:00

A fantastic cover of a classic. Via via.

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-89630302637787375472011-08-17T19:55:00.000-07:002011-08-17T20:05:24.375-07:00

Scott Horton recently interviewed Harold Bloom, who has a new book out. Last year, Horton posted a video of Bloom reading Wallace Stevens' poem "Tea at the Palaz of Hoon." Apparently, Bloom feels understanding this poem is essential for understanding Stevens and his evolution as a poet. Here's the poem itself: Tea at the Palaz of Hoon Not less because in purple I descended The western day

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-81889910421617634872011-08-15T21:26:00.000-07:002011-08-15T22:31:11.270-07:00

David Gregory is mostly awful, but he's correct here to press Michelle Bachmann on her anti-gay views: Here's the transcript (you can also watch the full interview, if you like): MR. GREGORY: OK. I want to also ask you about your interpretation of the Bible and your feelings about gays and lesbians. You have said in recent years that opposition to same sex marriage is defining a political

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-89360015347601197992011-08-11T23:08:00.001-07:002011-08-11T23:17:03.362-07:00

Over at Hullabaloo, David Atkins (thereisnospoon) has an excellent short post: Has anyone in the media considered asking the Republican presidential hopefuls a few simple questions: • In real dollar terms, how much more money do the rich need before they can create jobs? • What would happen to the economy if we returned to Clinton era tax rates on the rich? • Do you know what the marginal

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-84343718590179761162011-08-04T22:46:00.000-07:002011-08-04T23:11:22.342-07:00

The debt ceiling hostage situation was pretty depressing, and predictably, Republicans are crowing about taking hostages again in the future. I'll write more on all that in the future (not as if there's a shortage of good posts out there on the subject). In the meantime, I thought actual hope and change would be kinda welcome. TomDispatch has an essay by Rebecca Solnit called "Hope: The Care

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-73944220867703905182011-07-28T22:00:00.000-07:002011-07-28T22:00:05.295-07:00

I like this cover better than the MGMT original.

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-47684094631909619072011-07-28T05:00:00.000-07:002011-07-28T05:00:13.535-07:00

As of yesterday, this blog turns six. I've had much less time to write since last year, alas, but I hope that will change in the next few months. Thanks to all those who have stopped by for my occasional (and mostly long-form) blogging.I'll do my usual retrospective. Since last year, I added a couple of entries to the Chart Project (an attempt to visualize issues), "The Stupid-Evil-Crazy

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-84071872954789650052011-07-28T02:01:00.000-07:002011-07-28T08:43:05.237-07:00

The current debt ceiling "negotiations" – really a hostage situation – illustrate very starkly the extreme recklessness of the Republican Party, and the cowardice of far too many journalists covering the story. The Republicans' actions are unprecedented – no party before has ever openly threatened to damage the country's economy if it didn't get what it wanted. Add to that that the Republicans

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-5758154092967545402011-07-21T21:45:00.000-07:002011-07-21T21:45:00.732-07:00

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-11424756032971535442011-07-20T22:34:00.000-07:002011-07-20T22:42:06.899-07:00

It's sad that satirical site The Onion is so much more incisive and honest than most of the national press corps on the ridiculous debt ceiling hostage situation:"It is a question that, I think, is worthy of serious consideration: Should we take steps to avoid a crippling, decades-long depression that would lead to disastrous consequences on a worldwide scale? Or should we not do that?" asked

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-4912269832335782752011-07-07T20:00:00.000-07:002011-07-07T20:00:02.362-07:00

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-70728098760422636392011-07-06T00:23:00.001-07:002011-12-12T00:39:59.876-08:00

"Partisan" is one of the most ambiguous and misused terms in our national political discourse. Beltway pundits usually deploy "partisan" and "partisanship" as insults, but can be wildly off the mark in this. Dismissing someone as a "partisan" – while simultaneously ignoring actual policy, accuracy and honesty – makes our national political discourse dumber.PartisanshipIt's essential to

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-8613116795944584542011-06-30T23:15:00.000-07:002011-06-30T23:17:01.751-07:00

I like both Low's original......and this cover by Robert Plant and the Band of Joy.

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-74780660881933830082011-06-27T01:21:00.000-07:002011-06-27T01:24:10.210-07:00

I went to Netroots Nation in Minneapolis last weekend (July 16th-19th). It was the first one I've attended. If you're interested, you can go to the Netroots site for the schedule of speakers and panels. The site's blog features videos, as does their YouTube channel. Going in, I thought the convention would probably be a good morale booster for many of the attendees, particularly those who

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-24641589508055760832011-06-25T10:39:00.000-07:002011-06-25T11:22:26.946-07:00

Peter Falk has died at the age of 83. It was hard not to like Peter Falk on screen. As the "rumpled detective" Lieutenant Columbo, he was understated, humble and sly. This was a conscious decision by Falk, who suggested that when he'd arrive at a crime scene, rather than all the other cops making way for the great detective, they'd basically ignore this nondescript guy. Similarly, Columbo

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-88829865317259468952011-06-17T20:00:00.000-07:002011-06-17T20:00:02.531-07:00

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-49174133696919971862011-06-13T00:00:00.000-07:002011-06-13T00:18:48.820-07:00

I'm late in posting this, but last month, Emptywheel (Marcy Wheeler) asked readers to "Please Help Support My Next 525 Posts on Torture":Just over two years ago, right around the time I reported that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was waterboarded 183 times in a month, many of you chipped into the “Marcy Wheeler fund” to support my work; that generosity paid my way until a short time ago. Here’s what

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-76115873890566929762011-06-09T21:00:00.000-07:002011-06-09T21:00:09.698-07:00

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-87916438155411820882011-06-05T22:56:00.000-07:002011-06-05T23:27:16.465-07:00

(Sergi López as Captain Vidal.)Kia at Gall and Gumption has written an excellent piece on Guillermo del Toro's 2006 film, Pan’s Labyrinth (Labyrinth of the Faun/ El Laberinto del fauno). The bulk of it is an in-depth psychological profile of the brutal Captain Vidal, the wicked stepfather of the film's young heroine, Ofelia. Here's a taste:To the Captain and to the numberless others who rule

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-66052860465348706782011-06-02T21:30:00.000-07:002011-06-02T21:30:01.517-07:00

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-5271302429874282522011-05-30T20:34:00.001-07:002011-06-07T23:15:25.014-07:00

What General Lee's feelings were I do not know. As he was a man of much dignity, with an impassable face, it was impossible to say whether he felt inwardly glad that the end had finally come, or felt sad over the result, and was too manly to show it. Whatever his feelings, they were entirely concealed from my observation; but my own feelings, which had been quite jubilant on the receipt of his

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-18790173355321483512011-05-19T21:30:00.000-07:002011-05-19T21:30:00.726-07:00

Here's the entire set.

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-80570352177067331862011-05-19T20:40:00.000-07:002011-05-20T16:07:45.450-07:00

Did you hear the one about the Beltway's killer sheep? Well:The Gingrich camp thinks the punditocracy’s got it all wrong. When asked by The Huffington Post about media coverage this past week, Gingrich press secretary Rick Tyler fired off a response blasting the political and media elite.“The literati sent out their minions to do their bidding,” Tyler wrote. “Washington cannot tolerate threats

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-12509875451247221102011-05-12T20:00:00.000-07:002011-05-13T18:04:25.413-07:00

PBS' American Masters recently re-broadcasted a good 2008 installment on the amazing, tragic Marvin Gaye. The show ended with this cover, which I don't remember hearing before. Marvin Gaye has extraordinary vocal range and remarkably supple technique, but it's the sheer soul he brings to some tracks that's so transfixing.

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-16604578022283847782011-05-11T23:24:00.000-07:002011-05-13T18:06:30.557-07:00

The Congressional Progressive Caucus has produced The People's Budget, a genuinely smart and responsible way to address fiscal and economic issues in America. It's refreshing to read after all the lavish Beltway praise heaped on Republican Paul Ryan's fraudulent, cruel budget built of supply-side fairy dust... not to mention thirty-some years of conservative fiscal irresponsibility and

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-30171664204470178052011-05-05T21:45:00.000-07:002011-05-05T21:45:01.217-07:00

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-34494333811914812982011-05-03T23:09:00.000-07:002011-05-03T23:12:23.971-07:00

One of the biggest problems with the America media is their veneration of civility and surface politeness, paired with a dismissal of honesty and accuracy. The dynamics are precisely reversed from how they should be: Media figures generally won't call out liars – but will scold the people who dare to call the liars out as terribly rude.Rick Perlstein's written a few good pieces on this theme (a

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-86766943005479286542011-04-28T21:30:00.000-07:002011-04-28T23:50:33.245-07:00

Angélique Kidjo gives a killer live show.

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-1385442059647045162011-04-24T23:57:00.000-07:002011-04-25T00:10:25.999-07:00

For this year's Blog Against Theocracy, I wanted to revisit some infamous remarks by Congressman John Shimkus (R-IL) during a set of March 2009 hearings held by the U.S. House Subcommittee on Energy and Environment: The key remarks are: The earth will end only when God declares its time to be over. Man will not destroy this earth. This earth will not be destroyed by a flood. Shimkus has said

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-30653244781838640672011-04-21T23:45:00.000-07:002011-04-21T23:45:00.389-07:00

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-20349411463885247372011-04-17T22:19:00.000-07:002011-04-17T22:21:07.090-07:00

April is National Poetry Month. I'll once again promote the wonderful Favorite Poem Project, which I covered more extensively in this 2009 entry. Even people who might not think of themselves as poetry lovers often have a favorite poem that holds personal significance to them. Here's one I enjoy. I first read it in the first of the three (to date) Favorite Poem Project collections, Americans'

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-21365051942640285672011-04-15T00:45:00.000-07:002011-04-15T00:45:00.861-07:00

Rilo kiley - silver lining by epb21

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-16147295235369676282011-04-14T00:13:00.000-07:002011-04-14T00:18:26.027-07:00

(The post-Oscars film round-up is an annual tradition, ridiculously delayed this year by the caprices of fate.)2010 had a decent crop of premium films, but also a glut of torpid franchise entries, aspiring franchise flicks, and remakes. Popcorn movies can be hit or miss, even taken on their own terms, but this still seemed like a weaker batch than usual. Interestingly enough, despite its

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-69954380601189975772011-04-14T00:11:00.000-07:002011-04-14T00:19:56.141-07:00

Black Swan: A talented, neurotic ballerina struggles for her big break and to achieve perfection on the stage, but may be losing her mind. Natalie Portman gives her best performance to date as Nina Sayers, a diligent but repressed member of a New York ballet company. Nina lives with her domineering mother, Erica (Barbara Hershey), who often treats her a girl, not a woman. Even Nina's bedroom

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-71439732923010768892011-04-14T00:09:00.000-07:002011-04-14T00:09:01.058-07:00

Scott Pilgrim Versus the World: This one might not be for everybody, but a certain crowd will really love it, and find it one of the most entertaining and creative films of the year. Director Edgar Wright was the perfect fit to adapt Brian Lee O'Malley's alternative comic book about young, slacker love, struggling bands and gaming culture. Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) falls for cool indie chick

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-87740461919154341432011-04-14T00:07:00.000-07:002011-04-14T00:07:00.977-07:00

Shutter Island: Shutter Island, based on a novel by Dennis Lehane, is a minor entry in the Martin Scorsese canon, but it's skillfully put together for all that. In 1954, U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his partner Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo) visit an island hospital for the criminally insane to investigate the mysterious disappearance of one of its patients. However, the place

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-89126297627234538522011-04-09T17:00:00.000-07:002011-04-09T17:00:05.153-07:00

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-90597299051643618762011-04-09T13:03:00.000-07:002011-04-09T13:17:00.885-07:00

Economist Joseph Stiglitz has a great article in Vanity Fair titled "Of the 1%, by the 1%, for the 1%": It’s no use pretending that what has obviously happened has not in fact happened. The upper 1 percent of Americans are now taking in nearly a quarter of the nation’s income every year. In terms of wealth rather than income, the top 1 percent control 40 percent. Their lot in life has improved

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-44722725223527185472011-03-31T20:00:00.000-07:002011-03-31T20:00:04.069-07:00

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-61376103870890064712011-03-29T22:22:00.000-07:002011-04-09T13:25:14.154-07:00

It's too bad a model program keeps on getting attacked, but it does. If you haven't called your senators yet, please do so this Wednesday. From Strengthen Social Security: We need you to call your Senators and demand that they vote for the Sanders/Reid Social Security Protection Amendment.Senator Sanders and Majority Leader Reid are leading the fight in the Senate to protect Social Security

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-80222755555229006372011-03-27T19:00:00.000-07:002011-03-27T19:00:00.616-07:00

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-49946451012820413542011-03-27T14:13:00.000-07:002011-04-09T13:25:28.838-07:00

There's been some good recent coverage on the 100th Anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, which claimed the lives of 146 workers due to unsafe conditions and the managers locking the doors. NPR had some good pieces, and so did Crooks and Liars, although the most comprehensive one I heard was the Democracy Now on 3/25/11. PBS show American Experience did a documentary on the fire

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-23378103698629895872011-03-17T20:00:00.000-07:002011-03-17T20:00:04.052-07:00

There's no shortage of great Celtic music, but this song in Irish Gaelic is one of the prettiest I know. I did a more extensive post on it two years ago. (The poem at the start is called "The Planter.")

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-64269250342331576532011-03-13T22:26:00.001-07:002011-04-09T13:25:44.221-07:00

It's hard to keep up with all the news on Wisconsin, and the situation is ongoing. Bigger liberal blogs are doing a fantastic job covering it all. However, this Naomi Klein segment is well worth watching, especially for anyone not familiar with the concept of the shock doctrine:Heather at C&L writes:The Nation's Chris Hayes laid out very plainly why the protests in Wisconsin matter. This move

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-87338105480329327392011-03-10T21:00:00.000-08:002011-03-10T21:00:04.053-08:00

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-45381776297440005912011-03-10T19:54:00.000-08:002011-03-10T19:56:44.914-08:00

If you haven't contacted your Representative and Senators yet about protecting public broadcasting (primarily NPR and PBS), the site 170 Million Americans for Public Broadcasting will help you do so. It also provides some helpful facts, graphics and other resources. 

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-66663158678514295612011-03-03T20:30:00.000-08:002011-03-03T20:30:00.492-08:00

NPR ran a great story by Robert Goldstein about the 60th anniversary of the Fender Telecaster earlier this week. Among other tunes, the story included this one, which also features prominently in Martin Scorsese's film The Departed. Sweet, indeed.

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-59081061471287252212011-03-01T23:00:00.000-08:002011-03-01T23:27:10.011-08:00

Who said that crazy thing, Charlie Sheen, Glenn Beck or Muammar Qaddafi? This New York magazine quiz is just wrong - inspired - and scary. (Via Digby.)I got 10/15, which isn't bad, I suppose, for not following any of their statements that closely. And I clearly underestimated the craziness of Charlie Sheen. Bonus! "Charlie Sheen Quotes As New Yorker Cartoons." Yikes.(Here's to less craziness

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-59154318152670839432011-02-24T22:46:00.000-08:002011-02-24T22:56:15.629-08:00

Mike Finnigan is stepping down from Mike's Blog Roundup at Crooks and Liars:I began the blog roundup shortly after John Amato started Crooks and Liars. It has been a real blessing to be a contributor to a site that evolved into an important progressive voice in American politics. The bloggers I got to know and the readers who took time to express their appreciation, or who sent tips, have

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-65670329102143992612011-02-24T20:00:00.000-08:002011-02-24T20:00:01.153-08:00

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-84056535686179745282011-02-23T23:31:00.000-08:002011-02-23T23:45:02.509-08:00

John Cole gives a nice summing up:I’ve said this before, and I will say it again. Unless your proposal includes a substantial increase in taxes and a substantial amount of cuts to the military budget as well as ending the farm subsidies and giveaways to big oil and big energy and big business, you can kindly just shut up about the deficit and the debt. Additionally, any cuts to entitlements need

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-22630925574757348242011-02-17T22:45:00.000-08:002011-02-17T22:45:01.092-08:00

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14857092.post-68620857989268366172011-02-17T22:14:00.000-08:002011-02-17T22:26:37.503-08:00

I would hope most people are already reading Roy Edroso's witty anthropological forays into the Right-Wing Waste Land. They'll provide valuable evidence for future civilizations seeking to understand our destruction, and they supply much-needed solace through communal laughter in the meantime. Recently, he attended CPAC, the annual Conservative Political Action Conference. This archive page

Batocchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.com2