Oooh, you writers are mean!

Did anyone else notice that the New Yorker got really mean in the past several issues?

James Wood gave Paul Auster absolutely no credit in his review of the novelist's latest work Invisible.

Nancy Franklin also particularly nasty about Glenn Beck (maaaaaybe it's deserved but it's also obvious!)

But I have to give credit to Sam Tanenhaus for sharply lambasting Sarah Palin (and her book, somewhat) in "North Star: Populism, politics, and the power of Sarah Palin":

To an extent unmatched by any recent major political figure, she offers the erasure of any distinction—in skill, experience, intellect—between the governing and the governed...Her insistent ordinariness is an expression not of humility but of egotism, the certitude that simply being herself, in whatever unfinished condition, will always be good enough.

True words!

[truest words!]

Remember the Good Times

A new poll shows that 44% of voters would rather have George W. Bush as president than Barack Obama. Because remember how great was? We had so much fun!

via The Awl

He's a Borg

"Ladies and gentlemen, your President is a robot. Or a wax sculpture. Maybe a cardboard cutout. All I know is no human being has a photo smile this amazingly consistent.

"On Wednesday, the Obamas hosted a reception at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, during which they stood for 130 photographs with visiting foreign dignitaries in town for the UN meeting. The President has exactly the same smile in every single shot. See for yourself — the pictures are up on the State Department’s flickr. And, of course, compressed above into 20 seconds for your viewing pleasure."

from Bus Your Own Tray

Book Bans and Challenges, 2007-2009

View Book Bans and Challenges, 2007-2009 in a larger map

There are hundreds of challenges to books in schools and libraries in the United States every year. According to the American Library Association (ALA), there were at least 513 in 2008. But the total is far larger. 70 to 80 percent are never reported.

This map is drawn from cases documented by ALA and the Kids' Right to Read Project, a collaboration of the National Coalition Against Censorship and the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression. Details are available in ALA's "Books Banned and Challenged 2007-2008," and "Books Banned and Challenged 2008-2009," and the "Kids' Right to Read Project Report."

via Banned Books Week (September 26 - October 3, 2009)

Campbell's Poop

As I've learned from my recently graduated friends, it's a crap time to be looking for a job. But is it any better to be a university student? According to a press release issued by the Simon Fraser Student Society,

Total cutbacks [by the BC provincial government] to post-secondary education funding since last year now total $70.9 million. The cuts include $16.2 million from Student Aid BC, $37.7 million from institutional operating funding, and a $17 million claw back of “internal recoveries” – funding that institutions must squeeze out of their own already-stretched operating budgets. The cuts will have serious impacts on capital projects, financial aid and student support.

It's confirmed, there's trouble in paradise ("THE BEST PLACE ON EARTH")! Doubly confirmed by the Economist last week.

Melissa and Brianna: thanks for the tips

Wham, Bam, Thank you, Ma'am

Ice Cream is for Lovers

Vermont's legislature - despite their Republican Governor's wishes - passed legislation earlier this year recognizing full marriage equality in the state. That law takes effect [today], September 1, and to celebrate Vermont-based Ben & Jerry's is altering the name of one flavor of ice cream to show their support for same-sex marriage.

From the Ben and Jerry's website

In partnership with Freedom to Marry we are gathered here to celebrate Vermont and all the other great states where loving couples of all kinds are free to marry legally. We have ceremoniously dubbed our iconic flavor, Chubby Hubby [Fudge covered peanut butter filled pretzels in vanilla malt ice cream with fudge and peanut butter!] to Hubby Hubby in support, and to raise awareness of the importance of marriage equality. Check out our press release.

If you live in Vermont, or visiting, you’re invited to celebrate the pride-filled occasion with an all naturally fabulous union of Peanut Butter Cookie Dough ice cream, fudge and pretzels. Enjoy our Hubby Hubby Sundae for the month of September in participating Vermont Scoop Shops!

To learn more about the issue in your state and take action, visit www.freedomtomarry.org

Hubby Hubby will be available across the state at Ben & Jerry's shops, though regular Chubby Hubby tubs will continue to be sold across the rest of the country due to distribution challenges.

via HuffPo, Change.org, and the Advocate

There are no words for this

No, seriously, watch this. I guarantee you'll laugh or your money back.



Viewing notes from Videogum:

As tempting as it is to get depressed by this GENIUS NY Mag video of diverse, yet uniformly insane David Letterman protesters at a rally outside his show last night, there are too many things that make it the most hilarious video we'll see today, like "You know what schmuck means in Jewish?" and "I only watch Fox News." Not to mention the guy with the "I Am A Right Wing Lunatic" sign, who should be a guest on Letterman, and the two dudes pretending to make out behind a hysterical woman. This video is so funny it almost makes up for the whole stupid Palin publicity stunt. Almost.

Is she smarter than a fourth grader?

Condi got grilled by a D.C. fourth grader about waterboarding. Actually, he didn't press and observed the request to not use the word "torture." Wussy.

(kidding!) Read all about it here

The New Republic hands Canada a zinger

From "Neighbors Without Benefits" (The New Republic, Jan 27, 2009):

"If Canada does collapse--and the parliamentary crisis is pointing us in that direction--the U.S. will end up with something like a Balkans to the North.

"Canada has become ungovernable, entering a period of Italian-style instability."

Regarding Obama's upcoming visit to Canada:

"Canada needs to see what a unifying leader looks like, and the new president needs to have a look at a country which may turn out to be yet another mess dropped on his doorstep."

Vancouver Votes

Attn: VANCOUVER RESIDENTS

Coming off the crack-y good high of the US Presidential election, small town politics look feeble and sad. Today Vancouver votes and the whole process could not be more of a farce. The major issue of the day is the 'leak' of information about the in-camera deal to bail out the 2010 developments on the waterfront. This is major but our city is facing so many more problems with no commitment to solve them - or solutions, really.

Admittedly, I'm not casting an educated vote today. How would I have time to look through the profiles of all the candidates? There are 15 people running for Mayor (not to mention the menagerie of characters running for councilor, parks board and school board), including Marc Emery, the "Prince of Pot." Aside from Peter Ladner and Gregor Robertson, the two supposed front runners, no one else has received ANY face time from small or major news outlets. The even worse thing is that none of the candidates seem prepared for 2010. In what is to be called a major pipe dream, Furlong is calling for all businesses to give their employees vacation and lend VANOC their employees for the duration of the 2010 games. NO, that is what GM is doing right now in Brampton and Oakville because they don't have enough work -- giving their employees "time off" (or laying them off).

In any case, I guess this is my civic duty so I'm walking up to the polls now. I'm going to stick to the NPA for calling our house once a day for the past 10 days, and putting all sorts of crap through our mail slot, including air fresheners. No, I'm not going to "Get Fresh with Kim Capri." This looks like unwise, environmentally unfriendly spending to me. I'm not going to trust my tax-payer dollars with them.

Go on, go vote!