| (no subject) |
[Dec. 15th, 2009|10:34 pm] |
There are no words for how messed up this is.
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| (no subject) |
[Dec. 10th, 2009|08:03 am] |
Wow. It's coming to something when The Beast online newspaper is providing the most accurate commentary on up-to-the-minute politics.
The healthcare bill is being watered down to become "slightly less expensive private insurance" despite the public (and doctors) wanting a UK-style single payer system. How can this be? Because the public wants it 'socialised', but the corporations don't, and in that fight the corps always win.
"Put it this way: After eight years solid of Republicans proving themselves to be dishonest, corrupt and incompetent, what if the Democrats provided universal health coverage and paid for it by taxing the rich? I’ll tell you what: They wouldn’t lose another election for decades. It is actually in the party’s self-interest to do these things. And yet, they don’t. Why? Because there’s one thing even more important to politicians than votes, and that’s money."
The author's opinion is that the Democrats aren't 'losing', they're being paid to take a dive, and going along with it. How good can this bill be, if the AMA and big Pharma are suddenly keen to get behind it?
If Obama can't push through 'socialised healthcare' that the majority of the public wants/needs because of scare stories by the Republicans and money pressure from corporations, then your politics is broken. |
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| 1987 memories |
[Oct. 2nd, 2009|12:51 am] |
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) failing_angel has finally seen the 1986 Stallone movie Cobra. (If you want to do this foolish thing, watch the trailer instead and count yourself lucky to have escaped.)
But here's the thing: I remember practically nothing from 1986-89, but one random memory stuck. Anne Diamond was on Breakfast TV talking about Cobra being released in cinemas, and said (of Stallone) "Ooh, isn't he dishy?" She then interviewed Alice Cooper, who had just released "Poison".
Alice Cooper sat on the TVAM couch and explained that he liked to take his audience on a rollercoaster ride of emotion. Younger me thought that was interesting, and was then incredibly disappointed when the video clip showed he was playing that heavy rock I thought was rubbish. Nice to see change is still possible in the universe, and that my taste in music did eventually improve. Am only slightly peturbed that I seem to agree with the lyrics more and more as the years go by, which was perhaps not the point.
Anyway, my problem is, Cobra came out in the US in 1986 and Poison in 1989. So which frickin' year did this breakfast tv show happen in?! It was definitely the same day.
(The Poison music video is a lovely paradox. It's utterly terrible, and yet still awesome. The visuals... the big hair... but I still had to watch it all the way through. All together now: "I wanna hurt you just to hear you screamin' my name...") |
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| (no subject) |
[Sep. 21st, 2009|09:36 am] |
Dr Horrible's segment on the Emmys (they did win too):
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| (no subject) |
[Sep. 2nd, 2009|11:28 pm] |
Series 3 of The Guild has started (go here for the first ep).
It's a very weak episode, until the last 5 seconds.
...Which have me unable to wipe a huge grin from my face!
If this show gets any geekier, there'll be some kind of super-dense implosion. |
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| (no subject) |
[Jul. 29th, 2009|12:59 pm] |
"When the employees of Hewlett-Packard checked their messages yesterday, they got a bit of a shock. William Shatner had left each and every one of them a pre-recorded message, politely expressing his regret that the company had failed to keep its eco-promises."
The Guardian reports on yet more evidence that Shatner is, in fact, the man.
"This is William Shatner speaking," he begins, with all the brisk efficiency that led us to follow him through galaxy after galaxy on the USS Enterprise. "You, HP, promised me a toxic-free computer by 2009. Now my friends at Greenpeace tell me that I'll have to wait till 2011. What's up with that?" He goes on, in his masterful yet diplomatic way, to suggest they ask their "leader" to make computers that are free of brominated flame retardants and PVC plastic, (as they promised) and gently reminds them that Apple seem to have managed it. He winds up, as polite and simultaneously authoritative as ever, by wishing them all "an enjoyable day". It is a bloomin' masterpiece."
Full story behind link. |
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| (no subject) |
[Jul. 28th, 2009|06:18 pm] |
Nathan Fillion works with Molly C. Quinn on his series "Castle", where she plays his daughter. Here she is on the far left.
So it's a little disconcerting to see him post this on twitter just now:
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| (no subject) |
[Jul. 27th, 2009|02:25 pm] |
Most of you will know how much I love Lou O'Bedlam's photography. I sang his praises a while ago on this LJ (over here, in fact).
He takes AMAZING photos of people (and has many of them up on flickr, such as this one and this one.)
He's an expert at polaroid in particular, and uses sunlight far more than most people dare to - his shots are often dripping in a late-afternoon American honey haze. And he has a lot of friends who are extremely easy on the eyes.
Well, last time I went into raptures about this man's talent (probably just after seeing this), the insanely generous veronikos went and bought me not one but BOTH of Lou's books! (Book subtitle: "Portraits of Pretty People"). I couldn't remotely afford them, and what you get is:
"the book, an original Polaroid, a story handwritten into the book, a 6x6 print and, last but not least, a laser-engraved Polaroid as a receipt".
There is indeed a unique original polaroid on the first page of each book, and the story of it handwritten on the page by Lou. (The 6x6 is only for the second book, but mine is of Morgan, so I am ridiculously happy). The books are limited edition and the postage alone is too expensive for me right now.
In short, veronikos is a fantastically generous individual and everyone should acknowledge this :) I never thought I'd be able to own these, and I'm still going into bouncy photo-glee just flicking through them.
Thank you so much veronikos! |
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| (no subject) |
[Jul. 23rd, 2009|09:52 am] |
In Texas, a panel of 'experts' are proposing that "children be taught that there would be no United States if it had not been for God."
The panel, who are actually involved in setting policy, want lessons to "emphasise the part played by Christianity in the founding of the US, and that religion is a civic virtue".
Urge to kill, rising. We're back to the "anyone who doesn't have a religion can't have a moral code" bollocks.
"One of the panel, David Barton, founder of a Christian heritage group called WallBuilders, argues that the curriculum should reflect the fact that the US Constitution was written with God in mind including that "there is a fixed moral law derived from God and nature", that "there is a creator" and "government exists primarily to protect God-given rights to every individual".
I don't really need to give my opinion on this issue, do I?
"According to test results, one-third of students (in Texas) think the Magna Carta was signed by the Pilgrims on the Mayflower". |
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| (no subject) |
[Jul. 17th, 2009|06:08 pm] |
"...Make no mistake: the pain of discrimination is still felt in America.
By African-American women paid less for doing the same work as colleagues of a different color and gender.
By Latinos made to feel unwelcome in their own country.
By Muslim Americans viewed with suspicion for simply kneeling down to pray.
By our gay brothers and sisters, still taunted, still attacked, still denied their rights.
On the 45th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, discrimination must not stand. Not on account of color or gender; how you worship or who you love. Prejudice has no place in the United States of America."
"To parents, we can’t tell our kids to do well in school and fail to support them when they get home. For our kids to excel, we must accept our own responsibilities. That means putting away the Xbox and putting our kids to bed at a reasonable hour..."
Barack Obama addresses 2009 NAACP convention on the centenary of its founding. For 38 minutes. Without notes.
...I'm still getting used to the President owning a brain that isn't inside Karl Rove's head.
Transcript here. Lots of good statements.
In other news, Tony Blair may become President of Europe, as opposed to, say, a convicted War Criminal. Sigh. |
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| (no subject) |
[Jul. 14th, 2009|10:57 pm] |
Joss Whedon, accepting an "Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award in Cultural Humanism" at Harvard University. Says a lot of correct things.
"The enemy of humanism is not faith. ... Faith is something we have to embrace. 'Faith in God' means believing absolutely in something with no proof whatsoever. Faith in *Humanity* means believing absolutely in something with a huge amount of proof to the contrary. We are the true believers."
He's good at speeches - catch the (now famous) Equality Now speech from 2.00mins onwards:
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| (no subject) |
[Jul. 8th, 2009|06:03 pm] |
From reynardine:
"Professional musician Dave Carroll, of the Sons of Maxwell band, had his $3,500 guitar broken by United Airlines, who refused to take responsibility for it and cover his loss. So he vowed to write three songs about the experience and share them on the Internet. The whole story is here at his site."
First vid is here. It had me laughing by the end:
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| (no subject) |
[Jul. 3rd, 2009|06:17 pm] |
Interview with Daniel Radcliffe (full interview in tomorrow's UK Independent):
"Ever since (buying an artwork) I've been really good friends with Jim and his best mate, Tim, a photographer. And they are two gay guys, artists, in New York, and they introduced me to these amazing, crazy, mad, weird, extraordinary people. I was immediately embraced by the New York tranny community."
He offers a useful tip for any other actor hounded by paparazzi and fans.
"If you want to go out on the street without being recognised, without even being looked at, go out with a 6ft 8in beautiful transsexual," Radcliffe said. "No one gives you a second glance." |
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| (no subject) |
[Jul. 1st, 2009|09:02 am] |
So I saw “The Legend of Chun Li”, the latest live-action Street Fighter 2 movie. (Medium spoilers ahead).
I know, I know, those words in that order should have warned me of the horror that was to come. But even I couldn’t have foreseen that they would dive into the first Hollywood Mistake so fully.
SF2 has many fans, who will want to watch this movie. They are fans of the game, and the characters in the game. The writers have it easy – all they have to do it put the characters onscreen and they’re most of the way home already. Why would they do their best to avoid this, then?
The only things we know about most of these characters are a) What they look like, and b) How they fight. Naturally, the movie ignores both.
Bison is a white Irishman. Balrog is Michael Clarke Duncan (good!) who throws maybe one punch, and spends the rest of the time twirling people over his head comedy-wrestler style. Chun Li is a vigilante not a police officer, and does not do her signature move once. Vega is oriental. Gen is about 30 years younger than in the game, and doesn’t do his styles at all. There’s a chance Chris Klein is meant to be Charlie, but he only fires guns. I could go on.
Then there’s the carnage. Not the beat-em-up punching the fans will be used to, but extreme, close-up gore. A girl has her father’s neck snapped in front of her. A character rips his baby from his wife’s womb, killing the wife with added gore. Two game characters get killed.
No idea why this seemed like a good idea to anyone. Just put the damn thing on the screen! It’s not hard! Use wires and CGI to give us Shoryuken, or Chun Li travelling over the ground with a spinning bird kick, and everyone would go home happy. Idiots.
(Is SF4 as good as it looks, by the way?) |
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| (no subject) |
[Jun. 11th, 2009|05:53 pm] |
I like Lou O'Bedlam's photos a lot. I like his use of daylight, his focus on faces, and the fact he gets to shoot Katie West and Laura Taylor for a start ahem.
But I especially like his attitude to models. He has a lot of respect, and loves making everyone look incredible (men or women). Today as I was browsing his shots of Katie West's wedding, I found his comment from the week that Prop 8 passed in California banning gay marriage:
"We live in a country based on freedom. Not absolute freedom, true, but the idea that folks should have more freedom, not less.
200 years ago I wouldn't have been able to marry a white woman in this country. 50 years ago I wouldn't have been able to sit at the same counter as a white person.
So when I hear that someone can't marry someone else, it chaps my hide."
Posted under a picture of Katie's best friends Shannon and Tuesday kissing (with the title 'This is Right') he then continued his argument in the *flickr tags* as he often does:
" * 9.27.08
* katie west
* wedding
* toronto
* one of the best weddings ever
* one of the best brides ever
* tuesday laporte
* shannon & tuesday. a great couple. and you're an asshole for hating them.
* two women kissing. in what kind of fucked up world would this be discouraged??? "
I've never understood the argument against gay marriage, possibly because I also don't get the unbelievable importance placed on hetero marriage. It's a relationship. It's there regardless of whether you have a ceremony to announce it to your friends. You're not any less likely to split if you have a bit of paper or a ring, and if you feel you want to leave even with it, then you should. A loveless marriage is a horrible prison. The relationship is *all*, unless there are others (like children) to consider or 'your Church stamping it okay' means a lot to you.
But society hasn't caught up with the fact that you may want legal rights, visiting rights in hospital, all the rest of the package for your romantic partner(s), and that the "one man, one woman" model isn't meeting everyone's needs anymore.
I'm with Lou, and not just because it leads to pretty women kissing. Whether it's women or men, I've gotta echo the sentiment of his last tag: how on earth is this a bad thing?
(This is also a good time to congratulate two peeps on my flist who just announced their engagement :) Happy to hear it, girls. I remember seeing you at a certain Wednesday pub talk years ago, just after you got together, and I was happy for you then!) |
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| (no subject) |
[Jun. 8th, 2009|06:22 pm] |
I think I'm with the Wildhunt blog on this one.
During a three-hour long lecture on "Rediscovering God in America" Newt Gingrich said:
“I am not a citizen of the world. I am a citizen of the United States because only in the United States does citizenship start with our Creator. [...] I think this is one of the most critical moments in American history. We are living in a period where we are surrounded by paganism.”
Whee, I had no idea the suprsekrit Druid plan for world domination had been so successful!
But seriously, while many bloggers thought this meant he was a grade-1 asshole, the Wildhunt points out that he may not have known the effect his words were having. (Just so we're clear, he IS a grade-1 asshole. But on the merits of everything else he's done in his public and private life up to now, not necessarily this.)
"Lou Engle ... presided over the event, and who has a long history of anti-abortion and anti-gay militancy (including providing a theological framework for the murder of doctors who perform abortions). It should surprise no-one that Engle has ties to C. Peter Wagner of the “Third Wave of the Holy Spirit”, with its emphasis on prayer-war and destroying the “Queen of Heaven” (who they see as the Virgin Mary of the Catholics, a major demon, and the Goddess of the Pagans all rolled into one)."
Interesting, since you could very much link the title 'Queen of Heaven' to many pagan Goddesses- coughcoughnextissue.
See, Gingrich (along with Mike Huckabee) was talking to a special group of charismatic Christians, including some of the same lot that Sarah Palin belongs to - we'll just call them 'nutjobs'. Anyone within ten miles of the Third Wave loons takes 'pagan' to be a veeerrry large catch-all phrase, and believes in some quite interesting ways of fighting this paganism. (He'd better not mention his adultery, either.)
So it might just be he's a hateful conservative-christian opportunist slimebag who wants separation of Church and State revoked, and not actually as bad as some of the other names involved in this mess.
A Gus diZerega puts it: "Three old white geezers giving their race and gender a bad name, speaking to a crowd that gives its religion a bad name." |
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| (no subject) |
[Apr. 8th, 2009|11:45 pm] |
Spotted by athena25:
Barack the Barbarian.
I look forward to the immpending internet meme of
"Barack, what is best in life?!"
(I'd read that comic. But the Palin poster terrifies me.)
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| (no subject) |
[Feb. 5th, 2009|12:40 pm] |
I have no words for this.
Bruce Campbell. Old Spice Adverts.
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