I’ll drink to that, while I wait for the Kurt Vonnegut Is Dead Media Frenzy (TM) to begin.
I mean, if CNN spends 9 million days wanking off when a woman who…a woman…(how can I put this tactfully?) a woman of great pulchritude dies, surely they’ll devote at least that much time to Vonnegut.
Right?
Right?
3.
Paul Wartenberg
You might want to fix your links. Firedoglake has changed to http://www.firedoglake.com and Glenn Greenwald is with Salon now.
4.
Krista
I mean, if CNN spends 9 million days wanking off when a woman who…a woman…(how can I put this tactfully?) a woman of great pulchritude dies, surely they’ll devote at least that much time to Vonnegut
They won’t — which sounds like something that Vonnegut himself would have written.
John, does the red wine go with the Hola Fruta, or does it have to be two separate occasions?
5.
mrmobi
Because I am a fan of red wine.
Indeed. I’m partial to French wines, but Australian, Chilean, Italian, shit, they’re all good.
Red Wine, because, as Kurt said, “life is no way to treat an animal.”
Rest in Peace, Kurt. You were one magnificent son of a bitch.
If I have any more wine, I might make a cabernet Hola Fruta milkshake.
7.
demimondian
cabernet Hola Fruta milkshake
And may God have mercy on your soul.
8.
Captain Avatar
I mean, if CNN spends 9 million days wanking off when a woman who…a woman…(how can I put this tactfully?) a woman of great pulchritude dies, surely they’ll devote at least that much time to Vonnegut.
I never heard of him. He has an odd name for a porn star. But if he is as important as Anna Nicole Smith, then I’m sure the cable channels will pick it up.
I’m vibrating with schadenfreude. Let the stream of names begin!
20.
Captain Avatar
I’m vibrating with schadenfreude. Let the stream of names begin!
I’m conflicted about this one. Of course hypocrisy is despicable, but I think prostitution should be legalized and regulated.
Maybe if enough if these hypocrites get busted they’ll stop fronting and do the sensible thing. Their privacy would never have been violated if it weren’t a crime.
And for the record, I have a bottle of Kendall Jackson. Man cannot live on Keystone Light alone.
22.
Ross
RIP, Kurt Vonnegut
He understood the natural world better than the novelists, and he understood human beings better than the sci-fi authors. His writing expressed it all in a simple and clear manner accessible to all.
The first time I ever read a Vonnegut book – “Cat’s Cradle” – was like a splash of water in the face. It was the first time I read a book where it felt like the author was speaking directly to me. Like an uncle or grandfather figure was sitting me down on his knee and telling a story that I would later understand to be the human condition.
“Cat’s Cradle” will always hold a special place in my heart. I go back and read it every 5 years or so, and get something different out of it each time. Some other personal favorite titles are “Breakfast of Champions,” “The Sirens of Titan,” and “God Bless you Mr. Rosewater.”
It’s a Tempranillo/Malbec. Good price ($20) and phenomenal wine. It’s got a ton of body and holds up spectacularly to heartier dishes, but the finish is silky soft and tannin free. One of my new favorites.
By the way, the winery makes both a straight Malbec and Tempranillo. I’m referring to the blend cited in the link
been getting a lot of use out of Spanish reds lately. they’re (generally) a little more earthy, a little less sweet than the usual CA-style stuff. a nice change of pace.
28.
Fruitbat Jones
Because I am a fan of red wine
From the looks of this site lately, it looks like you’re a fan of Read, Whine.
In a major August article, Wilson asserted that he had personally reviewed more than 1800 pages of Mike Nifong’s discovery file—or all the material compiled in the case between March and late July. The contrast between how he characterized this evidence, in a radio interview for today’s Times, and how he characterized it on August 25 is striking.
August 25: By disclosing pieces of evidence favorable to the defendants, the defense has created an image of a case heading for the rocks. But an examination of the entire 1,850 pages of evidence gathered by the prosecution in the four months after the accusation yields a more ambiguous picture. It shows that while there are big weaknesses in Mr. Nifong’s case, there is also a body of evidence to support his decision to take the matter to a jury.
Today: [The case] amounted to, really, Mr. Nifong believing that if somebody said she was raped, and if he believed her, he was supposed to take that to a jury, despite overwhelming lack of other evidence.
Those two statements cannot be reconciled. If there currently is an “overwhelming lack of other evidence,” exactly what was the “body of evidence to support [Nifong’s] decision to take the matter to a jury” about which Wilson purported to have knowledge on August 25? Lexis/Nexis shows no correction on this issue run by the Times for the August 25 article.
32.
Face
Jon Stewart swiftboats Nancy Grace
Hands down one of the Top 3 funniest things the Daily Show has ever produced. Stewart went all-out on this one, playing Grace for the Clorox Cow that she truly is. I don’t have a YouTube clip, but I’m sure it’s available. Its worth every second.
33.
Zifnab
“Cat’s Cradle” will always hold a special place in my heart. I go back and read it every 5 years or so, and get something different out of it each time.
Honestly, I was totally underwhelmed by “Cat’s Cradle”. If you’ve ever read Candide by Voltaire, it had that whole “Best of all possible worlds” theme to it but lost a great deal of the humor and light-heartedness that Voltaire managed to maintain in the face of human indignity and foolishness.
Whenever I saw Vonnegut in person he was always quick-witted and funny, but “Cat’s Cradle” just didn’t have that humorous edge that lets you laugh at folly. The fact that it ended so tragically was really the killing blow.
Oh well. I’ve heard “Slaughterhouse Five” is better.
34.
chopper
been getting a lot of use out of Spanish reds lately
“I don’t think pharmacists who adhere to traditional moral precepts are going to allow their conscience to be overrun by the Board of Pharmacy,” said Dan Kennedy, Human Life’s chief executive.
OK, fine. The BoP will leave the pharmacist’s conscience alone and take his damn license.
Does anyone else picture George W. Bush as President during the first part of “Harrison Bergeron”? No artificial handicaps necessary, of course. And there’s also a nice role for Cheney, with his shooting skills.
Hey TPM has fresh docs from the DOJ and despite there being redactions this one’s a doozy…what’s that about friday the 13th being bad luck again? BWAHAHAHA
It’s all good—the Duke case is simply making my banned list longer. People with an anti-woman/racist ax to grind are going to gloat about this as if it meant anything that a well-financed defense case managed to blow through a shoddy prosecution, but they can do it somewhere else.
41.
Bubblegum Tate
The Stewart smackdown of Nancy Grace was fan-fucking-tastic. I can’t understand why anyone would give that hideous shrew the time of day, much less watch her show. But Menken was right: One should never underestimate the stupidity of the American public.
As for Malkin…it’s always funny to watch her get sonned, even if it is by an extremist douchebag. How badly is she crying about how this is emblemic of the hatred that permeates “the left” today?
As for Malkin…it’s always funny to watch her get sonned, even if it is by an extremist douchebag. How badly is she crying about how this is emblemic of the hatred that permeates “the left” today?
I missed it and can’t see video at work but the look on her face must have been priceless, of course the guy should have worked in a falafel reference.
How badly is she crying about how this is emblemic of the hatred that permeates “the left” today?
Two venom spewing radical wastes of skin. Sounds like a match made in heaven to me.
The real tragedy is that the Black Panthers have been taken over by arseholes like Shazbat. Granted they were always more radical than other civil rights organizations but they weren’t so difficult to distinguish from the frickin’ Klan.
44.
Richard 23
of course the guy should have worked in a falafel reference
of course the guy should have worked in a falafel reference
Or the guy could’ve worked in a gratuitous ping-pong ball joke. The left is so classy!
Classy…I don’t give a rats ass about classy that is funny too. Now that I think about it, and having seen Priscilla, Malkin does remind me of that chick.
Nancy Grace returned to the air yesterday for the first time since the Duke lacrosse players she so relentlessly pilloried over the last year or so were exonerated. No mention of the case on the transcript of her show, however. As usual when one of her causes goes belly up, it’s as though it never happened.
Honestly, I was totally underwhelmed by “Cat’s Cradle”. If you’ve ever read Candide by Voltaire, it had that whole “Best of all possible worlds” theme to it but lost a great deal of the humor and light-heartedness that Voltaire managed to maintain in the face of human indignity and foolishness.
They are pretty different reads. As I remember it, Candide wholeheartedly believed his “Best of all possible worlds” idealogy. The narrator of cat’s cradle, while embracing a similar outlook through Bokononism, also fully acknowledges that he’s full of shit. The self-awareness of the narrator in Vonnegut’s books is part of what makes them stand out to me.
And right, Cat’s Cradle is not lighthearted. It opens with the narrator investigating to write a book about the day the atomic bomb was dropped. “But focusing on the humanity of it, not on the facts.” (paraphrased). A common theme in Vonnegut’s books is trying to reconcile some iota of optimism in humanity with the horrors of destruction seen by 20th century science & technology. The happy-go-lucky willful ignorance of Candide became irrelevant when “enlightened” nations massacred each other in WWI and the post-modern era arrived.
50.
grumpy realist
And if anyone hasn’t read “Slaughterhouse Five”–an absolute classic. One of the best anti-war novels ever written.
Vonnegut’s “Mother Night” is wonderful as well. I remember reading it in English class back to back with Macbeth and something by Ionesco that was also supposedly a re-interpretation of Macbeth.
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Captain Avatar
French surrender monkey.
jake
I’ll drink to that, while I wait for the Kurt Vonnegut Is Dead Media Frenzy (TM) to begin.
I mean, if CNN spends 9 million days wanking off when a woman who…a woman…(how can I put this tactfully?) a woman of great pulchritude dies, surely they’ll devote at least that much time to Vonnegut.
Right?
Right?
Paul Wartenberg
You might want to fix your links. Firedoglake has changed to http://www.firedoglake.com and Glenn Greenwald is with Salon now.
Krista
They won’t — which sounds like something that Vonnegut himself would have written.
John, does the red wine go with the Hola Fruta, or does it have to be two separate occasions?
mrmobi
Indeed. I’m partial to French wines, but Australian, Chilean, Italian, shit, they’re all good.
Red Wine, because, as Kurt said, “life is no way to treat an animal.”
Rest in Peace, Kurt. You were one magnificent son of a bitch.
John Cole
If I have any more wine, I might make a cabernet Hola Fruta milkshake.
demimondian
And may God have mercy on your soul.
Captain Avatar
I never heard of him. He has an odd name for a porn star. But if he is as important as Anna Nicole Smith, then I’m sure the cable channels will pick it up.
Did he ever work with Vivid?
jake
True. I’d like to think that he’d find it amusing. Call it a Catch 36-26-38.
Never mind God. His digestive system will rain down firey wrath upon…I’m not going to finish that thought.
Captain Avatar
IT BURNS!!!!
IT BURNS WITH THE FURY OF 1000 SUNS!!!!!
Redleg
Laphroiag single malt scotch whisky.
Punchy
Wine and fruit? It’s called Sangria, you newbies.
tBone
I really don’t think that’s a good idea.
Fwiffo
While we’re collecting media scalps, can we please fetch Nancy Grace’s spiteful, bleached locks?
John Cole
She probably has to kill a few more people.
Captain Avatar
So you know that time back when you were 13 and that crazy old dude dragged you into the hills, tied you to a tree and raped you for six months…
I’m really curious about that, if you don’t mind telling.
What was it like?
Captain Avatar
So you know that time back when you were 13 and that crazy old dude dragged you into the hills, tied you to a tree and raped you for six months…
I’m really curious about that, if you don’t mind telling.
What was it like?
sidereal
Willamette Valley Pinot Noir out of Oregon is money in the bank
sidereal
Also, the most exciting political story this year:
Alleged D.C. Madam Tosses Out a Name
I’m vibrating with schadenfreude. Let the stream of names begin!
Captain Avatar
I’m conflicted about this one. Of course hypocrisy is despicable, but I think prostitution should be legalized and regulated.
Maybe if enough if these hypocrites get busted they’ll stop fronting and do the sensible thing. Their privacy would never have been violated if it weren’t a crime.
Captain Avatar
And for the record, I have a bottle of Kendall Jackson. Man cannot live on Keystone Light alone.
Ross
RIP, Kurt Vonnegut
He understood the natural world better than the novelists, and he understood human beings better than the sci-fi authors. His writing expressed it all in a simple and clear manner accessible to all.
The first time I ever read a Vonnegut book – “Cat’s Cradle” – was like a splash of water in the face. It was the first time I read a book where it felt like the author was speaking directly to me. Like an uncle or grandfather figure was sitting me down on his knee and telling a story that I would later understand to be the human condition.
“Cat’s Cradle” will always hold a special place in my heart. I go back and read it every 5 years or so, and get something different out of it each time. Some other personal favorite titles are “Breakfast of Champions,” “The Sirens of Titan,” and “God Bless you Mr. Rosewater.”
“Busy, busy, busy.”
Tom in Texas
Urban Uco.
It’s a Tempranillo/Malbec. Good price ($20) and phenomenal wine. It’s got a ton of body and holds up spectacularly to heartier dishes, but the finish is silky soft and tannin free. One of my new favorites.
By the way, the winery makes both a straight Malbec and Tempranillo. I’m referring to the blend cited in the link
jake
Careful lad, that’s a wig. If you pull the wig off … well, I’m sure you’re familiar with a lady named Medusa.
Polish up that shield before you go!
Punchy
(Cleaning donut shrapnel off computer monitor..)
Tulkinghorn
They filter that stuff through peat that contains bog people. Ick. Stick to Oban, or Mull.
cleek
been getting a lot of use out of Spanish reds lately. they’re (generally) a little more earthy, a little less sweet than the usual CA-style stuff. a nice change of pace.
Fruitbat Jones
From the looks of this site lately, it looks like you’re a fan of Read, Whine.
Paul L.
Swiftboating in the Duke Lacrosse case.
Jon Stewart swiftboats Nancy Grace.
Michelle Malkin tries to swiftboat New Black Panther Party Malik Shabazz and he calls her out as a race-traitor prostitute for O’Reilly.
Punchy
Wow…teenage pregnancy and the concomitant abortion rates in the state of Wershin’ton all likely SLASHED with one fell swoop of common fucking sense
Good to see some people still understand what the words “job responsibility” and “professionalism” mean.
Paul L.
Outrageous
Now the Swiftboating of the New York Times’ Duff Wilson.
Face
Hands down one of the Top 3 funniest things the Daily Show has ever produced. Stewart went all-out on this one, playing Grace for the Clorox Cow that she truly is. I don’t have a YouTube clip, but I’m sure it’s available. Its worth every second.
Zifnab
Honestly, I was totally underwhelmed by “Cat’s Cradle”. If you’ve ever read Candide by Voltaire, it had that whole “Best of all possible worlds” theme to it but lost a great deal of the humor and light-heartedness that Voltaire managed to maintain in the face of human indignity and foolishness.
Whenever I saw Vonnegut in person he was always quick-witted and funny, but “Cat’s Cradle” just didn’t have that humorous edge that lets you laugh at folly. The fact that it ended so tragically was really the killing blow.
Oh well. I’ve heard “Slaughterhouse Five” is better.
chopper
i’m quite a fan of riojas.
Jake
OK, fine. The BoP will leave the pharmacist’s conscience alone and take his damn license.
RSA
Does anyone else picture George W. Bush as President during the first part of “Harrison Bergeron”? No artificial handicaps necessary, of course. And there’s also a nice role for Cheney, with his shooting skills.
Dreggas
Hey TPM has fresh docs from the DOJ and despite there being redactions this one’s a doozy…what’s that about friday the 13th being bad luck again? BWAHAHAHA
Dreggas
Oh SNAP!!!
capelza
Hello!
Jon Stewart swiftboats Nancy Grace…the title alone makes me smile.
I’ve been gone so long, I’ve missed you all!
Paul L.
Feminist debate – the banned list
Bubblegum Tate
The Stewart smackdown of Nancy Grace was fan-fucking-tastic. I can’t understand why anyone would give that hideous shrew the time of day, much less watch her show. But Menken was right: One should never underestimate the stupidity of the American public.
As for Malkin…it’s always funny to watch her get sonned, even if it is by an extremist douchebag. How badly is she crying about how this is emblemic of the hatred that permeates “the left” today?
Dreggas
I missed it and can’t see video at work but the look on her face must have been priceless, of course the guy should have worked in a falafel reference.
Jake
Two venom spewing radical wastes of skin. Sounds like a match made in heaven to me.
The real tragedy is that the Black Panthers have been taken over by arseholes like Shazbat. Granted they were always more radical than other civil rights organizations but they weren’t so difficult to distinguish from the frickin’ Klan.
Richard 23
Or the guy could’ve worked in a gratuitous ping-pong ball joke. The left is so classy!
Dreggas
Holy shit this is funny
Dreggas
Classy…I don’t give a rats ass about classy that is funny too. Now that I think about it, and having seen Priscilla, Malkin does remind me of that chick.
Paul L.
Why didn’t someone tell me that the link is wrong.
Nancy Grace gets ripped by Jon Stewart
I love the ending about how she took the day off so she did not have to comment on the dropping of the charges on the duke case and “rape puppies”.
And when she got back,
Silent Grace
Dreggas
Just disgusting
Ross
They are pretty different reads. As I remember it, Candide wholeheartedly believed his “Best of all possible worlds” idealogy. The narrator of cat’s cradle, while embracing a similar outlook through Bokononism, also fully acknowledges that he’s full of shit. The self-awareness of the narrator in Vonnegut’s books is part of what makes them stand out to me.
And right, Cat’s Cradle is not lighthearted. It opens with the narrator investigating to write a book about the day the atomic bomb was dropped. “But focusing on the humanity of it, not on the facts.” (paraphrased). A common theme in Vonnegut’s books is trying to reconcile some iota of optimism in humanity with the horrors of destruction seen by 20th century science & technology. The happy-go-lucky willful ignorance of Candide became irrelevant when “enlightened” nations massacred each other in WWI and the post-modern era arrived.
grumpy realist
And if anyone hasn’t read “Slaughterhouse Five”–an absolute classic. One of the best anti-war novels ever written.
Vonnegut’s “Mother Night” is wonderful as well. I remember reading it in English class back to back with Macbeth and something by Ionesco that was also supposedly a re-interpretation of Macbeth.