No this really isn’t a recipe thread, at least not a recipe for making food. The folks at Apple that made the Cookie Monster and Siri commercial have released a behind the scenes/blooper video (h/t: Adam Liptak at IO9) that is even better than the actual aired advertisement:
Apparently the magic was the actor/muppeteer having a great feel for ad libbing how his character would behave.
In other Cookie Monster nostalgia, and in this case involving an actual cooking show with recipes, here’s Cookie Monster’s hilarious appearance on Martha Stewart Living (h/t: IO9 Commenter Flying Squid). These may not be suitable for all audiences and apparently include light bondage/kinbaku (this post’s safe word is: speculaas). Please make appropriate viewing choices for you, your family, and your friends.
LAO
I love that ad. It still makes me laugh, even though I’ve seen it a dozen times.
redshirt
I heard something about the Cookie Monster being turned into the Fruit and Vegetable Monster, or some such. Hope it’s not true.
One of my favorite takes.
MattF
I’m not seeing the videos.
Major Major Major Major
Cookie Monster is the best.
Adam L Silverman
@redshirt: If you’ve not been watching the Guardians of the Galaxy cartoons, they’ve been working the Asgard/Spartax relationship into the show. They’ve got formerly of MacFarland’s Spawn and now sister of Thor Angela in the story line. Go, enjoy!
Adam L Silverman
@MattF: They’re showing up on my macbook and on my iPad in both mobile and desktop theme.
Here’s the direct links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wk5qT_814xM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Orxd5L5qFLI&nohtml5=False
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FYvxa9RKp0&nohtml5=False
Anya
I am marathon watching Constantine to deal with my dissapointment over Arrow jumping the shark even more. I still can’t believe how the show runners managed to ruin both Green Arrow and Black Canary. I blame DC Comics.
LAO
The 2d Martha Stewart video was funnier. Either she is the best straight woman out there, or she was unprepared for cookie monster’s antics. I do like that he tried to pimp Bert to get a cookie.
MattF
@Adam L Silverman: I restarted and it works now. COOOOKIIEEEE.
Adam L Silverman
@Anya: There are rumors that when the Earth 2 version appears on Flash in a couple of weeks, she’s going to jump to Earth 1 and become the Black Canary. This may just be wishful thinking by those that want the original canon origin for Black Canary.
bystander
Cookie brings out a Martha I’ve never seen before. I’m guessing this was before she spent time breaking down big ones into little ones.
Adam L Silverman
@LAO: He brought out her inner domme, though her knot work clearly needs practice.
WaterGirl
@Adam L Silverman: I read that, too about The Flasph and Earth 2 and The Black Canary. I think it’s true.
Adam L Silverman
@WaterGirl: Hard to tell. I see it in a lot of comment threads. I’ve yet to see anything official that indicates that the actress, Katie Cassidy, is leaving the show. Conversely nothing that she isn’t.
LAO
OT: did anyone see that terrible story out of News Orleans this morning?
http://deadspin.com/former-saints-defensive-end-will-smith-shot-to-death-in-1770120005
Just terrible.
debbie
Let’s not forget Elmo’s appearance on Martha’s show.
Anya
@Adam L Silverman: My problem is the t.v. versions are not real Green Arrow & Black Canary to me. The Green Arrow of the t.v. show is more like (name any) Teen Wolf character than the real GA. And Black Canary is just not even close. But I still like her more than I like the Oliver. I really don’t think the people making the latest DC media have read much of the comics or watched the movies/animation.
specialed5000
This is one of my favorite videos, Cookie Monster singing the Tom Waits song God’s away on business.
http://youtu.be/U5X4N2exOsU
Adam L Silverman
@LAO: Yes. Apparently the most recent update indicates Smith had dinner with a former NOPD captain, who was sued by the shooter in regards to the shooter’s own father being shot by the NOPD. So this is both tragic and now somewhat complicated.
amygdala
I feel better knowing I’m not the only one who has been watching the Cooookie vs Siri video repeatedly. “Me trooper!”
Adam L Silverman
@Anya: Tracking on where you’re going. I think the larger issue that Berlanti and crew have with this show, which they don’t with Flash or Supergirl, is that while the character has always been a fan favorite because of the gimmick – archery, modern day Robin Hood, etc – he was always a knock off by DC of their older property Batman. And the comics don’t provide a huge rogue’s gallery. So they’ve basically mishmashed a bunch of bits together: Green Arrow as Batman substitute because Time Warner won’t let DC use him on TV outside of a cartoon; bits from the Oliver Queen runs for mayor comic story arc, pulling from Batman’s enemy list, etc. Unless they’re going to adapt the 1990s Long Bow Hunters stories, there’s only so much to work with.
LAO
@Adam L Silverman: strange. Also thought it was interesting that Smith wanted to become an FBI agent. Not the typical trajectory for a retired NFL player.
WaterGirl
@Adam L Silverman: SPOILER ALERT!
.
.
.
Adam L Silverman
@LAO: Some of these guys are quite smart and are looking for challenges. I had a number of football players, at all the universities I taught at, major in criminology/criminal justice. Many planned to go into law enforcement if they didn’t make it into the NFL.
Mike J
@efgoldman:
Kermit;s first appearance was a coffee commercial.
lamh36
@LAO: yes. I saw it this morning. Of course, it’s all over my FB timeline which is primarily my NOLA fam and friends.
It’s def a sad day in Who Dat Nation.
I’m not one for sports but I can’t be native NOLA and NOT love dem boyz.. but also I used to follow him on Twitter and he seemed like a nice guy. Ugh…car accidents happen but folks shooting each other because of a fender bender and exchange of words…smh.
RIP Will Smith and prayers for his family
redshirt
@Adam L Silverman: I don’t get the channel so no luck for me.
Adam L Silverman
@WaterGirl: I’ve seen this interview before. They’ve tied themselves into knots with this thing. Either the character is dead for good, so the only way to keep her is to dimension hop the Earth 2 character or she’s gone. Time will tell.
redshirt
@Anya: Someone in i09 described Snyder’s take on the DC Universe as the “Murderverse”. I like it a lot.
debbie
This popped up on my FB. I guess Glenn Beck’s yearning for some respectability. It’s probably the last thing he’ll get if he persists in comparing himself to MLK.
lamh36
Anyhoo, just dropped by to say “hi and bye” to BJ peeps.
I’m hanging with Niecy Zoe today, oh and my sis is coming along too :-)
Niecy Zoe on her way to see her favorite Teedy
it’s so sad that my sisters are so jealous of me being the cool aunt Zoe loves the most…smh. They can’t all be cool like me…LOL
https://media.giphy.com/media/HqhbTFSiL41H2/giphy.gif
MomSense
I met Big Bird when I was a kid and he was the best. Snuffleupagus was still his imaginary friend in those days and I also had an imaginary friend. He was very sympathetic.
RobertDSC-Quad Intel Mac
@WaterGirl:
They should have killed Felicity instead. Her story this season has been awful. I used to like her but now I wish she would die in a very hot fire.
Adam L Silverman
@lamh36: Given the updates on the shooter and his connection to Smith’s dinner company, this is starting to look convoluted. While its early yet with investigation, it makes me wonder if this was a deliberate rear ending intended to give the shooter a chance at the victim.
Adam L Silverman
@redshirt: Snyder doesn’t have anything to do with the TV shows, which is a good thing. That’s all Berlanti and crew. And Timm and his colleagues have control over the animated universe. Its why the TV shows, cartoons, and animated movies are so much better than what Snyder is pumping out.
Anya
@Adam L Silverman: But even the villains they get are watered down, terrible versions of the original. Look at what they did to Batman’s Iconic storyline with Ra’s al ghul or turning Count Vertigo into a freaking drug dealer who wants to kill Felicity. Ugh! And don’t get me started on Deathstroke. I blame Marc Guggenheim’s terrible vision and his committment to making the Green Arrow into a teen soap. His interviews all talk about shipping wars and crap like that.
WaterGirl
@Adam L Silverman: I don’t understand what you mean about dead vs. gone. It may help to know that I never read the comic books – in case that would make a difference.
Anya
@Adam L Silverman: Except Arrow.
Adam L Silverman
@debbie: He’s been pulling the “I’m like MLK” schtick for a while now. Its as phony as everything else he does.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBmMsTkc9ms
bemused
@Mike J:
That is wild. I’ve never seen these ads before. Corny jokes and violence, so 1950’s.
WaterGirl
@RobertDSC-Quad Intel Mac: I thought they were going to kill Felicity’s mom, and I’m not too happy with this choice. I think it’s bullshit that they decided to kill someone and then had to figure out who. If they had to sacrifice someone, the mom would have been a good choice – she’s not vital to anything, just a little added fluff.
I like Felicity, but I agree that her story arc this season has been awful. I don’t want her gone, but I do want them to fix it.
WaterGirl
@lamh36: I am the cool aunt, too, and proud of it! Maybe it’s because we don’t have kids? And we’re cool, of course. :-) Right?
scav
I don’t think those carpet scrap – voice combos recognize any walls whatsoever, from the fourth to the first three and any that come after. It’s just a debris-field around them.
redshirt
@Adam L Silverman: The tv shows exist in a different universe, correct? One not corrupted by Snyders Murderverse.
Though I’ve read that that Flash’s confusing appearance in one of Bruce Wayne’s many dreams means that Universe shifted mid-movie too. I don’t know.
lamh36
@Adam L Silverman: I could certainly see that.
Anya
@WaterGirl: Not only kill Black Canary but in the most insulting way possible. She didn’t die saving anyone or being heroic. And then they made her last moments about fucking Olicity. They used the Black Canary’s death to prop Felicity. Laurel’s last words should’ve been about her father or someone or something that mattered to her. But Guggenheim is more interested to appeal to the 15 year old girls tumblr users who ship Olicity than telling a compelling story . Just thinking about it makes me so mad.
LAO
@WaterGirl: I’m out of the cool aunt club since my 10 year old nephew informed me last month that I was not, in fact cool. To prove my uncoolness, I did ask him not to tell his younger sisters or cousins. All it took was a promise to take him to a mets game to secure his silence. My brother, the Yankee fan, is less than pleased.
lamh36
@WaterGirl: Darn right we’re cool
raven
Lil Bit wants a cookie! (replay)
raven
@Anya: There’s a little girl around the corner and her mommies named her Arrow!
PsiFighter37
Cookie Monster rocks.
raven
GO OLD GERMAN!
Adam L Silverman
@WaterGirl: In the interview Guggenheim indicated that in this case they want the death to stick/have meaning – as in the character (or this iteration of her) is not coming back. No Lazarus Pit, no have Rip Hunter pick her up from six months prior and drop her off. So the only way to keep Katie Cassidy as Black Canary is to have the Earth 2 version, which they’re calling Black Siren, stay on Earth 1 after her appearance on Flash.
In the comics Dinah Lance/Black Canary was originally a member of the Justice Society of America on Earth 2. Her husband was a police detective who was murdered. This was shortly before/during a Justice League/Justice Society team up. After it was over, Canary told the members of both teams that she had nothing left but painful memories on her earth and that if it was okay, she wanted to remain on Earth 1 and start over, which she did. It was during this team up that she first met the Green Arrow, who doesn’t have a counterpart on Earth 2.
Here’s the original origin story:
http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Dinah_Drake_(New_Earth)
You can buy the JLA/JSA cross overs as omnibus collections if you want to read them.
Adam L Silverman
@Anya: It is what it is. For what it is, its okay.
redshirt
@raven: Rooting for a German and a Japanese.
What a country!
Adam L Silverman
@Anya: @WaterGirl: The problem is that Arrow’s writing is streakier – as in runs good, then bad, then in some cases both at the same time – more often than either Flash or Supergirl. What they’ve described as the process here is an example of that.
Unless they are pulling a huge swerve and the death is staged to give them space to finish off Dahrk and an ace in the hole when dealing with him.
Adam L Silverman
@WaterGirl: That and disposable income is why I’m the cool uncle. And a very large comic book and superhero cartoon and movie collection…
Did I mention disposable income?
Anya
@raven: Wow. I wonder if they named her for the show. That would be strange.
Adam L Silverman
@redshirt: Supposedly they’re walled off from continuity. Hence the need to recast for the movies instead of just using those from the TV shows. The appearance of the Flash in BvS is a nod to the Flashpoint story line, without actually having to do Flashpoint. This is what led to the DC continuity reboot five years ago – Flash went back in time to save his mom, changed the timeline, then had to go back and fix it. The second fix still subtly altered things making it a reset not a restoration. You can either read the whole story in omnibus fashion or just get the animated movie: Flashpoint Paradox.
LAO
@raven: I hate myself (as a golfer) because it took me a good 10 minutes to figure out what you meant.
Prescott Cactus
@debbie: Ammon Bundy pulled out
Letter from a Birmingham Jail and try to make a few comparisons to himself during a jailhouse interview. . .
Maybe Ghandi, Father Damien of Molokaʻi and Mother Theresa are in MLK’s league, but very few others.
redshirt
@Adam L Silverman: The buzz I’ve been reading is they’ll use the Flash to reboot Snyders take on the DCU so WB can try again to get it right.
Adam L Silverman
@Prescott Cactus: Things I never want to see in the same sentence ever again, please: “Ammon Bundy” followed by “pulled out”. Thanks in advance.
LAO
@Adam L Silverman: lol. Thankfully, no liquids in my reach.
redshirt
@LAO: As a fellow golfer, I have to ask: How good are you? Ever get a birdie?
redshirt
@Adam L Silverman: Again, apropos of nothing, I’d like to ask you if you’ve ever used your martial arts on the street? Bouncing doesn’t count.
raven
@Anya: She’s three. The mommies are cool, in the food business.
Adam L Silverman
@redshirt: The problem is there’s at least one Justice League movie in there before the Flash. They reported to set for shooting on the former this past week. My guess is that when Civil War 1 buries BvS at the box office, that they’ll reset on Justice League because they’ll be forced to get rid of Snyder. Of course if wishes were horses we’d all ride.
WaterGirl
@LAO: oh, no! :-(
tastytone
My wife’s cousin Teddy plays Jay Garrick (et al, naturally) in The Flash. Reading this conversation, I’m becoming more embarrassed that we haven’t been keeping up with the show. Is The Flash a series one can jump into rather easily from the beginning, or should one have a little background on the original comics to truly enjoy whats going on?
Anya
@Adam L Silverman: The same reason my great-uncle was and remains to be the coolest uncle. He has a very large collection of comic book superheroes. My first comic book was Flash Comics and that’s how I was introduced to the Flash and Black Canary but to comic books in general. I was a strange child who liked hanging out with adults. Needless to say, Uncle Drew remains my favorite and coolest uncle.
Adam L Silverman
@redshirt: Yes, but basically just by being aware and projecting “don’t fuck with me” the folks that were menacing decided they didn’t want to risk it. Other than that one time: not really. Unless you count that the positive things you learn from aikido about engaging with people proactively to establish positive rapport counts. In that case I use it in my work a lot when conducting engagements.
Adam L Silverman
@LAO: Did you explain the disposable income thing to him?
Adam L Silverman
@tastytone: You’ll be okay jumping in. And please pass on my compliments to him. I’ve been a Justice Society fan since I was a wee lad and he’s done a good job as Garrick. I was thrilled when they teased the character at the end of season 1 and have been very pleased with what he’s done with it.
WaterGirl
@Adam L Silverman: That was extremely illuminating! thank you very much.
Anya
@Adam L Silverman: Can I get Flashpoint Paradox through iTunes? Only because I have a $300 iTunes points to use.
Mike J
@LAO:
I used to be with it.
WaterGirl
@Adam L Silverman: I am chuckling about the disposable income. I might resemble that remark. :-)
Adam L Silverman
@Anya: Yes, I get all my DCAU movies through iTunes. The most recent one, dealing with the Teen Titans, was a good job and looks like it will spin off a series of Titans animated movies.
LAO
Testing. Testing
debbie
@ Prescott:
The balls on these clowns.
John M. Burt
@raven: Regarding the girl named Arrow, I am reminded of a little girl I met who was named Nemesis. I overheard a boy saying, “You are my nemesis!” I said to him (although mainly for her benefit, of course), “Do you think ‘nemesis’ just means someone you don’t get along with? That’s not true. Nemesis was the goddess of justice, the personification of the idea that justice is certain: ‘You may think you can get away with it, but Nemesis will find you’, they would say.”
I hope that little girl came away liking her name a little better.
My wife wonder if Arrow’s family name is Green.
Adam L Silverman
@tastytone: Also, an autographed Jay Garrick Flash helmet would be greatly appreciated. No pressure!
Anya
Adam, did you finally watch BvS? What did you think? Maybe I missed your review.
LAO
Adam. Am I stuck in moderation or are the comments just vanishing.
Adam L Silverman
@WaterGirl: You’re welcome.
Adam L Silverman
@LAO: 5X5
Adam L Silverman
@Anya: I haven’t gotten to it yet. My allergies have been killing me – finally got to the doc on Friday and he gave me two new scrips. Which seemed to have worked great until today. Now I’m beginning to think I really do have a sinus infection. So between trying to work and trying to breathe, I’ve not been to see it yet.
WaterGirl
@tastytone: I have never read a single comic book and I really like The Flash. I’m sure there are references that go right over my head, but I think The Flash and The Arrow and Marvel’s Agents of Shield are all good shows in their own right.
But I would say you want to watch The Flash from the beginning of the TV series.
Adam L Silverman
@LAO: I’m not seeing anything in moderation, though the site did do the slow down thing for about ten or fifteen minutes around 2:30/2:45 EDT.
raven
@John M. Burt: Their name is of Cajun extraction!
Anya
@John M. Burt: I read about a little girl in Canada named Isis who got in some issue because of her name.
A Canadian Girl Named Isis Wanted Her Name on a Nutella Jar. They Said No
redshirt
@LAO: You must be mentioning one of the FORBIDDEN WORDS.
I don’t know what they are either.
LAO
@redshirt: yes. I used to be good. Now I play to a 13 or 14 handicap. You?
@WaterGirl: I love the kid, but he is a little shit.
@Mike J: exactly.
@Adam L Silverman: he is a spoiled little shit. And no one beats my mom.
LAO
@redshirt: clearly, it includes golf related lingo.
redshirt
@LAO: I’m not sure how to calculate handicaps. I got a birdie, once. I’m not that good. But I’m good enough that I’m working on my swing, which I figure is an intermediate level skill goal.
redshirt
@LAO: Bogey? Sandtrap? Chunk? Noonan?
Major Major Major Major
I’m off to brunch and buy some clothes for my Big Interview™ on Wednesday, y’all have a great afternoon, hear?
Anya
@Adam L Silverman: I am so sorry. I had that same problem few weeks ago. Nothing seemed to work until I stoppted all diary products. Also my mom forced me to drink lots of elderflower tea and peppermint herbal tea steam. That actually helped. Get well soon. Allergies are such a bitch, I am almost dreading spring.
raven
@redshirt: The Gopher Cong. . .
LAO
@redshirt: that’s great. As long as you have a good time and a sense of humor, golf can be a lot of fun.
WaterGirl
@LAO: 4 links (including replies) will put you into moderation. Maybe that was your problem?
Prescott Cactus
@Adam L Silverman: Will include “whipped out” too.
tastytone
@Adam L Silverman:
Good to hear! Jessica Jones has eased the genre-transition for my wife, so combined with that knowledge, I can make a good case to start watching now :) And I will pass that along (next Christmas, most likely–LOL). He was getting used to the “scene” when we last spoke (conventions, etc), but loving every minute, and has really put in the work to do the character justice.
Anya
@Adam L Silverman: Which ones include the Arrow and the Black Canary. I want to watch that first. I guess I am going to spend all my $300 on that then.
Adam L Silverman
@Anya: Oxygen is over rated.
WaterGirl
I just read one of the articles I found after searching on The Arrow earlier. The quote reminded me of how arrogant show runners can be and how they don’t give a damn about the connections people have with some characters on some shows. The paragraph below is just a big fuck you to anyone who cares about the show.
edit: Bastards!
Anya
@tastytone: That’s so cool. He’s fantastic as Jay Garrick. I can’t wait to see him as Zoom.
redshirt
@LAO: I’m still at the “having fun” stage. I note that when people get better at golf they seem to leave that stage and enter the “I’M FUCKING PISSED” stage.
SiubhanDuinne
I’ll have to watch the videos and read through the comments later on. I’m at one of my “Cultcha at the Cinema” things — today, it’s the Bolshoi Ballet’s lavish and delightful production of Don Quixote. Just wonderful dancing, and the music is great fun. It’s quite long, though — finishing second intermission now, and there’s another 1h 10m to go.
LAO
@redshirt: 100% true. When I was a single digit handicap, I seriously stopped having fun. Now, I don’t care, barely practice and play only 2x a week. And I’m having way more fun on the course.
tastytone
@WaterGirl:
Yeah, when dimensional/time-travel is involved, It’s probably best to start at square one :) Thanks!
WaterGirl
@Anya: How do you know he is going to be Zoom? Or is that something I would know if I read the comics?
edit: I just checked, and I have two unwatched episodes of The Flash still unwatched on Tivo.
redshirt
@LAO: Oh, so you’re really good! And you still play twice a week – are you a member of a club?
LAO
@WaterGirl: I’m guessing you are a couple of episodes behind?
Adam L Silverman
@Anya: Here’s the wikipedia link to the DC Animated Universe. It will provide a synopsis of the movies:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DC_Universe_Animated_Original_Movies
Other than the animated adaptation of Darwin Cooke’s New Frontier, you won’t find either Green Arrow or Black Canary in any of the animated movies. They did get their own DC Showcase animated short – its about 12 minutes:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DC_Showcase:_Green_Arrow
You can watch it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVRiADlDEig
Interestingly enough, Neil McDonough does the voice for Green Arrow in the short.
In the Justice League Unlimited Animated Series Green Arrow is one of the primary characters and Black Canary appears with him or on her own quite often. You can get those at iTunes as well. You’ll want the following episodes:
Season 1:
Initiation
Fearful Symmetry
Season 2:
The Cat and the Canary
Double Date
Season 3:
To Another Shore
Patriot Act
Grudge Match
Far From Home
Adam L Silverman
@Anya: You’ve been seeing him as Zoom, you just didn’t know he was Zoom. Or rather he’s also playing Hunter Zolomon who is Zoom.
LAO
@redshirt: I used to be good. ?
Yes. It’s a family thing. I’m a third generation member. Looks like this will be my last year. I’m at the point where I could easily give up playing.
And you?
redshirt
Two holes in one on 16! Crazy.
redshirt
@LAO: I’ve been thinking of joining my local CC, which is crappy but cheap. Not this year though.
I do know 24 year old me would want to punch current me in the face for even contemplating it.
raven
@redshirt: We were on the 7th fairway when McIllroy hit a hole in one Monday. Didn’t see the shot but got this pic of him getting his ball out of the cup.
WaterGirl
@LAO: And you would be correct!! I had just edited my previous comment to say just that when I saw your comment.
Anya
@WaterGirl: I am so sorry I spoiled that for you. But I thought it was clear, if you watched the episode when Barry and company visit Earth 2. I am going to be more careful next time.
redshirt
@raven: Link doesn’t work.
Anya
@Adam L Silverman: I was a bit slow. I only figured it out when Barry and Wells’s daughter were locked up with the masked prisoner.
LAO
@redshirt: I hear you. It’s a huge disconnect for me. Left wing liberal, criminal defense attorney, member of a fancy cc in Greenwich ct. It’s disconcerting and I hate most of the other members.
rikyrah
uh huh
uh huh
thanks to Zandar for the h/t:
The Voter Support Agency Accused of Suppressing Votes
By MICHAEL WINES
APRIL 8, 2016
The federal Election Assistance Commission was formed after the disputed 2000 election between George W. Bush and Al Gore and given an innocuous name and a seemingly inoffensive mission: to help state election officials make it easier to vote.
In this ideologically riven election season, it turns out, that is not easy at all.
The election commission is in federal court this month, essentially accused of trying to suppress voter turnout in this November’s election. The Justice Department, its nominal legal counsel, has declined to defend it. Its case instead is being pleaded by one of the nation’s leading advocates of voting restrictions. The agency’s chairman has disavowed its actions.
The quarrel exemplifies how the mere act of voting has become enmeshed in volatile partisan politics. Seventeen states will impose new voting restrictions for November’s presidential election. Many are the object of disputes between those who say they are rooting out voter fraud and those who say the real goal is to keep Democratic-leaning voters from casting ballots.
The lawsuit’s origin is straightforward. The agency’s executive director, Brian D. Newby, had been in his job less than three months in January when he unilaterally reversed a policy that the body’s commissioners, two Democrats and two Republicans, had endorsed since the agency’s creation in 2002: that people registering to vote need offer no proof, beyond swearing an oath, that they are American citizens.
That decision gave Kansas, Georgia and Alabama officials a blessing to alter the federal voter registration applications handed out in motor vehicle offices and many other state agencies, replacing the oath with something stiffer: a demand for proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate.
There was but one problem, critics say: Mr. Newby had no authority to make policy, a power reserved for the agency’s four commissioners.
………………………………………..
A head-scratching legal battle has ensued. The Justice Department refused to defend Mr. Newby’s decision, arguing that it was clearly illegal. Mr. Newby’s defense was assumed by the Kansas secretary of state, Kris Kobach, a former Republican Party chairman in one of the nation’s most conservative states, and perhaps the leading advocate of tightening requirements for registering new voters.
The dispute raised eyebrows for another reason: Mr. Newby came to the commission from suburban Kansas City, where he was an election commissioner appointed by and answering to Mr. Kobach. In an interview, Mr. Kobach said he played no role in Mr. Newby’s hiring or his registration decision.
A decision on whether to issue a preliminary injunction over Mr. Newby’s action may come soon, but the battle is unlikely to end quickly. Mr. Kobach has twice taken a crusade for requiring proof of citizenship to the Supreme Court, and twice lost. Many expect this case to end there as well.
raven
@redshirt: Huh, try again I guess.
tastytone
@Anya:
Right? I think it’s cool as hell. When I originally bragged to some of my friends much more versed in the genre, they seemed non-plussed for some reason…? I’m just thrilled for his career so far. He’s a great guy, and it’s impossible to be jealous of him (the three of us are all actors, but my wife and I are Theatre-folk. The inevitable “what are you working on now” question always comes-up, and it’s just impossible to compete with The Flash)
Adam L Silverman
@tastytone: I have as many JSA comics and collections as I can find pre Crisis on Infinite Earths. I have all of Geoff John’s run from the late 90s/early 00s of the post Crisis JSA. Trust me, he’s done a very good job.
redshirt
@LAO: It’s good to know the opposition.
TerryC
@LAO: Disc golf is always fun! I open my private course and club on May 16. Club initiation fee is only $100 for the first group of members, and 2016 greens fees are only $40.
LAO
@tastytone: he had been a lot of fun to watch!
@TerryC: I needed to google disc golf. Which I would be terrible at, frisbee was never my thing.
tastytone
@Adam L Silverman:
I’m sure Wardrobe wouldn’t mind at all :) I hope at least he makes-off set with one. I’d probably “forget” to take off one of those leather jackets as well…
Anya
@Adam L Silverman: Thank you! You are the best. Can we have a weekly comic book thread? I always love your take, even when you try to temper ” take a pitchfork to MG” level anger.
I love this stuff. By the way, my uncle agrees with president Obama’s ISIS/Dark Night analogy.
Adam L Silverman
@WaterGirl: So not to spoil the show:
In the comics there are three different Reverse Flashes. The first reverse Flash is Jay Garrick’s rival on Earth 2 whose name was, in fact Rival. The second was the Earth 1 Eobard Thawne from the 25th Century. He was the major story arc villain of season 1 of the TV show and is the villain in the Flashpoint comics and Flashpoint Paradox animated movie. His formal nom de crime is the Reverse Flash and/or Professor Zoom.
The third one is the major reverse Flash opponent to the Wally West flash. This is Hunter Zolomon known as Zoom. Zolomon was actually stealing the speed force, not accessing it, and his goal was to push heroes to their limit/breaking point to make them better heroes – basically he was nuts. It is this character that is the major villain in the current season/season 2 arc.
There are a couple of additional revers Flashes for both Bart Allen (Impulse) and the current New 52 Wally West/Kid Flash.
http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Reverse-Flash
http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/The_Rival
http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Professor_Zoom
http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Zoom
Joel
That opener with Martha Stewart is disturbingly pornographic.
Adam L Silverman
@tastytone: The jacket would be nice too! XXL. Thanks.
Adam L Silverman
@Anya: I’m actually working up a post on The Killing Joke as its coming out as an animated movie this Summer. Since the Look Ahead clip from the extras of the just released Justice League vs The Teen Titans has been released onto youtube, it’ll allow me to post that at the bottom so you can see what the creative folks doing the adaptation think.
As for a weekly post: I’m not sure about that. I know a lot about this stuff and enjoy it, but I’m not sure I want to regularly dive into it as social commentary or something.
rikyrah
but Kasich is the ‘ reasonable one’, so I’ve been told.
h/t Zandar
Tens of thousands of Ohioans could lose Medicaid coverage under fee proposal
By Catherine Candisky
The Columbus Dispatch • Thursday April 7, 2016 11:48 AM
Gov. John Kasich’s administration projects tens of thousands of poor Ohioans will lose Medicaid coverage while taxpayers save nearly $1 billion under a plan to charge new fees for the government health coverage and impose penalties on those who miss payments.
The proposal, subject to federal approval, would require those being treated for breast and cervical cancer, teens coming out of foster care and other working-age, nondisabled adults on Medicaid to make monthly payments into a health-savings account to help cover their expenses beginning Jan. 1, 2018.
……………………………………….
State officials project about 15 percent of Medicaid enrollees will lose benefits if the plan is enacted. They would either be disenrolled for failing to make payments or choose not to sign up to avoid the cost.
Zandar’s take on it:
The problem of course is that Ohio has a much larger population than Indiana, so we’re talking about hundreds of thousands losing their Medicaid for not being able to come up with the $99 per year.
When that happens, it’ll be the fault of those lazy people for not paying into the system…as system many of them already pay into thanks to sales taxes, payroll taxes, and state income taxes.
But of course kicking half a million plus off Medicaid is the entire point. Kasich’s plan is to do that all over the country and make it tens of millions instead.
rikyrah
where are all the 2 piece and a biscuit Preacher Mofos that were shuffling for Bruce Rauner?
Where are they now?
……………………………
Chicago State, a Lifeline for Poor Blacks, Is Under Threat Itself
By JULIE BOSMAN
APRIL 9, 2016
CHICAGO — The lack of a state budget in Illinois has been dismissed by many here as politics as usual, another protracted ego contest between the Republican governor and the Democrats who rule the Legislature.
It does not feel that way at Chicago State University, a 150-year-old, predominantly African-American school on the city’s far South Side.
Since last July, when the fiscal year began, the university has received zero dollars from the state, though it relies on Illinois for 30 percent of its $105 million budget. If no one swoops in with a rescue plan, the school could shut down, stranding students mid-degree, eliminating hundreds of jobs and shuttering a path forward for a poor and underserved community.
In February, the school declared a financial emergency. Officials canceled spring break and moved commencement up to April 28, rushing to finish the semester before funding goes dry. Last month, members of the faculty and staff were notified that the school was making contingency plans to collect their keys. Reserve funds to pay employees will run out after April 30.
“People are losing their minds,” said Barbara Ameyedowo, 28, a math major who is expecting to graduate in December. “Students are leaving. I’m hopeful that it will be resolved, but I’m so sad. Chicago State is all this part of the South Side has left.”’
Governors and legislatures around the country have made deep cuts to state universities in recent years, leaving the smallest and least prestigious schools financially stressed, as tuition is hardly adequate to sustain many institutions. In Illinois, the absence of a budget means there has been no state financing, straining state universities and prompting some to furlough and lay off employees.
…………………………………
The crisis has left many of the 4,500 students at Chicago State, the vast majority of whom are black and from low-income backgrounds, shaken and angry: Why are they, rather than their peers at more elite state universities, at risk of becoming the first major casualties of the budget stalemate?
“It’s aimed at hurting minorities,” Glenn Weston, 23, a junior who is studying accounting, said of the budget conflict. Though Chicago State University is not a member of the historically black colleges and universities system, he said, “Chicago State is like the H.B.C.U. of Chicago. Other schools here would never close.”
For months, the students have organized in protest, their cries largely directed at Gov. Bruce Rauner, a Republican. In January, a group of students drew attention to their cause by forming a human chain and shutting down part of a busy expressway. At a rally downtown in February, students marched on sidewalks, chanting “Black education is good for your health” and “Black minds matter.”
Students are fearful that the school could shut down, leaving them with unfinished degrees and few options to transfer nearby.
For many students, the university is a lifeline. Originally founded as a teachers’ college during boom times in the 1860s, the small, austere campus of concrete plazas and low-slung brick buildings now occupies 160 acres of land deep on the South Side of Chicago. It is bordered by an expressway and a residential neighborhood that was once solidly middle-class but has been upended by poverty, gang violence and declining population. Streetlights are marked with dark green banners, the school color, stamped with the Chicago State logo.
“There’s a lot of frustration in the community,” said Phillip Beverly, a political-science professor at Chicago State, who grew up five blocks from the school and whose grandmother and wife are graduates. “You’re closing off an avenue for people to change their lives.”
Adam L Silverman
@Anya: Enjoy:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x40cgzy_birds-of-prey-from-batman-the-brave-and-the-bold-batman-cartoon-all-episodes_shortfilms
Anya
They should have a Birds of Prey series and revamp Black Canary. One thing I love is her costume. I always hated female superheroes costumes, although Green Arrow’s costumes are awful, but in a different way.
Adam L Silverman
@Anya: And what I think is the best live action depiction of the Black Canary is at the 3:35 mark here. They clearly based Alaina Huffman’s character choreography off of the comics and cartoons:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMged3zFIUA
Anya
@Adam L Silverman: This is clearly the case of great minds think a like, I was just watching it on Youtube: Black Canary and Huntress
scav
@Joel: But only technically so, somehow. And how’d I survive so long without learning how that woman’s affect is so very very off-putting and mechanical? It’s all my second-hand nightmares of finger-wagging faux nursery-school aides.
Adam L Silverman
@Anya: link is dead.
Anya
@Adam L Silverman: That’s amazing. Strangely enough, I’ve never watched Smallville. I think watching all seasons will be my Arrow replacement.
D58826
This isn’t going to end well. Will the democrats in general and Bernie in particular give the election to the GOP:
Yes we do know what the term meant and it did not refer to all young blacks even if the bigots wanted to make it seem so. It referred to a specific subset of young black men based on a since repudiated study. The Clintons were not the only people using the term at the time.
So it’s ok for Bernie to vote for a bill with both good and bad things in it because the good things outweigh the bad. On the other hand the Clintons owe the country an apology for doing the exact same thing.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/clinton-super-predators-sanders_us_570a67a2e4b0836057a17d1e
Anya
@Adam L Silverman: oops: here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZ8990rMEdY&ebc=ANyPxKqdoHY7WlJCpnU2bNLEsnW8pYj72yT4cgkkJhr8MJ7B5KDPEnZtaAkRv0Kud0jPEqHhYB8h&nohtml5=False
jeffreyw
Not an actual recipe thread? Oh, well – a picture will have to do.
WaterGirl
@Anya: It’s really fine! I had no idea I was 2 episodes behind. :-)
Plus, if it was obvious from the visit to earth 2, it’s probably only obvious if you have read the comic books. From the end of that episode on earth 2, it was clear that there was more to Jay’s story and that we were going to see him again. I just had no idea he was zoom. But apparently if you have read the comic books, you would know it just from the name of his earth 1 doppleganger. It’s all good.
NotMax
@Anya
There was a Birds of Prey series, in 2002, which lasted 13 episodes before mercifully being put to sleep..
Anya
@NotMax: I never heard of it. Was it that horrible? Why was it that bad?
tastytone
@D58826:
Politics is politics, but this is the stuff that infuriates me.
ETA: Sanders teasing-out the notion that the Clintons are racist, that is.
Anya
@WaterGirl: I drive my bff who’s not a comic book geek crazy, tho he likes all the background info. We grew up together and we were friends since we were in diapers but for some reason he never got interested in comic books. He likes all the shows & the movies but doesn’t read the comics. He feels guilty now because I hate the Arrow. But I am not one of those super fans who constantly gripe about retcon. I welcome any changes that improve the characters or diversify it.
bemused
@rikyrah:
These people wouldn’t be on Medicaid in the first place if they weren’t so low income. FFS how are they going to be able to put money into these Republican Health “Savings” Accounts they want to shove everyone into? I hate these people.
Adam L Silverman
@Anya: It was okay for what it was. I think it got better as it went on and the last four seasons were the best.
Adam L Silverman
@Anya: Yeah, that was just after the musical number.
WaterGirl
@Anya: That’s me, love the shows but never read the comics. And I appreciate hearing the background information. Why does your friend feel guilty now because you hate the Arrow?
Adam L Silverman
@Anya: It was okay. They merged Earth 1 and Earth 2 canons. So you had the Earth 2 Huntress, daughter of Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle, as Huntress and Dinah Lance’s daughter show up (post Crisis retcon). Barbara Gordon as Oracle mentoring the two of them. It was okay. The actress that played Barbara Gordon did a good job.
Anya
@D58826: Propane Jane was doing some educating on twitter. Read this whole thread: https://twitter.com/docrocktex26/status/702948838026276864
The problem for Bernie and others trying to use this the Crime Bill against the Clintons only is that a lot of people in the black community were for it as well as all the politicians on the left and right. It’s what happens when we enact policies based on fear and public hysteria. Why don’t we have a conversation about that?
NotMax
@Anya
Oh so very much wrong with it. IIRC the premiere drew boffo audience numbers, which plummeted unceasingly with each succeeding episode. There is a DVD set (padded with other stuff) and no doubt one can find episodes online if so inclined.
Patricia Kayden
@Anya: That’s the bottom line. The Crime Bill was passed in a specific context and to take its passage out of that context is unfair, not just to the Clintons but to the Congressional Black Congress and other Black leaders who supported it.
WaterGirl
@D58826: I was on board with Barack Obama in 2007 before my friends even knew who he was. Many said “yeah, he looks good now, but I am waiting for him to make a big mistake and implode.”
I think that’s where we are with Bernie. I am trying to tune out as much as i can because I am not a fan of Hillary and I don’t think Bernie is strong enough on foreign policy. With no good choices and knowing I’ll vote for the democratic candidate in the fall, I am just trying to ignore most of it.
But it seems like Bernie has been screwing up at every turn lately. Bernie is showing an awful lot of poor judgment lately and is showing that he has none of the calm steadiness we have been luck enough to have with Barack Obama. I didn’t respect Hillary in 2008 for staying in long after it was clear that it was not possible to get enough delegates to win, so I don’t think she has much room to ding Bernie for that. But I do!
I never cared that he wasn’t a democrat before. But Bernie showed his hand recently when: 1) so many of his supporters in Wisconsin voted just for president and nothing down ballot and 2) that he seems to care not at all about getting other Democrats elected down ticket, which shows me that he doesn’t seem to understand how it all works, that we need to win back both houses in order to get so many things done.
So at this point, he’s a bad choice for the democrats. I doubt that he would even look at who would be best for the democratic party in terms of VP – it’s looking to me like he would just pick whoever would help get him elected and not care about the next election. So disappointing all around.
Anya
@Adam L Silverman: should I only watch the last 4 seasons then?
@Adam L Silverman: Doesn’t sound bad. I’ll see if I can find it.
@WaterGirl: he hates that he’s enjoying it and we won’t watch it together as we always do. I suggested this will be our transition to real adulthood where we form our separate interests.
D58826
@Anya: Probably because some on the left seem to hate the Clintons as much as the right wing does, and would not be unhappy to see a 2000 Ralph Nader type outcome (looking at Susan Sarandon)
@tastytone: Yep that was my point. In the past week or so Bernie seems to be going the extra mile of ‘if I can’t be the candidate then I burn the party down for spite’.
Adam L Silverman
@srv: No – not going to happen. That started as a whacked out op ed that refused to refer to Mattis by name. His actual nickname is the Warrior Monk. And despite all the conspiracies, the reason that he was replaced as the CENTCOM Commander is the same reason almost every CENTCOM Commander gets replaced: he is always the Geographic Combatant Commander that tells the President what he doesn’t want to hear – all the time. I’ve met General Mattis once, and I’m close friends with a couple of Marine colonels that served under him and he’s an excellent warfighter and strategic leader. I know General Austin, the outgoing CENTCOM Commander, though not well – he was my Division Commander in Iraq. He’s also an excellent warfighter and strategic leader. I don’t know General Votel the incoming CENTCOM Commander, but he is also supposed to be an excellent special warfighter and strategic leader. The problem is he’s moving from being the SOCOM Commander, where he tells the President what can be done with Special Operations to CENTCOM Commander where he has to tell the President bad news on a regular basis.
redshirt
@WaterGirl: Bernie is no Barack.
Adam L Silverman
@NotMax: I’ve got the DVD set. It started okay/good and went down hill. The limitations here were that almost no one who weren’t regular comics readers knew the characters, the villains were largely either C-listers or created for the show, and it never found its footing before the decision to renew/continue or pull the plug had to be made.
Adam L Silverman
@Anya: You can watch all of it. Some of it is likely to be a bit dated at this point. That’s also going to be the issue with Birds of Prey.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
Al Sharpton, who opposed the ’94 crime bill in real time, is hosting Clinton and Sanders at a forum this week, and he hinted strongly this morning on MSNBC that Sanders is going to have a tough time with his “I only voted for the good parts” excuse.
NotMax
@Anya
First season of Smallville you ought to watch, if just to get the feel for how the characters are portrayed. The middle seasons were essentially monster of the week, the evolution of the Clark/Lex Luthor relationship, doing the antagonist tango as it were, being what made those seasons more bearable.
D58826
@redshirt: I really really don’t get the Clinton = Darth Vader and Bernie = the white knight. Yes they have different approaches to some things but they are not that far apart on most things. Lets not write the attack ads for the GOP, they are good enough as it is without giving them more ammunition.
I’ve read any number of articles on Salon and Huffington and GOS that harp on every Clinton failure back to 1978 and kind of give Bernie a pass.
There was one article, I think it was a link on Twitter, by a pol. sci prof who has developed an index of legislative effectiveness. Seems that Barney Frank was right. Bernie hasn’t gotten much done in Congress. While it is probably understandable given his independent socialist brand, then why does any one think he will be more successful in the White House. He seems to be getting a pass on his crime bill vote, his NRA friendly attitude on some gun issues and voting against closing GITMO. That tri-fecta would get HRC boiled in oil.
NotMax
@Adam L. Silverman
Yeah, the writers seemingly had no idea what to do with the characters, plus it became obvious the production was being done on a severely limited budget. Weak all around.
The question “We’ve got three hot chicks in spandex and the bridge of the Seaview at the top of a skyscraper. Um, now what?” apparently never yielded any answers.
starscream
@redshirt: This gets more obvious by the day, unfortunately
Anya
@Adam L Silverman: In terms of technology and gadgets? In that case, that won’t be a problem, I still enjoy old Doctor Who shows.
SiubhanDuinne
@efgoldman:
@MomSense:
I never met a Muppet, but when I was a little kid I met Kukla and Ollie*. They had such distinct voices and personalities, you forgot that it was just Burr Tillstrom behind the boxy little puppet theatre.
*(It’s quite possible Fran Allison was also around, but I don’t remember her being there. Some book-related event my mother took me to — probably a regional booksellers’ convention or similar trade show.)
D58826
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
In site of what I have said in earlier comments I’m willing to give Bernie a break on this because the legislative process is ugly and you usually have to take what you can get. I just object to Bernie adopting the attitude of ‘I voted for the good parts’ but Bill should apologize and then fall on his sword. It’s the holier than thou attitude that bothers me. And it would not be acceptable if the show were on the other foot. .
Anya
@NotMax: Thanks! I will start watching. If I like it, I won’t have a personal life for a while?
CaseyL
@WaterGirl: His supporters are stinking up FB with accusations that Hillary “bribed” members of Congress to become superdelegates for her by… holding fundraisers for them. That really enrages me, because I know some of those people and they’re politically aware enough to know that’s how you build a Party and a Congress that you can work with: By helping them get elected. It’s an utterly dishonest claim, and also a bad omen about Sanders’ inability to actually, you know, govern.
SiubhanDuinne
@tastytone:
I’m sure it’s just that North Carolina has been all in the news lately, but I read that as “gender-transition.”
redshirt
Another hole in one?! Off another ball?! Crazy.
D58826
@CaseyL: There is another Clinton ‘scandal’ floating about. Seems she gave a private fundraising speech, no press allowed, in Colorado. The event was in a tent on the Governor’s property. The press i guess assumed they could use sensitive microphones to snoop on the goings on. According to the local reporter the campaign used sound generators to prevent the press from listening in to a private event. Now I’m all for transparency and open campaigning but we don’t live in that perfect world. I suspect that Hillary isn’t the first politician to pull that trick. Next time just have it inside a building (and hope the bartender doesn’t record it on his cell phone).
And it does seem to indicate that Bernie’s army doesn’t understand the need for strong down ballot candidates. And will not work to get them elected. Bernie is a one man band. Has been his entire career
LAO
@redshirt: yes!
NotMax
@Anya
Trying not to give a spoiler, but the scene wherein Ma Kent justifies the underwear on the outside aspect of the costume to Clark is worth the price of admission.
;)
redshirt
@NotMax: Is that the scene where Ma Kent also says “Fuck Humanity” if they don’t get it?
Anya
@NotMax: Apparently Birds of Prey is only available on DVD Netflix. Bummer!
WaterGirl
@redshirt: Never thought he was, but if you can’t run steady campaign, how the hell can you expect to run a country?
Adam L Silverman
@NotMax: That’s from Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. Not Smallville.