tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55058182011-04-21T14:15:11.468-04:00Dave Weigel's blog away from home.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.comBlogger10531100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1143240731045531452006-03-24T17:51:00.000-05:002006-03-24T17:52:11.063-05:00

The migration to my new site is taking longer than I thought. See you Monday.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1143147637455029292006-03-23T15:56:00.000-05:002006-03-23T16:00:37.470-05:00

So maybe seeing my entire buddy list on AIM is beyond my technical acumen. That hasn't stopped me from embarking on a bold re-launch of davidweigel.com - the site I launched five years ago and haven't updated in three. I actually purchased the server space and installed the software to do what I want, but whether I failed to cross a "T" or it's simply propogating the changes, it's not ready yet.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1143139645683597142006-03-23T13:46:00.000-05:002006-03-23T13:47:25.686-05:00

I hereby declare this the lede of the day. Chris Matthews blows hard.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1143138996311053612006-03-23T13:32:00.000-05:002006-03-23T13:36:36.326-05:00

I don't think anyone's ever answered one of my tech questions before, but here's hoping. I just downloaded the new version of AIM, "AIM Triton." It looks cool. However, it doesn't display my buddies. For example, I have a buddy group called "DC" that has 31 members. Right now, I'm told 16 of them are online. But my IM window is only displaying three of them. I can't see any options or features

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1143083586497140292006-03-22T22:09:00.000-05:002006-03-23T01:31:41.346-05:00

Watching a CNN report on the Democratic candidate to take Henry Hyde's seat in Congress, and Candy Crowley describes the suburban Chicago district as "once solidly Republican, now evolving." "Oh yeah, we used to be Republican. Then we developed opposable thumbs!" UPDATE: For some reason I can't respond in comments, so: No, I think you're pretty much right. Most analysts will say the Chicago

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1143083374845101752006-03-22T22:06:00.000-05:002006-03-22T22:09:34.860-05:00

Jeepers. Just get Boehner to pass a new Sedition Act and stop your whining.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1142981070463508062006-03-21T17:42:00.000-05:002006-03-21T17:44:30.476-05:00

Oh. My. God. This. Rules. I had always assumed 60 minutes was the standard for burning a 60 minute CD. Turns out it's like 8 minutes.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1142892098428302522006-03-20T15:56:00.000-05:002006-03-20T17:01:38.526-05:00

A few days ago I mentioned that I had some important news on the way. Here it is. Starting April 3, I will begin work as an assistant editor at Reason magazine. The list of journalists who get to work for their favorite magazines - especially so early in their careers - is, I'm guessing, not long. I'm extremely excited, and grateful, to make it on that list.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1142810668913178752006-03-19T18:11:00.000-05:002006-03-19T18:24:28.930-05:00

First 2006 release I've seen and it's a great one - unless Hollywood has a sudden genius injection, I imagine it'll make my top 10 in December. It does make a few un-Alan Moore concessions to manichean ethics, but for a $50 million film aiming to be an international hit, I'll let that slide. One example: In the comic version of "V," fascists took over the UK in the chaos brought about by a US/

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1142724178137533552006-03-18T18:20:00.000-05:002006-03-18T18:23:33.036-05:00

You see this? I own this now. 1 gig of ram. 100 gigs of hard drive space. Intel Centrino duo mobile technology. ATI Radeon Xpress 1400 Graphics. I, for one, welcome our new laptop overlords.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1142632211249169362006-03-17T16:44:00.000-05:002006-03-17T16:50:11.253-05:00

#7 - Planet Simpson by Chris Turner Extremely overlong history/analysis of the TV show. #8 - The Outside Story by Richard Brookhiser Hilarious, Hunter Thompson-on- ... well, not drugs. Tea? Hunter Thompson-on-tea blow-by-blow of the 1984 presidential race, told from the perspective of a media hack watching the debates and campaign rallies.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1142631817417109292006-03-17T16:41:00.000-05:002006-03-17T16:43:37.420-05:00

MSM: Look, you stupid bastard. Bush has got no arms left. HEWITT: Yes he does! MSM: *Look*! HEWITT: It's just a flesh wound! (No transcript yet, but Hugh teases it here.)

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1142631132867802312006-03-17T16:30:00.000-05:002006-03-17T16:32:12.886-05:00

Warren Bell:A deep-pocketed conservative needs to step up and do the same thing with films that might appeal to mainstream American audiences. Sounds easy enough. But are there any deep pockets conservatives anymore?I can't believe NR could have whored "The Chronicles of Narnia" as much as it did without hearing of Philip Anschutz.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1142545166604656042006-03-16T16:21:00.000-05:002006-03-16T17:32:08.623-05:00

(thanks, sf4dean.com) So Katherine Harris, down 20 points in the polls and submerged in scandal, refused to exit Florida's Senate race. Republicans generally slapped their foreheads and moved this seat into the "D" column. But here was the very first comment at Daily Kos.Diebold? How many Diebold machines can 10 million buy? by WinSmithThere is a point when the conspiracy theory about

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1142481554882892252006-03-15T22:58:00.000-05:002006-03-15T22:59:14.896-05:00

Some big news might be coming soon.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1142393426023163372006-03-14T22:26:00.000-05:002006-03-14T22:30:26.036-05:00

New review at Popmatters of a new album by video game music cover band The Advantage.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1142286668142108792006-03-13T16:39:00.000-05:002006-03-13T16:51:08.206-05:00

I've said it a million times: I neither expect or desire for this blog to become popular. That either gives me 1)more right or 2)less right to heap scorn on other blogs. I haven't decided. Either way, here's some scorn! 1) Every year, the blog Wampum hosts the "Koufax Awards" for liberal weblogs. It's not very hard to code web polls, even if you want to code them to restrict multiple voting or

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1142226534461690222006-03-12T23:28:00.000-05:002006-03-13T16:34:13.890-05:00

Empire Statesman: The Rise and Redemption of Al Smith by Robert A. Slayton, 2001 I've always had a soft spot for legendary New York governor Al Smith, mostly inspired by anecdotes I heard in stories about someone else where Smith made a cameo. Like the story of Smith threatening to run against corrupt NYC Mayor Jimmy Walker if the Tammany machine didn't back FDR for governor. Walker (or someone

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1142134452797441182006-03-11T22:19:00.000-05:002006-03-11T22:35:05.406-05:00

The Vermont Senate race is pretty much off everyone's radar. Republican-turned-Independent Jim Jeffords is retiring, and Independent Congressman Bernie Sanders is running to replace him. Since Vermont only has one congressional district, Sanders has been elected statewide eight times - the last time with 67% of the vote. And since the Democrats made a pact with Sanders not to run a third

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1142019304392777112006-03-10T14:31:00.000-05:002006-03-10T14:35:04.410-05:00

Yes yes y'all. Sam Peckinpah's awesome, forgotten 1977 masterpiece "Cross of Iron" is finally coming out on DVD. For years, it wasn't even available on VHS in these United States. And I'm enjoying DVD Savant's ... um ... excited review.When Steiner's men capture a group of female Russian soldiers, the film elects for exploitative details of isolated rape and mutilation rather than something more

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1141925019086011912006-03-09T12:22:00.000-05:002006-03-09T12:23:39.106-05:00

Cousin Couples! Insert "Mississippi Republican Party" jokes here.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1141886307218524672006-03-09T01:26:00.000-05:002006-03-09T02:10:31.386-05:00

Mark Krikorian has never been to Delaware.Temple U. law professor Jan Ting won a straw poll of the Delaware Republican state committee this week to run against Sen. Tom Carper (there's a perennial gadfly also seeking the nomination). Ting, who was assistant INS commissioner in Bush 41 (and is a Fellow at my Center), has an uphill battle before him, since Carper has $2 million in the bank and

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1141850537979489782006-03-08T15:41:00.000-05:002006-03-08T15:42:17.993-05:00

I have an interview with Robert Forster of the Go-Betweens up at Popmatters.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1141765315398078612006-03-07T16:00:00.000-05:002006-03-07T16:01:55.413-05:00

Because, frustrated with my ultra-slow PC and its inability to open iTunes while Firefox was running, I closed Firefox. And deleted an unfinished 400-word post about meeting Joe Trippi. Dang.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1141624412097904542006-03-06T00:35:00.000-05:002006-03-06T01:48:48.176-05:00

As my less-politic version of John Tabin's Oscar blog title should make clear, I am no good at predicting things. The Oscars exist to remind me not to ever gamble actual money. I suppose "Crash" wasn't that bad. Seeing some clips of it tonight, I remember that I enjoyed the first scenes, when the characters are first introduced and spit out their true feelings about other people and other races.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1141507176319763992006-03-04T16:19:00.000-05:002006-03-04T16:19:36.320-05:00

I've added some recent articles and a new blog to the sidebar.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1141436037904367382006-03-03T20:12:00.000-05:002006-03-03T20:52:52.403-05:00

The newly Matt Welchified LA Times runs a clever feature that commissions five smart alecks (including Welch) to tear down the five Best Picture nominees. The most interesting is the "Brokeback Mountain" write-up by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez.The film is adapted from a short story by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Annie Proulx. In her story, one of the young "cowboy lovers" is Latino, and in their

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1141402480005542792006-03-03T11:11:00.000-05:002006-03-03T11:14:40.023-05:00

Somebody buy my book or I kill this dog. Explanation here.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1141362017496715062006-03-02T23:59:00.000-05:002006-03-03T00:00:17.526-05:00

Would I go to hell if I made a T-shirt that said "I Believe Joran Van Der Sloot"? I mean, go faster?

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1141239226037319472006-03-01T13:47:00.000-05:002006-03-01T23:05:10.986-05:00

Tim Brayton, as expected, has posted an Oscar tipsheet that would put any of my efforts to shame. For starters, I could not care less about the following awards: Best Editing Best Makeup Best Visual Effects Best Sound Best Sound Editing Best Documentary Short Subject Best Live Action Short Film Best Animated Short Film "But Dave!" you say. "Editing IS filmmaking!" "But you!" I say. "The Return

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1141238815928176802006-03-01T13:42:00.000-05:002006-03-01T13:46:55.946-05:00

Last year I took a cheap shot at Amanda Marcotte, the chief Pandagon blogger. I occasionally check that blog to see if my bile was unwarranted. A-nope!What I find interesting about anti-choice thinking is that while they adamantly deny that what’s in a woman’s body is hers to control, there’s apparently no problem with the idea that separate, sentient human beings exist for male disposal so long

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1141181846592885852006-02-28T21:47:00.000-05:002006-02-28T21:57:26.606-05:00

Tbogg links to a typically giggle-inducing Jason Apuzzo blog post, which inevitably digresses into discussions of "Star Wars" and "Cinderella Man." And "Cinderella Man" revisionism is pretty easy to come by. Here's Myrna Blyth complaining about its Academy dissage."Cinderella Man" didn’t make much money, and I suppose it’s considered a flop. But none of the other movies nominated for the Oscar

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1141104585057155402006-02-27T23:08:00.000-05:002006-02-28T00:29:45.150-05:00

At the end of a grueling week I visited Delaware to suit up for CJ Stunkard's bachelor party. This is the third bachelor party I've been to, and the third one sans strippers. Not for us. For us, there was New York Comic Con. I'm a desperately lazy man, so I'm going to repost my description of Comic Con from a recent IM dialogue. DaveWeigel81: OK... well, people start lining up at 2 am for

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1140761244806784472006-02-24T01:06:00.000-05:002006-02-24T01:07:24.823-05:00

New review up at Popmatters, of DC band The Sounds of Kaleidoscope. A related issue: If the Decemberists ever make a double album, they should call the first disc "Alas" and the second disc "Alack."

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1140675433026275812006-02-23T01:14:00.000-05:002006-02-23T01:17:13.040-05:00

If I was a wingnutty congressman, I do believe I'd introduce a bill that would privatize the Secret Service and open the Presidential bodyguard business up to foreign bidders. But I'm not a wingnutty congressman. That's all for now. Oy. Not a great week.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1140496037354346992006-02-20T23:26:00.000-05:002006-02-20T23:27:17.373-05:00

Not much going on. Read Tim's reviews. (I saw "Tristam Shandy" and it rules.)

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1140074378529468442006-02-16T02:18:00.000-05:002006-02-16T02:36:07.593-05:00

Oh, my sides. Wendy's Training Video, circa 1980-something.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1140039136520095332006-02-15T16:31:00.000-05:002006-02-15T16:43:02.406-05:00

2004 version:We couldn't take the word of a madman.2006 version:Strike that. We can totally take the word of a madman.I figure some slope-browed bloggers and radio hosts are getting hot and bothered about these 1990s Saddam quotes. They would be advised to listen to notorious anti-war activist Stephen Hayes:A hypothetical: If the tapes are in fact authentic, imagine that they include audio of

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1139979799362800222006-02-14T23:55:00.000-05:002006-02-15T00:03:19.376-05:00

That Heath Ledger fella can't ski at all.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1139893213959965432006-02-13T23:58:00.000-05:002006-02-14T00:00:13.980-05:00

Not much doin' today. Got a new metal review up at Popmatters, though.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1139639637584415662006-02-10T22:47:00.000-05:002006-02-11T01:35:35.796-05:00

Other Americas by Norman Spinrad, 1988 A few months back I read Spinrad's infamous Hitler novel, "The Iron Dream" (that is, a sci-fi novel "written" by an alternate universe's Adolf Hitler), enjoyed it greatly, and decided to seek out the rest of his stuff. This collection of four short stories was the first thing I finished, and I must say I'm not impressed. The stories ... - "Street Meat" is

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1139516483226300292006-02-09T15:19:00.000-05:002006-02-09T15:21:23.246-05:00

Oh, man. Please, nobody dangle any bright, shiny objects in front of Mort Kondracke. He'd be dazzled for weeks.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1139462956246392982006-02-09T00:28:00.000-05:002006-02-09T00:54:39.936-05:00

For feces and giggles, I just participated in a listmaking exercise with an album-trading group I belong to. We're compiling the "best albums of the 1980s." Here was my list. 1.) Tommy Keene – Songs From the Film (1986) One of the most obscure albums here. A 12-song slab of guitar pop from Washington DC's most talented, screwed-over musical son (Geffen killed his "commercial" album Based on

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1139420769543938082006-02-08T12:44:00.000-05:002006-02-08T13:03:22.660-05:00

I don't have a lot to say about this, other than Kate O'Beirne looks like Sarah Chalke aged 30 years in brine and possessed by demons from hell.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1139376528776353772006-02-08T00:24:00.000-05:002006-02-08T00:28:48.793-05:00

Oh, the things I find when I google myself. By the by, I was googling myself and my old college paper because Northwestern's notorious Holocaust denier, Arthur Butz, is in the news.McCormick Prof. Arthur Butz recently backed Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in comments published by several Iranian news agencies. Calling the Holocaust a myth, Ahmadinejad said Israel should no longer exist as

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1139298697582303282006-02-07T02:41:00.000-05:002006-02-07T02:53:38.623-05:00

I think it says something about our modern political divisions that the questions of Paul "Powerline guy #3" Mirengoff at a Democratic press conference are seen as utterly stupid on the left and star-in-the-heavens brilliant on the right. Count me in the "stupid" category, if only by a little. Mirengoff basically restated Alberto Gonzales' party line on the authorization of force act, then

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1139286879486990632006-02-06T23:34:00.000-05:002006-02-06T23:34:39.503-05:00

Deadlines, yee-haw.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1139191281570723382006-02-05T20:55:00.000-05:002006-02-05T21:01:21.586-05:00

Um, so "Brokeback Mountain" is now the highest-grossing Academy Award nominee, with $60 million after this weekend. In one or two days, it will pass "Cinderella Man" in overall ticket sales. The gay cowboy movie that cost $14 million and stars the guy from "A Knight's Tale." I should have bought stock in crow, because that shit is being eaten left and right these days. Gosh, I hope "Crash"

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1139181199833636182006-02-05T18:05:00.000-05:002006-02-05T18:14:23.503-05:00

The Economist's pro-Republican (note: not pro-right wing) tilt has been annoying me more and more lately. On the one hand, its editors note that the current incarnation of the Republican party is corrupt and incompetent enough to make Boss Tweed blush. On the other hand, they hate on Democrats like bullies on fat kids. For example, this article that paints this year's Washington Senate race,

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1139128802447291652006-02-05T03:35:00.000-05:002006-02-05T14:02:27.970-05:00

Because of the Great Cartoon War of 2006, Kanye West's Rolling Stone cover, where he poses as Jesus on his way to the cross, has garnered a whole bunch of attention from people making the same criticism. Instapundit:IF KANYE WEST HAD BALLS, he'd pose as Mohammed, instead of Jesus. But he doesn't. Efforts to be controversial have become so predictable. Yawn.Fred Barnes, on Fox News:Look at the

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1139075077048200502006-02-04T12:18:00.000-05:002006-02-04T12:44:37.116-05:00

Hrm, I could have sworn I had a post up for Friday. No? Well, here's book #4 for the year. Marching Through Georgia by S.M. Stirling Most alternate history stories start with a huge event, a battle or a famous person's assassination, going the wrong way. In S.M. Stirling's opus, history changed because ... the Dutch entered the British-American war in 1779. Seizing the opportunity to seize

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1138905870256806852006-02-02T13:40:00.000-05:002006-02-02T13:45:36.426-05:00

I won't link to everyone who's whinging about Tom Toles, but is this E&P blurb representive?The Toles cartoon shows a soldier, a quadruple amputee, in a hospital, being visited by a Dr. Rumsfeld who is scribbling on a form. Rumsfeld says, "I am listing your condition as battle hardened." At the bottom a smaller figure of the doctor adds, "I'm prescribing that you be stretched thin. We don't

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1138902604763192022006-02-02T12:48:00.000-05:002006-02-02T12:50:04.780-05:00

Two links. - More prominent/funny blogs have already linked to this, but perhaps you've missed it. I present: "Brokeback to the Future." - Somebody, please give Marlee Matlin another job.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1138859603671436632006-02-02T00:52:00.000-05:002006-02-02T00:53:23.690-05:00

Damn it, who tipped these guys off to my Valentine's Day plans?

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1138835254424672142006-02-01T18:02:00.000-05:002006-02-01T18:07:34.440-05:00

Two more books last week. Where the Right Went Wrong by Patrick J. Buchanan Lackluster insta-book with some compelling stuff about the terrifying loonyward lurch of the GOP, padded at a 2-1 ratio by the same history and WWII anecdotes Buchanan writes about all the time. Sound of the Beast: The Complete Headbanging History of Heavy Metal by Ian Christe Sort of rote history of the genre, with

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1138737168571772042006-01-31T14:46:00.000-05:002006-01-31T14:54:14.176-05:00

The combined gross of the five Best Picture Oscar nominees: $185,517,364 The gross of "The Chronicles of Narnia": $277,867,308 Conclusion: Hollywood hates Christians. Oh, and they nominated "Munich," so they hate Jews, too. Gays and journalists, you're OK. (A note: Since "Brokeback" and "Munich" are still in wide release, and "Capote" and "Good Night ..." will probably get some new screens to

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1138729876525239742006-01-31T12:48:00.000-05:002006-01-31T12:51:16.526-05:00

Three new pieces from me. - A review of a Bjorn Olsson album at Popmatters. - A review of Lewis Gould's "The Most Exclusive Club" in Campaigns & Elections. (Not online.) - The cover story, on microtargeting, in Campaigns & Elections.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1138729641098290992006-01-31T12:37:00.000-05:002006-01-31T12:47:21.196-05:00

Rasmussen Reports, a reliable conservative pollster, does a daily tracking poll of Bush's approval numbers. (He's one of the few pollsters who never saw Bush go under 40%, but his race-by-race polling is usually excellent.) Yesterday he found them rising to 50% approve, 49% disapprove. And the crowd went wild! Instapundit:BUSH BREAKS FIFTY PERCENT APPROVAL on the Rasmussen poll. He's been

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1138581979884533422006-01-29T19:36:00.000-05:002006-01-29T19:46:19.896-05:00

Since I sorta defended lefties for a second there, I figured it was worth pointing out that Daily Kos, actually a useful/addictive site from time to time, has become nigh-unreadable on the Alito vote. It consists of my least favorite type of internet denizens - people who think fascism is nigh, and believe the way to fight it is by posting a lot on blogs. No and no. Take the discussions on Sen.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1138565910787700332006-01-29T15:03:00.000-05:002006-01-29T15:20:14.486-05:00

In his ongoing quest to shed his nonpartisan rep, Glenn Reynolds links to Gateway Pundit with this teaser.IS CINDY SHEEHAN becoming the voice of the new Democratic Party? Hey, they used to dismiss Kos as fringe, and now he's mainstream.So I follow the link, assuming some dumb Democrat or another (Jose Serrano?) has come out in solidarity with Sheehan on some issue. Sadly, no! The link is to a

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1138561091566267012006-01-29T13:46:00.000-05:002006-01-29T13:59:01.726-05:00

Sorry about that. Lots of work + many distractions = not much blogging. I had a pretty good weekend, though, and it went like this: - Drove erstwhile boss and friend David Mark to BWI (the "erstwhile" part refers to "boss," not "friend," obviously, as I wouldn't give a ride to a former friend), and stopped off (after an hour of traffic) at John Tabin's palatial Owings Mills estate. Italian

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1138164037590626442006-01-24T23:40:00.000-05:002006-01-25T16:33:29.500-05:00

Well, that's enough political bilge for a while. Here's some stuff I've been enjoying. Adrian Belew I had known for years about this virtuoso guitarist through his work with King Crimson, David Bowie, Talkin Heads, Laurie Anderson, etc etc ad infinitum. But the other day I saw a cheap copy of his 1992 solo album Inner Revolution and said what the hell. Mercy me, it's incredible. Imagine a Todd

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1137996551896693452006-01-23T01:06:00.000-05:002006-01-23T01:09:11.910-05:00

JEDMUNDS: Abortions for all! CROWD: Booooooo! JEDMUNDS: I think I heard a "yes." Abortions for all! (context here, if you're wondering)

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1137995095987680802006-01-23T00:42:00.000-05:002006-01-23T00:44:56.003-05:00

God bless Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, because he can help Rick Santorum get re-elected! Also, Katherine Harris is smarter than an astronaut. PERSONAL NOTE: Mercy, and I thought Batchelor was unbearable when he talked.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1137707409493625612006-01-19T16:48:00.000-05:002006-01-19T16:50:09.496-05:00

I have a new article up at Reason about the politics of PATRIOT Act renewal - a sequel of sorts to my November '05 article that traced the politics up to then.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1137705978471810382006-01-19T16:24:00.000-05:002006-01-19T16:45:27.336-05:00

I finally saw it last night. It's possible the hype wave is crashing over me and my opinion is a little colored, but: Wow. Just a terrific gut-punch of a movie. And I say this as someone who thought Mystic River was lame and Million Dollar Baby was only three or three and a half stars.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1137700542043238982006-01-19T13:22:00.000-05:002006-01-19T15:51:56.510-05:00

Apart from, obviously, the podcast linked below, I haven't taken Hillary Clinton's Plantationgate very seriously. It's quite interesting as a macro political issue, but it really has no bearing on her current race for re-election in New York. The White House and GOP have largely bungled the playbook for the 2006 Senate races, and New York has become the most glaring example. Really, who would

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1137693272643378002006-01-19T12:51:00.000-05:002006-01-19T12:54:32.656-05:00

I've added my voice to John Tabin's first-ever podcast, here. The subject is Hillary Clinton - John approaches it from the right, I approach it from the ... well, not left, but from the position of someone who's sympathetic to a Democrat getting elected in 2008. One might ask, why add my voice to a podcast so soon after making fun of Mark Levin's voice? Three words: Glutton. For. Punishment.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1137564403320611092006-01-18T00:51:00.000-05:002006-01-18T01:06:43.353-05:00

Since my other New Years resolutions are humming along, let's try another one: Keeping track of every book I read. And reading, I dunno, 52 of them. First up: De Gaulle: The Rebel 1890-1944 by Jean Lacouture, translated by Patrick O'Brian The French general and statesman Charles De Gaulle has intrigued me for a long time, and for a particularly American reason. Namely, how did this asshole

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1137563184068368942006-01-18T00:27:00.000-05:002006-01-18T00:46:24.163-05:00

There were two shots across the bow of Clinton '08 this week, one that missed by a country mile and one that got close (although this post by Captain Ed humorously gets like 10 facts wrong, he wasn't the norm). But there's an air of pointlessness about this. While the celebrity/ratings/stock footage-driven media has anointed Clinton, and name recognition-based polls rank her first among

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1137514909279722702006-01-17T11:21:00.000-05:002006-01-17T11:21:49.293-05:00

I have a pan of a new British band's album up at Popmatters.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1137473821014932542006-01-16T23:55:00.000-05:002006-01-16T23:57:01.030-05:00

My friend Dean ranks the movies he saw in 2005.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1137377578395689672006-01-15T21:05:00.000-05:002006-01-15T21:12:58.410-05:00

Two longstanding NBC shows, two opinions. - Saturday Night Live. Damn, it was good last night. The "wedding ring" skit fell flat, but absolutely nothing else did, and the Hanna Barbara style "Darwin" cartoon should be taught in religion classes. Uh. Funny religion classes. - The West Wing. Are the writers just writing bad dialogue to see if they can? My goodness. One funny one-liner in this

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1137366265186682142006-01-15T17:58:00.000-05:002006-01-15T18:04:25.283-05:00

Michelle Malkin:MLK BASH-BUSH DAY: Jim Hoft rounds up the bash-Bush events planned for the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday tomrrow ...Aside from the scintillating question of whether a minimum wage rally constitutes "Bush-bashing," it's worth remembering that King was an anti-war social democrat who thought the US (in 1967) was the "greatest purveyor of violence in the world." "Impeach Bush Now!"

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1137365241629826392006-01-15T17:46:00.000-05:002006-01-15T17:47:21.656-05:00

Oh. So this is January.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1137175084333091022006-01-13T12:28:00.000-05:002006-01-13T12:58:04.420-05:00

The Daily Show and other purveyors of humor-based entertainment have had some fun with Bush's Jan 10 "town hall meeting," and especially the cute little kid who showed up in this bit.THE PRESIDENT: How old are you? Q Seven. THE PRESIDENT: Okay. That's good. (Laughter.) Q How can people help on the war on terror? THE PRESIDENT: Well, that's the hardest question I've had all day. (Laughter.)I'm

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1137173252753668642006-01-13T11:51:00.000-05:002006-01-13T12:27:32.876-05:00

Back when blogs were going mainstream, but before they were turned into sweatshops for the political parties, a lot of them trafficked in "fisking" - line-by-line mockery of a print article, which can be further defined here. At some point a blogger (can't remember who) started doing his fiskings in the voice of "Mystery Science Theatre 3000" characters, and it all pretty much jumped the shark,

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1136991936544854282006-01-11T10:02:00.000-05:002006-01-11T10:05:36.570-05:00

OK, who's the marketing whiz who got Mark Levin his own radio show? Yes, he's a bestselling author. And as a radio voice, he's a ... bestselling author. In the five minutes I caught, Levin whined about Democrats and read from his NRO column in a high tone, pausing occasionally for 2-3 seconds of dead air.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1136947448311687532006-01-10T21:42:00.000-05:002006-01-10T21:44:08.323-05:00

There's been enough moody blogging here of late. Here's some good old fashioned positivity. - Sources who call back 5 minutes after your first phone call are the greatest souls in Christendom. - I found cheap used copies of some "The West Wing" DVDs before Christmas and snapped them up, hopes high-ish. Those hopes have mostly been met. While I avoided the show for years, I got interested in the

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1136845534340376912006-01-09T17:11:00.000-05:002006-01-09T17:25:34.356-05:00

Speaking of Tom DeLay and the Corner, oh my God. Oh my God. John Podhoretz:If anybody thinks the statement means DeLay is through permanently, that person doesn't understand politics. If DeLay comes through the lousy Ronnie Earle business in Texas clean, which he probably will, and if he isn't excessively bloodied by the Abramoff scandal, which we can't know yet, he will be in a position in a few

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1136825649854402102006-01-09T11:44:00.000-05:002006-01-09T17:11:26.683-05:00

Some smart friend of K-Lo sez, in re: Tom DeLay:Dems are like the dog that caught the car--they still don't know what to do and now they've lost their issue. Earle's case will fall apart sometime over the next few months and they won't have the Abramoff fallout they're all panting for. And attacking DeLay will get them nothing, but they will foolishly do it anyway. They will repeat all of

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1136774194982603662006-01-08T21:34:00.000-05:002006-01-08T21:38:37.780-05:00

I have donated to two (2) political candidates in my time: Tim Kaine (Virginia) and Bernie Sanders (Vermont). Kaine - elected. Sanders - getting there. Up next: Bob Casey. Or maybe Ron Paul. *please don't google this phrase

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1136489941773839292006-01-05T14:36:00.000-05:002006-01-05T14:39:01.786-05:00

I'm not blogging much right now, for myriad reasons. But I've updated my "living CV" on the sidebar with some new articles. And I contributed to Popmatters' "Best of 2005" list, which led to this, which made my week.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1136247553473278342006-01-02T15:13:00.000-05:002006-01-02T22:46:25.946-05:00

In absence of real inspiration, and in the presence of some real deadlines, here are some scattered links to inaugurate 2006. - Possibly because only political junkies know who Scoop Jackson is, Pres. Harry Truman is the Democrat most-often invoked by Republicans to suggest the opposition used to be ok, but have since gone off the rails on a crazy train. So, this. - Mickey Kaus undersells Russ

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1136055690707608412005-12-31T14:01:00.000-05:002005-12-31T14:01:30.720-05:00

I'm out of town for New Year's. Y'all enjoy yourselves.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1135980100951533712005-12-30T16:48:00.000-05:002005-12-30T17:18:21.793-05:00

Everyone else is making 2006 predictions, so why can't I? - Bill O'Reilly will lose his radio show after negotiating the on-air execution of ACLU head Anthony Romero. Ratings for his 8 pm FOX show edge up 15%. - Peter Jackson will find donors shutting their wallets to him after the disappointing performance of "King Kong" casts doubt on the viability of his new project, a 6-hour biopic on New

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1135829500141442102005-12-28T22:59:00.000-05:002005-12-30T03:12:50.300-05:00

Forty-two movies this year. Around 10 less than I wanted to and 10 more than I needed. (I mean, "The Ring Two?") I missed some big ones (Kong), and likely Oscar nominees (Munich) which I may catch next week, but I lost my mojo for going to the theatre in the last month. The high point, when I moved into my new apartment and did double-features every weekend, is responsible for the record-setting

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1135568449644059952005-12-25T22:19:00.000-05:002005-12-25T22:40:49.750-05:00

Once again, I hope you all* are having a great holiday. I'm completely blessed this year: a flexible schedule, not-too-scary deadlines, and an unwrapped copy of The World At War. Some random thoughts ... - I really should have bet some money on King Kong not succeeding at the box office. I loved the LOTR movies, I've loved Jack Black since he was a bit player on "Mr. Show," and I think Naomi

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1135476639438732712005-12-24T21:02:00.000-05:002005-12-24T21:10:39.453-05:00

I hope all my friends are enjoying a vacation as relaxing as mine.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1135319833221742072005-12-23T01:23:00.000-05:002005-12-23T01:37:13.240-05:00

From the depths of my iPod (population 7027 songs): 1) Donovan, "The Great Song of the Sky" - Retro-folksy anthem from the Sunshine Superman's late 70s burnout. What do I mean by burnout? In the liner notes from the album (7-Tease), he writes of his desire for the Arabs to use the oil crisis to sieze power for themselves. Luckily, it's catchy. (7/10) 2) Black Sabbath, "Children of the Sea" -

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1135197616270871882005-12-21T15:30:00.000-05:002005-12-21T15:40:16.273-05:00

Sigh. Drudge excitedly hypes a new Dick Morris column about the spy story.Politically, the left is making a big mistake in focusing on the issue. Bush is well-served by bringing the terrorism debate home. Isolationists -- about 40 percent of the nation, divided between the two parties -- will not back him on a war in Iraq but sure will support him against attempts to handcuff homeland security in

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1135191182397553812005-12-21T13:49:00.000-05:002005-12-21T13:53:02.400-05:00

I think I'm in 100% agreement with Kevin Drum here.The fact is, superhawks always claim their programs are vital to American security, and they almost always turn out to be wrong. We didn't need to intern Japanese-Americans during World War II, we didn't need Joe McCarthy's theatrics during the Cold War, and we didn't need COINTELPRO during the Vietnam War. And when the Church Committee outlawed

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1135190371454775562005-12-21T13:36:00.000-05:002005-12-21T13:41:28.573-05:00

I mean, he's said he is, but it's a curious libertarian who sees Democrats opposing broad licence for the executive to spy on American citizens and thinks, "how can this help Republicans win some more elections?"

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1135148844126705392005-12-21T02:06:00.000-05:002005-12-21T02:07:24.140-05:00

It dawns on me that "Since You're Gone" by The Cars (from Shake It Up) is a parody, in lyrical content and in melody, of a mid-period Bob Dylan song. Only with a clunky synthesized arrangement. Holy wow.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1135108619798675932005-12-20T14:44:00.000-05:002005-12-20T14:59:22.423-05:00

Quoth John Cornyn, R-TX:"None of your civil liberties matter much after you’re dead."There are plenty of Republican congresspeople who defend the Bush administration's declarations of more and more power (all of whom would entrust that same power to President Feingold or President Mark Warner, I'm sure), but let's be honest: Cornyn is the worst. He is not motivated by a belief in the Constitution

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1135006087422096402005-12-19T10:24:00.000-05:002005-12-19T10:28:07.440-05:00

Michelle Malkin's so damn angry at Time magazine that she's torn up her calender in rage.But if the magazine really wanted to "make a choice for the history books as well as one which is fresh and interesting, how could they pass over the ... brave people of Ukraine? Time is so out of touch that none of these historic revolutionaries--Purple, Cedar, and Orange--were recognized in its "People Who

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1134754766518363832005-12-16T12:38:00.000-05:002005-12-16T12:39:26.530-05:00

Waaaaaaaaaah!

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1134752880569280032005-12-16T12:04:00.000-05:002005-12-16T12:08:00.583-05:00

I'm watching the Patriot Act vote on Fox, with Feingold apparently winning, and one of their guest pundits is rubbing his hands with glee at the prospect of Republicans "using this against Democrats in 2006." In two words: Sorry, nope.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1134452621307398442005-12-13T00:40:00.000-05:002005-12-13T00:43:41.330-05:00

Busy week afoot. May not be much blogging in this space.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505818.post-1134328095235872312005-12-11T14:04:00.000-05:002005-12-11T14:08:15.296-05:00

"Murderball" (Henry Alex Rubin and Dana Adam Shapiro, 2005) Finally a movie where you can root against some real villains: Canadians and polio victims. "Walk the Line" (James Mangold, 2005) A gripping and effective love story, despite (because of?) the casting of actors who are far, far better looking than their inspirations (Jaoquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash and Reese Witherspoon as June Carter).

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14599314109833318622noreply@blogger.com2