January 2009
Connecticut legislator wants government to bail out local newspapers →
reuters.com
There is one overriding reason this is a bad idea: it gives the government direct power over the voice of the newspaper, without running afoul of the First Amendment. If the legislature decides that it doesn’t like the paper’s viewpoint, it can pull the subsidy and send the publication back into bankruptcy. The mere threat of this will cause the editors to tread lightly on issues that may cast aspersions on their sugar daddies, i.e. the elected officials who write the checks.
It’s one of the worst remaining loopholes in free speech jurisprudence, writ into law by Rust v. Sullivan (1991): the First Amendment does not prevent government censorship when the government pays for the program that facilitates the speech it wants to regulate.
December 2008
Video: Andy Warhol Interviews A Stoned Steven Spielberg →
blog.spout.com
Yeah, as if I really need a description to get you to watch this.
“We didn’t have that much money to give to the governor.”
—Failed joke of the day, courtesy Roland Burris, the guy Blagojevich is actually trying to appoint to the Senate.
aspiring GOP leader gives "Barack the Magic Negro" mixtape as party favor →
tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com
Just keep bringing it, gentlemen. Just keep reminding us how your social standards were forged in 1952. Welcome to the losing side of history — may you enjoy your legacy as The Party That Time Forgot.
In the meantime, our President will respond the same way he responded to Hillary’s primary bullshit — by artfully stepping out of the way and letting it ricochet back into your face.
On the other hand, maybe we should be thanking you. You’re making the incendiary ring hollow. You make the words sound old and tired. The paint on their impact is starting to chip. Soon enough we’ll take a sandblaster to you and finish the job.
this conversation just happened
My sister bought my dad a sign language book for Christmas. She’s sitting next to me, reading it, learning sign language.
Sister: (holding up a sign) This means someone is old fashioned, ultra-conservative, a square.
Me: That’s the shocker.
I mean, the guy can't even do a pardon right. →
cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com
Let’s get the sequence down:
(1) Bush pardons dude.
(2) Bush discovers that dude’s dad gave lots of money to GOP.
(3) Bush says, oops, that doesn’t look so good, and “reverses” the pardon.
(4) Smart people say, uhm, not sure you… can… do… that…
Once you’ve pardoned someone, you kind of need to prosecute them again to give them back their criminal status, right? Otherwise, it’s a violation of due process. Not that that’s ever been a deterrent to this administration.
Nancy Silverton completely wiped out by Bernard Madoff →
latimes.com
Silverton is the founder of Campanile and La Brea Bakery (which she turned into a national brand) and part owner of Osteria Mozza and Pizzeria Mozza.
despite what you clearly think to be the case here, Christmas Eve does not provide you with an excuse to be a terrible driver
happy holidays, now please get the fuck out of my way
one line from each of the top 18 songs of the 90s according to VH1
Exit light, enter night. Say my name say my name: I’m a super dope homeboy from the Oaktown. It’s hard to believe that I’m all alone. I had a vision of love and it was all that you turned out to be. Aint no pussy good enough to get burnt while I’m up in it! Are you thinking of me when you fuck her? Seemed a harmless little fuck. I went to the doctor and guess what he told me — that was just a dream, just a dream. Dreams are hopeless aspirations in hopes of coming true. My loneliness is killing me. I gotta be straight when I say I wanna fuck, ‘til the break of dawn. It makes no difference if you’re black or white, if you’re a boy or a girl. We both know I’m not what you, you need. Ain’t nothin’ but a heartache. See, we hurt each other, then we do it again. I feel stupid and contagious.
(here)
