Death is your art. You make it with your hands day after day. That final gasp, that look of peace. And part of you is desperate to know: What's it like? Where does it lead you? And now you see, that's the secret. Not the punch you didn't throw or the kicks you didn't land. She really wanted it. Every Slayer has a death wish. Even you.

Spike ,'Conversations with Dead People'


Natter 67: Overriding Vetoes  

Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, nail polish, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.


Gudanov - Feb 23, 2011 11:53:41 am PST #24547 of 30001
Coding and Sleeping

Sometimes it really feels like there is a concerted effort to create an uneducated underclass who can't question those in power.

I have a theory that this is the horrible legacy of the Reagan years. Regardless of the other pros and cons of that administration, I think there was a switch from policy to narrative. Cutting taxes increases revenue, welfare queens, the star wars defense shield is practical, government regulation is always bad. Governing on narrative alone ignores actual facts so we have stuff like people going apeshit about a 3% increase in the top tax rate while wealth is rapidly redistributing toward the top. Or people thinking because some guy on the radio says global warming isn't happening that 99.5% of climatologists must have gotten it wrong or want to destroy western civilization for some reason.


Steph L. - Feb 23, 2011 11:57:53 am PST #24548 of 30001
this mess was yours / now your mess is mine

Did someone post this already and I just skipped and/or skimmed? Chicago, meet your new fucking mayor.


tommyrot - Feb 23, 2011 12:06:21 pm PST #24549 of 30001
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.

I have a theory that this is the horrible legacy of the Reagan years. Regardless of the other pros and cons of that administration, I think there was a switch from policy to narrative. Cutting taxes increases revenue, welfare queens, the star wars defense shield is practical, government regulation is always bad. Governing on narrative alone ignores actual facts so we have stuff like people going apeshit about a 3% increase in the top tax rate while wealth is rapidly redistributing toward the top. Or people thinking because some guy on the radio says global warming isn't happening that 99.5% of climatologists must have gotten it wrong or want to destroy western civilization for some reason.

ITA. Plus Reagan's scrapping of the Fairness Doctrine, which gave rise to conservative talk radio and Fox News. Also, the tremendous media consolidation which started back then (but that wasn't Reagan's fault, was it?)

But sometimes I think it all goes back to Edward Murrow taking on Senator McCarthy. That's generally considered a triumph of news reporting, but whatever the network that Murrow was on decided they'd never again allow their broadcasters to risk their entire company like that, so it resulted in TV news that was much less likely to take on difficult issues.


-t - Feb 23, 2011 12:08:56 pm PST #24550 of 30001
I am a woman of various inclinations and only some of the time are they to burn everything down in frustration

Sweet! Are you putting her on your roof?

Probably not on the house as such, I don't think there are any spots up there where she could be securely attached and I could see her. Maybe on one of the sheds, or just attached to a fence post.


DavidS - Feb 23, 2011 12:10:45 pm PST #24551 of 30001
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."

Also, the tremendous media consolidation which started back then (but that wasn't Reagan's fault, was it?)

Clinton years, I think.


tommyrot - Feb 23, 2011 12:12:22 pm PST #24552 of 30001
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.

Clinton years, I think.

I think it started in the '80s and got much worse in the '90s.


Daisy Jane - Feb 23, 2011 12:14:03 pm PST #24553 of 30001
"This bar smells like kerosene and stripper tears."

Want some more proof on your theory? [link]

I went to a charter school, but it was a PUBLIC charter school and one of the best in the country even in Louisiana.


§ ita § - Feb 23, 2011 12:15:39 pm PST #24554 of 30001
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.

This is shopped, right? That can't actually happen.


Daisy Jane - Feb 23, 2011 12:18:44 pm PST #24555 of 30001
"This bar smells like kerosene and stripper tears."

mouth. on. floor.


DavidS - Feb 23, 2011 12:19:24 pm PST #24556 of 30001
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."

This is shopped, right? That can't actually happen.

That's not shopped. I'm sure Watson is rescuing Holmes there, and taking the rare opportunity of a gagged Holmes to get a few quips in. You know, with a riding crop in his hand.