I have a lot of disagreements with Clinton, but he is one of the best rhetoricians (presenters of oral argument)in America. I think most the men and women that are better speakers than he is are black. (Because of the black churches, most of the best rhetoricians are black. I don't what the difference is but white churches don't train their preachers as well as the black ones. And since church is still a big influence in America, if your preachers are better speakers, more of the people who attend the churches will be better speakers, and some of those who know people who attend the churches will better speakers. It is like tons of great popular musicians come out of church choirs; churches influence rhetorical skill as well.)

I think the Dems strategy should look something like John Belushi's "Niedermeyer! Dead!" rant in Animal House.

First pic: Belushi in full rant, "Osama Bin Laden? Dead!"

Second pic: Belush still ranting, "Khaddafy? Dead!"

Third pic: Belushi shrugging, "GM? Still alive!"

Fourth pic: Belushi swigging liquor, "And free birth control for everybody."

Freaky-ass jacket: ‘Hug Me’ Jacket For The Cold And Lonely

Second-Ever Photo of Emily Dickinson Discovered

Probably.

Second-Ever Photo of Emily Dickinson Discovered

wow

Typo, it's an interesting question. From my own experience, with Baptist, Methodist, Church of Christ, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, and Episcopalian churches in the South, I think in "white" churches (whose congregations often included a few black people), open and effusive displays of emotion were discouraged, and preachers were expected to be "dignified", only expressing strong emotion in anger at sinners. Whereas in black churches (whose congregations rarely included white people), open and effusive displays of joy and "the spirit" were encouraged, and dignity didn't exclude "making a joyful noise". (Pentecostal churches were the exception, but were still not as exuberant as black churches. Usually it would be just one person or a small group of people "surrendering to the spirit", while the rest looked on.) So, I think preachers from the culture of black churches are encouraged to be rousing speakers, and also to learn to sing, which includes control of breath and voice - the resonance most rousing speakers can achieve is not the same as simply speaking louder. Most preachers in white churches would just yell. They never learned how to make people get up on their feet and cheer and cry, because people in their churches were not expected to do that. YChurchExperienceMV, of course.

Obama learned how to give a rousing speech sometime after Harvard and before hitting the campaign trail, probably from that controversial preacher, because he was dull as stale coffee before that.

My cousin is getting married in Baltimore, but apparently that means she's getting "married", because:

A bill to legalize same-sex marriage in Maryland was passed by the Maryland General Assembly in February 2012 and signed on March 1, 2012, by Governor Martin O'Malley. Under its provisions, same-sex couples will be permitted to marry beginning January 1, 2013.[1] However, opponents of same-sex marriage gathered signatures to place referendum Question 6 on the state general election ballot, which will ask voters in the state to either vote "For" or "Against" the law on November 6, 2012.[2]

I'm not clear why they're not scheduling for January--doesn't that mean there might be a chance it's legal in Jan? Or maybe they're just having the bonding ceremony, and if there are papers to sign in January they'll do that then and they don't need us?

Dunno.

I told my mother a couple weeks ago I'd been toying with the idea of wearing a tux, and she had her standard "Good lord, ita !, where did I go wrong..." reaction. Apparently M told her mother she was going to wear a tux, and her mom flipped.

So, in conclusion, mothers.

I keep thinking about the co-worker who fainted at lunch yesterday. So what if I have an ICE number in my phone? You can't get into it. I'd never really thought about that...

Obama learned how to give a rousing speech sometime after Harvard and before hitting the campaign trail, probably from that controversial preacher, because he was dull as stale coffee before that.

As an aside, some close friends of mine know Jeremiah Wright pretty well - D is professor of theology at University of Chicago and a Presbyterian minister herself - and they say he is a simply fantastic person, incredibly kind and dedicated.

30 Greatest Local News Chyron descriptions

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Fun.

"Former monkey owner" made me laugh out loud.

The Onion, OTOH, is just making me sad:

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