A friend of mine, and occasional Lean Left commenter, Angus Johnston, has started a blog focused on US student activism: studentactivism.net. Angus is completing his PhD in History this semester; his dissertation is on the history of student activist groups from the 60s. He is also currently hooked into nationwide student activist groups as they exist today, and has acted in an advisory role for some of them. (He was, you won’t be surprised to hear, more or less the Megaphone Mark of his own campus as an undergrad.) He comes to his subject with considerable experience and academic expertise.
studentactivism.net covers current controversies involving students or colleges, as well as student organizing, activism, and rights issues. Given the high representation of the academic world in the blogosphere, and the increasing politicization of campuses and the educational experience, it’s a valuable resource for anyone interested in what’s happening with campuses today, and the generations of young citizens they are turning out. Check it out!
April 30th, 2008
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General, Politics, Bloggin, School, Culture, Education |
no comments
SayUncle is getting all PSH over some gun nonsense, while missing the larger point: Pizza Hut’s pizza sucks, so their corporate policies are pretty much irrelevant. Of course, it’s possible he lives in Backwater, USA (His The City), and Pizza Hut may be his only choice (besides maybe Domino’s, which would be no choice at all, really…). But still, let’s get some perspective here. You don’t stop doing business with Pizza Hut because you don’t like their corporate policies. You stop doing business with Pizza Hut because they have shitty pizza.
April 24th, 2008
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Bloggin, Libertarian Problem Solving |
11 comments
The Sunday “spring has sprung but why is it so cold?” edition of the TennViews weekly blog roundup showcasing the best bloggers in Tennessee and what they are talking about…
• 10,000 Monkeys and a Camera: Add my voice to the “Bredesen Blew It” Chorus: Disappointing is becoming a real habit for you.
• 55-40 Memphis: Scary: In fact, some days I’m not absolutely certain he’s black, but I’ll take Obama’s word for it.
• Aunt B.: Why Does Nashville Have Such a High Incarceration Rate?: So, why is our jail a quarter full of illegal immigrants and Memphis’s jail not?
• BlountViews (yellowdog): TDOT Still Backwards After All These Years: The TDOT people and the consultants they hire are stuck in old and irrelevant system of transportation planning rules, and it will take public outcry and active engagement at the level of the regional transportation planning organizations (TPOs) to change it.
• Carole Borges: Mandated health insurance causing problems in MA: One thing we certainly don’t need in America is another law that involves the government making choices for citizens. The crisis in MA should make people stop and think before they jump on the mandated health insurance bandwagon. It just might be going nowhere.
• The Crone Speaks: Uninsurance Third Leading Cause of Death for Near-Elderly: How many people should die because they don’t have health insurance, before we recognize the need for a Medicare for All program?
• Cup of Joe Powell: Devilish Details In TN Cable Franchise Legislation: But it’s rather obvious the state legislature has crafted a plan to serve the needs of business first and residents second. Given the solemn claim by Tennessee House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh to push this plan through, your voice and the voices of other Tennessee residents has little impact, and this proposal will likely become the law in Tennessee.
• Don Williams: As KnoxVoice reinvents herself, so am I: I’m optimistic or naive enough to believe our old world and country are headed for a gentler blooming. Springtime is the season for hope, renewal, for celebrating touchstones and anniversaries.
• The Donkey’s Mouth: One more reason why Lincoln looks strong in ‘08: It does seem fishy that Lankford lives outside of the district and will probably be self-financed. A New York Times article, “Short of Funds, GOP recruits rich to run,” talks about the significant dearth of fundraising and legitimate recruits at the RNC.
• Enclave: Senate’s Foreclosure Prevention Act Forecloses on Families: Once again, in a crisis the U.S. Senate is going to come down on the side of the people who are hurting least in the housing industry. And as Republicans, the Senators of Tennessee can do no other.
• Fletch: Lackluster and Luster
• KnoxViews: State funded luxury hunting lodge audit findings: Apparently, most of the funds have gone to build a luxury hunting lodge and payment of Bittle’s salary. (Bittle sponsored the bill that created the specialty license plate and directed the proceeds to his foundation while he was a member of the Tennessee House.) The state audit recommends changes to state law to require better accounting of how such funds are spent.
• Lean Left: Lean Left: They have violated laws and common decency with impunity. They will probably get away with it — our press refuses to cover it and our Democratic leadership refuses to act. Plus: Petraeus and Crocker: Iraq Wrong War with No Way Out
• Left of the Dial: No Thanks: I received an offer to interview either Sean Astin or John Grisham tomorrow about their support of Hillary Clinton. I passed. I’m all for Hillary but, sorry, no free ad time.
• Left Wing Cracker: Stunning news from the Election Commission: This changes everything, folks, stay tuned…
• Liberadio: This week’s Liberadio(!) podcast You know what else John McCain’s not so strong on? Giving Martin Luther King his props., plus more.
• Loose TN Canon: Colin Powell supports Iraq withdrawal and praises Obama
• NewsComa: Meeting Mike Padgett: an extensive report
• Progressive Nashville: Closed-minded legislators: The Tennessee legislature, which has spent an inordinate amount of time this session trying to close records and operate in secret, is at it again with a plan to make it more difficult to obtain public records. Plus: Thompson floated as veep
• Resonance: “Success” In Iraq: Here’s my definition…
• RoaneViews: A Letter to Tommy Kilby, and His response: Don’t exclude “limited resource waters” from “waters” of the state
• Russ McBee: On the Olympic torch protests: Although the Olympics are supposed to be beyond politics and are supposed to rise above international disputes, the Chinese government itself is assuring that this cannot happen.
• Sean Braisted: Alexander and “Big Oil”: Bob Tuke, in an appeal for contributions, takes Sen. Lamar Alexander to task for being in the pockets of “big oil”. Plus: DSCC Forgets Tennessee
• Sharon Cobb: Hey Tennessee, Jon Stewart is coming To Nashville, plus: Total Bullsh*t That Hillary Calls On Boycott Of Olympic Games Now: While I am in total agreement that the entire planet should boycott the Olympics in China, why didn’t Hillary Clinton call for a boycott before this week?
• Silence Isn’t Golden: Silence Isn’t Golden: The Bitter Irony: Of all of the faux outrage over Obama’s statement, this has got to be the most ironic. Plus: Define “Women’s Issues”
• Southern Beale: Gus Puryear: Still A CCA Crony: Why is Democrat Thurgood Marshall Jr. endorsing Gus Puryear, Bush’s controversial pick for the federal bench in Middle Tennessee? Plus: Energy Saved Is Energy Found
• Tennessee Guerilla Women: Governor Rendell (D-PA): Obama Should Pay Keith Olbermann, plus: Photos of NYC Protest Against Hillary-Hating Media Bias
• TennViews: TN Senate 08 wrinkle: Questions arise whether Overbey is qualified to be on the ballot v. Sen. Raymond Finney. Plus: Republicans defeat Rural Health Act.
• Vibinc: Free Ride: The Tennessee Bush Dogs are on their way to re-election, some with less opposition than others.
• Whites Creek Journal: George W. Bush Should Stay Away from the Olympics!: No, I’m not proposing a boycott… I just don’t want George W. Bush representing America any more. Plus: Stoopid Human Tricks: A close second behind coal burning in the stupid human tricks department is damming rivers.
• Women’s Health News: 1) Think About Sex. 2) Design Undies. 3) Win!
April 14th, 2008
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General, Bloggin |
no comments
From our friends and TennViews:
The Sunday “spring break’s over, back to work” edition of the TennViews weekly blog roundup showcasing the best bloggers in Tennessee and what they are talking about…
• 10,000 Monkeys and a Camera: Five Years. 4000 Dead.
• 55-40 Memphis: So the Clintons want Obama to lose to McCain, so Bill is still in power and Hillary has a shot at the presidency in four years.
• Aunt B.: Why, you may ask, are toll roads in Tennessee a stupid idea?
• BlountViews: Our education system is preparing students for jobs that do not even exist.
• Carole Borges: At a time when our economy is grinding to a halt, why outsource this plum contract to a foreign firm?
• The Crone Speaks: Shorter version, protect the companies, screw the people, and let’s not deal with correcting the economic bubble.
• Cup of Joe Powell: My Congressman thinks I’m an idiot.
• Don Williams: How Arthur C. Clarke’s voice of cosmic wonder changed OUR lives.
• The Donkey’s Mouth: The scurrilous claims made by a fellow Republican about the inappropriate use of campaign funds could be a problem for Blackburn further on down the road.
• Enclave: The voters are leaving party leaders in the dust today, in the rodeo dust of a Ft. Worth Coliseum.
• Fletch: The Tao of Dinghy
• KnoxViews: Scenic Vista Act update (Bonus: Spirited Democratic primary strengthens candidates and the party)
• Lean Left: But, aside from setting the Republican double standard in concrete for all to see, Rice’s remarks are kind of amusingly pathetic.
• Left of the Dial: More lottery suspicions
• Left Wing Cracker: After this, it doesn’t matter. She can win in Pennsylvania but it doesn’t matter, her campaign will end unsuccessfully.
• Liberadio: Dana Perino is so uncomfortable answering for President Bush’s crimes against humanity that I almost feel sorry for her.
• Loose TN Canon: Hobbs deleted my comments!
• NewsComa: Newspapers, this is the new world of communication and how news is evolving.
• Pesky Fly: The only credible conclusion I can come to is that Mark Penn, whose lobbying firm is run by one of McCain’s top advisors, is simply teeing up Obama for a general election sweep.
• Progressive Nashville: Insurance companies don’t want you to use the insurance. They just want you to pay for it.
• Resonance: What’s the point in holding elections if the delegates need not honor the results?
• RoaneViews: Congressman Lincoln Davis… Relaxed
• Russ McBee: In Dick Cheney’s mind, the misguided and mendacious decisions made by his “boss” are somehow more of a burden than the loss felt by those 4,000 families.
• Sean Braisted: Now, in an effort to show that Hillary Clinton is the only person left running for President who can answer a phone past 2:30AM, she tries to tie the economy to late-night/early-morning phone calls:
• Sharon Cobb: Another day, another lie from Hillary
• Silence Isn’t Golden: (W)ine in the grocery store won’t drive the big-spending customers away from the retailers.
• Southern Beale: President Bush and his economic advisers assume that people will rush off to WalMart to load up on more cheap Chinese-made crap they don’t need as soon as the check arrives.
• Tennessee Guerilla Women: If the old guard Democrats were to succeed at pushing the woman off the Democratic ticket only to face a Black woman on the Republican ticket, that would mean there really is a goddess and she really is pissed.
• TennViews: New challenger in TN Senate 4th District
• Vibinc: No one is going to heal the divisions, fix the crime, educate our kids, stop the cycle of poverty, or lower teen pregnancy and infant mortality for us Memphis, we have to do it for ourselves.
• Whites Creek Journal: There is a serious problem for both Clinton and McCain in this election cycle… They are both up against an honest person.
• Women’s Health News: Nipple Ring as National Security Threat
March 31st, 2008
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General, Bloggin |
no comments
Over at Obsidian Wings, I made the following two statements:
- We should change the constitution so that all federal judges require a 2/3 majority in the Senate for confirmation.
- I have never seen Dr. Strangelove
Guess which statement caused a ruckus!
March 27th, 2008
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I do too have a life, Bloggin, Culture, Humor |
15 comments
I have a confession: I don’t “get” Elvis Costello. Kevin, our gracious host, is a huge Elvis Costello fan. This is far from our only difference of opinion when it comes to music. We have almost nothing in common in terms of musical taste. And I think I know why.
I submit that you can divide pretty much all of the music fans in the country into two distinct groups. The first group (of which I am a member) listens first and foremost to the music, while the second group (of which Kevin is a member) listens first and foremost to what the song has to say. Within either group, of course, musical tastes will vary widely, and two people within the same group may still have virtually nothing in common — after all, there’s no accounting for taste, as the old expression goes. But the two groups still hold, I believe. And this is an important distinction. For ease of distinction, I’ll refer to my group as the Bubblegum Pop Team (BPT), and Kevin’s group as the Important Music Team (IMT).
For the Bubblegum Pop Team, music is entertainment, first and foremost. There may or may not be a message to the song, but it doesn’t much matter, because members of the BPT generally have no idea what most of the songs they like are even about, if they’re about anything at all. This is true, by the way, even if they know all the words to the song. Listening to music is a passive activity for them, and as such, they’re not really paying attention to what they’re hearing. This is why BPTs often like music which, if they paid any attention to the message, they’d find abhorrent (which explains Eminem). It’s a simple function of, “Do I like the music? Do I like the singer’s voice? Does this entertain me?” Or, to dust of repressed memories of American Bandstand, “Can I dance to it?” For BPTs, this is what’s important. BPTs are the people who like manufactured pop like Britney Spears, or who (like me) got into the 80’s hair metal thing, or stuff like Outkast, Fergie, or just about any other popular music.
For the Important Music Team, on the other hand, music is a form of expression. As such, the message of a song is important. IMTs are acutely aware of what a song has to say, and that message — coupled with whether or not they agree with that message — will have a profound effect on whether or not they like a particular song. Listening to music is active for IMTs; they’re the type of people who would discard a Van Halen album, because “they have nothing to say” (a phrase I actually once read in a review of a Van Halen album, by the way). IMTs like stuff like Elvis Costello, Rites of Spring, and Tom Waits. IMTs look at BPTs happily bopping around to Semi-Charmed Life and wonder how people can be cheered by a song about a downward spiral into drug addiction. (They’re also likely to take great pleasure in ruining a BPTs mood by telling them that’s what the song is about…)
As a general rule, IMTs and BPTs look at each other with confusion. IMTs look at BPT music and wonder what the redeeming social value is. BPTs look at IMT music and wonder what all the fuss is about, complaining that “the guy can’t sing,” or “it doesn’t have a good beat,” or “why do all the songs have to be so damn depressing?” The truth of the matter is, because of the completely incompatible ways in which the two groups do something as fundamental as listening to music, they’re likely to never understand one another.
That said, the groups are not completely mutually exclusive. From time to time, there are artists that manage to have appeal across both groups. some of which can do so without being accused of “selling out.” Bruce Springsteen and Green Day spring to mind as artists that write “important” music, but which have a broad following even among BPTs. I’m sure if EMTs thought about it for a while, they could come up with some artists or songs they like, despite the fact that they have no coherent message or redeeming social value. But these crossovers are uncommon, and the exception to the rule.
With all that groundwork laid, there’s one more important thing to point out: BPTs far outnumber IMTs, probably by at least one order of magnitude. Don’t believe me? I can give you a single anecdotal example which, for me anyway, is compelling proof: Reagan’s use of Springsteen’s Born In The USA as a campaign song. If even a third of the population consisted of IMTs, there’s no way Reagan gets away with this: the message of the song had nothing at all to do with the message or the mood that Reagan was trying to convey, and IMTs recognized this immediately. They even complained about it at the time. This fell on deaf ears, because most Americans are BPTs, who heard the words “Born In The USA” and an uptempo tune, scratched their guts, held up their PBR beers, and screamed “Whooooo! USA #1!!”
Need another example? How about the cruise line commercials that play Iggy Pop’s Lust For Life? I’m pretty sure heroin addiction isn’t what the cruise line is trying to sell (or, subliminally, maybe it is). Most people (BPTs) hear it, hear the words “Lust For Life” sung to an upbeat tune, and think, “Fun! Adventure!”
Well, that’s my theory. Have fun tearing it to shreds. 
(I should note that there are two other groups, who do not fit neatly into this dichotomy. The first is the Musician Group. Musicians are an odd bird, and they tend to like things that are musically challenging or complex, whether or not they’re any good. This explains why they’re so enamored of the Dave Matthews Band. The other group is the Psychoactive Drug Group. This group is the only way I can explain Pink Floyd, The Doors, and Bob Dylan.)
March 26th, 2008
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I do too have a life, Bloggin, Culture, Weekend Flame Bait |
26 comments
Let’s mix a gun control debate with a semantic debate, and see what happens. At issue here: Whether a pro-gun ruling in Heller would recognize a “new” Constitutional right. I’m still slogging through the comments, but so far this one is among the best (after the fold):
March 24th, 2008
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Legal Issues, Bloggin, Weekend Flame Bait |
2 comments
Scenario #1: Last month, I got a letter from the cable company, announcing that my rates were going up by $5 a month. I’m not at all happy about this, but I’m not going to cancel my cable because I can’t get satellite where I live, or because I’m just too lazy to switch, or whatever other reason you can think of for not canceling cable, so I’m just going to have to suck up and deal with the new pricing.
Scenario #2: I never even read the notice announcing the rate change, and only found out when this month’s bill came and was $5 higher.
Starting from either scenario, pick up here:
Seeing that I’m upset, my wife asks, “What’s wrong, honey?” And I respond, “I’ve just reached an agreement with the cable company that we will pay $5 more per month.”
Now, you might think that this is a mind bogglingly stupid way for me to describe what just happened. But apparently, lots of self-described “free market” types disagree. That’s not only a perfectly fair way to describe what happened, apparently, but just how people talk. So we should find nothing the least bit awkward, inaccurate, or unusual about my hypothetical response to my wife.
TERMS OF USE
March 22nd, 2008
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I do too have a life, Bloggin |
60 comments
The Sunday “oh, no he didn’t? or, it’s been an extra long leap week for the TN GOP” edition of the TennViews weekly blog roundup showcasing the best and brightest bloggers in Tennessee and what they are talking about…
• 55-40 Memphis: Second biggest fear, plus: Beale Street tribute hits a sour note.
• Andy Axel (at KnoxViews): TNGOP playing politics with the State Constitution,
• Aunt B.: On the TNGOP attempt to establish guilt by association, plus leave Bill Hobbs alone!
• BlountViews: How embarrassing would it be to be a member of the TNGOP right now?
• Carole Borges: Obama’s formula for success: radical centrism.
• The Crone Speaks: On the failure of the abortion amendment, plus the TNGOP apparently never got the Karl Rove memo, and, notes to Clinton and Obama from candidates who dropped out.
• Cup of Joe Powell: On the Bill Hobbs implosion, plus cheers for the TNGOP, bonus: Vampires!
• Don Williams: Help fight mountaintop removal.
• The Donkey’s Mouth: TNGOP: Gutter politics, McCain denounces, scolded by RNC.
• Enclave: Gathering the NAFTA pitchforks, plus TNGOP: Leave Obama’s momma out of it, part 1 and part 2.
• Fletch: Cute by any other name, what do you see, and barking at the moon is a full time job.
• KnoxViews: Where in the world is Smokey? Plus: respect for Hillary, and who will answer the call?
• Lean Left: KTK: Obama comes out for gay rights and a weight is lifted
• Left of the Dial: Money fuels the debate over XM/SIRIUS merger
• Left Wing Cracker: RIP Rep. Gary Rowe, plus Hobbs has outdone himself.
• Liberadio: 2008 election results leaked, plus a little desensitizing.
• Loose TN Canon: Hobbs deleted my comments!
• NewsComa: Hobbs wins the Tennessee Wanker award and it’s only February!
• Pesky Fly: Obama brings out the knives.
• Progressive Nashville: Something in the Arizona water? Plus: TNGOP thinks cheap stunts are acceptable behavior.
• Resonance: Superdelegates jumping between bandwagons, plus slacker Silent Clarence.
• RoaneViews: Chris Lugo: Nuclear free Tennessee, plus: When a potential business recruit comes to Roane County, does Leslie show them the new Jail?
• Russ McBee: Bernake predicts bank failures, plus a note to Bill Hobbs.
• Sean Braisted: Celebrity endorsements. Plus: Save Bill Hobbs!
• Sharon Cobb: Tennessee medical hero Stan Brock on 60 Minutes tonight, here’s a backgrounder. Plus: Elect Hussein Obama!
• Silence Isn’t Golden: Bigots for McCain, Republicans should show the same support for Tennessee that they do for Israel, natural allies in the fight against discrimination and justice. Bonus: Fulmer for Sheriff!
• Southern Beale: Prison Nation, fun with FISA.
• Tennessee Guerilla Women: Hillary tag teamed on SNL, plus some interesting quotes from Obama re. the Iraq war vote.
• TennViews: TNGOP playing politics with long-term care for seniors , plus TNGOP: There is such a thing as bad publicity, Gutterball, as it unfolded.
• Vibinc: Motivational waterboarding? Seriously, he’s not making this up!
• Whites Creek Journal: Surviving Leap Day, plus: Obama fathered TWO black babies!
• Women’s Health News: Workplace lactation, plus the Nipple Project.
March 3rd, 2008
|
General, Bloggin |
one comment
As if I needed another reason, the dumbass who owns that site asks:
Has anyone ever really shown that the allegations made by the Swift Boat Veterans against John F. Kerry were false?
Gee, Chuckie, I dunno. Has anyone ever really shown that the allegations were true? (Answer: An emphatic ‘no.’) I know you love you some good ole fashioned McCarthyism, but these days we tend to prefer a system where people are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
But now that he asks the question, I am forced to wonder: Has anyone ever really shown that Charles F. Johnson isn’t a child molester? I mean, the question deserves an answer…
H/T: Dan Collins at Protein Wisdom, a right-leaninging blogger who, to his credit, rightfully calls CFJ a “douchebag.”
UPDATE: I should have known better than to give credit where it isn’t due. As pointed out in comments, Collins is calling McCain a douchebag for distancing himself from the SBVT asshats; he’s wasn’t calling CFJ a douchebag for his “guilty until proven innocent beyond any possible doubt” routine. My mistake.
What was it, by the way, that McCain said, that makes him a “douchebag?” Only this:
“We’re aware of many of the things that 527s have done … where unlimited amounts of money can pour into negative campaigns such as we saw against John Kerry and his combat record, as we saw against (former Georgia Sen.) Max Cleland … they’re really very not accountable to anyone. At least I have to say ‘I’m John McCain and I approve this message.’”
Wow. That horrible egregious bastard. The nerve of that guy.
February 28th, 2008
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Politics, Bloggin |
9 comments
Every time I find myself agreeing with Xrlq, it reminds me that it’s time to reassess my views, the world, etc.
OK, I’m pretty sure it’s okay to agree with him on this one.
Oh, and as a side note, this is funny, I don’t care who you are:
Don’t tell the Tennessee Republicans but his last name is only one letter off from another unpleasant moniker. That’s right[,] Bama. And nothing sucks more than Bama.
Although I do have to disagree on a point of detail: some things do, in fact, suck more than Bama.
February 27th, 2008
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Politics, Bloggin, Humor |
2 comments
I’m back from vacation. Now comes the catching up part. I paid almost no attention to news, sports, or anything else while on vacation (which is, as far as I’m concerned, as it should be). I hope to have some travel blogging up later in the week, and should get back to political blogging soon.
As a side note, I was glad to see that my preferred candidate easily won my native state.
February 20th, 2008
|
Bloggin |
one comment
From our friends at TennViews:
The Sunday “President’s Day Eve and only 337 more days of Dubya” edition of the TennViews weekly blog roundup showcasing the best and brightest bloggers in Tennessee and what they are talking about…
• 10,000 Monkeys and a Camera: Roger Clemens: It’s baseball. Not foreign policy. Not the world economy. Not health care reform. Plus: Chesapeake Primary live blogging
• 55-40 Memphis: Do you believe in magic (reprise)?: Instead of campaigning to his base during the primaries, he played to the general election audience. Why? I’m making a list of theories.
• Ablogination: Voter Considerations: Privacy, is it important to you?: ATT, Verizon, Blue Cross, Homeland Security — all of them and many more have, are, and will again violate your privacy.
• Aunt B.: Way to Miss the Point: It’s not about who Henry thinks it’s okay, hypothetically, to rape. It’s about who he’s actually willing to screw over in order to advance the Democratic cause.
• BlountViews: Stop using drive-thru windows: Do you realize how much gas you use? Do you realize how much money you waste? Do you realize how much pollution is released in the air when you spend the 5-10 minutes at the drive-thru? Plus: The private property vs. Ridgetop Protection Dance
• The Crone Speaks: Bush Respects the Law?: Human rights and human dignity — tell that to the millions of people that cannot afford health insurance. Tell that to the millions of people that go to bed hungry each night. Tell that to the growing number of people that are now living below the poverty level. I dare say these millions of people would disagree. Plus: Energy Vampires
• Cup of Joe Powell: Sen. Kilby Reconsiders Dog Laws: He wrote about withdrawing his original bill, and filing a new one, though there are still some issues to resolve… Plus: Will State OK Verifiable Votes?: The new process, however, will not improve your choices nor negate any regrets you might have for the choices you made.
• Don Williams: Are Democrats developing some spine at last in opposing Bush?
• The Donkey’s Mouth: Right-Wing Publication Admits Fault in Defamation Suit: Seven years later, the tactics of the right in 2000 are becoming clearer. Plus: A Lose-Lose Position: Tennessee’s senior Senator concedes his own party’s ineffective way of grappling with issues. Bonus: Props to Wade Munday (Warning: HobbsLink)
• Enclave: The One Where I Define “Corporate Money” Against the Rotation of Campaign Spin: Rarely do I find myself in a position where I have to correct flagrant misinformation from fellow supporters of the candidate for whom I voted, but one of those moments is here. Plus: A Relatively Short Primary Did Nothing for Dems in 2004: I might not be anywhere close to panicking about dire predictions of long, divisive primary seasons in 2008. And, a good question: Is there a certain pragmatism among Dems that trumps liberal litmus tests?
• Fletch: Fletch for Congress! Plus: Go Fish, and: Boat and Breakfast
• KnoxViews: Contempt of Congress, Perspective, Clinton’s Texas firewall not so protective, and Ethics crusader Frank Buck retiring from the state House
• Lean Left: Big win: This is an important win, because it shows that incumbents can be beaten, that if they stray too far form what it means to be a Democrat, they can be removed from office. Plus: How Clinton’s Actions On FISA Undermine Her Campaign
• Left of the Dial: Interesting media/workplace development plays out on Frank’s blog here, here, and here.
• Left Wing Cracker: That’s what I get for sending the email out!: This reminds me of something Steve Cohen once said about Phil Bredesen: He’s a manager, not a leader. Plus: How do I get this Iraq War charge off my bill?
• Liberadio: Podcast: Super Fat Tornado Tuesday, Media Matters for America Smackdown with Elbert Ventura, and lots more.
• NewsComa: “Oswald Still Dead”, and I can’t believe that crap like this still exists but every time I think we have moved forward I’m reminded that we haven’t.
• Pesky Fly: Branston on Matthews: Comparing what Thaddeus Matthews does on his blog (and, indeed what most bloggers — even the brilliant ones assembled here) to established professional journalists is like comparing Dolly Parton to a male Dolly Parton impersonator singing “Jolene” at the karaoke bar.
• Progressive Nashville: The Obama sugar rush: Change takes more than a powerful speech by one person. Tennessee gets props for education: This report, like others before, demonstrates that our real work in improving education must come in improving the family lives of children.
• Resonance (at KnoxViews): Weather Closings (not what you think)
• RoaneViews: Tommy can you Hear me?: Tommy Kilby is a crucial vote to preserve Tennessee’s mountains. Plus: Water we gonna do about it?: 157,000,000 gallons of drinking water leaked out of Oliver Springs waterlines in 2007. That’s an astounding figure.
• Russ McBee: The continuing crisis: The charges, the torture-derived evidence, the trials, the rules of procedure, the judge, the jury, the sentences, and the executions will all be carried out conveniently beyond the reach of American civilian courts, the UCMJ, an international body like the ICC, or anything else resembling the rule of law or democratic values… Plus: McCain’s hypocrisy on torture
• Sean Braisted: Damn Pledges: Obama seems to find himself in a bit of a pickle. While he is on track to be the most well financed, both by big and small donors, candidate in US History; there is a bit of a snag. Plus: Top 5 bad-ass Presidents of all time
• Sharon Cobb: JEWS HATE Jesus: I call on Nikki Tinker to denounce antisemitism in all forms, especially against her main opponent, Congressman Steve Cohen. Plus: He’s Black. She’s A Female. Just In Case You Failed To Notice…: How ironic is it that the Democrats have an African American man or a woman who is going to be their nominee, and their main focus is they have an African American man or a woman who is going to be their nominee?
• Silence Isn’t Golden: Thoughts On Steve Cohen: Steve Cohen has become the victim of a disgusting anti-Semitic attack. The only difference was that I figured it would come from the far-right white evangelicals, rather than from where it did. Plus: Nikki Tinker’s “Denouncement”: I’m not buying it. Bonus: Can I Just Say…: You know you’re a Vanderbilt fan when you see they’re up by 41-11 at the half, and your first thought is, “How are they going to blow it this time?”
• Southern Beale: Why I Hate Insurance Companies: Asking doctors to snitch on their patients kinda drives a wedge in the doctor-patient relationship, doesn’t it? I don’t know too many doctors who went to medical school so they could serve the needs of for-profit insurance companies, not people seeking healthcare.
• Tennessee Guerilla Women: Obama Media Blitz:: Is Obama a long overdue charismatic leader? Is he the star of a cult of personality? Or is Obama the Messiah? Plus: Obama Attacks: Suggests Hillary Has Mood Swings: Hillary launches attacks when she’s feeling down? Periodically? Okay, I get it.
• TennViews: Tennessee Voter Confidence Act advances, and: TN Senate Republicans out of step on Pre-K
• Vibinc: Opines from the road on a variety of happenings this week.
• Whites Creek Journal: Clinton V Obama?: I’m one of those rare voters who thinks about what will happen if this candidate or that candidate gets elected. Plus: With Us…Or Against Us?: Have you made a call to customer service? Any customer service? About your television, computer, washing machine, or your Verizon or AT&T telephone service? All of these companies have off shore call centers. Congratulations! You’ve made the list. We all have. This is a travesty and an orgy of Constitutional crime.
• Women’s Health News: Raising Women’s Voices: A Health Care Reform Conference I’d Love to Attend: The MergerWatch website is well worth a look if you’re interested in how religious health restrictions affect not just reproductive health, but end-of-life decisions, HIV/AIDS care, LGBT care, medical research, and other issues.
February 18th, 2008
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General, Bloggin |
one comment
For the record, I’ve made a beer bet with SayUncle that Hillary Clinton will win the Democratic nomination. Much like my Super Bowl bet (in which, at the start of the playoffs, I bet lunch that the Patriots would win the Super Bowl, against a guy who said they wouldn’t), I tried to leverage the fact that I virtually always lose bets to my advantage by betting for the outcome I don’t want. This way, I win either way. Preferred outcome is, Obama wins, and I owe Uncle a beer. If Clinton wins, I don’t get my preferred candidate, but at least I get a free beer.
(And, if I know Uncle, he’ll probably also take me out shooting. And since this is the South, the shooting will probably happen after the beer…)
UPDATE: Uncle’s also betting a beer that McCain will be our next president. Against my logic above, I’m willing to take him up on that one, too. Now I just have to plan a November/December trip to East Tennessee to collect and/or pay up. (It’s against Beer Bet Etiquette to let offsetting beers cancel one another out…)
February 7th, 2008
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Politics, Bloggin |
one comment
You’re The Things They Carried!
by Tim O’Brien
Harsh and bitter, you tell it like it is. This usually comes in short,
dramatic spurts of spilling your guts in various ways. You carry a heavy load, and this
has weighed you down with all the horrors that humanity has to offer. Having seen and
done a great deal that you aren’t proud of, you have no choice but to walk forward,
trudging slowly through ongoing mud. In the next life, you will come back as a water
buffalo.
Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.
Now, I love this book, but I am not really that dark and cynical, am I? Plus, the idea of being a water buffalo doesn’t appeal that much to me.
Link via Lance Mannion, who got a worse book
February 5th, 2008
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General, Bloggin, Books |
7 comments
Courtesy of R. Neal and TennViews
The Sunday “fire up a pot of chili and ice down the keg super tailgating” edition of the TennViews weekly liberal blog roundup showcasing the best and brightest bloggers in Tennessee and what they are talking about…
• 10,000 Monkeys and a Camera: Electability: You can argue the merits of one candidate over another, but with three potential Supreme Court appointments waiting for the next president, it is absolutely essential that we elect a Democrat in November., also: The Kennedy Scorecard
• 55-40 Memphis: Can he?: Think about it. If you work in the White House and Bill stops by your desk, will you tell him politely that you take orders only from his wife?
• Ablignation (a new addition to the blogroll and roundup): Barack Obama: America’s Only Hope: With the most unfortunate departure of John Edwards from the Presidential race, we now find our Democratic selves left only with the choices the media picked for us….
• Andy Axel (at KnoxViews): McCain, Rewound…: In this process of self-re-invention, McCain is now opposing legislation that he actually championed, or worse, wrote.
• Aunt B.: My Lack of Unbridled Optimism: Since I was six years old, we’ve either had a Bush or Clinton living in the White House or next in line to live in the White House. That’s no way to run a healthy democracy.
• BlountViews (Farmer John): Fred Thompson for President?: I DEMAND A RETRACTION OF THE ENDORSEMENT!
• The Crone Speaks: Some Specific Questions for Clinton and Obama: We are left with a symbolic vote rather than a vote for real progress at a time when progress is needed most., plus: Rightwing World: A trip through the Looking Glass
• Cup of Joe Powell: Debating Politics: Perhaps Ron Paul or Mike Huckabee should consider hiring Britney Spears or Paris Hilton to their campaign staff in order to get some media attention., and A Human Digital Interface (on the Pupblish2 Tennessee election coverage project): It’s more than just adding a human editor to search engine algorithms, it’s also about how we structure and understand the world around us.
• The Donkey’s Mouth: Welcome Huckabee & Co.: The Donkey’s Mouth welcomes Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee to Nashville. … In case anyone has forgotten, The Donkey’s Mouth brings you this reminder of the last time [Huckabee campaign architect] Saltsman and SALT PAC were in the news…
• Enclave: A Late Breaking Voter Watching the Last Democratic Debate before Tennessee Votes on Tuesday: I wavered and went back and forth, but John Edwards’ withdrawal pretty much took my safety net away (although voting for him is still an option for me). So, tonight’s debate is incredibly important to my decision on Tuesday. (Ed. note: some good live blogging and commentary.)
• Fletch: Humanscapes, also: North Carolina Doing Its Part to Keep the Great Smokies Smoky
• KnoxViews: Tough choices Americans shouldn’t have to make (R. Neal): It is immoral and just plain wrong that anyone in America has to make decisions like this. Yet millions do every day., and: Obama: wrong then or wrong now?, also: Tennessee Feb 5th election certification delay, plus: Yes, We Can (mjw)
• Lean Left: Reagan Worship Good For Progressives? (Kevin): I wonder if the necessity of paying lip service to that ultra-conservative, ideologue-above-all myth of Reagan in order to impress the base makes it harder for Republicans to appeal to moderates in the general election., plus: Voter ID Laws (tgirsch): Last weekend, I pulled a little stunt to make a point about voter ID laws. I chose to use the gun rights movement as an example here, because many of their legitimate complaints about various gun control laws … apply to voter ID laws.
• Left of the Dial: Just The Two Of Us: An imaginary possible phone conversation between Mitt Romney and John McCain…
• Left Wing Cracker: Maybe he can….: Yes, I have already voted for John Edwards, and I have my reasons. However, for those of you who say that you cannot do that, and that it is down to Hillary or Barack, I will say this…
• Liberadio: Stop Spreading the (Fake) News
• Loose TN Canon: More proof that Bush weakens America: And the GOP front runner McCain wants to stay in Iraq for 100 yrs…
• NewsComa: John Edwards Asks To Remain On Rhode Island Ballot, and: The Reason I Will Vote For Barack Obama Tuesday
• Pesky Fly: Please Obama, win me: Unity is not an issue. And it shouldn’t be an issue because it’s meaningless at best and possibly antithetical to itself. (Everybody shows up to the kegger happy, but if there’s only a six-pack…).
• Progressive Nashville: Progressive Nashville: America’s path: But the most important element in determining America’s path is the people. , and, Where America Stands: The economy, Values, Health care, and The Truth
• Resonance: Shell Oil Hints At Peak Oil: We now have energy company leaders talking about the upcoming oil supply crunch. Where is the political leadership on this issue?
• RoaneViews: Official Sample Ballot (Corvus): This is an overly complicated mess for a simple choice between two groups of candidates.
• Russ McBee: With Edwards out, things shift: At least until the convention, the race between Clinton and Obama will now shrivel into two camps shouting “Hope!” and “Experience!” at each other, with little discussion of the real problems the country faces., and: Congressional Dems find more streamlined way to cave to Bush
• Sean Braisted: TNR Tennessee Rundown: The New Republic profiles Tennessee’s primary today., and: : …the truth is most people don’t pay attention to minute policy differences when choosing a candidate; like it or not, personality goes a long way in making that decision.
• Sharon Cobb: Last Night We Witnessed History: Right now my mind is flooded with all the events of the 60s I participated in, yet I’m smart enough to step to the side and let a new generation of activists take their place in this complex progression., plus: Snoop Dogg Torn Between Obama and Clinton: I know what you’re thinking. Where’s the punchline, right? ,
• Silence Isn’t Golden: California Dreamin’, On Such A Winter’s Day: And the labor unions are dreaming of the candidate who will best support labor now that John Edwards has dropped out. Who might that candidate be?, and: A Profound Sadness, And Why I’ll Always Be A Democrat: I believe that yes, it is my problem when someone in the wealthiest nation in the world can’t afford their medications.
• Southern Beale: Iraq 4 Ever: That is why those of us on the left, written off as “defeatocrats” and worse, have been saying all along that we need to cut off war funding. Period.
• Tennessee Guerilla Women: Hillary Fans in CA: ‘Yes, SHE Can!!’ (Video): As Todd notes, “her opponents underestimate the passion people have for her at their peril.”, and: Obama Attacks Universal Health Care With the Return of Harry & Louise: What the hell is Obama thinking?
• TennViews (Eleanor A): McCain on the Environment: In contrast to the media’s saintly image of Republican Senator John McCain, his voting record is that of a Reagan-era, deregulation-happy extremist., and: Democratic Presidential Candidates - Senate Voting Record Comparison (bizgrrl), plus: Super Tuesday poll preview (R. Neal), and finally: Ode to Edwards, a Wednesday roundup of reaction
• Vibinc: The War on Krugman: Working to discredit one of the only consistent liberal voices in the MSM is counterproductive to progressives, and ultimately counterproductive to Obama. Take it down a notch Barak, between this and your rabid fan-boys, you’re not winning any friends, you’re pissing a bunch of us off., and: Sports and Politics: The difference between a national party and a sports organization is that we are the stockholders of the organization. That position gives us more influence in the party than in any sports organization.
• West Tennessee Liberal: Trouble up ahead in ‘08…: What is wrong with Democratic voters? I feel like we vote to lose…first Gore wouldn’t enter the race, and then the party turned on John Edwards, the banner of Democratic Party populism, who was shown to be the only Democratic candidate running who could beat any Republican.
• Whites Creek Journal: Saturday Funnies (”Don’t Tease me, Bro!”), and: I hear voices…See ‘em, too… (a multimedia roundup)
• Women’s Health News: Ridiculous Lawmaker of the Day: Mayhall Wants to Ban Obese from Eating: …this is so offensive that it barely warrants explanation of the offense. Let’s have a go at it, anyway:, bonus: I’m Cranky, and These Labor Nurses Aren’t Helping
February 4th, 2008
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General, Bloggin |
one comment
Dave Neiwert is holding a fundraiser for Orcinus, his blog. If you have the extra scratch, donating some to him would be a good idea. Dave is not just a great writer, he is a top notch reporter. There is no one who covers the eliminationist right better. he has a deep understanding of right wing hate groups that comes form years of studying and reporting on them. His blog is a shiny example of what a dedicated and talented reporter can do given the freedom to follow a story in depth. Supporting that is well worth the money. You can donate here.
January 30th, 2008
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General, Bloggin, Blegging |
no comments
The Sunday “Palmetto pummeling with rejoicing in the streets and mournful rending of garments” edition of the TennViews weekly liberal blog roundup showcasing the best and brightest bloggers in Tennessee and what they are talking about…
• 10,000 Monkeys and a Camera: SC exit poll results here and here
• 55-40 Memphis (a new addition to the blogroll and roundup): Dilemma: So, short of something drastic happening to make me wrong, I predict it’s going to be a long, painful slog to November — and (at best) a nailbiter election night.
• Andy Axel (at TennViews): America 2001-2008: Enter The Bush Leagues: Not even the Reagan Revolution or the Contract On America was as successful at creating so much ruin in such little time:
• Aunt B. (another new addition to the blogroll and roundup): Who Owns Tennessee’s Women?: Do we have the right to decide for ourselves what happens to our bodies or are we just walking condos, with the State acting as mostly-absentee landlords.
• BlountViews: Blount GOP to back Ron Paul?: What’s not to like?
• The Crone Speaks: Are TN’eans/All Progressives Falling for the Symbolic Vote, or Do They Want a Real Leader?: The current state of our union does not afford voters the luxury for a symbolic vote. Voters should be considering the state our country is in, and which candidate has the most progressive platform to lead us out of the dire straights the previous administrations have placed us.
• Cup of Joe Powell: TV News Covers ‘Baloney’ In Campaign For President: Does the news matter to anyone anymore?, and Your Communication Is Not Yours Anyway: The argument that only the guilty need be concerned about this type of constant surveillance is an argument which has neither merit nor logic., and A Vast Database of Deception: And sadly, the general response to the report is a rather exhausted yawn. “It doesn’t even matter anymore,” said a friend of mine.
• The Donkey’s Mouth: The $9 Trillion Bear in the Room: The fact of the matter is, however, that were it not for Democrats at the table there would not be a stimulus package.
• Enclave: Infrastructure? Who Needs Infrastructure?: Cost to fix these hazards: $1.6 trillion., and Bredesen’s TDOT Welcomes Bush Transportation Chief in Support of Toll Roads: The traveling medicine show designed to pull public funds to private coffers (George W. Bush’s prime directive) has come to Tennessee, and our so-called Democratic administration is embracing it with open arms., also Bubba’s Brutality and Obama’s Egotism
• Fletch: The Sand Man, and Afternoon Walk
• KnoxViews: Milestones unnoticed… (on KnoxViews anniversary), and a funny flashback from a reader (and RoaneViews co-conspirator), plus mark your calendars, Seymour Hersh Speaking at UT, Feb 6th
• Lean Left: Lean Left: The question now is where are the front runners? Why are they not in DC, right now, holding a press conference where they clearly state that they will be supporting the filibuster of this cowardly provision., and They’re just politicians: They aren’t going to save us all with a well timed legislative victory and a cheery wave to the camera. Every single one of them will, at one point or another, betray something you consider vitally important to get something else, usually something you think is ridiculously over-valued. (as they say, read the whole thing…)
• Left of the Dial: Maybe in South Carolina…: But something tells me that unless Oprah campaigns in Tennessee and starts giving out new cars, he won’t see the same numbers here., and an Information Highway Road Trip
• Left Wing Cracker: THIS is why I’m for John Edwards , and in case you missed it at TennViews, A tale of two legislators
• Liberadio (another new addition to the blogroll and roundup): We use these too: If “ES&S iVotronic” and “paperless touchscreen voting machines” sound familiar to some of you it’s because 17 out of 95 counties in Tennessee use these machines and, if things don’t go well next week, we’ll be using them again in the November election., plus Our Money’s Already Spent
• Loose TN Canon: The albatross of Iraq around McCain’s neck: John McCain is a hypocrite. During Clinton’s presidency, he argued vehemently to bring the troops home from Haiti and Somalia - regardless of the consequences.
• NewsComa: Anthem Of Change: It backfired. The whole Hillary/Bill wrassling tag team blew up in their faces yesterday when Barack Obama beat the tar out of the two. , and I Have Some Time To Figure Super Tuesday Out: I only have one vote. And it’s mine.
• Pesky Fly: Clinton Destroying the Party: If our three Democratic candidate were steaks, they would be ribeye, t-bone, and porterhouse. Saying one cut of meat from the same cow will destroy the party is - there’s no gentle way to say this - f***ing nuts., also Lost in the Funhouse: Obama’s been misrepresented. … And I really don’t care much about this beyond the fact that I worry how, should they reach the general, the whiners will deal with an attack machine that took down John McCain for a lack of patriotism.
• Progressive Nashville: The right time for health care reform?: It’s easy for the rich and powerful to ignore the problems of the poor, but now health care costs are tapping into profits and that means everyone’s well-being is at stake., and Who will speak for the poor?: So divided has the Democratic Party become from wedge issues generated by the GOP, that its vision of prosperity for all has been all but abandoned.
• Resonance: Potpourri: I report, you decide., plus an interesting survey at TennViews: How much do political TV or radio ads affect your voting decisions?
• RoaneViews: Connected Tennessee: On the home page there is a place where you can check your Internet connection speed. There are also maps of the state by county that show that counties connectivity., and Green Development Conference
• Russ McBee: Congressional Dems cave to Bush twice in one day: The Democrats were not handed control of Congress last year just for the purpose of caving to every whim of the most unpopular president in recent history., plus: The clueless Michael Chertoff speaks: Showing your papers, removing your shoes in airports, and that Real ID nonsense do not foster security; they merely provide what Bruce Schneier calls “security theater:” the illusion of security, intended to foster a feeling of well-being, whether deserved or not.
• Sean Braisted: “You People”: I knew the Clintons would attempt to dismiss the results in South Carolina as a hollow victory because South Carolina had a high black population; I didn’t see Obama do the same thing because New Hampshire is one of the whitest states in the union., also: The Challenge: …to list 10 things I like about Hillary…I’ll start, and perhaps get to ten.
• Sharon Cobb: Subdued Republican Debate Allows Romney To Perform Well.: By his looks and family, Mitt Romney is straight out of central casting for the role of President. However, his acting skills have been less than up to par. … Then there was the obligatory Hillary bashing. I guess a bunch of old, conservative white guys can’t conceive that their opponent in the general election might be a black man.
• Silence Isn’t Golden: South Carolina Results Live-Blog: No word yet on whether or not she’ll address the loss, although she already released a statement mentioning the Super Tuesday states, and also Florida. Unsurprising, since she’s already indicated that she will undermine the DNC and Howard Dean by pushing for Florida and Michigan delegates to count., also in case you missed it at TennViews, GoldnI’s analysis of the WSMV Tennessee presidential primary poll.
• Southern Beale: Fred Watch: Democratic voters don’t tend to blame their candidates when they don’t win primaries; at least, I don’t hear anyone blaming Dennis Kucinich or John Edwards for underperforming this primary season. , also Not That There’s Anything Wong With That: Obama’s not Muslim, people.
• Tennessee Guerilla Women: Media Bias Against Clintons Borders on Mental Illness: I don’t recall ever seeing so much overt and shameless media bias in any previous election. I may as well be watching Fox News., also Everybody But Obama Knew About Rezko, and Nashville: Hillary Congratulates Obama & Says ‘We Have Only Just Begun’
Courtesy of TennViews and R. Neal.
• TennViews TN GOP coming unhinged on abortion amendment: The bottom line is that this is a pathetically transparent political stunt to get yet another wedge issue on the ballot for the 2010 gubernatorial election in an effort to get right-wing extremists out to the polls. Tennessee deserves better leadership than this., also Sasser: As iron sharpens iron
• Vibinc: Real life intervenes, blogging will resume shortly…
• Whites Creek Journal: Who do I vote for? (a celebrity endorsement roundup): So ultimately, the burning question of the day boils down to , “Can that fat oatmeal guy beat both fake blondes, Rick Flair and Anne Coulter?”, and Oh, Great! (on not being stimulated by the stimulus package): Republicans repeatedly demonstrate that they are ethically unequipped to do anything except serve rich people, and our Democratic Congressional leadership repeatedly proves that they are ill equipped to do anything except let them and whine about it.
• Women’s Health News: Best Cities to Have a Baby: This year’s winner was Portland, followed by Minneapolis, San Francisco, Seattle, and Denver. My own city ranked 33rd, just below D.C. Among the factors weighing Nashville down…
January 28th, 2008
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General, Bloggin |
no comments
Been sick, light blogging for a bit.
January 19th, 2008
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Bloggin |
no comments
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