My contribution to Hoekstrafest ‘09

2009 June 18

So GOP Congressman Pete Hoesktra got all whiny on Twitter yesterday:

Iranian twitter activity similar to what we did in House last year when Republicans were shut down in the House. (Source)

Bad move, Petey. In true internets fashion, legions of Twitterati responded in kind to his inanity by posting things like:

paganmist: @petehoekstra Had to move all my stuff to a new office w/o a corner view. Now i know what the Trail of Tears was like. #GOPfail

JustinHook: “My boss left work early today, won’t be back for three days. Now I know how the Christians felt. @petehoekstra”

These and other glorious gems have been captured and lulzed at Pete Hoekstra is a Meme (*hat tip* to NYMag).

I don’t do anything all day, so I just had to dive in. Here’s what I came up with:

Basically, if Nick Kristof is the one calling you out, you know you effed up.

Cable ‘News’ vs. Your Brain

2009 June 18

This is your brain.

This is your brain on cable ‘news.’

cnbc-breakingnews-fly

Any questions?

Jay-Z’s “Death of Autotune”

2009 June 6

Lawd have mercy.

Find the full track plus hilarity brought to you by Hot 97’s Funkmaster Flex and Mr. Cee at Rap Radar and make sure you catch Jigga’s ‘post-game interview’ here.

Below is a photographic representation of Jay’s (and Bey’s) reaction to autotune abuse:

wtf face

Hov!

American-Muslim Relations: Throwback Edition

2009 June 4

Above is the full, uncut video of President Obama’s speech, “A New Beginning” in Cairo, Egypt addressing “the Muslim world.” (Does anyone else have any hangups about that labeling? I mean, I get it. That ‘world’ just seems entirely too complex to get a neat little packaging.)

The always on-point folks at Jack & Jill Politics posted the full transcript of the speech this morning along with this little historical gem:

BTW, for conservatives and bigots who are freaking out that America is extending its hand to the Muslim world, know that the founders of our nation saw things differently (from Wikipedia): In 1796, then president John Adams signed a treaty declaring the United States had no “character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Mussulmen“.[14]

I’m an historian (for my degree tells me so), so it is my obligation to look deeper into that quote from the treaty – the 1796 Treaty of Peace and Friendship:

As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion,-as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Musselmen,-and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.

Obama quoted from that section in his speech, but he omitted that whole “not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion” thing. Again, I get it. The man is indeed a politician and there is no reason to choose this particular forum to say “and America wasn’t supposed to be a Christian nation.”

I guess that’s just one more harrumph I have against the fact that pundit-based platitudes can become foregone conclusions in mainstream media.

*Goes back to work to change the (media) game for these (foes)*

Photos: Springtime NYC

2009 May 28

Assorted shots from the past week.

So I guess we’re over 9/11 then?

Holla!

Somebody track down the Sporty Thievz

Don’t tell anyone that I was feeling withdrawal from 1515

Times Square welcomes you.