Laws of physics need not apply

You're thinking the same thing I am. How does a 600 pound woman fit into an Isuzu Amigo, much less through its sunroof? Seriously?

No.

Social science: The flaw in columnist thinking

As someone who goes through quite a bit of printed (and posted) media pretty much daily, I've often wondered what columnists do when they just can't flush an idea out of their enormous brains (serious - ENORMOUS! Just ask any one of 'em. They'll tell you.). Does the Washington Post Co. own some deep, magical well bubbling over with faux insights and snappy headlines? Is Artie Sulzberger guardian and manager of a sizable rainy-day deposit of poorly-sourced excoriation and outrageous claims (Tierny's personal stash, no doubt)? But today I realized, upon stumbling across Richard Morin's A2 column in the Post, they simply turn to social scientists. Here's the glorious lede: This is not funny: Jon Stewart and his hit Comedy Central cable show may be poisoning democracy. The column cites a study done by two ECU polisci profs that found kids who watch The Daily Show develop cynical views about politics. Participants also expressed less trust in the electoral system and more cynical views of the news media... Ultimately, negative perceptions of candidates could have participation implications by keeping more youth from the polls... Alright. First of all, Richie, a series of lengthy quotes from the latest issue of American Politics Research linked up with a few segues and prepositional phrases does not a good column make. Second of all, maybe people watching TDS are more cynical about politics because Stewart gives a more realistic picture of what sensationally insane jackasses most of the folks on Capitol Hill really are. And then we have the fact that the profs put up CBS News as their "control group" in this little experiment. CBS NEWS? Give me a break! The networks (which you describe as "hard news"...ok, whatever) are terrified of alienating even a single one of their viewers. As a result the reporters are forced to pick the lowest common denominator for their audience. Not exactly great broadcast journalism. These networks live in mortal fear of being labeled "BIASED", and as a result, water down their coverage to include only the most basic of facts in language that reads like the line down the middle of a highway, and is just as boring. If anything, milquetoast networks and the bloviation of cable news programming have both prevented people from really thinking about the implications of a piece of news. The networks because they refuse to entertain the thought that news might MEAN something, and the cable shows because they spend all their time trying to tell you what it all means, which some people like, others laugh at, and still others just plain resent. Meanwhile, all Stewart is doing is pointing out how absurdly our elected officials act, again and again, consistently reaching new heights of disingenuous shenanigans. Don't blame him for the fact that those guys are such a treasure trove of hilarity.

Apparently, it takes less then you thought to subjugate a nation

Huh. Even his aides bested him. I would have thought being a brutal tyrant required a bit more gumption. Hat tip: The Goo Report, natch.

I'm a prisoner in my own internet!

Though I have been watching, I have yet to post anything about the World Cup because: as a fledgling soccer fan, I really have little to add every other blog and news site and little corner of the interweb is already talking about it Since I am unable to skip out of work to watch today's critical match against Ghana, my roommate and I taped it (that's right - VHS BABY) to watch later. Which means that I have been spending my ENTIRE MORNING trying to avoid finding out the score. Which means no Washingtonpost.com, no New York Times Online. No DCist, DCeiver, or other blogs. I had to sign of gmail chat for fear people will give away the score in their status bar. I have the door to my office closed in case my co workers decide to shout out the score. Seriously, I am behind bars here. Please don't tell me the score and make it all for nothing. UPDATE: FUCK!!! Damn loundmouthed interns got me on my way to the bathroom. (I would have peed in a plant, had I a plant...). Anyway, we lost. Now all that is left is to root against Italy, Brazil, and Germany. I'd put France in there, too, but they are sucking like only the French can. With a loud slurp.

A monkey on her back

After a long bout with Marion Barry's Frosted Flakes (Them's GRRReat, BITCH!), Carla Bozulich gave up drugs in her early 20s. Since then, she's made some incredible albums (what would YOUR cover of The Red Headed Stranger sound like?). Earlier this month, she released a new one. Apparently she's back to chasing the dragon. Listen to the songs if you don't believe me.

Internets Don't Lie

The Washington Post editorializes against net-neutrality today, making the argument that "if one broadband provider slowed access to fringe bloggers, the blogosphere would rise up in protest -- and the provider would lose customers." Their argument makes two pretty absurd assumptions. First of all, when has the blogosphere ever demonstrated it can influence the market. Politics and public opinion are one thing. But I'm not sure Comcast is considers "bloggers" a key market indicator? Second, they assume the barriers to switching service are small enough that people will be able to jump internet providers as easily as trying a new toothbrush. Clearly the editors at the Post have never waited from 11 to 4 on a workday for the cable guy to show up, only to have to reconfigure their hardware, and change their email address - oh, and there's also that cute hundred dollar "switching fee" for their trouble. Broadband providers, who often also provide cable TV and are populated by the laid off spawn of the long distance phone corps, have a bit of experience with discouraging customers from leaving.

I just meta-puked

We all live here in DC with a certain amount of tolerance for the endless parade of annual meetings, industry conventions, and trade shows. They all come with prime rib and a name tag, and the high point is probably the feigned interest required of congressional staff during the inevitable "lobby day". But is this really needed? The annual meeting of the association that represents people who arrange annual meetings for associations... I can't even begin to guess what will go on here.

I think I just bought this on Amazon...

I feel dirty. (But in a good way...)

Bombs over Washington

Y'know, its funny. I've been in Washington DC for about a year and a half now, and I had no idea how dangerous it really is to live here! I mean, I see the crime reports, some friends have gotten their bikes ripped off, and I definitely recognize the sound of gunfire when I hear it, but apparently, DC residents are dropping like flies in some sort of massive underground wave of homicides. WTF? "Despite media coverage purporting to show that escalating violence in Iraq has the country spiraling out of control, civilian death statistics complied by Rep. Steve King, R-IA, indicate that Iraq actually has a lower civilian violent death rate than Washington, D.C." More then a little concerned for my adopted home, the editors here at the Scourge allowed me to venture out into the wilds of DC for a little investigative photo-journalism. After a harrowing trip around what I thought was our fair city, what I have come across will shock, SHOCK you! OMG STEVE KING WAS RIGHT!!! RUN FOR YOUR GODDAM LIVES, PEOPLE!!! Or just read this fact check by Think Progress, and carry on with the rest of your day.