The Vondelpark

Chuck Brown, by Tim OBrien (via /film)

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 10:00:02 -0400

Chuck Brown, by Tim OBrien (via /film)

Cheez-It flavored lip balm. Want? Need!

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 14:51:28 -0400

Cheez-It flavored lip balm. Want? Need!

Frank Luntz Has No Soul

Sat, 23 May 2009 19:38:13 -0400

A selction from GOP consultant and Fox News contributor Frank Luntz’s interview with Deborah Solomon:

Your new 28-page memo, “The Language of Health Care,” was sent to Republicans in Congress and recommends that they speak abouthealth care reform in ominous phrases. For instance, you suggest that they refer to “a Washington takeover.”

“Takeover” is a word that grabs attention.

Is it a correct description of the president’s plans for reform?

We don’t know what he is proposing. We want to avoid “a Washington takeover.”

But that’s not at issue. What the Democrats want is for everyone to be able to choose between their old, private health-insurance plan and an all-new, public health-insurance option.

I’m not a policy person. I’m a language person.

If you write the words of the policy, shouldn’t you believe in the content of the policy?

That’s why I agreed to write this memo. I deeply believe in patient-centered health care. My whole family was in the dental profession. I grew up with medicine all around me.

Would you describe yourself as a Republican pollster?

I’m a pollster, but no one ever cites my polling. Ninety-five percent of my work is as a communications specialist. My mother used to tell people that I was an upholsterer. She would joke that she didn’t understand the difference between pollster and an upholsterer.

Who paid you to write the health care memo?

It’s not relevant.

A pharmaceutical company?

No pharmaceutical company was involved.

You have devised many phrases to help sell Republican policies to the public. Like “energy exploration” instead of “drilling for oil” in the Arctic. What are some of your other coinages?

It’s “death tax” instead of “estate tax” or “inheritance tax.” It’s “opportunity scholarships” instead of “vouchers.” It’s “electronic intercepts” rather than “eavesdropping.”

That’s a lot of e’s.

Words that begin with b, p or t are words to express anger. I call them spitting words. You actually spit on people as you are saying them.

What if I call someone a bunny? That’s not angry.

If I wanted to demonize a bunny, I would use a word like rabbit. The rabbit will ravage your garden. This is a language pivot. A bunny is cute; a rabbit that ravages your garden is a pest.

Where did you grow up?
Who cares?

Are you married?
No. I may have perfected the language that gets people to vote certain ways, and buy certain products, but I haven’t perfected the language to get some woman to buy me.

It might help if you didn’t speak about yourself, not to mention health care, as a product to be bought and sold.

It’s a throwaway line, that’s all. In politics it’s called a pivot. It’s a pivot to a topic I am more interested in. Not all words have equal meaning

(viaeatmedaily)

Sat, 23 May 2009 10:51:36 -0400

(viaeatmedaily)

According to this brand-new find from a cave in Germany,...

Sat, 16 May 2009 19:04:17 -0400

According to this brand-new find from a cave in Germany, Europeans 35,000 years ago were all fuckyeahchubbygirls. (via)

I'd like it noted on the Internets that I've banged someone on this year's Maxim Hot 100. That is all.

Wed, 13 May 2009 11:46:22 -0400

"President Obama may choose a Supreme Court nominee by the end of the week. That’s fast. Nothing..."

Sun, 10 May 2009 12:54:05 -0400

“President Obama may choose a Supreme Court nominee by the end of the week. That’s fast. Nothing against the President, but doesn’t it worry you that it took him 10 times longer to decide on a dog?”

- Craig Ferguson

Washington Square Park, protected

Sun, 10 May 2009 12:46:09 -0400

Washington Square Park, protected

Mets: first place finally, rightfully. Holla.

Sat, 09 May 2009 19:50:09 -0400

Mets: first place finally, rightfully. Holla.

‘Bazooka,’ Marilyn Minter, 2009. enamel on metal, 76...

Sat, 09 May 2009 00:38:49 -0400

‘Bazooka,’ Marilyn Minter, 2009. enamel on metal, 76 x 114 inches (193 x 289.6 cm). (photograph via salon94.com) (via eatmedaily)

Bikini Bar no more

Fri, 08 May 2009 20:20:35 -0400

Bikini Bar no more

Behold: Star Wars makes Star Trek its little bitch.

Fri, 08 May 2009 18:06:09 -0400

Behold: Star Wars makes Star Trek its little bitch.

Listening to the new Green Day album, 21st Century Breakdown. A...

Fri, 08 May 2009 17:43:15 -0400

Listening to the new Green Day album, 21st Century Breakdown. A fun listen. But that might be more a criticism than a compliment when it comes to the band behind Kerplunk and Dookie. It’s really quite sanitized, and highly produced, and too pretty/perfect. Very enjoyable, but it seems to have no more lasting impression on my brain than caffeine free diet Coke (which, by the way, tastes like death).

By comparison, have a listen to the upcoming Cobra Starship/Leighton Meester track “Good Girls Go Bad” and stand it next to almost anything on the Green Day album (when the GD record comes out next week). The music from both bands—while different—has that same how-can-I-object? infectious cleanness, that paint-by-numbers hit-maker quality. But hey, both Cobra and Green Day have churned out some enjoyable music—music that I enjoy—so who am I to protest?

I Know I'm Way Late On This...

Fri, 08 May 2009 17:29:25 -0400

…but I’ve never been more disappointed in Barack Obama than I was when I learned he orders his burgers medium well. Slather on all the elitist, terror-loving mustard you want, but keep a little pink juicy goodness, Mr. President, rather than that abomination of a charred hockey puck you’re content to shovel into your mouth.

"A large part of the secret of President Obama’s political success is his self-presentation as calm,..."

Mon, 04 May 2009 20:58:48 -0400

“A large part of the secret of President Obama’s political success is his self-presentation as calm, judicious, and fair-minded – and his ability to depict his opponents as intemperate and extreme. You’d think by now that Obama’s opponents would have figured out this trick. You want to beat him? Great. Be more calm, more judicious, and more fair-minded. Don’t be provoked. Don’t throw wild allegations. Don’t boycott. Don’t lose your temper. Instead, we get Anger Theater. It’s not smart. And it’s not working.”

- David Frum (via andrew sullivan)

My Swine Flu Pitch...

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:17:13 -0400

…at this morning’s meeting did not go over well. Apparently it’s in poor taste to write about getting survival tips from movies about massive outbreaks of disease like “28 Days Later” and “I am Legend.” Lame.

John Murtha’s posh, passenger-less...

Sun, 26 Apr 2009 17:43:48 -0400

John Murtha’s posh, passenger-less airport.

Politico:

Amount of federal cash received: approx. $200 million
Flights per day: 3 (all to Washington, D.C.)
Approx. number of passengers per day: 20
Amount of stimulus cash received: $800,000
Taxpayer subsidies per plane ticket: $100/or half

Photo

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 19:22:14 -0400

Photo

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 11:14:28 -0400

"Lemme get this straight: to protest wasteful spending, you bought a million tea bags. Are you..."

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 23:25:30 -0400

“Lemme get this straight: to protest wasteful spending, you bought a million tea bags. Are you protesting taxes or irony?”

- Jon Stewart (via inothernews) (via ackb) (via notthatkindagay)