Hoping for Armistice

This being Veterans' Day, I could write another post about the need for a more compassionate policy for veterans who have returned from our recent (and not so recent) wars. This year, though, I wish to call attention to the fact that Veterans' Day was originally Armistice Day, a celebration of the end of the First World War. I'm hoping that NATO can move the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan prior to the projected 2014 departure. It sure would be good to have a genuine armistice, an end to the long, pointless war. I'm not holding my breath, though.

As is typical, I'll post the video to Tin Soldier by Belfast's Stiff Little Fingers, an angry but not unsympathetic view of the young men who composed an occupation force from a member of the occupied populace.





All too often, young people join the military to escape from dim economic prospects, only to be used as pawns by policy makers who will never have to bear the burden of suffering that inevitably results from war. Here's hoping to an early armistice, and a rejection of the impulses that have led us, again and again and again and again, to war.

Sad News for a Guy Who's Nostalgic for Bands Most People Have Never Heard Of

Tonight, I heard the sad news of the passing of Jo Dunne, bassist/guitarist of Bastard-approved band Fuzzbox, who put out the great album "We've Got a Fuzzbox and We're Gonna Use It".

While the band is perhaps best known for their outré cover of Spirit in the Sky, Fuzzbox was an influence on Riot Grrrl bands with such songs as Bastard fave and feminist anthem XX Sex:





The band's aesthetic was Day-glo and cartoonish, the music a combination of stripped-down, primitive instrumentation and soaring vocals, the lyrics often critical of the Patriarchal Dominance System:





Even their songs about more conventional subject matter, such as failed relationships, were somehow subversive:





Here's another good one about the difficulties women have in communicating with condescending men:





It's amazing that the band had such mature insights at such a young age:





Rest in peace, Ms. Dunne

Total Perspective Vortex

Tonight, I'm basically phoning it in. This post is merely a re-post of an exchange in a Rumproast comment thread between the awesome and not-slackerish-at-all Vixen Strangely and some bastard. Vixen Strangely's original comment is the italicized portion, the section I am responding to has been bolded:


Looking at the way some aspects of the campaign were totally phoned in (“Amercia?” The “off-the-shelf” character of Romney’s vague policy statements. The gimmick choice of a rock star running mate who did exactly zero good for the campaign, as could have been predicted), I figured there was a long-con version of the game Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich were playing—you know, make like it’s a real campaign and then disappear before shit got real. The Hermanator executed that much pretty well, Gingrich less so—he got caught working at it and ended up in campaign debt without, I think, his profile much raised.

I just could never figure out what Romney’s pay-off was. When the “optimistic” and as later admitted, “incorrect” internal poll numbers were leaked, I thought maybe, instead of spin, it was a case of them having two books—the real internal poll numbers, and then the story they gave donors (since it was clear Romney would tell them anything) and other rubes. I just figured Romney was in on it. Now, I don’t know what to think. For all we know, instead of a campaign to get Romney elected, it was all an elaborate money-laundering front for the Mob. And then there’s poor deluded Mittens with Quick Tan on his collar, thinking, “I’m going to be president, someday.” He was born to be had because he wanted it so bad.

Not that I have sympathy for him. But it would make a nice closing scene to the sequel to Game Change. The fireworks display is ordered, the transition web site is about to go live, and there’s those Ohio numbers, not swinging his way. Camera closes in tight on fingers across a cell phone key pad—to customer service at Visa….

Those people got bonuses, once.


I think this is the truth... all his life, Mitt's had people blowing smoke up his ass. Mitt's mother referred to him as her miracle baby. In college, Mitt was referred to as one mighty and strong, destined to lead the country. Even on a basic level, Mormons believe that they will eventually become gods. Everything in Mitt's life conspired to inflate his ego, and to lead him to believe that his victory was inevitable... as his awful wife put it, "It's our turn."

By losing, Mitt basically went through Douglas Adams' Total Perspective Vortex.

Mitt's problem is that he's no Zaphod Beeblebrox, even though, if he had been elected, his primary function would have been to draw attention away from the true rulers of the universe.

Norris/Nugent 2016!

One of the best things about the Romney campaign post mortem is reading the collective cri du cul emanating from the right-wingers. One interesting feature of their distorted view of the election is the contention that Romney, like his predecessor John McCain, was not conservative enough. Yes, even though paleolithic paleoconservative rape-apologists like Todd Akin and Richard Mourdock lost their senate bids because of their knuckle-dragger comments concerning women's rights, Mittens somehow lost because he wasn't regressive enough.

One axiom of the right-wing is that Conservatism can never fail, it can only be failed. Since Romney failed, he cannot be a conservative. So, what of 2016? Ryan would be the most likely choice, because he was the second banana on the ticket... the one hitch is that he will still have the Romney stench clinging to his P90X-toned frame. Former Tea Party heartthrob Chris Christie is being drummed out of the party because he praised President Obama's response to Superstorm Sandy. Rick Santorum is too much of a Big Government guy to be entrusted to run for the White House. Rick Perry is too soft on immigration. Let's face it, there are very few true conservatives worthy of running in 2016, but I have the perfect ticket:

NORRIS/NUGENT 2016

I believe this is the true conservative ticket that can win the White House back for the GOP. Let's meet the candidates, shall we? Here's the totally-not-insane presidential candidate, speaking calmly and eloquently about the importance of the separation of Church and State:





Here's the one-hundred-percent-not-sexually-confused Ted Nugent expressing the psychosexual aspects of the Second Amendment:





How could the GOP fail to capture the all three branches of government with such a dream team at the top of the ticket?

WOLVERINES!!!

Six Digits!

Another reason for a little happy dance! Today, I broke the hundred-thousand pageviews barrier! Thanks to all of my loyal readers, and to my wonderful blogroll.


Here's a breakdown of top ten referring URLs throughout the history of my blog:

http://ifthethunderdontgetya.blogspot.com/ 1395

http://slainbyvacuumslayer.blogspot.com/ 1387

http://the-crows-eye.blogspot.com/ 703

http://cleaninghouseandbakingcakes.blogspot.com/ 607

http://houseofsubstance.blogspot.com/ 559

http://reallysmallfish.blogspot.com/ 519

http://www.blckdgrd.com/ 499

http://superkaratemonkey.wordpress.com/ 253

http://bethspencerdigitalartist.com/blog/ 231

http://vonfornow.blogspot.com/ 216


As far as referring sites go, here's the top ten:

www.google.com 15957

ifthethunderdontgetya.blogspot.com 4014

slainbyvacuumslayer.blogspot.com 1606

www.google.co.uk 1572

www.sadlyno.com 1163

www.google.ca 864

the-crows-eye.blogspot.com 787

houseofsubstance.blogspot.com 757

eusa-riddled.blogspot.com 621

reallysmallfish.blogspot.com 598


For search keywords:


big bad bald bastard 1383

frank frazetta 148

big bad bald 91

hairy-chested yeti crabs 65

frazetta women 62

bald bastard 55

big bird 55

blames you for computer not working meme 46

title 43

andy griffith socialist 41


My most popular posts are:


National Day of Mourning for Groovy Van Drivers
May 11, 2010, 3 comments
3225


A Glaring Omission in My Last Post?
Apr 7, 2011, 12 comments
1085


White Supremacists, Kiss My Ás
Dec 29, 2010, 6 comments
648


Been at it Two Years
Dec 1, 2011, 25 comments
538


A Couple of Boobs
Feb 1, 2012, 14 comments
466


Post Lecture Recap
Feb 24, 2012, 17 comments
270


An Addendum to My Last Post
Apr 16, 2011, 12 comments
252


Been Putting Off Posting On This Topic For Weeks
Sep 11, 2010, 4 comments
228


Perfunctory October Post
Oct 12, 2012, 8 comments
210


Wave of Santorum About to Hit Iowa!
Nov 16, 2011, 13 comments
191


Finally, my audience:


United States 55544

Canada 4858

New Zealand 4314

United Kingdom 4064

Russia 3562

Germany 2744

France 1451

Netherlands 755

Ukraine 702

Indonesia 641


I just want to take a moment to say that I love what I do, and I love you all. Thanks for giving my your support, and for providing me with love, laughter, and links. You're the best audience a bastard could ask for and I look forward to a lot more mutual laughs and learning going forward.

You have my gratitude!

Basking in Schadenfreude

As Thunder is wont to say, "The schaden freudes itself", and I am positively basking in a most delicious sensation of schadenfreude. I almost put on the Rush Limbaugh show to hear that bloated bunghole having a meltdown on the public airwaves, but I'm not a masochist. I can gorge myself on the most succulent morsels of impotent rage without giving that moron additional ratings.

Ah, yes, schadenfreude is a heady feeling. I'll bask in the glow for a couple of days before sobering up and discussing the implications of the election, and the importance of staying politically alert and active. Right now, though, it's time for a happy dance:

Working Election Day

As is typical, my workplace is the polling place for the municipality in which it's located. Once again, I find myself at work, making sure that things go smoothly for the poll workers (I had to reset the breakers for the optical scanners... how I miss the old, clunky mechanical voting machines). The turnout has been high during the day because we have a retirement community up the road which has been shuttling residents to our site at regular intervals. It's always a bit of a weird day, I'm not usually here at this time.

I've been sporadically listening to the radio, and have logged on quickly to post this and to glance at some of the blogs. I'll vote when I get home (my polling place is right across the street from my house), then maybe hit a bar to watch the coverage (if I can be arsed watching the slo-mo horse race).

The one Election Day song that comes to mind is The New World by L.A. workhorses X, a band I have always loved. Crank this one, folks:





Don't forget the motor city!

As an added note, quite hilarious, an elderly woman arrived with one of the attendants from the assisted living community, and made a comment about her earrings- they were made out of beer bottle caps and they had "OBAMA" stenciled on them. Awesome, if I were allowed to discuss politics withing 100 feet of the polls, I'd have given her a high five.