nyquil and cigarettes

I’ve had the best idea for almost a year now, and I vow to put it in action this Spring.

Julia Allison + Bobby Bones = Soulmates

For you non-Austinites out there, Bobby Bones is a local radio DJ who is, in every way, shape and form, Julia Allison’s soulmate.

They’re obnoxious in all the same categories: body image, the search for fame, their love lives, pet obsession, etc.

I may have cornered Bobby Bones in a bar last January and suggested that he turn the whole Julia Allison thing into a SXSW schtick, but I completely failed on following up with him come Monday morning. But this year, it’s on.

squashed:

Complicated Shoes thinks I’m an “America-hating tool” because I listed indefinite detention without charge or trial as something implicitly un-American. Or as something we should, implicitly, reject.

Since Mr. Shoes doesn’t seem capable of defining what makes one “American” or what ideals we want to represent us as a country, I thought I would nudge him in the right direction. As a country of immigrants, we’re defined more by ideas than by ancestry or heritage. But what are those ideas?

1. Is it “American” to apply the law consistently, even when we think somebody is a horrible person or has done something horrible?
2. Is doing the right thing ever unpatriotic?
3. Is the U.S. a country of insecure and abrasive blustering—or is a country that’s willing and able to work with—and often lead—allies.
4. Is the U.S. a land of opportunity—or is it more of a walled compound?
5. Is the U.S. defined by a set of principles or a set of prejudices?
6. Does the U.S. strive to follow its espoused ideals—or are they simply propaganda?
7. Is the U.S. strong because of these ideals or despite these ideals?

I don’t consider myself an America-hating Tool, primarily because I’m not going to let somebody who has no idea what he’s talking about define my country in whatever way is convenient for his political agenda. Complicated Shoes “usually doesn’t engaging the left.” It’s probably a good plan for him. It wouldn’t make him look particularly clever.

…largely consists of bone skinny girls with long hair and bangs and hairy boys in hats and ugly glasses. About half the subjects are in their underwear, or partially in their underwear. The people are often sitting on unmade beds or in otherwise ugly locations that makes it look like they spend a lot of time camping in really gross cabins in the woods. Expect at least a couple of shots of bands or parties.

Every photo is either underexposed or overexposed, and while you might think this is because they don’t know how to use their camera…no. It’s because they are just. that. artistic.

I spend too much time on flickr.

randyhaddock:

I’m not quite sure if lefties realize that by focusing all their attention on Rep. Wilson’s remark, they are undermining the purpose of this speech. This was Obama’s do-or-die moment, the very fate of this health care bill is riding on this speech — all chips are in. And what is the blogosphere and twitterverse raging about? Some Republican yelling “You lie!” during the speech. Brilliant.

Rep. Joe Wilson already issued an apology for his outburst and even called the White House to apologize. Whether you accept or don’t accept his apology is irrelevant. Republicans won’t see much wrong with it, and Democrats will be outraged. It’s politics as usual. See: lefty glee when Bush had a shoe thrown at him while abroad, or when he was booed during Obama’s inauguration. Where was your indignation then? Of course, that wasn’t disrespecting the President, right?

However, was Rep. Wilson’s remark accurate? Was Obama lying about the health care bill not covering illegal immigrants? The Congressional Research Service, the nonpartisan research arm of Congress, certainly thinks so. In a report titled “Treatment of Noncitizens in H.R. 3200” released on August 25th, the CRS wrote:

In addition, under H.R. 3200, a “Health Insurance Exchange” would begin operation in 2013 and would offer private plans alongside a public option. The Exchange would provide eligible individuals and small businesses with access to insurers’ plans, including the public option, in a comparable way. Individuals would only be eligible to enroll in an Exchange plan if they were not enrolled in other acceptable coverage (for example, from an employer, Medicare and generally Medicaid). H.R. 3200 does not contain any restrictions on noncitzens participating in the Exchange—whether the noncitizens are legally or illegally present, or in the United States temporarily or permanently. Nonetheless, only aliens who could be classified as resident aliens would be required under the bill to have health insurance.

In other words, if it’s not explicitly prohibited in the bill, it’s included in the bill. This is the same situation with abortion coverage. Moreover, the bill contains no citizenship verification mechanism.

Rep. Wilson was wrong in interrupting the President during his speech. Each citizen owes a level of respect to the office of the presidency. Rep. Wilson understands this and thus he issued a quick apology. And Rep. Wilson also understands that the President was lying through his teeth.

grumpypantalones:

I’m not going to rant about all the hoopla surrounding the healthcare speech… but I will say that after working as a Healthcare IT Consultant, huge problems lie between the lines [issues that I’m sure no one has addressed].

1)  When an illegal immigrant comes to a hospital and has a baby, that child is now a US citizen, AND will now be covered under the healthcare plan [this cost is now picked up by YOU].  The immigrant may be sent back to her respective country, but she’s now provided a much better life for her child.

2)  So many women use the healthcare system as a gateway into welfare.  Example:  woman has no child, not working, is pretty much poor with no means of financial support… BUT, if she has a child, she qualifies for welfare.  Mother goes to hospital and has baby — cost of birth covered by YOU; cost of welfare… wait for it… covered by YOU.

There are so many more examples that aren’t on the radar of our decision makers in DC, I just hope that they have these covered within the pages of their 2,000,000,000 page document that you know they’ve drawn up.

OH, and by the way… everyone is still unemployed.

Yes, freeloaders and illegals are protected in the bill.  All covered…by YOU.  No reward for personal responsibility.  Freeloaders prosper.

I don’t want to inadvertently suggest that I think everybody who disagrees with me is crazy and irrational. I am frequently glad for a different perspective. Other times, I think arguments are petty or stupid—but I too have posted petty and stupid things. But there are things that I think everybody, regardless of political stance, should speak against.

Much political opposition is healthy. When Obama proposes a healthcare bill, it’s healthy to have some people stand up and ask whether it will fork or whether it costs too much. When Bush proposed invading Iraq, many people properly objected that war was unnecessary and that the anticipated price tag and duration were wildly optimistic. However passionately we may disagree, this sort of dissent is necessary for robust political debate.

There is also bad opposition, which simply attempts to score political points while avoiding anything of substance. Criticizing Obama for saying a police officer’s actions were stupid when that officer did something stupid isn’t particularly valuable. It’s calculated to make law-and-order Republicans feel indignant and waste another hour of the news cycle. When Bush went to Iraq in 2003 to serve a Thanksgiving turkey to the soldiers, a number of democrats jockeying for their party’s nomination called it a wasteful political stunt. It looked petty. Then there was the time MoveOn ran that “General Petraeus or General Betray Us?” ad, accusing the general of altering facts to suit the Bush Whitehouse’s political goals before Petraeus had even given his report to congress. It’s stupid and counter productive. But whatever—it’s politics. That’s how the game works. Cheer for your guy—and laugh when one of your talking heads says something witty, even if it’s all sort of stupid.

But there’s been a recent rise in stuff we should all consider extremely worrisome. Parents threatening to keep their children home from school because Obama might talk to them should disturb all of us. This isn’t simply a matter of parents thinking this is an inappropriate use of school resources or a waste of time. This is parents who think that having Obama say something to their children about staying in school and being the best they can be is so harmful that it would be better to skip school entirely. These parents believe that listening to Obama speak, even on the most benign topics, will hurt their child. What could motivate that kind of response? Is it racism? Is it an irrational reaction to economic anxiety? Either way, it’s ugly. We should be worried.

scttkrkwd:

lacey:

Since I got that speeding ticket at the beginning of this month, I’m going to take a defensive driving class to get it off my record and to pay less. I was researching where to go, and of course Austin has awesome selections. I will probably schedule with Happy Time Defensive Driving - it boasts “$35 includes ticket dismissal, insurance discount, free meal and parking, and a great time”

They even have a reviews section in which everyone says the instructor, Mark is hilarious. Here are excerpts from the reviews:

“I recommend this place to everyone. Don’t do it online because it’s cheaper or whatever, just sit it out, the “test” is so easy and he reads you the answers before hand. Trust me, I have taken it online before and it was WAY harder than Mark’s class!!!! The unlimited sodas kept me happy and I was extremely pleased with the fresh pizza and Caesar salad for lunch!!”

“What a surpirse! Mark was energetic, funny, upbeat and the time passed so quickly. We were treated to lunch at our location- County Line on the Water. Yummy chopped beef sandwich, tea & chips! Spent some time on deck watching turtles swim and then back to work.”

Anyone in Austin get a ticket recently? Anyone want to get a ticket and join me? Turtles, y’all, turtles!!

i ended up taking an online DD course two weeks ago. any reason why you wouldnt do that?

I have added the emphasis of why I think I want to take the actual class rather than online. It sounds like a hoot and a half!