September 2, 2023

Carlson, Heritage, Russia: Follow the money

Another offering from OnlySky:

This point here, is a clear indication that the American Right Wing doesn't respect traditional American values.

In 2022, the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC, the annual political conference attended by American conservative activists and elected officials) took the rather bizarre and unexpected decision to set up shop, not in Pennsylvania or Texas, Ohio or North Carolina, but in Budapest, Hungary. This was bizarre for some fairly obvious reasons, meaning that “leading American conservatives who are supposedly deeply committed to the ideals of personal liberty, limited government, free markets, human dignity, and the like will be joining forces behind one of the most authoritarian and antisemitic heads of state in the world. “

The article's author zeroes in on the Heritage Foundation and its connection with Tucker Carlson.

If Heritage Foundation is directly funded by these Hungarian organizations, then the link from the dictator Putin, through fascistic autocrat Viktor Orban, to American politics is evident. But even without direct funding (something that might be hard to cast light upon), then the insidious influence is actually clearly there for the world to see anyway, moving from Russia through Hungary, and on via Heritage to CPAC and Tucker Carlson, and then onto the American public via Fox News and Elon Musk’s X.

There is a lot to unpack in this article, and it makes me more curious about Carlson's dismissal from Fox. Fox's viewership may have a different perspective about what makes for the American Ideal, but they are still very committed to the idea of American sovereignty. Was Tucker a little too close to selling us out in an overt act of treason?

(Oh, and if that seems like a leading question full of spurious speculation, please remember that no one deserves to be subjected to such bullshit as much as Tucker, "We're just asking", Carlson. )

August 31, 2023

This from OnlySky website. . .

. . . It's not completely new, but it articulates the issue clearly and succinctly.

For the Trump faithful, it comes down to plot armor.

The writer talks about being engaged with the "reality-based community" (RBC) versus those who put their focus into creating their own realities.

When you’ve spent a lifetime trying to figure out the real world around you, despite your own weaknesses and biases, it’s natural to assume that others are doing the same thing, just really badly.

That’s not what’s happening.

One of the defining features of the human mind is the continuous creation of what research psychologist Dan McAdams calls “narrative identity”—a coherent story into which we can comfortably embed ourselves. That process is inherently subjective. As much as we’d like to think of our senses and minds as faithful recorders of reality, it is never true. Every perception and data point passes through a subjective filter, and our identity emerges from that.

His discussion on "plot armor" really streamlined my grasp of what's at work in some people's minds.

Plot armor is present when you know an important character in a drama will survive a dangerous situation because they are needed for the plot to continue.

My son discovered this phenomenon at age nine, watching a lightsaber duel in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. “I hate these fights,” he said. “You know the good guy is going to win.” Maybe it’ll be magic, or luck, or the sudden appearance of the cavalry, or a bending of the laws of physics. One way or another, the necessary good guy will live.

That’s plot armor.

From the reality-based POV, it is beyond bizarre that 80% of white Evangelicals support Trump. But once you grasp narrative identity, it makes perfect sense. They are a people born and bred on the creation of preferred narratives that disregard inconvenient realities, narratives in which they are the good guys and they win. The reason Jesus couldn’t stay dead is the same reason Trump’s support will never drop below a certain floor: both are needed on set for the plot to continue to the cathartic fourth act.

Happy to recommend this article.

August 29, 2023

Support the Writers' and Actors' Strikes, but man, do I miss. . .

. . . Colbert, Meyers, Ruffin and Oliver!

I need them to narrow the focus of my free-ranging anxiety over current affairs. I need them to skewer and mock the public figures who are tearing us down and I need to hear the shared applause and laughter of the audience because it reminds me that I'm not alone.

Yes, these strikes are impacting many lives and those people's economic issues are far, FAR more important than my feelings of frustration and isolation. . . But, damn, I really do miss my late night hosts.

August 16, 2023

Ted Cruz Crap and My Not-At-All-Original Thoughts

Ted Cruz response to Georgia indictments: "I'm pissed...We've never once indicted a former president...This is disgraceful...It is an abuse of power by angry Democrats who've decided the rule of law doesn't matter anymore."

Senator, if we didn't believe in the Rule of Law, there wouldn't be any indictments. We would be storming the walls of Mar-a-Lago and threatening bodily harm to Trump and his cabal of toadies.

As for abusing power, this is an example of wielding power in a sane and sober manner. It only seems like abuse because someone other than yourself has the power in this situation. Your preference is for all power to reside in Republican hands. Your people are the ones who are angry because large swaths of the American public are using every available legal means to maintain power over their lives and destinies.

August 15, 2023

The guy who tweeted this definitely gets it:

CNN: TRUMP INDICTED

MSNBC: TRUMP INDICTED

CSPAN: TRUMP INDICTED

The Weather Channel: TRUMP INDICTED

Fox News: Is Hunter Biden really a hunter?

August 10, 2023

"You will get violence": Leading democracy expert says Trump is not runnng to win election.

We are witnessing Trump telling America that if he doesn't get his way — regardless of democratic norms like elections or the rule of law — then you will get violence.

Donald Trump isn't playing a game based on democracy's rules.

A clear and level-headed examination of what is really at stake can be found in this exchange discussing the work of democracy expert Trygve Olson.

August 8, 2023

Here is a comment under a Youtube Video discussing the Barbie movie.

" . . . it was NEVER about telling men “they’re enough” it about telling men they’re nothing and trying to get increase the male suicide rates!!!!!! and if they can do that then everyone involved in this movie and their fans INCLUDING YOU will be happy!!!!!!!!"

Mind you, there was a little back and forth between commentors before this person burst forth with their particular deranged expostulation, so maybe-- just maybe-- I'm not presenting this person in a completely fair light. But, Oh, My Goddess!* Is there some form of physical existance that is even more fragile than a snowflake? 'Cause this sorry little soul qualifies.

So, the Barbie Movie exists to encourage male suicide. . . Even Tucker Carlson wouldn't have tried to sell that conspiracy.



* Notice how I constrained myself to just the one exclamation mark?

August 8, 2023

Just came across this site. . .

. . . It's probably not new to many interested in this subject--namely abortion rights and more specifically, the bald-face hypocrisy of many who oppose it.

Pro-Choice Action Network: When the Anti-Choice Choose

(Hint: If you have blood-pressure issues, think twice before reading. Your BP will go up.)

"We have anti-choice women in for abortions all the time. Many of them are just naive and ignorant until they find themselves with an unwanted pregnancy. Many of them are not malicious. They just haven't given it the proper amount of thought until it completely affects them. They can be judgmental about their friends, family, and other women. Then suddenly they become pregnant. Suddenly they see the truth. That it should only be their own choice. Unfortunately, many also think that somehow they are different than everyone else and they deserve to have an abortion, while no one else does." (Physician, Washington State)

August 2, 2023

You know, I am in complete support of the Writers' and Actors' Strikes.

Especially now with all these Trump indictments and the buffoonery of his supporters, there is plenty of entertainment to be had.

(Honestly, though, I miss being able to "share" these events with the likes of Colbert, Meyers and Oliver.)

July 31, 2023

This article is an apples to oranges examination of Tony Bennett versus Jason Aldean

"Tony Bennett sang in a key that Jason Aldean's song can't reach."

Many tributes to Bennett talked about his legendary duets with such artists who seemed so unlike him, including Lady Gaga, John Mayer and Elvis Costello.

But something else besides Bennett’s unflappability made these collaborations work. Bennett wasn’t threatened by people who were not like him. They inspired him. This, too, reflects the jazz sensibility that Bennett absorbed.

Jazz artists are known for seeking out artists and music that doesn’t seem natural to them. Brubeck, the jazz pianist, infused his music with exotic rhythms and melodies he heard during tours of Turkey and Japan. Miles Davis stepped away from his acoustic band and incorporated psychedelic rock and funk into his music while listening to Jimi Hendrix. The jazz pianist Bill Evans was heavily influenced by classical music.

Jazz artists gravitate toward differences, and instinctively aim to erase categories.

The writer makes an eloquent case for the argument that an artist's work is never truly separate from the artist's character.