Sunday, February 1, 2009
Books / Politics Too Long Been Without
Posted by Jesse Vernon on Sun, Feb 1, 2009 at 8:03 PM
This is a president that, fuck, we have some sort of crush on this man. He speaks like a president, not always authoritative or anything but he can form sentences, complex sentences with beginnings and ends, subordinate clauses—you can hear his semicolons! He knows the answers to questions. He knows acronyms and the names of foreign leaders, their deputies. It is heartening, it makes our country look smart, and this is an important thing, something we have too long been without.… Toph, I would say, Toph, this man is actually bright, could be brilliant. This man still read books; encyclopedic and charming and so seemingly real… and though we hope that he is real even if he is not entirely real he is more real, and smart enough to seem real, and wins both ways…
Dave Eggers's take on a different president.
From A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, thanks Ray.
Sports Signs of the Times
Posted by Anthony Hecht on Sun, Feb 1, 2009 at 6:29 PM
In the last Super Bowl commercial break, there was an ad featuring Hyundai's new program that lets you return a leased vehicle with no penalty if you lose your job within 12 months, followed closely by an ad for Cash4Gold.com—featuring Ed McMahon and M.C. Hammer—a website that helpfully offers to take all of your durable wealth off your hands.
Just sayin'.
2008 The American Insect Woman
Posted by Charles Mudede on Sun, Feb 1, 2009 at 3:10 PM
Sarah Palin is all about Sarah Palin, a fact that her party is slowly learning.
.
ABC News: When House Republicans planned their annual winter retreat, they extended an invitation to Alaska Gov. Sara Palin, hoping the party's 2008 vice presidential nominee would give a morale-building speech to the more than 130 Republican members of Congress gathered this weekend in Hot Springs, Va.Retreat organizers tell ABC News that Palin politely declined, giving a perfectly understandable reason. According to the Congressional Institute, which hosted the conference, Palin said she simply could not make it to the retreat because pressing state business made it impossible for her to leave Alaska this weekend.
So where is Palin this weekend? She's in Washington, D.C., attending the super-elite Alfalfa Dinner.
"She lied to us," said a Republican at the retreat
The star of the Alfalfa Dinner?
President Barack Obama shared Washington’s high-society spotlight on Saturday night with an unlikely co-star — Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.Pretty Palin wants to be where that lights are bright and the champagne is flowing, not where the lights are out and a bunch of sore losers are licking their wounds in the dark.
Wearing a black satin evening gown, Palin was spotted by journalists making her way into the ballroom at the Capitol Hilton for the Alfalfa Dinner, an annual closed-door roast of the city’s political and business elite.
Sports I'm Just Here For the Hotwings
Posted by Jonah Spangenthal-Lee on Sun, Feb 1, 2009 at 3:00 PM
Arts Dike
Posted by Charles Mudede on Sun, Feb 1, 2009 at 2:54 PM
About this image...
I recently wrote this...
The ape grips the bone. The monolith inspires this gripping of the bone, the tool, the weapon. The word "grip" in English is related to the German word "begriff"—a concept, an idea, the form of a thought. Furthermore, the part of the brain that coordinates grasping and gripping is also the part of the brain that manages gestures, and gestures are the ancestors of vocalized language. There is a connection between gripping and the production of words, gripping and the formation of thought, gripping and the emergence of the state.Indeed, the Greek word for justice, "dike," is related to the word "digit," fingers. The law, the truth, the state, the written language, the technologies of power and control—all have their origins in our hands. The moment the ape in 2001 grips the bone is the moment consciousness begins its long journey to outer space.
Today I came across this image...
Dike (the god of justice) is hitting Adikia (a god, injustice, with a rash).
Media / Sports U.S. Olympic Hero Enjoys Bong Hit
Posted by David Schmader on Sun, Feb 1, 2009 at 2:21 PM
Have you heard the news? Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps was photographed taking a big ol' bong hit.
The UK's News of the World broke the story by publishing the pic under a banner of disdain ("What a Dope"—get it?). Others are claiming to be similarly outraged (see the well-titled but poorly spelled MICHEAL PHELPS' BONG SHAME.)
Judging by comments, a whole bunch of other people couldn't give a poop. ("He’s a pothead and yet still the fastest swimmer in the world? Good for him and good for potheads!" wrote Luella on MPBS.)
Could such a photo ruin his endorsement deals? I'd say yes, since Phelps has already issued an apology:
"I engaged in behaviour which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment," Phelps said in a statement to the Associated Press. "I'm 23 years old and despite the successes I've had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner people have come to expect from me. "For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public it will not happen again."
But what does "it" refer to? Smoking pot? Allowing himself to be photographed while smoking pot? Allowing himself to be photographed while smoking pot out of a skank-ass bong? Allowing himself to be forced by finances into making an apology for something he's going to keep doing on a regular basis? Well played, Mr. Phelps.
2008 Dress Respect
Posted by Charles Mudede on Sun, Feb 1, 2009 at 1:42 PM
With end of Bush, the GOP entered a world that offers no rope to hold and no hard place to a foot on. All is a fall.
'RESPECTING' THE OFFICE.... Former Bush White House chief of staff Andrew Card complained to right-wing talk-show host Michael Medved that President Obama is insufficiently respectful of the presidency. Apparently, one demonstrates respect for the presidency by their choice of attire:"...I found that Ronald Reagan and both President Bushes treated the Oval Office with tremendous respect. They treated the Office of the Presidency with tremendous respect. And some of that respect was reflected in how they expected people to behave, how they expected them to dress when they walked into the symbol of freedom for the world, the Oval Office. And yes, I'm disappointed to see the casual, laissez faire, short sleeves, no shirt and tie, no jacket, kind of locker room experience that seems to be taking place in this White House and the Oval Office."
Books This Week in the Book Section
Posted by Paul Constant on Sun, Feb 1, 2009 at 12:49 PM
This week in the books section, I write about Desmond Morris' The Naked Ape, which attained a kind of popularity that most science books can only dream of:
People are still arguing with The Naked Ape. Last month, the Christian Courier published an article "debunking" Desmond Morris's popular 1967 book about animal behavior: "The cumulative evidence forces the honest investigator to admit that man's ancestry is not to be found in the savagery of the animal kingdom," the article declares. Just about any good used bookstore has at least one battered paperback copy of The Naked Ape on its shelves, and to look at the book—it's thin and often adorned with a satisfying line drawing of a simian or two on the cover—it's hard to believe the furor it caused.
And I relate that to a lovely pop-science book that's just been published called The Well-Dressed Ape:
Holmes is a better writer than Morris; in the chapter about ears, she begins: "Reading last evening on the couch I was distracted by a scratch. A scuttle. The plastery gritching of Mus musculus, the house mouse." It's not far from the "plastery gritching" to Holmes's ear itself: "So let's take a look at this pinnal flap of mine. It's no thing of beauty. It's a bald ruffle of cartilage, immobile as an owl's eye."
Please take a look if you have a moment, won't you?.
Sports "I Respect That Kurt Warner Is Really Old, But Fuck Arizona"
Posted by Jonah Spangenthal-Lee on Sun, Feb 1, 2009 at 12:21 PM
Remember: Super Bowl liveslog at 3pm!
Media That Had To Be Awkward
Posted by Dan Savage on Sun, Feb 1, 2009 at 11:26 AM
Danny Westneat of the Seattle Times grills/fails to ID Vulcan spokesman—and former Seattle Times political reporter—David Postman.
Stranger Suggests Today The Stranger Suggests
Posted by The Stranger on Sun, Feb 1, 2009 at 11:00 AM
Theater
'Five Days in March'
Japanese playwright Toshiki Okada is not terribly optimistic about his country. He named his theater company "chelfitsch," a baby-talk breakdown of the English world "selfish," which, he says, evokes "the social and cultural characteristics of today's Japan." His play Five Days is about what young couples were doing when the U.S. attacked Iraq in 2003—one pair stays in a love hotel for five days, leaving only to eat. As they speak, Okada's actors perform a kind of choreographed Saint Vitus' dance, a corporeal static that looks as glitchy as the lights in Shibuya. (On the Boards, 100 W Roy St, 217-9888. 8 pm, $12–$24. Runs Jan 28–Feb 1.) BRENDAN KILEY
Strangercrombie Your Second Chance for Two Strangercrombie Auctions
Posted by Megan Seling on Sun, Feb 1, 2009 at 10:33 AM
We made over $50,000 in December's Strangercrombie auction, but we're not quite done yet! "Hot and Hairless" and "The Compleat McSweeney's" were bought, but never paid for or claimed, so we've put them back on the market!
The Compleat McSweeney's
Every issue of McSweeney’s from the first issue to the present, courtesy of a generous Stranger reader named Uncle Vinny. The first issue is signed by Dave Eggers and the last issue is signed by Dave Eggers and the rest of the McSweeney’s staff. Containing incontrovertibly great writing by Lydia Davis, Michael Chabon, Dave Eggers, David Foster Wallace, George Saunders, Sarah Vowell, William T. Vollmann, Joyce Carol Oates, and many, many others. PRICELESS!
This is currently going for only $301! A steal, for this priceless collection. Click here to bid on the Compleat McSweeney's. (And good news for you out-of-town folks, this item includes free shipping!)
Hot 'n' Hairless
Here are three steps to a hotter you: First, get a $100 gift certificate to Wax On Spa. Then, a one-night pole-dancing workshop put on by the fine, foxy spinnerets at Pole for the Soul. Finally, Shena Lee Photography will do a full pin-up session with the new, slick, and sexy you—including styling by burlesque star Fuschia Foxxx, costumes, and coaching for poses. You’ll get photo prints and a CD of all the images for you to keep. A $400 VALUE!
This package is currently going for only $51! Unbelievable! Click here to bid on Hot 'n' Hairless!
Like all items sold during Strangercrombie, all proceeds from these auctions will go to Treehouse: "Founded in 1988 by a group of social workers frustrated by the lack of resources for kids in their care, Treehouse helps over 4,000 kids a year with clothing, school supplies, tutoring (only one-third of kids in foster care graduate from high school, and only 3 percent graduate from college), and other critical services."
Good luck to all bidders, and thanks for being a part of Strangercrombie.
Books Reading Today
Posted by Paul Constant on Sun, Feb 1, 2009 at 10:12 AM
Two events today.
At Elliott Bay Book Company, Terry Patten reads from Integral Life Practice: A 21st Century Blueprint for Physical Health, Emotional Balance, Mental Clarity, and Spiritual Awakening, which is a "user-friendly approach to spiritual practice which includes meditation, prayer, and exercises for body, mind, and 'shadow,' the repressed part of the self." My 'shadow' says this looks like bullshit to me.
And at the Hugo House, Cuban expatriate Jose Kozer reads from Stet: Selected Poems. This event is followed by an open mic.
The full readings calendar, including the next week or so, is here.
News The Morning News
Posted by Unpaid Intern on Sun, Feb 1, 2009 at 9:42 AM
Posted by News Intern Aaron Pickus
Rockets from Gaza: Israel PM promises "disproportionate" retaliation.
Tanker explodes in Kenya: Kills at least 100.
EU Central Bank: Guidelines on structure of bailouts.
Homophobic ESPN ad: What is a "fist kiss?"
HMS Victory, sunk in 1744, discovered: Cool.
Inside Calling: Bank of Clark County called some people to warn them before bank collapsed.
Prison guard found guilty: Sentenced to three years for selling drugs inside Walla Walla prison.
State Patrol training canceled: No more cadets in Washington.
Washington State Ferries: Long-range plan released.
Life Apropos of Midnight
Posted by Dan Savage on Sun, Feb 1, 2009 at 12:00 AM
George W. Bush isn't going to be president at all this month.
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