tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26900421934683853092012-03-01T21:40:03.396-05:00"I saw my father march with Martin Luther King." – Mitt RomneyFrederick McNultynoreply@blogger.comBlogger629125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690042193468385309.post-40320133414615542432012-03-01T21:40:00.000-05:002012-03-01T21:40:03.426-05:002012-03-01T21:40:03.426-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> Sometimes you don't even need to read <a href="http://www.wnd.com/2012/03/michael-savage-was-breitbart-assassinated/">the article</a>&nbsp;to know how stupid it will be:<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XxQSdnSK-I8/T1AyXgdmwVI/AAAAAAAADrE/qfdSVrQOSf4/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-03-01+at+9.36.45+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XxQSdnSK-I8/T1AyXgdmwVI/AAAAAAAADrE/qfdSVrQOSf4/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-03-01+at+9.36.45+PM.png" /></a></div> <a name='more'></a>Unsurprisingly, the comments section was either hilariously uninformed or scarily paranoid.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2690042193468385309-4032013341461554243?l=www.bloodyshrubbery.com' alt='' /></div> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/LaCD7ZgFjKVs0fK7feJaUhQ6Kek/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/LaCD7ZgFjKVs0fK7feJaUhQ6Kek/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/LaCD7ZgFjKVs0fK7feJaUhQ6Kek/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/LaCD7ZgFjKVs0fK7feJaUhQ6Kek/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BloodyShrubbery/~4/1GHzk-O_8MA" height="1" width="1"/>Frederick McNultynoreply@blogger.com210-214 Mohegan Ave, Connecticut College, New London, CT 06320, USA41.3786877 -72.104586941.3667732 -72.1243279 41.390602200000004 -72.0848459http://www.bloodyshrubbery.com/2012/03/was-andrew-breitbart-assassinated.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690042193468385309.post-32391794128171215612012-03-01T13:40:00.003-05:002012-03-01T14:06:51.679-05:002012-03-01T14:06:51.679-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> I'm not even going to pretend to be one of those liberals who now sees Andrew Breitbart with rose-colored glasses. During his life he was a serial liar who used his&nbsp;privilege&nbsp;to <a href="http://gawker.com/5508190/okeefe-and-breitbart-acorn-videos-severely-edited">smear ACORN</a> into oblivion and to get an <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/19/shirley-sherrod-andrew-breitbart_n_902522.html">innocent black woman</a> fired from her job. His only moment of <a href="http://www.bloodyshrubbery.com/2011/06/on-anthonys-wiener-and-privacy.html">semi-vindication</a>&nbsp;was when he posted the infamous Anthony Weiner images. While I send my personal regards to his family, friends, and children, I see nothing untoward about recalling his life's work.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/gty_andrew_breitbart_dm_120301_wg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/gty_andrew_breitbart_dm_120301_wg.jpg" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/gty_andrew_breitbart_dm_120301_wg.jpg">Source</a>.</span></td></tr> </tbody></table> <a name='more'></a>Alyssa Rosenberg gives him a great <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/alyssa/2012/03/01/435443/andrew-breitbart-dead/">progressive obituary</a>. Zandar over at Balloon Juice <a href="http://www.balloon-juice.com/2012/03/01/andrew-breitbart-dead/">urges users</a> to "treat his death better than Andrew Breitbart treated Ted Kennedy’s death, at least." John Marhshall over at TPM <a href="http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2012/03/breitbart_rip.php">reminds us</a>:<br /> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Beneath all the layers of our public life, we’re sons, daughters; parents to sons and daughters: naked people at our most vulnerable, true moments. This is way, way too young to die, something I know palpably since Breitbart was only a week or so older than I am.</blockquote> I think that's a good note to end on. Andrew Breitbart wasn't a particularly&nbsp;pleasant&nbsp;or honest man during his lifetime, but that hardly makes his life any death any less sad. However,&nbsp;<i>Bloody Shrubbery</i>&nbsp;has long used the label "Andrew not-so-Breitbart" (a term coined by Keith Olbermann) for posts related to him; this will not be changed.<br /> <br /> <b>UPDATE:</b>&nbsp;<i>Connecticut Bob </i>gets it <a href="http://ctbob.blogspot.com/2012/03/andrew-breitbart.html">right</a>:<br /> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> […]&nbsp;what I'm saying is that I'm sorry the man is dead, but I don't feel so sorry that he's gone.</blockquote> Let me also take the time to state that, in the next 24-48 hours, I am sure that some right-winger will dig up some offensive left-leaning tweets praising the man's death; that's fucked up. However, I do not think progressives should (or will, for that matter) bend over backwards to make the man sound like Jesus.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2690042193468385309-3239179412817121561?l=www.bloodyshrubbery.com' alt='' /></div> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/rS9sWkkKZfBJLhixi8qHLpnvtNI/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/rS9sWkkKZfBJLhixi8qHLpnvtNI/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/rS9sWkkKZfBJLhixi8qHLpnvtNI/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/rS9sWkkKZfBJLhixi8qHLpnvtNI/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BloodyShrubbery/~4/2JYr3K4jl4A" height="1" width="1"/>Frederick McNultynoreply@blogger.comConnecticut College, 270 Mohegan Ave, New London, CT 06320, USA41.3786877 -72.104586941.3667732 -72.1243279 41.390602200000004 -72.0848459http://www.bloodyshrubbery.com/2012/03/andrew-breitbart-has-died-at-age-43.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690042193468385309.post-84992033088276469252012-02-29T17:34:00.000-05:002012-02-29T17:34:39.504-05:002012-02-29T17:34:39.504-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> Happy leap year!<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AZucrzVij8Y/TkK80Pk7seI/AAAAAAAADHQ/RP5WXBklDDc/s1600/humpday.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AZucrzVij8Y/TkK80Pk7seI/AAAAAAAADHQ/RP5WXBklDDc/s1600/humpday.png" /></a></div> <a name='more'></a><br /> <ul style="text-align: left;"> <li>It's not really a big surprise, but the SCOTUS might soon <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/02/29/434579/scotus-appears-poised-to-say-corporations-are-people-except-when-they-torture/">rule that</a>, "Corporations are people, except when they torture."</li> <li>The John Edwards sex tapes is <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/23/john-edwards-sex-tape_n_1297836.html">going to be destroyed</a>.</li> <li>CNN rarely publishes good pieces, but I enjoyed <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2012/02/28/opinion/opinion-european-gas-prices/index.html">this one</a>: "America, quit whining about gas prices."</li> <li><a href="http://jessicavalenti.tumblr.com/post/18493838718/for-the-full-stats-go-here-image-via-ann">Astounding</a>:</li> </ul> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m05riylaqn1qaqasro1_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m05riylaqn1qaqasro1_500.gif" /></a></div> <div> <br /></div> <ul style="text-align: left;"> <li>I love the "Occupy&nbsp;Toilets" movement <a href="http://behindthewall.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/25/10507319-occupy-toilets-seeks-double-potty-parity-for-chinese-women">in China</a>.</li> <li>Good luck to blogger Miriam Zoila Pérez as she <a href="http://feministing.com/2012/02/29/adios-feministing/">moves on</a> from Feministing!</li> <li>Hybrid tanks? That <a href="http://gizmodo.com/5888644/armys-new-hybrid-tank-targets-our-enemies-and-soaring-oil-prices">sounds amazing</a>.</li> <li>A Republican from Illinois is a <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/security/2012/02/29/434460/illinois-gop-holocaust-never-happened/">bonafide Holocaust&nbsp;denier</a>.&nbsp;</li> </ul> <div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="284" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lFUUDrh9wNg?rel=0" width="500"></iframe></div> </div> <ul style="text-align: left;"> <li>Facebook's IPO <a href="http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/click.phdo?i=da2feff5e16e928ae5cf8cec38fd8345">may lead</a> to billions in tax revenue for the state of California.</li> <li>The snow up in Connecticut has been&nbsp;relatively&nbsp;light, but no such luck in other parts of the nation. Know why? <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/green/2012/02/28/433766/scientists-global-warming-played-critical-role-in-snowpocalypse-winters/">Climate change</a>.</li> <li>Apparently&nbsp;wealthier&nbsp;individuals&nbsp;are <a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2012/02/27/the_rich_are_different_from_you_and_me_they_re_jerks.html">more likely</a> to make unethical decisions. What would Mr. Burns say!?</li> </ul> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2690042193468385309-8499203308827646925?l=www.bloodyshrubbery.com' alt='' /></div> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/Hacll8Qqc8Lk8CnbPmskPRk6hvY/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/Hacll8Qqc8Lk8CnbPmskPRk6hvY/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/Hacll8Qqc8Lk8CnbPmskPRk6hvY/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/Hacll8Qqc8Lk8CnbPmskPRk6hvY/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BloodyShrubbery/~4/1KxxCvaklbY" height="1" width="1"/>Frederick McNultynoreply@blogger.comhttp://www.bloodyshrubbery.com/2012/02/weekly-roundup-022912.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690042193468385309.post-18250982954172552232012-02-28T21:37:00.000-05:002012-02-29T17:16:49.027-05:002012-02-29T17:16:49.027-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> Nate Silver sees Arizona as a <a href="http://elections.nytimes.com/2012/fivethirtyeight/primaries/arizona">damn-sure win</a> for Mitt Romney, but predicts that there is a chance that Rick Santorum <a href="http://elections.nytimes.com/2012/fivethirtyeight/primaries/michigan">could win</a> in Michigan. Newt Gingrich will continue to help Romney and hurt Santorum. Ron Paul, as usual, doesn't really matter.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/1190473.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/1190473.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A car <a href="http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/1190473.jpg">built</a> in Michigan being used in Arizona</td></tr> </tbody></table> <a name='more'></a>Pointing out the obvious: the fact that Mitt Romney wanted to let detroit go bankrupt won't have nearly the impact among Republican voters as it would with Democrats or&nbsp;Independents, which is why there's no way in hell that he will win the state in the general election. (Aside from it being a solidly blue state, that is.)<br /> <br /> <b>UPDATE:</b>&nbsp;Rick Santorum <a href="http://elections.nytimes.com/2012/fivethirtyeight/primaries/michigan">now has</a> a 45% chance of winning MI. For fucking real.<br /> <br /> <b>UPDATE 2: </b>Mitt Romney <a href="http://elections.nytimes.com/2012/primaries/results/live/2012-02-28?hp#sha=aadd06801">has won</a> Arizona. It is still too close to call in Michigan.<br /> <br /> <b>UPDATE 3: </b>Mitt Romney <a href="http://elections.nytimes.com/2012/primaries/results/live/2012-02-28?hp#sha=aadd06801">has won</a> Michigan. Full results will be posted when available.<br /> <br /> <b>UPDATE 4:</b>&nbsp;Arizona full results are below; Michigan's will be posted when they become available.<br /> <br /> <b id="internal-source-marker_0.707861015573144" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"></b><br /> <div dir="ltr"> <table style="border-bottom-style: none; border-collapse: collapse; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"><colgroup><col width="35"></col><col width="201"></col><col width="150"></col></colgroup><tbody> <tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Arizona</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Michigan</span></td></tr> <tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1.</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mitt Romney (47.3%)</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></td></tr> <tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2.</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rick Santorum (26.6%)</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></td></tr> <tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3.</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Newt Gingrich (16.2%)</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></td></tr> <tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4.</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ron Paul (8.4%)</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></td></tr> <tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5.</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rick Perry (0.4%)</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></td></tr> <tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6.</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sarah Gonzales (0.3%)</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></td></tr> <tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7.</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Buddy Roemer (0.1%)</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></td></tr> <tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8.</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Paul Sims (0.1%)</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></td></tr> <tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9.</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cesar Cisnernos (0.1%)</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></td></tr> <tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10.</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mark Callahan (0.1%)</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></td></tr> <tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">11.</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Al Perry (0.1%)</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></td></tr> <tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">12.</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Donald Benjamin (0.01%)</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></td></tr> <tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">13.</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Michael Levinson (0.01%)</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></td></tr> <tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">14.</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kip Dean (0.01%)</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></td></tr> <tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">15.</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ronald Zack (0.01%)</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></td></tr> <tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">16.</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Christopher Hill (0.01%)</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></td></tr> <tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">17.</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Frank Lynch (0.01%)</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></td></tr> <tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">18.</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wayne Arnett (0.01%)</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></td></tr> <tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">19.</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Raymond Perkins (0.01%)</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></td></tr> <tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">20.</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Matt Welch (0.01%)</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></td></tr> <tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">21.</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jim Terr (0.01%)</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></td></tr> <tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">22.</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Simon Bollander (0.01%)</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></td></tr> <tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">23.</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Charles Skelley (0.01%)</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2690042193468385309-1825098295417255223?l=www.bloodyshrubbery.com' alt='' /></div> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/fj25sObCg_EQaL2I1I8uKYuHo1I/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/fj25sObCg_EQaL2I1I8uKYuHo1I/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/fj25sObCg_EQaL2I1I8uKYuHo1I/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/fj25sObCg_EQaL2I1I8uKYuHo1I/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BloodyShrubbery/~4/Oh369JSIP2s" height="1" width="1"/>Frederick McNultynoreply@blogger.comConnecticut College, 270 Mohegan Ave, New London, CT 06320, USA41.3786877 -72.104586941.3667687 -72.1243279 41.3906067 -72.0848459http://www.bloodyshrubbery.com/2012/02/arizona-and-michigan-primaries-2012.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690042193468385309.post-18049077243793484562012-02-28T11:16:00.000-05:002012-02-28T11:16:13.689-05:002012-02-28T11:16:13.689-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> Released moments ago, along with <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/alive/id506304522">the full album</a>:<br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="370" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1qnV55LUFVM?rel=0" width="625"></iframe></div> <a name='more'></a><br /> <div style="text-align: left;"> Similar to the "<a href="http://www.bloodyshrubbery.com/2012/02/bigbang-releases-blue.html">BLUE</a>" video, this one contrasts the&nbsp;eccentric nature of the boys' outfits with the mellow vibe of the song. They all continue to cavort around New York City in search of love. Further, the entire video is shot with a muted color lens.</div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> The video starts off in black in white, featuring G-Dragon on the corner of a street. As he begins to walk, everything fades into their true colors. After walking for a while, Daesung takes over walking with a girl. As he tries to put his arm around her, she pushes him away. During the chorus, G-Dragon gets rejected, as does Taeyang in a similar manner.&nbsp;As the second verse begins, T.O.P has the same thing happen to him before the group (all 5 members) begin to dance down the street. SeungRi takes over and–surprise, surprise, surprise!–the same thing happens to him. G-Dragon eventually exits a classic looking car, before the group sings chorus and walks away.</div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> There's not too much analysis that (at least from my perspective) needs to go into this video. The song depicts a heterosexual relationship where the woman is mad at the man for being mean–although he argues that it is just brutal honesty. The man knows (or, at least he thinks he knows) that the woman still loves him. The lyrics revolve around the difficulties of this type of relationship.</div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ayekpop.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/20120124_bigbangaliveteaser_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.ayekpop.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/20120124_bigbangaliveteaser_01.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.ayekpop.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/20120124_bigbangaliveteaser_01.jpg">Source</a>.</span></td></tr> </tbody></table> <div style="text-align: left;"> One more thing: it is interesting to note that all of the women in this video are Caucasian (or at least half white). We've seen them do this before in "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYuYqgcWDWY">BEAUTIFUL HANGOVER</a>," "<a href="http://www.bloodyshrubbery.com/2012/02/bigbang-releases-blue.html">BLUE</a>," "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FL0sfti1DcA">뻑이가요</a>," and "<a href="http://www.bloodyshrubbery.com/2011/03/tonight-analysis.html">TONIGHT</a>." It is an interesting racial decision that I haven't fully found a satisfying conclusion about. More on this at a later date.</div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2690042193468385309-1804907724379348456?l=www.bloodyshrubbery.com' alt='' /></div> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/DIpIjIVqXIbBQl9N08RWsAwyV2E/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/DIpIjIVqXIbBQl9N08RWsAwyV2E/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/DIpIjIVqXIbBQl9N08RWsAwyV2E/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/DIpIjIVqXIbBQl9N08RWsAwyV2E/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BloodyShrubbery/~4/FGBNwmBrl1Y" height="1" width="1"/>Frederick McNultynoreply@blogger.comConnecticut College, 270 Mohegan Ave, New London, CT 06320, USA41.3786877 -72.104586941.3667687 -72.1243279 41.3906067 -72.0848459http://www.bloodyshrubbery.com/2012/02/bigbang-releases-bad-boy.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690042193468385309.post-76895215981364730962012-02-27T16:37:00.001-05:002012-02-27T16:37:01.383-05:002012-02-27T16:37:01.383-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> Local rapper T. Blake's <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?l74u845lv59zz7m">newest mixtape</a>, <i>Without A Face</i>:<br /> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <ol style="text-align: left;"> <li>Paradise&nbsp;</li> <li>Burn Me Down (Bonfire)</li> <li>Echoes</li> <li>Every Saint (Featuring M.Cash)</li> <li>Mad World</li> <li>What I Have (Popular)</li> <li>What I'm Promised (My Country Tis Of)&nbsp;</li> <li>Underground King</li> <li>On Some High Shit (JSG featuring T. Blake)</li> <li>Martian (A.T.E Throwback)</li> <li>Floating</li> <li>Don't Forget Me (Featuring Seven)</li> <li>Cadence</li> <li>Aardvark (Spelling List)</li> <li>Misguided&nbsp;</li> <li>Why I Love</li> <li>I Don't Even... (Niggas in Paris Freestyle)</li> <li>Sleazier (Bonus Freestyle)</li> </ol> </blockquote> So, how does it stack up to his first two releases,&nbsp;<i><a href="http://www.bloodyshrubbery.com/2011/08/alien-to-earth-home-grown-rap-and-extra.html">Alien to Earth</a></i>&nbsp;and <i><a href="http://www.bloodyshrubbery.com/2011/09/t-blakes-good-looks-looks-and-sounds.html">Good Looks</a></i>?<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aXOgpi959IM/T0qcKzHNz7I/AAAAAAAADqY/ITWcqTtp6xc/s1600/Without+a+Face+-+Mixtape.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aXOgpi959IM/T0qcKzHNz7I/AAAAAAAADqY/ITWcqTtp6xc/s400/Without+a+Face+-+Mixtape.jpg" width="281" /></a></div> <a name='more'></a>If you combine the&nbsp;length of&nbsp;his first two tapes, they are only three minutes longer than the entire <i>Without A Face</i>. Designing a long, 18 track (!) release is difficult even for major artists. Aside from the&nbsp;excruciating&nbsp;amount of work, long tapes can often cause the listener to lose interest. <i>Without A Face</i>, however,&nbsp;keeps focus utilizing a diverse number of production skills; everything from dubstep to Broadway.<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> A part of the genius comes from the prolific use of samples and remixes. I actually enjoyed T. Blake's remixes of Ke$ha's "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2kdCJRAiNk">Sleazy</a>", Coldplay's "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1G4isv_Fylg">Paradise</a>", and Drake's "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3b9g3aOvarc">Underground Kings</a>" to the original versions. His remix of The Game, Lil' Wayne, and Tyler, The Creator's "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gODGcVSzh1U">Martians vs. Goblins</a>" was humorous, as well: discussing an actual alien experience.&nbsp;</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> My least favorite track was the aptly-named "Misguided." Rock and rap are destined to be mashed up, but I was not convinced that the song necessarily succeeds. I would say that it is better than Lil' Wayne &amp; Nicki Minaj's "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfYcOYMNuXM&amp;ob=av3n">Knock Out</a>" but not quite at the status of Eminem's "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOHvRSDOp7c">Your Never Over</a>." I respect what T. Blake was going for, but this track missed the mark.</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> JSG featuring T. Blake's "On Some High Shit" and T. Blake's "Floating" could have easily been cut from the final mixtape or released as hype singles. They failed to add much to the final product and come off as bland. However, do not take these constructive criticisms for a condemnation of the entire project.</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> <br /></div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mxtKc5ggbiY/T0qldHfi_II/AAAAAAAADqg/pp9kwYeW2hs/s1600/406846_335361836481739_220959144588676_1352366_1630868092_n.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mxtKc5ggbiY/T0qldHfi_II/AAAAAAAADqg/pp9kwYeW2hs/s320/406846_335361836481739_220959144588676_1352366_1630868092_n.jpeg" width="219" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=335361836481739&amp;set=pu.220959144588676">Source</a>.</span></td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> When <i>Good Looks</i>&nbsp;was released, I <a href="http://www.bloodyshrubbery.com/2011/09/t-blakes-good-looks-looks-and-sounds.html">commented</a>:</div> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> "Talk French" is the only song on the mixtape with a credited featured artist and, compared to <i>Alien to Earth</i>, this is a major improvement. However, this song demonstrates my problem with T. Blake's featured artists: they just don't convey the same energy that he does. […] I don't think T. Blake needs to eliminate all featured artists, but they need to be on the same lyrical page as him.</blockquote> Aside from samples, there are three featured guests, all of whom manage to spit their A-game. T. Blake has really held his guests to a higher standard.<br /> <br /> <i>Without A Face</i> is, by far, T. Blake's most reflective–and best–work thus far. "Why I Love" was a great way to conclude the mixtape, while tracks such as "Echos" and "Mad World" maintaining this mood. Of course, his signature bravado is not lost, with tracks such as "What I Have (Popular)" and "Burn Me Down (Bonfire)" keeping the swagger alive. The best party song would be "Aardvark (Spelling List)," which combines rap and dubstep for a brilliantly fun experience.<br /> <br /> This is T. Blake's best work yet. With nearly 20 tracks and almost 1 hour of straight music, there is a lot to choose from. It is a smörgåsbord of goodness: every hip-hop/rap fan should be able to find a track that appeals to her or him. Even the weakest points (as I mentioned before) are more polished and professional than ever before. When even your mistakes can be categorized as such, then you know you're doing something right. <br /> <br /> Download <i>Without A Face</i>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?l74u845lv59zz7m">here</a>.<br /> <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><div> <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div> <br /><br /><br />Full disclosure available <a href="http://www.bloodyshrubbery.com/p/full-disclosure.html">here</a>.</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2690042193468385309-7689521598136473096?l=www.bloodyshrubbery.com' alt='' /></div> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/ePzmpD_NQq45YgemaC3pbxBCN_c/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/ePzmpD_NQq45YgemaC3pbxBCN_c/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/ePzmpD_NQq45YgemaC3pbxBCN_c/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/ePzmpD_NQq45YgemaC3pbxBCN_c/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BloodyShrubbery/~4/kTPivrX_g_Y" height="1" width="1"/>Frederick McNultynoreply@blogger.comConnecticut College, 270 Mohegan Ave, New London, CT 06320, USA41.3786877 -72.104586941.3667687 -72.1243279 41.3906067 -72.0848459http://www.bloodyshrubbery.com/2012/02/without-face-but-with-swagger.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690042193468385309.post-42320023637544496582012-02-26T15:39:00.002-05:002012-02-26T15:39:39.233-05:002012-02-26T15:39:39.233-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i2Tauq458ZCoOXgTw1byvFYbzJlQ?docId=e8e8dee91b3640b7bd0a5a37d2f00b92">Mon dieu</a>:</div> <blockquote> Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum criticized President Barack Obama's apology for the burning of Qurans in Afghanistan, adding that Afghanistan should apologize to the U.S. for the deaths of four U.S. soldiers during six days of violence sparked by the incident.&nbsp;</blockquote> <blockquote> "There was nothing deliberately done wrong here," Santorum said Sunday on ABC television's "This Week." ''This was something that happened as a mistake. Killing Americans in uniform is not a mistake. It was something that deliberate."&nbsp;</blockquote> <blockquote> More than 30 people have been killed in clashes since it emerged Tuesday that copies of the Muslim holy book and other religious materials had been thrown into a fire pit used to burn garbage at Bagram Air Field, a large U.S. base north of Kabul. Protesters angry over Quran burnings by American troops lobbed grenades Sunday at a U.S. base in northern Afghanistan and clashed with police and troops in a day of violence that left seven international troops wounded and two Afghans dead.</blockquote> More than 30 people have died?&nbsp;I cannot think of one single book that I would kill someone over.&nbsp;The troops should&nbsp;<i>not</i>&nbsp;be burning&nbsp;Qur'ans and, since we are in another country, I see nothing wrong with apologizing for our misbehavior.&nbsp;President Obama apologized to save innocent lives; I fail to see the issue. However, Rick Santorum raises an excellent point about American Christian fundamentalism.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://atheistetiquette.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/koran_burning.jpeg?w=570" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://atheistetiquette.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/koran_burning.jpeg?w=570" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://atheistetiquette.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/koran_burning.jpeg?w=570">Source</a>.</span></td></tr> </tbody></table> <a name='more'></a>If an American solider were to burn a Bible, Rick Santorum would not only want an apology from Barack Obama, he would <i>expect</i>&nbsp;one. He does think that the government should treat all religions with the same approach. To him, Christianity should be favored by policy. Here's Santorum explaining:<br /> <div> <br /></div> <div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="369" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Nfo4RYBTNfM?rel=0" width="500"></iframe></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> Of course, this type of thinking dates back quite a ways. YouTube commenter <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/Serenifly8">Sereniffly8</a> raised an excellent point:</div> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> The Puritans were theocrats. They didn't want religious freedom. Very far from it. They wanted the freedom to oppress people like they wanted to. Their reign of terror was ended by England after they executed a couple of Quakers. The first colony founded explicitly with religious freedom in mind - Rhode Island - was founded by people who fled the Puritans. Other colonies were economic in nature. But the modern US was founded a century later and has little to do with the Puritans.</blockquote> The takeaway point is not that Rick Santorum is a hypocritical theocrat; that's old news. However, people should really take a second to understand the pure depth of his views. I am not convinced that his positions fall terribly outside of the mainstream for conservative Christian America – and that's a bad thing.&nbsp;</div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2690042193468385309-4232002363754449658?l=www.bloodyshrubbery.com' alt='' /></div> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/A4_0yVUecz-TB-AU8m4baTO4YmI/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/A4_0yVUecz-TB-AU8m4baTO4YmI/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/A4_0yVUecz-TB-AU8m4baTO4YmI/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/A4_0yVUecz-TB-AU8m4baTO4YmI/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BloodyShrubbery/~4/PV_9uyg7K_o" height="1" width="1"/>Frederick McNultynoreply@blogger.comConnecticut College, 270 Mohegan Ave, New London, CT 06320, USA41.3786877 -72.104586941.3667732 -72.1243279 41.390602200000004 -72.0848459http://www.bloodyshrubbery.com/2012/02/keeping-sabbath-holy-february-26-2012.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690042193468385309.post-81062184027821234512012-02-25T17:53:00.002-05:002012-02-25T17:53:46.745-05:002012-02-25T17:53:46.745-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <a href="http://www.cheshireherald.com/node/5317">Good news</a>:<br /> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> It was expected that members of the State House of Representatives would bring a bill to the Judiciary Committee this afternoon calling for the end of the death penalty here Connecticut. It remains unclear whether the majority of state legislators will sign on to the bill, but last year a similar attempt failed. &nbsp;</blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> However, with both Komisarjevsky and his accomplice Steven Hayes, the two men charged in the Cheshire home invasion murders, now on death row, it appears more representatives might be willing to back the measure. Gov. Dannel Malloy has also indicated he would sign any bill abolishing capital punishment, which stands in stark contrast to his predecessor, former Gov. Jodi Rell, who was a supporter of the death penalty and vetoed a bill calling for the law's end during her time in office.</blockquote> I think it's obvious that I support abolition. The atrocity of the death penalty in Connecticut has gone on for far too long. I am glad that legislators have already <a href="http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/politics/legislators-to-raise-death-penalty-repeal">raised a bill</a> to repeal it.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ct.gov/dds/lib/dds/pictures/capitol_ct_(11).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288" src="http://www.ct.gov/dds/lib/dds/pictures/capitol_ct_(11).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.ct.gov/dds/lib/dds/pictures/capitol_ct_(11).jpg">Source</a>.</span></td></tr> </tbody></table> <a name='more'></a>I have <i>always</i>&nbsp;found the "I oppose the death penalty, except in the case of [name of convicted felon(s)" to be both intellectually and morally irrational. I know that people need to show that they're "tough on crime," but I have never been a fan of the Logic Last crowd.<div> <br /></div> <div> If I were a betting man, I would put money on the failure of this bill. There is no reason in the world that it should not unanimously pass, but I am not convinced that Connecticut has recovered from the post-2007 Cheshire home invasion mass&nbsp;irrationality&nbsp;that has infected the majority of the state's population.</div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2690042193468385309-8106218402782123451?l=www.bloodyshrubbery.com' alt='' /></div> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/grEbfDF9OBjHv2al48S3b4h7lPk/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/grEbfDF9OBjHv2al48S3b4h7lPk/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/grEbfDF9OBjHv2al48S3b4h7lPk/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/grEbfDF9OBjHv2al48S3b4h7lPk/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BloodyShrubbery/~4/ZUEIpLvh8TE" height="1" width="1"/>Frederick McNultynoreply@blogger.comConnecticut College, 270 Mohegan Ave, New London, CT 06320, USA41.3786877 -72.104586941.3667732 -72.1243279 41.390602200000004 -72.0848459http://www.bloodyshrubbery.com/2012/02/death-penalty-repeal-in-connecticut.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690042193468385309.post-26764492654779191902012-02-24T19:30:00.001-05:002012-02-24T19:30:16.418-05:002012-02-24T19:30:16.418-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> I was hoping to have mastered Adobe Contribute by tonight…<br /> <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/90/Adobe_Contribute_icon.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/90/Adobe_Contribute_icon.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/90/Adobe_Contribute_icon.png">Source</a>.</span></td></tr> </tbody></table> <a name='more'></a>But, it's a lot more difficult to use than I had anticipated. No <i>Fresh Friday</i> this week! <strike>Blame Adobe.</strike></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2690042193468385309-2676449265477919190?l=www.bloodyshrubbery.com' alt='' /></div> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/CbGrD1dwaAIs1HUiIahkMqiiVOQ/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/CbGrD1dwaAIs1HUiIahkMqiiVOQ/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/CbGrD1dwaAIs1HUiIahkMqiiVOQ/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/CbGrD1dwaAIs1HUiIahkMqiiVOQ/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BloodyShrubbery/~4/Q9I9pfCFnNY" height="1" width="1"/>Frederick McNultynoreply@blogger.comhttp://www.bloodyshrubbery.com/2012/02/fresh-friday-224.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690042193468385309.post-62236401282150047552012-02-23T00:01:00.000-05:002012-02-23T00:03:46.747-05:002012-02-23T00:03:46.747-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> Imagine you and I are sitting together. There is a nice fire burning, painting the room with a crisp auburn color. The dog is perched at my feet, humming softly as he naps. Our glasses clink, before we both take generous sips of our drinks. Osama bin Laden is still at large. The last unemployment number was around 9%. Last month, Herman Cain announced his candidacy.<br /> <br /> It is February 2011. We begin to discuss the upcoming Republican field. The first GOP debate is <a href="http://www.bloodyshrubbery.com/2011/05/first-republican-2012-presidential.html">roughly two months away</a>. Flash forward to today.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.crazywebsite.com/Free-Galleries-01/USA_Patriotic/Pictures_WWII_Posters_LG/Four_Freedoms_Norman_Rockwell_Painting_Freedom_of_Speech-1LG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.crazywebsite.com/Free-Galleries-01/USA_Patriotic/Pictures_WWII_Posters_LG/Four_Freedoms_Norman_Rockwell_Painting_Freedom_of_Speech-1LG.jpg" width="310" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.crazywebsite.com/Free-Galleries-01/USA_Patriotic/Pictures_WWII_Posters_LG/Four_Freedoms_Norman_Rockwell_Painting_Freedom_of_Speech-1LG.jpg">Source</a>.</span></td></tr> </tbody></table> <a name='more'></a>I can honestly say, without a doubt, if you had told me that Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum were going to be not only still in the race, but also viable contenders I would have laughed at you. While it wouldn't have surprised me that Ron Paul would still be in the race, it would surprise me how much support he has received. It would completely surprise me how Mitt Romney <i>still</i>&nbsp;hasn't gained the support of the base.<br /> <div> <br /></div> <div> Back in 2008 (and 2009, and 2010, and 2011) right-wingers claimed that Mitt Romney should have gained the nomination instead of John McCain. While I doubt that that would have made a lot of difference, conservatives are mad as hell that he didn't get it.&nbsp;</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> Well, now that Romney has an actual chance of getting the nomination, it seems that right-wingers don't want him to do so. The Republican Party has moved so far to the right that their neo-conservative candidate isn't neo-conservative enough for the neo-conservative base. &nbsp;The fact that he passed a conservative health care bill in&nbsp;Massachusetts&nbsp;(of all places) and he did some other stuff that he has since disavowed himself from makes him toxic to the right wing.&nbsp;</div> <div> <br /></div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://uploads8.wikipaintings.org/images/norman-rockwell/top-hat-and-tails-1923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://uploads8.wikipaintings.org/images/norman-rockwell/top-hat-and-tails-1923.jpg" width="335" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://uploads8.wikipaintings.org/images/norman-rockwell/top-hat-and-tails-1923.jpg">Source</a>.</span></td></tr> </tbody></table> <div> Sure, he may stand a chance to actually be competitive against Obama, but Newt Gingrich criticizes The Liberal Media™ and puts women in their place <i>and</i>&nbsp;Rick Santorum thinks slutty women don't have rights and puts gays in their place. (Ron Paul hates the government, but he doesn't think that that we should give <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel">The 51st State</a> a blank check, so he's irrelevant.)</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> Honestly, I would have laughed in your face last year if you had proposed any of this to me. Yet, here we are, approaching the twenty-first (for real) GOP primary debate. It's going to be a long nine months until November.</div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2690042193468385309-6223640128215004755?l=www.bloodyshrubbery.com' alt='' /></div> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/0b_1HyP9OTrluW5ex7aUDYNiCiE/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/0b_1HyP9OTrluW5ex7aUDYNiCiE/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/0b_1HyP9OTrluW5ex7aUDYNiCiE/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/0b_1HyP9OTrluW5ex7aUDYNiCiE/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BloodyShrubbery/~4/I79Ps-o_18k" height="1" width="1"/>Frederick McNultynoreply@blogger.comhttp://www.bloodyshrubbery.com/2012/02/lets-play-game.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690042193468385309.post-17296812407436900272012-02-22T12:33:00.001-05:002012-02-22T16:04:39.435-05:002012-02-22T16:04:39.435-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> I'm singing my blues.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AZucrzVij8Y/TkK80Pk7seI/AAAAAAAADHQ/RP5WXBklDDc/s1600/humpday.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AZucrzVij8Y/TkK80Pk7seI/AAAAAAAADHQ/RP5WXBklDDc/s1600/humpday.png" /></a></div> <a name='more'></a><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div> <ul style="text-align: left;"> <li>Let's not forget that there is <a href="http://www.bloodyshrubbery.com/2012/02/twentieth-gop-debate-tomorrow-night.html">yet another</a> GOP debate tonight!</li> <li>Concerned Women for America (CWA) has recently <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2012/02/22/430086/concerned-women-for-america-compare-homosexuality-to-zoophilia-necrophilia-pedophilia/">declared</a> homosexuality is comparable to "Zoophilia, Necrophilia, Pedophilia." Of course, how two consenting adults having sex is comparable to a man having sex with an animal (who cannot give consent), a dead person (who cannot give consent), or a child (who cannot give consent) is beyond me.</li> <li>An interesting piece about using hip-hop <a href="http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2012/02/we-must-use-hip-hop-as-a-means-of-liberation-not-degradation/">as a means of liberation</a>.</li> </ul> <div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.7travelblog.info/var/albums/The-beautiful-scenery-of-the-Rockies/The%20beautiful%20scenery%20of%20the%20Rockies%20(11).jpg?m=1308214510" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://www.7travelblog.info/var/albums/The-beautiful-scenery-of-the-Rockies/The%20beautiful%20scenery%20of%20the%20Rockies%20(11).jpg?m=1308214510" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.7travelblog.info/var/albums/The-beautiful-scenery-of-the-Rockies/The%20beautiful%20scenery%20of%20the%20Rockies%20(11).jpg?m=1308214510">Source</a>.</span></td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <ul style="text-align: left;"> <li>Obama's new corporate tax plan <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/02/22/429997/5-facts-corporate-tax-obama/">seems pretty legit</a>.</li> <li>Korean satirist and rapper PSY <a href="http://ygunited.com/2012/02/22/psy-plans-to-debut-in-japan-by-june/">plans to debut</a> in Japan by June. It will be interesting to see if any of his <i>je ne sais quoi</i>&nbsp;is lost in translation.</li> <li>I respect South Korea for <a href="http://ingame.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/15/10418836-south-korea-introduces-yet-another-law-to-curb-gamings-ills">addressing the issue</a> of video game addiction, but I still maintain that it should be up to the parents–not the government–to enforce the rules.</li> </ul> <div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="471" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sywaCKY2a_8?rel=0" width="650"></iframe></div> </div> <ul style="text-align: left;"> <li>A study in the UK documents the <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2012/02/21/428048/uk-study-examines-unique-challenges-for-bisexual-community/">specific struggles and issues</a> for those of us within the bisexual community.</li> <li>'Can PolitiFact be salvaged?' <a href="http://www.balloon-juice.com/2012/02/21/can-politifact-be-salvaged/">asks</a> Betty Cracker. Probably not; we need good fact checking, but PolitiFact has really devolved over the past few months.</li> <li>Rick Santorum's top issue? <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/02/21/429003/santorums-top-issue-enforcing-laws-against-illegal-pornography/">Criminalizing pornography</a>.</li> </ul> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2690042193468385309-1729681240743690027?l=www.bloodyshrubbery.com' alt='' /></div> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/4pqvZ4buiQB_mBxnJnuhdddgqb8/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/4pqvZ4buiQB_mBxnJnuhdddgqb8/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/4pqvZ4buiQB_mBxnJnuhdddgqb8/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/4pqvZ4buiQB_mBxnJnuhdddgqb8/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BloodyShrubbery/~4/qiPZIv6zdRA" height="1" width="1"/>Frederick McNultynoreply@blogger.comConnecticut College, 270 Mohegan Ave, New London, CT 06320, USA41.3786877 -72.104586941.3667687 -72.1243279 41.3906067 -72.0848459http://www.bloodyshrubbery.com/2012/02/weekly-roundup-021512_22.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690042193468385309.post-6614042326001505852012-02-21T11:06:00.000-05:002012-02-23T12:27:25.358-05:002012-02-23T12:27:25.358-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> Released minutes ago on YouTube:<br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="335" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2GRP1rkE4O0?rel=0" width="600"></iframe></div> <a name='more'></a><br /> <div style="text-align: left;"> While it is cool to see BIGBANG stomping around New York City, the most interesting part of the video was the contrast between the video effects (bland, muted) and the five members' styles (colorful, quirky). The entire video is&nbsp;reminiscent&nbsp;of 2NE1's "LONELY" <a href="http://www.bloodyshrubbery.com/2011/05/new-2ne1-lonely-with-analysis.html">video</a>. As the boys walk around various desolate locations in the city, they all have flashbacks of a woman whom they miss. Each of them will experience a déjà vu moment when they walk past a certain item.</div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> However, at 3:15 we see this same woman running after a car; one can presume this means that means that <i>they</i> broke up with <i>her</i>, <strike>as opposed to the other way around</strike>. In one sense, this can be seen as highlighting the pain one feels when one does initiate a break up.</div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> Just as contrast does the video justice, the same effect works in the song. Despite the highly mechanized trailer images, the song is actually quite mellow. No auto-tune, no aggression, and, in fact, very few rap verses. An interesting song to officially return on.<br /> <br /> <b>UPDATE:</b>&nbsp;After <a href="http://youtu.be/ve9HyvenihM">reading the lyrics</a>, it's obvious that the woman was dumped.</div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2690042193468385309-661404232600150585?l=www.bloodyshrubbery.com' alt='' /></div> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/vAEzVuDOMDf-Bj04iZUyMBWl8O4/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/vAEzVuDOMDf-Bj04iZUyMBWl8O4/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/vAEzVuDOMDf-Bj04iZUyMBWl8O4/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/vAEzVuDOMDf-Bj04iZUyMBWl8O4/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BloodyShrubbery/~4/C32g2I_vAto" height="1" width="1"/>Frederick McNultynoreply@blogger.comhttp://www.bloodyshrubbery.com/2012/02/bigbang-releases-blue.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690042193468385309.post-77331870091470532562012-02-21T00:01:00.000-05:002012-02-22T19:03:02.902-05:002012-02-22T19:03:02.902-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <b>Debate rant de jour:</b>&nbsp;It does appear that there will only be one debate <a href="http://www.2012presidentialelectionnews.com/2012-debate-schedule/2011-2012-primary-debate-schedule/">after this one</a>. That means that there will have been 21 fucking debates. However, I cannot honestly say that I have gained much–if anything–from them. This just goes to show that it is quality over quantity.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn1.smmirror.com/media/550/131793143269551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn1.smmirror.com/media/550/131793143269551.JPG" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://cdn1.smmirror.com/media/550/131793143269551.JPG">Source</a>.</span></td></tr> </tbody></table> <a name='more'></a><b>Tonight's lineup* :</b><br /> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td><a href="http://topnews.in/usa/files/Mitt-Romney_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #0b5394; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="http://topnews.in/usa/files/Mitt-Romney_2.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Mitt "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2h8ujX6T0A" style="color: #0b5394; text-decoration: none;">Corporations are people!</a>" Romney.</span></td></tr> </tbody></table> <div style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"> <div style="text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> </div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td><a href="http://patriotupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/ron_paul-150x150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #0b5394; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="http://patriotupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/ron_paul-150x150.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Ron "<a href="http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/05/13/166233/ron-paul-abolish-fema/" style="color: #0b5394; text-decoration: none;">Abolish FEMA</a>" Paul.</span></td></tr> </tbody></table> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td><a href="http://catholiclane.com/wp-content/uploads/450x343-alg_rick-santorum1-150x150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #0b5394; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="http://catholiclane.com/wp-content/uploads/450x343-alg_rick-santorum1-150x150.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Rick "<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2003-04-23-santorum-excerpt_x.htm" style="color: #0b5394; text-decoration: none;">Man on dog</a>" Santorum.</span></td></tr> </tbody></table> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.yourblackworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/gingrich-newt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.yourblackworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/gingrich-newt.jpg" width="173" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://greenleegazette.blogspot.com/2010/08/newt-gingrich-do-as-i-say-not-as-i-do.html">Relationship expert</a>, Newt Gingrich.</span></td></tr> </tbody></table> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> </div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> The debate will air at 8PM on CNN tonight, with the live feed <a href="http://www.2012presidentialelectionnews.com/2012-debate-schedule/2011-2012-primary-debate-schedule/">available here</a>. If I live-tweet, I will likely have to stop around 9PM. Check it out:</div> <script charset="utf-8" src="http://widgets.twimg.com/j/2/widget.js"> </script><br /> <script> new TWTR.Widget({ version: 2, type: 'profile', rpp: 6, interval: 30000, width: 400, height: 300, theme: { shell: { background: '#15d946', color: '#2a4513' }, tweets: { background: '#ffffff', color: '#10400a', links: '#27610e' } }, features: { scrollbar: true, loop: false, live: true, behavior: 'all' } }).render().setUser('fgbm27').start(); </script><br /> <div style="text-align: left;"> Follow <a href="http://twitter.com/bloodyshrubbery">@BloodyShrubbery</a> on Twitter!<br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <div style="text-align: left;"> <br /></div> </div> <div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">*Click on each image for photo credits.</span></div> </div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2690042193468385309-7733187009147053256?l=www.bloodyshrubbery.com' alt='' /></div> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/UdcG8TWNb0AJmnisU0Ncb2Mx0GA/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/UdcG8TWNb0AJmnisU0Ncb2Mx0GA/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/UdcG8TWNb0AJmnisU0Ncb2Mx0GA/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/UdcG8TWNb0AJmnisU0Ncb2Mx0GA/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BloodyShrubbery/~4/qEPEzdHwMYM" height="1" width="1"/>Frederick McNultynoreply@blogger.comConnecticut College, 270 Mohegan Ave, New London, CT 06320, USA41.3786877 -72.104586941.3667732 -72.1243279 41.390602200000004 -72.0848459http://www.bloodyshrubbery.com/2012/02/twentieth-gop-debate-tomorrow-night.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690042193468385309.post-63051184925726237702012-02-20T01:11:00.001-05:002012-02-20T01:11:17.357-05:002012-02-20T01:11:17.357-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/01/31/pol-cf-training-former-blackwater.html?cmp=rss">Absolutely disgusting</a>:<br /> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> The Canadian Forces spent $2.4 million last year on training at a facility run by Xe Services, the U.S. private security company formerly known as Blackwater.&nbsp;</blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> The company and its training facility were used to teach precision shooting and defensive driving, as well as VIP escort requirements and close quarter combat techniques, according to documents tabled Monday in the House of Commons.</blockquote> Blackwater or Xe or Academi (as it is now called) is a mercenary group formed by <a href="http://open.salon.com/blog/kevin_gosztola/2009/08/05/blackwater_founders_visions_of_christian_supremacy_in_iraq">noted Christian supremacist</a> Erik Prince. (Who, might I add, has supported Rick Santorum <a href="http://youtu.be/Oit0OcWUFGM?t=1m22s">for years</a>.) In 2007, they <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/14/world/middleeast/14blackwater.html">killed 17 innocent civilians</a> in an unprovoked rampage, and then tried to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzAv8ccnR9A">bribe their way out of it</a>. They <a href="http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/09/aint-no-party-like-a-blackwater-party-cause-a-blackwater-party-got-coke-roids-and-aks/">have also</a> held infamous cocaine parties in Iraq and given their troops anabolic steroids.&nbsp;And they are also notorious for "<a href="http://hiringinatlanta.com/one-dollar-blowjobs-erik-prince-and-blackwater">one dollar blowjobs</a>" from <a href="http://edition.presstv.ir/detail/102887.html">child prostitutes</a>.<br /> <br /> Glad to see that Canada is funding them.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alternativenews.org/english/images/stories/news/2011/january_2011/blackwater_logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.alternativenews.org/english/images/stories/news/2011/january_2011/blackwater_logo.jpg" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.alternativenews.org/english/images/stories/news/2011/january_2011/blackwater_logo.jpg">Source</a>.</span></td></tr> </tbody></table> <a name='more'></a>I am not quite sure why governments keep on providing them funding. They may be lethal, but they are also horribly reckless. Blackwater generally operates outside of normal legal jurisdiction, yet is considered by opposing forces to be a part of the United States.<br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="369" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3GgIXyTPRkE?rel=0" width="500"></iframe><br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: left;"> I expected better from Canada.</div> </div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2690042193468385309-6305118492572623770?l=www.bloodyshrubbery.com' alt='' /></div> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/O-C6Jm_5qH3DWUNDGD0WKdGWnUA/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/O-C6Jm_5qH3DWUNDGD0WKdGWnUA/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/O-C6Jm_5qH3DWUNDGD0WKdGWnUA/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/O-C6Jm_5qH3DWUNDGD0WKdGWnUA/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BloodyShrubbery/~4/ZOR3QRCeDZU" height="1" width="1"/>Frederick McNultynoreply@blogger.comConnecticut College, 270 Mohegan Ave, New London, CT 06320, USA41.3793558 -72.104034941.3674373 -72.1237759 41.3912743 -72.0842939http://www.bloodyshrubbery.com/2012/02/canada-giving-money-to-blackwater.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690042193468385309.post-23179259361548889952012-02-19T14:50:00.001-05:002012-02-19T15:59:35.721-05:002012-02-19T15:59:35.721-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> Atheism is <i>not </i>a religion. A Bill Maher puts it,<br /> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Atheism is a religion like abstinence is a sex position.</blockquote> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="284" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/A41WZBcmnfc?rel=0" width="500"></iframe></div> <a name='more'></a><br /> <div style="text-align: left;"> As I've <a href="http://www.bloodyshrubbery.com/2011/12/keeping-sabbath-holy-december-4-2011.html">written before</a>:</div> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Many people mischaracterize atheism as the belief that higher powers do not exist. In fact, it is this misunderstanding that, in part, kept me from embracing the term "atheist." However, atheism, "in a broad sense, [is] the rejection of belief in the existence of deities." The rejection of belief is not the same as belief. Most atheists, in my view, are truly "agnostic" in the sense that they do not expose the viewpoint that the existence of god is impossible. They simply see current attempts to prove "god's" existence as illogical and they reject the concept of believing in religion sans evidence.</blockquote> When speaking to people about this, I can tell that most of their confusion comes from misunderstanding what a lack of a belief is. I have found that it is most helpful to imagine a numeric timeline of religious belief. Take a look:<br /> <br /> <ul style="text-align: left;"> <li><span style="font-size: x-large;">+1</span>&nbsp;- A belief in a god</li> <li><span style="font-size: x-large;">0</span>&nbsp;- (what atheism is)</li> <li><span style="font-size: x-large;">-1</span>&nbsp;- A belief that a god does not exist</li> </ul> <div> There are some irrational atheists who possess an irrational belief that a god does not exist. However, I neither consider them to be a part of the general atheist community, nor to be representative of atheist thought.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> I would say that atheism does possess agnosticism, but agnosticism does not necessary possess atheism. Some agnostics, for example, possess some form of belief structure in a higher power. It is difficult for atheists to possess this same structure, by virtue of atheism.&nbsp;</div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2690042193468385309-2317925936154888995?l=www.bloodyshrubbery.com' alt='' /></div> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/1nX4vGuPh8cHaURPhtSibq0hd4o/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/1nX4vGuPh8cHaURPhtSibq0hd4o/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/1nX4vGuPh8cHaURPhtSibq0hd4o/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/1nX4vGuPh8cHaURPhtSibq0hd4o/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BloodyShrubbery/~4/-87y0svokmI" height="1" width="1"/>Frederick McNultynoreply@blogger.comConnecticut College, 270 Mohegan Ave, New London, CT 06320, USA41.3786877 -72.104586941.3667732 -72.1243279 41.390602200000004 -72.0848459http://www.bloodyshrubbery.com/2012/02/keeping-sabbath-holy-february-19-2012.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690042193468385309.post-18647752492741783972012-02-18T01:24:00.000-05:002012-02-18T01:27:34.355-05:002012-02-18T01:27:34.355-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> Just to see how many of mindless critics make a 180º change and start complimenting him after his death.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://load.kovideo.net/s/raw/n/Justin_Bieber_breaks_youtube_record.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://load.kovideo.net/s/raw/n/Justin_Bieber_breaks_youtube_record.jpg" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://load.kovideo.net/s/raw/n/Justin_Bieber_breaks_youtube_record.jpg">Source</a>.</span></td></tr> </tbody></table> <a name='more'></a>It goes without saying that I don't <i>actually</i>&nbsp;want him to die, nor do I think that he is a&nbsp;comparable&nbsp;artist to Whitney&nbsp;Houston. However, not only do I dislike the swarm of supposedly "die-hard" Houston fans who were only vocal <i>after</i>&nbsp;she died, I also dislike the virulent swarm of Justin Bieber haters.<br /> <br /> JB isn't The Beatles, but he's also not Rebecca Black. Yes, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDchEocRMI0">he can sing</a>. Yes, <a href="http://youtu.be/6zep_rd7oT0?t=1m40s">he can dance</a>. Yes, he <a href="http://www.bloodyshrubbery.com/2012/01/fresh-friday-113.html#more">dresses</a> <a href="http://www.bloodyshrubbery.com/2011/07/fresh-friday-715.html#more">fresh</a>. Further, <a href="http://top40.about.com/od/albums/fr/justinbiebermyworld2.htm">professional music</a> <a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/r1728231">critics do</a> <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/dn4z">not instantly</a> <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/dn4z">pan every</a> <a href="http://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/review--justin-bieber-my-world-20-2010163">one of</a> <a href="http://www.justinbiebermusic.com/#!/6452">his releases</a>.<br /> <br /> There's also the argument that Justin "sounds like a girl" or the one that he's too young to sing. From this, I can only assume that those who make that case do not consider Michael Jackson, who started singing as a child in The Jackson 5, a talented artist because he <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g40WCBaUXR4">sang in falsetto</a>.<br /> <br /> Justin initially tried to appeal to a younger audience, but, his recent releases tell a different story. His hit song "Baby" featured rapper Ludacris. The duet "Next to You" with Chris Brown was&nbsp;<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEuQU6a90Pc">hardly immature</a>. He even wrote and performed&nbsp;<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txpdpWyY2xg">a Christmas rap</a>&nbsp;with Busta Rhymes.<br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="233" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kffacxfA7G4?rel=0" width="400"></iframe></div> <br /> The real issue here is the warped perspective Americans now possess on pop music, but I'll save that for another post.&nbsp;Is Justin Bieber perfect? No, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFTITazjfj8">not at all</a>. But he's also not untalented. I hate to say it, but I think his death is the only thing that could convert some of his haters.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2690042193468385309-1864775249274178397?l=www.bloodyshrubbery.com' alt='' /></div> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/jYRjfJG44zfqkfHCoHaQeHXUSnk/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/jYRjfJG44zfqkfHCoHaQeHXUSnk/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/jYRjfJG44zfqkfHCoHaQeHXUSnk/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/jYRjfJG44zfqkfHCoHaQeHXUSnk/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BloodyShrubbery/~4/Lfhk1opoO3o" height="1" width="1"/>Frederick McNultynoreply@blogger.comConnecticut College, 270 Mohegan Ave, New London, CT 06320, USA41.3786877 -72.104586941.3667687 -72.1243279 41.3906067 -72.0848459http://www.bloodyshrubbery.com/2012/02/defending-justin-bieber-i-want-him-to.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690042193468385309.post-80607700788526441322012-02-17T17:33:00.000-05:002012-02-17T17:33:31.847-05:002012-02-17T17:33:31.847-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Good evening!</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U1j_eGhKf4g/Tz7VkX439VI/AAAAAAAADps/0A2uSFppxGI/s1600/freshfriday021712.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U1j_eGhKf4g/Tz7VkX439VI/AAAAAAAADps/0A2uSFppxGI/s1600/freshfriday021712.gif" /></a></div> <a name='more'></a><br /> First item of freshness: this website. I toyed around with the margins to not only make text easier to read, but also to make formatting much simpler. It will also allow for more HD images to be presented on <i>Fresh Fridays</i>. Can't go wrong with that, right?<br /> <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UEioPgoByMM/TmTT6JwNxxI/AAAAAAAAAlI/wrxahLeSXuY/s1600/Beautiful-HD-Wallpapers-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UEioPgoByMM/TmTT6JwNxxI/AAAAAAAAAlI/wrxahLeSXuY/s640/Beautiful-HD-Wallpapers-6.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://beautiful-wallpapers-hd.blogspot.com/2011/09/beautiful-hd-wallpapers.html">Source</a>.</span></td></tr> </tbody></table> <br /> Americans aren't terribly used to people coloring their hair and, well, looking respectable. Katy Perry, however, did a wonderful job at the Grammy Awards. Her dress might not have been terribly ambitious, but her hair definitely made up for that – and then some.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.cocoperez.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/katy-perry-in-elie-saab-couture-2012-grammy-awards__oPt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i.cocoperez.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/katy-perry-in-elie-saab-couture-2012-grammy-awards__oPt.jpg" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://cocoperez.com/2012-02-12-katy-perry-in-elie-saab-couture-2012-grammy-awards">Source</a>.</span></td></tr> </tbody></table> <br />There's something I absolutely adore about the spread below. I love how both her hair and the Mickey Mouse ears contrast with her uniform, albeit boring, tan bodysuit (for a lack of better terminology). The best part, without a doubt, is the mystery of the look. Is it sexy? Is it cute? What is she feeling? So many questions from such a simplistic outfit.<br /><div> <br /></div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/866/20120130ohboysohee1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/866/20120130ohboysohee1.jpg" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.allkpop.com/2012/01/wonder-girls-sohee-receiving-attention-for-latest-pictorial-in-oh-boy">Source</a>.</span></td></tr> </tbody></table> <br /><div> Winter fashion tends to get the shaft; warm, puffy jackets are often totally forgotten as fashion accessories. The young man below, however, wants none of that! Just look at the way he turns his run-of-the-mill suit into something special by coordinating his&nbsp;camouflage&nbsp;tie and his olive jacket. Simply beautiful.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.thesartorialist.com/thumbnails/2012/02/21212CamoTie_9134Web1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://images.thesartorialist.com/thumbnails/2012/02/21212CamoTie_9134Web1.jpg" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.thesartorialist.com/photos/on-the-street-new-york-camo-lot/">Source</a>.</span></td></tr> </tbody></table> <br />Seoulbeats is a great website based on Korean entertainment, which&nbsp;occasionally&nbsp;discusses fashion. Whenever they make a controversial statement, they generally have a "counterpoint" article, which dives into the opposing argument. A <a href="http://seoulbeats.com/2012/02/wtf-fashion-big-bang-is-back/">recent post</a> on the site, called "WTF Fashion: Big Bang is Back?," is more than deserving of a counterpoint. To begin, the writer begins with obvious bias:<br /> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Personally, I’m not a fan of the fashion choices YG [Entertainment] artists make. From the crazy hair to the obnoxious clothing, I find it pretty tacky, but it’s what I’ve come to expect from YG, and they do not disappoint.</blockquote> My bias is 180º different – I believe that that YG Entertainment artists have made some of the most genius stylistic decisions not only in Asian fashion, but in recent years.&nbsp;Not only did she base her judgement on leaked photos of an unreleased music video, but she made the case that&nbsp;YG was too unconventional, therefore unfresh. I reject this notion entirely. Breaking the mold is exactly what fashion should be about; the concept of "conventional fashion" should be an oxymoron.<br /> <br /> So, I don't know why T.O.P is wearing a mask below. But, even if it's an officially released image, I'm not going to judge until the full concept is revealed. And, I'm certainly not going to cast judgement due to its unconventionality.<br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IGtYGyzYvP0/Tz7OwaKhUlI/AAAAAAAADpk/6VTNwT3SDac/s1600/hcck0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IGtYGyzYvP0/Tz7OwaKhUlI/AAAAAAAADpk/6VTNwT3SDac/s640/hcck0.jpg" width="446" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.yg-life.com/archives/11625#more-11625">Source</a>.</span></td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2690042193468385309-8060770078852644132?l=www.bloodyshrubbery.com' alt='' /></div> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/FsNeXHT_vIZ3ZIYf6uY6sXuAxPc/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/FsNeXHT_vIZ3ZIYf6uY6sXuAxPc/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/FsNeXHT_vIZ3ZIYf6uY6sXuAxPc/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/FsNeXHT_vIZ3ZIYf6uY6sXuAxPc/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BloodyShrubbery/~4/zihhkZ46OrE" height="1" width="1"/>Frederick McNultynoreply@blogger.comConnecticut College, 270 Mohegan Ave, New London, CT 06320, USA41.3786877 -72.104586941.3667732 -72.1243279 41.390602200000004 -72.0848459http://www.bloodyshrubbery.com/2012/02/fresh-friday-217.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690042193468385309.post-54201723576935771702012-02-16T14:22:00.001-05:002012-02-18T11:45:50.685-05:002012-02-18T11:45:50.685-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> I wish I <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/16/colbert-report-suspends-production_n_1280913.html">was joking</a>:<br /> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Production has halted on "The Colbert Report" for Wednesday and Thursday, according to fans who had tickets for the rest of the week's tapings. […]&nbsp;<a href="http://www.third-beat.com/2012/02/15/colbert-report-suspends-production/">Third Beat</a> and <a href="http://www.mediaite.com/tv/colbert-report-suspends-production-for-the-week-reasons-unknown/">Mediaite</a> are reporting that audience members were informed late Tuesday night via<a href="http://twitpic.com/8kbzab">email</a>, "Due to unforeseen circumstances, we have cancelled our taping for the date of your ticket reservation, February 15, 2012."</blockquote> <div> In all seriousness – what is going on?</div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mediaite.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/stephen-colbert-300x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.mediaite.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/stephen-colbert-300x300.jpg" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.mediaite.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/stephen-colbert-300x300.jpg">Source</a>.</span></td></tr> </tbody></table> <a name='more'></a>My initial thought was that Colbert had actually broken some law with his amazing SuperPAC&nbsp;shenanigans. The HuffPo piece I quoted from claims that he is in no NYC jail. He could just have fallen ill, but I am not quite sure why Comedy Central wouldn't have just reported that.<br /> <div> <i><br /></i></div> <div> <i>Bloody Shrubbery</i>&nbsp;will be following this story – I cannot live with out my dosage of Stephen Colbert. I hope all is well.<br /> <br /> <b>UPDATE:</b>&nbsp;The Wall Street Journal is claiming that it was <a href="http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/1132533--colbert-report-suspends-taping-due-to-family-emergency">a family tragedy</a>. Stay tuned for a more official confirmation.<br /> <br /> <b>UPDATE 2:</b>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/17/stephen-colbert-mother-lorna-ill_n_1284415.html">Official confirmation</a>.</div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2690042193468385309-5420172357693577170?l=www.bloodyshrubbery.com' alt='' /></div> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/tfAzDANaVTYUg2IcsYB5-GZrWD8/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/tfAzDANaVTYUg2IcsYB5-GZrWD8/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/tfAzDANaVTYUg2IcsYB5-GZrWD8/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/tfAzDANaVTYUg2IcsYB5-GZrWD8/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BloodyShrubbery/~4/GBwy4oW_HEY" height="1" width="1"/>Frederick McNultynoreply@blogger.comConnecticut College, 270 Mohegan Ave, New London, CT 06320, USA41.3786877 -72.104586941.3667687 -72.1243279 41.3906067 -72.0848459http://www.bloodyshrubbery.com/2012/02/news-snap-colbert-report-currently.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690042193468385309.post-74512211437841833432012-02-16T13:12:00.000-05:002012-02-16T13:12:25.635-05:002012-02-16T13:12:25.635-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> This makes me really wish I had Current TV:<br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="http://current.com/bc/1454985986001?linkBaseURL=http%3A%2F%2Fcurrent.com%2Fshows%2Fcountdown%2Fvideos%2Fkeith-says-andrew-breitbart-is-exploiting-rape-victims-to-smear-occupy-movement" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="480"></iframe><br /> <a name='more'></a></div> <div> As&nbsp;I reported <a href="http://www.bloodyshrubbery.com/2011/12/occupywallstreet-is-not-just-like-tea.html">a while ago</a>:<br /> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> After the <a href="http://www.bloodyshrubbery.com/2011/12/news-snap-occupy-hartford-being-evicted.html">eviction</a> of the Occupy Hartford protestors, some organizers came out with this <a href="http://articles.courant.com/2011-12-06/community/hc-hartford-occupy-1207-20111206_1_protesters-rental-truck-city-garbage-truck/2">insightful message</a>:&nbsp;</blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> "Sexual assault, rape, violence, drug abuse, extortion, homelessness, etc. are already prevalent in our society. To find ourselves facing these issues in a camp in the city of Hartford is then no shock. How these problems are met and resolved should be a model for the society we would like to build."</blockquote> Rape has occurred in some #Occupy events, but not to the extent to which Andrew Breitbart would have liked – by a long shot. There's a lot that one could say about this, but I think Keith Olbermann summed it up pretty&nbsp;succinctly.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lifeontheright.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/article-2046586-0E4471C600000578-483_634x400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251" src="http://www.lifeontheright.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/article-2046586-0E4471C600000578-483_634x400.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.lifeontheright.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/article-2046586-0E4471C600000578-483_634x400.jpg">Source</a>.</span></td></tr> </tbody></table> One more thought – author Jessica Valenti has often described how conservatives have attempted to adopt feminist slogans and techniques to push their own (often anti-feminist) agendas. To me, this seems like just one more instance of that. While conservatives do not necessarily endorse rape, they are hardly the first ones to ever condemn it or admit the&nbsp;existence&nbsp;of rape culture. However, Andrew Breitbart&nbsp;suddenly&nbsp;adopts this new "I care about rape victims"–attitude when he feels he can score some political points against #OccupyWallStreet? How disgusting.<br /> </div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2690042193468385309-7451221143784183343?l=www.bloodyshrubbery.com' alt='' /></div> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/q0rHMdeAzcMc6-QNq8MVN81XDdo/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/q0rHMdeAzcMc6-QNq8MVN81XDdo/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/q0rHMdeAzcMc6-QNq8MVN81XDdo/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/q0rHMdeAzcMc6-QNq8MVN81XDdo/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BloodyShrubbery/~4/aLz_ff3ZYg0" height="1" width="1"/>Frederick McNultynoreply@blogger.comConnecticut College, 270 Mohegan Ave, New London, CT 06320, USA41.3786877 -72.104586941.3667687 -72.1243279 41.3906067 -72.0848459http://www.bloodyshrubbery.com/2012/02/keith-olbermann-occupywallstreet-and.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690042193468385309.post-552155517277756022012-02-16T00:01:00.000-05:002012-02-16T19:27:40.075-05:002012-02-16T19:27:40.075-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> If it weren't for my sport-enthusiast friends, I would have had no clue who <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1062498-jeremy-lin-of-the-new-york-knicks-the-nbas-best-story-in-years">Jeremy Lin</a> was. For those of you who don't know, this Taiwanese star is heating things up on the New York Knicks team. (Which, apparently, isn't that great of a team.)<br /> <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.asian-nation.org/jeremy-lin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="325" src="http://images.asian-nation.org/jeremy-lin.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://images.asian-nation.org/jeremy-lin.jpg">Source</a>.</span></td></tr> </tbody></table> <a name='more'></a>While it would cool to see media and fan speculation based on the fact that he is a trailblazer, as both the first American player of both Chinese and Taiwanese heritage in the NBA.* Unfortunately, most of the coverage I have seen has revolved more around the lines of, "He's Asian! And he's playing sports instead of doing math! Is that legal?" It's a little sickening.<br /> <div> <br /></div> <div> I am by no means implying that <i>all</i>&nbsp;Jeremy Lin fans (or anti-fans) are racist or bigoted or whatever. I just find it a bit disconcerting how often his race is brought into the&nbsp;discussion – and not in a good way.<br /> <br /> <b>UPDATE:</b>&nbsp;Admittedly, I pre-wrote this post. However, the disgusting NY Post <a href="http://disgrasian.com/2012/02/ny-post-calls-jeremy-lin-amasian-were-gonna-sue/">exemplified my point</a>:<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://disgrasian.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/new-york-post-amasian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://disgrasian.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/new-york-post-amasian.jpg" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <b>UPDATE 2:</b>&nbsp;Alyssa Rosenberg <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/alyssa/2012/02/16/426884/jeremy-lin-and-the-failure-of-sports-racial-stereotypes/">adds some context</a> to this.</div> <br /> <div> <div> <br /></div> <div> <br /></div> <div> <br /></div> <div> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">* Yao Ming holds Chinese citizenship.</span></div> </div> </div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2690042193468385309-55215551727775602?l=www.bloodyshrubbery.com' alt='' /></div> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/oA6Hlfu4eZxnvz3bIWpV6Ha7Qak/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/oA6Hlfu4eZxnvz3bIWpV6Ha7Qak/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/oA6Hlfu4eZxnvz3bIWpV6Ha7Qak/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/oA6Hlfu4eZxnvz3bIWpV6Ha7Qak/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BloodyShrubbery/~4/sS8WXvAF3_o" height="1" width="1"/>Frederick McNultynoreply@blogger.comConnecticut College, 270 Mohegan Ave, New London, CT 06320, USA41.3793558 -72.104034941.3674373 -72.1237759 41.3912743 -72.0842939http://www.bloodyshrubbery.com/2012/02/jeremy-lin-and-role-of-asians-in.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690042193468385309.post-13664209481289808472012-02-15T06:00:00.000-05:002012-02-15T06:00:13.518-05:002012-02-15T06:00:13.518-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> Good morning!<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AZucrzVij8Y/TkK80Pk7seI/AAAAAAAADHQ/RP5WXBklDDc/s1600/humpday.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AZucrzVij8Y/TkK80Pk7seI/AAAAAAAADHQ/RP5WXBklDDc/s1600/humpday.png" /></a></div> <a name='more'></a><br /> <ul style="text-align: left;"> <li>A group of (rich, white) girls <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/rosiegray/photos-nyu-girls-newt-gingrich-slumber-party">threw a slumber party</a> for Newt Gingrich. Making a joke about this is just too easy. I refuse.</li> <li>American Taliban in action: the local Sioux City Bishop <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/02/14/1064774/-Bishop-of-Sioux-City-calls-on-Christians-to-violently-oppose-birth-control">has instructed</a> Christians to "violently oppose" women's health care. He didn't mention anything about Viagra, though.</li> <li>Matt&nbsp;Yglesias&nbsp;posted <a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2012/02/14/how_blue_america_subsidizes_red_america.html">a great piece</a> on how Blue States are, essentially, subsidizing Red States. It's a must-read.</li> </ul> <div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="233" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/U0CGsw6h60k?rel=0" width="400"></iframe></div> </div> <ul style="text-align: left;"> <li>I must say that I wish the <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/02/13/1064383/-2013-NASA-budget">2013 NASA budget</a> was a bit more promising.</li> <li>Mitt Romney has floated the idea of <a href="http://www.11alive.com/news/article/226699/166/Romney-in-Atlanta">illegally drug-testing</a> all welfare&nbsp;recipients. I've explained before <a href="http://www.bloodyshrubbery.com/2012/02/no-welfare-recipients-should-not-be.html">why this is a bad idea</a>.</li> <li>Teen pregnancy and abortion rates are at <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46310316/ns/health-womens_health/">a record low</a>.</li> </ul> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ly4tlqxQCq1qmwhibo1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ly4tlqxQCq1qmwhibo1_500.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ly4tlqxQCq1qmwhibo1_500.jpg">Source</a>.</span></td></tr> </tbody></table> <ul style="text-align: left;"> <li>A <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/02/13/423412/arizona-bill-would-likely-prohibit-teachers-and-professors-from-teaching-any-book-with-profanity/">dumb new bill</a> in Arizona (surprise, surprise) would ban students from reading books with&nbsp;profanity&nbsp;within them. I get the idea that most Republicans who support it have never actually read a book – even the Bible contains the words "damn," "hell," and "ass" in it.</li> <li>Rick Santorum <a href="http://feministing.com/2012/02/10/santorum-worries-that-female-soldiers-cant-hack-it-on-the-front-lines-because-of-all-the-emotions/">argues</a> that women should not fight in combat because they're too emotional.</li> </ul> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2690042193468385309-1366420948128980847?l=www.bloodyshrubbery.com' alt='' /></div> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/G8x4rQjO0lnIJgvkRD6IxaWUdic/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/G8x4rQjO0lnIJgvkRD6IxaWUdic/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/G8x4rQjO0lnIJgvkRD6IxaWUdic/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/G8x4rQjO0lnIJgvkRD6IxaWUdic/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BloodyShrubbery/~4/jDYyBIHbjj8" height="1" width="1"/>Frederick McNultynoreply@blogger.comConnecticut College, 270 Mohegan Ave, New London, CT 06320, USA41.3793558 -72.104034941.367441299999996 -72.1237759 41.3912703 -72.0842939http://www.bloodyshrubbery.com/2012/02/weekly-roundup-021512.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690042193468385309.post-11593212538430938772012-02-14T01:00:00.000-05:002012-02-14T01:26:42.604-05:002012-02-14T01:26:42.604-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> &nbsp;<a href="http://thecollegevoice.org/2012/02/13/right-said-fred/">Published yesterday</a>:<br /> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Dear Fred,&nbsp;</blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Valentine’s Day is coming up next week. My girlfriend and I plan to celebrate the holiday, but I have my qualms about it. I am divided on whether or not it is a good thing. What do you think?&nbsp;</blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Sincerely,<br /> Team Unsure</blockquote> </blockquote> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.plasticjungle.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/valentines-day-dinner.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="185" src="http://www.plasticjungle.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/valentines-day-dinner.gif" width="200" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.plasticjungle.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/valentines-day-dinner.gif">Source</a>.</span></td></tr> </tbody></table> <a name='more'></a><blockquote class="tr_bq"> Dear Team Unsure,&nbsp;</blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Of all of the American holidays, none evokes more polarized opinions than Valentine’s Day. With under a week left, no issue fills up my Facebook newsfeed more frequently or trends on Twitter more often than various people presenting their opinions about the February 14 holiday. I don’t want to say that I am “Team Valentine’s Day” or “Team Against-Valentine’s Day,” but I do see legitimacy in both sides of the argument. As the one day out of the year devoted to romantic interest, a part of me adores the upcoming holiday. However, I cannot stomach the heteronormativity and materialism of the special day.&nbsp;</blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Those who are against Valentine’s Day cite the holiday’s impact on members of the population who are single. They argue that the unsightly amount of public displays of affection, also known as “PDA,” make the event unbearable to those without someone by their side. With everyone wearing pink, holding hands, exchanging gifts and publicly pecking each other, it is not difficult to see why this would irritate anyone desiring a significant other.&nbsp;</blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Others worry that the materialism of the holiday is ruining the emotional aspect of the day. They argue that Hallmark–and others–exploit love to make as much money as possible. Television networks, candy companies and florists all make Valentine’s Day into a billion dollar enterprise, with little regard for the actual feeling of love. It is also accurate that they do this by promoting monogamous, heterosexuality with little attention paid to sexual minorities and alternate relationships.&nbsp;</blockquote> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PPsm1aRd2_4/TwtlQMsIRjI/AAAAAAAABzg/0OLSosoQjDc/s1600/candy_01394_xl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PPsm1aRd2_4/TwtlQMsIRjI/AAAAAAAABzg/0OLSosoQjDc/s200/candy_01394_xl.jpg" width="160" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PPsm1aRd2_4/TwtlQMsIRjI/AAAAAAAABzg/0OLSosoQjDc/s1600/candy_01394_xl.jpg">Source</a>.</span>&nbsp;</td></tr> </tbody></table> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> A blogger at Feministing has started an “Occupy Valentines Day” movement, <a href="http://feministing.com/2012/01/26/occupy-valentines-day/">stating</a>:<br /> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> My position on Valentine’s Day has always been pretty mixed–it bothers my cool sensibilities because I think it is corny, but I’m also a little corny and I like celebrating and expressing love and the politics it represents leave a lot to be desired. Being a single lady on the holiday that commemorates heteronormativity in its purest form, has not always been easy. It’s hard to feel OK about a holiday that is so limiting in its purview of the appropriate and authentic ways to express love.</blockquote> Molly Ashmore ’15 [student at Connecticut College] even goes as far as to proclaim, “Bullshit—there is no emotional aspect to [Valentine’s Day.]” She, of course, represents extreme criticism against the holiday. However, the Valentine’s Day supporters strongly disagree.&nbsp;</blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> According to its supporters, the purpose of the day is to celebrate love with an openness that can only be expressed once a year. On this end, they are right – on what other day are such outward expressions of sensuality acceptable? The heart-shaped box of chocolates, pink-colored cards and endless sales of carnations may seem cliché to some, but others enjoy these time-honored traditions.&nbsp;</blockquote> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pictures88.com/p/valentines_day/valentines_day_012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.pictures88.com/p/valentines_day/valentines_day_012.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.pictures88.com/p/valentines_day/valentines_day_012.jpg">Source</a>.</span></td></tr> </tbody></table> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Supporters also point out that detractors should not be expressing their loneliness so vocally. In addition to the anti-Valentine’s Day sentiment on Internet social networks, there is also an anti-anti-Valentine’s backlash against people who hate Valentine’s Day. Maybe they raise an excellent point: should happy couples be in the crosshairs of those who dislike the holiday itself? Of course not.&nbsp;</blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> South Korea has an interesting compromise, which breaks the celebration up over three separate days. Wikipedia <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Day">explains</a>:<br /> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> White Day is also observed in South Korea with the men paying back women who have given them chocolate on Valentine’s Day with usually candy instead of chocolate, with an additional later Black Day observed for those sharing singleness.&nbsp;</blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Aside from the blatant heteronormativity, I love the way that this Korean celebration manages to encompass all members of their society, regardless of relationship status. Unfortunately, however, Americans are less likely to change their time-honored tradition, even if it would fix their issues with the holiday.&nbsp;</blockquote> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V6JcuZt_GP0/TViN55yE2aI/AAAAAAAACdk/7NjbekLWdiY/s1600/heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V6JcuZt_GP0/TViN55yE2aI/AAAAAAAACdk/7NjbekLWdiY/s200/heart.jpg" width="165" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V6JcuZt_GP0/TViN55yE2aI/AAAAAAAACdk/7NjbekLWdiY/s1600/heart.jpg">Source</a>.</span></td></tr> </tbody></table> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> I do not think Valentine’s Day should end, but celebrations should take other points of view into consideration. Maybe kissing your significant other could wait until you two are alone, away from an area that may make other people feel uncomfortable. People should consider trying to give gifts based on their level of emotional significance rather than trying to spend more money than what is sensible. On the other side of things, people who dislike Valentine’s Day don’t necessarily need to show their hate on full display – after February 14 it’s an entire year before the next celebration.&nbsp;</blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> And, on February 15, all of the candy goes on sale. Who can complain about that?&nbsp;</blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone!&nbsp;</blockquote> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2690042193468385309-1159321253843093877?l=www.bloodyshrubbery.com' alt='' /></div> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/KoNH9EtpHCTr36U8voZCxVFJ3Ls/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/KoNH9EtpHCTr36U8voZCxVFJ3Ls/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/KoNH9EtpHCTr36U8voZCxVFJ3Ls/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/KoNH9EtpHCTr36U8voZCxVFJ3Ls/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BloodyShrubbery/~4/jFixOWU0_a4" height="1" width="1"/>Frederick McNultynoreply@blogger.comConnecticut College, 270 Mohegan Ave, New London, CT 06320, USA41.3793558 -72.104034941.3674373 -72.1237759 41.3912743 -72.0842939http://www.bloodyshrubbery.com/2012/02/valentines-day-right-or-wrong.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690042193468385309.post-91476776306425325172012-02-13T16:45:00.000-05:002012-02-13T16:45:16.874-05:002012-02-13T16:45:16.874-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gOzreqKtsocIgfIBNvYSh7fawXFA?docId=d7f1bc8db11e4bd69d7ef620a3fb84ea">From the AP</a>:<br /> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Gov. Chris Gregoire handed gay rights advocates a major victory, signing into law a measure that legalizes same-sex marriage in Washington state, making it the seventh in the nation to allow gay and lesbian couples to wed. Gregoire signed the bill surrounded by gay rights supporters. […] The law takes effect June 7, but opponents on multiple fronts already are preparing to fight. Opponents planned to file a challenge Monday that could put the law on hold pending the outcome of a November vote. Separately, an initiative was filed at the beginning of the session that opponents of gay marriage say could lead to the new law being overturned.</blockquote> &nbsp;Victory!<br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://kettleriverrailtrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/IMG_1834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://kettleriverrailtrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/IMG_1834.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://kettleriverrailtrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/IMG_1834.jpg">Source</a>.</span></td></tr> </tbody></table> <a name='more'></a>Homophobes want to put LGBTQ rights to a popular vote – have fun <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2012/01/06/399602/poll-independents-moderates-support-marriage-equality-in-washington-state">with that</a>:<br /> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> A poll conducted by the University of Washington Center for Survey Research in October found that <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2011/10/31/357905/55-percent-of-washington-voters-would-uphold-same-sex-marriage-law/">55 percent of voters in Washington</a> “would support a state gay marriage law if it’s approved by the Legislature.”</blockquote> &nbsp;This makes Washington state the eighth state to legalize same-sex marriage after&nbsp;Connecticut, Iowa,&nbsp;Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York state, and Vermont.&nbsp;It is also legal in Washington D.C. and in the tribal jurisdictions of Coquille and Suquamish.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2690042193468385309-9147677630642532517?l=www.bloodyshrubbery.com' alt='' /></div> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/VaAzl6VZpUYrGiQBn65X4uYQsoI/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/VaAzl6VZpUYrGiQBn65X4uYQsoI/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/VaAzl6VZpUYrGiQBn65X4uYQsoI/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/VaAzl6VZpUYrGiQBn65X4uYQsoI/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BloodyShrubbery/~4/UqE7td11h6A" height="1" width="1"/>Frederick McNultynoreply@blogger.comConnecticut College, 270 Mohegan Ave, New London, CT 06320, USA41.3793558 -72.104034941.3674373 -72.1237759 41.3912743 -72.0842939http://www.bloodyshrubbery.com/2012/02/news-snap-same-sex-marriage-legalized.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690042193468385309.post-61897564281870288582012-02-13T13:58:00.003-05:002012-02-13T14:31:28.002-05:002012-02-13T14:31:28.002-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> The BBC recently featured a fascinating story that revealed books censored in China are <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16866266">quite popular in Taiwan</a>: <br /> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> The Chinese government keeps a tight control on the publishing and importation of books, especially those on what it deems sensitive subjects. […] But in Taiwan, the trade in Chinese language books banned on the mainland is thriving.</blockquote> This isn't terribly surprising. In part, when governments censor media, it does not make much sense to put much effort into censoring mediocre media that presents a dangerous point of view.* Hell, to associate a dangerous point of view with mediocrity might even be a good thing. So, it makes sense that the banned Chinese books are so popular in Taiwan – not only because the act of banning them generates press, but also because these books are likely to be of a fairly solid quality.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://mylovelylife88.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/taiwan_taipei-101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="http://mylovelylife88.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/taiwan_taipei-101.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://mylovelylife88.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/taiwan_taipei-101.jpg">Source</a>.</span></td></tr> </tbody></table> <a name='more'></a>Take, for example, Eminem. He was far from the first rapper to use&nbsp;misogynistic&nbsp;or homophobic terms or discuss drugs or violence on a rap song. Eminem was unafraid of intertwining these elements into his radio singles. However, what really separated Eminem from other rappers who used such terminology was Em's undeniable talent. This popularity and ability caused Eminem's&nbsp;disgusting&nbsp;points of view to be dangerous; protest and boycotts were a smart decision.<br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="301" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/eJO5HU_7_1w?rel=0" width="400"></iframe></div> <br /> It would not be a strategic move for activists to boycott all offensive material, no matter the popularity or quality. Once again, an unpopular or bad form of media expressing a dangerous point of view is not a threat. Wasting time advocating against poorly constructed or unpopular media will end up drawing more attention to it.<br /> <br /> This brings me to <a href="http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/Students-Protest-Rape-Video-138828519.html">the recent happenings</a> at the University of Connecticut:<br /> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Dozens of students protested on the UConn campus Monday night. […] The controversy started swirling after a student-made video called ‘Evil Blue Light’ went viral [on UCTV.] That video shows a woman being chased by a suspected rapist as someone mocks her on the other end of the call box.</blockquote> The video in question is below:<br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="369" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/oGH5JmEjzAM?rel=0" width="500"></iframe></div> <br /> Of course, the above video went viral purely because of the controversy that ensued. It's neither funny nor well made, and I have seen no evidence to support the claim that UCTV, especially these student-made skits, are watched by a large audience. Why did student activists at UConn waste their time protesting this?<br /> <br /> Their cause is entirely worthy – rape culture pervades college campuses all across the nation. Turning the discussion of rape into a mere joke is highly problematic. Unlike <a href="http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/hc-op-smith-fresh-talk-uconn-video-unfairly-portra-20120208,0,3752450.story">that idiotic op-ed</a> in the Courant, I have no problem admitting that the student activists at UConn had good intentions to fight for a worthy cause. I would even go as far as to say that they used this unfunny, unpopular skit to raise awareness about a worthy issue. Good for them.<br /> <br /> However, let's not pretend that the video in and of itself presented a real threat to anyone. Effective activism involves picking one's battles. Just as I don't scour the Internet for small-name right-wing blogs and then give them publicity by criticizing them, activists should not give disgusting individuals more press than they deserve without justification.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">* That is not to say that China does not censor mediocre media with which the government disagrees.</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2690042193468385309-6189756428187028858?l=www.bloodyshrubbery.com' alt='' /></div> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/pfCviWi0CMDgPCtWJwDFyxs29LA/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/pfCviWi0CMDgPCtWJwDFyxs29LA/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/pfCviWi0CMDgPCtWJwDFyxs29LA/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/pfCviWi0CMDgPCtWJwDFyxs29LA/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BloodyShrubbery/~4/5i93FbhritM" height="1" width="1"/>Frederick McNultynoreply@blogger.comConnecticut College, 270 Mohegan Ave, New London, CT 06320, USA41.3793558 -72.104034941.3674373 -72.1237759 41.3912743 -72.0842939http://www.bloodyshrubbery.com/2012/02/uconn-rape-video-chinese-book.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690042193468385309.post-41059995174367750542012-02-12T12:39:00.001-05:002012-02-12T12:39:38.018-05:002012-02-12T12:39:38.018-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> I've <a href="http://www.bloodyshrubbery.com/2012/01/pro-lifers-shoot-themselves-in-foot.html">blogged about</a> Jill Stanek before. Maybe I attribute her with a false sense of&nbsp;legitimacy, but I guess I just hold the #1 pro-life blogger to a higher standard than I would to a&nbsp;weirdo protesting outside of Planned Parenthood. However, as she demonstrates in a recent blog post against Plan B, I really have to no reason to do so.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.prolifeblogs.com/articles/blogs4life/_MG_0509JillStanekBlogs4Life.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.prolifeblogs.com/articles/blogs4life/_MG_0509JillStanekBlogs4Life.jpg" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.prolifeblogs.com/articles/blogs4life/_MG_0509JillStanekBlogs4Life.jpg">Source</a>.</span></td></tr> </tbody></table> <a name='more'></a>She <a href="http://www.jillstanek.com/2012/02/the-problem-with-making-the-morning-after-pill-as-easy-to-get-as-a-candy-bar/">writes</a>:<br /> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> There’s the first reason not to make the morning-after pill easily available to adults: Just because an adult buys it doesn’t mean an adult will take it. Shippensburg University in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, says it is comfortable selling the morning-after pill Plan B from a vending machine because all students are over &nbsp;age 17. But who is to say it will be a student buying the drug, not a teacher? Or a student dating a minor?</blockquote> First of all, why shouldn't Plan B be available to those under the age of 17? It is <a href="http://feministsforchoice.com/obama-administration-overrules-fda-wont-ease-restrictions-on-plan-b.htm">safer than aspirin</a> and <a href="http://healthland.time.com/2011/12/06/fda-may-remove-age-restrictions-from-morning-after-pill-plan-b/">virtually impossible to overdose on</a>. Second, in many states (<a href="http://www.avert.org/age-of-consent.htm">such as</a>&nbsp;Pennsylvania) have set their age of consent to 16. Therefore, a 16 year old could legally consent, yet could not legally obtain Plan B. That makes no sense. Last, student/teacher relationships are likely banned on campus, as are ones between individuals and those who are not old enough to give consent. Everyone should not have their freedom&nbsp;annihilated&nbsp;because these already-illegal practices may use a safe and tested drug.<br /> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> […] There’s a second reason not to make the morning-after pill easily available to adults. Just because the pills are intended for women doesn’t mean a man can’t buy them. They can… and do.&nbsp;[Right before this, Jill quotes <a href="http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20111226160455AAD0YoP">Yahoo! Answers</a> (seriously), in which a male asked if it were illegal to trick his girlfriend into taking a morning-after pill.]</blockquote> There are a plethora of reasons why it would make sense that men would be able to obtain Plan B–a matter of ease, an economic one (e.g. female partner is a work), or even a personal one (e.g. a trans man identifies as male but still has a vagina). Once again, we see a nonsense reason based on a statistically unlikely scenario, which is likely already illegal. (Depending on the state.)<br /> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> There’s a third reason not to make the morning-after as available as candy bars. The morning-after pill is composed of mega-doses of artificial female steroids – up to 12 times the dosage of birth control pills.</blockquote> These comparisons are without context and are highly misleading. As I stated above, "it is&nbsp;<a href="http://feministsforchoice.com/obama-administration-overrules-fda-wont-ease-restrictions-on-plan-b.htm">safer than aspirin</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://healthland.time.com/2011/12/06/fda-may-remove-age-restrictions-from-morning-after-pill-plan-b/">virtually impossible to overdose on</a>." Plan B is relatively safe.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ec.princeton.edu/images/planb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://ec.princeton.edu/images/planb.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://ec.princeton.edu/images/planb.jpg">Source</a>.</span></td></tr> </tbody></table> When it comes down to it, there's no reason for Jill not to just come out and say that her religion, not an objective observation of the facts, which has led to her anti-contraceptive stance.&nbsp;Touting fictional (and unlikely) anecdotes?&nbsp;Quoting Yahoo! Answers? Cut the nonsense, Ms. Stanek.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2690042193468385309-4105999517436775054?l=www.bloodyshrubbery.com' alt='' /></div> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/zOeNJoWPrOl8NKeIi3SyvQ3s2f0/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/zOeNJoWPrOl8NKeIi3SyvQ3s2f0/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/zOeNJoWPrOl8NKeIi3SyvQ3s2f0/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/zOeNJoWPrOl8NKeIi3SyvQ3s2f0/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BloodyShrubbery/~4/H8LVHh-rleU" height="1" width="1"/>Frederick McNultynoreply@blogger.comConnecticut College, 270 Mohegan Ave, New London, CT 06320, USA41.3793558 -72.104034941.3674373 -72.1237759 41.3912743 -72.0842939http://www.bloodyshrubbery.com/2012/02/keeping-sabbath-holy-february-12-2012.html