We Only Take "NO" for an Answer!

The Chief of the Blue Meanies says this to Max, right before he sends Glove after Old Fred. I'm talking, of course, about Yellow Submarine, the 1968 animated Beatles movie. The real Beatles are featured briefly, the movie is interwoven with their music.  Voice actors portray Beatle characters. I have always loved this movie.

But last night, I was watching Keith Olbermann talk about Teabaggers who want to get rid of minimum wage, public education, non-discrimination laws, birthright citizenship, and on, and on, and on. And I was suddenly reminded of that first scene in Yellow Submarine, when the Blue Meanies take over Pepperland. So the Blue Meanie Chief tells Max that "We Meanies only take "no" for an answer." Max then answers "No," to everything else he says. And then they start bombing Pepperland with lightning bolts, turning the people to stone, and draining the color from their world. The Chief sends Glove (a flying blue glove with a sinister laugh) to smash things and chase down Old Fred, who is fleeing to look for help. Glove flies across the psychedelic landscape smashing things. He smashes the word "YES." He smashes the "K" and the "W" in the word "KNOW." laughs, and flies after Fred.

This was the moment I realized that Glove was a Republican. Or, given that we're all speaking British, maybe just generic conservatives. But either way, and intended or not, it's a damned good metaphor for American politics today. And for the first time, I really thought that scene was sad.

ThinkProgress » Univision Accepts $80,000 To Air GOP Group’s Ads That Tell Latinos Not To Vote

ThinkProgress » Univision Accepts $80,000 To Air GOP Group’s Ads That Tell Latinos Not To Vote

You know, really. Just when I think they've hit bottom, there go the Republicans, sinking again. Don't Vote? Seriously? That's their plan? Dear Latinos: Don't Vote. It will empower you. How freaking stupid do they think Latinos are?

Let's follow this train of logic, shall we? The ad complains about Democrats, and then says "don't vote." Ostensibly because Democrats shouldn't be able to count on their vote, since they don't do enough for them. Oh, sure. And if they don't vote, and the Democrats lose because of it, then the Republicans win. And if the Republicans win, that's supposed to be somehow better for Latinos? Really? That sounds a lot like cutting off your nose to spite your face. Republicans want to ship all the Latinos back to Mexico. Even the ones who didn't come from there, AFAICT. (Tangent: I once told a Texan who was bitching about bilingual accommodations that most of the Spanish-speaking people in my part of the country are American citizens from Puerto Rico. That just pissed him off more. The Puerto Rican lady who worked with us did not comment.)

Anyway, yeah. So apparently Latinos are supposed to make some kind of statement and get noticed by allowing Republicans to win. Um, when Republicans notice Latinos, they tell the police to ask them for papers. And then they put up a fence around Mexico.

I haven't even gotten to what a betrayal it is for Univision to run an ad like that in the first place. It's like smacking all their viewers in the face. You wouldn't see the Lifetime Channel running an ad telling women not to vote. So, WTF Univision? Was the $80K really that important to you?

The Media Can Legally Lie

The Media Can Legally Lie

Whoa! That doesn't mean what I think it does, right?

In February 2003, a Florida Court of Appeals unanimously agreed with an assertion by FOX News that there is no rule against distorting or falsifying the news in the United States.

SAY WHAT?! **insert tire screeching sound here**

Why did I not know this until like five minutes ago? Why aren't we shouting this from the rooftops? FOX News WENT TO COURT to "prove" that they have the right to lie on the air any time they want. This doesn't bother conservatards? I am kind of at a loss here, because I'm apparently incapable of understanding why anyone would continue to insist that this farce of a network is "fair and balanced." I would like to believe that, like me, the non-FOX-employees spouting that nonsense are largely unaware of this court case. And further, I would like to believe that at least some of them would actually care that FOX came right out and said in a court of law that they lie on the air, that they have the right to lie on the air, and that they have the right to fire anyone who threatens to report them for lying on the air. WTF?

But the thing I really can't understand, is how an appeals court could possibly agree with them. FCC policy doesn't have the weight of a law or a rule? What? I am just shaking my head here.

cheap food

Is it terrible of me to consider buying cheap food off a church? I hate the idea of giving money to religion, but cheap food is my favorite. And we have a couple of these: https://www.angelfoodministries.com/ locally.

It's been a long time

Happy 70th Birthday, John Lennon! Wish you were here.

I wasn't born yet when the Kennedys and Dr. King were assassinated. For me it was John Lennon. I was eleven 30 years ago today, when he was having his 40th birthday. Two months later he was gone. I have a lot of memories of that day. But right now what I think about with his death is, how do murder victims' families forgive? I still haven't forgiven the guy who shot Lennon (will not write his name today), and I didn't even know the guy. I was born at the end of the Beatles, and John and I were only alive on this planet together for 11 years. If he had been family...

Anyway, since it's John birthday, and he's not here, we'll have to celebrate for him. Happy Birthday, John. If there actually is an afterlife, I'll see you when I get there. Meanwhile, have a beer with George and tell the scientists to make sure the a/c is working. ;-)