Bike ride... Jody and Raddy are all wrong about this.

Apparently my hometown possesses the collective brainpower to incite mental breakdowns in celebrities:
http://wonderwall.msn.com/music/singer-john-mayer-breaks-down-on-stage-1537819.story
I must use my powers only for good. Spencer and Heidi, how about a trip to Music City?

In honor of our upcoming holiday, the 15 worst Valentine's Day gifts:
http://inventorspot.com/articles/15_best_worst_valentines_day_gifts_22512?single=1
Make sure to click on the links to the products.
#2 is my personal favorite, because there really needs to be a gadget for that, otherwise, how would you know?

> Apparently my hometown possesses the collective
> brainpower to incite mental breakdowns in celebrities

It's not that it was a wise thing to say— It wasn't. But this weepy shit compounds the weirdness inexcusably. Are any black women out there truly offended? Or might they just be pleased to know that this is where his head's at?

Mayer's singing voice always offended me, because he was so stubborn about swapping some vowels while pretending others just don't exist, and being all breathy, like Jackie O on Valium. But there's no actual accent like that, and no reason for a guy like him to have it. Elton John has the same problem. These bogus, Mick Jagger-y mannerisms have ruined almost his whole catalog. For Mayer, it's a now-ironic cartoon of a man from the the fields of some 19th-century plantation, where his cousins taught him melodies from before the cruel ocean passage...

Always kinda liked his guitar playing, though. He has a new technique for each tune, and they're inventive and he works 'em hard. But the playing was never enough to put up with that silly singing.

He's a fantastic guitar player. I watched the CMT Crossroads episode with him and Brad Paisley, and it was something to see. When I first heard him on the radio, I thought his voice was different and refreshing, but now he's just a caricature of himself. On "Family Guy," Stewie makes fun of his accent, saying he's going to pronounce body "bah-dee" from now on, just like John Mayer, and it was not over-the-top at all. Affectations like that just piss me off. I feel the same way about celebrities who all of a sudden have nonspecific British accents (I'm talking to you, Madonna and Gwyneth).

Meet the nation's first legal male prostitute.

Forget the fact that he's got the face of a shaved ape. Check out this boy's modesty. He compares himself to Rosa Parks, or Gandhi!

(Dude, you're a fucking whore! Not a revolutionary!)

If she's willing to step through these doors," said Bestin, "she'll have the best moment, hopefully, that I can provide for her in her entire life.
I like the "hopefully." I don't know about you, but I like my gigolos to be more self-assured. Come on, Midnight Cowboy, be more confident!
And you're right, Patrick, he ain't exactly Jude Law in A.I. Or even Deuce Bigalow .

NumberSix: And you're right, Patrick, he ain't exactly Jude Law in A.I. Or even Deuce Bigalow .

What is up with those lips? I hope that's just collagen injections gone wrong; I'd hate to think Nature was that cruel! Fortunately, if the prostitution gig doesn't work out, I noticed that he might have another career path lined up. And by coincidence, it's something else that's legal in Nevada. The gap in his front teeth is big enough to slide a Kennedy half-dollar through. Clearly, the boy has a future as a slot machine!

"If she's willing to step through these doors," said Bestin, "she'll have the best moment, hopefully, that I can provide for her in her entire life."

Moment?

Hey, Steely. I could kick myself for missing that. You'd think someone who gets paid by the hour would make it last longer.

I think legal male prostitutes are a great idea. I'm just not sure he's the man for the job.

If this had been an "all skate" instead of a "free swim," I'd a been all over it. I have issues. Bathing suits - or should it be swim suits? - are not my friends.

>>Bike ride... Jody and Raddy are all wrong about this.

Actually, 'Raddy' either swallows his own tongue, or starts to disagree with himself if there's even the slightest possibility of ever agreeing with me.

Unless you're talking about another Jody - Crid.
In which case, apologies.

(Lovely pic, btw)

See!?!??!?!!??

>>See!?!??!?!!??

Back atcha with the coded reference to Valentine's Day, cupcake:)

I find mountain goats far more interesting than John Mayer; they don't talk about how many times a day they masturbate.

http://acidcow.com/pics/7394-crazy-goats-29-pics.html

er, yeah, speaking truth to power causes them to freak out...

with statistics

I don't know if Mayer is a racist, but it does confirm my opinion of him as a complete scatterbrain who couldn't focus his attention for five seconds if his life depended on it. As for that singing voice, it's the recording style that's all the rage in pop music these days. All of the pop tarts from Brittney on down are recorded the same way: compressed to within an inch of their lives, and with the 4-8 KHz cranked way up to emphasize the sibilance. It's supposed to sound "intimate", but I refer to it as "gerbils in heat". Add to that all of the cut-n-paste and Beat Detective and Autotune and Finalizer and everything else that's added, and the final product bears little resemblence to anything that ever came out of a human being's mouth. (Well, anything that came out via the vocal cords...)

"Actually, 'Raddy' either swallows his own tongue, or starts to disagree with himself if there's even the slightest possibility of ever agreeing with me."

Ah. Humor!

I shall endeavor to persevere, should I find your attempt nebulous in future posts, and relate.

I had no idea what I post was supposed to acknowledge you, but I suppose if you think I contradict myself, I must speak more simply.

Meanwhile, you have taken Crid's bait and justified his existence. Feel the hook?

Jon Stewart appropriately mocks Republicans' (including Oxycontin Fatass's) reluctance to attend the health care summit.

Here's a good one from Drudge. A six year old first grader from Florida was handcuffed and taken to a mental hospital for out of control tantrums. Personally, based on her actions, I think this was the least that should have happened to her. Too bad that they couldn't send the kid's parents there too. Make sure to watch the video.

http://www.wpbf.com/mostpopular/22526263/detail.html

>>Meanwhile, you have taken Crid's bait and justified his existence. Feel the hook?

When I see a hook, Radwaste, I hang a diamond on it.
Then it becomes a fabulous earring.

You don't use science to show that you're right, you use science to become right.

Jon Stewart appropriately mocks Republicans' (including Oxycontin Fatass's) reluctance to attend the health care summit.

I'd be reluctant too. Judging by the House and Senate bills, Democrats are not interested in serious health care reform, leading reasonable people to conclude that this "summit" is a publicity stunt.

Jon Stewart appropriately[?] mocks Republicans' (including Oxycontin Fatass's) reluctance to attend the health care summit.

I have to agree with Jonah Goldberg. This "summit" won't be a conversation, it will be a lecture.

Obama (and the liberal wing of the Democratic Party are convinced that if they just "get their message out," people will flock to their health insurance plan and stop asking those pesky questions like "what will it cost?" and "how will we pay for it?" and "what kind of healthcare will we get under it?"

http://article.nationalreview.com/424803/planned-summit-is-just-an-infomercial-in-disguise/jonah-goldberg

From Goldberg:

"Liberals like the idea [of the televised summit] because they want the Republicans to get brained. They either believe that the GOP doesn’t have real ideas on health care, or that conservative ideas won’t go over well with voters. They hope that Obama the law professor and community organizer will expose all of this, forcing the American people to come to their senses and support legislation they’ve been hearing about nonstop for a year. Again, liberalism is never wrong; it just has a problem explaining to the mule-headed electorate that it’s right about everything. Liberalism is always one more tutorial away from sunshine and lollipops for everyone." [italics mine]

"Even so, the GOP should go."

I find mountain goats far more interesting than John Mayer

Great pics. Mountain Goats rule!

I don't know if Mayer is a racist, but it does confirm my opinion of him as a complete scatterbrain who couldn't focus his attention for five seconds if his life depended on it.

Born in Bridgeport, raised in Fairfield, CT, so you can take it from there. His father isn't the brightest crayon in the box either. In the 70s, when there were riots at Warren Harding High School, in Bridgeport, where Mayer Sr. worked, rather than let the white kids who were trying to get back in the school while the black kids were rioting, he locked the doors. I heard one of John's guitar teachers say that he (John) has a higher opinion of himself and his ability than he should. Some say he made it to where he is because of Daddy's money, not just on his talent alone. He is talented to an extent. Just not as much as he thinks. And yeah, he does have a tendency towards hoof-n-mouth disease.

A better question regarding the summit is, "Why the hell are Republicans so afraid of it?" If their stance on health care reform is so good, and noble, and right and what the American people want, etc., why are they afraid to defend it? Why are they afraid to go to a televised discussion, for which they're being allowed adequate time to prepare, if they're so much interested in the good of the American people and are convinced what they want is best?

I'll tell you why. Because they'd get creamed, that's why. They'd be shown in national television that the only interests they're protecting is that of the insurance companies, and no one else.

A better question regarding the summit is, "Why the hell are Republicans so afraid of it?"

Reluctance to be a prop in the other side's political theatre is not fear.

Obama and Nancy have already said that no matter what happens in this "summit," the healthcare bills will not be changed. Obama's committed to merging the Senate and House bills - which were created privately by Democrats with input from Republicans neither sought nor welcomed.

That means that Republicans will still have no input even if they bring good ideas to the "summit." Their role in this "conversation" is to be the Washington Generals to Nancy and Barry's Harlem Globetrotters. The outcome has already been decided and the game has been rigged.

This is simply Obama giving yet another speech to try and get people to accept government health insurance without his ever answering the legitimate questions that are being asked about it.

> you have taken Crid's bait

Who needs bait? They're jumpin' outta the water:

> coded reference to Valentine's Day

Where? What code? You're getting back into the translation thing....

> so you can take it from there.

Nope... What are the reputations of these communities?

> Mountain Goats rule!

True

Evolutionary psychologists postulate that the same physical and psychological drives prevail among modern humans: Men, eager for replication, are naturally polygamous, while women are naturally monogamous—but only until a man they perceive as of higher status than their current mate comes along. Hypergamy—marrying up, or, in the absence of any constrained linkage between sex and marriage, mating up—is a more accurate description of women’s natural inclinations. Long-term monogamy—one spouse for one person at one time—may be the most desirable condition for ensuring personal happiness, accumulating property, and raising children, but it is an artifact of civilization, Western civilization in particular. In the view of many evolutionary psychologists, long-term monogamy is natural for neither men nor women.

~~~

http://www.weeklystandard.com/articles/new-dating-game

"They'd be shown in national television that the only interests they're protecting is that of the insurance companies,"

Which is so different than democrats forcing everyone in the country to buy policies from said insurers or pay a government fine. Yep, them libs really know how to stick it to the insurance companies.

Mountain goats rule!"

And they're prepared!

"And when you’re on the mountain, you got no guarantees
That life will turn up roses or turn out as you please.
When you’re on the mountain, there’s lots to be a’feared
That’s why this here old mountain goat’s prepared!"

oh yes, healthcare reform .... nevermind the fact that the vast majority of americans DO NOT WANT OBAMACARE and are saying so in the polls that show only six percent of the population thinks congress should be re-elected

Jeez this sport is so dangerous. And this is just heartbreaking...

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61A5NG20100212

A terrible tragedy that. I am constantly amazed at how much danger these adrenaeline junkies put themselves into.

Hey Rad- you're the nuke expert around these parts. How worried should we all be about Iran?

> it is an artifact of civilization, Western civilization
> in particular.

Is is longevity, broad / enduring literacy, modern justice, space travel, and fuzztone guitar. Being "natural" sucks.

I mean, watch where you swing that word "artifact", lady....

"As is", I meant, not "is is".

Ok, here's a favorite goat.

Funnest passage from the goat page on wiki (which says little about sure-footedness:

...Problems during kidding can lower a doe's expected life span to 10 or 11, and stresses of going into rut can lower a buck's expected life span to 8 or 10.

(Where "rut" = no goat tail.)

Fuck You- I'm an anteater! That STILL strikes me as hillarious.

Did y'all hear about Sarah Palin calling Obama "uppity?" I didn't either, but I heard about some Harvard Professor saying that if you call Obama "Professor" you are calling him "uppity."

John T. noticed something strange about the whole thing. A couple of stranges, really.

The source article is hard to track down, but he found it. When you read the real article it is kind of muddy about what the professor actually said. He isn't actually quoted as saying 'Palin using the term Professor as an attack on Obama is clearly racist.' It is a bunch of paraphrasing with a sprinkling of individual word quotes or short sentence fragments.

Can read it here complete with links to everything.

Nope... What are the reputations of these communities?

Bridgeport has always had a high concentration of tenements and those folks who live there, and a bad reputation as a city with "problems" - those problems being high crime rates, high murder rates, a large black population, and mob families. In the 80s there were a lot of mob murders; in the 90s lotsa high profile black-on-black crimes usually involving but not limited to the drug trade. Fairfield, on the other hand, has a reputation of being part of CT's "Gold Coast" and includes parts of Southport, where there are fabulously huge and expensive homes and the people who live there have exceedingly high incomes and opinions of themselves. That community is obviously not impervious to crime, but the crime rate there is much lower than in Bridgeport. The two cities do share a border. As well as a lot of gifted musicians. The Chambers Brothers (60s hit "Time (Has Come Today)"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1aMTWdQnzo ) are from Bridgeport. I met Lester before he passed. Really nice guy.

"Hey Rad- you're the nuke expert around these parts. How worried should we all be about Iran?"

I can't tell, because I don't know enough about the program. Popular news isn't saying anything of value. And I can tell you how to build a bomb, and how to disassemble it and burn it for electricity, but that's an entirely different mindset from that of political power. Does a leader have scientific status and prosperity on his mind, or the madness inherent in hating Israel's existence? Does that mind change?

Uncertainty factors: how far Mossad and other agencies have penetrated Iran's program; how much Iran wants to sacrifice if identified as the source of a detonation; how much contact Iran has with agents who can seperate them reliably from any use of a weapon yet not be a direct threat to Iran; how stable Iraq and other area nations are while under the influence of Islam, etc.

How much Iran realizes that small numbers of nukes cost a lot, but don't guarantee you won't lose -- a first strike nuclear war is totally winnable when small numbers are present. What's the deterrent value?

The biggest uncertainty factor: if you supply a weapon to an agent who uses it on a perceived enemy who can strike back, will they? I think if the US is hit and our government doesn't sterilize whoever sent it, Congress and the President will be dragged into the street. Even if we don't hit the "right" target.

If Israel finds out where a weapon is kept, it's as good as destroyed already. There are a few people that remember that a day in court doesn't alter victimhood status.

For a nation, as well as an individual, "self-defense" doesn't just mean owning guns. There are many other preparations to be made. Many of these are in place without public knowledge.

Geez, these guys make me crazy. They could be turning out consumer goods like Japan and making themselves important chunks of the world economy, but they're playing toy soldier games. Two world wars and one "cold" one set up different people as powers, and they need to see that.

-----

Jody: stay outa the sporting goods section. That crankbait just looks weird on you, diamond or no.

I guess this is a good thread in which to rail on email spam, right? Got these in the mailbox today:
Sender: gbfgb fgdgfgdgd Subject: Courtney I fear being alone forever
Well, dude, you're going to have to change your name first.
Sender: INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND Subject: ARE YOU DEAD OR ALIVE??? If I say dead, will you leave me alone?

When I came to the site today, right under the "book a private session with Amy" ad was another ad of a girl in a bikini and the two ran together and I thought I had gone to a different site or this site had been hacked. Turned out to be some weightloss ad. But it was kind of funny at first.

I laugh every time I see that "Private Sessions with Amy" link. Hey, with the state of newspapers what it is, can you blame the woman?