Assorted Sorting

I hope that everybody had a wonderful holiday! I've been lucky enough to get some time off this week, which has been great for getting a chance to catch up on housework. This Christmas, I've given myself the gift of organization. Hooray for cleaned out drawers!

MOAR POLITICS

I know that it's not very festive of me to be talking so much about politics so close to the yuletide. My apologies. I AINT GONNA STOP NOW THOUGH!

I'm sure most of you have heard about the dangerous "Stop Online Piracy Act:" A proposal that would mandate that internet service providers protect us from ourselves on the internet. I'm absolutely uncomfortable with the idea that major media conglomerates, who control so much of what we see and hear already, would have the power to censor the internet, carte blanche.

If you're unfamiliar with what's at stake, perhaps a little rap will help clear things up. I'm in love with this anti-SOPA song by Dan Bull.



Preach.

I think what has upset me the most about this is the lack of care politicians have taken to actually consider this seriously. Refusing to hear from opposing experts, not paying attention during the hearing and then bragging about it (as if his constituents think this is cute??), and blatantly admitting they have no fucking clue what they're attempting to make a law: This is not democracy. It's amazing how blatant it is that the lawmakers are in the pockets of the MPAA and big pharma- "people" who have enough money to buy the power to censor us all. It's disgusting.

The hearings on this bill have been pushed to the new year, presumably with the hope that we'll forget about it over the holidays. UNLIKELY!

You can sign a petition urging Obama to veto this bill here. Use this tool to find out who your congressman is here and call them up (Calling is said to be 5 times more effective than e-mailing!) Don't open the door to censorship.If SOPA was passed, I could absolutely be sued for the stuff I posted on this blog.

This Festive Time of Year

Last night, I once again watched my favorite Christmas Classic- The 1951 version of "A Christmas Carol" starring Alistair Sims. I know I've written about my love of this film on my blog before. Re-watching it this year though, it struck me quite keenly how relevant the mindset of the pre-salvation Scrooge is to the current political discourse.

The vitriol against the poor- that they take advantage of the system, that they don't work hard enough bears a notable resemblance to the attitude of the literature's most famous Miser.


"At this festive season of the year, Mr Scrooge,'' said the gentleman, taking up a pen, ``it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the Poor and destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, sir.''
"Are there no prisons?'' asked Scrooge.
"Plenty of prisons,'' said the gentleman, laying down the pen again.
"And the Union workhouses?'' demanded Scrooge. ``Are they still in operation?''
"They are. Still,'' returned the gentleman, `` I wish I could say they were not.''
"The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?'' said Scrooge.
"Both very busy, sir.''
"Oh! I was afraid, from what you said at first, that something had occurred to stop them in their useful course,'' said Scrooge. ``I'm very glad to hear it.''
"Under the impression that they scarcely furnish Christian cheer of mind or body to the multitude,'' returned the gentleman, ``a few of us are endeavouring to raise a fund to buy the Poor some meat and drink, and means of warmth. We choose this time, because it is a time, of all others, when Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices. What shall I put you down for?''
"Nothing!'' Scrooge replied.
"You wish to be anonymous?''
"I wish to be left alone,'' said Scrooge. ``Since you ask me what I wish, gentlemen, that is my answer. I don't make merry myself at Christmas and I can't afford to make idle people merry. I help to support the establishments I have mentioned: they cost enough: and those who are badly off must go there.''
"Many can't go there; and many would rather die.''
"If they would rather die,'' said Scrooge, ``they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population." - Dickens, A Christmas Carol, Stave 1

I'm handing you no blarney.

Did you have a favorite Christmas song when you were growing up? I did, and it's a little unusual...



I blame/thank it for single-handedly inspiring the obsession with Celtic music that I went through in Middle School.

I'm also only really partial to this version by Dennis Day, a second generation Irish immigrant (born Owen Patrick Eugene McNulty - talk about switching it up with your stage name!). The vocals are nice and casual and gentle, and the instrumentals are the best. Go ahead and shop around, I doubt you'll find a preferable Irish-inspired holiday tune!

Is this real life?

This morning I heard this story on NPR while I was driving in to work, about Evangelicals in Iowa and how they are divided on which candidate to back. Is it bad that I actually wanted to throw up listening to some of these men on the street?

I just find it very, very hard to imagine people taking any of these republican candidates seriously. I guess, more to the point, I find it hard to believe that infringing on other peoples personal lives (ie: anti-homosexuality and anti-reproductive choice) could be the sole motivator for political involvement, when there is so much more we could be accomplishing. Also that none of them see the irony of beating their bosoms over wanting small govt., while simultaneously picking candidates solely on the basis of "who will boss around people I don't care for the most."It also galls me the exorbitant amount of time and money utilized by churches trying to establish their moral compass as law.

I guess too that the escalating rhetoric leading into this primary season is really starting to get my goat, as a civic minded citizen and an American with no religious affiliation. All this pandering to the evangelical zealots has given candidates ground to demonize every group that doesn't take the bible as law.

“I am convinced that if we do not decisively win the struggle over the nature of America, by the time they’re my age they will be in a secular atheist country, potentially one dominated by radical Islamists and with no understanding of what it once meant to be an American.”

“Many on the left” and “in the scientific community, so to speak” are “afraid of discussion” about "God" "or a creator" in public school science classrooms. Santorum says that "science will only allow things in the classroom that are consistent with a non-creator idea of how we got here, as if somehow or another that's scientific.” 

I'm fed up with the fact that these bigots are being cheered for clearly valuing only the opinions of some- while villianizing (and convoluting *coughnewt*)  others with language clearly designed to divide America on religious and racial principals.  And I guess what really pisses me off is the fact that an entire powerful subset of America is down with that.

Anywho. I'm sick of feeling maligned by politicians because I am an atheist and value secular science. It's got nothing to do with the civic duty of the president, and it's none of their business anyways. Can't wait for this circus of tactless puppets to be done with, and hope to c'thulu that none of them end up in the white house.

Buckleberry Ferry- Follow Me.

Threadless is having an AMAZING sale right now- 9.99 t-shirts, with an additional 30% off with the code HAPPYFUZZY. Plus- Free shipping on orders over $75. Clearly, this was an opportunity to pick up some christmas gifts. To rack up enough dollar signs to get free shipping, I couldn't help but pick up something for myself.

My choice?

"The Brandywine"

What an awesome homage to J.R.R. Tolkien and also to booze. Can't wait to rock it!

70 years on...

It's definitely still infamous.

Attention Naughty Listees!

Tonight is the spooky celebration of Krampusnacht!

 That is, the night that Santa's evil demon companion terrorizes small children and punishes them for their various misdeeds. It's a tradition grown from alpine folk lore, where the castigation of bad kids takes equal air time with the reward of St. Nick's gift giving during the holidays.

This involves having a creepy cloven hoofed monster loitering nearby as children sit on Santa's knee, waiting to do the dirty work of scooping the naughty ones into his barrel backpack. Then comes the beating with birch swatches and rusty chains, and the dragging you away to hell business. Watch the F out! Krampus doesn't dick around.

More and more, Krampusnacht is also becoming a night for drunken revelry, as adults adopt the guise of the demonic holiday helper and boozily parade through the town at night; no doubt frightening all the children in their wake into good behavior and inspiring hope that Santa's the one coming down your chimney.

 Muahahaha...Enjoy all! I think I'll pick up some beer with a spooky label tonight to celebrate.

He's too much!

"The Year without a Santa Claus" - 1974 is one of the most beloved Rankin-Bass holiday stop motion animation cartoons. Perhaps it's not quite as ubiquitous as "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" - 1964, but it's characters are definitely more popular- Namely, the Miser Brothers.

Afterall, Yukon Cornelius and that elf who wants to be a dentist don't have people making awkward tribute videos of them, do they?

I'm not sure which one I like better. The dour pre-teen Snow Miser has better special effects, but the Heat Miser Dad has way better dance moves!