You might shit bricks, or, I am a smug Canadian
0)
This post is 100% celebrity death news free. This line excepted. I just needed to close some tabs. All news cribbed from other people's LJs, apologizes to those who see some of it twice.
1)
The website of the Republican Women of Anne Arundel County, Maryland has now been purged of the offending letter, but it was widely reported that previously the home page of the site bore an alarmist, pearl-clutching appeal against President Obama, because of his clear and obvious similarity to Adolph Hitler. Sensible people rolling on the floor laughing were mostly reäcting to the comic instantiation of Godwin's Law, but there was something else that bothered me about this scurrilous little bit of propaganda even more. Can you guess what it is?
"Dear Friends: Obama and Hitler have a great deal in common in my view. Obama and Hitler use the "blitzkrieg" method to overwhelm their enemies. FAST, CARPET BOMBING intent on destruction. Hitler's blitzkrieg bombing destroyed many European cities - quickly and effectively. Obama is systematically destroying the American economy and with it AMERICA. First the banking/investment industry, next private enterprise (GM and Chrysler) and now HEALTH CARE. And he is working on grabbing more of the American economy with his environmental extremism!"
Answer: "Blitzkrieg" refers to mechanized ground warfare, specifically tank warfare, punching through and flanking fixed defences (leaving infrastructure intact). The first use of infrastructure-destroying massive carpet bombing was implemented by the Allies' US/UK Bomber Command against Hitler.
2)
In other US political news, you might have heard about the sexcapades of a State Governor from South Carolina, gone AWOL to "hike the Appalachian Trail" over Father's Day weekend, said "hike" being the au courant euphemism for "flying to Argentina to hook up with some hottie". Fox News is on top of its game, as usual -- much as they have done several times in the past, they decide to "typo" one letter in their headline. Can you guess which letter?
Answer: (D) stands for "Democrat". Gov. Sanford is a (R) -- "Republican". But Fox makes the news, and Democrats are to blame for all sex scandals, yes? Yes. Those sexy Democrats!
3)
And while on the topic of typos, here's an image from a certain recent conference. Or, as the banner would have it, a certain conferenece:
Can you guess what this banner is supposed to promote?
Answer: Anti-immigrant "English-only" legislation, aiming to make English, the language of Jesus and Santa, the official language of the US.
4)
Missouri state rep Cynthia Davis shares her thoughts on why summer food programs (bridging lunches and breakfasts for poor kids provided during the school-year) are a BAD BAD THING. What horrible consequences would summer food support for poor children have?
(The text in italics is direct quote from Rep. Davis)
A: BREAKING APART FAMILIES! [...] This program could have an unintended consequence of diminishing parental involvement. Why have meals at home with your loved ones if you can go to the government soup kitchen and get one for free? This could have the effect of breaking apart more families.
B: WASTING TAX MONEY, UNLIKE CHURCHES AND NONPROFITS WHICH NEVER GET GOV'T GRANTS! (LOOK AT HURRICANE KATRINA AS YOUR GOLD STANDARD OF FINACIAL RESTRAINT). Who’s buying dinner? Who is getting paid to serve the meal? Churches and other non-profits can do this at no cost to the taxpayer if it is warranted. That is what they did when Louisiana had a hurricane.
C: TURNING KIDS INTO ALIENATED WRECKS INCAPABLE OF HUMAN FEELINGS! [...] When churches offer a meal, they can serve the individual with a sense of love and caring for those less fortunate. Government cannot match that. Bigger governmental programs take away our connectedness to the human family, our brotherhood and our need for one another.
D: MAKING KIDS FAT! IF THEY STARVE ALL SUMMER THEY WILL BE SVELTE AND HEALTHY! While nobody is disputing the benefits of nutritious food, why the presumption that parents are not providing nutritious food for their children? Even if they are not, who created a new rule that says government must make up for any lack at home? The problem of childhood obesity has been cited as one of the most rapidly growing health problems in America. People who are struggling with lack of food usually do not have an obesity problem...
E: DEMOTIVATING KIDS FROM GETTING JOBS! NOTHING LIKE A FEW DAYS OF STARVATION TO DRIVE TEENAGERS INTO THE WIDE-OPEN ARMS OF OUR ROBUST, WORKER-STARVED ECONOMY! Anyone under 18 can be eligible? Can’t they get a job during the summer by the time they are 16? Hunger can be a positive motivator. What is wrong with the idea of getting a job so you can get better meals?
5)
Two more horrors I am too tired to set up:
Victim-blaming 201: San Antonio strip club sues exploited 7th grader.
The Rich get Richer: banking and securities giant Goldman Sachs looks forward to the biggest bonus payouts in the firm's 140-year history after record profits.
Good night.
This post is 100% celebrity death news free. This line excepted. I just needed to close some tabs. All news cribbed from other people's LJs, apologizes to those who see some of it twice.
1)
The website of the Republican Women of Anne Arundel County, Maryland has now been purged of the offending letter, but it was widely reported that previously the home page of the site bore an alarmist, pearl-clutching appeal against President Obama, because of his clear and obvious similarity to Adolph Hitler. Sensible people rolling on the floor laughing were mostly reäcting to the comic instantiation of Godwin's Law, but there was something else that bothered me about this scurrilous little bit of propaganda even more. Can you guess what it is?
"Dear Friends: Obama and Hitler have a great deal in common in my view. Obama and Hitler use the "blitzkrieg" method to overwhelm their enemies. FAST, CARPET BOMBING intent on destruction. Hitler's blitzkrieg bombing destroyed many European cities - quickly and effectively. Obama is systematically destroying the American economy and with it AMERICA. First the banking/investment industry, next private enterprise (GM and Chrysler) and now HEALTH CARE. And he is working on grabbing more of the American economy with his environmental extremism!"
Answer: "Blitzkrieg" refers to mechanized ground warfare, specifically tank warfare, punching through and flanking fixed defences (leaving infrastructure intact). The first use of infrastructure-destroying massive carpet bombing was implemented by the Allies' US/UK Bomber Command against Hitler.
2)
In other US political news, you might have heard about the sexcapades of a State Governor from South Carolina, gone AWOL to "hike the Appalachian Trail" over Father's Day weekend, said "hike" being the au courant euphemism for "flying to Argentina to hook up with some hottie". Fox News is on top of its game, as usual -- much as they have done several times in the past, they decide to "typo" one letter in their headline. Can you guess which letter?
Answer: (D) stands for "Democrat". Gov. Sanford is a (R) -- "Republican". But Fox makes the news, and Democrats are to blame for all sex scandals, yes? Yes. Those sexy Democrats!
3)
And while on the topic of typos, here's an image from a certain recent conference. Or, as the banner would have it, a certain conferenece:
Can you guess what this banner is supposed to promote?
Answer: Anti-immigrant "English-only" legislation, aiming to make English, the language of Jesus and Santa, the official language of the US.
4)
Missouri state rep Cynthia Davis shares her thoughts on why summer food programs (bridging lunches and breakfasts for poor kids provided during the school-year) are a BAD BAD THING. What horrible consequences would summer food support for poor children have?
(The text in italics is direct quote from Rep. Davis)
A: BREAKING APART FAMILIES! [...] This program could have an unintended consequence of diminishing parental involvement. Why have meals at home with your loved ones if you can go to the government soup kitchen and get one for free? This could have the effect of breaking apart more families.
B: WASTING TAX MONEY, UNLIKE CHURCHES AND NONPROFITS WHICH NEVER GET GOV'T GRANTS! (LOOK AT HURRICANE KATRINA AS YOUR GOLD STANDARD OF FINACIAL RESTRAINT). Who’s buying dinner? Who is getting paid to serve the meal? Churches and other non-profits can do this at no cost to the taxpayer if it is warranted. That is what they did when Louisiana had a hurricane.
C: TURNING KIDS INTO ALIENATED WRECKS INCAPABLE OF HUMAN FEELINGS! [...] When churches offer a meal, they can serve the individual with a sense of love and caring for those less fortunate. Government cannot match that. Bigger governmental programs take away our connectedness to the human family, our brotherhood and our need for one another.
D: MAKING KIDS FAT! IF THEY STARVE ALL SUMMER THEY WILL BE SVELTE AND HEALTHY! While nobody is disputing the benefits of nutritious food, why the presumption that parents are not providing nutritious food for their children? Even if they are not, who created a new rule that says government must make up for any lack at home? The problem of childhood obesity has been cited as one of the most rapidly growing health problems in America. People who are struggling with lack of food usually do not have an obesity problem...
E: DEMOTIVATING KIDS FROM GETTING JOBS! NOTHING LIKE A FEW DAYS OF STARVATION TO DRIVE TEENAGERS INTO THE WIDE-OPEN ARMS OF OUR ROBUST, WORKER-STARVED ECONOMY! Anyone under 18 can be eligible? Can’t they get a job during the summer by the time they are 16? Hunger can be a positive motivator. What is wrong with the idea of getting a job so you can get better meals?
5)
Two more horrors I am too tired to set up:
Victim-blaming 201: San Antonio strip club sues exploited 7th grader.
The Rich get Richer: banking and securities giant Goldman Sachs looks forward to the biggest bonus payouts in the firm's 140-year history after record profits.
Good night.