Contagious Thoughts, Mutating as Needed

TV Land

March 13, 2010
Cultural • Odds and Ends
No Comments

I haven’t really been a dedicated watcher of any regular television show for some years now.

Since we finally replaced our ancient tv at Christmastime with a huge flat-screen, I’ve really been enjoying my nightly political news. My hero Rachel Maddow is almost real-size! What a treat it was to finally watch Elmer Gantry, and I got a good chickflick dose with The Holiday and The Notebook.

Sometimes I just feel like relaxing and being entertained. I flip through the channels – most of it doesn’t interest me. I’m not big into “reality” shows, but I sometimes like the ones that show how different people’s lives can be from one another – like Trading Spouses and whatever that one was with the British nanny. I wish that Holmes on Homes guy would come renovate *my* house. I enjoy profiling, and shows like Snapped if it’s an unusual case. The first couple of seasons of 24 were interesting, but I lost interest when they brought in torture (it *was* on Fox!). I’ve attempted to get into a regular schedule with my collections of Twin Peaks and Ultraviolet – but those haunt me so much that I can only watch them once in a while. I like the odd something on the History channel or PBS, but nothing was grabbing me tonight.

Then – I caught a show that’s been on for a long time but I had only caught a minute here or there before. I’m not really in tune with what’s popular, and I had written it off just because of the title.

So now I’m busy every Sunday night at 9 pm, because that’s when Desperate Housewives is on. I just watched two back-to-back episodes – Lovely and The Chase. It looks like tomorrow’s episode follows from there – YAY! It’s been on since 2004! I’ve already missed six whole years?!?!?!

I’m fairly sure that some of my friends will find it amusing that I’m enthralled with this show.

What can I say?

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Tanks on a Train

February 16, 2010
AlienNation • Atlanta • Political
3 Comments

On my way home from work today, I saw this and had to pull over and take a photo with my phone.

I don’t recall ever seeing tanks on a train before. As I passed under the bridge, I could see that the entire train carried only tanks. Tanks and more tanks.

Tanks: 5:58 pm Chamblee-Tucker Road

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Something good about Palin and the Tea Party Folks

February 7, 2010
Activism • AlienNation • Political
5 Comments

I’m going to let all the things I could say about Palin’s speech pass today, and let FactCheck.org (and Media Matters and The Progress Report) point out lies and distortions, of which there were many. There was a whole bunch of snideness, and even more dishonesty. But… I’m on board in one way.

Why? Because there is one thing she said that gives me long-term hope.

She encouraged people to stand up and speak, and if some do, so will others. If there’s an energy to participate in the democratic process, maybe it will encourage more Americans to do the same. We’ve become timid and fearful and paranoid about our freedom and our duty as Americans.

Rather than parroting what some leader says, look up your own concerns and issues and the things that make a difference in your life. Really look. Really research. Really think.

And speak… and work… and think… and vote for your interests. And talk to your friends. And clear the air with realism, not paranoia.

Politics is messy – but democracy allows all to speak.

Update 2/8/10: FactCheck.org’s analysis: http://factcheck.org/2010/02/tea-party-fact-checking/

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One Year Ago: 25 Random Meme Hits the Press, Democratic Party and Democrat, not Democrat Party
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Person or Not a Person?

February 7, 2010
Activism • Cultural • Fun With Blogs • Human Rights • Jehovah's Witnesses • Political • Semantic
1 Comment

An American Category Sketch of Personhood vs. Non-Personhood – not exhaustive, but representative.

So much is under debate.
So much is culturally modulated.
So much has a history of discussion rather than a solid truth claim.
So much seems a little strange.

Warning: Your answers may differ.
This is meant to be thought-provoking; sorry for all the things I’m leaving out.

Comments are welcome, but only if you’re civil. All comments are moderated.

For each of the following, is this a person?

Non-living:

Rock – NO!
Table – NO!
Book – NO!

Beings:

Flower – NO!
Tree – NO!
Monkeygrass – NO!
Frog – NO!
Beetle – NO!
Ant – NO!
Tilapia – NO!
Worm – NO!
Dog – NO! (DISAGREEMENT)
Cat – NO! (DISAGREEMENT)
Cow – NO! (DISAGREEMENT)

Scale/Boundary:

Electrons – NO!
Nuclei – NO!
Fungi – NO! (LIFE, MAYBE GROUP INTELLIGENCE OF A KIND, NOT PERSON)
Bacteria – NO! (LIFE, MAYBE GROUP INTELLIGENCE OF A KIND, NOT PERSON)
Virus – NO – um… probably not! (DEAD/ALIVE, IMMORTAL? SOME UNKNOWN)
Prions – NO! (DEAD/ALIVE, IMMORTAL? MUCH UNKNOWN)
Mitochondria – NO! (MAY HAVE DEVELOPED HUMANS, HISTORY OF DISCUSSION)
Planet – NO! (ECO-REACTIONS, SOME DISAGREEMENT)
Star – NO! (HISTORICAL SMALL DISAGREEMENTS)

Sex/Gender:

Female – YES! (DISAGREEMENT)
Male – YES! (SOME DISAGREEMENT)
Hermaphrodite – YES! (DISAGREEMENT)
Transvestite – YES! (DISAGREEMENT)
Transgender – YES! (DISAGREEMENT)
Heterosexual – YES! (SOME DISAGREEMENT)
Homosexual – YES! (DISAGREEMENT)
Bisexual – YES! (DISAGREEMENT)
Married – YES! (SOME DISAGREEMENT)
Single – YES! (SOME DISAGREEMENT)
Complicated – YES! (DISAGREEMENT)

Class/Money/Economy:

Poor – YES! (DISAGREEMENT)
Rich – YES! (DISAGREEMENT)
Middle-class – YES! (DISAGREEMENT)
Blue-collar – YES!
White-collar – YES! (DISAGREEMENT)
Upper-class – YES! (DISAGREEMENT)
Migrant – YES! (DISAGREEMENT)
Inner-city – YES! (DISAGREEMENT)
Rural – YES! (DISAGREEMENT)
Suburban – YES! (DISAGREEMENT)
Socialist – YES! (DISAGREEMENT)
Communist – YES! (DISAGREEMENT)
Crony Capitalist – YES! (DISAGREEMENT)
Regulated Capitalist – YES! (DISAGREEMENT) (etc.)

Education:

Highly educated – YES! (DISAGREEMENT)
Highly trained – YES!
Untrained – YES!
College – YES!
No College – YES!
Under-educated – YES!
Literate – YES!
Sub-literate – YES! (DISAGREEMENT)
Intentionally ignorant – YES! (DISAGREEMENT) (etc.)

Political Values:

Democrat – YES! (CONFUSION AND DISAGREEMENT)
Libertarian – YES! (CONFUSION AND DISAGREEMENT)
Republican – YES! (CONFUSION AND DISAGREEMENT)
Independent – YES! (CONFUSION AND DISAGREEMENT)
Green – YES! (CONFUSION AND DISAGREEMENT)
Reconstructionist – YES! (DISAGREEMENT)
Imperialist – YES! (DISAGREEMENT)
Fascist – YES! (CONFUSION AND DISAGREEMENT)
Nazi – YES! (HEATED DISAGREEMENT)
Uninterested – YES! (DISAGREEMENT)
Fanatical – YES! (DISAGREEMENT) (etc.)

Nationality / Ethnicity / Race:

American – YES! (MINOR DISAGREEMENT)
Non-American – YES! (DISAGREEMENT)
Registered US Immigrant – YES! (SOME DISAGREEMENT)
Non-registered US Immigrant – YES! (DISAGREEMENT)
American Terrorist – YES! (SOME DISAGREEMENT)
Non-American Terrorist – YES! (DISAGREEMENT)
Same Ethnic/Racial Composition as Yourself – YES!
Different Ethic/Racial Composition from Yourself – YES! (DISAGREEMENT)
German – YES! (SOME DISAGREEMENT)
French – YES! (SOME DISAGREEMENT)
Kenyan – YES! (SOME DISAGREEMENT)
British – YES! (SOME DISAGREEMENT)
Chinese – YES! (SOME DISAGREEMENT)
Iraqi – YES! (DISAGREEMENT)
Afghani – YES! (SOME DISAGREEMENT)
Iranian – YES! (DISAGREEMENT)

Religion:

Christian – YES! (DISAGREEMENT)
Muslim – YES! (DISAGREEMENT)
Jehovah’s Witness – YES! (DISAGREEMENT)
Wiccan – YES! (DISAGREEMENT)
Buddhist – YES! (DISAGREEMENT)
Fanatical – YES! (DISAGREEMENT)
Orthodox – YES! (DISAGREEMENT)
Evangelical – YES! (DISAGREEMENT)
Reformed – YES! (DISAGREEMENT)
Unitarian – YES! (DISAGREEMENT)
Atheist – YES! (DISAGREEMENT)
Eclectic – YES! (DISAGREEMENT) (etc.)

Corporate Groupings: (UNDER CONTESTATION!!!!!)

Homeland Security – NO!
CIA – NO!
Dept. of Eduction- NO!
NRA – NO!
ACLU – NO!
Catholic Church – NO!
US Marines – NO!
Al-Qaeda – NO!
Taliban – NO!
KKK – NO!
Halliburton – NO!
Chevron – NO!
Microsoft – NO!
Google – NO!
MacDonald’s- NO!
Citibank – NO!
Walmart – NO!

Stage / Distinctions:

Egg – NO!
Sperm- NO!
Fertilized egg – NO! (DISAGREEMENT – UNDER CONTESTATION!)*
Zygote – NO! (DISAGREEMENT- UNDER CONTESTATION!)
Fetus w/Beating Heart – ALIVE, BUT NOT PERSON! (DISAGREEMENT- UNDER CONTESTATION!)
Fetus w/Brain Waves – MAYBE! (DISAGREEMENT – UNDER CONTESTATION!)
Late-term Pregnancy – MAYBE! (HEATED DISAGREEMENT- UNDER CONTESTATION!)
Baby – COULD BE! (SOME DISAGREEMENT, HISTORICALLY NOT, BUT PROBABLY CONSIDERED ONE NOW)
Toddler – PROBABLY! (DISAGREEMENT – HISTORICALLY NOT, BUT PROBABLY CONSIDERED ONE NOW)
Child – PROBABLY! (DISAGREEMENT- HISTORICALLY NOT, BUT PROBABLY CONSIDERED ONE NOW)
Teenager – PROBABLY! (DISAGREEMENT – PAIN IN THE BUTT, AND SOME CONFUSION ABOUT RITE DE PASSAGE)
Adult – YES!
Middle-Aged – YES!
Elderly – YES! (DISAGREEMENT – HISTORICALLY SO, MAYBE STILL IS)
Corpse – PROBABLY NOT (SOME RELIGIOUS DISAGREEMENT)
Australopithecus – NO! (EXTINCT HOMINID! SOME DISCUSSION)
Neanderthals – NO! (EXTINCT HOMINID! SOME DISCUSSION)
Early Modern Human (EMH)/Anatomically Modern Human’ (AMH) (also referred to as Cro-Magnon) – UNKNOWN (DISCUSSION and DISAGREEMENT)
Homo Sapien Sapien – YES! (MINOR DISCUSSION, MOSTLY BY CURMUDGEONS)