Not that it exists.
Not that it actually illustrates an interesting question about the nature of music.
Not even that it was subject to a copyright dispute.
No, it’s that you can buy the album on Amazon: John Cage’s 4’33
From the ‘Endorsements the White House Doesn’t Want’ files.
Before you ask, I’m amused, not incensed:
Via the indispensable Barack Obama’s Teleprompter’s Blog.
Primarily because I never had to worry that individuals like this would use my political faction’s rhetoric and, you know, mean it. There’s something relaxing about knowing that every group of utter scoundrels in Western civilization still left unhung hate you and everything that you stand for; in fact, it’s invigorating. I sincerely hope that the Obama administration finds itself in the same situation Real Soon Now.
Crossposted to RedState.
Blue Dogs feeling betwixt and between.
The poor things.
In the process of reading “Centrist Dems: Dogged If They Do, Dogged If They Don’t” by Froma Harrop (short version: pity the poor Blue Dog Democrats; the Left wants them to fall into line behind the progressives and the Right wants them to actually act as if fiscal conservatism meant something), I noticed this particular passage.
And Blue Dogs hold undisguised contempt for recent Republican conversions to fiscal rectitude. [Rep. Paul] Ryan’s appeal “to help us defeat this unprecedented taxing, borrowing and spending spree” drew a tart response from Louisiana Rep. Charlie Melancon.
“These statements come from the same individuals who wrote the president a blank check for eight years, driving spending to the highest levels in our country’s history,” said Melancon, a co-chair of the Democratic Blue Dog Coalition.
It struck me as an… odd reaction. Continue reading Blue Dogs feeling betwixt and between.
Tanjit, I was hoping for the Squeez Bacon.
I mean, OK, I can see why lots of people might actually want to buy the Tauntaun Sleeping Bag that ThinkGeek mocked up for April Fool’s Day: I can also understand why TG might look upon this notion with stereotypical dollar signs in their eyes. But bacon from a squeeze bottle is marketing gold, friends. I would buy that stuff so fast it’d make your head spin.
And then I’d make sure my wife never, ever found out.
Via AoSHQ‘s headlines.
Well, my Final Four for Deceiver Madness…
…I got two out of four, which is at least better than the guy running it. Of the existing four, it’s going to be Al Gore against PETA, and Al Gore’s going to destroy them the way that he destroys polar bears, and they destroy household pets. I’ve got a good feeling about this; mind you, I thought that Tom Cruise and Barack Obama were going to make it this far…
Newest tool for educators: Jimi Hendrix.
“Hey,” said Garcia. “We’re in San Francisco.”
Don’t get me wrong. I spent quite a lot of time listening to Jimi Hendrix
There was a time when teachers would freak at the sound of Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze” or “Stone Free.” Now the San Francisco school district wants them to get in the spirit.
(Via Joanne Jacobs) I mean, come on. Drug overdose. You have to expect that people are going to bring that particular life decision up when it comes time to discuss what the man had to teach us about existence.
Crossposted to RedState.
Blagojevich to be indicted today.
Brought to my attention by Riehl World View. The best part? This:
Sources: Blagojevich indictment today
The U.S. attorney’s office in Chicago says that later today it is announcing developments in a “significant criminal matter.” Sources familiar with the situation said the announcement is expected to be the indictment of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich and others on corruption charges.
Bolding mine. “And others.” That has such a fun ring to it, don’t you think?
Crossposted to RedState.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I offer you a toast!
Charge your glasses!
“Confusion to our enemies!”
Israel expected to hold back on Iran as diplomacy runs its course
Robert Gates would be “surprised” if Israel attacked Iran this year to prevent it developing a nuclear weapon.
Petraeus Says Israel Might Choose to Attack Iran
April 1 (Bloomberg) — Israel might choose to attack Iran to prevent it from developing a nuclear bomb, the top U.S. commander in the Middle East said today.
“Why the hell should they be any better off than we are?”
Crossposted to RedState.
Annnnd that would be the laptop dying.
It’s giving me a IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL error – I’ve already tried and failed to fix things using the instructions that are there – which suggests that there’s a hardware problem. Not all that surprising, really: it’s old – not old old, but my wife used it until the hard drive failed, then passed it along to me for fixing so that I’d have a laptop for the Republican National Convention.
The replacement parts are probably going to be less than getting a new laptop; unfortunately, neither repair nor replacement is in the budget right now. Much as I hate to shake the can for the tip jar, having a laptop does make it easier for me to do blogging for both here and Redstate. And we’re not being paid over there, more’s the pity.
Appeals to the grassroots: NY-20, IL-05.
NY-20: The recount for this race – which is actually at plus 25 right now, not plus 57 – is going to be expensive. There’s a new pledge drive up to pay for that recount, in the same style as the one that gathered over 120K for Jim Tedisco: I encourage people to help out there, or where they can. It’s already at 9K (the target number is 40K), which tells you that there are people out there who share your concerns about the potential for abuse of the recount – to say nothing of the absentee ballot count. We’re in a good place to take a seat away from the Democrats, here; one that progressives are annoyed to have had to fund (military-hating opponents of the death penalty for terrorists are ‘centrist’ to that sort, you see). Think of it as a civic obligation.
IL-05: On a more ideological/idealistic level, though, it doesn’t get any better than Rosanna Pulido‘s campaign. As the below video shows, she’s fighting in a heavily-Democratic district against a guy with the full support of the state Democratic party apparatus, with no equivalent support from her own party… Continue reading Appeals to the grassroots: NY-20, IL-05.