We’ve all heard about travel advisories issued by our State Department for U.S. citizens planning to travel abroad, but this NAACP advisory is truly a first. To be clear, this is not a directive that tells folks not to go to Missouri. This is a warning that if you are a minority and for some reason you find that you will be traveling through Missouri, there are safety concerns and risks that you need to be aware of. Check out this coverage by Charles P. Pierce at Esquire and Nancy Coleman at CNN for more details on the trajectory of the issuing of this advisory. A clue to the nature of the situation can be found in the the state attorney general’s annual report where it is documented that black drivers were stopped by police at a rate 75% higher than white drivers. Got bail? [Read more…]
What a Dump! or Is Donald Trump Afraid of Virginia Woolf? | Video Worth Watching
Well it may not be set in the White House, but this little slice of the 1966 Mike Nichol’s film adaptation of Edward Albee’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” certainly does justice to the original Bette Davis delivery of the now iconic phrase: “What a dump”. What does any of this have to do with Donald Trump? As little as possible. I just couldn’t resist an opportunity to resurrect this masterful classic that is one of only two films to be nominated in every eligible category at the Academy Awards. (h/t AGD) [Read more…]
If ‘In a Heartbeat’ Doesn’t Melt Your Heart, You Don’t Have One | Video Worth Watching
Time for a “Feel Good” video. Here’s a sweet animated short about a school kid coping with a crush on a classmate. It’s by two recent graduates of Ringling College of Art and Design, Beth David and Esteban Bravo, who created it in satisfaction of their senior thesis. The story sensitively unfolds, wordlessly and with a rich musical score by Arturo Cardelús.
(FWIW, I suspect that folks who have an issue with the young couple being same sex, are likely the same ones for whom a Supreme Court of twelve black lesbians would cause palpitations, while one of twelve white guys wouldn’t seem stacked at all.) [Read more…]
Maxine Waters Reclaims Her Time & Inspires a Gospel Tribute | Video Worth Watching
What do you do if you’re a House Congressional Representative trying to get a straight answer from Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to a simple question in a House Financial Services Committee hearing and the Secretary tries to run the clock out on your limited time to ask questions by rambling on about your achievements and how much he appreciates your service? Well, if you’re Maxine Waters (D-CA 43rd district) you reclaim your time.
And by boldly reclaiming your time, you inspire this a cappella gospel mix tribute: (“ … Don’t read my resume ‘cuz I was there …”) [Read more…]
No, No, It’s Not Dead, It’s Resting. Remarkable Bird, the Norwegian Blue. | Video Worth Watching
I really, really, really, really, really, hope that the the Republican’s attempt to pass “healthcare reform” (i.e. tax cut for the 1% paid for by gutting Medicare & Medicaid) is the Norwegian Blue parrot in this classic Monty Python sketch. “It’s run down the curtain and joined the choir invisible”. But Politico reports that White House budget director Mick Mulvaney recently opined that the Senate should not vote on anything else until it’s voted again on repealing Obamacare. “It’s not dead. It’s pining for the fjords …” [Read more…]
Édith Piaf’s ‘Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien’ (as translated by Bec Hill) | Video Worth Watching
Let it not be said that the San Diego Free Press lacks culture. Herewith is a classic of the French cabaret genre by one of its exemplars, Édith “The Little Sparrow” Piaf of Paris (not to be confused with Edie “The Little Pigeon” Pilaf, of New York). For those of of us not conversant in French, we include an English translation, courtesy of Bec Hill, provided not only as captioned text, but animated graphics. Enjoy!
(h/t AGD) [Read more…]
If You’re Relieved By the Defeat of the ‘Skinny Repeal’ Then ‘Raise Your Hand’! | Video Worth Watching
Feeling a sense of relief that the ACA has survived another onslaught and for the present, at least, is still the law of the land? Then testify, and as Janis Joplin and Tom Jones urge, Raise Your Hand! With trippy colors, driving music and ecstatic dancing, what’s not to love?!? [Read more…]
Trump Explained: Master of Metaphor or Reality TV Star? | Video Worth Watching
Master of Metaphor or Reality TV star? Dessert topping or floor wax? Or both? Two, two, two things in one!! Ari Melber speaks with George Lakoff (metaphors) and Michael Hirschorn (reality TV) on The Beat. [Read more…]
Who’s Going to Protect Our LGBTQ Citizens? | Video Worth Watching
Who was it now that I remember saying:
“As your president I will do everything in my power to protect our LGBTQ citizens …”
Oh yeah, it was this guy:
“The United States Government will not accept or allow Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military.”
Why am I not surprised? [Read more…]
Everything Old Is New Again | Video Worth Watching
[NSFW: language]
Everything old is new again. A cabinet embroiled in illegal/improper activities. A Department of Justice fixated on swelling the prison population and against street crime—provided that street isn’t Wall Street. An FCC attempting to strip away protections from public communication outlets. An administration that claims to not want to be on your back—just in your womb. Religious institutions that want to be exempt from civil responsibilities. For Moral Majority substitute Evangelicals; for cocaine substitute medical marijuana. George Carlin, circa 1990, or today?
And yes, George’s language can get quite raw. Not for tender ears. [Read more…]
New Spelling Bee Rules For Trump’s America | Video Worth Watching
I was rereading “The Michael Moore Easy-to-Follow 10-Point Plan to Stop Trump” and was reminded that point number 10 is: “JOIN THE ARMY OF COMEDY: Trump’s Achilles heel is his massively thin skin.” So, in the furtherance of carrying out what I believe to be my patriotic duty, I present a recent Funny or Die video that pokes fun at our Tweet-obsessed leader’s somewhat idiosyncratic lexicon.
[Read more…]
Donald Trump’s First 100 Days In Office (as told by Matt Groening) | Video Worth Watching
The Huffington Post‘s David Moye reports that Matt Groening made an appearance Saturday at this year’s Comic-Con. Matt related that 21st Century Fox executives had directed the series’ writers to go easier in their portrayal of Fox News. Apparently the segment that included the disclaimer that they were “not racist, but No. 1 with racists” was a stretch too far for the suits. There may be some pushback from Matt, though, considering that during his presentation he got fired up enough to lead the crowd in a chant of “Lock him up! Lock him up!” Gosh, what could have inspired that?!? [Read more…]
