Without Comment

From Andrew Sullivan.

The Sorcerer's Apprentice

He forgot to close the pentagram. Now the demon is out.

anybody read The Bartameus Trilogy?

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More on Journalism

I think I'll start a new feature: careers I love to trash, or something like that. Jack and I made a good start on English profs (who are, of course, completely different from History profs or Math profs), and I occasionally might mention some others. Though since my general thesis is that all professions have been disgraced and delegitimated during the first decade of the 21rst c., it is probably redundant.

So here I'll just continue to beat on the dead horse of journalism, courtesy of a "Letter from Washington" by Conor Friedersdorf guest writing at andrewssullivan.com. Here is my favorite intemperate blast:

There is this idea among movement conservatives—especially the rank-and-file—that Washington DC journalism is populated by a lot of disingenuous, careerist sell outs. These elites write to enrich themselves, to inflate their sense of self-importance, and to garner social capital, invariably measured by invitations to the dread “Georgetown cocktail party.” Thus they are unconcerned with truth, intellectual honesty, or the actual interests of anyone outside the New York to DC corridor.

This narrative is largely true!

It picks up steam from there. Friedersdorf ends up pointing it at mainly conservative hacks, of which there are plenty, but I think it is a much broader critique than that. If there is an underlying theme to the First Decade it has been careerism and the intellectual corruption it instills.

corruption: a family value.

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Cats as political metaphor

Cute little beasts. Way better than rabid guinea pigs.


hurray! Blogger has suddenly decided to let me post pictures again.

Gail Collins and the Democrats

Doesn't seem to admire them much. Here is what she describes trying to unite and lead them:

Cats I could envision all going in one direction if there was a little herring-flavored incentive at the end of the line. Herding rabid guinea pigs in a thunderstorm, maybe.

I like that image. The party of the rabid guinea pigs. I wonder if Toles in the Washington Post will take it up. The donkey image has about served its purpose. And she asks:

But my big question is how long the Democrats can refrain from becoming appalling.

rabid guinea pigs. I love new terms.

Belphegor in Hades

No, it's not a 18th century Italian opera. It's a comic strip about a huge, gross red demon named Belphegor. Belphegor is fed up with truckling to 'the Management' and decides to do something about it. It will not end well.

Belphegor actually wishes he were Belial, lord of lawlessness and government. At least when he is not trying to look like Batman. He and his best pal, Moloch, sit around playing video games and telling bad Unitarian jokes. In Hell Sauron is an outside consultant and Yoda a casual drop in.

So check it out, if you are not offended by toilet jokes.