6.27 Political Link Dump

A little more specialized today as I found these links/videos most interesting

--Ann Coulter Getting Owned By Mrs. John Edwards

--Our President Making Various Cameos on Family Guy

--O'Reilly Getting Owned by...a High School Student (Bonus Points for using a quote from O'Reilly's book against him)

--Part II in the Four Part Series that Plumpy posted on earlier today

--Not only is Bush's Approval Ranking tanking in America, but around the world as well (Shocking, isn't it?)

6.26 Link Dump

--Good Cop, Baby Cop: The sequel to Will Ferrell’s classic “The Landlord”

--Top 20 Movie Insults

--Interesting list of cereals and their side-effects (Methinks the Phils are eating too much of Houston’s Triple Play during the final stretch the last few seasons…or maybe it’s just Pat Burrell who’s been hoarding it)

--Shaq + 6 Obese Kids + Reality TV akin to Celebrity Fit Club (minus an insane Screech) = Winning TV Combo

--I don’t think this sort of thing has ever happened to a Phillies pitcher, no matter how poorly they have pitched

--This could be on the next And 1! mixtape for ridiculous pitches, though it comes nowhere near a strike

--At least one person other thinks the new Die Hard is decent (I may just wait until it shows up in the $6.99 DVD bin for a viewing, but you never know...Rocky IV is a guilty pleasure of mine and this just so happens to be the fourth episode of the Die Hard series)

6.20 Link Dump

Today, I am going to start posting links that I find interesting throughout the day. Call it a little lazy, but not everything I find needs a paragraph of explanation and it will at the very least get us some more posts on the Stain Club as they have been lagging as of late. Plus, any chance to use the word, dump, in the title of a blog or a label is a chance I will take over and over again.

--One more reason to watch Scrubs if you haven't: The ridiculous dance sequences, most of which I probably borrow from whenever I am drunk.

--SportsCenter Audition tapes by recent retiree Bob Barker and Milk Hater Ron Burgundy.

--Recall in Austin Powers 3 (I know it's from a while back) that Fat Bastard went on the Jared Subway diet to lose some serious poundage that resulted in lots of sagging skin. Well, this is a lot more gross with a lot and a lot more sag.

--As a serious Star Wars nerd, I loved the Robot Chicken's mockery/homage to the entire saga. Seth Green is a genius when it comes to this kind of humor.

--More nerd stuff as D. Page recently informed of a major switch in the Spidey franchise as Marvel will be churning out Amazing Spider-Man three times a month while the other side titles will be canceled. Here's the interview with Steve Wacker concerning the decision to do so.

Weekday Stains

After sitting down and getting ready for my workday, I wrote up a quick list of topics I wanted to address here. However, those all went out the window when I heard about the Virginia Tech shootings. I'm sure there are roughly 6 million blog posts on the subject out there right now. I can't promise mine will be any different, but here goes nothing.

First off, it's a tragedy. This isn't shocking news to anyone so I won't belabor that point. To put it in perspective, the death toll nearly triples that of Columbine. I think a lot about how unfortunate it is. I'm not sure if this is normal, but it always gets me thinking about other tragedies. Rwanda, the Holocaust, deaths in Iraq, etc. That isn't to take anything away from the events today. It might be more comforting if it did. Instead, it only reminds me that it can and does become worse. One thing that I found really disappointing were the early comments out of the White House. While I understand one not quite isolated event should not widely distort long standing policies, but there are times when you can pass on hammering home a political point. Here's a transcript from Whitehouse.gov of Press Secretary Dana Perino's remarks, "Q: Dana, going back to Virginia Tech, what more does this White House think needs to be done as it relates to gun issues? The President says current laws need to be strengthened, anything beyond that -- you had a conference on school violence with guns -- what more needs to be done?

MS. PERINO: I would point you back to the fact that President, along with Secretary Spellings, hosted last October -- October 10, 2006 -- a conference on school gun violence after the Amish school shooting and the other shootings that had happened, because the tragedies are the ones that just collectively break America's heart and are ones that we deeply feel, because all of us can imagine what it would be like to have been at your own school, your own college, and to have something happen. And those of us who are parents, or brothers or sisters of people at the schools have to take that into consideration.

As far as policy, the President believes that there is a right for people to bear arms, but that all laws must be followed. And certainly bringing a gun into a school dormitory and shooting -- I don't want to say numbers because I know that they're still trying to figure out many people were wounded and possibly killed, but obviously that would be against the law and something that someone should be held accountable for."

The right to bear arms is certainly a much debated issue in America. Some people argue for far more restrictions, others for far less. The question was somewhat loaded. I recognize all of this. And yet, I don't care. Give it a day. Talk about tragedy and the need for prayer more. The argument about gun ownership can wait. At least a day.

For better or worse, the media storm regarding the shootings will be incredible. I wish I was confident that it would stimulate debate about larger issues in our society. Whether we're dealing with gun ownership or what made this man do such horrible things, I'd like to see the media grapple with the issues. The far more likely result will be a detailed gripping play by play of the killings that brings us strong narrative but weak analysis. I hope to be proven wrong.

Looking back on the list of topics I jotted down, I realize how many of them dealt with my distaste for national media sources. From the recent Don Imus brouhaha (what a great and underused word that is), to the more every day emphasis on pitting one talking head against another, news isn't really news anymore. Arguably Don Imus was never fully news, but he was the unwitting inspiration for a lot of good media related thoughts.

It all started when I was sitting in a metro station talking to a friend about the Imus outburst. This friend is one of the nicest girls I know, but if you do something that she thinks is truly reprehensible (and this is not easy to do) she will call you on it in terms that could never be uncertain. Needless to say, she was pissed about Imus. Ever the promoter, I coyly referenced how S.Q. had blogged about it a little. Before I could mention I planned to chime in, she says, "I hate blogs. I never read them." Perhaps a little hurt, and certainly with my pride wounded I ask why. Her reply ran along the lines of, "it's hard enough to find objective news from major sources, so why would I waste my time reading blogs." That stung a little bit, but only because she had a point.

My response to this, which we didn't have time to discuss, was that I like blogs because people are more open about their biases. If you read the Stain Club, you know you're in store for some moderate to liberal discussion based on who you have posting on a given day. We're pretty up front about it. Until we "hire" a conservative columnist, or I find more time to ghost-write, we are not fair and balanced. I most enjoy the editorial page for the very same reason. It talks about events, but also what that person thinks. Through their openness, they encourage me to explore the issue and think critically. I read a great one by Robert Novak the other day on peace in the Middle East. And yes, I called him a hack in an earlier column. Despite that, I went in with an open mind and was pleasantly surprised. Whenever I compare that to the talking heads I find on 24 hour network news, I lose both the surprise and the pleasantness.

Here's an unconventional example. It's Geraldo vs. Bill O'Reilly. Raw is War. News is entertainment. Debate is shouting match. Sentence is short. You get the idea. Then every other news program out there is racing to match up talking head contestants to battle it out in the name of fair debate. There's no debate and you only get fairness when both sides have the same volume and willingness to interrupt the other. The result, invariably, can be reduced to white noise. Why can't they put one talking head on and ask them some questions, then another and ask them the same questions. To be completely fair, you could prevent talking head #2 from hearing what #1 said. Both could skew the news however they wanted and no one would complain that their position is being shouted down. Why don't they do this? Because its not entertaining. Here's another short sentence for you, News is Dead.

While we're staining about what's on tv these days, I want to point out something far more serious than the offspring of Crossfire. Maybe you've seen these, but they hit home like no ad I've seen before. Their website is Don't Almost Give. I plan to drop a more serious post that is devoted solely to this ad campaign later so we'll move on.

Lately I've been watching Planet Earth on Discovery Channel. It is incredible. That is all I can say about it. It can't come out on DVD soon enough. Watch it. Sundays at 8 on Discovery. You won't be disappointed. But that's not the real story. Yesterday, I watched the better part of an episode with one of my roommates. We were discussing the amazingness of the scenes before us and, ever the cynics, we wondered if perhaps some of the scenes had been set up. Something along the lines of "Oh look a swarm of piranhas... and here we have a big juicy dead fish... oh no it dropped in the river. I guess we have to film the feeding frenzy." That sort of thing. Then my roommate says, "it's like the myth about lemmings that Disney perpetuated." Now for those of you who don't know, lemmings are widely believed to have such a strong herd instinct that when one runs off a cliff, hundreds will follow right behind. This was even the inspiration for a cherished childhood video game. However, if you read further down the Lemmings article, you will notice the suicide myth entry. To briefly summarize, it details how Disney was making a nature "documentary" where Disney faked footage of lemmings running off a cliff in droves by throwing them over the edge. And so I will end with a familiar refrain... Hey Disney stop killing my childhood (and the lemmings).

Jack Black's Acceptable Television

Jack Black’s new show, Acceptable TV, combines the best elements of television, the internet, and attention deficit disorder. It airs Friday nights on VH1 at 10, and features five 3 minute episodes by the production company, and one viewer submitted episode. I thought I had written off VH1, but they went huge... and they had it. I almost fell over laughing watching Prison Prison Break. I posted two of their sketches, and if you feel like wasting more time go to acceptable.tv and check out the rest.

Kitten Calendar (Episode 2)


Prison Prison Break

Weekend free-staining

In fifth grade, I played the violin. In sixth grade, I didn't. Impressive right? I'm not the world's finest musical talent, but I'd like to think I could recognize some truly quality music if I heard it. I like to go to classical concerts and read the performer bios. I never know what any of it means, but doesn't that just make it more impressive? Even though I don't understand the terminology in the program or know the other famous musicians the current performer has studied under. I at least know that those things exist thanks to the program. It lets me know I should enjoy and appreciate this before the first note hits my ears. I'd like to think I would recognize that note for its pure technical and aesthetic beauty, but according to the Washington Post, that seems unlikely.

Another, very different, piece of news that I found particularly compelling deals with the Westboro Baptist Church. Best known for their "God Hates Fags" signs and their distasteful presence at the funerals of American soldiers killed in Iraq, Louis Theroux does a great spot for the BBC about them. He embeds himself within the Church and the family that makes up almost its entire membership. His insights and ability to draw out a real sense of both their jaw-dropping bigotry, but also their everyday humanity is well worth your time. Here's the link for the first part on YouTube. It's cut up into seven sections but the rest of the links are listed on the side.

To continue with my trend of posting links sent to me by a friend from high school (as the first two are also from him), we'll throw this out there as well. It's an interesting map from National Geographic about singleness and gender in America. The map convincingly validates my decision to move to the East Coast. I don't know exactly how much credibility I would give it. But it's something that's fun to talk about.

I had big plans to chime in on Iraq, political rhetoric, and everything else, but whenever I start to write about it, I become so disgusted with the issue du jour that I am left scouring ESPN.com for anything and everything that might distract me. That sort of willful apathy is all too common in an America where only those unlucky few who know soldiers fighting in the conflict pay the high price of the war. With that in mind, I sat down yesterday to read Newsweek's collection of letters from fallen soldiers. Perhaps, it's better to say I forced myself to read the article. I had seen it before and purposely avoided it. Much in the way that I have not seen United 93, though I own the DVD. Typical, I think of many people, I tell myself that I don't have the time or that when I have the time its not the right time to delve into that heavy sort of topic. But, this time it seemed important to read. Some soldiers, years younger than even me, were writing about the end of their lives. That's powerful stuff. Stuff that deserves to be read and remembered. I find it important to note that many of the soldiers spoke out strongly in favor of the war and the cause they ascribe to it. When they're the ones fighting, it's impossible to dismiss that moral and emotional force behind their argument. That's why I'm going to pass the buck to someone who said it far more succinctly and accurately than I am able to.

Although I had not planned to go huge on the Iraq discussion side of the post, apparently I thought I had it.

Even though this is tagged Not Sports, I have a small story that is loosely sports related. If you are one of our anti-sports readers, now would be a good stopping place

The other night I had a nightmare that I had dropped Chad Cordero from my fantasy baseball team because the Nats had decided they would not trade him under any circumstances. Then later, I found out this wasn't true and rushed home to grab him back up before he hit the waiver wire. I believed that this happened for at least the next 8 hours before I remembered it was a dream. That's not weird is it?

Pure Distilled Boldness

Corporate media outlets are the worst. CNN would rather have a story about a man with a sword confusing porn for rape than a story about African child soldiers, or the latest drivel from Lou Dobbs instead of anything remotely resembling analysis of the factors driving the US economy.

The obviousness with which they pander to the lowest common denominator of news is sickening to me. I used to go to Fark.com to have them find all the dumbest news. Now, I just go straight to Headline News and their 24-hour stream of crap.

Rants and bitterness aside, I greatly appreciate journalistic boldness (even if misplaced). Commentators from the Left and the Right who take strong positions about real issues should be lauded for encouraging thought if nothing else. I rarely agree with George Will or Charles Krauthammer, but I always read them (Robert Novak, who also appears in the Washington Post's editorial section is a partisan hack). A commentator from the Left who I like more and more (despite being on a 24 hour news channel) is Keith Olbermann.

Olbermann seems like a natural choice for Stain Club commendation. A former ESPN anchor turned political commentator, Olbermann has a real passion for sports and politics. More importantly though, he never toes the line of wishy-washy neutrality that so many other news anchors cling to. Rolling Stone just published a feature article on Olbermann titled "The Most Honest Man in News" which chronicles his steadily increasing success. Watching their collection of his Top 5 rants shows why his ratings are skyrocketing. Honest opinions and analysis from the news are popular? Shocking. Even if you completely disagree with Olbermann and his perspective, you have to appreciate the boldness.

Oh My God

"Don't Stop Believin' " + Tony Homo + Mr. Belding + Hair Metal Band named Metal Skool =
Greatest Music that 2007 has heard yet

The terribleness of CNN (and probably FOX too)

I've officially given up on CNN. I generally expect them to give me a quick and dirty version of the news. Lately, they can't even do that right. I go there this morning and I see "Teen Gunman kills 5 in Utah Mall." Normally this is par for the course as a major overblown story, but over to the side they have such non-starters as a nuclear disarmament deal with North Korea, Pelosi starting the Iraq debate in the House, even Time Warner selling the Braves is a big deal. Nope... instead we're invited to be scared of rampaging sociopathic teens. Maybe it's just that I read Culture of Fear by Barry Glassner (great if dated book). Does anyone know of a major television news provider that doesn't use stainy scare tactics to increase ratings. Is a possibly significant reduction in the threat of rogue nuclear weapons less important than a random tragedy? I for one am QFSing on CNN so if anyone has a better quick news provider please let me know.

Please stop continuing to kill my childhood for money

A while back our very own Plumpy’s Ghost (the blogger formerly known as Watercooler Warrior), wrote a section on stainy corporations destroying childhood classics for monetary gain. Well I would like to supplement that by bitching about the new DirecTV commercial that uses Back to the Future footage to pedal their shoddy services. First of all, let me just say I have had DirecTV before and it IS shoddy, secondly, the fact that they are defacing one of the greatest movies of all time doesn’t make me want to buy DirecTV, it just makes me angry. And for you Christopher Lloyd, hows this work bro, are you not making enough money from the Back to the Future royalties that you have to maim one of my childhood favorites so you can put in a new swimming pool? I feel that getting this commercial pulled from the air would be a worthwhile crusade right up there with ending world poverty and disease. So DirecTV, thanks for staining out my childhood today.

Arrested Development

I recently had the joy of watching the now-defunct television show Arrested Development. This is probably one of the best TV comedies I ever saw, and from what I've heard, it was horribly marketed. That's pretty weak, Fox. I'm glad the show existed, but it really could have continued for a lot longer. If you're interested, you can watch episodes of it here for free. It is well worth your time.

The Top 5...

shows to watch in 2007 .I realize we are already a month into the new year, but, considering how frustrating finding a good television show can be these days, I decided to wade through the crap of 2007 and find my top five picks worth watching this year.

1) 24
We here at stain club are stone-cold fans of the show. If you haven’t started watching yet, we are only five episodes in; getting a hold of the first five is cake (in fact the first 4 were released on DVD already). If I had to pick only one show to watch this year it would be this one. 24 is on Fox, Mondays at 9 eastern time.

2) The Venture Brothers
I have been a fan of the show since season 1, however I became hardcore after the end of season 2 this past fall. This show lampoons everything from Johnny Quest to David Bowie. If you are a fan of pop culture in any form from 1965 to the present, this is the show to watch. Cartoon network has the show tentatively ready to air in the fall of this year with a supposed 26 episodes for the season. The Venture Brothers is on Cartoon Network, Sunday nights at whenever the hell they feel like putting it on.

3) Entourage
Entourage is just another show to add to HBO’s arsenal of outstanding programming. The show follows the lives of a rising star, his three friends, and his manager. The show was great in season one and has been improving with each passing season. Buying HBO is a serious consideration of mine if only for this show (PUTL!). Season three apparently continues from its last aired episode in August of ’06 on April 7th of this year. If someone knows the time, feel free to leave a comment.

4) The Office
This is Steve Carrel at his finest. The office, originally created and aired in Britain, was reworked in the U.S. based on the British show. The show follows several employees on a typical workday at Dunder-Mifflin paper Co. in Scranton, PA. Each episode finds the employees in a ridiculous situation which is usually resolved at the expense of one of the employee’s job (at least this season). The Office airs on NBC, Thursdays at 8:30 eastern time.

5) South Park
Southpark has always been a staple in my TV watching career, and continues to remain there. There’s not much I can say about this show that the numerous awards already haven’t. If you’ve never seen an episode flip on comedy central any time after 9:30 and you’re likely to catch one. The new season begins on March 7th at 10 Eastern Time on Comedy Central.

These are my top five shows of the new year, feel free to add your own.

Jack Bauer's Latest Enemy

Jack Bauer battles terrorists, megalomaniacs, spies, and all the scum in between. A new opponent reared his ugly head into the picture, but was quickly dealt with.

Bauertime

We’re less than a week away from the Emmy award winning drama 24’s return. This is probably the best news I could hear this side of Drew Brees’ arm falling off. Bauertime is an essential in life. Every week when I’m left with a cliffhanger and forced to endure the mundane reality of my own life is the worst time of the week, but 8:59 on Monday nights is definitely the best time of the week. I’ve included some links to interesting 24 sites. Get ready, because as the promos remind us about 12 times per football game aired on Fox, Jack is Back.

Jack Bauer saying damn it...a lot

Almeida is God

24 weblog

Watching 24

A Gift

For all of you, on this merry holiday. Enjoy.

24 days until 24

Perhaps one of the most entertaining shows on television today, 24 is returning January 14 for its sixth season. I realize that Christmas and New Years are days away, but 24 continues to remind me that the holidays last all the way through May. I can say with great confidence that 24 is the best drama on television (the Emmys told me so); much better than Prison Break, Lost, or any of the other trendy dramas I also have not seen. I’m sure all you stainclubbers will be there front and center to watch Jack beat the terrorism out of another walking cliché, unless you hate freedom and America.

See the new 24 trailer at http://www.24trailer.com/

Preachin'

Here's an interview about a show coming to HBO sometime in 2008 based on an irreverent, grotesque, and utterly wonderful comic book series from a couple years ago called Preacher. If you think the Kevin Smith film Dogma sent the Catholics into a rage, just wait till this hits.