Wolraich: Obama at the Gates of... Gates
Dr. C: In Praise of Writing Binges
Maiello: Gatsby Doesn't Grate
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Wolraich: Obama at the Gates of... Gates Dr. C: In Praise of Writing Binges Maiello: Gatsby Doesn't Grate |
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Being an incredible success in life is something I’ve come to grips with lo these many years. And while I’d like to say that hard work and discipline have taken me to my current staggering heights, we all know that’s a load of nonsense. There is but one reason why I am the successful man I am:
I’m cultured like a son of a bitch.
Yes, my friends, I got the culture like I got the clap – lots of it and it itches like crazy. This culture has helped me easily navigate life’s problems and has made me rich beyond your wildest dreams.
Growing up in culture-rich West Covina, California – where fast-food franchises are literally stacked on top of other fast-food franchises – I was taught American culture early on. I learned that the key to America’s success was it’s culture of cheap food-like stuffs, available around every corner. This, my friends, is the culture that America has brought to the planet. This is the culture that makes America great.
Think I’m joking? Well, I currently reside in Brazil. As many of you know, Brazil is currently showcasing economic muscle like never before. Why is that? It’s because there are more and more fast-food franchises around. You see, when I first visited Brazil, there were very few fast-food joints. Brazilians were busy eating fresh foods served at small restaurants. And the economy suffered for it. Now, with Brazilians shoving Big Macs, Whoppers and other crap into their mouths, the economy is booming. Brazil is getting cultured.
Mind you, fast food is still rather new to Brazil, which explains why 99.9% of the nation is not as successful as I, someone who has been shoveling fast food into his gullet for decades. I got culture literally pouring out of me, often several times a day. Nonetheless, the culture is now here in Brazil, and Brazilians are already benefiting greatly.
So, friends, remember – your success has little to do with rugged individuality or your own hard work. It has to do with culture. And in America, culture means bad faux food at low prices. Brazil is figuring that out. Now, if we can only get a Chick-fil-A franchise down here. They share a common culture with Brazil, after all.
–WKW
Crossposted at William K. Wolfrum Chronicles
By Neha Paliwal, Passport @ ForeignPolicy.com, May 17, 2013
On Friday, chaotic clashes broke out in Georgia as an angry mob -- comprised mainly of young men but also including robed priests and some women -- descended on a gay rights rally commemorating International Day Against Homophobia. A day earlier, the head of the Georgian Orthodox Church had demanded that authorities stop the rally, calling it a "violation of the majority's right."
According to EurasiaNet, the mob, which numbered...
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Federal Security Service spokesman breaches protocol as he accuses US agency of crossing 'red line' in its recruitment efforts
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As jobless claims "surprisingly" go up by 32,000 this month (uh, did everyone forget the sequester?), an Atlantic reporter notes the abandonment of workers by both GOP & Democrats.
While he pushes 3 theories how workers ended up under the bus, I'll push a 4th - "social media whatever".
It used to be most of us were consumers of news and marketing, while a few made their money that way. Now we're all "engaged" (sad co-opting of that word) - selling our goods on Craigslist & eBay, friending & liking pages up the rec list, putting our portals & blogs on-line, passing on videos if not doing mash-ups of our own...
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By Kathy Gannon & Kay Johnson, Associated Press, May 16, 2013
KABUL, Afghanistan -- A suicide car bombing tore through a U.S. convoy in Kabul on Thursday, killing at least 15 people including six Americans in a blast so powerful it rattled the other side of the Afghan capital. U.S. soldiers rushed to help, some wearing only T-shirts or shorts under their body armor.
A Muslim militant group claimed responsibility for the morning rush hour attack, saying it was carried out by a new suicide unit formed in response to reports that the U.S. plans to keep bases and troops in Afghanistan even after the 2014 deadline for the end of the foreign combat mission.
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Wait, just a few weeks ago you were talking about that epidemic of gay murders in the US - up to 20 in 1 year I believe - and now we find out gays are 800% more likely to be killed in Brazil & Peru?
Isn't a bit crude to associate Chick-fil-A with gay murder when they're actually not in the country that really has the epidemic? And that they've only advocated against gay marriage (which is outside the law in both Brazil and most of the US)
I haven't seen any statement from Chick-Fil-A on civil unions, but sure haven't seen any documents advocating murder or violence or other unseemly acts. Have you?