Sunday, December 30, 2007

New Year's Roundup

I'm flying back to Minnesota tomorrow. With the new year upon us, this is probably my last post until 2008. So, hope everyone has a happy and safe New Year's, and I'll see y'all on the flip side!

Kevin Drum reminds the right that just because their feelings towards Clinton are motivated by blind, unthinking rage, doesn't mean her Democratic supporters are inspired by the same sentiments. If anything, the "angry" wing of the Democratic Party is attracted to Edwards (if they're pragmatists) or Kucinich (if they're not).

Frank Pasquale has a simply fantastic post talking about Martha Nussbaum's views on masculinity and political violence -- particularly after the Bhutto assassination. It's really interesting.

Are folks still trying to bank-shot the Obama-is-a-Muslim claim? Daniel Pipes is.

Speaking of dirty campaign tricks, the fake Romney Christmas card that says Mormon's believe God has multiple wives is pretty low. I'm guessing that Huckabee supporters (not the Huckabee campaign) are behind it.

Topless women used to lure men into indecent exposure. This a) isn't entrapment b) isn't a massive waste of time and c) isn't really degrading to the female cop?

Obama makes his closing pitch to younger, undecided voters. In my humble opinion, Obama's campaign lives and dies on whether he can bring to the polls the many, many normally-non-voters who think he is something special. I can very much see him gathering a storm of support based on people who want to seem themselves as a "part of something." I can also see those folks doing what they normally do -- stay home -- and Obama under-performs badly.

Mitt Romney! Wash your mouth out with some soap!

Special girls hockey equipment reifies the false binary: You can be "girly" or "sporty". I have no problem with equipment that is designed for the female physique. I do have a problem with the implication that girls won't play hockey if the sticks don't have polka dots. Though I say that and then wonder -- if folks want a polka dotted stick, why shouldn't it be provided?

Why men (and women!) still will be able to compete with robotic sex.

I don't binge drink, but apparently I shouldn't start for 20 years anyway.

Are Americans blaming Republicans for the fact that Congress hasn't gotten much done this session? They're right if they do, but the average voter is rarely this astute.

Newark Reborn: The Cory Booker legend continues. If this guy isn't a hot prospect, who is? And since my beloved Devils are moving to an arena in town, I might have to stop by and see it for myself.

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty continues to raise eyebrows as to whether he's John McCain's VP of choice.

Jed Bartlet endorses Richardson. Toby Ziegler, by contrast, is breaking for Biden.

1 comment:

PG said...

I'm very strongly in favor of having robots for sex, and the more realistic the better. That way people who do basically just want sophisticated masturbation and aren't interested in a partner can get what they need and bars will be less crowded with jerks (of both sexes).

It's only LESS crowded, however, because robots can't really replace the psychological rush some people get from "scoring." If someone likes a sense of power over others and doesn't care about consent, he'll still be a rapist. (Also why putting sexbots in prisons probably won't end the problem of prison rape.) If someone like a sense of power over others and does care about consent, he'll still be a pickup artist. Because robots lack free will, they can't provide a sense of pleasure from having forced or manipulated another person.