Health Care Passes with a Laugh

The United States Senate passed a historic $871 billion health care reform bill today. A lot of people have problems with the bill. Liberals are saying it's too much of a compromise and doesn't go far enough. Conservatives are saying it's awful because it makes everyone more equal and that will upset the status quo (in so many words). That latter ideology is pretty ironic considering health care reform used to be something Republicans could get behind. Richard Nixon said, "Comprehensive health insurance is an idea whose time has come in America. There has long been a need to assure every American financial access to high quality health care. As medical costs go up, that need grows more pressing." But of course, this was back when Republicans were actual politicians representing the people and not religious circus freaks.

I say it's a good start. It's a step in the right direction. Is it enough? No. Is it the only chance we had to actually make a move on universal health care before next year's elections? Yes. Don't forget, we live in America and Americans are bitter folks who hold massive grudges. Frankly, not much has come out of the Obama administration this year (at least that's the perception) and it's pretty much a guarantee that we as a country will hold that against him the next time we're at the ballot box. Obama's not an idiot - he knows what he's doing. This bill was basically now or never.

Perhaps the funniest (well, probably funny for people 50+ who are into politics) thing to happen out of this whole drama is what happened at today's vote. Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid, voted "no" on his own bill! He quickly corrected himself and voted "aye", but not before getting a hearty laugh from the rest of the Senate. It's good to see all those old fogies in good spirits. It just goes to show you, laughter and happiness are two things that can truly cross party lines - two things that actually matter.

The Snowman Suicides

Not one to get wrapped up in the holiday spirit? Are you a certified grinch, a self-professed Scrooge?

Well here's a little something to un-cheer you up.

Over at the Huffington Post, they've collected a series of some pretty morbid snowman scenes.

I've posted my favorites. To check out the rest, go here.

Weekly WTF?: A Holiday Toast

A triple-header Weekly WTF?! Too much good stuff over at BoingBoing to limit myself.

1) A printer that's a toaster!
2) A Christmas tree that's made of Heineken bottles!
3) An irresponsible/clever/cool mother! (You decide)

Class Act: I Go For the Wings

From DetentionSlip.org:

Story: Paradise Valley High School teacher who took students to Hooters in Phoenix is put on leave

The teacher, who oddly enough is a woman, claims that Hooters was the only restaurant in the entire Phoenix area that could accommodate the group for lunch. With a population of almost 2 million people within city limits, you would think they would have at least attracted a McDonalds franchise to open up by now.

Here's the official article. Upon further reading, we find out that this teacher's students played at an event for Obama's inauguration.

Adam for the Day

I Most Certainly Approve: The Ukulele Kid

This is the cutest/funniest/craziest/silliest/absurdest/most adorable YouTube video I've ever seen... and I've seen A LOT of YouTube videos. Definitely watch it, then watch it again, the make other people watch it. Someone get this kid a record deal, but please don't make him learn how to actually speak.

Song of the Year: "In These Arms" by The Swell Season

Ladies and gentlemen, my favorite song of 2009: "In These Arms" by The Swell Season.

The Swell Season's latest album, "Strict Joy" is a life changer. A few years ago, I saw the movie "Once" starring these two - Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova - and was moved beyond belief. I still count it as one of my top ten favorite films of all time. The songs from the "Once" soundtrack are the most played in my iTunes, with some songs having been played over 200 times. It's a little obsessive, really. But the songs never get old or ruined by too much play.

I don't like introducing songs I truly love that much because they really need no introduction. So, Happy Holidays - here's a gift for you.

Kool Aid and Jesus Juice

I never tire of Sarah Palin. She is a certified wacko with certified wacko supporters. Does she hurt American society by existing? Yes. But it's really entertaining to watch her and her supporters be nutjobs.

I love this video, where a reporter interviews Sarah Palin supporters at a book signing for her new "book", Going Rogue. After watching these interviews, it's pretty clear that the majority of Sarah Palin supporters are only supporting her because they've drunk the Kool-Aid (and the Jesus Juice, of course). They continuously spout out falsities that they've been conditioned to believe by watching too much Fox News.

Here's how I see it. It's not their fault that most of these people feel this way. They're essentially victims of fear and propaganda... and extreme Christianity. It's too easy to blame them. After the laughter subsided, I really just started to feel sorry for them.

Some of my favorite moments:

At 4:10:
Reporter: "Do you think Sarah will win if she throws her hat into the ring?"
Man: "Uh, well, he (Obama) is naturalizing a lot of the illegal aliens - he's in the process of doing it - they're saying she's not gonna have the votes when you throw those numbers in."
Reporter: "There won't be enough white votes on one side to get a candidate through?"
Man: "No way."

At 4:36:
SP Lookalike: "We do need to have profiling. The politically correctness has gotta get out now. I mean, we're Americans and she sticks up for the American people, not for other people. We're first, other people the last."

At 5:24:
Weird Lady: "Drill, baby, drill!" (Laughs)
Reporter: "Of course a lot of people are saying we don't have enough oil."
Weird Lady: "Well, look at it like this. Suppose that we do drill, and not just for oil but for gas, and for, for... well, while we're talking about that, some of these special interest groups like PETA and that, that try to endangered species with polar bears and other animals. We need to get the polar bears off the endangered list so we can drill there."

Also, check out the Miss South Carolina wannabe at 2:10.

Mark Ruffalo...

in "You Can Count on Me"


... sigh.

One of my top ten favorite movies. Netflix it now. Scratch that, buy it.

Pictures Fixed

Was recently alerted by a reader that the pictures in my "Homecoming Anthropology" post last week weren't visible. How horrible! The post meant nothing without the pictures! I've re-uploaded them to the original post, which you can find here: http://michaeldisciplined.blogspot.com/2009/11/homecoming-anthropology.html

Sarah, Plain and Silly

I have yet to confirm this, but I'm hoping with all of my heart it's true.

According to a favorite blog of mine, the following is a direct quote from Sarah Palin's new "book" Going Rogue:

“If any vegans came over for dinner, I could whip them up a salad, then explain my philosophy on being a carnivore: If God had not intended for us to eat animals, how come He made them out of meat?”

Please be true, please be true, please be true.

Weekly WTF?: Cat Wigs!!!

I know it hasn't been a week since my last "Weekly WTF?", but I couldn't resist. Wigs on cats. HILARIOUS!

Glamourpuss: The Enchanting World of Kitty Wigs from Julie Jackson on Vimeo.

"I Vote Aye"

Sad, sad, sad. Gay marriage shut down in New York. So odd that in two of the most progressive states of our nation (California and New York), gay marriage has been turned away, banned.

While it totally sucks, there are still people who are making their voices heard in support of equality. People with influence and people outside of the gay community (and yes, that's important).

Check out Senator Diane Savino's argument in support of gay marriage. Funny, smart and right ("right" in a good way).

Helen's Turkey Tips

Before Thanksgiving, I posted Helen's (of Margaret and Helen) open letter to her family about her wishes for Thanksgiving. For those faithful readers who are dying to hear how it all went down, Helen hasn't failed us.

Check out her blog to read about why bacon and butter is better than nuts, what her "dumbass son-in-law" dared buy her, and how suggests you stuff your turkey next year.

A little teaser to pique your interest:

I am so sorry to hear that your sister-in-law’s turkey was not as tender and moist as mine. Did she try the brine this year like I suggested? And the butter and bacon in the dressing instead of nuts? Butter and bacon. Remember that. You can make almost anything taste better with one or the other. Honestly, Margaret, I have never understood her insistence on cornbread stuffing with nuts in it. That combination would suck the moisture out of a Kleenex.

Class Act: Picture Punishment

Oh, this story's a winner. 15-year-old Charlie Patton, a San Antonio high school student, was recently punished for making a "funny face" in her yearbook picture (see above). School officials have decided not to print her picture in the yearbook comparing her expression to gang signs.

The official statement is, "Since the yearbook represents the school and the students, the goal is to have every student presented in the best light... Students who make inappropriate faces or gestures or who do not follow the school dress code in their yearbook photos are asked to retake their photo free of charge."

But Patton, also a drama student (go figure), claims she was never asked to retake her picture.

There are 2 action steps that need to be taken here:

1) Somebody call the ACLU to help Charlie demand that her picture be published in the yearbook.
2) Somebody give Charlie my number so we can be best friends. I cannot count how many pictures there are of me with this exact face.

Only in Texas.

Weekly WTF?: Organ Headed Figurines

Is lunghead the new butthead? These figurines definitely deserve a WTF. They also deserve a high spot on my Christmas list.

I Most Certainly Approve: Hilarious, Passive Retaliation

I had to post this story from BoingBoing because it's so funny and it comes from my alma mater, Syracuse University!

A girl with nothing better do came to the Syracuse campus to protest homosexuality, calling it a sin and waving her big sign. (Why do they always use block letters? It's so boring. They should use their own writing for a personal touch.)

Well, some clever kid thought it'd be hilarious to give her a taste of her own medicine by criticizing her fashion sense in the same exact way.

Take a looksey:


Mission accomplished. Hilarious, passive retaliation? I most certainly approve.