Author: luimbe

Alyssa Rosenberg: “Beyoncé Knowles-Carter”

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Alyssa Rosenberg: “At The Grammys, Beyoncé And Jay-Z Made The Case For Marriage That Conservatives Can’t (via ThinkProgress)”:

And in my favorite recent example, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and Jay-Z got on the Grammy stage last night and did what conservatives have been dying for someone to do for ages: they made marriage look fun, and sexy, and a source of mutual professional fulfillment. As Caitlin White wrote in her review of Beyoncé’s self-titled album: “She claims female pleasure as pure and grown, something dominant that can coexist with monogamy and marriage and her own status as an artist.”
[…] “Drunk In Love” is raunchy, fun and even silly. “Why can’t I keep my fingers off it, baby? I want you,” Beyoncé sings. She teases her partner, who both in the real-life creation of the song and its narrative, is her husband Jay-Z, “Can’t keep your eyes off my fatty, daddy, I want you.” It’s a song about flirting, about going out and partying, about having fantastic, adventuresome, totally enthralling sex–with your spouse. That’s a far, far better argument for marriage than the pseudo-scientific case for holding onto your oxytocin by not having sex before you say your vows on the grounds that such conservation efforts will make your first time better.

“Drunk in Love” is performed over a trap beat usually reserved for aggressive, sizzurp slurred raps about marijuana, murder, money and misogyny. The single is a send-up of those drug induced fantasies where something very real to the Carters is described with a bounce back beat and emphasized malapropisms like “dranking”, “breastesses” and “surfbort”.

Josh Marshall’s SOTU Review: “Whatever, Guys …”

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Josh Marshall’s SOTU Review: "Whatever, Guys …":

I’d sum it up in two words: “Whatever, guys …”

Gone from the speech was what I’d heard in pretty much every other Obama State of the Union, pressing bipartisan cooperation, finding common ground, pushing points of agreement. There wasn’t a contrary note. It was more just ignoring the whole thing, as though the President were saying, “Okay, guys, I get it. You won’t do anything. Okay. Fine.”

Prior to 2014 Obama had to press bipartisanship. He said he would as a candidate. Twice. Delivered under the triumphant cover of a two term Presidency humbled 2010 midterm electorate and 2013 political setbacks, the 2014 State of the Union Address emphasized presidential prerogative in lieu of 44’s appeals for collegial efforts by Republicans constantly besieged by the far right wing of their party.

BET.COM: Philly School System under investigation for cheating

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This is a problem…that many of those far left liberals predicted

Philadelphia’s public school system is being rocked by allegations that nearly 140 teachers and administrators have been implicated in a cheating scandal, according to officials of the school system.

Officials said they anticipate that disciplinary action or even termination proceedings will be taken against several school employees within the next few weeks.

The Philadelphia school district is the 10th largest in the United States with an enrollment that is roughly two-thirds African-American.

The scandal, which was first reported in the Wall Street Journal, has already led to the firing of three principals in the last week. That was the result of a probe that started in 2009 that looked at erasure patterns that investigators deemed as being suspicious.

from: Philadelphia School System Faces a Cheating Investigation | News | BET.

Note: this is after the school reform commission has implemented tons of it’s recommendations including high stakes testing.

Corbett’s Retreat

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Cobra Commander Retreat

“Retreaaat!”: Cobra Commander reenacts Corbett’s retreat to the Bellevue

Yes, if suburban Philly voters re-elect Corbett they will lose Regional rail

And Yes, Tom Corbett has enacted policies that have been detriments to Philadelphia, Chester and other Pennsylvania cities.

He skipped out on an appearance at Central High School, which would have been his first appearance at a Philadelphia public school, because students and alumni were waiting to protest him for his cuts to public education across the state. (video courtesy CBS Philadelphia):

Corbett’s visit is part of a campaign to commend high-achieving schools on Pennsylvania’s first-ever performance scores. He was joined by school Superintendent William Hite.
The Philadelphia School District is weathering its worst financial crisis in recent memory and some parents and teachers say it was worsened by Corbett’s budget-balancing cuts to education aid in 2011.
Corbett, a Republican who is running for re-election in November, is critical of teachers’ unions and has worked to advance private, parochial and charter schools.

By the way, Philadelphia schools under public funding cuts, high stakes testing requirements and the have been implicated in one of the biggest test cheating scandals during the tenure of corporatist administration of now deceased former Superintendent Arlene Ackerman.

The Philadelphia Public School Notebook reports: “After more than two years of investigations by both the state and the School District, 138 Philadelphia educators have been implicated in test score cheating, according to information given to the School Reform Commission Thursday.”

via This Could Be The Largest Cheating Scandal in America | News | Philadelphia Magazine.

The venue was moved from Central H.S., one of Philadelphia and the state’s best public schools to the posh Bellevue Hotel in downtown Philadelphia. Fitting?

“Unfortunate Comments”

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“The House Majority Leader’s unfortunate comments notwithstanding, […] there is no evidence that the purpose behind the Voter ID Law was to disenfrancise (sic) minorities or persons who, along party lines, may be more inclined to vote for Democratic candidates.” – Judge Bernard McGinley in decision overturning

PA House Majority Leader Mike Turzai’s “unfortunate comments”:

“Pro-Second Amendment? The Castle Doctrine, it’s done. First pro-life legislation – abortion facility regulations – in 22 years, done. Voter ID, which is gonna allow Governor Romney to win the state of Pennsylvania, done.”

From New York Times 2012 Exit Polls

Race:

  • 2012 PA White voters – Romney 57%
  • 2012 PA Black voters – Obama 93%
  • 2012 PA Hispanic voters – Obama 80%

Gender:

  • 2012 PA Male voters – Romney 51%
  • 2012 PA Women voters – Obama 54%

Income:

  • 2012 PA Voters Income Under 30k – Obama 74%
  • 2012 PA Voters Income 30k to 49,999 – Obama 61%
  • 2012 PA Voters Income 50k or more – Romney 56%
  • 2012 PA Voters Income 100k or more Romney 54%

Obama won core Democratic constituencies by a greater margin in 2012 than 2008, PA Republicans still passed legislation they wanted. Pro-gun castle doctrine, pro-life abortion facility regulations were passed without voter ID. So even after the PA Republican party’s legislative agenda was enacted into law, this Republican legislator was insisting that voter ID was the law (which was not implemented due to court challenges) that would deliver Romney long Democratic Pennsylvania.

“The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” by James Thurber

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Something struck his shoulder. “I’ve been looking all over this hotel for you,” said Mrs. Mitty. “Why do you have to hide in this old chair? How did you expect me to find you?” “Things close in,” said Walter Mitty vaguely. “What?” Mrs. Mitty said. “Did you get the what’s-its-name? The puppy biscuit? What’s in that box?” “Overshoes,” said Mitty. “Couldn’t you have put them on in the store?” “I was thinking,” said Walter Mitty. “Does it ever occur to you that I am sometimes thinking?” She looked at him. “I’m going to take your temperature when I get you home,” she said.’

via James Thurber: “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” : The New Yorker.

Always loved reading this story in school.