Poplicola

Time for another Gathering of the Juggalos already? Sweet!

Calling all Juggalos! It’s just about time for another Gathering of the Juggalos! The eleventh one!? Can you believe it’s been that many years? Neither can I. Feels like just yesterday we discovered chugging Faygo and hating conformists. Well, time get ready; it’s coming right up: This is what you have been waiting for, Juggalos! Here is the super huge mega commercial that will fill you in on what you can expect from the 2010 Gathering of the Juggalos going down at The Hatchet Landings in Cave-in-Rock, Illinois August 12th — 15th! CHECK IT OUT! I hope everybody brings...

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New York Times Columnist Line of the Day – 19 July 2010

yellow new york taxi in front of new york times building

If you’re one of the four-or-so frequent readers of this here blog, chances are you also occasionally check out the New York Times op-ed page. You may even know the names: Thomas “Friedman’s Just Another Word For Nothing Left to Lose” Friedman, Gail “The Colander” Collins, Nicholas “The Dark Crystal” Kristof, &c. Well, I’ve decided to devote a daily feature to these folks, by daily pointing out one line that is either awesome, funny, insightful, intelligent, ridiculous, or utterly divorced from reality. I hope you enjoy. Today’s is from Ross “Do That Thing” Douthat, who in his...

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Morning Constitional – Monday, 19 July 2010

white ceramic mug beside book on gray textile

Good morning, everybody. Mel Gibson might be moving back to Australia. Now, your morning constitutional: In a report called “Top Secret America,” the Washington Post reveals the results of a two-year investigation into the security buildup after 9/11, finding that intelligence gathering has grown so much that nobody knows is exact costs, how many programs exist, or how many people are involved. The U.S will allow BP to continue its pressure test of the containment dome over the busted oil well in the Gulf, despite possible seepage problems. President Obama finds an unlikely ally on immigration reform:...

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How long until we're employed again?

selective focus photo of stacked coins

The economy seems to be leveling out, but how long will it take to get employment back to where it was before the Great Recession? Brookings has this frightening chart with some explanation: In recent months, on this blog, we described the job gap — the number of jobs it would take to return to employment levels from before the Great Recession, while also accounting for the 125,000 people who enter the labor force in a typical month. After today’s employment numbers, the job gap stands at almost 11.3 million jobs. How long will it take to...

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Morning Constitutional – Friday, 16 July 2010

Good morning, everybody. The guy who blackmailed Letterman learned he was nominated for an Emmy while in jail. Now, your morning constitutional: Too early for good news? Well, oil has stopped spilling out of the busted well in the Gulf, and while it may be premature, any good news is exciting. Financial reform passed Congress yesterday, another big win for the Obama administration. But will Americans notice or care? A new Pew Research poll finds that only 34 percent of Americans are aware that the government’s bailout of the banks was actually under President Bush, while 47...

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Morning Constitutional – Thursday, 15 July 2010

Good morning, folks. Landon Donovan is not having a love child. Now, your morning constitutional: Financial regulation reform to be voted on in the Senate today and likely to pass. Former SEC Chair Harvey Pitt thinks it will create more problems than it solves. Paul Volcker gives it a “B.” Why are some financial instruments called “exotic?” BP has fixed an equipment problem on a new cap for the broken well in the Gulf and will move ahead with a test which could lead to stopping the oil spill. Argentina approves same-sex marriage, making it the first...

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Candidate for Congress Ed Martin thinks Barack Obama wants to stop you from being saved

person hands on holy bible

Via TPM, we learn that Ed Martin, who seems to get his energy from the tea party movement, is afraid that the president wants to take away your freedom to worship. His logic? Well: One thing I like to say is: America is great, not because of our genetics. We’re great because we created a place and space where people can be free. And they can choose Christ, they can choose to be faithful. They can worship, and they find their way to the Lord. And — or some of them don’t. We sure want them all...

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New York Times Columnist Line of the Day – 14 July 2010

yellow new york taxi in front of new york times building

If you’re one of the four-or-so frequent readers of this here blog, chances are you also occasionally check out the New York Times op-ed page. You may even know the names: Thomas “Friedman’s Just Another Word For Nothing Left to Lose” Friedman, Gail “The Colander” Collins, Nicholas “The Dark Crystal” Kristof, &c. Well, I’ve decided to devote a daily feature to these folks, by daily pointing out one line that is either awesome, funny, insightful, intelligent, ridiculous, or utterly divorced from reality. I hope you enjoy. Today’s is from Thomas “Tommy Boy” Friedman, who in his column...

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Morning Constitutional – Wednesday, 14 July 2010

open book beside white ceramic teacup on saucer

Happy Bastille day, everybody. Bristol and Levi are engaged (again). Now, your morning constitutional: President Obama has nominated Jacob Lew to be the next director of the Office of Management and Budget. Lew had previously held the same position in the last few years of the Clinton administration, and most recently was deputy secretary of state. BP has placed a new cap on the broken oil well in the Gulf and has high hopes for its success. However, testing has been delayed. The NAACP passed a resolution on Tuesday condemning what it feels is rampant racism in...

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"Irrational Prejudice"

Free pride flag image

I’m on my way out of town right now, but a pretty huge development occurred yesterday that really needs mentioning before I go. In two decisions yesterday,  Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. HHS and Gill v. Office of Personnel Management, U.S. District Judge Joseph Tauro held section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) unconstitutional. The Defense of Marriage Act, which was passed back in the ’90s in a cynical play against a weakened President Clinton when same-sex marriage was barely on the horizon, prohibits the federal government from recognizing either state-sanctioned or non-state-sanctioned same-sex marriages and...

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