Monday, September 25, 2006
Paging Mr. Orwell
"WAR IS PEACE."
"IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH."
Those were two of the mantras of "The Party" in George Orwell's 1984. Perhaps Newsweek magazine is trying to make bedfellows with the GOP, thinking they'll be the favorite of that party in the future (you know, if it ever completely destroys the Democrats). Perhaps they just think that Americans really are stronger in their ignorance. I don't know, but their latest cover selections have to make you ask the question.
While Newsweek readers across the globe were pitched a story about the latest U.S. failures in Afghanistan, news that could be very bad for Republicans desperately trying to scare up votes, Americans were served a profile of Annie Leibovitz. Leibovitz is the famous photographer who scored the first pictures of Suri Cruise.
To be fair, the article in question did run in the American editions of Newsweek, but you'd have never known that by passing the newsstand.
Vanity Fair: eat your heart out. Americans concerned with real news: eat shit.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
"Ann Richards Will Take Your Ass Out"
As memories of the late Ann Richards continue to flood the Internet, I'm particularly fond of remembrances of her incredible sense of humor. The clip above is from the Alamo Drafthouse Theatre in Austin. The only thing that would make this post better is a copy of the Doritos commercial she did with former New York Governor Mario Quomo.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
“She Opened Government to Everyone”
Austin American-Statesman Photo
Ann Richards, the 45th Governor of Texas, is dead. As reported by the Austin American-Statesman, she "died Wednesday night at her home surrounded by her family after a battle with cancer, a family spokeswoman said. She was 73."
"Richards was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in March and underwent chemotherapy treatments."
"Her four adult children spent the day with her, said Cathy Bonner, a longtime family friend and family spokeswoman."
Speaking personally, this blogger is absolutely heartbroken. I cannot even begin to express the loss that Texans have suffered tonight. Any such attempt would be an exercise in futility. Instead, I'll close this post with a quote from an interview that Richards gave shortly after leaving the Governor's mansion.
"I did not want my tombstone to read, 'She kept a really clean house.' I think I'd like them to remember me by saying, 'She opened government to everyone.' "
