Brüno - Is it Really that Complicated?

I'm not sure why some of the reviews of Brüno are so negative. I think the point is to bring to life the ridiculous notions that homophobes have of gay people. And then proceed to throw it in their faces.

I guess some would dismiss Cohen's targets as obvious. Alabama hunters, cage-fighting fans, etc. But I thought the past decade in American politics has taught us not to ignore this bloc. My guess is that many people in America think that this is how all gay people behave: with flamboyance on 11 and an overcharged, indiscriminate sexuality.

I've been a fan of Cohen for a while. I'm guessing this could be his swan song for the triumvirate of Ali G, Borat, and Brüno. It's been fun.

Dump IE6, please.

It's really time for it to go.

DUMP IE6

I Zotted my Facebook Page

I had been waiting for an excuse to kill my Facebook page for some time. I finally found it.

http://mashable.com/2009/07/17/facebook-dating-ads-2/

Apparently the ad was served by a third party, but who cares? Through this story I learned that I was opted in by default for Facebook to use my image in ads. That's ridiculous. I'm through with that garbage. I spoke to a few old friends through it, but I can't really say I'll miss it.

Will Palin ever be a distant memory?

I surely hope so. Retreating from the Alaska governorship early? This person was almost our VP? Wow. Once again, something to truly be thankful for on July 4 weekend.

July 4th Sanity Check

It's July 4, 2009. This Independence Day feels better than the last eight, truly. Whether Obama or McCain had won, we knew that either of them would inherit the mother of all bad hands. And yet despite all the economic turmoil of the past year, I still feel more optimism than I have in approximately a decade.

Why? Obama-fever? No, not quite. I do like Obama, but yesterday I watched Errol Morris' Standard Operating Procedure. I had wanted to see it in theatres but missed out. I found it available on streaming Netflix earlier in the week and got around to it during yesterday's day off. (I also had it on the brain due to a mention during This American Life's recent "Fall Guy" episode.)

It took me a while to see where Morris was going with SOP. But isn't the point that, while yes, everything we see in the Abu Ghraib photos is despicable, it's also something of a distraction? Something of a convenient incident for a show trial? And something quite minor when compared to what was happening "off camera?" All of the interviewees talk about being instructed to soften up the prisoners for interrogations...

I guess the punchline is that while sicking dogs on detainees (yes, some prisoners were bitten); forcing them to masturbate; fooling them into thinking they might be electrocuted; etc.; is torture, it is the tip of the iceberg. The iceberg being systematic, illegal torture condoned by the highest ranking people in our political system. Lyndie England? Pawn. As I write this, do you realize she is only 26?

I don't think it's possible to succeed in politics without compromise. But I also think we have emerged from some very dark times.