Sean Hannity: Another Absurd Analogy

Today the strange and unusual Sean Hannity welcomed a caller onto his show, and this caller did not support the war. The caller's position was that the war in Iraq was wrong and that the troops should be brought home. Sean Hannity, in his predictable way, trotted out two analogies which are by now surely threadbare from use. These are:

1. Well, you peacenik commie red-tinged diaperhead, what if there was a woman screaming from your neighbor's house, and she was being raped, and you heard it, would you just sit in your house watching the Price is Right while she got raped and then died?

2. What about Adolf Hitler, I suppose you'd nurture him in your bosom as well? Would you dandle him on your knee and feed him bon-bons and compliments, you liberal pansy nerd?

Like I said, I've heard him say these things before, and I always try and just smile and shake my head and say, "Ah, Sean Hannity, all the subtlety of a market hog." But today, I snapped, and I must say, if not to him, then to you: THESE ARE NOT MEANINGFUL ANALOGIES. THEY ARE IDIOTIC. If these analogies were to actually remotely apply to the Iraq war, it would be like this:

1. If some guy in another town and his gang of vicious ne'er do wells were reportedly beating each other up, would you bundle up your children and send them through the forest to this other town to fight the guy? Iraq is not our neighbor. And they did not ask for our assistance.

2. What if Hitler had stayed within his borders and confined his hideous deeds to his own lands, kind of like... oh... I don't know... several present-day leaders spring immediately to mind. Would you send your military to invade and depose him, knowing that the Germans would fight you tooth and nail? Hussein was not Hitler. There are other evil dictators holed up in their own countries, making their people miserable.

Of course, if I put these points to Mr. Hannity, he would respond thusly:

1. Yes, of course it is our duty to rid the world of terrorists, however far away, however obscure, however isolated. We are Great Americans! Why do you like terrorists so much? Are *you* a terrorist?

2. So, you want Hussein back in power? Yes or no? Answer the question. Why can't you answer a yes or no question? Do you or do you not want Saddam Hussein to take control of Iraq again? Yes or no?

It is pointless, I know. Why the devil I listen to his asshatted show confounds me. And what is with this "You're a great American" thing anyway? How does he know what kind of Americans his callers are? The only thing that qualifies an American for greatness, in Hannitlandia, is to affirm the greatness of Hannity. Ridiculous. I'm waiting for someone to get that "You're a great American!" response, and lob back, "Surprise, Sean, I'm a pedophile *and* a tax evader! Snap!"

Or maybe I'm just waiting for some smart caller to say those simple sentences: Hannity, your analogy blows. They aren't our neighbors, and they weren't asking for help. Put that one back in the drawer until the Canadian ambassador asks us to support the people of Canada as they overthrow the Prime Minister.

WON'T SOMEBODY PLEASE DO THIS? Now *that* would be a great American.

sean+hannity hannity bush iraq talk+radio conservativism republicans

Walk

Basketball

Star

Fan

Making muffins

Done

Intermission

Opera seats

Handel's Agrippina at the Virginia Opera

How do you take a seven year old to see baroque opera? Especially when the opera is over three hours long? Read my article on the subject, including such salient points as "How to justify ignoring the lady behind you!" and "What's a snack that neither crunches nor rattles?" at my homeschooling blog on the local paper's web site.

opera handel agrippina

Hmm

Hat and Mittens

  On the way to Wisconsin, in the van, I made these mittens and hat for Benny:

The mittens turned out dreadfully misshapen, with enormous thumbs. At least there were two of them this time. And yes, I mishandled the yarn end and accidentally threaded the white part through the brown part.

So the hat has a little yarn worm infestation.

Do not use yarn mittens for playing in the snow. He bravely persevered as the lousy things became clotted with ice and completely soaking wet. Okay, these are for style, not utility.

I didn't ask him why the snowman had four segments, instead of the traditional three. I assume it was something along the lines of "This one goes to eleven."

I kind of wish it would snow here. I violently hate snow and cold weather and categorically reject outerwear. I calmly made it through our trip to the north country in only a cardigan, and my Uggs, natch. My dearest wish is that global warming will make winter more balmy -- the balmier the better. But for Benny's sake, I could handle a little snow. Where else, except on Lost, does happiness fall from the sky in clumps?

Swimmer

Swim

Gym

Pig Dresses

I made these matching dresses for Sadie and her cousin Sydney. Here they are modeling them at Benny and Sadie's joint birthday party when we were up in Wisconsin visiting Dan's family:

Watching these two together was so enchanting. They were best friends instantly, and almost immediately started referring to themselves as "we" -- as in "We want to play elephants!" and "We want some milk!" They had so much fun in four days, it is difficult to imagine what shenanigans they'd get up to if we lived closer. Sydney is only three months older. Aren't they cute?

Tb

Tb

Beach

Arthur and the Invisibles

This movie got dreadful reviews. It's rating on Rotten Tomatoes was absolutely dire. Fourteen percent I think. Critics said it was unimaginative, dull, predictable, disappointing, that "only kids will enjoy it."

Well, if only kids will enjoy it, then that sounds like a great movie, in my book. What's wrong with kids enjoying a movie that's *for kids*? Plus, it was directed by Luc Besson, and his magnum opus, "The Fifth Element," is one of my top ten movies of all time. So, we took the kids to see Arthur and the Invisibles yesterday, and BOY am I glad we didn't listen to the critics. This movie was completely brilliant. Here's a quote from my son: "This was the greatest movie ever."

Were there sarcastic pop culture references? No. Was there a retro pop music sountrack? No. The movie was sweetly devoid of nudges and winks to the parents in the audience, and the score was original and orchestral. So, I guess that takes it out of the formula for what's popular now in kids' movies. The question I have, though, is this: Are popular kids movies really popular with kids? Look what happened to "Cars." Look what happened to "Chicken Little." These movies came and went, and nobody cared. "Over the Hedge"? Phppt. "Open Season"? Whatever.

In my opinion, the problem with these high budget, massive-marketing movies is that they're too complicated in general, and too complicated with adult themes specifically. Critics complained that "Arthur and the Invisibles" was too predictable, and maybe, yes, it was a little bit, for those of us in our thirties. I wasn't exactly on the edge of my seat to see if Arthur would succeed in his quest. But you know what? My seven-year-old son has never seen the "Have to go on an adventure to the scary place so you can find the treasure to save the farm" story played out before. And he's the one the movie was for.

So, is there nothing for the adults in the audience? Please. We're talking about Luc Besson here! The movie is beautiful. The blending of CGI with real life was amazing. The "costumes" of the creatures in the magic world looked like a CGI version of Jean Paul Gaultier. I enjoyed myself richly, and without the 70's songs and references to pop psychology! Imagine! Mia Farrow was terrific, and all of the sets -- both the CGI and the real life ones -- were so cool. In some ways, it was like watching "The Fifth Element" all over again, but reimagined for kids. It was the most fun I've had in a movie theater since "Capote." How do you like that?

One point: My kids weren't terribly bothered by the CGI violence, but the villain is rather scary and my three year old daughter was a little overwhelmed at times -- had to retreat to Daddy's collar bone. Because of the artistry of the movie and the subtlety of the effects, I don't think it translated to a fear that would survive outside the theater, but some smaller kids might find it pretty unsettling.

I'm thankful that Luc Besson made this film the way he wanted to make it, instead of bowing to current trends that brought us such steaming piles as "Hoodwinked" and "Barnyard." I'm glad I followed my instinct and trusted my faith in this director, instead of listening to the critics. Do go and see this movie -- and prepare yourself for a visual treat.

movies arthur+and+the+invisibles luc+besson reviews movie+reviews

Ice cream

Mall

Movies

TV Store

Ice Age 2 on DVD

You may remember that the first movie we took Sadie to see in a theater was Ice Age 2, which both of the children very much loved. Their favorite part, by far, in the movie, was the saber-tooth squirrel, Scrat. Scrat was their favorite thing about the first movie, their favorite thing about the second movie, and the good news is that Ice Age 2 on DVD includes a brand new short featuring -- YOU GUESSED IT -- Scrat. Obviously these people know that while mammoths-who-think-they-are-possums are funny in the short term, the enduring laughs come from neurotic rodents. Of course *my* reason for liking this franchise is the voice talent -- you can't beat John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, and Ray Romano. Truly.

Other benefits of this DVD include: Lots of extra features like a little thingy on each prehistoric animal (educational!), a blooper reel (you know I am all about the bloopers!), and a sneek peek at the upcoming Simpson's Movie.

A GOOD DVD. FOR YOU AND ME. Ice Age 2: The Meltdown.



movies ice+age ray+romano reviews dvds

Christmas Morning

I had such a backlog of pictures that I didn't post any of our Christmas ones.

Here are the kids on Christmas morning. Sadie asked Santa for a Jessie costume (from Toy Story 2) and Benny asked Santa for a Buzz Lightyear with space wings (since his Buzz has an attack pack, not space wings, and he really really needed the one with space wings, and I said, well, Mommy isn't going to do something as foolish as buying another near duplicate Buzz Lightyear just because this one is "the right one" and the other one is "just different" but if you try Santa, maybe he will engage in such frivolity). Santa came through.

Here's Benny's dream coming true, as you can see he dressed thematically for the event:

Here's Sadie -- the first thing she opened was the Jessie hair, which confused her, but once she got the hat open, it all became gloriously clear.

Santa even sent little pink cowboy boots in her stocking. That Santa, he thinks of everything.

Here's a little bonus craziness from the "Benny's Signs" file:

It says "Notice! Children's Room! Thay ned privesey Keep Out! WELL? Sometime.

Then below there's a place to sign when you've been noticed. I was the first one to be noticed, see? He hung a little pen on a string with tape beside the sign. It's the Christmas crazies!

Sadie is Three. Just ask her.

How to turn three:

1. Eat cake.

2. Open presents.

3. Play outside in your party dress.

We had such the perfect day on Sadie's birthday. We went and got balloons. We went and got cake. We had our best friends over. The kids played all day. It was bliss from start to finish. Tons and Tons more pictures, as well as tons of pictures from our Wisconsin trip, on my Flickr site.

Painting

Neurosurgery Dr.

Goose

Periscope

Dog cacher

Cacher

Cacher

Earrings

Dog

Superfancy

Making friends

Princess

Doctor Situation

So, I went to the orthopedic surgeon guy today to see about the results of the MRI, and he said this: I have spondololysthesis, which we already knew, and have known for years, but in addition now I have a herniated disc at the site of the spondololysthesis (where the vertebrae have shifted and aren't aligned right) which means that the disc is kind of, in the doctor's words, and I'm not kidding, "POOCHED OUT" and is extruded. Extruded, I tell you! Ah, the sheer extrusion of it all!

This means that I have to go to a back specialist person. The pain I'm having is caused by the extruded disc pressing on the spinal cord. So, the historical pain from the spondololysthesis is a muscular kind of pain because the muscles tendons whatever that hold those two vertebrae together get tired and inflamed or wahtever. This pain, though, in the last year or so, is nerve pain, from the spinal cord being extruded on. This also explains my left knee collapsing unpredictably, my foot pain, and essentially everything that's going on with the left side of my body. Apparently the alignment/shifting is more messed up on the left and the disc is "pooching" through on that side more and touching whatever is on that side of my spinal cord more. I have a Motrin prescription for now, until I see this other doctor, who will possibly give me a shot of cortizone which will shrink up the disc and stop it from extruding all over the place.

It SOUNDS bad, but it's actually GREAT because this means that I could be actually FIXED from this, which I never expected. I thought it would be just more of the same crap, be careful, don't do anything fun, take drugs, deal with it. However, this herniated business actually has a course of treatment attached to it, which is awesome! I'm now sorry I was sassy to Dan and stubborn about going to the doctor and that I put off the MRI for six months until he FORCED me to go, and then acted all belligerent and stuff. I'm glad I didn't just tough it out like I wanted to. Because this could actually GO AWAY which would be so awesome. The spondololysthesis will not go away, but this disc thing will and the other thing doesn't bother me NEARLY AT ALL on a regular daily basis.

So. Bad news is good news.

Dr. Ap pt.

Fellini's

Asleep on ballerina bear

Benny

Muffin's repose

Caching

Caching

Caching

Animal

Playdoh

FW: Hi Zoe

Hi Phillip

Slide

Bear is done

Sewing

Multiplication

Play

Best Buy

Sadie