Category Archives: Culture
Manic Depression is a Frustrating Mess
In a pop culture that absolves all sorts of bad behavior with a trip to the Betty Ford Clinic and a weepy Oprah appearance, Charlie Sheen is a breath of fresh air. At least that’s the generous way of looking at it. Here’s Brendan O’Neill quoted by Nick Gillespie in Reason:
“…Sheen is rebelling against the super-conformist modern narrative of weak individuals who need to be saved by psycho-priests.”
Or maybe he really is mentally ill. That seems to be the attraction to the major networks. Step right up and see the Crazy Man! They’ve broken the final TV taboo – exploiting the sick.
Stay tuned for the next reality show, Celebrity Pustules. Sick.
Rule of Law
The president has ruled the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional and ordered the Justice Department not to defend it.
What is the DOMA you ask? Well, according to the WSJ…
it was passed in 1996 by large majorities in both houses of Congress and signed by President Bill Clinton.
The law says the federal government will only recognize marriages that are between a man and a woman. States can still allow same-sex marriages—and five states plus the District of Columbia have done so. But people married under those state laws aren’t accepted as married under federal law.
Same sex couples get unfavorable death tax treatment under the law…
For example, a woman inheriting money from her deceased same-sex partner doesn’t get the tax benefits that federal tax law allows for a person inheriting from a spouse.
A Washington Post editorial, however, points out the two edged swordiness of the president’s approach by asking if a future Republican president might refuse to defend Obamacare from constitutional challenges.
Can You Hear Me Now?
The domino effect has been a standby image at least since the Vietnam war. The social media effect is new.
Kathleen Parker’s column, Tanks vs Twitter, is a good one.
The Indians got More for Manhattan
Five Ohio State football players have been suspended for the first 5 games of next season but not for the upcoming Sugar Bowl. Their offense was to trade championship rings and trinkets for tattoos.
It was tough to decide which target to fire a cartoon at. NCAA greed and hypocrisy for suspending the players, but not until after the big money Sugar Bowl? NCAA greed and hypocrisy for claiming control over the right of free people to exchange their personal property? The stupidity of the players?
It was a tough call, but I went with NCAA greed and hypocrisy number 2.
