Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

“What are Republicans afraid of?” Everything.

Stop using mental illness to avoid talking about armed white supremacy.

In after Baud. Damn.

When your entire life is steeped in white supremacy, equality feels like discrimination.

Their boy Ron is an empty plastic cup that will never know pudding.

Nothing says ‘pro-life’ like letting children go hungry.

Pessimism assures that nothing of any importance will change.

It is possible to do the right thing without the promise of a cookie.

Boeing: repeatedly making the case for high speed rail.

Do we throw up our hands or do we roll up our sleeves? (hint, it’s door #2)

We won’t go back.

Wake up. Grow up. Get in the fight.

Innocent people don’t delay justice.

Meanwhile over at truth Social, the former president is busy confessing to crimes.

Tick tock motherfuckers!

Tide comes in. Tide goes out. You can’t explain that.

White supremacy is terrorism.

Republicans firmly believe having an abortion is a very personal, very private decision between a woman and J.D. Vance.

Elections aren’t won by handwringing, cowering, and/or bashing your own candidates.

Seems like a complicated subject, have you tried yelling at it?

Why is it so hard for them to condemn hate?

We will not go quietly into the night; we will not vanish without a fight.

The words do not have to be perfect.

They love authoritarianism, but only when they get to be the authoritarians.

You are here: Home / Music / Good One

Reader Interactions

76Comments

  3. 3.

    handsmile

    Or “antidote,” perhaps?

    More importantly, what a lovely way to begin the evening. Thanks!
    (apologies if I’ve missed a pun; end of the week and all….)

  5. 5.

    Violet

    Wow, that’s excellent. Thanks for posting it. I didn’t know Woolworth’s still existed. They closed in the UK a few years ago.

  8. 8.

    SiubhanDuinne

    I think you mean “antidote,” not “anecdote.”

    Or maybe not. It’s so rare to have the opportunity of correcting Tom Levenson’s writing that now I’m thinking I might be missing a really clever joke.

    ETA: I see Cervantes and handsmile got there first. Change it, Tom. Every time you let a typo go uncorrected, the errorists win.

  10. 10.

    scav

    @Tom levenson: At this point, hasn’t it nearly become an anecdote, albeit about a post, not person. And it certainly provides a mild diversion to the rest of the day — although a distant second to the song. I’m greedy, I’ll take both.

  13. 13.

    Sister Inspired Revolver of Freedom

    I’ve watched it twice already and I keep crying every time. Not sure I can handle a third. Glad I missed the memorial which sounds like a big mess, except for Obama’s speech. But I’m determined to watch the funeral and I know I’ll be an emotional wreck by the time it’s over.

  14. 14.

    Mnemosyne

    It’s always funny to see how stores with the same name are different in different places. Since the sign on the store says “Woolworths Food,” I’m assuming it’s more of a grocery store than the 5-and-dime I think of when I think “Woolworths.”

    In Arizona, Fry’s is a grocery store, but in California, it’s an electronics and appliance store (sort of a cross between a hobby store and Best Buy). But not only is the name the same, the logo is almost identical. Weird.

  18. 18.

    lamh36

    @Sister Inspired Revolver of Freedom: actually, the memorial wasn’t a big mess. The MSM were only interested in POTUS and the usual MSM BS.

    Mandela’s grandchildren were great and the dignitaries that spoke (mostly in their own language I believe) like the UN Sec Gen Moon spoke very eloquently. The MSM coverage did not do the memorial justice, IMHO.

    Anyhoo, NOLA is also honoring Mandela as only NOLA can:

    James Andrews to lead second line in honor of Nelson Mandela Sunday

    The passing of former South African president and global human rights icon Nelson Mandela on Dec. 5, 2013, prompted a massive outpouring of heartfelt remembrance and mourning worldwide, as millions celebrated his formidable legacy…

    And now, he’ll be sent off to his rest New Orleans-style…

    I’m mad I’ve got to work, so I’m going to miss it.

  21. 21.

    handsmile

    @BGinCHI:

    Not here! And admission is free!

    http://crystalbridges.org/

    Continuing the venerable tradition of plutocrats and their acquisitions. Pay one’s employees a decent wage/provide them with safe working conditions OR purchase a painting for $35 million?

    And it “celebrates the American Spirit”! Just like Walmart’s “everyday low, low prices!”

  25. 25.

    maya

    The end of the vid reminded me of this moment.
    Both took a lot of heat about it at the time, now it’s anniversary worthy.

    We’ll just have to check with George Will, Pat Buchanan and Bill O for the penultimate historical verdict.

  26. 26.

    Mnemosyne

    @ranchandsyrup:

    Really? It’s a store targeted to the geekiest of the computer geeks. Why would you be surprised they have pr0n, too?

    What is kind of funny to me is that they have a very good selection of craft magazines (knitting, quilting, etc.)

  28. 28.

    Mnemosyne

    Hmm, this Newsmax headline seems to indicate that Megyn Kelly’s rant did not go over as well as she thought it would:

    Megyn Kelly to Explain ‘White Santa’ Comments

  32. 32.

    ranchandsyrup

    @lower podunk: I was just quoting a Ween song. But good info that I will chuck in gene and dean ween’s collective face if I see them. Deceivers.
    @Mnemosyne: I get the utility and the benefits to the store and customers. But since kids are in there, I’m surprised they’re allowed to sell. Some nanny state we live in.

  35. 35.

    Yatsuno

    @BGinCHI: Walmart in Canada is all union. The Waltons are trying to change that but even Harper can’t bring himself to suck up to the 1% enough to break them. I think Comrade Mary has more info on that.

  40. 40.

    Baud

    @Yatsuno:

    I’m actually glad they came out afterwards. I don’t think they would have prevented him from being re-elected, and now he can’t claim that the election vindicated him in this matter.

  42. 42.

    lower podunk

    @sacrablue: Grew up in the burbs, used to go downtown every Christmas for the light show at Wanamaker’s and the Enchanted Christmas Village at Lit Brothers. Also dinner at the restaurant at Strawbridge’s, which also usually had good window displays. I miss that stuff. Macy’s is shit.

  44. 44.

    Sister Inspired Revolver of Freedom

    @Amir Khalid: Oh that BS! No, just the fact that a lot of people who were supposed to be there weren’t because of the SNAFU with the trains. Plus people were complaining it was too solemn and should have been more a celebration.

  46. 46.

    Amir Khalid

    @Yatsuno:
    Better late than never, I guess. But I gather there are people, and maybe not just in Jersey, who would have admired the rather gangsterish style this story attributes to Christie.

  49. 49.

    sacrablue

    @lower podunk:I lived in the burbs as well. I worked there for a few years in the 70’s and then moved overseas. I loved going downtown at the holidays. “Meet me at the eagle” was a big deal back then as were luncheon in the ninth floor restaurant complete with tea sandwiches. I was long gone by the time Macy’s took over.

  52. 52.

    Tommy

    Thank you for a happy thought. Watched it twice. I mean IMHO if you are going to do a flash mob, you might as well sing!

    Here is one for you, well I guess not a flash mob. Called Pearls Before Breakfast:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnOPu0_YWhw

    The Washington Post found maybe the best violin player in the world and asked him to play at L’enfant Plaza. That is a Metro station in DC. They wondered if anybody would stop.

    As a former 15 year DC resident, not sure if I would have. The comments, cause shocker nobody stopped, are painful.

    But I like to think, if you watch, there is like a 5-6 year old boy watching all of it. Happy thoughts. Maybe this will change his life. You know, just saying.

  54. 54.

    Eric U.

    @Mnemosyne: @Mnemosyne: Fry’s started out as a grocery. The kids weren’t interested in groceries and took the money their father gave them after selling the grocery chain to start selling electronics and computers. So there is a connection.

  57. 57.

    ranchandsyrup

    @Mnemosyne: The DVD section. Didnt seem to be cordoned off well enough and dont i sound like a prude You’re right about the magazines. I similarly find it odd that one can get magazines at the airport. David Cross on that subject:

    [On airport pornography] I’ve never seen anybody purchase them, but apparently people are. They wouldn’t carry them just for aesthetic purposes. They’re not trying to impress people with their porn collection, you know. So, it’s just a matter of economics…Apparently enough people are goin’ in there goin’ ‘Oh, whoa… All right! The worlds filthiest ball-draining cum-mag! Right on! This ought to make the flight a little more tolerable. Alright. Oh shit! Ha Ha! Page 35: Puckering virgin assholes – alright I gotta get it. Hope nobody is sitting next to me on the plane, because they’re in for a rude awakening. Cause I’m gonna be spankin’ it!’ Ah, it’s weird. I’m not knocking porn, I love porn… but when I go to the airport I don’t have to buy those magazines, because I have this thing called will power. And I utilize it so that I don’t have to whip my dick out in public. I can wait five hours. At least until I’m in the cab on my way home.

  58. 58.

    Tommy

    @efgoldman: I’ve live in a lot of places in this nation, Woolworths is a place I’ve shopped, like in New Orleans. But not for like 20 years. I thought this video might be in South Africa.* Is this in the US?

    *Huge Ladysmith Black Mambazo fan. Not sure many Americans I know can sing like this.

  59. 59.

    Tommy

    @ranchandsyrup: I am no prude, don’t think you are. I don’t fly as much as I used to, but alas I buy like 3-5 magazines before I get on a plane. I am always stunned that they have like Huslter. Look Playboy does in fact have good articles from time to time, but Huslter, well that is just porn. I got nothing against that, but I would not open that next to you on a plane.

  60. 60.

    PurpleGirl

    Tom: Thank you for this post. The Soweto Gospel Choir is magnificent. The flash mob aspect of it is most modern and made me giggle, but the song itself was beautiful and I’ve played it several times. When I read Cry, the Beloved Country I would never have imagined that South Africa could become what it has. (Never dreamt of such a thing as a flash mob, either.) It was a beautiful and moving tribute to Mr. Mandela.

    lamh36: Thank you for the information on the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club. BJ is a great place to learn new and interesting things.

  62. 62.

    Comrade Mary

    @Yatsuno: Sorry, sweetie, Canuck Walmarts aren’t union at all. The one remaining certified Walmart we had in Saskatchewan overwhelmingly voted to decertify earlier this year. I would love to know what went on there. There were a couple of stores in Québec that were unionized, but workers voted to decertify one and Walmart closed the other.

    You may already know about the unionization saga of McDonald’s.

    We did have unionized pizza order takers and Swiss Chalet (family restaurant) servers for a while in the 80s and 90s, but yeah, not much otherwise.

  63. 63.

    Violet

    @Tommy: I’ve had people watch almost-pornographic movies on their laptops and tablets while sitting right next to me on a plane. One guy was watching some dudebro type movie with lots of topless women in it and when he saw that I glanced over at his screen at one point he pointedly turned the laptop away from me so I couldn’t see it. I didn’t really care what he was watching, but it still seemed rather discourteous of him to watch that kind of movie on a plane where his seatmates could hardly help but see it.

  64. 64.

    Mnemosyne

    @ranchandsyrup:

    Ah, okay — either they don’t have that video section in my local store or I haven’t stumbled across it (and given how poorly organized the store often is, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s the latter). At least with magazines you can put them on the upper shelves behind the taller dividers so the kiddies don’t get an eyeful as they ride past in the shopping cart.

  65. 65.

    Tommy

    Well there is the problem. Would you find True Blood in the same vain? I don’t know. I just would not ask you, as a person sitting next to me, to figure this out.

  67. 67.

    Violet

    @Tommy: These days the planes often have either live TV where people can watch anything they want, or a bunch of movies and TV shows on demand. They often have less than G-rated visual content and it’s pretty hard to avoid seeing them if the screen is on the seatback of the person sitting next to you.

  70. 70.

    lower podunk

    @sacrablue: Not to stray too OT (beautiful clip, btw, Tom, love it!), but have you been back at all recently? The eagle, the organ, and the light show are still there. The tattered remnants of the Enchanted Village from Lit’s were on display last year at Memorial Hall — very sad looking compared to a fascinated child’s memory of them. I’ve searched around but have not been able to find out what became of the statue of the boar that was in the Strawbridge’s downtown store.

  75. 75.

    Robin

    Actually Woolworths is ubiquitous in all of the bigger South African cities. The one in this clip is pretty much the standard model. There’s no real equivalent here in the US in terms of the shopping experience. Sells clothing, linen and groceries… good quality, reasonable prices, and top class customer service. When I was a kid in the ’60s Woolies sold cheap clothing (I suspect the model was the same in the UK at the time) but in the 80’s started moving to the more up-market boutique-ish experience it is today. This is an ad, but it’s a beautiful and respectful one, yet another in the many post-Mandela’s death responses from South Africans that makes me proud to be one myself.

Comments are closed.