Kat and Phoebe, notorious signatories of the Harper's letter on free speech, discuss tasty hats, terrible ballet flats, strange bedfellows in the queer activism community, and why the New York Times hired a Hitler fanboy for its coverage in Gaza. Links:
Oh there is a huge debate over the cost/benefits of mammograms and cancer screening generally. The issue is that historically people have always pointed to the cancers detected and said “see we saved these peoples lives!” but if you actually look at all-cause mortality the benefits are often less clear, probably because screening picks up lots of cancers that maybe aren’t that dangerous. It looks like the current data point to “yes” but it’s often less clearcut than the various public health agencies would admit to (wasn’t there a big fight recently over screening women in their 30a).
It seems to me that there's a lot of condescension going on; they'll tell you it's somehow racist to expect people to know better than to be Hitler fanboys. I remember after 9/11 somebody quite progressive saying that they saw the perpetrators as, you know, children throwing a temper tantrum. Well no -- they were grown adults.
Also you can tell my mom is a hippie from the photos of my childhood ballet class, in which I am the only kid in a forest green leotard. Where did she even find it?
I’m conflicted on how I feel about this issue. There’s someone in my graduate class who is here on a Fulbright scholarship from a Muslim country who got in trouble for her support of Hamas as a “resistance group” on her Twitter account (and generally other anti-American tweets). Is it okay for the US government to reprimand her saying she’s not respecting the intent of the program, or is this a violation of free speech? If she lost her Fulbright scholarship, is that an example of cancel culture? That’s probably the most salient example I’ve encountered in real life.
I also have never been able touch my toes (without bending my knees). Couldn't do it when I was in the Army doing PT five days a week, can't do it now at 40 when I do yoga three days a week.
Phoebe noted that she finds it a bit suspicious that the gender-criticals would strongly align against the Hamas apologists. I actually don't. Many gender-criticals are left-sympathizers who grew very suspicious of their own side when it started to espouse nutty ideas like "male people should be allowed in female-only spaces" and "female is a feeling." So they're quick to notice other nutty lefty things too, because they don't *want* left politics to be nutty. That's my take, anyway.
On Queers For Palestine; I will weigh in because I am a gay. The group is a cultural extension of BLM-aligned ideology. None of the gays I know are part of it. I imagine the group censors any information about homophobia among Muslims in general or violence/murder of homosexuals in Gaza. In 2017, I read a book by a CUNY queer professor about how homosexuality was supposedly very compatible with West Bank/Gaza. Book had no data, nor evidence, but reached its’ conclusion by connecting theoretical idea A to idea B, idea C to idea D; “which therefore means that Palestinians are pro-homosexual.” It was all BS and manipulation like typical DEI stuff.
A porkpie hat has a lower crown than a trilby or fedora hat. Back in the second-wave ska days of 79 and 80 this mattered. Pauline Black of The Selecter wore a fedora, not a porkpie. Porkpie from the sitcom Desmond's, I'm not sure if he wore an appropriate hat for his name, but it didn't matter as he was the funniest character anyway.
So much to comment on. For free speech reasons, I oppose the banning or firing of the Hitler-fan journalist. The woke STASSI would have another weapon in their “Fire John Doe” arsenal. I would want to know however if info is sourced from him or not him. I might as well add a historical piece (uncertain of accuracy). There is a story that a leading Imam from Palestine lived in Berlin for several years during Nazi era with close association with Hitler and was concerned that Jews fleeing Germany would immigrate to Palestine and so allegedly argued that they should be killed rather than be allowed to leave Germany.
True. The Grand Mufti (if I have that right) of Jerusalem was cozy with Adolf. And there were some Muslim regiments, probably not many, in the Wehrmacht.
On recent Pro-Palestinian display at American College campuses; Consider the effect of Equity Program in city-gov public school K-12 and public university. Not only do White people “owe a debt to non-White”- globally; but Equity ideology (2018 APHA) defines physical violence, and “psychological violence” and “other forms of violence”. I interpret that reference to mean “systemic oppression.” I see it as the criminal writing the law book. I saw the 2018 reference in 2022 and I suspected that it was conceptualized to justify unprovoked violence. I felt disturbed by it. ( Toronto is also an Equity city. ) The Equity Program that our taxes pay for- refuses to be transparent. When protesters are in the street acting disrespectful; we discover a problem. But, we the public are not allowed to know beforehand. That has to change. Anyway- In mid-October, I advised all 50 governors to abolish Equity Program by Dec 31, 2023.
Wait, are porkpie hats kosher?
Oh there is a huge debate over the cost/benefits of mammograms and cancer screening generally. The issue is that historically people have always pointed to the cancers detected and said “see we saved these peoples lives!” but if you actually look at all-cause mortality the benefits are often less clear, probably because screening picks up lots of cancers that maybe aren’t that dangerous. It looks like the current data point to “yes” but it’s often less clearcut than the various public health agencies would admit to (wasn’t there a big fight recently over screening women in their 30a).
This just came across on a related issue: https://asteriskmag.com/issues/04/you-re-invited-to-a-colonoscopy?ref=thebrowser.com
It seems to me that there's a lot of condescension going on; they'll tell you it's somehow racist to expect people to know better than to be Hitler fanboys. I remember after 9/11 somebody quite progressive saying that they saw the perpetrators as, you know, children throwing a temper tantrum. Well no -- they were grown adults.
Also you can tell my mom is a hippie from the photos of my childhood ballet class, in which I am the only kid in a forest green leotard. Where did she even find it?
"How dare those people whose values they hold sacred that I've mocked mercilessly for the past three years not drop everything to come to my defense."
“The plastic that their clothing is made of is more recyclable than other places...” I love Phoebe’s subtle burns.
I’m conflicted on how I feel about this issue. There’s someone in my graduate class who is here on a Fulbright scholarship from a Muslim country who got in trouble for her support of Hamas as a “resistance group” on her Twitter account (and generally other anti-American tweets). Is it okay for the US government to reprimand her saying she’s not respecting the intent of the program, or is this a violation of free speech? If she lost her Fulbright scholarship, is that an example of cancel culture? That’s probably the most salient example I’ve encountered in real life.
Unless her scholarship required her to sign a form saying she wouldn’t say what she said, I don’t think she should be punished.
Shoulda made the eating joke.
I also have never been able touch my toes (without bending my knees). Couldn't do it when I was in the Army doing PT five days a week, can't do it now at 40 when I do yoga three days a week.
Everybody who says the “eat my hat” thing should have one of these handy:
https://www.reddit.com/r/SimpsonsFaces/comments/6kn2wo/when_you_have_a_nacho_hat/?rdt=58999
Phoebe noted that she finds it a bit suspicious that the gender-criticals would strongly align against the Hamas apologists. I actually don't. Many gender-criticals are left-sympathizers who grew very suspicious of their own side when it started to espouse nutty ideas like "male people should be allowed in female-only spaces" and "female is a feeling." So they're quick to notice other nutty lefty things too, because they don't *want* left politics to be nutty. That's my take, anyway.
I’m not sure what the best use of my time is. But hearing Kat say “Calm your tits” is certainly high on the list.
On Queers For Palestine; I will weigh in because I am a gay. The group is a cultural extension of BLM-aligned ideology. None of the gays I know are part of it. I imagine the group censors any information about homophobia among Muslims in general or violence/murder of homosexuals in Gaza. In 2017, I read a book by a CUNY queer professor about how homosexuality was supposedly very compatible with West Bank/Gaza. Book had no data, nor evidence, but reached its’ conclusion by connecting theoretical idea A to idea B, idea C to idea D; “which therefore means that Palestinians are pro-homosexual.” It was all BS and manipulation like typical DEI stuff.
A porkpie hat has a lower crown than a trilby or fedora hat. Back in the second-wave ska days of 79 and 80 this mattered. Pauline Black of The Selecter wore a fedora, not a porkpie. Porkpie from the sitcom Desmond's, I'm not sure if he wore an appropriate hat for his name, but it didn't matter as he was the funniest character anyway.
So much to comment on. For free speech reasons, I oppose the banning or firing of the Hitler-fan journalist. The woke STASSI would have another weapon in their “Fire John Doe” arsenal. I would want to know however if info is sourced from him or not him. I might as well add a historical piece (uncertain of accuracy). There is a story that a leading Imam from Palestine lived in Berlin for several years during Nazi era with close association with Hitler and was concerned that Jews fleeing Germany would immigrate to Palestine and so allegedly argued that they should be killed rather than be allowed to leave Germany.
True. The Grand Mufti (if I have that right) of Jerusalem was cozy with Adolf. And there were some Muslim regiments, probably not many, in the Wehrmacht.
On recent Pro-Palestinian display at American College campuses; Consider the effect of Equity Program in city-gov public school K-12 and public university. Not only do White people “owe a debt to non-White”- globally; but Equity ideology (2018 APHA) defines physical violence, and “psychological violence” and “other forms of violence”. I interpret that reference to mean “systemic oppression.” I see it as the criminal writing the law book. I saw the 2018 reference in 2022 and I suspected that it was conceptualized to justify unprovoked violence. I felt disturbed by it. ( Toronto is also an Equity city. ) The Equity Program that our taxes pay for- refuses to be transparent. When protesters are in the street acting disrespectful; we discover a problem. But, we the public are not allowed to know beforehand. That has to change. Anyway- In mid-October, I advised all 50 governors to abolish Equity Program by Dec 31, 2023.