The photos of the "crowds" at the tank parade remind me of when Bill Hicks would come on stage in an almost-empty club, scan the room slowly, and announce "I've had more people in bed than this" ...
When the president sends a cabinet member on TV to announce "We are using the military to liberate an American city from its elected leaders," where do you go from there. What is left to say. The idea of that being anything short of a near-universal "Wait, what the fuck is going on" moment proves how far we've backslid.
This is from 2022 but it was absolutely right. The practiced buffoonery of Trump 1, all the "just kiddings" and "seriously but not literallys" absolutely succeeded in desensitizing people who are hardly paying any attention to the harder stuff they always intended to do next. ...
The basic fallacy in chasing votes by being "tough on immigration" is that the modal American's position on the issue is "Deport the Bad ones and keep the Good ones," and they alone know who is which, and that simply does not translate into workable policy. So this kind of gestapo stuff horrifies some of the same people who cheered when Trump promised to do it. There are true sociopaths who love this, but "No, I meant only the BAD immigrants! Not my coworker/friend/neighbor!" is as likely a reaction as enthusiasm. You cannot do immigration policy that satisfies these people because what they want is nonsensical.
So by the time center-left parties fully commit to chasing the far right by "getting tough" on immigration, the backlash has already begun to build and they walk right into it. "I thought you people wanted this!" No, they want something impossible and convinced themselves they'd could have it - the "eat whatever you want AND lose weight!" of immigration policies.
It is hard to grasp but large masses of Americans are both racist/xenophobic AND not racist/xenophobic enough to applaud what Trump is doing. It's goldilocks shit, they want a level of racism/xenophobia calibrated exactly to their personal preferences, and you just can't make that policy. Don't try. ...
AP: Trump extends olive branch, invites Musk to White House cellar to taste some brand new amontillado ...
Jude says:
"It's pointless, of course."
This site isn't gonna become some existentialist thing, is it?
Da Moose says:
I'm starting a new site: 365 days of wiping my ass with my iphone-dot com. Basically, I'll be taking the opposite approach as this guy. I will try to live in the woods using only my apple ecosystem as a means to survive. Wipe my ass with my iphone. Hunt, chase down and kill deer by bluedgeoning them with my macbook air. Use my ipad as a shovel to create earthen wind breaks. Perfect the art of fishing with my shiny nano. You get the gist. You know I got skills. Should be a hoot.
BillCinSD says:
Da Moose, I might suggest using stock certificates rather than an iPhone. Although I suppose the possibility of paper cuts might make this a bad idea.
Entomologista says:
People who hate technology should be forced to take on the parasite load of the average pre-technological human. Maybe they won't bitch so much after a good dose of epidemic typhus.
acer says:
With all of its hassles, hopping on a jet in LA and being in Chicago in four hours should still be considered with a degree of amazement. Particularly by those of us whose ancestors pulled into Ellis Island on creaking death ships.
Ed seems to go through hardcore existential funks now and then. He's always eventually reset to the usual morbid scorched-earth sarcasm.
Major Kong says:
Pretty amazing to use a Model A as your daily driver.
I have a 57 Desoto, which is at least a generation newer than a Model A, and I wouldn't think of driving it daily.
I got caught in the rain once with it and it leaks like a sieve. Apparently they leaked when they were new – late 50's Chrysler products were pretty but they had serious build issues.
RosaLux says:
Why not just say "luddism," which IS a word.
cromartie says:
late 50's Chrysler products were pretty but they had serious build issues.
Fortunately, in later years they overcame the inconvenience of being pretty as well.
I'm starting a new site: 365 days of wiping my ass with my iphone-dot com.
Can't be that much more uncomfortable than the keyboard you're using to wipe your ass with now.
eau says:
Because Luddites would of course be very pro Model A Ford, what with the production line and mechanisation and all.
Middle Seaman says:
How far technology has brought us in a relatively short time? From President Hoover to President Obama. You call this progress?
tybee says:
from richard nixon to boy george bush…you call that progress?
eau says:
Hey! NPF, douchebags!
Matthew says:
Odds are approximately 99% that this guy is hoping to get a book deal out of this website.
Nunya says:
Love the link. Having driven "old" cars for most of my life and maintaining them with my own hands, I'm not too sure how tough this guy is. Model A's are pretty logically constructed and were designed to be serviced by the average guy.
Still, a midwest winter with the shite heaters of the day, I give him ample props.
I would also like to extend my high praise to the commenters on this blog. Coffee (or adult beverages) through the nose are a common reaction. DaMoose wins for the day.
Apple skills indeed, sir.
Nunya says:
@ Entomologista:
Here's the crackot take on parasites – http://wormtherapy.com/
leon says:
@Nunya,
Wow. Just wow. And nowhere in the FAQs is the question, "are you out of your f@%king minds???".
JazzBumpa says:
Ed –
I think the word you're looking for is "Luddiness."
Cheers!
JzB
jeneria says:
I'm tired of these contrived niche limited time documentaries. They are angling for book deals because idiot publishers or television produces keep giving them deals. What is the point? The chick who only bought what Oprah recommended, the annoying douche who eschewed electricity (except for his Apple laptop of course) for a year, the one that followed high school kids to their neat and profitable collegiate ends, even Super Size me and all it's knock-offs (Super High Me and Fat Head) what do they prove? Nothing. They're novelty acts.
As goofy as Da Moose's idea is, the reality is that he probably could get a deal. Film yourself for six months surviving solely off Apple products. Someone would think it was brilliant. Personally, I hope all Apple users get eaten by Bears, but that's just me.
Tosh says:
Ludditude?
It has a nice rhythmic element to it…
smelter rat says:
Who cares why he's doing it. The fact is, no one has driven a Model A for 365 days in a row sine…well….the 30's. That's cool in my book.
Nicole says:
I always wonder if the "check out what I'm doing for a year" blog is for others, or for one's self. And why they're always a variation on the topic of "look how I'm roughing it, sort of … on the internet." Not that I think they should be putting out zines or something. Just an observation.
And it's not like I'm making all my own clothes for a year, or driving a Model A, or even bothering to update my own art blog, so I can't say much.