Bruner Blog

TV isn’t real, so they tell me. Did anyone else see tonight’s episode of Alias? That birth scene was fucking preposterous. What was that labor? Two minutes?

I just watched two episodes of South Park back to back (TiVo-ed), and I let me just say, Comedy Central execs are a bunch of pussies. I won’t get long into details, as I’m sure you’ll be hearing a lot about this on blogs shortly, and maybe even mainstream media eventually. In short it was a two-part episode building up to them showing an image of the prophet Muhammad. Complicated plot, brilliant satire, irreverant self-effacing wit, etc., etc. (You did hear that the show just won a Peabody award for its consistent greatness, right? And, FYI, they showed Muhammad in an episode a few years ago, and no one gave a damn.)

The long and the short is they censored the image of Muhammad this time. Fucking pussies.

UPDATE:
As predicted, blogs are all over this. WaPo and AP also comment. I love this observation from the AP story:

The comedy in an episode aired during Holy Week for Christians instead featured an image of Jesus Christ defecating on President Bush and the American flag.

I went last night to Rock ‘n’ Roll Karaoke at Arlene’s Grocery. My friend Ken was in town and he’d heard it was a must when in NYC. I’d heard of it before, so I welcomed the chance to go. It was hilariously fun. No, we didn’t sing, but only because we didn’t sign up early enough, and we were like 20-something on the list. (And by “we” I mean my friend. I wasn’t going to stand up there like a fool without lots of rehersing first.)

I’d definitely recommend checking it out, although it is only on Monday nights, so how hanging out in the Lower East Side till 2am fits into your work schedule is on you.

One interesting thing I learned is that a reason rock stars make the big bucks is that your average Joe and Jane can’t hold a tune to save their lives. Yes, most rock ‘n’ roll karaoke singers suck, but the live band kicks ass and it’s all just part of the fun. (Mad props, by the way, to the guy who covered AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” dressed in a bee costume and to the hippie freak who tortured The Doors’ “Roadhouse Blues” and then tried selling pot brownies to the crowd for $5 to raise money for a friend whose apartment burned down.)

The web site includes the extensive set list the band covers. I hereby pledge to return sometime late this year and give “Creep” my best shot.

Everyone’s focused on Italy’s squeaker election that appears to have unseated wackjob Berlusconi, but in case you care, Hungary also had an election over the weekend, and I’m relieved to say that the right-wing nationalist “youth” party, Fidesz, appears to have lost to the Socialists (my buddy Chris Condon reports in the FT). I say “appears to,” because it was also a squeaker of an election, and Hungary has a confusing two-part election, so I’m not going to make the call till all the dust settles.

Though I’m no socialist (and, as far as I can tell, neither is Hungary’s Socialist party in practice), we’re happy about this, as Fidesz, which had ruled Hungary for an adiminstration four years ago, is run by a nationalist (read: xenophobic, boarderline racist) demagogic prick Viktor Orban, whom we’re happy to see not return to power.

UPDATE:
Scratch the ambiguity. In the second round of elections, the Socialists won a return to power decisively.

Since I haven’t posted for a while, here’s something doing the rounds via email (from Mark, in my case). No idea of the original source.

What You Need To Believe To Be A Republican:

Jesus loves you, and shares your hatred of homosexuals and Hillary Clinton.

Saddam was a good guy when Reagan armed him, a bad guy when Bush’s daddy made war on him, a good guy when Cheney did business with him, and a bad guy when Bush needed a “we can’t find Bin Laden” diversion.

Trade with Cuba is wrong because the country is Communist, but trade with China and Vietnam is vital to a spirit of international harmony.

The United States should get out of the United Nations, and our highest national priority is enforcing U.N. resolutions against Iraq.

A woman can’t be trusted with decisions about her own body, but multi-national corporations can make decisions affecting all mankind without regulation.

The best way to improve military morale is to praise the troops in speeches, while slashing veterans’ benefits and combat pay.

If condoms are kept out of schools, adolescents won’t have sex.

A good way to fight terrorism is to belittle our long-time allies, then demand their cooperation and money.

Providing health care to all Iraqis is sound policy, but providing health care to all Americans is socialism. HMOs and insurance companies have the best interests of the public at heart.

Global warming and tobacco’s link to cancer are junk science, but creationism should be taught in schools.

A president lying about an extramarital affair is a impeachable offense, but a president lying to enlist support for a war in which thousands die is solid defense policy.

Government should limit itself to the powers named in the Constitution, which include banning gay marriages and censoring the Internet.

The public has a right to know about Hillary’s cattle trades, but George Bush’s driving record is none of our business.

Being a drug addict is a moral failing and a crime, unless you’re a conservative radio host. Then it’s an illness and you need our prayers for your recovery.

Never Any Good
The Thrill Is Gone
Lilac Wine
Trouble in Mind
Everyday I Have The Blues
Let Me Go
I Get Along Somehow