anti-[everything]

I wonder if this will work.

Holy shit, I think my site works again. My host (nearlyfreespeech) was physically moving its hardware over the last day, and fixing problems over the next, which accounts for the lost of connectivity to this site. I know. Millions were disappointed by the outage. I was going to post something for 9/11 Day, otherwise known as Patriot Day. Why it's called Patriot Day is beyond me. I guess it is patriotic to die.

I'll make an effort to post something relevant or at least topical later...maybe tomorrow.

I was going to do a anti-[Radio] episode, but decided not to until my blog worked again. I guess I should get on that.

I wrote the above yesterday when I thought nearlyfreespeech had things working again. Turns out you could see the pages, but none of the cgi or mysql bits were working. I guess things are working now.

In honor of Patriot Day...

Technorati Tags: nearlyfreespeech.net, anti-[Radio], 9/11

It's long been acknowledged that history is an unfortunately malleable narrative frequently reshaped to serve the needs of the present. This flexibility is often captured in studies of what anthropologists call social memory and the processes by which some viewpoints of the past, present and future are suppressed in favor others. The process by which dominant narratives are created may include the disjointed, rearranged renditions or entirely fictive pasts.

Here's an example: VIN SUPRYNOWICZ: G.I. Joe was just a toy, wasn't he?.

In this article Suprynowicz argues that the forthcoming GI Joe movie, based on Hasbro's line of toys, is somehow an insult or subverting "America" by changing elements of the story line. He identifies multiple problems.

1. GI Joe will an acronym for Global Integrated Joint Operating Entity, an international team based in Brussels

2. GI Joe battles Cobra, a terrorist group headed by an arms-dealer

Well, thank goodness the villain -- no need to offend anyone by making our villains Arabs, Muslims, or foreign dictators of any stripe these days...

3. GI Joe was based on real-life Marine and war hero Mitchell Paige.

Well, who cares. G.I. Joe is just a toy, right? He was never real. Right?

...¹

When the Hasbro Toy Co. called some years back, asking permission to put the retired colonel's face on some kid's doll, Mitchell Paige thought they must be joking.

But they weren't. That's his mug, on the little Marine they call "G.I. Joe." At least, it has been up till now.

Mitchell Paige's only condition? That G.I. Joe must always remain a United States Marine.

But don't worry. Far more important for our new movies not to offend anyone in Cairo or Karachi or Paris or Palembang.

After all, it's only a toy. It doesn't mean anything.

If you read the comments at the article, you'll see a number of people outraged by this fabricated travesty despite proof that Suprynowicz has most of his facts wrong. I was one of them. I'm most of the Cobra Commander comments.

The Facts
1. GI Joe is US based, though only in the US market. He's referred to as Action Man in other markets.

2. In 1982, Hasbro introduced the GI Joe: A Real American Hero line after six idle years. Cobra has always been this GI Joe's prime enemy and it this line that moviemakers are obviously targeting. Destro, the Scottish arms dealer, was a major villain but did not head Cobra. There is little real about the story line here. GI Joe is a fairly fantastic story line. Remember Zartan? Serpentor?

I'm not sure why Suprynowicz is so upset GI Joe's enemies aren't Muslim, Arab or some other sort of foreigner. Maybe he's a racist?

3. None of the Mitchell Paige section of Suprynowicz's argument is true at least in regards to GI Joe. Mitchell Paige was absolutely not the basis of the toy. He was honored with a 12" action figure in 1998 as part of Hasbro's Classics line, well after GI Joe was introduced as a product (1960s) and after Cobra was established as GI Joe's prime enemy (1980s). (See also Mitch Paige's website or Habro's product history)

Ironically, it is Mitch himself who has become one of those necessary heroes. When Hasbro Toy Company released its Classic Collection GI Joe figures, one was created to remember the young hero of Guadalcanal himself. The Mitchell Paige GI Joe figure was released in 1998. (emphasis added; Source)

As a number of commenters have stated at the original article, Suprynowicz is either confused, lazy or dishonest. I agree. It took me less than 10 minutes to get the facts on GI Joe. At the time of this posting, there has been no retraction or comment from the author. I suspect there will be none since the error-ridden column serves his ideological purpose.

Why does all this matter?
Suprynowicz argues that the movie industry and toy makers have an obligation to ensure that GI Joe lives up to his mythic origins in World War 2, a myth anchored in Mitchell Paige's heroics. However, Suprynowicz has inverted history by placing Mitch Paige at the origins of GI Joe history where doesn't belong. In reality, GI Joe is a product. It was originally designed not to honor war heros or America but to turn a profit. It was, and is, a profit-driven venture.

Created in 1963, G.I. JOE was inspired in part by a TV show called "The Lieutenant." A licensing agent named Stan Weston brought the concept to Don Levine at Hasbro, with the idea of creating a poseable soldier for boys. Levine and his team of designers ran with the idea, and the rest is history.

In February 1964, at the American International Toy Fair in New York, America was introduced to G.I. JOE: "AMERICA'S MOVABLE FIGHTING MAN." The name G.I. JOE was taken from the movie "The Story Of G.I. JOE" which featured an American army unit in World War II.

G.I. JOE was an incredibly ambitious product release, with 75 different products to support the four basic branches of military - Soldier, Sailor, Marine, and Pilot. Each action figure was 11 ½ inches tall, had 21 moving parts and came in fatigue uniform with boots, work cap, and a dog tag. Sales the first three years were enormous, and Hasbro aggressively rolled out new products that evolved the line, like the Five Star Jeep, Mercury Space Capsule, Deep Sea Diver, footlocker, Green Beret, and Soldiers of the World. Buoyed by their success, Hasbro even tried a few new products, like the G.I. NURSE. She failed spectacularly, and today remains one of the most sought-after G.I. JOE toys. (Source)

Apparently is wasn't even really one guy.

After all, it's only a toy. It doesn't mean anything.

Yes Vin, it is just a toy. A quick check through the GI Joe product's history will indicate that the back story has changed repeatedly. These changes have always been to drive sales and increase profits of the toy manufacturer, not to carry on some patriotic tradition. It is perhaps ironic that a self-described Libertarian would cry about a capitalist venture attempting to turn a profit on the international market. Under capitalism, profits are the first value are they not?

Lacking Mitchell Paige as it's mythic, moral anchor, we can clearly see that GI Joe is just another product. Even the slogan "A Real American Hero" goes with a product line that has been officially retired. It outlived is usefulness as a marketing slogan in 1994. Why should the change toward an international force be so shocking? It's part of the toy line's heritage after all.

Thus, Vin Suprynowicz's arguments falls flat and becomes another urban legend to outrage those too confused, lazy, or dishonest to check their history.

On a final note, it's depressing that US citizens, as demonstrated in the comments section, cannot comprehend when their values are being manipulated for profit. GI Joe's status as a "Real American Hero" was cultivated to create sales, not celebrate patriotism or the heroic acts of an individual. Despite repeated attempts to tell people otherwise, folks keep posting their outrage over the movie referring to a toy that never really existed and an ideal it never really embodied.

Here's one commenter responding to the statement "GI Joe is just a toy"

schizoidman wrote on October 29, 2007 02:12 AM: CobraCommander said,

"You're the one crying because GI Joe is being used as it was created, as a product. I and many others have no problem with it. Wipe your tears. You're crying for a toy, not some grand American symbol or socio-political statement."

And the flag is just cloth. And the blood is just liquid. And the Constitution is just paper and ink.

Sad. But through the articles and comments we can see a clear process by which a new truth is made that serves an ideological need. We can see how people readily grab onto this new history by defending it, improperly "remembering it" and emoting about it. All of this has occurred despite a parallel argument that points out the fallacy of this collection memory.²

Oh, and even if they get the GI Joe/Cobra story line correct, the movie will probably suck as bad as the Transformers did.³

Technorati Tags: GI Joe, GI Joe movie, losers, patriotism, Vin Suprynowicz

A Folksy Guy, in Recovery, Is About to Land Millions - New York Times:
On his daily radio talk show, Glenn Beck portrays himself as an average guy, a recovering alcoholic and a comedian who regularly injects humor into his conservative politics.

This week he can add another description: very wealthy.

Premiere Radio Networks, a subsidiary of Clear Channel Communications, is expected to announce today that it is extending Mr. Beck’s contract. Two sources with knowledge of the deal said it was valued at $50 million over five years, through a combination of salary and profit-sharing from syndication.

I can't believe anyone takes this asshole seriously.

Mr. Beck’s contract symbolizes the contrast between the folksy personalities and personal fortunes of high-profile radio hosts.

“It’s one of the ironies of our culture that people are able to hold two truths in their minds at one time as fans,” Mr. Harrison said. “They like the image of a person, and relate to them as a regular guy, knowing all along that these so-called regular guys are megarich multimillionaires.”

He's just further proof that Americans will buy anything. Substance is of little importance as long as you package properly. Glenn Beck and George Bush are identical in this sense: rich jerks pretending to care about the plight of the average worker. American workers will blindly cheer any asshole as long as he takes on a "common man" stance despite the content of his faux populism.

Technorati Tags: Glenn Beck, politics, raging douche

I previously asked if Vin Suprynowicz was confused, lazy, or dishonest.

It turns out he's dishonest.

Technorati Tags: GI Joe movie, patriotism, Vin Suprynowicz

I posted this for no other reason than it made me laugh when I saw it.

No, I don't own Batman #1. This is from a scan of that issue.

Since the wife and I have had Netflix, we've watched more documentaries that you possibly imagine. I wouldn't say I'm a fan of the genre; documentaries can be interesting, but just as often they can be as inept as any of the garbage normally at the movies. The worst of them is like listening to someone explain an interesting and complex topic to you, but they're too dumb to grasp the basic concepts. Basically, a bad one is like reading a blog: pointless.

This weekend we saw Confessions of a Superhero. The movie is about street performers, some say panhandlers, in Hollywood that dress up like superheros. The film's synopsis describes it as

CONFESSIONS OF A SUPERHERO explores the fascination, obsession and allure of fame through the eyes of some very unique people struggling to make it in Tinseltown.

...

This deeply personal look into their daily routines reveals their hardships and triumphs as they pursue and achieve their own kind of fame.

These people are looking for fame, stardom, or at least a step towards an acting career beyond the street level. What the film impressed upon me, though, was the strong desire these people have to escape their own situations. Each one of them is living in some sort of fantasy, to different degrees, about where they are, where they're going, and how they'll get there. I don't say that to slight them because I think this is an overwhelming common but unrecognized condition. I know a plenty of people whose dreams stretch beyond their talents. Some of them are still pursuing those dreams despite the evidence they encounter. When do you give up? When do you start looking for something else? Is it heroic or tragic to persist?

What's interesting about the street performers is the seeming willingness of tourists to engage in their illusion. Sure, that might not translate into a "tip." But, calling them "Superman" or "Wonder Woman" seems to validate their act and reinforce the fantasy. I wish the filmmakers had explored that interaction a little more. While the Superheros' reaction to the non-tipping public was evident, I would have liked to see the contrast between people that took them seriously and those that reacted negatively. But, maybe that was a little more potential humiliation than the filmmakers wanted to capture?

Finally, I wonder about the parallel between the tourist public, the superhero's friends and families, and acting industry (eg., Wonder Woman's agent and acting coach). Is their support just patronizing or is it sincere? I don't doubt the support the Superheros give each other. They seem to believe in their mission. But the rest benefit from the Superheros somehow, whether it's money or entertainment they're receiving. Is there an obligation to refuse to partake in a fantasy at some level? Can you support someone too much?

The film is, I think, sincere in it's portrayal and is not mean-spirited. That said, I don't think these people deserve the meanness they might otherwise attract.

The worst part of the movie, and this is no fault of the filmmaker, is Morgan Spurlock's introduction to the movie. I found it obnoxious and unnecessary. I don't think it fit well with the film's tone. But what do I know? I'm not a documentarian.¹

Anyway, you should see this film.²

[posted with ecto]

Technorati Tags: Confessions of a Superhero, Batman, Hulk, Wonder Woman, Superman, documentary

I've been sick for almost a week now. I guess I had a cold or a flu. My temperature was 101°F on Saturday. It's been a while since I've had a fever. I didn't really enjoy it and wouldn't recommend having a fever to anyone else.

In addition to being sick, I've been teaching myself how to use R. Previously I've done all of my statistical analyses in SAS.¹ I've wanted to learn R for a while, but have been putting it off. I don't have anything against SAS except that it's expensive and requires a remote connection when I need to work. Also, there's no Mac version. I mostly worked with SAS, batch mode, over a ssh connection from home. The biggest benefit was that I didn't have to leave the house. Now that I can use R, I don't have to worry about Internet access and I can run it off of my own machine. Plus, I hear all of the cool kids are using it for their statistical analyses.

Being sick has also meant I haven't been able to exercise. Since February, I've been making an effort to exercise. Sitting on my ass in front of a computer 10 out 12 months of the year hasn't done much for my general fitness. I'm not a huge fatty or anything, but huge fattiness runs in my family. I guess I should do something to avoid that. I'm not doing anything terribly hard exercise-wise, just some basic routines and some running. I have to admit that it isn't as fun as not exercising and smoking. To balance out exercise and otherwise generally clean living, I've been drinking more gin. I've also been trying eat healthier, which means eating more vegetables. I hate vegetables.

I guess that's all I have to say for now. Oh yeah. I applied for application to the reforming Shitty Blogs Club. I think this should help fulfill the requirement that I blog occasionally. I'd hate to have my membership rejected.

I did not proofread this post. You'll get over it.

When did the following become acceptable language in journalism?

Article (new window)

Is this an attempt to make health news more interesting to stupid people or just another indicator of general illiteracy?

It's May 1, which means it's International Workers' Day. Well, except in the US where workers' struggles are ignored in favor of Loyalty Day. Loyalty Day was specifically created to counter May Day. Combined with the US's anti-labor Labor Day celebrated in September, Loyalty Day allows good Americans the opportunity to avoid any untoward display of anarchist, communist, or socialist sentiment. It's an easy way to let the boss know you're one of the good workers and not the uppity, trouble-making kind that might need to be hung or beaten to death by security guards.

I suppose Loyalty Day isn't overly popular. Does anyone actually celebrate it? It was created in the same nationalist, anti-revolutionary spirit as the "under God" addition to the Pledge of Allegiance, and the transformation of the national motto to "In God We Trust" as opposed to E Pluribus Unum. Questioning the value of Loyalty Days and of pledges to god and country isn't terribly popular in the US. Americans, it seems, are content to celebrate their allegiance to State, God and Capital rather than their own liberty, or their own historic struggles for it.

Sometimes it's hard to believe there was ever a revolutionary spirit in the US.

We have not come to do the work of political parties, but we have come here in the cause of labour, in its own defence, to demand its own rights. -Eleanor Marx, Speech on the First May Day

The Marxists Internet Archive has a page of May Day links worth reading.

[Update: 5.1.2008 @ 1:23 PM]

Dockworkers Protest Iraq War - New York Times:


Thousands of dockworkers at West Coast ports stayed off the job on Thursday in what their union said was a call for an end to the war in Iraq.

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union said more than 25,000 members in 29 ports stayed off the job. The action came despite an order issued Wednesday by an arbitrator directing the union to tell its members to report for work as usual in response to a request from employers.

Cool.

Technorati Tags: anarchism, International Workers' Day, Marxism, May Day, work

The 2008 primaries have been instructive. They've reminded us all of how sleazy and shallow the Clintons are. We've also learned that Geraldine Ferraro is either a bitter racist or suffering from Alzheimer's Disease. Maybe it's both.

What's most depressing to me is what I've learned about my immediate family. I usually don't talk about politics too much with my family because we share few core beliefs. Still, I was surprised to hear one college-educated family member refer to Barack Obama as a nigger, and two other family members suggest that Obama may be some sort of Islamist sleeper agent secretly planning to decimate our military and surrender to al-Quaeda and possibly Iran. He may also be Marxist. Of course, I was told we don't know enough about the guy to determine his real allegiances. All we really know, I gather, is that he doesn't wear an American flag lapel pin and that he's not white.

I wish I could say I was joking, but that's what was expressed to me. Sadly, these are views that aren't limited to my relatives south of the Mason-Dixon line. There's a strong, ill-informed segment of the population that apparently believes this sort of backwards nonsense.

What's wrong with my family?

What's wrong with our country?

Technorati Tags: Geraldine Ferraro, racism, primaries, Barack Obama, USA, 2008 elections

So I'm still alive. I even rejoined the Shitty Blogs Club. Why? Because this blog is shitty and proud. I'm only writing this to demonstrate to myself that I can still successfully post to this blog. I think I need to renew my fucking domain soon.

I'm running on about 4 hours of sleep for the last couple of days because of work. Tonight I'm hoping for a full 5. I won't bother going into what I'm up to. Basically I'm finishing things that other people couldn't. I try not to think about that as I work. At least I have coffee.

I hope to start using this blog regularly again in week or so, once I actually have a little energy. Maybe I'll even write something worth reading, but don't hold you fucking breath. I'll probably just bitch about something for few paragraphs and post that. Maybe I'll have a link in there too or some reposted content from a news service. Right now I'm going to itch my multiple bug bites and try to forgot I've worked all day in the sun and haven't taken a shower in over 24 hours.

I guess there will be more here soon. In closing, Mango just reminded me of this:

"Most blogs are about speaking (writing) into an empty box. "
"There are a lot of really shitty blogs out there."
"Welcome to anti-[everything] suckers. "

Fuck yes. It still stands.