Trapped in his own idiocy

President Bush experienced some difficulties while trying to escape reporters just doing their job: Irked by a reporter who told him he seemed to be "off his game" at a Beijing public appearance, President George W. Bush sought to make a hasty exit from a news conference but was thwarted by locked doors. Watch the video here.

Man....enough.

The White Ribbon Campaign--men working to end violence against women--has revamped their message and look, and this is what they've come up with: "Because I know you're man enough to think violence against women must be stopped. . ." Perhaps I'm being a little too tedious, but I find the whole masculinity thing a little ironic. I mean, isn't the idea of being "man enough" much of the reason that violence against women persists? Any thoughts on co-opting ideas of masculinity for social change? Additionally, a friend of mine argues that using images showing bruises/physical does more harm than good: "The misconception of domestic violence as strictly physical abuse ignores the greater dynamic of continuous, coercive control that the abuser uses against the victim, which can occur through any combination of psychological, sexual, and other abuses in addition to the physical ones." The effort is noble and the cause should be supported, but perhaps the folks at White Ribbon need to seriously rethink their message and media materials. Thanks Sarah.

My States: Jekyll and Hyde

At the polls today: Texans banned same-sex marriage while Democrat Jon Corzine won the Governership in New Jersey.

Not guilty

Lewis Libby pleaded not guilty to all counts against him. Yeah. Okay.

Do they know it's Hallowe'en?

I hope you take a second to check this out, despite my tardiness on reporting this very funny and cool idea. Even if you've had enough of the benefit concert bullshit, Sir Bob Geldof has managed to put an irreverent spin on an old idea. Do they know it's Hallowe'en? is a charity song featuring some of the greatest talents in indie rock (Beck, Arcade Fire, Peaches, Postal Service, etc) and all proceeds go to UNICEF. Some lyrics: Latvia, Laos, Chad, Peru/ We need their help, or else we're through They don't know the fear, we endure once a year/ all hallow's eve, we're afraid! The song is a pretty genius satire on that 1980s staple, "Do they know it's Christmastime?" I suggest checking out the video as it more clearly illustrates the hilarity of the whole thing.