Kinda hard to sit here and watch this and be snarky.

OK, up until had to endure a white guy singing “Shout.”

Okay, I’ll start.  Why is Arnold Schwarzenegger singing “Pink Houses”?  And why did Joe Biden kill that little girl behind Obama?

Truthfully, the music up to and including Menstrualcramp was much better than I thought it would be.

ROFL

This is all leading up to the n’Sync reunion, isn’t it.

I just realized Garth Brooks and Tom Colicchio were separated at birth.

I’m lighting a candle in prayer that Jay Z shows up.

I have it on inside information that they are going to close with a tribute to the outgoing administration.

Black Sabbath is going to sing War Pigs.

Shakira! Shakira! Shakira!

Instant heart attack!

I’m lighting a candle in prayer that Jay Z shows up.

I’ll light my whole neighborhood on fire if he does “99 Problems.”

“There’s snakes on this motherfuckin’ monument!”

I love Samuel Jackson, but it’s time to give up the Kangol lid already.

Wait, Bono? Is this an Apple keynote?

Who is this band with the bug man singer and why won’t they stop screeching at me?

I’m gonna have to watch the 7:00 pm rerun on HBO.  Cardinals-Eagles on now….

Hard choice for me, but my husband would kill me if I tried to change it.

“Palestinian dream?”

Bono’s a dead man.

How come U2 doesn’t get a fancy pants chorus behind them?  Is it because they’re Irish?

Cardinals-Eagles on now….

As an ex-Cardinals fan, I can’t bear to watch it.

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again ... U2 does absolutely nothing for me.  I think I enjoyed the Garth Brooks medley more.

Excellent, animal sacrifice!

But the Cards are kicking butt (assplowing?). I used to have season tickets, 20th row, 40 yard line.

That American Eagle thingee was awkward.  How much would it have sucked if the birds leg snapped? They should have used Bono instead.

Heck, I know there is a moratorium on the PUMAs and there are more important things to watch going on right now at the Lincoln Memorial, but their delusional view of their success as a movement and their accomplishments during the Weblog Awards is too funny not to share:

donnadarko, on January 18th, 2009 at 2:43 am Said:

myiq, And PUMA won in important categories. Three second places and a third in Best Political Coverage, Best Liberal Blog, Best New Blog and Best Hidden Gem.

*******kers HuffPo and Kos won two third places and a fourth. AmericaBlog, Firedoglake, OpenLeft, Tapped, Booman Tribune et al were not even nominated. PUMA beat Daily Kos, Politico, Townhall, Truthdig, Digby, Think Progress, Sadly No, Brad Blog, Orcinus, Truthdig, Taylor Marsh, Shakesville, Crooks and Liars and Glenn Greenwald.

PUMA became the new progressive blogosphere.

When do the “Hillary 4u and me” folks come on?

I’m not watching this, but I think it’s the greatest thing EVER because it hurts my enemies and makes America weak!

click the link.  Give her a look.  It’s very cool to see.  It’s live online.

Ramstein singing “Amerkia” is up next.

It’s over. America is fixed.  Yay!

Shakira!

Missed most of it.  But, shows when encore is scheduled.  Guess I’ll watch late night.

Do I get HBO free forever now?

And I just had to add this - the Confluence finally admitting that they are not really a liberal blog and could easily have been nominated for best conservative blog..

Regency, on January 18th, 2009 at 5:49 am Said:

Anything can be in the running for liberal blog if someone nominates them. Next year we could be nominated for conservative blog by someone who hates us, or, hell I could do it. We actively oppose the new “liberal” administration. If that doesn’t qualify in the eyes of idiots, who knows what does?

My point is if we market ourselves as the “liberal blog for Democrats, etc.” we do lose people who I don’t think we would otherwise lose. I know it may seem highly sensitive of me but it does seem exclusionary even if that isn’t the intention. So many people can no longer associate themselves with the Party now that the designation Democrats alone isn’t enough.

Larry Sinclair thinks it’s another conspiracy.  From RosettaSister’s blog:

justanamericancindy4 Says:
January 18, 2009 at 9:17 pm

new post on Larry’s blog
_________________

Barack Obama’s team along with the DNC and the Inaugural committee have sold exclusive rights to the concert being held on the National Mall and Lincoln Memorial to HBO preventing news organizations from being able to air reports of this tax payer funded event.

Is this legal? And if HBO was sold the rights to the event why are tax-payers paying for the event?

====================

It’s a conspiracy, I tell you. 
He’s gonna tell you what you can watch, and when to watch it.  Mind control.  And fairness doctrine.

RosettaSister can’t figure out how to set her clock on her blog.  That’s why the times are always screwed up.  But… it was here:

More from RosettaSister’s loons…

j.b. Says:
January 18, 2009 at 9:30 pm

Well, that’s just great! I get to PAY TWICE as an HBO subscriber. We have been talking about canceling HBO for a year-I have been dragging my feet, waiting for the next season of BIG LOVE-which, I love. (well, I like the series alot)
But now? I dun-noooooooo…….

bbl~

Garth Brooks performed?  Is that legal?

HI!!!

‹^› ‹(•¿•)› ‹^›

QUIZ: What blog said this? (Solution in next comment)

Question: What is your honest opinion on the Democratic Party?

Answer: Just read or watch this speech and you’ll understand how I feel about the Democratic Party. I didn’t leave that Party. They left me.

Enjoy your evening. Loser.

“Loser.” Hmmm.

Isn’t that the literal definition of “Finalist”?

Figures ... right when I start watching the playoffs, the Cardinals turn into a steaming pile of suck.

Yeah, huge momentum shift. Humboldt’s iggles are looking like the Superbowl team.

Ya think?  Iggles & Stillers?  All Pennsylvania Superbowl?

Still early ...

Oh my ...

EAGLES!!!

KK must’ve switched off his set.

All I can say to that last Cardinal TD and 2 pointer is zoinks!

Love those last-second gadget plays…

Missed it, was doing laundry and DH was watching football so I will catch the rerun at 7pm on the puter.  In other news one of my kittehs (Max - tabby) is busily shoving things off the dresser in an attempt to get my attention so I will rub his belly.  Its like one of those “cake walk” games where the coins get shoved you know?  If the vase full of fake flowers and marbles go gawd alone knows what will happen.

Ruh Roh…

God O Thunder: Former Head of Faith-Based Programs in Ohio Arrested on Prostitution Charges

Calls himself “God-O-Thunder”. 

Church of the Pimp?

zoinks! The Cardinals have won the Championship in two shakes of a lambs tail!

“EAGLES!!! “

CARDINALS!!!111!!!

What’s 60+ between championships, anyway?

Kinda hard to sit here and watch this and be snarky.

Yeah, the whole inclusiveness thing is so much easier when the music doesn’t suck (that’s you I’m talking to, Mellencamp).

60 years.  wow.  I’m surprised they can still play ball.  Congrats.

God O Thunder: Former Head of Faith-Based Programs in Ohio Arrested on Prostitution Charges

hahahahahahahahaha!  Love it.  They are all just hypocritical douchebags.  I am waiting for the day when Rick Warren gets caught in some sting.

Yeah, the whole inclusiveness thing is so much easier when the music doesn’t suck (that’s you I’m talking to, Mellencamp).

Missed the live one so heading off to the tee-vee room to see the re-run.  I’m looking forward to inclusiveness and suckiness and also checking out Michelle’s outfit which my mom raved to me about on the phone a little while ago.  (My 85 year old lifelong Republican mom who voted for Obama and is now a raving fan of him, Michelle and the weeMichelles.  Man, that Obot weed is strong stuff!)

What’s 60+ between championships, anyway?

That would be ‘60+ years’.  I was trying to type and eat Indian food at the same time.  Damn these stubby fingers!

TOUCHDOWN PITTSBURGH!

Boy, these Eagles fans get ugly when they lose.

PUMApac is beating up Brad Mays for being nice to us—again. Riveting thread, if the game gets boring.

It’s a pile-on, but Brad’s holding his own.

And thank you, whoever removed that offensive post.

I did. Not sure if Kevin was around, so I nuked it.

Probably a Paleo Pal.

Will have to stay up late to watch the first hour on the last replay. Please tell me Stevie did “Signed, Sealed, Delivered.”

And any concert with Pete Seeger is bound to get me teary-eyed, cuz I’m goony that way. Heck, the first place I remember seeing him was on “Sesame Street” when I was five (more proof that PBS and the Children’s Television Workshop are branches of the international pinko indoctrination conspiracy!)

I just saw a rerun, Kerry.  Definitely worth staying up for.

Also, I’ve harbored a dream for months that Bruce would sing “Promised Land” at some inaugural event or another. “Mister I ain’t a boy/no I’m a man/and I believe in a promised land.”

Kerry, Stevie came through and actually I wasn’t totally offended by hearing Garth Brooks sing “Shout”.  I mean, in a way, white southern guys wearing cowboy hats are American soul too - especially if they are singing for the right side!  All in all a pretty good concert.  The weeMichelles very cute as always.

“This land is your land”, done by a large ensemble group, was completely awesome.

So much for the all bird Super Bowl.

Except when the majestic Marian Anderson suddenly turned into Josh Groban, it was a pretty fine night. That was one screwed up segue. I almost choked to death.

StrangeAppar8us

What an insufferable asshole that Acadian Harpie is. And what in the wide-wide world of sports was the point of all that gratuitous shit, anyway?

Jeez.

Steelers Superbowl YAAAAAY.

Did you see that hit? I thought that poor guy’s head was going to fly off.

@Brad Mays

I have to admit, my brain froze up right about the time “kat” accused you of “whoring” the movie they hired you to make…and “TerryDo” backhanded you for being an “artist.”

I’ve had a few complicated client relationships, but they’ve never risen to the level of true pathology. It’s a good thing, because I’ve never been comfortable around schizophrenics.

All you did was show up with a friendly question, and you got a shovel to the face. That’s not exactly a “conversation,” in the classic sense.

Except when the majestic Marian Anderson suddenly turned into Josh Groban, it was a pretty fine night.

Yeah, good point.  But pretty good otherwise as you said.

Next week I am opening up an open thread for Flight of the Conchords.  Should have done it tonight.  Very cool madness.

Brad or Strange - can you give us a link?  Sounds pretty crazy but navigating blind over there can be pretty hazardous too!

marindenver -

I think it would be untoward of me post a link here. And it’s no big deal, really. Just a few looneytoons who for some reason seem to hate me.

Strange -

This has been a wholly unpleasant project in ways too numerous to list here or anywhere else. But I am proud of the results and I think the film works on many levels simultaneously (isn’t it bizarre that I can discuss it in here but can’t do so on any of the PUMA sites?), including as a mouthpiece for PUMA and as an objective look at what they tried to do vis-a-vis the Denver Convention.

The final film is 119 minutes long, a good half hour longer than what I’m used to doing. As a fellow filmmaker, you know how difficult it is keeping an audience fully engaged for two hours. But the final piece is funny, sad, ironic, hopeful and tragic.

And as of tomorrow, I’m done with it.

Brad,
You’ve been an interesting commenter here and very honest about the work you’re doing.  I guess I can go and find the PUMA thread where they attacked you without too much brain damage (I’ve navigated through it all before tho I don’t blog about their stuff too much myself).  I will say I’m interested in seeing the final product and won’t pre-judge it in any sense.

Mr. Mays, what an excellent illustration of the old saw “No good deed goes unpunished”.Forgive me for butting in, but it was just too tempting. I had to look.

Congrats on finishing the A. of D.

As an audience member, I know how hard it is to keep me engaged for twenty minutes, much less two hours. Fortunately, it sounds like your film will have plenty of explosions. Cheers!

marindenver -

Thanks. I’ll be sending Kevin K. a copy - if he sees fit he can review it for this blog and provide info on how to obtain it (amazon.com is a good place to start). Somehow I believe that you and others in here will give it a much fairer shake than Trishfromcanada or any of those other batshit trolls will.

But I do want to say this: there are people in the film I genuinely care about. Doesn’t mean I think they’re saints or anything, but I do have people in the film I regard as friends (whether or not that feeling is reciprocated).

Now that the film is done, I doubt I’ll see any need to go into PUMAPac any more. Obviously I’ll be monitoring what is said, both there and here (I like most of the conversation in rumproast, btw) regarding the film, which I hope will shed some light on some of the people depicted therein.

Anyway, thanks for the continued interest (and tolerance).

Oh lordy, I did click that link and here’s what I found (in addition to the Brad Mays pile on stuff - sorry Brad!)

jenniforhillary 01.18.09 at 10:21 pm

  Regarding Barack Hussein Obama’s ‘legal’ career…Lawrence Tribe (writer of the pre-eminent legal treatise on some bullshit or another) TOOK this thug under his wing and I can DAMN WELL PROMISE you that BO wouldn’t pass a class on his own at any 1st tier law school in this country. Asked why (this is Tribe’s response mind you) BO didn’t ever write anything as a student Tribe said he never considered BO a student, but a contemporary. BULLLLLLLSSHHHHEEEETTT….law school is a proving grounds and they ask you everything and WRITING and being published is key to making it and he was NEVER it and never did a god damn thing.

  These stupid evil white men just saw BO as the perfect manchurian candidate, and they are laughing now. We, if we survive, will be laughing at them both NOW and LATER.

Dang, so THAT’S how Barack got elected President of the Harvard Law Review!  Stupid effing white men!

Mrs. Polly -

Very kind, but I never saw my work on the film as a good deed. When the idea of doing a feature film was first presented to me, back in June, I saw it as an opportunity to perhaps capture events of a potentially historical nature. To her GREAT credit, Darragh Murphy watched some of my other work and agreed to not exercise any influence over the content of the piece. To this day, NO one, not even my wife, has seen it.

But the truly weird thing is I believe that there are people in the PUMA movement who, incredibly, want the film to fail, so that they can say “I told you so” to whomever one says that sort of thing to.

Explosions, you say? Well, yeah, there are a few genuinely jaw-dropping moments.

@Brad

Some years ago, I had to sing and drink my way through Inner Mongolia (since I was the only member of the crew who had a voice and a liver, which are indispensable cultural accoutrements over there). I also had to “marry” the (male) mayor of the City of Chengde in exchange for two cartons of rancid “Space Tour” cigarettes and a private compartment for the crew and gear on the train to Hohhot.

In what I still consider to be the most trying evening of my life, I drank cereal bowls of mao tai and sang the score of “Showboat” until an entire troupe of Mongolian trick-pony riders lay unconscious on the floor of my yurt.

And in Tiananmen Square, I almost lost my trousers to a crowd of Beijingers who (because of my long hair) were throwing dirty wads of yuans on the ground in a loud frenzy of wagering over whether I was a man or a woman. 

I’m pretty sure I brushed the boundaries of what I’m willing to do for my craft on that project, as I suspect you did on yours.

Good luck. Keep us posted. Stay frosty…and ignore the flak.

Wow, Strange.  I am totally waiting for your autobiography to come out!

Mar, I wasn’t going to mention this while Brad was here, so turn your head or busy yourself with post-post-production celebratory drinking, but that thread is one of the continuing examples of why nobody can out-crazy a PUMA. Jenni"I fought for racial justice my whole life"4Hillary follows the familiar pattern of accepting the word of any ultra-right wingnut who validates her Obama-hatred, and then there’s antifish:

antifish 01.18.09 at 2:31 pm
If you take away the melatonin and the Teleprompter, what’s left?
antifish 01.18.09 at 2:36 pm
Oops, meant melanin, not melatonin. Sorry, I have a sleeping disorder and take melatonin nightly.

Certainly glad she cleared that up.

Polly, finally over paroxysms of laughter.  Pretending mightily that we are just talking about what someone on the other side of the room is wearing.  Phew, getting it under control now.  Have some more wine, OK.  And will take my melatonin soon and go to bed.  (PSSSSSPPPPSSSPQQRRXXXX!!!!)

BTW, how many times do you think that KarenWI will stalk off and leave PUMA forever or is it possible there’s a little alcohol fueling some of that too!

Actually, Antifish’s teleprompter comment reminds me of an excerpt I once read from the diary of a young nineteenth-century society girl. She was on her Grand Tour of Europe, and complained about the Rhine: “Take away the mountains and the castles, and what have you got?”

Sounds like everybody’s relaxed, and by relaxed I mean somewhat schnockered, but me. Oh, well. Time to dust off the bottle of Curacao. Do you think it would mix well with Diet Mountain Dew?

@marindenver

What can I tell you? When I’m out of smokes, by God, I’ll marry a drunken Chinese guy.

@Mrs. Polly

Oh, goodness, yes, I heard horse-head fiddle recitals galore, I visited the “Singing Sands” of the Gobi and the Hanging Temple at Hengshan. I also embarrassed myself by climbing so far up one long slope of the Great Wall that I freaked-out when I turned around and had to crab-walk back down with my eyes closed.

At one point, we were very casually invited to witness the public executions of a Toyota van-load of petty criminals—which would, I think, have been the only footage of any real significance to come out of the whole exercise—however, the Producer nixed it. (And probably wisely since, even in ‘86, a little paranoia was a useful thing for a Westerner traveling in China.)

I do regret not being able to try out a horse-fiddle myself, since I’m not satisfied with really sucking on the Western version only.

Time to dust off the bottle of Curacao. Do you think it would mix well with Diet Mountain Dew?

I’m thinking:  No.  Time for bed.  Good night all.

What can I tell you? When I’m out of smokes, by God, I’ll marry a drunken Chinese guy.

You know Strange, I don’t think the Patch would be quite enough for you.

What a stupendous trip that must have been, aside from the near-death experiences. “The Weeping Camel” is as close as I shall probably get to Mongolia, but it left me with a definite crush on the place. And I actually had favorited that horse-fiddle video on my Youtube account long ago.

It’s never too late to take up the horse fiddle, Strange, I’m sure you can pick one up on Ebay. The western version is not congenial to the ears unless you dedicate your life to it.

Or you could pick up a ukulele. It’s a democratic, forgiving instrument. A middling-good fiddler doesn’t sound nearly as good as a medium bad ukuleleist.

Hey Brad, I look forward to seeing your film and to Kevin’s review of it. The result of you coming on here and commenting respectfully is that I will have an open mind when viewing it and not expect a PUMA puff piece. As far as Darragh is concerned, she would gain a whole lotta respect in this world if she would just kick out the racist man hating dingbats like Jenni,BMW60,anti-fish,trish and others who are constantly praying for death and destruction and the castration of men. At the very least she should denounce the remarks that these people, who represent PUMA, are saying on a daily basis. The the rest of the world it looks like she is just collecting their money while fueling the fire.  Again, I cant wait to see the movie and review it on my blog.

I also embarrassed myself by climbing so far up one long slope of the Great Wall that I freaked-out

Goddam mongorians keep breaking my shitty WALL!!

It doesn’t matter how good the film is, the PUMAs (the semi-conscious ones anyway) will finally see themselves in the mirror and recoil in horror. But rather than accept reality, they’re going to start some kind of holy war against Brad and anyone else involved in the production. I wouldn’t be surprised to see at least one lawsuit coming from it.

But the truly weird thing is I believe that there are people in the PUMA movement who, incredibly, want the film to fail, so that they can say “I told you so” to whomever one says that sort of thing to.

Brad, I’m surprised you’re surprised by this. It seems painfully evident that failing is the goal for PUMAs. Their identities depend entirely on their aggrieved-victims-of-vaginahood schtick. NONE of these people has ever shown any real commitment to feminism, social change, or political organizing. (If you didn’t know that the ERA never was ratified, you really throw your feminist activism credentials into suspicion.)

They thought that Hillary would win, give them healthcare, kiss their Self-Inflicted Victim Boo-Boos, and make everything all better. No wonder they bitch about caucuses and view them as evil and unfair—caucuses require work and they tend to take the temperature of party activists, rather than the preferred PUMA strategy of vote, go home, and bitch on the internet about how HARD and UNFAIR life is for po widdle white women. Why do you think so few of them donated to Hillary? Why do you think so few of them showed up at their ridiculous “conference” in DC? Why do you think so few of them showed up in Denver? Because real honest-to-god activism requires WORK, and as entitled white women, they shouldn’t have to work for anything—it should just be handed to them.

It’s nice you still have good things to say about them, but I have no patience with whiny white privileged women who turn their own self-loathing and inadequacy into a racist evil hate group.

Kerry, that was as cogent and devastating a wrap-up of the PUMA movement as Brad could ever find. I think he came to PUMA through his wife and got to be dangerously close to some of his subjects for a documentarian.

  You’re right on about the lack of actual PUMA participation in genuine activism: really, PUMAPAC and the Effluents, or whatever it is, and the rest of the PUMA blogs are venting venues attached to amateur spamming operations.

I don’t think it’s a crime for a woman to have been politically unaware for much of her life and then experience an awakening. But having your political awakening in the PUMA movement reminds me of that poor whale in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: she suddenly pops into existence, thinks “Where am I? What is this?”, flips her tail a couple of times, and then bursts, because she was born in a vacuum which can’t support life.

Polly - the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy parallels are many, like their penchant for Vogon poetry.

Mrs. Polly (Hitchikers’ Guide wonk here) - That poor whale is a good example, but if I recall correctly, it meets its demise because it’s just discovering its whaledom, as you say, and the fact it can wiggle its tail, and pondering what its existence is all about, then it notices this large, round object getting even larger, wonders what it is ... and then ...

Maybe the Inauguration is the planet towards which this lot are plummeting? But I think the only way they’ll meet their demise because of it is if they OD on the outrage or the booze or choke on their kibble when they accidentally catch sight of a report or headline.

oops, time to reread the Guide!

There’s another analogy I’ve been working on: PUMAs=Snarge.

Snarge?

NPR was covering the airplane that ditched in the Hudson. The remains of birds that got sucked into the engines are being sent to Washington to be analyzed by the resident expert on remains of birds sucked into airplane engines. She is the resident snarge expert.

Feathers are amazingly tough and remain identifiable even after encountering a jet engine at 200 mph. The snarge expert (snargeologist?)can identify the species that brought the plane down; perhaps steps can be taken to control a population of geese near the airport. Etc.

PUMAS, I think, are the flock of geese that brought down the McCain campaign plane. Of course, McCain thought there were eighteen million of them and aimed right for them, but then isn’t that just like him? With the usual results.

Remind me never to piss Kerry off, or challenge the rest of you to a Doug Adam’s trivia contest.

The PUMAs. alas, just don’t know where their towel is.

Yeah, I certainly don’t think there’s anything wrong with people having their consciences raised later in life—it’s all a journey and the ‘right’ answers can and should change with circumstances and reality (god knows the thing I hate the most about the Bushies, aside from, well, everything, was their inability to absorb new facts and adjust plans and outlooks accordingly).

But the PUMAs are extra-annoying because they now seem to think that they and they alone own feminism, and anyone who has a different outlook (i.e., not seeing Barack Obama as An Evil Affirmative Action Empty Suit Black Marauder Bastard or Sarah Palin as a Straight-Talkin’ Feminist Maverick Heroine) becomes the target of their ignorant wrath. There’s nothing wrong with not knowing. There’s a lot wrong with refusing to acknowledge what you don’t know and demonizing other people out of that stupidity and prejudice. As a proud member of the reality-based community, that bullshit gets on my tits.

And could use a “DON’T PANIC” button. But who couldn’t?

Tom65

the PUMAs (the semi-conscious ones anyway) will finally see themselves in the mirror and recoil in horror. But rather than accept reality, they’re going to start some kind of holy war against Brad and anyone else involved in the production. I wouldn’t be surprised to see at least one lawsuit coming from it.

This is not an anti-PUMA film, Tom65. I am sure, nevertheless, that some in the movement are going to hate it.

Kerry Reid,

Why do you think so few of them donated to Hillary? Why do you think so few of them showed up at their ridiculous “conference” in DC? Why do you think so few of them showed up in Denver? Because real honest-to-god activism requires WORK, and as entitled white women, they shouldn’t have to work for anything—it should just be handed to them.

I like much of what I’ve read from you, but his is an unfair characterization of the majority of PUMA women and men I’ve met. The people I filmed were very sober, thoughtful people for the most part, as the film will show. They were very focused and hard working. What I saw in front of the camera and what I’m now seeing online are, in many cases two profoundly different things (not that I spent much time in blog groups before starting the film), and this gives me no joy whatsoever.

Mrs. Polly -

Kerry, that was as cogent and devastating a wrap-up of the PUMA movement as Brad could ever find. I think he came to PUMA through his wife and got to be dangerously close to some of his subjects for a documentarian.

You’re right on about the lack of actual PUMA participation in genuine activism: really, PUMAPAC and the Effluents, or whatever it is, and the rest of the PUMA blogs are venting venues attached to amateur spamming operations.

I don’t think it’s a crime for a woman to have been politically unaware for much of her life and then experience an awakening. But having your political awakening in the PUMA movement reminds me of that poor whale in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: she suddenly pops into existence, thinks “Where am I? What is this?”, flips her tail a couple of times, and then bursts, because she was born in a vacuum which can’t support life.

For the record, I’m not seeking devastating wrap-ups to the PUMA movement. I am seeking an audience for my film, which I’ve spent six months of my life on. I love my wife Lorenda dearly, and it’s true that I came into the project mainly out of that love for her. But once I was IN the project, over thirty years of training and experience kicked in.

I am letting the PUMA speak for itself. And for the first hour or so of the film, there is very little in the way of “contra” to their “pro.” Once the film gets to Denver (after one bang of a musical montage kick-in), things begin to change, and the film shows that as well. I have NOT manipulated the events in any way to fit any sort of pre-conceived thematic outline.

There are one or two PUMA that are my age or a bit older, who also were involved in late-sixties political movements (I myself got in trouble for participating in anti-Vietnam war demonstrations on the Princeton University campus), and they are not in any way pie-in-the-sky about political activism.

On the other hand, I am personally offended by the way I and, in some cases Lorenda, have been treated on some PUMA blogs. And as an artist I am very much aware of the irony surrounding the fact that this is the only place I can come into to discuss my film.

By the way, Mrs. Polly, much of what you’ve written in here has made me laugh out loud (in a good way), and that is rare.

Incidentally, wasn’t strange’s autobiographical post of last night something for the books?

Kerry, nobody could have said it better. I am saving the phrase “gets on my tits” for a special occaision, when I’m wearing opera gloves.

Brad - I didn’t mean to imply that your film was anti-anything, just pointing out that, given the level of denial and lack of self-awareness of some of the PUMA regulars, they are bound to complain that you’ve edited them to appear crazier than they really are. It’s a common refrain from reality show cast members.

There’s a thought - “Real World Denver”.

Tom65

“Real World Denver”.

LOL! I’m glad I wasn’t drinking milk just now.

By the way, Mrs. Polly, much of what you’ve written in here has made me laugh out loud (in a good way), and that is rare.

Mrs. P. is indeed a gem, but many of the commenters and bloggers here are world-class, IMO. I’ve had to explain to Mrs. YAFB the reason for the late-night hoots she’s been hearing (though after 20-odd years, little I do surprises her anyway).

But the PUMAs are extra-annoying because they now seem to think that they and they alone own feminism, and anyone who has a different outlook (i.e., not seeing Barack Obama as An Evil Affirmative Action Empty Suit Black Marauder Bastard or Sarah Palin as a Straight-Talkin’ Feminist Maverick Heroine) becomes the target of their ignorant wrath. There’s nothing wrong with not knowing. There’s a lot wrong with refusing to acknowledge what you don’t know and demonizing other people out of that stupidity and prejudice. As a proud member of the reality-based community, that bullshit gets on my tits.

You pretty much nailed it Kerry. 

Brad, if you’re still around, did you do any filming at the Rise ceremony in Denver in Cheesman Park?  I’m trying to think if I saw you there.

Brad, you obviously have a different take. However, as I pointed out before, all I have to judge them on is their web presence, and now that the election is over, that is all they have. So I don’t see how I can be unfair to them when I’m basing my judgments on the face that they have chosen as their public persona.

No one has forced them to post vitriolic, racist, and patently false statements about Obama and other leaders. No one forced them to exhibit their appalling ignorance about the primary process, feminist issues, and race/class issues in a public format. They chose it. And as is typical of PUMAs, rather than claim agency for their actions (“It’s not my fault if Roe v. Wade gets overturned if I vote for McCain and let him stack the Supreme Court with fundie nutballs!”), they would prefer to be victims.

Seriously, how else do you expect someone to read the castration fantasies, victim narratives, ranting insane conspiracy theories, and other bilious tripe that fills the PUMAsphere on a daily basis except as ignorant hate speech? And Riverdaughter and Darragh obviously have no problems with allowing their sites to be the nexus of that bullshit.

You say some of them are sober, committed progressive activists. If they said they were those things, but still insisted that they were voting for McCain even after their goddess Hillary told them not to, then I’m afraid they are so full of shit the whites of their eyes are brown.

So no, Brad, I’m not being unfair. I’m seeing them as they show themselves. And since I don’t have any personal connection to any of them, I think perhaps my judgment may be less clouded than yours.

Unfortunately, Brad, you’re a guy…which makes you a charter member of the Patriarchy, and a shoo-in for the “betrayed-yet-again-by-a-smooth-talking-man-who-took-a dvantage-of-us” default meme. You’re practically “Central Casting” for the part, and doubly-damned because you “accepted money” from the PUMAs…which will make you the Ultimate Atomic Hyper-Judas should they detect any deviation from what some of them—like Trish and TerryDo—“thought” they were “paying for.”

They’re already balking at having to “buy” the DVD, since God knows you’ve been living off their largesse like an unemployed husband just to build “your video” so you can “win festival awards”...and, presumably, brag about taking them for a ride to all your crotch-scratching buddies on the AFI Bowling Team.

It’s wrong. It’s unfair. And it chafes me to know that there are people who think you “purchase” a documentary the same way you buy Kinderfoto snaps, or vanity “nightie” cheesecake photos. 

However, I’m sure you’ve seen how, lately, they’ve turned on the old-guard feminists—as well as their own members—in a bizarre ritual I like to call the “Winnowing of the Allies.” So the truth is, nobody’s safe…but some targets are easier than others, especially the ones attached to a nutsack.

I hope I’m wrong. I hope I’m overstating their vindictiveness, and underestimating their ability to appreciate their own story, viewed from an objectifying distance.

My wish for you is that, as you lay-in the bars and tone and the 10-second countdown for the last time, you will finally feel the “thank-God-that’s-over” relief that only a film producer—or a cat who just hacked-up a furball—can ever fully experience.

Hi Brad, I actually wasn’t implying that your closeness to your subjects slanted your professionalism; I was talking more about your surprise and dismay at how some of the PUMAs are acting now. Of course, there’s almost always stress between the documentarian and his subjects, when they see themselves after the final edit, isn’t there(I think the only person who ever LOVED her depiction might have been Edie Beale)?

I know we will likely always disagree about the PUMA’s complaints re HRC’s treatment leading up to the nomination, but that makes no never mind to me.  I’d to point out that at this jolly little blog people have always been able to have their say. That has never been true for 90% of the PUMA blogs, and that should tell you something: a movement which blocks information as if it were incoming hostile fire is just plain cracked, and has no way of mending.

But enough of these PUMAs. I’m eager to see your film, and wish you pick up lots of prizes at the festivals, but enough with these cats:

Have you seen “The Weeping Camel”? How many film shoots can you think of that had to be worked around the reproductive cycle of camels? Exactly.

Strange’s enthralling Mongolian wanderings are entirely in keeping with what we’d expect from him. “Crab-walking the Great Wall” would be a best-seller, I’m sure.

I am saving the phrase “gets on my tits” for a special occaision, when I’m wearing opera gloves.

Mrs. Polly, you are indeed the premiere prose stylist here, and I would be grateful if you and your opera gloves would accept my invitation to a meet-up in the Big Bukkake Chat Room.

“Opera gloves.” Christ, there are days when I can’t believe I don’t have to pay money to read this blog.

Has anyone else caught this one?

1,000,000 People Sorry They Voted For Obama

Christ, there are days when I can’t believe I don’t have to pay money to read this blog.

Shhhhhh - we don’t want Kevin thinking he can start drawing a salary from this endeavor like Darragh has recently bamboozled he followers into believing.

Brad, if you’re reading this, all snark aside, I really do wonder how you square what have been your apparently positive impressions of Riverdaughter and Darragh, at least in the past, with what they’ve allowed their sites to promulgate. Do you understand why, not having met them, but having read so much of the hateful racist false bullshit that they not only allow, but actively encourage (while censoring any dissenting viewpoints), I cannot view them as anything but loathesome and contemptible women?

There is that great line of Kurt Vonnegut’s from Mother Night: “You are what you pretend to be, so you have to be very careful about what you pretend to be.”

Whether or not you think Darragh and Riverdaughter and their assorted cohorts are actually racist liars or not, they at least “pretend” to be that for the foaming-at-the-mouth devotees of their sites. Which means—they are actually racist liars.

Hear, hear, Kerry! In terms of hours expended, funds raised, etc., I’m guessing the PUMA “movement” is 90% online. It’s hard to envision an accurate depiction of it that largely ignores that aspect.

I’ll withhold judgment about the documentary until (if) I see it, but when Mr. Mays expressed some surprise here awhile back at the amount of racism associated with the PUMAs, I figured he was missing a very large chunk of the picture.

The fact that people often behave differently face-to-face compared to the way they behave online is an old, old truism.

When I used to witness, and sometimes challenge, people behaving like total dicks on forums, there’d often be someone who’d pop up and say, “Oh, they’re a really good person if you meet them in real life. It’s so easy to get the wrong idea about someone online. They’re not like that at all.”

I always have had my reservations about that argument.

The Puma’s always FAIL because they are waundering a PUMAsphere as Arthur Dent without as much as even a Ford Prefect.

They have somehow gleaned that a towel is necessary, but they don’t know why, so they have wrapped them around their entire heads and can only communicate by keyboard drumming and see with a special collective eye parody stolen from MacBeth, which is an interdimensional MEME implanted by the white mice overlords.

They have mistaken printouts from the hyper-improbability drive as newswire feeds, and have made the horrendous error of taking in Zaphod Beeblebox as a trustworthy ally.

Now you know why my has an iq2xu, it’s a reference to the other head.

Darragh needs money for their frequent field trips to the restaurant at the end of the universe where all is perpetually lost, and they have mistaken Marvin’s personality for the model of personality adjustment in a wholey self realized modern white Nietzsche Uber woman, parading around the PUMAverse in a housecoat and slippers.

Everyone -

I am reading your posts but I’m also in my final day of post-production and can’t address everything you have to say at this moment. I DO understand where all of you are coming from, but all I can do is speak to what I saw in front of me in real time while I was shooting and editing my film. Since I am no longer welcome on one particular PUMA blog, and cannot go into another without being attacked, I’d rather refrain from commenting on some of the non-TAOD posts that appear on them.

Do I approve of everything that is said on these blogs?

Well, all I can say is that what I do or do not approve of is irrelevant for now. I’m just trying to get out of this situation with a minimum of damage.

But again, to Kerry Reid, to Strange, Mrs. Polly and all the rest of you who are showing such interest in my project, I do thank you for that interest, as well as for just letting me speak in an unfettered manner.

I’ll end on this note:

While I was at the Washington D.C.  gathering, where I was allowed to film SOME of the proceedings, I was set upon by two or three PUMA members who didn’t like the idea of where my film might be going (no details for now). Within seconds, almost the entire room was yelling at me. Riverdaughter, bless her heart, came to my defense. Later, I told Will Bower that occurrences like that had to, by definition, become part of the story I was filming. In the end, I chose not to put any of that particular event in the film, because I thought that to do so might have dishonored the agreement i had in place SPECIFICALLY FOR the Washington D.C. event. But Will just sort of looked at me with that “you really are an asshole” sort of look that smacks of passive aggression.

marindenver -

No I was not in Cheeseman Park, but two of my camera people were. And my wife Lorenda spoke there.

That’s all I can do for now. Back to the glamorous world of filmmaking.

Later, I told Will Bower that occurrences like that had to, by definition, become part of the story I was filming. In the end, I chose not to put any of that particular event in the film, because I thought that to do so might have dishonored the agreement i had in place SPECIFICALLY FOR the Washington D.C. event. But Will just sort of looked at me with that “you really are an asshole” sort of look that smacks of passive aggression.

Nothing in this world would give me greater satisfaction than screwing that guy over.

OK, there are a few things that would give me greater satisfaction, but the recent ban on peanut butter has kind of put a crimp in things.

P.S.

Keep those “Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy” references coming. I LOVE that stuff!

Just back from looking up “Bukkake” in the Urban Dictionary. I had been under the impression it was a Tiki bar, and I was wondering, “wouldn’t a grass skirt be more appropriate?”

Evidently not.

But now I am in the mood for a drink in a coconut.

Brad, how do the masses see your movie?  Can we order a copy from you?

@Mrs. Polly

I hope you did not register my comment as disrespect. Unfortunately, I am only human. I see “tits” and “opera gloves,” and suddenly I am off for the millionth time to forge the uncreated conscience of my race…

...right after I get done watching this bootleg compendium of “All Purpose Cultural Cat Girl Nuku Nuku.”

Mrs. Polly -

I am probably going to get no end of shit for this, but here is a link:

No worries, Strange—shallI keep the grass skirt then?

Mrs. Polly—You wear the grass skirt. I’ll be the one with the ukulele.

Brad Mays—Amazon is probably going to have to add an extra server, just to handle the inevitable “reviewer wars.” You are a brave man.

StrangeAppar8us

Amazon is probably going to have to add an extra server, just to handle the inevitable “reviewer wars.”

Fuck! I hadn’t thought of that! Oh well, let the fur fly!

So nobody has seen “The Weeping Camel”. Pity.

Mrs. Polly, I haven’t read “Hitchhiker’s Guide,” nor have I seen “The Weeping Camel,” so I am useless for you!

I thought a weeping Camel was…..

oh never mind.

I’ll bet we could do a joint fundraiser with Wonkette, YTD,  Stupid Puma’s, and other interested point and laffers for the out-takes from Brad’s Film.

He is likely going to need anything he can get since the PUMAs reject anything in its entirety if it’s not 100% party line-of-the-day.

Besides, as soon as Darragh gets here hands on it she is going to make a bunch of pirate copies and sell it to her emale list on the side.

Then idiot PUMAs won’t realize they are paying Murphy twice what the DVD costs on Amazon from Brad until they’ve all been fleeced.

Them they will glorify Darragh for moving the PUMA revolution forward by overcharging them.

“The Weeping Camel” can be purchased here for $20.99: