When the Dominique Strauss-Kahn story broke it seemed to embody many of our most potent national narratives: race; class; sex; European degeneracy bested by Puritan virtue.

What if none of that was true? Or what if that narrative was secondary to another that is much more complex and startling?

Edward Jay Epstein suggests that other narrative in the New York Review of Books.

We can’t just look at embarrassing ‘debates’ conducted by fools for the benefit of scoundrels. Let’s see some embarrassing lip-synching instead. It makes a lot more sense than Cain ever did.

The location is the 42nd Street Studios. Just about the only game in town to rehearse big musicals. Yes, boys and girls, those are indeed the lights of Manhattan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqm_vNS-HX0

Like the rest of the country I’ve been glued to the TV for the Republican debates. And as debators go I’d have to give them all high marks. Full disclosure: I’m a bit of a masterdebator myself but I can’t hold a jar of lube to these people.

There can only be one true masterdebator, however. One who towers above the others. One who will say anything, do anything, to score. We’re not in the business of picking number two. And so that we don’t have to think, Media Training has done it for us.

With the rise of mean temperature world-wide some areas will be warmer than others. Texas, say. Or Florida. Where it will soon not only be boring to play football but downright dangerous.

I’m told that the person on the right is a pro footballer. I’m wondering if he escorts.

A reason to care about climate change.

While traveling abroad, as part of Stinque International Outreach, I happened to be in Reykjavik overnight before heading west to the fjords. Iceland has a population of just over 300,000, of which 200,000 live in the capital. In the summer months there are more tourists on the island than inhabitants. Our global financial collapse began in earnest when three small icelandic banks were taken out of government control, decided they wanted to replace JP Morgan, made crazy deals, promised the moon, and then cratered.

To rescue/punish the nation, the IMF imposed harsh penalties, strict austerity measures, and a gradual repayment of the huge private debts the banks had accrued with public money. Icelanders said ‘fuck you’, threw out the government, elected a woman as prime minister, and took their finances back under government control. Will they make it?

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Next time you check in to Marcus Bachmann’s clinic pretending you need help to pray away the gay while all the time you are collecting material for an exposé and then don’t bother to show up for the last two sessions because… well… why would you, do not be surprised if the next voice you hear is Marcus demanding payment.

B-man gets all pissy, yo.

In an interview for GQ which is, I believe, a magazine of some kind, Herman Cain confesses to a love of meat. Particularly sausage. He does not care too much for veggie pizza believing it to be sissy. As Mr. Cain points out: real men crave meat. As much as possible. No word yet on whether or not he’s cramming it down his own throat or if he’s got someone to do that for him.

Either way-

He’s got my vote.