Category Archives: Artsy-Fartsy Culture Stuff

Why this is an ad-free blog

Posted on April 16, 2011 by Sabina Becker

I’ve been getting a huge uptick in traffic lately. Good thing, right? I thought so, until my brother asked if I had ads on my blog. “You could make money off it”, was his rationalization. But here’s my problem: I … Continue reading →

Posted in Angry Pacifist Speaks Her Mind, Artsy-Fartsy Culture Stuff, Confessions of a Bad German, Crapagandarati, Economics for Dummies, Environmentally Ill, Fascism Without Swastikas, Filthy Stinking Rich, If You REALLY Care, Isn't It Ironic?, Just Pissed Off, Madvertising, Technical Notes, Writer Lady Sings the Blues | 4 Comments

Quotable: Ursula K. Le Guin on hegemony in science fiction

Posted on April 14, 2011 by Sabina Becker

“Finally, one of the major historical themes of the modern world, the destruction and assimilation by western industrialism of every culture it comes in contact with, has been represented in science fiction for a long time. In the pulps it … Continue reading →

Posted in Artsy-Fartsy Culture Stuff, Fascism Without Swastikas, Isn't It Ironic?, Quotable Notables, The United States of Amnesia, Uppity Wimmin | 4 Comments

Atlas Sucked: A review of a review

Posted on April 11, 2011 by Sabina Becker

Yesterday, this movie review crossed my sights. At least, that’s what I think it’s trying to be, although it comes across as…well, see for yourself: Who is John Galt? He’s the Han Solo of the most important movie flop of … Continue reading →

Posted in Artsy-Fartsy Culture Stuff, Crapagandarati, Do As I Say..., Economics for Dummies, Fascism Without Swastikas, Filthy Stinking Rich, Fine Young Cannibals, Free Trade, My Ass!, Headline Howlers, If You REALLY Care, Isn't It Ironic?, Law-Law Land, Not So Compassionate Conservatism, Socialism is Good for Capitalism!, Teh Russkies, The Hardcore Stupid, The United States of Amnesia | 6 Comments

Gordon Pinsent reads

Posted on March 2, 2011 by Sabina Becker

An unquestioned Canadian cultural icon reads from the immortal words of…well… (My friend CK suggests that as an encore, “22 Minutes” should have Margaret Atwood reading from the memoirs of Sarah Palin…or maybe the forthcoming ones from her equally ambitious … Continue reading →

Posted in Artsy-Fartsy Culture Stuff, Canadian Counterpunch, The WTF? Files | Comments Off on Gordon Pinsent reads

Krumping, Red Army style

Posted on January 29, 2011 by Sabina Becker

 I have a hunch that they didn’t originally do it to Run-DMC, but I’m amazed at how well the phrasing of the song fits the action of this old Russian film of soldiers holding a cossack dance-off.

Posted in Artsy-Fartsy Culture Stuff, Teh Russkies, The Bold and the Badass, The WTF? Files | 1 Comment

We don’t need no stinkin’ broadcast standards here!

Posted on January 15, 2011 by Sabina Becker

In light of all the (very belated and very, very ridiculous) fuss over the unedited version of Dire Straits’s “Money For Nothing”, I thought it might be instructive to deconstruct the offensive word in question…with a little help from The … Continue reading →

Posted in Artsy-Fartsy Culture Stuff, Canadian Counterpunch, Isn't It Ironic?, Law-Law Land, Teh Ghey, The WTF? Files | Comments Off on We don’t need no stinkin’ broadcast standards here!

Mario Vargas Llosa: The plot thickens

Posted on January 11, 2011 by Sabina Becker

More strange accusations against Mario Vargas Llosa are emerging from the shadows. These come courtesy of La Tribuna de Toledo and EFE, via Aporrea: The Swedish Academy announced yesterday, in a surprising manner, that it will be investigating this year’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Artsy-Fartsy Culture Stuff, Inca Dink-a-Doo, Isn't It Ironic?, Isn't That Illegal?, Law-Law Land, The WTF? Files | 5 Comments

Mario Vargas Llosa, plagiarist?

Posted on January 9, 2011 by Sabina Becker

Oh my, how potentially embarrassing. And just as he’s won the Nobel lit-prize, too: A writer has accused Mario Vargas Llosa of having plagiarized his 1978 book, The Death of the Goat, in his recent work, The Feast of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Artsy-Fartsy Culture Stuff, Inca Dink-a-Doo, Isn't It Ironic?, Isn't That Illegal?, Law-Law Land, The WTF? Files | 1 Comment

Gerry Rafferty has passed

Posted on January 4, 2011 by Sabina Becker

Just learned it from the tweeter. RIP to a great musical hero. Here’s my fave of his:That singing guitar, so sweet and understated. Perfection.

Posted in Artsy-Fartsy Culture Stuff, Obits and 'bobs | 3 Comments

Quotable: Amy Wilentz on Haiti

Posted on October 10, 2010 by Sabina Becker

“The figure of the Haitian living abroad is one that evokes bitter comedy and, often, envy among Haitians living in Haiti. Haitian Haitians can quickly spot someone from what is called the diaspora visiting Port-au-Prince. A Haitian friend once told … Continue reading →

Posted in Artsy-Fartsy Culture Stuff, Quotable Notables | 1 Comment