The Atlantic: Olga Khazan: 'The Social Benefits of Swearing'

Source:The Atlantic- So in other words: we shouldn't watch our fucking language. LOL

Source:The Daily Review

“Earlier this year, the Democratic National Committee began selling T-shirts on its site with a punchy slogan: “Democrats give a shit about people.”

From The Atlantic

"People are swearing more and more in public life with no negative consequences. Are there social benefits to swearing? And what's the psychology behind people actually enjoying it when others curse?"

Source:The Atlantic- For anyone who is a hipster: the more you swear, the more likable you are.

From The Atlantic

I'm going to give you an answer to why Americans swear so much at least now in public but also in private as well that is a lot less scientific than what Olga Khazan gives you. But before that I'm just to go on the record and say I'm not a religious fundamentalist or very religious at all and don't even practice any religion and I'm not a prude. Of course I swear like most Americans do I just have a real purpose to it and don't feel the need to sound cool and lot of times today swearing is generally used simply to sound cool and hip. People will swear really for no other reasons other than that.

I swear to express anger and amazement and no other reasons:"Holy, shit! That man is fat!" Would be an example of someone showing amazement and being caught off guard. "Why don't you watch where the fuck you're going, are you trying to fuckin kill me?" Would be an example of someone expressing anger because they think someone is moving too fast generally in a vehicle and moving recklessly.

But most Americans swear today and cable TV especially HBO and company is a perfect example of that because that is simply their normal vehicle of communication. That is how they talk to their friends, that is how their friends talk and it seems perfectly normal to them. That is how cool people talk today.

If you want to sound cool today you swear a lot and even do it for no apparent reason: "Where the fuck is he? He was supposed to be here 2 minutes ago. Fuckin lazy ass!" Now was that really called for or could that person just so a little patience instead and say: "Relax, he'll be here." Or not even say that and just enjoy that time waiting a few minutes. Maybe get a latte and stare at their iPhone and pretend too look hip and important for a few minutes.

The more you swear and sound cool doing it, the cooler you'll be in American pop culture. And if you're in entertainment the more you swear the more popular you'll be and the more roles you'll have in movies or on HBO or the other networks where hard-core swearing is not just allowed but encouraged.

The bigger the asshole you are the more attention you'll bring to yourself as the reality genre as proven the last fifteen years or so. You don't have to do a scientific study to prove this but simply be aware of your own surroundings and what is going on in culture today.

The fact that we now see more cussing in American politics today whether its lets say moderate cussing with the use of the word damn and hell, screw, and other words like that not just on cable news, but network news where you would think the people there would be more moderate and cognitive with their approach to how they express themselves, is just an example of how pop culture hasn't just infiltrated our political system, but that our political system is a reflection of our pop culture in America.

And saying what the heck, or darn it all, gee wiz, just sounds too 1950s Leave it to Beaver for most Americans today. Especially when you can say I don't give a damn or what the hell, that is a helluva a lot, and not pay any price for it. You don't need to poll people or do any scientific research on this and ask people why they swear regardless of their profession. You just have to be aware of what's going on in front of you and see it for yourself.

The Atlantic: Kurt Anderson: 'The Cultural Factors Driving America's Departure From Reality'

Source:The Atlantic- writer Kurt Anderson for The Atlantic.

Source:The Daily Review 

“Kurt Andersen’s cover story “How America Lost Its Mind” argues that “being American means we can believe anything we want.” This is due to a combination of the new-age mentality born out of the 1960s that encouraged Americans to find their own truth and the internet age, which has allowed us to create communities that reinforce our beliefs. According to Andersen, the perfect manifestation of America’s journey away from reality is the election of Donald Trump. Read more in The Atlantic’s September 2017 cover story:The Atlantic." 

From The Atlantic

I don't want to make this whole piece about Donald Trump and even not most of it and perhaps just a lot of it, but the way I look at America's Departure From Reality (to paraphrase Kurt Anderson) is way I describe Donald Trump's approach to politics and broader approach to salesmanship. Which is that it's not what's true that's important to him, but what's believable. And not what's believable to most people or intelligent people. But what's believable to enough people for him to accomplish what he wants.

In 2016 that was the presidency and perhaps now it's just about what's believable to his base so his presidency doesn't completely go under water. Right now President Trump's approval rating is somewhere between 33-37% depending on what non-Fox News and Rasmussen poll you look at. Even Fox News has him in the low to mid forties right now. And you take President Trump's base away from him he's probably in the teens right now and perhaps low teens. Not the Republican Party but just his base in the Republican Party. Which is about 4-10 Republicans.

President Trump believes for him to stay alive and not risk being kicked out of office or asked to resign even with a Republican Congress, he has to have his base with him. And to for hat he has to tell them things that are believable to them even if the rest of the country knows what he's saying his complete garbage. (To be kind) Millions of Americans perhaps have escaped the real world to break from reality and perhaps live in so-called reality TV because their real world is too scary for them. But so does their own President.

America's break from reality of course didn't start with Donald Trump. Right now he's just the overwhelming benefactor of it. Where he now represents people who believe that Russia had nothing to do with the 2016 elections and didn't try to interfere in them. Even though President's own intelligent agencies have told him that Russia tried to hack our elections. Climate change is a hoax, 9/11 was an inside job, Barack Obama was born in Kenya, and I could go on. But America's break from reality has nothing to do with Donald Trump. Again he's just the biggest benefactor of it.

We now live in a country where Americans believe reality TV is actually real and the people on these shows are like that in real-life. When in fact we now now (or at least some of us) that the cast members on those shows are encouraged by the producers of those shows to act out and be the biggest jerks they can and get into arguments with other cast members about nothing to draw the biggest ratings. Because conflict is what sells on TV.

Life in America can be tough and stressful and Americans sometimes need a break from that and be able to escape their own reality. Which is why we take vacations and a lot of us watch the tube and get online when we get home from work especially after we've completed everything we need to do that day. That's fine and I do these things myself. But it's when alternative reality takes over our lives and we start to live in those worlds and start seeing and hearing things that simply don't exist is where virtual reality becomes a problem and we look stupid as a result. Americans are only as powerful and free as we are educated and intelligent.

The smarter we are the freer and powerful we are because we'll make the right decisions for ourselves and people who depend on us. But the more virtual reality and so-called reality TV takes over our lives and we actually take those things seriously instead of the mindless entertainment that it is (like pro wrestling) the dumber we become and the less free that we are as a people and country.

The Atlantic: Derek Thompson: 'What Makes Things Cool?'

Source:The Atlantic- To answer the question: Hollywood, pop culture, and young people. Whatever celebrities support, that is what becomes cool. 

Source:The Daily Review

"Although trends might seem completely random, there are well-documented patterns to what becomes popular. A 20th century industrial designer, who created some of America’s most iconic looks, developed a theory of coolness that has been backed up by various scientific studies. Derek Thompson, senior editor at The Atlantic, explains the science behind why we like what we like.

Authors: Derek Thompson, Nic Pollock, Alice Roth

Read Derek's article here:The Atlantic."

From The Atlantic

What makes things cool? A very good question especially since America is such a trendy what's hot now and cool society where everyone who wants to be cool seems to follow whatever the latest trend is even if they look ridiculous, (like wearing cowboy boots and running shorts with a mink coat)  talking or looking like that, or could feel like they're dying when they try to drink the latest drink or eat the latest dish.

Americans by enlarge and there some exceptions of people who have a healthy degree of self-confidence and are very comfortable being themselves even if their best friends are following their favorite celebrities like cult followers follow their leaders. And even with some Americans who are simply cool, because they are themselves even if that makes them different, but by enlarge feel the need to be like everyone else who is considered cool at the time.

With Jim Morrison of The Doors from the late 1960s being a perfect example of an exception to this rule. Marilyn Monroe from the 1950s would be another great example of that. Sean Connery at any point of his career has always been Mr. Cool, or is that Steve McQueen, but both of these men were always themselves. With the personal attributes, looks, intelligence, charm, humor. These two men were always themselves and if anything drove other men to be like them. Instead of these two guys trying to be like some other hot celebrity of that time.

Pop culture and what's seen as cool drives Americans more than just about anything else. We have a lot of Americans especially young Americans who rather be seen as stupid, instead of intelligent and willing to step out on the ledge (in pop culture, not in actuality) and risk not looking and sounding cool.

And young adults and even teenagers if they're into something, then people who are just older than them and even much older than them try to get into the same things. And what drives young people today in pop culture is new technology, because it makes their lives much easier and the ability to communicate so much easier than it was even more my Generation X when I was growing up in the 1980s and early 1990s. And the other thing being celebrity culture including talentless celebrities whose only ability has to do with cursing people out and expressing deep anger in public.

Derek Thompson in his video gives you the more scientific explanation of why things are cool and things become trends. But when it comes to Americans it's about trends and faddism. What are the cool people doing meaning the popular people in pop culture and that is who people who are not famous, but perhaps want to be or just want to be part of the cool and party scene in their local community and where they work and so-forth.

And most pop culture today has to do with new technology and people feeling this need that they may die if they don't get the latest iPhone the day that it comes out, watch the last episode of their favorite reality show or drama on cable, or what have you. And keeping up with the pop culture tends and having this feeling of coolness and being in is what drives the happiness of a lot of Americans. Way too many from my point of view.

The Atlantic: Alan Taylor: The Lights Go Out on Candlestick Park

Source:The New Democrat

I have mixed feelings about Candlestick Park. Even as someone who has actually never been there. But heard a lot of things about the park both good and bad from people who are much familiar with it than me. As well as seeing a lot of NFL and MLB games played there on TV.

The good aspects about it I think are fairly clear. If you look at the original design of the park from 1960, when the San Francisco Giants moved in for baseball, it is a pretty attractive ballpark and it was baseball only, as far as sports. I'm thinking had the 49ers not have moved in there as well and they kept up with the maintenance of the park, perhaps put up a wall beyond the bleachers in the outfield to keep the wind out played more day games, this would've been a beautiful classic ballpark, that perhaps is still in business today like Dodger Stadium.

The 49ers moving into this park and expanding the capacity to over seventy-thousand seats, including 63-64 thousand for baseball, which is way too big because of all the nosebleed seats in the upper deck, as well as all of those cold even in the summer San Francisco night games, really ruined what once was a beautiful ballpark. But despite all the flaws of this stadium, this was one of the better stadiums both in the MLB and NFL as far as fan atmosphere and attendance. This was a very loud outdoor stadium for both football and baseball and the fans seemed to like it. At least when their teams were good. This was a great home field advantage for the 49ers. Who've had most of their success at Candlestick. With all of those Super Bowl championships and big regular season and playoff games there.

I'm thinking had, the 49ers just of stayed at Kezar Stadium, which was beautiful and football only. Sort of like the L.A. Memorial Coliseum, but about half the size, but renovated it made it up to date for the 1970s with skyboxes and everything else and Candlestick never became a multipurpose stadium, the Giants might still be at Candlestick and the 49ers might still be at Kezar today. Both clubs playing in two of the best looking stadiums in both MLB and the NFL. But no, one of the key terms of the 1970s is cookie cutter. Multipurpose artificial stadiums was the trend in the 1970s. And San Francisco went the same route. Even though all they had to do was renovate Kezar and keep up on the maintenance of both Kezar and Candlestick. Instead of making Candlestick look like a big hole, or dump that got made fun of.

The Atlantic: Megan Garber: MSNBC's Move Away From Leftist Partisanship & The Unbundling of TV

Source:The Atlantic- MSNBC's Rachel Maddow.

Source:The New Democrat

First of all, I’m not surprised that MSNBC or NBC News ( that runs the cable network ) wouldn’t of looked into revamping MSNBC several years ago. Because it is a business losing operation as far as viewers and advertising revenue. They not only trail Fox News Channel, but CNN as well. And if it wasn’t for MSNBC their talk show hosts would probably be over on RT and Democracy Now where Thom Hartmann. ( an admitted Democratic Socialist works ) Because none of the big networks would pick them up. Rachel Maddow couldn’t get on Meet The Press as a weekly commentator because of how far-left she is.

MSNBC doesn’t speak for the Democratic Party and they sure as hell don’t represent Liberals either. They represent the Green Party, or the Green Party wing of the Democratic Party. Their talk lineup except for Chris Matthews who is basically an FDR Progressive, speak for the Bernie Sanders Democratic Socialist wing of the Democratic Party, especially in Congress and their supporters around the country. And even though socialism is a growing movement in America, they are nowhere near as large as the Tea Party movement. Or the Center-Left New Democrats that came on to the scene in the Democratic Party in the mid and late 1980s.

I can’t watch MSNBC now other than their documentaries which are pretty good and not just Lockup. Because it is like watching FNC except its coming from the Far-Left. Nothing but Occupy Wall Street and Far-Left talk radio talking points about how evil Republicans are. And how corporate America and American capitalism are destroying America. And the problem that MSNBC is that is how a large majority of Americans feel about hyper-partisanship whether it comes from the Far-Left or Far-Right. And even the fringes in America have free speech rights even if they believe that people they are against don’t. And I do read their blogs and publications, but their TV shows have become unwatchable for me.

Long-term if MSNBC wants to be a strong player on the cable talk market, they need to dump most if not all of their current talk lineup. And put shows together that about information and facts that educate their viewers. And not just some facts that are negative about the other side and try to make them look as bad as you possibly can. But real hard information about the issues that they cover. More Andrea Mitchell and programs like her’s with intelligent Center-Left analysts who have a better grasp of reality and is really going on. And not just there to make something look bad or good as they can get away with.
Source:The Young Turks

The Atlantic: Alexander Abad-Santos- 'Jon Stewart: Mourns The Miracle That Was Rick Santorum's Campaign'

Source:The Atlantic- comedian Jon Stewart on the miracle that was a Rick Santorum presidential campaign.

Source:Real Life Journal

“During his concession suspension speech on Monday, Rick Santorum said he “was winning in a different way,” which was right in Jon Stewart’s wheelhouse, especially with the Santorum’s odd euphemisms for losing, and patting himself on the back by insinuating his run to second place was as “improbable” and miraculous as they come. Though Stewart doesn’t seem too upset that the “Pennsylvania Prude” is dropping out, you know that there’s a part of him that will miss being able to rip on the fallen nominee. We’ll miss Santorum for that reason, too, but at least our loss was soothed by one of our most favorite things: Jon Stewart figuring out a way to work Herman Cain into the picture..

From The Atlantic

If Mitt Romney represents the brains of the Republican outfit in 2012 (meaning he's the only Republican who has a snowballs chance on a hot day in Florida of winning in 2012) then Rick Santorum represents the heart of the Republican Party. Who speaks for the base of the party, even though they won't give him the nomination. Because apparently Republican still prefer winning and their minds of their hearts.

Source:Fox News- Rick Santorum: "I know I shouldn't of had that extra bottle of scotch before I went out on stage. I can't stop shaking." Actually, I have no idea why he's doing that with his fist.

I’ll say this about Rick Santorum and this is probably the only nice thing I’ll say about Senator Santorum in this post, but at last its true: Rick Santorum ran a hell of a presidential campaign as far as where he started, as someone who wasn’t even expected to make it to Iowa, let alone win it, because he was thought of as a loser who was kicked out of the U.S. Senate by 16-18 point by his own state. He was seen as way too far to the right and keep in mind we are talking about the Republican Party here. So that’s saying something.

I mean Michele Bachmann who didn’t even make to New Hampshire apparently considers pornography and same-sex marriage as our biggest threats to national security. You can’t get to the right of someone like that, she’s so far to the right she couldn’t see Conservatives with a telescope or with X-ray vision. So what Senator Santorum did and accomplished was something pretty impressive.

Rick Santorum came from looking like an ex-politician who’s political career was over, to finishing in 2nd place in the Republican presidential race. Only trailing the frontrunner in Mitt Romney. And came damn close to winning, Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, and Wisconsin. If he wins those four states or just two to of them, he’s still campaigning for President right now, with a competitive shot at the presidential nomination. And had he made those state campaigns about the economy, instead of Jesus Christ knows best how free Americans should live their lives, maybe he wins those states.

But no, that wasn’t good enough for Ricky. Ricky wanted to be the Father of America and yet he runs for President instead. Telling Americans how to live their lives and focusing on social issues in an economy with 8.2% unemployment and he probably should’ve won those states. But remember, we are talking about Rick Santorum here, the leader and champions of big government republicanism. That’s just not in his creed, he believes the number one problem in America is that are too free and need more restrictions.

What Rick Santorum did by dropping out this week, was save his political career. Instead of continuing to campaign and looking like nothing more than a sore loser who doesn’t know when he’s taken too many punches. And leaves options open for himself, like perhaps the vice presidential nomination. Running for President in 2016 and being the frontrunner, or perhaps running for Governor of Pennsylvania in 2018.Or even running for Priest in Pennsylvania as an Italian-Catholic and have the right platform to tell free Americans as immoral we are and need our newly elected father to guide us in how we should live our own personal lives.

To be serious for a second: running for Priest seems to be a job right up Ricky’s ally and something he might actually be qualified for. Instead of trying to run for president in a liberal democratic free society.

The Atlantic: Dino Grandoni- 'Jon Stewart Explains Comedy to FOX News'

Source:The Atlantic- The Daily Show with the Real Jon Stewart.

Source:Real Life Journal

“As the brouhaha continues over Rush Limbaugh’s “slut” comment, Jon Stewart took a look at how the right is covering the story, asking, how should Fox News handle the recent dose of Rush-brand hate-mongering? By pointing out that the left has its own hatemonger in Bill Maher, who once called Sarah Palin a bad word himself. Fox’s hosts accuse Maher (and liberals in general) of cloaking their comments in the veil comedy, but Stewart rightly notes that comedians like himself get criticized for racy jokes constantly. He adds that top-rated Fox News isn’t really in the position to call itself anyone’s victim.”

From The Atlantic 

“When Fox News seeks recognition for their reporting on the shooting of Michael Brown case, liberal Hollywood and the network’s number one fan offer their praise.”

Source:Comedy Central- The Daily Show with the Real Jon Stewart.

From Comedy Central 

The only reason for me at least to watch FNC or Fox News Channel and for that matter to be “fair and balanced”, MSNBC prime time on weeknights, is to find out what’s not going on in the world. To get some comic relief and perhaps some ideas for my political satire. Because FNC is basically the RNC, laying out the positions and the spin of the Republican base. And MSNBC prime time Monday-Friday, is basically the mouthpiece for so-called progressive, not liberal (Socialist, if accuracy means anything) Democrats.

The Democrats and so-called progressive (social democratic, in actuality) third-parties, that don’t like President Obama and the Democratic Leadership, because they aren’t “progressive enough” and aren’t Socialists like themselves. Which is what they thought they were getting during the 2008 general elections.

If you’re going to listen to FNC seriously, not to make fun of it, but to actually find out what’s going on in the world, do yourself a big favor: check at least two other credible news sources. Like a good reporter and you better know what that is before you take FNC seriously.

If you’re listening to Megyn Kelly, Sean Hannity, David Asman and others, Bill O’Reilly to a certain extent (but he isn’t as bad as the others)  you’re basically hearing what they want to tell you. What makes their political views look best and you’re hearing a lot of political gossip, that’s designed to hurt Democrats and that’s what you get from Rachel Maddow and Ed Schultz on MSNBC at the expense of Republicans.

I swear I get more facts from The Onion (something I read everyday) than from FNC or Maddow and Schultz.

The Onion is seriously about news satire and doesn’t hide from that and they take stories that are true and make them as funny as possible by adding humor to them. When FNC says “Fair and Balanced”, you should take that as a joke that you would hear from The Onion. Because they are only “Fair and Balanced” to their own side.

The Atlantic: Dino Grandoni- ‘Jon Stewart Shows That Pandering Can be Tricky’

Source:The Atlantic- The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. I hope you get Mr Stewart's point. 

Source:Real Life Journal

“Since every candidate is doing it, pandering may seem pretty easy. But as Jon Stewart discovers, it’s pretty easy to slip up. On The Daily Show we see Newt Gingrich regretting ever saying English is the “language of prosperity” now that he needs Hispanic votes, while Mitt Romney proves he’s no Barack Obama with his rendition of “America the Beautiful.” As for the president himself? Asking for people’s resumes online makes him look no less of a panderer.” 

From The Atlantic 

"This is the reason CNN’s Crossfire is no longer on the air. Jon Stewart shows up these two ignorant political show hosts… 2 against 1, on their own show, and brings to light how these shows “Hurt America.” Thank you Jon for always pointing out political hypocrisy. I hope continuing to broadcast this video helps your voice continue to be heard.” 

Source:Alex Felker- political satirist Jon Stewart on CNN's Crossfire in 2004.

From Alex Felker 

As far as American politicians and their pandering and just the way we are in 2012: a career politician who is not a panderer, would be like a fish out of water, a pilot without a plane, a lawyer who never passed the bar. Career politicians can’t stay in office without the pandering.

I mean imagine a honest politician who only told his or her voters the truth and these are the problems and this is what we need to do to solve them, they would have to go get real jobs, but at least they would be able to tell the truth without having to worry about getting fired for doing just that.

As much as American voters say they want honest politicians and honesty in government, they almost always never vote for it. So as much as Jon Stewart might say it’s the system that’s the problem with American politics and government, it’s the voters who keep voting for and subsidizing that very system.

I think the point that political satirist Jon Stewart was trying to get across to Paul Begala and Tucker Carlson in 2004, is that Begala and Carlson and the hyper-partisans that they represent from the Left and Right, is exactly what’s wrong with America. And they represent the problem with America, at least as it has to do with our political system. With Begala and Carlson seeming to go out-of-their-way to make Stewart’s point with their hyper-partisanship.

The Atlantic: ‘Jon Stewart to Jon Hunstman: The Hunt is Over!’

Source:The Atlantic- comedian Jon Stewart on Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman.

Source:Real Life Journal 

“In the wake of Mitt Romney’s unshocking win in New Hampshire, Jon Stewart took a look at the most interesting showing on Tuesday night: Jon Huntsman’s third-place finish. After dinging Romney for making promises he couldn’t possibly keep and wondering how at this point Ron Paul’s second-place finish can still be dismissed, Stewart eyed Huntsman’s strange celebration for third. At his speech, there was confetti and Huntsman bellowing “Third place is a ticket to ride!” Stewart calls shenanigans on the victory lap when there was no victory, especially since Huntsman moved to New Hampshire and bet everything on winning there. “Even Napoleon came in second at Waterloo,” Stewart reminds Huntsman, in (maybe real?) Chinese.”

From The Atlantic

“Brian Kilmeade (host of Fox & Friends) on Fox News harshly disagreed with 2012 Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman while defending candidate and Texas Governor Rick Perry on global warming. The Young Turks host Cenk Uygur sets the record straight.”

Source:The Young Turks- talking to Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman.

From The Young Turks 

Jon Huntsman has spent the better of the last six months campaigning for votes in New Hampshire (The “Live Free or Die State) a state that should play well for him and his classical liberal leanings and managed just 17% of the vote. Finishing seven points behind the 2nd place finisher in Ron Paul.

Governor Huntsman was going after the sane vote in the Republican Party. Apparently most of those people voted for him, congratulations. Huntsman is clearly a very sane and common sense presidential candidate: “These are the problems, this is how I would try to solve them”.

Instead of spending years debating the issues and looking for absolute power, Huntsman would actually try to solve problems. I give him a lot of credit for that. His problem however is not only is he in the wrong political party for his politics, (ask Ron Paul and Gary Johnson what that’s like) but he’s looking to appeal to sane, credible, intelligent common sense voters. In a party that’s dominated by Christian-Nationalists.

Jon Huntsman is running for President in a party where a lot of base cares more about a candidates position on condoms, adultery, pornography, same-sex marriage, gambling, than they do who’s got the best economic and foreign policy’s. It’s like searching in a mental hospital for the sanest people there, that don’t work there. Finding a couple of people who are about to be released and then wondering why there are so many crazy people here. It’s a mental hospital, for crying out loud! (To put it mildly)

As Governor Huntsman likes to say on the campaign trail: what were you expecting to find, college professors? And that’s the state of the Republican Party right now, there too many crazy people for a common sense classical liberal or conservative presidential candidate there. Personally, I believe Jon Huntsman would make one hell of a Liberal Democrat. In the sense of what liberalism really is and not how its stereotyped today.

And when the clock finally goes off in Jon Huntsman’s head and he realizes that his time is over in the Republican Party, I believe he should consider a 3rd-party bid. Not to win because that’s not going to happen. But just to let the American voters who are fed up with out two-party system, that there’s other options out there and people who think like them.