Memo to Fox News: Abraham Lincoln Didn't Debate a Freed Slave, and This Freed Slaved Didn't Win a Senate Seat in 1858

Here's a recent Fox News graphic on the famous "Lincoln Douglas" debates, which took place as part of the 1858 Illinois Senate race that Lincoln lost.



As anybody who has taken high school history knows, Frederick Douglass (pictured above) is the freed slave known for buying his freedom and then writing several versions of his compelling autobiography and publishing a newspaper. He did not win the 1858 Senate race in Illinois. He did not travel across the state of Illinois and debate Abraham Lincoln in a series of debates.

Stephen A. Douglas is the white guy Abraham Lincoln lost the Senate race to. He's the guy Lincoln debated. It was a white guy. A white guy who supported the awful Dred Scott decision and the expansion of slavery in areas other than the south (if that's what the white people in the territories decided they wanted.)

More here on the "Fox and Friends" gaffe.

My First Post on Politics in Three Weeks

So I'm guessing President Obama won't be naming Rev. Wright Poet Laureate? Case closed and "buh-bye," right?

Just asking.

Keep hope alive.

Happy Anniversary: Part II

It was 25 years ago ...

Happy Anniversary

After three years together, an anniversary we fondly mark tonight, there really only remains one thing for me to tell Wally.

I'm Glad I Found This Website

Finally. A place where Lost fans can get true insight into the mysteries of the island. This entertaining and well-done site is highly recommended for both fans of the show and those who have never watched. Sure to both thrill and confuse. Just like the show.

Attention Must Be Paid

I've been intentionally ignoring politics lately, preferring instead to blog about kittens, elephants and penises.

That said, here is the must-watch video of Election 2008, a profound reflection about the state of our country; a sober statement about worldwide poverty and malnutrition; a prescient warning about global warming; and a metaphorical spotlight that shines light into those seriously unexamined corners where attention must be paid!

TV Guide: Uncomfortable That Men Have Penises

HBO recently had the temerity to show, for a brief glimpse, a penis on the HBO miniseries John Adams.

Here's the context: A man is being tarred and feathered by a mob of patriots in Boston for his pro-British views following the Boston Massacre. Although we've all read about tarring and feathering in high school American history classes, it might not really sink in just what a vitriolic and humiliating act it is, unless you can actually witness the raw act itself.

The scene included a very brief display of nudity. It was this shot that caused TV Guide to issue the miniseries a recent Jeer, which I wrote about yesterday morning.

For some reason the writer at TV Guide must be uncomfortable with male nudity and the penis, even though all men have one.

The brief nudity conveyed the baseness and vulgarity of the act while also giving viewers a glimpse into mob behavior. The scene as filmed was more than appropropriate to illustrate the act.

So HBO showed a penis. Who cares? Why does this make TV Guide so uncomfortable?

I suggest the writer at TV Guide who wrote the Jeer should immediately purchase the below T-shirt.

Art and History and T.V. Guide

Near the end of the HBO miniseries on John Adams last night, Adams chastises the painter John Trumbell for the unreality of his famous portrait of the signing of the Declaration of Independence -- how the true version of this "moment" (which wasn't actually a moment at all, instead taking place over many months) has been lost in the popular imagination. Trumbell's artistic license was both unnecessary and dishonest, Adams says.

Unlike founding fathers Washington, Jefferson and Hamilton, Adams is not pictured or celebrated on American currency ... except for the back of the $2 bill, Trumbell's offending portrait.

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TV Guide recently gave a Jeer to the HBO miniseries:

Jeers to HBO for declaring its independence too strongly with John Adams. As a pay-cable outlet, the net isn't subject to the same censorship standards as broadcast or basic-cable channels. But that doesn't mean all of its productions must include graphic content. The superb Adams would make perfect viewing for history buffs of all ages, were it not for the nudity (did we really need to see the full monty during the tar-and-feather sequence?), sex scenes between John and Abigail and gory depictions of various 18th-century diseases. I know — it's not TV, it's HBO. But it's also not necessary.

Maybe this is just me, but Americans need to know the miseries of disease in the "pre-Nasonex" and "pre-Ambien" period, and that Jefferson, Adams and Washington didn't have access to tooth whitener.

It's a "Singing" Competition

I haven't read this anywhere, but didn't it look like guest singer Mariah Carey was lip-synching on American Idol last night? Isn't this just a wee bit odd for a show that celebrates and critiques live performance?

One mo' thing: Some, but not all, of the obligatory contestant-hugs-star moments looked a wee bit disingenuous, too.

You Say Potato, I say Patattah

A reader writes: "Didn't I send this to you before....? It's really annoying."

He then links to this:



He says annoying, I say adorable. ... Let's call the whole thing off.

What do you think?

Vote for Muki

The Cup of Joe, known for its niche coverage of movies, TV, politics and kittens since 2006, has lost its way a bit, with not a single kitten post in 2008! Let's correct this.



Please vote for Muki on kittenwar.com, and keep the audacity of hope for Muki alive.

What Wally Says to Me Every Morning

This Clip Is Better Than a Morning Cup of Coffee

(And if anybody can find an SCTV-related CH clip, please respond in the comments.)

Elephant Art

Snopes says this is not a hoax.

The elephant in this 8-minute video appears to be a better artist than I am.

Not that that's a hard thing.

For the Love of God

After we leave this earth, I hope we all can be remembered for when we were at our best, and not our worst.

So let's remember the late Chuck Heston for his passionate support of Civil Rights in 1960s, his Oscar-winning performance in Ben Hur and his pecs from Planet of the Apes.

Let's try to forget that unfortunate (and immensely unfair) scene from Bowling for Columbine. It's the scene where Michael Moore shows up at Heston's house, gets an interview with an old man in the early throes of Alzheimer's disease and then Heston, curiously playing with his fingers while his not-so-sharp mind wanders and rambles, blurts out some politically incorrect comments about race.

I didn't like what he said. But let's remember, for the love of God, the other stuff, OK?

The Power of "Just Words"

Some current politicians belittle eloquence as "just words."

Here's some video evidence to reject such cynicism.



Watch this too, and keep hope alive.

Fake Vintage Ads

I love Photoshop. More here.

What modern product would you like to see a fake vintage ad for? My answer is in the comments.

Quick Question

I wonder how many people use the new Centrum Cardio as a replacement for a gym membership? A gym membership isn't a bad idea either, though 45 minutes of cardio is slightly more difficult than popping a pill. And did I mention that gym membership?

I'm Serious

Is Lou Dobbs Out of His "Cotton-Picking" Mind?

In the below clip watch him regale America about how we don't have a race problem and how we really can talk about race as a society, and then watch him almost call Condi Rice a ... cotton-picker.

I wish I were kidding.

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In honor of baseball's opening day yesterday, here are some statistics* to frighten Lou Dobbs.

* In 1965, 90 percent of major league players were born in the United States. Cuba, with 26 players, topped the 11 other places represented.

* In 2006, 72 percent of major league players were born in the United States. The Dominican Republic, with 146 players, topped the 20 other places represented.

I wonder if Lou thinks it'd be a good idea to erect a giant fence around Major League Baseball? Wouldn't Lou say that the likes of Rod Carew (Panama) and Albert the Great (Dominican Republic) stole/steal jobs from American boys?

Lou?

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More Lou fun facts are available by clicking his name in the labels.