Tales of the Shutdown Open Thread

With staffing cut at the Congressional (taxpayer-paid) gym, some Congressmen must resort to a hellish existence just barely above that of vermin --using their own towels twice without laundering.

The gym was to have been closed, but the Architect of the Capitol decided to keep the facility open because several House members store personal items inside.

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Members don’t only have to pick up their towels — they have to reuse them for their showers, because there is no more laundering service.

Lawmakers, including some who live in their offices during visits to Washington and use the gym’s showers to clean up, say they need the gym to stay open.

“This job is very stressful and if you don't have a place to vent, you are going to go crazy and that's why I've used it all these years,” said Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), who has used the facility since 1973.

Yeah I love this guy. I love the whole Alaskan Legacy Crew.

TNR's white (but that is obvious) writer Nate Cohn: people are mad about the dysfunction and the shut down, but in fact the backlash now is less than it was in 1996.

No matter how you look at it, the GOP is in a tough spot. Every post-shutdown poll shows that more voters blame Republicans than Democrats, by approximately a 10 point margin. But the numbers aren’t great for Democrats, either. The share of voters blaming Republicans exclusively is well beneath 50 percent, suggesting that today’s persuadable voters—the key voters on the road to 50 percent—are angry at both parties. Other questions show broad dissatisfaction with both parties. A majority of voters say they disapprove of Obama’s performance on the budget; a majority of voters even say they’re “angry” with President Obama, as well as congressional Democrats.

In 1996, he notes, nearly half (nearly a majority, that is) consistently blamed Republicans only for the shutdown.

Instapundit linked this article on quantum mechanics and maybe human consciousness (?) and it sounded sort of trippy but I didn't read it so here it is so I can find it later.

Not at Buzzfeed, but rather at NRO, here are ObamaCare's thirty biggest FAILs, and they're not LOL at all for the American Public.

Andy Levy was annoyed at this Sorta Not Safe For Work article about a 20 year old who's super-proud of herself for designing a t-shirt for American Apparel which features a crude line drawing of a vagina being masturbated at the same time it's, yup, also menstruating. That's why this is Sorta Not Safe For Work; that crude artwork (like the Beaver picture in Breakfast of Champions, except with some red for blood), is at the top of the piece.

She says it's empowering or something, then carries on like an obnoxious prat about how daring she is and how she's really waving her Freak Flag and upsetting the Squares.

VICE: What do you think of the media storm you’ve started? Petra Collins: It’s really awesome. I’m not surprised. It’s exactly what I wanted because it totally proves my point…

And what is your point?
That we’re so shocked and appalled at something that’s such a natural state—and it’s funny that out of all the images everywhere, all of the sexually violent images, or disgustingly derogatory images, this is something that’s so, so shocking apparently. The graphic on my shirt is a line drawing, too. It’s not even a full-on image.

How did you react when the headlines started rolling in?
If you want to know my literal reaction, I was laughing really hard. I called my sister and we were both just like, “Oh my God.” Deep down it really saddens me, but it’s also awesome that I’ve just trolled the mainstream media.

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I just saw an American Apparel ad on the City TV website.
[Laughs] The headline they used was, “Does this T-Shirt Graphic Go Too Far?” Talking to these news anchors is the best. The woman was talking to me in her news anchor voice and trying to avoid saying “vagina” and I would say, “Oh, the masturbation, vagina, and pubic-hair tee?” She had trouble saying it back to me. Vagina is such a scandalous word.

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A lot of work went into this bloody-vagina line drawing.

Yeah, it was really hard! She actually gave me three drawings, and so I took those three drawings and made them into one, then watercolored the blood on.

Why do you think people get so grossed out by bodily functions that they take it too far and start oppressing people?
Menstruation—and also pubic hair—really freaks people out. There’s pubic hair in the drawing, which I guess is super shocking to people, even though I cannot get over that. I feel like I’m so sheltered in a way. I always forget that people are so close-minded.

Grown women are taught to repress their postpubescent body or hide it. When you start puberty and you start growing hair you’re taught to shave it, because no one’s supposed to see it. With your period, it’s something that you conceal—no one’s supposed to know. It’s almost pedophilic—and I don’t want to throw that word around. But this feminine ideology we have, of the woman being a prepubescent girl, is how we’re taught to change our bodies.

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That is interesting. Clearly, you’re exposing people with this shirt, because anyone who’s offended only has one thing to say: “It’s gross.” But why is it gross? Are people just afraid of vaginas? Is that what it is?
[Laughing] Yeah, totally. It goes back to the woman being subordinate and the man being dominant in sex. Women are supposed to be submissive, we’re not supposed to be in control of our sexuality, so I guess it’s scary when a woman goes through puberty and gets hair and is able to take control of herself and her body.

It’s also so weird to me that female masturbation is totally different than male masturbation. Male masturbation is celebrated in movies and culture. In American Pie or whatever it’s something that’s talked about, whereas female masturbation just isn’t a thing.

Mm-hm. Female masturbation just isn't a thing, she said, as women casually discussed vibrators with near-strangers in public.

I have two takeaways from this:

First, as I always say, the sexual revolution was won about 30 years ago. But people with very low ambitions and fairly low intellects continue to do victory laps over it. They keep proclaiming they need to "free people from their restraint" in a culture awash in pornography, sex toys, divorce, affairs, etc.

It's obviously a way to draw attention to oneself, dressing one's attention-whoring up as some sort of Nobel Crusade to set people free of Sexual Restraint.

Who, exactly, in this year 2013 AD, is not sexually liberated, except for 70 year old ladies? Are we really determined to get them to rock a vibrator too? How much swings on this Goal?

The other thing I'd say is this: Like Miley Cyrus, this 20 year old has discovered Sex Is Awesome!!! and just wants us all to know that.

Yeah Sugar-Tits we sort of know. We've been enjoying it for years, but without quite as much Noob Squeeing about it.

Nothing like being told by a 17 year old how awesome beer is. Like drunkenness? Awesome!!! Like you get all effed-up, you know, bro? And then you just walk around all dizzy like, "Wha...?" It's crazy!

Yes. Yes it is. Now calm down, junior, and sit on a stable surface before you fall on your fool head.

And finally -- the most controversial cat in the world. Cobs such as Slu and LauraW. want to kill this poor cat with fire.

posted by Ace at 08:34 PM

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