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jasonlawrence: dvrton: rooseter: Well said. via Washington...

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:37:21 -0500

dvrton:

rooseter:

Well said. via Washington Post:

Readers React to Photo of Two Men Kissing

Powerful photographs can have lasting impact, and a Post photo of two men kissing is an image that many readers can neither forget nor accept.

The photo, which ran on the newspaper’s front page and online last week, captured Jeremy Ames and Taka Ariga kissing outside D.C. Superior Court on the day that the District began accepting license applications for same-sex marriages.

Almost immediately, I began hearing from upset readers. That’s normal when controversial photos appear in The Post. The same thing happened recently when The Post published disturbing images of Haiti earthquake victims. Typically, the complaints quickly subside. With last Thursday’s photo, they continued into Friday, through the weekend and even today. Early this morning, before D.C. Superior Court began issuing licenses to same-sex couples who had applied, a caller phoned to warn that he would cancel his Post subscription “if I see another photo of men lip-locking.”

A few of the readers have engaged in rants, often with anti-gay slurs. One called me to complain about “promoting a faggot lifestyle.” Another complained about the photo in an e-mail to the two Post reporters who wrote Thursday’s story about the licenses: “That kind of stuff makes normal people want to throw up. People have kids who are being exposed to this crap. I will be glad when your rag goes out of business. Real men marry women.”

But most simply said The Post had offended their sensibilities by publishing the photo, especially on the front page.

Ann Witty of Woodbridge wrote to say she had canceled the Post subscription she has held since the 1960s.

“I am 65 years old and I realize that the world is changing rapidly – much more rapidly than I would like it to,” she e-mailed. “While I realize that the Post must report on these changes – even the ones with which I do not agree – I feel that the picture on Thursday morning was an affront to the majority of your readership. It is not something that I want coming into my home. I believe that even your editors know that it would have been better placed in the Metro section and that it would have mitigated its impact to do so.”

Wrote Lee Miller of Columbia: “I would appreciate it if your cover pictures would not be so disturbing where my kids can see it easily on the kitchen table… please don’t shove this “Gay” business in our face. This is something that should have shown up on an inside page or two (without the picture).”

In comments to the ombudsman’s call-in line (202.334.7582), one reader said, “the picture of two guys kissing makes me cringe.” Another called it “ridiculous,” adding: “Put it on page 10 or page four, put it in the paper, but I do not like it right there where I can’t avoid looking at it.”

Many threatened to cancel their Post subscriptions, and more than two dozen did. Post circulation vice president Gregg Fernandes said that late last week 27 subscribers canceled, specifically citing the photo. In contrast, The Post reported only two cancellations immediately after last July’s ethics uproar over its ill-advised plan to sell sponsorships to off-the-record “salon” dinners at the publisher’s residence.

Did the Post go too far? Of course not. The photo deserved to be in newspaper and on its Web site, and it warranted front-page display.

News photos capture reality. And the prominent display reflects the historic significance of what was occurring. The recent D.C. Council decision to approve same-sex marriage was the culmination of a decades-long gay rights fight for equality. Same-sex marriage is now legal in the District. The photo of Ames and Ariga kissing simply showed joy that would be exhibited by any couple planning to wed – especially a couple who previously had been denied the legal right to marry.

There was a time, after court-ordered integration, when readers complained about front-page photos of blacks mixing with whites. Today, photo images of same-sex couples capture the same reality of societal change.

Radio Personality Howard Stern Bashes Jay Leno

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:33:55 -0500

Radio Personality Howard Stern Bashes Jay Leno

Andy Richter slams NBC, Jay Leno over Conan O'Brien 'Tonight' show mess on 'Regis & Kelly'

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:29:17 -0500

Andy Richter slams NBC, Jay Leno over Conan O'Brien 'Tonight' show mess on 'Regis & Kelly'

Cultivated Play: Farmville

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:08:18 -0500

Cultivated Play: Farmville:

everythinginthesky:

The secret to Farmville’s popularity is neither gameplay nor aesthetics. Farmville is popular because in entangles users in a web of social obligations. When users log into Facebook, they are reminded that their neighbors have sent them gifts, posted bonuses on their walls, and helped with each others’ farms. In turn, they are obligated to return the courtesies. As the French sociologist Marcel Mauss tells us, gifts are never free: they bind the giver and receiver in a loop of reciprocity. It is rude to refuse a gift, and ruder still to not return the kindness. We play Farmville, then, because we are trying to be good to one another. We play Farmville because we are polite, cultivated people.

Interesting thinking on why Farmville is so popular and such a bad idea.

Life could be better right now

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 16:17:59 -0500

savethekitties: Play Sushi Cat!

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:20:54 -0500

savethekitties:

Play Sushi Cat!

funnyassstuff: insidethebox: napoleonsbattleplan: It’s nice...

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:04:38 -0500

funnyassstuff:

insidethebox:

napoleonsbattleplan:

It’s nice to know that my generation expresses its anger through tags on Hulu.

Whenever I'm feeling depressed or just generally shitty about myself, I exercise

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 06:15:38 -0500

827:

The endorphins I produce when I exercise are way better than any drug at improving my mood.

I can feel an obvious difference between times I’m just sitting on my ass and times that I’m actively working out.

It’s huge, and other’s notice too.

I’m less bitchy when I exercise.

Don’t know why, just thought I’d share.

I would agree with this. I think I go for some of the same reasons, but I haven’t been in a little while so :-/

nowmybutthurts: this whole bipartisan healthcare summit seems...

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 22:26:44 -0500

nowmybutthurts:

this whole bipartisan healthcare summit seems to be going remarkably well

lickystickypickyme: Curling for Dummies Mari sent this to me....

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 22:16:17 -0500

lickystickypickyme:

Curling for Dummies

Mari sent this to me. She found it on Twitter….
THIS is how you start your curling career indeed.

also I would not want to be that guy when he needs a bandaid…ouch

(sorry the link I don’t have)

My mom emailed this to me today. I feel bad I dont visit her...

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 22:04:58 -0500

My mom emailed this to me today. I feel bad I dont visit her more often. Its corny I know, but it made me cry. :-/

Really Google? Really?

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 21:29:41 -0500

Really Google? Really?

infinitebutterflies: potterhead: thedailywhat: Tee of the...

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:37:43 -0500

infinitebutterflies:

potterhead:

thedailywhat:

Tee of the Day: “CURLING PANTS!!!!” from Goodwig Design.

You love for / understanding of curling may come and go, but Norway’s argyle curling pants are forever.

[thanks greg!]

So… I kinda need one of these.

the only reason to watch mens curling, the pants.

It is not the olny reason thank you very much. But the pants are fun, and I want this shirt.

Tags 4 subplots!

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:51:11 -0500

lol, are you campaigning for this?

My Jury Duty

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:19:14 -0500

My day today was spent being interviewed as a potential jury member of a DUI hit and run/automobile homicide case. It was interesting being interviewed and questioned by the defense team to see if we were the jury that they wanted. I was questioned with the rest of the 45 jurors we started with from about 9am, until 3pm. I was dismissed “American Idol Style” and allowed to leave for the day.

I am starting to get annoyed at people who use tags for the wrong reasons

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 23:29:00 -0500

A tag is not a sub-plot to your tumblr post.

At the same time, I find them amusing. But it still bothers me. I’m weird I know. I like things on the internet organized properly.

Jury Duty Tomorrow :'(

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 23:27:41 -0500

Photo

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:21:38 -0500

Photo

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:15:44 -0500

USA Curling

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:21:11 -0500

The US teams SUCK this year. But I just watched an awesome game of US vs France. Close game but the US took it, for their first victory in the olympics. It was a fun game to watch.