Archive for 2017

AT THE DALLAS GUITAR FESTIVAL: The line for Ted Nugent’s autograph:

In addition to all of the vintage guitars, several artisans handcrafting one-off and bespoke instruments are here as well until tomorrow, including these incredible instruments built by Stephen McSwain of McSwain Guitars of Oregon:

OLD: THE MALE GAZE IS AWFUL. New: The Female Gaze is all over television.

“The time-traveling adventure ‘Outlander’ has become a favorite of feminist critics for its portrayal of Claire (Caitriona Balfe) a spirited, sexually experienced heroine who winds up in an arranged marriage with a hunky but virginal Scottish warrior named Jamie (Sam Heughan). On their wedding night, she schools him in the ways of love.”

See, that’s where women are different. Men have never fantasized about schooling a hot virgin in the ways of love. Yay feminism!

IN THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, A SCARY STORY ABOUT “CHILDREN” BEING SHOT, but then you find out that it’s basically late-teen gang-bangers shooting each other. “Most of those between 15 and 19 were shot in an intentional assault, according to Silver’s research. This age group makes up the largest number of victims, more than 83 percent.”

Which is weird, because reading the headline you’d think Glocks were jumping up and blasting away at babies in cribs on their own.

MORE LIKE THIS PLEASE: 8 Movies on How to Mess with Dictators.

These days Hollywood is much more concerned with warning us against dictators who never seem to dictate.

FASTER, PLEASE: FDA approves first new drug to treat ALS in 20 Years.

“This is the first new treatment approved by the FDA for ALS in many years, and we are pleased that people with ALS will now have an additional option,” he said.

It’s in fact the first new drug approved for ALs since 1995, when riluzole, sold under the brand name Rilutek, was approved.

Radicava is given in the form of an intravenous infusion, with two weeks of daily treatments followed by a two week break.

Tests on a very small group of 137 patients showed those who got the drug had slower declines compared to those who did not.

It comes at a price. Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America says the drug will cost more than $1,000 per infusion.

“If taken annually for 12 months or 13 cycles, according to the dosing and administration in the label, the cost before government discounts, will be $145,524,” the company said.

Cheaper, too, please.

AIR SUPERIORITY: US dismisses Russia’s ban on military aircraft over Syria safe zones.

A State Department official on Friday said that the Russian proposal calling to bar U.S. military aircrafts from flying over designated safe zones cannot “limit” the U.S.’s mission against ISIS in the country in any way.

“The coalition will continue to strike ISIS targets in Syria,” the official told The Wall Street Journal. “The campaign to defeat ISIS will continue at the same relentless pace as it is proceeding now.”

A deal hammered out by Russia, Turkey and Iran to set up “de-escalation zones” in mostly opposition-held parts of Syria went into effect Saturday.

What it comes down to is, the U.S. has the ability to enforce its will over Syrian airspace, and Russia, Iran, and Turkey don’t.

I LIKE IT JUST FINE IN WHISKEY FORM: The Evil of Corn.