We have so many insightful and powerful diaries written here at Daily Kos. Our diaries inform, inflame, impassion, and even entertain. We Kossacks have strong voices and an even stronger will to be the change we wish to see in this country.
One of the richest, and perhaps most under-appreciated, areas of thought come in the form of comments attached to these diaries. Here at Top Comments we strive to recognize and promote the talent of this community by highlighting outstanding comments found throughout the day by the diarist, and through nominations at made at topcomments at gmail dot com by your fellow Kossacks.
These nominations are subjective, and certainly not complete (as no one can read the complete site on a daily basis!). But hopefully they will serve to shine a light where deserved, and to give the reader a good starting point in finding conversation on the site.
Please come in and make yourself at home! Join us beneath the fold...
Tonight, some interesting, entertaining, and perhaps even marginally thought-provoking news articles largely lost in the shuffle over the past few weeks.
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FCC Fines ABC Over Ass
The FCC is fining network ABC $1.4 million dollars over a clip of a female ass that appeared in an episode of NYPD Blue. (That show is still on? What?) Oh, the episode ran on February 25, 2003. Apparently an eight-year-old boy watched it and became upset. (I guess he missed the episode with Dennis Franz’ naked butt. He might have been hospitalized.)
The fine is for depicting "adult female nudity," specifically a "small portion of one side of her breasts" and a side view of her buttocks. Apparently in the eyes of the censor-with-repressed-sexual-issues, the scene "dwelled" on the woman’s body.
Evidently the FCC has never watched the Red Carpet portion of any awards show, the broadcast of that Victoria’s Secret fashion show, the swimsuit competition of any beauty "scholarship" pageant, or any reality TV program ever. Ridiculous. Besides, NYPD Blue had so much bare male ass on it, and that’s somehow OK, but one shot of part of one female ass is grounds for a ridiculous fine? First Janet Jackson, now this?
The FCC claims that the female ass is a "sex organ." Evidently, by their logic, the male ass is not. All of my gay male friends, simultaneously, out loud: "Excuse me, what?"
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Did Katie Holmes CHEAT In the New York Marathon?
Rumors swirled on the gossip blogs recently after suggestions that Katie Holmes didn’t actually run the entire New York Marathon last fall. Evidence? Two other people registered the exact same split times as her, leading doubters to suggest that one of them wore Katie’s timing chip (road racers wear chips on their shoes or ankles now to register their times) as she ducked out of the race for a bit. Other evidence? 26.2 miles without a sports bra ?! Lady, are you crazy?? And she was spotted wearing Very High Heels towering over her little Tom at Tavern on the Green that same evening. Lady, are your feet devoid of all nerve sensations?? Let me just say: I think these last two have merit.
Of all sources, Fox News claims that the two dudes who ran step-by-step with her were her trainers, and that the accusations are bogus. Hmm, Fox News, you say? Sadly, now I can only believe that she cheated.
Related: here is a video of Tom Cruise raving like a Mad Man. The video has garnered more views than Katie Holmes’ new movie has sold tickets. Thanks to the internet, there is justice in this world.
Also Related: Some Scientologists believe that the Holmes-Cruise baby carries DNA of L. Ron Hubbard himself. And we thought the Fundies had declared a War on ScienceTM.
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Johnny Boy’s Excellent Adventure
The annual "Have a Drink With Johnny Boy" reunion, put together by John Mazzoni, reunites people from his Bensonhurst neighborhood, the "Little Italy" of Brooklyn whose authenticity has dwindled over the years as many of its original Italian-immigrant residents and their descendants have died or moved away. The party was videotaped for a documentary about New Yorkers.
The prospect of the camera seemed to both intrigue and disturb some of Mr. Mazzoni’s friends, who occasionally poked their heads into the room where Mr. Slavin was checking light levels. "This isn’t a sting, is it?" a large man with a gold chain around his neck asked half-jokingly. Mr. Slavin laughed and continued working.
The slide show is also pretty fantastic. I need to watch Moonstruck again.
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Academy Award Nominations Announced!
An interesting list, but Josh Brolin was unceremoniously shafted for his fantastic performance in No Country for Old Men. Whatever, that statue is already engraved with "Daniel Day-Lewis" anyways. Meanwhile, I was pleased to see the Coen Brothers pick up the Director’s Guild award for their stunning, nearly-flawless film. (WhichistotallybetterthanAtonementandThereWillBeBloodthereIsaidit.)
Related note, peruse that ballot! We’ll be having a Top Comments Oscar Contest in the week leading up the ceremony on February 24.
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Sundance Honors Films with a Political Edge
Speaking of the movies, the festival in Park City, UT has been awash in solid political filmmaking this year, with Grand Jury prizes going to films that don’t shy away from difficult issues. Trouble the Water, the winning documentary, depicts the lead-up and fallout of Hurricane Katrina. In the fiction film category, Frozen River took home the prize for its depiction of immigration and its impact on Small Town, U.S.A. Another lauded film, Fields of Fuel, provides a history of America’s dependence on oil.
And, in very cool news, a film from Jordan won an award, and what makes that remarkable is that Amin Matalqa's Captain Abu Raed is the first feature-length film to come out of Jordan in 50 years.
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The Quarterbacks’ Sideline Play
With the Superbowl next weekend, the erstwhile writers in the Sunday Styles section look for a way to translate football into something the ladies might be interested in, and--lo and behold!--we have this dipshitty article that creates an extended analogy between quarterbacks then and now, based on their relationship styles. To sum up, SAT-style --
Joe Namath : Roger Staubach :: Tom Brady : Eli Manning
I read this article in a state of disgusted astonishment. Don’t worry, folks—the conclusion is appropriately socially conservative, arguing that the "playboy" quarterback historically plays in and wins less Superbowls. Oh, and p.s., Jessica Simpson made Tony Romo lose.
After reading it, I’m still in a state of, "What? Did I just read that?! What? What? Excuse me, what?"
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Thinking Twice About That $400 Handbag
The "affordable luxury" market is tanking as Americans realize they can’t actually afford $300 jeans.
As a result, an entire economy built around aspiration is starting to collapse. Affordable luxury purveyors like Tiffany & Company, Nordstrom and Coach have experienced slowing sales and plunging stock prices, problems likely to deepen after the stock market’s continued slide last week reinforced fears of a recession.
In related news, Americans realize they can’t find the meaning of life in the bottom of a $400 handbag. Or, incidentally, their keys.
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From sofia:
DHinMI on his Mother's reaction to Caroline Kennedy's endorsement.
From greenchiledem:
rf7777 nails the sentiment of many on Daily Kos lately about the candidate diary wars.
From willb48:
Amid a wonderful thread about pictures on the walls of
Catholic homes back in the olden days, RobertInWisconsin adds an apostrophe.
From carolita:
Rogneid gives some excellent suggestions for action by individuals to focus public attention on the escalation of Taliban resurgence in Pakistan in a comment in clammy c's excellent diary You won't read this, but you should.
From noweasels:
I don't often cry when reading comments, but this comment from be the change you seek in my IGTNT diary tonight brought many tears.
From sardonyx:
In Malacandra's diary An 'Old-Timer' Speaks in Praise of Daily Kos, Dallasdoc says I think this site has the wrong ultimate goal.
In jotter's High Impact Diaries - January 26, 2008, rserven states a basic truth.
After a complaint about the "USA" chants during Obama's post-SC speech, Andy30tx explains what the crowd should have been chanting. Heck, he and his wife were doing it!
From bronte17:
Diogenes2008 wrote a diary today in tribute to Keith Olbermann's birthday. At the introduction is the most incredible pen & ink portrait of KO by Diogenes2008... just stunning.
Here is a comment from Diogenes2008 which has another work of art, a tiger. Please take the time to give this amazing work a look.
From DemocraticLuntz:
Crestingwave on thongs and flamewars.
Top Mojo Courtesy of sardonyx!
Top Mojo excluding search-identifiable tip jars and first diary comments:
1) But Clammy, I thought... by Melody Townsel — 174
2) Can't a girl get someone by Sinister Rae — 166
3) I really just don't get it by juliewolf — 118
4) Yes, he clinched my vote tonight in the primaries by Delaware Dem — 116
5) The Clinton's Were ALWAYS Like That by IndianaDemocrat — 109
6) Bill in Portland Maine by vigilant meerkat — 97
7) Now all we need is AL by MadAsHellMaddie — 95
8) Is that why you wax poetic... by highacidity — 94
9) Part of the problem is that these diarys are by Owllwoman — 88
10) If anyone knows how to post by kid oakland — 86
11) He needs to stay in split the delegates by snackdoodle — 83
12) Yes. 4...5...6...8 cents!!! by Bill in Portland Maine — 83
13) Thank you, pastordan, by Dreaming of Better Days — 80
14) I'm in VA, and I can't wait until 2/12 by pmcmscot — 79
15) It's just silly by totallynext — 78
16) Thanks Malacandra by vigilant meerkat — 76
17) yeah....something like that by clammyc — 75
18) Hell of a speech by PsiFighter37 — 73
19) When I leave dailykos by A Handsome Man — 73
20) It is a long time until August, and by mcmom — 70
21) I'm in tears. by pureproductofamerica — 69
22) I am....STUNNED by Nathaniel Ament Stone — 69
23) This Obama voter by Potus2020 — 68
24) Welcome home by javelina — 68
25) How I feel by Plutonium Page — 67
26) You're a fucking moron by PsiFighter37 — 66
27) Recommended! by kubla000 — 66
28) As an Edwards supporter I think so, too. by panicbean — 65
29) agree AND edwards needs to stay in by Patriot Daily News Clearinghouse — 65
30) Enemy combatants, dude. by Melody Townsel — 65
Top Mojo with No Exclusions:
1) this is serious shit by clammyc — 525
2) We am what we is by Malacandra — 379
3) Tip jar? by plf515 — 336
4) Tip jar by maineiac — 295
5) TIPS for TED by nevadadem — 285
6) Comments welcome... thanks for reading by Torta — 280
7) Tips to Change! by Kids For Edwards — 222
8) Tips? by We Shall Overcome — 220
9) Tips n/t! by JekyllnHyde — 219
10) But Clammy, I thought... by Melody Townsel — 174
11) Can't a girl get someone by Sinister Rae — 166
12) Tips....thank you by maxnyc — 159
13) Bless and honor Pfc. Billy Miles MacLeod by noweasels — 148
14) What a great new idea for serving squirrel! by highacidity — 139
15) Tips for hanging in there by o the umanity — 132
16) Yes! by Populista — 131
17) Tips for Kennedy's wise decision. n/t by Junglered1 — 122
18) Tip Jar by OrangeClouds115 — 121
19) This was a nice diary overall. by TomP — 121
20) I really just don't get it by juliewolf — 118
21) Yes, he clinched my vote tonight in the primaries by Delaware Dem — 116
22) Tips for by Ellinorianne — 115
23) The Clinton's Were ALWAYS Like That by IndianaDemocrat — 110
24) Tips/Recs to all the Populistas out there... by icebergslim — 107
25) Bill in Portland Maine by vigilant meerkat — 97
26) Now all we need is AL by MadAsHellMaddie — 95
27) Avalanche by Al Rodgers — 95
28) Is that why you wax poetic... by highacidity — 94
29) Part of the problem is that these diarys are by Owllwoman — 88
30) Tips/Flames?? by RenaRF — 87
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