Duluth Trading

This will not become the All-Dan-Neil-All-the-Time blog, but another column of his, “Duluth Trading’s Radical Form Of Marketing: Honesty,” pushed me over to the Web site of Duluth Trading. Both the column and the work-clothing company’s Web site merit a visit.

Advertising public morality–Is gay O.K.?

Dan Neil, one of my fav newspaper writers, has a great take on a flap about advertising and not advertising controversial ads on the Super Bowl mini-minutes. It’s about an ad for a gay-curious Web site, mancrunch:

The most subversive part of the Mancrunch.com ad is not its open acknowledgment of gay life, or even its portrayal of two guys kissing — and kissing for comic effect, much like the Snickers Super Bowl ad of two years ago that caused a flap. No, the ad’s real transgression is to imply that football-loving straight men, the sort who high-five after touchdowns, might under the right circumstances act out sexually with another man.

No Coming-Out Party For Super Bowl.

HB, number 42

Today is the anniversary of the birth of the baseball player who wore number 42, Jackie Robinson. Given his contributions to baseball and America, it’s fitting that he was honored by having his number retired, never again to be worn by another baseball player. As I’ve argued in previous entries, Mr. Robinson’s efforts deserve special recognition. For today, though, it’s just a day to celebrate his birth.

In case you missed it

There is a blog at least loosely associated with Mr. Deity: Mr. Deity Fan.

Never buy a pig in a poke

The duped person who buys a pig in a poke will realize her mistake when she lets the cat out of the bag. Not that he was duped, but David Pogue released a cat when he documented how Barnes and Noble has been, ignobly, selling cats as pigs: “Bogus Tech Measurements.”

Go VOP

Although the message of the story wasn’t so great, it was nice to hear Virginia Organizing Project folks featured in “Community Organizers Sobered By Reality” by Pam Fessler on the National Public Radio program “Morning Edition” today.

When President Obama took office one year ago, liberal community organizers were ecstatic. They thought, with a former organizer in the White House, their voices would be heard. Obama aides promised them a seat at the table in the new administration. The organizers have had some success, but the reality of how hard it is to change Washington also has set in.

Audio of Ms. Fessler’s story will be available after 9:00 AM this morning at the NPR show’s site.

HB again, Sam Cooke

On this day in Clarksdale, MI (US), Sam Cooke made his debut. I suspect that his first solo wasn’t quite as pleasant as his many later vocals, but it was probably a sweet sound for his mother. Fine songsmith, wonderful voice, and a lot more.

If he’d lived ’till now, he would have seen the changes that came. It’s been a long time coming, and more needs to come.

I remembered to post notes about his birthday in 2007 and 2008, but I missed 2009.

Satan writes to Rev. Robertson

You know, Christie, something happened a long time ago in Haiti, and the people might not want to talk about it. They were under the heel of the French, you know, Napoleon the third and whatever and they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said, “We will serve you if you will get us free from the French. True story. And so the devil said, “O.K. it’s a deal.” The Haitians revolted, got themselves free, but ever since they have been cursed by one thing after another, desparatetly poor.
(See video of Rev. Robertson’s comments.)

In a letter to the editor of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Lily Coyle assumed satan as a persona and responded to the remarks of the Reverend Pat Robinson about the people of Haiti having made a pact with the devil, thereby causing all their grief. My transcription of Rev. Robertson’s remarks are in the box at the right. Following is the beginning of Ms. Coyle’s letter to Rev. Robertson

Dear Pat Robertson, I know that you know that all press is good press, so I appreciate the shout-out. And you make God look like a big mean bully who kicks people when they are down, so I’m all over that action. But when you say that Haiti has made a pact with me, it is totally humiliating.

This is well worth a read. Letter of the day: Haiti suffers, and Robertson sees the hand of Satan. For a variation on the theme, see Gavin An open letter to Pat Roberston from Satan.