Friday, June 8, 2012

Cat on the Highway

Friday Cat Blogging (Whiskey Fire is well-known for this):







Also, here's a kitty, some bees, and the sky.







In other news, I believe this is my first published comment ever at the NYT on anything other than a Paul Krugman post.

David Brooks attempts a lesson in morality for the real Americans.



Yes, it's rich.

The key job in the Good Person Construct is to manage your rationalizations and self-deceptions to keep them from getting egregious. Ariely suggests you reset your moral gauge from time to time. Your moral standards will gradually slip as you become more and more comfortable with your own rationalizations. So step back. Break your patterns and begin anew. This is what Yom Kippur and confessionals are for.

Next time you feel tempted by something, recite the Ten Commandments. A small triggering nudge at the moment of temptation, Ariely argues, is more effective than an epic sermon meant to permanently transform your whole soul.
...
A final thought occurred to me. As we go about doing our Good Person moral calculations, it might be worth asking: Is this good enough? Is this life of minor transgressions refreshingly realistic, given our natures, or is it settling for mediocrity?



David Brooks wants to help the little people improve their morality. Of course, he makes his living writing propaganda for war-mongers and kleptocrats. Don't try this at home, little people. Settle for mediocrity.

P.S. David Brooks types his tripe twice a week. Visit driftglass for an expert take-down of Tuesday's nonsense.

(Cross-posted at Whiskey Fire. Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions.)
~

17 comments:

Dr.KennethNoisewater said...

OMG, you're famous now. INTERNET FAMOUS. Are you still going to grace us with your presence here? Or are you going to be Mr. Fancy Pants Vice President in Charge of Trolling David Brooks now?

Adorable kitty butt...and another stunning sky. I hope you don't mind, but I plan on using one of your skies in my new project.

Big Bad Bald Bastard said...

Next time you feel tempted by something, recite the Ten Commandments.

How can he do this and still write his goddamn columns?

Randal Graves said...

Who's David Brooks?

Jennifer said...

LOL! Ah thundra, you're a gem.

ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said...

Sure, vs.

B^4, that's the key point. This advice is for little people. You know, like the ones who dance around in Spinal Tap videos.
~

Jennifer said...

LOL! Ah thundra, you're a gem.

ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said...

R.G., David Brooks is the source of most searches on this blog. Seems people are always trying to find the Applebee's salad bar.

Thanks again, J!

;-)

fish said...

From the title, I expected something a little flatter.

Jennifer said...

Hey, I did not post that twice. Not only do you not have to enter captcha at my place, but my complimentary comments get a complimentary comment over here?

zombie rotten mcdonald said...

unfortunately, thunder, I suspect your snark is way too subtle for Brooks.

But then if you weren't subtle it wouldn't have made it past the gate.

Did anyone in the comments mention his wealth or his new mansion? Obviously, Brooks has little inclination or need to avoid temptation in his own damned life.

Substance McGravitas said...

I wonder when the average American thinks about David Brooks.

Hamish Mack said...

When they are out of condoms.

ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said...

fish, I was playing a trick.

Now I'm hiding out from the Blog Police in my undisclosed location.
~

Jim H. said...

I think that third pic is a Transformer®

Tree Removal Bronx said...

Hahahaha... D. Brooks and the average american.

-Oscar Valencia

Anonymous said...

Your music links are much better than Paul Krugman's. His are just embarrassing.

Anonymous said...

Oh, and here is my superspecial NYT comment story. They actually emailed me asking if they could publish one of my comments in the Sunday Magazine. I almost said yes if just to horrify my somewhat Obotish parents but decided the wiser course was to ignore the fuckers.