Althouse: Questions, questions...

July 26, 2007

Questions, questions...

Give me some questions... And I'll do a little vlog in an hour.

ADDED: Here it is. I went long so I had to edit out some of the longer answers. If I skipped yours, remember: It's not you, it's me. I end up sporting a look that's either Little Edie or Elvis in "Harum Scarum."

AND: What am I drinking and does it have broccoli and algae in it? Answer here. It doesn't have broccoli. AND: Oops. Actually, it does have broccoli! Broccoli and algae. Good lord!

AND: The "creaky voice" discussion goes back to this post.

AND: In case "Harum Scarum" means nothing to you:

65 comments:

Anonymous said...: What left of center blogs do you read the most? What right of center? What centrist blogs?

And a completely unrelated question: Would stubborness be a virture for a lawyer or a vice?; 7/26/07, 4:04 PM
Simon said...: A question someone asked for a previous vlog was about your religious background, and you discussed your upbringing and why you're interested in teaching religion and law; could you elaborate a little on your present spiritual and/or religious views?; 7/26/07, 4:05 PM
Anonymous said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 7/26/07, 4:08 PM
Anonymous said...: I love your photography. I was just curious if you get any inspiration from a particular source, and how you got into photography.; 7/26/07, 4:09 PM
Peder said...: What do you find most annoying in political discourse?; 7/26/07, 4:13 PM
Ron said...: Do you have a favorite photographer?; 7/26/07, 4:14 PM
Simon said...: Could you ever be tempted to write a book about your views on feminism (in any form, scholarly, polemic, abstract, personal anecdote, whatever appeals)?

Is there a significant member of the founding generation who you think history's been either too kind to or relatively undervalued? (E.g. Chief Justice Rehnquist once suggested that Jefferson has been somewhat overrated and Hamilton rather undervalued.)

What do you think was the Warren Court's most significant achievement, aside from desegregation?; 7/26/07, 4:14 PM
Ron said...: Have you tried any 'social networking' sites? (i.e. Facebook, MySpace, etc) Do you have a particular reaction to any of them?; 7/26/07, 4:15 PM
Bissage said...: Have you ever touched your tongue to the business end of a nine-volt battery to see if it'll give you a nasty little shock?; 7/26/07, 4:17 PM
rcocean said...: BHTV.

When is your next appearance?

Do you still consider the comments section of BHTV a "sewer"?; 7/26/07, 4:19 PM
Adrian said...: can you do the whole vlog in creaky voice?

have you ever been 'recognized' in public by a reader/viewer, and did it freak you out?; 7/26/07, 4:19 PM
Sloanasaurus said...: Do you think because life has become so good for most people in America it breeds resentment and causes things like Congress with a 15% approval rating.; 7/26/07, 4:22 PM
Mortimer Brezny said...: Do you think Hillary Clinton is more experienced than Bill Richardson or Joe Biden?; 7/26/07, 4:23 PM
Anonymous said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 7/26/07, 4:25 PM
Mortimer Brezny said...: I forgot you were coming to New York. What's the youngest you go?; 7/26/07, 4:27 PM
Hoosier Daddy said...: Do you think civil litigation in the US is out of control and contributes to the idea that everyone is a victim and someone else is always to blame or do you think trial lawyers get bum rap and really do a service to society?

In other words, would you favor some kind of tort reform?; 7/26/07, 4:28 PM
Bissage said...: How about Lance's idea in this thread?

Julianne Moore to play the lead?; 7/26/07, 4:40 PM
michael farris said...: If they made a movie of your life would you rather the part of "Ann Althouse" be played by:

a) Lindsay Lohan (early 20's) Courtney Love (now)
b) Scarlett Johanssen (early 20's) Jay Mohr (in tasteful drag, now)
c) Tara Reid (early 20's) self (now); 7/26/07, 4:41 PM
michael farris said...: p.s. no mixing and matching; 7/26/07, 4:42 PM
PWS said...: Ann,

How much time per day do you spend blogging and is it ever a burden?; 7/26/07, 4:44 PM
Simon said...: [ ^ Michael - surely (D) self(both) a la Howard Stern.]; 7/26/07, 4:44 PM
Maxine Weiss said...: Elvis Presley is alive, and he asks you (Althouse) to dinner.....but you have to decide the topics of conversation.

What do you talk about with Elvis?, assuming that you agree to go.; 7/26/07, 4:46 PM
Bissage said...: Assuming you'd like a movie queen to play the scene, did you ever get all introspective and moppy [?]listening to this song?; 7/26/07, 4:50 PM
howzerdo said...: Was your birth name JoAnn? I saw that written on the edge of one of your childhood photos. If so, did your parents or family shorten it, or did you? Was alliteration the reason you shortened it?; 7/26/07, 4:50 PM
Simon said...: Another question: how incompetent does the administration have to be for it to have allowed an action specifically authorized by statute and repeatedly affirmed by courts - viz. the President's power to fire executive branch subordinates - to be turned into a scandal by its opponents?; 7/26/07, 4:52 PM
howzerdo said...: Oh, I thought of another. During the organic coffee Q&A session, I noticed you leaned into the camera sometimes - maybe for emphasis, not sure. I don't usually watch vlogs so I am not sure if you always do this. But for some reason it reminded me of Little Edie. Is that intentional on your part?; 7/26/07, 4:53 PM
Original Mike said...: Have you changed your mind about Ward Churchill's firing?; 7/26/07, 4:57 PM
Ann Althouse said...: Okay. Time's up!; 7/26/07, 4:59 PM
Bissage said...: Rats!

Am I too late?; 7/26/07, 5:00 PM
Anonymous said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 7/26/07, 5:04 PM
Ruth Anne Adams said...: Of all the commenters on your blog, whose do you always read?; 7/26/07, 5:07 PM
Ruth Anne Adams said...: Hey. I'm on eastern time. Cut me some slack.; 7/26/07, 5:08 PM
Cedarford said...: I echo Brett - Like your photography a lot. Training? Awards? Any plans to publish a coffee table collapser?; 7/26/07, 5:14 PM
amba said...: I know time's up. This is a comment, not a question!

Adrian said...

can you do the whole vlog in creaky voice?

Oh, that would be horrible, but I WAS going to ask if you could imitate/illustrate creaky voice.

Mortimer Brezny said...

I forgot you were coming to New York. What's the youngest you go?

Somebody named "Mortimer Brezny" cannot be young. It's a middle-aged name from the 1950s, smelling of wet tweed and pipe tobacco and ear hair.; 7/26/07, 5:28 PM
Simon said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 7/26/07, 5:54 PM
PeterP said...: Do you or don't you like picnics etc?; 7/26/07, 5:59 PM
Gakic said...: Do you have any friends?; 7/26/07, 5:59 PM
Ann Althouse said...: Oh, I went way over time and had to edit it down. If I skip your question, it's probably because I gave too long of an answer. The edited video will be up soon.; 7/26/07, 6:22 PM
PeterP said...: ...smelling of wet tweed and pipe tobacco and ear hair

Wet tweed is fine as long as it is the result of a Highland hike, thus clothed, on a damp autumn day and not the residue of generations of stale urine. (A good tweed suit should be inherited not bought.)

Pipe tobacco is heaven sent/scent. There is no finer aroma than a Latakia based baccy on said autumnal Highland hike.

But the smell of ear hair? I simply do not want to know how you know this.; 7/26/07, 6:25 PM
Ruth Anne Adams said...: It's those waxy earbuds, no doubt.; 7/26/07, 6:29 PM
hdhouse said...: love to hear about executive priv. and our current quandrey; 7/26/07, 6:31 PM
Bissage said...: THE SMELL AND TASTE OF EAR WAX!

Oh, that the day might come when I can shed this damned anonymity and proudly display, on teh internets, for all to see, the bizarre spectacle of a menagerie of animals (cats, dogs and, yes, humans) all lined up and well-mannered, if impatient, to get a little taste of the extra-special wax that exudes from the enormous ears of Bissage!

Oops, I got distracted.

Now, where was I?

Oh, yes, there should be a question put to the professor. That's the point of this thread.

Okay: Do you want to bear witness to a mildly curious yet deeply off-putting family tradition?

(Just kidding. I'd never blow my cover. Sorry for teasing you, so.); 7/26/07, 6:49 PM
PeterP said...: 'Video no longer available'

Must have been hot.; 7/26/07, 6:58 PM
Ann Althouse said...: It always says "no longer available" before it's available. Just wait a few minutes.; 7/26/07, 7:08 PM
The Drill SGT said...: LOL, Ann's reading is getting spotty.

The label of your drink says in part:

Broccoli, Brewed Green Tea, Spinach, Barley Grass, Wheat Grass, Blue-Green Algae; 7/26/07, 7:14 PM
Simon said...: Ann:
"I don't talk about my religion. Maybe if I did you wouldn't like me."

Don't count on it. ;); 7/26/07, 7:14 PM
Simon said...: Theo - I think that'd make quite the splash on the Senate floor. ;); 7/26/07, 7:23 PM
Anonymous said...: Simon--Yes, but I'm not sure just what would be splashing on the floor.

Delicacy forbids me from suggesting who might wish to emulate Ms. Moore's attire in her next vlog.; 7/26/07, 7:45 PM
Anonymous said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 7/26/07, 7:46 PM
Simon said...: Yeesh - it's been a few years since I've had the need to exaggerate my age.

Theo: If they can handle Robert Byrd's frequent recitation of vogon poetry, I'm sure they can handle Hil in something low cut.

Wait until Stephanie Herseth graduates to the Senate. ;); 7/26/07, 8:14 PM
Maxine Weiss said...: If you're shopping at Whole Foods, then you obviously support John Mackey....giving him your business and all. As a bona-fide customer you're entitled to do shoot Vlogs in their stores. They have Wi-Fi. Surely, something there would strike you enough to do a photo shoot.; 7/26/07, 8:31 PM
Mortimer Brezny said...: I can't believe you answered my question. But, I am 36. ;); 7/26/07, 8:33 PM
Mortimer Brezny said...: Somebody named "Mortimer Brezny" cannot be young. It's a middle-aged name from the 1950s, smelling of wet tweed and pipe tobacco and ear hair.

That is exactly what I was going for!; 7/26/07, 8:35 PM
Bissage said...: You know, in recent weeks, some of the commenters, here, seem to have lost faith in Maxine.

I do confess it, there were times when even I became faint of heart.

(What was up with all that “developing a new persona” stuff, anyway?)

But, Maxine’s back: “As a bona-fide customer you're entitled to do shoot Vlogs in their stores. They have Wi-Fi.”

COME ON!!! That’s solid gold!; 7/26/07, 9:13 PM
Maxine Weiss said...: I noticed that Althouse was very serious and sober when answering my question.

And yet, when she answered the male questions she was extremely flirtatious, flushed, and joyful.; 7/26/07, 9:28 PM
Mortimer Brezny said...: Especially when she answered mine. Hubba Hubba.; 7/26/07, 9:32 PM
howzerdo said...: Thanks for answering about your name. Ann is my favorite, favorite name in the world. It was my beloved maternal grandmother's name (and so I chose it as my confirmation name), add an "e" and it is my best friend from childhood's name, add an "a" and it is my beautiful niece's name.

Also love the Edie scarf.; 7/26/07, 9:36 PM
howzerdo said...: BTW, does anyone know if Little Edie had hair? Maxine?; 7/26/07, 9:39 PM
Maxine Weiss said...: Well if she did, she'd grow it super long and then curl it with a curling iron. I'm also guessing she never left home without her nylons either.; 7/26/07, 9:44 PM
garage mahal said...: Ann-

Did you know an anagram to your name is ' A Nut on Leash'?; 7/26/07, 10:41 PM
elk said...: Hi Ann,

I missed the vlog, but I heard about a YouTube video on NPR and I would like to hear your opinion on it. It's the video of the Philippine prisoners reenacting Michael Jackson's Thriller, and, according to the piece I heard, it's getting a lot of hits on YouTube right now. As a legal expert, what is your opinion of this and other rehabilitative programs in the penal system? How do you think a video/program such as this would be received, had it been American prisoners in an American prison? Should a prison offer entertaining activities like this one on principal, whether or not they are proven effective?; 7/26/07, 11:10 PM
Sir Archy said...: Ah! Some Lunaticks to make Sport of! We will not be depriv'd of an Evening's Entertainment, after all!

I confess to despairing of seeing a good Mad Scene acted in this Theatre of Topicks these past days. There has been little, save ordinary Persons, some with very odd Views indeed, discussing Politicks. I feared the impressaria would needs resort to hiring a Bear in a Boat, or perhaps release Sparrows, personating Tom-Tits in a Grove, to give the Audience its Satisfaction.

La professora impressaria, as I call her after the Italian, being much an Opera-Lover myself, has favoured us with a most delightful short scena in her own Person. Such Performances seem to draw out some few Lunaticks. Other Topicks, well-chosen, may draw more Madmen and Lunaticks, such as I haven't seen since my days in Bedlam.

I suspect that our impressaria is not displeas'd that Audiences come to gawk at these, but even as the Figment of a Madman's imagination myself, dead these 200 years, and beyond all Censure and Care, I cannot view these deluded Fools unmov'd. Altho' I often take pleasure in the varieties of Amusement afforded by the Effusions of diseas'd Brains, Christian Charity impels me to pity in cases, such as that of Mrs. Weiss, where the Lunatick strikes a sympathetic Chord as another Figment, roosting however uncomfortably in the Brain of a perhaps unworthy Person.

As a Ghostly Critick, come back to haunt the Mad, I hope you will not take it amiss when I offer a Bravo! or a Correction to such Lunaticks as strike my Fancy. The Lunaticks are often improv'd and great Sport made in the way.

I feel all the impropriety of this long-winded Explanation. Begging your Pardon, I wish to remain

Your Humble & Obt. Servant,

Sir Archy; 7/27/07, 1:04 AM
dave™© said...: You know, I think I liked the Blithering Misogynist Idiot better when she at least pretended not to be an out-and-out moronic brownshirt fuck.

Now that the mystery's gone, she's just another fucking drunken Nazi. News flash: Hitchens has the market cornered on that one, lady...; 7/27/07, 1:59 AM
Ann Althouse said...: Drunken? On broccoli and algae juice! You should check out the podcast.

And there's nothing wrong with broccoli per se. It's broccoli in a beverage that troubles me.; 7/27/07, 5:15 AM
Sir Archy said...: To Mr. ™©:

Sir,

'Tis commonly said that many a Madman would be in the Grip of some Passion or other, and pursue a singular Notion to the exclusion of all else. I have frequently seen at Bedlam, Lunaticks whose sole occupation was Insult, irrespective of the Object of their Slanders.

Thus, one Madman of my acquaintance, who had an Education in Mathematicks, would say to every Gentleman visitor, "Sir, I perceive you are a vile Logarithm!" or, "You are a most despicable Integral!" Another Lunatick, preoccupied as he was with the female Sex, referred to all Females of his acquaintance as C—s. I will not repeat the Obscenity thus convey'd, but you may understand how shocking such Expressions were for any well-bred Person to hear, and why this Lunatick was thus confin'd to Bedlam.

You, Mr. ™©, seem to be in the hold of a similar Passion, and constantly refer to the impressaria of this Space with the same odd Formula of Words, and the same Accusations of Drunkenness, that we may assume that all Thought has fled your diseas'd Brain, having been replaced by the Actions of an Automaton, such as those of M. Vaucanson's farting Duck at Paris.

While Brevity may be the Soul of Wit, and thus recommend your Insults, such Repetition as you display resembles a Clock striking the Hours at all odd Moments. Mr. Hobbes has averred that the Heart is but a Spring. This may be Truth or Error; but the Clockwork that drives many a Madman is in such disrepair as to never admit of any Workman setting it right.

With due consideration of such sombre Sentiments, I remain,

Your Humble and Obt. Servant

Sir Archy; 7/27/07, 11:01 AM