Everyone should dance. There's no bad dancing when you're dancing to participate (as opposed to going on stage as a dancer holding yourself out as an exemplar of dancing).
It's like drawing. Everyone should draw. You don't have to say "I'm not a artist" and it's idiotic to think "Because I'm not an artist, I dare not draw lest I humiliate myself and burden others with the badness of my drawing."
We like bad drawings and bad dancing. Less inhibition. Take a lesson from Teresa May. Just perfect. Nice clothes too.
We need some sort of licensing system for dancing in public. You should need to be approved by a committee of accredited experts before dancing in public is permitted.
Dance as a deflection: Why didn't Kenyan officials use the occasion of the press conference to take the British PM May to task? Collusion?
REVEALED: HOW BRITISH SECRET SERVICES SPIED ON KIBAKI AND RAILA Posted on Dec 11, 2016, By WALTER MENYA https://nairobinews.nation.co.ke/news/revealed-how-british-secret-services-spied-on-kibaki-and-raila/
The Kenyan government is taking seriously reports that British intelligence agents spied on President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga, including intercepting their communication, and will release a statement after reviewing the information.
French newspaper Le Monde and an investigative journalism website The Intercept have mentioned Mr Kibaki “and his strategic advisers” among the 20 African presidents and prime ministers the British Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) was spying on.
Government spokesman Eric Kiraithe said there was no immediate comment but the reports were being looked into.
“Our experts including the Foreign Affairs ministry will review the revelations before the government can comment. Right now the government cannot comment. The government will issue a comprehensive statement once the review has been done,” said Mr Kiraithe.
WERE AWARE
This came as a senior official in the Kibaki administration, who spoke to the Nation in confidence, said State House and the Kenyan intelligence agents were “aware” of the secret British surveillance and took “necessary steps” to counter it.
“We had some ties with them by Kenya being a major trading partner but when Kenya turned east (to China), the British had to be worried,” the associate said.
The story which was published by the two outlets said GCHQ’s main targets were heads of state and prime ministers.
“Although the UK was Kenya’s main trade partner, in March 2009 the British secret services intercepted communications by President Mwai Kibaki and his closest strategic advisers, as well as eavesdropping on Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
No. If you can't dance, don't. If you can't sing, don't. If you don't know what you're talking about, shut up. And just in general, if you don't know what you're doing, don't do it.
If everyone would just follow those simple rules, the world would be a much better place.
The Kenyans are visibly embarrassed for her. I feel bad she's never learned how to stand up straight. Still, she seems genuinely happy to be there, and that's all that really matters. Leave her alone. She's done worse.
Trump is dancing because the newest approval polls are terrible for him. And he dances because he doesn't care. The pollsters and media think they can manipulate him, as they do all politicians by using polls.
But it doesn't work on trump. So he dances and laughs and pours hot coals upon their heads.
I follow Smiling Jack's advice and try to spend as much time as possible sleeping or just laying in bed.......Anyone can dance badly, but this is really phenomenal. Plus she does it in public while she knows she's being filmed. In a perverse way, this gives me added respect for her. This is not a woman who's afraid to take unpopular stands or bust clumsy moves. I bet she's a far worse dancer than Hillary or Merkel and yet she's not afraid to bare the primal rhythms that drive her to dance wildly to the tribal drums.
What's their "problem"? They're feeling for her - a form of compassion. She couldn't "loosen up" even if she tried - they can see that. (They CAN loosen up - gracefully - probably without effort.) They know the English used to lord it over everyone, acting as though they're special, when anyone could see it was a charade. They know this is who they really are. Who they always really were. I don't think the stifled smiles of Kenyans, on her behalf, are a "problem" at all with such a history.
And I'm speaking as someone who's usually too inhibited to dance at all. I recognize and really feel how damaging this inhibition is.
I used to go to a club where people could dance, and inhibition kept people who couldn't dance off the dance floor. Now it seems everyone is taking Ann's advice, and the floor is so crowded with ass-clowns staggering around that no one can dance.
Listen to your inhibitions, people. God put them there for a reason.
Agree 100% with Ann. We should never make fun of people for dancing (or singing to themselves or exercising). Need more dancing not less and there is enough other stuff about which we can be mean and snarky and pretend like we're back in Jr high school.
Like Ann I am also intimidated but I dance by myself a lot. My favorite dancing by myself song is the Cure's Just Like Heaven. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2acYef3fy-s
All was foreseen in the 1979 Steve Martin comedy The Jerk, as the clip The Jerk Gettin' Rhythm reveals. Trust me.
Cribbing from Wikipedia: Steve Martin is the adopted white son of African American sharecroppers, who grows to adulthood naively unaware of his obvious adoption. He stands out in his family not just because of his skin color but because of his utter lack of rhythm when his adopted family plays spirited blues music. One night, he hears the staid Roger Wolfe Kahn Orchestra song called "Crazy Rhythm" on the radio and his feet spontaneously begin to move with the urge to dance; he sees this as a calling and decides to hitchhike to St. Louis, from where the song was broadcast.
Dancing is a definitely a moral good. And many white males are notoriously bad dancers. And after seeing the Theresa May video, well, she might be the Elaine Benes of the British Parliament.
There is hope though! It's called Practice. Buncha dance videos on youtube. Just get 1 or 2 basic moves and the ladies will want you. Get down, Boogie-Oogie-Oogie.
"And I'm speaking as someone who's usually too inhibited to dance at all. I recognize and really feel how damaging this inhibition is."
That certainly goes for me, as well.
Trump's dancing suggests that he is uninhibited and willing to break "the rules." It's sort of like his tweeting - mostly effective for garnering attention.
Jordan Peterson says a man who can dance signals females that he possesses the agreeableness to negotiate life's give and take. He didn't put it that way exactly but that's what i took from it.
I couldn't watch the video in the Tweet, so I found one I could watch. And it shows what is really go on. Theresa May is being given a dance lesson by a grown man dressed as a scout (as in boy scout). She is repeating every move he is making--after he demonstrates it.
She is not doing a spontaneous dance. And if you have a problem with the choreography, tell that to the African Tribe who created the moves. And I say that as someone who doesn't like May and her attempts to sabotage BREXIT.
Prime Minister May looks older than her 62 years. She looks like a clumsy clown dancing among Africans. Don't look so stupid is my advice to the leader of Britain. You might throw your back out, too.
"rump's dancing suggests that he is uninhibited and willing to break "the rules."
I call him Schlump usually, but Rump is fine, too. I agree that he is a criminal lawbreaker and belongs in jail. He can teach dance behind bars if he doesn't get shanked by a brother for being a racist or a bad dancer.
Neither my husband nor I dance well. But I love to dance and will "kitchen dance". Because my husband loves me we are now taking dancing lessons. He will dance with me during lessons and at home, but I understand that he will never dance with me in public. Of the new dances I have learned salsa was the easiest for me to pick up because it is the closest to "kitchen dancing".
I agree with Althouse everyone should feel free to dance as a joyful uprising from the soul.
Yes, she looks a bit ridiculous. But I suspect that’s non-dancers projecting their insecurities, no one wants to feel shame. So when non dancers dance, and are doing their best to be chill and let go, it shows courage and their wanting to just do it. And their best allies in the place are the good dancers. Fucking A.
Swing lessons? I did that with a girlfriend maybe 10 years ago, wow, what fun that was. All memory skills, the commentariat here would all excel and be stars within 90 days.
In Cape Town here, there are various musical acts busking. The show stopper is one group of about 10 girls, between 10 and 15 approx, who alternate between singing and dancing in an indescribable way. The best dance act I’ve ever seen.
reader said... Swing, rumba, foxtrot, and salsa so far. It is a blast. I’m not sure what’s up next.
I started in late disco, and have stayed pure club. Now that’s electronic ‘house’ I guess. The only formal lessons I had were salsa and swing. Under duress. I had a great dance partner here for a couple of weeks.
Reminded me of Rodney Dangerfield's dance at the WASP country club. Maybe May should've tossed a few dozen pounds toward the band and yelled, "everyone take some lessons."
As pointed out by Darrell, May was following the moves of her Scout instructors whose stylings tend to disprove the asinine observation that Char Char pulled out of his putrid, diseased little asshole of a mind.
I couldn't watch the video in the Tweet, so I found one I could watch. And it shows what is really go on. Theresa May is being given a dance lesson by a grown man dressed as a scout (as in boy scout). She is repeating every move he is making--after he demonstrates it.
She is not doing a spontaneous dance. And if you have a problem with the choreography, tell that to the African Tribe who created the moves. And I say that as someone who doesn't like May and her attempts to sabotage BREXIT.
"the asinine observation that Char Char pulled out of his putrid, diseased little asshole of a mind."
I was merely responding to Crack's idiotic assertion of Black superiority based on how cool an smoov dey get jiggy wit it. No wonder those people need Affirmative Action to get anywhere that requires any ability above the brain stem.
If that makes my mind putrid a putrid, diseased asshole, then I'm proud to have a putrid, diseased asshole of a mind. At least I'm not black.
Smilin' Jack said... And I'm speaking as someone who's usually too inhibited to dance at all. I recognize and really feel how damaging this inhibition is.
I used to go to a club where people could dance, and inhibition kept people who couldn't dance off the dance floor. Now it seems everyone is taking Ann's advice, and the floor is so crowded with ass-clowns staggering around that no one can dance.
Listen to your inhibitions, people. God put them there for a reason.
Case in point, that silly FBI agent who was jumping around on the dance floor, had his gun fall out of his pants and it went off. Exhibit #1 for people who should NOT be dancing!
Theresa May shouldn't feel bad. With a little practice, she could become an interesting dancer. I'm not kidding. Plus, I guarantee you, as she is now, every black person on the planet still prefers her to this woman.
"I was merely responding to Crack's idiotic assertion of Black superiority based on how cool an smoov dey get jiggy wit it."
Oooh - evidence. Show me where I said or did that. I said the English tried to project superiority, but blacks never bought it, partially based on grace. Nothing about us being better. If anything, a statement about whites fooling themselves. Blacks do that, too.
"No wonder those people need Affirmative Action to get anywhere that requires any ability above the brain stem."
I don't think I have to answer that, for anyone else to understand why I don't have to answer that.
"If that makes my mind putrid a putrid, diseased asshole, then I'm proud to have a putrid, diseased asshole of a mind."
I hear a liberal yelling "I have a RIGHT to talk about astrology!" like that's the issue. WTF are the rest of us supposed to do with these people?
"At least I'm not black."
At least that. Serious question to the *reasonable* white people here: Does this last comment affirm or deny the existence of Peggy MacIntosh's invisible napsack? Does his belief it's true make it real, or does it mean it's real, or something else? Since he misread my comment, but decided to act on his wrong assumption, doesn't that affirm that something might still be occurring in America - offline? I mean, I don't know how many of these yokels you guys expect 13% of the population to fend off, when we're spread out all over the country, ostensibly minding our own business, not even close to caring whether we're "white" or not, while this guy's fixated on us. It's just not normal. It's not a normal life.
He does make me feel GOOD about being black, though. We've GOT to be special to warrant such dick-measuriing attention.
Yeah. Not descended from America's strongest survivors of the Middle Passage, taken all the way from (as Michael K so politely patronized me one day) "West Africa" to inadvertently redefine this nation's meaning to itself, constantly redeveloping it's cultural currency and dominance throughout the entire world, and who's promise and hope even made it possible, once, for us to cooly re-establish America's ideals and purpose elsewhere in the world, through people like Ali, until we agreed people like this fool wasn't cool "no mo" and nobody else thinks so, either, which is just fucking things up everywhere.
This guy, not being black, is doing us a favor. Black folks, not being like this guy, is too.
Sure, Crack, you didn't imply that Blacks are better than whites cuz you pipo gots da riddim and da smoov juke an jive moovz. That's not what you meant at all! You only singled out the English, and they're not even white, right? That's your "form of compassion", I'm sure.
“Char Char Binks said... Leave dancing to those who do it well, especially jigaboos who are good at nothing else.”
“If that makes my mind putrid a putrid, diseased asshole, then I'm proud to have a putrid, diseased asshole of a mind. At least I'm not black.”
Char Char Binks has been around here for many years ( he’s no Moby). Why is it that he is feeling so free to fly his racist flag nowadays? Freed by Trumpism?
This place is sounding more like a combination of conspiracy theory central and the Jim Crow south. Revolting.
The dancing was harmless enough. Somehow we abruptly descended to racial talk. All y'all people are crazy. That said,
Drago said... Crack: "Yeah. Not descended from America's strongest survivors of the Middle Passage"
Uh, of course they were the strongest survivors of the middle passage. They were the only victims involved in the middle passage.
Next up: Which professional baseball team in St Louis is the strongest?
Next next up: Which blog commenter on Althouse already namesd "Crack" is the mostest awesomest?!
8/31/18, 7:21 PM
To my understanding, American blacks are descended from The Losers of Africa's Wars, conflicts, and persecutions. As opposed to voluntary immigrants who are selected for success, involuntary immigrants are selected for failure.
White people are so racist against blacks they attack us when we're not even around. The dumb ones - who also think "the strongest survivors of the middle passage. They were the only victims involved in the middle passage."
Man, you guys are DUMB. I'd clear this up for you but ignorance of this magnitude deserves to breathe for a while. Carry on, Fools.
This is true: there are bigger racists on this blog than in the Trump administration, and it's a shame he has to be saddled with them because - shocker - HE LIKES BLACK PEOPLE.
And white people are only happy when you buy into it - like Candace Owens - who got Kanye into so much trouble he has to apologize for it. I bet you he won't be making THAT mistake again.
"'They need to loosen up.'/What's their "problem"? They're feeling for her - a form of compassion."
Being embarrassed — your word — for someone who's putting herself out there and gamely dancing isn't compassionate. It's assholean. Maybe you're trying to revise your earlier characterization because my little joke — "loosen up" — stung.
"She couldn't "loosen up" even if she tried - they can see that."
I didn't say she needed to loosen up. I said they did (if they were what you said they were, feeling embarrassed for her). I don't think they are, but you said it, and I answered you.
" (They CAN loosen up - gracefully - probably without effort.)"
So, in your characterization, they could be loose in that situation but they chose not to be. That makes it assholean. Again, your characterization of them, not mine. I don't know what they are thinking and don't know enough of the context to make a guess.
"They know the English used to lord it over everyone, acting as though they're special, when anyone could see it was a charade. They know this is who they really are. Who they always really were. I don't think the stifled smiles of Kenyans, on her behalf, are a "problem" at all with such a history. "
That's an entirely different analysis and it has nothing to do with feeling embarrassed for her or feeling compassionate. If they have a justified reason for antagonism and are "embarrassed for" her because of that, then it's not "compassionate."
Care to pick one interpretation and not act like 3 things are one thing?
"Being embarrassed — your word — for someone who's putting herself out there and gamely dancing isn't compassionate. It's assholean."
Really? Assholian would have been to point and laugh. No matter how I look at it - the historical context, racially, class, politics, style and grace - they had every right to be mean and they didn't take it.
"Maybe you're trying to revise your earlier characterization because my little joke — "loosen up" — stung."
Wrong assumptions are HUGE on this blog. I was not stung. Rather than them loosening up, I think she should practice dancing so she can make that hunchback stork routine look like something worth doing.
"I didn't say she needed to loosen up. I said they did (if they were what you said they were, feeling embarrassed for her). I don't think they are, but you said it, and I answered you."
"In your characterization, they could be loose in that situation but they chose not to be. That makes it assholean. Again, your characterization of them, not mine. I don't know what they are thinking and don't know enough of the context to make a guess."
They're not dancing. It's an official visit by a white Prime Minister. I don't think you have to be black to grasp that, but it might help. They're not being assholian. They're playing it safe.
"That's an entirely different analysis and it has nothing to do with feeling embarrassed for her or feeling compassionate. If they have a justified reason for antagonism and are "embarrassed for" her because of that, then it's not "compassionate.""
It's not separate, any more than the race stuff that happens here is, like the flag protest. You seem determined they have to feel the way you say or they're assholes. That's kind of weird.
"Care to pick one interpretation and not act like 3 things are one thing?"
"Care to pick one interpretation and not act like 3 things are one thing?"
No, because white people DO put us in these weird, multi-layered situations, like fighting for your country when it's racist, and then, when you get home, having to explain to the racists that they're racists and that's a bad thing - which, of course, they don't accept - so you got to stage boycotts and go to court and protest and kneel at the anthem at football game s and on and on and on and on, all because white people can't grasp the mind-numbingly insane situation they've put us in as a way to serve themselves.
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139 comments:
Not a credit to her race.
Theresa May not.
Theresa May has too much leg and too little torso ( and no rhythm)
Nobody loves Theresa May.
How do you say “WTF” in Swahili?
I think her dancing is fantastic.
She's doing it Her Way.
Everyone should dance. There's no bad dancing when you're dancing to participate (as opposed to going on stage as a dancer holding yourself out as an exemplar of dancing).
It's like drawing. Everyone should draw. You don't have to say "I'm not a artist" and it's idiotic to think "Because I'm not an artist, I dare not draw lest I humiliate myself and burden others with the badness of my drawing."
We like bad drawings and bad dancing. Less inhibition. Take a lesson from Teresa May. Just perfect. Nice clothes too.
We need some sort of licensing system for dancing in public. You should need to be approved by
a committee of accredited experts before dancing in public is permitted.
Her arms and legs are lanky and it gives her the look of a spider. I like it.
Dance as a deflection: Why didn't Kenyan officials use the occasion of the press conference to take the British PM May to task? Collusion?
REVEALED: HOW BRITISH SECRET SERVICES SPIED ON KIBAKI AND RAILA
Posted on Dec 11, 2016, By WALTER MENYA
https://nairobinews.nation.co.ke/news/revealed-how-british-secret-services-spied-on-kibaki-and-raila/
The Kenyan government is taking seriously reports that British intelligence agents spied on President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga, including intercepting their communication, and will release a statement after reviewing the information.
French newspaper Le Monde and an investigative journalism website The Intercept have mentioned Mr Kibaki “and his strategic advisers” among the 20 African presidents and prime ministers the British Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) was spying on.
Government spokesman Eric Kiraithe said there was no immediate comment but the reports were being looked into.
“Our experts including the Foreign Affairs ministry will review the revelations before the government can comment. Right now the government cannot comment. The government will issue a comprehensive statement once the review has been done,” said Mr Kiraithe.
WERE AWARE
This came as a senior official in the Kibaki administration, who spoke to the Nation in confidence, said State House and the Kenyan intelligence agents were “aware” of the secret British surveillance and took “necessary steps” to counter it.
“We had some ties with them by Kenya being a major trading partner but when Kenya turned east (to China), the British had to be worried,” the associate said.
The story which was published by the two outlets said GCHQ’s main targets were heads of state and prime ministers.
“Although the UK was Kenya’s main trade partner, in March 2009 the British secret services intercepted communications by President Mwai Kibaki and his closest strategic advisers, as well as eavesdropping on Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Somewhere Elaine Benes breathes a sigh of relief....
(eaglebeak)
Trump was appearing as "your tax guy" in a Saturday Night Live skit with Drake, in fall 2015.
Dems felt it was massively unfair, tho' SNL had Hillary on the same fall (heh). But she didn't dance.
Elaine Dance Contest
Everyone should dance.
No. If you can't dance, don't. If you can't sing, don't. If you don't know what you're talking about, shut up. And just in general, if you don't know what you're doing, don't do it.
If everyone would just follow those simple rules, the world would be a much better place.
The Kenyans are visibly embarrassed for her. I feel bad she's never learned how to stand up straight. Still, she seems genuinely happy to be there, and that's all that really matters. Leave her alone. She's done worse.
the Irish got it half-right by not moving your upper body
"The Kenyans are visibly embarrassed for her."
That's their problem.
They need to loosen up.
You could make a list of things that if you can't do it well, you shouldn't do it at all.
Surgery belongs on the list.
Dancing does not.
Dancing belongs on the list of things you should do even if you're completely bad at it.
And I'm speaking as someone who's usually too inhibited to dance at all. I recognize and really feel how damaging this inhibition is.
There is something incredibly endearing about people who can't dance dancing anyway.
it's called the 'Brexit', and she's doing it poorly
Think what we missed with an earlier generation of P.M.'s. Winston Churchill. Anthony Eden. Harold Macmillan. How they could have danced!
Nice clothes too.
I was distracted by the black thing protruding from her gut.
Why isn't anyone near her dancing, too?
Trump is dancing because the newest approval polls are terrible for him. And he dances because he doesn't care. The pollsters and media think they can manipulate him, as they do all politicians by using polls.
But it doesn't work on trump. So he dances and laughs and pours hot coals upon their heads.
Wisconsin Law Professor says Kenyans need to lighten up.
"Canadians Watch Odinga Play Hockey" video was similar
She was just monkeying around.
I follow Smiling Jack's advice and try to spend as much time as possible sleeping or just laying in bed.......Anyone can dance badly, but this is really phenomenal. Plus she does it in public while she knows she's being filmed. In a perverse way, this gives me added respect for her. This is not a woman who's afraid to take unpopular stands or bust clumsy moves. I bet she's a far worse dancer than Hillary or Merkel and yet she's not afraid to bare the primal rhythms that drive her to dance wildly to the tribal drums.
I'm just glad she didn't rip her clothes off and start copulating with the tribal elders.
Ann Althouse said...
"The Kenyans are visibly embarrassed for her."
"That's their problem.
They need to loosen up."
What's their "problem"? They're feeling for her - a form of compassion. She couldn't "loosen up" even if she tried - they can see that. (They CAN loosen up - gracefully - probably without effort.) They know the English used to lord it over everyone, acting as though they're special, when anyone could see it was a charade. They know this is who they really are. Who they always really were. I don't think the stifled smiles of Kenyans, on her behalf, are a "problem" at all with such a history.
It should've happened a long time ago.
At least she isn't twerking.
Ralph L said...
"Why isn't anyone near her dancing, too?"
In Kenya, that's a ballad.
Her arms and legs are lanky and it gives her the look of a spider. I like it.
Can't top that. I'll say it's like Jim Furyk's golf swing which is like an octopus falling out of a tree.
...and one for Crack.
English PM's have always been known for their dance moves.
Who can forget the Lady Thatcher Moonwalk?
Everyone should learn to dance. but if you're bad at it, do it without an audience.
I love how May doesn't move her feet, and the lower and upper body seems to be completely uncoordinated - and moves randomly.
Oh, well. We all can't have rhythm like Hillary Clinton.
Embarrassed? They seem to holding in laughter.
I want to put on, my my my my my Boogie shoes...and boogie with you.
To misquote Johnson:
Sir, a PM dancing is like a dog's walking on his hind legs. It is not done well; but you are surprised to find it done at all."
Why do white elites who visit African nations think it's a good idea to start dancing like idiots?
It's seems kinda patronizing and insulting, ain't it? Hey you dance-crazy savages - I can shake my booty too!
PM May needs a better advance team and some Arthur Murray lessons.
The Gentrys "Keep on Dancing"
And I'm speaking as someone who's usually too inhibited to dance at all. I recognize and really feel how damaging this inhibition is.
I used to go to a club where people could dance, and inhibition kept people who couldn't dance off the dance floor. Now it seems everyone is taking Ann's advice, and the floor is so crowded with ass-clowns staggering around that no one can dance.
Listen to your inhibitions, people. God put them there for a reason.
"There's no bad dancing when you're dancing to participate"
There is bad dancing when you're dancing and everyone else around you is not dancing but watching you dance, and clapping that you're dancing at all.
If they put her in a zoo, I'd bet she'd draw huge crowds for her dancing.
Agree 100% with Ann. We should never make fun of people for dancing (or singing to themselves or exercising). Need more dancing not less and there is enough other stuff about which we can be mean and snarky and pretend like we're back in Jr high school.
In theory everyone should dance, but not if it sets race relations back a hundred years.
Like Ann I am also intimidated but I dance by myself a lot. My favorite dancing by myself song is the Cure's Just Like Heaven. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2acYef3fy-s
We need separate bad singing from bad dancing.
No one has to look at you when you dance badly.
But we all to hear you when you sing badly.
Bad Singers - be quiet.
But we all to hear you when you sing badly.
Bad Singers - be quiet.
That goes double for playing the harmonica. Anybody can do it poorly, but so few can do it well.
In theory everyone should dance, but not if it sets race relations back a hundred years.
Black guys- help the white guys
(rehajm goes and queues up Stripes for the weekend)
"really feel how damaging this inhibition is"
Honest question: what damage does it do?
Episcopalians acting like they are common people is always a stilted and temporary show.
She did NOT, let me repeat, she did NOT bust a move.
White privilege
All was foreseen in the 1979 Steve Martin comedy The Jerk, as the clip The Jerk Gettin' Rhythm reveals. Trust me.
Cribbing from Wikipedia: Steve Martin is the adopted white son of African American sharecroppers, who grows to adulthood naively unaware of his obvious adoption. He stands out in his family not just because of his skin color but because of his utter lack of rhythm when his adopted family plays spirited blues music. One night, he hears the staid Roger Wolfe Kahn Orchestra song called "Crazy Rhythm" on the radio and his feet spontaneously begin to move with the urge to dance; he sees this as a calling and decides to hitchhike to St. Louis, from where the song was broadcast.
"dance like no one is watching"
+ "ride it like you stole it"
= bad advice
Ann Althouse: Dancing belongs on the list of things you should do even if you're completely bad at it.
So does sex.
Hitler was a better dancer than May. Watch him bust a move --
LINK TEXT
Who knew the man had so much soul?
AllenS said...
"Hitler was a better dancer than May...Who knew the man had so much soul?"
It's that little *skip* he did that let us know Michael Jackson was in our future.
Former Obama official Susan Rice posted on Twitter mocking May. I believe Rice was known as a "diplomat."
Dancing is a definitely a moral good. And many white males are notoriously bad dancers. And after seeing the Theresa May video, well, she might be the Elaine Benes of the British Parliament.
There is hope though! It's called Practice. Buncha dance videos on youtube. Just get 1 or 2 basic moves and the ladies will want you. Get down, Boogie-Oogie-Oogie.
Feel the rhythm.
"and you can act like an imbecile
Well she doesn't need to watch "How to Dance Like a White Man". Glasses sure change Trumps look.
"And I'm speaking as someone who's usually too inhibited to dance at all. I recognize and really feel how damaging this inhibition is."
That certainly goes for me, as well.
Trump's dancing suggests that he is uninhibited and willing to break "the rules." It's sort of like his tweeting - mostly effective for garnering attention.
Jordan Peterson says a man who can dance signals females that he possesses the agreeableness to negotiate life's give and take. He didn't put it that way exactly but that's what i took from it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSE2Dhf_lgc
I just searched to see if anyone had made a Seinfeld reference and Elaine dancing. They hadn't. So that's done now
I couldn't watch the video in the Tweet, so I found one I could watch. And it shows what is really go on. Theresa May is being given a dance lesson by a grown man dressed as a scout (as in boy scout). She is repeating every move he is making--after he demonstrates it.
She is not doing a spontaneous dance. And if you have a problem with the choreography, tell that to the African Tribe who created the moves. And I say that as someone who doesn't like May and her attempts to sabotage BREXIT.
I just searched to see if anyone had made a Seinfeld reference and Elaine dancing.
You need reading glasses or a course in detail reading. See 9:41AM, for example.
Prime Minister May looks older than her 62 years. She looks like a clumsy clown dancing among Africans. Don't look so stupid is my advice to the leader of Britain. You might throw your back out, too.
"rump's dancing suggests that he is uninhibited and willing to break "the rules."
I call him Schlump usually, but Rump is fine, too. I agree that he is a criminal lawbreaker and belongs in jail. He can teach dance behind bars if he doesn't get shanked by a brother for being a racist or a bad dancer.
Leave dancing to those who do it well, especially jigaboos who are good at nothing else.
I think we should make less fun of May's dancing, and more fun of her terrible pants suit.
She seems to be a member of the "Hillary Clinton Bad Suit Club".
I know she's an old lady, and a PM - but I think a skirt and blouse, especially in African Heat would've looked a LOT Better.
And I say that, as a man who knows zero about Female fashion.
Neither my husband nor I dance well. But I love to dance and will "kitchen dance". Because my husband loves me we are now taking dancing lessons. He will dance with me during lessons and at home, but I understand that he will never dance with me in public. Of the new dances I have learned salsa was the easiest for me to pick up because it is the closest to "kitchen dancing".
I agree with Althouse everyone should feel free to dance as a joyful uprising from the soul.
I can dance reasonably well and enjoy it.
Ann is 100% right.
Yes, she looks a bit ridiculous. But I suspect that’s non-dancers projecting their insecurities, no one wants to feel shame. So when non dancers dance, and are doing their best to be chill and let go, it shows courage and their wanting to just do it. And their best allies in the place are the good dancers. Fucking A.
I like the Trump dance. A revised 4.2 percent growth for the second quarter makes me dance too.
BTW notice that the Trump stat was revised upward. I remember during Obama the scores were usually revised downward. Deep state?
reader...
Swing lessons? I did that with a girlfriend maybe 10 years ago, wow, what fun that was. All memory skills, the commentariat here would all excel and be stars within 90 days.
No George W. Bush reminiscences?
What is it about Africa that makes white politicians act so bizarre?
Char Char Binks said... Leave dancing to those who do it well, especially jigaboos who are good at nothing else.
Chickenshit.
sodal ye
Swing, rumba, foxtrot, and salsa so far. It is a blast. I’m not sure what’s up next.
In Cape Town here, there are various musical acts busking. The show stopper is one group of about 10 girls, between 10 and 15 approx, who alternate between singing and dancing in an indescribable way. The best dance act I’ve ever seen.
Although the salsa busker pairs on Buenos Aires market days can be impressive too.
reader said... Swing, rumba, foxtrot, and salsa so far. It is a blast. I’m not sure what’s up next.
I started in late disco, and have stayed pure club. Now that’s electronic ‘house’ I guess. The only formal lessons I had were salsa and swing. Under duress. I had a great dance partner here for a couple of weeks.
I believe Terry spent some time managing the Ministry of Silly Walks back in the seventies. These things can haunt a politician.
"I like the Trump dance." Not more than a six-pack.
Reminded me of Rodney Dangerfield's dance at the WASP country club. Maybe May should've tossed a few dozen pounds toward the band and yelled, "everyone take some lessons."
Imagine if we could only give our opinion on politics in Interpretive Dance.
As pointed out by Darrell, May was following the moves of her Scout instructors whose stylings tend to disprove the asinine observation that Char Char pulled out of his putrid, diseased little asshole of a mind.
I couldn't watch the video in the Tweet, so I found one I could watch. And it shows what is really go on. Theresa May is being given a dance lesson by a grown man dressed as a scout (as in boy scout). She is repeating every move he is making--after he demonstrates it.
She is not doing a spontaneous dance. And if you have a problem with the choreography, tell that to the African Tribe who created the moves. And I say that as someone who doesn't like May and her attempts to sabotage BREXIT.
I like Trump with glasses.
I guess it's very hard to dance in a business suit. Unless you're the Talking Heads.
Annie C said...
Imagine if we could only give our opinion on politics in Interpretive Dance.
Something like this?
Reminded me of the time Hoda and Megyn went at it on the Today show......
She surely ain't the Dancing Queen...
Fabulous find tcrosse!
"the asinine observation that Char Char pulled out of his putrid, diseased little asshole of a mind."
I was merely responding to Crack's idiotic assertion of Black superiority based on how cool an smoov dey get jiggy wit it. No wonder those people need Affirmative Action to get anywhere that requires any ability above the brain stem.
If that makes my mind putrid a putrid, diseased asshole, then I'm proud to have a putrid, diseased asshole of a mind. At least I'm not black.
Smilin' Jack said...
And I'm speaking as someone who's usually too inhibited to dance at all. I recognize and really feel how damaging this inhibition is.
I used to go to a club where people could dance, and inhibition kept people who couldn't dance off the dance floor. Now it seems everyone is taking Ann's advice, and the floor is so crowded with ass-clowns staggering around that no one can dance.
Listen to your inhibitions, people. God put them there for a reason.
Case in point, that silly FBI agent who was jumping around on the dance floor, had his gun fall out of his pants and it went off. Exhibit #1 for people who should NOT be dancing!
Okay...someone had to post it.
Everybody dance now.
If she's having fun it's all good. People get better the more they try.
ballet, tap, jazz, swing, salsa, contra, scottish country dancing, klezmer folk, ballroom, polka.
family used to do square dancing. great for kids.
I presume Jeremiah Stephan Dunleavies First through Third could not be reached for comment.
Theresa May shouldn't feel bad. With a little practice, she could become an interesting dancer. I'm not kidding. Plus, I guarantee you, as she is now, every black person on the planet still prefers her to this woman.
Quite Instroflectice of others needent be.
Here's a dance-off between Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa May.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRLi_G5vCxs
And a solo victory dance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJ9wh87m6a0
a TahtbwCsbmyb bezt work.
That's as bad as faith hills singing at the Aretha funeral (and I say that as a faith hill fan)
I apologize to Bill P. and Cooper of The Stephen alone: my intent was never to offend (you). Whsn taknd offxe best to fulo first.
Oddly reminiscent of Fatboy Slim's video of Weapon of Choice, with Christopher Walken taken by the music.
Char Char Binks said...
"I was merely responding to Crack's idiotic assertion of Black superiority based on how cool an smoov dey get jiggy wit it."
Oooh - evidence. Show me where I said or did that. I said the English tried to project superiority, but blacks never bought it, partially based on grace. Nothing about us being better. If anything, a statement about whites fooling themselves. Blacks do that, too.
"No wonder those people need Affirmative Action to get anywhere that requires any ability above the brain stem."
I don't think I have to answer that, for anyone else to understand why I don't have to answer that.
"If that makes my mind putrid a putrid, diseased asshole, then I'm proud to have a putrid, diseased asshole of a mind."
I hear a liberal yelling "I have a RIGHT to talk about astrology!" like that's the issue. WTF are the rest of us supposed to do with these people?
"At least I'm not black."
At least that. Serious question to the *reasonable* white people here: Does this last comment affirm or deny the existence of Peggy MacIntosh's invisible napsack? Does his belief it's true make it real, or does it mean it's real, or something else? Since he misread my comment, but decided to act on his wrong assumption, doesn't that affirm that something might still be occurring in America - offline? I mean, I don't know how many of these yokels you guys expect 13% of the population to fend off, when we're spread out all over the country, ostensibly minding our own business, not even close to caring whether we're "white" or not, while this guy's fixated on us. It's just not normal. It's not a normal life.
He does make me feel GOOD about being black, though. We've GOT to be special to warrant such dick-measuriing attention.
Ahhhh!! My eyes! They're burning!!!! (Which is weird seeing as how I haven't even played the clip).
Now that I have watched it, I say her dancing wasn't too bad, for an older white British politician.
"At least I'm not black."
Yeah. Not descended from America's strongest survivors of the Middle Passage, taken all the way from (as Michael K so politely patronized me one day) "West Africa" to inadvertently redefine this nation's meaning to itself, constantly redeveloping it's cultural currency and dominance throughout the entire world, and who's promise and hope even made it possible, once, for us to cooly re-establish America's ideals and purpose elsewhere in the world, through people like Ali, until we agreed people like this fool wasn't cool "no mo" and nobody else thinks so, either, which is just fucking things up everywhere.
This guy, not being black, is doing us a favor. Black folks, not being like this guy, is too.
Scott Adams says 30% of Americans have no sense of humor.
Which leads me to talk about race...
clearly we need to throw her out and install a leftist dictator.
Churchill and Eisenhower are rolling over in their graves...
Sorry Ann - The Village Voice is going out of business. Another fallen idol.
a great song, put the stylings might have been off:
theboot.com/faith-hill-what-a-friend-we-have-in-jesus-aretha-franklin-funeral/
the rest of this menagerie of refried pols and other denizens shouldn't have been there,
Sure, Crack, you didn't imply that Blacks are better than whites cuz you pipo gots da riddim and da smoov juke an jive moovz. That's not what you meant at all! You only singled out the English, and they're not even white, right? That's your "form of compassion", I'm sure.
Why hasn't the May government fallen? She lost more ministers than the Episcopal Church.
Or thought Boris was going to take over.
Crack: "Yeah. Not descended from America's strongest survivors of the Middle Passage"
Uh, of course they were the strongest survivors of the middle passage. They were the only victims involved in the middle passage.
Next up: Which professional baseball team in St Louis is the strongest?
Next next up: Which blog commenter on Althouse already namesd "Crack" is the mostest awesomest?!
Next up for Crack: Why the best limbo dancers should be given the bulk of the grants for advanced particle research.
That top video was so cringy. I wonder if that is how I look when dancing. Not a pleasant thought.
Little known fact: The best rhumba dancers make the best medical doctors.
“Char Char Binks said... Leave dancing to those who do it well, especially jigaboos who are good at nothing else.”
“If that makes my mind putrid a putrid, diseased asshole, then I'm proud to have a putrid, diseased asshole of a mind. At least I'm not black.”
Char Char Binks has been around here for many years ( he’s no Moby). Why is it that he is feeling so free to fly his racist flag nowadays? Freed by Trumpism?
This place is sounding more like a combination of conspiracy theory central and the Jim Crow south. Revolting.
The dancing was harmless enough. Somehow we abruptly descended to racial talk. All y'all people are crazy. That said,
Drago said...
Crack: "Yeah. Not descended from America's strongest survivors of the Middle Passage"
Uh, of course they were the strongest survivors of the middle passage. They were the only victims involved in the middle passage.
Next up: Which professional baseball team in St Louis is the strongest?
Next next up: Which blog commenter on Althouse already namesd "Crack" is the mostest awesomest?!
8/31/18, 7:21 PM
To my understanding, American blacks are descended from The Losers of Africa's Wars, conflicts, and persecutions. As opposed to voluntary immigrants who are selected for success, involuntary immigrants are selected for failure.
'Don't touch me. I'll kill you': Shocking moment a white woman attacks Latino neighbors in Indianapolis with a yard sign amid messy property dispute after she was caught of camera unleashing an N-word laced rant
White people are so racist against blacks they attack us when we're not even around. The dumb ones - who also think "the strongest survivors of the middle passage. They were the only victims involved in the middle passage."
Man, you guys are DUMB. I'd clear this up for you but ignorance of this magnitude deserves to breathe for a while. Carry on, Fools.
Top California lawyer and law tutor goes on racist tirade about the 'Asians that took over Orange County' sparked by Crazy Rich Asians film
Ugly persoanlities + translucent skin = Just horrible people.
Aretha Franklin honored at Buckingham Palace by British Army during Changing of the Guard
Will someone e please alert me when they do this for Ted Nugent, or David Duke, so I can celebrate with black's critics?
Racist robocalls from an Idaho Neo-nazi group plague Floridians
Oh, white people, will you NEVER stop being horrible? No? Oh - well then, carry on....
American Conservative magazine says stop calling Trump a racist because there are bigger racists in the world
This is true: there are bigger racists on this blog than in the Trump administration, and it's a shame he has to be saddled with them because - shocker - HE LIKES BLACK PEOPLE.
Just A Reminder: Louis Farrakhan Is Sufficiently Mainstream To Have Appeared Onstage With A Former President Today
Why? Because whites are such horrible people they make even him look good.
West’s…insistence that slavery is a choice needs to be understood…in the ideology of pulling yourself up by your bootstraps celebrated in everything from the 19th-century novels of Horatio Alger to GOP talking points. Religiously, we can see it in distinctively American crazes like the Victorian era’s New Thought and the popularity of the Christian prosperity gospel, which implies that your piety directly impacts your pocketbook. It’s the ideology that underpins our Gwyneth Paltrow-inspired fantasies of “wellness,” our obsessive gym culture, and capitalist “empowerment” complexes like the skin care industry. Physically, spiritually, socially, we are — as a nation — fantasists of control.
And white people are only happy when you buy into it - like Candace Owens - who got Kanye into so much trouble he has to apologize for it. I bet you he won't be making THAT mistake again.
She's a rather silly pm, she got her job by stabbing Boris Johnson at the end of the brexit olympics.
Well she had Michael gove do it.
You triggered?
"'They need to loosen up.'/What's their "problem"? They're feeling for her - a form of compassion."
Being embarrassed — your word — for someone who's putting herself out there and gamely dancing isn't compassionate. It's assholean. Maybe you're trying to revise your earlier characterization because my little joke — "loosen up" — stung.
"She couldn't "loosen up" even if she tried - they can see that."
I didn't say she needed to loosen up. I said they did (if they were what you said they were, feeling embarrassed for her). I don't think they are, but you said it, and I answered you.
" (They CAN loosen up - gracefully - probably without effort.)"
So, in your characterization, they could be loose in that situation but they chose not to be. That makes it assholean. Again, your characterization of them, not mine. I don't know what they are thinking and don't know enough of the context to make a guess.
"They know the English used to lord it over everyone, acting as though they're special, when anyone could see it was a charade. They know this is who they really are. Who they always really were. I don't think the stifled smiles of Kenyans, on her behalf, are a "problem" at all with such a history. "
That's an entirely different analysis and it has nothing to do with feeling embarrassed for her or feeling compassionate. If they have a justified reason for antagonism and are "embarrassed for" her because of that, then it's not "compassionate."
Care to pick one interpretation and not act like 3 things are one thing?
Ann Althouse said...
"Being embarrassed — your word — for someone who's putting herself out there and gamely dancing isn't compassionate. It's assholean."
Really? Assholian would have been to point and laugh. No matter how I look at it - the historical context, racially, class, politics, style and grace - they had every right to be mean and they didn't take it.
"Maybe you're trying to revise your earlier characterization because my little joke — "loosen up" — stung."
Wrong assumptions are HUGE on this blog. I was not stung. Rather than them loosening up, I think she should practice dancing so she can make that hunchback stork routine look like something worth doing.
"I didn't say she needed to loosen up. I said they did (if they were what you said they were, feeling embarrassed for her). I don't think they are, but you said it, and I answered you."
"In your characterization, they could be loose in that situation but they chose not to be. That makes it assholean. Again, your characterization of them, not mine. I don't know what they are thinking and don't know enough of the context to make a guess."
They're not dancing. It's an official visit by a white Prime Minister. I don't think you have to be black to grasp that, but it might help. They're not being assholian. They're playing it safe.
"That's an entirely different analysis and it has nothing to do with feeling embarrassed for her or feeling compassionate. If they have a justified reason for antagonism and are "embarrassed for" her because of that, then it's not "compassionate.""
It's not separate, any more than the race stuff that happens here is, like the flag protest. You seem determined they have to feel the way you say or they're assholes. That's kind of weird.
"Care to pick one interpretation and not act like 3 things are one thing?"
Nope.
Ann,
"Care to pick one interpretation and not act like 3 things are one thing?"
No, because white people DO put us in these weird, multi-layered situations, like fighting for your country when it's racist, and then, when you get home, having to explain to the racists that they're racists and that's a bad thing - which, of course, they don't accept - so you got to stage boycotts and go to court and protest and kneel at the anthem at football game s and on and on and on and on, all because white people can't grasp the mind-numbingly insane situation they've put us in as a way to serve themselves.
Now "loosen up" and ponder that one.
Well. That video is enough for a chuckle!
Any other commentary beyond that is pretty much wasted effort.
From an awkward dancing Prime Minister to a Crack/Black fight.
An old term from the annals of Althouse returns:
“Crackbait”
Inga, I don't post my opinions here. I simply write what I think our leaders want me to write. Isn't that what democracy looks like?
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