It Would Be Called "Zeitgeist" Now Wouldn't It?

Oh Jeez, when it comes to Jared Lee Loughner, it's Robert Stacy McCain who is (also) asking "the key question: 'Why is this important clue to the killer’s motives being ignored by major news organizations?'”

And what is "this important clue"? McCain calls it "the Zeitgeist cult":

I today received an e-mail from a British follower of the Zeitgeist Movement. He repeated the cult’s own mantras about substituting an egalitarian global redistributionist “resource-based economy” for the “monetary-based economy.” He repeated these things in such a way as to indicate to me that he did not recognize that he was the victim of a scam.

Sigh. McCain then goes on to defend TMR's modus operandi in this battle:

Harsh words are necessary to rouse the dreamers from their dangerous trance. The delusions of these people deserve to be mocked, and often, and by someone who knows how.

The perpetrators of the Zeitgeist Movement/Venus Project scam are preying on the naïveté of gullible people who haven’t studied the history of socialism. As I say, it isn’t that such people lack intelligence. They are merely ignorant. Once they realize that they have been deceived and played for suckers, once they have taken time to educate themselves about the nature of the flimflam by which they have been duped, the ex-cultists will become the cult’s most powerful critics.

Or they burrow deeper. Oh well. At least we now know another friend of Glenn Reynolds is onto the NewAge, even if Reynolds himself is unwilling to acknowledge, whether we're talking about Loughner or some other angle, that we were there first.

If you ask us, by being arrogant, thin-skinned, and petty, Reynolds is only setting himself up to eventually look bad:

The truth always comes out.

From Naïveté To Nonsense (To Knocking Heads)

It's not often I can claim to be naive about NewAge, but, when it comes to Homeopathy on the NHS, I've been sillier than most:

I sincerely thought England was going to do the right thing and ban it.

But, now that I think about it, I was foolish. Why would the NHS stop selling water when they've got believers paying $75.00 a bottle for it - and the NHS is cash strapped? I mean, if they weren't above exploiting their patients before, and (as doctors and scientists) they surely knew that's what they were doing, why in the world would they be above exploiting them now?

If they want to so blatantly show they don't give a damn about anything but the bottom line, then they might as well go all the way. Seriously, the next obvious step is going to be NHS Brand Homeopathic Medicines - the "energy medicine" with 50% more "vital energy", right?

And all of it straight from the tap. None of these games, that it was carefully prepared according to certain principles, since it's already been revealed that homeopaths don't know how much shaking goes into it to make the water active. And Tom Chivers of The Telegraph, UK wants voodoo included now as well:

"The time has come. The Government has denied our rights as consumers, and as patients, for too long. My campaign starts here: fund hoodoo folk magic on the NHS.

You might think this is ridiculous, that the African conjuring practices clearly do not work, and that magic and nonsense have no place in the NHS. But you would be wrong. The Department of Health has released a statement about magic and nonsense – in the specific form of homeopathy – on the NHS, and it has come down firmly in its favour.

In the Government Response to the Science and Technology Committee report ‘Evidence Check 2: Homeopathy’, it says that: 'Complementary and alternative medicine, including [magic and nonsense], has a long tradition, and very vocal proponents and opponents'. Well: you can’t claim that hoodoo lacks that. It’s been around since at least 1875, and the African and Christian traditions it is based on far longer.

They add that 'the overriding reason for NHS provision [of magic and nonsense is] to provide patient choice.' I fail to see why this should be limited to homeopathic magic and nonsense. If I didn’t know better I’d say it was cultural bias towards European magic and nonsense. But African and Caribbean magic and nonsense has just as strong an evidence base, and patient choice would be better served by providing it.

And while we are talking about evidence: hoodoo magic and nonsense might not work, but whether or not a medical treatment works is not the only factor to consider in funding it on the NHS, according to the DoH: 'Efficacy is certainly important. Also important, however, are the fundamental principles that underpin the relationships between the Department and the NHS in England, between UK medicines legislation and the European regulatory framework, and between the clinician and the patient.' Well: we have no reason to believe that hoodoo works better than a similarly administered placebo, I must admit. But the relationship between the witch-doctor and his or her patient is very close, just like that between a homeopath and his or her patient."

Under the circumstances, it makes perfect (non) sense. And they'd better hurry:

Believers get angry when they don't get what they want - and you "doctors" don't want to see them angry.

Not Well Red (But Extremely Well-Ridden)

Sigh. Does nothing ever change about NewAge - or NewAgers? Can't even one of them ever invent something useful? Will not one of them ever break the mold? Must they all be mental midgets?

To anyone wondering how Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, has found herself in this latest ugly episode, I'll let Tina Brown clue you in to the key issue - and, keep in mind, this is from someone who "always found her a sympathetic figure":

"Her naïveté is almost deranged, but what can you expect? Like her onetime sister-in-law Princess Diana—but without Di’s pedigree or trust fund—Fergie left school at 18 and was educated for nothing except horsey infidelity in the shires.

She had a weakness for health quacks and palm readers. One of her favorites in the Diana years was the Greek medium Madame Vasso in North London, who provided a blue plastic pyramid in which Fergie sat to be cleansed and healed.

She was always nuts."

Say it with me: yes she was. Just "like her onetime sister-in-law Princess Diana,..." But, I ask you, how many people do you think ever bothered to inform Fergie she's fruitloops?

You know, like, to her bug-eyed face?

Isn't that what friends are for?

Didn't anyone (her family, the equally-crazy Elton John, a psychic or seer, or someone else that would be willing to sit in a blue plastic pyramid with her) ever consider that - if they were ever straight-up with Fergie - the poor dumb slut probably wouldn't always be popping up in these situations?

As I'm sure you know (because I've said it a billion-and-one times) I have an extremely hard time feeling sympathy for NewAgers because - as Fergie's latest muck-up proves, again - NewAgers mostly hurt those around them.

Like, what must her daughters be thinking?

Wait - they're pretty thick, too - nevermind.

Well, maybe look at Prince Andrew, who first had to suffer Fergie's (typically NewAge) infidelity, which led to their (typically NewAge) divorce, and, ever since, he has had to defend his honor - and is now also hoping to keep his job - all because his delusionally dense and (typically NewAge) over-sexed goof of an ex-wife was always too (typically NewAge) greedy, too (typically NewAge) arrogant, and too (typically NewAge) stupid to be believed.

And - before anyone writes in, trying to whitewash her, as they did Diana - let's not take the spotlight off of the adulterous suck-my-toes side of "The Duchess":

Yessiree, that's just the sort of imagery that always melts the heart.

Sarah Ferguson, you poor, poor thing.

And now that I've allowed myself to see The Real Sarah Ferguson again - and just like with my own NewAge ex - I'm growing tired of putzing around with this loony bitch, so let's get this over with:

Like most NewAgers, Sarah Ferguson is nothing more than another in our very-very-long line of stupid, ugly, immature, immoral, idiotic, two-bit celebrity whores, seemingly "educated for nothing except horsey infidelity in the shires."

Which, needless to say, she's already accomplished.

What's different about Fergie is - we now know for sure - like most NewAgers, she's living a little bit lower, and cums a little bit cheaper, than all the rest combined.

Something About The Truth (Makes It All Better)

"I'm guilty for a lot of things. I'm guilty for being negligent, naive, not asking all the right questions."

-- Alex Rodriguez, with his ex-wife, Cynthia, by his side, admitting he took steroids - but using words that could just as easily apply to his affair with Madonna and Kabbalah - both of which were nowhere to be found now that he has to face the truth of his actions, on ESPN.

Sharing Ancient Wisdom (When No One Else Will)

"Whether it's separating tea leaves in a cup, jangling crystals, staring at hands or shuffling plastic cards with funny drawings on them, our search for answers is endless, and such daft methods of finding them can be addictive to naive or weak-minded people."

-- Sinead Ryan, introducing us to Keith Barry, recent winner of The Merlin Award - the equivalent of the Oscar in the world of magic - who is "fed up with phonies trying to make a quick buck and profit from the recession by masquerading as psychics and fortune tellers" (in other words, our kind of guy) in the Herald.IE.

Good Anti-NewAge Advice For Loneliness: Don't Be "Nice," Or "Positive," Because Of Scammers

Now how many times has this blog told you that before?!? Maybe there's something about a turtleneck that helps it go down easier,...

Hat Tip: Althouse

It’s Not True. It’s Not, It’s Not, It’s Not.

Every now and then news surfaces that leaves us questioning our faith in humanity. This Headline from Fox News just knocked the wind out of us:

Kendra Wilkinson Says She Cheated On Hugh Hefner for Sex

Maybe we were just naïve, but we never saw it coming. The last time we found ourselves mourning our lost and shattered illusions is when we learned Sheryl Crow’s hygienic condition might be a little dicey due to her global warming beliefs.

Oh the humanity.

Hey, Barry, Can You Spare Some Change?

"Barack Obama suggested last night that removing Osama bin Laden from the battlefield was no longer essential and that America's security goals could be achieved merely by keeping al-Qaeda 'on the run'."

-- Tom Baldwin, showing us some of the promised “changes” Obama touted during the campaign, in The Times Online.

The Crack Emcee says, "That same poster, above, is hanging over my bed right now - seriously: I'm gonna get you, Sucka!"

Joseph Nigro says, "The irony is that it’s Obama who changed, leaving everything else the same. We can hardly wait to see what happens in the 'Hope' department.":

And Lipstick,...Being Seen As A Man, Today, Requires Lots Of Ass-Kissing With Lipstick

"You seem to be very sincere and you have courage to boldly speak a warning against true dangers of cults lurking around to devour' the undefended minds of people. I also realise that you are trying to be a protector by raising public awareness. Please do also remember that people will accept or reject your teaching by how they percieve your acceptance of them. Dr Gupta's sin, you tell me, has been to listen to and discuss the latest newly-recycled occultist Lie from people he has interviewed. His style of not immediately pouncing on their BS is not your style. But you would reach more listeners yourself if you try some of his style and not reject your listeners so quickly."

-- Traditional Guy, in a discussion with TMR's Crack Emcee, on the merits - and cultish connections - of Barack Obama's Surgeon General choice, Sanjay Gupta, in the Althouse.

"All warm and fuzzy?...it ain't gonna happen."

-- Dick Cheney, on how he'll approach discussing the merits of the Bush Administration in a final interview, with The Weekly Standard.

Don't Waste A Note - Or A Word - On Fools

"Singers, more than other musicians, depend on what they know — as opposed to what they don’t want to know about the world. While there is a danger in this — the loss of naïveté, for instance, which holds its own certain power — interpretive skills generally gain in the course of a life well abused."

-- Bono, discussing things he's learned from his friend, the late great Frank Sinatra (“I don’t usually hang with men who wear earrings.”) and the supreme, and singular, art they share with TMR - singing - for The New York Times.

When You Start Off With Ass-Kissing,...

"The left never grasped Obama's ruthlessness,...He uses supporters like toilet paper - and he's quick to flush."

-- Ralph Peters, reminding liberal NewAgers of their leader's signature quality (I've been calling NewAgers the Nazis of nice for years) while also possibly setting a record by calling them racist, naive, extreme, and the American version of the French - in just three sentences - while writing for The New York Post.

Read the latest post here.

Third-Wave Feminism: Pure Light Entertainment

'I certainly hope my new job has nothing to do with my boobs. I am talented, you know. I like to think that my ability had something to do with it!'

Her indignation subsides. I ask her what she will be wearing on the programme, which starts filming this week.

'I don't know. But I am not going to be bullied. What I do know is that I shall continue to wear low-cut dresses,' she adds defiantly.

[Holly] Willoughby's career has risen in trajectory with her burgeoning curves.

Born in Brighton, she was spotted by a talent scout for the modelling agency Storm, and by 17 she was modelling bras for Pretty Polly.

She broke into TV and by 2004 she was presenting the Saturday morning children's show, Ministry Of Mayhem, on which she wore a French maid's outfit and got pelted with cream cakes.

It was during one episode that she first caused mayhem with her cleavage.

While she was dancing with Duncan Jones from Blue, one of her breasts popped out of her Lycra top. She wasn't wearing a bra.

'Oooh, that was awful,' she giggles, returning to cheery mode.

'From then on, I always wore a bra. I've got one on today,' she confides. 'It's green.'

Grateful for that detail, I ask her what she thinks of Simon Cowell, The X Factor's most terrifying judge.

'Well, I don't fancy him, but he has a weird presence. I mean you have to in order to mentor people.'

'You mean he is a sort of Svengali figure?' I inquire. 'Is he from Svengali?' she asks. 'I didn't know that. Is Svengali in Africa?'

It would be easy to mock Holly, but she insists, disarmingly, that she is 'completely ignorant', which is a refreshing change from some of her more pretentious TV colleagues.

But she is not stupid. She is currently engrossed in a thriller about Shakespeare and enjoys books on Tudor England. 'Have you thought of reading the news or presenting Newsnight, Holly?'

She smiles, showing large white molars. 'I'm not qualified. I'm pure light entertainment.'

-- Petronella Wyatt, doing an expose' on the former co-host for Britain's Dancing On Ice (and a career few men could imagine) for the Daily Mail.