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Just In Passing

Bad News

I know that the London Daily Mail is an awful publication.  If you want to read reports that one of the Kardashians has changed the color of her nail polish or how some barely-known “celebrity” is experiencing post-divorce trauma, then the DM is the paper for you.

So why do I read it?  Because unlike the conservative newspapers Over Here, it isn’t all politics, all the time — which is almost as boring as another article wherein Amanda Holden gets to show off her skinny (“toned”) body yet again.  I like me a little diversion of the salacious kind, but only as an occasional counterweight to all the earnest political crap.

Every so often, however, the DM surprises me with coverage that is not only relevant, but excellent — and often, their reportage on events Over Here arrives earlier than that from US newspapers, which makes no sense at all.

However, just the other day I noticed something interesting.  There was a blizzard of coverage in conservative US outlets about what I referred to the other day as “flaggism“, so I went over to the Daily Mail to see what their take was on the situation.  I mean, thousands of people all over Britain protesting the migrant hotels, Union- and St. George’s flags being hung on lamp posts and painted on the roads:  this is news absolutely worth covering and talking about, because it’s a really important issue in British life at the moment.  So what did the DM say about it all?

Nothing.  On the day in question, there was not a single article devoted to the topic.  Nor was there one in the Sun, and in the august Times of London?  Not one either, but there were two on Taylor Swift’s engagement.  Even the conservative (by UK standards) Telegraph had only one report on the unrest, and that was an analysis of how a single town‘s unrest may cause an election party switch at some point in the future.

One would almost think there was a conspiracy… but then again, I’m not too surprised. The British population (and its mainstream media), it seems, would rather gorge themselves on the details of Taylor Swift’s engagement or the Beckham family’s feud than concern themselves with an issue that is of vital national consequence.

Morons, the lot of them.

Flaggism

Mocking Furriners, Patriotism

“Wut dat, Kim?”

Allow me to explain, via this article:

This is turning into one of the most subversive and colorful patriotic campaigns ever.  And it’s really chapping the knickers off of the pissy, prissy ‘minders’ who keep an eye on everyone and tell them how to behave.

Hundreds of flags have sprung up in towns and cities across the country, many flying from lampposts, as part of a campaign called “Operation Raise the Colours.”

Sounds all peaceful and normal, right?  Nazzo fast, Guido:

A council leader has said that some residents have been left feeling “intimidated” by the appearance of Union Jack and St George’s flags.

My heart bleeds for their tender sensibilities.  Perhaps those “residents” (none of whom, I bet, are native-born Brits) should have tried “settling” in another country, perhaps?

Just not here.

Because if they had, they’d have been confronted by this:

A California RV dealership is defiantly displaying the massive American flag that it was told to take down by local officials earlier this year — despite proudly flying similarly sized versions of the Stars and Stripes at its more than 250 other locations across the country without issue.

Camping World on Interstate 5 outside Stockton is well known for the giant Old Glory flying over its grounds — but in April, San Joaquin County Community Development ordered that it be taken down for safety reasons and lack of a permit. Specifically, they are worried about the flagpole’s foundation and its proximity to property lines and the highway in case it ever fell over.

Yeah, I’m sure it was for “safety” reasons.  Oh, and I’m a little curious how John Adams (to name just one) would have responded to the ordinance requiring a permit to fly our flag.  (I’m thinking muskets, tar, feathers etc., but feel free to correct me.)

Anyway, our intrepid business owner has told the council to take a hike:

Marcus Lemonis, CEO of Camping World, found out about the ongoing issue and ordered the dealership on Monday to raise the flag.

Lemonis said if it were a marketing flag on the pole and not the American flag, he would consider keeping it down until it was approved.

But Old Glory stays, he said, regardless of what the county says.

“It’s symbolism about how we feel about this country. We have a lot of veterans who work for us, and a lot of veterans who shop with us,” Lemonis said.

Best part of all this?

“I happen to be an immigrant,” the Lebanon-born entrepreneur said. “I was given the blessing of being able to enter this country and become a citizen, and I’m grateful for it. It’s been part of my life since I was a little child down in Miami, Florida, where we had the largest flagpole in Miami at our car dealership.”

“Not when they sue, not when I lose, not if they take me to jail, the flag is not coming down.”

Makes you proud to be an American, dunnit?  (And by the way, if it were me in his shoes, my response would probably get me on A List faster than you could say “dog”.

Anyway, back to our article about the Brits and their flags.  Beege Welborn concludes by saying about these naughty “right-wingers” and the BritGov apparatchiks who want to pull down the national flags:

They have no clue how lucky they are that it’s only flags.

Unfortunately, the way things have become Over There, all they have is flags.

Unlike us Over Here…

Oh Just Stop It

Immigration

Just when you thought the illegal immigration reversal couldn’t get any better:

Florida to Use Truck Weigh Stations as Immigration Checkpoints

Have mercy.

What’s next:  immigration checkpoints at Publix and Kroger entrances?  [chorus of “Yes!”  “Yes!”  “Do it!”]

Any more like this, and I’ll be forced to take up smoking.

U-Turn

Corporate Fuckery, Marketing / Advertising

…as Cracker Barrel turns away from the Bud Light precipice:

Cracker Barrel will bring back its old logo after days of ruthless criticism and a plummeting stock price following its botched rebranding.

The company’s board, led by CEO Julie Felss Masino, ignored warning signs and criticism for months ahead of the announcement last week that the restaurant chain would ditch its old logo and give its stores a modern look. The company appears to have walked back part of that decision on Tuesday.

Which part, I wonder?  One commenter shared my doubts:

If they don’t change their support for all the weird sexual politics and attendant shenanigans, none of that matters. In fact, focusing on the logo, etc., just drives publicity and brand awareness up for them. Lose the CB-sponsored drag queens and maybe I’ll care about the decor.

As with the Bud Light “fegeleh” and New Coke episodes, companies seem to forget that if your ethos is traditionalist, you mess with your brand positioning at your peril, and chasing new customers is a fool’s game if you alienate your existing base.

I haven’t eaten by myself at Cracker Barrel for years because their prices have become just outrageous — but when I get an overseas visitor to entertain, it’s a must-see experience (along with Buc-ees and rodeo).

Even The Donald weighed in, telling Cracker Barrel not to be idiots and go back to what has, after all, been their basic positioning since forever.

Kudos to them for acknowledging their mistake.

Unlike Jaguar.  [#Morons]

Random Totty

Gratuitous Chick Pics

There is this singer named Ellie Goulding — no, I couldn’t sing one of her songs with a gun pointed at my head, either — who may be worthy of a look or two.  She has one of those Drew Barrymore faces (i.e. a large chin), but the rest is quite tasty:

That said, being a Modern Womyn she’s not exactly shy about showing off the girls either:

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