From the very start, the whole phenomenon was so calculated, so manipulative, and so shallow, but what do you expect from a society infatuated with celebrity, hypnotized by narrative, and generally oblivious to history?

All signs pointed to capitulation. The most courageous moment on Obama’s resume was an ineffectual vote against the Iraq invasion.

We’re burning down the highway skyline
On the back of a hurricane
That started turning
When you were young
When you were young…

“When You Were Young” Lyrics (excerpted)
Artist(Band): The Killers

‘OFFICIAL” MUSIC VIDEO – link to youtube.com

LIVE (Glastonbury 2007) – link to youtube.com

A ‘DIFFERENT TAKE’ (by The Noisettes) – link to youtube.com

FURTHER ELABORATION: I also do this out of deference to entropy and perhaps enthalpy. I fear what might happen to our Universe if I do not make a new joke whilst explaining an older one. Perhaps a horrific implosion? The ‘Big Bust’? I certainly don’t want to be remembered for something like that.

* Q – Excepting this time? A – “Whatever You Desire”
HINT: Off the record, on the QT, and very hush-hush.

FROM WIKIPEDIA: Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson (born January 5, 1969 as Brian Hugh Warner), is an American musician and artist known for his controversial stage persona and image as the lead singer of the eponymous band. His stage name was formed from the names of actress Marilyn Monroe and convicted murderer[1] Charles Manson.[2][3] … Marilyn Manson was born as Brian Hugh Warner in Canton, Ohio, the only child of Barb Wyer and Hugh Jack Warner. His father was a Roman Catholic and his mother was an Episcopalian. According to his autobiography The Long Hard Road Out of Hell, Manson is of German and Polish descent on his father’s side. He was raised [and/or razed - JLD] in his mother’s religion.[5] Warner attended Heritage Christian School from first grade to tenth grade. He later transferred to Cardinal Gibbons High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida…

RE: “Phillip is called a ‘variant’. In fact, it started from immigrants misspelling the name.”

CONSIDER: Dickson, Dixon, Dickinson, Dickerson, etc.

FROM WIKIPEDIA: Philip
Philip is a given name, derived from the Greek Philippos (Φίλιππος), meaning “lover of horses” or “friend of horses”. From φίλος (philos) “lover” and ίππος (hippos) “horse”.[1][2][3][4] While the literal translation, in Ancient Greece, the ownership of horses was available only to those rich enough to afford them. Since beauty, wealth, and nobility were all synonymous, “lover of horses” can also be translated as “noble”. Philip has alternative spellings: Phillip, Philippe, Philipp, Felip, Felipe, Filip, Filippo, Filippu, Filipe, Filype, Phillep, Pilib, Fülöp, Fulup, and has the diminutive Phil…

P.S. It’s intended as a ‘running gag’. Making fun of the notion that individuals’ names can have a tremendous impact upon their lives. But then, there’s Marilyn Manson!

I wish I had an alliterative name.
My grandfather sometimes used the “diminutive” Jno. What the hell was that about?

FROM WIKIPEDIA: Running gag

A running gag is a literary device which often takes the form of an amusing joke or a comical reference and appears repeatedly throughout a work of literature or other form of storytelling.
Running gags can begin with an instance of unintentional humor that is repeated in variations as the joke grows familiar and audiences anticipate reappearances of the gag. The humor in a running gag may derive entirely from how often it is repeated, the (in)appropriateness of the situation in which the gag occurs, or setting up the audience to expect an occurrence of the joke and then substituting something else (bait and switch). Running gags are found mostly in sitcoms, but also appear in other places, such as video games, films, books, and comic strips.
A running gag can be verbal or visual and may “convey social values by echoing belligerent speakers with a barrage of caricatured threats.”[1] (e.g. – A character may present others with a proposition that is so ridiculous or outrageous it is likely to be self-mocking to the point where the original request has little or no chance of actually being carried out and results in a humorous effect.[1])

SOURCE – link to en.wikipedia.org

It’s much like the frog in boiling water.

WHATS THE SECRET?

I think Lieberman’s overt public defiance of Obama was part of the AIPAC victory lap. After it looked like his political future was doomed, following the election, Lieberman was allowed to keep his position in return for promising not to make trouble. Since then, that slezy piece of work has decided to violate the agreement – in true Zionist fashion.

Liberman’s threat to fillbuster is his way of reminding Obama who really won.

Yes we do. He’ll respond the same way he responded to the previous isults. He’ll pull down his pants, bend over and grab his ankles.