I’m not always cynical

Just in time for the holidays, Elvis Costello has a new $225 box set for sale — and he’s telling fans NOT to buy it. …

“Unfortunately, we at www.elviscostello.com find ourselves unable to recommend this lovely item to you as the price appears to be either a misprint or a satire,” Costello wrote on his website.

Costello tried to get the record company to knock the price down, but was unsuccessful. So he is recommending buying the work of another legendary artist.

Not everyone is buying Costello’s mea culpa.

He’s pandering to the Occupy crowd. “Oh, I’m sorry; I wasn’t trying to be a billionaire. I just wanted to be a millionaire.”

Total gimmick, designed to actually GET YOU TO BUY THE SET.

First off, Costello has no say in pricing the box set and I doubt he’s delusional enough to think the Occupants are his audience. And you have to question the psychology that suggests people will spend $225 simply because they’re told not to.

I’ll choose to give Costello credit for being properly embarrassed. He’s inspired me to charge only $39.99 to watch this clip.

Cap du jour, Disney edition

Two loyal Malcontenters visiting Disney World with their 5-year-old sent along this snapshot. The people-watching has made their trip a little more tolerable.

I’d only go to Disney if the alternative was attending a diversity workshop.

How NOT to cure a homophobe

Before she was expelled from a school counselor program at Augusta State University due to her anti-gay beliefs, grad student Jennifer Keeton was asked to attend diversity sensitivity workshops and the city’s gay pride parade.

Might as well inject her with a nausea-inducing drug and force her to watch hardcore gay porn to a soundtrack featuring Lady Gaga and the Weather Girls.

Tonight’s Hannity today: Media attacks force Herman Cain to ‘reassess’ campaign

I think it’s safe to assume Herman Cain’s wife will be voting Democratic again this year.

Related articles

• Adviser: Herman Cain reassessing campaign in wake of affair allegation (mercurynews.com)

Judge Tea Party by the candidates they support

At various points the Tea Party has vaulted Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry and Herman Cain into front-runner status. Not a very good batting average.

There’s a price to be paid when you confuse talk show hosts with leaders. Each of the aforementioned candidates was “legitimized” by talk radio and each, to varying degrees, represents the superficial, antagonistic zealotry that has consumed much of the conservative movement.

Their influence also led sober-minded, experienced candidates like Mitch Daniels and John Thune to sit out this election. They were too reasonable for the Tea Party and they knew it. Look no further than Jon Huntsman who, despite being regarded as the GOP’s best hope at beating Obama, trails the Neanderthal slate in all the polls.

The interior decorator turned hitman

Hilarious.