Todd's Mischief Blog

Patriotism is no exemption to law You can't touch me! I'm wearing my 'invincibility flag!' I don't keep a list of pet peeves like some people do because everything that could be on my list is pretty well covered by a single item: stupidity . Normally, I need only avoid liberals in order to avoid being irritated, since they are the ones who cling to stupidity the most. But every now and then, I run into some stupidity on the right.   Nowhere does this happen more often than with matters concerning the American flag. Don't get me wrong, I love the flag--I even get a little misty sometimes reflecting on what it stands for. But because I'm not trying to get into the flag's pants (as some seem to be) I don't take those feelings so far as to abandon all reason. And I certainly don't get jealous about the flag, thinking everyone is trying to steal her from me. I'm going to stop this line of thought because it's starting to sound like a typical t...

Christina Aguilera did not ruin the national anthem. I, for one, feel bad for Christina Aguilera. What should have been the highlight of her singing career (yes, even above five Grammys) has instead become a launch pad to criticize her beyond her lyrical flub and into her singing-style, preparation, and even her patriotism. I'm sure she is feeling beyond embarrassed, today. For any American singer, being requested to perform the “Star Spangled Banner”—a notoriously difficult piece besides being the national anthem—is a great honor at any event. For the Super Bowl, the most viewed television program annually, the honor is magnified beyond calculation. Whatever one thinks about her music or singing style, Christina Aguilera takes her musicianship seriously. So it is an honor that I doubt she took lightly, as is being supposed by so many. By all accounts, she was devastated after botching the performance. But in the moment, she did what any good performer is trained to do: she kep...