Done by Umberto Boccioni in 1911, this piece is entitled “The Laugh” and can be found at MoMA. Given that the rains have returned in force and undone all the slow seepage we have so painstakingly watched for the past several days, I figured there is not much else one can do.
We have a good lead on a nice Bronco, problem is, that now, with these additional rains, we can hardly expect to get out to see it. The Contrarian and I laughed about telling the dude to drive it to us, and then to the bank and we would drive him home and drop him off. I doubt anything but a 4×4 can get back here for another couple of days, and we have no idea how much rain is yet to come. This is just the worst winter and spring I’ve ever seen here. I hope the guy has some patience, but he wants to sell, and won’t wait surely if another offer comes his way.
Spring cleaning is proceeding just wonderfully however. I’d say half of the room is done. Mostly its pulling tables from walls and getting the dust trapped against baseboards. Yes I know, I should do this regularly. I do not of course. You have no idea, if you don’t heat with wood how incredibly dirty it is. Cobwebs are created literally within a month, everywhere. I figure three more days and it will be done. Then I may try to get busy on the painting. But I really don’t want to stop the cleaning now. I’m in a good comfortable rhythm and I want to do a good job with the kitchen, tearing the cabinets apart and reordering the entire thing.
On to the news of the day:
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When you have a moment, drop by (Mis)Adventures of a Crafty Wifey and see her extraordinarily creative jewelry. I think she has an Etsy store as well. Her work is quite eclectic and you just never know what to expect. Today, she decided to do something unusual with the flies that were tormenting her!
Okay, so maybe I am to blame for this lousy spring we are having. May is the month named after the Greek goddess Maia.I know I forgot to pay whatever homage is required. Should I burn something like a chicken or check some entrails or something. I’ve offended the Goddesssss! Whatever is needed, I’m willing to do. I want to get outside and plant and well just walk without getting my feet wet. Oh and some fine Roman victories occurred over the millenia too today, or yesterday I guess. So if you’re Italian, give a cheer for the victories over Sabines, Samnites, and Macedonians and others. Or just visit Ancient History Blog and follow more links to interesting information.
I personally detest the idea of building a wall in some asinine attempt to close off Mexico from the US. First of all, it will not work as any common sense examination of the issue shows, and secondly, IT WILL NOT WORK. Oh, and it violates tons of state laws, disturbs eco-systems, and IT WILL NOT WORK. Read more at Alternet’s “Immigration: Do Fences make good neightbors?”
C’est La Vie reminds us of a sad statistic- Poverty and its impact on children. Canada doesn’t do a good job of carrying for children, but the US is even worse. Of course, that would be nothing new. How can we allow this? We are the richest of the rich and we let this go on. How our legislators and government can look people in the eye is beyond me. The shame is profound.
I do a lot of container gardening, mostly because I want to sit outside and be utterly surrounded by beauty. I take all my houseplants out, and arrange them, add some herbs in a container or two, a couple of hanging baskets and the rest filled with impatiens, those wonderful cascading petunias, and any and all sorts of things like lobelia. Everything sits amongst some hostas that hide in corners that don’t get much sun. Sally’s Gardening Tips has some ideas for you. Take a look.
Anybody gotten any asparagus yet? I’m sure wanting some fresh from the garden. We don’t get much, because we never kept up well with the initial planting but we do get some. Epicurious has a wonderful spring idea for you that sounds decadent to say the least. Asparagus Ravioli with Parmesan Sauce has simply got to be amazing.
Some new offers from Free Sample Forager. Today’s include a free download of a Star Wars novel, Yomommy Yogurt, Planet Heroes free DVD, and a free Comic book. Enjoy.
I’m sure you think you know why Teddy Roosevelt didn’t win the Republican nod in 1912. Newer research suggests that you might not have known at all. As we hurdle toward a Democratic convention that may prove to be more than we expected, read about how Roosevelt and Taft met heads on in a battle for the GOP nomination. Lewis Gould, (Four Hats in the Ring: The 1912 Election and the Birth of Modern American Politics) tells you all about it.
Oh, gee, another thing I can begin to obsess about. It seems that our recent shimmy shake here in the good old Midwest was not an anomaly, not something to regard as a freakish event, unlikely to happen again. No, no, you should be scared, very scared, in fact California is looking good right about now. We are on some fault line called the “New Madrid” line. I knew it was a mistake when the Spanish sailed for America. Does hopping up and down help? Or does that only work for elevators?
It appears that the marriage issue will be back on the ballot this year in California. I have not kept track of this, so I don’t know what is likely to happen. The National Reviewof course, thinks it’s just super. The Catholic wingnuts (insert right wing nutso minority) also thinks its super. I think it’s utterly horrid and mean. Nobody, not one of these dolts has yet to explain in claiming that they are protecting marriage, has told me what they are protecting it from? Not one. Seems that given that 50% of all marriages end in divorce, that it’s pretty much on life support now. I remain a supporter that anyone who wants to be married should be able to and receive all the attendant civil rights that so attach. I’m not threatened by homosexuals. I don’t think they intend to force me to divorce and marry a woman. Most importantly, I don’t try to speak for God, and since I don’t think the Bible is God speaking directly, I don’t place any real emphasis on those few passages that the wingnut religious use to claim to speak for God. So there.
More news on the torture front. The Bushites have finally released a few documents, but not many and continue to stonewall a good deal. The are trying to ride this out until after the elections I presume. They cannot keep it up for long. More and more, people are starting to predict that when all is said and done, a bunch are heading off for prison numbers. Read today’s editorial in the NYTimes and see if you agree. More and more we hear the sounds of impeachment in the air. I’m thinking it’s a tad too late for that.
The Contrarian caught this yesterday, and frankly I’m rather surprised there has been so little media coverage about it. It seems that West Coast Dock workers went on a one-day strike to protest the Iraq war. Ten thousand participated and that is quite a statement I would say. I echo Tom Cat at Politics Plus. Hats off to the Union.
Remember when Democrats stood up and refused Bushes amnesty for the Telecoms in his latest greatest eavesdropping law? Well that seems on the verge of being upset as some Dems are apparently secretly trying to pretty much give Dubya what he wants. Jay Rockefeller is implicated in this latest heist of the FICA bill. Read Glenn Greenwald’s excellent and thorough report on what is cooking behind closed doors.
It can only be weeks away before we can somehow convert this to human beings. I mean the desire to do so on the part of any rational woman is so clear. Surely modern science can make the connection and for a change, the shoe, errr, fetus can be on the other foot, errr womb, or well, someplace. Male pregnancy is getting a long look see in seahorses. Now we just have to find some men with brood pouches and we are all set.
Another good article on Cufi master, Pastor John Hagee and his Armaggedon scenario.Turns out it’s not just the Jews who are scheduled to die in the conflagration that Hagee prays for daily. It turns out that most of America goes as well. Course, he and his minions are all safe by then in the Rapture, watching us burn into crisps while they praise God. Old Mac it seems cannot get this at all because of senility, or perhaps he really agrees with it as well. In either case, you are aware of the type of endorsement that McCain both sought and continues to hold dear.
Have you heard the name Sami Al Hajj?Nope I didn’t think so. Mr. Al Hajj is a cameraman for Al Jazeera. He has been in Guantanamo Bay for six years. He has been released, with no charges. I always ask this same question: How to do Dubya and his band of thugs sleep at night? They do not of course ever answer me. I don’t think they have feelings like the rest of us. And who exactly are the terrorists? I’m getting more confused daily.
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“I take my wife everywhere, but she keeps finding her way back.” Henny Youngman
“You know everybody is ignorant, only on different subjects.” Will Rogers
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More Bumper Stickers!
Buckle up… it makes it harder for the aliens to suck you out of your car.
There are 2 types of pedestrians, the quick and the dead.
All men are idiots, and I married their king.
Very funny Scotty; now beam down my clothes
We’re not old people we’re recycled teenagers!
IF THIS STICKER IS GETTING SMALLER, THE LIGHT IS PROBABLY GREEN
I love to give homemade gifts, which one of my kids do you want?
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Well, the claims made by Barack Obama’s pastor former pastor, I guess, are getting more and more bizarre. He now says the high price of gas is due to Dick Cheney and all his friends — O.K., he’s right on that one. Jay Leno
David Blaine, that street magician guy, was on the “Oprah” show, where he held his breath while he was underwater for 17 minutes. Underwater for 17 minutes without breathing — or as Dick Cheney calls it, “interrogation.” David Letterman
As Americans were asked in the latest CNN poll to name worst president in their history, Harry Truman came in with an impressive 65 percent, then followed Richard Nixon with 68 percent but the all-time record with a whopping 71 percent was Dick Cheney. – Eugene Cappuccio
Filed under: American History, Bush, Catholicism, Crafts, Current Issues, Ethnic recipes, Evolution, Gardening, Gay Rights, Geology, Greece, History, Immigration, Individual Rights, Italian, John McCain, Pasta, Presidents, Rome, US Ethnic Issues, Vegetables, World History, Zoology, fundamentalism, poverty, religion, science, terrorism | Tagged: Crafts, evolution, Gardening, gay rights, geology, Greece, immigration, Individual Rights, marriage, pasta, poverty, Rome, science, torture, vegetables
As always, a great post! I always laugh at your jokes at the end.
Yes, yes…. the rains are back here in Iowa. I saw a lot of planters moving the past two days – but the weather guys on TV are saying a “monster” storm is moving into the state tonight. Oh well….
Good luck with the Bronco!
Sherry, the New Madrid fault is (fortunately) a long ways away – down in the boot heel of Missouri. Here is Cedar Rapids area we have the Plum River fault. It starts SW of Rockford, IL and passes under the Mississippi River at Sabula, IA. It then runs north of Mount Vernon and south of Cedar Rapids. If you have ever been to Palisades-Kepler State Park the bluffs along the south side of the Cedar River are part of the fault.
Thankfully, there hasn’t been a major quake along that fault in 300 years (if you believe geologists). But every now and then there is a minor shake.
Oh, and did you happen to catch the discussion on CAF about whether the sun circles the earth? I think only one person supported the idea, but at least two others were undecided.
Russell, We didnt’ get hit by too much rain. The early morning was the worst, we probably got an inch. But the afternoon one which we were warned about was minor at best, just a light shower. We’re hoping to get out tomorrow and go see that Bronco. The wind is blowing hard and that is always our best friend when it comes to the lane.
Dale, Glad to know we aren’t facing a bad one any time soon. I meant it more as a joke of course, but the midwest has had some the last several years. I remember one in the late 70’s or very early 80’s when I was living in Detroit. I felt it distinctly. On top of worrying about Yellowstone blowing up (that one will take out most of the world as we know it they say), I don’t need any more! LOL.
Dale you seem one of those who has an amazing array of knowledge. I am surprised you don’t share it in a blog. You have a lot to offer for sure.
hanks for the hat-tip, Sherry. That’s quite a collection. I corrected your link in my blogroll.
Hey Tom, glad to see ya finally. Your blog continues to be excellent and I check it every day. I’m happy to send a reader or two your way!
Gosh, Sherry, if I sounded smart its because I culled my information from an old newspaper article. Believe me, yours truly is rather dull when it comes to being sharp. But thank you for the compliment. I’ve considered blogging, but I just don’t have the discipline for it. I am afraid that monthly updates wouldn’t hold the attention of many readers.
Too funny Dale. I do see your point. Once you start blogging, you start to feel an enflated sense of obligation to your “readers.” Most of that is a bit over the top clearly, but I sure feel like I owe it to people to get my post up every day. It’s a heady bit of narcissism no doubt, but I know that I tend to stay with blogs that write frequently. I drop blogs after a month or so, if they are not posting regularly. I try to keep my “base” of information as widespread as possible and so need a broad number of regular posters to keep it interesting.
thanks for the shout out sherry! sorry i’m terribly behind and only saw it today
your bumper stickers made me laugh!
Glad you like them Deborah. They are a hoot to me! So many blogs, so little time! I know the feeling!