I Can Clean Rings around Rings!

Tags

American History, Archaeology, Bush, Catholicism, Colonial America, Cuba, cupcakes, Desserts, fabric patterns, fundamentalism, gay rights, GOP, horse racing, immigration, Iowa, Iraq, Italian, John McCain, medicine, Pizza, quilting, science, sin, theology, torture, Veterans, Women's history

The photograph was done by David Octavius Hill and is called “Newhaven Fishwives.” I don’t know if this refers to Connecticut or not, but I see no fish and I would think it difficult to clean fish in these clothes. You can view it at MMA.

Sorry about yesterday. The kitchen assignment was a good deal more involved than I had planned for and I did want to finish it once I started. It was just cleaning the counters. I neglected to take into consideration that I have a couple of big crocks that I use for utensils around the stove, and all the things I don’t use often had a fine sheen of that sticky grease coating it. So the cleaning was both slow and tedious. Today I zoomed through cleaning the stove and hood and spice rack. We took off the railing on the rack and decided it was much better off. Still, I had that greasy sheen on all my spice jars to clean off. But it went surprisingly fast. The kitchen is really starting to show its sparkle now; I just have under the sink, one narrow cabinet that will go very quickly and the windows to do. The floor will take another day, as I have to scoot around and work on the corners and along the baseboards that the mop consistently misses.

Let’s get on with the news:

~~~&&&~~~&&&~~~

Abby Sweets opens the day with cupcakes, orange-cocoa cupcakes to be exact. I don’t know why, but they sounded good, so take a look at the recipe and see if you agree.

I probably wouldn’t include this kind of post given that Bush is halfway out the door, but it’s by Adrianne Huffington, and her take is worth reading. It has to do with the appalling state of the GOP and why it is so very necessary we throw the bastards out in November. It’s from her latest book, Right is Wrong.

Blue Girl Red State has a nice expose’ on our continuing issue of torture in the name of protecting us all. If you saw Boston Legallast night, you got a nice little rant about the whole issue as well. I love that show for exactly that reason, the impassioned plea to America that it stand up and be counted as this horrid administration does it level best to remove every political right we have.

I admit that I watch the triple crown races, but I also take a very dim view of racing in general. I believe that the horses are bred to be fast, and much like certain breeds of dogs, it compromises them physically. It seems to me that more horses are breaking down then ever before. I recall watching the Breeder’s Cup years ago and three horses broke down during that series of races. Read the post from Britannica Blog and see what you think.

Catholic Anarchy has a interesting post on sin and the Church. I’m referring to the Catholic Church and not anyone elses. Of course some claim that God directs the Catholic Church in every respect so the Church presumably can not be sinful. According to this theory it cannot err in any respect either. Since I learned yesterday that the Church some years ago declared that capybara, a rodent of South America, was actually a fish, I’m somewhat doubtful of this claim. Anyway, the post is in two parts and so I’ve linked you to the main site. This relates to the theology of Karl Rahner, one of the most important Catholic theologians of the 20th century. It’s the second and third post.

Wow, today’s Civil War Women features a woman from Iowa, Melcenia Elliot. Although born in Indiana, she was raised in Iowa and went to college here as well. She traveled to hospitals and cared for the wounded. Several of her brothers also served as soldiers during the war. Her service was extensive and she traveled around the country, always working for the care of the soldiers.

This recipe sounds about right for a hot summer evening. Pizza is always good. This classy one is Tuna Mozzarella and Basil and sounds so fresh and tasty.Epicurious gives us this lovely one. It has some interesting twists so be sure to take a look.

I must say that overall I’m quite impressed bythe Democratic led Iowa response to the Postville raids. Uniformly Democrats from the Governor on down have responded with concern for immigrant rights and compassion and concern. Essential Estrogen has more on the subject.

Garrison Keillor has blessed us with another post. Just a pleasant break in the day to read his delightful musings. This one is about the upcoming Memorial Day. It’s an especially biting and good one today folks. Don’t miss it.

History of American Women has a lovely historical look at the colonial world of Pennsylvania. Included is a profile of William Penn and Quakerism and general life in this fascinating colony of early America.

Inside-Out the Beltway continues to impress with its witty posts. This one is a great little ditty about the ever changing metamorphosing John McCain. What we said yesterday, we may change today, depending on whom we are pandering to. And so it goes. This time he’s flipped on Cuba, since he is speaking to mostly Cubans! Read it and giggle along.

I always find a drop by at inspired by antique quilts to be well, inspiring. If I ever get this housecleaning done, and the redecorating done, and the gardening done, well then maybe just maybe I can get to quilting. She does push me forward you can bet your quilt on that! She shows three great border options on her medallion quilt. Which one do you like?

No doubt you think of this often. I know I do. What are the ten greatest mysteries in science? Come on, guess one at least! Live Science has the story for you. Who are you? Betcha didn’t know that that one was on the list. Each has a link to the “answer” such as it is, or isn’t.

Niki’s Ventures sends us to another great site for free patterns. Called Amy Butler Design, you can download all her patterns for free. They range from quilting patterns, to business card holders, and all kinds of other fabric related items. Take a look, I’m sure you will see something that catches your eye.

Notice how the war in Iraq has seemingly disappeared again from the airways? The wonderful media, ever ignoring what the Bushites seem to want it to, have well ignored it plain and simple. They have remained quiet as pictures of returning coffins was banned, they have remained silent as suicide rates among returning veterans skyrockets. Just when are we going to see the awful truth. Read Timothy Egan’s piece in the NYTimes today.

The Interfaith Alliance president has a take on the recent decision of the California Supreme Court to strike down a ban on gay marriage. He argues that it was a step in protecting religious freedom. I agree. Do you? This article is from the On Faith section of the Washington Post.

Finally the media has decided to actually call Mac on his closeness to Ron Parsleyand continue reporting on the sewage spewing from Hagee’s mouth. Mac is so far quiet on it all, though he has continued to welcome Hagee’s endorsement. Now we find that the Holocaust is the result of the Jews not working hard and fast enough to reclaim Jerusalem. God’s vengeance and all. How sickening.  Parsley, whom Mac has called “my spiritual advisor,” meanwhile is busy revising history. Did you know America’s goal in life, given by God is to eradicate Muslims? And Mac calls him a “moral compass?” Oh I can’t wait for this one to continue heating up. Thanks to Political Animaland the Contrarian who both alerted me to the news.

I have to admit it, I am concerned about McCain’s psychiatric history. While we seem to wait interminably, and that makes you wonder itself, for his medical records to be given up, he apparently is refusing to show us his psychiatric records. From someone who spend six years as a POW amid torture of various kinds, I do think its a very legitimate concern of Americans. The Contrarian says I make too much of this, but I don’t think so. Read the Salon‘s report and see what you think. Folks this is a very very good post, detailed and I think everyone should take a look. There are a lot of things in it I certainly was unaware of.

Science Daily has a fascinating look at stem cells and how they determine to become what they become. It turns out that several genes work together to turn them on when conditions are right. As this subject is so important in medical science research today, I thought you might like to keep up on what is being learned.

OOPS!. Since we didn’t post yesterday (oh God I’m doing the Royal We again), you missed your Fundamentalist fix. Scoot on over to the American Prospectand catch up. Susan Posner will not be pleased if you miss it.

Well, Nike has done it again. Always the first on the block to sign the next great superstar to a contract. Word is that they have signed Big Brown to a contract for those flashy horseshoes. Be the first at the watercooler tomorrow with this one! Air Brown’s will be what every horse in your paddock is demanding for sure!

I rather think that Republicans are drinking something in their Kool-aid these days. How else explain Lindsay Graham’s urging his fellow GOP’ers to nix the Webb New GI Bill, promising that a vote no will find them “rewarded” in the next election. Rewarded with a huge defeat you wingnut. If you bothered to  check the polls, then you would see that 81% of the American people favor the measure. Or do we still not count for anything? Oh I do believe some Repubs have a death wish, which we are happily going to grant them. Course, Dubya says he will veto, but the margins seem at this point veto proof.

Not all things in Iran are about nukes and Aminawhateverhisnameis. It seems that archaeology is still rolling along and members of an ancient royal family have been uncovered in Ramhormoz. Women of Historyhas an interesting post about it, and some nice research about the Elamites.

~~~&&&~~~&&&~~~

“Before I got married I had six theories about bringing up children; now I have six children and no theories.” John Wilmot

“Never give a party if you will be the most interesting person there.” Mickey Friedman

“To me, boxing is like a ballet, except there’s no music, no choreography, and the dancers hit each other.”  Jack Handey

“Genius may have its limitations, but stupidity is not thus handicapped.” Elbert Hubbard

~~~&&&~~~&&&~~~

Celebrity Quotes:

“Some people say that I must be a terrible person, but it’s not true. I have the heart of a young boy in a jar on my desk” -Stephen King

“Middle age is when your age starts to show around your middle.” – Bob Hope

“A hippie is someone who looks like Tarzan, walks like Jane and smells like Cheetah.” – Ronald Reagan

“I’ve had a wonderful evening, but this wasn’t it.” – Groucho Marx

“I’ve been on a calendar, but I’ve never been on time.” – Marilyn Monroe

“Husbands are like fires – they go out when unattended.” – Zsa Zsa Gabor

“My one regret in life is that I’m not somebody else.” – Woody Allen

“You’re not drunk if you can lie on the floor without holding on.” – Dean Martin

~~~&&&~~~&&&~~~

You know, on the news earlier tonight, they showed Barack Obama back in Iowa. And I got scared. I went, “Oh, no. We’re starting all over again!” Jay Leno

This week, Barack Obama, true story, campaigned on an Indian reservation and the tribal chief adopted him. Yeah, the Indians actually prefer Obama to John McCain, because they still remember when McCain took their land. Conan O’Brien

The Indy 500 is this weekend. To most Americans, the pit is a surreal environment. Mechanics finishing service and repairs all in one day.

Scientists have successfully planted the DNA of an extinct tiger into a mouse. The results have been startling to the lab. When he wants a piece of cheese, he’d better get a piece of cheese. – Alan Ray, Stockton, Calif.