Making My Bed and Lying In It

Tags

baseball, Congress, Election 2012, Entertainment, GOP, intellectualism, Karl Rove, Muslims, protests, Sports, St. Louis, wealth inequality

You know, there have always been small groups that picketed this or that thing. The Greenpeace folks, the PETA people. They remained small.

But then along came Arabs, mostly Muslims. And the world changed.

In Yemen, in Egypt, in Syria and in Libya, people took to the streets. And no matter what happened, they kept coming back. And they keep coming back.

Until finally America woke as well. And citizens, young and old, from all walks of life, took to the streets.

Elections were head in Russia. And they took to the streets to protest what they perceived to be a “fix.”

And they are meeting on global warming, and they have taken to the streets to plead for governments to stop the madness of doing nothing.

And it pretty much started with Muslims who risked life and limb and shamed the rest of the world into seizing their moment, and not “taking it any more.”

I wonder if the Oxford Dictionary will include “mike check” in the next edition?

♦

The Beckian Lunatic Fringe (BLF) hates Occupy Wall Street. Which is ironic since they hate bank bailouts. But they love corporate giants and the rich. They do the bidding of the rich in the hopes that they too can be so one day. That ain’t gonna happen. Why don’t they get that?

♦

When Herm was in the game, his screw-ups, which were numerous to say the least, went largely ignored by his followers. One could argue that Perry has made fewer, and not nearly as egregious. Yet, Herm was forgiven, and Perry was unceremoniously dumped. Why? Perry was immediately seen as someone who could not debate Obama. The crazy Right mouths that Obama is stupid, but they really know he isn’t, and they knew he would mop the floor with Perry.

So Perry was not electable. Herm on the other hand, in their dementia, was Black and in their bigoted heads, it meant he would bleed off the African-American vote as Herm enticed all the field hands off the Democratic plantation. They saw Herm as electable, and more important controllable as several GOP pundits were eager to reassure the racist Right.

♦

That baseball player Pujols who played for the World Series champs, the Cardinals? He turned down a $22 million/year for 10 year contract with St. Louis to move to the Angels for about $25 million/year for 10 years.

Did that three million really make such a difference that you would abandon your team of many years?

More importantly, some have done a check on the cost of living between the two places, and it turns out Pujols will actually lose money by that analysis.

Why do we stand for paying people such sums for failing most of the time?

I believe it’s one of the top 12 questions Jesus will be asking when he returns.

♦

Newt styles himself as an “intellectual” of sorts. Not the elite type as I’m sure he would re-assure the trailer voters he sucks up to. But some other kind, like the self-less ones who study just for the purpose of righting the record on our Founding Fathers real beliefs, our true foundations, and so forth.

Truthfully, we are woefully under-represented when it comes to intellectuals. A fine post by Gary Gutting, Professor of Philosophy at Notre Dame. He has a great idea. It of course has no chance of being used.

♦

It looks like there will only be two candidates at the Trump debate: Santorum and Newt.

I don’t know how to react to that. It might be utterly boring, or more fun than watching Karl Rove getting a root canal. I just don’t know yet.

I wonder if Newt wishes he hadn’t? I bet he does.

Does Ricky have the nerve to attack?

The Donald can’t be pleased.

♦

Did you known that the SIX heirs to the Walton (Wal-Mart) fortune, net worths are equal to that of 30%  (thirty percent) of the rest of Americans?

But they find it impossible to treat their employees with even a semblance of fairness in benefits and advancement.

♦

Speaking of Karl Rove. His Crossroads Super Pac which is doing the most vicious ads around these days, has offered itself up on the irony bed. After first attacking Elizabeth Warren (running for Senator from MA), for being in “bed” with the Occupy Wall Street crowd, he now comes out with an ad attacking her for being in “bed” with. . .*drum roll* WALL STREET!

Got to love Karl. He treats the rabble GOP electorate for the unthinking, unknowledgeable folks they are. Trouble is, those are not nearly enough zombies to elect someone for dog-catcher in Hoboken.

Even Michael Steele wonders whether the GOP has a clue what Americans think about anything these days. He mopes they are getting way of tune with reality.

♦

Looks like the Congressional GOP buffoons will try the usual end around play. Since they hold that majority in the House with no filibuster rule, they intend to pass a pay-roll tax bill with all sorts of awful amendments and then go home for the holidays, figuring that that leaves the ball in Harry Reid’s court.

Do they not see that we get the game?  Yet?

♦

Another week has slipped on by. Is that ironic?

Related articles

• Karl Rove-Funded Ad Says Elizabeth Warren Is In Bed With Wall Street (huffingtonpost.com)
• Karl Rove’s Orwellian new ad attacks Elizabeth Warren for being close to Wall Street (dailykos.com)

Supply-Side Blankets

Tags

animals, baseball, evolution, Herman Cain, Humor, OWS, Rick Perry, the brain, The Contrarian, World Series

The Contrarian and I seldom go to bed at the same time.

Last night, I happened to awaken just as he was getting into the bed.

“Hey, hey, hey,” I uttered.

“What?” he intoned.

“You’re stealing the blankets!”

“I’m not settled yet,” he grunted. “It’s supply-side blankets.”

“WHAT?”

“When I’m settled, the blankets will trickle down.” he chuckled.

I never slept a wink last night.

♦

I confess that I never thought animals were terribly thoughtful. I figured they were pretty much responsive to stimuli creatures. Brandy taught us otherwise. We learned from her that dogs at least can think and plan, and make choices. A new dimension has been added as we watch Bear cope with her absence.

Bear didn’t seem to express the typical mourning we expected, though he looked for her a lot, and avoids her grave. He went there once that we know of, removing a rawhide bone we had left in her dish and bringing it back to drop at the Contrarian’s feet.

Over time, we noticed a real oddity. The two had always had their own idiosyncracies. Brandy would lay impatiently in the doorway to the kitchen while we ate. Bear would lay elsewhere. Now he has taken up that position each day. When snacks are eaten at night, again, she was the pushy one, wiggling and twitching at each bite. He would lay back, appearing to not care. Now he does the wiggling and twitching. 

It is like he feels that he must take over all her behaviors as well as his own. We don’t know how he thinks about this, but clearly he is pondering his role within the house.

An article on recursive thinking, long thought to be the province of humans only, is being re-examined. Recursive thinking is the human ability to look backward in time at distant events, and then place them in future scenarios. Studies now suggest that chimpanzees engage in such thinking, and certainly I saw instances of Brandy doing the same as she planned how to get Bear off the couch so she could have it.

We are all of us living beings so much more alike than we are different. Evolution tells me so. 🙂

♦

See the new Herm Cain ad? The one with his campaign manager smoking? Seems that his manager has some “issues”. Charges of voter suppression that got him banned in Wisconsin for three years, drunk driving convictions, foreclosures, unpaid bills and taxes.

Yesterday, I picked up this on MSNBC talk shows: The Cain campaign is in utter disarray since Cain is conflicted between his “book tour” agenda and where the VOTERS ARE. Also we understand that new campaign staff are informed that under no circumstances are they to speak to the king unless the king speaks to them first.  Doncha love that kind of stuff?

♦

I was just a thinkin’ (dangerous I know). I’m really surprised that the scientific community doesn’t make more of  this, along the lines of the possible finding of faster-than-light particles. I mean it is revolutionary in a scientific sense. What do I mean?

Why the fact that “trickle-down” economics is a perfect proof that money at least doesn’t always obey the laws of gravity. The money seems to go up, instead of falling down.

Just a thought.

♦

Do you find it tiresome that the clueless Right continues to whine that the OWS folks have no “message” and then likens them to anarchists?  Are they unable to read the signs? Or is it that the Right is so attuned to the “talking point” that it can’t understand that people might just be individualistic enough to think for themselves and create signs that reflect that? Slate has a good article on this today.

♦

Need a laugh? Juanita Jean’s usually has one. This is Rolling Stones little nod to our boy Ricky (aww shucks, I ain’t no good at debatin’) Perry. This is The Best Little Whore in Texas. It’s Friday. It’s been a long week. Teaser: this description–“a goggle-eyed mega church Joan of Arc like Michele Bachmann”.  Or this one: “Perry is a human price tag”. Now that’s some writing I can love. It’s Mike Taibbi of course.

Seriously, if you want to know how Perry attracts money all the while being an awful speaker, this article gives  you a big clue. Long article but well worth it.

♦

I am a jinx. We turned Game 6 of the World Series off in disgust. In the 8th inning. Texas was up two runs. The Cardinal pitching was awful. There had been five errors, causing me to question how these could be the two best teams in the “world.” Course, it turned into an exciting game. And now there will be a Game 7. We will watch it. But. . . it will  undoubtedly be a no-hit one run winner for Texas. That’s my prediction, since I’m gonna watch it. If I don’t watch it, it will be 24-23 after 15 innings and the Cardinals will win.

What to do, what to do?

♦

If you needed any more evidence that Herm Cain is stupid, I mean really stupid? Well he went to Israel. And he refers to the Palestinians as the “so-called Palestinian people.” And he says that the only reason they want statehood is because Obama is so weak. Except that he was once in favor of a right of return policy. Sort of, as best he could understand what it meant. How can only a so-called people have a state to return to  Herm? And I think the desire for statehood on the part of the Palestinians might be a tad older than the three years Obama has been in office.

Do they not have a basic primer for you Herm? Can’t your smokin’ campaign manager find you a Dick and Jane version of world history? 

 

Related articles

• Cain: Foreign policy details aren’t important (firstread.msnbc.msn.com)

The Lessons of October

Tags

baseball, Humor, World Series

“Mr. October” ~ Reggie Jackson WS1977

We’ve been watching the World Series.

As I’ve pointed out on previous occasions, I’m not a huge baseball fan.

I know relatively more about say, football, basketball, hockey, among the big four.

I have excellent knowledge of tennis and volleyball. I get badmitton and table tennis. I know horseshoes and croquet. I get soccer mostly.

Handball and cricket not so much.

So I can make comparisons with some degree of authority.

I used to watch more baseball when I was young. It was often all that was on back in prehistoric television. Here’s what I’ve learned.

1. Baseball makes failure acceptable. Who else could be paid millions of dollars for failing two-thirds of the time? In rough economic times, it’s nice to know that some folks are raking in the dough by essentially doing badly MOST of the time.
2. There is essentially no dress code in baseball even for the players. “Being you” is encouraged. Other than the basic jersey, pretty much anything goes. Short pants or long, undershirts with long or short sleeves or not, all manner of jewelry, from braided rope (have no idea what that is about) to the obligatory bling of rope chains can be seen.
3. Tattoos are de rigueur. Earings not so much.
4. Back in the day, players didn’t wear gloves (other than the required baseball GLOVE which now comes in all manner of colors by the way to make a complete fashion accessory). Now, no self-respecting batter will approach the plate without a pair. In my day, as the batter awaited the pitcher’s delivery, he stopped to pull at his shoulder material, and give an obligatory pat to his crotch. Nowadays, it’s all about pulling  loose the velcro straps of the gloves and readjusting them. After every pitch, they need this readjustment. Crotches, once the center of attraction, have mostly been forgotten.
5. Spitting is still required. Now this has always been a puzzlement. Nobody else spits a lot in sports. Only in baseball. In fact, nobody else in sports chews tobacky, a thoroughly disgusting thing in the first place. But a lot of them chew gum. We know not why. But apparently baseball causes abnormal creation of saliva and this must be expectorated. All for the cameras to catch on our new 62″ screens. Or it maybe a genetic thing that men have the urge to spit on dirt. I just don’t know.
6. Baseball shares with football the fact that fans have an insane desire to look stupid before cameras. They dress up in all manner of get-ups to support their team. I saw a pair of “hotdogs” the other night. It wouldn’t be so bad, but surely you know they did not dress in the stands. No, they actually exited their home in somebody’s neighborhood, got in a vehicle and proceeded to scare the dickens out of other drivers along the freeway.  I don’t know about you, but I’d keep my kids off the street if I saw my neighbor walking around dressed up as a hotdog.
7. I can’t speak for other places, but Texans eat a lot during baseball games. We saw one woman sitting behind home plate, virtually eat for the entire game. I would recommend eating at home. And while we are on the subject, you folks behind home plate? You guys get lots of face time on the tube. Your mugs are broadcast all over the US of A, and in some other parts of the world. It may be acceptable to place you finger in your nose in Austria, but in the US, it’s considered, well, NOT the thing to do. Best to just sit on your hands.
8. Texans pray a lot during baseball games. Hands are often seen in a prayerful position, especially right before an important pitch. It appears that Texans think God cares. He doesn’t.
9. During my day, hard hats for batters was just coming into fashion. When the batter got a hit, his hat always fell off as he ran around the bases. Now, I note, it does not. I don’t know why that is.
10. All manner of players and coaches still engage in bizarre “signals” which require patting one’s head, touching one’s nose, pulling at the jersey, making figure eights around one’s stomach, standing on one foot, and flapping one’s arms. I saw a third baseman engage in  a prolonged “signal” right before another of those important pitches, and then when the expected thing happened, nobody did what he signaled them to do. I’d rethink that whole thing. (They have little ear receivers now guys)
11. Baseball players continue to make mistakes, and for this they still get millions of dollars. There are at least two errors per game in this World Series, and these are supposed to be the BEST players. This game must be a good deal harder than it looks.
12. Speaking of errors. In football, when a player makes an error, the referee turns on his mike and announces to the entire stadium who the culprit was. In baseball, it’s pretty much obvious to everyone. Baseball is kinder in that sense.
13. Speaking of errors. The refs make them too. Except in baseball, nobody corrects them. In most sports now they use sensors or replays and correct errors. Here they don’t. Even when they are agregious. Even when they change who wins or loses. Even when it makes a difference in the record books. I don’t know why this is so either.
14. Laura Bush was on camera a lot. Laura is funny. She’s a bit like Pat Nixon used to be. Pat Nixon always looked like a woman who had no clue where she was, and frankly she looked long-suffering. Laura doesn’t look like that. Laura looks like she once saw a picture of the Mona Lisa and thought that looking mysterious was sexy. But it only makes you vacant looking. I guess that’s a bit like looking like you don’t have a clue where you are.
15. I feel most sorry for Nolan Ryan’s wife. She doesn’t like baseball.  You can tell.
16. In fact, you can tell which fans like baseball (they have worried faces, and have their hands in prayer a lot), and those who don’t. Those who don’t look vacant a lot like Laura. And they look at other people and things and seldom at “where the action is.”
17. The cameras seldom go to those poor souls relegated to the outfield. Who they are is irrelevant, they are simply right, center and left fields. They are definitely not where the action is. Well, almost never. Sometimes never. They stand around a lot. I’ve always thought they had an under-the-table bit of action going out there with “fans”. Gun running, or cocaine smuggling I figure. Since nobody pays much attention to them. When the coach sends you to the “outfield” you know you are OUT of favor. 

That’s all I’ve learned so far. There is at least a game or two left, so my education may continue. I’ll let ya know.

 

Are YOU Listening?

Tags

Asteroids, baseball, Breads, Breakfast rolls, Bush, chicken, chocolate, church/state, Civil War, Condiments, Constitution, Coolidge, Crafts, Desserts, eclipses, economy, Election 2008, environment, Father's Day, foreign policy, fruit, fundamentalism, Gardening, gay rights, greed, Iowa, lobbyists, Media, medicine, morality, pie, potpourri, quilting, SCOTUS, sin, witchcraft, Women's history, world history

After having done the laundry room yesterday, I can sure say I’m glad that I don’t have to do my washing outdoors like these women. This is listed as women washing from North Dakota 1900-1910 from the Fred Hultstrand Photo collection, located at the Library of Congress.

Did I tell you I’m totally blessed with a wonderful husband? The Contrarian has graciously taken on the task of some housework and cooking today as my digestive issues returned with a fury last night. It’s the most confounding disease, and you can never peg how long it will last and how severe it will be. The last time, hardly a week ago, was a cake-walk. This morning I awoke feeling beaten to a pulp and I’m still belching up a storm. Sorry for being so graphic. I’m just tired mostly and so this is the perfect place for me; a long session traveling the internet in search of the stories you can’t live without. So let’s get to it.

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

101 Cookbooks has a most interesting dessert recipe made with cream cheese and tofu and chocolate. It sounds a bit weird but Heidi promises that it’s a real taste sensation. It’s called Heavenly Pie. Drop by and take a look and see what you think. She changed up some of the ingredients and I suspect you can do the same.

I think sweets are on my mind today. Abby Sweets has a delicious sounding recipe for  Pecan Honey Sticky Buns that I think might peak your interest. It sure did mine. This is the perfect brunch item for those lazy Sunday mornings, lolling on the terrace with coffee and the paper. Okay, sitting in a lawn chair, reading a good novel and swatting flies and trying to keep them off your buns!

First off let me say that I very much admire Tiger Woods. Even though I basically despise golf, we cheer him on in every contest that I am forced to watch. I find him a terrific roll model for kids and frankly a roll model for us all by and large. That said, I found this article disturbing. Does Mr. Woods owe us some kind of moral response to wrongs in society? Read about his partnership with Chevron and see what you think?

The sickening cesspool of Iraq seems to be sucking our money faster than water drains from a tub these days. In another stunner, a Pentagon audit finds 15 BILLION dollars unaccounted for. That’s your money and mine folks, and it’s intolerable as I see it. When oh when is somebody(s) going to be held accountable? It seems the only people doing well are Halliburton and Blackwater.

First Lady of Baseball? Oh I bet you wonder who that might be. It will be a surprise I can tell you, most unlikely. Travel to the American Presidents Blog and get the answer and a nice little vignette about the president’s wife who had a passion for the game.

I talk long and hard about the misuse of history to further personal agendas. No one is more guilty of that than David Barton, alleged historian and distorter of all that is history. Mr. Barton, head of “Wallbuilders” is on a crusade to prove that America is a Christian nation and he lets no facts get in the way of that mission. Read a scathing but accurate report from American Revolution Blogand Lindsay Shuman. We first heard of Mr. Barton on a skimming of the religious cable channels. He was doing a series based on his book before two evangelical preachers, who nodded and oohed and ahhed at his every “revelation.” Pure utter nonsense, but to the unlearned sounds mighty fine no doubt.

No one who reads this blog regularly has any real question about where I stand on most issues. I am pretty vocal. I am appalled a the idea that McCain could have the opportunity to continue the reorganization of SCOTUS to reflect an ultra conservative agenda which tramples on individual rights, protects business excess and promotes majority rule over protection of minority rights. But sometimes, I figure you are entitled to both sides, and I especially enjoy giving you that when I can send you to a place that gives you intelligent, fair coverage of both sides. Bill Moyers Journaldoes just that. Read the discussion of “How strictly should the Constitution be followed?” featuring Jeffrey Toobin and Thomas Sowell. Yes, Sowell writes for NRO, and mostly I think he is a wingnut, but read on and see what you think.

Say what you will, the Bushites continue to at least provide plenty of hysterical fodder for water cooler giggling. The latest is storming the airways and blogosphere today. Scott McClellan, former WH press secretary has a book out and boy is it causing a stir. The WH is exclaiming, “this ain’t the Scott we knew.” It’s a hoot I tell you, and everyone is talking. Read Blue Girl Red State‘s humorous biting take on the media frenzy that is just starting up. As I ran though a dozen or more stories about this, it seems apparent that the WH has joined ranks and officially are pretty much proclaiming that poor Scott has obviously lost his mind. To a person they say, “This can’t be Scott, something has happened to him.”

Still looking for more and better excuses to imbibe? Wine I mean. Well Britannica Blog has more for you. It actually may help prevent certain types of liver disease, and don’t we all want to do that? So sip away, and know that you are doing your heart and your liver good.

For some this is definitely too much effort period. But think again. Making hamburger buns homemade will surely set you apart, create lots of talk in the neighborhood and make lots of women hate you for being so, well, super! I suspect you will find that they, like most things, taste ever so much better than the gluey tasteless things we get from Wonder Bread. Coconut & Lime has the recipe.

Of course with the summer grilling season just underway, we are all looking for new recipes to wow friends and neighbors. Nothing gets more tiresome that the usual, ribs, barbecue chicken and brats, so take a look at Citrus Chicken under a Brick and do something new and exotic to boot. Thanks to Epicurious for this one. I love to butterfly chicken and weight it down like this. It just works wonderfully.

Lucy Rebecca Buck was a diarist, and if you are interested on her take on the Civil War as she lived through it, be sure to make it to Civil War Women and read her mini-biography of this woman. Different from her usual nurses, this lady wrote daily of what life was like for her during this period. I find these accounts simply fascinating. A snapshot of another world in another time and place. You come away with an entirely different feel for history and you undoubtedly realize how little we have changed over time.

Gardening Tips and Ideas has a great post on creating your own potpourri from your own garden. She gives you all the information you need to create your own jars of aroma. Just a few things will be purchased, the rest comes from your own lovely roses and herbs. Enjoy this crafting delight.

Garrison Keillor has a post on soldiering. A bit late, but certainly with so many of our young men and women still in harm’s way, it’s still topical. Mr. Keillor has a wonderful way of putting things in perspective and giving us a good ponder. Somehow I don’t think Harley Davidson will be offering Garrison a contract to promote hogs any time soon.

Monday in my Editorial, I alluded to the politics of yesterday promoted by Bush/McCain–one shall not speak to those we are opposed to. I find it more dangerous that the rational approach suggested by Mr. Obama. A couple of history profs tend to agree with me it seems and find that other US presidents also did as well. Read “Must We Ever Fear to Negotiate” at History News Network.

History of American Women features a lady accused of witchcraft back in our colonial time. Elizabeth Jackson Howe was born in England and immigrated to the colonies as a very young child. Things went bad in Ipswitch and poor Mrs. Howe was accused of causing illness through witchcraft. She was tried in Salem in 1692. Convicted, she was hung on July 19. A sad blot on our history indeed.

Are you sick of the media frenzy that we encounter daily on so-called gaffes of the candidates? I sure am. Inside-Out the Beltway has a fine post on being fed up with non-news and the increasing case that the media at large has lost its ability to report NEWS.

If you have a moment, drop over to inspired by antique quilts and get a look at the lovely butterfly motif quilt she has done. It’s simply lovely and perfect for a girl’s bed, or your own certainly. A wall hanging would be fine also. It certainly looks homey and comfy and just makes me feel warm all over on this still chilly day.

Sister Joan Chittister has a great post about how we are again losing our way in this election cycle. Much like Inside-Out the Beltway, she decries the non-news that the media remains focused on and finds again, that women take the brunt of the slams. Read her always interesting takes on the world, and politics today.

We talk about terrorism as a given,  and a growing crisis in the world. Certainly a number of folks, mainly McCain and the warmongering Bushites play on our fears almost constantly, mostly to hide their own ineptitude and personal agendas. However, what is the real state of terrorism today? Fareed Zakaria points out that the idea that terrorism is on the rise is flawed, and suggests that the culprit is, you guessed it, the American government. See how the Simon Fraser Study, done in Canada, sets the record straight.

The subject is greed, remember the movie with Michael Douglas? Greed he said was “good.” Well, we have been greedy haven’t we, we in the US that is, and we collectively in the West. How’s that doing for for ya now? On Faith takes on the subject with the posts from a the panel and plenty of comments. Weigh in on this fascinating moral, economic topic of the day.

George Will on Sunday’s George Stephanopolous show said in regards McCain’s cleaning house of his lobbyist bloated campaign, “he honestly believes it doesn’t matter since he is honest.” Well bully for him. I don’t buy it. I can swim with the slime but not get slimed is a poor way of convincing me for sure. It just makes me crazy to think that he proposed legislation some years ago to ban what he got caught doing to such an extreme that he instituted a “new” policy to do what he tried to legislate years before. Uh, what? Okay, let me start again. He introduced legislation I’m told to disallow candidates from hiring lobbyists for their campaigns. That didn’t pass so he then fills his campaign with lobbyists? And when the press called him on it time and again for their sleazy associations, he then institutes a “new” policy banning all lobbyists from his campaign. Is he nuts? Anyhoo, go to Political Animaland read Kevin Drum’s latest scoop from MSNBC. Seems McCain’s national campaign co-chair was working for a Swiss bank lobbying Congress about the mortgage crisis at the same time that he was advising McCain on economic strategy. McCain is obviously suffering from dementia.

I guess eclipses still cause a minor flurry of excitement around the world today. Solar more so than lunar certainly. Did you know that they have stopped battles and induced truces on the spot historically? Rogueclassicism has a nice piece on eclipses over history and how they effected the lives of those who witnessed them.

I believe that for the first time, polls in California suggest that the electorate there by a slim margin now favor gay marriage. This will come as a shocking thing to the reactionary right who claims they are the arbiters of all things moral. I can hardly wait to check out the forums where there will be much gnashing of teeth no doubt.

Oh and in case you missed it, McCain and Bush were scheduled to hold an open fundraiser a few days ago, which is why McCain couldn’t make the vote for the Iraq funding or the new GI Bill (convenient of course). Trouble is and was, that there were so few tickets sold, they turned it into a house party, and closed it, afraid that more protesters would show up than supporters. It’s too too funny. Seems the Mac is between a rock and hard place these days.

Glenn Greenwald has another of his killer posts on journalists and their desire to find themselves innocent of lazy work during the run-up to the war. Only Katie Couric it seems even suggested that the media could have done a better job. Most defended themselves saying they asked a lot of questions. LOL. It’s an excellent post, and one I suggest you should read. This is why blogging has taken on greater importance. Anyone who knows history knows that a free often belligerent press is what helps keep us free. These people cave in at the first threat of loss of access and its despicable.

Well ya can’t say that Iowa isn’t in the forefront of important stuff. Researchers at the University of Iowa are setting up the Asteroid Deflection Research Center to bring scientists from around the world together in the development of new technologies to protect the planet should we face an impeding killer asteroid strike. I feel a good deal safer knowing that, and I’m sure you do as well.

A strawberry rhubarb terrine? Oh that sounds mighty fine to me. I adore rhubarb as I might have mentioned once or twenty times. Simply Recipes has a great summery treat to make.

Are you addicted to Taco Bell’s hot sauce? Well probably not, but then again, maybe you are. Anyway, Secret Recipe Bloghas the copycat recipe for you. And hey, making your own taco sauce is not a bad thing, and it’s probably way cheaper than buying the bottled stuff. I may well give it a try when the jalapenos are ready to harvest.

This posting caught my eye, because, well frankly I think the dude is right. I’m outraged about torture being done in my name by my government. And if you peruse the blogosphere, plenty of other people are as well. But I don’t frankly see a lot of media attention being given to the subject. Believe me, if the media smelled in the lightest whiffs of a breeze that the public cared about this subject, they would be covering it daily. The Nation asks, “Where is the Outrage?” and I have to say, yeah, exactly where is it America?

To the seven deluded people in America who don’t think that McCain is just another Bush in disguise,the proof would tend to be in the voting record would it not? Obama will surely have a field day in arguing that McCain voted for Bush policies 100% of the time in 2008 and 95% of the time in 2007. So much for distancing! Think Progress gave us the news.

Tip Junkie has a number of links to sites with ideas for crafters who want to make something special for that man in your life for Father’s Day. There is quite a long list with plenty of variety, so get busy and make something special for Dad this year.

We linked you to a bio today of a woman hanged in Salem after being convicted of witchcraft. We look upon these things as horribly misguided actions by people who were backward in thinking. Amazing as it may seem, 15 women have been executed in Africa for just that offense recently. Kenyan mobs have done this, sad to say, rounding up “offenders” in villages and burning them to death.  Our thanks to Women of History for the story.

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

“Unprovided with original learning, unformed in the habits of thinking, unskilled in the arts of composition, I resolved to write a book.” Edward Gibbon

“Men live in a fantasy world. I know this because I am one, and I actually receive my mail there.”  Scott Adams

“We don’t see things as they are, we see things as we are.” Anais Nin

“My mother buried three husbands, and two of them were just napping.” Rita Rudner

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

More crazy product warnings:

Earplugs
These ear plugs are nontoxic, but may interfere with breathing if caught in windpipe

Mattress
Warning: Do not attempt to swallow

Fix-a-Flat
WARNING: Do not weld can to rim.

Rain Gauge
Suitable for outdoor use.

RCA Television Remote Control
Not Dishwasher Safe

Road Sign
Caution water on road during rain.

Road Sign
Cemetery Road. Dead End

Children’s Superman Costume
Wearing of this garment does not enable you to fly.

Rowenta Iron
Warning: Never iron clothes on the body.

Nabisco Easy Cheese
For best results, remove cap.

Japanese food processor:
Not to be used for the other use.~~~&&&~~~&&&~~~

 

The cruise liner Norwegian Spirit crashed into a Manhattan pier. The entertainment director tried to spin it positive. “Today our ship photographer will take your photo in front of some ruins. – Alan Ray, Stockton, Calif.

According to a new study, teenage girls whose boyfriends are gang members are nearly twice as likely to become pregnant as girls not dating boys in gangs. This study was conducted by Dilmore University of Hoboken (DUH).

A 77-year-old man has become the oldest person to reach the summit of Nepal’s Mount Everest. He made it by repeating over and over to himself, “I haven’t fallen so I CAN get up.” –– Paul Seaburn, Spring, Texas

Hillary thanked NASA profusely for the encouragement and vowed to fight on now more than ever after Phoenix’s photographs of Mars revealed there is as much life there as in her campaign. – Eugene Cappuccio

Both George Bushes have been accused of being in bed with the Saudis for years. But when they ask for a favor — more oil — they get a resounding no. I guess they just aren’t very good in bed. – Charles Almon

This Butt’s for You!

Tags

Afghanistan, American History, Barack Obama, baseball, birds, chicken, crafting, crochet, Desserts, Election 2008, environment, fundamentalism, Iraq, pasta, pie, quilting, religion, science, tex-mex, tolerance, War, weather, world history

I Just got a kick out of this chalk drawing by Vincent van Gogh called “The Carrot Puller.” I wonder if the poor lady was amused by the position or by the appellation. It was done in 1885 and is located at the Institute of Art in Chicago.

On the homefront. We got the Bronco. The Contrarian was very impressed by how nice it was both inside and out. Some rust around the wheel wells and that is about all. It’s a super big engine, with plenty of power. We pulled the truck out slick as a wink when we got home. I’m about 3/5 done cleaning the living room. Got the windows all done today. It’s a big bay with six big panes and got my biggest plant put out for the summer. A bit early, but I really would be surprised if we get any more frost. Let’s get to it, Monday is always a super busy day.

In the news today:

~~~^^^~~~^^^~~~

Today, May 5 is the anniversary of America’s first person in space. Alan Shepard Jr. went on a 15 minute flight. This was back in 1961, and I do remember it. America was a bit shaken because the Russians had beat us, and the Cold War was then in full swing. We really did expect a nuclear war back then. Thanks to American History Blog for the information.

Sally’s Crochet Blog has some ideas about making a small bag or enlarging it to a purse. See her ideas about yarn and get the free pattern. It’s really quite cute I thought, and I think an enlarged one would be perfect as a delicate summer bag. Not the kind you haul everything under the sun in, but for an evening out.

If you would like a look inside the world of John Hagee and fundamentalism, read this excerpt from Matt Taibbi’s new book, “The Great Derangement.” He went to Church “school” in Texas and I promise you, what he discovered is well worth the read. I of course believe that we all need to be aware of what is going on in these bizarre sects. And i can assure you that what you see in public is but the tip of the iceberg as they say.

I don’t know if you caught this, but we are sending more troops into Afghanistan again, mostly due to “shortfalls” from NATO. That is code for, our allies are not supporting the effort like they should and so we have to shore up the forces. Of course, all of this is necessary because we have more or less ignored that war as we got bogged down in the never-ending quagmire that is Iraq. Where these troops are coming from is anyone’s guess, perhaps from the minor draw downs expected in Iraq, which of course is already beginning to heat up again. Sigh….this is like finding the pea in the shell game isn’t it? Read all the sad facts at Blue Girl, Red State.

Britannica Blog has a great look at religious freedom in America. Looking back to our earliest colonial times this post explores what it was like to be a religious minority in America. I’ve learned a lot about this recently, and I must say, it’s a far cry from the pablum that I learned in public school education. It makes it crystal clear just why our founders determined to set up a clear distinction between our political and religious life.

Okay it is Cinco de Mayo after all, so perhaps a Latin inspired dish should be on your radar today, or sometime soon. I thought this recipe was a real winner and perfect for the summer to boot. TryCinco de Mango: Chicken Mango Burritos from Coconut & Lime.

CopyCat Restaurant Recipes has a couple of winners today. One is a delightful pasta recipe, the other a pie which is Derby inspired. Try Chicken Tequila Fettuccine, and while you are at it, try Derby Pie. Both look excellent to me.

Free Sample Forager has a slew of new offers, from magazines to new mom stuff, to fabric softener, to feminine hygiene. Enjoy.

Given that I just spoke of a relationship between Adlai Stevenson and Barack Obama this weekend in my Sunday Editorial, I thought this post at History News Networkmost apropos. We are, as I have argued, a nation that has a strange and antagonistic relationship with the intellectual. Does this pose a problem for Senator Obama? Read the post and see what you think.

If you want to get started on a quilt and haven’t yet, it is best I find to take a trip to Inspired by antique quilts. This lady is both talented and prolific in her production of absolutely stunning quilts. I think I’ve shown this before, but it was at the beginning. Look how far she’s progressed. This is truly inspirational, at least to me.

Live Science has an essay on the great dust bowl of the 30’s. There are not a lot of us alive who remember it still. I was born a good well after it, and I lived in Michigan, so it was not a topic around our table. I’m sure some here in Iowa have family who lived through it. New science has helped to uncover exactly why it was so bad.

Oh Dave Barry has another of his so-funny little posts that just tickle the bejesus out of me. Read it now or you will be sorry! “Bad Driving: It’s just not for Old People.”

The Republicans are at it again. Tax credits on new energy technology are about to expire, and Democrats have had no luck in getting them through, since Big Oil is screaming and Bush is threatening to veto if Big Oil doesn’t get its way. Politics Plus picks up the NYTimes editorial and adds his two cents which are always worth a read. And where was McCain, Mr. Environment? Oh he missed the vote.

Now this may seem silly to you, but it raises some interesting questions I think. None of us can go back in time, at least at this point, but we assume that antiques made of marble and such were the natural colors that we find them in today. Yet there is evidence, which some now use in historical docudramas, that many of our ancient  monuments were painted and quite gaudily painted at that. Yet Hollywood always portrays them in their greenish, whitish hues. Are we getting an accurate picture? Read Rogueclassicism‘s post and see what you think about the new idea of painting up the antiques.

Those of us in the country always suspected it: dozens of beady little eyes following us the minute we stepped from the porch. Gazes that noted every step, every pulling of every weed. Yep, those birds are not always doing “bird” things it seems. They are watching us.

It seems that whenever I think of John McCain these days, I cannot get that picture out of my head. You know the one I mean, the one  featured in the latest Moveon.orgad, the huggy bear photo which can only be described as McCain’s hug of utter adoration of Dubya. I predict that photo will haunt Mav all through the coming months, and he will never divorce himself from that sweaty embrace. But in case you are even a tiny bit unsure of where the Truthless one is coming from, read American Prospect’s article entitled: Does John McCain stand for anything?”

The Artful Crafter has a roundup of crafting sites withdifferent crafts, many with how-to’s. I saw a couple that looked a bit interesting. How to recycle a ketchup bottle for one. Hmmm, perhaps into a bird feeder? I think it has to do with cats though. Take a look around and see if you find anything you might like to make.

If you want to know what my “recipe box” looks like, take a gander at Baking Beauties post today. That is about what mine is like, and I don’t like it one little bit. She has some wonderful ideas for making a nice box one that you can use easily and looks great as well. She’s really collected a lot of links for you as well, so there are tons of ideas. Surely one will grab you and you can create something great, or–use as a gift to a new daughter-in-law perhaps.

I believe that last week I mentioned the NYTimes report that generals were sent off to the networks as “experts” to basically tout the Pentagon’s line. I know that I have seen like zilch on the networks about this, well at least none on ABC,and the Contrarian checksCNN, MSNBC, and Fox fairly frequently. Only PBS has bothered to talk about it. Urantian Sojournhas the story for you, and links so that you can learn more. Seems we have to dig out some of our own news these days. Somebody’s ox is gored you see.

I think I might have mentioned that I don’t care much for baseball. Too slow for me. I’m a football, hockey person. But I thought Russell might appreciate this link so if you would like to learn about Lou Gehrig who ended his “streak” of something on May 2, 1939, just follow the bouncing ball as they say. My thanks to the US History Blog!

~~~^^^~~~^^^~~~

“In politics, absurdity is not a handicap.” Napoleon Bonaparte

“People are, if anything, more touchy about being thought silly than they are about being thought unjust.” E.B.White

“When I was younger, I could remember anything, whether it had happened or not.” Mark Twain

“What if nothing exists and we’re all in somebody’s dream? Or what’s worse, what if only that fat guy in the third row exists?” Woody Allen

“If it weren’t for Philo T. Farnsworth, inventor of television, we’d still be eating frozen radio dinners.”  Johnny Carson

~~~^^^~~~^^^~~~

Oxymorons:

Same Difference

Taped Live

Peace Force

Pretty Ugly

Butt Head

Microsoft works

~~~^^^~~~^^^~~~

According to the latest CNN poll, President Bush’s disapproval rating — 71 percent That’s unbelievable, isn’t it, that 29 percent still approve? Jay Leno

So it’s the 30thbirthday of email spam. Guests at the birthday party will include an Irish sweepstakes winner, a hugely endowed man and a Nigerian prince. Paul Seaburn

Yesterday was the five-year anniversary of President Bush’s speech in front of the “Mission Accomplished” banner. Yeah, to celebrate, today, President Bush gave a speech in front of a banner that said “Economic Recession Over.” NBC latenight