Archive for October 2, 2009
Memo to Keith Olbermann, Lawrence O’Donnell and MSNBC: We Don’t Care!
Countdown w/Keith Olbermann — hosted by Lawrence O’Donnell tonight — is devoting 20 minutes — 20 minutes! – to the David Letterman “sex scandal.”
I watch, and go insssssssaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnneeeeeeeeee, or I turn the TV off.
I’m turning the TV off.
What if Obama Hadn’t Gone to Copenhagen?
A tweet from Karl Rove:
All of the heads of state of the countries vying for the 2016 Olympics went to Copenhagen. President Obama went and the right accused him of being overextended. If Obama hadn’t gone, the right would have savaged him. I can hear it now: Is Obama ashamed of America?
Did Fox’s Trash Talk About Chicago Turn the IOC Against It?
I am listening to the Thom Hartmann Show. Hartmann just interviewed a Chicago radio show host (apologies to him for not catching his name) who said he was on-air for an hour and a half this morning fielding calls after the International Olympic Committee announced it had selected Brazil. The guest said that several callers suggested that the haters on Fox — Hannity, Malkin and the like — who were trashing President Obama and Chicago for at least the last week, may have had an impact on the IOC’s decision. After all, Fox is seen in something like 40 countries (the thought of which embarrasses the hell out of me).
Interesting possibility.
Gorgeous
What a great way to soften a huge expanse of concrete.
At the Food Bank
A fairly quiet day at the food bank today. We probably had 12 families come through by 1:00 p.m.
Two farmers came in. One brought some gorgeous onions and bok choy and the other (sigh) brought in 270 lbs. of humongous, tired-looking squashes. Butternut, “French,” and two varieties I couldn’t identify. We decided to put them in boxes and store them outside, near the back door, on the north side of the building. People can take as many as they want.
A situation like this can be tricky. We’re grateful that people think of us, of course, and that they take the time to bring food in, but there is a point at which it feels like we’re a dumbing ground for food that people don’t know what else to do with — or don’t want to pay to haul away.
Congratulations and Good Luck to Brazil
I hope having the Olympics there is a good thing for them.
(And what with all the media we’re surrounded by, why didn’t we know that South America had never hosted the Olympic games? Oh, that’s right. We’re spending all our time talking about Sarah Palin’s book and whether Obama is overextended. Now I remember…)
More Amazing Nature
This article about horsehair worms, whose larva infect small bugs and drive them to commit suicide, appeared in my local newspaper this morning. I thought it was fascinating.
I’m continuously amazed at how plants, animals and bugs have adapted over the eons to suit their needs and to assure the survival of their species. The life of the horsehair worm is an amazing example of that.
The Dark Side of Hosting the Olympics
Yes, holding the Olympics in Chicago would bring jobs and money but there would be a big downside, which we don’t hear talked about all that much:
In fact, the very idea that Chicago could be an appropriate setting for the Olympics might have been hatched by Jon Stewart for a four-year supply of comedic fodder. To greater or lesser degrees, the Olympics bring gentrification, graft and police violence wherever they nest. Even without the Olympic Games, Chicago has been ground zero in the past decade for the destruction of public housing, political corruption raised to an art form, and police violence. Bringing the Olympics to this town would be like sending a gift basket filled with bottles of Jim Beam to the Betty Ford Clinic: over-consumption followed by disaster.
It’s also difficult for Chicago residents to see how this will help their pocketbooks, given that Daley pledged to the International Olympic Committee that any cost overruns would be covered by taxpayers.
This is why a staggering 84 percent of the city opposes bringing the Games to Chicago if it costs residents a solitary dime. Even if the games were to go off without a hitch – which would happen only if the setting was lovely Shangri-La – not even half the residents would support hosting the Games.
I live in Colorado where, in 1972, after the International Olympic Committee nominated Denver as the site for the 1976 games, voters overwhelmingly rejected it. They didn’t want huge amounts of public money going to such a limited-use project. So I sympathize with Chicagoans.
Honestly, I think there will be a big fight about this if Chicago gets the nod.
