Archive for October, 2009
I Think It’s Going to be a Rough Winter Here
Here’s a webcam of where I am right now. 2-1/2 feet of snow since last night and it’s not supposed to stop until sometime tomorrow. Wouldn’t be at all surprised if we lost power.
Joe Lieberman Trying to be the New Olympia Snow
Now Joe Lieberman is demanding that the Public Option be taken completely off the table.
Is he throwing a public temper tandrum because he wants or needs some attention? Who does he think he is?
Faces of Meth
Look at these astonishing pictures showing the rapid and devastating toll methamphetamine has on its users.
Now We Know Why CEO’s of the Likes of Citigroup Get Paid So Much
Because they sit around thinking of ways to rip us off.
Last week we learned that the big boys have decided to impose a fee on people who pay their credit cards off. This week we learn that they are considering charging a fee for having a perfect credit rating.
My parents and grandparents must be rolling over in their grave. It was a part of their DNA to view paying off your credit card and having a good credit rating as a good thing. Back in their day it would be unheard of to charge fees — essentially penalizing people — for those things, as it should be now. This is outrageous.
Rush Limbaugh: Obama as “This Little Boy”
Or, more explicitly, “[T]his little man-child president.”
That on the same day we learned that Limbaugh fave George W. made $100,000 for a 28-minute “motivational speech” during which he talked about picking out a rug for the Oval Office and scooping up Barney’s poop. Now you tell me who’s the “little boy.”
Makes me want to take my head off and set it down for a while; to take a break from the insanity that’s gripping our country.
Yo, Ron Wyden — I’m a Citizen not a “Consumer”
Ron Widen (D-OR) is on Olbermann right now talking about how he wants to support a health care bill that helps “the consumer.” I AM SO SICK of being called a “consumer.” It’s so Wall Street, corporate-centric. I’m a citizen, dammit.
Halloween is Coming
So now is the perfect time to serve up these totally gross “bloody brain shooters.“
The GOP Civil War Escalates
Remember when Newt Gingrich was the King of the Republican party and he seemed like such a radical? Those were the days, huh?
Now the GOP extremists — Beck, et al. — are attacking him for endorsing a moderate Republican running for a state seat in New York and old Newt is appearing rather sane when compared to the new radicals in his party. How things change in 13, 14 years.
Joe Lieberman to Go With the GOP on Health Care?
Joe Lieberman (I-Cigna) said today he will filibuster the health care bill because it contains a public option. Gee. I wonder if this has anything to do with his decision: In Bed with Big Pharma: Hadassah Lieberman worked for a powerhouse lobbying firm. Were her clients’ special interests being served by her husband?
What the hell was Harry Reid thinking (hint: either he wasn’t or he thinks we’re all really dumb) when he said this about old Joe: “Joe Lieberman is not some right-wing nutcase. Joe Lieberman is one of the most progressive people ever to come from the State of Connecticut.”
Swimming Up Stream
I remember back in the day when the Equal Rights Amendment was making the rounds amongst the states. I prayed that it would pass. Call me crazy but I thought paying men and women the same amount of money for doing the same work was the right thing to do. Alas, the amendment failed and here we are, nearly 30 years later reading headlines like this:
Female chief executives earned just 58 percent of what their male counterparts did in 2008, and their compensation packages were slashed three times as much as their male peers, according to a survey released on Monday.
It’s a Small World
I thought our 1,100 sq. ft. home was small, but that’s nothing compared to this 280 sq. ft. apartment in Paris.
Living in a small place makes you think about everything you buy and about whether you really want to keep that such-and-such you never use or wear.
Tom DeLay’s in the News Again
He has signed on to the television show, Who Wants to be a Millionaire.
He reminds me of the “Balloon Dad” — he has no qualms about doing stupid stuff in order to get attention.
From the Department of the Obvious
Headline in the New York Times yesterday under the topic, “Explaining the Science of Everyday Life:” Poor People More Likely to Have Experienced Depression. Ya think?
George W. Raking it in on the Lecture Circuit
How does $100,000 for a 28 minute speech sound to you? (Oh, and get this insanity: He focused on “lighter topics such as picking out a rug design for the Oval Office that reflected his ‘optimism.’”)
I Thought C-Span Was Supposed to be Neutral
I swear: I’ve turned to C-Span every morning for the last six or seven days and every day the guest has been a conservative.
It’s Okay if Your Employer Doesn’t Pay You For the Work You Do
That’s the case in Los Angeles anyway:
Advocates for day laborers and other low-wage workers are pushing for a new city law that would target unscrupulous employers by making wage theft a crime in the city of Los Angeles.
They have found an ally in City Councilman Richard Alarcon, who plans to introduce a motion on Tuesday directing the city attorney’s office to write an ordinance that would criminalize nonpayment of wages.
“People think that just because they pick up somebody on the street or at a day laborer center that they don’t have the responsibility to pay them if they don’t like the work,” Alarcon said. “This would make it illegal for somebody to do that.”
Amazing that there isn’t a law on the books right now — everywhere — making this a criminal offense. We’ve been busy passing laws that protect corporations but not workers.
George W. Bush’s Presidential Library Being Built on Lies
Just for the heck of it, signed up to receive email alerts from the George W. Bush “Presidential Center,” also known as the George W. Bush Presidential Library.
I don’t remember the last time I received one, if ever, but I did get one today (wonder if they’re getting desperate for money) and this sentence leapt out at me:
The center is committed to advancing the four principles—Freedom, Opportunity, Responsibility, and Compassion—that guided his presidency and remain the focus of his and Mrs. Bush’s ongoing work.
(My emphasis.)
Can’t figure out if this is sad or funny.
Fox Admitted to Lying & Distorting the News
Geez, I completely forgot about this: The case of Akre v. Fox:
During their appeal, FOX asserted that there are no written rules against distorting news in the media. They argued that, under the First Amendment, broadcasters have the right to lie or deliberately distort news reports on public airwaves. Fox attorneys did not dispute Akre’s claim that they pressured her to broadcast a false story, they simply maintained that it was their right to do so.
Why are we going back and forth about whether Fox does or doesn’t lie and distort the news? They are so unashamed of doing so that they admitted it — in writing, in court — back in 2003.
Case closed. End of discussion.
Fox News Missed the Protests at the American Bankers Association?
I posted about it last week and kudos to the Huffington Post for covering: The “Showdown in Chicago.” I.e., citizens acting up against bankers. Wish I could have been there.
Let me know if you see anything about this on “the news,” wherever you are. (You won’t because “the news” is on the bankers’ side.)
Oh, and where was the live Fox “News” coverage of this grass-roots effort? It didn’t happen, of course, because Fox is on the bankers’ side too. (But ssssh, don’t tell the tea baggers.)
Beware California Pizza Kitchen’s Avocado Club Egg Rolls
Gearing up after a wonderful weekend, I came across this about the 30 worst fast food restaurant choices. Really, really disappointed to see that my fave California Pizza Kitchen meal — the Avocado Club Egg Roll appetizer at — WTF! — 1180 calories – is on it.
Bummer.
Public Option v. Climate Action
We here in the U.S. as so friggin’ behind the times. We’re fighting about health care — been there, done that when it comes to the rest of the world — and meanwhile we’re oblivious to The Next Big Thing that everyone but us has moved on to: Climate Change.
Our media doesn’t even report these things.
I mean, did you hear that the government of the Maldives held a cabinet meeting underwater to bring attention to the fact that their country will be gone if nothing is done?
I didn’t think so.
Quote of the Day
“We are not building this country of ours for a day; it has to last through the ages.”
– Theodore Roosevelt
George W. Bush Burned in Effigy in Montreal
George W. Bush was in Montreal representing our country today:
– Montreal Demonstrators Throw Shoes to Protest George W. Bush Speech.
– Bush’s Effigy Burned Outside Montreal Hotel.
– Shoes Fly as George W. Bush Speaks in Montreal.
If something like this happened to Bill Clinton — in a foreign country — nine months after he left office — you know the “liberal media” would have been all over it.
Where are they now?
MSNBC is as Liberal as Fox News is Conservative?
An observation:
Fox’s slogan is “Fair and Balanced.”
MSNBC’s slogan is “The Place for Politics.”
Which is more honest?
Newsmax is Selling Sarah Palin’s Book at a Discount
I just got this email from Newsmax under the subject: Sarah Palin Smashes Records, Demand Huge (yes, the original is in bold type too):
——————————————————-
Sarah Palin’s New Book Breaks Records As Americans Rush to Order It!
Dear Newsmax Reader:
Sarah Palin’s new book, “Going Rogue: An American Life,” hasn’t even been released yet.
Though it won’t be released until Nov. 17. — it’s already breaking records as an online bestseller.
In fact, it is the best-selling book ever in the history of Newsmax for pre-publication sales.
“Americans are very anxious to read this book,” Christopher Ruddy, editor of Newsmax.com said. “We have never seen so many people pre-ordering a book from us since we started Newsmax in 1998.”
You can be one of these Americans who want to hear Sarah’s own story, in her own words, without the media spin, by taking advantage of Newsmax’s incredible offer for her new book.
Plus you can be among the first to get your copy of this book from Newsmax, a book being touted as offering “sensational revelations.”
We have two incredible offers for Palin’s book for you.
To order it early:
Great Offer #1!
Get Sarah’s book with our FREE Offer with Newsmax magazine — Go Here Now.
Great Offer #2!
Get Sarah’s book for just $8.95 — save more than $20 off the cover price and buy it much, much cheaper than Amazon — Go Here Now.
Please Remember: The $8.95 offer is not available for current or former subscribers to Newsmax magazine! If you are a subscriber you can get the book FREE by renewing early — Go Here Now.
Thank you.
Newsmax.com
———————————————
Newsmax is probably one of the most conservative sites out there. Undoubtedly it is bookmarked by almost every single Palin fan. It claims that Palin’s book, “is the best-selling book ever in the history of Newsmax for pre-publication sales.” It’s “smashing records,” the “demand is huge.” So why is it (1) giving the book away for free? and, (2) selling it at “more than $20 off the cover price?” You know what I mean? This does not compute. As a matter of fact, it sounds like a bunch of crap.
Oh, and by the way, Newmax’s discounted price is not “much cheaper than Amazon.” Amazon is selling the book for a mere 5¢ more. You know, when you lie about little stuff like that it kinda ruins your credibility.
Joy Personified
Here’s video (can’t get it to embed) of a Beagle puppy attacking a very sweet Rottweiller. It takes a while to load but it’s worth it. It’s so cute.
