I am on vacation until Monday, May 7. But, as always, our threads go on. Carry on.
We’ll be in Gloucester MA (Cressy’s Beach, Stage Fort Park) on Sunday, April 29, at 6:30 PM ET for a sunset remembrance of our Trail Mix pal Sean Holton, for those in the neighborhood who might be able to join us.
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106 Responses to Open Thread
Now on The Trail
HAPPY EARTH DAY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZuVeoWNClY
If someone could help me and put this one up. I forgot to read how to do it.
Anyone have a celebration planned? I have some plants I’m gonna pot..but no pot I’m gonna plant.
And woo hoo for our earth!
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/story/2012-04-22/iran-captured-drone/54466004/1
That means china. Russia, and probably north Korea will soon have the same technology .
China will mass produce them and sell them
Should be able to get one at walmart next year , hellfire missiles optional
jack and purple, wrench schmench. how about a 3d bio-printer?
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-12520951
ct for you.
who knows, maybe someday that bio printer can print us out a whole workable congress. today a kidney, tomorrow a kennedy?
speaking of earth day and saleable critters
Thanks Purp.
A fight between the Koch brothers and the Cato Institute. This could become interesting.
Independent and Principled? Behind the Cato Myth
By Mark Ames, April 20, 2012
Interesting. On the Today show they were showing some young girls who were willing to get into a car driven by a person who said he had been smoking pot. Their mothers were very concerned.
I Googled it and found that studies find that impairment with marijuana doesn’t lead to accidents. They tend to be a little more cautious.
“The results to date of crash culpability studies have failed to demonstrate that drivers with cannabinoids in the blood are significantly more likely than drug-free drivers to be culpable in road crashes.”
http://norml.org/library/item/marijuana-and-driving-a-review-of-the-scientific-evidence
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2012/04/earth_day_points_up_divide_bet.html
more from above nola link:
Our local trash collectors delivered a little bucket to everyone last week with instructions on how to recycle “biodegradable” materials that can either be made into mulch or dumped in the brown ground waste container.
Shade of my childhood without garbage disposals. Everything old is new again.
along with democrat dinosaurs and pterodactyl dixiecrats
April 22
1793 -- Philadelphia played host to the first circus attended by George Washington. It would be years before Congress provided a two-ring circus of its own for the President!
Sunday Sublime.
Enjoy.
Carol
I saw your comment from yesterday morning where, in essence, you asked what the devil is going with that URL going around for people to check on whether the government’s going to take their internet access away because they have a virus.
My reaction is, don’t push any such URLs. I consider them to be very high risk.
Instead, assuming you are using the current version of Windows, which is Windows7, enable all the built-in security options available in that program at the default level.
Microsoft has been very aggressive in stomping out viruses as they emerge and in tracking down and causing the prosecution of the creators of viruses. They realize those efforts are vital in protecting their consumer base and their brand.
Microsoft also publishes many recurring very informative and useful tools for home users that will help them stay secure:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/resources/newsletter.aspx
Thank you Flatus!
solar, have you seen this? one of your competitors?
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20120421/NEWS/304210104/Haven-after-the-storm-New-Orleans-prototype-seen-as-quick-housing-following-disasters
I’d like to remind Susan Collins (why can’t she resign what a loser) and Nooners that the head of the Secret Service is Shrubian
Kieth Olberman on Snuffy’s show???
but, flatus, this says
http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=courier-journal&sParam=39103905.story
why would the good ole trusty fbi steer us wrong?
Nooners needs to retire. Today she claimed the secret service scandal is indicative of a slide in our culture and that people no longer want to be mature
this from a woman who saw magic dolphins and tried to push Nancy out of the way and jump in to Ronnie’s coffin
Mathew Dowd and Nooners prefer to live in the 1950′s
when people like them could control everything -jerks
Opinion, rumor, innuendo, and emphatic assertion have now supplanted our trust and reliance on truth and facts. A unique way of presenting an idea, or maybe fact.
Facts, 360 B.C.-A.D. 2012
In memoriam: After years of health problems, Facts has finally died.
By Rex W. Huppke, April 19, 2012
Where’s Oprah when you really need her Obamarama
and what about Maria Shriver now and Caroline Kennedy and all those folks…..all I hear are crickets
and the campaign is depending on the very people they screwed over…women and people who would like to use marijuana legally
Beyond Timothy Leary and Valley of the Dolls: Psychedelic Drugs and Healing in the 21st Century
by Taylor Marsh
Tax fairness would increase growth
Robert Reich
Mitt Romney’s Tough Sell: Blaming a Worsening Economy on Obama
by Michael Tomasky
Pat, surely you are exactly correct.
But, who verified the authenticity of the news release from the ‘FBI’? Who triple checked the accuracy of the URL and the code which it supposedly triggers? Who is willing to stake her reputation that the code hasn’t been hi-jacked? A representative from the Secret Service?
There is an agency within the government that I would trust to provide the intended service; the FBI sure as hell isn’t that agency.
America’s Christian hypocrisy
The Bible preaches tolerance and liberal economics. So why do its proponents embrace right-wing politics?
BY DAVID SIROTA
Obama’s total lack of prevention, cleanup and distribution of reimbursements for the Gulf Coast BP Oil Spill in 2010 just may come back to bite him in the keister.
George Washington: 2 Years After the BP Oil Spill, Is the Gulf Ecosystem Collapsing?
Tony , Ron Paul has been speaking out against the drug war for thirty years , And probably will again , in Philadelphia today at another big campaign rally .
The constitution does not give the federal government authority for the drug war
Olbermann mostly spoke only when asked a question by host George Stephanopoulos. The only exception was his objection to Peggy Noonan’s suggestion that Mitch Daniels and Rob Portman, who both have business backgrounds, would be good vice-presidential picks.
“Do — do you really want a second businessman on that ticket, though, in light of the — if it’s not a majority view, it’s a very large view right now that business has never been viewed less favorably in this country since they ran Jay Gould out of town,” Olbermann said.
Noonan answered that a lot of voters associate business people with job creation. “What about running a government?” Olbermann asked.
Noonan must be suffering from short term memory loss.
These two clowns ruined every thing they touched in the Bush administration. 600,000 jobs lost in a single month, and 9 percent unemployment are not exactly a sterling record of job creation. Don’t even get me started on budget surpluses!
http://www.naturalnews.com/images/Federal-Government-Corporation-Overlaps-Goldman-Sachs.gif
http://news.yahoo.com/romney-spending-guns-triumph-over-butter-120715130.html
guns v. butter cont’d
flatus, tend to agree with your assessment since they haven’t shown much improvement in their own miscommunications problems.
speaking of communications problems:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/47127694/ns/technology_and_science-space/t/huge-mysteriously-silent-satellite-spotted-another-spacecraft/
Thinking of you Lard, Craig, David, Renee and all- hoping the rain lets up and you have a beautiful evening-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxPj3GAYYZ0
I celebrated Earth Day..
http://ct-carolssouthernspice.blogspot.com/
did you?
YES!… the Bruins win in overtime and force a game seven.
OSH… the ceremony is next Sunday. Wish you were coming.
Yes OldSea, what RR said, it’s next Sunday. Wish you could be there, promise it won’t be depresseing. We’re done with that part.
willard could pick portman for vp. portman was babybush’s budget director. No onus to him. I think 2/3 of what babybush spent was off budget.
(:>b))<
I celebrated Earth Day #1. A pal of mine was pictured in LIFE Magazine buring an auto engine. Man, was that wrong.
Going around the internet :
“Dear Peggy:
I don’t know what Founding Father and President Thomas Jefferson would have thought about TV, cars, spaceships, cellphones, skyscrapers, computers or nuclear weapons. But I do know what Jefferson would have thought about the Buffett Rule. He would have liked it.
The Buffett Rule is the Obama Administration’s proposal to adopt a 30% minimum tax rate on personal income above $1 million a year. It would promote one of the central tenets of progressivism: that the burden of taxes should fall on the rich, not the poor.
In 1811, two years after Jefferson left the Presidency, Jefferson wrote a letter to General Thaddeus Kosciuszko, a hero of the American Revolution. Jefferson said that he supported taxes (then tariffs, since there was no income tax yet) falling entirely on the wealthy. As Jefferson explained: “The farmer will see his government supported, his children educated, and the face of this country made a paradise by the contributions of the rich alone, without his being called on to spend a cent from his earnings.”
Here is someone else who was an outspoken proponent of progressive taxation: Adam Smith, who literally “wrote the book” on capitalism. In 1776, in The Wealth of Nations, Smith wrote:
“The necessaries of life occasion the great expense of the poor. They find it difficult to get food, and the greater part of their little revenue is spent in getting it. The luxuries and vanities of life occasion the principal expense of the rich, and a magnificent house embellishes and sets off to the best advantage all the other luxuries and vanities which they possess. A tax upon house-rents, therefore, would in general fall heaviest upon the rich; and in this sort of inequality there would not, perhaps, be anything unreasonable. It is not very unreasonable that the rich should contribute to the public expense, not only in proportion to their revenue, but something more than in that proportion.”
(I wonder: When Adam Smith wrote about the “luxuries and vanities” of the rich, was he contemplating Mitt Romney’s elevator for Romney’s car? Or is that simply beyond contemplation?)
Two hundred years ago, when America was founded, progressive taxation was viewed as just common sense. We still have common sense, don’t we?
First, let’s see the Buffett Rule for individuals. Then the Buffett Rule for corporations. That would be progressive. And that would be progress.
Courage,
Alan Grayson”
My sincere regrets for violating the bandwidth guidelines.
XR,
It is not a band width violation, if you have something important to say.
I would urge all rippers to read it, however there is small point in reading if you are unable to comprehend what you read. The modern GOP, ignorance is bliss.
Well thinking of you all just the same. Will try to get there.
XR and Jace,
You guys have me all confused about the Buffett Rules. All I really need to know is if there is an early bird special.
Flatus,
I am confused as well. The way this country has been buffeted the last five or six years, I could have sworn that the ‘buffet’ rule was already in place.
No early bird specials that I’m aware of, but for what it’s worth there is a senior discount.
The early bird catches (eats) the worm. This is the top reason to avoid being an early bird.
There is a similar old Swedish maxim, Morgon stund har gul i mund. A very literal translation is, ‘morning hours have gold in the teeth’. It means that if you are an early bird you’ll be able to afford gold fillings. However, we smart alexics think that if you sleep late maybe your teeth won’t rot.
Good morning! Did anyone see Sunday Morning yesterday? There was a prosecutor on discussing the Edwards case- she contends that there is / was no law in place that he broke. The feds have had something like 56? agents working on this case. I don’t like the man but I dislike even more the gov. wasting vaste amounts of tax payer’s dollars on cases like this.
Well..IMO Sea..if Edwards didn’t break any laws..they need to throw him in jail..invent some new laws..and then try him. No..I don’t like all the money that the government wastes either.
Quote of the day
“Suppose God really does say homosexuality is wrong. So what? Even God’s opinion is just an opinion.”
jack, think this will work for her?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/sen-claire-mccaskill-takes-fight-to-super-pacs-as-missouri-swings-farther-right/2012/04/22/gIQAqoAmaT_story.html?hpid=z1
There really are ‘Two Americas’.
Edwards may be about to find out where the other America lives.
What I did earthday weekend
First, I was totally oblivious as to it being earthday yesterday.
I started the week end buying a pickup load of compost to work into my garden. It was still hot and stinky. I got my neighbors attention with the smell, it seems I stunk up the whole neighborhood.
Saturday, we decided to do landscaping in front of the Bluecorn house
( named Bluecorn after Bobs noble experiment, at the time it was a bank owned property, it had sun and our yard didn’t, so we snuck over and planted it’s yard. Sometimes we are gorilla gardeners.)
We did a raised bed using locking landscape blocks across the front of the house which faces north so will be another shade garden for our hosta collection to expand into. To the side we created a sun garden for the butterflys.
I needed some dirt so I went back to the compost place, they had “fine sandy loam” top soil amended with 20% compost, or at least that was what the ad said. I bought a pickup load about a ton in weight.
Wheelbarrowed it around to the garden and filled it with this “soil”. After it was all moved and spread out , I watered it in. The water just set there on top, and set there and set there. we left it over night and the water managed to pentrate an inch in.
What we bought wasn’t “fine sandy loam” but clay totally useless for anything except leak proofing a pond. So Sunday I dug all that crap out and moved it to the back of the house where I am having water leak into the basement and piled it up against the foundation.
But I did get my compost worked into garden planted tomatos Pepper Cabbages and eggplant. made some little cages to go around them to frustrate the rabbits.
Jack
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/book-gop-freshman-class-turned-into-a-monster-for-boehner-other-house-leaders/2012/04/22/gIQAV15PaT_story.html?hpid=z3
Pat
Looks like a good approach. Now all she needs to do is repeat often “New York City Banker” and she will have half the folks in southern MO saying”I don’t like her but I’ll be damned if I’m going to let some Sum b*tch from New York City tell me what to do”
Jack
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/22/jon-huntsman-gop_n_1444529.html
Interesting article, probably worth the time.
noteworthy comment to that above article on the house newbies:
jace, thanks for the huntsman link. this might help move him up in the possible nominee list for sos (when hill steps down).
Patd,
That might be a good thread topic.
Who’s making sense in the GOP?
What I did on earthday… it rained… it was the first full day of rain this spring. I prayed thanks to the rain gods.
What didn’t I do on earthday… politics. The longer I go giving myself a day off from politics on Sundays… the better it gets.
Hmm, what would Edwards prefer? A month pilloried in the town stocks, eight hours a day, or 25-years hard labor? Let him choose.
Earth day here in our small part of South Carolina was filled with wind and lots of much needed, over two-inches, rain.
The rain arrived, per usual, after days of failed weather forecaster promises that a deluge was on the way. I finally set the yard sprinklers for the middle of the night. Sure enough, I was awoken by sheets of rain pelting the bedroom window. Thank goodness for the sprinklers!
Unbelievable things happening in the world that aren’t about politics: Sea Odyssey marionettes
A very timely Christian Science Monitor cartoon…
A few more details for those joining our Sean Holton remembrance — Gloucester MA (Cressy’s Beach, Stage Fort Park) — this Sunday, April 29, at 6:30 PM ET — for a sunset (7:30 PM ET) tribute. It will be quite informal and we’ll do something after, maybe a restaurant or just get some take-out at home. Any questions, write to help@craigcrawford.com
flatus, his kids would probably prefer the local stocks option. at least they would have a parent around as they grow up. hard to want to see the cad tossed in prison when they’re the ones that will suffer most.
“Thank goodness for the sprinklers”
Maybe I will try that the next time the weather critter says it is going to rain because he has sure been a liar this spring. “it’s gonna rain, it’s gonna rain, it is for sure gonna rain this time” and on and on and on.
Jack
interesting possible spin-offs of the edwards case:
http://www.newser.com/story/144585/john-edwards-trial-begins-what-to-watch.html
here’s the link to that politico article “6 things to watch for at the John Edwards trial” mentioned in the above post
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0412/75453.html
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304331204577354331959335276.html
I think buying a pickup was a mistake. I’ve move 2 ton of gravel today by wheelbarrow back to where I needed it. A ton of dirt yesterday and another ton of dirt tommorrow to replace the one I moved twice over the weekend.
lol
Jack
Pat
the interesting thing is that if the money had been from his pac instead of his campaign it would have been legal. There are stringent rules on campaign spending and almost none on pacs and super pacs.
Jack
http://craigcrawford.com/2012/04/22/open-thread-3/#comment-287730
Jack..in other words..every day is earth day for you. In a way..me too.
Watching and appreciating the rain..is a good way to celebrate Earth Day.
ct, a singalong just for you
http://craigcrawford.com/2012/04/22/open-thread-3/#comment-287705
MQW,
Yep, Ron Paul is to be commended for speaking out on the drug war for years..Straight talk and common sense, that is what is needed..Ah, but there’s to much money to be made off fighting the losing drug war..
Bill Clinton’s New Role as Pres. Obama’s ‘Campaign Whisperer’
by Taylor Marsh
Thanks Patd. That was fun. I like Karaoke..especially when no one can hear me sing.
I think buying a pickup was a mistake. I’ve move 2 ton of gravel today by wheelbarrow back to where I needed it. A ton of dirt yesterday and another ton of dirt tommorrow to replace the one I moved twice over the weekend.
lol
Jack
Jack,
The money spent on a pick-up would have bought a damn fine skid-steer.
Good luck with the garden.
Sell the wheelbarrow.
jace
Eggs have hatched at Laughlin power plant
By NEIL YOUNG/The Daily News
Published: Monday, April 23, 2012 1:30 AM MDT
LAUGHLIN — The two Great Horned Owl chicks at the Mohave Generating Station have hatched.
Currently, Mom is less worried about her nest being imploded than her chicks ending up on another bird’s dinner table, said Paul Klein, Southern California Edison spokesman. SCE is the plant operator and is overseeing the demolition of the 1,580-megawatt coal-fired facility, which closed at the end of 2005.
The discovery of the nest delayed the implosion of the boiler structures slated for last Friday, due to the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The act forbids SCE from disturbing the nest. The goal is to try to get permission to move the nest, or barring that, wait for the chicks to grow big enough to leave the nest in six to eight weeks.
“We have not established a date (for the implosion) yet. We’re still targeting prior to Memorial Day,” Klein said.
Jamie,
This appeared in our local paper. Thought I had better pass it on to our resident owl lover.
Still kickin’ ass in Texas.
Spending every nickle . as smart as I can, as fast as I can.
I am going to buy the a 5 year lease, on a billboard .
I’m betting everything.
I’m betting everything.
I’m betting everything. I’ve been moving stone and seeds .
“Spending every nickle . as smart as I can, as fast as I can.”
CBob,
Thanks for stimulating the economy. God know it needs it.
“Still kickin’ ass in Texas.”
Hell CBob, figured you’d kicked it all by now.
You been loafin’?
I’ve been moving stone and seeds .
A Fresh place, at the end of the world.
I’d like to see a fresh place at the end of the world.
It sounds nice.
Build it and we will come.
I’ve been moving stone and seeds .
“I’ve been moving stone and seeds.”
Jack has been doing a lot of that too, I hope that it’s not contagious
.
Get some sleep.
jace
Beat that clever thinker.
Jack has been doing a lot of that too ………
Except it’ll be 101F here in 2 days , and ‘Jack’ is all I get.
‘Jack’,………… will now explain how 101F in April is perfectly normal.
‘Jack’,………… Is the word , for a male mule.
NEVER forget that.
And every “Jack’ shoots blanks.
” Send whiskey, and fresh mules ”
Colorado Bob
http://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2012/04/22/central-bankers-taking-leadership-from-president-congress/
That’s my position tonight , ” Send whiskey, and fresh mules ”
Ron Paul won Iowa and Minnesota
stones and seeds, seeds and stems….we all move what we can……lol