I am on vacation until Tuesday, July 10, but as always Trail Mixers carry on.
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51 Responses to Open Thread
Now on The Trail
One more day of killer heat here in the Midwest.
I hope so. We’re roasting here.
sturge, the age-old comedy teams of laurel and hardy, abbott and costello, mitt and chris
dexter, aside from the sadness in akron (see link), what were the followup stories of the prez’ visit in your neck of the woods? heated or just tepid?
http://www.ohio.com/news/break-news/akron-restaurant-owner-dies-hours-after-meeting-president-obama-1.318594
Republican Job Creation -- Keeping millions unemployed to put one man out of work.
It’s a tad bit humid today… but we’ve had great summer temps this past week… 80s/low humidity/summer breezes. More of the same next week.
Chloe… how’s the weather in Houston? Rick told me yesterday that along with missing his co-workers, not traveling to Houston 4-5 times a year is something he will sorely miss when he retires. He was offered a job in your city about 10 yrs ago. But knowing how I’m not too fond of summer (and the fact that he’s an avid downhill skier), he decided not to take it. He says summertime in Houston is torture…
Those politics which makes a gaggle of southern gop guys tolerate, much less admire, a pushy-rude fat blowhard from new jersey.
Sturg… yeah that… and a cross dressing ex-mayor of New York City.
Christie did an interview with ??? about being fat
He basically said, ‘I’ve been a fat guy all my life and it is an everyday struggle. I am trying it may not look like I am but I am….and I would never have the lap band surgery ..that’s just not me.”
It’s not that he has a fat body that’s the problem..it’s his fat mouth.
renee, anything south of the 49th parallel north is torture these days
rich men on boats redux?
http://daily-download.com/lauren-ashburnhoward-kurtz-rich-retreat-mitt-romneys-jet-skiing-problem/
btw, did you catch lauren ashburn on newshour thurs accidentally referring to the candidate not only as “obamney” but as “president” too?
lauren’s booboo:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/july-dec12/download_07-05.html
Given global warming and the current heatwave. The center of the country will be moving north and getting their healthcare from Canada.
I heard a great piece on NPR this morning about the great drought of the 50′s
Oh, and I seem to remember programs and articles on why cloud seeding wouldn’t work if there were no clouds, etc., and of prayer vigils for clouds, and native American ceremonies to trigger precipitation.
Life magazine articles were always accompanied with photos of women with leathery hands hanging laundry on clotheslines under bleaching sunlight.
Some National Guard artillery units had howitzers loaded with iodide salts ready to shoot into any sighting of aerial moisture by the units sentinels.
Jack, I had forgotten all about that period until you mentioned it. I guess I was to caught up in the arms race and that sort of thing.
yeah, and remember the french guy who 40 yrs ago came up with the idea of towing icebergs for the drought-striken?
http://newyork.ibtimes.com/articles/194907/20110809/iceberg-tow-harvest-fresh-water-drought-solve.htm
California in its periodic water shortages has also had a brush with ice berg towing and my favorite --towing big bags of water from Northern California rivers in particular the Gualala to Southern Cal. This idea went nowhere fast
is there a satan particle too?
Yes, Virginia….there is a Santa particle.
A Manitou particle ?
A Kali Particle ?
An Ahriman Particle ?
A Great God Brown Particle ?
These would make great character/gods for a Zelazny novel.
An Argument In Favor Of Public Schools Made By A Rightwingnut
Taegan Goddard’s Bonus Quote of the Day
“I liked the idea of giving parents the option of sending their children to a public school or a Christian school. Unfortunately it will not be limited to the Founders’ religion. We need to insure that it does not open the door to fund radical Islam schools.”
-- Louisiana state Rep. Valarie Hodges (R), quoted by the Livingston Parish News, upon learning that the recently passed voucher program can go to Muslim schools as well as Christian schools.
We could limit the use of these vouchers to Founding Fathers’ religions only.
No Methodists, Weslyans, Southern Baptists, Pentacostals, Assemblies of God, or Mormons.
Yup, the Rightwingnutcases have the right idea.
http://craigcrawford.com/2012/07/07/open-thread-17/#comment-292828
Hi Renee,
So far, it’s been a milder summer here than last year — 93 today, and will supposedly be 87 Mon. and 83 on Tues. (but we’ll see), then back into the mid to high 90′s. Last year it was over 100 from the beginning of June every day through the end of August. That was a first since we’ve lived here, as it normally stays in the high 90s during the summer months (70s to 80 at night). Up where we are, we’ve been getting a lot more rain these last few months than we did for ages. It actually ‘normally’ rains here a lot (at least from the perspective of someone from S. Ca.).
People who have lived in cold weather have a rough time acclimating. We laugh (at ourselves) when we see them in the winter months — we’ll be dressed in layers of clothes and coats and they’ll be walking around in shorts and t-shirts (and we know they’re down here from a cold climate, and we’re a bunch of sissies). It’s all about what you get used to. We usually get a few ’3 or 4 day’ freezes that come down from up north periodically and that’s about it. Any more, then we really don’t know how to handle it.
It’s definitely not a place to spend much time outside in the summer. If the heat doesn’t get you, the mosquitoes will. This weather is considered semi-tropical… we lived in semi-desert before. I’ve seen much more rain here in 20 years than I saw in 40 yrs. combined in Ca. The first couple of years here I thought it would never stop raining.
Those who have lived here a while are always set up for hot weather (since it’s inevitable), so we just don’t hear that many complaints (unless someones power goes out, and their air conditioning along with it.) You could never live here without air conditioning, and I doubt that a car without it is ever sold.
Ricks right. You’d hate it here, with your love of cold weather — which by the way, I’m sure the cold weather keeps the air a lot cleaner too (I thought about it the other day when you said you stepped outside and breathed in a cool, fresh lung full of crisp air). We are at least surrounded by hundreds of pine and oak trees on our property (which provides lots of ‘beloved privacy’ also) and they keep the air we breathe cleaner than most around us.
But if you hate heat (‘and’ a large population), then you’d hate Houston.
Me — I love it here (for more reasons than just the weather).
But I remain well aware that many others ‘don’t’ and ‘wouldn’t’.
It just seems (for the first time ever) that I’m (we) are at a place in our life where we want to be, and I (we) feel grateful to have that opportunity. This is it for us, and psychologically everything feels right….(not to be confused with perfect though, because we all know that life is always a struggle).
… the thing I love most about this site is hearing about all the different life styles and perspectives that are so influenced by the different states (and climates) we all live in. It’s made me a more aware and open minded person than I was before.
http://craigcrawford.com/2012/07/07/open-thread-17/#comment-292835
Jack, Thanks for that link. I’ve forwarded it to several friends and acquaintances.
I learn something new here with every visit.
… boy, am I long winded!
George and Martha were closet Buddhists, or maybe I’m Confucised.
the manilow particle.
and TWO Parton particles…
the fox particle board
a product of shavings and dust mixed with a yucky binder pressed and extruded to resemble reality
On TV they discuss romney as if he were real.
Joe Walsh said “Ashleigh” more times in one short tv segment than Scarlett said in a whole movie……
where is joe walsh from? are those people just stupid, or what?
hmmm…..demint, lindsay graham, strom thurmond, jr., joe wilson, nikki haley…..well, just forget about that last “stupid” remark.
it seems that both political parties claim that the other party is made up of people who are just plain old Stupid Sheep. The bad news is that one of them must be right.
or both…..
Whiskey Jack
Sir Horsedooty sent me a message on Facebook. He still can’t get in here but wanted to recommend a book about the Texas drought:
“The Time It Never Rained” by a Texas author named Elmer Kelton
Chris Hayes opened with and is discussion “Global Warming” now. Again he and the panel are emphasizing what doesn’t quite seem to penetrate to most people: Climate and weather are not the same thing.
The canary in the coal mine chirped its last and is now feet up feathers at the bottom of the cage.
i have discovered the ant particle.
Grandson-in-law was helping me move some things in the garage after I finished cutting the lawn yesterday. All of a sudden he bends over, retrieves an object buried in a corner, and asks, “Grandpa, did you drop your ring?”
What he had found was the ring I had lost more than a year ago, the one that was given to me on Christmas the last year of high school. I treasured it because it was emblazoned with the coat-of-arms and motto of my Grandfather’s English family.
I knew immediately when I had misplaced it. I had a few odd spare minutes so opened Rosemary’s hood, removed my jewelry, and started poking around. When Stinky called me for lunch, I buttoned things up, carried my watch and rings inside, and scrubbed my hands at the kitchen sink. When I put things back on, my special ring was not there.
Needless to say, I searched high-and-low for more than a week; the ring has simply vanished. My greatest fear was that it had been digested by the disposal. So, more than displeased with myself, I gathered the original drawings that had been used years ago and started gathering quotes.
When I called the insurance company (USAA) and explained what happened, they were about as impressed as I was. But I did have a rider for such losses so I ordered a replacement from the UK which arrived about a month later. USAA honored my claim with no substantiation beyond my receipt for the new ring.
Now I must do the honorable thing by returning the money they sent me. Indeed, I’d rather have the original ring than the money.
The only thing worse for the U.S. Economy than President Barack Obama and a Democratic Congress is a Republican President and/or a Republican Congress. Congress is just incompetent regardless of party.
That is why we need Federal Campaign Finance Reform funding for all Federal General Election Candidates that would allow only Federal Government provided funds and prohibit all contributions, including their own money, and advertisements for or against candidates.
Sturg, ant particles anywhere close to your raisin bran is not a good thing.
Cute Elephant Seal Pups, I bet that they have a bad fish breath.
And Owls for Jamie
Today we expect our first 90 degrees since last summer…pretty warm for us, but nothing compared to other places…
thank you PIT
These owls are a little the worse for wear
On Snuffy’s show the guy who Obama’s auto industry goto person said -- the only reason the auto industry assistance got done was because it did not require congressional action. Congress — particularly theRepublican version of Congress sucks
Many in the anti-science crowd are being strangely silent about climate change/global warming…
Seems to be the time for it. Ernest Borgnine dead at 95
flatus, i hope that usaa does the compassionate thing and doesn’t charge you interest. seriously, it would be nice of them to let you keep it for mental pain and suffering on a year’s long loss.
I just read a piece on Tammy Duckworth’s campaign raising a …well, in polite circles it would be a wheelbarrow full of $$, but you can imagine, and just since Joe Walsh (I feel sorry for the Rocky Mountain Way guy!) started his ‘she’s not a hero’ b.s. I predict she’ll win.
Gary Johnson Finally Gets a Headline, But What About the Only Female Running for President?
by Taylor Marsh
On pins and needles here, rain to the west of us, rain to the east, …….. I called Tony from his neon bench, it was 4:20 today. Marked the gauge. Spent the last of my plan. Right at $60.00 bucks, I planned on $100.00 bucks.
Today was the end game , I installed a water timer , and 200′ of “Chinese soaker hose”.
From ‘Harbor Freight’ ………… ” The Barrio’s Friend”
I bought the timer at Lowes, $26.00 bucks.
So, let’s review ……….
I didn’t leave you folks, I just had a higher calling.
It took everything I got , but I pulled this rabbit out of my ass.
If you buy my ‘Peggy Pick’ for a ‘Buck’ ……. This garden makes it’s own water, my “Butterfly Gas Station , has customers.
“The Cactus Water Harvester”, changes the game here.
If you buy my ‘Peggy Pick’ for a ‘Buck’ …….
I die , a happy man . 87 cents a pick. goes to the garden.
I AM NOT a FOOL , I am a drunk.
Joe Walsh is blowing smoke…one of his big lines is “real heroes don’t talk about their experience…like John McCain.”
Jan Crawford is almost as smart as the other Crawford we all know and love:
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7414176n&tag=contentMain;contentBody
Ty, I’m one of the people who have sent Duckworth money. It’s not because she’s the world’s brightest bulb, she’s not. But, she is the daughter of an immigrant mom who is giving back. Let’s see, she’s given not one, but both legs in combat, when her chopper was shot down by an RPG.
I’ve followed her struggle since the last time she ran four years ago. She’s gained physical strength since then. And she served a stint in DC and has resumed duties as a National Guard officer. And, has reclaimed her private pilots license.
From my point of view, she’s the kind of ‘give it all for my country’ person we need in our Congress.