Morning, Christy

Good Morning, coffee and smokes here.

Meet the Press (NBC): Senators-elect Jon Tester and Jim Webb;

Wow. What came over Pumpkinhead? Is he alright?

NaNOO @ 2

Good Morning, coffee and smokes here.

Thanks very much, but I’ve got my own.
coffee (black) Marlboro (red).

Mornin’ Christy!

Nice to see David Corn on C-Span, will have to get a fire going as My TV is in that part of the house, only heated by wood and I let it go out last night, it’s about 10 degrees outside.

Morning gang…no coffee yet, and no smokes. But doing some Christmas shopping online this morning. Thanks to everyone’s suggestions, I’m almost done shopping…and I didn’t have to leave the house. Woo hoo! No crowds!

Crepes / pancakes with Vermont maple syrup.. of course.

Do you think we will see more from the left side on the insufferable Sunday Morning talk shows now that the D’s are in control of the legislative branch (including most states and govenors?? Na … I did’t think so…

I am more and more convinced that what we see is a side show and the real string pullers are a handful of super rich individuals and their corporation. They will not move some of their focus to the dems… and the same old same old will continue.

How can we demilitarize this nation and the world? Why do we run off to fight, kill each other and make people richer for it?

Does anyone else want to shrink the pentagon to a triangle or a line… and can the national security state that now dominates us?

OK, I have to ask. I just can’t figure out what that’s a picture of.

It’s been five years since I watched MTP (actually, pretty much any of them at all, except for a Kerry appearance on Stephanopoulos earlier this year); but Jim Webb is enough to get me to tune in. What’s been coming from him the last few days would make Jordan Barab proud. Most intriguing. If he brings up Houston or UCLA I might have to move to Virginia so I can vote for him in six years.

And, of course, one should never complain about Rangel putting in an appearance. Elections have consequences, I guess…

Christy,

Don’t forget that online shopping is yet another way to maximize profits, by cutting jobs… It’s a double edged sword… no different than shopping at Walmart.

Try to buy gifts from shops and people who earn a living from your purchase… not mega corporations… like BN and Amazon.

Professor Foland @ 8

OK, I have to ask. I just can’t figure out what that’s a picture of.

I thought it was a bird in the snow, but Redd explains what it is at the bottom of the post.

Sunday mornin’ - reminds me - haven’t seen Sharkbabe for a while - where is that girl?

And *ilson?

Breakfast at my house for the past two weeks has been OATMEAL!!

The temps just dropped here, it’s raining sometimes, so it’s now the season for a real breakfast. I use those barely flattened Scottish porridge oats. So easy to make — takes like 2 minutes. Drizzled with a little maple syrup, then a big splash of milk. And afterwards, a persimmon for breakfast dessert — they’re now seriously in season.

I’ve had an absolutely huge upswing in morning energy and greet-the-day brightness since I re-discovered the wonders of hot oatmeal — seriously! I totally recommend it if you’re getting the gray-sky, short-day blues …

OT - medaka - i tried that email addy u sent me and it bounced back

DefJef @ 9

Christy,

Don’t forget that online shopping is yet another way to maximize profits, by cutting jobs… It’s a double edged sword… no different than shopping at Walmart.

Try to buy gifts from shops and people who earn a living from your purchase… not mega corporations… like BN and Amazon.

I shop at walmart and online all the time.
The way to approach the problem is through legislation– US labor laws, and trade agreements that enforce labor laws and environmental laws around the world.

I don’t mind if people want to avoid shopping at walmart, but don’t lecture the rest of us about it.

I watched Taxi Driver, with DeNero last night, what a film, you almost think he’s going to try to kill the politican, but no he slaughters the pimps. Good movie.

I’ve replaced Sun mornin’ TV with music, which has been going for some time now this A.M. I’m sure my neighbors are thrilled.

Foer is actually sounding reasonable. He agrees with corn more than he disagrees. I was expecting him to be a stronger advocate for The New Republican’s throw more money and lives down the Iraq rathole position.

He just called james baker the bush family janitor and a political hack. He’ll be looking for work tomorrow.

Hi Christy,

I think Webb has a pretty decent tax reform
proposal…
Let’s focus on domestic issues and get out
of the Middle East…

Jack

Riesz Fischer @ 14

DefJef @ 9

Christy,

Don’t forget that online shopping is yet another way to maximize profits, by cutting jobs… It’s a double edged sword… no different than shopping at Walmart.

Try to buy gifts from shops and people who earn a living from your purchase… not mega corporations… like BN and Amazon.

I shop at walmart and online all the time.
The way to approach the problem is through legislation– US labor laws, and trade agreements that enforce labor laws and environmental laws around the world.

I don’t mind if people want to avoid shopping at walmart, but don’t lecture the rest of us about it.

of course we can lecture others about it, just like people against slavery lectured those people that owned slaves.

look, if you;re buying walmart you’re supporting a company you know as a fact abuses children over seas and steals from the middle class here in America, that’s my lecture and I’m sticking to it

now, we need trade agreements that precludes ccountries that don’t have collective bargaining laws for their labor

and we must insist in america all workers be part of a collective bargaining process, this way a company or corporation does not enjoy unitary power over the labor resource they are supposed to be bargaining for

RF @ 14

I am not lecturing, but you sure sound like you are not taking personal responsibility for your actions.

We DO need labor laws to protect workers, but BigBiz will always be exploiting labor at every turn… that is part of the biz model… and when they have squeezed and downsized all they can… have taken all they can out of these corporations… they let them whither and die… after sending our jobs offshore. Look up RubberMaid to see how BigBiz works. They ain’t gonna change.

We all have to do our part. Boycot is one effective way.

Heck… you can make gifts… much more meaningful!

No more money or weapons for Israel too. Let’s really make some peace in the middle east.

NaNOO @ 21

No more money or weapons for Israel too. Let’s really make some peace in the middle east.

while I’m not happy about what isreal is doing with our support, we have to have an american presence in the middle east, Israel is America’s proxy, we have to suppotr her militarily, however we need someone in charge here that knows how to conduct our concerns in the middle east, that description exclueds the current administration

perris and DefJef,

I didn’t come here looking for a fight, but I had to respond to this nonsense.

A personal boycott is good for nothing but enhancing your own feeling of righteousness. A few people refusing to shop at walmart has no effect on walmart (you said so yourself DefJef: “Look up RubberMaid to see how BigBiz works. They ain’t gonna change.”). But it has a major effect on the progressive movement in general. Your self righteous lecturing makes people sick and drives people away.

Let’s stick together and work for laws that regulate corporations to behave responsibly.

Oh jayt and NaNOO

you guys don’t need that nasty tobacco stuff still do you? I am now an insufferable and happy ex-smoker. A year and a half smoke-free, can’t believe it took me so long to grok.

If you guys are in your 30s or 40s, you should seriously think about leaving it behind, unless you wouldn’t mind carrying one of those little oxygen tanks around for the rest of your life. I know, I know, ex-smokers who remind you are the worst.

That’s because we KNOW! Heh. I quit it with one quit-smoking therapy session. It was way too easy, though I was probably way more than ready.

Hey TRex, I do hope you’re eavesdropping!

perris, just why is that, that an American pressence is necessary? Just why does the US need 130 bases all over the world?

a sunday moring w/o lieberman in the lineup - yeah!

twolf1 @ 13

OT - medaka - i tried that email addy u sent me and it bounced back

Oh dear, twolf, I’ll see what else I can come up with. I believe the group I mentioned was called “Justice Chickens”. I’ll see if I can find them, and will let you know what turns up …

If anyone is looking for the NYT columnists from behind the firewall, please be patient. They’re stuck in mod here and downstairs. (I guess even mods get to sleep in on Sunday!)

I suppose smoking is my way of relieving stress, along with drinking. I don’t take anti-depressants, I just read they aare really on the rise in the US. No wonder.

Riesz Fischer @ 23

perris and DefJef,

I didn’t come here looking for a fight, but I had to respond to this nonsense.

A personal boycott is good for nothing but enhancing your own feeling of righteousness. A few people refusing to shop at walmart has no effect on walmart (you said so yourself DefJef: “Look up RubberMaid to see how BigBiz works. They ain’t gonna change.”). But it has a major effect on the progressive movement in general. Your self righteous lecturing makes people sick and drives people away.

Let’s stick together and work for laws that regulate corporations to behave responsibly.

medaka @ 24

Oh jayt and NaNOO

you guys don’t need that nasty tobacco stuff still do you? I am now an insufferable and happy ex-smoker. A year and a half smoke-free, can’t believe it took me so long to grok.

If you guys are in your 30s or 40s, you should seriously think about leaving it behind, unless you wouldn’t mind carrying one of those little oxygen tanks around for the rest of your life. I know, I know, ex-smokers who remind you are the worst.

That’s because we KNOW! Heh. I quit it with one quit-smoking therapy session. It was way too easy, though I was probably way more than ready.

Hey TRex, I do hope you’re eavesdropping!

anyone ever try that bravo stuff?

it’s supposedly made from lettuce..pretty cool idea, I smoke a pipe and cruch my own dried craberries, pop it in the bowl and have a very nice smoke

since it’s a pipe I don’t have a nicotene addiction but I love to do something while I’m driving or working on my laptop.

so, anyone try that bravo stuff?

Marion in Savannah @ 28

If anyone is looking for the NYT columnists from behind the firewall, please be patient. They’re stuck in mod here and downstairs. (I guess even mods get to sleep in on Sunday!)

you know I’m looking for it, I always wait for your links marion, thanx for now and for when i forget to tell you thanx

NaNOO @ 29

I suppose smoking is my way of relieving stress, along with drinking. I don’t take anti-depressants, I just read they aare really on the rise in the US. No wonder.

I read that many credible sources in the administration have claimed that Dumbya has started drinking again.

perris, formerly known as me to me, @ 30

Riesz Fischer @ 23

perris and DefJef,

I didn’t come here looking for a fight, but I had to respond to this nonsense.

A personal boycott is good for nothing but enhancing your own feeling of righteousness. A few people refusing to shop at walmart has no effect on walmart (you said so yourself DefJef: “Look up RubberMaid to see how BigBiz works. They ain’t gonna change.”). But it has a major effect on the progressive movement in general. Your self righteous lecturing makes people sick and drives people away.

Let’s stick together and work for laws that regulate corporations to behave responsibly.

medaka @ 24

Oh jayt and NaNOO

you guys don’t need that nasty tobacco stuff still do you? I am now an insufferable and happy ex-smoker. A year and a half smoke-free, can’t believe it took me so long to grok.

If you guys are in your 30s or 40s, you should seriously think about leaving it behind, unless you wouldn’t mind carrying one of those little oxygen tanks around for the rest of your life. I know, I know, ex-smokers who remind you are the worst.

That’s because we KNOW! Heh. I quit it with one quit-smoking therapy session. It was way too easy, though I was probably way more than ready.

Hey TRex, I do hope you’re eavesdropping!

anyone ever try that bravo stuff?

it’s supposedly made from lettuce..pretty cool idea, I smoke a pipe and cruch my own dried craberries, pop it in the bowl and have a very nice smoke

since it’s a pipe I don’t have a nicotene addiction but I love to do something while I’m driving or working on my laptop.

so, anyone try that bravo stuff?

teh bravo lettuce tobacco

Christy -

Thank you for the wonderful swan……….makes me think of England *g*.

Right wing female caller just on C-Span having a total FIT about the “far-left liberal” Corn & NOBODY on for a fair & balanced picture…..doncha luv it! Poor baby ;-) Oh well, there’s always faux news to satisfy her thirst.

oops, forgot the bravo link

http://www.bravosmokes.com/testimonials.asp

If you guys are in your 30s or 40s, you should seriously think about leaving it behind…

Actually, I’ve left both my 30s and 40s behind….

I do tend to rather jealously guard my relatively few remaining bad habits.

It’s snowing here. I’m going out for a run.

I hope I didn’t sound too harsh earlier. I hate to attack my fellow ‘Dogs.

Riesz Fischer @ 32

NaNOO @ 29

I suppose smoking is my way of relieving stress, along with drinking. I don’t take anti-depressants, I just read they aare really on the rise in the US. No wonder.

you know this rumor has been going around for quite a while

at the beginning I gave it plenty of credibility, but more would have come out by now so I think it’s just a rumor

randi rhodes has fun saying she thinks he’s doing cocain again because of his bouncing jaw

I read that many credible sources in the administration have claimed that Dumbya has started drinking again.

Riesz Fischer @ 23

perris and DefJef,

I didn’t come here looking for a fight, but I had to respond to this nonsense.

A personal boycott is good for nothing but enhancing your own feeling of righteousness. A few people refusing to shop at walmart has no effect on walmart (you said so yourself DefJef: “Look up RubberMaid to see how BigBiz works. They ain’t gonna change.”). But it has a major effect on the progressive movement in general. Your self righteous lecturing makes people sick and drives people away.

Let’s stick together and work for laws that regulate corporations to behave responsibly.

the idea isn’t just to NOT shop at walmart - it’s to shop somewhere like costco instead… that’s just an example, but the idea is to support businesses that treating employees better. if we all shopped at walmart, the costco employees would all lose their jobs. in this simplified example, it’s not about harming walmart - it’s about supporting costco and their employees.

btw, i do agree with you that the real goal is to change our laws…

Never heard of the bravo stuff. The one thing that turned me off from Gore was his anti smoking thing that killed his sister, then a week later learned how his family made their money growing tobacco. Just recently i read his book An Inconvenient Truth, here he talks of his sister andd how he should have said something about the guilt his family has had.

NaNOO @ 25

perris, just why is that, that an American pressence is necessary? Just why does the US need 130 bases all over the world?

according to chalmers johnson it’s well over 700 bases.

selise @ 39

Riesz Fischer @ 23

perris and DefJef,

I didn’t come here looking for a fight, but I had to respond to this nonsense.

A personal boycott is good for nothing but enhancing your own feeling of righteousness. A few people refusing to shop at walmart has no effect on walmart (you said so yourself DefJef: “Look up RubberMaid to see how BigBiz works. They ain’t gonna change.”). But it has a major effect on the progressive movement in general. Your self righteous lecturing makes people sick and drives people away.

Let’s stick together and work for laws that regulate corporations to behave responsibly.

the idea isn’t just to NOT shop at walmart - it’s to shop somewhere like costco instead… that’s just an example, but the idea is to support businesses that treating employees better. if we all shopped at walmart, the costco employees would all lose their jobs. in this simplified example, it’s not about harming walmart - it’s about supporting costco and their employees.

btw, i do agree with you that the real goal is to change our laws…

I think we’ve all made our points, like he said, he didn’t come for a fight…we’re all on the same page for what needs to be done to rectify the situation.

we’ve made our point, he’s made his, no fighting, it’s a glorious sunday morning here in long guy land new york

Speaking personally, as a handicapped person shopping on line is the best. And it also opens up avenues of shopping that I could NEVER access before. Last year I found a wonderful laptop drawing board for my 13 year old granddaughter and some wonderful graphic arts pencils, all for little money. It was from some remote graphic arts supply store in Pennsylvania I believe. Would they have been available in the Twin Cities — probably somewhere. The yellow pages were no help and Michaels Arts and Crafts had nothing. Sooooo…

That could never have happened if I was shopping only locally. As long as I have ready access to the stores that do have good track records, I do not see why shopping on line is the worst thing in the world. And I might add that shopping on line is not what brought the labor movement down. Health care is.

rant off…

DefJef at 9 — well, I bought several things from the charitable links I put up in yesterday’s post and, you’ll pardon me, but someone is going to have to run the blog, check comments, watch the moderation queue and research and write my articles for me, and watch my child, if I’m going to get out this year and do all of my socially-acceptable shopping at small boutiques, privately owned only. I live in the sticks, and it would be quite a bit of driving for me to pull that sort of shopping off. As I said yesterday, the election work took a LOT of my time — away from The Peanut and my family, and I got none of my usual early shopping done for the holidays as a result. And since I blog here every freaking day, it’s not like I can just take off any time I like and go shopping. I don’t mean to sound snippy, but sometimes it is incredibly irritating to have someone in the comments tell me how I should be living my life when I spend so much time here on the blog — not really having much of my own life outside of it. Sometimes, I get the feeling that people have no idea how much time this sort of thing takes — and what sacrifices have been made as a result, and what trade-offs and extra work int he evenings after The Peanut’s bedtime have to be made so I can get time with her during the day. Sorry if this is grouchy, but I needed to get it off my chest. I’ve been exhausted, sick and drained all week long, and I am now getting lectured about my inappropriate shopping habits…and that is just one step too far for me this morning.

RF@37

You sounded harsh and wrong. Each person has to vote with how they spend their dollars.

This nation is woefully poor at organizing mass protests. Look at the EU or even Mexico where the people not only VOTE at the ballet box… but with their $$ and their feet in protests.

We merikans are too busy shopping and living the cushy easy life and waiting for elected reps to do the right thing.

If recent history is any indication of where the elected reps are taking us… it’s straight to fascism without passing go.

selise @ 39

Riesz Fischer @ 23

perris and DefJef,

I didn’t come here looking for a fight, but I had to respond to this nonsense.

A personal boycott is good for nothing but enhancing your own feeling of righteousness. A few people refusing to shop at walmart has no effect on walmart (you said so yourself DefJef: “Look up RubberMaid to see how BigBiz works. They ain’t gonna change.”). But it has a major effect on the progressive movement in general. Your self righteous lecturing makes people sick and drives people away.

Let’s stick together and work for laws that regulate corporations to behave responsibly.

the idea isn’t just to NOT shop at walmart - it’s to shop somewhere like costco instead… that’s just an example, but the idea is to support businesses that treating employees better. if we all shopped at walmart, the costco employees would all lose their jobs. in this simplified example, it’s not about harming walmart - it’s about supporting costco and their employees.

btw, i do agree with you that the real goal is to change our laws…

Good point.

But walmart is 5 minutes away and Costco is 30 minutes away. So I’ll be damaging the environment. I drive a Ford Taurus, should I be driving a Prius? Oh wait, that’s not kosher with the union people.

It’s so hard being a righteously pure progressive!

But doing some Christmas shopping online this morning. Thanks to everyone’s suggestions, I’m almost done shopping…and I didn’t have to leave the house. Woo hoo! No crowds

I have started my Solstice shopping and, per long-standing tradition, if it does not arrive from a catalog or through one of the Internets’ many non-military Tubes, then it does not arrive. (The catalog method is long-standing tradition; the Tubes are a turn-of-the century phenomenon).

This will also be a Disney free Solstice. With our four-year-old Nuala, this presents (NPI) a few challenges. Fortunately, she already had the Hayao Miyazaki collection — Miramax releases them in English — well before Disney’s traitorous PT911 GOP infomercial. Otherwise, my doctrinaire stand on post-PT911 Disney related merchandise might have become a flexible position. Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro are her favorites.

So what are the other parents of 3 going on 4 year-old girls who dress like princesses and love Hayao Miyasaki movies finding the most popular this year? How about those of you with 8-year-old boys who are fighting a losing battle against Pokemon and GameBoy but whose sons are still interested in Battleship, Lincoln Logs, skiing and anything that flies?

Prediction: Pumpkin Head is so afraid of being shown up by James Webb that he forgets to concentrate on Jon Tester who, as a consequence, gets in his answers rather than just responding to Pumpkin Head’s asininely ill-framed inside-the-beltway CW horseshit.

Sláinte,
cl

NaNOO @ 25

perris, just why is that, that an American pressence is necessary? Just why does the US need 130 bases all over the world?

like it or not, we are targets, we do have enemies, and we do need a presence around the world

where our presence is welcome, (israil), we enjoy favor among the residence, influence in the region, and we secure our military interests physically as well.

if we want to be the only super power, (and this serves our purpose economically, intellectually, scientifically and socially)then we need to be at the ready in all regions regions of influence

what we should avoid are bases where we are not wanted

this is the real reason bin laden made us a target, and bush, like the puppet he is, removed the base in suadi arabia…one of the reasons some people think we attacked Iraq, to compensate for the base we no longer have in the suadi’s

selisee at 41: wow 700 bases, is this country afraid of something or an control freak?

closing tag

Def at 45: RF@37

You sounded harsh and wrong. Each person has to vote with how they spend their dollars.

Sorry for sounding harsh.

But we have to organize to be effective. Each one of us on our own personal missions will not work.

And trust me, people hate being lectured by self-righteous liberals. I used to live in Boulder.

Christy @ 6:00 -

Love, kisses }}}}}}}. Lady, you are my personification of Superwoman! It’s impossible to imagine how you & all the top dogs @ the Lake have survived the last several weeks. Thank you so much for all you do & give up as a personal life to make things better for the Family & the country.

so, anyone ever try that lettuce tobacco or hear of it?

http://www.bravosmokes.com/testimonials. asp

perris, well you one can almost always buy friends.

perris, formerly known as me to me, @ 22

NaNOO @ 21

No more money or weapons for Israel too. Let’s really make some peace in the middle east.

while I’m not happy about what isreal is doing with our support, we have to have an american presence in the middle east, Israel is America’s proxy, we have to suppotr her militarily, however we need someone in charge here that knows how to conduct our concerns in the middle east, that description exclueds the current administration

Please expalin why we need a prescence in the middle east? Explain how isreal’s continued suppression and slaughter of the Palestians helps our national interest. Please explain at what time has Isreal ever acted as our proxy. Jesus

Riesz Fischer @ 46

But walmart is 5 minutes away and Costco is 30 minutes away. So I’ll be damaging the environment. I drive a Ford Taurus, should I be driving a Prius? Oh wait, that’s not kosher with the union people.

It’s so hard being a righteously pure progressive!

not hard - just impossible! :-)

as christy just wisely commented - our lives are full of trade-offs and we’re all just trying to our best… and while i think helping each other be aware and think more carefully about our choices is a good thing - i certainly agree with you that lecturing is NOT helpful.

NaNOO @ 54

perris, well you one can almost always buy friends.

when it comes to international influence, this isn’t as bad an idea of having enemies.

but it needs to be prosecuted well, by responsible people who are concerned with our national interests, not their personal pocket book

Waccamaw @ 52

Christy @ 6:00 -

Love, kisses }}}}}}}. Lady, you are my personification of Superwoman! It’s impossible to imagine how you & all the top dogs @ the Lake have survived the last several weeks. Thank you so much for all you do & give up as a personal life to make things better for the Family & the country.

amen.

christy - many, many thanks for everything you’ve been doing. i’m so sorry that i haven’t been saying thank you enough…

And yes, before anyone asks, I do need a vacation. *g* But Mr. ReddHedd is buried at work, so it isn’t going to happen until January. Sorry I’m so cranky — am going to finally get my coffee going now…haven’t had time to get to it yet.

perris, well the International Community has condemned Israel for their lastest war crimes, How do you make more friendly countries towards the US, when the US not only gives the the go ahead, but our tax money and weapons.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 59

And yes, before anyone asks, I do need a vacation. *g* But Mr. ReddHedd is buried at work, so it isn’t going to happen until January. Sorry I’m so cranky — am going to finally get my coffee going now…haven’t had time to get to it yet.

What selise and Waccamaw said.

NaNOO @ 60

perris, well the International Community has condemned Israel for their lastest war crimes, How do you make more friendly countries towards the US, when the US not only gives the the go ahead, but our tax money and weapons.

I can’t argue your point, my argument is the current administration should have been able to prevent that.

we do need a presence in the middle east, Israel is the only welcome host right now.

we need someone in charge that will controll our proxy according to international interest instead of their theocratic predictions of armageddon

OT - An Inconvenient Truth releases on DVD this Tuesday

tennis weather here in long guy land new york, not too mamy left so off I go.

enjoy the mornign firedogs

perris — enjoy the weather! And serve an ace or two…

Riesz Fischer @
10

Professor Foland @ 8

OK, I have to ask. I just can’t figure out what that’s a picture of.

I thought it was a bird in the snow, but Redd explains what it is at the bottom of the post.

(Emphasis mine)

Reading–there’s nothing like it! :)

perris, Kucinich had a reesolution for an immediate cease fire, but where was the democratic support. I remember H. Clinton being all for dropping the bombs. I sure hope the dem party nominate her for the 08 election.

Russert asks Tester:

“Are you a ‘New’ Democrat? Different from the national Democrats?”

What a tool.

Correction, doesn Not nominate H. Clinton.

Christy really deserves a vacation.

Pach at 70 — we just made reservations for Hilton Head in January. It’s the first week we could find that Mr. ReddHedd could get away. And we are really looking forward to it. :)

Shez @
68

Russert asks Tester:

“Are you a ‘New’ Democrat? Different from the national Democrats?”

What a tool.

Perhaps I haven’t had enough java to be making predictions about the inane proclivities of Pumpkin Head. Glad I don’t have cable or even network reception (except for grainy occassions that are hard to predict) up here in the mountains and way out in the sticks. I’ll see the highlights on Crooks and Liars.
What a prick!
cl

I appreciate this web site, I’ve had this computer one year now, my first and I’ve got to say what an eye opener. I just hope the democrats show their strength on defence of the Americans public opinion who elected them.

Christy, I hope you know how much we appreciate all of your hard work and sacrifice to provide us one of the clearest and sanest voices in the blogosphere. You are a Goddess. Many Thanks for everything you do.

Oh, the huge manatee!

Shez at 74 — thanks. I really didn’t meant to lose my temper like that. I don’t do it very often, and I really try not to do it in the comments because it is counterproductive. I think I’m just a little more tired than usual this morning, having spent the last four days dealing with some sort of stomach ick. Plus, I should know not to jump into the comments before I’ve made myself coffee. *g* Today is the first days in the last four that I’ve been able to drink any…thank goodness whatever was going on with my tummy seems to have dissapated a bit.

twolf1 @
63

OT - An Inconvenient Truth releases on DVD this Tuesday

I thought it had come out early in October. I looked for it, but never asked for it, which fed my (apparently inaccurate) suspicion it wasn’t being stocked at the usual places because of some sort of corporate pressure.

If you know someone who has a peanut or tree nut allergy, and avoids chocolate because of cross-contaimination concerns, here’s a company that specializes in chocolates that are safe for people with those concerns.

http://www.vermontnutfree.com/

Ed*ard Teller @ 77

twolf1 @
63

OT - An Inconvenient Truth releases on DVD this Tuesday

I thought it had come out early in October. I looked for it, but never asked for it, which fed my (apparently inaccurate) suspicion it wasn’t being stocked at the usual places because of some sort of corporate pressure.

All I know is it’s in the new releases list for Netflix this week.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 59

And yes, before anyone asks, I do need a vacation. *g* But Mr. ReddHedd is buried at work, so it isn’t going to happen until January. Sorry I’m so cranky — am going to finally get my coffee going now…haven’t had time to get to it yet.

Redd honey, this has been a momentus year for all the firepups, thanks to the hard work you all do here everyday. Every active Dem I know is exhausted, physically and emeotionally.

You know, taking back an entire branch of Gvoevernmnet ain’t so easy. Especailly in a situation stacked against you by gerrymandering.

I have said it before and I will say it again. “Do not underestimate the power of this place or the importance of the work that every poster and commentor does here.”

This incredible group of people bring more thoughtful analysis into the public debate than any similarly situated group on the internet or in any other form of media.

You all amaze me, time and again.

I rented a houseboat on a canal in Amsterdam last Spring. I sat on the deck in the morning and evening, watching the coots and the ducks. One evening, a swan visited, sailing up and down the canal, looking like it owned the place. But when it got to the home across the canal from mine, a coot came out in a fury and chased it away. The swan made it look good, as if it had just decided to move on, but the firey red eye of the coot made it clear who owned that stretch of water.

Bill Maher’s spoof on the ‘Head On’ commercial:

Bill Maher - Head In

Christy Hardin Smith @ 71

Pach at 70 — we just made reservations for Hilton Head in January. It’s the first week we could find that Mr. ReddHedd could get away. And we are really looking forward to it. :)

OK, I am so totally jealous. I start a federal civil trial on January 2nd. You can imagine what that will do to our christmas/hanuka/solitce festivilies this yea…. The ones that won’t be occuring.

Oh, and I have purches so far, exactly one stocking stuffer. No presents hidden in the garage yet. Sigh

Christy,

What’s the possibility of getting Jimmy Carter on fdl for the Book Salon to discuss his newest book?

I get this constant feeling Gore is preparing a run.

That photo of him doing MoveOn phone banking was a recent thing. Now, when other people are annoucning exploratory committees, his DVD is set to release.

I have no inside info on this. Just twinges.

DefJef @
7

Crepes / pancakes with Vermont maple syrup.. of course.

Do you think we will see more from the left side on the insufferable Sunday Morning talk shows now that the D’s are in control of the legislative branch (including most states and govenors?? Na … I did’t think so…

I am more and more convinced that what we see is a side show and the real string pullers are a handful of super rich individuals and their corporation. They will not move some of their focus to the dems… and the same old same old will continue.

How can we demilitarize this nation and the world? Why do we run off to fight, kill each other and make people richer for it?

Does anyone else want to shrink the pentagon to a triangle or a line… and can the national security state that now dominates us?

Dildo Bill O’Reilly admits that he doesn’t buy products from Vermont any more because the state is too liberal…what with Howard Dean, civil unions and the only socialist in the senate.

It’s OK Bill. Vermont doesn’t supply loofah’s or falafel anyhow.

-GSD

Christy Hardin Smith @ 71

we just made reservations for Hilton Head in January. It’s the first week we could find that Mr. ReddHedd could get away. And we are really looking forward to it. :)

Great time of year to go; should be many fewer humans & hopefully good weather even @ that time of year. Take the little one crabbing if you can find a place; bet she would love it. Just pulled six nice size blue crabs out of the waterway this a.m. Lots of work for very little product but sooooooooooo good.

Pachacutec @ 85

I get this constant feeling Gore is preparing a run.

That photo of him doing MoveOn phone banking was a recent thing. Now, when other people are annoucning exploratory committees, his DVD is set to release.

I have no inside info on this. Just twinges.

So, Pach? Would you want him to run?

as I sit here listening to Tom Waits singing “Waltzing Matilda”, a possible ‘Pull up a Chair” occurs to me:

Ain’t there one damn song that can make me break down and cry?

Or maybe not.

jayt @ 36

If you guys are in your 30s or 40s, you should seriously think about leaving it behind…

Actually, I’ve left both my 30s and 40s behind….

I do tend to rather jealously guard my relatively few remaining bad habits.

jayt, be careful, nkay? it’s just easier to breathe and move and stuff without them. for me, at least, the benefits of letting it go have way outweighed continuing to smoke.

if you ever need some links to help you stop, clicky my name-thingy. that goes for anyone else out there too: the liver regenerates (to a certain degree) but the lungs don’t, so let go of them ciggies before the drinks….

The discussion has moved on, but I can’t resist sending a hug, since I just woke up and read this:

Christy Hardin Smith @ 44

I’ve been exhausted, sick and drained all week long, and I am now getting lectured about my inappropriate shopping habits…

((((((((((((ReddHedd))))))))))))

and while we’re abandoning all Internet-shopping (which, by the way, allows small mom-and-pop Internet-sellers, who have access to a nationwide market practically for free without paying rent to some corporation for a storefront), how’s this:

C’mon, folks, waddya doing supporting multinational Internet and telephone companies by blogging and commenting online, when the only way to support a real economy community is to hang up the modem and do all your shoppingconversing in person?

If we all went offline, Christie could have her old, disconnected, isolated life back and we could all retreat to our uninformed, narrow, CM-dominated worlds.

/snark off

looseheadprop @ 80

Christy Hardin Smith @ 59

And yes, before anyone asks, I do need a vacation. *g* But Mr. ReddHedd is buried at work, so it isn’t going to happen until January. Sorry I’m so cranky — am going to finally get my coffee going now…haven’t had time to get to it yet.

Redd honey, this has been a momentus year for all the firepups, thanks to the hard work you all do here everyday. Every active Dem I know is exhausted, physically and emeotionally.

You know, taking back an entire branch of Gvoevernmnet ain’t so easy. Especailly in a situation stacked against you by gerrymandering.

I have said it before and I will say it again. “Do not underestimate the power of this place or the importance of the work that every poster and commentor does here.”

This incredible group of people bring more thoughtful analysis into the public debate than any similarly situated group on the internet or in any other form of media.

You all amaze me, time and again.

Ya know - this lhp girl has a way with words. she oughta consider being a lawyer, or somethin’. heh.

Waccamaw at 86 — we’ve found a lovely place adjacent to a stretch of marsh, but not too far a walk from the beach. It’s going to be perfect for relaxing and kicking back, and also for some nice bird watching and walks. I think she’s going to love it. Crabbing is a good idea…although it would probably be a lot more of us looking, and not catching. *G*

Christy Hardin Smith @ 59

And yes, before anyone asks, I do need a vacation. *g* But Mr. ReddHedd is buried at work, so it isn’t going to happen until January. Sorry I’m so cranky — am going to finally get my coffee going now…haven’t had time to get to it yet.

Thanks for your heartfelt, honest reaction, Christy. I’ve been thinking about you since the election (in an empathetic, not stalker-ish kind of way). I imagine everyone’s exhausted post-election, you especially. And likely, we’ve still got some pent-up adrenaline from all the time we spent together — worrying about, and working for, the election. Unfortunately, sometimes the remaining energies seep out sideways.

So an idea…What if you or one of your guest bloggers (or indeed, us Firedogs in the collective) created a menu of opportunities for engagement from this point forward? Today’s conversation suggests there’s interest in generating a list of labor-friendly, economic places to shop; but for global thninkers, we could also create a list of contacts for those who want to get involved in changing labor laws at big box stores. At the end of An Inconvenient Truth, Gore suggested big and small choices we could make to create change. I thought that was a very good way to help people realize how they can best contribute, given their time, interest, and abilities.

I hesitate to ask, as it’s one more thing to add to someone’s to-do list, and I’m not a regular contributor, so I recognize that I don’t have clout and credibility with the group. But I do read every post, every day, and I come away inspired and compelled to act. In the end, this might serve a positive purpose: herding us cats.

I do hope you’ll have time today, like that beautiful swan, to take a nap. =:)

Prof at 90 — you are cracking me up.

Christy, you don’t have to apologize to anybody for anything. You and the rest of the gang here have done superhuman work this year. I “joined” about a year ago and am simply amazed every day at the quantity and quality of analysis and support here.

On other notes above.
Online shopping is the future. Small businesses can sell online as easily as big box stores, and keep their prices lower and competitive. Brick and mortar stores will become the cutsey things for tourists and those who like to actually touch and feel things before they buy.

I quit drinking last week, which was not all that much anyway, and felt no withdrawal symptoms at all. I miss the ritual, though.