TRex!!

Trex!!

ZeD☼

Hey LL, I copied you!!

Good late night, everyone.

;-) AZ Matt

So what are we to discuss tonight? I need to know so I can decide how long to walk the dogs.

Hey everybody! Lolo, the competition is improving.

TRex !!! Finally !!! I was starting to wonder …
Friday nights without TRex is like Remy without Martin … *g*

Damn, and I came for a refreshing dip in the snark tank…

climbing up the ladder of the tallest dive tower, standing at the top, tugging at the bottom of my suit and adjusting the mod cap that keep my tresses dry.

with a running start – boing – a forward full twisting one and a half somersault that ends in a cannonball, with a huge splash – splashing what feels like half the lake in the direction of kirk murphy – that plastic sheeting he rigged up did him no good whatsoever *wink*

Evening TRex.

Hello everyone !

Gnome de Plume @ 7

So what are we to discuss tonight? I need to know so I can decide how long to walk the dogs.

No news dump, huh?

TRex, on the topic of diva songstresses — did you hear that our Amy got hitched?

Ooooh Suzanne, nice job!

Subway Serenade @ 10

Damn, and I came for a refreshing dip in the snark tank…

Be creative!

Loo Hoo, don’t make me comment on dumps just as I am taking the dogs out!

What kind of fuckery is this?!?!

Evening all.

CANNONBALL EXTRAORDINAIRE!

Oh good. EDP is here to liven things up. I will put on my walking shoes while waiting for the snark to build. Where’s Cassie?

Yo Trex, ain’t it great to watch the wheels come off the Bushiewagen. Too damn many axles on that thing though. I wonder when it’ll finally swerve off the highway???

——————————
(check my .SIG above in a day or three) :)

hi pups..

did I miss anything? :)

Yes kirk, Loo Hoo and I need sick notes for this coming Wednesday…can you oblige? ;-)

Snark via TIME.

Gnome de Plume @ 17

Loo Hoo, don’t make me comment on dumps just as I am taking the dogs out!

Well, then, what’s the purpose of the walk?

Glorious day here in the northern Rockies. I took a long (24 mile) hike in the Rattlesnake NRA today. Took a bunch of pictures and posted a few at Flikr http://www.flickr.com/photos/8437267@N08/?saved=1 if anyone is interested. This is part of the Lolo National Forest (didn’t know you had a forest named for you did you?) and is right on the outskirts of Missoula. It is about 10-20 minutes from my door step.

[Mod: Links must have a space on either side; no parentheses!!]

Subway Serenade @ 25

Snark via TIME.

TeeHee! ;-)

A quick OT question for the esteemed Drs. of Anthropology-I’m told the “symbolic capacity” necessary to advanced communication requires a brain capacity of 950 cc’s. True?

S.O.S. from MA @ 22

Yo Trex, ain’t it great to watch the wheels come off the Bushiewagen. Too damn many axles on that thing though. I wonder when it’ll finally swerve off the highway???

——————————
(check my .SIG above in a day or three) :)

Okay, what does the check my .SIG mean?

Now I’ve seen it all … Hip hop mogul Russell Simmons is explaining to Bill Maher what yoga/meditation is … *g*

Dr Dick linky

kirk murphy @ 23

hi pups..

did I miss anything? :)

You all wet, bro.

Hi y’all! Good evening to you!

The dinosaur will be along shortly.

I expect a white satin rhinestone cape tonight.

DrDick @ 27

This is part of the Lolo National Forest (didn’t know you had a forest named for you did you?) and is right on the outskirts of Missoula. It is about 10-20 minutes from my door step.

My sister lives in Missoula – it’s so beautiful there!

Dr Dick, that is some beautiful country!

How about a NO confidence vote on the entire government.

LoudonLib, after powering up the Fristosocpe, I fear you have a case of exploreritis…

may require some days recovery…

and it is contaigious…

LooHoo’s probably come down with it, too…

where should I send the notes…?

Hey, gang. I’m here. Fell asleep on the couch. Trying to wake up now.

Petrocelli @ 31

Now I’ve seen it all … Hip hop mogul Russell Simmons is explaining to Bill Maher what yoga/meditation is … *g*

…and if Oprah Winfrey married Deepak Chopra, she’d be Oprah Chopra…

kirk, you are da best…just fax it to 703-xxx-xxxx ;-)

Petrocelli @ 31

Now I’ve seen it all … Hip hop mogul Russell Simmons is explaining to Bill Maher what yoga/meditation is … *g*

OMG, after giving Bill a spiel on yoga and connecting to the atma within, Mr. Simmons uses the *N* word.

Pachacutec @ 35

The dinosaur will be along shortly.

I expect a white satin rhinestone cape tonight.

See Pach, I’m thinking I want to patent one of those capes for my little chihuahua (and other little critters) so the hawks are less attracted to her. My daughters think I’m nuts.

tbsa @ 38

How about a NO confidence vote on the entire government.

Alter. Abolish.

RonD @ 29

A quick OT question for the esteemed Drs. of Anthropology-I’m told the “symbolic capacity” necessary to advanced communication requires a brain capacity of 950 cc’s. True?

I am afraid I have no idea where that comes from, though I think that it is less a function of gross size than it is of morphology and functionality. Certainly all of the great apes show a limited capacity for symbolic thought, including limited language ability (no more than that of a four year old human). Homo habilis (with a cranial capacity of around 650 cc)also shows fairly sophisticated thought processes (including symbolic thought) in their tools. You do not get really advanced symbolic thought like religion and art until archaic Homo sapiens and modern Homo sapiens. I personally think that the available evidence suggests that Homo habilis probably had some rudimentary form of language and that Homo erectus certainly had language, though at what level of sophistication is unknown.

TRex @ 40

Hey, gang. I’m here. Fell asleep on the couch. Trying to wake up now.

Jeez, that’s an entrance?

And I promised an Elvis ensemble.

Loo Hoo. @ 44

Pachacutec @ 35

The dinosaur will be along shortly.

I expect a white satin rhinestone cape tonight.

See Pach, I’m thinking I want to patent one of those capes for my little chihuahua (and other little critters) so the hawks are less attracted to her. My daughters think I’m nuts.

Chihuahuas deserve special perks. Your daughters just don’t understand.

Thanks, Kirk Murphy, e-mail it to the boss people.

TRex, I can’t believe you slept through my fantantic cannonball.

( runs to brew a quick espresso for the theropod )

RonD @ 29

A quick OT question for the esteemed Drs. of Anthropology-I’m told the “symbolic capacity” necessary to advanced communication requires a brain capacity of 950 cc’s. True?

I would say unknown. 950 cc is roughly the average cranial capacity of Homo erectus over a million years, so my guess is that whoever made that assertion is trying to say that human symboling capacity appeared with Homo erectus. But the relationship between brain volume and any mental capability is far from linear in modern humans, and there’s still too many arguments about when and how basic symboling abilities like speech evolved, for me to regard any such claim as more than the claimant’s personal assertion.

TRex @ 40

Hey, gang. I’m here. Fell asleep on the couch. Trying to wake up now.

Who is “the couch” you fell asleep on? *wink* *wink*

From the NYT’s. Yup, this crap didn’t happen in vaccum.
LINKY

Their Master’s Voice

Published: May 19, 2007

In March 2004, the acting attorney general distrusted Alberto Gonzales so much that he wouldn’t meet with him at the White House without a witness. Eight months later, President Bush promoted Mr. Gonzales from White House counsel to attorney general, the top law enforcement job in the land. The president is still standing by his man, ignoring Mr. Gonzales’s efforts to mislead Congress, his disregard for the Constitution and his gross neglect of even basic bureaucratic duties.

It’s a familiar pattern: Mr. Bush sticks by his most trusted aides no matter how evident it is — even to the Republican Congressional chorus — that they are guilty of incompetence, bad judgment, malfeasance or all three. (George Tenet, the director of central intelligence; Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld; and the Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers spring to mind.)

Each time, we’re told Mr. Bush repays loyalty with loyalty. We’re told it’s a sign of character.

We don’t buy the explanation. The more persuasive answer is that Mr. Bush protects his embattled advisers because they are doing precisely what he told them to do.

…

Suzanne @ 50

TRex, I can’t believe you slept through my fantantic cannonball.

Suzanne @ 11

climbing up the ladder of the tallest dive tower, standing at the top, tugging at the bottom of my suit and adjusting the mod cap that keep my tresses dry.

with a running start – boing – a forward full twisting one and a half somersault that ends in a cannonball, with a huge splash – splashing what feels like half the lake in the direction of kirk murphy – that plastic sheeting he rigged up did him no good whatsoever *wink*

Evening TRex.

Must be enjoyed, TRex.

DrDick @ 27

Glorious day here in the northern Rockies. I took a long (24 mile) hike in the Rattlesnake NRA today. Took a bunch of pictures and posted a few at Flikr http://www.flickr.com/photos/8437267@N08/?saved=1 if anyone is interested. This is part of the Lolo National Forest (didn’t know you had a forest named for you did you?) and is right on the outskirts of Missoula. It is about 10-20 minutes from my door step.

Beautiful photos. They make me very homesick for the Jemez in NM.

Kirk, powering up the Fristoscope…..

Pachacutec @ 47

TRex @ 40

Hey, gang. I’m here. Fell asleep on the couch. Trying to wake up now.

Jeez, that’s an entrance?

And I promised an Elvis ensemble.

OTOH, Suzanne knows how to make an entrance.

Now where’d I put my towel?

Subway Serenade @ 41

Petrocelli @ 31

Now I’ve seen it all … Hip hop mogul Russell Simmons is explaining to Bill Maher what yoga/meditation is … *g*

…and if Oprah Winfrey married Deepak Chopra, she’d be Oprah Chopra…

LOL
… sounds like a salad maker …

Drs. # 46 & 52:Thank you. I was having the discussion with an Anthro prof of my acquaintance who made that assertion as a statement of established fact, and it just struck me as a suspiciously precise delineation.

Alicia @ 36 & LoudounLib @ 37
It is indeed beautiful and what you are seeing is your tax dollars at work – no motorized vehicles or development other than trails and a couple of latrine in the lower reaches. Ou dearly beloved Preznit wants to sell off large tracks of our national forests to private owners. Congress, however, has so far block this particular imbecility.

Blech, blech, and blech.

Balrog-Blankie time.

You all rock.

EvilDrPuma@52

…and there’s still too many arguments about when and how basic symboling abilities like speech evolved, for me to regard any such claim as more than the claimant’s personal assertion…

Just an assumption on my part, but I would say that happened when folks started eating the funny mushrooms and other entheogens. Might have started when a thousand acres of marihuana burned slightly upwind…

Hi TRex, nice spangly cape you’re sportin’

The Nation has a long profile on Hillary Inc that probably isn’t news around here, but I didn’t think y’all would want to miss it.

RonD @ 60

Drs. # 46 & 52:Thank you. I was having the discussion with an Anthro prof of my acquaintance who made that assertion as a statement of established fact, and it just struck me as a suspiciously precise delineation.

You were correct. Unfortunately the fossil and archaeological evidence simply do not allow for that kind of precision. It also assumes that symbolic thought emerges as a totality in its modern form, when it is more likely that it gradually emerges and expands over time.

nite Balrog, I stand by my Sunday prediction ;-)

AZ Matt –

The clincher to that editorial is a keeper:

The more of these White House psychodramas we get to witness, the more obvious it is that Mr. Bush’s warm embrace is really a payoff to yes-men who didn’t challenge his orders or question ideology-driven policies. It is a cynical way to run the United States government. And, as Mr. Tenet’s recent book shows, it doesn’t even buy silence.

Payoffs . . . buying . . .

Cynical doesn’t even begin to describe it.

Yikes, Tori – I think I wore that dress in high school back in 1972.

Fantastic pics, DrDick! 24 miles? Mercy!

Thanks for the linky, Suzanne!

Dr Dick, it’s nice to know (and see) that so much of your area is still unspoiled. I hope to get up that way someday to see it for myself.

Another WHACKO!!!!!

Evolution Opponent Is in Line for Schools Post

By CORNELIA DEAN
Published: May 19, 2007

The National Association of State Boards of Education will elect officers in July, and for one office, president-elect, there is only one candidate: a member of the Kansas school board who supported its efforts against the teaching of evolution.

Scientists who have been active in the nation’s evolution debate say they want to thwart his candidacy, but it is not clear that they can.

The candidate is Kenneth R. Willard, a Kansas Republican who voted with the conservative majority in 2005 when the school board changed the state’s science standards to allow inclusion of intelligent design, an ideological cousin of creationism. Voters later replaced that majority, but Mr. Willard, an insurance executive from Hutchinson, retained his seat. If he becomes president-elect of the national group, he will take office in January 2009.

…

porgy tirebiter @ 62

Blech, blech, and blech.

Welcome to ‘Commie Martyrs High.’

Shoes for Industry!

Kevoy11 @ 69

Fantastic pics, DrDick! 24 miles? Mercy!

Thanks for the linky, Suzanne!

Yeah, I am paying for it tonight. I can barely walk. Actually went much further than I originally intended (about 8 miles in and back out). I have to remind myself that you cannot play superman anymore when you are over 50.

Until further notice the US National Anthem has been replaced with the following tune.

Salute sharply while it is played.

-GSD

P.S. If she wrote a musical play about southern food it would be Oprah Chopra’s Okra Opera.

and on that note — gotta go…working for the public again all this weekend…good night all!

Balrog @ 63

Balrog-Blankie time.

You all rock.

You’re gonna get a wake-up call.

I was going to post this the other day as a snark. I think was better to digest the material, read more, and let it out as a late night snark.

It would seem that Mr. Koch is predisposed to finding disease afflicting a healthy organisms.

Koch’s postulates are:

1. The microorganism must be found in all organisms suffering from the disease, but not in healthy organisms.
2. The microorganism must be isolated from a diseased organism and grown in pure culture.
3. The cultured microorganism should cause disease when introduced into a healthy organism.
4. The microorganism must be reisolated from the inoculated, diseased experimental host and identified as being identical to the original specific causative agent.

Koch found 2 & 3 to be untrue.

Eugene Robinson’s got a great column in tomorrow’s WaPo on Gonzales . . .

It just gets worse and worse. We already knew that Alberto Gonzales — who, unbelievably, remains our attorney general — was willing to construe the Constitution and the Geneva Conventions however George W. Bush and Dick Cheney wanted. We knew he was willing to politicize the Justice Department, if that was what the White House wanted. Now we learn that Gonzales also was willing to accost a seriously ill man in his hospital room to get his signature on a dodgy justification for unprecedented domestic surveillance.

And that’s just the beginning. Read the whole thing . . . and then weep.

LoudounLib @ 70

Dr Dick, it’s nice to know (and see) that so much of your area is still unspoiled. I hope to get up that way someday to see it for myself.

Well, it is not entirely unspoiled. We bear the legacy of 100 years of mining and heavy metal contamination is a problem in many areas. There is also Libby, where W. R. Grace Co. knowingly exposed the residents to extremely high levels of asbestos exposure over decades. There are also large areas which have been scarred by commercial logging. On the whole, however, there are millions of acres of mountains, forests, rivers, natural lakes, and wild life that are still readily available. All owned by the American people and accessible to all for free.

Bushies HATE children!!!!

Putting More Profit Before Education

Published: May 19, 2007

The United States Department of Education has been rightfully drawn (but not yet quartered) in Congress for failing to prevent the kickbacks, payoffs and self-dealing recently uncovered in the student loan business. Now it turns out that the department also mismanaged the federal Reading First initiative, the cornerstone of the No Child Left Behind Act, which requires states to improve reading instruction in exchange for federal education dollars.

The failures, laid out in scalding reports by both Congress and Education’s inspector general, go back to the very beginning, when the Education Department created the panels that evaluate state reading programs. Those panels were immediately hobbled by a lack of transparency and documentation — and especially by the department’s failure to fully enforce conflict-of-interest policies. Profit mongers who were eager to exploit ties to the program for gain were given plenty of room to do so. In a particularly egregious case, a senior Reading First official signed contracts with a textbook publisher while working for the program. He attended conferences and actually lobbied the government on one publisher’s behalf.

Worse still, officials at the Education Department may have known about the conflicts and ignored them. As the word got around, some state and local officials naturally assumed that the federal government was more interested in shilling for favored book publishers than in improving reading instruction for the nation’s children.

…

In another sign the Bush surgescalation is working!

Record number of contractors dying in Iraq.

-GSD

AZ Matt @ 80

The Bushies hate everyone except themselves. Actually that’s not really true. They actually do not give a rat’s ass about anyone else.

DrDick – a long hike like that would be tough on a 25 year old – Superman or not. But the scenery sure looks beautiful.

I hope W keeps his dirty mitts off our national forests, too.

Mike Gravel, Bev Harris and Howard Dean (among others) will be at DemocracyFest

Howard is speaking on the Sunday night, but otherwise it looks like I’ll be performing to some of my progressive heros.

w00t!

DrDick @ 79

LoudounLib @ 70

Dr Dick, it’s nice to know (and see) that so much of your area is still unspoiled. I hope to get up that way someday to see it for myself.

Well, it is not entirely unspoiled. We bear the legacy of 100 years of mining and heavy metal contamination is a problem in many areas. There is also Libby, where W. R. Grace Co. knowingly exposed the residents to extremely high levels of asbestos exposure over decades. There are also large areas which have been scarred by commercial logging. On the whole, however, there are millions of acres of mountains, forests, rivers, natural lakes, and wild life that are still readily available. All owned by the American people and accessible to all for free.

I have a friend who was/is an expert witness (on the side of the angels) in the legal hassles of the Libby mining. The historical stories he tells are something else.

Enjoy the scenery, the wildlife, and everything else!

A very early night for me. The continual parade of work, school, band, blogging, and my sister’s impending wedding is taking its toll, and more to come tomorrow. Drs., thank you for your indulgence, and good nite all!

Peterr @ 85

I have a friend who was/is an expert witness (on the side of the angels) in the legal hassles of the Libby mining. The historical stories he tells are something else.

Enjoy the scenery, the wildlife, and everything else!

Unfortunately, it is not just history here. The problems at Libby are ongoing. The ground is contaminated with asbestos throughout the community and hundreds of people of all ages have severe asbestos related respiratory problems. The EPA has been attempting remediation, but the latest report is that it is not working. Personally, I think that they are going to have to relocate the whole town and seal off the area (a la Chernobyl).

Why do Republicans like only snowflake babies and fetuses and hate the rest of the kids?

Night RonD.

DrDick @ 87

Peterr @ 85

I have a friend who was/is an expert witness (on the side of the angels) in the legal hassles of the Libby mining. The historical stories he tells are something else.

Enjoy the scenery, the wildlife, and everything else!

Unfortunately, it is not just history here. The problems at Libby are ongoing. The ground is contaminated with asbestos throughout the community and hundreds of people of all ages have severe asbestos related respiratory problems. The EPA has been attempting remediation, but the latest report is that it is not working. Personally, I think that they are going to have to relocate the whole town and seal off the area (a la Chernobyl).

That’s the sense I get from my friend. In his stories, he tries to keep it away from the present, in that he doesn’t want to get tarred with speaking out of school, but that’s that clear picture I get from him.

And given what he (and you) have said about the area, it’s a damn shame in more ways than you can count.

And there I was, talking to myself in the previous thread…

gnite, LoudounLib!

I have just sat down with a nice glass of petit syrah. Mmmm. Hubby just got home from work, and the kitties are going after him for attention.

here’s a bizarre question for you: what’s an appropriate way to say “congratulations on your Bat Mitzvah”? Is it “congratulations on becoming a Bat Mitzvah”? Or is something more like “congratulations on this achievement(or milestone)”? Can you tell I’m not Jewish and really have no clue what to write in a card for my student?

Oh, any tips on what to expect for the ceremony & stuff would be helpful, too! My understanding is that it will be the traditional Saturday service, and my student will lead the service, including a large section where she’ll read in Hebrew. My guess is that it’ll be a few hours. Any tips (like “you must wear a dress – women can’t wear pants!”) are much appreciated.

I did end up figuring out a nice gift – I had a friend design a bracelet with 18 garnets (her birthstone) and crystals. My understanding is that 18 represents chai, or life – so the bracelet represents celebrating her life.

So why are all of the Rethuglican candidates for president old white men?

Peterr @ 90

That’s the sense I get from my friend. In his stories, he tries to keep it away from the present, in that he doesn’t want to get tarred with speaking out of school, but that’s that clear picture I get from him.

And given what he (and you) have said about the area, it’s a damn shame in more ways than you can count.

Yeah, I have a friend who is from Libby and whose family still lives there. This is really ripping the community apart and savaging many lives.

Peterr @ 78

Eugene Robinson’s got a great column in tomorrow’s WaPo on Gonzales . . .

It just gets worse and worse. We already knew that Alberto Gonzales — who, unbelievably, remains our attorney general — was willing to construe the Constitution and the Geneva Conventions however George W. Bush and Dick Cheney wanted. We knew he was willing to politicize the Justice Department, if that was what the White House wanted. Now we learn that Gonzales also was willing to accost a seriously ill man in his hospital room to get his signature on a dodgy justification for unprecedented domestic surveillance.

And that’s just the beginning. Read the whole thing . . . and then weep.

Eugene Robinson is a good man. So too are E.J. Dionne, Harold Meyerson, Froomkin, sometimes Milbank……hell, even Richard Cohen b4 he went batsh*t senile. (Anyone remember when he used to write about his grandfather…..?)

Chorus: Where have all the WaPos gone, long time passing…..
Where have all the WaPos gone, long time ago…..

AZ Matt @ 92

So why are all of the Rethuglican candidates for president old white men?

Because they are the party dedicated to the preservation of the privileges of rich, old white men and to screwing everyone else.

AZ Matt @ 92

So why are all of the Rethuglican candidates for president old white men?

Has there ever been another kind?

Peterr @ 78

Eugene Robinson’s got a great column in tomorrow’s WaPo on Gonzales . . .

It just gets worse and worse. We already knew that Alberto Gonzales — who, unbelievably, remains our attorney general — was willing to construe the Constitution and the Geneva Conventions however George W. Bush and Dick Cheney wanted. We knew he was willing to politicize the Justice Department, if that was what the White House wanted. Now we learn that Gonzales also was willing to accost a seriously ill man in his hospital room to get his signature on a dodgy justification for unprecedented domestic surveillance.

And that’s just the beginning. Read the whole thing . . . and then weep.

Smackdown in MSM. Hurray!

AZ Matt @ 92

So why are all of the Rethuglican candidates for president old white men?

Alan Keyes, Condi Rice and Abu Gonzales are not electable?

The NYTimes and the WaPoo are trying to outdo each other in spanking Gonzo and this administration.

This could be fun.

I don’t know what’s up with that dress, though.

Tori Ashley!

landofthefree @ 98

AZ Matt @ 92

So why are all of the Rethuglican candidates for president old white men?

Alan Keyes, Condi Rice and Abu Gonzales are not electable?

Well, not by the theocratic, racist Repug base.

Suzanne @ 99

The NYTimes and the WaPoo are trying to outdo each other in spanking Gonzo and this administration.

This could be fun.

It is past f**king time, I must say.

She plays a nice piano, but until you’ve heard Regina Spektor…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqKvBEBKnPw

Good evening firepups just finished Bill Maher. Grrrrrr John Fund was spewing talking points.

landofthefree @ 91

And there I was, talking to myself in the previous thread…

gnite, LoudounLib!

I have just sat down with a nice glass of petit syrah. Mmmm. Hubby just got home from work, and the kitties are going after him for attention.

here’s a bizarre question for you: what’s an appropriate way to say “congratulations on your Bat Mitzvah”? Is it “congratulations on becoming a Bat Mitzvah”? Or is something more like “congratulations on this achievement(or milestone)”? Can you tell I’m not Jewish and really have no clue what to write in a card for my student?

Oh, any tips on what to expect for the ceremony & stuff would be helpful, too! My understanding is that it will be the traditional Saturday service, and my student will lead the service, including a large section where she’ll read in Hebrew. My guess is that it’ll be a few hours. Any tips (like “you must wear a dress – women can’t wear pants!”) are much appreciated.

I did end up figuring out a nice gift – I had a friend design a bracelet with 18 garnets (her birthstone) and crystals. My understanding is that 18 represents chai, or life – so the bracelet represents celebrating her life.

A good site I consult for general questions on Judaism is Judaism 101. Their article on Bat/Bar Mitzvah is here, and the last sentence is worth pulling out: “When in doubt, it never hurts to ask the parents or the synagogue’s rabbi what is customary within the community.” Give the rabbi a call, and ask away. Don’t worry about offending the rabbi out of ignorance — he/she is likely to be delighted that you are interested in acknowledging your student in this way.

And petit syrah . . . yum!

landofthefree @ 98

AZ Matt @ 92

So why are all of the Rethuglican candidates for president old white men?

Alan Keyes, Condi Rice and Abu Gonzales are not electable?

So, why would any person of color want to get screwed over just to be bossed by old white men?

lolo @ 104

Good evening firepups just finished Bill Maher. Grrrrrr John Fund was spewing talking points.

Evening lolo. Don’t know if you have seen my post above, but there is a National Forest named after you here.

Subway Serenade @ 84

Mike Gravel, Bev Harris and Howard Dean (among others) will be at DemocracyFest

Howard is speaking on the Sunday night, but otherwise it looks like I’ll be performing to some of my progressive heros.

w00t!

I had the pleasure of hearing Howard Dean at last summer’s Democracyfest in San Diego. Wonderful!

A question for any Tejanos in the Lake tonight – who is the next Texas WHACKO we need to watch out for?

DrDick @ 95

AZ Matt @ 92

So why are all of the Rethuglican candidates for president old white men?

Because they are the party dedicated to the preservation of the privileges of rich, old white men and to screwing everyone else.

What the good Doctor said …
I’m still a bit stunned that Russell Simmons can preach to Bill Maher (and a nationwide audience) the importance of connecting with his atma and being able to balance his spiritual life with his material desires … then he uses the *N* word … describing his publisher.

Petrocelli @ 110

I’m still a bit stunned that Russell Simmons can preach to Bill Maher (and a nationwide audience) the importance of connecting with his atma and being able to balance his spiritual life with his material desires … then he uses the *N* word … describing his publisher.

It would seem he is having a bit of trouble with that balancing act.

DrDick @ 87

Peterr @ 85

I have a friend who was/is an expert witness (on the side of the angels) in the legal hassles of the Libby mining. The historical stories he tells are something else.

Enjoy the scenery, the wildlife, and everything else!

Unfortunately, it is not just history here. The problems at Libby are ongoing. The ground is contaminated with asbestos throughout the community and hundreds of people of all ages have severe asbestos related respiratory problems. The EPA has been attempting remediation, but the latest report is that it is not working. Personally, I think that they are going to have to relocate the whole town and seal off the area (a la Chernobyl).

What? Where is 60 Minutes, or today’s equivalent of good press?

Loo Hoo. @ 112

What? Where is 60 Minutes, or today’s equivalent of good press?

MIA for decades now.

landofthefree @ 91

And there I was, talking to myself in the previous thread…

gnite, LoudounLib!

I have just sat down with a nice glass of petit syrah. Mmmm. Hubby just got home from work, and the kitties are going after him for attention.

here’s a bizarre question for you: what’s an appropriate way to say “congratulations on your Bat Mitzvah”? Is it “congratulations on becoming a Bat Mitzvah”? Or is something more like “congratulations on this achievement(or milestone)”? Can you tell I’m not Jewish and really have no clue what to write in a card for my student?

Oh, any tips on what to expect for the ceremony & stuff would be helpful, too! My understanding is that it will be the traditional Saturday service, and my student will lead the service, including a large section where she’ll read in Hebrew. My guess is that it’ll be a few hours. Any tips (like “you must wear a dress – women can’t wear pants!”) are much appreciated.

I did end up figuring out a nice gift – I had a friend design a bracelet with 18 garnets (her birthstone) and crystals. My understanding is that 18 represents chai, or life – so the bracelet represents celebrating her life.

IANAE, but I’ve attended a fair number of bar/bat mitzvahs. To some extent the protocol depends on whether it’s an orthodox, conservative, or reform synagogue. But in any case, a safe rule of thumb is to dress like you are going to church.

I am not sure if “congrats on becoming a bat mitzvah” is correct, though I think it may be, but in any event I think you can’t go wrong with “congrats on your bat mitzvah,” and that would be better than something like “milestone,” etc.

Bottom line is, I’m sure your student will be honored to have you there!

DrDick @ 111

Petrocelli @ 110

I’m still a bit stunned that Russell Simmons can preach to Bill Maher (and a nationwide audience) the importance of connecting with his atma and being able to balance his spiritual life with his material desires … then he uses the *N* word … describing his publisher.

It would seem he is having a bit of trouble with that balancing act.

As someone who has been learning about yoga/meditation all my life, I was beginning to believe that he had ‘found’ his atma; but after that, I think he’s just spewing talking points to sell his book.

We are a nation plagued by pop drivel.

Tori Amos reminds me of all the other colorless banal pop artists of our times. But, at least there’s no synth machines and urban chanting about the ‘b’s and the ‘ho’s . . . . . so I guess she’s got that going for her.

I’d rather listen to Celine or Cher.

Until we break the stranglehold of the commercial airwaves Clear Channel and the other two have on us, we’ll never hear the voices of the music Americana in full throat.

oddmommy @ 114

I am not sure if “congrats on becoming a bat mitzvah” is correct, though I think it may be, but in any event I think you can’t go wrong with “congrats on your bat mitzvah,” and that would be better than something like “milestone,” etc.

Bottom line is, I’m sure your student will be honored to have you there!

While I am not Jewish, “Bat Mitzvah” mean “blessing of the daughter” (Bar Mitzvah is bleesing of the son). The proper statement would be, “Congratulations on being Bat Mitzvahed.” (Or at least what my Jewish friends in Chicago used to say).

AZ Matt @ 92

So why are all of the Rethuglican candidates for president old white men?

Now, AZ, as much as I appreciate all that you do for us (and I love your “essence of the article” goodies), I have an old white man as my dad! He’s my hero!

As far as why only old white men are the republican candidates, think about it. If you were a young white republican man, would you make your entrance right about now?

larue, there is always the pig (KPIG)

larue @ 116

I’d rather listen to Celine or Cher.

Paging Pach . . . Pach to the white courtesy phone . . .

Sorry about that…GoodMrsPuma wanted the phone. Did I miss anything brutally satirical?

Pach has such a huge crush on Celine. He may want to borrow back that white satin cape that he lent to TRex for tonight. Maybe it will catch Celine’s eye.

Peterr @ 120

larue @ 116

I’d rather listen to Celine or Cher.

Paging Pach . . . Pach to the white courtesy phone . . .

I do think that we need some professional intervention here. I cannot imagine any circumstance in which I would want to listen to Celine or Cher (not that I am a particular fan of Tori either).

landofthefree @ 98

Alan Keyes, Condi Rice and Abu Gonzales are not electable?

I can say, with absolute color-blindness, that I sure as fuck hope not.

EvilDrPuma @ 124

landofthefree @ 98

Alan Keyes, Condi Rice and Abu Gonzales are not electable?

I can say, with absolute color-blindness, that I sure as fuck hope not.

Ditto.

T.Rex – someone who can do it put a link to the Bill Maher clip on the SC Repup. debate. Talk about the politics of fear.

Petrocelli @ 43

Petrocelli @ 31

Now I’ve seen it all … Hip hop mogul Russell Simmons is explaining to Bill Maher what yoga/meditation is … *g*

OMG, after giving Bill a spiel on yoga and connecting to the atma within, Mr. Simmons uses the *N* word.

EvilDrPuma @ 121

Sorry about that…GoodMrsPuma wanted the phone. Did I miss anything brutally satirical?

Yes.

Having been forcibly removed from the toobz for a week by AT&T and a balky computer, I am sympathetic. But don’t worry — I have no doubt that more brutal satire will come by shortly.

Thanks Peterr – that’s very helpful! The links really help. I’ve done a little surfing online for info on my own, but some of the information is either too basic or way over my head. The “Judaism 101″ link is perfect.

The Shabat service is tomorrow morning, so I think I’m out of time to call the rabbi for advice. I know the family pretty well, and my understanding is that their temple is Reform Judiaism. I think I’ll still wear a skirt and treat it like I would going to church.

Oh, and the petit syrah is a good, cheap one by McManis (California). I recommend it!

Good night, everyone – have a fun evening.

Maher had us laughing so my sides hurt tonight. And kudos to Bradford Dilman and Loretta Sanchez

Loo Hoo. @ 118

AZ Matt @ 92

So why are all of the Rethuglican candidates for president old white men?

Now, AZ, as much as I appreciate all that you do for us (and I love your “essence of the article” goodies), I have an old white man as my dad! He’s my hero!

As far as why only old white men are the republican candidates, think about it. If you were a young white republican man, would you make your entrance right about now?

Ditto for my dad. However I as much as I love him I wouldn’t vote for him as president. Young white male Rethuglicans are busy with their noses up the butts of old white Rethuglicans so they know less than sh*t and prefer to remain that way. Abit of a generalization I know but it is a Friday night.

Suzanne @ 122

Pach has such a huge crush on Celine. He may want to borrow back that white satin cape that he lent to TRex for tonight. Maybe it will catch Celine’s eye.

And it might scare a hawk away.

EvilDrPuma @ 124

landofthefree @ 98

Alan Keyes, Condi Rice and Abu Gonzales are not electable?

I can say, with absolute color-blindness, that I sure as fuck hope not.

BWAAAHHH!!!
That caused me to spit out some of this good wine, but it was worth it.

I wish the headlines would start saying “President Rejects Dem War Funding Plans” instead of “White House, Democrats Trade War Funding Plans”

W really needs to be taken to task for his intransigence and stubbornness. Now would be a good time.

Hmmm . . . I posted hastily to the thread, perhaps I’ve overlooked the lyrics to said song and the meaning it would have for those with father son/daughter thoughts.

In which case, I humbly bow to the heart and emotions of life.

TeddySanFran @ 133

I wish the headlines would start saying “President Rejects Dem War Funding Plans” instead of “White House, Democrats Trade War Funding Plans”

W really needs to be taken to task for his intransigence and stubbornness. Now would be a good time.

Thirty years ago would have been a good time. Now is seriously overdue.

Dr. Dick, Oddmommy – thanks. I noticed that the invitation said “please share in the happinesss as our daughter (name) becomes a Bat Mitzvah”. I think I’ll just play it safe and say “congratulations!” and find a nice, appropriate card that does the rest of the talking for me ;)

Thanks everyone. Have fun in the lake… time for me to sleep!

Peterr @ 127

Having been forcibly removed from the toobz for a week by AT&T and a balky computer, I am sympathetic. But don’t worry — I have no doubt that more brutal satire will come by shortly.

Which brings us to my question for the evening. Does anybody here subscribe to the Evil Genius theory of Dubya’s, Cheney’s, Gonzales’, etc. “success?” Me, I think their intelligence is vastly overrated by Evil Genius theorists. I think they’ve gotten away with so much because their…shall we say…flexible morality allows them to consider actions you or I simply wouldn’t contemplate on our own. In other words, it’s not that they’re Evil Geniuses (like, say, me), it’s that they’re just Evil.

Suzanne @ 119

larue, there is always the pig (KPIG)

And KVMR.org

Sadly, they are falling and being gutted by the Fundie Radio Groups as well as CC and the others.

If we lose internet radio to the CRB and their minions and henchmen, all is lost for the voices no one has heard.

Please see my second response to Mz. Amos too . . .

DrDick @ 26

Glorious day here in the northern Rockies. I took a long (24 mile) hike in the Rattlesnake NRA today. Took a bunch of pictures and posted a few at Flikr flickr link if anyone is interested. This is part of the Lolo National Forest (didn’t know you had a forest named for you did you?) and is right on the outskirts of Missoula. It is about 10-20 minutes from my door step.

Dr. Dick my last name is a famous forest in England. *g*

Peterr @ 135

TeddySanFran @ 133

I wish the headlines would start saying “President Rejects Dem War Funding Plans” instead of “White House, Democrats Trade War Funding Plans”

W really needs to be taken to task for his intransigence and stubbornness. Now would be a good time.

Thirty years ago would have been a good time. Now is seriously overdue.

I think it was need much earlier than that. Say about 50-60 years ago, but then I cannot imagine Babs Bush ever troubled her beautiful mind about building character in her hapless son.

TeddySanFran @ 133

I wish the headlines would start saying “President Rejects Dem War Funding Plans” instead of “White House, Democrats Trade War Funding Plans”

W really needs to be taken to task for his intransigence and stubbornness. Now would be a good time.

It sounds like Nancy is going to give Bush an ultimatum … only this time, I hope she’s serious.

Good evening dear friends. Save me a nice spot i the lake? View of the stars perhaps?

DrDick @ 140

I think it was need much earlier than that. Say about 50-60 years ago, but then I cannot imagine Babs Bush ever troubled her beautiful mind about building character in her hapless son.

Well, of course not. That wouldn’t be evil.

TexBetsy @ 142

Good evening dear friends. Save me a nice spot i the lake? View of the stars perhaps?

Greetings and felicitations.

EvilDrPuma @ 137

Peterr @ 127

Having been forcibly removed from the toobz for a week by AT&T and a balky computer, I am sympathetic. But don’t worry — I have no doubt that more brutal satire will come by shortly.

Which brings us to my question for the evening. Does anybody here subscribe to the Evil Genius theory of Dubya’s, Cheney’s, Gonzales’, etc. “success?” Me, I think their intelligence is vastly overrated by Evil Genius theorists. I think they’ve gotten away with so much because their…shall we say…flexible morality allows them to consider actions you or I simply wouldn’t contemplate on our own. In other words, it’s not that they’re Evil Geniuses (like, say, me), it’s that they’re just Evil.

I would agree. I have long maintained that the true essence of evil is its general banality. It casually slips under the door then grows and grows, unnoticed in the corner, until it is slaughtering the innocent.

TexBetsy @ 142

Good evening dear friends. Save me a nice spot i the lake? View of the stars perhaps?

Hey Betsy, you’re feelin’ good, yes?

larue @ 116

We are a nation plagued by pop drivel.

Tori Amos reminds me of all the other colorless banal pop artists of our times. But, at least there’s no synth machines and urban chanting about the ‘b’s and the ‘ho’s . . . . . so I guess she’s got that going for her.

I’d rather listen to Celine or Cher.

Until we break the stranglehold of the commercial airwaves Clear Channel and the other two have on us, we’ll never hear the voices of the music Americana in full throat.

You DO mean Cher as in…..Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves, Half Breed, etc. Cher…..? Don’t know what she’s doing now, but in my humble she was quite worthy of respect as a singer/actress/activist back in the old days.

lolo @ 139

DrDick @ 26

This is part of the Lolo National Forest (didn’t know you had a forest named for you did you?)

Dr. Dick my last name is a famous forest in England. *g*

this probably wouldn’t be the right time to mention that lolo in French is child-slang for, ummm, breast. always used in the plural, however.

EvilDrPuma @ 137

Peterr @ 127

Having been forcibly removed from the toobz for a week by AT&T and a balky computer, I am sympathetic. But don’t worry — I have no doubt that more brutal satire will come by shortly.

Which brings us to my question for the evening. Does anybody here subscribe to the Evil Genius theory of Dubya’s, Cheney’s, Gonzales’, etc. “success?” Me, I think their intelligence is vastly overrated by Evil Genius theorists. I think they’ve gotten away with so much because their…shall we say…flexible morality allows them to consider actions you or I simply wouldn’t contemplate on our own. In other words, it’s not that they’re Evil Geniuses (like, say, me), it’s that they’re just Evil.

Seems to me like a bunch of boneheads who thought they could all huddle and nothing would ever get out because they were the cool guys.

Bleah.

I’m here. I just can’t keep my eyes open tonight. I had a long day accomplishing nothing at work, followed by a hectic evening of nodding off. I think I’m still beat from traveling.

Petrocelli @ 146

TexBetsy @ 142

Good evening dear friends. Save me a nice spot i the lake? View of the stars perhaps?

Hey Betsy, you’re feelin’ good, yes?

Was till I decided to over-do it visiting friends until 11:20 at night!

lolo @ 139

DrDick @ 26

Glorious day here in the northern Rockies. I took a long (24 mile) hike in the Rattlesnake NRA today. Took a bunch of pictures and posted a few at Flikr flickr link if anyone is interested. This is part of the Lolo National Forest (didn’t know you had a forest named for you did you?) and is right on the outskirts of Missoula. It is about 10-20 minutes from my door step.

Dr. Dick my last name is a famous forest in England. *g*

Then you are doubly blessed. You also have a mountain, a pass, and a town here in western Montana. Well actually they are named for a late 19th-early 20th century Salish chief of that name, but no reason you should not claim credit.

RonD >

A quick OT question for the esteemed Drs. of Anthropology-I’m told the “symbolic capacity” necessary to advanced communication requires a brain capacity of 950 cc’s. True?

When I read this I immediately though of this video, not that it really has anything to do with the answer(s).

“Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact….Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.” – newshog@gmail.com

Petrocelli @ 12

Hello everyone !

How are you this evening?

TRex @ 150

Bleah.

I’m here. I just can’t keep my eyes open tonight. I had a long day accomplishing nothing at work, followed by a hectic evening of nodding off. I think I’m still beat from traveling.

I believe you. Nothing wipes me out for the next few days as easily as a day of air travel.

TexBetsy @ 142

Good evening dear friends. Save me a nice spot i the lake? View of the stars perhaps?

Jump on in, the water is especially fine tonight, though you missed Suzanne’s spectacular entry (the judges gave it three 9s and two 10s).

punaise @ 148

lolo @ 139

Dr. Dick my last name is a famous forest in England. *g*

this probably wouldn’t be the right time to mention that lolo in French is child-slang for, ummm, breast. always used in the plural, however.

Oh good, you showed up punaise.
Any quips on Oprah, as per S.S. @ 41 and GSD @ 74?

EvilDrPuma @ 155

TRex @ 150

Bleah.

I’m here. I just can’t keep my eyes open tonight. I had a long day accomplishing nothing at work, followed by a hectic evening of nodding off. I think I’m still beat from traveling.

I believe you. Nothing wipes me out for the next few days as easily as a day of air travel.

TRex, can you rest this weekend?

TRex @ 150

Bleah.

I’m here. I just can’t keep my eyes open tonight. I had a long day accomplishing nothing at work, followed by a hectic evening of nodding off. I think I’m still beat from traveling.

Chomping and Attacking is hard work.

Rest up, Therapod, ’cause I get the feeling that next week is going to be quite something. Everyone in DC is going to think that they have to get SOMETHING accomplished before Memorial Day, and that can only mean a week of Take Out the Trash Fridays.

TexBetsy -

Check my 109, a question you might have an answer for.

Snack time. T-rex, you will like this one.

Heading to bed myself . . . G’nite, all!

AZ Matt @ 160

TexBetsy -

Check my 109, a question you might have an answer for.

Most of our state lege. Unfortunately.

TRex does Late Nite 6 nights every week. Lately, he has been posting twice with his Late Late Nites – those are nights when he does twice the work.

His kick ass posts night after night have to be tiring, especially after all that travel. I certainly hope he is going to rest up this weekend, cause next week looks like its is gonna be a busy one.

Peterr @ 162

Heading to bed myself . . . G’nite, all!

Good night and God bless.

Night Peterr.

Peterr @ 162

Heading to bed myself . . . G’nite, all!

sleep well Peterr

DrDick >

I would agree. I have long maintained that the true essence of evil is its general banality. It casually slips under the door then grows and grows, unnoticed in the corner, until it is slaughtering the innocent.

Much like the chain of events that lead to most accidents. Each link in the chain is minor and usually something that is done regularly thereby escaping notice at the time. Several of these links connected together point to the accident/disaster (todays crash of a Snowbird comes to mind for instance)

“Whenever two people meet, there are really six people present. There is each man as he sees himself, each man as the other person sees him, and each man as he really is.” – William James

TexBetsy @ 154

Petrocelli @ 12

Hello everyone !

How are you this evening?

Just fine, thanks. We have a long weekend up here – Monday is Queen Victoria’s B’day, which is a holiday in Canada. That gives me an extra day to play with the kids, I might even plant some new Rose bushes.

TRex!

Driving by…but you should know that an elementary school in Santa Monica had its science fair yesterday. An exhibit of Tyrannosaurus Rex said, in part:

[TRex] was a very large dinosaur who ate other dinosaurs. He chewed with his mouth open.

I suppose that has you covered.

TexBetsy @ 163

Most of our state lege. Unfortunately.

With that many whackjobs gathered in one place, though, you just know it has to hit the fan before very much longer.

Petrocelli @ 157

Any quips on Oprah, as per S.S. @ 41 and GSD @ 74?

well, GSD beat me to the punch with the okra reference, so I let it go.

DrDick @ 145

EvilDrPuma @ 137

Which brings us to my question for the evening. Does anybody here subscribe to the Evil Genius theory of Dubya’s, Cheney’s, Gonzales’, etc. “success?” Me, I think their intelligence is vastly overrated by Evil Genius theorists. I think they’ve gotten away with so much because their…shall we say…flexible morality allows them to consider actions you or I simply wouldn’t contemplate on our own. In other words, it’s not that they’re Evil Geniuses (like, say, me), it’s that they’re just Evil.

I would agree. I have long maintained that the true essence of evil is its general banality. It casually slips under the door then grows and grows, unnoticed in the corner, until it is slaughtering the innocent.

ok, so we’re talking Evil Idiots? Interesting.
I certainly agree you could argue that “the true essence of evil is its banality” — i.e, the foot soldiers needed to carry out such horrors as the Holocaust — but isn’t there generally some kind of profoundly corrupted intellect at the center of it all? I’m thinking Cheney here.

Petrocelli @ 169

We have a long weekend up here – Monday is Queen Victoria’s B’day, which is a holiday in Canada. That gives me an extra day to play with the kids, I might even plant some new Rose bushes.

We are not amused.

Rest up, Therapod, ’cause I get the feeling that next week is going to be quite something. Everyone in DC is going to think that they have to get SOMETHING accomplished before Memorial Day, and that can only mean a week of Take Out the Trash Fridays.

I am going to try and get some rest this weekend, but I have to say that this has been one of those weeks where I have been hard pressed to keep believing that anything in Washington is ever going to change. The Bushies seem to have tangled their roots so deeply into the national machinery that disengaging them risks bringng down the whole apparatus, apparently.

I just get so frustrated watching all those suits parading around with their pomp and bluster, accomplishing nothing while piles of unidentifiable bodies keep turning up in Iraq. It’s hideous.

Meanwhile my state is burning out of control.

EvilDrPuma @ 171

TexBetsy @ 163

Most of our state lege. Unfortunately.

With that many whackjobs gathered in one place, though, you just know it has to hit the fan before very much longer.

That is why they are only in session 5 months in odd numbered years only. I think they have only one more week to destroy our environment and our lives, this time round.

EvilDrPuma @ 137

[…]
Which brings us to my question for the evening. Does anybody here subscribe to the Evil Genius theory of Dubya’s, Cheney’s, Gonzales’, etc. “success?” Me, I think their intelligence is vastly overrated by Evil Genius theorists. I think they’ve gotten away with so much because their…shall we say…flexible morality allows them to consider actions you or I simply wouldn’t contemplate on our own. In other words, it’s not that they’re Evil Geniuses (like, say, me), it’s that they’re just Evil.

Neither more intelligent nor less dangerous than Himmler, Goebles, Hitler, and Goering.

punaise @ 148

lolo @ 139

Dr. Dick my last name is a famous forest in England. *g*

this probably wouldn’t be the right time to mention that lolo in French is child-slang for, ummm, breast. always used in the plural, however.

… or that it is a slang for the male “baby maker” part, in some commonwealth countries.

Evening, all. Delurking to ask for some travel tips. Taking a 16 hour plane ride with an 8 year old. We have a gameboy and handfuls of games; books; cliffs bars and other munchies. What else should we not leave home without?

We leave LA at 1pm and fly all night. Someone suggested not sleeping at all, as we arrive at 6:30 pm local time and will have to go to sleep within a few hours. Someone else said to sleep as much as possible on the plane. Can anyone add their $.02?

Tori Amos sounds like Kate Bush. Whatever happened to her?

oddmommy @ 173

ok, so we’re talking Evil Idiots? Interesting.
I certainly agree you could argue that “the true essence of evil is its banality” — i.e, the foot soldiers needed to carry out such horrors as the Holocaust — but isn’t there generally some kind of profoundly corrupted intellect at the center of it all? I’m thinking Cheney here.

Evil really requires no special abilities other than stealth and a complete lack of morality. There is no evidence that anyone in this crew (at least among the core group)is especially intelligent, certainly not Cheney.

Oprah Chopra’s Okra Opera, starring Margaret Cho, prawns and an orc, raw.

guess you had to be there.

Great song by Tori Amos regarding how hatred and justification for war is passed on from generation to generation, How do we break the chains of hatred and retribution that bind us and lay waste to our potential as a species? Time is growing short.

EvilDrPuma @ 137

Peterr @ 127

Having been forcibly removed from the toobz for a week by AT&T and a balky computer, I am sympathetic. But don’t worry — I have no doubt that more brutal satire will come by shortly.

Which brings us to my question for the evening. Does anybody here subscribe to the Evil Genius theory of Dubya’s, Cheney’s, Gonzales’, etc. “success?” Me, I think their intelligence is vastly overrated by Evil Genius theorists. I think they’ve gotten away with so much because their…shall we say…flexible morality allows them to consider actions you or I simply wouldn’t contemplate on our own. In other words, it’s not that they’re Evil Geniuses (like, say, me), it’s that they’re just Evil.

Bunch of boneheads. What’s scarier is that much of the MSM is a bunch of boneheads to back up the administration’s boneheadedness. Consequently, seems to me like we have a population of folks who know something is very wrong, but can’t put it all together.

This is the job, now, of the democratic party. I think all money/power groups within our party need to back up and explain to the people how our democracy and Constitution has been raped.

Mommybrain @ 179

Evening, all. Delurking to ask for some travel tips. Taking a 16 hour plane ride with an 8 year old. We have a gameboy and handfuls of games; books; cliffs bars and other munchies. What else should we not leave home without?

We leave LA at 1pm and fly all night. Someone suggested not sleeping at all, as we arrive at 6:30 pm local time and will have to go to sleep within a few hours. Someone else said to sleep as much as possible on the plane. Can anyone add their $.02?

I once got some amazing things at a hospital gift shop that was great for that kind of travel. Black paper with wood stylus of some kind. Some of the black peeled away to show gold beneath, some showed silver, some rainbow. My son spent hours drawing on them on the plane.

Also books on tape from the library. (CD? mp3?)

oddmommy @ 173

I certainly agree you could argue that “the true essence of evil is its banality” — i.e, the foot soldiers needed to carry out such horrors as the Holocaust — but isn’t there generally some kind of profoundly corrupted intellect at the center of it all? I’m thinking Cheney here.

I don’t think so. What I see happening is that these people think outside the box because they lack any sense of decency whatsoever. It’s not a corruption of intellect, but a corruption of morality; they don’t think better, just in ways that you or I don’t think at all.

Tori Amos sounds like Kate Bush. Whatever happened to her?

She put out an album last year. I only heard like one song from it and it was okay. She needs to throw out all her 80’s synthesizers and start over, I think.

Mommybrain @ 179

Evening, all. Delurking to ask for some travel tips. Taking a 16 hour plane ride with an 8 year old. We have a gameboy and handfuls of games; books; cliffs bars and other munchies. What else should we not leave home without?

***

M.B., it’s been a long time since I had an 8 year old, but I seem to remember that a small pack of Wet-Wipes, or whatever those little towel thingies are called, is worth its weight in gold while traveling with kids.

TRex @ 175

I am going to try and get some rest this weekend, but I have to say that this has been one of those weeks where I have been hard pressed to keep believing that anything in Washington is ever going to change. The Bushies seem to have tangled their roots so deeply into the national machinery that disengaging them risks bringng down the whole apparatus, apparently.

I just get so frustrated watching all those suits parading around with their pomp and bluster, accomplishing nothing while piles of unidentifiable bodies keep turning up in Iraq. It’s hideous.

Meanwhile my state is burning out of control.

I know what you mean. Sometimes I overdose on moral outrage and just want to crawl under the bed. It is hard on a Theropod out there (especially a hard working dedicated one). I also know what you mean about the fires. We actually have an official fire season here in late summer. Haven’t had a bad season for a while, but 2000 was like living in hell.

EvilDrPuma @ 174

Petrocelli @ 169

We have a long weekend up here – Monday is Queen Victoria’s B’day, which is a holiday in Canada. That gives me an extra day to play with the kids, I might even plant some new Rose bushes.

We are not amused.

If it makes you feel better, we work on your ‘Memorial Day’ *g*

Mommybrain >

“…Taking a 16 hour plane ride with an 8 year old…”

Is that air time on one non-stop flight or is there a break ?

“Once you go through something you think will kill you and it doesn’t, every day is like a present.” – Elissa B. Terris

Wigwam @ 177

Neither more intelligent nor less dangerous than Himmler, Goebles, Hitler, and Goering.

I figured somebody would raise that comparison, but here we can ask the same question: was the Nazi leadership particularly brilliant, or just particularly indifferent to any standard of decency?

daCascadian @ 190

Mommybrain >

“…Taking a 16 hour plane ride with an 8 year old…”

Is that air time on one non-stop flight or is there a break ?

“Once you go through something you think will kill you and it doesn’t, every day is like a present.” – Elissa B. Terris

Ah yes. On stopovers, many airports have trains between the different terminals. We used to have great fun riding around on them for an hour or more.

TexBetsy @ 176

That is why they are only in session 5 months in odd numbered years only. I think they have only one more week to destroy our environment and our lives, this time round.

But they are so spectacularly good at it, that is all the time they need. As the good St. Molly always said, Texas is the National Laboratory for Bad Government. (Of course Oklahoma is just as bad).

Mommybrain @ 179

Evening, all. Delurking to ask for some travel tips. Taking a 16 hour plane ride with an 8 year old. We have a gameboy and handfuls of games; books; cliffs bars and other munchies. What else should we not leave home without?

We leave LA at 1pm and fly all night. Someone suggested not sleeping at all, as we arrive at 6:30 pm local time and will have to go to sleep within a few hours. Someone else said to sleep as much as possible on the plane. Can anyone add their $.02?

Tori Amos sounds like Kate Bush. Whatever happened to her?

Some chewing gum, in case his ears start to hurt during take off and landing.

Petrocelli @ 189

If it makes you feel better, we work on your ‘Memorial Day” *g*

Not particularly. I don’t pay much attention to Memorial Day to begin with, and I’ll probably be gearing up for my summer class by that point.

punaise @ 148

lolo @ 139

Dr. Dick my last name is a famous forest in England. *g*

this probably wouldn’t be the right time to mention that lolo in French is child-slang for, ummm, breast. always used in the plural, however.

Evening, all.

I am reminded of the story I was once told of the naming of the Grand Tetons. I do not speak French, but I was told that it translates as “Big Tits.” True or urban legend?

Mommybrain @ 179

Evening, all. Delurking to ask for some travel tips. Taking a 16 hour plane ride with an 8 year old. We have a gameboy and handfuls of games; books; cliffs bars and other munchies. What else should we not leave home without?

We leave LA at 1pm and fly all night. Someone suggested not sleeping at all, as we arrive at 6:30 pm local time and will have to go to sleep within a few hours. Someone else said to sleep as much as possible on the plane. Can anyone add their $.02?

Tori Amos sounds like Kate Bush. Whatever happened to her?

Sedatives (for either you or the child, your choice).

DrDick @ 193

As the good St. Molly always said, Texas is the National Laboratory for Bad Government. (Of course Oklahoma is just as bad).

I dunno. It always seems to be the Texan fuckups that make their way onto the national scene….

DrDick @ 180

oddmommy @ 173

ok, so we’re talking Evil Idiots? Interesting.
I certainly agree you could argue that “the true essence of evil is its banality” — i.e, the foot soldiers needed to carry out such horrors as the Holocaust — but isn’t there generally some kind of profoundly corrupted intellect at the center of it all? I’m thinking Cheney here.

Evil really requires no special abilities other than stealth and a complete lack of morality. There is no evidence that anyone in this crew (at least among the core group)is especially intelligent, certainly not Cheney.

perhaps. In terms of evil, I would say that the only reason Cheney hasn’t done things on a level with, say, a Hitler or a Stalin is that he can’t. On the other hand, he does not strike me as stupid…..but I am quite willing to be persuaded otherwise.

EvilDrPuma @ 185

oddmommy @ 173

I certainly agree you could argue that “the true essence of evil is its banality” — i.e, the foot soldiers needed to carry out such horrors as the Holocaust — but isn’t there generally some kind of profoundly corrupted intellect at the center of it all? I’m thinking Cheney here.

I don’t think so. What I see happening is that these people think outside the box because they lack any sense of decency whatsoever. It’s not a corruption of intellect, but a corruption of morality; they don’t think better, just in ways that you or I don’t think at all.

I agree. They get away with so much because no one really believes they would actually do that or it would never occur to them that anyone would.

kristine @ 196

I am reminded of the story I was once told of the naming of the Grand Tetons. I do not speak French, but I was told that it translates as “Big Tits.” True or urban legend?

True. Well, I think the gist of the French is less slangy, but you’re basically right.

kristine >

“…I am reminded of the story I was once told of the naming of the Grand Tetons. I do not speak French, but I was told that it translates as “Big Tits.” True or urban legend?”

I have heard the same story about French trappers. It was told to me by an old girl friend (who was from Montana). Wonder what Snopes says…

“I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use.” – Galileo Galilei

daCascadian, non-stop. I think that’s a blessing. I have a feeling I wouldn’t be able to get the sprout back onto another plane.

petrocelli, an excellent suggestion, thanks.

tb, books on tape!

Bear sighting
Poor li’l cub! Funny story.

TRex @ 150

Bleah.

I’m here. I just can’t keep my eyes open tonight. I had a long day accomplishing nothing at work, followed by a hectic evening of nodding off. I think I’m still beat from traveling.

Jane’s doing okay?

Thanks for the info, all. Now I can snicker to myself whenever the subject comes up.

Don’t know much about “Joey the Gimp” Goebbels. Goeing’s only real accomplishment was being able to fly and aeroplane. Himmler failed at everything he tried, even chicken ranching. None of these guys seemed very bright until they teamed up with Hitler and got their hate thing going. Interesting conversation over a Sadly,No today/tonite regarding bigotry.

oddmommy @ 199

perhaps. In terms of evil, I would say that the only reason Cheney hasn’t done things on a level with, say, a Hitler or a Stalin is that he can’t. On the other hand, he does not strike me as stupid…..but I am quite willing to be persuaded otherwise.

I do not intend to imply that Cheney is actually stupid, just that he is not particularly intelligent (Dubya on the other hand….). The same is true for most of this crew. They are of modest or slightly above average intelligence, but not brilliant. It is their willingness and ability to do things that no one else would consider that gives them their edge.

mommybrain, also something that is just a wee bit beyond sprout’s age – maybe a book that you’ve been waiting until he is a little older to let him read. something “forbidden” does help hold interest when traveling with young ones.

EvilDrPuma @ 198

DrDick @ 193

As the good St. Molly always said, Texas is the National Laboratory for Bad Government. (Of course Oklahoma is just as bad).

I dunno. It always seems to be the Texan fuckups that make their way onto the national scene….

I think there is a national embargo in place to prevent the export of Okie whack jobs. They are simply to dangerous to let out of the state. However, there are Coburn and Inhoffe.

Margot @ 204

Bear sighting
Poor li’l cub! Funny story.

What, this poor thing thought he was going to fatten up on hospital food?

Margot @ 204

Bear sighting
Poor li’l cub! Funny story.

This is a pretty common problem in bear country. Animal control had to come dart a young black bear a few blocks from my house a couple of times in the last few years. I live in the middle of town, about 3-4 miles from the nearest forest.

DrDick sed: Sedatives (for either you or the child, your choice).

When I was 4 we left Hawaii for SF. The doctor prescribed phenobarbitol (! really. can you tell how long ago that was?) to calm me during the flight but it had the exact opposite effect on me.

I’m bringing Benadryl. For him.

Mommybrain @ 203

daCascadian, non-stop. I think that’s a blessing. I have a feeling I wouldn’t be able to get the sprout back onto another plane.

petrocelli, an excellent suggestion, thanks.

tb, books on tape!

I’d like to add … give him lots of water to drink. Jet lag is mainly due to dehydration or so I’ve heard and one loses a lot of water while up in the air.

DrDick @ 208

I do not intend to imply that Cheney is actually stupid, just that he is not particularly intelligent (Dubya on the other hand….). The same is true for most of this crew. They are of modest or slightly above average intelligence, but not brilliant. It is their willingness and ability to do things that no one else would consider that gives them their edge.

Same thing for Rove. Does this guy actually have more than three tricks in his bag? Not that I can tell. He keeps playing the same three tricks over and over and over and seems to keep scoring with them (or did until 2006) simply because nobody on the other side can conceive of anybody being as absolutely contemptible as he is.

Well, except “Rape Gurney” Joe Lieberman, of course…but he isn’t really on the other side, and his talents for overcoming limited intelligence with utter bastardry are pretty much par for BushCo’s course.

y’all talk about this?

“(Expletive) You!” McCain Shouts At Senate Colleague

Sorry – wrong Brad. Great Maher show tonight.

daCascadian >

“…Wonder what Snopes says…”

Turns out they got nuttin but I did find this cool site for fairly live web cam of said mountains

“If your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough,” – Robert Capa

We’re in EPU land, so what the hey:

Seems like a combo of Evil Genius and BoneHeadedness.
Depends on your frame of reference.

EG: They’re running the nepotism-overrun program, commonly seen in bees and ants.
(Sensitivity training would never ‘take’)

BH: Ignorance (willful or not) of being part of an open system, the complementary parts of which will counteract their moves towards some sort of equilibrium. Oscillative processes towards equilibrium are in play now.

The battle of the mirror neurons is in full swing.
Which strategy will ‘win’?

A con artist uses empathy to his own ends, including inducing others to sacrifice on behalf of a ‘greater good’ (gives well with religious doctrine) then mocking kindness (acts of kinship) as foolhardy and weak (sucka!)
In the meantime, resources have been amassed.

A humanitarian balances interests; too, an oscillative process, and the memes of fairness and dynamism have already been codified in our founding documents.
Yet still…

All ‘pure’ forms of government have been plowed under by time. It’s already been said that democracy cannot survive unchecked capitalism.

Just as we are hybridizing our cars and diversifying fuel & financial portfolios,
we must also hybridize & evolve our self-governance. *whew* : )

TexBetsy @ 216

y’all talk about this?

“(Expletive) You!” McCain Shouts At Senate Colleague

Not in this thread…but there you go again. About as smart as a box of rocks and less impulse control than a rabid wolverine, but a complete bastard.

Speaking of the evil/genius dichotomy, I liked this reply on dKos when somebody raised the question of why Bush’s “base” of evangelicals remains so staunchly onboard for this nightmare…

***

Because they genuinely believe they can.

Because they genuinely believe god gave them the right when he made George W. Bush the president (that’s his take on it, not mine).

Because they genuinely believe they have an obligation to protect this country by any means necessary, including violating the Constitution.

Because they genuinely believe in the Unitary Executive Theory which holds that the Constitution gives the President the power to do anything he wants so long as he’s doing it in his “Commander in Chief” role to defend the country.

Because they genuinely believe they would get away with it.

Understand this simple fact: there are two kinds of people in this administration. The true believers who think they can do no wrong, and the gangsters who don’t care about right and wrong.

TRex @ 175

Rest up, Therapod, ’cause I get the feeling that next week is going to be quite something. Everyone in DC is going to think that they have to get SOMETHING accomplished before Memorial Day, and that can only mean a week of Take Out the Trash Fridays.

I am going to try and get some rest this weekend, but I have to say that this has been one of those weeks where I have been hard pressed to keep believing that anything in Washington is ever going to change. The Bushies seem to have tangled their roots so deeply into the national machinery that disengaging them risks bringng down the whole apparatus, apparently.

I just get so frustrated watching all those suits parading around with their pomp and bluster, accomplishing nothing while piles of unidentifiable bodies keep turning up in Iraq. It’s hideous.

Meanwhile my state is burning out of control.

And there’s no National Guard people or equipment to put out the fire.

I’m thinking earthquake here in CA.

TexBetsy @ 216

y’all talk about this?

“(Expletive) You!” McCain Shouts At Senate Colleague

Ah, the eloquent discourse of our elected officials.

TexBesty, how are you? How are the pillows working out?

Subway Serenade @ 84

Mike Gravel, Bev Harris and Howard Dean (among others) will be at DemocracyFest

Howard is speaking on the Sunday night, but otherwise it looks like I’ll be performing to some of my progressive heros.

w00t!

Let us know if CSPAN cameras cover this fest. Ah, NYC in May!

Peterr @ 120

larue @ 116

I’d rather listen to Celine or Cher.

Paging Pach . . . Pach to the white courtesy phone . . .

Hey hey hey!!! No need to call the cops, I didn’t say I DID listen to them . . . . ok ok, I’ll PUT the snarksling down!

Mea Culpa!!!!!!!

kristine @ 223

TexBetsy @ 216

y’all talk about this?

“(Expletive) You!” McCain Shouts At Senate Colleague

Ah, the eloquent discourse of our elected officials.

TexBesty, how are you? How are the pillows working out?

Pillows and the mattress topper are definitely helping. :) Thanks. How are you?

EvilDrPuma @ 215

DrDick @ 208

I do not intend to imply that Cheney is actually stupid, just that he is not particularly intelligent (Dubya on the other hand….). The same is true for most of this crew. They are of modest or slightly above average intelligence, but not brilliant. It is their willingness and ability to do things that no one else would consider that gives them their edge.

Same thing for Rove. Does this guy actually have more than three tricks in his bag? Not that I can tell. He keeps playing the same three tricks over and over and over and seems to keep scoring with them (or did until 2006) simply because nobody on the other side can conceive of anybody being as absolutely contemptible as he is.

Well, except “Rape Gurney” Joe Lieberman, of course…but he isn’t really on the other side, and his talents for overcoming limited intelligence with utter bastardry are pretty much par for BushCo’s course.

I’m prepared to admit you guys are right. God knows I am SO freaking sick of that tired old image of Rove as an evil — but effective — genius…when he has f*****d up so obviously again, and again, and again.

Are there, however, evil geniuses in history? Jest curious.

Petrocelli >

“…Jet lag is mainly due to dehydration or so I’ve heard and one loses a lot of water while up in the air.”

The cabin is usually pressurized to 8,000 ft which is the upper limit for humans to be at w/o supplemental oxygen for any length of time (FAA rule). The new 787 has been designed to have the cabin pressure level at 6,000 ft for health reasons. Humidity control is a big problem in pressurized environments so drink lots.

“If you`re not nervous, you don`t understand what`s happening.” – John Young

Unitary Executive Theory & Commander in Chief blah blah blah.

Shorter Base logic:
IF All is Fair in Love&War
AND It’s always War (who needs congress)
THEN Anything Goes

Betsy, have you had any luck procuring those Louise Hay CDs or books?

Petrocelli @ 230

Betsy, have you had any luck procuring those Louise Hay CDs or books?

not yet.

oddmommy @ 227

Are there, however, evil geniuses in history? Jest curious.

***

I’m wondering if Rasputin would qualify. Whatever his mental state, he apparently had a genius for convincing powerful people of just about anything.

oddmommy @ 227

Are there, however, evil geniuses in history? Jest curious.

Oh, I think they exist in the world – that unique combination of high intelligence and absolute lack of moral compass. I do not think they are common, nor are they necessary to explain most of the evil in the world. That is perpetrated mostly by ordinary people drawn into horrific acts.

TexBetsy @ 231

Petrocelli @ 230

Betsy, have you had any luck procuring those Louise Hay CDs or books?

not yet.

I have them and can make copies for you, but your Govt. thinks this is illegal … and Lord knows I do not want to end up in Gitmo.

TesBetsy-

Doin’ great. Glad it’s Friday. [yawn] At least I get to sleep in tomorrow if the cats will let me.

oddmommy @ 227
I’m prepared to admit you guys are right. God knows I am SO freaking sick of that tired old image of Rove as an evil — but effective — genius…when he has f*****d up so obviously again, and again, and again.

He knows what he needs to know to screw over an evidence-based system:

*Can’t prove a negative
*Diffusion of responsibility
*Keep moving the goal posts
*Strength in numbers
*Coercion of silence

It may be a limited bag of tricks,
but in the context of the rule of law,
especially when your opponent *is* playing
by the rules, it’s effective.

TribeScribe @ 229

Unitary Executive Theory & Commander in Chief blah blah blah.

Shorter Base logic:
IF All is Fair in Love&War
AND It’s always War (who needs congress)
THEN Anything Goes

You know, I think there is a rather basic point that needs to be made here. We are not at war and the President is NOT acting in his constitutional capacity as commander-in-chief. There can be no war without a Congressional declaration of war. Congress did not do that and the authorization of force does not count. Something the MSM keeps ignoring.

CD @ 232

oddmommy @ 227

***

I’m wondering if Rasputin would qualify. Whatever his mental state, he apparently had a genius for convincing powerful people of just about anything.

a fascinating fellow. I started reading a biography of him some years ago, but never finished it.

CD >

***

I’m wondering if Rasputin would qualify. Whatever his mental state, he apparently had a genius for convincing powerful people of just about anything.

Well, he was conning people that had little, if any, real world connection/experience. Much the same with the current crowd in D.C. I would suggest.

”The war on terror is not a clash of civilizations. It is a clash of civilization against chaos, of the best hopes of humanity against dogmatic fears of progress and the future.” – John F. Kerry

McCain must be a recent graduate of the Dick Cheney Leadership Academy.

DrDick @ 237

You know, I think there is a rather basic point that needs to be made here. We are not at war and the President is NOT acting in his constitutional capacity as commander-in-chief. There can be no war without a Congressional declaration of war. Congress did not do that and the authorization of force does not count. Something the MSM keeps ignoring.

Unfortunately, that’s something Congress, the executive branch, and the media have all ignored for more than sixty years now.

DrDick @ 237

TribeScribe @ 229

Unitary Executive Theory & Commander in Chief blah blah blah.

Shorter Base logic:
IF All is Fair in Love&War
AND It’s always War (who needs congress)
THEN Anything Goes

You know, I think there is a rather basic point that needs to be made here. We are not at war and the President is NOT acting in his constitutional capacity as commander-in-chief. There can be no war without a Congressional declaration of war. Congress did not do that and the authorization of force does not count. Something the MSM keeps ignoring.

DING! Xackly. Congress didn’t authorize….
But we’re past that, apparently.
Their reply: SFW!!??

oddmommy @ 147

larue @ 116

We are a nation plagued by pop drivel.

Tori Amos reminds me of all the other colorless banal pop artists of our times. But, at least there’s no synth machines and urban chanting about the ‘b’s and the ‘ho’s . . . . . so I guess she’s got that going for her.

I’d rather listen to Celine or Cher.

Until we break the stranglehold of the commercial airwaves Clear Channel and the other two have on us, we’ll never hear the voices of the music Americana in full throat.

You DO mean Cher as in…..Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves, Half Breed, etc. Cher…..? Don’t know what she’s doing now, but in my humble she was quite worthy of respect as a singer/actress/activist back in the old days.

‘Baby Please Don’t Go’ still rings in my ears and Sheryl Crow and Dwight Yokum had a cover of that song on a project called ‘Under The Covers’ where they NAILED it all to hades, complete with REAL horns rocking the shit outta it.

I love real music, in most forms. (grin)

And Celine has a RANGE, whether ya like her music or not. And it’s always, always delivered with as much passion as MY fav First Lady Of Bluegrass, Rhonda Vincent.

I dont really listen to Cher, or Celine, but I sure as shit respect them. Tori, not so much yet. But as I said, that song as posted has a message, and I would NOT and should not have stepped on the message.

EvilDrPuma @ 241

DrDick @ 237

You know, I think there is a rather basic point that needs to be made here. We are not at war and the President is NOT acting in his constitutional capacity as commander-in-chief. There can be no war without a Congressional declaration of war. Congress did not do that and the authorization of force does not count. Something the MSM keeps ignoring.

Unfortunately, that’s something Congress, the executive branch, and the media have all ignored for more than sixty years now.

We are at occupation.

DrDick >

You know, I think there is a rather basic point that needs to be made here. We are not at war and the President is NOT acting in his constitutional capacity as commander-in-chief. There can be no war without a Congressional declaration of war. Congress did not do that and the authorization of force does not count. Something the MSM keeps ignoring.

Spot on !!!

No one is paying any attention to that except “We the people…”

“A country which proposes to make use of modern war as an instrument of policy must possess a highly centralized, all-powerful executive, hence the absurdity of talking about the defense of democracy by force of arms. A democracy which makes or effectively prepares for modern scientific war must necessarily cease to be democratic.” – Aldous Huxley

punaise @ 148

lolo @ 139

Dr. Dick my last name is a famous forest in England. *g*

this probably wouldn’t be the right time to mention that lolo in French is child-slang for, ummm, breast. always used in the plural, however.

Some times ya can’t see the trees for the Sure Would? (snicker)

DrDick @ 233

oddmommy @ 227

Are there, however, evil geniuses in history? Jest curious.

Oh, I think they exist in the world – that unique combination of high intelligence and absolute lack of moral compass. I do not think they are common, nor are they necessary to explain most of the evil in the world. That is perpetrated mostly by ordinary people drawn into horrific acts.

I heard a great quote awhile back, when Bush was preparing to invade Iraq

- The road to hell is paved with good intentions

I think a lot of evil begins with a naive ideal. Some time ago, at a yoga camp, two very nice people were agreeing that since disparate religious views had caused so much friction and suffering, the way to world peace was to have everyone worship one God. It took me the better part of the day and much of my sanity to explain that that was precisely the cause of so much violence – Crusades, etc.

Well, Pups, I think I’m going to crawl off to bed (possibly literally, as I’m not sure I can walk that far). Enjoy the snark and the soothing waters of the Lake.

nite Doc!

TribeScribe @ 242

DrDick @ 237

You know, I think there is a rather basic point that needs to be made here. We are not at war and the President is NOT acting in his constitutional capacity as commander-in-chief. There can be no war without a Congressional declaration of war. Congress did not do that and the authorization of force does not count. Something the MSM keeps ignoring.

DING! Xackly. Congress didn’t authorize….
But we’re past that, apparently.
Their reply: SFW!!??

I also think it is because, after 5 years of this war, nobody in Congress wants to admit they were complicit in the violation of the Constitution. Really doesn’t make for a good campaign platform, after all. “Re-elect me–I finally found my backbone.” Yeah, that works.

Sleep well.

Mommybrain @ 203

daCascadian, non-stop. I think that’s a blessing. I have a feeling I wouldn’t be able to get the sprout back onto another plane.

petrocelli, an excellent suggestion, thanks.

tb, books on tape!

A diary is wonderful. Have an “asssignment” that he/she report on everything. You will love it later, and so will your child. Include drawings.

DrDick @ 248

Well, Pups, I think I’m going to crawl off to bed (possibly literally, as I’m not sure I can walk that far). Enjoy the snark and the soothing waters of the Lake.

Sleep well !

oddmommy @ 173

DrDick @ 145

… I have long maintained that the true essence of evil is its general banality. …

… but isn’t there generally some kind of profoundly corrupted intellect at the center of it all? …

My sense is that if there is a real leader individual, then he must be very integrated, like a cult leader or a charismatic entertainer. But, in the case of a political party of repute, then that brand loyalty might be enough. In the case of the Republicans they had brand loyalty, a tremendous media machine pounding a message into the public’s head and Karl Rove.

Bush isn’t entirely a dummy and however much he plays the dummy he can also spit fire when something hits him the right way. He is perhaps seen as integrated in a very strange fundie Conservative way — a Christian Texas hard-case cowboy who pisses off authority and leaves mud on the carpeting.

So, Evil can walk in appearing as one thing and then in moments of emotion usually it shows itself. Smooth talkers who become emotional and shout anger aren’t entirely uncommon.

What’s perhaps the worst is the ones who are so unemotional they sell their message entirely and carry off their plans in the most organized simple way, banal I suppose. Those people carry packets of Kool-Aid with them.

True believers and sociopaths and cult leaders and charismatics have to be checked. And, that’s the beauty of a Republic with democratic features. The checks and balances America’s founders set up is pretty fantastic, though we’re learning it isn’t entirely perfect.

In the end it has to be recognized that the People ARE the sovereign. I believe that’s as true of Napoleon’s France and of Stalin’s USSR and of Idi Amin’s Uganda as it is of America today. It’s just that with established institutions and mechanisms for individuals and groups to exercise their power peacefully we tend to have a more dynamic and beneficial political system. I just love that we can change our laws easily to improve and reform ourselves to meet the environment.

Time for bed before I ramble on all through the night. Night all!

Loo Hoo. @ 252

Mommybrain @ 203

daCascadian, non-stop. I think that’s a blessing. I have a feeling I wouldn’t be able to get the sprout back onto another plane.

petrocelli, an excellent suggestion, thanks.

tb, books on tape!

A diary is wonderful. Have an “asssignment” that he/she report on everything. You will love it later, and so will your child. Include drawings.

one more idea. we once got stuck on a plane for longer than intended. i told my son he had an imaginary $1000 and had him make a gift list and a wish list from the sky mall magazine

kristine @ 196

I am reminded of the story I was once told of the naming of the Grand Tetons. I do not speak French, but I was told that it translates as “Big Tits.” True or urban legend?

true

Mommybrain @ 213

DrDick sed: Sedatives (for either you or the child, your choice).

When I was 4 we left Hawaii for SF. The doctor prescribed phenobarbitol (! really. can you tell how long ago that was?) to calm me during the flight but it had the exact opposite effect on me.

I’m bringing Benadryl. For him.

Sounds like you’ve gotten some good suggestions. I’d also pack whatever type of
lip balm he will use. Traveled many miles/hours on planes with my cherub and that was always a necessity.

TRex @ 175

. . . I am going to try and get some rest this weekend, but I have to say that this has been one of those weeks where I have been hard pressed to keep believing that anything in Washington is ever going to change. The Bushies seem to have tangled their roots so deeply into the national machinery that disengaging them risks bringng down the whole apparatus, apparently.

It’s all gonna hafta collapse. It’s either now, or within ten years. What we have is completely unsustainable, across the board. I’d sooner it collapsed now, and PERHAPS we can get some independent leadership, not beholden to the PAC’s and Big Bro’s Bucks, that will lead us to a more regional based connectivity and sustainable energy sources. The sustainable energy sources are gonna be our death, or life, outta this Big Brother MadHatted Scheme.

I just get so frustrated watching all those suits parading around with their pomp and bluster, accomplishing nothing while piles of unidentifiable bodies keep turning up in Iraq. It’s hideous.

Let them pomp. We are like the meteor to the dinosaurs. Their demise is inevitable, one way or another.

Meanwhile my state is burning out of control.

That, hoss, has to be tough. Do what ya can, but, know you CAN’T joust all windmills, sometimes even a therapod knows to forage elsewhere. Namaste.

punaise @ 256

kristine @ 196

I am reminded of the story I was once told of the naming of the Grand Tetons. I do not speak French, but I was told that it translates as “Big Tits.” True or urban legend?

true

merci.

zig alert :)

CD @ 232

a fascinating fellow. I started reading a biography of him some years ago, but never finished it.

Here’s a concise tutorial, with great disco music to boot – Rasputin For Dummies

Petrocelli @ 234

TexBetsy @ 231

not yet.

I have them and can make copies for you, but your Govt. thinks this is illegal … and Lord knows I do not want to end up in Gitmo.

Try to avoid Gitmo at all costs.

Mommybrain @ 179

Evening, all. Delurking to ask for some travel tips. Taking a 16 hour plane ride with an 8 year old. We have a gameboy and handfuls of games; books; cliffs bars and other munchies. What else should we not leave home without?

We leave LA at 1pm and fly all night. Someone suggested not sleeping at all, as we arrive at 6:30 pm local time and will have to go to sleep within a few hours. Someone else said to sleep as much as possible on the plane. Can anyone add their $.02?

Tori Amos sounds like Kate Bush. Whatever happened to her?

EARPLUGS FOR BOTH OF YOU!!!!!!

Looks like it’s time for this firepup to hit the hay. Night, all. Sweet dreams.

Loo Hoo. @ 262

Petrocelli @ 234

I have them and can make copies for you, but your Govt. thinks this is illegal … and Lord knows I do not want to end up in Gitmo.

Try to avoid Gitmo at all costs.

Thanks Loo Hoo, I plan to do just that … just wish I could get these CDs to Betsy though.

kristine @ 264

Looks like it’s time for this firepup to hit the hay. Night, all. Sweet dreams.

sleep well kristine

Thanks Loo Hoo, I plan to do just that … just wish I could get these CDs to Betsy though.

what if you make the cd’s and send them without labels?

DrDick @ 248

Well, Pups, I think I’m going to crawl off to bed (possibly literally, as I’m not sure I can walk that far). Enjoy the snark and the soothing waters of the Lake.

Night , DD.

Time for me to join the happily unconscious. Be excellent to each other.

EvilDrPuma @ 269

Time for me to join the happily unconscious. Be excellent to each other.

Sleep well!

EvilDrPuma @ 191

Wigwam @ 177

Neither more intelligent nor less dangerous than Himmler, Goebles, Hitler, and Goering.

I figured somebody would raise that comparison, but here we can ask the same question: was the Nazi leadership particularly brilliant, or just particularly indifferent to any standard of decency?

They were brilliant as only Germans can be. Or the Japanese. With CENTURIES of cultivated dedication to excellence the Nazi’s were EXCEPTIONAL in that they were doing what they did for the first time (modern warfare).

They stole and learnt from history back to and before the Roman’s, they studied the Hun’s (Ghengis) and they developed what they did with masterful insight and brilliance.

And they were so pure fuckin evil because like all the others, they thought they were a Master Race. La Raza is pure bullshit, and all who try and subsume and assume that title are doomed, one way or another.

And so is USA, at this point. N no, it’s not HALF ASS as brilliant as it is purely ignorant and stupid, AND evil because we think we ARE the master race.

And so, history say’s, we are doomed. Sooner or later. I’d prefer sooner. So then we can get ON with evolution.

TexBetsy @ 266

kristine @ 264

Looks like it’s time for this firepup to hit the hay. Night, all. Sweet dreams.

sleep well kristine

TexBetsy,
I just arrived at this thread– Hi!
I’ve been trying to catch up with Lew’s coverage of Padilla– wow, the Firepups have been busy today!

I’m reading backwards tonight.

Bob in HI

TexBetsy @ 267

Thanks Loo Hoo, I plan to do just that … just wish I could get these CDs to Betsy though.

what if you make the cd’s and send them without labels?

If U.S. Customs opens the package as they do to check for p0rn, they might then find out that they’re MP3 files and while that is not illegal in Canada, it might land me in some hot water with your Gov’t.
Can you download Limewire Betsy? I can put it on there for you to download to your computer.

I doubt that the government opens mail containing cds and checks them to see if they are originals or cd’s copies.

on the other hand.. this IS the boosh administration.

Suzanne @ 274

I doubt that the government opens mail containing cds and checks them to see if they are originals or cd’s.

on the other hand.. this IS the boosh administration.

They do open to check for pirated software, songs and p*rn.

I can just go to the library. Not a problem. Just have not done it yet.

TexBetsy,

one more idea. we once got stuck on a plane for longer than intended. i told my son he had an imaginary $1000 and had him make a gift list and a wish list from the sky mall magazine

What a great idea!

And PS: Did you get a Geo-mat as a mattress topper? I have one and it’s made such a difference.

wow, i did not know that, petrocelli. wow.

Petrocelli @ 273

TexBetsy @ 267

what if you make the cd’s and send them without labels?

If U.S. Customs opens the package as they do to check for p0rn, they might then find out that they’re MP3 files and while that is not illegal in Canada, it might land me in some hot water with your Gov’t.
Can you download Limewire Betsy? I can put it on there for you to download to your computer.

Please don’t trouble yourself. The DC Madam’s recordings will all be out in good time.

Time for me to sleep as well. Have a good night all.

g’nite tb – pain free sleep wishes

Suzanne @ 281

g’nite tb – pain free sleep wishes

thanks suzanne

TexBetsy @ 276

I can just go to the library. Not a problem. Just have not done it yet.

All of Louise Hay’s material are great, the two I especially suggest to every girl/woman I meet are “You Can Heal Your Life” and “Self Healing – Creating Your Own Health”. Wayne Dyer’s stuff is really good, but I’m biased towards Louise Hay because her words seem to come from her soul to mine. In yoga, many years ago, a woman yogi was considered as valuable as 10,000 male yogis and IMVHO, she is that valuable.

Loo Hoo. @ 279

Petrocelli @ 273

If U.S. Customs opens the package as they do to check for p0rn, they might then find out that they’re MP3 files and while that is not illegal in Canada, it might land me in some hot water with your Gov’t.
Can you download Limewire Betsy? I can put it on there for you to download to your computer.

Please don’t trouble yourself. The DC Madam’s recordings will all be out in good time.

Are we talking about the same thing? *g*

mommybrain –

take bags of marbles for littlebrain to roll down the aisles when the flight attendants aren’t looking; several noisemakers and whistles; a bunch of whoopee cushions for him to put on seats of those avoiding DVthrombosis by walking around; toy guns to startle other passengers with; a Koran and prayer rug; a trumpet or cornet — and snakes.

I miss being an eight-year-old.

Have a wonderful trip!

TRex, have you seen video of NYC grade school chorus singing Tori’s songs to her a few weeks ago? (there are other videos of the choir going back for years. Their teacher is a fan)

It’ll make you cry.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…..mp;search=

http://www.ps22chorus.blogspot.com

Teddy, statements like that make me glad both my kids were girls. (laughing)

I bet you were a terror at 8.

TeddySanFran @ 285

mommybrain –

take bags of marbles for littlebrain to roll down the aisles when the flight attendants aren’t looking; several noisemakers and whistles; a bunch of whoopee cushions for him to put on seats of those avoiding DVthrombosis by walking around; toy guns to startle other passengers with; a Koran and prayer rug; a trumpet or cornet — and snakes.

I miss being an eight-year-old.

Have a wonderful trip!

I believe you were on my flight to Bombay some time ago. *g*
I usually take extra coloring books and crayons. As soon as my kids would start coloring, other kids would come over to ask if they could also color. They would color and draw for hours and it never requires batteries.

TEDDY!!!

707

desertwind, TRex has gone to bed but I know he checks the thread in the morning and I think he is gonna like those Chorus covers of Tori.

oh, and limburger cheese

I think I heard Dave Letterman say that Elvis Costello is performing tonight on Late Night. I have not ween him for years – wonder what he’s got these days.

Suzanne @ 290

desertwind, TRex has gone to bed but I know he checks the thread in the morning and I think he is gonna like those Chorus covers of Tori.

Methinks snacking on Melanie Morgan and Wolfowitz last night might have been too much for our Giant Lizard … sapped his energy to digest them.

Teddy, don’t forget those poppers that are all the rage at birthday parties because streamers come out in addition to the loud noise.

LaFourmiRouge @ 292

I think I heard Dave Letterman say that Elvis Costello is performing tonight on Late Night. I have not ween him for years – wonder what he’s got these days.

I saw him on a late night show a few months back, he’s as great as ever.

Suzanne @ 294

Teddy, don’t forget those poppers that are all the rage at birthday parties because streamers come out in addition to the loud noise.

silly string too!

Suz, I have been vewy, vewy good tonite, no zigs … has anyone seen CTuttle?

TeddySanFran @ 291

oh, and limburger cheese

When I was about twelve, I heard that limburger cheese was great, so one day I bought a small packet (in foil) and went ahead and made an omelette with it in my mother’s house. Lord, did it fill the place with a strong aroma!

The omelette was simply deliceuse – bright and tangy and smooth… I think I still have a little aftertaste.

LaFourmiRouge @ 298

TeddySanFran @ 291

oh, and limburger cheese

When I was about twelve, I heard that limburger cheese was great, so one day I bought a small packet (in foil) and went ahead and made an omelette with it in my mother’s house. Lord, did it fill the place with a strong aroma!

The omelette was simply deliceuse – bright and tangy and smooth… I think I still have a little aftertaste.

Someone in my high school would bring it for lunch … grossed out the entire class. A few years later, I developed a taste for Gorgonzola, but was never brave enough to try Limburger cheese.

Petrocelli, haven’t seen him tonight (searching aging memory banks)

Suzanne @ 300

Petrocelli, haven’t seen him tonight (searching aging memory banks)

I have hardly been here any late nites this week, I’ve been catching up during the days, whenever I get a chance.
G’nite Suz.
G’nite all.

EPU’d on an earlier thread by emptywheel, I’d like to re-post here as encouraged by several others. I wrote:

220
Bob Schacht says:
May 18th, 2007 at 3:11 pm

I was kicking some of these ideas around locally, and got this response from a Honolulu attorney:

I just talked with Rep. Hirono today. She made it very clear that the House will not pursue impeachment because they don’t have the votes in the Senate … so it would be a waste of time.

That says to me that the next thing we have to do is get the Republican Senators into the impeachment camp. How can we do that? Use the media to list EVERY WEEK the impeachable offenses discovered to date … followed by “but even given this list of impeachable offenses, the the following Senators will not remove this President.” Then provide the list of Senators BY PARTY.

It will appear nonpartisan because we will be listing them by party — even though the list will be lopsidedly Republican. This may be the ONLY thing that will get the House to move on this.

As I was writing this, I realized, why not use this strategy on the House, too? Keep pressure on the House by doing the same thing for those House Members who refuse to start impeachment proceedings. This list will start with several Democrats on it, but as it gains publicity, I think they will move more quickly into the impeachment camp.

This idea goes back to an earlier post by looseheadprop, Priming the Pump. In order to do some of the things our local attorney suggests, we need a good “list of impeachable offenses”. This is exactly what the priming the pump idea was all about. We need a public workspace on this, and FDL threads just don’t fill the bill. Look at what has NOT happened following LHP’s Priming the Pump post: The idea was good, but we have not had the right kind of workspace to follow up.

How can we create that workspace?
DailyKos has some wiki space for projects like this; it would basically take someone who knows enough to set it up. Once started, any of us could contribute.

How about it?

Some others responded with additional ideas.
ccmask @224 said, “Bob: I say we go for it. Nice letter.”

Selise @ 225 suggested wikispaces could be used for the workspace.

landofthefree @ 226 wrote, “Bob in HI – post that upstairs! It deserves a good read by everyone who has moved on.”

Rayne @ 228 added some good thoughts:

I think the other answer to this is to press for deeper and wider investigations, to develop the list of PROSECUTABLE offenses.

If crimes have clearly been committed, the kind that the average Joe SixPack can understand, then we can short cut making a list of impeachable offenses.

Impeachment of a political appointee is a political solution; prosecution is a solution to a criminal problem. These don’t necessarily align as we saw in the Clinton impeachment; was he really guilty of a criminal offense that was free of entrapment? Or was he guilty of a political offense? I think that’s the problem that many Americans and nearly ALL the Repugs will have with considering the impeachment of Bush; he may be a political pain-in-the-ass, but we have to show him to be a criminal beyond a resonable doubt before they will move to impeachment. In other words, Repugs’ impeachment of Clinton forced the bar higher for us.

But WE know that Bush has been criminal; it may take less time if we contribute collaboratively to producing the narrative and helping with the investigative work (a la Marcy’s efforts, or ePluribus Media, and so on).

We can also raise hell with Republicans running for office and make the failure to rein in Bush a reflection on their inability to lead. Write those LTE’s, folks!!

P J Evans @ 233 and randiego @ 234 suggested that Hugh’s list of scandals might be a good place to look.

Then Loo Hoo @ 246 asked, “Could Hugh’s list be put into order by who was the greatest offender? Bob in HI, I think Hugh has already done the bulk of the work here.”

Then selise @ 250 provided a link to hugh’s list, but added that “not every scandal is worthy of impeachment… but you will find some of them are… hugh’s up to 179.”

@ 286, I picked up on something Rayne had written @ 227 when he said, “I think the other answer to this is to press for deeper and wider investigations, to develop the list of PROSECUTABLE offenses.”

So I responded,
“This is exactly right. That’s why Hugh’s List won’t work– it’s too long, and many of those offenses are probably not prosecutable. I take the Molly Ivins approach here: She criticized Democrats for trying to run on their 49 favorite issues, which no one can remember, and she suggested instead picking just 3. That’s the approach we should use here: No more than 5 Articles of Impeachment for each target person, each one supported by firm evidence already in the public domain. At this point, the most important targets are Cheney (must go before Bush) and Gonzo (DOJ is the key to the cover-up), then Bush. AG, VP, & Pres. are all impeachable positions; not sure about Rove.”

landofthefree @ 238, responded to randiego @ 234, who “like[d] the idea of a High Crimes List. Sort of like Hugh’s Scandals List.”
Adding,

Nice idea!

Yesterday on the Thom Hartmann program, a listener suggested that they have a weekly update on the current scandals and investigations underway. Sort of a quick update on what Congress has been investigating. My first thought is that it might take a half-hour or more of Thom’s show. He’s going to try to make it happen!

@ 287, I responded,

That’s the idea of a Wiki: Like anything in Wikipedia, it can be updated at any time. The current version could be archived once a week. That’s why I call it a “workspace’– because its a product in process.

I think maybe this workspace needs to be in at least 3 parts: One for Bush, one for Cheney, and one for Gonzales. Each of those 3 parts could be stratified: Principal Articles of Impeachment at the top, separated by a divider from “Additional potential articles.” If one of the potential articles gets a flood of new, rock solid evidence, then it could be moved up to replace the weakest of the principal Articles of Impeachment. Each article would be footnoted with critical documents (”Exhibits”), preferably with links to the source.

Landofthefree @ 290 then suggested that each Article of Impeachment have what I called a “Joe SixPack” version, which is a good idea. So I added,

Your suggestion makes sense. I’d take it this way: For every impeachable offense, we need several versions:
* The condensed, simplified, Joe SixPack version; and
* The precise, legalistic technical version, with citations and footnotes.

That way, everyone can get it: Joe SixPack, Patrick Fitzgerald, Representative Daftin TheHead, (R-Whoville) and Senator Whitehouse (D-Goodguy)

By then, everyone had gone upstairs two flights to see what Lew was writing about Padilla.

So I ask again, don’t we need a public workspace so that we can do what looseheadprop suggested in her “Priming the Pump” post? Then if the Goopers dismiss impeachment as mere partisan squabbling, we can point them to our impeccably drafted Articles of Impeachment, and they will be able to see how serious things are.

What do you think?

Bob in HI

EvilDrPuma @ 191

Wigwam @ 177

Neither more intelligent nor less dangerous than Himmler, Goebles, Hitler, and Goering.

I figured somebody would raise that comparison, but here we can ask the same question: was the Nazi leadership particularly brilliant, or just particularly indifferent to any standard of decency?

Hitler was bold and arrogant in ways that only the delusional can be bold and arrogant. And boldness often catches prudent people off guard. Nobody expected Hitler to attempt world conquest and/or to succeed to the level that he did. But his arrogance got involved at Stalingrad. He wanted to crush his opponent and the city that bore his name. Alas, that arrogance was his undoing.

Likewise, nobody expected the coup that Bush has wrought, the nearly complete undermining of the American Constitution and the infiltration of all realms of the U.S. Government by Christian Conservatives. People still do not appreciate the grip that he has on the levers of power in this nation.

Consider this. For the sixty years prior to the election of Bush, sane Americans fought to eliminate right-wing malitias, most notably the KKK. Now, right-wing malitias ten times more powerful than the Klan are financed from the public treasury. That’s bold!

Bob,

Here’s what I think: Impeachment would suck the oxygen out of every other think that congress might try to accomplish during the next 17 months. So many important investigations that are just now warming up would be put on the back burner, then off the stove. I have no coinfidence whatsoever that the Senate would vote for a conviction. Besides, George Bush isn’t good enough for impeachment.

Just home from a dress rehearsal. Perfoming in Tchaikovsky’s 2nd Symphony tomorrow evening for my first time. What an incredible composition.

Petrocelli @ 275

Suzanne @ 274

I doubt that the government opens mail containing cds and checks them to see if they are originals or cd’s.

on the other hand.. this IS the boosh administration.

They do open to check for pirated software, songs and p*rn.

Oh? So it’d be illegal for me to order doujinshi would it? *grins* Granted, not all of those are p*rn either. But still…

Wigwam @ 303

Now, right-wing malitias ten times more powerful than the Klan are financed from the public treasury. That’s bold!

Which right-wing militias are these?

What do you think?

Superb ideas!
The condensed version will need to be very simplistic for joe six pack to understand. Writing letters to the editor is a great idea but it doesn’t work everywhere, I’ve been doing it for three years and still see plenty of assholes with those fucking W stickers on their cars.

DrDick @ 46

RonD @ 29

A quick OT question for the esteemed Drs. of Anthropology-I’m told the “symbolic capacity” necessary to advanced communication requires a brain capacity of 950 cc’s. True?

I am afraid I have no idea where that comes from, though I think that it is less a function of gross size than it is of morphology and functionality. Certainly all of the great apes show a limited capacity for symbolic thought, including limited language ability (no more than that of a four year old human). Homo habilis (with a cranial capacity of around 650 cc)also shows fairly sophisticated thought processes (including symbolic thought) in their tools. You do not get really advanced symbolic thought like religion and art until archaic Homo sapiens and modern Homo sapiens. I personally think that the available evidence suggests that Homo habilis probably had some rudimentary form of language and that Homo erectus certainly had language, though at what level of sophistication is unknown.

In addition this assumes that the brain has some set number of interacting neurons that would suddenly generate communication. But elephants and whales both have brains larger than 1000 cc. Their extremely large brains are the consequence of large organisms requiring a certain number of neurons devoted to ennervating the musculature and nervous system.

I also believe that extremely small, but normally proportioned individuals (e.g. Anatole France) had brains under 950 cc.

In my view, language evolved in a series of steps in a fairly complicated tango between recipient comprehension, communicator trasmission, the adaptive valency of such communication (there must be a net benefit for both the transmittor and recipient or else selection would act against a “comprehending” deceived). That reduces one ideas importance – that “Machiavellian deception” was the value of language.

Dr. Dick is correct that even H. habilis has some evidence for fairly complex communication. The Oldowan flakes that are found at scavenging sites are manufactured from materials up to 6 km. from the carcass. Either the cobbles were carried about by the hominids – which implies a rather steadfast focus and pre-planning. Or, alternatively, the cores were sought when the scavenging opportunity was found. That also requires considerable thought, delayed gratification, and…since several cobbles look like they have been transported to the resource…some level of comminicating symbolic concepts where the items being “discussed” aren’t even in the near vicinity.

Ed*ard Teller @ 306

Wigwam @ 303

Now, right-wing malitias ten times more powerful than the Klan are financed from the public treasury. That’s bold!

Which right-wing militias are these?

Blackwater, most notably.

RonD @ 60

Drs. # 46 & 52:Thank you. I was having the discussion with an Anthro prof of my acquaintance who made that assertion as a statement of established fact, and it just struck me as a suspiciously precise delineation.

This sounds like something akin to the “Cerebral Rubicon” of the Victorian era.

Ed*ard Teller @ 304

Bob,

Here’s what I think: Impeachment would suck the oxygen out of every other think that congress might try to accomplish during the next 17 months. So many important investigations that are just now warming up would be put on the back burner, then off the stove. I have no coinfidence whatsoever that the Senate would vote for a conviction. Besides, George Bush isn’t good enough for impeachment. . . .

Yes, that seems to be the Dem Party Line. I’ve heard it from my own Representative.

Part of Looseheadprop’s point, as I understand it, is that if we prime the pump correctly, impeachment won’t suck that much oxygen out of Congress. There will already be a virtually open and shut case.

If not now, with the stench of these high crimes and misdemeanors, when?

Besides, don’t count too much on waiting until January 2009 for relief. Greg Palast is already warning us about “How Rove May Have Already Stolen the 2008 Election“

“every other think that congress might try to accomplish during the next 17 months” may not amount to a hill of beans if Gonzales, Cheney and Bush are allowed to fill out their terms. The damage they may wreck on our civil institutions may become impossible to undo.

Bob in HI

larue @ 138

Suzanne @ 119

larue, there is always the pig (KPIG)

And KVMR.org

Sadly, they are falling and being gutted by the Fundie Radio Groups as well as CC and the others.

If we lose internet radio to the CRB and their minions and henchmen, all is lost for the voices no one has heard.

Please see my second response to Mz. Amos too . . .

And http://www.kdvs.org

tbsa @ 309

Blackwater, most notably.

The history of private firms having big influence in the security business dates back to the US Civil War. Wackenhut, the model for Blackwater, has been around since the early 1950s. During the Clinton administration I witnessed right-wing assholes on Federal contracts breaking the law many times in their efforts to protect companies doing business in the oil and nuclear energy sectors. Clinton awarded Wackenhut contracts in Kosovo and Africa.

The major difference between companies like Wackenhut and ones like Blackwater is that the older ones are better at keeping their names out of the news and off the blogs.

I agree the growth of this industry is dangerous, but I don’t compare any of these companies to the Klan.

Mommybrain @ 179

Evening, all. Delurking to ask for some travel tips. Taking a 16 hour plane ride with an 8 year old. We have a gameboy and handfuls of games; books; cliffs bars and other munchies. What else should we not leave home without?

We leave LA at 1pm and fly all night. Someone suggested not sleeping at all, as we arrive at 6:30 pm local time and will have to go to sleep within a few hours. Someone else said to sleep as much as possible on the plane. Can anyone add their $.02?

Tori Amos sounds like Kate Bush. Whatever happened to her?

Kate took a long break to raise a child. She actually just released a new double album called “Aerial” this last Fall that was critically acclaimed, if not a commercial success.

http://www.katebush.co.uk/katebush_html/

TeddySanFran @ 285

mommybrain –

take bags of marbles for littlebrain to roll down the aisles when the flight attendants aren’t looking; several noisemakers and whistles; a bunch of whoopee cushions for him to put on seats of those avoiding DVthrombosis by walking around; toy guns to startle other passengers with; a Koran and prayer rug; a trumpet or cornet — and snakes.

I miss being an eight-year-old.

Have a wonderful trip!

Wow, so THAT’s what goes on in the back of the plane on long international flights. Sure am glad my firm’s travel guidelines say people at my level can fly business class on flights over 3,000 miles. Business class on Lufthansa is a good working definition of being pampered.

Ed*ard Teller @ 313

tbsa @ 309

Blackwater, most notably.

The history of private firms having big influence in the security business dates back to the US Civil War. Wackenhut, the model for Blackwater, has been around since the early 1950s. During the Clinton administration I witnessed right-wing assholes on Federal contracts breaking the law many times in their efforts to protect companies doing business in the oil and nuclear energy sectors. Clinton awarded Wackenhut contracts in Kosovo and Africa.

The major difference between companies like Wackenhut and ones like Blackwater is that the older ones are better at keeping their names out of the news and off the blogs.

I agree the growth of this industry is dangerous, but I don’t compare any of these companies to the Klan.

I’m told that Blackwater has some fundamentalist Christian affiliations, e.g., per the Wikipedia:

[Erik Prince] now runs Prince Group, Blackwater’s parent company, from an office in McLean, Virginia and also serves as a board member of Christian Freedom International, a nonprofit group with a mission of helping “Christians who are persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ”.

Mets beat Yankees. Joy is rampant throughout the land. Need some loud, boisterous music to celebrate.

Southside and Bruce!!!

You can take the boy out of Jersey, but you can’t take Jersey out of the boy.

Later, gang!

Gotta grab the dog, feed him, put him to bed, get some sleep.

Up early tomorrow to help with thousands of other buglers nationwide to honor our war dead on Armed Forces Day, participating in Echo Taps Worldwide.

Sorry if I came across here this evening as grouchy. I am…

For anyone interested in pursuing the impeachment route, here are some good sources of information.

Wikipedia’s “The Movement to Impeach George W. Bush”.

The Conyers Report .

Impeachment Resource Center .

Impeachment book list mostly from AfterDowningStreet.com:

“United States v. George W. Bush et al.,” by Elizabeth de la Vega, an indictment, a presentation to a grand jury charging Bush and gang with fraud — very well argued and documented, even entertaining.

“The Genius of Impeachment: The Founders’ Cure for Royalism,” by John Nichols, a masterpiece that should be required reading in every high school and college in the United States, a history and portrait of the practice of impeachment.

“Articles of Impeachment Against George W. Bush,” by the Center for Constitutional Rights, a short book that lists and explains four (multi-part) articles of impeachment.

“The Impeachment of George W. Bush: A Practical Guide for Concerned Citizens,” by Elizabeth Holtzman (former Congresswoman and member of the Nixon impeachment panel) and Cynthia L. Cooper, an excellent and readable book laying out five major grounds for impeachment of Bush, plus an extra section on Dick Cheney.

“The Case for Impeachment,” by Dave Lindorff and Barbara Olshansky, an amazingly popular and extremely readable book that explains the context while also setting forth six articles of impeachment against Bush, plus an extra section on Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Condoleezza Rice, and Alberto Gonzales.

“Impeach the President: The Case Against Bush and Cheney,” edited by Dennis Loo and Peter Phillips, with an introduction by Howard Zinn, a wonderfully well written collection of essays organized around a list of 12 grounds for impeachment of Bush and Cheney.

“George W. Bush versus the U.S. Constitution: The Downing Street Memos and Deception, Manipulation, Torture, Retribution, and Cover-ups in the Iraq War and Illegal Domestic Spying,” by the U.S. House Judiciary Committee Democratic Staff, a book that not only collects the evidence but also tells us what Congressman John Conyers, the ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, is thinking (the full text, minus a new introduction by Joseph Wilson, is available here.)

“Verdict and Findings of Fact,” by the International Commission of Inquiry on Crimes Against Humanity Committed by the Bush Administration of the United States, a report that looks at five major international crimes and overlaps significantly with most lists of impeachable offenses (the full text is available at the link and can also be purchased for $10);

“Impeach Bush: A Funny Li’l Graphical Novel About the Worstest Pres’dent in the History of Forevar,” a comic book account of Bush’s impeachable offenses — the crimes really are self-evident, but pictures don’t hurt.

“Pretensions to Empire: Notes on the Criminal Folly of the Bush Administration,” by Lewis Lapham, a collection of essays from Harper’s magazine, concluding with one called “The Case for Impeachment,” which focuses on Rep. Conyers’ report.

“The Twilight of Democracy: The Bush Plan for America,” by Jennifer Van Bergen. Find out what the Bush Plan is and how it diverges from what the law and Constitution say.

One more reason for skyrocketing healthcare costs: Brain surgery without the scalpel?

That’s it for me tonight, folks. G’nite all.

Good morning, pups. Today in the NYT it’s Dr. Gawande with the four facts everyone needs to know about sex and contraception and Mr. Herbert on being young, ill and uninsured.

http://mgpaquin.wordpress.com/

Fair trade coffee and English Breakfast tea are ready, and because I’m up early enough today I made waffles. Help yourselves, and have a great Saturday.

Morning pups. Before it goes, listen to Jimmy Carter on BBC Today this morning 0810 British Summer Time(think you need realplayer). He really tells it like it is on Iraq, including Blair’s shameful support of Bush, and and on Palestine. Carter for president!

Alao BBC reports Lt Commmander Mathhew Diaz of the US Navy sent to jail for six months for releasing Guantamo detainees’ names. Haven’t seen this discussed on the lake.

OT

What’s the deal with paying royalities to artists when their songs are played on you tube or sites like this? Is it like playing and paying for use on radio etc?

Mornin’ all!

Hamas, Fatah reach new cease-fire deal

Negotiators from the rival Hamas and Fatah movements reached a new cease-fire deal Saturday, a senior aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said.

Good Mornin’ Marion and pups…

Black coffee for me…thanks.

And something special for twolf1 when he’s around. He’s celebrating, iirc, another circling of the third stone around the big light.

Mornin’, Marion, twolf, Blank Kludge, et al -

Well, ain’t this just super peachy keen: even if ya could figure out which non-poisoned foods to eat, now ya can’t even trust the stuff that’s normally used to clean your teeth apres the meal………..

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05…..anama.html

Oh, SPIT! Literally!

Ron Paul hates us for our freedoms! ;)

CNN: Paul’s 9/11 explanation deserves to be debated.

‘Mornin Pups!

Chetnolian @ 323

… BBC reports Lt Commmander Mathhew Diaz of the US Navy sent to jail for six months for releasing Guantamo detainees’ names. Haven’t seen this discussed on the lake.

I heard it mentioned on a recent Air America Radio podcast. Diaz, upon leaving his post (or perhaps the service), sent a Valentine’s Day card to someone he knew at the ACLU (or other “Dirty F&#ing Hippie” rights group in Bad Odor in the DoD) containing a list of Guantanamo detainees. Thus taking an actual Dangerous Step towards human rights. Can’t have that!

——————————
(check my .SIG above in a day or three) :)

Anybody know if CHS is due back to the Lake today?

T. rex’s secret weapon? A stout snout

A paleo-bully of sorts, Tyrannosaurus rex could chomp down on prey with the force needed to lift a semitrailer, tearing apart a victim’s bones. Now researchers have discovered the dino’s secret weapon: It was hard-headed.

“Fused, archlike nasal bones are a unique feature of tyrannosaurids,” said lead scientist Eric Snively of the University of Alberta. “This adaptation, for instance, was keeping the T. rexes from breaking their own skull while breaking the bones of their prey.”

Blank Kludge @ 327

Good Mornin’ Marion and pups…

Black coffee for me…thanks.

And something special for twolf1 when he’s around. He’s celebrating, iirc, another circling of the third stone around the big light.

You do recall correctly! Thank you!

twolf1 @ 332

T. rex’s secret weapon? A stout snout

……Tyrannosaurus rex …..was hard-headed.

Uh………not that *we* needed researchers to tell us this. ;-)

Chetnolian @ 323

Alo BBC reports Lt Commmander Mathhew Diaz of the US Navy sent to jail for six months for releasing Guantamo detainees’ names. Haven’t seen this discussed on the lake.

BBC: Guantanamo lawyer faces jail term

A US Navy lawyer faces six months in prison and dismissal from service for sending a human rights lawyer the names of 550 Guantanamo Bay detainees.

twolf1 @ 333

Blank Kludge @ 327

Good Mornin’ Marion and pups…

Black coffee for me…thanks.

And something special for twolf1 when he’s around. He’s celebrating, iirc, another circling of the third stone around the big light.

You do recall correctly! Thank you!

Hippo
Birdy
2 Ewes

Iglesias meets with White House investigators.

Fired U.S. Attorney David Iglesias held a three-hour meeting this week with the staff of the Office of Special Counsel, which last month launched “a broad investigation into key elements of the White House political operations that for more than six years have been headed by chief strategist Karl Rove.” Iglesias also reveals…

twolf1 @ 333

Blank Kludge @ 327

Good Mornin’ Marion and pups…

Black coffee for me…thanks.

And something special for twolf1 when he’s around. He’s celebrating, iirc, another circling of the third stone around the big light.

You do recall correctly! Thank you!

‘Twas EZ! I cheated. I bet our SocSec #’s are very similar/close. Generated same dayish.

Guinness for the house, plz, tarbender!

We both missed the Rove indictment pool last time, and nonoGonzo this.

Godot is patient.

Would you call this ‘Getting the Cold Shoulder’? ~ America’s parting gift to Britain’s PM

NO to CO2 emissions targets. NO to a successor to Kyoto. NO to a carbon trading market. As Blair leaves Washington, US hardens stance on climate change. President Bush’s chief climate negotiator, rejected any caps on US emissions or participation in carbon trading. “That’s not our agenda”.

Blank Kludge @ 338

‘Twas EZ! I cheated. I bet our SocSec #’s are very similar/close. Generated same dayish.

Guinness for the house, plz, tarbender!

We both missed the Rove indictment pool last time, and nonoGonzo this.

Godot is patient.

Is today your b’day too? Or is it one day away/past?

I’m thinking next friday would be a good exit date for gonzo — 3-day weekend and all.

mmmmmmmm… Guinness…

Blasts hit Green Zone as Blair makes farewell visit

Three explosions rocked Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone on Saturday as British Prime Minister Tony Blair arrived for meetings with Iraqi government leaders, officials said.

twolf1 @ 340

Blank Kludge @ 338

‘Twas EZ! I cheated. I bet our SocSec #’s are very similar/close. Generated same dayish.

Guinness for the house, plz, tarbender!

We both missed the Rove indictment pool last time, and nonoGonzo this.

Godot is patient.

Is today your b’day too? Or is it one day away/past?

I’m thinking next friday would be a good exit date for gonzo — 3-day weekend and all.

mmmmmmmm… Guinness…

You. Me. AFAIK, Malcolm X, maybe Pete Townsend…anyone else?

ANY DAY W/GONZO NOT GONE IS ANOTHER DAY W/GONZO NOT GONE.

But, don’t let me sway anyone’s opinion.

Who’s left in the Halls of Justice to ‘Act’ AG? Now that the upper echelons are gutted?

Happy Birthday to Blank Kludge!!

May 19th

…also shared with Andre the Giant and Grace Jones…

good morning! and happy birthday to twolf1 and Blank Kludge!

twolf1 @ 343

Happy Birthday to Blank Kludge!!

May 19th

…also shared with Andre the Giant and Grace Jones…

Yep. And Gary Kildall. CP/M. Which someone kludged into DOS.
Grace Jones….WOW!

Many Hippy returns!

Thanks a bunch!

mornin’ all,

♥ ♥ ♥twolf1 & Blank Kludge ♥ ♥ ♥

Happy Birthday !

Blank Kludge @ 342

twolf1 @ 340

Is today your b’day too? Or is it one day away/past?

I’m thinking next friday would be a good exit date for gonzo — 3-day weekend and all.

mmmmmmmm… Guinness…

You. Me. AFAIK, Malcolm X, maybe Pete Townsend…anyone else?

ANY DAY W/GONZO NOT GONE IS ANOTHER DAY W/GONZO NOT GONE.

But, don’t let me sway anyone’s opinion.

Who’s left in the Halls of Justice to ‘Act’ AG? Now that the upper echelons are gutted?

more Hippo Birdies!

cbl @ 346

mornin’ all,

♥ ♥ ♥twolf1 & Blank Kludge ♥ ♥ ♥

Happy Birthday !

Thanks cbl, selise, Elliott et al!

Ouchie reviews ‘The Pentagon Film Fest’.

5/19 – Commemoration of Ataturk, Youth and Sports Day

New thread upstairs…

Thanks all for all the kind wishes. All pebbles dropped into the Lake create waves…which find their way to shore.

http://arts.ucsc.edu/gdead/agdl/ripple.html

I’ll cop to liking chihuahuas, but the Celine thing is pure slander.

Of course, my partner started this rumor here in the comment threads to mess with me.

Good morning all, and

♪ HAPPY BIRTHDAY ♪ to twolf and Blank Kludge!

Hope you don’t mind me calling you by your nickname?
I know your full name is twolf1 :)

egregious @ 354

Good morning all, and

♪ HAPPY BIRTHDAY ♪ to twolf and Blank Kludge!

Hope you don’t mind me calling you by your nickname?
I know your full name is twolf1 :)

Thanks egregiou!

Blank Kludge @ 338

… Guinness for the house, plz, tarbender! …

Termite walks into a bar and asks “is the bartender here?”

——————————
(check my .SIG above in a day or three) :)

So, this song is about an American soldier raping an Iraqi mother in front of her son, right?

With lots of xian and muslim imagery.

Which is the essence of the stupidity of this war.

Plant another seed of hate. Heck of a job, Bushie.

Astonishing that after failing as a punk rocker, Amos has made a carreer of aping Kate Bush with about 1/5th the talent.

I don’t get it.