zed!

ZeD

Teddy!!!!!!!!!!

uh oh lolo.

thanks, tsf. the servers will thank you too in the morning :)

not-zeD

Off to China. See y’all in a week. Treat each other most excellently.

Alfred Kelgarries @ 1

zed!

way to go Alfred!

EPU’d from the downstairs discussion of looking old, turning old, etc.

When I was first disabled, I often used a walker inside the house but refused to use it outside. Mentioned to a friend that it made me look like I was 90. (I was 34.) Friend said that NO, I only looked 75 with the walker and that I would need to put tennis balls on the bottom if I wanted to look 90.

So I poked her with one of my canes.

Alfred Kelgarries @ 1

zed!

Congrats! Is it your first?

lolo @ 2

ZeD

Denied, LOL, poor lolo, what was your take for the day???

g’nite, mommybrain. enjoy your travels and bring back details of how sprout did please.

What a week!

Hitchens savages Falwell – yeah!

Bushco slams Carter for calling him the worst Prez ever, and I can’t wait for the blowback.

Wolfie resigns.

And there will be more.

Looking forward to Monday….

TB, I concur with EDP’s 1,000 times downstairs. I like it :)

Bye Mommybrain – good travels!

Thanks for the new thread, Teddy. Sounds like quite a brunch.

Thanks Suzanne. Will do.
I’ll also find out if FDL is banned in the PRC.

Mommybrain @ 6

not-zeD

Off to China. See y’all in a week. Treat each other most excellently.

Have a great week. Safe travels.

powwow500 @ 12

What a week!

Hitchens savages Falwell – yeah!

Bushco slams Carter for calling him the worst Prez ever, and I can’t wait for the blowback.

Wolfie resigns.

And there will be more.

Looking forward to Monday….

Someone here said it earlier:
It’s “Take out the trash” week *g*

Mommybrain @ 5

not-zeD

Off to China. See y’all in a week. Treat each other most excellently.

Have a safe trip, we will be waiting for your tales of the trip. First time??

Mommybrain @ 5

not-zeD

Off to China. See y’all in a week. Treat each other most excellently.

Happy Trails MB – the current New Yorker has a Great Wall of China piece you’d appreciate.

Mommybrain @ 15

Thanks Suzanne. Will do.
I’ll also find out if FDL is banned in the PRC.

Bon Voyage, Ma’am!!! That ought to be interesting!!!

I predict the Friday News Dump will be Thursday Nite News Dump this week because of the Memorial Day weekend – lots of folks get an early start on the holiday weekend.

lolo, yes, it’s my first. Have you been?

Well I think I should get some sleep. See ya tomorrow. Thanks for the company and the great discussion.

Suzanne @ 21

I predict the Friday News Dump will be Thursday Nite News Dump this week because of the Memorial Day weekend – lots of folks get an early start on the holiday weekend.

Gonzo Gone, screams the Fri. morn headlines, ah, to dream…

CTuttle @ 10

lolo @ 2

ZeD

Denied, LOL, poor lolo, what was your take for the day???

1 out of 2 tries. How many did you get today CT?

My week contains my first ever surgery. That has me nervous, despite it being a daignostic(possibly operational) laparoscopy.

I’ll be hanging out more often in the time off i’ll have. Too bad it’s on wednsday, i’ll watch the fallout from Goodling’s talk with the HJC a day or two later. If not that evening, knowning me. I’m too stubborn to stay down for too long, even with the good drugs for painkillers. Which makes me a downright lousy patient when it comes to long term healing, being so active mentally.

g’nite TB – pain free sleep wishes

newspaperbrat @ 19

Mommybrain @ 5

not-zeD

Off to China. See y’all in a week. Treat each other most excellently.

Happy Trails MB – the current New Yorker has a Great Wall of China piece you’d appreciate.

Hi NPB. didn’t see you come in. chat tomorrow.

TexBetsy @ 23

Well I think I should get some sleep. See ya tomorrow. Thanks for the company and the great discussion.

Evening, TB!!! *g*

Sweet Dreams Betsy!

aliasofwestgate @ 26

My week contains my first ever surgery. That has me nervous, despite it being a daignostic(possibly operational) laparoscopy.

I’ll be hanging out more often in the time off i’ll have. Too bad it’s on wednsday, i’ll watch the fallout from Goodling’s talk with the HJC a day or two later. If not that evening, knowning me. I’m too stubborn to stay down for too long, even with the good drugs for painkillers. Which makes me a downright lousy patient when it comes to long term healing, being so active mentally.

Good luck with that. I’ve had two of them.

alias – thinking positive thoughts for you – along with wishes for a speedy recovery.

lolo @ 25

CTuttle @ 10

Denied, LOL, poor lolo, what was your take for the day???

1 out of 2 tries. How many did you get today CT?

Zero of Zero, IIRC, I have 3 in all, a mere good days ‘work’ for Ya!!!

sweet dreams TB

alias, good luck, we’ll be thinking of ya.
feel free to look for us at late nite : )

I am interested if FDL is banned in the PRC.

I’ve never been banned before. Except of course, during my teenage years.

before i go …. some headlines

Kuwait Unpegs its Currency from the Dollar; Future Gulf Currency Union in Doubt

When Turd Blossom Met the Teachers of the Year

Beloved Right-Wing Message Board Demands Bush Impeachment

Mommybrain @ 22

lolo, yes, it’s my first. Have you been?

No I have never been. Have a good time and check in and let us know how your little one does on the flight.

Suzanne @ 32

alias – thinking positive thoughts for you – along with wishes for a speedy recovery.

Amen, Alias, my Fingers and Toes are crossed for you!!!

Thanks TB!

I’m aware it’s a routine procedure, but it still doesn’t abate the nerves i have for it being my first ever surgery.

TribeScribe, i’m one of the more recent regulars to turn up here. *grins* I’ll want to be around for the snark to laugh at and with. It’s what makes the lake so much fun for me. Snark and a great sense of community with all of us.

Mommybrain @ 6

not-zeD

Off to China. See y’all in a week. Treat each other most excellently.

China? I’m envious. Have fun.

Nighty night Betsy.

last one

Former Soldier, Now a Professor, Loses His Only Son to a War He Actively Opposed

CTuttle @ 33

lolo @ 25

1 out of 2 tries. How many did you get today CT?

Zero of Zero, IIRC, I have 3 in all, a mere good days ‘work’ for Ya!!!

slow day *g*

Cujo359 @ 42

Mommybrain @ 6

not-zeD

Off to China. See y’all in a week. Treat each other most excellently.

China? I’m envious. Have fun.

China? What is it?

It’s a type of porcelain used for table service, but that’s not important right now.

Ba-dump!

We’re here all week, try the chicken. And don;t forget to tip your server!.

TexBetsy @ 38

Beloved Right-Wing Message Board Demands Bush Impeachment

Illegal war, illegal surveillance, trashing the Justice Department, all that’s OK. But threaten to make more Mexicans legal citizens? That’s worthy of impeachment in Freeperland!

Evening Mr. Audio.

Hey, Suz.

lolo @ 18

Mommybrain @ 5

not-zeD

Off to China. See y’all in a week. Treat each other most excellently.

Have a safe trip, we will be waiting for your tales of the trip. First time??

Wow! Have a great trip.

Here’s the youtube I tried and failed to put on the frontpage. Long-ago goodness: Jane on Countdown!

aliasofwestgate @ 41

Thanks TB!

I’m aware it’s a routine procedure, but it still doesn’t abate the nerves i have for it being my first ever surgery.

TribeScribe, i’m one of the more recent regulars to turn up here. *grins* I’ll want to be around for the snark to laugh at and with. It’s what makes the lake so much fun for me. Snark and a great sense of community with all of us.

The Lake has been a salve.
People keep it real here (and real clever) and it is appreciated.
I had a friend who used to say that Lakes have healing properties…
now I’ve come to find that holds true even for the virtual kind *g*

How’s the southland tonight, SteveA?

TeddySanFran @ 51

Here’s the youtube I tried and failed to put on the frontpage. Long-ago goodness: Jane on Countdown!

OMG thank you, Teddy. someone was just asking about this the other day (or was it night).

TeddySanFran @ 51

Here’s the youtube I tried and failed to put on the frontpage. Long-ago goodness: Jane on Countdown!

Very cool!!

Suz:

Nice day, not too hot yet, went out with Mrs. A and bought flowers for the garden and front yard.

And saw Georgia Ruls.

Teddy, you could just do it as a link in your post since the utube is being cranky about being posted.

Turd Blossom is such a Pox on Americana!!! Any other four words could have blurted out!!! What a mere figment of a man!!! Despicable!!!

Hey, Teddy, Suzanne, there’s a great program called TubeSock, used to be Mac only, now also for PC, lets you download and SAVE any YouTube or DailyMotion flash video file.

Steve, will it make my dialup download faster?

Suzanne @ 59

Steve, will it make my dialup download faster?

Um, no, not really.

I’m downloading the video even as we speak.

Hi, Teddy!

brb, folks

Alias, best wishes on Wednesday. You’re a tough one, but be sure to rest well. Even for a minor procedure. If you don’t let it heal properly, it will take twice as long. No moving furniture!

dayam, thanks steve. was a good try :)

Cujo359 @ 47

TexBetsy @ 38

Beloved Right-Wing Message Board Demands Bush Impeachment

Illegal war, illegal surveillance, trashing the Justice Department, all that’s OK. But threaten to make more Mexicans legal citizens? That’s worthy of impeachment in Freeperland!

Doesn’t it just ooze with crass hypocrisy!!! Seriously distorted priorities!!!

CT, from your question downthread – Honolulu only – December, 1976.

Kirk, and from our downthread conversation, I was among the more presentable “pigs” :)

Monday and Tuesday aren’t going to be good days for “the Man”. My gut feeling is that there will be a no confidence vote in the [tech] market as well as in the Senate. I’ll be suprised if the Naz doesn’t shed 2% by Wednesday. Not that there won’t be a delicious rally later in June. It won’t help BusChen though. September starts out poorly and doesn’t get better till after the election. The Man is going down.

TeddySanFran @ 51

Here’s the youtube I tried and failed to put on the frontpage. Long-ago goodness: Jane on Countdown!

Right on, Teddy! Thanks for that gem!!!

I don’t think this is going to be a good week for anyone. The market is wonky. DOJ is tottering. Since it is a short work week before the holiday, everyone is gonna wanna dump their bad news this week. Memorial Day is the traditional start of the summer season so when everyone comes back next week, they hope for it being old news.

I’m gonna buckle up my seatbelt and grab some popcorn.

Hiya, pups!

Most gorgeous weekend in a year finishing up. 10:30 with the sun down here but still shining on the mountains to the north and east. Worked outside all day, except when a seal broke on our washing machine, causing a small flood in the laundry room, which crept into my studio.

Then back to garden work – tilling, transplanting rhubarb, onion sets, harvesting bok choi. Escaping from the Turd Reich for a day!

Why this Justice Department Scandals matters:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05…..ref=slogin

Suzanne @ 70

I don’t think this is going to be a good week for anyone. The market is wonky. DOJ is tottering. Since it is a short work week before the holiday, everyone is gonna wanna dump their bad news this week. Memorial Day is the traditional start of the summer season so when everyone comes back next week, they hope for it being old news.

I’m gonna buckle up my seatbelt and grab some popcorn.

Don’t forget, Monica Goodling on Wednesday!

Wednesday is also the no confidence vote iirc.

LooHoo’s link has the NYTimes saying Karl Rove has his fingers all over the shredding of DOJ’s integrity.

(waving to ET) how was your concert last night?

Suzanne @ 74

Wednesday is also the no confidence vote iirc.

LooHoo’s link has the NYTimes saying Karl Rove has his fingers all over the shredding of DOJ’s integrity.

What would KKKarl Rove know about justice, anyway?

Just how to pervert it.

Pretty quiet on the Late Late Nite front.

I’m going to bed. ‘Nite, all.

Suzanne @ 74

Wednesday is also the no confidence vote iirc.

LooHoo’s link has the NYTimes saying Karl Rove has his fingers all over the shredding of DOJ’s integrity.

Will the Speaker let the House vote on no-con-Gonzo before the recess for the Memorial Day work period?

nite, neuro!

Loo Hoo. @ 72

Why this Justice Department Scandals matters:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05…..ref=slogin

thanks for the linky!

Suzanne @ 66

CT, from your question downthread – Honolulu only – December, 1976.

Thanks, The state has about a 1.4 Mil. population, with 1 Mil. living on Oahu alone!!! In land size, Oahu is third, in other words, a lot of *ssholes piled atop one another in a finite amount of land!!! You wouldn’t believe the sheer amount of growth since ‘76, all those canefields are now subdivisions and gated communities interspersed with large Malls!!!

Suzanne @ 67

Kirk, and from our downthread conversation, I was among the more presentable “pigs” :)

Never doubted it!

I came along at the end of the 80’s protests over Central America (in Santa Barbara). Very civil on all sides.

The “pig” rhetoric really bothered me when I first heard it years later – still does.

Of course, I don’t believe in going limp when I’m arrested for CD. Why should I hurt someone else’s back ’cause I want to make a political statement? And if I’m going out for arrest-level civil disobedience, why should I be rude to someone because they obliged my decision to be arrested?

I’ve never been much for ideology, I guess.

I agree, Kirk. I always treated folks the way they treated me. As my oldest girl can attest, I was fond of saying, “we can do things the easy way or we can do ‘em the hard way – choice is yours.”

Ed*ard Teller @ 71

Hiya, pups!

Most gorgeous weekend in a year finishing up. 10:30 with the sun down here but still shining on the mountains to the north and east. Worked outside all day, except when a seal broke on our washing machine, causing a small flood in the laundry room, which crept into my studio.

Then back to garden work – tilling, transplanting rhubarb, onion sets, harvesting bok choi. Escaping from the Turd Reich for a day!

Ooh, Rhubarb sauce and Pie!!! Yum-Yum!!! Evening, ET!!!

Goodnight, neurophius. Happy dreams!

Nite all — my muse beckons : )

I was hoping somebody would comment about the term Turd Reich. I may have just made it up, ’cause I’ve never seen it before, but somebody probably has said it somewhere.

It is a good one, ET. I’m dog-tired tonight – should have noticed it because it is good – sorry.

I love rhubarb pie.

My daughter’s having a party outside and a kid just back from Iraq is here. His theory is that all would be well if the Iraqis drank alchohol.

Help us.

Suzanne @ 74

Wednesday is also the no confidence vote iirc.

LooHoo’s link has the NYTimes saying Karl Rove has his fingers all over the shredding of DOJ’s integrity.

I believe they moved it up for Monday, I had read it somewhere, Reid wants action now!!! IIRC, TPM mentioned it!!!

Beloved Right-Wing Message Board Demands Bush Impeachment

Holy crap, there are some unhinged wingnuts over the immigration legislation. Lying us into war is okay, hundreds of thousands dead is okay, over three thousand Americans dead is okay. Brown people are NOT okay. Bizarro world…

Ed*ard Teller @ 86

I was hoping somebody would comment about the term Turd Reich. I may have just made it up, ’cause I’ve never seen it before, but somebody probably has said it somewhere.

Kudos kid! I noted it immediately with glee.

CT, you may well be right. I was offline all day and only skimmed through the lake’s front page before heading backstage tonight.

Striking while the iron is hot? While Comey’s testimony is still fresh in everyone’s mind? On the other hand, before Monica?

(waving to npb across monterey bay)

CTuttle @ 84

Ooh, Rhubarb sauce and Pie!!! Yum-Yum!!! Evening, ET!!!

We’ve been growing rhubarb forever, but last year is the first one when we seriously harvested all of it – pies, cobblers, chutney, ice cream (with raspberries). This year, if the jalapenas don’t get trashed by aphids, we’ll try rhubarb salsa.

The rhubarb I transplanted is a different kind from our main stash, much sweeter, but smaller stalks. The place it was growing didn’t work, so now it gets sun and heat next to some big granite rocks.

ET, do you mind an Alaska question?

Oh, for some real rhubarb. SoCal rhubarb just doesn’t have the flavor. It must need a good freeze.

I’m sorry TRex, I do believe in “aliens.” I was abducted for three days and went to Venus…

Ed*ard Teller @ 87

I was hoping somebody would comment about the term Turd Reich. I may have just made it up, ’cause I’ve never seen it before, but somebody probably has said it somewhere.

It is an excellent word, Turd Blossom is Bush’s Brain, Dead Eye must be Bush’s posterior!!!

Same-sex couples urged to adopt in SF.

John Amato @ 98

I’m sorry TRex, I do believe in “aliens.” I was abducted for three days and went to Venus…

That is where things got outta whack – you were supposed to go to Mars.

Suzanne @ 96

ET, do you mind an Alaska question?

Duh? I’m ready.

John Amato @ 98

I’m sorry TRex, I do believe in “aliens.” I was abducted for three days and went to Venus…

Welcome home.

John, love Silent Patriot’s GOP debate in 45 seconds. Says it all.

http://www.crooksandliars.com/

From something I have wondered ever since I heard of “The Land of the Midnight Sun” – since the short days of sunlight can cause some to suffer from seasonal affective disorder – does the midnight sun also cause problems, say disrupting the sleep cycle?

Suzanne @ 93

(waving to npb across monterey bay)

Hey you! Help yourself to some late night Double Rainbow French Vanilla ice cream.

There are certain rhetorical tricks that I’ve come to associate with wingnuts:

* exaggerated indignation over trivia.

* attributing repugnant motivations and feelings to those who disagree with them.

* attempting to associate evil with everyday words, e.g., “taxation is robbery” and “abortion is murder.”

If I understood the previous post correctly, Laura Flanders indulged in all three of those tactics relative to Lou Dobbs.

CTuttle @ 98

Ed*ard Teller @ 87

I was hoping somebody would comment about the term Turd Reich. I may have just made it up, ’cause I’ve never seen it before, but somebody probably has said it somewhere.

It is an excellent word, Turd Blossom is Bush’s Brain, Dead Eye must be Bush’s posterior!!!

FOFLMAO !

npb, thanks – the perfect accompaniment to my Nilla Wafers.

ET@95, Ooh, rhubarb salsa, a veritable panolopy of taste sensations; Tartness, sweetness, and Heat!!! Sounds delish!!!

Wigwam @ 107

There are certain rhetorical tricks that I’ve come to associate with wingnuts:

* exaggerated indignation over trivia.

* attributing repugnant motivations and feelings to those who disagree with them.

* attempting to associate evil with everyday words, e.g., “taxation is robbery” and “abortion is murder.”

If I understood the previous post correctly, Laura Flanders indulged in all three of those tactics relative to Lou Dobbs.

She pushed his buttons for sure – very effectively. Lou does not like it when it is dished out his way instead of him dishing it out his way.

John Amato @ 98

I’m sorry TRex, I do believe in “aliens.” I was abducted for three days and went to Venus…

In 1968 I met a guy – Don Hamrick – who claimed to have been abducted by Saturnians. Before the abduction he was a Methodist minister in Portland, OR. Afterward, he filed patents on the pivot pin for swing-wing supersonic aircraft, the key to the process for manufacture of boron process rotary wing aircraft propellers, and for a thermocouple which responded to temperature differences of a tenth of a degree F. Changed his life. How about yours?

Suzanne @ 105

From something I have wondered ever since I heard of “The Land of the Midnight Sun” – since the short days of sunlight can cause some to suffer from seasonal affective disorder – does the midnight sun also cause problems, say disrupting the sleep cycle?

On top of that, you have the ‘NoonDay Moon’ in the dead of winter!!!

Suzanne @ 108

npb, thanks – the perfect accompaniment to my Nilla Wafers.

Looks like mr brat hid the dark chocolate or worse.

Apparently Dr. Laura’s son is a little twisted. Wonder why?

http://thinkprogress.org/

Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell make a slim case for a 21st century FISA law.

aliasofwestgate @ 26

My week contains my first ever surgery. That has me nervous, despite it being a daignostic(possibly operational) laparoscopy.

I’ll be hanging out more often in the time off i’ll have. Too bad it’s on wednsday, i’ll watch the fallout from Goodling’s talk with the HJC a day or two later. If not that evening, knowning me. I’m too stubborn to stay down for too long, even with the good drugs for painkillers. Which makes me a downright lousy patient when it comes to long term healing, being so active mentally.

Alias, I’ll be thinking of you that day. Have been wondering about the date of your surgery. Even though it’s not a big scary surgery, it’s ON YOU so of course it’s scary.
The being active mentally is great distraction from pain. Look forward to hearing how it all went. ;)

John Amato @ 98

I’m sorry TRex, I do believe in “aliens.” I was abducted for three days and went to Venus…

Ooh, C&L’er taking a midnight dip in the Lake!!! Awesome!!! Aloha!!!

From TSF’s link:

Bringing FISA into the 21st century is one such improvement that can and should be made now. The recommended changes will protect the civil and privacy rights of our citizens while enabling the U.S. intelligence community to provide a higher level of protection.

Depends on what the recommended changes are because I sure as hell don’t trust this administration to do the right thing for any of the right reasons.

TeddySanFran @ 116

Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell make a slim case for a 21st century FISA law.

Hmmmmm:

Many Americans would be surprised at just what the current law requires. To state the facts plainly: In a significant number of cases, our intelligence agencies must obtain a court order to monitor the communications of foreigners suspected of terrorist activity who are physically located in foreign countries. We are in this situation because the law simply has not kept pace with technology.

The failure to update this law comes at an increasingly steep price. The congressional joint inquiry into the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks recognized that there were systemic problems with covering communications of potential terrorists.

His argument is a sequence of nonsequiturs.

Suzanne @ 105

From something I have wondered ever since I heard of “The Land of the Midnight Sun” – since the short days of sunlight can cause some to suffer from seasonal affective disorder – does the midnight sun also cause problems, say disrupting the sleep cycle?

Well, it won’t be dark here again until the first week of August. I respond to SAD more every winter, but your question makes me wonder if I respond more to summer in some ways every year.

Probably not, because you have to be a bit younger to fully take advantage of Summer up here. My first four summers in Alaska I fished commercially from May through September. Most work days were between ten and 20 or more hours long, was extremely exhausting, and we loved it. So we didn’t think about the sleep cycle.

My wife has always insisted on thick curtains or blinds on our bedroom for summer, because she needs darkness to sleep soundly. Friends and relatives who have come up in the summer are sometimes bothered when it comes time to go to sleep, but we usually pack their days with so much stuff, they’re too pooped to notice the light.

Ed*ard Teller @ 112

John Amato @ 98

I’m sorry TRex, I do believe in “aliens.” I was abducted for three days and went to Venus…

In 1968 I met a guy – Don Hamrick – who claimed to have been abducted by Saturnians. Before the abduction he was a Methodist minister in Portland, OR. Afterward, he filed patents on the pivot pin for swing-wing supersonic aircraft, the key to the process for manufacture of boron process rotary wing aircraft propellers, and for a thermocouple which responded to temperature differences of a tenth of a degree F. Changed his life. How about yours?

Where was he standing when they got him?

I could use three patents.

As long as the Saturnians get me back in time to feed the cat.

(with no temporal funny business. ’tis unnatural.)

Suzanne @ 119

From TSF’s link:

Bringing FISA into the 21st century is one such improvement that can and should be made now. The recommended changes will protect the civil and privacy rights of our citizens while enabling the U.S. intelligence community to provide a higher level of protection.

Depends on what the recommended changes are because I sure as hell don’t trust this administration to do the right thing for any of the right reasons.

The same changes Abu and Card recommended to Ashcroft.

TeddySanFran @ 116

Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell make a slim case for a 21st century FISA law.

It is sorry that he says it is because of the explosion in Technology, and stated the 9/11 com. found problems with the FBI/NSA technological aspect in preventing 9/11!!! That is utter BS, the problem cited by the Commission had clearly laid the blame on lack of Interpretors, not the technical ability!!!

Thanks, ET, I had wondered since there are, iirc, studies showing how important the circadian influence is to sleep rhythms. I’m thinking of one particular study that involved students in a room with no clocks, sunlight, or other ways of telling time – most settled into a somewhat 24 hour cycle but others had more of a 30 to 32 hour cycle.

McConnell’s superiors haven’t earned any right to a change in the FISA law. Until this administration is mustered out, they’ll just have to go on violating the current law. We certainly shouldn’t change it per their specifications.

btw, whoever’s writing for McConnell should be fired. It’s terrible.

Wigwam @ 120

Hmmmmm:

Many Americans would be surprised at just what the current law requires. To state the facts plainly: In a significant number of cases, our intelligence agencies must obtain a court order to monitor the communications of foreigners suspected of terrorist activity who are physically located in foreign countries. We are in this situation because the law simply has not kept pace with technology.

The failure to update this law comes at an increasingly steep price. The congressional joint inquiry into the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks recognized that there were systemic problems with covering communications of potential terrorists.

His argument is a sequence of nonsequiturs.

And BS. NSA already has legal authority to intercept communications outside US borders.

I am off to bed, thinking about a wonderful four days in Bodo, Norway, in June, when it never got dark. Thanks for that thought, ET.

niters, all. enjoy the delicious thready goodness.

kirk murphy @ 122

Where was he standing when they got him?)

Supposedly on a road near Mt. Hood. I keep on waiting for Wikipedia to catch up with this guy’s influence on the mid to late-60s in central and north California. Every once in a while, if you google Donald J. Hamrick Frontiers of Science, you get some dots to his legend, but there are never any connections, and I have no idea what happened to him. He’d be about 70 right now. Tom Robbins talks about Hamrick in Another Roadside Attraction.

Suzanne @ 119

From TSF’s link:

Bringing FISA into the 21st century is one such improvement that can and should be made now. The recommended changes will protect the civil and privacy rights of our citizens while enabling the U.S. intelligence community to provide a higher level of protection.

Depends on what the recommended changes are because I sure as hell don’t trust this administration to do the right thing for any of the right reasons.

One change wanted desperately is blanket, retroactive immunity for the Telecoms!!! Kiss my A**!!! You do the crime, you do the time…

TeddySanFran @ 128

I am off to bed, thinking about a wonderful four days in Bodo, Norway, in June, when it never got dark. Thanks for that thought, ET.

niters, all. enjoy the delicious thready goodness.

Nite, Teddy, You certainly stoked the fires!!! :-)

TeddySanFran @ 127

I am off to bed, thinking about a wonderful four days in Bodo, Norway, in June, when it never got dark. Thanks for that thought, ET.

niters, all. enjoy the delicious thready goodness.

Nite nite Teddy ~

Wigwam @ 120

TeddySanFran @ 116

Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell make a slim case for a 21st century FISA law.

Hmmmmm:

Many Americans would be surprised at just what the current law requires. To state the facts plainly: In a significant number of cases, our intelligence agencies must obtain a court order to monitor the communications of foreigners suspected of terrorist activity who are physically located in foreign countries. We are in this situation because the law simply has not kept pace with technology.

The failure to update this law comes at an increasingly steep price. The congressional joint inquiry into the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks recognized that there were systemic problems with covering communications of potential terrorists.

His argument is a sequence of nonsequiturs.

I think Eric Severeid has been quoted to the effect that most problems begin as solutions to other problems. Beware any attempt to “fix” our intelligence laws.

Bob in HI

good night, TSF.

TSF, those proposed changes need to be spelled out in plain english – not spin, not legalese – so we citizens can understand exactly what the proposed changes are.

Similar to how Miranda rights are explained after an arrest.

g’nite, TSF – thanks for the fresh thread.

Aloha, Bob! If it ain’t broke, Don’t ‘Fix’ it!!!

G’Nite Teddy – sleep well in our windy city. Quiet dreams.

I have sat on many a scene that has been “frozen” while a search warrant is obtained. There are ways in place, such as the ability to get the FISA warrant within, what 72(?) hours after the event.

The WH may be taking a second look at teh Iraq Study Group recommendations:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..id=topnews

Kirk, thank you for getting the humor in what I was trying to point out downstairs.

Suzanne @ 139

I have sat on many a scene that has been “frozen” while a search warrant is obtained. There are ways in place, such as the ability to get the FISA warrant within, what 72(?) hours after the event.

Of which they routinely ignore anyways, or uses a blanket, outdated NSL to paper over their shenanigans, the IG report for the FBI was certainly damning!!!

Suzanne @ 141

Kirk, thank you for getting the humor in what I was trying to point out downstairs.

my genuine pleasure – thanks for the giggle.

and now off to bed –

goodnight Suzanne.

goodnight pups!

Nite, Nite Kirk!!!

I’m headed off too, folks. G’nite all.

{{{{Suzanne}}}}

Suzanne @ 145

I’m headed off too, folks. G’nite all.

Nite, Ma Cheri!!!

thanks guys *poof*

The loons and grebes are mating. I can hear them on our lake, Cornelius Lake, Gooding Lake and Finger Lake. where’s Olivier Messiaen when we need him?

ET, It seems Suzanne didn’t catch the NoonDay Moon in conjunction with the Midnight Sun, I remember Pine Point, NWT, it was rather dreary!!!

Ed*ard Teller @ 149

The loons and grebes are mating. I can hear them on our lake, Cornelius Lake, Gooding Lake and Finger Lake. where’s Olivier Messiaen when we need him?

What part of Alaska are you in???

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough. We live on a lake – Neklason Lake – between Palmer and Wasilla, 35 miles north of Anchorage.

Ed*ard Teller @ 152

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough. We live on a lake – Neklason Lake – between Palmer and Wasilla, 35 miles north of Anchorage.

Within the Denali Range!!!

Well, ET, and firepups, I’m gonna call it an evening, Aloha Oe!!!

CTuttle @ 153

Ed*ard Teller @ 152

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough. We live on a lake – Neklason Lake – between Palmer and Wasilla, 35 miles north of Anchorage.

Within the Denali Range!!!

No. The set of lakes we’re a part of are remnants of the surface harmonic pattern left behind after the most recent ice age. During the latter part of that period, the Matanuska River carved out a trough between the old Talkeetna Mountains and the more recent Chugach Range, which is the main coastal geological feature of southcentral Alaska. The Alaska Range, which you called “The Denali Range,” is above the Talkeetna Range, but within three hours’ drive.

Ed*ard Teller @ 149

The loons and grebes are mating. I can hear them on our lake, Cornelius Lake, Gooding Lake and Finger Lake. where’s Olivier Messiaen when we need him?

What?? Birds have inter-racial dating?
What will the offspring be called? Groons?

Bob in HI

Bob Schacht @ 156

Ed*ard Teller @ 149

The loons and grebes are mating. I can hear them on our lake, Cornelius Lake, Gooding Lake and Finger Lake. where’s Olivier Messiaen when we need him?

What?? Birds have inter-racial dating?
What will the offspring be called? Groons?

Bob in HI

chuckling even more than the grebes at that one. Maybe glebes.

Good Morning, Firepups!

It’s cool and clear this morning in central Jersey. Lots of fun conversations in the late and late late night threads. Life’s been extra busy lately, so I’ve just been a lurker here at the Lake.

Big pot of coffee is ready. I’m making a batch of cinnamon swirl bread. Help yourselves.

Work for peace, every day.

peace & cinnamon~ mmmmmmm
count me in!

Good morning, pups, and thanks for coffee and the cinnamon bread, njprogressive. Now maybe my eyes will finally open! It’s Kristof and Krugman in the NYT today:

http://mgpaquin.wordpress.com/

Kristof is writing about health insurance and Krugman blames Milton Friedman for our fear of eating. I’ve got to go an make myself at least presentable enough not to scare my co-workers. Have a good Monday.

Ed*ard Teller @ 129

kirk murphy @ 122

Where was he standing when they got him?)

Supposedly on a road near Mt. Hood. I keep on waiting for Wikipedia to catch up with this guy’s influence on the mid to late-60s in central and north California. Every once in a while, if you google Donald J. Hamrick Frontiers of Science, you get some dots to his legend, but there are never any connections, and I have no idea what happened to him. He’d be about 70 right now. Tom Robbins talks about Hamrick in Another Roadside Attraction.

Mr. Teller. Another intriguing comment.

Best of luck with the rhubarb. Earl Weaver’s favorite.
;~>
———
Lovely sunrise this morn over the Pioneer Valley Western Mass area.

So, I look at WaPo, see the FISA CYA, read a graph, click on comments…and there’s TSF, but on the second page. The man is slipping. I suppose kicking up a midnite thread multitasking might be an excuse, but still…

Boston Globe OpEd on how peace came to Northern Ireland by James Carroll. Well done.
http://www.boston.com/news/glo…..n_ireland/

and the Globe front page has a photo; but this is just as good fromt the Herald:
http://news.bostonherald.com/l…..id=1002316

Celtics hero tells grads to be ‘good citizens’
By Jessica Fargen
Boston Herald Health & Medical Reporter
Monday, May 21, 2007 – Updated: 05:19 AM EST

NBA legend and former Celtics [team stats] coach and player William “Bill” Russell came back to Boston yesterday to call on Suffolk University students to be “good citizens” at one of the many Hub college graduations held yesterday.
“We have to overcome cultural biases and be kind to our friends and neighbors,” Russell said after the TD Banknorth Garden ceremony, where he accepted an honorary degree.
Russell himself strove to shatter cultural biases. He was the first black head coach in professional sports.
The 73-year-old hoops hero, who led the Celtics during their 1960s dynasty, told the Herald that people think he had a “rocky relationship” with the city at that time, when race relations were strained, to say the least.

“I had the time of my life while I was here,” said the 6-foot-10-inch Louisiana native. “There were a lot of issues, but it never created problems that impeded my quality of life.”
Suffolk spokesman George Regan said the school chose Russell to speak at the commencement of the college’s 100th graduating class because he “exemplifies what the city is all about and how the city has grown in terms of race relations.”
“That’s why they chose him. We wanted him more than any president or prime minister. We wanted Bill Russell,” Regan said.
–SNIP–

(This article has a photo too, and should be easier to ‘reach’.)

Sweetness. Thank you Mr.Russell.

‘Mornin, FirePups!

OK — today’s the day… The Return of the New Improved ‘PupMap and some other maybe useful things… Check ‘em out, try what you like!

————————————————————————
‘PupMap (602 pins), Chat, Calendar, Timeline: c my .SIG :)

Leahy and habeas hearing tomorrow:
http://judiciary.senate.gov/hearing.cfm?id=2785

“Restoring Habeas Corpus: Protecting American Values and the Great Writ “
Senate Judiciary Committee
Full Committee
DATE: May 22, 2007
TIME: 10:00 AM
ROOM: Dirksen-226
OFFICIAL HEARING NOTICE / WITNESS LIST:

May 14, 2007

NOTICE OF COMMITTEE HEARING

The Senate Committee on the Judiciary has scheduled a hearing on “Restoring Habeas Corpus: Protecting American Values and the Great Writ” for Tuesday,

May 22, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. in Room 226 of the Senate Dirksen Office Building.

By order of the Chairman

Witness List

Hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on “Restoring Habeas Corpus: Protecting American Values and the Great Writ”

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Dirksen Senate Office Building Room 226

10:00 a.m.

Rear Admiral Donald Guter, USN (ret.)
Dean
Duquesne University School of Law
Pittsburgh, PA

William Howard Taft IV
Of Counsel
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
Washington, DC

Mariano-Florentino Cuellar
Professor
Stanford Law School
Stanford, CA

David B. Rivkin, Jr.
Partner
Baker & Hostetler LLP
Washington, DC

Orin Kerr
Professor
George Washington University Law School
Washington, DC

I don’t know these guys, but I’d really be impressed if like Bob Barr or Robert Bork got in on the side of sanity. As in testimony. They may already be on public record with this, I don’t know.

why haven’t they passed a paper trail required yet?

Blank Kludge @ 163

Leahy and habeas hearing tomorrow:
http://judiciary.senate.gov/hearing.cfm?id=2785

“Restoring Habeas Corpus: Protecting American Values and the Great Writ “
Senate Judiciary Committee
Full Committee
DATE: May 22, 2007
TIME: 10:00 AM
ROOM: Dirksen-226
…

OK, added to the ‘PupCalendar…
————————————————————————
‘PupMap (602 pins), Chat, Calendar, Timeline: c my .SIG :)

mornin’ all

Mornin’

Dover Bitch @ 365

Mike @ 364

Question: Is this person a citizen of another country?
Answer: Yes
Therefore this person is an alien(look it up)

Question: Did this person enter the US legally?
Answer: No
Therefore this person has violated the law and, therefore, is illegal.

An alien here illegally is an illegal alien. I’m not sure why this is such a difficult concept.

[snip]

. . . The question is whether you want to label this person as some sort of criminal non-contributor or a person who has accepted what has undeniably been a tacit invitation by America to work for the most minimal compensation the economy will allow.

The term “alien” is an administrative law definition that describes a person’s relationship with a particular agency. In the area of immigration, it is a term of art used by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) – formerly INS.

Government regulatory agencies supply us with thousands of terms like this to reflect the licensing, permitting or status of person relative to the government. All the terms are essentially arbitrary and are totally inappropriate for use outside of the context of an administrative law or government function context.

Merely because one is currently embroiled in a lawsuit, they do not walk down the street referred to as “plaintiff,” “petitioner” “defendant” “appellee” or “appellant.” Similarly we do not refer to Lou Dobbs’ corporate employer as a “licensee” because the FCC grants it a licensee nor would we refer to Dobbs as a “licensee” because the FCC grants him a license to, for instance, broadcast on short wave frequencies. I’d receive puzzled looks (at a minimum) if I adopted Dobbs’ reasoning and begin speaking of people as:

“Hello, please meet my cousin Plaintiff Paddy, or my brother Defendant Declan, or my Uncle Licensee Larkin and my neighbor Registrant Riordan Ryan, and my dear mistress Philomena Proinnseas O’Phelan. Oh, and guess what, both my long-lost great Aunts, the sisters Naturalized Nuala & Nora will be here any minute.
Huh?

Alien, just like “taxpayer” is a descriptive legal term used for purposes of government agency classification within the regulatory scheme under the purview of that particular bureaucracy.

To suggest, as Dobbs (or Mr. Mike, above) that we apply the term to other people with whom we mutually share MANY regulatory designations is absurd and tellingly narrow.

(Side Note for “Mike,” the definition of “alien” is NOT “citizen of another country” as incorrectly asserted). There are many of us who are citizens of countries other than the United States (myself included) who are also citizens of the United States. Furthermore, there are many people who – quite unjustly – do not carry the regulatory/statutory/constitutional etc. designation of “citizen” in any other country on the globe; but they are, nonetheless, classified as “aliens” for purposes of U.S. citizenship and immigration regulatory purposes. Also, citizens enter the U.S. in other than a legal fashion. They remain citizens, however.

The point is, “alien” is an arbitrary and irrelevant descriptive term. Unlike “male” “female” “child” “doctor” “professor”, the term “alien” is subject to revision or change with the stroke of a pen should government decided to employ a new nomenclature when classifying other persons’ status relative to the agency that determines residency and citizenship issues.

Flanders is dead on correct about the de-humanizing bluster of nativist xenophobes and demagogues such as Lou Dobbs. The term alien is a distinct and arbitrary legal definition that describes a person’s relationship to a government agency.

It becomes inappropriately strained language when referring to someone walking down the street or in any other context outside of a descriptive legal/governmental context. Dobbs’ attempt to narrowly (re)contextualize his use of the term is absurdly degrading.

TRex,
Thanks for this post, much appreciated and (as usual) well done!

DoverBitch,
Amen, it’s all about labeling and then hiding under a veneer of de-humanizing and contextually irrelevant definitional bull$%&t.

slainte,
cl

Sure to be EPUd, but,

WeeBalrog arrived at 2:46 this AM.

Garrett Chandler Balrog

8′ 11″

Ma and Baby are fine.

Balrog @ 169

Sure to be EPUd, but,

WeeBalrog arrived at 2:46 this AM.

Garrett Chandler Balrog

8′ 11″

Ma and Baby are fine.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

(now get some sleep)

CONGRATULATIONS, PAPA AND MAMA BALROG!!

WOOHOO!! A baby Balrog on the Lake!

edit: Ouch! 8#11? I had one of those – that’s a healthy specimen!

Why do the servers crash when there are too many comments? Is it that the retrieve all comments queries become too memory-intensive when there is a lot of data? Because, really, four hundred or five hundred records (or rows, as we say nowadays) isn’t all that many. And it’s not that much data per row, either. I wouldn’t think there are that many night owls. It’d seem to me to be that the number of users logged would matter more than the number of comments.

And yet, atrios has an open thread generator that seems to be tied to the number of comments. So there’s something I’m not getting here.

YAHOOO!!

Yay Balrogs!!!!

congrats Balrog!

Welcome Garrett !

glad to hear all are well

S.O.S. -

here’s another for the ‘calendar’

Von Spakovsky

scheduled to appear at a June 13 confirmation hearing before the Senate Rules and
Administration Committee.

“Mr. von Spakovsky was central to the administration’s pursuit of strategies that had the effect of suppressing the minority vote,”

raw story link

Balrog @ 168

…
WeeBalrog arrived at 2:46 this AM.

Garrett Chandler Balrog

8′ 11″

Ma and Baby are fine.

A hearty Mazel Tov to Balrog and family!

… and as long as we’re talkin wees,

Alexander Kent SOS-son-in-law, son of SOS-daughter, arrived in great shape last April 25th. We were actually called in for our first babysitting stint this weekend! :)

Congratulations, Balrog!

jayackroyd @ 172

Why do the servers crash when there are too many comments?

Excellent question, have wondered that myself. The optimum limit on functionality seems to be 300, depending on the size of the comments. Must be that each call on the server to open, refresh or add must pull the entire comment string rather than check first for cache refresh. Must be the database app itself, yes?

Thanks to everyone.

(I told you guys before any family members)

It’s a boy, Mrs. Walker, it’s a boy.

New thread…

quite the Rovian pedigree

MIT & Vanderbilt
-Florida Recount
-Federalist Society
-Voter Integrity Project

will be facing

these folks

Congratulations to the extended families of Balrogs and SOS! Wishing all much happiness and sleep!

On the last “Late Night” thread, Bobbles at 40 wrote

Is anyone going to YearlyKos in Chicago? It would be SO wonderful if there were a Firedoglake or EmptyWheel panel on the firings of the US attorneys, the Comey testimony, FISA, and the other mayhem. at the DOJ., connecting all the dates, etc.

But apart from that, is anyone else going? I will be staying at the convention hotel, the Hyatt, and I am hoping that some other FDL people will be there

I will be in Chicago staying at the convetion hotel along with GrandmaJo. And certainly concur with the panel discussion idea. We really hope to meet up with other FDL pups while there. Especially the FDL breakfast I heard about from last year.

So bobbles if you are reading this morning — see you there.

cbl @ 173

… here’s another for the ‘calendar’…

Tnx :) for the good wishes, cbl!

A quick Google added a middle initial to Hans von Spakovsky’s name… and the event you so kindly provided is now in the calendar. So, tnx again.

I sure hope that von’s not too “into” Ferragamo footwear as much as is a certain Secretary of State, else his scheduled testimony might have to be pushed back because of its conflict with the (FICTIONAL!!) Ferragamo sale in NYC that is going on all that week… :)

Congratulations to the Balrogs! I rejoice that there is one more fiery demon among us and because it’s my birthday too, I just know he’s going to be 110% wonderful.

Welcome to the world, young Master Balrog.

Excellent question, have wondered that myself. The optimum limit on functionality seems to be 300, depending on the size of the comments. Must be that each call on the server to open, refresh or add must pull the entire comment string rather than check first for cache refresh. Must be the database app itself, yes?

Yes. Not the database backend, which is probably mysql, but the application itself.

On cacheing previous data requests, I assumed that the refresh comments button is an implementation of a cache. Hitting the F5 key does a full requery, while the refresh comments button does an append to the records already in local memory.

It’s true that I don’t have much experience with small databases that have lots of users–the biggest users group I’ve dealt with is around 20,000, mostly inactive, users. So the dynamics of tens of thousands of users a day may be beyond my ken. But it still seems odd to me that a key metric is the number of comments. As I said, it’s not just here, so there is something going on I just don’t get.