Morning Christy.

I’ve not watched a minute of the Olympics. I used to be a junkie but for some reason—let’s see now, I think it has something to do with China and repression—I have absolutely no interest this year.

Oh well.

Good morning.

Reading Suskind’s book. Really well done. Human interest stories combined with new info on W’s awful govt. Some of the stories make me almost cry again about what the U.S. might have been, and I’d thought I’d hardened myself to all that.

It seems that no one’s awake yet. Christy, YGM. I’m still finding the total blackout on the 2nd Circuit very odd. As for laughter and inspiration? My cats are good for some of that, the rest I get from you and Marcy and Jane.

Looking forward to having some of the gang chez moi for a BBQ on Aug. 30. Anyone who wants to come is invited. I’m in the Philly area but only 2 hours from deecee for those who want a getaway.

I’ve finally started The Dark Side. Not exactly the stuff of inspiration.

Good morning Christy and all fine folks reading this morning.

I too have been glued to the teee veee. I love the Olympics, and last night watching Mark Spitz and Michael Phelps having a conversation was great, excrpt for Bob Costats, who reminds me of a muppet reject.

I went to Altana in ‘96 and it was great to see American’s win gold medals in our country, and to see the ceremony afterwards. I was in the stadium the night Michael Johnson won his second gold in the 200. I also saw the men and women’s 4×400 relay team win gold on another night.

It was great watching a high jumper in the woman’s competition from Greece having the night of her life pursuing the world champion, matching the champion jump for jump and having the champion cheer her on. I also over heard a rythmic gynamnist talking with her family at lunch about how she did her routine a million times, and she doesn’t know why that day she made a mistake. She was grate full for the experience becuase she was having lunch with her family at the Olympics after her competition.

There were the blue or red fishbowl drinks at LuLu’s Bait Shack in the Buckhead section of Atlanta, where I got to hang out and talk with a bronze medalist from Australia.

And a hat with country pins, which really was one of the main things I wanted to do as fan.

Good morning! Jerome Corsi is about to appear on the Washington Journal, if you wish to raise your blood pressure instead of relax this fine morning.

Corsi’s up on Washington Journal……..

Dark Side is next on my list.

Yeah, I got no sleep and don’t even drink coffee; so buck up sister.

For every Dara Torres silver lining, there is a cloud.

AS to the pool and suit physics, this article at Kevin Drum’s joint doesn’t necessarily dispute that, but it does kind of put it in a different light/perspective.

I felt the same way, and then I caught up in the opening cermonies. They reminded of the fascination and spirit I remember growing up.

I can’t bring myself to watch the Olympics. Like RevDeb, I keep thinking of the oppressive gov’t…Tibetans and other protestors sitting in jail while the crowds cheer the athletes…

It all seems so surreal to me–that everything *appears* normal…

For some delicious reading, Günther Grass’ Peeling the Onion

Hi eCAHN
I had a EPU’d question below for you

Here’s yer Coke!

China is getting ready…

I did not think that I would watch the Olympics this year for the same reasons that you mentioned but now I’m hooked. I still get teary eyed when I hear our Anthem played. I have been trying to refinish a house that I bought a few months back and today my son is coming over and we are going to lay an engineered wood floor. Think good thoughts cause let me tell you that stuff is expensive.

Why does the Neilsen Rating survey crash my Firefox everytime it pops up? This has happened a dozen times now. I want to take the survey, but it freezes and crashes.

We bought a Shaker Workshops sideboard kit —also expensive—and it is off square by 1/8 inch (our fault) making it very hard to complete. The drawers are not quite fitting so we are having to do some creative sanding. I know of what you speak.

Whazzup with Costas…after announcing Phelps sixth win, if I recall correctly, he added a tossaway “this is ridiculous.”

No. What’s ridiculous is the commentary from asshats. If the hat fits, little man….

Reading Jane Mayers’ The Dark Side this weekend. Reads like a spy thriller. Scary to think that while these guys were busy scaring us, they’d worked themselves into paranoid frenzy, esp. Cheney.

Grandson heads to his first kindergarten day this week. I remember taking his Momma to school that first day. May our little ones be blessed with Mrs. Davenports in their lives.

And, a President Obama….

Caller to WashJourno whining about how unfair it is to have a follow-up rebut. to Corsi……. excuse me while I go hug the bowl. :-(

sounds like you had a gold medal Olympic experience.

My mother was an Olympic junkie, used to always get sucked into the opening ceremonies.

Bagel time. Back soon.

Left you my best guess for an answer.

(Corsi’s a loon)

I could have done without that…

What’s unfair is S&S publishing toilet paper and calling it “good scholarship” cause Mary Matalin said so.

Coffee’s gone & so must I. bbl

Thanks for that, U D Best ;-)

It was except for the accomondations package I bought put 125 miles outside of Atlanta.

Just getting here. You’re very lucky that you weren’t on one of those “magical mystery tour” buses that never could seem to find their way around the city! Rumor has it that some of them, like Charley on the MTA, are still roaming the streets of Atlanta.

Good Morning Christie and all,
Haven’t gotten into the Olympics that much this time around. Not necessarily a political thing.

True, dat! And Pedro is totally worthless as moderator in this segment.

#31’s for you.

This is funny…

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – ‘Republican presidential candidate John McCain’s divorce was amicable enough that he and his ex-wife jointly brought a lawsuit 10 years later to recover damages for lost mementos, but it wasn’t amicable enough to prevent McCain’s mother from suing his ex-wife to get back some personal property.’
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200…..lyFIUGw_IE

I’m with Christy on being an Olympics junkie. Sleep? Sleep? I don’t need no stinkin’ sleep…

Thnx. Mr. Sunshine’s more the Oly watcher in our household and he says he’ll go ”mute” on the remote if the ”color experts” don’t stop talking about their own wins back in the old days. Totally vacuous, extraneous.

oops, my 35 for Waccamaw @ 32…reply click not holding.

That’s hysterical…what a mother in law to sue the deserted first wife who survived a car crash. It’s a “Do you believe this story?” Thanks
Wonder what kind of mom she was.

I need to become an Olympic junkie because this morning I was watching Jerome Corsi on C-SPAN and found myself throwing things across the room.

Josh has a piece up about the ongoing neener neener neener, Obama’s a celeb campaign of the McCainiacs. Hmmmmmm,in the week of Michael Phelps and Dara Torres, that seems oh, so ”costasian”

Obama. Celebrity? CHAMPION.

And the “I don’t remember the suit” line is special. I don’t know about anyone else, but any time I’ve been tangled up in a lawsuit (twice in my life) it’s been a memorable experience. Are we to assume that the McCain family is so litigious that they can’t keep track of all their various suits? Not a happy thought for me…

Seems to me the Obama campaign could come on strong now with the everybody loves a person who strives and trains and works hard and grows and becomes that champion.

Champion, for us all…

[extending my comment @ 39]

Anyone listening to NPR Saturday Morning. The arrogant Scott Simon just did a totally obnoxious story about a woman wanting to adopt. What is happening to programs that used to be news.

Hmmmm… wonder if they filled it in when they left. ;)

President Bush attends; security installs special phone line

‘Communications were on President Bush’s mind when he attended an Arizona fundraiser at the home of telephone inventor Alexander Graham Bell’s grandson.

Secret Service drilled a hole in the wall of Graham Bell’s home to ensure the president would have a secure phone line during the event, which raised more than $500,000 for GOP state Sen. Tim Bee, who is challenging Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.).’

http://thehill.com/in-the-know…..08-12.html

Welcome!

I didn’t hear about those. The city was very congetsed, and a bit confusing on the layout of the streets. Overall the residents were very gracious, I wondered if I was int he same country.

I’ve now determined this after watching Jerome Corsi this morning:

Jerome Corsi had Mary Matalin help him produce the book he wrote about Obama. Mary Matalin is married to James Carville. James Carville used to work for Bill Clinton’s campaign back in the 1990’s and they’re still friends. Hillary Clinton is married to Bill Clinton and she was running against Barack Obama for the Democratic ticket this year. So therefore…

Hillary Clinton is behind Jerome Corsi writing Obama Nation. The End.

opps, you have to scroll down for the phone line bit…more coffee……

When he came out in favor of the war in 2003 was the last time I listened to that program—or for that matter any news show put out by NPR. I’ll listen when the BBC is aired on the local public stations. That or music. period.

When Carville married Matalin that should have been the give away, then and there. We could never understand how the two could be married and be at opposite sides of the political spectrum. Of course we couldn’t because they aren’t.

Hi, gang! I’m just doing a drive-by, ’cause I have to run off to see Howard Dean and go canvassing! See ya later!

If anyone was as freaked out by the WaPo piece on the latest domestic spying laws in this mornings paper, bmaz is on it.

I have reached that with Angela Seabrook in the afternoon. I have listened so long it will be serious withdrawal. A few weeks ago I had had another Simon rant because of some things he said about Obama. He may have one more chance. I esp. like to listen for Dan Schorr. This was really depressing.

Speaking of media…everyone needs to get a listen of Moyers Journal last night. Maybe the best segment I have ever heard…not very optimistic about this country. Powerful truth with a whiff of hope. Remarkable.

morning all,nice to have computer back…..Monday i shall give away kitties,booster shots and final bath today………sob…i love them muchly

,and Mary Matlin is the ANTI-christ…you heard it here first

she is so very vile….he must totally loathe his very own self

i feel the same way,been looking overseas

I’ll take a root canal or spinal tape before listening to that POS again. Caller just questioned why C-Span would have someone like him on….there’s a good question for ya.

Good Morning all, from a very wet & cool Mile High City. Christy, if you were packing for this weekend, I would suggest a raincoat and umbrella. TV weather woman said that in May/June/July we had 2.23 inches of rain, in August we’ve had 2.89 inches so far, with more to come. This is great news as the city was starting to acquire a drought-stressed look, but is now rapidly greening up again.

What are FDL’s plans for the convention? I’ve been working non-stop so I haven’t been keeping up on anything.

Good Morning Christy and Firedogs,

ah yes, am looking forward to a certain blood sport event this evening – the tivo is set

make no mistake, I disagree with Rick Warren on just about everything – but have enjoyed his taking major advantage of all those righteous voices sitting out the cycle so far

and I think the young man from Illinois is going to emerge victorious this evening

Americans must push back HARD against the corporate take over of 1) the news 2) the government,3) the courts,4)public discourse……….change it all!!!

Moyers is a national treasure and Andrew Bacevich’s Limits of Power is moving to the top of my “to read” list.

oh BEST of luck……go get em!

he is a treasure,and a sage….more like him please

i’m not watching the Olympics because i don’t watch television. i’m not sure what kind of strategy might possibly change China’s behavior on Tibet or other issues. the dynamics of world power are changing so radically that i believe that it will pretty much be up to them. The same with Russia. neither country has to worry about the US any more. the EU certainly doesn’t work cooperatively enough to send a viable ultimatum.
India is not ready yet. Economic power is what it’s all about. China has the potential to dominate the 21st century. they’re not quite there yet but it could well happen.
i follow the Olympics on the internet. i think it’s a great stage for young people from every part of the world to show us all what can be done with dedication, determination and sacrifice.
a book i’m reading that is incredibly absorbing and worthwhile is
“Shadow Country” by Peter Matthiesen. he paints an incredible landscape of Florida at the turn of the 20th century, how people talked, what an incredible struggle life was at the time, the racism, the brutality and violence, the heartbreaking loss that was dealt to children as well as women and men. i’m just shy of being halfway through the book but if it continues with the power and expressive quality of the first 350 pages i will place it near the top of my favorites list.

im going to go to the flea market and get some more fleas!…If in ya see Wobbly say hi for me.I missed her!

Our W is at his ranch. He’s going to make a statement to his country shortly, so he can pranch around in blue jeans, I guess. Cheers, Im out for errands. Pray for our country. Can we get Bacevich for a book conversation?

It’s better watching the Olympics on CBC rather than NBC. NBC is nothing more than a propaganda outlet. Too many commercials and too much nationalistic jingoism.

Oh, the Olympics. I used to watch it on TV obsessively, until the US networks stopped showing anything but Americans. And they never showed my sport.

But now, this year, I can watch dressage to my heart’s content, because of online streaming video! I can watch it live (which I’m doing in another window right now) or I can watch the replay videos. What a joy.

Hurrah for the future!

Chimpigula is to make yet another statement ???

coupled with their trotting him out very early for a Rose Garden moment yesterday lends serious credence to EW’s posts on there being panic at WH, State and DoD over allusions to the choreographed nature of the events in Georgia

and ps to those who missed it earlier in the week – my Stanford source: DeepHoover says Madame Secretary will not be invited back to the university – “monumental embarrassment”

Watched a little of the Olympics, it doesn’t hold my attention the way it did when I was a child for some reason. Watched “I Am Legend” last night, it was ok. Will Smith is real good but the baddies were fake. I still love the original Omega Man despite the presence of Chuck Heston. And college football starts in 14 days!

I’ve noticed that. In 1996 MrsCO and I were vacationing in the Northwest during the Olympics. We were in Seattle, and then drove up to Vancouver. Certainly an eye-opener. I had just moved here the previous year, so all I knew was the BBC.

The other interesting thing was the difference in which events get covered.

Would that Boalt Hall had had the same conscience/brains to do the same to Yoo. But good on Stanford.

and ps to those who missed it earlier in the week – my Stanford source: DeepHoover says Madame Secretary will not be invited back to the university – “monumental embarrassment”

Was there a linky or someone you know personally as source?

http://www.demconwatchblog.com…..peech.html

Weather forecast for Obama’s speech at Mile High. We pick up our tickets today.

Yay, and indeed, WooHoo. Springsteen rumours continue to circulate.

In today’s WaPo, very illustrative of our current MSM discourse. They routinely put Walter Pincus on A16 but this is on the front page. Sheesh.

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

a personal source – hoover wonk for 25+ years

Maybe Regent University will have an opening for her.

So, MCainiacs tried to profit from the Colombia hostage release with the same Three Stooges front and center. Now it’s the Georgia-Russia crisis. Again with the McCain playing President on teevee. Wonder what they have planned for October?

The Rethug tack is to attack a Dem’s strongest point. Instead of folding up, push back even harder.

Oh, you think he’s a celebrity? And that’s bad? Tell it to Michael Phelps and the Olympic champions. Obama has the heart of a champion…for us all.

Prairie, stayin’ on my message this mornin’….

very interesting information from DeepHoover. I wouldn’t want her back either.

Yoo should be gone too.

I think Barak should pick Bruce Springsteen for VP…Or Jimmy Carter…:)

Not sure where you are at but here in Arvada we are in day 3 of the forty days and forty nights thing. That jerk down in Colo Springs got the timing off. I don’t necessarily trust tomorrows forecast but am hoping for the best fot the speech

you sound suitably psyched. hope to hear reports back.

For those keeping score, the Irish Saber fencer beat the Yale saber for the gold. But they both look like winners.

But don’t mention McBush’s $500 Ferragamo loafers.

Obama is too skinny to be president, anyway. Everyone knows that.

has everyone seen this ?

Media Matters takes Gold, Corsi disqualified for performance enhancement

and that mean ol librul Larry King takes sides :D

Maybe Regent University will have an opening for her.

She’d be better qualified working for Ferragamo or Manolo Blahnik.

I think one of the good things about the Olympics is that it gives our country a common positive experience.
When I was young, that was not unusual. Today, in our splintered culture, except for great tragedies, it is.
If we had more common positive experiences, it would be good for us as a nation.

Personal fitter, men’s dept?

I’m in West Wash Park, so same as you. As long as it doesn’t come down like it did last Friday; that was truly biblical. I was riding my bike home, and got to wait it out in the pavilion in Cheesman Park, along with a group of hula-hooping hippies. Seriously.

There are numerous piano bars that would give her an audition.

Mornin’, Christy and Lake dwellers

I haven’t watched the Olympics in years. They rarely show fencing or archery so I spend my time with the tigers or reading.

With a lot of counterinsurgency writings referring to T E Lawrence I figured it was time I re-read Seven Pillars of Wisdom. Got a good copy of the 1935 first edition for $6.50 at Powell’s in Portland OR 30 years ago. It’s been at least 10 years since I read it last. Forgot how engrossing it could be. When my vet bill gets paid off at the end of the month (hurray!) I’ll be spending some bucks on books.

Bloom County continues to mirror the sentiments of the dwellers of the Lake.

fahrender @ 62

Economic power is what it’s all about. China has the potential to dominate the 21st century

The US is fast becoming a third rate economic power thanks to Clinton, Shrub and Milton Friedman’s free market ideology. Today’s workers are little more than corporate slaves, no matter the country.

Go Gators!

I agree with you. Common positive experiences are needed. Other than the Olympics, when was the last time that happened? I’m trying to remember. Help me, please.

Exactly. They’re all traitors.

Re suits, a couple of years ago I saw something in weightlifting when power lifters began wearing these tight leotard like tops that took 3 guys to help them into. The tightness of the material helps focus the energy of the muscle but I also thought it worked something like a rubberband. Anyway the suits could add 100-150 lbs or more to a lifter’s bench press. Personally I could never see the attraction. What’s the point of exercise if it isn’t really you but your suit?

We are seriously psyched. Hopefully I will get to post some local colour observations as we get closer. I wanted to take off work for the whole DNC and just hang around town, but pressure of work won’t allow me. We do have tickets for the Wednesday taping of the Daily Show at D.U. on the Wednesday, as well as for the acceptance speech, so there’s a couple of fun days right there.

Don’t the suits merely enhance the performance of someone who has worked Really Hard to be in top physical shape and be mentally prepared?
Telling ya, you could put me in one of the suits and it would mean absolutely nothing in terms of me being higher, faster or stronger.

It was an abomination for C-SPAN to stoop that low any day of the week. I tried to get through this morning to give Corsi a piece of my mind, and if I had, I was going to point out that he needs to come clean about the gay sex with Muslims he’s been having for years now! Hey, two can play the same game. ;-)

They wouldn’t pay her what she would expect now anyhow is my line of thinking. My guess is she’ll go back to Chevron and kill more Nigerians.

I read your little encounter the other day. Too cool. I thought folks learned years ago not to piss off a Viet Nam vet, particularly when it concerned vet’s benefits. The battles we had to fight over PTSD and Agent Orange taught us a lot, not the least of which was to never trust the government.

In answer to the question of what has made me laugh this week, I will say the photo of the squirrel at the top here made me laugh. What a hoot. On yer mark squirrely boy. Thanks Christy. How do you do that?

You could say that about almost any sport though – just about every sport uses accessories that theoretically improve performance. Better suits, gloves, bats, rackets, bicycles, clubs, balls, shoes… no difference.

Would that be the Arvada right next to Denver. I lived there from 80 – 83. Portafino Apts, big complex. Horrible.

I’ve finally started The Dark Side. Not exactly the stuff of inspiration.

Not to much new in it but very well written and does a brilliant job of showing how the Admiministration avoided anyone who actually knew anything about anything. They didn’t want to be contaminated by knowledge.

The FDL team, PeteCO and all who are going to be in Denver, we look forward to your observations in postings and commentary!

Just west of Denver – Iam in far west side
btw weather showing a cat 1 heading up the west side of FL then coming ashore – are you in path?

Corsi -

saw something earlier in the week quite illustrative of the whole swiftboating magilla -

caught the very end of what looked like a full 10 minutes of Corsi on MSNBC.
to be “fair” they invited DNC spokesperson to respond. It was a young woman who did nothing but laugh it all off as if Corsi claimed to master cold fusion

the bobblehead Contessa Brewer (who actually gradulated from a serious J School)was clearly frustrated by the DNC response – “don’t you want to respond to Mr Corsi’s claims ?!?!” DNC person kept giggling – the bobblehead was incredulous and actually pouted on air

personally I wished the DNC person had quit giggling long enough to refute a few things but the real story was the bobblehead, clearly upset the DNC was not going to legitimize the game

This is a long ways back, but the space program used to provide that.
In the 60’s during the Mercury and Apollo eras, the nation would virtually come to a stop during countdowns and liftoffs. If you were at school watching on old grainy black and white TVs, you would hear cheers and clapping ripple through the building.

I think with responsible leadership, we could find that sort of thing again. Perhaps, a daring and bold energy program could be honestly marketed to the nation in a manner that would capture some of that old magic.

You could say that about almost any sport though – just about every sport uses accessories that theoretically improve performance. Better suits, gloves, bats, rackets, bicycles, clubs, balls, shoes… no difference.

The lifters I talked to said that you had to learn how to use the suits. It wasn’t just a straightforward enhancement. The other thing is seeing some beginning lifters without too much muscle mass pushing around really big weights. It went substantially beyond what I would consider normal performance enhancement. I don’t lift much anymore but increasing your maxs or working weights up by 10 to 20 lbs used to be considered a major advance. A suit on some exercises could give you several times that within a few months.

Morning all — I slept in a bit. Can you tell? *g*

Old Town is a nice area, though.

Looks like it’s path runs right up the coast. If that stays solid it would be here (Tampa/St Pete) late Tuesday night, early Wednesday morning. Going to store today to stock up on canned goods (yuk). Got cat food yesterday. Long as the roof stays on and the trees stay upright I’m cool.

I’m envious. We had put in two of the tickets for out of staters, with the intention of staying with my son in Eagle. Of course we had about as good a chance of winning the lottery. I hope it’s dry as a bone in Denver and a plague of frogs fall on Colorado Springs.

I predict that yesterday’s announcement that the section of I-25 that passes right by Mile High will be closed for the whole afternoon of the speech will cause much wailing & gnashing of teeth locally.

http://www.demconwatchblog.com…..-28th.html

I can’t wait to listen to my co-workers bitch on Monday!

My son and his family live in Navarre. Was down there to help my DIL clean up after they were hit by one while my son was in Iraq.

Bob Costas spent that entire interview being geeked about talking to Michael Phelps and Mark Spitz and interjecting himself to get their attention. It was like watching a 10 year old. On the one hand, that’s kind of cute given how many sports people he talks with every week. OTOH, I would have loved to just hear a real back and forth conversation between Phelps and Spitz, because what they had to say was inspiring about their mutual work ethic and responsibility feelings toward the next generations.

I should have clarified. I liked Arvada, hated Portafino Apts. Had a “neighbor” who was raising pit bulls in his 2BR apt. You could smell the place 30 meters away. A number of people called management but he showed up at my apt with a knife. When I was home I always left the door open. He walked right in, calling me everything but a white man. Sam Colt changed his attitude. He, wife and dogs were gone in less than a week.

Hope son is back and well.

On Monday & Tuesday I worked ten-hour days and then went straight out to do voter registration for three hours each night. MrsCO went out at six AM on Tuesday to get her shift in. They get their money’s worth, I will say that. Very smart. The main campaign office in Denver was packed on Monday evening.

Official Phelps Finish Photos: Sorry, Not Available

Beth — They were actually broadcasting dressage on USA Network earlier in the week. I was really psyched, and so was The Peanut — she loves horses. *G*

If anyone was as freaked out by the WaPo piece on the latest domestic spying laws in this mornings paper, bmaz is on it.

I wrote about something similar to this when I did an entry at 372 on fusion centers. The executive order seems a kind of legal grounding for what goes on in them. Fusion centers are essential to the architecture of surveillance state. They turn local law enforcement into intelligence agents and legitimize the collection of information on the activities’ of American that are completely legal but which the government has no business collecting.

I just want to say for the record that I hope WVU has an awesome season. And I wish Michigan nothing but suckitude. (No offense to folks from MI, but yer coach is an asshole and he’ll dump you for an NFL slot in a heartbeat and leave you dangling in a bowl game. Best of luck with that.)

Yeah. Don’t think he will have to go back.

Nice.

Okay. You deserve it. Proud of you both.

You I’d like to have for a neighbor! *g*

that doesn’t sound touchy at all.

Christy,
Guess you’re not a fan of RR? *g* (BTW, agree with your assessment of him. Was disappointed in UM on this one.)

Good morning Christy. Morning firepups.

As of yesterday, they are 15/16 of the way finished with poking, prodding, injecting and ablating the various parts of my spine. Yesterday was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be.

Also, back to work at the HS, though probably taking Monday off. Texteen starts HS in a week.

I was so excited to hear that Mark Spitz was going to be live. I remember watching him in ‘72, and he really stayed out of the spotlight afterwards. He was gracious and truly excited by Michael Phelps. And you’re right, there really wasn’t a conversation between Michael and Mark.

Watching that race last night where Michael came from seventh place at turn to win by a hundredth of a second, was incrediable. That half stroke at end is one of those moments that create myths.

Good. On both counts.

Welcome back – glad things went well

No offense to folks from MI, but yer coach is an asshole and he’ll dump you for an NFL slot in a heartbeat and leave you dangling in a bowl game. Best of luck with that

Of course, if the NFL has been paying attention to the actions of Bobby Petrino, RR can lust after the NFL all he wants and it won’t happen.

That assumes the folks in the NFL DO pay attention and aren’t just jock sniffers.

Last night I was resting in the “Book” area at Walmart in an electric cart that had been abandon. My young (27) son was still shopping and I had grown tired. To my surprise I spotted the Jerome Corsi book, “Obama Nation” and wondered why it was so prominently displayed. When my son finally came to retrieve me, the book was no longer prominently displayed.
In fact the book had become buried behind other books of the same size. I think it would be good if this happened in every book store in the nation.

Jane and I and several others will be there. Jane is bringing her little video camera — which should be very fun. I have a panel on legal issues mid-week that I’ll be doing at the blogger/media facility. (I’ll do a little post on that later, because I want input from you guys on a couple of things I want to talk about with it.) But we’ve been credentialed to cover a lot of stuff…so hang onto your hats. *g*

I’m starting to make a wish list of people I want to track down and talk to while I’m there. Feel free to let me know who you think, about what topic, etc, if you have an idea of someone you’d like answers from on a specific subject. Doesn’t guarantee that I’ll get answers, mind you, but I can at least make someone think for a minute…

Good Morning everyone….. waving hello from the Oregon Coast

I hope it was in the fiction section

Jerome Corsi was a nut who wrote smear books long, long before he and Matalin became chummy. And she’s done some consulting with the McCain campaign at Cheney’s behest. Just FYI…

hmmmm, we still need at least one more Target trip before school starts ….

Congratulations, best news hereabouts in a long time, hope this will sort the problem and restore the pain-free living for you. Lights at end of tunnels kind of thingy

I liked this article on Chinese soccer in the Olympics, especially this line after they lost to Brazil.

“We play soccer like the Brazilians play Ping-Pong,” Li Weifeng, 30, the new team captain, said with a deflated voice afterward.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08…..=1&hp

I’ve been falling asleep in front of the TV all week… I still love the Olympics. The interview with Phelps and Spitz was great.

Getting my son ready for first grade — which feels way different than kindergarten. We’ve got another week to go and then he’s in school for the whole day.

Good deeds should always be rewarded………..*smooch*

Last evening on Minnesota Public Radio, In The Loop, Jeff Horwich played a satirical song about the Russian-Georgian conflict that started out “Have you enjoyed your little country?”. Hard to imagine hearing something about the situation that would make me laugh but this song did.

please Firedogs, he is always to be referred to as

Anti-Semite, Disgraced Conspiracy Theorist Jerome Corsi

That’s great news! (((TexBetsy)))

If HRC & Bill were involved in the book, it would of come out post Feb 5 when the so called inevitable didn’t happen and the only ground game they had was to slam Obama…

hey ((TexBetsy)), glad to hear it went ‘well’ – and ya know it’s Tax Free Week End right ?

Feels like I’ve been shopping nonstop to get The Peanut ready for kindergarten this year. She’s going to start school while I’m in Denver — I’m having massive Mom guilt about it, but I’m assured that she won’t even remember I wasn’t there, so I’m trying to suck it up and tell myself that it’s for her own good that I’m blogging in the first place to try and make things better. (But that’s oddly just not cutting through the mom guilt. What can you do?)

While I’ve picked up her supplies, I also picked up extras of crayons, markers, paints, pencils, etc., for her teacher and just popped them in a large plastic tub with a lid. My mom taught elementary school for more than 30 years, and I remember how much of our own money we spent each school year stocking up for kids whose parents couldn’t really afford school supplies and such and for the classroom to have extras — because her budget was never, ever remotely enough. They are having “buy one, get one” sales right now, so I was able to get quite a bit for not too much cash. And I’ve never seen two teachers so happy in my life as the ones at her school, since they’ll be able to share the art supplies especially between the two classes.

We used to save up change in a jar all year for my mom to use at the start of school to buy extras. I thought this was better for them than having to scrounge their own pennies together, especially given how little teachers get paid in the first place these days…

Betsy — that is fantastic news. So happy things are going much better for you! Huzzah!

I like “scumbag” better.

btw, everyone enjoying the “squirrel on the starting blocks” pix? Cracked me up…

have giggled every time I hit refresh – perfect !

speaking of which ….. the school district i work for is no longer able to provide as many backpacks full of supplies as are needed for homeless, refugee, and at-risk-for-homeless students as we now have. so, each program director is doing his/her own private fundraising. if you’d like to contribute $20 for a backpack or $8-$12 for contents for a HS war refugee, please email me.

tex betsy at g mail

I mentioned that before you got here.
Yes, I laughed out loud.
And, my question was How Do you do that?
I’m guessing you didn’t google squirrel on starting blocks, right?

yes, despite the human toll, all week long I have referred to Georgia as
Duchy of Gran Fenwick

In this case, I was looking for a nice shot of the sun glinting off pool water…and this one happened to pop into the mix. It made me laugh out loud, so I had to use it. Hilarious!

School starts here next week as well. Supplies for teachers is a great idea. Add one task to errands this afternoon.

Gawd, just turned to CNN = Huck was speaking and the rapture was everywhere didn’t see any snakes though

Great pick and s/he’s a little cutie.

This is the best time to do it, too, because everything is on mark-down sale. I found the nicest finger paints and tempura paints at Toys-R-Us for buy one, get one free sales and marked down. So I piled a bunch in the cart. The poor girl doing check-out was flabbergasted — but the kindergarten teachers were incredibly appreciative because at that age, kids go through a LOT of art supplies. My mom mostly taught 3rd grade, so I remember what that was like for her — we would literally spend thousands of dollars every year for bulletin board stuff and classroom supplies. I don’t want The Peanut’s teachers to have to do that if I can pitch in a little bit and help. It’s only fair, considering how much my child will be getting back from her teachers throughout the year…

You can ask this guy why he’s such an @sshole….

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Bruce

Betsy, that is such a great program idea. They do that here, too, and we always chip in for them. The school is always really great about having a teacher home deliver the supplies before school starts, so the kids never really know about it — at least in the younger grades. And the kids who receive them are always so thrilled to have something brand new and all their own.

I’ve got grandkids starting. One starts pre-K next monday, one starting K on the 20th, one 3rd grade and one starting mid-high on the 20th. Their moms are good to go.

Well, I won’t be attending the GOP convention. I can only be away from The Peanut and Mr. ReddHedd for so long, and a two week stretch was to much. So, just the Dem convention for me, I’m afraid.

But if I see him lurking about in Denver, I’ll be sure to try and ask him. *g*

When I picking through books at the thrift store I always pick up a couple of children’s classics to give to my sister who teaches 4th grade. These books she gives to the kids to take home. Most of her students are immigrants who probably don’t have these classics at home.

Great idea!

If you see him do not approach unless you have bodyguards.

I have them piled up in my office and hand out during registration. And last year’s refugees always have a reason to visit me each semester and get refills of paper, folders and pens.

Its cute but as a pool owner…. my first thought was Ah Oh…. boy hope that squirrel can get back up……couldn’t tell you how many critters (mostly dead) that I had to scoop out of the water…… baby birds seem to be high on the list….

The local CBS affiliate has a drive each year for backpacks and supplies. The response has always been excellent. The fact that we have to do this is a vivid reminder of the state of our public education system. If Jeb had gotten his way every school in FL would be for profit. The property tax amendment on the ballot this November, which was just thrown off the ballot by a lower court but will undoubtedly be appealed, will kill public funding for schools in 2010. The supporters of the amendment are counting on the retirees who moved here for passage. All they care about is a potential 25% decrease in their property taxes. They could care less about Florida’s schools. Their kids aren’t in them. The good thing is that change is in the air here. Folks are tired of the Rethug legislature destroying the state.

Thanks.
A lot of the parents seem to be from a different planet. At last years winter holiday music program, even after being asked several times that everyone remain for the entire program (to be polite to the rest of the students) lots of them got up and left in the middle of the students singing Light One Candle. Broke my heart. They need all the help they can get.

What a great idea! Will your daughter be taking the bus to school, too? That was the hardest thing for me. We had to pin an index card with his name, our names, phone number, teachers name, bus number, etc. and he needed to wear it the first week. My little dickens decided he had enough of school the second day and just grabbed his backpack and left. Fortunately, the secretary caught him before he left the building! Things were smooth sailing after that…

Well, honestly, I used to prosecute murderers for a living. So I think I’ll be okay. But I hear you on the prudence of having back-up…

btw, forgot to mention, I did an hour of discussion last night on the Air America show “Clout” regarding McCain, lobbyists, Ralph Reed and other corruption questions, as well as some DOJ issues. They have the podcast up. Someone e-mailed me last night to ask about it, so I thought maybe this would be helpful for other folks, too.

thanks. will listen.

She took the bus to preschool last year — was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life to put her on that bus the first day. But she absolutely loved it. And her bus driver was a hoot, and really good with her. (She sat in the first seat behind her, and she called him “my bus man” all year. LOL)

This year, we’ll be walking as her school isn’t too far from our house. But she was in a special pre-K program that the county runs at a school further away that required busing. She’s going to be thoroughly depressed about not being able to ride the bus this year. *g* She is really, really excited about kindergarten, though…

One other thing — the book salon time for today has changed, because the author had a scheduling need today. It will begin at 1 pm ET/10 am PT. Just FYI!

Someone who was listening last night said you were really layin’ it on Reed. Good on ya. Talk about somebody who has really really embraced the Gospel of Prosperity!

Phoenix has a school specific for homeless children, it is called the Pappas School which is funded by state plus charity donations. There has been a lot of controversy about this school but the students & the families actually like it a lot. There are food, clothing and school supply closets to make sure the kids have enough to keep going to school.

They have an intricate bus system which will go to the shelters and other areas to pick up the kids. The DON”T loose kids, when one doesn’t show up for school they try to track them down and keep them in school.

They say that this school cuts down the pressure and trashing of kids on what they have or don’t have. Since all the kids come from homeless families.
Pappas School

Where are you on the coast,Katymine? I’m in Newport.

Too cute! Neighborhood schools are nice — we have one big campus K-12, so the bus route will be the same until he graduates. She’ll love Kindergarten.

Right up there on the Ewwww List with Fred Phelps, huh?

That’s great Katymine. Here, that’s not as big a problem as the kids who are a half step better off, families doubling up, transitional housing, that sort of thing. The shelters themselves seem to be good at getting kids to school.

I spent a lot of time talking about him using his “flock” while knowingly getting paid to do so by gambling interests. Greedy jackass.

Speaking of book salons, I just finished watching an interview of Billy Jean King (”Pressure Is A Privilege” on CSPAN. What a woman! Good chat about feminism and also gay/lesbian/transgenders.

Florence…. right in Old Town….. late night Suzanne just moved to Newport…. we had lunch yesterday…

Oh Katymine! Give Suzanne our best!

Here’s my last Olympic comment, for this thread anyway.
Is womens beach volleyball over yet? Please?

I just read this over at Jesus’ General. It’s a bit long, but I immediately saw it as appropriate for this thread.

Wandering Around an Albuquerque Airport Terminal
By Naomi Shihab Nye

After learning my flight was detained 4 hours,
I heard the announcement:
If anyone in the vicinity of gate 4-A understands any Arabic,
Please come to the gate immediately.

Well—one pauses these days. Gate 4-A was my own gate. I went there.
An older woman in full traditional Palestinian dress,
Just like my grandma wore, was crumpled to the floor, wailing loudly.
Help, said the flight service person. Talk to her. What is her
Problem? We told her the flight was going to be 4 hours late and she
Did this.

I put my arm around her and spoke to her haltingly.
Shu dow-a, shu-beduck habibti, stani stani schway, min fadlick,
Sho bit se-wee?

The minute she heard any words she knew—however poorly used—
She stopped crying.
She thought our flight had been canceled entirely.
She needed to be in El Paso for some major medical treatment the
Following day. I said no, no, we’re fine, you’ll get there, just late.

Who is picking you up? Let’s call him and tell him.
We called her son and I spoke with him in English.
I told him I would stay with his mother till we got on the plane and
Would ride next to her—Southwest.

She talked to him. Then we called her other sons just for the fun of
It. Then we called my dad and he and she spoke for a while in Arabic and
Found out of course they had ten shared friends.

Then I thought just for the heck of it why not call some Palestinian
Poets I know and let them chat with her. This all took up about 2 hours.

She was laughing a lot by then. Telling about her life. Answering
Questions.

She had pulled a sack of homemade mamool cookies—little powdered
Sugar crumbly mounds stuffed with dates and nuts—out of her bag—
And was offering them to all the women at the gate.

To my amazement, not a single woman declined one. It was like a
Sacrament. The traveler from Argentina, the traveler from California,
The lovely woman from Laredo—we were all covered with the same
Powdered sugar. And smiling. There is no better cookies.

And I noticed my new best friend—by now we were holding hands—
Had a potted plant poking out of her bag, some medicinal thing,
With green furry leaves. Such an old country traveling tradition. Always
Carry a plant. Always stay rooted to somewhere.

And I looked around that gate of late and weary ones and thought,
This is the world I want to live in. The shared world.
Not a single person in this gate—once the crying of confusion stopped
—has seemed apprehensive about any other person.

They took the cookies. I wanted to hug all those other women too.
This can still happen anywhere.

Not everything is lost.

Oh, that was a lovely dip into the cool water, wasn’t it? Thanks so much for sharing it. Just beautiful.

Wow. Just wow. Thanks for that. You’re right, all is not lost.

What a wonderful sharing. Thanks.
I’m going to pass that story along…really beautiful.
Humans still rock.
(((Mauimom)))

Wonderful story of community….. a think that the repugs have been trying to kill…..

My parents live in a small town on the Oregon coast, June 9th they had a house fire which destroyed the total contents of their home (they were not home) and have been trying to deal with everything in their mid 80’s…

Last Wednesday we went to a party at one of the local churches….. it turned out to be a “Wedding Shower” for my parents. Over 100 people showed up, brought food, big pile of gifts and another of gift cards. Lots of love, tears and huggs…… It was a combination of the local churches, Habitat, Gem & Mineral and Geology Society groups ….. It sure helped my Mom…… good thing I brought a lot of tissues……

At the end of the evening we put together a list of all the gifts and Dad was stunned that two of the Habitat homeowners brought gifts….. very generous gifts knowing these family are barely getting by…….

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH…..index.html
olympic athletes’ diet

phelps, 8-10,000 calories a day.

cnn just played a spot/video with dana torres and showed her training…she did this thing with a stretch ball-one foot on it, hands like a push-up, body straight,crossed other leg over/behind and under and back..like a ballet move..i don’t think i could have done that when i was 16.

tried to find the clip on cnn.com, couldn’t find it

This woman is doing a conference in the Fall at St Edward’s university for anyone in the Austin area. Thanks for the post.

hmmmm, we still need at least one more Target trip before school starts ….

And don’t forget Barnes and Noble, Borders, and many another outlet. I think that a custom made addition to the dustwrapper and title page might further….

Just sayin’

Disclaimer: political satire; implement on your own.

Bahahaha. I do this all the time. [Far TOO frequently, actually. Why are there so many books that deserve this treatment?]