WT!!!

At yer service!

I am Kirok!!!!!

PS, didn’t she resign on Friday?
FunnyWheelieDiva

A whiter shade of Palin!

I hope Charlie sprang for the Brazilian wax. I hate a hairy thong.

Could she really be whiter if she tried?

“Bush in a skirt” .. heh heh heh

Not sure. We would have to ask Michael Jackson and he ain’t talking.

Incidentally, I think someone else owns the © on Rudy/Judi dialogues…

Oh, ratfood. No you diiin’t.

Hey, WT, nice post!

This is as good a place as any to mention my working hypothesis: that Palin resigned in a truly desperate last-ditch attempt to steal media attention back from Michael.

I would hate to get a call from her. Her voice drove me nuts during the campaign.

It makes as much sense as anything else since the FBI has officially said they are not investigating her.

Watertiger !

I’m in stitches … frikkin’ comic gold !

Yep, I originally went with the forthcoming indictment hypothesis, but now have reverted to the she’s just crazy hypothesis.

i heard r a rumor it was an irs investigation while standing in line at the credit union.

****

great post wt

OT but it would seem that the Chicago Svengali is once again working his magic contrary to what the American public is demanding.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…..26721.html

Unfortunately, she hasn’t developed laryngitis since then.

Saw something tonight that another ethics complaint had been filed against her. Saw earlier that she had spent a ton of money on the other 14 complaints. She may have known this one was coming and decided that she could not afford it any more. My understanding is that there is still one of the previous complaints outstanding.

Were Rudy’s teeth in his mouth while he was buffing them or was he holding them in his hand?

Palin’ around with torturers?

The new complaint is in regard to her abuse of per diem. As I mentioned a day or two back, I wonder if she realizes she won’t be entitled to per diem after she leaves office?

We’ll see.

Ethics complaints, indeed. Why is there no such thing as an intelligence complaint? In fact, lack thereof seems a necessary condition for being a U.S. pol in the 21st century. Is it an empire thingy?

I think they were embedded in someone’s neck.

LOL! I think he has to hand them over to Judi before they go to sleep each night.

Seems like there ought to be a test people have to take before running for office. Every other profession has one.

That’s not all he has to hand over …

That report is from the Wall Street Journal. They are about as reliable a source as Fox News

There are pols who act stupid to impress voters and pols who really are stupid. Both are on the take although the genuinely stupid variety tends to self-destruct sooner.

Aye. I was trying to think of a tactful way of saying that. ;-)

We’re still talking about his teeth, right?

You need to learn the lesson that “certifications” are just a way for the “certified” “profession” to maintain their monopoly. I would anticipate in glee the “test” that pols would design for themselves.

I don’t Sarah Palin will end up with Todd Palin.

What a dreamer you are.

How about a high school civics test?

Rudy used to be a lot better looking.

At least half of Congress would fail

Are you saying they are all stupid? If so, you’re probably right.

Um, much too difficult. Guess again.

Nah. That’s his cousin Vlad, This is Rudy.

Nope. Just saying that it’s wishful thinking that the truly stooopid self-destruct.

There’s still time for Steve King’s head to explode.

This civics test made the rounds here last year. Most people get 35-40 percent right. According to the results summary, pols taking the test average 5 points lower than that.

I scored a 92 (pats self on back). Not bad for an ignoranimus.

Brilliant move on her part.
Call the Worst Vice President in history and the most self serving presidential candidate from the party that is careening over the cliff of irrelevance for job and political advice.

The lady is a one woman train wreck, a bullet train, 300 fucking miles an hour kind of train wreck.

Stand on it girl!

I believe one of the FDL staff referred to her as an “incompetence magnet.”

True, for every one who who resigns in disgrace there are a thousand who should but don’t. I stand corrected.

Thanks for resurrecting that. As I recall, I scored pretty high. (Cheating to try it again, as I think I remember the As for the couple of Qs I missed.) *straining arm from patting myself on the back*

Beats being an incontinence magnet, which could take a toll on all them purty shoes.

Gibst es ein doktor in der haus?

Or as reliable as the NYTimes or the WaPo? There already is a track record for caving to corporate interests.

Hey, I heard a rumor that Michael Jackson is still dead. Any truth to that?

But that implies that she attracts incompetents rather than being the source of incompetence….

hehe…

Well of course the two I missed must have been TRICK questions…:-)

Heh. The telling difference between the reality-based lefties and the reality-creation righties is that the former admits mistakes. *g*

I hope they’ve been keeping him well chilled. It’s been a little longer than the average death-to-funeral period.

I sent an e-mail to Generalissimo Francisco Franco asking for confirmation. Still no reply.

yeah, well, like attracts like in this case!

Ahhh. You put your finger on it.

okay, youse guys, i’m out for the evening. keep on snarkin’!

Kinda like the chicken & egg dilemma.

Why would she call those 3 people when none are in a position to actually help her – Cheney and Rudy are about as popular as a good case of measles and Crist may never appear on the national stage. Makes no sense to me.

Yes, life is too short to waste time defending a statement I realize I made in error.

See you, WT.

You’ve left the snarkfest in competent hands. Gnite WT.

Guess I better take ratfood’s test after my comment.

g’nite, WT

I agree. However, you must realize that ours is not the road to political success.

Night.

Waitin’ for Jeb. The VSPs think Williard’s the only R left standing, but Jeb’s the savior waiting in the wings.

Better than taking the ratfood taste test challenge (hint: both samples A & B are from the Taco Bell menu).

Nope. The road to success is to proclaim that all evidence indicating that you are wrong, actually proves you are right and that your failures are actually magnificent victories.

I never would have made it in politics anyway. I don’t have larceny in my heart.

Aha. By Jove, you’ve got it!

Yep. Just not venal and power mad for the job. Not to mention that I have enough skeletons to fill a municipal cemetery.

What’s the challenge–to correctly identify the sample that tastes the least like food?

I have been reading Jonah Goldberg and William Kristol.

I just took the civics test. I got what I expected…

Uh?

Why, in God’s name?

Not larceny, which is a by-product. It’s apparently power that matters. Anyone got any good books on power as an aphrodesiac? Cause I don’t get it and need to read something so that I can understand it. My stupid approach to power is to use it to do “good.” “Good” being defined wrt what the voters consider desirable. Obviously I misunderestimate the importance of power.

That’s why it makes sense, Twain. She’s all mavericky and going off the reservation and stuff, doncha know.

76 ish (me, old pot-head)

I’m sure you aced it.

;~P

Do dey be a doctor in da hizzouse?

Good Evening, rat and pups.
I’ve been on a cheap burrito rag lately. Don’t know why. But, Del Taco’s are superior to Taco Bells, to my palate. Green sauce. Extra onion.

No wonder you can identify the exact notion of how the U.S. works. But my Q is: how do you keep your food down while you are reading such authors?

He’s got extra neurons he wants destroyed.

I missed two. One because I misread the question and the other because I do not do finance. More evidence that I am not qualified to be a politician.

ACK! Damned cat just decided she wanted to play footsie and ponced mine with all four of hers and a mouth full of teeth.

To mock them.

If there’s a Carl’s Jr/Green Burrito near you, give that a whirl. Definitely an improvement on Del Taco.

Fo Shizzle! In da Hizzle!

I remember missing the finance question too. It didn’t bother me much because I don’t believe that it had any place on a civics test.

Which finance question got you? The taxes and expenditures are equal one? That question was just stupid.

I only do it rarely, in small bits, and on an empty stomach. Can’t manage a whole column.

In that case, go forth with my blessing.

Creating your own reality, I see. /s

The three or four that I did not fry in my misspent youth.

I can haz masterz degree…in sai-ens!
FunnyWheelieDiva

Thanks for your sacrifice. You report, we’ll comment. *g*

We have a plethora of doctors tonight, and one Master’s Degree in Science. At least I thought I saw FWD in here…

Have agree with that assessment. There were three or four like that on capitalism and free markets. Funny that they didn’t have any on socialism.

baaaaad kitteh!
FWDiva

Why, thank you, dear. In fact there’s one near my mom’s and I should make a visit this week. Working 10 to 2, it kinda messes with a regular lunch time. Been eating one sometimes on the way to work.

I think of it less as constructing my own reality as deconstructing theirs.

That’s the one.

WT, yer sick as best as I can describe it in all it’s prog and rebel glory! *G*
Great scripting, gal . . . . GREAT scripting!

Alas, I bring srsly gr8 bad like tidings, ma’am, to your thread. OT, of course.

It’s Time To Load The Boats, Man The Gunwales, And Storm The Beast

Cuz the Obama’s and Rahmmie’s are sellin us all out down the laze corporate river.

Now, this piece MIGHT be skewed somehow, but, i’ts got THIS Larue fightin mad like a Norske.

I’m not gonna co-opt HIS manner of speech, but fuckin A, this fuckin killin goes on and phrellin on and I’m SICK of it.

I don’t know about FDL, FirePups, Libs and Progs in general, or anywhere else, but this seems to me one of them North Tower Church alerts that they are coming by both land AND fuckin sea.

Ya know?

Can we now become INSTANTLY ABSORBED to battle this? What does it take to stop this loss?

We lost the econ/banking/finan ripoff.

We’re losing the healthcare ripoff, too.

We’re getting NOTHING, other than Slick Willie capitulation to the machine. And it ain’t no deus ex machina for us masses, either.

The feudal lords are killin us. We’re phuckin losing. Big. On all Fronts. It’s WW2 and we are now the Germans. Beat, surrounded, and invaded up close and personal. Only, it’s not by the good guys.

Hello?

I did, I did, I did tee a Masters degree in Science.

That would be anti-U.S.ian.

Here’s your answer.

Hi demi. I’d rather make my own burritos.

Mostly it is on those rare occasions when I click through from Thers’ place or one of the other snarkmaeisters to see what the idiots really said, only to discover that the snarky version makes more sense.

A truly worthwhile, but exceedingly frustrating, task.

Whatcha need honey?
I ain’t a doctor but maybe we can help you together, this place does amazing things sometimes.

I get to stay home from work tomorrow because I got a really bad burn on my wrist, 2nd degree, lifting a lid off of a pot of boiling potatoes. But, I think I’ll stay away from downtown LA. Can you imagine what a freak show that’s going to be?

“Making sense” is out of bounds.

But might stop some of the insane stupidity being spewed lately. Jumping Jeebus on a pogo stick but I wish Obama was even a third as much of a socialist as the idiots have been saying.

Sorry to hear that. Hope u recover soon.

Well, sure. Black beans. But, I do a fair amount of food prep here and it’s this little luxury I’m allowing myself. :)

Amen to that. The wingnuts have made it very clear that the only definition they have for socialism is “something somebody told me was bad.”

Well, crapola:

You answered 26 out of 33 correctly — 78.79 %

Average score for this quiz during July: 76.4%
Average score: 76.4%

Germany and Japan were enemies in WW11?

What’s your new job?

Ouch, take care of that burn. I tipped the wrong pan and poured boiling water down my stomach when I was working in a restaurant nearly 30 years ago. I don’t recommend it.

No, I don’t think I can imagine what kind of freak show it’s going to be. I can imagine, but I would bet that my imagination will pale next to the reality that’s going to be that zoo tomorrow.

Thanks. It happened Thursday night and I’ve been suffering not quite in silence, but finally broke down today and went to urgent care. It’s not infected, but hurts like hell. :(
Actually, they gave me some vicys, though.

They were our enemies.

To unsark for just a moment, I am anything but a socialist. But I do try to look at economics issues with some degree of objectivity, wrt what the alternatives are and how well they work. (Intellectually, has to do with what the particular market imperfections are.) Empirically, sometimes the govt solutions are sometimes better. Though, after W, I’m not so sure that’s true in the U.S.

And can you imagine what it’s going to cost the city and the state !

Part time at a book store in Old Town Pasadena. 30% discount on Any Book I Want! Dudes, I’ve already bought four. So, I’m not bringing much moolah home, but it keeps me out of trouble. Mostly.

Well, their alliance and friendship and Tripartite Pact wasn’t all that and a bag of chips.

As a crowd averse person I can’t imagine wading into something like that.

When all else fails, read the directions.

The question was which two countries were enemies during WW11. I guessed England and Spain since nothing else seemed to make sense. In the corrections, it said Germany and Japan was the correct answer.

Actually, they gave me some vicys, though.

Vicys?

That’s on my pissed off list. I heard today someone’s going to make a movie out of the whole affair. Let them pay for the police, I say.

Well that sounds fun! How did you burn yourself?

As I add years, I become increasingly intolerant of crowds. I’m so intolerant of it that if I were heading to my folk’s place tomorrow, I’d drive 138 through Palmdale-Mojave and 58 to Tehachapi and Bakersfield rather than my usual route (210 to 5).

You’re kidding right? Germany and Japan were OUR enemies. I’ve read that a large percentage of high school seniors think we fought the Russians in WWII.

I don’t remember that question, which is odd, because from what I remember I would probably have gotten it right even though it makes no fucking sense.

Vicodin.

vicodan (sp?), actually the generic. Hope I sleep tonight.

I’m stupid. Had the flame too high on a pot of boiling potatoes and lifted the lid. Steam hit the inside of my wrist. It was okay until the blister came off.

Take care of yourself.

Housies…

Although it looks like they’re going to detox Hugh Laurie next season.

Top headline piece at Huffpo:

WASHINGTON — It is more important that health-care legislation inject stiff competition among insurance plans than it is for Congress to create a pure government-run option, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel said Monday.

“The goal is to have a means and a mechanism to keep the private insurers honest,” he said in an interview. “The goal is non-negotiable; the path is” negotiable.

I’m going back to read it again.

The Vicodin should help you sleep. Did they give you a topical analgesic for the burn?

Take another one and ‘ere!

You’ll sleep.

zzzz!

I actually am a socialist and do not think capitalism is sustainable. It inevitably trends to monopoly and oligopoly (as well as monosopy) and inevitably produces huge disparities in wealth and power. IMHO capitalism is antithetical to democracy. Not sure that socialism would necessarily work any better, but it could hardly be worse for most people. FWIW, I believe in a decentralized socialism where the workers, not the govenent, owns the companies.

Rahm makes my soul bleed.

Aw, that’s too bad, although I’ve never watched the show. Hugh was brilliant in Blackadder III and IV, though.

At a time when they have so much surplus capital and workers.

For future reference, lift lid off steaming pot away from yourself. Learned lesson painfully, but not so much as your experience.

I’m having the same aging aversion. No crowds I can avoid.
I had a little tantrum a couple of weeks ago and needed to just get out and drive. Drove the Pear Blossom Highway from the 14 out to Victorville and back. (all’s well now though. No time for grudges. :)

And exactly how do they propose to get vigorous competition among the members of a cartel? Are we actually going to enforce the Sherman Antitrust Act?

I didn’t think so.

21) Name two countries that were our enemies during World War II.
A. Canada and Mexico
B. Germany and Japan
C. England and Spain
D. China and Russia

Read the question wrong…

Have you read Kim Robinson’s Mars trilogy?

Ouch. That is no fun at all.

Okay, that makes sense now. I’m relieved to know that we’re not all going nuts (in a bad way).

Still keeping my eye on Canada and Mexico…

They put on some antibiotic. I bought some dermaplast which I had been using for a couple of days.
It’s a good think I’m not vain, because it might scar. I’m starting to use vitamin e on it as well.
Sorry to go off on my boo boo. But, people might be tired of Sarah and Michael anyway.

Mine just curls up in a little ball and whimpers.

Funny, I was just thinking of asking the same question. The solutions the books present to Martian political economy strike me as very similar to what DrDick is talking about, although I doubt Robinson was thinking of socialism in the strict sense (he certainly never calls it that).

I’m a mixed system afficiando. The systemic problem with all socialism all the time is incentives. Under socialism the incentives are to cheat all the time and put all the burden on the collective, which then falls of its own weight. The intelligent “solution” is to analyze the market structure and try to determine what the least bad economic solution is.

Me too. Rearing their freaking heads all the time…

I find long walks in the mountains or hours fishing a deserted stretch of river highly therapeutic.

Just sent this note to the white house:

“I cannot believe that I am reading that President Obama is backing out of the public option. My husband will die without health care and he has no insurance. I will hold Obama responsible for his death. We are owned by the banks and corporations. This is no longer a democracy.”

Have never even heard of it.

Cuz the Obama’s and Rahmmie’s are sellin us all out down the laze corporate river.

Dear Larue – its the Democrats who are selling everyone down the river on health care.

It is what they do, every time.

Until progressives, Lefties, Firepups whatever wean themselves from their unrequited infatuation with the (D) Party and create a new political formation, the corporate interests will continue to run the American State with the full cooperation and compliance of the (D) and (R) factions.

even without such a formation, how can anyone keep falling for the Hope-n-Change© Bait-n-Switch?

Sarah Palin’s daughter’s baby daddy is writing a tell all book about the family. That is why she quit.

I think my ex keeps remnants of mine (with other items) in her trophy case. I don’t really miss them and I’m a happier dog now. Still bark sometimes but never leave the yard.

Surrender and we’ll give you all the Back Bacon Y Cervezas you like …

Well, the conceit is that history is a Hegelian dialectic.

I’m not sure how much I buy the conceit, but I find the system appealing in principle.

Specially petro.

Anyone? My #108? No? ‘K. Perhaps another time . . . I rang the bell, though . . . *poof*

I’m trying to remember which two questions I got wrong, but can’t.
***
Thanks, doc dick. I’m getting some extra attention around here, ha ha. Honey’s doing the dishes.
My sonnyboy, the 15 year old went with me to the hospital today. It was so cute. He held my arm as we walked across the parking lot and then showed me that he brought his cell phone and his wallet, just in case. He’s growing up. Wants to take care of his mama. Am I blessed, or what?

Amen sister. Be interested to hear if you get any reply.

After the burn goes away, try some triple antibiotic ointment in addition to the E… keeps it moistururized and infection free.

It’s worth a read. I think Robinson has a Ph.D. in history from UC Davis. It’s definitely thinking-person’s science fiction.

Nah, she quit to fulfill her lifelong dream of being a groupie in MJ’s World Tour …

Yeah, that no good sonofab …

You’re amazing. And, you intimidate me. But, in a good way. Some times I read your comments several times until I understand them.

Canadian bacon is just ham? Oh, the humanity!

Hey! And there he is…rearing his head again!

(((Love ya, Petrocelli!)))

And do we have any Mexican pups?

I think there are ways to handle the incentives within a socialist framework. I cannot say, based on current evidence, that the incentives in capitalism work all that well. They just cheat differently. To my mind the primary failing of most existing socialist system has been centralization, which stifles innovation. That is why I favor a decentralized where we keep independent companies, but vest ownership in the workers (financing through bonds).

And I need to expand on that. History is a Hegelian dialectic, and since socialism is a failed system from the past, it shows up in some aspects in the synthesis, but the synthesis is not socialism.

As I recall, Robinson makes some of eCAHN’s points about socialism’s shortcomings.

I probably don’t understand, even when I think I do.

Thanks. Trying to be reality based. It’s a struggle.

Spork, it’s the corporatists, and the Dem’s have proven what side of that epic they are on. I’m talking about the Dem’s WE elected. So, we ain’t disagreeing about anything.

I’m just wonderin, where the lions are, to quote a Canuckistanian. *G*

I mean OUR lions, not theirs. Theirs are eatin us up. The corporatists, that is, not the Canadian’s. Most Canuckistanian’s I know (wife’s one) are with us, not agin us progs/libs.

But if this article don’t instill enhanced BP, and a call for action, I don’t know what will.

So far, I’m not sure WHIPPING is gonna take us over the hurdle.

But calls, and bodies in the streets might. Might.

I see no bodies . . . not millions of them, anyhoots, and not 76% of them who favor a public plan.

We is bein played like chumps. And I ain’t happy. Still. Also. Again.

Yes, I blame Reagan AND Nixon. *G*

Well worth reading; the books follow the colonization and terraforming of Mars and the evolution of a peculiarly Martian society, economic and political system. Very much political science fiction, although also hard science fiction in the classic sense. The three books (in order) are Red Mars, Green Mars and Blue Mars. I don’t find them a quick read, but the ideas are worth the effort.

*mwaah* … I was here earlier but then had to go tuck my darlings into bed.

Summertime means not sleeping before midnight …

Here ya go.

Very much not a quick read. I devour books, and it took me about six weeks to read the series.

I’ve never been much of a hiker. But, since I joined a gym about three months ago, I’ve got much more stamina for nice soothing walks in these foothills I live in and love in.
Daughter’s getting married in October and she wants me to look fabulous. Damn. Aren’t the guests all supposed to be paying attention to her?

I think I’m going to wander off (in fact, to continue my re-reading of Green Mars before bed). Peace out, y’all!

When and if I get time. I actually spend a whole lot of time reading actual marxist scholarship.

Night. Think I will head out as well. Take care all.

G’nite EDP !

G’nite DrD !

Betsy sez it’s kinda suspicious that you two both always leave together … *g* … not that there’s anything wrong with that !

Good night, EDP.

I’ve started reading Kathy Reichs’ murder mysteries… fluff, but entertaining fluff.

Good night, Dr Dick.

Thanks. I’ve got both of those.
(a bong prolly wouldn’t hurt either, but, alas, those days are gone, gone, gone.)

Haven’t thought about the implications about keeping ownership of corps with workers.

Intitial reaction is the unintended consequences of the agent problem, ie, if workers were owners, they’d have to select (vote on?) agents to represent themselves to control the corporations. And why do you think that would result in an economically optimal outcome, given all the problems with unions, voting, etc.

Not pouring hot water on your suggestion, just throwing out things to think about.

Daughter’s getting married in October and she wants me to look fabulous. Damn. Aren’t the guests all supposed to be paying attention to her?

Gee, what kind of L.A. mom are you, anyway? Nah, make it all about you… (when in Rome).

I came back to reply to Spork, just saw your reply.

Bless ya, and Ron, Mary . . . . it’s crazy to the point it’s just too obvious we the people are screwed big time.

Time to apply heat, lots of it, leading up to ‘10, and reminding Obama, we can take him out in ‘12, too.

Not that it much matters . . they all play for the feudal lords. How we get to them, is gonna take massive strikes, and street presences. All peaceful of course. But we gotta hurt their revenue stream. And somehow shut down their finan games on The Wall. Legally, and Peacefully, of course.

Sweet Jesus. I hope Palin charged Cheney 9.99 a minute.

The only creepier duo I have ever heard or seen paired together was Dick Morris and Dildo Bill O’Reilly.

-G

What a cutie pie! Yourn?

G’nite EDP and DrDick.

Guess I will make like a dead fish and go with the flow. Splendid evening to all.

Nah, I just googled Mexican puppies and that was the best of the litter.:-)

I like to go back and forth between substance and fluff. I’m almost to the end of Doctorow’s City of God.
By the way, where do you live?

Mary, did you attach a link to your tv spot?

Robinson’s proposed solution is to integrate the political and economic systems. Corporations are organized as cooperatives, bigger corporations are coops of coops. There are size limitations on the coops. Corporate boards of directors are elected by the shareholders.

The legislature is elected from divisions based on residence and employment. The executive is appointed/elected by the legislature. There is a judiciary to decide what the constitution actually says.

You’re being funny. I guess the point is for all of us to put our best foot forward. It’s been a great inspiration to eat better and get all toned up. And, it works.
Wedding’s going to be on the beach in Santa Barbara. Fancy Schmancy.

Las Cruces, Nuevo Mexico, Los Estados Unidos.

I’m going to Alison Weir’s bio of Henry VIII next. Just finished Sharlet’s The Family. Talk about scary people!

Thanks.

Too late tonight to respond intelligently. But will think on it.

It all has to come thru SOME honest form of regulation to benefit the masses.

I don’t see that happening in ANY system unless it’s built in up front, and then policed heavily.

But power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

As you know, HISTORY shows it. It don’t matter what system. They all corrupt themselves, and the masses.

We were a GRAND advancement in the series, but alas, we’re failing the masses.

How to build a system that enables, rewards, and takes CARE of the masses more than those with a heavier stake in the system? Sci Fi, likely . . . *G*

via http://www.tinyrevolution.com/mt/ we have 2 worthy strategies:

“Michael Palin On Laughing At The People In Charge” – from an expert!

and

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/plan

in which David Swanson proposes some planning . . . including

There are a million and one things that people can do to try to end the U.S. wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, and to prevent new ones in Iran and elsewhere, as well as to close U.S. military bases in dozens of other nations around the world. Certain people are skilled at or interested in particular approaches, and nobody should be discouraged from contributing to the effort in their preferred ways. Far too often proposals to work for peace are needlessly framed as attacks on all strategies except one. But where new energy can be created or existing resources redirected, it is important that they go where most likely to succeed.

In my analysis, we should be focusing on three things, which for purposes of brevity and alliteration I will call: Communications, Congress, and Counter recruitment / resistance.

reading it now.

cheers

Do these not sound a bit like the LensMan Series? Or even the Dune series?

Both great sci-fi.

Ah, si. I live above the 210, but at the very northeast end of The Valley.

Dune and its sequels were about the power of religion and the great man theory of history. Very, very little political or economic philosophy in them that I recall. The political system was pure feudalism, and the triumph of the Fremen didn’t change that.

I’ve never read the Lensman series, so I can’t really comment on them.

Redlands? I’ll wave “hi” on the way by Thursday night.

Hmmm . . . love the laugh, the second Swan Song, ok, but details pendin, I presume . . .

Anything created new, is at the mercy of the system in place.

Keeping it in the hands of THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST, and out of the hands of the finan/bank war machine oligarchy is impossible.

For instance, health care reform to date. They’ll make it MANDATORY for everyone to pay for coverage. Those with jobs will be taxed. All of workers will soon be taxed for the bennies takin out of their checks by their employers who pay the rest of the coverage costs.

So if ya make minimum wage, yer now TAXED, AND DEDUCTED from yer check, for care coverage.

If ya make $7, yer now down to $4. *G*

And those who ARE working and covered, and making MORE than minimum wage, we will now be taxed for what was untaxable before, further eroding our salary.

And how many of all y’all think you’ll be able to negotiate a salary increase to COVER them taxes?

It ain’t pretty. And it STILL, so far as I’ve read, it don’t ’splain how unemployed folks are gonna pay for mandatory coverage.

All I see is care coverage benefits being slashed, care being denied to those with no coverage, even at ER’s.

Slashes in Medicare, in Medicaid. Denial of services. Armed guards at care facilities.

Arrgh. I’m now in a foul mood . . . but not enuff to impact my health . . . LOL

Actually, no. Sylmar, in the San Fernando Valley. But, you might be passing by here. If you need a potty/coffee break, you could swing by and I’ll show you the Hammond. (I think you were one of the guys who were impressed that we have one in the LR.)

Been EPU’ed so many times in the last week

Hmm, I don’t see the triumph of the Fremen NOT being political, and anti feudal. But I’m no Ph.D.

All the religious tones you infer, I take as pieces of feudalism and oligarchy.

The Bene Gesserit to me, were merely womens rights issues trying to protect themselves and others as best they could under a partriarchial order of feudalism.

The Fremen changed all that. As did Michael Valentine Smith.

The Christ like martyrdom is simply a vehicle to discuss the political and feudal state of being.

That’s MY take. *G*

Wrong valley, was thinking NE end of the 210. Thanks for the offer…

It didn’t change the political system. It began as a feudal system, and ended as a feudal system. I don’t recall what happened in the sequels: I lost interest with Dune Messiah. But at the end of Dune one set of masters is exchanged for a more benign set of masters.

demi, I sure hope you heal fast and feel better soon, that hurts!

Well then, I’ll spare ya of the sequels so as not to spoil the surprise, and I disagree with your take on the end of Dune 1. The new boss was not not a feudal boss.

But then, what I DO know from my collich stuff, is that two people can view the same topic and issue, and come to completely different conclusions. And that’s based on the LENSES they use to view thing by.

Them lenses being their upbringing, education, influences, etc. How you live, shapes your lens.

A pleasure talkin a lil SCi Fi with ya, I stopped reading stuff decades ago. So I’m WAY out of touch with anything since 1980 or so. *G*

Hey Suz, if that’s you backstage, thanks for clearin up my modded stuff.

Can you or anyone else ask FDL about LOSING this freakin status? *G*

Thanks Margot. The lesson here is to be more careful and it does put the whole no pain days into perspective.

the Dune series was great, I still think so.

the original Fremen rebellion was not feudal, imho.

I think the arc was – revolution, enlightened republic, empire, tyranny, though with the worm as enlightened, somewhat benevolent despot.

who chooses to end his own reign after x-thousand years, whether humans are ready or not.

Let me check with Francisco Franco.

Well what were those ridiculous “Plato, Aristotle, Acquinas” & “definition of free enterprise” questions?

Very imaginative phone conversations…only problem is, if you read the whole article Palin only talked to Cheney (apparently about his summer vacation plans). Per various spokespersons, Sarah never managed to get in touch with Crist or Giuliani.

guess you missed this line before the conversation with cheney…

Jeezy creezy, can you imagine what those phone calls sounded like?

Cut to: interior, secluded mansion on the Chesapeake Bay. Dick Cheney sits in an oversized wing chair, a basket of kittens on his lap. Just as he lifts one to his mouth, the phone rings.

twas imaginary conversations

Took the test – scored an 81%. Not awful. Linked the test to my Facebook page – will be interesting to see if anyone else takes the test.

No, Suzanne, the imaginary part was what these people said to each other. That was the point of the blog — speculating on what might might have been said during the phone calls. My point is that only one of the phone calls even happened…