As Helen Thomas kept asking at today’s presser about ‘terrorists’:

“What is their motive? You never answer that.”

GooNews the words “Helen” “Thomas” and “motive” and you get nothing.

GooNews just “Helen” “Thomas” and you get pictures of cupcakes.

Shut up and enjoy (y)our cupcakes!

Decapitating yourself by driving into the back of a semi? There’s an app for that.

The cure for Auto Porn a Sarah and Newt Porn Flick

I watched a 2 hour panel on Afghanistan on cspan2 yesterday. It took them only 1 hour 20 min, and in response to a Q, to talk about what motivated AQ & the Taliban. And one of the speakers was an O advisor during the transition.

drivers discover ways to view porn while driving

Hey? Watching? How quaint. Doing it while driving has been going on as long as there have been cars.

Books on tape have been my companion on long drives many time and, frankly, I have been glad of the “distraction”. I spend quite a bit of my time on the road these days and am amazed at the number of people that drift in and out of traffic lanes and/or speed up and slow down while on their cell phone. I am pretty sure that not all the offenders are tweeting Newt or Sarah.

To buck the trend, I support Ford in finally trying to do something about getting these damn phones out of peoples hands while driving.

Cameron Raygun (grandson) seems to be a feisty character.

Audio books have been a big constant in my life since my son was little. Started working up with age-appropriate stuff, like biographies for kids, graduated to radio shows like The Shadow and Sherlock Holmes, & our first book (Gore Vidal’s Lincoln), at an age for him I can’t remember. We did a lot of driving together, and it kept him occupied & happy. Last year I listened to about 50 books.

Audio books aren’t that much different than the old radio serials , just with no sound effects and no commercials

Police apprehended 31-year old Cameron Reagan shortly after midnight at the home of his talk show host father, Michael Reagan.

Celebrity website TMZ.com said police were called when an alarm at the house went off.

“Officers saw a suspect leaving the rear door of a residence and attempted to stop and talk to him,” said LA police department spokeswoman April Harding said.

“The suspect was very uncooperative and belligerent, and he was arrested for resisting arrest,” she said.

http://rawstory.com/2010/01/ronald-reagans-grandson-arrested/

He was arrested leaving his Dad’s house just what did he say to those cops?

BBC audio books are acted. They are a stich and a half. I remember listening to Tom Jones on a BBC audio, so you can imagine. Complete with creaky door openings, romping music, all kinds of hysterical sounds.

On a more serious note, the best audio book of all time in my universe is the Recorded Books version (not the Books on Tape one) of Cry the Beloved Country by Alan Paton. The reader of that book has a lovely S. African lilt.

I borrow them from the library, so it’s pot luck. That has been a happy making experience, as I end up listening to books I wouldn’t ordinarily chose for myself. Some are flops, but most expand my horizons.

In an earlier run-in with the law, Reagan was sentenced in 1999 to six months in prison for car theft.

http://rawstory.com/2010/01/ronald-reagans-grandson-arrested/

A study on the familes of crazy GOPers over the generations might be interesting.

In response to eCAHNomics @ 7

I’m thinking Bristol Palin & Cameron Reagan would make a wonderful reality show marriage.

With Meghan McCain as their happy-go-lucky, gay-friendly neighbor.

And Red Eye’s Bill Schulz as their funny gay neighbor.

Bristol was named after some pristine gorgeous bay in Alaska, that her mother wanted to allow some gold mining corp to dump toxic shit into, or something like that. The disconnects in “those people” is astounding to mere mortals.

Is it possible to get audio books for an ipod. If it were ,I could listen while at work!

Good morning, pups. It’s Bobo, Cohen and Krugman today. Bobo has joined The Pasty Little Putz in squealing about “Avatar.” I may have to break down and actually set foot in a movie theater just to see what their panties are in such a bunch over. Bobo rails about “The Messiah Complex” and says director James Cameron takes an old formula to a new level in “Avatar,” but he wonders if it is offensive. Bobo, honey, it’s a MOVIE fergawdsake. You want offensive? Read the front page of the paper that is wrong-headed enough to pay your salary. Mr. Cohen, in “Asia’s 70-Percent Gods,” says in death, Mao Zedong and Ho Chi Minh have become the 70-percent Gods, revered by their followers, but no longer viewed as the omniscient prophets of progress. Prof. Krugman, in “Bubbles and the Banks,” says government aid to the financial industry came with few strings. He has a question: Unless there is reform, what will keep bankers from engaging in a repeat performance?

Here they are.

The coffee, tea and hot chocolate are ready, and I’ve got banana pancakes this morning. We’re out of the deep freeze, at least for this morning, which makes me happy. And it’s Friday, which also makes me happy. Have a great day.

The ones I borrow from the library I load on my ipod. However, there’s a real stupidity in the process. Most audio book discs are not labeled, so you get only Track 1, Track 2, etc. Which means that you can load only one disc at a time, otherwise you get Track 1, disc 1, track 1, disc 2, etc.

Cyanide it binds with small pieces of gold

Napolitano (cspan1 replay of yesterday’s presser) sez they were shocked that a terrist attack could be carried out by just one person instead of a group. Guess she never heard of Richard Reid.

He has a question: Unless there is reform, what will keep bankers from engaging in a repeat performance?

The Lake was asking that question the day after the banking crisis:)

Brennen sez motivations is perverse use of religion. These people are dumber than shit. Good thing the terrists aren’t much smarter.

Perhaps Sarah is a prophet.

Today’s revelation:

Sarah couldn’t figure out prior to the debate how to say “Biden” without saying “Obiden” which led to asking if she could call him “Joe.”

Is Carrie Prejean old enough to run for Governor in California?

Perhaps Caitlin Upton can replace Mark Sanford.

Yeah. Nice to know Krugman finally caught on. Too bad he still hasn’t caught on that it’s the fault of who’s running O’s econ policy, good friends of his, including Bernanke who hired him at Princeton.

Prejean ain’t sayin’. Or rather, every time she reveals her age, it is at odds with the last time.

I don’t think they want the American people to think about the terrorists motivation. If this guy says Abu Graid was his motivation then America has a problem keeping up internal support for the wars.

Ugh ,I broke a damn tooth, biting into a piece of bacon. Was some kind of foreign object in it ,broke my bicuspid in half.
Boy does this suck ,hope the Doc can see me today ,I don’t wanna wait till Monday

Obiden Obama Sarah was trying to childishly smear Biden Sarah thought she was being cute when she was doing that.

Of course. And the announced provocation on the undie bomber was drone attacks in Yemen. So U.S. responds with more drone attacks in Yemen. Perpetual motion war machine.

That does suck. I hope you can get it fixed today.

Well, that’s your opinion, and maybe it’s correct.

But McCain’s people are saying this about her.

So… I’ll take their word ’til it’s shown otherwise.

Personally, I bet she has trouble pronouncing her own name.

This war is already unpopular with the American public they want an excuse to end the war. Sooner or later a story will get past the main stream media filter.

If I were at the presser, I’d have asked: If the wars get even more unpopular, what’s your next planned attack to gin up fear again?

Ahh. The snows beginning to fall. Having a typical New England winter this year ,cold and snowy .

Its a theory however I state the fact that Sarah was a newscaster in Alaska so I assume that she can read a teleprompter.
The McCain team however has conflicting biases to settle scores with Sarah but also to defend their choice of Sarah in the first place.
I don’t know which bias is in effect when the McCain team talks.

With a bit of sodium pentathol, Gibbs would have replied:

“Subway, bus and café attacks, if you must know. See Israel.”

Yemen supposedly attacking one of our ships or planes? That would be my guess.

Yep.

Yumpin’ Yemenis:

http://jaizinternationalplc.com/board_of_directors_management_staff.html

http://www.kec.com.kw/Default.aspx?pageId=123

http://www.yobserver.com/local-news/10017572.html

http://www.centralbank.gov.ye/CBY.aspx?keyid=6&pid=2&lang=1&cattype=1

http://www.yobserver.com/business-and-economy/10017297.html

Yemen’s foreign debt has increased from $8.9 million to $5.9 billion since July 2009, according to the report on banking and currency developments issued by the Yemen Central Bank.
The IFC’s institutions topped Yemen creditors, with Yemen owing them about $3 billion, including $2.2 billion for the International Development Foundation.

The rest of the debt was for the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, the International Fund for Agriculture Development IFAD, the Islamic Development Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the OPEC and the EU.

Yemen’s debt for the Paris Club Members came second by about $1.8 billion, with $1.3 billion in Russian loans.

Many outstanding loans come from Japanese, U.S., French, Italian, Spanish, Danish, Dutch and German sources.

The country’s debt for other creditors came in the third place with Yemen owing Saudi, Kuwaiti, Chinese, Algerian, Korean, Polish and Iraqi funds about $836 million. The debt for unidentified sources reached $195.7 million by July.

In 2003, the Yemen Central Bank established a debt unit within foreign loans and grants department to be responsible for collecting information about Yemen loans, grants and how they are spent and settled.

Did you spot the Islamic Development Bank?

http://www.allbusiness.com/trade-development/trade-development-finance-banks/8901825-1.html

This year, however, should see the launch of Nigeria’s first Islamic bank. A holding company called Jaiz International, has been set up in the country to launch what will eventually be called Jaiz Bank International. It is being supported in its endeavours by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), which is helping to ensure that the launch of Jaiz is a success and that the bank complies with international banking regulations and Nigerian laws

Guess where Undie Bomber’s mom is from? Yemen.

http://www.yobserver.com/business-and-economy/10017297.html

Yemen’s foreign debt has increased from $8.9 million to $5.9 billion since July 2009, according to the report on banking and currency developments issued by the Yemen Central Bank.

The IFC’s institutions topped Yemen creditors, with Yemen owing them about $3 billion, including $2.2 billion for the International Development Foundation.

The rest of the debt was for the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, the International Fund for Agriculture Development IFAD, the Islamic Development Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the OPEC and the EU.

Yemen’s debt for the Paris Club Members came second by about $1.8 billion, with $1.3 billion in Russian loans.
Many outstanding loans come from Japanese, U.S., French, Italian, Spanish, Danish, Dutch and German sources.

The country’s debt for other creditors came in the third place with Yemen owing Saudi, Kuwaiti, Chinese, Algerian, Korean, Polish and Iraqi funds about $836 million. The debt for unidentified sources reached $195.7 million by July.

http://www.allbusiness.com/trade-development/trade-development-finance-banks/8901825-1.html

This year, however, should see the launch of Nigeria’s first Islamic bank. A holding company called Jaiz International, has been set up in the country to launch what will eventually be called Jaiz Bank International. It is being supported in its endeavours by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), which is helping to ensure that the launch of Jaiz is a success and that the bank complies with international banking regulations and Nigerian laws.

Undie bomber’s father is the chairman of Jaiz International.

Undie bomber’s mother is a Yemen national.

But, as with John Hinckley Jr., I’m sure he’s just a bad apple.

Just watched Washington Journal– OM-bleeping-G the conservatives are a bunch of WATBs.

“I don’t feel protected”
“They’re not keeping us safe”

They’re all upset over a guy who set his underpants on fire. Dude, 9/11 happened on your watch. STFU.

And now they’ve got Michael Steele on.

A son is a small sacrifice in the cause of world war.

Here’s the Steele Q I emailed. However, they never read emails.

Can Michael Steele please explain the RNC ethics rules with regard to outside income of employees and how his book and tour align with those rules.

My husband works for Ford and I support Ford on this one. Yes,you are correct in stating that it does nothing for the environment, however, Ford has been able to stay ahead of the curve so far, and its stocks are rising admirably. Ford plans on making one third of its sales from Asia, one third of its sales from Europe and one third of its sales from NOrth America. It’s European Division has been profitable all along, through this fiasco, and this is one of the features that has helped, due to its high demand. Its a technology that allows you to plug in social media and technology with your car. Its progress. Its progressive. Its a hell of a lot better than offering a 30 day money back guarantee on the purchase of a GM product. How lame is that?

oh, man [with no gender preference intended!]. Genius.

Back to topic:

I’m looking forward to Apple’s new Slate as much as the next driver…

but it really needs a ‘mirror mode’ for us who use a little eyeliner.

Am I right, fellows?

Trans?

Clap, ya’ll.

They’re a suicidal corporation?
Really, trying to find more ways to distract drivers?

Swim is up…

Hey, the auto companies are merely trying to capitalize on the ignorance and shallowness of the American public.

Do you mean the “filter” that has put the lid on Geithner’s arguable criminality?

I haven’t seen the technology myself, yet. However, the idea is that the technology helps to keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road.
You know I use to knock Ford as much as the next guy:

F*cked
Over
Rebuilt
Dodge and:

Fix
Or
Repair
Daily

But it REALLY ticked me off when Gore’s idea to MAKE the automakers put a certain % of income toward research and development got taken OFF the table back in the nineties. At that point, I was like, Okay….whatever happens to them, happens to them… because they’re making their own death bed and the Japanese will “out-technology, and out-gas mileage” them in the end. When people want more mileage and better technology and engineering, Ford is gonna miss out. And here we are. Gas at almost $3 a gallon etc…. My point is, Ford pays my bills. It allows me to stay at home and raise my three boys. The union and Ford has allowed my family to live a good life. Back in better times, Ford bought ALL its employees NEW, thats right NEW computers, it gave donations to help the wild horses out west, it provided new fans to all the residents at a retirement community during the blistering hot summers here in Michigan. It provided free concerts and admission to cultural events here in Michigan. At one point my husband and I received an $8000 profit sharing check. After the first year of Bush, we got nothing. I hate polluting corporations as much as the next guy, but Ford is trying. Its ISO 9000, 9001 and 13,000 certified. I love all you guys here at The Lake, but sometimes you guys are too uppity and appear snobbish. Maybe its just my midwest values, but go ahead, make all the jokes you want. We still have 40 hours a week and health insurance and I’m grateful.

Unemployment figures just came out. Unemployment is still at 10%. 89,000 more were “laid-off.”

As a Ford retiree I am continually amazed at the anti-american snobbishness and complete lack of knowledge of the domestic auto industry on these supposedly progressive blogs. Most of what I read on these posts are the mindless repeats of what the media has been touting for the last three decades in order to take out the influence of the unions. Well it looks like they have finally succeded, Ford Motor Co. is down to about 41,000 union employees in the U.S. and they are trying to get them to go for a buy-out, after that they will not be offering health care benefits to their new employees. They will also get about half the wages. Good luck on getting an economic recovery.

Try reading emptywheel on the subject – you will find she has quite a deep knowledge of the auto industry, and is sympathetic in general.

In fact, this week she will be reporting from the Detroit Auto Show, and interviewing auto industry people.

Your life experance.It really not for you.All about me.Question there action and thay don’t respond.

Really? I’m as far from a “market uber alles” guy as it gets, but really?

In this case Ford is responding to what customers who feel it’s necessary to be “always connected” want. This is the result of a whole demographic needing to be tied to their crackberries.

There’s a huge disconnect in the progressive community about transportation issues. The thing is that we cannot have it all. Take a long look at the EPA figures going back a few decades. With all the technological achievements in polymer materials and incredible leaps in the efficiency of the internal combustion engine we’ve taken several steps backwards in fuel efficiency.

Most of that stepping backwards has to do with two things: safety regulations and the American idea that a vehicle is a rolling living room. In regards to the safety issue, much of that is to protect car drivers from being hit by an SUV. The automakers are much at fault for the SUV craze, but people still buy them hand over fist.

The cars we drive to day are horribly, horribly bloated. A 1982 Toyota Camry tipped the scales at 2,200 pounds; the 2010 model is 3260 (3680 for the hybrid). And it only gets 33 mpg on the highway. That’s pitiful.

Lay off Ford, because the problem is that the average American treats a car like an appliance rather than a means of transportation. We clamor for bells and whistles (ok, not me, my daily driver was made in 1987 and has crank windows). They’re currently bringing very fine cars to market. If they brought the new Fiesta with the Euro diesel here it would get better mileage with fewer emissions than a Prius (which is morbidly obese for the goal it attempts to achieve).

Special kudos to them for making the new Fiesta and Focus come standard with a manual transmission…the bane of lazy, American drivers.

Oh, and the new Range Rovers have fixed the porn viewing conundrum as the center screen can produce two images: one seen by the driver and one by the passenger.