Mornin SD and fellow travelers. Glad to see the Diner open a bit early. Was just idling on the sidewalk waiting for the doors to open. Noticed that yahoo news had the headline “Occupy Protests Fizzle.” Wonder when they come to the realization it’s a movement not a one day event?

Thanks, SD. Update; Chen is no longer in embassy, now in hospital; http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-17920910

Good morning, all you freedom and coffee (and tea) lovers. Is there oatmeal in the house?

Mornin’, pups

Thanks, Ruth, heard that on the BBC headlines this morning.

Yep. Try it with real butter and a little maple syrup.

Have to wonder if Chen was timing this to get the publicity of the Clinton visit, when the media would actually have time to cover another ‘protester’, instead of looking for blondes eaten by sharks.

Good morning, Dinerzens. I spent a fair amount of yesterday sewing, and had my local classical radio station playing. At the top of each hour it alternates NPR news and the BBC news. Amazing how much more informative the BBC is. I heard a woman from the Parliament’s committee who disagreed with the report on News Corp., saying she objected to the “not fit to lead a major international company” finding. I also heard about LePen’s vow to cast a blank ballot.

Nothing on NPR that I heard, although it may have been discussed on another broadcast.

Pretty sharp dude if he did.

I also have this to share, which seems to have conservatives clutching their pearls and heading for their fainting couches. How dare he?

Stephen King: Tax Me, for F@%&’s Sake!

Good Morning, SD and All
Thanks for all the news and updates.
Hmmmm…imagine having to vote a blank ticket instead of picking between candidates, neither of whom you support.

I notice that when I’m in another country, the choices of English news usually include BBC, and it’s head and shoulders above anything from the U.S. in depth of reportage.

Can’t wait to hear her justifying the final results by disclaiming responsibility for them.

The activist in Bahrain, Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, is to be retried in a civilian court. He has been on a hunger strike since February 2nd. Bahrain denies force feeding him. Human Rights Watch, among others, is calling for his release.

I saw that too. I found this line especially interesting…

and it may be a comment on the coarsening of American discourse that his brash rudeness is often taken for charm.

That’s a sad commentary about Americans, but I think there’s truth in it. After being sneered at by a president and vice president for 8 years. Yep.

In fairness, these were just top-of-the-hour headlines, not in-depth reporting, but the contrast was striking.

Same thing seems to be said about Chris Christie.

I’ll take Stephen King any day. His last book was stellar. A longtime friend of mine used to be his neighbor in Bangor, Maine, and said he and his wife are great people.

Forbes:

Stephen King’s Latest Beast Attacks Conservatives

Guess they got their fee-fees hurt. Awww.

It was true of most event reports in my experience, BBC called knowledgeable people connected with events, CNN in particular used totally pet reporters with no credentials in the field of the reported event.

Since voting is personal and confidential, we have to make the choice that we can sleep with.

There I think it’s a bit more idealistis, and the concept of our democracy is that we will choose the way that benefits everyone, as much as it’s in our power.

From the first bullet:

EU Spokeswomsn Ahrenkilde Hansen: “We are not talking about an alternative to fiscal consolidation … The issue is not either fiscal correction, or growth. We need both.”

Same as the old boss …

That was supposed to be ‘idealistic’.

jeesz, S&P: if you’re good and starve your workers, we’ll give you crumbs four days before elections;
‘Greece has had its government debt rating raised out of default by credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s.’
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17922385

I don’t understand why S&P has any credibility left at all.

From the next to last bullet:

What I am saying, however, is that the tide has turned to the point that we are not unreasonable to believe that our preferred future has a strong chance of coming to pass.

Very doubtful, IMHO.

I’m not sure any real investment houses are using S&P in a serious manner anymore. They are now aware of how intentionally inaccurately S&P rates favored stocks.

S&P is pretty much a government tool now, where people can cough up their ratings to show that their economic plan is working.

Boxturtle (like the Greeks, for instance)

I don’t know why any of the rating agencies have any credibility left.

Maple syrup? You been talkin’ to my gf, she keeps urging that on me. I love that pure white sugar, though. Just finished a big bowl. Yum.

IMHO, because the ‘business reportage’ is stenography from the corporate mouth. Would love to see ‘S&P, lately deeply implicated in culpable conduct in for-profit credit rating’ or the like.

They are a tool of the PTB. They give good ratings when needed and bad ones when needed.

from your link to the misguided “scientists” in the UK:

“reconsider before it is too late”.

“betrays a misunderstanding which may serve to confuse people or scare them but has no basis in scientific reality”.

“Please do not come to damage and destroy.”

I.e. don’t fuck with our Frankenstein.
He’s absolutely harmless.

“A Washington-based ethics watchdog is calling on federal regulators to revoke News Corporation’s 27 Fox broadcast licences in the wake of the highly critical report on phone hacking from the UK parliament.”

My observation is (not to put too fine a point on it): Hahahahahaha!!!! And I say that with the utmost sincerity.

Morning SD & Pupses.

When the only customers still hiring you are governments in need of lies, what’s a poor job provider to do?

I like oatmeal with brown sugar and milk. But for me it’s sort of a winter breakfast. Hot cereal doesn’t appeal to me in warm weather.

Yeah, like that will happen….

Yes, but only when the governments are doing the bidding of the PTB. Like all the time now. LOLOL

Reminds me of NPR during the health care debate. On Morning Edition they interviewed nearly all Republicans. Now that I’m retired I rarely listen to NPR, but it was a staple when I was getting ready for work in the morning.

Since this rating is being given with the proviso that Greece’s ability actually to repay loans depends on economic upswing, I’d say the PTB are being warned rather than totally served. Just my take.

After landing on a darkened runway late Tuesday night, Obama rushed to the heavily fortified presidential palace of Afghan President Hamid Karzai to sign a strategic partnership accord that sets the broad outlines of U.S. engagement for a decade beyond the completion of NATO’s combat role in 2014.

Hey, we’re winning! Freedom isn’t free…

Of course, with the right in control of their funding, they’re not going to pretend fair reporting will be rewarded. A shame.

Lie like a carpet, keep a straight face, and bill the government every month.

Boxturtle (No economic reason to raise Greece’s rating, perhaps there was a phone call)

I’ve got an idea–seven million poor black men jailed for pot or crack inhabit the Chinese embassy in Washington, have China “negotiate” fair terms for them.

Am I the only one waiting for the Greek chorus, singing “Let my people go…”?

It serves the PTB’s overwhelming interest in the meme that growth and fiscal consolidation are not only possible but probable. But YMMV.

Good point. However, it does bring that sleazy operation up on the radar, and we should use the opportunity while it’s sitting in right in front of us. I’ve already emailed the link to a certified, card-carrying, Fox-watching Wingnut.

When I got the shot, I take the shot.

That would be a nice touch…. /s

morning all

Steal & Plunder are very useful tool that was/is used to loot pension, health, IRA, 401k funds, etc. all are required to invest only AAA and guess who rates gold sacks credit default swaps and other trash…

viva Iceland!

Since the Falun Gong demonstrators, there are layers of security to prevent any occupation of the Chinese embassy. But the concept is nice.

S&P is the puppet, Goldman is the ventriloquist.

I was thinking of a trade for Bradley Manning, but I think we could both come up with an endless supply of similar examples.

Agreed, it’s the ‘Certainty” myth, that if they’re properly reassured, one day the PTB will actually invest in actual business/job creation. (snicker)

Good morning, all. Once again i could only stomach parts of Frontline, the crumbs they dispersed to let us know they were telling the troof. And I suppose that is better than nothing, though I would definitely not call it half a loaf, and oatmeal it was not. Too many Kennedy-like stills of Obama plunged in worrisome thought and floating chat barely heard about how brilliant is Tim Geitner. Those in the know could, I guess, follow the thread, but the twice repeated meme that OWS folk were just protesting because they were miffed at not getting a slice of the pie wasn’t very flattering to those dedicated folks. And no, it was not a choice between reform and moderation for Obama – it was a choice between reform and greed. (But of course, that’s just my take and that of 99% of Americans.)

The best part was when they did come down on the nitty gritty with some facts about derivatives – but again, generalities prevailed, and nothing was said about the connection to home mortgages as the prime indicator of something going terribly wrong. But I will praise them for linking to international woes – they got it right on Greece.

On the whole I would say chinks in the edifice and hairline cracks running hither and yon. I will accept that and try to overlook how brilliant Timothy Geitner is. Hard to forget Obama as Rodin’s Thinker, though.

Then we can serve the popcorn.

Time to get things done, thanks for the good company.

I will accept that and try to overlook how brilliant Timothy Geitner is.

Geithner served only one purpose: at every juncture, protect the banks.

Have a good one, Ruth.

Just before the election, S&P gives Greek Austerity Leaders a Smiley Face Sticker. Low-information (Conservative) voters will be impressed – vote them back in office.

See everybody! Austerity is working! Keep digging!

To curtail revolution, it is critical to keep the votes as close to 50/50 as possible so they can black box the tally 51/49 tilting the “election” to the World Bank Jackals.

Sometimes on Facebook when a commenter posts a reichwing talking point (usually on one of my more liberal friends’ posts) I say, “Put the remote down and back away from Fox News.” They rarely like it, sometimes deny watching Fox. LOL.

I have it bookmarked to watch. I was hoping it was going to be better than that.

Stephen King is the coolest head ever!

Off to swim in the great capitalist cesspool

US KIA Afghanistan: 1,957

Afghan, Iraki and Pakistani casualties: estimates vary to over 1.5M

US MBS 2012:15,128 and counting

No war but class war

Oskar and Mother Nature Reunion

Be good to yourselves, and all other living things

Namaste

Never. Give. Up.

In Rodin’s time people were romantics, today we’re just consumers. The Thinker was probably contemplating something like the future of mankind, while the presididn’t is just constructing his next sales pitch.

Along those lines; do you think Oilbomber will really end Afghanistan or is he trying to throw a bone to his base?
OR “Go then, there are other wars than this”….like Iran.
Bibi’s determined to drag US into THAT mess. I hope Clinton can stand up to that fascist bully.

Interesting how men become what they hate

Taraq Ali is on Democracy Now! saying it’s just an election stunt.

I hope Clinton can stand up to that fascist bully.

Hillary is a Neocon hawk.

Between now and November, EVERYTHING is just an election stunt.

Well, if he did, it was a smart move.
As for the rest of it….LOL

I just honestly believe the office of the president is more like a glorified press secretary for the MICC than an executive position. I think he’s told “This is what’s happening, convey that in a way that keeps people from reacting or upsetting the status quo.”
I think Afghanistan is another outpost for the empire. It, and all the other fucked up invasions are today’s Hadrian’s wall.

Well, he’s pulled a bunch of not so great election stunts too.
Hard to figure out this guy except http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHVuUfTYVmo

I love him. My wife shared this article with me a couple days ago. Nicely coincides with me getting The Wind Through The Keyhole.

Or perhaps it’s this:
“Obama in Afghanistan to Sign Deal to Continue War Through 2024″

Bypassing Congress, of course.

http://news.antiwar.com/2012/05/01/obama-in-afghanistan-to-sign-deal-to-continue-war-through-2024/

Probably, but I keep thinking she woudl have handled the super-majority we gave the Dems a lot better that Obama did.
but he smiled so pertty, ya know?

x2. I think even Pelosi’s signalling that she now approves Simpson-Bowles is part of the cornucopia of stunts we will see.

Especially if jobs numbers are bad.

Perfect!. That’s the Obama I know.

Mittens just wouldn’t be snaky enough

‘IF”?????

It’s not war, it’s nation building. /s

I loved his JFK book. Not what I expected at all

I read everything he wrote for awhile, then got kinda tired of him (or maybe the genre). I can highly recommend 11/22/63. Much different than his previous work, but still exceptionally well written. But then, I lived through the assassination and aftermath, so it is very real to me.

Well, he’ll try to redefine “bad” first. Can’t blame a fellow for trying to get re-elected. So much more to do, ya know.

But there WAS no “Simpson-Bowles.” They couldn’t even get it out of their own committee. People (not meaning YOU) keep referring to the “Simpson-Bowles Report” and there is no such thing.

11/22/63 was the best thing he’s written since the late 90′s. If you liked the Dark Tower series, The Wind Through The Keyhole is a stunning example of all the best parts of the story.

Not what I expected at all

…especially the ending.

He did an excellent job of capturing America at that point in time, didn’t he? I loved it. I think it was the best thing he’d written since Bag of Bones in the late 90′s.

Yes. Makes my point even stronger. Why is Nancy now for something that never existed? I smell a rat. (Not you, of course)

Oh, by the way, I read that Alternet article and while hopeful, I hardly think we;’re out of the woods yet.
It relies too much on what the people of this country think and feel and by now, I think we all know the elites don’t give a flying f**k about “the people”

Let’s MAKE them care……….

I’m not sure I read Bag of Bones. As I said, I quit reading King for awhile. There got to be a sameness about his books, even though they were all different.

I probably need to go back and read some of those. But I have a huge queue of books, both paper and on my iPad. I just downloaded Sibel Edmonds’s new book, Classified Woman. I’ve been trying to alternate serious political stuff with “lighter” fiction. I am reading Sanjay Gupta’s Monday Mornings, and it’s quite good.

Yesterday was a great first step :)

You will be able to ferret out the good parts, msmolly, and there were good parts. It wasn’t a complete whitewash. I’m often too critical, but it’s just because I am yearning for straight talk such as they did with the credit card issue. If only they would home in on mortgages in the same way – people really need to know what has happened there.

I’ve been seeing those scurrying rats a lot lately.

There wasn’t much worth reading between It and 11/22/63. Bag of Bones is definitely worth it. So are any of the short story anthologies he did in the 2000s.

I’ve read some different fiction this year, and kept my non-fic to a few choice biographies. Haven’t had anywhere near as much time to read as I’d like.

Something I read online suggested that Part 2 was going to imply coming “doom” (paraphrasing) for the future, i.e., another big economic crash just waiting to happen. The first part was sort of a refresher, after seeing Inside Job but there wasn’t a lot of new ground covered. I was hoping Part 2 would be better.

Interesting tidbit from the New Zealand Herald about Janet Napolitano’s meeting with the Prime Minister (sorry I misspelled her name yesterday – was a Freudian slip.)

“Mr Williamson said before their formal talks that they would be discussing the Smartgate system, which allows travellers a fast-track through passport control, with a view to expanding it beyond Australian and New Zealand passport holders to trusted United States travellers.”

In light of the privatization of everything, sale to overseas bigwigs (opposite of what Morales is doing) you can just imagine who those trusted United States travellers are going to be. Cry the Beloved Country.

My favorite Stephen King was The Stand. But you’ve piqued my interest, so maybe I’ll go back and read a few.

I’m off to work folks :)

(which simply consists of closing my ‘for-fun’ browser and opening my email)

Have a great day!

I’m off, too. Volunteer shifts both today and this evening, much to do in between.

Fun chatting this morning. Some new faces (not new to FDL, but not at the Diner often), and that’s fun, too!

And where is OmAli?? Did she oversleep AGAIN??

If you missed his OPUS MAGNUM “The Dark Tower” series that took him his whole career to get up the guts to write, you missed his best work.
That series of 8 books is absolutely stunning, and so few people even know about it because he took so long between books.
He says he thinks it was why he was given his talent to write, and that’s pretty heavy.
He have to grub around in old boxes to find the first one, “The Gunslinger”.

I’ve got them all as they were published they are an amazing spiritual journey.
All his other books just seem to be pulling from that series, maybe that’s why his writing seems the same form time to time.

I love his statement that talent is a harsh taskmistress, it demands, it doesn’t ask how you feel that day or if you’re up to it, it just uses you until you’re used up and then makes you miserable if you can’t do it anymore.
I speak from personal experience, having been it’s tool all my life

That sounds good, too. Right now, any oatmeal is a good choice for me. ;-)

Hard to forget Obama as Morgan Freeman lol. Good morning, juliania.

I’m partial to chocolate chip oatmeal cookies with lots of pecans. Best cookie on the planet.

I assume that getting “things” moving again is a goal. You might try flax seed or flax meal (ground flax seed), with your doctor’s OK, of course. I have started incorporating it because it’s supposed to be so good for cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar, cancer prevention, etc., but it also has a digestive side benefit.

Gimme some! ;-)

I’m taking something similar. That part of me is coming along nicely. It’s my bladder that’s got me a bit worried. I’ve been advised to try pot and/or beer for that. Don’t have any pot. :-(

DON”T

The deal would allow special forces and air power to remain. Iran and Pakistan are angry about the deal. The deal also risks being rejected by the Taliban, thus derailing the peace talks. The Russian ambassador to Kabul said:

“I don’t understand why such bases are needed. If the job is done, if terrorism is defeated and peace and stability is brought back, then why would you need bases?

“If the job is not done, then several thousand troops, even special forces, will not be able to do the job that 150,000 troops couldn’t do. It is not possible.”

Smart man, that Russian ambassador.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/8712701/US-troops-may-stay-in-Afghanistan-until-2024.html

POT?? Haven’t had any for a dozen years, but never thought it had that side effect. LOL.

How about tea or coffee? Those seem to make me hop to it fairly frequently. Tea is a known diuretic.

When I had my (burst) appendix removed, my bladder got balky for a couple of days. I was told that the digestive system in general doesn’t like to be messed with, and the cleanup they have to do for a ruptured appendix “messes with” things a lot, and it takes some time to recover.

Now I am out again, for real this time.

*poof*

Don’t wanna rain on your parade, but: ‘the U.S., where it began’?

Er, no, not quite. Any more than WW2 started when the US decided to join in. It’s a pretty ancient festival, certainly in Europe. You’ll find it in Shakespeare, and it’s a lot older than that. Not that the US didn’t pick it up because of the Haymarket thing of course, and it’s quite true that the Brits believe in British exceptionalism, the east Greenlanders in East Greenland exceptionalism, and the Touaregs and Tobermorians in Touareg and Tobermorian exceptionalism. It’s pretty standard.

Try cranberry for the bladder, juice or jelly; it’s excellent for regulating the waterworks.

Part of the time I simply shut off the sound on the Frontline piece. Got to be rather entertaining, the alternating shots of Obama and Geitner, Geitner and Obama. With sound, sonorities and sotto voces, tweedldy do’s and duh-duh-duh’s. My brain can’t take it, so I probably missed some gems.

Yes! Cranberry juice recuperated my oldest son once in amazing fashion.

Maybe we know too much already. It did give a general sense that the wrong side had the upper hand, somber tone and all.

Oatmeal, eh? If you don’t like the sickly sweet breakfast variety (i don’t), try adding soy sauce, sesame oil, green onions and peanuts. Even simpler if your diet allows is oatmeal with butter, salt and really good grated Parmesan.

There’s May Day, the ancient ritual, and there’s International Worker’s Day, also known as May Day. As a celebration of workers it is an American original.

Good morning, realitychecker. The part about the cranberry juice, my son was in hospital having been rattlesnakebit (don’t ask) and had to tough it out being allergic to the serum. So things got very bad. I truly believe the cranberry juice they fed him saved his life.

Have a progressively better day!

Huh. Interesting. Cranberry juice must help clean out venom from the kidneys.

It’s their oxalic acid that does it. ;o)

Cranberry juice is also supposed to help prevent UTIs especially in women. Won’t cure one, but makes the urinary tract inhospitable.

Thank goodness I’m not one to be prone to those Things, but, in those few times in my life I have had to deal with the yeasties, a day or two of cranberry juice kicked it out. That and yogurt works.
hope this is not too gross, but it seems to be okay to share the yuckkies here.
I wish only good health to all. But, you know, what goes around, comes around, you know, we all have our achilles heels. Considering that most of us have been on the planet for a long while, we should know how our bodies are connected to mind/body/soul, and at this point, understand what works best for ourselves.

Even CNN is better abroad than in America.

Omg. “The Duke of Earl on the musak here where I ‘m havinng lunch. Looong time no hear that one.

Just passing byy to say
i miss you guys.
Got a job notice for the CFPB. Supposei should apply? I’m realizing how littleiI’m getting paid.Less adjusted for innflation than in my 1st post law school job.
Will working at CFPB still be doing something good?

Pardon by ignorance, but what’s CFPB. CF Parole Board? *g*

LOLOLOLOL Yes, I see the resemblance. ;-)

Yes, the idea of “insult” seems to be a big thing with bladders. I was also catheterize multiple times, and know from experience that can be disruptive. My most trusted medical sources tell me the key muscles involved are “smooth” muscles, and that such react very well, i.e., by relaxing, to pot and alcohol. I’m willing to try both lol.

Thank you, that feels like a good suggestion. Will do.

Hmmmm.

Errrr. sorry ’bout that. I thought we were all on top of absolutely everything! (joke! joke!)

Consumer Finance Protection uh….Board? You know, the semi-watchdog that Elizabeth Warren didn’t get named to head.

Wow. In DeeCee or is it a local gig?

As much as the saying is Always take the meeting, this sounds really interesting, T.
Consumer Watchdogs are needed. I know people who work in the consumer protection area. Sounds very interesting.
I hope you at least check it out. Could be very rewarding. You never know. You are out there and doing it, so Keep Going, Lady.
Best to you.

That would be one of my personal nightmares. Hope he has no lasting effects.

Dee Cee. I know, I know. As always, my first (well, at least second) thought is…how hard would it be to find a place that would take all my kittehs? It would pay well enough to make that more possible than most jobs I’ve considered there. It’s one of the few places I regularly consider moving to because it would be pretty close to my mother and other relatives. My original plan for post-law school was to go there. Prolly just as well I didn’t, but…pros and cons.

Of course, there are only two openings, and no reason to think I’d get hired. But at least I’m now licensed, and the only specific qualification, oddly enough, is “90 months of legal experience.” Well, I’ve got that, at least.
I’m surprised, actually, how competent I’m feeling in my current job. Lots of detail to learn, but my basic legal training and experience seems tohave kicked in. And I am, sadly, enjoying being able to ask someone else to do the faxing for me….Let me struggle with the legal argument, while somebody else figures out how to make the machine fax instead of copy, or vice versa (actually, I make most of my own copies, unless I’m under time pressure).