Thanks, SD, how really encouraging to see some one who’s inherited a fortune using it for some other reason than enriching herself at the expense of decency and/or other people.

Mornin’, pups

Morning all. Thanks/hats off, SD. Obama was here last night…some talk on immigration. Trying to engage local concerns to lure folks to the polls.

Did he have much of a turnout, do you know? Don’t think I would walk across the street to see him. Get a slight taste of Dubya in my mouth when I look at him or hear his voice. Kinda like throwing up.

Oops, sorry, good morning RevBev and pupses, and thank you, SD.

Morning all and thanks for the links SD. Very interesting piece on Syriza Would be nice if there were a viable leftist movement in the U.S..

You think Occupy is not viable?

Gotta rebuild what once was. The old ideas are just that, old. Need a new vision for the 21st century and beyond. And it starts in our hometowns. Occupy has opened the door, it’s up to us to follow through.

The birds here are acting up. I have a hummingbird feeder right at the foot of and about 3′ above this porch swing, and there was a big kerfuffle around it a minute ago. Like a WWII dogfight right above my head, complete with sound effects.

Just before that two doves were boxing with each other.

Nearly was drilled through the head by two mockingbirds careening down the length of the covered porch. There is thunder in the background. The tension builds…. :)

Good morning, all. Head of HSBC resigns yesterday and takes blame. What a concept. Too bad the rest of his cohorts didn’t join him.

I have not heard much…but I think the turn out was pretty good. There were 2 events….a large one and smaller, pricey reception. I’ll learn more during the day. Last time there were alot of complaints about his tying up traffic, so they kept the things closer together to avoid travel.

Good Morning to you…still on your trip?

There was thunder nearby here, too, but it seems to have petered out. I was hoping, but…

A commenter to a Charles Pierce article expressed what may be the only valid argument in favor of voting for Obama and the Democrats, namely, that they are the slower of two evils (not the lesser of two evils, because they are not that anymore). As the Democrats move more slowly than the Republicans, they give the rest of us more time to organize against their policies. This is not necessarily a persuasive argument but as I said it may be the only valid one.

Too bad our lawmakers didn’t hammer Dimon the way they took on HSBC.

I read that, too. Dunno what I’m doing yet when I get to the polls.

Also, for your early morning amusement:
Helpful Shorthand for the Politically Uninterested

I visit at a home that has several hummingbird feeders, and love to watch the hullabaloo over them, it does exactly as you say, sound like an air battle. Little screeches, too.l

Arrived home Monday evening, and finished up the laundry yesterday. I’m planning a baby shower for my DIL, and just received the invitations, so I need to practice writing with a pen rather than typing with two fingers, and get them addressed and in the mail :)

Big temp drop after the thunder shower last night. Down to 74 this a.m. And I’m a little chilly sitting here on the porch. Feels wonderful after all the heat. It was 99 in Michigan on the weekend. Unheard of, where we were visiting, they said.

Link no workee.

Welcome home…here we had several days of rain….one lots!
Helped with the temp as well as really needing the rain.
When’s the shower? Gifts are so amazing these days, from what Ive
seen, with the registry, etc….will be fun.

Writing by hand is an artform we don’t use much anymore, hope you can enlist some family to help? Those temps in MI are killing off things that usually grow during summer there, sadly. Sorry you didn’t get the expected relief from heat you can usually find there.

Good Morning, All
Omi, I bet you do not type with two fingers. Say it ain’t so.
I can’t believe that LA has some of the best weather in the nation. Not complaining, that’s for sure.

Thanks, it is good to be back.

The shower will be a brunch at a little cafe in Nashville, which is a good central point for honoree and her friends. They have a room that we can have for ourselves, and one of the guests is doing the flowers, so there isn’t too much for me to do other than organize. Wish we could have it here, but most everyone is working and/ or in grad school with kids, so I don’t want to ask them to add a 3 hour drive each way to their Saturday :)

how is the warm-blood getting to London? Are we paying for that, too?

one-trick pony. Perfect metaphor.

Did he take any questions that weren’t pre-approved? Or was he just delivering Standard Stump Speech #8?

He’s spent a lot of time here in Ohio. But he’s pretty careful about controlling the message.

Boxturtle (he doesn’t make any friends when the SS closes the highways for him)

WE’RE the viable leftist movement. Question is, what do we do about it?

Boxturtle (I’m going to try to organize a local progressive caucus)

I know, and I love to look at beautiful handwriting. There aren’t too many to address, so it won’t be a chore.

I have a small collection of old Christmas post cards that I love to look at for the handwriting on them as much as for the images on the front.

On edit, you are right. Corn and soybeans are almost beyond saving in many areas.

Morning SD & Pupses…

Ian Masters interviews William Black. I apologize for the pre-interview sonic pollution.

Good morning everyone.

Thank you for the post SouthernDragon.

Head of HSBC resigns yesterday and takes blame

So if I rob a bank, then resign and take blame, can I get the bank to cover my costs and not have to face criminal charges?

Boxturtle (If so, I’m gonna do a little banking over lunch)

Well, the smaller one was a reception. And Ive not seen much coverage. Will see more during the day….

And I’ll be willing to bet it does not rip a hole in his platinum parachute, either.

Good morning demi.
Last night I was on the same thread as you and then left to go outside to water the flowers. When I came back everyone had moved on.
I think it is wonderful what you are doing for the homeless folks down the street. Not to many people would be bothered with these folks and I admire you for what you do. Thank you.

I successfully hand fed my hummingbirds over the weekend! Little paper cup full of nectar held between thumb and forefinger and he’s come and land on my wrist to drink. He let me touch his head.

Boxturtle (I think he likes me!)

Jesus In Manhattan

And if you’re feeling under the weather, try some Dr. Mitt’s Snake Oil.

And a polar bear’s sentiments about climate change deniers in general, and Rush Limbaugh in particular.

Hmmm….

Try this one:
http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/funny-politics-chart-0812

Edit: I see what happened with the other one, although I’m not sure how. I used the link tool.

Very good. Brava!

Ha.. Any presidential candidate visiting Austin is automatically hated because they shutdown everything from the airport to downtown. Inconveniencing everyone, all so he can go kiss the asses of the rich in Westlake.

And the way things have been going, you don’t have to admit you did anything wrong. That was part of a big discussion on UP! on Sunday…

When I am in L.A., which is seldom, it’s either Santana winds or 108F, tho I do hear when I’m not there, it’s heavenly. No idea what I do to it.

Aw shucks. Just sharing we have. Last night my son drove me to the corner where Bob lives on and behind the bus bench to take him some supper for him and a few of his friends. Later as my son took a third bowl, he noted that he had eaten as much as what we gave several people to eat. It was a lesson learned.

Nice. Wish you could take a picture, but that would require another hand, wouldn’t it?

I think he clearly and deliberately avoided Westlake….the reception stayed downtown….probably in one of the new condos. Don’t know for
sure.

I’m envious. Have you had a feeder up for several years, so the birds have come to trust you, or has this all happened in one season? If so, I’m going to haz a big sad all over the Diner

That’s funny, Molly. Good one. Thanks.

Maybe you need to visit here during winter. Ha.
It has been absolutely gorgeous here. Except for a couple of really humid days last week.

Good Morning Southern Dragon and Firedogs -

for those not following on the Twitter machine – the fit has hit the shan in Damascus, Defence Minister and three other Assad insiders killed in bomb blast, including Assad brother in law.

speculation on the ground it may have been Assad himself to foil a coup, or FSA trying to head off a SCAF situation as in Egypt

continuing but conflicting reports of more blasts – and another major defection

ahhhh, thanks for that

Good Morning !

If you put nectar in a red soda cap, put it in your palm and stand real still they’ll feed on your hand.

I can’t decide if it’s funny because it’s so close to true or horrifying for the same reason.

Boxturtle (Only reason my neighbors know about such things is because I talk about them)

The front-page story this morning in our local newspaper is about how one of our local billionaires, Stephen Jaroslavski (full disclosure, he manages our family fortune such as it is) has subsidized an experiment in treating cancer patients that has cut waiting time by more than 2/3 on average and more in serious cases. I don’t know how it works in the US, but in Quebec you have to be referred to a specialist by a GP or some other first-line physician, after which your are referred from specialist to specialist. Since cancer involves several specialties, the delays can pile up very quickly, not to mention the sheer difficulty for an ordinary patient with cancer negotiating her way through the hospital system.

Anyway, the innovation innovation involved creating a committee of I think eight specialists, plus a specialist nurse who acts as the traffic warden. The case of a person directed to it is examined by everyone present, and there is a triage to separate out the most urgent ones, who are directed immediately to the appropriate place. Jarislovsky is a firm supporter of socialized medicine. The grant’s purpose was to make it work better. You have to understand that Canada’s system was not built from scratch, but is a single-payer system that was set up to finance a traditional hospital-based system, which was and remains inefficient for reasons that have nothing to do with single-payer.

The point is that there remain rich people who still have a stake in their community. Jarislovsky does not to my knowledge have a wing named after him. He puts the money where it counts, which is why he is Canada’s most successful investor.

Yes, excellent lesson, and Mom didn’t have to lecture, which is the best way these lessons are absorbed.

I know you’re just sharing your extras (is this also the person you do laundry for sometimes?) but it’s still a good, caring thing to do. Does Bob know about MEND?

We have a couple of Hummingbird feeders and I put them on the back deck.
The sweet nectar draws the ants like crazy and they climb right up the metal poles holding the feeders.
Any idea on how to keep the ants from getting to the nectar?
The Hummingbirds stop coming when it is full of ants.

Well how nice to “see” you here this morning, cbl!!

My other hand had a cup in it too. I’ve been trying really hard to accomplish this!

Boxturtle (The hummers seem to have no fear of people at all)

Good morning, folks.

Juan Cole slices and dices Michele Bachmann’s silliness quite well in Michele Bachmann is an agent of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Where you been???
I visit with Kris and oldnslow on here but haven’t “seen” you in a long time or maybe we are on at different times.
Good to see you!

Back attcha. So far, so good. Taking it one day at a time.

The guys at HSBC got paid to take the punishment, such as it was. It’s like the people who get paid to stand in line for an event, just part of the job. Means nothing. No one’s wife is going to leave him for it.

I do hummingbird feeders every year. I have no idea if this a new bird or a regular. I have to do 3 feeders to keep them from fighting currently, so I just didn’t put up two of the feeders after refilling and waited. The hummers seem to stop by every half hour or so, and I just waited.

After this one had been chased away from the one remaining feeder, he seemed more interested in what I had.

Boxturtle (The blue jay will also take peanuts out of my hand, but I’ve known him for years)

very nice to see you as well sister – I am here most mornings reading – just never have much to add and hate typing on my phone :D

good morning to RevBev, AppleCanyon, BoxTurtle, OmAli, and all my old a.m. friends !

I hav eread that you can try suspending the feeder from a wire and coat the wire with Vaseline. Maybe the ants dislike the sticky, or maybe it masks their trail? Worth a try.

Yes, it is great to see you! Glad to know that you are at least lurking and keeping up with things here :)

Yes, same person. He said he really appreciated the care I took in the folding. It’s those little personal touches, I think, that the homeless really miss. He does know about MEND, but it’s too far for him to walk. When I volunteered there, I came to realize that distributing the food and clothes is one of the biggest challenges. So, I do my own thing. Bob also really appreciates the home cooking.
Like with the boxturtle’s hummingbird, trust is a big issue. It takes time to build that trust. Both ways. We have to trust one another before we can help and affect change.

That sounds like a plan. I’ll take your feeder reduction idea and SD’s red bottle cap tip and see what happens. That would be so cool.

I use doube sided duct tape. The ants get stuck and die and emit a smell that warns other ants off.

A friend solved his problem by moving some predator ants to the base of the pole. They’d eat any ant that wasn’t them.

Boxturtle (Before I was told about the duct tape, I just cleaned the feeder daily)

I think you hit upon the key. Trust.

Take a paper towel. The little bastard crapped on my wrist while feeding.

Once they’ve landed, you can move about. But until then hold very still, like SD said.

Boxturtle (And watch for them carefully, they come out of nowhere!)

You can use an ant moat, available online, or you can smear vaseline on the pole part way up.

We were taught as children to Not talk to strangers. The government has reinforced our skepticism and taught us not to trust, by treating us shamefully.
Scrooge was wrong. There are no Poor Houses.

How about just buying an anteater? Well, maybe not.

The CBL is a very busy gal. (she made bacon jam yesterday)

Good morning all and thanks for the post and host SoDrag.

Thank you. I will give both suggestions a try.

what’s happenin’ hot stuff ?

Off to swim in the great capitalist cesspool.

US KIA Afghanistan: 2,046

Afghan, Iraki, Yemeni and Pakistani casualties: estimates vary to over 2M

US MBS 2012: 24,676 and counting

No war but class war

Can’t Find My Way Home

Be good to yourselves, and all other living things

Namaste

Never. Give. Up.

Thank you. This is why I love this site. So many ideas in problem-solving and it is really appreciated.

*g*. . Crept in and crapped, and crept out. An old family saying, applicable in so many situations :)

Just listened to the IBT clip about HSBC. The news reader said …. Just like Barclay’s, HSBC will likely have cough up $$$$ in fines…..

Never a mention of any criminal charges or jail time. Just isn’t done anymore, to the MOTU. Doesn’t even pop up in the conversation. And no one even thinks about it or finds it odd.

Never.Give.Up.

Thanks for adding the last three lines. I was lost there for a minute.
And, yes, somebody’s got to change. Somebody holds the key.
We can do it!

She is a busy lady just by the things you say on here.
I think it was the 4th of July and she was making a gigantic cake for all the attendees at your party.
I started posting here on Christmas Day 2005 then stopped for a year or so and when I came back CBL was so welcoming, it was like I had never left.
She is a special lady and I would say that behind her back too.

Think Global. (We do that here.)
Act Local.
Feed and tend each other.
It seems fairly clear.
A big thanks to SD and to Jane Hamsher for giving us this forum.

Don’t forget, Really Cute, too.

Thank you. The vaseline sounds like the solution and also the double sided duct tape suggested by BoxTurtle.
Anything sticky to stop the little buggers I guess.

Good morning. (again)

AC2,
We like her. Most days. (just kiddin) She has been the center of my universe for over 23 years.

What Demi said.

See you pupses on down the road a piece. Safe travels and safe home, everypup.

Your adoring

ohmmmm

(nice butt too. just sayin)

I have said this before but it is always good to say it again.
YOU are a very lucky man!

That was beautiful and obviously heartfelt.

On edit after your comment to demi, other “feelings” involved, too!!

Bye :)

Get a room.

Have a good one and have fun with your continued planning. There are some incredibly clever goodie bags you can put together. Oh, boy.

Rimshot!
(I don’t have the button.)

Button, button, who’s got the button?

Eric Clapton’s Change The World.
One heart at a time.

Indeed!

Have a great day Om.

Thanks, Kris. In my favorites now. :)
Haven’t thought of that game in eons.

old people rock !!!

When I was at the Santa Monica Pier, I saw a t-shirt with something like that printed on it.

update: Asad’s torturer in chief was killed, and Natl Sec Council Chief, “severely wounded”

now verified reports Asad forces are fleeing on foot from neighborhoods they invaded in the last two days

my current fave: What Happens at Mimi’s House, Stays at Mimi’s House

‘Mimi’ being Texan (southern) for grandma to you Philistines :D

You can’t make this stuff up:

Bacon and flour semis collide on Indiana Toll Road

I think I could smell bacon frying!

Guilty as charged. But, I’ve learned something this morning. Ha!

Oh, I figured you’d show up! G’morning, Kris! How’s the good school fight going?

How funny! Now, if there was just an egg truck in that pile up.
Instant breakfast.

Toby Wollin posted on Facebook that we needed a syrup truck and a Starbuck’s truck so we could have pancakes and bacon and coffee! (It probably isn’t funny but the drivers are OK I understand.)

Ha! How is Toby? I haven’t seen her much lately.

Trucks accidentally colliding, that is sad. But one bomb destroyed twenty two tanker trucks full of fossil fuel. Pakistan our loyal ally is not protecting the truck convoys very effectively. The wars needs trucks through Pakistan. Everyone takes a bribe, including the Taliban. Hillary kowtowed and apologized sincerely to Pakistan. That should be enough. And the trucks burn…

The total cost of this latest interruption in war supplies is in the billions of dollars. It is all good.

BradBlog will be interviewing Jack Abramoff *spit* today and is soliciting questions to ask.
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=9416

Ni Hao, the globe trotting container kitten is up for adoption and eligible to spend the rest of his quarantine at his new home!
http://mobile.rawstory.com/therawstory/#!/entry/kitten-survives-6500-mile-trip-in-shipping-container,5006c9097af68a84dc18ebe7

Morning pups! I am in muggy east Texas, about to head home. Kept getting lost this am trying to find cort/ detention center. Trees and other vegetation very different from my part of the state.
today is 1st without rain this week. Got to get on the road but wanted to say hi. Ywaves rto cbl)

Sorry for typos. On Kindle.

Cool, thanks.

Everything is washed up and put away…except for this one….is that a hair ball??? Never mind, don’t tell me, I don’t want to know, just get the trash can, please :)

Cinnamon Girl

Good news, right? A kitten with a story like that will get adopted quickly, I bet…

Hell, if I lived there I’d be first in line.

I almost asked if you were available to take Ni Hao. What’s one more?

OmAli #110

Great song.

Thank you, oldgold. I hadn’t heard that in a long time and realized when I heard it again how much I had missed his music. Do you have much of Neil Young’s early work?

I’d love for you to link to a song you really like. I always like to hear new music, or be reminded of pieces or artists I already know.

I ran off without saying thanks for the link. That is a great song. Thank you for sharing it.