Open Thread – A Sixpack of Moose
Remembering the day before when I missed some good wildlife photo ops because I didn’t have a camera, I made sure to have it with me today. I realized full well that this would probably mean that I wouldn’t see a single living thing. Boy, was I wrong.
Within about 500 feet of my front door I saw not just one, but SIX moose!
First, there was Brian. This is the same bull that hung around last winter. I have only seen him a few times over the summer, but apparently he’s back to his old haunt now that the snow is on the way. He was not particularly interested in me, but seemed very intent on whatever he was nibbling.
Then, about 100 feet away, there was a cow and a lone calf. I’d seen her around several times in the last few months. I was starting to think that this was the one who had twins in my yard back in May, and that she most likely had lost one of them.
And no sooner had I resigned myself to the fact that one of those little guys had ended up as a tasty snack for one of our local bears, I turned onto the road and saw this!
They have certainly grown a lot since May. The cow was very hyper-alert and scurried them up the embankment quickly. I’m sure her vigilance has helped keep both of them alive and safe. Soon the bears will be hibernating, and the new enemy will be the long cold winter. But so far, so good for our moose family.
The pictures aren’t the best, but they were all taken within about two minutes, from a running car. Yes, I was late this morning, but it was very much worth it to capture a six-pack of moose.
Hey Mudpuppies –
Those of you who signed up for the card swap on the forums – please visit the forums and check your private messages – you have PM!
If you are not sure how to read your private messages, click here – How To – Use The Private Messaging System
(and if you do not have PM, you need to let AnnusMirabilis know)
Also we have written up a new how to guide, useful for those planning mudstocks or looking for specific people on the forums –
How To – Find Members On The Forums
We are always willing to write up a how to guide if you are not sure how to do something.. all you have to do is ask.
The young ones are still lookin’ cute!
Thanks for the How To – Learned something new everyday!
What amazing creatures the moose are. I remember the first time one came into my yard soon after moving to Anchorage, I then realized just how large they are.
Photos are superb!
wonderful pictures as usual
i do look forward to your pictures of alaska and its amazing wildlife
Nice to see that Brian has shown up again…. back at his old stomping grounds.
I never knew Moose has such a pronounced hump on them, but then I have never seen a moose this close up either…. especially on Brian.
AKM.. you seem a little shocked as well that there were so may moose within such a close confined area all at one time. I would think that is not the norm. Maybe some fellow Alaskans will weigh in and explain to us why. Because with most animals they will spread out so they are not fighting over the food supply.
Is the ‘ salad bar ‘ there in your neck of the woods that Good that they can’t stay away..?
Aw, the twins have really grown. I’m glad you got the pictures – it’s as close as most of us will ever be to a moose. I was thinking about Brian and Brenda and the twins while I watched Ken Burns “National Parks” this week. Tonight’s episode talked about the realization that they needed to preserve more than just the land – the wild life is just as important. And here you have that part just outside your door.
Now that’s a lot of moose!
I’m glad to see that the twins survived.
Last night in chat, we were wondering how the twins had fared over the summer! It’s awfully good to see them in such fine fettle.
Love the pictures, just wish my own could come out as well, moving vehicle or not
Nan
Wonderful pictures, fantastic to see Brian, Brenda & the twins. If I recall, didn’t Brian introduce Brenda to the wonderful buffet known as AKM’s compost pile? They know it’s safe in your yard (you ain’t going to shoot them except with a camera). Maybe Brenda brought home her widowed sister & calf.
What a relief to see Brian, Brenda & babes, my how they’ve grown.
Uh-oh, serious moose envy. great pictures AKM. I’m really amazed they pay you so little mind.
super to see them all
I don’t know whether someone has posted about this already, but it appears that Todd has resigned from his oilfield job!
http://www.alaskadispatch.com/news/politics/2215-todd-palin-resigns-oilfield-job
wow! Brenda’s progeny look big and healthy. They got good genes from their father
My Granny taught me about financial management when times are hard:
1. Put your money in your right hand. Count it.
2. Transfer the money to your left hand. Close your left hand. Tightly.
One of our own Mudflatters has written a piece at Huffpost on her fellow townspeoples’ financial management practices, now that times are hard:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/01/huffpost-reader-sees-loca_n_306882.html
My, oh, my – the comments! ‘Those’ who hate to pay taxes are screaming that folks in her town aren’t paying their taxes!! And threatening to report her to the IRS!!
Awesome pictures! My moose loving daughter is visiting and I believe I will leave this page up for her to see.
Wondering how everyone feels about Letterman having sex with female employees.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/01/david-letterman-extortion_n_307221.html
If it were women who hadn’t worked for him, I would not give this a second thought. I can’t help but wonder if any of these women felt pressured into having sex because he has the boss.
Wonderful pictures of the moose. They all look fit and healthy. Wonder if Brian has two ladies.
Aussie Blue Sky – Some of those posters are sick! Bartering has always been a part of society, especially in more rural areas. I’ve been giving garden produce and eggs for years in exchange for household chores, so I must be just as guilty for not reporting it and paying taxes.
When a neighboring family lost most of their possessions in a house fire, many of us gave them furniture, clothing, etc. Their pride wouldn’t allow them to take the stuff for nothing, so their teen son mowed our lawns all summer. So I suppose those poor folks who had next to nothing and on pensions were supposed to claim the used items and pay taxes on it???
pearl89 – I think way too much is being made of it in the media. Caught a few minutes of Morning Joe and they are ready to crucify him and make sure he loses his job! If the woman/women involved felt pressured into a relationship, they should have filed sexual harassment charges – but it is possible someone might have been too fearful of job loss. However, I strongly doubt he pressured anyone. If it turns out to be the case that someone was coerced against her will, then let the *victim/victims* take appropriate action now that the story has broken.
The self-righteousness of some of the commentators (like Mika and Buchanan) disgust me. They seem to want to get too involved in personal lives and dictate morality. Their words and actions are just as bad as Beck’s in their own way – trying to drum people out of jobs and destroy their careers for whatever reason.
i’m so happy to see brian chowing down.
he, i, and the spouse have a lot of traveling to do in two weeks.
and i do hope that mr b is catching up on his language skills…
although we have german and a bit of french covered, he is gonna have to come to the plate for the greek and turkish translations.
and, akm, if ya get the chance, do mention to brian that it’s gonna be a bit nippy. not that he will mind, i’m sure.
Found an interesting link over at ThinkProgress.org – they have a running digest of Palin’s stands on some issues as well as various controversies she’s been involved in. The earliest date I spotted when scanning through was 1997. It is an interesting compilation. I wonder how long they will keep adding to it – they obviously don’t want her as POTUS.
http://thinkprogress.org/palin-digest/
Now that they are doing well, you must name the babies! Bonnie and Bob?
Another good read that explains much about the religious movement and its return to racism. As usual, there are a number of downright nasty comments – astounds me just how vicious some can be.
http://www.alternet.org/reproductivejustice/142988/tea_party_movement_returns_christian_right_to_its_racist_past
pearl89, I don’t believe for a moment anything will come of the Letterman “scandal”. It’s no secret that he had a long relationship with a producer on his show between his divorce and his relationship with Regina Lasko. He’s quite old, remember, and was unmarried for more than 30 years after his divorce – he’s bound to have had a romance or two.
If you don’t mind if a guy wears white socks all the time, if he’s single and personable why would you dismiss him out of hand simply because he owns the company you’re working for?
He’s too old and worn-out for me – I’m keeping myself nice for Stephen Colbert.
Did Brian come back for the swing set? They are just amazing creatures & to have them roaming around in your yard is really something.
Pearl -
I don’t think Letterman has anything to hide. If he did, he would not have gone to the police for their help in capturing and prosecuting the extortionist. And, if there was anything to sue over, I’m sure the involved parties would have sued Letterman.
Personally, I can’t see him sexually harassing anyone. I don’t doubt that women have thrown themselves at him, though. I recall that even Drew Barrymore once danced on top of his desk and flashed him.
Compare this story to O’Reilly who sexually harassed/stalked a lady with disgusting phone calls and who knows what else. O’Reilly was sued and settled for millions.
Someone sees the light:
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/10/former-mccain-campaign-manger-nominating-palin-in-2012-would-be-catastrophic.php?ref=dcblt
Michelle Obama, in a six-minute pitch to the IOC before her husband took the stage, stressed the unifying power of sports and said she was “dreaming of an Olympic and Paralympic Games in Chicago that will light up lives in neighborhoods all across America and all across the world; that will expose all our neighborhoods to new sports and new role models; that will show every child that regardless of wealth, or gender, or race, or physical ability, there is a sport and a place for them, too.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20091002/pl_politico/27834
It’s no wonder he loves her so.
Heres to each of us..pruning the days list of work to complete..down by a few minutes here..30 min. there..and..adding that time IN..to our ..outside walking/listening/decoding..of the natural, real world. When people, who have become ..TOO-intertwined with their gadgets..realise that..then they do..have choices…and freq…start ..adding them In. Time spent musing for all of those who read this site today..will come-forward..most fully..for those who spend a time ..outside..and have the ‘ahh ha’..experiences. When you mentor by inserting these pictures into the website..you lead toward fuller wisdoms. Good job! (and..if living with a camera around your self becomes a callus producing problem..heres a lil bag-balm fer ya..works wonders on the trail.. ..
I watched the live coverage of the US speaking at the Olympic conference and Michele Obama is one super lady. I wish more Americans would realize just how truly kind and concerned both she and her husband are. They have the best interests of all at heart and that attitude of caring looks more like the Christianity I’ve known all my life, than the kind being spouted by the wingnutters.
I broke down and went onto Palin’s Facebook page. Wow are there some crazies there! There is nothing nice about any of them. Seems like they can’t just say whatever positive they want to about her, they have to add in terribly negative comments about any Dems – our POTUS in particular.
One of interest that I noticed is they are getting up petitions and e-mails to try to block the Olympics from going to Chicago because of Obama’s *friends* and *slum-lord Valerie Jarrett* and it goes on and on.
Now I need to go read something cheery and get the nasty taste out of my mouth.
Love the moose pictures AKM…
GreatGranny…You’ve read my mind! bunch of ^sshats..
I, too, have been wondering if the moose twins made it. Gosh they’re big! Thanks for this.
How wonderful to see a sixpack!!!
I agree it is time to name them all.
Some suggestions follow, of course we really can’t name them accurately (sp?) until we know thier gender.
For the twins, how about Brent and Brianna
For the new lady Brenna and the little one Brad
The twins? Billy & Bobbie Jo
hmmm, interesting that Toad quits his job. Wonder what’s going on.
I wondered how long it would be before the campagin staff started ‘talking’, lol. It was bound to happen, they expect her to say things about them in her book. This should prove interesting. Can’t wait for more, lol.
From the TMP article, and now Rush is bashing Schmidt for bashing Scarah, lol.
“That famous infighting of the core McCain campaign versus Sarah Palin is still continuing, with former McCain campaign manager Steve Schmidt openly saying at the Atlantic’s “First Draft of History” symposium that it would be “catastrophic” if Palin were to win the Republican nomination in 2012.
Schmidt said:”Most politicians of prominence write a book. My honest view is that she would not be a winning candidate for president and if she was the results would be…catastrophic. It’s fairly inconceivable she could be elected.”
Thos are great quotes by Schmidt. Here’s the link again.
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/10/former-mccain-campaign-manger-nominating-palin-in-2012-would-be-catastrophic.php?ref=dcblt
@22 GreatGranny2B
That piece at Think Progress is great and I will be keeping it handy for future reference.
Here’s one that really cracks me up. That women really is a dim bulb. Does she know anything about the history of “our great nation” that she claims to love so much?
Palin Believes The Founding Fathers Wrote The Pledge Of Allegiance. In 2006, when asked by the Eagle Forum Alaska if she found the phrase “Under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance offensive, Palin replied, “Not on your life. If it was good enough for the founding fathers, its good enough for me.” But the words “Under God” didn’t appear in the Pledge until 1954. The Pledge itself wasn’t written until 1892
Just wait until some of those campaign staffers who worked for McCain start to work for Romney (or one of the others). The secrets will spill like a flooded river. Won’t that be fun.
I just want to know….. where are all her emails that have not been released, and why won’t anyone (Alaska bloggers) address the missing emails anymore? It seems like everyone went dead quiet on the subject. What’s up?
Glad mom and twins, are okay. Nice photos.
#36
Say No to Palin in Politics Says:
October 2nd, 2009 at 8:20 AM
hmmm, interesting that Toad quits his job. Wonder what’s going on.
—————————————-
Others have commented in the past that Todd loves his kids and he deeply cares about them. The fact that it was Him that was with Willow in Palmer when school started is some evidence of that maybe. That was at a time when no one knew where Mom was so He could have done that only because he was the only parent around at the time as well. Who knows.
I am sure he realizes that Sarah is about to head off on her ‘ book tour obligations ‘ and she will again be ‘ not around’ that much. Sarah has also convinced Him that she will be traveling all over for all of those speeches she THINKS she will get…but I doubt it. He has to follow Sarah’s Plan( wishes ) though.
If we can think of him as doing the right thing at this moment, for the Kids it makes sense for him to be home. If we see Him on Tour with Sarah, just forget all the nice things I just gave him credit for.Nobody will give her those Hong Kong paydays but if she is able to lower herself ( probably VERY hard for her ) to accepting 40K for speeches… 2 speeches and Todd’s paycheck doesn’t matter anyway.
He was acting like a terrible parent with the Letterman Lies and the baseball game joke , but he could be doing the right thing now for them.
BTW: While Letterman talked/joked about Sarah’s book last night and the title of it Dave extended the little joke to Todd as well. He said Todd has a new book coming out as well. The cameras cut to a made-up book cover with a picture of Todd on a couch and the title of the book across the cover.
” Still sitting on My A$$ doing Nothing “.
I’m guessing Dave hasn’t forgotten what Todd said about him… and he is just as fair game as Sarah. Todd thinking he could push around Letterman like He did those State employees while sitting in Sarah’s office…Bad idea.
Trisha – I thought the bit about Palin and the pledge was also hilarious! She obviously isn’t a scholar of anything, let alone constitutional law, etc.
One of the blurbs about the new book is that she bashes Katie Couric. It will be interesting to see how Katie responds – she probably won’t as she is too much of a lady.
The thread going on over at Immoral Morality about book sales going to #1 and bulk sales causing it, has caused quite a stir with the Palinistas.
For anyone interested, Leah Burton has a good write-up on Lynn Vincent over at her site:
http://godsownparty.com/blog/2009/10/palin-whatever-who-the-hell-is-lynn-vincent/
Trish @40 – I wonder if McCain realizes that Beck is a Mormon, and the undercurrents about the Mormons wanting to control the country and all that? The 3-parter at Salon.com touched on that as well.
I’ve also wondered like you, what is the story on those e-mails? Have people been getting hassled or something? I can understand about just staying in the background and not making waves when there is so much animosity directed at one. Let’s hope that isn’t the problem – no more revenge is needed towards those who are just trying to get the truth out.
Thanks for keeping us updated on the locals!
Just received a petition letter from MoveOn. A woman who has had a brain tumor for 2 years has been denied coverage for some necessary procedures, despite paying over $700 a month for insurance premiums. Also, the med necessary to keep her pain managed jumped an insane amount. Here’s here story and a link to add your name to the letter she’s sending asking for a reason for her claim denials.
http://pol.moveon.org/dawn/
Does anyone feel creative today? Ready for a little Blingee contest to dress up the Crazy Narcissist’s book cover? I think there is about an hour and a half left to submit an entry.
http://wonkette.com/411418/there-is-only-one-thing-to-do-with-this-sarah-palin-book-cover
YAY!
Do we know the gender of the twins yet? Is it time? Do they get names now?
Great pictures and am glad to see that so far the twins survived. I haven’t read the comments but wanted to come on an open thread to post this please read and sign
http://www.dccc.org/page/invite/BoehnerTY
Why must so much hatred and gloating come out of the rightwing? The Weekly Standard website was cheering at the loss of the Olympics for Chicago. They have since changed their website, but ThinkProgress caught it beforehand.
Weekly Standard deletes reference to ‘Cheers’ in their office after Chicago lost Olympic bid.
South America has never hosted the Olympics, so there was a strong chance going into the conference, that they would get it. We also have to realize that some countries are still unhappy with our involvement in Iraq, although many seem to view Obama favorably. I expect all the negative comments from the Republics didn’t help either, especially when they were badly bashing Chicago.
GreatGranny2B, I wonder about that too. I also wonder if Sarah realizes that Beck is a Mormon. She told her fans to watch him a few weeks ago, but Beck will switch his support from Palin to Mitt in a few years. Plus, Mormon’s are the enemy of Fundamental Christians. Mormon’s believe THEY are the true Christians and are the only ones who are “saved”, while fundamentalists believe they are the TRUE Christians.
I lived in Utah among Mormon’s, and let me tell you, they want a Mormon in the White House! They believe that it is the will of God for a Mormon to lead this country and return it to a Mormon land, as God intended.
I have a lot of Evangelical family members and I myself spent a few years in the church (25 years ago) so I know both sides of these religious extremists.
Many Mormon’s believe in a prophecy call the White Horse prophecy. It states that a Mormon will ride in on his “white horse” to save the country and restore the Constitution that is tattered and hanging by a thread.
That’s why Beck uses phrases like, Obama is “shredding” the Constitution”.
In a few years, he will try to usher in Mitt as the “savior” of the Constitution.
People who support Beck don’t realize they are supporting his agenda to get a Mormon in the White House. Scary stuff.
LOL, this is so funny.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/01/psycho-talk-schultz-slams_n_307171.html
I see (from the Wonkette) that Palin is wearing her little flag pin on the cover of her book. Side note: Is she wearing a jogging suit? That’s what it looks like to me….a polyester jogging suit from the 70′s.
In any case, does anyone else find it odd and creepy that one must wear a flag pin to prove you are a “real American”. This started during the election when President Obama didn’t wear a flag pin and he was criticized by the Right.
OMG, is that what we have become in this country? A cheap pin (most likely manufactured in China) because the symbol of being a “real American”? If you aren’t wearing said pin, you can’t possibly love America? Sheeesh.
Gee, anyone can wear a pin so what does that prove. I find the trend scary and quite disturbing.
“becomes” the symbol…….
Sorry.
So glad to get the moose update. Thanks.
I think the sarah’s book cover is a mistake. To me, it reinforces her slippery, evasive, dishonest character. Honest people look you in the eye. I think the cover is going to push ‘maybe’ buyers away.
sorry – I think ‘that’ (oops).
wow, Schmidt is really stirring the pot, lol. The righty media is gonna go after him. I’m glad he’s being honest about the GOP party and of course Scarah. shudder.
“One of the things that hurt us very badly [during the campaign] and I think that this was not John McCain’s fault… was that the conservative agenda — largely enacted — I think exhausted itself,” he added. “There were no new ideas. And we would have policy meetings in the campaign and there would be a lowest common denominator product that would emerge; no innovative thinking, no new ideas, and I would joke around at the time and say ‘Well, I guess we will continue to run on our platform of tax cuts for the wealthy and endless war.’ It was a little gallows humor inside the campaign. But it underlined a serious point.”
Another catalyst for a GOP re-birth, Schmidt stressed, would be for elected leaders to remove themselves from under the weight and influence of the conservative media elite – namely, Fox News’ Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity and talk radio’s Rush Limbaugh.
Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/02/schmidt-the-gop-holistica_n_307817.html
okay, lol…..now we’re going to hear the “sex clinic” fear mongering from the wackos. what next…….
Last night on the House floor, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) spoke to Congress about “school based health clinics” (SBHC), labeling the clinics discussed in current House health care legislation as “sex clinics.”
Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/01/bachmann-sex-clinics-will_n_306292.html
wonder if quitty pants with post the same lie on facebook, remember her failed legislation? Politifact was on this one fast! thank goodness.
UPDATE: The nonpartisan fact-checking group PolitiFact rips into Bachmann’s claim, rating it a “Pants On Fire” falsehood.
We see no language in the three main versions of the bill that would allow school-based clinics, which have a long history of providing basic health services to underprivileged students, to provide abortions. Nor would the clinics even be new � they have been around for three decades. So we rate the claim Pants on Fire!
Trisha: The flag pin is just like the magnetic yellow ribbons people put on their cares to show THEY support the Troops!
But I am sure all who put those ribbons on the vehicles were FOR the mistake in Iraq.
Send the troops to war on a LIE! Way to support….
The Olympic committee was also concerned about whether all the althletes would be allowed in the country!!
And our onerous visa rules scared them away too.
I think Sanford is gonna get the ax…….
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/01/sanford-please-dont-relea_n_305969.html
“Impeachment is not a legal proceeding; impeachment is a political proceeding,” Delleney said. “We don’t need the courts at all. We’re totally autonomous.”
Delleney said Sanford committed “serious misconduct” – a constitutional standard for impeachment in South Carolina – when he left the state for five days, slipped his security and lied to staff about where he was.
“There’s not anyone in the private sector or military that would keep their job,” if they did what Sanford did, Delleney said.
let’s hope this helps……I’m rather sick and tired of the dang fight. Can we please move on to something else? like jobs and the economy and renewable energy, or how about education.
80% of these docs say vote for a strong public option. Just do it dems!
“OAKLAND, CA — At its Triennial Convention in San Francisco on Friday, October 2, the Union of American Physicians & Dentists (UAPD), an affiliate of the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and the AFL-CIO, will announce the results of an internal survey that shows that union doctors overwhelming support offering a public option as part of health care reform.”
Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/02/doctors-say-congress-must_n_307738.html
oh no, Scarah’s personal clothes shopper is taken by Pawlenty, dang what’s she gonna do?
‘Coming more than three years before the votes will be cast, these early 2012 salvos are at once remarkable and a reminder that election season truly never ends. Clearly, Pawlenty’s camp sees the benefit to getting an infrastructure in place early in the 2012 process – perhaps calculating that two other potential primary opponents, Mitt Romney and Sarah Palin, already have national recognition.”
Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/01/democrats-move-swiftly-to_n_306947.html
now it’s hard to fight with this type poll supporting public option, get this out in the media.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112818960
“When polled, “nearly three-quarters of physicians supported some form of a public option, either alone or in combination with private insurance options,” says Dr. Salomeh Keyhani. She and Dr. Alex Federman, both internists and researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, conducted a random survey, by mail and by phone, of 2,130 doctors. They surveyed them from June right up to early September.
Most doctors — 63 percent — say they favor giving patients a choice that would include both public and private insurance. That’s the position of President Obama and of many congressional Democrats. In addition, another 10 percent of doctors say they favor a public option only; they’d like to see a single-payer health care system. Together, the two groups add up to 73 percent.”
Goalie in NM Says: October 2nd, 2009 at 7:12 AM
Thumbs down for Chicago 2016. Apparently, eliminated in the first round with Tokyo. Rio de Janeiro and Madrid are the finalists.
_________
Chicago was greatly overhyped by the American media. Shame on them.
That stated, Madrid is the better choice. Spain did an outstanding job in Barcelona in ’92. Rio has too many problems. The abject poverty of that place is unbelievable. And the crime is out of control. Holding the Olympics in Rio may not be as bad as holding them in Baghdad, but it’s not in an shape to hold something that will suck so many resources away from people who are in desperate need of the billions of dollars that will be needed to build the venues necessary for a world class event like the Olympics.
18 pearl89 Says: October 2nd, 2009 at 3:28 AM
Wondering how everyone feels about Letterman having sex with female employees… If it were women who hadn’t worked for him, I would not give this a second thought. I can’t help but wonder if any of these women felt pressured into having sex because he [w]as the boss.
____________
Although it is not illegal for bosses to have relationships with employees, it does show poor judgment on the part of the boss (Letterman). The producer however, crossed the line into the illegal.
One other thing, someone above mentioned Barrymore dancing on the desk and how women “throw themselves” at famous people. Boinking employees is a bit different from what Barrymore did. IMHO, it is inappropriate to so quickly start blaming the women. Takes two to tango and when the tango’ers are boss and employee, chances are that no one is throwing themselves anywhere. Both parties are exercising poor judgment.
Hopefully Birkitt is not part of this stupid crime. It all happened before he married. I’m glad Dave spoke out before the media got wind of it, he did the right thing.
“Stephanie Birkitt has been identified as one of the women involved in the David Letterman extortion plot.
Birkitt, Letterman’s former assistant who has made several appearances on the “Late Show,” lived with alleged blackmailer Robert “Joe” Halderman, who allegedly “was in possession of Birkitt’s diary, correspondence and photos — which he says incriminated Letterman,” according to TMZ.”
[......]
“Birkitt and Letterman slept together for a period of time before he married his girlfriend Regina had their son Harry” and that Birkitt is reportedly “mortified Halderman is using her fling with Letterman to blackmail her boss.”
Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/02/stephanie-birkitt-letterm_n_307558.html
oregonmagoo said: “She’s a classic case of adult ADHD, histrionic and narcissistic personality disorder.”
I totally agree with you.
As for Beck, I think he’s narcissistic with mental health issues, seriously. Have you watched the video of making him cry with vics for pictures? disgusting. Now he’s making it a regular trick, get choked up talking about ‘his’ America and ‘his’ constitution. GAH
The media needs to hit him on this. It’s one thing to choke up when it’s real, quite another to fake for emotional impact. The faking reminds me of an Opey ploy from Andy of Mayberry, lol. Except Opey always learned a moral lesson. Beck, not so much.
As an adult he should be ashamed of himself, manipulating the public for political gain.
BTW, where’s all his morman love?
I LOOOOOVE me some moosies!!!!!!!!!!!!
(I just cut apart my moose calendar from last year and put the pictures on the doors of my two storage cabinets at school. Now all the kiddies can see a parade of moosies on their way to the art room!)
A couple of years ago, a friend and I left Homer at dawn to catch our flights out of Anchorage. One moose crossed the road in front of us in Homer, we passed another on the side of the road further down and then we saw a mama with two babies having breakfast on the side of the road. I hated to leave Alaska but it was lovely to be ‘sent off’ by FIVE moose in one morning!
Decades ago I worked at Yellowstone Lake Hotel. There was a male moose who every evening made his way down to the lake for supper. I loved to sit on a little knoll and watch him. I just sat quietly, so he never paid me any mind. He just went about his business eating those underwater grasses. It is one of my favorite memories of Yellowstone.
As a resident of Chicago, I was very disappointed that the city (and my adopted country) lost the Olympic bid. I was shocked when I heard Chicago was knocked out of the first round. I lived in Sydney during the 2000 Games and it was awesome. You can’t describe the feeling. It’s really something to be the center of the world for 2 weeks, hosting athletes from all over the world competing for gold in their sport. I dearly wished for Chicago to experience it as I’ve come to really love this town.
However. There are certain “Americans” in this country whose reaction was slightly more……unusual on hearing the news that a major US city and by extention, the US lost its bid. I will let this video linked below speak for itself:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/02/conservatives-revel-in-ob_n_307794.html
It goes without saying that Chicago’s failure to secure the Olympics is seen as Obama’s failure by these morons. Just as Rush Limbaugh wished Obama to fail – so do these people.
Of course they are the ones who have failed their country. Hosting an Olympic Games in any year is basically a JOBS MACHINE for the country. Given that our national unemployment rate is perilously close to 10% – it is insanity to WISH FOR and CHEER when the country fails to secure said jobs bonanza.
I know from experience that getting a city ready for the Olympics is a huge logical task. Not to mention a potential security nightmare. But the experience lasts a life time and given the MILLIONS of people out of work right now – I think they wouldn’t have minded the extra jobs.
Thanks Republicans for showing once again why SANE American Voters should avoid your party at any and all cost.
These people are stupid beyond all comprehension.
Opps….I meant “logistical” task =D
I don’t know if this has been posted or not, but Tawd has apparently resigned his job on the north slope:
http://www.adn.com/palin/story/958492.html
“hopes to return, will be spending time with family for a while” (the gist of it, anyway)
Why don’t you leave those poor mooses alone? Don’t you think they have the right to controll their own image? Please use only properly endorsed and officially approved moose pictures. Mooses need the royalties. It’s a pittance, frankly, but it helps. Thank you.
A truly amazing orgami master:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1217194/Origami-master-Sipho-Mabona-art-creating-paper-butterfly.html
Some of these look so life like they almost fool you. I’m use to the little paper cranes, but I have never seen orgami done like this before.
Ok, this post made me thirsty. Visions of Canadian Moosehead Lager danced in my head. Hooray for beer!
re: this Letterman extortion…I bet palin will jump on this as the vindictive, limelight-stealing, opportunist that she is. I hope she thinks twice, though, b/c she also had an affair (DURING her marriage) and has done other unspeakable, worse things in the “criminal” realm. Also too, Letterman does not preach how righteous he is…hear that palin, the hypocrite!
I have mixed feelings about the IOC’s decision regarding the 2016 Olympics. I’m happy for the Brazilian organizers and supporters. Holding the games in South America is a big piece of symbolism, and the Olympics is, among other things, a symbol of internationalism. I’m sure the support will be enthusiastic — ever since the Brazilian fans took over Los Gatos during the World Cup, I’ve been in love with their love of sport. It is true that Rio has Chicago-sized problems of its own; we can only hope that the preparations will be slanted to make things better rather than worse.
I’m sorry for the Chicago team and supporters (and, for that matter, for those in Madrid and Tokyo). Preparing an Olympic bid requires a multi-year investment of time, energy, and trust; it’s always disappointing if you don’t win. In Chicago’s case, I feel a little extra sympathy, because I think they may have been hurt by not being “exotic” enough for the IOC. After all, Chicago? And I think some of the vitriolic Schadenfreude from the right wing is based on (1) it’s Obama’s current home town, (2) it is, shall we say, reliably Democratic, (3) it’s in the North, (4) it’s not “cool” — after all, it’s Chicago.
Number (4) even exists in the absence of vitriol. I’ve seen many comments along the lines of “Would you rather visit Rio or Chicago? Ha, ha.” Of course, I have to admit I’d pick Rio, but that is significantly influenced by the fact that I’ve never been to Rio. I grew up in Milwaukee, and later in life made dozens of business trips to Chicago. I’ve been to Chicago, and I’ve enjoyed the visits quite well. Chicago has Rio-sized problems, of course, but the Loop/Lakeshore area is quite a spectacular urban scene (except in the winter, when it is uninhabitable). There are a gazillion things to do. But they don’t have Ipanema (neither does Madrid or Tokyo).
Ah well. Let’s hope Rio does a knockout job. I won’t be going — if I manage to visit Rio in my dotage, it’s not going to be during the Olympics. Two final thoughts:
1. The attempts of wingers to portray this as a “defeat” or “rejection” for the President is transparently stupid (cf. Sludge Report). That would mean that two other heads of state were also “defeated”. Anyone who has ever paid attention to the IOC knows that it is an intensely political, and utterly non-accountable, organization. Generally, except when the bribes work, they make decisions based on one principle: what will make the IOC look good? Rio makes the IOC look good right now; if they have problems with the execution, well, that will be Rio’s problem, not the IOC’s.
2. Sub-tropical Rio in winter will almost certainly be very pleasant weather. Chicago in August is rolling the dice: could be pleasant, could be hot and muggy, could be half-day pleasant and the other half-day a mondo thunderstorm. Hey, it’s the Midwest.
Proof of the death of America if SP is nominated/wins in 2012:
The CW series, Supernatural had a 5 years in the future episode last night, and SP was Prez in 2014 and she ordered the destruction of Houston, TX.
Hmmm, and Ricky Perry loves her also, too!
I just left HuffPo and I don’t think I ever seen so many comments about a story as the one about the repubs cheering that America lost the Olympic bid. People are not upset that Brazil got the nod, but the Republican reaction to the news…clapping and cheering, all smiles.
When I left there was 271 pages representing 15600 comments.
Going Rouge cartoon
http://alaskadispatch.com/blogs/palin-watch/2197-going-rogue-you-betcha
Can I just say how proud I am of lynnrockets being quoted in The New Yorker?
http://lynnrockets.wordpress.com/2009/10/02/lynnrockets-vs-republicans/#comments
I put the link to the magazine in the comments.
Thank you, AKM, for helping lynnrockets start that blog. Both of you are terrific in your own ways and getting much-deserved recognition.
#80 strangelet, I completely agree with your analysis. Well done.
Good to see those twin moose grown up!!!