Little Odds & Ends
Yukon Kings in the New York Times
The New York Times has taken notice of the fishing woes of the Lower Yukon this year.
Officials with that department and the federal Fish and Wildlife Service, which jointly manage the fishery, say variations in ocean conditions related to climate change or natural cycles are probably the main cause of the weak salmon runs. Certain runs of chinook salmon in California and Oregon have been weak as well in recent years, with ocean conditions also suspected.
In Alaska, fishermen also blame the Bering Sea pollock fishing fleet, which scoops up tens of thousands of king salmon each year as accidental by-catch. The first hard cap on salmon by-catch is supposed to take effect in 2011, but the cap is not tough enough to satisfy Yukon River fishermen.
Still no word about the federal disaster relief sought by the state back in August.
Calendar Girls
Get ready for 2010! Your garage wall, or office bulletin board can be graced with 12 months of “Great American Conservative Women” in calendar form. May I have a drumroll please? Miss January – Kate Obenshain, Miss February – Clare Booth Luce, Miss March – Ann Coulter, Miss April (if you can still see after 31 days of Ann Coulter) – Michelle Malkin, Miss May – Marji Ross, Miss June – Kellyanne Conway, Miss July – Michele Bachmann, Miss August – Bay Buchanan, Miss September – Phyllis Schlafly, Miss October – Carrie Prejean, Miss November – S.E. Cupp, and Miss December…..Star Parker? Hmm. Someone seems to be conspicuously absent. But, Miss October, the 22-year old Carrie Prejean did have this to say:
“I was so honored to be in the calendar as one of the great American conservative women. As a former beauty queen, it’s refreshing to be taken seriously.”
I Heart Alan Grayson
It works! I wished on a star really hard that somehow, somewhere there was a Democrat with a spine who would show all of the other ones that you can actually use the spine and live! And look what happened!
And yes, there’s actually an “I Heart Alasn Grayson” Facebook group!
Am I first? Wow.
I heart Alan Grayson.
AKM – are you serious about the Carrie Prejean quote ?? OMIGAWD I’m laughing so hard my lungs hurt. Oh I cannot WAIT for the images to available. We’re gonna have a Blingee fest!
Re: Grayson – y’know what bothers me ? As much as I’m glad that he took a stand, he really didn’t do anything uber amazing. He simply decided enough was enough and it was time to make a strong point. The spine bar is set so extraordinarily low that the mere action of stepping up to the plate blew our collective minds. We need to start pep talking our reps! ” You’re a warrior for America! Get in the game son!! Run That Ball Dammmittt!! “
BG….click on the link and you can see the photographs of those fine conservative women!
I must agree about Grayson….I wish the rest of the Democratic Party would follow his lead.
oh lordy, lordy!! That calendar is enough to gag a maggot.
I heart Grayson too, AKM. I wish there were more of them to heart in Washington. Thanks but no thanks on the calendar, gawd they aren’t naked are they?
interesting line-up for this calendar…we see what the other side thinks is ‘greatness’! this one will be in book stores ‘right’ next to palin’s chronicle of lies…maybe the store will offer a BOGO. I swear, the more the other side reveals about themselves, the more I think they are the “anti-******” or aliens walking this planet! …SOMETHING
BG, That was my first thought also. We have so little representation that when someone pipes up to actually represent us, we fall to the ground and worship (guilty here). Even senators whose own constituency is pro healthcare are voting against. That is well, unconstitutional!
If you look closely at the calendar, you will notice that Sarah Palin is featured as, “Miss. April Fools day.”
Yep on the Grayson stuff–part of the argument from the wingnuts seems to be “I’m not sick and I don’t need health care coverage, so neither does anyone else. As long as nobody gets sick, we don’t need to reform healthcare. And as long as nobody’s house catches fire, we don’t need fire departments. And as long as everyone follows the laws, we don’t need police departments or justice departments either.
Perhaps most wingnuts would prefer to live at Ruby Ridge, or in a compound in the white supremacist hills, and just fend for themselves. They can pray to God to cure their child of juvenile diabetes, perform self-surgery if appendicitis strikes, and get a sewing kit to fix their cuts. They do not believe in community with anyone who does not think exactly like they do, and have no sympathy for anyone not of their ilk. They are separatists who, if they are not living in the above mentioned compounds, are behaving like separatists right in their own communities, ignoring everyone else’s needs but their own.
Socialism has gotten a bad name lately, but I am fully in favor of socialism if it means that we all act as if everyone’s needs are to be taken care of by all of us collectively. We would be so much better off than the “every man for himself” meme the Republicans seem to believe in. Remember when Obama said the Republican plan was “You’re on your own”? Well, he was right, that IS their plan. Make as much money as you can while screwing the other people, and don’t feel the least obligation to share your wealth.
I’d like America to instead become a country where people of all economic levels can live safely and healthfully no matter what kind of job they hold. I’m told that many European countries are already succeeding in doing this–that you can hold a menial job, have universal health benefits, universal maternity and childcare benefits, guaranteed sick days and vacation days, and live a productive satisfying life within your means, because you do not have standing before you the possibility of losing everything due to becoming pregnant, needing child care, or getting sick.
America needs to march into the 21st century with the rest of the advanced countries, or we will quickly become a third world country.
If our Congress does not pass health care reform, with something that actually REFORMS health care, our country is just sunk. Premiums are going up exponentially every year, and will continue to do so, until our paychecks will contain no money, because the premiums will have eaten our entire salary. And that’s just the premiums, not the deductibles and copays and all the other ways the insurance co’s get out of paying anything!!
end rant……
Molly, good rant.
Garage wall, or office bulletin board?
A collection agency might consider sending the calendar to it’s delinquent accounts-for the whole month of August.
A good many conservatives have very little life experiences to draw from, they believe themselves to be self made and masters of their own fate rather then blessed with good fortune and free from the troubled times some of us go through. I should know I come from a boat load of them.
BigPete Says:
Garage wall, or office bulletin board?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dart board, maybe????
I heart, Grayson. The problem that I and others see today is that we have NO media covering our interest. All the airwaves are being dominated by the Conservatives. This have to change. We are the elected Party but receive the least coverage, unless it is bad news.
I do have my conspiratorial theories just like everyone else; whether you choose to admit it or not. Tim Russert death still puzzles me. Shannyn for 2 weeks with important guest and topics was cut from the airwave. I’m sorry, but the bandwidth doesn’t do it for me. I’ve been doing websites for years. #1 you make sure you sign up for un-limited bandwidth so there would be no slow downloads of your information and photos. You WILL lose customers.
I just really feel that it is past dued for us to start taking our views to the air and TV. Limbutt, Hannicky, O’Reddy, Beckery, and the others have the air 24/7. I don’t watch MTP, anymore. I will not watch the Today Show since Little Bushy will have a voice on the payroll. You can’t pay me to watch MSNBC morning show. This is what they want. Stop the Democratic and liberal communication. There have to be another system we can use to get our message out to the air with a face and voice. Not just on KO and RM because alot of people don’t have cable; MSNBC is an additional charge.
We have to find a way to take come control over the Media.
Any suggestions?
Question about the Calendar Girls. Does Sarah Palin appear on the back page as “Miss Take”?
Great rant Molly….sez I living in a socialised health care system. I won’t go bankrupt if I get sick. Jeeybus…are they fecking stupid or what? To the rest of the world, this healthcare debate is absolutely ludicrous. I know that I am preaching to the converted…but really and truly, I am so annoyed about this, we have mudflatters who are dying because of lack of health care.
Annoyed probably isn’t the word I should use. My choice of words wouldn’t pass the spam filter.
#14 You are so right about the media…I have long since stopped going there for news…they have become so biased that it makes one weep. I do believe that for every problem there is a solution…we just need to find it!
My guess why HRRogueness is not featured in the calendar is because she thought she should be “Miss 2010″, not just some lowly month. After all, our dear Sarah probably thought it was called “Great American Conservative Woman” since we know she doesn’t read.
Either that or she didn’t get paid enough.
In browsing thru the calendar link ,the first pic of all 12 standing together. Mann Coulter looks so ‘ out of place ‘ and really stands out. Whether it is because she is towering over everybody and looks stick thin… it’s just creepy.
When you go to her individual pic… it gets even more interesting.
She will not be invited to speak in Canada anytime soon… that’s for sure.
The little quote on her note card there says….
“If this Country didn’t have the stomach to stand up for it’s principles, we’d be Canada by now” ( Ann Coulter )
I sure hope Canada doesn’t allow her book to be sold there.
Canadians…. here’s another book for the 11-17 book turn around day.
Read the rest of their individuals quotes as well. Some are hilarious. And watch out Ex-Gov Rogue Pitbull. Carrie Prejean is trying to steal your meme.
You should be very worried. Maybe van Fleabag will threaten to sue her for plagerism. Miss Pre-Judge is ‘ stealing ‘ from You.
Sadly, Sarah has her very own 2010 calendar. I saw a heap of them at Sam’s Club last month amid calendars devoted to the aurora, Iditarod, AK wildlife and scenic beauty. Given hers was the biggest stack, I like to think they were not selling well. Before I left they mysteriously disappeared under more tasteful options. Oops!
The best part of the calendar (I have to go take a shower now after clicking on that link- ick!) is reading the nonsensical quotes from these so-called “conservatives”. Didn’t anyone proof-read before they went to print??
Star Parker: “America’s founders created a blueprint for individual freedom. But for the dream to be realized, every individual American must personally take responsibility and choose to be free.”
WHAT?? “Choose to be free”?? It wasn’t all that long ago Star Parker’s relatives didn’t have the right to “choose to be free”!! Surely she’s heard of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Michele Bachman: “Since the fall of Adam, freedom has not been the natural condition of man. However, America has chosen to light a candle, rather than curse the darkness, with the bright promise of life, liberty, and freedom.”
I would have received an F in college for that disjointed statement. “..the fall of Adam”? WTF? Guess Michele wasn’t too worried about Eve and her plight for equal rights which she didn’t get until 1920!!!
SE Cupp: “America is like a boxer who constantly challenges you to a fight- but roots for you to win. It is the only country in the world that dares you to be great.”
Boy, another F in college that nonsense. Challenges you to a fight but roots for you to win? Oh, kinda like going to an Ohio State game (America) and rooting for Michigan to win. Yeah right. She’s obviously never been to an Ohio State-Michigan game. Nor college. Who is SE Cupp? Not worth the Google effort.
I simply can’t go on, serious brain drain after reading those quotes….
It makes sense that Carrie Prejean would take Sarah’s place in the calendar. After all, Carrie got further on the pageant circuit than Sarah did, so it stands to reason that she’d be a stronger candidate.
$P= Miss Information
And WTG Mr. Grayson. I can only hope that others stand up and shout from the rafters that it’s time for the CHANGE we all voted on.
I’m not going to look at the calendar, but some of the comments above have given me an idea to share for a contest.
Background: 25+ years ago, I worked as an intern with a hilarious group of Ph D scientists who aided and abetted in my corruption. When I graduated from high school, they sent me off with a giant bouquet of roses (based on a conversation we had about what to give their wives/girlfriends on Valentines Day) and a calendar from one of The New Yorker cartoonists. The 6 of them passed it around and wrote things on many of the dates, such as the Friday after Good Friday was Better Friday, the following was Best Friday. They made jokes about each others’ entries, commemorated their divorces, etc. (If the guy who came up with this idea hadn’t been married…). I STILL have this treasure and crack up every time I look at it. I can’t remember any other gifts from that era. Or maybe even from last year.
For the calendars mentioned above, I propose we make up stuff for these conservative BOZOS as well as $P. Then auction it off and raise money for the YK Delta residents.
I think we have some creative and talented people here. What do you think?
@Claw Washout Palin
I too have been wondering what has happened with the media. They seem to be bought and paid for by the same corp. bigwigs that are in control of our healthcare.
Information is power and someone besides us is controlling it.
And that calendar…Gag me with a spoon.
Great American Hypocrites!
Did anyone else notice that the portrait of SE Cupp looked like she had it done at Glamour Shots?
AKaurora @20 – Wonderful idea! I will be going to Sam’s next week and will do the same!
I’m deathly afraid that my die-hard conservative brother-in-law will send me one of those calendars, just to irritate me! Revenge is sweet………I just need to figure out what to do to get my revenge!
Agreed on lack of MSM supporting any progressive/liberal ideas – other than Keith, Rachel, and Ed. Was quite surprised that Joe Scarborough actually wrote a decent piece supporting Obama’s decision to go to the ICO meeting. This morning on MTP, someone mentioned that it was wrong for Obama to go. Rachel tried to point out that the King of Spain went and what was the difference…….but she got cut off.
nswfm CA @24 – Good idea! Don’t know that I could come up with anything clever enough, but if they were for sale, that would probably be the best thing to send my least-favorite B/law. lol
GG2B, You could do it as a team and build off each other. That is what makes it funny. The last guy got to comment on the 5 others.
that calendar is some scary chit!!!
And to add to my comment above, there is always that Blingee treatment to the photos!
Thanks for that great rant, Molly #9, good work! And I agree with Claw Washout Palin #14 regarding the media as well. Tim Russert’s father died a week or so ago. I sure miss Tim, MTP will never been the same.
You know, one of those seven mountains was taking over the media. Guess that includes drowning out everyone else. Let’s see, there’s Palin and all those family issues (I mean, really, I have never heard an ex-governor or ex-VP loser’s spouse get national press and airtime for quitting a job!). And then there’s Sanford, Bachmann, Coulter, Ensign, Wilson, Limbough, Becky, Hannity, O’Rolley, Steele, Savage, Perry, oh, my head hurts. The blog nailinpalinnow, has a really great post about the Faux owner. Interesting stuff! Mr. Grayson is my hero, too. I read that he was a multi-millionaire and didn’t need any monies from lobbyists. Being an attorney, he was involved in some lawsuits regarding killings in Iraq, I think, maybe by Blawkwater. Oh, I can’t recall accurately, but he sure explained the GOP’s policy on health care reform.
Thanks, AKM, for all your good work! Hope everyone is having a great day!
Molly, that was not a rant. That was telling it like it is. Thumbs up here.
GG2B, if your bro-in-law does as you fear, enjoy customizing it to your taste. I’m sure everyone here could help you! Then gift it back to him Christmas 2010 to show she’s as outdated as it will then be. Turnabout is fair play!
What we can do…….. ask our Congressman to do what Clayson has done. Tell them we appreciate what he said, that we think it was the right thing for him to do, and ask that they do the same thing or at least publicly agree with him. Start shaming the Republican party.
Excellent points Molly –
I love rants that speak the truth
er, Grayson
nswfm CA @27 – good idea! I think I have a few neighbors who might like to be in on it – thanks!
anon blogger @30 – I’ve just gotten in Michael Wolff’s bio on Rupert Murdoch, and need to get reading. He owns way too much of media enterprises all over the world and has far too much power. Hubby is reading “Blackwater” and is appalled at much of what he’s read so far – recommended that I DO NOT read it – said my blood pressure wouldn’t be able to handle it.
One main theme continually runs through 90% of what the conservatives say or are up to – S.E.X. Has anyone else noticed that? It seems they have some hang-ups and no matter what the issue is, they have to bring *it* into the conversation. You wonder with Bachmann’s aversion to anything relating to the body and its normal functions, how she managed to get pregnant and have a bunch of kids!
AKaurora – Thanks! I’m going to start saving all the great quips coming out of my fellow mudpuppies and have them ready to add to the calendar and send it his way.
They came east this summer for a week and it seemed like a month. My tongue stayed swollen long after they were gone – I kept biting it so often to retain peace between my sister and myself. How she ended up with him, and has managed to stay with him all these years is beyond me. I suppose they simply don’t talk politics at home, or she yesses him to death to keep it peaceful in her own home. I KNOW she doesn’t follow the Republican agenda.
Great Granny2B, yes, I have noticed that the right seems to be guilty of all the things they say are no no’s. Must be the hangups they bring from a silenced and misinformed childhood.
nsfwfm, great idea!
Molly, I agree with everything you ranted about.
After looking over the calendar girls, I’m wondering what the relevance is of the antique stamps and why all posed in white blouses. Is it to suggest purity and taking back America (to the old days)? Or is it an unwitting reflection of their politics–stodgy and outdated?
Secret Shopper: Michele Bachmann’s quote, “It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness,” seems to originate with an old Chinese proverb. It was used famously in reference to Eleanor Roosevelt, hardly one of Michele’s heros.
I like nswfm CA”s idea of a calendar using right wing quotes, important dates and other hilarity- especially as a fund raiser for the villages that are going to be having a tough winter.
Suggestions of dates to note on the calendar would include divorces of any Republican who moralized about the sanctity of the family: Newt Gingrich, John McCain, Rush Limbaugh for example. It won’t take too long to find the dates associated with Larry Craig’s famous foot tap, Sanford’s excursion to the Appalachian Trail, I mean Argentina, and the day the Cheney shot that poor guy in the face. There should be an extra square for Juneteenth, or any other appropriate date.
I think that anytime one of them made an utterly stupid remark, that date plus the quote should be included. Since there are so many memorable foot-in-mouth moments, this may require serious editing and/or voting. Naturally, we’ll have to include such favorites as “I said thanks but no thanks,” and “I’ll try to find some, and I’ll get back to ya.” If AKM wants to choose the appropriate photo (funny or serious) to illustrate each month, that would be a real bonus!
Is it just me, or does Coulter look like a skinny guy? Check out that huge Adam’s apple. I avoid looking up her short skirts, as I don’t want to see what might be up there! My snark du jour.
Roger Ebert has a very good article at this link:
http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2009/10/the_anger_of_the_festering_fri.html
Here is the first paragraph from it:
I’ve had these thoughts for some time, but have been reluctant to express them. Now so many others have voiced them that it’s pointless to remain silent. I am frightened by the climate of insane anti-Obama hatred in this country. I’m not referring to traditional conservatives or Republicans. They’re part of the process. I’m speaking of the lunatic fringe, the frothers, the extremist rabble who are sweeping up the ignorant and credulous into a bewildering and fearsome tide of reckless rhetoric.
Alaskabooksandcalendars.com
Sarah has her very own 2010 calendar – she can’t share her fame with anyone, she is sooooooooooo much better than any other conservative women. In fact she showed them all by not showing up in Flordia!
Eeesh.
Sarah couldn’t appear, she was in hiding, her swelling hadn’t gone down!!
I think that the most appropriate calendar would be one dated, lets say, maybe 1919, prior to the success of the suffragette movement, because that’s where these little conservative honeys are taking women; right back to the early years where we had no rights.
How any woman can subscribe to the conservative meme totally escapes me.
Sarah’s too hot for THAT calendar…besides there are just too many cool pics, dontcha know…
GreatGranny2B, I worry too about the crazies. It is why I come here, to get revved up and gather a lot of ideas for writing letters and signing petitions. When I keep busy doing something that might help make others aware, and hopefully bring about change, I feel better about it all. We can’t be quiet in our worry, we have to show them we won’t stand for it and we will fight back, each in our own way.
Mae Lewis, I think you are on to something. I LIKE IT!
@48 nswfm CA That’s two of us. As my husband says, “Two is a pair. Three is a collection.” There is so much creative energy here, we can surely attract some more? Incentives: proceeds go to a good cause, and Great Granny2B needs a gift for her conservative relatives.
This is marginally on topic, maybe. When I was in high school (don’t ask), we did a sort of variety show every year. One bit was a dead black stage, one guy on stage intones: “It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness”. He then flicks a lighter (empty of fuel) four or five times. Then yells “God damn you, darkness”.
Bada bing.
Oh, and Miss September – Phyllis Schlafely?
Phyllis Schafely?
Miss?
Oy.
Molly, I agree with so many others:
GREAT rant!
WRT the media ignoring many issues and people wondering why? A couple weeks ago, I’m not sure which blog I was reading (thought it may have been here) someone commented. Have you noticed just how MANY & how LONG the pharmaceuticals have advertisements on TV @ every station? Listing every side effect possible, spending so long with all the side effects, you just want to ask WHY they are advertising when the product is bound to kill you?
That poster said it was part of dumping pharma money into their programming. When the station is so reliant on the income from those advertisements, they will surely hesitate to write/print anything critical that might stop the money flows from the pharmas.
Since then, I’ve been watching. Now, here in our recently One Newspaper town, the Seattle P.I. (Dem-leaning) went out of business a few months ago. The Seattle Times (staunch Repub-leaning) has had to tone down their rhetoric, loosen up their editorials, report more of the news for fear of losing us P.I. subscribers they inherited. Yep, no need to subscribe, they automatically switched our newspapers the following morning, unless we had called to cancel.
Over the past couple months I’ve started noticing blownup fullpage ads, totally colored & huge font size to take up the entire page – sometimes 2-3 of these ads in the “A” front section for this pill or that pill. Listing all the side effects, etc. In the front section, you KNOW that has to be expensive advertising!
With all this Healthcare debate going on, I just have to believe it’s part & parcel of the same program as that Poster mentioned. Make the newspaper so dependent (at a time their sales are slipping) so that they don’t DARE take a strong stance for the Public Option or offer any criticism of the status quo.
Sorry this is so long, but I’ve been mulling it over in my head and needed to put it out there.
@ 53 Kath the Scrappy
“WRT the media ignoring many issues and people wondering why? ”
Another point I forgot to mention, is that the Seattle Times (staunch Repub-leaning) is NOT a Rudolph Murdoch owned publication.
How exactly does posing for a calandar mean that Carrie-the-topless- Christian is being taken seriously?
Wow…she’s just a deep thinker
I thought Palin should have been Miss July. She could have been “Quittin’ on the Fourth of July”. I quit, in honor of the troops.
Anyone remember the Vanity Fair cover that Tina Fey did last year with the little Red-White and Blue outfit? Only, Tina is much prettier than Sara and I’m really not interested in seeing Scarah in an outfit that shows that much leg.
@24 nswfm CA, I like your idea. I think we start with a blingee contest for each of women in the calendar.
On another note, I read (I think at Huffpo) that the “conservative” woman (can’t remember her name) who put together the calendar said, We pray that Palin will join us next year.
OMG, gag. So, did Palin NOT get the cover that she wanted, so didn’t do it? Maybe Palin thought she should be paid big money for the use of her iconic image. Once again, blowing off conservative women. What a diva.
Schafly is a relious bigot. She refused to attend a National day of Prayer breakfast if the LDS contingent was there and offering the prayer. Our God must be differnt from hers.
Prejean will strip for God. she’s a religious nutcase who claims she was just trying to get her career started with nudie photo’s. Yup. that’s a GREAT role model for my daughters. Standards are for others. It’s OK to preach abstence, while doing your boyfriend who may or may not have put a ring on your finger, so long as you both attend the ‘right’ church.
Look, I’m not rich at all. I have seven kids. I have NO insurance right now, as it’s too expensive for the bugdet. We save money every month for medical check ups, dental bills etc. I DON’T want governemtn health care. But I do want some sort of low cost insurance I can buy for my family, in case something ‘big’ happens. I can handle an 60 buck co -pay and even the 20 bucks or so for meds. But if one of us got seriously ill, we’d lose it all.
We also live a healthy lifestyle. We don’t drink, smoke, or take drugs that have a zillion side effects! We excercise daily, and teach our kids to do the same. We’re an active family. there HAS to be a happy medium. I was embarrassed with Joe Wilson’s outburst, and do not agree with it at all. On the other side, Grayson was way overboard. Lets’ create a standard and stick to it.?
AKM-
The NYT article , while full of information on one level, was very disappointing on many others.
It failed to mention the Pacific Salmon Treaty requirement for escapement to Canadian waters for the Yukon Chinook… and the malfunctioning sonar which allowed fish managers to underestimate the Chinook run to the extent that they closed the Chinook commercial fishery on the lower Yukon and allowed far more fish by than expected.
It failed to report EXACTLY what the federal fisheries managers meant about a regular shift in waters off the coast IN RELATION to OTHER factors affectin the fishery- man-made and natural.
It failed to report the record breaking flooding and damage all along the Alaskan Yukon this spring… and how and why that may have affected folks’ fishing ability this summer.
I was glad to see the people part of the story as people along the river get forgotten, even here in Alaska, but sure am bummed that technical and scientific info was shortchanged to the extent that the article is more like one of those Sunday “Neighbors’ sections… darn…
factors affectin = factors affectinG
whew…
being around all this talk about the blathering bimbo sometimes affects my ability to spot phony accents creeping into conversation…
apologies…
Michele Bachmann is a disgrace to the USA, MN, and the 6th. If you’re interested in getting rid of Bachmann, support democratic candidate Dr. Maureen Reed! You can learn more about Maureen, and donate, at:
http://maureenreedforcongress.com/
and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maureen_Reed