Open Thread – EPA in AK
This photo was sent in by Mudflatter Gene Kane. That’s EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson who is visiting our great state,and Alaska and USDA Rural Development Director Jim Nordlund.
Lisa Jackson is visiting Alaska for the first time and will be discussing issues such as sanitation, resource development, and Pebble Mine.
Confession: I had absolutely no idea where Napakiak was. So I looked it up.
Napakiak is on the north bank of the Kuskokwim River, 15 miles southwest of Bethel. It is located on a sandbar between the Kuskokwim River and Johnson’s Slough. It lies 407 miles west of Anchorage. It lies at approximately 60° 41′ N Latitude, 162° 07′ W Longitude (Sec. 17, T007N, R072W, Seward Meridian). The community is located in the Bethel Recording District. The area encompasses 7 sq. miles of land and 0 sq. miles of water.
Yup’ik Eskimos have lived in this region since 1,000 A.D. The village was first reported in 1878 by E.W. Nelson, although it was downriver, at the mouth of the Johnson River. In 1884, Moravian explorers mention Napakiak as being close to Napaskiak, which suggests that the new village site may have been occupied by that time. By 1910, the village had a population of 166. In 1926, the Moravian Church had a lay worker in the village who began constructing a chapel; funds were raised for construction by the Ohio Moravian Association. It took three years to complete the work, and in August 1929, people came from many villages in the area to attend the dedication ceremony. In 1939, a BIA school began operating, and in 1946 a Native-owned village cooperative store was opened. A post office was established in 1951. The National Guard Armory was built in 1960, and the first airstrip was completed in 1973. The City’s primary priority at this time is to relocate all public facilities and homes to a bluff across Johnson’s Slough. The sandbar on which the City was built is severely eroding.
Not to be confused with Napaskiak, which is just upriver!
Thanks for this, AKM. Always love to hear stuff from the YK Delta!
Me too. Been there many times.
Open thread post…a column written about Palin that sounds like all of us contributed:
http://www.politicususa.com/en/palin-jealous-obama
That’s a great article. I immediately thought of the cover of her new book when I read this paragraph:
“Palin often manages to plaster a fake smile over her predominantly negative emotions, but this only makes her less trustworthy to the astute viewer who senses the disconnect between her emotions and her smile. When her expressions aren’t giving her away, her pointed fingers jabbing outward do. And if that fails, there are always her words.”
Great article! I remember when she delivered that famous speech at the Republican convention in 08 being surprised at how she could be so mean while smiling and being charming all the while. Lately (Fox “interviews”, tea party rallyes), she seems to forget to smile and has just appeared for what she is: a mean and bitter woman. Something tells me she will not age gracefully.
The one thing she has going for her is her fresh, new millions to pay for all her plastic surgery to erase those scowl lines!
And, of course, her minions’ lack of discernment for replenishing Scary’s bank accounts…
Her face will turn into one of those frozen-faced plastic women who’ve undergone so much plastic surgery and botox and whatever that her face will literally freeze. I’ve got a 60 something Aunt that has gone that route in her never-ending quest to remain the perpetually tanned line-less Barbie Doll. And let me tell you, she’s suceeded! Poor thing can hardly move her mouth- hey maybe that would be good thing for Palin!
Excellent article! The author really got to the heart of what makes all thinking people so frightened that Palin could have possibly gotten so close to the White House. I will never forgive John McCain for exposing us to such a vile, toxic disease that continues to spread its contagious infection throughout the country. H1N1 had nothing on this woman’s ability to damage and divide this nation.
I thought this sentence particularly accurate:
“Sarah also brings with her a history of anger, bitterness, and misplaced and abused power.”
And this:
“They read her anger and rage and contempt as strength, but it really comes from weakness. It’s all Palin has. “
good article. thanks
Thanks for the link. After reading it, i decided to print it out and send it to my sister, who is even less computer savvy than I (as in, she doesn’t even have one). However, my printer is low on color ink, so the printout included only the shape of SP’s face. Absolutely blank where facial features should be. Could one say blank on the outside as on the inside?
That was a fantastic article. She really nailed Palin.
Good link. Exactly. The fear is rooted in her knee jerk reactions to everything. I would venture to say she is more obsessed with her dislike of the President then we are of her annoying rants. As a faux President, she would consider taking to Facebook to rebel or tweet something to deliberately grizzly growl at another country. Can you imagine, how many people would be called un-American without consideration that they actually don’t live in the USA? The Republican party would need to censor her every word and be ready with a 4-year supply of duct tape. Even as a Dem, I fail to believe the Republican party wants the headache. And reality check. Even if she runs, she will be called on her inability to lead all people. Unless we create a planet for her, she is way to polarizing for middle America. There are a growing group of Independents. For any sensible conservative she has sold out and will be gold for lobbyists. For any progressive, she is a narrow minded puppet. Unfortunately, they are coasting on her negative/positive attention to their determent. Gingrich thinks she will run. Let’s consider who is really afraid in the possibility??????? This is an intelligent man, agree with him or not. Maybe he is waiting to see if she will run…
Inasmuch as this is an open thread, I thought it might be fun to musically comment upon the alleged Bristol/Levi break-up. Please enjoy:
Honky Cat song link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MW7H6iohAb8&feature=fvst
HOCKEY DAD
(sung to the Elton John song “Honky Cat”)
When I look back, boy I just wanna scream
Why’d we run that story in US Magazine
Levi’s a romancer, he was never all mine
Although we had some shitty fights, money made us blind
I say, “Get back, hockey dad”
“Better get back to the woods”
“There is no pay-day with your redneck ways”
“And, Umm, umm, umm, umm”
“Oh, the change is gonna do me good”
“Ya better get back, hockey dad”
“Livin’ in Wasilly ain’t where it’s at”
“You keep tryin’ to find gold in this life of mine”
“You been getting’ real frisky, Ohh”
“With a few friends of mine”
Well we’re in mom’s books and we’re in some magazines
The world knows we were nothin’ but two pregnant teens
And all my folks back home well, know I am a fool
They said, “Oh please tell us dear Lord, why did she quit school?”
I say, “Get back, hockey dad”
“Levi, you’re really no good”
“With your drunkin’ days and your cheatin’ ways”
“And, Ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo”
“Oh, the change is gonna do me good”
(instrumental break)
I say, “Get back, hockey dad”
“Levi, you’re just sportin’ wood”
“You must think I’m crazed, livin’ in a haze”
“And, Oh, oh, oh, oh”
“Oh, the change is gonna do me good”
You gave me the bone, boy and tried to win my heart
You are just a pretty boy, that’s poking every tart
But mom thinks your gay, yes she told me so
Why when you were on top, I should have said, “NO”
“You better get back, hockey dad”
“Better start wearin’ a hood”
“Cuz it’s not a phase, all your cheatin’ ways”
“And ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo, oh, the change is gonna do me good”
“Ya better get back, hockey dad”
“Livin’ in Wasilly ain’t where it’s at”
“You keep tryin’ to find gold in this life of mine”
“You been getting’ real frisky, Ohh”
“With a few friends of mine”
Oh yeah…
Get back hockey dad, get back hockey dad, get back, Oooh
Get back hockey dad, get back hockey dad, get back, Oooh
Odd question : Did anyone have any Mudflats, $P related dreams last night ?
( Morning All ! )
No nightmares here , but I gotta cool picture just for you.
http://i.imgur.com/QUI1V.jpg
Anything including SP would definitely be classified as a horrendous nightmare!
Hope the rest of your day has much happier and more pleasant images!
Austin! Where ya been? Love the photo. That cat looks JUST like crazy, nasty mama cat. Weird!
Re: my dream question – I had an intense dream last night about meeting up with a few mudflatters and someone from another net place. Just wondering if we were having dream state Mudstock!
strange that you mentioned that… had a similar dream this morning
dreamed I was riding Brian through a forest, my crow avatar perched on his left antler, but figured it was just a fever dream…It was lovely cool, quiet and star- lit…Brain ran uphill awhile and before I knew it , Brian was flying over the mountains and I was still perched on his antler…
uh-oh . . . the flying moose dream . . . you know what Freud said about THAT dream.
??????
Uh, no…but PM me and Do Tell!!!
For some Palin comic relief, try these. The first one is a Second City video about Palin’s TLC show. The second one is a Jimmy Kimmel clip with an animated version of $P naming the states in the union in a rather unique manner. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vp7Ew0KE_h4
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/22/sarah-palins-geography-so_n_655944.html
In case you didn’t know, chickens can swim just fine.
http://i.imgur.com/1gwwd.jpg
I will certainly sleep easier tonight knowing that factoid. Thanks for sharing and it’s good to have you back!
Oh, my goodness…yes, but not for very long…
had to fish a crazy red hen out of my “big bag of water” last summer, but only once…goofy bird.
Sunrise from the rocks of Bohemian Switzerland
http://www.horolezec.cz/galery/a_gal_66/czech2/macechy2_25.html
wow. pretty amazing…wonder is Palin can see this from her house
No because her house is surrounded by a 20 foot fence!
I was just thinking this morning that the perfect fence for Palin and clan was the invisible fence that can’t be crossed
Made me laugh and hubby as well. After all she said she was a pit bull.
maybe she can help build the fence in AZ while she is there. I meant that beyond sarcastic.
Austin!!!! what in the world are you doing in Switzerland!
El Jefe and I bombed over for the sunrise on the Gulfstream and I thought I’d share.
You of all people know that I’m up for any crazy s^*t that can possibly happen.
another gem for the “moment of zen” folder
{{{{{austintx}}}}}
Dya think $P is absolutely appalled by this and is now busily putting together a Facebook refudiation ?
http://tinyurl.com/25ngjqf
*** A Florida church with “Islam is of the devil” signs in its front lawn plans to host an “International Burn A Quran Day,” on the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks this year. ***
Lord love a duck…another reason to refer to us as Floridiots. Will be alerting former students now in college there, see if any counter-protest is in the works yet. Book burning doesn’t sit well with friends of the library and people of The Book…
Who are these people and what Bible do they read? Is there a new Haters’ Edition? or do they even read at all? Sickening…
thatcrowwoman, there are so many *versions* of the Bible, now, that it’d make your head spin.
There’s one for young women, one for young men. One for single young adults, one for married young adults. One for ‘older’ singles, one for ‘older’ marrieds. There’s the “New American Standard” and the “GOD’S WORD Translation.” The “King James” and the “New King James Version.” The “New Living Translation” and the “Amplified Bible.” “The Message” and “Young’s Literal Translation.” And that’s just for starters…
Add to that, the ‘brand’ of Preacher and what s/he preaches [spins] to the congregation, and, Voila!, ain’t no tellin’ what comes out…or its consequences.
One thing for sure, though: Each Bible-reading ‘practitioner’ congratulates their self on following *THE* Word of G_d “to the letter!”… and gladly thumps their chest for Jebus. Quite amazing, really. beth.
–For a fun ‘exercise’, pick a Biblical passage –any passage– from one version and compare it with the exact same passage from a second version [or third, or more, version] on this link: BibleGateway.com — http://www.biblegateway.com/
Just to give you an idea of how much fun you’ll have doing that, here is Genesis 1:26 from The King James version:
[26] And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
and here is the exact *same* passage from The Contemporary English version:
[26] God said, “Now we will make humans, and they will be like us. We will let them rule the fish, the birds, and all other living creatures.”
and the exact *same* passage from the GOD’S WORD version:
[26] Then God said, “Let us make humans in our image, in our likeness. Let them rule the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the domestic animals all over the earth, and all the animals that crawl on the earth.”
Then, of course, you can always check to see what The Message has for readers of its version of Genesis 1:26 [the version which includes, for some reason, the 'traditional' verse 26 *along with* the 'traditional' verses, 27 and 28]…
[26-28] God spoke: “Let us make human beings in our image, make them
reflecting our nature
So they can be responsible for the fish in the sea,
the birds in the air, the cattle,
And, yes, Earth itself,
and every animal that moves on the face of Earth.”
God created human beings;
he created them godlike,
Reflecting God’s nature.
He created them male and female.
God blessed them:
“Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge!
Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air,
for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth.”
You can see where they might be quite a bit of befuddlement among the followers and why there is such ginormous divergence amongst the different ‘segments’ of Christianity in what is being preached and how that preaching translates into how it’s actually *practiced*… b.
DISCLAIMER: In the above, I mean NO disrespect for *any* person(s) who embraces and/or follows the tenets and teachings of Christianity. I have, however, always been highly skeptical of those who follow Christianity (or *any* religion) without questioning what they are ‘fed’ about it. To me, there is a *great* difference between “Faith” that is ‘blindly followed’ and Faith that is followed because it has been questioned and found worthy *of* following. The above post is my ‘take’ on the former — those who ‘blindly follow.’ beth.
I guess you have to look at the entire Bible, the ultimate meaning of the whole book, it’s evolution over time (and its thought and outlook do evolve, Sarah), and look carefully at the original Greek and Hebrew. Then, you have to ask, does it work? Does it do what it says it does? Christ Jesus expected an enormous amount from those that knew the scriptures and those that followed him. And it’s often really hard to express spiritual ideas in human speech, and then to translate that to another language, well, you really have to look for the original meaning.
Hard work.
((((((((((((((((Beth))))))))))))))…a woman after my own heart.
Dang,,, right next to U of F !! You’d think the locals would be a bit more worldly with a major university in their midst But that’s Fla !! Snowbirds and rednecks… Glad I left there 35 years ago !
ttp://www.care2.com/causes/civil-rights/blog/anne-rice-quits-christianity-over-anti-gay-anti-feminist-religious-right/
is about Anne Rice leaving Christianity behind over the so-called Christians being anti-gay, anti-feminist, and anti-science. She posted on Facebook, but unlike some other FB poster, she actually had something to say.
“What’s the matter with Kansas?”
Roger Ebert named it one of the 10 best documentaries of 2009. Here is their website, check out the trailer, it is fascinating:
http://whatsthematterwithkansas.com/
I get this feeling that the majority Americans really aren’t as clear cut, black & white, for us or against us as the Republicans and Tea Party wants us to believe. It just seems odd that complex human beings from diverse backgrounds can just fit into a specific category so easily: Evangelical, Pro-Life, Pro-Choice, Liberal, Democrat etc etc. I think this film brings this dynamic out and attempts to document what is going on in “the heartland”, which is probably the same thing that is going on across America.
It would be nice if a minority within this country who are yelling the loudest could just sit down and shut up – so the rest of us can actually have a conversation, even if we all hold varying degrees of opinion.
I’m not even a US citizen yet but take me as an example:
I’m an evangelical christian.
I am pro-choice – I believe abortion is wrong – but every woman should have the right to make that choice themselves.
I don’t think I should have to be required to wear a skirt to church every Sunday because I am a woman.
I believe women should be able to choose if they should or shouldn’t work but personally, I would love to be a stay at home mum if financially we could do it. That is a choice every married couple should get to make for themselves, without pressure from friends, family or their church.
I think sometimes, a marriage just can not and will not work despite efforts at counseling and reconciliation and divorce is the only option left.
I think a woman has the right to be paid equally for doing the same work as a man.
I think men and women are created equal but have different roles & function in society for which they are created – and no, that doesn’t just mean cooking, cleaning and raising babies. I have absolutely no problem submitting to my husband as the head of this house. But if he ever asked me to do something against my conscience or my beliefs, I would respectfully tell him to bugger off. If I have to come before God to account for my actions – I will do so with a clear conscience.
I think evolution and science doesn’t discount God as the Creator of all things and I think the government has an important role to play in social justice and economic equality.
I think capitalism is a good economic model but there must be responsible and enforcement regulations in place and I believe healthcare is a right, not a privilege. I believe illegal immigration is a big issue for most countries but human beings have the right to basic decency.
I believe Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation but every person has to make a choice whether they accept that or not – and not everyone will choose Christ. I believe there are dire consequences for not choosing Christ and so I try my hardest to convince you it is the right choice. But it’s still your choice in the end.
I don’t believe in theocracy as a system of government and I don’t believe in taking other people’s civil rights away because they are different from me.
And that’s just a small portion of what I believe in – do I fit into a pigeon neatly? I don’t think so. Neither do most Americans, or most PEOPLE for that matter.
but you’re just Special !!
( and I agree with Irish girl,,,,Aussie is a mo’ better title !)
i agree…Aussi much more better title.
It’s interesting that you wrote this — open threads are always so nice & informative in so many ways. I like the info shared by mudflatters, both personal info and informative re: politics etc.
I had come to the computer to share something particular, and your comment fits right into it.
There is a wonderful series of books by Jan Karon, fiction, about a town called Mitford, Father Tim, the town, religion. I’m wrappign gifts for my mother, and one of them is a book called “Patches of Godlight — Father Tim’s Favorite Quotes.” I’ve been flipping through the book, and desperately want to keep it for myself! Guess I’ll have to order another copy for me. Anyway, there is a great quote that I flipped to, by Alexis de Tocqueville, and at the end it says the following:
“… Not until I went to the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.”
Isn’t that the state of religion and politics in the US in a nutshell? It really spoke to me, to my heart, about my feelings about both. I have turned my back on religion because I feel that it has failed me personally, at least the institution has, not my idea of God. And the same holds true with the Republican party, but while I can live with them letting me down, I cannot live with the harm that they are doing to our country as a whole. The GOP feels evil to me today. They have ceased to be good, and so have ceased to be great, cannot even aspire to goodness or greatness in their current state.
That’s my deep thought for the day……….
Wow, for some strange reason, I thought of you tonight SMR and wondered what your take on this would be. Please continue to share you deep thoughts.
[To channel Saint Ronnie] There you go, again, Missy Aussiegal/EvanLib: Thinkin’!
beth.
Aussiegal….I love your honesty. It is so refreshing.
Wow – fantastic statement of personal faith! No wonder I find your postings so wonderful.
That said, you lost me for a while when I read ” . . .so I try my hardest to convince you” because if I wanted to convert I would have done so or you would stand a better chance simply by your loving and happy example. Having someone try to “convince” me of faith turns me off fast and deeply. Still, if your postings are examples of who you are, I am impressed and would consider re-exploring the faith on my own. You come across as a fantastic person with a strong, loving faith and strong intellect – a great combo!
Thanks for taking the time to explain your views. I know I, for one, feel better having read them and knowing that there really are thinking evangelicals whose views resonate with my own.
dude, I just typed this whole response and I lost it!!!
Ok, short version – I try to convince people to turn to Christ but I maintain that they have to make the choice themselves. I live out my faith in an authentic way and pray that it points people to christ =D
Please, Aussiegal, return to your “old” nickname. I mean, we love you either way, and if you really feel that suits you better, I understand.
SIGH. You guys sure know how to convince a gal =D
Still a proud liberal though but I think first and foremost, I’m an Aussie =D
(((((((((Aussiegal))))))))
EvangelicalLiberal you have posted something that I could have and would have posted my self if I had the right words which you do have.Thank you for expressing it so eloquently.IMO most people have a similar view unless they are from the far far right.
It is kind of breath taking, to me, that a single tribal or familial group could have lived in the same place for a thousand year relative uncorrupted by other ethnic or racial groups It is not wonder that so many native peoples have more respect for community and more cohesive families, than any EuroAmerican. They have had over a thousand years to learn the lessons.
I at least a 4th generation American of Scottish and Welsh background. So my context is Europe with its incessant wars of invasion occupatioin, ethnic cleansing etc.
AKM – will Jackson and Nordland be releasing a statement of their findings?
Are they looking for particular benchmarks?
Ahhh Geography with my morning coffee. I feel smarter already!
I know I haven’t been commenting much but I do come by to read. I have been spending most of my free time with friends or in the garden or with Dad. Yesterday, one of my neighbors across the street told my my flowers are too much and I should think about moving some of them to the back yard. The back yard is the dog’s domain except for the veggie garden. I do have some flower beds back there but not like the front. She will grow to hate me because I have more plans for the front.
“one of my neighbors across the street told my my flowers are too much”
Can you still see the house from some point on the property? If so, there are not too many flowers. That’s the rule.
sounds like she just dosen’t have your green thumb !!! Chorlte.. plant sunflowers across the front, so she doen’t have to see all the other blooms you can make happen !!
I can still see most of the house so I guess I need to get busier. LOL
When I moved in to my house almost ten years ago, my back yard was an empty rectangle with a pool (gone after the first summer and replaced by shrubs and flowers) and a few half-dead bushes around the edges. I’ve been planting shrub seedlings and perennials like crazy all over the yard so they will someday give me a little privacy. I hate feeling like everyone can see me when I’m in my yard! Not to mention that it’s like a wind tunnel since my street is on an east-west axis.
I was planting perennials yesterday when my neigbor’s father (who mows her lawn – lucky wench!) stopped to tell me that my garden was beautiful. I had been feeling guilty because of all the weeds I haven’t been able to get to yet and the overgrown forsythia hanging over the fence, but I guess he didn’t notice those!
Besides, having plants (especially natives) on your property is the environmentally responsible thing to do. It helps prevent rainwater from going into the storm sewers and polluting the streams, lakes and oceans. It help support wildlife (sometimes a little too well!) including bees which are disappearing and the loss of which could threaten our food supply. The leaves help to clean the air and provide us all with lovely fresh oxygen. AND…….all that prettiness makes us happy! I had three goldfinches fluttering around my yard this afternoon. How can you not enjoy that?????
I am enjoying the gold finches, humming birds and a wonderfully diverse bunch of butterflies.
(((((MERRY!!!!)))))…i bet your yard is gorgeous. tell your neighbor that Bubbles said to tend to her own garden and mind her own blessed business.
How can anyone have too many flowers in the front yard? My favorite houses are those that have only flowers and flowering plants in the front yard. Grass is nice (I mean in yards), but flowers are prettier.
you want us to send you some more?
http://www.alaskawildflowers.us/
There is NO such thing as too many flowers,
too little room to have as many as one would like, perhaps…
WHOA! There are some mighty interesting flowers in that bunch. Wonder how they would take to living in Ohio…. I’d make room for them though. I have a tiller and I know how to use it.
{{{{{merrycricket}}}}}
“Merrycricket” too many flowers???..Huh.Flowers make people smile,even on not so good days.Wow…Love to have you as a neighbor…Flower Power All The Way!!!
That was my response too. How can you have too many flowers?
This was sent to me and it is too funny not to post. Enjoy.
_____________________________________________
Woman shot in the head
Linda Burnett, 23, a resident of San Diego , was visiting her in-laws and, while there, went to a nearby supermarket to pick up some groceries.
Later, her husband noticed her sitting in her car in the driveway with the windows rolled up and with her eyes closed, with both hands behind the back of her head.
He became concerned and walked over to the car. He noticed that Linda’s eyes were now open and she looked very strange. He asked her if she was okay, and Linda replied that she had been shot in the back of the head and had been holding her brains in for over an hour.
The husband called the paramedics, who broke into the car because the doors were locked and Linda refused to remove her hands from her head.
When they finally got in, they found that Linda had a wad of bread dough on the back of her head. A Pillsbury biscuit canister had exploded from the heat, making a loud noise that sounded like a gunshot, and the wad of dough hit her in the back of her head. When she reached back to find out what it was, she felt the dough and thought it was her brains. She initially passed out, but quickly recovered.
Linda is blonde, a Republican and a Palin supporter, but that could all be a coincidence.
Good telling.
This is one of just a couple of urban legends I have been told as truth with sincerity. (the other is the man went out of the house, slipped on the ice, and slid under the car, where he lay for a couple hours, and had to be chipped out of the ice).
Good grief – this is a joke. Not intended to be taken seriously! If someone had taken this seriously, I would have to question their sense of logic and their sanity. Fortunately, I doub if anyone would believe this. – pretty difficult to function at all while holding one’s brains in one’s hands I should think. – I’d take that as a little clue that this wasn’t to be taken seriously.
Laugh out loud funny!!!!
Sounds like something that would happen to me!
Urban Legend Alert:
While this is a cute story, it’s been around for a while:
http://www.snopes.com/crime/safety/biscuit.asp
hehehe still funny!
Still funny but actually false is what is perpetuating this mess of slamming Palin while ignoring the other injustices afoot in our country. Guess we’ll just all continue laughing until we wake up with Palin as President on January 20, 2013.
She could be brought to her knees if only people would wake up and call her out instead of just laughing. Instead she will become only more powerful in her idiocy and people will keep laughing and then we’ll be stuck.
You being an evangelical will fit in much better than those of us that don’t practice religion. I fear for the soul of this nation; I fear for us that don’t have an allegiance with any god and my perhaps have it forced down our throats via our gov’t.
Yep, let’s just keep laughing because the fun may be over soon….
I’m not laughing at Sarah Palin. However, I do take exception to your comment above. I’m not particularly religious, btr I wouldn’t dream of disparaging someones beliefs like you have just done.
Laughter doesn’t mean we don’t take it seriously, but if we don’t find humor in Sarah’s escapades and the lunacy on the right, we will go crazy, become very bitter, or very angry. Please do not mistake our jokes for anything other than a safety-valve.
The problem with Sarah and her ilk is that they take themselves too seriously. They seem to believe they have the Answer, the only Answer for us all. Their self-absorbed arrogance is based on a foundation of ignorance that is so profound and twisted that it is only natural to shake our heads in disbelief that anyone in 21st century America could be so misguided.
Our little jabs and pokes not only relieve our anxiety over their deadly-serious self-defined mission, but also remind us that we are human as well and if we take ourselves as seriously we might be making the same mistakes. We who laugh will fight as hard or even harder to keep Ms. Self-Righteous and those who back her from taking over.
As long as we can laugh at them, we can see them more clearly and run less of a risk of becoming like them. They cannot laugh at us because their sense of humor has been replaced with fear and loathing. I have no intention of taking the threat they represent lightly, but I will continue to laugh at them as long as I can because it diffuses my anger towards them.
(aka Evangelical Liberal)
Sweetie – I understand your frustration about Palin, I feel the same way.
Here’s the thing – I may be an evangelical but believe you me dearie, if my conservative friends knew all my views, I would certainly not fit in anymore. They don’t know because they don’t ask. They don’t ask because they assume I think exactly as they do. I don’t consider it my responsibility to convince them but if they asked, I will be honest.
Laughter helps – because if we took her seriously, she gets more powerful. She feeds on the fear.
Don’t be fearful of her – we must continue to fight and push back and sometimes laughter can help to strip her of the dignity she fakes.
Palin doesn’t believe in coincidences.
Poor Linda – what a shock! Glad to hear it was not a terrible freak accident and glad she is ok.
LOL funny as well =D
that has to be the funniest story of the summer. priceless. i have got to send it on.
It’s just an urban legend and now the lead character just happens to be a palinista. Shall we just keep posting falsehoods to all our friends because we think it’s “funny”. Sorry to be a wet towel but this is not the intelligent dialogue that certain commenters seek to share with other thinking people.
I can see that you care deeply about the threat that Sarah Palin and the right-wing represent. It is indeed a threat to our very way of life and our country. I agree that none of us should write-off that threat; it is real and growing.
However, we do not have to embrace our own fear and anger so tightly. I think doing so is dangerous to our own well-being and our successful diffusing of her movement’s madness.
When I was young I remember how Jimmy Carter’s ratings and support went downhill as soon as the comedians started mocking his lovely, large smile. There were issues people were upset over, but until people started chuckling over his smile nothing seemed to change. The same happened with Ford (his stumbling), Bush 4I (the read my lips became and still remains a national joke), Clinton (his Monica moment), and Bush 43 (just about everything – like Palin).
People didn’t laugh at Reagan – though he provided many laughable and tragic moments to do so – and he is still unfortunately very much with us in the guise of the right-wing and Palinistas. Under him, we had his key people calling ketchup a vegetable so they could economize school lunches for the poor, saying if you saw one tree, you’ve seen them all so they could clear-cut our national forests, and starting that wonderful Republican tradition on a huge scale where they called various Acts by names that were in reality totally opposite what they were so the public wouldn’t understand the damage being done to the environment and our economy. Laughing is like water; it slowly erodes and undermines what might seem like an insurmountable obstacle.
As long as we keep working our collective butts off to support progressive candidates and keep an eye on our local governments including school boards, we need to laugh these folks right out of our collective conscience because they are sadly laughable.
KS,
Do you live in California? Alot of us laughed at Reagon AND HIS WIFE.
He didn’t do much to help California and we still suffer his policies as do the rest of the US. Ever hear of Reagoninomics?
Laughter is salve for the soul. At the memorial services for roundly loved individuals, laughter is heard often and loud in remembrance of the deceased’s humor. We must never lose our ability to laugh else we shalll not have the strength to fight that which troubles us.
To LA – no, I don’t live in CA. I live in Kansas (ks sunflower, you know). We didn’t have to suffer as long under Reagan ineptness as you all did. California had the greatest need to use humor to survive.
Gosh, do I ever remember – to my everlasting horror – his voodoo economics (the trickle-down, enrich the wealthy and trust them to help the poor). That the current crop of right-wingers want to reintroduce that curse upon us is beyond belief.
Thanks for reminding me about Nancy’s imperial tastes – the expensive redecorating and the fancy dishes uproar. I had forgotten the jokes about that. You nudge helped me chuckle anew over that flap. I wonder if younger readers know Reagan’s reign was called the Imperial Presidency by many critics. Nancy was a big part of that. You know, I now recall them calling her Queen Nancy just as we call Sarah Queen Sarah. Funny how history repeats itself with variations.
Yet, I always felt that those assassination attempts and the surgery/illness episodes came just at the moment in time when the public was really fed up, and they created guilt and sympathy for his well-being and the family so there was little laughing – much the same way George got a pass on his mishandling of things during his first year once 9/11 hit. It took a long time for people to feel comfortable laughing at him, but once we started, he never regained his moment in the sun.
Reagan and Palin strike me as very similar – using the victim cards when needed to distract. Not that the shooting that disabled Brady and winged Reagan was staged or to be taken lightly, but really, the other personal crises seemed to occur when public opinion was turning against him. Can you tell I was not and never will be a Reagan fan? Even his dementia, decline and death have not lessened my dislike of him and the damage he did to our country.
His personal charisma and ability to appear to laugh at himself probably made it difficult for any humorous criticism to stick – maybe that’s why we called him the Teflon President.
Sorry, but we did laugh at Reagan, a lot and I was only in High School then, but we had HBO which ran “Not Necessarily the News” and “Snigglets” and we all had a good laugh at Reagan and his ineptness, which led many of us to the place that we are now; unforgiving liberals that won’t buy into any bs. NSTN covered many of Reagan’s gaffs and now that I’m older I realize that he was out of his mind with dementia and it might have been wrong to laugh, but jeez, the US public elected a man with Alzheimers as President….a Hollywood actor pretender who then became intellectually compromised and still people put this joker on a pedestal.
Bush II was stupid, Clinton was careless. Obama, well, we’ll have to see if he ever grows a set and stands up for what he believes.
Just had to chime in a remind that Reagan was the butt of many jokes and many of us did laugh at him, even before we were old enough to vote.
“Laughing is like water.” Well said. I tend to react to her comments because they leave me in a state of confusion. I wonder if she honestly believe what she says? It is rather perplexing but laughing is a good thing.
we are all sorry you are being a wet blanket. i will send on whatever i want to my friends. i will thank you to keep your opinions to yourself.
as for intelligent dialog. why don’t you start. I’ll wait……
as for injustice in this country please, whatever you do, don’t ever try to tell me about what this country is capable of doing. i know better than you ever will about what racist, ignorant, arrogant people are like.
whatever your problems are i am not one of them.
You go girl!!!
My apologies if I’ve offended, but I had the impression that we were all “friends” here on Mudflats and if I’ve posted something that has offended some friends but finds allegiance with others here then that is the purpose of open dialogue. Correct me if I’m wrong.
I didn’t mean to impose any restrictions on what a person should share with friends, I was merely making a comment pertaining to what I felt was a propensity to share inflammatory information with people that perhaps would get them riled up and angry when a mere posting of the truth would help them to learn and to explore the issues in question on their own.
“Sarah Palin has admitted she tried marijuana several years ago, but she did not like it. She said it distorted her perceptions, impaired her thinking, and she’s hoping that the effects will eventually wear off.” –Jay Leno
“Sarah Palin spoke out this week against the health care reform bill, saying, ‘Elections have consequences.’ Well, of course, elections have consequences. That’s why right now, instead of being vice president of the United States, she’s trying to get a reality show on the Animal Planet.” –Jay Leno
“On Saturday, Sarah Palin looked at notes written on her hand during a speech at the Tea Party Convention in Tennessee. Isn’t that wild? Oddly enough, she was reading, ‘Hi, I’m Sarah Palin.’” –Jimmy Fallon
Unfortunately, Palin was unable to respond to the criticism, because she was wearing gloves.” -Jimmy Kimmel
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Laughter heals the soul
…humour is often used to defuse tension and to give one a break from serious situations – I personally like to use humour a lot in tough situations – too many years at hospitals with the kid, so Gallows humour comes easily to me… It is indeed a worrisome time we are moving torwards – mid term elections fast approaching , and it is unclear if the Dems will be able to retain their majorities in Congress – this is a bit scarey, because even with the present advantage, the Repubs have been able to block or delay a lot of good legislation with the well being of the country in mind… Their tactic of not governing, and playing on fears rather than logic has fed the emotions of their base tremendously. Americans are NOT following many of the issues closely, and I don’t think they ever have….short attention span unless it affects them personally.
I’m hoping that the people who have been “thrown under the bus” by the Repubs, will be motivated to go and vote this Nov… those who have been unemployed and had their benefits stopped or delayed, those who have had medical/ insurance issues , Auto workers whose companies were saved by the auto bail out.. the list goes on and on… it’s these people who can make a difference this election cycle,… some how we have to remind them that the Dems were trying to help them, and the Repubs were blocking any efforts to improve their situation… and in some cases so mudding up the waters -how long did the “Death Panel” bit survive before people realizied it was BS ??- that the canoe got stuck in the mud, even WITH paddles?
Most here realize the opposition base does NOT look at facts on their own, but mistakenly trust their political party to tell them the truth…and until they are bit in the a$$ by it, they will continue to trust them…Why ??? because they think their leaders are “Just Like Them”!! they talk like them, they worship like them,….and sadly- they look like them as now become the added reason to do what they are told..
it;s frustrating… and I’d like to shake some sense into their thick skulls – I have a redneck brother who will argue that Palin is just wonderful, even while acknowledging her “faults”…. I suspect it’s because his own life is as messed up as hers, and that’s why he likes her… he doesn’t want to acknowledge that an educated black man and his party is better for him and the country than a person with less education and a screwed up personal life….so I make fun of him ( and his wife) to help ease the frustration that I can’t open his eyes, or at least get him to look at facts, not fiction…he just CAN’T be wrong… and if he is,,, it’s someone else’s fault ! and that is one more piece of it all— Americans always want to have backed “The Winner” in any contest.. Almost half the country voted for McCain….they’re still smarting over having voted for “The Loser”…
I need to get off my soapbox… this could go on for DAYS !! the point is, we need to grin a bit at them, and grin a bit at ourselves thru all of this,, the world isn’t going to end, it might get a bit tougher, but we need to face the challenge with a smile on occasion..
ps… I think the story was a Blonde Joke, and someone added the other stuff on…
there were these two traveling salesmen in a bar….
All blonde jokes are true. It’s axiomatic.
It’s called a “joke” – don’t take everything so seriously. ALL JOKES under your definition would be ‘urban legends’. They are just jokes, no more and no less.
Good thing I had put down my coffee before the end LOL
I say that as a blonde and the fact that I can laugh at any blonde jokes.
Conservative media using boy scouts and Muslims to demonize the Obama administration. Same story, different characters, same objectives:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-winship/the-right-manipulates-mus_b_665674.html
Merrycricket, there is absolutely no such thing as too many flowers! Your neighbor is either (a) jealous of your green thumb, (b) a grinch, or (c) nuts. Flower power to merrycricket!
Thanks. I have a friend of 20 years who bought a house a few doors down from her. Her name is Celia and she is quickly catching up to my yard. We also have a new neighbor that just moved in yesterday that told me she loves my sun flowers. Celia and I bought her a pot of sun flowers today as a welcome gift. We have a plan to contribute to her future flower addiction. That ol’ stick in the mud across the street is going to have a coniption fit! Tee hee
Brilliant piece by Sarah Jones of Politicus USA, concise & spot-on observations:
http://www.politicususa.com/en/palin-jealous-obama
Anyone who cannot see that this woman is absolutely consumed with jealousy of Barack Obama has got to be blind.
Yes, that was a great piece. It needs to go viral.
Ironic. Palin gets neg/positive attention. Palin’s negative attention to our President gives the President a ton of positive attention from his supporters.
She needs to explore the law of attraction or perhaps she can pull out her books on Plato, “Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something.”
Dana Milbank on Glenn Beck at the Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/30/AR2010073003254.html?hpid%3Dopinionsbox1&sub=AR
I wonder how many people will show up for Glenn Beck in September for his performance at the PAC in Anchorage?
…Maybe he’ll use Sow-ah’s driver…. and they’ll get lost in the maze of speed humps !!
Hey, that joke thing a bit further up the thread…I don’t see what all the fuss is about! Why did the hubby even call the paramedics? If Linda is a bot, then there aren’t any brains to either fall out, or to be held. I don’t get it – waaaaah!
I think I’m seeing the serious being ramped up all over the place – there is only one blog that I check daily that has not chimed in about the feeling of political dread many seem to be experiencing. Guess that’s why I love that blog – when I’m fried, I just go read about dog play and summer training!
http://rogueskennel.com/blog/?p=652
It’s OK to be worried, it’s also always OK to laugh! Even when it’s dumb – it’s who we are. My personal favorites are any good jokes from around the fourth grade level, so the political ones often slip by me undetected. Actually, a whole lot of things slip by me undetected! What I have detected, though – is a whole lot of people feeling tense about upcoming elections (and about the Twit, as always). Let’s all go jump on our beds, laugh with kids, grow more flowers, and grab a dog to hug – a little living in the moment will ease the worry just a bit for now.
Thank you for that link! Love it and your wise words. I’ve never seen so much tension and short fuses before (and I’ve been around a while). Even in my own family there are huge divides when it comes to politics. Laughter unites us all even when we can’t agree. And when laughter doesn’t come easily, great pics of dogs and our love of all our companions will surely draw a common thread. Thanks again for that link!.
These are friends of Love My Dogs, and I cherish that she shared them with me during the Iditarod this last winter. They never fail to amuse, amaze, and evoke regular “OMG, I can’t believe you guys work that hard!” moments. They have reached rock star status in my book!
As blonde jokes go, that one was pretty good, and the (presumably customized) punch line is just perfect. While I would be among the last to suggest that anyone shouldn’t be free to post or email whatever they want (hell, I post comments to Wonkette), I assume that we would all like to know whether what we are forwarding is a joke or “for real”. The whole reason for the existence of snopes is that there are urban (and rural) legends that are much less plausible than this one, which are nevertheless believed to be true, or contain some truth, by quite a few people. Stealing kidneys springs to mind.
I believe that AKPM’s concern in pointing out that this was a UL was that one of us might take it seriously, and pass it on as “news”, which could eventually prove embarrassing and credibility-damaging for someone further downstream. I don’t agree that laughing at the morans necessarily distracts one from actually opposing them, but it’s certainly true that ridicule is not, by itself, a sufficient program of opposition.
Sorry to run on like this, but the second best thing about this website has always been the civility (the first best thing is AKM, who is much of the reason for the civility). It disturbs me when long-term members of the community get tetchy with each other. So I write something.
Strangelet…you are a sweetie….what was done to me has been done to others. it was time to get “tetchy”.
(((((((((((((((MarthaUYS))))))))))))))))
I just read a comment on Huffpo about Palin’s Fox interview this AM; the person suggested that she said “codundrum” instead of “conundrum”. I tried to find the offending word on a youtube clip but, to be honest, could not stomach listening to her so didn’t make it through to the end. Did any of you brave souls watch the whole thing and hear a Shakespalin?