Thank you for a calming photo. I really needed it.
I woke up this morning to hear about the vile protests in Manhattan. That people would verbally attack someone because he “looked Muslim,” is deeply shameful and un-American. Their actions are kindling to extremists just waiting for an excuse to attack us. Their actions endanger every military personnel and American tourist or student abroad, and bring deep and abiding shame to the rest of us.
Where are the politicians of any party denouncing this insanity?
Where is the woman who started whipping this hatred into a red-hot flame? I hold Sarah Palin and every right-wing Republican and Tea Party candidate and radical supporter responsible for this abomination. Sarah should step forward and call for calm.
Is Sarah even capable of rising above hate? I seriously doubt it. I would like her to surprise me and show that she can.
People of all major faiths and those of no faith died the tragedy that was 9-1. Is their legacy going to be that we trash our Constitution, that we turn our backs on the best ideals of our country, that we allow hate and ignorance to thrive? Or will we come together as a people and denounce these hate-filled protesters?
I believe we are better as a people than what they are showing to the world. I believe we can rise above this, but we have to step forward and prove it.
I have no doubt that some of these protesters are bought and paid for by those who would love to undermine this administration, would profit from continued war, and who have no allegiance to the ideals this country is supposed to stand for and stand by. However, I also believe that many more are simply emotionally and intellectually immature people being manipulated by hatemongers such as Limbaugh, Beck, Rove and Palin. They have opened the floodgates of hate and suspicion, and it is time for them to do something to stop it. If they don’t, we have to demand that they forfeit their right to speak to and for the American people. They do not have a right to incite riots, period.
These protesters are desecrating the “hallowed ground” they profess to save Shame on them and shame on us if we do not speak out against them.
Morning Joe was very good on this issue this morning. Calling out the politicians stoking the fear, especially Gingrich (no mention of Quitty Pants) and Rick Lazio. This whole thing is being used to recruit terrorists to work against U.S..
One of the worst things for me is that the families of the victims of 9-11 are being used to stoke the fear and hate. Their grief (believe me it is still very real, we have a family friend whose life has been destroyed after her daughter was killed that day) is being used to make political points. These hate mongers cannot be given control of this country, they are doing enough damage as the minority.
Those that use 9-11 to divide us and have caused so much havoc here and overseas continue to use it for the same profit and purposes. That was the original intent and will likely take us all the way into Iran among other places. Newt and Sarah are just the “spokesmen” of those in power. They are just there to rally the sheeple, imo. The hate mongers have had control of this country for some time now. Just look who has been profiting from all this madness.
As much disdain as I have for the Puppet with a Bumpit, I’m beginning to think we need to stop focusing on the shiny object and expose those who are pulling the Bumpit’s strings. I heard about Rebecca Mansour recently in a report that exposed her as the person behind the initial Park51 project nastiness. Then I found out that she had gone to work for Palin after Palin resigned. (I’m sure many of you are already aware of this.) And, now I’ve found this comment on the C4P website:
“In case you don’t know, the two founders of this blog, Rebecca Mansour and Joey Russo, left C4P months ago to work for Governor Palin’s PAC after she resigned. They decided to leave quietly because neither of them wanted to draw attention to themselves or be harassed by anti-Palin blogs. An example of this harassment is the posting of Joey and Rebecca’s addresses, along with photos of Joey’s house (a tactic that has already been used against Palin and her family.”
I am not advocating actions that would place these people in physical danger, but I would like to see more about the sources behind $P’s vile rantings exposed. If they want to control the course of politics in this country, then they should be willing to do so in the open instead of from comfortably behind the mama bear’s dirty apron.
We all know that SP has never had an original idea in that space between her perky, little, ruffled ears. I hold her equally responsible for following the orders of her handlers and jumping on the bandwagon but she was certainly not the originator. Couldn’t be….too dumb.
Happy thoughts today, bittersweet. Our little one’s first day of kindergarten. Remember that (for those of you with older ones)? Our other daughter (just the two of them!) is in her second year of uni, crossing fingers on that score, got there yesterday. It has been a long time since she was off to kindergarten. Our little one blowing kisses at us through the bus window. All of the kids looking so cute for their first day of school.
Every day is a chance for us to live love and to do our part to make the world a better place.
My husband told me that now I will have lots of free time to obsess over the political blogs. Of course next week I start my classes, so this is my first, and last, week of freedom. And I will not obsess over political blogs! But here I am on the open thread to tell you about our morning and to remind parents of the sweetness of the first day of kindergarten.
It’s a nice counterpoint to the political despair.
I am dipping in & out of a book of meditations/ruminations, and remind myself, when it comes to the nutty fox followers, to view them with compassion, they must have some painful inner dialogue — no peace, not enough love, too much anger & hate.
As for what we can do ourselves, political action groups (I volunteered for one on campus, hope to change some young TX minds that have been fox-indoctrinated by their community/parents/media), write letters. And listen to some nice music. One of the best parts of this week will be the chance to listen to Michael Buble as loud as I want to!!!!!!!!!!!
SMR, I hope your little one enjoys her first day of kindergarten and that you enjoy your week of freedom. My 13 year old daughter starts secondary (high) school on Wednesday so there is some excitement in our house as well.
my eldest grand will start kindergarten next year so that 1st day thing is well in the past and some in the future for me…
your reminder of that moment brought back so many things…
best wishes for your little one !
I do try to have compassion for everyone and I do feel that late at night, she is a paranoid mess, stomach in knots, can’t sleep well….an no one to really love her, except Piper, because if someone really loved her, they would help her!
Don’t you just love that shiny, fresh, just-picked look they have on the first day of kindergarten?
A few years ago, a teacher in my school who had previously worked in 4th grade moved down to Kdg. I stopped by her room at the end of the first day to see how things had gone, and she looked exhausted. She said she had taken for granted all the things 4th graders already knew and she was quickly learning that you have to explain EVERYthing to the little ones. At lunchtime, she told them all to line up against the far wall, assuming they understood what she meant since it seemed perfectly clear to her.
Every single child lined up against the wall…and every single one of them was facing the wall instead of the person in front of them!
I teach kids in grades K-6, but I just LOVE kindergarten!!!
Good summary of the Lisa M. and Joe Miller race. I didn’t know Bitney (of under the bus fame) was running Lisa M.’s campaign! Guess where the last rally will be for Lisa Murkowski? Wasilla!!!
Wow – so Palin finally says something nice about Murkowsky last year and how she wanted to host a fundraiser for her and then disparages what she said by saying “those words were merely public niceties.”
Good grief, the woman sounds like GW Bush who said what you say in a political race doesn’t count, it’s winning that counts, or words to that effect. Palin doesn’t even get how shallow she sounds, does she? (rhetorical question only – we all know the answer)
Beautiful picture! It looks like slate. I wish you’d consider publishing something, maybe a calendar (?) with these lovely pics. I could look at them all day long! Thank you.
I had a calendar available in the Mudflats Shop (link above) last year and plan on doing another this year. I have more to work with this time… and a better camera! Thanks to all for the nice compliments. One of my favorite things to shoot is landscapes from a bird’s eye view. Alaska’s colors and forms are incredible, and can only be appreciated fully from the air.
My camera is about 6 years old and has had a very busy life, taking thousands of wonderful photographs, many of which were taken in your beautiful state of Alaska. The wheel that turns it on and controls the settings is getting harder to turn, actually getting struck a few times, and I worry that one day it just won’t work, probably when I need it at a critical moment.
Since I didn’t do anything for vacation this year (and I’m turning the big 5-0 this coming fall-eek!), I’ve decided that I’m going to give myself a nice present of a new camera. I’ve started looking at different brands and models and am getting very excited about how much more I’ll be able to do with more pixels and a better zoom. Woo hoo!!!
While my other comment is in moderation, there’s a video on the huffpo where Diane Sawyer interviewed Beck and Imam Rauf in 2006. Rauf had some great comments to say about religion and politics. Comments about “the rise of certain evangelical movements in this country who are trying to bring about the second coming of Jesus Christ who are trying to bring upon the apocalyptic vision” start around 4:45.
Cracked me up! It does sort of convey the essential Fox – all they need in the photo is a megalomaniac middle-aged white guy with crazy glazed eyes to complete the fantasy – sex, violence, flags – oh, my.
Wow – me, too. Who would have expected that out of him? Thanks for the link! I hope Rand Paul’s followers listen to him. It may be the only intelligent thing he’s said.
This is not surprising at all. Ron Paul has been consistently libertarian in his views and in opposition to the war in Iraq. He’s smart enough to know freedom of religion and personal property rights apply to all or none, and obviously had enough backbone to say so. This is a good example of how, when we set the labels aside for a minute and resist the urge to make assumptions about what the other guy thinks, we can find common ground even with those with whom we often disagree. I’m with you in hoping that he will be able to get some others to see the light.
My apologies – I wrote Rand Paul above, when it should have been Ron Paul. Ron is trying to quell the insanity whilst his son Rand is still an idiot. (Not that Ron isn’t a close runner-up on some issues, but at I give him credit for trying to stop the neo-cons revving up the controversy to dangerous levels.)
That’s the only thing he’s ever said that makes any sense. But then that is just what will make him unappealing to the rest of the tea party – he tends to not follow along with the crowd. Nice to hear that he’s taking a sensible stance on this one issue.
This and the above quotes from Cavett are perfect. I hope that more sensible people start speaking up. As long as they are silent, we will continue to hear the voices of the crazies and soon it will begin to sound reasonable to even more people. Mob mentality is an ugly thing, ugly and hard to stop once it’s allowed to grow.
Thanks for the link. That also made me feel hopeful. That Target protest video I posted the other day and this editorial give me hope that our young people are stepping forward and not following people like Palin.
May this be a sign of youthful momentum rejecting the likes of Palin and embracing the noblest ideals of our society. We certainly need their energy, enthusiasm and vision to stop the madness McCain and Palin unleashed. Thanks again.
Yes, many of us have been refudiating her for years now! I’m reloading my mandations to do just that on a daily basis. Also, too.
“What do you mean that’s not a word, Charlie? Now Katie, the universe revolves around ME not you and now they even call me Shakespalin to prove it! I’m so proud of that, it’s not a stab in the heart like Levi tries to do, also too. Me and my flag pins are gonna stab anyone’s heart that gets in our way and I’ll make them watch while I try to shoot something big from my helicopter with training wheels. And while we’re at it, the Rill American is gonna get the elite starlet and that blondie nut singer girl for daring to speak to my pitbull lipstick and the NRA is gonna build a gun store at Ground Zero, and no teachers will ever tell me what to do because my eye roll will stab them in the heart if they try again. If I fall in the forest and no one refudiates that sound then I am the master of the moose stew because I put out a contract on that moose to stab him in the heart because I can’t shoot but I can hold a gun and look rilly mean so watch out. The more I talk the more I like it and then those elite cackles of libs will fall down in the forest themselves and no one will hear them scream because my screech is louder than God’s own voice. I think I am God’s own voice and this is what I’m here for, to put that voice inside those stabbed hearts and make them cry because God loves only me and made me a grisly voice to make everyone fall down or get stabbed in the heart. Grisly voices unite, and let’s start with Bill O Really because he’s a traitor to me and I’m gonna get him back by making his gutteral instincts know not what to do when he’s on the plate next to the mashed spuds and the starlet and the singer and I HATE THEM ALL SO HELP ME GOD WITH A FLAG ON TOP!”
I’m a died in the wool Grisly with lipstick and if you wanna dumpster dive for my speeches then you’ll have to pay me $100,000 and I have a Flea to prove it and stab you in the heart if you don’t! I do have a fist language, I do, I do, I do and I have the fists to prove it and so will my Flea when he stabs you in the heart like we did to the evil bloggers who dare defy me and my brood because we live in the woods with no cell phones and a big fence which is more beautiful than anything but God, which is ME!
LOL! I would love to see you recite this! Just be aware: channeling SP could be dangerous to your health – mental health, i.e. That said, you did it well – the violent part in particular.
I always channel SP with a clear picture of a huge pile of runny dog poop near my feet, and when I’m done, she goes face first into it with her mouth wide open (is it ever anything but?). It works well for me!
God: “Sarah, you forgot the most important part – you’re doing this all for the troops who are defending your right to robo screeches and $100,000 hate speeches.”
Sarah: “There I go again, talkin’ to myself and how I forgot to shout out to the troops to call them all Joe and tell them to watch out because Africa is a big black country full of WMDs because we took Saddam down for threatening Mr. Reagan who came back to life in my mind and told me to get him because the First Amendment (BTW, what’s an Amendment?) said it was to be my gutteral instinct that would make me pretend to thrash my thighs while running for the President that I already am! So there, you betcha! “
MarthaUYS…well that’s it. you made me laugh so loud and so long i believe they are coming to take me away….meds and whatnot….dammed nosy neighbor……………………………………….Ohio here i come!!! i love White Castle Burgers and Ohio is their home so like pac man i go to feast….also. too. they have Krispy Kreme donuts….and nice people where i am going.
LOL – I remember when the song came out. My friend and I sang it all the time, much to annoyance of my mother who was probably ready to call the men in their little white coats to come take us away – just so she wouldn’t have to hear the song anymore. Thanks for the chuckle.
Remember the old movie (I think it was called Trading Places) with Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy, where the two billionaire brothers messed with people’s lives for a bet of $1?
That photographic portrait of David Koch speaks to me of empire building. It conveys his self-image of kingmaker (or king). Power, arrogance, and self-righteous cruelty all surface in his face.
I was raised in Wichita. His family are not well thought of there outside his powerful circle. The Kochs really don’t care for the disadvantaged or the environment. Like robber barons of the 19th century, they are now donating millions for cultural causes, despite the fact that the businesses that provide them their wealth destroy everything else.
The only reason they are libertarian is because they do not want anyone or anything standing in the way of what they want when they want it. In my opinion, they do not have enough money (even being amongst the top five most wealthy people in our country) to donate to the arts to trade-off the damage they’ve done to the environment and to the people who have worked in their industries. If the Koch brothers are trying at their advanced age to buy their way into heaven, they are failing miserably. Their liabilities far outweigh their do-good assets.
What the Kochs are doing to the political fabric of this nation is despicable. I hope whoever inherits their wealth does not inherit their greed and self-absorption. Their “arts” support is only to glorify themselves and mask the means with which they got their money.
As you can see, I am not a fan. Nonetheless, thanks OMG for the link.
I am so sad about this…after what my family went through when our cousin went down near Dillingham with 8 other passengers, it is heartbreaking to imagine the dread felt by these families right now. I am hoping beyond hope that they are OK – we need some great news. Please…
with all the hoop-la in the news—–i conquer depression by clicking on the you-tube video of my grandson—–playing sax and bringing joy to his hometown audience.
Excuse me for using your moniker, OMG, but OMG – has the world turned upside-down, inside-out for a moment or two? Like you, I feel as if a good lie-down would be appropriate after reading that article and seeing who wrote it.
My goodness, poor woman won’t have a job shortly, but I am glad her comments reflected the truth. Newt & Sarah have unleashed this latest hate-fest. Indeed, as she said, this has been the summer of hate sponsored and brought to us by the GOP.
You do realize that Newt is now very, very wealthy thanks to his PAC and pals and he is underwriting a good bit of Sarah’s ranting across America. He, like her, is talking about running in 2012 — I just wish they’d wander off, get lost, and never find their way back. Thanks for the link, though – even if it made my head spin.
Thanks how I started my day, reacting to this ugliness. My first posting today dealt with this misery.
This link brings us up to date for today. Thanks for the link.
I was glad to see Sestak and a few others condemning this, but where are the major players in both parties? I understand President Obama has already tried to calm the waters, but he and every other politician of note needs to come forward and say “Enough! This is not what America is about.”
Just before I go, I want to recommend a Rick Steve’s episode I saw this morning to everyone. He’s done a couple on Iran in the past year or two. These episodes rise above the standard travelogue by emphasizing the people-to-people nexus that we often forget and certainly rarely hear of on the news. He interactions with people on the street were quite touching and informative.
It is not the Iranian people or people of any country that we should fear – it is the leadership. Any country can have misguided, tyrannical leaders but that doesn’t mean the people are like them. Look how close we came to having McCain and Palin represent us, and how close we might still come to their ill-conceived, hateful agendas if the Tea Party and GOP make inroads to Congress. They certainly do not represent who we are and how we feel. If you get a chance to see the Steves’ travelogues on Iran, please do.
It’s long but worth the read. The next time a conservative calls Obama a Nazi (in other words a fascist), direct them to what their own kind are attempting to do.
I have to thank everyone who puts uip links I learn so much from reading here and following links most of which I might never have heard of if not for the links
Sharing some cool news : My daughter and her fiance are both big time in to the world of filmmaking. For fun, they took part in the 48 Hour Film Project ( http://www.48hourfilm.com ) earlier this month. The awards ceremony was a few days ago and their film won Best Director and the Audience Choice Award. They had recruited my son to be a character in the film so all three of them have been flying high all this week. A local restaurant/tavern will be hosting a screening this Friday.
The project takes place in cities around the world. Participants are given 48 hours, from a Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon, to plan, write, shoot, and edit a movie that can go no longer than 7 minutes. On Friday afternoon they are all given the genre they have to work within and then a line of dialogue, a prop and a character that must be included. Everything else is up to them.
Pleased as all get out for my crew but now I have to figure out how to get their heads back to a normal size after Friday!
Not sure if many saw what I posted earlier to thread “I Want My Country Back” in response to Lower48 feeling low about possible Palin being Anti-Christ…I think shows that she is getting more “D” celebrity status!!
Well try not to sit back to long Lower48! Chin-up, I saw a program this am on HLN called Showbiz Tonight which actually was a replay- originally aired on August 20th that had a panel grading transformations of some of “Hollywood’s” most ‘famous’ women. Of which ((you-know-who-was-so screechy about thinking she is a celebrity, as mentioned by one of Homer’s finest,Kathleen Sullivan)) was included along with Miley Cyrus and Angelina Jolie. Anyway one of them gave her a …”D”…. Almost a failure…Hahaha maybe in Hollywood they see right through her also!! too!!!
Part of transcript below along with website…http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1008/20/sbt.01.html
ANDERSON: I`ve got to move to former governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin to Sarah the reality star. You know, she famously quit her office as governor of Alaska, published a bestselling autobiography, signed on for her own reality show. Jess, how do you grade this transformation?
WEINER: All right. I can`t believe I`m going to say this, but I`m going to give her a D.
ANDERSON: What?
RAY: I`m going to give her a D.
WEINER: I know –
RAY: Yay!
ANDERSON: It`s almost a failure.
WEINER: It is almost a failure. I know what Tanika is going to say, but mine is going be for “delirious,” OK? I think she came on the scene like an A. If you were going to grade her entry into our pop culture lexicon, she came in like an A, but has slowly gone downhill.
And I think the fact that she quit her job to go and make more dough, she is obvious. She`s transparent. I mean -
RAY: Oh, harsh.
WEINER: Yes, I know. I`m harsh.
“Delirious”..gotta love it!! Hope you have a better tomorrow..today Lower48! Beezer
Not sure if this is posted on other threads — Looks like Bristol will be giving a speech. Oh fun…. we can only hope she doesn’t speak in word salad.
The Louisville Courier-Journal reports Bristol Palin, the eldest daughter of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, will receive $14,000 to speak at a on behalf of the Lifehouse, a Christian home for single mothers.
Absolutely beautiful! thanks so much for sharing that image – it’s like a wonderful piece of abstract art.
what a cool picture…hope everybody has a good start to the week
Thank you for a calming photo. I really needed it.
I woke up this morning to hear about the vile protests in Manhattan. That people would verbally attack someone because he “looked Muslim,” is deeply shameful and un-American. Their actions are kindling to extremists just waiting for an excuse to attack us. Their actions endanger every military personnel and American tourist or student abroad, and bring deep and abiding shame to the rest of us.
Where are the politicians of any party denouncing this insanity?
Where is the woman who started whipping this hatred into a red-hot flame? I hold Sarah Palin and every right-wing Republican and Tea Party candidate and radical supporter responsible for this abomination. Sarah should step forward and call for calm.
Is Sarah even capable of rising above hate? I seriously doubt it. I would like her to surprise me and show that she can.
People of all major faiths and those of no faith died the tragedy that was 9-1. Is their legacy going to be that we trash our Constitution, that we turn our backs on the best ideals of our country, that we allow hate and ignorance to thrive? Or will we come together as a people and denounce these hate-filled protesters?
I believe we are better as a people than what they are showing to the world. I believe we can rise above this, but we have to step forward and prove it.
I have no doubt that some of these protesters are bought and paid for by those who would love to undermine this administration, would profit from continued war, and who have no allegiance to the ideals this country is supposed to stand for and stand by. However, I also believe that many more are simply emotionally and intellectually immature people being manipulated by hatemongers such as Limbaugh, Beck, Rove and Palin. They have opened the floodgates of hate and suspicion, and it is time for them to do something to stop it. If they don’t, we have to demand that they forfeit their right to speak to and for the American people. They do not have a right to incite riots, period.
These protesters are desecrating the “hallowed ground” they profess to save Shame on them and shame on us if we do not speak out against them.
Morning Joe was very good on this issue this morning. Calling out the politicians stoking the fear, especially Gingrich (no mention of Quitty Pants) and Rick Lazio. This whole thing is being used to recruit terrorists to work against U.S..
One of the worst things for me is that the families of the victims of 9-11 are being used to stoke the fear and hate. Their grief (believe me it is still very real, we have a family friend whose life has been destroyed after her daughter was killed that day) is being used to make political points. These hate mongers cannot be given control of this country, they are doing enough damage as the minority.
Those that use 9-11 to divide us and have caused so much havoc here and overseas continue to use it for the same profit and purposes. That was the original intent and will likely take us all the way into Iran among other places. Newt and Sarah are just the “spokesmen” of those in power. They are just there to rally the sheeple, imo. The hate mongers have had control of this country for some time now. Just look who has been profiting from all this madness.
bingo.
As much disdain as I have for the Puppet with a Bumpit, I’m beginning to think we need to stop focusing on the shiny object and expose those who are pulling the Bumpit’s strings. I heard about Rebecca Mansour recently in a report that exposed her as the person behind the initial Park51 project nastiness. Then I found out that she had gone to work for Palin after Palin resigned. (I’m sure many of you are already aware of this.) And, now I’ve found this comment on the C4P website:
“In case you don’t know, the two founders of this blog, Rebecca Mansour and Joey Russo, left C4P months ago to work for Governor Palin’s PAC after she resigned. They decided to leave quietly because neither of them wanted to draw attention to themselves or be harassed by anti-Palin blogs. An example of this harassment is the posting of Joey and Rebecca’s addresses, along with photos of Joey’s house (a tactic that has already been used against Palin and her family.”
I am not advocating actions that would place these people in physical danger, but I would like to see more about the sources behind $P’s vile rantings exposed. If they want to control the course of politics in this country, then they should be willing to do so in the open instead of from comfortably behind the mama bear’s dirty apron.
I concur.
Here you go.
http://www.salon.com/news/ground_zero_mosque/index.html?story=/politics/war_room/2010/08/16/ground_zero_mosque_origins
We all know that SP has never had an original idea in that space between her perky, little, ruffled ears. I hold her equally responsible for following the orders of her handlers and jumping on the bandwagon but she was certainly not the originator. Couldn’t be….too dumb.
Yes, that’s it, exactly! Thanks for the link.
Gets worse:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/22/AR2010082202895.html?hpid=topnews
Lovely photograph. You had a good seat it looks like!
In a 207, every seat is a good seat!
Happy thoughts today, bittersweet. Our little one’s first day of kindergarten. Remember that (for those of you with older ones)? Our other daughter (just the two of them!) is in her second year of uni, crossing fingers on that score, got there yesterday. It has been a long time since she was off to kindergarten. Our little one blowing kisses at us through the bus window. All of the kids looking so cute for their first day of school.
Every day is a chance for us to live love and to do our part to make the world a better place.
My husband told me that now I will have lots of free time to obsess over the political blogs. Of course next week I start my classes, so this is my first, and last, week of freedom. And I will not obsess over political blogs! But here I am on the open thread to tell you about our morning and to remind parents of the sweetness of the first day of kindergarten.
It’s a nice counterpoint to the political despair.
I am dipping in & out of a book of meditations/ruminations, and remind myself, when it comes to the nutty fox followers, to view them with compassion, they must have some painful inner dialogue — no peace, not enough love, too much anger & hate.
As for what we can do ourselves, political action groups (I volunteered for one on campus, hope to change some young TX minds that have been fox-indoctrinated by their community/parents/media), write letters. And listen to some nice music. One of the best parts of this week will be the chance to listen to Michael Buble as loud as I want to!!!!!!!!!!!
SMR, I hope your little one enjoys her first day of kindergarten and that you enjoy your week of freedom. My 13 year old daughter starts secondary (high) school on Wednesday so there is some excitement in our house as well.
my eldest grand will start kindergarten next year so that 1st day thing is well in the past and some in the future for me…
your reminder of that moment brought back so many things…
best wishes for your little one !
I do try to have compassion for everyone and I do feel that late at night, she is a paranoid mess, stomach in knots, can’t sleep well….an no one to really love her, except Piper, because if someone really loved her, they would help her!
Don’t you just love that shiny, fresh, just-picked look they have on the first day of kindergarten?
A few years ago, a teacher in my school who had previously worked in 4th grade moved down to Kdg. I stopped by her room at the end of the first day to see how things had gone, and she looked exhausted. She said she had taken for granted all the things 4th graders already knew and she was quickly learning that you have to explain EVERYthing to the little ones. At lunchtime, she told them all to line up against the far wall, assuming they understood what she meant since it seemed perfectly clear to her.
Every single child lined up against the wall…and every single one of them was facing the wall instead of the person in front of them!
I teach kids in grades K-6, but I just LOVE kindergarten!!!
Love love love that photo!!
http://www.anchoragehealingracism.org/HRA-NEWS.html
Folks in ANC- please mark your calendars for Sept 14!
Hoping for boots-on-the-ground reports!
Good summary of the Lisa M. and Joe Miller race. I didn’t know Bitney (of under the bus fame) was running Lisa M.’s campaign! Guess where the last rally will be for Lisa Murkowski? Wasilla!!!
Forgot link http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2010/08/23/palin_takes_on_two_old_foes_in_alaska_senate_primary.html
Wow – so Palin finally says something nice about Murkowsky last year and how she wanted to host a fundraiser for her and then disparages what she said by saying “those words were merely public niceties.”
Good grief, the woman sounds like GW Bush who said what you say in a political race doesn’t count, it’s winning that counts, or words to that effect. Palin doesn’t even get how shallow she sounds, does she? (rhetorical question only – we all know the answer)
As shallow as the picture for this thread!
Beautiful picture! It looks like slate. I wish you’d consider publishing something, maybe a calendar (?) with these lovely pics. I could look at them all day long! Thank you.
I had a calendar available in the Mudflats Shop (link above) last year and plan on doing another this year. I have more to work with this time… and a better camera! Thanks to all for the nice compliments. One of my favorite things to shoot is landscapes from a bird’s eye view. Alaska’s colors and forms are incredible, and can only be appreciated fully from the air.
I can’t wait! Thanks again.
I have lost my mind. I meant that I am glad there will be a new one for 2011. I am pathetic.
My camera is about 6 years old and has had a very busy life, taking thousands of wonderful photographs, many of which were taken in your beautiful state of Alaska. The wheel that turns it on and controls the settings is getting harder to turn, actually getting struck a few times, and I worry that one day it just won’t work, probably when I need it at a critical moment.
Since I didn’t do anything for vacation this year (and I’m turning the big 5-0 this coming fall-eek!), I’ve decided that I’m going to give myself a nice present of a new camera. I’ve started looking at different brands and models and am getting very excited about how much more I’ll be able to do with more pixels and a better zoom. Woo hoo!!!
I’m happy to help w/text, AKM!
Ok, now that is an impressive piece of photography. It looks simply alien. And I love me some aliens
yes… you do love us aliens sweetie.
While my other comment is in moderation, there’s a video on the huffpo where Diane Sawyer interviewed Beck and Imam Rauf in 2006. Rauf had some great comments to say about religion and politics. Comments about “the rise of certain evangelical movements in this country who are trying to bring about the second coming of Jesus Christ who are trying to bring upon the apocalyptic vision” start around 4:45.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/23/mosque-defenders-step-up-_n_690945.html
Thanks for the link! Rauf did indeed make some great comments!
Hee hee!
http://www.tnr.com/blog/jonathan-chait/the-quintessential-fox-news-image
So true, so true. The only thing to add is that she has a hiked up dress, and could be crying just a tad wihin the sneer of terror.
Cracked me up! It does sort of convey the essential Fox – all they need in the photo is a megalomaniac middle-aged white guy with crazy glazed eyes to complete the fantasy – sex, violence, flags – oh, my.
I never thought I’d be happy that Ron Paul has a following that will listen to him:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheat-sheet/item/ron-paul-supports-cordoba-house/unexpected/?cid=cs:headline2
Wow – me, too. Who would have expected that out of him? Thanks for the link! I hope Rand Paul’s followers listen to him. It may be the only intelligent thing he’s said.
This is not surprising at all. Ron Paul has been consistently libertarian in his views and in opposition to the war in Iraq. He’s smart enough to know freedom of religion and personal property rights apply to all or none, and obviously had enough backbone to say so. This is a good example of how, when we set the labels aside for a minute and resist the urge to make assumptions about what the other guy thinks, we can find common ground even with those with whom we often disagree. I’m with you in hoping that he will be able to get some others to see the light.
My apologies – I wrote Rand Paul above, when it should have been Ron Paul. Ron is trying to quell the insanity whilst his son Rand is still an idiot. (Not that Ron isn’t a close runner-up on some issues, but at I give him credit for trying to stop the neo-cons revving up the controversy to dangerous levels.)
That’s the only thing he’s ever said that makes any sense. But then that is just what will make him unappealing to the rest of the tea party – he tends to not follow along with the crowd. Nice to hear that he’s taking a sensible stance on this one issue.
Just popping in to share these two Dick Cavett quotes about Sarah Palin:
He said of Palin during the campaign, “She doesn’t seem to have a first language.”
On Palin’s selection as VP nominee, he said that McCain “aimed low and missed.”
They’re funny ’cause they’re true!
LOL! Gosh, that made my day!! I will be chuckling about those two zingers for hours. Thanks.
lol – those are good.
LOL…Dick Cavett is great. i love his dry wit and he is always spot on.
This and the above quotes from Cavett are perfect. I hope that more sensible people start speaking up. As long as they are silent, we will continue to hear the voices of the crazies and soon it will begin to sound reasonable to even more people. Mob mentality is an ugly thing, ugly and hard to stop once it’s allowed to grow.
And now a word from Georgia (the University that is):
http://www.redandblack.com/2010/08/22/americans-should-refudiate-palin/
Thanks for the link. That also made me feel hopeful. That Target protest video I posted the other day and this editorial give me hope that our young people are stepping forward and not following people like Palin.
May this be a sign of youthful momentum rejecting the likes of Palin and embracing the noblest ideals of our society. We certainly need their energy, enthusiasm and vision to stop the madness McCain and Palin unleashed. Thanks again.
Yes, many of us have been refudiating her for years now! I’m reloading my mandations to do just that on a daily basis. Also, too.
“What do you mean that’s not a word, Charlie? Now Katie, the universe revolves around ME not you and now they even call me Shakespalin to prove it! I’m so proud of that, it’s not a stab in the heart like Levi tries to do, also too. Me and my flag pins are gonna stab anyone’s heart that gets in our way and I’ll make them watch while I try to shoot something big from my helicopter with training wheels. And while we’re at it, the Rill American is gonna get the elite starlet and that blondie nut singer girl for daring to speak to my pitbull lipstick and the NRA is gonna build a gun store at Ground Zero, and no teachers will ever tell me what to do because my eye roll will stab them in the heart if they try again. If I fall in the forest and no one refudiates that sound then I am the master of the moose stew because I put out a contract on that moose to stab him in the heart because I can’t shoot but I can hold a gun and look rilly mean so watch out. The more I talk the more I like it and then those elite cackles of libs will fall down in the forest themselves and no one will hear them scream because my screech is louder than God’s own voice. I think I am God’s own voice and this is what I’m here for, to put that voice inside those stabbed hearts and make them cry because God loves only me and made me a grisly voice to make everyone fall down or get stabbed in the heart. Grisly voices unite, and let’s start with Bill O Really because he’s a traitor to me and I’m gonna get him back by making his gutteral instincts know not what to do when he’s on the plate next to the mashed spuds and the starlet and the singer and I HATE THEM ALL SO HELP ME GOD WITH A FLAG ON TOP!”
I’m a died in the wool Grisly with lipstick and if you wanna dumpster dive for my speeches then you’ll have to pay me $100,000 and I have a Flea to prove it and stab you in the heart if you don’t! I do have a fist language, I do, I do, I do and I have the fists to prove it and so will my Flea when he stabs you in the heart like we did to the evil bloggers who dare defy me and my brood because we live in the woods with no cell phones and a big fence which is more beautiful than anything but God, which is ME!
LOL! I would love to see you recite this! Just be aware: channeling SP could be dangerous to your health – mental health, i.e. That said, you did it well – the violent part in particular.
I always channel SP with a clear picture of a huge pile of runny dog poop near my feet, and when I’m done, she goes face first into it with her mouth wide open (is it ever anything but?). It works well for me!
You forgot to include that you’re doin’ it for the troops!!
God: “Sarah, you forgot the most important part – you’re doing this all for the troops who are defending your right to robo screeches and $100,000 hate speeches.”
Sarah: “There I go again, talkin’ to myself and how I forgot to shout out to the troops to call them all Joe and tell them to watch out because Africa is a big black country full of WMDs because we took Saddam down for threatening Mr. Reagan who came back to life in my mind and told me to get him because the First Amendment (BTW, what’s an Amendment?) said it was to be my gutteral instinct that would make me pretend to thrash my thighs while running for the President that I already am! So there, you betcha! “
I admit that was one of the best belly laughs I’ve had in quite awhile-Martha Thank you- wiping my eyes to -ohhh that was just to much fun!
MarthaUYS…well that’s it. you made me laugh so loud and so long i believe they are coming to take me away….meds and whatnot….dammed nosy neighbor……………………………………….Ohio here i come!!! i love White Castle Burgers and Ohio is their home so like pac man i go to feast….also. too. they have Krispy Kreme donuts….and nice people where i am going.
There’s a song for that!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnzHtm1jhL4
Dedicated to our not so dear, brain dead, heart dead Sarah the Twit.
LOL – I remember when the song came out. My friend and I sang it all the time, much to annoyance of my mother who was probably ready to call the men in their little white coats to come take us away – just so she wouldn’t have to hear the song anymore. Thanks for the chuckle.
Nice picture! Very cool and calming. Looks like another planet.
Eye opening piece about the billionaire brothers who are financing right wing nutteries:
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/08/30/100830fa_fact_mayer
Remember the old movie (I think it was called Trading Places) with Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy, where the two billionaire brothers messed with people’s lives for a bet of $1?
That photographic portrait of David Koch speaks to me of empire building. It conveys his self-image of kingmaker (or king). Power, arrogance, and self-righteous cruelty all surface in his face.
I was raised in Wichita. His family are not well thought of there outside his powerful circle. The Kochs really don’t care for the disadvantaged or the environment. Like robber barons of the 19th century, they are now donating millions for cultural causes, despite the fact that the businesses that provide them their wealth destroy everything else.
The only reason they are libertarian is because they do not want anyone or anything standing in the way of what they want when they want it. In my opinion, they do not have enough money (even being amongst the top five most wealthy people in our country) to donate to the arts to trade-off the damage they’ve done to the environment and to the people who have worked in their industries. If the Koch brothers are trying at their advanced age to buy their way into heaven, they are failing miserably. Their liabilities far outweigh their do-good assets.
What the Kochs are doing to the political fabric of this nation is despicable. I hope whoever inherits their wealth does not inherit their greed and self-absorption. Their “arts” support is only to glorify themselves and mask the means with which they got their money.
As you can see, I am not a fan. Nonetheless, thanks OMG for the link.
They are terrible people. Why, if you won the game of life and have billions, do you spend your time making sure the little people have even less??
Libertarianism is GREAT when you are mega rich and can pay for everything and anything including your own fire dept, security, roads etc…….
Lovely image. The mixed blessings of aircraft. Such young park rangers missing currently.
I am so sad about this…after what my family went through when our cousin went down near Dillingham with 8 other passengers, it is heartbreaking to imagine the dread felt by these families right now. I am hoping beyond hope that they are OK – we need some great news. Please…
not speaking on it just yet…hoping and wishing that they have survived and that help gets to them right now.
with all the hoop-la in the news—–i conquer depression by clicking on the you-tube video of my grandson—–playing sax and bringing joy to his hometown audience.
First Ron Paul, now I’m agreeing with a Fox political analyst? I need to lie down (as it is way too early for a drink).
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-08-22/republicans-long-hot-racist-summer/?cid=hp:exc
Excuse me for using your moniker, OMG, but OMG – has the world turned upside-down, inside-out for a moment or two? Like you, I feel as if a good lie-down would be appropriate after reading that article and seeing who wrote it.
My goodness, poor woman won’t have a job shortly, but I am glad her comments reflected the truth. Newt & Sarah have unleashed this latest hate-fest. Indeed, as she said, this has been the summer of hate sponsored and brought to us by the GOP.
You do realize that Newt is now very, very wealthy thanks to his PAC and pals and he is underwriting a good bit of Sarah’s ranting across America. He, like her, is talking about running in 2012 — I just wish they’d wander off, get lost, and never find their way back. Thanks for the link, though – even if it made my head spin.
And then there is this to sink your teeth into:
http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/08/23/park51/index.html
Thanks how I started my day, reacting to this ugliness. My first posting today dealt with this misery.
This link brings us up to date for today. Thanks for the link.
I was glad to see Sestak and a few others condemning this, but where are the major players in both parties? I understand President Obama has already tried to calm the waters, but he and every other politician of note needs to come forward and say “Enough! This is not what America is about.”
Just before I go, I want to recommend a Rick Steve’s episode I saw this morning to everyone. He’s done a couple on Iran in the past year or two. These episodes rise above the standard travelogue by emphasizing the people-to-people nexus that we often forget and certainly rarely hear of on the news. He interactions with people on the street were quite touching and informative.
It is not the Iranian people or people of any country that we should fear – it is the leadership. Any country can have misguided, tyrannical leaders but that doesn’t mean the people are like them. Look how close we came to having McCain and Palin represent us, and how close we might still come to their ill-conceived, hateful agendas if the Tea Party and GOP make inroads to Congress. They certainly do not represent who we are and how we feel. If you get a chance to see the Steves’ travelogues on Iran, please do.
“His” reactions, not “he” reactions. Sorry.
i will Sunflower…i think the world of Rick Steves. i will keep an eye out for it.
And this very scary piece about the right’s war on Islam:
http://www.frumforum.com/confronting-the-rights-anti-islam-extremists
It’s long but worth the read. The next time a conservative calls Obama a Nazi (in other words a fascist), direct them to what their own kind are attempting to do.
You are hot today! Thanks for another great link!
I actually have too much to do today that I have successfully ignored. This is more fun.
Q: Why does Sarah use a Blackberry?
A: She doesn’t qualify for a Smart Phone.
Bwahahaha!
Just got back from running errands in the hot, steamy August sun. Whew!
So glad you had just posted this joke, Made me forget how tired I felt! Thanks!
I have to thank everyone who puts uip links I learn so much from reading here and following links most of which I might never have heard of if not for the links
Sharing some cool news : My daughter and her fiance are both big time in to the world of filmmaking. For fun, they took part in the 48 Hour Film Project ( http://www.48hourfilm.com ) earlier this month. The awards ceremony was a few days ago and their film won Best Director and the Audience Choice Award. They had recruited my son to be a character in the film so all three of them have been flying high all this week. A local restaurant/tavern will be hosting a screening this Friday.
The project takes place in cities around the world. Participants are given 48 hours, from a Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon, to plan, write, shoot, and edit a movie that can go no longer than 7 minutes. On Friday afternoon they are all given the genre they have to work within and then a line of dialogue, a prop and a character that must be included. Everything else is up to them.
Pleased as all get out for my crew but now I have to figure out how to get their heads back to a normal size after Friday!
Congratulations to them! I’ve heard of that project. It sounds like a lot of fun.
your crew needs lots of hugs and pats on the back!!!!! Way to go!
this nana gets a chill when young people achieve their dreams.
Amazing news Buff. i know your head is 2 sizes larger than theirs. hehe.
Cograts !! BUT !! to get them back to reality……. ( evil grin ) have THEM wash the kittens !!!
LOL…. that will do it.
Woo hoo!!! (clapping wildly)
Very cool!
benny’s on to something with teh kitteh baffs, also, too.
Congrats BG! Your young ‘uns are spectacular. Let us know when/if the video becomes available for public viewing, ie. on You Tube.
Not sure if many saw what I posted earlier to thread “I Want My Country Back” in response to Lower48 feeling low about possible Palin being Anti-Christ…I think shows that she is getting more “D” celebrity status!!
Well try not to sit back to long Lower48! Chin-up, I saw a program this am on HLN called Showbiz Tonight which actually was a replay- originally aired on August 20th that had a panel grading transformations of some of “Hollywood’s” most ‘famous’ women. Of which ((you-know-who-was-so screechy about thinking she is a celebrity, as mentioned by one of Homer’s finest,Kathleen Sullivan)) was included along with Miley Cyrus and Angelina Jolie. Anyway one of them gave her a …”D”…. Almost a failure…Hahaha maybe in Hollywood they see right through her also!! too!!!
Part of transcript below along with website…http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1008/20/sbt.01.html
ANDERSON: I`ve got to move to former governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin to Sarah the reality star. You know, she famously quit her office as governor of Alaska, published a bestselling autobiography, signed on for her own reality show. Jess, how do you grade this transformation?
WEINER: All right. I can`t believe I`m going to say this, but I`m going to give her a D.
ANDERSON: What?
RAY: I`m going to give her a D.
WEINER: I know –
RAY: Yay!
ANDERSON: It`s almost a failure.
WEINER: It is almost a failure. I know what Tanika is going to say, but mine is going be for “delirious,” OK? I think she came on the scene like an A. If you were going to grade her entry into our pop culture lexicon, she came in like an A, but has slowly gone downhill.
And I think the fact that she quit her job to go and make more dough, she is obvious. She`s transparent. I mean -
RAY: Oh, harsh.
WEINER: Yes, I know. I`m harsh.
“Delirious”..gotta love it!! Hope you have a better tomorrow..today Lower48! Beezer
Thanks Beezer…love your name.
Not sure if this is posted on other threads — Looks like Bristol will be giving a speech. Oh fun…. we can only hope she doesn’t speak in word salad.
The Louisville Courier-Journal reports Bristol Palin, the eldest daughter of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, will receive $14,000 to speak at a on behalf of the Lifehouse, a Christian home for single mothers.
some of the comments are less than flattering
http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/08/23/palin_daughter_gets_14k_for_speech.html#disqus_thread
.
Q: If Sarah Palin trips, screeches and falls down in the forest with no one around, will anyone hear her?
A: No. Trees don’t have ears, but they will be ‘rooting’ for her to trip again!
Dang, wrong open thread…