Open Thread – Hi There!
Hey, Facebook friends! There you are!
I thought this was a cool app, and had no idea that my FB friends were flung so far and wide. Although I have to admit, I’m now on a quest to get a friend in Greenland, and maybe Mongolia. If you aren’t represented on the map, do feel free to click the little “like” button next to all of those handsome faces in the sidebar.
Sometimes the bigotry (and stooopidity) of the right wingers just has to make you laugh. Here’s a comment I read in response to a story about a speech the President gave at a human rights dinner.
“Re-elelect obama and the muslins will take over then we will have a war between the gays and muslins and we will see who wins then.”
While I sincerely doubt that most of my gay friends would be caught dead in muslin, but I hardly think they’d go to war against any kind of fabric!
A large group of protesters from Liberty Square marched to the Brooklyn Bridge and were barricaded by the police. Mass arrests are underway. I’ve seen 3 children arrested so far, the oldest was 12 or 13. The “white shirts” seem to be selecting which ones the blue shirt police will grab, pull from the crowd and arrest. More than 20,000 people are watching live at http://www.livestream.com/globalrevolution
You can help: http://nycga.cc/donate/
This two minute movie is very powerful, thanks to Bluecheddar for bringing it to my attention. Please share.
http://wearethe99percent.tumblr.com
This is a real tragedy and should never be allowed to happen to any American of any color or ethnicity and sure as hell shouldn’t happen to those who voluntarily serve their Nation and then get thrown under the economic bus so the wealthy can have more and more and more and more. Compassionate conservatism as practiced by the looney right consists of taxcuts for the well to do.The 99% are on our own as far as the government rwnj are concerned. Fortunately we have those that are willing to do right by America’s citizens and they need to be told to hear our voices and act appropriately or face defeat.
http://juanitajean.com/2011/09/30/a-man-walks-into-a-bar/
Yup. Go there and check it out.
I’m a Texan; I approve this message.
Zyxomma – here here. With no deterence, the crimes will only multiply and worsen. The corruption seems to have been systemic including the ratings agencies which gave AAA to CDO & MBS that were essentially junk. And make no mistake this whole fur ball came to light in Sep. 2008. We still suffer from the consequences of this fraud.
RE: Homer I used to hear in the early evenings an excellent commentary usually pithy and with a quirky kind of slant by a gentleman with a distinctly slavic name and accent from Homer on NPR. Can anybody here help me out and put a name to him?
AKM – the graphic isn’t very clear wrt Brasil and I don’t do facebook so I can’t add an arc for you there.
Tom Bodett
Really? Tom Bodett we’ll-leave-the-lights-on guy? I never would have made that connection. Very cool.
Tom Bodett’s books are hilarious.
Is Bodett a Slavic sounding name? Not to me – French, maybe.
His bio doesn’t say much except he is White,from Michigan originally,moved to Alaska and now is safely ensconced in the middle of a hayfield somewhere in Vermont. It did say he really liked Alaska.
Nope it wasn’t Tom Bodett. This guy was clearly from somewhere in eastern europe, accent and all. Very wry humor and astute observations. Last I heard him regularly was back in the 80s.
Might could have been the famous Eastern Bloc Personality who was contemplating a lawsuit aimed at Gore Vidal for copyright or trademark infringement due to similar sounding names. The gentleman I speak of was Premier of the Soviet Union when democracy took hold and was friendly with Ronnie Raygun. I think his American-friendly name was Gorby Doll.
The eastern european gentleman could be Andrei Cordrescu, who is still doing an occasional commentary on NPR. I think he is from Romania, but is now in Louisiana.
From my inbox, courtesy of http://www.boldprogressives.org
BREAKING VICTORY: California Attorney General Kamala Harris just announced that she’s opposing a proposed 50-state deal with Wall Street banks. This deal would give the banks immunity for crimes that haven’t been investigated yet.
With California on board, we’re up to 6 states fighting back — including New York! But we need more.
…
I’m extremely pleased that NY’s AG, Eric Schneiderman, was one of the first to begin investigating, and will not back down or agree to immunity for the frauds who collapsed our economy (at the top, they make money no matter what happens to the rest of us). Find out how to get involved, and write to your state’s AG.
I got the same email, but I’m not holding my breath that Washington state’s AG will join them. He’s pretty right wing and now he’s going to run for governor. Bleah. But I signed the petition any way.
You have friends even where you don’t know you have friends… I can personally attest to that…
I think you should try for Svalbard and Tierra del Fuego while you’re at it!
(How did you get your lines to appear in color by continent?)
Hey, good on Homer. You made NPR this morning for your choice to have the local Chamber of Commerce withdraw from the national CC due to the extreme right-wing positions of the national group.
Two antlers up to Homer!
Way to go, Homer! I lived there in the late ’70’s – early ’80’s and what a neat place. Good to know they haven’t been taken over by right wing nut jobs.
This is getting really fun…far-right-wing conservative Erick Erickson is being attacked by, in his words, the Palin cult:
“There is movement within the cult. They are mad as hell at us for pointing out Governor Palin set this as her own drop dead date.”
http://www.redstate.com/erick/2011/09/30/breaking-news-palin-supporters-claim-she-never-said-it-or-meant-it-or-something/
read a # of the comments…. proof positive that Republicans eat their young….
must be why they are against abortion. Damn libs taking food right out of the mouths of troglidytes(sp).
LOL loudly
Hello fellow mudflatters,
Sorry I haven’t posted in a while. Life kept throwing me lemons. I have just now started reading threads on here for the first time in about 4 months. I had to move my son and I far away from my in laws because they were getting toxic. Guess where I moved to? Anchorage with my sister in law. She knows how crazy they are and helped me get out. It took me moving 1500 miles away to see how toxic and manipulative they are. So now I am getting used to Anchorage. I am only worried about the wintertime and the lack of sun during it. I have lived in the desert, pacific northwest, and the plains. So Alaska is a new adventure for me. Any tips from fellow Alaskans to help me during the winter? Thanks.
You can do this! Moved here from Phoenix, AZ, “for two years” in January 1975. Still here. Find a place where you can at least SEE the sun. It helps. Wore my down jacket right into June that first year … only signed up for one winter at a time for the next 30 years or so. Haven’t got bored yet.
Walk everyday- in the dark if need be- for 20 mins. Lots of fresh air makes it better.
Forget calling twinkly lights “Christmas” lights- they are now seasonal lights. Put em round your living space by mid-October and leave em til March.
Use daylight CFLs (5000k or higher) or full spectrum regular bulbs in lamps you sit by to read or lollygag.
Put out any and all crystalware and shiny brass or copper home decor stuff you have to throw light around- a couple mirrors around the place help too.
Get a library card, a bushel of your favorite tea bags, and just enjoy cuddling in for a good read- you are now part bear and will sleep more whether you like it or not 🙂
Check out all the cool stuff to do and see there- free and not free- and go to as many things as suit your fancy and pocketbook.
Smile a lot- you are going to see the aurora, stars like you’ve never seen them, stunning ice formations, knock-the-breath-out-of-you views of mountains nearby…
You are going to understand what is ineffable about Alaska
And it will offset the slipping around on the ice and dark days- have fun!!!!!!!!!!!!
And welcome to Alaska from Southeast Alaska here!
Blueeyes7594, may your new life in a new locale, far, far away from the toxic family members, be full of wonder, health, peace, joy, prosperity, and all blessings.
Remember, the most important light is the one within you!
Agree with the other Alaskans, especially about getting outside. Many times in the dark is the best time, especially if you go out from the city a little. You can see stars like you might have never seen before.
You WILL sleep more but by Feb when the sun is coming bright and strong you will be FULL of energy.
Read, find a craft, etc…anything to make the inside time special.
If you can make it through the PNW cloudy skies you can do it here. I think there is actually MORE sun in the winter.
Reach out too, if needed…there are a fair amout of us ‘transplants’!!!
Finally—WELCOME!!
I can’t make suggestions about living in Alaska, but I do wish you all the best in your new adventure. And any adventure is better when it means you are improving your life for you and your son.
You will find that a lot of people moved here because the relatives live elsewhere.
In my heart I answered “Still standing.”
yes indeed and may it ever be so.
I am back to the Flats after a week’s leave. I went to Washington DC to join the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Peace Corps. It was my first trip to Washington, and despite carrying around a card that marks me as a member in good standing of the Cynic’s Club, I was moved and touched by the experience. I visited the Lincoln Memorial at 11:00 PM on a Saturday night; despite the hour there were still visitors. They lounged on the steps taking pictures or sending tweets, but everyone there stood in silence once they approached and gazed up at the beautifully ugly face of Father Abraham. It is a sacred place, as much of a national shrine as Notre Dame in Paris or the Guadelupe Basilica in Mexico City, but this is a shrine to freedom. The next morning, six thousand of us old Volunteers marched under the banners of our host countries from the gates of Arlington across the Potomac to the Lincoln Memorial. There were Volunteers who had been the first to serve in 1961, and Volunteers who had just returned. Many wore the native dress of their host countries: aging men in Afghani shalwar cammeez, matrons who could still wrap saris, hundreds of people wearing their gorgeous kente cloth shirts from Africa, and a contingent of recently returned Volunteer women who served in Jordan, wearing hijaab.
We are in troubled times, but there is still so much to be proud of. When I stood at Lincoln’s feet, I could imagine him asking each of us “How stands the Republic?” In my heart I answered “Still standing.”
Amen.
What a magnificent parade that must have been!
And yes, there are sights in DC that do take your breath away, no matter how cynical you may be. It’s hard to stand before Lincoln and not be awed by the strength it took to keep a country together during such painful times. Or to not shed a tear as you read the names of the fallen at the Viet Nam Memorial and look at the mementos left their by their loved ones. Or to see the Capitol and not be impressed by the power of that body, even though there are times we’d like to throw them all in the Potomac. Or to not be overwhelmed by the sacrifice made by the thousands who lay buried in Arlington.
Our country may be going through a time of such divisiveness and anger that we often feel hopeless, but many of those places in Washington remind us that we’ve survived worse and come out stronger on the other side.
Blessings to you and all the Peace Corps Volunteers, Mag. So glad you had such a moving experience.
How did I miss that you were in the Peace Corps? Where were you?
We have a friend who is currently in Tanzania, and loving it. She’s going to stay for her third year but in a different location and a slightly different position than she’s in now – which is in a very small village where she is the first Peace Corps worker they’ve had, and for some, the first white person they’ve seen. Her very blond hair and blue eyes have been a help and a hindrance – they’ve sometimes come to things because she’s a novelty.
They had some sort of 50th year celebration that she was part of in Tanzania – it looked awesome and she enjoyed getting to meet people from the beginning days and hear their stories.
Thanks, Mag the Mick, for your reminder that we need to celebrate and recognize what is best in our country.
It’s well-known in the Peace Corps ranks that Volunteers to Africa have the best time. Back in the 70’s, an accepted bit of Peace Corps wisdom was that “Volunteers who go to Asia come back meditating, Volunteers who go to Latin America come back as revolutionaries [note: I did], and Volunteers who go to Africa come back laughing.”
For eveyone’s sake I hope this map doesn’t wind up in enemy hands-they will use it to declare the Earth IS flat. Northwest by god Ioway had any number of combine-related fires in corn and soybean fields yesterday. We also had nearly 50mph NW winds and extremely dry conditions. NW Ioway had large hail and high winds about a month ago which flattened numerous fields of corn and beans.Fortunately for rural farmers and other residents we have outstanding(although rather small and poorly equipped) volunteer firefighters and support staff from surrounding small towns to battle the fire beasties and politicians who don’t think we need volunteer firefighters. All farmers who deal through local banks are required to carry Fed. crop insurance every year which helps somewhat with potential losses. Of course it has come under fire from nutters for its Socialistic aspects,though rwnj would scream even louder if farmers did not have it and relied on gov’t bailouts to exist. Well.you lose some and then you lose some more. Travel through windy harvest-Iowa at your own risk. Bring hot dogs and marshmallows,we will provide the fire and popped corn.
Un, isn’t Nw Ioway South Dakota? I didn’t know that Ioway was big enough for a NW. 🙂
Actually,NW Ioway is really the beautiful South of Minnesota without the state bird mosquitoes,who btw-sure shouldn’t be allowed to roam free with the word mosque in their name. 56,000 square miles of neighbors.
Oh, I’d never thought of those Mosque-eat-oohs! ( Are they the ones that eat out that center part on all the donuts?) Are you sure you’re safe that close? Do they wear muslin?
But I learned something new. I had no idea Ioway was flat because of all the hail. I suppose that Ioway was a skiing Mecca (!!!!) prior to Global Hailing.
Whenever Mikey writes about Iowa, I am reminded of the words of the master:
“And we’re so by-damned stubborn we can stand touching noses for a week at a time,
And never see eye-to eye.
But we’ll give you our shirts – and the backs to go with ’em,
If your crops should happen to die.
But what the heck, you’re welcome, join us at the picnic,
You can eat your fill of all the food you bring yourself.
You really ought to give Iowa a try.”
– Meredith Willson, “The Music Man”
http://www.snopes.com/military/fonda.asp
A new e-mail is being sent out. However——Obama is being sited for honoring Jane Fonda as one of the 100 “Woman of the Century”.
They fail to say Obama was NOT president in 1999.
I just wonder what more people can dig-up that is NOT TRUE?
Sorta reminds one of Don-“there are things we know we don’t know”Rumdummy photograpned shaking hands with a third rate dictator-what’s his name-oh yeah,Saddam Hussein shortly after Hussein had used poison gas on Iraqi Kurds and wiped out a village. People on the right want to forget that Ronnie Raygun and crew sold the precurssors for Husseins chemical weapons to Iraq and they also sold military hardware to our friends in Iran at the same time. Raygun aided and abetted both sides in the Iran-Iraq war. Their stated goal was that they wanted both sides to harm each other so neither would be the dominant Mideast power. Now thanks to dumbass dubya, Iran is the dominant power in the Mideast.
You know, mike, I’ve often wondered how Reagan and the republicans got off with very little mud sticking to them over Iraq and Iran contra. If a Democrat had done that, we’d still be hearing about it every day.
And then there were all those Central American civil wars where we inserted our money and influence where we had no business being either.
Check the political shenanigans thread on The Forum. We haven’t forgotten, nor have we forgiven, but we have more important things on our plate than reliving the last 30 years. Forward!
Check out this video of a Capitol Steps number introducing the dubious bench of GOP presidential contenders!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3656E16s1Q
Good morning, all. It’s a beautiful, cool day here in Manhattan. Glad to see how AKM’s reach is all over the map. Btw, there’s a wonderful post today from pastor Howard Bess of Palmer, AK in today’s email from God’s Own Party.
I’m enjoying this: Eric Erickson has defended and supported Sarah Palin on CNN and on his RedState blog…until her teases got to him. He’s now posting hourly updates about her ‘not’ announcing her candidacy. How wonderful for a conservative site to finally catch on:
“Never mind that last night she declared on Fox that, despite her own words, she probably won’t make up her mind today. Still, she said it. She set today’s deadline. Not the media. Not me. She did it.
To quote Leon Wolf, “Consider that of all the candidates, Sarah Palin has the least excuse for her dithering. Unlike Perry, Bachmann, and Paul, Palin hasn’t had a job with official duties for the last two-plus years. All the other quasi-retired or term-limited candidates have long ago declared. Even Jon Huntsman was serving as ambassador to China as recently as April; and by the way, Huntsman has a larger family than Palin does. I get that deciding whether to run for President is a difficult decision; however, the Presidency is a job of difficult decisions, and if it has legitimately taken Sarah Palin over two years to decide whether to even start the process of becoming President, then she is unfit for the job.”
“So today, by her own admission since July, this is the date Sarah Palin should announce. Throughout the day we will monitor whether or not there is an announcement.
“And yes, “drop dead date” is Sarah Palin’s own word choice. It is not the media’s word choice or her fans’ word choice. It is Governor Palin’s own word choice. “
“drop dead date”……………. ok… how should I take that phrase ? ??
Sure wish you would tell us if there is more re the items cut from the book.
Which map app is this? I like the look of it.
http://apps.facebook.com/GetFriendMap/
here you go Canadian Guy. loved my map.
Moi aussi, yo tambien, eu tambem.
Here’s another piece of wisdom from my elders
that I’ve been pondering at this season:
“It is not incumbent upon you to complete the work,
but neither are you at liberty to desist from it.”
(Pirkei Avot 2:21) attributed to Rabbi Tarfon
Ben Harper and Jack Johnson
With My Own Two Hands
“I can change the world With my own two hands
Make it a better place With my own two hands
Make it a kinder place With my own two hands
With my own With my own two hands
I can make peace on earth With my own two hands
I can clean up the earth With my own two hands
I can reach out to you With my own two hands
With my own With my own two hands
I’m going to make it a brighter place With my own two hands
I’m going to make it a safer place With my own two hands
I’m going to help the human race With my own two hands
With my own With my own two hands
I can hold you With my own two hands
I can comfort you With my own two hands
But you’ve got to use Use your own two hands
Use your own Use your own two hands
With our own With our own two hands
With my own
With my own two hands”
*singing and signing
with leenie and her littleones
and the mudflats chorus*
Good morning, world.
We’re off to Mississippi to celebrate the New Year with littlebird, and to return her car. Herman the German is an early-1980’s Mercedes station wagon. DH Happy put a new radiator in Herman, and our local mechanic set the valves (?) and did some other wizardry, so Herman’s road-ready for another many-thousand miles. We’ll roll past 222,222 miles on this trip.
Here’s to peace, love, joy, health, and prosperity in the year to come.
Tikkun olam.
with my own two hands:
Jack Johnson & Ben Harper via littlebird
*waving to leenie and her little ones*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqMWS-wbuss
L’Shalom,
thatcrowwoman
Safe travels to you and DH Happy. Enjoy your visit with littlebird.
Ah, the milage. It says:
2LitteBird,2Love,2LitteBird,2Love,2LitteBird,2Love.
Waving back at ya, TCW!!! 🙂
ImI/ (the closest I can get to the I Love You sign on one line)
Have a super trip and enjoy your visit!
Not bad! That’s one of the few signs I know (along with man, woman, young, old, angry, think, remember, decorate, and “train gone,” along with a few others that I recall whenever watching deaf people speaking ASL). I’ve known the entire alphabet since second grade; it was the last page of a book on Helen Keller. A friend and I used it to speak silently in class. Unfortunately, classmates read the same book, figured out what we were doing, and started speaking to their friend, but they weren’t as discreet, and Teacher caught on.
I used it again to speak to a friend across a crowded courtroom about a decade later.
Health and peace.
My first foray into ASL was also the alphabet, but I used it with my friends for a very important objective…to talk about boys during recess! Good little girls that we were, we never thought to use it for nefarious purposes like cheating on tests or telling secrets.
The first signs that the new teachers in my school tend to learn are the critical classroom survival signs, like bathroom and lunch. And bathroom. And did I mention bathroom? Yeah, that’s a pretty important one in the primary grades!
And, of course, ALL my students learn how to sign ‘moose’ while still in kindergarten! 😉
Have a wunnerful time with family and friends and be sure you don’t get any where near Texas. Whose minding the hooligan rooster while you are away?
This is pretty funny–funniest tweets column:
http://dailycaller.com/2011/09/30/top-10-funniest-tweets-of-the-week-sept-23-29/
(Palin is make fun of on another conservative site)
For those who do not want to visit this site, just take a look at Weigel’s tweet:
daveweigel: Today on Fox: Palin will assess the campaigns of Mitch Romney, Josh Huntsman, Rip Perry, and Rod Paul.
Who the heck gives a rat’s flying fanny?
The Ultra-conservative site ‘Red State’ takes Palin at her (own) word and is posting updates all day about her status as a declared candidate since this is her “drop dead” date. (They are none too pleased with her shenanigans.)
http://www.redstate.com/erick/2011/09/30/today-is-p-day/
If they’re taking her at her word, do they also believe she’s endorsing Herb Caen, former column writer for the SF Chronicle (deceased 1997)?
http://blog.sfgate.com/nov05election/2011/09/28/herb-caen-lives-just-ask-sarah-palin-video/
This is so funny…. we were watching her speak and I said, “Did she just say Herb Caen? Didn’t he pass on over a decade ago? And she’s endorsing him for something?” before I figured out she was talking about Herman Cain. I thought I was the only one who caught it until I saw this column on SFGate.
And I forgot to mark the potential event on my calendar. I did check her PAC site, only thing there is a message to the Jewish people of the world suggesting they have a nice holiday.
Looks like a giant sprinkler coming out of Alaska. Interesting how you have so many friends in the eastern half of the country, but not so many in Oklahoma and Kansas. Or wherever that empty middle part is.
Hmmm – I noticed that too.
That’s Republicanistan. LOL
I bet Mike from Iowa can see it from his house.
Sorry,Ben. mike from iowa is not on Facebook. BTW were you named for my youngest son-Benjamin John?
Iowa is better than Facebook.
Hi Benjamin John!
Hey, hey there! I may be in Fly Over Country (a nice book by that title is just out), but I am in the NE corner of Kansas!
There are actually progressives here – maybe bordering on an Endangered Species List but we’re optimistic the more regressive surrounding us will eventually evolve.
LOL – that’s the only sane part of Kansas anymore – and my favorite part. 🙂
Thank you, thank you very much on behalf of all the progressives here in Johnson County! (More reside in Douglas County due to KU). We need all the encouragement we can get.
If ever you stray into these parts, let me know. You are welcome to tea and cookies and a warm, welcoming hug.
Sounds lovely. But I haven’t been back that direction since 1989. Maybe someday.
It is an amazing world anymore. Everyone is connected. I’m not sure it’s always for the better.
There – that should add another line to “Down under”