Open Thread – Coming in for a Landing
Well, we’ve finally reached the end of our flight from Houston to Anchorage. I’m glad everyone’s been enjoying the pictures. I had a lot of fun taking them. It made the time go fast, which is nice on a 6.5 hour flight!
This last shot is of the Cook Inlet mudflats, and Anchorage in the background.
So please make sure your seats are in the full, upright position, and that your tray tables are locked. Fasten your seatbelts, and make sure your carry on items are stowed beneath the seat in front of you.
Thank you for flying MudAir. We know you could take your business to other virtual airlines, and we’re pleased you chose us. Enjoy your virtual stay in Anchorage!
Just a note for those who didn’t know – AKMuckraker has been away for the weekend and I have not been here much either, so this is why things were/are stuck in moderation. 🙂
I took a couple of things out but the rest I will leave to AKMuckraker – it has been a long day here. 🙂
Cheers!
Snoskred
For anyone that has a log on to the ADN… it might be interesting if others could pose the question to the ADN and remind them as well. Sort of a hint.
This was in the Alaska ear’s comments.
———
EatMoreFish wrote on 09/06/2009 11:18:57 AM:
D’ear — Please find out why the Alaska Fund Trust is still collecting money for “the Governor” Sarah Palin. Merci –
Has anyone else seen the video where Glenn Beck tries to proposition a pretty young on air guest to let him take unclothed pics of her? They are talking about unclothed photos of an American idol contestant showing up on the internet,when he looks creepy and says Hey,Ive got some time and a camera,want to come over?
She looks totally creeped out and speechless.Why don’t his viewers pay attention to what he is.
http://blogs.trb.com/entertainment/technology/watchthis/2009/09/glenn_beck_propositions_young.html
Head over to Immoral Minority….scroll down to the Max Blumenthal article….scroll down to the comment at 5:23 and then read Gryphen’s comment below that. Wow……….
Then continue on to read about Elizabeth Moe………..the plot thickens!
I have had a credit card refused on vacation before because my spending did not fit my usual patern,so they declined my purchases to “protect” me.Of course it did not fit the patern,I only had the card to use for vaction.Otherwise I used it once a month for gas.
I no longer have that card!
For a change of pace, I listened to Prairie Home Companion today (yesterday’s replay) and there was a piece played by Peter Ostroushko that I am trying to find the name and a possible link to it. Did anyone else listen and if so, do you know the name of the piece? It was so beautiful. I googled him and found this wonderful composition, but I really would like to know the name of the one he played this weekend. Thanks in advance for any help.
Here is the other song I found that is equally beautiful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgJn2F6lMcM
I got a kick out of the “Civil Disobedience” list of assignments. My school is showing the speech in social studies classes, though students can opt out. I doubt I will have any, but maybe. Next week we are studying the Reagan years, so I will be having way too much fun starting them with Reagan’s 1988 speech to schools, looking at themes and support. We will be identifying major and minor messages. What did President Reagan want students to do in order to be successful? What does he feel is important for our country? http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1988/111488c.htm
THEN, we will listen to President Obama and look at the same questions.
We will then list on the board all the objections they had heard about PO’s speech to evaluate whether those objections had merit for either of these presidents.
I had thought about using Bush 41’s speech, but I don’t want to take up a lot of time, and we are already on Reagan so it is a natural fit. Besides, read it! It is loaded with some mighty big messages. All the objections of “indoctrination” would apply to Reagan’s speech. Just sayin’. I have a lot of students who will be very shocked at what he said to students.
‘course, I had thought also about giving them Reagan’s speech without his name and playing it off like it was President Obama’s. Let some of them get riled up a bit, then let them know who wrote it and when. H-m-m. I am now thinking that might be a good thing. I could have them highlight anything that people could object to as indoctrination. I do have an awful lot of students who hate anything Obama…
“And dropping out of high school is no longer an option. It’s not just quitting on yourself, it’s quitting on your country — and this country needs and values the talents of every American.”
President Barack Obama, 24 Feb 2009, Address to Joint Session of Congress
If you get bored over the weekend, this is a very good documentary on the first 19 years of the Exxon Valdez disaster that I saw last week.
http://www.abc.net.au/iview/#/view/426092
I’m with you AlaskaDisasta…..and pay me a lot! I get nauseous just thinking about it.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/06/sarahpalin-usa
They would have to pay me to sit at a table with them. Thanks, but no thanks.
OMG, South Paw #50
Rachael Maddow needs to interview Max Blumenthal
Rivieting…insightful.
Part 1 Some history
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzxElQv11l4&feature=related
Part 2: a real eye opener
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9y4hhxiliQ&feature=related
Part 3: the party of palin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qqo8TdfDosE&feature=related
——————————–
Now for some gossip from tinsel town. I went to high school in Los Angeles. A guy named Howard Ahmanson is a major funding source for alot of this stuff and I knew of Howard back in the day. I had a girl friend who had to go out with him once because her parents made her. He was a total creep and no one would date him. Just to big an ick factor even with all the money. His Daddy was the founder of Home Saving and Loan and his stepmom was Carolyn Lenonitti (sic), the fashion lady on the Art Linkletter show. Now that’s dating me:}
Decided to google him and read the wiki. Yep, he was a lonely kid. I don’t remember anything about him being sick just weird. Sounds like he had a very driven dad, no siblings and a narcissistic stepmom. Not a good recipe for a happy childhood but would fit in with the theory that child “abuse” drives adults to xtain groups.
Here’s the scary news. This spring he registered as a Democrat!!! He thinks he can get inner city folks with school vouchers and abortion tactics. He and all of his Daddy’s money is going to be trying to start culture wars in the California Dem party! Somebody warn Maxine that this evil bag of bucks is coming.
Oh, my! Things have changed. I took a Girl Scout Troop over in 1970, and experienced none of what has been described. Of course, we were not doing the credit card thing, and had made arrangements (after firing our local travel agent) solely on our own, using “Europe On $10/Day” I kid you not! I came home with $80, and we were there 3 weeks.
Am sorry I do not do the Forum thing – I do speak Greek, and maybe could have helped. Yia Sou for the Mudpups!
Mae, it’s the joys of international travel!
You never know what’s gonna happen to spice things up!
Justafarmer, and I thought that I was the only one!
wow, Mae!
Last time is was in England, my friend in York drove me from his house to Manchester Airport for my flight home…we we stopped in traffic on the motorway when WHAM!!!!!
A lorry hit the work van stopped in traffic behind us and the work van slammed into us!
We had to do the same thing, photos and license/insurance info swap.
Fortunately, I had trip interruption insurance just in case, but I got to the airport in time (ratz! I could have stayed until it got sorted 😉 )
Isn’t this the flight Sarah Palin took as she rushed home from a speaking engagement in Texas to deliver her youngest child (Trig?) in Alaska? Forget the conspiracy theorists who question whether she was actually pregnant, if it was really her child, etc. I accept that this was her child, but I have to ask why, why put him in such danger? And why would the airline allow a late-term woman, who surely was under stress, to board a six-hour flight? There are many things about Sarah Palin I will never understand. This is only one.
To Just a Farmer, The toll booth is only part of the story. That trip was an example of “if anything can go wrong, it will go wrong.” We already had that credit card declined for purchases. The morning that we left, we had to drive to Milan where we would catch a plane for London, then transfer in London for the flight home. Mr. Lewis decided that we would get up an extra hour or so early to be sure of making the flight.
There is a major highway between Venice and Milan, and we were merrily driving along until….everything came to a sudden stop. We knew that it was hopeless when people get out of their cars and throw up their hands. Helicopters circled overhead, emergency equipment arrived, and Mr.Lewis was filled with “I told you so’s.” (He was right, by the way).
We only lost a half an hour, then came the toll booth episode. I am still laughing at the sight of all those drivers having to back up and change lanes. We had used up that extra hour of spare time, when we reached the turnoff for the airport and, bam! The airport bus to the left of us missed the turn and slammed right into the side of our car.
We did not have time to wait for authorities to take information and fill out forms. We took photos of the damage to the car, damage to the bus, the license plate of the bus and the hapless guy that they pushed forward who they claimed was the driver. Now, we were running late, and we told the car rental people that we would email them the pictures so their insurance could put in the claim against the bus company.
The Milan airport’s departure area was so big that it occupied two floors, and we finally found our desk to check in. There was less than 50 minutes until our plane would take off, and there was still check in, baggage, passport control, customs, and s e c u r i t y ahead of us. I turned to the smiling gal behind the counter and breathlessly asked if we could still make the plane. She looked at her watch and said, “You have 45 minutes. What’s the problem?” We were so worried, and she had such an easy going manner.
Yes, we made the plane, the connection and it was a ride to the airport that I have never forgotten. To this day, Mr. Lewis always leaves an extra hour early because you never know what could happen. And, in addition to that credit card advice (let them know if you are going to use the card in a different place or way ahead of time), I would also advise carrying a little camera (or keep a snapshot camera in the glove compartment). More than once, we have had to photograph the person and damages involved in some incident.
For those still in the dark about samper, when last heard from, samper was out of “hotel jail” and headed down to the dock to catch the next ferry to Santorini, Brian the Diva clutched in her hand. I’m sure she will have much to say when she gets home.
Gramiam: Excellent save for our samper! The expression, ‘warms the cockles of my heart,’ has just been defined for me. *heartfelt sigh* Still a bit tipsy from lunch (don’t ask,) but happy to be alive. Finally. Love to all.
momom,
Outstanding collection of dinner guests 🙂
It would be kind of funny to force Scarah to have dinner with a liberal who would give her an ear full. If they paid the winning bid, who could stop them? Palin wouldn’t even stand on stage with Republican’s who didn’t share her same idiology, can you imagine her being forced to share a dinner with Keith or Rachel? Hilarious.
What charity does the money go toward? Is it some Right wing cause, like anti-choice?
Great article on the dumbing down of America and sarah gets a mention
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/caroline-myss/crimes-against-the-soul-o_b_278188.html
“The vice-presidential candidate that the Republicans ran in the past election against Obama was of equal educational quality. We all know who I mean, Miss Lipstick-on-a-Pig. Even her humor is low-class, in keeping with her intelligence. One has to ask, “So this was the candidate Republicans believed could handle the cosmic-sized dilemmas we now have facing this nation?” Sarah Palin? Are they nuts?…………..But if you want to talk about an educational violation, Palin is the poster child. She is a perfect example of the success of the “dumbing down of America” program.
Regarding credit card problems…
I was just researching some info for my daughter last night and was on Clark Howard (radio financial guy) site, and saw some terrible stories about credit card holders who had their card through Washington Mutual. Evidently when they were taken over by Chase, cardholders from WaMu were finding out that their cards were cancelled, with NO NOTICE at all; there were folks never late, no problems that didn’t find out that their credit cards were invalid until they were making a purchase and in some cases far from home and expecting to use their card for travel expenses. SHAMELESS and shocking!
Don’t know if that relates to whatever problems Samper was having, but just a warning to any who have credit cards through Washington Mutual (now Chase). I have a checking account there, and I’m planning to close it on Tuesday because of their shennanigans.
Oooo, mommom! That’s a DREAM encounter!
She could only hope to be ignored.
jammer5: It’ll never happen. She thought that AK legislature was ‘always trying to put (her) on the spot’, no WAY she could handle being in the same room as Jon!
Jammer
I think its a dinner for 5.How about Jon Stewart,Keith Olberman,Rachel Maddow,aand Shannon?
mae, yikes! That’s awful about the toll machine not giving the card back!
As for posts going in into moderation, sometimes it happens for no apparent reason (happens to me all the time).
Now that Sarah is offering herself to the highest bidder, think we can gather enough to put Jon Stewart at the dinner table with her?
The reason for my question is that my above post, #75, was about the trouble we all can get into regarding c r e d i t c a r d f r a u d and s e c u r i t y. The comment is awaiting moderation. Was I wrong to mention the specific brand name of a credit card? Was it i d e n t i t y t h e f t? There is nothing violent or nasty in there, and frankly, I wish that someone had warned me about this problem before our trip.
We got into all kinds of trouble when our card was stopped abroad. The ultimate moment was trying to pay the toll on the highway with the card. The machine wouldn’t give it back. Asking a line of irate impatient drivers to back up while the attendant came over was on a par with getting stuck in a hotel abroad.
mae lewis, there are the usual ‘bad’ words, including words for body parts and excretions and other natural bodily functions. But also, the very young of the Palin clan are protected from direct comment here.
Lori, please excuse my ignorance, I must have class that day. What words are f o r b i d d e n ?
Thanks for your heroic reporting on that Levi story. I didn’t want to buy the mag.
A hint for people who want to use the forbidden words – use spaces between the letters, like this. t r i g g e r option being discussed with regard to health care reform.
Buffalo Gal
moremommom
mommom was already taken!!
love what the teacher is assigning, lol…….
sorry I missed out on the Samper adventure and rescue, good job Mudpups! did she post anywhere or just go to chat. I don’t ‘do’ chat very well, I’m not a fast enough typist and it’s hard for me to keep up with the conversations. I could lurk, lol, but that seems creepy.
gosh I don’t do facebook or twitter either, I need to get with the program. Is there a tutorial, lol.
if you want to see just how big that world winning Alaskan cabbage is compared to people have a look see here…….wowzers, and it brought a $2,000 prize! http://www.adn.com/statefair/v-gallery/story/923340.html?/1521/gallery/923341.html
BTW, your state fair looks like a lot of fun, haven’t been to one for a long time. Okay, back outside I go, I’m designing and building a wire trellis for our 3 clematis vines, I’m on version 2.1, lol, I keep thinking of ways to do things better when it’s 1/2 built, ie. design improvements, gah. But it’s fun.
also wanted to post this quote by George Washington, it so applies……..
talk to ya later mudpups
“I am led to reflect how much more
delightful to an undebauched mind is the
task of making improvements on the earth,
than all the vain glory which can be
acquired from ravaging it.”
GEORGE WASHINGTON, LETTER TO AN ENGLISH FARMER (1790)
UK Lady – ROFL! love it
Well, I am glad that the chatroom pulled together for samper, and sorry I missed it. It must have been very late…
Thanks, UK Lady! Always nice to meet another classics fan!
I replied rubber room. =)
and boodog, guess we did miss out. I just hope all is well with samper, and she needs to know that we are here is she still needs us.
Zyggy sent you a PM
LOL – I think we have a new nickname. The Lotus Eaters.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotophagi
In Greek mythology, the Lotophagi (Greek Λωτοφάγοι, lotus-eaters) were a race of people from an island near North Africa dominated by “lotus” plants. The lotus fruits and flowers were the primary food of the island and were narcotic and addictive, causing the people to sleep in peaceful apathy.
MudAir, window seat….best flight ever!
While many people are discussing the Family this morning there are the other religious Wing-Nuts out there. From the ” We’re Not that Stupid ” blog there is a link to a New secondary blog that Leah Burton has just started as well. She has some good info and just today focuses on some of these people who want to change Laws and some of them are linked to Parnell and his associations.
Seems like some of his Agendas are the same as $arah. I would bookmark her new site. Not sure if it is linked through PA or Im. Morality and other blogrolls. The story is…
” Palin’s Legacy – Parnells Agenda ”
http://godsownparty.com/blog/
I have to laugh at the designation “LOTUS”. Do any of my fellow failed-classics majors remember in Homer’s “Odyssey” where Odysseus and his lads come to “Lotus Land”? It was a nice, happy place, but when our heroes found out that the locals were ingesting major amounts of drugs and not doing anything in particular save being totally mindless, they hastened to split the scene. (At least, that’s how I remember it, having ingested more than a bit of the lotus myself, back in the day.) So anytime I think of the Palinites from now on, I will imagine them as forever being denizens of Lotus Land.
For those of you of you interested in the book “The Family” I found it at Walmart dot com for only $8.32 paperback. Go to Books and in the search type The Family and scroll down.
Sure hope samper is alright and on her way
I am amazed at how well all these pictures turned out since they are from a window in a plane.AKM really knows her camera and how to use it. I get so tired reading the right wing crap I very seldom even open any news article that is from someone I know is right wing,I was surprised to hear that the station Shannyn is on was part of Fox,Surprise surprise
I seemed to have missed all of Samper’s excitement. But, when you said “bank card glitch” I had a similar experience. If people at one of the credit card companies see a bunch of purchases that don’t fit anything that you have made in the past, in the interest of security, they just cut the card. I was in Italy trying to buy some cute things for grandchildren when I learned that my card was not good there. That is one sinking feeling.
The way to avoid this is to call your credit card company before leaving the US, or even if you will be someplace else running up big hotel and restaurant bills or other purchases which might trigger a security alert to them. You can register your card for the specific dates of your travel, and sometimes leave a cell phone number where they can contact you.
You don’t even have to leave the country anymore to trigger this kind of alert. My husband bought some technical equipment on-line, and did not realize that the sale would be processed through France. (Huh??) The next thing, Master Card Security called asking if we made a string of international purchases, and they had already cut off our card. Luckily, I got the call at home, but it was alread too late. My husband had tried to pay for lunch with the now-canceled Master Card, and had to dig deep in his pockets to pay cash for his meal. They replaced the cards with new ones, with new account numbers, but it took several days.
In these days of identity theft, this is common. And, it is different for each of us, depending on what kind of credit card, and what the security procedures are. They are different from account to account and from person to person. For that reason alone, it is a good idea to travel with a backup card from a different company.
zyggy, we missed all the fun last nite…!
Hmmm, I was thinking of a horse. The Roy Rodgers, option.
zyggy – check BuffaloGal’s posts @ 25 & 32, Gramiam’s @ post # 41.
we’re in the treehouse, if anyone’s interested.
Maybe SP’s in Colorado Springs confessing her sins to Dobson. Who better than a child psychologist understand that mindset. Let’s see what will emerge once she comes up for air again.
In a surprise move, the Governor of Utah said that he supports the President’s message to school children and he looks forward to what he has to say. Remember, this is Utah…red, red, red state. He is really conservatives, so I was really shocked.
A few days ago, the news was showing a big bru-ha-ha about parents up in arms about the President’s message, so this turn around by the gov was a nice suprise.
Here is just an FYI for those of you discussing health care reform.I have already emailed the mods. I have had two post go there… one just a few comments up.
I am sure they will be able to make adjustments though.
There is a ‘word’ that relates to one of the options ( maybe 5 years down the road ) that a lot of the insurance companies are pushing for and many of the GOP are talking about as well. If certain criteria or actions do not happen within say 5 years a ‘ this Word ‘ will kick in. ( This word is also part of a gun where your finger touches it), ( ‘this word’ is also a baby we know)
It is hard not to mention ‘ this word ‘ as it will relate to our healthcare discussions.
Just wanted to warn people if they have this problem. Carry on. 😉
Greatgranny2b – that’s quite a list. I recognize most of them and am not surprised by 98%. I have a hard time with Reagan tho. He always struck me as a Christian idealist but he never gave me that horrid visceral feel that I get when I look at most of the others. When I look at the likes of Delay, Ensign, Sanford, Haggard, Swaggart, etc . I swear I feel like I’m going to explode, even before they speak.
Speaking of that – There is a really great thread about how people will often react to being around or listening to a sociopath or a psychopath. It’s over on Palin’s Deception. I’ll post the link in a bit. Very very good discussion. Folks talking about how they reacted immediately had this inner horrible reaction upon the first sight of Palin last year.
Looking forward to reading this book too.
@GreatGranny2B – I also just started reading “The Family’ yesterday. All I have to say is I WANT THESE PEOPLE OUT OF OUR GOVERNMENT before it’s too late. They’d like nothing better then to shred our Constitution and replace it with the Bible not just here but world wide. I will do everything in my power in 2010 and 2012 defeat them. I would also like to see those prosecuted for corruption like Inhofe who took taxpayer dollars and went abroad to proselytize their beliefs to foreign governments. They are an embarrassment to us all.
#63/She touched the wall. As farmer said, The Curse Of The Parthenon”
Some prominent names mentioned in “The Family….” by Jeff Sharlett:
Yasir Arafat
John Ashcroft
Jim & Tammy Faye Bakker
Bruce Barton
Gary Bauer
Menachim Begin
Hugo Black
Bob Jones
Sam Brownback
George Bush (41 and 43)
Jack Catton
Saxby Chambliss
Dan Coats
David and Doug Coe
Charles Colson
Tom Coburn
Mark Hatfield
Tom DeLay
James DeMint
James Inhofe
James Dobson
John Ensign
Jerry Falwell
Chuck Grassley
Billy Graham
Ted Haggard
Cordell Hull
Edmund Meese
Jack Kemp
Henry Kissinger
Richard Lugar
Jeb Macgruder
Bill Nelson
Tony Perkins
Ronald Reagan
Ralph Reed
William Rehnquist
Pat Robertson
Antonin Scalia
Rick Sanford
Jimmy Swaggart
Strom Thurmond
Todd Tiahrt
John Vessey
Earl Warren
BuffaloGal…..I prefer “Loser of the United States”…….
what happened to samper?
Nan – “leader” of the United States ( gak and GAK)
Nice to see you up and around. I got about 2 hours of sleep. Forgot to mention that Gramiam worked into my dreams. Very funny.
Booboobear – I really liked that one @15 too. Actually, the last few days have had some really great articles coming out. I can almost feel everyone in overdrive wanting to get this stuff to the surface asap. I may even watch the Blumenthal videos again.
Flight Attendant: “In the unlikely event of a water landing, your seat cushion will become a Triscuit for a SHARK!”
you guys are so wonderful! And the spouses included. anybody heard how samper is doing this am?
More on religion – I’ve begun reading “The Family – The Secret Fundamentalism at The Heart of American Power” by Jeff Sharlett.
He has done some wonderful interviews on Rachel Maddow.
It is well worth reading, but be prepared to have chills up and down your spine. It is downright scary to hear just how many levels of our government are now *infiltrated* with these religious fanatics.
Here’s the blurb from the back cover:
“They insist they are just a group of friends, yet they funnel millions of dollars through tax-free corporations. They claim to disdain politics, but congressmen of both parties describe them as the most influential religious organization in Washington. They say they are not Christians, but simply believers. Behind the scenes at every National Paryer Breakfast since 1953 has been the Family, an elite network dedicated to a religion of power for the powerful. Their goal is *Jesus plus nothing*. Their method is backroom diplomacy. The Family is the startling story of how their faith – part free-market fundamentalism, part imperial ambition – has come to be interwoven with the affairs of nations around the world.”
I got it on Amazon.com for less than $20 including shipping. The one bookstore in our town is a Christian one and the salesclerk was quiet rude when I inquired for it – she let me know it would not be carried and she would not order it either.
Nan: “L” is for “leader” – AS IF.
Gryphen says everything we have heard/read/seen about Scarah is just the tip of the iceberg. He says she WILL be done for when all is exposed (soon).
What has surfaced already is horrific, and should be enough to land her in jail or the loony bin. I cannot even imagine what secrets lurk in the depths of Lake Lucille at the foot of “the house that Todd built.”
yay for Nan’s hubby!
my DH said this morning no problem with the samper emergency loan…said that’s what friends do!
BuffaloGal@15-That article sums our Quitter Queen up in one short article! Thanks for finding. If only more people would be reading things like that. Geoffrey Dunn is on to her in every way.
Lori in Los Angeles
““they” call scarah LOTUS,”
_________
Trying to figure that one out – “Lord of the US” – ??? Hmmm… I don’t think so.
I feel blessed to have been witness to “Mudpups on a Mission.” People who have never met in person, coming together with trust, unity of purpose and the caring! Oh my, the caring in that chat room was palpable. This is what can be done by people who truly care about one another.
It was chaos, mayhem, and Things Got Done.
As for the more humorous stuff… I just got finished explaining to hubby what the heck was going on at 3 a.m. when i was raiding his wallet for a different credit card. Now that he’s awake and functioning, he’s as impressed as the rest of us at what and how it was done.
Gram, he also liked your description of the “pageant walkin’ dingaling from Alaska” – started grinning about halfway through that phrase, in fact.
I was just back-tracking to the Open Thread yesterday ( post 71 ) where I posted a link that related to a story on Huffpo as it related to the healthcare issue and one of those options on the table.
( I looked and it is STILL in Moderation?… very strange)
Discussion about this one ‘ subject word ‘ may be causing the filters to look at a comment because this ONE word is a variation of a subject we are asked not discuss. It has a whole different meaning and will be vital and will come up if we discuss healthcare reform. This is sort of a test to see it the post goes through. If it doesn’t, I will email snoskred to see about filter modification.
Thanks.
Glad to hear that samper had a good outcome as well. Nice to know she was not alone.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jason-rosenbaum/a-trigger-for-the-public_b_277910.html
For those with kindle, Max Blumenthal’s book is available (just had it sent to my kindle) – same price as hardcover, $15.
I leave tomorrow for Chicago – will be gone a week. If I run into any trouble over there, I will call on the mudpups FIRST! So amazing re the Samper story – sorry I missed the action.
Also, a typo in my above post – “they” call scarah LOTUS, not TOTUS.
Lovely picture.
#8 BuffaloGal Thanks for the heads up about the Dalton special to appear on PBS. My reading of his works plus those of Ernie Pyle helped shaped my views on war. Dalton’s book “Johnny Got His Gun” is one of my favorite books. It really makes you think about war and your feelings about it.
Rachael Maddow needs to interview Max Blumenthal
Rivieting…insightful.
Part 1 Some history
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzxElQv11l4&feature=related
Part 2: a real eye opener
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9y4hhxiliQ&feature=related
Part 3: the party of palin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qqo8TdfDosE&feature=related
PS – In case you wondered, the speech is 15 minutes long.
For those of you who are teachers or know teachers, I found this great suggestion re school districts refusing to air PO’s speech from a teacher on HuffPo, Tom Joad:
“Civil Disobedience:
I’m a teacher. I teach HS science. My HS has no plans to air Our President’s speech. So, here’s my lesson plans for the next week or so (Teachers on here, please feel free to use or modify as you see fit and post back your ideas so we can all participate):
Writing assignment: Discuss the importance of education to your (student’s) future plans.
Writing assignment: Discuss the importance of education to the security of the USA.
Writing assignment: Discuss the importance of education to the establishment of American primacy in Science and Engineering during the Cold War era.
Writing assignment: Discuss the importance of education in creating a free and just society.
Writing assignment: Discuss the importance of education in realizing our Founding Fathers’ ideal that “…all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness…”
Activity: Have my students search newspapers nationwide (using the Internet) to document school district excuses for not airing the President’s address. Compile those excuses, categorize them, and discuss the range and depth of excuses offered. Explore whether their reasons seem legitimate or are ‘code words’ being used to hide other agendas (such as covert racism) and consider those that we might hear everyday in our own community.
Get permission from your principals to forward your students’ words to the White House. Our President would love to hear from our children.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/caroline-myss/crimes-against-the-soul-o_b_278188.html
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: I just heard from my DIL, who is a teacher in FBKS. I had asked her what her school is doing about the President’s speech on Tuesday. Evidently they are more common sense up there than in ANC, and are just going to let those who don’t want to watch it spend that time in the library. She says that most teachers are going to show it. It does sound like it is not going to be all at once, though, like I thought, because she is showing it to 2 difference classes, one in the morning, and one after lunch. Since she is a history/lit teacher, it seems those are the classes it will be shown in, so math/science/pe/art classes won’t be affected. That makes sense, since they are being asked to write some stuff in response to the speech (according to the press).
Now. . . here’s my theory: If all the cool kids get to watch a film and discuss it, and your parents make you go to the library and be quiet and study, aren’t you going to rebel and 1) want to be with those kids and 2) Be just a wee bit curious about what you are not supposed to watch that everyone else is? You know jr. high and high school is where your parents are total idiots anyway. This could end up with unexpected results!! (That is, of course, if the kids you admire are the ones paying attention to the speech and not in the library with you!)
I think that by just quietly stating that those students not wishing to watch could go to the library in the first place, would have eliminated all this BS. In my day, kids would rather watch a film any day than go to the library!!!
AKM No Hassle Airlines: just bring your favorite beverage; come as you are; and enjoy the great scenery and great friends. I’ll fly with you any day!
I am glad you are on OUR side, Gramiam!
Nicely captured, Gramiam.
::::: looking off into the distance and imagining Gramiam taking on a pack of wildcats :::::
Job well done, Gramiam. Samper, found love last night.
Gramian, it was awesome!
Did samper manage to get to the island? What did I miss after I fell asleep?
We learned a good lesson last night. We learned that this mudpuppy thing is more than just a flash in the pan tied to the fortunes (or misfortunes) of a pageant walkin’ dingaling in Alaska. I wish every one of you could have been involved because I know in my heart the results would have been the same for our samper. It was amazing to watch and to participate. Not one person hesitated one second about helping samper. The only questions were what does she need and how do we get it there.We had mudpuppies googling for hotel info, others keeping tabs on samper and keeping her calm and the rest breaking open piggy banks. It was just awesome!! I was able to talk to samper after talking to the hotel about the logistics. Only reason it was me is that the hotel can be reached with Skype internet telephone and I have it. Even she couldn’t believe what we pulled off.
The point is, we are not strangers here. We are family in the nicest way. We chose to be here. We are powerful beyond imagining, because we act in unison and out of love, for each other, for others and for our country. I was feeling a bit helpless last night, in the face of the anger and hatred and craziness, but today I am ready to lick my weight in wildcats, because we are all in this together. Mudpuppies ROCK!
mommom – what name did you use to set up your twitter acct?
HistoryGoddess@38 – I think you’ll really enjoy the Trumbo doc. What a brillilant guy! Very inspiring. Made me ask myself if I would’ve named names. I’d like to think I would’ve stood up for the right thing and remained quiet, despite what might happen.
Mo @36 – I watched the Blumenthal videos yesterday and am hot to get the book. I’m sure my head will hurt but it’ll be worth it. The dots have needed connecting and I’m glad this info is coming to the surface. If Bill Moyers hasn’t covered this yet, he needs to.
” This Week with George S.”….
Maxine Waters, Congresswoman from CA, was a quest and she is the female version of Barney Frank. She tells those GOP hypocrites like it is and puts the truth out there. No mincing words. She says We ( the Democrats ) MUST have a Public Option. Said the GOP has said their ‘Plan’ is to defeat the President ( and they have said so )….and are THAT is their Plan. Ohh.. Mike Pence ( what a clown ) disagrees.I guess he never heard about Enzi’s comments. Idgit!
Maxine does NOT believe in tap-dancing with her words or opinions. Refreshing. Where could we find about a dozen more like her..?
I think at this point Bob Dole says ” it would be nice ” if this reform had Bi-partisanship so it would be more powerful as a message. Bob… Maxine already covered THAT for You ( were You listening ?)… move on.
As an idea… if you need to contact your ( D ) Senator or Congresscritter tell them they need to follow Cong. Maxine Waters lead and position and grow a spine.Use her as an example. If they can’t be a ‘Leader’ and come up with an opinion of their own… they can say they will Follow Maxine…. or get in line behind her. Or embarrass them and ask Why THEY are not more like her..? Just a thought. If your Dem. won’t budge, you could even email Maxine Waters Office and ask them to call your Representative. Don’t know if this has been done before, but some of these Guys need a kick in the pants.
Robert Gibbs was on at the beginning. Talking about the Wednesday speech message and what the President will say..? Obviously he did not want to upstage the Presidents remarks or message. Talked strong… but did some tap-dancing with words about the Public Option and whether it HAD TO BE in there. Saying things like it could be ‘ important ‘… or ‘a part of ‘ etc.
Gibbs being careful. Will have to wait till Wednesday.
BuffaloGal@8 Re: Dalton Trumbo
Thanks for the link! I didn’t know all that about him. I refer to him when I teach perspectives on WWI. His 1939 book was made into a movie in the early 70’s, then Metallica wrote the song/video “One” based on both the book and the movie for clips. If you take a WWI soldier’s birth at the beginning of the century, through Vietnam and later Metallica’s video, there is almost a full century span. The video begins with the musicians talking about the historical significance of the song. Students like it, especially those who normally think history is boring.
I can now add Trumbo’s story regarding the 1950’s to this. I will certainly watch for the episode. Thanks.
And to those who helped samper, kudos. Let the rest of us know, please, if further help is needed.
Barbara Snowberger
I joined,now if this grandma had a clue she would tweet something.Oh well,my 9 year old grandson is coming over,I will get him to help!!
re Max Blumenthal’s Republican Gomorrah – I started reading it last evening, and at 2:30AM finally had to put it down because my brain cramped and I couldn’t keep up with the deluge of names, connections, outrages…
Don’t miss his interview – you can find all 3 parts on YouTube, or just bop over to Gryphen.
BuffaloGal – if you think you’re chewing the carpet now about The Family, just wait until Max connects more dots for you.
He made me happy that I’d just ordered a copy of The True Believer, which apparently was one of Eisenhower’s favorite books.
And the frosting on the cake is the recurrent theme of Erich Fromm’s connection of child abuse and the sado-masochistic personality typical of born-again wingers. Nice. You’ll love it. I’ll never again be able to hear the names Dobson and Delay [among others] without recalling the S&M parlor scenes in Pulp Fiction.
pvazwindy @ 33 – It would be fun to know, having been a pilot for almost forty years, how many times I’ve uttered those same words. It would not be a small number for sure.
Trish @ #26 – “They” think she IS already the President and IS making policy, I kid you not! Many posters in the pee zoo refer to her as “TOTUS,” the LEADER of the United States. They believe she is the REAL leader, is in charge and doesn’t tweet because she IS in meetings with the other world leaders. In their scenario, Obama is merely a figurehead and Scarah has all the power.
When, oh when, will the lunatics shut up? They are empowered by right wing talk radio, right wing “hate” version of Christianity, and FOX propaganda channel.
Where in the hell is the runway?
boodog – you mean you don’t take me seriously?? hmmpff!
Samper was doing much better once was all said and done. She was hyper-ventilating when she first popped in with the news and a few of us thought she was pulling our leg for the first few moments. It only took those first moments tho to get everyone rallied and moving. Like I said, it was lovely to see.
justa – o dear gawd – i’m so tired today! signed off at 5:30, fell asleep by 6:30 and awake at 8. thank goodness I wasn’t listening to your “DRINK” rules! I’d be a wreck!
So Van Jones resigned, eh ? what a darn shame. Obama’s admin should’ve known better tho. I’m serious – they need a sit-down with Frank Shaefer, Jeff Sharlett, Bruce Wilson. Max Blumenthal and the handful of others that understand the fringe right. They need to be brought up to speed and they need a good communications team that can project the correct message.
@17 and @26 – i don’t want to turn this into a talk about “those folks” but someone also posted that sp’s gotta watch her back because now that she’s powering up, Putin’s got to recognize how important she is and she’s def. being watched by them, due to proximity. deeeeranged!
BuffaloGal, I thought you were making up a silly story! She is OK? If I can help, please let me know…
What? I go to bed and you guys lose Samper? Is she OK? Are the ‘boys’ ok?
Obama workers start petition asking the President to settle for nothing less than the Public Option. Please go sign. Will.i.am is offering up a little reminder too.
http://tinyurl.com/lcuznv
@ 21 Say NO to Palin in Politics- Thanks for posting the article link. So refreshing to hear some good news.
thanks, BuffaloGal. When I left at 3 am samper was still stuck at the hotel but Gramian finally got through to the hotel staff and also managed to talk with samper.
BuffaloGal,
I am intrigued. How did the Mudpups manage to send Samper on her way?
@17 They think Sarah is writing policy?
For who? For what?
Writing policy for what? She doesn’t hold public office. Well, she did hold public office, but she quit.
Her fans are idiots. They think that if she becomes President, it makes her ruler of the world and she will abolish all other religions except Christianity, and they think that an unemployed ex-governor is writing policy?
Justafarmer – I left at 5:30am and there was no word. haven’t seen an update since then.
Overview of Samper’s wild almost-non ride – Samper got stuck in Greece due to bank card glitch. Couldn’t check out of the hotel. Missed the ferry boat to her island destination. Embassy closed. Banks closed. She caught us in the chat room. Talked her down from a panic attack. Mudpups to the rescue! Gramiam, Roswell, Justafarmer, and a room full of helpful mudflatters all did what they could and managed to get Samper sent back on her way to finish her trip instead of having to cut it short and come home. ‘Twas an awfully nice thing to see. Folks that , for the most part, have never met in person , all pulled together. Yep. Nice stuff.
http://rawstory.com/blog/2009/09/on-health-moyers-urges-obama/
Bill Moyers telling the president, “No more Mr. Nice Guy”
@21 Say NO to Palin – That’s fabulous news! Wonder if it caused $P to pop her stitches.
@22 Barbara Snowberger- I’m already part of the 3600 ( PalinTruthWatch on Twitter) but I’ll repost that and send it out. Thanks for letting us know. For those of you that will newly sign up, please be sure to “follow” me so I can add you. We can help each other get our info out.
@ 18 Aussie – thanks for that link. I’ll be sending that one out, too.
For those who haven’t read the piece that Chris posted @13 , take a few minutes. It’s very good. There are also video links on yesterday’s open thread to an interview with Max Blumenthal. Also highly recommended. I think it’s @13 or @16 on Sat’s Open Thread.
what’s the latest news about samper?
Beautiful pics as usual, with great comments..Need a favor. Twitter desperately needs more progressives to fight against the Status quo. If you aren’t a tweeter, it is so easy and you can join http://tweetprogress.us this will give you access to hashtags # identifying different topics. Teabaggers have over 11,000 members signed on to their sites and progressives only 3600 Can you help us or pass the word along..Thanks a bunch..
Very good news…….only 6 hours today, but hopefully more. I doubt this would have happened in Scarah was still at the helm.
http://www.alaskadispatch.com/news/rural-alaska/1820-state-grants-commercial-fishing-for-silvers-on-the-lower-yukon
“Four days after he pitched a “crazy” idea to the state, Emmonak fisherman Nick Tucker Sr. is getting his wish: one last chance to earn money catching salmon before winter hits.
The outspoken village elder learned of the news Saturday after returning home early in the morning from a moose hunt. The announcement from the Alaska Department of Fish Game was so unexpected that Tucker at first did a double-take. “I had to read it twice to make sure it’s real,” he says.”
thanks for the beautiful pix. best flight ever
Thank you to The Mudflats for sponsoring Ann Strongheart’s efforts to help the poor people of the Western Alaska Coastal Area. It’ll be another cold and hungry winter. Hopefully the State and Federal Government as well as the CDQ programs will kick in some relief.
http://sarahpalintruthsquad.wordpress.com/2009/09/05/californias-real-death-panels-insurers-deny-21-of-claims/
This meeting is one that should be attended by all the media, but since it goes against their advertisers’ interests they will cover it up.
A quote from a lonesome cultie, on the unexplained extended absence of her idol:
If she’s writing policy she has to make sure it makes sense and is realistic, she may have to be in contact with some serious political minds to advise her on issues.
“Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our time: the need for man to overcome oppression and
violence without resorting to oppression and violence. Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge,
aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.”
Martin Luther King, Jr., Nobel Prize acceptance speech, Stockholm, Sweden, December 11, 1964.
“Palin and America’s paranoid-style politics”
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/09/05/ING219GKJL.DTL
>>Palin is all about small ball. While she has big personal ambitions, her political vision is both narrow and attenuated. She knows nothing about reaching out, and everything about cutting off. Expand the GOP as Reagan did? Hell no. She’s all about shrinking it. During her campaign for vice president, she actually refused to appear with Republican leaders who were either pro-choice or differed with her position on oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The paranoid style is constrictive. <<
Just wanted to say how much I’ve enjoyed the photos, as well as this site. I routinely check several sites every day, but I find myself checking this one last. Not because I enjoy it the least, but because it gives me a certain calm after reading about all the hysteria out there. Thanks for being an oasis in the wild and crazy cyber-world!
Interesting excerpt from Republican Gomorrah (Max Blumenthal) :
Inside Sarah’s Church
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-09-05/inside-sarahs-church/?cid=hp:mainpromo2
@ # 1 strangelet
I just wish I had something profound to say.
That is a pretty nice photo, with the overcast reflecting on the inlet. Almost disorienting.
*****************************
That sounded profound to me. I find that if I put a “YO” after every sentence- it helps me yo… 🙂
Just having fun… 🙂
I can’t either-
11th 🙂
Funny – it seems like home when I come her. My dog is ok- for all of you that shared- thank you and AKM thank you as well.
An interesting aside- as I looked through old pictures yesterday- saw alot of pictures of Michigan snow, (something I haven’t seen a lot of down here in TX) and it just kinda dawned on me that my favorite place to visit- you all- well it does snow a lot up there.
I wake up and wonder if it will be less than 80 today- and I suppose the same number can be extrapolated into inches of snow 🙂
As I commuted the 300 miles from Austin to Wichita Falls every few weeks to help care from my parents, for 8 years, I found my camera to be a wonderful friend.
It helped pass the hours and the miles and I “looked” and I “saw” in ways that I never had. Because I started to look for things I could photograph, things that were pretty, different, mysteriously dark, bright and beautiful, stormy, and the zillions of wild flowers and blooming bushes that line Texas highways.
I do enjoy your photos, at least in part, because I get the sense that you too are seeing with different more intense eyes, and enjoying the heck out of that new found toy. And you have the great good fortune to be able to actually see the horizon, and blue skies, and the purple mountain majesty that sent our ancestors into ecstasies of destruction and money grubbing.
Alaskans, protect your beautiful state. It truly is a gift that can keep on giving if its resources are respected and protected. Kill it, dig it up, cover it with asphalt and then what you will have is what the rest of us have, a huge garbage dump.
BEAUTIFUL PIC…Wow
Good morning , all ! I’m not sure how long it will be running but check your PBS listing for the American Masters documentary about Dalton Trumbo. He risked everything to stand up to the Anti-American committee during the McCarthy era. Trumbo refused to name names and it caused him his career, his freedom, effected his family and life forever. WELL worth the watch:
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/THIRTEENs-American-Masters-bw-151858431.html?x=0&.v=1
Watching the footage of the hearings and the witch hunt that was going on to weed out “the communists” was chilling, considering our current environment.
I sure would like more pictures of the mudflats themselves
Has the “No Smoking” sign come on yet?
Oops.
I miss the old days of aviation . . .
That is a nice pic, and fun riding with you without the TSA hassle.
Strangelet, are you in CA?
Strangelet, that has happened to me on numerous occasions!! 🙂
I enjoyed the mudair flight AKM. I’ll have to dig out my pic of Brian flying into Ireland for you.
I just wish I had something profound to say.
That is a pretty nice photo, with the overcast reflecting on the inlet. Almost disorienting.
Well, I cannot resist the rare opportunity.
FIRST!!!!!