Saturday, March 28, 2009

Washington DC day two of the adventure

*
Was exhausted last night so I didn't get to post anything about trip but boy did I walk around DC.
Went to the National Museum of Natural History and walked around and walked the whole trip around to all the monuments, Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, FDR, Vietnam War Memorial, Korean and WW I and II memorials.
I took the long walk and sat along the way just enjoying the water and gorgeous views you can't get by bus when you only stop at each thing but don't wander around enough.

The Vietnam War Memorial is so amazing and moving I will do a complete post on it when I return home in order to do it justice...

The spider is a sculpture by the Natural History Museum next to where I stopped to get a soda I was so parched from walking.
I thought it was kinda interesting.






Tomorrow I'm off to the Newseum with Collin.

Watched an IMAX movie today that was called Deep Sea 3D. It was outrageous. Jellyfish, coral reefs, seaweed, water, sharks, starfish, whales and schools of fish came right out to you in great detail. If you get a chance to see something like that do it!!! Really awesome experience. (yes, I realize I said awesome)

Well, feet hurt and I'm going to go to bed now really could use some sleep.

G'night

Laura

*

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Day One: US Capitol and the Botanical Gardens…



Day one of the adventure: Thursday.
Rainy but surprisingly warm day in DC spent today getting used to the Metro again and wandering the Capitol and Botanical Gardens.
I have to say that the DC Metro is much cleaner than NYC’s Subways but the stairs up can be killers since the escalators don’t always work and my knees don’t like that many stairs.
Today I had the interesting experience of being half way up on a long escalator when it quit. Weird sensation.

I always go to the Botanical Gardens whenever I get to DC.
If I lived here I would go there all the time to sit and write or read.
Humans are around so much man-made things all the time we forget that we really are part of a much larger ecosystem. Humbling and peaceful.
My son cooked me dinner of Lemon/garlic chicken breasts.

Well, off to bed, busy day tomorrow.
G’night,
Laura














Planes, Trains & Automobiles... Greetings from the nation’s capitol.

*
My day was rather like the Steve Martin/John Candy movie “Planes, Trains & Automobiles.”
I set out early by truck, then moved on to train and then bus, but no planes Though I’m going to Reagan National Airport to rent a car for a side trip over to Virginia next week. I’m going to visit an old friend I haven’t seen in person for over 15 years.

The adventure begins…

Tomorrow I’m going out to play tourist and take photos along the way.
Catching up on the news right now, the bus had internet but not always consistent enough to watch video.

Tired.
G’night

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Obama’s sentiment about sediment on 60 minutes…

*
Chalk this post up to my interest in how the English language is used (and misused). I thought college linguistics was fascinating. I guess my fascination with presidential speech patterns is somewhat understandable.

Bear in mind that the last president particularly drove me to distraction with his misusing or mispronouncing about every thirteenth word that he uttered. I suppose I’m used to being hyper sensitive to listening to the chronic mistakes GW made.


I’m guessing most folk probably didn’t even notice this and if they did wouldn’t care but the other night (Sunday to be exact) on 60 minutes President Obama interchanged two words. He was talking about Guantanamo, Cheney and the creation of more anti American “sediment.” He clearly had meant to say “sentiment.” Many people mix those two words without realizing it, just take a look at the internet.
For the record: sediment is the matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid, while sentiment is a feeling, emotion, attitude or opinion towards something.

However, that wasn’t the interesting thing… everybody makes mistakes and the rest of the interview was pretty coherent. Afterwards I listened to what the different station’s pundits had to say about the 60 Minutes segment and they varied from “it was awful he laughed inappropriately at the economic crisis” to “he was informative, sincere and spoke directly to the issues.” Of course no one mentioned the mistake because it’s not a very important one in the scope of a speech.

I had to laugh though because when I got to Rachel Maddow afterwards they had shown the clip where Obama misstated as part of a story on Cheney. When Rachel spoke about it she very clearly enunciated the word “sentiment” with a smile. I’m pretty sure she noticed the switch. So is that the jaws of the liberal/socialist/left leaning media monster that we keep hearing about being too gentle on Obama? So she’s mean to that nice, sweet hearted old Dick Cheney while she’s indulgent towards that contemptible, nasty Barack Obama. Mildly amusing. And not to be soft on Rachel but she was a Rhodes Scholar and has a doctorate in political science. I think she can take it.

If it had been Bush it would have just been simply another day, another speech, another mangled word, because after all George W was certainly our most “misunderestimated” president.
Wait what’d he say?

G’night,

Laura

Obama laughs too much: quick get Rahm to pass that pissy look down.

*
I watched President Obama on 60 Minutes last night and thought it went okay.
He seems to understand the issues and is willing to talk to the press and public about what’s going on.
This is something we haven’t seen in a president in a very long time.
And after eight years of a president that couldn’t seem to answer a question without confusing whatever it was he was trying to say (and sometimes we never quite knew what he was going for) it’s nice to have a president that can complete a thought without a teleprompter.

However when I got up all I heard about was how Obama laughed too much, it’s inappropriate, he’s not serious enough, and spending too much time talking to the public.
It seems absolutely impossible to please anyone these days.

There are so many things going on in the world and all that you could find were various clips of Obama laughing that were showing up everywhere all day and into the night. Discouraging.
I guess he needs to practice looking serious and pissy in the mirror more. Surely Rahm could help with that.




Far more interesting is the underwater volcano near Tonga in the Pacific. Amazing photos.



Also now Alaska’s Mount Redoubt, 100 miles southwest of Anchorage, erupted.
I bet Bobby Jindal wishes he hadn’t criticized money going towards volcano monitoring in his republican rebuttal speech now.

Some of AIG’s folk gave their bonus money back, but not all of them.

Bernie Madoff’s accountant David Friehling was charged with securities fraud… now how about that bookkeeping wife of his?

My thought of the day: Perhaps Dick Cheney would shut up and stop fear-mongering to deliberately undermine the President of the USA if he was being prosecuted on the criminal charges warranted for torture as he should be under our laws. Why after the Clinton debacle do we turn our eyes from true crimes?

On the lighter side: two marriages:
Bruce Willis (54) married a thirty-two year old model what a surprise… Hmm.
The interesting one is David Letterman. He finally married his long term mate Regina Lasko. They began dating in 1986 and have a five year old son.
Congrats and good luck!
And speaking of marriage: Politico reported that Senator Chuck Schumer of NY has changed his mind on same sex marriage. This might mark a broader change in thought towards equality and human rights. We shall see.

G’night,

Laura

Monday, March 23, 2009

Pope Benedict XVI what possessed you to say that using condoms increases the AIDS problem?

*
I actually didn’t believe this when I first heard it because it seemed so outrageous like something the Onion would make up as a spoof but turns out it is real. I find this very discouraging.

Pope Benedict XVI according to all accounts when visiting of all places Africa where AIDS is a huge problem rejected the distribution of condoms as a means of fighting the spread of HIV/AIDS. According to msnbc Benedict said that “distributing condoms “increases the AIDS problem.” This is simply irresponsible coming from the official leader of the Catholic Church. Either life is sacred or it isn’t, you can’t pick and choose who lives and dies. So how dies the pro-life 81 year old pope make a statement that may condemn millions to illness and death while passing the disease on to others along the way?

According to Times online Benedict said the “traditional teaching of the Church” on chastity outside marriage and fidelity within it had proved to be “the only sure way of preventing the spread of HIV and Aids”.
*

So those that have sex outside of marriage or are raped deserve to be condemned to HIV infection because the church thinks abstinence is the answer instead of protection? Because birth control is a no-no to the church? When a condom is being used to prevent a deadly disease from being spread to a partner or to prevent an innocent child that might be born with HIV doesn’t that trump the stance against condoms as birth control alone? Apparently not.

I’m not Catholic and I’m not religious though I was brought up Christian. I do not practice any organized religion. I do not rule out a God but no one religion can be proven to be the “right” one. Pope Benedict’s proclamation is an irresponsible, downright dangerous, uninformed stance that could condemn people to a disease that they might otherwise have prevented by using a condom. The Catholic Church has never been able to admit that every time even a married couple have sex they aren’t trying to conceive a child. This is outdated and irrational thinking. It’s simple not true, condoms used right can do a lot to prevent the spread of HIV. Sir this is a fact. This is the church that says they put the innocent children’s lives before anything?


Yes, Pope Benedict if only people practiced abstinence there would be less HIV infection but in the real world abstinence doesn’t happen that often. How many marriages has your church performed on all ready pregnant women because of the anti-birth control stance you advocate? How many have contracted HIV because condoms are not sanctioned by the Vatican and you actually actively discourage their use at all?

Unbelievable. Unconscionable. Is there such a thing as unintentional genocide? I can’t understand saying “AIDS is a tragedy that cannot be overcome by money alone, and that cannot be overcome through the distribution of condoms, which even aggravates the problems”. Let me get this straight: you can be absolved of your sins by going to confession and every thing’s fine but you can’t use a condom because you say so?

This saddens me that such a powerful man of the cloth would make such a callous mistake. I don’t remember any commandments saying Thou shall not have safe sex…
I must have missed it.

G’night,

Laura

*

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Alan Moore's "Watchmen" in a movie: not fantastic but not bad either

*
Finally decided to see “Watchmen” in the movies tonight.
I wasn’t at all sure that I really wanted to see it.
You see I was one of the few people out there that wasn’t crazy over the “V for Vendetta” movie though I really liked the graphic/comic series. The story and actors were good, and the movie wasn’t bad but it wasn’t what I wanted it to be.
Alan Moore wasn’t at all behind the Hollywood production of “Watchmen” so…
By the way Alan Moore is really rather odd but damn good at writing interesting series and being himself I suppose. He’s in “The League of Extraordinary Gentleman” as far as I’m concerned.

I’ve been a long time “graphic (for lack of any better term) novel” reader, though not a fanatic.
Couldn’t afford to be one. Started with comics, and underground comics, Heavy Metal before it turned into well… whatever. I still have the first 3 years worth saved around here somewhere and a few Fat Freddy’s Cat too. Began reading comics and graphic novels early on (Once upon a time I wanted to be an illustrator and went to college for Advertising Art and Design) and never stopped loving the comic/graphic medium to this day.

Unfortunately I got rid of all my comic books (girls weren’t supposed to read them: grow up and all) so when I moved out of parents house they were all given away.
Based on my reaction to the comic book tables at a few I-Con/Otacon visits I’ll never go to a comic-con I’d just sit and cry. Sadly, I had just about everything all the original stuff.
It’s not their monetary value that I get upset about it’s just that it makes me want them back to read and have. I loved comic books with a passion. It would have been better if I realized my interests were mine before I tried to “grow up” and be someone that I wasn’t as comfortable with.
Ah well, water under the bridge.


Back to Watchmen: I had mixed feelings about this movie. Yes, I enjoyed it and it followed the story all right… It wasn’t as gory as it could have been, yet not too watered down either.
Full frontal male nudity sort of (it’s CGI of course). Though Dr. Manhattan was done fairly well and the other characters were fine, I found something lacking in the movie. Maybe it’s because I enjoyed the comic series? I think I’ll have to see it again to fully decide if I really liked it or not, sometimes I have an attitude towards a movie and it effects the viewing. Certainly entertaining enough.

The distraction problem I had with the movie was that I couldn’t get Zena Warrior Princess out of my head (not that Laurie/Silk Spectre was anything like zena really I think it was her haircut, dark with bangs, or something)
Now Zena alone wasn’t too bad if it wasn’t coupled with a strange association in my mind between the unmasked Night Owl (Dan Dreiberg) and Chevy Chase of SNL/Fletch era. I know that’s weird and I seriously don’t get it myself but it took me more than half the movie before I wasn’t distracted by it. Don’t know why Chase got in my head but it definitely wouldn’t have even occurred to anyone young anyway. It’s just weird, maybe it was the glasses, or his mannerisms, no clue.

I’ll watch it again at some point, to give it a fairer chance.
Thumbs up I guess… but with reservations. Btw: semi-gratuitous comic book sex is thankfully far shorter than the silly Night Owl/Silk Spectre scene in Watchmen (seriously hitting the fire button… really lame) Don’t listen to me however, go see it whether you read the comics or not, you’ll probably like it… It was reasonably violent though so if you don’t like blood, etc., you might not. Rorschach, Dr. Manhattan and The Comedian were pretty good castings.

Some comic/graphic novels make better cross overs for movies than others especially if you’ve read them previously: for instance I loved Sin City and thought The Crow was absolutely stunning.
Pretty hard to compare with The Crow, at least in my mind.

I’ve said before that I have odd taste in movies and reading materials for a female it seems.

G’night,

Laura

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Obama's Special Olympics Gaffe, fantasy flying cars and paperweights.

*
I heard on the news that President Obama was on the phone apologizing for his Special Olympics bowling gaffe on Jay Leno the other night even before the show aired. Well, at least he admits when he messed up. Bush never could say he screwed up, though he did it regularly.

I thought the best news clip today was the answer to President Obama from the best bowler from the Special Olympics. He said that he’d love to bowl a game with President Obama. Adding that while it would be great, he warned the president that he’d better get in some practice before hand. A great response.



Saw a clip on an car-slash-airplane that has collapsible wings so it can go in a garage. I’m sure that this is a novelty because I for one hope we never have flying cars!!! It’s bad enough that you have to drive super defensively every day on the road looking out for idiots that don’t blink, run lights, speed, and cut you off. Being responsible for watching to your right, left, front, back and the road itself almost simultaneously is enough of a juggling act for a driver no matter how good they are. Who the hell wants to have to worry about someone crashing into you from above? Not me that’s for sure. Don’t want people running out of gas in the air or flying into things like wires, birds, other cars and tumbling out of the sky down onto me from above. No, no, no! Nor do I want them to take short cuts over my house. Bad enough we have road rage, don’t even want to think about air rage.


It’s cute as far as novelties go and probably satisfies a flying fantasy (ooh, ahh), but it obviously wouldn’t work on any mass scale. The estimated ticket price of $194,000 would be beyond the reach of most folk. This begs the question: do we really want the rich flying around above us? I surely don’t. Would it be too much to ask that we invest our time and money to work on things that would realistically help us right now, like solar, recyclable battery, wind and water power! Though these things may present a problem for car design we can figure it out if we really wanted to. Now that would actually help free us from our obscene oil dependency while being relatively cheap and either low or pollution free.

Flying cars, seriously? We just don’t really need them. Move on. Please.

****

On a personal note I’m shortly going to visit my eldest son in Washington DC and then swinging over to Virginia to visit a good friend I haven’t seen in person in around 15 years. So I spent today finishing one of the gifts I’m bringing down with me. I made sunshine paperweights using 3-4 inch diameter beach stones picked up during my regular walks along the shoreline. I used my acrylic paint and triple thick finishing spray. Came out reasonable well. I’m really hoping they’ll like them. (I’ve also make door stops from interesting larger rocks).


Off to bed early. I’m tired, and longing for some of that elusive sleep thing I get so little of…

G’night,
Laura

*

Friday, March 20, 2009

President Obama on Jay Leno mostly good but for one gaffe.

*
I have to give President Obama credit. He has been one of the most visible (and talkative) presidents in my memory. He tried to explain the AIG and banking problem, why it happened and what we might be able to do. It does help, we're so used to the government being secretive, manipulative and treating us like we're dumb children.


Leno asked some good questions like is it fair to target one group with high taxes and does that mean other groups can be taxed for a "good" reason? I was wondering about this myself. It seemed he assured us that no that wouldn't happen, this was a special case but at the same time he didn't exactly seem behind that 90% tax. Hmm.

Obama backed Timothy Geitner once again stating he has faith in him and pointed out again that he takes responsibility for being the president and for his cabinet. Refreshing, it's been a while (taking responsibility that is). Obama stated that the pattern in Washington is that everybody's always trying to find someone to else to blame for things and he wants to end that.

They talked about electric cars and wind power which I hope bodes well for getting into the doing rather than talking stage. Solar too.

Said Air Force One is cool... yup, already knew that from Harrison Ford.

The only gaffe seemed to be that when Leno asked him if he would be taking out the bowling lanes and Obama said he'd been practicing: "I bowled a 129." He said it was a bit special olympics but he was making progress. Though many reporters or talk show hosts have said things like this, because it was the President people will be fussing about it tomorrow I imagine. Obviously he didn't mean to disparage anyone that takes part in the Special Olympics but he should have been a little less free with his candor, though we all have said things that don't sound right but we don't have the whole country picking at everything we say. (Thank God right?) Might be he's been spending too much time around Vice President Biden. Gotta watch those gaffes they might be contagious.

Obama stated that he'd be getting "roll on hoops" for the tennis courts so there would most definitely be basketball going on.


Then came the important question: When's the dog coming? Very soon, it's coming very soon and then quipped:
"They say if you want a friend in Washington- get a dog."

Ah, how true, how true.

I thought by now I might be tired of seeing Obama talking everywhere or that it would get repetitive if he talked too often, but so far it's been okay. At least he talks to us, otherwise we'd only have the constant barrage 24-7 of pundits and Lord knows they do get repetitive and predictable. lol.

G'night,

Laura

*

Thursday, March 19, 2009

The 90% Tax on AIG bonuses… Tragicomedy.

*
Today the House passed a 90% tax on bonuses that would apply to those that take federal bailout money like AIG (and others) which apparently would also be retroactive. Passed House by 328 to 93 (two-thirds) vote.

Well of course this makes people feel better and maybe that’s what they were going for. Makes the reps in Washington look like they’re doing something effective. If you think about this a bit however I seriously doubt it can actually be done. Symbolically I suppose it’s a great public pleaser (addresses the outrage) but as a “law, bill or even a rule” it won’t work in this form.

Even though it's approved by the House, it likely won’t be approved by the senate, and even if it was approved by the senate it’s likely unconstitutional and won’t ever be put into effect.


It targets one group’s (even though they took money from the government) taxes to 90% (rather unprecedented) which though perhaps desirable or fair in this case, I don’t see how it could be enacted. If the government decided that in order to raise funds for the government they were going to create new 90% taxes or raise existing taxes like alcohol/tobacco 90% many people would be up in arms. Or how about if the government decided to repeal the tax exempt status of churches to raise money and be fair to all taxpayers… well, I expect all hell would break loose (pardon the expression) wouldn’t it? Whether it’s a good idea or not doesn’t matter because it wouldn’t happen. As far as I can see this 90% tax won’t hold up even if it gets through the Senate.


The Keystone Kops in charge of a national disaster. It doesn’t seem like anyone knows what they’re doing. Timmy G wanna weigh in on this?

The big question is whether Geitner should resign, or Obama should fire him, or maybe he should come up with some comprehensive plans that can be explained thoroughly to the public. The latter being the best idea.

Tragicomic.
Funny in a decidedly unfunny rather tragic way.

Off to watch Obama on Leno which I have mixed feelings about. I’ll decide after I see how it goes and what is said.

Later,

Laura

*

Senator Chuck Grassley on AIG bonus checks.

*
The great sound bites from our representatives just keep on coming. Look at the bright side if there wasn't an economic crisis we'd never really know half of the things most of them ever said. Though sometimes I think I felt better without all the noise from all sides.
So Senator Chuck Grassley republican from Iowa states:
"The first thing that would make me feel a little bit better towards them if they'd follow the Japanese model and come before the American people and take that deep bow and say I'm sorry, and then either do one of two things--resign, or go commit suicide."

He did later back down from saying he really didn't want them to kill themselves... likely after someone said, "Uh Chuck Ole Boy, you can't recommend suicide as policy and you might just be offending some Americans out there. Please put out one of those disclaimers stating that what you said isn't exactly what you meant."

Awful lot of those disclaimers going around out there on all sides.
Not helping.
Not helping at all.

Then we move on and get this beauty of a Grassley clip about AIG-



Thanks Chuck for putting that image in the minds of everyone that heard it.
Eeewww, I feel like I need a shower.

Intriguingly Rush Limbaugh doesn't seem to be bothered by this extreme capitalism and the bonus checks. He turns the whole crisis into an attack on capitalism and the basic tenets of our country.


I'm beginning to think no one really knows what to do, the rules just keep changing and people like Barney Frank and John Boehner keep talking ad nauseam.
Makes my head hurt.
Martha Stewart goes to jail, Madoff finally goes to jail, and AIG folk get bonuses for f**king everything up. Awesome.
Wow, I bet lots of small businesses would have loved to get bailed out when they were failing.
I still would have rather they bailed out the taxpayers rather than the banks and wall street.
Sigh.

G'night,

Laura

*

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Meghan McCain of the McCain Dynasty says “kiss my fat ass.”

*
I got a real kick out of Meghan’s response to Laura Ingraham’s comment about her being a plus size: “Kiss my fat ass” (which is something model Tyra Banks said previously). I find it disturbing that such a personal comment aimed at Meghan was made about her weight and even more pissed off that it came from a woman. She should be ashamed to perpetuate the image that you shouldn’t take seriously someone that’s not skinny. Meghan’s an attractive young woman who is entitled to her opinion, she didn’t belittle anyone. Meghan had criticized Ann Coulter’s political beliefs not her dress size. What is with conservative talk show hosts anyway? At least Meghan has her own mind and refreshing spunk!
To quote many others: You go girl.

I’ve seen Meghan McCain turn up on so many shows recently that I’m beginning to wonder if she’s being groomed to be part of a new improved future McCain political dynasty. She has stated repeatedly recently that she’s uninterested in ever running for any political office, but there she is on Fox and Friends, The View, Rachel Maddow, etc. I think I might have just disproved the idea that only the republican right wingers can spin a conspiracy theory behind every tree (hugger). I’m a little suspicious when she states that this mantle of “the new face of the young republicans” somehow “falls on her shoulders.” She seems to be representing herself as a member (or spokesperson) of the new improved younger (though not close to achieved) republican party. I’m not sure how 24 year old moderates fit into the broader party picture.

Meghan isn’t the mainstream republican party, perhaps she (and others of different views of what the party should or shouldn’t be right now) are more like the “independent party” or maybe what should be called the “moderate party.” I call them the Indemoderatarians… because I believe that if you siphoned off the moderates from both the democrat and the republican party (and that’s where you are Meghan) there would be a pretty good size middle of the road more interesting and appealing party. I doubt either party would be happy if the general population found less extreme beliefs in a new party, one that all age groups, backgrounds, income levels and ethnicity felt welcome in.

However the republican party still identifies with and caters to the religious right’s very conservative base. As long as they feel it necessary to do that there’s no real place for people like Meghan. I believe the republicans themselves have a term for them: RINO (Republican’s In Name Only) which they call the likes of Olympia Snowe and Arlen Specter. I guess ostracism doesn’t only happen in Nathaniel Hawthorne stories but at least they don’t want them to wear red letters of identification. On the other hand maybe they would make them if they could…

If the republican party keeps stuck to the extreme conservative base they will bleed off the moderates and will have to deal with the fact that they won’t win elections without pulling moderates back in from both sides.
I keep hearing that Meghan’s more moderate but I’m unsure where she stands on the right to chose for women, gay rights, universal health care, religion’s place in policy and government, global warming, stem cell research and many other issues. Honestly I’d rather see the answers polled from all those under 25 that are out there in the population than from the daughter of a republican presidential candidate who’s been exposed to politics since she was very young.

The fiscally conservative and socially liberal (though not necessarily young) moderates that would vote republican if given the chance will have to wrest the control of the party from the die hard extreme conservative right’s “cold, dead hands” which won’t be an easy task since the base is a very vocal one that absolutely hates to be challenged or criticized.
Good luck Meghan.

G’night,

Laura

*

Sunday, March 15, 2009

The threat of domestic terrorism. James Cummings in Belfast, Maine

*
The story of a Belfast, Maine man, James Cummings, that was shot by his wife Amber (who alleges years of sexual and physical abuse) was found online a while ago. Surprisingly it hasn’t gotten the attention that you would have expected from the media. I kept waiting. Much more time and effort was spent on the recent Cramer/Stewart feud (I’m guilty too) and whether Ann Coulter’s book sales are down and what that means (and who cares?) then this more disturbing story.

Bangor Daily News, Maine Feb 2009

What bothers me is that James was a white supremacist Hitler fan that as it came out over the course of a few months time (he was shot Dec. 9) had the makings of a dirty bomb in his home, including radioactive material and instructions. Now since this story has come out (without all that much ado) people tripped all over themselves to state that the radioactive material wasn’t all that dangerous, perhaps, but the real point is that he was serious about putting together a bomb. Pair this with the fact that if his wife hadn’t shot him (thank you) he might have actually harmed people in his OWN country, in his own state or town. What we don’t know was what was inside his head. A home grown domestic terrorist, perhaps not as capable in carrying out a plot as Tim McVeigh turned out to be but just as dangerous to innocent people. Was he a lone gunman type wing nut or was he in contact with others? Apparently he was upset with his cherished democracy having elected Barack Obama as our nations first black president by both popular and electoral consensus. This fact is repeated about his not liking Obama while his danger to people is consistently downplayed. Seriously, not that dangerous? Yeah. Only because he’s dead.

I’m fairly sure that if he was of Muslim faith or probably even just of middle eastern ancestry we would have heard far more about the whole thing. It barely made the public discourse. What I worry about is how many other wing nuts are out there plotting. We worry about “foreigners” so much we miss the fact that we do have our own home grown anti government factions and yes, plenty racists too. Political correctness would like us to believe we’ve gotten past racism but for many we haven’t.

All the nonsense ranging from the amusing if not stupid statement Chuck Norris said about how tough Texas should succeed from the nation rather than go the way of socialism (and that he could be president of Texas) to Limbaugh’s “I want Obama to fail” really isn’t helping bring this country together at a time when we need to work hard to unite and have faith in our country, not tear it apart from the inside out. The key word here is WORK HARD to heal and compromise not divide.

Senator Jim DeMint, of South Carolina (who opposes any real government expansion) said “conservatives might have to take to the streets to stop America’s slide into socialism.” What exactly does that mean? During the election Rep. Michele Bachmann urged investigation into which members of congress were “pro-America or anti-America.” (and do what with them?) Just because someone doesn’t agree with you doesn’t mean they are Anti-American. I would think that even though they disagree all the time our representatives are all pro-American and were freely elected by pro-American voters.

I appreciate everyone’s free speech but frankly I despised GW Bush right from the start, which is my prerogative in a free country but I never wanted him to fail or wished him any harm. Never would I disparage American soldiers though I can be against a war. Never would I want my government to fail because I didn’t agree with a policy. I am proud to be an American from New York. We must report on all possible acts of terrorism equally and denounce it whenever we find it.

Chuck Norris's article text. Black Belts and Succession?

I wonder would Chuck Norris be President of Texas, King or dictator?

G’night,

Laura

*

The Talking Ann Coulter doll… everyone should have at least one.

*
Can you believe there is a talking Ann Coulter doll? I’m not sure why you would you want one, but there it is.
The Ann Coulter an “America’s Real Action Heroes” figure clothed in her trademark minuscule black dress.

Ann Coulter talking right wing barbie doll

Now I realize that you might be saying to yourself “so what, it’s not surprising that Ann has a doll” and you would be right except for what this amazing little talking doll actually says…
You have to go to the site where they sell it to listen, and I recommend doing just that right here:

And she talks too, listen up…

I think it would be far better if it was a talking bobble head doll.

Other “talking action figures” include:
George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, Donald Rumsfeld, Dr. Laura, Kinky Friedman and Elvis Presley.

Now I understand Bush, Clinton, and Reagan but a talking Donald Rumsfeld? Why? Bad enough the real one talks.
Here’s another odd one. Though I would think if it was true to the real Dennis Miller’s character the doll should be called a “ranting” rather than a “talking” doll. I don’t think it looks much like Dennis, actually it’s just a little scary, get that smile.


Wait, shouldn’t there be a Rush Limbaugh doll if there’s one of Dennis Miller? Rush probably controls his franchise and wouldn’t approve of it. Should be one dressed in black that flaps it’s arms, and hops up and down while it talks.
You can view and listen to all of them here:

Talking Action Figures


Absolutely amazing what one can not only find but actually buy out in cyberspace.
Not quite sure what these dolls say culturally about us or as a society. Hmm.


G’night,

Laura

*

Friday, March 13, 2009

Bernie Madoff’s going to jail. Hallelujah finally.

*
Bernie Madoff is off to jail.
I don’t suppose anyone will see much of their money again.
He’ll go to a “FedMedPen” where he can trade stories with other “white collar” criminals.

Personally I hope they drag him off to Riker’s and strategically place him in a cell between warring gang members and the likes of Joel David Rifkin and other criminals. Where he’d have to worry about violence, rape, illness and eat the same food as everyone else with no “perks” of any kind.
Of course this won’t happen.
But for the lower classes, even non violent offenders are housed with more violent crimimals in many prisons. Not Bernie though, that’s “white collar crime” and he’s not in the same class.
*

Says he’s “deeply sorry and ashamed” and pled guilty.
No sympathy from me for old Bernie. Sorry. No, actually I’m not sorry at all.
I suppose he’ll write a book or some other family member will.
Even criminals are afforded celebrity in this society.

I’d like to know who helped Bernie with the house of cards that he built.
Can it really be his scheme alone?
Will they really go after his family? His wife that did book keeping?
Of course they didn’t know anything about the ponzi scheme at all. *wink,wink*

Now maybe a few top choice (as in where’s the beef?) SEC folk will be brought in to explain how they failed to notice the red flags of the “biggest ponzi scheme ever.” I wonder if anyone would be held accountable and receive more than a slap on the wrist. They even had a whistle blower that tried to point the scam out to them (Harry Markopolis) and expose Madoff as early as 1999-2000. And now it’s 2009. Amazing.

Madoff Whistle Blower is Finally Heard (CBS)

Just further proves to me that the question isn’t actually for or against deregulation it’s what the hell in the world were the regulators that we supposedly do have doing?
*

It seems like accountability is unnecessarily slow or sometimes nonexistent for powerful or rich people. It’s no better in the government itself.
Just like the Bush-Cheney crew won’t be held to task for the actual illegal activities they engaged in… before, during and after the Iraq war.
While Clinton was dragged through the mud while still president and impeached by the house, then acquitted by the senate for basically getting a blow job having oral sex outside of marriage and then lying about it. Duh.
An example of that great left-wing conspiracy, liberal media biased coverage that Limbaugh, O’Rielly, Hannity and Coulter… keep ranting about.

Well at least Bernie’s in jail.
So I ask you justice department… Where’s the beef?

But then again, everyone knows Justice is blind and equal for all… right?
I’m jus’ sayin’

Laura

*

Jon Stewart's Daily Show: The all Jim Cramer edition... not exactly a battle.



Wow, watching last night’s Daily Show was like the complete discomfort of having to sit through a six course dinner with a dysfunctional married couple who in two days are going to announce they are getting divorced or one of them is a pedophile. I never expected the whole show to be dedicated to the Cramer/Stewart dispute.
Jon truly tore into Cramer and it was more like a bizarre talk show exposé-slash-beatdown than a regular Daily Show installment. There were a few jokes made at CNBC and Cramer’s Mad Money’s expense as you would have expected. It just didn’t have any realistic aura of good natured humor or comedy.
It was fairly harsh, now maybe Cramer deserved it, but it was almost unsettling to me to watch as it unfolded.

Cramer was rather subdued, nervous, and looked almost like he wanted to cry once or twice.
He was so totally not wild or even “mad.” A decaffeinated toned down quieter version of himself.
To give him credit he sat through it all and short of the cross, he was crucified but not set on fire. Ouch.
It surely won’t help his Mad Money career at all.

Jon took Jim to task for things he said in the past and pretty much for not exposing the banks/stock market’s greed. Which isn’t completely fair (and it doesn’t have to be) but it’s based in a valid point of fact. It felt as if it went on for way too long. We got it (the point) after segment one and if not, most assuredly by segment two… but then there was segment three. So, I guess it was good um, investigative reporting by a entertainer/comedian, which is an odd forum for that sort of thing.
*
Stranger than fiction.

At the site http://www.thedailyshow.com/ They’ll post the episode if you missed it, or if you want to watch it again because you still are wondering wtf exactly happened.

They shook hands and Jim was contrite but damn… he apologized numerous times over different things looking a bit like a deer caught in the headlights. A tranquilized deer at that.

It will be interesting to see how NBC reports on this and I wonder what FOX will have to say (because FOX always has something to say).
I don’t know why Cramer went on the Daily Show, he really didn’t have to.
If it was to show he was a good sport or could admit a mistake, he did do that I suppose but-
it was in a far more submissive way than I really wanted to see.

Let’s go back to the regular, less bitter tasting, usually very funny Daily Show now for a bit. Please?

Jon’s clip of Cramer on the Martha Stewart Show beating up dough with a rolling pin talking about Jon Stewart was amusing since she was convicted and jailed for her false statements, conspiracy and obstruction of justice in relation to a stock sale.

Again just stranger than fiction!!!

G’night,

Laura

*

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Jim Cramer vs Jon Stewart: The Smackdown

*
I have to admit the news recently has been fun to behold.
We had Octomom, Limbaugh, and Bill Maher vs Ann Coulter at Radio City Music Hall.
But the Jon Stewart vs Jim Cramer feud is completely engaging, I can’t stop watching (and laughing).

It boils down to this: The Bull Vs the Bear.
Cramer’s the Bull of course and Stewart’s the Bear.
If you picture a leathery Jim Kramer with a ring through his nose and smoke coming out of his flared nostrils next to Stewart’s big cow eyes in a fuzzy koala suit right here: then you’ve successfully channelled my sad, sorry little mind. Congrats!
*

Background as I see it: It’s easy in a stock market bubble to recommend buying stocks especially strong stock. Cramer’s show is in the “business” of “stock market entertainment” whether he sees it that way or not. However CNBC gives it’s stamp of approval on it with the slogan “In Cramer we trust.” Why they do I don’t know. I don’t trust anyone trying to sell me on parting with any of my money, especially on tv shows with gongs, horns, music and exceptionally angry wild people telling me what to do while looking like they should be taking xanax or valium by the barrel full. If I wanted “crazed” advice I can go down to the street corner in almost any city and find that format. I still wouldn’t listen, but I could find it.

As anyone that recently follows the stock market knows, it’s even easier to predict the rise or fall of stocks when you have insider information. Of course that’s illegal, just ask Cupcake Stewart and while she makes you a wreath made from old socks and walnuts she’ll tell you all about it. No one in the field will admit to inside info but they sure do have miraculously strong gut instincts based on extensive research and years of stock market experience (wink, wink) that they pass on with the devotion attributed to any good evangelical minister.
*

Jon Stewart on the other hand is a comedian. He’s also a news junkie with a rather sarcastic viewpoint that shows clearly through in the social commentary of what he finds in the news stories. I completely sympathize with the sarcasm and enjoy it. Jon likes to show videos of what people say or do and take them to task for it using humor. Often these clips speak for themselves even without Jon’s commentary and visual effects. I understand Cramer himself is going to be on the show tonight. It will be interesting to see how that goes- if it happens. (Same Bat time, same Bat channel)

This is the last clip on Cramer from Jon’s Comedy Central show:



Enter Cramer who clearly over time has made mistakes… especially the past year in particular, so it’s not surprising at all that Stewart took him to task for his very visual and repeated recommendations of Bear Sterns. It was almost too easy and he was fair game. Cramer’s righteous indignation is almost as amusing as Stewart’s skits. He should have tried to quietly take his lumps, admitted a “mistake” while hoping the story would fade away and be forgotten. Better men than Cramer have taken Stewart’s jabs with either anger, humor, or they didn’t care at all. But for the most part they didn’t go on a celebrity tv tour bleating about the unfairness of it all. At some point mad seems like whining when, um, how to say this nicely Jim… you were wrong. How dare Jon Stewart pick on you? Seriously Jim, let it go, pack up your tent, go back to your show and maybe toot a few less horns for a while. A long while.
*

Mix into this brewing stew of video clips and words NBC’s Scarbourough, Vieira, and anyone who else will listen and put Cramer on the tv and you realize that it’s all entertainment and boy does celebrity rule!

Any normal Stock Broker has backpedalled away from this market mess, minced their words and taken losses along with their clientelle (unless of course they’re running huge ponzi schemes). But they did it quietly not with a tv show that’s glitzy, revved up hype that runs on hopefully just caffeination and the personality of a crazed stock man.

Cramer's Book

I rest my case.
*

Stewart keep up the good work.
It’s sometimes a dirty job but someone has to do it.
By the way, anyone that can talk directly to Dora the Explorer is a God in my mind.
Jon, I’d buy you lunch any day of the week in a New York minute, it’d be a really cheap lunch but hey…
I bought Bear Sterns stock.

G'night

Laura
*

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

To twitter or not to twitter… Is that the question?

*

Twitter seems to be all the vogue right now. I was asked recently “Do you twitter?”
Nope. I don’t twitter and don’t particularly want to twitter.

Basically there are a couple of reasons why I don’t:

Reason #1:

I don’t think my life is interesting enough hour to hour, day to day to twitter.
Wait, that didn’t sound right. My life is fine for me. It’s not interesting enough for anyone else to follow what I’m doing or thinking at any given time. Yes, I exist in a world where it was far better not to know how distractible, rude and narcissistic our congressmen’s thoughts are during presidential speeches and important legislative meetings.

Reason #2:

I can’t say or type anything meaningful in less than one paragraph, okay so maybe it’s two, three or ten paragraphs, who’s counting anyway? Apparently twitter is with its 140 character limit (a near impossible feat for me to accomplish without acquiring a nasty twitch and smoke pouring out of both ears). I could write a six page paper on virtually any topic without a problem. Any topic… even twittering. Don’t worry, I won’t and yes, I heard that sigh of relief (along with the curses).
*

How is twittering really that different from texting on my cell phone or messaging online? Both are things I do often, but those messages are tailored to specific people that I assume care to know the information I’m sending. Perhaps if you asked them, they might feel my messages aren’t all that relevant but nobody’s complained (yet anyway).

I put unlimited texting on my cell solely because I have to type whole words out, and I mean it: I have to. No omg, lmao, b4, or 2morrow’s 4 me… My e-mails look more like letters in structure though less formal.
*

English has been my favorite subject next to art since I was around four (scary right?) I read and write a lot. I’ve taken graduate English classes for fun. I know the value of research and I’m not bad at it. If I misspell a word and it gets by me: I HATE IT. My kids always had me proof read their many, many papers. My oldest son called me a Nazi with a pen with an odd pride but always had me proofread regardless. I guess somehow that was a compliment. Grammar is important to me. I love writing complete sentences that make sense, linking the thoughts together and if I’m really lucky it turns into something interesting that’s worth reading.

Perhaps if I found a legitimate use for twitter I might consider it, but honestly I haven’t found one yet that makes it in any way essential for me.
“Because it’s there” never was a reason to do something in my mind… Why? “Because I don’t want to” works far better for me.
*

A week ago I dropped my cell phone into a cup of water, if I understand twitter my entry would have looked like this: “Dropped phone in half cup of water, doesn’t work now, OMG I’m a complete idiot.”
I think that’s acceptable but it doesn’t say how it happened, where I was or why I think I’m an idiot (which is a choice few pages worth right there).
*
Ode to Twitter

Twitter, twitter
Little star
No longer wonder
What you are
Typing furiously from up high
Dropping diamonds from the sky

Twitter, twitter
Little star
I preferred to wonder
From afar

©L Hazel 2009

G’night,

Laura

*

Ann Coulter and Bill Maher lecture series at RAdio City Music Hall.

*
This was fun. Of course in NYC the audience was a bit more balanced to the more liberal Obama crowd than Coulter’s group but it was nice. A little too much shouting out of audience members thoughts but not too bad as long as they weren’t too near to you. Happy to see shushing taking place on both sides.

Here are some photos that I took along the way.
The weather was perfect, missed the rain totally in city. Fairly warm and comfortable didn’t seem like March.








Not great photos only taken with my rather simple cell phone but gives the feel of it.

Bill was in reasonably good form, subjects ranged from Limbaugh, Iraq and Afghanistan, Liberals, science, religion, Bush, Obama, Economy, Madoff, 2012 elections, Palin… and more. Ann was not as loud as she often is, made a few good points but sometimes her facts are a bit off and she gets a bit confusing compared to others. Of course they’re both rather opinionated!


Was quite interesting and entertaining. I think the only other place this pairing in the lecture/debate series can be seen is in Chicago. So fun can’t be had by everyone. Glad I got to see it.
I enjoy trekking around the city alone, good exercise and plenty of things to do!
I think I fell asleep on the train home...

Karl Rove and James Carville debate moderated by Charlie Rose… that should be a good one. ha.

Well, G’night,
And have a pleasant tomorrow, er, today!

Laura

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Perhaps Tonya Harding is what's wrong with the economy?

*
As I've said before, I relax on Sundays and catch up on the news both written and video that I've missed.

And tucked between the endless "news" tales of the "villainous" Octomom and Rush Limbore's emphatic ill-spoken rantings...
was a little jem that was like a visit from an unwelcome ghost of winter's past.



The clip most definitely inspired a SNL Seth Meyers "REALLY!?!" moment for me... but to quote her own phrase "What the hell was she thinking?"

The only person pulling a Harding there is Tonya herself.
Ain't "celebrity" amazing?

Speaking of Seth Meyers this is the SNL Michael Phelps clip: REALLY!?!



I fell behind on this week's news, so I'm spending the evening digging. Putting on my hip boots, work gloves and grabbing the shovel... or maybe the pitch fork- to get through the endless loops of same s**t different day news stories... sifting for truth.

Can't watch another economy based show or my head will explode today. I just can't. My mind is in a full blown recession that hopefully won't turn into a depression anytime in the near future. Will rejuvenate my mood tomorrow night at the Bill Maher/Ann Coulter speaker series at Radio City Music Hall in the city. Probably sold out now. Should be a real pip.

G'night all,

Laura

*

Friday, March 6, 2009

Would someone in the republican party please step forward and tell Limbaugh to stop running off at the mouth…

*
So now Rush has stuck his foot in his mouth once again.
Sensationalism and self promotion or sheer stupidity I have no idea which (though I have an opinion).
Would someone in the republican party please step forward and tell Rush to stop talking like he’s in charge of the party before he totally destroys any credibility you have with swing voters, moderates and independent voters.

He’s an overblown bigoted gadfly. And you all praise the intolerant bullshit crap that comes out of his mouth each and every day?
In this clip Limbaugh states on health care legislation: "Before it's all over, it'll be called the Ted Kennedy memorial health care bill"



Your spokesperson Rush keeps saying things that if the so called “evil, liberal, socialist, elitists” made equally outrageous statements and then the democratic party praised and called it smart and true you would all be screaming bloody murder.
Instead you defend him and call the other side the morally corrupt group. Amazing.

The more power you give him, the worse he seems so get.
Pick a conservative with a brain next time around.

I don’t represent any party and speak only for myself but I do find you repugnant Rush.
You are a windbag with a microphone.
And he’ll huff and he’ll puff and blow your house down...

February 2009 saw 650,000 more jobs lost. I suppose that’s somehow Obama’s fault. What a mess.
Now it seems Madoff is going to get some sort of a deal? Outrageous.
How is he any different from a crack cocaine or crystal meth dealer?
Bastard should be in jail all ready… a real jail.
And justice for all indeed.

G’night,

Laura

Rush Limbaugh, you have a soap box not a party platform…

Rush Limbaugh…
I know you have the same inalienable rights and civil rights that apply to everyone.
And I’ll be the first to defend people’s right to free speech…
But do you really believe some of the things that you say?
Do you listen to how you contradict yourself depending on who you’re criticizing?

Drug addicts are bad and the book should be thrown at them, well, unless it’s you, in which case it was a mistake a error of judgement. Your drug trial was interesting, and of course you blamed the charges on people out to get you because of who you are. (The vast left wing conspiracy?)

It seems to me that you dislike anyone and everyone that disagrees with you, and will go after them with a vengeance. It also appears by many of the things you have stated about women that you are a bit the misogynist.

You are a talk show host, an entertainer… You are no more the legitimate spokesperson for the “conservative” republican party than Jon Stewart is for the “liberal” democratic party. Most people in both parties are moderates Rush not extremists. You have a soap box not a party platform. It’s about power for you isn’t it? Throwing one’s weight around (and getting very rich off it.)

You talk of conservative family values yet you have been married and divorced three times. So the moral value of marriage is cumulative I’m supposing? The standard of behavior to strive for isn’t being in one marriage over time, it’s being monogamous (one assumes) over multiple marriages?
*

It is an interesting side of many people’s personality that when others (especially people we don’t like or identify with) do something we consider bad it’s seen as reflecting an inherent evil character flaw a particular person or group has. This serves to devalue what that person says from that point on and subjects them to ridicule as a “fair game” target.
When this very same “bad behavior” is found in oneself or someone that we like, well, then it’s considered a “mistake, error or lapse in judgement” that you can “repent and recover” from with sympathy. You’re still of course one of the good people not one of “them” even though “they” have done exactly the same thing you yourself did.

When it became apparent that you engaged in “do as I say but not as I do” behavior you lost any credibility with me. Then I was further dismayed (no more like disgusted) by your gross parody of Michael J Fox who has Early Onset Parkinson’s disease… something that you should never have done. Your idea of disagreeing with someone’s beliefs means personally belittling them and ignoring the relevant facts that don’t suit you. Michael J Fox is a good man and deserved better.
*

Obviously you never paid attention to the rules of debate… many don’t. It’s not about he who can ridicule the other side the most, it’s not about who squawks the loudest drowning out the opposing view. It’s not about browbeating someone into submission. It’s not about threats, veiled or obvious.
It’s about intelligence and something you don’t like that much- compromise. You know what that is right? Taking two different ideas and taking the best of both to create a satisfactory resolution.
Kinda like, well, um, let’s see now… bipartisanship in politics, yup that’s it.
The rare and elusive commodity that is truly needed at this point in time.
There’s an abundance of hypocrisy to go around, however.
That’s sure as hell not what we need now.

You bring nothing helpful to the table for the republican party and no one seems willing to take you on or upset you. I wonder if anyone will have the guts to challenge you. Freedom of speech isn’t what it appears to be at times… I find it hard to believe that all republicans find you so cute and cuddly.

G'night,

Laura

*

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

The Octomom and our obsession with her (finally gave in)...

*
So far I've only mentioned in passing the story of the Octomom.
I've resisted going off into the right or wrongness of her decision to have more than 6 children.

It sounds more like a personal disaster story than a personal interest story to me.

I have to admit to cringing at the photo of Nadya pregnant with that huge belly... I actually shuddered.
Probably like men do when they see another man hit in the crotch and drop to the ground.
It doesn't actually hurt you but you can't seem to avoid that instinctive flinch.

This will be the first and only post solely on Nadya Suleman that I will ever type.
Everyone has an opinion and suggestion for what should happen or not happen. I worry about the 14 children getting enough care and attention.
There are some unanswered questions that I still have that I'm somewhat curious to know the answers to...
(or put another way questions that I would like to know the "real" answers to).

1) Why did Nadya Suleman decide being single to have more children? Yea, she likes kids but...
2) If she's unemployed and living in a tiny house that was cramped for 6 kids where was she planning to put them?
3) How the hell did she afford In Vitro Fertilization? I know a few women that have gone that route and it's quite costly.
4) What were the doctor's motives in implanting 8 fertilized eggs into Ms. Suleman? If I have the facts straight she has had successful In Vitro births before, which means that the doctor didn't need to implant 8 eggs at all. It put her and her babies at risk.
5) Ethically, wasn't the doctor wrong to have done the procedure? Is he liable in some way? First do no harm...
6) Was this deliberately done for publicity, financial gain or some other reason?
7) Wouldn't any legitimate fertility clinic screen their clients to be sure they were using sound judgement, ascertain their situation and refuse any procedures that were sketchy to say the least?
8) Did the public response surprise her and her doctor?

On the other hand-

1) This is the United States not China and it is all right to have as many children as you can "create." But usually they are one at a time... with enough time in between them that one can feed itself cheerios, talk a bit and walk holding a helping hand while the next child requires the more intensive care of a newborn.
2) She's been criticized by many for being irresponsible and the babies might not be sent home with her. Yes, it would seem irresponsible but that's the case in many instances. Many children go home to two parents that are toxic, but have a far nicer house.
3) Can they get her counseling, she will need it, she will need help, we shouldn't punish the children.
4) In this country many believe women should be married when they have children. Many are against abortion and/or contraception. So while having children is celebrated even for single women (for doing the right thing and having the baby) they are criticized for being single. A single woman, by design or divorce with children (other than widows) are almost always criticized sometimes quite harshly.
5) This is an oddity as far as having children goes, I doubt there will be a run for the fertility clinic by women that want the notoriety or responsibility of having 8 babies all at once. Quite the contrary I would imagine. Most folk don't want a total of 14 children. The average number of children in a family is two I think.
6) Even if she had second thoughts now, it's too late and she needs help and so do the children to survive.


Is there no answer in this country other than to say that she is unfit as a mother and that the children should be taken away from her? Criticizing her, threatening her, isn't going to help anyone. I might question her and her doctor's motives but children in the USA should be taken care of.
She will have way more than her 15 minutes of fame, already has, along with her friends, family, newsreporters and any one else that can get a scoop or photo or... talk. Britney Spears on steroids and they both got ole Dr. Phil's attention (not sure if that's a good thing really).

Personally, I have four children and all were wanted, planned for and taken care of the best we could. I'm pretty sure I would not have done well with twins or triplets which can naturally occur (there are twins in my family which always worried me just a wee bit). For me octuplets is honestly a nightmare scenario. I can't imagine it and I honestly don't want to.

The story annoys me but I don't hate Nadya in any way. What a firestorm she finds herself in the middle of.
This story should be put in the place it merits. An oddity, not mainstream, not what most people would imagine or want for themselves. The children should be taken care of adequately somehow. It won't be an easy one to figure out legally.

The hypocrisy of it all is that many families have lost their homes, women and children are among the homeless and everyone's talking about the "Octomom."
It sounds more like a Marvel Spiderman comic villain than a woman with octuplets.

There are more important things out there than Octomom going on and since I'll likely never get honest answers to my questions that's it. I hope it works out for her children, truly I do.

G'night,

Laura

*

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

No cussing club, lottery budget bail outs and Bernie Madoff.

*
I was watching Connecticut news tonight and saw a story about one of their plans to help raise money for their state budget deficit. Special lotteries with higher payoffs two or three times a month. Hmm. I suppose it could work but is "state gambling" a great way to fund a state budget?
In NY at least the lottery money is supposed to go to education. Now for all the money collected in NY I don't know how it's accounted for (or what the accountability is) but I've watched our schools go down in quality especially over the past 10 years.
Where's all that money anyway? Seems we should have terrific or at least all above average schools given all those lottery tickets sold each and every week (and that's not including the scratch offs).

Madoff was in the news again today. He's still sitting in his Manhattan apt with an ankle bracelet on complaining that he should be allowed to keep his apt and other assets because after all "they're unrelated to his arrest." Uh, let me think for a second- NO! NO! NO! There are hard working, honest people that have lost their pensions, jobs, ins, and are out on the street homeless while this truly sleazy bastard is still ordering out food from NY restaurants?

And I'm pretty sure when he gets convicted he won't go to a real prison he'll go where ole "cupcake" Stewart went or somewhere like it. Certainly not where they would put me that's for sure.
Interesting how we can confiscate the belongings of convicted major drug dealers and they auction them off. But... apparently we don't do this for billion dollar Ponzi scheme perps. Equal justice for all? Nope.

*
Now here's a story that really bothers me. It upsets me not because of the story itself, it was the reaction of a certain amount of people to the story that was upsetting.


This fourteen year old boy from CA started a "No Cussing Club." McKay Hatch asked people for a week to clean up their language for a "No cussing week." Fine so far. Not in any way going to hurt anyone and nothing says you have to participate in any way. Well, he started to get some press notice (which again is fine and doesn't hurt anyone).
But then here's where it gets upsetting and weird. He and his family are getting phone messages that are threatening him. One said they would kill him, others threatened him, others called him and cursed obscenely at him or called him names.

Now being that he's fourteen I just don't understand this reaction. Actually I don't even understand the reaction if a no cussing week was proposed by an "adult." It's not an appropriate response no matter how you look at it. There's nothing wrong with a "No cussing club" or a "no cussing week."

I was trying to think of what would upset me enough to leave a death threat to anyone. I couldn't really think of what... There are people I don't like, or even despise. People that I think aren't worth the "powder to blow them to hell" to quote something my dad used to say. But a death threat? To a fourteen year old boy? Where in the world does that come from?

I know I can curse up a blue streak myself so a no cussing week would be admittedly difficult for me. But I try not to be inappropriate in public situations or to deliberately offend anyone.

If you believe life is precious as most people do or at least they state that they do: then stop threatening people.
Death threats are unseemly in "noble" instances (and I'm not sure what that case would be) but over a fourteen year olds desire to clean up people's language with a no cussing week... No way in the world.

Why does this issue even bother anyone that much that they care enough to leave such messages at all?
I truly don't get it.

G'night,

Laura

*

Wet cell phones don't work well and to quote an old phrase "Where's the beef?"

*
Well, it finally happened.
I’ve had a cell phone for around 10 years and always took care of it and they lasted forever it seemed.
Everyone else replaced their phones on whim with fancy phones & I stuck to cheap basic phones without anything I didn’t need.

So after only 3 phones in all that time (and one had to be replaced because some functions wouldn’t even work with upgraded service package… does that count?) it seems that I finally trashed one. I think I've only dropped a phone twice in the past no less into water...

I dropped my phone in a half filled cup of water. So needless to say it isn’t doing that well at the moment.
My son took it apart and dried it but the battery won’t work at all. He put a new “old” battery in it and now it’s charging.
Will see if it works tomorrow. If I’m lucky I won’t need a new phone.

Got my ticket to see Bill Maher and Ann Coulter part of the 2009 Speaker Series at Radio City Music Hall next week.
Should be a lively debate/discussion. Will be good to be in the city again, been a while as money’s short right now.

And get this: I purchased a $10 bus ticket to DC from NYC to visit son Collin. Bolt Bus. Amazing price. Visiting for a few days. Also going to visit a dear friend I grew up with in Virginia. Haven’t seen her in person in over 10 years.
*
So Rush Limbaugh is still talking as if he is in charge of the republican party. Seriously?
The party can’t decide whether they love him or want to distance themselves from him because of what he keeps saying.
Creating a bit of a problem for those that disagree with Rush and state it because then Rush goes after them too (like Michael Steele).
Golly Gee with a friend like that who needs enemies?

What’s with the Back in Black outfit Rush was wearing and the open collar? Sunglasses and he’d be Roy Orbison, or was he going for Johnny Cash? Maybe if he added gold chains. I just don’t know. You a bad boy Rush, you be bad. (Meant only in a good way of course…)

If people put as much effort into doing constructive things and finding common ground instead of calling each other names, pointing fingers and wishing each other ill, we would have a far better climate to debate in.
(Just look at the comment sections of any article on politics and you’ll see the vehemence on both sides)

Also we could use a president that called everyone to action. Unified us against the economic mess.
Said something other than “buy stuff” a la Bush.
We need to help each other because by the time the government sorts anything out so many will be out of work, home and health insurance. An economic readjustment indeed.
We should be helping each other and being more proactive about what America needs to not only get through this “recession” but to improve our standing here and throughout the world.

If we don’t have money to help and a large portion of us are simply trying to live within our means and take care of our family-what can we do, what would help and where do we start?

Now there’s a million dollar, er trillion dollar, question.
G'night for now.

Laura

*

Monday, March 2, 2009

Snow day and endless news loops of Democrats and Republicans bitching...

*
Snow, snow everywhere!
No school tomorrow finally a snow day.
It's supposed to snow tomorrow too. Maybe I'll get a nice walk in the snow before it turns into sleet or rain.

The first two segments on 60 minutes were really worth watching.
The first was on Bernie Madoff and Harry Markopolos who was the man that tried to blow the whistle on Madoff to the SEC in 2000 and numerous times thereafter.
Neither the democrats or the republicans are effective. Government should have done something about this scheme and it didn't. Seems regulation and deregulation have the same effect with our piss poor system.
::sigh::
Watch the 60 minute segment on Madoff here it was interesting (and frustrating at the same time).


The second segment was on the Mexican drug cartel and it's effect on Mexico and the United States.
I agree that serious drug use is bad (as is cancer from cigarettes and "legal" alcoholism) but the War on Drugs isn't a battle that can be "won." Illegal drugs coming in from all over (and from within) create the black market high risk high gain dangerous situations and Mexico is having significant trouble handling it.
You can see that segment at the same place as above.

I normally don't watch 60 minutes but I caught it tonight.
The economic stimulus package has me reeling a bit. Gives me a headache if I listen to too much debate about it.

And as far as the health insurance issue, we HAVE to do something to get ins to every American.

Everyone talks about the predatory banks and lying or unqualified borrowers as if they are the only reason for the housing crisis but they don't talk much about how many people have gotten sick or been injured and lost their home because of the bills they couldn't afford without health ins... It's an embarrassment to the country.
It's happening a lot and it's very sad in a country that considers itself the "best country that there is."

G'night,

Yet, another week to cycle through begins with snow in NY.

Laura
*