Aug 252010
 

Yesterday I replied to comments and returned visits before the heat hit.  It is now 94° at my desk, but it will only last  one more day.  I hope to stay caught up today, but I am sleep-short, have errands to run, and have volunteer work to do in preparation for my volunteer day in prison tomorrow.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:49.  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Washington Post: Shirley Sherrod politely declined to return to the federal government weeks after she was forced to resign amid a race-laden political controversy.

That’s a shame, but who can blame her after the way Vilsack caved in to Republican criminals and their media minion.

From Think Progress: This weekend, Glenn Beck will hold a rally on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial that is being billed as a “non-political event that pays tribute to America’s service personnel and other upstanding citizens who embody our nation’s founding principles of integrity, truth and honor.”

It it’s not political, it must be religious, with Beck casting himself as messiah.  Beyond doubt, integrity, truth and honor will not be welcome there.

Cartoon: from Cagle.com

25keefe

Happy Hump Day!

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Aug 232010
 

Yesterday, I stayed up to date on comments and returning visits.  I should have no trouble continuing to do so today.  Being August, yesterday was was a slow day for news, so there are no short takes today.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 5:57.  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Cartoon: from Cagle.com

23bagley

OGIM!!

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Aug 222010
 

Yesterday I finally caught up on returning visits.  I expect to be able to continue that today, although I do have a religious commitment: the Broncos game is on TV. 😀

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:45.  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From CNN: Shirley Sherrod, who received an apology after being forced to resign from the Agriculture Department, will meet Tuesday with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to discuss a job offer, a department official confirmed Saturday.

After the despicable way she was framed by Republicans and the cowardly way Democrats responded to that slander, I hope this wonan gets every good thing she deserves and more.

From McClatchy DC: Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman said Friday that she would defend voter-approved Proposition 8, which prohibits same-sex marriage, if she becomes governor next year.

This is yet another reason Californians should return Governor Moonbeam to the job.

From Washington Post: President Obama made four recess appointments Thursday for nominees that have waited an average of 303 days for confirmation, the White House said.

"At a time when our nation faces so many pressing challenges, I urge members of the Senate to stop playing politics with our highly qualified nominees, and fulfill their responsibilities of advice and consent," Obama said in a statement announcing the appointments. "Until they do, I reserve the right to act within my authority to do what is best for the American people."

This is about the same number that Potomac Pinocchio recess-appointed during the initial two years of the Bush/GOP Reich.  I screamed bloody murder over those.  The difference, of course, is that Democrats confirmed the vast majority of the Bush appointees, only stonewalling the most egregious.  The vast majority of Obama’s appointees are still held up.

Cartoon: from Cagle.com

22cagle

Who is your football team?

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 Comments Off on Open Thread – 8/22/2010
Aug 202010
 

After yesterday’s first appointment, I could not be more pleased to report that one of  the worst experiences in my medical history is over.  My pulmonologist agreed that I am CPAP intolerant.  During the last two months that horrid contraption has cost me around sixty hours of sleep.  After this ordeal I’m almost looking forward to the doctor with the 20 foot camera for where no man has gone before.  My second appointment was to return the CPAP machine.  I waited over an hour for that one.  That thing was going back mo matter what the pulmonologist said.  I feel like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders.  Then I had to go to the radiology lab for a chest X-ray.  All this took most of the day, so I still have not replied to comments or retuned visits.  The only thing on tap for today is a trip to the grocery store, so I should be able to at least put a dent in the comments.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 4:24.  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From AP/Google: A lot of the crude that spewed from BP’s ruptured well is still in the Gulf of Mexico, but it’s far below the surface and invisible. And it’s likely to linger for months on end, scientists said Thursday in the first conclusive evidence of an underwater plume of oil from the disaster.

As I have said all along, the effects of the GOP Gusher will linger for years.

From TPM: The number of Americans who say President Obama is a Muslim has nearly doubled since March 2009, according to a new poll from Pew out today. The poll finds that 18% of Americans say the president — who, it should be said for the record, is a practicing Christian — is a Muslim. That’s up from 11% who said the same thing in March of last year.

The most ludicrous thing about this is that the people spreading this lie are the same people who were making the big sting about Rev. Jeremiah Wright during the campaign.  And the same sheeple who believed that, now believe this.

From Think Progress: The ironically named Dove World Church — whose pastor, Terry Jones, has written a book called “Islam Is Of The Devil,” which is also emblazoned on a sign outside the institution — is planning to host “International Burn A Quran Day” on September 11. But the radical church ran into a new roadblock yesterday as Gainesville city officials “denied a burn permit” for the church for the event, effectively telling them doing so would be illegal. The church, undeterred, sent out an e-mail to supporters promising to hold the burning event anyway.

During Jesus’ lifetime the Republican religious right, aka Pharisees and Sadducees, condemned Samaritans in the same way that they condemn Muslims today.  Jesus demonstrated that he refused to go along through the Parable of the Good Samaritan.  This right wing hate is NOT authentic Christianity.

Cartoon: from Cagle.com

20fitzsimmons

TGIF!!

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Aug 192010
 

Yesterday I was tied up longer that I hoped on tasks not related to blogging.  My printer is on the fritz, and I need it badly next week.  Over 2 1/2 hours of testing revealed that I probably need a new print head.  I had a ton of email to answer, and I had to do some research for a close friend, who is caught up in the housing bubble.  In addition, I slept late.  I needed that.  I did get our poll swapped out, but I now have five days of comments needing replies and visits needing returns.  Today I have two medical appointments, so that will probably have to wait until tomorrow or Saturday.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:31.  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Huffington Post: With less than three months to go, I thought it’d be a good time to take a quick look at how the midterm elections are shaping up in the Senate.

This overview is worth the read, if you care to click through.

From AP/Google: Bennet, the Denver school superintendent appointed to his post after former Sen. Ken Salazar became interior secretary, has put forth an elaborate plan to make the Senate more workable. It includes eliminating the practice known as a "hold" in which a single senator can secretly prevent action on legislation or nominees; ending the ability to filibuster motions to bring a bill up for debate; banning earmarks for private, for-profit companies; imposing a lifetime ban on members becoming lobbyists; and restricting congressional pay raises.

I mostly agree.  My only point of contention is that the filibuster needs to be restricted beyond just the debate phase.

From Alternet: Critics of Myanmar are voicing hope for intensified global pressure on the military regime after the United States signaled it would support a UN inquiry into alleged war crimes.

I’m sorry, but as long as Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, and a few more walk free, our nation has zero credibility on the subject of war crimes.

Cartoon: from Cagle.com

19matson

What’s up?

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 Comments Off on Open Thread – 8/19/2010
Aug 182010
 

Yesterday I sweltered through what I hope was the last day of this horrid heat wave.  The temperature is now down to 86° and is going down.  I have a huge backlog of comments needing replies and return visits to make.  I also have a five day sleep deficit from which to recover.  Finally, I have other duties to make up, as I have been pretty well debilitated for the last five days.  With luck, I’ll have everything up to date by the end of this weekend, so please be patient with me.

Jig Zone Puzzles:

Today’s took me 3:51, and yesterday’s took me 3:21.  To do them, click here and here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Seattle Times: Republican Dino Rossi will advance to a November matchup with three-term Democratic U.S. Sen. Patty Murray.

I anticipated this.  Lets hope Parry can keep Rossi at bay.  He’s a major sleaze.

From The Oregonian:

Oregon’s economy has flat-lined at 10.6 percent unemployment, a stubborn indicator that has persisted nine months, steamrolling job seekers.

July’s seasonally adjusted jobless rate announced Tuesday looms more than a percentage point above the nation’s 9.5 percent.

I see this every day.  Everywhere I go I see ‘Out of Business’ signs on once thriving stores The economy has been Bushwhacked.

From TPM: TPM asked [about the mosque], and the response from his spokesman today was simple:

"President Bush has no comment."

That’s his most intelligent position since before November, 2000.

Cartoon: from Cagle.com

18beeler

Happy Hump Day!

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 Comments Off on Open Thread – 8/18/2010

Open Thread 8/17/2010

 Posted by at 3:11 am  Open Thread, Personal
Aug 172010
 

The heat here was worse yesterday that the day before, and cumulative lack of sleep because of it has me completely wiped out. I will be back.

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 Comments Off on Open Thread 8/17/2010
Aug 162010
 

Yesterday morning I got about three hours sleep when the temperature finally dipped below 90° in my apartment. It only stayed that way until about 10 AM, so I spent the day sweltering, wrapped in wet towels, and waiting it out.  I did not reply to comments or return visits and may not today, because it is still 92° at my desk at 2:30 AM.  Today is forecast hotter than yesterday, so it may be the end of the week before I can catch up.  I did minimal research this morning which is why both the above stories are from a single source, and there are no Short Takes.  Please hang in with me.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:29 and yesterday’s, 4:15.  To do them, click here and here.  How did you do?

Cartoon: from Cagle.com

16beeler

OGIM!!

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