Not that Gabriel is old enough to learn the value of money and the positive path of shying away from materialism; hell, all he really knows about objects is that some fit in his mouth and others don't. That said, I wanted to pass this along in case you were wondering how to get some of the events of the world financial system into a solid teachable moment for your kids.
That said, most of you are pretty bright and don't need the reminder. But here it is anyway if you want it.
One of the better recaps of yesterday.
It snowed at least a few inches around town today, pretty heavily for a bit this afternoon. Most folks I drove with did a good job of slowing it down and keeping distance. You know, except for that a-hole in the pickup who almost rear ended me and the Mercedes who thought he owned the road and almost clipped five cars.
We lost power sporadically around town, including the famous Vegas sign. The airport slowed to a crawl, and the main roads got shut down. But other than losing some cable channels for awhile, it was just a good night to grab a bag o' cheeseburgers and hunker down to watch Step-Brothers.
Which was funny. And now I'm off to sleep for as long as Gabriel will let me.
Leslie has pics. We'll try to post them soon.
Alright, so it isn't that severe, nor nearly as funny as seeing hatemongers like Focus on the Family having to cut jobs.
That said, I was somewhat sadistically heartened to hear that NPR is running into some financial trouble. Yes, I listen to it in the car pretty much every day, but like I've said earlier, their pro-Clinton, then pro-McCain/anti-Obama slant this year immediately got me to stop contributing as a member.
Steve Inskeep on Morning Edition started off my ire by speaking with the divisive neo-cons that have helped make this nation an utter ruin earlier this year in his so-call Conversations with Conservatives. Instead of talking to Republicans who might wish to better America, he spoke with some of the most disgusting agents of division. It did not promote the cause of unity in a year where the guy who won the presidency is working hard at doing just that.
Also ugly to listen to - and glad to hear her show, Day to Day, is getting the axe - is Madeleine Brand, anti-unionist and Rethuglican-in-training. Listening to her slant the news is like listening to Limbaugh-lite and I'll be so glad to never hear her voice again, though I'm sure they'll find a home for her somewhere. Unfortunately.
I do, however, hope they find a home for The Unger Report. This week's was quite good.
It was raining for the past few days here in Vegas, so I guess that's why the song is in my head.
Yesterday was beyond hectic. Making the usual Thanksgiving meal with a three-month old is waaaaaaaaaayyyy beyond my expectations and energy level. The dishes are washed and things are put away but WOW! We were beyond tired last night.
A good day though. We had thirteen people all told plus a couple babies come by to eat. We actually moved it over next door to Leslie's office conference room as, well, we happen to have bouncers and swings and such we didn't have before.
A good meal with helpful dishes and sides and desserts brought by our guests. The turkey was magnificent and I really think I got the yams down this year. Found a pumpkin bar recipe that was a big winner as well.
It was good to take a break. And yes, it *was* a lot of work but it is always nice to sit with the students and staff and friends we have here and share a big meal. I think I'll probably miss it when we just have family Thanksgivings. Weird, huh?
Our thoughts go out to those around the world who are decidedly NOT having a peaceful time right now, particularly those in India dealing with the aftermath of terrorism and our troops in the field. God bless.
Amen.
I'm thankful for my baby and my family and friends. And I'm thankful we can hope as a nation again, instead of just being subjected to hatred and fear.
This week's address by your President-elect:
It was a good morning here in Las Vegas. Leslie and I got up early (actually Gabriel woke up at 3 am and we never quite got back to sleep, the little stinker). Josh, my manager, was very cool with my coming in a little late (also an Obama supporter) and we went to the Lied Library early voting site on the UNLV campus, which is the closest one to us.
Campus is getting pretty stoked for a variety of issues, particularly related to the severe education budget cuts. That said, it is also a very, verypro-Obama environment.
We got in line and voted without incident. My little boy grabbed my hand and we both voted for Barack. It was a really cool moment. I finished the rest of the ballot, caught up with my wife, and we left.
The GOTV space where bands will be playing today was pretty much empty. That said, the Obama tent was up, festooned with posters and paraphenalia and ready to go. Apparently they were set up an hour early. As we walked back home, there were a handful of folks running around with stickers and a card on Obama's positions. They were politely informing people of where to vote and were appreciative of those who already had.
These are highly motivated volunteers who were organized and not stepping on each other's toes. Polite to even the rude McCain supporters who snapped back at them (the couple instances I saw). Basically their job was to inform people to vote and, if for Obama or undecided, were more than helpful in informing them on the issues and how to get those votes cast today and tomorrow on campus.
That said, I am proud to say we saw many who were voting for Obama turned out this morning, including a Republican colleague of my wife who, as many Republicans have already said, cannot vote for this extreme version of McCain and WILL NOT vote for Sarah Palin. I am glad to see them vote alongside us in changing this nation's direction.
As always, beautifully orchestrated and powerful. I am so very glad to be a part of this movement.
Food for thought. Give it a read.
I know, I know, branding is such loathsome stuff sometimes. But look at what we've got ahead of us should Barack beat the 19th century Luddites, the Talibangelicals, the Diebold vote riggers, the warmongers, racists, bigots, and sleazebags aligned against us.
We've got one war to end and another to finally support. We've got zealots trying to destroy public education and others trying to make our bureaucracy a politicized think tank of narrow-minded anti-Americans. We have faith-based pharmacies that won't prescribe drugs and oil companies in charge of the our ever-sinking economy and our ever-endangered environment.
The list goes on and on and gets bigger with each passing revelation of dirty deeds done by the current administration.
So shouldn't this all have a name? I've been fond of the Restoration, but that has it's own bad English connotations. Honestly, any suggestions? Barack says this is bigger than him, and it is, so let's get a banner to fight under.
Granted, I almost never get any comments, but people are still ringing up the visit stats so I know you come here. I've got this cross-posting at MyBO so pop me a comment there if you want to.
Seriously, it was probably just a smidge too cold to grill outside today (it had been in the 70s up until yesterday) but I had to do it. Some steak kabobs, grilled corn, fire roasted potatoes and grilled veggies. Then a banana split from the campus dining commons for dessert. Yeah, this is bliss.
Anyway, in the process of killing some more links from my browser, I offer the following.
First off, seriously, if you are going to read anything I link this month, read this one. It encapsulates everything I've been trying to say about the dirty, hate-filled campaign of Hillary Clinton. A sample:
"All you Hillary supporters...If you really want to see your girl in the Oval Office, and if you're all able to finagle, say, the Florida and Michigan votes and various superdelegates and enough popular vote to get the nomination...Then mock us now at your own peril.
If Hillary gets the nomination, YOU WILL NEED US.
You will need all of us who have supported Obama and attended his rallies and made thousands of phone calls to get out the vote, all of us who caucused for him and donated money to him and voted for him and prayed for him.
And I will say this: Obama has attacked you, Hillary, on your policies, which, as you very well know, is pure politics and is fair game. You have attacked his too, and that's fine.
But he has never attacked you personally, and never EVER has he made disparaging or mocking remarks toward your supporters.
In all my years of following politics and being an activist in Democratic causes, I have never witnessed such a thing from within our own party.
It has to stop.
It's one thing for the media mythology to take hold and it's one thing for the right-wingers to launch their mockery and demagoguery and nasty attacks. We have come to expect that from them.
It's quite another when our own does it.
If you want your girl to get into the White House, and you continue to mock and put down all of us who have worked so hard in support of OUR candidate, then you do so at your own peril.
Because I can tell you right now, when you cross that line, no amount of Clinton nice-making can ever make up for the anger and resentment of good Democrats who've been made to feel like nutcases by their own party faithful just because they supported a different candidate."
And that, is exactly why I can't vote for her should she steal the nomination.
Obama is making the races close in Texas, Ohio, and Rhode Island, merely for showing up and speaking to people. And seriously, if you ever get a chance to see one of his speeches live, I encourage you to do so.
Clinton is also losing support to one of her key constituencies, gay people. Seriously, for awhile there I was wondering if I was going to see a politically active gay person for Obama. That's said tongue-in-cheek, but wow, anytime I've been to a caucus or the recent county convention debacle, it made you wonder.
Hillary Clinton also has close ties to the vaunted Military-Industrial Complex, and is apparently a big fan of cluster bombs.
More divisive Clinton tactics. In New Hampshire, there is still bad blood over the lies spread about Obama's support for abortion rights. In short, Clinton said he didn't support such rights and as a group, women voted for Clinton predominantly on that point. Basically, she lied and they're still pissed off about it. This win at all costs attitude also cost Clinton the support of Lorna Brett Howard, a former Chicago NOW president. Her video explanation can be found here.
Neither of these are new stories but I just read the New Hampshire story a couple days ago and lost the Howard video in a browser crash. Either way, each story is relevant for the primaries in coming days.
Clinton's poor planning continues in Texas, leading one commenter to come up with a new Hillary slogan:
Ready One Day
I'm not sure it is going to catch on, but I like it.
A couple DailyKos postings concerning Obama's Senate record and a similar one involving an Obama skeptic who changed her mind once she saw how much he had actually done in the Senate compared to Clinton.
Is is just me, or am I not the only one who, frankly, would love to hear a celestial choir sing more than I would listen to another "worthless" word from Shrillary?
Catching a few moments for myself this Sunday afternoon and hoping to clear some tabs in the process.
Politics
Bill Clinton is back and still making an ass of himself wondering why Obama doesn't want too many old school Democrats in his corner. Well, one, we all know you mean why isn't he beginning Clintonites for help. The answer to that is simple: you treat him like shit. Two, he *does* have support from both the Democratic rank and file and new voters. Bill is just too obtuse to realize this.
Vanity Fair is carrying an interesting story about Obama's early political career. Give it a look.
Also, how Hillary being the nominee can guarantee a Republican victory this November.
Environment
An old story about the increase in natural disasters in recent decades, plus a sad story about a turtle species dying off in China.
Also, links to Consumer Consequences game, where you try to see how bad life would suck if everyone lived according to your lifestyle. It is all part of their Consumed series, which tackles our consumer-driven economy and the problems it creates.
In a more pessimistic, but realistic, tone, Marketplace has also created a series called Plan B, which provides options on what we should do should we fail to address the climate problems. Want to force Plan B into operation? Keep voting Republican.
That said, there in money to be made in the green economy, as evidenced by this story as well as this one about solar power in California. Don't believe the conservative hype. Good jobs can be had, and far better ones than the burger-flipping ones that George Bush thinks are progress.
More later if I get a chance.
A few of the items I've heard on NPR over the past couple days.
First off, a discussion of TV torture and its bleed-over to our soldier's conduct in Iraq on Fresh Air. Seriously, if you've got the time, give this a listen. In short, not much of a salute to Jack Bauer.
Assessing the impact of the fall of the US dollar, despite what Bush keeps calling a "strong economy". Supposedly he's for a strong currency, but results show otherwise. Then again, he thinks Jesus tells him to torture people and spy on American citizens and that we're winning in Iraq. What do you expect?
The scourge of Oxycontin addiction in Kentucky. Seems those dittoheads are taking their cues from Limbaugh a little too literally.
Speaking of dimbulbs, Bush is opposing a resolution that would condemn the Turkish genocide of Armenians back around World War One. Seems he'd rather keeps the Turks happy than recognize a long-ignored atrocity.
Then again, it might not matter since Turkey isn't really bothering to consult with us about crossing into Iraq to bomb Kurds. Hey! That's our quagmire!
A story on the evolution of language you should give a listen to. Then head over to Nature and delve into the articles mentioned in the story if you choose to.
Finally, with all the commemoration of Sputnik, another anniversary is coming up. That is the launch of Sputnik II and the sad tale of the cosmodog known as Laika.
Finally, a day to sit back and relax a little. Some home cooked food, play with the dog, watch some baseball and watch my fantasy baseball team make it to the league final and also peripherally watch my two fantasy football teams go 1-1 with wins this week. Plus, the apartment is a little more picked up now since Leslie's schedule got a very brief breather (not completely, she's still on call) and I'm home for a couple days before rolling out again.
Some more reaction to conservative anti-troop asshat Dave Rye:
How To Support the Troops, GOP-style:* Drag them into an illegal war.
* Keep them there.
* Suggest that bringing them home is "abandoning them in the field."
* Call them stupid after they die.
by kath25 on Sat Sep 15, 2007 at 12:36:33 PM PDT
Also:
Gary Vincent Says: September 15th, 2007 at 7:36 pmMr. Rye,
Your theory is stupid and insulting. And it
would be even if the soldier you insulted
hadn’t died on the field of battle, but that
makes your comments even more odious.And while I might misspell “recalcitrant,”
if I weren’t careful, I would know what it
meant, and I think I know a few other
things too, or at least I tried in the course
of earning a bachelors and a masters
degree.I bet you even think you support the troops.
How can you look in the mirror?oh, by the way, I sign this note:
Staff Sergeant
Army of the United States, Retired.
That about sums up my feelings on this. Maybe Olbermann will pick up on this. Check out his latest on Bush's "what me worry?" war speech the other night.
More on said speech from the IHT.
Rolling out in a few days. Wish me luck.
Got a half hour today waiting for stuff to happen and ran into the following articles.
One is a profile of Christian Bale, who damn near morphs into different people for his roles. I'm usually impressed by the results.
Some High School Musical girl had a nude picture posted online recently, bringing up a flurry of stories from Disney and those who are shocked - SHOCKED! - that people get naked, much less let their significant others take pictures that way. This article points out how foolish such people are. And no, I don't have any links to the picture, so don't even bother asking.
A reprieve from the FCC for those of us who don't want to shell out for a new high-def TV. Apparently support for analog signals is now to extend until 2012, right about the time Mayans may have thought our world would end.
