Oct 27 2007
Morning. But wait I can’t have my usual three cups of coffee, I must cut back.
You know this will work out just fine as long as nobody talks to me until say…. the afternoon….
Anybody with suggestions on tasty caffeine free things please don’t hesitate to come forward….
Oct 27 2007
I have a friend at work whose young daughter started a bit of a trend with us.
She saw her older brother doing something wrong and she pointed to him and said, “see, that right there … you have to change your attitude!” So now whenever something idiotic happens at work, the “management” does its usual bad job, we say “see, that right there …” and add whatever comment we have.
From Woman of Color Blog brownfemipower tell us:
Chicago Military Public Schools Draw Mixed Reactions
Yes, you read that right, the U.S. military is running four Chicago public schools. And it’s actually fucking *debated* on NPR on whether or not this is ‘ok’.
via NPR
Tell Me More, October 23, 2007 ยท Chicago Public Schools is allowing the United States military to run four of its schools. The decision is raising question about what involvement, if any, the armed forces should have in educating Chicago’s children. The relative of a middle-schooler who currently attends one of the city’s military education programs, is joined by a vocal critic of the concept. They share differing views.
Oct 27 2007
I’m so frustrated…I’m all set to go to Boston this morning to protest, rain and all…
Fine, I can deal with rain…I guess. I think the paint on my “NO MORE WAR” sign is water proof, so it won’t run.
But I just got a call from the baby sitter, she is sick this morning. Great no baby sitter for the kids. I quickly call the MIL,
“Mom? Can you take the kids for me today, please?”
“Sorry, hun…I can’t. I have to go visit two friends in the hospital.”
Cool, she’s being charitable, I can’t compete with that.
“Thanks anyway Mom”
I can’t ask the kids to stand in the rain with me, really. But….perhaps, it might work, we have good rain gear…
Strike One!
Oct 27 2007
Don Rumsfeld was charged with war-crimes today. Bushco’s connection to Mid-East terrorism and pork may be the next story to blow.
Retired Air Force Gen. Joseph W. Ralston, a former NATO commander Bush appointed last year as his special envoy to work on the issue, left the job recently because of what several sources described as his frustration at the administration’s failure to devote serious attention to the problem. Ralston, vice chairman of an international consulting firm led by former defense secretary William S. Cohen, did not return several calls for comment.
There’s far more at stake…
Oct 27 2007
Went to the doctor for what is likely a minor problem. If it doesn’t go away I am to have some tests in a month or so.
Here is the kicker…. my small issue is related to caffeine intake and so I must at least HALF my caffeine consumption. He made me list all of my caffeine sources and laughed and squeezed my hand. All I can say is super duper fuckety fuck.
I am already calculating trade offs: I would rather give up sodas than coffee and tea. I already know water is good for me… sigh…
Oct 27 2007
A few years ago, my wife and I needed assistance moving our homestead from the world of ideas to the material world. Neither of us grew up on a farm. Both of us had little homestead related hands-on experience. One could say that the first step had been taken years ago when my wife started researching this way of life. We had also gradually begun planning for our homestead, had written a family mission statement which included a homesteading way of life, had had children whose very natures demanded a farm life, and we had at last succeeded in moving to the country. Each of these actions got us moving in the direction of the homestead but we weren’t sure how to take the next concrete step. Shortly after moving to our own place in the country, one particular event put us past the point of no return and that was when our Border Collie, Lucy, came to live with us. She was our first farm animal. With each additional animal we became more and more like homesteaders but it all started with Lucy.
Cross posted at Pockets of the Future and dkos
Oct 27 2007
This is an Open Thread: Speak To Me
USA
‘I Don’t Think This Place Is Worth Another Soldier’s Life’
Oct. 26 Their line of tan Humvees and Bradley Fighting Vehicles creeps through another Baghdad afternoon. At this pace, an excruciating slowness, they strain to see everything, hoping the next manhole cover, the next rusted barrel, does not hide another bomb. A few bullets pass overhead, but they don’t worry much about those.
“I hate this road,” someone says over the radio.They stop, look around. The streets of Sadiyah are deserted again. To the right, power lines slump down into the dirt. To the left, what was a soccer field is now a pasture of trash, combusting and smoking in the sun. Packs of skinny wild dogs trot past walls painted with slogans of sectarian hate.
Oct 27 2007
I’m all doped up on pain meds, so I am not commenting much. But since I am all doped up on pain meds…..and surfing the toobz….seeing these videos back to back brought up the eternal question in the title.
“I am not a cat man, but a dog man, and all felines can tell this at a glance — a sharp, vindictive glance.” — James Thurber
“I have studied many philosophers and many cats. The wisdom of cats is infinitely superior.”
– Hippolyte Taine
“A cat is more intelligent than people believe, and can be taught any crime.”
-Mark Twain Notebook, 1895
“I love cats because I love my home and after a while they become its visible soul.”
– Jean Cocteau
“There is, incidentally, no way of talking about cats that enables one to come off as a sane person.”
– Dan Greenberg
Oct 27 2007
crossposted at Daily Kos and Truth & Progress
A few minutes ago, I received a phone call from Paris from an old grad school friend of mine who said that Sky News just broadcast a report about secret negotiations between Al Gore and Nicholas Sarkozy over Gore’s political future.
Given its stellar record, Sky is indeed the gold standard in news reporting — particularly in Europe. Its ability to understand American politics and popular culture is unparalleled. I am fully aware that many of you are diehard fans of Sky News and are convinced that it represents the best there is in television journalism. I am in awe of your political acumen and I salute you for knowing what’s important and what’s fluff on the airwaves. 
As for me, though I’m always skeptical of any Murdoch-owned news outfit, news of these negotiations intrigued me.
Oct 27 2007
It was Valente who organized the group.I can remember everything Dino said. We were all going to have wireless guitars. We were going to have leather jackets made with hooks that we could hook these wireless instruments right into. And we were gonna have these chicks, backup rhythm sections that were gonna dress like American Indians with real short little dresses on and they were gonna have tambourines and the clappers in the tambourines were going to be silver coins. And I’m sitting there going, “This guy is gonna happen and we’re gonna set the world on its ear.”
