@petesouza: Pres Obama greets WW2 veteran, 107-yr-old retired Army Lt Col Luta Mae Cornelius McGrath
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Love and thoughts to {{{ Nerdy, 3Chics }}} and everyone experiencing this insane weather in Texas, be safe.
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May
15
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Evening all
That is a beautiful photo.
Congrats vetivera :)
Delighted that you were able to have so much fun with fellow TODers yesterday!!
Thanks Bob! Made my day!
Only catching up now with Nerdy’s reports about the flooding in Texas, it sounds utterly terrifying - stay safe friend, we’re all thinking about you.
Thanks, Chips.
It was horrible. Austin was flooded everywhere. Downtown was a mess. Cars submerged totally in water. Some buildings covered in water from the floors to the roofs. Even the meteorologists were freaked out; and when they’re freaked out, you know it’s bad. Areas that haven’t flooded since 1981, flooded today. It was scary driving through it and being turned around again and again because roads had flooded
Downtown, a man was hanging from a pole while emergency rescuers were on a float rowing out to rescue him because if he slid down the pole, the current would wash him away and kill him. Downtown Austin!!!!
A nearby mini stadium was flooded and half of the bleachers were submerged under water. Some areas received tornadoes. One area had three tornadoes touch down at the same time. They’re evacuating some people in Brushy Creek.
This is shocking! Glad you are safe. Hope Austin recovers quickly.
Oh my goodness. Be safe, NW, and please keep in touch. We’ll be thinking of you.
Evening all. Praying that everyone in harm’s way in Texas is okay. Flood is a terrifying thing.
Congrats Almab on First 😊
I’ve had a relaxing reflective day, hope you all did too.
Thanks GGail. thanks for story about Hattie McDaniel. Loved it!
It’s interesting isn’t it. I’m glad you enjoyed it 😊
Yes American history is full of amazing stories of unsung multidimensional heroes.
h/t BJ…. This needs to be sent around, Can someone Tweet this?
http://www.balloon-juice.com/2015/05/25/alec-exposed/
Done.
Stay safe, Nerdy!
Chips I don’t know if anybody posted this (a few people wondered if it would be temporary) but that P.O.S. troll Chuck seems to have been permanently suspended along with some new accounts he tried establishing… http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/chuck-johnson-temporarily-suspended-twitter-article-1.2234908?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
“Twitter has suspended GotNews.com founder and perpetual Internet troll Chuck Johnson. The suspension came after Johnson tweeted out an alleged threat against civil rights activist Deray McKesson….continued”
Hiya LP, thank you for the info, I saw that his account was permanently banned, which amazed me - and also that the two new ones he set up today were suspended as well. Maybe Twitter is coming to its senses? We’ll see.
I hope so….it was long overdue in his case and many others….specifically that MF that has been harassing you for some time now!
I think @Twitter took notice of how many folk, me included, were contacting @TheJusticeDept and @FBI about his vile threats, LP. It’s up to all of us to hold @Twitter accountable. The 1st Amendment does not give anyone the right to threaten the safety or life of another person.
Indeed, Bob. I wasn’t even aware of this particular asshole until TOD brought him to my attention. It shouldn’t take threatening someones safety to get your account suspended either!
Well if anyone want to collect money to take out Charles C. Johnson, I’m donating!!!!!!!!
#ClimaticChaos (what I’ve been calling it for decades rather than the rather stupid meme of ‘global warming’).
What is happening throughout TX and CA are inextricably related to human disruption of the earth’s atmosphere via CO2 and methane emissions.
Besides needing a modern electric and digital bandwidth infrastructure, desperately, America needs to engineer systems for capturing rainfall (on several scales - from homes to large geographic areas), storing it and distributing it to drought-stricken areas.
We have plenty enough smart folk to do all these tasks.
What we must first do is stop electing #KLEPTOCRAT sycophants to any office - local, state, Federal - who are all to eager to enable greed to destroy our species (and a bunch of other species, as well).
Standing Ovation, Bobfr! How far behind the reality are we, when water transportation systems should have and COULD have long ago been in effective.
It’s been a busy weekend with Graduations, a birthday for our family matriarch and the kids over today for BBQ.
I struggle with Memorial Day for so many reasons but mostly because I remember all the family members that are no longer with us as well as all those in the armed forces who lost their lives for that senseless, unnecessary war in Iraq. With that said, I honor all who have served our Nation knowing the military history “that all gave some and some gave all.”
President Obama’s speech today was so incredibly great and I swear I would vote for FLOTUS tomorrow if she ran. I’m not sure who her speech writer is of late but she is inspiring the hell out of me.
Needless to say at my Aunt’s Birthday Cookout yesterday you-know-who stole the show.
How cute Donna😊
<3 <3
Oh, Donna, they are so adorable in their matching hats. They must keep the whole family smiling and laughing all the time. And look at the way they’re eating their food together and sharing an inside joke. They really have that twin thing going.
I’m beginning to see more and more of that twin connection. The girls are fraternal twins so its showing later than their uncle and dad who are identical. My sons twin connection showed itself immediately upon their birth. The girls speak in their own language that they seem to understand and are starting to become very close and protective of each other.
It’s quite interesting to watch all this as they grow.
Ooooh mmmmy! :) :) What stylish granddaughters you have, GrandmaDD!
I lurve the hats - and the differing expressions of the wearers!
Samaya takes her food seriously. No playing around when girlfriend is consuming her nourishment. :)
:) :) I have memories of older sibling ‘stealing’ goodies from my plate so I don’t blame S at all. Smart little miss - first things first!
You are so generous, Donna, in sharing these two lovely girls with us. I look forward to every picture!!
As to …. ” … and I swear I would vote for FLOTUS tomorrow if she ran. I’m not sure who her speech writer is of late but she is inspiring the hell out of me.”
I’ve listened to so many of her speeches over the years and have noticed a seismic shift in her speech at Tuskegee, and today at Oberlin.
In those two speeches I’m hearing a National Leader speaking as if she has fully internalized the meaning and inherent responsibility of the words she is speaking to her audience.
Something has Changed.
She may have realized that all that her husband and that she has accomplished during these past 6.5 years is on the line and she is truly the only person who can sustain the momentum.
My personal opinion is that, as much as I will support VP Biden if he runs, she is just the Leader we need.
#FORWARD Together
bbl … sup …
I agree. She has been much more direct and focused on the future in her speeches and they are magnificent. I never wonder whether POTUS or FLOTUS are speaking from their hearts. I know they are starting to develop their platform for post-2017.
Bob you summed that up perfectly. Yes something has changed and she is wearing the banner perfectly.
Thank you meta & Donna.
“and that she have” not “has” … ugh … really do need to push away from the computer and prepare dinner!! bbl ….
Yes, Bfr, FLOTUS has always been a good speaker, but there is *something* about the content of her recent two speeches that resonated. #FORWARD
Agree, oh ‘Quiet One’!
Dinner prep now underway and I just could not resist sending this before putting on the finishing touches and joining my dear wife for a leisurely supper ….
#Gimme2016 :)
bbl dear friends ….
:D You may be hearing that, Bfr, but America is certainly not ready for *that*! Can you imagine! Some Repubs would be definitely apoplectic!
Could care less about those unprepared for what would be the most transformational event in all of American history, VC, though I have ZERO doubt you’d be at the forefront of making it happen should she decide to #Gimme2016 :)
Oh my goodness, I cannot stand how adorable they are!! And growing so fast. You must be so thrilled and proud of them.
I. LOVE. Their. Hats.
Aren’t they just poifect, Lib-L? And they both wear them with such naturalness and poise! :) :)
donna, the Grandbabies are so precious. I love those hats.
simply ADORABLE!!!!
SO DARNED EXTREMELY PRECIOUS!!!!!!
Gorgeous, Donna :)
Congrats, Alma-b!
NerdyW - not sure *what* to say to you except that you are in my thoughts and I’m trusting in the fact you are aware and alert, so won’t be caught off guard. Sure hope others in Austin and surrounding areas are as aware and alert, and ready to follow official guidelines. Hang tough!
Chips, that is such a beautiful tweet - I’m so glad you remembered that magnificent event. You are a beautiful person, yourself!
Donna Dem your grandbabies are just beautiful and growing so fast. Next you know they will be graduating from high school. :)
I keep trying to slow them down but they aren’t having it. Thank you jojo, they keep us on our toes and are a thrill a minute.
Tonight’s menu.
Tilapia, smothered in EVOO, garlic pepper, and Magic Stuff from Hitching Post.
Brussels sprouts, tossed in EVOO, garlic pepper and seasoned salt.
All grilled on hardwood.
Yummy!!!
I <3 all of this.
Your photo was gorgeous. Enjoy!
Oh my this is terrible. Be safe NW.
I’m sitting here wondering what I’d do if I were on one side and my apartment was on the other. I think I’d go ‘crazy’ if I were close to home yet stranded in this kind of weather. I wonder if someone could cross this on foot if they were careful, or would it be insane to try?
Love the pictures of your sweet grand babes donna dem. seeing their beautiful faces remind me why we have to keep fighting. Nerdy stay safe. Prayers for you and Austin. Thank you to all our veterans and those who are currently serving.
They should have recorded her azz.
……………………………
This Is What Happens When You Slash Funding for Public Universities
Like other struggling schools, the University of Arizona is raising out-of-state tuition—and courting the affluent students who can afford to pay it.
Michelle Goldberg May 19, 2025
On February 25, three University of Arizona graduate students—Kyle Blessinger, Zach Brooks, and Sarah Ann Meggison—had a meeting with Kelli Ward, a Republican state senator in Arizona. They were there to lobby against massive new cuts to state spending on higher education; the number being thrown around was $75 million. Under the state constitution, attending the university is supposed to be as “nearly free as possible,” but due to state budget cuts, tuition had increased more than 70 percent between 2008 and 2013 for in-state students—the severest hike in the country. Now it was poised to go up even more, while funds for graduate instructors were likely to be squeezed even further.
Blessinger, a 28-year-old Air Force veteran, was particularly concerned. He’d used up his GI benefits for his undergraduate education, and with a year left before he finishes his MA in higher education, he already carries $65,000 in student debt. In the past, he had worked as a teaching assistant in two classes, which earned him a tuition waiver—but this semester, because of budget cuts, the school could only afford to give him one. To make ends meet, he was working as a bartender and freelancing as a private security guard, occasionally at parties thrown by affluent undergraduates.
“I don’t think veterans should necessarily have to work two or three jobs just to be able to afford to live while we’re going to school,” Blessinger says. “I don’t have time to study. Some days, it’s quite tough.”
……………………………………………………….
The three students thought that Ward, a conservative who is rumored to be considering a primary challenge to Senator John McCain, might be sympathetic to the plight of a struggling veteran. That’s not how the meeting turned out, however. “She actually was pretty rude to him,” recalls Brooks, a fifth-year PhD student in second-language acquisition. According to all three students, Ward called Blessinger “entitled” and told him, “If you don’t like being here, other states have different programs for vets, and maybe you should go there.”
“She called me an entitled little prick,” says Blessinger, admittedly paraphrasing. “I work three jobs, plus I go to graduate school. I’m not sure how much more biting the bullet she wants me to do.” (Ward, after initially agreeing to talk, didn’t respond to follow-up e-mails.)
Now it looks like Blessinger will have to bite the bullet even harder. When the legislature finally passed a budget, it didn’t cut $75 million—it cut $99 million, including $28 million from the University of Arizona. Bruce Wheeler, assistant minority leader in Arizona’s House of Representatives, believes that the Republicans would like to do away with public education altogether. “I’m absolutely convinced that’s their agenda,” he says. “At every level of public education, the Republican majority is undertaking to defund and privatize.”
http://www.thenation.com/article/207697/gentrification-higher-ed
SHE is a fucking teabagging nut job! We have an entire state govt filled to the brim with these idiots! I just want to scream…
My Wisconsin. daughter earned her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology at ASU, and her husband his MBA. I’m so sorry, and troubled, by what’s happening to our public education system under red governors.
I’m going to Hell for this, but…
Aaaaand, I can see you’re trying to drag us down with you by making us laugh and laugh.
Denzel’s picture from the Mayweather v. Pacquiao fight has taken on so many hilarious memes. Twitter is so wrong for this.
I may as well have one last gimlet.
Really, NW, stay safe. I’m now a bit less sanguine of what El Niño means for us.
Thanks, LL.
Today showed once again how much loss of life, damage, and destruction can result from something called ‘water.’
I mentioned yesterday that someone was trying to buy my Kirby vacuum from Craig’s List, but couldn’t get to my place due to traffic from the Indy 500….well he sent me this email today
Hello,
I really appreciate your response to my email and i agreed to the
price you want to sell it.I want you to consider it sold to me, please
do withdraw the advert from CL to avoid disturbance i don’t mind
adding extra $30 to compensate you for that,
anyway I don’t have time to come over to take a look because of my
Business but you don’t need to bother yourself with the shipment, I’ll
take care of that by engaging the services of a mover, hence I’ll be
sending a certified check payment and it will be delivered to you via
USPS, so I’ll need you to provide me with the following information to
facilitate the mailing
of the check.
1.full name on the check.
2.Full Physical address and apt # or p.o box to post the check
3.City, State and Zip Code
4.Home & Cell Phone to contact you.
5.Your last asking price
Note that the payment will be shipped to your address via US Postal
Service Express mail and I will like you to know that you will not be
responsible for shipping i will have my mover to come over as soon as
you have cashed the check
Thanks
This feels like one of those check scams right?
Yeah. I’d say to give the side eye to this person.
Thanks…that’s what my gut said. I sent him an email saying I would take PayPal or cash and feel dumb for even replying 😳🙈 ….what kind of country ass dude from Indy uses “advert” ?
Do not respond to that in ANY way, LP. Definitely a scam.
Also, would be wise to report it to Craig’s List, assuming that possible.
New post:
http://theobamadiary.com/2015/05/25/the-president-and-first-ladys-day-19/