@AVD911 Oh..now that their dirty slip is being exposed for the world to see, they're trying to hide it? They built that.
— aspirational12 (@aspirational12) May 6, 2025
The chickens are coming home to roost…the level of racism that the MSM has enabled is finally getting to be too much for them to bear..I guess it’s now hurting them in ways that they didn’t expect. When other countries experience our President in a most positive light, and then look at the nastiness that he receives - given a platform by the media….
True it’s an old article. But, It’s applicable now. Even more so than back in 07. Check the comments section on the article referencing the Graduation Speech in Ohio.
You are absolutely spot-on Hopefruit! As an oldie, I’ve been around for some time. I’ve never seen so much disrespect of a President from both the elected officials and the supposedly professional journalists! Never! It’s that disrespect that has made it comfortable for extreme racists to come out in the open. Denigrating a duly elected President used to be confined to the fringe elements of our society. Now, however, It’s become acceptable practice in the so called respectable circles. For example: a member of Congress can stand up, during the State of the Union Address to Congress and the Nation, and call a President a liar, and yet suffer absolutely no political repercussion; a supposedly prominent journalist can call a President “a dick” and still keep his job and continue to be regarded as a respectable journalist; a supposedly respected NYT columnist, can mock the President based on falsehoods and still retain her job, and, finally, some members of the WHP can routinely show so much disrespect for the President, something they did not do with previous presidents, and still remain respected by the entire media.
This is what angers me about some of the so called liberal/progressive critics of the President. The so called Liberal/Progressives, who absolutely shut their eyes and close their ears about the racist opposition to President Obama, are quick to join in in blaming him for not achieving their pet projects. It’s true that all Presidents have faced ideological opposition from opposing parties. What is unique about President Obama is that he has faced both ideological opposition and, even more sinister, racial opposition. Normally, Ideological opposition is mitigated by compromises. The same is not true with opposition based on race. This is not an issue that can be compromised. Even the fact that President Obama is of a mixed race is not good enough. The people opposed to the President because of race can only be satisfied by his removal, or failing that, by making him irrelevant.
Finally, in my opinion, I also believe that people opposed to President Obama, who realize that there isn’t much they can do now to remove him, are determined to ensure that he does not succeed, because his success may encourage other non-white candidates to seek the presidency. Already, President has twice overcome the huddle that an African American could not be elected President of the United States. What the white supremacist are fighting for now is to make sure that an African American President must not be allowed to succeed because such a success will further destroy the myth of white supremacy.
You recall there have been a small number of WHPC “reporters” who have been “disrespectful” to previous Presidents. Or really just asked hard-edged questions. I’m thinking Helen Thomas (on GWB) as one example. The difference between that handful and today’s whole corps of ’em is that previous Presidents and/or Press Secretaries took away the privileges of those few who cornered them, took away their seating or didn’t call on them ever again within the WH press briefing room. I don’t think President Obama has jerked any of them around via Jay Carney or Robert Gibbs in the past, by switching them out of their front seats at the White House. But the way he does it is worse (read: better and oh so totally called for). He just doesn’t grant them one-on-one interviews, as most of his predecessors did. He shuns them. He’s brilliant. Goodnight to you.
99ts, some Australian wines I’ve come across no longer use corks. All you do is unscrew the top just like you do opening a soda bottle. Initially, I was not sure how good they would turn out to be, but actually they are quite good. Some vineyards in CA that are also doing away with wine corks.
Oh Nath - I do know that - started here years ago - which was when I got caught trying to use a corkscrew - I haven’t seen a bottle of wine using a cork in Oz for a few years - given I buy nothing over $30/bottle (bottle shop price, not restaurant price) - there may be some corks still around - but few and far between - which makes one wonder why it took so long to change?
“….there may be some corks still around – but few and far between – which makes one wonder why it took so long to change?”
99ts, I don’t know the answer to your query. I can only think of two reasons: (1) snobbish tradition; and (2) corkscrew manufactures who are probably subsidizing wine makers and wine dealers in order to remain in business. My niece, who knows how much I love wine, gave me a very fancy corkscrew for Christmas. I suppose it was mainly because my old corkscrew frustrated her whenever she tried to open a difficult bottle. I think she paid $50 dollars for it. Surely you can’t get rid of corks if corkscrew manufactures are still investing heavily in manufacturing such high-end corkscrews. For us in California , the vast majority of decent wines, (other than the very cheap wines sold in mega bottles, or the wine coolers in card boards) still have corks. And waitresses in restaurants still endure the stress of making sure that they perfectly uncork wine bottles without breaking the cork in tiny pieces that show up in the wine; every time one of them makes a mistake with my wine, I always try to put her/him at ease by pointing out that tiny bits of cork in the wine never killed any one.
In any case, after testing some good wines from Australia in bottles with no corks, I am sold on wine bottles that are screw-top.
I don’t go to the $$$$ restaurants - but we do eat out quite often - it’s a long time since I saw a cork in a wine bottle. We get alot of NZ wine as well as Australian - none have corks. Strange that in some things we are so like the US - yet in others very different. I often travel with my husband when he is working & it is great to buy a nice wine, take it back to the hotel - order room service & not have to worry about corkscrews! (Why don’t we order the wine through room service - cost 3 times the bottle shop price).
I think we may have been conned for years about the benefit of the cork in a bottle of wine!
I have to say, that, while I think it’s commendable for Jason Collins to be honest about his sexuality, I’m not in agreement with the comparison of Collins to Jackie Robinson. Aside from the fact that Jack Robinson was an outstanding athlete, not only in baseball, but also in football and track, he was also an Army officer and a leader in the civil rights movement. Understanding that these are different times, I just don’t see Jason Collins as the trailblazer that he is being called. Jack Robinson endured injury, insults; he and his family faced death threats, yet he excelled at the sport he loved and fought for the rights of others. Bravery doesn’t even begin to describe the character of Jackie Robinson.
I’m happy for Jason Collins and I’m glad that the discussion is happening. In fact, I’m certain that other professional athletes, male and female, those already comfortable with their lives and others who are gay but not ‘out’, may now be more comfortable with their public images. I’m just really not feeling the comparison of Jason Collins to Jackie Robinson. Two very different issues in two very different times.
There’s no comparison. But keep in mind that Collins’ voice is noteworthy because we’re a country of “firsts,” and sometimes it’s the only way that attention is given to any topic. (That “first” bit always amazes me, since … uh … it’s freakin’ 2013 and we STILL are racking up way too many firsts for people who happen to be women, minorities, gay, or any kind of “other.”)
Aside from the reference to Jackie Robinson, I think the “first” designation for Jason Collins is more being used now as inspiration for all of the LGBT people in our country who are still not out to their families and friends and employers. So many are still horribly unhappy and confused about what to do next. So many are being horribly discriminated against in all facets of their lives, sometimes just because they are “thought to be” gay. And, of course, Jason Collins’ decision to come out (at risk to his career and beyond) may, hopefully, decrease the number of those who are committing suicide - or being murdered by haters.
How we celebrate (and even how we may inappropriately compare) all the “firsts” may not be the important part, perhaps.
This “first” is dumb shit. A coupla names for those that think in these terms should try James Baldwin and Bayard Rustin. Long dead and well known in the Black community and the world.
Thanks Yardarm for telling the TRUTH! Even before James Baldwin, and Bayard Rustin, there was the highly respected poet of the Harlem Renaissance, Countee Cullen. Most people in his time knew his sexual orientation, but that didn’t diminish their esteem of his literary accomplishments. I am so fed up with people who continue to spread the myth that African Americans are more homophobic than other communities, which is absolutely untrue! As for James Baldwin, he was not only a homosexual but he wrote openly about homosexuality. Yet I know of no other writer who is more highly esteemed in the African American community than James Baldwin.
Leave it to Yardarm to point a fine point on it! :cool: Love ya, love ya, love ya!! Bayard Rustin was one helluva an architect of the march on Washington.
I’m really tired of the “black people hate gay people” nonsense. It simply isn’t true. Too many gay and lesbian folks all up in our families and history for us to hate.
JO’, I get your point. And yes, for me, it is an inappropriate comparison. To yardarm’s point below, there were/are prominent gay black men in the civil rights movement. As I have said many times before, I have too much going on in my life to be concerned about who’s doing who. I just think there is conflation of two diifferent issues where gay rights and civil rights are concerned.
Being black and being gay are two very different issues. When you look at a person, you can’t tell whether or not they are gay unless they tell you. With very few exceptions, you can tell if someone is black. They don’t have to say a word.
Yes, I do understand. Hope you knew I was just trying to say I agree it’s the dumb way we address things in our country, and even though the unnecessary “firsts” are called out and nonsensically matched up, the fact that somehow gives permission to our fellow countrymen (who claim to be human beings; sometimes I wonder, and I don’t care how haughty that sounds) to change behaviors and attitudes might be the important part. As dumb and inappropriate as that is, if we’d all just use our brains and have love and empathy for others, maybe the whole lot of us would come kicking and screaming out of the 18th Century.
Well said Isonprize! Here is another overlooked difference: Jackie Robinson was not hiding his blackness! Although everyone knew he was a great athlete the fact that he was Black kept him from being part of professional baseball. As much as I admire Jason Collins for his courage in affirming his identity, the fact of the matter is that his being homosexual did not prevent him from being a professional player in the NBA.
The way I look at this, is that Jason Collins is comparable to that of a light skinned person, with some black ancestry, who spends most of his life passing as white, but finally comes clean to acknowledge that he/she is not pure white. That sort of honesty, in white supremacist society does require courage because it may result in the loss of status. But it’s entirely different from the courage required of a “black first” who has to endure so much ostracism from people who do not think he should be where he is. For me right now, the person whose situation is quite comparable to that of Jackie Robinson, in terms of “firsts”, is President Obama. Like Jackie Robinson, President Obama has been subjected to so much ugliness and double standards just because he is first. I may be wrong, but I doubt that Jason Collins’ sexual orientation, will subject him to the same ugly treatment that Robinson endured. That’s not to say that I do not admire his courage for facing up to who he is. I do. Any actions that lessens discrimination should be applauded.
Libya’s parliament has passed a law banning officials from the Gaddafi era from holding political office.
The vote in the General National Congress (GNC) came a week after militias backing the law began besieging the ministries of justice and foreign affairs.
They had said they would not leave until the bill was passed.
The law could affect senior members of the government, including Prime Minister Ali Zeidan.
Both Mr Zeidan and GNC speaker Mohamed Megaryef were diplomats before the revolution.
A plane powered only by the Sun has completed the first leg of a journey that aims to cross the US.
Solar Impulse, as the vehicle is known, took off at dawn from San Francisco, California, on Friday and landed in Phoenix, Arizona, some 18 hours later.
The craft will stop over in Dallas, St Louis, Washington DC and New York in the coming weeks.
The plane has the same wingspan as an Airbus A340 but it weighs just 1.6 tonnes.
It has already made a day-and-night flight lasting more than 26 hours, and the team aims to eventually circumnavigate the globe in 2015.
Some salty language, but this is part two of one of the best take downs I’ve seen of Chris Matthews, the psychophrenic guy on teevee who gets paid the big bucks to yell each day … and pschophrenically swear to the two different sides he took on the Iraq War. Part one is on the same YouTube page:
Yes indeed! The same is true of Matthews’ attacks on Bill Clinton during the Lewinsky affair, now Matthews is so in love with Bill Clinton whom he calls the President of the World. Matthews is actually worse than Romney when it comes to being a wind vane. I don’t know how much NBC pays him but I am sure he is paid a seven figure salary.
Before he signed his new contract, just days ago, Matthews was being paid $5M annually. I am sure that his New Contract is a bit more. It extends to 2016 election cycle.
Thank you so much, Bobfr. I was getting a little too tired to tweet it to old Chris myself. Will try to remember to watch Part 1 tomorrow, to see what other nasty tidbits can be picked up about that dawg.
Bobfr - Do you want to send your tweet to Phil Donahue? He last posted on Nov. 6, but his wife seems to post regularly, including a few days ago! Just a thought.
Matthews hated both Clintons. In 2008 he said things against Hillary Clinton that his own wife, a Clinton Supporter in 2008 had to call him out. Matthews apologized on air. This was before the sen Clinton made an appearance on his show at some college in 2008. Today, Matthews can’t have enough of Both Clintons.
1st one is even better - “fraternizing with the Washington crowd” is the problem as per Donahue - and the media now says it is the answer. Bush really ruined the country - and the media - big time.
Don Imus called him out Once…..telling Matthews to stop going to all these Inside the beltway parties. The late Tim Russert never did. I still respect him for that.
Jackie that was a great video, watched part 1 & 2. I don’t watch Hardball anymore. If fact I don’t watch any MSNBC unless there is a clip someone makes a comment about. They made a great error when they fired Donahue, he had a really good show and his ratings were skyrocketing.
I remember Donahue’s shows, and they were always interesting and thought-provoking. MSNBC is now a joke. I watch only a few shows, but about a quarter of the time, I watch for a while and then move on if they start up with the PBO-bashing stuff. Cannot tolerate that.
I have seriously had it with Republicans. They are so awful, our whole damn Congress is one big joke. And the only reason we joke is to keep our sanity, ’cause it ain’t funny. Can they not see how they are coming across? Have they no core? Nothing left of the good traits like fairness and decency and integrity and judgment and brotherhood and sisterhood?
Or, at the very least, Mom and apple pie?
If Obama nominated Jesus Christ to head up the *Department of Love Your Neighbor* Lindsey Graham would bitch #ctl #tcot #teaparty #gop #p2
Yet Lindsey Graham has endorsed Sanford in South Carolina - the man who traded his integrity, his honesty, his State & his family for a few nights with the mistress.
Okay, bleary-eyed, one more post, and then I’m getting off Twitter from where so many good things come.
Rush Limbaugh’s world is imploding
… Indeed, Limbaugh’s fall here is so epic that he may be taking down the entire industry; many advertisers have been adverse now to running their spots on any kind of talk show (which is unfortunate, and is unfair to decent conservatives who — unlike Limbaugh — wouldn’t dream of calling someone a “slut” because they disagreed with her). The irony is that Limbaugh could avoided a lot of this with a sincere apology, but just like in most Greek tragedies, hubris is always the greatest of the tragic flaws … Also, the fact that stations even stick with Limbaugh at this point reminds me a lot of those GOP and pseudo-Democrats sticking with the NRA on background checks, and now paying the price in diminished popularity. I guess some folks never learn…until it’s too late.
It was great, especially with all the well wishes from the blog!
Hope you had a chance to have a piece of the delicious cheesy puff cake; made by Chips and served by PBO and FLOTUS! Can you believe they all took the time from their busy schedules to do that?
Hope they all got good rests, especially Chips!
Hello, Dudette! So glad to see you back! I hope you are properly healed. Really missed you. Thank you so much for sharing all this. As always, the First Lady was absolutely awesome.
Hiya Nath! Thank you so much. Missed you too. I’m doing good. Heading back to work today. Oy! :-)
Don’t know what the heck I’m doing up so early. I hope all is well with you and your family.
I audited a company that sold those printers. This is really old technology and I think they are out of business now. I can’t imagine these guns will last very long and anyone who’d buy one would be buying a gun that is probably single use or limited use. Real guns need to be cleaned and maintained to continue to function. In the 80’s during a time in Los Angeles, there was this guy going around breaking to homes and killing people. My moms friend insisted I take his gun. I hid the gun in one spot and the bullets in another so it would not be used against ME. After the police caught the guy I took the gun to be serviced…..the guy told me that because of not being used he doubted that gun would shoot. If someone pays $8k or more to make a gun to sell to others or for their own use I say fine that’s $8K worth of REAL guns that won’t be purchased.
I did not get a chance to watch live as Former Cong Gabby Giffords received the Profile in Courage Award from Ms. Caroline Kennedy.
Is there a chance that a video of this will be included by one of the “Blog Tyrants”? These advocates against gun violence need all the encouragement they can get.
What I have been able to see so far are reports from the Local TV stations in MA
NEWS | Caroline Kennedy honored @GabbyGiffords with the #Courage Award for her work against #gun violence. VIDEO: http://t.co/CI7ZAneMW2
// President Obama’s speech at the 2012 Democratic Convention was structured around a theme: citizenship.
“We, the people — recognize that we have responsibilities as well as rights; that our destinies are bound together; that a freedom which asks only, what’s in it for me, a freedom without a commitment to others, a freedom without love or charity or duty or patriotism, is unworthy of our founding ideals, and those who died in their defense.As citizens, we understand that America is not about what can be done for us. It’s about what can be done by us, together through the hard and frustrating but necessary work of self-government. That’s what we believe.”
In an interview with Michael Scherer that was published a couple of weeks later, he talked about what he was thinking about if he was to win a second term.
“There are a handful of big issues that we’re going to have to deal with…But for me to get those accomplished, I do think I’m going to need to bring in the voices of the American people much more systematically, much more regularly.”
And then yesterday, in his commencement speech to the graduates of Ohio State University, the President said this:
… So briefly, I’ll ask for two things from the Class of 2013: to participate, and to persevere.”
The only legitimate reason it exists in 2013 is to provide a disproportionately sacrosanct, nearly biblical cover for the corporate, for-profit gun manufacturing industry. There’s simply no other use for it, especially within a document filled with timeless and fully legitimate human rights.
Put another way: the Second Amendment is no longer a necessary means of self-preservation, as perhaps it might’ve been in a rural, agrarian, semi-hostile, slave-holding, post-colonial America. Absent the hazards of the late 18th Century, it’s strictly become a means of protecting the availability of a retail product. Hardware. A hobby. Guns are a product which we don’t really need, and which is statistically bad for you, that is unless you’re a beneficiary of the corporate success of the businesses marketing and selling these products.
This Day in History: Equal Pay Trailblazer Lilly Ledbetter Turns 77
This Friday: Tech Meetup at the White House
Join the Conversation: President Obama’s Town Hall with BlogHer and SheKnows
Five Facts About the Gender Pay Gap:
Today’s Important Step to Strengthen Retirement Security
WH Tumblr
It’s 2015. Women should earn the same pay as men for doing...
“Nobody’s ever been faster than this guy. Ever.” —President...
“What gives me so much hope about your generation is that...
“I can say with all sincerity that the essence of my...
If you're going to run any campaign at all about LGBT issues, please don't make the same mistake a lot of them do. Demi, Bi, Ace, and Pansexuals get erased from almost every single one, and it is very disheartening to see that your sexuality is not only erased, but discredited as if it never existed. I struggled to discover my identity for two years because I thought on transexuals, gays, and lesbians were around. Run a campaign that displays those, and you will help more people than you know.
The People’s View
Did the Obama Administration Just Defang the War Hawks on the #IranDeal? Spandan Chakrabarti
Search for a Maintenance President: Thoughts on Hillary Clinton's Candidacy Spandan Chakrabarti
#IranDeal: Sen. Schumer Steps up to Betray His Country and His President Spandan Chakrabarti
What the Progressive Movement Can Learn from Indiana and Arkansas' Retreat on LGBT Discrimination Spandan Chakrabarti
Breakthrough on Iran: President Obama Defies Odds, Defines the True Audacity of Hope Spandan Chakrabarti
Smartypants
Obama's Refusal to Play the Lame Duck Affects the Clinton Campaign
The Opponents of TPP Haven't Convinced Me
President Obama: "Those Days Are Past"
Odds & Ends
An Example of How Dodd/Frank Is Working
A Writing Corner (LL)
Mausoleum
Afternoon music break – Oscar Peterson
Tall Buildings
Morning funnies
Goodnight
Greg Sargent
Happy Hour Roundup
The new Iran bill: Better, but still risky
Why you should be thankful on Tax Day
Morning Plum: Marco Rubio pledges to scrap Iran deal, regardless of what our Euro-allies think
Happy Hour Roundup
Steve Benen
Tuesday's Mini-Report, 4.14.15
The ticket that can't lose -- but won't happen
Obama removes Cuba from terror list
Christie shapes platform, eyes Social Security cuts
White House.gov
LL’s on FIRE
Congrats donna on #1 :)
It’s “Cinco de Mayo.” Congrats on #1, Donna.
Yeah, that was a few weeks ago. I truly think that Master Bieber is beyond redemption.
:lol:
DAYUMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!
The chickens are coming home to roost…the level of racism that the MSM has enabled is finally getting to be too much for them to bear..I guess it’s now hurting them in ways that they didn’t expect. When other countries experience our President in a most positive light, and then look at the nastiness that he receives - given a platform by the media….
That was dated May 2007?
True it’s an old article. But, It’s applicable now. Even more so than back in 07. Check the comments section on the article referencing the Graduation Speech in Ohio.
I don’t doubt that it’s relevant - it has ALWAYS been relevant - but I would like to see the media admit it - 5 years later - they don’t.
“The chickens are coming home to roost….”
You are absolutely spot-on Hopefruit! As an oldie, I’ve been around for some time. I’ve never seen so much disrespect of a President from both the elected officials and the supposedly professional journalists! Never! It’s that disrespect that has made it comfortable for extreme racists to come out in the open. Denigrating a duly elected President used to be confined to the fringe elements of our society. Now, however, It’s become acceptable practice in the so called respectable circles. For example: a member of Congress can stand up, during the State of the Union Address to Congress and the Nation, and call a President a liar, and yet suffer absolutely no political repercussion; a supposedly prominent journalist can call a President “a dick” and still keep his job and continue to be regarded as a respectable journalist; a supposedly respected NYT columnist, can mock the President based on falsehoods and still retain her job, and, finally, some members of the WHP can routinely show so much disrespect for the President, something they did not do with previous presidents, and still remain respected by the entire media.
This is what angers me about some of the so called liberal/progressive critics of the President. The so called Liberal/Progressives, who absolutely shut their eyes and close their ears about the racist opposition to President Obama, are quick to join in in blaming him for not achieving their pet projects. It’s true that all Presidents have faced ideological opposition from opposing parties. What is unique about President Obama is that he has faced both ideological opposition and, even more sinister, racial opposition. Normally, Ideological opposition is mitigated by compromises. The same is not true with opposition based on race. This is not an issue that can be compromised. Even the fact that President Obama is of a mixed race is not good enough. The people opposed to the President because of race can only be satisfied by his removal, or failing that, by making him irrelevant.
Finally, in my opinion, I also believe that people opposed to President Obama, who realize that there isn’t much they can do now to remove him, are determined to ensure that he does not succeed, because his success may encourage other non-white candidates to seek the presidency. Already, President has twice overcome the huddle that an African American could not be elected President of the United States. What the white supremacist are fighting for now is to make sure that an African American President must not be allowed to succeed because such a success will further destroy the myth of white supremacy.
nathk - Well said, all of it.
You recall there have been a small number of WHPC “reporters” who have been “disrespectful” to previous Presidents. Or really just asked hard-edged questions. I’m thinking Helen Thomas (on GWB) as one example. The difference between that handful and today’s whole corps of ’em is that previous Presidents and/or Press Secretaries took away the privileges of those few who cornered them, took away their seating or didn’t call on them ever again within the WH press briefing room. I don’t think President Obama has jerked any of them around via Jay Carney or Robert Gibbs in the past, by switching them out of their front seats at the White House. But the way he does it is worse (read: better and oh so totally called for). He just doesn’t grant them one-on-one interviews, as most of his predecessors did. He shuns them. He’s brilliant. Goodnight to you.
Thanks JOB! I hope you have a restful sleep.
Hah! I have never done that. So I rock.
I tried that - couldn’t work out why no cork - sad
99ts, some Australian wines I’ve come across no longer use corks. All you do is unscrew the top just like you do opening a soda bottle. Initially, I was not sure how good they would turn out to be, but actually they are quite good. Some vineyards in CA that are also doing away with wine corks.
I’m a big proponent of screw-top wine bottles.
And with that breaking news, good night all. Stay strong, stay fabulous.
Oh Nath - I do know that - started here years ago - which was when I got caught trying to use a corkscrew - I haven’t seen a bottle of wine using a cork in Oz for a few years - given I buy nothing over $30/bottle (bottle shop price, not restaurant price) - there may be some corks still around - but few and far between - which makes one wonder why it took so long to change?
“….there may be some corks still around – but few and far between – which makes one wonder why it took so long to change?”
99ts, I don’t know the answer to your query. I can only think of two reasons: (1) snobbish tradition; and (2) corkscrew manufactures who are probably subsidizing wine makers and wine dealers in order to remain in business. My niece, who knows how much I love wine, gave me a very fancy corkscrew for Christmas. I suppose it was mainly because my old corkscrew frustrated her whenever she tried to open a difficult bottle. I think she paid $50 dollars for it. Surely you can’t get rid of corks if corkscrew manufactures are still investing heavily in manufacturing such high-end corkscrews. For us in California , the vast majority of decent wines, (other than the very cheap wines sold in mega bottles, or the wine coolers in card boards) still have corks. And waitresses in restaurants still endure the stress of making sure that they perfectly uncork wine bottles without breaking the cork in tiny pieces that show up in the wine; every time one of them makes a mistake with my wine, I always try to put her/him at ease by pointing out that tiny bits of cork in the wine never killed any one.
In any case, after testing some good wines from Australia in bottles with no corks, I am sold on wine bottles that are screw-top.
I don’t go to the $$$$ restaurants - but we do eat out quite often - it’s a long time since I saw a cork in a wine bottle. We get alot of NZ wine as well as Australian - none have corks. Strange that in some things we are so like the US - yet in others very different. I often travel with my husband when he is working & it is great to buy a nice wine, take it back to the hotel - order room service & not have to worry about corkscrews! (Why don’t we order the wine through room service - cost 3 times the bottle shop price).
I think we may have been conned for years about the benefit of the cork in a bottle of wine!
Well done LL!
I have to say, that, while I think it’s commendable for Jason Collins to be honest about his sexuality, I’m not in agreement with the comparison of Collins to Jackie Robinson. Aside from the fact that Jack Robinson was an outstanding athlete, not only in baseball, but also in football and track, he was also an Army officer and a leader in the civil rights movement. Understanding that these are different times, I just don’t see Jason Collins as the trailblazer that he is being called. Jack Robinson endured injury, insults; he and his family faced death threats, yet he excelled at the sport he loved and fought for the rights of others. Bravery doesn’t even begin to describe the character of Jackie Robinson.
I’m happy for Jason Collins and I’m glad that the discussion is happening. In fact, I’m certain that other professional athletes, male and female, those already comfortable with their lives and others who are gay but not ‘out’, may now be more comfortable with their public images. I’m just really not feeling the comparison of Jason Collins to Jackie Robinson. Two very different issues in two very different times.
There’s no comparison. But keep in mind that Collins’ voice is noteworthy because we’re a country of “firsts,” and sometimes it’s the only way that attention is given to any topic. (That “first” bit always amazes me, since … uh … it’s freakin’ 2013 and we STILL are racking up way too many firsts for people who happen to be women, minorities, gay, or any kind of “other.”)
Aside from the reference to Jackie Robinson, I think the “first” designation for Jason Collins is more being used now as inspiration for all of the LGBT people in our country who are still not out to their families and friends and employers. So many are still horribly unhappy and confused about what to do next. So many are being horribly discriminated against in all facets of their lives, sometimes just because they are “thought to be” gay. And, of course, Jason Collins’ decision to come out (at risk to his career and beyond) may, hopefully, decrease the number of those who are committing suicide - or being murdered by haters.
How we celebrate (and even how we may inappropriately compare) all the “firsts” may not be the important part, perhaps.
This “first” is dumb shit. A coupla names for those that think in these terms should try James Baldwin and Bayard Rustin. Long dead and well known in the Black community and the world.
I can speak myself on the James Baldwin influence (on the teenaged me, as well).
P.S. The poetry part, not the social critic part - although, in some ways, the same!
Thanks Yardarm for telling the TRUTH! Even before James Baldwin, and Bayard Rustin, there was the highly respected poet of the Harlem Renaissance, Countee Cullen. Most people in his time knew his sexual orientation, but that didn’t diminish their esteem of his literary accomplishments. I am so fed up with people who continue to spread the myth that African Americans are more homophobic than other communities, which is absolutely untrue! As for James Baldwin, he was not only a homosexual but he wrote openly about homosexuality. Yet I know of no other writer who is more highly esteemed in the African American community than James Baldwin.
Leave it to Yardarm to point a fine point on it! :cool: Love ya, love ya, love ya!! Bayard Rustin was one helluva an architect of the march on Washington.
I’m really tired of the “black people hate gay people” nonsense. It simply isn’t true. Too many gay and lesbian folks all up in our families and history for us to hate.
JO’, I get your point. And yes, for me, it is an inappropriate comparison. To yardarm’s point below, there were/are prominent gay black men in the civil rights movement. As I have said many times before, I have too much going on in my life to be concerned about who’s doing who. I just think there is conflation of two diifferent issues where gay rights and civil rights are concerned.
Being black and being gay are two very different issues. When you look at a person, you can’t tell whether or not they are gay unless they tell you. With very few exceptions, you can tell if someone is black. They don’t have to say a word.
Yes, I do understand. Hope you knew I was just trying to say I agree it’s the dumb way we address things in our country, and even though the unnecessary “firsts” are called out and nonsensically matched up, the fact that somehow gives permission to our fellow countrymen (who claim to be human beings; sometimes I wonder, and I don’t care how haughty that sounds) to change behaviors and attitudes might be the important part. As dumb and inappropriate as that is, if we’d all just use our brains and have love and empathy for others, maybe the whole lot of us would come kicking and screaming out of the 18th Century.
Well said Isonprize! Here is another overlooked difference: Jackie Robinson was not hiding his blackness! Although everyone knew he was a great athlete the fact that he was Black kept him from being part of professional baseball. As much as I admire Jason Collins for his courage in affirming his identity, the fact of the matter is that his being homosexual did not prevent him from being a professional player in the NBA.
The way I look at this, is that Jason Collins is comparable to that of a light skinned person, with some black ancestry, who spends most of his life passing as white, but finally comes clean to acknowledge that he/she is not pure white. That sort of honesty, in white supremacist society does require courage because it may result in the loss of status. But it’s entirely different from the courage required of a “black first” who has to endure so much ostracism from people who do not think he should be where he is. For me right now, the person whose situation is quite comparable to that of Jackie Robinson, in terms of “firsts”, is President Obama. Like Jackie Robinson, President Obama has been subjected to so much ugliness and double standards just because he is first. I may be wrong, but I doubt that Jason Collins’ sexual orientation, will subject him to the same ugly treatment that Robinson endured. That’s not to say that I do not admire his courage for facing up to who he is. I do. Any actions that lessens discrimination should be applauded.
I agree isonprize and jacqueline, there is no comparison. None at all.
Libya’s parliament has passed a law banning officials from the Gaddafi era from holding political office.
The vote in the General National Congress (GNC) came a week after militias backing the law began besieging the ministries of justice and foreign affairs.
They had said they would not leave until the bill was passed.
The law could affect senior members of the government, including Prime Minister Ali Zeidan.
Both Mr Zeidan and GNC speaker Mohamed Megaryef were diplomats before the revolution.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-22423238
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are both set for talks in China with top officials.
Mr Abbas, who arrived in Beijing on Sunday, said he planned to explain the obstacles to talks with Israel.
Mr Netanyahu, who is visiting Shanghai before flying to Beijing later this week, was due to sign trade deals and discuss the issue of Iran.
The two men are not expected to meet while they are in China.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22423959
The chinese are more likely to offer ‘economic solutions’ than military ones.
A plane powered only by the Sun has completed the first leg of a journey that aims to cross the US.
Solar Impulse, as the vehicle is known, took off at dawn from San Francisco, California, on Friday and landed in Phoenix, Arizona, some 18 hours later.
The craft will stop over in Dallas, St Louis, Washington DC and New York in the coming weeks.
The plane has the same wingspan as an Airbus A340 but it weighs just 1.6 tonnes.
It has already made a day-and-night flight lasting more than 26 hours, and the team aims to eventually circumnavigate the globe in 2015.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22369680
Look how much these idiots make ? :(. :(
While it’s still May 5th on the west coast, not sure if anyone posted the President’s statement in honor of Cinco de Mayo, so here it is:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/05/05/statement-president-honor-cinco-de-mayo
Some salty language, but this is part two of one of the best take downs I’ve seen of Chris Matthews, the psychophrenic guy on teevee who gets paid the big bucks to yell each day … and pschophrenically swear to the two different sides he took on the Iraq War. Part one is on the same YouTube page:
And yet Matthews still has a job - he changes his view as it suits his purpose. Matthews forgets what he says 2 days later!!!!!!!!!!!
Which is why I love to hear him called out … he will never get it, but some day he’ll, mercifully for all of us, be fired.
Although I’m pretty sure he “has something” on somebody at MSNBC, because he long ago outlived his usefulness at commentary.
I agree, Jackie, 100%
Yes indeed! The same is true of Matthews’ attacks on Bill Clinton during the Lewinsky affair, now Matthews is so in love with Bill Clinton whom he calls the President of the World. Matthews is actually worse than Romney when it comes to being a wind vane. I don’t know how much NBC pays him but I am sure he is paid a seven figure salary.
Before he signed his new contract, just days ago, Matthews was being paid $5M annually. I am sure that his New Contract is a bit more. It extends to 2016 election cycle.
Thank you so much, Bobfr. I was getting a little too tired to tweet it to old Chris myself. Will try to remember to watch Part 1 tomorrow, to see what other nasty tidbits can be picked up about that dawg.
Covered #1, as well, Jacqueline!!
These two videos should be seen by MILLIONS of people!!!
To that end ….
Chips, everyone, please MAKE IT HAPPEN!
Yes We Can
I.Love.It.
Bobfr - Do you want to send your tweet to Phil Donahue? He last posted on Nov. 6, but his wife seems to post regularly, including a few days ago! Just a thought.
@phil_donahue
@MarloThomas
Good suggestion Jacqueline!
#FORWARD
Yeehaw! Well done, Bobfr, as usual! Hope Phil gets a chuckle that we’re still listening to him.
Just retweeted them both.
Matthews hated both Clintons. In 2008 he said things against Hillary Clinton that his own wife, a Clinton Supporter in 2008 had to call him out. Matthews apologized on air. This was before the sen Clinton made an appearance on his show at some college in 2008. Today, Matthews can’t have enough of Both Clintons.
1st one is even better - “fraternizing with the Washington crowd” is the problem as per Donahue - and the media now says it is the answer. Bush really ruined the country - and the media - big time.
I’ll watch it tomorrow … I’m fading fast! Goodnight to you!
https://twitter.com/Our4thEstate/status/331291047873372160
Typo corrected …..
Thanks Bob - what a phoney indeed - praised GWB like there was no tomorrow
Don Imus called him out Once…..telling Matthews to stop going to all these Inside the beltway parties. The late Tim Russert never did. I still respect him for that.
Jackie that was a great video, watched part 1 & 2. I don’t watch Hardball anymore. If fact I don’t watch any MSNBC unless there is a clip someone makes a comment about. They made a great error when they fired Donahue, he had a really good show and his ratings were skyrocketing.
I remember Donahue’s shows, and they were always interesting and thought-provoking. MSNBC is now a joke. I watch only a few shows, but about a quarter of the time, I watch for a while and then move on if they start up with the PBO-bashing stuff. Cannot tolerate that.
I have seriously had it with Republicans. They are so awful, our whole damn Congress is one big joke. And the only reason we joke is to keep our sanity, ’cause it ain’t funny. Can they not see how they are coming across? Have they no core? Nothing left of the good traits like fairness and decency and integrity and judgment and brotherhood and sisterhood?
Or, at the very least, Mom and apple pie?
Yet Lindsey Graham has endorsed Sanford in South Carolina - the man who traded his integrity, his honesty, his State & his family for a few nights with the mistress.
Well, of course he had to endorse a fellow Repupblican. Birds of a feather flock together. And then they ____ all over the rest of us.
http://nymag.com/news/features/obama-climate-change-2013-5/
interesting article indeed.
Okay, bleary-eyed, one more post, and then I’m getting off Twitter from where so many good things come.
Rush Limbaugh’s world is imploding
… Indeed, Limbaugh’s fall here is so epic that he may be taking down the entire industry; many advertisers have been adverse now to running their spots on any kind of talk show (which is unfortunate, and is unfair to decent conservatives who — unlike Limbaugh — wouldn’t dream of calling someone a “slut” because they disagreed with her). The irony is that Limbaugh could avoided a lot of this with a sincere apology, but just like in most Greek tragedies, hubris is always the greatest of the tragic flaws … Also, the fact that stations even stick with Limbaugh at this point reminds me a lot of those GOP and pseudo-Democrats sticking with the NRA on background checks, and now paying the price in diminished popularity. I guess some folks never learn…until it’s too late.
http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/attytood/Rush-Limbaughs-world-is-imploding-.html
the revulsion to Limbaugh’s routine hate-filled behavior is long overdue.
advocates for the StopRush push have been tenacious
Yes, I try to R/T those advocates on Twitter, as much as I can. Good job to all the warriors!
Thank you all for making my day sooooo special.
Happy Birthday Canadabarb4obama. I hope you had a great birthday. ((((((hugs)))))
It was great, especially with all the well wishes from the blog!
Hope you had a chance to have a piece of the delicious cheesy puff cake; made by Chips and served by PBO and FLOTUS! Can you believe they all took the time from their busy schedules to do that?
Hope they all got good rests, especially Chips!
Early GM Everyone!
Ran across some great stuff on FLOTUS on Democratic Underground
http://www.democraticunderground.com/11029689
Great pictures AND this video:
She’s so wonderful!
Hello, Dudette! So glad to see you back! I hope you are properly healed. Really missed you. Thank you so much for sharing all this. As always, the First Lady was absolutely awesome.
Hiya Nath! Thank you so much. Missed you too. I’m doing good. Heading back to work today. Oy! :-)
Don’t know what the heck I’m doing up so early. I hope all is well with you and your family.
Catch ya later! :-)
Missed all your late night videos - so pleased you are doing good - going back to work - Hope that is good - I have to admit I like being retired :)
Have a beautiful day everyone! :-)
This is some scary shit.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22421185
We as humans ain’t gonna make it.
I audited a company that sold those printers. This is really old technology and I think they are out of business now. I can’t imagine these guns will last very long and anyone who’d buy one would be buying a gun that is probably single use or limited use. Real guns need to be cleaned and maintained to continue to function. In the 80’s during a time in Los Angeles, there was this guy going around breaking to homes and killing people. My moms friend insisted I take his gun. I hid the gun in one spot and the bullets in another so it would not be used against ME. After the police caught the guy I took the gun to be serviced…..the guy told me that because of not being used he doubted that gun would shoot. If someone pays $8k or more to make a gun to sell to others or for their own use I say fine that’s $8K worth of REAL guns that won’t be purchased.
I did not get a chance to watch live as Former Cong Gabby Giffords received the Profile in Courage Award from Ms. Caroline Kennedy.
Is there a chance that a video of this will be included by one of the “Blog Tyrants”? These advocates against gun violence need all the encouragement they can get.
What I have been able to see so far are reports from the Local TV stations in MA
There are some videos on youtube - this is one - I haven’t watched it all - but the quality seems good
I can’t watch Gabby without weeping - it is a wonderful video - tears and all.
thanks for providing the link
Faces of the NRA
http://slideshow.nbcnews.com/slideshow/news/faces-of-the-nra-inside-americas-gun-club-51784223/
And in the house it fails? Of course!
A great way to start the week with the Universal acts of kindness… ( Wonderful people and beautiful music.
MoooOOOOOOooorning everyone, will have R&S done very, very-ish soon
Ugggggggggggggh, he is creeeeeeepy!!! Nearly-ish done!
How do you know he’s a he ? he could be a she too, you know?
wimmin/smh
The President has something on his mind
// President Obama’s speech at the 2012 Democratic Convention was structured around a theme: citizenship.
“We, the people — recognize that we have responsibilities as well as rights; that our destinies are bound together; that a freedom which asks only, what’s in it for me, a freedom without a commitment to others, a freedom without love or charity or duty or patriotism, is unworthy of our founding ideals, and those who died in their defense.As citizens, we understand that America is not about what can be done for us. It’s about what can be done by us, together through the hard and frustrating but necessary work of self-government. That’s what we believe.”
In an interview with Michael Scherer that was published a couple of weeks later, he talked about what he was thinking about if he was to win a second term.
“There are a handful of big issues that we’re going to have to deal with…But for me to get those accomplished, I do think I’m going to need to bring in the voices of the American people much more systematically, much more regularly.”
And then yesterday, in his commencement speech to the graduates of Ohio State University, the President said this:
… So briefly, I’ll ask for two things from the Class of 2013: to participate, and to persevere.”
http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-president-has-something-on-his-mind.html?spref=tw
Chips will be ready soonish…so this may get lost before a new thread…but this is your MUST READ for Monday!
http://bobcesca.thedailybanter.com/blog-archives/2013/05/an-argument-for-repealing-or-clarifying-the-second-amendment.html
The only legitimate reason it exists in 2013 is to provide a disproportionately sacrosanct, nearly biblical cover for the corporate, for-profit gun manufacturing industry. There’s simply no other use for it, especially within a document filled with timeless and fully legitimate human rights.
Put another way: the Second Amendment is no longer a necessary means of self-preservation, as perhaps it might’ve been in a rural, agrarian, semi-hostile, slave-holding, post-colonial America. Absent the hazards of the late 18th Century, it’s strictly become a means of protecting the availability of a retail product. Hardware. A hobby. Guns are a product which we don’t really need, and which is statistically bad for you, that is unless you’re a beneficiary of the corporate success of the businesses marketing and selling these products.
can I get an AMEN!
Amen and one more. AMEN!
Rise and Shiiiiiiiiiiine!
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/05/06/rise-and-shine-491/