Photo by Zooey
This was taken in January, 2008. It always amazed me that before this I’d only seen the kids sledding on this hill once. 17 inches of snow in one day kind of brought ‘em out. They had loads of fun, and I had fun watching them and staying warm inside the house. :)
Sadly, this hillside has been cut away, and now has an apartment building sitting in front of it.
This is our daily open thread — chat away!
Advertisement
Like this:
3 bloggers like this post.
I remember some of your summer pictures of this hill. I always have mixed feelings when landscapes change – one person sees a bunch of kids having fun on a winter day, someone else the money they make developing an open space.
Anyone see Jon Stewart last night? He wasn’t very funny. Neither were the four 9-11 responders dying of a variety of horrible diseases – they weren’t funny either. I bet if Mitch McConnell, John Boner and company were left in a room with them, they wouldn’t find it funny as well, if they survived the event.
Stewart’s and his guests’ anger was palpable, Christo-fundy Mike Huckabee considered discretion the better part of valour when he realised Stewart didn’t want to talk about his new kids’ book.
One of the most powerful Daily Shows of recent history in its skewering of how far from reality the political and media classes in this country are. F***ing bastards.
Turtle, I grieve a little every time I look out my window.
I knew when I bought this place that the land could be developed. I just thought they’d use a little sense in building, since both of the buildings they built are more than 50% empty. The rental market has been glutted for years, and they keep building….
Mexico crashes drone into El Paso back yard!
Will Republicans demand retaliation? News at six.
paul, what’s the buzz in El Paso on that story of the drone?
—
Can you imagine if this drone alighted in AZ? Brewer would be conflating the story to no end – going on and on how the ‘illegals’ are attempting to enter via this ‘spy’ apparatus.
Ebb, someone probably dragged it over the border to El Paso to avoid Gov Headless Bodies’ drama.
If there’s a god, the next one will crash land in the middle of Fort Huachuca, and Brewer will demand a nuclear retaliation plus a declaration of war.
Actually, she doesn’t need a god to look interminably stupid, she can handle that all by herself.
Man, am I glad I left AZ!
I failed to mention that this will be billed as the first attack on US soil by a foreign nation since WWII and that it occurred less than 2 years into the Obama administration.
Walt, it’s frightening that you channeled a troll, so perfectly, right there…
Reminds me of the old Irish joke:
“In Ireland’s worst ever air disaster, a Cessna plunged into a graveyard yesterday in bad weather. Authorities have so far recovered at least 150 bodies…..”
TtT and Z – the ‘keep building’ on open land syndrome is everywhere. A large percentage of the boom building office space is empty or nearly empty but the city has allowed continued devastation of open space for the sake of building. It is quite disgusting.
We used to have a large population of Burrowing Owls (who happen to be beneficial as natures vermin control) and has dwindled as the space is taken up with empty buildings.
TtT – I saw John’s show. It was both maddening and heartbreaking. Washington has the “let them eat cake” attitude. Besides, firefighters and police are part of the Government’s social safety network, therefore, they are part of Government socialism and the Repubs want nothing to do with socialism until they need it.
I’ve been watching the old business park where I used to work for the last 3 years: I used to take the old dog down there for a walk usually accompanied by AndytheTurtle. My old office has been vacant for 3.5 years; a new office that was started in 2001-2002 and only completed last year after a long delay – empty. Other offices were empty for 4 or 5 years and only just have occupants. And yet, there are two or three new ones going up. WTF?
Money.
I think developers have an orgasm everytime they see a bulldozer clearing the land.
Best time to build is when little else is being built, during a recession. Both labor and materials are inexpensive right now. We haven’t had a real destructive hurricane in several years either.
Deep pockets always make their moves in tough times. I had a boss that went to every equipment auction during the first Bush recession, because so many small companies went belly up.
Nicole Bell nails it… never fall in love with a politician. They are all the same. Every politician that I met and know carries a bit of conceit in them. And then there is “the Party” right or wrong piece in each politician.
http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/going-through-stages-grief-and-coming
House, yes that is part of the syndrome – but here the ‘tax break’ incentive is so infuriating.
Empty buildings are a bonus for the developers because the city says that’s ok we’ll give you the tax break until it’s ‘fully’ occupied. Yes they do say fully – so the city cuts off its nose to spite its face. Build, build, build but don’t collect taxes to help the city.
Our current Mayor (spit) rants at the Fire and Police unions for not giving up so much because of the budget – yet, yet empty buildings on expensive land get exemptions from paying taxes that could help alleviate.
Oh, sorry – it is a very sore spot with me…(and I detest the mayor)
The House passed the tax cut deal late last night, and Obama is signing the bill sometime this afternoon.
Shhhhhh, if we play it right, no one will notice…
Found this picture on MSNBC. It’s entitled “Swiss Moon.”
It’s making me think of our hard-working EV.
Zooey, all the f’g media is touting it as a truly ‘bi-partisan’ bill (again puke).
Ebb, they’re also calling it a “big win” for Obama.
That may be true, but what about the American people (minus the top 2%)?
15 days from today – oh we will be so f’d (and not pleasantly so).
The idea of Mitch and Bitch (Boner) for the next two years makes me want to hibernate.
The new Repugnant party meme seems to be “this is not a republican or democratic win it’s a win for the American people” (then I recalled corporations are citizens).
The biggest problem with that tax concession bill is not really the extension of the Bush cuts for the rich, or for the relaxation of estate tax rules. I mean, hey, we can borrow everything we don’t collect from China, right?
The problem is the reduction in S.S. assessment rate, because that in and by itself will serve to load the guns that are aimed at S.S., sole goal to destroy it (which I don’t quite understand — why is that so important to doctrinaire Republicans? For 75 freakin’ years, already — the urge…NEED….to kill a program that helps tens of millions, and is PAID FOR already. Nonsensical to the nth degree, that urge). Still, that’s what the provision is: a tool, handed them by an apparently naive president who will say, “it’s temporary.” Yeah, but it’s all that’s NEEDED for the Republicans to come in with Hammer and Sickle (hmmmh … interesting metaphor) with goal of busting it up and cutting it down. DESTROY S.S. the goal. A far better solution would have been to eliminate the cap, and in so doing fund it for the next century at least. But no.
America needs a new anthem. I suggest the title be “Marching to Oblivion.” Because that’s exactly what we’re doing.
And to think that a mere 24 months ago I was ebullient, positively minded for the first time in literally DECADES. And now, one or two heartbeats later, I’m trying to find a way to leave this country forever, simply because I can’t stand the thought of what it’s become, of what it IS.
Warning frugal: it’s heavy metal (posted for demonstration purposes only)
ebb: “Warning frugal: it’s heavy metal (posted for demonstration purposes only)”
Heh. You’re pure delight in the sweetness department!
“Can you imagine if this drone alighted in AZ?”
It did; we elected it Governor …
Obama Signs $858B Tax Deal Into Law
President Obama signs a bipartisan bill that will extend expiring Bush-era tax
cuts and offer 13 more months of unemployment benefits for jobless Americans.
MORE DETAILS:
link
“Obama Salutes the Spirit of Compromise”
Um, that’s not what you did, Prez.
1700 workers at a large drug maker sent an e-mail to call an 800 number where an anonymous person on the line delivered the news that they were laid off.
There simply aren’t enough expletives to cover how mad this makes me. It’s the most gutless thing I have ever heard.
Un-fucking believable.
Wow, that’s is disgusting. Was it really going to cost the company all that much to let people know in person? Maybe they think they’ll avoid being shot this way?
The worse things get in this economy, the more people will be dehumanized. They don’t have to treat us like humans, because at some point we’ll be crawling all over each other like rats to garbage, just for whatever job they’re willing to throw our way.
Tax Cuts For The Rich, Scraps For The Jobless
WTF – OMFG – and any other expletive….
Happy Thanksgiving, suckers!!
As they sit back and giggle like mad…
I see Shayne is dining on the CoC TP thread trolls. Fun to watch!
Shayne kicks ass.
Not much there in the way of nutrition though. Troll is pretty much all gristle and bone!
This is all part and parcel about turning the United States into a “Christian” Nation.
Transfer nearly all the wealth into the hands of a very few, and let them pass it to their heirs in perpetuity.
Little is left for 90% of the population.
Take away their jobs, and, at the same time, unemployment, social security and disability payments.
With no money, no food, no shelter, and no governmental safety net, the destitute must look to the church for help.
Only then will the “Christians” realize the church doesn’t have the resources.
Two convenient scapegoats have already been preselected: Mexicans and Muslims. The masses will be told to turn on them first, and they will.
Unions will then be blamed, then the minimum wage.
At all times there will be an incessant cry to deregulate businesses and cut taxes.
Republicans want to keep the economy depressed for the next two years, figuring they’ll have a better chance of ousting Obama. With control of the House, they are positioned to do just that.
If Mainstream Media were truly liberal, we would not be in the position we are in now, and we would not be heading down the path to disaster.
What to do? Forget worring about what may come, and enjoy the present.
Does anyone understand the logic of ones age in China? My amah explained it to me when I was a bit short of three. In the European/Middle Eastern systems one can celebrate the second occurrence of a calendar event at the age of one. The only logical solution is to be given the age of one at birth. But,other problems arise from the Chinese method.
I thought the Chinese started counting at conception. Don’t know where I heard that from, though.
Then again, the Chinese Zodiac on the placemats of the restaurant I used to go to always had you marry someone 7 years older or younger than yourself. (or multiples of 7).