This is our open thread. Talk amongst yourselves. Guess who forgot about being responsible for this today?
Update from Cats… glad to see that Shayne got a round tuit.
TheZoo
Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness. ~Martin Luther King, Jr.
TheZoo 
Uh-oh, sounds like someone ought to be docked a day’s pay. 🙂
It occurred to me after seeing someone else’s tweet, if the GOP hates Welfare recipients so much, why are they so willing to pay for Israel’s defense? Why does Israel have to come to us for a handout? Sure, we “loan” them money so they can buy our weapons from our MIC, but then we forgive the loans. If the GOP is so willing to do this for Israel, why won’t they do it for American citizens? And if we’re buying intelligence from Israel, why don’t we just do that directly?
The GOP needs to keep their fundy base happy.
When Christ returns to claim all the universe for American Wingnuts, it’ll be in Israel where he lands. But for some reason most of us can’t quite comprehend, Israel has to stay the same as it is today(???). Therefore . . . etc.
It’s like the war on Christmas. Sort of. Liberal atheists … you know the type … just don’t get it. Which also explains why we haven’t nuked Iran yet and vaporized the buggers that hate Israel, where Jesus will splash down when he returns. Unless Iran destroys Israel, of course. Then what?
Shit. None of that makes a whole lot of sense. Let me either talk to the lady at our Post Office or maybe call my cousin in AZ, then I’ll get back to you with a full explanation of everything you need to know. I’ll ask about dinosaurs on the Ark, too. One can’t ever have enough detail.
Ask her why Dog spared all the sea creatures from the Great Flood and the sea birds too – I’ve always wondered why they got a pass and it was only the lan-lubbers who got ‘offed’ in the Flood ….
the US has watched Israel slowly eradicate the Palestinian people, they’ve starved them, bombed them, over-run them, tearing down homes, schools hospitals and building Israeli settlements in their place….and yet we’ve been complacent because Israelis are the chosen people of the Flying Spaghetti Monster…
who are we?….really??
The Israeli government is doing to the Palestinians the same thing that the US government did to the American Indians. It’s a pattern that keeps repeating itself.
We are the Blossoming Fascist American Republican Terrorists. AKA F*A*R*T Blossoms. Boner is our leader. Or at least he was until recently. We’ll have to wait and see how it goes.
Shayne, it’s OK as long as you edit in a post sometime during the day. Meanwhile, this placeholding open thread is sufficient. 😀
I would put up a cartoon but the cartoon bin is empty. 😦
Shayne, it’s ok even if you can’t edit in a post later. It’s not like I haven’t forgotten on occasion & I know you’re still getting used to doing a daily open thread.
Thanks again for volunteering to help us out. If you need help with next week’s, email me off-board.
BnF, I was merely trying to allow her to procrastinate until she could get a round tuit .
That would make a great picture for today’s post. 🙂
That’s a great idea Cats and I tried to figure out how to do that and failed. House knows me too well.
Do you want me to try and post it?
Done. Happy to help 🙂 Now Zooey will have to send you your paycheck. Oops, I forgot. You handle the books.
HoR – love the Round Tuit.
But – how does one break into the ranks of Pro-crastination, without ever having first been an Am-crastinator? And, if, on The Zoo, being a Pro-crastinator, as opposed to an Am-crastinator, means getting paid for blogging, does that make a Pro-crastinator a true “blog-whore” as opposed to one who merely blogs for fun? And, while I’m on this drunkin’ ramble, is an Am-crastinator, i.e. one who blogs for fun without getting paid, merely a lazy Blognicator?
Anyway….I just wanted to thank Shayne for putting something up…without pressuring her to do more…as she gets used to “Monday, Monday – Oh What a Day….”
So….Shayne….THANK YOU!!!! for posting something today! (((hug)))
Eliot Spitzer Ends His Show on Current TV
So, I guess that means Fugelsang will be on tonight then.
So in other words, Eliot Spitzer is NOT a Commie-Nazi-Socialist-Marxist-Fascist-Muslim?
Wow. Who could ever have guessed!
What I’d REALLY like to see is for Al Jazeera to purchase Fox from Murdoch! Now THAT would be interesting! Imagine it: Fox “News” actually doing real NEWS? Hey, it could happen!
Fingers crossed in anticipation. 🙂
So in other words, Eliot Spitzer is NOT a Commie-Nazi-Socialist-Marxist-Fascist-Muslim?
Wow. Who could ever have guessed!
I could have. He was my Governor, after all. He was no friend to Wall Street when he was NYS AG, but that’s why we loved him. Although it’s hard to produce evidence to prove this, I have no trouble believing that Wall St execs found his weak spot (expensive hookers) and exploited that to ruin him when he was Governor.
[Edited for clarity. Forgot to add the question to my quote.]
I hope The Young Turks remain on the air.
I am in agreement with your assessment of the “who and how” that took Spitzer out of office.
Obama’s second term picks…:
Hey Obama, how about Krugman for SoT? – I bet the attack dogs leave Hagel alone after this one….
And Chuck Hagel for DoD:
– one thumb up.
Rewarding torture – John Brennan for the CIA – business as usual everyone – two thumbs down
And John Kerry for SoS? Nothing against Kerry, but …. Scott Brown? Mr president – you gave yourself Jan Brewer in Arizona, remember? One thumb down for Kerry because of the senate seat.
I saw a political cartoon yesterday of “Barney Frankenstein” given Kerry’s senate seat in order to “finish us all off”…..geeesh….baggers…
Let’s call them what they really are. The “baggers” are fascists. Their assault weapon owners could easily become brownshirts or blackshirts.
Headline of the Day (followed by disgusting lead of the day):
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2008/06/30/Patton.ART_ART_06-30-08_B3_MEAKE9P.html
Oh yuk.
Which US Senator just suggested that maybe we don’t need to be sending billions of dollars a year in aid to a country with a GDP of $30,000 per capita? Hint: His son was just arrested for drunkeness on an airplane:
http://world.time.com/2013/01/07/u-s-senator-calls-for-gradual-cut-in-aid-to-israel/
“He says it would be “harder to be a friend of Israel if we are out of money.””
So, he bases his friendships on how much money people have?
Money, yes. Money buys power, see, and to a fascist like Rand Paul, Power is what counts for and defines EVERYTHING in this life.
I *puke* in his general direction. Can’t stand the bastard.
Maybe-See TV:
Alex Jones the creator of the petition to get Piers Morgan deported will be the guest on the Piers Morgan program tonight:
http://planet.infowars.com/activism/alex-jonespiers-morgan-cnn
I’ll be too busy from 7pm central until about 11. I have a previous engagement in Miami.
Bama or Irish??
I thought we had established that long ago. ROLL TIDE!!!
yep….Roll Tide!!
I have to go with Notre Dame cuz my daughter’s name is Irish.
I have plaid boxers on, but i’m still sayin’ ‘Bama
Crimson & Gray, Roll Tide!
You can watch the re-run on Tuesday. It should be interesting. Piers Morgan is not known to be subtle.
nice…
Damn…that didn’t work!…
http://www.motherjones.com/slideshows/2012/10/childrens-eyes-earth-2012childrens-eyes-earth-2012
Those are great! I love the little boys diving from the back of what I think are water buffalo.
Great captures by the young ones!
One of the aspects of modern life that leads one to speculate is the omnipresence of cameras. Most of the speculation is about their function as witnesses to historic moments but the exciting part is that we are raising a generation of excellent photographers.
Hi, gang. I survived the playoff game but my beloved Vikings got creamed. They had to go with their backup quarterback and he was horrific. Oh well. No one expected them to win 10 games and go to the playoffs so I’m not too disappointed. Plus, it looks like the weather will allow some flying this week.
Flying in the best therapy!
Indeed. I don’t think that cabin fever will be much of a problem for me this winter.
have you ever flown a glider?…i’ve never been in one, but think that would be most serene.
I’m home sick, too, just got up a little while ago. Shayne had emailed me, but I didn’t see her email ’til about 15 minutes ago. I was just scrambling to put something up, then I saw Zooey’s post. Sorry, guys!
There, Shayne, I added a few graphics just for fun. Now I’m going back to bed.
Thanks Jane. Do you have the same head and chest cold. Seems like it doesn’t want to go away. One family member has had it for 6 weeks. Yikes.
Everyone in our family has had it and I am happy to report that most of us have recovered from it. This virus does tend to hang around for awhile. It knocks flat on your back for about 2 to 3 days. After that, your energy starts to return.
The one I had was bad enough to go to the doctor on a Saturday, December 8th. I had over 100 fever and a throat infection. My worst day was the following Wednesday. I went back to work on the 17th, still coughing every time I tried a deep breath or sharp breath. I had that cough well over three weeks. It started with a cough, and ended with one.
The cough seems to last forever. I first got this virus on December 18. Fortunately, I didn’t get a fever, however, I had a sore throat for 2 days which is very unusual for me.
No, I just feel like I’ve been beaten all over. Everything aches.
QOTD:
“Hagel’s critics have helpfully informed us that Paul Wolfowitz considers someone else a better choice. Were Dick Cheney and Paul Bremer not available for advice? ” – James Fallows.
There is no pleasing the Republican Congress. They eat their own.
Happy Birthday Zora Neale Hurston January 7, 1891 – January 28, 1960
In one of their more desperate moves, the neocons, who have shown zero interest in the plight of gay servicemembers, decided to play the gay card calling Chuck Hagel homophobic and that he’s used gay slurs. This kinda shit the GOP pulls infuriates me.
And Billy Kristol is one of the biggest Hagel bashers over Israel, yet he once wanted Hagel for vice-president under Dubya. No accusations of anti-Semitism then.
I have only one question, and I know the answer’s probably obvious, but still, here it goes: Why, for what legitimate reason, would ANYONE with a FUNCTIONING MIND give one single SHIT about ANYTHING that ANY neocon EVER had to say (or has said) about ANYTHING at all, period?
Yeah, ok, I get it. I used the words ‘functioning mind’ and that automatically eliminates more than half of today’s population of the entire freakin’ goddam planet.
Times are tough, I’m thinking.
Shit. There I go, THINKING again. Lucky for Amurka, there are guns out there, and one of these first days they gonna be used on dem damn THINKERS!
Hmmmm. How, I wonder, does an idiot with a gun spot a thinker out there in the crowd? I mean, hey, I’m blond (greying, actually) and blue-eyed, so …
Oh shit …
QOTD II:
“If disarmament in Iraq requires the use of force, we need to consider carefully the implications and consequences of our actions. The future of Iraq after Saddam Hussein is also an open question. Some of my colleagues and some American analysts now speak authoritatively of Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds in Iraq, and how Iraq can be a test case for democracy in the Arab world. How many of us really know and understand much about Iraq, the country, the history, the people, the role in the Arab world? I approach the issue of post-Saddam Iraq and the future of democracy and stability in the Middle East with more caution, realism and a bit more humility… Imposing democracy through force in Iraq is a roll of the dice. A democratic effort cannot be maintained without building durable Iraqi political institutions and developing a regional and international commitment to Iraq’s reconstruction. No small task.” — Chuck Hagel in 2002, decidedly not buying into neocon bullshit.
That’s big news. How will the Pope respond? Will he blame the nuns?
Quick question: why are popes always males? Is there any sort of logical reason for that, or is it just … well, you know, yet one more example of human stupidity?
Serious question, btw, not meant to be rhetorical.
Umm, women cannot be priests in the Catholic Church.
Right. And why is that????
Because the Catholic religion has the need to control women.
Some of the first priests in Christianity were women. If you research the Gnostics you may find further information about that. It was the Roman Emperor Constantine that defined the Catholic church. He attempted to destroy all the Gnostic gospels, although one survived that was hidden in a cave in Egypt.
Seems to me it’s all proof positive that the human male has, indeed, evolved from the pasture bull. Dumb as a stump, i.o.w., and equally noisy, as in *BLEAT/MOOWAWHHH.* [THIS is the blood of Christ] etc.
I always figured that the reason there were no female priests was that women (generally speaking, of course — not counting Sarah Palin or Batshit Bachmann) are more intelligent than pasture bulls. I’ve seen nothing that suggests I’m wrong, at least not so far in this life.
Here’s some effen mumbo-jumbo from the Pope:
man was made in Dog’s image, women were his afterthought, ala Jewish tradition…if old Jewish men write the opium induced book, they make the story fulfill their dreams
Ah, if ONLY there really was a “god” out there somewhere, all this religious shit might make some sense. But there isn’t one, and so … well, how do those who understand and comprehend the essences of reality deal with those who don’t?
Or, to be more blunt: Yeah, ok, so I do indeed understand the relationship of flies with bullshit, but why is it that both flies and bullshit presume they have the AUTHORITY to demand that I pretend to be either a pile of crap in a pasture, or a fly that’s interested in walking on/with same … when my preference is, well, ‘different’ than that?
Flies and shit go together, true story. Kinda defines religion and, ummm, Homo sapiens, for lack of a better word. No wonder we, the species, are as fucked up as we are.
Keywan Riahi, IIASA energy program leader and study co-author said, “With a twenty-year delay, you can throw as much money as you have at the problem, and the best outcome you can get is a fifty-fifty chance of keeping temperature rise below two degrees.” Two degrees is the level that is currently supported by over 190 countries as a limit to avoid dangerous climate change.
That was frightening to watch.
I see I’m not the only one in sick bay. Hacking and coughing has been giving me a headache beyond the sinus aches. A full 7 days now and I’m not encouraged by reports from others. Just got back from the doc and have some codeine laced cough medicine and the doc says my sinus isn’t infected – could have fooled me! Feel like a wimp but it’s beating me up.
I hope everyone else is feeling better.
flu is a huge epidemic right now…sit tight, drink fluids
Thanks fatherbob. Until yesterday, I was taking Scout out for walks. It’s best to let others do that much to my chagrin. Today I took her to a daycare. Like you say sit tight.
I had some of that similar cough medicine, which was limited to twice a day. I used Robitussin in between those doses. I did get an antibiotic prescription because I did have a throat infection with a fever.
Robitussin didn’t work for me!!
Take the codeine stuff in the morning and evening, and space doses of the Robitussin in between. My doctor said that’d be OK and I have high blood pressure.
I can take the codeine stuff up to 4 times a day! It’s mostly at night where I wake up and all hell is breaking loose. Then it takes forever to settle down and get back to sleep. I’ve slept more during the day in the last 4 days than in the previous 20 years!!
I usually sleep about 2 hours at a time, then I have to get up and soothe the inflamed throat and sinuses. I always have to explain that’s why I can’t work through it when I have it.
QOTD III:
“It’s the same 67 over and over again. It’s the bath salts caucus, the people that would rather eat your face than cut taxes on the rich.” — Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) on Monday mocking the 67 House Republicans who voted against disaster relief funds for the victims of Hurricane Sandy.
I think that was on Stephanie Miller this morning. She had a good show today.
It were.
“Bath salts caucus”, that’s a good name for them. Personally, I thought they had their brains fried on meth.
Newtown politician tells Gabby Giffords to “Stay out of my towns,” (that’s not a typo) then accuses her of political posturing. Because Gabby Giffords has no personal reasons to support gun control:
http://tv.msnbc.com/2013/01/07/newtown-pol-to-gabrielle-giffords-stay-out-of-my-towns/
Last I heard, Gabby Giffords was free to roam the nation and if it took her to Newtown, CT, then so be it.
Hovey did the Repugnant (non)apology:
There’s no other way to express it. GOoPers are vile people.
How dare you! What will you do you little weasel? Shoot her? Will you respond in the same fashion to those heartbroken parents of your community who want to turn their personal tragedy towards the greater good by suggesting that maybe, just maybe, it’s time to have a serious talk about the role of guns in our oh-so-very exceptional culture?
I am getting nervous tonight. It wasn’t like this against Texas in ’09 or the rematch with LSU last year. This is a lot like the election. Everything I’ve seen tells me not to worry, but I can’t until I see things are going to happen the way they should.
I watched several Notre Dame games where they struggled against so-so teams, like Pitt taking them to overtime. A 6-6 Ole Miss took Pitt to the woodshed, as Alabama did to Ole Miss. Alabama shocked Michigan, and Notre Dame beat them by 7.
Roll Tide!
Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer
Give ‘em hell, Alabama! 😀
You realize that in the Pitt game if the officials had noticed two ND players with the same number on the field at the same time on a critical play, ND would’ve lost that game.
Comparing scores with other teams is fruitless, and dangerous. It’s all about matchups. Except for the Oklahoma game this year, I wasn’t very impressed by ND. But they did manage wins. Having said that, Alabama has had some trouble with mobile QBs like Golston. He’s the key to this game.
But it doesn’t matter too much to me who wins but I’m leaning towards the Tide. I just wish they were a Northern state, heh. Besides, ND fans are a bit more insufferable.
Ummm, GOLSON.
Golston is no Johnny Manziel. i saw that game coming and it was worse than I feared. Texas A&M could beat Alabama or Notre Dame tonight. Manziel would have annihilated any team ND played this year.
I’m not a big fan of college football in general or Alabama in particular but I really, really, hope they crush Notre Dame. I just don’t know if I can suffer through a decade of holy rollers taking a national championship as some kind of proof of God’s favor.
A&M might be the best team in the country right now.
Nope, Oregon is the best.
What a super cutie.
Had one of those once……. it got *BIGGER*!!!
Alabama has one really big advantage tonight. Not being broadcast on CBS, Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson are nowhere to be found on my TV tonight.
My wish for this to be Alabama vs Oregon tonight didn’t manifest itself. Sooooooooooo go Tide!
Who are these guys singing the anthem and why can’t they perform in pants without holes in the legs?
https://twitter.com/WillyFerrell/status/288450238417612800
Witnessing this live must have been the ultimate in nature observations
Been there. Done that.
We were on a whale watching tour hosted by an eminent cetologist named Ted Walker. We ran into a pod of false killer whales followed by a huge school of dolphins. Either of those were considered a once in a lifetime experience for just off San Diego but they were just the appetizer.
After having our fun with the little whales we ran into three gray whales who were “courting”. The female was so engrossed with rolling around and vamping it up for the boys that we were were able to approach within about 100 feet. Dr. Walker was telling us that no one had ever witnessed courting in the open ocean when he broke off and yelled at his wife; “what do you mean you’re out of film?” Well? It turns out that everybody was out of film having used it all on the dolphins and false killer whales. It was about a decade, as I recall, before anyone managed to catch gray whale courtship on film.
pete, how absolutely wonderful to have had such an outing!
Despite no film the magnificent memories are still vivid in your memory!
memorymind!ROLL TIDE!!!!!!!
That’ll work.
That too.
ND: “We wuz robbed!”
That three.
Dagger!
Cool.
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/slideshow/2012-national-geographic-photography-contest-18135131#.UOt3iYV_wVc.twitter
The photo of the Indonesian mental health facility is sad. Apparently
It’s a nation that is more worried about regulating women (read – keeping them subservient) : out lawing riding astride a horse. Only side-saddle. Than assisting those with mental illness.
More than 20, friend. More than 20.
Well, according to certain freak at FAUX”News”, all kids who get shot are gang members so we should be rooting for the shooters (spit!).
R♿3
http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/2012/story/_/id/8822363/report-robert-griffin-iii-washington-redskins-partially-tore-acl-lcl
The Tide is (steam) Rolling!
And I’m eating tacos!
Hasean Chop! (Clinton-Dix)
I’ve always thought that Manti Te’o was Hawaiian for ‘Brian Bosworth.’
Then Barrett Jones must be Baman for ‘Big John Hannah’.
What the fuck is Ahnold doing interrupting my football game?
Wayne, in case you missed it:
Controversial Milford school playground signs removed
Thank you. That’s fantastic news. I’m glad she wasn’t the one who ordered them put up, and equally glad she didn’t dither over whether or not they were racist and took them down immediately. It’s what I would have done.
On a different note, the spouse of someone I work with was involved in a situation – 13 to 3. Only knives involved. As far as I know, no one died, though a few were admitted to hospitals.
Take the same situation, add in a few hand-guns and assault weapons, and you might still end up with a few admitted to hospitals, with the rest in the morgue.
’nuff said?
Yeldon just got his hundred yards.
That one’s good, but this one’s better!
Congrats to HoR and all you Bamanians!
Thanks RUC! They made it easy to watch early on, so I could relax and enjoy it.