Have we dodged another snow bullet?  Bear reports big snow up in New York State.  He says  it will continue to snow until Sunday.  Now that’s some snow!  It has started here but will it amount to anything?  It is piling up on my deck pretty fast but the forecast changes from minute to minute.  What is happening at your house?

Let it snow!

159 Thoughts to “Open Thread …………………………………Saturday, January 8, 2011”

  1. Corey is reading the Gettysburg Address. Not sure that is real appropriate. He switches off to the battle of Manassas, first and second.

    Not sure what he said. Did he give that earlier today also?

  2. Raymond Beverage

    Moon, sound problems in the daylight session prevented reading of the State of the County; hence tonight’s reading.

    1. I knew the sound was off for sure, Raymond. Thanks for clarifying.

      I thought the sound was going to cave on them tonight also.

      I would send that system back!

  3. Where did the FOCUS group come from? Good for them!!!!

  4. Raymond Beverage

    I think FOCUS had its core the PW Conservation Alliance, and then grew from there to other folks and other organizations.

  5. Elena just told me it is FOCAL. Sorry. Never trust old ears–mine.

  6. Elena

    It’s actually called FOCAL. PWC Alliance was not the foundation for the group though, although some members of FOCAL are also members of PWC Alliance.

  7. Elena

    Corey not want to be upstaged by the reading of the Constitution or is he just trying to keep up with the big boys?

  8. Bear

    I thought I’d update you on Snowstorm Part 2. We got 8-10 inches on this past storm. The current on is starting with 20 inches projected. I’m located about 70 miles north of New York City in the Hudson Valley.We’re used to being snowed in but it’s no fun. I much prefer the winters in Manassas.

  9. Talk about fear mongering! And he’s using the shooting in Arizona to raise money for re-election. Classy.

    http://www.weeklystandard.com/sites/all/files/docs/Bernie.pdf

  10. Starryflights

    Board Meeting Notice

    The New Cafe Board Meeting Canceled.

    The Chair of the New Cafe Board of Directors has canceled the January 2011 regular meeting of the Board set for the first Monday of each month due to computer access issues.

    The Chair will reschedule the meeting. Thank you.

    Currents.3196

    Bernie Sanders’ barn burner of a speech on the Senate Floor

    {Currents.3196.159}: Hank Hill {hillman} Wed, 12 Jan 2011 01:09:18 EST (11 lines)
    Tea Party Express Fundraises Off Giffords Shooting: ‘Tea Party Won’t Be
    Silenced’
    Jillian Rayfield | January 10, 2011, 4:55PM

    In an apparent effort to distance themselves from the mass shootings in
    Arizona over the weekend, the Tea Party Express sent out an email to
    supporters proclaiming that they “won’t be silenced” — and asking for
    contributions.

    “http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/01/tea-party-express-fundraises-
    off
    Board Meeting Notice

    The New Cafe Board Meeting Canceled.

    The Chair of the New Cafe Board of Directors has canceled the January 2011 regular meeting of the Board set for the first Monday of each month due to computer access issues.

    The Chair will reschedule the meeting. Thank you.

    Currents.3196

    Bernie Sanders’ barn burner of a speech on the Senate Floor

    {Currents.3196.159}: Hank Hill {hillman} Wed, 12 Jan 2011 01:09:18 EST (11 lines)
    Tea Party Express Fundraises Off Giffords Shooting: ‘Tea Party Won’t Be
    Silenced’
    Jillian Rayfield | January 10, 2011, 4:55PM

    In an apparent effort to distance themselves from the mass shootings in
    Arizona over the weekend, the Tea Party Express sent out an email to
    supporters proclaiming that they “won’t be silenced” — and asking for
    contributions.

    http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/01/tea-party-express-fundraises-
    off-giffords-shooting-tea-party-wont-be-silenced.php

    Classy

  11. Starryflights

    Tea Party Express Fundraises Off Giffords Shooting: ‘Tea Party Won’t Be Silenced’
    Jillian Rayfield | January 10, 2011, 4:55PM

    In an apparent effort to distance themselves from the mass shootings in Arizona over the weekend, the Tea Party Express sent out an email to supporters proclaiming that they “won’t be silenced” — and asking for contributions.

    http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/01/tea-party-express-fundraises-off-giffords-shooting-tea-party-wont-be-silenced.php

  12. Emma

    @Cargosquid More shameless politicizing from the left. And thank you for quoting a fairly mainstream source on that, Cargo.

  13. Mom

    Well Elena, I’m guessing you’re just thrilled with the handling of the CPA and Rezoning for the James Madison Business Park. Corey’s assertion that it is the job of the BOCS to simply get out of the way of businesses pretty much sums it up. Comp Plan be damned, transition areas to the Rural Crescent be damned, transportation issues be damned, falling commercial property values be damned they just need to get out of the way for any and all business interests. Funny how they can do that but can’t get out of the way of someone who wants to keep a chicken.

  14. @Mom,

    I wonder how much that decision filled the old war chest?

  15. @Bear,

    Are we going to have to send a dog sled team to rescue you?

    You would not have preferred Virginia last year.

    Why don’t you just move back?

  16. hello

    How about we lighten up the mood here with a VERY funny video of someone falling down! (note: she was not hurt, which is why it is so funny)

    (-video-secretary-of-state-hillary-clinton-falls from Fox News) (unlinked by admin)

    [This is a totally unacceptable form of ‘humor.’ Anyone falling is in potential dangerous. Of course she was hurt. Her pride was hurt and she may have done damage that hasn’t yet surfaced. This is an example of really bad taste and you should know better without me telling you. Video removed. Don’t do that again. I should not have to baby sit this blog to ensure that things like that aren’t posted. MH]

  17. Mom

    “I wonder how much that decision filled the old war chest?”

    You tell me, CPA initiated on 1/6/09, $1000 contribution to Corey by Mary Ann Ghadban (NVP, Inc. and agent for the applicant) on 5-9-09, rezoning filed 7-27-09. Hard to tell more than that because we don’t know who has a stake in the applicant, Rt. 15 Gainesville, LLC.

  18. @Mom, holy cow, that was brazenly close. (and cheap)

  19. Big Dog

    Will be interesting to see if the recent opening of Le Tache in
    downtown Leesburg will have the same impact on that community
    that KK’s had on Manassas. (article in todays’ Loudoun Times).

  20. Apparently things are slow on the dark screen and most of the conversation seems to be revolving around this blog. Good Grief people. Find something else to do other than gossip.

    And for the record, Alanna was the blog mistress of antibvbl.net. I joined her and Elena. I was never the owner. Elena and I started moonhowlings.net Feb. 26, 2010.

    Get it right, idle gossipers. I don’t see why you care.

    It is fairly obvious someone is cross-pollinating.

  21. Mom

    Ok, I guess I must be a little dense this morning so somebody please explain the State of the County address to me. I’m having difficulty understanding the distinction between Corey’s glorious plan for the county to borrow millions for new roads and schools, thus increasing our and our children’s debt, and those same practices by the Feds whom he excoriated. Are the normal laws of financing suspended in PWC or do we truly live in an alternate reality where the norms of transparency and acting in the public trust don’t apply.

  22. Steve Thomas

    From the article:

    ” An adjoining room sells adult toys, videos and lotions. The X-rated merchandise is shielded behind drapery, and clientele must be 18 years old to enter”

    Sounds like thoe same marketing idea as KK’s. I really only have a problem with videos, and only those videos that aren’t educational in nature. I wonder if the regional media will make this a huge deal. I also wonder if Leesburg will look to Manassas’ experience for answers. My guess is their local ordinances had holes in them too, and they will be looking to close them.

  23. Morris Davis

    Leave it to Palin and the far-right wingnuts to choose an Anti-Semitic phrase to express their outrage over being called out as haters.

    http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/137445-jewish-republicans-muted-on-palins-blood-libel-comment

  24. You might be right Steve. I guess we will know soon. The stores seem very similar.

  25. hello

    Morris Davis :Leave it to Palin and the far-right wingnuts to choose an Anti-Semitic phrase to express their outrage over being called out as haters.
    http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/137445-jewish-republicans-muted-on-palins-blood-libel-comment

    Leave it to Moe to continue divisive, vitriolic hate speech… we can always count on you Moe to continue the never ending name calling, hate speech for those on the left. I can’t think of a more perfect example of someone who claims to be disgusted by the very same things they say… Hypocrite says what? (Moe say “what”). Thanks for not disappointing!

  26. hello

    “This is a totally unacceptable form of ‘humor.’ ” Huh? I even put a disclaimer on the video that stated, from the article, that she was not hurt. I wouldn’t have posted it if she were hurt.

    However, I did not take into account that her “pride” may have been hurt by show a video of her falling down. A thousand apologizes… Ill make a note of that and will be sure to point out the next time you post something were someone’s “pride” may be hurt by your “unacceptable form of humor”. For crying out loud, lighten up a bit. It’s beautiful outside today, just got back from the gym and if I had more time would have taken a job outside. Quit being so… grumpy. 🙂

    Do you need a hug today? That usually puts my son in a better mood.

  27. Mr. Tasteless who thinks its funny when people fall criticizes others? Bwaaahahahaha.

    What speech would that be that is so devisive and vitriolic? wingnut? Haters?

    I expect for Moe, that was just an appetizer.

  28. hello

    Don’t look now but the left has focused on yet another every day term to exploit due to the horrible event on Saturday. Apparently the ‘GOP’s canard’ of using the term “job killing” NEEDS TO STOP NOW!!! What in the hell is happening? Some nut shoots up a bunch of people and everyone and their mother stumble over each other to exploit it for their own political gain. This is getting out of hand (on both sides which is why I have stayed away from this subject).

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/06/AR2011010605889.html?tid=nn_twitter

  29. hello

    Mr. Tasteless… keepin’ it classy huh Moon with just more name calling. I post a video of someone falling down, which explicitly states both in the article and in my post that she/he was not hurt and I’m called “Mr. Tasteless”. Wow, good one Moon, I wonder how long it took you to come up with that one. Did you have to consult with Moe for that gem?

    I’ve never called you names but this is about the 10th different name you called me. And we on the ‘right’ are the nasty, hate filled, vitriolic people that must be put into ‘moderation’ and/or censored. Odd… isn’t it?

  30. hello

    This is just for you Moon, please take this ‘hug’ from me to you. I really do hope that this helps you because I really do think you need it today. We are all friends here, no matter how many names you call me.

    Here is a ‘hug’ from me to you that hopefully makes you feel better. If this doesn’t do it nothing will: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnOB_LRqUGI&feature=related

  31. Hello, you posted something I consider very offensive. I was taught as a young child that it was discourteous to laugh when people fell. You were tasteless. You are lucky that is all you were called.

    Quite whining and quit the victim mentality. You not only laughed at Mrs. Clinton falling, you wanted other people to join in to enjoy her distress.

    You came here to start up something. Now you have my attention. Undivided.

  32. hello

    I beginning to think you didn’t get the hug I sent… 🙁

    Okay, I see your point and I am sorry. People falling down, especially older people, can be a very serious event that should not be laughed at.

    So…. How about a Hillary Clinton fart joke?!?!? Huh? Come on, this is FUNNY! What it and tell me if you didn’t crack a smile, if you didn’t then you truly have ZERO sense of humor.

    [video removed. Tasteless, crass and disrespectful.]

  33. I also do not care for bathroom humor. We are adults here. Feel free to think what you want about my sense of humor. It is very different from yours.

  34. Morris Davis

    Hello – Sorry to get your panties/boxers (your androgynous anonymity leaves doubt as to your style of undergarment) in a wad. Palin’s choice of words in her effort to cast herself as a poor victim (again) is causing controversy that has gotten attention worldwide, and much of it has not been complimentary of her. If me pointing that out clinches your cheeks then maybe you should switch to a blog that focuses on gardening or some other subject where thin skin won’t get bruised. And speaking of hypocrites, Palin criticizes her critics for using incendiary words about her incendiary words; of course she says her words were harmless and theirs are reprehensible. Huh? After having several days to think about it and craft a statement that might perhaps show a glimmer of leadership potential, this pillar of Christian values chooses a phrase that is hurtful to the Jewish community to comment on events related to the shooting of a Jewish Congresswoman. I’m sure you can think of other instances where an event, a speaker, and a choice of words combined to create controversy. There are only 2 explanations: too ignorant to know better or deliberately intending to enflame; I tend to believe the former (she keeps proving that we need the Department of Education), but I wouldn’t be surprised by the latter. Finally, I have heard any number of conservatives make some very sensible comments since the shootings. I don’t necessarily agree with all of them, but I respect their views and I don’t consider them wingnuts or haters, a label I believe applies to the Palins and Cheneys and Becks and Limbaughs who profit greatly on the back of hate, fear and division. Hope your drawers aren’t wedge in there too deep.

  35. Has anyone seen Wolverine in their blog travels? I haven’t seen him for a while. Is he out and about elsewhere?

  36. Lafayette

    Moon and Emma,
    Are you ready for 9PM this Sunday night?
    It’s all about to come to an end. 🙁

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYjt0OBvyJk

  37. And Juturna! Waaahhhhhhhh! She is a Big Love groupie also.

  38. Lafayette

    oops..add Juturna to the list of ladies.
    Juturna, you need to come around here more often. I might forget about you… NEVER! 🙂

  39. hello

    Ain’t a bit androgynous about me Moe, I’m all man baby (please don’t get too excited, I’m married with a child). After reading your post I’m pleased to see you seem to have hit what, your 5th maybe 6th birthday! Exciting, and you type so well for your age! Maybe soon mommy will get you out of those diapers and with any luck you will stop wetting the bed in a few years. If I’m way off I apologize, I should have said maybe soon you will move out of your mothers basement… and stop wetting the bed.

    And Moon, you are correct, we are all adults here. I’m sorry for attempting to bring a bit of humor into a climate dominated by hate/death and finger pointing.. Just wondering, how many ‘adults’ stoop to childish and sophomoric name calling? Is that normal for adult progressives/liberals/Democrats?

    Video’s of an elderly person falling down and not getting hurt, tasteless. Video of an elderly person making a fart joke, bathroom humor. Progressives/Liberals/Democrats name calling as usual and putting down other people…. priceless!

  40. Lafayette

    hello,
    Your comments to Moe are INEXCUSABLE!! Did someone feed you razor soup for breakfast today? And you honestly have the nerve to call others childish, after those comments to Moe? Give me a break. You might just land yourself in “permanent timeout” on moonhowlings. 👿

  41. Hello, the bottom line is, I determine what I think is appropriate on this blog. The Secretary of State falling and bathroom humor are not going to be permitted. I strongly suggest that you might want to find another blog where your form of humor is more appreciated. It is not here.

    I would not call Mrs. Clinton elderly. She is a mature woman.

  42. Steve Thomas

    Morris,

    Not diving in to defend “Hello”, as it is an obvious attempt to bait people here. I will say this, for every comment made by a conservative that could be classified as “inflamatory”, an equally” inflamatory” comment made by a liberal can be pointed to. Both sides have done this throughout modern history. What I find distressing is why we are even having this debate in the context of the AZ shootings. As the facts come out, any rational person can see that the shooter was mentally derranged. We are also learning that he was not political, didn’t listen to rightwing talk radio, didn’t frequent moonhowlings or bvbl or any other blog. He was just a sick individual who was obsessed with the Congresswoman. The media rushed in with specuation as to motive. The talking heads on both sides have politicized it. Opportunists are pushing for gun-control, banning symbols, limiting speech, etc.

    Does Sarah Palin have a right to as you put it “cast her self as a poor victim”? In my opinion, yes, and no. Yes, because since she became a national figure, she and her entire family have been attacked by the majority of the media, ridiculed by comedians, etc. I even remember a story where someone had hung her in effigy as part of a Halloween display. I also say no. She knows the nature of the stage upon which she has walked. It is what it is.

    Before we get to pointing fingers and playing a game of one-upsmanship, can we agree that the rhetoric on both sides has gotten out of control? Left-wing media. Right-wing media. None are guiltless. But, do any of them have blood on their hands in relation to this tragedy? As the learn more and more, it would appear not.

    The real debate should be about how do we keep the mentally-ill from getting access to firearms, without restricting the 2nd Ammendment rights of the sound and law-abiding in the exercise thereof. The debate should be how can we get the mentally ill the help they need, while respecting their rights to freedom as well. Instead, we are locked into the trap of finger-pointing. Here are some recently learned facts:

    -The young man began showing signs of mental-illness years ago.

    -He frequently used drugs and alcohol.

    -According to one of his close friends “Zach Osler, in an interview Wednesday with ABC’s “Good Morning America,” said: “He did not watch TV. He disliked the news. He didn’t listen to political radio. He didn’t take sides. He wasn’t on the left. He wasn’t on the right.”

    -He became so disruptive at the college he attended, he was kicked out.

    -Local law enforcement was aware of his mental-illness, and he had numerous interactions with law enforcement, including the day of the event.

    -He had previously interacted with the Congresswoman and her staff. He was known to them.

    -His father had attempted to aprehend and subdue him earlier in the day of the shooting.

    IMHO, we should be looking at why this obviously troubled young man had never been sent to a mental health facility for an evaluation? His family, his school, and his community failed him. Had he been involuntarily committed at any time, he would have been flagged in the AZ firearms instacheck system, and would not have been able to purchase a gun. If the school kicked him out, and forbid his return until cleared by a mental health professional, why didn’t they get a restraining order against him? Had they done this, he again would have been flagged in the system and unable to purchase a firearm. He had two previous convictions, one of them drug-related. Had these been felonies, he again would have been prevented from purchasing a firearm.

    Now we can continue to debate the question of which side is nastier, and not solve a thing. The answer is both sides are equally nasty, in a perpetual sort of way. Or, we can refuse to play the game, and debate the issue at hand (firearms access for the mentally ill, protecting society from dangerous mentally ill people, protecting the rights of the mentally ill, system accountability and responsibility when dealing with the mentally ill), in a rational, civil manner. We can set the example.

  43. Steve, you and I are in agreement. I tried like hell to address the concern of mental illness. (post shooting and post Tucson) Apparently people weren’t ready for that kind of problem solving. But that is where this conversation needs to be. We also haven’t learned much since VA Tech. Again, serious killer mental illness.

    I didn’t actually address some of the questions you asked; specifically those about his family, the school, the community. I strongly suspect he has some form of schizophrenia and that often doesn’t surface to early adulthood. If a kid is mentally ill, his parents have control. Once that 18th birthday is passed, the parents no longer have the control they once had. Perhaps he wasn’t bizarre before that 18th birthday.

    I was speculating above. I want to know how we get people into the system when they clearly don’t see themselves as having a problem. ‘Crazy’ people rarely see themselves as crazy. We really have to do a better job with serious mental illness. There has to be a way to remove people who have problems without violating civil rights. I don’t know how to do this. I don’t want to go back to the old ‘snake pit’ days.

  44. e

    rush turns 60 today! happy birthday, rush, we all love you

    1. e, I sure wish you hadn’t used the word ‘all.’

      I find Rush reprehensible.

  45. Steve Thomas

    MH,

    I saw that you did try to point this out early. I don’t want to go back to “Bedlam” either. I also agree that while VA may have learned some lessons from Tech (and implemented some sound solutions, balancing the rights of all), it would appear that AZ had not looked at their own laws, or, iff the laws were in place, they were not used. Lotta blame to go around, but in this case, it ain’t Rush’s Beck’s, Ayers, Alinski’s, Mathews’, Courics’, Maddow’s, Obama’s or Palin’s fault.

    1. @Steve,

      That will be the real challenge of this century. It will not be easy to balance Bedlam and jarod (and others who are so unbalanced they are harmful to themselves or others). Sex offenders will also be a huge issue I predict. There are way too many triggers there also. I was told 30 years ago that there is very little rehabilitation for rapists. So what do we do with them all? The little bastards are now learning how to outsmart DNA testing.

      I watch too many Criminal Minds shows. It isn’t good for old psych majors.

  46. e

    and he said today that he feels like 25, so we will all enjoy him for many years to come

    1. @e,

      I wonder how many more wives he will have before he goes to that great gas-bag in the sky?

    2. e, are you snowed in or not?

      I am jealous of all those with snow. We have been cheated. Mr. Howler thinks I am an infidel for such thoughts.

  47. e

    king solomon had 300 and 700 concubines

  48. Steve Thomas

    e :king solomon had 300 and 700 concubines

    And he screamed it was just vanity.

Comments are closed.