Happy Valentines Day!

Watch out for those sneaky cupids. 

Guest Post by Lafayette

UPDATE
We are planning a Moonhowling’s Birthday Gathering. We’d like to see what dates below would work for the majority that would be interesting in attending. We’ll be at Mama Mia’s in Gainesville at 7669 Limestone Dr.. For more information visit their website http://mamamiapizza.net/ The time is firm 1pm to 4pm. 
Chosen Date: 
Sunday 2/27
 
1:00-4:00
 
Hope you can join us.

128 Thoughts to “Open Thread………………………………………..Monday, February 14”

  1. Dylan and Mumford and sons were just on. Mick Jagger coming up soon.

  2. Emma

    Big Love rocks it again! Barb is amazing.

    Lobster tail and crabcakes for Valentine’s Day dinner at home>

  3. Did you do Valentines Day on Sunday? @ Emma

    I haven’t watched Big Love yet. For some sick reason I wanted to see the Grammies. Waiting for Mick Jagger to put in an appearance. Dylan looked…oh hell…OLDer than dirt.

  4. Emma, is that an iceberg cut in half?????? 😀

  5. Morris Davis

    (From Time) According to a State Department filing by Haley Barbour’s former lobbying firm, The Embassy of Mexico decided to retain Barbour’s services on August 15, 2001, to work on, among other things, legislation that would provide a path to citizenship for foreigners living illegally in the United States – what opponents of immigration reform call “amnesty.” “Haley Barbour and I will lead the BG&R team,” wrote Lanny Griffith, Barbour’s former business partner, in the filing. According to subsequent filings, Barbour’s work included “building support in the legislative branch for passage of a bill related to Section 245(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.” As part of that work, Barbour’s firm arranged meetings and briefings with “Senators, members of Congress and their staffs, as well as Executive Branch Officials in the White House, National Security Council, State Department, and Immigration & Naturalization Service.” Barbour’s firm charged Mexico $35,000 a month, plus expenses. … At the time of Barbour’s lobbying, the 245(i) effort was referred to as “mini-amnesty” in conservative circles. “This amnesty loophole allowed aliens who broke our laws to pay a $1,000 fine and go to the head of the line in front of prospective immigrants who complied with our laws,” opined Phyllis Schlafly, founder of the Eagle Forum, in a 2002 column.

    While on the topic of immigration and securing the border, the Republican deficit reduction plan released last week cuts $61B from the federal budget. It cuts a couple of billion from the homeland security budget, including cuts to Border Patrol and ICE funding. Among the hundreds of proposed cuts, the Republicans included a few budget increases. For instance, they added $12.5M to the budget for the Capitol Police, the security force that protects members of Congress when they’re at work. The Republican proposal is available on the House Appropriations Committee website. The homeland security cuts are on page 7 and the Capitol Police increase is on page 17.

  6. I hate Mick Jagger. No one should be able to move around that well. He is cruising close to 70. He must be double jointed and drink glucosamin cocktails. Totally amazing!!!

  7. Lafayette

    Mick still ROCKS!!! The Stones are mine and the Mr’s favorite band. Best concert ever was at Scott Stadium. They sang Sweet Virginia and the had to evacuate the first 25 rows on one side of the stage. Needless to say we were in the evacuated portion. They came back on about an hour later and completed the entire show.

    Emma,
    My daughter and I had a Valentine’s Day lunch today of lobster tails. It was her first taste and she loved it.

    “I’m the sunny face of polygamy”. 🙂

  8. Lafayette

    WTH has happened to Kris Kristoferson?? 🙄
    Wow, Barbara performing.

  9. Emma

    @Moon-howler No, bought the frozen tails today, will have them tomorrow.

    My html didn’t work out too well.

    I don’t get all the screamo crap or whatever my kids like. The Stones were rock ‘n roll. No one is going to remember most of these “alternative” groups and their lyrics 10, 20 or 30 years from now.

  10. Emma plows through icebergs! Hell of a woman!

    I agree about the screamo stuff. I am just in awe of the Mick. He still has moves I didn’t have when I was 20, I am sad to say.

    Laf, what was wrong with Kristoferson? Was he impaired? I noticed Streisand sort of holding on to him as he bent into the mic.

    Also, after the Grammies were over, I saw that Christina Aguilera fell on the stage while they were doing the tribute to Aretha Franklin. Even though I was watching, I didn’t pick up on the fall. Is she drinking? Between the superbowl and falling on the stage, something seems a little shaky.

  11. Slowpoke Rodriguez

    Moon-howler :
    Also, after the Grammies were over, I saw that Christina Aguilera fell on the stage while they were doing the tribute to Aretha Franklin. Even though I was watching, I didn’t pick up on the fall. Is she drinking? Between the superbowl and falling on the stage, something seems a little shaky.

    Her friends have been saying she’s a wreck after the divorce. They make it pretty clear that rehab is what she needs. It’s getting to be pretty obvious.

  12. Something sure seems to be wrong. @ Slowpoke. What a talented lady. I hope she gets it together soon. There was enough talent out there saluting Aretha Franklin to sink a battle ship. Jennifer Hudson is a fav of mine.

  13. Several comments have been made about ‘talking about the shooting’ over in GTS. One was from a drive-by here, I guess trying to draw Elena and me out on the subject.

    I tend to steer away from local tragic events as threads, especially if there is controversy involved. Why? Community sensitivity. I have seen how hurtful remarks made on insidenova.com are to family and friends. I don’t want to be a part of that.

    A community is in mourning. What is left to say? We all oppose mass murder. If people want to discuss things like that on open thread, fine. However, I am not dedicating a thread to it at this time. Maybe some time down the road but I don’t think it is appropriate now. I am sure other blogs will be more than delighted to provide every gory detail, in particular how the victims would be less dead if the perp wasn’t an illegal alien.

    As previously discussed in our last thread, I wouldn’t want to be the perp. As Lafayette said, if convicted, he will be getting a one way ticket to Greenville County down in southern Virginia.

  14. Emma, Juturna, Lafayette, re Big Love

    I didn’t understand the end of the show last night. Did Barb say she was divorcing Bill and he agreed?

    That’s the smartest thing I have heard any of them say. However, I hope it isn’t to move over for that predator Nikki.

  15. marinm

    Happy Valentines Day everyone!!!

    If you are married, of legal consenting age, of means, and want to.. make a baby tonight.

    We need the future taxpayers. 🙂

  16. Lafayette

    Roll Call….Mom?
    You’ve got mail! 👿

  17. marin, PUH-leez. I stopped that foolishness a long time ago. My baby cc’s.

  18. The heart can be made by putting the following symbols together:

    & # 9 8 2 9 ;

    ( I spread these out so you could see them.)

  19. marinm

    MH, here’s your Vday present. 🙂

    (\ /)
    ( ..)
    c(“)(“)

    We need more taxpayers! Let’s encourage everyone to have LEGAL babies so my Social Security in 30 years doesn’t get cut! 😉

  20. The blog has been down for about 3 hours. grrrrrrr

  21. marinm

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1356645/A-weapon-mass-destruction-U-S–Shock-confession-Customs-officer.html?ITO=1490

    …and with that interview a few people are going to lose a security clearance and be ‘reassigned’.

    A port official has admitted that a ‘weapon of mass effect’ has been found by ‘partner agencies’ in the U.S., raising major questions over a possible government cover-up.

    The disturbing revelation came in an interview with San Diego’s assistant port director screened by a television channel in the city.

    The Customs and Border Protection Department tried to dampen speculation over his remarks, but doubts remained over whether he had inadvertently revealed a dirty bomb plot to attack the U.S. mainland.

  22. Marinm,
    Nothing’s going to happen to them. This is the same intel apparatus that has Big Sis running it, and Holder running DOJ. If anything happens to the “peons” they’ll be sure to implicate their bosses.

  23. “The problem with the court’s current approach, however, is that the standard is so strict that even those men who never consented to the sexual act that caused the pregnancy are nonetheless liable for the support of the resulting child. ”

    http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1761333

    Things that make you go “hmmmmmm….”

  24. Morris Davis

    marinm — Speaking of a “disturbing revelation,” the Republican budget cutting plan Boehner rolled out last week cuts $62M from Customs and Border Patrol for international container screening, $350M from Customs and Border Patrol for the border security fence program, and $15M from Immigrations and Customs Enforcement for IT. Of course, the Republicans are all about security and they’re willing to boost spending on security ….. for themselves.

  25. Cato the Elder

    @Cargosquid

    @marinm

    I’m inclined to give the boys a little slack here. You never know what might be going on – this type of thing is a constant game of cat and mouse where they do something, we respond, they observe, we observe them observing, etc. etc. etc.

    It could be part of an ongoing investigation they don’t want to jeopardize, or they don’t want to explain the methods they used to uncover it, or compromise a source/agent.

  26. marinm

    Mo, having worked those IT systems and seeing the waste involved first hand………

  27. @Cato the Elder
    Absolutely. I don’t think that he did anything wrong in saying what he did.

    @Morris Davis
    Boehner is just trying to compromise and cut things that the Democrats don’t support either. You know, bi-partisanship.
    Personally, I think that the the 100 billion is a drop in the bucket. We need to cut at least 500 billion to make a dent THIS year. This “will cut x amount over 10 years” is smoke and mirrors because deals today don’t tie the hands of future Congresses. It either gets cut NOW or it doesn’t get cut.

    We need to look at 100 percent of the budget and cut, including “mandatory” spending. If we don’t do it now, when our debt EQUALS our GDP, when will we do it? The budget decisions will just get harder.

  28. marinm

    Back from Vday dinner. Cargo covered my answer. I think it, he says it. 😉

  29. Cato the Elder

    Whatever the proposed cuts were to the EPA, they aren’t nearly enough: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/7722660/epa_to_regulate_milk_spills_just_like.html?cat=62

  30. Morris Davis

    Cato — Our national government today is not structured to make a coordinated attack on the pollutants which debase the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the land that grows our food … or at least that’s what President Nixon said when he created the EPA by executive order in 1970.

  31. Cato the Elder

    @Morris Davis

    Indeed. Completely agree. No one has yet stepped up to the plate to tackle catastrophic flatus release. It’s killing our planet, drowning our polar bears, and contributing to climate change, not to mention triggering extraneous laws and ordinances such as the “scent” regulation mentioned in the thread below.

    I think this is something we can cooperate on. Won’t you join me in rallying against unauthorized flatus release? The basic idea is that permits would be required for the release of flatus. Such permits would be progressively more expensive based on aroma and resonance of said flatus. We could trade them on the open market, like currency. We could even create instruments like Consolidated Flatus Credits (CFCs) where we could lump a lot of really bad flatus in with some sweet-smelling flatus and trade the blended instrument. Doesn’t that sound great?

    If there’s anything that debases the quality of the air we breathe, it’s flatus. Plus, it’s methane! Join hands with me in condemning those that saturate our environment with their foul stench. Of course, this would necessarily cut down on the number of postings you make here, but we’re all in this together, right?!?

  32. marinm

    Mo – will you sign my petition to ban dihydrogen monoxide (DHMO)?

    Dihydrogen monoxide:
    is also known as hydroxyl acid, and is the major component of acid rain.
    contributes to the “greenhouse effect.”
    may cause severe burns.
    contributes to the erosion of our natural landscape.
    accelerates corrosion and rusting of many metals.
    may cause electrical failures and decreased effectiveness of automobile brakes.
    has been found in excised tumors of terminal cancer patients.

    Despite the danger, dihydrogen monoxide is often used:
    as an industrial solvent and coolant.
    in nuclear power plants.
    in the production of styrofoam.
    as a fire retardant.
    in many forms of cruel animal research.
    in the distribution of pesticides. Even after washing, produce remains contaminated by this chemical.
    as an additive in certain “junk-foods” and other food products.

    We must bring an end to DHMO and stop its stranglehold on our lives!!

  33. Morris Davis

    Ironic how some things come full circle. Some of the same people who applauded Nixon when he (not Congress) created the EPA are the ones screaming the loudest now that they’re hooked on Koch and want to dismantle anything that interferes with Koch dealings. It’s as ironic as all those who cheered Bush when he decided to invade Iraq and scoffed at Rep. Ron Paul when he stood up on the House floor and said: “Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to this resolution. I have come to the conclusion that I see no threat to our national security. There is no convincing evidence that Iraq is capable of threatening the security of this country, and, therefore, very little reason, if any, to pursue a war.” Now, 8 years later, Paul is #1 at CPAC and conservative candidates try to persuade voters they’re not Bush.

    Cato and marinm – I guess you two think the people in Damascus, PA, who are upset that fracking for natural gas caused their drinking water to become combustible should stop complaining and be thankful for the free fuel flowing into their houses. They don’t need environmental regulation; the benevolent hand of the free market will look after them. http://www.vanityfair.com/business/features/2010/06/fracking-in-pennsylvania-201006

  34. This isn’t a defense or otherwise of fracking. Just some more links. Add back the “h” on the first one. Didn’t want to end up in moderation

    ttp://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1761333

    http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/2010/10/environmental-defense-fund-admits-propaganda-effort-against-natura

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/10/fracking-epa-plans-to-exa_n_821011.html

  35. Warning: Moonhowler HATES bathroom humor in any form. [stern look}

  36. Oops, hit @ Cato as a reply for this one.

    Cato….

    My 10 yr old daughter is going to qualify for the superfund then…

  37. marinm

    @Morris Davis

    I don’t see the issue.

  38. WHAT are you all talking about?

  39. George S. Harris

    Want something new to chew on? Beck has gone “Ready, Fire, Aim” again. Go here: http://mediamatters.org/blog/201102140045

    I’m thinking maybe Beck really isn’t a Mormon, but a Muslim–afterall, they both start with “M”. Then it might explain why he is more than likely in bed with Ahmadenijhad who is now blaming the U.S. and Israel for the uprisings in Iran. Funny that despots can never see the forest for the trees.

  40. Unfortunately Beck did attempt to do too much on a complex subject without enough depth. He attempted to spin a subject that he prepared for half a show into a whole show. This is something that should have been spread over many shows.

    There are groups organizing for revolution. They are being sponsored by the State dept and Google. Some of them have ties to “radical” Islam. Some are seeking liberty. However, history has shown that those that organize these things tend to lean left. That is not to denigrate them. Its just true. And the Islamists are also using the same groups.

    These protests are not spontaneous. Nothing this big starts as a spontaneous event. Beck’s problem is that he is trying to connect individual people and doesn’t believe that his “star conspiricist” converted from radicalism based upon statements. He’s trying to be too specific.

    The source of this line of inquiry may be based upon this article: http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/33049

    He’s just furthering any connections that he thinks he has to the left and radicalism.

    1. Beck does that with all subjects for the most part. It is difficult to describe. He puts facts in a barrel and assigns cause/effect relationships that really do not exist.

      O’Reilly is many steps higher when it comes to higher level thinking skills. No comparison.

  41. Two young Google executives, protest leader Wael Ghonim and Director of Google Ideas Jared Cohen, who heads up the digital warrior teaching Alliance of Youth Movements (AYO), are running the show in Cairo.

    “Mission accomplished. Thanks to all the brave young Egyptians #Jan25,” Google executive and protest leader Wael Ghonim tweeted today.

    This quote was the day that Mubarak decided NOT to step down and the execs were premature in their jubilation.

    So, Beck may be stretching the connections, but not all of what he was saying was wrong.

    MediaMatters loves to pick and choose just the same way they say Beck does. I wish that MediaMatters would put as much energy into educating the audience that they do playing gotcha with Beck.

  42. Just re=read. No, I don’t believe that they are “running the show.” I do believe that they probably had a hand organizing the initial event. Everything above “So, Beck…” is from Canada Free Press. I believe that the Muslim Brotherhood will be running things.

  43. Mom

    Sigh, just when you thought PWC had reached the nadir of incompetence, they manage to plumb new depths.

    At 2:00 I tried to link to the video broadcast of today’s BOCS meeting. What I got was:

    Board of County Supervisors Meeting March 01, 2011 – 2:15 pm Agenda

    Note two things, one the meeting listed is for two weeks from now and secondly there is no link to the live feed. Curiously, the agenda link brought up today’s agenda.

    Being the persistent chap I am and confident that some staff nincompoop would eventually put down his Latte and fix it, I refreshed the link, over and over and over again.

    Eventually I got a new screen at about 2:20, that being this:

    Board of County Supervisors Meeting February 15, 2011 – 2:30 pm Agenda
    Board of County Supervisors Meeting March 01, 2011 – 2:15 pm Agenda

    Better but still no link to the live feed. Cue Mr. Persistent, refresh, refresh, refresh, etc., new screen pops up, now the February 15 meeting link has disappeared entirely and still no link to the live feed. Either the collective intelligence of our County employees is the inverse of their arrogance or someone is hiding something. I suspect gross incompetence but as the budget is supposed to be unveiled I have this nagging suspicion that certain Board Members would prefer to treat us like mushrooms. So here I sit at 2:36 in the afternoon feeling like I’m being fed feces and kept in the dark.

  44. Mom

    I guess we had it better when the IT Dept. was corrupt but marginally efficient.

    LIVE streaming of today’s meeting is unavailable. The meeting is available live on Comcast Cable Ch 23 and Verizon Ch 37. Today’s meeting will be available as an archive on the web starting tomorrow.

  45. What? No one had a comment about that “perfectly safe slide” at #40?

  46. @Cargo, I shut it off real quickly. I have HORRIBLE acrophobia.

  47. MoM, the sounds system is so annoying from BOC meetings I have to force myself to listen.

    Why are we having to run out county on a budget that was used 21 years ago?

    Does that seem screwed up?

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