Summer Solstice at Stonehenge
It’s officially the longest day of the year.  In Pagan terms, its when the Holly  King overpower the Oak  King and after today, the days will start getting shorter.
Meanwhile, it is only fitting that the heat goes up to close to 100 ° today since it is the first day of summer.
We will resume looking at national parks after this brief interrupion.  Meanwhile, stay cool.  I just don’t go out when it gets this hot.  Does anyone have any secrets for staying cool that they want to share?

109 Thoughts to “Open Thread…………Summer Solstice……………Wednesday, June 20”

  1. Strongly recommend to all baby boomers, alpha —–> Omega

    Will: The Beach Boys: They get around

    Richmond Times Dispatch

    http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/oped/2012/jun/22/tdopin02-will-the-beach-boys-they-get-around-ar-2005170/

  2. Starryflights

    Romney’s Bain Capital invested in companies that moved jobs overseas

    By Tom Hamburger, Friday, June 22, 2:53 AMThe Washington Post Mitt Romney’s financial company, Bain Capital, invested in a series of firms that specialized in relocating jobs done by American workers to new facilities in low-wage countries like China and India.

    During the nearly 15 years that Romney was actively involved in running Bain, a private equity firm that he founded, it owned companies that were pioneers in the practice of shipping work from the United States to overseas call centers and factories making computer components, according to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/romneys-bain-capital-invested-in-companies-that-moved-jobs-overseas/2012/06/21/gJQAsD9ptV_story.html

    If Romney becomes president, more and more American jobs will be moved abroad. That would be bad for our economy.

  3. Second Alamo

    Trying to persuade Obama supporters that their idol may have done something improper is like telling a Muslim that there are no virgins to be had. It’s more of a religious devotion than political support. In many communities that devotion supersedes any possible wrong doing.

    1. How about you explaining to me, an Obama supporter, exactly what he has done wrong. Why you are at it, explain to me why he is my idol just because I support him.

  4. @Moon-howler
    That’s fine. I will no longer speculate as to the motive. The actual FACTS of the case warrant investigation. We have to do it because its the right thing to do.

    1. Why do the facts warrant investigation? Do we investigate all federal operations that have a down turn? Has the sting operation been abandoned? Yes. Quite a while ago. Was Holder sitting in the driver’s seat? No. He doesn’t work at that level. It’s over. Its done. It’s in the past. All the inquiries in the world aren’t going to give you a different outcome.

      It seems like the only goal is to embarass and bully Holder and thus, Obama.

      Issa is just disrespectful to the office of president. He is an embarrassment.

      @Cargo, if you want to do the right thing, perhaps start with a different chairman and make the inuqiry less confrontational. Right now it is political. Right thing to do? Only if you are going for that great GOTCHA in the sky. I can’t think of any group of people that its going to help other than republicans. (although I expect it will backfire.)

  5. @Starryflights
    Hey! So did Obama! Look what they have in common! Bain used its OWN money while Obama gave OUR money to companies that went overseas.

    Instead of bemoaning the fact of jobs moving overseas, lets improve conditions HERE to make staying here more attractive.

  6. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jun/21/house-committee-suspects-fast-and-furious-cover-up/

    I don’t understand. Because its in the past…its ok? And you keep calling it a sting operation, when it wasn’t. There was no “sting” available. How do you know that Holder wasn’t in the driver’s seat? Documents show that those running the show were high up.

    Now, you’re under the mistaken impression that F&F is about getting Holder for it. Nope. He’s just under contempt for refusing to cooperate with a subpoena attempting to find out who WAS in charge, seeing that the ATF has not answered that question nor disciplined anyone. The agent supposedly in charge testified that higher ups approved it.

    All he has to do is provide the documents demanded by the committee.

    And its not just some Republicans (I don’t want Holder to resign. I want him as AG until his innocence or guilt is determined.) that want Holder gone: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jun/18/border-patrol-group-calls-holders-resignation/

    How can an inquiry with a confrontational witness NOT be confrontational? Its HOLDER that’s not cooperating. Is the committee supposed to say “pretty please” and then shrug “oh well” when Holder tells them “No, pound sand.”

    Being an independent, nonpartisan, moderate, I expected that you would want to get to the bottom of this disgraceful episode since laws WERE broken and people killed, no matter WHO was involved.

    1. I am just sitting here dreaming of white water…..its only money. We obviously have a huge difference of opinion.

      I have heard you on the subject of Holder. That doesn’t erase. I actually don’t have an opinion of him one way or the other …except his rank in my mind has increased because of my viseral dislike of Issa.

      So does that mean Holder wins by default.

      @Cargo

      1. I don’t think it is partisan at all. I can’t stand his behavior. I don’t care what he is. He is rude.

        Please explain to me why evaluating a person by their behavior is partisan. I must have missed something in civils class, rube that I am.

  7. Yep. Figured that would be the case. So much for “non-partisan, independent.”

    1. Isn’t Issa who barred Sandra Fluke from testifying before that same committee a few months ago? Want to tell me why again how I am partisan?

      Let’s see, we have someone who bars an expert witness, bars a minority, and gets on national tv and calls the president who he has all but said he dislikes by his first name and implies he won’t take a phone call from him…and I am partisan for disliking this Dog D***? I dont’t think so. I like anyone better than that jerk.

  8. So, if its only because Issa isn’t showing Obama enough deference, its ok that Holder defies a subpoena? That a cover up is allowed to go unchallenged?

    Who in your eyes is suitably deferential? He made a joke and you’re willing to “move on.”

    Obama is the President, not a king. He is also playing politics. Why does Obama get a pass for all the times HE’S been less than deferential to assorted members of Congress and the Courts.

    I feel that a self proclaimed independent would want an aggressive search for the truth. But throughout you’ve been willing to give Holder and Obama a pass.

    1. No Sandra wasn’t on the list because he wouldn’t let them on the list. I think it was someone from the pro contraceptives group. I don;t know if she was a Democrat or not. Bet she is now though.

      Shall we watch the Antique show? Tell us more?

      I haven’t given anyone a pass one way or the other. I like Obama. He doesn’t need Issa. Why would you throw him in th emix.

      He was disrespectful. He, as a committee head in Congress needs to show more respect.

      Holmes Norton is a minority.

      You havent told me how I am partisan?

      yo9u also haven’t told me what your buddy “Barry” did wrong.

  9. Um…somehow my #14 became a link. Weird.

  10. Well, anyway…. have a good weekend. Have to cut out. Am going to Myrtle Beach to be on the Antiques Road Show.

  11. Morris Davis

    Starting next Monday at 3:00 pm, Virginia’s own Krystal Ball will be co-hosting a daily hour-long show on MSNBC (the conservative side is represented by co-host S.E. Cupp). I hope the right-wingnuts who transformed her from an unknown congressional candidate to a national television co-host all tune in.

    http://dailycaller.com/2012/06/22/congratulations-to-s-e-cupp-i-think

    1. Moe, you might want to send Greg and Riley word. I hope Krystal sends them that fruit basket with a nice bottle of wine in it for bringing her to the forefront. I know they meant to humiliate her. H/t to Krystal for not flinching and looking it straight in the eye. She definitely turned it into a chicken SALAD moment. Go Krystal.

  12. marinm

    @Moon-howler

    I can’t wait. I’ll put it on mute and watch. :devil:

  13. Morris Davis

    Gov. Bob McDonnell sent a letter to the UVA board telling them to behave like adults or he would intervene and disband the board. If only he’d send a similar letter to the PWC board of supervisors.

    http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0612/77746.html

  14. The Rally for Honor on the lawn can be viewed now streaming:

    http://www.ustream.tv/channel/sunday-on-the-lawn

  15. Well, we made it back from the wilds of Myrtle Beach.

    It was fun. We stood in long lines for hours, met a lot of nice people, and saw some amazing things. We were in the background of one interview so we might get on TV that way or in the feed back booth.

    We brought a Colt Model 1860 Army, an civil war officer’s sword, a Walther Model 3 pistol (rare) and a… something. Its a “walking staff” yet has a metal spike of silver plated brass. It separates at a silver plated brass middle section. The head is carved? silver or silver plated. We think its a church man’s crozier. The appraisers were stumped. Couldn’t guess an age or value except late 19th, early 20th, but it was a guess.

    We didn’t learn anything new about the Civil War items and the appraiser blew me off about the Walther, glancing at it and saying that it was worth $150. I’ve already had offers for it much higher.

    Anyway, we ate too much, drove too much, and stood way too much. But also had way too much fun.

    1. Was this a guy type trip? Is this stuff from your family?

  16. My whole family went. The guns and sword are things that we inherited from a friend. The staff is something that I picked up in Marseilles, France when my ship visited.

    1. All I ever got from friends were 1 old rifle and another one gave me a picture of Robert E. Lee they were throwing away. Neither died so I guess I didn’t inherit. Is that the house you were cleaning out?

  17. @Moon-howler
    Yes…. that too is old..but its hard to pack into a car….. 🙂

  18. Morris Davis

    The Supreme Court strikes down a Montana law on corporate campaign spending (states’ rights?). It was a 5-4 vote and the majority cites their holding in Citizens United.

    http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/11pdf/11-1179h9j3.pdf

  19. Morris Davis

    The Supreme Court strikes down parts of Arizona’s SB 1070 in a 5-3 vote (Kagan did not participate).

    http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/11pdf/11-182b5e1.pdf

  20. Just coming to report. MOe beat me to the punch. I had a phone call.

    Take note that Kagan had recused herself.

    I call a victory.

    The part that matches our own 287(g) bill was not stuck down which I have no problem with.

    Cheer!!!!

  21. @Cargosquid

    Did you inherit the house also?

    Lucky you!

  22. @Cargo

    Trade you an old Robert E. Lee for a house. How about it?????

  23. @Moon-howler
    LOL.

    Yep. The house is still in the estate. Anyone want a 2500+ square foot house for 200,000 bucks? A nice fixer upper in a neighborhood with $500K houses.

    1. How much fixing up? Why don’t you move in to it?

  24. Clinton S. Long

    @Morris Davis
    Usually when one sees 5-3 from the SCOTUS, it is assumed some ideological divide happened. While it is true that the divide was because 3 thought that none of the law should be stricken, one can also read it to be unanimous for the one item they did not overturn.

  25. @Moon-howler
    It’s in Newport News. Too much history in that house that we know. It would be weird.
    We want to stay in Richmond and get a modern house. That one was built in 1944.
    Beds: 3
    Baths: 2
    Sqft: 2,625
    Lot: 18,295 sq ft / 0.42 acres
    Type: Single Family
    Year built: 1944
    Parking: Garage
    Cooling: —
    Heating: Baseboard
    Fireplace: Yes

    Good neighbors. The houses around the corner are worth a couple of million.

    1. No AC in New Port News would be like …a journey in to hell. The house sounds like it is vintage “my parents.” My mother was living there then because they had gone there after being married in 42 so my father could work in the shipyard. He ended up enlisting and she got frozen on her job with the Dept. of Army. She finally got a transfer out of there and to the JAG School back in Charlottesville.

      Put a picture of the house up or upload it to me. I will post it for you. Who knows. So you all own it outright? That’s quite a nice inheritance from a friend. I wish I had some friends like that.

  26. Right now, the picture on Zillow is old and shows the house in a bad light. Its since been cleaned up. I’ll get some updated pics.

    I’ll email you the story of our “inheritance.”

  27. Steve Randolph

    naturevalleytrailview.com

    Interesting concept, but a little jerky on my computer.

  28. Pot calling kettle…pot calling kettle…

    http://dailycaller.com/2012/06/22/rose-garden-obama-slams-romney-for-not-answering-media-questions/

    So, Obama will hold an open press conference in 3….2….

  29. @Steve R

    Choppier if you go to Yellowstone. That is a neat find though.

  30. Cheer!!! Terry Sullivan reinstated as UVA President, unanimously.

    She should have never been removed.

    Hopefully Gov. McDonnell will remove Helen Dragas as Rector.

  31. marinm

    I’m sure Mo will appreciate this article.

    http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/jimmy-carter-attacks-barack-obama-over-assassinations-and-drone-attacks-7888925.html

    Someone needs to slap Jimmy in the mouth and tell him he’s off message and not to question the Annointed One. I’m waiting for the CBC to call him a racist and the DNC to say that Jimmy is suffering from either attention deficit or dementia..

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