The winter pansies at my house are struggling because of all the cold weather. It looks like some of them have croaked but they might surprise me and take a new lease on life. The little ones like Johnny Jump Ups do better than the bigger faced pansies. The big faces flop around a little too much under snow and ice. I was greedy this year. I have 5 containers of them. The smaller ones are wintering on the porch for protection.
75 Thoughts to “Open Thread………………………………..Monday, January 19”
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Looks like Gov. McAullife is at VCU Medical Center in Richmond with seven broken ribs and fluid around his lungs after being thrown from a horse while vacationing in Tanzania. Ouch! Hope he makes it through o.k. Riding accidents hurt.
How did he get from Tanzania to VCU medical center? I am so confused.
I hope he is OK also. I shudder every time I think of Christopher Reeve. (or Gerald O’Hara or Bonnie Butler)
He had the tumble on a national park safari during his Christmas and New Years vacation in Zambia and Tanzania, where he was visiting a daughter. Got checked by a doctor in Africa and then came home. Never said anything in public about it. He worked for a couple of weeks here, including the State of the Commonwealth speech, with 7, count ’em, 7 broken ribs. Ouch, ouch, and ouch again. Got medically monitored for self-healing and didn’t go to the hospital until today, when fluid started collecting in the lung area. Looks like they have managed to drain it at VCU. Maybe a couple more days of rest and healing needed.
Makes my ribs hurt just to talk about it. That could have been me a few times some years ago except that my hand crafted riding boots were too large and stuck in the African stirrups. Good thing the horses never fell. Gotta be careful riding over there. Sometimes the horses are not trained like we train them.
I wish him speedy recover. It sounds like a dreadful spill.
Do you ride English or western?
Top 1% of the world now own 48% of assets – and by next year it is predicted that the top 1% will own 50% of global wealth. Think about that for a moment.
Yes. Especially, the part about how it’s a global trend and therefore how foolish certain political leaders sound when they claim they can reverse it through purely domestic actions like raising the minimum wage. When it comes to global economic competition, raising the minimum wage is unilateral disarmament.
I’m not saying the concentration of wealth is a good thing. But I am saying that policies of the OWS crowd will do more to ensure we are in the poor half than anything else.
Raising the minimum wage won’t pull anyone out of poverty but it might make them less likely to starve to death. Maybe we should be saying it makes poverty more comfortable.
Anyone else watch Larry Wilmore’s show last night? Pretty good. A lot like Bill maher’s shows before he got old and cranky.
Jon Stewart stuck it to Mike Huckabee pretty well last night, which I also enjoyed.
Jon Stewart was almost rude to Huckabee. Rachel would have been more polite. Part of me enjoyed it. Part of me didn’t. I haven’t watched Larry Wilmore yet. I did record it.
I wasn’t a big fan of the Colbert show. I like him a lot but not the show. The Nightly Show didn’t grab me either. He was funny but I felt it was one of the longest half hours of my life.
Western with an African saddle.
I bet that was a real butt pincher.
@Rick Bentley
“before he got old and cranky.”
You mean….there was a time he wasn’t?
Agree… But I find Rachel to be way to condescending. Her delivery is just so pedantic and snarky about everything she says. If you listen to any of her closing statements they a have the same inflection and tone. Maybe it’s just me but it gets old quick.
Kinda like one of those friends you have that you like…. in small doses.
I think it is probably a matter of taste. I expect she is far too liberal for you.
Sometimes she is too liberal for me but I still like her style.
How does Hannity hit you? (speaking of snarky)
Not a big fan of Hannity to be honest Moon… sure, Rachel is to the left of me but it isn’t her content that I find irritating. It’s her style and delivery, very sophomoric. She reminds me of one of my sons kindergarten class mates teasing another kid who dropped their lollipop.
How odd. I would have guessed smug. Well, that’s your right to like who you want to like.
Old, rich white guy George Soros funded group, OBS, has a warning for “House Negroes” on MLK Day:
“House negroes consider your days numbered! It’s a new day! #ReclaimMLK #FergusonTaughtUs”
Horrendous tweet, for sure.
I wouldn’t get too worked up about it, though. I think that increasingly, black Americans don’t use that term and would find it archaic and somewhat idiotic.
Wilmore’s show is interesting enough to watch. Not must-see TV. A good replacement for the Colbert report, I think. I agree that the best thing about it is Wilmore. He was always quite funny on The Daily Show.
It’s a lot like Bill Maher’s roundtable shows, except that Wilmore is acting more like a host and less like a know-it-all blowhard.
He also funnier than bill Maher. I probably won’t be a regular watcher though. I am a Stewart reg.
One funny takeaway from the SOTU last night…
The President complained about “the constant fundraising” in politics today….
Just minutes after the SOTU OFA sent out the following email:
Friend —
I hope you’re excited about the agenda I laid out tonight for 2015. Now it’s time to get to work. Let’s go — make a monthly contribution to support Democrats now:
https://my.democrats.org/2015
Thanks,
Barack Obama
Senator Inhofe – “The hoax is that there are some people that are so arrogant to think that they are so powerful that they can change climate. Man can’t change climate.”
That is like saying that Man cannot pollute the oceans or reach the moon.
‘What a Maroon!’.
For “Jailbait Joe” Morrissey, the hits just keep on coming:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/virginia-delegate-morrissey-faces-new-criminal-charges/2015/01/21/f8e3c42e-a108-11e4-903f-9f2faf7cd9fe_story.html
He is definitely being targeted for his arrogance and disgusting behavior.
Unfortunately, I think this goes on more than we think. Just perhaps the age discrepancy isn’t as May/December. As for jailbait, I am just not sure. There is plenty of stupid out there.
@Moon-howler
” As for jailbait, I am just not sure.”
In his Alford Plea, he acknowledged that he was warned several times, regarding her age. His firm listed her DOB correctly on her application for official jail access, and his office manager warned him that the application may be rejected, since she was a minor.
Not about him….I am not sure about jailbait for other people who have behaved similarly, but perhaps not illegally.
@Steve Thomas
Jailbait Morrisey…..
I am SOOOO stealing that.
I hadn’t realzied the age of consent in Virginia is 18. I’m a little surprised at that. Given the hypersexual world we live in.
How do people here feel about that? I’m very much in favor of kids abstaining from sex. But I think 18 is a bit high on this.
Age of consent means having sex at all or does it mean with someone over 18?
I have never thought about it. I think there should only be laws to protect kids. For instance, if someone 40 is having sex with someone 17, jail time. A 17 and a 19 year old…oh well.
I know for a fact that a lot of young women dress and act much older. TV probably aids and abets on this one. Then they come on to young men …except sometimes the young men don’t know they are jail bait. They are deliberately deceptive.
I have also seen this ploy done to male teachers. Now, before anyone starts screaming…any teacher stupid enough to fall for this should not be in the profession. No buts…Just is. Some of the girls are very sophisticated in their seduction techniques. I guess they learn it early.
And in other news, it looks like the Voter Party ID Registration bill has passed out of committee. It’s no secret that I support this. Voters can register as affiliated with one of the recognized parties (must have 15% of total registered voters affiliated for recognition). Voters can register as independent as well. Parties can choose whether to hold open or closed primaries and nominations contests.
I hope this passes.
And I don’t like registered parties. It seems so northern to me.
Steve, why do you like it?
I dislike it because sometimes I want to vote Republican. Registering as an Independent doesn’t mean you can go with either party to the primary, I don’t think. Am I right on that?
For instance, I often vote for at least one Republican in local elections, and therefore I want a say in the primaries. How often can you switch parties if it passes?
Would America be better off if parties were abolished? And just let every race be between a large set of candidates, followed by a run-off?
Rick, do you remember the day you and I argued the 2 party vs 3 party system? You had me convinced I was wrong wanting a third party.
@Steve Thomas
Steve – do you know what it would mean to be registered as an Independent?
Republicans – while Mitch McConnell distracts you by making the Keystone pipeline the order of the day – a Canadian project that most of us should hardly care about – here’s what he’s NOT doing.
http://www.mrctv.org/blog/immigration-officers-blast-border-bill-global-joke-where-outrage
I would imagine that it would mean the individual parties could decide whether or not independents would be allowed to participate in party primaries, conventions, caucuses, mass meetings. I would also think independents would courted more during generals, as they would represent the swing votes. Beyond that, I don’t see much changing. Before moving to Virginia, every other place I lived had registration by party.
I always laugh when people start out telling us that they are a card carrying registered Republican. I just want to whisper, LIAR. It sounds like the state of Virginia might spoil my fun.
So, there’s why I don’t vote republican, even though I oppose government waste, the extension of the welfare state, and rewards for illegal immigration. because while they market themselves based on those issues, their real agenda is quite different. Clearly they have bigger fish to fry.
I don’t usually vote Republican because of the social agenda. I am just too libertarian for that crap.
I vote for deserving Republicans locally. In fact, one of our sacred cows is a Republican.
I used to consider myself a Republican, back when there were moderate Republicans.
(read: before Religious issues became so much a part of the platform and before they started the war on sex.)
I can’t vote Democrat, because they’re out of touch with working people, and betraying the confidence of lower class Americans by encouraging waves of millions of uneducated workers. devaluing labor and creating an unwinnable situation where working class Americans have no leverage to maintain a decent standard of living. Also, the Democrats seem to have lost all touch with notions of civic duty, happily creating an America where most people don’t pay income tax, happily paying unemployed people not to seek jobs, happily maintaining and extending a welfare system that knowingly encourages single-parent families. The Democrats lost the game plan some time ago, and can only create a weaker America.
But I can’t vote Republican, because what they are is a bunch of salesmen in suits taking complete advantage of the rubes in Red State America. Just absolutely defecating down their throats and then charging them for the delicious sundea they just enjoyed. Unlike the Democrats, the guys at the top of the GOP know what they’re doing. They’re working to maintain low tax rates and less government control in America, so that the rich can keep their money without having to work or to innovate to do so. No pesky rules to encourage the wealthy to create jobs or to invest; let everything roll, let money continually begat money. They market themselves as pro-prayer, anti-abortion, pro-soldier, whatever you want them to be. But all they ever really do is to protect big money.
And so here I sit, unwilling to pull the lever for either party. Neither one will ever take us anywhere good. Because of technical innovation, we will presumably prosper. But we are, when all is said and done, a nation of idiots, with two unbelievable parties sitting on top raining down bulls*** upon us.
If it passes I’m going to refuse to select a choice. No government is going to force me to publically declare my political affiliation. (Selecting Independent is a declaration and is different than leaving it blank.)
@Rick Bentley
If you don’t vote you are part of the problem. I think you have exaggerated the faults of both parties in general. I certainly don’t see the Democrats as doing some of the things you have described. What I do see is some factions of the party encouraging some of those things. Now, is that the fault of the party? I don’t think so.
I could find a similar example of that happening in the GOP. Tea Party foolishness being the fault of the entire GOP might be an example.
I think you have to weigh each candidate and see which one is less offensive.
I think campaigns are immoral. I participated the last time back in the 90s. The amount of money made me sick and the tactics made me sick. That’s when I decided I simply didn’t have the stomach for it.
You go right ahead and do that, Ed. I support your right to do so, and I support the states right to apply whatever sanction is called for under the law. Go full-on Thoreau. Move to the woods near Lake Manassas. I’ll even help you build your hut.
I understand how Ed feels. I feel it is a violation of my privacy. Why does the government get to know which party I support? I feel like that about like I expect you feel about having to register a gun./
@Ed Myers
Ed, I sort of feel the same way. I think you have to or lose your vote and that is what I resent.
I am neither. I lean Democratic but I am not exclusively democrat.
For instance, I had planned on supporting Corey Stewart in the upcoming supervisors race. Candland and his minions have spent so much time excoriating Stewart that I have become a supporter. Many people feel that way.
I guess Candland realized that he couldn’t beat Corey for chairman. His support is all in Western Gainesville District.
“If you don’t vote you are part of the problem.”
No – the people reflexively pulling the lever are the problem. If someone says that Bill Cosby drugged and raped them, she might be telling the truth. If she were to say that he did this 20 times, and that she kept going out with him or accepting drinks from him, I’d lose sympathy.
When you don’t vote you get the worst of the worst instead of the best of the worst.
You have to be active to change the system from within. I think that Citizens United has probably hurt the country worse than anything else but that is just my opinion.
“No – the people reflexively pulling the lever are the problem.”
Amen.
Ah, Delegate Marshall forgot to turn off the link on his website for donations!
http://www.insidenova.com/headlines/marshall-says-mistake-led-to-website-campaign-donation-flap/article_01cef6d2-a3dc-11e4-be9f-1f43d7678eb9.html
He blamed his son.
Long, interesting article in today´s New York Times Magazine
about Megyn Kelly.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/08/opinion/sunday/the-end-of-snow.html?_r=1
Just sayin’…….. 😉
Oh, skiing. Gliding through the snowy woods on X-country skis
and swooshing dowhill. Wonderful!
First time I encountered machine made snow, it felt like mashed potatoes to me.
How bout that Fairfax swat team that took down that Great Falls high stake poker game to steal (err confiscate) cash from the players. At least this time they didn’t “accidently” shoot anyone to keep them from contradicting the police version of events like they have before.
When did this happen?
Just want to give major props to our Fisrt Lady, Michelle Obama! She is getting heat for not wearing a head covering scarf during a trip to Saudia Arabia. Well, I don’t agree with her very often but I must admit that I was very proud of her today. That put a smile on my face today.
Did anyone else see the eye daggers she was shooting at the dudes walking past not shaking her hand? Good for her! Finally someone in this administration showed some balls.
The ladies usually do, more so than the men….thinking Hillary, Laura, Michelle…..
She wasn’t required to wear head gear. No one has ever accused Arabic men of being egalitarian where women are concerned.
@moon, 2 days ago…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/local/wp/2015/01/27/fairfax-swat-team-raids-high-stakes-great-falls-poker-game-seizes-cash-terrifies-players/
Great – and she is an elected Congresswoman.
https://www.facebook.com/TexansforMolly/posts/1610704432493165
I’m not sure what the point is of not respecting the religious and social customs of a country one visits, whether as a head of state or as a private visitor. Mrs. Obama would have been criticized in either case and she probably made the correct choice (fewer people who matter politically in the US would be offended by not covering her hair than by covering it). It’s a tough call, but I’m not sure she obviously did the right thing. It used to be the case (not sure whether it still is) that visiting female dignitaries to the Vatican would put a veil or scarf on. If that still were the expectation there, should a US First Lady (or Female President) ignore it?
I heard on TV that she was not required to cover her head in Saudi Arabia. She would have been required in Iran.
It was not news when Laura Bush visited the Saudi King and did not wear a head scarf.
Visiting females to Saudi Arabia are not required to wear head covering. She did the right thing. The males (most of them) also did the wrong thing by not recognizing her. The female is worthless in their society even though they all have a mother.
Michelle Obama did where a head scarf when visiting the Vatican and a Mosque recently.
I wonder if the Governor of Oregon will be facing federal corruption charges, as did our former Governor:
http://www.eastoregonian.com/eo/capital-bureau/20150127/first-ladys-118000-fellowship-overlapped-state-energy-policy-work
Too confusing to tell.
@Steve Thomas
It smells really bad – especially around the use of a non profit to funnel money to the wife – and they failed to file tax returns.
People in positions of power need to be held to a higher standard.
One of the aspects of the McDonnell mess is that the Gift rules in the GA are so lax that, while gifts to members were required to be reported, gifts to family members did not (or at least that is my understanding – if someone knows better, please straighten me out). I think what became common in McDonnell’s time in the GA was that lobbyists and members would skirt the disclosure rules by dropping favors on family members. Hence, Maureen and the kids, like many families coming out of the General Assembly, might have become well-accustomed and de-sensitized to the idea that they would get party favors as a normal and unremarkable part of the Richmond ambience.
In Washington, there has always been some concern about Congressional spouse jobs (closer to Steve’s Oregon example). On the one hand, being a member of Congress shouldn’t mean your spouse can’t work. On the other hand, is your spouse’s job one that he/she would have if you were not a Member of Congress?
If there is ever a violation that isn’t legally a violation it is Mrs. Clarence Thomas’s tea party role. The pillow talk must be amazing.
Good job, Osbourn High School, on It’s Academic. They came in second in sudden death against Lake Braddock. both went in to Sudden Death with a 360 score.
Good job by Michelle Obama in Saudi Arabia for the Kings funeral – no head scarf. She’s drawing praise from all types of thinkers. Including Ted Cruz! Standing up for women….. Hmmm
@Lyssa
I’ve even praised her.
Oh look! Flying pigs!
Fair is fair. How does a girl fight?
Michelle Obama did the right thing.
So funny how the same people that complained about Obama taking a bow to the King complain about Michelle not wearing a scarf.