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Quark,
Tell me everything you know about Stephanie! I guarantee she won't mind a bit. I'll bet Thom is enamored by her too. She is one of the best retail politicians I've ever seen. Absolutely charming in a slightly naughty way. Women hate her because she is like a Queen Bee surrounded by drones. :-)
Quark,
Re: Al Franken
My response to your observations about Al was guided by a sense of loyalty and ego. Your comments were entirely justifiable in my opinion. I had a similar response...initially. I was trying to get you to look past his apparent unease dealing one on one. Al is not a natural glad-hander or retail politician. He is a very complex dude. Your perceptions are absolutely accurate and valid. I just wanted to explain his discomfort. Underneath it all he is a really good guy, I believe. He is arrogantly smart and maybe that will serve him well in the World's Most Exclusive Club. I am confident that he'll vote in our best interests. Hopefully he'll grow more confident and relaxed with us mortals in the future.
I'll share a funny anecdote concerning Al. When Amy was running almost three years ago, there was a fund raising event in ST. Paul. It was $250 a head to have cocktails with Walter Mondale, Al Franken & Amy Klobuchar. I decided to go and take my wife. We had planned to go out to dinner that night anyway, and I figured I could take in a bunch of Al's books to get them autographed. I use them at silent auctions to raise money for down-ticket candidates. I had met Al on several occasions previously and expected to receive no recognition from him; as had been my experience before. Therefore, instead of approaching him or bugging him, I instead went over to talk to his aid, (Body man) Andy who I knew. While I was telling him my request, unknown to me, Al was hitting on my attractive wife at the strawberry pyramid. She later told me that he came up to her and said rather proudly: "Hi, I'm Al Franken". She said "yeh, I know". Al wouldn't have paid attention to me if I had been on fire, but he was real outgoing with my Janis. Some months later I was able to get back at him a little when I relayed this story to Franni Franken while Al listened in. Giving him shit broke the ice for Al and I. That being said, the next time we are together, he may well act like he doesn't know me again. Time will tell.
DDay,
Oh, the things I could say about Stephanie Miller but that would be talking out of school and she's not here to defend herself, as Thom would say.
B Roll,
Re: Gerald Socha
I don't really disagree. Gerald is unlikely to be quoted by name. His message is however counterproductive and enforces stereotypes about liberals. Not helpful.
As to your assessment of the various radio personalities, I have little opinion except in Stephanie's case. I must come to her defense. Humor can be a sharp sword, laughter is the music of the soul, and most importantly...when I was last in her company she called me her STUD MUFFIN so all could hear her. She had me for good at that point. Yes... I'm easy...I'm cheap... and I'm shallow. men are pigs :-)
B Roll,
I've noticed that, when I become aware that there is a learning opportunity (about myself or others), I feel the most truly alive. It's that "sink or swim" moment --- you might die, but you might also break through with a "treasure." I guess that's what has motivated me to take risks in life. You never know 'til you try.
I was recently telling my husband that I haven't been adventuresome or taken any real risks for a long time. A home and family have kept my feet on the ground for more years than I can believe. Thom, by contrast, takes risks all the time (tho maybe he doesn't think of his globetrotting that way.)
I have to give this more thought.
"Aint Misbehavin' " --- what a great way to serenade a young lady. It's hard to sing that without a twinkle in your eye! (I also love Fats Waller for the same reason.) I guess humor is as important to life (for me) as breathing! Bless you, B Roll. (I would really miss you if I didn't make this blog part of my day.)
Hey B Roll,
I take it back...Quark isn't that generous....it's you. (Just kidding again Q!) You explained my true intent regarding MN & Marley better than I could. Your praise has meant a lot to me on more than one occasion. I can't tell how much I was raised by your praise of my post about Martine & Lucien & The Little Prince. It was like I won the lottery. When you put sincere effort into something, and get no feedback, it is easy to wonder if you're full of crap. To know that someone who you have grown to respect sees merit in your work means so much. Encouragement is a precious gift too often discounted or neglected. Thank you friend.
DDay,
Somehow I felt that you might have taken some of my criticism of Al on yourself and you maybe felt a little stung (and responded accordinginly.) Let me just say that I critique Al like this because I DO wish I felt differently about him.
As a public persona, his beliefs and demeanor aren't things I care that much about. As a representative of the electorate, though, he is too authoritarian and not very open to other ideas or points of view or approachable enough for me.
I have always been able to talk with my representatives. I cannot talk with him. He tends to make up his mind and that's it, for better or worse. At least that's my impression and experience. I think he very much wants to make a positive difference and I applaud him for that. Maybe that is as much as I could want and I should be (and am) grateful for that, tho I miss the other qualities.
I will try to see the situation as a glass AT LEAST half full. I do believe he is a good person (and his tender heart always leaves me with tears in my eyes.)
Here is another fact to think about with the great conveyor belt of ocean water. Not only is heat released when it arrives off the coast of Greenland (the Labrador Sea), but it also is the place where the greatest amount of carbon dioxide is dissolved in the seawaters and sequestered to the depths of the ocean as the cold water sinks. Cold water dissolves more gas than warm water, which is also why trout like fast moving, cold water : )
@DebbieKat: The problem is while high fructose corn syrup appears to short circuit the Krebs Cycle, it if fact is stored rather than burned. Added to its addictive nature . . .
The issue is NOT subsidy of corn and corn syrup; it is price breaks and subsidies of the customers of those products. That way Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Corn Syrup Manufacturers) gets to claim that there are no corn subsidies and not actually be lying.
The other issue is “poor folk food”. When we worked in fields and did manual labor, single meals of high calories high fat (and therefore tasty foods) was required to support the laborer. NOW we eat the same food three times per day. In addition, these foods tend to be cheaper . . . So our lower economic strata consume double the calories to receive the same sustenance . . . So they are fatter.
Regarding the addictive nature of junk food, I believe I posted a link, in early August, to an a segment of Democracy Now in which former FDA commission David Kesller talked about how our foods (especially fast foods) have been engineered to be addictive and the effect they have on our brains.
http://www.democracynow.org/2009/8/3/former_fda_commissioner_david_kessl...
Don't forget the Hard-Core Republicans posing as Moderates or Democrats pushing subtle dissent among progressive media fans.
=^D
DDay
My take is slightly different although I share some of your analysis. I assume that the readership of this blog is very small, if you don’t include the FBI, CIA and whatever other governmental and commercial organizations get reports on what may be said here. See
http://www.democracynow.org/2009/10/22/cia_invests_in_software_firm_moni...
I really don’t imagine that Gerald Socha will be quoted around the Internet and on this blog, his style has put him in a similar category as Rasta, who’s also way over the top, sincerely concerned and often referenced good sources.
The reason I dropped the topic with him is because I didn’t see much of a chance of getting a useful response.
I don’t see why Gerald (an unknown private citizen) would be quoted when they could get the same thing and more by quoting Mike Malloy, who is more well known and incendiary than Gerald.
I’m far more concerned about things said by the progressive talkers I’m aware of: Mike Malloy, who would be my favorite if he only believed in self-control. Randi Rhodes who is the reason I turn my radio off when Thom’s show ends because I think she’s self-absorbed and obnoxious, Stephanie Miller who is sillier than she is deep and Thom Hartmann who I have many many issues with.
It's why Ireland has nice summers, at all.
Again, Thom is right on the Science. Nice
=^D
Quark,
I always say the truth is right there for us to see.
Your point is apropos too.
Anyone seen Michael Moore's New Movie?
http://www.capitalismalovestory.com/
Quark
I want to say something and I can't figure out what it is. I think it has something to do about how we are constantly presented with opportunities to learn about ourselves and others, but we usually fail to do so.
I really don't think that DDay addressed his comments past you. He was responding to my comment to you not knowing much about Bob Marley when I referred to your previous comment about people living in different worlds and then asking where the heck is Minnesota.
His comment was in response to my joke and he was playing with the idea of a quark being in a small world.
If you look at the comments he posted to you, especially in your discussion of Al Franken, you'll see what a kind and thoughtful person he is. To the best of my reckoning, my two favorite participants on this blog are Quark and DDay.
By the way, in one of your posts to me you mentioned Leon Redbone. I use to sing his version of "Aint Misbehavin'" to a young lady I was seeing at the time. You can't imagine the inhibition I felt singing to her since a few years before we were dating she had been the girlfriend of Stevie Wonder. She also knew quite a few very well known singers.
Even further by the way, as I was looking at the Friday blog trying to find what upset you, I noticed that mstaggerlee mentioned the singer I have the story about, Michael Franti.
Quark,
I was having a little fun at your expense last week. That was not gracious. I also was for the first time,(I believe), for taking a little issue with some of your comments. That was innocent in intent. I just wanted to mix it up a bit. You mentioned pedantic about Al Franken, which stood out at the time. I winced and wondered if I should take care because I am the most pedantic SOB you'll ever encounter. (Question: Is it pedantic to use the word pedantic?)
As has been mentioned by others, like others, my humor is often misundersetimated. I find it hard to not amuse myself and too often expect others to understand. Without getting too sappy, I thought you must realize that I had rapidly grown very fond of you in particular. Your generosity of spirit is transparent and profound in my estimation. Then again... you might be a real a-hole. (Just kidding) See? I have little impulse control!
Quark...of course I forgive you but you don't need it.
Richard: I would love to get fully grokked...I think...What are the parameters?
To all interested parties: I agree with all of you, (for the most part) in your comments. So now we had our first little kerfuffle! I'm chagrined to learn that yet once again I was the source of discord. My apologies. It's my nature. I would like to make one more observation. Once again it took FARTS to clear the air....and bring us together again. Which one of us called this "Mensa with Fart Jokes" ?
Brenhin,
Thanks for pointing that out. I keep forgetting about them, even though I fiercely believe that the corporations are our main problem. That explains why, with Republicans comprising only 19-20% of the population (and falling), we still have these big battles to fight, politically.
@THOM: While you point about biochemistry is true at the time that the cork is popped . . . Champaign does go flatter quicker at lower pressures and temperatures temptress than STP (Standard Temperature and Pressure). At lower pressures, CO2 sloughs as static pressure lessens. As primarily water-based liquids approach their triple point, water molecules align to form crystalline structures they squeeze out dissolved gasses. Both conditions exist at extreme mountain top conditions.
as progressives we need to take the lead and declare 2010 the start of the new American renaissance. we will not let our nation become a nations of peons. we will teach our fellow citizens the greatness in the power of the human spirit. to incorporate the spiritual and ethical insights of Emerson, Thoreau and Whitman into their lives. to create the American poetic spirit of the 21 century.
brian a. hayes,
With all due respect Brian; most progressives now believe it is the Large Corporations that are the problem Republican & Democrat alike.
Campaing finance reform is a weak attempt to address removing Politicians motivations for corruption.
=^)
ROTFL!!!!!!!
Cancer means there are more cells . . .
Richard,
I laughed out loud at your last post. I could "hear" my son making the same claims! LOL
DebbieKat,
Yes! I think about this corn syrup problem nearly every day. There is hardly a "prepared" product you can buy that does not have corn syrup added to it. I frequently invoke Chuck Grassley's name in the midst of these thoughts.