Fun by Duncan Quirk

Holy Merde!!

When did he give that talk??
Yesterday?
I'm surprised he's not dead already.
But I am solidly behind him...although not in this picture.
Go, Hitch!
Articulate radicals rock!

"Hello.", she said timidly.

She will Let Christopher Hitchens do her talking for her.


Christopher Hitchens - Religion

It's Raining Planes

Another plane crash today.
Pilots are getting careless.
No more drinking on the job...you can't all be as lucky as Sully.

Today in Pictures

A Serenade to Paul Krugman

I've loved him for so long....
It's about time someone wrote a song for him.

Pre-Election Thoughts...Are They Still Relevant?

See below:

Is it time?

CBBI FIRST DRAFT 10/23/2008 [LOR1]

This first draft is very rough—just ideas.

When you get this read it over, add and subtract ideas.

When an idea doesn’t appeal to you and you think it should be deleted or revised put it in parenthesis or a different font so we can always refer back to our original stuff.

On 10/7/2008 I mentioned to Jean that we (meaning the USA) needed to do something BIG to emphasize the necessity for governmental change in America. Not just a new President but change in every way, foundational and from the ground up. Jean said ‘Yes!’ and before I knew it we had dreamed up a walk across the USA and even Googled a route to take.

We left it there because neither one of us are smart enough to carry such a thing off but we figured that since I was going back East to a wedding I’d put the idea

to M while we were vacationing on LI.

I did that and in three days we came up with the following:

COPPER BOTTOMED BITCHES INTERNATIONAL

(Henceforth to be CBBI)

By the way, I think the bitches part may be too strong, however I also want to get it across to the general public that while we are not militant in any way—we are also not polite and we won’t be glossing anything over or omitting anything that may be uncomfortable. We will be making a BIG DEAL out of the current state of this USA.

AND we will give it all we’ve got.

Also by the way—this enterprise may turn up anywhere on the success/failure continuum—we have to think about how we’ll handle whatever it comes to…or if we can really handle it at all

Ideas raised with great hilarity 10/14 thru17, 2008:

*CBBI

Born to Blog

Cut the Crap Insurrection of

2009

Reclaiming the USA for

Truth

Respect

Responsibility

Accountability

*CBBI

Sea to Shining Sea

Stroll Across America for

Truth

Respect

Responsibility

Accountability

In representative gov’t

2009

“Remember, you work for US”

NOTE (3/23/2009): Perhaps Stroll is not a good word—bringing to mind children in large, wheeled, mother-propelled carts—too vulnerable.

Think meander or promenade

Not Funny; Serious in the Extreme:

Our Basic Principle: The Constitution of the USA

Ideas raised that same time period without much hilarity at all:

We need a manifesto or declaration of some sort to inform the public and the gov’t what our aims are:

We the people are presenting the essential changes that must take place in the governing of the USA.

These changes will be put forth on a new and separate website for the CBBI.

The manifesto must be simple, foundational & functional. Short sentences (we’re playing to the entire USA).

*Truth in Government

*Respect for all

*Responsibility

*Accountability[LOR2]

We regard these 4 items (above) as essential in every citizen of the USA

No buzzwords

No invoking of gods or religion

No provocative songs or music[LOR3]

The CBBI’s are peaceable, strong, intelligent and adamant.

CBBI Strollers are NOT legislators—CBBI Strollers are the general citizenry who vote for their representatives[LOR4] …

Strollers expect the Stroll to impress upon our legislators, current and future, that Truth, Respect, Responsibility and Accountability are non-negotiable as pertains to all Governmental actions.

There are faults and inconsistencies inherent in human nature which, although distasteful, arenatures which, although distasteful, are private matters.

No signs, banners or any accoutrement that may be perceived as a weapon will be carried during the Stroll.

Once the Stroll begins it carries on to the end.

________________________________________________________________

If the CBBI Stroll grows into what we hope it will we will need:

Sponsors

Volunteers

Donations

Identifiers for the Strollers (T-shirts, hats, buttons…)

If it’s really big we’ll need:

Support vehicles (How big? and how many vehicles to how many strollers?)

What will the vehicles carry? Water, energy bars, first aid supplies and first aid people…

Oddments:

Anyone (male or female…Copper Bottomed Bastards?) who wants to Stroll with us has to abide by the rules of the road.

The rules of the road are in the manifesto.

Strollers may stroll for as long as they wish, beginning and ending anywhere along the route.

If frail, strollers must have their own support person/s—Strollers will stop to help but Strollers will not BE stopped.

If frail or otherwise unable to stroll, there will be other needs for people to assist in…(TBD)

WARNINGS TO THOSE WHO STROLL WITH THE CBBI’S:

There will be persons, public and private, who will seek to stop us or damage us or dishearten us.

You may be reviled by your family/neighbors.

You may find that your taxes are being audited.

You may find that your Green Card or that of a loved one is in jeopardy.

If you participate you will discover that you’d rather be dead than stroll another step but CARRY ON—we stand on the shoulders of the people who founded this nation[LOR5] …(make this sound good and not sappy)

…Tired now…stopping 10/23/08 6:45PM

Oh, we need a time frame. Starting stopping announcing keeping the momentum prep time clean up etc.

I guess we’ve started now. Let’s do it.

LOR

---

[LOR1]Changes, comments etc added 3/23/2009

[LOR2]No one is too exalted or too wealthy to be above the CBBI principles

[LOR3]MAYBE A little PROVOCATIVE

[LOR4]…BUT WHO ARE HAVING SECOND THOUGHTS ABOUT IT—CONVINCE US OTHERWISE, REPRESENTATIVES

[LOR5]THEY had a revolution…nothing so gentle as a stroll

Things You Find Out ABout Yourself That You Never Knew Until You Started Writing a Book

Hi.
The Pool Shark is here just because it made me laugh this morning.
Anxiety and Thought are what I'm actually doing but keep in mind that I'm much better at anxiety.
Here's what you learn when you begin to write a book.
1. That you really can't spell.
2. That you really don't know the correct meaning of a lot of words.
3. That the world has changed since you last took a geography class--(1958, I'm thinking).
4. That if you're going to write mystery/romance these days (or ANY days) you can't skip the sex.
4A. If you're going to write sex you're going to have to:
1. Have a panic attack.
2. Try to remember some.
3. Get the thesaurus back out because there MUST be more than one way to say THAT.
5. That there really is more than one person living inside your head.
1. Some of them are male.
2. Writing biographies for them is the only way to go--it works. But...
3. Some of them just jump into your head fully blown and take over--damn them!
a. these are your best characters.
b. talk to them.
c. they will tell you things.
d. some things will be helpful.
e. don't believe everything you hear.
OK, that's enough bizarre for now.
More tomorrow.

100 pages ... and other items

I'm writing that book I've been talking about and thinking about for so long. I love books and I always thought I'd like to build one myself but as with quite a few other things---I'm a much better appreciator of books, writers, literature, art, music...yada yada yada...than I am a maker of those things...its kind of sad, especially when you're getting on a bit and visibly drying up and out.
Anyway I thought what the hell...if I don't write the damn thing...I'll never have written the damn thing and that would be sadder than all the drying up I'm doing.
So, it's mostly writ.
100 pages today. 53,658 words so far. Its cheap trash chick lit--old chick lit. But with a couple of thoughts and a bit of world travel and I'm seriously considering an assassination--but maybe nothing as classy as that. Maybe someone will just get clobbered with an old Bakelite telephone--you could die from that.
In Other News: The hospital I work at is going all telemetry so in my declining years I'm having to buy a real stethoscope and EKG calipers. I'm the kind of nurse that ignores the numbers--if you're pink and eating your sandwich I call it good but if you're blue and gasping for breath I clap you in the side of the head and call a code. Now I have to run my own codes...and look for my own P waves.
From now on every night when I get to work I'm putting leads on my own chest.




The Springtime Birds arrived in Tacoma a few weeks ago--they are a joy to hear.
Daffies are blooming and camellias and heather--I planted primroses and then we had a hailstorm. Ah well, that's Spring for you.

The photo of the sunny dirt road and the picket fence is mine. I took it up at Fort Worden on the Olympic Peninsula--on the other side of the picket fence is an old Coast Guard Station and a Lighthouse.

The kid with the thesaurus represents the Thesaurus I've had to consult soooo many times while writing the book. AND I read a book by Ammon Shea who read the entire OED in a year and took notes--read the book its fantastic for a lover of words, books, alphabets, libraries--you'll recognize yourself and be heartened to know that you're not the only one who thinks those crazy thoughts.
Tune in tomorrow.

The Woman of the Hour

Here's a photo of the inimitable Mrs. Gouker who turns 30 today. We celebrated the birthday last evening with a cake and a potful of Chicken and Dumplings from the kitchens of Mother O'Reilly.

Catherine is the trunk of our family tree--the rest of us are just hangers-on. She dances along and we just follow behind taking orders and trying to keep up. She was born bossy...and funny...and smart, which is the dangerous portion of the child.
Two of her recent watercolors are included here and a photo of the Port of Tacoma just because I like it(the port of tacoma, that is.).

Happy Birthday, little girl.
Your mother loves you.

Cats Can't Spit

I remember the day that Maggie wrote and told me that Shadow's backside had had to be reconstructed...
Ha! I thought, that will never happen my very intelligent Snuggs O'Reilly--he's too smart to put his ass in a sling.
Another instance of me being wrong about something...
Snugg's fuzzy butt is in a sling--and naked as well.
Like everyone that goes to any sort of hospital he's had his last shred of dignity removed.
And twice each day I get to jam a pill down his throat--so I'm glad that cats can't spit.

philosophy

the lesson of the moth

Don Marquis 1927

i was talking to a moth
the other evening
he was trying to break into
an electric light bulb and fry himself on the wires

why do you fellows
pull this stunt i asked him
because it is the conventional
thing for moths or why
if that had been an uncovered
candle instead of an electric
light bulb you would
now be a small unsightly cinder
have you no sense

plenty of it he answered
but at times we get tired
of using it
we get bored with the routine
and crave beauty
and excitement
fire is beautiful
and we know that if we get
too close it will kill us
but what does that matter
it is better to be happy
for a moment
and be burned up with beauty
than to live a long time
and be bored all the while
so we wad all our life up
into one little roll
and then we shoot the roll
that is what life is for
it is better to be a part of beauty
for one instant and then cease to
exist than to exist forever
and never be a part of beauty
our attitude toward life
is come easy go easy
we are like human beings
used to be before they became
too civilized to enjoy themselves

and before I could argue him
out of his philosophy
he went and immolated himself
on a patent cigar lighter
i do not agree with him
myself i would rather have
half the happiness and twice
the longevity

but at the same time i wish
there was something i wanted
as badly as he wanted to fry himself

archy

Catholics: cooking the books

You know, I remember indulgences...little prayers and assignments to do that would get you time out of Purgatory. I thought it was stupid then--its like plea-bargaining with God.
And now its back!
Oh, for God's sake...

...and don't get all over me about that.

Satriani Review

If Joe Satriani had been born into a world without guitars he would've had to invent one.
I stand in awe of the people who just HAVE to make music--they can't help it.
Many long years ago (but not before Les Paul--who I think is still alive) there was a concert--I think it was called the Black and White concert--with Roy Orbison and Bruce Springsteen and KD Lang and Bonnie Raitt and god knows who all else--lots of people.
I'll find some video...
They ended the show, I believe, with CandyMan--and it went on forever. You could just lie back and soak it up.
Joe puts me in mind of that--
Thank you for that, Mi Hermana.
As long as we can listen to good music played by people who love it--its a good old world.

The End of the Road or getting close, anyway.

...And I couldn't be happier

See the old Portuguese girl...heading down the last lap to retirement.

I'm working one or two shifts a week--sometimes.
It's heaven.
Follow the link to an article about 'Plan B'.

Well, I always knew I wouldn't die rich and I'm right on target--they've even made it easier for me.

The medical system where I am employed has decided to get rid of the travel nurses because they're too expensive--they're hiring 'older' nurses who are coming back to work because all their money is gone.
Ha! I beat them to it.
No benefits, crummy hours, can't see, have arthritis but we're out there doing it.
As long as I can make a couple of extra bucks now and then, I'm happy. And it'll be a few years yet before the nursing ranks increase enough so that the young, healthy (and less expensive) gals and guys muscle us out.
It's a laugh riot at work--I just can't handle the 600 pounders any more. Or the 6' 4" 300 pound men who come in whining that their knees need to be replaced.
I walk into the room and they look at the stubby, gray-haired RN and say: "You'll need help"
Well, there is no help, Bubala. It's me and you, so marshal your resources.
That's motivation to make those new knees work. And maybe motivation to ease off on the beer and chips.
You know when they say 'It's nice to be needed'? In this day and age it is.

Music Appreciation Day!

In honor of my niece (who still has days and days before she turns thirty) and my nephew (who helped me wake up).

Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, and Yngwie Malmsteen, together on a 'Starry Night'.

As Water Droplets Erode Stones.....

.....so do small efforts create very significant results.

My husband and I are a slightly odd pair. He's a devout Lutheran, I am a contented non-believer. He's a staunch conservative Republican whilst I am an increasingly progressive liberal, with no party affiliation.

And yet we have loved one another for 29 years, love that's like the Rock of Ages, because we are kind to one another and in complete agreement on what's really important; Home and hearth, family and friends.

In the year 2000, I voted for Gore and Kurt voted for Bush. But I was frankly more enthralled in the machinations and the insanities of that fabulously hilarious election than I was of it's eventual outcome.

By 2002, Mr. Bush was making me a little hot under the collar. By 2003, I was hopping MAD! (I still gag a little when I see that picture of him, resplendent in flight suit and codpiece, posing on the deck of a ship where there would hang the sign "Mission Accomplished" to commemorate a victory in a war that is ongoing almost six years later.)

My fingers began to fly! I wrote to every politician, publication and suitable institution to voice my protest. I issued strongly worded rebuttals to all those lunk-headed, hoo-rah, bigoted emailers who had the balls to clog up my inbox. And I made connections (Rich Simon, Sandy Randall...) that I never would have made otherwise. My like-minded sister started this blog, and I sent blog links like a cyber blizzard throughout the ether of the Net.

Kurt noticed my activity but didn't comment on it too much, except to smile wanly when I ran into the bedroom yelling, "Hey, I got a REAL reply from the Congressman", or, "Look! They published my letter in the New York Times!" As it happens, his Lutheran pastor is my political ally, so he was kind of getting it from both sides. But Kurt loves us both and has never been snide.

Now it's February of 2009 and President Obama is pushing a nearly one trillion dollar economic stimulus package to jump-start the economy. (Which is why you should always drive a standard transmission, by the way.) While my husband is not against a bill that would support housing and improved infrastructure, he's convinced that we are rushing in a blind panic, that there is too much 'pork' in the bill and that we should discard it and start anew. He may be right. I haven't studied the bill.

Last night he said to me, "Back when you were so busy on the computer, trying to get Obama elected, who were you writing to?" I realized that he had come to believe that I, and all my subversive family and friends, had actually made a difference! (As I firmly believe we did.)

So, I told him. I said that he should write to our Congressman and Senators, to the NY Times, to the Washington Post and to the White House. He didn't think those were good ideas at first, because he thought it would be a waste of time to write to Democrats. I told him that it would be a real waste of time if he was just going to write to people who already agreed with him. Our Democratic Congressman, John Hall, might ignore a letter written by one dissident Republican, but he can't ignore letters written by 3,000 dissident Republicans! I told him that he has to participate in government every day, to some degree or another, and not just consider his duty done by walking into an election booth every four years. He may not have voted for the present administration, but they are his representatives as surely as they are mine, and he has the right and the responsibility to voice his opinion. Because that's what America is all about.

- Maggie (Finally!)

I Love Paul

...he usually says just the right thing.

Re: Bailouts

Bailout/Stimulus text per OpenCongress

Here's the text of the Bill.
Thank Croesus, I have an appointment with the ophthalmologist next week...and I still have health insurance.

Getting busy....

Tantrum--I'll Keep it Brief

HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS
Let the banks go!! Cut them loose. Millstones...Albatrosses...Balls and Chains.

Take the hundreds of billions--subtract the number of multimillionaire taxpayers of the USA and then divide by the number of US taxpayers who have a million or less and divide it evenly amongst them--the million or less people, that is.
No one will need credit for awhile, anyway.

BUT: Where is this $$ coming from? Are we borrowing it from China? Give it back to China--it's NOT OUR MONEY.

America is running on empty.

Time to cut the crap.

Where is the text of this bailout, anyway? I'm going to read it and pull out the stupid parts--I'll post them here.