On Politics
Cheers to the Congressional Republicans who voted with the Democrats to extend the debt ceiling. Then again, that doesn’t stop me from dreaming of the day when Congress abandons the debt ceiling, which is nothing more than a political tool.
The White House recently delayed the Affordable Care Act’s employer mandate on certain-sized business. Besides that this is a prime example that size matters, I don’t like the employer mandate.
As Sen. Rand Paul’s (R-KY) attacks former President Bill Clinton to excite his base, he does so at the expense of alienating the ideological center. Meanwhile, so now he’s suing the White House. He’s very much about positioning himself.
I put Sen. Paul and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) in the same category … “Keep Them Talking.”
Here’s an interesting comment from a conservative: GOP reform efforts must aim to restrain government, not immobilize it.
On This Week’s Headlines from The Onion
Report: It’s too soon to glance back at attractive person
Exhuming mom for one last hug: A privilege of the wealthy?
Renovations force Yosemite National Park to temporarily relocate in Sacramento
Live cow lowered onto floor of US House of Representatives (visual proof)
Couple never dreamed they would be able to talk so openly and honestly about kitchen cabinets
Interesting Reads
Norway’s Winter Olympics success
The wonders of curling shoes
Is the jobless rate a questionable statistic?
Resisting the Social Media Revolution
Remember Baghdad Bob
A great collection of wine infographics by The Wine Wankers
Aurora borealis slideshow
On Potpourri
Hooray … it’s time spring training baseball!
College football player Michael Sam public announcement about his sexuality was interesting, but (to me) the most remarkable news was that he told his college teammates August – which means his teammates, coaching staff, and others kept it quiet. This is another example of how the younger generation (as a whole) is much more accepting of gays than other generations. Cheers to them for leading the way.
With the Winter Olympics in process, I want to see a snowboarder go off the tall ski jump. Guapo: Would you be willing to try?
We are scheduled for more snow on Friday … but after that, a warming trend!
Given the publicity of last week’s evolution-creationism debate, I wonder how many pastors took advantage of the opportunity to address it from the pulpit. I know mine did not.
Here are your weekend celebrations
- (Weekend) Backyard Bird-Count Weekend
- (Fri) Valentine’s Day, Ferris Wheel Day, Cream-Filled Chocolates Day, Read to Your Child Day, Have a Heart Day, Call in Single Day, Race Relations Day, Quirky Alone Day, Library Lovers Day, Condom Day, Women’s Heart Day, Donor’s Day, Pet Theft Awareness Day
- (Sat) National Gumdrop Day. Whale Day, Hippo Day
- (Sun) Do a Grouch a Favor Day, Almond Day, Innovation Day
Given Friday’s special nature, a 1977 flashback will lead you into the weekend, so enjoy Heart with Crazy on You. Have a safe weekend and in the words of Garrison Keillor, Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.
A day early Lovie aFA….Happy Valentines Day to a Favourite!!
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Raye,
Thanks …. and Happy Valentine’s Day to the Rose City Queen!
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The start of spring training motivated me to look at the calendar, Frank. Spring officially starts on March 20 at 12:57 pm EDT. I am not being anal; it’s what I discovered in my Google search. Considering that we’re still getting pummeled with snow over here in the Big Apple, I wish I could just fast forward to that date. Or maybe I should beware of what I wish for. I know it can also snow in spring. Enough already!
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Lame,
Now you’ve got me thinking, so after all these years, it’s obvious. Given that it’s spring training, they are training for spring, which means it takes them over a month to prepare. Meanwhile, the latest winter smack has delivered major dumpage to the NE. How much for the Big Apple?
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Including the two inches that fell overnight, I think it’s up to 11.5″ now. An inch or two is forecast for Saturday and there could be more snow on Monday. Bitter cold returns here on Sunday. Temperatures today could reach 40, but that just means tons of slush and almost shin-deep curbside puddles like the unavoidable icy pond I was stuck wading through on my home last night. I’m real sick of this abundance of winter weather, Frank. Enough already!
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This storm went to my south, then up the coast – but we could get an inch or two today, but the 60s ahead means a slushy mess. Hang in there!
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Thanks. I even have to be at The Grind on Monday, snowy President’s Day. Joy.
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Woo hoo! … besides, it’s Who Shall I Be Day
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I anticipate that I’ll be irritated.
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Fits with My Way Day
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34 days to go.
Yeah, I’ve been tracking it since the first day of winter.
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We’ve had other fierce winters, but this one just seems worse to me. Maybe this is just another side effect of drinking less and getting new glasses. I’m overwhelmed with brutal reality.
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I’m with you. I don’t recall NYC being this bad in at least a decade.
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And these ankle deep icy ponds at so many curb-side corners are cruel. I don’t recall coming across so many in winters past. Every time I jump over these obstacles I know I’m tempting broken bone fate.
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I’ve just taken to walking through them and dealing with the wet socks.
Going down for my coffee has become a survival course.
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I’m carrying spare socks.
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And the slushy mess comes next week … so have multiple pairs of spare socks!
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Although bad, it still doesn’t come close to the winters of 1976-77 and 1977-78.
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No, but I was a little kid then, and didn’t have to go to work. Or maintain our home. Or worry about my girl in this mess. Or…
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Those years were brutal … actually blizzard conditions.
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Ah yes … the man with the countdown clock!
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There have been a few days this month where that shortening countdown is the only thing that’s kept me sane!
(Ok, my version of sane anyway…)
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Sane is relative … so it works.
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Just a hint of wicked and weird in this one or maybe am looking into a mirror. Either way, have a good one Eh!………….salut
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Hudson,
Wicked and weird are two of the traits I aim for in this series, so glad to know I have achieved it! Stay warm up there!
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QM8vUcIlibI, I loved the vid, they knew how to make music in the 70s… then saw this version done in 2013… that blonde remains a raving beauty 37 years later… I hope I embedded the right link for the video…
as for this one… oh what great memories come flying back… http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=BHv2nd2HPFY
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Bulldog,
Ah ha … the world has know learned the you are smitten over Nancy Wilson! Thanks for Barracuda because I considered using that song on this post, but went for the spirit of the day.
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Nancy Wilson had two things going for her… she could play a guitar like few others and she had the looks, she could have had me at the snap of a her fingers… smitten? yes a good looking, guitar playing woman my fantasy…
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… and I can’t believe she did simply knock on your door!
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If you cannot talk about your kitchen cabinets, what can you talk about?
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GFB,
Precisely!
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I’m glad to see we are as one on this issue Frank…….
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… and given Valentine’s Day, it’s the perfect opportunity to talk about kitchen cabinets.
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Whoever says romance is dead………
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… and who knows what it will lead to!
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Indeed.
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I’m glad that Rand Paul is bringing up the Clintons, because it underscores the fact that he’s living in the past. Plus, I think it helps Hilary, but that’s just my opinion. As for baseball, yes and yes. I love baseball for many reasons, not the least of which is the weather it will bring . . eventually.
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Caymen,
News, especially video reports from Spring Training locations is a dose of warmth. Then again, it has snowed in Cincinnati on Opening Day! As for Rand Paul, keep him talking.
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I wish they would bring back the tradition of having the first game of the year in Cincinnati. When the MLB went to Japan for ‘Opening Day’ . . I was miffed.
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No kidding …. I imagine the Commish is sending it somewhere this year all for the dollar. Years ago, ESPN paid the Reds to move it to Sunday night, they did, and then Marge said never ago on her watch! …. so ESPN went elsewhere.
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Shame. There’s nothing wrong with progress, but there’s also nothing wrong with tradition. And once upon a time, that kinda thing mattered in baseball.
Eh, let’s think warm weather.
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Sports is a prime example of favoring money over tradition.
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The politics, well they are just killing me. Onion headlines, funny as usual. I have to come back when I land in Seattle, there are a few of you picks I want to read.
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Val,
🙂 … Have a good trip!
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Sigh. It is so hard living in the state of Texas with crazies like Cruz and Perry representing us. We’re not all like that!
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Angela,
Fortunately, I know that! 🙂
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I was impressed at the low level of noise over the debt ceiling.
I wonder how many politicians will lose their jobs over their Yes votes…
I had a bad experience with a snowboard.
How about a car hood instead! 😀
(And Heart still rocks that song.)
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Guap,
“Low level of noise” is a good description … and I imagine it will be an issue in some primaries.
Meanwhile, going down a ski hill on a car hood will take some special engineering!
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Tequila. Tequila is all the engineering I need.
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Which takes me to this throwback.
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Excellent! That can only be improved on with…BIG SHOES!!!
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LOL … a classic!!!!
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“Call in Single Day”. Empowering!
I agree, being bothered by sexuality is on the way out. Some governments and scared people cling to rigid and exclusionary ideas and make life a misery and/or dangerous for non-straights but, the ship is turning. Young people I know don’t give a hoot about others’ sexuality.
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Cuttlefish,
Thanks for supporting my observation. Meanwhile, yes … “the ship is turning” is a great description!
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Finally: The Establishment Republicans have decided not to go the way of the Whigs.
I agree: That Congressional debt ceilings are a (stupid) waste of time.
Doesn’t: Not liking the employer mandate mean not liking the Affordable Care Act?
Credit goes: To Rand Paul for the way he positions himself between his daddy and Ted Cruz.
GOP reform efforts: Are geared to keeping America “. . . just slightly behind our time.”
The reason: Your paster didn’t touch the evolution/creation debate is what I’ve been getting at.
All is well: When spring training begins.
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Tim,
In terms of your comment about the ACA, I guess you are saying that it is an all-or-nothing choice .. so I disagree with your premise.
In terms of my Sunday sermon, I know the reason why mine didn’t preach on it … and that does not mesh with your thought.
Rand Paul is all about positioning … meanwhile, keep him talking.
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Happy Valentine’s Day, Frank. ‘Read to your child day’ sounds like the best celebration. 🙂
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Sylvia,
That’s a good option … one problem at this end … no kids and no pets.
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Then I guess the next best option is ‘cream-filled chocolates’ day. 😛
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Consider it done!
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“Exhuming mom for one last hug: A privilege of the wealthy?”—Eww, that’s kind of along the same lines as having your head cut off and stored on ice in case head transplants might be possible someday.
Be careful what you dare Guap to do. He might just take you up on that jump… 😉
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Carrie,
Thanks for the storing the head thought! (Maybe for my will) …. Meanwhile, Guap is willing to do the ski hill, but we must find the suitable vehicle.
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The debt ceiling wags the dog. It’s something to do instead of doing something – a total waste of energy and time. How many tax dollars have gone to the endless debating, knowing in the end what will happen, while other problems are never discussed. *Sad*
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Renee,
No kidding … excellent point!
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I can’t tell you how happy I am to be out of Kentucky when Rand Paul makes some of his moves. However, I guess we are closer to having my state recognize gay marriage, which is pretty cool. Happy Valentine’s Day, Frank. Hope you all have a great weekend.
Hugs from Ecuador,
Kathy
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Kathy,
Your old state is an interesting place to watch … and I’m glad to be on the other side of the river. Meanwhile … it’s snowing as I respond!
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The GOP are also being intentionally myopic about the immigration issue. Despite full public awareness of the strongly-passed Senate bill they have apparently decided to snub it. With Republican strategy like that, the Democrats need only to avoid some kind of personal scandal. Ha. Like that can happen. 🙄
Attractive couple openly hug last live cow.
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Jim,
Intentionally myopic is being kind. Meanwhile, the GOP Civil War continues, so it will be interesting to see which side strengthens at the mid-term elections … and thanks for teh combo!
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“glance back to temporarily talk openly and honestly…” let me go crazy on you, Frank! 😛 Happy Valentine’s Day!!! 😆
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Sun,
Thanks for the smile … and hope you had a good Valentine’s Day! … and thanks for checking in on me during crazy times.
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Good morning Sir. I’m very pleased to see my boys of summer in action agAin.
Happy weekend Frank
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Audra,
Hi there. How much snow did the big storm deliver? Meanwhile, first day news from Reds camp is a surgery!
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Oh no! I missed this one. I am going to lose my #1 ranking!
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Elyse,
Another mark for you!
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Phew!
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… and another one.
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