Opera Glasses and Popcorn
A false-colour image created by combining data aboard NASA’s Terra spacecraft shows the size of the oil spill [HO/Reuters]
Just a little spilt oil which, as some BP slag said, will have “minimal effect”.
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An Opera Glasses and Popcorn view of Politics and the Assembled Multitude...
Marisacat -
- Real independent observations on current events with a particular fondness for the follies of the Big Box Blahgers.
Deflates bloated egos like a champion fencer in a balloon warehouse.
- Alan Smithee
Marisacat -
"...polish on a mud wallow"
- Meteor Blades [May 24 at Mcat]
Marisacat -
"... doyenne of donkle deconstruction"
- Who is IOZ [January 2 2007]
Marisacat -
"... hardened professionals and their primary strength lies in their being completely unconflicted."
"... the primary difference is that on the level of criticizing other blogs and bloggers, they can actually do some damage."
"... Not what I look for in a liberal blog product."
- peeder - MLW, Daily Rant [3.24.07]
Democracy NOW! / Amy Goodman Electronic Intifada / General Content Press TV / Middle East News Press TV McClatchy Headlines The Real News Reuters / Politics
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on one stage reading their poetry"
"I think Allen Ginsberg standing up there reading - putting himself on the line - was one of the two bravest things I've ever seen. Remember, it was '55. People had crew cuts, and they looked at you like you were misplaced cannon fodder. The country was being run by Luce publications. It was a dangerous, cold, ugly time, and it was scary. . .
In all our memories no one had been so outspoken in poetry before. We had gone beyond a point of no return. None of us wanted to go back to the grey, chill, militaristic silence, to the intellectual void - to the land without poetry - to the spiritual drabness. We wanted to make it new and we wanted to invent it and the process of it as we went into it. We wanted voice and we wanted vision."
-Michael McClure
Over and over, in election year after election year, GE and MidTerms both… the Dems start to purr and preen, they stretch luxuriously - at just being TOLD they are going to win [...]
It never fails.
... in February of 2002, looking over the already joyless congressional stragglers willing to be drafted for duty… they barely dreamed, yet, it was even possible (Howard, a different person then, had not arrived to say it could be done)… but one thing was clear, we could not rely on the party to swing it. Could not. You could smell it, they would screw the deal. And I am not talking about Howard and primary issues here. By the end, that was a passing political story. Chuck it on the heap.
[...]
Upshot? The Republicans make it thru. They hold on.
If you click on La Louche the picture or the words, it leads to the Amazon PayPage, a way to ... oh let's say help with the cat can deliveries.
Thanks to all who made the very kind suggestion.
hmm i just saw a report on the overnight news that Lori Berenson was released from prison, down in Peru… apparently to open hatred at the prison exit and again, when she reached where she is staying (I suppose in LIma, but will look up a report)
Google page of reports… I see as a condition of release she is confined to Lima.
well she served 15 of 20 years and was tortured while in prison.
Did I ever tell you about the time I was hanging out at a dive bar in Brooklyn and met a granddaughter of the junta? Lulz! I believe ‘Lori Berenson killed my grandfather’ was the quote.
Glad to see she’s ifinally out of prison.
yeah… at long last
so he was saying that Lori heard the burst of Roland’s thompson gun and bought it, just like Patty Hearst?
FWIW, apparently Thad Allen, capo di tutti capi down there or so we are told, also did not know that Top Kill was shut down for 18 hours…
ABC showed tape of him rattling along about how it was going yesterday, during the time it was shut down.
I think Salazar and Carolyn Browner need to go.
snicker snax… apparently Eliz Birnbaum, late of the MMS hot seat (was she fired? did she resign?
)… had been Harvard Environmental Law Review editor.
Their lustre
blindsbinds us.The best and brightest, no?
no need for light bulbs with them in charge
I know people like that who do nothing but sit in their offices all day admiring their diplomas and preening themselves, taking occasional breaks to speak at symposia or make forays into the expensive-lecture circuit. There is some truth to the caricature of the Pompous Ivy-League Egghead.
bleakly hilarious, no truer words ……
shhhhhhhhhh ….it’s a surprise.:
speaking of those Halls of Wisdom, seems odd to me that a local newspaper can’t determine the subject matter of a local University’s event fit for a Presidential audience less than a week away …
Obama to visit CMU Wednesday
Friday, May 28, 2010
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The White House announced today that President Barack Obama will travel to Pittsburgh for an event at Carnegie Mellon University on Wednesday.
The purpose and details of the event were not immediately announced.
More details in tomorrow’s Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
[…cueing Mr. Rogers ….Tomorrow, tomorrow, we’ll start the day tomorrow…… d. ]
I don’t know if you’ve already mentioned this story – Kristof wrote about it a couple of days ago:
Sister Margaret’s Choice
A nun in Phoenix was excommunicated for participating in giving permission for an abortion for a woman whose pregnancy was life-threatening. The woman has four kids. Better that she dies than the precious fetus, claims the hardcore God Squad, Catholic Division. Kick out the compassionate nun, and in the meantime, hide away the sexual-predator priests. How insane is that?
Last I read the nun’s order was sticking with her, against the local diocese…
An awful story, top to bottom.
they believe in transubstantiation and other crazy shit …. they START at insane.
Yeah the little molecules in the bread form crosses.
Rig worker recalls race to trigger emergency system
Sat May 29, 2010 2:10am IST
By Chris Baltimore
World
HOUSTON (Reuters) – A supervisor aboard the doomed Deepwater Horizon drilling rig on Friday recounted a failed attempt to activate a fail-safe system that might have prevented BP Plc’s well from unleashing oil into the Gulf of Mexico.
snip
After the explosion, Pleasant said he raced to the rig’s bridge and attempted to activate the EDS.
The device is designed to trigger the 450-ton blowout preventer on the ocean floor to seal the well and uncouple the drilling pipe snaking from the ocean floor to the rig floating on the surface.
“I had no pressure in the system that allowed those functions to work,” Pleasant said. “I had no flow — no hydraulic flow.”
Pleasant’s testimony jibes with information provided to investigators with the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee by Cameron International Corp, which manufactured the blowout preventer.
According to Representative Bart Stupak, Cameron officials told committee staff that a key hydraulic system meant to supply emergency power to the blowout preventer had a “significant leak.” Without hydraulic fluid, the device would be unable to close off a series of “rams” designed to seal the drill pipe shut.
As flames enveloped the rig’s drill deck, Curt Kuchta, the rig’s captain, initially told Pleasant not to activate the EDS, Pleasant said. Pleasant said he did it anyway.
“I said, ‘I’m EDS’ing.’ The captain told me, he said, ‘calm down, we’re not EDS’ing.’” Pleasant said. Kuchta left the bridge and Pleasant said he went immediately to an electronics panel that controls the EDS.
snip
If they don’t get chraged with negligent homicide then tere is no justice. I am nt holding my breath, or anything dramatic like that…
yes, they should be thrown in jail right alongside: Cheney, Addington, Yoo, Junior ….oh wait …..
had meant highlight this also:
“I had no pressure in the system that allowed those functions to work,” Pleasant said. “I had no flow — no hydraulic flow.”
hmm I’d suggest he not go to the Gulf again… just catching up to his less than magical words today, down in LA.
He is so not involved. Barely there.
I go back and forth on whetehr he gets a second term.
IF he does nto it si because, while he did all the Neo cons and Neo Libs wanted (Paul Gigot and Brooksie have been gagworthy defending him the past few days, others of that ilk as well), he failed to “engage’.
So critical, like locking on a target from Nevis in NV.
Bill Maher said about Ob’s visit – “the President said ‘I’ve been briefed on your pain.’”
Snicker:
I’ll be feelin’ your pain as soon as they tell me to!
If he goes back he should take his daughters. They can do the penetrating, investigative reporting.
There is s o m e ghastly amusement in the horror. Sully is all whupset with Peggy Noonan, who has finally, it seems, fallen out of rapturous cooing luv iwth ObRama.
May they all bite each other to death…. sooner the better.
I still can’t believe that greeting card writer has a national column.
CSM
Not enough mud… there you go. My kingdom! For enough mud!
well ..dear …..that be some …high SPESHUL KILLER MUD, ….not, ….your ordinary, as a child, loved to squiggle the toes in, mud, ….apparently it’s more closely related to sludge, but of a high special, and rare blend ……..
First the phone booths, now the:
Era of anonymous prepaid cell phones may end
Christopher Null
Fri May 28, 3:41 pm ET
”Prepaid cell phones with plans that can be purchased with cash and sans identification have long been the communication medium of choice for criminals and such, and for obvious reasons. Without a known cell phone number to tie a crook to, getting a wiretap becomes almost impossible, and such villains can generally operate with complete impunity, gabbing away in plain sight with no one able to listen in.
And we’re not just talking about crack dealers. The convenience and anonymity of prepaid plans has reportedly even made them popular with Wall Street types engaging in insider trading activity. Naturally, terrorism is a major concern, too. The FBI says it found that the recent Times Square bomb scare was arranged through the use of a prepaid cell phone, as well.
Frustrated with this loophole, now lawmakers are looking to make prepaid cell phones considerably less anonymous, AFP reports. A bipartisan bill announced this week in the Senate would require prepaid cell phone buyers to provide ID before a purchase.
This is unlikely to sit well with many legitimate users of prepaid phones, who often don’t have the money for a regular, subscription-based, post-paid plan. Anonymity is prized by many prepaid users, whether they are using the phone to evade an abusive partner, to blow the whistle on dangerous working conditions, or simply to avoid telemarketers and political pollsters.
But Ars Technica notes that for many governments, the criminal risks of anonymous phone usage outweigh such concerns: Collecting registration date from prepaid customers is already required by at least nine of the 24 countries that belong to the Organization for Cooperation and Economic Development. And several states have laws requiring papers when you buy a cell phone of any kind.
Will this legislation go federal? With few people stepping up to complain about the proposal, it certainly seems likely.
— Christopher Null is a technology writer for Yahoo! News. ”
next they will go after landlines (they’ve already crippled the Post Office), since they are far more of a legal hassle to listen in on, AND, FAR MORE RELIABLE AND LIFESAVING WHEN ONES ELECTRICTY GOES OUT (with a simple land phone, which doesn’t require electricity), since the electricity doesn’t come from the same source as the home electricity, ……and they are most certainly rapidly working on the remaining glitches as to BANNING ANONYMITY on the tubers, That’ll certainly take care of those criminal WHISTLEBLOWERS FOREVER, ….won’t it.
sorry, in afterthought, I should have highlighted this also:
Frustrated with this loophole, now lawmakers are looking to make prepaid cell phones considerably less anonymous, AFP reports. A bipartisan bill announced this week in the Senate would require prepaid cell phone buyers to provide ID before a purchase.
I’m always, bleakly amused and curious as to why the mainstream media never reference the House and Senate Bill numbers, and who, exactly, sponsored them (since they obviously have access to that data, or they wouldn’t be informing us of it), regarding the putrid bills they inform us of so very close to the date of vote on those bills.
I mean reeealllly, after fucking all, us citizens are REQUIRED TO KNOW THE LAW WHICH WE”VE BEEN JAILED VIA, even when the Senator and House members interns are not able to answer those questions of our obligations and rights, when we call them on the phone.
….instructed by their Lords and Lordessas, …… they (the interns) say, ….call Sonsini, ….if you can afford it, …. chump! ……………
……….well, okay that’s not exactly what the interns say, though it’s certainly what their Lords and Lordessas meant.
oh dear…….hold on now…..Sonsini’s at the confessional at Our Lady of Peace ….you’re familiar aren’t you??????? Right down in that wonder spot on Great America Boulevard ………..along with that GLUTTENOUS, OBSCENE, BISHOP……and I do believe in a benevolent God …… YOU FUCKING MONSTERS.
(I’m out ……for now )
Parish official: BP shipped in workers for president’s visit
Where’s Napolitano disappeared to? I thought the chain of command was Obama > Napolitano >Thad Allen.
Off duty I guess.. with the never acknowledged partner…
Snax… Poor Bill, Blanche and Barry. So beset.
Read more: LINK to Politico
It’s tough out there for a former Pretzel:
Moe with the flow
Popcorn!
The WH is at war with Carville.
I saw Carville on CNN tonite and he said if the WH thinks he’s going away, it’s wrong. He’s “going to be all over them like gravy on rice”.
I thought it was “white on rice” but I imagine that would have stirred up all kinds of shit. (That’s racist!! or something…)
And that would be Dirty Rice too, since this is New Orleans (more or less)
Be interesting to see if he caves or quiets. My guess would be NOT… but … we shall see.
Bless the Democrats and their Holy Factionalising.
Nope – not from what I just saw of him on CNN. He said he’s trying not to criticize Obama but then he went off on a tangent about how they don’t understand the culture down there etc etc. He’s not going to let up and, frankly, as annoying as a mouthpiece as he is, I think the people of the gulf are actually lucky to have someone with such a relatively high Democratic political profile as he has to shout from the rooftops. And it seems to be working if the WH feels compelled to shout back.
They’ll reel in Donna Brazile… who barely bothered anyway…………….
I hope some dimwit like Gibbs call Carville “crazy”, the show will intensify, just to show them CRAZEEE.
Absolutely. Too bad Rahm’s not in town.
I hope some dimwit like Gibbs call Carville “crazy”, the show will intensify, just to show them CRAZEEE.
hmmm, in the event that happens, maybe I’ll go get some real popcorn kernels, butter, salt ……and plug in the teevee ……perhaps even take the time to cook up some red beansn rice…..sounds kinda fun actually …….
…in the event that happens…
I am hoping for that. Hope and change with a side of gumbo… Some Red Beans and Rice……. a wicked Ramos Fizz on the rooftop fo the Royal Orleans… incoming storm over the Mississippi…
A couple of days last week they were FRANTIC to tell us and chide us that under no circumstances can the oil get up the Mississippi.
Right. And deep water sea bed oil drilling is safe.
I read that Iran ofered to consult, assist, confer with us on how they have plugged (gah) deep water holes in oil drilling. And we said,
NO. We don’t want none of your Islamist fundie oil drillin’ info. Can’t you SEE for fuck sake? We are doin’ fine.
Conferring with Iran to solve the Gulf travesty, might have been one of the most wonderful things that could’ve happened in years. There are some brilliant wonderful hearts and minds in Iran, I’ve known one of them. After all, so many of them forgave the US for destroying their Democratic Government in 1953.
A culture of Death indeed.
We will just have to go on “doin’ jes fine” by ourselves. And i am not mimicing some redneck fisherman there, nooooo that would be Obama, pretending to be down with the little people. When he’d so much rather be with the Gettys, COMPLAINING about the little people.
I am guessing he will be out here again soon, fundraising with Barbara…
Good fuckin’ luck to her and Jane …..
can’t stand Fiorina, but at the end of the day Babs –c– the very same -i–, giddily and knowingly, apparently, …..at least it looks that way to me.
.
I’ve given up… I was not going to vote for Barbara in 92, when she ran for the senate… my nickname for her was “Marin Lady with the 40 ft White Living Room”.
BUT they ran a nasty old right winger, an old radio guy from SOCal against her. Herschenson thinik his name was. I dutifully fell for it and voted for her. Tho she did run scared, tense all the way thru, forget her winning margin.
People always lob slobbery love at DiFi but the last time they ran (they were both first time senators in 92, but as DiFi had been Mayor she scored a point more as incoming new sen.) BUT Barbara got more votes state wide in 2004 than DiFi…
I did enjoy that.
Diane is ALWAYS crazy.. and she has a mean streak as wide as Cali is long. Barbara, at least as of a few years ago, was still sane. And surprisingly human in one on one… or small groups.
NTIM. It doesn’t.
Hmm those weren’t the same amount of dashes I posted, replacing the dashes with x’s, I posted this:
…xxcxx the very same xixx…
And yeah have always liked Boxer more than Pistol Purse Landlordessa
The whole Pecker Packwood thing, I called both of Difis numbers and unleashed
…A giant of a man ….. bitch has he ever stuck his ugly hand under your skirt unsolicited?????????????????? And then destroyed all of your plans for a FUTURE JOB TO PAY THE FUCKING RENT
And then, and then, … that fucker…….he walked off with a huge pension from all of you MONSTERS
well he is not the only one. God knows what pension DiFi will get. Or how many, when with her wealth she should serve for free. Decline the pension.
…well …..cooling down some …I do have to say good luck to you Pistol, with that creepy fuck of a husband you are forever wedded to (unless ya’ll want to divorce and claw each other to death) who would want to wake up next to that ceaselessly devouring thang, forever in search of more ownership, so very bored, with what it already owns
…….never,…..apparently, ….satisfied…….
sigh…..I don’t believe your Senator’s pension is going to solve that little problem ms. pistol ……..though there are some great pills being fed to the US citizens now, en masse (WHETHER THEY SHOULD BE TAKING THEM OR NOT), apparently from birth on up, which will not only numb your pain, but erase your memory. Call Pfizer, I’m sure they will assist.
I don’t think DiFi is in pain, quite the contrary.
Gee I really doubt they wake up next to each other………
I don’t think DiFi is in pain, quite the contrary.
I don’t believe she would be so mean spirited, and obsessed with punitive power into her elder years, if she weren’t in pain/diseased, however subtly.
That’s just how I feel it though, at this time.
The more power she got the worse she got. I think she is pretty happy…
Jonathan Alter’s on Bill Maher’s show. My dog that guy’s nose is so far up Obama’s ass he can see his dandruff.
Cornell West is entertaining though.
Alter is really bad. Is he still declaring Obby the only successor, equal to FDR and LBJ for DOMESTIC legislation (Alter claims Ins Reform Sell out did it).
Thsi administration became a joke very fast… which was alwyas one of the scenarios to play out.
My eyes glaze over when they start talking about his HISTORIC accomplishments – as Alter did about the so-called health insurance “reform” crap tonite. And over at dkos, they fight about FDR and LBJ every bloody day now. They’re all master historians all of a sudden – except that they aren’t.
he really is a shameless fanboy … and fucking clueless.
And why is Rahm is Israel, really? To hold Netanyahu’s hand?
UN talks back conference on nuclear-free Middle East
Well of course he is because they’re the only ones with the fucking nukes.
US President Barack Obama backed the deal but said he was “strongly opposed” to Israel being singled out.
That’s a horse laugh.
£3.5m stolen in Iraq bank robbery
Straight out of a bad movie…
New
LINK
……………… 8)