Friday, May 31, 2013

Oh, No...Not Another Scandal


The Borowitz Report

MAY 31, 2013

OBAMA UNDER FIRE FOR USING FREE GOVERNMENT HOUSING

POSTED BY 

borowitz-obama-housing.jpg

WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—In the latest scandal to rock the Obama Administration, a leading Republican congressman accused the President today of using his position to obtain free government housing for himself and his family.

According to Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin), Mr. Obama "has arrogantly exploited the office of President to gain access to a fifty-five-thousand-square-foot residence that could double as a museum."

"While the average American is struggling to pay his bills, President Obama is living in a luxury home, adorned with priceless paintings and antiques as far as the eye can see," Rep. Ryan alleged.

Additionally, the Wisconsin congressman said, the President has availed himself of "sumptuous free meals—breakfast, lunch, and dinner—all on the taxpayer's nickel."

"Day after day, he selfishly sucks on Uncle Sam's teat," he said.

In keeping with Mr. Obama's bloated lifestyle as "Superstar-in-Chief," the congressman added, "The President travels with an entourage of highly trained bodyguards who would put Jay-Z's posse to shame."

Drawing a line in the sand, the Republican warned Mr. Obama to cut back on his lavish living arrangements "or face possible impeachment." "Across America, people are tightening their belts," Rep. Ryan said. "The President should not be living like a head of state."


--
****Juan
"People have to talk about something just to keep their voice boxes in working order so they'll have good voice boxes in case there's ever anything really meaningful to say."
-- Kurt Vonnegut

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Something to Know - 31 May

Jeff Danziger
1.  The following news story from the Atlanta Journal explains and gives reason as to why the South and the sanctimonious GeeOpie Gang are apoplexic about anything that gives Immigrants (Hispanics in particular) any hint of citizenship and voting power.   The rising population of Hispanics into Georgia, in this instance, is dramatically showing how the old guard is "being over run":

2.  Ted Cruz is the poster boy that Tea Party wackos love.  He is basically an insult to good government, but he does provide a necessary historical repeat of history for those who missed Joe McCarthy back in the 40s and 50s:

3.  Corporations need to pay a fair share of taxes.  Duh !    Well, apparently the court of public opinion needs to make this case:

4.  Paul Krugman goes to the heart of a serious and practically criminal mentality of how our greedy GeeOpie bastards treat the people of this country who are at at risk of going hungry every day.   Not wanting to enact legislation that seeks to prevent Wall Street from immoral practices that bleed our retirement nest eggs from fees, protecting corporations from paying any or their fair share of taxes, and striving to keep the wealthy on the fast track to getting richer at the expense of the 99%, we get this: kicking people off of food stamps.  Unconscionable !!  :
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/31/opinion/from-the-mouths-of-babes.html?ref=opinion

--
****Juan
"Maturity is a bitter disappointment for which no remedy exists, unless laughter could be said to remedy anything."
-- Kurt Vonnegut

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Ding Dong - The Witch Will Be Dead

MAY 29, 2013

CONGRESS'S AVERAGE I.Q. EXPECTED TO RISE IN 2015

POSTED BY TZ

boro-bachmann-iq.jpg

WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—The average I.Q. of a member of the House of Representatives is expected to rise sharply in 2015, experts said today.

The experts, who indicated that they were "cautiously optimistic" about the development, said that the gains were most likely to be made in the Midwest.

The expected rise in I.Q. could mean that the average congressperson would have a greater grasp of basic concepts in math and science, including the law of evolution, as well as addition and subtraction.

The last time a branch of the federal government experienced such a significant increase in average I.Q., experts said, was the executive branch in 2009.


****Juan

"People have to talk about something just to keep their voice boxes in working order so they'll have good voice boxes in case there's ever anything really meaningful to say."
-- Kurt Vonnegut

--


Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Something to Know - 29 May

Clay Bennett
1.  David Brooks looks at the so-so science of Psychiatry (his words), and rationalizes it as a body of work that has plenty of room for the practitioner to invent and create new solutions as he goes along.  Some people may differ, but it sounds plausible:

2.  Syria just won't go away.  McCain's over there now, doing what he does best - screwing things up.  Just more stuff to read about, and none of it is good:

3.  I thought I had problems moving from Georgia back to California.  I had a big house with all the books that I had ever acquired since college, and plenty of shelves for all of them.  Then the move, and the wife nagging me about getting rid of stuff since we were "downsizing".  It was not easy.  Now, I have a smaller home, and little book space. E-books from Kindle really help.  Now, imagine a college professor and prolific writer (Stanley Fish)....read how he works through it:

4.  In order to assure the "Party of Stupid" label sticks, the bloviating Donald Trump is making noises for another presidential run in 2016.  This is just silly stuff:

5.  This time around, an effective game plan by a coalition of bi-partisan Senators has been able to blow back on the conservative GeeOpie naysayers on the workings of the immigration reform bill.   For better or worse, there might be something in the works that will emerge to vote on and probably pass:


--
****Juan
"If you can do a half-assed job of anything, you're a one-eyed man in a kingdom of the blind."
-- Kurt Vonnegut"

Something to Know - 28 May


The Borowitz Report

MAY 28, 2013

SYRIAN REBELS URGE MCCAIN TO GET OVER LOSING TO OBAMA


boro-mccain-post.jpg

SYRIA (The Borowitz Report)—During a meeting yesterday with Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona), Syrian rebels told the senator that he still seemed "really bitter" about losing the 2008 election to President Obama and advised him to "get over it."

After meeting with the Arizona senator in the border region near Turkey, a spokesman for the Syrian rebels told reporters that while they appreciated Sen. McCain's support, "We were kind of uncomfortable with the place it was coming from."

"It was pretty obvious to me and the other rebels that everything McCain was doing was just to get back at Obama," the rebel spokesman said. "And we were like, look, that election was five years ago. It's time to move on."

Sen. McCain denied that his support of the Syrian rebels had anything to do with a personal vendetta against President Obama, but according to the rebel, "Every time he said 'Obama,' a vein in his head kind of bulged out."

"The man is a simmering cauldron of rage," the Syrian rebel said. "He needs to turn his anger toward Obama into something more positive. You can't carry all of that hate around with you forever—it's not healthy."

For his part, Sen. McCain said that he was "finished" with the Syrian rebels and would now focus on starting a war with North Korea.



--
****Juan
"People have to talk about something just to keep their voice boxes in working order so they'll have good voice boxes in case there's ever anything really meaningful to say."
-- Kurt Vonnegut"

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Something to Know - 26 May

Jeff Danziger

1.  Ted Cruz, in the mind of Gail Collins, has done more to reveal the presence of toxicity in the Senate, and has persuaded many how bad it is, and that cruising with Cruz is not such a good way to travel:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/25/opinion/collins-the-women-versus-the-ted.html?emc=eta1&_r=0

2.  Joe Nocera has it that Obama is really responsible for the fact that the detainees of no value at Gitmo are still there.  Even though the president spoke in high platitudes, it is Obama who has kept them there.  Am I missing something?:

3.  Some Republicans, the usual wackos, just seem to target anything that reduces the government's ability to gather information on how it can effectively do a better job of governing:

4.  The Mormons and the LGBT community are having a struggle with accommodation.  This article demonstrates that one method used by the Gay community is to work through theater arts to dramatize the differences and to educate those who are in the the LDS:

5.  In his commencement address to the Men of Morehouse, President Obama, was in the middle of a recent incident that brought shame and dishonor to some current students, as well as to the administration.  Also, the words in the speech also spoke to a man in the audience who has fought hard to rebound from his own indiscretion and criminal past to exemplify the intent of the commencement speech:

6.  I have not been to the new George W. Bush Library, and probably never will.  Maureen Dowd's review of the place, kind of follows others that have bothered to write about the place and the experience.  It appears that the displays, and the intent of the displays are just as vapid and coarse as the person for whom the place was built:
--
****Juan
"People have to talk about something just to keep their voice boxes in working order so they'll have good voice boxes in case there's ever anything really meaningful to say."
-- Kurt Vonnegut"

Friday, May 24, 2013

Another Thing to Know - 24 May

The Borowitz Report

boro-scalia-scouts.jpg

WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who for the past forty-seven years has served as a weekend scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts of America, angrily resigned from that position yesterday, effective immediately.

Justice Scalia quit his post in a terse resignation letter that read, in part:

"Some of the happiest memories of my adult life have been as a scoutmaster. Huddling under blankets around the campfire, and so forth. But now, all of that has been ruined.Ruined."

Shortly after sending the letter, Justice Scalia destroyed his scoutmaster uniform in the blazing fireplace of his Supreme Court office.

Later, he went across the hall to share his decision with his close confidant on the Court, Justice Clarence Thomas, telling him, "There's nowhere I feel safe anymore, Clarence. The military? The N.B.A.? Nowhere. I guess the only place I still feel safe is the Supreme Court. This is still a safe place, isn't it?"

Justice Thomas said nothing in reply.

-- 
****Juan
"I really wonder what gives us the right to wreck this poor planet of ours."
-- Kurt Vonnegut"



Something to Know - 24 May

052413-toon-luckovich-ed


1.  Let's turn away from the manufactured scandal outrage at home, and the constant view of the Eurozone and its stumbling economic plan of austerity.  Let's look to the the big pond to the West, and the other side of the Pacific Ocean and Japan.  Their resurrection from the economic "dead" is on a different track from Europe, and it looks to be working.  Let's see what Krugman has to say:

2.  And, while our attention is on the West side of the Pacific, go on up to Bristol Bay, Alaska, and take in what the environmentalist Robert Redford is taking on as his next project.  There is movement afoot to blast and spoil a large portion of the pristine site to extract minerals by a foreign concern.  This is not good at all.  We should be aware of what is going on there, and stop it:
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-redford-bristol-bay-mining-20130524,0,2958160,print.story

--
****Juan
"I really wonder what gives us the right to wreck this poor planet of ours."
-- Kurt Vonnegut

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Something to Know - 22 May

Rob Rogers
1.  Syria is making bedfellows not commonly common.  Russia and the USA have separate but equal issues at stake, and this is making it difficult to try and form assistance to either side of the conflict.   Go figure what needs to be done, and you arrive at the conclusion that it is either hopeless or a real mess:

2.  Yes, on the face of it, outrage on the Justice Department peeking at phone records and related material belonging to Associated Press reporters is justified.  However, as the issue settles down to a look at facts and related reasons, there may be more that we should take into account.   This is that story:

3.  This WashPost article takes the above NY Times editorial and gives the story more depth, breadth, and more to digest:

4.  The name "Koch" does not inspire great patriotism or love to your average Progressive Liberal.   Public Television (PBS) does,  This story about PBS bowing to the power of money by David Koch, will irritate you.  I may also cause you to cancel out on the next plea for donations and support to your local PBS TV channel:

5.  The Power of Big Energy has found a way into the White House (apparently) to the point that the Obama administration seems poised to sign on to the Exxon-Mobil written rules on Fracking.   If #4 did not make you ill, this on will:

Monday, May 20, 2013

Something to Know - 21 May

Stuart Carlson
1.  Guatemala - an issue that we need to familiarize ourselves with.  So, what is going on?  Besides Syria, here is another country, with problems, that we here may find blood on our hands:

2.  Leaks came from GeeOpie sources.  This is the anatomy of a bogus leak, nefariously enhanced by the Republicans to suit their agenda, and they are now stuck with the doo doo (Poppy bush's words):

3.  Poverty in this nation, and where the poor live is changing in paradigm.  Although it still exists in the normal zones in cities, it is the suburbs that have shown an upsurge.  There are probably several reasons, but the rise in foreclosures, job losses, and the continuing chasm of wealth inequality has struck right in the neighborhoods where this stuff was not supposed to happen:

4.  Spelman College in Atlanta, through a stupid and insensitive act, will forever feel the sting from graduates and parents for years to come.  Alumni fund raising will not be well received by anyone who will recall the graduation ceremony of 2013:

5.  If you are thinking of legalizing pot in your state, there are specifics on how the legalization rules and control are crafted that will make a big impact in running it correctly.  Bill Keller has observations from his journalistic coverage in the past (certainly not from his college days), that make perfect sense:

--
Juan

"About astrology and palmistry: they are good because they make people vivid and full of possibilities. They are communism at its best. Everybody has a birthday and almost everybody has a palm "
       -- Kurt Vonnegut

Something to Know - 20 May (Updated and corrected links)

Clay Bennett
(I think that I've corrected the problem)

1.  Syria.  In the news, but for many of us (me included) we no not what is going on and who is doing what to whom.   We are buried with the misery of Iraq and Afghanistan, and really do not want to step into another mess.  But, a mess it is, and we should take pains to start knowing who the players are, where Syria is, and what is at stake.  This is a good place to begin, if you are not already familiar:


2.  In addition to the sideshows in Washington D.C. that distract from the business of the people, there are pressing matters, such as a progressive movement to bring about federal public policy on the environment and climate change.  Matters cannot wait, since the symptoms of losing the opportunity to get a grip fade into the clouds of crud:

3.  Phil Jackson, the guru NBA coach of the Bulls and Lakers, is still active in so many ways, even though he is in some sort of "retirement".  This magazine article entertains, even if you are not into basketball or athletics.  Coach Jackson brings so much to the table (even his own food) that you should enjoy this good read:


--
Juan

"Be careful what you pretend to be because you are what you pretend to be."
       -- Kurt Vonnegut


Failure to Link to NY Times

The great NY TImes has blocked my ability to copy their news links and send them to you.  I will be trying to send out stuff in the future, but we may not have the benefit of reading anything from the Empire State.

--
Juan

"Be careful what you pretend to be because you are what you pretend to be."
       -- Kurt Vonnegut

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Something to Know - 20 May

Clay Bennett
1.  Syria.  In the news, but for many of us (me included) we no not what is going on and who is doing what to whom.   We are buried with the misery of Iraq and Afghanistan, and really do not want to step into another mess.  But, a mess it is, and we should take pains to start knowing who the players are, where Syria is, and what is at stake.  This is a good place to begin, if you are not already familiar:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/19/opinion/sunday/friedman-without-water-revolution.html?emc=eta1&pagewanted=print

2.  In addition to the sideshows in Washington D.C. that distract from the business of the people, there are pressing matters, such as a progressive movement to bring about federal public policy on the environment and climate change.  Matters cannot wait, since the symptoms of losing the opportunity to get a grip fade into the clouds of crud:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/19/opinion/sunday/climate-warnings-growing-louder.html?emc=eta1&pagewanted=print

3.  Phil Jackson, the guru NBA coach of the Bulls and Lakers, is still active in so many ways, even though he is in some sort of "retirement".  This magazine article entertains, even if you are not into basketball or athletics.  Coach Jackson brings so much to the table (even his own food) that you should enjoy this good read:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/19/magazine/why-basketball-wont-leave-phil-jackson-alone.html?pagewanted=1&emc=eta1

--
Juan

"Be careful what you pretend to be because you are what you pretend to be.
Read more at 
."
       -- Kurt Vonnegut

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Something to Know - 18 April

051913-luckovich-toon-ed


1.  Technology keeps on working.  For example, the paradigm of solar collecting has been shattered, and now recycles all of those old discarded Madonna Bras:

2.  You know, things like war used to be a lot less costly when the common grunts did all the work. Now that the Pentagon, courtesy of Bush, Cheney and Halliburton, we find that we are being sucked into a welfare program for KBR that beats anything I've ever heard of:

3.  Both the LA and NY Times had stories about the cost (high and and low) and unexplainable inconsistencies of medical services at hospitals.  There is another story to come:

4.  Here is that other story.   A business model that a hospital uses to simply increase profits through deceptive and undisclosed practices can hardly be considered as a public-spirited health care provider - but that what is going on.   This is just another method to rip off the system - because it can, and in the true spirit of attempted free-market economics:

5.  Along with the on-going discussion of the XL Pipeline, another factor needs to be understood.  What becomes of the oil sands byproducts after the sludge is cooked and refined?   What is the stuff, what unintended (but not commonly known) problems are resulting?   Here is a glimpse of what that crap has done in Detroit:

6.  I, for one, am weary and tired of all the sanctimonious hyperbole that is foaming out of the mouths of GeeOpie minions.   With the federal deficit diminishing, the unemployment rate going down, and the stock market soaring into new highs, they have to try to divert the attention and stir some controversy - as if the Republicans have always been pure public servants.  And so it goes with the media reporting this stuff - which will only last as long until the next sensational celebrity criminal act, school shooting, or OJ hanging himself in his cell with a picture of Michael Jackson's left glove on his nose:

7.  Charles Blow has come along to help turn the page on the book that was started above in #6.  Tomorrow is another day:

--
Juan

"What should young people do with their lives today? Many things, obviously. But the most daring thing is to create stable communities in which the terrible disease of loneliness can be cured."
       -- Kurt Vonnegut