Blue Moon .. div

Tonite will be the last 'Blue Moon" until 2015. Hope you have a clear view. Enjoy !!
.... and what other song would you expect ?????? Nope, not Bill Monroe; sorry, it ain't Saturday.

Glass Ceiling ... div

Despite all the talk of "inclusion" they still can't help themselves, eh ??
Maybe they just don't get it.
I'm sure she can "make a dress out of a feed-bag," but these jerkwads ain't never gonna be "men."
 ........... No matter how hard she tries.

Alice in wonderland** div (Clean Coal subsection)

Seems that Willard's event at the coal face was staged.
And here's the best part:
"Our managers communicated to our workforce that the attendance at the Romney event was mandatory, but no one was forced to attend,"  Rob Moore, CFO Murray Energy Company. If you care to listen to the 20 minute interview, it occurs at 6:05. For a quick synopsis see this.

Now, get your Funk & Wagnalls out and look up some of the words :
(Note -- definitions from my mac)

 mandatory |ˈmandəˌtôrē|
adjectiverequired by law or rules; compulsory:wearing helmets was made mandatory for cyclists.• of or conveying a command: he did not want the guidelines to be mandatory.noun ( pl. mandatories )variant spelling of mandatary.DERIVATIVESmandatorily |-ˌtôrəlē|adverbORIGIN late 15th cent.: from late Latinmandatorius, from Latin mandatum‘something commanded.’mandatary |ˈmandəˌterē|noun ( pl. mandataries ) historicala person or country receiving a mandate.ORIGIN late 15th cent. (denoting a person appointed by a papal mandate): from late Latin mandatarius, from mandatum (seemandate) .*******Anyone not conversant with the term "compulsory" ????This appears to directly conflict with the statement, "...no one was forced to attend."Ya got any problem with the word "force" as used in the statement ???  Here's some help; (hint, scroll down to the verb and look at #2)noun1 strength or energy as an attribute of physical action or movement: he was thrown backward by the force of the explosion.• Physics an influence tending to change the motion of a body or produce motion or stress in a stationary body. The magnitude of such an influence is often calculated by multiplying the mass of the body by its acceleration.• a person or thing regarded as exerting power or influence: he might still be a force for peace and unity.• [ in combination ] used with a number as a measure of wind strength on the Beaufort scale: a force-nine gale.2 coercion or compulsion, esp. with the use or threat of violence: they ruled by law and not by force .3 mental or moral strength or power: the force of popular opinion.• the state of being in effect or valid: the law came into force in January.• the powerful effect of something: the force of her writing is undiminished.4 an organized body of military personnel or police: a soldier in a UN peacekeeping force.• (forces) troops and weaponry:concealment from enemy forces | figurative: a battle between the forces of good and evil.• a group of people brought together and organized for a particular activity: a sales force.• (the force) informal a police department.5 Baseball a force-out.• a situation in which a force-out is possible.verb [ with obj. ]1 make a way through or into by physical strength; break open by force: they broke into Fred's house and forced every cupboard door with ax or crowbar.• [ with obj. ] drive or push into a specified position or state using physical strength or against resistance: she forced her feet into flat leather sandals | figurative : Fields was forced out as director.• achieve or bring about (something) by coercion or effort: Sabine forced a smile |she forced her way up the ladder.• push or strain (something) to the utmost:she knew if she forced it she would rip it.• artificially hasten the development or maturity of (a plant).2 (often be forced) make (someone) do something against their will: she wasforced into early retirement | [ with obj. ] :the universities were forced to cut staff.• rape (a woman).• Baseball put out (a runner), or cause (a runner) to be put out, at the base to which they are advancing when they are forced to run on a batted ball: I was forced at second base as the first half of a double play.• (in cards) make a play or bid that compels another player to make (a particular response); make a play or bid that compels (another player) to make such a response:East could force declarer to ruff another spade.PHRASESby force of by means of: exercising authority by force of arms.force the bidding (at an auction) make bids to raise the price rapidly.force someone's hand make someone do something: the exchange markets may force the Fed's hand.force the issue compel the making of an immediate decision.force the pace adopt a fast pace in a race in order to tire out one's opponents quickly.in force 1 in great strength or numbers:birdwatchers were out in force. 2 in effect; valid: the US has over $8 trillion worth of life insurance in force.PHRASAL VERBSforce something down 1 manage to swallow food or drink when one does not want to: I forced down a slice of toast. 2 compel an aircraft to land: the plane might have been forced down by fighters.force oneself on/upon rape (a woman).force something on/upon impose or press something on (a person or organization):economic cutbacks were forced on the government.DERIVATIVESforceable adjective,forcer nounORIGIN Middle English: from Old Frenchforce (noun), forcer (verb), based on Latinfortis ‘strong.’force 2 |fɔːs|nounN. Englisha waterfall.ORIGIN late Middle English: from Old Norse fors .******I'm sure this is the kind of world you really want, eh ?? These people are incapable of telling the truth, let alone even knowing what the words they use mean.

** 'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, 'it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.' Lewis Carroll - "Through the Looking Glass

Saturday Nite Bluegrass ........ div

Tony Rice, alone, playing Clarence White's old Martin ...... just enjoy the sound ... and the talent.

Ignorance div (graphics subsection)

For those having trouble with how the process works:

                                           (h/t  Huffington Post)

Heap Big Stoopid ...... div

Well, now they've done it !!! Whoda thunk ???
Wonder just how much "disrespect by association" these idiots can come up with ???
The possibilities are endless and stretch back to the dawn of recorded history, but, no matter
IOKIYAR reigns supreme.
Discuss among yourselves ..............

Seventy Years Ago ....... div

Seventy years ago, the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 1st Marine Division engaged the Japanese at Alligator Creek (often referred to as the Battle of the Tenaru River).

I guess I'm lucky to be here today, My Dad was there.

My Dad was a Corporal with the Regimental Intelligence Section. He and three others were sent out to establish observation posts. The first was on the Lunga River, and then they were sent to the west bank of the Tenaru River.

#As he told a local newspaper a few years ago: "We put a seat up in a coconut tree and were able to see all the way across the sound with a spotoscope. I saw one of our B17s bomb the fantail of a Jap destroyer and I could see the Japs running around in their skivvies," XXXXXXXXl said.

#He was on duty in the tree early in the morning of Aug. 21 and heard gunfire.

#"I had a cheap tommygun. I climbed down and saw a bunch of Japs coming across the sand and started shooting. After eight shots the gun jammed, so I found a dugout where another Marine had an extra gun, but when his buddy came back, he wanted his gun back. I had grenades. I crawled back to where there were dead Japanese and picked up a sword and made my way to our guns."

#XXXXXXXXXX said he helped get the guns turned from the ocean to where the enemy was crossing the river and helped fire a 37 mm cannon. He and two of his team were wounded.

#"I was not a hero. I just did what came naturally. We use the word hero too much today," he said.

Dad always said that the war was a "great adventure" and that he was lucky to make it to twenty-six. When he was carried off the riverbank, " ... my dungarees were shredded below my knees." 

 He carried much of that Japanese metal until he died.

SEMPER FI

Ignorance ....... div

I'm sorry !! Ever since I was first instructed by the school nurse in the 6th grade (no, I'm not going to say how long ago that was) I knew about that 'lil wiggly thing battlin' all the other 'lil wiggly things to break into that there ovum thingee (and how he got there, .... snicker). As I grew older, I learned just how difficult it was to even get "him" into the competition ( so many obstacles). Later, I learned of the various ways to keep "him" from his goal (and no, I didn't have a latex allergy). I did know, however, when to stop trying. Maybe from respect (which grew over the years) or maybe just from frustration.

Just WTF does this GOP asshole know (even though he sits on a committee for Science)???? What kind of doctors has he been talking to ??????

Jesus H. Christ with a turkey baster !!!!!!   Where do these idiots come from  - -  and this is a Congressman ???  This is a guy who deigns to sit in a deliberative body envisioned by the likes of Jefferson, Madison, and Adams  ?????  Several worthwhile people have come out of Missouri. Harry Truman and Doug Dillard to name a couple ..... this jerk ain't in the same league.

(and WTF stake does he have to say anything on the subject ???....... does he have a vagina ??????)

Sorry, ignorance offends ............
Bear

Saturday Nite Bluegrass ...... div

"Tennessee Twister"
Psychograss  - - -
David Grier -guitar;  Darol Anger - fiddle;  Mike Marshall - mandolin and Tony Trischka -  banjo

Enjoy !!

Crooks .... div (Update subsection)

Well, in the course of a week, the initial indignation has managed to morph into '...well, we really didn't do anything wrong, but we accept your generous offer.'

The really telling statement from the offending party that "well over 99.9 percent" of the questioned transactions with Iran complied with all regulations and the few transactions that didn't amounted to $ 14 million.
This brings to mind Schopenhauer's Law of Entropy:
                "If you put a spoonful of wine in a barrel full of sewage, you get sewage.
                If you put a spoonful of sewage in a barrel full of wine, you get sewage."
These guys are criminals. They not only broke the law, they engaged in a criminal conspiracy to circumvent the laws (and actively instructed their employees in the method)  and they're getting off Scot free  ...........  What a system !!

            

Irony .......... div

Interesting that the name of the Salt Lake County official prosecuting this GOP dirtbag is named .......
(Wait for it) ................... Joe Hill.

Crime and Punishment ....... div

In this case, maybe they're one in the same.
I remember when things were a whole lot saner in Boulder.
Ya  gotta wonder why the witnessing security guard failed to capture the perp, eh ???
Unconfirmed (and unattributed) accounts state that police reported,  "... the eye-witness descriptions were crappy, but once we caught the scent, we were able to flush him out."
Phew !!!

Saturday Nite Bluegrass ...... div

One of the really great session musicians on the Bluegrass scene.

Enjoy !!

Musta stepped in sumpin' ........ div (Update section)

Looks like one of W. Mitt's staff has screwed up again, eh ??

Its's certainly caused a swelling of the heads (if not an explosion ) within the royalty of wingnuttia.

The fact that the latest ad from an Obama friendly super-pac is a bit over the top  (but remember, the Supremes have ruled that the super-pacs have no contact or coordination with the candidates  - Jesus, what a system) doesn't really lessen the fact that these are many of the same things that Newt said about Mitt  - -  oops, those were super-pacs too, so they didn't coordinate either.

You really think this guy (and the folks around him) are ready to take over the country ???
What's that smell ?
How much of the smell can you stand until November ???

Update : just saw this at Daily Kos  - - - sums it all up with commentary  - -  worth the 12-minute watch.

Maybe ??????? ...... div

Perhaps it's the diet ???????

Crooks .... div

Why don't they simply lock up the offices, shut down all means of communication and simply say "gottcha" ?  Isn't this supporting terrorism ??? (maybe it's ok if you are white, Anglo-Saxon, and rich).

I especially liked this part: “You . . . Americans. Who are you to tell us, the rest of the world, that we’re not going to deal with Iranians.”

Assholes.

Seventy Years ago ........ div

Seventy years ago, Maj Gen Alexander Vandegrifth's  First Marine Division landed on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands to commence the first land action by US troops against the Japanese.
Thanks Dad. Semper Fi.

Casino .... div

With all the talk about the impending fall over the "fiscal cliff" (brought to you by the Congress and the US Financial Establishment) I've been thinking about how I was brought up .... you know; thrift, saving, careful purchases, etc. I never recalled the use of the term "fiduciary responsibility for shareholder equity." A company made something, they made a modest profit (5-7 % wasn't unheard of and was considered pretty good), reinvested profit in research and development, paid decent wages and just maybe paid a small dividend to stockholders. Hell, for years GM stock was considered safer than a savings account. Think about it, the US Auto industry began its descent when the finance guys took over from the car guys.

One thing I always believed was that "investment" was just that. It wasn't speculation or gambling. Sure I lost money in some companies, and made some in others; but I wasn't the "in 'n out" investor.

Now, our system of investment is nothing more than a bet  .... and the house always wins (even when they lose).

The portion of our economy that is concerned with making "deals" as opposed to making "things" has grown totally out of proportion with the value it adds to the economy, and many of the "instruments" are totally undecipherable to the average investor.

Now even the banks have entered the fray (with your money). I think this would be a pretty easy way to put a stop to it. Another way would be to eliminate the Capital Gains Tax.  NO, NO, not what you think ......... Make it a graduated repeal  -  50% tax on assets held one year or less, and a 10% reduction for each year thereafter. This is probably too simple, but it would certainly cut down on speculation, Another means would be a minute tax (say .001%) on every transaction.

I certainly don't have the answers, but we need to do something before it becomes a question of running out of rope or lampposts.

Saturday Nite Bluegrass ....... div

In case you didn't recognize these "kids"  - -  Tony Rice - guitar, Bela Fleck - banjo,
Sam Bush - mandolin, Mark O'Connor - fiddle, Jerry Douglas - dobro and Mark Schatz - bass.
Form an early 1990s Merlefest. All Masters in their own right.

I am not !!!!! ....... div

"I don't think the burden should be on me," Reid said. "The burden should be on him. He's the one I've alleged has not paid any taxes. Why didn't he release his tax returns?"

I wonder of Willard will float ????