I wonder ...

If McCain/Lieberman/Republicans still insist that bombing Iran ASAP is the way to go?

WASHINGTON — North Korea showed a visiting American nuclear scientist last week a vast new facility it secretly and rapidly built to enrich uranium, confronting the Obama administration with the prospect that the country is preparing to expand its nuclear arsenal or build a far more powerful type of atomic bomb.

...

Personally, after having spent time in that part of the world, I'd take the North Korean idiot a bit more seriously than the Iranian idiot. Then again, I'm not paid to pormote Israeli foreign policy.

Firsts ...

Having lived an ... interesting life, I don't get many "firsts" anymore. This afternoon I got one. Never have I had a glass cooktop blow up in my face before.

Click to make big

The Mrs. has been saying that one of the burners had been acting up so, at halftime in the Napoli-Bologna match I went in the kitchen and turned it on, fiddled with the knob a bit, and watched it work. Not 15 seconds later she blew like a grenade. Fortunately, the Mrs. was standing behind me and the dogs were behind her. Also fortunately, the blast went straight up. We were showered with glass but it didn't come at us. Also fortunately, I got the most of it, a cut above my right eye and the Mrs., Chooch, and Ziva walked away unscathed. Thank god the Mrs. wasn't cooking with a hot pan of grease when it happened. By the way, that steak was supposed to be my dinner. Pizza guy has already been called.

Oh well, interesting day ...

1st Snow, Day 2

Here's yesterday:
Here's today:

Mrs. G took the pups on their morning walk and got just out of the yard and turned around and they were nowhere to be seen. They had already gone back to the house and were waiting by the front door. Here they are investigating the path of least resistance when I stepped out to take the photos:



The kickoff of the Annual Winter Games yesterday went reasonably well. The snowthrower fired right up, but developed a little water in the float bowl at the end, not uncommon after sitting with an empty gas tank for six months.

New snowthrowers all seem to come these days with a nice manufactured stick to clear the discharge chute when it clogs. I just put a large screwdriver or tire iron in my boot for handy access. I'm just hopelessly Old School, I guess.

I just happened to be standing looking out the bathroom window about 3 o'clock this morning. The sky had cleared and the moon was nearly full and it was light as day and absolutely peaceful and beautiful.

The Games will continue...

Tools For Tools

Eugene Robinson

For what it's worth, my advice for Obama is to forget the Republicans. Not literally, of course -- the new House leadership is going to make itself hard to ignore. But ultimately, it's the president who sets the agenda, and who ultimately is held accountable for America's successes and failures. Obama's focus should be on using all the tools at his disposal to move the country in the direction he believes it must go.

Including Gitmo.

Progressives are right when they complain that the White House must do a much better job of making the case for its policies. But the challenge goes well beyond communications. Judging by the way they snubbed Obama's invitation to break bread together, Republicans seem eager for gridlock -- and the chance to blame the president for not getting anything done.

If I were President and those assholes had snubbed me like that, they would have arrived for lunch in the company of a couple large MPs each, whereupon they would have been served a nice lunch and been informed politely in my best drill field voice that an 'invitation' from the President is a summons, not an option.

Dessert would then be served along with a nice slide show of their future accommodations in a lovely sunny clime with gentle tropical breezes should they transgress again, with a gentle voice-over explaining how the Bush rule that the President decides who is an 'enemy of the people' is still very much in effect. Maybe just a coupla slides of a CIA Gulfstream with a nice, er, rendition of "They're Coming To Take Me Away".

Bipartisanship, much less capitulation as compromise, my ass.

Could She Reach the Top in 2012? You Betcha

Not only did I wake up to another foot-and-a-half of snow this morning, Daddy Frank's column is not exactly cheery either:

f logic applied to Palin’s career trajectory, this month might have been judged dreadful for her. In an otherwise great year for Republicans she endorsed a “Star Wars” bar gaggle of anomalous and wacky losers — the former witch, Christine O’Donnell; the raging nativist, Tom Tancredo; and at least two candidates who called for armed insurrection against the government, Sharron Angle and a would-be Texas congressman, Stephen Broden, who lost by over 50 percentage points. Last week voters in Palin’s home state humiliatingly “refudiated” her protégé, Joe Miller, overturning his victory in the G.O.P. Senate primary with a write-in campaign.

But logic doesn’t apply to Palin. What might bring down other politicians only seems to make her stronger: the malapropisms and gaffes, the cut-and-run half-term governorship, family scandals, shameless lying and rapacious self-merchandising. In an angry time when America’s experts and elites all seem to have failed, her amateurism and liabilities are badges of honor. She has turned fallibility into a formula for success.

With Murdoch, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity on her side, Palin hardly needs the grandees of the so-called Republican establishment. They know it and flail at her constantly. Politico reported just before Election Day that unnamed “party elders” were nearly united in wanting to stop her, out of fear that she’d win the nomination and then be crushed by Obama. Their complaints are seconded daily by Bush White House alumni like Karl Rove, Michael Gerson, and Mark McKinnon, who said recently that Palin’s “stock is falling and pretty rapidly now” and that “if she’s smart, she does not run.”

This is either denial or wishful thinking. The same criticisms that the Bushies fling at Palin were those once aimed at Bush: a slender résumé, a lack of intellectual curiosity and foreign travel, a lazy inclination to favor from-the-gut improvisation over cracking the briefing books. These spitballs are no more likely to derail Palin within the G.O.P. than they did him.

Revealingly, Sarah Palin’s potential rivals for the 2012 nomination have not joined the party establishment in publicly criticizing her. They are afraid of crossing Palin and the 80 percent of the party that admires her. So how do they stop her? Not by feeding their contempt in blind quotes to the press — as a Romney aide did by telling Time’s Mark Halperin she isn’t “a serious human being.” Not by hoping against hope that Murdoch might turn off the media oxygen that feeds both Palin’s viability and News Corporation’s bottom line. Sooner or later Palin’s opponents will instead have to man up — as Palin might say — and actually summon the courage to take her on mano-a-maverick in broad daylight.

Short of that, there’s little reason to believe now that she cannot dance to the top of the Republican ticket when and if she wants to.

I don't think she could win but, deep down, I could never be sure that our electorate wouldn't ride the crazy train off the rails and our nation with it. The time between her nomination and the election results would be the most fear and apprehension for the longest time I've ever felt. Victory for me would be simply surviving it.

More moral hypocrisy ...

You know, maybe these idiots might get the hint one day. When I hear one of god's mouthpieces getting all verschimmelt over the morality of something or another, I immediately think they're projecting their own insecurities or failings upon their flock and, ultimately, upon all of us. This latest weenie who just got his '15 Minutes' told his congregation to delete their Facebook accounts or they'd be excommunicated (or whatever his flavor of Xtians call it). "So, he's fucking one of the church ladies he met on FB, or got caught at it," was my first thought. I wasn't far off:

A pastor who said Facebook was a 'portal to infidelity' has admitted to having threesome sex with his wife and a male church assistant.

The Rev. Cedric Miller's secret past was exposed after he ordered church leaders to delete their Facebook accounts or resign.

He blamed the social networking website for causing married couples to have illicit affairs and igniting 'old passions'.

...

All of you, from now on, please just shut the fuck up.

American idiots ...

And we wonder why this country has turned into Bizarro World?

There are a lot of rather depressing findings in this latest Pew knowledge poll, including the fact the while 75% of the public knows that the Republicans 'won" the last election, only 46% know they only won the House of Representatives. I joked before election day that a lot of Tea Partiers were going to be upset to find out that Barack Obama was still president on the day after, but I didn't think it might actually be true.

...

The Republican Party and conservative groups have been quite successful over the past 30 years in dumbing down the population. The ignorant are easily led.

Anybody who actually thinks is demonized as an 'elite' and an 'intellectual', one whose 'subversive comments' are dangerous to the country. When I was young they were called 'bleeding hearts', people with a social conscience who believed in the betterment of all Americans not just those who could afford it. People who believed unnecessary wars in far off places were detrimental to the American way of life. People who believed polluting the environment would come back to bite us in the ass.

All that was true 40 years ago is still true today (as we've seen over the past 10 years), and still the ignorant vote against their own interests. In these days of instant communication and easy access to the knowledge of the world, you'd think we'd have become a smarter society but instead we've become even more clueless. A population who believes voting in an election is equivalent to the audience participation on American Idol or Dancing With The Stars.

I believe, at this point, we've crested the hill and are on the down side. The America we knew in the 20th Century will be no longer and we are well on our way to mediocrity or worse. I suggest an epitaph for our national gravestone: "Keep your government hands off my Medicare". It explains it all.

Hateful Days

From a 'recommended read' by William Rivers Pitt on Things To Hate In Politics:

One cannot swing one's dead cat by the tail these days without striking something that makes me want to give up on this tepid reporting job and take up firebombing. Barring that, the only other reasonable solution would seem to be undertaking a deep and profound heroin habit. Just shoot up and float away, leave all this mad and awful noise behind and go chase the dragon for a bit. Why not? Thanks to our Afghanistan adventure, there is a glut of the stuff on the world market. It makes perfect sense, in a way; where is the fun in enduring a massive global economic and political meltdown and rampant joblessness without an ample, cheap supply of good smack?

Heroin is bad for you, I know. But so is politics. These days, both are equally poisonous to the body and soul.

What was it Mick Jagger said? "I'll be in my basement room, with a needle and a spoon..."

He gets it all outta his system and comes to his senses:

Hunter S. Thompson once said, "One of the basic rules of politics is Action Moves Away from the Center. The middle of the road is only popular when nothing is happening." Well, there is plenty going on today, and the middle of the road is now good only for long yellow stripes. Yes, I hate, with depth and passion, and have much cause to do so. But if those protesters at the Bush Library teach us anything, it is that hate must be channeled if it is to have any real effect. Theirs was an eloquent protest, and ours must be the same.

No retreat, the man once said. No surrender.

"They" want us to forget about politics. They want us not to vote. They want us to STFU. Then they win.

Yes, the whole political process should take place behind closed doors and we should be spoon-fed only what they want us to know by official 'press' releases. It ain't just the Repugs either:

Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), this week called on the FCC to shut down Fox News and MSNBC. The senior senator from WV said, “There’s a little bug inside of me which wants to get the FCC to say to Fox News and MSNBC, ‘Off. Out. End. Goodbye’. It would be a big favor to political discourse; to our ability to do our work here in Congress; and the American People, to talk with each other and have some faith in their government, and more importantly, in their future.”

That would be the end of that pesky 1st Amendment and the end of our nation. As messy as our politics is, it has to be closely watched and kept in the open or we're done.

1st Snow

Day before yesterday I rode my motorcycle. To quote Inspector Clouseau after he was informed that what he had just destroyed was a $30,000 Steinway piano, "Not any more!".

The hell of it is I stepped out the back door just as Mrs. G 'shoed by on her way to walk the dogs. She waved. I told her to raise one snowshoe. She did. I took her picture. She promptly fell over. I snapped again. The camera batteries were dead. Grrr.

I re-batteried. You can see Mrs. G in this one:

Click fotos to embiggen

Here's the shady side. That's a foot of snow on the deck railing:



Winter sports will commence today with the ceremonial Filling Of The Snowthrower's Gas Tank. Let the games begin!

Update:

I'm sure glad for the break in the weather that let me get a picture of our snow in the sunshine. The second in this series of storms is here now. This pattern is going to come and go for days. With my historically impeccable timing, my snowthrowing efforts will be either or both of a) throw six inches of snow and get done just in time for the next foot of it instead of waiting and throwing 18 inches or, b) clearing each storm's dump with the wind in my face. It is written...

In case you're wondering how I can throw snow in one direction and then turn 180° and throw snow in the other direction and still have the wind in my face, the snowthrower's discharge chute is also known as 'The Automatic Wind Direction Changer'. It may be the best functioning gadget on the machine.

Please enjoy our Truckee and I-80 webcams.

Saturday Emmylou Blogging

From the original German TV Musik Laden TV broadcast.
It has been here on and off over the years - currently off so I thought I'd re-instate it .

The Hot Band here are : Albert Lee (lead guitar - here mandolin), Rodney Crowell (guitar and vocals), Hank DeVito (steel), Emory Gordy (bass), John Ware (drums) and Glen D Hardin (piano).

Emmylou Harris with Rodney Crowell & The Hot Band : Hello Stranger (1977)

Thanks to 1000Magicians, UK.

Friday Monster Blogging

Chooch, our older dog, has appointed herself "Protector of the Realm" since we got her and spends the day (when she and her sister aren't running around here like crazy people) standing watch at the top of the stairs, looking out the front door, for any 'suspicious characters'.



Well, this morning, two idiots had a fender bender in front of the house. Holy shit, Da Chooch was up and down the stairs about a hundred times, barking like a lunatic, until they got their shit sorted out and left.



And the whole time poor little Ziva was just trying to catch a nap.



Heh ...

Shopping Day

We're headin' ta The Big City to get some shopping done prior to next week's trip to the coast for T'giving and to beat a major snowstorm that's supposed to come in tonight. See yas later.

Update:

Timed it perfect! It just started snowing as we pulled back into town. It's been gray and windy all day, got in a ground blizzard of leaves at Fuji Park when we let the dogs run around. Lake Tahoe had waves. Costco was busier than I've ever seen it. I'm glad I'm here now.

The fix is in. Yawn.

An excerpt from a Glenn Greenwald piece you should read about why Bush is getting away with it:

[...] Sure, Hiatt acknowledged with a yawn, we're "a nation of laws" and we can't simply "forget" when our most powerful political officials commit the most serious war crimes, etc. etc. etc.. But criminal investigations are so terribly messy, uncivil, uncouth, distracting and disruptive. Prosecutions are for those dirty rabble on the street selling drugs to other adults whom I sometimes see from the window of my car, not for our upstanding, Serious political leaders. When they commit grievous crimes, we should have an impotent Commission of other upstanding, Serious political leaders politely look at what happened, issue a pretty Report, and then call it a day. That is why George W. Bush feels so free to run around beating his chest and boasting of his war crimes: because Fred Hiatt and his media comrades, masquerading as watchdogs over the politically powerful, have deliberately created the climate where such crimes can not only be committed, but publicly confessed and heralded, with total impunity.

Also some updates on "Don't touch my junk".

One way ...

While I don't condone Charlie Rangel's actions for which he was censured and think he shoulda been out of there years ago (I don't like 'career' politicians in general), I'm just wondering why (not really; I know why) we haven't seen any of these kangaroo courts with a Republican as the main attraction?

WASHINGTON -- One of Congress' most likable veterans, Rep. Charles Rangel, would become the 23rd House member in the nation's history to be censured if the House goes along with a recommendation of its ethics committee.

...

And is it just me who thinks that an 'ethics panel' made up of politicians wouldn't know ethics if it bit them in the ass?

Over confidence ...

Gaius Publius haz it. If you think the American people, sheep that they are, will stand up to this, aside from a few isolated incidents, it's time to change the color of your glasses:

...

Look, no cop with confidence, when challenged, says "Please go away." The cop puts you instantly on the ground with a baton across the back of your neck; or you get Tased. Rules of engagement.

These TSA cops, however, do not have confidence, not yet. The issue is new, and they haven't pulled their act fully together. Is what they are doing really sexual assault? No one is sure, yet. Thus, when a big enough light (a celebrity flashlight, in this case) is shining, they back away.

...

But, as I said the other day, we are a cowardly bunch. We'll take it and ask for more. As long as life here doesn't emulate Soviet Russia (i.e. standing on line for 36-grit toilet paper), ain't nobody in this country gonna stand up, en masse, to anything. Before long (a month or two), the TSA is gonna be another boot-on-the-neck, Gestapo-type police agency just like the local cops.

Dear America,

On 12 September 2001, the terrorists won.

Regards,

Fixer

He's Self-DeScrewed! Yay!

TPMMuckraker

Tom DeLay's lawyers began his defense yesterday by helping prove the prosecution's case.

Ah, life is good...

His lawyer's reply:

"Ooops..."

To aides: "Cash the checks!"

I mighta made that up.

The trial is expected to wrap this week. According to the AP, DeLay could, if convicted, be sentenced to up to life in prison. If acquitted, DeLay says he is planning a return to politics.

Let's go for life in prison. Stay tuned.

For two books and a fetus in a jar?

Worst of Durst

George Bush just broke ground on his $200 million Presidential library. Wow. 200 million. Sounds like a lot of money for a shelf.

Shit, I'll get him one at Ikea for half of that! I'll even put it together for him. He shouldn't have sharp objects like a screwdriver anyway.

Fine Dining

EssEffChron

Discord in North Beach over singing-waiter idea

An Italian restaurant in San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood is drawing heat for a proposed addition to the menu: Puccini.

Colosseo, on Columbus Avenue, wants to have its waiter, Luca - a highly trained opera singer - serenade customers while they dine.

But some residents - notably those of the Telegraph Hill Dwellers, a politically influential neighborhood group - aren't exactly all ears. Critics say that the permit for Luca's amplified accompaniment, which Colosseo is seeking at the Planning Commission today, could be interpreted to allow less harmonious sounds - such as, say, a Jimi Hendrix tribute concert.

I like Hendrix, but I ain't havin' it with my Sea Otter Piccata!

When I first saw the headline, I thought the waiter was gonna be crooning the menu and thought what a nice step up that would be. The first time the waitress at our local fine-dining establishment rolled up her sleeve to show us the menu tattooed on her beefy forearm, I thought she was gonna hit me!

Also see:

Fleur de burger. Frisco knows no bounds when it comes to haute cuisine!

Headline of the Day

Dutch government seeks to ban tourists from cannabis cafes

So now it's all about tulips and wooden shoes? There went their tourist industry. I betcha they reconsider about a week after they do this nonsensical thing.

All the Devils Are Here

If you're interested in how Wall Street and the banks stole all the money, go watch last night's Charlie Rose.

Authors Joe Nocera and Bethany McLean on their book 'All the Devils Are Here: The Hidden History of the Financial Crisis'

Related:

Doyle McManus

The home loan modification mess

A mortgage servicing company makes money by charging fees based on the principal amount of the loan; reducing the principal reduces the servicer's income. Foreclosure guarantees reimbursement of a servicer's fees and costs; modification can make reimbursement harder. And when a loan is in default and heading toward foreclosure, a servicer can collect late fees and other charges. "For servicers, the true sweet spot lies in stretching out a delinquency without either a modification or a foreclosure," notes Diane E. Thompson of the National Consumer Law Center.

Banks don't like modifications either because they then have to take a write-down on their balance sheet. They'd rather just take your house away.