Is it just me or does it feel like the wheels are flying off?
Last week, the experts were saying unemployment had peaked, and that perhaps the economy was slowly turning a corner. Today, not so much.
Just in: Chrysler will close 789 dealerships as part of its bankruptcy plan. That sure as hell doesn’t help the unemployment numbers. And there will be MORE AND MORE layoffs as the auto giants’ layoffs and restructuring efforts unwind themselves all summer. There aren’t enough temporary census jobs in this galaxy to absorb the legions of unemployed men who will be drifting through the long, hot days of the Summer of Pain. (The fact that the last time the United States had a disproportionally high number of men unemployed coincided with a major smothering of the nascent efforts of women to achieve financial, personal, and educational equality (aka the 1950′s) is not lost on me, but is the subject of another post.
Persephone finds THIS news (buried, mostly — no surprise) that the DEMOCRATIC Senate KILLED a bill that would limit to 15% the amount of interest credit card companies can charge people. Now 15% is a pretty damn high interest rate. If a freaking bank can’t figure out how to make money on a transaction where they borrow money at oh, let’s say 2% (Being generous here since the LIBOR (the interest rate banks charge each other to borrow money from each other) is currently at .35%, an unprecedented low.) and then lend it back out at 15% they are either stupid, crooked, or both. (I vote for both.)
Look at it this way. If a bank wants to borrow $1,000 so that it can lend me $1,000 (and it is WAAAY more lucrative for a bank to borrow money in order to lend it out. If they just used the money they have “sitting in their vaults” and it doesn’t get paid back, they lose it ALL. Which means they have lost ALL of some depositer’s money (not their own money, never their own.))
But I digress. If a bank borrows $1,000 from another bank so they can lend it to me, they pay an interest rate of .35% to borrow that money. That’s $3.50 — less than the cost of a double latte at Starbucks. Then they turn around and give me the $1,000 in the form of a credit card with $1,000 limit. I go out that day and spend through the whole $1,000 on Puma PAC bumper stickers to give to all my friends. Now I owe the bank $1,000 at 15% interest. That’s $150 bucks! The bank spends $3.50 and gets back $150! Nice work if you can get it!
And I was just using simple arithmetic. Compounded interest is a whole ‘NOTHER story.
But the real story is WHY the DEMOCRATIC Senate killed the bill:
“The banking industry, which had some heavy-weight representatives monitoring the vote off of the Senate floor, warned that an interest rate limit could cause a sour reaction in the financial markets.”
What a bunch of wankers, wimps, and nitwits. In games of chicken, we can ALWAYS count on politicians to blink. Or, since they’re all on the same team anyway, I guess it’s more accurate to say we can always count on politicians to WINK. Jackasses. Did I mention that the Senate is now comprised of a solid majority of DEMOCRATS??
But that’s not all! It wouldn’t be a new day without a new reversal and fumble by obama:
“Since he’s been inaugurated, Barack Obama has demonstrated a remarkable desire to keep evidence of Bush crimes generally, and Bush’s torture regime specifically, concealed,” said Jane Hamsher, the founder of the Fire Dog Lake blog in an email exchange with the Fix. “Some of his supporters won’t care. But others believe he is betraying promises he made on the campaign trail about transparency, and there is a growing sense that he is becoming complicit in the crimes he is attempting desperately to shield from public scrutiny.” — Jane Hamsher of the liberal blog, FireDogLake.
Gary has a very funny rundown of the inevitable obot responses to yet ANOTHER reversal and unkept promise by their Messiah.
So, the economy in continued free fall (for the little people only. the big shots get to skip this particular roller coaster ride from Hell); the DEMOCRATIC Congress continuing to hand its offices over to Goldman Sachs et al, making Capitol Hill the branch office of Wall Street; a quagmire in Af-Pak-Iraq; a new president who loves torture just as much as the old president; and a resurgence of 50′s era gender stratification.
What’s next? News that the Trillion Dollar Stimuloss Swindle will NEVER make a dime’s worth of difference and we might as well have saved the money in order to improve the federal balance sheet and bring back some integrity to the actual fundamentals of our economy, or even used it to keep Medicare and Social Security safe? Oh, wait.
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murphy 05.14.09 at 11:28 am
“Wholesale prices in the United States rose slightly in April, the government reported on Thursday, as falling oil and gasoline prices leveled off and food prices rose the most in a year.
-snip-
But for some economists, the prospect of rising energy and food prices at a time of deep unemployment and shrinking wages raised concerns that strapped consumers could see their cost of living inflate even as the job market continues to get worse.
-snip-
Much of the increase in producer prices in April was the result of a 1.5 percent jump in food prices. Egg prices rose sharply while prices for beef, coffee, vegetables and fresh fruit also increased.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/15/business/economy/15econ.html?hp
Like I said, this is another way in which the financial crisis is going to be a roller coaster from hell, but only for people who actually budget their grocery purchases. Hard to believe maybe but there are LOTS of families who have NO IDEA how much food costs, they can afford not to care.
samanthasmom 05.14.09 at 11:40 am
One of the ways to defeat the credit card companies is to stop using their cards. I know it’s hard, but you can do it. I cut up all of my credit cards but one ten years ago. I kept the one just in case I need it to rent a car or something like that, but I put it in a safe deposit box at the bank. I use an ATM/debit card for purchases when I don’t want to carry cash or write a check. It means postponing some purchases until I have the money upfront to buy them, but if you’re paying 18% interest to buy something that’s on sale, unless you pay the bill in full right away, you’re paying more than the regular price for it in the long run. If you can pay for it in 30 days, why not just pay for it now? If no one is using their cards, the banks will lower their rates, but what will you care? You’ll be almost debt-free and be liking the feel of it.
wontbackdown 05.14.09 at 12:02 pm
Senate Takes Up $100 Billion Emergency Spending Request for IMF
Though the country is facing record deficits, the president claims the request would not add to the red ink.
President Obama has formally requested the money for a $100 billion U.S. loan to the International Monetary Fund, following up on an international commitment to triple IMF resources for struggling nations.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/05/13/obama-requests-funds-billion-loan-imf/
wontbackdown 05.14.09 at 12:07 pm
House Democrats Block Republican Effort to Force Ethics Inquiries of Several Lawmakers
The Republican resolution focused on a lobbying firm, PMA, which was raided by the FBI last year
WASHINGTON — House Democrats on Tuesday stopped a Republican plan to force a campaign finance inquiry that likely would have investigated several influential Democrats. It was the eighth time since late February that the Republican move was halted.
One of the biggest recipients has been the chairman of the defense appropriations subcommittee, Rep. John Murtha of Pennsylvania.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/05/12/house-democrats-block-republican-effort-force-ethics-inquiries-lawmakers/
murphy 05.14.09 at 12:12 pm
funny things I read on the econ blogs:
“Capitalism without bankruptcy is like Christianity without hell.”
“The Panda Recovery: Eats Green Shoots and Leaves”
“Wall Street is where they take your money and their experience and turn it into their money and your experience.”
scarlet 05.14.09 at 12:14 pm
LEGISLATION
War Supplemental Bill
The House begins work today on a bill that funds extra money for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. As usual though, there’s a lot of other things in this bill.
Here is the summary, as provided by the House Appropriations Committee. Go through it yourself and figure out what you would approve and what you would knock out.
More at 411 on the 111 pumapac forum
http://pumapac.org/forums/411-on-the-111/ post 161
wontbackdown 05.14.09 at 12:16 pm
Pelosi told a really funny Joke this morning…
“Every step of the way the administration was misleading the Congress and that is the issue and that’s why we need a truth commission,” she (Pelosi)added.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/05/14/pelosi-reiterates-didnt-know-waterboarding-use/
_______________
Good one, (Pelosi!)
scarlet 05.14.09 at 12:17 pm
The Private Contracting Surge Into Afghanistan
Just like in Iraq, a “shadow army” has been serving alongside American servicemen and women in Afghanistan. So far, it is at least 70,000 strong. Private contractors – now indispensable to the U.S. military as it wages war – are expected to grow and much surpass that number as U.S. troops there double from 35,000 to nearly 70,000 by 2010.
In short, we will be bringing as many contractors as we are troops – especially KBR [Kellogg, Brown and Root] – because they now feed and house the military…
http://original.antiwar.com/vlahos/2009/05/13/the-private-contracting-surge/
GOSUEF4HIL 05.14.09 at 12:17 pm
Lots going on in the flip-flopper administration-
Here is Marc’s take on health care- another Obama sham:
http://tominpaine.blogspot.com/
Lastly- today’s latest flip-flop – Obam’s refusal to release the torture photos- I will find and post a link
GOSUEF4HIL 05.14.09 at 12:19 pm
Here you go… I found this site where Marc Rubin writes daily:
http://www.examiner.com/x-6572-NY-Obama-Administration-Examiner~y2009m5d14-Obama-reversal-on-abuse-photos-exposes-lack-of-judgement-and-moral-conviction
murphy 05.14.09 at 12:19 pm
thanks scarlet. holy smokes. is there NOTHING about the bush administration obama doesnt love?
Seriously. Can anyone name ONE measley thing obama has done that significantly changes or reverses the policies of bush???
closing guantanamo?
maybe.
oy vey.
sistermoon3 05.14.09 at 12:22 pm
I trust our military leaders over Obama any day of the week.
I dont care if he flip flopped this one, im glad he listened instead of being hardheaded.
Hey make Iran put pics out of their stoning people to death, you think that would be gory enough to change people’s minds about their tactics and punishments.
Put pics out of Afghanistan girls being poisoned by gases that try to go to school.
I didnt put a suggestion for the bumpersticker contest
but i thought of one yesterday….
Don’t tax me bro!
TerryDo 05.14.09 at 12:23 pm
murphy 05.14.09 at 12:12 pm
funny things I read on the econ blogs:
“Capitalism without bankruptcy is like Christianity without hell.”
“The Panda Recovery: Eats Green Shoots and Leaves”
“Wall Street is where they take your money and their experience and turn it into their money and your experience.”
**********************
Good ones Murphy, here is a new definity for Liquidity.
Liquidity is when you look at your retirement funds and wet your pants.
TerryDo 05.14.09 at 12:24 pm
definity + definition
Sorry!
atypical 05.14.09 at 12:27 pm
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/opinion/14thu3.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss
If you bundle credit card interest capping with open-carry firearms in parks, what do you think happens?
scarlet 05.14.09 at 12:32 pm
As President Obama sends 20,000 more combat troops to Afghanistan and threatens to invade Pakistan, a strange silence hangs over the remains of the antiwar movement.
The massive antiwar marches that were a feature of the Bush years are a thing of the past, and those ostensibly antiwar organization that did so much to agitate against the Iraq war have now fallen into line behind their commander in chief, awaiting orders.
MoveOn.org has refused to make any public statement about Obama’s alarming Af-Pak escalation. VoteVets, which was in the front lines of the antiwar struggle a few years back, is reduced to cheering Obama’s every move.
Another Democratic Party front masquerading as a peace group, Americans United for Change, declined to comment on the war plans of the new administration. This astroturf organization, you’ll recall, ran $600,000 worth of television ads in the summer of 2007 – zeroing in on congressional districts with Republican incumbents.
These partisan phonies don’t represent the real antiwar movement, of course. They used popular opposition to the Iraq war to ride into power, and now they’re launching their own nation-building war of “liberation” in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
http://antiwar.com/
murphy 05.14.09 at 12:33 pm
exactly ZERO of the cities ranked in the 16 Best Places to Live in the World are in the United States.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/30584321/?slide=16
this troubles me greatly for vague reasons I can’t articulate.
(via MABlue at the Confluence)
GOSUEF4HIL 05.14.09 at 12:33 pm
another example of Pelosi’s knowledge of torture- who in their right mind would believe Pelosi?
http://thewiddershins.wordpress.com/
atypical 05.14.09 at 12:34 pm
I know this has been mentioned before, but this morning my son was saying that almost all of the National Guard troops in MO are not available for an emergency in MO. They are the Army in these wars.
scarlet 05.14.09 at 12:39 pm
Obama Halves Chrysler’s Planned Marketing Budget
Task Force Agrees Automaker Needs Advertising — Just Not $134 Million Worth
DETROIT (AdAge.com) — Chrysler wanted to spend $134 million in advertising over the nine weeks it’s expected to be in bankruptcy — the U.S. Treasury’s auto-industry task force gave it half that.
http://adage.com/article?article_id=136552
scarlet 05.14.09 at 12:41 pm
TOO MUCH BLING GIVE US A RING
Bling campaign targets criminals
A police campaign targeting people living lavish lifestyles on the proceeds of crime and money laundering has begun in Sussex.
Crimestoppers and Sussex Police joined forces for the campaign called “Too Much Bling, Give Us a Ring”.
People are urged to report their suspicions about apparently wealthy people with no legitimate income.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/sussex/7836955.stm
persephone 05.14.09 at 12:43 pm
Chinese hookers and your tax dollars at work:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/05/14/government-funds-million-program-make-chinese-prostitutes-drink/
mountainsong 05.14.09 at 12:50 pm
samanthasmom 05.14.09 at 11:40 am I agree. I did away with all my credit cards in 1976,having onlt had them two years. I guess I was fortunate to be raised in a family that didn’t believe in credit, but in sving until they had enough to gbuy houses, car’s etc. Credit was ONLY used for emergencies such as log-term care or surgeries or other expensive treatments, primarily for the elderly.
IMO, credit is just the 20th century version of slavery. My Grandpa called it “selling your tomorrows” without ever taking into consideration the ever occuring inflation and low income growth.
So, today, I find it somewhat funny when people actually BRAG about their credit rating or how much they owe. “Like, “Look at what a good lil slave I am!” Because the sad thing is most people will never become debt-free once they enter into it.
scarlet 05.14.09 at 12:54 pm
Biggest Holders of US Gov’t Debt
http://www.cnbc.com/id/29880401
DancesWithPumas 05.14.09 at 12:57 pm
Seriously. Can anyone name ONE measley thing obama has done that significantly changes or reverses the policies of bush???
————
Reverse (sorta kinda…leaving it up to congress) Bush’s policy re: stem cell research?
atypical 05.14.09 at 1:01 pm
I posted this yesterday, but if you didn’t see it, GM will be selling cars in the US, made in China. Is this bailout money being used for start-up or have they already manufactured parts and/or whole cars in China?
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,519974,00.html
DancesWithPumas 05.14.09 at 1:03 pm
exactly ZERO of the cities ranked in the 16 Best Places to Live in the World are in the United States.
——————–
WOW!
HP … Auckland is in the top 16! Check it out.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/30584321/?slide=1
TexasTigress 05.14.09 at 1:08 pm
re post ’cause I like it
Hmmmm … Canada Free Press exposing the unconstitutional actions of Obama’s policies .. Where’s our media ???
” And as Obama continues to seize all of the assets of the American people and more and more power over them, the hammer and sickle of Obama’s totalitarian state will soon be directed at anyone who dares to oppose him and his policies”
Very interesting article ..
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/10743
TexasTigress 05.14.09 at 1:09 pm
and
The Lawlessness of Obama’s policies ..
“The Obama administration’s agenda of maximizing dependency involves political favoritism cloaked in the raiment of “economic planning” and “social justice” that somehow produce results superior to what markets produce when freedom allows merit to manifest itself, and incompetence to fail. The administration’s central activity — the political allocation of wealth and opportunity — is not merely susceptible to corruption, it is corruption. ”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/13/AR2009051303014.html?wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter
antifish 05.14.09 at 1:16 pm
VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE THREE BUMPER STICKER SLOGANS!!
Find them at http://pumapac.org/slogans.html
Voting for our bumper sticker slogan contest is open and runs through Saturday, May 16 at midnight PST.
Please submit all three of your choices in ONE email addressed to actioncenter@pumapac.org, use SUBJECT: Contest Vote, include the author of the slogans you choose and remember to include your blog name in the email.
Please refrain from voting for your own slogans even if they are the greatest.
GOOD LUCK TO ALL THE WONDERFUL PUMAS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE CONTEST!!
TexasTigress 05.14.09 at 1:18 pm
LUV IT
Obama and Gay marriage …
“Obama’s slow progress is a disappointment and Sullivan’s and Savage’s anger is wholly justified. At the same time, I sort of wonder: did either of these guys actually watch Obama during the campaign?”
http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2009/05/obama-and-gay-marriage
Zee 05.14.09 at 1:19 pm
omg, thanks to the link to the Widdershins…I love me some peeks at the Obot handwringing, and one of the commentators there said she saw a commuter today with a paper that read “Barack W. Obama!” too freaking funny. That rival Brand Obama for me, simply for the idea of how much it will rankle the hung-over Hopium huffers!
Also, I never saved the link, but besides reversing himself on the torture photos, BO is also continuing the secret military tribunals that so infuriated human rights activists. I’ll have to retrieve that sometime…
TexasTigress 05.14.09 at 1:19 pm
Anti – did you see the pic I posted for you on the last thread ???
All hat , no cattle 
Zee 05.14.09 at 1:20 pm
anlgachel is back and she has some awesome posts up on sexism and the complicity of the “a list” blogs this past election. It’s tied to a recent book on the bloggers that of COURSE fails to address the sexism!
http://anglachelg.blogspot.com/
antifish 05.14.09 at 1:25 pm
Humm, maybe the Republicans are finally “getting” it…
Republicans Adopt Emanuel’s Tactics to Deliver 2010 ‘Thumpin”
By Heidi Przybyla
May 14 (Bloomberg) — Republicans are getting inspiration on how to rebuild their party in the U.S. Congress from an unlikely source: White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.
California Representative Kevin McCarthy, the chief recruiter for House Republicans, said he wants his party to select candidates based less on ideology and more on their chances of winning. The goal, he said, is to seek out prospects who are ethnically diverse, female, less partisan and even supportive of abortion rights. So far, these efforts are more concept than reality.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=aB2p31qRJH6k&refer=politics
mountainsong 05.14.09 at 1:27 pm
Yep, I can see I gotta get a Mac~~~This PC just makes way too many typos.
antifish 05.14.09 at 1:28 pm
Yes, TT, I saw it. But, you have to admit it was only a one-time ploy to recruit Texas Obots now.
I really do like your slogan. It’s on my list that I have to whittle down to three. Hard to choose…
scarlet 05.14.09 at 1:33 pm
DancesWithPumas 05.14.09 at 12:57 pm
Seriously. Can anyone name ONE measley thing obama has done that significantly changes or reverses the policies of bush???
————
Reverse (sorta kinda…leaving it up to congress) Bush’s policy re: stem cell research?
—————————
He did reverse stem cell research policy, but was it that smart?
“I think, Oprah, the stem cell debate is dead.”
“The problem with embryonic stem cells is that embryonic stem cells come from embryos, like all of us are made from embryos, and those cells can become any cell in the body, but it’s very hard to control them and so they can become cancer.” – Dr. Oz on Oprah with Michael J. Fox
http://www.oprah.com/media/20090319-tows-dr-oz-brain
Multiple Sclerosis Patients “Promised Nothing” But Are Symptom Free After Stem Cell Treatment
Posted 11 May, 2009 in Multiple Sclerosis |
Multiple Sclerosis Patients Improve After Stem Cell Research and Therapy
Preston Walker and Richard Humphries are shining examples of how stem cell research using Adult Stem Cells are improving lives right now. Preston and Richard were the first two Multiple Sclerosis patients to receive stem cell treatment with their own cells derived from their fat.
http://donmargolis.com/blog/2009/05/multiple-sclerosis-patients-symptom-free-stem-cell-treatment/
Zee 05.14.09 at 1:35 pm
Darn, I went back down to retrieve my AP link to Obama’s whining at Arizona State, where he wasn’t given an honorary degree for his commencement speech, but surprise….AP has *already taken it down!*
Ah, well….gay girl also had a beautiful link to Hillary’s speech….and her acceptance of her own honorary degree!
Zee 05.14.09 at 1:40 pm
Oh, also from the Widdershins, they put up a link to the actual vote on the credit card interest rate cap:
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=1&vote=00191
Of course, not one republican voted to cap it, so they’re pretty much a lost cause, but PUMAs can check the list and see if their Dem senators voted against the cap. Massachusetts, Kerry voted for the cap, and Kennedy didn’t vote…
If your Dem senator voted against the cap, let him or her know you’re pissed!!! Hey, even if you have a Republican Senator, it might help to let them know that their party line is not acceptable in this!
Zee 05.14.09 at 1:51 pm
This might make a good mini-prowl…contact all our Senators on their vote on the credit card cap. Praise those who voted for the cap and give hell to those who didn’t!
antifish 05.14.09 at 1:51 pm
#31 TT
Savage is his own piece of work, but I despise Andrew Sullivan, a supposedly conservative gay man who turned out to be one of the biggest Obots and sexist pigs ever during the campaign.
He trashed Hillary repeatedly, once calling her “Dick Cheney in a pantsuit” later, he trashed Sarah Palin, calling her “a farce” and her nomination “the most irresponsible act any candidate has ever made,” to “she’s basically Bush in drag,”
Oh and this from wiki – “On August 31, 2008, Sullivan posted on his “Daily Dish” blog about a rumor circulating on the Internet that Palin faked her fifth pregnancy, the baby was actually her daughter’s, and that this was done for political gain.”
That man is a prime example of gay men who hate women. He deserves Obama.
Zee 05.14.09 at 1:56 pm
“The goal, he said, is to seek out prospects who are ethnically diverse, female, less partisan and even supportive of abortion rights. So far, these efforts are more concept than reality.”
That last line cracks me up…but hey. It’s what Meghan McCain has been saying, and getting attacked by her own party for saying! She’ll be vindicated.
I think it would be a riot if the parties suddenly tried to outdo each other in diversity. It’s kind of like when women under burcas only become a topic when it suits other purposes. At least it becomes a topic!
persephone 05.14.09 at 1:59 pm
(ANSA) – Saleducio, May 13 – A 101-year-old woman will
become Italy`s oldest town councillor if she is elected next
month in a small town in the Romagna hills.
Maria Donati, who turns 102 in September, is standing for
election June 6-7 in the village of Saleducio inland from
Rimini, between the Marche region and the Republic of San
Marino.
Donati, who is already Italy`s oldest candidate for any
office, is running on the Civic Non-Party Ticket For the
Common Good.
The ticket sees Donati`s granddaughter Roberta up for
mayor and Donati`s son-in-law up for councillor along with
Roberta`s daughter Chiara.
“I want to improve the roads around here and listen to
everyone`s problems as I have always done,“ said Donati, who
has helped raise eight grandchildren and 20
great-grandchildren.
“One thing is sure: I have a century`s worth of
experience to draw on“.
http://www.lifeinitaly.com/node/5574
antifish 05.14.09 at 2:03 pm
#43 Zee, I agree. It would be a wonderful thing for us if the parties tried to out-diversify each other. The gains from it could change the face of America in a very good way.
antifish 05.14.09 at 2:06 pm
Are we all paying attention? The Nancy Pelosi and what she knew and when she knew it story about torture is taking on a life of its own. Could Nancy be on a rail to a town called Karma?
mountainsong 05.14.09 at 2:06 pm
Obama, Bush, the Clintons~~~they are all members of the CFR, the Bilderbergers, etc. Why would any of them do anything differently from the others unless it was part of the greater agenda? I’m never gonna get why people would thgink one president would do anything different from the one before. Even if Obama ushers in Islam and Sharia, it could be part of this greater agenda. The CFR does things in “increments”, even refers to it as “Incrementalism”, whereby each president accomplishes his particular increment.
It is this “Greater Agenda”, which most people don’t even believe, or want to believe, exists, that we need to be worried about. Ultimately, it’s about enslaving the world.
mountainsong 05.14.09 at 2:08 pm
Getting people hooked on “credit” is a major part of this agenda, which began in earnest in the 1950′s-early 60′s….for those old enough to remember.
mountainsong 05.14.09 at 2:09 pm
Those who do not use credit are considered derelict, while those who refuse to use credit are considered enemies of the state.
antifish 05.14.09 at 2:10 pm
#47 Mountainsong, if my outlook were that pessimistic and I lost my faith that there are still some good people out there who can’t be bought, then all of this would be for naught and I would have to remove myself completely from society. Maybe build a little cabin somewhere in the deep woods and live off the land. Hope I never come to that conclusion.
BigCatLover 05.14.09 at 2:12 pm
scarlet 05.14.09 at 12:54 pm
Biggest Holders of US Gov’t Debt
http://www.cnbc.com/id/29880401
******************************
Thanks, that was interesting as well as enlightening.
antifish 05.14.09 at 2:13 pm
Not getting hooked on credit requires nothing but good old self-discipline. I have seven credit cards, but none of them carry a balance. I only buy on credit what I can afford to pay when the bill comes in. I’m trying to teach that concept to my son… Not working so far.
mountainsong 05.14.09 at 2:14 pm
antifish 05.14.09 at 2:10 pm I already have my cabin.
wontbackdown 05.14.09 at 2:15 pm
antifish 05.14.09 at 2:06 pm
Are we all paying attention? The Nancy Pelosi and what she knew and when she knew it story about torture is taking on a life of its own. Could Nancy be on a rail to a town called Karma?
____________________________
Maybe… which seems to be primarily reserved for females in that state of political existence called Scapegoat?
mountainsong 05.14.09 at 2:17 pm
My “outlook” changed when I returned from Vietnam. You’d be amazed how many vets have cabins in the mountains.
There may be a few good people left who can’t be bought. But those who aren’t vets, wont ever DO anything to change things.
mountainsong 05.14.09 at 2:19 pm
I learned a LONG time ago not to ever trust the US Government. Which is why I’m so into helping others on a LOCAL level.
mountainsong 05.14.09 at 2:22 pm
After 44 years, this governement will STILL not even admit to sending some of us to the places we were. My friend, who’s blood I will never be able to wash off my skin when he blew up beside me doesn’t even exist on record. We just ‘conveniently, disappeared from record and none of us even get VA benefits.
Zee 05.14.09 at 2:26 pm
#47
So. We’re all back on board with the conspiracy theories? And the Clintons all a part of it? So, is that it? Do all the Hillary supporters need to go find a conspiracynut free site, or else face days and days of “weeping” and accusations because we would prefer not to have boring anti-Clinton anti-Semitic “Jews Rule the World” conspiracy theories part of our daily fight?
Or can we agree to leave the wild conspiracies to the Alex Jones sites?
Zee 05.14.09 at 2:30 pm
54 won’tbackdown
the Widdershins has a new post up now, dealing with Nancy and the fallout.
Is she being targeted for being female? For being in power? I liked the idea that she’s being targeted for being in power and she’s the example being set for Obama to play along or the Dems will come down alongside the Bush officials.
I say, let them. Let the chips fall where they may. Investigate the lot of them!
scarlet 05.14.09 at 2:36 pm
Antitrust eyes turn toward Google
By Ian Swanson
Posted: 05/12/09 08:06 PM [ET]
Google, the Internet goliath, is on a collision course with President Obama even though its employees and executives have lavished money and support on America’s new chief executive.
The administration’s signal this week that it will take a more aggressive stance toward monopolies has huge implications for Google, according to several antitrust lawyers.
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/antitrust-eyes-turn-toward-google-2009-05-12.html
BillieJo 05.14.09 at 2:38 pm
Mornin’ PUMAs, working and don’t have time to blog.
Question for Mac users that edit video on their computer. I was just asked to learn to edit video…I am pretty darned exited about that…but I am not a Mac fan so wonder if there is a way to take poor quality video and improve the sound quality in iMovie without the cheap $20 plugin that isn’t a permanent change to the video?
We do have a better video editing program on another computer in a research office, but they want me to see if I can push the technical possibilities on iMovie first.
I have done some research on the issue and so far have not found a fix on the older version of iMovie that is on my bleeping Mac at work. (I am a PC)
If you have ever succeeded in doing this, please let me know and which version of iMovie you used.
Thanks and be good to one another.
(((Anti))) thanks for posting the voting info.
antifish 05.14.09 at 2:41 pm
Have a great day ((((BillieJo))))!
antifish 05.14.09 at 2:48 pm
Uh-oh indeed…
U.S. Economy: Jobless Claims Increase on Impact From
Chrysler
By Bob Willis and Shobhana Chandra
May 14 (Bloomberg) — More Americans than forecast filed unemployment-insurance claims last week because of the Chrysler LLC bankruptcy that is likely to reverberate through the economy for months.
Initial jobless claims rose by 32,000 to 637,000 in the week ended May 9, the Labor Department said today in Washington. A good part of the jump was from states reporting an increase in auto-related claims
snip
The bankruptcy filing by Chrysler, and the potential for a similar step by General Motors Corp., is likely to cause further job losses as suppliers and communities are affected. The industry’s woes threaten to delay the economy’s recovery from the deepest recession in half a century and send the unemployment rate up from what’s already a 25-year high.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601068&sid=aHh9dSQhgzMA&refer=economy
murphy 05.14.09 at 2:50 pm
HP and I just had a marvelous coffee hour with bagels.
She brought me a “present” from Patty . . .
a BURQUA, a real live burqua.
oh my god. It’s HORRIBLE.
I tried it on and looked in the mirror and now i need an immense amount of alcohol to get the image out of my head.
they stink. literally, and they hurt your head.
omfg.
on a lighter note, it was GREAT to see HP again in person and Persephone, you were missed!
murphy 05.14.09 at 2:54 pm
Zee #34,
I was a HUGE fan of anglachel until she called the confluence, and by extension all Pumas, racists.
I know she’s really smart and all but I’m still pissed about it.
Maybe she’ll see the light and apologize.
one can dream.
murphy 05.14.09 at 2:55 pm
oh, and p.s. gojoy I saw your comment about the seaglass reading.
i hope something good comes through.
murphy 05.14.09 at 2:58 pm
just received this from the Courage Campaign:
“Dear Darragh –
In March, I went on Rachel Maddow’s show and spoke three truthful words: “I am gay.”
As an infantry officer, an Iraq combat veteran and a West Point graduate with a degree in Arabic, I refuse to lie to my commanders. I refuse to lie to my peers. I refuse to lie to my subordinates.
As a result, the Army sent a letter discharging me on April 23. The letter is a slap in the face. It is a slap in the face to me and it is a slap in the face to the soldiers who I have commanded and served with over the last decade.
I have served for a decade under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” — an immoral policy that forces American soldiers to lie about their sexual orientation. Worse, it forces others to tolerate deception. As I learned at West Point, deception and lies poison a unit and cripple a fighting force.
That’s why the Courage Campaign and CREDO Mobile are getting behind me today. And I’m getting behind them along with Knights Out — an organization I founded to bring attention to the ways “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” undermines our national security.
I need your support. Please ask President Obama not to fire me. Click here to watch my recent interview on Rachel Maddow’s show and sign the Courage Campaign’s petition asking the President to end the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy:
http://www.couragecampaign.org/DontFireDan
In the ten years since I first raised my right hand at the United States Military Academy at West Point and committed to fighting for my country, I have learned many lessons. Courage, integrity, honesty and selfless service are some of the most important.
That’s why my discharge from the Army is so painful. I am not accustomed to begging, but I am begging President Obama today: Do not fire me.
My subordinates know I’m gay. They don’t care. They are professionals. My soldiers are more than a unit or a fighting force — we are a family and we support each other.
Will you support me as well? Please ask President Obama to keep his promise and tell Congress to repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law and support equality in the military. Click here to watch the Rachel Maddow interview and sign this petition to the President ASAP:
http://www.couragecampaign.org/DontFireDan
Very Respectfully,
Daniel W. Choi
1LT, IN
New York Army National Guard”
Zee 05.14.09 at 3:06 pm
murphy,
I missed all that…or rather, I saw it after the fact and couldn’t make head nor tail of it.
I dunno…it’s all too easy to take offense, especially in online communication.
But you know…I still hope you reconcile with The New Agenda…and they banned me, lol!
They banned me before other women took task with some male trolls, too…then they realized they’d have no one left if no one could address the issue!
So, anyway…onward…Tn Guerilla Women also has a nice post up people might enjoy, on taking Olbermann to task for trashing Miss California. It includes a great quote by Bob Sotherby asking nevermind just the feminists, where are all the other progressives on this issue?
http://guerillawomentn.blogspot.com/
DancesWithPumas 05.14.09 at 3:07 pm
BillieJo
Info I recall re: video and sound restoration:
iMovie has some sound filtering capabilities, but consumer grade apps have limited capabilities.
The higher end applications like Sound Track Pro, which is part of Final Cut Pro, have the ability to highlight and delete specific ambient frequencies from the sound track, i.e. an a/c unit or motorcycle engine, etc.. The risk is, if, let’s say, a speaker hits that frequency, that part of the sound track will also be chopped out. I don’t believe iMovie can enhance / restore audio beyond minor tweeking.
Hope some of this is useful to you.
Zee 05.14.09 at 3:08 pm
#67 murphy
I will cross post this over at TGW, too, thanks.
antifish 05.14.09 at 3:12 pm
(clapping hands)
McCain mom takes swipe at Limbaugh
Posted: 02:51 PM ET
(CNN) — The always-outspoken Roberta McCain — mother of Sen. John McCain — took a swipe at Rush Limbaugh Wednesday, saying the popular conservative radio host “does not represent the Republican Party that I belong to”.
“I belong to the Republican Party,” McCain, 97, said during an appearance on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno. “What he represents of the Republican Party has nothing to do with my side of it. I don’t know what the man means, I don’t know what he’s talking about.”
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/
murphy 05.14.09 at 3:17 pm
zee, not surprised. Violet Sox recently left TNA along with Sheryl Robinson. They have big plans supposedly for a new effort. The Newer Agenda?
JK, I love Violet Sox. I linked to her above.
DancesWithPumas 05.14.09 at 3:20 pm
DancesWithPuma&VioletSox
DeadGirl 05.14.09 at 3:22 pm
Can the “they” (vague faceless powers that be) be any more heartless, stupid, uncivil, and cruel, than this??? People who serve their country deserve better. This is the human toll of their bigotry. By not recognizing the humanity, sincerity, patriotism, and strength of a service member who is gay, they are cheating the whole country of the most valuable resource, a person ready to lead, and serve…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My subordinates know I’m gay. They don’t care. They are professionals. My soldiers are more than a unit or a fighting force — we are a family and we support each other.
Will you support me as well? Please ask President Obama to keep his promise and tell Congress to repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law and support equality in the military. Click here to watch the Rachel Maddow interview and sign this petition to the President ASAP:
http://www.couragecampaign.org/DontFireDan
Very Respectfully,
Daniel W. Choi
1LT, IN
New York Army National Guard
murphy 05.14.09 at 3:33 pm
deadgirl, i couldnt agree more, but I must add my obligatory statement that nasty, petty, stupid, selfish, ugly, bigoted gay people also have the same Constitutional rights as the “good guys.” This is a Constitutional issue, not a question of love or being nice.
BillieJo 05.14.09 at 3:34 pm
DancesWithPumas
Info I recall re: video and sound restoration:
iMovie has some sound filtering capabilities, but consumer grade apps have limited capabilities.
The higher end applications like Sound Track Pro, which is part of Final Cut Pro, have the ability to highlight and delete specific ambient frequencies from the sound track, i.e. an a/c unit or motorcycle engine, etc.. The risk is, if, let’s say, a speaker hits that frequency, that part of the sound track will also be chopped out. I don’t believe iMovie can enhance / restore audio beyond minor tweeking.
Hope some of this is useful to you.
—-
DancesWithAudioEditing
Thanks for the info Dances, we do have Final Cut Pro on a newer computer, more Ram and also has newer version of iMovie on it but it’s the professor’s computer in his research office and I just want some ammunition to say my computer is an anchor for this work and you need to beef it up.
I have a powerhouse of a PC at home that I built and my son has ‘enhanced’, and working on video on a cute, Mac toaster is a joke.
One thing you were talking about, the editing of a sound on a video, basically are you saying anything you remove, that frequency or sound is taken out of the entire video? Like taking all bright red out of a photo? What I need to learn is making really poor quality sounds into more clear sound of a presentation. (I need the equipment that Abby has in NCIS.
BillieJo 05.14.09 at 3:35 pm
Hi (((Anti))) you have mail.
invalidresponse 05.14.09 at 3:38 pm
murphy 05.14.09 at 3:33 pm
gay people also have the same Constitutional rights
————————————
a suggested correction………… “should have the same constitutional rights”…..
because quite frankly … they/we do NOT have them yet…. but we are trying!!
DeadGirl 05.14.09 at 3:40 pm
Of course Murphy, gay people are as human as everyone else, and thusly, are afforded the protections under the Constitutions. Along that line, humans are all prone to our aforementioned afflictions and maladjustments.
DeadGirl 05.14.09 at 3:41 pm
and thusly, we need laws and constitutions such as ours, to keep us from hurting each other due to our imperfect human behaviors and pathologies.
BillieJo 05.14.09 at 3:42 pm
An email from my union-
The freakin’ obots at my UC want to get on a bus and go see MO to get her support…………………..Gack, gack, cough, spit, puke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(I edited out some of the info to post it here)
Thank you for your overwhelming response to our petition to First Lady Michelle Obama. If you have not yet signed it, please do so at the link, xxxx. We are writing to urge her to cancel the engagement to speak at the Merced Campus of the University of California on May 16, 2009, due to current contract negotiations.
The university has raised $130,000 toward the estimated $700,000 bill. Leaders budgeted $100,000 for the ceremony before first lady Michelle Obama accepted the invitation to speak. The university is looking at tapping operation funds, discretionary funds and more private donations. It also asked the UC system for help.
We are going to show up in person and make our cause known first-hand. All xxxx in northern California are invited to take the xxx bus leaving xxxx on Saturday morning, May 16th. The bus is free and will leave at 9:00 am and return by 5:00 pm. This is the time and place to make your voices heard.
xxxxx
Hope to see you there!
—-
Maybe MO will pull them out from under the bus and sign them up for the Civilian Freakin’ Army/ACORN
murphy 05.14.09 at 3:42 pm
speaking of violet sox, she’s got a mad good history/anthropology lesson up on “prehistoric porn.”
http://www.reclusiveleftist.com/2009/05/14/oldest-depiction-of-female-form-shows-that-modern-archaeologists-are-pornsick-misogynists/
good stuff.
antifish 05.14.09 at 3:50 pm
Murphy, I agree with DeadGirl. NO gay person, bigoted or not, has the same Constitutional rights as others.
And so we fight on…
murphy 05.14.09 at 3:56 pm
just a semantical note: I agree with you antifish — but I put it this way:
Gay people and women DO have the same Constitutional rights as hetero men. But the laws, customs, and policies of our government and society conspire to illegally WITHHOLD some of those rights from us. They are BREAKING THE LAW. The most important law of the land: the Constitution.
Not disagreeing with you, just explaining why I frame it the way I do.
antifish 05.14.09 at 3:59 pm
OK, Murphy, I can agree with that.
invalidresponse 05.14.09 at 3:59 pm
murphy 05.14.09 at 3:56 pm
when framed THAT way .. I hereby withdraw my request for correction…. thank you for the clarification.
Patty 05.14.09 at 4:01 pm
Illegal Aliens have more rights in the United States than Gay American Citizens.
wontbackdown 05.14.09 at 4:04 pm
Zee 05.14.09 at 2:30 pm
54 won’tbackdown
the Widdershins has a new post up now, dealing with Nancy and the fallout.
Is she being targeted for being female? For being in power? I liked the idea that she’s being targeted for being in power and she’s the example being set for Obama to play along or the Dems will come down alongside the Bush officials.
I say, let them. Let the chips fall where they may. Investigate the lot of them!
____________________
Couldn’t agree more… not defending Pelosi… whatever she has in her pantyhose neither turns me on nor represents me.
I say… Who is to blame for our autocratic government? Line both parties up in front of the American People and throw some darts… the ones that miss the government officials and hit the People… isn’t a miss at all.
I also say… chasing their leaks, press releases and blame games is exactly why they are utilizing them… and spinning the People every which way to avert our waking up to putting our “differences” aside in order to organize a mass revolt.
BillieJo 05.14.09 at 4:04 pm
Murphy and Anti-
To agree with that statement:
Gay people and women DO have the same Constitutional rights as hetero men. But the laws, customs, and policies of our government and society conspire to illegally WITHHOLD some of those rights from us. They are BREAKING THE LAW. The most important law of the land: the Constitution.
Wouldn’t that assume that in the Constitution the word ‘men’ also stands for womMEN? As in: “…all men are created equal.” Didn’t we say that the reason the ERA being passed is important is because when the Constitution was written, women were not included in the ‘men’ word.
Just sayin……
Patty 05.14.09 at 4:07 pm
That’s a good point Billie Jo.
Alice Rodham Puma 05.14.09 at 4:08 pm
I had just read that excellent post on Reclusive Leftist before I came on here and saw that Murphy had linked it at the exact time I came on here. Reccomended reading for everyone and a perfect example of WHY and HOW they keep us down with PATRIARCHAL PROPOGANDA.
scarlet 05.14.09 at 4:09 pm
74
DeadGirl 05.14.09 at 3:22 pm
Can the “they” (vague faceless powers that be) be any more heartless, stupid, uncivil, and cruel, than this??? People who serve their country deserve better. This is the human toll of their bigotry. By not recognizing the humanity, sincerity, patriotism, and strength of a service member who is gay, they are cheating the whole country of the most valuable resource, a person ready to lead, and serve…
———–
How true.
BillieJo 05.14.09 at 4:10 pm
Maybe passing the ERA wouldn’t be necessary if we could get them to change the words in the Constitutions from ‘man’ or ‘men” to “PEOPLE.
FLBarbara 05.14.09 at 4:13 pm
Hi Pumas, only have a minute.
I am looking for Casper Cat
She is giving a party and I am the guest of honour WOW even Greta will be there in exchange for one of my votes..aahh because she likes me.
I am going to vote but I realised I need a dress for the party, I have my eye on a little black Vera Wang and was wondering..well..if casper was around before I voted I have to ask her a question before I vote.
I will check back later. Have a blessed day all
OHhhh and
Obama is a jackass
murphy 05.14.09 at 4:15 pm
Billie Jo, I think both are sort of true at the same time and women should use that to our advantage. When people say that “men” stands for women too, then I say good I’ll hold you to that. Almost all forms of gender discrimination are de facto not de jure (that is, they are part of private and social practice — they’re not LAWS). Laws that discriminate against women dont even get attempted anymore because they’d never pass Constitutional muster. It’s not a LAW that causes companies to pay women less than men, it’s custom.
OTOH, if we had this idea enshrined blatantly in the Constitution we’d be a lot better off. Companies would be forced to check their payscales and make DAMN sure they werent paying women less for the same work that they pay men.
if that makes any sense . . .
murphy 05.14.09 at 4:18 pm
wouldnt that be a shockingly simple and devastatingly effective way to go about it Billie Jo.
I nominate Bilie Jo Puma as the replacement for Justice Souter on the Supreme Court!
Anyone heard about the dude obama is supposedly considering?
David Moreno or some such?
BillieJo 05.14.09 at 4:22 pm
FLBarbara
Oooooooooo, you should arrive in a limo in that Vera Wang dress. I also heard that Casper was flying in fresh Lobster from Maine and has a live band to perform.
Actually, let Casper know that I haven’t received my tickets for a flight to the party yet either. I assume this is a PUMA party event for all since it’s such a special occasion.
scarlet 05.14.09 at 4:23 pm
BillieJo 05.14.09 at 4:10 pm
Maybe passing the ERA wouldn’t be necessary if we could get them to change the words in the Constitutions from ‘man’ or ‘men” to “PEOPLE.
—————–
I don’t think the word “men” is in the Constitution. I think it has only sex-neutral words – person, citizen, Senator, etc.
Alice Rodham Puma 05.14.09 at 4:24 pm
Has there been much talk today about Aung San Suu Kyi?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8050545.stm
mountainsong 05.14.09 at 4:25 pm
Zee 05.14.09 at 2:26 pm LMAO @ “Jews Rule the World”!!! You’re so funny.
webfoot 05.14.09 at 4:28 pm
The Constitution-In 1992 the House of Representatives issued a pamphlet verison of the Constitution. Here’s the opening paragraph of the “foreword” of the pamphlet. The opening paragraph states “all Americans” not “men.” Now if only we didn’t need to keep passing laws to get that equality.
“For over 200 years, the Constitution has served as the cornerstone of our Nation’s democracy and the principal guarantor of freedom and equality for all Americans. Yet, as important as these functions are, this remarkable document performs a perhaps even more vital role as a visible and enduring common bond between the diverse people of this great Nation. Thus, in light of our recent celebration of the bicentennial of the Bill of Rights, it is particularly appropriate that the House of Representatives issues this pamphlet edition of the Constitution.”
http://www.house.gov/house/Foreword.shtml
murphy 05.14.09 at 4:28 pm
“We hold these truths to be self evident; that all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights. Among these being life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
or something very close to that.
that’s the Intro and the basic argument for the underlying principles of individual freedoms and government BY the people FOR the people (which is rawther socialistic when you come right down to it) that the U,S. Constitution made justly famous and envied by all oppressed people all over the word:
“All men are created equal.”
EVERYTHING flows from that one little, 5 word sentence.
Patty 05.14.09 at 4:35 pm
In the Constitution when talking about the President they use “HE”
scarlet 05.14.09 at 4:38 pm
“We hold these truths to be self evident; that all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights. Among these being life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
Declaration of Independence
wontbackdown 05.14.09 at 4:42 pm
murphy 05.14.09 at 4:15 pm
“would be forced to check their payscales and make DAMN sure they werent paying women less for the same work that they pay men.”
_____________
That would be true if Human Resource Policies and Procedures regarding hiring, compensation and promotion weren’t subject to many other factors… such as length of service, education, prior “number of years experience in the requirements of the type job” etc. (which are easily used as loopholes.
Another loophole is broadening the comparative data beyond departments to other companies, cities, states, etc.
Remember… the guidelines for, and implementation and compliance of, Affirmative Action were predominantly constructed by the very people who didn’t want it in the first place… employers.
“Equality” always seems to be cast in the same light as the argument over “egalitarianism” being an idealistic or socialistic point of view.
Bottom line in a patriarchal system is that “Equality for Women” is just plain ‘unnatural’… for those that just don’t believe in it.
scarlet 05.14.09 at 4:42 pm
Patty 05.14.09 at 4:35 pm
In the Constitution when talking about the President they use “HE”
—
Yes, you’re right. So much for sex-neutral.
holdemhigh 05.14.09 at 4:42 pm
AMEN Murphy!!
BillieJo 05.14.09 at 4:45 pm
Patty 05.14.09 at 4:35 pm
In the Constitution when talking about the President they use “HE”
—–
I wish Madam Hillary Rodham Clinton would be telling the lawyers to correct the Constitution!
So damn sad………..
BillieJo 05.14.09 at 4:46 pm
scarlet 05.14.09 at 4:38 pm
“We hold these truths to be self evident; that all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights. Among these being life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
Declaration of Independence
——
I guess the Constitution trumps the declaration???
invalidresponse 05.14.09 at 4:47 pm
Those words are called the Bill of right… which would not have ever existed if it was not for the Anti-Federalists.
The Anti-Federalists were against Constitution, they feared that the President would become a king ruling over a disenfranchised people.
The Constitution itself does not provide any specific rights to citizens. It sets out the framework of the government.
Also important to know the definition of “citizen” in the 1700s only included white, property-owning men.
wontbackdown 05.14.09 at 4:47 pm
No matter how you slice it and dice it… the majority control is men… corporately, governmentally, financially controlled by men.
…That’s actually why the “WO” was put in front of the “men”
Patty 05.14.09 at 4:50 pm
Scarlet
When they talk about criminals the also use “him”
That means He = President = him = criminal
wontbackdown 05.14.09 at 4:51 pm
invalidresponse 05.14.09 at 4:47 pm :
Yes, and until the 14th amendment… a flaw in the Constitution didn’t differentiate between owning land from people as “property”.
DancesWithPumas 05.14.09 at 4:52 pm
BillieJo
basically are you saying anything you remove, that frequency or sound is taken out of the entire video?
———
No. Sorry if I was unclear. You can remove portions / snippets of the sound track at will, or you can determine and select a frequency to delete. If there is a high pitched squeal in the background, you can find that frequency and delete; that frequency will be deleted across the board. So if your speaker is a high pitched pig, as an example, the audio of the speaker that matches the selected frequency will also be deleted.
If you chose a frequency, every thing within that frequency will be adjusted or deleted.
wontbackdown 05.14.09 at 4:54 pm
Have a great day.
holdemhigh 05.14.09 at 4:57 pm
wontbackdown 05.14.09 at 4:47 pm
Hey WO…I vote that we change the wording to all PEOPLE are created equal…
murphy 05.14.09 at 4:57 pm
you too WBD!
weapons of beautiful destruction?
woman of beauty and distinction?
For some reason I always want to acronym your name.
invalidresponse 05.14.09 at 4:58 pm
The Constitution itself does not provide any specific rights to citizens. It sets out the framework of the government.
And this being true … it is important to Pass the ERA to add to that framework the following words:
Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.
Just like these words needed to be added in order to allow women to vote:
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex
webfoot 05.14.09 at 5:03 pm
Bill of Rights March 4, 1789 opening paragraph:
The Preamble to The Bill of Rights
Congress of the United States
begun and held at the City of New-York, on
Wednesday the fourth of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine.
“THE Conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best ensure the beneficent ends of its institution.”
Constitution Sep 17, 1787 opening paragraph:
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776 opening paragraph:
“When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”
In all three documents “the people” and “person” are used frequently. And at some point “he” or “him” is used.
antifish 05.14.09 at 5:04 pm
The Constitution is not gender neutral. I just read through a small portion of the Preamble and there are many instances of “he” just in the first few paragraphs.
webfoot 05.14.09 at 5:08 pm
My point in listing the three documents is that with all the care and work that was put into the documents, and the fact that “people” and “person” are used throughout them, I think the ERA is needed because “he” and “his” are used. The documents could have used the gender neutral throughout and they don’t.
webfoot 05.14.09 at 5:10 pm
antifish-I hit refresh and saw your post. Apparently we are in agreement
Patty 05.14.09 at 5:12 pm
Webfoot
Exactly!
webfoot 05.14.09 at 5:13 pm
invalidresponse-scrolled up and saw your posts and I agree with you too.
HP Boston 05.14.09 at 5:15 pm
DANCES!
Auckland, New Zealand……great!
Any cities in the Netherlands come up in the 16 best cities?
webfoot 05.14.09 at 5:19 pm
I haven’t checked all the amendments to the Constitution so don’t know if this “he” has been amended. I would think the women Senators would like to see this part of the Constitution changed:
“No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.”
gojoyknocks 05.14.09 at 5:23 pm
Murphy…I am e-mailing you the answers to your five questions.
persephone 05.14.09 at 5:27 pm
Unionized States of America
Ed Lasky and Richard Baehr
The issue that never got adequately covered in the debate over the Stimulus Bill was that near a third of the money went to the states to protect unionized jobs in bloated local and state governments (think Todd Stroger and Cook County, or Mayor Daley and Chicago).
There was almost zilch — 6% — for shovel ready jobs in infrastructure.
The government workforce is expanding, while the private work force is dropping 600,000 jobs or more a month. We know the key groups which Obama’s polices favor: teacher unions, SEIU, AFSCME, the environmental lobby, and the coastal states.
Unionized manufacturing jobs eventually will all go overseas; the only union members will be government employees and in service jobs, the SEIU’s turf. You can’t outsource nurses, clean up crews, hospitality workers, and the like. Government employees will enjoy outsized benefits, generous and early retirement, and comparative job security, all courtesy of the taxpayers.
It is really troubvling. We are going to be taxed or fee’d to death one way or another. The dollar will be worth next to nothing when the Fed creates money to pay for the deficit. It will cease being the world’s reserve currency, forever changing our economy.
Obama is doing lasting damage.
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/05/unionized_states_of_america.html
murphy 05.14.09 at 5:28 pm
gojoy, yay!
HP — yep, Amsterdam scored really high.
wontbackdown 05.14.09 at 5:29 pm
murphy 05.14.09 at 4:57 pm
“weapons of beautiful destruction?” (That’s not good, is it?)
BTW: I think the hang up over the arguments of “Equality” and “Egalitarianism” are too often used as smokescreens for “it’s just unnatural” or “it’s unrealistic to think that we can comply with that because there are too many other “factors” (like many corporations when it comes to equal pay)
…just like my point was that the ones that actually write the laws… are the ones that are basically excluded from actually having to live under them… like health care reforms, equal opportunity, equal pay, equal access, partner benefits, marriage rights, etc.
Dragonfly 05.14.09 at 5:46 pm
128 persephone
thanks for the link. The US Dollar – after all this is over, the Italian Lira will essentially be resurrected. The US Dollar will be just as valueless.
I remember being shocked at prices on Italian products – 1,000,000 lire for something we’d pay $400 for.
All the links today from Murphy were very helpful. It is good to feel informed again after my hibernation.
persephone 05.14.09 at 5:52 pm
murphy wish I could have made it today but sort of glad I didn’t see you in the burka..it would have freaked me out for sure.
murphy 05.14.09 at 5:59 pm
“In the first serious case of swine flu has been found in New York City, the assistant principal of a Queens middle school has been hospitalized and on a ventilator, officials said Thursday.
The assistant principal is the person infected with swine flu in New York City who appears to have become critically ill. The educator, whose name was withheld by the authorities, was said to be near death.
His illness raised the possibility that the virus may have mutated into a more severe form than has been seen yet in New York. As of Thursday morning, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had identified 4,298 confirmed and probable cases of swine flu in the United States, causing three deaths: two in Texas and one in Washington State.
Three public schools in Queens — the middle school where the assistant principal worked, and two elementary schools — are being closed, effective Friday, because of the outbreak, officials said.
The new outbreak came as officials seemed to be leaving the impression that the immediate danger of the virus, officially known as A(H1N1), had passed.”
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/queens-educator-critically-ill-with-swine-flu/?hp
Dragonfly 05.14.09 at 6:02 pm
regarding the “universal” he bullshit – yes, it is all over the law and throughout every important document creating our government. Condescending law professors told us feminists to pipe down because it was the grammatically acceptable “universal” he.
They ignored the FACT that it was intentional. When Abigail Adams asked her husband to make sure the Congressional Congress “remembered the ladies,” as to voting and owning property, men laughed at the absurdity (in their minds). I love John Adams in spite of his failure there – his biography by McCullough is fascinating.
The universal he burns me. The human is essentially and primordially female. Babies have a majority of DNA from the mother. Some species reproduce parthenogenetically, without males to diversify the gene pool except every fourth generation. Theoretically, human females can reproduce parthenogenetically if the ovum’s polar bodies join. (Forgive me if my scientific explanation is not perfect – it’s been a while since I read about this). Because we are a complex species, it is just a theory and I don’t think, without a lot of magic, it will become a reality. It would be a way to break down the patriarchy, though. The parthenogenetic reproduction necessarily results in a female offspring.
All this to say, if there is to be a universal gendered term, it should be “she”
Dragonfly 05.14.09 at 6:04 pm
burkas suck
off to get the dragonflies
ROAR on PUMAS.
BillieJo 05.14.09 at 6:07 pm
I want to see that photo of Murphy in a burqua, with her golden locks hanging out one side so we will know it’s her.
Murph, you said the real burqua hurt your head and stunk, is it heavy funky material? I think I would get claustrophobic under that thing. Thank God, the stars and everything else I wasn’t born in one of those countries. I would probably be stoned to death as a child for breaking the rulz.
BillieJo 05.14.09 at 6:10 pm
murphy
“In the first serious case of swine flu has been found in New York City
——–
That has been the real fear, once time passes and the virus mutates, it could come back to the next round of people in a more lethal way. That is the fear for the flu season this Fall and beyond.
persephone 05.14.09 at 6:11 pm
The “Bill of Federalism” would amend states’ constitutions to limit federal power.
Sorry for the Patriot Room link, but this is the best article I’ve found on subject so far:
http://patriotroom.com/article/10-new-proposed-constitutional-amendments–the-bill-of-federalism
The Bill of Federalism is being promoted by the “Nationwide Tea Party Movement..”
persephone 05.14.09 at 6:13 pm
#138 continued:excerpted from Dupray’s article:
This final document will be presented to supportive state legislators in all 50 states, with the idea that they will use it as a “template” in drawing up bills to petition Congress to convene a Constitutional Convention to pass the ten amendments that comprise “The Bill of Federalism”. Upon the passage of these amendments by either a specially convened Constitutional Convention, or by Congress itself, “The Bill of Federalism” will be submitted to all 50 states for ratification. Upon ratification by 3/4 of these states, the ten amendments that comprise “The Bill of Federalism” will become part of the United States Constitution.
murphy 05.14.09 at 6:39 pm
i think gretawire might have talked about that persephone, I’ll check.
No, it’s not heavy Billie Jo, but it’s tight, which makes your head hurt. Maybe they get used to that. And it covers your face/mouth (duh) which means all those germs and icky morning breath etc get STUCK in their. Like in the winter or when you’re skiing if you ever wear one of those special hats that cover up your neck and chin and mouth. After a while it gets pretty rank.
gross, demeaning, painful, and disgusting — seriously not good.
You know how wearing a cape or a hood or wrapping yourself up in a blanket can make you feel powerful or romantic or stealthy?
It is not like that at all.
murphy 05.14.09 at 6:40 pm
gets stuck in “there” even.
persephone 05.14.09 at 6:41 pm
murphy if you find something on greta please nuke my post above.
mick 05.14.09 at 6:52 pm
Whoa! Did anybody see Pelosi’s horrible news conference today?
It was so obvious that she was lying …
Everytime she speaks about this waterboarding issue she digs herself into a deeper hole … and I LOVE it!!
scarlet 05.14.09 at 6:53 pm
Proposal would require all to have health coverage
By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR and ERICA WERNER, Associated Press Writers 34 mins ago
WASHINGTON – House Democrats are crafting a plan that would require all Americans to carry health insurance and would help families making less than $88,000 pay the premiums. Employers, too, would have to help foot the bill.
Momentum for a health care overhaul built this week after Obama obtained a pledge from medical providers to help find $2 trillion in savings over 10 years to help pay for his plan.
Even before any legislation has been officially introduced, lawmakers are grappling with dozens of thorny issues. On Thursday, senators debated behind closed doors whether their bill should include the choice of a government insurance plan for middle-income families. Insurers, hospitals and employers are trying to head off such a plan. The issue won’t be resolved any time soon.
The House plan also includes a government insurance program to compete with private companies. It would be financed by premium payments, not taxpayer dollars.
Individual subsidies for health insurance would be offered on a sliding scale to those earning up to four times the federal poverty level, or $88,200 for a family of four, according to the document.
Health insurance plans that participate in the exchange would have to follow new consumer protection rules. They would not be able to deny coverage to the sick, or charge them exorbitant rates.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090514/ap_on_go_co/us_health_overhaul
HP Boston 05.14.09 at 6:54 pm
murphy 05.14.09 at 6:39 pm
Remember Murphy I washed it in my machine so it was on me for 2 seconds….then you did 3 seconds….I guess we will never wear a thing like that. I guess it helps to keep th blood out of your eyes when you are being stoned to death. I’d rather get stoned with BillJO!
murphy 05.14.09 at 6:59 pm
I know HP — there’s just some BAD juju in that thing.
honest to god for a heathenous atheist I am SERIOUSLY superstitious about that thing.
I’m one of those freaky atheists though. I dont believe in God but I do believe in the devil. weird huh?
HP Boston 05.14.09 at 7:01 pm
Shit nobody belives the devil don’t care if he is president.
TerryDo 05.14.09 at 7:23 pm
mick 05.14.09 at 6:52 pm
Whoa! Did anybody see Pelosi’s horrible news conference today?
It was so obvious that she was lying …
Everytime she speaks about this waterboarding issue she digs herself into a deeper hole … and I LOVE it!!
*************************
I truly believe Pelosi is 10 seconds away from a nervous breakdown; the way she stutters, and sputters and desperately searches her mind for her memorized talking points.
DeadGirl 05.14.09 at 7:23 pm
Murphy, I had the same reaction when I put on the Burka I had my brother send me when he was still in Kuwait in 2004 (from whence he was headed into Iraq for his tour of duty)… I looked at myself in the mirror with it on, and, while a black shrouded figure is big boogieman symbol of death in Western Culture, there was something very constricted and confined nagging at me while I had it on. In short, it creeped me the flip out.
I had actually wanted one of the blue ones with lace eye shutter, like they wear in Afghanistan, but all he could find was one of the Black Hole Arab shrouds…
I put it away, not sure where it is now, and had a fleeting though of wearing it to answer the door at Halloween, but instantly thought it would be too frightening. Same thing goes for when I thought about stuffing it and putting it in the yard for Halloween decoration.
When I see fully shrouded women here, and you do sometimes see them around, I feel like I am seeing creepy Islamification. I tell myself that it is a bigoted idea, especially for someone who studies aspects of cultures where Islam dominates. But the women I know, and that my other brother dates and is friends with, who are here in the U.S. but from various Islamified Cultures, put their lives in danger every time they return to their homeland. They have to put on the shrouds, and pretend to be subject to the will of the male in those countries. One is heading to Iran for a visit to get the paperwork to get a stealth divorce in the US and keep her kids. The other is going to visit her family in Afghanistan, and must travel through the worst regions of Pakistan to get there. Both are putting their lives in danger by doing so… but them women I know from Muslim countries tell us about women in the Muslim countries who LOVE their husbands and sons and fathers and brothers… the thing is, those men only love them back, and protect them, as long as they do not “dishonor” the family. Once they have crossed a line, there is no turning back. No Forgiveness. Death to the woman is the only option, and is carried out by the men of her family and/or communities.
I have a lot of very radical YouTubes I would like to post sometime. And sad to. Documentation of atrocities. And some very very brave women who have left Islam and tell it to Fuck Off Because It Is Evil now. They also warn us not to be fooled, until we are dominated by the Caliphate Dream.
invalidresponse 05.14.09 at 7:26 pm
anyone who hasn’t seen the Pelosi press conference and would like to here is a link
http://www.c-span.org/Watch/Program/2009/05/14/Congress/A/42086/House+Speaker+Rep+Nancy+Pelosi+DCA+Weekly+Legislative+Briefing.aspx
DeadGirl 05.14.09 at 7:26 pm
Nancy Pelosi is being run down by Da Buss because they need a distraction, and huge fucking distraction from their fuck ups (backing away from releasing the torture film) next to another duping all us dummies/rummies move.
Stupid idiots who voted this regime in. Bush 3 on a Spam Sandwich!!!
TerryDo 05.14.09 at 7:35 pm
scarlet 05.14.09 at 4:38 pm
“We hold these truths to be self evident; that all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights. Among these being life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
Declaration of Independence
***********************
That passage is easy enough to alter to read as such:
“We hold these truths to be self evident; that all HUMANS are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights. Among these being life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
HP Boston 05.14.09 at 7:57 pm
DeadGirl 05.14.09 at 7:23 pm
It is a really bad set up for a family in Islamland…behave as I tell you or I must kill you.
In America they kill you too when they say they LOVE YOU.
If the men were worth a shit they would not KILL!
murphy 05.14.09 at 8:19 pm
dead girl #151, sing it sister!
thanks for the in-depth and enlightening comment about your women friends from Islam Sucks countries.
Cape Hatteras 05.14.09 at 8:42 pm
#149 DeadGirl , One of the puposes ofthe “shroud ” is to inspire fear . The imams admit it . In Europe as the proportion of burkas on a street reaches a tipping point the non muslims feel threatened and leave the area , selling out cheap . Thus the Umma expands with very little expense .
taggles1 05.14.09 at 8:43 pm
Aint I a Woman?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0YR1eiG0us
mountainsong 05.14.09 at 8:50 pm
We sure have come a long way in the last 38 years, Baby!~~~NOT:
What is Women’s Equality Day?
At the behest of Rep. Bella Abzug (D-NY), in 1971 the U.S. Congress designated August 26 as “Women’s Equality Day.”
The date was selected to commemorate the 1920 passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote. This was the culmination of a massive, peaceful civil rights movement by women that had its formal beginnings in 1848 at the world’s first women’s rights convention, in Seneca Falls, New York.
The observance of Women’s Equality Day not only commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment, but also calls attention to women’s continuing efforts toward full equality. Workplaces, libraries, organizations, and public facilities now participate with Women’s Equality Day programs, displays, video showings, or other activities.
Joint Resolution of Congress, 1971
Designating August 26 of each year as Women’s Equality Day
WHEREAS, the women of the United States have been treated as second-class citizens and have not been entitled the full rights and privileges, public or private, legal or institutional, which are available to male citizens of the United States; and
WHEREAS, the women of the United States have united to assure that these rights and privileges are available to all citizens equally regardless of sex; and
WHEREAS, the women of the United States have designated August 26, the anniversary date of the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment, as symbol of the continued fight for equal rights: and
WHEREAS, the women of United States are to be commended and supported in their organizations and activities,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that August 26th of each year is designated as Women’s Equality Day, and the President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation annually in commemoration of that day in 1920, on which the women of America were first given the right to vote, and that day in 1970, on which a nationwide demonstration for women’s rights took place.
Equality Day Celebration Resources
Take the NWHP Women’s Equality Day Quiz
http://www.nwhp.org/resourcecenter/equalityday.php
freddiebrown 05.14.09 at 9:00 pm
Tallking about credit cards… I heard an interview on public radio not long ago. Credit card companies are salivating at the thought of getting the billions of people in China to use credit cards. Theirs is a culture of cash only… they buy what they can on cash basis and credit cards – personal ones at least are very rare and only for the well heeled or business person. I was really aggravated that these slimy companies are going to go to a country and start wreaking havoc on peoples lives… making them hooked on credit like the folks here.
Not to brag, my credit cards, both personal and business is paid up every single month. It gives me real pleasure not to have them make money from me – anymore. It is criminal how they charge so much interest and it is people that cannot afford to pay things off that are never going to catch up.
gay gal 05.14.09 at 9:11 pm
Thanks, taggles. That was perfect timing.
A friend of mine was really down because her mom needs full time care, but her brothers want her to do it. She told the doctor that she can’t take care of her mom full time and she needs to go to assisted living. The doctor and her brothers won’t listen to her, though the nurses agree.
The last thing she said in her blog post was, “It’s still a man’s world”. And the saddest thing is “They” are the ones making the decisions for her “MOTHER”. I sent her the “Ain’t I a Women” video.
gay gal 05.14.09 at 9:18 pm
Darn, meant to type, Ain’t I a “Woman” And to answer myself: Yes I am!!! Yes we are!!!
murphy 05.14.09 at 9:34 pm
another edition posted,
take it upstairs!
BillieJo 05.14.09 at 9:44 pm
murphy
No, it’s not heavy Billie Jo, but it’s tight, which makes your head hurt. Maybe they get used to that. And it covers your face/mouth (duh) which means all those germs and icky morning breath etc get STUCK in their. Like in the winter or when you’re skiing if you ever wear one of those special hats that cover up your neck and chin and mouth. After a while it gets pretty rank.
gross, demeaning, painful, and disgusting — seriously not good.
You know how wearing a cape or a hood or wrapping yourself up in a blanket can make you feel powerful or romantic or stealthy?
It is not like that at all.
————–
Just thinking about what that would be like to live that way, okay let’s say you are now 30 and you have been covered like this in this thing since…………..since you reached puberty (or what ever their magical point of hibernation begins. You have worn this in the hottest, dustiest day, days you were sick, days you were beaten, days you sat and dreamed and days you were full of hate.
After a short time this thing becomes part of who you are, and without it you sort of feel unprotected, almost naked in public.
I got attached to my down jacket while traveling alone in Europe when I was 23, I withdrew into it when I was fearful or homesick.
The burqua, a powerful way to psychologically keep you feeling insecure, alienated, and fearful in public.
Not like ripping off your bra and letting it all feel free, it is much more sinister.
Islam is a country of asshole that imprison women.
Islam sucks Satan.
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