They're on their way!
The hummingbirds are on their way - time to put out the feeders.
Aging gracefully and dispensing wisdom from Kansas City.
Blog cohort Three O'Clock in the Morning has a sweet Mac-compatible computer, loaded with software, he's wanting to give away to a deserving charity. Here's his post - put this computer to work! (And save a marriage.)
I played a lot of Monopoly when I was a kid. The worst part of losing in that game is the accelerating piecemeal process of having to sell all your good properties to pay the rent when you've landed on someone else's developed property. The rich get richer because they develop their land quicker, and the poor lose their land to the rich, so they can develop more.
Spin masters for the corporate world have announced that corporate lawyers (that fair-minded bunch) have ranked Missouri the 35th "most fair" state for business, up from 40th last year. The reason? Because Republican legislators have stripped Missourians of their right to get compensated when a corporation harms them.
I am definitely not an expert on Latino affairs, or on immigration policy, but this open letter to the media made a lot of sense to me. I'm only quoting a few of the many points it makes - if you want to see the corporate media get skewered, read the whole thing.
1. The vast majority of Hispanics/Latinos in the U.S. (75 percent of us) were born and raised here, including many of us who have roots here that predate the arrival of the pilgrims.(Via Eschaton)
2. "Immigrant" is not synonymous with "Latino" and the media should stop pretending they mean the same thing.
3. The CNN analyst who said today "Keep in mind, Latino voters are LEGAL immigrants, not illegal immigrants" should be FIRED for sloppy thinking. MOST LATINOS ARE NOT IMMIGRANTS AT ALL, PINCHE CABRON.
4. Immigrants to contemporary USA come from EVERYWHERE. There are, for instance, 100,000 Nigerians in Houston, and tens of thousands of ILLEGAL Irish in Boston. If this debate is truly about immigration, as opposed to racist portrayals of Latinos, please curb your coverage to be more responsible.
5. Just because someone waves a Mexican or Colombian flag at a peaceful demonstration does not mean the demonstration is a "riot" or the people unAmerican. Lou Dobbs should get his panties out of a knot and realize it is no different than someone waving an Irish flag in Southie or an Italian flag in Queens. These flags are not waved as proof of national allegiance; they are waved in solidarity with a person's cultural heritage.
. . .
If you're reading this blog this fine morning, perhaps you could use something a little more exciting in your life. How about coming by Mike's Tavern, on beautiful Troost Avenue to listen to David Basse, Gerald Dunn, and the Jazz Disciples this afternoon from 3-6? It's a fundraiser for Bobby Watson's UMKC Jazz Band's European Tour, but it will only cost you $5 to get in the door and witness some goings-on. You won't regret it.
I'll admit that I have always thought the right-wingers complaining of left-wing bias in the media were a bunch of WATBs, but I was wrong. Despite the fact that the networks constantly play right-wing talking points, and Chris Matthews has a serious man-crush on Bush, and the New York Times and the rest of the media unquestioningly accepted every crazy excuse to attack Iraq, I was wrong.
"Bush Derangement Syndrome" is a label right-wingers have used to attempt to trivialize criticisms of the President. Those of who raise concerns about his policies or express disapproval of him in any way are portrayed as crazed "moon-bats" who are incapable of rational discourse and are blind to our President's "sunny nobility".
`In our time the destiny of man presents its meanings in political terms' - Thomas Mann
I received a happy surprise in my mailbox today - an invitation to a campaign kick-off event at the Bulldog for Jolie Justus. Consider yourself invited - even if you aren't able to make a donation.
Down in Jefferson City, the religious extremists have seized control of government, and are working to impose an extreme fundamentalist world-view on all Missourians, most of whom do not share their radical views.
These people are crazed fanatics, and I want to say it now: I believe it's motivated by demonic power; it is satanic; and it's time we recognize what we are dealing with. But, political correctness will not face one religious ideology with the strength of another because they don't have the strength of another. And, so, they're caving in before this vicious assault, and the goal of [Missouri's rightwing religious whackos], ladies and gentlemen, whether you like it or not, is world domination.Thank you, Pat Robertson, for saying it like it is . . .
I foolishly accepted an assignment to teach on Monday evenings from 6 until 9:50, thus occupying myself during the "24" timeslot for the next 10 weeks. While I haven't yet figured out how to convincingly work a weekly viewing of Jack Bauer into a Legal Research class, I was pleased to learn that Fox has a minute-by-minute plot synopsis of the show on its website.
It was a Saturday afternoon at The Phoenix Piano Bar & Grill, and the Scamps were entertaining the crowd with their brand of good-natured, historical jazz. The sun was getting low in the sky, and the downtown buildings were taking on a golden glow. We had a table up front, and I had a Fat Tire in front of me. The Scamps are the longest-running musical group in the world, and they were having fun, as they have since 1946.
How's that for a surprising headline?
While in New York, we caught Our Brand is Crisis a fascinating documentary about the election of "Goni" in Bolivia. In it, Rachel Boynton films (with surprisingly complete access) the participation of Clinton's and John Kerry's consultants, Greenberg Carville Shrum, in the successful campaign of Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada ("Goni") to gain a plurality of 22%, and thus the presidency of that fascinating country.
My blog silence was caused by a 4 day trip to New York, New York, to visit Sam. What a fantastic city! I was blown away by the new Museum of Modern Art, and had a great time wandering around in China Town. Photos and much more later.
Thanks to those of you who helped me out with tips on finding new music recently. Today's your payback.
Bush has been caught on tape lying - not about a meaningless encounter in a closet of the Oval Office, but about his role in the deaths of 1400+ American citizens.