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Photo by Rich Kaszeta under Creative Commons license.
Good Friday morning, Firepups. Fridays will be a grab bag of what I’ve been reading, what I’ve been mulling over, an occasional rant, current events, and a standing invitation to put in your two cents. As our Suzanne likes to say at Late Late Night, “Off topic IS the topic” — so come join in.
Here’s what’s on my mind this morning:
A choice that men will never have to make.
Matt Taibbi — always worth reading!
Helen visits the zoo at Fox News and tells Margaret all about it. The animals are in cages and not so scary.
Apparently Facebook wants to organise our relationships. What could possibly go wrong?
My local classical station starts playing Christmas music at Thanksgiving and then plays it exclusively starting about two weeks before the holiday. I’ve written them to suggest that many in their listening audience don’t celebrate Christmas (Muslims, Jews, etc.) and might like some variety, but I got a polite lame response and they continue. They still play Christmas music after Christmas until at least New Years. And Kohl’s started playing Christmas music in their stores on November 1st. I am sick of it already!! (I told you there might be a rant!)
Nordstrom has the right idea! They post this sign in their store windows at this time of year.
My recollection is that they curtain their store windows and “unveil” them that Friday morning. As you might expect, they’re usually lovely.
I’m having a toasted Asiago cheese bagel with a generous schmear. What’s your pleasure this morning?
112 Comments
Good morning msmolly. I’m a sucker for anything with Asiago on it. Or cream cheese on it. Or pretty much any cheese that isn’t kraft slices.
Good Morning, Molly.
Thanks for the excellent post.
I’ll join you on the music rant. Blech. I went out to look for Thanksgiving stuff and my ears were assaulted.
The good news is that msnbc actually reported on the attacks between Israel and Gaza. But, that’s also the bad news.
That was weird. I got tossed off FDL, been trying to access for 20 minutes. Database errors trying to log in and I still can’t access attaturks post. This is a test.
Boxturtle (I hate when this happens)
Morning Molly. Chrome didn’t want to load FDL this am. I hope it’s not a problem for anyone else.
I was getting Database error messages when I first got here at 8 a.m. but apparently it is fixed.
Do you have a Panera nearby? Try their Asiago bagels! I’ve also discovered some Kashi toasted asiago snack crackers.
We read you loud and clear, Turtle of Box.
I had the same issues. When I fired up the machine around 6:55 and pointed it at FDL I got a database error page. Seems fixed now.
I was emailing with Ruth. No browser was working. She uses Chrome and I tried Firefox and Safari. Apparently a database problem.
Ha! I was wondering who put the fire out at the Lake. Thought maybe it was Molly, niggling her article all week.
Yeah!
I was lost without my FDL fix this morning:)
But, now you’re found! Yay.
Did anyone follow the Rolling Jubilee telethon last night? Last I checked they had raised about $250,000.
By the way, Molly. Love the title Friday, Free for All.
Well, we’re here now!
And by the way, it seems pretty complicated to try to post a PDF here, but if anyone wants my Publishing Guidelines document (grammar, word usage, etc.), I will email it to you. It is too long to retype into a diary and probably not widely interesting. I wrote it to help the techies I worked with communicate coherently with end users.
I could just look it up myself…
Oh! There it is!
They’re now at $269,913. Enough to buy and forgive $5,403,083 in debt.
Wow. No, I didn’t. I am going to send some money!
I nominate BoxTurtle to enter Taibbi’s Friedman metaphor contest.
Would you explain to me how that works?
John Washington has a diary up on the right side of the page that helps explain it.
http://my.firedoglake.com/johnwob/2012/11/15/the-peoples-bailout-rolling-jubilee-strikedebt/
I’ve been following their progress but hadn’t sent anything. I just sent $20. They claim that will eliminate about $400 in debt for someone. I sure hope so.
For a morning chuckle, be sure to read the Margaret and Helen link in the post. They are hilarious!
The link about choice is choice. I’d LOVE to see the fellow who said rape is a Gift from God say that to the face of the one woman i know who was raped.
Let’s just say that he would never have to worry about getting anyone pregnant ever again. She’d either chew through his chest and eat out his heart or rip off the family jewels and make ‘em into earrings.
Boxturtle (And she’s generally republican!)
Huh…A gift is something that one can return; there must be a better word.
I’m honored, but some of the entries already are WAY better than i could do.
I think the best solution to FriedMan is a bucket of ice water, delivered by girl scouts hopped up on cookies, twice daily while writing.
Boxturtle (They should also sing “Little Rabbit Foo-Foo” while pouring)
Good mornin’ all.
I’ll have Ultimate Pan Fries and Ultimate Hot Chocolate this morning.
Now off to read Taibbi….
And Rmoney made headlines yesterday saying that Obama gave gifts (to students and the poor and immigrants) and that is why he was reelected.
I know a lot of us aren’t big Obama fans, but I’d have hated to wake up to the prospect of Mitt Romney in the White House.
As i understand it, most debt is currently owned by professional debt collectors who bought it from the original creditor (or another debt collector) at a discount. This means they can take WAY less than the actual debt and still make money. Local car repair shop sells bad debt at 40c on the dollar IF they can get it.
I dunno that $20 can eliminate $400, but I do know that $50 can eliminate $200 because a friend of mine made that deal on an old phone bill.
Boxturtle ($50 cash is worth more than $200 in paper)
My word for it was always “Felony”. But then I consider the rapist the criminal, rather than the victim.
Boxturtle (How old-fashioned of me)
Thank you. That answers my question. Appreciate it.
As opposed to giving gifts to Wall St as Rmoney wished and as Obama did right up until the election campaign started?
Those weren’t gifts. Those were Obama doing something right…er, left.
Boxturtle (Don’t expect much more now that he doesn’t need us)
Mornin’ MsMolly.
You crossed my mind the other day. I had to dash off a number of fast emails, and when I read them again as part of the history thread in the replies, I could see just how atrocious my spelling and usage was. MsMolly, I thought, would not be pleased.
Hope you’re well.
Oh, I hear ya! I am not an Obama fan either. But “gifts” as Romney cast them were just plain ugly. He simply has no concept of the struggles of ordinary people, and he can’t seem to stop putting his foot in his mouth (or his head up his…)
Hiya! I was thinking about you, too, when I was trying to remember how to insert a photo into this post. You’re da expert!
I watched Amy Goodman’s report on the rolling debt jubilee. They are consistently buying debt for 5 cents/dollar.
So that means if I also send $20 it would go a LONG way! The check goes out today!
Two test runs by Rolling Jubilee – they were able to purchase $14,000 for $500.
Pretty nice return on the money, and *poof*, $14,000 in debt disappears for some lucky folks out there.
That’s doing VERY well. Some of that debt must be REALLY old with almost no change of repayment.
It’s actually a really good idea. Good for Rolling Jubliee!
Boxturtle (Mildly annoying that the Debt Collecting Firms are also profiting. Scumbag dinner callers)
I think it’s some of the most brilliant direct action this country has ever seen.
So agree: I really thought how much I would not want to watch him perform/speak, whatever. So completely ill at ease, smirking. Sorry I feel that way; Im with you.
One of the entries in Taibbi’s Write-Like-Friedman Contest:
Save me some looking. Where do I send a check, Kris?
misplaced blockquote in front of “I’m still laughing”. That sentence is mine. Preview? Edit?
Yes, the comments were pretty hilarious. Also the comments on that article about Facebook organizing relationships were a hoot.
The Rolling Jubilee Fund c/o Occupy Wall Street Radio WBAI, 10th floor 120 Wall St New York, NY 10005
Demi pointed out yesterday that there is a Preview function on the top right side of the reply box. Not only did I overlook it, but I can’t get in the habit of using it. I am spoiled by the ability to edit a comment for a minute or two on the main site.
I love the guerilla comment hijinks on the internet.
You should see some of the comment threads on Amazon.com postings for Avery Binders. After Mittens’ “binders full of women” comment, people wrote comedy gold in those reviews on Amazon.
Thanks Kris. Will mail a check today!
Oh yes, I kept putting up that link on Facebook. I forget how many, but I think over 1000 last I looked. And Amazon just left it up — prolly good publicity for them.
Poor Mitt he can’t help it, he doesn’t have daddy around to brush off his state trooper uniform and scissors anymore.
Gotta head to Decorah to get supplies for my nine year old Peanut
who is having 4 friend for a sleepover tonight and Mr. Mom is
in charge.(wish me luck)
I will check out the eagle nest on the way past and give everyone a report.
(damn, here I go again with SD memories of his love of bird videocams like Phoebe)
Have a great day everyone. I will check back later.
Never. Give. Up.
Avery Binder reviews from Amazon (1203 of them!)
Kid Nepotism lamenting the loss of 18000 jobs at Hostess because of union strikes (paraphrased). Just another Gilded Golden Boy. Putz.
Hostess has declared bankruptcy rather than deal with their bakers. The capital firms that own it can make more money via liquidation than via operations.
It’s $1B in revenue and they can’t make enough money.
Boxturtle (I’m gonna get really grumpy without my orange cupcakes)
If I’m Little Debbie or Frito_lay, I am making sure I have enough cash for that brand name auction.
Still, if you own twinkies and wonder bread and you can’t make money, it’s probably best to find another business to be in.
Boxturtle (Criminey, you have to go to Coke to a stronger brand name)
I’ve got a good buddy who has a Hostess cupcake and a glass of milk every night before bed. He’ll be heartbroken.
I can’t wait to tell him!
RIP: Something in the news earlier made me think of him as well; he would’ve been all over it. What a guy. Thanks.
Hope this isn’t the good buddy you spent an hour on the phone with the other day!
Nope. That buddy said he’d call me back and never did.
Apparently he just needed to vent a bit.
From Graham Greene’s novel Our Man in Havana:
I didn’t read the comments. The quote was in his update in the post itself. Now to read the comments.
And thanks for the link to Avery binder comments on Amazon. They’re fantastic.
Love it!
Someone tipped me off to them, and I watched them pile up over a couple of days. It was pretty funny!
I often don’t read comments on blogs, since sometimes they devolve into poo flinging. Better moderation on some than on others.
Ah breakfast. For me, I had buckwheat and whole wheat waffle with blackberry preserves and a couple of breakfast links.
Will be heading over to the Westside Market to do some shopping shortly.
Well, Im dressed and out…Beautiful day in Central TX….but for a bunch of elites here for the huge race that Im told is in/near town.
Later….Please have a good one…safe and gentle. Ommmm, as our friend would say.
I’m sending a donation in honor of SD. Check going out today.
((bgrothus))
I can’t help but think he would’ve loved this concept. Serious direct action making remarkable changes in the lives of random people.
Just a drive by.
A choice men will never have to make. Yea, this sucks. Ok since no one touched this with a ten foot pole, here goes.
Never give up. These fine ladies, fearless of the word `Vagina’, are going to hand those asshats their Butts in a sling.
http://www.voanews.com/content/record-number-of-women-elected-to-us-congress/1546381.html
Never give up!
I’m gonna get out of this chair and on with my day. This Over Easy gathering sure sucks up my morning. It’s nearly lunchtime!
I will peek in during the day. Have a good one. Take one of the leftover bagels along with you.
I sent an email to OmAli and suggested that if she has more in donations than the cost of relocating Richard’s beloved kittehs (it looked last week like she did), she could donate it to Strike Debt/Rolling Jubilee in his name. It seems like the kind of thing he would have “sent some dust” to, doesn’t it?
Lurve the concept of the Rolling Jubilee. I wish there was a mortgage only version. Credit card debt people can live with, but losing a home is another level of suffering entirely. Occupy really knows how to get things done.
Yes, by the time my bills were paid, she said she had enough, so this is my contribution on behalf of SD instead.
Thanks for the suggestion. I’m gonna follow your lead.
msmolly, I don’t know if you cared about Prop 37 in Cal, but kashi is one of the organic companies that donated money to defeat it. We used to buy kashi organic cereals, but we will no longer buy them. kashi is owned by kellog’s, which was opposed. You can see the heroes and villans here. The retailers for and against are here.
Awesome, I just put mine in the mailbox.
Hi, everybody! Late as usual. Woke up in the middle of the night worrying about stuff, so I turned on the light, made notes, looked stuff up on my Kindle (so I wouldn’t have to get out of bed), and then was able to sleep. Whew.
May have a client! Don’t wanna jinx it so won’t say more now.
The reax to my announcement…anticlimax. No response at all to my letter was…none. I went in next day to clear out, and it turned out, nobody had heard. The administrator who is so much of the problem wasn’t in yet. I texted the “boss” lawyer to ask if he got my letter; nope, he hadn’t. He just texted back to ask if I would stay two weeks to finish uup some cases. Since I had offered that exactly in the letter, I said sure, on an in-and-out basis.
When the administrator got in, she had been called and notified. She was perfectly friendly, claiming no hard feelings, and we talked about cases.
My car had to go to the shop yesterday, and stayed all day. Sigh. There went a chunk of the seed money for the start-up costs for thhe practice…but at least I know I’ll get a paycheck today and another in two weeks. That will help.
The support staff told me how happy for me they were; a couple whispered, “take me with you!”
So, when I finish here I will be on my way down to the office.
“A choice that men will never have to make.”
While the fickle finger of fast swimming fate brought me onto this mortal coil as an XY, my heart weeps for any woman who has experienced the mind and soul numbing brutality of assault and rape.
But the ultimate question is:
How is it possible that a self-respecting woman could possibly vote the Republican ticket, or on a religious basis be ruled by and subservient to a man just because of a swimming competition?
Republicans of the XX variety are an affront to that most precious, intelligent, delightful, and beautiful gift of evolution:
The emancipated, progressive woman!
I’m afraid the answer is that like many Republicans I actually know, they are unable to put themselves in anyone else’s shoes. So, they imagine that they will never be in that position; they are also ignorant about how one finds oneself in that position…still subscribe to old myths about rape, and about who gets raped.
They still think it’s a sex crime, not a crime of violence and power.
If they can manage to imagine being a rape victim at all (it’s tough for them; after all, they never wear suggestive clothing or walk through dark alleys, and of course all rapists are violent strangers), then they imagine they could cope just fine with a pregnancy since they are virtuous and God-loving.
That’s my best guess.
“I’ve written them to suggest that many in their listening audience don’t celebrate Christmas (Muslims, Jews, etc.)…”
As an elected officer of my daughter’s high school PTA, I am leading the charge to remove all mention of ‘god’ or any one specific religious holiday from the school’s programs, announcements, or ceremonies.
The Paineian, Jeffersonian, and Franklinian wall of separation between church and state must constantly be maintained and guarded so that we remain a nation under the law with respect and dignity for all.
Hey you.
Republicans of the XX variety are an affront to that most precious, intelligent, delightful, and beautiful gift of evolution:
You must be talking to DW too much.
Protesting too much always makes me nervous.
We’ll talk.
Oh lord, msnbc saying news breaking of an oil rig off Grand Isle, LA having exploded this morning. Not again.
Sorry for 3 posts in a row. Looks like the morning crowd has already gone off to work.
thanks, msmolly.
Not only that, but Israel is getting ready to invade Gaza.
The world goes on while we do whatever.
I don’t think mortgages would work because banks don’t sell mortgage debt the same way they do credit card debt or medical debt. Mortgages demand almost dollar-for-dollar value.
However, most Americans carry credit card debt, and are saddled with the burden of making those payments while trying to keep their mortgages current. If RJ could eliminate the credit card debt, that would free up money in a lot of households.
Smart people don’t buy shit they don’t need on credit cards.
That’s just been my understanding of what’s going on based on what I’ve learned.
Richard Wolff’s analysis (Thanks again SD!) of the current American economy suggested that when wages started stagnating in the early 1970s, credit card debt exploded so that Americans were able to maintain their accustomed standard of living.
I personally have less than $2k in credit card debt, and am on track to pay that off within the next 5-6 months.
There are a lot of people out there, though, that are in much worse shape.
I just turned on MSNBC after hearing about the oil rig and am being treated nothing more than a nauseatingly horrendous gabfest.
This is televised facebook. Now I know why I don’t watch this shit.
Because they’re stupid.
There was an update on the oil rig – on fire, but “not in production.” Which may or may not mean no spill. Not in production doesn’t mean no drilling, but if they hadn’t reached any oil, then afaik, danger of spill seems minimal.
Not sure if the reports include anyone killed.
Sigh. Some of my facebook “friends” are freaking out about Hostess going out of business…no, not about all the folks losing their jobs, or the new example of private equity-leveraged-buyout destroying a going concern—but the necessity of rushing out to pack the freezer with Ding-Dongs and cupcakes.
Face-palm, yet again.
Well, I view women through a Platonic idealistic prism.
There is an ideal form drifting through the cosmos called womaness.
It is an abstraction of the essence of a woman without direct identification of a particular individual.
I am attracted to the ideal of womaness.
When it comes to living, breathing individuals, well, fate and nature have populated this speck of dust with,
The good, the bad, and the ugly.
C’est la vie.
Hmmm. I’d like to say..nice..but the ideal woman, the woman on a pedestal principle, has done women a lot of harm over centuries. However, I judge on actions in this area more than words…
In the past year, 40% of low- and middle-income households used credit cards to pay for basic living expenses, such as rent or mortgage bills, groceries, utilities, or insurance, according to survey released Tuesday by think tank Demos.
Years of stagnant income growth combined with increases in basic living costs, including gas prices, are forcing some Americans to fall back on a “plastic safety net,” said Amy Traub, senior policy analyst for the organization.
LINK (my bold)
From a hasty online read, it seems that it isn’t just credit card debt that is problematic. the Jubilee people are going to target medical debt first.
I am fortunate to not have any debt except my mortgage and HELOC (which I have used only for house related fixes). Some aren’t able to do that.
Out again, bike ride. It’s 52º here with no wind. A couple more rides over the weekend. W00t!
“Out again, bike ride.”
I ride almost every day when the weather permits.
Once upon a time in a far, distant galaxy I raced bicycles with a local Manhattan Beach, CA racing club named the ‘South Bay Wheelmen’.
I rode with guys who competed in the Munich Olympics.
O course, when I rode with them, they were but quickly disappearing specks on yon distant horizon.
My two favorite rides-out of three possibilities, the other being a custom Waterford-are two 25 year old mint condition Hugo De Rosa dream machines, of course with Campagnolo components and tubular tyres.
Once when vacuuming my bedroom floor, a visiting young lady noticed a De Rosa on the bed and nonchalantly asked how it was.
I calmly replied that other than the bone bruises, it didn’t get any better. :>)
P.S. I gave my rides names: the red De Rosa: Big Red, the blue De Rosa: Rosebeth, and the Waterford: Crystal.
Got it. What’s your point?
Maybe I should have used the word ignorant instead of stupid.
Neglectful people make neglectful choices.
That’s what I see and that’s what I’m saying.
Good point, and I’m glad you brought it up. Credit card debt is a symptom of a much bigger problem. Many people put mortgage payments on credit cards in desperation, too. The deeper problem is falling wages combined with the high price of housing during the bubble when so many people bought.
Got rid of my credit cards after Lincoln Savings(Charles Keating)
cost me my house and marriage in 1987(I’ll take the blame for the latter cuz I could NOT say no.)
I am much the better for it.
Emphasis on medical debt foregivement is very smart and compassionate. Number one cause of bankruptcy, right? I like occupy.
f people are earning so little that they can’t afford groceries or rent, and they use a credit card to survive, they may be in pretty difficult or even desparate circumstances.
For example, according to the (PDF link) National Low Income Housing Coalition map
“In no state can a minimum wage earner afford a two-bedroom unit at Fair Market Rent working a standard 40-hourwork week.”
and in many states even an 80-hour work week isn’t enough or is barely enough.
I wouldn’t use either stupid or ignorant to describe this situation, but that’s just what I’m saying.
Oh, my. My daddy lost his entire savings plan in that Lincoln thing. It killed him. It was just a long slow death.
Wasn’t fair. I’m still angry about that and sorry to hear that you felt the loss so deeply too. It does seem that you have recovered a good life and even better attitude about stuff.
Women: def: Interesting looking guys with different external hardware, different internal plumbing,and radically different programming instructions.
Otherwise, the differences are insignificant.
Viva la difference! :>)
You and I seem to be kindred souls in a nice kind of way.
I am a rich man.:)
I hear you. And, I’ve not only read the statistics, but I have volunteered and befriended people who are in this situation.
I’m not judging. I’m sharing my understanding of how some people get into situations wherein they are part of the statistics you have shared.
It seems that way to me too. And, yes. Rich, we are. Indeed.
Jimbo!
If it weren’t for lust, I can’t imagine how the species would survive.
I was just adding a different perspective. Didn’t mean at all to disparage you personally in terms of your own contributions toward helping those in need.
True…or what is lust by another name?
When my son’s business was failing and his (then) wife wouldn’t quit spending, he was putting his employees’ salaries on his credit card just to keep them paid as long as possible.
Needless to say, after I had loaned him money to help keep him and his kids afloat, he wound up declaring bankruptcy.
He’s in a better place now, remarried, with an excellent job, but I still worry. I guess you never stop.
I just have a slightly better than garden variety bike, a Raleigh Venture 4.0 that I paid about $400 for 7 years ago, after I had knee replacement surgery and my doc told me to find another exercise besides walking. I started out slowly and then fell in love with riding. Every year I’ve done more. I will never race, but I’ve put more than 1,650 miles on the bike since March, and if the next couple of days are as forecast, I may be able to hit 1,700 before it gets too cold and the bike goes up for the winter. I can usually ride until mid to late November here in NW Indiana.
I have ridden longer ones, but my standard ride is about 20 miles, several times a week. Not bad for an old bat.
No disparagement felt. Thanks, mary.
Not bad at all…for sanybody!
Hey, I ‘m in a Panera now..lunch was very late. Thought of you. About to leave. See you all at PUAC!
“Not bad for an old bat.”
You’ve got to be kidding!
I just looked up the life expectancy of bats on the wikipedia.
According to that source the average life of a bat is 5-6 years some making it to 30 or 40 years.
You might be an old bat to some, but on the average you are just getting ready for kindergarden. :>)
“If it weren’t for lust, I can’t imagine how the species would survive.”
Let’s take a closer look at your hypothesis.
Lust actually and statistically has less to do with the frequency of carnal bliss than do accidents.
Here’s how this scenario plays out:
One of the more amusing scenes in a film I saw a while back has the husband confronting his best friend who just happened to have, dare I say it, dare, dare, ok, sex with his wife.
When the cuckolded husband confronted his best friend and demanded to know how ‘it’ happened, his friend replied ‘I just tripped and fell on her.”
The husband in utter disbelief then asked, “You mean to tell me that when you fell on top of my wife, you fell in such a manner and my wife fell in such a position that you had sex?”
The friend looked at the husband and innocently asked: “Haven’t you heard of falling in love before?”
The morale to this story is that if you must fall, don’t do it around married women.
In fact to play it safe, don’t fall if women are around at all, period.
Morale deux to this story: Lust has nothing to do with it: but just think of all of the accidents running around loose on any day that ends in ‘y’.
True story: I was sitting in a doctor’s waiting room recently waiting for my daughter and a woman sat down and we began to talk. She said she had a 17 year old and since she was in her mid-sixties, she then added that her child was the product of an accident on a ski trip.
I then calmly asked her what part of the ski was responsible.
She immediately moved across the room and didn’t speak to me again.
See what I mean about accidents!
I didn’t follow it closely but I was aware of it (I’m in Indiana). I have a bunch of Kashi cereal in my cupboard that I’ll have to finish, but I won’t buy any more.