Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

Craig, I love it!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/25/AR2009072501053.html?nav=rss_email/components

Obamas Agenda

Love the book cover. It should attract attention.

Good Cover

Jamie, That was a good story you just linked The only problem I had, was when I was done, I didn't know what to think. Obama sure does have a lot of measured decisions to make. I wouldn't want to be in his shoes.

i don't know what most people were hoping for most, after he got into office. For me, it was universal Health Care and getting out of Iraq.

Solar,

I wasn't faulting you. I was offering a way that you could stay with the How To Comment guidelines set out by Craig without limiting your ideas, the length of commentaries and discussion or preventing others from enjoying them.

"Be succinct. Blog commenting is not a place for lengthy lectures. Keep it short and to the point. You will find that your comments will be much better read. Generally, comments beyond 150 words should be reviewed before posting, in case a bit of editing might improve the readability of what you have to say."

HEY CRAIG! JAMIE WANTS TO TALK TOO YOU!

Now the dragonflies are facing extinction ... The canaries in the mine are tweeting as loud as they can. Let's hope human beings listen before we become extinct.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jul/25/dragonfly-sanctuary

I already figured it out...read my last post , from the last thread.

"chopping off Uncle Sam's forehead keeps it from seeming cliche"

hope you're joshing with us craig 'cause some folks are going to complain to the publisher's about the printers mistake and want a corrected version (specially if they bought it to for a gift). the chopped off head is ok for attention getting purposes, it's the unfinished border that is a problem. otherwise, looks good.

The colors of the book cover are excellent for a couple of reasons to me: The yellow really stands out,,and the red print that say...listen up in red, makes that stand out....makes you kinda want to pick up the book and see what all the fuss is about...should sell lots of books that way...and the last...is that if it is on the outside (as paper wrapping) it should be the same for the inside,,,and any future softie. Later.

mike feldstein on npr this a.m. (am paraphrasing):

"congress says they can't get the healthcare done before recess. after that, with snacks and naptime, they'll be too tired."

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/open-thread-weekend-1.html#comment-246660

Screaming at me wasn't necessary.

completing the border on top might help, but i find the cut off head somehow disturbingish........can't say i have a strong opinion on it, though...........when it first appeared i was trying to use the cursor to see the top of his haid..........

Jamie,

You seem to want to catch Craig's attention. I screamed to get this done for you. You can have the last word as they say. I won't respond.

when he swallows come back to cap his strainer.......

i guess old bob's got his chef's hat on and is at this moment cooking up a storm.....with mustang sally on the boombox........ride, maria, ride................

http://www.clker.com/cliparts/6/4/8/a/1195422174950480072johnny_automatic_happy_chef.svg.hi.png

haris alexiou: let out your inner greek..........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GzNnmMNKts

Obviously time to leave.

I agree with Sturg, not really crazy about chopping Uncle Sam off at the eyebrows--but then, I kinda have a sentimental attachment to that painting--it is the John M. Flagg 1916 one, right? WWI recruiting poster. That poster persuaded my hillbilly paternal grandfather to join the army.:) For a boy from Union Hall in the Tellico Mountains, that was an invitation to do his patriotic duty and see if the world was bigger than the hollers.

Sorry--back to lurkin' for the crazy knobite--

i love that word........"lurk"..........lol

First impression of the Cover---Uncle Sam needs his
hat---sorry but don't really like the cut-off head
shot---but it may attract notice on a book display.

love that word........"lurk"..........lol

Posted by: sturgeone | July 25, 2009 5:34 PM

Me too, Sturg. :)

Is the cut off head a done deal? Bad, bad art if so....sorry. Just my opinion....

Whatever you do with the head - I love the cover Craig. Especially the title. Appropriately irreverent!!

chloe:

"That was a good story you just linked The only problem I had, was when I was done, I didn't know what to think. "

That is how you know it is real journalism. Rather than a partisan opinion piece masquerading as "news".

Dan Balz is one of the best.

I think it would look a bit better with the full head and normal picture. There will be room if you just shrink your names a bit. And even bringing the down the font on the names - they can still be big enough to be prominent.

Some extra space above and below the names that you could also cut out

Love the colors, font , Uncle Sam , just don't know about the head chopped off-its either brilliant or a big mistake.

I'd like to have been sitting in at the meeting or whatever where it was being decided whether to chop the head, and if so......where to chop it.........lol.........that had to be some serious conversation around that bit of business......

Replace uncle sam with this picture

http://www.inquisitr.com/wp-content/helen-thomas.jpg

I love that picture of helen Jack! She is so damn tough!

Mr. Crawford ~ I like the concept in general, but I side with Patsi on this. The cut-off head is too clever by half. Most people will think they've got a misprinted cover. It's distracting to the title and the rest of it. It may even put off potential buyers. If you have time to re-think this, please do.

My compliments, however, on the idea of a collaboration with Helen Thomas. Someone needs to capture and preserve what's in her head while she's still around. Glad to see it's you.

Patsi

Though in my mmemory she shouldn't be pointing with a finger as much and pen in hand.

Jack

George Jones does James Taylor:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTFXRIY6-fE

"That is how you know it is real journalism. Rather than a partisan opinion piece masquerading as "news"."

I know Warren, and I'm glad you said it. I was making fun of myself. I'm so used to reading slanted material, that at the end I always angrily disagree or happily agree. Reading real journalism requires thinking, so when I finished, I really didn't know what I thought, 'except' I'm sure glad I'm not in his shoes. I was hoping someone would give me their opinion (so I wouldn't have to decide myself):)

I don't know Craig. In light of what has happened recently you might want to add "Pretty Please" Listen Up Mr. President.

"A Night At The Opera" with los hermanos Marx........starting now on TCM movie channel.......no commercials......

Here is a Jay-Z song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYv12Z-8AeM

It is a bit abrasive at first - but if u listen through the second and third verses he raps with sensivity on some deep issues.

Hip-Hop is the abrasiveness of real life mixed in with music, creativity and dreams. A good outlet in many instances.

I don't like any stuff that goes over the edge simply for the sake of going over the edge - and like all genres - it is filled with all types of artists.

But Jay-Z is one of the best. How else do you think he ended up with Beyonce.

Sturgeone, That's the best I've heard Callas, but was it really she? The title said Fake Callas.

I have to disagree with you, tho, and say my pick is Gounod's - it's something re the phrasing, I think. It seems to match my inner rhythm.

Ct and Patd, I'm glad you appreciated my line about hope. I just can't give it up because the alternative is un-thinkable, but I'm so tired of actively looking for something to go right. The people with power don't seem to have a brain in their heads. I'm listening to news very seldom these days.

Vera was talking, last night, about the time our kids from Santa Rosa went to Cherkassy, our sister city.
This was in 1990 and my niece was one, at the age of 17. Vera said everyone was stunned because the kids all smiled so much, while the Ulrainian kids were passive and even sullen. One taxi driver even gave a bunch of them a free ride because he was so exicted to see the American kids with their smiles. I think we are all smiling a little less these days. Sorry if I've told this before - I think I have.)

Warren, For once I have to disagree with you - the song about 99 bitches is jut revolting and horrible to and about women. Why doesn't the flip side have a song about miserable pencil dicks? That could cover the entire topic.

Also Warren, you're right there are no role models in DC, but I'm trying to find one anywhere in the world.
There are none - well, maybe the woman in Myanmar, but then we don't get to see her, and besides she's a bitch so she'd be no role model for young men.

My last words and thoughts re the mess in Cambridge. I, for one, think three men really messed up, and I'm glad Obama stated that he just made it worse = that was better than an apology. Now if the other two can man up, we might have the spectacle of burgeoning maturity which we haven't been treated to in many a year. God knows there's plenty of room for growth.

Or, since I'm not excusing police brutality rudeness, put 'em in a room with gloves and let 'em kill each other, but end it.

Oh, yeah, the cover. I have to say, Craig, I think that poster has been over used and it might not say 'pick me up and buy me'. It might even be over-looked.

I love the pix of Helen and it shows more definitely what the book is about. I also didn't like the un-finished border. People who will buy this book love Helen and will be interested in this specific information. Hope there's no ego involved here.

yep........le gounod is a keeper..............somehow I'm just drawn to the schubert............but that can't lessen the beauty of the other..........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWi0x_aOzeM

Warren, did you see Diddy on Letterman the other night? He showed a picture of himself with Michael Jackson. He said after the picture was taken, Michael leaned into him and asked "Where's Beyonce?"

Posted by: AnnaMolly | July 25, 2009 6:42 PM

Good point, AM. Helen Thomas is for certain a national treasure.

George Jones does James Taylor:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTFXRIY6-fE

Posted by: sturgeone | July 25, 2009 6:46 PM

Excellent, Sturg. Love that one.

Well, after Callas, I had to go to the Gounod and do an immediate compare and contrast to find out once and for all which one I prefer.

I'm watching a little of the tour going up and over Mont Ventoux. There are so many people on the sides of the road that there isn't really much roadway for the bikers. It's a thrilling thing to watch. I have to go to dinner with the Old Ladies Club. What a social butterfly I've become.

Cbob sed: "Gates himself tells of how he had more European genes than ones from Africa."

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/open-thread.html#comment-246360

Cbob, I think you hit on it. That explains the attitude. He's only 44% Negro. :J)

I'm putting it on the shelf too. :-)

I truly like the suggestion of the Helen Thomas picture.

Everyone wanting this type of book will recognize both the image and the attitude.

Rez -
His grad students were floored. The whole show had gone by ...... 1/2 dozen people like Oprah, Morgan Freeman, ...... They were all coming off the west coast of Africa, as a fairly high percentage.

The irony was un- writable , but there it was .

Great Series by the way the DNA is only part , Gates runs a deep genealogy on each person as well. I was surprised how much his grad students where able to trace . Africa American genealogy is a brick wall prior to 1865.

Bethy, I can tell you do a lot of pondering too.

Jamie, I collect dragonflies. Not the real ones. There is no shortage of them around these parts especially out here at the river. The other day there was a huge swarm of them in the front yard. Maybe that's why they think there is a shortage, they are all vacationing down here.

How did all the food turn out today C-bob?

I disagree with the Helen Thomas picture. I think we all agree it is a good cover - despite some differing opinions about chopping good ol' Uncle Sam's head off.

I am particularly fond of the title.

But my point is - everyone who is going to buy this book for Helen Thomas - will know it is out there and will go pick it up regardless of what's on the cover.

With a cover - there is no need to seek out a demographic that is already pre-ordering the book...

Well Joe gave us a 14 lb. brisket , not a 10 lb one, and we just couldn't get it finished before we lost the sun. Fear not, it went back across the street to finish cooking.

All the other items were very tasty .
I really loaded her to the gills with things. Nearly 40 lbs. of food and water. This is a lot of mass to raise the temperature of each item so it will cook .

10 apples
18 ears of corn
4 qts of peas and peppers.
2 corn bread experiments.

Fed 10 people. no bad. Plenty for tomorrow to re heat.
The apples are a big hit.

Speaking of journalism - I am most of the way through Up Close and Personal with Redford and Pfeiffer. Good flick.

Another thing about the apples, they were ready after 3 hours in the oven . I got pictures I'll fool with in the morning .

Next Sat will be tomato gumbo with sourdough bread. They'll be a snap.
After all the experiments we've done so far we're getting an idea of not just how to cook with it, but what to cook in it. This thing is going to really cook sea food, & chicken good.

Bob I was concerned about your getting a brisket cooked. Sometimes they take forever to cook and it seems you just never know how long it will take. I like to have brisket as one of the meats at my parties but I've had such bad luck cooking it that I just buy it, already smoked, at Sam's Club. Then I drown it in my ass kicking BBQ sauce.

So you all know my theory that Presidents have much less sway over the economy than they are given credit or blame for.

I think peace prosperity and free trade spurs the economy. And in recent times, Reagan and Clinton did the best in these respects. Although they each had their fair share of tensions and hostility.

And I know a lot of money was made building the largest military in the world in the lead up to WWII. But with the Mashall Plan kept the lines of production going.

We need to move into that phase in the Middle East. Pull out the Army and send in the Amry Core of Engineers.

Now I know we will still need plenty of troops for protection. And nothing will stop our stated mission to search out and eliminate Al Queda whereever and whenever.

The should be a summit and some type of Amistice.

Warren,

I agree that the president get a great deal more credit/blame for the economy than they deserve, except in cases when they instituted laws that made financial bubbles.

President do (or ought to) also have some moral authority over how businesses are run. Unfortunately, industries often don't want to be moral, because immoral usually makes a better bottom line, until the vultures come home to roost.

Eyes are closing. May I sleep while I lurk ? ZZZZZZZZZZZZ

I guess everyone saw this video here comes the bride.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-94JhLEiN0&feature=player_embedded

Xrepub

That sounds more like Congress and Lobbyists who inhabit DC. Presidents are just passing through for 4-8 years.

REZ -- looks like a FUN wedding! My daughter and her husband had a fun (outdoor) wedding too -- down the "aisle" together to the Charlie Brown theme music -- walked out to the Warner Bros. "That's All Folks" -- a bubble machine shooting bubbles over the grounds....pre-wedding music was classical guitar -- reception music was a live bluegrass band.

Sounds like fun Patsi. Both of us are rather modest and reserve if you asked family and friends, so I know we'd never have considered anything like in the video. I was just happy that everyone showed and no one made fool of themselves prior to the ceremony. Afterwords was a different story. I think it would be a hoot to be present for someone else's gig like in the vid.

I guess after-words is correct too. :-)

Yes -- it would be fun to attend something like that. I'd have been on the floor laughing. Much like when I saw my three year old granddaughter's ballet recital video...it was SO "Lucille Ball" -- Maria was clueless about "being in the chorus line." She danced around on her own, sometimes in total Diva fashion -- but also some hilariously clunky attempts to get back in step with what others were doing....then took about fifty bows at the end...the audience erupted in cheers and applause and laughter...and she ate it up. They'll probably have to kick her out now -- she'll NEVER stay in step if she thinks the applause is elsewhere....:)

Rez -- after-words...ha. Actually -- this may be a classic sentence: "Afterwords was a different story."

watching goblin sharks on sy-fi tv!

Patsi,

I wonder why the Peanuts theme? I just played the You tube and every time I hear it, it reminds me about being in a car in traffic.
I'll let yo go back to your SF, I'm hitting the hay.

Peanuts theme;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbiYFA0-8mU&feature=related

Carol, I love to ponder! That's why I recommend it so highly. A friend had a poster that said Sometimes I sits and think, and sometime I just sits.

Just listened to a flute playing My Heart at Thy Sweet Voice from Samson and Delilah. It's my little sister's favorite and, especially at the first notes, my heart jumps too.

AT LAST...we know the name of THE BOOK!

tt

Rez --I'll ask Tracy about the Peanuts theme...she and her husband are both fans of "cartoon culture" -- so was probably just a favorite. It did sound perfect though when it started and they walked down the aisle together -- went from the classical style as others came in, to the Peanuts theme.

Very good piece on health care reform and what went wrong in the 90s.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/24/AR2009072401876.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/open-thread-weekend-1.html#comment-246687

jack, you're right. but instead of just helen, how about a gaggle picture with her in it and the back of the president in the foreground. there's a pix like that somewhere in the archives. maybe blur it a little to give it a timelessness quality.

"I'm glad Obama stated that he just made it worse = that was better than an apology."

bethy, that's what i tho't coupled with memories of shrub (the "love story" pres) never having to say he's sorry.

I woke up this morning wondering if we have all been had. Do you think it is possible that the behavior that instigated the arrest of Prof. Gates could have been a publicity stunt for his new documentary??? He just finished filming a new documentary for PBS.

It certainly didn't make sense that a distinquished professor would show his ass with a police officer just trying to make sure their wasn't a robbery in progress.

If it was a publicity stunt, it was brilliant. He couldn't have bought this kind of publicity. He wasn't well known by the average Jane and Joe but now he is. He even has a Wiki page now. And if he wouldn't have been arrested this incident would have gotten no attention.

Hmmmm. Laughs on us.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/open-thread-weekend-1.html#comment-246702

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/open-thread-weekend-1.html#comment-246704

rez and cbob, so it sounds more like a hate whitey than a hate black episode.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/open-thread-weekend-1.html#comment-246730

ct, he should have planned for a better picture tho. he looks derranged in the photo that made most of the papers.

Wow, theres a rationalization. I've already presented the legal opinion of one of the finest lawyers of our time-in the Commonwealth of MA the policeman had NO right to follow him into his home after Gates had identified himself. Guess some here didn't want to hear that and just continue on with the insensitivity.

All part of the package Pat. He had to put on a pretty good show to get an officer who specializes in racial profiling to arrest him. Maybe he thought it would be easier because of the circumstances and then he unfortunately gets the cop who teaches the classes on racial profiling as the investigating officer. It's all starting to make sense.

I read last night on an ABC site that the idea for a meet up at the WH for a beer was Crowley's idea not the President's. That came from a spokesmen for the President. Crowley is more likely to want this thing resolved since he gets nothing from it but bad publicity and a damaged lawn.

In view of the Presidential vacation---a tour of Martha's Vineyard.

OSH, thought you might find this interesting & pretty sure you would be a great guide to your island's attractions.

"36 Hours on Martha's Vineyard" NYT Travel

http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/07/26/travel/26hours.html?scp=1&sq=marthas%20vineyard&st=cse

If Gate's didn't plan any of this then the documentary Gods looked down on him with favor.

Well Sea, I call un as I see um. No need to consult one of the finished lawyers of our time. That's the beauty of this great country. We can all think for ourselves and we have the right to be wrong at times.

"I call un as I see um. No need to consult one of the finished lawyers of our time. That's the beauty of this great country. We can all think for ourselves and we have the right to be wrong at times."

...you can say that again. :)

and it appears you're exercising your right with gusto.

"continue on with the insensitivity. "

If this would all go to court it probably would be interesting. We would all get to hear the audio tapes out there and hear for ourselves the vocals that may have provoked the arrest. We may not if it doesn't.

Being that I am just Jane Q Citizen, I would never have acted up in the presence of a police officer no matter what the circumstances unless I thought my life was in danger. Even now, working at the jail, I wouldn't even think of it. They would probably taze me.

My story yesterday showed that I have been a victim of the criminal justice system also. I was crying not yelling. And if it happened again, because of my prior bad experience, I would cry again.

And lawyers have always told me and I have heard over and over when I was a court tv addict, that you should never react with anger, even when warranted. Anger just makes you look bad.

And Maureen Dowd weighs in with her opinion on
Gates/Crowley---while not necessarily a balanced assessment, the comments to it are pretty interesting--
they are so reflective of the discussions here for
the past few days.

"Bite Your Tongue"

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/26/opinion/26dowd.html

"Anger just makes you look bad."

Carol. Someone should have told 'me' that. I spend more than my share of time angry. Now I'll realize how bad it makes me look.

Good Morning!

Carol
Let me callem as I seeum

Bullshit!!

so you are going for the angry black man who deserves what he gets theory.

Poor defenseless police man.

God what a crock of shit

Jack

"Race, class and testosterone will always be a combustible brew."

Ha, Coreen. I never read Maureen Dowd anymore, but since 'you' linked it, i did. Maybe the sentence I quoted above explains where things went wrong.

Oh Chloe, I have always been an angry person when I see incidents of injustice. It took me years to learn that important lesson and I learned it watching another woman I respected who was also a very angry person fighting for injustice. I saw how people just blew her off because of her anger. They didn't even listen to what she was saying, just focused on her anger.

Now that I got it, I try to teach my inmates that there are ways to deal with things without using anger.

Sorry Jack, you got it all wrong but you have the right to be wrong.

I do have a tendency to fight for the underdog, that is, who I see as the underdog.

Sorry Carol
No I didn't , unfortunately.

Jack

Carol, I can guarantee you that there's at least one person here that understands what you're saying. If others choose to not understand, that's their problem, not yours.

Hang in there. You're not alone.
When someone accuses you of "going for the angry black man", be aware. They're calling you a bigot. Don't stand for it.

Oh and I missed the "finished " comment. Absurd.

And I understand that we all see things because of the influence of our previous life experiences. Five people watching the same incident unfold will come away with five different perceptions of what happened.

I work within the criminal justice system. I take care of people who are victims of cops behaving badly. I take care of people who have been chewed up by police dogs and beaten because they ran from the police. Some were not even guilty of anything but ran because they were afraid.

I see the poor people, many who are black, who are victims of injustice. It keeps me awake at night. I don't just blow it off. It probably has shortened my life expectancy.

I'm on call 24/7/365 and have not taken a week off in 4 years, not because I am required to but because if I don't there will be no one to do my job. Many would not even care if I wasn't there but I do.

And I'm not looking for a thank you because it ain't coming especially from anyone around my neck of the woods. My thank you comes from within and from above.

Best side of the Prof. Gates story he was a Hillary supporter....:)

It always amazes me that people don't looke at prejudice of 'any kind' as still being prejudice. When you prejudge a whole group (in this case, all cops) then its the same thing (and comes from the same ignorance and 'insensitivity' ) as racial prejudice, gender prejudice, gay prejudice, and all the rest of the prejudices.

Prejudice is inherently wrong. No matter how you 'use' it. It's directly linked to hate.... and it's cowardly and lazy. When people are prejudice, they are stepping on other peoples equality. This country is supposed to be about equality, and I am so sick of the sense of superiority so many seem to think they have over others. The arrogance of it literally makes me ill.

Carol- why don't you try reading that wiki page you quoted? You'll see the man has been a scholar and citizen and has done his part to ameliorate race relations. Hardly the bio of a man who would go through all this for a publicity stunt.

Actually this camp, this river and the birds, the squirrels, the moss hanging from the trees, the sunrise every morning...... is my thank you from God. It's more than enough.

"Actually this camp, this river and the birds, the squirrels, the moss hanging from the trees, the sunrise every morning...... is my thank you from God. It's more than enough."

Now that's what I'm talking about!
Carol, You got that right!! All the rest is just BS.

I did read it Sea. I was the one who mentioned it. I never said the man wasn't a scholar and great guy. It may have been that this entire incident is a way of letting others know about his work, whether he was involved or a higher power. That is what I was saying earlier.

Damn Patsi, I agree. If he was a Hillary supporter he has to be good.

And Chloe, if anyone has read what I have written here and still thinks I'm a bigot, there is certainly nothing I can do. That's life.

Chloe

I am quite capable of using the term bigot.

Carols statement had implications and it is important she understands them. It is also important that she understands that I don't approve.
These are my "important" not anyone elses.
Carol is free to do what ever she wants but I am dis appointed.

Jack

..... still, Carol, it makes me want to cry.

Right Carol- You call um as you see um and completely overlook the laws in effect in MA and continue on this bizarre tangent. Have at it.

Hi Chloe,

Since this remains a "he said/he said" my instincts are that regardless of what facts may finally
be revealed, as in the release of the audiotape, which
will surface--whether by it being leaked or released,
regardless--- each person's opinion as to what actually
occurred has been influenced already by many factors
including personal experience and it is a no-win
situation--with no satisfactory resolution for either side.

And as I originally stated, my concern was the comments by Pres. Obama which were uncharacteristic of his usual very measured responses---and which apparently after consideration by him & his staff--resulted in the President attempting to walk back his original comments.

However, as evidenced by the continuing discussion
in the media & everywhere else-----too late its just keeps going until the next "big thing".

Love you Jack, but I think you've handled this badly, knowing who Carol is.

Therefore, I'm disappointed too.

And one of the bloggers said on Huff Post yesterday that it doesn't really matter who was right or who was wrong but that we are talking about it.

"Best side of the Prof. Gates story he was a Hillary supporter"

Patsi Agreed! And thanks for making me smile when
I came upon your comment.

Hi Coreen,

You are so smart to not get emotionally involved in this whole thing (let's face it, you're just smart period) :). Take away the emotion, and I know all those things you say are right. Thanks.

Now its time for Meet the Press (here in CT) & Hillary is the guest for the entire show.

Are we still going on about this? I've seen police do bad things and I've seen members of minorities react with anger when it wasn't warranted. We will never know exactly what happened without the full recordings of the interactions between the two men.

I doubt the policeman profiled, but his words could have sounded offensive when he was just being forceful. The professor had just returned from a long trip and had the aggravation of his jammed door and may have responded poorly simply because it was just one more irritation in a long day.

Probably best to let it rest.

Hilary was great

" I've seen police do bad things and I've seen members of minorities react with anger when it wasn't warranted. We will never know exactly what happened without the full recordings of the interactions between the two men. "

Well said, Jamie. I see three human errors made in this story...first one made by the police, another by Prof. Gates and lastly by Obama. And I understand them all. It's now turned into a clusterf&&k.

Chloe, I assumed some were thinking I was a racist. That is why I related the story of my robber the other night.

I haven't accused anyone of anything here. I do understand that each of us have our own perceptions. It does make me sad that some think I'm a racist but I got that also when I was supporting Hillary over Obama.

look what's happening whilst we fuss and pick at nits:

"Photos from US spy satellites declassified by the Obama White House provide the first graphic images of how the polar ice sheets are retreating in the summer. The effects on the world's weather, environments and wildlife could be devastating"

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jul/26/climate-change-obama-administration

And Jamie if we just brush this under the rug, nothing gets resolved, no growth takes place. Sometimes controvery, even when it is painful, leads to better understanding. It is one time where the statement "no pain, no gain", actually can be valid.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/open-thread-weekend-1.html#comment-246731

pat,

I was just making my last comment (tongue-in-cheek) before I moved on suggesting how it all made sense to me now that I found out he's more white than black. That is, his apparent arrogance and righteous indignation. You know all those typical whitey emotions. ;-)

And the fish are waiting for Mag and me to go catch a few. It provides a wonderful time for pondering. Eat your heart out Jack.

And Chloe, I think this has been a test to see if I got this anger thing under control. I think I've got it!

Your killing me Rez. LOL

Jamie

Facts
we do know is the professor was in HIS house and he was insullted by the police officer.

Those are not in dispute

the other obvious fact to me is the police officers handled it very poorly.
As there was no crime being committed then efforts to defuse the situation should have been implimented. As Officer Crowley was the arresting officer it is obvious few if any efforts were made. Removing him from the area of the confrontation should have been the first thing done. There was no need for Officer Crowley to make the arrest, unless his fellow officers were less supportive at the time than they are now.

Jack

Speaking of perceptions. I got a short version of this Snopes piece in an email. Well worth reading about how "expectations and prejudices" can shape your actions.

http://www.snopes.com/music/artists/bell.asp

"I got that also when I was supporting Hillary over Obama."

You got that right! That's what bothered me so much when the 'angry black man' statement was made. It was constantly used against us for supporting Hillary over Barack. Constant accusations of racism, in order to diminish our opinion. Therefore, I took it personally. Like Coreen points out, our experiences affect our opinions (and reactions). That's why others can't always see where we're coming from and why we feel the way we do. We all have different things we're working on (in our minds and understanding).

... and vice versa, I realize. Therefore, empathy is hard to accomplish, sometimes, when analyzing others opinions.

"And Chloe, I think this has been a test to see if I got this anger thing under control. I think I've got it!"

Well then, I'm inspired and pledge to learn from you. I'm still a hot head, but not as bad as I used to be.

Carol, It gets me into so much trouble!

every time that you give an opinion about the cop,,and the prof.....there are hundreds of kids getting beat up by a cop.( in real time,,some framed,,some killed )...that is the difference...this one time...he said ,,he...said is bullshit....the big picture is out there...the discussion should be about the justice system,,,,instead of arguing who is right and who is wrong.....imo Jack comes the closest,,and the most consistent to what a minority goes thru....the big picture is that almost all cops are prone to take a minority to jail.,,beat a confession from him....and spend his life in jail....thanks to the devil...that there are some being released thru organizations that look at the Dna proof that gets some justice.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/open-thread-weekend-1.html#comment-246783

rez, good one.

I don't know how long you folks were planning on living, but this website may take you a while.

http://www.eol.org

If was just profiled on Sunday Morning, but you can read, consult or contribute to The Encyclopedia of Life

They are in the process of identifying, classifying, and photographing every living thing on the planet.

Patsi,

Do have enough info on the magic jack? I don't know if you saw my post to you about it, and the boost phone, that is the best program out there for a mobile phone imo.

I don't care what they say about you Jack, you've been on the money with this one, as has osh. :-)

No one ever responded to my first curiosity when this came up.

Had it been some white guy on the par of Alan Dershowitz, Larry Sumners, or David Gergen. . all Harvard profs and Cambridge residents. First, would the neighbor had the afternoon call to the police, and then would he had gone to jail regardless of his comments made to the officer. I don't think you can honestly say yes to either or both. And if not then it follows in my mind that Gates must of been correct with his characterizations.

Craig...
Maybe it's because I'm a weaver.... and weaving designs are done on a grid...
and therefore I'm used to balancing both sides. I don't really like the cropped photo cover. It feels unfinished. If it was a piece of art hanging in a museum, I'd say it was very interesting. But it doesn't work for me as a book cover. I do, however, LOVE the title "Listen Up, Mr. President".

jeff koons and cropped-head art:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-07-24/jeff-koons-destructive-impulses/

Rez- I asked Alan that for you about the call -his response- "no question," then something like -it wouldn't have happened.

Thx K, you're right, I saw your comment about AD and didn't realize you had a direct reply from an expert source. I was going on because of ping's and others' comments yesterday.

Rez,

Thanks for your input...H. Dooty should also if he is around. The first question as far as im concerened when something like this happens: Is what would have happened if it was someone else from a different race.

When KGC , shared her Chinese fire drill story.....I thought that it was funny,,,cos we have all done something like that.....there is no harm in having some fun; the second thing that came to my mind immediately.....

.what would have happened if it was a bunch of blk kids that had that Chinese fire drill,,and the police came to see what all the fuss was about......the potential of these kids being hurt right there on the spot....they would have been searched for drugs...etc.etc; and while being locked up; they would not have had it so easy as K did.

Jamie,
I just now stopped and read that piece about J Bell.:-) Interesting!

in re. the book cover: I don't understand the reason for cropping the head.......or if there IS a reason for cropping it.....is it an attention-grabber? Does it somehow convey "Buy this book" to someone book grazing? Just from being curious, I'd like to know how the decision to crop the head was reached.....

Hey Rez- its back on Fri. in the late afternoon. My computer is terribly slow today or I'd find it for you. By the way- am finally going to get to meet my cousin from OK on Labor Day. Can't wait- we're gonna hang in a beer tent at a Scottish Games all day, should be great fun.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/open-thread-weekend-1.html#comment-246806

Ha!. Hope you can understand one another's accents. :-)

OSH

I've got cousins from Oklahoma, be careful

and if you aren't be sure to say "yesum" and "no sir" to the nice policeman.

;-)

Jack

Very refreshing to see that sometime a media insider
takes his peers to task. Have been not so crazy about
Frank Rich for awhile, but this column about the passing of Walter Cronkite is really pretty good.

"And That's Not the Way It Is"

"What matters about Cronkite is that he knew when to stop being reassuring Uncle Walter & to challenge those who betrayed his audience's trust. He had the guts to confront not only those in power but his own bosses.

Given the American press's catastrophe of our own day--its failure to unmask & often even to question the White House propaganda campaign that plunged us into Iraq--these attributes are as timely as ever.".....

"What matters is content, not style. The real question is this: How many of those with similarly exalted perches in the news media today--and those perches, however diminished, still do exist in the munltichannel digital age--will speak truth to power when the country is on the line?

This journalistic reponsibility cannot be outsourced to Comedy Central & Jon Stewart."

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/26/opinion/26rich.html?pagewanted=1

The current cover isn't repugnant, sort of... but I think that this is better. It may need some refinement... some text... but the concept is there...Crawford Book

Rez-Ha! Her's is pretty heavy and I don't know about mine, but we get by on the phone all right. If I don't understand, I'll just buy us more Harp Ale till it doesn't matter.

Jack- I'll be nice be nice I love her, she's my cuz. As for the police at my home- not likely- I pitch em off my property any chance I get.

"I'd like to know how the decision to crop the head was reached....."

sturge, probably some in-house lawyer "acting stupidly"

probably bored everybody with do we or don't we have to give credit to artist, is or isn't the poster copyrighted, who owns it or is it public domain, gonna take space & $$$ folks, yada yada yada insurance yada yada bad pr and so on.
no wonder they cut off his ears.

altho the cover in consideration will make a grand poster outside the bookgsigning venues, it's a bit out of proportion for a book (unless it's going to be one of those strange sized coffee-table types).

reading back over today's comments, i didn't see where anyone called you a racist, ct; and i didn't see where ct's "wonder if" fantasy was meant as an accusation against anyone, jack and sea. i think we should all go to the white house for a beer, get drunk with the pres prof & cop buddies, and wind up dancing and singing on the portico "we are overcome"

I never said it was an accusation, just generally offensive .

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/open-thread-weekend-1.html#comment-246816

oh boy.....crabfest at the white house......

and maybe cbob can roast corn in the rose garden for all present. that is if tugboat annie can pull the maria telkes from lubbock to dc without breaking down.

y'all come!

The problem is coming from people's personal experience. Sea knows Gates, Carol works closely with law enforcement.

When the cops drew down on my son and his friends, then made Adam provide proof that he lived there (at our house) -- it had also come from some neighbor making a phone call. I was furious about the guns being drawn -- but glad as hell when the cops said "drop" -- the boys "dropped." Guns were pointed at all of them, by the way.

On the other hand, one of my close female friends is a 35 year old police officer. i know how she feels getting called to people's homes and not knowing what to expect.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RS4g9_F24NY

rock-a-billy-rocks:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JWqo5Af85E&feature=related

RE: The cover of the new book, cutting off the forehead of Uncle Sam was genius...because we all know 'old, white guys' are out of style. Perhaps we need to revamp old uncle Sam. (Just do not let Palin's camp know this...they can use it to feature Sarah as Auntie Sarah complete with stars and stripes.)

and last but certainly not yeast: "The Eskimo Boogie", by Betty Jo and Johnny Starr

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77Za4JME-8g&feature=related

Aunt Sam:

http://www.flimflams.com.au/costumes/female/unclesam.jpg

http://i631.photobucket.com/albums/uu40/MadMustard/Crawford.jpg

Well... there it is... Just add some titles...

Good one sturg.. Maybe Palin will do the boogie right on out the door of the governor's mansion today.

extremely good, mad mustard....................

Taking a break, catching too many fish and it is hot out there. Well Maggie needed a break, too much hair.

Patsi, I work with law enforcement and I will tell you I'm more often on the side of some of my inmates. I'm not just taking the cops side even though I think more people seem to be taking the other side. There is a lot of discrimination against cops also as we have seen here.

I think we can all agree on some things here. Discrimination exists! Against people of color, poor people. women, men, sexual orientation, fat, ugly, ignorance, occupation......I could keep going but the fish are calling.

I think I have learned some thing here. One is that we need to teach people, especially those who have no one to advocate for them, that they must be careful in how they behave in the presence of law enforcement. They may be right but dead right or injuried right or encarcerated right is not a good way to be right. Maybe it won't help but I am here to tell you that acting the opposite way is a sure way to get your ass in a crack even if you're connected.

As I have mentioned I have been treated like shit by law enforcement. Still am at times even at my job. Those of us in the medical department are low people on the totum pole.

Another thing I would like to suggest and that is, that if you feel strongly about advocating for those who are victims of discrimination, there are many in your local communities who could use your help. You all have a local jail and many could use some help. They don't have fancy jobs. They have no one to stand up for them and no platform with the media. Some even die without a mention.

I know you do advocate for those who need help in your community and neighborhood Jack and I respect you for it.

Actually, I guess the first dude will be doing the Yupiit Eskimo boogie today.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/open-thread-weekend-1.html#comment-246836

bravo, mad mustard. and there's plenty of space on your version for all the same text & title scribner has on the prototype.

http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/sarahpalin/ig/Sarah-Palin-Pictures/Palin-Wants-You.htm

C-Span 2
10 PM Tonight
Re-play of 2006 discussion with Prof. Gates

Mr Mustard -
Here's yer " Atta Boy " .

The Gates thing is amazing...I have never heard that many cops responding to a B&E. When I lived in Denver, I called for what I thought was a burglary in progress and I was told "how do you know.?" I was basically told to mind my own business. I know in LA, so many burglar alarms go off, that police do not follow-up on the calls. So, Cambridge must have a responsive, albeit overweight, police force to want to stop a domestic burglary in progress. Too bad real crime doesn't get this much attention.

Craig if you and Helen really want to sell a lot of books. Put Micheal Jackson's head on Uncle Sam .

Thought for the day :
" There are two sides to every question, politicians take both. "

One of the more amusing quirks of the “birther” movement is the quality of the legal minds in whom Obama birth certificate obsessives are placing their trust — and their occasional donations. Phil Berg, the original “birther” lawyer, has been forced to pay out sanctions for legal malpractice. Orly Taitz, famously, got her law degree from an online correspondence school. And it turns out that Charles Lincoln, who has been assisting Taitz — he provided judges with amended complaints in Keyes et al v. Obama et al last week and he showed up at the last hearing on the case— has been disbarred in California, as well as Florida and Texas.

http://washingtonindependent.com/51798/key-birther-lawyer-was-disbarred-in-2004

" if you and Helen really want to sell a lot of books. Put Micheal Jackson's head on Uncle Sam . "

ROFL!

BOOK COVER
Uncle Sam represents the government, with or without a chopped off head. From the title I would suggest that you need to represent the people not the government. A large group of people all pointing.

Californians, what say you about this article?

http://www.randomlengthsnews.com/content/view/305/83/

If you are going to use Uncle Sam, then the Mad Mustard version is better than the publishers version

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/open-thread-weekend-1.html#comment-246852

"we the people" are the gov't and it r us

ergo, mm's rendition captures the thrust of "listen up, mr president" in all it's complexity

oops. that last remark was to p-i-t

"my book with Helen"

craig, does helen refer to it that way?
or does she say it's her book with this young whippersnapper craig whatshisname?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/open-thread-weekend-1.html#comment-246855
patd,
We the people are not the government! As long as we use representatives, they are the government, not us. Our representatives believe that the Constitution of the United States starts with WE THE CORPORATIONS of the United States NOT with WE THE PEOPLE of the United States! I believe it is called do the bidding of the money.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/open-thread-weekend-1.html#comment-246854
Jamie,
If Helen and Craig must use an Uncle Sam, then you are right the Mad Mustard version is better.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/open-thread-weekend-1.html#comment-246850
C-Bob,
Regarding the birthers, http://politicalwire.com/archives/2009/07/24/mccain_lawyers_investigated_obama_citizenship.html?referrer=js
McCain Lawyers Investigated Obama Citizenship
David Weigel talked with Trevor Potter and other lawyers for Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign who said that they did look into the Obama citizenship rumors and found them without merit.

I am sure that the wacko wing of the Republican party will not believe McCain's lawyers anymore than they will FactCheck.org.

listen up, mr. president

if they asked me we could write a book
about the way you waver, waffle, and duck.

we could write a preface on where you stand
so they can see you're just on sand.

the simple secret of the plot
is just to tell them what you are not

then the world discovers as our book ends
how good reporters can't be your friends.

(my apologies to the real songmeister)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGuaoiI1bSc

I will start with Craig's offer today..."Your Comments on any topic are welcome, as always." I am taking him up on that offer.

Pat, I didn’t say anyone called me a racist but I wrote “I assumed some were thinking I was a racist.” I’m glad we have what we write documented.. I hope I have not accused anyone here of anything. If so I apologize and please do site it.

I have tried to explain that I realize that everyone does have their own perceptions based on their own personal experiences. We all agree on that. It’s not about right and wrong, it is just about each of our perceptions.

I am aware, though, of what has been written to me: that I “…continue on with the insensitivity.”, that I “…continue on this bizarre tangent.”, that I’m “…going for the angry black man who deserves what he gets theory” and been called “”absurd” and again, “insensitive”. All in a day’s work I guess.

I do have a tendency to side with those who seem to be the underdog at the time so I guess I am asking for trouble.( ie, Hillary, Michael Jackson and now the police officer)

I don’t actually think the Prof. should have been arrested but I do believe his behavior begged for it. Of course I am going on what has been reported and some of it may be incorrect. I also don’t think it would have ever happened if he had just been civil.

Also, I was under the impression that this blog is a forum for debate, that we all have the right to express our opinions here and to be able to do so without being personally attacked.

Carol

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/open-thread-weekend-1.html#comment-246853

Patsi

I think Ahnold is trying to get the legislature reduced to a part time body - I think that is part of his agenda.

California used to be the cadillac of state government and now we are the tata.

Craig -
After much consideration, I too think the jacket design is rather poor.

It muddies up the point of the book.

Tell Scribner to sub contract it to Mad Mustard.

Ah TMers, Lord Tallowbottom, aka Lardass, needs our good vibes. The health industry has him in its grip, poking holes into his brain to remove some damn cyst that caused him to take an unscheduled nap (rather suddenly, in fact -- the med folks call it a "seizure") during his Friday workout at gym. More later, as the "world's greatest" health care system attends to one of our favorite curmudgeons.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/open-thread-weekend-1.html#comment-246739

Carol, I sure hope you know I never called you insensitive. The time I 'quoted' it, it was not meant for you.

Craig,

I'm so sorry to hear about Lard. I hope you'll keep us informed, and let us know if there's anything we can do.

Hmmm...........Lardman vs. the health care system..........my money's on the Lardman.............

sending Lard good vibes...I'm not that far away so I'm sure they will get through.....

From the " I wish I wrote this file " -

the dow is a mood ring for the top 5 percent.

Posted by BluePearl
July 23, 2009 11:10 PM |

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/open-thread-weekend-1.html#comment-246870

doctors stirring round in the old brain pot, can't be good

Got all my fingers and toes crossed for good luck.

Jack

Tony -- Lard is at ORMC, the big house on Orange Ave. Surgeon says he got it all, but nobody knows for sure until the lab rats. My guess is that cancer can't hardly stand to be in the same room, much less the same brain cells, as LARDASS!!! They don't have a chance.

Shiny side up Lard , shiny side up .

Best wishes to TMers, Lord Tallowbottom, aka Lardass in his recovery.

Tony is right, he is not that far away.

Uh--as the new knobite on the block--make that the ONLY knobite on the block--I have no idea who Lord Tallowbottom is, but best wishes & etc. to him.???

oh heck, he'll hate me for this, but i cannot help myself. if anybody wants to give Lard a call or stop by if you're in O'ville area, lemme know and i'll pass along his post-op room info once i get it:

cqtrailmix@verizon.net

PHILADELPHIA - Is it any surprise that a city known for its love of cheesesteaks, soft pretzels and cannolis would embrace a solar-powered trash compactor called a BigBelly?

In the largest rollout yet, Philadelphia has replaced 700 downtown trash bins with 500 of the high-tech compactors, which use solar energy to condense trash — cutting down collection trips by 75 percent.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32110044/ns/us_news-environment/

"I was under the impression that this blog is a forum for debate, that we all have the right to express our opinions here and to be able to do so without being personally attacked."

Carol- that is what this blog is about,so carry on and give us your opinions...I learned during the Dem.primaries even some of my best friends didn't agree with some of my opinions and that's OK..It really was implied I was a racist by an older lady friend Betty at my gym!! I supported Hillary and she said i know you don't support Obama because he's black...Shocking but true,oh i was hurt..I told Vince and he said I should shock the shit out of her and introduce us but I said let her have ignorance if it gives her comfort...

"I see three human errors made in this story...first one made by the police, another by Prof. Gates and lastly by Obama. And I understand them all. It's now turned into a clusterf&&k."

Patsi
Absolutely correct!!

In the bone-dry San Antonio-Austin area, the conditions that started in 2007 are being compared to the devastating drought of the 1950s. There have been 36 days of 100 degrees or more this year in an area where it's usually closer to 12.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090726/ap_on_re_us/us_texas_drought_water

Craig...

I'm nowhere near Orlando, so please wish Lardass a speedy and complete recovery from me! I've been wondering where he was...but I'm sad to get the answer....

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/open-thread-weekend-1.html#comment-246853

Patsi,

Whoever wrote that simply doesn't know Arnold. What he was saying to anyone with an open mind is that as with anyone of means, the decisions and cuts made my the legislature will not affect him personally. He has a very dry sense of humor and was simply telling the truth in the most graphic way possible.

For years the voters of California have turned down virtually all taxes. Prop 13 saved the homes of thousands of seniors. It also let corporations off the hook for the past 30 years. Those same businesses have traded in illegal aliens with no reimbursement from the Federal government to cover their expenses including schools, health care, and crime.

For decades the legislature has refused to deal with those problems as the state doubled its population with all their demands and costs over the past 30 years, including a huge percentage living below the poverty line. It simply doesn't matter who the governor might be. It is ungovernable.

Arnold won't talk about his charities that much. Let's just leave it that he is not some souless viper sucking on a stogie. He is a kind and generous man who has a job that literally without major changes no one could do.

I think I've read all (well, maybe most) of the comments here about the Gates dust up, and I've not seen this mentioned. Prof. Gates was 'invited' onto the porch by the Officer Crowley. As long as Gates remained inside his house, he could not be arrested. As soon as he stepped onto his porch, arrest became an option. I heard Ronald Reagan read Officer Crowley's report on air a couple of days ago and, unless Reagan changed the report to suit his purposes, it looks to me as if Officer Crowley manipulated Prof. Gates.

Craig,

My best wishes to Lardass, knight of the wry wit and brilliant one liner. If anyone can kick the unwanted out of his head, he is the one to do it.

Best wishes Lard. It was cancer? Did he just find out he had cancer or has he had some type of cancer before?

Is he awake and talking? What part of the brain? It would kind of help not to have quite as much frontal lobe when blogging here.

Oh Chloe, I know. I can always count of you to have my back and I want to sincerely thank you for that girl. Aren't we soul mates?

I don't want anyone to think that I think anyone needs to agree with me. I do enjoy a little controversy. And sometimes I take up for those I feel don't have a voice here, unless it'is a perv. Can't think of any reason to take up for a perv.

And thanks Tony.

HW

Here is the report. Read it for yourself. My impression is that both parties were at fault and behaving badly.

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0723092gates1.html

just watched the josephine baker movie on BET.......the movie ended with her all glittered up and singing "The times they are a'changing" as a soulful type ballade........ver' naize..........

the real ms baker:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfBKUKauGgc&feature=related

ms baker:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfBKUKauGgc&feature=related

Craig....
please give Lardass all my blogger love.... I will be telling the universe to get off it's frickin' butt and heal him pronto....

Jamie.... when you said the other day that the Gates discussion was "spirited"...
you forgot to put the word "mean" in front of it....

My sourdough starter is well, starting ................... nature just blows my mind.

Good Carol, I was worried.
Yes we are soul mates, and you can count on me always having your back, no matter what.

Renee,

It got pretty rough for those of us who didn't think Gates walked on water and Crowley was an exemplar of the racist police state.

Just saying that there was fault on both sides and that both men should have known better was tatamount to siding with the KKK.

sorry .......that 2nd one should have been:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A33yiAZvVdk&feature=related

ct:

I never think your posts even come close to be insulting or offensive - regardless of how heated a topic becomes.

That is probably because you always have Maggie near your side keeping you grounded in reality.

(Btw, Hillary was no underdog my dear ; )

because the world is round it turns me on...........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pbcIKYSV3g&feature=PlayList&p=2D6AE89B7088793E&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=18

think i'll go and talk to sidi's mule for awhile.........

So Jamie are you siding with the
Of course Gates was guilty because black people have been taught to respond that way to the police.
(and that has been posted by someone on this site, I'm not making it up)

Nobody has called you or anybody else racist here
So cut the crap
BTW Jamie
You missed the big old gaping hole in that report.

How did officer friendly get in the house if the Professor was so belligerent?

Jack

think i'll go and talk to sidi's mule for awhile.........

Tell em' Bob says hay.

Does any know what the cost is to the U.S. Government for a Single and a Family Health Plan for our Congress People?

Jamie, Are you seriously claiming that I sided with the KKK?

Bethy

I suspect Jamie is trying to spank me for something I said to Carol this morning.

Notice I don't spank easy.
I was a bit harsh and you would not approve but it needed to be pointed out.
Some times we say what we intend sometimes our words are not carrying the message we want them too.

Jack

Harboroman-you've got it exactly,his mistake was walking out the door.

Patsi, - thanks for the translation,sincerely, , but my position is based on LAW in Ma not emotion and life experiences.
Chloe- no certainly it was meant for me. Say whatever you want, Ct's morning epiphany was nothing but an offensive rationalization.

Agreed, Jamie. Both parties behaved badly. However, it doesn't escape my notice that only one of them had the power of the pen in this case. Officer Crowley got to write the report.

Like Carol, I worked in corrections for a lot of years...27 of them. I've seen the difference between an incident report as written up by staff, and the reality of the incident as witnessed by myself. Most people, when reporting an incident in which they were involved, tend to make themselves look better than the opposing party. Can't say that happened here, but can say I believe that to be human nature.

Also, I'm happy to report that our nurses were definitely NOT low people on the totem pole at the institution where I worked. They were, in fact, very highly regarded.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/open-thread-weekend-1.html#comment-246906

Read it again Bethy, I'm saying that those who viewed Gates as a complete innocent in the confrontation thought those of us who felt there was fault on both sides were prejudiced.

While ya'll were here fighting today, I was riding in the back of a stretch Hummer limosine.

"those who viewed Gates as a complete innocent in the confrontation"

Bethy, Im going to be a bad boy again

Prove it Jamie,
That statement is a bald faced lie

Jack

message from the mule:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0Ww8dWnLds

(and he laughed his ass off at the "hay" crack.........)

corey.......how you do dat?

http://themitchellblog.blogspot.com/

My niece turns 21 tomorrow. My sister decided to rent a limo and pick her up from work today. So, we all hopped in the back of a stretch Hummer and went to Taco Bell and then we went out to the beach. It was my first time in a limo. Pretty cool. I posted pics on my blog.

Sturg...
I'll one up ya.... here's an even better message....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-NRriHlLUk&feature=fvw

Jamie, Whew! I hoped that that was what you meant.

I have to say that I'm kind of disappointed at a lot of what's being said. If you go back most of the way, I think the stuff being said to Carol is truly unfair. Make no mistake, Sea, you also exercised your rights with gusto.

Frankly, I disagree with a lot of the opinions I read here,but considering the sources, I decide not to even react because I feel there's something to be learned from opposing opinions. All your opinions are worthy, everyone. The stories of mis-treatment are horrible and show me lessons from a life I never once came near, whether they side with Gates or Crowley.

How can you talk to each other like that, with people you seem to enjoy at other times? Do you really dis-like each other and keep it pent up? Couldn't you have just said you hate those wordsand those ideas without calling people names or demeaning their motives?

Rez, I agree with you that if a noted white man had been in Gates' place, it probably would have been different. For one thing, the neighbor probaly wouldn't have called the cops. Now there's a profiler. Also, I'll bet we see the neighbor was white - also profiling. She might be white, or asian, or european, or middle eastern, or even black because there are blacks who are very angry with other blacks and black-on-black .crime.

Further, tho, a white man might not reacted the same way. If he had , what are the chances he'd have gone to jail? Not strong, perhaps. However, the possibility that the whole thing was a publicity stunt would certainly have come up. White celebs are generally accused of such doings, so why is it wrong for Carol to mention it, especially as a minor joke?

Now I know I'm one to take offense at nothing, but I have to say if this post were printed on paper, it would be on fire just from the anger and hatred spewed out.

I agree with Jamie that those of us who saw both men as making mistakes have been tossed aside as klanners or worse. Both men should have known better and owe it to the people to bring something good a nd progressive out of this.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/open-thread-weekend-1.html#comment-246890

"And thanks Tony."
Hey Carol
Just keep being you..Glad you like fishing cause its really the simple pleasures that count,like TM...

"Btw, Hillary was no underdog my dear ; )"

Oh Warren
You funny yet again....

Hey Warren, I really work at not being offensive. Working at a jail/prison presents me with lots of opportunities to be and gives me lots of opportunities to learn to control that urge. And Maggie does do some editing. Too bad she isn't any better than I am at spelling and punctuation.

But I'll have to admit I have had some angry thoughts at times. I even yelled at my sister, who was here visiting, when she disturbed me while writing something. I'm no saint. I do like to study and try to understand people. I want to understand.

That is why this morning I was trying to come with a reason a distinquished prof. representing a very distinquished university would even want to show his ass, that is, if he actually did. Now if he were at a protest rally it would make sense but not at your home when someone is trying to investigate a potential robbery.

As a member of the university faculty here for 23 years I was aware that my behavior in the community would reflect on the university. Of course compared to Harvard, I taught at Podunk U.

I also can't understand why a cop, supposed to be schooled and doing schooling in racial relations would haul in a distinquished university prof.? Wouldn't he realize this would cause of huge stir.

All of it is kind of crazy. Does not compute. I want answers.

Why haven't we heard a single word from any of those so called witnesses that were supposed to be around. Where are the investigative reporters on this. The news media just wants to offer their opinion but doesn't want to do any investigating???

I do agree that both parties made mistakes. It is really a toss up. And Obama, our president, screwed the pooch also. He wasn't involved in the heat of the moment passion. He rushed to judgement, live on TV and did it with a potentially volitile situation. Not good for a Commander In Chief.

Yes, Obama ratcheted it up and that means 'I'm guilty'
so I was happy with that comment, and he owned up to it. Now we have to wait.

LL...sending energy fo you to get the hell out of there as fast as you can! : )

Actually Obama is being the role model I was looking for. The way to be right all the time is to admit it when you're wrong, and he just did. The question is whether the other two clowns can learn.

Lardass, keep your spirits up and use positive thought from all of us to get you homw whee you can enjoy another kind of spirits!

"agree with Jamie that those of us who saw both men as making mistakes have been tossed aside as klanners or worse. "
Bethy

You made the statement
Get out there and prove it

That is a pure bullshit statement. with no fact to back it up.
Niether you and jamie have not been attacked .

The only person who has had anything pointed out to them is Carol and I would like an explanation from her. For she has repeatedly used the "angry blackman" and you can't rattle on like she has done for the last several days and not have somebody ask the question.

Jack

And Warren Hillary may not have been the underdog but at the dogfight, they kind of had Hillary chained up. It certainly didn't feel like a fair fight to me.

Jack,

I didn't have to look hard:

Carol
Let me callem as I seeum

Bullshit!!

so you are going for the angry black man who deserves what he gets theory.

Poor defenseless police man.

God what a crock of shit

Jack

And Bethy, Obama only did that after the shit hit the fan. From some of the things said, it sounded like he was encouraged to do that by others.

LOL
Jamie you loose.

Jack

Jack,

You seem to have missed that Carol is black, that she works and assists many who are black. Her experience is such that she knows behavior can cause problems yet you attacked her as if she were wearing a sheet.

At no point did she say that Prof. Gates deserved to be arrested. She simply stated that he contributed to the encounter going out of control.

Anger in the black community may be righteous anger due to past and ongoing mistreatment. That doesn't mean that all encounters with authority should be greeted with anger and suspicion. The benefit of a doubt on both sides would go a long way to resolving those conflicts.

Jack, please site one example where I ever wrote angry blackman. Just one example. Please!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/open-thread-weekend-1.html#comment-246929

What did I lose. Just by constantly calling Officer Crowley "Officer FRiendly", you displayed your own prejudices rather than a willingness to allow the full facts to be known before making a judgement.

----------------------------------------

Officer Friendly was either stupid or was racist.
Remember for cops it is all about power, it's their job , it's their life.. In Cambridge , Harvard Proffessors are people of power, you don't go into the house of a Harvard professor and treat him like shit, no matter what his race. That officer Friendly did so means one of two things,

1 he did not view a Black Harvard Professor as a person of power, which would be racist. Or
2 He is just plain stupid and deliberately antagonises people of power.

The world assures me he is not stupid so that only leaves racist. The fact that he teaches racial profiling classes just demonstrates the poor quality of instruction.

Jack

Even Officer Friendly's follow police officers know he was stupid, even as they publicly deny it

Jack

I just saw the Fox gang piling on Obama's handling of the situation. Between that and the tension on this blog - I think we just all need to realize that racism is still a touchy issue. It is not easy to talk about - and we should try not to make it any harder...

No Jamie, I'm not black but I do work with many black people and I'm an advocate for many. But I never said angry blackman, at least not while I was awake. I would remember that.

BTW

I stand by that statement I made to Carol this morning
I have been biting my tongue for several days over her rambling statements.
Not to you or anyone else as you broadly claimed.

there is one thing about the path I've traveled on race and prejudice, It has made me examine my assumptions repeatedly. It is hard path and I've travel a long way along it so when I see a person making a number of false assumptions over several days I have to wonder just how hard are they really trying to work on theirs.

Jack

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29jDI9flryU

And Jack you are reading things into what I write that I haven't written. Believe me I do feel you disgust.

Im surprised that "Clockwork Orange" hasnt worked its way into the conversation somehow..........

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/open-thread-weekend-1.html#comment-246870

Another good reason for avoiding exercise.

Needless to say, Lard has my best wishes for an uneventful and speedy recovery!!

Bethyboo sed:
"Now there's a profiler. Also, I'll bet we see the neighbor was white - also profiling." and

"Further, tho, a white man might not reacted the same way. If he had , what are the chances he'd have gone to jail? Not strong, perhaps."

Perhaps. . that's it? Maybe Gates wasn't far off with his expectations of having been profiled based on what you say Bethy. Further, I guessing a white man (any class) would have been as indignant if not more than Gates in his own home. A black cop. forget it!

I don't think anyone has suggested Gates was 'innocent' or correct in his actions. .just normal and within his rights.

The Cover.

It's good, but I'd prefer the full bust of Uncle Sam in profile vs the frontal view.

Sounds to me like Gates is something of a jerk.

Be careful Flatus.

Having a friend who is a cop makes my perspective different on some of this. I had a black friend in Adrian who was pulled over for running a red light many years ago. The cop who pulled him over was white. When the cop got to his car he asked him, 'What did I do, officer?" The officer answered, "You ran a red light back there." My friend said, "No, I didn't. The light was yellow when I went through it." It didn't matter, he lost the argument. The cop looked into his backseat and he saw a plastic baggy/wrapper on the seat. "What's that?!" he asked my friend as if he thought it was a bag for weed. "It's a Little Debbie wrapper." answered my friend. I could see where my friend would have taken serious offense at that.

And the Sgt was put in the position of playing situational law enforcement. To wit, if the miscreant is important, unlawful behavior should be ignored--no matter what race the individual might be.

And Jamie it is kind of difficult to prove I never wrote angry blackman. But it would be easier to prove that I did, if I did. I never found any example of those words except by Jack and then when I repeated that I never used the words.

It does make me angry when I am slandered.

Jack, Admittedly, the word klan was not used. However, the idea that both men made mistakes has not been responded to, altho Carol has made such references.

Some of us agree with both sides and aren't interested in assigning blame. I've mentioned before, one of my favorite proverbs is Cuban - the blame never falls on the floor. Here there is plenty of blame to go around and this time the blame belongs on the floor, otherwise the chore will have to go back to the beginning of civilization, and will accomplish nothing.

The two sides are essentially telling others that they are wrong and insensitive because we don't know how bad it is.

I will grant that I haven't been in such situations, but I'm not stupid or without experience. Any voice here today except the two opposing voices have been tossed aside and not considered which puts me and some others on the wrong side by each side. So both sides think I'm wrong; I'm just not getting yelled at for it.

Carol has an unusual perspective, working in a southern prison with a big black population. You have an unusual perspective, as a community organizer working with many immigrants. Why is it so hard for you to see what the other has to offer as information rather than attack?

So, my proof is there, in the lack of response to stands and pleas to get some progress out of it all.
That seems to say to me that I am wrong, and that one of the men was absolutely correct and I would recognize that if I weren't either a n*****lover or a racist.

Even if you don't accept that as proof, Jack, I absolutely
reject the statement that what Jamie and I have said is a lie. I'm not a liar, and Jamie isn't either, and I don't think you are. We are stating an opinion, and based on your usual posts I would be surprised to hear you categorize an opinon as a lie, whether it is Jamie's or mine or anybody else's.

Corey

My stepfather was a deputy sheriff. It is the nature of the job that they have to think like the bad guys in order to catch the bad guys. Even in the best, this sometimes leads to sounding suspicious for a simple reason, they are suspicious until given a reason not to be.

It doesn't matter what shade you are, it is always best to tread lightly around them. If they cross the line, complain after the fact.

The point is that none of us were there. All we have are "he said" "he said". If Crowley was overbearing, that will come out. If Gates played the race card when there was no reason to play it, that will come out.

Crowley could have been on edge because walking into a potential break in alone and not knowing exactly what he was facing made him edgy and sounding harsh. Gates, tired from a long journey and irritable from the problem with his door could have been confrontational.

The assumption of fault on either side without the facts is useless.

Based on my understanding of the 'break-in' scenario, I would have insisted that Prof Gates step outside his front door while I examined his identification.

If the ID checked out, I would have asked him if he was absolutely certain the house was completely secure when he arrived home. If he said words to the effect, 'of course it was, you dope, that's why I was forced to break in!' that would have ended the incident.

I would have thanked the good professor and would have wished him adieu.

IMO, the situation deteriorated when the prof declined to view the potential danger of the situation from the cop's point of view.

Rez, I think if Gates ahd been white and acted as he did, perhaps he might not have gone to jail, but there's also a good chance he would have. I don't accept either as a given. Frankly, a white man might have acted worse than Gates. That's why it's useless to speculate - might have, perhaps - all these adverbs aren't facts and people are trying to form opinion using adverbs!

I mean that since we all assume the neighbor was white, we are also guilty of profiling.

I do think some are saying that Gates was faultless. He certainly sees it that way. Some are saying that the cop was faultless. He certainly sees it that way.

I am complaining basically re the way tm'ers are talking to each other and things they are saying and suggesting. Stereotyping has been going on here big time and it doesn't sound good and it doesn't reflect what this place usually is.

I think they're all wrong and childish.

"Some important black woman, I don't remember her name, was on CNN last night saying that AA are taught by their peers to be very uncooperative with the police. Most of us are taught to just kiss their asses if we want a break. There is where the honey/vinegar lesson comes in"

This is the one that floored me Carol
As if this has anything to do with reality or Professor Gates.
Yet you appear to eat it up
So who is taught by their peers? Old black people?
No,
There is only one group where that might apply and that would be juveniles.Professor Gates is not a juvenile.

As I said removing unwarranted prejudice is a daily task and it is a lifetime task.

Jack

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/open-thread-weekend-1.html#comment-246947

Carol
I'm sorry...I understand..I was of the opinion it was racism on the part of the officer until I saw CNN's Don Lemon and his interviews with the Black police officers..It changed my whole perspective on Gates and officer Crowley...I'm with Jamie and I think you, they all acted improperly..I also agree with the President it was stupid to arrest Gates they should have just left this 58 year old guy alone in his own home and overlooked his talking back to them...I think the President errored in making it an issue though as it became the story instead of healthcare...

The situation kind of reminds me of something that happened almost 40-years ago.

This civilian pilot landed his light aircraft, at night, at our SAC base instead of the civilian field a few miles away. The fact that he did something inappropriate became apparent when he was totally surrounded by umpteen cops brandishing M-16s.

The guy's aircraft engine was still running.

Rather than turning the ignition off, the head EOD feller stood well clear of the aircraft and had the pilot reach into the airplane and turn off the switch.

The instinct for self-preservation displayed by the EOD NCO was admirable and reflected his excellent training.

We kept the pilot, and his airplane, until daylight then let him fly away.

BAck to important issues. Kennedy makes final push for healthcare from his sickbed

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-na-kennedy26-2009jul26,0,4435929.story?track=rss

Recovery of Grey Wolves endangered

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-na-wolves26-2009jul26,0,1090149.story?track=rss

Let's talk about something that has long term outcomes.

Flatus- that might work for your state but that is not the law in this Commonwealth.

Jack, I see where you're going, Jack.. I don't get the idea that Carol ate it up.

By the same token, Gates might have been taught that as a child. I know nothing re his childhood. The only times I've seen him I seem to remember thinking he was a little testy as if he impatient with stupidity - considering his achievements, that would make sense.

I also think that more and more black kids are learning to not react negatively, those who live in racially diverse neighborhoods. The students who, years ago, complained to me most re police roughness were white.

Unwarranted prejudice will always be around and should be guarded against, but calling people names and scorning them is not the way to fight it.

Jack- don't bother wasting your energy anymore. Not worth it.

Bethy,

Nothing's a given here except Gates went to jail. And btw you're the one saying someone was a profiler. I only suggested that maybe he might be correct in his assumptions according to your perceptions. Nobody said or suggested Gates was faultless. Jack was asking to be shown that. It was stated that according to what we know Gates appeared to be acting within his rights, not that he was blameless or smart. This discussion dates back to Thursday and many then including me declared the pointless surmise because we didn't know all the facts and that our opinions are colored by our experiences in like situation and in general.

Jack, it has been said on this blog by several here, and myself, that they try to be very polite and cooperative, and have been taught to, when confronted by the police. You are welcome to go back and look. And that is what I have been taught. It is the honey/vinegar lesson.

Being cooperative certainly makes the situation easier to deal with and sometimes it gets you off the hook. Being angry just stirs up more anger.

I have inmates who come in to see me very angry. It's not me that they are angry with, they are angry with their plight but take it out on me because I'm there. When confronted with anger, it is usually my first response to want to be angry back. In the beginning I often was. But then it just turned into a really angry situation where the inmate lost but I didn't feel good about myself either.

I now prepare myself, and I have to be prepared for it, to become very quiet,, when confronted by anger until the inmate cools off. It almost always works and I don't have to feel bad about myself.

The prof is an educated man, not a street kid who doesn't understand the goings on in this world. I have not attacked him. I have not just taken up for the police officer. I would just like to understand it all. None of it makes sense.

I have been less hard on the prof then some others here who you have not gone after. That leads me to believe that it is not necessarily what I am saying but how you feel about me personally. I accept that.

And yes Jack, I do ramble a lot.

Jamie, did you hear the dragonflies are vacationing down here?

And doing you a favor Jack and signing off. Nite everyone.

Carol,

Yes I did see the remark about the dragonflies. Of course there are thousands of species and apparently the ones in Britain aren't doing all that well.

I think it is important to note one thing.

The facts don't matter.

Of course they would be first and foremost if this ever came to be a case - but it is not. It is a debate about larger issues.

And people are seeking to get those points across based on - and in spite of - the facts.

But instead of actually discussing those larger issues - people focus in on the facts and try to create a winner and a loser. The good guy and the bad guy. Who needs to apologize...

Well life ain't like that. And we shouldn't lose sight of what we hope to accomplish going into such a conversation before we get tangled up in the facts - and the emotion.

Holy shit,

You guys are still talking about the stupid cop, and the prof...4 day's now. I told Tony that ...this was going t happen. If you want to blame someone,,,blame Obama..he should not have said anything...there are more important things for him to do...than to get into a mix with these two nuts....

I talked to 3 of my nephews....Bobby is a crime investigation detective, about 15 years on the force...Criminal law in school....Charlie is a sgt. at the 5th dist of Chicago...pretty bad area...Al is a State cop......Rick a 4th ex cop...said that he will always side with the home owner,,,is he is already inside of his own house! They said (about the cop having and ego...not about race. That the neighborhood alone...not being dangerous...that he should not have had the same danger,,,use all caution,,,but that it was obvious after a few min.

They all said that the cop did not enough to go,,,,not enough probable cause....and that the prof ...should have just let it go...Me I told you....I would file this under....even if your right...you are wrong on this one ,,,for both of them........

Warren,

Here is what I said this am.......there are much more larger issues to straighten out..before these two nuts...one is a proffersor,,,he will live thu it,,,,the other is a prick cop....he will live thru it.....there are a lot of kids getting hurt....beat up as we speak...the justice system is what we should be talking about.......

I posted about a judge that was sending young kids to prison....now one wanted to talk about them.....what happened is that the jail was going to loose the government grant $ couse they did not have enough inmates....the Judges made millions from sending innocent kids to jail.......guess what color they were......lot more..but.........

Rez, I do indeed think there was probably one incident of profiling and that was the neighbor. As for the rest, I felt a lot of the discussion came from feeling that either Gates or Crowley was guilty of profiling, and that's why feelings were so high.

I wasn't picking a fight with you, altho I guess it seems like it to you. Perception and meaning are not always even.

I'm not sure what you refer to as to the proof Jack was asking for. My problem has been the nastiness of the comments, with scorn and hatred. Is all the friendliness here a fake? I was stunned at some of it that went to Carol. I like everyone here very much and it disturbs me to read the vitriol instead of understanding and respect.

I love the views into lives of people with such different backgrounds from mine. Jack's projects, Sea's nulti-tasking and ingenious ability to earn a living, Carol's ability to deal with medicine and criminals and life on the river, MQW's experiences on THE river, Renee making a living by making beauty;Jamie and Patsi making a living by writing, your own experience as a native american, Xr and Pogo and Warren as attorneys, Solar just as Solar , Flatus and his Korean family - I learn and enjoy so much from everone here. I am always aware of how different I am from everyone here and I find it hard to understand how anyone can forget it. This outbreak of viciousness has bothered me. I just hope it's over. That's it from me.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/open-thread-weekend-1.html#comment-246793

Solar - I think I heard about that one . . . up in PA? That was awful.

Just caught up with the threads....looks like a battle filed with lots of casualties....This is what Religion looks like....pick a side and defend it....never seeing that Religion is the problem...in any race conversation...the system is the problem...the system builds the jails that are corp. owned,,,they need the bodies to fill the jails,,,I help pour concrete for one...at 26th and Calif.....thousands of yards of concrete,,,,lot of space to fill....they did...with bullshit crimes ,,and force admission of guilt...they beat it out of them......that's it from me....this is all just my side against yours since Thursday....there is no amount of intellectualism,,,that will resolve this...there needs to be a step by step look at our penal system....whey do you think that they won't pass a sensible M J law...most minorities..is all that they can afford...against the law..means filling the cell rooms.......

About that book cover.....Its perfect....They are about to chew the head off the president....Hellen, and Craig....people know that she has the gut s to write the truth ,,,and we all know that Craig does too...so it really stand out to me.

Bethy, No problem, not interested in fighting with you or anyone else. These discussions arouse the passion in many of us and I enjoy being a part of it. For the third time I'm done until it starts up again. :-)

This should get your blood up; it does to me....5,000 kids in prison...by some judge that did not care about other human biengs......it is all about GREED!...Oh this article did not have it...but they are very religious they said.

AMY GOODMAN: An unprecedented case of judicial corruption is unfolding in Pennsylvania. Several hundred families have filed a class-action lawsuit against two former judges who have pleaded guilty to taking bribes in return for placing youths in privately owned jails. Judges Mark Ciavarella and Michael Conahan are said to have received $2.6 million for ensuring that juvenile suspects were jailed in prisons operated by the companies Pennsylvania Child Care and a sister company, Western Pennsylvania Child Care. Some of the young people were jailed over the objections of their probation officers. An estimated 5,000 juveniles have been sentenced by Ciavarella since the scheme started in 2002.

In addition to the jailing of the youths, the judges also admitted to helping “facilitate” the construction of private jails. The US attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Martin Carlson, unveiled the charges last month.

Hey Craig,

Any idea yet if you and Helen will both get to do the book tour tee vee bits (i.e., the Daily Show, or, even better, the Colbert Report) together, or will it just be Helen (since she's the better-known of the two of you, BUT NOT NECESSARILLY EVERYONE'S FAVORITE OR THE BETTER AUTHOR HERE, I'm just saying)?

Warren,

Sorry,,,gave bad info...the kids that these two judges locked up....were mostly white. Just wanted to correct that...but it is still the same to me.

Bethy, "Solar just as Solar"....kinda hard to describe I guess HA!

Solar, That's right. You defy description! or definition?
That's all to the good, except this obsession you have with outer space and living forever and heads going into space!

Bethy,,,you are funny when it comes to that...so I tease you with it a little...I would not want to live forever...just my head; sometime in the future: When we are living at Mars..just to see how it is...the getting there is the interresting part......The Moon Landing....altho, Military in nature ( the reason for going....lazer weapons) it will make it possible to go,,,just think of a space craft that will take about 1,000 years to get some where...all of the people will be frozen...there flight attendents will have 4 arms no legs...they won't need to walk..just pull them selves around.....and take care of us......we have two seats...by the window.......this what you mean: Solar just being Solar...hahaha...glad that you are better teach.

Jack,,,,I just want to say to you: It does not matter if you are right or wrong. I thank you or your passion in helping your neighbors with all of the things that you do...specially when you are at those police meetings.....people like you make a diff to defenseless people...You live it with them...and understand....they are luck to have you around.

Get well soon, Lard. Sure, they may call you "Lord" now, but I remember you when you were just a kid from Dayton, Ohio; with two bad knees and a dream to play baseball...

...and stop causing trouble, Jack. How dare you.

GDR

"(Btw, Hillary was no underdog my dear ; )

Actually, according to the newly acceptable characterizations, she would be the "underbitch."

(Just kidding, Warren....:)

" one of my favorite proverbs is Cuban - the blame never falls on the floor. "

ROFL! I love that!!!!

I'll throw more gas on the fire.I think Professor Gates's response had more to do with his class than his race. And again, I somewhat understand it....

As far as the cops go....Jack, it ain't just a race thing. My college roommate, a still beautiful blonde, wealthy Colorado Springs widow, was manhandled, thrown up on the hood of her car and threatened with jail simply because she didn't know where her sister was. (The sister had taken a grandchild from her daughter's home because the young girl said she was being sexually abused. The estranged father had a friend on the force.)

Life ain't fair, folks....when the police found the grandmother and her granddaughter, the system put the girl back in the same situation. I'm a lot more outraged about THAT.

Stop stereotyping, Jack. This coming from you -- a slum lord!!!

Juuuust kidding, :)

Priceless! Some police chief has been arrested for drunk driving! I like it.

And JUST in case anybody cares, here's some tough talk from Prof. Gates in 2004:

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/01/opinion/01gates.html

lord knows, lard is a good man so lard on the good for this man, lord.

There's an article about the woman who made the call into the Cambridge police on the front page of the today's Boston Globe. She did see two men. The person who drove Gates home from the airport helped him. She only saw their backs and did not know what was their race. When asked about race by the dispatcher (they always ask for as much detail as you can give for a description)
her reply was "I think one is Hispanic"....

here's the article if you're interested....
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/07/27/gates

any place which might come to contain all the sentiments addressed to el Lardo? probably as soon as the bondo in his head-holes sets up he could focus enough to read 'em.........laughter is the best medicine, according to norman cousins................(i would hope someone could make him laugh....lol)

http://thehealingpoweroflaughter.blogspot.com/2007/07/how-marx-brothers-brought-norman.html

Jeff Greenfield on Imus "I don't know how this situation can be unentangled from 300 years of history"

The fault line deepens between Kurd and Arab. In the middle: The US

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/26/AR2009072602840.html?nav=rss_email/components

And for all you tmers who are asking me to be your Facebook friends....
I'm assuming this happened because I responded to harborwoman's request.

I don't do Facebook. I'm not interested in Facebook. I don't have time for individual blogs and/or Facebook. I'll see you all here.

"I'll throw more gas on the fire.I think Professor Gates's response had more to do with his class than his race."

patsi, possibly more truth in that then you might think. there does seem a palatable hatred for hahvahd in that city and some of its denizens have had unpleasant experiences with the priests in the ivory towers and vice versa. am very curious about the neighbor and his/her relationship to the good professor.

"Most fascinating about Cousin’s story though is the laughter. Despite intense pain and discomfort, Cousin’s made a point of laughing so hard his stomach hurt during the early stages of his Marx brother’s intervention, and this “unquenchable” laughter never failed to produce a strong reduction in his feelings of pain. Cousins goes on to mention many prominent thinkers throughout the ages who knew about the healing power of laughter, and this list includes Sir Frances Bacon, Immanuel Kant, Sigmund Freud, as well as the great Albert Schweitzer. This list could be much longer, and Cousins own story has given rise to many knew ways of thinking that helped contribute to the rise of phenomena such as the laughter club. Ultimately laughter may represent the rapture of the human spirit, and in finding this rapture we also find our way back to health. Norman Cousins certainly thought so, and his journey back to life through laughter is an inspiration to us all."

-joe guse on his blog from the above link.

Here's another reason to choose up sides: Flowers or race cars?

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-poppyfields27-2009jul27,0,776205.story?track=rss

"And for all you tmers who are asking me to be your Facebook friends....
I'm assuming this happened because I responded to harborwoman's request"

Well, I plead innocent. Jamie sent me a request that I sign on as your friend....it wasn't my idea! :)

oops, my bad. that hatred is not palatable by any stretch of the imagination. it should read palpable.

Thought for the day :
" Politics is either passing the buck or passing the dough. "

photos for climbing in Spook Canyon:

http://infohost.nmt.edu/~bob/boulder_guide/spook/main.html

mornin'

Well, I found out this weekend that you don't want to make a navigation mistake with Mrs.P if it adds an hour to a 4 hour trip - even if it does route you through beautiful farmland and foothills. =D

And Lance took 3rd in the TDF - not bad for an old guy who took 3 years off and broke his collarbone 3 months ago.

Renee's link might be broken...here's another -- hope it works:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/07/27/gates_caller_didnt_cite_race_police_say/

It's very interesting especially giventhat so many of usassumed the woman had identified the two men in question as black. I bet she won't be reporting anything else any time soon!

Police were the ones who said "twoblack men" later in a summary -- shows you how accurate THOSE are....

1949 Havilland Comet 40-passenger airliner makes maiden flight
--------------------------------
The Comet was the world's first passenger jet . It had a fatal design flaw that made it the world's first passenger jet to crash .

Square windows.

Cracks would appear in the corners of the windows, and rupture from there across the fuselage . The first one to go down happened over the ocean, it took another one going down over land before the problem was identified.

photos of Florianopolis, by Paty

http://ilovefloripa.blogspot.com/

Krugman on the Blue dogs.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/27/opinion/27krugman.html

Patsi,

The other thing in that article is that Whalen has repeatedly been called a "neighbor" as if it was unusual that she wouldn't recognize him immediately. She wasn't in her home, she was in an office and about the length of a football field away,

"Whalen has for more than 15 years worked for Harvard in an office about 100 yards from Gates’s home"

LONDON, England (CNN) -- A 23-year-old British student has designed a "super-green superyacht" built using only sustainable materials, which produces virtually no carbon emissions.

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SPORT/07/24/eco.boat.soliloqui/

-------------------

It's very pretty boat.

Lance is a jackass. It is very admirable how he fought off cancer.

But I could do without his arrogance and the way he seems to treat woman.

Has anyone checked to see how much lobbyist money these blue dogs are receiving for their vote? This whole thing is really revealing to us just how Washington operates & just how much they care for us. They probably wanted to leave it at work & go on vac. so it will give the lobbyist more time to raise more money before the vote.jezzzzzz

Warren, I think Cheryl Crow would agree with you (and I think he was just nuts when he walked away from that relationship). Imagine - an elite athlete who is arrogant and treats women badly. I've never heard that before. LOL btw,I do agree with you, but his accomplishments in cycling are undeniable. And I was happy to see Greg LeMond put in a token appearance on the final day coverage.

Patsi...
thanks for finding another link to that article.

well.... I am watching my neighbor's house this week while she's in North Dakota burying her father's ashes beside her mother's. If I see anyone fooling around over there, I'm calling the coppers.... here's to hoping nothing happens and if it does, I don't make the national news.... :0)))))

KGC.......did you feel a small quake? they just announced one in n california north of the bay area............

Live feed of the Space Station repairs -

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/22886841#22886841

NEW THREAD.. http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/no-honeymoon-for-health-care.html

Sunrise on St Helens -

http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/volcanocams/msh/

NEW THREAD