If you have neighbors you think might be in this position, send over some leftovers:
ALBANY, N.Y. — Older Americans who were raised on stories of the Great Depression and acquired lifelong habits of thrift now find themselves crowding soup kitchens and food pantries in greater numbers for the first [...]
Just wanted to send a shout-out to friend and commenter upyernoz, who’s celebrating his 40th birthday AND getting ready to adopt a child (from Kazakhstan, no less – you know there’s a punchline in there somewhere).
Also, to those who wondered: Chris and his wife named the new baby William. They [...]
I thought this was interesting, because I’ve always dated comedians. (Not professionals, but you get the idea. And yeah, there’s probably a dig in there somewhere, and also some clues as to why they all ended badly. Hmm.)
But I’m always funnier. (At least, I think I am – because [...]
Rickie Lee:
[...]Member of the Four Aces and local TV icon Al Alberts, 87. His show was so strange, you never wanted to miss it:
US singer Al Alberts, a former member of the hit 1950s pop group The Four Aces, has died at the age of 87.
Alberts led the quartet to success [...]
In 2000, the Pentagon admitted it has lost — yes, lost — $2.3 trillion. In 2003, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that a subsequent Department of Defense study said it was only $1 trillion. To put such numbers in perspective, contemplate what those sums could finance. $1 trillion, [...]
Frank:
[...]Mr. Waits:
[...]Melody Gardot:
[...]Diana Krall:
[...]I decided a few weeks ago to get rid of my couch. It’s really big – it’s a queen-size sleeper with one of those chaise lounge things that stick out on one end. I fell in love with it when I first saw it, but after two years, the thrill [...]
I dunno, I just don’t get off on institutionalized shopping. Plus, at 3 a.m., a person should be home in their cozy bed, not standing in a long line at Best Buy.
My brother-in-law is a store manager, and he had to be in work at 4 a.m. today. That’s [...]
Why spend all that money for a new TV? Remember what I learned last year: If you’re in the market for an LCD TV, check Craigslist the day after Christmas – when everyone upgrades, and they have to get rid of the “old” one.
[...]Today, I give thanks for my kids, my family, my friends, for an apartment with heat and electric included, for a car that runs, readers who always give me something to think about, music, books, the occasional medical provider who knows what he or she is doing, compassionate people, people [...]
What is it good for? Absolutely nothing.
[...]You absolutely shouldn’t go out and get the newest Rolling Stone, because you’d read the new Matt Taibbi story about how Obama handed economic policy over to Wall Street and the RS editorial about what serious doubts they have about Obama, and then you’d be really depressed.
Taibbi [...]
You remember AIG, right? The bottomless pit into which the government poured our money?
AIG had reason to be pleased with its purchase. Water utilities are one hell of a profitable business, with international corporations easily making a 20 to 30% profit margin, according to a 2007 report by Food [...]
Parts 1 and 2:
[...]I totally stole this from Will. Gnarls Barkley:
Gnarls Barkley “Crazy”
Gnarls Barkley | MySpace Music Videos
My friend Natasha, who’s written about her past life inside an abusive relationship, points out “Every Breath You Take” isn’t a love song and reminds us why the movie “Twilight” sends a bad message:
i can certainly appreciate the schlock factor in enjoying a movie. hell, i still like labyrinth. it’s [...]
Speaking of extreme makeovers: I’m watching Rachel Ray, and her staff located a soup kitchen in Wilmington, Ohio that’s been overwhelmed by local job losses – and running out of food. Not only did Ray restock their pantry (enough for a year), she had her team do a complete [...]
This happened in the next neighborhood over, and it’s so very sad. It turns out that the cop who shot this kid has been the subject of seven civilian complaints – and apparently has a drinking problem.
He should have been booted off the force a long time ago, [...]
Hahahahahahahahahahahaha! This should be good:
Former CNN anchor Lou Dobbs, pondering a future in politics, is trying to wipe away his image as an enemy of Latino immigrants by positioning himself as a champion of that fast-growing ethnic bloc.
Mr. Dobbs, who left the network last week, has said in recent [...]
My landlady told me a few days ago how surprised she was to hear an interview on the local NPR station with two families from our neighborhood, part of the 100 local families using a local church’s food bank. When I saw her the next day, she said she’d mentioned [...]
I wonder what’s going on?
[...]When a Washington Post columnist headlines his piece “Whose Side Is Obama On?” and the column is pretty much an all-out attack on Tim Geither, I’d say we’re already in the second stage of Geithner’s exit. The White House will deny it, of course – until the day it [...]
It seems that Kent Conrad is holding the health care bill hostage – in exchange for a Social Security commission, of course. Read all the disgusting details here.
Oh, and Kent? How do we have an employer-based system when millions of people are out of work?
[...]John Mayer:
[...]Never, ever, ever let your child go to one to the proprietary chain schools you see on TV. (Okay, there are a handful of good ones, but double-check everything they tell you – and talk to graduates about their job placement.) I worked at one briefly, and it was such [...]
From the Media Mobilizing Project, this infuriating news.
On Tuesday, we officially learned that Comcast has challenged the City of Philadelphia’s application to the federal government for stimulus funds to build broadband infrastructure for disenfranchised communities. This decision by Comcast exhibits the worst of corporate malfeasance and it must be [...]
No wonder Rahm hates him. Every time Howard Dean opens his mouth, he proves that Rahm’s master strategy is sinking the ship:
“I think if you passed the Senate bill tomorrow it would be OK. But then the problem is they don’t have any defense for their members in 2010,” Dean [...]
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE DEFICIT????
WASHINGTON (CBS News) ― President Obama vowed to “finish the job” in Afghanistan today, less than 24 hours after his final meeting on determining a new strategy going forward in the war.
At a brief press conference following a meeting with India’s prime minister, Manmohan Singh, [...]
First things first! Nancy’s right:
The deficit debate in Washington misses the fundamental point, said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Tuesday, arguing that the primary objective for policy makers should be job creation — without which, the deficit will explode as tax revenues collapse.
“What I’ve told the members is [...]
I sent $10 a few weeks ago to those high school kids from West Philly High who beat out MIT in a super-efficient car design competition. They’re raising money to fund their work in the next phase of the contest. (If only you knew how few advantages the kids at [...]
Editor & Publisher has a much-needed look at how the right wing worked to perpetuate their attacks on the group – and how readily the media accepted their framing – even worse, willingly amplified it.
UPDATE: Marcy points out that the beat reporters who were already familiar with ACORN [...]
In a system without the filibuster, the threat of repeal, as opposed to the impossibility of action, becomes the dominant player in legislative design, and it’s much to be preferred. The clear accountability of passing laws and being judged on their success is far superior to the [...]
Well, the insurance company never paid the $60 in back co-pays they said they would, and the doctor’s office is saying I HAVE to pay them.
Back to the threats, I suppose. I really hate insurance companies. They’re liars and thieves.
[...]In a breathtakingly tight argument, Chris Matthews corners Rhode Island Bishop Thomas Tobin, who has banned Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., from receiving Holy Communion due to his views on abortion.
Because here’s the moral hypocrisy at the heart of the Church’s abortion position: If it’s really and truly murder, you’re talking [...]
Written by Pulitzer Prize winner Connie Schultz, who happens to be married to Sen. Sherrod Brown:
Politicians fond of limiting women’s reproductive rights often say they personally oppose abortion. They cite their religion, as if this carves out an exception in that whole separation-of-church-and-state thing so they can use their [...]
I have to say that even when I’ve been pretty damned close to busted, the thing that always made me feel a lot better was being able to help someone else who was even worse off.
So I’d like to recommend this as something you may want to explore for [...]
So Glenn Beck held a rally in Florida, and he’s claiming 25,000-30,000 showed up.
Comments on the organizer’s website say it was “at least 5,000.” Judging from the pictures, I’m guessing it was closer to three thousand. People who live in smaller towns and have never been to big rallies [...]
If you want to get really depressed about the economy and the people who are supposed to be fixing it, you could read this.
[...]Finally got an appointment to get molded for the custom brace I’m supposed to have for my ankle. The authorization got lost somewhere in the limbo between my insurance claims person and the hospital. Turns out they told the orthopedist’s office they would approve the brace, but not the orthotics [...]
Interesting story in the L.A. Times about Joe Sestak’s campaign to win the Democratic nomination for Senate in Pennsylvania. Looks like the campaign is inoculating themselves about the single biggest negative about Sestak – the nagging rumor that he’s impossible to work for:
Sestak is, at times to the chagrin [...]
On the Blood Pressure Merry-Go-Round! It seems I’m allergic to ACE inhibitors, and the cardiologist wants me to stop taking them. (I already did.) I broke out in a huge rash of pimples on my back, something I haven’t had since I was a teenager. Plus, there’s something called the [...]
Nothing harder sometimes than seeing everything you predicted come true. Oh well! Imagine, a “visionary” DLC-lite mayor who thinks the real problem is that our city taxes are too high.
[...]From Chicago journalist Kristen McQueary, this deplorable story:
As a journalist covering Chicago politics, verifying information is like climbing a mountain of sand. With each step you take, the deeper you sink.
Last week while researching claims from a local Tea Party activist, I found myself asking a family for proof [...]
Big Star:
[...]I’ve been thinking about this ever since I saw a full-page age for a paternity testing kit in Rolling Stone, because this is probably more common than anyone thinks.
How would you feel if you found out your ex-wife was going to marry the biological father of the child you [...]
I like the guy’s way of thinking:
Washington (CNN) – A freshman Democratic senator said Sunday that he will support his party’s efforts to pass health care reform legislation even if that means losing his seat in next year’s midterm elections.
“If you get to the final point and you are [...]
If you’re looking for something to read today, Taibbi has some good insights.
[...]In other words, no real health care reform at all and no relief for the voters for years. If this is how they roll, the Democrats have already lost the midterm elections:
After announcing her intent to support a health care debate this afternoon, Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) told reporters [...]
We’re not going to give you an “A” for effort. Either you deliver, or pay the price.
[...]
I love old doors, and there are quite a few left in my part of the city. We were running errands in Fishtown today and I stopped to snap these:
[...]Oh, such tender feelings! The “let’s melt down the planet, it’ll be fun” crowd is upset to find those scientists working against them say mean things.
[...]Off to the farmers market this morning, where I hope to buy Thanksgiving pie!
[...]The Monsters of Folk:
[...]Evanescence:
[...]I’m in a Big Star kinda groove this weekend:
[...]Ben Folds:
[...]Thank God for the Congressional Black Caucus, whose members so often stand up for working people:
A bloc of African American House Democrats, angry and worried that not enough is being done about high unemployment by the administration, forced the postponement of a much-anticipated vote Thursday on comprehensive financial regulation [...]
I doubt this can be contained for long:
Scientists in Norway have identified a mutated form of the swine flu virus that is raising concern because it was found in two patients who died of the flu and a third who was severely ill with the disease, officials announced Friday.
In [...]
Big Star:
[...]Robert Reich on Harry Reid and the public option:
First there was Medicare for all 300 million of us. But that was a non-starter because private insurers and Big Pharma wouldn’t hear of it, and Republicans and “centrists” thought it was too much like what they have up in Canada [...]
Krugman wonders why Obama’s intimidated by them.
[...]I got a fresh turkey today at Trader Joe’s, and I don’t know whether to keep it in the fridge or freeze it. (The sell-by date on the label is Nov. 30th.)
Advice?
[...]Gene Lyons in Salon on the myriad forces that insist we can’t afford health care, but just as strongly assure us that $6.73 trillion for the war in Afghanistan is perfectly doable. (That’s $1 million per soldier, per year.) Go read the whole thing:
For all its brutality, the Taliban [...]
Jane explains why the Reid healthcare reform bill really, really sucks.
Oh, and that pre-existing conditions thing? Delayed for another year. Thanks, Democrats!
UPDATE: More details here from the Times.
[...]I dunno. Even if we got him canned, do you think they’d hire anyone much different to replace him?
A Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) member said there’s “growing consensus” among liberals that Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner should step down.
Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) said Wednesday that he and other liberal House [...]
Let’s see: No new jobs, benefit extensions screwed up and Christmas is coming. (But hey, at least Wall St. had its best year evah!)
You’d think the administration and Congress would be doing something about this, but you’d probably have better luck asking Underdog:
Nov. 19 (Bloomberg) — The number of [...]
A computer glitch is causing “widespread” flight delays , the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The Federal Aviation Administration says the problem is connected to processing flight plan information. The paper said delays are being reported at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, one the nation’s busiest airports.
An FAA spokeswoman [...]
I’m still trying to find out if I’m eligible for this extension, because if I’m not, I’m screwed. I was on hold for two hours today and I still don’t know.
[...]Frank Schaeffer on The Rachel Maddow Show:
MADDOW: “And then there’s this, a Biblical quote making the rounds in anti-Obama circles, as reported this week in The Christian Science Monitor: Pray For President Obama – Psalm 109 Verse 8. What’s Psalm 109:8? Well, it reads ‘Let His Days Be Few, And [...]
Sometimes I just have to shake my head. You know, I meet a lot of the single-issue people at conferences, and a lot of them don’t (as my nana used to say) have the sense God gave the ducks.
Even so, this astounds me. Clearly, some of these groups are [...]
I imagine you’d see the same kind of benefit from yoga or similar disciplines:
Transcendental Meditation has been around for many years and is perhaps the most scientifically tested of all forms of meditation. Two studies presented this week add to the evidence that this form of stress reduction benefits [...]
This New York Times article gives the same scary media narrative repeated everywhere else in the past few days:
Despite new recommendations that most women start breast screening at 50 rather than 40, many doctors said Tuesday that they were simply not ready to make such a drastic change.
So [...]
I don’t know why I have to see stories like this about Philadelphia in the NY or the LA Times instead of our local paper, but oh well.
Because without it, I wouldn’t know that my city has a model program for dealing with foreclosure.
[...]The midpoint between the conservative wish list and the deep compromises of the liberals is not “centrist.”
[...]I went to the dermatologist tonight and it was my worst nightmare: they took naked pictures of me from every angle (yes, even the bottoms of my feet).
I asked about a few growths on my nose and he said he thought we should take a biopsy.
Then he peered closely [...]
Rich Stockwell, senior producer at MSNBC’s “Countdown”, writes about his experiences at the free clinic funded by viewer contributions:
New Orleans, La. — – It happened as I watched a 50-something woman walk out, after spending several hours being attended to by volunteer doctors. “She’s decided against treatment. A [...]
