Motley Moose – Archive

Since 2008 – Progress Through Politics

Archive for April 2013

Jason Collins, “We’ve got your back”




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Echoing the words of First Lady Michelle Obama:

President Obama called NBA player Jason Collins Monday to offer his support after Collins announced he’s gay, becoming the first openly gay major league professional athlete, CBS News Chief White House Correspondent Major Garrett has learned.

The president offered congratulations and support on Collins’ courage and willingness to be the first in the four dominant pro sports to make this announcement.

First lady Michelle Obama also showed her support for Collins on Twitter Monday.

“So proud of you, Jason Collins! This is a huge step forward for our country. We’ve got your back!” she tweeted, signing it “-mo,” which indicates she – not an aide – sent the message.

Double chocolate cookies for a party

As you may know, our son will be graduating with his master’s in Mechanical Engineering, and accepting a commission as Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. We’re having a party to celebrate, with a menu that includes pulled pork sandwiches, chicken sandwiches, baked beans, chips, cut fruit, and COOKIES!

I plan on making about 15 dozen cookies, in total. Double chocolate, chocolate chip, peanut butter, lemon cookies, they all sound good to me.

This recipe for double chocolate cookies makes about 4 dozen. They are terrific. Each time I’ve made them the texture has been fabulous, and they freeze well, too.

I have the first two dozen out of the oven, and the next ones are baking. You can imagine the smell…

The Daily F Bomb, Tuesday 4/30/13

Interrogatories

For National Oatmeal Cookie Day and National Raisin Day, would you prefer the two combined, or is raisins in anything an abomination?

Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of the AARP?

If you are too young, are you in the habit of traipsing on the lawns of old people?

Have you ever had a hairstylist really mess up your hair? How so?

The Twitter Emitter

A Fascinating Study on Mexican Immigrants Who Can’t Speak Spanish

By: inoljt, http://mypolitikal.com/

Picture a Mexican immigrant, and several images generally come to mind. The average American might imagine tacos and his or her gardener, for instance. To this, of course, would be added the ubiquitous sound of Spanish. Almost every American links Hispanics and the Spanish language together. There is reason for this; after all, most Hispanics do have origins from countries which are Spanish-speaking. With regards to Mexico, Spanish is indeed the national language. It would not be, and is not, unreasonable to assume that the typical Mexican immigrant speaks Spanish.

What happens, however, when those Mexican immigrants can’t speak Spanish?

The result is the topic of a fascinating study titled “Indigenous Mexicans in California Agriculture.”

More below.

O’Connor Confesses That Maybe SCOTUS Shouldn’t Have Taken Bush v. Gore




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In an interview with the Chicago Tribune, retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor admitted that the Court possibly erred when it decided to take Bush v. Gore:

Maybe the court should have said, ‘We’re not going to take it, goodbye.

That, however, wasn’t even the kicker.  This was:

It turned out the election authorities in Florida hadn’t done a real good job there and kind of messed it up. And probably the Supreme Court added to the problem at the end of the day. (emphasis my own)

Think about that for a second.  She pretty much admits that the biggest decision rendered while she sat on the Supreme Court she provided the necessary vote to get it wrong and swing a presidential election.  Perhaps this could have been somewhat understandable if George W. Bush had won the popular vote and there was a sense in the nation that the courts should step in to make sure the popular vote winner took office.  That, however, was not the case.  Bush lost the popular vote and her vote helped pave the way for the loser to take office.

The Daily F Bomb, Monday 4/29/13

Interrogatories

In what ways do you consider yourself to be creative?

What is your favorite dance/type of dancing?

Are you more of a participator or observer?

What do you think is the single most important/contributory factor in the dumbing down of America?

The Twitter Emitter

Motley Monday Check in and Mooselaneous Musings

Good morning Motley Meese! Hope your weekend was lovely. Remember to let your peeps know where you are!

This week’s shot of the week: Great Blue Heron in an evergreen tree. I’ve taken lots of pics of Great Blues, but this is both the oddest and my favorite.

Great blue heron in a tree

All The News: Twitter Experiment

Arch of Titus - Arco di Tito

By Ilkka Hamalainen

Arch of Titus – Arco di Tito

Like most triumphal arches, this one celebrates a victory of war.

The Arch of Titus has provided the general model for many of the triumphal arches erected since the 16th century.

All The News Fit To Share:  Add your own in the comments!  

If media covered America the way we cover foreign cultures

DATELINE APRIL 21, 2013

IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

   Yet another massacre has occurred in the historically war-torn region of the Southern United States – and so soon after the religious festival of Easter.

   Brian McConkey, 27, a Christian fundamentalist militiaman living in the formerly occupied territory of Alabama, gunned down three men from an opposing tribe in the village square near Montgomery, the capitol, over a discussion that may have involved the rituals of the local football cult. In this region full of heavily-armed local warlords and radical Christian clerics, gun violence is part of the life of many.

   Many of the militiamen here are ethnic Scots-Irish tribesmen, a famously indomitable mountain people who have killed civilized men – and each other – for centuries. It appears that the wars that started on the fields of Bannockburn and Stirling have come to America.

   As the sun sets over the former Confederate States of America, one wonders – can peace ever come to this land?

I selected the example, however, the rest of the writing is very interesting.  

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