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Since 2008 – Progress Through Politics

Week-long Welcomings from Moosylvania: Mar. 29 thru Apr. 4th

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Welcome to The Moose Pond! The Welcomings diaries give the Moose, old and new, a place to visit and share words about the weather, life, the world at large and the small parts of Moosylvania that we each inhabit.

In lieu of daily check-ins, which have gone on hiatus, Welcomings diaries will be posted at the start of each week (every Sunday morning) and then, if necessary due to a large number of comments, again on Wednesday or Thursday to close out the week. To find the diaries, just bookmark this link and Voila! (which is Moose for “I found everyone!!”).

The format is simple: each day, the first moose to arrive on-line will post a comment welcoming the new day and complaining (or bragging!) about their weather. Or mentioning an interesting or thought provoking news item. Or simply checking in.

So … what’s going on in your part of Moosylvania?

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Categories: Uncategorized.

/ 136 Comments

136 comments

  1. JanF

    It is 30 degrees in Madison WI, on its way up to 49. A wintry mix is in the forecast this morning.

    Have a great day, all y’alls!!

  2. DeniseVelez

    Still in Maryland

    show last night was fantastic

    it was video taped but on a cell…not by the facility

    don’t know when it will be available.

    Am at breakfast atm…will have more to say when I get back up to my room and laptop.  

  3. Portlaw

    What is going on in Yemen? Hope the Republicans don’t halt the Iran deal now being workout out. I am so afraid of war.

    Tine fir coffee and a search for good news.

    Hope the day will be good for all Pond denizens.

  4. Portlaw

    while Christian businesses won’t be punished for “refusing to allow a man to use the women’s restroom.”

    Wow, I must live in the heartland of the Heathens, a place where there are many, gasp, unisex bathrooms.  

    I don’t remember anything in the New Testament about bathrooms nor about not arranging flowers for gay weddings. I do remember stuff about not casting the first stone and loving your neighbor.

    This Indiana story is mind boggling. Must confess that when I first saw headlines about Indiana, I thought it was about basketball or some sport and ignored them. Am slowly catching up to speed, just in time for the so called clarification.

  5. anotherdemocrat

    Eating breakfast, watching Up. They’re going to have Barney Frank on, that should be fun.

    Instead of the protective stuff, I put “intense repair” lotion on my cheek this morning. It stung for a few minutes, but not that bad. So maybe I’ll look normal soon.

    earworm is Yahweh by my babies

  6. Portlaw

    House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) on Thursday blasted President Obama as an “anti-war president”,

      http://thehill.com/policy/defe…

    I would like to think that Boehner was complimenting our President but somehow don’t think so. I, however, like anti war people.

  7. princesspat

    Yesterday was an easy calm day….lunch at a water front restaurant, some time in my sewing room, and lots of laundry. I’m reading the new Maisie Dobbs book, A Dangerous Place so I ended the day in Gibraltar, wondering how Maisie will solve the mystery and at the same time recover her health and feelings of well being. I really enjoy reading this series.

  8. Diana in NoVa

    Yesterday I did nothing until the evening, when I finally wrote the April blog for the Web site and filled in some notes for the birthday story.

    This morning we had breakfast, read the paper, watched the Formula I race–at least my man, Hamilton, was No. 2 on the podium today–and then watched George Step-in-Awfulness try to interview Mike Pence-Who-Has-No-Sense. The sense Pence lacks is decency, Here it is noon and we’re still in dressing-gowns and slippers.

    Still horrified by the plane crash and depressed by the unending misogyny and racism in this country. I can already discern that the birthday story for my granddaughter shows signs of becoming a feminist polemic. However, a story is only a story, and I’ll make it as entertaining as possible.

    Hope all who frequent the Moose Pond will have a good day!

  9. JanF

    It is 35 degrees in Madison, on its way up to 57. Partly cloudy skies in the forecast. Is March planning to go out like a lamb???

    Mike Pence’s plan to “clarify” the anti-gay law in Indiana turns out to not be changes to the law, as he had hinted, but to go on Sunday talk shows and deny that the law will lead to discrimination and suggest the bigotry was from those who did not like his perfectly good law. The sad thing is that he, like Scott Walker, is sacrificing the economic well-being of the citizens of his state in order to prove his right-wing chops. Can a presidential run be far behind? “ISIL will not dare cross me … I protected bigoted cakemakers and florists from rabid libruls!!!”

    And the answer to the question that literally no one was asking: Carly Fiorina is 90% sure she will run for president. In other GOP 2016 news, Marco Rubio will announce on April 13th, a week after the New Rand Paul who has traded in his Libertarianism for the mantle of religious right military interventionist. I think he might have misread the electorate: they are clamoring for opportunity, Rand, not opportunists.

    Scary election stuff from France and Nigeria. And Iran has backed away from the nuclear agreement. I am not sure what that means … was it inevitable, were they never serious? Or did the warmongers in the U.S. Senate give an opening to the warmongers in Iran to retreat to their hard line?

    See all y’alls later!

  10. DeniseVelez

    woke up to find it snowing – the ground is now coated – this is not on the forecast for today.

    Hopefully it will stop and be gone before I leave for school at 11AM.

    Sigh.

  11. anotherdemocrat

    80s for most of the week — cooler & rainy for the weekend, sad for the kids’ Easter egg hunts.

    Ugh. I woke up at 3:30, 4 & 4:36 at which point I gave up & got up. Got in a good long walk. Eating breakfast, drinking tea. Maybe the vitamin C in the kiwi will wake me up….

    Face is getting better. Lotion doesn’t hurt any more. Still pretty red, but better.

    Ok, must stay awake all day. Mondays are so busy here.

  13. Diana in NoVa

    which isn’t bad.

    Had to ferry cars this morning–mine is in the shop–so I’m carless. Now waiting for the contractors to arrive. Monty is in Doggy Play Care, having a good time. We’ll pick him up after tea this afternoon.

    Got to make huge inroads on the birthday story today. Found out that I’m to have Miss Pink Cheeks Thursday and Friday. How about if I force the innocent child to help me get ready for Easter? She can help me plant things.

    Just wondering–how many times have we seen someone insist that he will “never back down” or “never resign” and then he goes ahead and does it? Will Pence-with-No-Sense insist on legislation that will protect the “others”?

    See, the thing that bothers me is not only that the law as it now stands will allow shopkeepers to discriminate against the GLBTI community, but also against Muslims and Jews. Or what if a Christian florist decides she can’t do bouquets for a Wiccan handfasting or an atheist wedding? Endless lousy results will ensue from this crappy law. On Pence’s old grey head be it.

  14. bfitzinAR

    Sorry I worried everybody last week.  I must have more of my son in me than I thought – his standard M.O. as a kid and to this 4th day after his 44th birthday is “I know I’m OK so why is anybody worried?”  Basically I think tornadoes avoid me.  I have lived in “tornado alley” most of my life, had tornadoes go right down the street a block from where I was working, and have never seen one or had any damage from one in all my 63-1/2 years.  So I don’t tend to think much of it when the warnings come through.  Especially if the sirens haven’t gone off.  I will try to remember to check in the next time, as of course there will be a next time.

    As of this morning my system’s generated 206 KWHs for the month with today and tomorrow to go.  That’s more than October’s 171 but less than September’s 250.  Still planning to add more panels though.  The trees are starting to leaf out – I am happy about that but it does cut electricity production.  I want to produce more than I use, a point many people don’t get as SWEPCO doesn’t pay me for the overage.  I drive a car (as little as possible, but still), I eat meat and dairy, and I use “natural” gas for cooking and heating.  For me, producing more electricity than I use is just balancing what I use but can’t produce myself.

    I’ve got leventy-fousan emails to deal with – just took a break to do my checkins – so I’d best get to them.  Have the good day & week – I’ll be back to read & fierce later.  {{{HUGS}}}

  15. princesspat

    March has slipped away from me, so my list is long today and I don’t want to do most of it….how’s that for a whine! I finished my new book yesterday so today I’d best find all the bills I’ve ignored, call for a Dr. appointment so I can go back to the pool, and write a new list for April.

  16. Portlaw

    voters are for the death penalty and military interventions? How hypocritical.I write this because I just heard on the radio that Christie is pro life. Wonder if he will come out against war and the death penalty. On a related note, saw somewhere and can’t fine the link that some think that the Boston Bomber trial will not result in the death penalty because Massachusetts citizens are, by and large, opposed to it. Good for them. They are civilized.  I think that opposing the death penalty introduced me to politics.

  17. JanF

    It is 38 degrees in Madison on its way up to 59. Partly cloudy skies in the forecast.

    The American people, who are often smarter than the people they elect (I wish that would change), approve of talks with Iran even though they are skeptical that they will produce a resolution. Today is the last day for this round of talks. I doubt that Congress will allow any extension because they are antsy to flex their muscles in the run-up to the 2016 primary. Nothing like war talk to take people’s minds off the improving economy.

    Mike Pence wrote an editorial in the Republican propaganda newspaper defending his bigotry, Indiana lawmakers admitted that the law allowed stores to put up “no gays served” signs in their windows, and the largest newspaper in the state wrote an editorial asking the legislature to fix the law by adding LGBT people as a protected class. The people saying that this law is “just like the law in 19 other states” are wrong. Duke University, a Final Four team, joins others in releasing a “we respect diversity” statement and hoping that Indiana is respectful to their students and fans who will be visiting the state.

    John Sununu thinks that President Obama is intentionally inciting the ‘birthers’ by traveling to Kenya. He also thinks that President Obama is deliberately inciting racists and bigots by presidenting while black. He didn’t say the second part but it was clearly in his thought bubble.

    Busy day here. March is going out like a lamb but deadlines loom. See all y’all later!

  19. anotherdemocrat

    unseasonably warm, but supposed to cool down & rain tomorrow

    Got my walk in. Woke up at effing 4, drifted for a little but still got up before 5. Putting lotion on my tender, tender skin every couple of hours (I can feel it get tight).

    Playing happy, bouncy Someone New by Hozier in my head to keep me awake. Happy, bouncy & deep: “Would things be easier if there was a right way? Honey there is no right way”

  20. JanF

    A colorful visit to the Peeps factory

    Entering the world of Peeps is like visiting Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. Three shifts a day are needed to satisfy the world’s love for these 28-calorie treats.

    The manufacturing process starts with a marshmallow recipe that combines sugar, corn syrup, gelatin and vanilla extract. The ingredients are extruded using a secret process that company minders zealously guard. […]

    Yellow is the best-selling color of Peeps, followed by pink and then blue. While one line turns out the popular chicks, another turns out bunnies. Four out of five Peeps purchased are chicks – either original, flavored, dipped in chocolate or covered in chocolate.

    Chocolate peeps??? Ick. Yellow chicks. I haz spoken.

    This photo cracked me up:

  21. Diana in NoVa

    Not bad, one would think, but a sharp-edged wind would make it very unpleasant to go for a walk. I’ll test the atmospheric conditions later.

    Good morning, Meese! Just read Jan’s take on the Tomasky article on the front page with great interest. I agree that we should abstain from purity and vote for the party most likely to do the country good rather than evil (see Ralph Nader, 2000).

    Waiting for coffee and urging (nagging?) Dearly Beloved to call Mohammed at the Auto Haus to tell him our real phone number. The phone number they have in their system is that of our old, disconnected landline.

    Managed to write half of Scene 2 yesterday. I don’t see how I’m ever going to get this story ready on time. Granddaughter’s birthday is Monday, 7 April. I might have to email it to her at 11:49 p.m. that day. Problem is, even if one bangs out the whole thing, one’s subconscious is always thinking of a better way to say something, which means that it’s never really final.

    Oh, well, hope everyone at the Pond will have a good day! Glad to hear bfitz is tornado-proof (LOL) and very glad to hear that another’s face is healing. Great Goddess, another, you must be going through hell with those meds. Just hope they’ll clear everything up soon and you can be at peace.

  22. bfitzinAR

    generated over 14 KWHs yesterday!  Probably won’t do as well today as there’s a front moving in.  Slowly so far – rain chances don’t get over 25% until the wee hours Friday morning (current forecast) but the “new normal” seems to give us clouds for days before the actual rain comes.  sigh.  Hope this is a good day for everybody, whatever your weather and stuff.  {{{HUGS}}}

  23. princesspat

    I’m feeling my mortality today. Our young friend with the torn aorta is still on life support and my Dr is recovering from a massive heart attack. Both happened with no symptoms and no warning. Dr B will be ok but Tom’s recovery is still a scary unknown.

    I still have to monitor my coumadin levels every week and even with dosage adjustments they remain too low. And last week I lifted a table leaf, felt a pain where the incisions are, and now a bruise has emerged so I must have pulled something. Too much medical trauma!

    So today I will try to focus on what I need to and perhaps some feelings of well being will return.

  24. DeniseVelez

    and at 2:45 AM on Monday morning our puppy went missing.

    Yesterday was frantic – scouring the neighborhood, putting up flyers and posting online.

    Late in the evening she was mysteriously “returned”.

    I apologize for not checking in earlier – but could barely open my eyes to get to school today.

  25. Portlaw

    Scott Walker’s Dog Allergy Could Be a Campaign Hazard

    Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin and his wife, Tonette, had planned to spend a recent Friday evening at the Nashua home of Jennifer Horn, the New Hampshire Republican chairwoman.

    Then he heard about Al, the Horns’ beloved Dalmatian-Catahoula Leopard mix.

    The dinner was promptly moved to a restaurant in nearby Bedford. “The governor’s allergic to dogs,” Ms. Horn explained. “And we have a very hairy dog.”

    I know it’s a paywall but http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04…

  26. JanF

    It is 36 degrees in Madison on its way up to 70. Mostly sunny skies are in the forecast.

    Lots of news yesterday. I found myself glued to my Droid Twitter stream last night as some of the stories continued to unfold. Mike Pence held a news conference where he put to rest any notion that he understood just what he had stepped in, a framework for an agreement was agreed upon in the Iran nuclear talks starting the clock ticking again, the president commuted some drug sentences including one where a man convicted of marijuana related offenses was serving a life sentence, and the United States submitted its Climate Action Plan for the Paris Climate conference.

    And the final stake in the coffin of Rand Paul’s presidential ambitions: it was revealed that he does not believe in the “concept” of gay rights. So after going all pro-war, pro-religious right, and anti-gay he is now left with one appealing position for the youth he claims to be bringing into the GOP tent: marijuana deregulation. He is just Mike Huckabee with curly hair … stick a fork in him, he is done.

    Today I have to get done all the things that were set aside in favor of sitting on my deck in the sun. I may very well be lured back outside later today so I better make hay while the sun is NOT shining. See all y’alls later!!  

  27. Portlaw

    Just heard that the Russian negotiator left Lausanne. That does not sound good. I may write to my senators about this again but they never write back on the particular issue. Of course, they did not respond when I wrote several times about Bibi’s campaign speech. Schumer is a hawk.  Not really sure about Gillibrand. She keeps a low profile, as far as I can see, on these issues. Hoping for good news from Lausanne and from the Moose Pond.  

  28. Diana in NoVa

    The contractors have gone, the floors look really nice, and now we have to put the house back together again. Well, really, we have to clear out all the stuff from Miss Pink Cheeks’ room and put it where it belongs.

    Happy April Fools’ Day! Speaking of fools, I read that the Arkansas legislature has passed an obnoxious religious freedom law modeled on that of Indiana and it will go to the governor to sign. Have they been living on the moon? If he signs it, Arkansas will be in the middle of its own firestorm.

    Today there will be a new blog and a new mini-story, “Waking the Old Gods,” in the Fiction Cafe on my Web site (http://goddessfiction.com), so if you want a story while munching your pastrami on rye at lunchtime, do stop by and have a little read.

    Speaking of stories, I finished scene 2 of Granddaughter’s birthday story and this morning need to write scene 3. Luckily, I now have until Tuesday. I keep mixing my dates up. Her birthday is actually April 7.

    Doesn’t look as if much progress is being made in Lausanne. We can only hope for the best. That’s what I’m hoping for in my own life–why, oh why, was I so insane as to invite 12 adults, two small children, and one dog to Easter dinner? I understand the dog will be wearing a pink Easter outfit.

    Wishing a good day to all who frequent the pond and–it’s to be hoped–a day with no awful news!

  29. anotherdemocrat

    70 already this morning, but will cool down for the weekend, thinking which sweater to wear with my Easter dress….

    Really awful night’s “sleep”. I was awake enough at 4am to cancel both alarms. Woke up at 4:50 anyway. Sigh. So I go my walk in. Looks like we have 4-ish new people each today (on the busy end of “normal”), if I get everyone done early, I’m leaving early. Yesterday afternoon I was fighting so hard to stay awake my eyes actually hurt.

    Playing the same Hozier song in my tired head.

  30. princesspat

    Some good news from our young friend…..he is easing off sedation, was able to breathe on his own for part of yesterday, and seems to be making meaningful eye contact. The unknowns are still scary, but seeing some progress and knowing he is more comfortable is a welcome relief for all of us, and most importantly, for his family.

    I’m sneezing and aching today…..hope it’s just the cold Ron had last week. The local grand kids will be with us next week for their spring break so I don’t want to be sick.

  31. bfitzinAR

    Of course yesterday “they” said high 77 and we hit 85!  Total electricity for March was 233.6 KWHs – dang near spitting distance from last September’s 250! Or, well, it would be if I was any good at projectile spitting 🙂

    Happy April 1st – today is the day to be unapologetically foolish.  (That’s foolish, not stupid or harmful.)  I think mocha in the morning qualifies – but not standing in the rain waiting for a bus.  We’ve got rain expected (just over 50% chance anyway) this afternoon when I get out of the eye dr. appt. – if it’s coming down pitchforks and hoe handles, I’ve arranged for a friend to pick me up.  I don’t drive when I go to the eye dr. as he always dilates my eyes.

    Hope everyone has a wonderful start of the new month, even though it decided to do it mid week. snicker {{{HUGS}}}

  32. DeniseVelez

    looks like lots of April showers ahead.

    Just coming up for air from the keyboard – trying to get Sunday writing done before deadline.

    Haven’t even looked at the news yet.

  34. JanF

    It is 55 degrees in Madison on its way up to 66. Morning rain is in the forecast.

    Yesterday we hit the 70s and I spent the afternoon outside … because 70s!!!

    Indiana’s governor is still in panic mode trying to repair the fallout from his ill-advised decision to use his state’s laws to promote bigotry. It’s really too bad that the right-wing doesn’t read history because they set themselves up for parallels between their 21st century bigotry and their 20th century bigotry. In the 1960s, the images were lunch counters and George Wallace citing the bible while blocking the schoolhouse doors … this year, the images are smiling (white male!) anti-gay bigots looking on as their governor enshrined hate into the statutes. Better for us because nothing says “stay away, youth of America!” than a political party bent on turning back the tide of social change.

    Here is a plate cleanser: in Madison, the city council voted to add people with no religion to their list of protected classes.

    The ordinance also outlaws discrimination based on a number of other factors such as sex, race, citizenship status, arrest record, sexual orientation, gender identity, or anyone who declines to disclose their social security number, among many others. Reportedly, no one at the council meeting voiced disagreement with the proposal to include atheists.

    The revised ordinance adds “religion or non-religion” to the protected classes.

    Busy catch up day here. See all y’alls later!!

  35. Diana in NoVa

    like because it’s still dark. Woke up far too early, so decided to get a cup of tea and cruise the Moose and possibly Orange.

    Still wrestling with the story, now in Scene 3. Wrote half the daily word count that I promised NaNoWriMo I’d write for the novella–problem is, it’s difficult to work on two fiction projects at the same time. I need to get the birthday story done first.

    Got my car back yesterday, which is good; we bought pansies to put in the big pots on the front step and a lovely hanging plant full of fragrant alyssum for the back porch. The garden store people told me it was too early to plant anything but pansies. Going to ring them up today and ask about seedlings.

    Haven’t really looked at the news much, but from the front page of the WaPo everything seems much the same; Germans don’t want to talk about Andreas Lubitz, Indianapolis businesses are suffering, and Senator Menendez has been indicted.

    Hope it’s a good day for the Moose and a bad day for the news (in the sense  there will be no bad news to dominate the airwaves). Later!

  36. anotherdemocrat

    it’s already 70 & will get up to 85 today, whew — but a cold front & thunderstorms tomorrow (please, please let it rain on the highland lakes)

    I left work early yesterday, took a 1 hr nap, ate dinner, stayed awake till the middle of Lawrence O’Donnell’s show — and was still sound asleep when my alarm went off! I also took like 3 different “sleepy-making” things.  But still, it was nice to sleep.

    And a better walk today than yesterday – 1.6 mi as opposed to 1.2. And I plan on walking with the lunch group. “With” in the sense of trotting along about a block behind. And a Snow Patrol earworm today, Weight of Love

  37. Portlaw

    and am hoping a deal will be made. Also hoping that if a deal is made Congress won’t sabotage it. See that Sen. Menendez has been indicted. He is innocent until found guilty, naturally, but wonder if he will step down from his ranking spot on Foreign Relations. He is a firm supporter of more sanctions against Iran.

    I did find one news story of interest and it does make me wonder if I am a cat

    Like their human companions, stressed-out cats can listen to music to relax. And when felines are fighting the stress of a surgical procedure, it appears they don’t want to hear rock or pop. They want the classics, at least according to new research.

    Dr. Miguel Carreira, a veterinarian at the University of Lisbon, said there’s always music playing in clinics and operating rooms and called it “an important element in promoting a sense of wellbeing in the team, the animals and their owners.”

    Carreira said in a news release that he noticed most cats prefer classical music and seem especially fond of George Handel, becoming “more calmer, confident and tolerant throughout the clinical evaluation.”

     http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…

  38. bfitzinAR

    according to the forecast, darn it.  A little cooler than the last few days but probably not more than a couple more fires this season.  The lawn guy was supposed to mow today ahead of the rain but the rain got here at 6 am, so probably need to wait for Saturday (that 1 clear day).  Just not sure he will.  His logic synapses as far as getting work done seem to track on “I need money/I don’t need money” so when he gets to what he’s supposed to do for me depends more on whether he needs money than when it needs to be done.  sigh.  But he’s relatively affordable – and he’s a disabled Vietnam vet so…

    I’m now in that irritating position of having a flex plan but can’t spend it on anything I actually use (like supplements) – I got it because I thought I’d be getting new glasses this year but the eye dr says the Rx change is so minimal I wouldn’t notice the difference.  That’s what I get for letting myself get talked into “saving” money by using a pre-tax dollar medical program.  Which is doubly dumb since I don’t mind paying taxes – I buy civilization with them (or at least most of the time that Dems are in power I buy civilization with them).  Oh well.  I’ll think of something.  Y’all have a good Thorsday {{{HUGS}}}

  39. princesspat

    Looks like another aching sneezing day for me.I really don’t like colds! Ron is feeling better so he’s going to visit his mother this weekend. She misses going to church so he’ll see if he can safely take her. At age 97 she is increasingly frail.

    After listening to my sniffles our son made reservations at a Greek restaurant for Easter dinner…..smart kid!  

  40. JanF

    It is 44 degrees in Madison on its way up to 49. Cloudy skies are in the forecast.

    I am not regretting that I took time to go outside this past week because the warm weather is gone now and won’t return for a while.

    The United States, working with our European allies and Russia, have negotiated a historic framework for eliminating Iran’s nuclear program. I posted the president’s speech on the front page along with links to the transcripts of the speeches by the EU and Iran. I have not had time to read the reaction yet although Twitter said something about “Neville Chamberlain” and “Hitler”. THAT is what passes for gravitas in the Senate clown car. The good news is that it came from one-term Senator Mark Kirk who is keeping Tammy Duckworth’s Senate seat warm for her. I will post links to a few of the stories I have open in browser tabs after I have time to read them.

    The Religious Freedom “Restoration” Acts in Indiana and Arkansas have been revised and signed. The owner of Salesforce is giving his employees who no longer want to work in Indiana the opportunity to relocate. The RFRA may be “fixed” (I have not seen it yet) but I suspect that there could be more than just a little discomfort for folks to realize that one’s neighbors voted into power those who think nothing of enshrining discrimination into law. You can’t unring that bell.

    Gotta get to it. See all y’alls later.

  41. anotherdemocrat

    I’d trade the marginally cleaner car for water in the lakes if it’d rain there

    Got in 1.57 miles this morning – and wow is it muggy, 70 degrees & humid. Slept most of the night. Some agencies are closed, but not us. Sigh. Maybe we’ll get to leave at noon, but usually they’d have told us yesterday.

    Trying to switch out my slow drifty earworm of Lifening – which is a sweet, deep song — for something more energetic like In The End, which is also deep (there’s nothing more to life than love, is there?), but also bouncy

  42. Portlaw

    I haven’t even checked the weather. Gave real clear politics a quick glance and many columnists are furious about the deal. Gotta read it all. Will be back. Peace on earth. Blessed are the peacemakers.

  43. Diana in NoVa

    It’s 60 F. at the moment, going for a high of 70. Good! Rang up Merrifield Gardens yesterday, only to be told it’s too early to plant anything except pansies. Okay.

    We’re going shopping this morning since we can’t plant anything. I’m still in getting-the-house-ready-for-Easter mode. Going to serve roast lamb, etc. but am wondering which quick, easy dish I can serve to the vegetarian.

    Managed to get back on Freecycle again so am busily getting rid of some of the clutter. It feels GREAT!

    Very encouraging news from Lausanne! I hope the people of Iran get a little more personal freedom. The short story I’m working on for granddaughter involves a Muslim teenager running away from home (Houston) because her parents want to send her to Pakistan to marry a 45-year-old man she’s never even met and who moreover has two wives already. Her slot, if she went through with it, would be “servant wife.” No more high school, certainly no college or medical school, etc. Why is it that men’s version of religion is so utterly joyless and above all, oppressive of women?

    Re the horror in Kenya–those murdering bastards have nothing to do with Islam. That’s just an excuse. They’re using religion as a cover for their blood lust. They feel wronged by life so they’re taking it out on the innocent.

    No hope means nothing left to lose, so they don’t mind committing mass murder. Saw on the news that thousands are fleeing Yemen. The Arab countries seem to be going up in flames. I hope this isn’t going to result in World War III. Why does the human race never learn?

  44. DeniseVelez

    Coming up for air. Got my Sunday writing done by 2AM last night and I’m tired.  

    Plus dealing with racially charged meta at orange has me pooped.

    Have to head to school – I doubt many students will be in class – they usually cut out early for holiday.

    President’s Iran Speech was solid – however when I turned on the TV ABC was interviewing Tom Cotton-mouth and I shut it off.

    Just saw this news

    Loretta Lynch secures majority support in Senate

    http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-ma…

    Looks like one more Republican  Mark Kirk has left the Rethug  pack.

    Fingers crossed.

  45. bfitzinAR

    tomorrow’s 6 AM is forecast to be 35 – of course it is, it’s the first day of the outdoor Farmers’ Market.  But at least, so far, we’re scheduled to have sunshine.

    I’ve had 5 interruptions since I started this comment so I’d best say {{{HUGS}}} and have a good weekend – and will check back when/if I can.

  46. princesspat

    Between coughing and sneezing I’m a bio hazard today. My eyes seem to be very sensitive as well so the overcast sky is welcome. Spring break with grammie starts early Monday morning so I’d best be feeling better.  

  47. Portlaw

    WASHINGTON, April 3 (Reuters) – The Obama administration on Friday finalized its recommendation to expand protected areas of Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, calling on Congress to block about 12 million acres (5 million hectares) from oil and gas drilling.

    U.S. President Barack Obama, in a letter to House Speaker John Boehner released by the White House, stood by his administration’s earlier recommendation to preserve a wide swath of the state’s Arctic refuge, setting up a likely battle with the Republican-led Congress over the oil-rich area.

    “This area is one of the most beautiful, undisturbed places in the world. It is a national treasure and should be permanently protected through legislation for future generations,” Obama said in the letter.

     http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…

    Of course, there are detractors but it this goes through it this is a huge deal

  48. JanF

    It is 29 degrees in Madison on its way up to 57. Mostly sunny skies in the forecast.

    Full moon today at 7:05am Central. Last chance to grab waxing energy so I will get cranking on some brain work this morning.

    The dust is settling on the Iranian nuclear framework with the Grand Old War Party coming in on the side of … war!! I am not sure yet that they understand that they have also come out against all of our European allies. I do believe that their ODS has finally reached the point where the new symbol of the Republican Party will be the pretzel.

    In Senate news, Arizona teapartiers are trying to find someone to primary John McCain, Chuck Grassley is gearing up for a 7th term, GOP Senators are trying to trip up the EPA, and Tom Cotton admits to eating birthday cake every day. What? Can’t find any poor children? Maybe he should look in Kansas where schools will be shutting down a couple weeks early because Sam Brownback’s tax giveaway has defunded them. Uneducated children poised to become the wage slaves of the future … the Rightwing Utopian ideal.

    I think the president’s address is going to be on Iran so I will probably put up his solar energy address instead and put his Weekly address in the comments. Or not! Regardless, it will be late because I have a few things to clear off my to-do stack.

    See all y’all later!!

  49. Portlaw

    the Iran story and the attempts by some to crush the greatest diplomatic coup in decades. Am also following, with sorrow, the massacre of students and dreams at Garissa University College.

    Hope the news is good in your part of the world. Will check in later to see how everyone is and what Jan has put on the pond’s front page!

  50. anotherdemocrat

    Eating breakfast, watching Up. The segment on the Iran deal got really contentious. Ana Marie Cox asked a good question – if not this, what? Lizz Winstead asked a good question on Twitter – how do the people demanding perfection ever actually do anything in life?

    Anyway, got to get some exercise today. And get some of next week’s food made, because church will run late tomorrow. We do Easter really big – 5 or more piece brass & strings…… it’s really great.

  51. Diana in NoVa

    Gad, I hate wind even though it’s been almost 11 years since I’ve had to worry about it. Used to wear contact lenses, and when the wind blew it was agony. Then I had Lasik, Goddess be praised.

    Just a look-in to see how everyone is doing–horrible day of housework, chores, and cooking ahead, followed by tons of frantic cooking, table setting, and whatnot tomorrow. I asked people whether they’d like Easter dinner at 1 p.m. or 6 p.m., and most opted for 1 p.m.

    Hope everyone will have a lovely Easter weekend! Full moon tonight, as Jan said. Good wishes to all!

  52. princesspat

    Ron is leaving soon to be with his mom and brother this weekend, but sneezy me is staying put. I think I feel better this morning, but my shaky knees and fuzzy brain are telling me to lay low, so I am.

  54. JanF

    It is 38 degrees in Madison on its way up to 64. Sunny skies are in the forecast.

    The NRA convention is running this weekend and all the Republican presidential hopefuls are there brandishing firearms and speaking out of both sides of their mouth. The party that once screamed about keeping big government out of their bidness … state and local control, state and local control … are now passing preemption laws taking the local control away. The hypocrisy is on view in Pennsylvania:

    In November, the Pennsylvania state legislature, under intense lobbying by the National Rifle Association, passed Act 192, allowing organizations like the NRA to sue cities and towns over any local gun restrictions. It also would require the city to cover the gun advocates’ legal fees.

    Under threat of litigation, at least 20 municipalities in Pennsylvania have moved to repeal local firearms ordinances. One of them was the quiet community of Jenkintown, which had passed a measure in 2010 requiring gun owners to report a lost or stolen gun to the police within 72 hours.

    What went down in Jenkintown is happening across the country, as industry groups and corporations push states to pass so-called pre-emption laws in order to dismantle city ordinances that they dislike.

    “Why would a freedom-loving, conservative Republican say, ‘Lets take away all local power?’ There’s no philosophical or ideological basis for that,” said Mark Pertschuk, the director of Grassroots Change, which fights against the pre-emption of public health laws. “It’s about the money”.

    National control by lobbying organizations, that is the new Republican Party’s mantra.

    Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will formally announce her candidacy on Sunday via social media. The Republican National Committee will launch a 6 state ad-buy unveiling their 2016 platform “Stop Hillary!!!”. Wayne LaPierre calls her possible presidency a “permanent darkness of deceit and despair”. I wonder how effective demonizing a grandmother who talks about adding “new blocks to the quilt of her life” will be. I guess we will find out! It will be a long and ugly campaign as the national Republican Party works on the smearing of our candidates while diverting attention from the current crop of GOP crazies, one of whom will be carrying their banner into November 2016.

    Catch up day here … time to get to it. See all y’alls later!!

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