Motley Moose – Archive

Found on the Internets …

Tea Party Might Just Fizzle In Ted Cruz’s Texas

For Texas tea partiers, Tuesday’s primary might just be a grim day. Tea party candidates running in federal elections this cycle have struggled to get a foothold in the Lone Star state as the movement turns five.

The best example of the fizzle is one-time conservative favorite Rep. Steve Stockman (R-TX), who’s run such an incompetent campaign against Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) that even other tea party groups have turned against him.

Maybe arming fetuses is not as popular as Stockman thought it would be?

Rudderless Tea Party Searches For Meaning Five Years On

WASHINGTON: Several hundred die-hard Tea Party activists Thursday found themselves sandwiched between a much larger convention of chiropractors and the annual fly-in lobbying convention of the National Treasury Employees Union.

Held at a Washington Hyatt, the fifth anniversary event for the Tea Party Patriots was a far cry from the halcyon days of 2009 when tens of thousands of conservatives descended on Washington for a Tea Party rally.

But more than sheer numbers was missing from Thursday’s event: The day lacked either a single leader or issue to rally around. While Obamacare may have birthed the movement, it no longer motivates the Tea Party, if Thursday’s lineup was any evidence.[…]

Bachmann used her off the cuff speech to hit everything from the rise of China to the budget. Bachmann, who will retire at the end of this year, even warned the movement to not “take your marbles and go home” simply because of their 2012 electoral defeat.

Rep. Steve King, one of the early adopters of the Tea Party mantle, took a more philosophical approach, arguing the movement is about securing the fundamentals of Western culture like “liberty” and “free markets.” […]

Indeed, the only thread that ran through the day was the idea that the Tea Party can still wield power in the next election. At one point a Tea Party Patriots official took the stage to announce the group had raised more than $1.1 million over the last 10 days, announcing, “Let’s show those establishment people and the permanent political class we mean business and we don’t need their money, ’cause we gots our own!”

Bachmann’s calls for the gavel of Harry Reid got polite applause, but the biggest cheers – and the fact that Republicans should be most concerned about – came when Rep. Tim Huelskamp called for the forcible end to Speaker John Boehner’s leadership.

More …

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) muscled his signature budget blueprint through the House of Representatives for three straight years, basking in praise from the right and weathering criticism from the left for attempting to privatize Medicare and slash social programs.

This year, the budget chief faces a swath of competing pressures that give him little room to maneuver, and unprecedented divisions within his Republican conference that may leave him with no viable option but to ditch the project.

GOP finally goes too far on Obamacare: Why the 50th repeal vote is not the charm

And, yes, this week, House Republicans will again vote to delay the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate for a year – or, more specifically, to reduce its penalty in 2014 to $0.

But this slightly lazy shorthand obscures the significant fact that Republicans will decidedly not be voting to repeal the Affordable Care Act in toto this week, and probably never will again.

We saw this coming long, long before the initiation of the law’s core benefits. Prior to this year, voting to repeal the Affordable Care Act was a freebie. A statement without real meaning, but which nevertheless appeased wild-eyed reactionaries on the right. Now it comes with a cost. Now it’s a statement of intent to annul millions of people’s healthcare benefits.

Editor’s Note: Feel free to share other news stories in the comments.

  Make sure you let your peeps

  know where to find you!  

The morning check-in is an open thread posted to give you a place to visit with the meeses. Feel free to chat about your weather, share a bit of your life, grump (if you must), rave (if you can). The diarist du jour sometimes posts and runs, other times sticks around for a bit, often returns throughout the day and always cares that meeses are happy … or at least contented.

For those new to the Moose, Kysen left a Moose Welcome Mat (Part Deux) so, please, wipe your feet before you walk in the front door start posting.

The important stuff to get you started:

– Comments do not Auto-refresh. Click the refresh/reload on your tab to see new ones. Only click Post once for comments. When a diary’s comment threads grow, the page takes longer to refresh and the comment may not display right away.

– To check for replies to your comments, click the “My Comments” link in the right-hand column (or go to “My Moose”). Comments will be listed and a link to Recent Replies will be shown. (Note: Tending comments builds community)

– Ratings: Fierce means Thumbs Up, Fail means Thumbs Down, Meh means one of three things: I am unFailing you but I can’t Fierce you, I am unFiercing after a mistaken Fierce, … or Meh. Just Meh. (p.s. Ratings don’t bestow mojo, online behaviour does).

– The Recommended list has a prominent place on the Front Page because it reflects the interests of the Moose. When people drive-by, we want them to see what we are talking about: news, politics, science, history, personal stories, culture. The list is based on number of recs and days on the list. Per Kysen: “The best way to control Rec List content is to ONLY rec diaries you WANT to see ON the list.”

– Finally, the posting rules for a new diary: “Be excellent to each other… or else”

(Some other commenting/posting/tending notes for newbies can be found in this past check-in and, of course, consult Meese Mehta for all your questions on meesely decorum.)

You can follow the daily moosetrails here: Motley Moose Recent Comments.

~

Let the greetings begin!

~

I post a weekly diary of historical notes, arts & science items, foreign news (often receiving little notice in the US) and whimsical pieces from the outside world that I often feature in “Cheers & Jeers”.  

OK, you’ve been warned – here is this week’s tomfoolery material that I posted.

ART NOTES – the exhibition Trails to Rails: John Mix Stanley and the Pacific Railroad Survey of the 1850’s is at the Tucson, Arizona Museum of Art through September 28th.

HAIL and FAREWELL to the songwriter Ray Kennedy – who wrote “Sail On, Sailor” for the Beach Boys and Why Should I Care? for Beck, Bogert & Appice – who has died at the age of 67 ….. Spanish flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucia – who recorded often with many jazz stars (including John McLaughlin, Larry Coryell and Al DiMeola) and thus expanded public exposure to flamenco music – at the age of 66 …. and the radio/TV host Jim Lange – best-known as the host of “The Dating Game” – who has died at the age of 81.

THURSDAY’s CHILD is a Mississippi kitteh who survived a building fire (with some extra oxygen provided by firefighters) and is fine (no one was injured).

TRANSPORTATION NOTES – Argentina’s government unveiled new trains for a Buenos Aires commuter-rail line – where a series of accidents over the past two years have left more than 50 people dead. Meanwhile, the nation of Chile hopes to build Latin America’s longest suspension bridge by 2020.

BRAIN TEASER – try this Quiz of the Week’s News from the BBC.

By Request SEPARATED at BIRTH from Elwood Dowd – poet and legendary San Francisco bookshop owner Lawrence Ferlinghetti ….. as well as jazz pianist Mose Allison – the composer of “Parchman Farm” and “Young Man Blues”…… Whaddya think?

   

CHEERS to the owner of the northern Italian restaurant Dal Pescatore – as Nadia Santini has been named the world’s best female chef by the foodies bible (Restaurant magazine).

FRIDAY’s CHILD is one profiled here years ago: Tama the Cat is the stationmaster at a railway station in western Japan … who will turn age fifteen soon, yet attracts tourists from near-and-far.

DEBAUCHERY CENTRAL – an Irishwoman who claims she injured her ribs (when she was pushed by another woman who was striving to grab a prize) at a sex shop party …… has sued the pub where the event was held.

By Request FATHER-DAUGHTER? from Maudlin –  Paul Reubens as Pee-Wee Herman and US Olympic figure skater Gracie Gold – whaddya think?

   

…… and finally, for a song of the week ……………… from the “You may not know their names, but” file …….. – comes a guitarist whose nearly sixty-year career has been so prolific, you have surely heard James Burton at some point in your life. The (relative) anonymity to the general public comes from having been a sideman (rather than a headliner) much of his life … but his stature as a session player, touring band member and role model for many big-name guitarists ensures his place in musical history.

Born in Louisiana in 1939, he was largely self-taught and as a result developed a distinctive style called chicken pickin’ – using both a finger-pick as well as a flat-pick, and with a staccato-like sound (often using single strings) he is at home in a rock, country and folk music setting. He also became proficient at pedal steel and especially the dobro (as we shall see).

At age 15, he backed-up a local singer named Carol Williams. That got him noticed as a prodigy, and he joined a touring band where he came up with the idea for a song. At some point, he came to perform with the singer Dale Hawkins – who fleshed-out the idea for that song and added lyrics. And Dale Hawkins’ 1957 version of Susie-Q (with James Burton playing on it) became a hit single and one of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock & Roll (with a later cover version by Creedence Clearwater Revival that brought the song to a wider audience).

Later that year he toured with the band of rockabilly singer Bob Luman, who was asked to perform on a Hollywood film entitled Carnival Rock. While there, the eighteen year-old Burton was overheard by another teenager … and Ricky Nelson felt a kinship that led him to offer Burton a place in his band and – by extension – a regular place on his family’s Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet television show. While Ricky was the star of the band that performed at the end of each show: for many budding musicians, it was the playing of James Burton that made them want to tune in each week (as none other than Elvis Presley later told Burton in person).

In-between shooting of the show (from 1957-1964), James Burton became an in-demand session player in Los Angeles and recorded with a wide range of acts (as will later be noted). One of those sessions was for a 1962 song “Trying to be Someone” by a duo named David and Lee … with a young Leon Russell on piano.

Towards the end of his time with the Nelsons, he was recruited to be part of the hose band for the mid-60’s TV show Shindig! – and while the show didn’t last long, two of his bandmates in The Shindogs were Delaney Bramlett (later to achieve fame with his wife Bonnie and Eric Clapton) and drummer Chuck Blackwell (later to join Joe Cocker’s Mad Dogs and Englishmen). Afterwards, Burton began to tour with Merle Haggard – and the sound he began to hone with him (and later concerts with Buck Owens) helped produce the Bakersfield Sound of country music.

At this time, his volume of session work was so great, he turned down offers from two big-name artists in 1968: to join the touring band of Bob Dylan and to appear on the Elvis Presley comeback TV special. However, Elvis was persistent: and in 1969 James Burton accepted his offer to not only join his touring band … but to lead it. And he stayed with Presley until his death in 1977, with James Burton acquiring his now-signature pink paisley Fender Telecaster guitar.

James Burton did some touring with others, including the band of Emmylou Harris from 1975-76 (that included a young Rodney Crowell). Burton performed on a 1977 John Denver summer television special and was asked if he would join him on a European tour? Burton said he would only do so if it did not conflict with his touring with Elvis – but Presley’s death soon after enabled Burton to accept, and he performed with John Denver until 1994 (with some breaks to join Jerry Lee Lewis in the early 80’s) with Burton speaking at John Denver’s 1997 memorial service. Although he did not tour with him, James Burton appeared on recordings by Elvis Costello from 1986-1994.

As noted, he has been content to be a sideman much of his life; to date he has issued only two albums under his own name: Corn Pickin’ and Slick Slidin’ (a duet from 1969) and The Guitar Sounds of James Burton from 1971. Yet his appearance on numerous studio recordings probably explains why, and the breadth of the performers he has supported is quite remarkable. Besides those already mentioned: add the Everly Brothers, the Beach Boys, Sonny & Cher, the Fifth Dimension, Johnny Cash, Judy Collins, Joni Mitchell, Suzi Quatro, Roy Orbison and Eric Clapton … just for starters.  

His place in history was secure long ago. He was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, the Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville (in 2007), the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame (in 2009), and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (as a sideman) in 2001 – where he was introduced by Keith Richards who said, “I never bought a Ricky Nelson record … I bought a James Burton record”. He was a sideman on a 2008 Brad Paisley tune Cluster Pluck – along with Vince Gill, Albert Lee and others – which won a Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental Performance. And he was named by Rolling Stone (as #19) in its 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time list – as the James Gang/Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh recalled wondering, “Who is this guy – and why is he on all these records I like?”    

In 2005, he founded the James Burton Foundation – which seeks to provide musical instruments to needy students – and has an annual benefit concert (in his home of Shreveport, Louisiana) to help provide for its funding. And he does have an instructional video that was released in 2000.

As James Burton will turn age 75 this summer, his touring schedule is somewhat slower compared to his youth … yet there are surely more recordings and performances to come before his career is over.

With such a prolific career, what to choose? As is my wont, there are two choices that follow … and one of them should be as a sideman (a vital part of his career).

One of the most well-respected session performances he gave goes back to 1967, when he played the dobro on the second album by Buffalo Springfield. More specifically: on the Richie Furay-written tune A Child’s Claim to Fame (which Furay later re-recorded with his band Poco). And below you can hear James Burton play the dobro on it.

And let’s conclude with the song that introduced him to the world more than fifty-five years ago …. a recent live performance of Susie Q in Austin, Texas – a song that was not a big hit for Dale Hawkins, but is now considered a swamp rock classic.

It features James Burton’s signature guitar licks that led the Rolling Stones and (later) Creedence Clearwater Revival to cover. And below you can see it.

Greetings, Bombpersons. The Daily F Bomb is going on hiatus for an indefinite period. This Friday’s will be the last one for a while. I just need some time to be able to do things for myself. I have a full DVR that I need to take care of, and several books waiting for my attention that I haven’t been able to get to, and Lilly the cat says I am neglecting her shamefully because there is always a damned MacBook on her lap. And I need to get out and see my real life friends more often. It’s been fun, and hopefully will continue to be fun in the future.

Interrogatories

What sitcom (or funny film), best represents your sense of humor?

Have you Google-mapped your own place? How does it look?

What can always be counted on to cheer you up?

The Twitter Emitter

If the President ordered an invasion, the Republicans would suddenly be against it. See how easy it is to be a pundit?

— Chris Dashiell (@cdashiell) March 2, 2014

If you casually move from writing Ronald Reagan fan fiction to Vladimir Putin fan fiction, you probably just like actors who ride horses.

— LOLGOP (@LOLGOP) March 2, 2014

We can't afford to pay benefits promised to current veterans, say Republicans advocating new wars with Russia and Iran

— The Daily Edge (@TheDailyEdge) March 2, 2014

Hi, I'm a guy who supported the Iraq war & is outraged Putin would invade a smaller country that hasn't attacked him.

— John Fugelsang (@JohnFugelsang) March 2, 2014

Everyone knows fact about Crimea I pulled from the first non-Wikipedia link on Google

— Jesse Taylor (@jesseltaylor) March 2, 2014

Shorter idiots: "Let's send your kids to a place I can't point out on a map because Mrka."

— Andrew Gatto (@AndrewGatto) March 2, 2014

We should have taught Putin an abstinence-only international relations curriculum.

— David Waldman (@KagroX) March 2, 2014

I think you should see other gods.

— God (@TheTweetOfGod) March 2, 2014

Working on my Ukraine White Paper. So far I just have a white piece of paper with "Ukraine" written at the top.

— pourmecoffee (@pourmecoffee) March 2, 2014

"We must all rally behind our President at a time of international crisis. Ha ha. Just kidding," says Lindsey Graham

— The Daily Edge (@TheDailyEdge) March 2, 2014

We don't even allow our elected officials to speak truth. If a politician speaks the reality of America they are demonized as unpatriotic.

— Elon James White (@elonjames) March 2, 2014

Maybe the Tea Partiers should all pick up their muskets and run off to fight Putin in the Ukraine.

— kara vallow (@teenagesleuth) March 2, 2014

On This Day

In 1845, Florida became the 27th state.

In 1875, Georges Bizet’s opera, “Carmen,” premiered at the Opéra Comique in Paris.

In 1887, Anne Sullivan met and became the teacher of the blind and deaf 6-year-old Helen Keller.

In 1913, suffragists Alice Paul and Lucy Burns led a parade of 8000 women, 10 bands, 5 mounted brigades, and 26 floats down Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC to advance the cause of Women’s Suffrage. The authorities failed to clear the roads beforehand, and the mostly male crowds harassed them, sometimes aided by the police. Their ill-treatment actually won them much sympathy, and backfired on the harassers.

In 1923, Time Magazine debuted.

In 1931, President Herbert Hoover signed into law a bill making “The Star-Spangled Banner” the national anthem. I personally think he should have gone with something easier to sing, like “America the Beautiful,” or “America, Fuck Yeah!”

In 1991, in a case that sparked a national outcry, motorist Rodney King was severely beaten by Los Angeles police officers in a scene captured on amateur video.

In 2006, former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham (R-CA), was sentenced by a federal judge to more than eight years in prison for corruption.

Born on This Day

1606 – Edmund Waller, British poet (d. 1687)

1631 – Esaias Boursse, Dutch painter (d. 1672)

1700 – Charles-Joseph Natoire, French Rococo painter (d. 1777)

1756 – William Godwin, English writer (d. 1836)

1778 – Frederica of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Queen of Hanover (d. 1841)

1793 – William Charles Macready, English actor (d. 1873)

1814 – Abram Louis Buvelot, Swiss landscape painter, active in Brazil and Australia (d. 1888)

1816 – William James Blacklock, British painter (d. 1858)

1826 – Anton Doll, German painter (d. 1887)

1831 – George Pullman, American inventor (d. 1897)

1844 – Marie Spartali Stillman, painter (d. 1927)

1848 – Adelaide Neilson, English actress (d. 1880)

1867 – Guy Rose, U.S. impressionist painter (d. 1925)

1873 – William Green, American labor union leader (d. 1952)

1880 – Florence Auer, American actress (d. 1962)

1882 – Charles Ponzi, scheming Italian (d. 1949)

1890 – Edmund Lowe, American actor (d. 1971)

1894 – Ethel Grandin, silent film actress (d. 1988)

1903 – Gilbert Adrian, American costume designer (d. 1959)

1911 – Jean Harlow, American actress (d. 1937)

1920 – James Doohan, Canadian-born actor (d. 2005)

1920 – Ronald Searle, English illustrator (d. 2011)

1921 – Diana Barrymore, American actress (d. 1960)

1933 – Lee Radziwill, American fashion executive

1934 – Gia Scala, Italian actress (d. 1972)

1938 – Willie Chambers, American guitarist/vocalist (Chambers Brothers)

1942 – Mike Pender, English singer and guitarist (The Searchers)

1948 – Snowy White, British guitarist (Thin Lizzy, Pink Floyd)

1951 – Lindsay Cooper, English musician and composer (Henry Cow, News from Babel)

1953 – Robyn Hitchcock, British musician (The Soft Boys)

1954 – John Lilley, American musician (The Hooters)

1958 – Miranda Richardson, English actress

1966 – Tone Lōc (Anthony Terrell Smith), American rapper and actor

1971 – Tyler Florence, American chef and author

Died on This Day

1703 – Robert Hooke, English scientist (b. 1635)

1765 – William Stukeley, English archaeologist (b. 1687)

1792 – Robert Adam, Scottish architect (b. 1728)

1804 – Giovanni-Domenico Tiepolo, Italian Rococo Era painter (b. 1727)  Son of painter Giovanni-Battista Tiepolo.

1808 – Anton von Maron, Austrian portrait painter (b. 1733)

1855 – Copley Fielding, British landscape painter (b. 1787)

1901 – Achille Zo, French painter  (b. 1826)

1920 – Theodor Philipsen, Danish painter (b. 1840)

1928 – Jan Theodoor Toorop, Dutch symbolist painter (b. 1858)

1959 – Lou Costello, American actor and comedian (b. 1906)

1979 – Gladys McConnell, silent film actress and aviator (b. 1905)

1987 – Danny Kaye, American actor, singer, and comedian (b. 1913)

1988 – Lois Wilson, American actress (b. 1894)

1993 – Carlos Montoya, flamenco guitarist (b. 1903)

2003 – Horst Buchholz, German actor (b. 1933)

2004 – Cecily Adams, American actress and casting director (b. 1958)

2012 – Ronnie Montrose, American guitarist (Montrose and Gamma) (b. 1947)

Today is

National Cold Cuts Day

National Mulled Wine Day

I Want You to be Happy Day

Peach Blossom Day

National Anthem Day

If Pets Had Thumbs Day

  Good morning Motley Meese! Hope your weekend was lovely. This is how it is starting too look at my house, where the universe has apparently failed to notice that it’s March already now cut it out!!  ::takes deep cleansing breath::

The check-in is an open thread and general social hour.

It’s traditional but not obligatory to give us a weather check where you are and let us know what’s new, interesting, challenging or even routine in your life lately. Nothing is particularly obligatory here except:

Always remember the Moose Golden (Purple?) Rule:

Be kind to each other… or else.

What could be simpler than that, right?

  Make sure you let your peeps

  know where to find you!  

The morning check-in is an open thread posted to give you a place to visit with the meeses. Feel free to chat about your weather, share a bit of your life, grump (if you must), rave (if you can). The diarist du jour sometimes posts and runs, other times sticks around for a bit, often returns throughout the day and always cares that meeses are happy … or at least contented.

On weekends (and holidays), you may find the check-in thread earlier or later than normal because … it is the weekend! Moosies need their beauty rest:

For those new to the Moose, Kysen left a Moose Welcome Mat (Part Deux) so, please, wipe your feet before you walk in the front door start posting.

The important stuff to get you started:

– Comments do not Auto-refresh. Click the refresh/reload on your tab to see new ones. Only click Post once for comments. When a diary’s comment threads grow, the page takes longer to refresh and the comment may not display right away.

– To check for replies to your comments, click the “My Comments” link in the right-hand column (or go to “My Moose”). Comments will be listed and a link to Recent Replies will be shown. (Note: Tending comments builds community)

– Ratings: Fierce means Thumbs Up, Fail means Thumbs Down, Meh means one of three things: I am unFailing you but I can’t Fierce you, I am unFiercing after a mistaken Fierce … or Meh. Just Meh. (p.s. Ratings don’t bestow mojo, online behaviour does).

– The Recommended list has a prominent place on the Front Page because it reflects the interests of the Moose. When people drive-by, we want them to see what we are talking about: news, politics, science, history, personal stories, culture. The list is based on number of recs and days on the list. Per Kysen: “The best way to control Rec List content is to ONLY rec diaries you WANT to see ON the list.”

– Finally, the posting rules for a new diary: “Be excellent to each other… or else”

(Some other commenting/posting/tending notes for newbies can be found in this past check-in and, of course, consult Meese Mehta for all your questions on meesely decorum.)

You can follow the daily moosetrails here: Motley Moose Recent Comments.

~

Let the greetings begin!

~

The President’s Weekly Address post is also the Weekend Open News Thread. Feel free to share other news stories in the comments.

From the White House – Weekly Address

In his weekly address, President Obama said he took action this week to launch new manufacturing hubs and expand a competition to fund transformative infrastructure projects. Both are policies aimed at expanding economic opportunity for all by creating jobs and ensuring the long-term strength of the American economy. Congress can boost this effort by passing a bipartisan proposal to create a nationwide network of high-tech manufacturing hubs and taking steps to invest in our nation’s infrastructure – rebuilding our transportation system, creating new construction jobs, and better connecting Americans to economic opportunities.

Transcript: Weekly Address – Investing in Technology and Infrastructure to Create Jobs

Hi everybody.  In my State of the Union Address, I said that the best measure of opportunity is access to a good job.  And after the worst recession of our lifetimes, our businesses have created eight and a half million new jobs in the last four years.

But we need to do more to make America a magnet for good jobs for the future.  And in this year of action, where Congress won’t do that, I will do whatever I can to expand opportunity for more Americans.  This week, I took two actions to attract new jobs to America – jobs in American manufacturing, and jobs rebuilding America’s infrastructure.

Here’s why this is important.  In the 2000s alone, we lost more than one-third of all American manufacturing jobs.  One in three.  And when the housing bubble burst, workers in the construction industry were hit harder than just about anybody.  The good news is, today, our manufacturers have added more than 620,000 jobs over the last four years – the first sustained growth in manufacturing jobs since the 1990s.

Still, the economy has changed.  If we want to attract more good manufacturing jobs to America, we’ve got to make sure we’re on the cutting edge of new manufacturing technologies and techniques.  And in today’s global economy, first-class jobs gravitate to first-class infrastructure.

That’s why, on Tuesday, I launched two new high-tech manufacturing hubs – places where businesses and universities will partner to turn groundbreaking research into real-world goods Made in America.  So far, we’ve launched four of these hubs, where our workers can master 3-D printing, energy-efficient electronics, lightweight metals, and digital manufacturing – all technologies that can help ensure a steady stream of good jobs well into the 21st century.

Then on Wednesday, I launched a new competition to build 21st century infrastructure – roads and bridges, mass transit, more efficient ports, and faster passenger rail.  Rebuilding America won’t just attract new businesses; it will create good construction jobs that can’t be shipped overseas.

Of course, Congress could make an even bigger difference in both areas.  Thanks to the leadership of a bipartisan group of lawmakers, there’s a bill in Congress right now that would create an entire network of high-tech manufacturing hubs all across the country.  And next week, I’ll send Congress a budget that will rebuild our transportation systems and support millions of jobs nationwide.

There’s a lot we can do if we work together.  And while Congress decides what it’s going to do, I’m going to keep doing everything in my power to rebuild an economy where everyone who works hard has the chance to get ahead – where we’re restoring our founding vision of opportunity for all.

Thanks, everybody, and have a great weekend.  

Bolding added.

~

  Make sure you let your peeps

  know where to find you!  

The morning check-in is an open thread posted to give you a place to visit with the meeses. Feel free to chat about your weather, share a bit of your life, grump (if you must), rave (if you can). The diarist du jour sometimes posts and runs, other times sticks around for a bit, often returns throughout the day and always cares that meeses are happy … or at least contented.

On weekends (and holidays), you may find the check-in thread earlier or later than normal because … it is the weekend! Moosies need their beauty rest:

For those new to the Moose, Kysen left a Moose Welcome Mat (Part Deux) so, please, wipe your feet before you walk in the front door start posting.

The important stuff to get you started:

– Comments do not Auto-refresh. Click the refresh/reload on your tab to see new ones. Only click Post once for comments. When a diary’s comment threads grow, the page takes longer to refresh and the comment may not display right away.

– To check for replies to your comments, click the “My Comments” link in the right-hand column (or go to “My Moose”). Comments will be listed and a link to Recent Replies will be shown. (Note: Tending comments builds community)

– Ratings: Fierce means Thumbs Up, Fail means Thumbs Down, Meh means one of three things: I am unFailing you but I can’t Fierce you, I am unFiercing after a mistaken Fierce, or Meh. Just Meh. (p.s. Ratings don’t bestow mojo, online behaviour does).

– The Recommended list has a prominent place on the Front Page because it reflects the interests of the Moose. When people drive-by, we want them to see what we are talking about: news, politics, science, history, personal stories, culture. The list is based on number of recs and days on the list. Per Kysen: “The best way to control Rec List content is to ONLY rec diaries you WANT to see ON the list.”

– Finally, the posting rules for a new diary: “Be excellent to each other… or else”

(Some other commenting/posting/tending notes for newbies can be found in this past check-in and, of course, consult Meese Mehta for all your questions on meesely decorum.)

You can follow the daily moosetrails here: Motley Moose Recent Comments.

~

Let the greetings begin!

~

Interrogatories

If you could devise a Rare Disease for Rare Disease Day that would affect only political figures on the right-wing persuasion, what disease would you give them? (Like foot-in-mouth-itis)

What book signings have you been to?

What is the last thing you rented?

The Twitter Emitter

A machine learning researcher, a crypto-currency expert, and an Erlang programmer walk into a bar. Facebook buys the bar for $27 billion.

— ML Hipster (@ML_Hipster) February 25, 2014

In lieu of Bitcoin, I’ve stuck to flushing $100 bills down a toilet. I’m deep in the red but at least I understand exactly what’s going on.

— John Gruber (@gruber) February 26, 2014

Millions of churches you can go to? Check. Thousands of Christian radio stations and TV shows? Check. STFU about being oppressed.

— Chris Dashiell (@cdashiell) February 27, 2014

OBAMACARE DAY 58: Texas gay marries Kentucky, all Christian residents forced to prepare floral arrangements; Subway offers marijuana salads

— Rex Huppke (@RexHuppke) February 27, 2014

First Obama empowers impoverished young black men, next white people are forced to work in BitCoin mines. That's how it works sheeple!

— Lex (@LuthorCEO) February 27, 2014

Hell is an airport where everyone has a laptop and there's only one socket.

— John Fugelsang (@JohnFugelsang) February 27, 2014

Human beings are the only creatures on earth with the potential to make themselves the only creatures on earth.

— God (@TheTweetOfGod) February 28, 2014

Just let me know how exactly I should live my life so you have your "religious freedom." http://t.co/BQGrDc0SQb

— LOLGOP (@LOLGOP) February 28, 2014

And, even with ten years of gay marriage, Massachusetts has the lowest divorce rate in the United States. #protectingmarriage

— Will McAvoy (@WillMcAvoyACN) February 28, 2014

If gays have rights and can get married, then all you ladies will miss out on forcing them into loveless marriages. Call your Congressman!

— Top Conservative Cat (@TeaPartyCat) February 28, 2014

On This Day

In 1885, the American Telephone and Telegraph Company was incorporated in as a subsidiary of American Bell Telephone.

In 1940, the first televised basketball was shown (Fordham University vs. the University of Pittsburgh in Madison Square Garden), an event that would eventually lead to Madness (and March).

In 1953, scientists James D. Watson and Francis H.C. Crick announced that they had discovered the double-helix structure of DNA.

In 1972, President Nixon and Chinese Premier Chou En-lai signed the Shanghai Communique, moving towards normalizing relations between the two countries.

In 1983, U2’s album “War” U2 was released.

In 1993, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents tried to serve warrants on the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas, setting off a gun battle that would leave four agents and six Davidians dead, followed by a 51-day standoff. The unfortunate ending to this affair became a rallying cry for wingnuts of all stripes.

In 2013, Pope Benedict XVI resigned; the first pope to do so since 1415.

Born on This Day

1770 – François Kinsoen, Flemish painter (d. 1839)

1798 – Johann Jakob Ulrich, Swiss painter (d. 1877)

1820 – John Tenniel, English illustrator (d. 1914)

1828 – Antonio Rotta, Italian genre painter (d. 1903)

1867 – William Degouve de Nuncques, Belgian painter (d. 1935)

1867 – Thomas Theodor Heine, German poster artist (d. 1948)

1869 – Wilson Henry Irvine, U.S. Impressionist painter (d. 1936)

1871 – Leo von König, German painter (d. 1944)

1882 – Geraldine Farrar, American soprano (d. 1967)

1894 – Ben Hecht, American playwright (d. 1964)

1894 – Wim Schuhmacher, Dutch painter (d. 1986)

1895 – Marcel Pagnol, French novelist, playwright and film director (d. 1974)

1901 – Linus Pauling, American chemist and activist, Nobel laureate (d. 1994)

1903 – Vincente Minnelli, American film director (d. 1986)

1906 – Bugsy Siegel, American gangster (d. 1947)

1908 – William Coldstream, English painter (d. 1987)

1915 – Zero Mostel, American actor (d. 1977)

1917 – Odette Laure, French actress and singer (d. 2004)

1922 – Joyce Howard, British actress (d. 2010)

1923 – Charles Durning, American actor (d. 2012)

1929 – Frank Gehry, Canadian-American architect

1931 – Gavin MacLeod, American actor

1934 – Willie Bobo, American jazz percussionist (d. 1983)

1939 – Tommy Tune, American dancer

1939 – John Fahey, American steel-string acoustic guitarist (d. 2001)

1940 – Mario Andretti, Italian-American race car driver

1942 – Brian Jones, English musician (The Rolling Stones) (d. 1969)

1948 – Mike Figgis, English director

1948 – Bernadette Peters, American actress and singer

1953 – Paul Krugman, American economist, Nobel laureate

1957 – Cindy Wilson, American singer (The B-52’s)

1958 – Jack Abramoff, American businessman, political figure and convict

1969 – Patrick Monahan, American singer (Train)

1975 – Greg Simkins, American painter

Died on This Day

1453 – Isabella, Duchess of Lorraine (b. 1400)

1621 – Cosimo II de’ Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany (b. 1590)

1748 – Johann-Rudolf Huber, Swiss portraitist (b. 1668)

1786 – Jacob-Andries Beschey, Flemish painter (b. 1710)

1808 – Nicolaes Muys, Dutch painter (b. 1740)

1818 – Anne Vallayer Coster, French painter (b. 1744)

1838 – Benjamin Barker, British painter (b. 1776)

1867 – Jacques-Raymond Brascassat, French cow painter (b. 1804)

1896 – Josef Munsch, Austrian genre painter (b. 1832)

1916 – Henry James, American writer (b. 1843)

1918 – Nikolay Nikanorovich Dubovskoy, Russian landscape painter (b. 1859)

1923 – François Flameng, Parisian painter (b. 1856)

1959 – Maxwell Anderson, American playwright (b. 1888)

1974 – Bobby Bloom, American singer and songwriter (b. 1946)

1977 – Eddie ‘Rochester’ Anderson, American actor (b. 1905)

1983 – Hendra Gunawan, Indonesian painter (b. 1918)

1986 – Fred Kabotie, Hopi painter (b. 1900)

1993 – Ruby Keeler, Canadian actress and dancer (b. 1910)

2002 – Mary Stuart, American actress (b. 1926)

2008 – Mike Smith, English musician (The Dave Clark Five) (b. 1943)

2011 – Annie Girardot, French actress (b. 1931)

2011 – Jane Russell, American actress (b. 1921)

Today is

National Chocolate Souffle Day

National Tooth Fairy Day

Read Me Day

Rare Disease Day

Public Sleeping Day

Floral Design Day