44 Million In Tax Money, It's Just Not Enough To Protect Shareholder Value

& screw the public, Blandon ought to be ashamed, but, well, shareholder value you know.

Another "Job Creator" (Yeah, Right) Lays Off 13,000

So Merck, after posting a 7% profit gain in the second quarter, decides shareholder value is much more important that jobs.  How do you explain that, Sean Duffy?  Oh, btw you are a huge twit, Sean. 

Well, I Guess I'm Smarter Than Some People

Not that it matters, but I have one Google account where I use Firefox & another account where I use Chrome.  Take that, Shutterwi.

I Got Nuthin'

Just knocked my cell phone off the arm of the chair I'm in, it seems to be OK, if you were wondering.

Another Reason Baseball Is Stupid

This is just about the worst call I've seen in all of my life. Granted, I've never been much of a baseball fan, but, really, baseball powers-that-be, have you ever heard of instant replay?  & this notion of "the human element" is just ludicrous, insanely ludicrous.  Remember that completely stupid call last year that cost a very young man his perfect game?  Yeah, we all remember the charming human element about that game, eh?  I know there are those among my loyal five (yes, 5!) readers who actually will admit to enjoying baseball.  There is no accounting for taste here in upper Wisco.  If baseball is going to survive, it needs to get its head out of its ass & allow instant replay.  There is nothing good about the human element when that idea destroys the credibility of the game.

It Begins

This is the beginning of what the Tea Baggers are gleefully expecting.  It's a dark time for America, for our always tenuous democracy.

My guess is that y'all get my drift.  

Long Walk, Tragic End

If you read the story, you'll find a link to a photo of the dead mountain lion in Wisco, alive, of course.  This guy sure took the idea of dispersal seriously.

President Gore, President Kerry - If Only The Democrats Really Believed In Democracy

Just think of what a better nation we would be if the corrupt ReThugs had not been allowed to steal two elections?  As many have said, it's all about power & getting elected for the ReThugs - nothing about governing a country.  This is truly a dark, dark period in our history - only 150 years since the Civil War & we are becoming slaves again.  See what the asshole Walker has just done in Wisco - here.  My Kid, The Babies, & The Son-In-Law are in Ontario for a wedding/vacation.  Maybe they should stay.

& he's Canadian by birth, but an American Master. Go figure.

Grizzly Bear Attacks Seven Teenagers In Alaska, Grizzly Mama Attacks Fundamental Conservative Ideal of Marriage & Precreation

I, too, as a liberal, wish the parents well & as a liberal, think having some (a lot) of fun in the sack is great, no matter what the paperwork says.  However, yeah, it's the hypocrisy, it's the fact the Palin is such a tool.  The mama grizzly in Alaska was being a true grizzly, the Mama Grizzly in Arizona was conveniently forgetting the birds & bees conversation while padding her bank account.

The bear was a sow that appeared to be guarding a cub, said Don Ford, the outdoor school's Alaska director.

ChChChChChanges

I've done some clean-up on the blog.  I've eliminated Iraq (I wish) & Henry Waxman (not really, I like Henry, but he's gone from this site).  I've added Fly Fishing, Trout Fishing, Salmon Fishing, & most dear to me, Poetry.  I just know Shutterwi will love the Poetry.  Just click on any of them & you'll get your fill of news. 

Humor From Our Far-Flung Correspondent

Subject: The Pope in Alaska The Pope went on vacation for a few days to visit the rugged mountains of Alaska. He was cruising along the campground in the Pope Mobile when he heard a frantic commotion just at the edge of the woods. He found a helpless Viking fan wearing shorts, sandals, a 'Go Vikings' hat and a "Vikings rule" shirt. The man was screaming and struggling frantically, thrashing all about, and trying to free himself from the grasp of a 10-foot grizzly bear. As the Pope watched in horror, a group of Packer fans wearing Packer shirts came racing up. One quickly fired a 44 magnum slug right into the bear's chest. The two other men pulled the semiconscious Viking fan from the bear's grasp. Then using baseball bats, the three Packer fans finished off the grizzly. Two of the men dragged the dead grizzly onto the bed of their pickup truck while the other tenderly placed the injured Viking fan in the back seat. As they began to leave, the Pope summoned all of the men over to him. "I give you my blessing for your brave actions!" he proudly proclaimed. "I have heard there was bitter hatred between Packer fans and Viking fans, but now I've seen with my own eyes that this is not true." As the Pope drove off, one Packer fan asked his buddies, "Who the heck was that guy?" "Dude, that was the Pope," another replied. "He's in direct contact with Heaven and has access to all wisdom." "Well," the Packer fan said, "he may have access to all wisdom, but he doesn't know squat about bear hunting! By the way, is the bait still alive or do we need to go back to Minnesota and get another one?"

Good News & Happiness

A bit of sanity comes to  New York State.

Amy Winehouse, R.I,P,

She's dead, & that's a very bad thing.  Goddamn, the pusher man.

♠

Ky Is Dead

The guy was, to quote a great high school teacher I had, "...a fucking facist."  

My Bad

Early reports of an Islamic radical group taking responsibility for the massacre in Norway turn out to be wrong, completely wrong. I hope all the right wingers in America are proud of their European brother.

Norway Police Say at Least 80 Killed in Youth Camp Shooting

At least 80 people were killed on Friday when a gunman stalked youths at an island summer camp for young members of the governing Labor Party, the police said on national television early Saturday.

Before the shooting attack, explosions in Oslo killed seven people and wounded at least 15, the police said, according to the state television broadcaster.

After the shooting the police seized a 32-year-old Norwegian man on the island, according to the police and Justice Minister Knut Storberget. He was later identified as Anders Behring Breivik and was characterized by officials as a right-wing extremist

What The Fuck Was The Point Of This?

It's pretty clear to me that the assholes who car bomb places like Norway & then kill a bunch of young Norwegians at a political education camp do not represent the vast majority of Muslims in this world.  How in the world will an act like this advance the cause of the hungry Muslim?  The homeless Muslim?  The abandoned Muslim?  The raped Muslim? The Muslim in jail for criticizing the Saudi king, you know, the one Bu$hCo held hands with? The motherless Muslim?  The fatherless Muslim?  The childless Muslim?  

As long as America & its corporatist rulers insist on an endless war, these bombings will do nothing but intensify this war against nothing, but in support of the bankers, hedge fund operators, bomb builders, plane builders, etc.

And when it comes to dropping its citizens’ tax dollars on flying killer robots and foreign military occupations, no country comes close to the United States. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the cost of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq — more than $150 billion in direct spending this year alone — exceeds what China, the U.S.’s closest military rival, spends altogether on its armed forces. Overall, the Obama administration will spend more than $700 billion next year on the military.

....

Rather, they’re investing in war at the cost of community health centers, local development projects and Medicare. In Washington, you see, money for killing people is safe from the cutting board; it’s the money that actually helps them that’s not.

My emphases.

Well, Yes, Yes He Is Correct

Cornell West is absolutely right.  I am not feeling all happy & triumphant about this, believe me.  President Obama had an historic opportunity & just decided that he was a ReThuglican & not a Democrat.  This is disastrous for America, but the Koch-head Bros. just  love them some President Obama, you betcha.

It is absurd to call President Barack Obama a “socialist” when he is “very much an extension of the corporate state that has been squeezing out the juices of our democracy,” according to Princeton professor and famed black intellectual Cornel West.

West, who had been a supporter of Obama, called the president “another black mascot” of “Wall Street oligarchs” on an MSNBC panel in April. He stood by and clarified by those remarks Wednesday on CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight.

“I supported by dear brother Barack Obama because I wanted to bring an end to the age of Reagan, greed running amok, indifference to poor people, and highly polarized body politic,” he said. “When he moves into office, who do we get? We get his economic team coming right out of Wall Street.”

My emphases.

Good News From FitzWalkerstan

Gov. Walker (R-Dipshit) was shouted down by an audience he was addressing.  As long as he appears before truly public meetings, this will continue to happen.  If, of course, he follows an invitation only procedure, as he did when he signed the destroy Wisco Budget Bill, then the adoring few will have him all to themselves & they deserve him.

I Think Sen. Imhofe (R-Crazy Land) May Have Lyme's Disease

That supposition would explain a lot about his behavior. I bet he has no loons in his family either.I wonder if he exhibits any of the symptoms of the disease?

Early symptoms may include fever, headache, fatigue, depression, and a characteristic circular skin rash called erythema migrans. Left untreated, later symptoms may involve the joints, heart, and central nervous system. In most cases, the infection and its symptoms are eliminated by antibiotics, especially if the illness is treated early.^[6] Delayed or inadequate treatment can lead to the more serious symptoms, which can be disabling and difficult to treat.^[7] Lyme disease is a biosafety level 2 disease.

Just Great

One more reason to just wish The Game of Thrones was real - I'd head for the wall.

Note From FitzWalkerstan

More bullshit from Wisco ReThugs. 

OK, I'm From Wisco & I'm Late With This

Fake Democrats lose.  So there.

They Are All Dead Today

Sherwood Schwartz., R.I.P.

Rob Grill., R.I.P.

Theodore Roszak., R.I.P.

A Heroine For Our Times

It's a bad day for America when a heroine come forward to support & perform a procedure that is LEGAL in the country.  How much stupider can the people of Kansas become?  My guess is quite a lot stupider.  Mila Means is the heroine,  She intends to do the right thing even though she received a letter telling her "...to check under her car each morning - "because maybe today is the day someone places an explosive under it...."  As a friend once told me "...there are assholes everywhere....", of course, that was in reference to the Snopes family in William Faulkner's novels, but the same holds true in Kansas, except for the obvious fact that there are a lot of asshole in Kansas, & sadly, in the whole of America as well.

Sam Allardyce - My New Man Crush

He blames Thatcher for the decline in child health & in a child's physical & mental ability to play football (soccer to us). I love this guy & he has facts to back him up.

In a scathing attack in The Sun newspaper Saturday, Allardyce said: "Since Margaret Thatcher stopped teachers being paid extra money for coaching sports after school, all sporting activities have diminished on a competitive basis.
....

 "It has not just undermined our game, it has undermined many sports in this country and created an unhealthy child. Thatcher killed football, there is no doubt about it."

A recent report stated that one in three children in Britain are obese or overweight and that 32 per cent of children play less than an hour of sport a week.

In the last 20 years, around 5,000 school playing fields have been sold off or built over as England's men's national team have continually floundered in attempts to repeat their 1966 World Cup triumph.

Notes From FitzWalkerstan

Forced labor replaces union workers.  One more chunk of the Wisconsin Idea pounded to shit.

Pic from a great blog - Lost Continents - y'all should bookmark it.

Bottle Of Wine, Fruit Of The Vine Paul Ryan Style

$350$700 asshat. I suppose the Koch-head brothers would turn up their noses at such cheap wine, eh?

Feinberg, an economist by training, was even more appalled when the table ordered a second bottle. She quickly did the math and figured out that the $700 in wine the trio consumed over the course of 90 minutes amounted to more than the entire weekly income of a couple making minimum wage. 

Very Bad News

 (I post with one hand, details later.)

As many of us dirty fucking hippies have noted, President Obama had an historic opportunity when he was elected, but he fell in love with the banksters instead of the American people, thus the unemployment rate goes up this last month.  I guess I completely misjudged the president while he was a senator & a presidential candidate.  I'm not suggesting anyone else could have done better, but opportunities like the one presented 3 years ago don't come around very often. A much larger stimulus package, a much better home owner assistance program, infrastructure repair & maintenance, the list is long, productive, & apparently an anathema to Barak Obama.

This not the Great Recession, this is a depression.  Except for the rich, the rest of us are fucked.

Texas Murders Another Person

George Fucking Bush & Dick "Dick" Cheney had better stay at home.  Mexico & others do not approve of state sponsored murder.  Neither do I for that matter.  Nice job, Hairboy Perry.

Hey, Baby, It's The Fourth Of July

UPDATE/NOTE:

As nonheroicvet noted in the comments, question #18 didn't have the correct answer among the four listed. I have corrected that error. I do apologize to my loyal five (yes, 5!) readers. As is stands only one reader has responded, & I don't believe a score was left.

lfd

Independence Day Quiz

Rules

This is not a contest and no prizes will be granted for correct answers.

Please post your scores in the comment section of this post. Don’t be shy. If you didn’t do very well, just post as an anonymous person. It’s OK. I took the quiz & I scored a 29, just so you know I’m an elitist who went to high school & stuff. 

1. What is the title of the National Anthem?

A - Oh, Say Can You See

B - God Bless America

C - America the Beautiful

D - The Star Spangled Banner

2. Which of the following rights is guaranteed by the first amendment?

A- Right to Bear Arms

B- Right to Vote

C- Freedom of Religion

D - All of the Above

3. What is the title of the head of a city government?

A - Mayor

B - Governor

C - Chancellor

D - Chairman of the Board

4. Who has the ability to declare war?

A - The President

B - The Secretary of Defense

C - The Joint Chiefs

D - The Congress

5. How many full terms may a Senator serve?

A - 1

B – 2

C - 4

D - No term limits for Senators

6. How many full terms can a President serve?

A - 1

B - 2

C - 4

D - There are no term limits for Pres.

7. How many years is a full term for a Representative?

A - 1

B - 2

C - 4

D - 6

8. Which amendment sets the minimum voting age to 18?

A - 1st

B - 19th

C - 26th

D - 18th

9. Who becomes President if both the President and Vice President die?

A - The Speaker of the House

B - The Secretary of Defense

C - The Chief Justice

D - The First Lady

10. On July 4th, 1776 we declared Independence from whom?

A - Germany

B - Great Britain

C - Spain

D - Rome

11. How many branches of government do we have?

A - 1

B – 2

C – 3

D - zero

12. Which is part of the Judicial branch at the federal level?

A - The Supreme Court

B - The Congress

C - The Senate

D - The Presidential Cabinet

13. Who elects the President of the United States?

A - The House of Representatives

B - The Electoral College

C - The Senate

D - The State Governors

14. How many states are there?

A - 10

B - 13

C - 50

D - 100

15. How many stripes are there on the American Flag?

A - 10

B - 13

C - 50

D - 100

16. Who was the President of the United States during the civil war?

A - Abraham Lincoln

B - George Washington

C - Ulysses S Grant

D - Lyndon B Johnson

17. Who is the current President of the United States?

A - Barak Obama

B - George W Bush

C - Colin Powell

D - Dick Cheney

18. Who is the current Vice President of the United States?

A - Bill Clinton

B - Joe Biden

C - Colin Powell

D - Dick Cheney

19. Why did the Pilgrims come to America?

A - to establish a trade route with India

B - to set up fur trade with the Natives

C - to establish a new nation

D - to find religious freedom

20. How many total Senators are there?

A - 10

B - 13

C - 50

D – 100

Now for some Advanced Questions!

21. The Constitution has how many Amendments?

A - 23

B - 27

C - 31

D - 33

22. How many Amendments have been proposed officially by Congress but never ratified?

A - None

B - 1

C - 6

D - 12

23. Which of these amendments is a ratified and current amendment?

A - Declaring it illegal to desecrate the American Flag

B - Equality of rights regardless of Gender

C - Restricting marriage in all States to be between a man and a woman

D - Prohibiting the importing of liquor into States where it is illegal

24. In what year was the last amendment ratified?

A - 1868

B - 1920

C - 1961

D - 1992

25. What is the Official Language of the United States?

A - None

B - Latin

C - English

D - Esperanto

26. Who was the first Vice President of the United States?

A - George Washington

B - John Adams

C - Thomas Jefferson

D - Andrew Jackson

27. Who said "Give me liberty or give me death?"

A - Nathan Hale

B - Patrick Henry

C - John Wilkes Booth

D - Thomas Paine

28. How many Presidents were assassinated while in office?

A - 1

B - 2

C - 4

D - 6

29. Which of these Presidents was born in Texas?

A - Dwight D. Eisenhower

B - Richard Nixon

C - Ronald Reagan

D - George W. Bush

30. How many Presidents have been impeached?

A - None

B - 1

C - 2

D - 4

Correct Answers

1      D    "The Star Spangled Banner"

2      C    Freedom of Religion

3      A    Mayor

4      D    The Congress

5      D    No term limits for Senators

6      B    2 Terms for Presidents

7      B    2 Years for a Rep's full term

8      C    26th Amendment

9      A    The Speaker of the House

10    B    Great Britain

11    C    3 Branches of Government

12    A    The Supreme Court

13    B    The Electoral College

14    C    50 States

15    B    13 Stripes

16    A    Abraham Lincoln

17    B    Barack Obama

18    D    Joe Biden

19    D    to find religious freedom

20    D    100 Senators

21    B    27

22    C     6

23    D    Prohibiting the importing of liquor into States where it is illegal.

24    D    1992

25    A    There is no Official Language of the US

26    B    John Adams

27    B    Patrick Henry

28    C    4

29    A    Dwight D. Eisenhower

30    C    2

No Comment Needed, I Think

Bug’s Penis Makes Loudest Animal Sound | Wired Science | Wired.com

Another Step In America's Decline

Let us all hope that some idiot cop is around when the citizens start shooting up a bar.  Frankly, if I were a cop in Ohio, I would be going through the motions for awhile in the hope that the real idiot in Ohio, ex-Faux News employee John Kachich gets his walking papers from the people of Ohio.

Yep, Don't Tax The Rich & The Money & Jobs Will Just Come Tumbling Down

Yeah, right.

The final figures show that the median pay for top executives at 200 big companies last year was $10.8 million. That works out to a 23 percent gain from 2009. The earlier study had put the median pay at a none-too-shabby $9.6 million, up 12 percent.

Another Reason To Be Just So Optimistic That We Will Be Just A-OK

Oh hell, it's just the Yellowstone River after all, nothing to worry about.  & that little ol' pipeline is only a foot in diameter anyway.

The pipeline is 12 inches wide and runs from Silver Tip, Mont., to Billings, an area with three refineries, ExxonMobil said. ....ExxonMobil said it had summoned its North American Regional Response Team to help clean up the spill, and a fire spokesman in Laurel said more than 100 people, including officials with the Environmental Protection Agency, were expected to arrive at the scene by Sunday morning.

In a statement, the company said it “deeply regrets this release and is working hard with local emergency authorities to mitigate the impacts of this release on the surrounding communities and to the environment.”

My emphases. If we just lower taxes, reign in the EPA, why, just imagine the power of the unleashing of all the entremanures on the country, why, soon enough we'll all be clinking cocktail glasses with the Koch brothers.  Man, it will be sweet, eh?  All of us hanging out, slapping backs, & laughing at all the dumbfuck liberals who worry about just minor things as clean water & living trout.

Too Darn Hot

(Cross-posted at my other blog.)

This temperature was recorded today on my truck thermometer.  I was uncomfortable with the air conditioner on max.

Here's a great song.

The Daily Doe

Click 'em to big 'em if you so desire.

I Think The Highways Are Still Open...

...so I'll be able to get back home this weekend. Minnesota, home of Bachman (R-Batshit) is now closed, thanks to the goddamn ReThuglicans in their mania to make sure their millionaire friends don't pay a cent or a cent more in taxes.  Assholes.  Good stuff here.