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| Nearly 120 years of continuous operation & still going strong! |
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Wednesday on Whidbey
Finally, the worst of this train-wreck saga is over.
(For the nitty-gritty details see one of the more recent articles)
No doubt there will be many more months of finger-pointing & clean-up & efforts to hold the guilty party responsible (though he's clearly a slimy, slippery fish), but at least these last months--and especially weeks--will be behind us.Hopefully Penn Cove Mussels will return soon...
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Wednesday on Whidbey
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| The sentries at the ferry landing; don't the cormorants have an incredible shape?! |
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Wednesday on Whidbey
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| ...I'm kinda stuck on flowers lately; they're so gorgeous & definitely a sign there is life after a Puget Sound winter... |
Monday, May 14, 2012
The Annual Workday Was a Success
Another item that consumed considerable time in April (and contributed to my posting absence!) was the final preparations for the Hearts & Hammers workday--this year coinciding with Cinco de Mayo (always the first Saturday in May). This year was the 'fourth annual'--and each year it gets a little smoother. The all volunteer group provides home repairs, maintenance, & yard work to our neighbors that are unable to manage it alone.
Most of my volunteer work is over before the workday arrives as I provide assist with volunteer data bases, helping get the project lists together, & generally trying to keep the info flowing. I get to basically watch the day unfold & marvel at the production!
This year there were 121 volunteers on 21 projects--and Mother Nature really cooperated for a change! One of the homeowners wanted to contribute something back & so offered up authentic tamales per her native Mexico for the dinner at the end of the day. Wow! Great food, great music, great stories of what had been accomplished during the day--makes you get the Cheshire Cat smile! The final follow-up is almost completed--and then it's pretty calm until the beginning of next year. (Must be how Santa's elves feel by New Years...!)
Most of my volunteer work is over before the workday arrives as I provide assist with volunteer data bases, helping get the project lists together, & generally trying to keep the info flowing. I get to basically watch the day unfold & marvel at the production!
Saturday, May 12, 2012
My Delightful 'New' Space!
Another item that got me off my organizational track--but was well worth it: the long-planned 'studio' reconfiguration finally happened! My dear, sweet 'better half' gifted me with made-to-order cabinets that we've pondered for quite some time. I was thrilled they were actually appearing! I had been scheming & planning how to rearrange for over a year.
Then last fall, I took a half-day class with Lois Hallock which was well worth it. Lois has great tips, tricks, & facts to help--& she suggests coming up with at least six different floor plan layouts before you settle on THE one. (that's not easy!)
By the time the cabinets were in progress, I was pretty clear how I wanted things to go. In the end--there were only two minor surprises that I'd not considered & they were easily resolved; I thought that was reasonable!
I knew it would take some time to make the transition--but as usual I under estimated! Good for me: I planned the move for spring break to be sure I had time.
It took almost two full days just to organize fabric--I think I touched almost everything in my stash except the scrap bins. My overflowing drawers & containers were rearranged into flat folds & fat quarter containers.
Lois is a proponent of flat folding anything over about a half yard. When I took the class, I wasn't convinced--but I am now! It looks nice, it's easily usable, & harder to lose track of things.
I found some well made cardboard containers for my fat quarters that fit nicely into the open space I requested in the cabinets.
Now everything is near at hand, project boxes & other larger supplies are stowed in the cabinets out of sight, and the drawers in my cutting table (that used to be bursting with fabric) are filled with all my other art & embellishment supplies.
My design wall is now able to be expanded easily when needed--& I have my closet 'back'! (it used to be behind the design wall--it was usable but not handy). I made a special top for a counter height shelving unit I hadn't been using & now it's a perfect ironing center. The ironing board only has to come out for big projects!
I have room for my sweetie to join me for a movie if he wants, & I can even have a friend over for a sew play day. 8-)
Mr Creative put the doors on the cabinets just last week--so the camouflage is complete! Only things left: I'm snooping for some interesting door handles & I'm hoping to give the 'guest' chair a bright & funky face lift this summer. The cabinet doors won't likely stay pristine white--they seem to be calling for some small projects on display...or a mural, or...but that's a project for another day!
I didn't really have 'before' photos (didn't think of it in time) that tell the story--so you'll just have to believe me: this is a huge improvement! I just love to go in there & sit--and it's been so much fun to work in (although I've not had as much time as usual lately!).
There is plenty of room to grow & still stay organized. Heaven!!
Then last fall, I took a half-day class with Lois Hallock which was well worth it. Lois has great tips, tricks, & facts to help--& she suggests coming up with at least six different floor plan layouts before you settle on THE one. (that's not easy!)By the time the cabinets were in progress, I was pretty clear how I wanted things to go. In the end--there were only two minor surprises that I'd not considered & they were easily resolved; I thought that was reasonable!
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| flat folds at eye level |
I knew it would take some time to make the transition--but as usual I under estimated! Good for me: I planned the move for spring break to be sure I had time.
It took almost two full days just to organize fabric--I think I touched almost everything in my stash except the scrap bins. My overflowing drawers & containers were rearranged into flat folds & fat quarter containers.
Lois is a proponent of flat folding anything over about a half yard. When I took the class, I wasn't convinced--but I am now! It looks nice, it's easily usable, & harder to lose track of things.
 |
| 10 boxes of fat quarters after the 'big sort' |
Now everything is near at hand, project boxes & other larger supplies are stowed in the cabinets out of sight, and the drawers in my cutting table (that used to be bursting with fabric) are filled with all my other art & embellishment supplies.
My design wall is now able to be expanded easily when needed--& I have my closet 'back'! (it used to be behind the design wall--it was usable but not handy). I made a special top for a counter height shelving unit I hadn't been using & now it's a perfect ironing center. The ironing board only has to come out for big projects!
I have room for my sweetie to join me for a movie if he wants, & I can even have a friend over for a sew play day. 8-)
Mr Creative put the doors on the cabinets just last week--so the camouflage is complete! Only things left: I'm snooping for some interesting door handles & I'm hoping to give the 'guest' chair a bright & funky face lift this summer. The cabinet doors won't likely stay pristine white--they seem to be calling for some small projects on display...or a mural, or...but that's a project for another day!
I didn't really have 'before' photos (didn't think of it in time) that tell the story--so you'll just have to believe me: this is a huge improvement! I just love to go in there & sit--and it's been so much fun to work in (although I've not had as much time as usual lately!).
There is plenty of room to grow & still stay organized. Heaven!!
Friday, May 11, 2012
Thank One That You Know!
This week has been National Nurses Week.
In our honor, thank a nurse that you know.
It shouldn't be difficult--there are 3.1 million of us in the US;
I'm sure you run into us every day.
We are, by far, the largest health care profession.
According to the Gallup Poll, nursing has been voted as 'the most trusted profession' in the US 12 out of the last 13 years.
(seems like a pretty good record!)
We're getting older. The average age of a nurse is now almost 46 years. That provides an amazing body of collective knowledge, but that also does not bode well for the future. Do all of us a favor & if you know someone with a goal of becoming a nurse--or even thinking about it--support & encourage them.So--thank you to all of you who are nurses!
This week & every other one that you go about your work with little fanfare. You have enriched my life, cared for those I love & made me a better person.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Learn vs.Teach
We've learned a lot together--and hopefully we are collectively the better for it! A few of them have already passed their N-CLEX exams, so they're off & running...
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| Their final time together... |
So this quarter is an odd but enjoyable mix: new RN students with five quarters still ahead of them, part time PN students in their final quarter--some of which I'm supervising for their precepting experience this quarter, and full time PN students that will finish at the end of summer quarter--about seventy-five students in all. I've been in the classroom and the clinical setting with all of them this quarter--makes for no dull moments!
Our new college president is settling in--a positive addition; great humor, approachable, positive ideas. We'll see where we grow from here...
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Sorry about that...
Well---that was an unexpected six week absence from here!
Nothing's wrong & no real excuses,
except that sometimes life just gets unpredictable, doesn't it?!
I should be back on track here--and will try to fill in some of the gaps, while I'm at it...
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Wednesday on Whidbey
Late again!...it's the end-of-the-quarter-graduation-excitement-next-quarter's-comin' dance!
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| One of the old Dutch farm gems on the north end, now tucked away a midst the urban growth... |
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Wednesday on Whidbey
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| It's that time of year (thank goodness!) when everything is greening up. I mean, everything! (...weather stripping, sidewalks, rocks, you name it...) |
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Is Finishing Binding Just LIke Doing the Dishes?!
I hate binding. Have I said that before?! (of course I have!)
Besides the fact that there's seldom a single creative aspect to the process, it's just boring.
And as the very last step in the finishing process (usually) the project is officially over when the binding's done---but usually I'm so over the piece by then & ready to move on (..oh what am I saying: I have moved on!) I can hardly finish the task.
Alas, there lies the reason the 'binding basket' is seldom empty. Remember when you had a 'mending basket'? (you probably still do! I have a mending bin--a true black hole--that sucks the item in, never to be seen again!) Well anyway, I have a binding basket--it's a quick place to grab something to do when I there's a short time to do something--like after work etc. Those poor little unbound waifs look pretty while they're waiting--& they're not buried somewhere they'll be forgotten.
So, bargain-with-self for those four unexpected snow days at home in January--alone--was to complete at least one binding project per day. I did alright!
So here's a little show & tell:
'Member this quilt? The top was a sample for the store earlier last year.
When I went to my friend's long arm studio in December I got it quilted--and now it's bound!
Nice size:
about 54" x 70".
This bright one was a result of winning the block of the month at the Quilters on the Rock guild meeting many moons ago.
The blocks sat in a box patiently waiting until I finally took them to retreat last year. I made more blocks & finished the top. This one also got quilted when I went to my friend's long arm studio--and now it's bound, too!
It's 60"x60"--a good size for a community quilt. So next month it will go to the guild meeting--on it's way to a new home.
I also finished up two more runners awaiting binding.
One of them immediately became a national traveler, & headed to Chicago before the month was up. How fun!
Besides the fact that there's seldom a single creative aspect to the process, it's just boring.
And as the very last step in the finishing process (usually) the project is officially over when the binding's done---but usually I'm so over the piece by then & ready to move on (..oh what am I saying: I have moved on!) I can hardly finish the task.
Alas, there lies the reason the 'binding basket' is seldom empty. Remember when you had a 'mending basket'? (you probably still do! I have a mending bin--a true black hole--that sucks the item in, never to be seen again!) Well anyway, I have a binding basket--it's a quick place to grab something to do when I there's a short time to do something--like after work etc. Those poor little unbound waifs look pretty while they're waiting--& they're not buried somewhere they'll be forgotten.
So, bargain-with-self for those four unexpected snow days at home in January--alone--was to complete at least one binding project per day. I did alright!
So here's a little show & tell:
'Member this quilt? The top was a sample for the store earlier last year.
When I went to my friend's long arm studio in December I got it quilted--and now it's bound!
Nice size:
about 54" x 70".
This bright one was a result of winning the block of the month at the Quilters on the Rock guild meeting many moons ago.
The blocks sat in a box patiently waiting until I finally took them to retreat last year. I made more blocks & finished the top. This one also got quilted when I went to my friend's long arm studio--and now it's bound, too!
It's 60"x60"--a good size for a community quilt. So next month it will go to the guild meeting--on it's way to a new home.
I also finished up two more runners awaiting binding. 
One of them immediately became a national traveler, & headed to Chicago before the month was up. How fun! Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Wednesday on Whidbey
Drat! Missed again!
Only one more week to go with this Tues/Wed blitz at school so should be able to return to more predictable Wednesday posts. No need to adjust your sets...
Wednesday on Whidbey on a Leap Year! In honor of the 'only every four years' phenomenon, I thought it would be fun to look back at posts from four years ago & what was cookin'. A little nostalgia tour.
Made me smile: there was a post about my two quilting 'helpers' snug in their respective nap positions. I miss them alot, & it makes me happy to see them...
I was also bound for my semi-annual retreat at Warm Beach--and this time of year is the height of the Snow Goose season. Although we now go on retreat at the end of March, it's timely to pay tribute to the geese. I've had many trips to Skagit County lately with my faculty hat on--and there they are; in small groups & large flocks.
So wonderful to see!
I think we should make Leap Year days national holidays--a free day! No work, no chores--a 'do what you want day'! Whadya think?!
Only one more week to go with this Tues/Wed blitz at school so should be able to return to more predictable Wednesday posts. No need to adjust your sets...
I was also bound for my semi-annual retreat at Warm Beach--and this time of year is the height of the Snow Goose season. Although we now go on retreat at the end of March, it's timely to pay tribute to the geese. I've had many trips to Skagit County lately with my faculty hat on--and there they are; in small groups & large flocks.
I think we should make Leap Year days national holidays--a free day! No work, no chores--a 'do what you want day'! Whadya think?!
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Wednesday on Whidbey
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| spring must be near--the pussy willows have come & are going, giving their last yellow salute of fuzzers |
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Wednesday on Whidbey
oops--missed again!!
These all-day Tues-Wed classes are cramping my W on W plans!
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| Unexpected afternoon winter sun--spotlighting my Stella Canfield painting in my studio |
Friday, February 10, 2012
Learn vs.Teach
The next installment...
We last checked into academia prior to the start of fall quarter. The break was nice...and we launched right into a new academic year mid-September.
Fifty fresh, new faces rolled into the full-time PN class, and--quite remarkably--49 finished the quarter. Woo-hoo! They are a special group, I think. I really enjoyed watching them dive in & had the privilege of several classes & many campus labs with them. Was all set to start this (winter) quarter with them as they start clinicals in the 'real world' but priorities shifted just before the holidays. The grant fairy flew in with funds for an additional class of LPN-to-RN students--if we launched them in winter quarter. Well, all right!!
So this quarter has been a true yin & yang experience: the part-time RN students are now in their final quarter & doing their preceptorships. It's both exciting & nerve-racking for them--but they're doing well. This group will always hold a special place in my heart, as we started together & have now traveled six quarters--learning lots on the journey.
Meanwhile, mid-quarter, a fresh group of twenty part-timers arrived on the scene--so we're off & running. With a little of the deer-in-the-headlights phenomenon we're immersed in 'transitions': up to our brain cells with nursing foundations and up to our elbows in refreshing skills in the lab. At the end of this intensive six weeks, they start nursing classes in earnest & begin acute care clinicals. Having both the first & last quarter students overlapping this quarter makes me appreciate how much they grow in such a brief period of time.
I'm almost half way through the tenure process--isn't that amazing?! Tritely stated: time truly does fly when you're having fun! We have a new president arriving on the scene next month, but change is good, right? Meanwhile the legislature continues to slug it out over a workable budget. I heard a piece on the radio the other day that if the proposed budget goes through, state support for higher education will have decreased by almost 50% since the bottom fell out of the economy. I had to listen to it again to be sure of what I'd heard... May the force be with us all.
I'm still here, though, enjoying every minute while it lasts!
We last checked into academia prior to the start of fall quarter. The break was nice...and we launched right into a new academic year mid-September.
Fifty fresh, new faces rolled into the full-time PN class, and--quite remarkably--49 finished the quarter. Woo-hoo! They are a special group, I think. I really enjoyed watching them dive in & had the privilege of several classes & many campus labs with them. Was all set to start this (winter) quarter with them as they start clinicals in the 'real world' but priorities shifted just before the holidays. The grant fairy flew in with funds for an additional class of LPN-to-RN students--if we launched them in winter quarter. Well, all right!!
Meanwhile, mid-quarter, a fresh group of twenty part-timers arrived on the scene--so we're off & running. With a little of the deer-in-the-headlights phenomenon we're immersed in 'transitions': up to our brain cells with nursing foundations and up to our elbows in refreshing skills in the lab. At the end of this intensive six weeks, they start nursing classes in earnest & begin acute care clinicals. Having both the first & last quarter students overlapping this quarter makes me appreciate how much they grow in such a brief period of time.
I'm almost half way through the tenure process--isn't that amazing?! Tritely stated: time truly does fly when you're having fun! We have a new president arriving on the scene next month, but change is good, right? Meanwhile the legislature continues to slug it out over a workable budget. I heard a piece on the radio the other day that if the proposed budget goes through, state support for higher education will have decreased by almost 50% since the bottom fell out of the economy. I had to listen to it again to be sure of what I'd heard... May the force be with us all.
I'm still here, though, enjoying every minute while it lasts!
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Wednesday on Whidbey
...oops! Wednesday just scooted right by! Sorry...
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| we had a stretch of lovely clear days the Cascades across Penn Cove |
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Phil's Day!
Following the prognostication of Punxsutawney Phil seems like a welcome break from the Newt & Mitt wars.
So at 7:20 EST focus on Gobbler's Knob with the simple, serious question: more winter or not? Yes? Okay!
Let's par-tay!!
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Wednesday on Whidbey
The 'snow event' is just a memory at this point, but thought I would share the five day saga of my quail on the back deck...
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Family Fun!
Even though the winter storm seige was fun to watch, it was a little crazy making as we had a little family reunion slated for last weekend.
Despite some squeekers with airline connections, everyone arrived as expected--woo-hoo!--& the great thaw commenced. The Seattle twenty-somethings weren't all here at the same time--kind of like a progressive gathering.
Aren't we a fun bunch?!
I so appreciate everyone making the effort to get here--we had the easy end of the celebration.
Thanks, you guys! It was too brief!
PS Amy posted some great pictures, too--check it out!
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
Happy New Year--Again!
Today (or yesterday depending on where you reside!) is Chinese New Year--the Year of the Dragon. It may be 2012 to us, but on the Chinese calendar it's 4709. New Years is twelve days ahead of Spring, when the new 'sign' actually takes affect (as in your birth sign).
This is a water dragon year--and water's color is black, so it's the black dragon year, too. (that's about the sum total of my understanding!).
There's so much mythology & legend around the dragon: the dragon is unpredictable, untouchable & we cannot see the head & tail of the dragon at the same time. Some might translate that to an unpredictable year ahead (can we say: understatement?!).
This is a water dragon year--and water's color is black, so it's the black dragon year, too. (that's about the sum total of my understanding!).
Anyway--new years wishes!
Sunday, January 22, 2012
The "Mushroom Trees" UFO
Here's a long-term UnFinishedObject that's finally filtered to the top--and then the 'finished' column. *whew*
It's had several stops & starts along the way, & I'm very sorry not to have true 'before' & 'after' pictures. Started out when I was fortunate enough to take a Joan Colvin class many moons ago (sad to say, she passed away in 2007; here's a link to her final book). The class was great--learned a lot--and got a good start on two projects. One--an attempt at Ebey's Landing--ended up getting reduced down & was added as the center picture in Devin's graduation quilt (give you a clue as to how long my UFO's been in limbo?!).
Anyway--the other, bigger item languished--and then went into a box, out of sight when Dev pegged it the 'mushroom trees' picture. (unfortunately, he was right...& I couldn't stop seeing mushrooms when I looked at it!) Honestly forgot all about it when I put together my first list of UFO's so it wasn't even on the radar screen until a couple a years later.
I finally got after it on one of my day-outings to my friend's long arm studio. She's a great art-quilter herself & has done some amazing items with organza & a soldering iron.
Yup--that's right! The plumbing tool turned quilter's friend. The trick for this approach is being with the long arm & all the aforementioned items at the same time. Get the project loaded on the long-arm & then overlay the organza of choice (in this example it's a nice golden orange).
Using cotton (only) thread, stitch all the way around the perimeter of the area you want covered--don't do the final quilting yet. Then, using a very hot soldering iron with a nice pointed tip--work your way around the edge that's just been stitched. (Like in the photo below--& the little bit of 'tree trunk' in the lower left above.)
This picture (above) shows what's left after the first cut. All of the varied golds, yellows & oranges blend together so much more subtly--it's a cool (& fast!) fix.One key thing when using the soldering iron: what ever is being cut away needs to be synthetic & the under pieces & thread need to be cotton.
The next layer--which unfortunately I don't have a photo of--was a nice, rich, purple toule (which is just a very fine net). The color mutes pieces beneath, but not as much as you would think--and adds a wonderful depth. (You can compare the difference between the uncovered areas above & the final view below.)
So the purple cover went over the whole piece--and was then cut away at the border with the background.
Now I can quilt! Lots of fun thread play to add texture & color variations...
The next challenge: how to finish it? There are many Joan Colvin ideas I've used since her class, but one approach that I will not do again: she has you start with the back, with batting on top, right on your working wall. All the top (design) pieces are pin basted so you end up with a very complicated, prickly sandwich ready to quilt. Not a bad concept--but my fatal error was a back & bat that didn't quite measure up. Had to do some Houdini work to make it look planned--which it was not.
So here's the final product--it measures about 32" x 36". The hanging rod (which needs to be a little shorter) is some great black bamboo from a friend's yard. (They were just gonna toss it on the trash pile!!) In the end, I think this was a UFO worth salvaging...
It's had several stops & starts along the way, & I'm very sorry not to have true 'before' & 'after' pictures. Started out when I was fortunate enough to take a Joan Colvin class many moons ago (sad to say, she passed away in 2007; here's a link to her final book). The class was great--learned a lot--and got a good start on two projects. One--an attempt at Ebey's Landing--ended up getting reduced down & was added as the center picture in Devin's graduation quilt (give you a clue as to how long my UFO's been in limbo?!).
I finally got after it on one of my day-outings to my friend's long arm studio. She's a great art-quilter herself & has done some amazing items with organza & a soldering iron.
Yup--that's right! The plumbing tool turned quilter's friend. The trick for this approach is being with the long arm & all the aforementioned items at the same time. Get the project loaded on the long-arm & then overlay the organza of choice (in this example it's a nice golden orange).
The next layer--which unfortunately I don't have a photo of--was a nice, rich, purple toule (which is just a very fine net). The color mutes pieces beneath, but not as much as you would think--and adds a wonderful depth. (You can compare the difference between the uncovered areas above & the final view below.)
So the purple cover went over the whole piece--and was then cut away at the border with the background.
Now I can quilt! Lots of fun thread play to add texture & color variations...
The next challenge: how to finish it? There are many Joan Colvin ideas I've used since her class, but one approach that I will not do again: she has you start with the back, with batting on top, right on your working wall. All the top (design) pieces are pin basted so you end up with a very complicated, prickly sandwich ready to quilt. Not a bad concept--but my fatal error was a back & bat that didn't quite measure up. Had to do some Houdini work to make it look planned--which it was not.
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| click on the pix for a bigger view... |
Saturday, January 21, 2012
An Urban Discovery
We made a day-trip to Seattle over the holiday break, & among other things went to a late afternoon matinee of the new Sherlock Holmes (and yes, I liked it very much! How can you not just love Robert Downing & Jude Law?! I'm thinking a lot about urban camouflage since that movie...)
Anyway I digress--we ended up parking on a little street corner next to a playground with a great sculpture!
I did a little sleuthing after we got home--turns out it was done by the same artist who did Waiting for the Interurban, a famous Seattle landmark. (It's so lovable--it gets dressed up for many occasions...it is in Fremont after all!)
What a treat to find out more about Richard Beyer & contributions he's made around the sound & beyond.
Here's what was written about this sculpture:
the University Playground in Seattle was created after hundreds of small family homes were demolished to create a new freeway in the late 1950's. When asked to produce a sculpture for the park, Beyer decided to memorialize the displaced families. A large female Sasquatch is pushing over a "house" made of 8" beams to resemble a falling down house & still be safe for children at play.
Only in the northwest--a Sasquatch! (I thought it was a gorilla!)
You go girl! And thanks Richard!
Anyway I digress--we ended up parking on a little street corner next to a playground with a great sculpture!
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| you may recognize this one... |
I did a little sleuthing after we got home--turns out it was done by the same artist who did Waiting for the Interurban, a famous Seattle landmark. (It's so lovable--it gets dressed up for many occasions...it is in Fremont after all!)
What a treat to find out more about Richard Beyer & contributions he's made around the sound & beyond.
 |
| ...but not likely this one! |
the University Playground in Seattle was created after hundreds of small family homes were demolished to create a new freeway in the late 1950's. When asked to produce a sculpture for the park, Beyer decided to memorialize the displaced families. A large female Sasquatch is pushing over a "house" made of 8" beams to resemble a falling down house & still be safe for children at play.
Only in the northwest--a Sasquatch! (I thought it was a gorilla!)
You go girl! And thanks Richard!
Friday, January 20, 2012
Time Out for a Rant...
This has literally been the 'perfect storm' week.
I've been housebound with four days of snow, Martin Luther King Day was Monday--with school snow days all week following--and it's been the South Carolina lead-up week.
I'm usually a news hound, but I got an even heavier dose this week--including two GOP debates. I've resisted commenting on the shenanigans of the GOP primary (aka 'weeding-out') process but I just gotta make a brief rant.
Monday was filled with lots of historical media coverage as homage to MLK--most of which I love. Our local NPR station replayed most of the Massey guest lectureships he did after winning the Nobel Peace Prize--so poignant & as timely today as they were almost 45 years ago. Interspersed were the on-the-street news interviews during the zenith of the civil-rights movement. Even after witnessing that daily on the nightly news, the vehemence & violence of the hate-speech is truly shocking.
Fast forward to this week in South Carolina. Although more veiled in double-speak language, the blatant racism & prejudice is truly stunning. And it just keeps coming (...and not just from the Newt.).
I really do live in a thin blue sliver of the country I guess. It's been many months of entertainment but it feels like the humor is abating & the true horror is setting in...and the depression.
Recognition of Mitt as one of "the 1% of the 1%" seems to be a surprise to many as he announced he probably pays 'in the 15% range' of income tax--seriously, you're surprised?!
Rick S. (I still can't utter the last name--he will forever-after be the graphic descriptor pasted on him by Dan Savage) has now been 'given' the Iowa 'win' ('draw' still seems a better term...) & by the way: except for the debates, have you seen him out of his lucky-sweater-vest since Iowa?!
The other Rick--always a great source of comic relief--has finally bowed out & together with the Rogue-Girl, her cape flying, has thrown his (light) weight behind the Newt.
The Newt. Wow.
A standing ovation for his comments on 'you shoot your enemy' & taking on Juan Williams for trying to dig deeper & challenge him on his racist remarks. (Juan-the-amazing-conservative-Williams!!).
Who are those South Carolinians?!
What's happening to us?
All four Republican front-runners have signed on to the 'Personhood' campaign. (Yes, that includes Mitt.) You remember, don't you? The initiative in Mississippi in November that even that very red state couldn't even endorse? Really?! better start hoarding those BCP's just in case...
The fear language is staggering. The 501(c)(4) expenditures are staggering. Spending all that money assaulting each other in the GOP run-up has made for some amusement--but as the dollars start skyrocketing, it's turning mean, & you know by the time it starts aiming across the isle in the summer it will become lethal.
I'm of the mind that the majority-voting Supreme Court justices that passed the Citizens United finding--who then mockingly shook their heads at the President when he said 'shame on you'--should be made to watch every ad that will be run by the super-PACs all year long (I have this vision of Clockwork Orange's approach to 'required' movie watching...).
There have been some little, important flakes of positivity falling though, they just get lost in the roar:
This week Wisconsin voters submitted an over-the-top number of petition signatures to get the Recall Scott Walker campaign started, well before their required deadline.
(Run, Scott, Run!)
The ongoing, hilarious Colbert/Stewart satire on super-PACs has finally reached the mainstream, as Colbert makes a bid for the 'President of the United States of South Carolina'--by having voters vote for Herman Cain (as his name is on the ballot & Colbert's is not!).
The unemployment numbers have continued to show a positive upturn--in tiny increments; the aircraft carrier may be turning. Stay tuned...
Bill Moyers is back with his new series; Moyers & Company.
His interview with Hacker & Pierson should be required watching for every single voter before November (that means you, too!) It isn't just the 1% vs the 99%. The 1% income has increased over 250% since the Reagan administration while the 90% income has actually gone down. The elite of the 1% (like Mitt) are now receiving 1 in every 8 dollars of US income. This is not the effect of global financial issues--this is personal. This belongs to us. Financially, we are much more like Egypt & Mexico & much less like Canada. And the Newt wants to make an issue of such a large number of citizens on food stamps now...
Watch it. Please.
And thanks, Bill! Welcome back!
Okay--rant over....for the time being, at least.
I've been housebound with four days of snow, Martin Luther King Day was Monday--with school snow days all week following--and it's been the South Carolina lead-up week.
I'm usually a news hound, but I got an even heavier dose this week--including two GOP debates. I've resisted commenting on the shenanigans of the GOP primary (aka 'weeding-out') process but I just gotta make a brief rant.Fast forward to this week in South Carolina. Although more veiled in double-speak language, the blatant racism & prejudice is truly stunning. And it just keeps coming (...and not just from the Newt.).
I really do live in a thin blue sliver of the country I guess. It's been many months of entertainment but it feels like the humor is abating & the true horror is setting in...and the depression.
Recognition of Mitt as one of "the 1% of the 1%" seems to be a surprise to many as he announced he probably pays 'in the 15% range' of income tax--seriously, you're surprised?!Rick S. (I still can't utter the last name--he will forever-after be the graphic descriptor pasted on him by Dan Savage) has now been 'given' the Iowa 'win' ('draw' still seems a better term...) & by the way: except for the debates, have you seen him out of his lucky-sweater-vest since Iowa?!
The Newt. Wow.
A standing ovation for his comments on 'you shoot your enemy' & taking on Juan Williams for trying to dig deeper & challenge him on his racist remarks. (Juan-the-amazing-conservative-Williams!!).
Who are those South Carolinians?!
What's happening to us?
All four Republican front-runners have signed on to the 'Personhood' campaign. (Yes, that includes Mitt.) You remember, don't you? The initiative in Mississippi in November that even that very red state couldn't even endorse? Really?! better start hoarding those BCP's just in case...
The fear language is staggering. The 501(c)(4) expenditures are staggering. Spending all that money assaulting each other in the GOP run-up has made for some amusement--but as the dollars start skyrocketing, it's turning mean, & you know by the time it starts aiming across the isle in the summer it will become lethal.
I'm of the mind that the majority-voting Supreme Court justices that passed the Citizens United finding--who then mockingly shook their heads at the President when he said 'shame on you'--should be made to watch every ad that will be run by the super-PACs all year long (I have this vision of Clockwork Orange's approach to 'required' movie watching...).There have been some little, important flakes of positivity falling though, they just get lost in the roar:
This week Wisconsin voters submitted an over-the-top number of petition signatures to get the Recall Scott Walker campaign started, well before their required deadline.
(Run, Scott, Run!)
The ongoing, hilarious Colbert/Stewart satire on super-PACs has finally reached the mainstream, as Colbert makes a bid for the 'President of the United States of South Carolina'--by having voters vote for Herman Cain (as his name is on the ballot & Colbert's is not!).The unemployment numbers have continued to show a positive upturn--in tiny increments; the aircraft carrier may be turning. Stay tuned...
Bill Moyers is back with his new series; Moyers & Company.Watch it. Please.
And thanks, Bill! Welcome back!
Okay--rant over....for the time being, at least.
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