The Weekly Poll
Results
The 'First 100 Days - Pluses and Minuses' Edition...
Well, Poll-fans, President Obama, aka 'The Man', has reached the first 100 days of his administration. We might as well jump on the wagon with everyone who is evaluating his work and make an assessment of our own...
What are the Pluses and the Minuses of The Man's First Hundred days?
Well, Poll-fans, only a couple of replies this week, but that's OK. It tells me y'all are out and about enjoying the fine spring weather, or some such thing. Good on you...
DanD irreverent as ever was writes...
Unlike the last royally-related, white-trash huckster to perform prime-time in the West Wing, the Obamanation's premier star (I still can barely tell whether it's Michelle or Barry) can more comfortably sell its allegedly more liberal Koolaide to the government's future-victim imbibers of all races ... would you like that individual payer healthcare plan with an upscale Marburg Virus? Or hows about a fine-quality Bird Flu?
SallyP my Socialist, Commie loving pal (her words, mind ya, not mine) ponders then lets loose with...
Hummmmm, let's see now...
I think Barack Obama has made an impressive start. Our new President is largely doing what he promised, and he is doing it with focus, brainpower, and with the calm temperament that kept his campaign on track.
Of course the high marks, are all ridiculously provisional. It's a way too early to judge the results of any Obama program in "100 Days!" What we do know is that his leadership is restoring the country's pride in itself, and in our future. This is proved by the poll spike in the number of Americans who say we're on the, "Right track!" And, as for all the politicians and pundits who complain that Obama is attempting too much at once, most of us like the breadth of his ambition. Doing too much at the same time, even at the risk of failure, is a core American trait that built the nation, and has kept it going all this time.
We'll just have to wait and see how Obama's vast plans play out. We'll also see what unexpected nightmares (i.e.. swine flu) materialize on his watch. And, we'll see if the "Right" is successful in bringing him down - as we all know they are striving to do! ATST, the "100 Day" celebrations should not be allowed to fade out too soon, because neither the President nor the country should be lulled into resting easy.
Over on the "Right" side (which always seems to get it wrong) we find a fundamentalist core of aging, rural Dixiecrats, and rigid "Conservative Christians." (I read a poll only this morning which claims that only 20% of voters will now label themselves as being, "Republican.") The GOP chairman, Mike Steele (See, we have a Black guy too) enforcer of Republican political correctness, along with Right-wing Hate-Radio hacks, Limbaugh, Hannity, and O'Reilly - and the stupid right-wing blogger Michele Malkin, have spent the entire week jeering the defection of former "Repug," Arlen Specter and cheering his departure from their Party. A laughing Limbaugh seconded the refrain by repeating ad nauseum, "Take McCain with you - and his daughter too." Compared to these dopes, how could our President not look good?
Of course, I HAVE to note that the same Conservative gang that remained silent when George W. Bush orgasmically praised Putin's, "Soul" and held-hands with the Saudi ruler Abdullah, are now condemning Obama for shockingly, shaking hands with Hugo Chávez, and possibly, "bowing" to Abdullah, AWA relaxing the ridiculous US Cuban policy and talking to hostile governments. Jesus H Christ, polls show overwhelming that majorities favor Obama's positions!
All in all, I think President Obama is doing everything possible under the circumstances to clean up the piles of crap left by GWB and move this country forward - after Bush allowed this nation to get down on it's knees.
Of course, I would like him to make drugs legal, prosecute the Bush gang, and bring all troops home - but I can live with what we have for now... I'd say this "100 Days" has been a positive trip!
Well, my turn...
I agree that overall it's been positive, but I am rather irritated by the kid glove treatment of the banks and their CEOs by the administration. I do remain optimistic, however, and that is that...
BadToTheBoneBob
New Question
The 'Take Me out to the Ball Game' Edition
"For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land."
Ernie Harwell, radio and TV voice of the Detroit Tigers for 42 years and Baseball Hall of Fame member, would intone those words at the start of the first Spring Training game broadcast every year... Ah! Baseball's back! Batter Up!
Are you a baseball fan and, if so, who's yer team? (anecdotes welcome)
Send your response to
Recommended Reading
from Bruce
Paul Krugman: Falling Wage Syndrome (nytimes.com)
Even if the recession is declared over, there still are not enough jobs which is a recipe for continuing wage cuts, which will in turn keep the economy weak.
Froma Harrop: Throwing Out Utah Stereotypes (creators.com)
American flags and lush spring grass lined the long drive of a Mormon meetinghouse here in the desert capital of Utah. Television trucks parking outside. Utahans were gathering last week for the funeral of Bill Orton, a Democrat who had represented an especially conservative congressional district in this most Republican state for three terms.
SUSAN ESTRICH: Wash Your Hands (creators.com)
Now it's not just your mother telling you or the school nurse, but your president. Wash your hands. Cover your mouth. Don't go to school if you're sick - that'll be tough to enforce! And for goodness sake, take a deep breath. You, too, Mr. Vice President.
To have and to hold (guardian.co.uk)
Who needs reference books in the age of the internet? Nothing compares to whiling away the hours between hard covers, argues Jeremy Paxman, who has trawled second-hand bookshops to build up his collection.
"Woodsburner" by John Pipkin: A review by Ron Charles
Late in April 1844, a pair of misfits went camping on the Concord River in Massachusetts, with plans to survive "Indian-style" on the fish they caught. The forest along the banks was dangerously dry, but one of the young men started a campfire anyway. Encouraged by a brisk wind, the flames quickly spread to the grass and then to the pines and birch trees. Before the end of that awful day, 300 acres had been reduced to ash. You know this accidental arsonist as the world's most famous naturalist, Henry David Thoreau.
RACHEL BEEBE: Staceyann Chin Tells It Like It Is (curvemag.com)
The award-winning slam poet and performer on her new memoir, coming out and why she credits it all to her grandmother.
MARY FOULK: Burlesque or Bust (curvemag.com)
The self-proclaimed Peruvian Princess of Burlesque gives us a peek behind the scenes.
Roger Ebert: Review of 'EARTH' (G; 3 stars)
Made between 1948 and 1960, Walt Disney's "True Life Adventures" won three Oscars for best documentary feature, and several other titles won in the since-discontinued category of tworeel short features. Now the studio has returned to this admirable tradition with "earth," ...
Joe Weider: Know Your Body Before Exercising (creators.com)
Tip of the Week: When it comes to exercise, one size does not fit all.
Cartoon: Gay Soldiers
Newsmap
Develop your own Lifetime Financial Plan
replied:
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Joe S A-4 | L-4
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Marian the Teacher A-4 | L-4
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Reader Suggestion
Outlets
While trying to find an obscure outlet to repair a stove I found this interesting site
DC Madman
Thanks, Madman!
Selected Readings
from that Mad Cat, JD
In The Chaos Household
Last Night
Overcast til lunchtime, nice and sunny afternoon.
81 Unusual Projects
Gates Grants
Can tomatoes be taught to make antiviral drugs for people who eat them? Would zapping your skin with a laser make your vaccination work better? Could malaria-carrying mosquitoes be given a teensy head cold that would prevent them from sniffing out a human snack bar? These are among 81 projects awarded $100,000 grants Monday by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in a bid to support innovative, unconventional global health research.
The five-year health research grants are designed to encourage scientists to pursue bold ideas that could lead to breakthroughs, focusing on ways to prevent and treat infectious diseases, such as HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, pneumonia and diarrheal diseases.
The foundation also announced plans Monday to spend $73 million over the next five years to help small farmers in impoverished countries. That program was outlined by foundation CEO Jeff Raikes at a water conference held at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
The agriculture grants include $40 million over five years to develop drought-tolerant corn, $13 million over four for more efficient irrigation, and $10 million over four years to help women develop education and training programs related to agriculture.
Gates Grants
Coldplay Comment
Yusuf Islam
Singer-songwriter Cat Stevens agreed on Monday that the Coldplay song, "Viva La Vida," sounds like one of his 1973 songs, but he stopped short of saying he would sue for plagiarism.
Asked during a telephone interview from London whether he would pursue the issue legally, Islam, 60, said "it depends on how well Satriani does."
U.S. guitarist Joe Satriani has sued Coldplay, accusing the British band of copyright infringement. He claims substantial original portions of his song "If I Could Fly" are recycled in "Viva La Vida" and is seeking damages.
Islam, whose new album "Roadsinger," comes out on Tuesday (May 5), was unable to perform at a New York concert on Sunday because of "work permit" issues. The singer, a Muslim convert, said the problem was unrelated to his being denied entry into the United States five years ago because his name was on a government no-fly list.
Yusuf Islam
SCOTUS Hates CBS
Janet Jackson
The Supreme Court on Monday ordered a federal appeals court to re-examine its ruling in favor of CBS Corp. in a legal fight over entertainer Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction.
The high court on Monday directed the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia to consider reinstating the $550,000 fine that the Federal Communications Commission imposed on CBS over Jackson's breast-baring performance at the 2004 Super Bowl.
The order follows the high court ruling last week that narrowly upheld the FCC's policy threatening fines against even one-time uses of curse words on live television.
In a statement, CBS said the Supreme Court's decision was not a surprise given last week's ruling and expressed confidence the court will again find the incident was not and could not have been anticipated by the network.
Janet Jackson
Anniversary Show
Woodstock
Some performers from the 1969 Woodstock concert will get back to the garden for a 40th anniversary show this summer.
On the bill for Aug. 15 are The Levon (LEE'-vahn) Helm Band, Jefferson Starship, Big Brother and the Holding Co., Ten Years After, Canned Heat, Mountain, and Country Joe McDonald.
They'll perform at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts in Bethel. It was built on the site of the dairy farm trampled on by some 400,000 people on the weekend of Aug. 15-17, 1969.
Woodstock
Wal-Mart NIMBY
Robert Duvall
Academy Award-winning actor Robert Duvall has fired a verbal salvo against plans to build a Wal-Mart Supercenter near a Virginia Civil War battlefield where Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee first fought the Union's Ulysses S. Grant.
Duvall, who is a descendant of Lee, said he will help preservationists in "chasing out" the retailer from a site near the Wilderness Battlefield.
At a news conference on Monday, Duvall said he has no grudge against Wal-Mart but believes in capitalism coupled with sensitivity.
Robert Duvall
Wedding News
Gyllenhaal - Sarsgaard
Peter Sarsgaard and Maggie Gyllenhaal have made it official.
Amanda Silverman, Gyllenhaal's publicist, says the couple were married Saturday. She didn't provide any details.
Gyllenhaal and Sarsgaard have a daughter, Ramona, who was born in October 2006. They announced their engagement earlier that year.
Gyllenhaal - Sarsgaard
Skeptical Of Google Books Settlement
Libraries
Skeptical library groups asked on Monday for "rigorous oversight" of Google's agreement with authors and publishers that would allow it to put millions of books online.
The American Library Association and Association of Research Libraries said they were concerned that Google would not safeguard readers' privacy and that it would be the only digital source for many books and major academic journals.
Other groups have complained to the U.S. Justice Department about antitrust elements of the deal, and the department has made inquiries about it.
The library groups are concerned that a subscription to Google books may become indispensable to universities and that subscription rates could skyrocket, said Prue Adler of the ARL, citing the journal Brain Research, which costs $23,000 a year.
Libraries
Stunt Goes Wrong In Times Square
Nicolas Cage
A stunt man filming a car chase in Times Square for a new Nicolas Cage movie crashed his Ferrari into a store front and two pedestrians suffered minor injuries, police and the film's producers said on Monday.
The crash, which happened early on Monday, was captured on amateur video that was posted on the New York Post website.
It showed two cars weaving in between other traffic before the front one skidded out of control, mounting the sidewalk and crashing into the window of an outlet of an Italian chain restaurant.
Normal traffic in Times Square had been shut down for the filming of "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," and all the cars in the video were part of the movie shoot.
Nicolas Cage
Artifact May Reveal Origin
Dr Pepper
Poking through antiques stores while traveling through the Texas Panhandle, Bill Waters stumbled across a tattered old ledger book filled with formulas.
He bought it for $200, suspecting he he could resell it for five times that. Turns out, his inkling about the book's value was more spot on than he knew. The Tulsa, Okla., man eventually discovered the book came from the Waco, Texas, drugstore where Dr Pepper was invented and includes a recipe titled "D Peppers Pepsin Bitters."
He noticed there were several sheets with letterheads hinting at its past, like a page from a prescription pad from a Waco store titled "W.B. Morrison & Co. Old Corner Drug Store." An Internet search revealed Dr Pepper, first served in 1885, was invented at the Old Corner Drug Store in Waco by a pharmacist named Charles Alderton. Wade Morrison was a store owner.
Faded letters on the book's fraying brown cover say "Castles Formulas." John Castles was a partner of Morrison's for a time and was a druggist at that location as early as 1880, said Mary Beth Webster, collections manager at the Dr Pepper Museum and Free Enterprise Institute in Waco.
Dr Pepper
Rethinking Ties
Muslims
Mohammad Qatanani's mosque was full of FBI agents the night before he was to find out if he would be deported.
But even though the federal government was trying to link Qatanani to foreign extremists, the agents weren't there to keep an eye on him. They wanted to show their support for a Muslim leader they considered a valued ally for the relationships he helped forge between the FBI and Muslims in the wake of 9/11.
Across the nation, such grass-roots relationships between Muslims and the federal government are in jeopardy. A coalition of Muslim groups is calling for Muslims to stop cooperating with the FBI - not on national security or safety issues but on community outreach.
The coalition is upset over what it says is increasing government surveillance in mosques, new Justice Department guidelines that the groups say encourage profiling, and the FBI's recent suspension of ties with the nation's largest Muslim civil rights group, the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
Muslims
Cool Kids
Joy Zamoiski
They said it with flowers. Joy Zamoiski's children wanted to do something special for her 85th birthday, so they planted thousands of daffodil bulbs last year.
The flowers bloomed in time for her birthday last month. The yellow and white daffodils were planted so that when they came up, they would spell out Zamoiski's first name.
Joy Zamoiski
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