This unaltered display is from a Target store here in Las Vegas. While I know that Paganism is a religion, and that decorated eggs are a Pagan fertility symbol, I'm not sure that's the religion they're going for here. Also, a studly naked man can be a religious experience for many of us. Still, I'm thinking a naked dude with an Easter egg would not be considered to be a very churchy holiday card for your grandmother. . .
I'm a little late again with my usual Real Time with Bill Maher online clip. I haven't watched it myself yet, though I thought that the actual episode was a little below the usual standard. I'll watch along with you to see if the interwebz version was better. . .
I'm inaugurating a new feature here at Greenlee Gazette. Any time I spy an odd or interesting display while I'm out and about, I'll feature it here under Product Placement! For my first effort (though certainly not the first I ever noticed), is this video display from Sam's Club. Just down the aisle from the three-pack of Left Behind movies (some of the worst Armageddon fare ever filmed or written) was this little combo. I altered nothing here. First you have an instructional video on THE END OF THE WORLD!!!And then, a nice little travel video of all the wonderful things there are to see in the world. But will you have time? WILL YOU HAVE TIME???
I still can't wrap my brain entirely around the whole moon illusion. I know that it's true, but I still don't really get it. When the moon is at the horizon, you know how sometimes it looks enormous? And then after it rises to its zenith, it looks teeny-tiny? In reality it is more or less the same size in both places, and we're just seeing an illusion. Why this illusion remains true if you block other items in your field of vision with your hands, framing the moon with your fingers is what I don't get. Anyway, there are some variations in the moon's size, and today is the day it is at its biggest in 20 years. So remember to look to the east tonight, and blow your mind!
Image from source, Raw Story
[Excerpt]
“Super moon” to brighten the skies on Saturday
When the full moon rises on Saturday night, it will be bigger and brighter than at any time for almost 20 years -- and that is setting off alarm bells for those who make it their business to warn of impending doom. . .
The birth of a tea bagger. From Machine Wilderness
There was a time when the Tea Party was thought to be a grass roots populist uprising. There was a time when it was thought that Tea Partiers were more interested in Constitutional principals, jobs, small government and low taxes; rather than religion, culture wars, gays, guns and God. But now we know--even though some self-proclaimed Tea Partiers may not know--that the Tea Parties are funded by big corporate billionaires. We know that the social conservatism IS paramount. We know that the tea baggers are just Republicans with a cutesy--and oddly, gay new name.
"Birthers" are a brand of conservatives who believe--contrary to all common sense and actual facts--that President Barack Obama is ineligible to be President. They think he was born elsewhere, or that because his father was, that he isn't a "natural born citizen," and is thus not really President. All of the setup, rationalizations and pretzel arguments behind this theory are a) wrong and b) a smokescreen for saying "that black dude in the White House won't fit in my brain."
The funny thing is, NewsBusters, an arch-right-wing "watchdog" website is trying to say that conflating birthers with tea baggers is some sort of faux pas. In reality, there is quite a bit of overlap, and very little daylight between the two groups. There are some tea baggers who aren't birthers, and some birthers who aren't tea baggers. But trying to work them out in a diagram would be a major project. These aren't merely different branches on the same tree. They're different leaves on the same branch.
[Excerpt]
ABC's Stephanopoulos Paints Tea Party With Birther Brush
ABC's George Stephanopoulos still doesn't understand the difference between the Tea Party movement and the birther movement.
On the March 17 edition of "Good Morning America," the former Bill Clinton campaign operative characterized Donald Trump's political maneuvering as an attempt to court the Tea Party by pandering to birthers. . .
Thank you, Anthony Weiner. The GOP agenda is so plainly not what they were elected for, and so plainly an overreach and sometimes so plainly ridiculous. It's gratifying when one of our elected officials states--plainly--how stupid it all is.
Okay, here's the deal. I worked very late on Thursday night, and then I came home and worked some more. Blogging has just had to wait. But I always like to have something new up for the next day's business, so I went trolling on the internets. So, what did I find? Well I'm not done, but I was intrigued by this video clip.
Now, I'll be honest, I didn't watch it all. I'm not sure I can or will. Glenn Beck is friggin' nuts, y'all. And I know he has this weird power to convince others to be as nuts as he is, so watching the whole thing might be ill advised anyway. However, I took note of something while I watched.
Often, MSNBC is offered up as the "flip side" to FOX "News." Rachel Maddow is said to be the flip side of Glenn Beck. It's not true. Over the past week, Maddow--for instance--has offered up insightful, informative and most notably, sober information about Japan's nuclear crisis, among other things. She tries to be positive (though she's been noted to say that she's by nature a pessimist), fair and affable. Glenn Beck is affable too. But his approach is so different. So weirdly different. Where Rachel explains, Glenn lectures. Where Rachel teaches, Glenn indoctrinates. One is tutoring, one is preaching. Just watch this. But I beg you, just for a little while. Don't get sucked into the crazy!
In a sort of convoluted shuffling of the deck chairs, John Ensign (R-Hairdo) is "retiring" from the Senate, Congressman Dean Heller is running for his vacated seat, and defeated former Senate candidate (and batshit crazy) Sharron Angle is running for Heller's Congressional seat! Not satisfied with embarrassing the state of Nevada and herself in 2010, Angle is determined to do it again in 2012. But a flameout of a campaign is by no means a disqualifier for political fame in today's GOP, that's for sure.
[Excerpt]
Angle's Entry A Game-Changer in Congressional Race
Barely a day after Congressman Dean Heller signaled he's running for the Senate, the race to replace him just got more interesting.
Former Senate candidate Sharron Angle's announcement that she will be running for the seat in Congressional District Two complicates the Republican party's effort to avoid a divisive primary. . .
How could it. . .I mean. . .what were they. . .how could they possibly. . .facepalm. . .
[Excerpt]
Why, there are never earthquakes in California! Right? Image from source, Huffington Post
At California Nuclear Plant, Emergency Response Plans Don't Include Earthquakes
As the world's attention remains focused on the nuclear calamity unfolding in Japan, American nuclear regulators and industry lobbyists have been offering assurances that plants in the United States are designed to withstand major earthquakes. . .
"Does this outfit make me look crazy?" From Wonkette
I'm posting an excerpt and link to the article below, not just because I think it's accurate and funny. But it also proves how uninspired I can be sometimes with this blog. I've been in publishing and/or graphic arts for thirty-plus years. You'd think I'd come up with something as clever as the picture at the left. But no, I just keep phoning it in, don't I? That picture right there is something I should have thought of and done. I mean, Michele Bachmann is batshit crazy, and I know how to edit photos. I need to step up my game.
Anyway, enjoy!
[Excerpt]
Michele Bachmann: Reporting On Dumb Things I Say Proves Media Bias
Heartfelt chuckles and patronizing sighs were enjoyed by all when Michele Bachmann told a New Hampshire crowd on Saturday, “You’re the state where the shot was heard around the world at Lexington and Concord.” (New Hampshire is also the state where United States Marines “raised the flag at Iwo Jima.”). . .
I think it's official. The Republicans are the Elders of Krypton.
[Excerpt]
‘War On Science’: Committee From Koch Votes To Deny Climate Change
Today, Republicans in the House energy committee voted not once, not twice, but three times, against amendments recognizing that climate change is real, despite the broad scientific consensus that “climate change is happening and human beings are a major reason for it. . .”
That can't be good. They've been talking about ways to get water or other coolants into the one building with the crack in the roof and the holes in the sides. And if they don't get something in there, it's going to be very bad. Now, there are no workers there? Yikes.
[Excerpt]
Workers evacuate stricken nuclear plant
Workers at a quake-damaged atomic power plant suspended operations and evacuated Wednesday after a surge in radiation made it too dangerous to remain there, dealing a setback to Japan’s frantic efforts to stem a nuclear crisis. . .
As promised, here is the video from Tuesday night's The Rachel Maddow Show, with an in-depth explanation of what is going on in Japan with their nuclear emergency, what "spent" nuclear fuel is, what the cooling ponds are, and more. As before, stow your partisan negative reaction to Maddow if you have one, and just watch this. You'll have a whole new understanding of what is going on if--like me--you were a little sketchy on some of the details.
Rachel Maddow is really good at explaining things. Right now, with the multiple events going on in Japan's nuclear reactors, we need things explained. And before you get all finger-waggy, telling me she's a biased, granola-eating, nuclear hating, liberal lesbian (which also somehow makes her the opposite of Glenn Beck), just stop for a second. Stop and watch. This--in addition to a segment on spent fuel ponds, which I'll post when it is available--is probable the most informative, and interesting segments you've seen on cable tv this week, this month, maybe ever. I'm not kidding. (UPDATE: Tuesday's TRMS explanation on the spent fuel and cooling pools is posted now, and it's worth watching)
I've pondered the GE "Ecomagination" ad series here in the blog space before, and mused that the "line dance" ad was cute. Particularly the bio-suited boogiers. But since the Japanese nuclear meltdown situation started--at a GE-built reactor--it's not quite so cute anymore. After seeing so many images of workers in similar bio suits, and in much less "good time" environs, it sort of gives me a wiggins now. I keep cringing, and thinking "Silkwood shower. . ." Ugh.
And not a teabag to be found. Image from source, Think Progress
If you still believe there's a "liberal media," ask yourself this. Why can a union protest in Wisconsin have more people than any tea party ever has, and you probably didn't hear about it? Yes, I'm aware that the ongoing tragedies in Japan are taking up most of the news time. But if 100,000 tea baggers were on the White House lawn on Saturday, they would have put it on the news.
[Excerpt]
Madison Rally Bigger Than Biggest Tea Party Rally
Police estimated up to 100,000 people turned out in Madison, WI yesterday to protest Gov. Scott Walker’s (R) assault on unions, making it bigger than any protests the city has witnessed, even those during the Vietnam War. The Madison rally is part of a much larger Main Street Movement of average Americans demanding fairness in labor laws, social spending, and taxation. . .
Shame? Doubtful they have any. Image from source, Raw Story
This is very funny. One of those Republican State Senators from Wisconsin is in a bit of a pickle. He doesn't live in the appropriate district. He's got a mistress. And his wife and maid are signing his recall petition! Hilarious!
[Excerpt]
WI Repub lives outside district with mistress, says wife
Protesters who marched at the home of Wisconsin state senator Randy Hopper (R-Fond du Lac) were met with something of a surprise on Saturday. Mrs. Hopper appeared at the door and informed them that Sen. Hopper was no longer in residence at this address, but now lives in Madison, WI with his 25-year-old mistress. . .
Well, he is very telegenic. But if Evan Bayh expects there to be a less divisive partisan environment on FOX "News" of all places, he's not half as smart as I thought he was.
"Sorry, Sean, I didn't catch that. Liberals are communist WHATtards?" Image from source, Think Progress
[Excerpt]
After Leaving Senate Because Of ‘Too Much Partisanship,’ Former Sen. Evan Bayh Takes Job At Fox News
When former Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) surprised Washington one year ago and announced his decision not to seek re-election, he blamed “too much partisanship and not enough progress — too much narrow ideology and not enough practical problem-solving.” Bayh said that “what we need to do is come together as a people and solve the problems facing our country. . .”
This unaltered display is from a Target store here in Las Vegas. While I know that Paganism is a religion, and that decorated eggs are a Pagan fertility symbol, I'm not sure that's the religion they're going for here. Also, a studly naked man can be a religious experience for many of us. Still, I'm thinking a naked dude with an Easter egg would not be considered to be a very churchy holiday card for your grandmother. . .
