Search Results for 'GG'

[DBP]

The Forgotten Captain

Tomas Transtörmer*

We have so many shadows. I was walking home

in the September night when Y

climbed out of his grave after forty years

and kept me company.

At first he was quite empty, only a name

but his thoughts swam

faster than time ran

and caught up with us.

I put his eyes to my eyes

and saw war’s ocean.

The last boat he captained

took shape beneath us.

Ahead and astern the Atlantic convoy crept,

the ships that would survive

and the ships that boast the Mark

(invisible to all)

While sleepless days relieved each other

but never him.

Under his oilskin, his life-jacket.

He never came home.

It was an internal weeping that bled him to death

in a Cardiff hospital,

he could at last lie down

and turn into a horizon.

Good-bye, eleven-knot convoys! Good-bye, 1940!

Here ends world history.

The bombers were left hanging.

The heathery moors blossomed.

A photo from early this century shows a beach.

Six Sunday-best boys.

Sailing boats in their arms.

What solemn airs!

The boats that became life and death for some of them.

And writing about the dead—that too is a game

made heavy with what is to come.

 

 

   

          Boys sailing boats in Green Lake wading pool. Summer, 1934.

 

 

*Winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, 2011

More info: http://tinyurl.com/transtromer-samples

[kootchman]

If the trendline stays on the same trajectory…. as it was 2009 CDC Comprehensive Birth Study. We are getting very close to to single mothers, not married, being half of all live births. That which the government subsidizes will increase. Right or wrong, is irrelevant. We are carrying a good portion of that financial burden… in fact, most of it.

Number of live births to unmarried women: 1,693,658

Birth rate for unmarried women: 50.5 births per 1,000 unmarried women aged 15-44 years

Percent of all births to unmarried women: 41.0%

and

Nearly 72 percent of the births to black women were out of wedlock. Mothers were unmarried in about 51 percent of Hispanic births and 28 percent of non-Hispanic white births.

Given that universal BC and abortion are the law of the land now… and these are the stats… seems to me both are societal and economic failures…. sumpin’ nots working here Lucy….

Since 1970, out-of-wedlock birth rates have soared. In 1965, 24 percent of black infants and 3.1 percent of white infants were born to single mothers. By 1990 the rates had risen to 64 percent for black infants, 18 percent for whites. Every year about one million more children are born into fatherless families. If we have learned any policy lesson well over the past 25 years, it is that for children living in single-parent homes, the odds of living in poverty are great. The policy implications of the increase in out-of-wedlock births are staggering

That is a huge number and unsustainable. 41% makes me in part the legal and financial burden holder. This is not result of a war on women.. these are some very bad choices. In the most liberal European countries….

Between 1990 and 2000, Norway’s out-of-wedlock birthrate rose from 39 to 50 percent, while Sweden’s rose from 47 to 55 percent. Do thy sustain a higher level of state support? Yes. But is that our national objective… to have most children born out of wedlock? Their birth rate is lower…we are a more fertile culture, so it is more sustainable in Scandenavian countries… I am not surprised that the culture war is this intense.. these are the results. Do we want to be a nation that subsidizes unmarried, births as the majority number of births? We have tossed personal accountability and consequence for behaviors out the window.

[waterworld]

Kootch, et al.: We don’t have a de facto ban on the death penalty in this state, although I wish we did. Washington reinstated the death penalty in 1977, after the US Supreme Court decision in Gregg v. Georgia. Since then, there have been five executions here. Right now, there are, I think, eight guys on death row. Each of those cases is in some stage of post-sentence review, a process that can take several years, unless the defendant waives his right to the appeals process that is required by law.

The majority of death penalty verdicts in this state end up being reversed on appeal. I think the number right now is 21 or 22 reversals. At this rate, six of the eight men on death row should end up with sentences of life without parole instead of death. (I say “should” only because of the rate of reversals so far, which is over 80% and is obviously statistically inaccurate. I don’t know the likelihood of reversal on any of the pending cases.)

In addition, three of the five men who have been executed since the late 1970s were volunteers. Only two have litigated their cases all the way to the end and lost.

If the Attorney General wins any of the pending death penalty cases, I am confident he will seek death warrants as soon as possible. And Governor Gregoire will almost undoubtedly sign those death warrants. Both McKenna and Gregoire fundamentally support the death penalty, or, at a minimum, are not opposed to it.

Although I am firmly opposed to capital punishment, I think it is very difficult to make the case that it is unconstitutional. I would even agree that we provide defendants now with greater protection from wrongful execution than the legal systems in place at the time our nation was founded. Thankfully, that’s not the constitutional test, and our courts have long recognized that we are obligated to be very, very careful before we sentence someone to death. But the sad reality, still, is that many innocent people are convicted of crimes they didn’t commit, and many of those are sentenced to death.

Someone asked earlier for an accounting of the number of innocent people who have been executed. The Death Penalty Information Center lists nine people, and explains that it is very hard to determine that number, because no one has historically investigated claims of innocence after someone has been executed. In fact, relatives of men who have been executed are routinely denied access to DNA that they would like to have tested to determine if their loved ones were wrongly killed — even if they are doing so at their own expense. The typical argument against post-execution testing is that it would undermine the “finality” of the case, as though it could bring someone back to life.

It is the number of exonerations in the past ten or fifteen years that tells the real story. There have been over 140 exonerations so far, a large fraction of which are from a handful of states known for their readiness to kill. Many of those exonerations are due to DNA, but many are also due to the discovery of erroneous eyewitness identifications, police and judicial misconduct, and bad forensic evidence.

It would be helpful to know how many people have been wrongfully executed, but there’s little reason to doubt that it is far higher than the number of exonerations to date. Whatever the number is, it has no correlation at all with the numbers of prison guards who are murdered by prisoners, or to the numbers of murders committed by men who have been released after serving their sentences. No one could seriously argue that we should kill more innocent men to save the lives of prison staff.

How does this relate to the abortion issue you all have been discussing? Beats me, although the two are often raised at the same time, with some of us noting the hypocrisy of asserting an absolute “right to life” while supporting state-sponsored intentional killing, and others of us pointing out that a convicted murderer or rapist is not “innocent” and therefore we are entitled to kill him, whereas we are not entitled to kill the presumably innocent life growing in the womb. But who are we kidding — no one who has formed an opinion on either the death penalty or abortion has ever been swayed by either of these arguments. It hardly matters what the truth is or where the truth can be found, because in reality, people hold very different views on these issues, and it is always possible to find some underlying inconsistency. We are bundles of contradictions, even where life and death are concerned.

Moreover, it was exactly this way at the time of our nation’s founding, when the constitution was written. Abortion was legal in some colonies, illegal in others, and widely practiced in all of them. The death penalty was legal almost everywhere, but denounced by the same religions as today. No one at that time would have read the credo regarding the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as referring to either an unborn child or a convicted murderer.

[goodgraces]

Oh and Sheila is the most amazing pet sitter, as well! Can’t say enough good things about here. Very loving and real.

[shed22]

If you live in Seaview and your midsize, brown coated, and very cute dog goes missing, you can probably find him/her terrorizing me at my home.

On multiple occasions, this dog has scratched repeatedly at my front door. When I try to approach it, I get chased and barked off my property.

The dog has tags but wont let me get anywhere near it. This little animal is ferocious.

I imagine it eventually finds its way home.

If this is your home . . . please keep in mind your animal has demonstrated violent and aggressive behavior when alone and off leash in the neighborhood.

Please keep your animals and your neighbors safe.

Thanks!

[christopherboffoli]

Swinery doesn’t seem to be doing their bacon and chocolate thing anymore. That was the genius of John Legge, who went on to launch Sugar & Salt: (http://www.sugarandsaltkitchen.com/p/products_21.html

It looks like you might be able to purchase some of his amazing creations through his Etsy site. Just go to the link above and click on products. I’ve had pretty much all of their products and all are highly recommended.

Otherwise, the Vosges bacon bar is available among the fine chocolate selection at PCC in West Seattle: http://www.vosgeschocolate.com/product/mos_dark_chocolate_bacon_bar

[DBP]

No. I certainly don’t mind if Carlos Garza tells people about how he found God.

But there’s a big difference between telling someone that YOU found God and asking them to bow their heads and pray along with you.

This is why many people object to religious invocations at school ceremonies: not because an invocation would be an expression of any one person’s faith, but rather because it would be an expression of everyone’s faith. Which it is not.

Another example:

When Mormons come to my house, I’m always happy to sit with them and discuss their beliefs — as long as I have nothing better to do. But I always draw the line when they ask me to kneel and “ask Jesus to come into my heart.”

Why? Because that would be “begging the question” or assuming as proven that which was to be determined by argument. Namely: Does God exist?

See the difference there?

[DBP]

Jean Campbell lives at The Retirement Home for Really Nice People.

Betty T lives there, too, natch.

Betty T introduced me to Jean at the last NV pancake breakfast, and when Jean found out we were doing a fundraiser for Mike she went: “Oh! Let me donate a knit cap and scarf!”

Two weeks later, Jean called me and told me the cap was finished and that I could pick it up from Betty next Saturday, at camp. But somehow the signals got crossed, and I arrived at camp just as Betty was handing the cap over to another camper!!

Imagine my horror . . .

Well, the accidental beneficiary just loved her new cap so much — and it looked so stylish on her too, you know — that I could hardly say: “Hey, gimme that cap! It’s mine!”

So then I had to swallow my pride, go back to the Home for Really Nice People, and explain to Jean how the cap was lost and that it was all Betty’s fault.

“Oh, don’t worry about it, dear,” she said. “I’ll just make another one.”

So just like that, I was off the hook.

Hotcha!!!

**********************************************************************************

 

There’s so much love in this old world. How ironic that it’s all going to end in an epic smackdown between knitters.

 

 

 

Are you talking to me, Irukandji?

You talking to me?

‘Cuz I don’t see anybody else in this room.

 

[35this35mph]

Long time guitar player, but eternal amateur. A little mandolin and a few banjo chords.

[MTM]

By gosh, I think you should exercise your “god-given” freedom to call anyone anything you want, anytime you want.

I suggest you eat at an Asian restaurant and call them “Orientals” to their face. You’ll enjoy the service and the food.

Find an Asian barber to cut your hair and call him or her “Oriental” at the time of service. Your hair will look great, I’m sure.

Find an Asian clerk in any store to ring up your bill, an Asian doctor to check your heart, an Asian financial advisor to consult, etc., and call them Oriental to their face. See how friendly your customer service experience will be.

You really want to know how well your thoughts are perceived? Take them to the people who might perceive them as offensive. You’ll know how they feel about it. After all, you don’t want any limits on your words, so please… enjoy the freedom to offend and do so up front and face to face.

Continuing to willfully offend and then on top of that, defend your racist and bigoted outbursts could result in you being considered “white trash” in some circles. I’m sure you wouldn’t mind if you’re referred to by that label. White trash is described in Wikipedia (since we’re quoting that) as “…suggesting lower social class and degraded living standards. The term suggests outcasts from respectable society living on the fringes of the social order who are seen as dangerous because they may be criminal, unpredictable, and without respect for authority whether it be political, legal, or moral.”

[MLErickson]

I just can’t say enough about Sheila and her approach to dog training. We have one of those dogs that people describe as ‘best with an experienced handler’–a very smart, high energy puppy to say the least. In two short months Sheila has helped us transform her and she’s well on her way to being a well adjusted dog! Our experience with her was a lifesaver! http://zendiggitydog.com/

[kootchman]

See you blame the arm… I say it is the person who chooses to be the candy. The training ground for future candy is where? Candy lessons. Biggest purveyors?

[JanS]

1. from Wikipedia :The adjectival term Oriental has been used by the West to mean cultures, peoples, countries, and goods from the Orient. “Oriental” means generally “eastern”. It is a traditional designation (especially when capitalized) for anything belonging to the Orient or “East” (for Asia), and especially of its Eastern culture. It indicated the eastern direction in historical astronomy, often abbreviated “Ori.”[3] In contemporary English, Oriental usually refers to things from the parts of East Asia traditionally occupied by East Asians and most Central Asians and Southeast Asians racially categorized as “Mongoloid”. This excludes Indians, Arabs, most other West Asian peoples. Because of historical discrimination against Chinese and Japanese, in some parts of the United States, the term is considered derogatory; for example, Washington state prohibits use of the word “Oriental” in legislation and government documentation, preferring the word “Asian” instead.[4]

2.Random House’s Guide to Sensitive Language states that “Other words (e.g., Oriental, colored) are outdated or inaccurate.” It suggests the use of “Asian or more specific designation such as Pacific Islander, Chinese American, [or] Korean”.[8] Merriam-Webster describes the term as “sometimes offensive.”[9]

3.What should you do when the audience member uses an inappropriate term?

As speakers our role is to educate, not intimidate or embarrass, but this does pose a challenging situation. Because I speak on this topic, I let my workshop audiences know that we are all learners (as evidenced by the above example). I tell them that I will share “p.c.” words with them, so they can choose whether or not they will use them. Most diversity collisions are totally accidental, thus with more knowledge we can avoid errors due to ignorance. As the workshop progresses I gently inform folks of less offensive terms. The one that is misused most often is “Oriental” instead of “Asian” when referring to people. Oriental is correct when referring to food, furniture or rugs, not when referring to people.

If diversity is not your area of specialty, I suggest that you find a private moment to give feedback to the “offender.” Remember that the comment was most likely made due to lack of information, and approach him or her with the intention of helping. Most people will react with gratitude.

If we want the cycle of intolerance to stop, we need to be willing to speak up, and give feedback with compassion. Some people might think we are being too picky, but can we afford not to be, if as an association we are setting the standard for the industry?

Let your words be a bridge, not a barrier to the message of your soul, and the telling of your truth. Your audience will remember and appreciate you just that much more. (from an article by Lenora Billings-Harris called Political Correctness and Diversity in Public Speaking.

4.“The world ‘Oriental’ is not inherently negative,” said Frank H. Wu, a law professor at Howard University and the author of “Yellow: Race in America Beyond Black and White” (Basic Books, 2001). While the term oriental has a geographical meaning — eastern — words, especially in a racialized context, carry connotations beyond their literal definitions.

“It’s associated with a time period when Asians had a subordinate status,” Professor Wu said. He said that the term was associated with exoticism and with old stereotypes of geisha girls and emasculated men. “‘Oriental’ is like the word ‘negro.’ It conjures up an era.”

Only in 1952 did the federal government abolish the Asian exclusion acts, dating to the 1880s, that had prohibited many Asian immigrants, even those who immigrated legally, from full citizenship.

“For many Asian Americans, it’s not just this term: It’s about much more,” Professor Wu said. “It’s about your legitimacy to be here.”

So, no I didn’t make it up.

You may consider me a twit, but at least I’m not a jerk..

[kootchman]

I give “Huggies” but I am Prouder to Pamper. My idea for T shirts…steal it if you wish … I’ll buy one.

Read this ladies… this how massively effective a voice of the protest is…. bty .. the ladies raised the hell… we really weren’t in on the deal…cause we are who we are.

http://www.parents.com/blogs/dadabase/2012/03/14/deep-thoughts/why-huggies-backlash-is-a-bookmark-in-dad-bashing-advertising/

This says it was male backlash.. I think the first editorial was more on the markt

http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/03/new-huggies-ad-suggests-men-mars-diapers-venus/

[kootchman]

Ummm how many men buy magazines at the counter? You buy the crap. Women do. I have nothing against some voyeurism, some tintillation… it’s part of the fun. When you pick your targets… you kill the closest, most dangerous threat first. Remember when you said .. “we control the pocket book”? I actually watched. The Real Houswives of Orange County.today..a tip from this thread… men aren’t watching that show… middle aged women, dressing in teen preppie clothing, butt crack tights, boob jobs and nose jobs and cat fighting…slathered and lathered on baubles, the urgent topic wasn’t ERA … it was a restaurant cat fight over calling a sinus operation an excuse for a nose job…..and their entire identity tied to the most superficial shit…and consumption// yea I am not saying we are perfect specimens.. but we don’t do unto ourselves as much as women do unto themselves. If you are going to clean house …. clean house. Even the ugly rooms. Just telling ya… it’s hard to see the urgency of the movement when I see what you will tolerate. Look up the producers of that show.. and the editor of Cosmopolitan. I am going back to reading my back issues of MAD magazine,Spy vs Spy But back to the original poster on this thread… that’s a mighty outraged “little sister” and this popular culture is her biggest threat…so she says. too big an issue? too culpable? to support her?

[mirabile]

The Bechdel Test:

1. A movie must have at least two or more named female characters.

…okay. Well, that one’s easy.

(In the land of screenwriting, the number of named characters in your film is important, because it thus means your character is relevant to the plot in some way. Although it may get you your SAG card, the role of NURSE or GIRL IN BIKINI would not be considered a named character.)

2. These two named women must talk to each other in a scene.

…this test is a piece of cake so far, right? I mean, I can think of hundreds of films where two women talk to each other in a scene…

3. …about something besides a guy.

http://hellogiggles.com/the-bechdel-test

[kootchman]

well redblack… they can and have the right to sue other negligent parties. It’s in every insurance contract i ever signed. No big deal to me… cause” we are a NO FAULT state. They have to pay. And they did.

Can’t follow you down that path dyn99.. cause… Santorum as odious as he is… it’s better than what we have.

Now rdblack… if under dyna99 plan … contraceptives are covered under a single payer system. Then abortion by definition becomes “elective surgery” except in the horrible choices of health of the mother. Not illegal, but elective. No federal funds. We are not yet the SS, where we are willing to give the state the say in when life begins. Those “rights” grow…and soon we have a genocidal monster on our hands. The state then defines entitlement to life… no friggin way!!! China does it because of population pressures.forced abortions… when will we do it? Budget deficits? Excess labor and depressed wages? Bankrupt healthcare system? Too many students pressing state and federal budgets school budgets? Race inequality in academic achievement? How about limiting family size by economic prospects? One child if you and the wife are not college grads and you have no genetic history of 120 plus IQ’s in the bloodline? No children if you don’t complet HsS?… It can’t happen here… except it has. Domestic servant Catholic girls, slaves, American Indians in boarding schools… forced abortions in the greater interest of the state… Remember the foundation of the nation you all wan to abuse ? LIFE, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

Jan… IF..and I say IF… that trillion in stimulus money went only to men would that have been sexist?

Or

If all that stimulus money went to 8% of the US population… just Orientals… would that have been racist?

[kootchman]

Nah. I have an open back Deering Goodtime too. it was my traveler plinker.. but is makes a pretty good sound for a $300 banjo. Lookin to start or a seasoned picker?

[dyn99]

Both parties should stay the hell out of people’s right to make their own decisions. So should the government.

Republicans who want to require others to share their religious beliefs through legislation are just as bad as democrats that think every taxpayer should pay for their social agenda, even if it violates their religious beliefs.

There is no war on women, there is an attempt to overturn separation between church and state, and your uterus just happens to be the first battle in a war that they will lose.

And fiscal conservatives and free marketeers need to take the Republican party back from the religious right who want to use their religious beliefs to prevent others freedom. The Republican party should be one of smaller government, more freedom, and less intervention in our lives. Instead, it tries unsuccessfully to do both.

And if Santorum gets the nomination, I am getting the biggest Obama sign I can find.

[35this35mph]

Well a fellow can dream… My GAS/BAS is running on fumes ;) Sorry to hear about the fingers. Best of luck with the clawhammer adaptation. I know it wasn’t Earl Scruggs’s style but the banjo probably wouldn’t object…

[JayDee]

Last year I followed Darren O’Donnell while he rode a bike and touring all of the major league states. “Baseball Biking Tour” on Facebook. I would suggest they contact Baseball Biking Tour or Darren O’Donnell on Facebook and ask for his advice.

–

Darren was riding the same bike I ride, a Long Haul Trucker, so I was amazed how far he went (+10K miles) Get a FB page, post pictures, and enjoy the ride.

[munchkin22]

Latest news is the boys went 55 miles on their last leg and are near Warrenton Or. We suggested that they stop in Tillamook at the cheese factory and maybe they could score some free samples. Also, we reminded them that they’re carrying a small gold pan and to remember to try it out as they work down the coast and especially as they get into California. Doug will eventually land in Texas and Ben wants to tour all of the 48 states, ending up back in our area in a year or so. Still working on getting a camera to them so we can share the adventure here on the blog.

Okay, what about this? Do any of you have any questions for either of them that we can ask? Or suggestions from you long haul bikers? Or sightseeing suggestions?

Think it over and post it here and we’ll see what we can do.

[kootchman]

I am a porn gazer… however… and you can look at Benetton ads with the androgonous little waifs… however, SI does not hammer us with thousands of ads that make us go vomit in the crapper to meet some ideal body image. I am sending your hubby a subscription to Soldier of Fortune. The young woman makes a great point. Her body image and esteem are being exploited by women . In your great crusade for equality… whilst you sic federal agencies upon the masses and bemoan male privilege… and honest intellect would rightfully say popular culture is more influential and.. damaging. There is a more fruitful pursuit for equality. Now if you think doe eyed, submissives, with all manner of artificiality to “make them attractive” and yes, successful… well… I guess Cosmopolitan will do. As I was being called a rampant sexist… for suggesting that the women’s fashion/beauty industry is a multibillion dollar extravagance.. of submission. I believe I was right. Sisters exploiting sisters… ya wanna be the proud parent of a “Snookie” or an “Atlanta Housewife? Those are messages from women to women… now you and JaN will reject them… ( Ihave that much faith in you) but think about the original poster…. she is being exploited and it is females that control the message. This ain’t tit for tat … in fact, fat old fellahs at the BBQ quaffing beers is US… that we relate to. we like looking at the little pretties… but we won’t spend the billions and billions women do to emulate a male “ideal”… nor do we really care all that much for body image … until the first heart attack anyway. “I don’t always drink beer my friends, but when I do..I drink Dos Equis…. we dont’ rush out to emulate the look…and it is not a threat or challenge.

[kootchman]

Both…and maybe…a 1932 Mastertone…. but that might break my heart…. 1600 for the ES and 500 for guitar

[miws]

A Hand Up Ex-Gang Member earl scruggs.

Fraidy Cat Life coaches in WS?

Feds Overstepping the Big Empty Pit.

Military Incursion at Big Empty Pit.

itty bitty stinky ants Big Empty Pit.

earl scruggs Basketball in Big Empty Pit.