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Saturday Afternoon Open Thread: The Heat is On

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Sat Nov 28, 2009 at 01:22:26 PM EST
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Via Politico:

The chairman of the House’s top investigative committee said he will review Secret Service security practices after the agency allowed an uninvited couple into the Obama administration’s first state dinner.

Rep. Ed Towns (D-N.Y.), the chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform committee, said he is “deeply disturbed” that the Secret Service failed to follow basic security protocols, which allowed Tareq and Michaele Salahi into President Barack Obama’s gala for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

In shopping news, Julie & Julia will be released on dvd Dec. 9 and it's on sale today for $9.99.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

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    Saturday Afternoon Open Thread: The Heat is On | 19 comments (19 topical)

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    Gorgeous day in Chicago. (none / 0) (#1)
    by ChiTownDenny on Sat Nov 28, 2009 at 02:11:58 PM EST
    The dogs are full of energy.  Ah! I have Jumbones!  "OK, c'mon.  Let's get a toy."  Dino knows exactly what that means.  Trevor, the resuce who is now almost 9, knows by Dino's actions that something's up.  Both dogs start running to the kitchen.  I'm pleased to see their energy and enthusiasm; Trevor at his age and Dino, who will be 6 at the end of the month.  I'm also pleased to know that after the treat, they will sleep.  The sun is shining.  Life is good.  And I am thankful.

    Life is good... (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by kdog on Sat Nov 28, 2009 at 02:50:15 PM EST
    beautiful day here...even took some joy in finally raking those leaves...something about real hards in the dirt work is so soul-fulfilling...then again I don't do it everyday.

    Had my dog out with me chucking the old stick...he's out like a light himself now..they are good to have around ain't they.


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    I just checked the 10-day forecast (none / 0) (#4)
    by oculus on Sat Nov 28, 2009 at 04:09:28 PM EST
    for NYC.  Looking like we might get rained on and winter gear is in order for the temps.

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    They're the best. (none / 0) (#6)
    by ChiTownDenny on Sat Nov 28, 2009 at 04:53:43 PM EST
    I, for one, am lucky.

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    It's nice here too but (none / 0) (#3)
    by Jeralyn on Sat Nov 28, 2009 at 03:31:42 PM EST
    I'm inside creating a powerpoint for my NORML lecture in Key West next week, "Snoopy's New Tricks: Getting Around the Fourth Amendment and Title III in Drug Cases." I'm looking for music clips to include. If anyone has any ideas for good  lines from songs (or entire songs) about government snooping, please share.

    My brother is in Key West this weekend. (none / 0) (#5)
    by oculus on Sat Nov 28, 2009 at 04:10:16 PM EST
    He sd. the best way to get there was via ark!

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    Well, he will find it pretty cold (none / 0) (#9)
    by KeysDan on Sat Nov 28, 2009 at 06:24:51 PM EST
    for Key West, high of 72 and now 63, but a beautiful sunny and cloudless day.  Poor cats are all shivering, however.

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    And I believe that (none / 0) (#10)
    by CoralGables on Sat Nov 28, 2009 at 08:22:19 PM EST
    was filmed at the old Miami Marine Stadium in 1985. There has never been a finer outdoor concert site for Parrotheads to enjoy. Somewhere I have the video of that concert known as "Live By The Bay".

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    He has a new album (none / 0) (#12)
    by Inspector Gadget on Sat Nov 28, 2009 at 09:14:18 PM EST
    being released in a week....samples of the songs.

    Don't know how anyone can pick a favorite of Buffett...

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    Rolling Stones.... (none / 0) (#23)
    by kdog on Mon Nov 30, 2009 at 08:23:15 AM EST
    "Fingerprint File" perhaps?

    "some little jerk in the FBI, keeping papers on me six feet high..."

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    No second stimulus, (none / 0) (#11)
    by andgarden on Sat Nov 28, 2009 at 08:25:11 PM EST
    but the Great Society lives, thank god.

    Can't get to the article (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by Inspector Gadget on Sat Nov 28, 2009 at 09:20:41 PM EST
    Makes me think the plan for phase 2 still wasn't going to include help for the millions of little donors. Job creation cannot remain waiting in line for a front burner much longer.

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    Interesting attitudes (5.00 / 2) (#15)
    by caseyOR on Sat Nov 28, 2009 at 11:35:28 PM EST
    I find it interesting, and a little sad and a little infuriating, that some of the people in that article still believe that people on food stamps are lazy bums who refuse to get married just so they can get benefits. And the people who think that are on food stamps themselves.

    Maybe it's that thing where some folks can't feel okay about themselves unless they are putting someone else down. Like that guy in Ohio who needs the help to feed his family but insists that other people are lazy because he spots them at the grocery store at midnight, his thinking being that if they are out shopping at that hour they must not have jobs, and if they don't have jobs they must be trying to game the system. he is happy he has the help to feed his hungry, but deserving, family.

    We are never going to recover from Reagan are we?

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    It all makes me sad (5.00 / 1) (#16)
    by andgarden on Sat Nov 28, 2009 at 11:41:26 PM EST
    For some of these people, as soon as they don't need it any more, they'll be happy to turn the spigot off for everyone else. I guess they would prefer that other people's families starve. "Socialism for me, but not for thee." (Echoes of the healthcare debate. . .)

    But I am really genuinely happy that we have the infrastructure to do something for these people. Private charity could never be sufficient.

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    You (5.00 / 1) (#19)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Nov 29, 2009 at 07:07:53 AM EST
    are right about private charity. And they are overwhelmed with demands as it is and can't keep up---at least here in Ga that is.


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    The other thing I would like to see (5.00 / 3) (#20)
    by Anne on Sun Nov 29, 2009 at 10:45:41 AM EST
    is better, healthier food be more affordable for everyone; fresh fruits and vegetables should not be hugely more expensive than mac 'n' cheese, or rice or packaged, full-of-chemicals "food."  I get why they are, but I don't like it.

    We're always getting the lectures about obesity and being responsible for our health and eating the right foods, but if you are someone with severely limited funds, especially if your household includes children, what are the chances you are going to buy apples or oranges or fresh green beans or fresh broccoli, when Kraft macaroni is 69 cents a box?  It's hard to fill up on salad that costs out at $6.00/lb, or even serve it as a side dish, when you can buy a bag of rice and a can of beans for half that and feel full when you're finished eating.

    I don't want anyone to feel forced to eat in any particular way, but I would at least like healthier options to be financially within reach.

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    Food stamp use is increasing (5.00 / 2) (#21)
    by nycstray on Sun Nov 29, 2009 at 11:37:33 AM EST
    at our farmers market when they can use them.

    A new report finds food stamp use at greenmarkets across the city has more than doubled over the past year.

    City Council Speaker Christine Quinn says food stamp spending at local greenmarkets has reached more than $226,000 -- up from about $100,000 in 2008.

    The dramatic increase is a result of bolstered funding for Electronic Benefit Transfer stations, which allow vendors to scan and accept food stamps.

    "If you make fresh food economically affordable and physically available, low income people will eat it in droves," said New York City Coalition Against Hunger Executive Director Joel Berg.

    "The success of this program is proof that New Yorkers want to eat healthy, want to feed their family in a healthy nutritious way, we just need to give them the option and the access to healthy food in the neighborhoods where they live and shop," Quinn said.

    This past summer, the Department of Health offered $2 vouchers for every $5 in food stamps spent at the greenmarkets, allowing that money to go 40 percent further.


    link

    There's also an effort that's increasing produce carts in low income/food desert hoods and another that is offering incentives to open more grocery stores in those areas. It's not just a financial issue, but also availability.

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    Wow (none / 0) (#13)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Nov 28, 2009 at 09:15:39 PM EST
    How did your daughter pick SUNY Albany? It's so far from where you are and all.
    Nice (none / 0) (#18)
    by andgarden on Sun Nov 29, 2009 at 12:02:20 AM EST
    Is she prepared for the weather. . .? Has she ever had a winter coat?

    Parent
    Saturday Afternoon Open Thread: The Heat is On | 19 comments (19 topical)

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