1/ The disasterous plight of the middle class and how our elites are ignoring it.....they just don't get it.....Bob Herbert again with a powerful column.....
The American economy is on its knees and the suffering has reached historic levels. Nearly 44 million people were living in poverty last year, which is more than 14 percent of the population. That is an increase of 4 million over the previous year, the highest percentage in 15 years, and the highest number in more than a half-century of record-keeping. Millions more are teetering on the edge, poised to fall into poverty.
More than a quarter of all blacks and a similar percentage of Hispanics are poor. More than 15 million children are poor.
The movers and shakers, including most of the mainstream media, have paid precious little attention to this wide-scale economic disaster.
Meanwhile, the middle class, hobbled for years with the stagnant incomes that accompany extreme employment insecurity, is now in retreat. Joblessness, home foreclosures, personal bankruptcy — pick your poison. Median family incomes were 5 percent lower in 2009 than they were a decade earlier. The Harvard economist Lawrence Katz told The Times, “This is the first time in memory that an entire decade has produced essentially no economic growth for the typical American household.”
But as he points out if the Republicans get control of both houses "you ain't seen nothin yet"........
If Republicans take over the policy levers, forget about it. The party of Palin, Limbaugh and Boehner — with its tax cuts for the rich and obsession with the deregulatory, free-market zealotry that brought us the Great Recession — will only accelerate the mass march into poverty.
The G.O.P. wants to further shred the safety net, wants to give corporations even greater clout over already debased workers, and wants to fatten the coffers of the already obscenely rich.
2/ Alaska, the Schizophrenic State. Has a certain ring to it, oui?
Good column by Gail Collins on the Palin syndrome, Tea Partiers and Alaskan sophistication.....
Since Alaska depends on the federal government for about a third of its budget, it’s reasonable to wonder why voters are attracted to Miller, who is pretty much opposed to federal spending on anything that doesn’t have to do with national defense. The answer is that he and McAdams represent the two sides to Alaska, which simultaneously regards itself as a land of free-spirited adventurers as well as an infrastructure-poor newbie in need of government help before it can walk on its own. “By and large, we’re a schizophrenic state,” said Andrew Halcro, the Republican who once ran against Palin on an independent line.
And the Palin spirit lives on in the Alaska Senate race. For most of their history, Alaskan officials regarded their state as needy and wheedling money out of the federal government as a sacred crusade. When Sarah teamed up with John McCain, she added on the anti-earmark campaign line. The state didn’t get rid of its dependency on federal cash. It just learned how to entertain two opposing views in the head at the same time
3/ Fascinating 4 minute clip from Fox Business News - includes a spirited putdown of some racist comments by a Republican strategist by Senator D'Amato from New York - don't often see controversy like this on TV. But more disturbing was the common thread of contempt for the working class of America, the sneering, knowing winks of "them" that all of the Fox Business News talking heads had for the "lower class postal workers". Racist bastards.
There may be truth to the fact the postal service could be more efficient, but it is a complex subject that noone knows the answer to, and it's not going to be solved with negative sound bites. All government is bad. Period. This is the mantra......
Needless to say I never watch Fox, but this snide contempt for ordinary people permeates their news. There are constant zingers.....no wonder people are angry - their prejudices are being stoked by the Fox commentators and guests.....
4/ A wonderful and rare 9 minute clip of Joe Cocker in great form at a live concert in 1970 ....."With a Little Help From my Friends" - sound has been remixed, so crank it up and enjoy some classic 60s rock.
By the way noone in the band, nobody, was ever under the influence of any exotic herbs or substances......just a rumour.....ha....
5/ Elizabeth Warren - just appointed to the Financial Watchdog position. The ONLY position in the US Government specifically created to look out for consumers interests aainst the giant corporate oligarchs.....
No wonder 'the boys" hate her.......good choice Mr. President......
First, this form of appointment puts Elizabeth Warren to work right away – on the issues of consumer protection that are first order both for ordinary families and for the macroeconomy. You really cannot build a sustainable economic recovery on the back of exploitative or abusive behavior by the financial sector. These issues are urgent and need resolution as soon as possible.
Second, the president finally has an adviser who understands the financial sector and who has healthy skepticism about its intentions and actions. As we documented at length in 13 Bankers, too many top policy people – both in this administration and all its recent predecessors – have been overly inclined to accommodate the interests of finance, particularly the big banks. In this regard, putting Ms. Warren directly into the White House with the highest possible level of access is exactly the right thing to do – much better, for example, than making her purely a Treasury appointment.
6/ Jon Stewart with a good segment on our new Tea Party celeb from Delaware......with his team of analysts.......John Oliver etc........
7/ Mount Dorans
There is a common thread when you talk to residents of our fair city, which is that downtown Mount Dora has sort of lost it's charm. Our triangle neighbors, Tavares and Eustis seem to be getting it together - the seaplane airport in Tavares is cool, there's a number of good new restaurants there, they now have our Antique Boat Show permanently etc. etc. The jury is still out on the plan for downtown Eustis, and let's see what it's like when they finish it.... [but why did they take out all of those trees]....
But this great Orlando Sentinel column from Lauren Ritchie is alarming because it describes a Mount Dora city council with dysfunctional elected officials, off in strange directions instead of focusing on new ideas for the city to revitalise it.....if nothing else the vacancy rate for the shops and restaurants should be getting their attention. We may indeed have some property owners who are indifferent to whether or not their shops are rented, but it may also be that budding entrepreneurs look at the volume of visitor traffic, the rents, the hostility to business that seems to prevail at City Hall and the types of visitors we seem to be attracting and decide to go elsewhere....
There's an election coming up in November and it's clear we need some different faces and fresh ideas....
For a look at what can be done with an old downtown take a trip to Winter Garden [25 minutes] for lunch or dinner. Great restaurants - the Chef's Table is a gourmet dinner experience [$120 for two with wine], and there is an award winning Thai restaurant right next door. On the other side of the street are an Italian eatery [$20 for lunch for 2], a French Cafe [$20 lunch] and an Irish pub. All in old buildings with outside dining tables.....and BUSY.....
What powered the renaissance of Winter Garden was the bike trail that runs through it....there are two bike stores, and the town has attracted a nicer demographic of visitor since the bike trail was opened [so a local told me]. I have attached a picture of the main street so you get the idea [photo 5 jpg] - but it's worth a quick visit in person to get an idea of what Mount Dora could do.......
8/ I love this one, so here it is again.....funnier the second time.....the Idiots......3 minutes....
9/ TV Review
Boardwalk Empire starts this Sunday on HBO......looks really good, a complex story about the 20's.....directed by Martin Scorsese, starring Steve Buscemi.....sounds like a series you need to stick with - set your TiVo's!
“Boardwalk Empire” is a well conceived, beautifully made series that has every reason to be great. Who doesn’t want to watch rum runners and gangsters on HBO? Yet, surprisingly, given the extraordinary talent and money behind it, “Boardwalk Empire” falls short. The series gets better and more engrossing with time, but it takes more than a few episodes for it to clear its throat, establish its bona fides and fall into storytelling stride.
10/ Movie Reviews
"The Town", a story of bank robbers in Boston - good review. Directed by and starring Ben Affleck....
As it is, the performances in “The Town” are strong enough to make it watchable, and the sense of place — of topography and architecture, if not of actual social life — is vivid and enjoyable. A climactic caper at Fenway Park blows holes in the film’s narrative and emotional credibility, but it is fast and exciting all the same, perhaps especially for Yankees fans. Otherwise, the main attraction is the blaring music of those accents. It’s a lark, a spark, a walk in the park.
"Easy A" about a high school girl with a reputation.....decent review...Emma Stone stars....
“Easy A” is so lighthearted that even its designated villains (a circle of pious Jesus freaks who have vowed celibacy and picket for Olive’s expulsion) exhibit the daffy comic exuberance of the teenagers in “Glee.” Nothing can keep them down for long, and nothing is really serious.
Todays video - a charming little song....
Todays divorce joke
Dear Wife, I'm writing you this letter to tell you that I'm leaving you forever. I've been a good man to you for 7 years and I have nothing to show for it. These last 2 weeks have been hell. Your boss called to tell me that you quit your job today and that was the last straw. Last week, you came home and didn't even notice I had a new haircut, had cooked your favorite meal and even wore a brand new pair of silk boxers. You ate in 2 minutes, and went straight to sleep after watching all of your soaps. You don't tell me you love me anymore; you don't want sex or anything that connects us as husband and wife. Either you're cheating on me or you don't love me anymore; whatever! The case, I'm gone. Your EX-Husband P.S. Don't try to find me. Your SISTER and I are moving away to West Virginia together! Have a great life! ******** Dear Ex-Husband, Nothing has made my day more than receiving your letter. It's true you and I have been married for 7 years, although a good man is a far cry from what you've been. I watch my soaps so much because they drown out your constant whining and griping. Too bad that doesn't work. I DID notice when you got a hair cut last week, but the first thing that came to mind was 'You look just like a girl!' Since my mother raised me not to say anything if you can't say something nice, I didn't comment. And when you cooked my favorite meal, you must have gotten me confused with MY SISTER, because I stopped eating pork 7 years ago. About those new silk boxers: I turned away from you because the $49.99 price tag was still on them, and I prayed it was a coincidence that my SISTER had just borrowed $50 from me that morning. After all of this, I still loved you and felt we could work it out. So when I hit the lotto for $35 million, I quit my job and bought us 2 tickets to Jamaica But when I got home you were gone. Everything happens for a reason, I guess. I hope you have the fulfilling life you always wanted. My lawyer said that the letter you wrote ensures you won't get a dime from me.. So take care. Signed, Your Ex-Wife, Rich As Hell & Free! P.S. I don't know if I ever told you this, but my SISTER Carla was born Carl. I hope that's not a problem. |
Todays medical jokes
EMBARRASSING MEDICAL EXAMS
1. A man comes into the ER and yells . . .' My wife's going to have her baby in the cab.' I grabbed my stuff, rushed out to the cab, lifted the lady's dress and began to take off her underwear. Suddenly I noticed that there were several cabs - - - and I was in the wrong one.
Submitted by Dr. Mark MacDonald ,
San Francisco
1. A man comes into the ER and yells . . .' My wife's going to have her baby in the cab.' I grabbed my stuff, rushed out to the cab, lifted the lady's dress and began to take off her underwear. Suddenly I noticed that there were several cabs - - - and I was in the wrong one.
Submitted by Dr. Mark MacDonald ,
San Francisco
2. At the beginning of my shift I placed a stethoscope on an elderly and slightly deaf female patient's anterior chest wall. 'Big breaths,'. . . I instructed. 'Yes, they used to be,'. . .replied the patient.
Submitted by Dr. Richard Byrnes ,
Seattle , WA
3. One day I had to be the bearer of bad news when I told a wife that her
husband had died of a massive myocardial infarct. Not more than five minutes later, I heard her reporting to the rest of the family that he had died of a 'massive internal fart.'
Submitted by Dr. Susan Steinberg
4. During a patient's two week follow-up appointment with his cardiologist, he informed me, his doctor, that he was having trouble with one of his medications..
' Which one ?'. .. . I asked. 'The patch... The Nurse told me to put on a new one every six hours and now I'm running out of places to put it !' I had him quickly undress and discovered what I hoped I wouldn't see.
Yes, the man had over fifty patches on his body! Now, the instructions include removal of the old patch before applying a new one.
Submitted by Dr. Rebecca St. Clair ,
Norfolk , VA
Yes, the man had over fifty patches on his body! Now, the instructions include removal of the old patch before applying a new one.
Submitted by Dr. Rebecca St. Clair ,
Norfolk , VA
5. While acquainting myself with a new elderly patient, I asked, 'How long have you been bedridden?' After a look of complete confusion she answered . . . ' Why, not for about twenty years - when my husband was alive.'
Submitted by Dr. Steven Swanson-
Corvallis , OR
6. I was performing rounds at the hospital one morning and while checking up on a man I asked . . .' So how's your breakfast this morning?' ' It's very good except for the Kentucky Jelly. I can't seem to get used to the taste.'. .. . Bob replied. I then asked to see the jelly and Bob produced a foil packet labeled 'KY Jelly.'
Submitted by Dr. Leonard Kransdorf ,
Detroit ,
7. A nurse was on duty in the Emergency Room when a young woman with purple hair styled into a punk rocker Mohawk, sporting a variety of tattoos, and wearing strange clothing, entered . . . It was quickly determined that the patient had acute appendicitis, so she was scheduled for immediate surgery.. When she was completely disrobed on the operating table, the staff noticed that her pubic hair had been dyed green and above it there was a tattoo that read . . .' Keep off the grass.' Once the surgery was completed, the surgeon wrote a short note on the patient's dressing, which said 'Sorry . . . had to mow the lawn.'
Submitted by RN no name,
8. As a new, young MD doing his residency in OB. I was quite embarrassed when performing female pelvic exams... To cover my embarrassment I had unconsciously formed a habit of whistling softly. The middle-aged lady upon whom I was performing this exam suddenly burst out laughing and further embarrassing me. I looked up from my work and sheepishly said. . . ' I'm sorry. Was I tickling you?' She replied with tears running down her cheeks from laughing so hard . . . ' No doctor but the song you were whistling was . . . ' I wish I was an Oscar Meyer Wiener .' '
Dr. wouldn't submit his name....
9. Baby's First Doctor Visit
A woman and a baby were in the doctor's examining room, waiting for the doctor to come in for the baby's first exam. The doctor arrived, and examined the baby, checked his weight, and being a little concerned, asked if the baby was breast-fed or bottle-fed. 'Breast-fed,' she replied.. 'Well, strip down to your waist,' the doctor ordered. She did. He pinched her nipples, pressed, kneaded, and rubbed both breasts for a while in a very professional and detailed examination. Motioning to her to get dressed, the doctor said, 'No wonder this baby is underweight. You don't have any milk.' I know,' she said, 'I'm his Grandma, But I'm glad I came.
Todays Irish joke
Paddy is passing by Mick's hay shed one day when through a gap in the door he sees Mick doing a slow and sensual striptease in front of his old red Massey Ferguson. Buttocks clenched, he performs a slow pirouette and gently slides off first to the right, then to the left. He then hunches his shoulders forward and in a classic striptease move, lets his braces fall down from his shoulders to dangle by his hips over his corduroy trousers . Grabbing both sides of his checked shirt, he rips it apart to reveal his tea-stained vest underneath and with a final flourish he hurls his cap on to a pile of hay. "What on earth are you doing, Mick?" says Paddy. "Jeez Paddy, ye frightened the livin bejasus out of me!" says an obviously embarrassed Mick. "But me and the missus been having some trouble lately in the bedroom department and the therapist suggested I do something sexy to a tractor! "
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