Keith Olbermann Moderates AFL-CIO "Forum" Tonight

MSNBC tonight 7pm Eastern. Now this should be good, NO Tweety and of course Keith could moderate a cowpie throwing contest ( or Cowpie Bingo as they call it out West) and I would watch....and I am hoping Everybody gets Equal Time tonight....I am a little confused, why it is a "Forum" and not a Debate. I also just learned that Gravel won't be there tonight....darn. I think I will head over to crooks and liars tonight. I will try to be more polite than the last debate....I will try.

The August 6th Memo of 2001

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Many years ago, on August 6th, 2001 Mr.Bush was brought a Memo called" Bin Laden Prepared to Attack In US", It was a very serious memo, A WARNING, brought to him after threats were raised that summer by Bin Laden.Harriet Miers was with him when it was delivered. Weeks later the 911 Attacks would happen.... Yet we would not learn of the memo until Condi Rice was questioned about it at the 911 Hearings in 2004.Why did they Hide the Memo? Was it because they were already getting ready for Iraq, and this was an inconvenience or a propaganda problem?

Has he learned how to Read yet ?
Has he learned how to tell the Truth ?
Do we Trust this man that has trouble reading?
Do we Trust that he can and does Tell the Truth?
NO.

Hop On...Sunday Night Blog Round Up...8.5.07

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First off Head over to Crooks& Liars Skippy is there with a Great Round Up....
Or you can just hop on down to this wonderful list of Bloggers...Thought Provoking and Well Written...
Sunday Wonders,

Lib's Earth Watch
Susie Q
Agitprop
Let's Talk About It
Politics Plus
Recovering Liberal
Who Hijacked Our Country

IMPEACHMENT MARCH :SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2007

Will you be there ?
Will you be ready to give DC a messege ?
*Click title: Pink sings MrPresident...*

Saturday Reflections .... 8.4.07

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[Click the Title and it is a Saturday Afternoon Museum Exhibit of Edward Hopper. He was not a joyful artist, really came into fame during the Depression, when he was married to a woman named Jo ( she is in a great many of his paintings, a not always willing model).He was in his 40's and the relationship was stormy, but it fueled his art. Oddly after he married her most of his paintings capture Loneliness in a well lit honest way. His paintings are not about compassion, they are all about the Light.It was Destiny that brought them together, and in 1967 they died monthes apart.The Painting on the post is called Nighthawks, a diner where people share their loneliness. The Music is a haunting song called "Transatlanticism", by Death Cab for Cutie". I look at this exhibit and I see all of us in the different frames...]

To The Enigma Cafe:
So here it is another hot Saturday. The King went and "inspected" the Bridge Collapse, which is a great photo-op before he heads to his ranch....to take his "vacation". He will be barely accessible down in his compound to the realities of his job, while they continue to use large equipment to look for bodies. He tried to look compassionate and caring, even with his hard hat on crooked. He and Laura went and inpected it seperately, I guess they could not view such twisted carnage together, it might mean they would have to speak to each other or be seen together in an unscripted manner.

I am at a loss WHO is more responsible for all the Crap on the table right now.....The Repugs ? the Dems? The Bushco Regime? The Media? I in many ways feel like we have weathered a huge catastrophic storm or natural disaster and I keep entering the same room and seeing the same piles of debris and broken things piled high all around....The Bloody Broken Iraq Mess, and Broken Economy, the Closed Broken Empty Plants,Blocks of Broken Foreclosed Houses,The Broken People at the Pharmacy trying to pay for their meds,The Broken Gonzified Justice Department,The Broken Infrastructure we call Levees, and Highways and Bridges, The Broken Shredded Constitution....

Everytime he goes on his "vacation" Something Happens, and I realize that I face August with renewed Dread and Foreboding....And this is not Intuition at work, this merely a observant historical perspective.

And yes, I have been blogging that I want Change...but it is like standing in an empty Train Station, with no plan, and nowhere to go.....and the Ticket Counter is closed....and there is No One there to ask even the Simplest of Directions.
I guess like many of you I am looking for even Random Wisdom, even just an unused ticket on the floor.....

*{ please see Roundup that should be posted later,probally Monday, it will hopefully have some Random Wisdom.... }*

Too Hot to Sleep....

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**{Click the title: Carly Simon singing" Coming Around Again", 1987 LIVE on the Piers in Nantuckett]**
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I can't sleep. It is too hot.....all over.
It has been too hot for too long.
We need Change.
I can only offer you a bit of refuge here.
A bit of comfort.
A place to vent, or laugh, or cuss.
I wish it was more.....
I wish I had more.
Maybe that is the lesson.
All we have is each other....
But I still believe in Hope and
Change.....
Something Better.

Friday Thoughts....8.03.07

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"To sin by SIlence, When they should Protest makes Cowards out of men." Abraham Lincoln
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So it is Friday eve. It is humid and hot here by the Lake. My Critters are draped around the house. The Cat shifts from window to window so she can watch the chipmunks and the songbirds. By 4pm she as given up her perchs and is lying in front of the fan parked in the best position in the house. As the fan is by the TV occasionally she glances over at the screen and yawns and stretches.

CNN is covering the Bridge Collapse, and using words like " Infrastructure Collapse" and bringing up issues about HOW ALL bridges of 30 or more years need review. They keep showing the crumpled Bridge and playing Katrina Music, haunting and disturbing, and so sad.Thousands have sent in their video and pictures to CNN and NBC. I think we all learned after Katrina- get a Good Camera, Make A Record of Events, it is the ONLY way to fight Propaganda.And now the words Failing Infrastructure are on the Table, and the 2008 Candiates have to discuss the Billions that are going to Iraq are NEEDED here at home. ( gee , something we ALL have known for over 2 years).We are no longer just "witnesses " to these Events of our times, the Media call us "I reporters".

Maybe we all are Witnesses during this Dangerous Arrogant Incompetent Regime. Maybe that is ALL we are. Witnesses. Here in Cleveland during the Basketball Playoffs the Cavaliers had two Mottos, the First was " Witness". This One Word was everywhere this Spring, it was inspiring and empowering seeing this One Word in Black everywhere. Then as the Cavs rose in the Playoffs, the next Phrase came" Rise Up". I was struck by this, in this city that has suffered so much under the Bushco Regime, loss of jobs, lost young lives, Increased crime, lost wages, lost hope....RISE UP. It was Everywhere,on cars and hanging on Huge Banners off old tattered buildings. It was in Black and White.....RISE UP.

There is a messege here.
Can you hear it ?

Kitty can't ...she is asleep by the fan , she is waiting for the NEWS to get IT Right. Finally.

**[ music is from Down Under, Bernard Fanning sings Songbird....dedicated to our DownUnder friends and to Xena,our kitty.Have a good Friday eve, don't fall off your perch, and don't lose Hope....]**

Wounded Honor...

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[Every Thursday this month I am crossposting over at Sirens Chronicles, and the eve after the post has run over there I will post here on Watergate Summer.So first 9 comments are from folks that went over to Sirens, sorry for any confusion.]

This post may be personal, but I think there are many families wrestling with The Issue I am going to raise. And watching the Tillman Hearings has been tugging at my heart, also making the Issue of Honor all the more poignant.I am a mom, and yes, I am a long time anti-war person, I was raised Quaker and yes, I am a longtime Buddhist.I was mostly raised by steel magnolias, Strong Southern Women, bourbon drinkingswearing Kentucky Women that made me speak my mind and my heart.

I am raising my son with those values well intact and passed on with love and respect.He is a teenager, I lovingly call him 6-6 on my blog, he is my Manchild, a gentle giant.He is more cerebral than me, he is always immersed in books and the computer. He thinks with his mind and his heart. he wants to be a writer, and make movies, independent films.But the conversation , the Discussion we keep having is about Honor.

It goes like this late at night, when I am tired, he will bring IT up again. Now heaven help us if it is a day when I have been listening to the Tillman Hearings (aka LIES).
6-6 :"I think I should do Something that has Honor"
Tired Enigma:"well, wanting to be writer is very honorable."
6-6 responds:"I am not sure it is good enough.Does it make a real difference ? I think the Military, the National Guard? The Marines?"
I say: "yes, they all are Honorable men and women, and they do good work. BUT what about Iraq, would you want to go there? be stuck in a Civil War?"
6-6:"hmm, you are right....I don't want to be part of an Illegal War. But what about the National Guard, they serve the Country? They are not trained to kill?"
Enigma now groaning and really tired, "Well, that is true( I think, not sure). But the troops over in Iraq are more than 30% Guard , and aboiut 70% of Our Guard has rotated through Iraq, they are not trained well enough, or cared for enough- to kill or even by in Battle over there. But they have no control over the "work" they do.
6-6:"well, what options do I have?"
Me: "well, what about Peace Corp?"
6-6:" WEl, considering we are hated all over the world right now, is that really worth pursuing? I don't want to be the next Chris Matthews?"Can you just understand that I just want to do Something that Matters, that makes a Difference?"

I have had people in my family that served in WWII and Vietnam. ( I also had people that were driven to Canada in the middle of the night, by the WWII Vet). But I do understand what makes young people want to make a Difference. And I understand after 911 Recrutiment rates went up and people wanted to make a difference, and yes, many fine young men and women are in Iraq because of that patriotism that swept the land....and I worry.Because I think we are in an Era where again Propaganda could and can be easliy used by Men Without Honor to usurp the Dreams and Hopes of Honorable Young People.

And I think that there are coffins returning to Dover everyday,hidden from view, Hidden from Scrutiny and Questions, Hidden from the Hearts and Eyes of us all. There are times when the Silence and Lies and Hidden Photos are indeed part of the Propaganda, and Wounding the Honor of this Country.



*** Click the Title, It is Joan Baez at her best, "Where have all the Flowers Gone", but the video/slideshow is unexpected and very beautiful....

The Cat....

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We have had Xena for almost 8 years. She is our Millenium kitty that was homeless at 4, and she came to us to her dismay. She needed a home,and she came to live with us. She didn't like us at first. She would not come in the house at first, she would reside in the garage, and on the Old RumRunner we had behind the Garage. That Rumrunner she loved, it was battered and tattered, from the 1920's, sitting up on old barrels so that we could attempt to repair it. She would walk the decks and make horrible noises at the dogs in the alley. We moved away from the Northwest and her Boat went to another home. Today she struts across the Kitchen Counters with the Same Authority and Grace. And in her old age she has discovered that she can easily dine from the Dog's bowls on the floor. And the poor little yellow dog that she tolerates is losing weight because of her snack habits. And then this week The Lady of the House brought new kitty litter, litter that was suposed to be better for the environment, it is made from Wheat. But now I have found that both the cat and the dog view this as a whole new snack food. I have to admit that it does have a nice vanilla cookie scent. So today I am taking away the Wheat Litter, which became the Critter Snack Food. So there will be long critter faces here.....No More Kitty Litter Snacks.

{ Click the title: your friday treat: Jack Bauer Rabbit new 24 episode is excellent....Xena likes 24, she has watched all of the episodes with 6-6}

HUGE BRIDGE COLLAPSE IN MINNEAPOLIS (35TH ST. BRIDGE) AT 6PM, STAY POSTED

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7:14pm ( first Broken News Alert, Bridge actually collapsed at 6:05-6:08PM)
TURN ON MSNBC , Keith best coverage, FOX had amazing aerials..
...I KNOW I NEVER SAY THAT, BUT THE AERIALS ARE STAGGERING...
IS THIS DEMOLITION??? ...I AM SORRY BUT IT IS PANCAKED...
THERE IS NO WAY IT JUST FELL....COULD IT BE AN EARTHQUAKE?
THE PICTURES ARE UNREAL....
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10:30 PM update later: Anderson Cooper is also covering- doing a good job.
11pm: People have reported that they heard a Noise and that there was a Noise, s Shutter, and then the Bridge Collapse, in a a Domino fashion.Then it fell in sections more than 30 feet into the water. All of school bus that was on the bridge, and the children were safely rescued and triaged to a Red Cross Center. At this hour it has been 58 injuries and 7 fatalities, some of those were drownings. Anderson Cooper is on CNN and Keith Olbermann is reporting on MSNBC. Susposedly a HLS "person" has given a statement that it is not terrorism ( well , considering it is dark and late, and a Bridge just collapsed...seems a bit premature for them to come out and say that everything is fine- just a structure "collapse". I am pretty sure that No Engineers have rushed up there, and no FEMA people....so what the Heck...)

10am Thursday: Update: So today the pictures are coming out...and it is even worse in daylight. And the questions are swirling. Was it Structural Collapse ? ( 1967 built)...Was it the Heat ? Was it something to do with the Repair work ? ( Some have said they were doing Joint Work, and it was a Single Arch Structure- steel)..Was it just that OUR Infrastructure is shot to hell....CNN Ireport photos are just amazing....Hopefully we will learn more..

Tuesday & Wednesday Afternoon

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DESIDERATA.....
Go placidly amidst the noise and the haste,and remember what peace there may be in Silence.
As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud agressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself to others you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your career,however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

These are the first parts of Max Ehrmann's piece from 1927. Tomcat contributed it to the 1960's Wisdom Collection. ( I am still creating a TieDye Piece for him ,and also DK). It is gentle wisdom, it used to hang on a plaque in my Grandmothers kitchen- and she was no hippy, but very wise. Later in the piece it speaks about the Universe unfolding as it should....I am in the middle of trying to get The Job that I really want, and so I sit surrounded by papers and I need to get this application process Done. So bear with me, Blogging will be light this week. I am cross-posting a New Post on Thursday here and at Sirens....but feel free to sit and read at the Counter...or visit one another....Friday things should be better...Namaste.

*** Click the title for the song: Seventeen by Annie Lennox....and It is about Starting Over....Again.

RUMMY LYING HIS ASS OFF ABOUT TILLMAN MURDER,CSPAN3 NOW

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I am still working on my paperwork...but cspan on in background.Nauseating lies.....General Myers and Rummy lying their asses off....( I don't know how much of this I can listen to without having to scrape vomit out of the keyboard)

NOW THE MOMENT worth Taping of seeing is:
Kucunich did ask Rummy about THE COVERUP??? AND RUMMY responded very very defensively immediately saying,
I was NOT involved in the Coverup- HE did NOT deny there was a Coverup ONLY HIS ROLE...
Please Please someone get tape of this and Post - Crooks& Liars, Keith ...SOMEONE....

* Other highlights include different Dems asking about the WH involvement....
and the repugs doing diversion tactics ( like 911 memory lane crap, and apologizing that the Star Men have to be there)

Mr.Welch at 12:30 asked QUESTIONS about HOW we are not shown the Returning Coffins from Iraq, the footage of Dover- and Rummy - are you sitting down- blamed the families for this????.....how there is no Press...and he is pleading ignorance about RULES on this...

BREAKING NEWS; GONZO TO BE IMPEACHED? READ MORE GO TO CROOKS&LIARS

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Breaking right now at 4:40 this afternoon......I almost missed it- had TV muted, thought it was just more Celebdeb-drunk-crap.
The I saw it.....Gonzo facing Impeachment....and we have Rep Jay Inslee to thank...But I am too excited to blog ...and the cat is stuck on the screen door ( again)...so RUN...do not pass go and do not collect $200.....but find It all out over at Crooks&Liars...

What is Coming Up This Week

Are you in Vacation Mode ? That is okay, we'll stay here and keep an eye on things....
So here we are the last week in July, and August is almost here....that means that the King thinks he can sneak down to his ranch and leave ALL of the Problems of the Whitehouse behind....Good Luck Georgie...
(1) Gonzogate : Leahy has made it pretty clear that he is not planning to let Gonzo get away with all of his lies. What happens next is anybody's guess. ( Booman and FDL are covering really well).
(2) Stock Market: Last week was very bumpy, and there was a 300 point drop the one day, followed by 200 at the end of the week, so this week will be interesting, as the "experts" claim it was just a "correction", but some of the online folks are fairly sophisticated on these issues, and they do not agree.
(3) Iraq : The Situation there is no better than it was 6 monthes ago, the only difference is that it seems to be getting LESS press, or press that the WH "likes". The Surge is a bust, the only one that won't admit to it is the King.Reading other papers, and watching the Numbers ( Mortality , Wounded and Bombs it looks much worse).
(4) Pat Tillman's Death ( MURDER), HOW can anyone just sit around and say that it is "tragic"..."just friendly fire", This man with three bullet holes in his FOREHEAD...and it was within or under 10 yards, so the people who shot clearly saw him....Please Please let some CSI people speak out and analyze this.

NEW BLOG ALERT: Okay so I don't get around or out enough...and I missed this wonderful Blog, head over to the MoronCowboy over on the Blogroll.

The Wellstone Awards for July

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"Stand Up,Keep Fighting" Paul Wellstone 1944-2002
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When the Truth Hits:
In late 2002 I remember hearing Paul Wellstone speak out against the War in Iraq. I confess at the time I was immersed in my own hellish battle with filing massive reports with the Justice Department and the EPA ( and other Federal Agencies ) against the Big Evil Chemical Company (that shall not be named at this time) that my little NW nonprofit had thoroughly investigated. I was in the Kitchen chopping onions for Soup.I was in a foul mood. I had just recieved another call from the US Attorney's offices ( John McKay) and been offered Federal Marshall Protection to attend an Federal Environmental Meeting. I was not just an" Investigator, I was a Witness, and a Victim" the rep from his office politely told me as she requested again for me to reconsider" The Offer." I got off the phone in a worse mood.I stood and thought as I heartlessly chopped the Onion. " Should I ever have to be offered Protection ( or escort) to SPEAK the TRUTH to MY OWN GOVERNMENT ?? Am I ever suposed to be filled with FEAR to speak the TRUTH?"
**MEANWHILE**
In the background I had CSpan on, the background music of my days, and Paul Wellstone came to the Floor. I will never forget, even though at that moment I was drenched in my own worries, and yet he spoke with such Insight and Conviction about the Impending Iraq War that he took my breath away. I stood and thought THIS is what An American Looks Like, This is WHAT he sounds Like. He Is Strength and Courage in Motion. This Man is Not Afraid To Speak The Truth to Power.

It was one of his Last speeches on the Floor.It is Profound and Prophetic, it is the Truth. I taped it that day, and for years I carried that tape from place to place as my Own Hellish Path continued, and I would watch it. And remember we must Always Speak the Truth. Well, it has now been many moves later, and the tape broke this winter. And I was sad, and wanted to hear THOSE words and THAT Voice again. And so this week, I found Paul Again.....Thank You YouTube.
*click the Title*

THE AWARDS:Each Month I plan on the Last Weekend to award the Brave Bloggers that consistantly Blog Truth The Paul Wellstone Award for Blogging Courage from the Enigma Cafe. The Friday will be the Men awards and the Saturday will be the Women. Please link to them below and read and hear their Voices. ( I will still keep doing weekly Blog Roundups as well-so keep looking for your blog to be honored.....chances are it will be ). Seven Men of Honor Below:

Coffee Messiah

Booman Tribune

An Average American Patriot

NEWSGUY

America Weeps

Omnipotent Poobah

Fred's Place

*fred, I have to confess , this is not linking right, I will be back and try to repair...so sorry. Please find Fred over on the Blogroll.....He has a wonderful blog..

And Now for the Seven Women of Honor:

Fuzzy and Blue

Fat Lady Sings

Divajood

SUMO

MIRTH

Betmo

Dusty

,

Thank you one and all for the writing you do...It matters.

Friday Night Thought and Music.... 7.27.07

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"Knowledge Speaks,but Wisdom Listens" Jimi Hendrix.

* Click Title: Music: Dave Matthews sings John Lennon "In My Life"*
I don't know , but I think some god ol' Wisdom from the Sixties would sure sooth my soul....What is your best Sixties Wisdom ? Leave it in the Comments and I will post them all at the end of the Weekend....

*Exra Reading: For a really interesting look at the Bush Legacy ( cough, choke) Please go read Tomcat's post on the Bush family history- Prescott Bush and Nazi Germany and a different Era of Bushisms.....really enlightening..

The Skunkery....

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Warning : Post is a Grumpy Enigma post....move on if you have to...
This post is about solving a Problem....So if there are any Skunk Experts out there pipe up..( Ironically we all should be Experts after surviving the Bush Regime and their Skunkery.....)

Okay ....so I have talked about THE Porch...and how I love sitting out there...and how...it is my Refuge. Well, Speaking of Refuge, I have had a number of Refugees come to the porch. My favorite is a little tiny raccoon that I have named Ricky, he comes between 2 and 5 am , he first goes to my neighbors trash, he has gotten very adept at opening The Rubbermaid Lock Top Cans, even doing so quietly. Then he sits on the green weave rug and snacks, he prefers granola bars, biscotti, and yogurt, and fruit, especially bananas. ( I have been struck by reviewing the wrappers that he likes his healthy carbs and maybe watching his weight). He also then waddles down to the Birdbath just below the porch, and likes to wash his paws in the Birdbath. I am stuck that he is very tidy. Now he has gained a little weight this summer, and occasionally I hear a thunk and a squeal as he knocks over the birdbath. After the late night Snack he curls up and naps on the little old battered wicker loveseat for a couple of hours.

There also has been many birds, chipmunks, squirrels, and wandering cats. BUT....
The Refugee Group that has caused the mosts problems are the Skunks. Now I personally don't mind them. There is a family of them, Two adults, a baby and an adolescent. I call them The Slipper Family Now occasionally they Do Stink up the Place, about one night a week. But it fades quickly. One night taking out the trash, Three of them decided to Salute me, the baby skunk the size of a softball hid behind a petunia pot, quietly blinking. I was standing in the middle of the stairs. ( I have 29 steps to my front door, it is quite a Hill). So They came out and circled my ankles, It was like watching Slippers gliding about to a graceful polka. ( I am sorry but watch them scurry about the block- they really do look like Slippers...)
The three of them waddled by on Lap 1 ( Inspection Phase). Lap 2 I was greeted with Tails up. Now I was standing there motionless watching them, thinking for sure I was about to be sprayed. But Instead, I realized I was just being greeted as a nieghbor. This Tails UP is Their Salute. I view them as a normal little family dealing with daily woes. They never spray on my side of the Side-by-Side. Now for some reason every Sunday night they do spray the Neighbors Side.

I should Explain about THE Neighbors, I share the Side-By-Side with them ( I live in the left). For the most part they do not speak to me. It is very much an odd strange relationship. They have a young baby who waves to me,and is always happy to see me, and I adore her. I am lucky to get a Hello form the Adults. I work odd hours, and I am a single mom with a teenage son. The young Wife I think does not respect me much, which is too bad, because I am not a bad neighbor at all.I do yard work and keep the porch clean. I think all of my flowers, windchimes, and beat up beach furniture for some reason bugs her.She walks by in her slingback heals,flings her head the other way and struts by in indignant disdain, even when I am sitting right on the porch. My Ex came to visit his son for several weeks and stayed with us and saw the whole show. They finally spoke to me at that point, after living here for many monthes. Ex pointed out "well, I think if you wore highheels, drank maragaritas and maybe went to Church, she would talk to you."

I don't mind that they are not "friends". I do mind that every 4-6 weeks they have put Weed-Be-Gone on MY Lilacs on my side, next to my porch. So my warm fuzzy Neighbor Feelings have Sharply dropped over time.

Now I will be honest , apparently the skunks don't like their side, so when they DO the STINK, they do it on their side, right by the trashcans.....by their porch.

So they called Fish and Wildlife Officials this week, and complained about the Skunk Family. And three nights ago The Trap arrived, rather small, and in the center, there is a small spot where the Dogfood is placed. I actually have had a chuckle- the crappyass cheap dogfood has inticed Nothing- not even ants...and funny thing , it well keeps ahem....disappearing. My son and I guard the "trap" ...making certain that No errant Visitors get caught in it....We divert them (water and throwing things).
Ironically only the juevanile ones would be trapped, it is too small for the Slipper Family Adults. So 6-6 and I discussed it, and that means that one of the "children" would be relocated, and that ain't Right....at all.

So I will keep diverting the Critters from the "Trap"....BUT if anyone has any Ideas to help my Slipper Family that would be great. And any ideas to thwart their Stinking that would help. ( On my side I have petunias, and wildflowers, and Lilacs, and Incense, and I don't have a problem.....and I did put mothballs under Their porch...and by their trashcans . )

I am still Committed to saving the Slipper Family......

August 3rd Update: Well, after much happenings, and "The trap" and the mysterious dissappearing food in the trap, and the assistance of the Local Chipmunks...and MUCH liberal use of Spices and Mothballs (reapplied after hard rains), and ALL holes blocked with rocks and potted petunias....and much silence from the "neighbors", esp when Enigma confronted them that the F&W folks could not Answer my relocation Question....My Friends, and neighbors, the Skunks lovingly called "The Slipper Family" Have moved on to another loation. I hope they live long and well.

August 18th update: this is such good news. The Skunk family has been sighted 4 doors down under an abandoned house and porch. It is a lush lovely new spot, they came out and saluted me while I was out walking the dog. They looked healthy and happy, and wellfed. And the youth is definently grown.
And as soon as they moved on, another nice developement was that my neighbors kind of decided that maybe my cluttered little porch and petunias were not so bad. They even contributed to the decorations....and spirit of it. It renewed my hope that neighbors are out there....around every corner.

Bad Day on the Street

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Bad Day on the Street....Wall Street that is.
Dow Market Plunges today- 300- 420 points.
90% of ALL stocks have taken signifigant Negative Hit today
Is THIS a correction?
Or is this a Reality Check ?
Maybe Some Middle America Realities have Hit ?
The Economy.
The Housing Market.
Unemployment has Risen.
The Expensive Fuel issues.
Middle America Is Struggling....

MSM is barely covering, yet when the Market is fully pumped and on the Rise they cover it with gusto.

** Art by Margaret Bourke White photo from 1930's , she photographed Hardship for working America ( Rural and Urban). She helped bring the faces of the Depression for all to see.

My Post today is Over at Sirens Chronicles...head on over.

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You are welcome to come on in, make yourself at home and sit and read, there is plenty here this week.
OR you can come over to find my post today over on

Sirens Chronicles

(twice a month I sneak over there to do a little writing, but I will be back to the Enigma Cafe tomorrow).

* * CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS CITATIONS: This am NOW, Judiciary Committee meeting today on CSPAN3 to vote on citing Harriet Miers and Josh Bolten for refusing to testify and turn over documents. Please know I will post running commentary/assessment down below. FDL, HuffPost, Raw Story, and Booman Tribune also......Many fine Bloggers are covering.

Dear George, ( another letter from Tricky Dick)

Dear George,
A letter from The Old Tricky Dick himself...
Frankly, you have earned this letter with alot of Hard Work. I have to write you again, because you are acting like an arrogant Frat Boy. Of course maybe I should thank you, I mean you make me look good, real good. I look like a Real Leader. I mean we know I knew about the Importance of the Inner Circle and how to properly keep Secrets. But I have to confess, you have taken Executive Privilege to a whole new level. I look like an amatuer on the Secrecy front compared to your Godfatherlike renovations.
You Know it's real funny, almost deja vu, the 2nd Summer of my 2nd term, it started to get Hot , real hot, I mean after those idiots were caught bumbling over at the Watergate in 1972 it seemed so simple- create cover. Divert the Media, and the War was going so bad, that was not too hard. But then you know all it took was ONE source of media to keep racheting the heat, and too many questions from you know Those Oversight types, and then the Coverup just wasn't tight enough.
So by 1974 Summer I guess I knew my fate was sealed, my polls were in the toilet- mid 20's and There were Hearings, and the Justice Dept was being scraped apart. And it turned out NOT all My Men, were loyal, turned out Some were loyal to the Country and the Constitution, didn't count on that. That Damn Dean Fella.

Well, hell I am sure you studied how I did what I did, and almost pulled it off. I mean you are working with ( and have worked with) some of my Sharpest , Rummy, and Dick Cheney, and Fred Thompson, and Ol'Kissenger, and Fred Fielding. I mean I know it may look bad, lying about the War , and the Missing Weapons, and starting a War, illegal torture, and that Gitmo thing, and outing a CIA agent, and firing US Attorneys,The Scooter thing, and you have had alot of Corruption and Other Problems ( Cunningham, Delay, Noe, Ney, Abramoff,Foley ) and now these damn Gonzales Hearings. But you got that smart ass Rove and some Bushies to bail you out of trouble. I mean you probally got it all covered, unless ANY of those folks like LIED to Congress. I think that might be a problem...I think they can still go to jail for that....Especially if they lied FOR You.

I mean you kind of lied to the People and your staff, and now you have kind got no one to talk to but the damn dog. You know I would never have gotten in so much trouble except for Those Tapes. You been careful, there are no tapes right? Or are there?.....

I don't know if Impeachment is the Future for you and the VP, but seems like you both have a whole lot more on the Table then we did....Whole lot.

Thanks for making me look so good.

Dick.