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    Ted Turner must be having (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by andgarden on Sun Jul 17, 2011 at 11:30:11 AM EST
    the best week ever.

    Centristman (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by The Addams Family on Sun Jul 17, 2011 at 12:15:45 PM EST
    and Bipartisan Boy here.

    That is funny and sad (none / 0) (#10)
    by MO Blue on Sun Jul 17, 2011 at 12:49:59 PM EST
    How are things in Libya? (5.00 / 2) (#12)
    by KeysDan on Sun Jul 17, 2011 at 01:29:48 PM EST
    The Human Rights Watch, as reported in the NYT, July 13, has found that the rebels, spared of bloodbath by US/NATO, have been beating people suspected of being loyalists, and have been  looting and damaging towns seized from Qaddafi forces, including businesses and at least two medical centers. as a part of a series of abuses and reprisals.

    It has also been reported that more Manpads (small anti-aircraft missiles) have gone missing from seized armories of Qaddafi. Government officials around the world fear that these missiles may get into the hands of terrorists and could be used against commercial airliners. Indeed, officials in neighboring Chad and Algeria said Manpads have been taken across their borders with fear of winding up in the hands of N. African offshoots of al Qaeda.  The US has contracted with two international organizations to help secure missile stockpiles.

    Meanwhile the US on July 15, four-months after attacking,  has recognized the rebel's National Transitional Council as the official legitimate government in Libya--until a fully representative government can be established. The rebels will now get their hands on $30 billion of frozen assets. A few details on US recognition need to be worked out, such as where to put our embassy (Benghazi), and what to do about US/UN sanctions since the rebels are now the government of Libya.  

    The LIbyan stand-off  has led to frustration in some NATO countries at the military progress, although it might be claimed that the mission is accomplished if UN resolution 1973 is not stretched like a rubber band. However, Qaddafi is proposing an election (a first for him) and the Kremlin is willing to serve as negotiator.  To be continued....

    Short term effect of change in presidents (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by MO Blue on Sun Jul 17, 2011 at 02:15:39 PM EST
    Obama has not raised U.S. popularity in the Arab world. Lower now than before. link

    Parent
    "A Yank in Libya" (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by Robot Porter on Sun Jul 17, 2011 at 05:00:33 PM EST
    There's a movie of this title from the forties.  A quite entertaining poverty row adventure comedy.

    But there's one interesting fact for modern audiences in this flick.  Who did this movie have backing rebels in Libya?  The Nazis.

    Take a moment and let that baby sink in.

    Parent

    God stay my Facebook hand (5.00 / 3) (#17)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Jul 17, 2011 at 03:13:56 PM EST
    When wingnuts who retire from the military and teach at the Officer's Career College post on Facebook photos of the first White House of the Confederacy, please paralyze my typing fingers dear God before I type the words traitor and treason on a Facebook wall and get in some sort of not really real trouble.  Also God, I'm sorry for flipping off the huge flag that flies in front of the Sons of the Confederacy Memorial everytime I'm on my way to Birmingham.  I pray for the strength to one day overcome my weakness.

    Play some (5.00 / 2) (#20)
    by Zorba on Sun Jul 17, 2011 at 03:36:14 PM EST
    nature sounds, or a quiet wind flute, assume the lotus position, close your eyes, and chant "Ommmmmmmmmm......"  There, now, don't you feel better?   ;-)

    Parent
    It's not (none / 0) (#33)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Jul 17, 2011 at 05:37:20 PM EST
    the memorials that bother me but the people currently pining for the confederacy are beyond idiotic. I don't have any friends who put that crap up though. If they did, I would block them.

    Parent
    He worked with my husband (none / 0) (#35)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Jul 17, 2011 at 05:41:31 PM EST
    for a very long time, it is hard for me to block him :)  He ins't always pathetic, but when he is he goes all out.

    Parent
    We're dying laughing (none / 0) (#43)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Jul 17, 2011 at 08:05:33 PM EST
    Both Josh and I.  I had better stay away from the martinis until I forget about this video.  God only knows what I'd do with it on Facebook.

    Parent
    A story that blew my mind (5.00 / 1) (#18)
    by Andrew7 on Sun Jul 17, 2011 at 03:23:51 PM EST
    Excellent, but sad reporting at The Guardian.....

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/jul/17/the-rape-of-men

    This is great (5.00 / 1) (#41)
    by MO Blue on Sun Jul 17, 2011 at 06:42:47 PM EST
    Making history, 200 LGBT servicemembers -- reserve, active duty, and veterans alike -- marched openly in the San Diego Pride Parade yesterday. This marks the first time in America a contingent of serving military members participated openly in a gay pride event.

    As you can see in the video, the Honoring Servicemembers contingent of 200 military men and women from all branches of the US military received almost universal approval and recognition from the crowd of San Diegans out on yet another lovely parade day (one does wonder why San Diego doesn't simply have parades every single day, looking at that weather).
    ...
    Of course, the "all deliberate speed" with which DADT is being certificated for repeal made for some compromises regarding those handsome uniforms and caught others across the country off-guard:



    Most residents would not favor a parade (none / 0) (#46)
    by oculus on Mon Jul 18, 2011 at 12:28:03 AM EST
    every day, as the traffic on Gay Pride Parade day is notably a mess.  

    Parent
    Wall Street must be doing fine (none / 0) (#2)
    by Dadler on Sun Jul 17, 2011 at 11:55:29 AM EST
    No, silly...this is a business opportunity! (5.00 / 3) (#3)
    by Anne on Sun Jul 17, 2011 at 12:07:50 PM EST
    You borrow money and start a business taking this creature to kids' birthday parties and charging premium prices - see?  You're a "job creator" now, helping bring the economy back...

    Think of the possibilities!  Scare the bejesus out of kids camping in the backyard - parents will pay money for that privilege.  Imagine the excitement when it shows up at the bar/bat mitzvah party - everyone will want one - or more than one (can they race?) at their parties.

    Soon, there will be demand for others in the series, and before long, you can buy some land and create your own version of Jurassic Park!

    Ya gotta think big, man - that's the only way to (cue reverb) Win...the...Futuuuuure!

    Parent

    You're such a glass half full person (none / 0) (#5)
    by Dadler on Sun Jul 17, 2011 at 12:09:52 PM EST
    I have so much to learn.

    Ahem.

    Parent

    Just trying to think like the Republican (5.00 / 0) (#7)
    by Anne on Sun Jul 17, 2011 at 12:12:12 PM EST
    Obama wants us all to be...I think I sprained something, though.

    Parent
    ROTFL! (none / 0) (#16)
    by gyrfalcon on Sun Jul 17, 2011 at 03:11:22 PM EST
    Should be a hit at certain churches (none / 0) (#9)
    by MO Blue on Sun Jul 17, 2011 at 12:45:47 PM EST
    They can put a caveman on in its back to prove their ideology.

    Parent
    Ah, but on that page is a link (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by Towanda on Sun Jul 17, 2011 at 01:13:19 PM EST
    to the Room-Tidying Robot for only $69.95 that yells, "let's get to work!"  I need that voice.

    Better yet, let's all chip in and send it to the White House to yell "let's get America to work!"

    Parent

    Congrats to Darren Clarke (none / 0) (#4)
    by Dadler on Sun Jul 17, 2011 at 12:07:51 PM EST
    2011 British Open Champion.  Nice to see him get a major after losing his wife to breast cancer a few years ago.  Seems like a good cat.  

    Yes...Phil toys with us for a few holes, (none / 0) (#6)
    by Anne on Sun Jul 17, 2011 at 12:10:57 PM EST
    and then reverts to classic Phil...imploding in grand fashion once again.

    Good for Clarke - hard not to root for the guy who's been there 19 other times and brings home th Claret Jug on try #20.

    Parent

    Imploded? (none / 0) (#13)
    by CoralGables on Sun Jul 17, 2011 at 01:35:09 PM EST
    Phil moved up from 7th place to finish in a tie for 2nd, had his best round of the tournament, and he had the lowest score of the day (tied with Sergio) of the 70 golfers still competing.

    It makes one wonder how you would describe a bad day.

    Parent

    I hate playing in a bit of drizzle (none / 0) (#14)
    by Dadler on Sun Jul 17, 2011 at 01:55:39 PM EST
    Put me in that kind of slop and I'd be lucky to break a thousand.  More mulligans than a Waterford phonebook.

    Parent
    And LHD 5 Bataan (none / 0) (#19)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Jul 17, 2011 at 03:27:34 PM EST
    has now anchored off the coast of Libya, what now?

    Well, it is an (none / 0) (#24)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sun Jul 17, 2011 at 04:40:32 PM EST
    amphibious assault carrier.....

    Parent
    Boots on the ocean? (5.00 / 1) (#29)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Jul 17, 2011 at 05:13:07 PM EST
    Boots in the waves?

    Parent
    USA women's soccer just went into OT (n/t) (none / 0) (#21)
    by Towanda on Sun Jul 17, 2011 at 03:45:53 PM EST


    Brutal loss... (5.00 / 2) (#47)
    by kdog on Mon Jul 18, 2011 at 09:10:40 AM EST
    my niece was in tears, she got so emotionally invested.  An important lesson learned that ya can't win 'em all.  Dust yourself off and go get 'em next time.

    Happy for Japan, it was a helluva game to end a helluva cup...but I'm still in shock we blew a regulation lead, an overtime lead, and sh*t the bed on penalties.  That one hurt, but ya gotta give it up to our Cardiac Ladies, thrills and chills and miracles a plenty, came up just a wee bit short.  Thanks for the ride.

    Parent

    fantastic game (none / 0) (#48)
    by CST on Mon Jul 18, 2011 at 10:13:02 AM EST
    Sucks about the ending.  My sister and mom were able to feel happy for Japan.  I put on my "can't win em all" face.  As a former sometime goalie, I really hate penalty kicks.  Although in a way, our shooters $hitting the bed kind of took some of the pressure off, it was a hard sell from that first miss, after the second one I pretty much knew that was it.

    At least I had Harry Potter to take the sting off, we went to the movie after watching the game.

    I don't think this is "bad" for women's soccer in the U.S. at all.  Anytime people are invested in a game it's good for the sport, win or lose.  And this was one hell of a game.

    Parent

    I agree... (none / 0) (#49)
    by kdog on Mon Jul 18, 2011 at 11:38:46 AM EST
    bottom line it was exciting competitive thrilling futbol...that can only help the sport.

    It took maybe a half hour for me to feel happy for Japan...I don't know Harry Potter from Dirty Harry, but I had so much fun this weekend at the misic festival, and things running good in general, the sting was not deep or long-lasting, more like shock cuz I thought we had it in the bag twice.  

    We can't win 'em all either kid:)

    Parent

    A tutorial (none / 0) (#50)
    by CoralGables on Mon Jul 18, 2011 at 01:43:01 PM EST
    "I don't know Harry Potter from Dirty Harry,"

    They both take down the bad guy.

    One says "Make my Day" the other says "Expecto Patronum"

    One drinks beer, the other drinks Butterbeer.

    One uses a .44 Magnum from Smith & Wesson, the other uses a wand of holly and phoenix feather from Ollivander

    Parent

    Japan wins World Cup (none / 0) (#23)
    by caseyOR on Sun Jul 17, 2011 at 04:39:30 PM EST
    on penalty kicks.

    Parent
    And Japan deserved to do so (5.00 / 1) (#27)
    by Towanda on Sun Jul 17, 2011 at 04:55:11 PM EST
    for the penalty period play.

    But the announcers, ugh.  I really doubt that this is going to be a turning point for a hurting nation, blah blah.  Soccer conquers an earthquake, a tsunami, AND a nuclear meltdown disaster?

    Parent

    I recall that scene (5.00 / 1) (#44)
    by Towanda on Sun Jul 17, 2011 at 09:55:51 PM EST
    and just about anything with Fred Willard in it.  Guest's works are so wonderful, but my fave may be the least-known among them:  Waiting for Guffman, about a community theater troupe gone over the top for their town sesquicentennial.

    I have been involved in a small town's sesquicentennial, and this rings so true!  I also have been involved in community theater, and there is a Fred Willard-type character with an ego bigger than the town in every small town, too.

    Parent

    Waiting for Guffman (5.00 / 2) (#45)
    by shoephone on Sun Jul 17, 2011 at 10:39:02 PM EST
    Absolutely classic.

    Parent
    Damn. Solo was looking sketch most (none / 0) (#25)
    by tigercourse on Sun Jul 17, 2011 at 04:47:02 PM EST
    of the game and it came to a head at the end there. And Wambach was the only one to win her kick. Turned into a heartbreaker, and I think it's going to be a little bad for the sport in the medium/long term.

    Parent
    Bad for the sport in this country I mean. (none / 0) (#26)
    by tigercourse on Sun Jul 17, 2011 at 04:47:18 PM EST
    How so? (none / 0) (#31)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Jul 17, 2011 at 05:26:36 PM EST
    To quote Patton, "Americans love (none / 0) (#36)
    by tigercourse on Sun Jul 17, 2011 at 05:49:28 PM EST
    a winner." They don't care about someone who came in second place.

    The women's professional league in this country is on life support. It could very well fall like the last one. There are only 6 teams here now. A win would have given the league a shot in the arm. Now, I'd say it's even odds that they will fold before the next World Cup.

    Parent

    I'll take that bet (5.00 / 1) (#37)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Jul 17, 2011 at 05:50:36 PM EST
    It was a good game (none / 0) (#30)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Jul 17, 2011 at 05:26:05 PM EST
    They have three Golds (none / 0) (#34)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Jul 17, 2011 at 05:39:26 PM EST
    and a Silver in the last four Olympic games, and since 1991 they have turned in an excellent showing in every World Cup.  I agree with you, they did us proud and I'm certain the world will show up next year to see how they do in the Olympic games.  They are lionesses in that realm.

    Parent