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December 27, 2008
Uh, because you know, um
Here's how the Assoc. Press quotes Caroline Kennedy:
"I am an unconventional choice. I understand that. I haven't pursued the traditional path. But I think that in our public life today, we're starting to see there are many ways into public life and public service," she said.Here's how the transcript really reads:
"And so, I, I'm an unconventional choice, I, er, understand that. I haven't pursued the traditional path. But I think that, um, in our public life today, we, you know, are starting to see there are many ways into, to, public life and public service and it's, uh, not as, um, all our institutions are ... less, um, hierarchal then they used to be, and so, you know, I think that, you know, I bring, you know, my life experience to this and, you know, that includes, you know, um, being a mother, um I understand sort of those choices that women make that includes, uh, being a lawyer ..."In the 2 minute 16 second snippet of the grilled-cheese sandwich interview AP released, I counted 26 "you knows".
I understand that all the stammering "uhs", "ums" and "you knows" are conversational tics. They are pauses while the person is composing in their heads what they want to say and many times the interviewee will change thoughts mid-stream.
However, the AP article gives long, coherent quotes to Caroline that are not supported by the audio segment. And certainly AP and others never "cleaned up" any of Governor Palin's off-the-cuff remarks.
Caroline says on the tape she encourages others to public service, yet she "really surprised and dismayed" by her own dismal voting record but she promises to work "twice as hard" as Senator.
May I suggest Princess Caroline run for PTA president first, instead of feeling she is entitled to start her "public service" career in the US Senate by coronation rather than election. She could then brush up on her speaking skills as well as her math, because the last I looked twice times zero is still zero.
Posted by Darleen at 09:22 AM | Comments (10)
December 25, 2008
Merry Christmas!!
It's 7:30 am here on the leftcoast. So Cal is having a rare rainy Christmas, my little part of it is 47 degrees. I am happy about that since we have so many 80 degree ones (and when the house is stuffed with people and the kitchen is stuffed with cooking, on goes the air conditioner).
I'm the only one awake right now, enjoying a first cup o'coffee. We did a fair amount of dinner prepping last night while a couple of my daughters (one down from San Francisco, one staying over) baked and wrapped, and we watched Christmas movies. Dinner will be about 1 pm. Menu this year features Beef Tenderloin prepared in a salt dough with fresh parsley, sage, thyme and black pepper. Yorkshire pudding is one of the sides and dessert is Chocolate Raspberry Fondue. There will be about 15 people for dinner.
The place will be crowded, noisy, cluttered and full of laughter, joy and I wouldn't want it any other way.
What are you doing today? Cooking? Visiting? Stayed warm and snuggled in at home?
Celebrate, be happy, ENJOY! My best wishes to you all.
God Bless Us, Everyone.
Posted by Darleen at 07:35 AM | Comments (1)
December 20, 2008
Secret Santa
Unless the office has a specific White Elephant exchange where you know awful gifts are expected, I've come to loathe Secret Santa exchanges because there is always some passive-aggressive asshole or two who drops a gift in that you swear they picked up at the gas station minimart on the way in to the office.
In that spirit, this video says it all ...
Posted by Darleen at 10:10 AM | Comments (0)
December 19, 2008
Quess it depends on just what plant you're smokin'
Ever since CA Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger set up a tent out in a courtyard in the Sacramento capitol in order to smoke his cigars while compling with the CA's tobacco smoking laws, it has been a thorn in the side of Lefty tobacco scolds.
We get a fun look at it above, video taken yesterday as Dennis Prager was the Master of Ceremonies at the annual lighting of the Capitol Menorah.
Posted by Darleen at 11:02 AM | Comments (1)
December 17, 2008
Why did Obama lie?
Let's review, shall we?
David Axelrod, November 23: "I know he's talked to the governor and there are a whole range of names many of which have surfaced, and I think he has a fondness for a lot of them."
PE Obama The Infallible on Dec. 9:
Q Mr. President-elect, did you have any contact — were you aware of — were you aware at all of what was happening with your Senate seat?*"ahs", "uhs", "ums" and other poker-tell stutterings not transcribed.PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA: I — hold on, hold on, hold on a second, guys. I'll just answer this one question.
I had no contact with the governor or his office, and so we were not — I was not aware of what was happening.*
NYTimes on Dec 13
President-elect Barack Obama’s chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, communicated with the office of Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich of Illinois about potential candidates for Mr. Obama’s Senate seat and provided a list of names, according to two Obama associates briefed on the matter.PE Obama today, Dec 15 has got his nuance on:
"What I indicated last week was there was nothing that my office did that was in any way inappropriate or related to the charges that have been brought.""No contact" is now to be understood to really mean "no inappropriate contact."
Yeah, that's the ticket!
So what we have here is Obama caught flatfooted in a clumsy lie. A lie he didn't have to make as most reasonable people believe, after seeing the Blagocrook complaint, that Camp O was unwilling to participate in any Blago version of The Price is Right! for the seat.
Which really makes Obama's first instinct to lie all the more curious and worrisome. No wonder Obamabots refuse to even entertain the issue.
There is a perfect way for Obama to actually show He is willing to put His money where His mouth is ... promise right now that upon His taking office He will direct Fitzgerald to release complete transcripts of all conversations between Obama personnel and Blago's office and minions.
Any reporter willing to ask that of The One? Or does camp Obama still have all their balls locked away for 8 years?
(h/t N. O'Brain)
Posted by Darleen at 07:18 AM | Comments (32)
December 13, 2008
American Originals
Kelly
Astaire
Fosse and Reynolds
Posted by Darleen at 08:38 PM | Comments (0)
“Klaatu barada crappo.”
When Hollywood comes slinking to DC to ask for their share of the bailout, maybe someone can roll up the awful stuff they try to foist off on the public like a newspaper and smack 'em across their upturned, elitist noses.
I can't recall last time I had the happy chore of trying to pick one film among many worthy of spending time and money on. At most, I've only seen a couple movies this year, usually eyeing the trailers with boredom or suspicion and just deciding to stay home and wait to rent it on dvd.
The 1951 The Day the Earth Stood Still was one of the best of the Cold-war era sci-fi films. Most movies of the era ran to Bugs Made Big by Atom Bombs stuff suitable for passion-pit double-features or Saturday afternoon creature features on tv, but the original TDTESS was one of the more serious approaches to sci-fi, foreshadowing the approach taken by most of the better episodes of The Twilight Zone.
But this ham-handed remake is, according to reviews, a hash of slapdash special effects, preening preachiness on Anthropogenic Global Warming Climate Change, and underwhelming performances by the movies "stars".
Add to that disappointment all the so-called "Holiday movies" being released seem more interested in cynically trashing families and Christmas then in any kind of effort to entertain and uplift the audience. It would appear the best bet for both the spirit and the pocketbook is to stay home and pop The Bishop's Wife or Miracle on 34th Steet into the dvd player.
Posted by Darleen at 01:20 PM | Comments (1)
December 07, 2008
An Army of Mrs. Kravitzes
As a kid coming of age in the late 50's through 60's, I knew as I played outside with my friends there wasn't much I could get away with because at any time one mom or another might be watching.
The speed of light is not the universe's speed limit - mom networks defy that speed limit at will.
And without search warrants.
Now, in place of the ever dwindling All Seeing Mom, steps a computer geek with a plan
[Adam] Jackson, 22, moved to the city in June from a small beach town in Florida and quickly discovered the realities of San Francisco real estate. Prices were so high that he said he "jumped on the first place I found."There is no expectation of privacy on a public street and while city cameras are tied up in red tape from the usual "civil rights" crowd, then it will take private citizens like Jackson to step in with the next technical jump ahead of Neighborhood Watch.It turned out to be on Taylor Street, just across from Glide Memorial Church. It's an ideal location - for watching crack deals, late-night violence and random crazy behavior.
"By the third night I was basically fed up with the crime and noise," Jackson said. "I didn't really have a plan. I just put the Webcam up, my girlfriend made a little Web page to display it, and here we are."
If you haven't checked out adamsblock.com, you are missing one of the greatest at-work time-killers ever to pop up on your monitor. There are two cameras, both on 24 hours a day, and a real-time chat room that crackles with activity. And no wonder - there is always something to talk about.
Jackson's camera has caught a man throwing himself into the side of a bus, apparently hoping to work an injury scam. It didn't work. The bus didn't stop. Viewers have also watched fights, car chases and break-ins. [...]
The results have been pretty dramatic. In three days, adamsblock.com has had 80,000 views and 25,000 visitors, a remarkable 40 percent of whom live outside the United States. On Friday, a woman from the United Kingdom joined the regulars in competing to see who could be first to identify the number stamped on the trunk of taxis that drive by. [...]
Last week Jackson stopped by a neighborhood bar a few blocks away and noticed something interesting.
"I saw a lot of the old regulars who used to be on my block," he said. "They'd moved since I put the camera up."
That's not unexpected, said police Capt. Gary Jimenez from the Tenderloin Station. Take the vicious, gang-related shooting on Turk Street in August. As soon as it happened, his officers went to local businesses and found "four cameras, all of them positively identifying the guy and his accomplices. We caught him two blocks away."
Moms will approve.
(h/t Eric Scheie)
Posted by Darleen at 06:43 PM | Comments (7)
December 06, 2008
Adventures in narcissism
What kind of cranks are "offended" by public displays of birthday celebrations?
Oh, the academic betters kind.
CHAPEL HILL For as long as anyone can remember, Christmas trees adorned with lights and ornaments have greeted holiday season visitors to UNC Chapel Hill's two main libraries.If these cranks aren't loudly complaining in restaurants about being offended by the birthday cake on the next table, we can safely chalk this up to another lesson in Cultural Tolerance(tm) by Judea-Christophobic Leftists.Not this year.
The trees, which have stood in the lobby areas of Wilson and Davis libraries each December, were kept in storage this year at the behest of Sarah Michalak, the associate provost for university libraries.
Michalak's decision followed several years of queries and complaints from library employees and patrons bothered by the Christian display, Michalak said this week.
Posted by Darleen at 08:23 AM | Comments (42)