We’ll know we live in a just society if someone goes to jail for this:
During MF Global’s last chaotic days, the brokerage firm overdrew an account at JPMorgan, according to another person who is close to the matter. Some investigators now believe the firm used customer funds to patch at least some of the hole, which would have been a significant breach of federal law.
This is a story on the discovery of one-third of the missing customer funds at MF Global, which you might recall amounted to $600 million. So this is $200 million, “found” at JPMorgan.
Who should go to jail? Let’s start at the top, with Jon Corzine, and yes, pals of mine, he is a Democrat. Noted. Democrat Democrat Democrat. Then let’s work our way down. When five or six of these clowns are wearing jumpsuits, including at least one member of the board of directors, I’ll be happy. However, I believe true justice in this matter will be like finding a film violent enough to warrant an NC-17 rating. It can’t be done.
You know what kills me about these stories? How these alleged financial geniuses essentially run their firm’s finances the way your average paycheck-to-paycheck working slob does — moves a little here to there, borrows from mom, has markers out throughout the network. It’ll all be OK in a few more days, when that check arrives.
Who woke up with the grumps this morning? I guess that would be me. Last night the second of our three laptop power cords fell into the sure-go-ahead-and-use-this-BURN-YOUR-HOUSE-DOWN range, so there’s another $77 expense in December. In the interest of noting that this development represents a serious shortcoming in my own constituency, I will acknowledge that power cords are the Achilles heel of Apple products — at least the laptops — and even veer into the realm of serious suckage. I’ve never had one last the life of the computer. They all break at the end that connects to the unit.
And it rained all damn night, hard, continues to rain, and will likely do so for another couple of hours. It’s a perfect day to stay in bed, but it’s a Tuesday, and so: Extra coffee.
What other free-floating irritants are there on my radar today? How about Ohio State’s new football coach, the $4 million man? Four million. A year. Please, the next time one of these entitled douchingtons is caught covering up for a boy-buggerer, let’s spare the world our shock and dismay. Of course it won’t be Urban Meyer, because he is a “devout Catholic,” I learn via the always authoritative Wikipedia. But it’ll be someone else, and at least we’ll know why it happened. Money talks. It just doesn’t always say what you want it to.
Anything else? I can only laugh about Herman Cain, which is what I’ve been doing from the beginning. Ginger White has a moll’s name, doesn’t she, although “Roxy” or “Tootie” might be even more fitting. She said Herman made her feel special and took her out of her “humdrum life” by flying her around to conferences to meet him as his paramour. Will this affect his stock on the Fox News exchange? Doubtful. Might even bump it a little. Shows he can play with the big boys.
Oh, and you journos won’t want to miss this from Craig Newmark, of the eponymous list, complaining that he can’t trust the news anymore. I am reminded of a line from Brian Krakow, my favorite character from “My So-Called Life,” who once observed, “How much more ironic can you get without, like, puking?” That’s unfair, of course — newspapers were felled by their own stupid management, which Newmark only nudged along. But if I can just say this: The link within this note, about how to improve “fact checking” in the media, promises coverage of an event held by Jeff Jarvis (red flag!) on the topic, featuring “a bunch of players in this arena (playing) well together.” The link leads to something on Storify, which is another 21st-century new-media nightmare, a startup that creates “stories” out of social-media postings, i.e. tweets and Facebook status updates, I gather. Just looking at it made me summon my inner Hank, and bellow I AM STICKING TO MY WAYS, and if you want me to read a story about your fooking event, take the fooking time to craft a coherent narrative of the fooking thing, because otherwise, I’m gone.
But that’s just me. YMMV, as we say on the internet.
OK, it’s getting late and it continues to rain. The coffee is fully engaged and I’m actually feeling pretty good, for a Tuesday. Don’t mind the bitching. I’m off to grade papers!
Bonnie said on November 29, 2011 at 10:34 am
Long-time reader, first-time commenter. Try taking the dead power cord into an Apple Store. Depending on what’s wrong, they might replace it for you (see http://support.apple.com/kb/ts1713 for more details). I just got a replacement this way for “strain issues” near where my laptop cord attaches to the laptop.
312 chars
Jeff Borden said on November 29, 2011 at 10:41 am
Herman Cain has been a reliably hilarious train wreck since his campaign to sell more of his books and get him a gig on Faux News began. This was NEVER about a serious effort to win the presidency. It was always about elevating Herman Cain to a higher plateau of corporate and wingnut welfare gravy. He’ll get plenty of speaking gigs –the list of right-wing organizations looking to use him as proof they are not racists is endless– and I sincerely believe Roger Ailes will soon slither out of Toad Manor and bestow a part-time commentator gig on Herman for a nice seven-figure price.
The emergence of Newt Gingrich for the second time this political season –remember when he was written off several months ago when his team quit en masse– is more evidence of the intellectual rot that infests America’s conservative movement. An enormously unlikable blowhard with a Napoleon complex –I cannot recall who it was who described Newt as “a dumb person’s idea of what a smart person sounds like”– with a history of being a corporate bagman and, of course, a personal life that would embarrass anyone with a normal embarrassment gene. And yet this silly man stands atop the GOP polls at the moment. Yeeeesh.
It will still be Mitt, of course, and he already has shown he will do anything to win the presidency, as his hilariously edited attack ad on Obama underscores. Romney may seem like the adult in the room, but his anchorman looks should not deceive anyone. He will happily do the backstroke in the sewer if it helps him get the key to the Oval Office.
1565 chars
Deborah said on November 29, 2011 at 10:42 am
My power cord issues always happen on the other end where they plug into the wall socket. The flipper pronged unit usually is the problem. I’m going to take your advice Bonnie, next time it happens.
May Corzine and his cohorts spend their last days in orange.
262 chars
John C said on November 29, 2011 at 10:49 am
All I can say is, good thing you got that post out of your system before you graded the papers! Oh yeah, I can also say that I like it when you wake up grumpy. How else would I have added douchington to my vocabular arsenal?
224 chars
MarkH said on November 29, 2011 at 10:52 am
I think all laptop cords are prone to this deterioration at the device plug-in, Nance. At least all of mine have done this (non-Apple). What I do is make a zig-zag loop at that end and electrical tape the cord back on itself to relieve the strain on the plug. Helps prevent the fraying.
EDIT — Borden, it was Krugman on ABC’s This Week, Sunday.
351 chars
Bitter Scribe said on November 29, 2011 at 10:58 am
What kills me about Corzine is, as Jon Stewart pointed out on The Daily Show, he complained loudly and often about the lack of regulation and loose limits on leveraging in banking, then turned around and took advantage of those exact things when he ran MK.
As for Cain, he keeps reverting to his baseline stance of challenging his female accusers to “prove it.” He may want to rethink that line. IIRC, this latest one has text messages and maybe other documentation.
469 chars
Hexdecimal said on November 29, 2011 at 11:06 am
I remember.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BJfMPxQuiU&feature=youtube_gdata_player
90 chars
caliban said on November 29, 2011 at 11:09 am
I find it difficult to get overly exercised over the MF Global heist in light of the $12bn in shrink-wrapped $100 bills into Iraq, then distributed the cash with no proper control over who was receiving it and how it was being spent. A huge portion of these wads of cash fell into Halliburton hands, and, presumably, ended up in Dickless Cheney’s portfolio. Erik Prince probably used his cut on a fancy branding consultant to create the Xe reboot (Suckaahh!) One way or another, the whole thing likely ended up in the larders of the neocon cabal. Best possible scenario? Teabangers are banished from the House in 2012, Obama is reelected, and Kerry is free to investigate this bank job as he did with BNL, BCCI and Iran-Contra.
In the latest NYT magazine, There is a piece called “When did the Rules Change”, in which Adam Peterson (NPR Planet Money) says:
Many newspaper reporters have learned that their work was subsidized, in part, by classified ads and now can’t survive the rise of Craigslist.
So Craig, STFU. I suppose the List is OK if you don’t mind becoming the target of a homicidal stalker, but I’d just as soon stick with agate lineage in my local classifieds or the Pennysaver.
1369 chars
mark said on November 29, 2011 at 11:13 am
Nancy, glad you had a nice holiday/birthday and that the brining was a success. Give it a try with a pork loin.
The world needs more Elvis. http://www.nbcnewyork.com/entertainment/music/Elvis-Costello-Dont-Buy-My-225-Boxed-Set-134660643.html I’ve been a fan since ’77, and the guy is just a class act.
307 chars
Lex said on November 29, 2011 at 11:13 am
Not only do we not live in a just society, when banksters can win a $250 million Powerball lottery, there is no God.
@MarkH: Krugman said it, but he also said he didn’t know who had said it first.
Also: Much as someone needs to go to prison for MF, someone REALLY needs to go to prison for using $7.7 trillion in Fed funds to prop up failed banks and then give executives bonuses. We need to break up the big banks, today, right now. That’s why we have an FDIC, for fark’s sake.
484 chars
caliban said on November 29, 2011 at 11:21 am
Doesn’t the saga of Hermanator Cainster and Ginger Snap sound like Kwame and his funny valentine?
97 chars
Jolene said on November 29, 2011 at 11:23 am
You’re wrong on craigslist, Caliban. Anyone who has ever looked for an apartment knows there’s a big difference between what newspaper ads were for a long time (haven’t looked lately) after craigslist made it possible to post floor plans and photos. Lots more info there than in “2 BR 1 BA Utility included”.
If newspapers had jumped on that possibility, craigslist would never have gotten off the ground, as the eyeballs would already have been focused on the paper’s web site.
482 chars
Dorothy said on November 29, 2011 at 11:25 am
Last night while making dinner the local Columbus news carried the live news conference at 5:15 about Urban Meyer. I found something else to watch ASAP.
Speaking of football coaches, when we were watching the Pitt/WVU game last week my daughter’s boyfriend made this comment when they showed the WVU coach on the sidelines: “That guy looks like he just stole a stereo.” I know nothing about the dude, but we all thought it was funny. Here’s a picture of him:
http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2011/07/07/wvu-football-coach-talks-about-regaining-national-prominence/
571 chars
nancy said on November 29, 2011 at 11:27 am
I saw this guy in the NYT yesterday, and told Alan he looks like a Muppet.
216 chars
coozledad said on November 29, 2011 at 11:35 am
A Muppet Boris Karloff who needs an upper plate?
48 chars
Chris in Iowa said on November 29, 2011 at 11:40 am
It’s pretty obvious Herman Cain never really wanted to be president. I think, however, he may have aspired to be Bill Clinton.
126 chars
moe99 said on November 29, 2011 at 11:45 am
Thought this was a fine discussion of why ignorance is so powerful in our politics right now:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/28/opinion/keller-the-politics-of-economicsthe-politics-of-economics.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper
227 chars
Julie Robinson said on November 29, 2011 at 11:48 am
Off-off-topic: My dear mother-in-law is in very grave condition and hospice says she will most likely be released from her physical bonds today. At 88, with severe Alzheimer’s, and down to 69 pounds, her life has been very hard the last few months. Many of you have experienced this so you know that despite all that it’s still a tough time for family. Prayers/good thoughts are appreciated.
394 chars
caliban said on November 29, 2011 at 11:54 am
Jolene, that was somebody else’s opinion, not mine, about damaging newspaper revenues, but it seems to be an inescapable conclusion. As for the stalking and homicide, those, sadly, are crime statistics. About what am I wrong, exactly? Choosing my local paper over an internet monstrosity?
Nancy, isn’t Mayor Gotsis promising to spend an immense amount of taxpayer money to defend residents of his polis against paying taxes? And he certainly looks like a muppet, if a muppet can succumb to Chron’s disease and guzzle Kentucky Gentleman. Damn, that face looks like a window on near-terminal dyspepsia.
Mark: AGreed wholeheartedly on Declan McManus. A terrific alternative to the new release is the great 2-CD Girls Girls Girls comp:
http://www.amazon.com/Girls-Elvis-Costello/dp/B00000117J
806 chars
Connie said on November 29, 2011 at 11:59 am
Chris, I snorted with laughter.
31 chars
Snarkworth said on November 29, 2011 at 12:06 pm
Consider them sent, Julie. It’s a hard time, indeed.
52 chars
beb said on November 29, 2011 at 12:48 pm
Julie Robinson: Sympathy for you and your mother-in-law. It’s hard to let go of one’s family.
The rain… It rained all day Sunday, gave us a short respite on Monday then came back in the evening to rain again. Thanks to a series ofb locked drains I drove through not one, not two, but four different puddles were the water was over the curb! After that the brakes were very dodgy!
Craig Newmark lived in Detroit for a while before Craiglist and I meet him in several occasions. He was the quietest, most laid-back person you will ever met. It’s always a surprise to me that he created the list but but not so surprising that he was refused to monetize the list. He could have made millions like the guy who founded Facebook or Ebay or Paypal but he hasn’t.
Craig certainly didn’t set out to destroy newspapers and his larger point about the lack of fact-checking in newspaper stories is that newspapers have abdicated their responsibility to explain what a story means or to accuse liars of lying. It’s true that newspapers lot a lot of revenue when Craigslist took over the want ads space but people have also stopped reading the newspapers because they mostly just publish fluff.
I still think Corzine will get thrown under the bus. MF Global wasn’t big enough to avoid prosecution. People was more determined to have someone walk the perp-walk, and as a Democrat he doesn’t have friends in Congress. (The Republicans all hate him and the Dems don’t want to be seen next to a crook). Also it looks like he broke every obvious rule of what not to do learned in 2008. He’s not just unlucky, he’s a damned fool.
And another girlfriend of Herman Cain. The irony is that his infidelities lead to Newt leading the pack, a man with ever more flagrant infidelities than Cain’s.
1790 chars
caliban said on November 29, 2011 at 12:53 pm
Ginger White speaks. Seems more credible than Cainster to me.
Encouraging word on Corporate Criminals.
559 chars
Mindy said on November 29, 2011 at 12:56 pm
You and yours are in my thoughts, Julie.
40 chars
Jeff Borden said on November 29, 2011 at 1:03 pm
Several websites are reporting that Herman Cain is “reassessing” his presidential bid. Gosh. I wonder why?
In other news, I am “reassessing” my hair loss. Yep. I’m still bald.
178 chars
moe99 said on November 29, 2011 at 1:30 pm
http://www.amazon.com/Defense-Technology-56895-Stream-Pepper/product-reviews/B0058EOAUE/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
product reviews of pepper spray at amazon
186 chars
Sherri said on November 29, 2011 at 2:18 pm
$4 million man and devout Catholic Urban Meyer may not harbor pedophiles and may avoid lying to his administrators and the NCAA about whether his players exchanged memorabilia for tats, but the arrest record of his players at Florida was pretty impressive.
I’m surprised he only got $4 million; that only makes him the 4th highest paid college football coach.
363 chars
caliban said on November 29, 2011 at 2:21 pm
I have always thought Cal Thomas is the most delusional of all the delusional right-wing gasbags, but I’d say this takes the cake:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/bal-herman-cain-bill-clinton-and-the-medias-double-standard-20111104,0,4199253.story
Right Cal, Clinton got off easy, and Cain is the victim of a high-tech lynching. This shinola drivel (or should I say dribble, since we’re on line?) can only be read as parody.
439 chars
4dbirds said on November 29, 2011 at 2:22 pm
So sorry Julie. We went through this a year ago with my mother-in-law. I never understood mother-in-law jokes as I loved her from the moment I met her.
I have a rental close to Baltimore. I used Craigs List to advertise it. My original renter is still there and we have become friends of a sort. Obviously, neither of us used the list for murder or robbery.
367 chars
Deborah said on November 29, 2011 at 2:29 pm
Julie, thinking of you and your family at this sad time.
Moe, that Keller article reminds me of the book I’m reading, Idiot America by Charles Pierce. Lots of dumbness being spewed loudly, and it’s not being spewed equally by right and left as is often proposed.
266 chars
Julie Robinson said on November 29, 2011 at 2:30 pm
Chris, I laughed too.
Thanks, all, for your kind thoughts. Elizabeth died about 45 minutes ago. She taught me about unconditional love, endless and unconditional hospitality, as well as the best way to get an adult child to stop by (baking one of her trademark pies). The first two are Christ-like, and I’m not sure that the third isn’t. Lots of family coming in from out of town, so it’s time for me to go and put that hospitality lesson into action.
457 chars
caliban said on November 29, 2011 at 2:34 pm
Urban Meyer is an original architect of the despicable practice of oversigning. He sign more recruits to letters of intent than there are scholarships available, gets them on campus, then manufacturers ways to “run them off”. A majpr benefit is to prevent these kids from signing with competitor schools. The practice, beyond all reason, violates no NCAA rules, but the dishonesty and lack of ethical compunctions reeks.
420 chars
Peter said on November 29, 2011 at 2:35 pm
Julie, I am very sorry to hear about your mother-in-law. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time.
Caliban, Hermie is looking more and more like an amped-up Gary Hart. I thought business executives were big on case studies – see how someone else screwed up so you don’t make the same mistake – so what was Hermie doing when he dared people to show proof? Didn’t Gary Hart do the same thing?
And Jeff B you are so right about Newt: it just shows that the Tea Partiers, are, in the words of my favorite politician, Diamond Joe Quimby: “you bunch of fickle mushheads!”
599 chars
MarkH said on November 29, 2011 at 2:53 pm
Sherri, WHAT?? College football players from Florida have a history of trouble with the LAW?? I’m shocked, etc…
Prayers and thoughts going your way, Julie. We got news over Thanksgiving that the owner of my late father’s company passed away in Cincinnati. At 87, his similar struggle with Alzheimer’s finally ended. The company, once located in Cincinnati, was a huge family that we were proud to be a part of, so it was sad to find out what he was going through.
EDIT — As Jeff(mmo) would say, peace and grace to you and your family at this time, Julie.
565 chars
Jolene said on November 29, 2011 at 3:01 pm
My sympathy to you and your family, Julie. Hope that your time w/ your out-of-town visitors will be filled w/ happy reminiscences.
130 chars
Jeff (the mild-mannered one) said on November 29, 2011 at 3:07 pm
I am waiting at a Genius Bar *right now* and yes, they said they will always trade in a power cord at the Apple Store, unless you cut right thru the cable. . .and maybe even then if you have a good story.
Julie, what MarkH said.
232 chars
Bitter Scribe said on November 29, 2011 at 3:52 pm
Julie–I lost my mother early this year under almost exactly the conditions you describe for your mother-in-law. It’s hard watching them suffer, no question about it. My deepest sympathy.
187 chars
Dave said on November 29, 2011 at 3:56 pm
Julie, sorry to learn of this, my mother-in-law passed away in April, it’s sad and we sympathize.
Youngest son is currently in Lima, Peru, his power cord also gave out recently, prices in Peru are very high for electronic goods, he tells us, so he bought a generic cord. We hope he doesn’t have troubles.
I’ve had several laptops, none of them Macs (next one will be), but I have never had a power cord issue. My experience has always been that the computer gives out before the cord.
492 chars
Chris in Iowa said on November 29, 2011 at 4:07 pm
Julie, I am honored to have made you laugh on a day when you could probably use a laugh. I’m sorry for your loss.
113 chars
Scout said on November 29, 2011 at 4:35 pm
Julie, so sorry to hear about your family’s loss. Cyber hugs to you.
69 chars
Minnie said on November 29, 2011 at 4:45 pm
Julie, sending wishes for strength and respite for you all.
59 chars
john G. Wallace said on November 29, 2011 at 4:54 pm
Sorry for your loss Julie.
For those of you who do not own Apple laptops I have to recommend Jacobs Parts in Indianapolis for OEM and generic power cords. Fair prices, fast shipping, and great customer support.
Also some interesting developments re: reports of an explosion at the Iranian nuclear site – Iran reported it then took down the story. Israel or carelessness by Iran? Dunno yet.
395 chars
alex said on November 29, 2011 at 4:54 pm
Julie, I’m so sorry for your loss.
34 chars
Dexter said on November 29, 2011 at 5:14 pm
mark…I removed the Elvis box set from my list. I already had Tom Waits, “Bad as Me” on there anyway. I also have been a big fan of Elvis since the mid nineteen -seventies.
http://youtu.be/B6Ta3H-ck6s
We apparently won’t have Herman Cain to kick around any more. He’s due to speak here in Ohio tomorrow, and speculation is rampant…he’ll call it quits.
I really can’t believe Roger Ailes will hire him. He just doesn’t seem to have the brainpower to host a TV cable show.
484 chars
Jeff Borden said on November 29, 2011 at 5:14 pm
John G. Wallace, I sincerely hope it’s an internal problem in Iran. I’m getting more and more nervous that Bibi Netanyahu (sp??) and his amen chorus on the American right are itching to start yet another war in the Middle East. And a war with Iran would be very, very, very bad, even compared to our screwups in Iraq.
317 chars
adrianne said on November 29, 2011 at 5:18 pm
So sorry for the death of your mother-in-law, Julie. It’s never easy.
69 chars
Dexter said on November 29, 2011 at 5:20 pm
Julie, with you and yours all the way.
Our latest family death involved a new twist. My cousin died, age 71. He wanted no death notice, no marker of any kind, no mention of his death from us to anyone. He was cremated, his ashes have to be somewhere, but only his longtime life partner knows, I guess.
Also , Patrice O’Neal passed away today. Stand-up comedy fans know him…he was a huge presence in the world of comedy. Tributes have been flowing in from around the globe.
http://theinterrobang.com/2011/11/patrice-oneal-passes-away/
547 chars
Dexter said on November 29, 2011 at 5:29 pm
Oh man…I just found out my blogger pal Sean Holton died today…only fifty-two, he had fought brain cancer for over two years. He documented it along the way…I know there are a lot of journos here at nn.c. Maybe some of you knew him or knew of him. He was headquartered in Orlando since 1987.
http://craigcrawford.com/wp-content/uploads/SeanObit.pdf
358 chars
nancy said on November 29, 2011 at 5:42 pm
Julie, let me add my condolences to the heap, for you and Dennis. I’ve been without electricity since noon, and rolling around town snatching wifi where I can. At the library now, watching the rain continue to pour down. It seems to fit the mood.
246 chars
Deborah said on November 29, 2011 at 5:46 pm
I’m in the midst of having an e-mail back and forth with my right wing sister. She claims that OWS people got degrees in things like puppetry and women’s studies, went into great debt to do so and are now belly-aching because corporations are keeping them from getting jobs in their chosen impractical careers. Oy, why do I do this to myself.
342 chars
Dexter said on November 29, 2011 at 6:07 pm
http://youtu.be/PVUW5XkDsgQ
Patrice O’Neal, dead at age 41 today.
68 chars
caliban said on November 29, 2011 at 6:17 pm
Deborah, I’ve got a right wing bother that started his political life as a little kid with Bobby Kennedy posters over his bed. His opinions now seem to have everything to do with his law practice and his immense income. If we talk about our youth, sports, Bob Seger who we saw 100 times probably, we are joined at the hip. In our jejeune sports careers, C was always a star while I was pretty damned good. He’s the best friend I ever had, and the godfather of my only kid. I’m the godfather of his firstborn, my boy D, who’s done three Iraq tours. C thinks his boy is at risk of his life for nothing whatever., but he’ll still vote for GOPers on a taxation basis. These differences can be avoided, although, I admit, occasionally Chris and I need to be separated from each other before fists land. It drives me nuts because I know he knows what is right, in the long run.Julie, my dad died fairly recently, and my mom not long before. I was pretty devastated, but my good and lasting friend, my ex-wife, who loved my mom and dad, helped me through everything.
She’s remarried, but she propped me up like somebody you’ve been through hell with. I wouldn’t presume, but your place is probably to be as strong as possible. Sorry for being a fatuous ass. I’m at Mass tomorrow as lector, I’ll add your mother-in-law in the prayers of the faithful. It seems to me that prayer is authentic, no matter how you look at it. As a devout Catholic, who has thought things through like Urban Meyer hasn’t at DeMolay recruiting meetings, I’d suggest Catholicism and the Church are obviously two different things. People talk about the
‘wealth” of the Church. Does anybody think it’s in the same universe as the holdings of American Babdiss? Don’t be morons.
1749 chars
brian stouder said on November 29, 2011 at 6:18 pm
Julie – condolences to you and yours, from your Fort Wayne friends over here beneath the channel 15 tower.
Deborah – I just this evening learned (via a magazine article) that a herd of Rhinos is known as a “crash” – which made me laugh out loud.
They are aggressive and moody and impulsive…and it occurs to me that the Republican “field” of candidates should be referred to as a crash, too!
(and indeed, they are all the definition of a “Rino” – Republican-in-name-only – compared to the Republican party’s first president….but we digress
558 chars
Carolyn said on November 29, 2011 at 6:22 pm
It does seem a little blue around here today and with good reason.
But I have to note that @geneweingarten just tweeted: How come no one is a moll anymore? You never see that on a resume.
Coincidence, Nancy? I think not.
222 chars
caliban said on November 29, 2011 at 6:25 pm
Who is playing the guitar, Dex. That is awesome. OK, so that was Patrice? She was a devotee of Curtis, Right? Or Ernie Eisely? Or both? Julie, I am sorry for your loss. In all the wreckage of my brother’s and my first marriages, there was always the fact that both the spouses remained family, and devoted to my mom and dad. And my parents devoted to them too.
360 chars
caliban said on November 29, 2011 at 6:26 pm
Carolyn, Are you applying for the position?
43 chars
Jolene said on November 29, 2011 at 6:41 pm
Dexter, I’m sorry for the death of your friend. A couple of times, I followed the links you provided and read a bit of his blog. Given his terrible diagnosis, he lived a long time and did so with courage and good humor. I know that you will miss him.
250 chars
caliban said on November 29, 2011 at 6:45 pm
How is Privatizing Social Security supposed to work when the military-industrial complex is intent on minimizing wages? and then forcing workers to reinvest, like it’s the company store? This is 19th Century thinking and it’s immoral and already proven to be bullshit. This is why we all enter into a social compact called a government. This idea likely starts with Jesus. And if we have a government, what we do is we take care of everybody. Is that difficult to understand. If that is redistribution of wealth, compare it to the Screwtape version that has been going on for the last three decades.
599 chars
caliban said on November 29, 2011 at 6:50 pm
Dex, that’s rough. Sorry for an awful loss. I have a blog friend like that. I don’t know what it would do to me to lose her. Oscar Wilde, believe it or don’t, wrote something worthwhile about these feelings and the situatio:
http://upword.com/wilde/de_profundis.html
269 chars
Julie Robinson said on November 29, 2011 at 6:57 pm
Y’all are the best. What a wonderful community.
Dexter, my condolences. We really aren’t mourning Elizabeth, she had such a good long life. But it’s extra hard for someone so young. Yee-gads, 52. I’ll think of Sean as we go through this week, and remember that many others are also experiencing loss.
305 chars
Jolene said on November 29, 2011 at 7:09 pm
That’s how we felt, Julie, when my parents died–my dad at 90 and my mom at 86. Of course, we cried, and we still miss them. But their funerals were a great experience: many expressions of praise and gratitude for their long, rich lives; a chance to write eulogies that captured their personalities, reminding ourselves and others why we loved them (and why they sometimes drove us nuts); a chance to visit w/ the friends and relatives who know them for many years and had managed to outlive them. I wish you all this.
518 chars
caliban said on November 29, 2011 at 7:14 pm
Julie, thing to do is maintain and remember everything good. It works. Remember the Madeilliens. There was a moment you knew there was a connection. My mother-in-law is still around, highballs and cigs without a doubt. Her husband, not on my watch and he screwed me over at every consideration and used my intelligence the same time.Noe of this meant dick to this gyu Asshole scammed people with me as his foil, because I knew what I was talking about, and he screwed me too, and I married this asshole’s daughter because I loved her, and I still do..
552 chars
Julie Robinson said on November 29, 2011 at 7:21 pm
We’re working to do that too, Jolene. Our Sarah will be one of the pastors, and some of her musically gifted grandkids will be singing I’ll Fly Away. Others are gathering photos and writing stories, all to celebrate her. We’re even going to make some of her recipes for the funeral dinner, and aren’t we glad we got them gathered in a cookbook before the Alzheimer’s hit. One granddaughter who lived with her for several years can even replicate that famous pie crust. Now if the weather would just make it easier for everyone to get here–oh well, can’t have everything.
573 chars
caliban said on November 29, 2011 at 7:27 pm
Jolene, My Mom and dad died fairly recently. MY DAD was adrift. He was pretty sure before he kicked that my mom was visiting him.
who knows
/ There is no way of considering that are we joking
/ We also had an astounding conversation about
Smilla’s Sense of Snow, a great novel we thought, And somehow in extremis, my dad remembered all of this. And we discussed it. Because his only nourissshment was water from chips I was racing to produce with the blender.
475 chars
Jeff (the mild-mannered one) said on November 29, 2011 at 8:14 pm
Can’t help but notice, in the opening montage of weather headlines for “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,” how many of the newspapers so featured are no more.
156 chars
Dexter said on November 29, 2011 at 8:24 pm
You folks are the best. Caliban, Patrice O’Neal was the big African American man , the comedian…he battled Type II diabetes and it got him last month with a stroke, and he died earlier today.
195 chars
basset said on November 29, 2011 at 9:27 pm
George Harrison, dead ten years ago today.
42 chars
caliban said on November 29, 2011 at 9:37 pm
Mittster: I only let that setter on the top because I thought it wouls make him campaign Dawg. What an astounding asshole. How does he excuse this?
and 9ts pretty hilarious these morons are consideering Iran. Thhis has nothing to do w9th whatev3er, right? Israel is so full of shit it’s absurd Israel has the weap0ns. Why shouldn’t everyvody ? Is4q3lis a43 sp bull thin, How in the name of God or intellibwncw could anybody think this wasn;t a fucking idiot and anabuser of animals. Sorry? No Mittsters? What the ahole did to the dog. N”est’ce pas
551 chars
caliban said on November 29, 2011 at 9:42 pm
basset, coolest thing ever about Beatle Geotge is he beat the shit out of some ahole invading his house and his wife subdued the thief.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1blxZ9RWGyM Sue me.
188 chars
Suzanne said on November 29, 2011 at 9:54 pm
Julie, I am late to respond, but my sympathy. Your tribute to your mother-in-law was extremely beautiful! I can only hope that if my children ever find mates, they will have such kind words to say about me.
208 chars
caliban said on November 29, 2011 at 11:41 pm
were is that knos ahole that was GIVING ME SHIT, I COYspulen 53oon606 59e
74 chars
brian stouder said on November 29, 2011 at 11:43 pm
Dexter, I thought of you this past weekend. My lovely wife has an uncle who is a genuinely marvelous fellow; a big tall (gotta be more than 6′ 8″) Indiana farmer who is generally always grinning about something or other.
He (Uncle John) is also a combat veteran of the Vietnam War, a subject that I have only heard him speak of once in the past 20 years, and that was when the travelling Vietnam memorial wall came to Royal Center, Indiana a few summers ago.
A son of one of his nieces was putting together a Veteran’s Day project for school, and Uncle John brought out a photo album – containing probably 100 or 150 Kodak color print snap shots – and the album was laying there over Thanksgiving.
So, there it was; nothing fancy, no captions, just photos and more photos; pictures of his mom and dad (Pam’s grandpa and grandma) and his then-future wife, when they all came to the army infantry training area – before deployment (including several pictures of a very sharp 1965 Chevy Impala 2-door, which I gather was John’s); and then lots and lots of pictures of buddies and jungle and panoramic views from hill tops and rice paddies and trucks and more buddies; and shots of leave at Sydney, Australia, and the then-unfinished opera house and ferry boats and women and buddies (in civilian clothes and with different watches) and street scenes; and then (abruptly) more photos of jungles and helicopters and panoramic shots from the helicopters and buddies writing letters and reading letters and eating in camp; and lots of photos with shovels/digging/sandbagging/piling; and lots of subtle humor, and lots of smiling faces; and then – pictures of a large airliner and then photos from inside the airliner looking out past the big wing with two engines visible, and with the brown/green ground falling away, and then another photo from the same vantage point, taken above the clouds; and then a final one from the same vantage point, looking at a full-on American airport (Los Angeles?), and then that’s it.
It was altogether amazing to see; it must seem like a lifetime ago to him – or another life altogether – to view those photos…or maybe not. It made me think of that book title – “We were soldiers once, and young”
2238 chars
Crazycatlady said on November 29, 2011 at 11:56 pm
Julie- Sad about your mother-in-law. Beb’s Mom has Alzheimer’s too. She is not eating well and is in a nursing home. I work in a nursing home so I know how it ends. It is very hard to say such a long goodbye. May she be at peace.
230 chars
Bonnie said on November 30, 2011 at 12:03 am
Julie, my condolences to you and your family. Thank you for sharing your memories of Elizabeth with us.
Glad you had no trouble getting a new power cord, Jeff (tmmo).
169 chars
moe99 said on November 30, 2011 at 12:27 am
Julie, I am sorry for your loss. She sounds like a wonderful woman. May your memories of her continue to enrich your life.
And Dexter, I too had been following Sean Holten after you mentioned him. I am so sad to learn of his passing. He had a great spirit.
263 chars
caliban said on November 30, 2011 at 1:34 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1blxZ9RWGyhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1blxZ9RWGyMKine for all of you, I’ll be ;ucky to be living and breathing avter all I;ve done to myself. Who knows. Julie , sunds like my Mom and Dad.
and they were supetb.. Way cool.
257 chars
Dexter said on November 30, 2011 at 3:08 am
Again, thanks, moe and Jolene and Julie…there are still people out there who don’t think online friends could mean anything to a person, but we here at nn.c know better, and I don’t feel so glum right now.
brianstouder: thanks for posting that. Most of us old veterans have at least a few photos left of Vietnam. Your Uncle John picked a good Rest & Recreation spot, Sydney. Other popular destinations were Hong Kong and a few guys I knew went to Kuala Lumpur. Many went to Honolulu, and a few went to Manila.
I spent mine in-country, lolling on the beach at Nha Trang. Now , my one meaningless regret is that I didn’t take R & R in Sydney, because I am sure I won’t be getting to Oz any time soon.
The “freedom bird” photos your uncle has may be a very sweet memory inducer for him.
I will never forget my freedom bird. After an interminable delay , waiting for a seat to open, after waiting for a week , housed in a filthy wooden transient hootch built on Cam Ranh Bay sand, I was manifested and taken to the airfield where I immediately boarded a newly painted, tiger-striped Flying Tiger Line aircraft. We quickly began the trip down the runway, and I can still feel the wheels rumbling along..c’mon! Get this thing wheels-up! – then the beautiful tilt back and full thrust as we blasted the hell out of there and I looked outside and that was the best feeling I had ever had up to then.
We landed in Japan, Yakota AFB…I bought a gold cross, binoculars, and some trinkets, and we were off for SEATAC airport, Washington, and Fort Lewis, Washington, where I was stuck for another six days before I was finally cleared to leave, all done.
Happy Birthday remembrance: Mark Twain. What would we have done without him?
1756 chars
Jolene said on November 30, 2011 at 9:27 am
Speaking of Mark Twain, check out today’s Google Doodle.
56 chars