When did we start saying “so, this happened” to describe, um, stuff that happened? Don’t know? Well, what does it matter? Anyway, this happened:
That was the Pooch Prance, at the Ford house, formally known as Edsel and Eleanor’s Crib on Lake St. Clair. Has there ever been grass so green, sky and water so blue, a day so fair? Don’t think so. We raised a tidy sum for the shelter pups, and Wendy met her fan club, all the ladies who took care of her before she came to us in June. We made two laps of the estate, watched the raffle and watched the people, who were more interesting than the dogs, frankly. (At one point there was an announcement that whoever left three dogs in a silver Toyota should take them out, and there was an audible gasp throughout the tent. Wrong place to pull that move, whoever did that.)
Thanks to all of you who donated to the cause. We met several dogs who had been adopted through the Michigan Anti-Cruelty Society; they do make a difference, and now so do you.
Also, this happened:
Those are members of the local Hare Krishna temple, venerating the deities. Six times a day they do this. Yes, it was the day of our annual ride to say hello and Hare Krishna to our near-neighbors. This year, we took a tour of the old Fisher mansion, where the temple is located. Quite a place, with its spectacular craftsmanship — Pewabic tile, painted leather walls, carved everything, gold leaf everything else, parquet and inlay and yadda-to-the-yadda — now augmented with paintings of Krishna and flowers and stuff. The place has hardly been lovingly cared for over the years, but the floors have nary a creak, they’re so solid.
Detroit never stops surprising you.
Bloggage:
Mitch Albom, two takes. Local, and Deadspin.
How Syria built its chemical-weapon stockpile under the world’s noses…
…with a little help via the untracked seas.
Let’s have a good week, all.
beb said on September 9, 2013 at 7:44 am
My daughter and I went to Greenfield Village to see the old car show. Glorious day for walking about and lots of fun old cars too admire.
The second photo. of the inside of the Fisher mansion so looks like a 20’s movie palace I don’t think I could enjoy living there. I’d be expected to hawk the popcorn every five minutes.
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Dorothy said on September 9, 2013 at 8:41 am
That’s not the Fisher (a.k.a. Ford) mansion, Beb. That’s a Hare Krishna temple.
We had panzanella salad on Saturday with our dinner. It could have been the ONLY thing we ate as far as I’m concerned. Man o man was it delicious. Also on the plate: eye of the round steaks and Greek potatoes.
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Peter said on September 9, 2013 at 8:52 am
Congratulations to Mitch. I didn’t think it could be possible, but he just made himself less hip than John McCain.
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nancy said on September 9, 2013 at 9:10 am
That is indeed the Fisher mansion. The HK temple has been there since 1976, when it was donated to them by co-Krishna adherents Elizabeth Reuther (daughter of the UAW founder) and Alfred Brush Ford. And it does indeed look like a ’20s movie mansion. In fact, it strongly reminded me of Gloria Swanson’s house in “Sunset Boulevard.” I don’t know why I didn’t notice it the first few times I went there.
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Jeff (the mild-mannered one) said on September 9, 2013 at 9:15 am
Krishna, I’m ready for my close-up.
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Dorothy said on September 9, 2013 at 9:20 am
My sincere apologies!! Shows what I (don’t) know, huh?
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Jeff (the mild-mannered one) said on September 9, 2013 at 9:34 am
Column hint to Mitch Albom: the moment you find yourself typing the words “In my day . . .” you should delete and start over.
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coozledad said on September 9, 2013 at 10:03 am
Whatever else he does, Russel brand is a hero for doing this:
http://gawker.com/this-nazi-joke-got-russell-brand-banned-from-the-gq-awa-1277181312
When Hugo Boss clothing first got big among the fratboys I always wondered why anyone would want to wear some fucker’s name on a dress shirt. It was simply because twin lightnings were just a little too obvious.
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brian stouder said on September 9, 2013 at 10:04 am
Funniest news clip I heard over the weekend…from the Original Turd Blossom his-own-self, calling the Obama administration “amateur hour”
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57601887/rove-amateur-hour-at-the-white-house-on-syria/
And the cherry on top of this confection is the completely flat-footed way he phrased his critique:
“Look, I support the president’s action,” Rove explained. “Earlier on, I made it clear, whether it helped him or hurt him, that I thought he was doing the right thing. And I thought that he needed to take it to Congress.”
“But in retrospect, that was a mistake,” Rove said. “Because he got right up to the edge and then on Friday…pulls back and heads off to the [G-20 global economic summit.] The energy behind it dissipated. The president probably should have been better to take an action.”
What?
For whatever it’s worth, the continuing threat hanging over Assad’s head strikes me as effective (if not more so) than any actual strike will be; it causes them to keep things dispersed and on edge.
But I confess – I find Rove’s disapproval more than a little reassuring!
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adrianne said on September 9, 2013 at 10:33 am
Yeah, Karl Rove, Obama was just waiting to hear your two cents on bombing Syria. Because going to war with Iraq on false information was such a genius move.
Grrr…I’ve just waded through 20 letters to the editor (in my boss’ absence, this is one of my tasks), each more idiotic than the last. Every time I do this, I lose a little more faith in humanity.
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coozledad said on September 9, 2013 at 11:09 am
I don’t know why the republicans aren’t on board with bombing something. But it does seem like they’re pursuing an incrementalist policy of ensuring Iran becomes an ever greater player in the region. First, they were snookered by Iranian intelligence services in the persons of “Curveball” and Chalabi to undertake a war against Saddam Hussein. The Pasdaran accomplished within a matter of months what the Iranian military could not do in a war that killed as many people as WWI. That’s phase one. Now you’ve got what’s shaping up to be a regional civil war, and the Republicans are leveraging their power to prevent an attack on an Iranian ally.
The strange thing is, there’s no oil involved here, despite indications that it’s a resource war brought on by the influx of Iraqi refugees into Syria during a sustained drought. The Syrian revolution might have happened anyway, but our Iraq adventure hastened it.
This is one of those “Repercussions” liberals talked about when Bush started swinging his pimply cock for shits and giggles.
It’s also funny to watch the Republicans trying to navigate between obstruction of the Obama administration and blowing Bibi Netanyahou’s crank. You’d think it would provoke dissension in the ranks, but the Republicans have always been able to pull off the trick of skating on their own liquid shit.
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Jeff Borden said on September 9, 2013 at 12:43 pm
I believe Mitch Albom has now officially replaced Bob Greene as the most dreadful columnist to ever hold forth in a major metropolitan newspaper. This column is truly beyond embarrassing. What a lazy asshole Mitch is. . .
Like Cooz, I’m also a little shocked that the GOP isn’t rushing to embrace a missile attack on Syria. Non-white Muslims will die. . .we’ll burn off a bunch of $1.5 million apiece Tomahawk missiles that will need to be replaced by the military-industrial complex. . .Israel will appreciate the added chaos. . .the Rapture ready nutters who anticipate the destruction of Damascus will be thrilled. . .
Looks like a solid win-win for the righties.
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Julie Robinson said on September 9, 2013 at 12:53 pm
Last Thursday our righty-righty-right wing senator Dan Coats was attacked for not being righty-righty-right wing enough: http://jg.net/article/20130908/LOCAL0202/309089905/0/SEARCH. Adrianne, I’m gonna guess these are the same kinds of nutcases who are writing letters to the editor of your paper. Yeesh.
On a happier note, I made the zucchini soup from the NYT that Jolene linked to last week. Here’s the directions if you don’t want to look it up: “Put 1 pound chopped zucchini, kernels from one ear of corn, 2 chopped tomatoes, 1 tablespoon slivered garlic, a splash of stock, salt and pepper in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover, and microwave, stopping and stirring halfway, until the vegetables are tender and the tomatoes have created a broth, 8 to 10 minutes. Garnish: Olive oil and basil.”
I followed the directions although I though it odd there wasn’t any onion, and the end product was kind of meh, so when I put away the leftovers, I stirred in some dehydrated onion flakes. After a couple of days in the frig it was heavenly. So, my take is, add onions, and let it simmer on the stove to meld the flavors instead of the microwave. Oh, and double the recipe.
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Deborah said on September 9, 2013 at 1:03 pm
I agree with what Coozledad and Jeff Borden say about the rightwing and Syria. My rightwing sister net me an email asking. Me how I feel about Obama now. My response to her was that since I was away for 10 days and was distracted by other things I didn’t feel informed enough to comment, which is true. She however went on to let me know that she was against a strike in Syria because Assad had been killing his people for 2 1/2 years and we should have started bombing then?? As if that makes sense. she also said there wasn’t any difference in killing with gun/bombs or chemicals, which I completely disagree with. Sure guns/bombs are horribly viscious and violent and people die, but they also take out the infrastucture that is causing the chaos (chemical labs, military installations etc) while chemicals are only effective in killing people, all people in the areas where they are used. Chemical weapons cross all of the lines I can think of. Anyway, my rightwing sister said we should be bombing Iran not Syria. So they’re still for bombing, just not where Obama wants to strike.
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Deborah said on September 9, 2013 at 1:04 pm
Sent not net.
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Jeff Borden said on September 9, 2013 at 1:32 pm
Oh yes, Iran. We just have to get into some serious shit with Iran.
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Jeff Borden said on September 9, 2013 at 1:32 pm
Oh yes, Iran. We just have to get into some serious shit with Iran.
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coozledad said on September 9, 2013 at 1:41 pm
Jeff Borden: Apparently the Republican shills have melted down into some pro-Assad/Putin gloop.
I don’t see how the use of force can correct the situation, but it sure doesn’t make me want to kiss some dictator’s ass. Doesn’t take much for this lot to drop their trousers for a strongman.
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brian stouder said on September 9, 2013 at 1:56 pm
The noon news tells us that the Russians are publicly pushing Assad to turn his chemical weapons over to an international consortium.
I don’t really think this is going to happen, but at least it will put Syria on record as refusing an offer from their main ally; and this “delay” in letting missile fly may well pay a dividend or two.
Even if it doesn’t actually compel Assad to surrender those weapons, putting Putin’s government into forestall-mode (instead of “what the hell”-mode, or – worse – reaction [to an American strike] – mode is a very healthy thing, indeed.
Julie – betcha a nickel that those grumbly people voted for the “God planned for you to be raped” guy, and not Coats, to begin with.
Genuine “what the hell” dead-enders
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adrianne said on September 9, 2013 at 2:48 pm
Julie, the teabaggers attacking Coats for not being conservative enough are EXACTLY the folks who write the incoherent-with-rage letters that I had to wade through this morning. Luckily, being in the bluest of blue states, they are a distinct minority here.
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brian stouder said on September 9, 2013 at 2:57 pm
Adrianne – that bloc doesn’t always win here in Indiana, but it often does, and especially at primary time
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Hattie said on September 9, 2013 at 3:00 pm
Wow. With the resources Detroit has, getting one of those richie riches to throw a billion or two its way would allow miracles to happen.
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Jeff (the mild-mannered one) said on September 9, 2013 at 3:02 pm
What’s going to be “interesting” is if Syria says “yes” to Russian supervision of international control. Best case scenario here is that this has been in the works for a while as a good cop/bad cop set-up of Syria, with the US as the “cop you don’t want me to let loose on you in the back room” and Russia as the sincere detective who gets the suspect a cup of coffee and shows no weapon, but is there to keep you thinking about that other crazy beat cop with the nightstick and .38.
The fact that Russia sent a big military transport vessel towards Antikya some four or five days ago gives “best case” a fighting chance. If Obama & Putin have set this up, good on them. The outcome of the vote I don’t even profess to anticipate.
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brian stouder said on September 9, 2013 at 3:31 pm
Jeff – I’d think that, if the whips are doing their jobs at all, there will only be a vote in Congress if the resolution is going to pass; or else, there will be no vote at all.
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nancy said on September 9, 2013 at 3:52 pm
I just got around to reading the link Julie published. Got to this part:
Gov. Mike Pence and first lady Karen Pence are officially empty-nesters.
They moved their youngest daughter, Audrey, into her college in Boston over Labor Day weekend.
“Did you cry?” a reporter asked.
Yep, that’s why I went to journalism school. To ask the hard-hitting questions.
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Jeff Borden said on September 9, 2013 at 3:53 pm
This likely will surprise no one, but it’s being reported that George Zimmerman –the Kim Kardashian of gun fetishists– is in custody in Florida after threatening his wife and her father with a gun. The wife filed for divorce a few days ago. This followed by several days her revealing that she had left George to spend time with her folks after a big fight right before he murdered. . .ooops. . .defended himself against Trayvon Martin. No word if the gun he was waving around is the same pistol that killed Martin.
Mr. Zimmerman, meet Mr. Karma.
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brian stouder said on September 9, 2013 at 4:10 pm
Jeff – wow.
With the speeding tickets and the divorce and all, the guy is literally careening toward the abyss.
Serious question: will the flying monkeys of the right wing air waves turn on him, or hold the line and attack (for example) his “femiNazi” wife?
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coozledad said on September 9, 2013 at 4:13 pm
Jeff Borden: Over at Wonkette, commenter Gratuitous World says “His wife or father in law must have been kicking his ass.”
That makes two guys named George whose eyes are too damn close together, and who fuck up everything they touch that the right just couldn’t get enough of, that we will suddenly stop hearing jack shit about.
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brian stouder said on September 9, 2013 at 4:25 pm
Cooz – I followed your link, and then the clickOrlando.com, and came to this:
As of 3:45 p.m., no arrests have been made and George Zimmerman is “no longer in investigative detention,” according to police, but is still at the home. Police are investigating the incident as a domestic battery. “I don’t know what he’s capable of,” Shellie Zimmerman said in the call. “I’m really scared.”
In the 911 call, Shellie Zimmerman tells her dad to “get behind the car or something-I don’t know if he’s going to start shooting at us or something.” She also said her father said he “feels like he’s going to have a heart attack.”
A spokesman for former Local 6 legal analyst Mark O’Mara, who represented George Zimmerman in his murder trial, said he had no comment at this time.
I mean, wow.
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beb said on September 9, 2013 at 4:34 pm
While it may seem bizarre that the righties are against bombing Syria the reasoning seems to be of two sorts. Either President Obama’s planned bombing is not big enough or, since Obama is for it, they are ag’in it.
On the other hand Democrat Alan Grayson (FL) has been whipping the house to vote against any bombing of Syria. Hurrah for him.
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joe k said on September 9, 2013 at 6:30 pm
Compleatly off topic. Currently sitting in target field waiting on twins vs angels.
I never watch baseball but stuck in rodchester overnight so we drove up.
Sitting in th shade 90degrees all for $20.00 this job has its perks
Dollar dogs too.
Pilot Joe
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joe k said on September 9, 2013 at 6:31 pm
Compleatly off topic. Currently sitting in target field waiting on twins vs angels.
I never watch baseball but stuck in rodchester overnight so we drove up.
Sitting in th shade 90degrees all for $20.00 this job has its perks
Dollar dogs too.
Pilot Joe.
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Deborah said on September 9, 2013 at 7:07 pm
I thought the title of today’s post was going to be about rabbits not Krishna.
And speaking of critters we still have a skunk living under the garden shed next to our building. I’m trying to get the condo association to get a service out here to set a humane trap to get it out of here. We smell it often, Little Bird has seen it 2 or 3 times and I finally saw it early this morning before the sun came up. My husband was in Santa Fe this weekend and was pretty upset that they haven’t gotten rid of it yet. They did put a light under the shed and they asked us to sprinkle some stuff under the shed that’s supposed to repel the varmint. But Little Bird and I are terrified to go near the shed. My husband thinks it shouldn’t be our responsibility to have to deal with it. We have done a lot of work around here, gardening and whatnot, so they’ve kind of gotten used to relying on us. The service I called charges $75 to set a trap including monitoring the trap, then another $75 to relocate the skunk out in the country 15 to 20 miles away. We hope there is just one, but it’s been so long there may be a whole family by now. Have any of you had to deal with a skunk?
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nancy said on September 9, 2013 at 8:18 pm
Deborah, skunks require more than a humane trap. Think about it. The animal is trapped, and what happens next? Someone has to get close enough to pick up the cage and put it on a truck or whatever. What does a skunk do when it feels threatened?
We saw this comedy of errors play out in the Upper Peninsula one summer. The solution was a local sharpshooter, who wasn’t much of a shot. He took up a position, fired and only wounded the poor thing, and it sprayed EVERYWHERE. This was outside a restaurant where we were eating. The last thing I recall before the place cleared out were the waitresses lunging for the open windows.
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nancy said on September 9, 2013 at 8:24 pm
We saw this comedy of errors playDeborah, skunks require more than a humane trap. Think about it. The animal is trapped, and what happens next? Someone has to get close enough to pick up the cage and put it on a truck or whatever. What does a skunk do when it feels threatened? out in the Upper Peninsula one summer. The solution was a local sharpshooter, who wasn’t much of a shot. He took up a position, fired and only wounded the poor thing, and it sprayed EVERYWHERE. This was outside a restaurant where we were eati
ng. The last thing I recall before the place cleared out were the waitresses lunging for the open windows.
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Dexter said on September 9, 2013 at 8:24 pm
MichaelG: Were you here?
One of our older brethren shows us his best moves.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mK1YWMC0N4U&feature=player_embedded#t=81
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Deborah said on September 9, 2013 at 8:45 pm
So the condo association agreed to pay for the skunk removal if I call and set it up. The way they do the trap is that It’s low so when the skunk gets trapped it can’t lift its tail, and supposedly it can’t spray. They also put a canvas cover over most of the trap except the entry which is supposed to calm it. We shall see if it works. It could happen as early as tomorrow, so by the end of the week my hope is that we will be skunkless.
Our landlady said she’s a western girl and to her skunks aren’t that big of a deal, but I’m a city girl and skunks are a huge deal. I’d honestly rather have to deal with rattlesnakes than skunks.
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Jolene said on September 9, 2013 at 9:02 pm
Dexter, I got a kick out of the video of the dancing guy. What was most remarkable was not the dancing but the amazing lack of interest in his performance by the many other people in the video. Almost nobody even seemed to give him a glance.
Julie, thanks for the heads up re the soup recipe. I still haven’t tried, but, when i first read the recipe, i wondered, too, about the absence of onions.
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MichaelG said on September 9, 2013 at 9:11 pm
No, Dexter. I saw the event advertised but I didn’t go. I had visions of drunken animal scenes. There have been too many of them. It looks to have been pretty tame.
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LAMary said on September 9, 2013 at 10:01 pm
I think I smell skunk pretty much every night. Last Sunday, sitting on the deck to catch some cool zephyrs, we smelled skunk four times. They don’t bother me much anymore. When I first got a dog in LA, it was a crisis when he got skunked. After about fifteen skunkings it was no big deal.
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