Immigration Issues

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I guess it just depends.........





















( Americans Opposed to Racial Profiling on facebook)
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Let the Republicans Explain

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Let the Republicans explain why an independent consumer protections agency is an insufferable inconvenience.

Let the Republicans explain why unregulated derivatives couldn't possibly blow us up--again.

Let the Republicans explain why commercial bankers should be allowed to gamble Everyman's retirement fund deposits on unregulated hedge funds.

Let the Republicans explain to usury besotted consumers why interest rates on credit cards should not be capped by law.
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Heartland Flyer

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Oh, my gentle snowflakes, the next time I climb onto the train for my trek to Texas, I will be participating in a grand experiment.

The Heartland Flyer will begin testing a renewable biodiesel blend to run the train. photo:Bill Accord

The important thing here is that the biodiesel does not involve the use of food crops. This biodiesel will come from beef byproducts! (Something we have plenty of in Oklahoma.)


Two, count 'em, 2 of my favorite things:
1) alternative energy (reduction of the use of fossil fuels, especially foreign crude oil) and
2) riding the train.

I ask you, how happy can an old girl get?
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At Last, Republican Honesty

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Well, my gentle snowflakes, that leaves out most of my choices.
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SCOTUS, Redux

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OK, I am back from my intervention--which failed, btw. And I am as addicted as EVER. (Jon Kyl can't lick me!)

How about a real-life possible nominee? Elizabeth Warren.

Seems about time for another "Warren" on the top court. (Sorry, but it is almost a pun.)

And, although, I really feel her greatest calling is in the regulation of the financial idiots, she would be great and down-to-earth and for the common person if she sat among the Supremes.
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Oh, Crap!

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Well, my gentle snowflakes, there goes the fun and games.

Cursed Republicans. They can't even get "No" right.

Senator Kyl is backing down from using the filibuster against the nominee to the Supreme Court.

(I guess, this is my intervention. Shouldn't have asked for one, should I?)
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SCOTUS Dreaming

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Well, my gentle snowflakes, if you don't like Hillary Clinton as the next nominee, how about---wait for it---Anita Hill?

Solid legal background. Not afraid of ANYTHING. Not Clarence Thomas. Not U. S. Senators. Not public scorn. No fear at all. Gutsy lady.

Even if President Obama does not appoint her, he could (after calling her first and telling her what he is doing) just kind of float her name out there. Maybe Thomas's head would explode!

Just something that rose up out of the depths of my unconscious. In the night.

(hee, hee, hee, I cackled maniacally --- again. You know, I may soon need some sort of intervention here. This is way too much fun.)
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Culinary Delight

April is National Grilled Cheese Month.


My gentle snowflakes, there simply are not enough excuses to indulge in any concoction that involves gooey, melted cheese with something buttered and slightly crunchy.


OK, history lesson now. Early precursors of what we know today as grilled cheese sandwiches date back to recipes found in ancient Roman cookbooks. Seriously. I did some research.

By the way, grilled cheese sandwiches are traditionally served with a nice bowl of tomato soup.

Together they let you know that someone loves you. (Even if it is only you.)

Make your mouth and tummy happy.

Enjoy.
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A Wistful Moment

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So, my gentle snowflakes, United States Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens is considering retiring. And talking about it out loud.

And Senator Kyl is threatening a filibuster against any nominee to replace Stevens.

OK. What next?

THE nominee to cause the heads of ALL the Republicans to simply and completely and irretrievably explode: --Hillary Clinton.

[ heee, heee, heee---I cackled maniacally ]
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Real Problems?

Here is a real solution!

"In the poorest regions of the world, exposure to kerosene kills one person every 20 seconds."


"Kerosene is expensive and highly toxic and eliminating the use of it is a huge mission for humanitarian designers."

The Solar Pebble is small enough to carry around, clip on the front of a bicycle, or hang from the ceiling of a home. With a 12 hour charge it can light a room for an entire day [or night?]. It can also provide a charge for a mobile phone in an area without electricity. (From Plus Minus Solar.)

I am thrilled that this handy little device does double duty--light & it will charge you phone!

Now, for the very best, best part:

...every purchase made in the developed world helps provide Solar Pebbles to people in the developing world. It would be perfect for camping or as a reading light and you’d use it knowing that someone else is enjoying the same clean light that you have.

It comes out in June from Plus Minus Solar.

So, all my gentle snowflakes who camp, or hunt, or fish late evenings or early mornings, or even have to go into the back yard during the dark of the night to check on the dog, check it out.
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The Half-National Pastime

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This from the Oklahoma Women's Network Blog (emphasis mine):

On April 2, 1931, 17-year-old Jackie Mitchell, the second woman to play baseball in the all-male minor leagues, pitches an exhibition game against NY Yankees and strikes out both Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. The next day, the Baseball Commissioner voided her contract, claiming baseball was too strenuous for women. The ban was not overturned until 1992.

More on Jackie here.

My gently snowflakes, I never wanted to play professional baseball (heck, I was barely good enough for the local summer leagues). But the kind of action related above is what makes women mad. We are told, repeatedly and still (though not in baseball), that we may not participate. We may not try. We may not try-out. Even if we are good enough, we may not. Makes a body angry.
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