Vaya con Dios

Slim Whitman died at 90. For those of you who thought it had already happened.

I don't know if it is all that terrible a legacy for you to be most remembered as parodied by SCTV, but there you go:

Yeah...I can live without those

I've been dieting for more than four months now (btw for those of you who recall my post about "when does the pain stop?" from protracted walking or running...apparently when the walking on concrete diminishes in favor of carpet and asphalt) and there are naturally some things I miss...food wise.

I walk extensively through the skywalk system in my city and around 7:00 a.m. or so I walk past the cookie-place just to inhale the smell.  I don't buy a cookie of course...just smelling and NOT having a cookie makes me feel like I am really awesome at sacrifice...if you can't feed yourself...AT LEAST FEED YOUR EGO!

But there are some things I don't miss because even when I was inhaling anything I pleased I did not want them. Like deep-fried snickers, and peeps. Basically, while I like sweets, I don't like foods where I immediately get light-headed and can feel my pancreas hurting.

Add another one to the list:

The Watermelon Oreos, available only at Target (TGT) for $3 a package, feature a bright pink and green creme filling between two vanilla-flavored cookies; the creme bears a strong resemblance to Play-Doh. Two cookies contain 150 calories, 7 grams of fat and 21 grams of carbohydrates.

Oh, two small cookies with 5-10% of your daily calorie allowance...with the taste of really sugary and pasty watermelon...what could be wrong?

I'm sure the Oreo Lemon-Cremes are the same...but fuck you...those sound delicious!

Killing it

John Oliver has been terrific filling in for Stewart (of course, the writers remain).

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
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Really

Sarah Palin is writing a book about the War on Christmas because apparently of all the things she cannot quit, 2005 is not one of them.

With that said, the book will likely fly off the shelves with its inclusion of not only festive recipes, but practical "legalese" aimed at helping those who want to "protect the spirit of Christmas."

That one shoe you may have forgotten finally dropped

I know it seems rather quaint compared to what the NSA can do, but cases against Rupert Murdoch's Newscorp continue to percolate along in regard to the hacking of phone calls. What has been missing, is a suit alleging that Newscorp hacked into phones in America. Until now...and in a rather unexpected manner.

News Corporation is facing its first phone-hacking lawsuit in the US after a former stunt double for Angelina Jolie launched a lawsuit alleging her mobile phone messages were intercepted by the now defunct News of the World and the Sun. The civil claim opens up a potential new frontline in News Corporation's battle to close the scandal, with the Sun accused of phone hacking for the first time.

Granted, this is a new blurb on an old story...but at least it doesn't involve a Republican Congressman fixated on fetuses masturbating. [cross-posted at Firedoglake]

Here's a story that deserves a look, Priorities

The Conferation's Cup is going on in Brazil at the moment -- a quadrennial warm up to next year's World Cup.

Notably two years after that the Olympics take place in and around Rio.

So it is notable that with the first and least significant of these global sporting events this is going on.

In addition to the increased costs and continued ineffectiveness of social services and issues with corruption and crime, many Brazilians are angry about the billions the government is spending to prepare for next year's World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics.

"We shouldn't be spending public money on stadiums," said one protester in Sao Paulo who identified herself as Camila, a 32-year-old travel agent. "We don't want the Cup. We want education, hospitals, a better life for our children."

It's sort of like the perpetual NFL/MLB/NBA/NHL "build us a stadium or we'll leave" program writ large.

Apparently there were 100,000 protesters in Rio alone.

It will be interesting to see if ESPN covers this to any extent.

"Hypocricy does not apply to me"

Typical, even when he makes a point, he cannot help but fail to point out he got there first.

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) criticized the Obama administration in a letter Monday, accusing officials of undermining public distrust in government by using “secret e-mail addresses.” But McCain himself uses a secret e-mail address — as have previous Republican administration officials since the federal government began using email.

Meanwhile...

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, has continued to release only select portions of committee interviews with key Internal Revenue Service staffers despite calls to make the full transcripts public. 

It's unfair that I'm listened to!

Right-Wing lunatic and therefore FoxNews media darling E.W. Jackson (the "E" is for "Ewwwww"), the candidate for Lt. Governor is astounded that his actual words can be used against him in the court of public opinion.

But he's right in a way, it is wrong that any thought at all is given to him, given his words.

Awe, and to think we could have bombed them already

It seems it was a few countries ago, but after spending a decade dreaming of bombing Iran into "moderation" it looks like the Iranian government had the temerity of choose a new leadership without being bombed into it.

In his first news conference after winning Friday’s presidential election promising more freedoms and better relations with the outside world, Mr. Rowhani called the issue of nonexistent relations between Iran and the United States “an old wound, which must be healed.”

Of course we've moved on. Iran was like two or three countries that "needed to be bombed" ago. [cross-posted at Firedoglake]

Perhaps you should just admit you have a problem

I certainly enjoy a drink here and there. I like my LaCrema. But if you are doing this, you are just tacking on the 13th step to the beginning of the process.

FlaskTie™, The biggest thing to happen to the necktie since the PillowTie™. This is a tie you will definitely love to wear! The FlaskTie™ is a fashion statement of thirst quenching proportions. Have you ever been parched while in a hurry to get to your next meeting and don’t have time to grab a drink? With FlaskTie™ you can quench your thirst while on-the-go, arriving at your meeting hydrated and ready to nail that presentation and seal the deal. Each FlaskTie™ comes equipped with a TieBladder™ holding approximately 6 fluid ounces for your drinking pleasure. Located at the end of the back slip is the TieBite™ Valve mouthpiece offering Hands-Free Hydration with ease of use, simply bite and sip! Self-seals after each drink to eliminate annoying drips and embarrassing stains. With various designs to choose from the FlaskTie™ is your chose for both fashion and hydration.

Yeah, I'm sure people who want to drink "water" from their ties will be the "market" for this thing?

Of course, why leave out women?

The Winerack Bra-Flask.

I'm already wrong

The Putin/Super Bowl ring isn't even the most ridiculous story of the weekend...

Pope Francis blessed thousands of Harley-Davidsons and their riders celebrating the manufacturer's 110th anniversary with a loud parade and plenty of leather.

Thundering Harley engines nearly drowned out the Latin recitation of the "Our Father" prayer that accompanied Francis as he greeted the crowd before Mass. Standing in his open-top jeep, Francis drove up the main boulevard leading to St. Peter's Square, blessing the thousands of people in what was a giant Harley parking lot.

Even worse...

Earlier I noted that Chicago had 36 shootings and 7 deaths over the weekend.

Of course the weekend wasn't over.

Make it 46 shootings with 7 deaths.

Wayne LaPierre's chubby lasted all weekend.

Of all the stupid things

I ever thought would be argued about, whether or not Vlad Putin "stole" a Super Bowl ring, is one the the most unexpected...and most ridiculous.

Hmmm...

On the one hand it takes one to know one:

Cheney: Snowden Is A ‘Traitor’

On the other hand Dick Cheney is a lying sack of shit, who will never pay for his crimes.

So conflicted...

"Yeah, it makes Freedom possible"

Terrible news out of Iraq...again. Boy that place sounds awful, good thing we helped bring that about, huh?

A blistering string of apparently coordinated bombings and a shooting across Iraq killed at least 51 and wounded dozens Sunday, spreading fear throughout the country in a wave of violence that is raising the prospect of a return to widespread sectarian killing a decade after a U.S.-led invasion.

Meanwhile, in just one American city, the blessings of the Second Amendment spread freedoms message at home:

Six people were killed and at least 13 others wounded in shootings between Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning, police said. Other weekend shootings killed one and wounded 16, bringing the bloody weekend total to seven dead, 29 wounded.

Thirty-six shootings in one city in one weekend.

And of course there are all of these all the time in America.

So who are we really to judge?

[cross-posted at Firedoglake]

Yeah, that makes total sense

Because who would know that "rape" is frowned upon?

Navy Judge Cmdr. Marcus Fulton ruled that President Barack Obama's comments on military sexual assault could affect the sentencing in two cases, according to Stars and Stripes. During pretrial hearings in the cases, Fulton said “unlawful command influence” derived from Obama's remarks could influence a potential sentencing in the two cases, according to according to court documents obtained by Stars and Stripes. The judge's ruling could have an impact on other sexual assault cases in the military. On May 7, Obama said he has “no tolerance” for sexual assault in the military.

Yeah, how dare he be against rape. Next thing you know he'll say he doesn't like pillaging either.

Oh I'm sure this is just fine

Never -- EVER -- would be abused.

The National Security Agency has acknowledged in a new classified briefing that it does not need court authorization to listen to domestic phone calls.

Rep. Jerrold Nadler, a New York Democrat, disclosed this week that during a secret briefing to members of Congress, he was told that the contents of a phone call could be accessed “simply based on an analyst deciding that.”

If the NSA wants “to listen to the phone,” an analyst’s decision is sufficient, without any other legal authorization required, Nadler said he learned. “I was rather startled,” said Nadler, an attorney and congressman who serves on the House Judiciary committee.

But don't worry woman who dumped that current NSA employee when you were both in college.

That's a trend

I haven't said much about Jeff Flake's stupid bigoted kid because, well, he's a stupid bigoted kid. But now we've got a second in three days.

A Nevada congressman has apologized for his son's racist and sexist tweets, in which he repeatedly refers to women as 'sluts' and 'whores' who belong in the kitchen and calls President Obama a 'slave' who is only good at 'spear chucking and rock skipping.' Joey Heck, 16, is the son of Republican Joe Heck. Among the younger Heck's more than 3,000 tweets, he brags about having insider knowledge of Congress and national security, he ridicules women, refers to homosexuals as 'f*****s' and calls black people 'n***as.'

The Twats of Twitter.

Somebody light up the "Pat Buchanan Batshit Signal"

Somebody needs a defender:

A top commander of a Nazi SS-led unit accused of burning villages filled with women and children lied to American immigration officials to get into the United States and has been living in Minnesota since shortly after World War II, according to evidence uncovered by The Associated Press. Michael Karkoc, 94, told American authorities in 1949 that he had performed no military service during World War II, concealing his work as an officer and founding member of the SS-led Ukrainian Self Defense Legion and later as an officer in the SS Galician Division, according to records obtained by the AP through a Freedom of Information Act request. The Galician Division and a Ukrainian nationalist organization he served in were both on a secret American government blacklist of organizations whose members were forbidden from entering the United States at the time. Though records do not show that Karkoc had a direct hand in war crimes, statements from men in his unit and other documentation confirm the Ukrainian company he commanded massacred civilians, and suggest that Karkoc was at the scene of these atrocities as the company leader. Nazi SS files say he and his unit were also involved in the 1944 Warsaw Uprising, in which the Nazis brutally suppressed a Polish rebellion against German occupation.

Just like the Good Ol' Days in England

Y'know the Yorks vs. the Lancasters vs. the Lannisters vs. the Avengers:

Britain’s Austerity Policies Forcing Homeless People To Live In Caves

Good job, this guy.

Good job Spurs

I haven't commented on this because well "low hanging and rotten fruit" but good for the team and its management for doubling down on those assholes.

...the San Antonio Spurs asked Sebastien De La Cruz to do the honors. De La Cruz, an 11-year-old Mexican-American, is a San Antonio resident who appeared as a singer on America’s Got Talent last year, and he didn’t disappoint.

That the Spurs chose a Latino boy in a mariachi suit quickly became a controversy, with social media users asking why an “illegal alien” was singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” and why he was “dressed like such a little Mexican.” One Twitter user posited that “They prolly made this Mexican sing to stay in America.”

De La Cruz was quick to respond , as was San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, who wrote in a Facebook message that De La Cruz “represent[s] the best of our nation’s future!” Spurs coach Greg Poppovich blasted the critics as “idiots” who were for some reason “proud of their ignorance.” But the Spurs organization itself had the best response, because it asked De La Cruz to come back and sing the national anthem again before Game 4 Thursday night. And he killed it:

They can always aspire to go lower

And with the Weepy Tangerine in charge I'm sure they can.

The public’s scorn for a gridlocked U.S. Congress continues to grow, with a new Gallup poll showing confidence in the legislative body falling to 10 percent, the lowest level Gallup has ever found for any institution. 

The poll released today placed Congress dead last among 16 institutions in a survey

Amazing that when you keep voting for a Party that hates government, you get a government you hate.

Forgot the part about him being an eternal vampire

And they said it wouldn't last...accurately.

News Corp. boss Rupert Murdoch and his third wife, Wendi Deng, are splitting, Deadline Hollywood reports (confirmed here). The 82-year-old Murdoch reportedly filed for divorce this morning in New York State Supreme Court, less than two weeks shy of the couple's fourteenth anniversary. Deng, 38 years Murdoch's junior, married the mogul days after his second divorce was finalized and is the mother of his two young daughters, Grace and Chloe.

And I'm sensing a pattern.

...the story of Deng's first marriage, at the age of 21, to Jack Cherry, the 53-year-old man who sponsored her student visa after the two had an affair.

 Ms. Deng apparently has a fetish...for money.   And that's hardly rare I suppose.  I imagine she opposes immigration reforms too?

Is there an 88 year old rich asshole around for her?

Well, she was good for attacking pie-throwers.

The Pot calling the Kettle predisposed to crime

Once upon a time, when the Senate voted for Appellate Court nominees, even when a President of another Party nominated them you would get somebody on the Federal Bench that should not be there.

Case in point Right-Wing ideologue Edith Jones, who has been on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals since 1985 and has done such sterling work as demanding Roe v. Wade be overturned and stating machine guns for all, especially all you fetuses out there. And Judge Jones, having been confirmed BUT criticized wasn't happy about the confirmation process even a few years ago...when a white Republican was in charge.

In a recent interview with the American Enterprise Institute, she bemoaned the Senate treatment of several controversial appeals court nominees. "Nominees are accused very unfairly of things that they didn't do," she said. "For someone like Judge [Charles W.] Pickering to be called a racist is a vile lie.

And she should know racism:

...at a speech at the University of Pennsylvania Law School in February she said that blacks and Hispanics were more prone than others to commit violent crimes and that a death sentence was a service to defendants because it allowed them to make peace with God.

And that apparently is just the tip of the whiteburg.

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts on Wednesday took the rare step of ordering a review of a powerful federal judge accused of making denigrating statements against minorities and people with mental disabilities. Roberts formally ordered the District of Columbia circuit court to review the complaints against Judge Edith Jones of Houston, who sits on the Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.

[cross-posted at Firedoglake]

It's all really based on a small troll living in our stomach

We now have proof that someone is dumbest person on the Supreme Court.

Justice Antonin Scalia agrees with his fellow Supreme Court justices that naturally occurring genes can't be patented. Where he appears to differ: The existence of genes, the basic science of genetics, molecular biology, and evolution. He just dissented from all of the above.

My "only" claim to a bit of rock history has now been undermined

Considering the paucity of rock concerts I have been to, which I can count on my hands with more than a few fingers to spare...including the most important ones...the fact that I was present for the last Replacements performance has been at the top. But so much for that. Still, pretty cool.

The outreach is going fine

Ugh.

A Republican state representative from Maine said Wednesday that he and most of his GOP colleagues are against accepting federal funds to expand health care coverage because, well, men and women think differently. "From the other side of the aisle I hear the conversation being about 'free this is free, we need to take it and it's free and we need to do it now' and that's sort of the fundamental message that my brain receives," Ken Fredette said in a speech on the House floor. "Now, my brain being a man's brain sort of thinks differently, because I say, well, it's not if it's free is it really free because I say in my brain there's a cost to this."

Apparently, the very thought of good policy that actually lowers overall health costs and y'know helps people is beyond the male brain...or more specifically that male.

Running out of eyes to have blackened

While we deal in the "glories" of the NSA/Prism matter and the usual cast of suspects reaffirm their asshattery, some other shames reappear:

A group of senior American doctors has called on military physicians at Guantánamo Bay to refuse to work in a mass force-feeding programme that is being used to keep hunger-striking detainees alive. Writing in the prestigious and influential New England Journal of Medicine, the three doctors called Guantánamo "a medical ethics free zone" and said that medical staff had a moral duty to allow the prisoners to go on hunger strike without coercing them into treatment. They also called on doctors to refuse to take part in force-feeding.

166 of the inmates at Guantanamo, uncharged yet a decade on also unreleased, have been force-fed for several months. What a glorious tribute to the "Land of the Free" in its modern iteration, quite Antebellum of us. [cross-posted at Firedoglake]