Hey Bobfr – what is your take on the impact of Putin’s action in Russia as it relates to the people themselves? I read in the prior post some in the Ukraine are boycotting all Russian products, but I guess I am thinking how does this impact the people who do not subscribe to Putin’s actions or politics? What does this mean for them?
Hi Cindy! I’m replying to your sweet comment to me in the previous post. It’s so kind of you to think of me and I wanted you to know that I’m feeling better. Not much has changed except for my attitude, I know I can deal with however these issues work out. I was feeling incredibly lost and overwhelmed at that time but I’ve been through difficulties before and emerged wiser, this time it will be no different.
It’s because of people like you and the rest of the TOD family, your kindness and grace restore one’s faith that all is well in the world.
Hugs, warm thoughts and many blessings to you and all of TOD
From one great (Rembrandt) to another. Love the creative ways that Pete frames his shots. I hope that he will publish a book of his photos at the end of PBO’s term.
Whoa, Chipsticks, I almost (but not quite) suggested that he try nibbling on your foot, as a suggestion that you get a clue about that inedabil muc you tried to pass off as dinar!! (dear Chipsticks, I only speak because there are no words to describe the ‘look’ I get from the cat over what’s on the plate!!) I know there is no comparison! Dog – Cat, different planets.
Great thanks for The Netherlands for holding the Nuclear Summit, and the people of Netherlands for being such great hosts for the all the world leaders!
As someone stated in the comments on this video…”Often Imitated…Never Duplicated” Truer words were never spoken. She is without a doubt the Queen of Soul.
A beautiful celebration to the Queen of Soul, Ms. Franklin!! May you celebrations be as delightful and full of many joys as your music has been and always will be for all of us. Happy Birthday to the Queen of Soul. HZ
The United States will immediately take several key actions involving U.S. funding in response to Uganda’s anti-gay law, multiple sources on and off of Capitol Hill told BuzzFeed.
Key members of Congress and leadership were briefed on the Obama administration’s plans Sunday afternoon. The move comes as the administration and the State Department has been “reviewing” all U.S.-funded programs in the country after Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signed legislation imposing up to a lifetime prison sentence for homosexuality.
That is my favorite of all……
Whenever you can take a beautiful words of written by someone else and sing them from your soul as if it was meant for you only a Queen does this. Yes, the voice is a gift from God. But the the different way she put her signature on it was just pure soul.
Thank you Carol King for a great song for a Queen to sing.
Yes, all votes matter but we all know how crucial the electoral results from Ohio are on so many levels – the Ultimate Swing State;
this year Ohio has a number of very important races watch including the rightwing governor who is trying to camouflage his policies and ideology by pretending to be moderate – he hopes to use this reelection as a stepping stone for gop presidential hopeful;
but Ohio is also the first state that is trying to put a comprehensive voter’s bill of rights on the November ballot. this is being championed by an exceptional candidate Secretary of State Ms. Nina Turner (Democrat);
Ms. Turner is speaking to The College Democrats this evening and the students seem excited by her message to protect the vote;
I hope we can get the video soon;
"Something is wrong with that, and we need this generation to stand up and say not on our watch!"-@NinaTurner on why we must #ProtectTheVote
Seeing that today is Aretha Franklin’s birthday, I’m going to share something I wrote about the Inauguration 2009, back in 2009. I never had a source to send it to, so, you at TOD will be the recipients five years later.
Millions of words will be written about the inauguration of President Barack Obama, January 20, 2009. Each of us will carry a particular moment with us. For me, that particular moment was Aretha Franklin’s solo, “America.”
As she started to sing in her clear, true voice, within a couple of lines, another image stood beside her in my mind’s eye: Marian Anderson singing at the Lincoln Memorial, April 9, 1939. The story of Marian Anderson’s Lincoln Memorial concert is well known. How the DAR who owned Constitution Hall, refused to let her sing, because she was a person of color. How Eleanor Roosevelt was so disgusted she resigned from the organization. How, being Eleanor Roosevelt, she went further, not content with a passive action. She and Harold Ickes, Sec of the Interior, arranged for Miss Anderson to give a concert at the Lincoln Memorial, Easter Sunday, 1939. The crowd of 75,000 was the largest assembled in Washington, D.C. until that time. Eleanor Roosevelt made it known by this action that denial of rights was wrong.
Miss Franklin said the choice of songs was her own, and I do not believe that her choice was accidental. The first song Marian Anderson sang at her Easter Sunday concert in 1939 was “America.” I often wondered how she could sing the words “sweet land of liberty” being denied her rights as she was at that time. Miss Franklin became the embodiment seventy years later of the dream of which Miss Anderson sang.
Carolyn, thank you for sharing that.
Ms. Aretha Franklin and Ms. Marian Anderson were destined to be at their prospective places at their prospective times.
Thank you for your insight and perspective on both talented, gifted women.
History repeats itself…….most times for the good.
Is anyone listening to Rachel Maddow, and hearing what this Ryan Grimm is saying about what the Republicans in the Senate is saying about the help package POTUS wants for Ukranie, they will hold it up unless POTUS agree to get the IRS to stop investigating conservative groups. And Democrats want to sit home on their butts in November and allow these creeps to get control of the Senate.Shame on you Democrats.
And herein lies the difference between honest brokers like Gov O’Malley and VP Biden vs. HRC. The former two are very clear and specific about what they STAND for and what their policies are. They call themselves DEMOCRATS and unapologetically support the current President who is also a DEMOCRAT. They are not pushing abstract rubbish like “country is in the wrong direction” that could be misinterpreted either way. They don’t try to make themselves appeal to Republicans and MSM by distancing themselves from the current President who happens to be the head of the Dem Party. And that’s why I am more likely to vote for O’Malley or Biden than I am to vote for HRC.
Amazing Grace is a 1972 live album by Aretha Franklin. It ultimately sold over two million copies in the United States alone, earning a Double Platinum certification.
As of 2013, it stands as the biggest selling disc of Aretha’s entire fifty-plus year recording career. The double album was recorded at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles during January 1972. It won the 1973 Grammy Award for Best Soul Gospel Performance. The LP is the biggest selling live gospel album of all time.
And the right wing conservative Republicans are supporting Putin, meaning if these right wing conservatives were around in the 1930s they would have been supporting Hitler.
Home again and bursting to share how I got conned on the birthday scene as I’m sure some of you will find it ‘funny’ – as in me getting my just desserts. You know how I decided I wouldn’t plan anything for *my* birthday because Amk was getting me a ticket to Paris i) I didn’t want to have to do any WORK , and ii) I preferred a quiet day alone at home, and with you guys in the virtual village? (Both of those desires were met, BTW, thanks to all of you. 🙂 ) So today, youngest sibling called to say *she* had decided to have a last minute dinner party for her birthday, which is today, and would I come? Nothing fancy, just a handful of ladies from her church that she’d called last night. SIgh! ‘Yea, sure, I’ll drop by briefly.’ [Both sisters know I am not a party fan, plus we do not share the same friends.] Long story short, one guess who ended up having to coordinate the meal, organize/prepare/set out the ‘frills’, etc. etc. welcome the first guests (sibling upstairs getting ready), and generally get the ball a-rolling? All of the things I refused to do for myself and more! /eye roll of the old-fashioned variety goes here/
I suppose your next pathetic excuse for failing me is going to be if you *had* sent the ticket I wouldn’t have been around to help a sister in need. /drat! [screaming] I need that real eye roll smilie!/
Now that I’ve gotten the birthday rant off my chest, I’m off wandering in the village to see what I’ve missed today. Had to work – confess I’m getting a wee bit peeved by how often I’m being called in, especially because the Obamas are traveling!!! Humpfff!
Whew. And here I was thinking you’d been absconded by aliens.. Boy, was I wrong! Family, eh? Can’t choose ’em, gotta luv ’em! (so I’m told) {{{{{VC}}}}}
Watch the usual suspects go into their typical mode of not wanting to even accept this news – for them it was NEVER about the NSA, it was all about their burning hatred of the man who is Barack Obama.
Obama White House.gov
The Obama Diary 
danny come get mommy
Congrats nospin on #1 🙂
thank you hopefruit. 🙂
Congrats nospin!
You’re number 1!!!!!
Thanks Cindy
Hey Bobfr – what is your take on the impact of Putin’s action in Russia as it relates to the people themselves? I read in the prior post some in the Ukraine are boycotting all Russian products, but I guess I am thinking how does this impact the people who do not subscribe to Putin’s actions or politics? What does this mean for them?
Aretha was a great part of the soundtrack of my youth. Happy Birthday to a true Diva, the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.
She’s the one and only, CEB!
Chipsticks…….this picture is STUNNING!
Thank you for bringing back the memories.
Happy Birthday Ms. Franklin and many more……
Hi Cindy! I’m replying to your sweet comment to me in the previous post. It’s so kind of you to think of me and I wanted you to know that I’m feeling better. Not much has changed except for my attitude, I know I can deal with however these issues work out. I was feeling incredibly lost and overwhelmed at that time but I’ve been through difficulties before and emerged wiser, this time it will be no different.
It’s because of people like you and the rest of the TOD family, your kindness and grace restore one’s faith that all is well in the world.
Hugs, warm thoughts and many blessings to you and all of TOD
The Queen of Soul. Happy Birthday Aretha. Bless you.
I really enjoy Ms. Aretha when she perform at the White House.
Happy Birthday to our lovely Queen of Soul – Aretha, an American Treasure!!! 🙂 🙂
Nice thread. Happy Birthday Aretha
For anyone so inclined, via Catholic Democrats:
http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=PBO
Thanks! Saw them earlier and forgot to visit the page.
I’m humbled by the thoughts and prayers offered to POTUS and FLOTUS.
From one great (Rembrandt) to another. Love the creative ways that Pete frames his shots. I hope that he will publish a book of his photos at the end of PBO’s term.
He may have to publish several. PBO has done so much, met so many and travelled so far and wide. At least one for each year.
‘I hope that he will publish a book of his photos at the end of PBO’s term.’
He had better, if he knows what’s good for him…oops…good for his pockets. 😉 🙂
First song I looked for was the President and Chain of Fools! Thanks, Chips, for never disappointing. Ha.
i gotz sum inedabil muc 4 dinar IZ iz dis apontd
Obviously, you’ve never seen what I serve. Thank your lucky stars, doggy!
Exactly Jacqueline, when he stops eating my foot I’ll make sure he sees your reply.
Ha! Good. I’ll keep those tips coming for him.
Whoa, Chipsticks, I almost (but not quite) suggested that he try nibbling on your foot, as a suggestion that you get a clue about that inedabil muc you tried to pass off as dinar!! (dear Chipsticks, I only speak because there are no words to describe the ‘look’ I get from the cat over what’s on the plate!!) I know there is no comparison! Dog – Cat, different planets.
And I bought him a bunch of tasty treats today MightyP, he spat most of them on the floor. He’s the fussiest fecker on earth!
My catz are fussy eaters too…..I wind up opening two different cans until they eat what they want.
Chipsticks, and jojo, I am getting the distinct impression we are OWNED by our critters! Whomp!
TOTALLY owned MightyP! 😆
Oh dear, dannyO, that is egg.zack.lee what my kitty cat said too. Oh dear.
Happy Birthday Aretha. Here is one of my favorites.
hello!
thanks for all the coverage Chips & NW!
thanks for all the input everybody!
Great thanks for The Netherlands for holding the Nuclear Summit, and the people of Netherlands for being such great hosts for the all the world leaders!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY RE!!
Very interesting opening ceremony for the summit today in the Netherlands:
Thank you much Meta.
In turn, I offer this one. http://vimeo.com/89845837
Thank you!
WOW..this is almost like a mini-Olympics ceremony! I love it 🙂 Thanks meta for posting!
That’s what I was thinking when I watched it!
And I loved seeing PBO enjoying the performance.
Yes, of course they HAD to show his dazzling smile of approval – it’s the gold standard of all validation!!! 🙂 🙂
Beautiful dancing, beautiful music. Thank you.
I love the message. And I love when the world comes together to express it.
Wow! What a beautiful presentation by the Netherlands. Very, very well done. Thanks, meta.
This is soooooooo Kool!!!!!
I LOOOOOOOOOVE her rendition of ‘The Weight’ by The Band.
She is a powerhouse.
Looks busy there….
PAY ATTENTION AMERICA!! http://www.politicususa.com/2014/03/24/paul-ryan-quivers-bernie-sanders-outs-dirty-secret-poverty-propaganda.html
As someone stated in the comments on this video…”Often Imitated…Never Duplicated” Truer words were never spoken. She is without a doubt the Queen of Soul.
Happy Birthday Ree-Ree
There is no other!
Truth:
A beautiful celebration to the Queen of Soul, Ms. Franklin!! May you celebrations be as delightful and full of many joys as your music has been and always will be for all of us. Happy Birthday to the Queen of Soul. HZ
Bravo, Mr President!
http://www.buzzfeed.com/katenocera/obama-administration-to-take-action-in-response-to-ugandas-a
The United States will immediately take several key actions involving U.S. funding in response to Uganda’s anti-gay law, multiple sources on and off of Capitol Hill told BuzzFeed.
Key members of Congress and leadership were briefed on the Obama administration’s plans Sunday afternoon. The move comes as the administration and the State Department has been “reviewing” all U.S.-funded programs in the country after Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signed legislation imposing up to a lifetime prison sentence for homosexuality.
Natural Woman…I think this was from the Merv Griffin Show
That is my favorite of all……
Whenever you can take a beautiful words of written by someone else and sing them from your soul as if it was meant for you only a Queen does this. Yes, the voice is a gift from God. But the the different way she put her signature on it was just pure soul.
Thank you Carol King for a great song for a Queen to sing.
Yes, all votes matter but we all know how crucial the electoral results from Ohio are on so many levels – the Ultimate Swing State;
this year Ohio has a number of very important races watch including the rightwing governor who is trying to camouflage his policies and ideology by pretending to be moderate – he hopes to use this reelection as a stepping stone for gop presidential hopeful;
but Ohio is also the first state that is trying to put a comprehensive voter’s bill of rights on the November ballot. this is being championed by an exceptional candidate Secretary of State Ms. Nina Turner (Democrat);
Ms. Turner is speaking to The College Democrats this evening and the students seem excited by her message to protect the vote;
I hope we can get the video soon;
My two faces of these are “Son of a Preacher Man” and “Say a little Prayer.” Great songs. Aretha was part of my youth. Still a queen.
Bill R., tow my favorites and “Call Me”……….no, seriously the song.
Seeing that today is Aretha Franklin’s birthday, I’m going to share something I wrote about the Inauguration 2009, back in 2009. I never had a source to send it to, so, you at TOD will be the recipients five years later.
Millions of words will be written about the inauguration of President Barack Obama, January 20, 2009. Each of us will carry a particular moment with us. For me, that particular moment was Aretha Franklin’s solo, “America.”
As she started to sing in her clear, true voice, within a couple of lines, another image stood beside her in my mind’s eye: Marian Anderson singing at the Lincoln Memorial, April 9, 1939. The story of Marian Anderson’s Lincoln Memorial concert is well known. How the DAR who owned Constitution Hall, refused to let her sing, because she was a person of color. How Eleanor Roosevelt was so disgusted she resigned from the organization. How, being Eleanor Roosevelt, she went further, not content with a passive action. She and Harold Ickes, Sec of the Interior, arranged for Miss Anderson to give a concert at the Lincoln Memorial, Easter Sunday, 1939. The crowd of 75,000 was the largest assembled in Washington, D.C. until that time. Eleanor Roosevelt made it known by this action that denial of rights was wrong.
Miss Franklin said the choice of songs was her own, and I do not believe that her choice was accidental. The first song Marian Anderson sang at her Easter Sunday concert in 1939 was “America.” I often wondered how she could sing the words “sweet land of liberty” being denied her rights as she was at that time. Miss Franklin became the embodiment seventy years later of the dream of which Miss Anderson sang.
That moment will always live within me.
Thoughtful writing. Thank you so much for sharing, carolyn. I’ve always loved that story, of how the two women were brought together in time.
Carolyn, thank you for sharing that.
Ms. Aretha Franklin and Ms. Marian Anderson were destined to be at their prospective places at their prospective times.
Thank you for your insight and perspective on both talented, gifted women.
History repeats itself…….most times for the good.
And then it will be clear that Snowden and Greenwald are not in the least concerned about NSA and data collection….
Oh, goodie, now Zach G can get a cellphone!
ha!
Happy Birthday to the Queen of Soul 🙂
Is anyone listening to Rachel Maddow, and hearing what this Ryan Grimm is saying about what the Republicans in the Senate is saying about the help package POTUS wants for Ukranie, they will hold it up unless POTUS agree to get the IRS to stop investigating conservative groups. And Democrats want to sit home on their butts in November and allow these creeps to get control of the Senate.Shame on you Democrats.
Please spread this info. I’m sick and tired of the creeps in the W adm thinking they can rehab themselves & peddle their lies in the MSM.
The greatest.
It’s a shame but you would never see a headline like this or a picture featuring our PBO front and center in a US media outlet….
So true Hoepfruit, even the flippin’ Murdoch-owned UK Times is doffing its cap to PBO with that image and headline!
LOVE it.
And herein lies the difference between honest brokers like Gov O’Malley and VP Biden vs. HRC. The former two are very clear and specific about what they STAND for and what their policies are. They call themselves DEMOCRATS and unapologetically support the current President who is also a DEMOCRAT. They are not pushing abstract rubbish like “country is in the wrong direction” that could be misinterpreted either way. They don’t try to make themselves appeal to Republicans and MSM by distancing themselves from the current President who happens to be the head of the Dem Party. And that’s why I am more likely to vote for O’Malley or Biden than I am to vote for HRC.
With you!
Exactly HF, their support of PBO is solid as a rock. It would be fantastic if we could have a Biden/O’Malley ticket.
Good one! But POTUS deserves every one of those kisses.
I should say that POTUS is worthy of every single one of the kisses.
And then some. 🙂
Oh! that’s right… We do that here in NE Seattle when PBO comes to visit..
Amazing Grace is a 1972 live album by Aretha Franklin. It ultimately sold over two million copies in the United States alone, earning a Double Platinum certification.
As of 2013, it stands as the biggest selling disc of Aretha’s entire fifty-plus year recording career. The double album was recorded at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles during January 1972. It won the 1973 Grammy Award for Best Soul Gospel Performance. The LP is the biggest selling live gospel album of all time.
Beautiful!
I like! and I proud!
FLOTUS!
https://twitter.com/TheTweetOfGod/status/448273687125295104
Aww Chips, The Queen of Soul! Happy Birthday Re Re! Thank you.
A Bridge over Troubled Water
Ooooh, gorgeous, WilTal!
And the right wing conservative Republicans are supporting Putin, meaning if these right wing conservatives were around in the 1930s they would have been supporting Hitler.
Happy Birthday , Ms. Aretha Franklin!
Thank you.
Home again and bursting to share how I got conned on the birthday scene as I’m sure some of you will find it ‘funny’ – as in me getting my just desserts. You know how I decided I wouldn’t plan anything for *my* birthday because
Amk was getting me a ticket to Parisi) I didn’t want to have to do any WORK , and ii) I preferred a quiet day alone at home, and with you guys in the virtual village? (Both of those desires were met, BTW, thanks to all of you. 🙂 ) So today, youngest sibling called to say *she* had decided to have a last minute dinner party for her birthday, which is today, and would I come? Nothing fancy, just a handful of ladies from her church that she’d called last night. SIgh! ‘Yea, sure, I’ll drop by briefly.’ [Both sisters know I am not a party fan, plus we do not share the same friends.] Long story short, one guess who ended up having to coordinate the meal, organize/prepare/set out the ‘frills’, etc. etc. welcome the first guests (sibling upstairs getting ready), and generally get the ball a-rolling? All of the things I refused to do for myself and more! /eye roll of the old-fashioned variety goes here/who is the saint now?
Pas moi! That role is just too tight to fit. I like comfort. 🙂
I suppose your next pathetic excuse for failing me is going to be if you *had* sent the ticket I wouldn’t have been around to help a sister in need. /drat! [screaming] I need that real eye roll smilie!/
I offered you sainthood on a platter.
The platter did it – too much for my small appetite. A saucer’s worth would have been more to my taste. 😉
Now that I’ve gotten the birthday rant off my chest, I’m off wandering in the village to see what I’ve missed today. Had to work – confess I’m getting a wee bit peeved by how often I’m being called in, especially because the Obamas are traveling!!! Humpfff!
Whew. And here I was thinking you’d been absconded by aliens.. Boy, was I wrong! Family, eh? Can’t choose ’em, gotta luv ’em! (so I’m told) {{{{{VC}}}}}
Agree with the first part of your last sentence. 😉 😉
Watch the usual suspects go into their typical mode of not wanting to even accept this news – for them it was NEVER about the NSA, it was all about their burning hatred of the man who is Barack Obama.
Chat away!
http://theobamadiary.com/2014/03/24/chat-away-346/
Gosh, if only I could like like Aretha when I hit 72! 😉 I would forgo a ticket to Paris for that!
I actually want to marry him – it is a him? – too cute for words.
It’s a he-bum alright.