On This Day: President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama arrive to present the National Medal of Arts and Humanities Medal in the East Room at the White House, February 13, 2012
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MoooOOOooorning!
13
Feb
15
146 Responses to “Early Bird Chat”
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Good Friday, Chipsticks… TOD Family!!!
Mooooooooooooorning swbluega!!!!
furst.
WHERE ARE THE FLOWERS?
🙄
they can’t all be drunk at the same time.
LOL. paging hf.
Actually, that face is a little too creepy for my liking too 😕
#thatsthewholeideasmh
I’m sending PBO a text so that he can VETO all those creepy creatures you and Chips are posting here!
gonna be hilarious at yours. #bridesmaidanny
Good morning, swbluega.
Congrats!
Ms. Chips, it is so cold here in NYC. Two more storms expected!
I am leaving Saturday for a week in Mexico.
I must have some sun……now!
Off to do a million and one things(in the cold.
Ah wow LDS, Mexico?? Goooooooooorgeous!! Have a completely BLISSFUL time!!!!
Thank you so much.
I wish we all could meet there.
As long as I get to the airport is fine with me.
One to two inches of snow is expected early Saturday.
We are leaving Saturday night.
-9 on Monday. I feel sort of guilty…..I think.
Have a wonderful time, LDS. I so wish I could join you. It’s 9 degrees this am and I am feeling it deep in my bones.
JG, I wish you could.
Three people have volunteered to drive me to the airport. That has ever never happened!
I think they were going to snatch my ticket from me and jump on the airplane!
My daughter-in-love pulled out an old trunk and was measuring to see if she would fit.
I really don’t blame her. The kids are out of school next week for……winter break….again!
I just smile and keep packing.
LDS, isn’t there a train/subway straight to the airport? I remember taking this several times when I worked in NY. If the weather’s too bad for a car, this might be the surest way to get there.
I know that is a great way to go.
But can you believe I have a Valentine’s Day Gala to attend early in the day, so I have to come back home to change clothes.
Or change at the airport. I am afraid they might think that is suspicious. I do not want to draw any unnecessary attention.
I am getting on that plane if I have to be strapped down on the wing!
We are taking a van. I don’t trust the train. Recently they have been acting up on the weekends.
I would probably scream like a crazy lady if we were stalled for one second. And the buses can be so slow if the streets are not plowed.
The plane leaves from Newark, NJ.
I just love that picture of our President and First Lady. Is he blushing?
That dress is so cool with the high suede boots. She looks comfortable, glowing and flowing.
Good Morning, LDS!!! Thanks. 🙂
Enjoy your travels in Mexico and stay safe!
Thank you.
We are going to an all inclusive resort.
It is absolutely beautiful!
Mentally I am there already.
I love to walk and the weather here has not been that great.
I need to walk to stay sane…..
Me, too. LDS. I hate when the weather keeps me from walking outside. Using the treadmill is just not the same and it doesn’t supply the oxygen that fresh air does. The resort sounds fantastic. I’m turning green with envy as I type.
Ahhh, I know sugar. Bless your heart.
I promise to smile for you when I walk on the beach……… I promise.
Okay. Off to get a mani/pedi.
I really feel guilty……I really do.(as I put on these disgusting boots and one glove)
Always one glove on the coldest day.
During the summer months they appear out of no where.
whereabouts in mehico? ‘cos, I am seeing this.
#doublecheck
Amk, Are you trying to give me a stroke/heart attack/blackout?
Cozumel, Mexico.
No, you’re good to go.
Have fun. 24 deg C. My kinda weather.
Yikes, I’m getting this:
LDS? Bring your thermals 😕
#evul
You should see Saturday 😯
LOL. Don’t frighten poor LDS like that.
amazing how the precip, humidity and wind stay the same though. Well, at least she got that going for her.
I thought that was odd too, seems like really weird weather, stifling and freezing. I’d stay home if I was LDS.
It’s snowing in the frigging ireeshland, isn’t it? #jealous
don’t trust bt. It looks lovely.
Yikes!!
Morning all. FLOTUS is wearing one of my favorite styles and colors. Since she is probably 10 inches taller than I am, I could wear it as a gown.
🙂 Moooooooorning to the First Lady of TOD!!!
So far this morning, neither my computer or WP has recognized me. It’s enough to give me an identity crisis.
Chips, are you saying good morning to yourself? If so, goood moooorning to you!
🙂 Jackie, I’ve never been called a lady in my life – so, it’s YOU!!!
#sotrue
I must say AMK and Chipsticks, the two of you keep us entertained with your daily banter…especially the creativity that goes into it.
But you are this.
I was sitting here waiting for the sun to do something, possibly rude 🙂
😀
Well, I’m calling you a lady. Anyone who can put up with all of us day after day and still be so cheerful in the morning is a lady in my book. Lady Chips it is.
JG, see my post above.
I love that dress! And the boots…..
Even as a gown it would look real nice. The pattern and the colors is what I love.
Okay. One more thing to pack.
Surely no one expected anything but dishonesty and treachery from Putin. There will be no ceasefire and Ukrainians had better prepare themselves for a fight to the finish.
Fitbit, the maker of wearable fitness trackers, has acknowledged that its latest device, the Surge, can cause a rash for some users.
It told news website TechCrunch that a “limited percentage” of users reported skin irritation and advised users to take a break from the device.
Fitbit was forced to recall its older Force wristband when a large number of users claimed it had caused skin rashs.
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-31438706
I don’t find the attraction of these so called wearable devices. #hypochondriacs
Ugh, since I’m allergic to just about anything that metal that touches my skin, I wouldn’t go near this stuff.
I rarely wear even my watch. No, I don’t suffer from #btsyndrome.
I had the force and had no problems. I currently have the FitBit Charge/HR and there are no problems. I love them both.
Good morning TOD. Yesterday it was 60 here. This is unprecedented. Yet they don’t want to talk about climate change. Was so proud of our Missoula judge yesterday who sentenced Kaarma, the man who killed a foreign exchange student in his garage, to 70 years, 20 years before any parole. Finally a crazy gun nut is getting his due. Hope everyone has a great Friday the 13th.
MT, 60 degrees in Montana in the winter is scary. I really fear for the future.
Morning, mtmarilyn:) Morning, TOD! Happy Friday the 13th, always a good day for me! Thinking of you, Marilyn…let’s try to chat this weekend???
Let’s do. Is your email the same?
Suspected Boko Haram militants from Nigeria attack a village on the shores of Lake Chad overnight, the first such attack on Chadian soil.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-31453951
This won’t end until there is a united African coalition of force that relentlessly pursues and destroys Boko Haram. They can’t continue to live like this and no one country can fight it alone.
US ‘at risk of mega-drought future’
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-31434030
Those who spent their lives denying climate change should be forced to live in the worst drought areas. Ignorance needs to have a cost.
I really fear for California. There is no rain in sight and we are experiencing several weeks of 80 and 90 degree weather in FEBRUARY. I fear we are going to have 90 and 100 degree weather by April and May.
MOOOooorning, Chips and TOD.
Obamamania in action. 🙂
MooooOOOooOOOooOOOoooOOooooorning Mrs Willian!!
Is Nerdy married!!! When did this happen?
🙂 After that Willian fella scored a last minute winner for Chelsea, she’d have married him in a flash!
Oh geez, what a letdown. I thought we were going to have a big wedding celebration here today.
But the wedding might still happen if Nerdy and Willian can hook up – and, needless to say, we’ll be matrons of honor 😎
Students wish the Indian cricket team luck, as they hold a giant cut-out replica of the Cricket World Cup trophy, at a school in Chennai on Thursday.
crazy.
This is so cool!
Love this…….
You have all been warned.
here ya go, chips.
😆 Now I feel dizzy! Is that sun drunk?
the 2nd one is. obviously.
Sending good, and supportive, vibes to all who are having a difficult time today.
Friday Greetings everyone!
GM, vc!!
Hi, west coast early bird! Greetings! 🙂
Moooooooooooooorning VC!!!
Morning, C. Chica! I see you had a cheerful walk with the ‘little man’. Good work, D^nnyO!
morningevening, pard. did ya see the warning above?Howdy, pard!
Which one? They all seemed so glaring, so bright, so in-your-face that I actually quickly tiptoed through with eyes looking down.
~
Morning, VC. Hope your day is a good one. We can all use supportive vibes.
Greetings, JackiG. We sure can! Was also thinking of Pamela who will be saying ‘au revoir’ today to her feline friend, and CBarb who was scheduled for surgery yesterday… + others. As you said ; we can all use supportive vibes …for whatever reason.
Hi, VC. This will be a dreadful day for Pamela and my heart goes out to her. I hope we learn today how CBarb’s surgery went. Such difficult times for people and good for you for remembering them. I have also been concerned for HZ since she hasn’t seemed to comment for a long time (unless I missed it). I do miss her uplifting spirit and hope she’s okay.
You are right, I haven’t seen HZ in a while but because I’ve been flitting in and out and having a hard time keeping up with Nerdy’s tweet collection and CC’s pics I figured I’d just missed her too. Will add her to my mental ‘virtual blessings’ list.
HZ had a couple of short comments either yesterday or day before.
I still want info on Layla!!!!!!
Thanks, TnMG. Re Layla, part of me does not feel optimistic. What bothers me from time to time is that I thought she had said she had a friend who would notify us if she was out of contact.
A darkening cloud looms over mainstream European politicians in the early months of 2015.
It is the rise of parties and movements seen by them as either extreme or nationalist, sometimes both.
That these relative newcomers have become major players in national politics is viewed not only as a dangerous departure from the natural political order but also a serious threat to the territorial integrity of the state.
Each country in Europe has got its own specific features that contribute to the rise in support of parties other than the traditionally dominant ones.
A common factor, however, is the ease with which capital and labour move from one country to another in the 21st Century.
In the days of strict exchange controls, national governments had greater autonomy in making economic policy making.
Before accepting the freedom of movement which European Union membership entails, governments also had greater control over immigration.
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-31426488
Extremist nationalism did not turn out well for Europe 76 years ago and it will not turn out well now. If only people could learn from history and not doom themselves to repeating the worst of times.
Good morning, TOD people!
Notorious RBG makes a little confession……
Moooooooorning Ms Majestic!! That’s hilarious …. although I’m not sure how wise it is for her to confess!!
Aw, just a sip or two with dinner. LOLz.
She needed one of Mr Yardarm’s naughty mats! 🙂
Yes I heard the Judge talking about having alittle to drink before the SOTU speech. How much did Boehner have?
Good Morning.
Good News today…
LINCOLN — A Nebraska judge has halted condemnation of private land for the Keystone XL pipeline, while new legal challenges to the project make their way through the courts.
Nearly 70 landowners sought the temporary injunction Thursday to block TransCanada Corp. from using eminent domain to secure right-of-way for the controversial oil pipeline.
Holt County District Judge Mark Kozisek ordered a stop to land acquisition until the landowners’ lawsuit is resolved. Jane Kleeb, director of the environmental advocacy group Bold Nebraska, which opposes the pipeline primarily over the threat to a vital underground aquifer, called the decision a victory for landowners who’ve refused voluntary agreements with the company.
http://www.omaha.com/news/nebraska/nebraska-judge-rules-in-favor-of-landowners-on-keystone-xl/article_a19c551a-b2f5-11e4-9440-fb3972ced98c.html
Many jurisdictions across the country are fighting this ‘condemnation, i.e., confiscation, of private land for pipelines because Keystone is only one of many threats to our environmental safety. In our own small county, citizen’s groups are working fiercely to stop an oil company pipeline that will rip through farm lands and destroy private homes. There is very little to zero concern for safety among oil and companies and even the kind of pipeline they’re proposing to lay has a very high potential for disaster, as some local engineers have warned. Ordinary citizens have to fight the vast legal resources of big companies with only small volunteer contributions to go on and very little help from local government, which is cowed (or paid off) by the big companies. There is a supreme irony in the Republican concerns about overreaching government when its corporations that are literally raping everything that people have worked for and value.
Our own modi recently issued an ‘executive order’ bypassing parliamentary procedures totally enabling big cos to landgrab easily. Fortunately, we still have not-yet-fully-corrupt courts to fall back on.
It takes money to fight issues through the court and the big companies have more of it than ordinary citizens. That’s the crux of the problem here. Maybe it’s different in India.
Yes, it’s very different. Here any citizen can launch a public interest litigation (PIL) suit directly to the supreme court and if there is a merit in the suit, it will be taken up by the supremes at almost no cost to you. The usual court fees are waived and the lawyers mostly do it pro-bono.
Wow, that’s a great system.
Yup it is. Our courts & our election commissions have enormous constitutional powers. The pols are always afraid of these two. One of the richest man in India is now rotting in jail for cheating thousands of public, thanks our sc. Till a year back, he was an untouchable hobnobbing with all pols of all parties and was deified by the media.
more about PIL here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_interest_litigation_in_India
The more I learn about India, the more fascinating it becomes. Thanks.
G’morning Chips & TOD! Happy Friday the 13th everyone. 🙂
‘sup.
Hey Mister…Please do not use today (13th) as an excuse to post horrific beastly images to scare the daylights out of folks….
who ? me ??? didya see bt’s way above mine?
YIKES! I just saw it…goodness what a creepy looking thing. UGH…Chips why?!?!?
egg.sack.lee.
And I am painted as the freddy/jason of the blog. / smh
😆 #AmksFault
Yes, I can believe that.
of course she would. and of course you would.
Moooooooooooooooooooooorning Hopefruit!!
Hope your haddocks are doing fine…my sardines are okay for now. It was so cold, I couldn’t leave them outside, had to bring them indoors.
.
😆
HSBC whistleblower: There are ‘more revelations’
He came across as credible, assured and clear in what he is trying to achieve.
Nothing less than a “battle against secrecy”.
And now Herve Falciani has revealed that far from this week being the end of the story, there is still plenty of information that is likely to come out about HSBC.
One million new bits of data, to be precise.
He says work will start soon on analysing the information.
And that a major oil company could be next to feel the effects of a major data leak about how it operates.
‘Relieved’
Mr Falciani is the man behind the largest data leak in banking history – and after days of revelations about HSBC and tax evasion by its wealthy customers between 2005 and 2007, he now says he feels vindicated.
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-31451644
I am rooting for him. he is no snowden.
Anyone involved in the allegations of tax evasion have left the bank, sources tell me.
But Mr Falciani says that HSBC should still be prosecuted for past failings.
“We have to punish, no matter how big they are,” he said, saying that there could have been “hundreds” of other banks involved in helping wealthy people avoid and evade tax.
He called on European, Asian and American law enforcement agencies to work together to tackle bank corruption.
Whistleblowers should also be given more protection so they can reveal what they know.
I hope Falciani’s call to these law enforcement agencies is answered. There is so much corruption in international banking it would take the concerted efforts of every government and law enforcement agency in the world to tackle it. Looks as if he had a terrible time over seven years leaking information about the corruption. That takes guts.
Indeed. Unlike snowden.
I have decided that when TV pundits use the term ” Some people Say “…..they are referring to their co-workers in the break room.
Good point, Linda. Also to their GOP talking points contacts
Man Utd style is miserable – Scholes
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/31452399
amen
Lawyer helping Chicago Little League team stripped of title
Associated Press
By DON BABWIN, Associated Press 4 hrs ago
CHICAGO — A day after Little League International stripped Chicago’s Jackie Robinson West of its national championship, team officials announced they’ve hired a high-profile attorney to conduct an investigation they hope will end with the return of their title.
The sport’s governing body announced Wednesday that team officials had violated regulations by including players who didn’t qualify because they lived outside the team’s boundaries, then scrambled to get adjacent leagues to go along with the scheme. But attorney Victor Henderson said Thursday he will try to determine not only whether the team broke any rules but whether — as supporters in Chicago have suggested — Little League International unfairly singled them out.
“I want to make sure that whatever rules and regulations are being applied to Jackie Robinson West are being applied to any other team,” Henderson said during a news conference, flanked by members of the family that runs the league on the city’s South Side and the team’s manager, who has been suspended.
Henderson said it is too early to say if Jackie Robinson West will file a lawsuit against Little League International.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/more-sports/lawyer-helping-chicago-little-league-team-stripped-of-title/ar-AA9lI76?ocid=HPCDHP
Glad to hear the team is fighting back. I hope they win.
Agree jackiegrumbacher.
I listened to this lawyer (who was all over Chicago news this morning). He was measured, careful, informative. No agenda but to get to the truth. I was so impressed.
Df, I hope some very good lawyer helps these 12,000 people file a class action suit against Jeb Bush and sue him for millions. I want him to spend the next several years fighting legal battle after legal battle and having to cough up a bundle for those damaged by his recklessness. These people have been put at risk by Jeb Bush and they need to fight back.
That proves Jeb is not smarter then big brother G.W. No more Bushes.
The Bushes are inbred idiots. This is supposed to be the smart brother?
I also wonder – was it even legal for him to release emails that he received as governor? Did he get any clearance to do that with government information (referring to his emails).
“More than 12,000 Social Security numbers contained in emails posted by former Gov. Jeb Bush”
I just had to repeat that.
Canada’s Right Wing Network gets the boot.
Sun News Network is about to sign off, permanently. CBC News has learned that the cable news television channel will shut down early Friday.
The network began broadcasting in April 2011, launching a right-of-centre programming schedule, but it has had a constant challenge attracting viewers.
Its supporters blamed the CRTC for not giving it the same access enjoyed by news channels operated by CBC and CTV.
The federal broadcast regulator denied Sun News a guaranteed spot on basic cable TV packages in August 2013.
Data released as part of that application showed that while the network was available to 5.1 million households, it was only attracting, on average, 8,000 viewers at any given time.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/02/13/1364194/–Fox-News-North-Is-Shutting-Down
Canadians must be a lot smarter than Americans. If only this would happen here.
excellent. go canooks.
Moooooooooorning!
http://theobamadiary.com/2015/02/13/rise-and-shine-1011/
Social Security faces threat from ‘ideological war’
02/12/15 12:36 PM—Updated 02/12/15 02:02 PM
By Steve Benen
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) sent a message to supporters yesterday, warning of a real threat to Social Security. By any fair measure, she’s right.
“We’ve known for years that Social Security Disability Insurance is set to run low in 2016, and most people assumed that another bipartisan reallocation was coming,” the senator wrote. “But now, thanks to the Republican ideological war on our most important national safety net, disabled Americans could suddenly face a 20% cut in their Social Security checks next year.”
Let’s recap for those just joining us. The Social Security system provides disability payments to Americans who want to work but can’t for health reasons. For generations, when the disability-insurance program runs short on funds, Congress transfers money from elsewhere in the Social Security system to prevent benefit cuts. The solution, sometimes called “reallocation,” has never been especially controversial – in fact, it’s been done 11 times over the last seven decades.
But last month, congressional Republicans adopted a rule change that makes it almost impossible to approve the usual, straightforward fix. GOP lawmakers seem to want to create the conditions for a crisis.
………………………………………………………
The Politico report added that Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the Senate Budget Committee’s ranking member, “angrily accused the GOP of ‘manufacturing a crisis’ to hide its intent to resurrect past proposals to cut Social Security benefits and privatize the system.”
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/social-security-faces-threat-ideological-war
Good Morning BFF and TOD.