Saturday, August 08, 2009

Trig In 2012!

Remember, one of the reasons The Wasilla Whiz Kid bailed out of her job, was that the Lefty Communist Socialist Media was picking on her children, and, that they needed to "quit makin' things up".

John Amato, over at Crooks and Liars, hits it good;

Sarah Palin says Obama's health care will kill her Down Syndrome baby

I've heard a lot of disgusting stuff coming out of the mouths of the Zombie Plumbers, but Sarah Palin has become the Zombie Queen with this one. She sure likes her FaceBook page.

The Democrats promise that a government health care system will reduce the cost of health care, but as the economist Thomas Sowell has pointed out, government health care will not reduce the cost; it will simply refuse to pay the cost. And who will suffer the most when they ration care? The sick, the elderly, and the disabled, of course. The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama’s “death panel” so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their “level of productivity in society,” whether they are worthy of health care. Such a system is downright evil.

Okay, here's what is going to come down;
The PartyofNoicans (what is left of them, after the great 2011 ethnic-style-cleansing by Michelle Malkin's, Glen Beck's, and Sean Hannity's Flying Monkeys - or maybe, just Chuck Norris) nominate Trig in 2012 (They will ignore, and relentlessly beat down anyone who complains, the 35-year-old minimum age), who chooses his mother as running mate ... Trig wins in a landslide (thanks to the armed patrols of Limbaugh, O'Reilly and Beck listeners, supported by the Arizona Minutemen, ringing the polling sites) and the first order of business is to pass legislation, making it a Federal Crime to mention him, or any of his brothers and sisters, punishable by instant death (Malkin, Beck, all of Faux News, Little Billy Kristol and NR, Townhall, Hugh Hewitt and the Cheeseburger That Sweats [H/T Barry Crimmins] are all grandfathered in as exemptions).

Trig then resigns (tests later show, it's in the DNA), handing the reigns over to Ms. Ya'Bet'cha, who picks Michelle Bachmann for VP, and we begin the 2+-year purge of all the Communists and Socialists in Congress, and, the entire deficit is wiped out by selling all our borders to Lou Dobbs..

The First Amendment is tossed away, and the 2nd Amendment, with loads of revisions, becomes the 1st Amendment.

Remarkably, Palin sits for the eight-years, and is succeeded, not by Bachmann, but by Governor Gaucho's new Argentinian wife (the Birthers shift gears, and produce thousands of birth certificates to show Maria Belen Chapur was born in the USA).

Any Independent, or Democrat (and some moderate Republicans), that haven't been killed off, are exiled, and shipped to France.

Oh yeah, and Freedom Fries are brought back.

Survey Shows Name Should Be "Goldman Sucks"

This had to be, perhaps, the most "Duh!" happening of the week;

Goldman Sachs’ reputation tarnished

Goldman Sachs’ reputation among both the general public and financially sophisticated Americans has been damaged by the events of the past year, according to research conducted for the Financial Times.

In a survey of 17,000 Americans, Brand Asset Consulting found that Goldman’s stature – as measured by several gauges of brand strength – had suffered in 2008 and 2009.

“Goldman Sachs still has that Gordon Gekko look to it among the general public,” said Anne Rivers, who oversaw the survey, referring to the villain of the 1987 film Wall Street.

[snip]

In Rolling Stone last month, Goldman was described as a “great vampire squid wrapped around the face of humanity”. The headline on the cover of New York magazine last week asked: “Is Goldman Sachs evil? Or just too good?” The subsequent article argued in favour of the former, with a tip of the cap to the latter

[snip]

However, some marketing professionals say the storm will pass. “All of this giant squid language they can pretty much brush off,” said William Barker of Brand Finance. “My guess is that their customers are probably very happy with them.”

In July, Goldman reported record quarterly profits of $3.44bn on revenues of $13.8bn.



Yeah, thanks to all the bailout, and other government, money.

Then again, Goldman Sucks isn't playing to (or with) the peanut gallery.

From Joe Weisenthal;
But then, who cares what the general public thinks? Do the Goldman traders care? Nope. Do college graduates, knowing that Goldman is the home of TARP-free high pay care? Nope. Goldman isn't selling 401(k)s or $7 stock trades to the retail investor. What matters is how Goldman is perceived by the professional classes, and to some extent they've always been hated by those on the outside. Big deal.

Meanwhile, Goldman shares look set to open around $165 today, over 300% off their lows from the crisis. If this reputational hit mattered, nobody bothered to tell paid-up Goldman Sachs shareholders.
I suppose, it is conceivably, that in the not-so-distant future, along with all the tax, unemployment, 401K deductions listed on your pay stub, there'll be one for "Goldman Sucks" on it.


Bonus Goldman Sucks Riffs

John Cook: Congrats Goldman Sachs! You're the New Symbol of Banker Greed

Paul Krugman: The Joy of Sachs

dday: Goldman's Record Taxpayer-Subsidized Profits

Nick Baumann: Even the Wall Street Journal Hates Goldman Now

Matt Taibbi: The real price of Goldman’s giganto-profits


Stock Tip: Reynolds Wrap, Tinfoil To Skyrocket This Fall

We had this one, sitting in the files and, well, kind of forgot about it.

This ought to be a good benchmark, as to who is further out there, the Trekees, or the Star War crowd;

'Star Wars' takes over HP Pavilion for live orchestra concert in October

For one day this fall, HP Pavilion will resemble "a galaxy far, far away."

That will be the day when the arena plays host to "Star Wars: In Concert," a multimedia extravaganza put together by "Star Wars" creator George Lucas' Lucasfilm and Bay Area concert promoter Another Planet Entertainment. The show, scheduled for Oct. 11, is the one Bay Area stop on a 50-city nationwide tour for the show, which premiered in April at London's O2 Arena.

The performance features a live orchestra performing John Williams' famed "Star Wars" scores rearranged by the composer for the spectacle. The music will be paired with film clips shown on a massive three-story, high-definition LED screen. (The quality of the images received the most praise from critics when the show debuted in London.)
This should turn on a bevy of light sabers.

Maybe, even, bring back the Star Wars Kid, for a live encore.
At least as exciting for fans of the series: the exhibit of costumes, props and other rarely seen artifacts that will accompany the show. Many of these items will be leaving Lucas' Skywalker Ranch in Marin County for the first time.

Even though the musical production is likely to draw the legions devoted to all things "Star Wars," Danielle Madeira, marketing director of Another Planet, insisted Thursday that it is not just for those who can recite Han Solo's lines from memory or will come dressed as a storm trooper.

"It will give you chills, even if you aren't a 'Star Wars' fan," she said. "You are basically overwhelmed by the story. It pretty much gives you the best parts of 'Star Wars.' "
Hmmmm ...

A live show, and tour, in October ...

Who wants to bet against a CD and DVD out, just in time for Christmas?


This Date ... On The Garlic


8 August 2007... On The Garlic


"What If Spartacus Had To Account For 190,000 AK-47 assault rifles and pistols ..."

Three For The Taking Today ... The Foreign Policy Brouhaha

Top Ten Cloves: How Barry Bonds Celebrated Breaking Hank Aaron's Homerun Record Last Night


8 August 2006... On The Garlic


Breaking News - Developing Story! Website Rebukes Own Candidate; Lieberman’s Website Shuts Itself Down, Saying It Wants To Stay A Democrat; Site Wishes Candidate Well, But Can’t Back His Potential Independent Run

Top Ten Cloves: Ideas President Bush Has For Getting Israel and Hezbollah To Agree To U.N. Resolution


8 August 2005... On The Garlic


Netanyahu Swears, Storms Out Of Israel Cabinet a la Novak; Later Apologizes To CNN; Denies Any Involvement In CIA Leak Case

Bolton Defends Novak; Laments Not Using Same Tactic, Cussing With Senate Panel

Top Ten Cloves: Signs That Your University Is Insulting Native Americans


Thursday, August 06, 2009

Top Ten Cloves: Things North Korean leader Kim Jong-il Received For Releasing The Two U.S. Journalists

News Item: Bill Clinton gets two US journalists pardoned from North Korea: UPDATED with a Bolton

10. The opportunity to bitch-slap John Bolton

9. Beer Summit at the White House, but with Bush and Cheney, over all that "Axis of Evil" stuff

8. A date with that irritating woman from the Progressive Auto Insurance commercials

7. Promise of a starring role, if ever a sequel is made to Mystic Pizza, as owner of the pizza place

6. A signed, framed reproduction of one of President Barack Obama's birth certificates

5. Years' supply of Sham Wow

4. Since they are a favorite of President Clinton, the rights to Krispy Kreme franchise in North Korea

3. A two-week stay at the House on C Street

2. That if he criticizes Keith Olbermann, Olbermann won't name him to the "Worst Persons" list

1. Nothing - Senator John Ensign's parents already paid him, for the release of the hostages




Bonus Links


Ben Armbruster: Even After North Korea Frees American Journalists, Bolton Insists Clinton Trip Was A Mistake

Joe Sudbay (DC): CNN already asking: Could Clinton's "high-profile presence backfire?"

Melissa McEwan: Welcome Home

TBogg: The Ransom of Red Chief Ass

Joe Sudbay (DC): Could the U.S. send Bush anywhere?

If Only Healthcare Reform Allows Us To Bill Doctors For Waiting Time

Good Evening Garlic Fans

Our apologies for leaving you empty yesterday (Wednesday), as we did have a few posts in the pipeline, that we had intended to get up last evening.

It was the last throes of the oppressive heat and humidity wave, and we were anxiously awaiting the roaring thunderstorms predicted, that was going to rush in cooler, dryer air.

Here in the city, no such storms arrived, however, the cooler, dryer air did, as evening settled in.

Okay, so far, right?

Wrong.

Early evening brought on some trouble on the homefront, and the need to get the Aunt we care for out on, yet another, hospital run, in what turned out to be quite familiar, a reoccurring, and easily treatable problem.

What ended up more cumbersome, was the 5+ hours in the ER, with nearly all but about 10-minutes of that, just sitting around, waiting, waiting, and more waiting.

Maybe we need to get them to add some sort of "Patients Rights" into the Healthcare bills, something that allows said patient, to bill back the Doc's, who, at times, seem oblivious to the fact, that you are there, waiting on them, looking to get answers, and or, action.

Give us that, and I won't mind camping out in the ER, knowing that I, too, would be making some money on the deal.

So, today, we got one, and will be, likely, more of a "catch-up", the next day, or two..

As always, we are most appreciative of your visits to, and reading of, The Garlic.




This Date ... On The Garlic


6 August 2008... On The Garlic


Of Creamy White House Stationary ...

Weekend Special - Sautéed Cloves


6 August 2007... On The Garlic


Romney Aide Instrumental In Exposing Fake Steve Jobs; Stalked Internet Cafes, Wearing Black Turtlenecks, Even Passing Himself Off As The FSJ


6 August 2006... On The Garlic


Weekend Special - Sautéed Cloves


6 August 2005... On The Garlic


Weekend Special - Sautéed Cloves


Tuesday, August 04, 2009

Happy B'Day Satchmo!

While some, today, will be celebrating the birthday of our current President (to which Greg Mitchell had a good Tweet - "sincerely hope there is NO birthday bash for Obama at Madison Sq Garden tonite with a blonde, busty movie star introducing him."), we here at The Garlic, choose to go with one that's bigger.



On August 4, 1901, a child was born, who would grow to become one of the best, and most celebrated, artist in history of the planet.

Today is the birthday of Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong.

From Wikipedia;

Renowned for his charismatic stage presence and deep, instantly recognizable voice almost as much as for his trumpet-playing, Armstrong's influence extended well beyond jazz, and by the end of his career in the '60s, he was widely regarded as a profound influence on popular music in general: critic Steve Leggett describes Armstrong as "perhaps the most important American musician of the 20th century."[4] Flea once proclaimed that "Louis Armstrong was probably the greatest musician that ever lived...one note implies that if he wanted to he could play ten billion notes, but just one simple note is a beautiful thing." [5]



Rather than prattle on, much better to listen to "Pops".

This one is a favorite;

Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington - Azalea


Azalea (1990 Digital Remaster) - Duke Ellington & Louis Armstrong


You should also hear these two;

Stardust Louis Armstrong




Duke Ellington & Louis Armstrong - C Jam Blues





Links


Redhot Jazz: Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong

Louis Armstrong House Museum

The Louis Armstrong Discography

Good (Belated) Post Alert: The Day Louis Armstrong Made Noise




Walmart To Girl Scouts: "Tough Cookies!"

What's next for Walmart?

Are they going to reproduce famous childrens books, plugging themselves into them?

You know, like "Little Red Riding Hood", with the girl going to Walmart to pick up the flowers suggested by the Big Bad Wolf?

Jack and Jill.

"Jack and Jill go up a hill
To fetch a pail of water.
Jack fell down and broke his crown,
And Jill came tumbling after."
So, in this new story, Jack and Jill trot off to Walmart, to buy a new, non-spill bucket, probably made in China, and unaware of the lead paint.

Why the Walmart outrage today?

This screaming headline that fell into our Inbox;

Mom Accuses Walmart of Going After Girl Scouts ... Says Retailer Rolls Out Private-Label 'Fake' Thin Mints, Tagalongs
Walmart, which has been going after a lot of brands lately with the restage and expansion of its Great Value private label, now appears to be taking on the Girl Scouts.

[snip]

Ms. Harquail was for years the "Cookie Mom" for her daughter's troop, so she said she recognized right away the distinct flavor and texture of Thin Mints and Tagalongs, the Girl Scouts' two most popular varieties, when she sampled them at the recent BlogHer conference in Chicago. Trouble is, they weren't Girl Scout cookies. They were "beta" versions of Great Value products, which the retailer was touting heavily in a substantial presence at the event for mainly mommy bloggers.


And, on her blog, C.V. Harquail adds;
I take these fake cookies, this threat to the Girl Scouts by Wal-mart, quite personally. For several years, I was the Cookie Mom for my daughters’ troop, teaching the girls how to set goals, budget their time and money, and work together to sell cookies. I’ve seen the girls’ excitement when it’s time to sell, and their pride when they get to deliver the cookies. And, I’ve slept in the damp tent on the camping trips that the cookie proceeds paid for. So yeah, this one really hits home.

Wal-mart can sell all the hunting equipment, cheap plastic gizmos and clothes made in sweatshops that it wants to sell. But why must they encroach upon the market of a non-profit? Why do they have to go after the Girl Scouts?

It's probably just the beginning of a huge plot of Walmart's, the ultimate goal of disbanding and destroying the Girl Scouts.

After all, you don’t want to have a group of young, organized girls, who may grow up to want to stay organized, like, say, in a union that would better their workplace environment.


Bonus Walmart Riffs

Wal-Mart Watch

Brave New Films Robert Greenwald - Walmart: The High Cost of Low Cost

Shop Until You Drop ... Dead! ... Or: Black Groundhog Day

Walmart To Appeal $172M California Fine ...Workers Will Have To Continue To Go Without Meals While Case Stays In Courts

With New War Room, Bush Calls On Wal-Mart To Join Coalition Forces ...Retail Giant 'Could Outfit Millions of Troops"; Military Will Limit Benefits and Consider Waiver For Illegal Workers


Stop The Presses!

Well, figuratively, anyway.

Editor & Publisher has a fun "Question of the Day" today;

QUESTION OF THE DAY for Tuesday: What Is Your Favorite 'Newspaper Movie'? Vote Here!

We post today's question in the headline above. Here's your chance to pick, and discuss, the movie about newspapers -- or featuring a reporter or editor or publisher or columnist or what have you -- that you like the best (or love to hate). Here's a how-to-run-a-newspaper clip from Citizen Kane (below) but feel free to name your own from the past hundred years. Maybe you have another ace in the hole? Add your comments below. If you simply want to name your pick without explanation, fine, we will tally the votes and announce the E&P winner.

Lot's of great ones to pick from ...

For our money, this one deserves to be high on the list - Ace In The Hole



Go over to E&P and add in to the list.

This Date ... On The Garlic


4 August 2008... On The Garlic


Six Degrees of John McCain - From Obama's "Energy Policy" To McCain's Media Donuts ...Or; McCain, Republicans Riding On Their Spare Donut

You Wanted More Humor In The Campaign, Right John?

Barack Obama's Giant Schlong!

Top Ten Cloves: Things Brett Favre Can Expect On His Return To The Green Bay Packers


4 August 2007... On The Garlic


The Night of the Jackal ... And A New Garlic Song - The Congress Sleeps Tonight


4 August 2006... On The Garlic


Top Ten Cloves: Reasons Nobody In Bush Administration Or Pentagon Will Say Iraq Is In Civil War


4 August 2005... On The Garlic


'Rock, Paper, Scissors' Gives President His Choice of War Phrasing; Beats back Rumsfield After Downing Cheney and Rice; May Adopt Game To Solve Other Policy Matters

Top Ten Cloves: Potential Unforeseen Problems With Cloning A Dog


Monday, August 03, 2009

Of Palin, Ahmadinejad and LaRouche

Another day (and night) on the sidelines, between a busy day on the homefront, and the continued heat, and more so, heavy-duty humidity ...

It's zappin' my writing mojo ...

So, tonight we point you to the post-of-the-day, honors going to Juan Cole, with a post over on Salon;

Sarah Palin, meet Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ...You two right-wing populists have a surprising amount in common

Is Sarah Palin America's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad? The two differ in many key respects, of course, but it is remarkable how similar they are. There are uncanny parallels in their biographies, their domestic politics and the way they present themselves -- even in their rocky relationships with party elders
Check it out ... It is most entertaining ...

Hmmm ...

Now, we once tied Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Lyndon LaRouche ...

Does that make, extending the degrees-of-separation, Ms. Ya'Bet'cha the female LaRouche?

Oh well ... Here's a tune for them all, from one of our all-time favorite vocalists (and getting mighty peeved that no one has posted his rendition of 'Send In The Clowns', for you can throw out all the others, it's the absolute best treatment of the workhorse tune - Seek it out, for you will be rewarded.)

Bill Henderson - I've Got A Crush On You


Ive Got A Crush On You - Bill Henderson



This Date ... On The Garlic


3 August 2007... On The Garlic


Inner Turmoil Has Bush Blaming Bridge Collapse On Al Qaeda In Iraq; Cheney Points To Iran; White House Torn Apart, Aides Sniping At Each Other; DHS's Chertoff Ad-Libs "Dry Run" Scenario As Middle Ground


3 August 2006... On The Garlic


Top Ten Cloves: Things Senate May Do To Keep Non-Senators Off The Senators-Only Elevator


3 August 2005... On The Garlic


Second Palmeiro Bombshell: Tests Positive For Cialis; Star Slugger Lucrative ED Endorsement Deal With Viagra In Jeopardy

Gore To Appeal Neilsen Ratings On First Broadcast

Top Ten Cloves: Evidence of "Intelligent Design" In President Bush's Life


Sunday, August 02, 2009

Flamenco Sketches

Well, it was Sunday, and another hot, humid day, so we didn't spend a great deal of time at the computer.

Rather then force anything, we found a pretty good tune to close down the weekend with (or, for that matter, anytime you need to chill out).

Back tomorrow, with, hopefully, a few posts.

Meanwhile, enjoy!

Flamenco Sketches-Miles Davis




This Date ... On The Garlic


2 August 2008... On The Garlic


Jesus, It Sounded Like A Violation of the Rico Act!

Bob Herbert Calls Out Stumblin' Bumblin John McCain!

ABC's Jake Tapper Walks Away With The Golden McPenis!

Is John McCain Buggering Little Boys?

Citizen's Arrest ... Brilliant!


2 August 2006... On The Garlic


Top Ten Cloves: Possible Acts Of Atonement For Mel Gibson


2 August 2005... On The Garlic


Annan To Welcome Bolton, But No Share In Profits; U.N. Leader Says Must Be "Approved" To Get Cut of Illegal Gains

Bush Defends Rove: Wants More Leaks; Has "Complete Confidence" and Big Agenda For Top Political Advisor

Top Ten Cloves: Ways To Screw Up On Your First Day As U.N. Ambassador