ThinkFast AM: June 23, 2006
ThinkFast AM: June 23, 2006
The Bush administration has gained access to financial records from a vast international database and examined banking transactions involving thousands of Americans. “Treasury officials did not seek individual court-approved warrants or subpoenas, instead relying on broad administrative subpoenas for millions of records.” The program has not received specific Congressional approval or authorization.
Congratulations Paris Hilton. Yesterday, the House voted to cut the estate tax, exempting from taxation “individual estates up to $5 million and couple’s estates up to $10 million.”
Gen. George W. Casey, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, said Iranian support for extremists inside Iraq has shown a “noticeable increase” this year. “We are quite confident that the Iranians, through their covert special operations forces, are providing weapons, IED technology and training to Shia extremist groups in Iraq,” he said.
In April, President Bush blamed high gas prices on “boutique fuels,” localized fuel blends that help states meet clean air rules. But a new EPA task force study proves Bush wrong.
In the words of Justice Antonin Scalia, passing a constitutional amendment to ban flag burning “dilutes the very freedom that makes this emblem so revered.â€
Representatives of three intelligence agencies downplayed claims by Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) and Rep. Peter Hoekstra (R-MI) that they had found the WMD in Iraq. The intelligence officials said the munitions had been produced prior to the ’91 Gulf War, that they had been degraded, and that there is no evidence of post-’91 munitions. Meanwhile, “a lone American†continues to wage his private battle to locate the WMD.
The Federal Trade Commission — the agency charged with fighting identity theft — has “lost two government laptops containing sensitive personal data.” Data of approximately 1,100 people were on the laptops stolen from an FTC attorney’s locked car 10 days ago.
The Supreme Court unanimously ruled yesterday that businesses can be held financially liable if they retaliate against employees who file discrimination complaints.
Goverment ethics group CREW has released 108 pages of Department of Labor (DOL) documents showing extensive contacts between DOL officials and conservative lobbyist and executive director of the anti-union group Center for Union Facts, Richard Berman.
And finally: After his recent conviction in the Abramoff scandal, former White House official David Safavian is feeling “rather numb — sort of an emotional paralysis.” But don’t worry, it isn’t all sadness for Safavian: “Just this morning, I even found myself laughing, as Katie [daughter] danced to ‘The Wiggles.’ So I am keeping some degree of perspective.”
What did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.
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Congratulations Pete Coors, you got what you wanted. Virtually no estate tax. You and the other 5 families get your share of $750 million. Congrats.
June 23rd, 2006 at 9:11 amThe rest of us? Oh, we’re f*ed, not that Republicans care. Welcome to the new gilded age folks.
I’m shocked. I actually agree with Tony Scalia for a change!
June 23rd, 2006 at 9:11 amCongratulations Paris Hilton. Yesterday, the House voted to cut the estate tax, exempting from taxation “individual estates up to $5 million and couple’s estates up to $10 million.â€
A small victory, I guess. Previously, during another attempot by the Republicans to totally eliminate the estate tax, the Democratics proposed setting the kick-in figure at $5,000,000 and the Republicans defeated it. They must have realized that the public would not support a total estate tax repeal, so I guess they agreed to the $5 million number for individuals. At least for now. Who knows what will happen after this comes out of conference? It might “accidentally” get changed to exempting the first $5 billion.
June 23rd, 2006 at 9:22 amThank God Paris Hilton will be able to keep more of her money. I was afraid somebody in the government would take it from her. Better she has it than the Department of Defense.
Can the IRS tax Iran? If not, bomb them today.
Pakistan is our ally. Thank God for that too, since they’re arming the Taliban.
Here it is:
…a member of Parliment who lives about an hour away from Kabul rushed in the door. “The police station near my house was attacked last night. Guns and rockets hit it for about forty minutes. At first I was trying to figure out what to do and then I realized there was nothing I could do to stop it so I went back to sleep.”
“Was it the Taliban?” I asked.
“There are very few Taliban left in Afghanistan,” said the MP. “You want a message to America? Tell them this! DON’T HELP PAKISTAN. Pakistan trains the people who attack us. Pakistan arms the attackers. Pakistan finances the attackers with money it gets from America. The people who attacked the police station last night were NOT Taliban. There are very few Taliban. These people also burned down an orphanage. Who are ‘They’? ‘They’ are the Americans. The Americans did it — by giving money and support to Pakistan. Please tell people in America this — and ask them to stop!”
http://jpstillwater.blogspot.com/
June 23rd, 2006 at 9:31 am.5% of Americans will benefit from an Estate Tax repeal.
99.5% of us will pay for the revenue lost.
America is becoming a Monarchy.
Let’s not ‘Beat Around The Bush’ here…what’s fair about this?
Ralph Reed. Now there’s a real piece of work. Bastardizing
the word of God under the guise of the Christian Coalition while
taking in millions from Abramoff’s lies to Native Americans.
How’s the golf game going, Ralph?
Oh, & Mr. Safavian…we’re so happy to hear you can still laugh.
Remember that when that cell door slams you can laugh yourself
into hysteria. Say Hi to Tom, OK?
As to the financial records & the Bushitters, does this really surprise
June 23rd, 2006 at 9:34 amanyone? Warrants were a tool for people following the law.
The only laws this administration follows are ‘ME FIRST’.
Pathetic
The Bush administration has gained access to financial records from a vast international database and examined banking transactions involving thousands of Americans.
I heard this on NPR right when I woke up this morning. I rushed to the TV expecting it to be a top story on the news, nothing. Then I checked online, nothing. Didn’t see it on Yahoo News’ front page, and didn’t see it on my favorite blogs, until I saw it here. I guess we’ve become desensitized to how invasive the government has become.
June 23rd, 2006 at 9:36 am#2 – Don’t be too shocked, I’m right there with you. I think it’s more along the lines of a stopped clock being “right” at least twice a day.
Either that or he realizes that once you open to door on stifling free speech it’s a door that will never be successfully closed.
While I would not burn the flag as any sort of “expression”, I think that making it sacrosanct would be the wrong thing to do. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, that’s mine.
June 23rd, 2006 at 9:38 am#6 – Actually, I think it’s because a very small percentage of Americans have international dealings with banks. Maybe I’m wrong about the news, but it looks to only affect people who’ve opened accounts outside the US.
June 23rd, 2006 at 9:41 amThe Bush administration has gained access to financial records from a vast international database and examined banking transactions involving thousands of Americans. “Treasury officials did not seek individual court-approved warrants or subpoenas, instead relying on broad administrative subpoenas for millions of records.†The program has not received specific Congressional approval or authorization.
And think of this: the banking data as already been put in the same database where the NSA has the data of national and international phone calls, the data of flying companies, the data of Internet Providers (this include data on blog’s access), data of members of “suspicious” organizations (as Quakers, ecologists, antiwar protesters), the police data (remember when you smoked weed way back at the Uni, got DWI, or simply speeded with your first car and you were caught?), the Social Security numbers, VA data… Well, all that, and more, is just now in the same giantic database in some basement in Quantico.
Now, talk me again of the “free country, beacon of all countries liberties…”.
June 23rd, 2006 at 9:47 am#6, I think that’s why they just arrested 7 “terrorists” in Miami. To deflect from the fact that Bush is breaking the law again. I guess the terror alerts don’t work any more–haven’t had one since the election.
June 23rd, 2006 at 9:50 amAll my working life Friday’s were the best…Always looked forward to two day’s off, reprive from driving and laboring for others….Time with the family, do the grocery, laundry stuff to get ready for the Monday start over again thing. A little gardening, canning, time with the kid’s…
.Fast forward to 2000 and the bush administration…Every day of the week is media blitz day and Fridays are dumb down dirty tricks day…..Geeeees it will be so nice to boot out all these corrupt politicians……………Blessings we need them
June 23rd, 2006 at 9:52 amDoes any of this surprise any of us? I hope not, not after almost 6 years.
Let’s all hope that dems capture at least one of the Congressional branches. Then, maybe, we could actually see some REAL investigations about this Executive barnch and some reasonable judges, not the dirty little brownshirts dumbya keeps sending up.
June 23rd, 2006 at 9:53 amThe congress has voted on the side of creating an aristocracy. Never has any group of people been so Anti-American EVER. The super rich have earned the right to do whatever they please to this country. Millionaire congressmen and senators could care less about what the majority of Americans think or want. This vote make that a fact and should be loud and clear, except for the deaf 40% people with limbaughtomies.
June 23rd, 2006 at 10:02 amWell, my husband received his letter yesterday that his information “may have been” included in the veterans information “stolen” from the VA officials home. This administration hasn’t screwed us enough, just another day in wonderland!!
June 23rd, 2006 at 10:02 amHoly crap, now Scalia is commenting on the constitutionality of proposed legislation? Even though I agree with him just this once, he has no business shooting his mouth off. Totally inappropriate.
He’s getting too big for his britches.
June 23rd, 2006 at 10:05 am#14 Jules,
Wow, your husband’s letter arrived only yesterday??? I got mine about 7-10 days ago. Just a letter telling us what we may have already known if we watched the news (or progressive blogs). Still, I was surprised they sent mine as soon as they did. Sorry your husband’s took so long to reach him. Good luck with that. I think that because of my past credit problems, if anyone tried to “steal” my iderntity, they might regret it very quickly. Still, that’s not much consolation.
June 23rd, 2006 at 10:07 ammakes me wonder if the identity thieves pull a credit history of their victims before deciding which ones to go after.
June 23rd, 2006 at 10:12 amYayyy…….yaaayyyy no deth tax fur us God fearing conservative Americans Yay .Yur not gonna give my hard urned money to the lay z welfare system !!! YaYYYY
June 23rd, 2006 at 10:14 amAmerica is most definitely a plutocracy. Calling it a democracy would be nonsense.
June 23rd, 2006 at 10:15 amWe have always been very careful with our credit so I am afraid of what could happen. I was hoping we would escape this particualr nightmare. I have been feeling so angry lately with all that is going on in this country. now one more thing to pile on.
June 23rd, 2006 at 10:16 amAnyone else suspicious of all the identity thefts over the last couple of years? future economic balcklisting,blackmailing,seizure of assets for all those who do not support the King?
June 23rd, 2006 at 10:19 amYou know it’s a crazy idea when even Scalia is against it. I think that counts as the 1st freedom he has every stood up for in his life.
June 23rd, 2006 at 10:22 amWith a $5/10 million cap?
Sorry, I have no problem with that. I’ve seen enough family farms liquidated to feel that having a few wealthy strumpets take advantage of it is a small cost to my community.
Feel free to flame me I suppose…
June 23rd, 2006 at 10:22 amGeneral Casey and al Zarqawi seem to have the same goal. Linking Iran to Iraqi terrorist attacks so that the USA will get itself into a war with Iran.
June 23rd, 2006 at 10:23 amBlessings we need them
Comment by Sharon Cox
Sharon, we can be relieved that Congress is taking the day off. If they’re taking today, and all of the other days they’re taking off, they can’t waste anymore time on non-binding resolutions and tax breaks for the rich. I, for one, will have to work until the day I drop in my tracks.
June 23rd, 2006 at 10:26 am#23. Drew Mackenzie — June 23, 2006 @ 10:22 am
I have read repeatedly that few family farms are liquidated to pay taxes. Most are sold because the next generation has insufficient interest in farming. Do you have links?
June 23rd, 2006 at 10:31 amIt seems to me that if we really work to get the American public to understand that at the nexus of all of this crap is one huge crime of the century: Our own administration was behind the attacks of 9/11, then this whole evil house of cards will come crashing down.
9/11 has been the basis for stealing all of our freedoms, for attacking innocent countries, for bankrupting our own country, for torture and “extraordinary rendition.” Once enough people figure out that our own evil government was behind these attacks, we might finally see massive change.
Am I crazy? Watch the films. Look it up. Read about it. It is undeniable that the Bush admin was behind 9/11, and sooner or later the general public will figure it out.
Let the flaming begin.
June 23rd, 2006 at 10:33 amDrew,
June 23rd, 2006 at 10:37 amMost of the farms liquidated where I live in PA. are liquidated due to the fact that the children no longer want to farm, the once cheap land has turned into big bucks and the families want to cash in,some move to more rural areas to continue farming while making big profits on the sale. There are buyers who want to continue to farm like the Amish and the like, but the farms go to the highest bidder who divides them up as small as p,ossible,usually estates and “gentlemen’”s farms.
Farmers get their real estae tax breaks for farm land and have the option of preserving their farms amongst many other options, they also sell off lots that they bought for $1,,000/acre for $65,000. They mostly chose the big bucks. Not buying that one Drew.Everyone pay their share.
Are gentleman’s farms like brothels?
June 23rd, 2006 at 10:40 amcynicalgirl
“I think that’s why they just arrested 7 “terrorists†in Miami. To deflect from the fact that Bush is breaking the law again. I guess the terror alerts don’t work any more–haven’t had one since the election.”
Your right, we should just ignore terror threats in America, because dealing with them might help Conservatives.
In April, President Bush blamed high gas prices on “boutique fuels,†localized fuel blends that help states meet clean air rules. But a new EPA task force study proves Bush wrong.
June 23rd, 2006 at 10:42 amThis I find hard to believe, does economy of scale stop working once you start making gas?
Good morning all. #8 – Dem Soldier, of course when warrantless wiretaps were first revealed it supposedly only targeted international calls – what disturbs me more than what we do know is what we don’t know – yet.
#14 & 16 – Wayne and Jules, I received my letter last week also. Having done everything possible to prevent theft of my personal info it really pisses me off to find out that government hacks are carrying it on discs where ever they go.
June 23rd, 2006 at 10:46 amThe above paragraph on discrimination suits is a bit misleading. Businesses have been held liable before. What is new is the lower showing of harm required to have an actionable case:
That standard is more favorable to workers than what has been used in most federal courts and what was backed by the Bush administration. Lower courts hearing claims of retaliation typically have required workers to show they were demoted, had their pay cut or faced other actions that directly affected their job status.
The high court said workers could win retaliation claims by showing they were victims of more subtle reprisals, such as being put on a different shift, excluded from training or harassed outside the workplace.
Breyer stressed that Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act “depends for its enforcement upon the cooperation of employees who are willing to file complaints.” He wrote for all of the justices except Samuel Alito, who agreed with the court’s decision favoring White but said its standard would not be practical on the job.
Also unusual is the unanimous court on this one.
June 23rd, 2006 at 10:48 amThe Family farm’s enemy is Corporate farming, price fixing and scale. NOT estate taxes
June 23rd, 2006 at 10:51 amThe Bush administration has gained access to financial records from a vast international database and examined banking transactions involving thousands of Americans.
Wayne and Quadrajet – kind of funny how this could be realted to the possibility of the VA data having been “stolen.” Are you guys involved with any anti-war groups or go to anti-war rallies? I ask because we are and we do. We ecven went down to Crawford last summer to meet Cindy Sheehan.
June 23rd, 2006 at 11:02 amAs far as the money transfer thang goes, isn’t the biggest obstacle the Hawla system?
June 23rd, 2006 at 11:03 am#34 – You’re correct, GG, but they will never believe it.
June 23rd, 2006 at 11:03 amJules – hadn’t considered that possibility, but yes, I rarely miss an opportunity to attend a rally. Since I’m in Houston I also enjoy the occaisional anti-Delay rally, so I’ve always assumed that my name was on ‘the list’.
June 23rd, 2006 at 11:15 amJules,
We don’t go to anti-war rallies or events (though, of course, Jane and I are both opposed to the war in Iraq). I have written angry e-mails to the president, but I know he’s never read a single one.
June 23rd, 2006 at 11:17 amJules and Wayne – I’m sure you noticed that the letter was distributed via the IRS. But that was just a legal technicallity:) Apparently the VA has all of our info with the exception of our addresses.
June 23rd, 2006 at 11:20 amWe even went down to Crawford last summer to meet Cindy Sheehan.
Comment by Jules — June 23, 2006
I figure I’m on “the list” too. I met Cindy in DC at the State of the Union Protest and played the bagpipes (Amazing Grace) for her son and all the other fallen.
I’m planning on going the last weekend in July, right after I finish the bar.
meanwhile: “The Bush administration has gained access to financial records from a vast international database and examined banking transactions involving thousands of Americans.”
Now, we’ve been told these are narrowly tailored programs, aimed just at the terrorists. You know what that means – thousands of Americans are terrorists!
June 23rd, 2006 at 11:29 amAre gentleman’s farms like brothels?
Comment by bhealy
Cool.
June 23rd, 2006 at 11:30 amI have written angry e-mails to the president, but I know he’s never read a single one.
Comment by Wayne A. Schneider
But your name is probably on “the list.”
June 23rd, 2006 at 11:33 amBut your name is probably on “the list.â€
Comment by Zookeeper — June 23, 2006 @ 11:33 am
Oooh, a badge of honor. I’d like that.
June 23rd, 2006 at 11:35 amI have written angry e-mails to the president, but I know he’s never read a single one.
Comment by Wayne A. Schneider
Try including pictures Wayne.
June 23rd, 2006 at 11:36 am#25 Zookeeper, you are right, that’s what happened to me….Worked untill I nearly dropped.
June 23rd, 2006 at 11:36 amGood posts all…..leaving for my tree hugging and poster painting…Blessings
“Try including pictures Wayne.”
June 23rd, 2006 at 11:37 amHA, thats great.
Comment by Briseadh na Faire — June 23, 2006 @ 11:29 am
First – good luck on the Bar exam. What state are you taking it in? Don’t worry if after you take it you are sure you failed. Everyone thinks that. It is the people who are sure they passed that end up failing. The MBE is really not that bad, just long.
That is very cool that you went down there and played for them. It is also very cool that you play the bagpipes. What made you take up that instrument?
June 23rd, 2006 at 11:39 amI met Cindy in DC at the State of the Union Protest and played the bagpipes (Amazing Grace) for her son and all the other fallen.
Comment by Briseadh na Faire
That’s so lovely. I’m getting teary just thinking of it.
June 23rd, 2006 at 11:42 amI respect Cindy Sheehan so much. She literally fell on the floor with her grief, but she got back up and is taking a stand for other mother’s children. She’s a great hero to me. I hope to meet her one day.
Clyde has some good ones on his website. Maybe I could include some of those. I especially like the Tin Man/Scarecrow one.
June 23rd, 2006 at 11:43 amWe have always been very careful with our credit so I am afraid of what could happen. I was hoping we would escape this particualr nightmare. I have been feeling so angry lately with all that is going on in this country. now one more thing to pile on.
Comment by Jules — June 23, 2006 @ 10:16 am
Jules, Dem Soldier, Q-Jet, Wayne, and anyone else affected…
Read this on the Internet not long ago. If it’s not too late, and you haven’t thought of it yet, you need to call the 3 credit reporting agencies ASAP and have them flag your record. If anyone tries to obtain credit using your info, this will make it much more difficult. The side effect is that it will make it harder for you to get credit as well, but would be worth it.
June 23rd, 2006 at 11:46 amFAIRTAX.ORG
June 23rd, 2006 at 11:46 amWe have always been very careful with our credit so I am afraid of what could happen. I was hoping we would escape this particualr nightmare. I have been feeling so angry lately with all that is going on in this country. now one more thing to pile on.
Comment by Jules — June 23, 2006 @ 10:16 am
What pisses me off about damages done by thieves stealing checkbooks is that most if not all of the damage done is preventable using a simple step: All it takes is for retailers to ask for a photo ID when taking a check. (Not that it always works…see below).
My wife’s checkbook and billfold was stolen almost 2 years ago from where she worked. Only took a couple of days for the crooks to write $3000 worth of checks. After all was said and done, we were getting calls from stores 100 miles from home, one being in a neighboring state. Still getting calls from Dillard’s who has threatened to take us to court over a $500 check we did not write, this even after we’ve faxed the police report proving the check was stolen. They want us to pay the check to “save you from the embarassment of having to go to court.”
We found out later that one of the crooks did show my wife’s driver’s license and the clerk took the check anyway. It was later revealed that the clerk commented “It didn’t look much like you.” Amazing.
June 23rd, 2006 at 11:58 amWC,
I have often used my wifes debit/credit card. Despite having a decidedly female name, I have never been asked to produce ID.
June 23rd, 2006 at 12:01 pmOn the supposed terrist cell broke up in Miami. This is the government of GWB governing by fear again. It is 4 months and a few days until election time.
Between now and then you will hear about this cell on the news at least weekly. After the elections, the thing will go away.
There is no terrist cell folks. The CIA and FBI hired themselves an informant for probably about 1 million. He gives out phony information in droves, implicating all, including himself, in a conspiracy. No overt acts mind you, just conspiracies.
After the election all prosecution will stop because the informant will have “fled”. Yeah folks, he fled, straight into the witness protection program where he will be set up for life for doing this great service for his country and King Bush.
Please note that all defendants are black and are supposedly Muslims, and, the called themselves “soldiers” of something or other. A ready made group, ready for setting up and entrapment.
Yeah folks, this will all go away about election time. We have nothing to fear except fear its self, and Bushco will see that you get all the fear you want shoved down your throat. After all, neo-cons know what is best for this country, the one they have already ruined.
June 23rd, 2006 at 12:03 pmWC (and everyone worried about the SS# thefts),
Thanks, you’re right. Someone sent me an e-mail recently with a list of phone numbers we all should take down.
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289
These are the credit bureaus we should all contact. (The numbers came from an e-mail; I can only hope they are accurate.) Good advice, WC.
June 23rd, 2006 at 12:03 pmjoneser: http://www.jpfo.org/fairtax.htm
June 23rd, 2006 at 12:10 pmIn addition to warning the credit bureaus, KEEP CHECKING YOUR CREDIT REPORT. Don’t buy into one of those “we’ll check it for you and let you know” schemes. They don’t care. You are your own best advocate.
June 23rd, 2006 at 12:11 pmWC – I always thank clerks when they request an ID from me when using a credit card. I do not write checks anymore as this is just another item to keep track of. Sometimes they look at me like they think I am being sarcastic. I explain to them that I am grateful that they care enough about their customers to protect them from theft. They tell me that many people get very upset when asked for an ID. How stupid is that. Give someone a hard time for trying to protect your credit?
On a side note – this is kind of funny – Vuctoria Secret is the best store for checking ID’s. They check everytime.
June 23rd, 2006 at 12:16 pmThe Federal Trade Commission — the agency charged with fighting identity theft — has “lost two government laptops containing sensitive personal data.†Data of approximately 1,100 people were on the laptops stolen from an FTC attorney’s locked car 10 days ago.
Doesn’t the government have standards on how to store and keep information? Geez, I have client records for counseling, and I have to lock them up each night, and they cannot leave the building. You never leave a laptop computer in the car, even when its locked. Just read the police log in your local paper. Its common for cars with laptops in them to be broken into and the laptop stolen. I am tired of this government having no standards, no accountability, and using the “do as I say, not as I do” mentality.
June 23rd, 2006 at 12:19 pmYou are your own best advocate.
Comment by Zookeeper — June 23, 2006 @ 12:11 pm
Zooey,
Couldn’t think of better words for this morning.
June 23rd, 2006 at 12:22 pm#40,
June 23rd, 2006 at 12:34 pmThe first time I saw a bagpipe, I thought the player was torturing an octopus. I was amazed they could scream so loudly.
On the other hand, I play harp (harmonica) & people may have said the same about me.
Zooey,
Couldn’t think of better words for this morning.
Comment by For Truth
Especially in your circumstances right now. I haven’t heard anything about the AZ fires today. Better? Worse?
BTW – Did you get my comment from yesterday that I wasn’t being sarcastic when I asked you if you were choking in the smoke? If not, I wasn’t!
June 23rd, 2006 at 12:37 pmZooey,
Its all good, I was in a rough state yesterday afternoon, no worries.
The fires in AZ are getting better today, progress was made, and the fire in Sedona/Oak Creek canyon has not made it over the highway.
However, worries are increasing with forcasted winds today and this weekend. I am personally optimistic. We will see.
I appreciate your concern, you nice person you.
June 23rd, 2006 at 12:42 pmI heard on the news this morning, they are predicting 124º temps up in death valley. As it is my wife and will most likely stay inside or go to the beach, to hot to do anything else.
June 23rd, 2006 at 12:45 pmI appreciate your concern, you nice person you.
Comment by For Truth
I’m glad things are getting better in AZ, and with you. I remember one year when I lived in the Redding, CA area, it seemed like the whole state was on fire, and if I touched my face I would come away with gray smudges. It was terrifying because there wasn’t a damn thing I could do about any of it.
Stay optimistic and safe!
June 23rd, 2006 at 12:51 pm(Zooey – I like it) ;)
Yeah 89 degrees in Flagstaff today, we are gonna get irritable. I guess I could drink tonight?
June 23rd, 2006 at 12:52 pmThey tell me that many people get very upset when asked for an ID. How stupid is that. Give someone a hard time for trying to protect your credit?
Comment by Jules — June 23, 2006 @ 12:16 pm
Really! It’s one of those “Oh, stolen identity will never happen to me” beliefs.
I do wonder if that is why most clerks will not request ID…to avoid the confrontation with the customer they know will likely occur if they do so. With everything else going on in people’s lives, it’s one stressor that they would just as soon avoid.
June 23rd, 2006 at 1:24 pmIt is also very cool that you play the bagpipes. What made you take up that instrument?
Comment by Jules — June 23, 2006
Thanks. Well, I’m Scottish, and a music teacher. After I bought a kilt, the bagpipes seemed logical.
I’ll be taking the California Bar. It’s an endurance test: 3 days long.
And Sharon, good to see you’re still posting on occasion. Peace and Blessings to you, too.
June 23rd, 2006 at 1:38 pmThanks. Well, I’m Scottish, and a music teacher. After I bought a kilt, the bagpipes seemed logical.
Comment by Briseadh na Faire
Men in kilts — be still my heart…
June 23rd, 2006 at 1:45 pm;-)
June 23rd, 2006 at 1:52 pmThanks. Well, I’m Scottish, and a music teacher. After I bought a kilt, the bagpipes seemed logical.
I’ll be taking the California Bar. It’s an endurance test: 3 days long.
Comment by Briseadh na Faire — June 23, 2006 @ 1:38 pm
See how smart you are? My first purchase after a kilt would have been underwear!!
I took the NY bar in 1993 and the TX bar in 1999. After NY, TX was a cake walk. NY did not have a third day, TX did. The third day was all procedure which I love. Give me anything with rules. Is that what CA’s third days is?
June 23rd, 2006 at 1:58 pmWayne – I love that movie. I especially love the part when Marissa Tormei is on the stand. She was awesome.
June 23rd, 2006 at 2:29 pmAh yes…the two “youts.”
Wasn’t that Fred Gwynne’s last movie? He was a great actor. The Munsters is still one of my all-time favorite shows.
A little trivia here…I’ve always been fascinated with movie and TV shooting locations. As I understand it, the house that served as the Munsters’ home (for exterior shots) is still standing, although its look has been slightly altered for more recent TV shows.
June 23rd, 2006 at 3:06 pm#73 & 74,
So many great scenes and lines in that movie. I love the argument on the porch with her “(stomp)(stomp)(stomp) biological clock ticking”.
June 23rd, 2006 at 3:18 pmI am so glad to see ThinkProgress embracing the brilliant legal mind of Scalia. Fortunate for you guys, Bush is packin the Court with Scalias. Next Up, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who is violently ill and lying about it, will announce her retirement by this time next week.
June 23rd, 2006 at 4:24 pmZookeeper,
The CA bar: Tuesday and Thursday, 3 1-hour essay exams in the morning, followed by a 3-hour performance exam in the afternoon.
Wednesday, the MPE – a 3-hour multiple-choice test in the morning and again in the afternoon.
The MPE covers Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law & Proceedure, Evidence, Real Property, and Torts.
The essays can be on the above, plus Civil Proceedure, Community Property, Corporations, Professional Responsibility, Remedies, Wills, and Trusts. Frequently more than one subject area is tested in an essay.
Oh, and I loved “My Cousin Vinney” too!!!
June 23rd, 2006 at 7:57 pmGiven that BushCo is trying to destroy the EEOC, the recent SC unanimous ruling in FAVOR of worker’s rights (stunning), will really piss of BushCo. Were they making a point, perhaps?
June 24th, 2006 at 5:39 amCyra, probably just a brain fart on the part of the SCOTUS.
June 24th, 2006 at 10:43 amyer right. the death tax should still be charges to all dem rich folks! Ise means howse is all dem mexican wimmin supposed to pay for dem babies to be born so as they can become American citicens and such, ya know what i am sayin? and how is all dem projects in dem big cities gonna get dem folks paid, ya know what I am sayin and howse we gonna fund all dem schools so as dem kids can drop out at 16 ya know what i am sayin and whose gonn pay for all dat affirmitave action so as to pay back dem bad white folks for keepin dem slaves ya know what i am sayin and wees gots to get more taxes from dem rich debbils so as to pay for all dem programs ya know what i am sayin and whose gonna pay for my ol lady’s abortion cause , well you know what i’m sayin. and you know what i’m sayin and you know what i’m sayin and you know what i’m sayin…right?
June 24th, 2006 at 9:20 pmWow. That’s offensive, moonbat.
June 24th, 2006 at 9:30 pm