Queenie's Daughter

Chopped

2011-01-27T11:40:00.004-05:00

Yesterday I did not feel like leaving my house, the fridge looked empty. As I was determined not to go to the store, I knew I had to cook. The inventory was as follows: red potatoes, shallots, beets, tomato and carrots.

I boiled the red potatoes and let them cool and dry out a bit. I cooked down the shallots and carrots for a long time over low heat with olive oil and I added the following spices: curry, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, turmeric, Nigerian cayenne, salt and crushed black pepper. I diced the potatoes and added them, wih some olive oil, bit by bit to the vegetable curry mixture. I added water. In the rice maker, Richie mixed black long grain rice, brown rice, and tri colored orzo. The curry was served over the rice mixture and garnished with cold, chopped tomato splashed with a little Umeboshi.

I left the skins on the potato and it made the pure vegetable dish look meaty. The carrots were still hard enough to be a little crunchy, I cut the scallions long so they were like noodles,and the diced potatoes were whole and not disinegrated so the mixture was not pure mush. It was sweet, salty, rich and hearty. Richie took some to work today.

We saved the rest of the carrots and the beet for tonight's dinner. We'll steam them and eat them with the wild rice mix. YUM.

A Blast From the Past

2011-01-20T02:30:00.001-05:00

Catharsis

2011-01-19T14:08:00.017-05:00

Why I Quit My Job

i) The Money
I made decent money to be sure and for that I am grateful. But in Corporate America, a step back can be seen as a red flag to let you know that you are about to hit your head on a ceiling. As with all people in the department, I was notified of the "year end numbers" by phone. My bosses personal issues precluded him/her from coming to work regularly and so I got a phone call, was tersely commanded to shut my office door, and then notified that my bonus would be less by one third of what it was the previous year and that my raise would be .25% less than the inflationary increase of my rent stabilized apartment.

The phrase "we can discuss your salary more later this year" was taken in the spirit it was meant, namely as an empty promise to me and a way for my boss to stave off any embarrassment and postpone any response. The bonus was acknowledged to be less than what I received the previous year, but I was assured that it was the "top amount of all of the assistants." So I guess the manager title I had been assigned earlier in the year was in name only.

Funny that, because while my work load doubled and my yearly bonus fell I had been working smarter to help the team move ahead. Par for the course in these hard economic times I am sure. But hard to digest when you have seen the company's numbers and knew that there were people who received larger increases, promotions and bonuses because they were friends with/child of/or otherwise related to the executive team.

Bad Bonuses triggered a work slow down for many and the halls became noisy with sounds of disgruntled complaint. The mantra for many was, "I am just not going to work as hard." Tasks became more difficult to accomplish as staffers responsiveness slowed or stopped all together. It was demotivating to say the least. My work, which I enjoyed, was deadline oriented and I took pride in doing a good job and meeting my deadlines. That became more difficult when meeting after meeting was called where the only discussion was "how much work sucked." I kept plugging along, but noticed that in addition to my own responsibilities, I was now being asked to take on the extra work generated by those who decided they weren't getting paid enough to work so hard. I guess I should have talked to my boss. Oh right, he/she wasn't there ...

ii) The Lack of Leadership.
My boss’s personal problems (his/her delinquent yet pampered child) had been going on for over a year. There was general celebration this past summer when, having been AWOL since the previous December, by boss returned to work more often and seemed to be back in the zone. That lasted a few months and then there was another disappearing act. You can imagine the type of issues absentee leadership led to but I will spell them out anyway.
Absent of leadership the department suffered through:
1) Incredibly High Turnover.
2) No clear directive other than "put out this fire."
3) Lack of oversight led to shoddy work products resulting in more "fire" scenarios.
4) In order to stave off criticism, my boss created scapegoats whom he/she professionally humiliated and yet allowed to remain employed. No surprise then that the scapegoats stopped working and their work product was crap thus creating more "fires."
5) And then there were the actions which were either unethical, illegal or both. These actions were promoted and protected. When there was finally accountability, absent boss cried ignorance which led to more fires, more scapegoats and more turn over.
6) In order to maintain the illusion of leadership, the boss would occasionally attend weekly meetings where he/she excoriated the team for tardiness (a sin committed by only one person who was usually not in attendance because they were late) and decried the practice of attending staff lunches (which had been set up by upper management who were too high level to be involved in the staff meetings) and constantly reminded us that we needed to pull our socks up and work harder or else we would be replaced.

iii) The Last Straw
I was going to stick it out until August and in the meantime apply to grad schools and save some cash. Even with the usual overtime at work and factoring in an unusually busy tax season because of the high turnover and extra work load, I figured I would have time to achieve my goals. And then we discovered that my boss had overseen a project several years earlier (pre my tenure) which had been done wrong or not at all resulting in the filing of incorrect (or no) information for almost all of our companies in all of the jurisdictions where we conducted business. I had the dubious honor to unwind this ungodly mess and to assess our best and worst case scenario liabilities. At best, we were facing over 5,000 filings to remedy the situation and at worst we were looking at 55,000 filings and possible further actions required. Another fire, another set of fingers pointing to other people's failures in order to deflect responsibility and another scapegoat required.

I didn't want to be the fall girl and I could see the future.

So I went to my boss when she returned to work (she had been absent the first half of the first week of the new year and oh yeah - she skipped the office party) and presented my concerns. I was told that the attorney in charge was not in charge, rather, had "volunteered to help out" and that I needed to stop blaming others and get to work on managing the "Legacy Issue" that was not her fault, not my fault but (insert fingerpointing here.) It just wasn't true. I had gathered what I could of the documentation and it was my bosses signature on all of the original incorrect filings. I cried UNCLE and handed in my notice.

I was walked out that day and my subsequent personal emails of goodbye and thanks to my colleagues were blocked by the company server "sender denied". However, some got through and in return I receive many emails containing praise for the work I had done, best wishes for my future endeavors and in at least one instance, the expressed opinion that I had done the right thing because that person (an outside vendor) "could see no future for our department."

Just to be clear, my emails cited the reason for leaving as a desire to return to school and expressed nothing but gratitude for my experiences with the Company and my sincere best wishes for their (collective) future success. I heard through the grapevine that the word had been put out that I was fired. My last official day is tomorrow.

I still think my reasons were sound and will have to wait for the future to see if my gut sense that I jumped from a sinking ship was correct. For the sake of my colleagues, I hope I am wrong. But it doesn't really matter. I made a decision and am ready to move on.

I am taking this month to study for the GRE and reassess what I want from my next job. I have discovered a few things: 1) In my next position I want to work under a leader who is present and accountable and I want to be more present and accountable 2) I have a strong dislike of nepotism and 3) If I practice, I can suck less at math.

The best thing to come out of all this is that I get to tend to my marriage and visit my family. While I worked overtime to put out other peoples fires and prove to myself that I could play with the big boys, my little nieces and nephews have been growing up. One learned to walk, others moved into a new house and a new school. My baby sister just got her first apartment and starts school next week. My brothers are working, have new jobs, new places to live and are going back to school. My husband's passion for his creative work is an inspiration and I want to be available to provide more cheerleading and support. I am grateful for the time to relax, regroup and revisit what is important. I learned a great deal but am glad it is over and am excited to see what comes next.

2010-01-26T00:24:00.003-05:00

My New Desk

Get ready for go time at the writing table.

Happy 2010!

Actually...this is a duck...

2009-04-21T21:21:00.003-05:00

What went on before was a chicken standing on a Van. My apologies...Tiarra tip to Richie for pointing out the beak/duck situation.

You know, I showed that picture to a bunch of you and you never mentioned that my first effort was chicken. Were you having me on?

us

2009-04-20T20:18:00.000-05:00

oli

2009-04-20T20:17:00.002-05:00

sarah

2009-04-20T20:15:00.001-05:00

owen

2009-04-20T20:14:00.002-05:00

ter

2009-04-20T20:13:00.002-05:00

baby kate

2009-04-20T20:08:00.004-05:00

Mom and Me in NYC

2009-04-20T19:52:00.003-05:00

Get that Duck some Sneakers

2009-04-20T19:49:00.001-05:00

Bryan Nuckols Photo Shop Contest!

2008-12-10T22:39:00.006-05:00

"This is what you have to work with."

"The Challenge is on! Photo Shop Contest:
If you are unfamiliar with this, there is one rule, try to make the picture as hilarious as possible. Oh yeah and you have to use the photo provided, however you can splice it with any other photo you want. can be any part of the original."

Show your skills!

No Thing

2008-11-30T12:44:00.009-05:00

Who's to say what is happening on those days where nothing seems to spark interest and no starting point is visible. It is gray and raining, a climate which usually inspires me. Today - gunmetal blue flat nothing comes to mind.

All of the laundry sits. The filing and shredding do not beckon. Weblinks remain broken. Books lie untouched. Food is unappetizing. Music off.

Perhaps it is an apt end to a weekend filled with time wasted. Perhaps it is that mysterious time when work is being done so far deep in a place that no conscious light can make ideas ready before their time. Maybe all of my energy is coiled too tight to move. Packed into inertia. So solid that no illumination can get through.

And maybe this is the time work is being done. Maybe deep underneath ideas are being sorted out and feelings dealt with and future action is being crafted. Maybe my inability to see what is happening does not mean that nothing is going on. Perhaps this nothing is a great something after all.

That is how change happens to me. It feels like a great darkness and emptiness. But in reality, deep down there is movement and growth. It is like the wintertime of soul. Cold and hard consciousness does not perceive the tiny little seed that is warming and roasting and toasting and growing and waiting to spring into life.

Patience is the only creative action which makes sense right now. Let nothing be and see what happens. In that way there is an anticipation of the action that is to come.

Creativity is like that, isn't it? The more I chase it the more it slips away. But sure footed waiting ... ah...keeping the stage empty for the show will go on and the lights will go up and the mood will change and out of this fallow darkness I will see all that I left alone unfold, fragrantly; rich, ripe and beautiful.

It is this dark day that breeds my faith. It is this rainy nothingness that quenches the thirst of a soul which is at work even if I cannot see it.

Rilke, as so often happens, comes to mind.

For in a week or a month or maybe in an hour or tomorrow something will flow out of me and I will think "Now I have done it," but that isn't the truth. The truth is that it was done in the time of quiet nothingness.

Quiet nothingness is not no thing at all. It is the merely time before seeing. Now it is done.

If 'tis the season to welcome change...

2008-11-08T19:52:00.006-05:00

President Elect Obama should say NO to Summers

Dear President Elect Obama:

If this is the season for change you should say NO to Lawrence Summers. Please remember that Mr. Summers, when chief economist for the World Bank, was the author of the following memo in which he places US-centric concerns over the welfare of others.

This myopic world view, which embraces the selfish attitude of "its not my problem," is a rejection of your stated aim at sharing responsibilities. While Mr. Summers is surely an intelligent and capable economist, his willingness to propose morally reprehensible solutions for the sake of economic expediency preclude him from being qualified to lead this country in a new direction.

The Memo
DATE: December 12, 1991TO:
Distribution FR: Lawrence H. Summers
Subject: GEP 'Dirty' Industries:

Just between you and me, shouldn't the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs [Less Developed Countries]? I can think of three reasons:

1) The measurements of the costs of health impairing pollution depends on the foregone earnings from increased morbidity and mortality. From this point of view a given amount of health impairing pollution should be done in the country with the lowest cost, which will be the country with the lowest wages. I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up to that.

2) The costs of pollution are likely to be non-linear as the initial increments of pollution probably have very low cost. I've always though that under-populated countries in Africa are vastly UNDER-polluted, their air quality is probably vastly inefficiently low compared to Los Angeles or Mexico City. Only the lamentable facts that so much pollution is generated by non-tradable industries (transport, electrical generation) and that the unit transport costs of solid waste are so high prevent world welfare enhancing trade in air pollution and waste.

3) The demand for a clean environment for aesthetic and health reasons is likely to have very high income elasticity. The concern over an agent that causes a one in a million change in the odds of prostrate cancer is obviously going to be much higher in a country where people survive to get prostrate cancer than in a country where under 5 mortality is is 200 per thousand. Also, much of the concern over industrial atmosphere discharge is about visibility impairing particulates. These discharges may have very little direct health impact. Clearly trade in goods that embody aesthetic pollution concerns could be welfare enhancing. While production is mobile the consumption of pretty air is a non-tradable.

The problem with the arguments against all of these proposals for more pollution in LDCs (intrinsic rights to certain goods, moral reasons, social concerns, lack of adequate markets, etc.) could be turned around and used more or less effectively against every Bank proposal for liberalization.

Tiara Tip: http://www.whirledbank.org/ourwords/summers.html

You Meet the Nicest People...

2008-11-01T18:17:00.001-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EMcaQ3JJo4

November 1, 2008

2008-11-01T14:18:00.006-05:00

Last night I may have witnessed the setting of the world record for most people dancing to "Thriller" together. I was on a roof looking down on the Halloween Parade in NYC. I was supposed to be walking in that parade, as puppeteer weilding a bat (sonar not aluminum.) But after the "it's not manditory" bake off at work, the whole finding of the dead father and meeting his widow and a general over subscription to taking on responsibilites that are not mine as well as those that are undeniably mine, I was tired.

So I stood watching a parade from a rooftop drinking red bull when what I really wanted was merlot. I drank 4 red bulls and then the taurine set in and I started leaking what felt like cat piss from my eyes and sweating so bad we had to get the hell out fast and head back to the Hook.

I was home in time for the end of the 10 oclock news. Shockingly, no mention was made of the "Thriller" record setting. Not on FOX or MY9 or any other local channel.

All of this is to say 2 things. 1. What I consider to be wildly important goes by basically unrecorded by most of the rest of mankind and 2. Despite my overdeveloped sense of responsibility, the parade certainly went on just fine without me.

What a relief!

Ed. Note: What I witnessed was not even close to the world record of "Thriller" dancers which leads me to believe that life is far better when facts are left unchecked. What I did witness was the World Record of the Most People Queenie's Daughter ever saw Dancing to "Thriller" together which is, in point of fact, good enough for me.

Finding the Night

2008-02-04T18:54:00.003-05:00

Well if you are not here I am.
And so is your insistent voice saying
"Remember to feel with both sides"

I am.

Just checked out a piece by
Clarissa Pinkola Estes on
The Moderate Voicewebsite
about night bloggers.
About writing at night. Living at night.
She quotes Bukowski.
Reprints a poem, in fact.
A good poem.

I checked out a tarot card reading before I found the link above.
It sounded like Obama. I asked about career.
Change. Be the harbinger of change. Dare to wake up first.
Something or someone is coming to answer you.
You are meant to lead if you are courageous enough to live your love.

All this, and you aren't here to answer.
Or are you?

Do you know how much I adore the long magical spaces between 2 am, say, and dawn?
There is a sacredness in the stillness of the early nightlike morning.
I need more of that life.

How do you fit that into 9-5?

Wasn't Bukowski a postman? And Pinkola Estes works a "day job" and then comes home
to herself and her night rides. And at my day job, the interminable temp assignment, a kind insurance man suggested The NightHawks as good blues.

So Thank you ma'am, and ma'am and sirs.

The inner naval officer is forced to admit that he signed up so that he could have
those long night watches alone to himself in the middle of the ocean.

The panel points out that navigating from one's computer is already possible.
And perhaps the inner naval offer should just start telling her sea stories instead
of going back to school. The inner naval officer is willing to listen.

one thirty-six a.m.
by Charles Bukowski

I laugh sometimes when I think about
say
Céline at a typewriter
or Dostoevsky…
or Hamsun…
ordinary men with feet, ears, eyes,
ordinary men with hair on their heads
sitting there typing words
while having difficulties with life
while being puzzled almost to madness.
Dostoevsky gets up
he leaves the machine to piss,
comes back
drinks a glass of milk
and thinks about
the casino and
the roulette wheel.
Céline stops, gets up, walks to the
window,
looks out, thinks, my last patient
died today,
I won’t have to make any more
visits there.
When I saw him last
he paid his doctor bill…
it’s those who don’t pay their bills,
they live on and on.
Céline walks back,
sits down at the machine
is still for a good two minutes
then begins to type.
Hamsun stands over his machine thinking,
I wonder if they are going to believe
all these things I write?
He sits down, begins to type.
He doesn’t know what a writer’s block is…
he’s a prolific son-of-a-bitch
damn near as magnificent as
the sun.
He types away.
and I laugh
not out loud
but all up and down these walls,
these dirty yellow and blue walls
…my white cat asleep on the
table
hiding his eyes from the
light.
he’s not alone tonight
and
neither am I.

Charles Bukowski “one thirty-six a.m.”
©All Rights Reserved
Bukowski b 1920, d. 1994

Si Se Puede!

2008-01-13T22:02:00.000-05:00

Over at Air it Out with George, V. S. Lynch says:
"Many people say they would like to vote for Kucinich because they agree with many of the positions he supports. However, they will not vote for him because the media has deemed him "unelectable", thus their votes would be wasted.

Dennis Kucinich has won 10 elections. Hillary Clinton has won 2 elections. John Edwards has won 1 election. Barak Obama has won 4 elections. Obviously, Kucinich is electable."
<<more ....>>

Why wont that V. S Lynch just give it up. The MSM has spoken. Just because you are the best person for the job doesn't mean that you get air space. The Status Quo Must Be Maintained!

WHY!!!
I am with V. S. Lynch ...

Yes We Can elect Dennis Kucinich for President!

Then we can move on and be America again and work for peace, justice and opportunity for all.

Queenie's Words

2008-01-02T22:33:00.000-05:00

My mother could not have said it any better...
This column is from www.Airitoutwithgeorge.com on Sunday, December 30, 2007
Mukasey, Waterboarding, and the CIA Tapes
V. S. Lynch

After the disappointing Alberto Gonzales finally resigned as Attorney General, many people hoped that President George W. Bush would nominate to replace him someone who would conduct the business of the Department of Justice as if justice were the Justice Department's actual business.
read article...

Morning Announcements

2007-12-11T22:50:00.000-05:00

"True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country."
Kurt Vonnegut

BCC, Baby!

I fought to go there, you know. Part of my decision when it came to who I wanted to have custody of me was my consideration of what would help me more in the long run. I chose BCC. I graduated pretty much at the bottom of my class with an overall GPA of 1.09. I was the second highest absent senior of my year and my average weekly attendance was 2.5 days. I went to all my classes on Senior skip day. I lunched with the Vice Principal on Fridays. We met at the Wang building. When lunch ran late I was given a pass to my next class ... geometry.

My Geometry teacher was also the basketball coach. He told us that the greatest pick up line in the world was A Squared + B Squared = C Squared. He told us that for a whole semsester before cluing us in to Pythagoras.

I received my diploma in September. I had to take Art over the summer in order to graduate.

Notable alumni of B-CC:

Nick Baily, music industry notable and Director at Shore Fire Media
Tracy Chevalier, author of Girl with a Pearl Earring
Chet Culver, Governor of Iowa
Tommy Davidson, comedian and part of the cast of the TV show In Living Color
Andy Duncan, founding member of the band OK GO
Neal Fredericks, cinematographer, most notably for "The Blair Witch Project"
Joe Haldeman, noted science-fiction writer and author of "Forever War"
Hannah Hennighausen, and Shay Smith players on American University's 5-time defending Patriot League Field Hockey champions.
Robert Gordon, rockabilly singer
Laura Hillenbrand, author of Seabiscuit: An American Legend
Philip J. Kaplan, (aka Pud), notable internet personality and founder of Fuckedcompany.com and Adbrite
Daniel Kessler, guitarist and founder of the band Interpol
Neal Potter, County Executive of Montgomery County, 1990-1994
Jeff Raines and Rob Mercurio, founding members of the band Galactic
Joti Rockwell and Nathan Church Hubbard, founding members of the band Rockwell Church
Jonathan I. Schwartz, CEO of Sun Microsystems
Andy Serwer, journalist with Fortune magazine
David Simon (writer), creator and executive producer of the HBO series The Wire (TV series)
Daniel Stern, actor noted for playing Marv, one of the burglars from the first two Home Alone movies.

Why's and Wherefore's

2007-12-10T18:52:00.000-05:00

I decided to switch to the first person singular because it is easier. Writing in the 1st person plural was a good exercise but I am bored with it and would rather take advantage of the intimacy this space allows.

I was writing a bunch when I started this blog but as you can see have fallen off. I blame this on the tedium of holding myself to a standard and the capriciousness of refusing to abide by my own rules.

I have lowered my standards and abolished all the rules.

We'll see what happens.

C'est Moi

2007-12-05T21:59:00.001-05:00

I am moving...
to the first personal singular.

A Sea Change

2007-12-05T21:24:00.000-05:00

We are thinking of following
firedoglake
and busting out the margins
in a new voice.

stay tuned...

In with the new ...

2007-12-02T16:21:00.000-05:00

firedoglake has a new look. Now you have to log in to leave comments. The site looks pretty good and runs smoothly for me. Registration was quick and easy. Change is good but it takes royalty a while to adjust. Still, fdl has really caught fire this year and it certainly has come a long way since the old site on blogger. Kudos we suppose.

blog update

2007-11-25T16:42:00.000-05:00

We have been on a long hiatus. We shall not go deeply into how we saw the strange lights and were asked aboard. Nor shall we go into the probe and the messages from afar. We shall only say we are back.

When we returned to this land we found Malibu still burning, the dollar still dropping and we picked ourselves up and dusted ourselves off to prepare for yet another version of "How To Pay Your Bills Without Actually Trying."

We have discovered some things that do not pay: sitting at home watching TV, reading books or creating Genealogical websites. Shocking to be sure but truely we have become an expert on "Lack of Lucre."

We have also found, as did the recent Bachelor, that reality TV isn't quite what it is cracked up to be. And so it goes.

Goodbye Norman Mailer ... did you go out with two others? We didn't notice.

All that is left to do on this Sunday after Thanksgiving is to unpop the top button of the Levi's, grab the remote and curse football.

Ahhh ... blogging is not what it used to be. Which is why we have kept silent.
More when and if anything ever interests us ever again. Bon ennui.

Austin Lounge Lizards

2007-06-19T11:03:00.000-05:00

Go Ahead And Die! (Pirates Of The Health Care-ibean)
"http://www.youtube.com/v/xNuCfD5bICQ"

Iran War Watch

2007-05-23T11:54:00.000-05:00

This from January 27, 2007
"a hint from a buddy of Steve Clemmons which said that if we wanted a good indicator of when to anticipate war with Iran we should keep our eyes open for a deployment of the NIMITZ..."

Then here is this today from Raw Story...
"The USS John C. Stennis and USS Nimitz aircraft carriers and their strike groups entered Gulf waters to support troops in Iraq and conduct training exercises, the US Navy said Wednesday."

They're puppets dude...

2007-05-22T10:17:00.000-05:00

REALLY...BIG...PUPPETS

The most awesome royal spouse just sent us this clip...

Check it out...
The Sultan's Elephant Official Site
The Sultan's Elephant Wiki

Now that's hot!

soutien gorge

2007-05-03T23:06:00.000-05:00

we got three of them today.
we grew.
they fit.
Titti ta titti ta titti rum titti ayyy.

Bee Ware

2007-05-03T11:39:00.002-05:00

It is no joke.
Bees polinate crops that make fuel for us humans. No bees, no food.
Well, except then the Monsanto can sell more product ... which is what probably killed the bees in the first place!
Damn boss is yelling at me to work...We'll bee back (hopefully!)

2007-05-03T11:39:00.001-05:00

Not So Fuzzy Math

2007-05-02T19:41:00.000-05:00

back to the lake...

Wishful Thinking

2007-04-27T12:33:00.000-05:00

In a shocking reversal of Policy, President George Bush announced today that he is revising his policies on Iraq and education.

Bush announced today that he will set up benchmarks for the War in Iraq and has set a deadline for these benchmarks to be met. If these benchmarks have not been met by that date, the war will be closed down. Bush has also announced that he will not provide funding for this innitiative which he calls "No War Left Behind."

Bush has also announced a new "War on Ignorance" and has vowed to add 1 trillion dollars to help fund schools, pay teachers, and add new educational initiatives. Bush has vowed that he will not abandon this effort until every child in America learns to read. He calls this initiative "Operation Education is Freedom."

Just Asking

2007-04-26T11:34:00.000-05:00

According to the Bush administration, schools should be judged by the students performance. Schools and adminstrators should have benchmarks that they have to meet and if they fail ... the school will be closed down.

BUT

When discussing the situation in Iraq, setting up benchmarks is akin to setting up for failure and closing down the war is a sign of defeat.

Why, oh why does no one care that we are being fed billious crapola?

<< Queenie's Daughter puts her head in her hands, closes her eyes and sighs ... >>>

Oldie but Goodie - Cat takes bus to fish shop...

2007-04-18T10:20:00.000-05:00

We caught this story last week but let it pass without comment. Until today. We were inspired by our visiting whale to add a light and fun story as an antidote to the sadness of the rest of the news.
Seems that this cat takes the bus a few times a week and always gets on and off at the same stops! The cat is said to be a perfect passenger except for the fact that s/he doesn't pay - one commentor noted that perhaps the funny feline had a "bus paws." A "bus paws" hee hee hee ... that's so bad it is good.
Happy Wednesday!

A Whale goes in Brooklyn

2007-04-18T10:06:00.000-05:00

We live by the seaside in what has been described as "a quaintly rundown harbor community." In our hood you can see some pretty strange sights but very rarely do you get to see this: a minke whale lost in the Gowanus Canal!
We wish our visitor the best and hope that he makes it back to the open ocean no worse for the wear.

Sellafield kept body parts of dead workers

2007-04-18T03:16:00.001-05:00

We are up early with a touch of can'tsleepitis and we stumbled upon this horrifying story while checking out the Brit morning news:

"The government will announce an independent inquiry today into claims that body parts of workers who died in suspicious circumstances at Sellafield and other nuclear plants were secretly taken for medical examination without their families' consent for more than 30 years."

from The Guardian by Michael White Wednesday April 18, 2007

eww eww eww eww eww.

Today we are all Hokies...

2007-04-17T12:59:00.000-05:00

Our heart goes out to all of those who have been affected by the killings at VA Tech.

We cannot help but ask ourselves why and to wonder what we can do to put an end to violence.

Fire Don Imus

2007-04-10T11:15:00.000-05:00

It is time for all people to stand up and let it be known it is NOT okay to run around screeching words of hate.
Don Imus is a paid wordsmith and is therefore to be judged by his words.
His words were unacceptable and wrong.
And it is not the first time.
It is time for people to be held accountable for their actions and their words-
and firing Don Imus is a good start.

** Update: Imus was fired. Good. The market worked. We want to make it very clear that we are all in favor of free speech and we are against any kind of censorship. Firing the I-man wasn't censorship ... it was a business decision. That's the thing about free speech. You can say what ever you want to but the public doen't have to buy it.

We don't need laws to protect us from things we dont like ... we have the power to turn off, tune out, or in this case run out the things that we think are worthless. Imus deserved to be fired. Why? Not because he was crass and bullyish and pompous but for the very simple reason that he picked on a bunch of little girls who never did him any harm. He broke the cardinal rule of the school yard and when the going got tough it was IMUS who was whining like a baby.

I am sure that Imus will get another show and that's fine. But he deserved the smack down ... he was getting too big for his britches...he was getting sloppy and that was his wake up call.

Do we believe that we should now jump on the Sharpton bandwagon and start reforming media through censorship and a self serving "clean-up" crusade? Of course not. But we should fire those who show themselves to be dangerously incompetent.
Imus was a good start ... George Bush is a great next step.

Notes from the road...

2007-04-09T00:11:00.000-05:00

Dawn points, and another day
Prepares for heat and silence. Out at sea the dawn wind
Wrinkles and slides. I am here
Or there, or elsewhere. In my beginning.

east coker
t.s. eliot

Staying Put

2007-03-19T02:15:00.000-05:00

In an age of moral relativism it is nice to see one thing remain constant:
Helen Thomas retains her front row seat in the White House Briefing Room!!
And ~~Faux~~ Fox News gets sent back to the second row:)

When rude people piss off good constituents...

2007-03-07T00:18:00.000-05:00

Dear Congressman Conyers,

Today, March 6, 2007, I called your office to leave a message for you and I was deeply disturbed by the rudeness of a member of your staff. A woman who identified herself as Carol answered the telephone and when I told her I wished to leave a message for you she laughed at me. When I asked her why she was laughing she put me on hold.

I then gave her my message (see attached). Carol interrupted me to ask me if I was a lawyer. When I responded in the negative she made it clear that it was not appropriate for me to a) call you and b) speak on a topic for which I am not properly degreed.

Congressman Conyers, I ask you, is it your policy to be dismissive of messages from the public?

In regards to the fact that I was offering an opinion on a legal matter though I am not a lawyer I have this response: My eighth great grandfather was a farmer but that did not prevent him from serving in the Continental Congress and while my fourth great grandmother was not a songwriter that did not prevent her from writing The Battle Hymn of the Republic and I join my fellow Americans in gratitude for the work of both of these brave patriots.

I am deeply disturbed by the response I received from your office and look forward to your reply.

Sincerely,
Queenie's Daughter

Dear Congressman Conyers,

2007-03-06T15:05:00.000-05:00

Today I. Scooter Libby was found guilty of lying to federal investigators and obstructing justice.
Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald promised to do the appropriate thing in regards to the Valerie Plame Wilson betrayal and said that he will give his materials to Congress if they ask for it.
“The appropriate thing” is for John Conyers to make a motion under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 6(e)(3). The information from the GJ is needed to investigate the role that Dick Cheney played in the treasonous offense of disclosing the name of a covert officer.
Please ask John Conyers to make a 6(e)(3) motion so that we can finally get to the truth.
Sincerely Yours,
Queenie's Daughter

Does Libby still have a job?

2007-03-06T12:27:00.000-05:00

Since Scooter Libby has been found guilty as hell on four counts ... will George Bush keep his promise to fire anyone who was involved with the Valerie Plame betrayal.

St. Patrick's Day came a little early this March!

FITZ!!!

Feeding the Beast

2007-03-05T15:49:00.000-05:00

We might as well come right out and tell you that our Horoscope always feeds the beastie which is Queenie's Daughter. It is always encouraging us to talk louder, jump higher, go faster. Even when what we truly believe we need is restraint our stars tell us no ... put the pedal to the metal and GO. To wit...today we are in a cranky mood and contemplating throwing up our rather decent job and other opportunities and change direction totally and instead of encouraging us to "hold on tight" we get this from Jonathan Cainer...

There are many things we will never know. Among these are the things we think we know... but which really we don't. Like buildings constructed upon inadequate foundations, we place layer after layer of logic on top of shaky assumptions. Then we wonder why our plans collapse and our ideas prove ill thought through. The wonder is that it doesn't happen more often. Life now demands you change your idea of where you have been and where you are going. That's tough, but it's also very good.

Damn, we thought we were staying put but now ... not so sure...and Sesame Street is hiring!

Why can't we all just get along?

2007-02-28T12:37:00.000-05:00

Monkey and Tigers lay together, play together.
Tiarra Tip: The Royal Spouse

What's for dinner?

2007-02-27T14:27:00.000-05:00

NOTHING if there are no bees!

UPDATE: Owen, Cleo and Mzee

2007-02-27T11:43:00.000-05:00

Good looking out on Queenie's part brings us this great site that tracks our favorite interspecial friendship - the rhino Owen, his lady friend Cleo and the 130 year old tortoise Mzee.

Boo Hoo Only Hippopotamuseses will do!

2007-02-26T17:33:00.000-05:00

I'm a lonely little petunia in an onion patch...

Tiara Tip Queenie.

We have the bestest Maman!

Today in the Scooter Libby Case

2007-02-26T10:28:00.000-05:00

The museum curator offed the jury with "The Google."
UPDATE: ONE JUROR HAS BEEN DISMISSED

Today in Court
the Libby Trial
by Mickey@13
The day began with a big bruhaha. A juror, a seventy year old Art Curator [the one who didn’t wear a Valentine’s Day tee-shirt last week] either exposed herself to or was exposed to information about the case over the weekend. She was excused [been there, done that, no tee-shirt]. The issue became plodding ahead with eleven jurors or bringing in an Alternate. Wells was happy with the decision to plod ahead. Fizgerald was not.

Then Jane Hamsher was reconnected with the blue/grey glasses she lost earlier, but subsequently lost her phone and wallet in the bathroom. That was right before the power went out in the whole building. The jury deliberated by window-light. The Media watched as the UPS lights started to wane on the WiFi and their lap-top batteries began to drain. But then the power came back on around 4:00 PM and order was restored to the kingdom. So then, someone turned in Jane Hamsher’s wallet and phone to the lost and found. All’s well that ends well.

Oh yeah. Zipola from the jury…

***BREAKING From FDL: There has been exposure of at least one of the jurors to media coverage of the trial. There is discussion going on in chambers with Judge Walton and counsel for both sides as to how to proceed. There will likely be individual voir dire (discussions) with each and every juror now to determine if there is a taint to the jury process. We won't know anything about whether things will proceed until that has concluded. There is a possibility of a mistrial being declared but, again, we will not know anything unless and until the judge and attorneys speak with the jury foreperson and all of the jurors, and make their determination as to how things will or will not proceed from there. More news as we get it.***
Source: firedoglake

We are wondering in this age of email if it isn’t something like an email from some lefty source … our inbox is full of Truth Out/Media Matters/Move One etc etc.

Late Friday, we were so afraid this would happen but the MSM seemed to be ignoring this trial in favor of the BREAKING NEWS of A N Smith and the Oscars, so we were hoping that that for once the sloppiness of MSM would work in our favor.

Ugh … It’s like when Lucy pulls the football away from Charlie Brown … every time we get close to the truth we get PUNKED.

while we were nairing our mustache...

2007-02-25T16:27:00.000-05:00

Maman was on the case!

Beloved Cherie:
Maybe there will be a mutiny, please God!
US Generals "will quit" if Bush orders Iran attack

And I found this by accident...

And this is an easy one: We are Not Buying It!

And from the we are not at all surprised category:
"How Archer Daniels Midland cashes in on Mexico's tortilla woes..."
(Did you know: The author of this article used to live
in Park Slope.)

Enough for now,
All my love
Maman

Waiting for the Verdict

2007-02-22T11:00:00.000-05:00

Here we are waiting for the jury to come back with a verdict in the Scooter Libby trial. We are trying to keep busy or at least stay distracted. To that end we checked out our extended horoscope and were delighted to find this....

"Art and love will have one element in common during this time; that is, the experience of them will transport you out of the commonplace into the extraordinary, for that is what you are seeking. Art and love should have a considerable impact on your life now and affect your future for many years to come."

Finally. FINALLY. For the past few years we have felt like we were Sisyphus pushing the rock up that damn hill. The whole world has felt hard and unyeilding. We have not slacked off, we have pushed our rock dutifully knowing not what we were being punished for...but lately...we have had glimmers of a new world. We have felt like this year of the golden boar will some how be a little magical. That perhaps the pendulum is swinging and instead of being STUCK in the MUCK we will be free and unfettered.

This is a fire year and we are a fire sign. We do not fear challenge or change but we are terrified of ignorance and lies.

Maybe this year the scales will fall from folks eyes and they will realize that the Decider is a Deceiver and that the proces is often far more important than the end result.

Today we are sort of tempted to let the rock fall down the hill and smash into little tiny bits and then carry those little bits up the hill and over and beyond.

Today we sort of feel like anything is possible.

Happy Anything:)

Nemesis

2007-02-20T17:34:00.000-05:00

"DONT YOU THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
ARE ENTITELD TO ANSWERS?

If as a result Joe Wilson's wife had a job,
Valerie Wilson worked at CPD,
Valerie Wilson gets dragged into newspapers.

People want to find out was a law broken when people want to know, who did it.

What role did Scooter Libby play.

What role did Vice President Dick Cheney play?

Scooter Libby told you he may have discussed this with Vice President Dick Cheney.
Don't you think FBI deserves straight answers.

When you go in that jury room, your commonsense will tell you that Scooter Libby made a gamble.

Scooter Libby threw sand sin the eyes o fthe FBI.

Scooter Libby stole the truth of the judicial system.

You return guilty you give truth back."

Amen!
(bog tiarra tip to firedoglake!)

The Fighting Irish

2007-02-20T16:55:00.000-05:00

"We all know, when you're angry at someone, you remember.
Whether you're a chief of staff, whatever you do for a living,
He was angry about Wilson.
What Wilson said is that country got lied into war.
One of the people he blamed was defendant.
ANd VP.
Don't for a second believe, that the defendant wouldn't get pissed if someone said you lied the country into a war."

source: FDL

If you think it's important, when you're focused on it, when you're angry about it. You know the things you forget and the things you remember. You know how to tell the difference. It's actual common sense.

Fitz!

This is the most exciting Mardi Gras we have ever had! The Royal Sister is Representing in the Big Easy, and we are trying desperately to get into firedoglake but the lake is full of Fitz revelers!

And no wonder. From what we have read of Marcy's awesome notes it is clear that Patrick Fitzgerald has lived up to all expectations.

"THE WIFE" (thanks emptywheeler!)

"What was important was who sent him. Waht was the answer. The Wife, A fact, an argument. Was she important as a person, no. Don't buy into this split. Oh, Wilson was hugely important, Wilson's credibility was important. Karl Rove talking abotu it at meetings. But the wife argument was separate. Let's talk about that."

Yeah. Let's talk about that...

There is a cloud over the VP. He wrote those columns, he had those meetings, He sent Libby off to the meeting with Judy. Where Plame was discussed. That cloud remains because the denfendant obstructed justice. That cloud was there. That cloud is something that we just can't pretend isn't there.

Laissez bon Fitz temps roule!

Happy Mardi Gras!

2007-02-20T11:26:00.000-05:00

Laissez le bon temps rouler!

What a week! Chinese Lunar New Year, Presidents Day, Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, the wrapping up of the Scotter Libby Trial, blessed warmer weather and a "free" weekend with no plans!

Let the good times roll, indeed!

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

2007-02-19T02:30:00.000-05:00

I got really lucky last thursday and I got put in charge of everything.
The first thing I did was to make all the tires concrete and all the roads rubber. That way there would never be another flat tire again.

from Maman

2007-02-17T13:11:00.000-05:00

This little story strikes me as actually a really big story.
Love to all,
Queenie

Here's a piece of it:

"Effectively immediately and until further notice, it is the policy of KSFR's news department to ignore and not repeat any wire service or nationally published story about Iran, China, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia or any other foreign power that quotes an "unnamed" U.S. official."

Queenie and her daughter have been swimming in firedoglake these past weeks, wading through the Libby Trial. We realized early on that the implications of the trial trail are widespread and slow to reveal themselves.
This little story in E&P is a peep in the right direction.

Snow! Fish! Love! Tango!

2007-02-14T10:36:00.000-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day

Snow?

2007-02-12T17:03:00.000-05:00

We have recently engaged in a preemptory strike against snow.
We have taken Wednesday off.
What's that you say?
It's Valentine's Day.
Hurray! Hurray!

In February it will be my snowman’s anniversary,
With cake for him and soup for me!
Happy once, happy twice, happy chicken soup with rice.

Sweet Justice Harvard Style

2007-02-09T10:25:00.000-05:00

Ha
HA HA
HA HA HA HA HA Lawrence Summers
Look what is happening at Harvard now.
The new president - a woman! After your ohsoscientific observations about the biological inferiority of women this is what happens!

Now if only somehow your ugly words on "dirty industries" could be erased. Remember those words Mister Summers?

'Dirty' Industries: Just between you and me, shouldn't the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs [Less Developed Countries]?

Oh well ... one step at a time - but we'll keep our eyes on you....

Bloggonit

2007-02-08T11:33:00.000-05:00

Fair and Balanced what?

2007-02-05T13:19:00.000-05:00

Rupert Murdoch confesses that Fox News is not so much news as opinion and propaganda slightly dressed up as journalism...

Asked if his News Corp. managed to shape the agenda on the war in Iraq, Murdoch said: "No, I don't think so. We tried." Asked by Rose for further comment, he said: "We basically supported the Bush policy in the Middle East…but we have been very critical of his execution."

tiara tip and read more at Crooks and Liars

The fat lady sings...

2007-01-29T12:56:00.000-05:00

Ari fleisher testified today at the trial for Scooter Libby. Here're some FDL live blog notes of what Ari said:

“There’s a very strict protocol when classified info is spread, my experience, when someone conveyed info that I was authorized to hear, it was always, “this is classified you’re authorized to hear.” When it’s oral, people always say, “this is classified you cannot use it.”"

and

[Libby and I discussed] my plans what I was going to do in the private sector. Talked about sports, football, both fans of the Dolphins. I don't remember if I brought up or Libby brought up the briefing. I said I got asked about Wilson. I said what I was asked by the OVP to say. What I recall Libby saying to me, reiterated that VP did not send Wilson. Amabssador Wilsongot sent by his wife, she works at CIA, Works in CPD, I recall that he told me her name. This is hush hush this is on the QT.

Is this the way a decent government should work?

WHERE'S THE BEAR, DUDE?

2007-01-29T12:23:00.000-05:00

Yo Mr. QD,

A few minutes ago I get a loud knock on my door. Who is it? My sister, a friend? An annoying weirdo??

You got it, door number three, the wacko lady from Hells kitchen. I opened the door to find an elderly lady all wrapped up in scarves and a big fake fur coat, at first I thought it was X but she was bigger and older. She inquired about the BEAR and its whereabouts as she plowed into my studio to take refuge from the cold. When I closed the door I instinctively knew I was in for it. Once again, cornered by someone with problems, dying for company. As I small talked about you, this lady, XXXXX XXXX of XXX 9th Avenue, seemed almost incensed that the BIG BEAR was no longer in the window. She went on to describe her blissful moments when she would walk by with her dog and view the Big Bear. As she described these precious moments she began sobbing and possible looking for a hug or something. She explained that her dog had recently died. I tried to muster up some sympathy but was too busy thinking how to be rid of her. Finally I gave her one of your cards and told her to write her address so YOU can put her on your mailing list. She might be some rich eccentric lady, or maybe not. Your Bear for her was sublime, and had the effect of some kind of bond between her and her dog. I think the dog probably got all excited when viewing Bear and she saw this as something they both shared and appreciated.

From B

Ominous Journey

2007-01-27T14:28:00.000-05:00

PEARL HARBOR

2 PEARL SHIPS TO SAIL FOR MIDEAST

The Pearl Harbor-based guided missile destroyers USS O'Kane and the USS Paul Hamilton are due to leave the Islands this week to accompany the USS John C. Stennis aircraft carrier to the Middle East.

The ships are due to deploy Friday to serve with the Stennis strike group, Navy Region Hawaii said Wednesday in a news release.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said the ships are being sent to show Iran the four-year war in Iraq hasn't made America vulnerable.

The ships' arrival in the Middle East will mark the first time since the U.S.-led Iraq invasion in 2003 that the United States has had two carrier battle groups in the region.

"The presence of two aircraft carriers, while not unprecedented, demonstrates U.S. resolve to bring security and stability in the region," the release said. The ships are expected to arrive in the Middle East in about a month.

thx to an eagle eyed reader of FDL.

Somewhere's down on this list of threads we posted a hint from a buddy of Steve Clemmons which said that if we wanted a good indicator of when to anticipate war with Iran we should keep our eyes open for a deployment of the NIMITZ...click here to read the full NELSON REPORT (Thanks Steve!) This report is not too heartening...

Picture Peace

2007-01-27T14:16:00.000-05:00

Photo Credit: 27 Jan 2007 REUTERS/Nayef Hashlamoun

Cellular Visions: The Inner Life of a Cell

2007-01-25T12:27:00.000-05:00

Check this out...

World Economic Forum Annual Meeting

2007-01-25T11:50:00.000-05:00

The Shifting Power Equation
24-28 January 2007, Davos, Switzerland
(From the meeting):

Europeans "want to win without competing"
Creating dialogue in a multicultural world
Panellists argue for balanced fight against terrorism
Annual Meeting: Climate change has greatest global impact

Perhaps they should be discussing this:
Two-fifths think new Holocaust could happen in UK

Fliday

2007-01-25T11:07:00.000-05:00

Because we are royalty we get special treatment. The best perk of our position is the four day work week. Nothing better. Try this at home. So as we write we are gearing up for the three day weekend and pondering. We don't know quite where to begin because we have far too many pots on the fire. Keeping up with the Libby trial is itself a full time job. Thankfully Firedoglake is doing that job terrifically!

Fred on Everything is also working hard at illumunating the dark secrets of life and most recently WAR.
(See: Fred: A True Son of Tzu).

Cheney gets defensive about being questioned about his HIGH PROFILE RIGHT WING ACTIVIST LESBIAN daughter's pregnancy.

More strange lights are reported promting the Air Force to finally admit to conducting weapons testing (gambling? in Casablanca? shocking!!!)

And last but not least... step away from the machine...new study indicates we Americans spend more time on the computer than with our families.

This last reminds us of a poem Queenie recited during our last visit in which the poet (Lewis Carroll) draws attention to the heathly benefits of conversation:

"You are old," said the youth, "and your jaws are too weak
For anything tougher than suet;
Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak--
Pray, how did you manage to do it?"

"In my youth," said his father, "I took to the law,
And argued each case with my wife;
And the muscular strength, which it gave to my jaw,
Has lasted the rest of my life."

Karl Rove is framing him

2007-01-23T22:50:00.000-05:00

My summary of the opening statements:

Fitz: Libby lied.

Wells:
1. Libby forgot. And forgot again. And forgot again. And forgot again.
2. Ari is lying, because he got an immunity deal.
3. Judy is misremembering, because she looks like a shrew.
4. Tim Russert is misremembering, because…well, because he’s a really good reporter, but even they make mistakes.
5. Cathie Martin and Matt Cooper are probably misremembering, but I won’t know for sure until I hear exactly what they have to say.
6. I have more shit to sling, but you pretty little ladies on the jury shouldn’t worry your little heads about it. Nobody cared about the wife. You just sit back and let us manly men take care of things.

After they’ve managed to revive their jury consultant from his (or her) twenty minute seizure, I’m sure they’re going to be told to (a) knock off the sexism, and (b) put a woman in a high-profile position on Libby’s legal team.

Frank over at FDL kindly gave us permission to reprint this succinct summary of Scooter Libby's trial. Thanks Frank.

Scooter Squeals Like A Pig

2007-01-23T14:15:00.000-05:00

dueling banjos

The live blogging of the Scooter Libby trial over at FireDogLake is music to our ears. Seems like Libby's defense is to CONFIRM the intentional leak of classified information but to DENY that the leaker was LIBBY and to ACCUSE the WH of trying to cover for Karl Rove.

Savor the flavor for a moment. When the whole "Plamegate" thing started, Rove was the golden boy who could do not wrong so he was allegedly protected by the WH. Now who is he? Election predictor? King maker? Puppet Master? Stooge? Humph. If then were now, would people scurry to cover for Rove so fast? Would Libby even consider squealing like he did today if Bush's Brain was still going strong?

And with approval ratings for Bush lower than the winter weather in the big apple, how much worse can it get for the adminstration? We hate to ask that since the only thing worse than having a corrupt govenment which lies to and spies on its people is to lose precious lives every day for a war that was based on falsehood, conducted with conceit and doomed to fail.

Weekend Get Away

2007-01-18T04:54:00.000-05:00

We are taking a long weekend to pay homage to Queenie.
We are riding in luxury sans technology.
Fortunately for you, Dirty Cookie travels like YO.
Enjoy!

Muslim gals file complaint against "haters"

2007-01-18T04:48:00.000-05:00

Friday, January 12, 2007, the National Association of Muslim American Women (NAMAW) filed a formal complaint with the US Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, Criminal Section, and also with the Executive Office for the United States Attorneys at the US Department of Justice. The complaint alleges that as a result of misleading and false information provided to US law enforcement agencies, the media and also to various governmental bodies, various Jewish organizations and individuals have sought to create an environment in the US that is hostile towards US Muslims, resulting in the deprivation, and violation of Muslim civil liberties and civil rights.

The complaint lists the American-Israel Political Action Committee (AIPAC), American Jewish Committee (AJC), Anti-Defamation League (ADL), American Jewish Congress B’nai B’rith, the Jewish Council on Public Affairs, and individuals such as Daniel Pipes, Steven Emerson, Rita Katz, Steven Schwartz, Evan Kohlman, and others.

In its complaint, the National Association of Muslim American Women (NAMAW) says, “Jewish organizations and activists in the US may have created enemies lists that include the names of Muslims, Arabs, white nationalists organizations, and others that they have targeted as threats to, or enemies of the state of Israel.” The complaint also says that NAMAW believes that “these Jewish organizations and activists have used their financial resources and also their formidable political influence to purposefully poison public opinion against Muslims, Arabs and Islam in an attempt to demonize and vilify the same for political purposes, and also to create an environment conducive to the deprivation and violation of Muslim and Arab constitutional rights, and especially the repression of Muslim religious and political freedoms, and free speech.”

The complaint consists of five pages of accusation, supported by more than 100 pages of supporting documentation extracted from transcripts of Congressional testimonies, articles, and public statements. NAMAW along with alleging that Jewish organizations and activists sought to demonize, and vilify Muslims, Arabs, and Islam, says that these same people may have also committed perjury in testimonies provided to the US Congress. The group claims that Jewish organizations and activists may have purposely given false impressions, and made false statements aimed at misleading the media, policy makers, law enforcement, and various government agencies. They believe that these false statements led to an aggressive campaign in the US to suppress Muslim rights. The complaint also says that NAMAW suspects that the Jewish campaign against Muslims and Islam in the US, has been ongoing for more than 10 years.

The group asks the Department of Justice to investigate its claims, and to work with the Muslim community to dispel myths and lies that have demonized Muslims, Arabs and Islam. They are also requesting that the DOJ develop and implement programs aimed at healing US society of the harsh racial and religious polarization resulting from what they believe is an ongoing and criminal hate campaign against Muslims, Arabs and Islam.

About National Association of Muslim American Women (NAMAW)

The National Assoc. of Muslim American Women (NAMAW) is a grass roots political organization whose mission is to organize and educate Muslim women and to make their voices heard on issues that are important and relevent to all Americans. The organization was originally established in 1989 in Newark New Jersey as National Association of Muslim Women, and was later re-established in 1994 as the National Association of Muslim American Women (NAMAW).
To receive copies of the complaint or for more info contact:
Anisa Abd el Fattah
Chairwoman
email:namaw01@yahoo.com

source: http://elequity.com/

Happy Birthday Queenie!!!

2007-01-17T12:47:00.000-05:00

You're Gonna Love This

Spy vs Spy

2007-01-16T13:18:00.000-05:00

Iraqi Official Seeks Release of Iranians

US Says:

"The U.S. military said the five Iranians detained last week in the Kurdish-controlled northern city of Irbil were connected to an Iranian Revolutionary Guard faction that funds and arms insurgents in Iraq. It was the second U.S. raid targeting Iranians in Iraq in less than a month."

Iran Says:

``Their job was basically consular, official and in the framework of regulations,'' Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said Sunday. ``What the Americans express was incorrect and hyperbole against Iran in order to justify their acts.''

We will not be so crass as to put money on the official start date of the US War with Iran but we will say three things: we are afraid it is when not if; its a really, really bad idea; and this little skirmish is all part of the process.

What is Congress doing about this?

President Bush: Meet Walter Jones
by Patrick J. Buchanan - January 16, 2007

The day after Bush’s threat to Iran, Jones introduced a Joint Resolution, “Concerning the Use of Military Force by the United States Against Iran.” Under HJR 14, “Absent a national emergency created by attack by Iran, or a demonstrably imminent attack by Iran, upon the United States, its territories, possessions or its armed forces, the president shall consult with Congress, and receive specific authorization pursuant to law from Congress, prior to initiating any use of force on Iran.”

Jones’ resolution further declares, “No provision of law enacted before the date of the enactment of this joint resolution shall be construed to authorize the use of military force by the United States against Iran.”

If we are going to war on Iran, Jones is saying, we must follow the Constitution and Congress must authorize it.

[Queenie's Daughter shakes her head] "We are so screwed."

Points for US to Ponder about Iran

2007-01-16T12:56:00.000-05:00

``You have to remember, our destiny, as Iraqis, we have to live in this part of the world. And we have to live with Iran, we have to live with Syria and Turkey and other countries,'' he said. ``So in fact ... the Iraqi government is committed to cultivate good neighborly relations with these two countries and to engage them constructively in security cooperation.''

Hoshyar Zebari - Current Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iraq
More about Zebari here.

Moonday Reading

2007-01-15T12:44:00.000-05:00

Articles of interest:
From Playboy:
Lockheed Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
From The Guardian:
BAE's secret $12m payout in African deal
From The Onion:
800,000 Privileged Youths Enlist To Fight In Iraq

Nancy Pelosi: Congresses' new den mother?

2007-01-11T11:56:00.000-05:00

“We are going to fund the troops that are there,” said Brendan Daly, an aide to Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, the House speaker. “Any escalation of troops we will subject to scrutiny. We will have hearings, and we will set benchmarks that the president must meet to obtain this money.”

Oooohhh, Nancy, words like "Subject to scrutiny" and threats to "hold hearings" and "set benchmarks" are really putting the fear of God into anyone who would question your strong authority.

Coughcough "BULLSHIT" Cough....

Our grandmother could send a stronger message then you have Speaker Pelosi. You went from "Let's get down to business" to "After the football game." Your idea of nonpartisanship is to roll over for the repugs and play hardball with your own team. What the hell are you thinking?

Trump airs his view

2007-01-10T13:33:00.000-05:00

"sad figurehead dominated by a third-rate comedian."

Photo courtesy of Henroid

Policies for the People

2007-01-10T13:17:00.000-05:00

Despite more might - Bush still not right

2007-01-10T12:35:00.000-05:00

Mission Not Accomplished: The President of the United States will announce tonight that he plans to send more troops to help fight in Iraq despite the fact that he declared major military operations over in May of 2003.

Here's an update from Steve Clemons on what to expect from the Shrub...

"Bush will offer a billion dollar jobs plan Wednesday night -- small change actually given the employment problem in Iraq -- in addition to an escalation of America's troop presence focused on stabilizing Baghdad. And he has all sorts of glitzy personnel changes to announce that are really just shuffling chairs around on a sinking ship.

In this short piece that appeared in the Financial Times, Trita Parsi makes clear why it's important to start negotiations with Iran before things fly further out of control. I don't agree with everything in Parsi's short essay -- but his articulation of an Iran-Saudi Arabia proxy war in Iraq is chilling, and possible."

According to the front page of todays Washington Post

"Pentagon insiders say members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have long opposed the increase in troops and are only grudgingly going along with the plan because they have been promised that the military escalation will be matched by renewed political and economic efforts in Iraq.
Yet...
Those who favored a "surge," such as Kagan and McCain, were looking for a sizable force that would turn the tide in Baghdad. But the Joint Chiefs made clear they could muster 20,000 at best -- not for long, and not all at once."

Calls of the Wild

2007-01-10T11:48:00.000-05:00

To take pleasure in a world filled with many kinds of beauty is a joy in life to which all women are entitled. To support only one kind of beauty is to be somehow unobservant of nature. - Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Last night we had the strangest dream. We will not go over the whole long saga, but there was one thing in particular…We were in Dupont Circle trying to hail a cab. Only we didn’t need a ride we needed to be carried since we had, attached to our feet, metal poles covered with black film containers. It was an uncomfortable get up to say the least. Then a very nice cab driver carried us to our car. He only carried us half way because we asked him to put us down and discovered we could walk quite well on our stilts. Then the livery driver became a confidant as we discussed with him our dilemma: how to get back to New York in the 1978 Robins egg blue Cougar given that we don’t have a driver’s license. There is more but that doesn’t concern us here now. What we are interested in are the stilts.

It reminds us of a story of the “Girl with the Red Shoes” that we read in Clarissa Pinkola Estés book…Here’s a blurb from Amazon…

“The Roots of Obsession - With a gift for penetrating the shadows that darken our lives, Dr. Estés helps us grasp how the starvation for inner life corresponds with disastrous outer choices, and the way to recover and restore your critical inner balance. Using a fairy tale deeply rooted in our psyches – "The Red Shoes" – Dr. Estés illuminates how people are driven to excessive behaviors. In our culture, she begins, we may travel life’s path in one of two ways: in hand-made shoes – crafted with love and care according to the unique needs of the individual soul; or in red shoes – initially promising instant fulfillment, but ultimately leading to a hollow, painful, split existence. Drawing from real-world examples, Dr. Estés analyzes the deep-seated hunger that leads to addictions and explains how to tap instinctual forces that offer strength and life direction.”

In the story the girl gets her feet chopped off in order to release her from her past and start fresh. So when we dreamt of walking on the stilts we thought of this story and how accurate it is for who and where we are now.

Babwa Fwucked Wosie?

2007-01-09T13:08:00.000-05:00

According to Page Six of the New York Post all is not good in Girl Land

The feud between The Dumpy Donald and the Queen of Mean rages on and the latest news is that Rosie took a big smelly verbal dump on her boss and new BFF Barbara Walters...

"The fight started around 8:30 a.m. when Walters, back from a two-week vacation, walked into the hair and makeup room at ABC studios and tried to hug O'Donnell, whom she hired onto the popular show.

According to spies, O'Donnell recoiled from Walters' touch and yelled, "You kept me in the newspapers this whole time! ... When Walters tried to defend herself, O'Donnell erupted, "Are you looking me in the face and denying you didn't tell him you didn't say this? You're a [bleeping] liar."

What a perfect pairing of idiots this is and for Barbara to get into it...pwiceless.

On a more positive note ... We seem to have a soft spot for "Dick in Box" Justin Timberlake and "Cootchie-Mamma" Spears. In some way ... we would be very pleased if the Jutney took another shot at love. They were Mousketeers together after all... that's gotta mean something!

Passing Gas

2007-01-08T16:04:00.000-05:00

Smell of Natural Gas in Manhattan reportedly not dangerous.

This reminds us of the Maple Sugar Smell Mystery!

Neither case is solved.

Then there is this: Secret 'gas' test staged at G. Central
"The Federal Department of Homeland Security released gas in Grand Central Terminal last month in a secret study of how dangerous chemicals might flow through the landmark in a terrorist attack."

What if the smells over New York are tests being run by Homeland Security to see how and where chemicals would travel in case of attack?

The Woman Question Revisited

2007-01-08T15:54:00.002-05:00

Notes from Queenie:
Headhunters at Harvard May Pick a Woman
Beloved Cherie,
hahahaha!!!
Read THIS ...Dare I say: nanny nanny boo boo..., Mr. Summers!
All my love,
Maman

The Year of the Pig

2007-01-05T18:45:00.000-05:00

2007 Style

Fred on Everything writes what we've been saying: Everyone's got way too much money and they all look dipped in plastic.

Queenie's Daughter, figuring if you can't beat 'em join 'em, spoiled a perfectly good have everything we need moment with a splurge at the Chanel counter in Bloomingdale's.

QD's teenage insecurites swam to the surface as she remembered long ago days in the bathrooms of Bethesda. The Bathroom Wars as we like to think of them, when girls pulled out of their make up cases hundreds of dollars of Clinique, Estee Lauder, Lancome and Chanel makeup. We were on a Wet and Wild budget and still are, but that didn't stop us from living the dream. We now have a little le sport sac tucked away in our pocketbook brimming with the neccessary plastics to both paint a smile on our face and engage in all out warpaint.

Fred is right, we are feeling just a little too comfortable lately.
Not that there is anything wrong with that.
After all, it is the year of the Pig.
Enjoy and smell well

Congratulations Brad and Amy!
We shall see you wed tomorrow.

Arsonist in Aisle One

2007-01-03T12:15:00.000-05:00

You have heard of buyer's remorse but buyer's revenge?
One moment, the customer was angry. The next, she was going up and down the isles lighting merchandise on fire.

Allegedly, a customer, pissed off because she didn't get the correct change, took her lit cigarette and started lighting merchandise on fire. We didn't know you could smoke at Walgreens...

This reminds Queenie's Daughter of a time when she was in high school. She was with her aunt shopping for school supplies at Bruce Variety. Another young shopper, obviously frusterated, announced through clenched teeth, "Mom, if you dont leave me alone I am going to blow you up."

At the time, we all knew he was joking ... oh but time's they are a changing!

Happy '07

2007-01-03T11:28:00.000-05:00

Queenies Daughter: A Slave to Duty
Queenie's Daughter has been on a long hiatus during which time she got a job, moved and got fat. She was unsure if she would return to her virtual domain, but then realized that when one is born into royalty one has a responsibility towards one's subjects.

Sail Mike is the first real interesting blogging topic of the year. Mike is 14 and he just set the record as the youngest person to sail solo across the Atlantic. Queenie's Daughter's dream is to own a sail boat, expatriate and live the life of a modern day adventuress. It is not too late for this to happen but until it does, QD is happy to follow the adventures of others. Well done, Mike!

QD is also very interested in this group called Freegans who seek to get off the crack that is consumerism. Freegans are extremists and QD thinks that perhaps dumpster diving for food takes the whole thing a bit far. Queenie's Daughter had a close friend in high school whose mother humiliated her children by availing herself of the produce in the dumpster behind Magruders grocery. So maybe instead of the dumpster diving for food we can do what Queenie does which is try to buy only those foods produced in say a one hundred mile radius...locally owned and operated....self sustaining communities...yum...yum. This year we will probably talk alot about getting off the money boat and onto a sea of sustainability.

Finally, since we know you are curious about where we have been these long months, we will give you one taste of our past activities. Christmas Night, after the fajitas and Margaritas ... The Irridium jazz club ... We enjoyed an evening with the legendary Les Paul ... if you are ever in NY on a Monday you should go...

SPECIAL NOTE TO JAMIE: We Like Pirates too! Thanks for your email:)

All New Season of Queenie's Daughter

2006-09-07T15:42:00.000-05:00

All new Episodes of Queenie's Daughter!
Starts September 22, 2006
Hilarity ensues when the royal household gets a cable connection!

Until then listen to this dark and luckily Maine attraction ... ZULU LEPRECHAUNS

The nue 125/blackman still can't get a cab

2006-08-16T20:25:00.000-05:00

www.jesikelley.com

Fred on Witless Ferrets

2006-08-10T13:21:00.000-05:00

QD has taken most of the summer off from sharing with you her thoughts and feelings; rants and ravings etcetera... but she could not resist sharing this article from Fred on Everything with you. Have an awesome summer! Peace on...

From Fred:
"I’m wondering. Help me wonder. Either Georgie Bush is the minor, depressing, witless ferret I think he is, or I am. It has to be one or the other. If things don’t start looking up pretty soon internationally, I’m going to be pretty sure which. " more

Israel/Lebanon Blogs

2006-07-27T09:56:00.000-05:00

This is from Manamania:

Date: 2006-07-26 23:08
Subject: Um
Security: Public
I would like to know why this Israeli jet is circling so loudly overhead for the past 10 mn and if it would just please drop that bomb and get it over with, because the suspense is killing me.

This is from Israel North:
I returned yesterday evening. I won't leave Haifa any more. It seems that Tel-Aviv lives (or pretends to live) as if nothing special happens. TV-sets in restaurants and pubs are tuned into sports channels. Are visitors afraid to lose appetite with our news? True, there are discounts for the "North dwellers" - we were let into a musum less than half price.The bus to Haifa is full. Faces of the boys from "Golani" are soft and tired; they were going to the hospital to visit their comrades. They were speaking to each other quietly and briefly: ambush, wounded, perished... I was looking at them, listening to the news and cried. Big dark inpenetratable sun-glasses. Style of an "Italian widow". They hid (sic) all that is written or poured on my face. Saddness in particular.

Changing the World?

2006-07-10T12:43:00.000-05:00

For a long time we thought we wanted to be part of a big group of people that wanted to change the world. Then we realized our basic tendancies to seclusion and misanthropy so we thought perhaps we'd satisfy ourselves by just trying to be nice, patient, and tolerant. Then we discovered that be trying to be nice and patient and tolerant we are part of a big group of people, many of whom are loners and mosanthropes, who want to change the world just by trying to go a little easier, use a little less and give a little more.

We also found some interesting stuff on the web...
Floating Island International
Mighty's Fast Food
and Internet Hunting is illegal in Louisiana... check to see where your state stands...

Oh yeah...Happy Summer!
We have missed you:)

Rightous is the new sexy

2006-06-20T10:40:00.000-05:00

Have we expressed our deepest appreciation for the total package of RFK Jr.?
He's smart, he's hot, he's ethical and he's courageous...
Sigh
It has been so long that we could say that about a democrat...mayhaps we should have a party:)
Here's the latest...SUING those responsible for stealing the election in '04???
It's about goddamn time.

More Bizarre Rippling of the Rove Story

2006-06-19T09:27:00.000-05:00

Read this disturbing piece in the Washinton Post.
TO DO: Must remove name from Truthout.org's mailing list.

Bush says sorry for capping on blind reporters shades

2006-06-15T13:15:00.000-05:00

George Bush today apologized for teasing a blind reporter for not taking off his sunglasses.

Isn't this the same man who waved to Stevie Wonder and got all pissed off when Stevie didn't wave back?

U.S. military deaths in Iraq reach 2,500

2006-06-15T13:12:00.000-05:00

A Sad Day in American History

Truthout Steps Down on Rove but whine's that their innacurate reporting "wasn't their fault"

2006-06-15T12:48:00.000-05:00

And so the Rove watch endeth in great dismay for those of us who wished to see the perp walk. We were out of town but allegedly there was a fax, a phone call or an email to Rove's Lawyer, Robert Luskin saying that Rove would not be indicted.

Okay so that's a shame and that's politics. So we move on.

But the other little matter ... the pesky problem of Truthout.org reporting AS FACT that Rove was indicted and then defending that report despite the lack of an actual indictment being handed down. Now -well, yesterday actually - Truthout grudgingly stood down on the issue but continues to back their reporter, Jason Leopold.

That's just crap. It makes the left look bad and it furthers the idea that the liberal blogosphere is more interested in fantasty than it is in reality. Truthout needs to realize that the basic rules of journalism don't change just because the medium is different.

This here Queenie's Daughter - this is a blog. It is one royal opinion. This blog is not meant to be taken as journalism ... it is a speakers corner for Queenie's Daughter. And that's fine. That's what most blogs are.

But when you try to make a blog a NEW SOURCE you have to play by different rules. You have to have accountability and need to employ people with a certain degree of ethical behavior.

For the very last time, then, Queenie's Daughter will call for the firing of Jason Leopold.

The problem is not that he got a big story WRONG.
The issue is that he got a major story wrong while promoting his book (about what a con and a liar he used to be!!!)

And before whomever tells us we should "die" because we are "throwing the team under the bus" let us just clarify: Jason Leopold tanked up and drove the bus - all we are doing is writing the incident report.

Don't you hate those cheerleaders from both the right and left who are so filled with rhetoric they are blind to common sense and reality?

It's the hook and line liberals are going to sink the democratic party.