There really isn’t anything to add to this Digby piece (and the Greenwald link in it), so I won’t even try.
This
This post is in: Excellent Links, Torture, War on Terror aka GSAVE®
This
Balloon Juice Store
Just a reminder that the Balloon Juice store (all proceeds go to animal rescue) is now open:
You can use that link, or you can use the permanent one to the right.
Also, in our excitement to unveil the store last night, we forgot to also thank commenters SGEW and Bartkid’s help with the graphics. Sorry guys! And thanks!
Lightening up
A lot of complaints today about things being too heavy. So here’s an open thread.
A heavy song about weightlessness:
A light song about heaviness:
Open Thread: Year of the (Golden) Tiger
According to Chinese astrology, we are starting the Year of the Tiger, about which my very old Book of Chinese Chance paperback says:
“Tiger years are notoriously turbulent. Political unrest, coup d’etats, and catastrophes often strike during these action-packed years.
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Prudence is advised in all new undertakings… The Tiger, though noble and honorable, endows his year with uncertainty and danger. Tigers never know where they might place their next paw. In Tiger years it is incumbent upon the rest of us to face head-on collisions with our own enemies. When we least expect that calamity, it surges out of nowhere. Much strength is required of us during these testy times.”
2010 is a Metal year, so this is the year of the Golden Tiger or the White Tiger, depending on which source you believe, but the white tiger is considered a bit of a jinx for reasons I haven’t been able to track.
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However, every new year is the chance for a new start, and in that spirit I share my favorite of this year’s Chinese New Year Songs, because it embodies the ancient universal traditions of every extended family celebration… namely, bribing the kids to sit down and shut up until their elders can get sufficiently lubricated to stand being around each other. And then hoping the ensuing Carb Coma will keep actual fistfights from breaking out. Kampai!
Best Candle Ever
I know, an odd open thread, but it does fit the “c” rule (Laura W. can explain). At any rate, I bought the best smelling candle ever: Fresh Expressions Lavender. Smells so damned good.
And I am fully aware that this is going to spawn fifty comments questioning my masculinity, but I don’t care. They smell too good not to share.
Not to mention, I don’t want you to forget that there is a large, smelly, grumpy animal going to the bathroom in my house. Also, I have a cat.
Early Morning Open Thread
The last thread is getting too long to load, and my google-fu is not strong enough to retrieve a useable clip of the Olympic opening ceremonies. (Although if anyone wants to point me in the right direction — my email is at the top right of this page.) So you get the all-purpose feel-good post featuring…
HARP MUSIC!
and PUPPY!
(Commentor John O’s new puppy Dweezil)
Here’s for some good news this weekend…
Another Olympics Open Thread
I’m already bored, but I stepped all over DougJ’s, so here is a shiny one for you.
BTW, Jmart tweeted a bit ago: “Anyone recall who actually was caught for setting off that bomb at 96 summer olympics?”
It is, of course, Eric Rudolph, as anyone who follows politics will remember, but I also remember it because by uncle, who has lived in Atlanta for 30+ years and was living there at the time, is also named Eric Rudolph.
Every time there is one of these mass murders or shootings, it is one of the first things I think about- what kind of shitty luck would you have to have to spend your entire life introducing yourself as “a different Ted Bundy” or “but not that Dylan Kliebold?”