I’m going to keep creating these Open Threads even though you people don’t seem to have much to say yet.
Since you’re all quiet and gun-shy and whatnizzle, why don’t you pop over to The People’s View and read Tien’s latest on how to deal with online (and IRL) cranks, malcontents, wackadoodles, trolls, gnomes, misanthropes, and asshats. It’s titled “A Left Wing Hierarchy” and it’s a must read. As in, you must read it.
Seriously. Read it, bookmark it, gaze into its eyes. you’re going to need it, especially this week — I suspect the emo will be strong with the Lake this week.
Here are some photos from July which were recently published on the White House flickr account. Hope it helps to ease you into your Sunday afternoon/evening.
Pairs well with summer ale:
President Barack Obama meets with senior advisors in the Situation Room of the White House, July 8, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama watches the launch of the Space Shuttle Atlantis on a television monitor in the Outer Oval Office, July 8, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama holds a meeting on AIDS policy with members of the Domestic Policy Council in the Oval Office, July 12, 2011. Participating in the briefing with the President are, from left: Greg Millett, Senior Scientist and HHS/CDC Liaison to the Office of National AIDS Policy; Domestic Policy Council Director Melody Barnes; Jeffrey Crowley; Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy; and Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama hugs First Lady Michelle Obama after watching her jump rope for a double-dutch demonstration during a taping for the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA) challenge and Nickelodeon's Worldwide Day of Play, on the South Lawn of the White House, July 15, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
First Lady Michelle Obama and kids double-dutch jump rope during a taping for the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA) challenge and Nickelodeon's Worldwide Day of Play, on the South Lawn of the White House, July 15, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)
Vice President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama look at an app on an iPhone in the Outer Oval Office, Saturday, July 16, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
First Lady Michelle Obama greets children during her visit to the Naval Air Station Oceana Summer Camp in Virginia Beach, Va., July 21, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)
First Lady Michelle Obama colors props for a theater production with children during a visit to the Naval Air Station Oceana Summer Camp in Virginia Beach, Va., July 21, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)
President Barack Obama greets members of the audience following a town hall on the on-going efforts to find a balanced approach to deficit reduction at the University of Maryland, College Park, Md., July 22, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama greets players during a Wounded Warrior basketball game on the South Lawn basketball court at the White House, July 26, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
What’s going on in your world? Did you have pancakes for breakfast?
We’re supposed to say something…so…something.
And while I’m here, nice photos of the President and Michele. Except that I truly hate anyone who can still double dutch jump rope.
I do envy the First Lady that talent. I never had the chance to find out if I could.
That talent dies about the time we hit 50, which was a few years ago for me. A decade or so ago. As a youngster, I could double dutch with the best of them.
I’ve thought for many years that double dutch should be an Olympic sport. I especially like that it doesn’t require a huge investment in equipment to get started making it do-able for more kids.
I used to go watch the double Dutch competitions at the Kennedy Center in DC when I was a kid. I can’t do it to save my life.
Nell, I was about to make the same comment! I kinda hoped it would at least be an exhibition sport at the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta. Is it popular in other countries or is double-dutch pretty much a United States thing? I can’t even single-dutch. Er, you know what I mean.
I’m kinda burned. I never got the hang of double dutch. That’s it, I’m going all FDL EMOGRESSIVE on teh O’bamas! PRIMARY HER NOW! SHE MAKES ME FEEL DEEP DOUBLEDUTCH SHAME AND I HEAR THE DOUBLEDUTCH BUS SONG IN MAH HEADS!
The article “A Left Wing Hierarchy” is brilliant. No doubt the mental illness will be excessive on the Prozac Left; I expect the hell-shrieks rising from the Lake of Fire(baggers) will be hard to tolerate.
I just would like to expound on your posts in general regarding the GOP and the joblessness. I think the main issue is corporate influence and Democratic passivity in regards to policy-making and negotiations with the TEA-rorists, who have made a mockery of our government to say the least. I feel the Citizens United decision needs to be overturned and change.org has several petitions going around to amend the constitution to specify corporations cannot vote and do not qualify for “personhood”. It is sad to see so many of us have overlooked this issue when it is so indicative of what has been going on right under our noses and now has been solidified by the decision of our high courts. This was a huge loss for 99% of the population that is not big business and wealthy, alongside the economic recession and now the threat of credit downgrades, crashing markets, continued joblessness, cuts to major social programs and now corporate takeover of government. We have to be fed up. My question is why are the people not mad yet? Have we been conditioned so much that we really are just gonna sit here and take it! Is our fear that great? And if so what would you suggest people do to get the message out that the cost of doing nothing is a price we don’t want to pay!?
Nicole
http://www.twitter.com/wildonehun
The Pressure!
You link to Tien and I’m doing to read it. I got nuthin.
Happy Sunday, all.
Obama/Biden 2012, is what I have to say but whomever knows me already know that!
Thank you for the links above.
Looks like the howling of the baggers of tea and fire (LOVE that phrase from Extreme Liberal!) will be overshadowed this week by events in Libya.
What happens when you go to all the trouble of getting thrown in jail and no one notices? LOLOL
I was thinking the same thing! Just like he deprived Trump of his headlines the week after the Correspondents Dinner with his “We got OBL” speech that Sunday in May.
Jane is gonna be pissed when she gets sprung from jail.
Maybe there will be some sort of clerical error, loss/shuffling of paperwork, something, and The Hamster will be in there for a few more days?
A guy can hope, no?
Sprung from jail and no cameras! If that ain’t the Law Of Unintended Consequences for America’s # one publicity hound.
This story http://theobamadiary.com/2011/08/20/jane-hamsher%e2%80%99s-running-out-of-sheep/ (scroll down) about the firebaggers mad at Aravosis for selling firebagger themed t-shirts is making me ROTFLOL!
Aravosis is a sad and petty man.
I read that Post by Tien. I’ve had encounters in RL with those who are smart, caring people but they spout off whine wing points like “PBO’s Foreign Policy is just like bush’s” and so on..And, I said “No, bush didn’t have a Foreign Policy” or “I suppose we could have someone way out there”..to which I responded, “You need to learn more about what President Obama has accomplished since he’s been in office with manic opposition coming from everywhere”. Oh, and you know they’re hopelessy suckered when you get emails “Support Bradley Manning”..to which I promtly blocked getting any further contact from sender.
It’s hard for me to remain calm because the ignorance is so prevalant but I try.. and rant about it later in my head.
I don’t run into many online because where I mostly hangout..we have a Mission Statement that doesn’t include spouting fire-in-the-hole whining points.
Thanks for all you do, ABL~ It is much appreciated out here in the reality realm of cyberspace. That Mark Ruffalo Clip is priceless!
That’s the way to get people involved.
Thanks for the comment, and for the great work the contributors to Democrats for Progress are doing. I’m sharing this post with everyone I know:
http://www.democratsforprogress.com/2011/08/18/dear-rep-barbara-lee-chair-of-the-congressional-black-caucus-can-we-talk/
Thank you, Allan! I’ve been passing that link along too and left a link on DFP with the post you made on ABL. :)
Over at Salon the Greenbecks are already crying, wailing, gnashing their teeth and rending their garments that Glenn’s hero, Baby Jesus Ghadaffi, is about to fall. Poor Glenn, that makes two Baby Jesuses, Bin Laden & Ghadaffi taken out in one year! Damn you Barack Hitler OHitlermba and your endless, infinite, illegal wars that aren’t endless, infinite and illegal! Grrrr!
I put some of Tien’s advice into practice today chatting with someone on Twitter, and what started out as a moderately hostile conversation led to the other person giving several of my comments a THIS and thanking me for my perspective. This stuff really works, and we’re all going to want to get better at it.
That article about left wing hierarchy presented an accurate typology. Iread some of the anti Obama leftist blogs in order to get a view of their thoughts. I hope that they do not have much influence. I do wish that people were more realistic about what is possible. So many people seem to be angry, cynical or apathetic.
You know how hard it is for me to not go nuclear, but I’ve decided Tien is a lot smarter than me (not that that’s hard, but still) and the advice is good. So I’m gonna try hard to follow it. And if I can’t I’ll walk away. Unless somebody says something about “get over being black” or equally reprehensible, because then all bets are fucking OFF! ;)
::Reaches over to hold Kerry’s purse::
All bets and gloves are off. Hear the gentle thwipping as I braid my hair… The harsh clanking of my earrings hitting the ground…
You wanted a “something” ~ I’ve got something. Like inappropriate thoughts regarding the POTUS based on that top picture. Can’t help it and don’t want to, frankly. Michelle need never know. Oh shit! NSA, I was just kidding!