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Week-long Welcomings from Moosylvania: Jan. 18th to Jan. 24th

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Welcome to The Moose Pond! The Welcomings diaries give the Moose, old and new, a place to visit and share words about the weather, life, the world at large and the small parts of Moosylvania that we each inhabit.

In lieu of daily check-ins, which have gone on hiatus, Welcomings diaries will be posted at the start of each week (every Sunday morning) and then, if necessary due to a large number of comments, again on Wednesday or Thursday to close out the week. To find the diaries, just bookmark this link and Voila! (which is Moose for “I found everyone!!”).

The format is simple: each day, the first moose to arrive on-line will post a comment welcoming the new day and complaining (or bragging!) about their weather. Or mentioning an interesting or thought provoking news item. Or simply checking in.

So … what’s going on in your part of Moosylvania?

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Categories: Uncategorized.

/ 175 Comments

175 comments

  1. JanF

    It is 35 degrees in Madison WI, on its way up to 37. Morning clouds and afternoon sun are in the forecast.

    Have a great day, all y’alls!!

  2. DeniseVelez

    we are expecting sleet later in the day.

    Working on course outlines for Tuesday, and cleaning up my email backlog.

    Ran across some pretty filthy hate mail in my in-box from assorted internet denizens who took offense to my Mia Love piece – some are simply spews calling me the “C” word. Too bad soap can’t be sent back – with someone to use it on them.

    Scanning the news – glad to see POTUS’ tax hike on the rich at the top of the page

    Not happy to see teens from KY (18 year old guy and 13 yr old girl0 labelled “Bonnie and Clyde” – romanticizing inaccurately their story which ended with their arrest in FL.

  3. anotherdemocrat

    I think it’s in the 50s now & will get up to 70 this afternoon

    Eating breakfast, watching Up. Nice, normal Sunday – the President’s tax proposal, where his library will be, 2016…. it’s very nice to have a day not covering some horrible mass loss of life.

    Today there’s church then I’m doing a big grocery trip – I get 10% off 1 trip; I pre-scouted yesterday, because I always forget some stuff & that’s so annoying. I may cook this afternoon or maybe wait till tomorrow after the march. And tomorrow, if I turn on Map My Walk, I could turn the walk into that 9 mile walk I never did.

    But for now, I’m hanging out on the couch. Weirdly, my earworm is Hozier’s Take Me To Church. Which ain’t about going to church.

  4. Diana in NoVa

    Going up to 46 F. later today. Rain is OK.

    Battling tooth pain. I injured my top left teeth crunching on hard toffee a few months ago and since then have had this recurring pain. A couple of visits to the dentist haven’t stopped it, so I’m going to have to leave an anguished call on the dentist’s office voicemail system. The pain only comes after I eat or drink something, be it hot, cold, or room temperature.

    Enough of that. Have to go out for part of the day but will be back home to read, write, pray, and sing, a la Thomas a Kempis.

    Wishing a good day to all in Moosylvania!

  5. Portlaw

    of Jan’s diary on Pres. Obama’s upcoming State of the Uni0n  address. Am so frazzled by so many things that, for a minute, I thought she had written “The Fate of the Union.”  But, maybe they are the same thing!

  6. princesspat

    Between the Seahawks vs Packers playoff game this afternoon and Downton Abbey and a new PBS series, Grantchester, it will be a good tv day. Ron’s got a gumbo recipe he wants to make and I’ve got some follow up from the drapery work my friend and I stirred up yesterday so we’ll both be busy.

     

  8. bfitzinAR

    Another day of this and my system will have topped December’s total production.  (Not saying much, that’s true, but still…)  Not sure I like another holiday this close to the end of the year break.  Happy to celebrate MLK – just wish it was later in the year as I was finally getting my routine back.  Oh well.  Hope everyone had a good day and has a better one tomorrow.  {{{HUGS}}}

  9. JanF

    It is 29 degrees in Madison on its way up to 36 … mostly cloudy skies in the forecast.

    It is a federal holiday and, in many places, a state holiday so I expect it to be fairly quiet today at the helpdesk.

    A quick scan of the news: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) is exploring a 2016 presidential run. I am sure this was greeted with much applause – from comedians. I think that running on “Obama is killing us all … hide under your desks!!!” is not a winning strategy. But in a nominating contest where Mitt Romney declares he is running on “fighting poverty”, reality does not seem to have anything to do with it.

    The run-up to the State of the Unions is interesting to watch. The Republicans are pre-hating the president’s speech and the president is clearly looking at the speech as a way to speak to the American people about his vision. I would be tempted to say “just have the speech and bypass the Congress part” but the only way to guarantee network TV coverage, as we have seen, is to do it as a SOTU. Even Fox News has to cover it.

    See all y’alls later!  

  10. Diana in NoVa

    up to 44 F. today. It evidently rained during the night because the street is still showing wet spots.

    Had the night from hell again–couldn’t sleep despite the melatonin, lavender oil, noise of the fan, etc. Occasionally this happens and usually it’s right before I’ve planned a wonderful day of getting things done. Well, I plan to keep going for as long as I can!

    The news about the traffic accidents on black ice is just awful. One of the best things about retirement, IMHO, is not having to drive in rush hour.

    Lindsay Graham running for Prez? Oh, please! Still, let the idiots exhaust themselves fighting over donor money. They can knock themselves out.

    While I was up at 4:30 this morning, popped over to Orange to read Denise’s wonderful diary on Dr. King and also found a quote on the APR. It was to the effect that Dr. King made it possible for African-Americans to live in the USA without being terrified. Wish I could remember the exact words. As for the SOTU tomorrow night, my hope is that the Rethugs will restrain themselves from being openly rude to the President, the dirtbags.

  11. anotherdemocrat

    Eating breakfast, watching the news. Gotta leave for the MLK Day stuff soon. Ignoring the Inauguration Day stuff. Tomorrow will be just a lovely day to be by the Capitol. Sigh. Ok, concentrate on today, which will be great. MLK Day, a great citywide celebration, a march – and it’ll get up into the 70s. Ok, if my stomach will let me go to the march, it seems unhappy about something…..

    Deliberate earworm of Pride (In The Name of Love)

  12. Portlaw

    Mooslyvania.

    Am thinking this MLK day that we may be seeing the start of another, powerful civil rights movement.

    Back later. Be good.

  13. DeniseVelez

    been up since early early early – working on last minute changes to course outlines and other school stuff

    If I finish in the next couple of hours – I’ll be back!

  14. princesspat

    The grand girls and Maggie the grand puppy are here today and they very kindly let me sleep late, So my morning routine has been disrupted…..breakfast with them and a Go Fish game instead of coffee in bed and reading the news.

    The bookstore has an event featuring book readings about MLK, so we’ll go to that an have lunch. Emma wants to sew a receiving blanket for a gift to her orthodontist’s new baby and Ava has lots of plans so we’ll have a busy fun day!

  15. bfitzinAR

    Just checked my PV system stats and as of an hour ago I hit the total production for the month of December!  Don’t know if I’ll match November – I’ve got 40KWHs to go for that one – but if we get at least 8 more days of sunshine, I’ll get there.  Big “if” considering the weather we’ve had this winter, but… 🙂

    I hope everyone is having a pleasant day – whether or not you’re working.  {{{HUGS}}}

  17. Portlaw

    a philosopher at Yale. He gave a speech at the Y in Greenwich, CT and he reflects on what this day means to him, an African American.  It’s long so I will give some excerpts.

    Representing the point of view that I do – as a brown American from a lower-class background, with the good fortune today to walk the halls of one of America’s most elite institutions as a teacher of philosophy – Martin Luther King Jr. Day is taken to represent a triumph. But here is an uncomfortable truth: It is a triumph of acceptable minimums rather than full respect for those who continue to wait for Dr. King’s dream to become reality. …..

    I think it goes without question that not only has the idea of a post-racial America proven to be a myth, but that racial inequality remains a tragic mark on the character of this otherwise great nation – a nation founded on respect not only for what persons hope to accomplish in life but for what they are: humans owed rights, liberty and respect because of their humanity. The equal recognition of humanity has only intermittently taken hold with respect to black lives. The closeness of Emmett Till and Eric Garner attest to that.

    This was Dr. King’s great struggle in his life. While he indeed fought for the security of a full schedule of rights for black Americans, he was in fact fighting for something greater and more difficult to articulate – the hope that white Americans could extend a hand of brotherly and sisterly love to blacks. The mark of true love, for Dr. King, was to embrace strangers as familiars, and conversely, to deny that blacks’ humanity was a new and strange thing. There is hope in the thought that Dr. King is fervently embraced by so many Americans today, and there is consolation that his struggle gave us the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act.


    If this does not convince you, listen to the audio track of Eric Garner’s last words. In a tragic sense, his plea – “I can’t breathe” – is the soundtrack of black life under conditions of deep unfairness and disregard: When we use the breath we have to ask for the rights and respect that ought to be ours, we have little breath to accomplish much else. Everyday life becomes the double struggle of working not only for what we need but also for securing that to which we are entitled in any case. Dr. King may have seen the promised land, but we appear to be anchored off its coast.

    What can get us on course? What can unmoor us from our current predicament toward the promise of genuine American freedom for all? Dr. King once said that the arc of the moral universe is long, but that it bends toward justice. I am concerned that his statement is sometimes taken to hold a view of historical necessity – that oppression has a shelf life, that marginalization has an expiration date…..

    If this holiday is to someday belong to all of us, then you must also bear the burden. The great victory comes then: When the burden is shared, so then is the aspiration to show one another genuine love that Dr. King exhorted us to express. So then will his day become both yours and mine as he would have wished. And that is cause for celebration.

    http://opinionator.blogs.nytim…

  18. JanF

    It is 32 degrees in Madison with an expected high of 34. Cloudy skies.

    Is Andrew Cuomo running for president? First, banning fracking, now supporting minimum wage increases. Hmmm.

    Sad news for Arkansas poors: the state will reject the Medicaid expansion (it must be approved every year by a 3/4 vote of the legislature) unless they can make it more conservative, like adding a work requirement. Apparently the new governor and many of the state legislators ran on denying health care to 200,000 people. What the %$#@ is wrong with our country????

    Looking forward to the State of the Union address, or at least the responses from people. I may not be able to stay up to watch it but will view it from the White House web site in the morning. I don’t want to accidentally get commentary from right-wingers. I know that some people watch MSNBC but they are worse because they insist on getting the opinion of Republicans, like Steve Schmidt and Chris Matthews. Who cares??? I want pom poms!!!

    See all y’alls later!

  19. DeniseVelez

    Was browsing Snopes

    They have a good piece

    “Caliph-ain’t”, re “no-go” zones in Europe

    Claim:   A number of localities in the United States, France, and Britain are considered Muslim “no-go zones” (operating under Sharia Law) where local laws are not applicable.

    Read more at http://www.snopes.com/politics…

    So Bobby Jindal blathers on in London about “no go zones”

    (I can think of some no-go zones in Louisiana that have nothing to do with religion but that’s another story)

    I guess this guy is running for a Veep spot

  20. JanF

    Especially headline writers who don’t seem to read the articles.

    This headline: Top Senator: Dems Better Not Give An Inch In New Social Security Fight makes you think that Sherrod Brown is angry that Democrats are even thinking about giving in. Instead, the article says that Democrats are holding firm against the GOP’s plans to destroy SSA and that the White House is on board. So why that headline? To gin up controversy “Democrats Cave!!” “Obama is in the bag for Wall Street” “Obama=Bush”. Here is what the article said:

    “We have a president who can use a veto pen and will eagerly do it on something like this,” Brown said.

    Brown also said this about the Republicans attack on the disability fund:

    “They can’t go directly after Social Security retirement because that’s people’s parents, but they go after disabled people who don’t have a lobby and they paint the disabled community as people that don’t want to work, just slackers,” Brown said. He referenced comments by Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), who suggested that more than half of people on disability “are just anxious or their back hurts.”

    “This is a bunch of people, congressman and senators, they’re paid well, who have good government benefits, and they don’t know many people who are on disability,” Brown said. “They talk about them that way, and it’s pretty shameful.”

    Yes, it is.

  21. Diana in NoVa

    Had a blissful day yesterday–worked on four different writing projects while listening to three CDs that I’ve never had time to unwrap since I received them as gifts. One was “Casting the Magic Circle” by Stripy Stockings, which was spoken rather than sung–guided meditation and grounding. Then there were Elizabeth Cunningham’s “Maevensong” and Faun’s “Luna,” which was all in German. Vowed to work on the novella every day from now on.

    Looking forward to the SOTU tonight. Will have to curtail Miss Pink Cheeks’ half-hour bath time so I’ll be able to see the beginning. We don’t get home from the Daisy Scout meeting until 7:45 tonight.

    Jan, I also ponder the eternal hatefulness of Republicans who despise everyone who’s not like themselves–rich, white, overfed, ugly, mean, and above all, MALE. I’d be ashamed to hate my fellow human beings to the extent they do.

    Here’s hoping the news doesn’t poison our day–be well!

  22. DeniseVelez

    headed off to first day of school.

    Won’t be cross posting today – because I can’t get the videos to work here

    I keep thinking we need an updated platform!

  23. anotherdemocrat

    We are going to have really nice weather today – I just needed a light jacket for my morning walk. See how I buried the lede — I walked before work! Just 20 minutes, but it’s better than nothing. And I really want to walk tomorrow morning; if nothing else I want to get here before 6 because someone snagged the parking place I like today so getting here earlier may get me my spot back. Also, tomorrow at lunch, the head of the agency is going to lead a 30 minute walk for the state agency fitness competition. Then Thursday the forecast says we have a 100% chance of rain.

    Allergies are killing me – and our sunny, windy weather won’t help that. Benadryl every 4 hours, plus herbal remedy with each meal. Sigh,

    Earworm is U2’s Yahweh

  24. Portlaw

    to SOTU and am ready to cheer Pres Obama on, Have a lot to do before then but will check in from time to time to see what’s up.  

  25. bfitzinAR

    35 heading for 50 and overcast at the moment (8:30 a m CST) but supposed to clear off later in Fay., AR.  I really don’t like monday-on-toosdays – the week seems 6 days long on a 4-day work week that starts Tuesday.  But I’m here and have gotten through about half my backed-up emails which I need to get back to but wanted a break. 🙂  Hope everyone is bright and beemish this day. {{{HUGS}}}

  26. princesspat

    Another busy day for me with 3 more medical tests. I had no idea this would be so complicated! Given my BCH history I think they are being very careful, which is good, but all the concern is making me worry even more.

    Yesterday with the girls was very fun though. Emma (12 yrs) is a young woman one moment and then playing with her American Girl doll the next. Ava (7 yrs) wants to know if Swedish Hospital will have Swedish Fish candy in my room 🙂

     

  27. JanF

    It is 27 degrees in Madison with an expected high of 31. Morning snow flurries in the forecast.

    I caught the last minute of the presidents speech live, caught about 5 minutes of punditry on MSNBC (still applying brain bleach), and then watched the SOTU response by SorryNotGoingToBeAStar Joni Ernst. This morning I read the president’s speech and it was a good one (posted on our front page with the full transcript).

    I laughed at the poutrage that the Republicans expressed after the president returned their rudeness with some snark. In case you missed it, the president said “I have run in my last election”, which the Republicans rudely applauded. The president gave them a look and said “and I won both of them”, which Democrats applauded vigorously. The overnight right-wing media whined that the president’s call for civility was followed by a taunt about his election victories. No, the president’s call for civility was followed by Republicans acting the way they always do, like rude children, and he basically told them he would have none of that. THAT is a good start to the 114th Congress, the Congress Joni Ernst called “the New Republican Congress that (36% of) you elected”. They will be rude … and he will have none of it.

    See all y’all later!

     

  28. anotherdemocrat

    Walked again! 40 minutes this time. And I beat that person to the good parking space. There’ll also be a lunch walk with the agency director. And I’m walking tomorrow morning despite the rain – I walk in the garage, so I just have to cut out the roof portion & I should be good. It’s in the 50s now, but supposed to stay there because a front & serious rain are coming — I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a 100% chance of rain in the forecast.

    Very few other thoughts in my head. Leaving home at 5:45 will do that. Also, California is playing really loud in my head, driving out any other stuff that tries to cross my mind.

  29. bfitzinAR

    Thanks for posting the SOTU speech JanF – I’ll get to it as soon as I can but I’ve got a bunch of stuff to get off my desk first.  Hope everyone has a good day {{{HUGS}}}

  30. princesspat

    No medical visits today, yay! I feel like it’s a holiday. Paying bills and doing laundry will keep me busy though.

  31. Diana in NoVa

    at some point here in NoVa. A neighboring county has already closed its schools in thrilled anticipation. Right now it’s just cold and grey outside.

    Really enjoyed the SOTU last night. Jonathan Karl, one of the snarkiest wretches in the White House press corps, complained that the POTUS seemed “cocky” and “defiant.” What a seven-letter word beginning with “a” he is! No mention of the cocky, defiant Rethugs, of course.

    For my own part, I’ll always remember the evening “Obama socked it to the Harper Valley PTA” (or the national equivalent thereof).

    Miss Pink Cheeks stayed the night with us last night after the Daisy troop meeting, so I took her to school this morning and picked up Babylicious from my son’s house. We have a new book to read today, Where is Baby’s Belly Button? He’ll probably try to eat it, as he does with all his books (my grandson devours the printed word?) Apropos of that I can see two new teeth trying to emerge in his upper front jaw.

    Speaking of teeth, the pain of mine is driving me crazy. It’s not a nonstop pain, but when it happens I go crazy. Thank Goddess I’ve got an appointment tomorrow morning!

    The first snowflakes are falling. Have a good day, all!  

  33. DeniseVelez

    hope it stops soon – I have to leave here at 11 to drive to school.

    Haven’t had a chance to look at much online news yet – though am paying attention to the House Republican “disarray” re their proposed abortion bill.

    Also listening to NY news on the radio – and the upcoming arrest of Sheldon Silver

    Sheldon Silver, New York Assembly Speaker, Faces Arrest on Corruption Charges

    http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01…

  34. JanF

    It is 28 degrees in Madison with an expected high of 33. Clear skies in the forecast.

    Jeb(!) and Mitt(!) are going to meet in Utah, purportedly to discuss how to avoid duking it out over the same donors in 2016. Grab popcorn.

    Maine has kicked 6,500 people off food stamps because they can’t find work in the depressed state economy. If you click on this link, you will be disgusted by the image of Gov. Paul LePage, triumphant in his reelection victory, at the top of the article. The shredders of the social safety net are going to have a serious karma problem … sadly, they appear to be coated in teflon in this life. The Senate voted that man does not contribute to global warming so – there you have it – it does not exist cuz the U.S. Senate says so! Next up, curtail the 1906 antiquities act that allows the president to designate national parks and protect wilderness areas. Thank you, young people who could not be bothered to vote in November 2014, you have officially destroyed your future. (yes, I am still grumpy about this).

    Busy day here. See all y’alls later!  

  35. DeniseVelez

    Supreme Court’s Latest Race Case: Housing Discrimination

    Many fear Texas case could gut the landmark Fair Housing Act.

    http://www.propublica.org/arti…

    This week, the U.S. Supreme Court will take up one of the most important civil rights cases of the last decade. If you’ve never heard of Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs v. The Inclusive Communities Project, you have company. The issue of housing segregation has never captivated the nation’s attention like affirmative action or voting rights.

    But today, two days after the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, the court will hear arguments in the Texas case that many fear could gut the Fair Housing Act, the landmark 1968 law that was passed just days after King’s assassination.

  37. anotherdemocrat

    Cold & rainy — but I walked! 30 minutes, up & down the ramps in the parking garage. Kept to the covered part, because it was raining pretty hard. The director sent out an e-mail that he wants to walk at noon today, but it is supposed to still be raining.

    You’d think all this walking would help my sleep, but I woke up at 4-freaking-30. Like, shot of adrenaline wide awake. Grrrr. But it did get me well out of the house by 5:45, even with the extra time spent looking for my rain hat.

    earworm: Big Girls Are Best, the last song that was playing in my car. Happy & energetic. And – big girl pride!

  39. bfitzinAR

    Having gotten approx 3 hours of sleep total the last 2 nights (sinuses – and the decongestants aren’t working), I’m a bit groggy this morning.  Hoping the coffee will help.  Fortunately I got all the tasks requiring assessment and decision-making done yesterday – rote memory and “autopilot” (and an extra hour or so) will take care of today’s list.  I will have to “wing it” without the decongestants for at least 2 weeks so they’ll start working again.  Hopefully said sinus issues will go away by themselves soon so I can get some sleep before any “critical thinking” tasks show up in my life.  Have the good Friday Eve at the pond.  {{{HUGS}}}

  40. anotherdemocrat

    just got this e-mail

    Lightening has struck the Capitol causing many power outages to include many of the card readers and the west gate entrance to the parking garage to no longer work

    we’re fine here next door — actually I didn’t even notice any lightning & you’d think we’d hear it that close

  41. princesspat

    Ron will be leaving for Kennewick soon as his mom needs him. His brother (who lives there is traveling) so we’ve been calling her every day and yesterday she was alarmingly disoriented. Thanks to multiple phones we got assistance for her pretty fast, and our nephew went with her to the hospital. She has another infection but with fluids and antibiotics is back to her sometimes difficult 96 yr old self!

    Ron will stay long enough to access her care, talk to her Dr. and make sure she is able to stay in her assisted living apartment. Then he’ll hurry home to be with me. Such is life….

  42. Portlaw

    Statement by the President on Roe v. Wade Anniversary

    Today, as we reflect on the 41st anniversary of the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, we recommit ourselves to the decision’s guiding principle: that every woman should be able to make her own choices about her body and her health.  We reaffirm our steadfast commitment to protecting a woman’s access to safe, affordable health care and her constitutional right to privacy, including the right to reproductive freedom.  And we resolve to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies, support maternal and child health, and continue to build safe and healthy communities for all our children.  Because this is a country where everyone deserves the same freedom and opportunities to fulfill their dreams.

     http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-…

  43. JanF

    It is 26 degrees in Madison with an expected high of 37. Mostly cloudy skies in the forecast.

    Every four years, the crazy religionists come out of the woodwork to run for the GOP presidential nomination. They are bent on turning our country into a theocracy with THEIR religion in charge. Tony Perkins of the Focus on Families Like Mine Foundation is convinced that we have no-go zones in America where municipalities have essentially turned over law enforcement duties to neighborhoods who govern by Sharia law. This is what happens when you allow a cable tabloid channel to deceptively use the word “News” in its name.

    And in a country where every day you read about another child killed by guns, there were anti-choice demonstrators in our nation’s capitol with signs saying that the most dangerous place for a child is in a womb. Those “pro-life” people need to put their energy and their passion into stopping the NRA from allowing the slaughter of our post-womb children. Maybe if they showed people that they cared about those lives, we would respect their opinions more.

    See all y’alls later!

  44. DeniseVelez

    won’t get much better later on.

    Brr…have school today and campus will be colder than it is here.

    I see the NY Times editorial board is keeping an eye on SCOTUS and Fair Housing

    Discrimination With a Smile

    http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01…

    While the world press issues laudatory statements about the death of King Abdullah

    I prefer to pay attention to the flogging of Raif Badawi.

    http://www.theguardian.com/wor…

  45. Diana in NoVa

    today. Then we get a batch of unwelcome weather at rush hour or something.

    Had to rush off to my dentist yesterday morning and she performed a root canal on the spot. It’s not finished, though, so I have to go back a week from today. In the meantime I’m enjoying the relief from extreme pain.

    Saw the news about King Abdullah. And the Pope’s coming over in September. I’ll get excited about the Pope when he issues a papal bull to the effect that women are PEOPLE, not slaves, and as people should have full human dignity and rights.

    Looked in at Orange to find news of the Texas Kossacks conference. I would so love to go! To meet Denise and MB and the others would be heaven!

    Just read Petula Dvorak’s column in The WaPo to the effect that day care is so expensive some women have to quit work and stay home. Salaries definitely haven’t kept up with day care or college costs. I’ve helped out Younger Son as much as possible but I’m getting old and I just can’t keep doing it beyond another six or seven months.

    Wishing everyone a good weekend–stay warm!

  46. Portlaw

    rushing around. Back later to catch up on everyone. Did see that an experimental ebola vaccine is being shipped to Liberia. I hope this is something that might help all that suffering. Funny, now that the election is over, we never hear about Ebola.

    The shipment will be the first potentially preventative medicine to reach one of the hardest hit countries.

    But experts say that, with Ebola cases falling, it may be difficult to establish whether the jab offers any protection against the virus.

    It has been produced by British company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and the US National Institutes of Health.

    Continue reading the main story

    “Start Quote

       Because case numbers are starting to come down it will become harder and harder to show if the vaccine is having any impact”

    Prof Jonathan Ball Nottingham Univeristy

    Meaningful protection

    GSK said a plane carrying some 300 initial doses of the vaccine was expected to arrive in Monrovia on Friday.

    The company hopes the first volunteer will be immunised in the next few weeks.

    The chief executive of GSK, Sir Andrew Witty, said the pace of development was almost unparalleled and was comparable to only the development of a pandemic flu vaccine or new medicines for HIV.

    He told the BBC: “As an example we have delayed two other vaccine development programmes to free up the space to do this work, so this has come with a significant amount of disruption.”

    Scientists aim to involve 30,000 volunteers in the trial in total, including frontline health workers.

    http://www.bbc.com/news/health…

  47. anotherdemocrat

    Brrrr!! Ok to most of y’all 40 & raining isn’t that bad, but I’m a Texan. I’m used to sunshine. And 40 degrees ugh. It’ll be in the 30s at 7 tomorrow morning. I’m gonna wear 2 sets of thermals plus the warmest workout shirt I have plus hat, gloves & my face mask for tomorrow’s workout. If I loosen my shoelaces, I should be able to wear 2 pair of wool socks, right?

    My friend is having surgery again next week. They apparently didn’t get it all like they thought. I’ll find out the details, but am requesting all good thoughts. Cancer sucks.

    Playing Big Girls Are Best very loud in my head because I beed the happy, lively music.

  48. bfitzinAR

    Things are starting to quiet down as we finish up the 2nd week of classes.  Yesterday what I hope was the last student attempting to get into classes – the deadline was last Friday – came by.  As with many of this “entitlement” generation, he couldn’t understand why he couldn’t have what he wanted when he wanted it or why he should suffer the consequences of his own inaction on dealing with is issues before Enrollment closed.  There are times when being a gatekeeper sux, but I’m afraid I self-righteously don’t mind at all when dealing with “entitlement” people.  (A fault to work on, I’m aware.)  Hope today goes well and the weekend goes better for everybody.  {{{HUGS}}}

  49. princesspat

    I couldn’t stay awake yesterday, so I just napped, went to bed early and slept well and long. I’ve got a few errands to do today and my messy desk to deal with, so today will be a quiet easy day….with another nap or two!

    Ron’s trudging through the medical stuff with his mom, but she’s doing better and is very glad he is with her.

  50. JanF

    It is 32 degrees in Madison with an expected high of 38. Morning clouds and afternoon sun are in the forecast.

    Today is the day of Steve King’s Meet and Greet in Iowa, the first official event of the 2016 GOP Presidential Nominating Contest. Charlie Pierce will be there and is looking forward to seeing the gaggle, now including Marco Rubio, “kissing Steve King’s cantalouped hindquarters at noon in a storefront on Main Street.” Wisconsin’s governor will be there to crow about his new drug testing for the poors plan. 🙁

    Teaparty stallwart Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-NC) who got queasy over the definition of rape in the Fetal Pain Bill, will get a primary challenger from the right. Gawd, I cannot image what someone to the right of her looks like. Ed Kilgore makes an interesting observation about why this bill hit a nerve:

    Now when [the Vox’s Sarah] Kliff says antichoice folk are “divided” on rape exceptions, it should be added that they are divided on strategic, not philosophical grounds. I’ve never met or heard or read a RTLer who believed abortion should ever be legal or illegal because of the circumstances of a conception. Many do (and some don’t) favor allowing abortion if the mother’s life is at stake, but that’s because life is being weighed against life. But some do think it’s acceptable as a strategic matter to support legislation with rape or incest exceptions…  These are not stupid people, and their “long game” is to chip away at reproductive rights bit by bit, incrementally, where public opinion allows it. That means accepting rape/incest exceptions. But they don’t feel good about it, and they have a hard time rationalizing it with their beliefs, so now and then the exception gets shaved and the gaffe gets committed. […]

    But for all the discipline and experience of the antichoice cause, they cannot keep everyone in their ranks from telling the truth about what they really believe and what they really want. And so inevitably someone tries to narrow the “rape” exception, and the game is up.

    Someone accidentally put solid lines around their thought bubble and they stumbled into an area where they are clearly on the wrong side of public option: 75% of Americans believe that abortion should be legal when the pregnancy is caused by rape or incest, a number that has held steady for the last 20 years. THAT is why the bill was met with such an uproar.

    Catch up day here; it has been a week filled with interruptions and I need to get a grip on my work schedule again. See all y’alls later!

  51. DeniseVelez

    will hibernate 🙂

    Very interesting article in the Times – on Jorge Ramos.  Since most non-Latino Americans don’t watch Univision, they are probably not aware of his power.

    He is going to be the journalist who makes a difference in 2016 – re: the Latino vote.



    Jorge Ramos, Voice of Latino Voters on Univision, Sends Shiver Through G.O.P.

    http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01…

  52. Portlaw

    this will affect my care giving.  But need coffee and news to figure it out. On second thought, maybe not news. An earlier quick skim had stuff on Ukraine and Boehner that didn’t seem to be calming. Hope it’s a good day for all. Will check in later.

  53. Diana in NoVa

    We were warned that the weather could get much nastier than it actually has, so I’ve made plans to hibernate too. Don’t want to go ANYWHERE today. Plans:  sort tax stuff properly so can get going on filing the return; catch up on some correspondence; work on Web site and FB updates; and work on the novella.

    Had some very good news yesterday: elder son and DIL’s pregnancy is proceeding A-OK and it looks like a BOY on August 2 this year! We’re so thrilled–it’s their first and very likely only as Elder Son will be 45 in July and DIL will be 38 next month. It may sound odd that I’m so pro-boy, but considering there are five girls in this generation and only one boy, this will help to even things up a bit.

    Hope everyone will have a good day relaxing, doing catch-up chores, and enjoying life!

  54. Portlaw

    WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans revealed this week that they have eliminated the phrase “civil rights and human rights” from the title of a Senate Judiciary subcommittee charged with overseeing those issues.

    Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) became chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee this month and announced the members of the six subcommittees this week. With Grassley’s announcement, the subcommittee formerly known as the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights suddenly became the Subcommittee on the Constitution

    . http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…

    My focus is on reclaiming Congress

  55. princesspat

    Good morning everyone…..I’m lazy and late on the west coast.

    Ron is going to have to stay with his mom another day so he will be returning tomorrow…we hope! So I’ve got another quiet day until Emma comes this afternoon to finish her sewing project.

  56. anotherdemocrat

    I wore thermals & 2 pairs of wool socks this morning, was fine with just long sleeves this afternoon.

    Cut my walk short this morning (did 6 miles instead of the 10 I was supposed to) so I could go to the gathering for my friend – it was a mental health outing, a lunch with some of her friends. She’s going to Houston next week for a 2nd opinion about operating.

    I took a nap. Not feeling wonderful. Maybe the nap was too long. I gotta think about next week’s food. Maybe later. Clearing the dvr.

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