matyra's Blog

matyra Commented on Luminarias, giving, and buying American by matyra

2009-11-23T00:59:41Z

Sounds good.

matyra Commented on Luminarias, giving, and buying American by matyra

2009-11-23T00:58:57Z

I've got "rules" too. If it's something made of silk or China or something else traditionally made in China, I have no problem making exceptions. Same for other countries. But I'm always looking for and happy to see a "Made in USA" label.

matyra Commented on Luminarias, giving, and buying American by matyra

2009-11-23T00:55:23Z

Thanks CVille. That's an unique idea for a gift. You get knowledge, and so do those running the study. I like it.

matyra recommended BLOG STRIKE 2 by TheraP

2009-11-23T04:45:43Z

matyra Commented on Luminarias, giving, and buying American by matyra

2009-11-23T00:52:52Z

They put an off button on the TV for a reason. Turn it off . . . I really don't watch much TV.

-- President George W. Bush, C-SPAN interview, January 2005

One of the 5 things that W ever said that made a lot of sense: http://www.turnoffyourtv.com/

matyra recommended Time to contact the FCC by Bwakfat

2009-11-22T19:03:38Z

matyra recommended Is Everybody Disappointed In Obama? by M.J. Rosenberg

2009-11-22T15:45:36Z

matyra Commented on Luminarias, giving, and buying American by matyra

2009-11-22T17:33:03Z

Does my picture at the top appear on people's browsers? I checked the code and it's ok, but it seems to disappear on mine.

matyra Commented on Luminarias, giving, and buying American by matyra

2009-11-22T17:30:43Z

Thanks DD, and you are right about how much talent we have here. I set out trying to make a post that didn't lament what we don't have, but emphasize what we do have.

matyra Commented on Luminarias, giving, and buying American by matyra

2009-11-22T16:48:22Z

That is true. And any help is desperately needed now.

matyra recommended Extraterrestrials: Space Nazis or Fluffy Bunnies? by miguelitoh2o

2009-11-20T23:26:38Z

matyra Commented on Bye Bye public higher education?? by matyra

2009-11-21T21:43:18Z

Modern American conservatism is an authoritarian movement dominated by a few wealthy families and the executives of big businesses who demand to be allowed to run monopolies and oligopolies instead of being forced to compete in real honest-to-god markets.

I can't disagree with that statement. I often think of conservatism as the old style conservatism, the Eisenhower kind. And I think that some Republicans, a few, still believe in those principles. Many Republicans still think that their party stands for the old definition, when it is really just language, window dressing really, and is non-existent from the actions or aims of any of their leaders.

matyra Commented on Dem Aide: Schumer Dealmaking On Public Option "Inappropriate" by Brian Beutler

2009-11-21T21:28:36Z

If there are going to be triggers in their bill, it better be triggers to a robust public option.

Can you imagine a trigger to a lackadaisical, shitty-assed public option as is now written in Reid's version of the Senate bill? Sorry, but that doesn't fly. Give us the PO outright as is in the current bill (or better) or give us triggers to a robust PO.

matyra Commented on 'President Or Jihad?' Billboard Replaces Birther Sign In CO by Rachel Slajda

2009-11-21T00:29:27Z

The billboard caricatures of Obama look just a bit, um, racist.

matyra Commented on Bye Bye public higher education?? by matyra

2009-11-21T00:23:44Z

That sounds familiar. So, university bookstores, athletics, the print center, food services (the unused meal plan money doesn't go to charity, I imagine), and even university presses are fair game. Heck, grants awarded to researchers are skimmed too, but probably mostly for legitimate overhead (I'm guessing, maybe it's all the same pot).

Thanks for the explanation. Your words are in line with Richardxx above, and make sense. But I have to ask why any reasonable person would think that "A population without basic skills don't have the skills to be an active and watchdog populace." is a good thing.

It seems so backwards.

matyra Commented on Bye Bye public higher education?? by matyra

2009-11-21T00:16:24Z

The AU stories seem like the President had a little problem with realizing that he ran a school, not a financial company. His story is the exception, not the rule, however (I hope.).

Universities may be run like businesses, but even they have to have some kind of scruples yet.

matyra Commented on Bye Bye public higher education?? by matyra

2009-11-21T00:13:43Z

Yes different skill sets are required for different jobs. But the attitude and stances one takes while using those skills makes a difference. Rowan's point down below furthers this point.

matyra recommended What a mess! (Updated) by TheraP

2009-11-20T22:55:29Z

matyra Commented on Fear Factor: The Four Ways Republicans Say Obama Will Kill You Now by Evan McMorris-Santoro

2009-11-20T22:24:56Z

And these things can happen here if we aren't vigilant. Of course. But do you think that keeping them in a prison in Cuba, without charges, indefinitely does anything to make those who would attack us less likely to attack? Come on! At least getting the prisoners here, and trying them moves the process forward.

Keeping them where they are is just a festering wound and your argument doesn't really stand ground. Look up "Guantanamo and al Jazeera" sometime and you'll see what I mean.

matyra Commented on Fear Factor: The Four Ways Republicans Say Obama Will Kill You Now by Evan McMorris-Santoro

2009-11-20T22:16:31Z

It does explain a lot, though, doesn't it?

matyra Commented on How Many Americans are REAL Americans? Twenty Six Percent. by The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve

2009-11-20T22:10:46Z

Hey, thanks NCSteve. I'll have to look this over during the weekend. Looks to be really interesting.

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2009-11-20T03:33:30Z