From Pine View Farm

2009 archive

How about “Bushboroughs”? 0

After all, “Hooverville” is already taken.

Like a dozen or so other cities across the nation, Fresno is dealing with an unhappy déjà vu: the arrival of modern-day Hoovervilles, illegal encampments of homeless people that are reminiscent, on a far smaller scale, of Depression-era shantytowns. At his news conference on Tuesday night, President Obama was asked directly about the tent cities and responded by saying that it was “not acceptable for children and families to be without a roof over their heads in a country as wealthy as ours.”

Republicanism continues to increase our vocabulary.

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Shakespeare Would Roll over in His Grave 1

Unusal British names on the decline.

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Atrocity, Reprise 3

I have discussed mountaintop removal before. Mountaintop removal kills. It kils streams, towns, forests, and lives.

So this is good news.

The EPA announced on Tuesday that they were putting a hold on dozens of mountantop mining projects until the “projects’ impacts on streams and wetlands can be reviewed.”

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Bring Vinegar 0

These could be your salad days:

A northbound tractor-trailer truck hit the back of an 18-wheel Perdue Farms Inc. tank truck at an intersection here early Monday afternoon, closing northbound U.S. Route 13 and spilling the truck’s liquid contents.

The tank’s signs indicate that the substance is vegetable oil, but crews at the scene did not immediately identify it.

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Scam Alert 2

From the Virginian-Pilot. Follow the link for more detail:

The automated telephone message said the car’s warranty was expiring and this was the last notice.

It said to press 1 to talk with a representative. The guy on the other end gave only a first name, but Caller I D showed his number as (416) 523-1121. He asked a lot of questions, wanting the make, model, year of the car and other details.

He’ll call again, tomorrow or the day after, even if told to stop.

The Federal Trade Commission and other groups are trying to find and stop these folks, but the agency doesn’t appear to be succeeding in Hampton Roads and elsewhere.

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I Should Watch More Telly Vision 0

I don’t normally watch press conferences. I read about them the next day.

I’m beginning to regret missing this one.

Read more »

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“Natural” Means “Natural” 1

Well, duh! The judge rules that the federal government (under the previous administration, mind you) really shouldn’t sell out our heritage.

[RANT MODE ON]

Of course, that bunch sold out more than our heritage. It sold out our traditions, our Constitution, our liberties, our laws, the treasure of our labor, and the blood of our young. Pah!

[RANT MODE OFF]

On Tuesday, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Gregory M. Sleet ruled that refuge officials and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service broke federal laws when they allowed farming (at the 10,000-acre Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge–ed.), and later planting of genetically modified crops, without appropriate environmental reviews to determine the impact on wildlife and wildlife habitat.

The ruling comes as a victory for Delaware Audubon, the Center for Food Safety and Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, the three groups that challenged the agricultural practices at Prime Hook.

Read more »

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Well, Just Don’t Get Sick 0

You should know better anyway.

American workers — whose taxes pay for massive government health programs — are getting squeezed like no other group by private health insurance premiums that are rising much faster than their wages. Today — even as most retirees have health insurance and nearly 90 percent of children are covered — workers now are at significantly higher risk of being uninsured than in the 1990s, the last time lawmakers attempted a health care overhaul.

That’s according to a study released Tuesday by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which found that nearly 1 in 5 workers is uninsured, a significant increase from fewer than 1 in 7 during the mid-1990s.

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How It Works 0


Using The Bank: Actual audio from a 1947 educational film from scottbateman on Vimeo.

Via Delaware Liberal.

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Journanimalism 0

John Cole:

Sucking up to George W. Bush—and maybe even getting your own nickname—elevated a reporter’s status in 2003. Trying to knock Obama off his game now elevates a reporter’s status. It really is that simple.

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Adventures in Linux 0

I broke the screensaver.

Then I fixed it.

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To Breathe Fresh Air 0

Off to drink liberally.

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Jindal Bells, Reprise 0

Over at Mudflats.

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Twits on Twitter 0

Here.

Via Phillygrrl.

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Internecine 0

Discord amongst the financial superheroes:

(Wilbur) Ross’s American Home Mortgage Servicing Inc. and (Bruce) Rose’s Carrington Capital Management LLC are accusing each other of worsening the recession by devaluing homes and the mortgage bonds that sparked it. In a Stamford, Connecticut, lawsuit, Carrington says American Home hurt its hedge funds’ clients by dumping foreclosed homes tied to its subprime bonds at “fire sale” prices. American Home, which countersued on March 20, says Carrington wants to grab bondholders’ money by blighting communities with vacant homes.

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Hu(me)bris 0

Mad Kane:

Fuming About Hume (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane

The blogs are a threat to the news
Cuz they’re slanted, says Hume, in their views.
A fellow from Fox
Casting “partisan” knocks?
To Hume I must say, “Brit, j’accuse.

Via Skippy.

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Maybe It’s Because I’m a Guy 2

Or maybe is was my low-key socially conservative Southern upbringing . . .

I do not understand the urge to have something new, not because I need it or not because I want what it can do or not because it looks like it might be fun or entertaining or useful, but, well, just because it’s new.

Yet, whole segments of our economy seem to be founded on new simply for the sake of new.

Gap Inc.’s upscale Banana Republic chain, struggling with declining sales, plans to open a test store selling limited-edition accessories mostly below $100 to lure ever-more discriminating shoppers seeking both style and value.

Edition by Banana Republic — featuring limited-edition handbags and jewelry, along with some shoes, sunglasses and personal-care products from Banana Republic — will open exclusively in Gap’s hometown Westfield San Francisco Centre in May. A Gap spokeswoman declined to comment on whether the company has plans to open more of the stores, but said that Gap plans to incorporate lessons from the test shop.

Limited edition over-priced unnecessary junk is still over-priced unnecessary junk.

I restrict my shopping to cheap, necessary junk, thank you very much.

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Quicksilver 0

“This here next one’s rock and roll”:

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Fiduciary Duty 0

A TPM reader wonders

who represents the taxpayers in the compensation decisions at government-controlled firms?

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Word of the Day 0

Courtesy of BuzzWhack (http://www.buzzwhack.com/):

menoporsche: Male menopause. Symptoms include a sudden lack of energy, crankiness, and the overpowering urge to buy a Porsche.

Me, I want a Lamborghini.

Lamborghini

I’ve wanted one for 45 years, since I first read a review in Motor Trend. In 45 more years, maybe . . . .

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