Thank you

~ susie ~ 1 Comment

thankyou

I just wanted to say how much I appreciate the people who have supported the site with their donations: past, present and future. Every once in a while, someone cancels a monthly donation — and I promise, I’m not upset that you canceled, I only feel thankful for your past support. Your contributions have given me breathing space to the point where I can buy the large package of toilet paper, and not just a couple of rolls at a time.

Every time I run out of saline rinse or allergy pills, and I reach into my closet for a new one, I think of you guys. You’ve made it possible for me to live at a more comfortable distance from the edge.

Louisiana pols ask Grover Norquist’s permission to hike taxes

~ susie

I don’t think we even need to specifically sell red state voters on the Democrats — just tell people to vote for the candidates who do what needs to be done, like fund schools, fix bridges and build roads, and aren’t in ideological bondage to a nasty little piece of work like Grover Norquist: Eleven legislators… Continue reading “Louisiana pols ask Grover Norquist’s permission to hike taxes” →

Large medical bills only getting larger, study finds

~ susie ~ 1 Comment

The prices of items in a grocery store are typically clearly marked so that customers know exactly what they’re going to pay when they get to the register. Similar practices, however, do not apply to the U.S. private healthcare industry, where little regulation on hospital rates and a lack of transparency mean many patients are purchasing… Continue reading “Large medical bills only getting larger, study finds” →

Christie disclosed grand jury information, ex-official says

~ susie

Chris Christie Declares War On Drugs A 'Failure,' But Still Doesn't Think Recreational Pot Should Be Legal

TRENTON, N.J. — The former Port Authority of New York and New Jersey official who pleaded guilty last month to federal criminal charges in the George Washington Bridge lane-closing case, now alleges in a separate legal matter that Gov. Chris Christie disclosed information about a grand jury proceeding that Christie oversaw when he was U.S. attorney.… Continue reading “Christie disclosed grand jury information, ex-official says” →

Asshole messes with the wrong woman

~ susie ~ 1 Comment

Leslie Smith

Yeah, he really asked for it:

A man outside a nightclub in California decided to sexually harass a woman. He then experienced a major failure in the victim selection process by targeting two young ladies who happen to be professional cage fighters: Leslie Smith and Heather Clark.

Leslie Smith is in the bantamweight division and Heather Clark is in strawweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Champion mixed martial arts company. They are highly skilled at physically beating opponents into bloody submission.

The man pinched Clark’s bottom. Smith objected, as the tabloid The Mirror describes:

The man then allegedly spat in her face saying “F*** you. I can do whatever I want.”

Smith replied: ‘No motherf***er, you can’t.’

He then allegedly swung a punch in Smith’s direction – which she dodged, forcing him against and wall.

She then managed to take him onto the floor where she rained down elbows on him, the Metro reports.

“He turned over and I just dropped elbows on him from mount against the building until he started saying, “I’m sorry,”‘ Smith told Bloody Elbow.

“Then I stopped as soon as he said sorry, because that was really the only thing I went over there for.”

Cool water

~ susie ~ 2 Comments

I certainly get the appeal of having a backyard pool (although, to be honest, I preferred a swim club when my kids were little), but they’re really, really expensive. (Which is why they’re a “status symbol.” What fun.)

But I don’t see residential pools lasting into the future. We’re already seeing drought, extreme heat and water shortages — I wouldn’t be surprised to see more money going to public pools because single-home pools will be banned.

Bernie feels the love

~ susie ~ 5 Comments

From MSNBC:

Five thousand people at his kick off rally in Vermont. Three thousand in Minnesota. The largest crowd of any candidate this year in Iowa. Standing-room-only in New Hampshire. A surprising finish in a straw poll in Wisconsin.

Armed with low expectations and a stopped-clock message that has finally found its time, Sen. Bernie Sanders’ longshot Democratic presidential campaign is resonating with voters more than anyone expected just a few weeks ago.

The latest sign came this weekend in Wisconsin at the state’s Democratic convention. In a straw poll of delegates at the meeting, 49% party officials and activists who cast ballots picked Hillary Clinton as their top choice for the Democratic presidential nominee. No surprise there – Clinton is dominating every poll and has a stronger lead than any non-incumbent presidential frontrunner in modern history.

But Sanders was within striking distance, just 9 percentage points behind Clinton, capturing 40% of the vote.

It’s just a straw poll, which are far from predictive (ask 2012 Iowa straw poll winner Rep. Michele Bachmann). And only 511 ballots were cast total, according to a tally posted on the blog WisPolitics.

Nonetheless, it shows a desire for an alternative to Clinton and an interest in Sanders among the party’s most committed members, at least in Wisconsin. And the results show that Sanders has, at least for the moment, solidified his place as Clinton’s main rival.

Other Clinton declared and potential challengers didn’t even come close. Vice President Joe Biden and former Gov. Martin O’Malley, who declared his presidential run last weekend, each got 16 votes. Former Sen. Jim Webb got 8 and former Gov. Lincoln Chafee, who also recently declared his run, got 5. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who is not running, got 4 write-in votes.