I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

For those of you who have MSNBC on cable, be sure to watch it tonight at 9 p.m. (Rachel Maddow's special, called "Hubris" about the propaganda used to approve the invasion of Iraq).

http://www.thenation.com/blog/172967/tonight-maddow-probes-lies-around-iraq-war-and-connects-hagel-debate-today#

Chickadee, that would be a great spinoff!!  Gets my enthusiastic support.

AnneW - yes Portland is a very pretty city, set in the forest.  My hospital room for the BMX had a huge window with Mount Hood and the Ross Island Bridge smack dab in the middle.  And the new city tram.  Too bad it was too rainy and I was feeling too crappy to enjoy it   You rode down the Coast?  Is that the organized ride?  I'm not sure I could cross the bridges with those cars so close by, but really, the Oregon Coast is some of the best coastal scenery on the West Coast.  (Never seen the East Coast, except for Boca Raton, so can't compare.)

Speaking of Republicans you know, my nephew, in years past, was the head of the Republican Party in the Boulder area.  He use to be an aid to Governor Owens?  I'm not sure how that arm of the family became Republican, but something bit my older brother after he married a Southern woman.  According to his daughter, he even listened to Michael Savage - ugh.

How is it that one can go 3 seasons of a tv show and never hear of it and then all of sudden I can't stop hearing about this show Downton Abbey.  I'm not even sure if I'm spelling it correctly and my gf had to correct me that it's not "Downtown Abbey."

Linda - yes looking forward to Hubris tonite.  Not sure the people who need to see and hear it will be watching, though.  Those times, leading up to the Iraq war, the lies, the stories that were being told (and swallowed), in the face of so much contrary and credible evidence, were so horrible, for so many of us.  The least of it, all of the lost life in Iraq.  Tragic, criminal.

Athena- "Artisan," is that what they call it?  Portland is such a low key area, dresswise, that it is hard to think of anyone really being into fashion in any significant way.   I think rainy climates yield practical dressing.

Lindasa - thanks for the reminder.  While it is so sad, the loss of American life at Benghazi, this kerfuful is about what??  What Susan Rice said on the Sunday morning talk shows?  As if what she said is some giant conspiricy to somehow sheild the POTUS from negative publicity during the election?  I've never understood how this would have hurt him, in any case.  Now I see above, and by comparison, our embassies, consulates, etc. have been much safer under his leadership, though who knows what is cause and effect.  Not a soul on this board would even be bringing this "crisis" up were it not manufactured as a wedge issue for political reasons.  It so reminds me of the manufacture of the "WMD in Iraq" issue.....there was no there there, but as long as there were people who wanted to believe, they latched on and went with it because of their own agendas.  They look like fools imho.

Welcome, JudyinNebraska!

HL - always happy to hear from you (wishing you'd post more often - I have such enormously high regard for your views and opinions)...

BUT...

Now I don't feel guilty at being so unfashionable as to not watch Downton Abbey - I think I'm allergic to soap operas. If people have to be written in and out of shows because of contracts, that's sad.

I do have a history of loving TV series, though, including English comedies like To the Manor Born, Are You Being Served, You Rang M'Lord, Fabulously something-or-other and who could forget Keeping Up Appearances. The English have a genius for making fun of themselves that Americans haven't really mastered. We make fun of each other, IMO, which is different. The exception to this are urban comedy masters, IMO, like Chris Rock and D. L. Hughley - love them both.

I used to be an E.R. devotee back in the day, and Chicago Hope one before that. I never took to Grey's Anbatomy, but I did enjopy House - I love neurotic people - Hugh Laurie is also very sexy!

"As someone very wise has said "Beliefs don't change the facts; facts, on the other hand SHOULD change beliefs".



Oh you guys would have had a field day with the crazies who invaded the Cruise Critic forum while the Triumph was adrift. The stuff they posted was nonsensical and none of them, nor anyone, could get the facts because the ship passengers were incommunicado. So they just made stuff up and CNN quoted them, more than once.



Now passengers have posted some balanced experiences, good, bad and nasty and some of the crazies won't believe them. Including one lady who claimed three bodies were taken away by helicopter and two of them weren't American and she saw this while being insulted by the crew and seeking treatment below deck but didnt get it because the nurse demanded she sign a release form guaranteeing payment. And that another cruise ship should have been sent to pick them up on the open sea. Using a zip line to transfer........it's been quite the education.

Athena - you reminded me of my PT's office in Portland (it was a dojo, but still I was wondering if I was seeing an Alternative Medicine woman or an actual lympodema specialist).

Hey all!

I had a wonderful fantastic day!  Glenna was able to join me, my sister, and our #1 trainer at the barn of our #2 trainer and watch our horses at their lessons.  And....I got to RIDE MY HORSE!  Wonderful Glenna took thousands of photos and I'll post one soon.

This afternoon my sis and I had our lesson with #1 trainer.  More awesomeness ensued.

Life is good.  :-)

E

Wow, just beautiful!

I broke down and cried after I dismounted.  Still blubber just thinking about it.

Enjoyful, you are both beautiful.

Thank you, Momine.  Nothing else matters when I'm with my horse.

You've found your man, E!

What a beautiful team  you make, E!  So glad you had your first ride today.  Sampson's one very lucky quadruped!

Hi Judy in Nebraska!