Cute Kid Break

Brontee is one of five siblings with a teenage sister and three animated, outgoing, overly-protective brothers aged ten and below. The boys have reportedly done handsprings to pick up toys their sister was about to get busted for not putting away herself and reprimanded their mum for unfairly scolding their prized little princess. Closing in on her third birthday, Brontee is a beautiful, bright little girl and I am quite confidant she’ll be lording over her brothers just as soon as she works out how much power the boys have bestowed upon her.

But for now, the young men not allowed to cuss are reveling in Brontee’s mispronunciation of the word smack.

 

I love this. First because parents today can forever capture these precious moments  with the flip of a mobile phone and second because it took me back to the days when my own kids were young and tripped over the F Bomb for the first time. Like the littlie in this clip my oldest nephew couldn’t say fire truck without turning it into fiyahfuck – which he said loudly and with great enthusiasm – which was unfortunate as my prudish brother was a fireman and loved taking his son to his station house.

My youngest daughter confused fuck with frog which made her siblings giggle with glee and so struck the funnybone of a family friend that he once absconded with the gold ceramic frog that lived in my bathroom and showed up with it at Pizza & Pipes for a Saturday night family outing. Sitting at the opposite end of a long table from my daughter he boldly reached into his jacket, retrieved the shiny, borrowed figurine, held it up in the air and hollered to the other end of the table Hey missy! Look what I have!

My 2 year old stood straight up in her high chair, wildly waved an accusing finger and bellowed in her oh-so-deep nobody-knows-where-she-got-it baritone voice…

THAT’S MY FUCK!!!

It was enough to make the organist stop playing.

 

*          *          *

Healing is going well but pain level is still too much for me. I just keep reminding myself that it’s temporary – and we can do anything short-term.  I’ll have a progress report next week. Thank you for all the great advice, words of encouragement, nurturing energy and prayers – Oz

 

 

apparently, it only takes 28 minutes to kill a candidacy

by Andrew Sullivan – full story here

Talk about putting the issue of unemployment into perspective…

 

side note – hanging in there – lots of pain – hard to sleep – but so much loving support – thank you everyone – oz

 

home from hospital

well…i had a rather bad fall friday evening – fractured rt humerus – no surgery – yet – hoping it will knit back together on it’s own. however i am off the comp for at least 10 days – take care – oz

 

The EarthQuakers – What did they Sacrifice?

As the Iowa Caucus draws to a close and the maintenance crew sweeps up the last of the burst balloon bits, torn posters and fast food debris I can’t help but wonder what personal sacrifices the Palin supporters made to write their Queen onto the 2012 ballot – and now that it’s obvious the gesture didn’t work will they recognize their movement to draft Sarah has made them tragic earthquake victims or  will they still keep opening their wallets?

I do know that people who don’t have a lot of money to begin with have to make personal sacrifices in order to pay $100 for a DVD or coffee mug because money for donations has to come from somewhere. Are these Palin supporters doing without extras and necessities in order to play the SarahPAC donation game?

I once lived in San Francisco next door to a family from Hot Springs Arkansas. The houses on our block were all three story Victorian homes.  Some were single family dwellings while others were divided into flats which then accommodated multiple families. This particular family lived in a flat – two parents and two children. One Christmas the mother announced she was taking a retail job and they would not be exchanging presents or chipping into pot luck festivities because they had decided to save for a home. Everyone on the block was supportive. My mom and dad gave the kids presents anyway and included them in our holiday plans regardless.

But I put this out there because I remember so clearly from that Christmas forward my friend (their daughter) not having any sweets in her school lunchbox, never being able to buy an ice cream with the rest of us after school, skipping class field trips and my dad paying for her to accompany me on occasional weekend activities like Saturday afternoon matinees or swimming parties.

Her ice skating lessons came to a halt and for several semesters she wore hand-me-down clothing her mom found at church rummage sales. I can still hear her mother making the worn-out comment “no, you can’t have that, we’re saving for a house remember?”

To further save money an out-of-work uncle was called upon to watch my friend and her much younger brother on evenings when both parents worked overtime hours. The uncle babysitting lasted until my friend told her mother that the uncle was forcing himself on her sexually (we were about aged 10-12 at the time). I remember how horrified my parents were and that while the uncle was sent far, far away, my friend got the belt for not outing him sooner – and my dad was so outraged at her punishment he never spoke to my friend’s dad again.

The thing is, money has to come from somewhere. In many ways the commitment made by this family to save enough money to buy a first home is commendable. But on another level, the severity of sacrifice made by the two small kids was beyond harsh. For more than one or two holiday seasons there was no Santa Claus, no Easter Bunny and little fuss made over birthdays while all around them their friends had presents to open, candles to blow out and parties to plan. (And of course the obvious observation needs to be made – if the parents hadn’t been so keen on getting a free babysitter would they have left their daughter in the care of the uncle?)

The parents desire to become home-owners was so strong it excluded their children from much of the socialization that happens in grade school. No trips or money to buy treats at bake sales or joining in with others for parties or after school activities. And I can’t even begin to describe the humiliation my friend surely must have felt by having to purchase her first bra at a church charity sale surrounded by a group of women who all knew her uncle had molested her.

And when I think of all the not-so-well-off people who have made similar familial sacrifices in order to afford sending donations to SarahPAC the irony makes my blood boil.

The Republicans behind Sarah Palin running for president all believe that government handouts are wrong – that people out of work should just suck it up and find jobs – that free medical treatment or food stamps go against the grain of people standing up on their own two feet – that the elderly and infirm should just figure it out…

…and yet all their heroes (not just Sarah Palin) run political campaigns forged on the collection of public donations. You know – that darned ol’ *gasp* free money thing they so adamantly scream at Pres. Obama about.

At least at the end of the day my friend and her family were able to move into a lovely house in the avenues. What are the Palin supporters getting for their sacrifices? I mean besides a packet of lies and a boxful of empty promises.

*          *          *

O/T – my follow-up posts on the SLRC race and the Childrens Hour are still forthcoming – it’s just that I’ve stepped into this weird dimension I like to call the hurrier I go the behinder I get… so your patience is much appreciated

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Found this on Facebook:

Gorgeous – Happy New Year everyone

 

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays

From gool ol’ Charlie Brown:

Have a happy, safe holiday everyone

 

The Children’s Hour

In 1961 a Lillian Hellman play (circa 1930′s) was adapted to film. It raised eyebrows and hackles as it slipped into neighbourhood movie theatres across America. Polite people didn’t openly say the word lesbian as a rule back then much less make it the focus of a movie and more than one religious-right group had it banned from their town. Thing is, the movie wasn’t about lesbians – it was about how quick the public is to embrace hearsay as truth and the ensuing collective knee-jerk reaction that causes permanent damage to those accused before the facts are ever brought to light.

As actresses, Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine took a lot of flack for their portrayal of two single teachers wrongly accused of being lesbians by one of their students. The fact of their characters’ innocence made no difference to those offended by the topic. The movie itself was actually falsely labelled perverse before movie-goers had a chance to see for themselves it was neither sexually explicit nor about lesbians – ironically reinforcing the entire moral of the story.

Regardless of a person’s defense of or offense taken, the movie made a strong statement about the manipulation of public opinion:  Once an accusing finger has been pointed there will be those who forever believe the accusation in spite of any evidence ultimately pointing to the contrary. It is the epitomy of the old adage – Once a bell is rung it can never be un-rung.

The Story:
Karen and Martha are longtime friends who open a school for girls. They are hard-working, good teachers and the school attracts many affluent families. Karen has a boyfriend, Martha does not but Karen and her boyfriend include Martha in everything they do. The women’s strong bond and warm personalities contribute to their success as teachers.

Enter the mean girl, Mary, who’s punished for telling a lie and gets even with her teacher by beginning a rumour that the two schoolteachers are lovers. Before the rumour can be disproved, parents pull their daughters from the school and the two women are shunned by the town.

The disgrace and violence the women endure as a result of the false accusation is sadly no different from what happens today. As a society we are every bit too quick to pass judgement now as we were 60-70-80 years ago. Especially when we feel our children may be at risk.

If this is a movie you’ve never seen, I strongly recommend it. The acting is superb and the story is gripping.

This is my head’s up to you because over the next few days I’d like to open a discussion about last month’s events at Penn State. It’s not a happy story – not for anyone – but certain contradictory facts are beginning to bubble to the surface and I’d seriously like to be able to talk about them with you.

Here’s a bit from tomorrow’s post:

 

Best Rick Perry Tweet Ever

This just made me smile

 

Welcome Home Blog (dotcom)

These are amazing! Spouse just found this site and I have laughed and giggled and cried for about an hour already!

For the past couple of years returning soldiers have planned surprise visits to loved ones and captured it all on film. With all the negative crap that goes on everyday in the news it’s a shame these clips don’t get more play. These little glimpses into ‘real-life’ experiences help put other things into perspective and are lovely  to share… well done guys!

Welcome Home Blog has stacks of these. This was the one on youtube that caught spouse’s eye:

As a matter of fact I think I’ll add this to my blog roll

 

Hey Sarah – I think the President was Talking to You!

Yup I’m pretty sure while he saw the jab coming from the debate stage, he aimed this straight at your stupid Fox interview, FB rant, not just the idiot crowd you’re endorsing. And I’m not super sure, but pretty sure The Donald may have had his topknot ruffled as well.

Two morons, one idiot and a whiner all backhanded in one fine stroke. Not bad.

Oh and I especially like the countdown clocks behind him letting the country know whose responsibility it is if the middle class has their taxes raised.

 

What to Get that Special C4P Pal for Xmas

Stuck with a relative who’s still into Sarah?

Get paired up at work with a Palinbot for the office Silent-Santa gift exchange and don’t know what to get?

Well even if all you want to do is give a liberal a laff, I found THE PERFECT gift for Palin fans at this website.

Welcome to Holiday Hell…

ITEM DETAILS

Tacky Sarah Palin Christmas sweater! On this sweater, Sarah Palin is wearing her own tacky sweater, complete with decorations. She’s got happy jazz hands, wearing her winter gloves. Bust = 42″ Length = 25″. Sleeves are 12″ half-length.

 

You might even want this one for yourself! You know – to prove to the world that while you might be a liberal, you’re also too fair and balanced!

ITEM DETAILS

T-neck red Tacky Sarah Palin Christmas Sweater! Sweater has a rear zipper at the neck for easy on-off. This sweater is 2-sided! The front has Sarah wearing a pair of festive antlers. On the back of the sweater, Sarah Palin is wearing her own tacky sweater, mittens, and a santa hat! Decorative accents include beads, pom poms, bows, and trim. This festive sweater is a winner! Bust=34″. Length= 22″.

AND THAT’S NOT ALL! Each of these lovely creations is not only a steal at $64.95, they are also too pre-owned which means you’d be helping other lucky gift recipients to recycle!

WOW!

I don’t know about you guys but I sure know where I’m going shopping for my stocking stuffers this year!!!

Ugly Christmas Sweaters Dot Com – where have you been all my life!!! (omg I am so into the sweaters with twinkle lights!)

 

 

the ROBIN HOOD TAX is catching on…

this is brilliant -

By STEVEN GREENHOUSE and GRAHAM BOWLEY

Published: December 6, 2011

They call it the Robin Hood tax — a tiny levy on trades in the financial markets that would take money from the banks and give it to the world’s poor.

And like the mythical hero of Sherwood Forest, it is beginning to capture the public’s imagination.

Driven by populist anger at bankers as well as government needs for more revenue, the idea of a tax on trades of stocks, bonds and other financial instruments has attracted an array of influential champions, including the leaders of France and Germany, the billionaire philanthropists Bill Gates and George Soros, former Vice President Al Gore, the consumer activist Ralph Nader, Pope Benedict XVI and the archbishop of Canterbury.

“We all agree that a financial transaction tax would be the right signal to show that we have understood that financial markets have to contribute their share to the recovery of economies,” the chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, told her Parliament recently.

READ FULL STORY HERE

 

 

The Last Time I Believed the Story of Christmas

For me, the story of Christmas began to unravel when I was around age ten. I loved the hymns and carols and candles and lights and Sunday mass in a church full of beautiful flowers and good friends. It was comforting and despite my personal epiphany, I’m glad my parents took me to church every Sunday when I was young.

But this particular year would be my last as an honest believer in Orthodox Christianity.

I remember sitting in the choir loft with my mom and looking down at the tops of all the ladies hats. I was playing my weekly game of guessing which hat belonged to which lady when the priest took to the pulpit and began his Christmas Day sermon about the birth of Baby Jesus.  I knew the story by heart and although it was nice to hear again I was ten after all and not really listening. My good behaviour in church was inspired more by not wanting the wrath of my mother’s silent glare than interest in the good priest’s words. (My mother had a way of levelling whole buildings with a single raised eyebrow and I hardly wanted to find myself in trouble on a day like today.)

So listening to Father Harris that Christmas morning was more like skimming through a book you’d already read. My ears only picked out certain key words that let me know how the story was progressing so I could follow along and work out how much longer I had to sit quietly.  Presents, opened and then abandoned to get dressed for church had my real attention.

Blizzard… Mary… no room… Joseph… barn… bright star… wise men… myrrh… the heavy scent of incense wafted up into the loft. It was not a pleasant aroma for me and I curled my nose into the folds of my mother’s choir robe and breathed in the softer smell of her white rose corsage.  When younger, the combined chemicals of incense, multiple ladies’ perfumes, fresh-cut flowers and men’s cologne made me (literally) faint and I learned to sidestep that embarrassing event with a breathing-slash-counting game taught to me by my paediatrician. With face full of purple cotton I pretended to count the miles it took to get from our house in the city to my grandfather’s farm two hours south.

Shepherds…  bright star again… so if the bright Christmas star appeared in the sky the moment baby Jesus was born and was used by the shepherds and wise men to guide them to the scene of the birth – how in the world did this all happen in one night? It took forever just to get to my grandfather’s farm and these shepherds were coming down whole mountains and wise men were riding camels into Jerusalem from deserts of far off lands – none of which could have been even remotely close to the manger in which Christ was born.

And wasn’t there a blizzard? How did anyone see the stars through a sky filled with rain and snow clouds? And if it took several weeks or months for these visitors to actually reach Mary and Joseph why were they still in the barn? One by one and thread by thread the warm, protective layers of blind faith began succumbing to the cold light of reason.

My mom was great. She told me some stories were told to make us feel better – to give us hope in troubled times. Stories taught us lessons in humility and generosity and helped us overcome greed and show compassion toward each other. It didn’t matter if the events surrounding the birth of baby Jesus happened all in one night or over an entire year – the lesson was about how no matter our differences, all living things can share the joy offered by the miracle of birth.

And as I watched my baby sister growing up I realised how some stories were told to keep children who couldn’t understand more sophisticated reasoning safe from the grown up things that could hurt them. Like shouting No! Hot! if you saw her walking toward the stove while mom was putting dinner on the table. At three a toddler can’t quite grasp the whole ‘mom’s cooking so you need to stay out of the kitchen for a while’ thing. But HOT can be grasped in an instant.

And although I can’t be one hundred percent certain, I’m reasonably sure that this is the premise upon which entire religions are based:  Creating easy-to-understand rules that makes a cohesive society out of an otherwise nomadic, chaotic existence.

Humans need rules. I get that. I just believe we’ve sufficiently evolved past the need for the fairytale explanations our priests and politicians think we need in order to swallow the truth.

And sometimes I think I was smarter at age ten than I am today…

 

In Support of the December Project at The Perils of Palin

I’m probably going to Hell anyway so what the heck… this is dedicated to the creative team over at the Perils of Palin who are busy working up a slightly blasphemous nativity scene. When I ‘got’ the picture below I laughed for days – and when I read the latest PoP post I knew it was time to share:

Can’t get the song out of your head now can you…

Having grown up in both a protestant and orthodox house I have always considered myself a good Christian. And even though I put my whole heart and soul into traditional Christianity as a kid, there simply came a time I outgrew believing in all the abracadabra and smoke and mirrors of religion.

I believe in being a good friend and neighbour – in not destroying the environment where I can help it, in sharing what I have with those who have less, never causing harm to another living being and always striving to be someone others can trust.

I don’t see why it’s necessary to have faith in a supreme being in order to have a conscience but if you do, that’s ok too

 

Cain may not be running for pres but he’s still fleecing money from poor folk!

Even though Herman Cain has suspended his presidential campaign, he is still collecting money from the public and the whole thing just reeks of fraud. Political PACS  have lost the plot and border on snake oil salesmanship. But at least on other PACs – SarahPAC included – they use actual photos of perpetrators. This phoney photo of ‘old man in field’ is just pathetic. Take away the sepia tone and the man doesn’t even look like black.

 

Unemployment Rate Going Down (rather like republican popularity)

Full story here.

Oh and it shows this pretty chart too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So come on republicans… tell us… nOw whatcha gunna bitch about?

 

Protect IP Act – protecting the little guy or just another win for big Corps?

Have not had time to properly research this yet so I’m just going to supply a screenshot of my email letter and the two links that were inside so you can read, respond or just go hide in a corner – because to be honest, hiding in a corner is my first and preferred reaction

[click to enlarge]

Link to more information. (Includes a Vimeo video I can’t embed.)

Link to contacting your senator. (Requires zip code.)

I’m all for copyright owners collecting their well-deserved royalties. But I also hate censorship and am really, really tired of big corporations getting congressional votes on anything.

===================

NOTE:  Have found and enabled the nested thread feature – hopefully this will allow us to respond directly to a comment without having to copy/paste posters names, etc. Wish I could get wordpress to allow .jpg’s to appear in comments – that would save a stack of time and grief…

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Have just spent over an hour on the phone with my mother – me in Australia and mom in California – both watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade live in New York City – how cool is that! Live streaming! Where have you been all my life!

So with all the other things I have to be thankful for this year I’m including giving thanks for all the really great gadgets and techy toys some pretty amazing geeks have invented that made my visit with mom this morning possible!

Eat lots and lots of turkey and cranberry sauce and baked sweet potatoes covered with mini marshmallows and stuffing with gravy and corn on the cob and pumkpkin pie with gobs of whipped cream on top! And then have a second helping for me because there’s no Thanksgiving downunder *sniff* and spouse and I decided to skip our unorthodox celebration this year. (We sometimes invite a few friends the first week in December to share what we’ve dubbed our American Thanksgiving A Week Late & In The Wrong Country celebration.)

Anyway I’m off to call all my kids – can’t wait to hear their voices – I hope you are all enjoying family and special friends – and those who are able – take a plate or two to a homeles shelter and share the joy

Courtesy of earthcam.com here are some screenies (click to enlarge) of the parade:

Did you know this little guy has been around since the 1870′s? The Morton Salt girl too evidently!

An actual Kool dude

Hi Mickey!!!

 

Have a lovely day everyone

 

The Reason Behind Sharing the Photo… *Update*

What a delightful, lively group you are! Thank you to everyone who contributed to the last post – and I hope this post will answer the big question ultimately hanging over my head like an annoying thought bubble… what in the Sam Hill were you getting at lady? (Which is, actually, a common question posed by my spouse almost daily for numerous subjects!)

When cliveden posted a link and a question in another comments section, I casually strolled across the web to have a sticky beak (that means take a look for you mainlanders). I found the photo, captured it and reposted it here to get all your opinions. The next day I went back to the site and began perusing the other entries. By the third one I was sitting straight up in my seat, alarmed and uncomfortable.

I immediately removed the link from my comments and sent cliveden an email explaining my reasons. I asked her to please not post it anywhere else until I’d had a chance to show it to a professional, get his opinion, and capture certain information that might otherwise disappear (like some myspace accounts) should the quiet blog suddenly be the recipient of heavy traffic.

To be perfectly honest, my initial impression of the photo was that it had been photo-shopped by the blog author. The post read like a quiet occasion shared by two close friends. But in reading further it began to feel more like the long, melancholy letter one would write to a lover at sea, referring to one of the Palin women as ‘my sweetness’ and reading the posts felt like such an intrusion of privacy I had to stop. On the advice of a friend and professional, I’ve sent the link to Alaska authorities. On the advice of a friend and a blogger, I’m not going to release the link here and sincerely hope that any of you who might be privy to the web address will not make it public, either.

We have a responsibility – all of us – on all sides of the political aisle – to ensure we have a place to conduct deeply passionate, heated discussions about our policies, our elected officials, our elected-wannabes and in these rooms we share some pretty adamant, unyielding and differing opinions of people. But one thing we need to always agree on and that is we mean no one actual physical harm. I am genuinely concerned that the author of the blog I read is troubled, pathologically focused on the Palin family and neither I nor any of my readers need to be the catalyst for putting this poor soul over the edge.

And then I had an email exchange with Gryphen from tIM in which he not only confirmed my reactions but had this profound statement to add as well:

As things with the Palins start to die down there are a few VERY unhinged people, on both sides of the spectrum, who seem to be having an especially hard time letting things go.  Just recently  Shawn Christy decided to plead guilty (http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/sarah-palins-stalker-plead-guilty) which is good because he was another one who was becoming increasingly scary.

Sarah and Todd Palin may very well be genuine phonies who grifted their way to fame and fortune, cheating the general public out of millions of dollars – but as disingenuous as they might be, stalkers are very real. And unfortunately we can’t always know who they are because – well, for one thing, they don’t wear name tags. So for now, at least, I’m taking the high road and not releasing the blog link.

But that said… a funny thing happened on the way to the forum. Commenter Carolyn stepped forward to identify the photo in question and if nothing else, her knowledge of the event convinced me that the melancholy blogger is not responsible for any alterations which may have befallen our wedding mystery photo of Sarah & Todd – so that event and this photo are – in my humble opinion – up for grabs, topic wise. The link is off limits, but the photo is still in play.

A short tutorial in photo-shopping:

Behold the following photo of Todd Palin taken by a professional photographer with a high quality resolution of 300 pixels (dots) per inch (.dpi). When you lighten or enlarge this photo, the image (in particular the shadow on his cheek) doesn’t lose integrity. That’s because at 300 dpi there are enough pixels (dots) in each square inch to maintain the original image as it stretches. The image is left with clean, undistorted lines.

(Click image to enlarge)

Now we have a photo of Todd taken with a lesser quality camera and uploaded to youtube. The end result is an image resolution of 72 dpi – which is normally suitable for most images but the conversion to a youtube format added another process called compression. I found this answer on a forum to be the most comprehensive:

Image compression, like what is used for JPEG files, does just what it sounds like it does: it takes all of the data recorded by the sensor … and eliminates redundancies to create a smaller file size. In practice, this process takes the form of reducing the number of recorded colors to those specifically found in the image, and combining data from closely-colored pixels sitting near each other. The more heavily you apply this process the smaller the file will be, but the more details will be lost.

(Click to enlarge)

Simple shadows taken at a low resolution and then compressed lend a gritty look to normal shadows. In the case  of the August 17 youtube clip, the normal shadow on Tod’s cheeks appear darker than in the original image. When that same image is subsequently sharpened to pull it back into focus, a shadow can appear so gritty it gives the appearance of being a creeping beard.

The image of Todd in the wedding photo – to me – looks like a compressed photo that’s been shopped into a bigger picture. The image has been changed probably in size and then had a sharpening tool applied to compensate for the small distortions left behind. Interestingly enough, someone commented earlier on Todd missing his right ear. As you can see in the above image, compression and/or alteration can leave rough-looking, jagged edges which then need to be erased to hide or painted over to blend into the parent image. In either case, Todd is looking ‘almost’ straight on into the camera and – imho – at least a portion of his right ear should have been visible.

I can’t imagine this is a genuine photo of Sarah & Todd, even though I told Carolyn I would bow to her knowledge of this event – so I will bow out of this now with just one final observation…

What on earth did Todd do to ‘chubby up’ so dramatically in only 8 days?

 

============   UPDATE   ============

I am truly sorry the original conversation of the last two posts got derailed but will attempt to respond to a couple of things here. I am remiss in not having been more clear to begin with so allow me to backtrack:

A commenter sent me a photo and asked if I thought it was shopped or not. I had no stake in an outcome either way. My initial reaction was that yes, I thought it had been, although for what purpose I had no clue. Then I revisited the site of origin and became alarmed at the intimacy of the writing. It felt as if I’d opened a door to a room where I had no business being. Like a kid who accidentally walks in on his parents having sex – even though there were no parents here and no sex – just a style of writing that went well past a sense of correctness in blogging from a simple ‘fan’ in my opinion. So I pulled back and sought professional advice.

In the meantime Carolyn came on board and offered to share the original of this photo, knew the event it represented, some of the people involved and her knowledge answered a few of our questions. I have no evidence to support the suspicion that she lied when telling us the photo was genuine – but I also have no evidence which might support her claim of its authenticity, either. A couple of people dug around and located flickr accounts of this wedding event but not a single photo of Sarah & Todd appear in either of the flickr slideshows of the ceremony and reception, or in the newspaper account of the event which got a decent sized write-up in a local paper. Carolyn did provide a photo of Willow and Trig that I was delighted to receive because many of us have been disappointed by the lack of public photos of Trig growing up. But supporting photos of Sarah and Todd at this event? Not one.

I am not obsessed with this photo – I’ve just tried to be thorough. And the reason to even go down this avenue at all is because of the preponderance of evidence that has surfaced over the past three years showing how Sarahs initial quest for political power was riddled with false scenarios deliberately set up to make her appear more than she is. The release of emails alone showed Sarah to be rather deceptive and conniving inasmuch as she actually stooped to writing her own letters of praise and then had staff sign and submit them to local newspapers as if they represented the voice of the average Alaskan citizen . It was also discovered through these emails that Sarah had to locate and borrow a jogging stroller so she could be photographed with it in a national magazine ‘as if’ running with Trig in tow was a part of her normal routine. So in that vein, if this wedding photo is yet another phoney ploy concocted by the Palins for whatever reason, then we have every right to persue those facts.

Turning to my blog – it’s time I think to make a public commitment to all you reading my blog, whether you feel I’m one of the unhinged or not… everyone is welcome at Oz Mudflats. I have never and will never chastize a commenter or delete a comment because it is critical of my writing, my opinion or the subject of the post. A very wise professor once told my class - If we were each the same – one of us would be unnecessary. We need to praise and correct each other and be willing to take both as well. We need debate and differing opinions and opposing viewpoints to create and maintain a healthy balance in society and I do not preach what I do not practice. You may not get me to bend to your point of view but you’re welcome to try and I may do handstands to get you to see my side of an issue. I may clean up some of the more colourful language from time to time in the comments if I feel the cussing is overdone and could offend one of our more gentle readers but I will not ever delete the contribution itself or in any way attempt to humiliate the person behind it. In three years I’ve shown only one person the door and not for the thought behind the comment but because of the harsh language used to deliver it – but even that comment was left up after editing out a few of the fucks and suggesting he didn’t know me well enough to call me a slut.

This of course doesn’t mean I won’t challenge anyone who waves a red flag under my nose. I am half Irish after all. And I proudly voted for President Obama. It just means everyone is welcome here. No one of you will ever get a post, comment or email from me, belittling you, calling you rude or telling you to go away.

-Oz

 

Is This Shot of Sarah & Todd Real or Fake? *Update*

I know, I know, I haven’t posted the final-final summary page of the half marathon fiasco yet – but I actually wrote and tossed so many drafts I needed to step away from it to regain my perspective. And then Herb Cain came along and – well if you know me you know Side-Track is my middle name. Will get it finished soon though I promise

However – while my focus on the running post is resetting (so the piece can be as succinct and perfect as possible), let me share a photo just submitted by our friend cliveden. This came with a link that I’m choosing to withhold until other items on the site can be verified. The photo questioned, however, is priceless.

So without benefit of seeing what the author has written, tell me your first impressions – both about the photo itself and the author behind it:

For me, the torso on the male figure is just – wrong. I don’t even know where to begin. The shirt is pulling at an odd angle across his belly – the collar looks to be for a dress shirt (notice the under-the-collar button indicating it’s meant to be worn with a tie and yet there’s no shirt edge or buttons down the front)  and the waistline is out of proportion to the neck and shoulders.

To my eye, Sarah looks like she’s leaning against something that isn’t there and Todds head is way too small. Todd’s neck? He’s an Alaskan – not a giraffe. And I can’t for the life of me work out why anyone would have photo-shopped Todd’s face over another person’s body and seated next to Sarah (if she’s even there at all). It’s all rather bizarre.

Compare this photo to other headshots of the pair:

And this should offer more realistic proportions of Todd’s actual head and neck:

Let me see your first impressions and then I’ll post a sample of the writing. Oh and many thanks again cliveden!

PLEASE NOTE: In case you happen to know the site this photo represents, please do not post the link here. All will be revealed in due time – Thanks – Oz

============  UPDATE  ============

Appreciate all the input and I have to say I agree with almost everyone who says this is just the most unnatural photo… That said, our friend Carolyn has claimed it to be a genuine photo, identified the event as a cousin’s wedding held 09 August 2010 and submitted the full photo from which our selection had been cropped. Carolyn has blocked the faces of the relatives who do not normally appear in the Palin spotlight and I support her decision.

Carolyn also sent me two other pictures taken at this event, one I’ve inserted into the larger one showing Sarah feeding Trig at the table. The other was taken outdoors and I’m really only posting it because – well because in the middle of all the skepticism and doubts we endure from the adult Palin deceptions – we don’t often get to share the sweet side of these bubs and it just struck me as the most adorable photo of Trig I’ve ever seen.

From Carolyn (click to enlarge):
I am still bothered by the 5 o’clock shadow that goes all the way up one side of Todd’s face – it’s not a shadow cast by Sarah’s head but is indicative of how a shadow would appear had it been reduced in size from another photo (one of poor quality). The neck and torso continue to strike me as completely out of proportion – and Sarah really does look like she’s falling off his lap. If this photo sent to me by cliveden was altered, it’s possible this is the version of the photo that had the alteration done. If it’s genuine, as Carolyn claims, than it’s a truly bad photo of Sarah and Todd in a group where everyone else appears rather normal.

So even though I’m still troubled by certain details, I will bow to Carolyn’s knowledge of this event, her access to these Wasillans and chalk this poor photo up to one of life’s little mysteries.

And here’s the icing on the cake – how cute is this little guy, eh? And how happy!
Trig one year ago – age 2 and 1/2

Carolyn – you may find us still poking at the group photo – but I am grateful to you for taking the time to send these photos and for adding your input in the comments – OzMud

 

A Bit of Unscheduled Ozzie Humour

This is my favourite morning show team. If you’ve got to wake up every day at 3am to get to a TV studio and read the news to an empty audience, then you might as well have a bit of fun while you’re at it.

The best on air blooper though happened last June with the visit from the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama has probably never, ever stood in a pizza shop trying to decide which toppings to have on his pizza  (if he even knows what a pizza is) so Karl’s joke falls completely flat – and the poor man has been poked and jabbed on national TV for it ever since. He’s got a great laugh though – so there’s that.

If you never get to see these guys in America – I give you 16 minutes of pure, unedited, off the cuff humour from our most popular morning show:

Karl & The Dalai Lama

The Stabby Thing (the boys just walk into it – the girls never get it – which makes it all even funnier)

Best Miley Cyrus impersonation evah

The Today Brady Bunch

Today in New York & a Bunch of Muppets

G’day!

 

“Pizza is NOT a Vegetable” < Republicans have a bill in congress to reclassify pizza as a vegetable. Shouldn't they be voting on bills that create jobs?

From my email bag:

Sign this petition and spread the word: Pizza isn’t a vegetable.

Friend –

House Republicans are ramming through legislation this week to classify pizza as a “vegetable” for the purpose of school lunches.Why? Because a massive lobbying effort of Republican lawmakers by the frozen pizza industry, among other corporate interests, is underway to get around Obama Administration guidelines to make school lunches contain healthier options.

In this Republican Congress, almost anything is up for sale to the highest bidder and most powerful lobbyists — including the literal definition of the word “vegetable” — and this time, it’s coming at the expense of our kids’ health.

This is business as usual for some in Washington, but shining a spotlight on it can stop it.

Look, we could have a lot of fun with this one. But the fact is that there is a very real bottom line: Childhood obesity has tripled in the past three decades. And for some kids, school lunches are some of the best nutrition options they have during the day.

School lunches are hard to change — and it doesn’t take a doozy like “pizza is a vegetable” to know that the corporate interests have more money and more Washington lobbyists than kids do. That’s why pizza was classified as a vegetable during the Bush years. The Obama administration made that common-sense change, but the Republican Congress wants to take us back to the money-for-influence status quo.

If you think this is as ridiculous as we do, tell the GOP that it’s time they started picking real people over corporations (and real vegetables over slices of pizza, for that matter):

Thanks,

Brad
Brad Woodhouse, Communications Director, Democratic National Committee

============

Right or wrong, I smell a Godfather rat…

 

 

Obama and The Beast (downunder)

I can’t embed the videos but I’ll post links as they appear.

Air force One landed in Australia barely 30 minutes ago – the schoolies have already lined up to shake his hand.

From Channel 7 News:

President welcomed to Parliament House
(Video and full story here)

US President Barack Obama has arrived at Parliament House to be officially welcomed at a ceremony on the forecourt.

Mr Obama’s motorcade arrived about 4:30pm (AEDT) with the president in his personal, bomb-proof transport vehicle, known as ‘The Beast’ after a brief stop at his hotel to freshen up.

He was greeted again by the Governor-General Quentin Bryce and Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

There was a 21 gun salute as helicopters hovered overhead.

Gun smoke fanned the forecourt.

The US and Australian national anthems were played as the president stood on the dais in front of the army, navy and air force servicemen and women from the Federation Guard.

He was then invited to inspect the guard and the military band.

US President Barack Obama has arrived in Australia.

Air Force One touched down in the national capital Canberra about 3.10pm (AEDT) – 15 minutes ahead of schedule for his first official visit.

The president smiled and waved as he descended the steps from the specially fitted out Boeing 747 jumbo at the Fairbairn defence establishment.

He was greeted by Governor-General Quentin Bryce, Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Australia’s ambassador to the US Kim Beazley and the US ambassador Jeffrey Bleich.

The visit comes as security tightens in the national capital, with key roads closed and US Secret Service agents supplementing a bolstered federal police presence.

Mr Obama, America’s first black president, will meet Julia Gillard, Australia’s first female prime minister, at Parliament House before holding a joint media conference and attending an official dinner.

The president will use a speech to a joint sitting of parliament on Thursday to thank Australia for 60 years of friendship through the ANZUS alliance, and spell out America’s renewed focus on the Asia-Pacific region.

Ms Gillard and Mr Obama also are expected to spell out the broad details of a new agreement for US Marines to conduct training and exercises with Australian forces based in Darwin.

 

POTUS is Not a Video Game

There was only one Franklin D. Roosevelt and even if there were a reincarnated version of him about to step onto the political stage tomorrow, the days of being able to run the country from a wheelchair are well and truly over. Waiting for overseas phone calls to be arranged or messengers to arrive with important documents to sign no longer provide periods of rest. Nor do leisurely riding the rails between states or sailing across the ocean to visit allied countries.

Today everything happens fast. Important phone calls come one after another. Documents needing signatures or assessment fly off fax machines or through emails. There’s no such thing as down time in the oval office.

Today’s president needs to be on top of his (or her) game both mentally and physically 24/7, prepared to jet to New York at 5am, California at noon and then be back in DC before before midnight. During the few hours of travel on Air Force One the president needs to conduct normal business, catch up on reading proposed legislation, take part in video conferences, meet with his staff and answer to the press. There’s no such thing as weekends off, early bedtimes, afternoon naps or long vacations.

For anyone aspiring to the office of the United States in the year 2012 to think he or she can do the job at less than perfect health and without one helluva work ethic is delusional. It may be our inherited right as natural citizens to run for the office – but to be able to fulfill the duties once elected is a horse of a different colour.

Herman Cain, a 65 year old cancer survivor who apparently can’t give a cohesive television interview on 4 hours of sleep and whose wife wears a pacemaker and prefers ‘quiet’, had no business wasting anyone’s time, energy or money running for president.The job is relentless. Demanding. And you can’t cancel an engagement just because you’re fatigued.

When John McCain ran his campaign in 2008 I watched as he went from standing up straight at each venue in August to slumping over, barely shuffling his steps at town hall meetings in October. And that was only one campaign over a course of three months. How on earth did he think he was going to physically cope with actually ‘being’ president?

Malia Litman reports here on the number of days Rick Perry actually worked at his job of Texas governor:

1. Of the last 355 days Governor Perry only reportedly worked a total of 164 days for “State Scheduled Business”. Thus, for 191 days out of the last 355 days, Governor Perry had no “State Scheduled Business.” That means he worked less than 50% of the days in the last 12 months, or just 46% of the days.

2. Perry did not declare his candidacy until August 13th, 2011, and even before that he failed to work 144 days out of approximately 9 ½ months, or 285 days. That means that he worked less than half time as Governor of Texas, even before he declared himself a candidate for President.

 3. Of the days that he did perform some type of state business, he failed to work a significant number of hours during a normal work day. Examples include:

 a. Thurs. April 7th Total hours worked- two 10:15-12:15 when he attended a funeral.

 b. Mon. April 11th 7:00-8:30 attended a dinner

 c. Tues. April 12 one hour

 d. Thurs. May 12th, Only work was a “bill signing”

At best it’s a pathetic showing and outs him as being a career politician with a poor work ethic and no desire to fulfill he gubernatorial obligations to those who elected him into office.

In the year 2012, we will not be able to afford a president whose attention is blurred by failing health, mental stamina or by a lack of ambition to do the actual job.

POTUS is not a video game. It is not run from a comfy chair via command console. You can’t put the world on pause while you run to the kitchen and grab a sandwich. You can’t log off when you’re tired. You have to be there. Alert. Attentive. Every day. Every. Day.

There are no do-overs at the White House. There are no extra lives. You get one shot – and then it’s game over.

 

Want to see what real progress looks like?

While the Republican party wastes time trying to attach a federal umbilical cord to every uterus in America, while they redefine science and social obligation instead of creating jobs and unilaterally make life-altering decisions for an entire citizenry based solely upon the ideals of one religion; and while elected officials like John Boehner render congress ineffective with a never-ending barrage of tantrums left over from losing the last presidential election like a 4 year old who isn’t mature enough to comprehend the concepts of good sportsmanship or compromise, the rest of the world moves forward.

A world run by the John Boehners, Sarah Palins, Herman Cains or Ken Hams of today would never achieve anything even close to the remarkable future that lies just beyond – but not out of – our reach.

H/T my Oz boss:
Enjoy -

 

Deeper into the Rabbit Hole: Cain Determined Innocent by New Lie Detecting Software *Update*Update 2* with video*Update 3*

New Lie Detector Software Says Cain is Innocent and Bialek is Lying

If there is a failing with this software it will be that it tests recordings of voices, not the actual voices themselves. The basic principles of lie detector studies rest on the physiology of the person being monitored by the machine and a live technician. I’m completely unfamiliar with the software package used to determine Cain’s innocence this morning – have never heard of  it until ten minutes ago and have no understanding of how it works or which police services, and where, have used it successfully thus far.

I doubt it’s used in a court of law and I doubt it replaces actual lie detector tests performed by trained technicians but I am happy to approach this with an open mind.

I can offer two bits of information from my own experience:

1) If a man believes he is ‘entitled’ to do whatever it was he is accused of doing, it can reflect his honesty as he believes it – as opposed to whether or not he actually committed the act.  (And I don’t think I’ve ever encountered a more self-righteous, ego-entitled person than Herman Cain.)

2) Software can be written by the programmer to garner whatever results are desired.

Will be interesting to see how all the ladies treat this and if they demand a traditional lie detector test be run. This should keep the press busy for a while though eh?

============  UPDATE  ============

It’s pretty interesting to note that after finding this article through a ‘news alert’ which scans the internet for breaking news and most popular political stories, and posting it more than 10 hours ago that I can’t even find a whisper of these (what should be critical) results anywhere. Not even on other blogs.

I can’t see it being a hoax as it is presented on an east coast (US) network – which begs the question for me – how reputable is the CBS Atlanta?

Wouldn’t Cain’s attorney have been all over this if it were genuine? Or does the silence mean they’re busy hatching up a big bombshell to drop?

I also think it would be legally unwise for Cain’s team to blatantly call  Sharon Bialek a liar on national television, based upon this test result – but I’m no legal eagle.

Comments have been spot on – the observation that the ‘technician’ reporting the findings claims Cain has integrity displays bias a polygraph tech would never let show.

Following Alice down the rabbit hole is – at the very least – not boring

============  UPDATE  2 ============

Just over 21k  views on this youtube video at present. Only a handful of bloggers have commented so far.

I fail to understand how computer software can factor in what the  person is thinking – especially when the person is not even in the room.

PLUS – if Cain was being truthful when he said he didn’t recognise (know) these women and it’s proven he is guilty, that would speak volumes to his ego, incompetence and lack of social conscience altogether, no?

============  UPDATE  3 ============

From the Hinterland Gazette:

Herman Cain Defamation Lawyer Lin Wood & PI TJ Ward Too Close for Comfort, Worked Together on Natalee Holloway Case

November 11, 2011
Janet Shan 

… Herman Cain’s defamation lawyer Lin Wood & PI TJ Ward have worked together in the past, most notably on the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, on her mother, Beth Holloway Twitty’s behalf. So, it is a little suspect that T. J. Ward suddenly appears on the scene with a lie detector software, or Layered Voice Analysis, that says Herman Cain was telling the truth during his press conference to respond to Sharon Bialek’s allegations of sexual harassment…

… As for Sharon Bialek’s statements coming across as a lie, there is a big difference when one is reading from a written document and improvising, as Ms. Bialek seems to have done. Herman Cain was coached. It’s clear that Sharon Bialek didn’t have enough time to have been coached, so the delivery is going to be far different, with stress.

… I wouldn’t put too much stock in TJ Ward’s voice analysis software test results for both the accused and the accuser. I am sure the results aren’t as fool-proof as TJ Ward would have the general public believe… As for his success rate… It isn’t a coincidence that T. J. Ward suddenly popped up with his voice analysis software to come to Herman Cain’s rescue. This was an orchestrated move on the part of either Herman Cain & Lin Wood or Lin Wood and T. J. Ward or all three. This isn’t a coincidence. The timing is very, very suspect.

A few comments from the discussions I thought you might find interesting:

THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE SOFTWARE  The prospect of Truster or similar programs installed on thousands of home and business PCs, however, worries traditional polygraph specialists. They argue that even if the technology is sound – which many of them question – untrained individuals convinced they can divine another’s honesty is a recipe for disaster. “If it were being marketed as a novelty, that would be one thing,” said Frank Horvath, a criminology professor at Michigan State University’s School of Criminal Justice. “But people will use this for making real-life serious decisions, believing it really works.” … Clinton’s statements on the Monica Lewinsky affair found the president to be highly excited but truthful when he denied sexual relations with the intern….” ..

I have a close friend who was involved with the Restaurant Association along with Cain, and he told me way before this all came out in the media that Herman Cain was a womanizer and had gotten himself into trouble with women. I happen to believe my friend who is a Republican by the way.

@sleeplite, it appears that CBS Atlanta reached out to Mr. Ward, not the other way around. How they came to know about Mr. Ward (did someone suggest him?) is anyone’s guess, but if it was due to the notoriety of the Natalee Holloway case, why did CBS Atlanta not also note that attorney Lin Wood, who preceded Cain at the press conference, was the Holloway family attorney as well? If they knew it, why didn’t they disclose it? You can flag me till my posts drop off, it doesn’t change the fact that this test proves nothing about Cain’s guilt or innocence. The accuracy of voice stress analysis was found to me no better than 50% based on the US Military’s use in Guantanamo Bay interrogations.

This software does not prove she is lying any more than it proves Cain is innocent. It is possible to deceive polygraph tests and I’m sure it is possible to deceive this test if you conveniently knew your statement was going to be analyzed. If Mr. Cain were coached, or rehearsed his statement repeatedly, the results could be skewed. The legitimate question I have raised is why was it not disclosed that the investigator, TJ Ward and Cain’s attorney, Lin Wood worked together.

Herman Cain defamation lawyer Lin Wood & PI TJ Ward worked together on Natalee Holloway disappearance case… Cain (and CBS Atlanta) may soon be quoting Rick Perry, “oops”

Interesting, but these shorties are my favourites:

I seriously doubt that Cain would be interested in white women if he married a black woman. (Your jaw just dropped, dinnit!)

John…well said! Cain is the “real deal” when it comes to reform. The rest are just shuffling the cards. A saying you’ve probably heard, SSDD.

Eric, Mr. Cain I believe will take a polygraph adminstered by a top polygrapher before the Iowa vote. He will pass with flying colors. The problem Axelrod has in trying to smear this candidate, is we have a man Herman Cain, who is the “real deal” not a creation of the crazed media elites.

heh – sound familiar? If anyone is missing a few Palinbots – I think we just found ‘em for ya

 

R I P the herman cain presidential campaign *update* Cain emerging as Pimp Daddy of the ’90′s *UPDATE 2* ooh this just keeps gettin’ betta

Herman Cain believed he could write his own ticket. That’s the meat and potatoes of motivational speaking. Believe it and it becomes the overriding truth.

But some truths can’t be wished away and today Herman Cain finally gets to pay the price for his arrogant hubris. And I hope the Republican party is paying attention because there’s a valuable lesson to be gleaned from what is happening to Herman Cain as we watch his campaign imploding:

Your rights end where my nose begins.

I applaud the women who are standing up to him and hope more like them come forward. Because – there are more. You just know there are. That’s the nature of the beast. At the peak of his career, believing he was invincible and entitled, Herman Cain would have had an insatiable hunger. There would have been a lot of women.

We so dodged a bullet here.

I become more enamoured with my president and his beautiful family every day.

*      *      *      *      *

Politico’s got a great post up about a Cain email rant regarding the anonymity of his accusers negating the validity of their accusations. but the following comments are where I found this pearl:

ROFL!

If any of you find more send links or screenies and I’ll add them…

============ UPDATE ============

OOOOOOH THIS JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER AND BETTER!

Fifth woman steps out of the shadows – this time an employee who was asked by Cain to arrange a meeting with a ‘lovely young woman’  following one of his speeches. The employee declined to fill the CEO’s order. In response, Cain behaved rather badly, leaving her and their small dinner group an $800 tab for two bottles of wine he choose not to share.

Personally, I think the ladies got away cheap! And the Pimp Daddy Express just keeps on rollin’…

Full Story Here.

============ UPDATE ============

Herman Cain: The gift that just keeps on giving…

From The Washington Post:

And then there were two… yes, two now named females have come forward to publicly out the Republican hopeful with allegations of sexual misconduct in the workplace. Maybe they will attract more – who knows – but one thing’s for certain. These women are not Democratic saboteurs, nor are they deranged flakes, nor are they after money and fame.

The ladies want a joint press conference to put forth a united front. Reminds me a bit like an old movie (or was it TV murder mystery?) where these women in a small town in Mexico who had been repeatedly raped and abused by law officials finally put a stop to it by killing them off one by one and leaving the bodies to rot in the sunshine.

Sharon Bialek and Karen Kraushaasr have retold credible stories and each has documentation, completely negating the claim they masy have ‘drummed this up’ to keep good ol’ Herm out of the White House.

And this emphasis strictly for the benefit of the teabaggers out there – both women are white.

I dunno about you guys but as I watched Cain lying through his teeth at the press conference earlier today, I swear I saw some vultures circling overhead…

Gryphen at the Immoral Minority has a good take on Herm’s presser here – along with the full video clip. Don’t miss it.

 

Personhood: Biggest Threat to Women’s Rights – and Romney’s “absolutely” for it.

From my mailbox:

Dear xxxxxx

Mitt Romney has taken a position that every woman in this country should know about:

When asked on Fox News whether he would have supported a “personhood” constitutional amendment, Mitt said, “Absolutely.”

“Personhood” amendments are the notorious measures now being considered in states like Mississippi, Florida, and Ohio, that would elevate a fertilized human egg to the status of a legal person. They would ban IUDs, the morning-after pill, in-vitro fertilization, and all abortions — with no exceptions for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest or in cases where the life of a woman is at stake.

In other words, a leading candidate for the GOP nomination for president is on the record in favor of a law that would classify literally all abortions — and even many forms of birth control — as murder.

To be clear: This is the most radical position any of the Republican candidates have taken on this issue, and may be the most radical position any of them have taken on any substantive issue in the race for the nomination so far.

Mitt has an uncanny ability to change course depending on the day, so we put together a video to show exactly where he stands on a woman’s right to choose — whether she’s choosing emergency contraception, or to save her own life.

Romney, who has held a variety of positions on abortion in his 17 years of running for public office, presumably understands the implications of criminalizing birth control and abortion.

If he wants to be in the national spotlight, if he thinks he deserves to be trusted with the highest political office on the planet, he has to be willing to take responsibility for his words and the consequences of the policies he claims to support.

This is so much bigger than his political calculations. It’s literally a life-or-death proposition, and it’s not limited to Mississippi, Ohio, or Florida. Personhood amendments like the one in Mississippi are a direct affront to the federal right to privacy afforded by Roe vs. Wade.

If Romney wants to take the position that abortion and birth control are equal to murder, that’s up to him. But we’ll hold him accountable for it, and not let anyone forget that he’s made the choice to go this far to the right on this issue:

I’ll report back soon,

–Patrick
Patrick Gaspard
Executive Director
Democratic National Committee

 

History Teaches – We Ignore

About Barry Goldwater
From the Wikipedia:

As a passionate defender of personal liberty, he saw the religious right’s views as an encroachment on personal privacy and individual liberties. In his 1980 Senate reelection campaign, Goldwater won support from religious conservatives but in his final term voted consistently to uphold legalized abortion and, in 1981, gave a speech on how he was angry about the bullying of American politicians by religious organizations, and would “fight them every step of the way”. Goldwater also disagreed with the Reagan administration on certain aspects of foreign policy (for example, he opposed the decision to mine Nicaraguan harbors). Notwithstanding his prior differences with Dwight D. Eisenhower, Goldwater in a 1986 interview rated him the best of the seven Presidents with whom he had worked.

 On May 12, 1986, Goldwater was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Ronald Reagan.

 After his retirement in 1987, Goldwater described the Arizona Governor Evan Mecham as “hardheaded” and called on him to resign, and two years later stated that the Republican party had been taken over by a “bunch of kooks”.

In a 1994 interview with the Washington Post the retired senator said,

 ”When you say “radical right” today, I think of these moneymaking ventures by fellows like Pat Robertson and others who are trying to take the Republican party and make a religious organization out of it. If that ever happens, kiss politics goodbye.”

 

HaPpY HaLLoWeEn!!!!!

It’s that time of year again…

and I lOve pUmpkins!!!

Some pumpkins have a warRped seNse of hUmour…

Some are really sCaRey!

Where do pumpKins come from anyway? Let’s ask BeRt & ErNie!

What’s that? From the bAby pumPkin hOspital?

Happy Halloween…

IndulGe!

 

OH! AND ANOTHER THING!

Fly safe!

 

hOlp! Need a few links and a bit of info

G’day!

I am on the downhill side of the summary mountain and need just a few odds and ends to tie things up with a nice pink bow.

Links:

A copy of the email in which Sarah discusses borrowing a jogging stroller for the Runner’s World 2009 photo shoot AND a link to whoever was the first blogger to post about it.

Info:

Sarah’s schedule for the summer of 2005 from snow thaw through the weeks prior to the Humpy’s race in Anchorage. And by this I mean was she working and if so where – how old was the youngest and who was the carer is not Sarah – where was Todd – what where the older kids up to, etc.

If anyone has her book and can look up her version of activities during these months (March to August 2005) that would be great.

As usual when writing about our Sarah, more questions crop up than are answered in the process… I know there’s more for me to ask you guys – so I’ll be back!

-Oz

 

Brilliant!

Eight best minutes I’ve spent in a long time…

 

Running With Sarah: Did she or Didn’t she? (Summary Part 5)

Part 4 is here

While drafting the closing part to this summary piece, a few loose ends struck me as needing a separate post. Especially in light of a runner in the UK having recently been caught cheating and subsequently stripped of his bronze medal. So I ask that you bear with me through one more post before closing arguments begin.

First up – our very own Brian swam through a big bowl of piping hot conservative soup over on Facebook to ask the $64,000 question of the good people at the Storm Lake Running Club: How can you be sure  Sarah ran the entire race…

So I wrote a couple of things down.

Cathy Otto (1) remembers Sarah starting next to her, not because she knew it was Sarah Palin, but because she saw a woman struggling to remove a top shirt that had been pinned by the numbers bib. Cathy Otto placed ninth in her age group (40-49) in the mixed 5k run with  a time of 55:58.85 It is entirely possible she saw Sarah at the very start of the race but it’s odd to note that while Sarah was seen ‘struggling’ with the shirt, she ended up keeping it on – as a later photo will confirm. And really, all this does is reinforce the knowledge that Sarah was with the wrong pack, on the wrong side of the meridian at the start of the race.

Becca Danielle (2) who has just gone out of her way to explain why Palin might not have been noticed by the other runners, makes an odd response to a comment by someone named Jean. It’s odd because no comment by anyone named Jean appears in the thread. I’m guessing whoever it was made a remark the club didn’t like and the comment was then removed. We may never know. But we can make educated guesses.

Storm Lake Running Club (3) finally comments on the queries made by those wanting information regarding Sarah’s alleged run. It’s piss-weak however and doesn’t actually address the concerns. To say that a member of the club’s planning committee (a friend of Sarah’s perhaps?) who participated in the half marathon relay claims to have been neck and neck with Sarah throughout the first half of the race doesn’t even begin to resolve the issues presented by the photos.

Did this relay runner also begin at the back of the 5k runners on the wrong side of the meridian at the beginning? What defines the first half of the race? Half the distance of said runner’s leg of the race would be 3.5 miles – or did he or she mean neck and neck until the 7 mile mark where the runner hands off the baton? The biggest problem with this statement is the photo of Sarah still with the 5k runners after the other runners have clearly pulled ahead leaving her with the slower 5k runners – yet still running fast enough to take a silver medal at the end. Are there photos of Sarah running with this relay runner? Are there photos of the relay runner? They would be telling.

The Storm Lake club has a lot to lose by having a cheat exposed on their watch. Just look what this poor club had to deal with in the UK:

Full story here.
Follow up story here with sat nav proof of fraud.

(Editor’s note: Though we both caught this news at the same time I’m happy to give the h/t to  the very nice reader who took the time to post a link about this in the comments just as soon as he or she drops me a note telling me who he or she is because I’ve totally flaked on trying to find  the right set of comments and now I feel really awful!)

And to the naysayers who keep saying ‘nobody cheats in these races’ and that I’m barking up the wrong tree all I  can say is – bite me.

Finally, this has bothered me. I  can’t know the time distance between photos because none are time-stamped. But. We can place the Gretawire photo at the very onset of the race and at the back end of the curving meridian which separates the 5k racers from the half marathon runners – because in the Gretawire photo Sarah is just now jutting ahead of the pack of walkers – who cannot possibly keep pace with the runners anywhere else in the race.

So when we agree this photo is done at the very beginning, the changing curb in the background which should be a solid concrete curve edging what looks to be a meridian filled with redwood chips, makes no sense at all.

And somewhere beyond this meridian – the meridian where the camera captures Sarah along with our beloved Beard Dude and Red Bandana Guy – somewhere beyond the meridian and some 19-20 photos later Sarah (who ran fast enough to win the silver medal) is – well – have a look for yourself:

Sarah will be on the 5k side of the meridian which is definitely curved. She will not come from behind the walker pack for another 5 to 10 photos. In the meantime the following is taken by an as-yet-to-be-named photographer and submitted to Gretawire at Fox News:

Sarah juts ahead of the walkers and is seen flanking the nice man we named Beard Dude (grey beard, white shirt with side stripe, dark shorts) on the opposite side of the street). They are seen in this same almost-parallel positioning in this next shot, (although camera angle notwithstanding, she appears to be pulling slightly ahead of Beard Dude here) taken just 9-10 photos after the club photo (#2469 above):

And the point of this is now apparent in this next shot – another 10 photos or so later – when even though we’ve seen Sarah jutting ahead of the walkers and slower 5k runners and leaving Beard Dude and Red Bandana Guy (he’s in the photo just ahead of this one #2476) behind – and still wearing the red jumper over the grey tee and wide white headband, how should we explain what the camera saw in #2488?

And now you really have to ask yourself two questions:

1- If sarah spent so much time at the back of the 5k pack with the slower runners, how did she manage to clock 13 consecutive 8 min miles to win second place in her age group and…

2- If Sarah is still wearing the red jumper after pulling away from the opening starting area – how on earth did Todd know where to retrieve it on the track so he could be holding it for her at the finish line? Because Sarah doesn’t have it when she crosses the finish line and he’s photographed near the chute holding it all neatly rolled up – like the scam they just pulled off.

Storm Lake Running Club photos are for sale here.

To all my sleuthers – thank you all so much!

 

Work on the Summary page needs your input…

Started to post this in comments but realised it needed to be here instead…

For the first time in a very, very long time I seem to be short on words. This final page of summary on the SLRC half marathon race is important – and getting it right has become a bit of a challenge.

There are three things about the Gretawire photo I want to stress above all else – Beard dude’s missing torso and leg, Red bandana guy’s not-his-ponytail and how a solid curb could change it’s basic architectural structure four times in about 3 meters. I have all the graphics done – and most of the middle written but I’m finding it difficult to know what the introduction should address and then what the ‘last word’ should be.

My gut feeling is to end on the point about the medal – that she took it without earning it. I’m not above making an actual accusation – but I do want to do it ‘right’.  Any input would be greatly appreciated. What stands out as ‘the most important parts’ to you guys?

 

Republican Hunger for Power is Keeping My Children Hungry

Once upon a time there was an ex-husband who signed divorce papers that included his maintaining full medical and dental insurance on his two daughters who remained in their mother’s primary care. The medical insurance was so inadequate the mother ended up paying for all of any medical bills incurred by her girls because it was cheaper than taking her ex back to court.

One day the oldest daughter complained of a toothache. The mother sought a dentist who specialised in children’s dentistry and made an appointment. It turned out the daughter needed more than one filling, requiring more than one visit. Mom made the arrangements, got the dental work done and forwarded the dental bills to her ex.

The father, (who earned ten times the income of the mother and who by this time understood that no matter what the custody agreement stated, he could afford to do whatever he wanted because his ex-wife did not have the funds to continually take him back to court to make him comply with the court orders) received the dental bills for his pride-and-joy-little-angel and returned them to his ex with this message: I will be happy to pay for all of Angel’s dental bills, including those portions not covered by my insurance but only if she lives under my roof where I can control her dental hygiene.

Mom assured dad this wasn’t going to happen and reminded him there was a court order in place in which he agreed to keep his daughters on his dental insurance. He replied by assuring her that he had no intentions of submitting any dental bills to his insurance company until and unless the girls lived with him.  Mom wrote a letter sending copies to the dentist, her ex, his attorney, her attorney and the judge who signed the custody agreement. That’s when she learned that court ordered agreements aren’t worth the paper they’re written on unless both parties share the same mutual interests: the health and well-being of their children.

The Republican party is holding America hostage. Republican members of congress are more interested in controlling congress than they are in solving the economic problems of our nation and caring for the health and well-being of it’s citizens.

It won’t matter to them that things like the American Jobs Act would help thousands of people to get back on their feet financially – it only matters to them that the county not get a break until and unless they are the party living in the White House.

An elected, seated American president should not be forced to campaign for his office the entire 4 years of his term. He should expect cooperation from all the elected officials holding office to do a job – and that job is to serve the American people.

The current behaviour of the Republicans in office are out of line. They would rather see my children and your children go hungry in an atmosphere of high rates and shrinking jobs than to knuckle down and do the work they were elected to do.

I’m thinking we should sue them for fraud and get our money back.

 

 

 

Stupid Republicans…

It doesn’t seem to matter to them that the MAJORITY of the people want this…

 

…it only matters to Republicans that THEY pwn the White House! Adolescent Dickheads.

Oh speaking of dickheads, Our Lady of the Divine Sneakers has been silent on Facebook. No fantasy notes about her trip to ROK and no slams for Obama and last night’s vote. Is she hiding?

 

Palin: Unhinged in South Korea

Has this insipid woman gone completely and utterly mad?????

THE KOREA TIMES

10-11-2011 18:39

 Palin ‘looks forward to NK regime change’

By Philip Iglauer

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin said she “looks forward to regime change” in North Korea while calling on South Korea to help the North when its regime is finally ousted.

 “Being under the thumb of a dictator, the first victims of his regime are his own people,” said Palin during a keynote address at the 12th World Knowledge Forum in Seoul, Tuesday.

 Palin, who was the vice presidential nominee of the Republican Party in 2008, made the comment in a Q&A session with Ritz Kahn of Al Jazeera English immediately after her speech.

 The theme of this year’s forum is “The New Economic Crisis: Reforming Global Leadership & Asia’s Challenge.”

 Regarding Palin’s remark, the Seoul government showed a cautious response.

 Jo Byoung-jae, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said flatly “regime change is not a policy goal or the objective of this government.”

 He said he is not criticizing Palin or her statement, but just stating as clearly as possible what the North Korea policy of Seoul is, adding, “I think it is safe to say that it is also not the policy goal of the U.S. government either.”

 Palin’s statement drew attention as it came at a particularly precarious time for South and North Korean relations amid lingering tension on the Korean Peninsula.

 Kim Tae-hyo, Cheong Wa Dae’s deputy national security advisor, said Friday that North Korea could conduct a long-range missile or third nuclear test if ongoing preliminary talks with South Korea and the United States fail to restart the long-stalled six party talks.

[Click link at top to read entire article]

So let me get this straight… Palin goes to South Korea as a guest to speak about global economy and ends up encouraging the people at this conference to overthrow the neighbouring countries’ government because she doesn’t happen to like dictatorships. This same ‘dictatorship’ has nuclear weapons poised at most western democracies and it’s taken many acts of diplomacy among several high-ranking world leaders to draw the North Korean leaders away from discharging those weapons and into constructive peace talks – which she in a span of about 20 minutes may have dangerously undermined… Did I leave anything out?

Is she freaking insane????

 

I Have No Words…

Palin supporters discuss God’s plan for Sarah and how they can draft her to run for president just like it was done to General Eisenhower some 60+ years ago…

[click each to enlarge]


(And now I’m off to wash my brain out with soap.)

 

I want People in South Korea to know that Sarah Palin does NOT speak for me… – Update!

…that I voted for President Obama, that I am happy with the job he is doing and that when Sarah Palin opens her mouth in their country and shows her disrespect for my president it is NOT the consensus of opinion of most Americans.

So who can tell me where to write – please and thank you

(summary part 5 is on the way)

 

Update:
DONE!

To: World Knowledge Forum
At: knowledge@mk.co.kr

 To whom it may concern,

Sarah Palin does not speak for me. I am one of the millions of people who voted for Barack Obama in the 2008 US presidential election. I am happy with the job my president is doing and trust he will continue to look for educated solutions to our countries economic and environmental problems.

Sarah Palin does not speak for me. When she disrespects my president at your conference, when she lies about his record and ignores his accomplishments, I want you to know she is voicing her own opinion – she is not speaking for me.

Sarah Palin by her own choice is no longer a politician. In the past she won a mayoral election on less than 1,000 public votes and then used taxpayer monies to hire a financial accountant to actually do the job because the work was beyond her grasp. She won a gubernatorial election with less than 500,000 votes and then quit less than half way through her term because the work was beyond her grasp.

Sarah Palin may be an entertaining, effective public speaker but she is not an authority of any kind. She deals strictly in opinions – her own – and does not represent any faction other than Christian Dominionist. For her to be presented by your organisation as an authority on world economics is beyond ludicrous.

Please remember as she uses sarcasm and falsehoods to describe the dedicated politicians in my country at your event – that she does not represent America and she does not speak for me.

My Signature,
California Voting district

 

 

 

Everything You Ever Needed to Know About Palin Supporters

[Click to Enlarge]

Oops – forgot the snort alert (mybad!)

 

Lost 1984 Steve Jobs Video (recovered): “Never trust a computer you can’t lift”

My friend Betty was one of the first to buy a Macintosh for her business in Silicon Valley. We played the chess game you see in this video while spending many nights working out how to work the new-fangled computer. Looking at Steve Jobs in this it’s hard to believe we were all that young once

A huge thank-you to my boss for finding this today

 

Oh Happy Happy Day!!!

WE INTERRUPT OUR REGULAR PROGRAMMING TO BRING THIS IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT:

S A R A H   J U S T   S A I D   N O !

(Thank you – thank you Nancy Reagan!!!)

/me does the happy snoopy dance of joy joy!

 

 

 

Running With Sarah: Did she or Didn’t she? (Summary Part 4)

I’ve been asked recently why I pursue the dissection of a photo (which I claim is a fake) in light of others’ easy dismissal. Here’s two reasons…

‘Twas the week before Christmas in December ’09

[click image to enlarge - its natural size is 1400 x 760 dpi - the width of a 19" screen]

In order for Sarah to have run the full half marathon race on 04 September 2011 -and win a silver medal for time clocked – she would have needed to devote a healthy amount of time during the past 20 months to stretching, running and training and we know from following her busy schedule around the country and the world – that nary a whisper of her needing to stop anywhere along the way and train was ever spoken.

And correct me if I’m wrong but I’m pretty sure that after these photos were published Sarah has never worn shorts in public again.

There are 184 more reasons in the comment section

 

Running With Sarah: Did she or Didn’t she? (Summary part 5 – conclusion – to follow)

[Back to Summary Part 3]

 

Running With Sarah: Did she or Didn’t she? (Summary Part 3)

An episode of the TV series West Wing has Pres. Bartlet confronting his staff with the complex problem of getting two enemy leaders to talk peace rather than continue warring. The president said “I want to hear your ideas – all of them – no idea is too stupid.”

What’s wrong here?

[Click all images to enlarge. Use browser toolbar view/zoom to make even larger]

On Sunday 04 September 2011 after the photo came out on Gretawire (above left), some of us rolled our eyes at the prospect of Sarah actually finishing a whole race. I mean it’s not like she has a great track record for finishing what she starts. On the Monday following, after a few flippant comments had flown about the blogosphere, Joe McGinniss posted the photo of Sarah crossing the finish line (above right), a screenshot of her official score and a scathing reprimand to all of us who (according to Joe) were behaving like mean girls in light of Sarah’s obvious athletic achievement. Her score was recorded. She therefore finished the race and earned the medal. Case closed. Move along children…

The scolding, coming from a man who was only days away from releasing the most brutal of expose`s yet to be published about this very same woman struck me as – well, weird. Joe had made many mean-girl statements about Sarah on his blog. Still – here was a brilliant author taking us to task so out of respect I looked again.

Alas, as many times as I looked at the photo in his post and then at the Gretawire photo, trying hard to see the validity he was seeing all I saw was the polished edges of a scam.

Who runs 13 miles in under two hours and leisurely walks across the finish line?

How does a person sweat all over their shoulders and upper chest without having a droplet around their neck, hairline, face, underarms, breasts?

Clearly that huge splash on Sarah’s shoulders had to be water. But what, if one is not over-heated and sweating, would necessitate the need to be cooled off via drenching?

How does a woman run 13 miles in full face and eye makeup and not have one iota of mascara dribbling down her cheeks?

Why weren’t Sarah’s cheeks flushed and skin mottled?

Why wasn’t Sarah doubled over trying to catch her breath?

How does any large-breasted woman run 13 miles without confining her girls in a proper sports bra?

Nobody is that great an athlete thought I…

This image also emerged on that Monday from one of the organiser’s Flickr accounts. It was taken just after the medals were awarded, not long after Sarah crossed the finish line. This particular photo did Laura Novak’s head in because of Sarah’s makeup which looks freshly applied.

To quote Laura:  For all the strange phoniness about this story, it’s the make-up plastered on the face at the end that kills me.

Laura has personally run marathons and won medals. She has an entirely different take on what transpires before, during and after crossing a finish line. Laura was instrumental in helping a few of us iron out some of the finer points of marathon protocol. I’ve linked to the article itself (above). It’s a lovely read and her writing is so detailed it had me longing for my city of birth.

Sarah’s hair looks bone dry and there’s not one hair stuck to her neck at the hairline. Even her bangs – that were matted and damp less than a month earlier at the Iowa State Fair after doing nothing more than walking around talking to people – are completely dry.

The photo would later cause a guest named Mel to roll her eyes as she noted the water splash in this shot, taken after the one crossing the finish line, appears to have still more water applied to the tee. Why?

Many of the oddities which initially caught my attention in comparing the Gretawire photo to the photo of Sarah casually strolling across the finish line were proved early on to be either outright off-pudding on my part or completely inconsequential. On the other hand each wrong turn exposed something new to explore – what is it they say about innovations and accidents? Being wrong can be just as fruitful as being right. I embraced my wronghood and soldiered on.

My friend Gryphen, author of The Immoral Minority, poked fun at the Gretawire photo as well but instead of writing his opinions in a post, simply pointed to my post from his, linking his very busy blog to my tiny, little, quiet one. It overwhelmingly registered almost a year’s worth of traffic in 8 days. For me the experience was not unlike riding out a San Francisco earthquake of respectable size, but without my Aunt Ellen’s treasured China plates falling off the wall. It was exhilarating, terrifying and a miracle that I didn’t get fired because I got no work done at all for more than a week. And at the end of the day I got to know a lot of good people and I’m hopeful there were sturdy friendships made during the journey.

“Sarah leapt from the back of the pack like a gazelle with a lion on her ass” –OzMud

Taking the advice from the West Wing writers, I asked my guests to take risks. To share every thought no matter how silly or foolish it might sound because the whole point of understanding Sarah Palin is to understand those three principles set down by her recent biographers Frank Bailey and Geoffrey Dunn.

In Sarah’s world:
1. It is easier to lie than to tell the truth.
2. No lie is too outrageous.
3. Sarah is utterly obsessed with her public image and would do anything to protect it.

In order to uncover the truth about Sarah Palin we need always to think outside the norm, to embrace the most outlandish of outrageous ideas and to not be afraid of being wrong in the process. Something was amiss with these photos. No idea would be too stupid to not discuss.

The following image is a map of the top 25 issues noted by the 184 commenters and myself who took part in this exercise over the course of those eight days. There were many, many more observations made and noted, but these seemed the most frequently visited.

Pet names evolved describing the other runners in the photo to facilitate discussion as none of us knew them personally. In the end we jointly grew rather fond of them all and found most of the nicknames to be rather endearing.

Below the map is an index of each noted image flaw. Factual or probable explanations for them appear in [purple brackets]. No info in [purple] means we have yet to agree on a reasonable explanation other than – she cheated and the image is photo-shopped.

This is the result of our 8-day photo-opsy:

1. Feet appear to be floating with no thought given to the fact Sarah is about to slam her foot down partially on lawn and partially on concrete curb.

1. Odd pixelation pattern on left side of toe. [Probable cause: image compression]

3. White smudge on pants below left knee appears on right leg at finish line. [Smudge is actually a brand name which is on both legs but gets caught up when fabric rolls]

4. Appearance of dent in black pants (foreground) at white shoe (background). [Possible cause: compression of image. I am still not convinced. It looks to me like the common mistake in photo-shopping of trimming away too many pixels on the overlaid image.]

5. Was the red sleeve deliberately trimmed away to show bib number? (Where did the red jumper go? Has the bib number been enhanced?) [Red jumper held by Todd at finish line - no conclusion on the other]

6. Is this a collar to a third jumper? [Believe it's the neckline of the grey tee pulled up for some odd reason]

7. Why the over-sized headband? Where did it go? [Band probably a throw-away.]

8. Toes of two white shoes behind the leg not one – so can’t belong to the lady in khaki shorts. Someone else?

9. Oddly shaped shoe – flapping wings or laces maybe? Two curved rows of white pixels float above the heel like motion lines in a cartoon. Where’d they come from?

10. Bottom of shoe has no curve at all – looks like it was cut at the seam above.

11. [Teletubby] Oddly shaped shoes. Are there two? Are they both in the air?

12. Curb disappears. Concrete ends at soil edge then green lawn.

13. [Teletubby] has no facial features. None. Figures farther away from camera have more.

14. Looks like sewn in seam from trees down to shoe at #9.

15. Squared-off curb returns.

16. [Bunny Hop Lady] Running in place? At this angle wouldn’t she fall?

17. Why is she the only one looking at the camera?

18. [Red Bandana Guy] Not his ponytail – neck is perfectly shaved and hair is short-short.

19. [Boofy hair] Whose hair is this? (We decided it was probably not Ponytail girl as depicted in the 7th post). But where is the runner’s body?

20. Runner missing lower buttocks and entire right leg from upper thigh to foot. Is left leg too small for this big man?

21. Rounded, bevelled curb appears.

22. Double foot? Is one shoe stepping on top of second shoe?

23. Runner missing foot. [It’s possible his ankle and large foot are hidden perfectly by the other runner's thigh but not many of us are buying that.]

24. [Red Bandana Guy] hovering like Sarah above the ground.

25. Why the short distance between walkers still in their close pack and runners spread out and in full sprint?

Plausible explanations have been expressed for 7 of the 25 oddities. #9 through #14 have also been attributed (by more than one commenter) to the result of compressing a larger image – but – as many of us have reservations about the seam left behind and as I’ve never seen a compression leave that long a straight ‘seam’ I’ve chosen to leave all the idiosyncrasies they proffer in the unresolved pile.

Even if there were only a few unresolved details in this photo left to mull over and wax philosophic on, I fail to see how any rational-thinking person could look at the sheer preponderance of problems this photo presents and still ask us to simply ignore them all and move along…

I have great respect for those educated professionals who have taken the time to stop by my blog and offer the reasons they disagree with this project – and even those who have on other blogs discarded my observations as stuff and nonsense and a distraction from real issues of the day. That said, at the end of the day I’m obliged to follow my instincts, not those of someone else. And the bottom line for me is – it’s entirely possible these photos can prove Sarah Palin faked this race subsequently cheating two real, hard-working, tax-paying Americans from receiving medals they honestly earned.

If undressing that sort of public fraud is distracting – we clearly live in two different worlds.

If nothing else, doubting-bat-thomases riddle me this: Why does Sarah appear more relaxed and rested in the shot of her crossing the finish line than in the shot of her taking off in the purported first few metres of the race? Because the face of the lady in the red jumper is so distorted from what looks to be a jaw-clenched, struggled expression, (one that is normally associated with extreme physical exertion),  that many of us assumed it was a different person altogether.

Yet we would be wrong. Both shots are of Sarah and just one hour and forty-six minutes after her face is twisted from having physically run only a few metres we find our darling of the tight abs set strolling effortlessly across the finish line of a 13 mile race, powder dry, even-breathed and quipping “Boy that was fun!”.

How did the eye witness at the finish line describe her again? Oh yes – it was as if she’d only just run around the block a few times…

Running With Sarah: Did she or Didn’t she? (Summary Part 4 to follow)
[Back to Summary Part 2]
[Back to Summary Part 1]

 

Running With Sarah: Did she or Didn’t she? (Summary Part 2)

Brenda… McVinua was working as a volunteer in the “chute” near the finish line, and was impressed with the former vice-presidential candidate’s form. “She wasn’t even breathing hard. You could tell she’s an athlete. If you didn’t know better you would have thought she’d just run around the block once or twice.” – Storm Lake Pilot Tribune

Photo posted on Gretawire 04 Sept 2011

Because this photo struck some of us as odd, 184 commenters joined me in actively pouring over all the available photographs chronicling the events of 04 September 2011 in Storm Lake Iowa. This is what I (we) believe really happened at the SLRC Jump Right In & Run Half Marathon on 04 September 2011 and why.

What we know w/comments in italics:

Sarah Palin had been under scrutiny in the blogs for more than a month for her increasingly gaunt physical appearance. Rumours surfaced from an anonymous commenter at The Immoral Minority claiming to be linked to Sarah’s inner circle of loyalists and claiming that he/she had personal knowledge of Sarah being so obsessed with her weight and appearance that she was binging and purging food and taking non-prescribed diet pills. (For the purpose of this narrative, it matters not that these rumours prove true or false, only that Sarah knew the rumours were circulating. It is Sarah’s personal writer Rebecca Mansour who unwittingly outed Sarah as keeping up with the Alaska, anti-palin blogs.)

Sarah was registered to run in the SLRC race before her trip to Iowa on 02 September 2011. She was registered under her maiden name, Sarah Heath. Running in the event was not something she or Todd could have arranged at the last minute, it was scheduled in advance. How far in advance, we don’t know, but SLRC rules did not allow for impromptu entries. This provided ample opportunity to survey the course and grounds.

Sarah and Todd stayed at the Kings Pointe Hotel (see yellow #1 in the map below) the night before. They would not have needed to check out until after the race, meaning they would have had access to the room during the race.

Todd picked up her running packet early. Sarah would not join the other runners until closer to the 7:30am race time, but we know she was recognised as a gentleman identifying himself as Teledude later wrote on his pro-palin blog that his wife, a participant in the race, recognised Sarah at 7am and called him from the course on her cell to urge him to drive out to get a glimpse of Sarah and Todd. He was instructed to not say anything to others as Sarah didn’t want it known she was there. The race was personal she’d purportedly whispered to the woman, thus assuring her silence.

Three races were run simultaneously that day. The half marathon, a half marathon relay and a 5k run/walk. The half marathon runners lined up on one side of a grassy meridian while the 5k runners/walkers lined up on the other side. All the races began at the same time, the centre meridian dividing the half marathon racers from the 5k racers for several metres.

Hours after the end of the Jump Right In & Run half marathon race, after winners had been determined and medals handed out, the photo at the top of this post was published on Gretawire, a blog belonging to Greta Van Susteran of Fox News Channel and offered as a news release that Sarah Palin had in fact, earlier in the day, run in the SLRC race and even took second place in her age group. It was noted that Sarah had fooled everyone by registering under her maiden name (Sarah Heath) and not even the race officials recognised her until after she crossed the finish line. Her official time of 1:46 (13 consecutive 8 min miles) would be published the following day in the official .pdf results posted on the SLRC website.

On Monday this photo emerged of Sarah walking across the finish line

The red jumper and white headband were gone. For five days these would be the only photos posted anywhere online showing Sarah as an active participant of the race. Privately taken photos of Sarah and Todd after the race (the 2nd place medal strangely looped over her arm) showing Sarah posing with race organisers and participants surfaced by Monday night on the flickr account of one of the organisers. By now Teledude had posted his one photo of Sarah standing with him and his wife with the chute in the background.

The official photographs posted for view and sale on the SLRC website appeared five days later. There were two photos taken of Sarah placing her, in both shots, with the 5k pack, and both appear to have been taken at the beginning and early leg of the race. There are no photos of her at any of the water stops or anywhere else along the route even though there was more than one official photographer taking photos that day, that the number of registered runners was relatively small and that most other runners can be found in multiple photos, throughout the entire half marathon course.

There are photos taken that show Todd behind the finish line, beside the chute. He’s holding a rolled-up bright red fabric, the same colour as Sarah’s red jumper. It was reported that Todd ran interference, hurrying Sarah through the candid photos taken after the race with other runners and locals, ostensibly to get her aboard an awaiting plane.

This is the (7 mile long) map showing all three race courses:

What we think we know w/comments in italics:

I (we) believe the initial photo posted on Gretawire is a composite of different photos taken by Todd at the beginning of the race and emailed directly to someone in the Palin camp to be merged into a single image showing Sarah pulling away from the back of the 5k pack, presumably to show her darting ahead and join the other half marathon runners. Todd was seen, recognised and spoken to in the starting area of the race and he could have stood in one spot and clicked different views of the 5/k runners as they went by. (No one ever stepped forward to claim photo rights to the only photo shown round the world of the famous Sarah Palin running a 13 mile race – and no exif info was ever retrieved from the image.)

On the map above, the half marathon course is shown in blue, the relay in dark red and the 5k in bright red. Sarah could easily have stayed on the 5k course, unnoticed, wearing the red jumper and wide headband as she bobbed in between the runners who had already seen her wearing them at the start. She could have ducked into the toilet (green T near yellow #3) and removed her visor, headband, numbered bib and red jumper, waited for Todd, strolled back to the hotel or blended in with other bystanders, confidant that none of the 5k runners or walkers or any passers-by would have taken any notice of her without the identifiable running togs.

She might have even stuck it out long enough to run the first half of the 5k course, ducking into the hotel as she passed by the parking lot.

I’ve not said this before because it sounds so James Bond-ish it’s almost embarrassing – on the other hand, this is Sarah, for whom nothing is too outrageous, so forgive the slight melodrama but here’s a thought… It is possible the wide headband had a purpose. The compression-bandage sized width and thickness would have covered and held in place a Bluetooth earpiece by which Todd could have helped her leave the course without being seen. Sarah could have let him know when she was approaching a pre-arranged spot and waited for him to tell her no one was looking. An earpiece – admittedly a far-fetched idea on my part- would allow any number of scenarios, each rife with an opportunity to cheat.

But even without fancy gadgetry, Todd and Sarah had ample time the night before to walk the track and make a plan. They had plenty of time to select areas that would seem convenient to slip out of and back into the race. If they didn’t communicate via electronics, Todd could have planned to meet Sarah at a predetermined point. He could have given her his big blue jacket and shielded her from sight until it was time to walk back to a point near the end of the race where she could just slip back in. No longer in the red jumper and headband, no one would have paid any attention. Todd could have dumped water on her shoulders to hide the fact she wasn’t over-heated and sweating. Then Sarah could have run a short distance to clock-in at the finish line in just under two hours – exactly one-half the time of her record run back in ’05 for exactly one-half the distance.

According to the article in the Storm Lake Pilot Tribune linked above: Sarah reportedly said “Boy that was fun!” as she crossed the finish line. And according to their eye-witness, Brenda McVinua, she wasn’t even out of breath.

Wow. What a great image for a mother of five and White House aspirant!

Food for thought: If Sarah’s record-breaking run in a 2005 marathon of 3:59:36 (26 consecutive 9 minute miles) was legitimate, she might have assumed she could go half the distance six years later, with little or no training. (If it wasn’t legitimate, she might have used the false time as a measure for how fast she needed to finish half the distance to appear legitimate.)

Whether she and Todd Googled half marathon schedules or called in favours, she was registered to run in the SLRC race before her trip to Iowa on the 2nd. In a small race, in a small town and registered under her maiden name her presence would not have been expected, allowing her to blend in with the other racers until she was ready to reveal her identity.

Appearing in a half marathon would conveniently dispel the rumours of Sarah being unfit physically. The irony of running a race in the month of September would certainly not be lost on her and would probably signal renewed hope and energy to those supporters she’d just disappointed less than 24 hours previously by not announcing a 2012 candidacy.

I’m sure some of you are going to make me wear the Bluetooth comment. No worries. I learned a long time ago that in order to get to one truly good idea you have to wade through about a hundred really bad ones. But before you start the head-shaking and mocking, humour me for a few seconds more. Go back and take another look at the half marathon course. While you’re looking, mull over the fact that Todd is photographed in the finish line/chute area holding the red jumper which Sarah is neither wearing nor holding as she crosses the finish line. If Sarah ran the full half marathon, how did Todd know where – in 13 miles of track over 7 miles of ground – to pick up the red jumper and headband? If they pre-arranged a pick-up, how did Sarah know – before the race – when she would need to take it off?

I didn’t know this before the SLRC race but according to real marathoners who commented on my early questions, runners routinely use disposable clothing specifically so they can pitch layers as they warm up and not worry about losing items of value. Why didn’t Sarah just toss her red jumper? She’s a millionaire after all. She could have tossed her jumper and bought a dozen more in the hotel gift shop an hour later.

And why was Todd holding the jumper, all bunched up in a wad to begin with? Why would he walk around with this in his hands for 30 minutes to an hour – or more? Why not just put it in their room or leave it in the car? Either would have been conveniently close by. It crossed my mind that perhaps Sarah didn’t toss the red jumper during the race because if she’s not a real runner – like me – she might not have known that’s what other runners do. It’s more likely that in an effort to fake participation, she would have deliberately given Todd her jumper to purposefully hold onto the ten or fifteen minutes before re-entering the race so no one would question where it went….

Running With Sarah: Did she or didn’t she? (Summary Part 3 to follow)

[Back to Summary Part 1]

 

Running With Sarah: Did she or Didn’t she? (Summary, Part 1))

I have to run… Sweat is my sanity. A great frustration I had during the campaign was when the McCain staff wouldn’t carve out time for me to go for a run. The days never went as well if I couldn’t get out there and sweat. – Sarah Palin  Runners World Aug 2009

It’s a bit back to front I admit, but after the dust settled on the week-long photo-opsy of the Gretawire picture and while putting together a summary of sorts to close the book on the subject, yet another puzzling observation surfaced, this time popping out at me from *a comment previously overlooked in my endeavour to deal with just the photographic evidence on hand. But I believe the train of thought evoked by this comment belongs at the front of this piece rather than at the end as it speaks directly to the validity of Sarah Palin’s public record as a runner, and I think it would benefit anyone reading the summary to be aware of these facts – and they are documented facts – while digging through the preponderance of anomalies discovered in photographs the Palins offered as proof positive that Sarah earned her silver medal at the Storm Lake Running Club on 04 September 2011.

For the record – there is no public record of Sarah Palin being an avid, dedicated runner capable of setting records and winning top medals.

Among Alaskans, Sarah’s name is associated with a marathon remembered as Running with the Devil but the remembered date varies between 2001 and 2003. I’ve performed searches on archived run results from 2000 to 2004 and neither her married nor maiden name appears in official results of archive searches associated with this event.

The name Sarah Palin surfaces in running circles for the first time in the 2nd Annual Curtis C. Menard II Memorial 5k/10k run in 2003 held in Wasilla AK. Sarah ran with Todd, Bristol and Willow in the 5k run.

Their recorded ages and times were:

Sarah Palin, 39, 23:50.30
Bristol Palin, 12, 39:19:40
Willow Palin, 8, 43:53:30
Todd Palin, 38, 55:28:50

Sarah’s name next appears in 2005 where her recorded time of 3:59.36 set a record in the Humpy’s Marathon. There is no public record of her training for this race, nor have any anecdotes of her training in private ever emerged (that we can find) in Alaska newspapers (not even in Wasilla where she had been mayor for several years).

In 2009 Sarah publicly announced her intent to run in two separate charity events, both of which she exited in the early laps claiming both times the press she’d attracted threatened to ruin the integrity of the race for the other runners. (It’s fair to note that both of these charity runs would have been photographed anyway, with or without her presence.)

Save a single episode in high school where her participation in a basketball game earned her the nickname Sarah the Barracuda, no college, university, high school, private gymnasium, community sports club or local joggers ever came forward during the 2008 campaign with photos or anecdotes of Sarah as an athlete, much less a dedicated, top-notch runner. Surely the McCain campaign would have jumped at the chance to pony up such a story…

Other than these four events (a 5k run in 2003, marathon in 2005 and two incomplete charity runs in 2009) there are no photo-based stories backing her (many) claims of being a serious runner who for her entire adult life has run “at least 3 miles” per day (whenever she can). She has, however, been paid handsomely for more than one photo op-ed which touts her as such.

To maintain a body so disciplined one can – on a moment’s notice – step into a race without the usual physical preparation, even 15 and 20 years after high school, and after having birthed 4 or 5 children to set record times and rake in top medals – one must surely be a profoundly superior athlete. But those of us who have followed Sarah for the past three years just find this explanation – odd.

And if that thought isn‘t curious enough on its own, some of us also find it odd that there is no documentation of Sarah’s lifelong journey as an avid runner. None. No team photos from her days in college, no community runs organised as mayor of Wasilla or even as governor of Alaska. In Sarah’s own words I have to run… Sweat is my sanity.

This is the age of IPOD. Where’s the candid footage of Sarah doing all this running?

Raw talent only goes so far. Athletes who excel in their sport make certain commitments to train, practice and participate in local, state and national events. There is evidence Sarah Palin may indeed have the raw talent but there’s not one shred of evidence she’s made the commitment or puts in the time necessary to turn that talent into record-breaking, medal-winning athletics.

Not without cheating.

*From AKShutterbug (whose comment below made us look beyond one race and into the entire history of Sarah Palin the runner. I have not been able to confirm the validity of this comment – but after looking through Sarah’s sparsely documented public record I have no reason to doubt it.)

 ”Actually she faked the run in ’05 too. A few years ago when I was looking into the “Humpy’s” race in Anchorage she supposedly ran, I noticed something very interesting in the results. A very good friend of mine (who has been running marathons for years and spends a tremendous amount of time training) was listed as having finished one spot ahead of her. So I called her up and asked her if she knew that she had finished just ahead of Sarah Palin and her response to me was just laughter. She said that Sarah was never in that race.

 Sarah has some weird obsession with making people think she is a runner. When she came here to Valdez in ’07 to announce what that years PFD was going to be, Sarah stepped off the plane with spandex and running shoes on. Her handlers kept insisting that she wanted to go running with our HS cross county team but it was only 10am and the kids were in school. Her handlers kept berating the Mayor until he finally called the school and managed to get most of the team excused from 8th period so she could go “running” with them. They all met out on the track, Sarah posed for a few pictures with them and then left. She didn’t lift a shoe and after making everyone jump through hoops for her, it ended up being nothing more than another photo op. She’s a complete and total fraud”

[To Summary Part 2]

 

Religion Is Like a Penis *snort alert

(had to…)

In any normal California bar/lounge/restaurant that serves alcohol, Bristol Palin would never have gotten out of the bullpen without a club bouncer jumping between her and the drunk heckler, another standing in the heckler’s face holding him at least by the arm and a waitress poised to dial 911 on her cell. You might even have witnessed a bartender or two jumping over the bar to make sure the heckler got nowhere near any female patron.

The employees of places that serve alcohol are very protective of their female clientele. If women don’t feel safe in your club they don’t return. Without the women, the men who spend money don’t come back.  All in all, it’s pretty bad for business if a club doesn’t go the distance to keep their female customers out of harm’s way.

If that’s not enough to convince you the Bristol/Heckler scene was a put-on, try this: California liability laws are tough. Clubs/restaurants literally cannot afford the legal trouble caused by a single bar fight. Any physical confrontation is a potential lawsuit. The owners of this club would have sacked their bouncers for not running interference. It’s why they’re there – to stop trouble before it happens.

No male employee in any club I ever worked for in California would have ever allowed Bristol to get in the face of a man so drunk he screamed YOUR MOTHER’S A WHORE loud enough to be heard across the room. The guy would have been led out the door by at least two big bruisers before she’d had a chance to get up off the floor.

Put your penis away Bristol – we all know it’s fake. No need to keep waving it around…

 

Last Minute Head-Scratchers *Update

[Click following images to enlarge then use view/zoom or [ctrl+] to enlarge more]

Palin, Red Bandana Guy and Beard Dude seem to be almost in the same horizontal row of runners.

So – why were there not more of these runners in the Gretawire photo?

Also too and… note the style of curb on the meridian. This is the same meridian that is the backdrop for the Gretawire photo and yet – in that photo the curb changes from  beveled to dirt edge to squared to beveled – purportedly on this same stretch of center raised meridian in a distance of what appears to be no more than two or three metres.

And now that Irishgirl has pointed out where Red Bandana Guy and Beard Dude are in relation to Palin in this early leg of the race it humbles me to see how agile Red Bandana Guy must be to have literally run sideways in order to leave the middle of the pack to get into this shot with Our Lady of The Divine Sneakers.

Don’t forget boys and girls – This photo had to be taken first – because it shows Sarah just as she pulls ahead of the little old lady walkers – which means not only does it look like Red Bandana Guy had to suddenly run sideways, but also too backwards just a skootch… and I’m guessing a time machine was somehow involved.

Mr. Sulu – get us out of here! Warp Speed!

 

================== Update! ==================

Thought I’d shift this from comments as it may be that others also too had difficulty understanding the significance of these photos or seeing what Irishgirl saw in them:

 

Is This Sarah?

 

I’m coming up to the finish line on the summary – and I have to ask – is this photo of Sarah?

It certainly is the red jumper she wore in Iowa – it was posted on a right-wing blog in a blurb about Sarah having run in the SLRC half marathon in Iowa (linked to comments here by Venefica) but bears no resemblance to the Iowa course.

Comments were made about it looking like Alaska.

If anyone is able to date this I would appreciate the help thanks

 

 

Runner’s Intermission

While we’re waiting for the summary, this has popped into the comments:

THERE’S A RE-ENACTMENT OF THE WHOLE RACE!

(and it’s just perfect- thanks dannyg!)

[CLICK HERE] to see the re-enactment of Sarah Palin running in the SLRC half marathon