Left Side of the Moon

Weather report

moonchaser — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 23:42:14 +0000

THIS is what I missed when I was in Ohio…..

102°F
Clear
Wind: W at 9 mph
Humidity: 12%

And, this is coming up tomorrow!

105° | 63° (Fri)

Yeah – it’s just about hotter than hell, but it’s a dry heat, babee!

[Got shit on my mind, but it will have to wait until after work - later.]

Happy 4th of July…..

moonchaser — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 00:32:10 +0000

Off to a Boise Hawks game. It’s just about hotter than hell, tiptoeing up on 100 if not already there. Been putting clothes outside to dry. Thankfully, we have this lowww humidity …. ~~15%~~ 13% with the blowing at 15 mph. Still hot . . . [Update: 11:20 pm - Hawks won 9-7]

. . . . . then there’s Fireworks for the first time in awhile for the 4th. Since 2003, the last year of the Boise River Festival. Loved the shirts!

Pardon me?

moonchaser — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 22:23:00 +0000

I was perusing the vast internets and happened across this at the CNN Ticker. It’s Bill Clinton (gawd help us, Clenis is LOOSE!) on the campaign trail with Hillary addressing the pardon of Scoots. What caught my attention was this regarding Clinton:

. . . . . . . a flurry of last-minute pardons issued as he left office in 2001 — particularly his absolution of fugitive financier Marc Rich — sparked largely partisan outrage. Critics alleged that the pardon of Rich was linked to contributions raised for Clinton’s presidential library by Rich’s ex-wife . . . . . . . . Rich fled to Switzerland in the 1980s to avoid racketeering, tax evasion and fraud charges stemming from illegal oil trades with Iran. Libby, who represented Rich from 1985 to 2000, told a House committee in 2001 that prosecutors “misconstrued the facts and the law” in pursuing the tax evasion charges. . . .

When I read that I heard Jon Stewart go off in my head with that double-eye rubbing, head shaking woopphtt!!

That’s what the Big Dog meant when he said “the facts were different” in relation to the pardon of Libby vs Rich. Uh-huh; Mr. Rich is quite the scoundrel. Another reason not to vote for Hillary.

I also stumbled across some interesting stuff from Sanders Research out of the UK investigating Marc Rich, Scoots, and the Wilson family….not all tied together necessarily.

Says it all

moonchaser — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 14:07:08 +0000

“Dope and dog food”

moonchaser — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 05:06:05 +0000

Some time ago, my sister and I were discussing teacher salaries and she mentioned that few people earned less and were considered ‘professional.’ Then we learned the Boise Police Dept still didn’t have a contract and the last figures we had were $24,000/year. And to be honest, I don’t remember if they said Boise Police or Idaho State troopers.

Boise police officers base salary is annually around $30-33,000 (from what I gleaned here).

Per the Idaho Education Association: “

The beginning salary for Idaho teachers next year will be $30,000? But a beginning computer engineer in Idaho with the same amount of education starts out at about $52,500.”……..

…

Although a child of the ’60s and not overly enthusiastic of a police presence (given the present political climate and especially given the past 24-36 hours), I am hoping these discussions chill out a bit for the sake of all Boise residents who depend upon the police. Coming home at night, I see the checking in at the Mavericks’, Jacksons’, 7-11, and other gas and convenience places and it’s then I realize there’s a lot that goes on that the public doesn’t always see.

‘Downright nasty’ is a description assigned to these negotiation sessions, as demonstrated here in The Idaho Statesman and the Boise Weekly.

This drew an angry response from reflexively outspoken City Council member Alan Shealy. In an interview with Deanna Darr of the Boise Weekly, Shealy said the union leaders’ tactics will backfire. “They engaged in this scorched-earth policy of personal attacks. If they think that’s going to help their cause, they’ve got another thing coming. I think they’re on dope and dog food.”

As Kevin Reichert writes in the Idaho Statesman:

Dope and dog food? Today’s nasty rhetoric is brought to you by the letter “D.” A letter that, I believe, also appears in the word “diplomacy.“

Oh, dear……

Joyce Alexander, Boise Weekly, got this shot below of the Boise Police protesting. Ah, democracy.

Boise Police Union president Kip Wills and protesters in front of City Hall last week as tensions rise in the conflict with the city

‘God bless Johnny Cash’

moonchaser — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 13:05:00 +0000

America First*

Why don’t we liberate these United States
We’re the ones who need it the worst
Let the rest of the world help us for a change
And let’s rebuild America first

Our highways and bridges are falling apart
Who’s blessed and who has been cursed
There’s things to be done all over the world
But let’s rebuild America first

Who’s on the hill and who’s watching the valley
Who’s in charge of it all
God bless the Army and God bless our liberty
Dadgum the rest of it all

Yeah, men in position but backing away
Freedom is stuck in reverse
Let’s get out of Iraq and get back on the track
And let’s rebuild America first

Why don’t we liberate these United States
We’re the ones who need it the most
You think I’m blowing smoke
Boys it ain’t no joke
I make twenty trips a year from coast to coast

(Thanks to ‘Jersey Guy’ at Alternate Brain for the words to Merle’s latest)

Couple of favorite eateries are moving on…

moonchaser — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 05:48:51 +0000

Louie’s is cloossing!

I heard this at work today. I love their food especially the pizza.

Fortunately, Louie’s has another place in Meridian.

≈ ≈ ≈ ≈ ≈ ≈

Then, there’s Lucky 13 down in Hyde Park which has terrific pizza as well. Last I heard they were moving out to Harris Ranch near Barber Park, the end of August (the 31st).

Libby off a bit of the hook

moonchaser — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 23:04:43 +0000

Well, fuck. The blogosphere is abuzz with this news. First there was ‘this news’ :

Former White House aide I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby cannot delay his 2 1/2-year prison term in the CIA leak case, a federal appeals court unanimously ruled Monday.

Then started checking around the blogosphere on the coverage: Americablog, firedoglake, TPM, the Agonist, and a few other favorites. Get to work and find THIS!

BREAKING: Bush commutes Scooter Libby’s prison sentence

God-fucking-damnit! All hell needs to break loose over this. Libby stood trial, he was tried – the jury found him GUILTY! He was sentenced. He appealed on a particular question regarding going to jail; he was denied that appeal . . . . . and finally – THIS! Joe Sudbay (Americablog) posted this from Jeffrey Tobin on CNN, (CNN’s legal analyst) who stated:

“This is a complete departure from the usual procedure. Scooter Libby is getting a very special brand of justice. He is getting enormous privileges that are not available to ordinary criminal convicts.”

From Josh Marshall: House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) reacts to Bush’s move as “inconsistent with the rule of law.” An update to the original reads: “And a staffer from his committee tells us that they’re looking to have a hearing on this as soon as next week.”

Josh also has updates with reaction from Reid, Pelosi, and Schumer. Like Chuck Schumer said: “As Independence Day nears, we are reminded that one of the principles our forefathers fought for was equal justice under the law. This commutation completely tramples on that principle.”

More later…….

[Update - 17:38] Just checked with Larry Johnson – colleague of Valerie Plame. He’s not ‘in’ so his blogmate has this up for now.

Fiscal irresponsibility

moonchaser — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 21:21:02 +0000

Sean-Paul over at ‘The Agonist’ posted a piece from Bill Moyers’ show about the ’sub-prime.’ You can’t be any more succinct than she was, and my eyes didn’t even begin to glaze. I think what it all boils down to and I’m just as guilty, is ‘fiscal ~~responsibility~~ irresponsibility.’ (Used to practice it all the time when I was drinkin’-n-druggin’ back in the day.)

Here, the word is Micron is beginning layoffs and we were discussing how people get roped into buying big McHouses, start buying big-ass Dodge trucks they don’t need & hook ‘em up to boats they’ve recently purchased to pull around town. I almost feel sorry for ‘em.

But wait…we need another upscale clothier!

Victor Pacania memorial tonight

moonchaser — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 17:42:19 +0000

Victor Pacania Memorial Tonight

Location: Edwards Greenhouse – 4106 Sandcreek St. @ 7:00 pm (south side of Hill Road, midway between 36th & Collister). The announcement has been to just ‘come as you are’ bring yourselves, friends, loved ones, along with a chair or blanket and CELEBRATE Victor’s life.

(Photo – KBSU file)