March 31, 2013

Here's a reason to look back at Lyndon Baines Johnson and crack a huge smile at his wicked humor

Proof:
4th car down
http://www.nps.gov/lyjo/planyourvisit/presidentialvehicles.htm

March 29, 2013

Starbucks CEO Serves A Grande Cup Of 'Shut The Hell Up' To Anti-Gay-Marriage Activists

When Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz openly supported a marriage equality bill in Washington state, there were a few people who weren't happy about it.
Some of them attended a shareholder meeting and complained about the decision citing a slightly disappointing stock price over the last quarter.
Let's just say Schultz didn't apologize. Check out 0:52 for his perfectly timed parting shot.
http://www.upworthy.com/starbucks-ceo-serves-a-grande-cup-of-shut-the-hell-up-to-anti-gay-marriage-activ?c=upw1

March 28, 2013

TREAT YOURSELF / Captured: America in Color from 1939-1943 it will make you proud

These images, by photographers of the Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information, are some of the only color photographs taken of the effects of the Depression on America’s rural and small town populations. The photographs are the property of the Library of Congress and were included in a 2006 exhibit Bound for Glory: America in Color.




Faro and Doris Caudill, homesteaders. Pie Town, New Mexico, October 1940. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Russell Lee. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress

There are 69 more images at the link. Someone mailed this to me, and I am proud to share it with my fellow Americans

see them here

http://extras.denverpost.com/archive/captured.asp

March 27, 2013

Majority of Justices Skeptical of Federal Ban on Benefits to Same-Sex Spouses

Source: NYTimes

BREAKING NEWS Wednesday, March 27, 2013 12:39 PM EDT
Majority of Justices Skeptical of Federal Ban on Benefits to Same-Sex Spouses
A majority of the justices on Wednesday questioned the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act of 1996, as the Supreme Court took up the volatile issue of same-sex marriage for a second day.
Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, widely considered the swing vote on the divided court, joined the four liberals in posing skeptical questions to a lawyer defending the law, which defines marriage as the union of a man and a woman for the purposes of more than 1,000 federal laws and programs.
“The question is whether or not the federal government under a federalism system has the authority to regulate marriage,” Justice Kennedy said during oral arguments, suggesting that the question should be left to the states. He disagreed with the contention that the federal law simply created a single definition for federal purposes, noting that same-sex couples are not treated the same as other married couples. “It’s not really uniformity,” he said.
READ MORE »


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/28/us/supreme-court-defense-of-marriage-act.html?emc=na

March 25, 2013

We know it and smile - but a visual helps make it more real. (Pat Bagley cartoon)

March 24, 2013

Not an exaggeration as I see it - Cartoon about the predicament of Cyprus.

March 24, 2013

Got Pallets? Hate weeding?

Alright friends: I had to dig to find this group, and since I have not been here before I may be carrying coals to Newcastle with this idea. But I liked it, and I hope you will too.


Got Pallets? Hate weeding? Don't feel like turning up a bunch of grass? Use a pallet as
a garden bed - staple garden cloth on the backside of the pallet fill with dirt and start growing!

March 24, 2013

*****Submissions and all names of entrants March contest*****

Here are the 30 entries and their photographers, in the order I received them.
Thank you all for your participation, and your enthusiasm.

This has been a lot of fun for me, thanks!
Mira


My Retirement Home-Maui



RC
==========

Beads



Pharaoh
==========

JockoKar




Whisp
==========


I Heart Lizards



Solly Mack
==========


I feel the need for speed



groundloop
==========


Garlic and White Onions



MichaelSoE
==========


On the Hunt



Dyedinthewoolliberal
==========


The Decadence of Color



JohnnyRingo
==========


Three Phases of Landing



Celebration
==========


Panes of Gold



a la izquierda
==========


View To The Barn



Whoa Nelly
==========

Bliss



Blue_in_AK
==========

The Three Amigas



annabanana
===============


Winter Range



bluedigger
==========

Camden Hills State Park, Maine



Scuba
==========

Morning Light



ramapo
==========


Burghers of Calais



GoneOffShore
==========


Youth



Alfredo
=========================


Misty Solitude



Mz Pip
==========


A Portrait of Intensity



Justiceischeap
==========


I'm coming for you



rdking647
==========

Curtain



Johnny Noshoes
===================


Holding Back the Mist



Crepuscular
==========


Dragonfly



Callalily
==========


San Diego at Night



FreeState
==========


My First Greenhouse and a TEN foot Tomatoe Tree




ConcernedCanuk
==========


get closer



teamster 633
==========


The Sunset Wave



CaliforniaPeggy
==========


"Breakwall"



Earth_ First
==========


"All there is"


In_The_Wind

March 24, 2013

*****Winners for March contests are posted in GD*****

The Winners for the March contest
"A Photographer's favorite"
are posted in GD - please go look - please help keep it kicked. All the voters deserve to know how it ended up. It was a great contest and shows we are all just getting better and better.
I enjoyed bringing it to you.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022558112

I posted the 30 submissions and the names of the photographers here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/103615677

March 24, 2013

*****Announcing the Winners of the March Photo contest***** "A Photographer's favorite"

It is with joy that I bring you the winners of the photo contest for March:
"A Photographer's favorite"

You, the voters have contributed to it with your enthusiastic participation, and your comments. This contest had the most votes in any I have witnessed, and I thank you for making it a success.

The photographs were spectacular throughout. Winners were tough to determine and many great photos were left behind and did not make the finals.

Here are the winners

FIRST PLACE

rdking647

I'm coming for you





SECOND PLACE

Justiceischeap

A Portrait of Intensity




THIRD PLACE

MichaelSoE

Garlic and White Onions


the other seven finalists are:

Bluedigger with "WINTER RANGE"

in a three way tie with Johnny Noshoes and "CURTAIN"

and with Mz Pip and "MISTY SOLITUDE"

then come a la izquierda with "PANES OF GOLD"

and

Celebration with "THREE PHASES OF LANDING"


Crepuscular with "HOLDING BACK THE MIST"


and Free State with "SAN DIEGO AT NIGHT"

All the finalists spoke to me in their own ways, some of them I love with a passion by now. I am genuinely grateful I did not have to vote for any of them over the others.

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

As my host's choices I want to select

Alfredo's "Youth" because these two with their aptly named expression have grown dear to my heart. I would recognize them anywhere, Alfredo's artistry captures the essence of people.



and Johnny Ringo's
"The Decadence of Color" because it's a happy and beautiful celebration of pin-striping and photography. Both are dear to my heart and play a role in my life.



It has been a pleasure to bring you the contest of the Photographer's favorites, and now with a congratulatory bow I pass the honor of hosting the next contest on to rdking647.

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

For those who want to know about the photographer's names and connect them with the 30 entries, here is a link to the post identifying all of them in the Photo Forum:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/103615677