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From the terrific cartoonist Mark Fiore. Open thread below....

About Bluegal aka Fran
Bluegal aka Fran's picture
Executive Producer of The Professional Left Podcast. On staff at Crooks and Liars since 2007. Master's degree from Harvard. Happy wife of Driftglass. Mother of three geniuses. Obsessive knitter. Blogs at http://bgalrstate.blogspot.com. .
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MaryK's picture

I don't have a credit card. Should I be worried?


"Courtesy is owed. Respect is earned. Love is given." --Unknown author, found in Guide to Texas Etiquette by Kinky Friedman

Alerta_Alerta's picture

No, never had one and never cared about to have one. I do not like to live on credits

You are a ok :)


Bite my shiny metal ass.
http://www.startalkradio.net/

curtilingus's picture
3p:

I guess I'm a little worried. I was just offered free stay through much of January at my local casino hotel, but they won't let me use it because, get ready for it, I don't have a credit card.

There are somethings in life money can't buy. For those things, there's Visa.

Rich H's picture

Thankfully I was able to pay off and discard ALL credit cards a number of years ago. I don't really miss them and think of all the money I've saved on not paying 30% interest

davidhilton's picture

BOA dropped my visa CC limit from $16,000 to $1,800!! why? because @ 3yrs ago i had 2 delinquent parking tickets? i have a balance of @ 1,600, and havent used the card for years -- so they also claimed: there is a "risk of fraud" when someone has a high limit+low balance+no new activity. quite a surprising letter i must say.

In my experience they are the worst bank in the world. Better to borrow from the local loan shark.

Edwin's picture

Parking tickets, being late with utility payments, late paying rent, anything short of being a 100% model consumer and paying everything on time, gets on your credit record.


far left loon >.<

Alerta_Alerta's picture

Irish atheists challenge blasphemy law

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8437460.stm

"The new law makes blasphemy a crime punishable by a fine of up to 25,000 euros (£22,000; $35,000). "

""This new law is both silly and dangerous," he said. "It is silly because medieval religious laws have no place in a modern secular republic, where the criminal law should protect people and not ideas.""


Bite my shiny metal ass.
http://www.startalkradio.net/

Hechicera's picture

I tossed this link

http://blasphemy.ie/2010/01/01/atheist-ireland-publishes-25-blasphemous-quotes/

to friends on the first. The comment section was very amusing! One of those quoted (PZ Myers) will be traveling to Ireland in Feb. too!

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2009/12/uh-oh_you_people_will_bail_me.php

Alerta_Alerta's picture

Good quotes. I would go by something simplistic like: "fuck you God" i know, i have no imagination. :(

LAL :p


Bite my shiny metal ass.
http://www.startalkradio.net/

RobertD's picture

"JEE-sus Chr..."

Edwin's picture

Jesus f#$king Christ that's a god awful law.


far left loon >.<

Abbybwood's picture

I happened upon this interesting little "cartoon" this afternoon that originated from our neighbor to the north....:

"MOUSELAND":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqpFm7zAK90

I would be VERY interested to hear what my friends at C&L have to say about this "cartoon"....

Oh, and BTW...the last time I had a "credit card" was about 1975. I maxed it out and pissed my mom and dad off so badly that once it was paid off I decided to never go there again. Since then it's been "cash and carry" and more recently the VISA "debit" card. Works for me!! Debt free and living within my means....


"The US has an army of 90,000 soldiers in Afghanistan and is spending $100bn a year, but has still been unable to defeat 20,000-25,000 Taliban who receive no pay at all." - Patrick Cockburn

Alerta_Alerta's picture

Why do you hate teh cats? QQ


Bite my shiny metal ass.
http://www.startalkradio.net/

Abbybwood's picture

When I lived in Connecticut out on a lake near East Haddam, my two cats started chasing a "field mouse" around the living room one night while I was watching a movie.

The next morning I found the little cuss lying near the bathroom. He was perfectly preserved, but a little wet from all the "licking" he got. Ha!!

This got to be a nightly occurrence. A quick shadow across the floor, the cats running hither and yon and....BINGO! Another mouse in the morning.

Five or six mouses later it all ended. The last one is probably still parked somewhere under the dishwasher where my youngest cat stayed most nights as I went off to bed. She was just "standing guard."

I now just have one kitty left. My little "Baby Daughter". I LOVE cats!!


"The US has an army of 90,000 soldiers in Afghanistan and is spending $100bn a year, but has still been unable to defeat 20,000-25,000 Taliban who receive no pay at all." - Patrick Cockburn

Amitola's picture

we ought to make sure all the Repuke Morans see it, too.

In 2008, millions thought they were voting for someone more "mouse-like" - turns out to have been just a cat in disguise.


"Egotism is the anesthetic that dulls the pain of Stupidity" - Frank Leahy

Alerta_Alerta's picture

Back n the 90's the family cat killed a little bunny that friends of my parents took to our home. Stupid fuckers. They thought it would be ok as he was so peaceful with our Guinea pig.

Wrong!!


Bite my shiny metal ass.
http://www.startalkradio.net/

Timjoebillybob's picture

gotten a different bunny.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItwtSXhJrGI

Alerta_Alerta's picture

Pffft, even at his old age he could chase dogs away with there tail between there legs.

Surprise....here is hellcat

(sabocat :p)


Bite my shiny metal ass.
http://www.startalkradio.net/

Timjoebillybob's picture

and the dog. My nephews kitten that we're watching was terrorizing our dog and cat. But the dog is starting to get sick of it and is starting to chase it when it acts up. Kitten under 5 lbs, dog 110 lbs, cat 23 lbs. It's still funny watching the 23 lb cat running from the kitten that's well under a quarter of its size. And it was hilarious when the dog started to play with the kitten the same way the kitten was playing with it, he was batting at it with his paw :) I wish I had it on video. I'm really glad my dog is friendly towards other animals, almost no
cat wouldn't stand a chance, he cornered the big cat one day and it was freaking out and batting the crap out of him, gashed open his nose in a few spots before he got in to close for it to, and all he did was sniff it.

It also depends on the rabbit, most will freeze up or run and few will go ballistic. My ex-neighbor raised show rabbits and my son and I took care of them a couple of times when they were gone over night for shows and such, there was one that they warned me about, that thing was friggen vicious. I found out where the term "rabbit punch" comes from the first time I fed the thing, they told me to wear a thick leather glove, but I figured "heck its only a little bunny" and didn't listen, it left a bruise on my hand that lasted a week and I very rarely bruise(I think it may have actually cracked a bone it hurt for about a mo and a half or 2) and a couple of scratches that I thought might need stitches. They told me if it wasn't for the kits he produced he would of been bunny sausage long long ago.

miss_kitty's picture

something else to pique the cat's interest.

calgarylady's picture

Nora can play piano, she's ambidextrous and she has a musical ear! She's a talented lass!

calgarylady's picture

I wish Americans had their own Tommy Douglas looking out for them.

MaryK's picture

When one mouse pointed out the obvious truism, he was locked up. "But you can't lock up an idea."

On the other hand, the cats probably have their own equivalent of Fox network and they can control the dialogue from there.


"Courtesy is owed. Respect is earned. Love is given." --Unknown author, found in Guide to Texas Etiquette by Kinky Friedman

Amitola's picture

but, apparently, the banks can implement a 'Thought Processing Fee' which will make it really tough for all us "free thinkers" to come up with any more good ideas!!!!


"Egotism is the anesthetic that dulls the pain of Stupidity" - Frank Leahy

Edwin's picture

Tommy Douglas started universal health care in Saskatchewan which opened to door for the rest of the provinces to follow suit. Now we all gots it.


far left loon >.<

for "visions".

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/dec/30/v...

I'm sick of all these twits who kill animals for body parts (brains, gall bladders, etc) that they think will give them sexual potency or winning lottery numbers. Grow up fuckers!


"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."

---Southwest Airlines

Thanksgiving is captured, per CNN


"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."

---Southwest Airlines

MaryK's picture

...is here.


"Courtesy is owed. Respect is earned. Love is given." --Unknown author, found in Guide to Texas Etiquette by Kinky Friedman

Hechicera's picture

Link sent to me by a friend.

http://charterforcompassion.org/

Interestingly was started by the woman who wrote "The Case for God".

ron's picture

a thought.
Limbaugh says he had chest pains and now says they couldn't find a problem with his heart or what caused the chest pains either. Medical institutions cannot disclose medical records if the patient declares privacy.
So, the media and we have to ask if we have the best healthcare in the world. how come nobody was able to determin what caused the chest pains?

Ape-Man's picture

hmm..


"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob"
-= Franklin Delano Roosevelt =-

ian m's picture

It wouldn't surprise me that Limbaugh is in poor health because of his weight, his job (being angry for the past twenty odd years is bound to take its toll), and his history of pharmaceutical abuse. Nevertheless, this incident probably boils down to a panic attack induced by acute indigestion exacerbated by a sense of entitlement owing to his income and inflated ego. I'm figuring he also used the incident as an excuse to shop for pharmies and that the doctor read him the riot act.

Tequila's picture

You can only coast on the "Bush and the GOP suck" platform for so long before you're forced to actually face the voters. You'd figure the Dems would have learned that from the Repugs post-9/11 campaigns. China learns how to out-police state the Republicans on porn. Anyone want to pay higher cable rates for shitty networks? The uninsured make their regular pilgrimage to a free health care facility.

ron's picture

will opt out Vs. paying more.

Tequila's picture
ron's picture
Ask

and you shall receive. Especially if you are the #1 evangelical preacher.

fastfeat's picture

The little guys (who could really use the help) not so much.


"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."

---Southwest Airlines

Timjoebillybob's picture

the little guys will be getting the help.

"With 10 percent of our church family out of work due to the recession, our expenses in caring for our community in 2009 rose dramatically while our income stagnated."

The letter cited the church's accomplishments in 2009 and detailed how the donations would be used, including the church's food pantry, homeless ministry, counseling and support groups.

Warren made similar pleas after Hurricane Katrina and the 2004 Asian tsunami, raising $1.7 million and $1.6 million from Saddleback parishioners.

While I'm not sure about the tsunami I remember reading about how much that church did in the aftermath of Katrina, and no they didn't help only Christians.

Floridiot's picture

Probably gave it to him

Floridiot's picture

Youse guys out in Cal. have a monster big tent in the Dem. party now that Howie Ahmanson is a member, don't ya?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Ahmanson,_Jr.

You've. Been. Infiltrated. :P

But not rainbow-colored.


"Courtesy is owed. Respect is earned. Love is given." --Unknown author, found in Guide to Texas Etiquette by Kinky Friedman

Abbybwood's picture

Goldman Sachs gets big tax breaks with bonuses:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/01/business/01...

23 million Americans still without health insurance by 2018

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/...

So. Cal. putting a new spin on going after health insurance companies for rescission?:

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-insure-...

Opponents of health insurance "mandate" mobilize:

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/...


"The US has an army of 90,000 soldiers in Afghanistan and is spending $100bn a year, but has still been unable to defeat 20,000-25,000 Taliban who receive no pay at all." - Patrick Cockburn

fiver's picture

It's an old story done a million times already. But it's a great story and done very well here. We saw the 3D; I wish it was IMAX. IMO a great way to spend a few hours.


Corruption favors the wealthy.

JohnnyBravo's picture

The story has been done before, but this was an excellent movie. Sad thing is I can totally see the human race pulling the stuff that went on in this movie.


NOBODY 2012

Timjoebillybob's picture

a kids Christmas present.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgcaBQTJZHA

Please watch and send to your friends.

JohnnyBravo's picture

That "mother" and her kids need their asses kicked.


NOBODY 2012

Abbybwood's picture

"The US has an army of 90,000 soldiers in Afghanistan and is spending $100bn a year, but has still been unable to defeat 20,000-25,000 Taliban who receive no pay at all." - Patrick Cockburn

curtilingus's picture

Thanks for the info abby. I sent in an application. Looks like their hiring and I have experience in world domination fantasies.

Floridiot's picture
Floridiot's picture

off and on, busting security guards out of their civil service unions on campuses around the country.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AlliedBarton

lucky5's picture

I have a couple credit cards and I pay on time but my interest rate keeps going up and I had a credit card cancel for non use. It's cool that people are able to get by without using credit cards but when times are tough sometimes one has to use plastic.

They should make a video like that for insurance companies, oil companies and utilities. I put them in the same class as garbage but I think garbage may rank just a tad higher than these companies.

Abbybwood's picture

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/A...

I hope these school children are listed in Sunday's "In Memoriam".


"The US has an army of 90,000 soldiers in Afghanistan and is spending $100bn a year, but has still been unable to defeat 20,000-25,000 Taliban who receive no pay at all." - Patrick Cockburn

Alice X - Chomsky Nader's picture

Cute little cartoon there. Too bad for the peasants it is so near the truth.

Who needs the Kleptocrat Republicans when the Kleptocrat Democrats are just as resounding.

What sort of government fails to outlaw usury!


statusquObama, change you can only pretend in

Edwin's picture

I have one credit card. I don't use it much, but I like to have it in my wallet.

I much prefer paying cash, and use cash 99.5% of the time, but a card can be handy at times.


far left loon >.<

Tequila's picture

For a crime he may not have commited.

Tax the Rich's picture

I got rid of my credit cards. I now go down the street to Vinnie the loan shark - much better rates!


If I were a psychopath, I would join the republican party, and get in on the gravy train taking the Teabircher morons to the cleaners.

Edwin's picture

Remember that extreme bicycling vid bluegal put up? I had a dream last night I was doing that, and it was VERY fun, and I was catching billiard balls at the same time, and boy was I ever good, and then I woke up. :)


far left loon >.<

sixandseveneights's picture

Redstate gives aid and comfort to the enemy by undermining the president during time of war! My favorite part of Erik Erikson's traitorous rambling attacking the president during time of war is the history revisionist lie Bush (or his minions) never blamed Bill Clinton for 911 (or anything else for that matter). If there is one thing we all know about the Bush administration is that they took full responsibility for running America into the ground.

http://www.redstate.com/erick/2010/01/02/bara...


"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."

---Southwest Airlines

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