As you are all well aware of by now, Countdown wasn't on last night so the Olbermann family & those who love & care for them could remember & celebrate the life of Marie Olbermann. I didn't have the words to say much the night of Keith's beautiful tribute to her, but since then, I've learned of the suicide a couple days ago of a sweet funny fellow Kwan Um Zen practioner. He worked in the office of the international temple for my Buddhist tradition near Providence, RI & was going through some physical problems & obviously in much pain - more than we knew. So, with advanced thanks for your indulgence, I'd like to pay tribute to them both here.
This poem was written by the founding teacher of the Zen tradition in which I practice, Zen Master Seung Sahn. It is used as part of the standard memorial service at Kwam Um Zen centers all over the world:
"The Human Route"
Coming empty-handed, going empty-handed -- that is human.
When you are born, where do you come from?
When you die, where do you go?
Life is like a floating cloud which appears.
Death is like a floating cloud which disappears.
The floating cloud itself originally does not exist.
Life and death, coming and going, are also like that.
But there is one thing which always remains clear.
It is pure and clear, not depending on life and death.
Then what is the one pure and clear thing?
JiJang Bosal to Marie Olbermann & J.W. Harrington; Kwan Seum Bosal to their families.
http://ww5.komen.org/
http://www.stjude.org/...
http://www.kwanumzen.org/
There's just a couple events for "this day in history" that I'll point out. On this date in 1912, the Titanic set sail from Southampton, England on its ill-fated maiden voyage. But, on a happier note, my 2nd favorite novel of all time, F. Scott Fizgerald's The Great Gatsby, was published on this date in 1925. The embed for this YouTube has been "disabled by request," but it is a quirky, unique (like a certain Countdown diarist) but pretty darn factual retelling of the novel, so I HIGHLY recommend it! http://www.youtube.com/...
Let's Countdown.
Thanks to David Shuster for filling in tonight! Keith, get some rest, take care of yourself, & let those who care about you take care of you.
#5 "Economic Hipocrisy" AKA "The Economy...and Stupids" AKA "The Money Flail" AKA "Stop the Insanitea" - Some GOP governors are still refusing stimulus coin, and, in the case of Virginia, the GOP legislature socked it to Tim Keane in denying funds for Virginia’s unemployed. Now, THERE’s your "compassionate conservatism!" Gov. Mark Sanford is trying to ‘splain himself to defend his actions in not taking the money. BUT, he & others have sent the letters officially requesting the money. WTF?! These "people" are such $hits. RICHARD WOLFFE! Where ya’ been all week, you gorgeous hunk of man?! The money in South Carolina will help current teachers keep their jobs. Well, the GOP thinks getting an education & being smart is "elite," anyway. However, if I was THIS YOUNG LADY’S teacher, I’d consider changing careers!
Ya’ know, these boils on the butt of humanity GOP governors eventually want to run for POTUS in 2012. But, if their constituents wise up & vote them out on their sorry a$$es because they didn’t take stimulus coin, how the f*ck to they expect to be supported for the Presidency? They’re going to appeal to the wing – nut 28%ers?! Math isn’t my strong suit, but, the last I checked, 28% wasn’t a majority. Here’s more of the tea – bagging. Seriously, has NO ONE ‘splained to these morans the "alternate" meaning of tea – bagging?! Alan Keyes is joining in on the tea – bagging (hee...hee...hee...);D didn’t he disown a gay daughter? Michael Steele wanted to speak at an event in Chicago, but he was told, "Thanks but no thanks." Yea...Dan Gross made a faboo point! These tea – baggers are a little late in the game by suddenly having their panties in a bunch protesting all these financial shenanigans perpetuated by GWB’s administration! They must be on TurdBlossom time. So, we’ve got TurdBlossom math, TurdBlossom syntax, now, we’ve got TurdBlossom time. Is anyone keeping track of all this? ;D What will tea do to any wildlife in the waters where these bags are being dumped? Are the bags biodegradable? These yay – hoos will be polluting, too.
#4 "Black Sites" AKA "Prison Break" AKA "Tortured Logic" - There are no more CIA "black sites." Gee, thanks! But, CIA agents who previously engaged in "enhanced interrogation techniques" will not be investigated or punished. GEE, THANKS! People who tortured are still in the upper eschelons of leadership in the CIA, and they are the ones who "advised" Leon Panetta to not be digging too deeply. Um...Leon Panetta’s the boss, yes?! Hm...it doesn’t sound like he’s acting like one. OK DOJ, let’s remember that respect for justice & the rule of law y’all used for "Tubes" Stevens & apply it here!
** Ugh...Peeps... Am I the only one who thinks those things are grody to the max?! There’s a British elephant painting in a zoo. A woman in Colorado can’t express her love for tofu on her license plate. Some people in Poland are having a cow over a gay elephant. PETA wants the Pet Shop Boys to change the name of their band. ARE YOU F*CKING SERIOUS?! PETA’S GOT NOTHING BETTER TO DO THESE DAYS?! Here’s my favorite Pet Shop Boys song; if you listen to the words, you’ll figure out why! ;D **
#3 "Pot, Meet Kettle" AKA "When TurdBlossoms Attack" AKA "Rovian Tactics" - I’d like to put VP Biden & TurdBlossom in a room together. I think Joe could take him, but TurdBlossom probably fights dirty. What a damn shock that these comments would be spewed on FAUX News. OK, I’m sorry. This segment just BEGS for this image!
Can I PLEASE see him in an orange jumpsuit & leg irons?! Sorry James Moore, I’m not sad or feeling sorry for TurdBlossom. Ya’ know how damn ironic it feels to have GWB the respectable one in this group as far as keeping pie – holes shut?! AUGH!
StillBUSHED! "Business Before People – Gate" A study of the effect on bird strikes on planes during the GWB administration hasn’t been released. "Business Before People: the Sequel – Gate" There have been basically no efforts to keep track of food safety for years. "The Revenge of Business Before People – Gate" Not keeping track of greenhouse gases may be cheaper, but it’ll eventually turn our planet to liquid $hit – a slight step backwards, don’t cha’ think?!
#2 Can you just imagine watching your house being robbed & not really being able to do a damn thing about it except describe it to an operator?! The dogs hid? So much for watch dogs; at least the kitty stuck around! YEA FOR THE KITTIES!
#1 "Let’s Make a Deal" AKA "Payback Politics" - Oh for f*ck’s sake, do I REALLY need to be reminded of the Dem primary?! AUGH! Why can’t Bill just write another book to pay off the debt? And, Mark Penn’s the one who’s going to get most of the coin. If I had lunch with James Carville, I’d have to spit food in his face. No, I haven’t forgotten his "Judas" & "traitor" remarks to Bill Richardson after he endorsed Obama.