Overnight Thread and Distraction

Betty! Betty! BETTY!

Overnight Weird Distraction

Does this qualify as elder abuse?

Overnight Thread and Distraction

Oy, the sideburns!!!

Overnight Thread and Distraction

Overnight Thread and Distraction

There are some really strange people in the world.

Overnight Thread and Distraction

Overnight Thread and Distraction

Overnight Thread and Distraction

If there had been no McLaren, my life would have been completely different. Rest In Peace Mod Man.

Overnight Thread and Distraction

Behold, the earliest known Led Zeppelin recording. Part of a December 1968 show that took place three weeks before the band's Led Zeppelin album came out, this version of "Dazed and Confused" is part of a full-show bootleg that's been available to fans for awhile. This is just its first time on YouTube. Apparently, when this was recorded, Led Zeppelin was so obscure that they were listed as "Len Zefflin" on ads for the show.

Overnight Thread and Distraction

Nummy.

Overnight Thread and Disco Diversion

My local PBS station is trying to raise money by shilling a disco dvd. Scary, but I got suckered in for a bit. Growing up in Miami in the 70's gave me a predisposition, but man, Leo Sayer has so morphed from the waif who could sing to the skeevy uncle you avoid at Thanksgiving...

Overnight Thread, Late Late Distraction, Astronomy Pic and Fundraiser

Tethys Behind Titan
Credit: Cassini Imaging Team, ISS, JPL, ESA, NASA Explanation: What's that behind Titan? It's another of Saturn's moons: Tethys. The robotic Cassini spacecraft orbiting Saturn captured the heavily cratered Tethys slipping behind Saturn's atmosphere-shrouded Titan late last year

Definitely click on the image to enlarge, very worth. it. We are still running our fundraiser which will enable me to give back this lovely Rent A Center computer on Monday. We're getting closer, so if you are able and so inclined, donations can be made at the widget below, the donate button to the side or email us at thepoliticalcarnival at gmail.com for a irl address. We also now have a subscription service set up where you can pledge a small (or large) monthly amount to help us out. Soon the lovely parting prizes will be given out!!

I just couldn't help myself with the Late Late Show clip. Enjoy!!

Video- Afternoon Distraction: First Images From Refreshed Hubble Telescope

Oooooh, good stuff. You can find more daily here.

Labor Day Money-Saving Party Planning Committee

Here's a little distraction that might save you a couple bucks! I subscribe to a great blog called "The Cheapskate" and pick up all sorts of good tips, hopefully some of these might help you this weekend. Kiplinger's Fabulous Freebies 2009 and The Store Brand Taste Test are worth a look too.

1. Seven money-saving tips for a barbecue, starting with the obvious: Tell everyone to bring their own meat.

2. Three Dallas chefs share recipes for delicious party food that's fancy but inexpensive, like watermelon and sorbet.

3. Great Bargain Wines and Beers, all $10 or less, as recommended by Real Simple.

4. Ten ways to feed ten people for less than $20, including homemade pizzas and stew with fresh bread, from TheKitchn.

5. The best big-bottle "jug wines," which have double the vino of typical bottles, cost $14 or less, and are perfect for barbecues and outdoor parties, from the WSJ.

6. How to feed a group on location—say, at a beach house—without spending a fortune or making three dozen trips to the supermarket, from CheapHealthyGood.

7. Make it a wine and chips party, featuring wines under $15. (Cheese may or may not be in your budget.)

8. Marine Corps Railroad-Style Barbecue Sauce, a simple, inexpensive recipe made for spicing up (salvaging?) just about any piece of cheap meat, from The Dollar Stretcher.com.

Summery Fundraiser with bonus distraction

If you are inclined and able, please donate through the above widget or the direct PayPal button at the upper right. Gotta and I really do appreciate it immensely.

We love what we do and want to keep on bringing you the bestest snark, ongoing stories, and breaking news. Any donation from $5 to a trazillion dollars is more than welcome.

If you'd like to contribute by check or money order, feel free to email us at the political carnival at gmail dot com. I want to again mention the fact that we know things are really tough out there and sincerely appreciate even the smallest donation. THANK YOU to all who have contributed!!

Added extra treat- if we make it over the 75% point today I will post the last embarrassing childhood photo of myself, an extra super duper cringe worthy nekkid baby one.

May I just ask

When did Madonna turn into Julie Newmar? They both look like they've had part of their cheekbones removed...

Turtle named for Obama freed on Independence Day

No piddling school or airport for this president, he gets a loggerhead turtle!

KEY WEST, Fla.— A sea turtle named after President Barack Obama that was rescued just before Inauguration Day has been set free on Independence Day.

Obama the loggerhead sea turtle was found ailing off a Key West beach on Jan. 19, the eve of the inauguration. Suffering from an intestinal impaction, the 200-pound female was nursed back to health with a diet of squid and mineral oil at the Turtle Hospital in Marathon.

Turtle Hospital administrator Ryan Butts said the turtle was set free Saturday on a Key West beach as about 100 people watched. He says it was appropriate to give the loggerhead its liberty on the Fourth of July after being rescued at a historic moment.

Overnight and Open Thread

Explanation: How can gas float above the Sun? Twisted magnetic fields arching from the solar surface can trap ionized gas, suspending it in huge looping structures. These majestic plasma arches are seen as prominences above the solar limb. Via.

Cartoon of the Day

Click to enlarge, via.

"Ode to Huck": My response to Huckabee's poem attacking Pelosi

By GottaLaff

Isn't HuckaPoet a wit? Oh, to be a clever as he is! I wish I could write that well:

The seven-stanza poem, found on the former presidential candidate’s Web site, is called “Fancy Nancy.”

Huckabee calls Pelosi a “ruthless politician” and tweaks the San Franscisco Democrat for her use of a military plane for travel back to her district.

But the heart of the poem is about Pelosi's CIA he-said-she-said:

She sat in briefings and knew about enhanced interrogation;
But claims she wasn't there, and can't give an explanation.
She disparages the CIA and says they are a bunch of liars;
Even the press aren't buying it and they're stoking their fires

Here's the whole thing:

Here's a story about a lady named Nancy
A ruthless politician, but dressed very fancy
Very ambitious, she got herself elected Speaker
But as for keeping secrets, she proved quite a "leaker."

She flies on government planes coast to coast
And doesn't mind that our economy is toast
She makes the Air Force squire her in their military jets
There's room for her family, her staff, and even her pets.

Until now, she annoyed us, but her gaffes were mostly funny;
Even though it was painful to watch her waste our tax money.
But now her wacky comments are no laughing matter;
She's either unwilling to tell the truth, or she's mad as a hatter!

She sat in briefings and knew about enhanced interrogation;
But claims she wasn't there, and can't give an explanation.
She disparages the CIA and says they are a bunch of liars;
Even the press aren't buying it and they're stoking their fires.

I think Speaker Pelosi has done too much speaking;
And instead of her trashing our intelligence officials, it's her nose that needs tweaking.

If forced to believe whether the CIA and her colleagues in Congress are lying;
Or it's Speaker Pelosi whose credibility and career is dying.
I believe in the integrity of the men and women who sacrifice to keep us safe;
Not the woman who has been caught flat-footed, lying to our face.

I say it here and I say it rather clear-
It's time for Nancy Pelosi to resign and get out of here.

Allow me to respond in kind. It's a little something I like to call, "Ode to Huck":

Here's a little story 'bout a man who we call Huck.
A ruthless phony hack who makes me holler "WTF??!"
He harkens back to Nancy's plane rides, a lie that is so old
That even pondering the premise makes my brain grow mold.

He rhymes about Pelosi and all the clothes she wears.
Way to target things that count, like all our woes and cares.
Stocks are falling, wars are waging, BushCo should be jailed.
People starving, unemployment, Rushpublic epic fail.

Yet HuckaPoet stresses Nancy, says she trashed the spooks.
But BushCo trashed our country, and he lied about those nukes.
Pfft, doesn't matter, Huckee says, it's all Pelosi's fault.
But it's BushCo's torture, BushCo's fraud, BushCo's brute assault.

So pay attention, HuckaHack, this isn't Nancy's crime.
It all belongs to culprits drenched in pure Rushpublic slime.