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The year that was.
Author: Raine    Date: 12/30/2013 14:04:49

I'd hoped to write a blog about all the stories that happened this past year.

Benghazi, the attack on Women's rights, Fast and Furious, ObamaCare, the NSA, the debt ceiling, the government shutdown, fake filibusters... These were among the stories that dominated the headlines this year.

There is one meme that keeps creeping: The President's very bad year. Clearly all the subjects mentioned above and more, are Obama's fault.

But was it, really?
Obviously, the Affordable Care Act’s open-enrollment period got off to a dreadful start, though there’s ample evidence that the system is the midst of a dramatic turnaround. Besides, two months of website troubles do not a year make.

And while Obama’s detractors will also note that no major legislation was signed into law this year, that just makes 2013 identical to 2011 and 2012 – when Americans elected a divided government featuring radicalized Republicans unwilling to compromise, the fate of good bills with popular support was sealed, but that’s hardly the White House’s fault.

Songs will never be sung in honor of Obama’s fifth year, but the “year from hell” talk seems disproportionate given the circumstances. There have been disappointments, but 2013 just hasn’t been that bad.
I make no apologies saying that I support this President and the work he is trying to do. He's been thrown one obstruction after another and still manages to move forward.

We have seen strides this year for marriage equality and I suspect we will see many more states come around to doing the right thing. For me this has been the brightest and most hopeful thing I have seen happen this year. 2013 was a rough year for many of us, I know. Our little blog family means the world for me and I wish you and yours a bright new Shiny 2014. As we enter our 8th year together I wish for you blessings and prosperity. and above all, love.


and
Raine
 

58 comments (Latest Comment: 12/31/2013 02:11:55 by TriSec)
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Comment by wickedpam on 12/30/2013 14:11:36
Morning

Comment by BobR on 12/30/2013 14:16:17
*like*

Comment by Mondobubba on 12/30/2013 14:29:19
Morning mon peeps. Raine, I did get your card last week. It now sits as the center piece to my collection of holiday cards on my desk here.


Comment by Raine on 12/30/2013 14:30:02
Gross.


“Make sure that she can cook a meal, you need to eat some meals that she cooks, check that out,” he said. “Make sure she carries her Bible. That’ll save you a lot of trouble down the road. And if she picks your ducks, now, that’s a woman.”

“They got to where they’re getting hard to find,” Robertson remarked. “Mainly because these boys are waiting until they get to be about 20 years old before they marry ‘em. Look, you wait until they get to be 20 years old, the only picking that’s going to take place is your pocket.”

The Duck Commander company founder added: “You got to marry these girls when they are about 15 or 16, they’ll pick your ducks. You need to check with mom and dad about that of course.”



Comment by Raine on 12/30/2013 14:30:52
Quote by Mondobubba:
Morning mon peeps. Raine, I did get your card last week. It now sits as the center piece to my collection of holiday cards on my desk here.



Comment by Mondobubba on 12/30/2013 14:34:28
Comment by Raine on 12/30/2013 14:37:35

You know, I’ve actually been on this date before. They haven’t said a word to each other — haven’t even exchanged names, for God’s sake — and already she’s convinced she’s in love. Whatever uncertainty existed regarding who the crazy person is here has now been put conclusively to rest.


Comment by Raine on 12/30/2013 14:40:18
Quote by Raine:

You know, I’ve actually been on this date before. They haven’t said a word to each other — haven’t even exchanged names, for God’s sake — and already she’s convinced she’s in love. Whatever uncertainty existed regarding who the crazy person is here has now been put conclusively to rest.



This is the best thing I will read all day. It's not even 10 AM. I quit today.


Comment by Raine on 12/30/2013 14:50:50
Comment by Mondobubba on 12/30/2013 14:52:03
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Raine:

You know, I’ve actually been on this date before. They haven’t said a word to each other — haven’t even exchanged names, for God’s sake — and already she’s convinced she’s in love. Whatever uncertainty existed regarding who the crazy person is here has now been put conclusively to rest.



This is the best thing I will read all day. It's not even 10 AM. I quit today.



I'm surprised it has taken this long for someone to write a take down of what was, for my money, the worst power ballad of all time.


All I wanna do is make love to you
I’ve got lovin’ arms to hold on to

Lovin’ arms? I’m sorry, but that’s pure conjecture. Given the lack of ambient light, for all she knows he’s got hooks for hands. And even assuming that the object of her sudden and completely irrational lust is whole-bodied, it’s possible that his arms aren’t lovin’ at all. He could be psychologically incapable of anything resembling intimacy. He might have curly yellowed mountain-guru fingernails. He may suffer from poor circulation in his extremities.




Comment by Mondobubba on 12/30/2013 14:53:29
Quote by Raine:
It is done.



Good! Now let's get that Quickstarter campaign of Michael Chang's ramped up. So he can buy the team and change the name.

Comment by Mondobubba on 12/30/2013 14:54:19


Comment by BobR on 12/30/2013 14:54:57
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Raine:

You know, I’ve actually been on this date before. They haven’t said a word to each other — haven’t even exchanged names, for God’s sake — and already she’s convinced she’s in love. Whatever uncertainty existed regarding who the crazy person is here has now been put conclusively to rest.



This is the best thing I will read all day. It's not even 10 AM. I quit today.



I'm surprised it has taken this long for someone to write a take down of what was, for my money, the worst power ballad of all time.


All I wanna do is make love to you
I’ve got lovin’ arms to hold on to

Lovin’ arms? I’m sorry, but that’s pure conjecture. Given the lack of ambient light, for all she knows he’s got hooks for hands. And even assuming that the object of her sudden and completely irrational lust is whole-bodied, it’s possible that his arms aren’t lovin’ at all. He could be psychologically incapable of anything resembling intimacy. He might have curly yellowed mountain-guru fingernails. He may suffer from poor circulation in his extremities.


All night long
We made love


Alright, once and for all, can we please dispense with that pervasive lyrical filler “all night long”? Can we all get together and admit to ourselves that it’s bullshit? That no one in the history of humanity has ever actually, literally had sex from dusk until dawn? That it’s probably a lot more like “Ooh, we made love for, like, seven minutes or so, at which point he pleaded exhaustion and asked for a time-out, which was sort of a relief because he was dripping sweat in my eyes like Chinese water torture, and he flopped onto his back and lit a cigarette, which we shared, and when that was done we started up again and this time it lasted maybe five minutes tops, after which I took a shower while he turned on Letterman, and when I came back I found he’d gone to the vending machines and bought a bag of Cheetos, which he was eating in bed, which was mostly fine because it’s not like it was my bed at my house or anything”?


Comment by Raine on 12/30/2013 14:57:24
Quote by BobR:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Raine:

You know, I’ve actually been on this date before. They haven’t said a word to each other — haven’t even exchanged names, for God’s sake — and already she’s convinced she’s in love. Whatever uncertainty existed regarding who the crazy person is here has now been put conclusively to rest.



This is the best thing I will read all day. It's not even 10 AM. I quit today.



I'm surprised it has taken this long for someone to write a take down of what was, for my money, the worst power ballad of all time.


All I wanna do is make love to you
I’ve got lovin’ arms to hold on to

Lovin’ arms? I’m sorry, but that’s pure conjecture. Given the lack of ambient light, for all she knows he’s got hooks for hands. And even assuming that the object of her sudden and completely irrational lust is whole-bodied, it’s possible that his arms aren’t lovin’ at all. He could be psychologically incapable of anything resembling intimacy. He might have curly yellowed mountain-guru fingernails. He may suffer from poor circulation in his extremities.


All night long
We made love


Alright, once and for all, can we please dispense with that pervasive lyrical filler “all night long”? Can we all get together and admit to ourselves that it’s bullshit? That no one in the history of humanity has ever actually, literally had sex from dusk until dawn? That it’s probably a lot more like “Ooh, we made love for, like, seven minutes or so, at which point he pleaded exhaustion and asked for a time-out, which was sort of a relief because he was dripping sweat in my eyes like Chinese water torture, and he flopped onto his back and lit a cigarette, which we shared, and when that was done we started up again and this time it lasted maybe five minutes tops, after which I took a shower while he turned on Letterman, and when I came back I found he’d gone to the vending machines and bought a bag of Cheetos, which he was eating in bed, which was mostly fine because it’s not like it was my bed at my house or anything”?




Comment by Scoopster on 12/30/2013 14:57:54
Mornin' all.. Back to the grind again, year end wrap-up edition!

Comment by Raine on 12/30/2013 15:02:14
Mondo I have to share this on the BoF --

Comment by Mondobubba on 12/30/2013 15:07:07
Quote by Raine:
Mondo I have to share this on the BoF --



By all means!


Comment by wickedpam on 12/30/2013 15:18:23
Quote by Raine:
It is done.



not even a fan and totally saw that coming

Comment by BobR on 12/30/2013 15:24:43
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
It is done.



not even a fan and totally saw that coming

The Redskins launch a search for their eighth head coach (including an interim coach, Terry Robiskie, in the 2000 season) since Snyder purchased the team in 1999 from the Jack Kent Cooke estate.


8 coaches in 14 years? Methinks the problem does not lie with the coaches.

Comment by Raine on 12/30/2013 15:32:47
Quote by BobR:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
It is done.



not even a fan and totally saw that coming

The Redskins launch a search for their eighth head coach (including an interim coach, Terry Robiskie, in the 2000 season) since Snyder purchased the team in 1999 from the Jack Kent Cooke estate.


8 coaches in 14 years? Methinks the problem does not lie with the coaches.
This kinda says it all.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-sports-bog/files/2013/12/redskinscoaches1213a.jpg


“Fourteen years as the owner of the Washington Redskins; seven different head coaches,” Keyshawn Johnson began. “Fourteen seasons. That, tells me, I don’t care how smart and how much money he’s made; he made his money doing things other than owning a football team. So hire the right people to run your football program. Stop recycling the same guys over and over. You tried it all; the best in college football, guys that used to be hot in the NFL. Why don’t you try something new for a change and see if that works? See if hiring a new guy works.”

That didn’t really make much sense. Too many coaches, too many approaches, so try something new?

“This is the thing, he has tried everything,” Cris Carter noted.

Which made more sense.


It's Snyder.

Comment by Raine on 12/30/2013 15:37:49
Hey Mondo -- that gallery you tagged us in is literally in our neighborhood. I'll def be going! (It's across the street from Los Tios)

Comment by wickedpam on 12/30/2013 15:45:28
Quote by Raine:
Quote by BobR:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
It is done.



not even a fan and totally saw that coming

The Redskins launch a search for their eighth head coach (including an interim coach, Terry Robiskie, in the 2000 season) since Snyder purchased the team in 1999 from the Jack Kent Cooke estate.


8 coaches in 14 years? Methinks the problem does not lie with the coaches.
This kinda says it all.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-sports-bog/files/2013/12/redskinscoaches1213a.jpg


“Fourteen years as the owner of the Washington Redskins; seven different head coaches,” Keyshawn Johnson began. “Fourteen seasons. That, tells me, I don’t care how smart and how much money he’s made; he made his money doing things other than owning a football team. So hire the right people to run your football program. Stop recycling the same guys over and over. You tried it all; the best in college football, guys that used to be hot in the NFL. Why don’t you try something new for a change and see if that works? See if hiring a new guy works.”

That didn’t really make much sense. Too many coaches, too many approaches, so try something new?

“This is the thing, he has tried everything,” Cris Carter noted.

Which made more sense.


It's Snyder.


He stomped his teeny tiny little feet - sad thing is he will never sell the team. Even losing its a cash cow.


Comment by Mondobubba on 12/30/2013 15:55:07
Quote by Raine:
Hey Mondo -- that gallery you tagged us in is literally in our neighborhood. I'll def be going! (It's across the street from Los Tios)



Cool! I not seen any of Ken's work since that is something he's been doing fairly recently. I hope you dig it.

Comment by BobR on 12/30/2013 16:14:43
Comment by Raine on 12/30/2013 16:19:24
WE stuck around to the end -- but we were in the comfort of an excellent BBQ joint.

I have to say: kudos to the fans tat stayed to the end. The weather yesterday sucked hard and bad.


Comment by Raine on 12/30/2013 16:40:06
This sums up yesterdays game.


Comment by Mondobubba on 12/30/2013 17:05:30
Quote by Raine:
WE stuck around to the end -- but we were in the comfort of an excellent BBQ joint.

I have to say: kudos to the fans tat stayed to the end. The weather yesterday sucked hard and bad.



Was it that empty for the whole game? Did people start bailing when the weather turned and the Giants started losing?

Comment by Raine on 12/30/2013 17:10:02
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
WE stuck around to the end -- but we were in the comfort of an excellent BBQ joint.

I have to say: kudos to the fans tat stayed to the end. The weather yesterday sucked hard and bad.



Was it that empty for the whole game? Did people start bailing when the weather turned and the Giants started losing?

It was pretty empty right from the start.

and the Giants were never behind...



Comment by Raine on 12/30/2013 17:11:25
The weather was truly craptastic yesterday. Raine, Snow Ice and rain -- cold cold rain. miserable stuff.

Snow would have been better.

Comment by wickedpam on 12/30/2013 17:13:07
Quote by Raine:
The weather was truly craptastic yesterday. Raine, Snow Ice and rain -- cold cold rain. miserable stuff.

Snow would have been better.



You got snow and ice? All we got was rain - everything our way is soaked, all the lakes, creeks and ponds were up significantly

Comment by Mondobubba on 12/30/2013 17:22:22
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
WE stuck around to the end -- but we were in the comfort of an excellent BBQ joint.

I have to say: kudos to the fans tat stayed to the end. The weather yesterday sucked hard and bad.



Was it that empty for the whole game? Did people start bailing when the weather turned and the Giants started losing?

It was pretty empty right from the start.

and the Giants were never behind...




While fans of the Washington team will say all kinds of negative crap (deservedly) about Snyder, it doesn't stop them from filling the seats every home game.

Comment by Mondobubba on 12/30/2013 17:23:27
Hey what do I know. I am still grieving over the fact that Liverpool went to 1st to 5th in the space of 3 days.

Comment by BobR on 12/30/2013 17:29:01
Quote by Raine:
The weather was truly craptastic yesterday. Raine, Snow Ice and rain -- cold cold rain. miserable stuff.

Snow would have been better.

umm... wut?

Comment by BobR on 12/30/2013 17:29:42
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
The weather was truly craptastic yesterday. Raine, Snow Ice and rain -- cold cold rain. miserable stuff.

Snow would have been better.

You got snow and ice? All we got was rain - everything our way is soaked, all the lakes, creeks and ponds were up significantly

No - NYC (where the game was being played) got snow and ice

Comment by Raine on 12/30/2013 17:31:34
Is it pathetic that I am s excited for Krista's (the niece) arrival this evening? She's now waiting for her bus to show up on 34th and 8th avenue.

Comment by Raine on 12/30/2013 17:33:41
Quote by Raine:
Quote by BobR:
Quote by Raine:
The weather was truly craptastic yesterday. Raine, Snow Ice and rain -- cold cold rain. miserable stuff.

Snow would have been better.

umm... wut?


The game yesterday... in New Jersey...
and I meant rain. double rainbow

Comment by wickedpam on 12/30/2013 17:48:59
Quote by Raine:
Is it pathetic that I am s excited for Krista's (the niece) arrival this evening? She's now waiting for her bus to show up on 34th and 8th avenue.


No. Its your duty as an Aunt to be excited

Comment by Mondobubba on 12/30/2013 17:50:03
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by BobR:
Quote by Raine:
The weather was truly craptastic yesterday. Raine, Snow Ice and rain -- cold cold rain. miserable stuff.

Snow would have been better.

umm... wut?


The game yesterday... in New Jersey...
and I meant rain. double rainbow



I was letting that grammar mistake slide. Thank, Obama!

Comment by Raine on 12/30/2013 18:00:53
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by BobR:
Quote by Raine:
The weather was truly craptastic yesterday. Raine, Snow Ice and rain -- cold cold rain. miserable stuff.

Snow would have been better.

umm... wut?


The game yesterday... in New Jersey...
and I meant rain. double rainbow



I was letting that grammar mistake slide. Thank, Thanks, Obama!
fixed.




Comment by Raine on 12/30/2013 18:01:19


Comment by Mondobubba on 12/30/2013 18:04:45
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by BobR:
Quote by Raine:
The weather was truly craptastic yesterday. Raine, Snow Ice and rain -- cold cold rain. miserable stuff.

Snow would have been better.

umm... wut?


The game yesterday... in New Jersey...
and I meant rain. double rainbow



I was letting that grammar mistake slide. Thank, Thanks, Obama!
fixed.





We are helpers!

Comment by Scoopster on 12/30/2013 18:37:44
As if there weren't many other reasons never to buy anything from this place..

You guys that aren't in the New England area are lucky you haven't had to deal with all the annoying commercials they have!

Comment by Raine on 12/30/2013 19:00:24
Quote by Scoopster:
As if there weren't many other reasons never to buy anything from this place..

You guys that aren't in the New England area are lucky you haven't had to deal with all the annoying commercials they have!


Oh we get those commercials. That guy bob is freaky:
His sneakers and phone on his belt....

Comment by livingonli on 12/30/2013 19:01:14
Good day, folks. Those Bob Discount Furniture ads running during our Giants shows on MSG. So, we in New York aren't free of them. Loved the breakdown of the Heart song, although in the comment section it was suggested that maybe it was a no-strings romp with an ex-boyfriend and that knowing the husband couldn't father kids sought an alternate means with which to have children.

Comment by clintster on 12/30/2013 19:06:12
Meanwhile in Georgia...

According to police reports, Carolyn Unfricht and Daniel Camarda were inside a Cartersville hotel arguing about the Bible and specifically the Ten Commandments

Unfricht told police things got heated when she hit him across the face with her Bible. Camarda retaliated by throwing her across the room.

Both are now facing battery charges and not surprisingly, the police report states they were “highly intoxicated” at the time of the arrest.


Comment by Raine on 12/30/2013 19:16:02
Quote by clintster:
Meanwhile in Georgia...

According to police reports, Carolyn Unfricht and Daniel Camarda were inside a Cartersville hotel arguing about the Bible and specifically the Ten Commandments

Unfricht told police things got heated when she hit him across the face with her Bible. Camarda retaliated by throwing her across the room.

Both are now facing battery charges and not surprisingly, the police report states they were “highly intoxicated” at the time of the arrest.
Do I have permission to laugh at this?

cause... BWAHAHA... schadenfreude!

Comment by Mondobubba on 12/30/2013 19:16:38
Quote by Scoopster:
As if there weren't many other reasons never to buy anything from this place..

You guys that aren't in the New England area are lucky you haven't had to deal with all the annoying commercials they have!



You know they really need to rethink that name. It is a homonym of a Batman villain!

Comment by wickedpam on 12/30/2013 19:19:18
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Scoopster:
As if there weren't many other reasons never to buy anything from this place..

You guys that aren't in the New England area are lucky you haven't had to deal with all the annoying commercials they have!


Oh we get those commercials. That guy bob is freaky:
His sneakers and phone on his belt....


Mondo do you remember the annoying furniture store ads here with the redheaded Sandy Duncan wannabe?


Comment by Mondobubba on 12/30/2013 19:35:40
Quote by clintster:
Meanwhile in Georgia...

According to police reports, Carolyn Unfricht and Daniel Camarda were inside a Cartersville hotel arguing about the Bible and specifically the Ten Commandments

Unfricht told police things got heated when she hit him across the face with her Bible. Camarda retaliated by throwing her across the room.

Both are now facing battery charges and not surprisingly, the police report states they were “highly intoxicated” at the time of the arrest.


He made @Georgia Man. This is kin to @Florida Man.

Comment by Raine on 12/30/2013 19:55:52
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by clintster:
Meanwhile in Georgia...

According to police reports, Carolyn Unfricht and Daniel Camarda were inside a Cartersville hotel arguing about the Bible and specifically the Ten Commandments

Unfricht told police things got heated when she hit him across the face with her Bible. Camarda retaliated by throwing her across the room.

Both are now facing battery charges and not surprisingly, the police report states they were “highly intoxicated” at the time of the arrest.


He made @Georgia Man. This is kin to @Florida Man.
I got out. good googlymoogly I got out!