Time to launch that Monkey McCain into outerspace...so he can mind his own McMonkey business there, and the nation's serious business can go forward.

Some levity on a Friday afternoon(for all you east coasters!) is extremely good for the soul after another politics filled week in America! I'm telling you, SNL is going to be a gut buster! Andy, you rocked it!

It's only 11:30a here in beautiful Alaska, but I say bring on the cocktails!

Pigotry … and with apologies to the bard…

All the world is a stage, but some of the actors are … hams. :-)

hey, cat, I don't fight with someone with 9 lives.

But you changed again ... more mutations?

Go Tigers.

BCWC is always filled with surprise, one of the few avatars I look for everyday to see the uniqueness! That poor pussy looks like she's had a rough week!

Dangerfield...

Reason #1,278 why I love living in Florida. Spring Training!!!!

I don't live too far from the Cardinals and Marlins facilities.

I hear ya, Dangerfield. Would like to make a quick trip over to Glendale, Arizona to take a peek at the 2013 World Series champs, but don't think it'll fit into my schedule.

Go Dodgers!!

It's next year again - GO CUBS!!!! :-)

Go, Mariners! (Not my fave, but they are the closest we've got for a baseball team!)

Go Dodgers!!

Go Expos! oh, sigh ... @!$%#it!

Heard this yesterday on NPR and thought of you "Florida Men."

Enjoy a little read with your Friday afternoon cocktail . .

http://www.npr.org/2013/02/14/172034470/florida-man-on-twitter-collects-real-headlines-about-worlds-worst-superhero

Hey, SeekingSanity (#1.9)

It's next year again - GO CUBS!!!! :-)

Anyone can have a bad century...

sorry..no offense... Go Cubs, I guess.

Pigotry - and I'm not even FROM here originally! But it's gonna be THIS year! Wait and see!!!!!

Tigers V. Cubs. That would be ok with me S.S.

The teams I'm rooting for this year are:

Orioles, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Rays, Tigers, White Sox, Royals, Indians, Twins, A's, Angels, Rangers, Mariners, Nationals, Braves, Mets, Marlins, Reds, Cardinals, Brewers, Pirates, Cubs, Astros, Dodgers, Giants, Diamondbacks, Padres, and Rockies.

Hmmmmm...who is missing from that list *cough* Yankees *cough*.

;-)

Johntho - works for me!!

Nice to see comments that bring folks together for a change, no?...

Frank-

I am a "cough, cough" (muffled) Mets fan...and I hear there will be a lot of great seats available this year...

Alaska Girl-

Ever heard of the "Goldpanners"?

http://www.goldpanners.com/

Many great major leaguers (Tom Seaver, fr one!) played for them...

Grimey: I am sure it was just an accident, but you forgot the Phillies.

The Detroit Tigers. This is the year! Justin Verlander heads the best rotation in MLB. Oh, and they can hit too! Only questions are the closer and can they stay healthy. I guess every team worries about that.

Seeking Sanity an I have it all planed out tonybeeerm, its Tigers and Cubs next Oct. I live in the middle so I can put up a lemonade stand along I-94. Maybe sell a few boxes of cereal, some milk from a local farmer, and stuff. I got to tell you, I lean a little left in this too. Facing south Detroit is on my left. It would be great for both cities.

The new format seems to ignore progress - you know, no more of that 'friending'. And as for needing to join a 'nation', that amounts to do nothing more than widen the 'divisive' gap that is stifling much needed dialog, compromise, and progress today.

That being said, we must all look in the mirror to see if we have not brought this upon us ourselves. You know, I have met the enemy and it is us. Seems most of us have stooped to name-calling and nasties for which we would put our own kids in timeout. Kudos to those who had the wisdom and restraint to keep from stooping to the level of their attacker. It's hard to set the example.

It may be that monitoring the name-calling and nasties just were too big for the FR budget to handle and we are left with being victims of our own demise. The question is, will we police ourselves, show restraint, and turn the other cheek?

Let's not just hope so, let's change and make it happen.

Amy, I agree with you that Andy's stuff was funny! I couldn't hear him all that well, but then again that may have been the point?

Cheers to Andy! I figured a bucket of water was next, not a banana; nicely done.

Memo to MTP, Dear David Gregory:

Can't you find any other republican besides McCain to come on the show? What is this, about the 100th time. I wouldn't complain except you'll give him a free pass, allow him to show further disrespect Chuck Hagel, show the rest of the world how to diss the next Defense Secretary all while claiming it isn't personal--except it is.

Cotton mouth Rubio! He won't be able to shake that you know. He already has a history of stretching truths, both personal and professional. So Cotton Mouth Rubio is doomed. I bet all Republicans, with any kind of future in politics, will decline to give the rebuttal to SOTU in years to come.

Layton, good point, I had trouble hearing Rubio the other night.

Well, between cotton mouth and water garble, I can understand that!

I was moved when I saw the pic of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain as your avatar...

One of my heroes...

aww...Dangerfield, thanks for noticing!
They don't make heroes like ole Josh anymore, at least not many!

Most people don't know how his valor and intelligence helped save the Union. Makes you proud to be from Maine!

I am a Civil War buff and he is my unabashed 19th century man crush...;-)

Amy: Hero at Gettysburg, great avatar.

Jody: Always a pleasure to read your weekly review, as are many of the others.

Perhaps this little concoction will give them the 'kick' they need.

HOT MOMMA

2 oz ChocoVine
1 oz Vodka
1 bar-spoon red hot New Mexican red chili

Combine ingredients in a mixing glass. Add ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with dustings of powdered cinnamon.

meteor? doh!

.

this forecast is for Russia - many were already hurt in the first shower.

prayers to our Russian brothers and sisters

and what about the Clingons and Willnots that populate assteroids?

assteroids?

I didn't know they have rear ends? Well, then, these assteroids are bad-assed (hurting aliens, I mean, Russians). Thanks for your informative post!

In other words Newsvine, Progressives are okay with progress as long as it doesn't change the things that they are comfortable with. The Premier of the FR regime has spoken.

How's that for hypocrisy?

Privacy? No such thing anymore, I don’t think I need to remind anyone how much we valued our
solitude.

Because Fisty used to be able to not make her past comments visible and trackable and therefore could never be proven to have said anything derogatory. Well except for that one time or two she got a time out.

My 5 year anniversary on First Read is next month, I can
assure you as loyal FR user, if the format is changed, I will delete my
account.

____________________________________

Memo to Newsvine: Please, please implement this upgrade ASAP!!!!!!!

Talk...about hypocrisy... McConnell and Bohner have heavier hypocrisy than a hippo.

PS: Mark & Domenico - As always, thank you for the hard work you put into making First Read the best political blog on the web!

I also appreciate your willingness to listen to the members here, it's one of the things that sets you apart from the rest...

Have a great weekend! ☺

Miss Feisty . . .

A well designed web site shouldn’t have to be learned…

I'd like to add a second to your entire post above and totally agree that an upgrade to an existing page should not have to come with a 5 lb instruction manual to navigate. I used to enjoy seeding articles, note who was trending, followed some of my personal NV poster's stories, as well as some that routinely posted some of the most bat crap crazy stuff on the web. Now, it takes too long to find it, I'm not part of the "nation" they are posting to, can't comment, etc.

It feels as if the community aspect of NV has been deleted.

Oh, and I'll join you in that Valentine's special drink ... but let's not play the corresponding song just yet . . . . . might need a few more cocktails ;-)

Talk, change for the good is great, change for the bad is republican.

In Michigan it is suppose to get real cold tonight, I think I'll stick to a good ol' glass of Kentucky sipping whisky warmed. Maybe I can get on the good side of Rick, KY.,

Wow if I didn't know better, that sounded like Fisty was lobbying (sucking up) with Mark and Domenico to push her agenda and face NV head on cause that is the way it should be. LMAO.

In light of recent happenings on planet Earth, I think I’ll pop in the movie Armageddon tonight. In the words of Areosmith. - I don’t want to miss a thing... That’s from their song Armageddon.

Sometimes reality has a way of sobering one up so in that vein I’ll have cold beer or three too. Cheers everyone and remember it could have been much worse!!

To our terrific hosts - Many thanks for all your hard work each and every week. Can you keep an eye on developments in the Senate Banking Committee with Senator Elizabeth Warren’s presence I have a feeling things are going to change for the better? I don’t want to miss a thing!

Feisty -- Strawberry Fields forever! Cheers my friend!

Have a wonderful weekend one and all. Time to drink up!

My two cents on the new and improved newsvine - it sucks. For another penny, I'll give you another thought. All kidding aside, the message from Sheriff Tyler over at the Newsvine Corral is if ya don't like, leave. Well, I don't see many viners that like it, and I'm guessing they are leaving in droves. Look at the old tree house over on the former Newsvine for liberals. The site used to have anywhere between 10 and 40 postings per day, 7 days a week. Upon the introduction of Nations, a new National tree house was built (the old one was burned down to the ground). Since conversion, there are fewer than 15 comments and 4 seeded links. Something tells me the members of that Nation find it simply to awkward. I know I do!!

Now we are being told that NBC and First Read will become a Nation (or something like it). Does this mean we will need to post in the trough, in the Other Nations section, or in the First Read Nation section. Imagine trying to follow a thread where the post could be under any of those three categories. Nah, I'll pass. I prefer ease of use to utter chaos.

And finally, as to the daily game of Whack-A-Troll. Since conversion, there sure seem to be a lot of re-regs out there, and moderation seems to have completely stopped. So much for those added 'tools'.

In honor of the new and improved Vine and the Monkey placed on everyone's back, I offer this De-Vine specialty:

MONKEY’S TAIL

1 oz ChocoVine
1 oz Banana Puree
1 oz Gold Rum

Combine ingredients in a mixing glass. Add ice and shake vigorously. Strain into an ice-filled double rocks glass. Serve with a stick of cinnamon.

I think First Read is just fine the way it is and I also hope that they do not adopt the Newsvine format. Yucky!

Okay, fellow Libtards, I say we get this party started!

I see Joe/Albany stopped by for a libation. Bar tender, please order one of these up for both Joe and Talk.

http://popartdiva.com/The%20Martini%20Diva/Martini%20Recipe%20Pages/Jackass,%20The%20Martini.html

And Mark and Domenico, I too, being of the conservative persuasion, thank you for bringing the stories that prompt what is supposed to be an intelligent conversation.

That being said, I apologize for BOTH sides for being crass, indignant, and down right insulting at times. It does your efforts no good for either side to resort to name calling, heritage questioning, and down right filthy intercourse between those with opposing views. I fall victim to this (when antagonized to do so by trying to have a conversation and bring my views to the discussion) but coming in have no need to do it.

To my fellow FR posters, hey, you keep it civil and I will too. I just cannot stand by and let arrogance, narcissism, and downright disrespect go unchallenged.

See my posts above for falling into the trap for the aforementioned reasons.

Have a good weekend all.

Damn RedDevPS, there for a moment I thought you were going to share a Friday night with those whom you disagree with without the a$$hole (see you made me do it) drink reference.

Correction to my post above. Aerosmith's song is titled I Don' Want To Miss A Thing and it's from their Album Armageddon.

I haven't even had a drink yet! LOL

Newsvine Issues, broken promises:
1-In general, most of the more popular functions of the last version of Newsvine software (Rev. 2) have been removed.
2-No longer have the pleasure of tracking "friends" because Newsvine no longer allows members to have friends
3-Newsvine promised when they upgraded to Rev. 3 software (New Newsvine) the ability to collapse comments would be removed (a big problem with NBC articles) – but it is not the actual collapse will not occur (be visible) on most devices however their "fix" does not allow the Conversation Tracker to function properly.
4-They also promised they would restore "Deleted" comments quickly but again they have done nothing. If a comment is intentionally deleted by members flagging it as "advertising" someone must contact Newsvine moderators and request the comment to be reviewed / restored.
5-The number of comments to articles has declined and it appears that even the number of Member generated original and seeded articles has also dropped. The format is not conducive to seeking out reading material.

Bar tender, please order one of these up for both Joe and Talk.

Red,

Make the Albanian Idiot' a double... it's the perfect combo for him! LMFAO!

They also promised they would restore "Deleted" comments quickly

Dennis - it only took them 24 hours earlier this week to restore my comment taken down by a pack of troll. This is considered progress? lol

Best of luck to you all with the NV issues. Here's hoping you reach someone's ears and attempts are made to make the place more friendly to those who have been participants for several years now.

Feisty - I'll have a Strawberry Fields AND a MONKEY'S TAIL - or a STRAWBERRY MONKEY'S TAIL! Been a crazed week!

Let the party begin!!!!

Feisty, thanks for saying it.

My added thoughts are that I am not against change as long as change provides improvement. I welcomed First Read's change from the old to the current system. It took a few days to adapt but it was change worthwhile. I liked being able to reply directly to a post; I liked being able to post immediately and on weekends; being able to vote, flag or ignore.

I enjoy First Read because all commenters are welcome--right, left, center. We enjoy the banter even when we are frustrated by some of it. I may get annoyed by conservative posts just as they get annoyed at mine but it would be no fun if our rights and lefts became gated communities. While I may disagree with TalktotheHand or Albany Joe or Alan NJ or the other conservatives, they are part of the First Read family as much as I am.

The front page of NV is now a hodge-podge mess, not the least pleasing to the eye nor am I inclined to wander back/forth, up/down, side to side through the maze of HUGE posted headlines to find something of interest.

Even if I find something to read, there is no opportunity to comment on its merits or nonmerits unless I am a member of the Nation of the person posting it; same goes for any article I publish. That's not dialogue, that's preaching to the choir.

The point of political blog discussion such as FR is for everyone to read the articles, post their own First Thoughts of a morning and have the opportunity to comment. On NV, only like-minded members of a Nation can express their like-minded views. As Feisty said, it's a gated-community, no outsiders or opposition allowed.

While I appreciate that NV wanted to encourage more open discussion, what good is "public" if it is segregated and limited discussion. It is a giant echo chamber for both right and left. It further divides us.

Now, let's head over to the DDI. I'll have one of those Strawberry Fields...think Spring.

Thanks to our excellent First Read hosts who post the political news and then provide us with a place to stand and speak about it. You are the best--this is THE place for politics!

Have a great weekend friends and friendly-foes. Time to toast another great week and toast many more to come!

Feisty,

To understand where these “creators” of the New Newsvine come from all you have to do is look at how they claim that they attract the brightest writers around yet none of their members are bright enough to offer useable contributions to the new system functionality, usability and likeability.

My added thoughts are that I am not against change as long as change provides improvement. I welcomed First Read's change from the old to the current system

Thanks Jody!

I remember it feeling like an adventure where we were all excited learning the new features and taking them for a test drive.

That was an improvement...

As RedDev said, we didn't need a 5# instruction manual, bottle of Advil and the patience of a Saint to adapt!

What Newsvine did is a depreciation...

yet none of their members are bright enough to offer useable contributions to the new system functionality, usability and likeability

Excellent point Dennis!

If nothing else, after a week (with the exception of the handful of cheerleaders) the frustration is mounting over there and Tyler & Sally appear to have gone MIA?

Have you seen them? I haven't - they are managing to ban 2 or 3 re-regs though... lol

"attempts are made to make the place more friendly to those who have been participants for several years now."

Can it get any friendlier to the gaggle of Far Left zealots? Can it get any unfriendlier for conservatives or Republicans?

First Read and MSNBC has degenerated to a progressive propaganda network, with a cheerleading squad of smear merchants...

As I told you all months, weeks, and days ago, Tyler and Sally are kind of hands off here. They police the US Politics, and other branches of NBC as I think back when there were a lot of collapses and deletes, they decided on FR to say, "leave them be". Thus, they only reason you or anyone else will get a time out is if you do it on one of those other "branches". I think FR is off limits.

Fisty, I believe you yourself got the time outs you have on the other branches for your comments. Am I wrong?

Didn't think so.

And Dennis, don't get me started on the broken promises thing. This is a private (sort of) entity who can do whatever the he!! they want. The president and his, well I refuse to get into that one. Deal with it or go. I don't think you or your "Fisty Followers" will find a more forgiving site for your comments.

Talkto, why did you so quickly jump the shark and attack Feisty for speaking her concerns about what could happen to this site? If you had realized what her goal was, along with the rest of our concerns, my guess is you'd be adding yours to it instead of whining that it is liberals wanting their way. That's not true; I want this site to remain open to all sides without Nations and clubs being a pre-requisite for commenting.

Talkto, why did you so quickly jump the shark and attack Feisty for speaking her concerns about what could happen to this site

It's all Talky-Boy knows, Jody!

Which is why he earned a coveted spot on my ignore list, I already have plenty of hypocritical, re-reg, ankle humpers, I don't need another two bit amateur!

Jody, why is it a pre-requisite? I don't belong to any club or nation and I can still post. As can you. I don't understand your point and would really like to. Seriously.

And as far as I can see, she has no goal. Just wants it to stay the same and status quo. What could happen? It is going to change. What happens if you go into a restaurant and they have changed the menu and you don't like it. You don't have to go there anymore. It is more of a control thing I fear for her and although she is fun to laugh at at time, take seriously others, she has the right to go. She isn't the moderator, creator, of webmaster of the site. She needs to adapt. Hell if I didn't like it, I'd leave. NBFD.

And tell the dyed redhead I couldn't care less if she has me on ignore.

GOP Comeback, well then, I guess you miss the mornings and afternoons when there are far more conservatives posting. It isn't liberals fault if a lot of conservatives got mad on Nov 6 and haven't been seen since. But, even now, there are some articles when you'd swear this was FOX's web site. It depends on the article, anything about Benghazi, abortion, guns, the NRA etc and the place swarms with conservatives offering their opinions. You should come more often.

It isn't liberals fault if a lot of conservatives got mad on Nov 6 and haven't been seen since

GOP being one of them who disappeared after the election only to resurrect under a new name now!

Like many, many, others who lurk around here...

Comeback,

Somehow you have concluded that this is about First Read when this is about Newsvine.

The point most of us are making is that if you lean Right or Left, Newsvine is less user friendly than it was before they released the New Newsvine. It has removed well liked options and features.

Talk,

I have reported here on First Read well over 2 years ago and many times since what the agreement is between Newsvine and First Read so don't even act like you broke the news.

Also this discussion is not about politics but how our host (Newsvine) is performing and serving its members.

Hey now...some of us never left!! ;-)

And Feisty...trying to remember if I was here before or after you, but I think it's been close to 5 years. Or maybe I'm not remembering it right. Meh...bring on Happy Hour! :-)

And where in the hell did I jump the shark in #5.22?

Talkto, because that is what is being considered. NV is trying to sell MSNBC/NBC the same system they have implemented on NV. Now do you get my point and the points the rest of us are making? We don't want FR to become like NV. BTW, in #5.12 you requested civility, apologized for the "crass" from both sides yet throughout this thread and pretty much everytime you're here, you direct your comments "Fisty". DENNIS already addressed your reference to the rules here. Oddly enough, I recall a lot of conservatives complaining about the Collapse/Delete-a-thons; some even accused liberals of collapsing our own posts--now that was funny.

Grimey, true, you haven't left.

Hi Frank,

I joined about 2 years before First Read contracted the moderation to Newsvine.

And Feisty...trying to remember if I was here before or after you,

Grimey,

I'm shocked you don't remember our history. SHEESH!

I was here first, don't you remember the contentious welcome I gave you? lol

Then we "kissed & made up" when your kids were going trick & treating on Halloween...

*cheers my friend*

Talkto, you jumped the shark in #5.7; #5.12 you demanded civility, apologized for "crass" from both sides and proceeded to be "crass"; #5.30, all civility ceased! Have a good weekend. We may disagree 98% of the time but you're part of the FR family, too.

My 5th FR anniversary will be in Nov this year but I was a long-time reader before that; just couldn't post from work.

Jody,

Dennis knows squat. It has been less than a year since they stopped the practice of collapsing and deleting willy nilly based on votes. He may have addressed it, all I did was point out the fact that they stopped.

As for the Fisty reference, as I have posted several times, I respond and comment to and about others in the way they respond to and about others and her constant bullying and proclamation (through her comments) that she alone is the queen and only voice of FR is repulsive.

Sorry, just the way I see it.

And thanks. I really do enjoy it here. Whether anyone agrees with me or not. I do feel sometimes I do have a positive input to the conversation as do you (many more times than I).

OK Talk and Jody...showing my age again but I had to look up the origin of jump the shark. Wow. LOL.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4ZGKI8vpcg

Feisty...

LOL...I remember!! That was back in the days where if you weren't among like the first 50 comments you weren't getting posted.

Talk,

Try to keep up … I wasn’t talking about the collapsing that sort of ended last summer I was talking about the agreement between FR and NV on moderating their articles … that they don’t remove some comments or that Tyler and Sally do not comment on FR.

Sorry Dennis, misunderstood.

Early on, wasn't this thing part of Olberman's 'Countdown'? Didn't we post on that, before it went to 'First Read?

Dear First Read hosts:

Newsvine really is a mess right now, one cannot have a coherent conversation. If you use their new program on FR, everyone will be herded into nations, the nations will respond to post, and you have to click through each one to see what was said. There is a way to make a public post, but not worth the time it takes to wait for it to load.

My own belief is that it is their site, and they can do what they want, but people are leaving in droves, and one has to wonder how First Read would look if Nations became the preeminent way to post.

To our right wing friends: Don't make this an issue of progressives v conservatives, this is truly an issue of convenience, the ability to have a conversation, and whether interest will die on FR if this change is implemented.

I, too, will leave. I don't have enough hours in the day to wait for these pages to load, and since I do have a life away from FR, I will see it as a time to move on.

It is just tedious beyond words.

Frank,

I remember that. They did their own moderating so they had to cut it off when they needed to work on other articles or when they had other work to do.

Many times I would post something not knowing if it would ever show up. At time it would finally show up 2 hours later

Early on, wasn't this thing part of Olberman's 'Countdown'? Didn't we post on that, before it went to 'First Read?

Buzz,

I think you're thinking of the old "NewsHole", I know Pat & Anna Molly were active over there but it was before my time...

Dennis: Newsvine also refuses to address their re reg problem.

My belief is that this change was made because it is more cost effective (read that: cheaper) for Newsvine. Fine. Again their site, their right.

You have to wonder how that plays out as people become disenchanted. I am sure they are hoping that there is enough new posters that overall they will have a positive result.

I guess it remains to be seen.

Grimey, and you had to sign add your name and email to every post; now, we sign in and we're good to go for the day! As for Talk, he leaped to a conclusion without understanding the point of the post; seemed like jumping the shark to me.

I will say I remember writing a comment addressing NoJoe's condescending, nasty attack on someone that I was glad never made it to the board. I felt bad about that thing the rest of the evening and was relieved to see that Saturday, it never appeared. Now, I try my best not to be purposely hurtful regardless; I slip up now and then despite the best intentions.

Talk,

Actually the collapse function is not truly gone. If you visit using a cell phone you will find collapsed comments. They have mostly disabled the actual collapse but if you use the Conversation Tracker it will skip over collapsed comments. For instance if #1 is collapsed the Tracker will skip to the next new comment (#2 or lower) and if you scroll back up to #1 you will find new comments.

I will see it as a time to move on.

Same here NDD!

It would be an ever sadder day then the day we had to burn down the tree house, but alas, time goes on...

To our right wing friends: Don't make this an issue of progressives v conservatives

Typical of not being able to see the forest through the trees...

The ironic thing is, over on the vine liberals & conservatives are in 100% agreement on how much the new vine SUCKS! lol

Guess there are things we can all agree upon.

It is sad. I have enjoyed my time here, my friends, and a lot of those who post conservative thought.

I hate to think of it ending, but honestly...I do have other things to do.

Talkto, thanks.

I think we just have to wait and see what happens. Guess I'm an optimist because I can't imagine FR or NBC Politcs deciding to be like NV but just in case they were thinking about it, we were right to express our opinions and concerns.

Well I have been around since 2007 - although I had 3 jobs at the time and was not able to post very often - I also posted under a different name. Now I am still no longer able to post very often because of my one remaining job - just too darn busy. There is a huge difference in the tone of posts back in 2007 in comparison to now. Now - most of you are just into name calling and really not commenting too much on your opinion of the news. Frankly I think it is because you all just do not have an opinion!

So after saying that - I like FR the way it is - just wish it was really a good give and take on opinions instead of the sophomoric name calling.

I'll see you all at DDI and put on the juke box Patsy Cline "Crazy". Make a me a mean margarita - frozen with salt on the glass and a slice of lime. Thank you very much. I believe I really am desperate right now for an alcoholic beverage! Oh boy that margarita sure sounds good!

For those of you interested in what is going on with Newsvine: there is an excellent seed, called SAying Goodbye, written by Pavillion. He spells out the problems very clearly. It is on Newsvine's front page.

But good luck finding it. If you want to read it go there now.

I think we just have to wait and see what happens

Oh, I agree Jody!

What ever will be will be...

I just wanted to give my feedback to our hosts, I know they have appreciated it in the past.

newday,

[You have to wonder how that plays out as people become disenchanted. I am sure they are hoping that there is enough new posters that overall they will have a positive result.]

It will be interesting to see how much Sally likes the changes when she gets the ax – not enough traffic to justify 2 moderators.

Then poor old Tyler will have to actually put in more real effort rather than seeding all the articles that he currently has so much time to publish.

>>> I believe that, that article has been deleted by Newsvine

"What ever will be will be..."

Dorris Day...."Que serra serra...."

HELP! Somebody STOP ME!!

I agree with you Dennis. I think the whole goal is to reduce the staff and cost.

Jaysus, I just SAW that article. It's down already? Pity, Pavillion spelled it out rather well. Wish he would place that here.

I believe that, that article has been deleted by Newsvine

After 15 minutes of scrolling & searching I managed to find it!

What do I win? LOL

http://1stcontact.newsvine.com/_news/2013/02/15/16975744-saying-good-bye

newday,

Correction – The article was deleted by the author but the author had a different name

It may still be up but I can't find it … was going to post a link

Good on you Feisty !!!!! = >> Thanks

Good for you, Feisty.

Please, all of you who do not use Newsvine and are unfamiliar with it, Mark and Domenico, if you get time....

please read it!

Talk to the Hand

"Wow if I didn't know better, that sounded like Fisty was lobbying (sucking up) with Mark and Domenico to push her agenda and face NV head on cause that is the way it should be. LMAO."

Wow... And if I didn't know better, this sounds like sock-puppet sniping from the sidelines because everything feisty said went right over his head again...

Oh no... Don't tell me I'm gonna have to move on to a new snarkeological dig site!!!

Nope. Just the old gal wanting things her way because minions like you follow her lead. I remember when Feisty (note the new respect and spelling it right) had her time out. Many of you still commented but actually said what was on your minds without the vitriol (to an extent) that you seem to have with her reinforcement. I give you Seeking Sanity and her quest to be number one condescention queen:

mcpaddy
- as I always say, seeking sanity in the Republican party but as lowlife morons
like you show daily, there is none to be found. YOU voted for McCain/Palin and
Romney/Lyin Ryan. You don't have the brains of a rock!And the ass here is
clearly YOU!

johninpa
- the loser here is you and those like you who don't have a clue but want so
badly to pontificate on what you DON'T know! And, frankly, you've shown you know
absolutely NOTHING!

mcpaddy-
every time you post you show you are low life, crude, and totally ignorant.
Married to your sister I'll bet!

JK1963
- okay idiot because voting doesn't kill anyone - guns do! Athough voting seems
to have killed the two brain cells you at one time possessed!

JK1963
- no it proves your totally incapable of understanding anything. Your post 7.1
proves that! What a total moron you are and you won't even bother to try to
understand anything!

Wow... And if I didn't know better, this sounds like sock-puppet sniping from the sidelines because everything feisty said went right over his head again...

Chick,

Remember, you can't fix stupid! ;o)

It would be refreshing if they cleaned up the dog @!$%# in their own backyards before obsessing over others... lol

Poor things, their persecution complex grows tiresome!

No problem with First Read but if I had Newsvine in one hand and a @!$%# sandwich in the other hand I couldn't tell the difference. At least 'Strawberry Fields' would give me something to wash it down with. Thanks Feisty.

Talk: I just got done complimenting you on another thread about your genial good humor recently.

Which is it, you want to improve the conversation on FR, or you want to continue the war?

MikeBravo, Collie or Sheltie, hard to tell from the photo. Love collies, and that is a pic of mine.

Talk, if you don't like someone's posts ignore them. Apathy can be a bitch as punishment.

Thanks Feisty.

You're welcome, Mike, anytime!

Talk, if you don't like someone's posts ignore them

BCWC,

Then what would they have to squeal about?

The bottom line is these cyber-bullies can't stand it when someone hits them back...

As demonstrated by their incessant whining! The pity parties table is now ready and waiting.

Feisty ... I'm just glad your leg humpers are laying low tonight. Sometimes they flock in a circle and other than your thigh, it is not a pretty image.

Feisty ... I'm just glad your leg humpers are laying low tonight.

BCWC,

I would like one of them to explain with a straight face how out of one side of their BIG mouths they claim I am irrelevant and no one pays attention to what I say, while out of the other, their personal attacks are unrelenting? lmao

If what I have to say has no meaning, why do they waste their time?

Love me or hate me, one thing you can say is at least I am consistent! Unlike these idiots!

Too f*cking funny for words! lmao

Jesus Christ there Cat!

Talk about Leg Humpin'!

How can you breathe with your nose that far up her rear?

Still embarrassing yourself publicly, WCA? Did you have anything to say that was germane, and not another rant about your bitter jealousy of Feisty?

How can you breathe with your nose that far up her rear?

WHOO HOOO - my #1 ankle humper chimes in!

How sad is it that on a Friday night, you're trolling a chat room rather then spending time with your supposed wife and kids?

Then again, if I had you for a father, I wouldn't want to spend a second more with YOU then I had to!

Keep on trolling Twinkle-Toes, you 're some of the best entertainment on the vine...

Now, slip into your infamous "victim" mode which you are legendary for! LMAO@U

No jealousy here NDD, as opposed to your enduring worship.

All I see in this thread is a bunch of whiny b!tches who are upset that they might actually get exposed for the trash that they are. No more hiding their history and telling people to prove crap. Now they'll have to STFU.

No surprise that some people here would be the first to leave. They are the worst offenders.

I think it's hilarious that they think threatening to leave helps their cause. Talk about arrogance!

I don't know about some of you, but I'm not amused at being called someone's(even you dear, dear Feisty One :) ) minion. Talk to the Hand, you can shove your hand up your ass as far as I'm concerned. Friday cocktails on TWA are meant to be laid back fun, and for those of you that can't join in on some cocktail sharing, laughter, movie reminiscing, juke box requests and some easy teasing then I suggest you take your bull @!$%# somewhere else! Myself and others look forward to this part of the day on Fridays. So, unless you are going to put down your shields and join us in a cocktail, go @!$%# with someone who will listen to your crap.

White Collar Auto: @!$%# off.

Bartender, may I have a double Jamison, please?

Double Whiskey, please.

"Love me or hate me, one thing you can say is at least I am consistent! Unlike these idiots!"

I loves y' baby. s'pecially, when y' give me those FREE old maids. (us libbers like free stuff, you know. The wellfare of OUR country means less to us than FREE stuff , y' know. )

Looks like WCA is STILL licking the wounds. Criminny, do the EVER move on?

Fuggin' ding dongs.

How sad is it that on a Friday night, you're trolling a chat room

She said at 7:47 on Friday night.

Just can't resist me can you my little stalker?

I swear, do you even think before you post?

"..All I see in this thread is a bunch of whiny b!tches..."

God, I hate to pull a Pee Wee Herman with an "I know your are, but what am I" right about now, but......It's so EASY!

White Collar Auto: @!$%# off.

Right back at ya AG! Hey lookie there, you to DBO!

This is why I keep coming back, it's thew incredible wit of you Liberals.

Have a great weekend!

'White Collar Auto: @!$%# off."

Yep. What she said.....

You know, WCA: if you EVER had a clue about what we are talking about, you would be downright dangerous.

This is not an issue about FR. It is an issue about what Newsvine has become, and it has very little to do with the privacy issue.

You will be screaming like crazy if Newsvine does to FR what it has done there.

But, as stupid as you are, you go ahead and spin around in the conspiracy and paranoid theories that fill that empty space between your ears.

And the rest of us will try to solve what may become a problem for us all.

Idiot.

"This is why I keep coming back, it's thew incredible wit of you Liberals"

I thought it was thew content of thew conversation. Silly Mew.

She said at 7:47 on Friday night.

Sweet cheeks, if you ever get over your case of ADD, you would know by know I have NO young kids in my home... Your kids on the he other hand have my sympathies for their disconnected dead beat daddy!

Keep attempting to cyber-bully me and I will continue to hand you your remaining "tooth"...

Just can't resist me can you my little stalker?

Says the little man who humps my ankle like a beret wearing monkey riding a bicycle.. LMFAO!

Knowing you will have perpetual heartburn for the next 4 years, gives me all the pleasure I need!

No NDD, I have read the threads on Newsvine. Populated by the folks from FR.

The biggest problem you folks have is exposure. Nearly every one of has cited the infamous "Non-Hacking" of your old treehouse.

Look at the comments above. It was the worst thing that ever happened to some here.

You, your leader and the rest of the minions here are afraid that you'll be hels accountable and exposued to the nastiness you all spread here on a daily basis.

See, I don't have any concerns about anything I have ever typed here. Unlike some here, I never claimed that "The best part of you ran down your daddy's leg"

Just can't resist me can you Old Gal.

Keep 'em coming.

Near as I can tell you started aroun 9 am this morning and have been here all day and your still typing away.

Talk about pathetic.

Hey DBO, keep pointing out the typo's. I'll keep you busy with that cuz as I have said here before, my typin suks.

Putting words in my mouth WCA? Don't do that, you aren't bright enough.

No. You have no understanding of the issue, and I won't try to expound on it further.

But do enjoy yourself if it comes to FR. You won't know how to post.

Near as I can tell you started aroun 9 am this morning and have been here all day and your still typing away.

So says the liar in chief who claimed only earlier this week, it doesn't spend much time here anymore! LMFAO

Talk about pathetic.

Sorry little man the only thing pathetic around here is YOU beating off in for all to see...

Like I said, we understand the reason the Mrs. and kids want to keep a BIG distance from you!! No one can blame them! ;o)

I told you yesterday, put your little lipstick back in it's case and quit staining my socks YOU freak!

look on the bright side WCA, at least some part of you slid up mommy's leg.

WCA, at least some part of you slid up mommy's leg

Until she gragged the toilet paper...

Feisty: I think my favorite part of WCA's paranoid rant was the part where he says we are afraid we will be held accountable...

It is INCREDIBLE to me that someone who posts the vitriol that he does has the nerve to say that.

He DOES know that this is a blog, doesn't he, that it doesn't hold state secrets, that the world will not crumble based on a post?

Or maybe he doesn't.

In any event, he has skulked away. And I have other things to attend to. Later!

gragged ... is that grabbed or gargled?

I'm going with his mama gargled.

HA!

Please NDD, find any vitriol I have posted.

Other than responses to the Old Gal, using her own words, I can't match you or your gang in any way shape or form.

But, by all means, find the proof.

Trust me, I know exactly what will happen now.

find any vitriol I have posted.

How can you breathe with your nose that far up her rear?

WCA ...give me a chance to catch my breath.

note, humor ... try it.

Post 5.72 to me, WCA.

And guess what? NOT ONE of us referred to the old LIb site. Massive statement of your ignorance of the issue as usual.

Now. Here is your M.O. You have challenged me to prove that you post vicious things. I did. You will now come back with how I misunderstood poor little you, and how gosh darn everyone is SO mean to you, and you such a decent fellow.

Now that I have written the bull@!$%# for you, you don't have to.

Just be happy in your victim hood, the hallmark of the right wing.

". and exposued to the nastiness you all spread here on a daily basis.."

He said, as he used a French darkroom term, and at the same time 'spread nastiness' on the thread....

Fish in a barrel, I tells ya. Fish in a barrel.

And just think. He (she??) votes.

gragged ... is that grabbed or gargled?

BCWC,

Good catch, I have had problems all week trying to copy and post!

Trust me, I know exactly what will happen now.

So do we, this is when you fall on your knees in a quivering pile of J-E-L-L-O and continue on with your persecution complex....

If I wasn't yawning at your pathetic ass i would be LMAO@U!

Please NDD, find any vitriol I have posted.

JAYSUS pal... Are YOU that @!$%#ing dense?

Every comment YOU leave here is nothing but pure vitriol?

Like I said, clutch your victim pearls and try to spend some time with your family, rather than getting YOUR ASS kicked here repeatedly....

"... before, my typin suks.?

I know it does, but what do you?

"look on the bright side WCA, at least some part of you slid up mommy's leg."

Actually, WCA was twins.

But the after-birth lived.

Now, my friends, WCA will soon be back with how wonderful it is, that he, so brilliant and so manipulative that he has upset us all.

Will he be disappointed to find out that he is just the butt of the joke?

"JAYSUS pal... Are YOU that @!$%#ing dense?"

Cripes, "old gal"- y' had to ask??

drive by: there is no one like you! ; )

Got a suggestion here. I really dislike the way the Vine is now structured. It's slow and the "nations" concept really does nothing more than cater to like-minded, or in the case of right-wingers, simple-minded folk. (Snarky, but true.)

First Read, because of its non-exclusivity has, after an appropriate period of wound-licking, been overwhelmed by hard core right-wingers. Typically their posts are snarky, drive-by, one-line BS posts.

Thoughtful posts are few and far between. I can live with "conservative" posts from the likes of Fairfax Bill and Alan, NJ, although I rarely agree with them. I like the posts of Ron, Indiana, Backhouse, Mac Forrester and many other posters I think of as thoughtful. That we disagree is not unhealthy.

After a point the nonsense and deliberate attempts to incite that come from the likes of Caesar Augustus, and Ben-lotsanumbers just get to be too much.

Taken together, the value of Newsvine and FR is a net negative. I don't see myself sticking around too much longer. At this point, I must reveal myself as a virtually perfect computer-illiterate, when I ask: Is it not possible to create our own web site - a stand alone DDI, as it were, where BYOS is the order of the day. (Bring Your Own Seed.) I'd sure like to see some one with considerably more computer expertise than I have - say, perhaps a first-grader - let me know whether that is possible.

Finally, we have earnings. I have earned the magnificent sum of approximately 50-cents a month. Having been here for almost five years, I have more than $25.00 in my account. (Eat you hearts out.) I propose to donate my huge stockpile of cash to Planned Parenthood. Would any lefty-types be interested in sending their earnings as part of a package to PP?

Best to all. And in the spirit of genuine friendship, I propose to spend the rest of the evening trying each and every drink for which a recipe has been provided....starting right now.

Oh wait, I forgot something. I see the every annoying WCA has shown up with his usual, pity-me, I am a victim drivel. Here is the perfect antidote for his cheap whine. Ask him, "WCA, how did those evil union thugs outfox all of your brilliant white shirt and wingtip comrades in the executive suites and boards rooms?" Watch him run, run, run, run away.

Hi, David: and good for you. A libation is what's needed.

I don't disagree with you, I have been posting less.

The viners that have left Newsvine have headed over to Newstalkers, (I think that is the name.) It is a similar site apparently, allows for the seeds and such.

As to starting a DDI? Feisty, where the heck are you? You gonna do something like that sometime?

I don't know the answer, David, but your posts would be missed. I do understand what you mean, I just don't hang around that much any more myself.

My best to you as well.

David, I have a buck and 23 cents you are welcome to.

" drive by: there is no one like you! ; ) "

Thanks so much for the kind words.

You have no idea at all how much I miss this. Been busy, *gasp* working (and God knows- libbies don't work, right?). It is SO easy to shoot these people in their own feet (but you knew that).

Also, humor (in addition to old music at the DDI) is a huge part of my life. The GOP has given me SO much to look forward each and every day. These 'boards' just magify that.

Hey, you- have a great weekend, OK?

Sorry I am late for the DDI and the party.

I like what Alaska girl had earlier. wiskey with a spash !

As to Newvine new format. it is pathetic. Hate all the Nations stuff talking over each other.

Here in First Read we still have the old format, but we do not have conversation tracker any more.

yes, I can see what I posted this am on my NV column.

But returning to First Thought, I cannot see an alert to the new posts.

I have to read through over 300 posts. NO Way,do I have that kind of time.

Lots of serious NV posters have moved on to FreebloggersAlliance.com

Let hope the tracker gets fix here and the new format from NV stays over there.

Good Lord you folks are pathetic. Yeah NDD, so Damn easy to tweak.

Take a look at your gangs responses. Cussing, cursing.

Nah, I don't upset you folks at all.

God forbid someone step on your swacred little Friday thread.

Sorry honey, this ain't your private domain.

NOT ONE of us referred to the old LIb site

Roselle: It would be an ever sadder day then the day we had to burn down the tree house

and why NDD did you have to do that?

For further evidence go here:

http://blog.newsvine.com/_news/2013/01/31/16774337-new-newsvine-has-a-launch-date-february-7th

You people get more pathetic by the day.

One would never know you won the election with all the victim cards you folks play here on a daily basis.

How's that for vitriol?

"... the infamous "Non-Hacking" of your old treehouse." ??

The Tree House? I'm sorry I didn't see this earlier post until just now.

The "Tree House"? Really?

Shi*. I need to hurry to the "DDI" post from earlier, and put up yet another request on the Beat-Box- Jethro Tull- "Livin' in the Past" .

Which, by the way,would fe a GREAT bumper sticker for he GOP next cycle....Hey Karl- y' listening, fat boy?

Hey DBO, Please see my note above.

Tree House was your bosses term, not mine.

How about you DBO? Why don't you think before you post?

"One would never know you won the election with all the victim cards you folks play here on a daily basis.

How's that for vitriol?"

*tee-hee* The @!$%#!ng hosebag STILL doens't get it, does he (she)???

" ....theTree House was your bosses term, not mine."

Anyone of the 'old' posters wanna help me with this dim-wit comment?

Wanna refresh where "(the secret) Tree House" term originated, " Buzz" asked as he remembered his sweat-hog sweetie, JAS ? Feisty? Dennis? Ron? Anyone? Even old guys like 'Navy"? IR?

And of course WCA, the interpretation you give to Feisty's post can be the only one that is the correct one. Could that be the meaning? No. Does it matter? Only to you, in your little paranoid world.

But, my friend drive by is right. Live in the past, WCA, which is all your little tiny brain is capable of.

Now. You go ahead and have the last word, WCA. That is the other thing you live for. That way, you can feel like you won something. The rest of us simply don't care about you.

Drive by, you have a good weekend too!

Exactly what I was talking about earlier. Good nite minions of Feisty. Won't be commenting anytime soon. Just watching and waiting................your time will come when it all falls apart and you will be asking the age old question "WTF happened".

And WCA, Alan, and Albany, keep up the good fight. I for one am tired of trying to open eyes. They have reverse toothpicks that keep them closed rather that open.

Sad state of affairs.

Thanks to all on FR, many of you feel like old friends to me, your kind thoughts and well wishes when I was dealing with cancer have never been forgotten, I have enjoyed my time here for about 3 years I guess. I stumbled across FR while on the road in a boring hotel room and found the back and forth between right and left fun and entertaining, I got hooked and became a fairly regular participant. If it gets as tedious and just becomes an echo chamber for "nations" in agreement then it will take much of the fun away and render the point of political argument moot. I thank all those who have engaged with me in agreement or disagreement, in kinder terms and in harsh terms, if I could dish it out I believe I could also take it. I will try to visit FR as often as I can but if the new format is as cumbersome as described and restricts me to only those I am in agreement with then what is the point. To the FR staff I will say you had a great site here, the wholesale changes that are being made are very likely going to kill it.

It isn't cumbersome as some would have you believe Forrest. It's just that they don't like change and not being able to hide their past comments and secret meeting places. God bless you and many more years of posting your thoughts.

Talk: I just got done complimenting you on another thread about your genial good humor recently.

Which is it, you want to improve the conversation on FR, or you want to continue the war?

It isn't me that continues the war. I post a heartfelt thought and I get crap in return. As I have said, many times, I respond to the people I am trying to converse with. I spill out my thoughts, you affectively sh!t on that comment, I come back with your same adverse commentary. Simple. You want to converse or shoot then aim?

but I'm not amused at being called someone's(even you dear, dear Feisty One :) ) minion

And the "dear Feisty" (correct spelling again for you followers) One" says it all. You may not be amused but, the truth usually hurts.

See ya AG.

"They have reverse toothpicks..."

They Have...WHAT??

OH Sh!T !!!

Someboddy call the Fu**ing MILITA!

NOW for GOD's sake!!!

Interesting discussion (minus the vitriol - I often wonder how such discussion would go down if we were all sitting at a table looking each other in the eye, something to think about). As a casual poster here I have hardly noticed any changes at all except for the obvious visible modifications.

I read FR articles long before I jumped into commenting. Aside from the entertainment value I enjoy commenting as an intellectual exercise. Putting my thoughts down in words forces me to clarify my stance so I might effectively communicate it to my readers. This becomes especially crucial in matters of disagreement - I believe it important, prior to posting, analyze exactly why I disagree with a poster I intend to respond to. Occasionally this analysis has led to modifications in my opinion, changes that would never have happened if I had not been in a position to having to communicate my thoughts. In this FR commenting has great value. I ignore nobody, everyone here has worth regardless of posting style and I would request, selfishly, nobody jump ship.

It is not like I have no life - Mrs. SoCal and I have a vibrant social life but politics rarely comes up with our friends. Most of my very best friends sit pretty far left, while I teeter to the right of center. The occasional political discussions are never contentious, it is just that we always have so much else to talk about.

Two cents from the peanut gallery. Time to shut off the computer - it is a beautiful SoCal day out and I hear Angeles Crest Highway callin' - everyone have a good weekend.

it is a beautiful SoCal day out and I hear Angeles Crest Highway callin' -

Now that sounds like a great day .. however, I have to admit, of all my days spent on the LA side, a drive I never took. One of my favorite Sunday afternoon drives was to take I10 to PCH, drive up the coast to Decker Canyon, and pop out into the Valley. The views from Decker Canyon are stunning.

@ Fiesty, Seeking, & whoever is whining on the re-reg

I explained why I re-registered. I was Jay w/lotsa #'s. I made the mistake of using my first name. I decided I didn't like it, and made it known. Like I said before, I have nothing to hide. There I'm sure are others who've got something to hide. Don't lump me in with your rant.

Respectfully,

“Without "Louie Louie" a symphony is not quite so grand.”

Zapp,

No need to reregister to change your name

Newsvine allows a name change on request while keeping the same account

My time on FR goes back to the days when we were debating if President Bush deserved a reauthorization of the Patriot Act. My position was no and that hasn't changed. My argument was "would you want President Hillary to have that power?" Since Newsvine started counting my posts I have almost 12,000 posts.

So I don't think anyone can say my commitment to FR or NV is casual. For the record I don't post anywhere else in the news world, so I want NV to succeed. I spent a week trying to give the thing a chance because there are so many people I like reading and interacting with not only here but there.

And after a week invested in NV I like it even less than I did at first. Contrary to what the NV admins and cheerleaders say it isn't because I haven't "put in enough time" to learn a web app. That's a ridiculous concept anyway...NO ONE does that on the internet...they move on. I even had two acquaintances who are experienced message board users have a look...both said they wouldn't use it even if it operated within one of their favored areas of interest.

So it's with much regret that I have stopped using NV for anything but access to the conversation tracker. As far as I can tell the only thing propping up NV traffic is the enormous volume of complaints anyway. To find stories of interest from a variety of sources I'll just go directly to some of those sources. That's too bad. I only still have a NV account to gain access to NBC News boards. If they convert over I promise that I won't remain active on these boards. Newsvine has destroyed everything I valued about their site. That's just how it is.

Zappas: To me, a re reg is someone that has been banned that has returned under another moniker. I was not referring to you.

The group I am referring to know who they are.

I give you Seeking Sanity and her quest to be number one condescention queen:

Gosh Talk - much like your faux apology, or what ever that was you posted earlier, what is most interesting is you failed to give yourself the title of Condescention Queen claim (do you mean condescension?). And by the way, you miserable troll (condescending enough for ya), I am not responsible for what you post. You own that on your own. I have to admit, it is rather fun watching you and WCA rail on and on about how us libs force you into writing bad checks and bad comments.

Bartender, I believe Talk is ready for another JackAss - it is on me. (The following are just a couple out of pages and pages of like comments.)

You may have read but your thinking skills are lacking the critical aspect and comprehension.

Then you didn't think or read Ed lotsanumbers.

elvis you're stuttering again.

Dan,... Got it or do I have to type slower?

funny they dont pay know taxes And with grammar and spelling like that, Proud is the dumb azz? LMAO @ U pelvis.

NO they are soul mates. Once they found each other they took on each others characteristics. PS. Martin, you are a moron and all of your posts testify to it.

Hi Ya New Day I just got back from Puerto Rico on Valentines Day, just in time to take Mrs Grump out to a very fancy restuarant I made reservations for berfore I left. It was actually nice to come back to some cold wheather. I will be in the Dominican Republic and back in Puerto Rico this summer, both of which are just a little too hot for me, I'm not one to lay on the beach, I don't tan anymore, I stroke. I hope FR listens to some of the feedback here and does not go full blown with the newsvine format.

I explained why I re-registered

PUHLEESE!

Don't flatter yourself as, NO ONE was talking about YOU!

I have to laugh at how the right wingers play the perpetual VICTIM card! If you want to swing, you damned well better be prepared for someone to SWING back!

30 years of Frank Luntz, Karl Rove, Ed Gillespie, Rush Limpballs, Glen Beck, and the rest of the hate mongering bullies have taught THIS liberal to hand it right back to ya'll! Don't like it? Too @!$%#ing BAD!

I have ZERO sympathy for those who trampled our liberal voices for 8 years and NOW scream FOUL!

You all perfected this political climate, either deal with it or STFU and stop the incessant WHINING!

The world does NOT revolve around a party who will soon go the way of the dinasour anymore.

Forrest, you have had some interesting travels lately! How nice that you were able to get home for Valentine's Day and take Mrs. Gump out! She must have enjoyed it, and I bet you do too.

I hope they don't change over to what Newsvine has done to their site. It will make it difficult to have conversations with people.

My best to you always.

I was supposed to be back a few days earlier but some extra work popped up I had to address, so I had to stay a little longer. I booked the earliest flight I could get on the 14th, got up at 3:30 AM, was out of the hotel at 4:30 to beat the crazy traffic for my 80 mile drive into San Juan, return my rental car, and get to the airport where I sat for three hours before my flight, just to make sure did not miss it, because you have to be with your Valentine on Valentines day. You know what I learn from my travels to other places, we speak different languages, we eat different foods, but people are just people, we are the same, the same things make us laugh, the same things make us angry, we worry about the same things, the same things make us sad, the same things make us happy.

Forrest. I hope I have told you this before. But you are a gift to all of us.

The new format seems to ignore progress - you know, no more of that 'friending'. And as for needing to join a 'nation', that amounts to do nothing more than widen the 'divisive' gap that is stifling much needed dialog, compromise, and progress today.

That being said, we must all look in the mirror to see if we have not brought this upon us ourselves. You know, I have met the enemy and it is us. Seems most of us have stooped to name-calling and nasties for which we would put our own kids in timeout. Kudos to those who had the wisdom and restraint to keep from stooping to the level of their attacker. It's hard to set the example.

It may be that monitoring the name-calling and nasties just were too big for the FR budget to handle and we are left with being victims of our own demise. The question is, will we police ourselves, show restraint, and turn the other cheek?

Let's not just hope so, let's change and make it happen.

@David - to address one of your many questions/issues raised. I too had some residual earnings that I had intended to donate, but failed to do so before the new and unimproved upgrade. Since the upgrade, I cannot find the page showing those earnings, so my assumption is they are lost. If you know otherwise, please let me know. I would love to send those earnings to Planned Parenthood if at all possible. God knows, the only dime a Republican will spend on women's health is for a prostate probe and an annual Adams Apple exam.

As to forming a group, many liberal posters have formed a new Nation here on Newsvine called Dew Drop Inn 2. You can do a search in newsvine for the group and review some of what we have posted. I know Jody, Iowa is experimenting with posting a copy of her Friday wrap-up. It is our attempt to try and work within the new infrastructure of newsvine, and if it works, we will stay, if it doesn't, we will look into option at other sites. Is this something you would be interested in? If yes, we can surely get an invite out to you.

I hope that NBC leaves FR as it is. The new newsvine is very complicated and not user-friendly. There are people like me who don't have the computer skills that some others do. Does that mean our opinions shouldn't matter?

Red- After reading David's reminder concerning earnings, I went into my account and discovered it has been zeroed out. $19 dollars and change was lost in the conversion.

You can check that by going to your column, clicking on your avatar, clicking account settings, and finally clicking on the newsvine tab across top. It then displays a button for earnings. My guess is you will discover what I did, they've zeroed out your earnings.

My two cents on the "new and improved" Newsvine - It's AWFUL! Extremely difficult to navigate, find articles of interest and post commentary. In other words it's a complete and total mess. Sheesh! What were they thinking? Reminds me of the Netflix disaster!

You are too kind New Day, I am just an old Grump.

And my favorite Grump of all!

@ Dennis

I didn't know that.

@ Feisty

You called me out the day I did it, and you know damn well I'm no Rebublican't or Democrip. So keep on writing Fairy Tales. In fact, you should probably apply to be a writer on SNL. I've seen plenty of folks on both sides laughing their a$$e$ off at many off your writings. There is something to keep in mind though. Loren is going to hold you accountable to write about both sides. You do have a talent in your favor though, you can write some of the most hilarious and a$$inine things ever written.

My wife and I pride ourselves as simple folk with simple pleasures. While camping in the 'Nort woods, sitting around a campfire at night, the wifey with her bowl of popcorn and I with my campfire hotdog, I pour some warmed spiced rum into a cup of fizzed-out Dr. Pepper for each of us. Making it just strong enough for me, and just sweet enough for her. Takes the edge off, but not too much so we don't miss the shooting stars and don't hallucinate over the Northern Lights.

And life is good.

Seems so easy for people to go back on their word, or what they previously said, or their previous actions. Instead there is this perverted deny, dent, deny. Or worst of all, the ignore, ignore, ignore to any questions or challenges to those previous statements, stances, or actions. Both sides do it.

And what's a kid supposed to learn from this behaviour of those who should know better - adults?Less and less adults in the room isn't going to make life better for our kids. Fess up, admit you what you said or did was wrong, or at least deflect to 'I made a mistake', or, 'I apologize'.

It's what you expect out of your kids, and prevents loss of respect.

BCWC - definitely like the angry cat avatar. Works well on a Friday afternoon. Thanks for your links earlier today regarding Hester. What an ass!

more mutations ... evolution can be unpredictable.

as with everything else, I hope so my twisty tailed friend.

I am toasting you, BCWC with this drink I found, but of course I do not find you bitter at all, and drinking with you would be anything but bitter!

"The Bitter Canadian":

1 1/2 oz Canadian whisky
2 dashes Angostura® bitters
4 - 5 oz sweet and sour mix
1 lemon wedge

Fill highball glass with ice. Add whiskey, then fill with sour mix. Finish with 2-3 dashes of Angostura bitters and a squeeze of a lemon wedge.

Cheers! More drinks to come!

Bitter Canadian? Thanks AlaskaGirl.

I also like Canadian Dry, after having some Canadian Bacon for breakfast.

Actually I like many things Canadian...for example -

I also like Martin Short -

he is a Canadian, and

he is a Comedian ...

Oh, little piggy, everything is better with bacon, including Canadian bacon! Have you ever taken a maple bar donut and sprinkled freshly fried bacon bits onto it? OMG.

Okay, I think I just want one of everything. Someone can pour me into a cab later!

You say bitter, I say better

You say Oy-veh!, and I say Oy ... eh!

The Bitter Canadian!!!! That cracked me up.

All the beverage selections today look enticing but tonight my drink of choice will be a fine daigingo sake. Been away from home for a couple days, missed Valentine Day, so shuttin' down the shop here soon - the DDI will have to do without SoCal representation but I am sure you will all survive. Gonna swing by a Brighton store, go home, pick up the missus, and whittle away the evening over sushi, sake, and sweet nothings.

A good weekend to my fellow libtards, RWNJs, and everyone across the FR spectrum.

This next drink is to honor all those who wished they could have gotten off of the Carnival Triumph long before it limped into Mobile, AL!

A Little Dinghy

2 shots Captain Morgan® Parrot Bay coconut rum
2 shots Malibu® coconut rum
cranberry juice
pineapple juice
orange juice

Pour the shots into a glass of ice, and fill the glass with equal parts orange juice, cranberry juice, and pineapple juice. Garnish with a pineapple wedge, an orange slice, and an umbrella.

Read more: A Little Dinghy recipe http://www.drinksmixer.com/drink100.html#ixzz2L0J62Ip1

Mark, I wish you and Mrs. SoCal a very happy Valentine's day after evening!

SS, it would be my pleasure to be your "wing gal" for the evening! Never leave a gal pal behind!

Hey, AlaskaGirl, it does sound a Little Dinghy

I order a pail, I will send Jack and Jill there to fetch.

But when you see them, only greet with, 'Hi, Jill', no 'hi Jack' please. Otherwise, FBI might investigate.

Pigotry - Just for you!! I'm sure we could come up with a virgin recipe just for you!!

Candied bacon martini

Total time: 35 minutes

Servings: 4

Note: The candied bacon recipe is adapted from "The Gift of Southern Cooking: Recipes and Revelations From Two Great American Cooks" by Edna Lewis and Scott Peacock.

Candied bacon

8 slices smoked bacon

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons light brown sugar

Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil, shiny side up. Dredge the bacon on both sides in the brown sugar and arrange the slices so they do not touch on the sheet. Bake until the bacon is richly caramelized, 15 to 25 minutes. Use a pair of tongs to transfer the bacon strips to a cooling rack and allow the excess fat to drain. Serve warm as candy or cool until hardened for the martinis.

Candied bacon martinis

6 ounces premium vodka

4 ounces Applejack brandy

2 ounces amaretto liqueur

2 ounces maple syrup, preferably grade "B"

4 thin slices tart apple, such as Granny Smith

2 slices candied bacon, halved crosswise

Chill 4 martini glasses. In a large cocktail shaker, combine the vodka, brandy, amaretto and maple syrup with ice. Shake until combined and chilled. Strain the cocktail into the 4 chilled glasses and garnish each with an apple slice and half a slice of candied bacon. Serve immediately.

Wow, even more drinks down here; great sounding ones, too. No offense to our Pigotry friend but I think I'll pass on the bacon one. I like bacon but.....

bacon? delicious.... why not?

Jody, thanks. But enjoy bacon as much... As a pig, I am here to serve you, waiting on you at the table. Yeah.

rolls up some Kentucky non-industrial skunk herb, lights it, and watches the spirit drinkers.

Pat,

Thanks for the post! I agree about Cary Grant. North by Northwest is still one of my favorites.

Great read to go with my fab little cocktail . . . thank you and have a great weekend!

I am in the chuckle till the end of days decades, I will go with Arsenic and Old Lace.

"Now Voyager"! One of my all time favorite movies! Love the avatar, Pat!

Having already confessed to being an incurable romantic, I'll go with "An Affair to Remember".

From IMDb's Cary Grant bio: "Once told by an interviewer, "Everybody would like to be Cary Grant," Grant is said to have replied, "So would I."

And my all time favorite is Philadelphia Story.

Tracy Lord: I never knew such a man.
Macaulay Connor: You're not likely to dear. Not from where you sit.

In honor of the Dew Drop Inn:

C. K. Dexter Haven: [looking for the "hair of the dog"] Do you s'pose, sir, speaking of eye-openers...?
Uncle Willie: Oh, that's the first sane remark I've heard today. C'malong, Dexter, I know a formula that's said to pop the pennies off the eyelids of dead Irishmen.

And in honor of Feisty:

[Dexter has just proposed]
Tracy Lord: Oh Dexter you're not doing it just to soften the blow?
C. K. Dexter Haven: No.
Tracy Lord: Nor to save my face?
C. K. Dexter Haven: Oh, it's a nice little face.
Tracy Lord: Oh Dexter, I'll be yar now, I promise to be yar.
C. K. Dexter Haven: Be whatever you like, you're my redhead.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032904/quotes

Layton - Cary Grant was my Mother's favorite. I can't see a movie with him in it without thinking of her!

BCWC: Believe it or not, Arsenic and Old Lace is my all time favorite Grant movie. In my eyes, the funniest movie ever made. Mortimore Brewster, Jonathan Brewster, Dr. Einstein, Teddy ...

Mortimer Brewster: Look, Aunt Martha, men don't just get into window seats and die!
Abby Brewster: We know, dear. He died first.
Mortimer Brewster: Wait a minute! Stop all this. Now, look, darling, how did he die?
Abby Brewster: Oh, Mortimer, don't be so inquisitive. The gentleman died because he drank some wine with poison in it.
Mortimer Brewster: How did the poison get in the wine?
Martha Brewster: Well, we put it in wine, because it's less noticeable. When it's in tea, it has a distinct odor.
Mortimer Brewster: You mean, you... You put it in the wine!
Abby Brewster: Yes. And I put Mr. Hoskins in the window seat, because Reverend Harper was coming.
Mortimer Brewster: Now, look at me, darling. You mean, you mean you knew what you'd done and you didn't want the Reverend Harper to see the body?
Abby Brewster: Well, not at tea. That wouldn't have been very nice.
Mortimer Brewster: Oh, it's first-degree.
Abby Brewster: Now, Mortimer, you know all about it and just forget about it. I do think that Aunt Martha and I have the right to our own little secrets.

Layton, glad you enjoyed it! Cheers!

Good stuff, Pat.

Cary Grant a such a favorite of mine. Of Mrs. SoCal as well, but for different reasons!

JoAnne, An Affair To Remember. What a great movie that is.

Cary Grant is also quoted as saying that he too cried when he watched the end of An Affair To Remember. I know I do. Always!

Pat, over the years I have gone to at least a dozen screenings of it in repertory cinemas. My favorite film of all time is The Misfits. (Cary Grant would have been miscast)

Alaska Girl, glad you like the avatar. She is my favorite of all time.

Mark, hi how are you? You can't REALLY blame Mrs.SoCal for being a fan of Cary Grant. He is just sooooooooooo handsome and funny and suave and ... haha

Bringing Up Baby and Philadelphia Story. Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn. Love the dialogue.

Cary Grant is indeed suave! As was said about Austin Powers - "women want him and men want to be him." Yeeeaah, baby!

Love The Misfits!

Summertime with Katharine Hepburn does not go unwatched in my house, anytime it comes on!

Love An Affair To Remember as well. So many classics!

Seeking . . . so difficult for you but I do hope they are warm memories.

JoAnne ... how could I have forgotten An Affair to Remember???? LOVE that movie! "All I could say was hello . . . . "

Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman in Notorious.

Alfred Hitchcock was presented with an AFI Award for his life achievement work in film in the '70's. Sitting next to Hitchcock during the ceremony was Cary Grant. Hosting the ceremony was Ingrid Bergman.

In the movie Notorious there is a famous scene with a key.

The night of the award, Ingrid said that she and Cary had throughout the years mailed the key to each other for good luck. That night she took out the key and gave it to Hitchcock. One and only time we saw Alfred show any emotion. He was truly touched by the moment.

BCWC, back in the Fall sometime Arsenic and Old Lace was shown on PBS Saturday and Sunday nights for about 3 weeks straight. I watched each and every one of them. LoL.

JoAnne, here is Vic Damone singing An Affair To Remember - by far the prettiest rendition of the song I think, with photos from the movie included in the youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVtVRhw7Ip4

Thanks, Pat! I'm kind of partial to Nat King Cole's version myself, but that makes me want to run home and pop the DVD in right now. Have a great weekend.

@ Red Dev

Wasn't Tracy Lord that porn star from the 80's? J/K

Nat King Cole is incredible.

A Ramblin Rose for everyone

Well, that is one of the pluses of reincarnation - uptight in one life, reborn as a porn star in the next. Now who says cosmic comedy doesn't exist?

JoAnne, fantastic start to the weekend! I wonder if !!!!!!Joe!!!!!! will swing by and thank you for giving him the first spot on the jukebox?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Have a great weekend!

JoAnne---Happy Valentine's Day. Some romantic person left us all roses over at the Dew Drop Inn---how sweet.

I'd like to request "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" for Marco Rubio. What a performance he put on this week.

For Chuck Hagel, "The Back Stabbers" in honor of his fellow Republicans.

Thanks to Mark, Domenico, Andy and everyone at FR for your hard work and for sharing your expertise with us. I hope you all enjoy a nice long weekend celebrating President's Day.

I am too rock and roll for this, maybe if Rubio had done a little Canned Heat, "Going Up The Country" before his speech he wouldn't have looked like he got caught stealing something when he was getting a drink of water. A little boogie music to get this joint rocken'.

JoAnne, I would like to make a request and I would like to dedicate it to the Republican party:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=yesterday+paul+mccartney&oq=yesterday+paul&gs_l=youtube.1.0.0l10.13866.23539.0.28408.14.8.0.5.5.0.207.1086.3j4j1.8.0...0.0...1ac.1.9mbN2sBmuAE

Actually, I went with "Cool Water" because I thought the mirage analogy really fits Rubio - looks bright and sparkly from afar, especially when you're wandering in the desert and dying of thirst and getting a bit desperate for something - anything - to save you. But then when you get up close, you realize much to your dismay that there's really nothing there at all.....

Oh, man, JoAnn- a girl after my own heart: Brooklyn Bridge? YOW!

Now, if you are taking dedications, can I get these:

For McCain and Graham, let's go to '70 and RedEye for "Games".

Then, for Marco Polo.....er....Rubio (it was the water thing, sorry) and his hopes for 2016, let's roll out the late Buddy Holly and "That'll Be The Day".

For our own Joe from Albaly, let's do David and Ansill Collilns' "Double-Barrell" (I I I I I I....am the MAG-NIF-I-CENT! Doubleya OH Oh OH....).

And lastly, for Rand Paul- just spin anything you can find. BUT- spin it backwards, so it makes as much sense as he does, 'K??

Speaking of things 'radio-y', next time some goofball rightie hollers about the 'liberal' media, and tries to make you think there are more lefty programs than rightie programs, ask 'em how they feel about bringing back the Fairness Doctrine.

Should be fun.

Hate to double-dip and hog the beat-box, but as I remember McCain and his introduction of the lovely Sarah Palin to the rest of the world, can I get an old Bee Gees cut of "I Started a Joke"?

Ok, I'll toddle back to the bar now, and leave you alone.

Hey, I am still but a lowly grasshopper to you, Master Drive-by, so it'll always be your beat-box to me. Well, at least until I can snatch that .45 out of your hands before you drop the needle on it.....

Got to admit, I had to look up Dave and Ansel Collins!

Good one DBO - and it did indeed, start the whole world crying - in fits of laughter.

And in honor the entire GOP/TP and their attempt to pull wool over our eyes with their voodoo economics, I suggest we play "Magic Carpet Ride".

Reunion. "Life is a Rock (but the radio rolled me)"

Story of my life, sort of.

Red Dev- anything by Steppenwolf works for this old fart.

But serriously, anyone else remember when the Bee Gees were GOOD, instead of all that disco crap:

New York Mining Disaster of 1949? To Love Somebody?? Words??? Gotta Get a Message to You?????

Anybody? (I mean, besides Red and JoAnn, of course) God, if not, grab a copy of any of the above and forget politics for a while, and just play 'em over and over and over.....

"..a lowly grasshopper to you, Master Drive-by.."

To steal one from Justice Roberts last SOTU- "that's not true".

Gotta go walk the guy in the avatar picture, Kids- keepmy barstool warm. Poor guy's blind as a bat, and has to be shot up with insulin twice a day. But I love him. What ya gonna do??

I'm sorry dbo, but I cannot remember the beegees ever being, "good". Disco is dead, long live rock and roll.

DBO, othat was Samuel alto,...but-yes, Yes, YES to the rest!

For Boehner, 'take a walk on the wild side' and the colored girls go,'doodoodoodotododoo'

Lol

Remember, if it's Sunday...it's Meet John McCain

Now that's FUNNY, I don't care who you are! LMAO!

That is a good one - Cheers Nathan. You win the prize cocktail of the day.

THE F-BOMB
Effen Black Cherry, St Germain Elderflower, Triple
Caff, lemonade, cranberry http://www.uptowncafeteria.com/menus/drinks.pdf

I have to find this Uptown Cafeteria!!

"Remember, if it's Sunday...it's Meet John McCain."

Which one (McCain)? and yes- I saw that promo tonight, and asked my wife how the hell the network justifies this? WHY is this old coot allowed to continuiosly dominate the shows,and/or the political dialog? Hell, he's even more irrelevant that that one lady that used to be up there in Alaska and ran her mouth alla time about God-Knows-What.

Love it, Nathan!! Since I've quit watching Meet the Press I won't have my blood pressure raised on Sunday.

If I did have the chance to meet John McCain, I'd be tempted to ask him why he is such a bitter, sore loser, as opposed to Al Gore and John Kerry. I hope I would bite my tongue and just say "thanks for your service, Senator".

" I hope I would bite my tongue and just say "thanks for your service, Senator".

What a grand response, Steeler Fan! What a great response!!!

Anyone paying attention? Vote accordingly, if you are.

• 3

• !

#11.4 - Fri Feb 15, 2013 7:56 PM CST

Did I mention that I just love the Phillies?!

"Did I mention that I just love the Phillies?!",,

Y' might have. Give me a hint.....Just kidding.

Hey, is it still a little light out there? Is it true that you CAN see the sky from 'out there'?