i L i n d . n e t

Meda was reading one of the Sunday newspapers after our morning walk yesterday when she looked across to the kitchen. I was busy. A batch of brownies had just gone in the oven in preparation for our drive into town to deliver a Father’s Day lunch to my parents. I had four strips of turkey bacon cooking in a pan on the stove, while I was separating eggs for our Sunday morning egg white omelet. Eggs done, I chopped a hard-boiled egg and mixed it into the batch of potato salad prepared Saturday night, then dug out a jar of sweet pickles to add a bit of pickle juice to the potato salad for flavor, along with a dollop of low-fat mayonnaise, a slight flavor enhancement over the non-fat variety relied on for this relatively “healthy” salad. And I had just finished those jobs when the bacon was ready, so it was time to beat the egg whites with a hand whisk and then tend the omelet while a few slices of Star Bakery’s sourdough whole wheat bread went into the toaster.

Meda’s comment: “Who said men can’t multi-task?”

Here’s the resulting breakfast. Egg white omelet, with one egg yolk included, toast, turkey bacon, and coffee.

Oh, did I mention the cat?

Ms. Kili decided to settle down between my breakfast and my computer, also on the table. You’ll have to click on the photo to see the whole scene.

Oh–need I mention that the lunch with my parents was a nice event. At 94, both enjoyed the visit, the meal, and a few Father’s Day presents.

Thanks to Doug White (www.poinography.com) for an interesting post concerning the anti-rail petition drive, and offering the occasion for the excellent comments that fill in some of the political context of the petition backers.

Here’s what “Bob” had to say:

Look at the related organizations. There are 12 people who represent over 20 “organizations.” Cliff Slater is about 6 of them himself. Prevedorous is president of the Hawaii Highway Users Alliance (autodealers, petroleum, conrete, bus companies, etc.) and affiliated with the Amerian Highway Users Alliance (anti-rail accross the country).

Most of the for right (right of Ron Paul) haoles worship at the alter of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii (Slater and Dale Evans are board members, Pano is on their “Board of Schollars, whatever the hell that is, Malia Zimmerman a co-founder, etc.) Their new President, Jamie Story is a recent Miss Texas and former staffer at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, another far-right WASP fest. They funded all anti rail activities (and still do in Texas). Just a coincidenc she showed up. They have a history of not wanting to talk about where their money comes from either.

E.W. Scripps is splitting into separate companies, one for its healthy cable networks and the other for its newspapers, which include the Rocky Mountain News in Denver, the Commercial Appeal in Memphis, the Knoxville (Tenn.) News Sentinel and the Ventura County (Calif.) Star, along with the Scripps Howard News Service. At least one financial analyst expects the newspaper unit to face immediate financial pressure and a low stock price.

The head of the new newspaper company said it will focus on local markets and local issues, following Gannett’s focus on local news. He also predicted a rough ride for newspaper employees (surprise?).

Boehne said E.W. Scripps’ focus will be on local markets, where he says growth opportunities exist.

“This split gives us the opportunity to focus on media that is intensely local, and this company will be intensely local,” Boehne said.

He said a priority will be to command the largest multi-platform audience in each market.

Representatives of the Memphis Newspaper Guild, a Scripps shareholder and a union that represents employees at Scripps’ newspaper in Memphis, Tenn., The Commercial Appeal, expressed concern about the weaker profit margins in the new E.W. Scripps Co.

“I think the split is basically going to be good for the shareholders, but I’m not sure how good it will be for the newspaper employees,” said Reggie Sudduth, president of the Memphis Guild.

Google for “pets floods” or “pets flooding” for updates on rescue efforts underway in Iowa and other states facing major flooding.