Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

any creatures stirring????

I'm stirring my coffee...does that count?

I've always assumed book writing would be a leisurely, at-your-own-pace, non-stressful occupation. By Craig's descriptions it more resembles cramming for the term-paper deadline! :)

kudos to sturge, oldsea, chloe for their contributions to a momental work for morning folk.... can't you slugabeds and evening people rise and shine and pitch in a word or two? foul or fair it is all poetry.

Sturge with his wit, so lively and quick
thrust forth rapier words cutting a lick

I didnt know that the "second verse same as the first" would be in there......lol..........that's from Herman's Hermits........

now blago, stevens, madoff and nixon,
spiro, bobby b and sherman adams,
go away go away go away scams.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/my-lost-holiday.html#comment-183824

Patd, I wish I could take some of the credit, but I didn't contribute anything. I do believe it is a true work of art though, and I am very impressed.. :)

Patd- love your 2nd line. Was going to finish the names with all self proclaimed pumas and those accused , just couldn't keep track anymore of who is who?!

"those wonderful mexican wedding cookies are calling my name.."

or you could have pecan pie for breakfast, as I did.....sugared up and ready to go.

chloe, but you did contribute! what is a performer without an audience? an artist without a patron? a tree falling in the woods without an ear to hear?

you enabled us and pushed us to greater heights with your applause and appreciation.

"just couldn't keep track anymore of who is who?!"

Ha, Sea. Probably safer that way anyway. :)

"what is a performer without an audience?"

Well then, an adoring audience you had.
But the talent belongs to you, Sea and Sturge.
Bravo!

Nice picture, Craig.
I got to work from home yesterday because we had freezing rain followed by a couple of inches of sleet. I have never seen so much sleet. I am afraid of falling like last year...you be careful, too. Now it is snowing with about a half inch expected.

We are expecting a HIGH of -1 tomorrow. That is actual temperature. I believe the wind chill is predicted to be -30 something with blizzards just north of me a few miles. Welcome to Winter.

Craig,

That picture of the Winter Solstice in Iowa is striking.

Hope you and Helen are enjoying your work and that you will at least get to spend a little time in Florida with your parents.

Happy Holidays to you!.

"We are expecting a HIGH of -1 tomorrow"

Zoey, I don't know how you do it.

Applause applause. It is a wondrous creation. and from a closing:

Craig sprang from his writing, to mixers a wave
"Continue without me, I've a book yet to save."
But I heard him exclaim as fled from our sight
Happy Solstice to all and a New Year real bright.

Shame on Marcia, on Corey,, on Viv and old sea, ...
Why you can't you just agree with me?

Adjust your timing to England. About 12 hours from now you can watch the Maeshowe Winter Solstice on this webcam

http://www.maeshowe.co.uk/

Great finish jamie!
got to get on Flatus in there too

Chloe, patd is absolutly right!

Still feeling crappy...this article made me decide to go straight back to bed. YUK.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/12/18/national/a145840S37.DTL&feed=rss.news

Interesting article from Vehix - Presidential automobiles

http://comcast.vehix.com/automotive/Article.aspx?artid=15B000000000033&cid=44

Patsi, You've only got a few days to get better before your Christmas get together with your granddaughter.

Do you get flu shots?

Shame on Flatus,, on Corey, on Ping Pong and Pogo, on Whiskey, on Bethy, on Viv and Old sea..

Got to fit Rosie, ET in too,

Chloe,
I shall be inside baking cookies and making candy all day. I do no plan to go outside once. I will stick my head out to clap so all the furry and feathery creatures can hide before I let the dogs out and will probably stand by the door since the dogs will not want to stay out long. That alone keeps me pretty busy when it gets cold. It is a balmy 24 right now with light snow.

Sounds like a good plan Zoey. And I bet it is beautiful.
That is so great that you clap and warn all the critters before you let your dogs out. I have to watch mine constantly.
Happy Holidays!

jamie, absolutely perfect finish; but let's leave the second act open for awhile to see if pogo, jack, jax, anon p, corey, solar, renee, diva, cbob and all our other wits with a way with words out there are moved by the muse. we at least have the opening and closing, just need the guts now.

patd

Agreed. Just wanted to get a bit in before heading out to grocery store before the snow flies again.

Corey, if you stop by today, you've got to check this link. Any Burger King groupie worth his whoppers will have this on his X-Mas shopping list.

"Mmmmmm...Is that meat you're wearing? Burger King introduces new fragrance for men"

http://scottjosephorlando.typepad.com/food_drink_other_stuff/2008/12/mmmmmmis-that-meat-youre-wearing-burger-king-introduces-new-fragrance-for-men.html

Patd ----been meaning to say this for a while now---you fibbed to me,,said that you were not a wordsmith-----you r the best 1 on the blog!--here is my little contribution,, what a very nice way to start the day.

On Craigs Trail Mix---Chole,Patsi,Tony Chef Shiela, are just part of the crew

this is not short , but is all taken in with a Dogs Eye View.

This is sooo bad, that I'm embarrassed to post it, but I so want to contribute something. Ha!

Rosie hung from the rafters with care,
In anticipation that Tom soon would be there.
The posters had visions of an inauguration in their heads
and hopes that others might be reading their threads.

Now I'm leaving.

Chloe'

Where r you going ---if I can stay so can u----

good work chloe and solar.

btw, do you know how to say "let them eat caviar" in italian?
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/12/20/europe/EU-Italy-Poor-Mans-Caviar.php

Patsu still feeling bad----want me and my compadres ,,, to come over there?-maybe Ill sing this time--that always gets people out of bed ,,,and trying to shut me,up,,get well soon :-)

Patsu===Patsi___sorry kido

Heay you can't forget Renee and Rick, Rick,,,,hope they are ok and they get back on line with us and old St, Nick

millions drinking Arsenic without the old lace

http://www.ehponline.org/members/2005/113-6/focus.html

yes, patsi, get out of that bed! you know this flu/cold thing is all in your head. (omg, can't stop rhyming today.) anyway this is a busy, busy weekend whatwith solstice, then the feast of wild women (funny not too many men want to volunteer to be dionysus at the feast), then chanukah starting tomorrow night and right in the middle of that is festivus on the 23rd. gotta find my unadorned aluminum pole and thaw out the traditional meatloaf. know this year the list of grievances will be easy to come up with. (festivus info link) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festivus
boy, then there's christmas, kwaanza and the big exchange ritual at holy mother of walmart. how are we going to get thru this if you're still in bed?

solar, quick get down to nashville fast and start singing. even if patsi doesn't rise like lazurus to your music maybe a hot shot record company will turn you into the next ricky martin.

Okay. I'm back. Did you get Harborwoman, 9/11, and Vanilla Birdie in their somewhere? We are probably missing scads of folk.

IF YOU ARE LURKING, JUMP UP AND DOWN

Never heard me sing----settle for a Ricky Martini..haha

In preparation for sundown tonight:

On the First day of Hannukah my true love gave to me

http://jdurward.blogspot.com/

Make that sundown tomorrow evening. National menorah will be lit at 4:00 p.m. DC time tomorrow on the elipse.

http://dc.about.com/od/hoildaysseasonalevents/a/NatHanukMenorah.htm

Jamie

got the hint -

What hint about what? Huh?

maybe that our solar doesn't sing like this guy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEUFKMlvLRM&feature=channel

" floating between yesterday's al jazeera and tomorrow's aussie news."

Bingo

Patd

Not even close----but I did live the Vida Loca,,haha
no more ricky martin---especially a young one,,,maybe a ricky rcardo,,,with a lot of loud cuban music to stifle me,,,,this is my last song

Did anyone get Lard?

Thought for the day :
" To criticize the incompetent is easy; it is more difficult, to criticize the competent. "

1833 Dr Samuel A Mudd convicted of giving medical aid to John Wilkes Booth
1948 Alan Parsons England, musician/producer/engineer (Alan Parsons Project, Pink Floyd, Beatles)

0069 General Vespasianus occupies Rome
1192 Richard the Lionhearted captured in Vienna
1606 Virginia Company settlers leave London to establish Jamestown VA
1790 1st successful US cotton mill to spin yarn (Pawtucket RI)
1803 Louisiana Purchase formally transferred from France to US for $27 million
1820 Missouri imposes a $1 bachelor tax on unmarried men between 21 & 50
1860 South Carolina votes 169-0 for Ordinance of Secession, 1st state to secede
1879 Tom Edison privately demonstrated incandescent light at Menlo Park
1880 New York's Broadway lit by electricity, becomes known as "Great White Way"
1892 Pneumatic automobile tire patented, Syracuse NY
1924 Adolf Hitler freed from jail early
1944 Battle of Bastogne, Nazis surround 101st Airborne (NUTS!)
1950 "Harvey", starring James Stewart, premieres in New York

Today's Broadway flop -
1976 "Music Is" opens at St James Theater NYC for 8 performances

The Alan Parsons Project - What Goes Up

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AdS86RWlgs

"maybe a ricky rcardo,,,with a lot of loud cuban music to stifle me"

no, solar, i see you more like zorba teaching us to dance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ha_8vUYzwUw&feature=related

Patd

-----having fun with me this morn--huh----ok ok,,by chance you just came across what a lot of people tell me that I look like,,,A Q the big ears and all----like Antony Quinn --it is hard to tell what nationality I am--co of the 1/3 Greek in me. Rosie will be happy to finally have a good pic of me---and Tony also,,,,,thanks you just resolved a huge problem for me..HA

1606 Virginia Company settlers leave London to establish Jamestown VA

Pocahontas - Savages

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfolaGoO9Is

Just polishing -

Rosie hung from the rafters with care,
In anticipation that Tom soon would be there.
The posters had visions of an inauguration in their heads
and hopes that others might be reading their threads
And in popped Ms Cracker , "Let's legalize instead ! "

Okay CBob. Got that one.

Chloe...I would gladly volunteer to somehow get my lardass stuck in a chimney, if it would help the poem along.

"I would gladly volunteer to somehow get my lardass stuck in a chimney"

Ha Lard. You willing to write that verse? Please.

American Indian cremation pit found on Ga. island

Located six miles off the Savannah coast, Ossabaw Island remains one of Georgia's wildest barrier islands. Hogs, deer, armadillos and Sicilian donkeys roam the state-owned island's 11,800 acres of wishbone-shaped uplands. Live oaks tower above the remains of slave plantations and ancient Indian burial mounds.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1501ap_prehistoric_cremation.html

Sturg -
Thanks for the shark report.

Times tells 500 workers to take week off unpaid

About 500 managers and nonunion workers at The Seattle Times are being asked to take a week off without pay as financial troubles mount.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/392960_times20.html?source=mypi

Chloe...how about....

The flames roared to the rafters
The fire crackled and jumped
What could it be?
They all sat there stumped.
Then down through the fireplace
Came a hissing of gas
Something's stuck in the chimney?
Why, it's only Lardass

Storm packing 90 mph winds to hit Western Wash.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420ap_wa_winter_weather.html

LEDs And Smart Lighting Could Save Trillions Of Dollars, Spark Global Innovation

If all of the world's light bulbs were replaced with LEDs for a period of 10 years, Schubert and Kim estimate the following benefits would be realized:

* Total energy consumption would be reduced by 1,929.84 joules
* Electrical energy consumption would be reduced by terawatt hours
* Financial savings of $1.83 trillion
* Carbon dioxide emissions would be reduced by 10.68 gigatons
* Crude oil consumption would be reduced by 962 million barrels
* The number of required global power plants would be reduced by 280

Missed the link -

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081217074908.htm

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/my-lost-holiday.html#comment-183888

LOL Lard. Perfect!
I knew you were a natural. :)

Hey Tip -
More wreckage from our decade at Bernie's

Picower Foundation closes due to Madoff investment

CHICAGO, Dec. 20, 2008 (Reuters) — The Picower Foundation, a charity that supports programs ranging from medical research to education, is shutting down due to losses from investments with Bernard Madoff, according to a statement released by the foundation.
The foundation's assets, which were listed at more than $1 billion, were managed by Madoff ...........
http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/tre4bj1gb-us-madoff-charity/

C-Bob----I want to get this out of the way,,,and not mix it in with next holiday week,,,so

Thank you for your post advising me to start my own blog,,,,It is Jamies fourth or fifth time that she has told me not post long post---it looks like she finally has what she wanted,,,someone else to agree with her---in all of her posts asking me to stop (just long post) posting ---she alway's has mentioned Mr. Crawford by name,,saying that he requested that we not make long post,,,,,what he actually has said is that he did not want long post that included a lot of cut and paste from another new's source—and said that personal long postings are ok---some of the other posters acknowledged this fact.

Jamie has always made her request during or at the times that Craig made an appearance on the blog,,,he has never responded, in one way or another,,,,,,,so that is why I did not honor her request,,,,,it was the office politics of it all( I believe that this is one reason for Champ not posting any more) ---I hate that way of getting something done,all she had to do was ask---- your way is very much appreciated, and did not involve the host of this blog or any other attempt of leverage,,,but I know that he will get involved sooner or later, now that you have done so,,---it is inevitable that Craig does say something about it.In construction there are always situations that come up that need resolving,,,,I will think about how to resolve Jamie's here also,,but I do have a subject that is very political in nature and will post that when I finish it- I thought about keep it to myself,,,,but that would be against my nature, so after that one I will stop posting.

Even as I write this something has accured to me.
When the long post's started, Bethyboo and I started to talk about the Invasion Of Mexico,,,over a long period of time, and in some very long post's Craig never said a word----Jamie never said a word---noone did, I introduced the Jesus post first and then asked if anybody was interested,,,,Sturg was the first one to say---to please post it--(sorry Sturg for using your name)and at that time lots of the other posters asked me to keep going,,,,,,,so I will introduce a subject with information about it,,,and ask the other posters if they would like me to continue,,,,now what can be more democratic than that on a democratic blog??thanks

An 8th grader's Christmas--grandson leaves hints that he would really like a (big) bottle of Axe body spray. I suspect he wants the one with pheromones.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/my-lost-holiday.html#comment-183894

Solar,

You're right.

In the time I've been here, Craig only said not to cut and paste long passages, to link them instead. If he want's shorter posts then I'm sure he'll tell us all. He hasn't said anything to you, and to me that implies he does not object. I like your posts, and I hope you continue to do them. None of us know so much, that there's not something new we can learn. I don't think the length of our posts need to be discussed by anyone except Craig.

We forgot to mention Lamp in the Solstice Carol,and,,XR,,,Animal Control, Rita, Champ, DEX,

Solar -
You may have missed my point, I don't care about the length of this or that. I just think you'd do a good job, if you started fooling with a site.

Solar,
I enjoy your posts...just wanted you to know that.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/my-lost-holiday.html#comment-183898

Solar, Can you write one with all those names?

and Horsedooty and Mr. D.

C-bob thank you --I go t you now---but I will also try to find a way that is not so intrusive-----cos I think that is what might be going on here

Zoey------thank you----I have always wanted to meet you----but was a little shy about just coming out and saying so----from what I understand about you----you really get in the mix of it all----thats cool

Oh and a while back someone wanted to know how those of us who live in the snowy climes deal with satellite dishes. I have Dish Network and it rarely goes out. The only time we have outages is when the snow or even rain is coming down so hard it blocks the signal. The outage only lasts as long as the downpour...a much shorter time than the cable I had. It could be out for days after a storm.

However, since we are farther North I believe our satellite dishes might sit up more straight than those farther south so they don't tend to collect snow, etc. I was told I could spray PAM on the dish from time to time so any snow would slide off. I never did that since I haven't had a problem with it.

Chloe------thank you---for you----and probably but very clumsy------Iron Man is on----I like Robert D Jr.----liked him a lot in Chaplin

"Shame on Flatus,, on Corey, on Ping Pong and Pogo, on Whiskey, on Bethy, on Viv and Old sea.."

OSH, out of consideration for the others, it would probably be best if you had me at the tail end.

Am I missing it, because I don't see patd (the originator) in the poem?

"-I like Robert D Jr.----liked him a lot in Chaplin"

Me too. He's an excellent, talented, charismatic actor.

Flatus, re the Axe: If the grandson gets it for Christmas, please instruct him in its use. I was in the grocery store last week and three young teen boys had obviously bathed in Axe. You could smell them all over the store. Teen girls everywhere will thank you.

Russia to axe weapons if US dumps shield
Russia will stop developing some strategic weapons if the US drops its plans for a missile shield in Europe, the commander of Russia's strategic missile forces, Colonel-General Nikolai Solovtsov, reportedly said.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/russia-to-axe-weapons-if-us-dumps-shield-1205002.html

oh my full of holiday cheer here..making latkes and peppermint marshmallows and hot chocolate mix as gifts

have to sample to make sure they are just right

KGC,
The sampling is the best part of making holiday goodies. It is what motivates me to do all that work.

Zoey

I do have to be careful not to over sample :))))
It's especially bad on cookie day -- I amaze myself that I can eat so much!

KGC,
I found a recipe for caramel crunch chex mix a couple of weeks ago. I have made it four times in 2 weeks and ate so much of it while it was still hot I made myself sick each time. It was worth it since it was so good. Well, it had cereal in it. That's supposed to be good for you, right? Yum.

Peppermint marshmallows sound really good right now. I am getting ready to make sugar cookies. I love sugar cookie dough. Later I think I will try to make some caramels. Then, if they turn out good, I will dip them in Ghiradelli chocolate tomorrow. The air is supposed to be really dry tonight and tomorrow so will be good candy making weather.

" good candy making weather '

Zoey finds the sliver lining !

Whew! Did I leave anyone out.

More rapid than Bear, the TrailMixers they came.
Patd whistled at XRepublican, then called them by name;
Animal Control! Rita!, Dex! and Carol! Go up the ramp!
Last call, Horsedooty and Mr.D get on, just like Champ!

Zoey! Add Zoey to the people in the third line, right after Rita.

C Bob,
The blizzard warning is getting closer. It is now one tier of counties north. In fact, Craig's picture of the Winter Solstice in Ames would not be possible tomorrow...They are in the blizzard warning area. It is 12 here with -7 windchill but the sun is shining when it isn't blotted out by blowing snow. Luckily our snow is mostly crunchy and heavy here so won't blow around too much.

Mister Bliz-ZARD is out in the YARD

I am honored. Thanks. I have a bright red nose. Does that help.

British law doesn't apply here, and the 1947 Citizenship Law is long dead. Obama doesn't claim dual British citizenship. That's a lie.

Don't forget RR

The gang is not complete without Renee and Rick, Rick,,,,hope they are ok and they get back on line with us and ol St, Nick

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5puAN1PGQw

El Warren on the advisability of vacations.

john prine about being in a movie with thornton and andy griffith as their dad:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5axlwCBXC8

Ringo needs help holding an umbo-rella for the boys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ibX3TejlZE

uno mas

in 1968 i was 20 and in the tenth week of a ten week coast guard boot camp......yer final week they place you in various "occupations" and I wound up in the Cape May New Jersey Coast Guard Base Fire Station.....one last or next to last Sunday night I dropped my mop and looked around the corner of the Firemen's TV room and saw this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXG83p2nkHw&feature=related

Sturg-----That song ---hey Jude and Yesterday helped me thr some rough times---in May -68 in boot camp,,and ITR training they were great comforting tunes--thanks

Sturg---our commanding NCO in boot camp was a little mean sob----by the name of Estrada----it was the father of Erick Estrada the actor,,,,,broke may collar bone at rifle training ,

patd,

You have to stop this self-effacing behavior, people might begin to mistake you for Walter Mondale.

SolarCrete,

I never knew Erick Estrada could act. I'll be. I hope you accused the dirty sob of molesting you.

I was a white guy from SC......there were so many of us joined in 68 that they split us into two companies......the NCO commander of our sister company was an ex-marine black guy from Jersey......Boatswain's mate Turner.....man, that cat had it in for me..........he busted my chops every time he came upon the opportunity.......since I had attended military high school I became recruit company commander of my company......that guy found a LOT of opportunities to bust my goddam chops.......I stood out, in other words.........

I used that experience to inure myself against further indignation as a result of being sub-serviant to military types.........

If I coulda just started off as General right outa the chute everything woulda been ok.

But, Nooooooooooo

XR ---you don't do that in Marine Boot Camp---you just take what u get

Sturg---same here----The SGT that was our instructor from the very first day had it out for me,, and my Irish buddy ---we enlisted together-----he found out that we were from chicago ---he would call us the gangster of the camp----they woist kind of non human that ever was-----he was a want to be tough guy

He used to light up in front of us ---while we read our mail,,,told me that I had to have a poem for him by the next mail reading or else----it had to have two words in it he said---shit,,and flames-----I though that he was full of shit,,,so it came out like this

The wind blows the shit flow and flame appears,,,,,he loved it---I had to run up to him with a match and light his cig----sometimes it was two of us---the dummy never knew that I was calling him full of shit ---every time----we all went to bed a little happier cos of that-

I coulda been another Kutuzov...............

Sturgeone,

Your SISTER company ? In the Marines ???

I guess you might be able to tell from this that I was not a Marine.

The high school I attended was (at that time) the last non-ROTC military academy in the US. If there was an inspection, and they didn't find a firearm in your locker, you were in deep, deep, trouble. Unlike the ROTC schools, we had advance training in humiliation, and physical abuse. So, the brutality of the military was not a surprise for any of us who went in.

When various of us faced the draft boards or recruiters during the Viet Nam fiasco, the military guys really drooled over us. However, only one guy in my class had an exemplary military career. Because his Dad had flown B-17s in the Big One, he wanted to join SAC and fly the monsters. He did, and was bored stiff. Of course there was no competition among pilots to get into SAC, for that very reason.

The rest of us that served Uncle Sam were very disappointing to him, rather than vice versa.

I was going to have only 1 drink tonight -----but nooooo you had to make me spill a little so I have to make it up with another one---that is one t hat I will borrow in the future when talking to vets at the VA---HA

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/my-lost-holiday.html#comment-183936

oops poem was not complete---it was

the wind blows, the shit flows, the heaven opens up and flame apears.......what I did not say is that he had me run around like a damn fool and pretend that i was a fire truck---making all kinds of stupid sounds-----if he did not like it ---I had to drop and read my mail while I was doing push ups---I can still do 50 -60 so maybe that was a good thing??

I got the shit kicked out of me regularly. I also had to run laps around the drill field in the cold rain, after everyone else got to return to barracks.

Pneumonia and a longish stay in the hospital under an oxygen tent fixed that.

I came out meaner than a hungry cannibal. GRRR.

50 - 60 push-ups ???

Dam', I feel decrepit.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/my-lost-holiday.html#comment-183879

Solar
Hey,you better believe I'm waiting for a snapshot of the guy who gets me interested in subjects (religion history and science) along with many other diverse subjects that I would never dreamed I'd be interested in.I don't find any of your posts objectionable and if I did I would just scroll on past.I don't think Craig does either or I think he would have said so.I hope you won't change or let me put it like this you better not change! I want your e-mail address though just in case you decide not to show up sometime because there's a bunch of us who are gonna come looking for you,Chloe tell him..........

Talking about my drill instructor -----and look who show up-----yes sir Tony sir---Patd Posted a pic of me that you and Rosie will like---up thread :-)

" there's a bunch of us who are gonna come looking for you,Chloe tell him......."

Tony is right Zorba. We'll hunt you down and drag you back.

ha.....sister company notwithstanding, it was in coast guard boot camp that i perfected the art of invisibility which was to come in so handy for so many years afterwards.........but it never worked on Boatswains Mate Turner....that'uz one cat could see in the dark......

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/my-lost-holiday.html#comment-183843

Patsi
I hope you feel better soon,wish I was close I'd bring you some homemade chicken soup, we need to get you better for next week and little M.
Thanks for the link,unbelievable!

SolarCrete,

The amazing thing is that they bash the guys around until they are subservient or hospitalized, and then they expect to pull leaders - generals, eventually - out of the pool of guys who have been cowed and broken.

Sturgeone,
Kutuzov was great. I'm sure that you'd have made a soulful and cultured Kutuzov. He trusted his nose to itch and sneeze at exactly the right time. If Napoleon had only trusted his stomach, he might have won at Waterloo. Do you rein in the troops when you feel a cold coming on ?

This is not very original, but we can't leave Renee, Rick and Zoey out. Now I'm outta here, spent way to much time today.

Renee in her kerchief, and Rick in his cap
Zoey had just settled down for a long winters nap.

"i perfected the art of invisibility"

Mr Cellophane man.

Nappy pissed off that chick queen friend of his first wife and he never stood a chance at waterloo.......but Old Kut was the one who made 'em all cut and run from Motscow.....whatever you can carry....get the hell out NOW......sharp cookie........

Sturgeone,

How odd. A pal of mine was an engineman on a navy oiler, and worked under a Black Boatswain named Turner, who was snake-mean, and more full of attitude than a a brigade of Hell's Angels. 40 years later, Caz is still madder'n hell.

I wonder if it could have been the same Turner. Or, maybe his twin bro.

Nappy never stood a chance after he ran his Cavalry into Ohain Chasm. And, stand off until Blucher comes into view, cuz it ain't meat until it's in your mouth.

Sun Tzu would never mistakes like that.

I wound up in the Cape May New Jersey Coast Guard Base Fire Station.....

This would explain that Joisey accent, that shows up some times

XR---just the opposite ------although you are right about the abuse,,,,,that type of training develops deep brotherhood,,,,,but they do pick out a few weak ones that go thru hell--not just boot camp,,,but something else totally that no one knows about,,,,,,,,,,they have to do most of it----but some of it is just plain mean....

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/my-lost-holiday.html#comment-183947

Chloe
Thanks! I hope your A-Ok? I'm just about out of Sea's fudge and in withdrawl...I shared though,honest.HA HA.I like what my neighber Karen said "there are three words to descibe this fudge Oh My God" HA.....

Chloe ---thanks for not forgetting Rick,Rick, and RR---and of course Zoey---nite

Sturg---XR ---what is a Black Boatswain?

Tony,
Everything great on this end. , I hope you're doing well too
I know what you mean about the fudge, This time I ordered and had Sea send it directtly to some people I got it for, because I didn't trust myself. It's too good.

I can't believe I'm still sitting and typing on this thing.
See you tomorrow. :)

solar....a black boatswain is a Boson mate who happens to be black.........and if he hates white privileged southerners youre in for a rough ride......lol

nite zorba :)

I think that our drill instructor was on weed---used to talk with a southern accent,,,,,,onct while we were reading our mail---he loved fng with us during our mail time-----he was pretending to read his----on toilet paper----said that it was his grandmothers birthday-----used to spread out the word damn--------he pukes you know what i send my grandmother for her birthday last year,,,,,,a pair of roller skates-------well goddammm she doesn't have any legs-----asked me what I thought about that,,,,I had to answer---like a smart ass,,,,Sir private Solarcrete (:-))) would like to take her out some time-----100 f---kn push ups for that dumb remark----but you know that pecker wood made me assistant platoon leader---said that no one from god dammmm chicago was smart enough to be leader---go figure.

Ok Miss Kitty that is enough of that Zorba stuff---thanks Patd

Sturg ---now I get the compete picture-------You better be glad that I was not around ,,,cos I don't lie for nobody----I would have told him that you was the mostesss gentleman that I knew-----It doesn't matter what part of the military anyone was in---it was all rough huh---glad that is behind us.

Patsi---1st one is to wake u up---2nd is to stay up

A recent survey found that only 10% of men kiss their spouse goodbye when they leave the house.
They also discovered that 95% kiss the house goodbye when they leave their spouse.

My wife and I were sitting at a table at my high school
reunion, and I kept staring at a drunken lady swigging her drink as she
sat alone at a nearby table.

My wife asked,'Do you know her?'

'Yes,' I sighed, 'She's my old girlfriend. I understand
she took to drinking right after we split up those many years ago,
and I hear she hasn't been sober since'
'My God!' says my wife, 'Who would think a person could
go on celebrating that long?'

Imus Christmas Country Mix,
Merry Christmas All and A Happy New Year.

http://imustimes.wordpress.com/2008/12/20/imus-country-christmas/

Among the Kaoka-speaking people of the Solomon Islands, for example, the status-hungry individual begins his career by making his wife and children plant larger yam gardens. As described by the Australian anthropologist Ian Hogbin, the Kaoka who wants to become a big man then gets his kinsmen and his age-mates to help him fish. Later he begs sows from his friends and increases the size of his herd. As the litters are born he boards additional animals among his neighbors. Soon his relatives and friends feel that the young man is going to be a success. They see his large gardens and his big pig herd and they redouble their own efforts to make the forthcoming feast a memorable one. When he becomes a big man they want the young candidate to remember that they helped him. Finally, they all get together and build an extra-fine house. The men go off on one last fishing expedition. The women harvest yams and collect firewood, banana leaves, and coconuts, As the guests arrive ( as in the case of potlatch), the wealth is stacked in neat piles and put on display for everyone to cont and admire. O the day of the feast given by a young man named Atana, Hogbin counted the following items: 250 pounds of dried fish, 3,000 yam and coconut cakes, 11 large bowls of yam pudding, and 8 pigs. All t his was the direct result of the extra work effort organized by Atana. But some of the guests themselves, anticipating an important occasion, brought presents to be added to the giveaway. Their contributions raised the total to 300 pounds of fish, 5,ooo cakes, 19 bowls of pudding and 13 pigs. Atana proceeded to divide this wealth into 257 portions, one each for every person who had helped him or who had brought gifts, rewarding some more than others. “Only the remnants were left for Atana himself,” notes Hogbin. This is normal for status seekers in Guadalcanal, who always say: The r iver of the feast takes the bones and the stalecakes, the meat and the fat go to the others.”

The feast-giving days of the big man, like those of the potlatch chiefs, are never over. On thresat of being reduced to commoner status, each big man is obliged to busy himself with plans and preparations for the next feast. Since there are several big men per village and community, these plans and preparations often lead to complex competitive maneuvering for the allegiance of relatives and neighbors. The big mem work harder, worry more, and consume less t han anybody else. Prestige is their only reward....The big man can be described as a worker-entrepreneur,,the Russians call them “Stakhanovites”---who renders important services to society by raising the level of production. As a result of the big mans craving for status, more people work harder and produce major food and other valuables.Under conditions where everyone has equal access to the means of subsistence, competitive feasting serves the practical function of preventing the labor force from falling back to levels of productivity that offer mo margin of safety in crises such as war and corp failures, Further more, since there are no formal political institutions capable of integrating independent villages into a common economic frame-work, competitive feasting creates an extensive network of economic expectations. This has the effect of pooling the productive effort of larger populations than can be mobilized by any given village. Finally, competitive feasting by big men acts as as automatic equalizer of annual fluctuations in productivity amount a series of villages that occupy different microenvironments-seacoast,lagoon, or upland habitats> Automatically, the biggest feasts in any given year will be hosted by villages that have enjoyed conditions of rainfall, temperature, and humidity most favorable to production.

All of these points apply to the Kwakiutl, The Kwakiutl chiefs were like Melanesian big men except that they operated with a much more productive technological inventory in a richer environment. Like big men, they competed with each other to attract men and women to their villages, The greatest chiefs commissioned the carving of the “totem poles.” These were in fact grandiose advertisements proclaiming by their height and bold designs that here was a village with a mighty chief who could cause great works to be done, and who could protect his followers from famine and disease, In claiming hereditary rights to the animal crests carved on the poles, the chiefs were actually saying that they were great providers of food and comfort. Potlatch was a means of telling their rivals to put or or shut up.

Despite the overt competitive thrust of potlatch, it functioned aboriginally to transfer food and other valuables from centers of high productivity to less fortunate villages.To put this even more strongly: Because of the competitive thrust, such transfers were assured, Since there were unpredictable fluctuations n fish runs,wild fruit and vegetable harvests, intervillage potlatching was advantageous from the standpoint of the regional population as a whole. When the fish spawned in nearby streams and the berries ripened close at hand, last years guests became this years hosts. Aboriginally, potlatch meant that each year the haves gave and the have-not took. To eat, all a have-not had to do was admit that the rival chief was a great man.
Anthropologists began to study potlatch only long after the aboriginal peoples of th Pacific Northwest had entered into commercial and wage-labor relations with Russian, English, Canadian, and American merchants and settlers. This contact rapidly gave rise to epidemics of smallpox and other European diseases that killed off a large part of the native population. For example, the population of the Kwakiutl fell from 23,000 in 1836 to 2,000 in 1886./ The decline automatically intensified the competition for manpower. At the same time, wages paid by the Europeans pumped unprecedented amounts of wealth into the potlatch network. From the Hudson's Bay Company, the Kwakiutl received thousands of trade blankets in exchange for animal skins. At the great potlatches these blankets replaced food as the most important item to be given away. The dwindling population soon found itself with more blankets and other valuables than it could consume. Yet the need to attract followers was greater that were due to the empty villages. But these were the practices of a dying culture struggling to adapt to a new set of political and economic conditions, they bore little resemblance to the potlatch of aboriginal times.

Good evening all, just stopping in to see how the carol is going. What a hoot, love the lardass lines! You are all so clever!

Written by an attorney

The Night Prior to Christmas

Whereas, on or about the night prior to Christmas, there did occur at a certain improved piece of real property (hereinafter known as "the House") a general lack of stirring by all creatures therein, including, but not limited to, a mouse.

The minors of the aforementioned House were located in their individual beds and were engaged in nocturnal hallucinations wherein vision of con-fectionery treats including, but not limited to, candies, nuts and/or sugar plums, did dance, cavort and otherwise appear in said dreams.

Whereupon the party of the first part (sometimes hereinafter referred to as "I"), being the joint-owner in fee simple of the House with the party of the second part (hereinafter known as “Mamma”), had retired for a sustained period of sleep. At such time, the parties were clad in various forms of headgear, e.g. kerchief and cap.

Suddenly, and without prior notice or warning, there did occur upon the unimproved real property adjacent and appurtent to said House a certain disruption of unknown nature, cause and/or circumstance.

The party of the first part did immediately rush to a window in the House to investigate the cause of such disturbance.

At that time, the party of the first part did observe, with some degree of wonder and/or disbelief, a miniature sleigh (hereinafter known as "the Vehicle") being pulled and/or drawn very rapidly through the air by approximately eight (8) reindeer. The driver of the Vehicle appeared to be, and in fact was, the previously referenced to Claus.

Said Claus was providing specific direction, instruction and guidance to the approximately eight (8) reindeer and specifically identified the animal co-conspirators by name: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen (hereinafter known as "the Deer").

Upon information and belief, it is further asserted an additional co-conspirator named "Rudolph" may have been involved.)

The party of the first part witnessed Claus, the Vehicle and the Deer intentionally and willfully trespass upon the roofs of several residences located adjacent to and in the vicinity of the House and noted that the Vehicle was heavily laden with packages, toys and other items of unknown origin or nature.

Suddenly, without prior invitation or permission, either express or implied, the Vehicle arrived at the House and suddenly, without prior invitation or permission, either express or implied, the Vehicle arrived at the House and Suddenly, without prior invitation or permission, either express or implied, the Vehicle arrived at the House and Claus entered said House via the chimney.

Said Claus was clad in a red fur suit, which was partially covered with residue from the chimney, and he carried a large sack containing a portion of the aforementioned packages, toys, and other unknown items. He was smoking what appeared to be tobacco in a small pipe in blatant violation of local ordinances and health regulations.

Claus did not speak but immediately began to fill the stocking of the minors which hung adjacent to the chimney, with toys and other small gifts. (Said items did not, however, constitute "gifts" to said minors pursuant to the applicable provisions of the U.S. Tax Code.)

Upon completion of such task, Claus touched the side of his nose and flew, rose and/or ascended up the chimney of the House to the roof where the Vehicle and Deer waited. Claus immediately departed for an unknown destination.

However, prior to the departure of the Vehicle, Deer and Claus from said House, the party of the first part did hear Claus state and/or exclaim: "Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!"

~by James

tt

$325,000 donated for Helen Keller statue

A likeness of Keller as a 7-year-old girl is bound for the new underground, sky-lit main hall of the Capitol Visitors Complex, where thousands of tourists congregate.

"Helen Keller is one of the best-known Alabamians worldwide, and she will be one of the very few women, the only child and the only person with a disability" among the Capitol statues, said Joseph Busta, a vice president at the University of South Alabama who helped raise the money for the Keller statue.

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2008/12/325000_donated_for_helen_kelle.html

Al Franken leads by 251 votes over Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman (R) . WOW !!

I second that wow for Big Al from Minnesota.....

wow

the sun is back! the sun is back!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0D00sdzmkhk&feature=related

Sun sun sun here it comes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6tV11acSRk&feature=PlayList&p=D03C5E409C2F0AEA&playnext=1&index=12

Sun's Two:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-AwdqbRa_o&feature=related

here come da sun
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7794445.stm
and here
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20081221/NEWS01/812210375

James Brown covers Bobby Hebb's "Sunny"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui-PZtAfNbk&feature=related

Sheryl Crow - soak up the sun
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTI3JN7kG6I

More Madoff fallout...education foundation folds:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/chronicle/6174937.html

Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this son of York;
And all the clouds that loured upon our house
In the deep bosom of the ocean buried.
Now are our brows bound with victorious wreaths,
Our stern alarums changed to merry meetings,
Our dreadful marches to delightful measures.
Grim-visaged war hath smoothed his wrinkled front,

---Richard III, shake

Madoff should, instead of being under house arrest in his present quarters, be made to stay under house arrest in a mobile home or even a camper in the middle of jersey's pine barrens.

I guess Helen Keller jokes would be most inappropriate and out of the question.........

patsi, how are you? all snuggled in bed, having a steaming cup, sausage biscuits with honey, and reading the books section with the rest of sunday nytimes ascatter? hope you are recivered and ready for the festivities.

recivered= feeling on top of the world

white house christmas party
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20081221/COLUMNISTS20/812210478/1008/NEWS01

funny cartoon

What lovely weather for a free ride together,. on you

http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/corporate-sleigh-ride.jpg

Jack

"all snuggled in bed, having a steaming cup, sausage biscuits with honey, "

I wish, pat -- but I've been up since 4 STILL getting for my cleaning people to come. (I always have to go through clutter -- stacks of papers and books and general shit -- plus get all the bedding washed and ready for them to change....I need them for deep cleaning....but they have to get to it! (And so much of what looks like trash laying around my office is actually important stuff.....I'm like Jack said he was -- I leave ring around the chair.)

That should be"getting ready" for cleaning people....

Mornin' y'all...

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/my-lost-holiday.html#comment-183987

What, there's such a thing? Maybe we'll need some samples!

You don't know how much of an honor it is to have my name included in your poetry. Thanks for remembering me Chloe. I never have anything meaningful to contribute but due of the lack of intellectual stimulation available in my neck of the woods I need to keep reading this blog to keep my brain from shriveling up.

Happy Holidays to All
Carol

"I never have anything meaningful to contribute"

Carol,
That's just plain not true.
I always enjoy your thoughtful posts.
Happy Holidays to you!

Morning, you all. Patsi, after you finish getting your place ready for the cleaning people, and they have arrived and are hard at work, comer over here and work on my stuff. Stinky will be eternally grateful. Then, you can head to Jacks place.

p.s. Really hope you feel better soon.

Enough of this frivolity: Time to Take A Test

http://www.americancivicliteracy.org/

The callers on CSPAN were a bit mixed between the know it alls and the Huh? Duh! crowd

Hey we are warming up according to the weather man.

We are up to 1 degree. Don't think I will go out much today.
, As I was driving to visit my mother yesterday I noticed the big car is back. Last december I felt like one of the big dawgs on the road, yesterday I was one of the little ones. A lot more people from out of state too.

Jack

Solstice happening NOW at Maeshow in the Orkneys

http://www.maeshowe.co.uk/index.html

The room is just starting to light with the sun

http://buchanan.org/blog/index.php

Here's Buchanan on Afghanistan.."Obama's War"

"With 34,000 U.S. soldiers already in country, half under NATO command, the 20,000 will increase U.S. forces there to 54,000, a 60 percent ratcheting up. Shades of LBJ, 1964-65. Afghanistan is going to be Obama’s War. And upon its outcome will hang the fate of his presidency. Has he thought this through?"

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/21/business/21admin.html?_r=2&hp

"The Reckoning
White House Philosophy Stoked Mortgage Bonfire"

"But the story of how we got here is partly one of Mr. Bush’s own making, according to a review of his tenure that included interviews with dozens of current and former administration officials."

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/my-lost-holiday.html#comment-184002

Tony, From that Buchanan article you linked:

"Why is America getting seamless continuity when it voted for significant change?"

What did you think of what Pat had to say?

Chloe
Pat brings up so many good points in that article that seem hard to refute.I agree with much of what was said but I'm not prepared to call it "Obama's War".I can see how it could become his war if he goes the way LBJ went with Vietnam,hope not, I want a change from Bush and that doesn't mean a surge of troops in Afghanistan!

don't forget that Pat thinks Nixon got a bum rap and was not at fault at all.

Sunday--21st---at 2 .m. central time --and 23 11 a.m.---5 p.m.

Christmas Unwrapped

The origin of Christmas is traced from it's ancient Roman roots t its transformation into a Christian holiday marked by gift giving and frenzied shopping.

sorry---on the history channel

Thanks Tony. I agree with everything you just said.
I'm out the door. Have a great day!

http://www.salon.com/opinion/walsh/?last_story=/opinion/walsh/election_2008/2008/04/25/olbermann_apologizes/

Is Caroline Kennedy pro-choice?

"She doesn't have time for a listening tour; she's got to talk, too. Clinton's famous listening tour only worked because she began it a year before she faced election. Ultimately the voters would decide if they liked what they saw and heard. Kennedy only needs to impress one person right now, and that's Paterson, and he can't be liking what he's hearing."

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/my-lost-holiday.html#comment-184006

Dooty
Of course your right regarding Buchanan.I keep an open mind regarding P.B. though,he was so spot on during the primary season and I especially liked his insights and criticism's of his own Republican Party.

Well it is -2 here with a wind chill of -28 and I have 8 squirrels the size of German Shepherds at my feeders. I kid you not, either there is a gene thing going on and these squirrels are all related or it is going to be a booger of a Winter.

Zoey, they sound more like wolverines.

Zoey,,,don't put food waste(garbage) out---have someone check them out---take a pic--and show someone--??

XR----Decoding the Dead Sea Scrolls---today at 3 p.m. central on NGC channel

And a must see,and tape (for me)--today 12 p.m. on the science channel------Standard model of practical physics,,grand unified theory,,,string theory, Cosmic inflation,,,,and more

Snow update outside my front door

http://jdurward.blogspot.com/

No Solar, I feed the squirrels, rabbits, and birds on purpose. They provide a lot of entertainment. I have one squirrel feeder that is a whirligig with ears of corn on each of the four spokes. The squirrels get on the whirligig and ride it around sometimes.

A couple of days ago a squirrel got one of the ears of corn off the feeder but couldn't figure out how to carry it across the street to his nest. He tried to bury it in the front yard but I imagine the ground is frozen. I don't know what he finally decided to do.

Winter Solstice rituals have been canceled due to a serious lack of virgins unwilling to appear nude at -1 below zero.
That, and the fact that a wolverine named Bernie has peed in the punch bowl.

CB-You'll really like the Forevertron. Check it out (ibid.)

Zoey----sounds like you know t he diff----and what fun they must be to watch---I have one large rabbit that I like to watch,,,hope that he is OK--in all this cold--we are having winter cold weather warnings------stay warm :-)

ROSIE----I booked that site and saved that sculpture---I will rotate it with some others on my pc screen----thanks----hey where have you been----what you been doing---tsk, tsk

I found a book called 'Sublime Spaces and Visionary Worlds' I haven't bought it yet, but I jotted down a few things to show you guys.

Kenyan government imposes gag order on Obama family

"The Kenyan government has barred unapproved contacts between the media and President-elect Barack Obama's extended family.

Family members will be required to receive permission from the government before making any public statements about their famous relative, according to the Nairobi Star.

Journalists wishing to speak with the family must first be approved by the government.

This is not the first attempt to block press interest in President-elect Obama's African connections."

http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=84172

(Wonder why? Guess.)

Thought for the day :
" There`s so much to say but your eyes keep interrupting me. "

1117 Thomas Becket archbishop of Canterbury
1804 Benjamin Disraeli (Tory) British PM (1868, 1874-80)
1879 Joseph Stalin [Dzoegashvili] Russian dictator; murdered 11,000,000
1922 Paul Winchell New York NY, ventriloquist (Jerry Mahoney, Knucklehead Smith)
1937 Jane Fonda New York NY, actress (Barbarella, Klute), physically fit
1940 Frank Zappa Baltimore MD, composer/musician/satirist (Mothers of Invention, Catholic Girls)

1620 103 Mayflower pilgrims land at Plymouth Rock
1864 General Sherman conquers Savannah
1909 1st junior high school established (Berkeley CA)
1919 J Edgar Hoover deports anarchists/feminist Emma Goldman to Russia
1921 Supreme Court rules labor injunctions & picketing unconstitutional
1932 Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers, 1st joint movie (Flying Down to Rio)
1933 20th Century Fox signs Shirley Temple, 5, to a studio contract
1946 Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life" premieres
1988 New York bound Pan Am jumbo jet (Flight 103) explodes over Scotland, killing all 259 people on the plane and 11 people on the ground
1989 Vice-President Quayle sends out 30,000 Xmas cards with word beacon spelled beakon

Today's Broadway flop -
1978 "Broadway Musical" opens/closes at Lunt Fontanne Theater NYC

This is a link for Watts Towers in LA. Apparently, this is the first example of an earthquake proof building method. Whatever, it's just really neat.
http://www.victoriansecrets.net/watts.htm

Rosie -
I saw that ..... "Steam Punk"

If it is not too late I would like to contribute this stanza to your carol from last night.

To lurkers out there in Internet land
Come in, join us we are a varied band
Some times you learn, discuss, argue, some times you ignore
One thing you'll know - TMer's are a 'family' for sure

Can't stay, have Sunday chores. Really enjoy visiting.

Paul Winchell & Farfell

Nestle's makes the very best CHOCCCCCCCLETTTTT ! ...

LesAK-are you in AK?

Rosie,
Yes, Southeast - Skagway

wonder how tweety feels about being one of the poster boys lambasted by *media matters for america? they also blasted o'reilly and they gave hannity the 2008 misinformer award.
http://mediamatters.org/

ps, carville et al

Rosie---Another great find ----and tell us more when you can about--this book--sounds very string theory like.

"I found a book called 'Sublime Spaces and Visionary Worlds' I haven't bought it yet, but I jotted down a few things to show you guys."

ps= *

Paul Winchell, Jerry Mahoney, Knucklehead Smiff

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

I'm up here in Anchorage. Small world, huh?
Solar-one more-
http://www.dickeyvillegrotto.com/Grotto.htm
apperantly , this place was shown in that movie about the guy who drove his lawnmower across the US.
Patd-I like CM. He's cute when he gets all excited, just like a little kid.

C-Bob----morning----sorry for misinterpreting your intentions,,,,I am considering what you said,,,time constraints is what has been stopping me,,thanks

The guy that did the voices died about two years ago. He also did Dick Dastardly and the Bingo from the Banana Splits. Just in case it ever comes up in conversation.

may have mispoken re implying carville is part of media matters. an appeal for involvement (fundraising?) was sent out under his name... so i jumped to conclusions that are unfounded. sorry.

From Paul Winchell's obit -

He contracted polio when he was 6, and the disease caused his legs to atrophy. Only by relentless weight training, he said, was he able to overcome the effects of polio.

He said his mother was intolerant of his disease and beat him frequently. He found refuge in Bergen's radio comedy. At 12, he wanted to buy a book on ventriloquism, but he said his mother refused him the dime. His older sister's boyfriend gave him the money, however, and soon Mr. Winchell was practicing -- and mastering -- his technique.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/26/AR2005062601247.html

Everybody here that could get polio, have your mother beat you because of it, and over come it .......... Please stand-up.

I'd forgotten he also did Tigger.

Time for football. TTFN :)

Rosie -
I saw another artist from Ariz. who practiced the same sort of art. He had about 3 acres of junk in his backyard.
He called it :

"My index of visual ideas".

Big City, Brighter Lights: Gotham's New LED Streetlamp Plan

The new lamppost's 4-to 6-foot head boasts up to 100 LEDs with multiple lenses that can be configured to dial in specific lighting "footprints" of uniform brightness. For New York, the coverage patterns will be tailored for three distinct situations—park, street corner, and mid-block.

http://wired-vig.wired.com/culture/design/magazine/16-12/st_streetlamp

The Huffington Post Slammed for Content Theft

The Huffington Post, which launched in May 2005, drew 19 million unique visitors in November through the efforts of 27 editorial staff members, according to a spokesman. There's just one editor for the Chicago-focused project, which launched in August. The company just closed a $25 million funding round a few weeks ago.

http://blog.wired.com/business/2008/12/huffpo-slammed.html

" In other words: professional newsgathering organizations have paid professional writers to do professional work, and then Arianna comes in, creates links to their creations, and sells ads on her own page. How progressive. "

Warning if you have blood pressure problems, skip this one -

AP Study Finds $1.6B Went to Bailed-out Bank Execs
On the verge of failure, bank executives collected financial bonanzas, AP study finds

—The average paid to each of the banks' top executives was $2.6 million in salary, bonuses and benefits.

—Lloyd Blankfein, president and chief executive officer of Goldman Sachs, took home nearly $54 million in compensation last year. The company's top five executives received a total of $242 million.

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=6504932

--------------------
Where are the " Toyota Republicans " ?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/my-lost-holiday.html#comment-184050

isn't this sort of creativity --what got us into the mess we are in now-? probably not Illegal ,,,what some might say---but it does raise ethical, moral questions,,,no?

I couldnt get polio because jonas salk kicked polio in the butt.......

CBob

From Ragtime: The Night That Goldman Spoke In Union Square

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DeJVZJmXOE&feature=related

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/my-lost-holiday.html#comment-184029

Rosie, The Towers are even more remarkable when you are standing in the middle of them. High security is needed these days, but there are tours Here are some wonderful pictures. Just click on the thumbnails to enlarge

http://www.trywatts.com/towers.htm

"1989 Vice-President Quayle sends out 30,000 Xmas cards with word beacon spelled beakon "

Over on Lancaster Rd on the way to the South Dallas VA hospital, there is a rundown motel that advertises "Buget Rooms on a neon sign. The motel is for sale. Rough neighborhood.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/my-lost-holiday.html#comment-184049

CBob

Ariana being willing to do anything and everything required or to take any position no matter how spurious just to make another dime is hardly front page news.

Madoff probe uncovers fresh scams

"This seems to be something of a hybrid," Harbeck said, adding that the potential losses could be far greater than anyone first thought.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/dec/21/bernard-madoff-fraud-investment-scam

Sturgeone

My family wasn't quite as fortunate. For a week my stepsister and I went to all the same places, swam in the same pools, and slept in the same bed. I went home and spent the whole of the next day turning blue in the ocean and we came home to:

Don't let Janet get tired, Janice has polio.
I got a brief scare with what might have been the flu?
That was the epidemic year of 1952

She spent a year in an iron lung and then five years confined to a wheel chair in a neck to hip cement brace before passing away from pneumonia.

Greetings from Ann Arbor. I'm kinda stuck here. We got almost 12" of snow in Holland on Friday, which just about they got here in Ann Arbor. However, since last night, they have gotten almost 12" of new snow Holland, plus they are expecting 8-14" more. Doubt I will be able to go home today. I went to the Red Wings game in Detroit last night. They won 6-4. One interesting story. I went to the mens room after the game last night. While I was going to the bathroom, I heard some guys yell "Hey!" and "Double standard!" I didn't turn around to see why they were yelling. When I got out of the bathroom my friend asked me "Did you see that woman in the mens room?" This 20-something woman, tucked her hair under her hat and she went into the mens room and used one of the stalls in the mens room. That's what those guys were complaining about.

MOTHERS OF INVENTION - trouble coming every day

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QEz6OGm6_E

Well, you can cool it,
You can heat it . . .
'Cause, baby, I don't need it . . .
Take your TV tube and eat it
'N all that phony stuff on sports
'N all the unconfirmed reports
You know I watched that rotten box
Until my head begin to hurt
From checkin' out the way
The newsman say they get the dirt
Before the guys on channel so-and-so

And further they assert
That any show they'll interrupt
To bring you news if it comes up
They say that if the place blows up
They will be the first to tell,
Because the boys they got downtown
Are workin' hard and doin' swell,
And if anybody gets the news
Before it hits the street,
They say that no one blabs it faster
Their coverage can't be beat

And if another woman driver
Gets machine-gunned from her seat
They'll send some joker with a brownie
And you'll see it all complete

Just finished watching Dreamgirls for the first time. I knew Eddie Murphy could sing. I didn't know he was THAT good.

Jamie -
One of my first memories was being deathly afraid of getting polio. I still remember eating that sugar cube, and the relief from worry it brought.

Frank Zappa - 02 - I'm the slime

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

Well, I am the slime from your video
Oozin' along on your livin'room floor

Billy the Mountain is a Frank Zappa song, first made available on the album Just Another Band from L.A. in 1972. The original recording of this song, which took a complete half-hour to perform, was from a live tour performance on August 7, 1971 in Los Angeles during the Flo & Eddie days of Frank Zappa's band. The album recording had to be reduced to 24 minutes and 47 seconds in order to fit on one side.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_the_Mountain

Baydan has received orders for 300,000 pairs of the shoes since the attack, more than four times the number his company sold each year since the model was introduced in 1999. The company plans to employ 100 more staff to meet demand, he said. ..................
“Model 271” is exported to markets including Iraq, Iran, Syria and Egypt. Customers in Iraq ordered 120,000 pairs this week .........

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=auI050ptHyPg

New Hampshire is getting slammed again, another 14" of snow on top of 8" the other night and the ice storm before that.

There are people I work with that still do not have power. They have gone a week and a half and it may be a few more days. So keep them in your thoughts. So I hope the RebRenee is not at the end of the line but suspect that she is still without electricity.

My work week is over until after Christmas and I am happy about that, I can sit by the fireplace and watch it snow, knowing I don't have to go anywhere for several days.

There is a side trip to northern New York state coming up soon, I am picking up a seven week old puppy, purebred Chocolate Lab, named after New York States tallest mountain, Marcy.

Police break up Russian protests

About 500 people had gathered in the city's central square to demonstrate against a new tax on imported cars.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7794560.stm

Jamie, that was a terrible year. That summer, the music teacher at our junior high school lost all five of his children. My cousin contracted polio shortly after the war. Although he lost use of his legs, his father did everything humanly possible helping him to overcome the disease. Over the years he went down to Warm Springs for therapy and refitting of his braces. It wasn't until years later that they discovered the continual exercises he did could cause a recurrence of the disease. He died about ten years ago.

les from skagway, way to go. nice sentiments re tm.

poetus christmas in hawaii
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j6qvgFhn3gDmqfZcE3vdDDI4Ks6wD957804G1

New Bucket List Addition

Kakadu National Park

http://www.kakadunationalparkaustralia.com/

".....demonstrate against a new tax on imported cars.
....... critics say the tax could push prices up by 50%......
The tax is intended to help prop up Russia's domestic car industry and prevent people buying cheaper, imported products."

cbob, interesting re rioting in russia over car tax. wonder what the average such taxes are now and in what countries. also how competitive to japanese autos are american made exports to there. other question, do we even export any or are they all made somewhere else?

Flatus,

Years later, I had the Salk live virus vaccine, so doctors can't be sure if my antibodies are from that or a very mild case of polio. It is possible that that is source of the back problems that materialized years later.

I have one friend who had a worse case that affected one leg and she is now dealing with the recurrance of the paralysis that so many are getting.

That was so frightening about the disease. What started with a fever and stiff neck could range from just being ill for a few days to death. Genetics gambling with lives. Now it is making a come back due to people not thinking the vaccine is necessary or not having access to it.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/my-lost-holiday.html#comment-184062

Corey
Your post really brings back the memories! Glad you got out of Detroit though,Ann Arbor is a nice town but in the summer.Ha! I met a retired couple form Holland yesterday at the gym and they told me of all the snow back home and how happy they are with the 80's here for Christmas....

Bowmanc- glad to see you back and congrats on the new family member! I think about Renee every day, way too long to be without power and an especially piss poor time of year for it to happen. Here's to hopes that all is righted for her very soon.

"Now it is making a come back due to people not thinking the vaccine is necessary or not having access to it."

I can't imagine any public health district not making the vaccine available to all comers. The trend of 'smart' parents refusing vaccinations for their kids is usually misguided. I often wonder if their refusal is a way for them to demonstrate their independence by challenging expert authority.

My mom signed me up to take the vaccine tests they ran with the polio vaccines. I remember getting to get out of school to go to the doctors office for tests. I remember taking the sugar cubes also. Near as I know, I did not ever get polio.

Flatus

Due to the requirement of the vaccine here before school entry, there are only a few who use the "for religious reasons" cop out. Most of the modern cases are in Africa, the Middle East and India.

Interesting article on Polio is Pakistan

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/10/04/MNH212J3NS.DTL

Yep, US 131 closed south of Grand Rapids. I-196 closed east of Zeeland. I-94 closed west of Kalamazoo. Not even snowing here in Ann Arbor. At least 13" of new snow in the Holland area . Detroit Lions now 0-15. Game was blacked out here. I could have watched it if I was home. BTW, my friend said some guy went on a rampage near Detroit recently. He slashed tires of foreign cars and wrote "BUY AMERICAN" in permanent marker on car windshields. He got caught on a mall security cam. He was driving a Ford Escape.

"....I keep an open mind regarding P.B..."
http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/my-lost-holiday.html#comment-184011

and he was so good to Hillary, Tony (as was Krisol).
(sometimes when no one else in the media was).
...................

uh oh ...

Bleeding Heart Tightwads
"Liberals show tremendous compassion in pushing for generous government spending to help the neediest people at home and abroad. Yet when it comes to individual contributions to charitable causes, liberals are cheapskates.

.... households headed by conservatives give 30 percent more to charity than households headed by liberals. A study by Google found an even greater disproportion: average annual contributions reported by conservatives were almost double those of liberals....

...This column is a transparent attempt this holiday season to shame liberals into being more charitable. Since I often scold Republicans for being callous in their policies toward the needy, it seems only fair to reproach Democrats for being cheap in their private donations..."
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/21/opinion/21kristof.html?ref=opinion

I'm glad you posted that, Chloe. I think during Bush the Elder's term, he chided Republicans for not putting their money where their mouths were, i.e., if they wanted to cut government spending on human services, then it was up to them to makeup the shortfall by contributing voluntarily. Laudable efforts by individuals were recognized by 'Points of Light' awards.

Chloe/Flatus

I wonder if there isn't a difference in the way liberals and conservatives "give'. It may well be that liberals are doing more one on one giving and not reporting it whereas conservatives are more likely to give to churches and official groups that end up on the tax return.

I Read the article. Seems they are in truth just about equal and when you remove religion, liberals actually give more.

"It’s true that religion is the essential reason conservatives give more, and religious liberals are as generous as religious conservatives. Among the stingiest of the stingy are secular conservatives.
According to Google’s figures, if donations to all religious organizations are excluded, liberals give slightly more to charity than conservatives do. "

"...are secular conservatives." Surely those critters aren't Republicans.

"and he was so good to Hillary, Tony (as was Krisol).
(sometimes when no one else in the media was)."
...................

Chloe
So True! It used to make my head spin during the primaries that I was agreeing with these Republican talking heads on some issues.I also found them to be among the fairest when assessing the Dem. primary.

Jamie

As most organizations helping the poor are religious based, does that mean that liberals give to other type of 501c3 organizations that don't help the poor?

Jack

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/my-lost-holiday.html#comment-184092

Jack

That is an assumption. There are many organizations that assist the poor that are not religious based such as Doctors Without Borders, Toys For Tots, Coats for Kids and Save The Children. Then there are all sorts of food banks, senior centers, etc not to mention all the people who read about a family in need in their paper and just send off a check. There is a huge amount of one on one giving that never sees a 1040.

In case anyone is interested, here is a list of charities grouped by type that have a rating of B or better as to the percentage of their funds that actually get where you want it to go.

http://www.charitywatch.org/toprated.html

There is a link to the C and lower charities on the page to advise on the charities you might want to avoid.

Jamie, ratings of charities were discussed in a WSJ article last week:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122963299671419401.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

it may be a fallacy also that liberals are not religious and don't support religious based charities. Just because you are a liberal does not mean you are an atheist.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/my-lost-holiday.html#comment-184087

Yes, all those things you said are right Jamie, but there's also this:

"But Mr. Brooks says that if measuring by the percentage of income given, conservatives are more generous than liberals even to secular causes."

and this:

"Other research has reached similar conclusions. The “generosity index” from the Catalogue for Philanthropy typically finds that red states are the most likely to give to nonprofits, while Northeastern states are least likely to do so."

"Just because you are a liberal does not mean you are an atheist."

I agree dooty. Just as, just because you're an atheist doesn't mean you're a liberal. :)

What it all came down to is that both sides are virtually tied and juggling the definitions of "charity" and slapping an attention getting headline on an op ed piece doesn't change that fact.

It just makes one side or the other (depending on which is being praised) feel self congratulatory for being so wonderful.

Jamie, That article wasn't written as any type of criticism and I certainly didn't write it as one. A liberal wrote it, and I am a liberal (liberal independent that is). I saw it as a friendly, human interest story only. Nothing more. And I of course questioned it's accuracy too. There's too many variables to possibly be sure. In truth, I thought it was kinda funny.

write = link

So, have we finally figured out that there are:

Generous people
Stingy people
liberals
conservatives
cool people
uncool people
and we can break these down forever into any type of category you want.

When I see articles that are promoting a study that says one group is this (i.e. good) another group is this (i.e bad) my BS detector goes off to see if there is a bias that is being promoted.

I know both generous and cheap people and I think it is more to do with personality rather than political beliefs. That said I have more respect for people that back up their talk with action (or money) rather than those that champion an agenda but expect others to foot the bill.

Not disputing your statement, but where is the evidence? It is best to present the evidence, rather than just say that it exists.

"Generous people
Stingy people
liberals
conservatives
cool people
uncool people"

and it's all relative, and it depends on who you ask.

Hey Bow, On your 7:54 I'm not sure who you're talking to or what you're talking about. :)

The post about conservatives giving more to charity than liberals.

1) Conservatives probably have more money than liberals.

2) They probably know how to deduct it better from their taxes.

Notice I used the word probably? I have no evidence to present other than the fact the my conservative acquaintances appear to be much better off than my liberal friends.

with Salk's vaccine you got a shot.......with Sabin's vaccine you ate a sugar cube.........I mostly got the salk.....sabin was in charleston i think

That sounds right Bow.
It's hard to tell what's going on there. That op-ed pretty much told us nothing. Just a funny headline on it, imo. :)

tonight el sturgeone played the coolest oyster roast on the planet.......smokey woulda dug the shit we played......so would have been marvin and doug clark.....not to mention Ben E King, Ernie K-Doe the Tams, Hully Gully Olympics and the DixieCups....which leaves out Joe Tex and Dan Penn.......oh....and Dallas Frazier, Joe South and that other guy..........

leave out the "been" in that last el posto......

"Generous people
Stingy people
liberals
conservatives
cool people
uncool people"

and it's all relative, and it depends on who you ask.

Hey Chloe
If you ask me , I say it describs my relatives to a tee.

;-0

Jack

sometimes the music is just too damn cool for school........

", I say it describs my relatives to a tee"

Lol Jack. Mine too!

I have to get away from this computer and start spending more time with my pedal steel guitar.

It doesn't argue with me, but it can screech if I am not paying attention.

my much loved brutha dan penn:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyzuxNLVG0o

mr bow.....you play the pedal steel??? christ, man, why didnt you say so........lol

I know what you mean. I have to start getting away from my computer too Bow. (but I can always find someone to argue with):)

I dont have any problem getting away from the computer.......I have a problem getting TO the computer......but I can empathize witchoo guys, it's all the same 'cept for the flies........

sturge,

I have a life long love of the pedal steel, I have just recently purchased one and am learning. so I cannot say I play, but I play with it. The link below is where I got mine. Best money I ever spent.

http://www.stageonesteelguitars.com/more_pictures

Bow......have a friend who is a bass player and can also do the pedal steel, but he got fed up with the tuning and the replacing strings on the steel......lol.......but when he did the steel there was magic in the air.........

this was the first steel playing i ever hoid........in 1954 on me old man's record player.......it was a bit before Buddy emmons added the pedals........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhahiKyiNbg&feature=PlayList&p=169D20C401DA5896&playnext=1&index=2

it was an amazing machine.......you could stack records on the spindle and it had a two sided needle.....first it would play the underside of the record before it dropped and then it would play the other side after the record dropped......then play the underside of the next one......and this was in '54, by golly......havent seen one since......and that was 58 yars ago......

Malcolm Eckstein.......

may your days, may your days, may your days be sunny and Briiiiiiiiiiii-yai-yai-yai-ight.......and may all your christmases be white........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ad98fgYGnYg&feature=related

Bobby a la cisco houston:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JDwY99zKAs

well.....the xanax will be kicking in any minute now and I will be forced to leave you all to your own devices.....not like it's a problem......I've been leaving people to their own devices for many a year now.........MY devices on the other hand are something I'd prefer people not leave me with......but be that as it may, so to speak, as it were, devices are truly only made to be left with.....and that's what makes the mare go.......

How many of you fellers ever had a conversation with a mule? If'n you dont know it, a mule is so damn smart that he can talk to you .......most people dont know that but if you ever get a chance to speak with one.....Dont let the chance pass you by.......it's were those old movies about Francis the Talking mule came from.....a mule can talk with you very intelligently........and If'n you dont believe me, go find a mule and (being respectful) ask the old dude a question........

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/my-lost-holiday.html#comment-184093

OK then,Merry Humbug!! I thought you were a non-practicing Jewish person,my mistake.I assure you I don't celebrate Christmas in a religious way and don't say Merry Christmas in one either.Happy Holidays....

Hey Tony......merry chrixmas.....ha ha ha

Tony -- Merry Christmas to YOU! I'm feeling much better thank you! And my grandbaby may be on her way here tomorrow. My son drove from Wash DC to Cincinnati (where his sister lives) today -- and the FIRST thing his neice Maria said was "Let's play Barbies!"

So anybody who wonders what DHS is doing this holiday....well, at least one of their engineers is playing Barbies in Cinci....

3 cave men were sitting in front of their cave one day......a black horse ran by.......3 years later the caveman on the right says....."Did y'all see that white horse?
2 and 1/2 years later the one on the left says, "That wasnt a white horse....it was black."
about 3 years later the one in the middle gets up and starts to walk off......the one on the right says, " Where ya goin', dude?" the Center one looks back and says, "Well if there's going to be this constant arguing, I'm leaving."

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/my-lost-holiday.html#comment-184133

sturge
Merry Chixmas to you and yours!
Your a blessing around here,no religion intended! Ha Ha....

As god is my witness.....I'll NEVER be hungry again......
--Miz Scarlett

and here I spent 25 bucks on an eye of round roast.....Im just so damned happy I didnt have to eat a raw turnip..................e-yuck................

It's not a co-incidence that Rhett Butler was from charleston......

Patsi
Merry Christmas.I'm glad your feeling better!! "Lets play Barbie's!",what a hoot . I remember playing Barbie's with my niece,Ashley never tired of dressing up those Barbie's and think her thing for clothes,clothes and more clothes developed with those dolls.It will be nice to hear about Maria and your Christmas.Its sounds silly but there's nothing better than Christmas through a child's eyes,nothing.

craig can tout his orlando until the cows come back and are all in bed watching re-runs of "Gunsmoke" trying to spot their relatives, but I can only surmise that he has not had the chance to have been born and raised in charleston......it's a subjective thing......

Muse-Feeling good
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYyvmp_Mvb8

I didn't read the vaccine thread thoroughly, but read enough to believe that some of you would do well to research vaccines and their components more thoroughly before implying that 'smart' parents who choose to refuse some vaccines are being less than diligent in protecting their children's health.

Flatus...The polio vaccine is one that I would choose to risk (meaning that I would opt to take it, and have my children take it), as the consequences if you get the one strain of polio that causes paralysis are very severe. That said, the development of that vaccine was the result of a colossal clash of ego and desire to 'cure' the president's illness between Salk and Sabin. It was developed too quickly, and with insufficient research...like many modern medicines...and actually contained a live simian virus called SV-40 that is a known cause of human cancers. The virus survived because the vaccine was not left in its wash of formaldehyde for a sufficient length of time before being prepared as a 'vaccine' for human use. The polio vaccine is made on a base of ground up monkey kidneys...yummy! If you'd like an education on this, please read "The Virus and the Vaccine" by Debbie Bookchin and Jim Schumacher.

My belief is that vaccines add to the toxins we humans are now struggling against, and are directly responsible for many of the autoimmune disorders that are becoming ever more prevalent. We live in a wash of toxins of all kinds, few of which are good for us, but vaccines contain the only toxins I know of that we inject directly into our bloodstreams. Vaccines contain such ingredients as aluminum, mercury, formaldehyde, elements of rat poison, and others.

I could go on and on...I've researched vaccines and their components extensively. I reached my conclusions only after a great deal of study and careful consideration. And I definitely consider myself a 'smart' parent.

And Jamie...There are three reasons for which one can refuse vaccines...medical, religious, and philosophical. Vaccines are promoted as mandatory in order to forward the agenda of vaccine proponents, but...in most places...they really aren't, as one can be exempted for any of the above reasons.

Good morning all!
Jamie, such a sad story, am glad you survived it all and are here with us now to keep us all in line!
Patsi- So glad you're up and at'em again!
Tony- I agree, little ones do make the season sweet. Merry Christmas!
Sturge- thanks again and you've got my curiosity piqued, now I gotta find me a mule!
Now I'm off to brave the wild world of red lights, double lanes, McDonalds and the initial freak of traveling at the speed of 55!

Unions sue Schwarzenegger over mandatory days off
The lawsuit challenges the governor's authority to require all state employees to take two unpaid furloughs each month starting in February.

Now somebody explain to me why public sector employees should be protected from economic downturns, when states cannot balance their books. The state is reliant on the taxes of the gainfully employed. When the revenues of private companies go down, due to less demand for their products, workforce adjustments are necessary to stay in business.

When a state cannot balance its books, workforce reduction sounds fair to me.