Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

you want a preacher? he's on his way
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amznbi0lFaU

on the first day of winter my teevee gave to me
a PUMA in a pine tree.
on the second day of winter my teevee gave to me
two parties fighting
and a PUMA in a pine tree.
on the third day of winter my teevee gave to me
three foreign wars,
two parties fighting
and a PUMA in a pine tree.
on the fourth day of winter my teevee gave to me
four planes acrashing,
three foreign wars,
two parties fighting
and a PUMA in a pine tree.
one the fifth day of winter my teevee gave to me
five floods and fires,
four planes acrashing,
three foreign wars,
two parties fighting
and a PUMA in a pine tree.

Merry Christmas......
Florida has had some good weather of late....

Craig -
Now he's picked a bigot?

you seem to be beyond such trash talk and I would think this comes from not really understanding ones position.....

if not preacher, will monks do?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiRpXsWlZK4

here's a story from the guardian on those monks
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/dec/22/gregorian-chant-music-austria

patd - nice links this early Christmas week morn.....

Many choices for the Barack that is showing up for work - much different then the one from the campaign.

Best to all....

ping,

He's yet another evangelical who has announced that the majority of humanity ain't goin' to heaven. Jews, Muslims, Catholics, Buddhists.

How on (or off) earth The Most Reverberent Warrenis going to bodily fit through his blessed pearly gates... I dunno.

You see, I went into shock when Dex praised Warren for his soi-disant "spartan lifestyle".

Dex... there were 300 Spartans.

Not one 300 pound Spartan.

Though Rick might have plugged up Thermopylae for all of a second until the Persians harpooned him.

All of this was much less complicated when presidents were Episcopalians.

And who says a preacher must do the invocation? I bet Maya Angelou could do a fine job.

In our small city, we stopped having clergy do them; in virtually every case their efforts ended up being divisive. We finally opted for moments of silence.

300 pound spartan.....lol

let's be ecumenical about this en-chanting stuff
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VqoxOcEqpk&feature=related
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1evxMA7yYw&feature=related

sturge...

Lovely essay on the 100th anniversary of Wind in the Willows...

http://www.salon.com/opinion/kamiya/2008/12/16/wind_in_the_willows/index.html

I think the last long run of Pres all Methodist.

So are we seeing the real Barack - or is he just setting up to make sure he gets more then 4 years?

Off to work

9/11.....I read the first two pages of the article......great......I'll read the rest this evening when my longer day than yesterday is done........Thanks.....

so far today I've visited with Rat and Mole and listened to the Monks chant......gonna be a good day, maybe......

that preacher business is certainly a sticky wicket, though, wot?
glad i dont have to deal with them......

"All of this was much less complicated when presidents were Episcopalians"

ROFL, Flatus -- and I love the moment of silence concept.

9/11

Awhile back I started recreating my childhood library with really beautiful editions. The second book I bought was "Wind In The Willows".

there is nothing - absolutely nothing half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/obamas-latest-preacher-problem.html#comment-184156

Ping,

Believing that marriage should be between a man and a woman is a reasonable religious position. Not one I agree with, but reasonable.

Likening being a gay or lesbian to someone who engages in incest or pedophilia and then saying you love them is the most disgusting form of insulting bigotry.

hebrew chanting
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zrPFxxT1VM

Jamie,

Ah... that is the love that keeps us -- all those books.

I re-read Wind In The Willows several times each year.

And last night I celebrated Erev Hanukkah by reading my absolute favorite Hanukkah gift ever -- Freddy and the Perilous Adventure by Walter R. Brooks.

However... I had less of a celebration of a more spontaneous holiday.

The week before a gland in my neck showed its ambition by growing to plantain-size.

So I strolled into the Casino de Hematology for treatment and now it is about the size of a burnt Jimmy Dean sausage.

That's so good. But before it shrank my chemo-sabe Ralph saw my throat and asked what was going on there.

I told him the node was filled with oil -- so much that it would light the lamps of the temple for eight nights.

And so Ralph and I celebrated our the miracle of Haneckkah.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/obamas-latest-preacher-problem.html#comment-184169
breaking down the firewall......

Jamie - the position is the same as your statement...

("Believing that marriage should be between a man and a woman is a reasonable religious position. Not one I agree with, but reasonable. ")

If all sin is equal but one - then there is no hate and it is possible to love all equally.

jamie,

Let's see just how soon Obama follows through and overturns DOMA.

And then let's see if the Supreme Court has a chance to compare its ruling that anti-miscegenation laws were anti-Constitutional apply to laws banning gay marriage.

Nice 9/11. Light is where one finds it.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/obamas-latest-preacher-problem.html#comment-184172

Ping,

The last time I checked you don't call people you love pedophiles and child molesters and refuse to sit with them for a meal. It isn't the position, it is the hypocrisy

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/obamas-latest-preacher-problem.html#comment-184171

That does add a new spin with Neckrophilia

9/11 -- You are starting to really scare me. Is this sausage going to fade away?

Jamie,

First case of that I was exposed to?

Gomez and Morticia... just after he took a very direct route up her arm.

Well he was speaking French

I agree Jamie -- this Rick Warren BS is sickening. This morning someone said Obama had to be considering all the books Warren has sold. Jeez -- Ann Coulter has sold a boat load of books as well...might as well trot her out.

Patsi,

So far, so good.

The pleasant news is that at the this month's Hematology Hoedown there were two large studies involving relapsed CLL case treatments.

One is that my hema was more than right -- she insisted on giving me Rituxan for my CLL and the second stage FDA trial results more than just support that. (Of course, there's the damage the Rituxan and its steroid bffs do... well, whatchagonnado?)

I was kicked out of using the available chemos (except for an injectable one which kills everyone within two years) this past March. So the third stage FDA trial result on a newish chemo actually developed for CLL used in tandem with Rituxan was even better.

Best part of that -- it's made of nitrogen mustard! Given how I've written of mustard gas, that's just how things should be.

How are you feeling?

A year ago Ralph's comparatively benign NHL mutated into the mostly deadly mantle cell.

He's fine now.

And his kids are almost entirely peeled off the ceiling of sheer panic.

And Oxford University Press chased him down for a book of essays which will probably be the Wonderful Scientist's Book of the next ten years at minimum.

He is a rare, rare man. Also, at fifty, still a great kid with whom to play.

Patsi,

On that basis... who else should Obama invite to speak?

I'll start with James Frey... then move along to the fellers who write (sort of) that Left Behind series.

And whatever happened to Right Behind? Aren't those guys supposed to at least eventually turn the other cheek?

Here's one of the ugliest stories I've read recently -- and unfortunately one that is probably repeated in various situations every damned day.

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2008/12/galveston_false_arrest.php

How about inviting Jim Bob Duggar? He can talk about the wonderfulness of this crowd:

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

Patsi,

I'd MUCH rather Obama picked the best arrow ever from humankind's quiver -- a doggy, a song and a point that rounds off all of life's differences.

Harry Nilsson -- Me And My Arrow

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

"he's picked a bigot to give his invocation at the inauguration."

You go Craig! (still...tellin it like it is):)
.........

Patsi, Am so glad to hear you are feeling better and that your granddaughter is on her way. Happy Holidays!
..........

"I can only surmise that he has not had the chance to have been born and raised in charleston...".
http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/my-lost-holiday.html#comment-184141

Sturge, Isn't that where Prince of Tides was filmed? (my all time favorite soundtrack)

Here is my holiday favorite.

Disney makes this vanish faster than series do on ABC --

The only released segment from its scuttled Fantasia 3, a version of Andersen's The Little Matchgirl set to the third movement of Borodin's second string quartet.

It is the one work out of Disney (or anywhere) which embraces and rivals their work from the 1940's.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkoaFT-Oc-U

Oops -- of course, I forgot the link.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2008/dec/22/afghanistan-drug-abuse

"Lost souls of Afghanistan's heroin trade
Clancy Chassay investigates how women are falling victim to Kabul's burgeoning heroin problem"

Video is chilling and SAD........

Come on Craig. I am a lefty and proud of the President-Elect for standing up for Rick Warren. Warren may have some different opinions, but he also works to better the lives of countless people (including believers and non-believers, gay and straight, black and white). Neither Rick Warren or President-Elect Obama are bigots, and attacking either one does nothing for advancing the marriage movement.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/obamas-latest-preacher-problem.html#comment-184176

Jamie...Patsi

I was not aware that Rick "refused" anything and in fact my understanding is the opposite - maybe the false attacks on Rick are just like those against Barack?

"Harry Nilsson -- Me And My Arrow"

Great! Excellent choice....

Rick Warren is not a bigot? Who knew?

Merry Christmas from my friend Joe...

http://practicallyperfectpatsi.wordpress.com/

http://www.mlive.com/flintjournal/voices/index.ssf/2008/12/uaw_will_be_able_to_wait_out_d.html#more

"UAW will be able to wait out demands in President Bush's auto industry rescue plan"

"The union will talk about making General Motors wages and work rules comparable to nonunion plants in the U.S. owned by foreign automakers.
But not by next year, not on the terms of their harshest critics, and not after already agreeing to a two-tier wage system in the last national contract."

Patsi - Now you and all the others know now. To bad that people fall for the false story that they want to believe.

Barack was victim of the same type attacks - So now hope that Craig and others do not let this continue

Well Said MPK !!!
http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/obamas-latest-preacher-problem.html#comment-184192

I wanted to get this comment in the last Post but Craig has moved on:)

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

You can also find a compilation of “50s” Christmas Music here put together by Janet Crain, Blogs Sarah Palin 2012. Janet Crain “History Chasers” Fellow Researcher, Genealogist and Family Historian.

http://sarah-palin-2012.blogspot.com/2008/12/merry-christmas-to-all.html

MERRY CHRISTMAS CRAIG CRAWFORD AND TRAIL MIX

Sea
Merry Christmas.

Ping -- Don't know about Rick's choice of dining companions and don't care. He compares marriage among gays to marriage between adults and children and adults and farm animals. He's scum, whether he feeds the poor or not....

Some of my good friends are gay parents. One of my granddaughter's best little pals has two mommies. The very thought of any of those fabulous children hearing the poisonous crap Rick and his pals spew about gays getting married -- about the parents they love -- makes my blood curdle.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/obamas-latest-preacher-problem.html#comment-184193

Ping,

It was at a rather well known get together where Evangelicals invited reps from the homosexual community for a "dialogue". Warren himself has said, "we served them doughnuts and water". I saw the clip of that remark from him just a couple of days ago and he almost seemed to be bragging about all that hospitality. What he doesn't mention and what was reported by the attendees is that none of the evangelicals joined them to eat the doughnuts and water.

When you add in the accusations of child abuse when that is most commonly heterosexual, it's not exactly love and brotherhood he is preaching.

All this is why my position has always been that ALL couples should have civil registration with all the rights and prvilges and then go get "married" in any ceremony that suits your beliefs and practices. Any time you mix particular church doctrine with the law of the government, you have a problem.

Sorry, Ping.

Rick says my kid, mom, dad and brother ain't a-goin' to heaven.

Maybe he thinks your kin ain't either.

Jamie,

Sharon's new book came out last month. She had a wonderful interview with Jacki Lydon which is still up on their site. And the book has won the 2008 Donald Hall Prize for Poetry!

Look up Sharon Dolin Burn and Dodge on Amazon if you'd like.

From it...

To the Family of the Man We Ate 130 Years Ago
Nabutautau, Fiji

We are sorry, but when your kinsman, the reverend,
touched the head of our chief
what else could we do?
The head you must know is the crown
where the spirit floats and
his hand, which had touched so many
unclean things—his wife's body
with its many fluids and folds, his own
body, a chicken's wing, even
patted a dog's back with it and then
he raised it to our chieftain's
head to remove a wooden half
a fishbone—comb, he called it,
after he had shown him one gliding
through his own hair—well—in
the rain we anointed him with oils
said our blessings and cooked him
and ate him. His boots—we'd never
seen such things before—we cooked with bele
similar to your spinach but they were
too tough. See here, we've kept them
for almost 130 years and now return them to you.
Now we offer you many whale's teeth—one
for each year his spirit has been
wandering in our bellies—may he swim
to shore and stay with you.
And may you lift this curse from us
that has kept us hungry all these years
with little outside light and very
matted hair.

9/11 - I love it. How can you not smile at the honor after such an insult.

Ping,

Here is a link to a Warren interview that is then followed by a "clarification" from Warren because of his mistatement of Civil "rights" vs Civil "unions"

http://blog.beliefnet.com/stevenwaldman/2008/12/should-fire-rick-warren-be-fir.html

It's a slow Internet day, so I'm posting the following message from Maj Gen Schneider because many of us are vets and others know vets or have vets that are family members. Do them a holiday favor by sharing this information with them and/or their families.

Craig, I ask your indulgence as an exception to policy.

From: Carl G. Schneider
To: Tom McInerney
Sent: Sunday, December 21, 2008 9:16 AM
Subject: Fw: Info - Please forward to all veterans

----- Original Message -----

Subject: Info - Please forward to all veterans
Merry Xmas to you all. Here's a list of info that you might want to pass on.

Here is a lengthy list of VA information websites :.

Good list to print for reference.

Below are web-sites that provide information on Veterans benefits and how to file/ask for them. Accordingly, there are many sites that explain how to obtain books, military/medical records, information and how to appeal a denied claim with the VA. Please pass this information on to every Veteran you know. Nearly 100% of this information is free and available for all veterans, the only catch is: you have to ask for it, because they won't tell you about a specific benefit unless you ask for it. You need to know what questions to ask so the right doors open for you -- and then be ready to have an advocate who is willing to work with and for you, stay in the process, and press for your rights and your best interests.

Appeals http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/admin21/m21_1/mr/part1/ch05.doc
Board of Veteran's Appeals http://www.va.gov/vbs/bva/
CARES Commission http://www.va.gov/vbs/bva/
CARES Draft National Plan http://www1.va.gov/cares/page.cfm?pg=105
Center for Minority Veterans http://www1.va.gov/centerforminorityveterans/
Center for Veterans Enterprise http://www.vetbiz.gov/default2.htm
Center for Women Veterans http://www1.va.gov/womenvet/
Clarification on the changes in VA healthcare for Gulf War Veterans http://www.gulfwarvets.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000016.html
Classified Records - American Gulf War Veterans Assoc http://www.gulfwarvets.com/ubb/Forum18/HTML/000011.html
Compensation for Disabilities Associated with the Gulf War Service http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/admin21/m21_1/part6/ch07.doc
Compensation Rate Tables, 12-1-03 http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Rates/comp01.htm
Department of Veterans Affairs Home Page http://www.va.gov/
Directory of Veter ans Service Organizations http://www1.va.gov/vso/index.cfm?template=view
Disability Examination Worksheets Index, Comp http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Benefits/exams/index.htm
Due Process http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/admin21/m21_1/mr/part1/ch02.doc
Duty to Assist http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/admin21/m21_1/mr/part1/ch01.doc
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations http://www.gpoaccess.gov/ecfr/
Emergency, Non-emergency, and Fee Basis Care http://www1.va.gov/opa/vadocs/fedben.pdf
Environmental Agents http://www1.va.gov/environagents/
Environmental Agents M10 http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=1002
Establishing Combat Veteran Eligibility http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=315
EVALUATION PROTOCOL FOR GULF WAR AND IRAQI FREEDOM VETERANS WITH POTENTIAL EXPOSURE TO DEPLETED URANIUM (DU) http://www1.va.gov/gulfwar/docs/DUHandbook1303122304.DOC and http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=1158
See also,
Depleted Uranium Fact Sheet http://www1.va.gov/gulfwar/docs/DepletedUraniumFAQSheet.doc
EVALUATION PROTOCOL FOR NON-GULF WAR VETERANS WITH POTENTIAL EXPOSURE TO DEPLETED URANIUM (DU) http://www1.va.gov/gulfwar/docs/DUHANDBOOKNONGW130340304.DOC
Fee Basis, PRIORITY FOR OUTPATIENT MEDICAL SERVICES AND INPATIENT HOSPITAL CARE http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=206
Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependants 2005 http://www1.va.gov/opa/vadocs/fedben.pdf OR, http://www1.va.gov/opa/vadocs/current_benefits.htm
Forms and Records Request http://www.va.gov/vaforms/
General Compensation Provisions http://www.access.gpo.gov/uscode/title38/partii_chapter11_subchaptervi_.html
Geriatrics and Extended Care http://www1.va.gov/geriatricsshg/
Guideline for Chronic Pain and Fatigue MUS-CPG http://www.oqp.med.va.gov/cpg/cpgn/mus/mus_base.htm
Guide to Gulf War Veteran's Health http://www1.va.gov/gulfwar/docs/VHIgulfwar.pdf
Gulf War Subject Index http://www1.va.gov/GulfWar/page.cfm?pg=7&template=main&letter=A
Gulf War Veteran's Illnesses Q&As http://www1.va.gov/gulfwar/docs/GWIllnessesQandAsIB1041.pdf
Hearings http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/admin21/m21_1/mr/part1/ch04.doc
Homeless Veterans http://www1.va.gov/homeless/
HSR&D Home http://www.hsrd.research.va.gov/
Index to Disability Examination Wor ksheets C&P exams http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/benefits/exams/index.htm
Ionizing Radiation http://www1.va.gov/irad/
Iraqi Freedom/Enduring Freedom Veterans VBA http://www.vba.va.gov/EFIF/
M10 for spouses and children http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=1007
M10 Part III Change 1 http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=1008
M21-1 Table of Contents http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/M21_1.html
Mental Disorders, Schedule of Ratings http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/regs/38CFR/BOOKC/PART4/S4_130..DOC
Mental Health Program=2 0Guidelines http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=1094
Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Centers http://www.mirecc.med.va.gov/
MS (Multiple Sclerosis) Centers of Excellence http://www.va.gov/ms/about.asp
My Health e Vet http://www.myhealth.va.gov/
NASDVA.COM National Association of State Directors http://www.nasdva.com/
National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention http://www.nchpdp.med.va.gov/postdeploymentlinks.asp
Neurological Conditions and Convulsive Disorders, Schedule of Ratings http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/regs/38cfr/bookc/part4/s4%5F124a.doc OMI (Office of Medical Inspector) http://www.omi.cio.med.va.gov/
Online VA Form 10-10EZ https://www.1010ez.med.va.gov/sec/vha/1010ez/
Parkinson's Disease and Related Neurodegenerative Disorders http://www1.va.gov/resdev/funding/solicitations/docs/parkinsons.pdf and,
http://www1.va.gov/padrecc/
Peacetime Disability Compensation http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=browse_usc&docid=Cite:+38USC1131
Pension for Non-Service-Connected Disability or Death http://www.access.gpo.gov/uscode/title38/partii_chapter15_subchapteri_.html
and, http://www.access.gpo.gov/uscode/title38/partii_chapter15_subchapterii_.html
and, http://www.access.gpo.gov/uscode/title38/partii_chapter15_subchapteriii_.html
Persian Gulf Registry http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=1003
This program is now referred to as Gulf War Registry Program (to include Operation Iraqi Freedom) as of March 7, 2005: http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=1232
Persian Gulf Registry Referral Centers http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=1006
Persian Gulf Veterans' Illnesses Research 1999, Annual Report To Congress http://www1.va.gov/resdev/1999_Gulf_War_Veterans'_Illnesses_Appendices.doc
Persian Gulf Veterans' Illnesses Research 2002, Annual Report To Congress http://www1.va.gov/resdev/prt/gulf_war_2002/GulfWarRpt02.pdf
Phase I PGR http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=1004
Phase II PGR http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=1005
Policy Manual Index http://www.va.gov/publ/direc/eds/edsmps.htm
Power of Attorney http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/admin21/m21_1/mr/part1/ch03.doc
Project 112 (Including Project SHAD) http://www1.va.gov/shad/
Prosthetics Elig ibility http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=337
Public Health and Environmental Hazards Home Page http://www.vethealth.cio.med.va.gov/
Public Health/SARS http://www.publichealth.va.gov/SARS/
Publications Manuals http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/publications.cfm?Pub=4
Publications and Reports http://www1.va.gov/resdev/prt/pubs_individual.cfm?webpage=gulf_war.htm
Records Center and Vault Homepage http://www.aac.va.gov/vault/default.html
Records Center and Vault Site Map http://www.aac.va.gov/vault/sitemap.html
REQUEST FOR AND CONSENT TO RELEASE OF INFORMATION FROM CLAIMANT'S RECORDS http://www.forms.va.gov/va/Internet/VARF/getformharness.asp?formName=3288-form.xft
Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans Illnesses April 11, 2002 http://www1.va.gov/rac-gwvi/docs/Minutes_April112002.doc
Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans Illnesses http://www1.va.gov/rac-gwvi/docs/ReportandRecommendations_2004.pdf
Research and Development http://www.appc1.va.gov/resdev/programs/all_programs.cfm
Survivor's and Dependents' Educational Assistance http://www.access.gpo.gov/uscode/title38/partiii_chapter35_.html

Title 38
Index
Parts 0-17
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/textidx?sid=
1b0c269b510d3157fbf8f8801bc9b3dc&c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title38/38cfrv1_02.tpl

Part 18
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/textidx?sid=
1b0c269b510d3157fbf8f8801bc9b3dc&c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title38/38cfrv2_02.tpl

Title 38
Part 3 Adjudication
Subpart Aa"Pension, Compensation, and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/textidx?c=ecfr&sid=
1b0c269b510d3157fbf8f8801bc9b3dc&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title38/38cfr3_main_02.tpl

Title 38
Pensions, Bonuses & Veterans Relief
(also A 3.317 Compensation for certain disabilities due to undiagnosed illnesses found here)
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/textidx?c=ecfr&sid=
1b0c269b510d3157fbf8f8801bc9b3dc&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title38/38cfr3_main_02.tpl

Title 38
PART 4--SCHEDULE FOR RATING DISABILITIES
Subpart B--DISABILITY RATINGS
target=_blank>
ab7641afd195c84a49a2067dbbcf95c0&rgn=div6&view=text&node=38:1.0.1.1.5.2&idno=38

Title 38
A 4.16 Total disability ratings for compensation based on unemployability of the
individual. PART 4a"SCHEDULE FOR RATING DISABILITIES
Subpart Aa"General Policy in Rating http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/textidx?c=ecfr&sid=
1b0c269b510d3157fbf8f8801bc9b3dc&rgn=div8&view=text&node=38:1.0.1.1.5.1.96.11&idno=38

U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims http://www.vetapp.gov/
VA Best Practice Manual for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) http://www.avapl.org/pub/PTSD%20Manual%20final%206.pdf
VA Fact Sheet http://www1.va.gov/opa/fact/gwfs.html
VA Health Care=2 0Eligibility http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/home/hecmain.asp
VA INSTITUTING GLOBAL ASSESSMENT OF FUNCTION (GAF) http://www.avapl.org/gaf/gaf.html
VA Life Insurance Handbook a" Chapter 3 http://www.insurance.va.gov/inForceGliSite/GLIhandbook/glibookletch3.htm#310
VA Loan Lending Limits and Jumbo Loans http://valoans.com/va_facts_limits.cfm
VA MS Research http://www.va.gov/ms/about.asp
VA National Hepatitis C Program http://www.hepatitis.va.gov/
VA Office of Research and Development http://www1.va.gov/resdev/
VA Trainee Pocket Card on Gulf War http://www1.va.gov/emshg/
VA WRIISC-DC http://www.va.gov/WRIISC-DC/
VAOIG Hotline Telephone Number and Address http://www.va.gov/oig/hotline/hotline3.htm
Vet Center Eligibility - Readjustment Counseling Service http://www.va.gov/rcs/Eligibility.htm
Veterans Benefits Administration Main Web Page http://www.vba.va.gov/
Veterans Legal and Benefits Information http://valaw.org/
VHA Forms, Publications, Manuals http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/
VHA Programs - Clinical Programs & Initiatives http://www1.va.gov/health_benefits/page.cfm?pg=13
VHA Public Health Strategic Health Care Group Home Page http://www.publichealth.va.gov/
VHI Guide to Gulf War Veteransa(tm) Health http://www1.va.gov/vhi_ind_study/gulfwar/istudy/index.asp
Vocational Rehabilitation http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/vre/
Vocational Rehabilitation Subsistence http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/vre/InterSubsistencefy04.doc
VONAPP online http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp
WARMS - 38 CFR Book C http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/bookc.html
Wartime Disability Compensation http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=br owse_usc&docid=Cite:+38USC1110
War-Related Illness and Injury Study Center - New Jersey http://www.wri.med.va.gov/
Welcome to the GI Bill Web Site http://www.gibill.va.gov/
What VA Social Workers Do http://www1.va.gov/socialwork/page.cfm?pg=3
WRIISC Patient Eligibility http://www.illegion.org/va1.html

mawnin'.

Rick Warren - yes, we certainly need more evangelical preachers front and center in the national dialog. There simply hasn't been enough faith based direction (born again Christian only, please) in the government funded social sphere in thepast 8 years. And who gives a crap what a bunch of incestuous pedophiles who follow their unnatural urges say anyway? They're damned to hell anyway, right? His compassion and forgiveness is the very image of Christ. Great choice, Barry.

So it cold anywhere else? It was 5 degrees above here this morning with wind chill at 10 to 15 below. Even the nutty dog wasn't interested in staying outside very long. Renee - you guys finally get power, or has this latest cold snap and the snow I saw you were getting this weekend delay that even longer?

What is your major personal achievement of 2008?

I know mine!

Now -- in truth at last -- I type Gennady Rozhdestvensky instead of cutting and pasting it.

Now THIS is a snow person

http://carol-george.blogspot.com/2008/12/i-got-email-about-this-yesterday.html

Pogo,

I ain't gonna watch the Inaugural.

This time it's a conscious choice rather than busy-ness as usual.

Heck, why can't Blago read an Elvis-based invocation????

PS. Last time I watched an Inaugural was Reagan's second... and only because it was too cold for all of the east coast to be outdoors.

Jamie,

Looks mighty pagan to me -- let's go adore it!!!!

Pogo,
Now the president elect is Barry?????.....jeez
What the heck is wrong with you lately???

I type Gennady Rozhdestvensky instead of cutting and pasting it.

9/11 -- Not on my best day.....:)

9/11 -- I seldom watch Inauguration ceremonies either...I think I tuned in long enough to see Jimmy Carter walk down the street instead of taking the limo....but tuned out after that....

jax - we're tight now. LOL (Actually, it's probab ly just a result fo the bad drugs I did in college.) :-)

9/11, I'm a big fan of missing the inauguration - I've found I can't avoid the actual swearing in - they rerun it on all the TV news outlets, ya know -- and I'm really not interested in hearing the Marine Corps band play Hail to the Chief (for the Cchief's theh one we hail to - lyrics provided by Mrs.P) for theumpteenth time and one more preacher give a rousing invocation.

I have to laugh about the Elvis-based invocation. For our Christmas cards this year we posed in front of the stained glass window at the Hard Rock Cafe in Cancun - staged as if the 3 of us were performing. My mother in law - bless her heart - thought it was supposed to be us singing in a church. I guess she didn't recoginze that the holy trinity was Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis and Chuck Berry.

Patsi,

I remember that from the evening news.

I also remember his quoting Dylan during his convention acceptance speech and wishing he had instead pulled Rosalyn to the podium and gone all Springsteen on us -- "Tramps like us -- baby, we were BORN to run!"

Pogo,

Since Obama is "honoring" gays with a freaking Macy's Day marching band...

Why can't he pay homage to Mexican-Americans with a mariachi band playing Hail to El Jefe instead of Our Boys In Red?

I think the last inauguration I actually watched was JFK's - no, wait, that was his funeral - or was that Charles and Diana's wedding - or was it her funeral? They all kind of run together after a while. OK I don't think I've ever watched an inauguration - at least not live and coming to you from the nation's capitol, Washington. CD.

Pogo and Patsi,

Only think I ever consider looking at is the Schmaltzfest Pre-Inaugural Concert...

Which always is worse (how is this possible?) than The Kennedy Center Honors.

9/11, a splendid idea - I love mariachis (I hope they cover on the evening news).

For those of you inauguration watchers and attendees, Bill Press has the dope on the festivities - I note that for those who will be in the DC area and somehow had their official inauguration ball tickets misdirected, there are 45 unofficial balls listed via a link at his site - one just has to be right for you.

http://billpress.com/inauguration/

I'm sorry, I know its a political blog...but politics and religion this close to Christmas is just too much of a downer for me.....I'm almost done with the Christmas list.....My 3 sons and I will venture out tonight for our yearly mission to find our families C in C the perfect Christmas gift. It's always quite a spectacle....:)

The first inauguration I watched was Pres Eisenhower's. I was at the Spencer's house and they had a 6-inch TV that must have weighed 75-pounds. The highlight of the parade was a monster atomic cannon that must have been close to 100-feet long and twelve feet wide.

They had them in Germany. Every time 7th Army went into the field, everyone knew exactly where the cannons were. All they had to do was follow the trail of demolished German houses that were shredded by the cannon and its prime movers.

Here's the wiki on it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_cannon

While I'm in Williams-Sonoma trying to find something they'll be swordfighting with spatulas in the back .....GREAT....laughs

I missed this year's broadcast of "It's The Great Pumpkin, Joey Ramone."

So I really need to ask this.

Does anyone know when they're showing "A Joey Ramone Christmas" this week?

Yup -- Joey IS Charlie Brown, Johnny's Lucy, Dee Dee's Linus, C.J.'s Rerun, Tommy's Schroeder, Marky's Snoopy (when he's Joe Cool).

And in February keep your eyes open for the great Valentine's Special, "It's Maria Bartiromo, Joey Ramone".

Good grief, why are so many Ramones dead?

jax, please share any brainstorms you come up with. That is a problem for me and LP as well. The jewelry collection - our old standby - has about reached the saturation point now (I'd be afraid any addition might end up being a duplicate or close duplicate of something we've gotten her in the past 10 years or so). And I'm done with the list for LP - except a couple of recent additions aimed at helping him develop his six pack (the kind in front of the stomach - abs - as opposed to mine - the kind in it ultimately.)

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/obamas-latest-preacher-problem.html#comment-184222

Hi Jax. How old are your sons?

I watched the Clinton innauguration. Skipped both of the Bush whoopit ups. I'll watch this one. My first one to watch was Kennedy as I wasn't near a TV for Eisenhowers.

Pogo,
Electonics are the focus this year. We've tapped the jewelry option too often...:) Cologne and spa days are also on the list.

Chloe, They are 18, 17 and 14. But when we all go shopping like this they are all 12....laughs

Spa days - now that's a good idea - If someone who's not been an adverse party to Mrs. P would just opena decent spa here, I'd snap that up in a minute. LOL

"They are 18, 17 and 14. But when we all go shopping like this they are all 12..."

What fun....Teenagers are so great.

Pogo,
Here in Texas nails, hair, spa are a religion....it makes for easy choices for us guys....laughs

Chloe,
Yeah...They are getting older and I can see the end of the road nearing on this kind of stuff with all of us together and I just want to enjoy it....:)

At least your 14 yr old will be around for a while. Independence is close for the other two. But, with my sons, 14 was right around my favorite age. They are such a laugh.

Chloe,
They are fun....the older ones are funny too. They know they are getting older but they don't want to grow uo just yet....

jax, it's the same here - spa is a recent addition. A woman I went to law school with, and with whom I shared an apt. and studied for the bar exam, said that if she didn't pass the bar she knew she could always open a tint, perm and nail shop in Charleston and would probably be able to retire early and rich.

Pogo,
I'm sure it happens but I've never seen one close once its been opened....laughs

"Here in Texas nails, hair, spa are a religion.."

Ha, ain't that the truth. Women treat themselves well here.

well, gotta run for a while - it's our office christmas luncheon and I volunteered to go pick up the grub (of course it was 50 degrees when I volunteered a week ago). At 15 degrees now it doesn't seem like it was such a great idea.

Nope.

Chloe,
We moved to Houston from Jacksonville, Fl and although it was popular in Florida my wife says the Texas women take it to a new level.....she quickly aclimated I might add.......:)

Pogo,

Don't you know?

Everything is great. Questions are not nice. Marching bands prove everything.

"Texas women take it to a new level.."

I've noticed that myself. :)
It's not my thing though.

You've got to admit there's plenty here for the guys too. :)
Although, I bet you miss Florida.

I marched in 1980 for Reagans inauguration. It was cold. I was a plebe at one of the service academies. It was a good time. Just escpaing the campus was a treat...:)

pogo, look for a good, reputable masseuse (local orthopedists, physical therapists, rehabilitative health care folks probably can recommend one). they usually have gift certificates available this time of year. not exactly a spa with all that froufrou, but a well done massage is good for the body and soul.

gov blago reminds me of mikey...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYEXzx-TINc&feature=related

I bought massages for her last year...it was a good gift.

Chloe,
We miss Florida some but Jax and Houston aren't too different. The public schools here (NASA - Clear Lake) are much better but the beaches just can't compare. People are friendly, acceptant and genuine so the transition was easy.

Jax, You can't tell me your wife hasn't given you any hints about what she wants this year, can you?

Chloe,
Oh she has.....we're on those already. We're expected to come up with some things on our own too....that's the hard part.....sometimes we're right on
others.....swing and a miss....:)

The beaches in Southern California were (are) gorgeous too. And I do miss the mountains. But that's it. I'm very happy here too.

Well, Good luck and Have Fun.
I'm off to shop too. :)

Chloe,
Houston is a big city with big city problems but I love the unfailing optimism and opportunity that seems to pervail here....I think it comes from the difficulties they experienced in the 1980's with the oil bust and the way they worked themselves out of it.

patd,

Here's who reminds me of Blago...

http://drx.typepad.com/psychotherapyblog/images/2008/06/05/immgg.jpg

(It's Baby Robert Blake.)

9/11, are you referring to gennady nikolayevich rozhdestvensky or gennadi rozhdestvensky? wiki writes this about g nikolayevich roz-whats-his-name:

"In November of 2008, Rozhdestvensky withdrew from scheduled performances with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. ...... he was insulted by the marketing for the concert. Both the posters outside the hall, which listed the cello soloist, Lynn Harrell, more prominently, and the subscription brochure, which did not include the maestro in a section on prominent guest conductors, were unacceptable to him."

if true, must have been because they couldn't spell it or they run out of space.

run=ran

blake's eyes are not close enough together... take another look at mickey, especially when he scowls.

thats mikey not mickey.... altho some of the blago stuff is pretty mickey mouse.

too many mistakes, better go back to chanting.
ommm.....

Remember Rev Meeks?
-------------------------------
" ... the stridently homophobic Rev. James T. Meeks, ...

Described in a 2004 Chicago Sun Times article as someone Barack Obama regularly seeks out for “spiritual counsel”,...

Perhaps of even more concern than race-baiting diatribes like these is Rev. Meeks disturbing history of antagonism towards the LGBT community.

A spring 2007 newsletter from the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) named Meeks one of the "10 leading black religious voices in the anti-gay movement."

On a more personal level, Meeks has reportedly blamed "Hollywood Jews for bringing us Brokeback Mountain" and actively campaigned to defeat SB3186, an Illinois LGBT non-discrimination bill, while serving in the Illinois state legislature alongside Obama."

http://www.gaywired.com/Article.cfm?ID=18614&SeeAll=true

Well, he's the Rozhdey Dangerfield of senior Russian conductors...

The late Svetlanov, Golovanov, Ermler, Ivanov, Eliasberg, Mravinsky, etc. -- most of whom were his generation -- are now elevated by death and free downloads to deities.

And the living god Gergiev is doing Putin's dirty work as The Good Georgian as he somehow manages to play concerts in five cities at once.

So Rozhdestvensky has no orchestra of his own... no major or minor or orchestra-owned label contract... and a ton of cheap downloads from which he earns any royalties. His PICTURE ain't even on any of those. And his once vaunted ballet recordings are displaced by Gergiev's and his shadow at the Kirov, Victor Fedotov.

However... I love his work... particularly love his Prokofiev ballets which have the best dramatic structure, are fleet without being rushed and refuse to call all symphonic on us.

By the way... that may be the last place on earth anyone even noticed Lynn Harrell's billing... as he got displaced himself long ago by Yo Yo Ma.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/obamas-latest-preacher-problem.html#comment-184254

Jack,
One last peek on my way out, and saw your last post.
I completely agree with you, and have that those same thoughts myself. We got here in the early 90's and they hadn't quite recovered yet, but have been ever since. It's definitely been the land of opportunity for us. And the people couldn't be better.

patd,

You're right about his being Mickey in Our Gang -- and his eyes!

But the hair is closer to Blago's than Mikey's sweet muss.

Jack = Jax

florida's first lady seems to be a hit

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FL_FIRST_LADY_FLOL-?SITE=FLTAL&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

HBO is reshowing one of their documentaries: A Century of Living

http://common.swankmp.com/movie_titles/19148.html

17 men and women all at least 100 reminiscing about their young years. If you love history, it is truly fascinating.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/obamas-latest-preacher-problem.html#comment-184243

9/11, of course. What was I thinking?

Pogo,

I dunno.

Maybe that your name was Winston Smith?

Pogo,

Do anyone know if it is an FEC regulation that ALL presidential campaign contributions be posted publicly?

Including anonymous ones?

If so... how many people know their home addresses are posted across the internet?

MERRY CHRISTMAS----TO ALL THE GALS

http://img504.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rose12uc5.jpg

AND TO ALL THE GUYS

http://img153.imageshack.us/my.php?image=522tooncu5.jpg

9/11, you got me all curious. I went to the FEC website and poked around abit. Just to see what gets posted I entered Robert Smith from Birmingham. All it gives is the name, state, zipcode, amount and to whom the contributions were made.

The lists at the FEC that you can review and copy may have physical addresses, but apparently the website doesn't give that information. If you know of someone who has contributed and know their address, you might plug it into the advanced search option and see if the address pops up.

9/11, pogo, i think donations must be available to public scrutiny if $200 or more.

here's an old article that says something like that.
http://www.nationaljournal.com/njonline/no_20081024_9865.php

AHA, but the reports filed by the candidates do have the address, employer, occupation, and amount of donation, available in pdf and cgi-bin formats.

patd, the campaign report (one page of which is linked here) reports them much smaller than $200.

http://images.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/fecimg/

That link sucked. Try this one.

http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/fecimg/?_28993826001+0

"....if it is an FEC regulation that ALL presidential campaign contributions be posted publicly?"

pogo, did the campaign voluntarily or was it required of them to list names with addresses & employers of those who contributed less than $200? guess that's a stupid question on my part because if they weren't required then it would be an easy loop hole for someone to contribute bits and drabs adding up to more than legal limit and go undetected.
but just to be fair to those of a more reticent nature, shouldn't it be clearly stated on the forms in big caps that this personal info will be displayed online, published, etc.?

Our daughter Toots and her son spent much of the day here helping Stinky and me bake Christmas cookies. A good time was had by all!

patd, obviously (at least to me) the statement in the article "but the FEC does not have records on any of the Obama campaign's sub-$200 donors" is correct but misleading since the page I linked had 2 out of 3 that showed donations of less than $200 although the donors had contributed more than $200 total. Maybe the info the FEC has is not complete - how would I know? But I do get the NR's point and agree to a point, but both campaigns appear to be complying with the law, so what's the point really? But then again it's the NRO- and they don't exactly bend over backward to project any democrat in a favorable light.

can't argue with you there, patd. I doubt that most people even consider that their names and addresses will show up on the internet just because they decide to contribute to a campaign. If the NR article is correct, the names and address for donations under $200 aren't required - although for those over $200 (and I'm assuming some things here) the reporting is done on an official FEC form (Schedule A). I imagine the reporting is done consistently with their interpretation of the regs based on reading them and discussions between the campaign finance folks for each campaign and the FEC. I may try and find and read the reg just for grins - see what it says.

"so what's the point really"

yeh, pogo, what is the real point? afterall there are christmas cookies to bake and presents to wrap and barbies to play. who needs this stuff dancing in their head with the sugarplum faeries?

When I've looked the names of the donors are linked to copies or pdfs of their donation forms...

Including their home addresses.

That includes some well-known folk.

Well, that was my point.

On HuffPo and just by googling... any number of people and their home addresses do appear.

"Our daughter Toots and her son "

Flatus -- I love that name!

This would appear to be the controlling reg paragraph.

"person (other than a political committee) who makes a contribution to the reporting committee during the reporting period, whose contribution or contributions have an aggregate amount or value in excess of $200 within the calendar year (or election cycle, in the case of an authorized committee of a candidate for Federal office), or in any lesser amount if the reporting committee should so elect, together with the date and amount of any such contribution;"

There are requirements for disclosing addresses of donors who donate in excess of $1000 in a calendar year, and of organization that donate more than $200, but I don't see anything requiring (although there is a paragraph allowing it) the campaigns to disclose addresses for individual donors of less than $1000, but it's a 244 page document, so it might be buried in there somewhere.

9/11, my "what's the point, really?" comment was about the NR's suggestion IMHO that the Obama campaign wasn't reporting "appropriately" (my word, not theirs). The names and addresses are clearly out there for the world to see. Frankly, I think that publishing that stuff is beyond what the regs require. But then, the boys in Langley listen to our calls too, don't they?

If Wind in the Willows had first been published during the reagan-baby bush era, it would have been denounced as a tool to lure children to pagan worship. The chapter, "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn" finds Otter's child safe in the company of the Great God Pan. The scene resembles a creche. All of the animals in the search party experience religious epiphany.

I can't understand why Phyllis Schlaffly and James Dobson don't denounce this incomparable jewel of childrens fiction as demonic.

While I am neither a pagan nor a Christian, The Wind in the Willows, the Velveteen Rabbit, Stuart Little, and the Hobbit, which all have some references to either magic or religion, are the best childrens books I've read.

I came to The Willows as a 22 year old; The Hobbit in my mid 20s, the Rabbit when I was in my mid-30s, and Stuart in my late 50s. They were great then, and they are still great today. Pound said, "Literature is news that stays news." So long as people shall read, Moley shall rise in Spring to discover the wide world, and The Willows will be comforting news for another generation.

Pogo,

Do the Langley Kids dress like the cuties in The Telephone Song did?

Oh I hope, I hope, I hope they do!!!

you seem to be beyond such trash talk and I would think this comes from not really understanding ones position.....

Posted by: Ping Pong | December 22, 2008 7:00 AM

OH SOD OFF Ping... You don't have a fricken clue what you are talking about. When some goody-two-shoes shitheads start telling you what you can or cannot do with your life, on a fricken daily basis, they you have the informed ability to respond. As you are now, you are just being an ass...

So as I already sad... SOD OFF.. .and may right wing fundamentalist christians ROT IN HELL...

9/11, I believe the Langley Kids served as the inspiration for Henson's characters in the audience of the Muppet Show, just, yo know, quieter and more secrety and stuff.

pogo,

Solo:
You'd better not shout,
You'd better not cry,
You'd better not pout,
I'm tellin you why,
The CIA is watching you now.

Chorus:
They know when you are sleeping,
They know when you're awake,
They know when you've been Left or Right,
So, be Right for goodness sake !

Solo:
They're making a list,
Don't matter the price,
Gonna grab all who
Don't pray to Christ,
The CIA is watching you now !

Chorus

Solo:
There'll be Waterboards, dogs,
And grunge music, too
They'll stuff you with pills,
And you'll sleep in your poo.
The CIA is watching you now !

Chorus

Repeat first verse

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/obamas-latest-preacher-problem.html#comment-184201

Patsi
Your comment above wonderful!! True

I KNOW I shouldn't post when I am tired and cranky, especially when it involves right wing "Christians"...

"and may right wing fundamentalist christians ROT IN HELL..."

Tom
Yes!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/obamas-latest-preacher-problem.html#comment-184297

Tom
I don't agree,as Solar says some of your best posts come from you being tired.If the homophobes and right wing nuts get your rath..Well wonderful...

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/obamas-latest-preacher-problem.html#comment-184245

UGH !!!!! The beginning of the dark days of Amerikkka

xr, any way to work something about sleeping wihtone eye open into that song? LOL

or with one eye open if that wasn't clear? :-)

I am tired, and I am down.. mostly because Mauro comes back tomorrow and my apartment is a disaster !!! A decorated disaster, but still a disaster. And I don't have the time to fix it ... :(

Solar does seem to like what I say when my emotional side says what's on his mind. :-)

My last sentence made NO SENSE... sorry

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/obamas-latest-preacher-problem.html#comment-184304

Actually, Tom, it did make sense - whether it's what you meant to say or not.

IF IT MAKES YOU HAPPY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgEJWU0ZB5A

Here's a pretty hilarious mashup photo that just went up on Gawker. A bit of chief executive beefcake, with a historical spin:

"Shirtless Presidential Holiday Pool Party."

http://gawker.com/5116146/shirtless-president-holiday-pool-party

ET

Just got in from the cold----and there you are talking to mr. 80 degrees Tony------behind my front---or in front of my back----

You want emotional---I'll shoe you emotional ------yea I said shoe,,,,it's the latest weapon of choice you know

You said nothing wrong-----I don't want to give an opinion on that choice (bad one ) Obama made,,,cos it would have come out just like you said,,,,,tell it like it is---no one can feel it more than people like you and Tony----Oh and that last sentence HUH????___but it sounded good --anyway no problema--:-)

LL, damn.

solar - he said (I hope he meant to say) you like it when HIS emotiononal outbursts reflect what's on YOUR mind. We all kinda like what someone else says that we agree with, no?

Well, I think I'll slip along - go mingle with the Christmas shopers and fine diners.

shoppers (damn typos).

ET ---on second thought that lase sentence if perfect,,,,I think it has some truth to it

Hello mrs. Chloe -----still Christmas ---shopping?-----just finished all of mine---------One of my workers asked what I got him for Christmas -------(he is a new guy) I told him that, I got him the same thing as last years only bigger---he took a moment and said that I didn't get him anything----I said yea---but its bigger---he doesn't know that I will be giving them gift certificates from Costco, pretty cold here but I just tale it day by day-----spring will be here when it gets here,,,,hope all is good?

Thought for the day :
" There`s at least one fool in every married couple. "

Dead men tell no tales, but they do vote sometimes.

Michael Connell, the Bush IT expert who has been directly implicated in the rigging of George Bush's 2000 and 2004 elections, was killed last night when his single engine plane crashed three miles short of the Akron airport.

http://www.911truth.org/article.php?story=20081221160529816

1958 "Chipmunk Song" reaches #1

Archaeologists in Israel said they have unearthed more than 250 gold coins dating back to the seventh century A.D., making it the largest cache of gold coins from that period ever found in Jerusalem.

http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-12-22-voa33.cfm

Pogo----

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/obamas-latest-preacher-problem.html#comment-184310

know I was just giving ET a hard time----just kidding him---he can take it

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/obamas-latest-preacher-problem.html#comment-184313

Yes and it is usually me!

Hey Mr. Solar, Yes I am done. But I'm sure I'll do what I always do and go out at the last minute for something I've forgotten.

Those Costco gift certificates sound like a great gift for your guys.
It's cold here today too, and I'm whining about it.

Hope all is good for you too. You and yours have a great Christmas.
As well as everyone else here. Happy Holidays!

ps Solar, I saw what I thought was a very good movie. Seven Pounds with Will Smith. You might want to check it out. It's best to go see it without knowing anything about it. (But it's not a comedy)

The pair of 4,300-year-old tombs were built for two high officials – one who was in charge of music and entertainment for pharaohs, and another for the quarries used to build the nearby pyramids.

http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1614708/archaeologists_uncover_two_tombs_at_saqqara/

".....IT expert who has been directly implicated in the rigging of George Bush's 2000 and 2004 elections, was killed last night..."

rez, any word on an investigation? bad weather, bad equipment, bad pilot? or too important a witness to history. reminds me of when bill casey "conveniently" died.

Michelle Bernard has a severe case of simper and smirk "holier than thou".

On Hardball talking about Carolyn Kennedy's voting record she's going on about all the people who "fought and died for her privilege to vote". blech! The station is much better when they get people on both sides who converse rather than just spouting memorized drivel.

I miss Craig. Hurry up with that book.

Chole

That does sound good----I like W S.,,,I was pleasantly surprised at how good an actor he is

Im glad that he doesn't do too many movies in one year----I get turned off by actors,,, that flood the screens---like some do,,,,,

that 5:52 post does not exist. i don't exist. you never read it. am outta here... waiting, waiting for gor- do.
btw, them it was he who insinuated such dastardly deeds.

Berlin - A rediscovery of a Roman battlefield studded with old weapons in Germany has excited archaeologists this week and thrown new light on a myth-shrouded conflict between Rome and its neighbours. In the 19th century, German historians rejected the image of their ancestors as squabbling barbarians and honed a new picture of plucky Teutonic tribes who united to repel the invading legions of Rome.

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/247241,news-germany-rediscovers-its-roman-roots--feature.html

-------------------------
German version - "Plucky Teutonic Tribes"
Roman version - " not worth having: cold, damp and inhabited by hairy savages. "

"Im glad that he doesn't do too many movies in one year"

He makes enough off one movie, he doesn't have to make more than one a year. His wife is a good actor too.

This is a real nice time of the year to go to a theater too Solar. Lot's of good stuff out there right now.

Time for me to get back to work for a while.

The real trouble with America's economy....not bailouts, but heelots...

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=M84XBBd-h_M

Robert Mulligan, director of "To Kill A Mockingbird" has died at age 83

http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/theampersand/archive/2008/12/22/to-kill-a-mockingbird-director-robert-mulligan-dies.aspx

And of course once the heelots get to you, you have a lot of STUFF

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=MvgN5gCuLac

Sturg

didn't see that---- Dark End Of The Street U Tube---by Dan Penn until a little while ago ----like it so much, that I showed my son the video ----he play's guitar,,and a cpl more instruments----pretty good,,,,he is 36 and been playing since 10 -12 years old.,,,,he like it quite a bit,,,,thanks

Patsi

Saw all you pictures that you posted----very nice---ms Maria looked very happy in weasel world-----your son John looks nice--looks like a contractor. Have a very nice Christmas,,,with them all.

Patsi

Forgot you look hot !!!--( insert wolf whistle here ) :-))

Patsi,

Poor Santa expected to be malled and got mauled instead.

I still can't get over all the hate, that was shown to Gov. Palin and her family. They were only in the political spotlight for 2 months or less, yet people have managed to hate her more then the terrorist that attacked us on 9\11. That is really a shame that people can hate each other people that much. But, I bet the same people hating on her for being a mother and not staying home to take care of her children, are now worshipping the ground that Caroline Kennedy is walking on.

Lampe

Not many were actually hating Palin. She was just totally unfit for the office she was seeking. It was more laughing stock than dislike until she started the "hanging out with terrorists" speeches that aroused some of the more dangerous parts of her audiences. Then she got scary.

In all honesty as much as I admire the work that Carolyn Kennedy has done, I don't think she is all that tempermentally prepared to be a Senator. Some of the best have been wives appointed to fill out a husband's term and then run on their own. If she is appointed she might fall into that class, but right now there doesn't seem to be much in that line. She would probably be better in an ambassadorial position rather than an elective one.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/obamas-latest-preacher-problem.html#comment-184321

Shades of Martha Mitchell, another plane crash. Was this one shot down just like TWA Flight 800?

What made her totally unfit for the Office she was seeking? She ran a City and a State, she balanced budgets. I don't really remember Obama running a City or a State,or balancing any Budgets. Yet people thought he was fit for the Office he was seeking.

She ran the methadone capital of Alaska with a couple of thousand people and then beauty queened her way through debates with file cards to be governor of a state with as many people in it as a couple of Congressional districts.. Her knowledge of national issues was just plain laughable.

She is probably a perfectly nice person. Maybe if she hits the books really hard for the next eight years and actually learns something, she can run for president.

And what exactly has Obama managed to run? And, please don't say a multi-million dollar campaign. Everybody knows Axelrod and Michelle ran that. So please tell me what makes Obama fit for the Office he was elected too.

Brains

I still would have preferred Hillary, but at least we got someone who understands the Constitution.

"your son John looks nice--looks like a contractor."

Uh....twenty lashes with a wet noodle, Solar....that is John Hartford the singer and songwriter (Gentle on My Mind)...who was OLDER than me, and now deceased.....huff! :)

No it was an answer to Lampe's question about what made him fit for the office.

You answered Intellect and I answered Brains

"Not many were actually hating Palin. "

Eff-it. I disagree with the above, and had written a fairly extentive post about sexism not existing in a vacuum....but there's no reason to even post it.

Patsi

Sorry-20 lashes with a wet noodle is to good for me----never going to assume again---feeling better---new that the jokes would do the trick,,or the fear of more jokes----but the result was the same.,,,glad that you are up and about---would have not been nice to have been sick during the Holidays.

Patsi

I'm perfectly willing to admit that there was lots of sexism against both Clinton and Palin. Still, if there hadn't been one iota of sexism against Palin, she still would not have been qualified for the job.

Sometimes you don't get the job because you aren't the right person to do it.

Obama ran his campaign on the idea of change. What has he changed. He picked Clinton people and people he knew from Chicago. Sounds like the same old politics to me, He knew exactly how to play dirty, and that's exactly what he did. He is the one who played Democrat against Democrat. He's the one that had the shady friends. Wright who hates Whites and America. Ayers, who hates America, so much that he and his friends set bombs. If that doen't make you some sort of terrorists, I don't know what does. And he was and is still friends with these people. Are these really the kind of people you want visiting The White house?

Lampe

I take it you haven't seen the interviews with Ayers? I doubt either Wright or Ayers will be invited to the White HOuse. When Ayers was doing those things, Obama was 8 years old. As an adult they were appointed to boards dealing with education issues, something perfectly understandable for a university professor and a State Senator. Not exactly and underground terrorist cell.

Now if we are going to do guilt by association I suppose Sarah Palin can now be considered a drug pusher since her daughter's future mother in law seems to raise pin money that way?

I'm sure we have all met people, gone to church with people, worked with people, even been friends with people who turned out to have less than sterling characters.

I have enough trouble being responsible for myself without taking on the sins of everyone I've ever met.

Potlatch--cont.

Competitive feasting thought about, narrated, and imagined by the participants is very different competitive feasting as an adaptation to material constraints and opportunities. In the social dreamwork-the lifestyle consciousness of the participants—competitive feasting is a manifestation of the big man's or potlatch chief's insatiable craving for prestige. But from the point of view followed so far, t he insatiable craving for prestige is manifestation of competitive feasting. Every society makes use of the need for approval, but not every society links prestige to success in competitive feasting---Competitive feasting as a source of prestige must be seen in evolutionary perspective to be properly understood. Big men like Atana or the Kwakiutl chiefs carry out a form of economic exchange known as redistribution. That is, they gather together the results of the productive effort of many individuals and then redistribute the aggregated wealth in different quantities to a different set of people. As said, the Kaoka redistributor-big man works harder, worries more, and consumes less than anybody else in the village, This is not true of the Kwakiutl chief-redistributor. The great potlatch chiefs performed the entrepreneurial and managerial functions that were necessary for a big potlatch, but aside from an occasional fishing or sea-lion expedition, they left the hardest work to their followers. The greater potlatch chiefs even had a few war captives working for them as slaves. From the point of view of consumption privileges, the Kwakiutl chiefs had begun to reverse the Kaola formula and were keeping some of the “meat and fat” for themselves, leaving most of the “bones and stale cakes” for their followers.

Continuing along the evolutionary line leading from Atana, semi hereditary Kwakiutl chiefs, we end up with state-level societies ruled over by hereditary kings who perform no basic industrial or agricultural labor and who keep the most and best of everything for themselves. At the imperial level, exalted divine-right rulers maintain their prestige by building conspicuous palaces, temples, and mega-monuments, and validate their right t hereditary privileges against all challengers- not by potlatch, but by force of arms. Reversing direction, we can go from kings to potlatch chiefs to big men, back to egalitarian lifestyles in which all competitive displays and conspicuous consumption by individuals disappear, and anyone foolish enough to boast about how great he is gets accused of witchcraft and is stoned to death. In the truly egalitarian societies that have survived long enough to be studied by anthropologists, redistribution in the form of competitive feasting does not occur, Instead, the mode of exchange known as reciprocity predominates. Reciprocity is the technical term for an economic exchange that takes place between two individuals in which neither specifies precisely what is expected in return nor when t hey expect it.Superficially, reciprocal exchanges don't look like exchanges at all. The expectations of one party and obligation of the other remain unstated. One party can continue to take from the giver and and no embarrassment in the taker. Nonetheless, the transaction cannot be considered a pure gift. There is an underlying expectation of return, and if the balance between two individuals gets too far out of line, eventually the giver will start to grumble and gossip. Concern will be shown for the takers health and sanity, and if the situation does not improve, people begin to suspect that the taker is possessed by malevolent spirits or is practicing withcraft. In egalitarian societies, individuals who consistently violate the rules reciprocity are in fact likely to be psychotic and a menace to their community.

We get some idea of what reciprocal exchanges are like by thinking about the way we exchange goods and services with our close friends or relatives. Brothers, for example, are not supposed to calculate the precise dollar value of everything t hey do for each other. They should feel free to borrow each other's shirts or phonograph albums and ought not to hesitate to ask for favors. In brotherhood and friendship between them .If one friend invites another to dinner, there should be no hesitation in giving or accepting a second or a third invitation even if the first dinner still remains unreciprocated. Yet there is a limit to that sort of thing, because after a while unreciprocated gift-giving begins to feel suspiciously like exploitation. In other words, everybody likes to be thought generous, but nobody wants to be taken for a sucker, This is precisely the quandary we get ourselves into at Christmas when we attempt to revert to the principle of reciprocity in drawing up our shopping lists. The gift can neither be too cheap not too expensive, and yet our calculations must appear entirely casual, so we remove the price tag.

But to rally see reciprocity in action you must live in an egalitarian society that doesn't have money and where nothing can be bought or sold. Everything about reciprocity is opposed to precise counting and reckoning of what one person owes to another . In fact, the whole idea is too deny that anybody really owes anything

I was raised in an AA church, attended the same church all my life. My parents took me as a child. I took my children to the same church. neither my parents or myself would have permitted any child , to sit in a church and listen to all the hate and evil remarks made by Rev. Wright. Obama not only attend this church for 20 years he took his daughters there. How can you trust the judgment of a man who would allow his daughters to hear those remarks? And please don't say " He didn't hear any of those things." Rev.Wright did not just start doing and sayiny those things in the last 2 years. You know, since Obama decided to run for POTUS.

Stomp on This?

"Barack Obama may have been eight years old when William “Billy” Ayers was planting bombs at the State Department and the U.S. Capitol, but the Senator was a grown man working in the employ of Mr. Ayers when this picture appeared in August 2001.

Bill Ayers was busy promoting his book and this was one of the promotional photos. Two of the money quotes from a book published in 2003,

"my second proudest achievement was living underground for ten years without getting arrested."

and

"guilty as hell, free as a bird, it’s a great country."

And then a month later told a New York Times reporter his only regret was that he did not plant more bombs."

http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/05/03/stomp-on-this/
----------------------------------
"This full-color photograph ... It obviously came from a 2001 photo shoot ...

The photograph appears in the August 2001 interview with Ayers by Chicago Magazine's Marcia Froelke Coburn. On the first page of the article entitled "No Regrets", ..."

http://rezkowatch.blogspot.com/2008/05/one-degree-of-separation-ayers-no.html

You mean a Roman Catholic like Joe Biden? Or Joe Kennedy who had a secret annulment of his marriage?

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1634956,00.html?iid=fb_share

The most controversial "marriage that never was" in recent U.S. political history is back. Sources tell TIME that the Vatican has reversed the annulment of Joseph P. Kennedy II's marriage to Sheila Rauch. The annulment had been granted in secrecy by the Catholic Church after the couple's 1991 no-fault civil divorce. Rauch found out about the de-sanctification of their marriage only in 1996, after Kennedy had been wedded to his former Congressional aide, Beth Kelly, for three years.

Lampe

I'm no fan of Wright, and have some qualms about Liberation theology, but the Republicans had boxes and boxes of video tapes with many years of sermons. In all those boxes of tapes of sermons they found two quotes to repeat in commercials over and over again outside of the context of the sermon so you don't know what led up to or followed the remarks.

Wright was a decorated Marine. I have my doubts that he is some sort of traitor, and I automatically distrust any remark taken out of context or with words removed for effect. Organizations that do that always have an ulterior motive.

Yes, there are lots of mean things said at churches. That being said, if an adult chooses to sit there and listen, that's their choice. But, when aduts leave children hear those same remarks, that calls their judgment into questioning.

Wright not only said those things in his church, he said them when he knew he was being recorded in front of news people, when he was getting some award or something. And, those tapes that you said were found and played over and over again, were tapes the his church sold. So, I guess they were proud enough to sell his sermons, but didn't like it when it became news.

Yes they sold them. They were proud of his sermons. There were still only two sentences. They were still outside of context. If you select one sentence out of an hour long sermon with no idea of what came before or after, you can make anyone look bad. That is how "out of context" works.

It is an old technique and a very dishonest one.

Maybe, but then I just want to stir up trouble.

What one sentence was said? He said the government gave AIDS to Blacks. He said God Damn the USA. He said they we deserved to be bombed on 9\11, because we bought that on ourselves. He called the USA the USofKKKA. And that's just a few of the things this man has said. So which sentenc was the one they used over and over again?

Lampe

Here is a great deal more of that sermon

http://abcnews.go.com/blotter/story?id=4443788

It is harsh. It is painful. It is a clarion call for the United States to atone for sins against those of color and those living in poverty, much like an old testament prophet might chastise a leader.

I certainly don't think it is all favorable to his side of the argument, but he certainly makes several points worth hearing.

Well one thing about it being History, is you can't go back and change what has happened.

You can't change history. You can try to correct injustices and alter behavior so as to not repeat history.

Ken Starr to defend Prop 8 before the California Supreme Court.

And somehow by electing Obama,we are going to correct those injustices, and alter people's behaviors?

Yes. But, it didn't take McCain weeks to disown him. And McCain, nor his family attened that church.

Didn't they burn Palin's church down? I know it was set on fire recently. I've heard some critics are comparing Caroline Kennedy's lack of experience with Sarah Palin. Prayer is not meaningless to all people. Some maybe, but not all.

Lampe,

It's a start. Putting a brilliant, talented man in office in place of an eight year disaster is a step in the right direction.

I don't think Obama is throwing the right a bone. I really don't think Obama is going to be very gay friendly. I felt that throughout the campaign.

All I said was they "people" set Palin's church on fire.

Democrat questions Caroline Kennedy's expewricence:

http://www.journalinquirer.com/articles/2008/12/22/connecticut/doc494f9aa90a6f5776713323.txt

He's from NY, maybe you've heard of him?

experience*

Once again: to what are you basing your remarks on? Is it something that you really know about the school? Or is it because they are against things that you stand for?

I didn't direct it at you. I made a staement. You responded to me. Then I responded directly to you.

It is because they are against things that I believe deeply. I'm fine with Evangelicals believing anything they want to believe, but I don't want them anywhere near public policy where they can injure others.

I don't understand why people are so upset with Obama these days. He hasn't even taken office yet and he's getting criticized by a lot of his biggest supporters. Palin's church was brought up. I was just reminding people it was set on fire. It probably isn't there anymore. I didn't bring up meth addicts, though.

"Didn't they burn Palin's church down? I know it was set on fire recently. I've heard some critics are comparing Caroline Kennedy's lack of experience with Sarah Palin. Prayer is not meaningless to all people. Some maybe, but not all. "

Original post of mine. Not directed at anyone. Trying to add another voice to the discussion, that's all.

If it is a religious school, that I would expect them to have rules against certain behaviors. Just the same as Jewish schools and catholic schools. If they practice certain rules, and you don't agree with them, then I guess you would not attend there.

They finally got around to dropping the ban on interracial dating 8 years ago. They decided it wouldn't attract the anti-Christ.

And Rev. Wright's church preaches hate towards White People. Maybe that's why Obama attended? Maybe that's why you don't see white People there? Maybe The church doesn't allow white People? Is that any less hateful, then the remarks you just listed against gays?

Jamie, doesn't BYU have all kinds of rules as well? I think I remember some girl or guy who was on the MTV show "The Real World" one year was also a student at BYU. He or she got expelled from school for violating school rules against drinking or something, because someone from the university saw her on the show.

I am not suggesting that at all. All I said was that every regilious school has their own rules by which they function. Like it or not, that is the way they are. And, I am pro-life, and very proud of that fact. But, that is my belief, and I am not trying to change anyone's mind who is not pro-life.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/obamas-latest-preacher-problem.html#comment-184315

In honor of Colorado Bob... The Chipmunks Christmas Album was my first Christmas album and later I got Volume 2... what joyous memories !!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dnrosVyamY

Actually there are white congregants there as well as a great deal of ecumencial work with many of the Chicago churches. I'm sure there are tenets in the church with which I wouldn't agree. It is still the same. Believe anything they want, just don't inflict those beliefs on others in such a way as to threaten their equal rights.

As far as Civil Unions or Marriage is concerned, why should one citizen have to pay thousands of dollars to achieve hundreds of rights that another citizen can get by saying "I Do".

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/obamas-latest-preacher-problem.html#comment-184407

Behaviors? Listen honey get your head out of your ASS...

Affectional Orientation is not a "behavior" ... It's is an essential component of who we are.

And I will no longer apologise for standing up to homophobes and their apologists...

Corey,

I'm sure BYU has lots of rules. Certainly their attitudes towards women are more than a little archaic. I would get tossed for coffee drinking. :-)

Tom, you up early today?

Well I'm off. Have a nice night folks.

I was looking that up, Jamie. Mainly because former Chicago Bears QB Jim McMahon went to BYU. When he got to Chicago he had a beer in his hand at his first press conference. He was glad to be free of the opression of Utah. I guess the Bears weren't pleased by that.

yes, I am trying to clean my apartment before Mauro arrives. I have been working so hard that I do not have it good order. I have too much junk in here, and all the Christmas decorations, while lovely, certainly creates some space issues. I wish we could have garage sales here. They aren't allowed... when there is a "rommelmarkt" which I think translates to "Clutter market", but you have to get permission and possibly pay for the right to participate. Still... clutter it is, and I am not surrendering my one vehicle garage for this stuff :-)

It's almost 5:30 am... then shower and off to work. Today is busy day for the various press. The major weekly magazines arrive today... more tomorrow, so it always takes me a half hour or so to organize, pack up the returns and get the shop open. But, I am not complaining... it's busy season and does make time fly. CAN'T BELIEVE THAT TOMORROW IS CHRISTMAS EVE !!!!

Happy holidays to all, even those I disagree with fundamentally on politics and religion.

Tomorrow, I work 6 until 9 I think, and then my worker works 9 until 2 and I come back to finish the day. Normally I stay open until 5 pm but if I still have customers I stay open. My ex always gets on my case on not closing earlier, feeling that I work enough hours as it is, but I have to think about customer convenience as well... Wednesday night Christmas dinner... no idea Christmas Day... then back to work on Friday. Next week... New Year's Eve with Mauro, New Year's Day recuperating, Friday back to work :-)

And I am very sorry I can't hop on a plane and fly home to surprise my family. Perhaps next year :-)

Lampe,

Your concern over good judgement cracks me up. You publicans gave us babybush, a lazy and drunken deserter, with a crack record. In January, 2001, babybush dismissed the recommendations of the Hart/Rudmann commission, and rejected hardening airline cockpits to prevent skyjackers, cuz it would cost millions. Then came 9/11. Studies showed that New Orleans was in danger, but babyush put off doing anything about it cuz it ould cost millions. Katerina followed.

babybush screwed up the war in Afghanistan, let bin laden go, and have nearly lost yet another war that our troops won. Then he chose to invade Iraq, changed the war plan in the mid-stream, and screwed things up irrevocably. The Iraqis all agree. They can't wait to get us out.

You publicans deregulated banking and the mortgage business, resulting in the fraud that has created this REPUBLICAN DEPRESSION.

You gave subsidies to buyers of gashogs, and encouraged gasoline-dependent commuting into ever more distant exurbia, thus generating TR!LL!ONS of $$ for America's enemies, and making us ever more dependent on them.

You enjoyed almost 6 years, controlling the White House, Supreme Court, Senate and House, yet all you could do for foeti was was outlaw partial birth abortion and and define the legal abortions. As if one lunatic in the Oval Office wasn't enough for you, you nominated the most erratic, out-of-touch, hot-head you could find to run in 2008.

Compared to this, Obama was a member of Wright's church, and worked fo Ayers. This comparison ought to stagger you. You publicans have no business dissing anyone else about bad judgement.

So, Lampe,

Why don't we see Black folks at Romney's Church ?

All you late-nighters and early risers

a game fu ya.

http://www.aksalser.com/game.htm

"Didn't Jerry Falwell say some very similar things, and didn't McCain speak at Liberty U?"

Pathetic. Now John McCain is the human rights benchmark.

" I've heard some critics are comparing Caroline Kennedy's lack of experience with Sarah Palin. "

The thing is, three people who ran or are trying to run in this cycle have been eviscerated. Note which three: the evil queen, the dumb slut and the society lady. It would give anyone with a brain cell pause.

Craig -- Thank you for this post today. The Rick Warren invocation invitation has had me churning for the past several days. I've been calling, blogging and talking about it. I hate it when people dismiss it as the beginning of a "dialog" when it's actually akin to inviting David Duke to an NAACP rally. When people dismiss our pain, anger and disappointment with this choice as trivial. When people call the gay rights movement "culture wars." Since when is a civil rights movememtn a "culture war?" Was MLK a "cultural warrior?"

I didn't want Obama, I was deeply disappointed when he was the nominee. I swore I wouldn't lift a finger to help then found myself organizing three key precincts in a swing county in a battleground state, and working from predawn to late at night on election day monitoring the polls. I soothed by torn heartstrings by telling myself, even if it wasn't a woman's turn, at least I could be happy that an African American was able to break dwont he walls and the barriers and took omfort that this victory may one day lead to the day when I might see a woman, hopefully a progressive DEM woman, become president. I began hearing really positive things in the transition team about issues that I cared about -- especially in early childhood education -- and I even started to entertain the idea of taking my kids up to DC that weekend and participating in the Inauguration.

Then the Rick Warren invite came like a stab in the heart, to join the blow dealt by the heartbreaking passage of Prop. 8. This is compounded by the seeming obliviousness that Obama has displayed when responding to people's criticism of this choice.

I called the transition office and complained -- spoke to a real human being who also shared that she agreed with me. She told me to be sure to register my views to the change.gov website because messages posted there are being tracked hour-by-hour instead of daily. People are posting there asking Obama to please reconsider the choice of Rick Warren and rescind the invitation.

~Alicia

PS -- Corey -- I understood your point....so don't take my comment as being particularly directed at you...

Just making an observation about all the chest beating once again. (And by people who still haven't figured out that the whole Africa scandal was a comedy sketch that MSNBC thought was real. Stupid is too kind a word for that.)

Patsi, I've seen some things lately, political and non-political that are pretty sad. People saying things that are either mean or stupid about others and they get rewarded for it. Don't know if you heard the Detroit News sports columnist Rob Parker yesterday. He was at the Detroit Lions post game news conference. He was asking Detroit's coach Rod Marinelli questions during the press conference. Each question got more ridiculous. His last question was supposedly in jest: "Do you sometimes wish your daughter married a better defensive coordinator?" Marinelli's daughter is married to his defensive coordinator. FOX sports NFL guys said Parker crossed a line and he was being a jerk. Parker was on Detroit tv last night and the show's host joked with him about what he said. Today, Parker wrote a column explaining his friendship with Marinelli and offered an apology. Marinelli said Parker crossed a line and he rfefused to accept his apology. IMO, Parker was being a smart-ass and it backfired. He came off looking like a jerk.

Patsi, here's an interesting thing. Look at these 2 jokes regarding the show thrower in Iraq:

"It turns out this guy was described as a hot head. He's a guy who is an Iraqi journalist. They say he's a hot head with poor journalistic skills. Well, no surprise, today he was offered his own show on Fox News." --David Letterman

"Well, the interesting thing was the journalist who threw the shoe was immediately arrested, and then offered his own show on MSNBC." --Jay Leno

Make that shoe thrower*

If the shoe fits, you must aquits......and THEN get your own show on Fox.........

It's breaking my heart, I tell ya. The folks in both Palm beach, FL and The Hamptons, NY are being hit hard by the financial downturn. One former Lehman Bros. VP is forced to put his second mansion in tony Bridgehampton up for sale. And it's SUCH a BAD time to do that don't ya know.

Asking price: $32.5 million.

tt

The biggest cheer at the Red Wings game on Saturday were for two US military members who were introduced and shown on the scoreboard screen. Many people gave them a standing ovation.

And ya just never know where the economic downturn will hit.

"Luxury downturn hits U.S. beaver trappers"

http://www.reuters.com/article/inDepthNews/idUSTRE4BG04C20081217

*REAL people wear FAKE fur, always*

tt

I think I'm finished shopping - hope so. I have no idea of what I got some people but do know that I have done my damnedest to counter-act the recession. I just love to shop for presents for people and especially love it when I come upon a whole new avenue for gifts for the difficult ones to shop for.

My niece mentioned that perhaps her husband would like some cheese for their raclette! He told me he would like a new measuring tape - see what I mean?
So I went to our local Italian wine shop and got some great raclette cheese, and as I was checking out found a little jar of some pesto.

Then for my bil I found a website called rareaviation! Can you imagine??????? I have so many presents for him I may be able to let my sister give him some!

As for Rick Warren, I think I have found a specific about him that may explain what bothers me about him. He wants people to change themselves and what makes them who they are. He wants them to be like him - to be clones of him. I don not want him to change himself- he is who he is and has that right.

I just don't think he deserves the status this choice gives him - he can't love all people if he can't accept them as they are.

I don't care how much he helps others - he also damns and tries to destroy others as well. He just doesn't deserve to speak to the nation on such an auspicious occasion.

I think Rick Warren might should concentrate more upon his own gluttony and leave everyone else the [multiple expletives deleted] alone.

that's my dialog.......

HA! Just saw on cnn that Warren's church has removed its anti-gay "rhetoric" from its web site Good Lord , what a true believer! Wonder what his parishioners think of his back-tracking just so he can get a minute or two of international tv time!

I just wrote a very nasty comment on the change.gov web site - what are the chances they'll start a file on me?

It's funny - I didn't think Warren should change, as I don't think he should demand gays should change. I just think he doesn't belong in a representative spot - and what does he do?????

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/obamas-latest-preacher-problem.html#comment-184432

Alicia,
That was a wonderful, heartfelt post. Thanks.
...

"I consider this to be tossing the right a bone. "

and the left a shoe

Lampe,

I got it all wrong with you, too. I am very sorry. Please, forgive me.