Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

Good thoughts, Craig. Happy New Year to you and here's to a huge bestseller from the team of Crawford & Thomas!

I posted a link to an article about Senator Pell's death on the last thread. Here's something from Salon:

Former Sen. Pell dies
Former Rhode Island Sen. Claiborne Pell died Thursday. Pell, who retired in 1997 after more than 30 years in the Senate, was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 1994. He was 90.

A liberal Democrat who chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Pell was, among his other accomplishments, also the Senate's chief sponsor of the legislation that created the National Endowment for the Arts as well as the National Endowment for the Humanities. But he's best known for the college financial aid program that bears his name, the Pell Grants. The Associated Press notes in its obituary that the Senator always said the grants were his greatest achievement.

Happy New Year to you...

The best closing you have had.... "We run our own country!"
The contrasts should be striking... but yet the vain of American Convservative Values must and will continue to find their place in the New Barack. This will insure his success.

good morning all.

ping, did you really mean the "vain" of conservatives or vein or vane? all would work in a certain sense... even the venial.

Happy New Year!

Ah, the illusion of being in charge. We may get to decide who to hand the reigns to, but once that has been done....

And what about the folks who would've preferred a different designated driver?

craig, the third sentence in your fourth paragraph may spark some comment today,beware and take cover.

the basis of my last comment was this article re acknowledgement and acceptance of multi-raciality and something that gordo linked months ago also questioning the one drop issue because inclusion of arabic ancestory disturbs the the 50-50 black-white balance the msm touts.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/28/AR2008112802219_pf.html

"did you really mean the "vain" of conservatives or vein or vane? all would work in a certain sense... even the venial."

ROFL, patd!!

though conservatives may all be now in a state of denial
probably only their upper echelon may be aptly described as venial.

Since Illinois requires a special election for Rahm's congressional seat, why not for Obama's senate spot? Is it simply the money for a state-wide race that is involved?

oops......looking up the word "venial" i see that the veniality may descend far below the upper echelon.......but at least I got a chance to rhyme venial and denial..........that's all that counts.........

We, as a country, should do what we perceive to be in our own best self interests. That sounds kind of cold, but our self interest includes getting along with others and providing resources to those who desperately need them.

We, alone, can define our self interests. That's why we continue to be Americans. And, that's why our kowtowing to foreign oil interests is such a fundamentally un-American behavior.

It's not for us to go and confront the oil-rich countries taking their oil, but it is entirely appropriate, in an American sense, for us to go out and actively develop alternatives.

And it's entirely proper for us shun those so-called Americans who have placed their selfish pecuniary interests above those of our country as a whole. I'm talking about the miscreants who take our dollars, moving them off-shore, and then expecting favored tax-treatment from the rest of us.

I'm nor advocating class warfare. There are plenty of well-to-do Americans who personify the best of American values. I'm talking about the people who strip our country of the resources needed for continuing development.

My hat's off to people such as Buffett and Gates who actively use their wealth for the betterment of people, including Americans, all over this planet. And for politicians such as Bush the Elder and Bill Clinton who have actively worked to remediate the suffering of the poorest of the poor. These people are genuine Americans.

Sturge, are you channeling Nipsey Russell with your rhymes?

I wouldnt channel Nipsy Russel
without a most engaging tussle........

Great post, latus. Couldn't agree more.

though should Nips enter un-observed
I'd rather him than wind up Merv'd

OOPS -- that would be, Flatus! (although Iatus sounds a bit Shakespearean...)

"the genius of our nation and the gift of our best presidents is the preservation of a simple ideal: We run our own country."

I'm so proud of myself this morning. Because I am going to bite my tongue. :)

OK, everyone ready to put 2000-2008 behind (good riddance) and get on with 2009-20???

Craig, all we do is figure out which they will run the country - and even then...there are always such "leaders" as Tom Coburn - whose good intentions perpetuate a broken system.

Ping, WADR, your dream of the guiding hand of basic American conservatism is just that. The one thing that America has seldom been in its greatest moments is conservative. In fact, in the past century or so it's taken aggressive liberal policies to pull the country out of the hole that the conservative governing moments dug. And yes, I know ther eare exaples of the opposite - but tread lightly, they are imperfect examples.

And, please - considering the current and recent state of politics, please, please do not forget venal - it has been front and center.

Oh, and ARRRGGGHHH!!

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/01/02/world/AP-Piracy.html?_r=1

Guns, we don't need no stinkin' guns.

Good morning all, So who is running the country in this case?
Aides:Democrats have plan if Burris shows up
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/01/01/aides-democrats-have-plan-if-burris-shows-up/

ahh......"venal".......that's the one i was thinking of.......lol

those who, of late, have been most venal
should now face their trials in systems penal

Patsi...we need someone named "Flaertes" in this commenting gang. Now THAT would be Shakespearean!

Sturge, your ryhmes would be missed if you ever left Crawford's List. I spent a lot of yesterday watching the Looney Tunes marathon on Cartoon Network. Once again, I heard the questioned posed to Elmer Fudd:
"Would you like to shoot me now or wait 'til you get home?"

Yes, sturg - that would be the system their opportunism should lead them to.

Ping, just for you - and everyone else, of course.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/02/opinion/02krugman.html

"... latus. "

Patsi, that will be all too soon. :)

Over the holiday a friend told me about a magazine
http://www.odemagazine.com/

It's for intelligent optimists.... which makes me wonder if you have to take test to subscribe.
It looks like a magazine started by an optimist with too much money.

pogo, thanks for that pirate hosing story. made my day just to imagine a bunch of zorbas dancing on deck shouting "o-pahhh" as the drenched pirates slink off oer the waves.

"we need someone named "Flaertes" in this commenting gang. Now THAT would be Shakespearean!"

Ha! True, LL....actually, Lardo's Retreat was a little Shakespearean...

my favorite loony tunes vignette
is that where Bugs emerges from the shotgun smoke of Elmer's blast and says, "Have some cheese, RAT!"
and slams a gob of cheese in Elmer's piehole.......

Lard, please understand, I'm just a simple Ohlfahrt; one totally without Shakespearean pretensions.

And just to prove that, I'm going to do as I have been told by scrubbing the shower. Sigh.

I feel that many, if not a majority, who voted for Obama did it based on feelings and not facts. Obama has the ability to inspire and inspiration is really needed in these troubled times.

what feeling I felt was a constant low grade feeling of "Oh god....not another republican."

"....if Burris tries to enter the Senate chamber, the Senate doorkeeper will stop Burris. If Burris were to persist, either trying to force his way onto the Senate floor or refusing to leave and causing a scene, U.S. Capitol Police would stop him, said the aide.

....Senate Democratic leaders could not deny Blagojevich entry, as sitting governors have floor privileges in the Senate. Governors are allowed to walk around the Senate chamber or talk with senators while on the floor..."

oldsea, what happens if gov blago escorts sen burris?

David Brooks has a readable column today - whistfully looking backward, of course.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/02/opinion/02brooks.html

And before anyone jumps, I agree with his sentiment about shrinking exposition. (LOL, e.g.)

Excellent commentry Craig, and I share your optimism except for having read "The Last Thousand Days of the British Empire"

http://www.amazon.com/Last-Thousand-Days-British-Empire/dp/1596915315/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1230905461&sr=1-1

It is about the transition time following WW II as world power passed from Britain to the United States. Obama has many talents and the ability to focus the energy of the country on our many problems. Given the debt, the money that will be necessary to infuse into the economy ... After the last eight years, and the Bush destruction, how much will he have at his disposal to change the world?

From the pirating story:

"The French navy will hand over the men to Somali authorities."

Sounds like they'll all soon be free to pirate again.

Heheh.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/dec/30/rnc-pushes-unprecedented-criticism-of-bailouts/

Reporting for duty, Captain Peachfuzz.

The Reid-Blago-Burris fleshing out process begins.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/30/roland-burris-has-lock-on_n_154322.html

And Gross has the same take on the issue that I have FWTW.

Comment heard recently: The bailout is taking care of the people in the boat, but it doesn't help those in the water drowning.

I think it is hilarious that the Republicans are accusing Bush of Socialism. They didn't utter a peep when he was blowing billions padding the wallets of the military/industrial folks

Of course the Democrats considering use of the Sergeant of Arms on Burris is almost equally stupid if not financially extravagant.

What happens to brains on the Potomac? There has to be some form of miasmic mold infection going on.

is burris somehow at odds with the obama team.....is there a history which makes burris to the obama team unacceptable? why would they not just go ahead and seat him, what's the objection.....he's been duly appointed by the sitting governor......where's the beef?

A final (well, hopefully near final) chapter in Bushco's post-Katrina legacy.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-12-30-cottages_N.htm

And eveidence that the poisonous incompetence of Bushcl extends its reach beyond the Federal government agencies so incredibly mismanaged.

Patd- A circus act?

Nice job C man.
That's a real nice set of paragraphs there.
An "Atta Boy" for Craig.

Jamie - "What happens to brains on the Potomac?" God, what an incisive question. I believe the rule is "check your brain at the outer loop - and please don't lose your claim check - your brain cannot be returned to you if you don't have it."

sturg, apparently the Obama team (at least on this issue) isn't waiting to check their brains at the outer loop. Why wait until the last minute rush as Repugs are trying to reclaim theirs on their way out of town?

BTW, Craig, What CB said. :-)

"Sounds like they'll all soon be free to pirate again."

True -- and has anyone heard much about Somali youths from the Twin Cities area freaking out their families by leaving for the "old country"?

somali youth leaving minneapolis to fight:

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/12/19/Somali_youth_leaving_Minneapolis_to_fight/UPI-32961229714662/

By the way, it appears that Bobby Rush is going for Reid's throat on the Burris appointment. I heard one report that he compared the Senate blocking Burris to Bull Conner tactics. Could get mighty interesting.

I seem to have made another 90 degree bend in the road. That 82 degree reading in my backyard on Dec. 30th. sent me down a rabbit hole.

stopping somali youth violence in minneapolis:

http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/article/2008/11/19/stopping-somali-youth-violence.html

Thanks for that link sturge....you gotta feel for that grandmother who said she's already been forced out of her home country and doesn't want it to happen here.

Well, seems like new proposals are coming in to increase cost shares of healthcare for military retirees including those over 65. These increases, of course, are simply so dollars can be made available for programs that are more important, like bailing out whomever. To put a Latin flavor to such an individual, how about Scumbagus UnAmericanus.

In any case, hear's a Philpott article that does a pretty good job of explaining the issue:
http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,182097,00.html

I'm in the cohort of those who were promised no-cost lifetime healthcare in exchange for career service. I kept my side of the bargain. Now, that no-cost benefit is costing us about $2400 a year. If the new plan goes into effect, it will jump, for us, by another $2500. Bad news. And even worse news for the average retiree in grade E-7.

"Lou Dobbs Must Go"

"A circus act?"

oldsea, in one ring the elephants trunk to tail go round and round in well trod rut, in the other the budget tightrope walking donkey balances war and butter, and in the center ring ringmaster reid wrestles the newest senate tiger in a death defying act before our very eyes.

btw, wouldn't it be odd if they allowed gov blago access to the floor (per the senate rules for sitting govs) but not his appointee?

Leon on the tightrope:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2Z9qN8R9Bg

Patd- LOL! Odd is an understatement, from what I've read they don't have the right to do this constitutionally. This whole fiasco just keeps getting weirder.

Yes, flatus, both parties have done a disservice to those like you served in good faith. Had the service said you may get free health care for life in exchange for career service, would you have made the same decision in your 30s?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/01/AR2009010101784.html

I often disagree with Gene Robinson - but not this time.

pat, you been reading the Post?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/01/AR2009010101779.html

That damn Kinsley (Whose evolution to Time and away from a regular spot at the Post Op-Ed page is why I shifted tothe Times as my primary source of daily news) ....

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2008/12/for_caroline_kennedy_a_standar.html

Now, really, what makes him think anyone wants to be burdened with facts in this issue? Maybe Paterson should follow that precedent and appoint Bill (Chelsea, after all, is too young).

" I kept my side of the bargain."

Exactly, Flatus.

pogo, can't take the credit. oldsea drew the picture. i just put in some color. wapo's ej might be one of those "great minds think alike things" though.... or one of our lurkers.

while we're on the subject, send in the clowns music break
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5yG1Dy5b4A&feature=related

No need to send in the clowns - they're already here. :-)

I found one of the great inventions of the age folks.

" The Apricus Solar Conversion Valve (SCV) is a special brass valve designed to allow existing hot water tanks to be retrofitted into solar storage tanks, thus eliminating the need to purchase an additional tank. "

http://www.apricus.com/html/solar_conversion_valve.htm

-----------------
This little chunk of brass just shaved hundreds of dollars off retrofitting everyone's hot water system. The rising price of energy the last 5 years drove the development of the other piece of the puzzle. A large manufacturing base in China for these :

Evacuated Tube Solar Collector

http://en.micoe.com/Heat_Pipe_Collector.html

----------------
These collectors are extremely efficient , and if you buy them by the container, very cheap. Nearing $400 for a 20 tube unit.

It ain't going to the moon, but we could sure put a lot of people to work, save a lot of money, and cut emissions if we just took the country to solar hot water, and that little brass valve just made the conversion costs a lot cheaper.

"Had the service said you may get free health care for life in exchange for career service, would you have made the same decision in your 30s?"

Interesting question, Pogo. I had two breaks in service. The first after I returned from Vietnam. Basically spent the holidays at home then switched from the Army to the Air Force. A couple of months later, Stinky and I were on our way back to Korea with the specific mission of adopting a couple of kids, which we did. Of course, the capture of the Pueblo on the high seas added an interesting flavor to that tour.

The second time I exited was when they tried to send me on a sixth tour to Korea. That decision by personnel was made in error, as Mendel Rivers staff pointed out to the Pentagon. In any case, all this occurred at the end of an enlistment. I was a MSgt with ten-years service at the time putting me in the group you are talking about.

Understand, there is no vesting in a military retirement account. Either you serve until minimum retirement (20-years) or you get nothing. So, at that point, it made sense making my break while I was still young enough to make a decent career doing something else.

Within a week of my exit I had a decent job.

Then, while I was at work, Stinky called. She was in tears saying that our youngest daughter couldn't move her legs. She, and my brother's wife, had taken her to the doctor. He recommended that she be hospitalized immediately.

Although I had purchased a short-term health insurance policy when I was discharged, I knew it wouldn't cover the open ended situation that we potentially faced. The next morning I was back at the recruiting office and within a day or two, was back in the Air Force, still a MSgt, but this time with orders for Lockbourne AFB outside of Columbus, OH.

The day I made that decision to reenlist, continuing lifetime healthcare was absolutely the greatest motivator. If that carrot had not been there, I wouldn't have returned.

Plus we don't have to send anyone to rocket school to do this. Any unemployed carpenter / plumber can install these things.

flatus - makes senes. I figured that for some that would be a strong consideration (legitimately so) and for others it might not. I'm of the belief that such an inducement is a small price for continuity in the officer (commissioned and not) corps, and that failing to provide it is short sighted and stupid. And I never served and never seriously considered it after I reached an age approaching 18.

Happy New Year to All...

I do not know if anyone posted this, but a great re-cap of 2008 --

http://www.youtube.com:80/watch?v=TWiXy55OHyY

flatus....glad you had some dealings with old mendel....he was a grand representative of all things military and was my congressman till he died....(they said it would have been against the rules for him to continue.....) he did me some good turns as well......

..(they said it would have been against the rules for him to continue....

All staff had to do was request a waiver citing the Chicago Exception.

unnamed offcials say Schlossberg is the choice
must be Bri Bri's relative

Andrew Cumo's father says Andy is Paterson's choice

Does the anonymous source jig

Happy New Year everyone!

Craig.... it's really nice to see you in such an optimistic mood.....

Bethy..... I know I shouldn't laugh...... but I did get a chuckle over your post from the last thread describing your anguish over a down computer..... you wouldn't have survived very well up here in our recent ice storm..... down computers was the least of our worries...... we had down and dead everything...... computers, lights, water pumps, tvs, phones..... hey you name it.... if it was run by electricity.... it was dead....

our yard..... hell, my whole town.... make that the entire region.... looked like a war zone..... except our houses were mostly intact.... seriously... if you looked out my front windows (or the back ones too) you'd wonder if we had a tornado come through here.....

after going through it..... all the petty stuff in politics (and the personal stuff going on on this blog) seems pretty insignificant to me at the moment.....

you go through a disaster and figure out really fast what is and isn't important to you..... and no matter what.... life is beautiful!

Whatever Paterson does, I hope we stop hearing spipes from the blog fringe about Caroline's face -- her nose, the fact that she appears to be aging without benefit of Botox...God'amighty. Pelosi gets the hits for supposedly using Botox, and now Caroline is taking some incoming fire for not doing same.

Renee -- several times when I was watching or reading reports from NH, I found myself thinking that if any two people could tough it out, that would be you and Rick.

LOL

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/01/AR2009010101958.html?hpid=topnews

That's what Cheney told them to say.

Renee, just glad to see you back in the mix. Sounds like last weekend and early this week were just winter as usual. Imagine - snow storms as a welcome relief.

As usual, you miss the point, B.

Boner and McConnell up the hypocrisy ante.

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE5001UY20090102

I hope that if they persist in demanding what they would not allow as Dumya drove the nation into the ground, that Obama (through the strong voice of Emanuel) reminds them that they will have projects they think are important, that bipartisanship does not mean a dry veto pen, and 8 years (potentially at least) is a long time to see no opposition legislative initiatives come to fruition.

Well if we are all going to mingle among the clowns, we need appropriate music

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkTSGKS7BhU

Patsi, what I would give to have over teh top comments about my hair, rather than my lack of the same. (I really never bought that "makes you look distinguished" crap) :-)

"we had down and dead everything...... computers, lights, water pumps, tvs, phones..... hey you name it.... if it was run by electricity.... it was dead...."

renee, but wasn't the silence awesome?

having experienced a few hurricane aftermaths myself,
that is the one wondrous memory out of all the soggy ones, that beautiful eloquent sound of silence.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/have-a-hopeful-new-year.html#comment-186267

Uncle Jay's year end has tickled the blog's funny bone a few times now. You can subscribe to him as he "explains" the news in shorter weekly bits as well.

Why don't I trust prosecutors?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/31/blagojevich-indictment-de_n_154514.html

That's why. Unless the additional witnesses are EXCULPATORY witnesses, they don't change the basis for any indictment. And asking to QUADRUPLE the amount of time in which to bring an indictment? Sounds like Fitz has looked at the evidence he has and decided he ain't got enough to bring an indictment (which is pitiful - the classic line from a very well known prosecutor (whose name I can't recall) "I could indict a ham sandwich."). And as prosecutors go, I kinda like Fitz.

pogo, fitz probably won't trust another newspaper's help on a case either. don't forget he was about to be scooped and outed about his wire tapping by the local media so he went public before his t's and i's were dotted and crossed...

Say it ain't so, Pogo! I like bald and always have....think about all the guys who shave their heads to look cool....

think about all the guys who shave their heads to look cool....

Bald guys look cool? That lie has replaced "the check is in the mail" in the top three

What. patsi - you aren't fond of combovers? LOL Would that I had to shave my head to be bald - and that looking cool part - well, that's a matter of personal taste I suppose. My nephew (who they used to call Little Pogo) began to get my hairline - courtesy of Mom's side of the family - and he started shaving his head about 2 years ago - to look cool I'd wager.

pat - too bad for Fitz - imagine a prosecutor being upstaged by a newspaper. How embarassing would that be? Guess he had to figure out a way to try and shoehorn something that resembled considerations of justice into the PR decisions he had to make.

bald guys like this are cool

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rFcCK2Or6g&feature=related

btw, pat, when a prosecutor asks a newsie to hold off reporting an invesigation while they gather info to try and convict someone, that smacks of entrapmetn to me. IMHO, the newsie should make the call, not the government.

Does the bald guys are delusional jig

bald guys like this are cool

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rFcCK2Or6g&feature=related

No kidding, patd!!!!! I think he ranks among the top-10 coolest ever.

"that smacks of entrapmetn to me"

yep.

known a few blow hard, tough talking pols that would have sounded worse on tape... but more bark than bite.

Baldness in men is like anything else with men. A confident man with a sense of humor makes bald sexy. A man who is worried about losing his hair worries everyone else. Combovers are just downright pathetic.

My son-in-law just said "the hell with it" and got a buzz cut. It doesn't seem to be an issue with him.

pardon me boys, but we forgot the chattanooga choo choo yesterday. here's glen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XQybKMXL-k&feature=related
and here's carmen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7F28K9Glsg

Gee, I guess the Dumya admin never thought about what might happen to the prisoners it took to Gitmo if they ever shut it down or decided some of them weren't the terrorists they thought they were..

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/03/world/asia/03australia.html?hp

MO-RONS

I'm really sick about all the Blago/Burris BS....and I wish to hell Harry Reid would just give it up and seat the man. I heard on MSNBC that they threatened to eject him with guards. What a friggin' picture THAT would be.

and here's bette
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCqXTR1o5I0&feature=related

I figured I didn't do anything special to get the stuff, so I didn't need to do anything special when I lost it. I just laugh when aI see those Bosley commercials - they've been showing the same 4 guys and one woman (and one of the guys is just one of those thinning haired "candidates") for hair repalcement for at leasts 2 years now. Hell, even Nutrisystem rotates their now-skinny babes about every 6 months (they do keep the same celebrity endorsers, though - Bob, Mike and Don). Makes me wonder how effective their "therapy" is.

Renee -
I drove through where an ice storm cut a path out of Miss. up I 55 into Tenn. They just sawed off the trees at the white strip to get the interstate open. Nothing worst than hearing the trees start snapping, as the ice builds up.

Pats, not to worry - Burris has a bit more class than that and has said he isn't planning to go to DC and make a scene - he hopes to have all that worked out before the swearing in ceremony comes around. I sense yet another constitutional showdown looming on the horizon.

Renee! Welcome back to our highly charged world!!

No ice here today, sunny and 70 degrees.

That's good to hear, Pogo...did you see my earlier question about why the mandated election for Rahm's seat and not Obama's? Just money?

patd

Speaking of Bette, she has a big show in Vegas

I wonder if Craig wants to do a repeat of Vegas once his book is finished.

http://www.bettemidler.com/

let's see now, as i understand it

the people of illinois have a duly adopted state constitution.

the people of illinois elected a governor to perform certain duties directed by that constitution.

the sitting governor of illinois appointed pursuant to the illinois constitution and to the u.s. constitution a qualified illinois citizen to fill a vacant u.s. senate seat.

the senior u.s. senator from nevada has publically proclaimed that the aforesaid appointee will not be allowed to take his appointed seat on january 6 and will be forcibly removed in the attempt to do so.

ain't democracy grand.

feel free to correct any inaccuracy, illusion or delusion on my part.

Pats, I saw your question, but don't know the answer. The articles I've read suggest that Blago could appoint someone, but seem to indicate that an election will be held. Frankly, I don't know, and the searches I've done to try and ferret out the answer haven't yielded anything of value.

pats, this is as close as I've come -

http://cbs2chicago.com/politics/rahm.emanuel.replacement.2.875415.html

Could it be that since Rahm was elected, and will resign his seat before he would assume the seat he's been elected to - just happens to be the one he currently holds - there has to be a special election? I'm speculating.

Patsi..... Rick and I are typical NHerites..... we're all tough....

Patd.... yes.... the silence was awesome...... as was the world of ice.... after we got through the "oh my fuckin' god!" moment after raising the blind on our front picture window..... we were amazed at how our entire world looked just like a prism....

CBob.... it hit at night..... our world went dark around 11:30pm Dec 11th....
we got very little sleep that night as we heard all the crashing around us.... we prayed that no trees would hit our house or our cars.... and we were very lucky as none did.... all our neighbors we just as lucky too....

we are all prepared for the electricity going out for a couple of days..... most of us have wood stoves for backup heat.... but no one imagined it would be around a couple of weeks.... the hardest part is that we are all on individual wells with electric pumps..... no electricity, no water..... no water, no toilet flushing.... we have a brook that runs on our property..... we have dammed a section of it so we can haul water from it to flush our toilets when this stuff happens..... our neighbors were using it too....

towns to the east of us weren't hit as hard..... a friend who lives in Bowmanc's neck of the woods lent us his generator on day 6.... it was a godsend!..... we had to gerry rig it through our dryer switch and could only hook it up to run a few lights, one refrigerator, and our well pump...... but it felt like a minor miracle.....

we have an electrician who has a generator and transfer switch on order for us...... he expects to get them in a few weeks and he'll permanently install it for us..... we won't be caught with our pants down again....

And now for something completely different ...

http://cbs2chicago.com/slideshows/weird.x.rays.20.727452.html

Weird x-rays

"Get Ann Coulter's New Book"

I haven't been keeping track of her. Guess she's still spreading swill.

My son-in-law just said "the hell with it" and got a buzz cut. It doesn't seem to be an issue with him.

I am not bald but I am missing quite a few hairs so I too said the hell with it. I even went to WallyWorld and bought my own clippers. just use the #1 attachment and clip away. Saves $15 dollars every two weeks. Takes about 5 minutes. I do require that Sra Dooty be the barber. My arms don't bend that way anymore.

Here's a constitutional lawyer's take on why Blogo can't (shouldn't appoint) and it's still a democracy. Lawrence Tribe is apretty respectable guy.

The house and senate rules for filling vacant seats are different.
"Not only did the 17th amendment establish the process for electing senators, but it also explained how vacant seats are to be filled.

If a vacancy occurs due to death, resignation, or expulsion the amendment allows the state legislature to empower the governor to appoint a replacement. That replacement would hold the seat until the end of the senator's current term or until a special election could be held.

The only exception is Arizona. The Grand Canyon State requires a special election for all vacancies and does not allow any temporary replacements"

"Vacancies in the House, however, take far longer to fill. The Constitution requires that member of the House be replaced only by an election held in the congressional district of the former representative.

"When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies." -- Article I, Section 2, Clause 4 of the U.S. Constitution

According to the US Constitution and state law, the governor of the state calls for a special election to replace the vacant House seat. The full election-cycle must be followed including political party nominating processes, primary elections and a general election, all held in the congressional district involved. The entire process often takes as long as from three to six months."

duh..
here's the link for the Lawrence Tribe article
http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/02/blagojevich-burris-constitution-oped-cx_lt_0102tribe_print.html

No need for Coulter's book. Renee just lost power not toilet paper

For once, I agree with my Governor:

Statement from Phil Bredesen, Gov. (D-Tenn.):

I have no sympathy for the Governor of Illinois. His political future is deservedly dead and cold; he may yet be removed by impeachment; he may well find himself in prison. He has diminished an office that I am proud to hold.

Now that it is clear that I am not carrying any water for this fellow governor, may I make the point that we are thankfully very near the end of an administration for which political calculation and the entitlement of power so often trumped the rule of law. A Democratic congress should move to heal this wound to America, not deepen it.

There is a clear path laid out in law as to how to fill this seat. Blagojevich is the governor. He has not been impeached, he has not been convicted of any crime, and the man he has appointed is by all accounts qualified and respectable. Fellow Democrats: stop what you’re doing, seat Mr. Burris, start us back on the path of respecting the rule of law even when we don’t like it, and most importantly turn your attention to a long list of issues that actually matter.

Good work, KC. Yep, LT is quite the respected voice. So Blago can appoint for Obama and can't appoint for Emanuel.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/have-a-hopeful-new-year.html#comment-186318

Actually, Pats, leaking it would be my guess.

And with that, I have to go - I've got Christmas decorations to pack up and a bowl game to get ready to watch. Roll Tide.

"went to WallyWorld and bought my own clippers. just use the #1 attachment and clip away. "

Ha...my SIL is his own barber as well....

btw - for all you college football fans out there - it looks like a good ole barn burner down in the Cotton Bowl.

"we have an electrician who has a generator and transfer switch on order for us...... he expects to get them in a few weeks and he'll permanently install it for us..... we won't be caught with our pants down again...."

We have one here--and we used it for real during an ice storm we had a couple of years ago. It's surprising how much noise it makes when everything is quiet all around the neighborhood. And it's surprising how bright our lights looked when every other light in the neighborhood was out.

Actually, I was somewhat concerned about someone driving up in a truck and driving away with it--it only weighs a couple of hundred pounds. Maybe, now that I'm thinking about it, I'll go ahead and figure how to chain it to an unmovable object. And, I have to figure out a way to let people plug into it long enough to survive.

I do have a transfer switch and I do run the thing every month or so for a half hour. It runs on gasoline so I'm careful to treat the gas and rotate the two extra tanks through the lawn tractor.

"For once, I agree with my Governor:"

So do I. I've had this feeling that the Dems are trying to impose a traditional Chicago solution on a 'problem' that is not yet ready to be solved.

Flatus....
yes..... they are noisy..... within a week, everyone in the neighborhood had one and it was silent no more..... we all would turn them off at night though....

we've decided to go with one that runs on propane..... when it's installed we'll get a local propane company to put a tank on our house and connect it to the generator.....

it'll cost us a few more bucks..... but propane never goes bad..... gasoline does....

Most of you seem to have more eclectic musical tastes than mine, but if you just want to hear standards from the 40's through whenever, you may want to try streaming this Montreal AM station.

http://www.am740.ca/site/lobby.cfm

They're up to the letter "J" in an alphabetical countdown of someone's 300 top songs. Currently playing a James Bond Theme which followed Jailhouse Rock and Harry Belafonte's Jamaica.

"it'll cost us a few more bucks..... but propane never goes bad..... gasoline does...."

You're exactly right. I've looked at the Chinese diesel jobs which seem attractive for extended outages. But...

A few things about that radio station, first of all it's in Toronto, not Montreal. Second, they call their audience "Zoomers" but I have no idea what demographic that is supposed to define, and finally their after sundown signal can be picked up clearly on a car radio most nights in Albany and I also heard it in DC. Daytime, not so good.

AM740

for those who discount gov blago's authority to appoint burris, how do they explain their deference to his authority to set/schedule the special election to replace emanuel? he's either pregnant with power or he's not.

BTW....
I live in the Monadnock region and it was hit hard because of our elevation level..... PSNH (Public Service of NH) officially declared my little town of New Ipswich as the hardest hit town of the ice storm.....

but it wasn't all bad..... there were a few break-ins in the first couple days..... but they stopped as everyone started to watch out for everyone else...... we all helped one another..... we all pitched in where we could..... the community truly did come together.....

"the community truly did come together....."

I saw that happen every time my little hometown got hit by a tornado, Renee....(we were in Tornado Alley)

EdVB

You might like the Juke Box. This link is for the 50s, but you can click back for Swing or ahead for the 60s

http://www.tropicalglen.com/

Hi Jamie,

Thank you, Dexter gave me the juke box site a few years ago, and I hit it often, when I know I'll be hanging out for a while.

Either you or Dex also told me about Pandora, which is also a frequent stop. Of course, frequent is a relative term. In the cold weather months, I hit them quite a bit. Once the Spring arrives, I'm generally on the road.

Sad news...John Travolta's 16-year-old son, Jett, has died. He had a seizure of some sort, and they weren't able to revive him.

Unless this is a joke, Newsweek has sunk to a new low:

Newsweek Searches for Obama Mamas

Posted Nov 12, 08 11:43 AM CST

(Newser) – Did you find yourself roused to more than tears of joy at Barack Obama's historic victory Election Night? If so, Newsweek wants you. One of the mag’s reporters submitted a query to Help A Reporter Out, reports Gawker, looking for sources who “made love in the name of Obama” to share their titillating tale for "a funny piece about the potential for an Obama baby boom."

Renee - There's no reason not to laugh at my story, but I think the funny part is my attempts to talk with the reps on the other side of the world. I think everyone here has run into that and it NEVER improves.

However, what I was really freaked about was not that my computer was out of commision, but that I feared my money was gone. I could handle my computer dying - if nothing else I would go out and buy a new computer.

That idea of my money disappearing to hackers is pure terror to me, and I cannot bear to think of people like Carol and all the others who have lost life savings in this financial mess today. That's the entry to insanity-
I don't know how or if I could handle it.

I've been in situations without power for days several times and it can be an adventure, but weeks?????
At least you weren't alone and had the wonderful Rick and neighbors, too. I'm just glad you're back with us, and have some stories to tell.

soooo.........what's the topic?

I guess I'd better smoke one while I have it........I'll be back for the topic in a minute......and y'all dont try to give me no goofy stuff and say it's the topic, ok? It's been a long day.............

Carol -- thanks for that link....Holy CRAP that story pissed me off! And I'll take the timeouts from my granddaughter for using the language. The economy is in the toilet and these a-holes are yukking it up in the islands. They didn't learn one single thing there, either.

Sturge, I think the topic is Obama viagra.

Bethy, I, too, have a fear of my accounts being hacked. I think the greatest risk is through use of passwords that can easily be vulnerable to unsophisticated attacks.

Here's what I do.

I use complex passwords for every account that I have. One password might look something like 83KHkl8ef&Y_t. In other words it's a password that is quite resistant to all the common types of cracking.

The problem comes in how to retrieve the passwords when needed. For that I use a tracking program that is protected by a strong cipher key and has a complex password that I do remember.

I do keep the encrypted password file on a thumb drive that I can carry with me. On the drive I also have a copy of the access program. I have no fear of losing the drive because it is valueless to anyone except me. And, the info on it is available to me anywhere there's a computer that I can use.

Hey Bethyboo, sorry for your computer troubles. When things get tough I always ask for a supervisor, ticks them off sometimes but I really don't have the time to waste. Also, if they have outsourced jobs I ask for the number to reach the employees in the States. That works too, but only if they have any!

I don't bank online because of my fears. Two years ago I came home from a 4 day Marti Gras weekend at the camp and had a message on my home phone telling me to call my credit card co. My heart dropped. I called and they asked me if I was vacationing in Tenn. I said no. Someone had gotten my bank card number without the code and sucked $5000 out of my account.

It was rare I had that kind of money in that account but since I did nothing stopped whoever from taking it all. They went on a shopping spree across Tenn. The credit card co. did call but I wasn't home. Fortunately I did get that money back. The bank said it is fairly common.

makes one glad for no money and a paucity of passwords......

Heres one for ya Sturge, freedoms just another word for nothing left to lose... Should go well with what you are smoking.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WISX2oSExIA

just remember......when god closes a door he also dumps a barrel of crap down your chimney..........

"just remember......when god closes a door he also dumps a barrel of crap down your chimney...."

ROFLMAO

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/have-a-hopeful-new-year.html#comment-186343

ct

Maybe the Congressional cable system doesn't carry The Discovery Channel.

Jamie did you catch that they brought along someone from home to give the science lesson. It was someone from your State.

""just remember......when god closes a door he also dumps a barrel of crap down your chimney...."

ROFLMAO"

Ditto what Chloe said!!!!

Chloe, you are right about the barrel of crap. Do you think She has a sense of humor?

Undoubtedly Carol.
But if we want to know for sure, we need to ask Sturge. Sturge?

I thought it is Solar who is the religious director here.

Ummm, I just finished a salad of baby spring greens, grape tomatoes, avocado, capers, green olives, feta cheese, topped with a garlic herb vinegarette dressing and a grilled fillet mignon. I shared the steak with the pup. She insisted. Anyone home?

what I had
http://seasonalpantry.blogspot.com/2009/01/lentils-spinach-and-spicy-tomato-pickle.html

(and then at the Russian River Monthly editorial meeting I had
meat lovers pizza yummmm)

it is my considered opinion that god, whom-so-ever that sexually ambiguous entity might be, has one goddammed wicked world-class sense of humor.........

Kat, that looks good also.

Has to Sturge. Just remember it is a test, only a test.

Where do you live Kat?

what joe cocker was really singing at woodstock:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4_MsrsKzMM&feature=channel_page

38 hour bus trip on a broke-up bus for them utah fellers to get to the sugar bowl.......they broke down in dallas and had to seek mechanical help.......

after having borrowed a bus from the utah gov'nah to make the trip........

I love this.......and I certainly do.........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3c-WBn5cCg

Sturge, ROFL

Now it makes perfect sense. I wish I had known sooner.

BTW, Pogo must be depressed. Utah 21-0 Alabama

John Denver Back Home Again
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDAAopjyuJw

the latter days of a genuine saint:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uR-qfa6FsSk

Sturg

lol at the Joe cocker clip.

I was laughing so loud I had to pass the computer over to the wife.
She is an old hippie chick so she got a kick out of it.

Jack

Sturg you can keep 18,
I'm enjoying right now. Life just keeps getting better, well except for the back and a couple of other joints, would mind having them replaced, but not if I have to take the whole package.

Jack

Top this one! LOL!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_Vl8PHxkjQ

Tina Turner & Barry White - In Your Wildest Dreams

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQx6fkr9U1Y

Jack

Sturge - thank you so much for that song - I love it and him, even if I don't agree with him.

Just took our Ukranian friend Vera to exchange a gift I had given her. I bought it at Talbot's and she didn't know about their prices. So we found a beautiful white wool sweater filled with bugle beads and sequins. It was on sale but she knew it was expensive - I emphasized the double sale so she had to quiet down, but it will look so wonderful on her. I think it started out at about $100 or so.

Then we went to See's and I got a box of candy for her to take home to her daughter an family - she kept saying, oh, so 'spensive! See what I mean - I don't want to lose the means to do that!

Sea - I'm gonna send you some more orders!

What bothers me about the computer banking type thing is that the banks have it all on computer, too. We know they have been hacked into as well.

I have cd's in 3 places and that's the money I worry about most. I don't want them emptied or transferred and don't know what kind of liability banks have for their computers. They tell us they're secure but if the pentagon isn't secure, what is?

My passwords aren't creative, Flatus, and I know they should be but a complicated one would keep me out, too - HA! I do have them written down but they are not consistent or very legible or recognizable. Perhaps I should make a new one for the financial sites - I'll do that. Might be kinda fun, actually.

I'm wondering if the Palestinians are trying to commit suicide.

Also, after that map the russkie made up, is putin ready to get involved?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/have-a-hopeful-new-year.html#comment-186376

No regrets Jack?
Nothing you'd change?

If you are lucky enough to be loaded try this one on. Cool video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsRhIvbU1A4&feature=related

CT

I don't need to be loaded with that one. It gives me a contact high all by itself.

Jack

Chloe

Nothing that being eighteen would change. maybe in 30 years I would take the bargain but not at 55.

Jack

I just got a phone call telling me that Coleman had gone to scotus to stop the re-count, and they needed more money from committed democrats like me. I told him I was not a Democrat and despised the party but would send money. I asked if they couldn't send me an email and he gave me a website.

Then he wanted to send me a pledge envelope, saying it could get to me in a few days and I could send a check and it would be faster. I said I'd go online and got rid of him fast.

Pretty slick and quick con job, don't you think?

Bethy

Just send me the money, I'll make sure it gets there.

Jack

Dark horse pick from Colo Gov to fill Salazar seat:

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2009/jan/02/ritter-make-senate-announcement-saturday/

Good one, Jack. I'll stick with the web site.

ct; 7:00pm....................... "Obama Viagra", I thought we were giving the viagra to the Afghanis..............................

Chloe; 7:31 pm.................ROFL, but I'm getting tired of treading water er' crap........................................................

Sturgeone; 8:32 pm......... "wicked, world-class, sense of humor", I wonder if you've condsidered the idea, that since we have so much iron and minerals in our bodies and the earth has magnetic poles, that we're nothing more than chess pieces to be moved about at a higher powers pleasure. Not so far-fetched when you consider that the moon rules the tides.....................

Rita

Chloe; BTW, I forget to mention, that no, I won't give up on my computer, I just think I need a few updates or I need to learn about the ones I have. And Solar, I don't think I'll be pitching it up against the wall, but you never know, thanks for the encouragement................................

Rita

patd; 5:45 am............... You know, I haven't heard one bad word about Burris, is he another guy who slid through the Chicago system without having anything stick to him, or if he really is a good and honest politician, won't he be out of his element in Washington? ......................................................................

Rita

good morning rita. "won't he be out of his element in Washington?" wasn't sure whether your question pertained to the good and honest part or the teflon part of your post. so far seems like he's trying to be a gentleman about this whole mess...iow, not calling people names.

Rita -- the only negatives I've heard on Burris are that he is basically a go-along-to-get-along politician and that in order to appear tough on crime, as Atty General he ignored evidence proving a death row prisoner innocent.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0109/16981.html

I see nothing that seriously taints him, although this Cruz case is troubling as far as his judgement goes.

The Illinois Democrats have created this mess by refusing a special election. I understand that they were afraid the Republicans might have been able to run a candidate on a "sweep out the criminals" theme. But now that it's got this far, seems to me that Harry Reid is going to look like an ass -- and a racist one at that -- if he tries thuggish tactics.

flatus, very good thinking re your encrypted password system. hope you have some sort of backup plan though for those nasty surprises that life can deal out like untimely loss of mind or body or both.

flatus, your password discussion for some reason brought to mind the 97-98 movie "safe house" with patrick stewart who plays an ex-intelligence operative whose former government activities catch up with him about the same time alzheimer's encroaches. fascinating depiction of the phrase going out with a bang and not a wimper. warning: not a good movie for the paranoid or the hyporchondric.

how's our gracious host doing on today show this am?
brilliant and witty as ever? talking about the book? daily show next on the promo tour?

Heard on the radio news this AM that they took Blago's homeland security clearance?? Anyone heard that?

Craig's on

Craig looked good in HD so early on Saturday morning. They gave him the speed round of questions with little time to answer. He didn't get any book plug in. Is the book finished yet?

"...some sort of backup plan though for those nasty surprises that life can deal out like untimely loss of mind or body or both." patd@6:49

Yes, that eventuality has been considered and, hopefully, a practical system is in place.

I've listened to a number of people who say they'll pull the plug before they lose their marbles completely. Inevitably they miss the threshold and 'forget' to do it.

Stinky and I have our affairs in order, but we really do live in a complex world and I'm compelled to keep a number of 'pay electronically' accounts active. And, I do every possible banking related transaction electronically. It's much simpler and I have an instant archived copy of what transpired. I do lots of shopping over the 'net. Virtually all those transactions are by credit card. In those cases where there's been a dispute, the credit card companies have provided effective mediation and protection. I'm not scared doing things electronically; but, then, I've adopted many safeguards. And, so far as banking is concerned, nothing in the banking system is by paper any more.

I did see that flick a number of years ago; I thought it was pretty good. I'll watch for it to come around again.

howdy all, yes the book is done. or at least helen and i turned in the manuscript on time (did try to work in many of your suggested words as our little inside joke).

now the usual long march for editing, marketing, distributing and publishing (probably this summer or fall).

so now i'm going to tackle postponed household chores all weekend (for starters, my ice maker has apparently died, and Direct TV has to turn the place upside down today because my old dish and boxes refuse to talk to their new satellite).

back to normalcy as i define it on monday. thanks again for keeping the fires burning here these past weeks.

Congratulations Craig! And to Helen – this must be very exciting and what an accomplishment. Look forward to the next book and more importantly the tour.

You will love the new dish from DirectTV. Size does matter.

Good morning all
Here's Joan Walsh and her take on the last year in politics.
http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2008/12/29/year_in_politics/

"Obama wasn't the über-progressive his lefty supporters claimed. There really wasn't a dime's worth of difference between him and Hillary on 99 percent of serious issues. His FISA vote in July, and his decision to keep Defense Secretary Robert Gates, prove one of my unprovable but firm beliefs from the primary season: Had he been a U.S. senator, not an Illinois state senator from liberal Hyde Park, Barack Obama would have voted in 2002 for the Authorization for Use of Military Force, just as Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, John Kerry and John Edwards did."

Congrats Craig! Hope the editing process is short and pain free for you and for us- all the quicker we'll be reading it!

"You will love the new dish from Direct TV. Size does matter"

Ping
Why is this better than my Brighthouse cable HD DVR,is it that Direct TV offers more HD channels?Are they offering 1080p programming with the bigger dish?

bluegrass fires burning on mountain:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaLc2PyKEG8&feature=PlayList&p=A6A035E3EBE006EF&playnext=1&index=19

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24866330-7583,00.html

"THE US should provide a home for those Guantanamo prisoners whom it cannot charge for lack of evidence or is unable to deport. That is the only way to bring an honourable end to one of the worst legacies of the George W. Bush administration."

IMO, Obama won, was put over the top, by a group of new voters who didn't know what he had ever done, didn't know of the contraversial figures he had in his life, didn't even know who his VP pick was. They did know he represented Change. He energized the politically ignorant. No disrespect intended.

Craig,

Here's another stack of plaudits for you and Helen. Keep us posting on print schedule so that we can rush out and purchase.

Tony

It is horrible that Hamas has brought this latest round of bombings down on their people, but what do you propose that the Israeli's do? The Palestinians or terrorists harbored by them have violated every single agreement they have ever signed.

here is some of the local Texas news yesterday.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28475274

FORT WORTH, Texas - A jail has been closed and its nearly 60 inmates transferred as authorities investigate what they call dangerous conditions for jailers and those behind bars — including cells that locked from the inside or contained recliners.

as they say you just cannot make some of this stuff up.

tonyb39 -
I donot know the count now but I have had both Brighthouse and Direct TV - and my experience with cable quality was not good -
At the switch DTV had many more HD channels - but brighthouse won on movies on demand... So answer was apple tv with my Direct TV....
The bigger dish almost total elements that scrambled pic the very few times it ever happened. and when the hurricanes hit florida - the cable is down and DTV is working...

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/have-a-hopeful-new-year.html#comment-186414

Carol
I think you have a valid point here! I talked to my 22 yr old niece all during the primaries and the one fact that always came up was Change.Ashley never had one interest in politics and didn't know or care about Obama's real positions or lack of experience,all that stood out was he's going to change everything bad and make it good....I didn't discourage Ashley's thoughts or opinions,i feel rather than ignorance its that the younger person is more idealistic and willing to believe in words more easily as opposed to deeds and life experiance....

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/have-a-hopeful-new-year.html#comment-186414

Carol, This is a very thorough, interestin analysis from back in November.

Why Obama Won
http://www.pollster.com/blogs/why_obama_won.php

"Nothing that being eighteen would change"

I'm with you on that Jack. Besides, regrets are a waste of time. We'd probably do it all the same again anyway. :)

...........
"wicked, world-class, sense of humor", I wonder if you've condsidered the idea, that since we have so much iron and minerals in our bodies and the earth has magnetic poles, that we're nothing more than chess pieces to be moved about at a higher powers pleasure. Not so far-fetched when you consider that the moon rules the tides..."

Rita, It would make an interesting science fiction movie, but I don't even like to think of the idea of not having free wil.

Glad to hear you haven't given up on your computer. :)

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/have-a-hopeful-new-year.html#comment-186416

Jamie
I think Israel is doing what they have to do.Hamas in my eyes are dully elected terrorists and as you say they have never honored any agreements so what choice does Israel have but to invade?.I also believe Israel deserves are total support and I hope with the Obama administration they get it.

Tony, I wasn't using ignorance in a mean way just they lacked the knowledge of the facts. Obama's team was smart to go after that group. Hillary was assuming people would do their homework. Hah

ha.....I'd do it all again in a heartbeat.......

Well done, Craig!! I hope Helen is well enough to do the promotion along with you. It will be nice seeing her in her normal front-row seat on Jan 21st..

Jamie,

Don't be so quick to buy a pig in a poke.

We should at least pretend to make Mr. Crawford work to get our hard earned gold. We should make him convince us, that as co-author, he didn't drag Ms. Thomas' standards down.

If he does a good selling job, I may even buy copies for my ex-wives, or at least the one who can read.

chloe,

There was a Science Fiction short story where a group of people were trading jokes and having a high old time until someone said, wouldn't it be funny if all these old jokes were some sort of advanced culture's lab test on human beings and the human being found out. I wonder what would happen?

Nobody laughed.

"I'd do it all again in a heartbeat..."

It sure would be interesting, especially if we could know what we know now.

wish I didnt know now what I didnt know then......
---bob seger

I'd take it over, stupid and all.......it was a blast........

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/have-a-hopeful-new-year.html#comment-186426

Ed, No problem. No matter what I come out ahead. Either it is a good book that I will enjoy, or my good deed chart for 2009 takes a major leap upward for contributing to the prevention of the decline into oblivion by a once wildly favorite but now seldom seen pundit.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24866330-7583,00.html

Thanks for that link, Tony -- Gitmo and our entire rounding up of "enemy combatants" has been one of our biggest national disgraces. I remember being chilled on first hearing that we were paying bounties to mercenaries and Afghan warlords for turning in "terrorists." And sure enough, we were soon learning of teenagers having been rounded up as they went for bread because it wasn't safe for their mothers to be in the streets. This country has much to answer for.

Jamie, You mean like the movie " Matrix"?

"I'd take it over, stupid and all.."

Not me...not the stupid part. No way.

good morning gang....

Sturg, Corey, Jack..... geeeeez.... I actually put my headphones on to listen to your utube selections...... ROFL!

Bethy..... I hear you on getting your bank accounts wiped out.... the thought terrifies me too...... Rick does our banking online..... but my business account is done by me in person at the bank.....

Craig.... bet it feels good to be done..... can't wait to get my hands on the book.....

the people around here who had directTV had it on as soon as the power came back..... we had to wait another week for Comcast to get to us.....
we've had their triple package ( tv, internet, and phone service) for a year now and it's very convenient..... we've decided to stick with them for now....

the Israeli/Palestinian thing is very sad...... as to who is wrong and who is right..... it reminds me of which came first... the chicken or the egg..... who knows....

Candle climb upward
Tallow return
brain of my youth
wrinkled by truth
unlearn, unlearn

Chloe, interesting article. I was actually talking about the primary. There was never a doubt in my mind that the Democratic candidate would win the presidency.

Sturge, Maybe you never were stupid?
(Some people seem to be 'born' with more wordly knowledge than others)

will be nice to see some democratic party appointed judges for the supreme court.......

wordly = worldly

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/have-a-hopeful-new-year.html#comment-186423

Hey Carol
Oh i know that,your not mean.I'm ignorant on much and don't mind admitting it.I just really was happy my niece voted,even if her vote was based on a gut level feeling and belief things will change.Ashley lives in Flint,Michigan and its a pretty sad place now because of the economy and loss of are manufacturing base.Ashley needs Hope and Change and I hope she gets it...

chloe......nice fleeting thought, but no....there was some major league stupid involved......lol

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/have-a-hopeful-new-year.html#comment-186437

Ah, I get it. Yes.

lol Sturge. Glad to hear that.
I don't feel so alone. :)

Chloe,

That story is from decades ago, so I'm sure it has been repeated in many forms.

Tony,
One of the really neat things DirecTV has now is the ability to schedule downloads via the internet, and the capability of feeding anything on the host desktop box directly to any PC on the network. It works very well.

The biggest drawback I see is the limiting of the number of feeds they provide for any particular station. As an example, our local PBS station has three discrete programs going on at any one time. If DTV ever gets local HD down here, I suspect we will just get the primary node from the station. We're in relatively flat country around here, so many of us get our local HDs off the air with rabbit ears making that problem somewhat moot.

Why not go to www.directv.com and look around? They always have decent promotions and most of your questions will be answered.

Unfortunately, to get the Korean programs Stinky enjoys, I have to subscribe to both DirecTV and Dish Network because neither has the complete offerings she expects me to provide. She would have a heart attack if she knew we were spending $200 a month on satellite service.

flatus.......how much different are the korean and japanese languages?

"I may even buy copies for my ex-wives, or at least the one who can read."

ROFL, Ed!

"brain of my youth
wrinkled by truth"

I don't like the unlearn part though.

How desperate is the US military? a vet that is age 50 and out of the military for 15 years gets called up and ordered to Iraq in 2010 (after re-training)

http://www.kcra.com/family/18398827/detail.html

Renee,

How do you keep the snow off your dish? We had a rare 2 inches down here that lasted three hours and my Dish Network went out. I looked up on the roof and the dish was coated with snow. I wondered how people with snow dealt with that.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/have-a-hopeful-new-year.html#comment-186418

Ping
Thanks.I have pretty good luck with Brighthouse here in New Smyrna Beach,during the hurricanes my cable was out because of no power.I guess if I would have had the Dish with a generator during that time I would have had TV and yes thats better.Whats the difference in Apple TV verses downloading from I-tunes?

"That story is from decades ago, so I'm sure it has been repeated in many forms."

Jamie, I think there's a new one coming out on the same type of thing. It's one of the few 'science fiction' type movies that I sometimes enjoy. :)

later...

Carol...
that's a great question...... I don't know the answer..... we don't have a dish... we have cable....

Dooty..... it's great to see you posting here again.....

Chloe,

That is a snip from a song, "Just For Today" from Her First Roman. The character is Cleopatra wishing she could go back to a time before Caesar and Anthony and being a queen fighting a war. One of those failed musicals that has one or two wonderful songs.

Children who cared for me
Come out and play
Don't hide in memory
Just for today
kitten be found again
I'll chase you round again
Free and unbound again
just for today.

I would bet if there was a way to go back in the "way-back machine" to the first time most of us voted for a candidate, we might find that we did not have as much information about the candidates as we thought we did. You have to start somewhere. Voting, I think, is a habit that needs to be encouraged and cultivated. I don't think Civics is taught much anymore in High School. (could be wrong about that but my kids did not have it in their school)

"the Israeli/Palestinian thing is very sad...... as to who is wrong and who is right..... it reminds me of which came first... the chicken or the egg..... who knows...."

I agree, Renee. I used to have complete knee-jerk support for Israel's position. But, after spending some time in the Golan Heights, I decided both sides were in the wrong. These are actually quite a few Israelis who feel the same.

"Dooty..... it's great to see you posting here again....."

Thanks Renee. Don't know what happened just one day TypeKey allowed me to change the password and Viola I was able to get back in. Weird.

Glad your ordeal with the ice is at least over for now.

I should add that I was there not long after Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated, and feelings against the right wing in Israel were running high.

Flatus
Thanks for the info.I'm always looking for new info on recent technology regarding TV broadcasting.I'm interested at the moment in all those claims on the computer about watching TV on the computer with hundreds of stations from around the world.I would love to get Arena from Australia and Sky News along with many others.

Unbelievable story about the 50-year old vet called back to Iraq, Dooty. This statement made it even worse:

"The last missile system the veteran was trained to operate is no longer used by the military."

Yeah, Jamie, I'm buying it too, but I wanted to make Craig think he had to work for my money. As for good deeds, it's too early in the year for me to think about them. I'm still working on my list of people, who didn't properly thank me for random acts of kindness in '08.

(Memo to self: Stop holding doors for women between the ages of 20 and 40, they all know you're just trying to see what they look like from behind.)

"(Memo to self: Stop holding doors for women between the ages of 20 and 40, they all know you're just trying to see what they look like from behind.)"

and you think most of them mind that?

"The last missile system the veteran was trained to operate is no longer used by the military."

pretty incredible ain't it?

R Renee -
There's a $4,000 tax credit for solar now. Start with one big enough to run your well, and build out.

I've been giving this some thought -
Forming solar co-ops. Given the change coming on the 20th. A solar co-op is going to be an idea who's time has come. Also, with the rise of the web, and micro finance ideas.
Set it up as a social net working site. Charge a monthly fee, sell the components at container prices to the members on terms.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/have-a-hopeful-new-year.html#comment-186457

"to go back in the "way-back machine" to the first time most of us voted for a candidate, we might find that we did not have as much information about the candidates as we thought we did."

dooty
I agree,especially since there wasn't any 24/7 cable news or home computers way back then.Great point!

get the tie-dye t shirts out and the vw microbuses the Greatful Dead is going back on tour after a 5 year layoff and the death of Jerry Garcia.

http://music.msn.com/music/article.aspx?news=345919>1=28102

Colorado Bob,

here is something I have been thinking of for quite a while along the same lines.

Start a TrailMix Association. Charge a very small fee. Then as a TrailMix Association we should be able to find an insurance co that would want to sell us medical or life insurance at some reduced rate.

R Renee -
New Hampshire Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency
Federal Incentives
Financial Incentives

http://www.dsireusa.org/library/includes/map2.cfm?CurrentPageID=1&State=NH&RE=1&EE=1

"flatus.......how much different are the korean and japanese languages?"

They're completely different, Sturg. I read something somewhere that said Korean was somewhat similar to Hungarian. Must have been the Gabor effect.

There is no love lost between the two peoples.

Same sort of vain there Dooty. Virtual co-ops.

Not sure insurance will cross state lines, given that those boys have been rigging the game a long time.

Remember McCain telling us about buying insurance across state lines, when we crossed to buy our cigarettes, liquor, and fire works.

New theory about the cause of the Younger Dryas

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Tiny diamonds sprinkled across North America suggest a "swarm" of comets hit the Earth around 13,000 years ago, kicking up enough disruption to send the planet into a cold spell and drive mammoths and other creatures into extinction, scientists reported on Friday.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/scienceNewsMolt/idUKTRE5013YZ20090102

Dooty,

Re: Holding doors

Not sure whether the ladies like me looking or not, but their husbands and boyfriends keep hitting me in the back of the head after I let the door slam in their face, while I watch the lady walk in.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/have-a-hopeful-new-year.html#comment-186475

Yeah, C Bob, I don't know the answer to that either. I worked at an insurance co many years ago that was formed after WWII converting GI insurance to civilian ins. This company only wanted to sell to large groups. That way they could tailor the policy to the group.

anyway, just an idea.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/have-a-hopeful-new-year.html#comment-186478

LOL, maybe it is your style that needs work? When you are an old fart like I am, no one seems exactly threatened.

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/report-reid-menendez-called-blagojevich-2009-01-03.html

Can Harry Reid get any more arrogant or ham-handed? He is said to have called Blagojevich in early December (before the arrest) to tell him what to do about the appointment. If this report is true, Reid tried to take every African American name off the table:

"The majority leader reportedly urged Blagojevich to limit his choices to state Veterans Affairs director Tammy Duckworth or Attorney General Lisa Madigan, two candidates Reid believed could win statewide elections and save the seat for Democrats.

Reid also urged Blagojevich not to pick Reps. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) or Danny Davis (D-Ill.), and to avoid Illinois Senate President Emil Jones (D). All three, Reid believed, would not be able to hold the seat against a strong Republican candidate."

Patsi,

Harry has been a disaster ever since he got the promotion. I know he is Pelosi's buddy, but she may want to kick him overboard . She may be arrogant and vindictive, but she isn't stupid and he is making both of them look bad.

Patsi,

You're right about Reid being arrogant and ham-handed, he's showing that in the storm he's creating regarding Burris, but depending on the tone of the conversation, I'd give him a pass for "weighing in" on the possible appointees. While I'd prefer that each state make its own decisions, the fact that these pols go from state to state to help with campaigns makes the process less intramural. Giving some input is probably part of the majority leader's job.

Again, the tone of the conversation could easily bring me down on your side on this one.

Ed -- I think the worst part of the whole thing is that Reid didn't seem to have any sensitivity about Obama's seat going to an African American. (I do agree that the tone of the conversation will be interesting...)

Renee,

We have all the computers and televisions on Comcast, but we have Verizon cell phones. What is the advantage of having the phones on Comcast as well?

Ct

I live in Western Sonoma County along the Russian River
near Guerneville.

Jamie,

I have Charter cable with TV and internet but I kept my land line with AT&T. It is supposed to be cheaper to bundle all three. When the Charter people dig up a cable or it takes a direct hit on their dishes, the cable goes out. I don't want my phone service to go with it.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/have-a-hopeful-new-year.html#comment-186456

Jamie, Thanks for sharing those "Just For Today" lyrics.
.....

"Western Sonoma County along the Russian River near Guerneville."

Katherine, That's really beautiful there, isn't it.
.....

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/have-a-hopeful-new-year.html#comment-186487

dooty, AT&T also bundles. Their dish internet service is so fast. We also have our land line with them, but kept our direct tv, which we like. (Sprint has a really nice mobile broadband that you can use anywhere for your laptop, but only one person at a time can use it, per account). There's so much to choose from now.

Kat,

That is why you such good veggies available

Chloe and Ct

It is wonderful here...to quote Luther Burbank..."Paradise on earth.."

we do get hard freeze but for the most part we do get local produce all year round.

Man, it's warm down here. Global warming; we stand behind it.

Patsi, Ed

I think Reid had a point about the viability of some of the AA candidates. They are at this moment very Chicago based and that is a problem for running state wide in Ill.

That makes Burris an obvious compromise candidate for the position. He is an AA who has won state wide office. It is also my understanding he has been in conflict with the Daley machine, also, not a negative for statewide office.
This whole thing is starting to remind me of the seating of the Michigan and Florida delegation silliness. The national party shot itself in the foot by trying to claim more power than they had and created a mess. Reid has done the same. States guard their powers against the federal government and this is winning the senate no friends and creating a lot of enemies or at least reluctant allies.
Reid can't tell a setting governor who he can or can not nominate to fill the post all he can do is suggest. The only power Reid has is to recommend to the senate that the Senator not be seated and his seat will be vacant.

As the Republicans have already stated that they will do everything in their power to block legislation, every Democratic vote is needed.
With Burris making the rounds this week it should be interesting to see if Reid keeps shooting himself in the foot or if he makes a quick face saving compromise. His job may depend on it for it would be a blow to the democrats if they don't pass a stimulus package on January 20 as they have been hyping for over a month.

Jack

"thanks again for keeping the fires burning here these past weeks."

craig, you're welcome. good thing you were mia for a while and glad that jack, solar and cbob moved stuff around to cover the burn spots in the rug. sorry about the stains.

"With Burris making the rounds this week it should be interesting to see if Reid keeps shooting himself in the foot or if he makes a quick face saving compromise. His job may depend on it for it would be a blow to the democrats if they don't pass a stimulus package on January 20 as they have been hyping for over a month."

I think you're exactly right, Jack....

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/have-a-hopeful-new-year.html#comment-186493

Hot in Houston today too.

Katherine, I agree. That is heaven on earth there.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/have-a-hopeful-new-year.html#comment-186495

Shh! I don't think he noticed.

Freida Kahlos take on Luther Burbank

http://www.abcgallery.com/K/kahlo/kahlo24.html

Patsi
I just remembered,i have heard one complaint from the Best Buy guy who sold me my computer,he told his parents have one and he always has trouble hearing them.I wonder now if there high speed connection is fast enough and who there provider is.I talk on a cordless V-Tek phone and to me its just like a land line.....I believe they also have a 30 day money back guarantee and they didn't charge my acct. for 30days...

"Shh! I don't think he noticed"

chloe, how can anyone not notice the distinct tint and aroma of boones farm blue hawaiian on a pristine flokati rug? rest assured, however, i won't spill the beans on the tamale droppings or that upstairs drain that plugged up. ewww, now that was a challenge.

Patd

Burn marks? What burn marks?

Besides the place was in perfect shape when I left. Take a week off and look what happens.
Children!

What am I going to do.

Jack

Boones Farm?

Ahh, those were the days.

Chloe, one thing that seems differant between 18 and now, I don't remember the hangovers being so rough as they are now.

Jack,
busy digging through the ash tray for a smokable roach.

jack, i think corey left one near the bobblehead that sturge broke when doing his air guitar thing.

A little Frank Zappa

Watch out where the huskies go and dont you eat that yellow snow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2nJn6rZdtI

Jack

thanks Pat

As they say, reality is for those who can't handle drugs.

Sad to say, that describes me most days.

here I am hooked on reality

Jack

mellifluous!

So champ, have you been using bad language again?

tsk, tsk tsk

Wonder how Craig will work those words into the book?
I'll bet Helen knows how to use them, what ya wanna bet?
She always struck me as an old gal in complete control of the English language.

Jack

Jack,

I didn't have a chance to respond to Patsi, but I hoped that Reid was being pragmatic, and making his recommendations based on long-term success. I understand Patsi's preference for replacing Obama with an African-American, and would like to think that Reid's recommendations were based on everything but race. (Naive? Maybe, but I'm only stating what I hope was the case.)

onomotopoeic right back atcha champ!

"dooty, AT&T also bundles. "

I think they all do. Here in Ft Worth we are stuck with Charter if you want cable. I might switch my internet to AT&T this year as the 3meg (I think that is what it is called) download is cheaper than Charter.

onomatopoeic

The wife has been out shopping for bargains.

I think the only reason she came home was because the car was full.

We always restock our lights and worn out christmas decorations this time of year.

She said 80% off and a great selection.

Jack

Hamas just wants to rally sympathetic states against Israel, and make it look like Israel is the aggressor so that European countries will condemn Israeli actions. They are looking for a PR win at the expense of innocent non-combatants.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123085925621747981.html?mod=djemEditorialPage

Champ

I have been hanging back and listening to everyone talk---and then you showed up with a one word post------I had to go look it up----If you can't keep talking in plain English like you did the other day ----don't talk at all------just kidding ----I can understand all the #$@@%#$ and why you used them,,,,,and the post that I have to take little time understanding in GREAT---that is the reason that Im here ---to learn something-----so get over you fuckin feeling sorry for yourself and get to posting :-)))

Patsi----I told Sea about Magicjack.com I no longer have an 85-100 dollar monthly bill----I bought 2 of them for Christmas presents-----don't think about it ---just do it-----even if you don't like it ----which you will---it is a very little amount of money at play---you and your family can talk to each other without any limits on time..it is state wide and also for Canada---where ever that place is-Ha

Jack------lots of good buys----bought a lot of winter clothes for next year already,,,,work boots at (red wing) 1/3 price----have to be careful not to over buy,,,is the problem,,,,,,,,Oh by the way you are full of it---it you could be 18 again,,,,but take your wife along with you at 18 also--in a heart beat, gotta tell you about some guy that wants to build a 300 a sq. ft price hse,he has about 6,000 sq ft for his wife 2 kids and himself....later on---good to see u back back

If what you say is true, and I don't doubt you at all, Hamas seems to me to be a criminal entity. Thanks for the WSJ link.

Mr. Crawford;............ I lift my glass to both Ms. Thomas and you, and a HNY to you both.........................................

Patd; 6:42 am............ "out of his element in Washington", was referring to the good and honest part. I hope that doesn't offend anyone, but I believe politics is a DIRTY business................................................

Patsi; 6:44 am............ "Dems created the mess", yes, I totally agree, but for the life of me I can't understand why, if they have to have an election for Emanual's seat why the Senate seat can't be included in the cost. Mr. Burris ran for Governor(I think it was Gov.) 6 times? and failed, he doesn't seem to be the people's choice, and if he isn't, is that why Bobby Rush played the race card SO FAST, I mean at the announcement of his selection.... Off topic, have you or maybe Sturge ever heard Joe Cocker's version of "St. James Infirmary", I thought it was quite good, but I'm not nearly as knowledgeable as you guys..........................................

Chloe; 9:47 am.............."ie: Free Will"", being the cynic that I am, I believe it was given to us like "The Matrix", it hurts me too...........................................................................

Rita

Doots -- Far be it for me to know how the Middle Eastern mind works, but don't you think that Hamas has long been trying to seize power from what they see as the weak nationalism of Fatah? (and it appears that they are doing it.) I think Hamas hopes for Israel to respond militarily. Much the same way Al Qaeda saw benefit when the US responded by slaughtering Afghan and Iraqi citizens. A lot of possibilities were killed when the right took down Rabin.

Chloe

Not only that we have free will but,----as bits of energy that comes from the star dust after they burst of imploding (nuclear)----we don't know where the hell we are going----but we will get there---evolution will make sure of that.!,,alll the elements of that start is --iron,chemicals, etc is what makes all the same.

Yes -- Hamas was elected, but I think many Palestinians still look to the old Fatah leaders. The whole terrorist mentality leaves me clueless...it's as if they want their region to blow up. Even though they say it's over land, I still believe this is a holy war as far as Hamas sees it. (The Palestinians I met when in the Golan were all Christians who just wanted to be left alone by everybody. They were a crushed people.)

Solar, glad you are here -- I put up one more picture for you -- Maria in 2005 with her Uncle Adam (my son) when she was two weeks old, and making her first political statement.

http://practicallyperfectpatsi.wordpress.com/

http://www.ifamericansknew.org/

As long as both the Israeli people and the people of Gaza believe that the Bible and the Koran has (promises )given each the right to the holy land---there will never be an end to the violence-----what you see is the political struggle inside of Israel-----sure they have (and I all for it) right to protect themselves,,,and show some force-----but the new want to be minister just wants to show the Israeli people how brutal he can be---End All Religion And End All The Violence!!!!

p.s. they even share the wailing wall---go figure----gonna be a little violence?

Patsi; 2:57 pm..... I agree that perhaps Hamas were hoping for a military intervention, after finding out the world doesn't like suicide bombers, they've decided that pictures of dead women and children on TV globally will incite protests against Israel, but if the Jews would stop shooting up the Palestinian infrastructure, maybe that also would stop. But then again it's easier to build settlements on leveled ground.
Isn't there an old adage about "One jew being worth a Thousand other men".

Rita

CBob....
thanks for the info on solar stuff...... we looked into it years ago when we built this place..... we decided to go passive..... we are starting to seriously talk about where we will retire..... Rick turned 57 on Xmas Eve, so he's only got 8 yrs to go..... I don't think we'll be here long enough to see returns on any investment on solar panels at this point....

Jamie.... the advantage is it's cheaper.... we pay a flat fee and can make as many calls as we want and talk as long as we want to anywhere in the USA, Canada, and Mexico...... with all my relatives living in Canada it's saving us quite a bit.....

Solar.... I'll show you where Canada is at..... look.... it's right here at the end of my foot.....

I'm just hopped up on cold medicine, which doesn't seem to be doing me a damn bit of good right now.

Patsi-----isn't that her Uncle Adam--see I can get it right---I like that bib ---I have underwear like that but,,in good taste I can't tell you what it says-------but that wouldn't stop me if I really had one,,,,Adam looks like a good kid----thanks for the baby pic,,,now I have a few---from a baby to a little girl,,,that gives her tough Grammy time outs ----I love that!

Renee, reminds me of a guy I used to work with. He liked to ask people "How would you like to go for a ride on my tennis shoe?"

RR

Love having you and Rick, Rick back----but don't yell at me---Im sensitive-:-))---I thought the one that would tell me off was gonna be Ty ,,,of at some time you are going to remodel a room with exterior walls let me know----get that R rating to at least 30 plus... with solar panels

"He liked to ask people "How would you like to go for a ride on my tennis shoe?"

Ha @ Corey!

New Issue Of GLOBE Magazine
Highlights Berg vs. Obama U.S.
Supreme Court Case

"Berg stated, "This is the 2nd time GLOBE Magazine has highlighted the question of Obama's lack of 'qualifications' to be President. More and more people are aware of the fact that Obama does not meet the 'qualifications' and that this is the biggest 'Hoax' perpetrated on the citizens of the United States in 230 years. When the truth finally comes out, individuals including Barack Hussein Obama, Michelle Obama, Howard Dean [Chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC)], other top officials of the DNC and senior campaign staff of Obama's campaign should be brought into the criminal justice system and indicted and tried with incarceration for those convicted."

The story is the center spread. "

http://rense.com/general84/glkob.htm

"---but we will get there---evolution will make sure of that.!"

Solar, evolution is a beautiful thing. Now that's progress. And it all makes perfect sense. We keep hearing that we create our own world, but actually our world creates us.

I also agree with what you said: "alll the elements of that start is --iron,chemicals, etc is what makes all the same."

How did your bid proposal go?
......
"
mellifluous"

Come on Champ, give us a whole sentence. Tell us what you think :)

Corey..... sending some chicken soup your way.....

Solar.... he, he :0).... we insulated the crap outta this place..... we built the main part of the house when we were young and too stupid to know enough to be afraid of the fact that we'd never built a house before..... I remember Rick and a friend talking till they were blue in the face about vapor barriers...... who knew one could carry on for hours about such an interesting topic.....

"ie: Free Will"", being the cynic that I am, I believe it was given to us like "The Matrix", it hurts me"

Rita, you can be a cynic and still believe in free will.

",,a fast-moving, phrase-mangling Texan who stays upbeat even though his country is not."

Tony, lets's translate it.
A bumbling idiot who isn't capable of understanding that we're in trouble.

http://practicallyperfectpatsi.wordpress.com/

Patsi, She was born beautiful.
I've never seen more honest awarness and intelligence in a babies face than what you see in that picture with her mother (your daughter).

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/have-a-hopeful-new-year.html#comment-186528

thanks for the link...not sure I buy any of it though.

chloe....
thanks for linking to those pictures.....

Patsi..... Maria, Tracy, Adam and you are all beautiful!

Thank goodness for "On Demand". I finally caught up on TNT's new series "Leverage". If you have missed it, make an effort. It is sort of Mission Impossible with a sense of humor and better characters.

As the network TV channels flush themselves down the sewer of cheap reality programs, the cable stations start doing some good programming. The problem is constantly checking for new content, but TNT now has Leverage, The Closer, and Saving Grace. USA has Burn Notice and The Starter Wife. BBC America had Jeckle and Hyde, Robin Hood, Torchwood, and of course Doctor Who.

Anybody else have favorites.

"Patsi..... Maria, Tracy, Adam and you are all beautiful!"

Yes they all are Renee.
I'm so glad that you're back here.

Chloe; 4:04 pm......... I would love to be able to believe in, "free will", but I see it as a sop, because as soon as you try to take advantage of it, you find out that what your trying to do is NOT politically correct or socially correct or something as equally ridiculous.....................

Rita

"you find out that what your trying to do is NOT politically correct or socially correct or something as equally ridiculous...."

Ok Rita, Now I get what you're saying.
Don't listen to all that stuff.
Not politically correct or socially correct.
I say, So What? Don't listen.
Do what you want to do and say what you want to say.
Make yourself happy, and everyone around you will benefit.

try to remember
ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7p924C7y7xU&feature=related

"I've never seen more honest awarness and intelligence in a babies face "

I bet you'' be seeing one soon!!!!!!! I can't wait to hear about her!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7p924C7y7xU&feature=related

One of your h's didn't make it onto the post

Padt--------http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/have-a-hopeful-new-year.html#comment-186495

You give some (me) people credit where you shouldn't and none for yourself-----generous as always-----I want to remind Craig that you supplied most of the words for his book,,,,and kept us all on a little free of charge Cruise around the Caribbean on your own fleet of Pirate ships, and other informing materials, I noticed that you get up early to get us (as many others do---thanks saves me the time )going and started in the right way----today is Sat night and will have to toast you wiht a drink or 2-thanks .

HD----that was not intended to fill in the gaps between the time that Abraham kicked his own Arab son out of his house,,,,,and kept his Jewish son there----every since than it has been the same story---right now the Israelis are the new golitath,,,,but at one time King David----was the original terrorist,,,,don't have to believe it ---it is all written on toilet paper,,,,sorry---I get a pissed -----especially when every one (almost) here on TM doesn't seem to care too much about the loss of innocents ---just want to give a history lesson that is so skewed one way...If what we say is true----that we don't know that much about that conflict --how can we so easily takes sides-----I because the U.S is my country will be mostly on the Isreali side----but ---I was also when we invaded Iraq---even though we were wrong,,,but I can see the diff,,,,not been blind to our Politics over there ,,,and the effect it has had---thanks

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/have-a-hopeful-new-year.html#comment-186555

I can't wait Patsi... any minute now.

C-Bob....more quakes in Yellowstone...

http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_11362158

Chole

I t when fine---but I see a whole bunch of red flags----the biggest one is that I have found out that the pontential client is in rears in payments to the Architect already---might pass on this---cos it could not recoup from a big mistake right now---unless I can have all the data (finances) from his bank that I requested---and that they pay me directly-it is all-????--right now but thank you for remembering.

Chloe---not Chole----u never say nothing but thanks,,,has to be the 2nd,,,or the 20th time that I misspelled your name----maybe I better stick to S. S. S.---naw,,, love Chole,,,it me fingers that can't spell most times.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/have-a-hopeful-new-year.html#comment-186545

"A bumbling idiot who isn't capable of understanding that we're in trouble"

I liked your translation so much I simply had to see it posted again.Bush 2 terms,how oh how did this happen?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/have-a-hopeful-new-year.html#comment-186557

"I because the U.S is my country will be mostly on the Isreali side----but ---I was also when we invaded Iraq---even though we were wrong,,,but I can see the diff,,,,not been blind to our Politics over there ,,,and the effect it has had---thanks"

Solar
Agreed! I feel for the whole regions people and the carnage, its a tragedy.I just don't see Israel having a choice in what there doing.What would satisfy Hamas?What would stop the suicide bombers and the missiles being sent Israel's way? Doing away with religion as you say would take care of it but thats never going to happen. I don't know alot about the region or its history but Israel seems to be an island with lots of enemies surrounding it......

Israel indeen needs to defend itself. But the country needs to be wary -- as should the US -- of cutting off people and isolating them so they live in poverty and terror.

indeen -- indeed

Inheriting Bush's blinkers

The problem is much wider than Obama: American liberals in general see no contradiction in espousing positions supporting Israel that they would deem extremist and racist in any other context. The cream of America's allegedly "progressive" Democratic party vanguard – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Howard Berman, New York Senator Charles Schumer, among others – have all offered unequivocal support for Israel's massacres in Gaza, describing them as "self-defence". There is no silver lining to Israel's slaughter in Gaza, but the reactions to it should at least serve as a wake-up call: when it comes to the struggle for peace and justice in Palestine, the American liberal elites who are about to assume power present as formidable an obstacle as the outgoing Bush administration and its neoconservative backers.

Bill Clinton at least had the right attitude with this---I remember him forcing the leaders of Gaza,and the Jewish leader shake hands if front of the camera's and the whole world----it is a frikin shame that Bush did not even attempt to continue to talk with them-----WHY---he did talk with other communist leaders,,,and to Iran---and to that terrorist Kolmani or something like that-----could be that there are interest here in the U. S. that don't really want peace,,,,,lets give them more money to build houses for the Jewish people on the Gaza strip.-----sorry going to turn off the News and calm down.

Tony ---glad to see that you got the MagicJack---it makes a lot of sense in today's world of high telephone costs

Tony---I do think that t here will be an end to religion in 50 years or so----people are already questioning their faith---is it the real one---or is the one down the street the real one---well there must be 50 diff true gods----to choose from---sooner or later the human intelligence will catch up with the belief of hundred of years of unprovable fervent hopes and beleifs ---that is it for me, no more serious stuff,,I hope---how are you doing?

chloe, thanks for noticing the missing h and providing the correct link. just wanted to share the beauty of a young harry belafonte and a lovely song.

solar, thank you too. we all have provided craig food for thought. can't take credit for words since it's like we all start riffing off one another here... like ella, jazz, scatting, whatever they call it when the music just comes, without thinking you sing it. might be jibberish but sometimes it's like you're compelled and you got to get it out there.

The Hamas leaders should live in the present,,,,,and understand that they will never posses the types of weapons that we supply Israel ------and their politicians should stop using the poor women and children as political and human shields ----there are no good answers for any one there,,,,and if the Obama is going to change the world---let him start there,,,,,but I don't see that happening---its too complex,,,it's too,,,,whatever-----Hamas sucks----they don't give a flying f k about the women and children either ----now you give me an answer,,,and a solution,,,,

Do you guys think this is the international crisis that Biden was warning us about and should we start girding our loins? I don't have a good feeling about it.

Where's the Academic Outrage Over the Bombing of a University in Gaza?

Not one of the nearly 450 presidents of American colleges and universities who prominently denounced an effort by British academics to boycott Israeli universities in September 2007 have raised their voice in opposition to Israel's bombardment of the Islamic University of Gaza earlier this week. Lee C. Bollinger, president of Columbia University, who organized the petition, has been silent, as have his co-signatories from Princeton, Northwestern, and Cornell Universities, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Most others who signed similar petitions, like the 11,000 professors from nearly 1,000 universities around the world, have also refrained from expressing their outrage at Israel's attack on the leading university in Gaza. The artfully named Scholars for Peace in the Middle East, which organized the latter appeal, has said nothing about the assault.

While the extent of the damage to the Islamic University, which was hit in six separate airstrikes, is still unknown, recent reports indicate that at least two major buildings were targeted, a science laboratory and the Ladies' Building, where female students attended classes. There were no casualties, as the university was evacuated when the Israeli assault began on Saturday.

Virtually all the commentators agree that the Islamic University was attacked, in part, because it is a cultural symbol of Hamas, the ruling party in the elected Palestinian government, which Israel has targeted in its continuing attacks in Gaza. Mysteriously, hardly any of the news coverage has emphasized the educational significance of the university, which far exceeds its cultural or political symbolism.

http://www.commondreams.org/

The Hook.........boogie chillun......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpuaCoK_rl4

"Mama, let that boy boogie-woogie.....it's in 'im, and it's got to come out......"

trailer for margaret brown's documentary on Townes van Zandt.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vzl1O4nPJbI&feature=rec-HM-r2

"Be here to love me"

Detaining the United Nations

Israel's pattern of exclusion and suppression of human rights monitors and defenders reflects a clear goal of preventing international knowledge and understanding of - and thus accountability for - the harsh realities of Israel's military occupation. The plot seems to have worked well, as western leaders and their compliant media have

I think that the truth is somewhere in the middle---they are both reckless, with the truth- The atty for my co. is Jewish,,,,,I have two clients that are Palastine (from) and friends also,,,,,what to do for me is too try to understand both sides---but they are both wrong IMO ------thanks strug for breaking it up----this was my last post of this stuff for tonight.

For anyone who cares, this site is carrying the Franken/Coleman recount live...

http://theuptake.org/

"It's fun"

Fun? People are dying.

Thanks for that link, harbor!

Harbor -- it looks like Franken will pull this out!

Good evening all, Have been happily putzing around the kitchen making soaps ,so am totally out of the day's news loop. Just checked in at another spot I visit and they were upset and commenting on what they perceived as a number of anti-semitic comments by the media , specifically CNN. Is anyone of the same opinion here? Guess I better turn on the TV

I haven't been watching the news, OSH -- been watching gargoyle movies on Sci-Fi and making banana nut bread!

(Thank God the Elf marathon is over....)

Solar; 4:39 pm.......... Solar, I believe your right, that the blind assent behind Israel has caused more terrorism than anything else and I most certainly agree about the border monitors that the Palestinians have been asking for- for years.............................................................

Patsi; 5:21 pm........ Patsi, I think what you say about poverty and fear creating chaos and terror is totally true and when I posted what I said about Irael being in overkill, I was wondering that since they are surrounded by enemies - that they helped to create - wouldn't they be better to try a little finesse. They used it with Egypt and it's lasted a long time. Sadat, however was a reasonable individual, still I don't think the heavy handedness is working very well....................

Rita

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/have-a-hopeful-new-year.html#comment-186566

"Bill Clinton at least had the right attitude with this---I remember him forcing the leaders of Gaza,and the Jewish leader shake hands if front of the camera's and the whole world----it is a frikin shame that Bush did not even attempt to continue to talk with them--"

Hi Solar
Exactly! I thank you for your good posts on this issue.I really appreciate any and all knowledge i gather here.
Thanks for recommending the Magicjack its been great.I said earlier it even works great in Australia,i gave it to Baz for x-mas as you suggested and its been the gift that keeps on giving to both of us..I have been busy taking down my x-mas tree(man i really miss those Michigan basements because attics suck!) and doing laundry,planting flowers,working out,going to the Winn Dixie for some needed groceries and now just relaxing. Hey,thanks for checking up on me!!.

Patsi- Gargoyles and banana nut bread, what a combo!

Patsi...

Looks as though Franken did it...and will now be Senator Franken from the great state of Minnesota! Yeah!

I think Minnesota should be very proud of the job they've done with this election.

sigh of relief for Big Al.........

Patsi
Nice pictures of your son and granddaughter.I have a similar one of myself and Ashley,boy your son and I look so much a like in that photo of yours,i went and looked mine up.Your photo made me remember the first time I watched Ashley,i put her down for the night and i was awakened by her maybe 3 hours later crying and I could not get her to stop so i called my Mom and of course woke her up and her advice was she just wants a bottle.Silly me I didn't know infants at all.I guess my sister just assumed I knew to feed her during the night,no i thought she had her bottle at breakfast time. I was laughed at by the family for awhile over that one..Thanks for the memories..

Sturg---that was in the bag except when it wasn't,,,,you got your election wish----cool!

Tony

Any breast man would have known that you have to feed a baby more than once in the day,,,,HA!

OH OH hope that Osh doesn't see that one

Oh Solar
You scored!HA HA..Makes perfect sense now that I think about it..Funny

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/have-a-hopeful-new-year.html#comment-186427

Tony, Somehow I missed your post this morning that you got your new computer. Yes, they really are faster now and have more memory than they used to have. Was your emachine xp. If so, how's the vista working out?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/have-a-hopeful-new-year.html#comment-186594

Chloe
Yes it was xp.I have had only two issues with Vista so far.I could not get the spell check to work on my e-mail.I read the Windows mail help and was able to fix that one easily,but the other problem has been TM freezing up on me and I don't know why that has been happening?I like it so far it has been real easy making the switch.The speed of course is the big difference and the fact that i can have more than one task going on without any problems,i wish I had updated earlier....

I saw it and you're bad!

"Do you know the history of the region at all?"

Do you?

You cannot put this entirely on one or the other.

Tony, I don't know why TM freezing up would have anything to do with Vista. Did you change the brand of anti virus on this one from your last computer. Although I don't know why that would affect it either. Just thinking maybe your computer is seeing the site as some kind of threat, if it's not happening anywhere else. It seems like every computer has it's own personality, it's own little quirks. But the freezing up is not normal. Usually when I'm having some kind of problem with a new computer, there's some setting that's off, and I eventually find it.

" your son and I look so much a like in that photo "

You could be my own kid, Tony!

Tony- When was the last time you shut down your computer? Try turning it all off for half a minute, see if that helps.

And I don't mean "Tony".....

Chloe---Hi-----what movie are you going to see tomorrow ? I answered your question up thread---thanks

We're really caught up on the movies we want to see Solar. We went on New Years eve and New Years day. So there's not much left the we want to see until something new comes out. My favorites have been Seven Pounds, Four Christmases, Marley & Me. Valkyrie was not as bad as it's been made out to be either. Didn't like Benjamin Button all that much.

How about you. You seen any?

".I also have a different anti-virus its Kaspersky"

Tony, My husband got Kaspersky, and had the same problems with it. I think it took it back to Best Buy and told them it was freezing up his computer. We got Trend Micro there, and it works better. There's one online called Rising, that lets you can download and try it for free for a while. Very un invasive too. But you have to uninstall your Kapersky before you can reinstall another anti virus. But I have very bad feelings about the one you're using, mostly because we had big problems with it.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/have-a-hopeful-new-year.html#comment-186601

Thanks Patsi
Your like the best Mom anyone could have!
and a super fun Grandmother, your family and all of us are lucky to have you..

Not ye Chlo----I can't seem to sit in one place long enough to do that,,I had to watch Iron man 3 times ,,,and still can't say that I did,,,,and I can get all the movies I want from what they call free to air---it's satellite system,,,,took me a while to learn how to do it---but I do enjoy movies very much,,,can't explain it

I like the title that I just check of one----The Dark Knight---any good?

That's Heath Ledger's last movie Solar. It's a Batman movie. Heath Ledger is amazing in it.

Never mind ---I saw it at the movies---Bat man-----but it looks like a Will Smith Movie is going to be on for a few day's Hancock---any good? I do like his movies.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/have-a-hopeful-new-year.html#comment-186608

Chloe
Ok glad you told me about that,i will go back to Best Buy and let take care of it since I payed them for the set-up.I had Norton on my old computer and I never had any issues...

at the movies= at the show

I like Will Smith too Solar. But I'm not crazy about Science Fiction.

We always go back to Best Buy with any problems and they usually take care of it right then on a new computer. That's why we buy ours there. That and because they usually have the best selections and best buys (no pun intended). :)

I guess that I will watch something tomorrow ---gonna stick with world music---that is on the link channel---they also sow a lot of short story's from around the world,,,,and the news on their is straight new without injecting opinion ---kind have to make your own----do you have the link station--here it is 9410 ?

Chloe
Same here regarding Best Buy.I know so many of the people that work there by name mostly because of the TV/Audio department,i love just going by there and spending time picking some there brains about best and latest electronics and any new computer technology...I get great deals through there Rewards Zone program also..I also buy there service program even on my I-pod and they really have taken great care,i have gotten it replaced three times under this last 3yr plan and for only $50..

Gotta go, but Tony I want to say I feel the same way about Best Buy. Especially the part about picking their brains. They always have a few there that are so knowledgeable and they don't mind sharing that knowledge. I also like that they're not on commission, so there's no pressure. A great place to visit and learn.

"--... the link channel---they also sow a lot of short story's from around the world,,,,and the news on their is straight new without injecting opinion ---kind have to make your own----do you have the link station--here it is 9410 ?"

Solar,

I'm going to look to see if I have that tomorrow. I haven't been watching TV but am going to start again soon.

Nite. :)

sleep well--nite

Osh-

---Saturday night--what r u up to? just had a cpl of drinks and feel brave--wanna dance?,,,,and don't say no---I hate that----once asked a girl at the sock hop(high school dance ) if she wanted to dance,,,now I know that she knew me or saw me a cpl of times,,cos our eyes met (hope she didn't read my mind ) but when I asked her to dance she said no----saw her a cple more times at those dances and she asked me why I did not ask her to dance anymore---told her that I did not like being teased---so think it over? you lead ok---I will just rest a little while we dance, it's a slow one----ready?

don't get burned

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDKNnJUP2FI#

this guy is good in English or in espanol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMUj8avm-JI#

and I can't get away from this guy lately

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pg3t8XjrA2I&feature=related#

It's sad about Jett Travolta dying at such a young age and with 2 nannies in tow. One assigned specifically to him.

I suspect there was more going on with him than just seizures or Kawasaki's. There are pix of him toe walking as a teen and having an adult hold his hand at age 15.

I can't help but wonder about the role scientology played in this, if any.

~RIP Jett~

tt

oh yea ' another thing ' if anyone dare question '
israel's 'policy or tactics they are automatically
labeled anti-Semite

Very good thoughts, Bethy. I agree, there are so many Israelis who would stand up for the Palentinian "people." Unfortunately, Hamas is acting for them now, and the Israelis are trying to destroy Hamas's political power. In the meantime, many die and everybody loses.

I also agree with mqw that we must be very careful about calling anyone who ever questions Israeli policy as anti-semitic. Although anti-semitism most certainly exists on a wide spread level, it isn't the reason many people -- including Israelis -- question the country's foreign policy.

And as usual, if you dig deel enough into this mess, you'll find British imperialism.

"if you dig deel enough into this mess, you'll find British imperialism."

patsi, you mean the folks that cut up the mideast into what is known now as iraq, iran and pakistan to name a few? impowered the nomadic chieftains in arabia? lovely chaps, eh what? so civilized.

Bethy, thanks for your 3:19 a.m.

The folks in Gaza chose a government that we, sitting comfortably in the West, would say wasn't acting in the people's best interest.

But, they are in the Land of Zealots. Their value system is completely different than ours.

I think the Israeli strategy is to cause enough pain to the populace that they will question their decision of putting Hamas in power. That would ultimately result in a Palestinian solution to the 'problem'.

Good morning, Thought this might interest some here- CNN Places Sarah Palin With 2008's Criminals, Sex Addicts and the Corrupt

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/warner-todd-huston/2009/01/04/cnn-places-sarah-palin-2008s-criminals-sex-addicts-corrupt

Hey Solar, sorry I missed the dance, ran off to watch TV and promptly fell asleep. Slow dancing is OK, but I love to swing dance! The crew and I try go swing dancing on Sundays (we're a lazy bunch though on a Sunday night) so its more like we think about dancing every Sunday. And are you sure your wife doesn't mind you dancing with strange girls?

Hello Flatus, Happy New Year! I just wanted to tell you that I enjoyed reading about your experiences, especially the Carter years. Put it all in a different light!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/have-a-hopeful-new-year.html#comment-186644

The book I mentioned the other day, "The Last Thousand Days of the British Empire" delved into some of this.

Britain was at the end of huge expensive war (WW II) that they had spent more than three years fighting alone before the US finally jumped in. They were bogged down in the Empire and mandate with problems in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the Middle East. In order to save Britain itself, they rapidly divided things up and got out leaving the world pretty much in the hands of Pax Americana which proceded to have a very comfortable half century.

Seventy years later the US is almost totally broke while being the major combatant is a long war in Iraq and Afghanistan with problems in India, Pakistan, and hot spots in the Middle East.

Stop me if any of this sounds familiar?

And back at you, Sea!

We really don't want people, including our own, knowing what we are capable of and what our plans are. The result of this knowledge vacuum is uncertainty in the minds of potential adversaries.

That uncertainty makes any hint of aggression on their part more risky because they (1) don't know how much we know about their plans and (2) what our ultimate response might be. The end result is 'peaceful' coexistence.

Carter, misguidingly, sought to make the intelligence process more transparent by declassifying numerous activities and programs. This declassification was often based on an arbitrary number of years between an activity and the current date.

We had people that we had been cultivating for decades and decades. Declassifying our relationship with these people would have been disastrous for them and for our country. Why our country? Who would even talk with us about the most inane subjects if they thought those conversations would appear in the Diario twenty years later?

Anyone here who qualifies as a computer geek today. My laptop started making this crackling sound last night and then locks up. Is there anywhere I can go on the net that can run a diagnostic?

Ct- sorry I can't help much , just asked my son, the computer geek, and his initial response was "buy a mac".

He asks " What do you mean by lock up?"

Doesn't sound good, Carol. Consider going to my computer, selecting your "C" drive, then properties, then tools. You should see an option to check the disk for errors. Check that and allow it to proceed automatically. It will come back with a message saying that it can't be done until you reboot.

Repeat that process if your laptop has a "D" drive on your hard disk. Then, reboot the computer making sure that you are on city power.

Let us know if that helps.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/have-a-hopeful-new-year.html#comment-186641

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/have-a-hopeful-new-year.html#comment-186643

Bethy's, Patsi's and and Flatus's 7:43 posts said so much!
Beautifully said you three. I could have read a whole book, that would have explained less than what I got from those three posts. Thanks.

Carol -- the times my PC laptop has taken a sudden dislike to me, a computer geek friend of mine stops by and resets the whole thing to an earlier date. If something you've done has changed settings, etc...that will effectivily take you back to your original settings. (Of course, it may be something that requires a trip to the computer store.)

Whenever I go to an online diagnosis, all they do is tell me what a mess my computer is and try to sell me something that doesn't help.

Are you able to restore your computer to a few days ago. Don't know if that'll help in this case, but it does in many others.

Seems like crackling would be speaker or fan related?? Could it have overheated.

It started making this noise like the right little speaker was crackling. It would come and go and lock up while making the noise. Finally I got a blue screen that said crashing.

I couldn't think of being without a computer so I went to Best Buy last night and bought a new laptop. They were supposed to have the laptop ready in 2 hours but when I got there to pick it up it wasn't working so they had to start over preparing another one. I think the computer god is trying to tell me something.

The Geeks at Best Buy said they could run and diagnositic for $70 on this computer and then told me the cost to replace some of the possible problems. It would end up being almost as expensive than buying a new laptop and I would have to be without it for a while. This one is only 1 1/2 years old.

So far it is still alive but has sizzled a couple of times. It maybe too much food stuck in the keys.

Ha, Patsi. We're on the same track. You can do it yourself by going to :
Programs
Accessories
System Tools
System Restore

It's gives instructions from there.

Back to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I have to say that I have little hopes for anything being achieved. Especially if Netanyahu takes charge.

Carol, don't do a restore until you've done your check of the hard drive. At least you can boot right now. An untimely restore could make it unbootable and unable to retrieve any important stuff off the machine.

Ha -- Chloe -- yes we were on the same track. The difference is, you actually know what to do! I am such a non-techie that I can only say what my pal-the-expert has told me.

Flatus -- have I mentioned how much I despise computers! Ha -- only to the extent that I don't understand them. I used to have a very complex music website...but the only reason I could make changes, etc, is that my son was still here in grad school. Once he got his doctorate and moved on, his old mammy was sunk.

Patsi, I understand completely. Can you convince him to do a post-doc?

I build all my machines from scratch. That forces me to learn about them and the software that will operate on them.

Laptops are a different story. I would never buy a costly one without buying the extended if-anything-breaks-for-any-reason service plan. About the only thing off the shelf on any of those highly proprietary boxen are the hard drives. And, any other repair is too costly to be worthwhile.

My latest acquisition is one of those netbooks. I really like its compactness and its features. But, it is basically a throw-away should anything break. If that happens, I'll strip anything potentially useful and trash what's left.

I also have all my stuff doing nightly backups to one of my servers, so I feel reasonably well protected. All the backups and virus checks, etc., are automated. I check periodically that the procedures were actually done.

Flatus,

I followed your instructions and it did whatever and didn't send me any messages. It has now gone a while without the sizzle.

Yesterday I seemed to be having weird device failures. My cellphone just turned itself off. When I noticed it I had 10 missed calls from work. I am on call 24/7. Also my verizon internet card has been turning itself off. Maybe a poltergist?

I hope I didn't just go buy a computer I didn't need to buy. I am very technology challenged. How come 3 year olds can do all this stuff and us older people can't?

Sorry for my interruption. I am learning from your discussion of the conflict.

good morning gang....

"How come 3 year olds can do all this stuff and us older people can't?"....
another great question, Carol..... wish I knew....

I have a cell phone that Rick gave to me to put in my car in case I have an emergency...... until the ice storm, I'd never used it....
with our cable down, cell phones were our only means of communication (although the first couple days they wouldn't work either due to the fact the tower was completely covered in thick ice too).....

when Rick tried to call me one day, he couldn't get through...... when he looked at my phone he couldn't believe it.... it wasn't turned on.....
I said to him... "you never told me I had to turn it on.... I don't learn technology through osmosis".....

ok.... you can all laugh now.....

"How come 3 year olds can do all this stuff and us older people can't? "

Ha. Every time my son showed me something on the computer, he tried to explain the entire workings of a computer and why I was doing the task. I'd always cross my eyes and say, "I am on a need-to-know basis." All I wanted to understand was what to do, not why I was doing it. And that's why I sunk the minute he took that job in D.C.

(I still can't program a VCR....and we've already moved on to DVDs.)

ROFL, Renee! The only reason I bought a cell phone lo those many years ago was that my daughter worked in A&R and part of her job was to go listen to music at night. I was afraid something would happen to her car and she'd be stuck somewhere.

and this might be interesting to the techies among you.....

the ice storm hit on a Thursday night..... Rick had to work on Monday..... he works from home.... but with nothing working it looked like he was going to have to commute about 50 miles to the nearest office space available.....

his parents live 8 miles east of us and they weren't hit as hard..... they had no power for 4 days, but still had phone service and town water.....

his youngest brother has this big ass boat..... it has 2 big ass batteries.....
he hooked the boat batteries to his parents router (they have DSL service).... and Rick was able to log in with his laptop and work at his parents' house.....

the young ones learn new technology the same way they learn english.....they're exposed to it when they're young and really smart and just absorb it........

Amazing story, Renee! (I KNEW you and Rick would be okay through that nightmare....if any two people I "know" could do it....it would be the two of you.....)

Ct- He says it sounds like a hardware issue ie. mother board or video card, It can be fixed but the parts will be probably 100-200 and who know what they'll charge for labor. Sorry.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/have-a-hopeful-new-year.html#comment-186641

"Palestinians don't seem to want to give their side of the conflict. Yes, books have been written and guest appearances have been made, but their side seems to be un-controlled anger which renders them speechless. That is what chooses my side in this - I cannot side with wild men who dream of martydom and begin the killing and will not stop."

Brilliant!

the young would be as hard pressed to create "windows" as anyone but bill gates would have....but then give them the finished product when they're babies and they take it from there.........

carol,

Re: the sizzling sound is generally not good. maybe some part of a board that has some power to it has died. I agree with oldsea analysis. sizzling usually means a fire of some sort is taking place. You may see the results in some operation you want and the computer needs that board or part of that board and it won't work because that part of the board had a fire. good luck

unless the "sizzling" is actually static?

oh, why not, i'll campaign for it. a facebook friend sent this link where u can vote for your favorite olbermann pundit (yes i'll admit it, i voted for myself):

http://olberblogging.com/

Sea,

That is what they told me last night at Best Buy and I would have to leave the computer for days. I now have a back up laptop waiting. Maybe what Flatus had me do fixed something but it appeared to be terminal last night. It has now gone about an hour without a sizzle but I am waiting.

"I hope I didn't just go buy a computer I didn't need to buy"

Carol, I don't think that's possible. A new computer is ALWAYS a good thing. :)

It's been my experience, that once a computer starts giving you problems, not matter what you fix, it will continue to do so. It just never seems worth it to put much money or time into repairing it, once it starts to go.

Enjoy your new computer! And if you fix this one, then you'll have two. That's a good thing!

A vote well cast.......i cast my bread upon the water as well.........

I voted also and Craig is battling Eugene Robinson for the top spot.

Craig...
I just voted for you..... and so far.... you're winning....

Osh---No,,have a couple of women friends in realestate , and always had a friend Jennie,even before my wife and were married,,,she was my secretary when I was in advertising,,,I recommended that she take my position after I had left and is still there some ti mes others from the Newspaper comes along with us but,-----we still go out for drinks, and shoot pool, on occasion,,,my wife Judy will go with us sometimes,,,but really doesn't like going out the grill that we all used to hang out all the time,Jennie is single, never married,,and is a great friend.

You certainly got my vote, Craig! Looks like you are the lead horse, too....

Yes...Olberman's following is so Republican that Alter probably will lose....just like Buchanan is doing....

Craig ----just voted for E. R. is the only close one---but he is a far 2nd------I live in Chicago(near) and tried to vote twice but it would not let me.

I voted for you Craig,,,and E.R. is the only close one

Craig's in lead with 57% so far. It pays to have your own fan club with no dues. :-)

---I live in Chicago(near) and tried to vote twice but it would not let me."

It will if you delete their cookie. :)

Craig, if you win is there a danger of you being perceived as a KO sycophant when we here know that you're not?

tools, options, privacy, show cookies, click on the cookie you want to remove(which will highlight it), click remove cookie.

Name calling has begun. Time to leave.

only a joke about our state---I think that Craig far out shines the rest of the field-----E.R. is a person that I used to listen to----but her has shown that he is completely,,,a biased reporter,,,,he did not show ---not one time any independent thinking during the primary's -----and everyone that I know,,,has said the same thing---he won't win this on his own merits --if does---the MSNBC,,,wanna be News station will make him the winner----I hope that this is on the up and up---C.C. should win easily if it is IMHO

"Name calling has begun. Time to leave."

same for me Patsi..... too much to enjoy in life.....

everyone have a great day....

Innauguration Trivia Quiz.

There are some very tricky and/or hard questions

http://polls.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/polls/politics/inauguration05.htm

An interesting bit of congressional demographics:
http://www.cq.com/flatfiles/editorialFiles/memberFactFiles/demographics_111.html

A couple of things from yesterday.

Solar, Thanks for info on the link channel. I looked it up, and we have it here too. I'll check it out this coming week.

Also, reg the red flags on that job you were bidding, I agree with the fact that you're going to be careful before agreeing to anything with that guy. It's always important to collect enough money up front to cover your output at least (usually half), then never to get to a point on the job that you're in the hole. If they won't pay you up front (once you show your good intentions) then they're not going to pay you at all.

I just voted on the olberblog. Craig is now at 61%.

I did my duty Craig and you're certainly my favorite, but sometime today, I'm going to go to my office and see if I can get a vote in for Pat Buchanan. At the moment he's at zero.

Do we get "I voted stickers! ?"

This was an easy vote.

Chole

On the Research channesl 9400---they are showing a Science forum---I missed that---but it will air again-----then they will show-----Sustaining our Northwest World----all from Scientist or people that know what they are talking about---not from some short news clip- on 9412---a whistleblowers story,,,,,,,than creating a world without poverty---NewsBusiness THe power of free markets and quest for a mre humane world----you will have to watch out for show that you might want to listen too---I some tape them to listen to them later----I will check from time to time and let you know------Hey here is one for Tony and it is on all of the time ---on 9415-TSTV---they are now showing gay USA-----but I have to let him know it is about GAYS--not about happiness ----I love it that he is always a happy Gay--HA-----these channels along with the Sci- fi, Biog, History , Disc, and others are the reason that I don't watch many Movies guess,,,,,regular t.v. never

Flatus,

I think you fixed my laptop. It has been three hours and no sizzle. I hear more fan noises so maybe the fan wasn't working right. Could doing that disk fix have made the fan work right?

Chole

One last thing---last night on the Link channel---I listened to maybe 10 diff bands form around the world,, I don't know instruments like some here ---but even they would have a hard time naming some of the strange music making instruments that are shown being played----and I love that I can see a band from Ireland,,,Africa, Austrailia,Cuba etc,,,liked almost all of it,,,,but what I really like is that feeling that I keep telling you about------the worlds people are not diff, than any others---they have the same basic love of life, family, and music,,,and etc etc.

What do you win if you win, Craig?

Ct- Keeping my fingers crossed for you and hoorah for Flatus! Do you live in New England?

Solar-Thats good-so we're on. Do you swing dance?!

Hey Solar,

We do Air Conditioning (Heating and Electrical).
Never was there a better place to make money cooling people off than Houston. Not a luxury here, a necessity.

I appreciate you sharing these stations that you watch with me. Otherwise, I would know nothing about them, and I intend to check them all out. There's a whole world out there that I didn't even know about. Keep the information coming. Thanks!

craig at 67%

"what I really like is that feeling that I keep telling you about------the worlds people are not diff, than any others-"

I love the way you put things Solar. Yes, we are all the same in the most important ways.... the things that count.

RE:
Solar Co-ops, turns out there's a few around, but just getting started.

http://www.mtpleasantsolarcoop.org/contactus.htm

Craig -

It turns out the oldest and largest solar co-op is in Washington D.C.
The Mt. Pleasant neighborhood.

http://www.mtpleasantsolarcoop.org/index.htm

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2009-01-04-richardson-withdraw_N.htm

Richardson has withdrawn as nominee for commerce sec'y
something about an investigation..
does anyone know the details?

Osh--
-only on occasion --at weddings and such----but did quite a bit of it,,,when our band ---The Loners---used to play at diff dances---I never learned how to play any instrument (which I regret now) but I was the manager, and always' loved to dance,all of us are still together which drives our wives nuts-----we always talk about those day's and repeat all the same stories ,,,,,until they leave us alone ,,,and then we talk about what really interest guys---and im not telling,----anyway swing dancing, if I do that it could replace a work out, or a 3 mile run.....let me know when the beat changes to some thing a little less
work,,,,and more like a walk,,than a gym exercise ---you must be in good shape,thats a good thing-.

Question----having a hard time high lighting a pdf file, and copying---i can save it to documents, and word pad,,,,but I still can't copy and paste????

"A federal grand jury is investigating how a California company that contributed to Richardson's political activities won a lucrative New Mexico state contract."

wow patd ... how about that!

Cbob- Saw the great valve you posted the other day. I've got a tankless coil in my furnace which is old no one wants to dare replace it and a spare tank in the cellar too. I've got to do something soon, plan to get an instantaneous this spring which will cost about 2000 dollars. I understand that the valve saves a tank, but aren't the collectors themselves expensive? How long do you figure it will be until Hillary's oops Obama's green industry will be available to the hoi poloi?

Solar- You ought to try it , it's a pisser!

I think some files are protected, and won't let you copy them.

"Could doing that disk fix have made the fan work right?"

Probably not. Fans are generally controlled at the bios level of the machine--not by something on the disk. But, if your disk was doing a lot of churning, it could have masked the sound of the fan--and all of a sudden you've become much more attentive to strange noises.

Try to give the machine a good workout. Manipulate large graphics files if you have said items. Try to break the machine through heavy use.

FWIW, I'm careful with my notebooks but, despite that, they generally don't last much more than a couple of years. Seems to be the nature of the beast.

In any event, we shall all be keeping our fingers crossed.

Chole

Go to tv guide.com---you will see the tv guide---go to edit location,,,pick out----I chose dish supplier,,,with local channels they have the full schedule for those channels that I gave you,,,,and all the others that are available from you supplier,,,
Link has a new program it looks like called snap----then after that is Public affairs---this is what I try to listen to when I want to hear something other than what other cable station ape from one to another.

Thanks Chole----I will print out the info,,,,what if I can e-mail it to myself and try to copy it---or will it have to be opened by Adobe and and back to where I was?

That's never worked for me Solar. But I don't know. It's worth a try. If that doesn't work, and if you need it on your computer, you may have to print it and scan it back onto your computer and work on it that way. (?)

wonde if there will be calls for gov richardson to resign immediately from the same folks who demanded gov blago's head.

Bill Richardson
Wall STreet Journal

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123109313644851901.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Solar, I just saw this on a site, notice the last paragraph:

I want to copy and paste from a PDF document, but I can't seem to select any text. How do I copy and paste?

You can select, copy and paste text in Acrobat, but you must first select the text tool (look for the T on the toolbar) instead of the hand. Then select the text, and either right-click and choose copy, or use the Acrobat copy icon (a couple of icons to the left of the Text tool on the Acrobat toolbar). In version 5 of Acrobat, there are two text select tools. The outline T, called "Column Select Text Tool" will allow you to pick text from a document without also getting the pleading paper numbers along with the text.

If you cannot select the text, then the PDF was scanned in. Scanned documents in PDF act just like photographs, so the text within is not recognized as "text", just the image of the text.

Ok Chloe----thanks---just going to print it out.

Why the Senate should seat Burris
Steve Chapman
January 4, 2009 Chicago Tribune

"One of the axioms of American democracy is that we are a government of laws, not of men.....

....the Senate isn't obligated to accept Burris if his appointment involved illegality—say, if he promised Blagojevich something tangible in exchange, as the governor allegedly sought from other prospects. But so far, no one has alleged, much less proven, anything of the kind. It's one thing for the Senate to conduct an investigation to remove all doubt. But it shouldn't use that pretext to endlessly delay what it can't legally prevent.

If the Senate thinks Blagojevich's presumption is intolerable, after all, it has another option, and one explicitly sanctioned by the Constitution: Seat Burris and then expel him."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-oped0104chapmanjan04,0,6983915.column

Politics are a lot like high school cliques --if you are cool and in the "in crowd" no problem but if you are "out" everything you do is wrong.

The same rules do not apply. The political journalists are responsible for enforcing the rules and they certainly do not apply them equally.

Patsi; 7:23 am........ "British Imperialism", you are completely correct about that, they did tramp around the middleast with heavy boots, they were arrogant and believed that their type of civilization was the begin all end all. But they got their comeupance at Khartoum and the Khyber Pass. The British East India Trading Company cost a lot of lives, as will Halliburton and Blackwater. THANK YOU for your mention of "Bee Bee" Netanyahu, the man is a warmonger who uses victimization as an excuse. Hamas is an extremely volitile pain in the ass, but Solar is right, they will never have the weapons necessary to carry out the threats they make, so they use what they can - those rockets are glorified firecrackers, they probably, unless they get lucky - no guidance system - only hurt the insurance companies.......................................................................

Jamie; 8:33 am............ "Stop me if this sounds familiar", I'm afraid it's all too familiar, how does it go "History Has a Tendency to Repeat Itself", God, why do we always think we're so smart..............................

Rita

NY Times article from last Dec on the Richardson allegations

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/19/us/politics/19richardson.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=DAN+FROSCH+and+JAMES+C.+McKINLEY+Jr.&st=nyt

"Mr. Ripp said Mr. Richardson had never personally solicited Mr. Rubin for these donations. Mr. Ripp said Mr. Rubin had donated because, like Mr. Richardson, he had grown up in Mexico City, was passionate about Mexican-American causes and was a strong supporter of Israel. That some of the money came at the same time the state was giving CDR business was a coincidence, Mr. Ripp said. “You can’t get contracts because of money,” Mr. Ripp said. “This isn’t Nigeria.”

Come check out my new blog my new years resolution "Blogging"

http://youhavetobethistalltogoonthisride.blogspot.com/

KGC; 3:07 pm........" The political journalists are responsible for enforcing the rules", I agree, and you're right they never enforce them equally, but doesn't that come back to the ratings so in effect it's really our fault.

Voted for Mr. Crawford.......wouldn't it be cool if Olbermann had to be as fair and balanced as, say, O'Reilly. For those of you who think I'm insane, that was a joke........................................................................

Rita

You know exactly what Rita meant---in comparison to the Israeli weapons ,,,they are just fire crackers-----the next thing that you will say is that little boys and girls hurling stones should be killed--huh,,,,I am getting information so that all can compare --it will be my next long post----Bethyboo's excellent post started me thinking,,,she will enjoy the information,,,and the contrast some others should provide,,,,,,but it will be very informative,

It just came to me ,,why I like doing long post--rather than a sound bite-----here is an example----I once asked my brother in law for some information about electricity ---he told me to do this and that ,,and go do this and that,,,,but what I wanted was help to understand how to do it all,,,,he was not the type to share,,and take the time,,,,,things are a little more complex than just a link to a link item sometimes----there is a long history-(about the holy land form --gonna post it---that should make for some good conversations-----I don't take sides in supplying information it will be up to others to clear up anything they feel is not correct.,,,maybe I will start tonight,,,but tomorrow for sure,,,,maybe.-----but there will be an opportunity to compare over a cpl of thousand years of life in the Holy Land,,,as apposed to about 73 years of living there.

Anybody;............ Does this mean that "Judas" will not get his 30 pieces of silver..............................................

Rita

Rita

I'm sure Carville is thinking karma!

Can't say the Richardson news breaks my heart. Weasels often get skinned.

Rita, I do disagree somewhat about Hamas. It has barely been mentioned that they have been lobbing rockets into Israel for the past six or seven months. One town literally lives in shelters. That Israel now decides to take out the installations is frowned upon. Hamas has so kindly placed these installations in private homes, mosques, and schools and now wails about civilians being killed.

I don't have any answers to this. You can't have a two state solution if one of those states won't agree that the other has the right to exist.

"The political journalists are responsible for enforcing the rules and they certainly do not apply them equally."

Ain't that the truth Katherine..
And in that way, they have way too much influence in the outcome of our elections, and therefore in the way our country is run. Not just political journalists either. The media has an unbelievably strong influence on public opinion in all areas.

Flatus,

Now that my computer knows she has a new baby sister waiting to take her place she seems to be purring like a kitten.

What you told me to do must have fixed something. The computer geek at Best Buy said that maybe some arm was stuck, whatever that means.

Your recommendation of, "try to give the machine a good workout. Manipulate large graphics files..." goes right over my head. My idea of a work out for both of us is running a virus scan and playing free cell at the same time.

Thanks.
Carol
"

Patsi here? What kind of books did you write??

"Hey here is one for Tony and it is on all of the time ---on 9415-TSTV---they are now showing gay USA-----but I have to let him know it is about GAYS--not about happiness ----I love it that he is always a happy Gay--HA--"

Solar
HA HA "a happy gay" Its nice of you to say that,I'm generally pretty happy all the time because I have so much to be happy about.I have a job and a nice house,a good car and my health and plenty of food in the pantry.It really takes a bunch to make me go off.I will have to check that channel out.I have Brighthouse cable and I know we have LOGO but I don't know of any other channels targeted to gays?You provide so much,thanks....

FRanken to be declared winner tomorrow. Coleman planning to take decision to court.

ct

Patsi writes about and for various Country music stars.

Carol

Here is a few,,,she will have to tell you how many----but to me one is very impressive,,no?

http://www.amazon.com/

Tony--- thanks for showing up and getting out of my sour mood.

CT

Try This Link

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Patsi+Bale+Cox

thank you jamie

http://www.amazon.com/Garth-Factor-Career-Behind-Countrys/dp/1599950995/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231111714&sr=8-1

I am impressed even though Solar you didn't give me any specific site at Amazon. Lot of books to look for with Patsi as an author.

Jamie, you are also a writer. It is neat to be able to hang out with such accomplished people.

I wrote a book as a form of therapy when I was going through a particularly horrendous time in my life. It is still locked in the bowels of my computer, I think?

Wow!

Carol----sorry about that Jamie's link shows about 20 books that Patsi wrote,,,,,and she is called a 4th rate HAG,,,is that not enough to get someone angry----as Craig has said ----we are lucky to have her,,,damn lucky,,,,,and that is not counting the sexy books that can't be found on line any more----You think Joan Collins wrote some hot stuff whew :-)) just kidding about that last part,Carol.

ill Transition
Governor's Office: 'No Front-runner' for N.Y. Senate Appointment

By Shailagh Murray
Gov. David Paterson hasn't made up his mind about the New York Senate seat, but the rumors are swirling.

Today's brushfire: An Associated Press report quoting two unnamed sources close to Paterson asserting their belief that his pick will be Caroline Kennedy.

"The AP story is incorrect," said Paterson spokesman Errol Cockfield. "There is no front-runner, and the governor is not on the verge of any decision."
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2009/01/02/governors_office_no_front-runn.html

Jamie; 5:10 pm............. "Hamas", Jamie, I don't disagree with you, as I tried to explain earlier, it's not the military intervention I resent, that I believe is a given,
"if you prod the bull, you get the horn", it's the fact that they continually close the borders and food and medical aid are not allowed in until it's usless, or there's not enough of it to do any good. In my opinion Hamas will never suceed, Egypt will see to that, they don't want to loose their military aid, do they? As long as Mubarak is in power in Egypt, I think Israel is reasonably safe, unless a situation is created that involves the surrounding countries, ie: too many refugees.............................................................................

Rita

according to the gov's office, he just can't make up his mind......

ct

Thanks for calling me a writer, but compared to Patsi, I barely qualify. My writing has always been technical rewrites of engineering material or commercial, charitable and publicity work . The Short stories and poetry are buried very, very deep in my computer. :-)

Jamie, don't be so modest. Your blog is impressive/creative and editing technical material is tough work.

Rtia

Just a short while ago, CNN had a feature on the Egyptian border with Gaza that remains closed for long periods of time to humanitarian workers and relief supplies.

For all the noise on the Arab networks wailing over the attacks, when you dig deep into the relationships that the Palestinians have with their surrounding brothers, it isn't pretty. This whole matter could have been resolved decades ago if the surrounding Arab countries had allowed the populations in the camps to become part of their nations. These people have been pawns in a very nasty game for a long, long time.

NYT reports Obama has selected Tim Kaine to lead the DNC

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/05/us/politics/05dnc.html?hp

More initiatives like this for the middle east please

http://www.downtheavenue.com/2008/04/the-peres-cente.html

Hey Coreen
Does that help or hurt Terry McAuliffe's bid for gov

http://terrymcauliffe.com/welcome

And the scrutiny of Caroline Kennedy continues
during the waiting game to a selection.

"Kennedy was spared financial disclosure as a top
aide to city schools"

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/04/nyregion/04disclose.html?ref=nyregion

Hi Katherine,

Don't think it should hurt Terry McAuliffe's bid for Virginia
gov--Kaine can not run again anyway, so he needed someplace to go.

KGC

I am not familiar with the other candidates, but I would suspect that Terry M as a past DNC head probably has plenty of allies in VA & elsewhere.

As to any particular loyalty Kaine may have to others, Divilicious? would likely have more info, if she is still around.

"The fight against Islamic radicals always seems to come around to whether or not they can, in fact, be deterred, because it's not clear that they are rational, at least not like us. But to wipe out a man's entire family, it's hard to imagine that doesn't give his colleagues at least a moment's pause. Perhaps it will make the leadership of Hamas rethink the wisdom of sparking an open confrontation with Israel under the current conditions.

That, of course, is just a slightly less profane version of Marty Peretz's chest-beating proclamation that the great value of the attack on Gaza is to teach those Arabs a lesson: "do not f*ck with the Jews.""

Orwell, blinding tribalism, selective Terrorism, and Israel/Gaza
by Glenn Greenwald
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/01/04/terrorism/index.html?source=rss&aim=/opinion/greenwald

Anyone;......... My husband (men are from Mars, women are from Venus) states emphatically that if the middleast (all of it) was just turned into a parking lot, there would be no more problems. I on the other hand don't see this as our biggest problem, our largest, looming, problem IMHO, is the amount of resources consumed by the exploding populations of China and the Indian Peninsula. The earth (this is for you CBob) cannot support or sustain this sort of populace and it is growing. Any thoughts on how to solve this problem?

Rita

Coreen
I was thinking the same thing..where are those Virginians when you need an answer.

"Former President George H.W. Bush said on Sunday he'd like to see his second son, Jeb, become president of the United States some day."

OMG, Haven't they destroyed the world enough already?

Maybe Jeb Bush, would make a better President, then either his father or brother. After all how many of you want to be judged by the mistakes of your parents, or your siblings?

Richardson: Just another politician caught with his hand in the COOKIE JAR.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/have-a-hopeful-new-year.html#comment-186792

You gotta be sh---ing me!! that has to be the dumbest thing that I have read in a very long,,,long time!!

Lamp,---- if things keep going the way they are, I will have to sell my construction equipment in order to survive,,,and at a loss----when things get going again,,,it will be like starting all over again----(30) years ago,,,,,,don't want to just burst out and yell but ---ya gotta give us(me) a break here. If there is another bush in the White House I will move to Palestine,,,,it will be no diff here,,,there will be lots of violence,,,so you really hate Obama that much?? sorry for my out burst but......

Another sign of the difficult times ahead

"Big Finales, all together now: A month of Broadway Closings"

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/04/theater/04last.html?ref=theater

"The annual post-holiday doldrums in the theater district are proving particularly doleful in 2009, as more than a dozen plays & musicals--almost half of the current lineup, incredible though it may seem--get ready to close by the end of the month.

It always comes to pass, of course, for hit & flop alike, just not usually in the collective numbers we're seeing this month. (Not all the closings can be chalked up exclusively to the gloomy economy; some were limited runs, & some are long-running hits that were approaching their ends anyway.)

To love the theater is to admire from a distance the people who devote their lives to making it--always against tough odds... so when the curtain falls this year, they will all return to being actors anxiously awaiting their next engagement, at a scarily perilous time for everybody."

Look Everybody: I'm not saying that there should be another Bush in The White House Ever.All I'm saying is how can you all say he would be crappy, when you don't know for sure what he would be like as a President. Just like many of you are saying "Obama, is going to be the Greatest President ever." What makes you so sure he will be? What, has he shown anyone as to what kind of President he will be? So far, he is like every other man that has ran for this office. I promise you this and I promise you that. You would think from Bushes 8 years, you would all be a littlle bit concerned about promises made by any man.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/have-a-hopeful-new-year.html#comment-186796

Are things that bad in Chicago Solar?

I watched a movie called "The Children's Hour" on TCM this afternoon. It starred Audrey Hepburn, Shirley Maclaine and James Garner. It was one of those movies that while watching it I really wanted to punch somebody. It didn't have a happy ending.

"I really wanted to punch somebody."

Well Corey. You've come to the right place. :)

ya gotta love these lifelong democrats who think that maybe another president bush could be a good thing.......that's the stuff that bad theater is made of...lol

corey........did you throw your shoe at the screen?

Lamp

Obama has one thing to worry about----the economy,,,,,,if he doesn't stimulate the economy ----he will be a lame duck president for most of his only one term----if he gets us going in the first year---he is a two term president,,,,,,my question to you and other republicans ( you are not an R--ok -ok) which one of the above do you wish for,,,,choose one.

I wish for Obama, to be a man of his words; If he can keep half of his promise, then I will be more than willing to admit that he has kept his promises. All I want for all of us, is 1) to be safe. 2) for people to be able to earn an honest living. 3) For racism and sexism to stop. Big Dreams I know. Obama promised to be a President for all people. All I see and read on blogs are people with alot of hate in their hearts, and alot of racism and sexism. Obama, will be like any other President, he will have to show the American People and other Countries, just what kind of man he is. And I'm sorry if I'm not willing to give him a free pass. At this stage of the game, I don't think any politician should get a free pass.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/have-a-hopeful-new-year.html#comment-186801

Corey,

They had to soft peddle the themes for the movie. If you want to really get upset, try reading the original Lillian Hellman play.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Children%27s_Hour_(play)

Sturge, sometimes I think to myself "That person needs their ass kicked!"

One of What Two? I want everybody (those who aren't afraid to work) to be able to feed their families and pay their bill. And, I also want us to be safe. I don't want anymore attacks on The U.S.A. That is what I want most. And Hrc, is just like any other politician she has to put on a good show for the public. Am I still upset, that she didn't win? Hell yes! But, I am more upset by the way she was treated by her own PARTY.

If Obama fixes the Economy, then he deserves to have a second term. If. he does what he says, then I would be willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, and vote for him. If not, then what else is there to talk about?

Thank you ---Lamp then it is your hope that Obama does well and is our president for 8 years ---hopefully he can keep just one more additional promise,,,,UH,,,,,anything more is gravy...rest well.

I never said "I Don't Want Obama To Do Well." All I said was "I am not convinced that he is the right man for the mess that we are in right now." And, I also said " Men have been screwiing things up for our country for along time, and I think that HRC, or any women, should have been given a chance to see what they could do." I feel like Obama is trying to suger coat things to much.

Old Sea -
I wrote a post at Pickens Place about all that .

I've been doing a little work on this, just to see if my idea about doing a co-op based on the hot water side of solar, would work. Numbers being what they are.

I got a quote Friday for a 30 tube system like those in that link.
A complete kit is $1,700.
That's before any rebates, or tax credits.
There are huge plants in China making these collectors, the Chinese have them written into their building codes. This design has changed the whole ballgame.
I think a co-op concept, could really get the number down to around a $1,000 a unit. The tipping point on this type of solar is here, not just homes, .........schools, restaurants , laundries.
That's why I've asked for a quote on a container price.

20 % of your house hold energy cost goes to heat water. 25% if you have electric water heater. More if it's propane.

Solar Hot Water, Just Got a Lot Faster & Cheaper

http://push.pickensplan.com/forum/topic/show?id=2187034%3ATopic%3A1705441

They said Wyler cut out some scenes in the movie because he was afraid of the censors. Had he kept them in, it would have given more insight into the relationship between the two women. Just finished watching "Human Wrecking Balls". 2 guys breaking stuff. Mindless entertainment.

Yes, that's the statue the camera caught. I wonder who it was who first asked about it - HA!