Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

On miracles -

Colour Sergeant Bourne: It's a miracle.

Lieutenant John Chard: If it's a miracle, Colour Sergeant, it's a short chamber Boxer Henry point 45 caliber miracle.

Colorado Bob, i don't always know what you're talking about, but i do enjoy trying -- and i am damn glad you're here.

For those keeping track, by the way, I am done with GWB. Have no plans to ever utter his name again. Bring on the future.

Prove it!

Let's see the original '61 birth documents and all the Columbia records. If he does not have anything to hide - what is he hiding?

G = GORDO

Craig -
Well the miracle word got broken out today, and there certainly may be some of that involved, but I'll take a smart pilot with guts over a miracle, any day.
And I've always loved that Stanly Baker line from Zulu.

----------------------

Minneapolis Star Tribune files for bankruptcy
http://uk.reuters.com/article/industryNews/idUKTRE50F1BW20090116

G = Goofy

Colorado Bob = sheeple

Is that the best you got ?

It fits.
-------------
Sheeple :

"It is often used to denote persons who voluntarily acquiesce to a perceived authority, or suggestion without sufficient research to fully understand the scope of the ramifications involved in that decision, and thus undermine their own human individuality or in other cases give up certain rights. The implication of sheeple is that as a collective, people believe whatever they are told, especially if told so by a perceived authority figure believed to be trustworthy, without processing it or doing adequate research to be sure that it is an accurate representation of the real world around them."

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

The most amazing photo of the plane ditching yesterday :

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/photos/popupV2.asp?SubID=4499&page=2>itle=World%20news%20in%20pictures&pubdate=1/15/2009

This picture is a perfect metaphor for the last 8 years, there we all are standing on the wings in the middle of the river.

'V-wing' turbine gets study cash

An unusual design of wind turbine with a pair of giant vertical wings could one day be generating electricity for the UK Grid.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/sci_nat_enl_1231864529/html/1.stm

The Good Ship Bush -

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p51/coloradobob/GoodShip_Bush.png

I saw a brief segment on tv re the exhibit of First Ladies' inaugural gowns, and noticed that the mannekins didn't resemble the ladies except for their hair. Hillary's was blonde, etc. Then it hit me.

We will also have the first black mannequin wearing an inaugural gown.

Magnificent!

Bike-light that paints a laser-lit bike-lane on the road around you

http://boingboing.hexten.net/2009/01/15/bikelight-that-paint.html

Savoy Brown - Louisiana Blues

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEAkK6sQgQo

Tom Jones Help Your Self

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itnXLG5-ARA

Missing Persons - Words

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIcWxFR4uh0

Media overload bombarding you with action
It's getting near impossible to cause distraction
someone answer me.. before I pull the plug.
What are words for
When no one listens anymore
What are words for

Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Relax

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyl5DlrsU90

Thompson Twins - Hold Me Now

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VW0YLWWf2b8

Pointer Sisters - Jump

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDtUvX1iUVg

"shoot from the hip" vs "cool and hip"

good morning, all
good video, craig

The Trammps-Disco Inferno

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

Chic - Good Times

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTQMMiHpeN8

Earth, Wind, and Fire - September

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfLEc09tTjI

Smokey Robinson and The Miracles - The Tears Of A Clown

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2E_RSJAhYU

HOT CHOCOLATE - YOU SEXY THING

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHN6YXD6E98

Harry Chapin--Taxi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5dwksSbD34

Big Audio Dynamite - Rush

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrJxbe3tKf4

Right Here, Right Now - Jesus Jones

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

Praise You - Fatboy Slim

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ULVQOneeZE

Gordo calling C-Bob "sheeple"?

Seriously ROFL-ing right now.

I think of C-Bob as more of a lone wolf.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/walsh/misc/2009/01/16/bush_farewell/

"Every kid gets a trophy" by Joan Walsh

"Let's be honest: Thursday night Bush sounded like a kid reciting the high points of fourth grade, or a challenged patient graduating to a new level in some kind of mental health rehab institution. No one could watch that and not be shaken by it. I've had my political disagreements with my friend Chris Matthews, but he summed it up really well: It was an abomination, the depiction of a world of presidents in which "every kid gets a trophy who participates."

Wow, you've got a sickness, Bob.

Buffalo Springfield - Mr Soul

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwpT_X3Prr0

one more cao........

The Eagles - Doolin-Dalton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA-DNHPVt64

Champ -

Just went I stumble across your drivel

Well, I'll utter his initial. W looked gaunt last night, like he's been on Atkins or he's a bit sickly. But, he's staying on message: "He put in his thumb & pulled out a plum & said, "What a good boy am I."

Finger puppets? Really, Craig. In keeping with the inaguaral theme, I think you should invest in some Lincoln Logs for next week's weblog. Maybe build a tiny Gitmo & demonstrate how difficult it's going to be to knock down.

Are you & Helen done with the book & when does it go to print?

The Eagles - On the Border

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1a-9Jz9-KM

All I wanted was some peace of mind
Don't you tell me 'bout your law and order
I'm try'n' to change this water to wine

Tony, thanks for that link. Joan's article was great. EWhile I was at Salon I started reading some of the comments sections, and came across one that I believe should be repeated in full.

With all the Bush-bashing, and believe me, he deserves it, too often something is being left out.

I got into a lot of trouble with some of my Republican friends a couple of years ago for saying that people who voted for Bush in 2004 had blood on their hands.

The message on Salon (IMO) just nails the Goodbye-Bush party.

I'll post the whole thing.

Let's Be Honest With Ourselves

I voted for Gore in 2000, Kerry in 2004, and Obama every chance I could (twice, for the GOP--once in the primary, once in the general). Didn't like GWB, didn't like his dad. Anybody who doubts that can read all my letters and see for themselves.

But let's be honest with ourselves.

We're dumping on Mr. Bush right now--as we should, his is indeed the worst presidency in history--but we need to check ourselves as we do so. Americans have turned against Bush--now. But how many voted for him in 2000? How many in 2004? How many nodded in bloody agreement (including some members of his cabinet) when he announced that he would go to war with a country that was no threat to us?

Now we can say, "It's Bush's fault." Not ours. Of course not. We're the good Americans, the ones without blood on our hands.

Maybe if there had been a draft (God forbid) we would have seen some real protests in the street. Maybe if the economic debacle--the third great transfer of wealth from the poor and middle-class to the rich in the Bush presidency--had come earlier, we would have spoken against his incompetence, racism, and classism.

But we didn't. Now, when he's going, out the gates of the city, he becomes our scape goat, and we can unload all the sins of the country on him.

We still don't get it. Bush was a tool, of our corporations, our military-industrial complex, our super-rich--and as long as the stock market went up, and no buildings fell, we didn't much care, as a nation, how many Iraqis died or how our allies treated their subject peoples, or what exactly was happening in too-bright rooms in Gitmo.

I hate and despise George W. Bush. He is a fool, a poltroon, a coward, an incompetent, a puppet.

But folks, as he goes, let's be honest with ourselves about who we are and what our country has been, and in too many ways, still is. Let's not simply breathe a sigh of relief that evil has left the land.

-- Dr. Zachary Smith

Blue -
Here's yer " Atta Girl "
He bought the Bush one at the Countdown garage sale.

Craig..... ROFL!
I bet Daddy Obama caves and gets one of those frou frou poodles..... ;0)

CBob... nothing gets one's juices flowing like a little disco in the morning.....

the Bush presidency..... what did we really expect from a guy who was a failure at everything he's ever done.....

Patsi..... I'll say it again.... voting matters.... whom and what we vote for matters....

poltroon -

An ignoble, uncourageous person: coward, craven, dastard, funk. Slang chicken, yellow-belly.

Good morning, This should really give some of you a thrill right up your leg. Personally find it a bit creepy.
Three Terms For Obama?
http://news.aol.com/political-machine/2009/01/14/three-terms-for-barack-obama/

c'bob - The day is off to a good start.

Taking Tuesday off to watch it live. These school kids not so lucky.

http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/latestnews/stories/wfaa090114_mo_inauguration.36de525.html

"A controversy has been stirred up in Keller after teachers received an e-mail stating those students who weren't studying the presidency shouldn't be allowed to watch the swearing-in ceremony."

OSH...
just want to tell you I LOVED reading the stuff about your father yesterday....

those were some of the most amazing posts I've ever seen on this blog....
thanks for posting them....

Craig, Ha, loved the ending! But did you have to remind us of that speech though? Been trying my best to wipe it out of my mind.

I agree with Renee, OSH -- powerful posts. Thanks.

cad, bounder, blackguard.....reminds me of Sir Harry Flashman from the Flashman Papers, by Geo. McD. Fraser.......................

TOKYO, Jan. 16, 2009 (Reuters) — Japan's top two automakers, Toyota and Honda, will slash output further to counter swelling inventories as auto sales slump, while third-ranked Nissan is seen shifting some output abroad to cut costs.

http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/tre50f26y-us-autos/

Renee- Oh my , certainly not that but thanks. Am hoping someone from the press notices, as Jamie suggested. Don't really know where else to go with this now, but will keep trying, I can't let my Dad and the 94th all down, they deserve much better than that.

In Tom Brown's Schooldays he is called only Flashman or Flashy. Fraser gave him his first and middle names, a lifespan from 1822 to 1915, and a birth date of 5 May.

In Flashman, Flashman says that the family fortune was made by his great-grandfather, Jack Flashman, in America trading in rum, slaves, and "piracy too, I shouldn't wonder." Despite their wealth, the Flashmans "were never the thing": Flashman quotes the diarist Henry Greville's comment that "the coarse streak showed through, generation after generation, like dung beneath a rosebush."

Sea,

I read the detailed account of what has transpired over the last several years (your 6:46 p.m. from yesterday).

I think you must wait until DC settles down after the election. At that point continue exactly what you've been doing. Write the Center asking that their position of whatever date be 'reconsidered'. Add one or two tidbits to justify that reconsideration.

Understand, it wasn't the director of the Center that made the decision; it was some functionary who prepared a letter for the director's signature. Try again.

If that is once again rejected, send the entire package, including your correspondence here, to both Sen Kennedy and the Secretary of the Army. Put the matter squarely into political hands. Tell the Secretary about the outrage you feel, and about the outrage of others (including me).

Explain that it is not the time that lapsed between the War and your requests that is important, it is the time remaining in the lives of the soldiers involved in the liberation of the camps.

Persevere. You're exactly on the right track.

hope this train ride atarts a trend... maybe catch on like the jfk hatless trend which illogically is still going on even tho the boomers are now bald...and cold.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/15/AR2009011504103.html?hpid=sec-metro

Patsi- thanks, do you know any way to get those letters transcribed ? Told my Mom last night that I'm back on the case. She had to speak softly so Dad didn't hear us. She said that because their sources for getting them transcribed have fallen through (Albany State would do it but they wanted to own the letters and my parents prefer they go to the Library of Congress, also one of their congressmen said he could get them transcribed but he too was trying to get the ownership to a small museum in Saratoga) so they are just about to give up and donate the collection to the Library of Congress this spring. They will do the best preservation and transcribe the letters for each member of the family, but that process will take at least 2 years. We don't have that kind of time.

atarts = starts

LONDON, Jan. 16, 2009 (Reuters) — World oil demand will contract sharply in 2009 as global economic slowdown further erodes consumption, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Friday.

http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/tre50f28g-us-iea/

Flatus- thank you so much for reading that long (sorry) post. You really know your stuff. Someone pretty high up in the military said just about the same thing- decision made by a "a miserable little bureaucrat who doesn't like his job" The Kennedy military liaison got the matter of time right away, but with Kennedy's condition it has become even more so. Last I spoke with her they were all just in shock, so I left them be. You are right about waiting till after the election, will reconnect with Kennedy's office then. Thank you SO very much for suggesting Secretary of the Army, another avenue ! Thank you.

Insurance giant to pay $350M in med bill case

http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2009/01/15/2009-01-15_insurance_giant_to_pay_350m_in_med_bill_.html

Old Sea -

Try Kerry, and McCain.

" do you know any way to get those letters transcribed "

The transcribers I know charge quite a bit. Just be sure that you don't put originals in any package you mail out. I once did that with an academic paper, sent the bound original (and that was before computers) to a VIP who requested it. The guy later "misplaced" it. I was shattered. But it served me right for sending something out so quickly just because I was impressed somebody important wanted it.

My loss would be NOTHING compared to yours if you ever send the originals.

Conason, on Hoder and the Rich pardon. Very interesting.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2009/01/16/holder/

Copy the letters or convert them to PDF's and send those.

Flatus...

I left a reply to you on the last thread in the evening.

Okay, I'm outta here, back to work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qXQL90YsCc

Dangling Conversation

Thought for the day :
" Fame is proof that people are gullible. "

Thanks, A-P, just read it.

The Calley thing was terrible--but I understand how such things happen in war.

It was a total breakdown in leadership at the unit level that had obviously occurred over an extended period of time. The company commander, who was it--Medina(?) was a primary enabler of what happened. Damned shame. These people weren't in my Army.

The hero of the day was the helicopter pilot who intervened.

"Copy the letters or convert them to PDF's and send those."

The PDF is a good idea, anon.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/inaugurating-history-and-a-pre.html#comment-190025

CBob,

I just love the whole Desperado album particularly Saturday Night

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oz131N9PeNY

Jamie -
Not to mention Art & Paul -

el condor pasa

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkftr4fbmMc

---------------
" I'd rather be a hammer than a nail"

OSH

Awhile back a family started a blog and day by day published the pages of a diary of a man who fought in WW I

You might consider doing something similar. Just type in one letter at a time with the background story and photographic images of the letters and where possible photos of the men from the 94th.

Just keep making as much noise as possible. Functionaries don't like noise makers so they tend to give them what they want so they will be quiet.

Craig –
My friend did you cross the line with this last video post – clearly CQ does not have you on a leash.

This may be a surprise - but how can you continue the hounding, are you barking up the wrong tree? I cannot wait to see what you dig up and what bones you will have to pick.

Is this post just another Howl?

(OK – granted the stuff on the unique elements of Barack Obama’s inauguration was pretty good and a transition out of the past series of policy commentary. For that a B+ but that was low fruit)

But No – you then seem to chase the tail and show aggression to the innocent. Could not these comments be muzzled? Will the same pack mentality of the last series be exposed?

Do you have a problem with a mix of Canadian and German blood lines – with French influence? Is there Mr. Crawford concern for Pedigree and elitist position? We are not talking about a mongrel or mutt here just because it is not a purebred.

I just hope that should the Labradoodle when a place in the White House that you will find a way to love and respect it’s position. As I know it is not whistling Dixie.

That should be WIN a place

GOOD GOD DON'T JUMP !!!!

Save the Life of My Child

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

If you happen to own any Waterford Crystal, Royal Doulton or Wedgewood, you might want to pack it away in safe storage. The Irish company is now bankrupt and the lines have been outsourced to Eastern Europe and Indonesia

http://www.thespec.com/News/article/491040

BTW, If you have some gift buying to do and truly love one of a kind, handmade items created by crafts people and artisans, take a look at Thistle & Broom

http://www.thistleandbroom.com/

Bookends- Simon & Garfunkel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahuU3QwWkdg

Old Sea -

Just spit ballin' -
West Point ?

Cob- Good idea, will send a copy to them when I send a copy to the Sec. of the Army

Did you get to read my post to you a few days back, about the Corp. putting forth the Cape Wind Project? Don't know if you are aware of them but the windmills on barges ( I think that method is called deep water) has less negative impact on the environment. The proposed project off the southern side of MV is more of a win- win situation.

Cable News has discovered that planes fly into birds -

"Since 1988 over 200 people world wide have died from bird strikes involving commercial aviation."

So world wide we lose 10 people a year from bird strikes.

Death by lighting has killed 449 between 1998 and 2008 in the U.S. alone.
Buy a lottery ticket before you board your next plane, because you will win that before you fly into a bird.

Jamie....
WTF???...... you were leading some of the cheerleading the other day for "Buy American"..... and now you want to encourage people who love handmade crafts to buy Scottish.....

there's plenty of Americans who are excellent artisans and craftspeople....
keep that money here in American...... buy American made crafts!

For those keeping track, by the way, I am done with GWB. Have no plans to ever utter his name again. Bring on the future.

Posted by: Craig Crawford | January 16, 2009 1:36 AM

Craig...we still need that collective shower to wash the Bush/Cheney stink from the American skin.

And from New Mexico, Bill R. is back to the growing a beard.

The banking crisis orgins begin to be exposed---though the depth of the financial breakdown remains elusive.

Brewing fraud scandal at the Treasury---may be worse than orginally believed---probe of how S&L overseer allowed IndyMac to make it appear in govt filings that the bank had more deposits than it really did.

"Government regulators aided IndyMac cover-up, maybe others"

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Economy/story?id=6658365&page=1

c-bob (hope all is well in Colorado)

It is ironic that the small feathered first in flight, can takedown the mammoth manmade metal beast.

Old Sea -
I saw that, I'm aware of the stink that project has kicked -up, but I don't know the nuts and bolts.

Another barge idea I like are ones covered in solar collectors. They use the sun to make hydrogen from sea water. When the tanks get full they put into port and off load the hydrogen.

I understand your project there with your family, it's important, don't give-up. Here's my father in France in August of 44' -

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/2126/picture171qx2.png

Those are headlights painted on his helmet, he was driving in the Red Ball Express at the time, plucked out of the engineers.

My rich uncle from Dallas was at The Battle of Leyte Gulf in the Navy, He told me about seeing the first Kamakazi attacks, they called them "Crash Divers" at the time. I had never heard the term, and they had never heard of Kamakazis.

Blonde -

I'm afraid my nick name throws people off, my Colorado days are behind me.
I'm at Lubbock,
"Where the earth is in the sky, and the fire is in the water."

Bill should keep that thing from now on.

sorry, Bob (not for living in Lubbock, but not keeping-up enough with your history)

c-bob and osh, thanks for sharing regarding your fathers...my father was in the air corp and was a tail gunner. His plane had many close calls and landings. As a child, I used to spend hours looking at old war photos and particulary loved the old planes. They were painted with glamour girls and cartoon characters (I remember "Goofy" painted on the side of one metal plane). Photos of soldiers and family at home during the war...

For me it is so difficult to reconcile the WWII with our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan...modern war seems so less noble. I guess one could equate a Kamikazi with a suicide bomber. It just seems the lines of war were much clearer in the 1940s...less gray than the war on terrorism.

Coreen -
Sounds just like the bozo's at the Interior Dept.

BRRR!!!

I found out that in windshield washer fluid world 5 below is enough to freeze stuff that's supposedly good to 20 below. Damn liars.

thank you, Sturg

C-Bob

It certainly does not provide the 'confidence' in the system needed to resolve the financial disaster that only seems to get worse.

It appears that the the depth of the problem may require another "new" plan to attempt to correct the banking industry's failures to date--& there is no assurance that any of this will actually help.

"US 'bad bank' plan gets momentum to revive lending"

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aImCiL5jcxDk&refer=home

pogo...probably made in China (the greatest producer of the world's 'lesser than' products).

Blonde -
There was only one group who suffered more casualties than the 8th Air Force, German U-Boats. The odds in a U-Boat were 8 in 10 you wouldn't come home.

Brokaw did special about the 8th Air Force, years ago. Long before the books. It was called "All the Fine Young Men". It was very good.

bob

one of favorite movies

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

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/inaugurating-history-and-a-pre.html#comment-190080

Renee, nothing less than lye soap will begin to remove the stench, and I'm not guaranteeing anything even with it.

flatus, a bird whisperer!

Interesting statistics in today's NYT:

"What Has Changed"--comparing the nation Bush
inherited in 2001 with the one he is leaving his successor.

(The graph is on the left side of the page-multimedia--I could not link it directly--had to link to the article "a somber Bush says farewell)

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/16/us/politics/16bush.html?ref=us

Blondie - probably so.

first use this:

http://toolmonger.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/post-lava.jpg

then this:

http://dadiansautodetailing.com/store/images/0007385200995_L4%5B1%5D.jpg

and afterwards some laquer thinner, gasoline or what not.........then shower ever hour for a week.......

Bob, we have a heat wave forecast to begin next thursday - 36 degrees for a day, then back below freezing.

Dobbs needs to get a grip. Hell, I've seen ice storms in Alabama and frost at Big Pine Key.

What are frozen concentrated orange jusice futures doing today?

sturg...odo ban, too.

http://www.odoban.com/

Just in case you folks hear about the "New Ice Age" of Mr. Dobbs-

Zone Forecast: Anchorage

Today...Mostly cloudy. A chance of rain in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 30s to lower 50s

Tonight...Rain likely in the evening...then a chance of rain and snow after midnight. No snow accumulation. Lows in the lower to mid 30s.

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?zoneid=AKZ101

must work...happy Friday to all, next week should be one hell of a welcoming party.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/inaugurating-history-and-a-pre.html#comment-190079

Renee, I agree that everyone should buy American right now particularly from our home grown artisans such as yourself.

I just happen to love Thistle and Broom because of the Scottish heritage and the old crafts that they are trying to keep alive. Unfortunately, the British Isles are suffering the same fate as so many people here. It's a lot cheaper to mass produce things in Indonesia.

Blonde -
One of my favorite parts of Das Boot -

Chief Mechanic Johann with those 2 diesel's in the engine room. @ 1:40 into the clip

Das Boot - Convoy Pursuit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsuFliSt7zw

Great music with this .

Cbob,
You make a good point when you show Dobb's comments as being ridiculous to equate a single weather event with a trend.........and then you go and do the same thing with Anchorage temps.......very convincing....which one of you am I supposed to laugh at most....:)

Jax,

Bob was just reminding everyone that the Northern Temps have been on a long warming trend. Today's temps are just an example of that.

Here is some TREND info for you

http://arctic.atmos.uiuc.edu/

jax, you're arguing like Hannity. Stop it - it's beneath you.

Bob didn't represent Anchorage weather as a trend. It's a counter example offered to refute Dobbs' assertion of a trend based on a cold snap in the upper midwest. Three measures I can think of could indicate such a trend - for warming or cooling. Mean ocean temp, mean atmospheric temp, or mean surface temp - and there are others someone more meteorological than I could name. Todays weather in Atlanta is not one of those measures. Dobbs' analysis of climate change reminds me of his analysis of illegal immigration - if he sees a pickup truck full of Mexicans in St. Louis, we need to build a wall along the US-MX border. He's an idiot - don;t buy into it.

And now - lunch.

Jamie...
phew.... you had me worried there for a minute.....
going back to yesterday....unfortunately.... buying an "American" made car can be a complicated subject.... the most popular selling minivan... the Dodge Caravan... was manufactured in Canada..... I owned a small Dodge Ram truck for years.... only to discover that not only was it's engine actually a Mitsubishi.... the truck itself was manufactured in and imported from Japan....

now I drive a Japanese a car..... a Subaru.... that was manufactured in Indiana..... one of the reasons I even considered buying it.... and Toyota manufactures cars over here as well..... buying an American made car is not what it used to be....

Pogo,
I don't buy into either climate argument there is simply so much anecdotal evidence of disaster or lack thereof that I get sick of it.

I actually have a very inside knowlege of the governments efforts at pollution control. Every quarter I (my company) receive pollution credits. I was one of the first to receive these credits and I have an in-depth knowlege of how these programs work.

In a nutshell I can characterize this program and others like it in a few words...."pure corporate welfare". The public is being absolutely fooled and its about to be be fooled even further. There's big dollars involved and the public will be gleefully backing it all.

And everyone wonders why the rich just keep getting richer.......

and speaking of China's "lesser than" products....
there is a big brou ha ha in the American craft world about the new law Congress made concerning manufacturing children's items that is set to take effect Feb 10....

In an attempt to do something about the lead paint fiasco surrounding children's toys manufactured in China..... Congress has passed a law stating that all items manufactured and or sold for children 12 and under must pass a third party testing for lead.....

such testing is very expensive and will mean that thousands of people who make children's toys, clothing, cribs, strollers, you name it will be put out of business....

it also means that all thrift stores and charitable organizations will no longer be able to distribute used children things....

Patsi..... please take note..... it means your daughter Tracey will not be able to sell her products unless she spends thousands of dollars to have them tested....

Congress decides to do something and does it with overkill..... what's new....

Craig.... and anyone else.... buy your hand puppets and Lincoln Logs now...

Memorandum

Jan. 16, 2009

FROM: Birds
TO: Humans
SUBJECT: "Bird strikes"

Back off. We were up here first.

Sadly, Andrew Wyeth has died...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090116/ap_on_en_ot/obit_andrew_wyeth

blonde - The bird(s) may have brought down the plane, but I'm guessing the bird(s) didn't survive the incident.

Tip: You can't substitute a potato-filled perogi for gnocchi. This is one, poorly-designed lunch.

Hawaiian pizza for inaguartion day?

You're right, Lard. If God had meant for us to fly...

Jaxtrader -

So is your operation cleaner than your peers, and therefore you get them?

Sad to hear about Andrew Wyeth, one of my favorite artists. He had a good long run at 91.

Note to anyone with things in the attic. If you can find the collection of childhood classics with the original NC Wyeth illustrations, you just discovered gold.

" In a nutshell I can characterize this program and others like it in a few words...."pure corporate welfare""

That's good to know, now I don't feel so bad about getting food stamps on the commune all those years ago.

When I was a kid, we had a 8x11 print of "Christina's World" in a frame on a dresser in one of the bedrooms.

It made that whole room feel very sad.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Christinasworld.jpg

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- After failing to secure financing from creditors and lenders, bankrupt electronics vendor Circuit City Stores Inc. said Friday that it will liquidate, joining the list of retailers like Linens 'n Things that are closing up shop due to the economic downturn.
The liquidation will affect more than 30,000 employees, adding to the rising number of U.S. job losses, which last year hit their highest level since World War II. As of Dec. 31, Circuit City had 567 stores in the United States and about 765 stores and dealer outlets in Canada.

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/circuit-city-liquidate-adding-us/story.aspx?guid={C302D694-4EF3-42FA-BBF0-A11450A5209C}&dist=msr_1

cbob,
I get them because my operation is cleaner than a fictitious baseline set by the state regulators. The credits were supposed to trade on an open market but in reality what happens is certain "non-profit" entities take the credits and arrange trades....they then set an arbitrary value on them which is used to offset taxes.....

If you don't deal with the non-profit your credits aren't exchanged........

Since you only report your positive impact on emissions my internal numbers show at best no net reduction but according to the gov't I remove dozens of tons of NOx each year......everyone is happy...except maybe the taxpayer.......but what's new.....:)

I LOVE Wyeth's works..... rest in peace....

also.... everyone should realize that as of Feb 10 the price of all children's products will be through the roof.....

so Chloe.... Bethy... and anyone else with babies on the way..... buy your stuff now.....

Coreen---Thank you for your links this morning,,,I may sound a little like Gordo here ----but IMO having Darrel Dochow any where near banking regulations,,,and policies ,,are deliberate plants, that were carefully placed by the Bushes and Bakers, and others that want to run the world banks?-- they did it with Bush 41 the S & L crises----saw how easy it was ----and had even more success this time around??

Numbers are adding up!!!
http://photobucket.com/

It should be noted that while the "Stock Market Crash of 29" occurred in Oct of 1929. The market didn't tag bottom until June of 1932.

This going to be long, bloody, and painful.

try this one

http://img155.imageshack.us/my.php?image=image58whitphosphursar2.jpg

RR -

You got a link for that lead story ? I don't doubt it, I was just curious.

That'l show em

http://img510.imageshack.us/my.php?image=image28bulltsfd6.jpg

delusional to the very end.....

Bush claims economy on track to recovery

By TOM RAUM, Associated Press Writer

(01-16) 09:48 PST WASHINGTON (AP) --

President George W. Bush said Friday that while the current economic crisis has sent shock waves around the world, he believes steps taken by his administration have "laid the groundwork for a return to economic growth and job creation" early in the administration of President-elect Barack Obama.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/01/16/national/w090628S73.DTL&tsp=1

All children are beautiful and should not be dead,,,,,,,Might is right only when it is proportionate --

---the Israels have the moral right to defend its people----but, They are losing the moral argument ,,,with white phosphorous, and shooting the UN People up---and no they did not have any weapons fired from within tier buildings.

CBob....
the Christian Science Monitor has done several articles on the subject....

here's the latest entitled "Uncle Sam vs. your favorite toys"

http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0115/p09s02-coop.html

Thanks for that info, Renee -- isn't it amazing? The government will continue to allow all sorts of poisons (just watch them) coming from China and other manufacturers, and try to destroy American craftspeople.

Blondie, Renee - great news. My WW juice had thawed and the washers worked at lunch. And the juice is Made in the USA. I feel so . . . patriotic. American windshield juice in a German car.

Obama screws the pooch -

Clueless hack tapped to be Obama's Transport Czar

http://boingboing.hexten.net/2009/01/16/clueless-hack-tapped.html

Patsi....
I hadn't heard about this until I saw an article last week in the CSM.... I immediately called good friends who are a husband and wife team and members of the League of NH Craftsmen..... they have a very successful business selling their handmade wooden toys for over 30 yrs .....
they told me they were devastated.... and since they are in their 60s, they are thinking of retiring instead of trying to develop and market a new product line...

it won't just effect craftspeople though..... for instance... if I owned a company that made skis, I'd stop manufacturing children's skis now....

this will effect every product that's made for children..... why would McDonalds put a stupid plastic toy in it's Happy Meals if that toy will now cost them dollars to make instead of pennies....

Coreen---Thanks once again---just went back and read the last 2 pages of that article----not Gordo like this is what I thought even before reading the whole article---yes the Bushes and their -----I once thought that the than Pres. of Mexico Salinas, was a good president ,while he was robbing the Country's treasure,,,,,I wonder if they vacation together,,,the Bushes and the Salinas's ??here is you link again....read all three pages.

Government Regulators Aided IndyMac Cover-Up, Maybe Others
Darrel Dochow May Not Be the Only Official Who Helped Banks Hide Financial Problems

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/

I was thinking Bush claims we haven't been attacked since 9/11, right ?

What does he classify the anthrax attacks as ? A twofer ?

"So what I'd like to see is a truth and reconciliation commission, akin to the one initiated by Nelson Mandela in South Africa. Of course, to give such a commission teeth, it would have to be able to extend an amnesty to all those testifying -- with the caveat that those who didn't come forward by a certain date would indeed be liable to prosecution."

http://ricks.foreignpolicy.com/blog/2187

rick's been reading tm? didn't someone here say something like this yesterday in lieu of hanging they-who-shall-not-be-named-anymore?

The google search for :

The Consumer Product Safety Information Act

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=The+Consumer+Product+Safety+Information+Act+&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&oq=

347,000 hits.

Pogo.....
LOL!..... I know.... it's all so complicated....

I put up a post months ago about making a product line I sell only at one craft fair that involves bolts of cloth..... I used to make sure I bought only cloth made in the USA.... but now they're all manufactured in China..... that's just the way it goes....

I think we should use lobbyists for fuel, boil em' down like whales, and bring back lamps with wicks.

It's a win / win.

Sorry, I just realized "Lobby Oil" would stink-up the room, and it would probably go rancid pretty fast.

cbob, yeah, wouldn't it be fun, having spotted a particulary pudgy one draped over pols at the free bar, to yell "thar he blows!" and sink a sharpened cocktail fork into the fat rear-end?

"they have a very successful business selling their handmade wooden toys for over 30 yrs .....
they told me they were devastated.... and since they are in their 60s, they are thinking of retiring instead of trying to develop and market a new product line..."

Renee -- I hate to sound paranoid, but I wonder just what is behind this. Sometimes I think there is an effort to take small local businesses out of the competition.

on second tho't, if you stuck one with a sharp object he'd probably fly around the room like a fizzling balloon, making rude noises.

January 16, 2009,
For Wind Turbine Manufacturers, the Layoffs Begin -

http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/16/for-wind-turbine-manufacturers-the-layoffs-begin/

Renee

I just visited the website for your guild and had a bright idea.

http://www.nhcrafts.org/

Whoever does their website knows what they are doing and should be able to come up with a picture widget that anyone could place on their blog that becomes a button to take them to the guild and then links from there to the individual showcases and artists for purchase of their products.

C-bob....
I heard of more Energy Sector jobs are impacted by the Congress not renewing certain credits about 6 months ago. Not sure why they did not act then and do not act now?
And the Funding issue for big projects is a major problem - You can get credit and funds for small items and projects - but those that are based on Bonding issues - Just still not happening

Just today -
35,000 at Circuit City
1,100 at AMD
1,500 at Wellpoint
1,000 at EcoLab

We may have had 100,000 people lose their jobs just this week,

Ping those credits were stuck in the TARP Bill for the banks, one reason it was bigger.

Old Sea -
Looks like Cape Wind took another step :

Cape Wind Project Clears Key Hurdle
http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/16/cape-wind-project-clears-key-hurdle/

Dead Malls . Com

http://www.deadmalls.com/

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/inaugurating-history-and-a-pre.html#comment-190172
Just today -
35,000 at Circuit City
1,100 at AMD
1,500 at Wellpoint
1,000 at EcoLab

THEN ADD.....

+ Hertz 4,000
+PPG ?
+ ge is starting to announcing cuts - it did not release figures but est are high
ge capital - 7,500 est
ge healthcare 800 usa (2,000 world wide)
others tbd as they release results 1/23
What will the impact be to the Entertianment News sector?

Taking democracy to the middle east - great idea.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/01/16/world/AP-ML-Iraq.html

This is the forefront in the war on terror? The toehold from which democracy and freedonm will spread thoroughout the region?

Circuit City out of business - 35,000 employees.

---------------------------------
Ping -
Prices for rooftop solar systems fall as supply grows

Until this year, homeowners who bought solar systems were eligible for a tax credit that shaved system prices 30%, but the credit was capped at $2,000. Last fall, Congress renewed the 30% credit and removed the cap, lopping thousands more dollars off solar price tags.

In California, which accounts for nearly 70% of the U.S. solar market, a typical 4-kilowatt, $32,000 solar energy system cost a homeowner about $23,000 last year after state and federal incentives. This year, if prices sink as expected, that system is likely to cost $10,000 to $12,000.
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/environment/2009-01-12-solar-panels-glut_N.htm

Discover Your Solar Energy Potential

If you're like most of our visitors, you'd like a ballpark figure for your return on investment for solar panels.

http://www.solartradingpost.com/calculate.php

Since MSNBC doesn't know anything other than a plane taking up swimming instead of flying and a has been taking a helicopter to his mountain cabin, you all might like to know that the Israeli Knesset will be voting tomorrow on whether or not to cease fire against Gaza.

Ping -
There were several hundred layoffs in that Wind Turbine story I linked, and there's several hundred more in the solar story above.

CBob...
I have several oil lamps and extra wicks..... I bought them years ago for y2k..... they came in real handy during our recent ice storm....

Jamie.... crafts don't sell well online.... most people want to see and touch something before they buy it..... and handmade stuff isn't like manufactured stuff..... I don't make 100 scarves all in red that look exactly the same in one week..... right now I'm making my line of place mats for my big fair in August..... if someone saw something online that I didn't have in stock, it would be a bad business decision to stop and take myself out of production in order to make that one item.....

the pictures of scarves I sent to you a couple years ago is only a fraction of what I make..... and I sold only 2 to the same person..... lots of lookers and compliments.... but not enough sales to even consider bothering with my own blog or website....

Here is info of what is in this new stimulus plan for those with disabilities plus info on health and social security. There are links to other provisions. How much will make it through is wait and see

http://jfactivist.typepad.com/jfactivist/2009/01/stimulus-plan-includes-significant-disability-funding.html

jamie, I'm not overly optimistic.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/17/world/middleeast/17mideast.html?hp

from Jamie's link -

• Job Training: $4 billion for adult, youth and dislocated worker training

My question ever since NAFTA is just what are these folks being retrained for ?
Back then it was fork lift drivers.

Today it's :
Lead paint testers ?

Orange County Business Journal, CA - 4 minutes ago
Some 375 workers at the Redmond site face job cuts. Another 140 workers from TTM’s other locations will also face layoffs.

Seagate said the job cuts announced Wednesday were included in the 10% US layoff figure. The company says about 2950 workers will be laid off in total.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/inaugurating-history-and-a-pre.html#comment-190183

I wasn't thinking about selling on line so much as letting people know that products such as this are out there and where they can be seen or how they support guilds such as yours. I notice they are a 501 C3 and can take donations.

OK, Craig, I know you've sworn of Bush, but I just . . can't . . . help . . . myself.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/16/new-york-waxing-spa-inaug_n_158589.html

I hope they are braced for a booming business over the next few days.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/inaugurating-history-and-a-pre.html#comment-190132

It's a pity they didn't score some of the TARP cash, pull off a merger and rename themselves Circuit Citigroup.

MeadWestvaco to eliminate 2000 jobs
Press & Sun-Bulletin, NY - 13 hours ago

Pfizer plans to cut up 2400 sales staff-WSJ
Reuters - 41 minutes ago

Motorola announced it will eliminate 4,000 positions,

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/inaugurating-history-and-a-pre.html#comment-190030

Hey Patsi
Great find and glad you posted the comment.Its pretty powerful and accurate,i also agree with Renee its important to vote and its even more important who you vote for!

Pogo -
Add to that op-ed -
The Indy Mac story, and the Interior Dept.

Like I said yesterday, take up bank robbery, and tell the FBI that we need "Move on", and "focus on the future" when they bust you.
If the Bushites are above the law, well so is the Mexican Mafia.

Jamie....
I don't really know what you're talking about.... but I'm sure there's something there where you could email your idea.....

right now I'm just glad it's Friday.... I've worked too many hours this week and I just want to relax....

Well, I leave all on a high note -

GRAND MEADOW -- Xcel Energy's 67-turbine Grand Meadow Wind Farm is now adding to the company's growing total of kilowatts produced by wind.

And there are no plans of stopping.

The Grand Meadow Wind Farm marks the first farm that Xcel Energy owns in Minnesota. Xcel purchases the power from nearly three dozen other farms across the state. Five of those farms are located in Southeastern Minnesota, including Prairie Star (07) and (08), Mower County Wind Energy Center and McNeilus.

http://news.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=7&a=380231

From ComCast.net news

Israel to vote on Egyptian proposal for Gaza truce
news-general-20090116-ML.Israel.Palestinians

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Israel's Security Cabinet will vote Saturday night on an Egyptian proposal for a truce to end the 3-week-old offensive against Gaza's Hamas rulers, a senior government official said.

The official said a vote to approve the truce would amount to a "unilateral" cease-fire, though Israeli forces would only leave Gaza after an official declaration that the fighting was over. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to release the information.

"I hope we are entering the endgame and that our goal of sustained and durable quiet in the south is about to be attained," Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said earlier Friday.

The truce would begin a phased process in which Israel stops the assault and gauges the reaction from Hamas militants. Israel would resume the offensive if the militants continue to fire rockets, the government official said.

Under the deal, Egypt would shut down weapons smuggling routes with international help, and discussions on the opening of Gaza's blockaded border crossings would take place at a later date

RR -
Jamie's an ole' hand at PR, she's just got those PR wheels running for the whole co-op.
You're right though, art is a lousy item to sell on the web. LED light bulbs, that's whole other ball game.

A friend of mine from work texted me earlier. All of the people who worked on 1st shift in my old department got placed on 2nd shift. I'm sure they aren't too happy about that. About NAFTA: 3-4 years ago when people were getting laid off at work because of the jobs our company sent to Mexico, they were told they could apply for NAFTA benefits. If they were laid off for a certain period of time, they could get these NAFTA benefits. Most people I knew got laid off and then got called back to work before they qualified for the NAFTA benefits. As a result, they either had to go back to work at our company or quit. If they quit, they no longer qualified for NAFTA benefits. They had to pay for school themselves. Renee, that "Buy American" about cars was a joke. My plant has always made parts for foreign cars. My car is a Chevy, but it was assembled in Mexico.

From Comcast.net news----If we control that part of the world ----this could have been done sooner?,,,the world wonders about such things?

US, Israel sign deal to boost Gaza truce effort
news-politics-20090116-US.Mideast

Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, left, talks as Secretary of State Cond...

WASHINGTON — On its final working day, the Bush administration signed a last-minute deal with Israel aimed at cutting off the supply of smuggled weapons to Hamas and boosting Egyptian efforts to broker a cease-fire to end fighting in Gaza.

Shortly after the Friday's signing, a senior government official in Israel said the country's Security Cabinet would vote Saturday night on an Egyptian proposal for a truce to end the 3-week-old offensive against Gaza's Hamas rulers.

The "memorandum of understanding" signed in Washington by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni calls for expanded intelligence cooperation between the United States and Israel, as well as other U.S. allies in the Middle East and Europe to prevent Hamas from rearming should Isra

Well, I'm moving along - gotta see a man about a horse (or something like that). It may be colder'n a welldigger's ass in Caribou, but I gotta brave it anywho.

CBob...
I know Jamie is good at PR.... I'm sure her idea is a good one.... and I appreciate her caring about my guild.... but she's talking to the wrong person..... everything has it's own language.... I wouldn't start throwing terms around like EPI or dummy warps and expect anyone except another weaver to understand what I was talking about....

Jamie.... don't you hate it when people talk about you as if you're not here.... :0)

Corey..... ooops.... I usually know when you're joking....

Renee, is there really a college course called "Underwater Basket Weaving"?

Corey...

yes.... and I teach it..... quack.... quack.....

Just checking. LOL! That was old joke from school. Well, I'm gonna go to Circuit City. Later everyone!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/inaugurating-history-and-a-pre.html#comment-190208

I wasn't here until now so I didn't care at all. :-)

Usually with art of any kind about the best you can do on the web is "get acquainted' things and then hope when someone is in the market for something special that they remember where they saw it.

I've got scads of works of art, crafts, and specialty items bookmarked should I ever actually be able to shop again.

Corey

It really does exist

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

Jamie....
LOL!.... leave it to you to find it!....

I'm gonna relax now with some supper and my own margarita straight from Jose Cuervo..... everyone have a great night....

I wonder how many owe the Dixie Chicks an apology? They were one of the first to speak truth about power and suffer the consequences.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dblAC5uLb8

A moment of thanks.

is there underwater jet engine repair?

learned a new word today......Snarge........it's the bird ick left on a plane after a plane/bird collision

You may have already seen this................

Sorry - hit the wrong spot................

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XGJq8wrw5I

Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, or HR 4040

^Dumbest thing I've read about in a while. Every member of Congress should be ashamed of themselves. Of course, Obama didn't vote, but no Democratic senator voted nay.

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=s2008-41

Banned cell phones, bankrupted businesses, and authorization for illegitimate wars. Way to go, Congress!

Bethy, I could use a couple of CPAs and I do have a truck. Where do I pick them up? LOL

Craig'

I made a post to Chloe,,,and it was intercepted,,,,for approval?,,Just a U tube's on it with a note,,,,can it be posted now?,,,

Doesn't Congress have some sort of office that these bills can go through to tell them what these things actually do?

It's such a nice sounding title and screws over so many people that the guys and gals who voted Aye probably didn't want to give the shaft.

Solar

If it had more than two links on it, it is automatically sent to a bin for CRaig to release when he happens to take a look.

You might want to rewrite but limit any links.

Thank you

It did have 3 links on it.------Craig never mind --Thanks

UK Jewish Member of Parliament Likens Israel to Nazis
http://aangirfan.blogspot.com/2009/01/uk-jewish-member-of-parliament-likens.html

Chloe

Hope everything is fine,,,you feel better? ---Chlo,,,,some people memorize poems,,,the words,,,(but never feel them inside where it counts),,,,,great literature,,,stand in front of the mirror and recite them,to themselves, just to make themselves feel important,, this only works for a little while,,,,than the truth shows up,,and they are just empty words.

Listen, this guy has ( poetry) it in his heart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cBilCBU64o&feature=related#

This guy---no words----76 years old,,and nearly blind,,,poetry from his heart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmCYirclZR8&feature=related#

Chloe----from other post-cont.

I love to listen to smooth jazz cos ---hardly any words---music alone,,,,I can read what I want out of it,,,,,if the top 2 did not do it-(U- smile)--here,,,this one has to,,some words in it...,,,but the name of the song is what Im asking ___Oye Como Va---Hey How Ya Doing??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpPb2cVswlI&feature=related#

I happened to just hear that on Fox News. Just thought it might be interesting for some.

" wonder how many owe the Dixie Chicks an apology? They were one of the first to speak truth about power and suffer the consequences."

No kidding, Carol. And the vitriol against them was terrible. Clear Channel Radio banned their songs -- the chain deniedit, but that was essentially what trhey did, as did Cumulous Radio.

Radio stations had listeners bring CDs to their parking lots and they bulldozed them.

The girls got death threats against them and their families. They went through some bad sh&t.

Ct - I thought I was posting something different, so had to check this one out. This is terrific, isn't it?

I found a log building set made by Roy Toy in Maine. I wonder if it will be ruined by the new law. The set has
'naturally dyed log pieces.'

It looks wonderful and I am going to give it to our three year old Sunday on his birthday. I would hate to lose this line of products to choose from. They have the obvious web site, but just googling roy toy gives a lot of other sites.

So, I wondering, is this new law just about painted objects?

And I'm also wondering, isn't there a group of toy manufacturers fighting this thing, trying to at least get a delay in implementation? This is something we should be writing to our reps about, because we're talking about a huge chunk of jobs and businesses. This is no time to making it harder to keep a business going.

Also, Sea, the subject of your mission is one that is very hard for me to deal with so I wish you all the very best. I thank your father and his fellows with all my heart, and am sick to think of the extra evil done to the poor ones who had to break down the walls to these camps. What devastating memories to have in one's mind. I suggest again, Night in Fog to anyone who has not got a clear picture of what went down, and who can stand it.

My suggestion for you to find support is Jim Webb. The man is one of the most forceful I've ever seen when he gets going.

The professional gay speaks.

No reason to have sniped at Carol, pal.

Signing off.

I didn't notice any snipe but then I do work in a prison and even though it is usually peaceful, I have had some moments. Try telling an inmate used to taking 20 Lortabs, 10 Xanax, and 15 Soma a day that all they can get is Motrin. I am as good as Bush is at ducking shoes.

Speaking of throwing shoes, the guy who took aim at Bush had a birthday party

http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-world/20090116/ML.Iraq.Shoe.Thrower/

OSH

I haven't said anything about your mission to have the 94 th Infantry Division listed as a liberating unit, because I don't have the slightest clue on how to help,,,,but what I can say is that, as a Military person,,, I am very proud of your Father and all, that was with him,,,I will remember to talk about this with other service men and see what they say,,,good luck.

I agree the word marriage has religious connotations, but maybe that's why I hate to see it reserved for hetero-sexuals. I don't want to see laws written on the basis of religion, period. Any law created out of religion should not be a law.

And further, I have to wonder about such stingy little minds that want to deny to others the feeling of joy or committment that apparently comes from being 'married' - to deny that just because of sexual orientation. It's sting and mean, especially since it causes no harm or damge to heterosexuals.

Marriage also has social connotations, and denying it to others is selfish at the very least. Actually the social connotations are probably stronger than the religious ones.

CBob,
Love that Dead Malls link. I have spent considerable time in the past looking at it and "visiting" malls I once new. I have been in a lot of dead and dying malls and they are downright creepy.

We have one in Cedar Rapids that would be nearly dead had it not been for last Summer's flooding. All the city, county, and federal offices moved out to the mall because their buildings downtown were flooded out.

Craig,
I'm flying out tomorrow for the inauguration and taking Spike with me. Can't wait to get there and see the spectacle. I was hoping for warmer weather but we will take what we can get. Of course anything will be warmer than it is here. I had -23 last night and that is not windchill. Yikes!

Jamie ----I wanted to post this the other day,,,but got a little busy----I used to golf 3-4 time a week when I was in advertising,,,,but not like this

http://img132.imageshack.us/my.php?image=b740teetimeposterspx6.jpg

That's me and Tony

Bethy,

Re you comments on gay marriage. You are not exactly the mainstream. You are one of those that I consider at a higher level of evolution.

solar - I suggest a high Iron on that shot

Well in just a few days the "Words just Words" will be over and the Junior President will now not be allowed to vote Present !

And we get to see what we got !!

Here is a great site to dig into the Stimulus -- So far looks like a lot of PORK
http://readthestimulus.org/

Solar,

No I won't be making up a foursome. :-)

Have you guys noticed that in many pictures of Obama, not the photos but the graphic one, he is looking up to the sky. What do you think he is looking for?

He certainly has been marketed well.

New Poll.
What does he say next week.....??

"This is a New Day"
The time for Change has come
Together we will......

....
Ask not what you can do for your Country, Ask what you want your government to give to you......

Maybe Obama is looking for Solar's golf ball.

and Ping you can add, Do as we say not as we do.ie pay your taxes.

I would think Ping would be very embarrassed to raise his head after his REPUBLICAN president screwed up this country for 8 years. I think Pong is suffering some mental breakdown.

Love Feta but what is a Buffalo slider? Don't think we have those down here.

Buffalo meat- like little burgers - cooked med rare as it is low fat - with some nice fresh greens, sweet grilled onions, fresh roll lightly grilled with feta cheese...... Oh my...... very low fat overall .... and tasty

Sounds good. One of the Docs I worked for raised buffalo and did give me some ground meat. It was very low in fat. I used it in a chili. Would have been hard to use for burgers.

Krugman and the NYTimes - They are still operating at Junk bond status - about equal to the factual Journalistic value you get from them...
Krugman style is not unique in that it builds the spin on itself to create an apperance of validation.

Do the Dems give bail out to NYTimes? They will need something soon to pay the bills

Krugman for Economics - OK.... but he has policy and practice mixed up. He is so out of line......and out of his economic world

In the TMxers archive you will find a discussion of Clinton doing like and if I recall Craig stating that is just how it works.....

The liberal left media just is on the line crowng away. The wiretap thing.... come on... Barack is keeping it and it was veted and no issue.

Krugman is a grandstander.....

And Nobel - not sure it is the same as it was years ago

Oh Carol -
" don't let them "steel" your heart away, I'm gonna learn to dance if it takes me all night, and all day"

I came back on girl, and you turned up a nugget. You have know idea what seeing Natalie Mains means these days, and that song. I came around here , and Crawford is rippin' scabs, and venting bile. The ghost of Buddy Holly is a foot. Let's peel all the scabs.

Here's yer "Atta Girl"

Feb. 3 1959 -
( Insert that jack ass, one hit wonder Don McClean here )
In 18 days it's 50 years since since the Big Bopper followed Buddy's ass into that Iowa corn field.

Natalie Mains carries Buddy's torch boys and girls. All the axe men that ever were thrown in Texas never cut Natalie's sand. She's from Lubbock, Texas from an old music family here. Uncles and aunts that play pedal steel, and sing like birds.
Natalie has all the guts that pilot had yesterday over the Hudson, never doubt that.

I wonder if she's ready to make nice ?

--------------------------------
Anyone ever seen that Simpson's where Lisa spends $1,200 dollars at the I-Tunes store ?

and when I say I think Obama was marketed well I mean from the speech at the 2004 convention, his books, his early speeches to the young people introducing the concept of change ,to those pics of him looking to the heavens. I will have to give it to whoever was in charge of all that.

I just hope the marketed Obama and the real one do turn out to be one in the same.

Solar, with all the Bush bashing by the media, I wish someone in the media would mention that Natalie was the only one who had the guts to do it when it wasn't so popular. I doubt it.

When I saw what they did to the 'Chicks I couldn't run fash enough to the music store to buy their album.

......................................... ignore The Constitution and the rule of law. Things to ponder certainly.

Lee Marvin landed on the beach at Tarawa to defend the Constitution.
My father still has nightmares from his turn defending the Constitution.

We don't pledge to the President, we swear to the tap root of our legal system. Either it means something, or that slippery slope we all try to snow plow on, is greased with Teflon.

I saw the movie that was the documentary of that whole ugly scene. It is called "Shut Up And Sing." If you can finding it in the local video store or maybe on the cable channels you should make time to it. Natalie is one tough babe.

Carol

Hi ya---I feel the same---What brave kids,,,,they are in what I call the 20% club---best of the best,,,,as far as the media,,,,,all media thru out history also has only 20 % worth reading,,,they all sell a product,,themselves ,,,,,They are all mostly Ted Baxters withou the exaggerations,,,thanks for the shout out

Right on C-Bob.

Carol

I think that you are joining some pretty tough chicks here too,,and I think that you are on the same level---

yo dooty, I think we can all read around typos. No need to be too clear.

I see Ping Pong is still defending his War Criminal President Bush\Cheney.

I suppose your very proud of supporting someone who instituted and authorized Torture.

Yes, you must be one of the 30 or so % who think Bush\Cheney was a good President.

Carol

I owe you a joke---here

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

My wife asked,'Do you know her?'

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

Solar I am a very blue girl living in a very red, and even redneck area not that I don't appreciate some of those rednecks. I have had to learn to be tough. I have been a team of one against the very many. That is one of the reasons I appreciate this blog. It is my only salvation.

Madonna - Ray of Light

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5rsChIbw1I

Cute Solar

A Rabbi, A Shaman, and a Comedienne went to Du Pont Circle.

Something a little different to do for the Inaugural

http://outtakeonline.com/2008/12/kate-clinton-to-sage-white-house.html

CBob

Have you been following the Sunday Series in the Desmoines REgister for the 50th anniversary?

http://data.desmoinesregister.com/holly/index.php

Dr. Dooty -
My friend Larry was moving some his enormous pile of stuff, and he came across a poster I printed for Joe Ely 23 years ago. I'm going to shoot a picture of it for you. "Joe Ely's Tour of Texas", some of the gigs on it are the Round Rock Lumber Yard, Stubbs in Austin, etc.
Black paper 2-color hand silk screened. Ely did the art work with chalk on black paper, and pasted pieces of photo copied paper. The press run was 250 pulls.
It deserves a place floating on the tubes.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/inaugurating-history-and-a-pre.html#comment-190266

HA HA,looks like were having a good time,I'm happy with no windows to do..............

Zoey -
The dead malls are where we set - up the new soup kitchens.

Rez, I work at a parish jail that also houses federal and state inmates. We have mininal, moderate and high profile inmates.

Most of the inmates I see don't need any security even though my secretary doubles as security. If an inmate is high security, he comes in with cuffs and a security guard.

I was kidding about the shoes but I have been yelled/cursed at and have seen some looks like they could kill. Only once did I feel a brief moment of fear. I usually feel safer there than out of the streets.

Most inmates respect the medical department because we also show them respect when they let us.

Jamie -

No , I missed that one .............. I'm 3 miles from the grave, my mom is in the same city cemetery. The Buddy Holly Center is having 2 days of events. The Brits are starting to write about it too. Saw an article about it today. Lot's of Brits come to Lubbock. He was much bigger there, believe it or not.

CBob,
Soup kitchens in dead malls are a great idea. Hmmm might have to talk to some people about that.

Tony

Hey -- glad you r here ---can I get you a drink--tonight a shot and a bud --special,,,with a little Patsy Cline on the juke box ,,,,I fall to pieces when I hear these names -- haha---no laughing matter.

I remember that I felt angry after the savings and loan rip off during Bush 41, under Bush 43 I feel drained, and disappointed,,,mainly at the press (msnbc mostly) for selling us Bush,the congress for not having a back bone,,

,and Gore for not fighting the Supreme s,,and pissed at a genuine war hero Kerry for not being as tough as his wife----swift boated my ass,,,,he let them do it ---he has been around long enough to know that he had to fight back,,,,,,,It is going to take a lot to get us all feeling good again,,,,,,after wanting H illary Clinton in there,,,,this guy (Obama) better do something for the country

I would like to have as many committee's as needed to find out the truth about everything,,,,,I felt a hell of a lot better when the Contra hearing's were held,,Bush 43 was an excellent sales man,,Cheney was the perfect I don't give a shit about what anybody says president ,,,and the puppeteers ---Ma Bush,,Baker, their Arab buddy that visited the ranch ( crawford) etc,,etc,,,,been robbed with out eyes wide open,,,,and it hurts,,,,,my head

Ct -
That Dixie Chicks song has had 5,259,310 hits in 3 years.

Rez, With the economy the way it is I hope we don't ask for any of them. You never know though.

We have a significant number of older cubans that were thrown out of Cuba back when they did their criminal dumb. They came from prisons up in New York. They made their way down here after being released to half way houses in the area. I guess those half way houses were trying to make a buck.

They stayed in the community and sooner or later many end up killing a spouse of girlfriend and end up in our jail. They are a tough group.

C-Bob, I hope Natalie knows we respect and appreciate her

Texas girls and Letterman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDqF6gobvck

live version of one of the most beautifullest melodies ever scribbled :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seB5JZ_4yAk

Dubya impaled by Craig’s right index finger, it don’t get no better than that!

CNN – Lou Dobbs reports that US Airways flight 1549 was disabled in flight when a flock of previous undocumented migratory Mexican Geese infiltrated the air intake of the aircraft’s two jet engines. Mr. Dobbs concedes that the birds could have been disoriented by the earth’s troubling global cooling crisis, but suspects that there may be more sinister reasons.

Lou Dobbs commented, “In point-of-fact, what in the world is going on here? We have the FAA joining forces with the Chamber of Commerce, Bill Gates and George Soros to sacrifice the safety of the Nation’s Coach-Class flying public and instead are pushing their pro-amnesty, ethno-centric agenda.” Dobbs added, “Ramos and Compean are now behind bars and cannot protect our borders against this latest threat. Where is the outrage?”

Mr. Dobbs is the only broadcaster with the courage and the independence to deliver the hard truth that others are too timid to report.

ROFL, MM!!!!!!

"yo dooty, I think we can all read around typos. No need to be too clear. "

Carol,
thanks just the perfectionist in I guess. Makes me mad to think that my typo will live forever on the tubes known as the internet. :)

"Never in the annals of the nation have so many porta-potties gathered for so much common good. Or rather, common need."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/16/AR2009011604740.html?hpid=artslot

bit of history from above cited wapo article:
"According to Eva Malecki of the Architect of the Capitol's office, there were no portable wooden jakes set up for inaugurations of old, although spectators did have access to a nearby privy.

The lack of genteel facilities might be one reason the crowds for inaugurations and public speeches appear so overwhelmingly male in the daguerreotypes, according to James Cornelius, curator at the Abraham Lincoln Library in Springfield, Ill. Women were restricted to the generosity of nearby taverns and coffeehouses, while men had more universal options.

"With all the horses everywhere, it probably didn't make much of a difference," Cornelius said."

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/inaugurating-history-and-a-pre.html#comment-190311

Colorado B,

I look forward to seeing that. I bet he loved the poster.

Jamie,

in that Buddy Holly link you sent, it mentions a musician named Tommy Alsup. Tommy still lives around here today. He also played with Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys in their later days. Losing that coin toss to Richie Valens won him a long time on the planet earth.

"Why not 333.3k, or half a million?"

flatus, weird. your comment is listed as the 333rd for this thread. might be a good day to buy a lotto ticket.

OMG -- this is hysterical:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-kelly/why-do-homosexuals-want-t_b_158619.html

Interesting, indeed!

When we were in Panama their was a twice weekly lottery held at noon. I don't recall the days of the week, But I do know that all activity stopped as people were glued to their TVs or Radio.

There were books on choosing the lottery. Fortune tellers who specialized on dreams as they pertained to number selection. Number sellers that always stood at the same street corner holding specific numbers for their regulars (there was a limited number of each ticket printed).

Stinky had a Panamanian friend who dreamed of winning and winging her way to a new life in NYC,

Today's NYT--an uplifting article about those who contributed to the Miracle on the Hudson.

"Old Hands on the River Didn't Have to Be Told What to Do"

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/17/nyregion/17about.html?ref=nyregion

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/inaugurating-history-and-a-pre.html#comment-190318

Solar
Great comment! I'm can remember Tweety saying how loved GWB was because the Mission was Accomplished in Iraq and how every one loves a winner,It was around this same time I remember Tweety proudly saying during "Hardball" that he voted for Bush.MSNBC wasn't the only culprit though,I also remember CNN on the war selling bandwagon, one of there story captions during the build up to the war was "WAR GAMES"and I remember thinking whats the rush and war is a game??Oh yes, loved Gore and voted for Kerry although I didn't like him one bit.I agree on Bush, one of my clients Steve said to me yesterday "I'm so angry with him but what I'm really angry about is that are country would go for his BS a second time around"!! The comment Patsi posted from that Salon link yesterday pretty much sums up my feelings.I of course am still disenchanted with the current Democratic Party and want the old one back.It will be coming up on a year I think in Feb or March since I watched MSNBC and I haven't missed it at all!! Hope the shoulder and bicep are coming along well.......

It was only 6 degrees in CT this a.m. when I went out for the papers & to feed the birds--I retreated into the house as quickly as I could---& read this about the
Dutch who were so pleased to have a deep freeze that allowed them to skate on their canals recently.

"A Rare Deep Freeze Warms the Ducth Soul"

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/16/world/europe/16skaters.html?scp=1&sq=netherlands%20frozen%20skating&st=cse

Coreen, 14-deg down here in Columbia. Your tidbit about the canals reminded me of Koreans skating on rice paddies back in the 1960s. They often used home made skates made of whatever they were able cobble together. (Hence the word 'cobbler'.)

Seems as if frozen water has a fascination for people around the world.

Watching the gathering in Philadelphia on c-span. I like the Dvorak playing in the background--seems very apropos.

patsi, except for the brown eyes and the better rug on the venomous shrew, there's a striking resemblence.

http://www.gregorydlee.com/

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/01/090112-shrew-venom-video.html

Flatus--

Thanks for the SC report--have a friend in Myrtle Beach who spends lots of time golfing---& is not happy about these cold temps.

And better that others are fascinated with "frozen water" events--for me the only good ice is in a glass.

HA! Patd's 10:09 post -- yes indeed -- those two might have been joined at birth. Bet the shrew is smarter, too.

Patsi,

here is an article that was written by a woman who had attended the same New Years Eve party I attended this year and posted about. Also, today is the first day of the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. Actually, this is day 2 of a month run. Rodeo Kate is a goat herder and raises show goats and is competing this year (again). The Texas Trailhands will gather this evening for the annual Serenade para los chivos. (singing to the kid goats) This should be a great deal of fun. A concert right there in the pens with the goats.

here is the article,

http://www.ntxe-news.com/artman/publish/article_51338.shtml

Faltus, were you talking about the attendance for the parade? They did sell a limited number of tickets for bleacher seating for that...everyone else stands like me. The parade tickets sold out in under a minute last Friday. Otherwise, I have heard inaugural crowds estimated at 4 million and have not heard they were going to limit them to a certain number. The balls all have limits, though.

Yes, Zoey, for the parade. The way I heard it, people are to be funneled through access points with an automated tally be maintained someplace or other. When the grand total reaches 300k, then the gates close.

"Natalie has more balls than any half dozen penises I know put together."

Mixed metaphor alert!!

Goodness Everyone was up early. I have some reading to do to catch up. Are we going to do a group sing a long of "Happy Birthday" for Michelle Obama?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/inaugurating-history-and-a-pre.html#comment-190311

CBob

It deserves a place mounted and framed on your wall.

Zoey, here's another article on the parade limitation:
http://www.newsvirginian.com/wnv/news/local/article/d.c._traffic_nightmare_isnt_spooking_locals/34125/

Flatus, thanks I hadn't heard about the parade limitation. I guess I will have to put a little more speed in my step after the swearing in ceremony.

http://sarah-palin-2012.blogspot.com/2009/01/tribute-to-george-w-bush.html

Looks like one of those 22 percenters to me::

George W Bush asked ALL the American People, To Support the New President coming in. George W Bush the most maligned President in recent history? Will have to wait and see. I have read a great deal from an "Ungrateful Nation" George W Bush- Keeping You Safe since 9/11/01 Whether You Like it or Not.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/inaugurating-history-and-a-pre.html#comment-190332

Bethy, The US version of Christianity hasn't come to terms with people who just happen to disagree with them about whom to love.

In Europe and Britain they have worked it out just fine.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/inaugurating-history-and-a-pre.html#comment-190349

Patsi, That one really did make me lol almost as much as I want to cry when confronted with some idiot with those beliefs. You can't decide whether they are deluded, visciously mean, or unbelievably crazy. You just know they are an infection the human race could do without.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/inaugurating-history-and-a-pre.html#comment-190355

Flatus,

Let us hope this really is a New World.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/inaugurating-history-and-a-pre.html#comment-190359

Hate to do the thinking for Congress, but how about a certificate of compliance from paint producers that could be included in supplies used by the toy makers.

Serves three purposes. Keeps American manufacturers of paints in business and keeps the crafts people who use their products in business, and finally requires fewers place and products to inspect.

Everybody on board the love train today?

Craig-Do you get to hang out at the MSNBC stand on Tuesday?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/inaugurating-history-and-a-pre.html#comment-190374

blue, right now i'm planning to live blog right here with you guys on tuesday

NEW THREAD at Noon today

Had a thought while watching Sen Feinstein talk about the inauguration preparations--wouldn't it be fun having a Scrabble match with her with a good bottle of brandy on the side and a fire in the fireplace.

During the next few hours I'll try to decide on a couple more public figures who would add to good conversation. (Any suggestions?)

Mad

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/inaugurating-history-and-a-pre.html#comment-190339

I think that Lou missed the part of the story that all the engine trouble started with the right wing.

NEW THREAD

Great article, Dooty -- and I LOVE this line from the song:

"I’ve got the knuckle-bleedin’, calf-feedin’,
cold as a witch, son of a Carhartt Brown
I’ve got the Browns, the Carhartt Browns"