Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

3 cheers for Tomas Gordon!

champ, you mischievous devil you

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/obamas-awkward-pelosi-moment.html#comment-204019

I didn't know the comedy shows used Mr. Rogers. I never should have posted that video here after the speech. :-p

Craig,

You should have given Keith and on air tweeting lesson. It would have been a cute bit.

"Now put your cursor here and tell everybody what you are doing now ... no you only get about 25 words so there won't be room for a special comment".

ha, Jamie, he's coming along slowly, but surely

Craig, thanks for your reminiscences about Happy Chandler and acquainting some of us with him for the first time. He sure had a fine voice. With the baseball history connection, I'd love to hear you and Keith do a tribute to Happy if the appropriate occasion presents itself.

Thanks, Ivy

Now if Bobby Jindal had sung Twist and Shout and done a little clogging ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sYOkGIOw-c

Purple sweet potato pie for Champ, Don1 ........... It took the "deep analysis" of a blog to sum up Twitter.

Sturg -
Best Sermon I ever heard.

Here's the YouTube link for anyone who might like to see the full length version of Happy Chandler singing (as clipped in today's Video Trail Mix): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqGuVQsl-7U

Chandler, a Kentucky governor and the Baseball Commissioner who integrated the sport, was 90 years old in this video and died three years later. More on Chandler at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Chandler

I missed the speeches last night, but the volcano remark by Gov. Bobby may be worst remark he made. I mean the Mount Redoubt volcano came back to life just a few weeks ago, and it could well ..... It could bury Wasilla , Alaska in several feet of ash.

Oh , that's why Gov. Bobby is against volcano monitoring .....

Love the title of today's video.

tt

Alaskans Upset Over Louisiana Governor Jindal's Volcano
By Corey Allen-Young, CBS 11 News Reporter
Updated: 02/25/2009 05:50:03 PM AKST

Many Alaskans aren't happy about the comments made last night, by Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal over volcano monitoring as an example of wasteful spending. But with Alaska being the home of thirty-one active and potentially dangerous volcanoes, many feel the governor's words were not valid. Governor Jindal gave the republican response to President Obama's speech last night with the intentions of uniting Americans, but with his choice of calling out spending dollars on volcano frivolous, it's Alaskans who are upset.

http://www.ktva.com/ci_11784797

" Volcano monitoring likely saved many lives — and significant money — in the case of the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines (where the United States had military bases at the time), according to the USGS.

The cataclysmic eruption lasted more than 10 hours and sent a cloud of ash as high as 22 miles into the air that grew to more than 300 miles across.

The USGS spent less than $1.5 million monitoring the volcano and was able to warn of the impending eruption, which allowed authorities to evacuate residents, as well as aircraft and other equipment from U.S. bases there.

The USGS estimates that the efforts saved thousands of lives and prevented property losses of at least $250 million (considered a conservative figure). "

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,500267,00.html

I see you bookmarked the video I discovered last year, good deal.
I told Craig last year how I sat at Rupp Arena in 1977, at the Mideast Basketball NCAA Regional Tournament, in the same row as Adolf Rupp, who was suffering from cancer and who died shortly after that, and Happy Chandler, who was waving at the people, working the crowd, signing autographs and smiling.
My seat was actually on top of the seating area, but KY had been sent east to play and the place was 3/4 empty, so I moved...what a thrill to see Mr. Rupp, and especially Happy Chandler.
I have never seen a more charismatic human being in my life...talk about lighting up a room...Gov. Chandler lit up the entire arena!
For you non-sports junkies, Adolf Rupp was the legendary men's basketball coach at UK Lexington...no shortage of words about him on the web.

Thanks Solar.

Sydney - Firefighters were gearing up as soaring temperatures and strong winds predicted for Friday increased the bushfire threat for communities in the Australian state of Victorian.

Ten major bushfires were still burning across the southern state.

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/asiapacific/news/article_1461600.php/Australian_state_braces_for_scorcher_amid_bushfire_threat_

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/and-a-governor-shall-lead-them.html#comment-204054

great story, Dexter (Night Watchman), and yes of course i remember you finding that Chandler video last year. thanks again. btw, my Mom was in a basketball coaching class taught by Rupp while she was a UK student -- and took extensive notes. Wonder what that's worth.

Craig- don't know if you are still there but if so do you have any suggestions for helping along the 94th Infantry Division to receive liberating status? I've been thinking of contacting CBS Sunday Morning News, seems like the kind of thing they cover.

Yet another fish head story -

FIRST PHOTOS: Weird Fish With Transparent Head

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/02/photogalleries/fish-transparent-head-barreleye-picture/index.html

Sorry Craig, shouldn't presume that you had read any posts about all that, so here some are-
http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/bushs-secret-world.html#comment-189811

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/bushs-secret-world.html#comment-189867

It's remarkable what some people don't think is worth spending money on, isn't it?

Cbob - I trust you were joking when you said people don't need art.

It seems to me the repubs are being tenuous in their criticisms of Obama - as if they might end up looking like fools. They don't seem sure about what he's really going to do - probably because he's thinking thru everything as he goes. Damn it's not fair if he's not predictable!

Cbob-I know a fisherman who has been finding seahorses in his nets way up here.

Boo -
It's more like this :
In this environment, art is the easiest thing to cut in a budget, any budget .

Old Sea -
The manatees are right behind them.

Stores looted, cars burned on island of Martinique

FORT-DE-FRANCE, Martinique -- French police officers patrolled Martinique's capital late Wednesday after vandals burned cars and looted stores overnight as protests over high prices, low pay and alleged neglect by officials in Paris spread to a second Caribbean island.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1102ap_cb_french_caribbean_unrest.html

Cbob - I understand that, just didn't know whether you approved or not. I'm surprised at some people who don't think art is a front line necessity. I can't think of many things which have more lasting value!

Good thing FDR didn't have any trouble getting the point. Let's see, start with Steinbeck.......

Jindal vs. the Volcanoes

The USGS will use only a portion of the stimulus-provided $140 million on the volcano projects; the rest will be spent on such things as efforts to better map topography in flood-prone regions.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/25/AR2009022503811.html

-----------------
Well the party of Nope, has burned through a woman, a black guy, and a brown guy.

Back to white guys with large round heads ........ Hello Mitt !

From the white guys with large round heads file -

Limbaugh To Convene A ‘Female Summit’ To Figure Out Why Women Hate Him

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/02/25/limbaugh-women/

LIMBAUGH: [T]he people on our side are really making a mistake if they go after Bobby Jindal on the basis of style. Because if you think — people on our side I’m talking to you — those of you who think Jindal was horrible, you think — in fact, I don’t ever want to hear from you ever again. … I’ve spoken to him numerous times, he’s brilliant. He’s the real deal.

I have no idea what the money value is of your mom's notes from Coach Rupp's class, Craig, but I bet there are a few hundred NCAA basketball coaches who would love to get their hands on those notes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The weather broke, it reached 49F here Thursday, and I finally was able to take at least a short bicycle ride ---I went to the local medical center to pay a bill, and I ventured onto the scales in the hallway...I have lost 40 pounds exactly since last June. So how, you may ask? I quit ice cream and candy bars, for one thing, and switched to bran flakes and skim milk for breakfast instead of bacon and eggs and buttered toast with jam...that sort of thing...and it's working, so far...hey, as long as they don't take my coffee and tea away, I can do damn-near anything!

On C-SPAN’s Washington Journal this morning, Sanford received a call from a Charleston resident who said he lost his job because he has been taking care of mother and sister, both of whom have serious illnesses. The caller told Sanford he is “wrong” to decline the money. “A lot of people in South Carolina are hurting. And if this money can come and help us out we need it.” In response, Sanford could offer him only his prayers:

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/02/23/sanford-prayers/

Dexter -

40 pounds

Here's yer "Atta Boy"

80 here yesterday, 84 today.

Yes a Governor will lead and is greatly needed...

And ASAP! America needs experience and not a naïve neophyte with rose color glasses that has been selected because he is not George Bush.

This will restore the lost confidence that continues today.

Can we make it 3.9 years and survive this dangerous situation?

Yes the core of the Economy is weakened but will not break.

Early bird gets the worm so off already to stay ahead of this crisis!! No help from Washington… I know –give time for the stimulus…..

But if Confidence was provided –that would deliver instant results!!!!!!!!!!!!! And that is what is needed most at these times Sad….

I know that the vast majority of you cannot see this angle – and I wonder why? Part is because Barack is still getting a “Pass” from the majority of the media, Part is still celebration that GWB is gone so anything must be better.. eh ?

You know I have friends in banking executives and they are very good people – not like the minority that acted improper – To bad that Barack has to bring all of a class of people down…

Off to my Free Market, Capitalistic – not taking Stimulus dollars, world…. But looking for that Stimulus of Hope

Parting comment.

Hillary is still the better choice of the two

scuse, me but the sky is falling.
heads up y'all

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iMpileZuJMgzhXRU8uAWSpdM3F8gD96IQCPG1

from NS Gill's Ancient history newsletter:

Definition: Sanskrit, Latin, and ancient Greek form a trio of classical literary languages. Sanskrit is the ancient language of India and the Indian subcontinent. Its literature, the Vedas, was written in Vedic Sanskrit, as in the Rig Veda, from about 1500 B.C. Chronologically next came Classical Sanskrit (c. 4th century B.C.).

Sanskrit was one of the most important keys to the Indoeuropean language puzzle. When philologists in India, well-versed in classical Greek and Latin, as well as modern language like German, started seeing similarities across the languages, they were able to develop methods of study, including the Comparative Method, and theories of language development from a proto-language. Sanskrit is classified as a Satem ('100') language, as opposed to the Centum ('100') languages, like Latin. It is part of the Indo-Aryan sub-branch of the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indoeuropean language family.

Sanskrit is still one of India's official languages, although its use in the vernacular is limited. Early Sanskrit was written using Brahmi or Kharosthi scripts. It is now usually written with the Devanāgarī alphabet.

Van Morrison coming up on Imus......

http://buzz.yahoo.com/buzzlog/92308/?fp=1

World Record Manta Ray......

who says you cant teach an old cow new tricks?

http://todaypictures.blogspot.com/2006/07/dolphin-and-cow.html

I like that photo, sturge...in fact, I will probably use it as a profile photo on Facebook.

http://www.legendsofamerica.com/photos-oldwest/DryCimarronCattle-500.jpg

Cowboys from the Raton, New Mexico area drive 500 head of cattle along the Dry Cimarron to Des Moines, New Mexico. September, 2008, Kathy Weiser.

Geez, Craig. Scary picture so early in the morning. I do enjoy listening to Haley Barbour say Haley Barbour...almost as much as I enjoy hearing Arriana Huffington say it.

MoJo on people "willing" to work 80 hours & be financially responsible. Is he calling Americans lazy?

Um, what happens when there aren't even 40 hour jobs? My friend just took a 5% paycut, but is lucky because some got a full day cut off of their workweek & the fluff positions like marketing are gone.

The Republicans, even just the fiscal Republicans, need to stop calling Americans lazy, spendaholics. No spending, no jobs. No jobs, no spending.

pats.....ha.....there's just something about seeing a cow venturing out into uncharted territory

Boy, I don't know how I feel about this...a Chicago author on MoJo is saying he thinks Patrick Fitzgerald is planning a senate run. If that's true, it makes me question a lot of his tactics in the Blago mess. I really didn't like the premature press conference and grandstanding. And I was -- and still am, really -- a big fan of Fitzgerald.

"General Motors Corp. says it lost $9.6 billion in the fourth quarter and burned through $6.2 billion in cash as it sought government help to avoid running out of cash."

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/090226/earns_gm.html

a photo gallery of old west outlaw types:

http://www.legendsofamerica.com/PicturePages/PP-Outlaws-1-JohnWesleyHardin.html

don1one loves sweet tater pie. Thanks.

Off to the airport. Have fun ya'll

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/and-a-governor-shall-lead-them.html#comment-204044

I see a man at work last night. He is playing a flute/recorder. Playing it quietly in the lunchroom. He gets up to leave, he has a guitar case strapped to his back. I see him a few hours later. He is quietly playing his flute/recorder at break. I look at a friend of mine and laugh, my friend laughs back. Don't understand it.

"Rock? Rock don't have no roll, baby....."

---Van Morrison

Corey, what type of music was he playing?

I used to have a recorder--interesting instrument.

just discovered that "towit" is a new term... http://twitter.com/towit

to wit, two twits twittering towards twilight are towitting too?

corey.......he's practising for the big time when he will at last be able to afford his own cobra........

sturge, maybe that's what he's got in his guitar case, a trainer snake.

btw sturge, thanks for the sam johnson compliment on my 112 word sentence last night.

Down in Central and South America the pan flute is the ubiquitous indigenous instrument. I've heard some that sound much like a recorder. Got no cobras down there. Major scary snake is the anaconda in Amazon region.

Lots of bad snakes in Panama. Both the Army and Air Force had snake eating schools there.

Craig...do we need to be worried that there are no longer any ads that precede your Video Trailmixes?

I kind of miss the one with the train. I found it soothing.

The trick is to slowing turn the ship, not call down to the engineroom, all ahead full on port, and full reverse on starboard. But anyone who has kept abreast of President Obama, knows he is heavily in favorite of gun control, so this shouldn't come as any big surprise.

http://tinyurl.com/2ndAdmen

turn, baby, turn.........slow and steady, when's the race?

patd.......a sentence to be reckoned with........lol

Truth

It depends on how close the Iceberg is.

Remember, the previous president partied hard and ignored all warnings. It was full steam ahead through dangerous waters. Well, we ding ourselves a couple of times and now the big one is looming ahead. Time for some urgent evasive action.

Jack

Better Ideas then the Pickens plan.
All electric trucks for short haul solutions
An idea that doesn't leave poor people in the cold.

Fleet of electric trucks is bound for Port of Los Angeles

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-fi-electric-truck25-2009feb25,0,4745152.story

Jack

Governors to the rescue

Since both party's are always in campaign mode,,,the D's should make the Reagan,,,and Bush --43 ,,as Governors records clear to the public,,,the deals that Bush cut with some D's in order win,,,and then go on to be POTUS,,,,and make clear the Reagan record once and for all,,,,trickle down,,,led to all of this mess,,,and to all the greed of the Bank executives and wall st. Madoff etc etc,,,now is the time to shed light of the true Reagan legacy??

CEOs say overhaul of bank bonuses on the cards
news-finance-20090130-BUSINESS-US-DAVOS-BONUSES

Burger King Corporation Chairman and CEO Chidsey attends a
DAVOS, Switzerland — Top executives meeting in Davos say the bonus culture that drove financial investments on Wall Street faces a major overhaul as bankers humbled by the financial crisis prepare to curb excessive pay.

U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday voiced outrage at lavish pay checks after the New York comptroller revealed that a staggering $18.4 billion of bonuses payout were made in 2008.

In Europe, banks that have had to go cap in hand to governments for state help are also under pressure to change the way they compensate managers and introduce disincentives to take too much risk.

http://www.comcast.net/news/finance/

"Looking to increase fleet efficiency and develop a more sustainable trucking fleet, Wal-Mart will test four new types of heavy-duty commercial trucks. Two types utilize a diesel-electric hybrid power system"

http://www.trucktrend.com/features/news/2009/163_news090204_walmart_hybrid_and_alternative_fuel_commercial_trucks/index.html

Just goes to show you even at Walmart "Old truckers never die, they just get themselves a new Peterbilt" a green one at that.

Jack

mornin'

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/and-a-governor-shall-lead-them.html#comment-204079

Stingray, sturg, and a freshwater one at that. I didn't know ther were such critters. I bet the barb on a 775 # stingray is pretty impressive.

And the newest big assed study on weightloss just reiterates the Bloom County diet (also referred to aas the Milo diet, or my favorite, the Opus diet) the secret - eat less, exercise more. Who could have predicted that?

btw, saw Obama roll out the new budget - Ithought he did a good job - be interesting to see what the Repugs do with this one.

"be interesting to see what the Repugs do with this one."

Interesting?

I would say boring. They are getting very predictable.

Jack

I was watching some doofus Republican congressman on TV (GMA I think) Can't remember his name and don't want to. It reinforced some thing I have noticed since the election. The Republican A team is mostly setting on the bench letting the Bteam look foolish and take the hits for opposing Obama. jmo

Jack

Well, jack, boring's probably closer to the truth than interesting. I guess what will be interesting is how the dems respond to the predictable "too much spending, socialism, needs more tax cuts, . . ." meme.

I know Lindsay Graham was on one of the morning shows, and he sounded like the frickin' idiot he is. He's yours, isn't he sturg? Welcome to him.

Jack

Thanks for that electric truck link,,,,,,,,some of the contractors that I have breakfast talks with,,,have been talking about them for a while now,,,they make a lot of sense to the small to mid size contractors,,,,electric dump trks for short distances would save a lot on fuel,,,since we already use a lot of it ,,with bulldozers,,bobcats etc,,,and if all of chicago and subs ,,,were to use electric ( all ) vehicles ,,,there would be not need to keep raising taxes on homes etc, etc,,,thanks,,,,,,I would love to see one of them right about now,,,,,some post offices already use electric delivery trks I think?

ps---about Pickens plans,,,the right ideas mostly but the wrong corp,,to do it,,IMO

Hi all, it's 5 pm here is beautiful, cloudy Belgium. I was reading yesterday's thread about being first in the blog :-) ... In the time I've been visiting I found out that it's sort of a rite of passage from guest, to regular member of the blog Is that fair?

Anyway, I wasn't even looking for such a thing. I was reading all the responses re: the President's speech to the nation and I just happened to see a new Thread subject, so I jumped ahead and I saw no one had posted, so I jumped in :-)

Jack, nice comment and I blushed. I didn't know I was supposed to say WOO! Anyway, I'm kinda sad that Tomas didn't post after his initial one. Tomas if you are out there, PHONE HOME :-)

Champ, the more I read your stuff, the more I think you must be the life of the party wherever you go... Even when I disagree, I have come to highly respect you, as I do many others here. I hope to keep reading your stuff.

Oh, I was going to write more, but I am off to look at some IKEA kitchens for the apartment... Things are moving along quickly here.

Craig, i wanted to say that I thought about Happy Chandler for two days after I saw that video. What a gentleman... My role model of motivation was Hubert Humphrey, the idea that nothing is more important than an education. I realized that even though i didn't come from a family line of educated people, I could also achieve, if I worked hard and put my mind to it.

Bye now...

POGO, never say BIG ASS when talking about diets!

i used to have this button. It said "YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL FACE BUT THAT FAT ASS HAS GOT TO GO".. I kept it as sort of a mantra that I needed to lose weight! anyway, I blather on.

Bye all...

ET

P.S. Gordon even though I do not agree with you, I think it is a step up to actually enter into the discussion and not just post links. Thumbs up.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/and-a-governor-shall-lead-them.html#comment-204102

Truth, I sure wish you'd elaborate on exactly what you're talking about. I have my own interpretation, but interested in more of your take. I take it you consider this a bad thing. (?)
..............

"It depends on how close the Iceberg is."

Jack, The problem is, you never see the iceberg until it's too late.

Truth, your metaphore about the ship is nice but I adhere to James Madison's caveat that "Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own governors, must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives."

Keeping relevand details of a change of course may be a good thing out on the open seas, but not by a government of the people.

Sorry, Tom. :-)

Jack

Republican A team....who would that be?

I believe Republican A team is an oxymaroom at this point.

that would be oxymaroon

Jack

I would love to have a bobcat( and other small machines,,,,compactors etc) that could run on electric with and inverter to charge it off of an electrical running trk,,,,now that would be something?,,,,this would do a multiple of things ,,,eliminate harmful emissions,,,create new jobs building the electric batts,,,and that will create competition to always improve and become very affordable,,,,,on a diesel generator alone I can burn 20-30 gls of diesel,,,,and the time that it takes to send or go for it,,,,there is simply no down side to electric run engines!! now you started my motor running,,,will be daydreaming about this all day long now.

Chloe,,,,,,,,and Patsi,,,,,,,the three episodes on Time that we discussed a cpl of months back will be on the Science channel in a week or so,,,,if you want I will give u a heads up on the times so you can record them,,,and/or watch them??

Truth, with the Grahams and his ilks out there sreaming SOCIALISM!!!! from every microphone they can get next to on every media outlet that will have them, how in the hell do you think there's anything happening by whatever small increment you think you see that not every American who listens to the news doesn't know about? I rather think that Americans have decided that they think government may be more capable of helping them get the services and support they need and want than the greedy bastards who run the Humanas, etc. (just an example, btw) of the world. Incrementalism and socialism is the fearmongering cry of the right in the face of continuing political losses and a public that has decided that it doesn't buy the supposed efficiencies of the marketplace when it comes to the necessities of life or trust the market to provide anything with the best interest of the consumer even as a consideration. Perhaps a very public reexamination and scaling back to a level of executive compensation that doesn't offend all but the uber wealthy might help the private sector regain a little of the confidence in the market that it's lost as a resut lof its greed. Just a thought.

The TV anchors need to take tweeting lessons from Claire McCaskill. She said her children trained her and it shows.... fast, newsy, interesting content, little self promotion.

The anchors seem to think it is a way to promote their shows and themselves. Morning Joe is particularly bad, but I suspect an aide is just putting in the TV guide.

CNN is covering health care. MSNBC is yakking about the octo litter and pornography. Hmmmm

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/and-a-governor-shall-lead-them.html#comment-204102

TIR

I hope so. Lord knows we have been going in the wrong direction for a long, long time.

Legalize drugs and save lives,,,,also will save a lot of kids lives that are ch ought in the middle of gang wars over drugs,,stray bullets,,etc.

Drug cartel's tentacles stretch across the US

WASHINGTON — Mexican drug cartels are shipping more than massive quantities of drugs north of the border. Increasingly, they're also exporting bloody mayhem.

Seeking to stem the growing influence of the Sinaloa cartel within the United States, federal agents arrested more than 50 suspects in raids Tuesday night and Wednesday morning at different ends of the country. The raids capped a 21-month operation by the Drug Enforcement Administration that rounded up 755 suspects and seized more than $59 million in criminal proceeds.

http://www.comcast.net/news/politics/

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/and-a-governor-shall-lead-them.html#comment-204120

Chloe

POINT!

Sturg -
Des Moines, New Mexico ............. Don't ever breakdown there, no NAPA parts store near by.

Jack -

Thanks for the donkey truck story.

Seattle's garbage trucks to run on natural gas

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008691112_naturalgas31m.html

not sure what the rules are, but i'm competing with Ana Marie Cox for best bedhead pic:

http://twitpic.com/1pg1s

http://twitpic.com/1pcmp

When I was a boy our garbage vehicles ran on oats 'n apples. Same with the milk and ice and coal wagons.

Craig, you both win. You with the "dazed caught on camera look" and she with the "I can't believe I'm still in bed" look--the hair is a tie.

Have anice day everyone and a shout out to Chloe.

Here's someone who has a different idea than Truthir. He thinks the course has been laid out boldly, in advance.

Obama Rolls The Dice
"The size of the gambles that President Obama is taking every day is simply staggering. What came through in his speech to a joint session of Congress and a national television audience Tuesday night was a dramatic reminder of the unbelievable stakes he has placed on the table in his first month in office...."

"It was also, and even more significantly, a measure of the degree to which he has taken personal responsibility for delivering on one of the most ambitious agendas any newly inaugurated president has ever announced. "

.......

Hey Solar. Yes, please let me know about the programming. Thanks

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/and-a-governor-shall-lead-them.html#comment-204135

Well I don't remember horse drawn milk and ice, but I do remember the man with the big tongs delivering a cube of ice to a real "ice box" and the tray of melted water that had to be emptied daily.

Of course the milk bottles were glass and the cream did float to the top.

Hey Animal
Shoutin' right back at you. :)
Enjoying your posts.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/and-a-governor-shall-lead-them.html#comment-204096

Sturge, on the replay, I thought I heard it as, "Rock don't have no role, baby" (Jazz is his only music).

And, that was in the city, Jamie. Still remember the old ice box smell from the combination of humidity and galvanized metal. Mom used to get the 'top milk' for her coffee--she deserved it having to put up with us.

Old immigrant joke:
Q. How do you say refrigerator in Italian, in Korean, in Polish?

A. Ice box.

Ice Bergs and donkey trucks -

If one reads Jack's link about the conversion of the donkey fleet at the Port of L.A. That important story really started nearly 9 years ago ...............
June 2000 -

Southern California to decide on plan to go to cleaner fuels

Los Angeles, June 16: Southern California will decide Friday whether nearly 11,000 transit buses and garbage trucks must convert to cleaner-burning alternative fuels - a move that could lead to similar requirements across the country. ................ Under the plan, believed to be the first of its kind in the nation, every new vehicle purchased by public fleet operators will have to run on alternative fuels - natural gas, methanol, electricity or fuel cells.

The rules are the first phase of a change, to take effect over two years, that could ultimately affect 120,000 public and private vehicles in Southern California, from airport taxis to school buses.

http://www.financialexpress.com/old/fe/daily/20000617/fco16069.html

-------------------------
By 2003 there were 7,000 trash trucks in Southern California running on Natural Gas.

Today 50% of that fleet is Natural Gas.

The ship is turning, but it's not news unless it hits the iceberg .

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/25/AR2009022503125.html

oops, forgot the link and to give credit.

So, Solomon Burke's song, "Honey Where's the Money Gone?" may be linked to a backstage joke between him and Van Morrison? Or maybe it's just a coincidence...they both got cheated by the same record producer.

("I don't care where the lover went. Baby, where...did the MONEY go?")

After having a look at this I was really excited about it,,,,was seriously thinking of buying a contractor's 20ft be dump trk,,,I like the International,,,except for all the gear shifting that you have to do,,,I took a road test drive,,,and they shifted real easy with just the rpm's no clutch,,,I was sold,that was the good thing,,,,,the bad thing is that all came to a screeching halt,,,,

November 08, 2007 04:30 PM Eastern Time
International Truck and Engine First Company
to Enter Hybrid Commercial Truck Production

Navistar’s Truck Company, Bus Company First
to Enter “Line Production” of Hybrid Vehicles

WARRENVILLE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The road to a better environment will now include greener commercial vehicles. International Truck and Engine Corporation, a Navistar company (OTC: NAVZ), announced today that it is the first company to enter line production of hybrid commercial trucks. As diesel fuel prices continue their volatility and engine emissions requirements tighten, International Truck and Engine is now producing the International® DuraStar™ Hybrid, a diesel hybrid electric medium-duty truck that provides customers with improved fuel efficiency and reduced engine emissions.

“We believe that hybrid technology is an important development for the commercial transportation sector,” said Daniel C. Ustian, President and Chief Executive Officer, Navistar International Corporation. “Increasing fuel efficiency and reducing emissions for the nation’s commercial trucks results in significant benefits for all of us. We strive to be the leader in developing energy efficient transportation solutions in the commercial truck, commercial bus and school bus industries.”

The International DuraStar Hybrid diesel hybrid electric truck has the proven capability to provide dramatic fuel savings from 30-40 percent on a standard in-city pickup and delivery applications. The fuel efficiency can increase to more than 60 percent in utility-type applications when the engine can be shut off, but electric power still operates the vehicle. Diesel emissions are completely eliminated when the hybrid truck operates equipment (like overhead utility booms) solely on the truck’s battery power, instead of allowing the engine to idle.

Hope this tiny url works first time I used it,,,,

Caterpillar was one of the first manufacturers to commercialize electric drive trucks in the late 1960s, but elected to focus on its design and development efforts on mechanical drive to best meet customers' needs. With recent advances in AC drive technology, coupled with proven components and technologies from existing Caterpillar products, the company concluded it was the appropriate time to make electric drive available to its customers as a complement to its highly successful mechanical drive.

n conjunction with the move to develop a new electric drive offering, Caterpillar is also announcing a strategic relationship with Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, which will give Caterpillar dealers and customers access to a broader portfolio of mining truck drivetrain technologies. Some of the key technologies in the electric drive train on Caterpillar mining trucks are the power semiconductors, to be supplied by Mitsubishi Electric

http://www.cat.com/

For those who can handle large doses of the other side of the political spectrum, CPAC is broadcasting live on the web at

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/townhall-presents-cpac-2009

We were lucky living in base housing at Old Hammer Field in Fresno, CA. It was 1949 officers housing so it wasn't one of the quonset huts under the Fresno summer sun. It was uninsulated boards up on bricks, so you could see the ground below.

We moved into town shortly thereafter to a tiny house with a "lawn" comprised of bee loaded clover and sticker plants. For a child that never wore shoes if she could get away with it, that "lawn" was a mine field.

After getting discharged from the Marine Corps in 1971,,,,I returned to work at Western electric,,,this company was Union,,,and was a city within the city of Chicago,,,,,we had our own hospital with Doctors, and Nurses,,,there was little down time for sick employees,,,,the even had a little park that we used to go on the weekends and play softball,,,against the top management,,,,we knew all the top cats in the corp,,had band concerts on Sat nights,,,once a month,,,

We had just bought all new electric forklifts,,,I was a working foreman type,,,,I was moving the new forklifts from the dock area ,,,when one of the units,,,(this one was a pump handle flat bed) brakes and froze up on me,,,,,I went over the side of the loading dock,,,trk and all,I jump to one side and managed not to get hurt,,,,,but I did see after the impact of the trk the large battery ( amybe 3 ft. long x 2 ft wide and 2 ft thick,,,fly in the air after impact and came down about 4 ft of where i was lying,,,,,that batt,,had to weigh at least 1 ton!!,,,,those typs of trks use much smaller batts,,now and are also electric now.

Western Electric closed down and moved to Atlanta,,,should have gone with them,,,I would have been retired and seeing the country,,,and the world on my 4 wheel home.

A fascinating book in search of a publisher

http://www.lookatbook.com/store/main.php

Love the photo, Craig!!!

Thomas Edison had an electric car in 1920 or so?

If anyone cares , once again here is why Jack is wrong about Natural Gas , and keeping poor people warm.

First, below is a link to a map of what is known as the Black Shale formations in the lower 48 . Until about 10 years ago every geologist in the country knew these tight shale formations had gas, but because they had a vertical well in them they only made a small amount of gas. These shales were something you drilled through, going to some other formation. Note the size of these things on the map, they are huge by any measurement.
http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/1253/blackshalesui8.jpg

Now, here's an article on one these , the largest called the Marcellus Shale which lays under of much of Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York. Small areas of Maryland, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia are also underlain by the Marcellus Shale. It spells out just what as changed about getting the gas trapped in these shale formations.

Marcellus Shale - Appalachian Basin Natural Gas Play -
Before 2000, many successful natural gas wells had been completed in the Marcellus. The yields of these wells were often unimpressive upon completion. However, many of these older wells in the Marcellus have a sustained production that decreases slowly over time. Many of them continued to produce gas for decades. A patient investor might make a profit from these low yield wells with slowly declining production rates.

For new wells drilled with the new horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing technologies the inital production can be much higher than what was seen in the old wells. Early production rates from some of the new wells has been over one million cubic feet of natural gas per day. The technology is so new that long term production data is not available. As with most gas wells, production rates will decline over time, however, a second hydraulic fracturing treatment could restimulate production.

http://www.littlekanawha.com/Marcellus_Shale_Information.htm

As I said before, these gas formations are absolutely huge, and we've just barely begun to drill them with the new methods developed drilling the Barnett Shale in Texas.

"perhaps 10% of that gas (50 trillion cubic feet) might be recoverable. That volume of natural gas would be enough to supply the entire United States for about two years"

Bob

From your link

One thing watching that coal train every day taught me. We use a lot of energy. There is no inexhaustable energy source.

Jack

BTW

that gas field will be welcome relief for the folks on the east coast who pay higher than average gas prices. But according to the article it is not easy to extract gas from shale as the gas is diffused through out the rock. But as the gas slowly releases from the shale it should be productive for a long time. That is a bonus for the people that need to heat their homes in the area.

Jack

Solar pannels were invented over 60 yrs ago,,there is not too much that is new,,,we just need to get things moving in the right direction,,,with Pres Obamas speech on energy,,,I hope that it does,,but how long,,,one year ---3 yrs until we see results,,,there is a lot on his plate,,,

Inventor of Solar Panel

The solar panel has come a long way, but what about its origins. Specifically, who was the inventor of the solar panel?

Inventor of Solar Panel

The name photovoltaic solar panel is derived from the Greek word phos meaning light and the name Volta, after the Italian physicist who developed the concept of voltage. Combined, this yields photovoltaic – of light and electricity. The credit for inventing the photovoltaic solar cells is generally given to Alexandre-Edmund Becquerel, a French physicist. However, equal credit must be given to Charles Fritts, Russell Ohl, and scientists at Bell laboratories.

Becquerel first noticed the photovoltaic effect in 1839; light energy from the sun can be converted into electrical energy. However, the first solar cell was not built for another 44 years. Charles Fritts, an American, coated the semiconductor selenium with a thin layer of gold. Unfortunately the resulting device, while it did convert light energy into electric energy, had only about a 1% efficiency rate. Combined with the high expense of creating this piece of equipment, the invention was not practical or cost-effective in generating solar energy. What it did do, however, was whet the appetite of future scientist

from the national directory of solar energy

the two party system has been sitting on this,,we had both Dems and R's in the White House,,,,,

Investors Call for Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Standards, National Cap on Carbon Pollution, Among Other Policies.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 -- Echoing the same energy and climate change policies that President Obama trumpeted in his speech to Congress last night, a group of 35 investors with over $3 trillion in assets today called on Congressional leaders to pass strong legislation to advance a clean energy, low-carbon economy and U.S. competitiveness.

http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.aspx?feed=PR&date=20090225&id=9642809

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/and-a-governor-shall-lead-them.html#comment-204102

truir, sounds like something written by someone about to jump that ship during the last years of the barf administration.... sure you didn't lift that from scott mcclellan?

like jamie, this boat needs to tack itself back to the true course it was in before george w queeg and his fun loving pirates took the wheel.

jamie, i meant that i agreed with your observation and do not mean that you are anything like a ship run amok... unless it's a particularly yar and sleek sloop, that is.

Sleek, fast moving, yar sloop .... I can live with that.

Mark Potok of the Southern Poverty Law Center is on CNN. He is discussing the growing number of hate groups. I think he needs a hair cut and beard trim.

The first known electricity generating windmill operated was a battery charging machine installed in 1887 by James Blyth in Scotland, UK. The first windmill for electricity production in the United States was built in Cleveland, Ohio by Charles F Brush in 1888, and in 1908 there were 72 wind-driven electric generators from 5 kW to 25 kW.

The largest machines were on 24 m (79 ft) towers with four-bladed 23 m (75 ft) diameter rotors. Around the time of World War I, American windmill makers were producing 100,000 farm windmills each year, most for water-pumping.

By the 1930s windmills for electricity were common on farms, mostly in the United States where distribution systems had not yet been installed. In this period, high-tensile steel was cheap, and windmills were placed atop prefabricated open steel lattice towers.

A forerunner of modern horizontal-axis wind generators was in service at Yalta, USSR in 1931. This was a 100 kW generator on a 30 m (100 ft) tower, connected to the local 6.3 kV distribution system. It was reported to have an annual capacity factor of 32 per cent, not much different from current wind machines.

The first utility grid-connected wind turbine operated in the UK was built by the John Brown Company in 1954 in the Orkney Islands. It had an 18 meter diameter, three-bladed rotor and a rated output of 100 kW.

http://energyconcepts.us/

and this is very good about energy engineering

Energy , you can't leave home without it.

http://energyconcepts.us/

Wind machines were used in Persia as early as 200 B.C. 1- type,was introduced into the Roman Empire by 250 A.D.

synergy, you don't have a home without it.

Media will now be able to photograph returning war dead if family gives the okay.

http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-general/20090226/Pentagon.War.Dead/

Here in endth the sermon , ........ Now back to our regularly scheduled programming of free floating paranoia, punctuated by plot holes and spelling errors.

"....it is not easy to extract gas from shale as the gas is diffused through out the rock. But as the gas slowly releases from the shale it should be productive for a long time..."

jack and cbob, and trap the radon at the same time from the same area. far-fetched? just you wait.

synergy, you don't have a home without it.

Slice of pie for you.

No More False Teeth? Grow your own.

http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-general/20090226/MED.Making.Teeth.Grow/

Padt

Thank you,,,I have learned something today,,,synergy,,,,this is what we need all over the world!

Now the Dem congress has 8 bil in pork spending,,,and Pelosi is holding up the $

Jamie , you'll like what these guys did -

ScienceDaily (Feb. 26, 2009) — An international team of scientists has presented the first-ever evaluation of the impact of the 1816 eruption of the Tambora volcano in Indonesia on the Iberian Peninsula. Historical documents and observations by Spanish and Portuguese stations have shown that emissions of gas and particulates from the volcano limited the effect of solar radiation in Spain, where temperatures that summer did not rise above 15ºC.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090225161422.htm

Padt---that was not snark,,,,,I did not know what synergy meant,,,and looked it up,,,,it is how I feel about the world in general,,,if we all realized that we are all just a little part of the whole.

cbob, like this but with a dab more whipped cream....
a big dab. and maybe another piece for later?

http://blog.memory-of.com/wp-content/2008/11/sweet-potato-pie.jpg

CBob

I can write a blog article about it and pair it with a You Tube video of "Baby It's Cold Outside"

CBob

Is there an unusual amount of volcanic activity or eruptions in the last decade or so? Kind of makes you wonder if the earth isn't trying to cure a fever?

DENVER -- Landscapers were digging a hole for a fish pond in the front yard of a Boulder home last May when they heard a "chink" that didn't sound right. Just some lost tools. Some 13,000-year-old lost tools. They had stumbled onto a cache of more than 83 ancient tools buried by the Clovis people - ice age hunter-gatherers who remain a puzzle to anthropologists.

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

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/and-a-governor-shall-lead-them.html#comment-204180

solar, not taken as snark... imo you're not the snarky type. and yes synergy fits well with the god-r-us theory.

U know me very well,,,,thanks,,,that is my new favorite word,,,I have a lot of new favorite words that I picked up from you,,,Padt the Pirate Queen

Synergy >>>>>>> R. Buckminister Fuller

His solution to generating electricity. We build a ring of wires around the Arctic Circle . Then, when it's dark in Russia their power plants send electricity to where people are up and using power. When it's light in Russia, our plants are doing the same thing. We cut the total number of plants needed to run the world. This would work because most of the world's population is north of the equator.

Bucky Fuller was a big thinker.

This man at work is interesting. Apparently, he not only works here building car parts. He is also a licensed lawyer AND a practicing musician. I called him a "triple threat". A friend called him a "3 tool" player, kinda like how they sometimes have 5 tool players in baseball.

From Ohio's Governor Hayes to Texas' Governor Bush, are you really sure the country wants to "walk down that road" again? Most of these people would make better Confederate Presidents.

Cory -
I've seen the last two, but never the triple threat.

The pear tree across the alley made it's first blooms today.

RECORD EVENT REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANGELO TX
133 PM CST THU FEB 26 2009

...TEMPERATURES WILL LIKELY CONTINUE TO CLIMB A FEW DEGREES AT SAN
ANGELO AND ABILENE...

A HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 94 DEGREES WAS RECORDED AT 120 PM AT SAN ANGELO
TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 92 SET IN 1917.

A HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 91 DEGREES WAS RECORDED AT 119 PM AT ABILENE
TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 89 DEGREES SET IN 1917.

Yesterday south of me -

RECORD EVENT REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
0411 PM CST WED FEB 25 2009

...RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE SET AT MIDLAND...

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 86 DEGREES WAS SET AT MIDLAND TODAY.
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 85 SET IN 2008.
----------------------------

This mass of air came in from the southwest Tuesday night accompanied by these low clouds. The wind came with it, but as it moved in they have slowed some. Last spring, when this happened in the middle of March, we had 3 weeks of 45 mph winds with 93 -94 degree days.

These winds eat plants. We say "Sand Burned" to describe it .

Champ-
This Bud's for you

February 26, 2009 12:49 PM PST
Facebook opens up to user debate and vote

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10172787-2.html

"Bucky Fuller was a big thinker."

cbob, his domes are the answer for tornado alley among other places and how many men are known for their balls?

http://www.3rd1000.com/bucky/bucky.htm

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Banks insured by the FDIC posted a collective loss of $26.2 billion in the fourth quarter of 2008, the agency said Thursday, as the percentage of charged off loans tied a quarterly record of 1.91%.
The grim results compared to a $575 million profit during the fourth quarter of 2007.
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/fdic-paints-bleak-banking-picture/story.aspx?guid={AD2B796C-DC21-45AA-97D0-524CEF8FF55A}&dist=msr_6
--------------------------------
The end of the Bush years right there folks.

The thought of that man getting $150,000 for a speech really burns my bacon.

Speaking of bucky balls:

12-year-old Makes Homeless Shelter from Trash
http://greenbuildingelements.com/2009/02/26/12-year-old-makes-homeless-shelter-from-trash/

those were the days. foggy's fun times at foggy bottom

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/spytalk/

Patd-
" many men are known for their balls? "
And he never knew he had them, they were invented after he died.

I was a big dome head back in the 70's. We had a 24 ft. one for a sauna at Slaughter House Creek. I can still see my girl friend sitting in the snow outside it, calmly scrubbing up with snow crystals.
Everyone turned out when Ellen took a sauna .

When new women would come up the mountain, the following line would be said after a while :

" You guys are in luck, Randy was going to fire - up the sauna. "

Nothin' like checkin' out the new women, hours after you meet them.

God I loved that dome, we got stuck on flat ground for 3 days above Boulder getting that dome. I took a shower up there with mine water, and it turned me lovely shade of rust.

Getting clean in the mountains has always been a big deal.

Huckabee: MSNBC is 'MSBS
"It's not MSNBC, but the MSBS channel," Huckabee said in a speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference.

"I love Chris," Huckabee said. "I had a little fun at Chris's expense, and he has had fun at mine."
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0209/19376.html

.... why didn't I ever think of that?

Posted by: Jamie | February 26, 2009 4:18 PM : No More False Teeth? Grow your own.
http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-general/20090226/MED.Making.Teeth.Grow/
**********************************************
Jamie,
Your link reminded me of poor Bobby Jindal's tragic affliction. Doesn't Louisiana pay the man enough so that he can get a decent pair of prosthetic eyebrows ? Perhaps Andy Rooney could donate 4 % of his, in this good cause.

I feel sorry for the CPAC folks. Last night they got an Elvis Impersonator and tonight a talented Christian singer, Jim Worthing but not exactly top of the line entertainment.

How now, Bronkowski?

CPAC and an Elvis impersonator -- ROFL, Jamie!!!

Anyone you know Patsi?

http://www.wrennmangum.com/

i always loved to play with Ev-lis impersonators because even with bad ones you'd get to play all those full-blown Ev-lis arrangements........

Didn't see if anyone mentioned this -- btu after 150 years, the Rocky Mountain News closed its doors today.

http://tinyurl.com/az678b

"Anyone you know Patsi?"

Nope....thankfully... :)

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/and-a-governor-shall-lead-them.html#comment-204211

Sturgeone, The show I found fascinating was the one where they had his original band members, back up singers etc on stage and Elvis up on the Big Screen as if it were a live performance. Never got to see it except on TV, but it must have been something live to try to create an experience as if he were actually there.

Oh NO! Not the Rocky Mountain News. I grew up with that paper. Can't imagine what's going on with the Longmont Times-Call

off to get a burger, been really busy today. nice wonky thread today. interesting stuff. you guys are so smart.

He certainly was a wonderment. His appearance on the really-big-shewlivan show launched me on my honky-tonk wonderings......and then along the way I discovered that Homer was but a wandering blind Kithara player, like old Doc Watson.......wonder what old greek guitar players sounded like.........

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/and-a-governor-shall-lead-them.html#comment-204216

Craig, You are the light that attracts the moths. I just drop by to see what all you all have to say about everything.

Eine kleine Grik Musik:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5chahoy8Ko

The story goes:

A young and impressionable moth once set his heart on a certain star. He told his mother about this and she counseled him to set his heart on a bridge lamp instead. "Stars aren't the thing to hang around," she said; "lamps are the thing to hang around." "You get somewhere that way," said the moth's father. "You don't get anywhere chasing stars." But the moth would not heed the words of either parent. Every evening at dusk when the star came out he would start flying toward it and every morning at dawn he would crawl back home, worn out with his vain endeavor. One day his father said to him, "You haven't burned a wing in months, boy, and it looks to me as if you are never going to. All your brothers have been badly burned flying around street lamps and all your sisters have been terribly singed flying around house lamps. Come on, now, get yourself scorched! A big strapping moth like you without a mark on him!"

The moth left his father's house, but he would not fly around street lamps and he would not fly around house lamps. He went right on trying to reach the star, which was four and one-third light years, or twenty-five trillion miles, away. The moth thought it was just caught in the top branches of an elm. He never did reach the star, but he went right on trying, night after night, and when he was a very, very old moth he began to think that he really had reached the star and he went around saying so. This gave him a deep and lasting pleasure, and he lived to a great old age. His parents and his brothers and his sisters had all been burned to death when they were quite young.

moral: Who flies afar from this sphere of sorrow....is here today and here tomorrow.

---James Thurber

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/and-a-governor-shall-lead-them.html#comment-204058

OSH,

I think it would be a great story for Sunday Morning. Also, I would contact the Congress Critters for every state where you know of a living 94th. Ask to speak to a senior staff person. If you can get the information directly into their hands it is less likely to get a pro forma response.

Also any who sit on any of the Armed Forces or Veterans committees. The Holocaust Museum itself might have contacts that they work with. You need to get to a real person who can make real decisions.

The New Dust Bowl: Rich people are going to have to start taking their kids to Chuck E Cheese.

Picked up the March issue of Scientific American in the airport today. First time in years I've bought one.

If covers the cost and effectiveness of green energy production, nanotube radios and their use, and non-localization in quantum mechanics. That last one is going to take a while to get through.

I get the impression that what it's going to mean is that we can't change one thing without affecting everything else in the universe. And it might mean the end of relativity.

"off to get a burger, been really busy today. nice wonky thread today. interesting stuff. you guys are so smart."

Craig - I hope you Twittered this for Keith O, he would have gotten a kick out of it.

Why thank you STurgeone. That link led me to one of my favorite Greek songs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7f4v0Ag8BZY

Flatus,

A belated thanks for answering the questions I posed last evening. I take it from your explanation that the your daughter's original birth certificate remains stored in Korea, where it was filled in 50 years ago, and that it is merely referred to in the newer, American version filed by your family, and stored by the State of South Carolina. It seems to me that it would be highly irregular for any jurisdiction to send its original records to any alien or foreign jurisdiction, although it might be done temporarily in the event of war, floods, etc.

The Director of the Hawaii State Department of Health, Dr. Fukino, stated in his letter of Oct. 31, 2008, "I...have personally seen and verified that the Hawai'i State Department of Health has Sen. Obama's original birth certificate...."

By 'original,' English speaking people invariably mean the first, actual, real, item rather than a later edition, replacement, or simulacrum. Thoughtful people will recognize by Dr. Fukino's use of the word 'original' that there was no prior, ie foreign, birth certificate upon which the one of which he writes is based.

Therefore, it is only logical to conclude that the ORIGINAL Obama birth certificate rests in Hawaii, where the deniers seek it, rather than in Kenya or Indonesia, where they do not. The fact that deniers do not seek the original birth certificate in Kenya or Indonesia puts the lie to their assertion that they believe Mr. Obama may have been bornone of those countries. The very fact that the deniers seek the original certificate in Hawaii argues that the denier awsuits are cynical actions occasioned by ulterior motives.

BBC America News just had a wonderful piece about Chinua Achebe. If you are not familiar with him, he is a wonderful African Author now in his 80s. Best known book "Things Fall Apart".

Here are some of his other books

http://tinyurl.com/dmnauq

PBS right now: Stevie Wonder's White House concert in the East Room.

Excellent. Just started.

Check your local listings.

Sorry. 4th Paragraph should read "...born in one of those countries."

Also 4th Paragraph. "...argues that the denier lawsuits are cynical...."

"moral: Who flies afar from this sphere of sorrow....is here today and here tomorrow."

Paul McCartney - Here,There And Everywhere
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcTQC_vhwT4&feature=related

This just looks wrong.
http://imgur.com/2SMSC

From @JessCox

do people still say "OMG" out there?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/and-a-governor-shall-lead-them.html#comment-204233

Just one person who drops in with links on the latest lawsuit. GORDO is sort of a pet troll who gets a rise out of folks every once in a while.

YesWeCan -- you are joking, right?

Well I for one, am not a Happy Camper. Obama, is going to raise my taxes. I guess he figures, even tough I work really hard, for my money I should help spread my wealth around!!!!!!!!!!!

Ana Marie Cox is trying to push ZOMG, OMG with zing, but so far only Rachel Maddow is following her.
Watch for when Rachel says 'Gah', another coxism.

Obama assumes you've already had more than your fair share Lampe. Time for the rest of us to get back what we gave you.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/and-a-governor-shall-lead-them.html#comment-204233

YesWeCan...
The question of birth - can agree

The bigger question and of greater impact to our markets is the new President and Governments actions. Very dangerous.

The Heck with where he is born.
He is the least experienced President in the history of our country.

don1one: what exactly do you think you gave me? I have worked long and hard, for what is mine. Now, thanks to Obama I will be paying more taxes, which might mean I have to get rid of some of my employees. which means more people out of work. So please explain to me how that will help anyone?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/and-a-governor-shall-lead-them.html#comment-204239

Well if you are in the top 2% making more than five times the median household, he is putting them back to before the Bush cuts. Lucky you. He isn't putting them back to the first Bush or even before Reagan.

98% of the population of the country thank you for paying your share finally.

echochamber dba YesWeCan

YWC -
What war on the middle and lower class?
That is a biggoted statement

I don't mind the tax on $250,000 for a married cpl,,,or $200.00 for and indivdual ,,.,,,but small biz should not be taxed (higher) from 29% to 35%
at this amount,,,

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/and-a-governor-shall-lead-them.html#comment-204240

Yeswecan. That is something we point out to Gordo every time he shows up. Last night I told him that his links looked as if they were a branch office of the KKK.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/and-a-governor-shall-lead-them.html#comment-204234
Don1

Nice Picture !!!
Ah we see YesWeCan flying up something..

Sorry

http://www.ikano.gr/APOPIRA/images/kitharanight.gif

le kithara

Solar - The math is wrong the number is much lower.

And to pay for ObamaNation in the future get ready.

The WSJ projects that if you take 100% of the top 2 % and 50% of the top 50%.
You still must increase tax on those under 250K to pay for the plan for an ObamaNation laid out to this point.

He is playing games with you and making evil of many good people.

Obama is proposing a failed State...

But do not expect so much from a Community Organizer

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/and-a-governor-shall-lead-them.html#comment-204245

Lampe, I'm so pleased to hear that your take home profits are in excess of a quarter of a million dollars. Were you suffering under the delusion that families earning 50,000 weren't actually working hard?

Obama's Speech: A Tonal Masterpiece
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1881776,00.html

Top 10 Greatest Speeches of all time
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1841228_1841749,00.html

Sturge -- I say OMG whenever "eff-me-to-tears" is inappropriate.

Government is not the only source of experience. Sorry but I LIKE Eisenhower and what he brings to office and to compare Obama to this General.. Haaa Give me a break...

Look - We are all happy that Bush is gone..
I had HOPE and was wondering which Obama would show up.

Sad and Dangerous results - No Value from his Lack of Leadership to solve the Crisis at hand.

Look at the market since his election - the worst in histroy

Yes We Can

You can add Washington as well ... no government experience at all, lost most of his battles except the last one. He was popular, danced really well, was wealthy from distilling whiskey, and looked good on a horse. :-)

Lampe...

You're making the "Joe The Plumber" argument.

If you own a business that is grossing 250K a year, that means you are not making that much as an individual.

On the other hand, if you own a business that is doing so well that you are allowed to pay yourself 250K a year...maybe you should start thinking about taking a pay cut before you fire any employees.

Sorry...250K is 250K...it's a nice chunk of money. Anyone who is personally earning that in today's economy is rich, in my opinion.

whenever i hear "omg" it reminds me of bonnie franklin.........

Ping,,,,,why not join the Independents,,,then you can see both sides of it all,,,,today it was disclosed that there is 8 bil, in pork spending,,,,,change my assssets, Huh?,,,and transparency,,,,didn't they have closed door meetings today,,,why wasn't Nancy P this tough minded when Bush,was spending all of our cash,,,,,,I get the feeling that she just looked the other way,,,and was glad that this was all happening?

YesWeCan - more people had Cell phones under Bush the anyother President.

Bush was so focused on Terror and making sure no 9/11 happened again that his fiscal policy and controls out the window - He allowed under his administration to allow social policy to override fiscal policy - Like housing - let Dodds have his way. So wrong.

Barack is this error but compounded

The other day I posted that the docs who implanted the embryos should pay for their bills and living expenses.
Just now Lou Dobbs came out with that. I hadn't heard it anywhere else, so I;m wondering if Lou could actually come up with that on his own - or did he lurk here???????????????????hmmmmmmmm........

Obama's speech seems to have been an ontro to his budget, and a not bad idea. Has it been accepted as such?

I was never under any delusion as you call it, about anyone working hard. And, there was many a years, that I didn't have two nickels to rub together to call a dime. I have worked for over 38 years with my husband to get where we are. So, if I do take home profits as you call them I have worked for a very long time to earn them. I just don't see how over taxing small businesses that employee neighborhood people, is going to help those same people keep their jobs.

Paul Simon,wow...... this show is fantastic. What a wonderful change from the Bush years.

Lampe - I am sorry you are going to have to pay more taxes. Here's an idea, maybe you should cut your own pay and save the employee?

Cracks me up to hear Olberman criticize Limbaugh about sexism...KMA! Both belong in the same category -- just coming from different sides of the aisle. Oinkers of the first magnitude.

WAIT..

Oh and welcome YesWeCan -- Gern Gershern, Glad you are here...........

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/and-a-governor-shall-lead-them.html#comment-204260

Ping...you're just throwing crap on the walls and looking to see what sticks. Sorry. None of it will.

Who do you propose to lead us out of this mess? Bobby "Mr. Rogers" Jindahl? Sarah Palin?

Oh yeah, there's some real leaders.

Republicans: The New Nihilists.

How can ANYONE keep a straight face and listen to Olberman talk about sexists? Seriously!

Lampe,
I work hard for my money too. Under several of the past presidents tax breaks were given to the rich to allow them to keep more of their money. It doesn't work. The rich blow their money, they don't invest it.

And when i hire someone that's a tax deduction and I don't pay taxes on it. I only pay taxes on my profit.

Lard...
Right now I do not see anyone that is leading us out of this mess... NO ONE
I will buy you a burger and beer of your choice at Johnny's if I use Rep or Dem for the next week... And look back .... See if I have put blame on one and not the other .... If so I will stand corrected. No Soda....

Rush is a pig.....Oops that not fair to the animal.

Lampe,

It could be worse. You could be living with the wonderful economy of the 1960s when your taxes would have been reduced from 90% down to 65%

Solar - I am thinking Independent or Lib...tarian.

But to play in the Primary's.. you gotta play the game

Lampe...

Your backstory isn't the point, it's what you're earning now.

John D. Rockefeller was poor at one point and probably rubbed more dimes together than you could ever imagine.

But once he got rich, he paid taxes, kicking and screaming along the way, yet also managing to donate a lot of money to various causes.

Maybe that's what you should be thinking about, instead of how a 3 or 4 percent marginal increase in your personal income taxes is supposedly going to unhinge your world.

NOT!!

"why not join the Independents,,,then you can see both sides of it all"

Did you ever have to finally decide
Say yes to one and let the other one ride
There's so many changes and tears you must hide
Did you ever have to finally decide

Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK87ejPDZOk

Lamp

I have a construction co.,,,,if I can take home ,,,constantly 250k,,,,as proffit I will give away 25-to 50k of it,,,,,200 k is enough for me,,,,now if it isn't enough for some one else,,,cos of college etc,,,than the 250k is ok,,I would be thrilled to pay taxes on a mil,,,,at what ever rate that there is,,,,I don't get it,,,,if you make a mil,,take home what is the problem?

Then part where Obama is raising capital gains taxes hurts many small business people and farmers.

Jack

One of the ironies of the Republican tax idea was that by stopping capital gains taxes those that get a large percentage of their income from stock wouldn't be paying taxes.

Hedge fund managers tend to have all of their income classified as capital gains. CEOs are paid largely in stock too.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/and-a-governor-shall-lead-them.html#comment-204276

Ping...Obama is leading. I think it's been so long since this country has seen what a leader looks like, we don't recognize it.

And if we go to Johnny's...it will have to be the Turkey Melt for me. Awesome sammich.

"Patsi is it accurate to assume that you were a Clinton supporter? I know the Clinton people hate Keith. "

It is accurate that I was a Clinton supporter.And it is even more accurate that I despise oinkers.

LL: someone has finally gotten my point. And, it is you. I have every right to Bitch, about paying more taxes. As most of you seem to think I am someone who has been rather lucky, not having to pay so far. Well, now I am and with that comes my right to Yell and Scream and throw a Hissy Fit, if I want too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YWC - The link to the % was interesting but of little value. Did I miss the point of Standard of Living and opportunity and access.

Why is it such a good thing to not celebrate wealth? This is GOOD !! I am not in that % but I do not curse those that are - if they earned it, it should be there's and they should pay the fairshare.

In fact YWC - WHO pays the bills for this country? Why do people get jealous of wealth? Have more self worth. If people lied, cheated, take from others illegal or do not pay there share, cheat on taxes,, That is one thing.

Barack and his bad banker comments was out of line and an insult to millions of people in postions that work hard everyday. Barack with that comment appears to be the biggot. (tough words for the Ping... Tough day)

Bob, thanks for your excellent write-up on Pickens and all the technologies he's had his fingers in over the years.
http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/and-a-governor-shall-lead-them.html#comment-204166

One of the energy savers I'd like seeing is a solar powered multi-voltage DC buss that would take care of all the low voltage doodads that proliferate the typical home. I know I must have at least two dozen little lights glowing all day long. I'd unplug them, but the reinitialization after powering them up again is such a pain in the butt.

LL>. My treat..
Darn Dems..

Opps

I remember a person who used to bitch about her maid, and her country club meals, and her jaguar breaking down.....I guess bitching about taxes is the new method of letting everyone know you make 250K and above......how delightful.

Enjoy your evenings.....

~peace

Jack

That is where it's disappointing small biz,,,and farmers should get a fucking break for a change,,,,( family owned farms that is)

I just signed that contract that I told u about,,,and Im going to start thinking about some creative way not to pay some taxes,,,,,

Why can't we just have a flat income,,,and a flat sales tax,,,and work around the poor?

going to get my violin in order to accompany Le Ping

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/and-a-governor-shall-lead-them.html#comment-204285

Jack, First none of this has been done. He has submitted a budget. He has pointed out areas where costs could be cut and suggested taxes that could be raised. All of it still has to make its way through House and Senate. To get panties in a twist at this stage is more than a little premature.

I do believe though that he was in favor of eliminating deductions for large Agri Business corporations not family farms as well as those given to employers who ship jobs overseas.

It might be a good idea to make suggestions for tax policy to your Congress Critters rather than grousing about the person who just gets to sign the finished product that they devise.

Class warfare returns to Washington
"“It’s increasingly beginning to look like we’ve all been invited to the dinner, but some of us are showing up as the main course and others are the invited guests,” said Martin Regalia, the chief economist for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which has supported Obama’s economic recovery programs."
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0209/19387.html

Ping...

Do you include in your paeon to "millions of hardworking people" in the banking industry the ones that knowingly perpetrated a fraud on the American people? I'm not talking about just the CEOs...I'm talking about the whole culture, down through the rank and file.

Do you actually think this shit just happened by accident?

Man, if that's the case, you need to get out more.

Flat Tax - Progessive.
Home Ownership deduction..

Then maybe one or two more on 4 year cycles.. Like Car interest..

Simplify
That is my platform !!

Chloe

Hello--my mind is made up all of the time,,,it doesn't take long for me to know what it is ,,,,or what it is not!,,,,like you----you is :-)))

The Ping Platform: "Bernie Madoff in 2012!"

Let's see how far you get with that one.

I hope you feel better Lampe. Good place to throw hissy fits.

I've made about $250k, but lived on a $75k budget and everything else was donated or went in to savings. I couldn't buy the flashy things, probably my Dutch heritage. When I walked through the Cisco parking lot my license plate was one of the lowest number there.

How's that Jack? How does capital gains hurt farmers? None of my relatives made enough money for it to make a difference.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/and-a-governor-shall-lead-them.html#comment-204285

YesWeCan...don't you have your own blog? I thought you were disgusted with all the Lemmings here. Why do you keep coming back?

Ping's not quite flat tax.

Patsi-----Im wit U

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/and-a-governor-shall-lead-them.html#comment-204288

Hey who you calling a lemming? Great game by the way

"it doesn't take long for me to know what it is ,,,,or what it is not!"

Hi Solar.
That's because you simplify things. I agree. We have to. It's all about survival.

It's so nice that you always understand what I'm talking about. :)

Ping.......all this has been a long time coming......had obama not been elected it would have been even longer.......

"What Lard?"

Gee, if you're so fresh and new here why would you refer to me with such a familiar term? Maybe you're just old news, dude. Your repeated appearances here under new names is just pathetic.

Chloe, one of the prescient speeches of the 20th Century:
Military-Industrial Complex Speech,
Eisenhower's Farewell Address to the Nation Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1961
http://coursesa.matrix.msu.edu/~hst306/documents/indust.html

“In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.”

"WHO pays the bills for this country?"

Ping,

Under the Republicans over the last couple of decades those WHO that you speak of do not pay their share. They own or control 98% of the wealth of the country but only pay about 45% of the costs.

It is the reason so many of our public services are way out of whack. More and more of the costs of those services have been shifted down to the State and county levels where they are slashing as much as they can slash. It is the reason the nation's infrastructure is out of date and crumbling.

It's time to put the balance back.

Before 1960 the highest income tax bracket was 90%. I believe it now sits at 33%. In the 50 years since 1960 most of it under Republican control, more and more wealth has found its way into fewer and fewer hands. The US economy that used to be a nice healthy diamond shape has turned into a triangle with more and more of the population drifting down towards poverty.

Enjoy the L Curve http://www.lcurve.org/

Yes AC. A great man!

Patsi

I just remembered it has been one year this Feb, since I watched any one on MSNBC and was not tempted to kick in the tv screen!

Sturg.. But you do not do it all at once without a way to pay the bill !!

How can the MSM and press give him such a pass on his activity.
Day one - Spend with no controls and pass quickly a mixed bill not focused on the crisis at hand -
Day two - Opps we missed some stuff so lets focus on that.
Day three - Now lets go back to housing - gosh we talked about this in the elections - but I needed to slip a bunch of items to set direction past the american people (that whew I did beat the Old Man by a few total vote % - anything but Bush) and ride the Wave.

SPEECH....
I am going to give everything to everyone and punish the rich that already pay the bills even if they earned fairly their money - and give lots to Charity - Heck this is the Church of Obama - and it is Patriotic to Pay Taxes - and forget your tithe to the Church...
And then I am going to balance the budget and go after earamarks and Pork.... But Only after I get this Crap passed.... and please do not make me do what I said at the end of my speech to the promises that I made at the opening .

Stock Market Continues to Tank

OK I RAMBLE...

Yawn. Stretches. Scratches Ass. Mornin' peeps.

We've seen it all. Go back to your own blog. For good, please.

Jamie -
taxes is based on activity and not wealth.

Write a new tax law.

Fact is the top few % pay the bill..

And you know this..... But you are good

LL - Ya think it was.......
He still owes me dinner

Depends on how the laws are written Ping. That would be true if there weren't thousands of special exemptions weren't written in to the tax laws. My accountant loves to point them out and who they're written for is obvious.

http://tinyurl.com/5ws3po

Alan-a-Dale (Disney's Robin Hood) playing and singing for Bobby the Bare:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Mn8h8ZPwQw&feature=related

don1one....
Good point... Like AMT - Mininum tax.... A large percent of returns do all of these calculations- information only to be voided by the Alternate Min Tax.

I Say we start the non denominational TrailMixers Crawfords List for a progressive Flat Tax.

Not Fair Tax - But a straight up Flat Tax...

Who is in?

Ping

If I could make one mil and pay 40% tax on it,,,that leaves me 600k,,,and would gladly do it year after year,,,,,in order for the country to function properly,,,,,if we all did this there would be not problem.

I think that the problem comes in after we have build a surplus and or the deficit is very low,,,,,,but then comes the two party grab bag of special interest groups,,and the favors owed,,,,by both the D's and the R's,,,,and then the lax laws that are put in place,,so they can be paid back,.,,,get the pharmacy's in line,,,,Obama is not talking about this,,,and legalize pot,,

I'd go for that, with a few special exemptions like catastrophic illness.

kneep that slits the cavelled reeve of slare............

Yo, Ping! The idea of class warfare sounds pretty good. Let's see, you say the top few % pay the bill. And, I say the bottom couple of a % are willing to put their lives on the line so those scumbags can skate.

Careful not to kill the goose that lays the golden egg.

History shows the failed results of such

I always wanted to be a skating scumbag, but I could never afford the skates.......

Dirty Jobs and Ice Road Truckers should prove there are people that deserve to have lower taxes. :^)

Ping

A flat tax,,,,,and no more IRS,,,,count me in twice,,,Im from Il,,,we vote twice here,,,,,but just thing of it,,,,,no strong arming the poor from the IRs

Jamie, thanks for your input. Will contact Kennedy's office tomorrow , I left them alone as Flatus suggested till after the election, but need to get on it.

Sturgeone

I saw Roger Miller live once in San Jose and then several years later when I was in DC, I saw the out of town premier for Big River. He was a wonderful song writer and as with many song writers, some of his best songs weren't the hits.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOzP1xPkgOM

Medical pot supporters cheer end of DEA raids

http://www.mercurynews.com/crime/ci_11794348

Flatus

This Marine Salutes You,,,,it is hardly ever mentioned that the scum are not on the front lines,,,,thanks

I know this was discussed.....

I am watching a rerun of the Pres Address... Pelosi? Cocaine or red Bull?

Don

Land, equipment, breeding stock are all examples of things that income from their sale is taxed as a capital gain.

It adds up.

Jack

I am with you Ping. I would prefer a flat tax. No deductions. No creative accounting. No childcare deductions for childrens camps and such. I just bet we could pay off the deficit in no time.

I am sympathetic to you also Lampe. I don't make anything close to $250K but I worry the definition of rich will keep creeping down until it snags me also. It already hits me hard enough.

I worked hard, spent years in college, worked two jobs most of my life, made very little money and just now, close to retirement I finally have a decent salary but have no sick leave or disability protection. Something happens and I am just out of luck. You guys already know my tried to save for hard times story.

I work everyday with people(jail) who live off of others. Many are on disability or public assistance and then they also help themselves to what others have worked hard for.

I had one inmate who was in for bank fraud. He told me it was a victimless crime and it was worth it to spend 7 months in jail for the $70,000 he ripped off. You guys might be more cynical if you had more contact with this type of people.

thanks jack, didn't know

Ya'll have a good night....

Da Ping Pong Parting Point..

I saw a message about drug testing. We have it at work and many laws require drug free work place. Lets go fair and balanced - no more corp LUXARY jets and parties if you take Federal dollars..
And FOR ALL You gotta pass a urine drug test if you take federal aid of any type !!! Food Stamps, Unemployement....so if you want to blow weed or take other drugs. Fine - But do not take Federal dollars.

That was Ping Pong parting point

Carol,

If the guy serving seven months had stolen $7,000 from a bank with a gun instead of $70,000 with a pen, he would have been in jail for a decade or more.

Jamie......i started out looking for "ya goddanged govamint" by Huck's dad but went from there to the Whidbey Playhouse and then found Roger on that show.......yeah, he was quite a guy.....told some reporter somewhere oncet that his big driving ambition was to pour concrete over every square inch of his Daddy's oklahoma farm.......

And Flatus.. I have all the respect to your point ... and Scum bags should pay the price... But to place all the top % in a labeled catagorey is simply wrong. Many many good people do lots of good....

Sad that Barack is playing this card...

And with that I am out

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/and-a-governor-shall-lead-them.html#comment-204328

"Uneasy rests the dead who stares at clowns"

Ping,

If you pop back in, I agree. If you are on welfare, receiving foodstamps, on SSI due to the effects of alcoholism or drug addiction ... you better test clean. If working people are paying your bills, they have a right to expect you are doing your part to live as healthy and constructive a life as possible.

Try this, Lard:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oof60kDFqAc

I can't understand why Madoff is still not in jail. Didn't he admit he ripped off all those people? If he is out on bail, isn't it money he ripped off others?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/and-a-governor-shall-lead-them.html#comment-204349

If they put him in jail, Madoofus (copyright) might not cooperate. If he doesn't cooperate, a lot of people don't get their money back.

Carol,

He is very wealthy and has excellent lawyers. He is out on bail and confined to his pent house. There is a good chance he will die of old age before the whole mess is resolved. In the meantime many of the charities that were previously supported by the people Maddoff cheated are really hurting for support now and many may have to cease working.

Here's the real kicker, ct. A lot of people MADE money with Madoff, but now they have to give it back. I'm no lawyer, but I suspect cases stemming from this situation will last for decades.

if he does co-operate "certain" people get their money back?

I should clarify by "made money with Madoff", I mean "unwittingly but still illegally profited from Madoff's fraud". Thank you.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/and-a-governor-shall-lead-them.html#comment-204353

I doubt anyone knows how the redistribution will work, Sturge. If you profited from Madoof, you are legally obliged to report that, which would probably result in your assets being frozen (can't imagine a lot of volunteers), and if you lost money, you report it, and then they go from there.

There are a lot of people who stand to gain if Madoff is kept comfortable and honest right now rather than incarcerated and silent.

Hang Down your Dooley, Tom Head

I was going to post this yesterday; my joke was "Now I can finally get that Word Series ring I've always wanted...", but the story is in context now:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5gs21rA2au4uAwzI-EfsQrJTze_Mg

...turns out a bunch of MLB players invested with Mark(?) Stanford, the Houston "financier" who was running a pyramid scheme like Madoff's. All the ballplayers who did "invest" with Stanford have their assets frozen now, effectively rendering them broke.

I agree with the drug testing for those recieving assistance. I also would like to have limitations on the kinds of foods one can purchase with food stamps. No junk food.

You might think I am a Republican when you read this but I promise I am not. Maybe it is the nurse in me.

For a while I observed the types of foods that were in the basket of thoses using food stamps to buy their groceries. Much of it was chips, twinkies, sodas. Very little healthy food. I also noticed that the majority of these people were significantly overweight. I assume that most of these people were also on Medicaid.

Has anyone else made these observations?

Sorry if this sounds harsh but I think you should have to work for the right to eat junk food, do drugs and get fat.

You know what Obama makes me feel like,,,,,

Like what the fox said when it's tail got run over by a train

"it won't be long now"

(last post for now)

To eat well, ct, you need to know what foods are healthy, how to cook, and an uncluttered kitchen with some decent utensils and cookware. Poor families have none of that. It's easier to buy chips and junk. AS far as drug-testing for assistance... we live in a drug culture; everyone's on some type of drug. Testing-for-assistance would just be more easily subverted bureaucracy that would waste more tax dollars.

You are right Champ. We couldn't just let those people on drug starve because I do realize they won't quit that habit. They are willing to come back to jail over and over because of drugs.

But then again, with Obama, anything is possible. Anyone recieving food stamps and Medicaid could be required to attend a class on healthy food choices and appropriate utilization of health care services. If it worked on just one of one hundred, it could save lots of money on future healthcare expenses. It qualifies as stimulus.

Dem spat delays mortgage relief bill in House

By JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS, Associated Press Writer

Thursday, February 26, 2009

(02-26) 13:20 PST WASHINGTON, (AP) --

A dispute among House Democrats stalled legislation Thursday to let bankruptcy judges reduce the principal and interest rate on mortgages for debt-strapped homeowners.

The measure, backed by President Barack Obama, is the most controversial part of a broader housing package that had been expected to pass the House this week.

It hit a snag after a group of moderates expressed concerns in a closed-door meeting of House Democrats about how the bill would affect homeowners who are still struggling to make their mortgage payments.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/02/26/national/w000634S89.DTL

Chloe: You posted this earlier but did not name the author. I really agree with this.

Obama Rolls The Dice
"The size of the gambles that President Obama is taking every day is simply staggering. What came through in his speech to a joint session of Congress and a national television audience Tuesday night was a dramatic reminder of the unbelievable stakes he has placed on the table in his first month in office...."

"It was also, and even more significantly, a measure of the degree to which he has taken personal responsibility for delivering on one of the most ambitious agendas any newly inaugurated president has ever announced. "

What we're seeing is someone who is actually putting his name on something - he is spending a lot of time selling his goals and his plans. He's the pusher.

Who knew we would see someone else doing his job and taking the responsibility so soon after the miracke on the hudson? He hasn't got approval yet and probably won't get it for everything, but he's working and it's his face we're seeing. It was a horrible 8 years because we knew w wasn't working and weren't sure who was working, altho we had an idea.

Michelle Obama has a new hair-do last night at the concert, and it was fabulous - the hair-do, that it. Made her smile appear even bigger.

Who knew tht Puccini wrote minuets? I just heard some and they are wonderful.

Opera buffs - have you ever considered La Boheme to be a heart-warming love story?

NEW THREAD

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/twittering-with-keith.html

wow, brought back memories .. even though Happy was out of office by time I could vote, remember his bigger than life personality & his voice, lol ... thanks for including it in your video ....

Viv