Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

Catching up on the later posts from last night, and this one from Bethy just cracked me up. Just love the concept:

"XR - I agree with you on something and can't remember what it is! "

"It is time for President Barack Obama, the leader of his party, to take action to end this ridiculous mess and push Burris out of the Senate seat he once held."

considering the seperation of powers argument that pogo or some other astute tm-er made yesterday, craig, the only reason to look beyond that and to agree with you is the fact that sen. burris is the sole african american currently serving in the senate and it will take the president and the black caucus to encourage resignation or give support to ousting by the folks who have the constitutional authority to oust e.g.senators. however, we shouldn't overlook the possibilty of a voluntary deal with fitzpatrick if he has incriminating tapes to support purjury charges or worse. am sure sen b would not like a conviction to be the last thing chiselled on the monument.

meanwhile, not all is cricket in antigua today

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/feb/18/allen-stanford-banks-caribbean

and another bit of bad news
http://uk.reuters.com/article/burningIssues/idUKTRE51I0JL20090219

Not much good news out there today, on any front.

Harry Reid was right when he said he didn't want to seat him... however he buckled...wheather it was for the reason of getting pressure for the reason of race or the reason that the reassurance of Burris's testimony in front of the impeachment hearing when the evidently at the least misled them by saying he hadn't talked to anyone... except the ones he did talk to...lol

Two satisfied customers of CC's Dance Hall and Fish Camp:

http://z.about.com/d/urbanlegends/1/0/T/8/catfish.jpg

Didn't Obama already make his case about not seating Burris before Burris was seated? Maybe he already knew the stench of Blago was on the guy. Maybe it makes it too easy to connect the dots to Obama for other reasons. I don't think Obama needs to get involved in this any more than I think he needs to keep apologizing for appointments gone awry.

sturge, wow, imagine the hush puppies and cheese grits it would take to go with that catfish! and the size of the fryer!

C-List get together in D.C. We get together and politely ask Burris to leave. Offer him a spot at our fish camp. I finally found the Facebook group some of the people I have known through work started. It's called "The Company Formerly Known As Prince etc..." Almost 200 people in this group.

Craig

You keep making the assumption that Obama has the power to push Burris anywhere.

Being the leader of the Democratic party doesn't confer much power over the party.
At this point it is only a minor distraction best handled by Senate rules and procedures. For him to weigh in in any way turns it into a major distraction and he has too many real problems he needs to deal with.

Jack

they hadda go to Washington state to get the pan.......

http://www.wlra.us/wl/wlfryingpan.jpg

Corey...

I hope your plant is not one of the ones that GM is looking to close and that your job don't disappear if it isn't.

Take care my friend and...

Have a great day.

If Chrysler liquidates, then I'm in big trouble. Because I make door panels for Jeep right now. Our plants current layoffs went as far as people hired in August of 1998. I hired in November of 1995.

Thanks, Anon. You have a good day, too!

corey.....sell everything, get a fishing rod and HEAD SOUTH...............

You get a line and I'll get a pole...We'll go fishin' in the crawdad hole...

"If Chrysler liquidates"

Cory

Better start making plans on that career change, Chrysler has always been on the edge. The only thing they had going for them is several of the people owning Chrysler were major Bushistas.

Jack

Mornin'.

Craig, I suppose change is incremental. btw, separation of powers be damned, I think you are on the right track with this one - let's just say I've changed my mind from a separation of powers argument to a leader of the party argument. Obama may not have the legal standing to do anything, but he does have head of party status and all the other "soft" powers you pointed out yesterday. And this simply points out why you are a popular, highly successful, fabulously well paid pundit on that end of the tubes and I am a lowly unpaid blogger on this end.

Corey, considering the popularity of the Jeep brand, I find it hard to believe someone wouldn't buy it in a liquidation, but then again, Oldsmobile has gone the way of the dodo and Pontiac might follow, so nothing is certain but . . . Really, best of luck to you.

A little news on the Coleman/Franken front.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20090218/pl_politico/19009;_ylt=AoWCx8xA8jxZPz1IEcGWNrayFz4D

The best news is that 13% more Minnesotans oppose his election challenge - if Coleman loses, I wouldn't pick him to win any gubernatoeial race as a result.

Hope C-Bob is watching Philippe Cousteau on C-Span, talking about the future of the world's oceans.

I agree with pogo -- Jeep is a strong brand. Let's not be hanging crepe on Corey's career just yet. It's too early in the morning for a funeral!

sturg, maybe Corey should consider Thailand.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8404622/

Now that's a big fish.

And sturg - go to this site and click on the "Heaviest Specimen" button on the left.

http://www.fishing-worldrecords.com/

I guess it anwers many questions about one of ur mysterious members (that being you).

I wouldn't be surprised if Jeep was taken over by Tata--the big Indian manufacturer.

Just pre-ordered Craig and Helen's new book. Estimated delivery is 8 October. Amazon.

Am I the first paying customer?

Patsi - the sad part of that is that it was true - I just couldn't wait to say my piece! lol

CA just passed its budget. Who said we were feckless?

fair warning to everyone----

"In the hush-hush world of Swiss banking, the unthinkable is happening: secrets are spilling into the open."

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/19/business/worldbusiness/19ubs.html

This might prove to be very interesting. The financial world is in chaos, fear abounds and the likes of Suze Orman are calling all of Wall Street "liars". (this am on MOJO)

On the bright side there is some green peeking into the markets......

The Republicans who refuse to take Recovery Money for their states and for their people, are like the "Grinch" who stole Christmas. The Party of No and endless negativity! They fail to see the great good the stimulus will accomplish but rather concentrate and speak on imaginary wrongs and evils, Invoking that old fear god, evil portents of tales which might never happen. Clearly, a death wish for them.

Good Morning, I'm racing and have barely caught up, but very much enjoyed last nights post (although I would have enjoyed having more time to go through them).

Hey Tony. We almost crossed paths yesterday, but I left a little too soon.

I saw your post about the possibility of them dissolving your Homeowners association and am wondering, do you care that much if they do? I don't know how high the payment is, but it might help some people if they don't have to worry about. (I don't think it will deplete the value of your home, at this point. (?))

Hi Pogo, I saw your post from yesterday and I really don't think these early cardinals are a sign of anything more than a mild winter here in Houston and that now we're getting an early spring,. Not all that unusual in Houston. It's all cycles to me. :)

Flatus, I enjoyed reading that Cardinal link you posted. I learned a few things reading it, including why they only seem to eat the sunflower seeds and not the others.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/burris-on-the-run.html#comment-201650

Max, I really loved that post.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/burris-on-the-run.html#comment-201630

Craig, This one too! It's so nice to see you around here so much.

....Now I'll catch up on todays posts.

The Burris debacle is a sideshow in comparison to our economic meltdown, and there's no way that President Obama needs to get involved with that......seriously.

I am surprised Craig that you seem intent on making Burris President Obama's number one problem. I just don't think that is in the cards.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/burris-must-go.html#comment-201710

Congratulations California! And Bethy. :)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/02/18/MNCM160B0E.DTL&tsp=1

Premature congratulations on the Cal budget

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/burris-must-go.html#comment-201687

sturg, that is the biggest catfish i ever saw, must be a global warming thing

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/burris-must-go.html#comment-201708

Flatus, i didn't even know it was on Amazon already. Thanks. You must be the first.

Strug -

That is one ugly fish.

Jamie -

Exercise. > Walking

Cory -

Reinvention

Senate not likely to oust Sen. Roland Burris anytime soon
The new senator from Illinois arrived under a cloud that has only grown -- but the Senate rarely expels its own members.

"It takes a vote of two-thirds of the senators to oust a member, and the last senators to be formally expelled were charged with supporting the rebels during the Civil War.

"You have to give him due process," Gross said. "He has a fighting spirit and says he has done nothing wrong. So this could take a while.""
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-ethics19-2009feb19,0,6551324.story?track=rss

"Premature congratulations on the Cal budget"

Ok, I officially change that to 'Good Luck' California!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/burris-must-go.html#comment-201715

it's his problem, unlikely b, if burris cannot keep that seat and it goes republican -- the stimulus fight showed how they had to compromise to get the 3 GOP votes they needed to overcome a filibuster -- the more dems he gets and keeps in the senate, the less he'll have to compromise on things like national health insurance

think I'll just sit back and watch with amusement as this Burris stuff enfolds.....
one thing is for sure..... politics is rarely dull....

I don't know why some of you are talking about "early" Cardinals..... they don't migrate.... I have several pair that are at my feeders all winter long....

it has felt like spring even here in NH.... we had some snow last night.... but it's already melting..... we're suppose to get into the low 40s this afternoon.... I bet the maple sap is running.... though with all the tree damage from that ice storm, I wonder how it will affect the sap running locally.....

From the :
Signals from nature file

" When hundreds of small, grey-headed flying foxes began falling from the sky at Yarra Bend in suburban Melbourne, for some it heralded the awful events that would later unfold. It was Wednesday, January 28, one day into the ferocious heatwave that would wax and wane before returning with terrible intensity last weekend.

That first day, calls began pouring into Wildlife Victoria. As the bats were dying en masse in the city, ringtail possums were falling out of trees in the bush and distressed kangaroos, too weak to jump, were baulking at fences. "

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/global-warming/the-end-of-climate-certainty-20090213-876f.html
----------------------------

We're seeing things we've never seen before.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/burris-must-go.html#comment-201708

Flatus,

Maybe all the regulars could get in pre orders, create a buzz and have it hit the NY Times (assuming there is still a Times) Best Seller List the first week.

Jamie, sounds good to me! (Hope you're feeling better both healthwise and from the prescription sticker shock. Maybe your prescription is from a manufacturer that subsidies the cost of medications if your doc asks them to.)

02-19) 06:20 PST Sacramento - --

After five days of Capitol arm-twisting, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Senate Democrats secured a breakthrough GOP vote early this morning that gives the necessary two-thirds majority to their plan to save the state from what they warn is impending financial ruin.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/02/19/MNCM160B0E.DTL&tsp=1

now the assembly...

A different take on the Burris debacle:

How to get rid of Roland Burris
The Constitution contains enough wiggle room to allow Illinois to fire its embarrassing senator.

"The likelihood that this ambitious rogue will fold his cards seems slim.....Can nothing be done to bring this tawdry saga to a quicker end?

"Illinois......statute currently provides that "the Governor shall make temporary appointment to fill such vacancy until the next election of representatives in Congress." When the Blagojevich scandal broke, the Legislature considered stripping the governor of appointing authority, but punted -- in part, one suspects, because Democrats wanted to keep the prerogative of appointment for Blago's successor. That was the wrong call. Arguably, the Legislature could go back and undo the mistake it made by passing a statute tomorrow calling for a special election to be held on, say, Tuesday, April 7.

As a nation, we made the choice for popular election of senators in 1913. We as a people should carry through the logic of the amendment by getting rid of gubernatorial appointment. Sen. Russ Feingold has proposed a constitutional amendment to fix the anomaly in the amendment; but we needn't wait for the tortuous amendment process. Every state can fix this glitch by statute, and Illinois should be the first."

http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2009/02/19/roland_burris/

This AP lead and the story that follows nails why Dems should not pretend Burris doesn't matter: "The Obama administration and the new Congress are quickly handing over to Republicans the same "culture of corruption" issue that Democrats used so effectively against the GOP before coming to power." -- http://bit.ly/J5FbC

Man, oh man, am I enjoying your link to the Swiss bank, UB. I'll bet some people are scared - at least I hope so.

Now we just need to get the others.

Wall Street is a poker game - they have to lie to make it look like a business.

"For him to weigh in in any way turns it into a major distraction and he has too many real problems he needs to deal with."

Jack, I tend to agree with you on this.

Sitting here watching the Big Joe polka show on RFD-TV. The music is pretty good and the crowd he draws every week are motivated to dance even though many of them lost their moves years ago.

The community radio station in Tampa had a really good polka show on Sunday mornings as well as lots of klezmer which I really find interesting.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/burris-must-go.html#comment-201733

well i'm saying get it over with now, before it becomes a major distraction -- and showing some toughness against bad actors in his own party might avoid handing this "culture of corruption" issue to the GOP.. http://bit.ly/J5FbC

Ugh -

Once again Crawford is right.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/burris-must-go.html#comment-201729

KGC

I thought the Assembly had already passed and that it was now on the way for Arnie's signature.

The assembly just passed it 10 minutes ago...

The Legislature began voting at 3:40 a.m. on a package of 33 bills to close a $41 billion budget deficit through June 2010 - a record shortfall resulting from a faltering state economy and the collapse of the housing and banking markets. By 6:55 a.m., both houses of the Legislature had passed the plan.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/02/19/MNCM160B0E.DTL&tsp=1

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/burris-must-go.html#comment-201731

Craig, Don't you think how this affects the Democrats will depend completely on how they handle these situations. If they're quick to make it known that disciplinary action will be swift and set things right quickly, then voters will take that into consideration. It seems like their handling of the wrongs done are the most important part of this whole process. In that sense, then Obama does need to let his intentions known. Let people know that no wrong doings will be over looked under his watch. That will create even more trust in the party, regardless of individual misdeeds.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/burris-must-go.html#comment-201728

Flatus, I'm fine on the sticker shock as it will be partially subsidized (Still high but not unmanageable). I just think it is criminal that the total cost for those not covered is through the roof, particularly when you consider what those Plavix ads on TV must cost.

yes, chloe, swift and decisive action is precisely what i'm calling for, but it is not happening. they've been dragging their feet on problems like Charlie Rangel since last year with no action.. http://bit.ly/3UEU0w

My only observation is that we " out here in fly over country " see our entire ruling class as corrupt. I mean we're pretty much in an ocean of corruption when the bond rating agencies passed out Triple "A" stickers to every piece of paper floating around Wall St.

At a time that will demand a lot of greatness, we seem to be churning out a lot of mediocrity.

"I don't know why some of you are talking about "early" Cardinals..... they don't migrate.... I have several pair that are at my feeders all winter long...."

Renee, I have too. But what I was talking about is that I could already hear what sounded like so many of them outside. The singing was really loud like it is in mid Spring. That, and my oaks are blooming so early. It's getting green already. There is definitely a very early spring arriving here, and it seemed to happen so quickly.

The Republicans were brought on board after the gas tax increase was dropped. I think the rapid increase in gasoline cost is going to be a problem for the US economy's recovery.

The Obama administration needs to be tough with Exxon and other gasoline retailers. They have made a ton of money and need to be a part of the recovery instead of a part of the cause ...that change I could believe in...

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/burris-must-go.html#comment-201742

Thanks Craig.
I usually arrive here thinking one thing and leave thinking another. :)

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/burris-must-go.html#comment-201743

CBob,

At one point I thought something might have slipped out of whack with morality in the last few decades, but then I decided that the percentages of saints and sinners had probably stayed the same and only the total number had grown.

The average folks are just as good as they have always been, and it is just that the bad guys have more ways to make more noise than before.

Sturg -
Your governor as come to his senses , and is going to take the money . This is good news, it means that South Carolina is rapidly moving into 1933.

Senate Leaders Say Burris’ Future in Senate ‘In Question’.. http://bit.ly/4IQY

Re: Burris

I hope the Republicans try to tag Democrats with Kulture of Kurruption --perhaps they can have Tom Delay be their spokes criminal...or Diaper Dave...or Ted Stevens (he has lots of free time)

The chatterting class seems to be losing their ability to drive stories and I doubt that Drudgico will be able to turn Burris into Obama's problem.

Ugh -
Jamie's right as well.

renee, the "early cardinal" comment was mine - and Iwas quickly educated about the non-migratory habits of the Northern Cardinal by Flatus. Of course the cardinal, a non migratory species, is protected by the Migratory Bird Act (or whatever it's called). Figures, no?

Chloe, Pr. Epps apparently suffers under the delusion that the Ill. legislature may be driven by the same principles he is.

Bob, this Craig is right, Jamie is right stuff gets monotonous, doesn't it?

UBS should ask for their money back from Phil Gramm .

Banking giant UBS admits to defrauding IRS, agrees to pay $780 million

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2009/02/banking_giant_ubs_to_pay_780_million_in_tax_case.php

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

And they have to cough - up the names of all the American tax cheats they helped.
That should be a real fur ball.

Maybe George Will can talk about the Obama -Burris problem

Washington Post runs George Will’s newest column without issuing a correction for his last one.»

On Sunday, the Washington Post printed a climate change denial column by George Will that contained several demonstrable falsehoods. Despite the loud chorus of critics pointing out Will’s factual flaws, Washington Post editorial page editor Fred Hiatt has refused to comment on the errors and the column has not received a correction. Will has another column in the Post today, but it too has no correction attached to it for his last column’s obvious factual mistakes.
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/02/19/will-climate-correction/

kc, if you have a lot of extra time and just want to see what it takes to make your head explode, get into this site and muck about - and try to figure out from the tables etc. thare what really drives fuel prices.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/oil_gas/petroleum/info_glance/petroleum.html

I'd do it, but I might need my head later.

George Will -
Profile in courage.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/burris-must-go.html#comment-201714

"Hey Tony. We almost crossed paths yesterday, but I left a little too soon."

Hi Chloe
Yes we just missed each other.Its ok though because at least all of us here are getting a bit of are Chloe fix again..Nice..

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/burris-must-go.html#comment-201753

Pogo, I would have happily let you live in ignorance (along with me) if it wasn't for LP. I was deeply concerned that he would accept the migratory status of cardinals as having come from an unimpeachable source, to wit, you. :) And, then attempt to educate is middle school class on that fact.

When the World Knocks at the White House Door

"...guns and butter are easy to promise but almost impossible to deliver at the same time."
http://100days.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/18/when-the-world-knocks-at-the-white-house-door/?ref=opinion

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/burris-must-go.html#comment-201758

Tony, I REALLY do love you.
The only fix I need is my 'Tony' fix. Thanks....

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/burris-must-go.html#comment-201762

Thanks!!
Now could you please send me a hot steamy 90 degree day?HA HA

Oh, that's OK Flatus - I welcome having my misconceptions corrected by factual information on those rare occasions when I'm wrong. :-)

Now what about Green Herons - they are migratory, right? I assume the one that used to hang out in the creek by our house migrated somewhere and forgot his way back - MUCH to my chagrine - I love to sit and watch herons.

http://www.birdweb.org/birdweb/bird_details.aspx?id=46

If I could I would.
But I thought that's what you were already having. :)

I haven't been able to look closely at what this green part of the Stim Bill does, but the company Obama highlighted are bunch of real " propeller heads ".

http://www.namastesolar.com/index.htm

Pogo -
Great Herons, Blue Herons, but I never heard of "Green" ones.

Here's one that's great to watch at the feeder :

Lewis's Woodpecker

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Lewiss_Woodpecker.html

I really hope that HRC never sets foot on "Hardball." She doesn't owe that "SlimeBall" Matthews anything, after the way he talked about her.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/burris-must-go.html#comment-201765

Nope,i'm off today and 72 and gloomy...I wanted to go to the beach! I'm so spoiled...I'll just have to go to the gym and workout....

Polo, I love herons, too. My favorites were the little blue and the Louisiana herons, both of which were year around residents of our Florida coastline.

Our most common herons were the great blues. You'd figure a bird that large and majestic would have more than a little intelligence, or if not intelligence, at least some practical sense, Alas, they don't.

On more than one occasion, I saw a great blue spending hours at the side of our pool waiting for a fish to swim bye. And, I've watched them trying to swallow overly large mullet which could never traverse their gullet. They would seemingly give-up in disgust only to return to the same fish five minutes later. So much for lessons learned from mater.

Lampe
I agree with you! I was watching MOJO the morning he said those awful things about Hillary only being a Senator because Bill cheated on her and everyone felt sorry for her! I have never been so enraged by someone on TV,not even Bush....

CBob.... here's all about the Green Heron..... one of my favorites also....

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Green_Heron.html

heard an interesting hour with Diane Rehm on the economy....
one economist reminded us that busts and booms have been happening since the dawn of this country.... he listed them starting in the 1600s..... the number of them was an eye opener.....

then he ended by saying the problem isn't the housing market..... the problem is human nature...... so far there's no cure for greed..... to which I say Amen....

tonyb39: IMO Matthews, is nothing more than a waste of good space!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/burris-must-go.html#comment-201773

Lampe-How right you are...........

Feed end tariffs -

Get used to this term, it's coming to a electric wire near you.

Feed-in tariffs — also known as “standard offer contracts” — guarantee long-term preferential rates to small renewable energy developers so they can compete on price with conventional (and less costly) forms of power.

Feed-in Tariffs: Ontario’s Experience

So many local wind and solar developers — as well as homeowners looking to install photovoltaic panels — applied for Ontario’s standard offer that the government’s 10-year target cap of 1,000 megawatts was exceeded within a year.

http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/10/feed-in-tariffs-ontarios-experience/

Bob, I got intrigued by Herons and Egrets when I was working Outward Bound in Maine and Florida. In Florida, one of the best places to see them - and the only place I can recall seeing a Roseate Spoonbill in the wild - was the Homestead dump. If you can take the smell, the birding there is amazing. Green Herons are relatively uncommon I believe. Great White Herons and Great Blue Herons (actually, one and the same - the Great White is a variant of the Great Blue and is really only seen in FL & the Caribbean, and is probably mistaken for the Great Egret - the Audubon Society's symbol) are the ones everyone thinks of when they think Heron. Greens are smaller birds - tending more toward smaller Egret size.

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

bob, if one of Lewis' Woodpeckers gets lost, I'll look for it. Around here we have a lot of the different woodpeckers - my fave is the Pileated one - big bastard with a hell of a loud pecking sound.

Gee Pogo. If the aim is to make KGC's head explode, I've got a website that will make it spin around five or six times, release steam through all the orifices and still have enough energy left to do an imitation of Blair in the Exorcist: :-)

http://capoliticalnews.com/s/

"Here's one that's great to watch at the feeder :

Lewis's Woodpecker"

C-Bob -- I have some of these woodpeckers at my feeder most of the time...

http://tinyurl.com/atj9nz

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/burris-must-go.html#comment-201761

Tony, I saw it and believed it was sincere. He has said nice things about her before despite too frequent unwarranted slaps at the Clintons. It was the only thing that made me forgive him for his spittle laden jeremiad attack on the President for being "indecisive" and putting words of agreement in the mouths of his guests even when they protested.

It's hard to peg Matthews. He goes from reasonable, thoughtful analysis to completely off the wall error laden, bromide stuffed yammering. If a tattood biker chick with canary colored hair shows up, we can do a remake of the Three Faces of Eve (er Chris)

Been waiting for word of this thing to happen :

An ice sheet of 14,000 square kilometres has broken off from the Wilkins Shelf, and has itself broken into several large icebergs, according to a statement from Spain's National Research Council (CSIC). ........... 'We have seen huge icebergs, which have split off from the ice platform. Some of these icebergs are more than 200 metres high.'

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/europe/news/article_1460070.php/Researchers_spot_huge_split_in_Antartic_ice_shelf_

--------------------
14,000 sq. kilometers = 5,400 sq. miles

Over the past two weeks, the scientists have seen the ice shelf on the edge of the Belinghausen Sea recede 550km and have noted that the water temperatures are extraordinarily warm in this area.

http://www.thinkspain.com/news-spain/16286/wilkins-ice-shelf-collapses

-----------------------------
We're seeing things we've never seen before.

Roland Burris is a reminder of how corrupt most politicians are. Every time I see his smirking face I hate the political process more. He is a little weasly man who represents everything wrong with politics in this country.

Good news from the International Shark Attack File -

Burgess believes the recession may be responsible for the decline in shark attacks.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6270855.html

Pogo, I've seen the spoonbills wild in the Ding Darling preserve on Sanibel. Lots of other critters there as well. And, I've also seen them along the ditches on, what is it, U.S. 41 north of Ft Myers,.

WE can all look forward to many in depth reports on cable news about the decline in shark attacks. Cable news loves shark attacks.

Too bad we're not all in Australia, they're still grazing on the surfers down there this year.

Jamie, LOL. It wasn't my intent to have KC blow her head up - but I'd have to say your link would probably work better than mine if that's what she decides she wants to do.

Bob - 14,000 sq.M.? Dayum, that's one BIG hnk of ice - about the size of Connecticutt.

Gov says SC might take money despite misgivings

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iMHH1qsaU_80ewyPlhAhGDnoONIwD96EN9N80
------------------------

There are counties in South Carolina that have 14% unemployment, & the unemployment fund is busted.
Does anybody know this guy's approval rating ?

Pogo -
14,000 sq. Kilometers that's 5,400 sq. Miles
( I have the Unit Conversion widget on widget dashboard, a great widget to get, I use it more than the calculator. )

"It's hard to peg Matthews. He goes from reasonable, thoughtful analysis to completely off the wall error laden, bromide stuffed yammering. If a tattood biker chick with canary colored hair shows up, we can do a remake of the Three Faces of Eve (er Chris)"

Ha,Jamie lov ya,you made me laugh so much! Funny,funny...

In case you thought the net makes you sick, or crazy .... Turns out you may be right :

Feb. 19 (Bloomberg) -- Social networking Web sites such as Facebook and MySpace may increase the risk of health problems as serious as cancer, strokes and dementia by altering the way genes work, according to a report in the Biologist journal.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=aF6IOZ6l2SCA&refer=europe

Hear, hear Tony

I would just add that the biker chick has a bald pate.

The flooding rains in Australia haven't stopped either , they've moved west as well -

Global mining giant Rio Tinto said its iron ore operations in Western Australia had been significantly disrupted by torrential rains and floods as a tropical low hit the region.

The drought-stricken town of Bourke was drenched by 200 millimetres of rain (eight inches) -- about two-thirds of its annual rainfall -- in just 15 hours.

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Widespread_floods_hit_Australian_mines_towns_999.html

CBob,
I just downloaded that Unit conversion widget. Thanks for mentioning it. Also, thanks for letting me know that social networking may be altering my genes. Who would have thunk? :)

Craig

Forget Burris, nobody is paying any attention. There is a new scandal in town. It is the fugitive banker. It looks like many Senators on the banking committee are looking dirty. All we need is for a few hookers to have been seen in the area and we have a scandal that everybody loves.
Money, sex and people in high places.

Hey Chloe
Been meaning to ask you did you get my e-mail containing my photo at Donna Summer's star in Hollywood?

When that UBS tax cheat list pops up, it'll make Burris seem like guy with a tin cup.

ROFL -- GOP wants to be party of hip-hop:

http://tinyurl.com/dhb8rx

Patsi, I saw that piece about the GOP needing a hiphop makeover at HuffPo and almost peed myself. I kept having flashbacksto M.C. Rove.

Jack,

Money, sex, people in high places, and TEXAS ... This may be the best scandal ever ... Country singers are waiting in the wings tuning up the sliders for the perfect whine

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=auAqkrxMzKPc&refer=europe

Craig I will get on board with the tiny url's soon,,,,,and I really like the new TM---about Burris,,,,KGC's post of the day should be carried over to today's thread also,,,,,they all lie in order to be in the Senate,,,or Congress,,,even Hillary,but I do get your message and agree with it,,,,

Really,,,really enjoyed yesterday's thread,,,,,,

Don and Max great conversation,,,Don I don't agree with what (most of what U said about God and all,,,,and if we are not to take the Old Testament Literally then,,,,there is no basis for any of it IMO,,,Maxture very nice,,,and I do agree with you,, and especially the Marker that we inherit (mutations) from our parents,,,,,I have booked marked that page so I can read it again(scanned it )

Question for both of you,,,,,,Have you read Richard Dawkins,,,The God Delusion,and other great books that he wrote,,,,,and The End of Faith By Sam Harris,,,,,these books combined with Marvin Harris Anthropology and sociology,,,,and the Book on the Taboo Against Knowing who you are ,,,,,have converted me into the ranks of ,,,,,We are all the Gods that we seek to understand,,,,we are all just a little speck of the Universe ,,,and we are what we have been looking for,,,

These books along with others explain the logic,,or the lack of proof that today's modern man should ask,,,on the other hand Religious books that are written,(most of them) only teaches the reader how to deflect questions,,,and reiterate a the bible's meanings, thanks

We are what we have been looking for,,,,we are all IT,,,a bit of God....that is

Now who was it that said Secretary of What? - Craig, was that you? The problem with questions like that is that they very often are answered.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/19/before-clintons-south-kor_n_168148.html

"did you get my e-mail containing my photo at Donna Summer's star in Hollywood?"

Tony, No.
I just went and checked it though, and there it was!
Thank you Tony. You are so handsome!

Tony

You looked great in that pic,,,,but you almost kneeled on D S....

Hello MZ Chloe,, How is E N?

Hey Solar.
Emma Nicole is doing great. She's under my care right now, and is about ready to wake up (I can hear her stirring).

I just saw your email too. Guess I haven't been checking it much. I just replied.

Tonyb..I hope Hillary never appears with Matthews. He, along with most of the MSNBC crew, attacked her mercilessly during the primaries.

Hillary tends to extend the olive branch to those who have wronged her. That is admirable.

It will be a long time before I forgive or forget..

Watching Andrea Mitchell positively gushing over Hillary Clinton today on her MSNBC show makes clear that, to date, President Obama's choice of Clinton for Secretary of State has been his most successful one.
http://www.talkleft.com/story/2009/2/19/14028/9606

Pogo
The why does gas cost so much site doesn't have data including the big run up of last summer and according to their analysis --prices should be going down now! Very helpful :))))

As for you Jamie
Yikes who is that right wing loon?

Oregon Democrat: I know exactly how you feel. It will be a very long time, before I am able to forgive or forget the treatment of HRC.

OD and Lampe -- ditto!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/burris-must-go.html#comment-201814

OD - I agree.
Some things are unforgivable. But sometimes it's to our benefit to let them go. Hillary, I think, knows this quite well. And if she should decide to make an appearance on his show, she'd do so for that reason, not becaus of some kind of forgiveness. She's definetly a move on and get on with it type of person. How else could she have done what she's done.

Wine maker goes solar:

http://tinyurl.com/ahn2ae

Katherine GC.
..
Everyone should watch the Indonesian Youtube entries you posted.

The repair of our reputation in the world has begun.

I think that Hillary should go on Matthews' show. I have always enjoyed looking those who have dissed me in the eye. They never seem to be able to come up with the same comments to your face, and it's fun to use the eye contact (you know, the penetrating kind that let's them know that you are aware of just what a scumbag they really are) to make them squirm.

I'm sure that Hillary would have no problem dealing with Matthews and I think it would show who the bigger person is. I don't see her avoiding his show. That to me is just not who she is.

The Obama housing plan calls for the necessary change in the bankruptcy law to allow judges to rework mortgages. I think Obama should make Biden the point man on this piece of legislation ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I have always enjoyed looking those who have dissed me in the eye. They never seem to be able to come up with the same comments to your face,"

Great comment, True....

The election of Obama flipped the world's most pop. Muslim country.
They're letting the Peace Corps back in , I think they were expelled in 1968 or something close to that.

No small feat that is.

Obama gave Hillary the big Ka-Hoon-Na ............ China, and the rest of east Asia. I like the fact that this country has several people working on smaller parts of the whole globe. The mess is wide and deep.

Plus, the Chinese may well see the same message, "Our Sec of State / Wife of a former president " is going to pay a lot of attention to the Chinese court.

We need the Chinese, or this won't work.

Hillary Clinton charms one quarter of the world's population.

Put her Chinese "Hardball", forget "Tweedy".

I'm not sure HRC, could get over being called "A NUTCRACKER"!!!!!!!!!!

Collin Powell -
Ambassador to Africa

Collin Powell -
Ambassador to Africa

Burris’ Lobbying Disclosures Don’t Add Up .. http://tinyurl.com/dco4nw

"The mess is wide and deep."

It sure as hell is....

One thing about a liar , they never get better, the more they practice, the worse they get.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/burris-must-go.html#comment-201815

KGC,

Someone I've known for 30 years. Outside of being a completely crazed right wing nut case, he is actually a nice man with a long marriage, beautiful daughters, and a devoted extended family.

Something I try to remind myself about when listening to some of the Congress Critters who make my head spin and my stomach churn.

Wait till that satellite pass goes over what used to be the Wilkens Ice Shelf. The week that George Will writes a factual disprovable column about Climate Change, the latest 5,400 sq, miles of Ice Shelf in Antarctica , collapses into the Southern Oceans.

I have a history with ice shelves.

Farewell B-15A

http://colorado-bob.blogspot.com/2006/10/farewell-b-15a.html

"I have a history with ice shelves.'

Cryptic words, C-Bob....

Well, it's been an exciting day in the Land of the North. Was nice to welcome President Obama. Best thing he did today was make a detour through a local market (that's a loose term.. the 'market' has the best restaurants, bars, boutiques in the city).

Speaking of different friends and acquaintances, one of mine had a birthday today. This led to publishing the answer to life, the universe, and everything. Since this fits right in with last nights discussion of the nature of time: 42

http://tinyurl.com/5t8ufw

The Larson B collapse was 3250 sq. km in 2002 . What happen this week in Antarctica, was 400 times bigger than this :

http://www.sciam.com/media/inline/warmer-antarctica-proves-global-climate-change_1.jpg
---------------------------
The largest floating chunk of ice we've ever seen collapse, has just fell apart.
Ice bergs 500 ft thick the size of Lubbock, County floating out into the Southern Ocean.

We're seeing things we've never seen before.

When Larson B collapsed, the glaciers on land picked up speed by a factor of 8.
Think of these ice shelves as corks in a very big bottle of ice. Each one that pops out , let's what's behind it begin to pick up speed, and that makes where you buy a fish camp, an important question.

Don't buy one in the Maldives for example.

Rez -

RE POLL -

That's why I marvel at how the national Republican Party has chosen to play this, they really think business as usual is coming back any day now.

Republicans are the stupid. The Republican state senator who gave the budget its passing vote was holding out to put open primaries back on the ballot (where it will be defeated mostly by Republicans who oppose it) and he had a few other things helpful to business. For this he forced the state nearly to its knees including paying interest on tax refunds because the state had to issue ious--what a fatuous ass.

http://www.calitics.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=056C1089ED63491C3F053DC146C3F440?diaryId=8121

CBob - what really gives me the chills is your pointing out that we're seeing things we've never seen before.
You are so right - that's the trouble.

Tony - I can't find this pix of yourself you're talking about.
Can you re-post it?

My dad had a green heron that used to visit his farm in Missouri, and my sister saw one here in Santa Rosa at one of the creeks. They're neat, but kind of a strange shape.

I love to see Hillary smile - it's infectious. I suspect she's really glad that something is being done to straighten out the messes that WDick left behind, and feels like smiling.

I can't wait for this cold to go away - I've forgotten something else I wanted to say! Grrrrrrrrr!

Hmm, church and state issue? Black pastors to ask Burris to resign:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29286925/

Just when you thought banks couldn't go any lower in their anti-consumer practices. Now they are shoving service charges against people who use the DEBIT card THEY provide for accessing their unemployment benefits. Is there no SHAME? "The MONEY JUNKIES HIRE ALL THE SMARTS ONES! The Power Junkies Win the Game" - Buffy Sainte Marie

AP IMPACT: Jobless hit with bank fees on benefits

By CHRISTOPHER LEONARD
AP Business Writer

AP Photo/Sergio Salvador

Advertisement

Latest News
Troubled homeowners may get help from judges
AP IMPACT: Jobless hit with bank fees on benefits

UBS move shakes foundations of Swiss bank secrecy

Buy AP Photo Reprints

Your Questions Answered

Ask AP: State stimulus plans, buying Iraq's oil
First, Arthur Santa-Maria called Bank of America to ask how to check the balance of his new unemployment benefits debit card. The bank charged him 50 cents.

He chose not to complain. That would have cost another 50 cents.

So he took out some of the money and then decided to pull out the rest. But that made two withdrawals on the same day, and that was $1.50.

For hundreds of thousands of workers losing their jobs during the recession, there's a new twist to their financial pain: Even when they're collecting unemployment benefits, they're paying the bank just to get the money - or even to call customer service to complain about it.....

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/BANK_FEES_JOBLESS_BENEFITS?SITE=TXWIC&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Hello, I signed the contract for buying my apartment today... I am a happily nervous camper, or is that a nervous happy camper? So much work to do, so little time... Was in bed and the alarm went off at work so had to drive to the shop... grrr... but no break-in thankfully.

Things pretty peaceful around here lately?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/burris-must-go.html#comment-201784

I'm with Dougie. Well actually I'm with Mauro, but I agree with Dougie's assessment of Roland Burris...

Congratulations on making it official ET.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/burris-must-go.html#comment-201845

CBob...based on this analogy, the tidal range in the Bay of Fundy must seem about as stable right now as an uncorked bottle of champagne in the winning Super Bowl locker room.

Meanwhile, Hillary continues to amaze. The pics from Jakarta were awesome, then she heads back up to South Korea to kick some major ass today. This trip has been a pleasure to watch.

She's completely reinventing the SecState job -- and I still haven't seen a step-back story on that. The majors have blown this one so far, even after having the story stare them in the face for three or four days now.

Maybe they just don't see it yet.

Hey Pogo, I have a great blue heron that hangs out near my camp. I was watching him fish just last weekend. When the water level is high he will fish off my wharf. I have seen some big white birds that look like the heron but I think they are great egrets.

I kept hearing this interesting topical sounding bird that took me a while to find the bird it went with. I finally caught it one day and it is the pileated woodpecker. It was woody woodpecker. My favorite bird website is:

http://identify.whatbird.com/mwg/_/0/attrs.aspx

Bob you say there are health effects from using social networking sites. Has anyone noted any with Trailmix? Maybe we should do a poll of medical problems here and see if there are any trends. My thyroid has gone wacko anybody else?

Congrats on the apartment ownership Tom.

Tony share your pic with all of us. I know a good site...photobucket.

Bobby Jendal, our Governor is deciding whether he will take the stimulus money for La. If he doesn't I will.

Did anyone see anything in the stimulus bill to help those of us who lived below our means and put away all our money to save for old age and lost our ass? No, I didn't think so.

truebeliever: I do think HRC, will be able to get past some of the remarks made about her and move on. But, I also think she is going to have a hard time moving past some of those comments, made by " Her Own Party."

Has anyone heard any more from Dick Morris re Hillary and how she's being phased out?

Bethy...Dick Morris is wrong. The truth is, Hillary is building a platform that will allow her to be almost a co-president on the global stage if she keeps it up.

I don't see throngs cheering Richard Holbrooke or George Mitchell.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/burris-must-go.html#comment-201855

Not at ALL ! And if I fight back and injure the criminal, then the criminal becomes the victim and I become the criminal. Belgium seems like a Six Flags amusement park for criminals... Sad really.

Lard - I'm in total agreement with you about Hillary - she's making the job what it could be. What a solid way to present a new face of America she and Obama have come up with - I'll give him some credit, although
the implementation is all hers.

Ct - it is haunting you should say that as I've had a jump in blood pressure - up to 149 with rx. I can tell I'm very restless and think it has to do with the economy.

My money should be safe as it's in cd's, but no one really knows what is gonna happen. I basically agree with Bill that we're gonna come out of it but am afraid of how bad it's going to get before we do.

You know, before that actor/buffoon, I never saw homeless people. When I was a kid I knew about hoboes etc, but they weren't a visible thing. How horrible is life going to get for some people?

I'm also sickened by the constant discovery of another high-roller who has cheated people.

Anyway, based on my response and the possibility that I'm causing my own high blood pressure, I'm turning this off and going for a walk or a drive or something aha!

My niece just called as I typed that and I'm going to go see her and the boys - they gave me the cold in the first place!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/burris-must-go.html#comment-201811

Thanks Chloe,Solar.That photo of me last year was a happy time,I had just spent a month in Melbourne and Sydney,Australia and my friends Clinton and Ismael were helping me get to know LA again,fun fun...

"You know, before that actor/buffoon, I never saw homeless people. "

Reagan got a head start on homelessness when he cut back on mental health facilities in California as Governor. The hell with 'em -- throw 'em in the street and then bitch about the fact that they are there.

I'm happy to report my blood pressure is actually down since i started coming by, and it's quit responding to medication. I think it's the good chats.

Maldonado is an interesting character. He was an assemblyman just south of me when I lived on the Central Coast.He does seem to be good at capturing the spotlight and riding the wave to the next higher position. I'd expect to see him run for the House soon. Santa Maria is fairly conservative but there is the hispanic vote.

BTW, ever try Santa Maria style tri-tip? Hard to find on the east coast, but well worth it.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/burris-must-go.html#comment-201848

Hi Bethy
I e-mailed that photo of myself to Chloe as well as Solar.Carol has suggested posting it through Photobucket so I will try to figure it out and post it..Hope you get over that cold soon.I just got over one and it took a full two weeks. I'm just glad i didn't have to miss out on my work....Feel better..

Bethy, We have had an influx of really sick inmates at work lately. They are in medical either the same day or the day after intake listing all their neglected medical problems. Long lists. I try to remind them they didn't check into the Mayo Clinic. Unfortunately their problems are so severe we have to deal with them.

Santa Marie tri tip or top sirloin as it is known outside of California grocery store parking lot bbqs

APNewsBreak: Black pastors to ask Burris to resign

By TAMMY WEBBER – 3 hours ago

CHICAGO (AP) — A Chicago minister tells The Associated Press he and other black pastors who previously supported U.S. Sen. Roland Burris now plan to ask him to resign. The minister spoke Thursday on condition of anonymity because a meeting with Burris hadn't yet been scheduled. He says the senator can no longer serve effectively

dick morris ? His accuracy rate during the '08 campaign makes him the worst political commontoper in the sidereal universe.

i will defer to those here who are touting HRC's clout, but allow me the space to remain skeptical. i just don't think that getting sidelined on handling the nation's top foreign policy priorities -- in the middle east and afghanistan -- plus being cut of the loop on managing UN relations, justifies thinking that she is some kind of co-president. this Asian trip is really junior varsity. this looks more like Al Haig than Jim Baker to me. I think she got rolled, but would be most happy to be proven wrong.

It is not top sirloin and don't believe anyone who tells you it is. Just not the same. It's like the fake crab stuff.

Comments today are that Mitchell and crew are strong Clinton people and there will be no problem. Be nice if Hillary can transform State from the days of Bolton. That man got more done by quitting than he ever did in State.

It now looks likely that Benjamin Netanyahu will lead the next governing coalition in Israel after receiving the conditional support today of Avigdor Lieberman, the head of the far-right Yisrael Beiteinu party.

That is likely to make life more difficult for the Obama administration, which is in favor of the two-state solution that Netanyahu is skeptical of. In particular, it should make things complicated for Hillary Clinton, whose legacy will probably be judged much more on the progress in the Middle East than her goodwill tour of Indonesia.

As one expert on the region told me recently, the lack of an obvious opportunity or an impending crisis in the region essentially means that the administration, its secretary of state, and its special envoy, George Mitchell, will have their hands tied.
http://www.observer.com/mobile/article/82532

ok bottom sirloin
http://whitetrashbbq.blogspot.com/2007/07/santa-maria-tri-tip-steak.html

don1one

I live in Western Sonoma County and all the weekend parking lot bbq's here are top sirloin but they all call it Santa Maria tri tip

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/burris-must-go.html#comment-201878

I think Craig is waiting for Hillary to grow a handlebar moustache...and maybe then he'll recognize her as a Dean Acheson.

Point is, Craig, that yes...under all the old power definitions Hillary could be deemed as marginalized. But she's coming at this job a different way -- and in the end she'll be the one to bigfoot the Hollbrookes and Mitchells of the world, not the other way around. Just wait. You'll see.

She's reinventing the job. You can't pass judgment on that in just a month or two. Be patient.

Craig...

Did James Baker ever wave at anyone in his entire life?

Has he ever smiled at anyone?

That's what's different here.

ok i'll be patient, but dont forget that Holbrooke, Mitchell and Susan Rice got assurances that they report directly to Obama, not Hillary. Unprecedented arrangements for such posts in my memory.

Plus...George Mitchell let A-Roid get away. So how on Earth will he ever deal with Hamas?

That's it for the night. See you tomorrow, amigos.

Craig...but the thing is, Hillary really tied the whole room together!

(okay, so it's a lame Big Lebowski joke. and current conventional wisdom definitely has the upper hand in this argument. but just wait.)

Actual quote from 'The Dude': "That rug really tied the room together."

Kaherine,
And they get by with it?
Could be part of a bottom sirloin, but I'm not sure I'd trust a New Yorker's word when it came to great grilling. :^)

I've had that argument on the east coast many times, with butcher's trying to sell me a top sirloin. It's just not marbled the same.

I won't admit it under my real name, but I've used it for pot roast too, and it's wonderfully tender.

I should quit writing while Alton's on.

Well, if nothing more, this experience will at least give her [Clinton] enough material to write another book.

" I think she got rolled, but would be most happy to be proven wrong."

Hmm....I think there's a different game afoot.

don1one

hmmmmmgoodeats

co-president, that's funny. Does every conversation around here eventually end up being about Hillary?

"What a solid way to present a new face of America she and Obama have come up with - I'll give him some credit, although the implementation is all hers."

Bethy, Wouldn't you just love to be on either end of their blackberries? I keep having the feeling that these two very intelligent people just may be in a championship game against the whole world.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/burris-must-go.html#comment-201892

yes, patsi, but it's not quite "afoot" yet

Yes, KGC, I think we may have a great chef among us? I wonder which one?

I still blame Baker for the Iraq wars. That whole thing with the new ambassador April Glaspie and mentioning not getting involved smells fishy in a desert environment. (more Alton Brown references).

I think we'll see see Hillary's importance when budgets come down. State needs to do a LOT of expanding to really work.

I've also got to think keeping Chinese and Japanese bond buyers happy right now is about the most important thing going. I think those 'Caribbean bank' buyers are hoping they don't get liquidated.

" I think she got rolled, but would be most happy to be proven wrong."

rick rolled?

ct
only in his own mind

Ann and Joy on Larry King. Waiting for a cat fight.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/burris-must-go.html#comment-201900

CT - With those two voices you don't need a fight for your ears to start bleeding.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/burris-must-go.html#comment-201894

Donny: Are they gonna hurt us, Walter?

Walter Sobchak: No, Donny. These men are cowards.

Nihilist: Okay. So we take ze money you haf on you, und ve calls it eefen.

Walter Sobchak: Fuck you.

Having a baby is a really personal issue.....Ann Coulter isn't a mother is she?

Coulter is more of motha

Echo -
We sometimes discuss current events, but mostly it's cow stuff.

someone should file a complaint against Allred what a frickin loser

Donna Summer! Representing Michigan in Cali!

UB

We aren't even convinced she is female.

cow stuff and owls

UB -- I don't think so....thank God....

We aren't even convinced she is female....or human

Maddow found a great line from Steele ........." we need to improve our image with one armed midgets."

"Cows, as some Far Side readers know, are a favorite subject of mine. I've always found them to be the quintessentially absurd animal for situations even more absurd. Even the name "cow" to me, is intrinsically funny." -Gary Larson

Washington Times ....had the complete article on Steele with the one-arm midget comment.

http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/feb/19/steele-gop-needs-hip-hop-makeover/

She's one scary dude! That's for sure.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/burris-must-go.html#comment-201910

grandbabies and music

Colorado Bob, are you in?

I, for some odd reason, have Michelle Malkin on twitter. It just seems so dehumanizing to treat people like they do. Yet my sweet, christian author, southern colorado cousin thinks she''s Ann is great and hilarious. i don't get it.

I love the woman professor that comes on Rachel to talk about Steele and racial issues. She was great tonight.

Might I interrupt for a brief moment? I've simply nowhere else to turn to and I've just got to vent or I'll have to break something, and I've (seriously) already patched a hole in one wall for the very same reasons...

I spent the afternoon with a conservative friend who is CONVINCED that we're on a path to OMG!SOCIALISM, if we're not already there yet. Now, having grown up under the care of a genuine, bonafide, dyed-in-the-wool, honest-to-Marx socialist father (no shit), I think I know a thing or two about what socialism is, and what is going on now with Mr. Obama and his administration is most definitely NOT socialism. But try telling that to 'Hey Let's Just Parrot What We've Heard Verbatim Via Rush Limbaugh And Sean Hannity'...my brain hurts, bbs, and I need some sympathy right about now.

And a drink, too, if you can spare it.

Better make it a double.

(Also? Nice to see you all again, I know it's been awhile.)

Charlie Daniels "Uneasy Rider"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMN7fGZW_BY

"cow stuff."
That struck me funny CBob.

We are, Julia. Some of us don't worry about it, though. That's all you have to say. Long argument avoided. It's worth a try, at least! *Hands Julia a glass of wine*

One of my favorite Far Side cartoons. These two chickens are standing in a bar surrounded by cows and hay stacks. One chicken says to the other, Bob, I think this is a hay bar.

Not exactly but the best I can remember.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Sliding oil prices and production have prompted Alaska officials to forecast a state budget shortfall of $1.25 billion in the next fiscal year instead of the surplus they predicted just two months ago.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKN1949343720090220

Thank you, Corey. I can always count on you to save me from ripping out a light fixture. XD

Caballa Diablo-Chris LeDoux

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2xuT9zlnR4

Jack

Chocolate Martini for the sobbing woman at the end of the bar.

There, there honey. You're back among friends.

Julia -
You want my uncle in Dallas's email ? He thinks Phil Gramm is a genius.

I don't know what we are in for Julia but a few of my friends and I are now planning for our commune. Just in case.

Thank you, Jamie...when all else fails, chocolate and alchohol will save the day!

And CBob, I've spent the day arguing with one fence post, I really don't need another...but thank you for the thought anyway!

You think your life is bad.
seen this site yet? http://www.fmylife.com/ Adult oriented humour.

winery across the street from where i stay. We're pouring pinot tonight Julia. All you can drink within crawling distance of home.

Alton serving scallops tonight.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/burris-must-go.html#comment-201908

Ha,well Donna has played Pine Knob in Clarkston a bunch of times, I think that makes her an honorary Michigan citizen..Now she lives in Patsi's neck of the woods....

Those ice bergs as big as counties, here's a baby one.

http://www.mercopress.com/ImgNoticias/Iceberg.jpg

Burris' support in black community begins to waver.. http://tinyurl.com/b9cf8l

Carol
Thanks.I appreciate you telling me about Photobucket.It was real easy for me.Boy all you Carol's shine,that was my mom's name and she sure shined!

Those tiny urls are so cute! LOL! We're having pizza at work tonight, since it's my current supervisor's last night before she goes to the other side of the building. The only reason I'd go to work in the snow tonight. LOL!

Scallops and pinot...? I think I love you, Don1One...

And Ct, I'll see your commune and raise you one organic marijuana farm in the lush, faery-kissed coastal Nor Cal rainforests, owned and operated by a coven of wizened lesbian crones who water their crops thrice weekly with Al Gore's tears!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/burris-must-go.html#comment-201927

hi, julia, always nice to see ya here

C-Bob, how long before the water level starts to rise? I kinda need to know.

ROFL, Julia! I've been getting plenty of pinko commie emails! (Nobody on the right seems to know the difference....)

Julia, I could hang there. Sound kinda cool.

Thank you, Craig. You have ***always*** been a pier of sanity amidst a turbulent sea of complete and utter tripe.

And it's nice to see you, too!

This guy had a really, really bad day

http://tinyurl.com/dmll2t

Is that just down the road from the fairy forest of shrooms?
Sorry, had to ask. :^)

CBob, but how will the lack of sunspot activity and global dimming interact with global warming? A sunspot low caused the mini-ice age of the 1600s.

http://spaceweather.com/glossary/sunspotplotter.htm

I hate when that happens.

Shrooms are a bit more difficult, Don1One, because Mother Nature has no quality control division. One batch might send you over the moon, the next batch sends you to Newark.

XD

Jamie, it isn't any worse than putting your money in a mutual fund.

Jack -- thanks for bringing up one of the finest men that ever lived....Chris LeDoux..

And believe it or not, but one of those voices shouting his praises in the background "vocals" of this song is me....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMxpNSwzb6E

Julia,
Are you a farmer of the forbidden weed?

Good night folks. Have a good one.

If anyone is going to take a guess at the Oscars, leave a message for me.

Love Chris. He left way too early.

Anything but Newark. If I never see that big, neon miller sign again....

Never tried them, but have always wanted to. pot is way too strong these days, different from the weeds and seeds of my youth.

My only vice now that glass of wine at night, and my doctor has ruined it by insisting I drink 5 or more glasses a week.

Unlikely_Burrito: since this blog is no doubt considered "subversive" amongst The Powers That Be, I'm gonna plead The Fifth here. (I *am* a card-carrying paranoid.)

I did look into the medical aspect of it once (for legitimate reasons, HONEST!), and when I found out that your name goes into a national database, I changed my mind. No telling who gets all those lists these days...or what they do with it...

(I told you I was paranoid. *nods*)

Who is your Dr., Don1One? Mine told me to lay off the damn sauce for five seconds. Time for a second opinion, methinks.

Julia

If you're gonna plead for a fifth, then I feel it is my duty to beg for a half gallon too.
;-0

Jack

When you grow your own, it's organic. It's not evil. If I could grow it, I would. Maybe I will try this spring.

Seriously our country is being incredible stupid on this front.

Always happy to share the wealth, Whskyjack!

Don1 -- When Chris LeDoux got sick, he asked me to help him write a letter to his fans. These were the final words in the letter:

"Life is a miraculous and mysterious thing. It can be beautiful, and it can turn downright ugly. Enjoy the good parts."

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/burris-must-go.html#comment-201946

Alex,
I'll take global warming for $100

What is the Maunder Minimum?

Jack

The prisons being full of pot smokers and small dealers is the really stoopid part. I've known several people it's helped immensely through chemo. Want to stop the Mexican drug wars real quick? Legalize pot.

Have you seen the map of dispensaries around los angles? It's amazing how many are out there. I don't think we'll see Tommy Chong in prison under Holder either.

But I am concerned about how much thc is in modern pot and children with access to it. that's some strong s** out there.

I think I have Maldonado's reply to my suggestion that California decriminalize pot. :^)

"The data suggests that changing solar activity is influencing in some way the global climate causing the world to get warmer.

Over the past 20 years, however, the number of sunspots has remained roughly constant, yet the average temperature of the Earth has continued to increase. "

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3869753.stm

Jack

Unlikely_Burrito: here in Nor Cal (I'm in San Jose), it's a misdemeanor if you're caught with less than an ounce: fifty dollar fine, if memory serves and the cop's having a shitty day. There are medical clubs all over the place and a general "whatever, as long as they aren't exposing themselves to minors or something" attitude among the general population. I agree, it's not evil. And I do believe we could solve this budget crisis in a New York minute if we legalized and regulated a la alcohol. And seeing as how I'm looking to score Dead tickets for May, legalization would have us in the black by then, and then some.

don1one -

Sept. 30, 2008: Astronomers who count sunspots have announced that 2008 is now the "blankest year" of the Space Age.

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/30sep_blankyear.htm

-------------------------
One week before the Black Saturday blow - up. The flying foxes (a bat) in northern Melbourne suburbs were dropping dead and falling out of the trees. The heat was killing them as they tried to sleep.

Oh, I believe CO2 levels rising have caused warming. But what happens now if sunspots disappear? It looks like it had an affect previously. And we have that whole 2012 going across the meridian of the galaxy think coming up :D

I was up in Alaska in october and so disappointed not to see an aurora. There are still coronal discharges, but it was still very quiet.

A recently unearthed paper submitted to Nature (and rejected) predicted the decline in sunspots. All I'm saying is 'what if?

That is why the children should put co-ops together and grow their own....to stay away from the laced stuff. ....not to mention the costs, and the risks....and the various people they would have to contact, otherwise.

"Sunspot counts are at a 50-year low," says solar physicist David Hathaway of the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. "We're experiencing a deep minimum of the solar cycle."

I bet you grok too, don't you ub?

Had a 90 some year old aunt that grew her own. that and a pint jar of shine and she was happy.

You're point being Bob? We've been pretty active through the industrial age until recently.

That's the nice thing about living here: no worries about battery-acid-soaked or PCP-tainted goods (I'm still convinced that's "An Urban Legend Designed To Keep Us Afraid Of The Green And Purchasing Corporation-Made Alcohol Instead", as in all my years [some 20+ now, good heavens, I'm getting old] I've yet to come across anything that was even remotely scary)! And I'm telling you, legalization is the cure for all our budget ills, all we need to do is clean up the messenger. Put him in a suit and tie and whatnot!

I see jim baker's name show up in conjunction with the phrase 'Secretary of State.'

1. Would someone please tell me what baker did that I, or anyone else over the age of 35, should remember his occupation of that office ?
2. Wasn't baker one of those criminous bush the first flunkeys, who were happy to arm saddam hussein and cover up that dictator's genocidal poison gas attacks ?
3. Is there any good reason why he wasn't hanged at Nuremburg ?

I remember baker went to Kurdistan and wept over the way America (bush & baker, actually) had let the Kurds down. It reminded me of the Carpenter weeping for the oysters.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/burris-must-go.html#comment-201860

Lampe--

I never said she didn't get the shaft. I think there was some stinkin disgusting things that were done to HRC. But I also know that her staff didn't do right by her. Their strategy stunk, and they were slow to revise it when it quickly became evident that should have.
She should have fired their dumb asses, and took a good look at things herself.
And some of the nastiest battles I have seen have been between primary opponents of the same party. Republicans here in Mo are often prime examples. Once they make it to the general everybody kisses and make up, then the dems become the eveil ones. Just how it is.

Well good night, bbs...I'm off to watch Colbert's rerun and maybe open a bottle of merlot (ain't no maybe about that)! <3

I'm wondering why no one is talking about how harper almost got thrown out and Obama's visit it probably bolstering a very weak conservative government.

I think that talk about laced stuff is hooey these days. At one time L.A. sheriffs had a huge problem with criminals on pcp, but that hasn't been since the 80s.

Well, since I can't get a straight answer out of CBob I'm going to bed.

Nite all. Don't let them get ya Julia, that's what they live for. Tick them off by staying happy. It's been very nice meeting you.

2008 is only an indication that we are in the low of the 11 year sunspot cycle. There is quite a bit of variation between highs and lows from cycle to cycle.

So using 2008, is anoher example of talking about weather rather than climate.

Jack

Don

As to your what if.

We have had cycles in the last 50 years where the peak activity was half that reached in the highs in the 1950's yet we have seen no decrease in the rate at which global temperatures rise.

Another point
in a huge engine like global climate, one would not expect to see one cycle have much effect on climate change. It would need to be several cycles with an accumulative effect.

Jack

The fun thing about a subject like global warming is you can argue the 10 sides of the issue and never change positions.

Jack

NEW THREAD

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/stimulus-rhetoric-lost-in-time.html

Jack -

Why did Australia just record the highest temperatures ever seen there, and burn 2,000 sq. miles ?

One things for sure, it wasn't more out put from the sun .

Canadians don't like Harper. Yet, they turned with a wild glee against the Liberals' leader, when he conspired with the Separatists and NDP to bring Harper down. Apparently, Canadians thought the election had been fair, and the winning team should get its chance to rule, because they believe in fairness.

Lard and all you other HRC enjoyers , and Craig - we will never know all the details of the power setup in the White House. It can't be known, if for no other reason that there are probably many truths about it.

W essentailly told the world to get lost, thinking we didn't need them - what strange set of brain cells he has. Now we need them and no one person can mend all the damage so these guys are going where they can do their bests.

Hillary is capable of showing warmth and interest in others. She is an incredible worker as we all know, and now the whole world knows it - they saw her in the primaries. She is humanizing what W and his gang of yay-hoo's turned into mindless bits of inhumanity.

We need to remind the world that we are not W - that we are indeed all in this together.

But I think it would be wrong to forget that she has taken a lot of body blows and never stopped - that smile can turn upside down, totally vanish, or turn wry.
My dad used to chuckle at the thoughts of what she might be saying to Bill re his mess-ups.

Actually, I think the two of them learned a lot about each other during the primary, and she she helped him earn some spurs, just by being so challenging.
Remember, he took two vacations, but she took none.

I don't know about co-presidency, but it sure looks like a group effort to me. I'll bet Obama won't stand much back-stabbing.

That said, my experiment with blood pressure: when I left here it was somewhere around 142. Played with the kids, watched some ScoobyDoo and DuckDodgers,ate a meal of talapia with a glass of wine, held baby, etc. When I got back to my place, I carried in a heavy bag of groceries and a 12 pack of soda the 200 steps from my car, climbed the 18 steps to my apt. Inside I put everything down and did my bp check - 135. Fifteen minutes later it was 112.

That is in no way critical data, but it makes me feel,hmmmmmm.

G'nite!

NEW THREAD