Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

me first?

ha, you first tom, your Kate Winslet moment

I've been waiting for this moment for a long time. I actually do have a list of people to thank... ;-) I am outta here... sorry I couldn't participate in the live blog. And Craig, congratulations on keeping a tighter lid on things here. It is a lot more pleasant and I think it can only help the blog and the interactions to grow. I've also learned to temper my criticisms of the other side, to not attacking the messenger, but the message...

Cheers, late again... you're fault! ;-)

Pelsoi's beaming behind Obama while he was speaking as if in rapture at his magnificent speaking ability undermined the seriousness of the President's message, if one was unfortunate enough to receive the speech through the visual media.

I agree about Pelosi. She is an easy target for the GOP.

Jindal's cadence sounded like he was reading a children's book to us. I think it was called "See Bobby Run".

On the bright side - at least Jindal wasn't speaking in front of a puke green screen.

Thank you and good night.

Obama must have seen how sickly Lieberman was and Obama gave him a big bear hug..
Anybody catch my man Dennis Kucinich just talking a blue-streak at Obama as Obama passed him as he exited, signing programs...Obama was all smiles but he was all mouth-clenched and attentive as Dennis was trying to get a point across.
Obama sounded good when he said he'll close Guantanamo Bay and end US sanctioned torture...and basically end the US involvement in Iraq...but don't worry folks, the US Embassy in Baghdad will be working overtime forever...the US military presence in The Region will keep increasing since Obama is focussed on building up a huge occupation of Afghanistan and who knows what will happen in Pakistan proper.

Lynn Sweet blogs the speech:
http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/

more Sweet (on Burris):
"FOOTNOTE: After the speech, Obama went around shaking hands. When Obama came near the area when embattled Sen. Roland Burris was standing -- alone at this point and looking a little forelorn -- Burris waved at him a few times.

Obama appeared not to respond. And the president certainly did not reach out. I don't know if this qualifies as a snub, but it was a brutal reminder of the tough time Burris has ahead now that he has decided not to resign in the wake of controversies stemming from his appointment by ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich."

Chris Matthews (not realizing his mike was live) summed it up when Jindal walked towards the camera with his Mr. Rogers smile plastered to his face: "Oh God..." :-)

In the land of the moon and the stars, the Night Watchman is king.

I had a Board meeting, and had to miss the speech. Sweetie informs me that it was excellent.

Very bad news for the rebushlican tribe in the polls today. 2/3 of Americans applaud Obama and 73% see him as co-operating to fix our economy. Only 1/3 of Americans see rebushlicans as co-operating. A few days back a different poll found the Congressional rebushlicans' approval rate to be 19% and falling.

Dear Rep. boehner,

Keep up your good work !

Cordially,
Xrepublican

I have to make my confession right away. As I have done before, I didn't watch the speech - or the rebuttal. I hate political speeches, and listen to Bill only because I like the way he words things.

However, I did have my sister (the little one - the big sister thinks she's conservative) and she thought it was perfect. She thinks Obama keeps getting better at making the speeches, and was delighted.

She also thought Bobby Jindal was ridiculous.

I just read thru your live blog and you guys were the hit as far as I'm concerned. I loved reading your comments and reactions!

While all that was going on, I was keeping company with the 4 yo and 2 yo in their back yard as they built a swamp - really. They were building a swamp. They were getting muddier and muddier, and I feared their mother would kill me. When I saw the 2 yo splashing thru the puddle with his boots, I gave up It was so damn cute!

So we have a president with a brain who knows how to cheer people up, a new attitude toward life fro DC, and little boys get to play in the mud. Some things ARE right with the world. (I made the boys take off their shoes and pants before they went in the house, and mommy wasn't mad at all - she expected it.)

G'night bethyboo.

But boy, whatta great time at N'awlins Mardi Gras!
http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=64426646059&h=mJIHo&u=kU6Yd

G'night, xr.

President delivers the State of Contradiction

Summary – We will spend our way to a balanced budget in my term

I will hold accountable everyone but me with No Ear marks or Pork in my many Ear mark pork filled bill.

A+ comment - remember this one from Craig...

But no, it was just a case of Pelosi and Obama fumbling the moment.

Bobby J-- Right on.... The contrast coud not be greater -
Obama and the new Gov = No trust of the American People that Big Gov is the only answer.... Sad

flatus, tho't you might have a thing or two to say about this.
"Former security chief warns searching personal data will 'break moral rules'"
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/feb/25/personal-data-terrorism-surveillance

ping, this one's for you, easier on bobby j and probably more to your liking

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/02/obama-jindal-1.html

Good Morning Everyone! I'm still feeling chipper from the Prez's upbeat SOTU. Hope has returned!

So that said, another sad casualty of the print media crisis:
http://tinyurl.com/byeoqg

It's always darkest before dawn...

Bethyboo -- As an early childhood educator, I give you high praise for your willingness to have your grandchildren play in mud and make a swamp. Children learn so much through this kind of play, plus, it is emotionally satisfying, which is a good enough reason alone.

Here is an article on how mud is played with in Japanese preschools -- making shiny mudballs:
http://web-japan.org/trends01/article/011005sci_r.html

Pelosi looked like she was jacked on Red Bull the way she popped up out of her seat to queue people to applaud.

MoJo & Pat just do not get it. The Repugs didn't act like fiscal Repugs for 8 years, so now a Dem is supposed to act that way???

They told Capt. Sully that "Lindberg would be proud"? Geez, why not bring up Orville & Wilbur? I think it's great that Sully & co got to speak before Congress. Maybe that will drive home the problems in the industry.

Craig - When you wake up - maybe you can comment on what Nancy and the house are doing today....

Off to get ahead - looking for the stimulus trickle down

another aviator who would be proud.....:

http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Explorers_Record_Setters_and_Daredevils/corrigan/EX16.htm

It's not trickle down, it's watering the roots to feed the tree.

Jindal's a joke...and not just because he's bad on camera. I wonder if most right-wingnuts even tuned in last night? Of those who did, I'm sure all 3 of them enjoyed the Fabbaluss Bobby J.

I think Billy Mitchell would be most proud of Sully for opening up his mouth about the lousy situation for today's aviators.

Pelosi should taper off her steroids before sitting in front of cameras. And she should rinse her dentures to get rid of the grit which kept bothering her. And, she should wear a seat belt that would help stabilize her.

I've been thinking what to do with our stimulus check (the minimum for SS recipients). I'm trying to think of a way to spend it that will be genuinely stimulative for our economy.

I suppose I could start making beer again. I could buy a kit of American made glass bottles, use American grains, etc. I'd buy everything from a small supplier in Charlotte.

I'm trying to think of something else we could do that would be equally stimulative. And, on a practical note, I still have seven cans of beer left from the case I bought almost two years ago.

I'm serious about getting good ideas about worthwhile purchases.

today's and yesterday's dilbert are noteworthy

http://www.dilbert.com/strips/

mornin'.

After hearing a little of the speech, about 30 seconds of the response (even Ihave my limits), listening to the discussions on the morning shows and going around looking at the major newspapers (complete disclosure - NYT & WaPo) and checking our Gallup's take, consensus seems to be that Obama's speech was excellent, Jindal was a frickin' joke (and Michael Steele was struggling to say something positive about his performance - or lack thereof), and the American people are, by about the margins we see in congress, supportive of Obama, the stimulus package, and his plans to move the country forward, and they don't see the republicans as trying to help move the process. Anyone have a different take on it? If that patience thing holds, the Repugs could be in for a tough ride in 2010. Fair warning - I haven't even read your posts from this morning yet - aside from Poobah's of course.

From Gallup today:

"Bottom Line

"Obama has the upper hand in leading the nation on the economy right now. Americans are comfortable with the pace of his actions and the scope of his economic spending, and they have become a bit more optimistic than before he took office about how long it will take for the economy to turn around. All of these attitudes could have become even more favorable to Obama after his address to Congress on Tuesday.

"Still, the partisan breach beneath the surface of these attitudes is striking. Democrats express strong confidence in the economic measures Obama has taken in the past month. Republicans are highly wary of the amount of government spending involved, and what that means for the federal debt.

"For now, independents are falling squarely on the Democrats' side in their reactions to Obama's economic leadership; but their latent concern about the federal debt is something Republican leaders can potentially work with, and something Obama and his advisers will have to monitor."

I am curious abou tone thing - why th eRepug rising star, Ms. Sarah, wasn't chosen to give the Repug response - trying to avoid the Gumby (?) syndrome perhaps?

Something to be thankful for.

You hear much about the drop out rate among high school students, and even 1 drop out is 1 to many, but the reality of the situation paints a different story.

According to the latest statistics, 2006, the drop out rate has decline significantly for both Whites and Blacks, unfortunately the drop out rate for Hispanics has risen dramatically. Totally percentage of drop out for all races has decline by 4%, although Hispanics have the largest number of drop outs, they also have the largest decline in drop outs, this is followed by Blacks, and then Whites.

In 1980 across all races there was a total of 5,212,000 drop outs, compared to 2006 figures of 3,592,000, that is a significant decrease considering the population of the US went from 226,500,00 in 1980, to approximately 300,000,000 in 2006.

Diva - boy, I'm glad I let them play! I was kinda fascinated with them doing things in the mud with they fierce determination but no clear purpose. I kept wondering what drove them, but they seemed to understand themselves and each other. It wasn't till I saw Liam splashing his boots into the puddle that I recognized the impulse to walk in the rain - I remember needing to do that It's kinda like having to step on a dried leaf on the sidewalk - to this day, I have to squash a dried leaf !

My only hesitation was thinking it was making a mess for mommie, but let that go.

I will say that the boys were extremely satisfied, esp when they were put in the tub immediately where they played for half and hour - then they got to brag about how dirty their clothes were!

I have hesitation re the shiny mud balls, tho. I'm fairly certain these two, esp Alex, would have to tear them apart after two days to see what's inside!

Flatus - the answer is obvious - drink more beer - and make it Bud. It may be owned by InBev, but it's brewed here by us. If you want to be a little more purely American, make it Sam Adams.

Apparently Ping, you are in the 1/3, 27% and 1/3 xr pointed out above. It is noteworthy that you are in the 1/3 who cling to the teachings of the Grover school of economics proven not to work. Unfortunately for you, the political tide has turned and the American people have come to realize that the talking points haven't helped. At least you have been even handed about calling on both parties to exercise fiscal discipline. Getting out of Iraq will help on that front, no? Buddy, it's going to be a hard ride for you - a long one I hope. ;-)

good morning gang.....

LOVED Obama's speech last night.... I think it struck just the right tone....
I agree completely that Bobby J was a joke.... at one point he mentioned all the spending under Bush and how the Republicans just "went along with it".....
I thought Rick was going to jump out of skin at that remark..... he yelled "went along with it.... hell.... you guys led it!"......

and what a great live discussion last night..... I've purposely avoided them.... with this new and improved blog... I think I'll join in the next one...

Jindal panned by conservatives too...

http://tinyurl.com/brqpbo

ROFL@Rick! No kidding!

Pogo, two excellent suggestions! Alas, beer is incompatible with my meds.

Now off to the pharmacy.

Flatus, I try. Now go discuss that problem with your doctor - you obviously need different meds.

This is FUNNY from the Chicago Sun-Times

Translating Durbinspeak on Burris fiasco

February 25, 2009
BY CAROL MARIN

Illinois just cannot catch a break. Tuesday afternoon, just as the nation's eyes were trained on our historic new president preparing to make a historic first address to both houses of Congress -- a lofty moment by any measure -- what the heck happens?

The senior senator from Illinois, Dick Durbin, takes the junior senator from Illinois, Roland Burris, to the woodshed, that's what.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/marin/1448369,CST-EDT-Carol25.article

enjoy!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/obamas-awkward-pelosi-moment.html#comment-203775

I think big corporations and multinationals are the ones that there should be no faith in. I put my faith in public works and the public sector first and foremost. Having said that I also put my faith in the small business people who are also an integral part of the economic system...

Again a call for folks to watch this video... Friends,
Do you want a succinct explanation of the credit crises? Watch this short (about 20 min.) video. The author, Jonathon Jarvis, is working in media to make sense of increasingly complex issues, and he does a fantastic job here.

http://www.crisisofcredit.com

" think big corporations and multinationals are the ones that there should be no faith in. "

I agree, Tom...and I loved that Durbin article...

Diva and Bethy,

I've long felt that if you didn't have to pick a child up by the scruff and transport them to be hosed off, that they weren't really having fun. Play that is closely monitored, clean, and organized isn't play. It's a business meeting for children.

Flatus,
Might have trouble finding American made glass, especially in a 5 gallon carboy. Last time I looked most of it was out of Mexico.

There's a winery/beer supply place in Wilmington I do all I can to support when I'm down there.

Speaking of which , American made wines and beer should be right up there as supporting America. Make sure they don't sit there too long. :^)

American made textiles too. The South is trying to support all of those people coming in from Michigan.

California produce. Eat healthy and support the US. Florida oranges. Alaskan salmon. Washington apples, Idaho potatoes. American made and produced, quickly consumed.

A lot of FDR's programs affected farmers, though we don't talk about it.

Hmmm, think I'll have a late breakfast.

Bobby J should have performed an exorcism on the Republican Party --more entertaining and he has experience.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/obamas-awkward-pelosi-moment.html#comment-203784

Flatus, Shall we send all the youngsters out to rent an old film "The Court Martial of Billy Mitchell"

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047956/

TIR

It may be Apples and Oranges. When California went to an anonymous system to track ALL students, they found a drop out rate twice as high in some populations as previously believed.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/16/BAS311QATI.DTL

Good News Division - Leonard Cohen is on the road again

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/25/arts/music/25cohe.html?_r=1

"Jindal panned by conservatives too... http://tinyurl.com/brqpbo -- Posted by: Patsi"

yep, it was a great night for Sarah Palin

Live On Line Chat with David Gregory at 2:00 PM Eastern to discuss the Speech

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29315555

Craig, Rez, I assume you mean Palin (more likely her handlers) had the good sense to get out of the way of the oncoming train?

Bailout [Bandit] Bank Blows Millions Partying in L.A.

Northern Trust [a Chicago-based bank] “…received $1.6 billion in bailout money just spent a fortune last week in L.A. hosting a series of lavish parties and concerts with famous singers.”
“And here's what's absolutely amazing: The United States Government flat out gave Northern Trust the $1.6 billion in bailout money, and the bank didn't even request it!
Now how's this for outrage? Northern Trust laid off 450 workers in December, 4% of its workforce.”
http://www.tmz.com/2009/02/24/northern-trust-bank-bailout/

http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/02/25/northern-trusts-la-blowout-on-taxpayers-tab/

From Huffpo - transcript of David Brooks' assessment of Jindal's response. One of the few times I have agreed much with Brooks in a long time.

"LEHRER: How well did he do?

"BROOKS: Not so well. You know, I think Bobby Jindal is a very promising politician, and I opposed the stimulus package - I thought it was poorly drafted - but to come up at this moment in history with a stale, "government is the problem...we can't trust the government"...it's just a disaster for the Republican Party. The country is in a panic, now. They may not like the way the Congress passed the stimulus bill. The idea that government is going to have no role in this...in a moment where only the Federal government is big enough to do stuff...to just ignore all that and say government's the problem...corruption, earmarks, wasteful spending - it's just a form of nihilism. It's just not where the country is, it's not where the future of the country is. There's an intra-Republican debate: some people say the Republican party lost its way because it got too moderate, some people say they got too weird or too conservative. He thinks they got too moderate, and he's making that case. I think it's insane. I think it's a disaster for the party. I just think it's unfortunate right now."

AC, TMZ is channeling Maureen Dowd

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/25/opinion/25dowd.html

A clear & honest discussion of how we will sustain the kind of government we say we want in today's NYT:

"Like Having Medicare? Then taxes must rise" by David Leonhardt

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/25/business/economy/25leonhardt.html?_r=1&hp

Ivy,

The key paragraph in that article:

"When over the past 60 years did the American economy grow fastest? The 1950s and 1960s, when the top marginal tax rate was a now-unthinkable 90 percent. And when over the past generation did the economy grow fastest? The late 1990s, when President Bill Clinton briefly took federal taxes to 20 percent of the G.D.P. "

Study after study has shown that if you want to avoid the boom and bust cycle while providing a first class national infrastructure and prepare a citizenry for the future, you need a marginal rate in the 45 - 70% range depending on the level of nationwide programs desired. That is simply the price to

"form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity"

The Founders understood that a healthy capitalistic economy requires a healthy "commons" that benefit all.
You can't protect people from everything and you can't have a government that runs everything. But you need a government that makes it possible for the citizenry to have the tools to help themselves do everything.

Last night the President laid out what he believes is the form that "Commons" should take. Now it is time to get to the specifics and dig ourselves out of the hole the past few decades have put us in.

Cynicism rules---the twitter craze---at least when it comes to politicians.

"A Tale of 140 Characters, plus the ones in Congress" WAPO by Dana Milbank

"At a time of national emergency, when America needs the focused attention of contemplative & reflective lawmakers, they are dispatching rapid-fire thoughts in
140 characters or less".

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/24/AR2009022403424.html?nav=hcmodule

I still think the major factor in the Clinton economy was the productivity gains of the Internet. I helped make digital equipment and our time to market on projects went from 18 months to 6 months.

Short the invention of teleportation I don't think we're going to see that advantage again.

Missed it all .....
But watching the clip cascade this morning ..... I agree with whoever said Nancy and the Red Bull were ridin' together. My take was she was full of Blue's grandmother's coffee.

Young Bobby looked and sounded like he was trying out for a new mouse character at Pixar. Sarha ...... she couldn't do it, because she was writing a check to the State of Alaska for $7,000 to fly her kids around.

Finished my web project, got the fund raising component set-up and the whole thing looks pretty good.

http://the-downtown-art-market.blogspot.com/

don't - I could be wrong, but I don't think there were too many sages who foresaw the internet explosion 5 years before it happened or had any inkling that it would become anything like the pervasive force it has become. It is pretty easy to recognize an area that is in boom times if you are in it or if it's already happened. I would not be a bit surprised to see a boom in some technology sector associated with renewable/alternative energy. If I was a bettin' man, that's what I'd put my money down on as the next boom industry.

"Pelosi should taper off her steroids before sitting in front of cameras. And she should rinse her dentures to get rid of the grit which kept bothering her. And, she should wear a seat belt that would help stabilize her."

LOL Flatus!
.... and Flatus, any purchase that makes you happy is a worthwhile purchase. :)
I got such a kick out of your post today. Thanks.

well.... I just did my part for the economy...... went to the fiber store and bought lots of hand painted chenille.....

listened to Diane Rehm on the way..... of course it was about critiquing Obama and Jindal..... there was a liberal pundit and a conservative pundit..... seems like both sides were impressed with Obama and neither thought much of Jindal..... seems to be the consensus everywhere......

CBob..... great looking website.... hope it leads to some paid jobs....

The internet has been so pervasive in everything we do I have my doubts. I first saw a browser in '93 and wasn't so impressed, but loved what jughead and archie could do for me.

I think genomics and bio-engineering is our next great frontier, but am not sure how that will affect the economy. I can certainly see how it will affect our every day lifestyle to a small extent. The changes there could be phenomenal.

But my point being, I think we're giving Clinton (and a Republican Congress) more credit for fiscal policy than he actually deserves. Maybe we should be honest and give Gore the credit for the boom of the 90's. He had a lot to do with bringing DARPA into the public arena.

A brighter future, but who pays?
Barack Obama, in his address to Congress, asks for sacrifice but skips the details

"He promised that beyond this grim present lies a brighter future of plug-in hybrid-energy cars, wind- and solar-powered cities, digital health records, vanquished disease, and the world’s highest college-graduation rates. And, with the inspirational flourish for which he is famous, he insisted that Americans would triumph because there exist “amid the most difficult circumstances”—his voice descending to a throaty growl—“a generosity, a resilience, a decency”.

....The summit on Monday and the speech on Tuesday were part of the process of softening up the public for future pain.

Both events also demonstrated that despite being jilted on his quest for some Republican support during the debate on the fiscal stimulus, he is not giving up on his pursuit of bipartisanship. On Tuesday night, at least, Republicans were co-operative, rising in applause almost as often as Democrats."
http://www.economist.com/world/unitedstates/displayStory.cfm?story_id=13174088&source=features_box1

The irony machine is working overtime for the denier camp, Yesterday we saw a fresh Op-Ed from the "American Thinker" from some jack ass in England. He was essentially doing George Will's act from last week.

But today comes this at the end of The International Polar Year:

Polar regions found warming fast, raising sea levels

"....... More than 63 countries and some 10,000 scientists took part in the $1.5 billion program, which began in March 2007 and ends next month."

GENEVA (Reuters) - The Arctic and Antarctic regions are warming faster than previously thought, raising world sea levels and making drastic global climate change more likely than ever, international scientists said on Wednesday.

http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSTRE51O4ZX20090225

---------
The "American Thinker" Op-Ed was telling us that the opposite was going on.

RR -
Thanks,
It's more about keeping individuals doing their own small projects. We fooled with it a bit last year. My friend Larry is running it. We're lining up some local framers, and for $30 dollars you get 12 shows, if you sign on before May 9. So, hopefully people who do crafts, hobbies etc. will see the advantage. If you sell something with a slow volume, $2.75 a show won't bite you in the wallet. We have a few solar & small wind vendors here, I'm going to get them to sign on.

Act Local

From the IPY story above :

IPY experts told a news conference that melting appeared to be speeding up, especially in the Western Antarctic region that stretches to near the southern tip of Latin America and which had earlier been thought stable.

"One could expect to see quite dramatic changes in weather in Chile and Argentina as a result," said Ian Allison, a co-chairman of the program's steering committee.

Such a trend would be felt around the world.
-----------------------------
Buckle up your chin straps.

Something Old -
CAIRO (Reuters) - Maintenance workers at Egypt's Giza Pyramids have found an ancient quartzite statue of a seated man buried close to the surface of the desert, the culture ministry said on Tuesday.

The statue, about life-size at 149 cm (five feet) tall, was found north of the smallest of Giza's three main pyramids, the tomb of the fourth dynasty Pharaoh Mycerinus, who ruled in the 26th century BC, the ministry said in a statement.

http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSTRE51N3W820090224

Something New -
U.S. scientists build computer model for snowflakes
http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSTRE51N6HZ20090224

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/obamas-awkward-pelosi-moment.html#comment-203823

Don One One

I agree with Pogo that we can't know what the next great development might be. We can only make sure that the education and infrastructure is there to provide a place and person for it to happen.

Right now Green does seem the most likely, particularly since China does seem to be our lender now, developing ways to clean up our mess and theirs as they try to develop a true middle class strikes me as a potential economic bonanza.

I don't see it Jamie. I have a light bulb. Green replaces it with a more efficient light bulb. But at the end of the day I still have a light bulb.

don1one -
Just a guess ............
You'll have an algae farm at No Trees , Texas. You'll grow GM algae that doubles at an unheard of rate. You'll be at No Trees, because you'll grow the stuff in brine water from an aquifer that people now avoid.

Who the hell is Gary Locke? Seriously, have any of you folks heard of him?

OK, he's the Chinese American governor, and obviously Jamie and Chef Sheila have heard of him....

MIAMI (Reuters) - Florida wildlife managers have launched an experiment to see if they can keep crocodiles from returning to residential neighborhoods by temporarily taping magnets to their heads to disrupt their "homing" ability.

http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSTRE51O08M20090225

And what will I do with the algae? Create something new or replace something that's already existing?

I have oil now. So I'll take the oil workers and make them algae farmers. Net-net, no gain.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/obamas-awkward-pelosi-moment.html#comment-203838

You have a lightbulb connected to a "state of the art" electrical grid powered by water, solar, wave, geothermal etc that can draw from your house when you aren't using it to give to someone 3000 miles away when they need and do the same for you when you want your light bulb lit.

Fresh Fish News -
Prehistoric fish pioneered sex
http://tvnz.co.nz/technology-news/prehistoric-fish-pioneered-sex-2504396

"Create something new or replace something that's already existing?"

Don, You could say that the automobile replace something that already existed in that a horse and buggy could get you from point A to point B, it was just slower and more uncomfortable.

Strangely enough we still have buggies, automobiles, jet planes, and rockets ... they all grew out of Man wanting to get from A to B.

That is what the green industries will do. Oil is actually getting too valuable to burn because of the products made from it. So it is likely that oil will be pumped for a long long time even though engines are running on electricity.

Not quite sure what to do with coal ... maybe stomp on it real hard so that everyone can wear inexpensive diamonds. The best outcome would be to fill them in and let the miners safely do something else out in the sunlight with solar.

don't, emerging technologies don't produce new workers, they produce new jobs. The new technology may spell the demise of the industry that grew up around the old one, but so what? I can't agree with you about "green" technologies. There is a growing acceptance of them among mainstream consumers in the face of energy prices that have and will follow an upward trend for current sources of energy and even the possibility of a link between carbon based energy production and global warming. Trains, automobiles, airplanes, hell, even cell phones and PCs were greeted with incredible skepticism because they took existing technologies to places that were hard to envision. Time will tell.

There's no argument that it's great stuff, I just don't see the economic boom.

If we can replace all of foreign purchased oil, that will be great. But that's a tremendous amount of GM algae, which will need a lot of nitrates, which farmers get from....petroleum. So now we have the same problem we have with corn, we're diverting resources from something we need to a lower efficiency product.

Solar panels are about break even. I'm not sure where we are with the efficiencies of wind turbines.

Get rid of cancer, now we're talking a real economic boom. There are a lot of doctors and nurses that would love to be doing something other than watching a child die.

One energy related item that might make a real difference is a photo - electricity transducer. Then you could string the new smart grid with glass fibers rather than copper or aluminum conductors. A super conducting grid might also give us efficiencies to make a difference. Or cold fusion, which last I heard is making progress in a Navy lab.

Bob, I took a look at your site, too.

Do you think there are any potential participants for whom a couple of hundred dollars would make the difference between being able to participate and succeed versus having to pass up that opportunity?

Here's some info on compact fluorescent sales from the Worldwatch Institute:

"Reliable global data on CFL use since 2003 do not exist, but sales growth in individual countries strongly indicates that total usage continues to increase at a fast pace. Between 2000 and 2004, for example, estimated sales in the United States grew 343 percent-from 21 million to 93 million-and by 2007 they reached 397 million.3 CFL sales in Western Europe grew 34 percent between 2000 and 2004, from 173 million to 232 million units, and in Eastern Europe they rose 143 percent, from 23 million to 56 million units.4 (See Figure 2 and Table 1.)

The lightbulb market share for CFLs varies widely among leading industrial nations. In the United States, CFLs accounted for more than 20 percent of sales in 2007, a strong growth from less than 1 percent before 2001.5 But other wealthy nations have shown much higher CFL use rates for quite some time, including 80 percent of households in Japan and 50 percent in Germany (in 1996 in both cases).6 Many developing countries have shown strong CFL market share in recent years as well: 14 percent of sales in China in 2003, for instance, and 17 percent in Brazil in 2002.7"

This is from an Oct. 27, 2008 article I can't get to other than from a search result, so I can't provide a link.

If there's any truth to those figures, it demonstrates yet again that the US follows the rest of the industrialized world in the adoption of new technology that is outside the mainstream items at WalMart and Sam's Club (who have gotten the message and are pushing CF sales like there is going to be no tomorrow).

The Gregory live Web Q & A is on

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29315555

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/obamas-awkward-pelosi-moment.html#comment-203850

If you want an even bigger economic boon, cure obesity ... It affects, disables, and kills many more people.

About that cancer thing, yep, gotta agree with you there.

And one other area that is just beginning to heat up is nanotechnology, specifically carbon nanotubes. The fact is, there are a world (literally) of uses for carbon other than burning it.

There's at least one boom out there waiting to happen - I only wish Iknew which emerging technology will be the first to hit.

jamie, that is true, and from what I see on the tube, Jenny Craig, Nutrasystem and a couple others have figured that out to great profit advantage. People (I, for example) just can't bring themselves to do tabletop pushaways, which are the single most effective fat reducing exercise yet developed.

don1, i agree with your comment yesterday about needing a techie time out because of the stress and addictive nature of tv, twitting, bberrying, etc sounds like that old star trek (ng) plot called "the game" where all the crew got carried away playing it...

the game "rendered them extremely susceptible to the power of suggestion, compelling them to aid the games' creators..."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Game_(TNG_episode)

heheh

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/25/krugman-jindal-response-g_n_169826.html

Krugman - calling a spade a spade.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/obamas-awkward-pelosi-moment.html#comment-203857

Most of the "weight loss" programs are temporary and not because people go back to eating more. There is a genetic and hormonal connection as well as dietary. One thing that came up recently. More than half of the people with diabetes who have bypass surgery no longer have diabetes and that isn't supposed to happen ... researchers currently working on that one.

Genome project mentioned above ... ther are going to be lots and lots of innovations coming out of that.

Sam Stein - McCain Confronts Obama on Marine One

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/23/mccain-grills-obama-on-ma_n_169267.html

McCain is in desperate need of a rectal craniectomy.

Interesting. Gregory says his wish list for MTP is

"On my wish list: Secretaries, Geithner, Clinton and Gates. Also King Abdullah of Jordan. Would also like to intvu Ted Kennedy. "

Flatus -
Good point, we're trying to attract Artists of All Types to show, one thing about art ..... No one really needs it.
Most artists support themselves as other things, and marketing the stuff can and does eat up a lot of money and time.

It's an experiment, if we can't draw enough vendors to open, then we do something else. That's what's cool about the Fundables site, it let's us know before hand.

Superb ray-gun junk sculptures

http://boingboing.hexten.net/2009/02/24/superb-raygun-junk-s.html

Republicans the party of Nope.

Thanks, Bob.

What I was trying to do is leverage the measly amount of our stimulus check through the equivalent of a micro-loan.

Jamie

Doesn't it depend on whether it is type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 is often reversed with diet and weight loss

Now lemmee see, what committee was McCain on when the Marine One procurement process was approved and went forward? Oh, yes, The Armed Services Committee.

But lessee, the contract was awarded in 2005 - who controlled the Senate then? oh, yes, the republicans -and what committee was McCain on? Oh, yes . . .

Funny how this didn't seem to become a big issue for him until it looked like Obama might be the one flying in it.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2008-07-18-marine-one_N.htm

Max, I'd say that's at least 3 cents worth. ;-)

Flatus -
Nothing worse than a market with no vendors, if we can draw the vendors, then the masses will come. We're shooting for two fleas above a Flea Market.

Yo Max -

Thanks for the long list of Bush failures, ones where he just let things drift.

Maybe even five cents pogo.....

I suspect that many things must get uglier before they get better. The question is how much and whether this President has the capcity to change.

Hell, didn't JFK fire most of his early advisors?

I haven't given up yet...

Big Day for Fish News -

DNA Evidence Is In, Psychedelic Looking Bouncing Fish Is A New Species, Dubbed 'Psychedilica'

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090224154912.htm

Many of the things I listed are events taking place after Obama appeared to be the favorite. Iran And Russia did endorse Obama.

Rather than go point by point, most situationsI listed except Iraq got worse once Obama seemed ahead in the polls and are the result of direct challenges to the new adminsitration. The solutions proposed by the past administration to improve these situations were tempered or rejected by Democrats in control while they advocated for Musharraf to resign, more talking to Iran and Syria, no push to enforce UN mandates and sanctions, talk of halting missile defense/bombing Pakistan/more NATO troops to Afghanistan, and flapping the NIE as proof Iran was really honest..

Now the Democrats are in power with clearly marked campaign promises. Let's see how their new strategies will improve all the world's problems that Rice seems to think Bush created. BY my count, things have gotten much worse and if Stimulus Bill follows TARP, we will be in a fine mess Ollie.

"We're shooting for two fleas above a Flea Market." Gotcha...won't bug you anymore.

Max, do you really think Congress or the country - or Obama for that matter - believes that the issues you raised re: foreign policy are more important than the fact that the country is circling the proverbial economic toilet? This was a political speech that was carefully designed to try and inject a little optimism and confidence in his ability to figure out what people are concerned about and provide general direction toward solutions to the problems giving rise to those concerns in pessimistic and skeptical times.

He didn't have the confidence of Reagan? What, you want a shining city on the hill through tax cuts and smaller guv'ment speech? please. Reagan had the advantage of seeing the end of a foreign policy nightmare that was resolved by Carter and oil prices that had peaked and were beginning to fall, as well as an unemployment rate that was falling when he took office (and rebounded for 3 years after his confidence speech). The USSR was our enemy, and unrest in the eastern bloc was evident over the involvment in Afghanistan (which we would be wise to remember) among other things - remember Walesa and Solidarity? The indicators looked good, so he could be confident. Contrast that to now - no one but paleocons believe the tax cut meme, unemployment is rising and projected to rise further, and oil, while low compared to 6 months ago, is too unpredictable to give anyone confidence. Plus we're mired in Iraq and Afghanistan with no real way out of the region anytime soon. And the economy - what's to be confident about considering the damage done over the past 8 years? No wonder he's no Reagan when it comes to confidence - he woudl have to be delusional to be so - but thankfully the American people responded to him in about the same manner they responded to Reagan, so whether he has Reagan's confidence is of little moment - what's important is whether he can sustain the confidence and optimism of the American people while he and the congress attempt to weather the current economic disaster. As long as the Repugs pick idiots like Boner and lightweights like Bobby Jindal to be their faces on the news and continue to talk tax cuts and indict government as not being the answer, I think he stands a decent chance.

btw, it's good to see you here again.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/obamas-awkward-pelosi-moment.html#comment-203876

CBob

I'll have whatever that fish is drinking

big bust announced

"DEA Whacks Cartel as DHS Maps Response to Mexican Drug Violence"

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

"EECP is another technology I thought would transform lives but for some reason has never taken off. I'm still thinking of taking it just as a preventative."

D-eleven--sounds like a rich person's g-suit.

jamie - diabetics have an actual biological reason for becoming obese - and the fat reducing exercise I mentioned won't help them. Those of us (most of us chubniks) who don't have that disease don't have that as an excues. My particular disase is willpower insufficiency as a result of suger addiction. I don't know of any surgery that looks promising.

sugar

won't bug you anymore.

Flatus ..... One thing you don't do is bug people.

( Insert dancing smiley face here.)

The initial tests were at Mayo Clinic and UCSF, with patients ineligible for surgery, yet long term they did as well as healthier patients having by-pass surgery. And no traumatic stress, because there's not even a pin prick involved.

It's even medicare approved for certain patients. And since it helps rebuild arteries and capillaries, there's an extra benefit for men.

To all suffering with snow, it was 87 degrees in my backyard yesterday, and today is just as warm. Time to go have a look at the fish.

C'mon Max, TARP and the Stimbill are horses of a different color. And it's pretty clear that even with TARP, Obama has learned a thing or two from the feckless administration of its first installment by Bush and Paulson. Lessee, who ran to the hill crying "the sky is falling" and warning that the whole world would collapse if TARP weren't passed with no disucussion? Was it Chcken Little or Henny Penny? I confuse them. Oh, yes - it was Bush and Paulson. and who did absofuckinglutely nothing to try and put some accountability into the bill? OK, that falls on both the Admin and Congress. Bush knew better and Congress should have.

TARP was (is) money to shore up the collapsing subprime and substandard mortgage system - it is theoretically designed to prevent widespread collapse of the mortgage banking system through increased liquidity in that system. So far, it hasn't worked.

Stimbill is a mechanism to inject money into the economy on a much broader scale with the purpose of heating the economy up and preventing a catastophic increase in the unemployment rate. Hard to say whether it will work - or more likely, appear to work - until it is implemented and money starts flowing to projects that should generate hiring. I've heard and seen good feedback on the program's design from economists who talk and write, and they know a lot more about this stuff than I do. I'd be surprised to see any discernable effect for almost a year.

This is just too good -

After offering-up the latest GOP lie that $8 billion of the stimulus was line-itemed for "a ‘magnetic levitation’ line from Las Vegas to Disneyland" in last night's widely-panned speech, you'll never guess where Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA) travels today:

After giving one of the biggest speeches in his time as a politician, Gov. Bobby Jindal is heading to Disney World.

Jindal's office says the governor and his family leave for the Orlando vacation resort today.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-nickolas/after-lying-about-high-sp_b_169892.html

I have to say that it is interesting to get e-mail messages from Obama. I've gotten them since the campaign, and I just got one talking about his speech and the programs in place to deal with the economic crisis. Interesting approach to communicating iwth th' folks.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/obamas-awkward-pelosi-moment.html#comment-203887

Don

Gastric By Pass, Lap Band etc. are now Medicare approved for morbidly obese (100+ pounds)

Hi Jamie,
Just meant to point out that EECP isn't snake oil. Saw what the effects of quadruple bypass had on my father.

ok, so the Twitter debate goes on. Will be talking about it on Olbermann tonight 8:30

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/obamas-awkward-pelosi-moment.html#comment-203840

Of course... Gary Locke was Washington State's Governor after Mike Lowry's one term in office. Locke was from my district in Seattle when he was a State Senator I believe... Anyway he was/is the ultimate "technocrat"... He was not someone I'd call "progressive"... He did not fight for allowing state employees to gain the right of collective bargaining. Locke could read through financial indicators and what it meant for future public funding. In pursuing this, he'd make offices write budgets assuming a 10% budget cut, which caused a lot of us stress wondering if this was his agenda...

I know you read these comments, Craig, so I would like to propose an alternative to today's cringe-worthy comment by my namesake, EuroTom, and others in recent days. (Your "ha, you first tom, your Kate Winslet moment" response only encourages their worst behavior!)

If you inverted the order of blog entries so the most recent posting appeared at the top of the page, you could spare ALL of your readers the annoyance of seeing such fatuous simperings from writers whose mission in life appears to be staying up till 5 or 6 AM so they can victoriously log onto your blog with a "me first?" even though they have nothing else to express!

One lucky "me firster" could still get a huge rush because for that instant, he or she actually would be first, but the rest of us would be spared being forced to read their postings as they were gradually pushed to the bottom of the page over the course of a day.

Just a thought in the interest of change we can ALL believe in...

Tomas
mi amigo

We have traditions that Craig dare not trounce on for his own sanity.

Being able to claim first post whith a loud "Whoo Hoo!" is one of the most sacred and is not to be triffled with.

ET did forget to "Whoo hoo" but he can be forgiven as he does tend to get excitable. We love him anyway.

BTW, welcome and hang around we have many other traditions that are even more annoying.
;-)

Jack

Craig I wish I could remember the SF story but it had a society where all the "withit people" were connected twitter style. As I remember the device was implanted in the skull. No thumbs needed.
Maybe Spinrad or Delany wrote it.

Jack

Tomas....
this blog has been around in one form or another for 31/2 yrs..... it is what it is.... so instead of trying to mess with it for your first post..... relax.... read it a bit.... get to know us..... and tell us about you....

welcome to the blog....

Tomas-
Euro Tom really is in Europe. So add 5 hours to east coast time.

I claimed that spot once in name of the King Spain, but lately it's been Sweet Potato Pie !

Tomas-
Should have come a few days ago, the place was full of fish heads.

The rolly polly kind.

Welcome Tomas,

The reasoning for the top down is that this is, unlike most websites, a conversation and a community. As you get comfortable reading, you will learn the personalities and positions, subjects that interest you, and items you wish to read or skip over.

Brush up your You Tube - We sing to each other when things get slow or when a particular song is also a comment. So in your honor:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1gfZwejPv8

I like the first to last style for comments because of the conversation that often(change that to always) occurs here. I can read through them and listen in on the conversation. Then at the end I can add my own astute observations, often correcting some of the chatter that proceeded me ;-p

Tomas , as you hang around you may notice sometimes we comment on Craig's topic of the day and sometimes we ignore it preferring something else that has attracted our attention.

"what was that? OOOOOH look bright and shiny"

Jack

pogo,

isn't there a bit of the peter pan urgency about some of this... and for good reason.... and as i noted yesterday re bernanke's comment, clap your hands, keep clapping and say i believe i believe.... or tinkerbell will surely die.

Craig, Will you be rounding up the Not a State of the Union speech tonight with Olbermann or other subject?

Sweet Potato Pie !

Colorado, Have you tried the purple sweet potatoes?

Still more fish news -

FORT WORTH, Texas — A Fort Worth attraction known for its beautiful exotic fish is expected to reopen Thursday after a chlorination accident killed more than 100 koi.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/6280932.html

Have you tried the purple sweet potatoes?
No AC I haven't , know what the taste is like ?

For the longest time I considered the white sweet potato "Hayman" the sweetest but this winter the purple ones originaly from Okinawa now possibly from Hawaii are the absolute sweetest, but they don't keep as well as the white.

So I did a tiny bit of research, and a little math, concerning cumulative savings on "Earth Hour" 3/28/09:

The average American household uses 1.3 kW/h, and one ton of coal generates 2460 kWh. So for every million American households that stopped their electricity consumption for 1 hour, 538 tons of coal would be saved. if my math is right.

http://science.howstuffworks.com/question481.htm
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_much_electricity_does_the_average_American_household_use

One Of The Most Important Problems In Materials Science Solved

Among other applications, it can be used to better understand high-temperature superconducting materials and will thus be important in the development of new superconducting materials and our future energy supply.

http://www.spacemart.com/reports/One_Of_The_Most_Important_Problems_In_Materials_Science_Solved_999.html

I think I just came up with an example of twitter I like.

A public square. Some people are in the corner on a soapbox speaking hoping people are listening.

Some people have huge groups listening, others just a few. Like town criers or wandering minstrels.

Some are actors pretending to be someone else and putting on shows.

Sometimes it's small groups, or maybe a one-on-one conversation with others listening in.

Sometimes people just find people to have a private chat with.

Some people are trying to hawk their wares of sell you something.

It's a mixture, just like you'd find in a farmers market or public square.

All in 140 characters and from the luxury of an easy chair. Minus the booths and good food.

Champ

Number of households in 2007 -
116,011,000

So if our math is right

538 tons of coal X 116 = 62,408 tons in one hour.

There are 600 coal fired power plants in the U.S.

So if we divide that number into 62,408 tons, that comes out to 140 tons per hour, per plant.

538 tons of coal is approximately 20,000 cubic feet of mass. 20,000 ft3 equals a 50' long x 50 ft' wide x 8' high cube; about the size of ranch home.

http://nepacrossroads.com/about3852.html

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/obamas-awkward-pelosi-moment.html#comment-203917

Don1One

One thing that occurred to me was that someone with a sense of adventure could "Tweet" a trip around the world right from their computer complete with pictures of attractions, people they have me etc.

Mumble mumble years ago, I had a teacher tell about his trip to Mongolia complete with shaggy ponies and rancid yak butter, and then took votes when he was finished with the tales as to whether or not he had actually made the trip.

Could be a fun twitter to follow.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/obamas-awkward-pelosi-moment.html#comment-203908

jamie, as far as i know so far the Keith seg will focus on the conservative twitterers like Newt (insert "twit" jokes here) at the speech last night

I can't find the energy used to EXTRACT one tone of coal, I'll throw that ball to you if you want it; I have to go cook dinner.

For those not attending CPAC in DC starting tomorrow, here's what you will be missing:

http://www.cpac.org/agenda_20708.html

Craig are you going to drop in or would they tar and feather you?

Champ

That would be 5 coal hoppers out of a train of 120( IIRC)
I one spring our crew was framing a house over looking the Mo river bottom. At the bottom of the bluff ran a railroad track. Three times every day during the 8hrs we worked a long train with nothing but coal went by.

We use a lot of energy.

Jack

Use this one tonight, Craig:

"Well, Keith, as if we didn't have enough twits coming out of Washington D.C...."

You should also do some research on the amount of energy required to produce a twit, and the amount that would be conserved if everyone would just STFU already.

Definitely an interesting idea Jamie. Will need to add writing a novel to the list.

I could be Joseph Conrad exploring the last frontiers with postings from my satellite phone.

Way too much work for me though, I can't even keep up with my blogs.

One of my concerns was the lack of socialization with the Internet. Japan was seeing problems. Kids don't learn conflict management and resort to violence. NIH even has studies on bullying.

Maybe there are ways to keep the conversation going. I just hope people still take those no-tech days and get out among real people.

BTW, did you hear George Will's comments on Obama hugging Coburn? Now ya know he ain't country.

Craig,

Speaking of Washington Twits, one of your favorite people, Michele Bachman, will be the "Master of Ceremonies" at the CPAC banquet tomorrow night (must be conservatives they didn't change it to Mistress)

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/obamas-awkward-pelosi-moment.html#comment-203903

Welcome Tomas -- In addition the "me first," singing youtubes and rolly-polly fish heads, we also indulge in cocktails and share the occasional recipe.

Since it is past 6:00 pm est, I am about to make myself a bourbon sour. Would you care for one too?

~ Alicia

If we phased out all the old coal fired powerplants and replaced them with new ones you would see a 45% increase in effecency. Or a 45% reduction in carbon per energy unit.

carbon reduction is a cat with many different skins.

Jack

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/obamas-awkward-pelosi-moment.html#comment-203927

not a bad line, champ, might have to steal it

Alicia

I'll drink to that.

Time to get supper cooked the wife will be home soon.

Sumthin in a tortilla, I think

Jack

Champ -
Good luck with the cost of energy per ton to extract coal.
One thing I know about that , the drag line at the Black Thunder mine at Reno Junction, Wyo. is producing it at less cost than say some mine near Pogo that's under ground.
That's why there's a "coal train", 45 miles long rolling out of the Powder River basin everyday.

Dinner with the Simpsons ...... Duholt !

"Asked for a "final thought" on the president's speech last night, conservative columnist George WIll chose to focus on the fact that Obama was able to wrap his arms around another man, in friendship. "I don't know when men started to hug each other, but hug they do, and look at that," he said. Wise words. Watch"

George Will is probably the poster boy for East Coast Wasp ... His facade may crumble a bit in the face of demonstrative types hugging all over the place.

My dad helped pour the cooling towers of the plant in Wheatland, WY. That's probable where the train is headed, it had a huge coal yard.

Colorado Bob (CB)
no need to respond but wanted to remind you that I did respond to your question. Have a good one.
http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/obamas-awkward-pelosi-moment.html#comment-203914

If some of you are looking for interesting Twitterers, you might check out Anthony North. He is a british author who has a great, great web page that I visit a great deal, but he is now using Twitter to write 140 characters or less stories. The latest:

"Fiction: I'd lost my leg, it was as simple as that. There was no pain and I just looked at it, lying there. What a clumsy sculptor I am."

Gordo, no person who aspires to or is the leader of a country should keep details of his/her birth/eligibility from the people. An informed citizenry is the foundation of a "free people". I am paraphrasing James Madison

Gordo,

No one is afraid to listen and no one here thinks that he is not eligible to be President. Congress in the case of McCain, made it clear that even though he was born in Panama, he was a citizen of the US. Several courts seem to have determined that birth in the United States is sufficient to convey Presidential eligibility.

The State of Hawaii has stated that he was born in Hawaii. Now there is the possibility that we may discover somewhere down the road that the Registrar for that state was lying.

In the meantime, he is the President. The majority of the citizens of the US like him and don't want a change. Get used to it.

I hope Tomas gets a chance to be first so he can experience the thrill. It's an initiation rite. Haven't we all had the chance at least once?

Shuster needs to learn how to enunciate without using all of his face laterally. It is very distracting. Practice time with a video camera may be in order.

Why does Ton Delay remind me of a roach?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/obamas-awkward-pelosi-moment.html#comment-203946

Ivy,

It's magic. He is taking on the characteristics of his former victims.

what if there were a change......instead of a First post being the minor thrill........make it the Last post which gets the big huzzah.....

that way, when someone thinks they have the last post they write LAST, ha ha ha "Crazy Dance", flip the bird around once or twice and then be shown up and trounced upon by someone who has managed to stay up later.....or be in a different time zone........

well.....I'm going to work a bit on the concept.....I'll get back with ya.....

"no one here thinks that he is not eligible to be President."

Posted by: Jamie Author Profile Page | February 25, 2009 6:54 PM

Not true. I question his eligibility.

"In the meantime, he is the President. The majority of the citizens of the US like him and don't want a change. Get used to it."

...although I agree there.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/obamas-awkward-pelosi-moment.html#comment-203949

Mr. Fish, How about a Hall of Shame. The poor souls whose messages appear after the words "NEW THREAD" appear forcing them to crawl into the next subject with .... carried over from the last thread.

Craig:

You might want to comment that the Republicans have devolved even further with their Twitter "response" to President Obama's speech.

In the "old days," Mr. Bush acted like an irresponsible frat boy; the Twitter folks are like high schoolers seeing what they can get away with while the teacher's back is turned.

And while you're in touch with MSNBC, please tell Tweety that his insistence on dragging back the disgraced Tom DeLay so frequently is bordering on unhealthy infatuation and is totally unwelcome.

Thomas----

I've never been first,,,,but it I had been,,,,,,I would have done it this way

primero---Primero_____PRIMERO-------then I would be jumping up and down in my office,,,,,yelling,,,,PRIMEROOOOOOOOOOOO,,,sorta like that guy that says lets get ready to rumble,,,,,,,,,,,,and then go right the second post and say ----second also,,,,and not write anything until later on,,,,,coool Huh,,,,but now I will have to come up with something else!
THomas go for it,,,,,,get silly,,

Pogo,,,Nanotechnology is the next big thing,,,,,,there will be p c's on the frame of you reading glasses,,,,or sunglasses,,,,

This just made up my mind that my real leg has to fall off before I start twittering,,

,,http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/obamas-awkward-pelosi-moment.html#comment-203941

Unless I can twitter over an invoice and have it honored in a court of law as an original bill,,,,Hmmm,,,lets see,,,will partial twittering be a form of proof that you have contacted someone,,,,can you put a legal notice on it,like you can in the newspapers, that you really don't want anyone to see???it will be used for breaking up with some one,,,,with as few words as possible,,,?,,,a dear John by twittering,,,and if some worker of mine ever twitters me that the will be late, or not coming in to work,,,,,well that twit is out of a job!,,,just some twittering on the keyboard....I think I just did my first twitter,,,without a twit HA!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/obamas-awkward-pelosi-moment.html#comment-203946

ivy, is it because you have an uncontrollable urge to stomp on him?

Something for Gordo. It was interesting when everyday US citizens did this, but now our military are speaking out.

http://tinyurl.com/GORDO-SPECIAL

that did not go through---but this is it,,,no twittering for me

"If some of you are looking for interesting Twitterers, you might check out Anthony North. He is a british author who has a great, great web page that I visit a great deal, but he is now using Twitter to write 140 characters or less stories. The latest:"

"Fiction: I'd lost my leg, it was as simple as that. There was no pain and I just looked at it, lying there. What a clumsy sculptor I am."

Why doesn't Obama provide the original birth certificate or certified copy to a competent court and the matter will be settled once and for all. His unwillingness to do this is at least disconcerting.

Until then I must join the few here who question his eligibility under Article 2.

TruthinReality,
How did you do the tiny url thing. Is it dificult?

Watching BBC News

House of Commons question time stopped today due to the death of the child of the man who may be the next Prime Minister. The current Prime Minister ordered it and sent condolences to the family. Sometimes politics does take a back seat to humanity.

They also covered a great deal of real news including the Obama speech, the holocaust denying priest, European refugee camps for those fleeing Africa and the Global Warming reports.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/obamas-awkward-pelosi-moment.html#comment-203948

He failed as an bug exterminator because it takes too much time to pull their legs off one at a time.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/obamas-awkward-pelosi-moment.html#comment-203960

True, but he gets so much pleasure from watching them spin around in circles.

looks mighty lak a tri-FICTA.........3-3-3 for the price of one........

Animal Control

If you have a long URL, you copy it and go here

http://tinyurl.com/

Put the long URL in the space there and tell it to make it tiny. You then copy the tiny URL and paste it here.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/obamas-awkward-pelosi-moment.html#comment-203943

"The State of Hawaii has stated that he was born in Hawaii."
---------------------------------------------
That is false. It's based on stories written by reporters who (I believe) want to mislead readers. These "false" stories are used by Obama supporters to create confusion about the issue.
---------------------------------------------
(Need to post this -- much more at link.)

"... many have claimed that the Hawaiian Health Department has issued a formal statement asserting that Barack Obama was born in Hawaii and the images of the certifications of live birth circulating on the internet are valid Hawaii birth certificates. However, on closer inspection, a lot of these purported official statements by the Hawaiian Health Department seem to evaporate.

For example, the October 31, 2008 offical statement by Director of the Department of Health for the State of Hawaii Dr. Chiyome Fukino is: (see link)

... which was extrapolated by the Associated Press to produce a story entitled "State declares Obama birth certificate genuine". The Honolulu Advertiser similarly padded this simple official statement into the November 1, 2008 article "Obama's certificate of birth OK, state says", ... Note that this sentence in the article is not attributed to Fukino; this is purely an unfounded claim injected into the piece by the reporter."

http://defendourfreedoms.us/2009/01/09/december-2008--the-hawaiian-health-department.aspx

Thank you Jamie

Not just any old someone from President Obama's own party who isn't all that pleased.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0209/19303.html

Jamie this is a test
http://tinyurl.com/d4gv4o

my dear mr. g,

if there indeed exists sufficient documentation to support a charge of perjury (willful misrepresention on state/federal documents) it would seem simpler and perhaps quicker in the long run, to go the route of impeachment rather than clog up an already clogged up court system which years from now would see the supreme court ponder the words of the founding fathers, consider the person at issue was in truth naturally borne of an american female citizen (no matter where in the world nor in what circumstance), weigh the consequences of once again thwarting the will of the electorate, and decide, therefore, not to decide but bounce the hot potato to the legislative branch.

my advice to you sir, fee free and worth the price, is to find yourself a compliant prosecutor.

ahhh, so.........olberman begins.........

I, too, came from a distant land..........Alabama.

patd.......if I din't know better I'd swear I see just a parcel of the old samuel johnson all up in there.......by way of the old boswell, of course..........

How you do dat?

while "sir" and "dear Mr." are nice touches, it's quite a bit more than that.......

glad to see the twitter deal turn into a TV bit........That's making the mare go, by golly......................

sturge, the old razzle dazzle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rn5-VN3SH1o

Chloe

I had to go to a business meeting,,and did not get a chance to watch those programs,,,,how did you like them?

Regarding eligibility requirements...Sturge, may I remind of something George Costanza once said:

"It's not a lie, if you believe it."

I have to go to work early tonight. To work in my old department...which supposedly doesn't run on 3rd shift anymore. As George also once said:

"Every time I think I'm out, they pull me back in."

Jamie, yes it was to take you back to the thank you.

Apreciate the help.

Need to scrub the hard drive.

that made me remember what I did for love..........and it's not even suppertime yet..........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5MWqZXFTGc&feature=PlayList&p=C95A9134DB7B9666&playnext=1&index=9

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/obamas-awkward-pelosi-moment.html#comment-203969

"... go the route of impeachment ..."
-------------------------------------------------
Can't impeach. He is not eligible for POTUS, therefore he is not POTUS. The election and the oath (s) did not change the fact that he is not a "natural born" citizen.

The entire Executive Branch is illegitimate. Nothing he does is legitimate -- bills signed into law, appointments, etc.

Patd, I'd forgotten how great that razzle dazzle Richard Gere seen was. Thanks for linking it. Now I want to see the movie again.

sturge, the old bailey style, a touch of class

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FiOmiiX48I&feature=related

Craig is on with Keith right now talking about twitering.

Hey Solar,
I got busy with the baby and missed them too (my life will never be the same). Do you think they'll run it again?

Dear Bob:

jimmy smith.....

1964

the year before mustang sally came out.......

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

Gordo

Would like to explain why all your links are loaded with racists and people who don't believe in the equal rights part of the Constitution?

It does tend to make your arguments look as if they were being developed by past or current members of the KKK.

Champ -- Craig used your line about "twits in Washington." G1

1. I've now read the statement of the head of the birth certificate office forn the 6th time and it still says what it said before : a. Hawaii possesses Obama's actual birth certificate; b. It is illegal to give actual birth certificates to persons who do not have a legitimate need to possess it; c. However, people with a STAKE in seeing a genuine birth certificate are not denied the opportunity to do so.

HINT : Hawaii does not store either Kenyan or Indonesian birth certificates. So, the folks who hope to find either a hypothetical Indonesian or a hypothetical Kenyan birth certificate have been stupidly asking at the wrong office.

HINT : Try the offices in Nairobi and Jakarta.

2. Byrd woke up just to sign that ? I guess he would have objected also to Harry Hopkins' and Averell Harriman's special assignments for FDR, and to Colonel House' special work for Wilson (who, btw, had foreign parent, y'know.)

Now, go back to sleep, Bob.

a parthian shot.......i.e. a shreveport shrieker........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpJ_IAUs8nI

Yes,,,,will check on those,,,it might be a while,,,but there is always others that are just as interesting,,,i have about 15 20 hours that I have to start watching,that I tivoed.

We took the big step and signed contracts for those houses,,,,now in 2 -3 weeks we will go out to the lot sites,,,,so we are about 80--90% of a done deal,,,,starting top look good,,,,if we get what they call quit deeds,,,than its a done deal,,,we have the buyers all lined up,,,,,and they say the $ is there (appropriated) so keep your fingers crossed,,,,no better yet cross little Emma N's for me,,,,she will do the trick,,,and have her twitch her nose,,,like little Tabitha in Bewitched :-)

There are so many excuses for not working together and making this nation greater it's amazing. Too many people are caught up in grabbing power and doing what's best for themselves.

I remember the old Sunday program, I think it was Discovery (year like Discovery 66) . They showed two American girls and two Mexican girls competing for gifts. They had a checkerboard and each girl got one move, with who ever got across the board winning.

The American girls went back and forth, back and forth never winning anything. Game after game they won nothing.

The Mexican girls cooperated and one game went one way, the next game went the other. At the end the had each gotten the maximum number of gifts you could win.

While we are adversarial at times, like in our court system and in capitalism, some times it's just time to knock it off and work together. At least that's what I think.

hail to the champ! today ko, tomorrow the world.

where's his atta boy, cbob? where's his a+ ping?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvEnIkz82A0&feature=related

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/obamas-awkward-pelosi-moment.html#comment-203988

"Hawaii possesses Obama's actual birth certificate;"
-------------------------------------------
Need to read further down the link for this:

"Of course, as most people should know by now, you can have a valid Hawaiian certificate of live birth, either short or long form, and still be born outside of Hawaii or even the US (per Hawaii law 338-17.8). After all, there is even a space for registering foreign births on the form, a box "7C" ... And the Hawaiian Health Department, as far as we have been able to determine, has never issued a statement about what is in box 7C of Obama's certificate of live birth. All that Fukino stated is that "Hawai'i State Department of Health has Sen. Obama's original birth certificate on record in accordance with state policies and procedures."

http://defendourfreedoms.us/2009/01/09/december-2008--the-hawaiian-health-department.aspx

sturge, nothing like a dame to beat a lad any day...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dO-Qi8W9Yk

"have her twitch her nose"

Ha Solar, I'll do that. She may have powers we don't know about yet.

But that is great news about the houses. Glad to see you getting the work. I assume you'll be working your same guys, so they'll be happy too. Maybe things will start turning around sooner than we thought. (And I'm never sorry to see winter come to an end either.) Things are looking up.

It was filed by the registrar 4 days after his birth. They don't backdate birth certificates. I know, I was adopted and was reissued a birth certificate when I was 4.

1. a. If you didn't believe the birth certificate was in Honolulu, you wouldn't have looked for it there, ERGO,
you do believe that the birth certificate is there.

1 b. If you believed he was born in Kenya or Indonesia, you would look for his birth certificate there. But, you haven't done so, ERGO, you don't actually believe it.

2. The Chief of the Records Office in Honolulu wrote that his office has the actual Obama Birth Certificate.

3. a. Hawaii only stores the birth certificates of people who are born in Hawaii.

3. b. Kenyan birth certificates are stored in Kenya.

3. c. Indonesian birth certificates are stored in
Indonesia.

Therefore, GORDO, you are a fraud. Q.E.D.

"If You Knew Susie (Like I know Susie!)" Eddie Cantor, 1925
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0zKqiClt1k

I do not believe that Hawaii stores birth certificates made out for people born in alien jurisdictions, let alone foreign ones. Try to prove me wrong.

Btw, you gave up on the foreign parent crapola, after I
showed that 2 presidents had foreign parents. Thisw is as bootless as your assertion that Woodrow Wilson wasn't the president.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/obamas-awkward-pelosi-moment.html#comment-203997

Can see the info at that link got you a bit upset. Calm down -- reread the posts, return to the link and read. THINK.

thanks to champ and don1one for the assists on KO tonight

waiting for godot.... timely observation

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

OK, GORDO, you've made your point. If anybody is inclined to agree you've supplied plenty of material to consider.

Glad it helped.

I've been hit and miss on watching KO since I started contracting, but I don't think I've seen you on in a while.

Evening, kids! What's cooking?

Whisky

Black Tears

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpB0c9p0l78#

off to my DVR of tonight's LOST -- new video at midnight (where i attempt my own amateur impersonation of Jindal, consider yourself warned)

I'm gonna be a star, Ma!

"Top of the world, Ma!"

--Cagney, "White Heat"

SEA

Thanks for the Email,,,,and

A happy song for you,,,,called for a life time,,,of happiness

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7D0EtQDdIO8#

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/obamas-awkward-pelosi-moment.html#comment-204009

Thanks, Sturge. I missed it in the theaters.

Obama did another nice job. He's lightening up. He can do that now. The whole country knows there's a Bush recession going on.

As for Bobby Jindal, he's NOT the Repubs prodigy, that's for sure. His counter speech was all about him. It felt like a "I'm great, Vote for me next."

tt

Fortunately for Bobby ,all the people in La were out celebrating Fat Tuesday so they didn't hear his speech. By the time they awaken from their drunken stupors the coverage may be over.

Even though I thought Obama's speech was good I thought it was a little pie in the sky, a little ambitious even a little delusional in what he thinks he can accomplish in these troubled times.

The more I pondered his speech today, the more nervous I became. Watching the news tonight I sense the same in some of the questions they are asking.

I agree. I think a lot of it will depend on how fast he can get his agenda acted upon. The longer it takes, the more lobbyists and other things will bog it down. Not to mention he's going to have a really hard time getting the cuts enacted.

Carol

I have been thinking the same thing,,,,and he promised to cut the deficit in half,,,,,,,did he find all the $ that Bush laid aside for a rainy day? what did his financial team come up with?,,,some thing doesn't sound right,,,where is all the cuts going to come from?,,,he did promise no new spending unless it was matched $ per $???

Working in health care for 37 years and fighting that system on many different levels, I know that it can't be fixed in a short period of time. For one thing to accomplish some of what he wants to accomplish will required many more health care workers and that takes time. For the entire time I have been working there has been a nursing shortage.

I also sense that what the banks haven't stolen from me the government is waiting to take. I just hope they have a good old age plan coming because I will need it since they have ruined my ability to do it for myself.

Jon Stewart certainly described Jindal perfectly as Mr. Rogers. Especially interesting after the macho attitude of McCain and Palin.

Details,,,details,,,I wanna see some details!

Sorry Carol,,,,should have said hello ---hello,,,How is your fuzzy tail?,,,,,,,the little owl that is,,and the others,,,,they still talking to you?

Solar, I didn't go to the camp last weekend because the nights were too cold and being up on stilts with little insulation, it is as cold inside as it is outside.

I don't qualify for the weatherizationhelp because I make just enough to get nothing but enough for them to take most of what I get.

XR,

When we adopted our daughter in South Carolina last year, we were issued a birth certificate for her. She was born more than 50-years ago in Korea, doesn't have a drop of American blood in her veins, has never been to this country, and is perfectly happy living in Korea.

The birth certificate cites a couple provisions of the federal statutes as authority for its issuance. And, it also points out that conclusions as to the citizenship of the child should not be made solely from the certificate.

Why did we get the certificate? Because it confers our given name upon her, and provides irrefutable documentation that she is indeed part of a family, our family.

Fuzzy Butt was baby from two years ago.

This is the time of year here that they lay their eggs. I saw that one owl checking out the tree hole two weeks ago and I thought maybe mama owl was up there with eggs. Later I saw a couple of squirrels run in and out of the hole. I don't think that would have been a good idea if mama owl was in there. Maybe papa owl was just house hunting and waiting to see if he could get a loan.

Night all

Ct
I understand,,,,that's the problem with being in the middle class.

Another thing that I was thinking about,,,all the standing O's that Obama received last night,,,,,,from the D's And the R's,,,,there isn't even one independent to represent us Indies ??looks pretty bleak for a third party,,,,oh well I guess it's the D's turn to rip us off, What did they say,,no more waste,,,no more pork projects,,,,,night

Time for a third party,,,,,bet it would stand a chance if all the comedians would say they were for one?,,,they run the show!

You miss my point, which is:

1. The lack of evidence do not constitute evidence, not even when supplemented with irrelevant questions and assertive whining. You never had evidence and still don't. This opinion has been amply demonstrated in several episodes going back 4 or 5 months, and my opinion has been ratified by the State and Federal Courts and upheld by the Supreme Court of the United States of America.
2. Your arguments are illogical, as I demonstrated this evening, supra;
3. Your 3 previous hobby horses : the 'foreign parent bar'; the 'entry in an Indonesian school registrar's form constitutes a legal name change'; and the 'rescinded British Law Citizenship Law is the controling factor in today's American Citizenship Law' all proved to lack merit, which means that you are not reliable - a legal term having to do with your abysmal track record as an informant. You, your fellow travelers, and your cause are all frauds.

If my diagnosis of you and your baseless and illogical assertions looks like an upset, please reread my comments and THINK.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/obamas-awkward-pelosi-moment.html#comment-204007

So, I bunch of us will be sitting up waiting to press the Woo Hoo button? Maybe we should let Tomas have the honor?

Thank you, Flatus,

Several questions for the benefit of naive people who might be taken in by GORDO :
1. Did the State of South Carolina issue that birth certificate, or did the Republic of Korea ?
2. Does the State of South Carolina store that birth certificate, or do you ?
3. As the adopting parents, do you think that you had a 'material interest' in getting a copy of the document ?

Btw, I believe the State of MN prohibits the adoption of older people by younger people. I don't know that this would matter in your adoption.

Goodnight

XR,

1. It was issued by the State of South Carolina with the source documents being the Adoption Decree issued by the State Family Court.

2. The state stores the full documentation. We have copies of the certified long form.

3. Yes, we had such an interest.

In her/our case it was an older person being adopted by even older people.

Off to bed.

NEW THREAD

whoops, missed it...I'll settle for last.

Colbert on Twittering last night from congress :
Sen Byrd -
"What the hell is this ? Hello give me , Klondike - 485

..... ---- ... ----- "