Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

Whoopie....!

Back from the loo now. Craig, that was disgustingly el-oh-el...

“Utz Are Better Than Nutz”)

Soooo glad you scraped that off the plate.

tt

Bob,

left you a note on the tail end of the last thread. Thx

Well, Craig here's a rather significant benchmark:

http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/04/newtonai.html

The reams of data science has collected can be combed for underlying laws and patterns. It is really quite amazing. We have autonomous drones circling suspected terrorist sites for hours. We have programs for crusie missiles to take evasive action in unrehersed situations. The robots are coming.

One such application of new digital capabilities would be to to digest genetic data. Another might be the world economy. I think Big Brother made a baby step forward today.

Lastly, with all the trillions thrown around lately, it is amazing the administration is considering shelving a decade of research and billions of tax dollars by canning much of missile defense. Both Biden and Obama who appeared as recent converts during the primary, now seem to be returning to their long record of opposition. Just as a shift in priorities emerges in US policy, lasers are finally coming into their own. And the threats speed of light defenses could provode security increase daily regardless of an unlikely State to State ballistic missile exchange.

Stable platforms and the ability to focus lasers, compensate for vibrational and atmosperic distortion while targeting moving objects has been demostrated. No doubt, there is still more to do, but here is one story...

http://blog.wired.com/defense/2009/03/military-laser.html#more"

It is interesting as Detroit sinks, the military needs new heavy transporters. In fact, the remaining hurdle is ELECTRICAL STORAGE. Fuel cells. material science, computer science and jobs all gain from the final leg of this critical journey.

How so?

It would be like passing on subs or radar. This is the game changer. . Where's the 100 billion for DARPA?

"Condensing rules from raw data has long been considered the province of human intuition, not machine intelligence. It could foreshadow an age in which scientists and programs work as equals to decipher datasets too complex for human analysis." Wasn't that Spock and his tricorder?

I also get the feeling total awareness and other data miners are working over time these days despite the change in Party.

I hope jamie doesn't see that video-finale...you know how frugal those Scots are...wasting food ? bad.
I'll be paying attention the next couple of days, because Obama isn't going to get troop commitments from anybody, now that the UK has jumped off the train.

My ninety year old uncle is a life-long teetotaller. Every summer he'd have a fish fry or two, and he used beer batter. It was just strange to see beer cans on the prep-table at Uncle's house...almost as strange as Old Man Peck's habit of cramming a GIANT load of Mail Pouch chaw into his mouth before he even left the church pew.

Good Qs, maxtrue. Education, human development, and ultra tech are the keys to the Golden Age. I'm not sure laser cannon should be the top priority, but the ability to snuff missiles in mid flight sounds good to me, especially because dictators tend to be as crazy as valium poppers.

Meanwhile, I too tested positive for Kennedy Opinion @ 68%

Ginsberg 67%

Does Hazelden treat for Kennedy Opinion ? The evil clot voted to let the bush crime family take over our dear country, for Cries Aches ! AAAAAAAAARRRRGGGHH !!!!

I'm gonna go throw up.

"This takes the grunt out of science by sifting through data and looking for the laws that govern how something behaves."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/apr/02/eureka-laws-nature-artificial-intelligence-ai

somehow "april in strasbourg" just doesn't sound so romantic... neither does baden baden. hard to rhyme.

anyway, here's the latest deplaning pix:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7981065.stm

Words have changed, but have the policies?

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/03/us/politics/02web-baker.html?ref=us

Cooking with Craig! LOL!

Let's see those OTHER pundits make a tasty dish like that!

That dish kind of turned my stomach this early in the morning just like these financial problems have been doing to me for months now.

Craig I think you could give Racheal Ray a run for her money. You are good at doing a cooking show and even though you beat the 30 minute meal time, I would recommend a few better recipes. I guess if you put enough beer, wine and vodka in the recipe it wouldn't taste bad for long.

Craig.... YUMMY! guess this means you must be a fan of Hell's Kitchen also....

who could possibly blame Gordon Brown for not wanting to send in more troops into Afghanistan..... after watching how his countrymen reacted to Tony Blair's sticking to Bush no matter what.... he'd have to be a complete moron to do the same with Obama....

as for the G20.... it's always good to see different countries talking to one another, IMO....

http://www.neoseeker.com/news/10330-texas-senate-bans-vista-from-government-agencies/

Bob, what a lousy reason for giving up on any product. It's as if the guy might say, we won't buy airplanes because I've heard they're difficult to fly.

FWIW, I try most flavors of windows operating systems once they appear to be stable. Of the machines I use often, I have windows home server on one, XP pro on another (the one I'm at now), Vista Ultimate 64-bit version on the one upstairs, and windows 7 beta on my netbook.

Except for the netbook, I leave my machines on 24x7 with them going into low power mode when they aren't being actively used. They wake up in the middle of the night to back themselves up to the server, then resume their snooze. They are rock solid--they run for months at a time without being rebooted.

I didn't much like the 32-bit versions of vista. But, the 64-bit version is a fine product. XP pro speaks for itself. windows 7 has the look and feel of 64-bit vista. But, it runs swiftly and comfortably on a netbook with a low-speed processor and only 2-gig of memory. I think it will be a real hit when it's released. Windows home server, IMO, is a must have for the home with multiple networked computers. It lets them all operate seamlessly.

Obviously, I'm ignoring the world beyond windows.

Dex, you wrote about your 90s something teetotaler uncle and his beer batter. Made me think of my grandfather back in the early 1970s when he would have been about the same age as your uncle.

Stinky and I and the kids were stationed outside of Columbus OH. The family farm was outside of Cleveland. Sometimes we would churn some vanilla ice cream and carry it up to the farm when we went there for weekend stays.

After one extended-family meal, I dished up the ice cream, and on the adults' servings, splashed some really good brandy on top. My grandfather, while not a declared teetotaler, never took alcohol beyond communion wine. But, he thought our ice cream with its 'special' topping was wonderful. He asked for seconds, which I cheerfully supplied.

You look good with a wine glass, Craig.

It was too soon after surgery for me to look at the plate being dumped into the disposal without getting queasy.

rocket fuel in baby formula
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iv7iKxtfzjqINoGSGDUuSwLow4TQD97AU3CG0

A Taste of Passover, With a Mexican Accent

By JOAN NATHAN
Published: March 31, 2009

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/01/dining/01seder.html?_r=1&ref=dining

Today's tm video is great and the tag line was perfect.

Somebody shoot me right now: O'Reilly writing a book on Obama. Will the madness never end?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/02/bill-oreilly-book-on-obam_n_182203.html

KGC...great story.

BW
And we were discussing kosher tequila the other day so...
Hope all continues to go well for you and yours
Are you familiar with Reike healing? It's kind of the organized form of good thoughts for healing. Japanese in origin.

Thanks, KGC...not familar with Reike.

Craig, Some things are just not edible. Good flick though, as usual.

"I feel an anti-social spell coming on"

Blonde, How is your hubby (and you!)? And was the surgery a complete success?

Bethy, Just love the way you put things. I hope you don't mind if I use that one in the future. (because I sometimes feel the same way) :)

Patd, Thanks for linking that 'Eureka Machine'.
This link is from the same magazine: "Did Scientists Hit the Jackpot in the Stimulus?" (I hope so, it's about time!)
"The American Recovery Act, a.k.a., the stimulus package, awards them more than $20 billion that they must spend on science in the space of 2 years. Funders, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF), are hurriedly concocting special short-term programs to distribute the loot."
http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_magazine/previous_issues/articles/2009_04_03/caredit.a0900045

Will the madness never end?

Not until the money does.

On the "home" front, a bit of positive news.

The 10% solution.

Cutting a stressed borrower's monthly mortgage payment by
at least 10% significantly reduces the chances that they
will re-default after the loan modification, as per Office of
Comptroller of the Currency & Office of Thrift Supervision

The continuing problem, however, is that only a very small
portion of the troubled mortgages out there have been adjusted
in this manner.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123875775797386333.html

Testing...

Lost my cookies and had to resign in so testing to see if commenting available.

"Lost my cookies"

AP.... what happened.... did you throw them up after watching Craig's video..... :0)

Flatus.... CBob is a hardcore Mac user.... and with getting a Mac 2 yrs ago after many years of pc use.... so am I....

A-P

Probably best to throw away the keyboard--they are seldom usable after one loses one's cookies on them.

While every-one's busy making charoses, a rare celestial event on the Jewish calendar will occur next week.

"Once every 28 years, the sun returns to its original point in relation to the earth as it was at the precise moment of its creation. To commemorate this event, Jews all over the world will recite one of the rarest blessings in Judaism, the blessing of the sun, Birkas HaChama, on Wednesday, April 8."

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

Renee.

So far as choice of machines goes, I say whatever works for someone is the way to go. I never try to switch someone unless they are having specific problems that another OS handles more easily.

Chloe...we hope the surgeon did the job -- it so difficult to determine from his apres surgery 10 second speech. I do have a photo which looks amazingly like the stew Craig cooked up -- showing the probe and mass. The doc kept the better photos. My hubby is in pain, but glad to be out of the hospital. He gets his staples removed next Wednesday.

C-Bob...the dog's name is Bologna.

flatus... agreed.... one should use whatever machine one is most comfortable with.... I just thought it funny that you equated flying a plane with buying a pc.... how many home users do you think there would be if one needed as much training to use a computer as it takes in order to fly a plane.....

and FYI.... Rick works for HP.... he works from home and HP supplies him with a work station.... he's told me the company has asked all of it's telecommuters not to upgrade to Vista as it is incompatible with some of the software they use....

Blonde.... cute name for a dog... hope hubby feels better soon...

hey.... I just had a thought after hitting submit to my above post....

CBob.... now that we know the name of Blonde's dog..... why don't we make him the official mascot for the blue corn experiment....

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/04/making-the-g20-more-palatable.html#comment-216375

Dexter,

I don't mind losing the sausage and potato chips, but that gravy offered some interesting possibilities. Besides, I'm sure Sheila could make something tasty.

Patsi & Chloe

The best we can hope for is that O'Reilly will become a has been as rapidly as possible. The man has reached gag a maggot status.

Renee, I was just trying to respond to the absurd comment by the Texas lawmaker in Bob's quote.

When initially released, it was clear that Vista had problems. IMO, most of the problems have been addressed, but the damage has already been done. I certainly wouldn't recommend that any organization such as HP switch to it if people's livelihoods depend on a rock solid platform that does all things for all people.

Tell Rick that I think he'll be happy with windows 7. (And I think he will like that its beta test group is quite large and vocal. MSFT is actively addressing shortcomings as they are discovered. I think the final product will be well received.)

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/04/making-the-g20-more-palatable.html#comment-216407

Blonde,

You are aware that one of Craig's favorite foods is fried Balogna

Thanks for the well wishes....off to work for me.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/04/next-leg-of-obama-trip-even-to.html#comment-216355

Bob,

Great news about Texas. How MS could come up with a system that was so incompatible with so much is beyond me.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/04/next-leg-of-obama-trip-even-to.html#comment-216354

Bethy,

I thought the suggestions were helpful. I learned to eat in the European fashion many years ago and one thing that was very noticeable over there was how much quieter it was in restaurants without all that shifting of the cutlery that goes on in the US.

"Will the madness never end?

Not until the money does."

Chloe shoots. Scores.

" The man has reached gag a maggot status."

Indeed!

mornin'

I suppose I've been lucky with Vista - there are a few apps that LP had that didn't work with it, but for the most part, it's been AOK.

Max, those 2 links you provided above are incredibly interesting. Math and physics - what could be better. Of course the battlefield laser has always been limited more by the capacity of the power source than the laser itself - although both have had their limitations. The AI programs have , as the article points out, been in development essentially since the computer as we understand it was developed. ENIAC would be proud.

I went back and read your response in the prior thread, and we will have to agree to disagree. You're firmly in one camp wrt the role of the US in the world and I'm firmly in another. I don't object to intervention in conflicts in which we have a legitimate interest, but whether we have a legitimate interst and an honest basis for the intervention is where the nut lies. IMO, that did not exist in Iraq. We've done plenty of good there, and plenty of damage as well. On balance, history will be the judge, but it's time to stop it. As for Afghanistan, buckle up - it could be another long, rough ride. I'm not interested in rehashing yesterday's discussion - frankly I don't like to have my positions distorted - plus I'm in a deposition and my attention is divided.

I se unemployment hit 8.6 last month - terrific.

interesting how different strokes for different folks re cartoons.
muslim turkey is denouncing possibility of a dane becoming nato leader bc of old danish cartoon brouhaha. see bloomberg story.
yet get a load of the aussies reaction to last weeks' bill leak cartoon. (as it is a rather graphic portrayal of brown's relationship with obama, find it on your own... hint: go to site below, read editorial and click their bleak's gallery page. it's entitled "has anyone seen my husband?").
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25286074-16382,00.html

oops, sorry, title of leak cartoon is "lost in america" and it's the second one... not the one showing the pm hiding under the table.
oh, forget it. here's the darn link. just please don't kill the messenger ok?

i chickened out

Tony, glad you enjoyed the links and Jamie too. Big Brother it seems may actually teach us as well as watch us one day. Maybe we should call it Babysitter Big Brother....lol

Pogo I am sure we will pick up the Liberal Internationlist v Liberal isolationist meme another time, of course discussion trumps rants.....

I might point out a few things as Obama kisses ass in Europe.

Federalism was an important topic in school when I was there. I recommend the Federalist Papers to all. I brought this up with Jack more than once. Did Liberals simply turn on Federalism? Is their view that central government and one party control is something they seek? Forget where the next link comes from. I have a history of blasting conservatives at American Thinker, but given the range of articles, some interesting stuff is posted. Unfortunately, on several key Constitutional and National Security issues, the Right Side is alone in speaking out.

Do LIberals reject Federalism? Is it just good enough for Iraq?
Will new regulatory powers present Constitutional issues? Do Liberals even care?

http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/04/federalism_and_americas_financ.html

Also New Republic is not a conservative rag. Check it out. There you will see some spectrum of opinion. This month there is an article addressing US failure to understand Iran. Today they bitch about their impounded arms ship, yet tomorrow they try another end around.

Last, the flogging of young girls in Pakistan and the new law in Afghanistan allowing rape in marriage must be reversed. It has been so long since Liberals have stood up for anything, no one listens. As Obama struggles to find gravitas and principles worth defending before Europeans, I note the problem is not so much Obama as our allies who can't even defend free speech, enforcement of mandates and human rights. It is really quite sad. They want to stop support of Afghnaistan because of this new law? Iran stones people and hangs children yet German CEOs sells Quds what they want. England considers Sharia law for certain enclaves while unassimilated Muslims will be the majority in France in a decade ot two. Gee....fancy that.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/04/making-the-g20-more-palatable.html#comment-216417

Jamie --

Our dogs look forward to the clanking of cutlery at the dinner table. Their excitement increases when it goes quiet because that's when their chances for a leftover tidbit goes up.

But I wouldn't have given them any of whatever that was Craig made. (^_~)

"CBob.... now that we know the name of Blonde's dog..... why don't we make him the official mascot for the blue corn experiment...."

Renee, I love that idea!
Blonde, Bologna being Craigs favorite food makes it even better!
Reg. your husband, none of those pain killers work all that well (but be sure to complain and ask for something different if it gets out of hand). In the mean time, sorry to hear that he's suffering.

Jamie, I agree with you about O'Reilly. (of course, I feel the same way, at varying degrees, about a lot of the talking heads.

"Federalism is not a new idea. It is as old as our republic. President Thomas Jefferson, in his inaugural address, emphasized that "the most competent administrations for our domestic concerns" are state governments. In New State Ice Co. v. Liebmann, 285 U.S. 262 (1932), Justice Louis Brandeis, in a famous dissent, noted the power of federalism and that states serve as valuable testing grounds where the people can apply social and economic policies to address individual concerns. Said he: "It is one of the happy incidents of the federal system that a single courageous state may, if its citizens choose, serve as a laboratory; and try novel social and economic experiments without risk to the rest of the country." Id., at 311 (Brandeis, J., dissenting).

The OCC rejects this wisdom and experience." From above link....

Jamie,

Are you suggesting that the state should switch to Apple, or a more ubiquitous networked system such as linux?

FWIW, my last experience with Apple was with an apple 2 that I despised. At that point in time, the PC had more going for it. But I did buy my grandson one of those small macs that came in different colors. He didn't make much use of it, perhaps as the other kids' software wouldn't run on it.

Although the Texas decision may absolutely be the correct one, the rationale for making the decision, an anecdotal remark by a lawmaker, was absurd--especially as the decision will affect tens of thousands of workers as well as millions of state taxpayers.

If the rationale was, 'we'll stick with what we have, which is working quite well for us, until windows 7 is introduced and proven itself to be stable in environments such as ours. At that point, we'll look at that product, as well as other available products, and come to a decision.'

"He didn't make much use of it, perhaps as the other kids' software wouldn't run on it."

Software is one of the main reasons I haven't considered Apple Flatus. That, and the fact that windows has become second nature to me. I did like xp much better, but am waiting for Microsoft to come out with a Vista replacement.

or improvement.

Blonde -
I was hoping for a dog name from a major food group.

My humor nerve seems to be working again ...... Speaking of nerves, this was in my inbox this morning :
Interesting Health Fact

Did you know that in the human body there is a nerve that connects the eyeball to the anus?

It's called the Anal Optic Nerve, and it is responsible for giving people a shitty outlook on life.

If you don't believe it, try to pull a hair from your ass and see if it doesn't bring tears to your eyes.

"t's called the Anal Optic Nerve"

LOL CBob, That explains a 'lot' of things about a 'lot' people. :)

http://www.military.com/news/article/April-2009/russia-issues-warning-to-us-on-georgia.html

Russia is having fun with the Obama administration.

Bob, I didn't know that interesting fact, but you are aware your anus has taste buds in it..........The ancient Egyptians actually used their butts to get drunk. Try it sometime.....

Someone here quoted something the other day, wondering why recreational drugs never come in suppository form. What you said reminded me of that Max.

http://cooktobang.com/recipes/sweet-temptations/pinch-your-ass-berry-brownies/

Max's Facts --taking something true and giving it a twist

More like a alcohol high colonic for the Romans --not so much taste buds up your butt

and illicit drugs have been put in suppository form...

"PINCH YOUR ASS-BERRY BROWNIES" ?

LOL KGC!

"not so much taste buds up your butt"

lol again KGC. Just love the terminology around here. You all are so much fun!

RE Today's video -

This is why there are no famous committees doing cooking shows.
I very nice piece of work fellas ......... but don't put meat down the disposal, the grease clogs the pipes.

http://www.needle.co.nz/fastpage/fpengine.php/templateid/28

ways of takig drugs

.... a chance to link one of my favorite people again ... James Carville.

Commentary: Obama has best day as president
" This has most likely been President Obama's best single day since inauguration.
His and first lady Michelle Obama's first foray onto the world stage since being elected cannot be dubbed anything but successful......"
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/04/02/carville.obama/index.html

"the grease clogs the pipes."

... a good reason not to put sausage down your throat either.

KGC... ROLF on those ass-berry brownies.... although.... you've just given this diabetic a heart attack.... ;)

Flatus... I do agree that Apple needs to catch up on the software game....

Jamie.... I LOVE all the noise and rowdiness in American restaurants....
for me, eating out is as much a social experience as it is a dining experience.... if I want peace and quiet I can stay home.... I say POO on all those priggish fuddy duddy Europeans..... ~~~)

Saw a story yesterday about the thousands of people flooding the stop smoking helplines. A million people are expected to actually quit because of the price increases.

KGC, That is a good site you linked, Ways of taking drugs.

It still looks like the old fashioned way is the safest route. Down the hatch.

max, wrt federalism, it almost goes without saying that modern "liberals" tend more toward traditional federalism (i.e. a stronger central government) in the US, and conservatives tend to favor a weaker central government. They didn't name the conservative law students' group the Federalist Society for no reason (and it is IMHO ironically named). It also goes without saying that many of the hallmarks of our country are demonized by those same "federalists", such as the Federal Court System (ostensibly because of its "liberal" bent in the 60s & 70s, federal funding and control of programs funded by federal taxes, which they also tend to oppose. In a very real sense modern federalists are actually anti- federalists.

I don't know that liberals have a stance toward federalism in Iraq any more than liberals have a unified stance on any single issue. I suspect you'd find a pretty broad range of opinions on that issue - as for me- It's not our country and not our decision. I believe Iraqis are perfectly capable of deciding what form of government would best work in their country, and I say let them. We can't agree on the appropriate balance of power among the 3 branches of government or between the states and federal government here - what makes us think we can do any better for them? But more to the point, what makes us think that a government that looks something like ours is the best fit for Iraq anyway?

"Saw a story yesterday about the thousands of people flooding the stop smoking helplines."

I wonder if Craig was one of them?
... Craig, how that going? Or is it.

I had an organic farmer from Kansas write me for some seeds. Not sure where he saw my little experiment. But he asked me some questions I had no clue about, so I was poking around for the answers, and found this little story from Hopi myth.

Blue Corn Maiden and the coming of Winter

Blue Corn Maiden was the prettiest of the corn maiden sisters. The Pueblo People loved her very much, and loved the delicious blue corn that she gave them all year long. Not only was Blue Corn Maiden beautiful, but she also had a kind and gentle spirit. She brought peace and happiness to the People of the Pueblos.

One cold winter day, Blue Corn Maiden went out to gather firewood. This was something she would not normally do. While she was out of her adobe house, she saw Winter Katsina. Winter Katsina is the spirit who brings the winter to the earth. He wore his blue and-white mask and blew cold wind with his breath. But when Winter Katsina saw Blue Corn Maiden, he loved her at once.

He invited her to come to his house, and she had to go with him. Inside his house, he blocked the windows with ice and the doorway with snow and made Blue Corn Maiden his prisoner. Although Winter Katsina was very kind to Blue Corn Maiden and loved her very much, she was sad living with him. She wanted to go back to her own house and make the blue corn grow for the People of the Pueblos.

Winter Katsina went out one day to do his duties, and blow cold wind upon the earth and scatter snow over the mesas and valleys. While he was gone, Blue Corn Maiden pushed the snow away from the doorway, and went out of the house to look for the plants and foods she loved to find in summer. Under all the ice and snow, all she found was four blades of yucca.

She took the yucca back to Winter Katsina's house and started a fire. Winter Katsina would not allow her to start a fire when he was in the house.

When the fire was started, the snow in the doorway fell away and in walked Summer Katsina. Summer Katsina carried in one hand fresh corn and in the other many blades of yucca. He came toward his friend Blue Corn Maiden.

Just then, Winter Katsina stormed through the doorway followed by a roar of winter wind. Winter Katsina carried an icicle in his right hand, which he held like a flint knife, and a ball of ice in his left hand, which he wielded like a hand-ax. It looked like Winter Katsina intended to fight with Summer Katsina.

As Winter Katsina blew a blast of cold air, Summer Katsina blew a warm breeze. When Winter Katsina raised his icicle-knife, Summer Katsina raised his bundle of yucca leaves, and they caught fire. The fire melted the icicle.

Winter Katsina saw that he needed to make peace with Summer Katsina, not war. The two sat and talked.

They agreed that Blue Corn Maiden would live among the People of the Pueblos and give them her blue corn for half of the year, in the time of Summer Katsina. The other half of the year, Blue Corn Maiden would live with Winter Katsina and the People would have no corn.

Blue Corn Maiden went away with Summer Katsina, and he was kind to her. She became the sign of springtime, eagerly awaited by the People.

Sometimes, when spring has come already, Winter Katsina will blow cold wind suddenly, or scatter snow when it is not the snow time. He does this just to show how displeased he is to have to give up Blue Corn Maiden for half of the year.

http://www.firstpeople.us/FP-Html-Legends/Blue_Corn_Maiden_And_The_Coming_Of_Winter-Hopi.html

Chloe

I think that's true

And I don't know what's going on with comment of the day but yours

"Will the madness never end?

Not until the money does."

Chloe shoots. Scores.

Posted by: Patsi Author Profile Page | April 3, 2009 11:02 AM

I associate myself with Patsi's remarks

Thanks KGC (and Patsi)

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/04/making-the-g20-more-palatable.html#comment-216429

Flatus, Not suggesting that they switch complete systems, just suggesting that they avoid VISTA like the plague. It has been torturing me ever since my son gave me a new computer for one simple reason, office workers all over the world had been using variation of WORD for ages. Why in the world did they come out with something totally incompatible with documents that you receive from others not to mention screwing around with everything you had ever saved?

Even if the new VISTA system is a monumental blessing to the globe, you couldn't get me to buy it. Give me the money to get one, and I would take you up on the offer for the pure pleasure of dropping it off the roof of a ten story building.

I'm intrigued by the IE 7 mentioned, but I do sort of have my heart set on an Apple laptop for the next purchase.

"Why in the world did they come out with something totally incompatible with documents that you receive from others "

Jamie, You can probably download something to make it possible to read those documents. They have some read only free downloads for microsoft stuff.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/04/making-the-g20-more-palatable.html#comment-216450

Bob,

It is interesting that the Pueblo myth is virtually identical to the story of Persephone, Hades, and Ceres.

I hate to admit it. But like Flatus, I'm not having much in the way of problems with Vista anymore. There's not much it won't do. Just my opinion.

Chloe...
I don't think anyone is questioning that MS has finally made Vista better....
we are questioning why they made it such a poor product to begin with...

I equate it with Ford making it's first small car to compete with the Japanese small cars it's Pinto.... the current Ford small car, the Focus, is equivalent to any Japanese small car..... but Ford ruined it's reputation for years (and it's still paying for it) by putting out such a poor product to compete with a superior one way back when.....

http://www.firstpeople.us/FP-Html-Legends/Blue_Corn_Maiden_And_The_Coming_Of_Winter-Hopi.html

Absolutely beautiful site CBob.
.. and a lot of very nice links!

Blue Corn Maiden

http://www.firstpeople.us/native-art/Gilbert-Atencio-Blue-Corn-Maiden.html

Some Katsinas

http://www.ritterconsulting.com/personal/fallkats/bigkach2.jpg

I wasn't defending Vista Renee.
It's just that for those of those that have it, and are already stuck with it, there are things you can do, to get it to work for you. And well.

Well, you kept the prop master busy with this video. Open flame and alcohol. Always tempting fate. That is what is referred to as a meal in itself...

Speaking of garbage...

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/W/WA_CANADIAN_GARBAGE_WAOL-?SITE=KFWB&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Who had Iowa in the pool?

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090403/NEWS/90403010/

KGC, .... dedicated to you.

Why Legalizing Marijuana Makes Sense
"One could argue that the abuse of McDonald's has a greater potential health-care cost than the abuse of marijuana. (Although it's true that with legalization, those two might not be unrelated.) Obviously, marijuana can be abused. But the costs of criminalization have proved to be enormous, perhaps unsustainable. Would legalization be any worse? "
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1889021,00.html

.. Have a great day everyone!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/04/making-the-g20-more-palatable.html#comment-216455

Chloe,

Yes you can. I just resent having to do it. I have a permanent mad on about VISTA. When I buy something, I expect it to work the first time it is turned on. To have to go hunting for "solutions" to make an expensive purchase workable is just a major insult. When combined with the total lack of helpfulness and snobbishness of the Microsoft web pages and they can take VISTA and dump it at the nearest car crusher.

I wrote this a year after I got my computer. You will like the animated cartoon at the bottom

http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=20306397&postID=3672194788135039897

Chloe
Thanks...yes despite Obama's attempt to dimish and ridicule the issue- others are starting to question the law or actively advocate for changing the law. The laws are stupid; are expensive and are discriminatory in their enforcement.

Think about what happened when alcohol was banned? Why do some persist in meddling in the lives of others?

Idiots in action.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/02/alaska-republicans-want-r_n_182423.html

While I hate prosecutors in general, the fact is that Stevens was found guilty, and even if the convictionis overturned by action on the DoJ's motion, there is no guarantee that a subsequent prosecution - were one initiated, would not result in the same convictions. The fact is that Stevens' credibility in this issue is suspect at best and doesn't even pass the straight face test - conviction or no. He got considerably more than he reported on his disclosure forms. Whether that is criminal or not, it is a lie. Alaskans narrowly rejected his candidacy - and that may or may not have been based on the convictions or the underlying facts. Appeals, or in this case, post-trial procedures in a criminal case do not invalidate an election.

see y'all.

pogo....
Stevens overturned conviction was discussed this morning on Diane Rehm's weekly round table.... 2 of the 3 pundits as guests were conservative leaning (plenty of times it's the opposite).... they were laughing heartedly at the suggestion that his Democratic opponent.... and now the newly elected Senator.... resign his seat...

just another feeble attempt by the GOPPers to try to bring attention to themselves as relevant, IMO.... unless getting laughed at even by those on your side is what you were after in the first place....

... I just had to pop in when I saw this (maybe others already saw it, but it gave me a laugh). We need more female heroines.

Superheroine Hillary gets her own comic book
"The biographical comic, available now for $3.19, is part of a series, "Female Force," that includes comics of Condoleezza Rice, Caroline Kennedy, Michelle Obama, Princess Diana, and Sarah Palin. (Only the Clinton and Palin comics have been released so far.)"
http://hillary.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/04/03/hillary_gets_her_own_comic_book

NEW THREAD

http://tinyurl.com/c3dqgr

lb, you forgot to say "april fool" on that last post. that's the problem with tinyurls. one doesn't know what to expect and this one especially did not expect o'reilly to pop up!

flatus, any thoughts about this?
"Defense Secretary Robert Gates.... There is growing belief on the right that President Obama will use him for political cover to slash weapons programs and the defense budget."
http://ricks.foreignpolicy.com/blog/2187

NEW THREAD

No New Thread.

Lord Bloggington's Brain Hic coughed

No... yours did.

what new thread?

No new thread

This is pure fun. Once the rabbit grabs your cursor, you have to shake him loose

http://www.changar.com/archives/go.html

gunman takes 41 hostages at immigrant center
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iTkwh0jekRrls-b8ugkObNpK6XsQD97B5DQ80

The rabbit did naughty things with my cursor. Dirty, unspeakable things.

If you like Classical music, check out this site

http://www.classicalarchives.com/

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/04/making-the-g20-more-palatable.html#comment-216490

You shouldn't have moved your cursor that way.

Awwww Picture for the day. Baby Giraffe born yesterday at the San Francisco Zoo

http://www.zooborns.com/zooborns/2009/04/its-a-giraffe.html#more

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/04/making-the-g20-more-palatable.html#comment-216432

C-Bob --

Yikes! That was a real tear-jerker. ((^_^))

Renee, even honest repugs know that Uncle Ted is toast.

Ivy, I think it would be more like this - (*o*)!!!

So when you see those late night ads for _____________ (asbestosis, mesothelioma, heart disease, etc., etc., etc.) if you have what they are advertising for, remember, lawyers end up getting rich off class action suits. Injured folks usually get peanuts.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/04/03/us/AP-Diet-Drug-Lawyers.html?_r=1

well, now I'm hitting the road for the weekend. Have a good one.

Chloe - glad you liked the term and carte blanche on using it.
It's exactly the way I felt - it was like a cloud slowly covering me as I realized I was becoming grumpy and criticizing everything I saw or thought of. Might sound silly, but that's what seems to happen to me when royal protocol becomes the topic. I mean I REALLY do not believe in any one person's elevation over another.

Jamie - I agree the suggestions are helpful. However, they were not requested and they are not useful for only Americans. They are basic rules of good manners for all. It was the tone of them.

This man was operating on the assumption that everyone in the world knows that Americans don't know how to believe and are crass and boorish. I wouldn't dream of sending an open letter to him or anyone in Britain - anywhere - suggesting that if they wanted to keep from embarrassing themselves, since they do it so often - they should warm up, smile much more often, and learn to accept others as they are and not try to re-make them in their own image because the very fact of their differences is what makes them interesting.

I wouldn't dream of saying that to them - but I whole-heartedly believe it. Differences are important and it is important to accept people as they are - in my opinion. If one wants others to change, one needs to stay away from those others.
That's my point - I am irritated by this man's superiority complex, but I won't write and tell him. He is what he is, and I won't do business with his company, but I wouldn't write an open letter to the British, altho I did have the impulse.

I also have been using my utensils the European way for perhaps half a century but occasionally put my knife down and my fork in my right hand.

So what? That's the way most Americans eat, - it's the way their parents taught them - their family - and there's no shame or sin in it. And this bozo tells them it's barbaraic? (I can't believe he used that word!!!) It's just different.

I don't see many Brits being ugly Brits, but I wouldn't tell them they are coarse or barbaric if they didn't use their untensils as most of us do.

Here comes that cloud again! The longer I live, the more I find that of premium importance to me is how people treat others, and with how much respect.

I hope the cloud doesn't follow me to see my boys!

Pogo, I have posted several links that point to policy positions that decrease Federalism. And what I mean regarding Federalism is the division of power between States and the "central government". We shall see in a new wave of Federal regulators further encroachment on State power.

Throughout the world, Liberals today are willing to advocate federalism as a power sharing model to bring stability. Yet who can be honest enough here to admit Liberals seek a more more expansive approach to our political structure? States have the right to impose their standard on food safety, gun regulation and even policies regarding teaching standards and marriage and adoption standards. One could even argue with Koh that State regulation concerning abortion is more consistent with the Constitution than Roe. And States have a say in the disposal of toxic waste including destruction of chemical weapons. Liberals don't want dual loyalties and see no intent in the 2nd. Watch as the one world advocates bring forward the wrath of many. Yep, I'll sure be waiting for the new world order........headed by the IMF, The Hague and popular sentiments. Isn't that special?

I am simply making the observation that Liberals today see a central government delivering the regulation and law that will bring about the America "that should be" rather than appreciating the diversity protected in "Federalism". You are wrong when looking at the history of both Parties that government size is a partisan issue. Clinton shrunk government while Bush increased it. It is not how big, but rather the extent of power.

On another note:

"Ballistic missile defense, which represents the Pentagon’s largest acquisitions program, also could be on the chopping block. Futuristic missile defense components are at particular risk, including the Airborne Laser Program, the Kinetic Energy Interceptor, the Space Based Interceptor, along with plans to begin construction on two missile defense sites in Eastern Europe." CG

Two big problems....1. Raptors, rail technology, future combat systems are we build to counter the alarming growth in Chinese and even Russian capability. These systems are also critical in dealing with Iran and other adversaries. The idea we should transform into a force Liberals in general don't like using in the first place is rather funny.

Second, cutting ballistic missile defense and related technologies is inane given how close we are and how expensive the trip. Obama's answer to Chinese military space stations, Russian manueverable warheads, Iran mobile and exportable missiles, advanced air defense and drones is to pull the plug. Want to bet as critics pile on Obama blames Bush for the economy rather than the priorities Obama has made? How long will we even wait for refueling capabilities or even replace B-52s? And where is the money to fuel the effort to refuel the military? Fuel Cells, material science and national security will be slowed, jobs lost and our adversaries listen to the wrong message.

your lordship.... you are one wascally wabbit....

"The longer I live, the more I find that of premium importance to me is how people treat others, and with how much respect."

bethy.... I feel this way too.... I can handle when someone punches me in the nose.... being a naturally gregarious person, I can usually laugh it off.... but when someone uses or is disrespectful to people I love or really like... I can lose my temper and get very mean....

Don't forget, Rebellious too!

The guy I work was kinda pissed off last night about things at work. The 2 of us basically didn't talk to each other from 11:30 to 7:00 this morning. Talk about a long, boring night!

Oh I think Gates will be used to slash defense programs. Obama has Hillary out there as cover for failed diplomacy. He has Rice at the UN declaring Bush has screwed up the world.

We see politics trump transparency, bold and vetted decisions and bipartisan debate. The charm is quickly wearing off. Merkel says she loves Obama's Afghanistan plan and will help. How so? She advocates containment of Iran while allowing companies to sell to the Mullahs. Sarkosy is digging his fingers into the IMF. Obama smiles.

I saw nothing of the sea change Obama hailed. His salesmanship is more effective with a teleprompter here, talking to his supporters. We shall see how long ignoring reality or actions can be sustained as national policy. Given the unlikely success in the short term, Obama is setting himself up for blame should things not go as hoped on the foreign front. JFK on the other hand rapidly increased ballistic missile research in an effort to get to the grail first. Obama doesn't believe in leverage as Russia now ties US support of Gerogia to the air defense sales to Iran. It just gets worse.

And the Manhattan Project was another race for supremacy. I guess we have no race to win and technological superiorty is something we don't need any more...........

Biggest atrocity on the European trip: MSNBC labeling Michelle Obama and Carla Bruni's meeting "The first ladies fashion smackdown.''

Maroons....

The guy I work was kinda pissed off last night about things at work.

Corey, Maybe he was having and 'anti-social spell'. :)

Bethy, Thanks for giving me the go ahead on using your anti-social spell expression. I also very much agree with you on what you said on that 4:50 post: "The longer I live, the more I find that of premium importance to me is how people treat others, and with how much respect".

... an excellent way to judge character, imo.

He was quitting smoking. He stills smokes. Don't know how well that is going.

corey....you shoulda told him a joke......

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/04/making-the-g20-more-palatable.html#comment-216512

Should've told him C-Bob's joke!!

http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1178/polarized-partisan-gap-in-obama-approval-historic

This is rather alarming given the tougher road ahead for him. As defense cuts, healthcare, budget deficits, foreign policy move into the boxing ring, I don't see how these numbers get better.

I predict at some point, Obama will change direction.

Nah...when he's mad or whatever, I just keep quiet.

Max, There was a big gap, but his approval rating with the Republicans wasn't really much different than Bill Clintons. The gap is large, because Obama has a higher approval with the Democrats at this point than Clinton did.

Obama, Mar 9-12
Total 59% Rep. 27 Dem 88 Ind 57 diff -61
Clinton
Total 49% Rep. 26 Dem 71 Ind 47 diff -45

... you can't really 'fault' or penalize Obama on the fact that he got a higher approval rating with Democrats and Independents. That doesn't make sense.

nothwithstanding Ted Olsen's endorsement, things like this widen the partisan divide:

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03302009/postopinion/opedcolumnists/obamas_most_perilous_legal_pick_161961.htm?&page=1

If some are right in their quotes (and Koh has made many himself), then expect this issue to grow. I cannot see how this pick who informs Hillary what is legal, sits well with her. Even Rice is getting more attention.

I am not sure if SECSTATE was her best move, but then she might not have had better options.

The poll simply shows a wide gap between the Left and Right when Obama pledged to be bipartisan and unite. People like Koh above don't do that. Panetta has no experiance. The attempted pay back to Daschle and Richardson didn't fly well. Dodd, Blago and Edwards threw their support to Obama. As these people go down, what do people think. Obama worked in isolation?

We are talking going back on drilling, firm support of Israel and Missile Defense, transparency in policy, vetted nominations and no lobbyists. He even talked about cutting back on programs if the economy sinks. His intial policy on Mexican violence is gun control. He allowed e-verify to expire after blaming Bush for lack of work place enforcement. I can see why there is a big gap and do we expect it to grow or shrink?

That was the point. Had Bush just come back from the E 20, media would spin it as a failure and laugh that his wife was better received.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/04/making-the-g20-more-palatable.html#comment-216515

Corey --

We were joking. Your way is the smartest...

"The attempted pay back to Daschle and Richardson didn't fly well. Dodd, Blago and Edwards threw their support to Obama."

Both true Max.

These events made clear to Hillary supporters and Independents, Obama allied himself with incompetent and untruthful people as well as a vocal and energetic Liberal base. Wright, Khalidi, Ayers and others didn't help. That allows small cuts to build a partisan issue wound amplified by the Democrat's partisan behavior no matter how civil sounding. And then there is this:

http://stubbornfacts.us/gwot/stupid_word_games#comment-19483

It is hard to bring sides together when media, past records and associations, questionable policies conspire to frame things in a partisan context.

I don't think Americans are fighting a war in Afghanistan against man-made disasters. This brilliant move handicaps Obama in ways his diplomatic tact will not compensate for. We shall see this in time, so ready the bus........

The next time some right wing twit tries to tell you greatful we should all be for the superior US health care and how other countries are flocking to our shores to get away from their "socialistic" systems, think about this post:

Woman in hospital for several weeks. Now at home with the following at exactly $0 cost: just posted by her daughter:

"district nurses here now giving her IV antibiotics, only another 4 weeks of 5 visits daily from them."

Excuse me, but bring on the Socialism.

Maybe you should google the latest reports coming out of England, particualry treatment for breast cancer.

If every American paid $400 per month for coverage and each needed just a complete medical check up with lab tests, how much would insurers lose?

The point is that we cannot give the finest care to everyone (and let's leave out illegals for the moment) and pay for it on the monthly payment most Americans would like to pay.

As far as Americans being so outraged by the story you posted, how much rage about the more than 100,000 deaths in hosptials due to preventable infection? When the Steelers looked less than Super Bowl champs on the way to the Super Bowl, they didn't bring in Soros or Moore. Perhaps reforms and the tools of our economy can improve things without following Castro or government being our Daddy and Doctor.

No offense meant, but let's go socialism is about the last mantra Obama should be declaring now. Ah, how times have changed. As a young child I vaguely remeber Liberals laughing at Nixon's price controls. If bankers are permitted Dodd level bonuses, how much should doctors make? If you think government can find the cures, we'll be waiting a long time for the pill.

Okay Jamie, I'll lighten up, its Friday and as you all can see this week I was working out of my apartment...lol

The biggest problem I see in medical expense is that we keep very old people alive for years on hook-ups. Complete BS. If my kids allowed that with me, I'd hant them forever.

Patsi,

My children have standing instructions, if the lights are on but nobody is home and the doctors can't help because of a stupid law --- find a pillow. As it is, I have a decree on file with doctor and hospital because Washington is a POLST state

http://www.ohsu.edu/polst/

For the funny version of the above, see my blog today for a "Living Will" courtesy of Maxine:

http://jdurward.blogspot.com

Max,

Overhead for Medicare is about 4%. Overhead for Insurance Company run programs is over 15%.

I would rather the doctors have the money than overpaid insurance executives.

Police State? Okay, I remeber Richardson telling Hillary that we should force Musharraf to resign. He declared the moderates would restore a more Western civll order because the VAST majority of Pakistanis are moderate. Again, he stated Pakistan without Musharraf would clamp down on militants, defend Western law and lead Pakistan out of chaos. Did Dodd object? Did Biden do more than roll his eyes?

"Muslim Khan, spokesman for the Swat Taliban, said the militants publicly flogged a woman nine months ago over allegations that she had an illicit relationship with her father-in-law, but he was not sure if the video showed that incident.

He defended the punishment, although he said it should not have been done in public and should have been carried out by a boy who had not yet reached puberty." AP

What planet was Richardson talking about? Rumor had it that Musharraf was being targeted by militants within Pakistani defense forces. He could have retired on his book money and left for Cancun.

And of course Bhutto returned to a public rally where supporters were murdered as predicted by those who warned her. She wouldn't stop and was eventually killed disobeying security and staying inside her tank. Later her Husband even negotiated deals with Meshud, the person who likely murdered her. At the time Liberals here blamed Musharraf. Anything to discredit a person who called Bush a friend. That was then and I won't forget it any time soon.

Now Meshud threatens to hit the White House. As a Hillary supporter I can only shake my head as Obama wishes to erase any reference to terrorists or Muslims, or Islamists from the policies American soldiers are dying to execute. Did he ask NATO to fight back man-made disasters?

Obamaspeak in this case is far too Orwellian and the degeneration of Pakistan is a travesty in both American judgment and the aspirations of those moderate Pakistanis unable to relocate out of their chaotic country.

ooppsss a relapse into seriousness.

Nothing like carefully timed flatulence to provide some levity, Corey.

You didn't answer the hypothetical. Supply and demand prevents the candy shop mentality in healthcare. To provide for all requires cutting some benefits. Take away doctor salaries, hospital salaries and even incentive for insurers who must deal with cost and money recieved will destroy things. While I am all for improving the healthcare system, socialism is not the ticket. England is the model?

Safety net for citizens not covered and who can't afford it. Pools formed for small business and self-employed. Perhaps cartable coverage. Coverage for all children. Some efficencies made and certainly reporting of hospital ratings both death related and in terms of type of procedures done. Remeber the scapel v the hammer comment Obama made to Hillary? But then Kennedy will have his name on the healthcare bill, not Clinton.

So look at Duval's numbers in part for the MAss experiment in healthcare. And by the way, Mass social services suck compared to NY. How is it going for Duval? And ironically Duval is Obama's clone, or has all the Hillary drained from this blog.

I see Craig is alive and kicking.

I'm lovin' the Orlando game tonight!

http://jdurward.blogspot.com

GREAT!!!!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/04/making-the-g20-more-palatable.html#comment-216526

Jamie --

My mom and her sisters (all in their 70s) LOVE Maxine. I passed The Living Will on to them for a few ell-oh-ells. Thanks! :))

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/04/making-the-g20-more-palatable.html#comment-216533

Patsi, she is so disgustingly creative, he said, admiration clearly in his voice.

Max

I live in Tacoma, WA where they are trying the clinic/hospital model that is being used in San Francisco as well.

Right now, you have to be below a certain income to participate, but they expect to expand it into all insurance plans. What it means is that everyone has a doctor. Everyone has a place to go if there is a medical problem. Someone will be there who can triage a situation as there is always an RN and PA on duty with a doctor always on call.

You have no idea how much money that saves by not using an emergency room as a doctor's office, and the emergency rooms are for actual emergency. In addition all the specialists in the area are tied in to the clinics so if anyone needs a referral, those services are available.

The whole point is that a coordinated program run by the Community health care that charges fees based on income is a great deal cheaper than having the tax payers carry the burden for everyone without insurance.

It works because the larger the pool of participants the cheaper the expense per person and treating a minor illness before it becomes a life threatening emergency is cost effective.

Well, the anti-social spell has been frightened off - my sister and I helped 2 month old Maxim fall asleep by singing "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" over and over to him. His lids dropped as his head rested on gammy's shoulder.

Then, while mom snuck off with Alex to a play (it's his b'day tomorrow), I dug holes with 2 yo Liam im the cold and wind. This little one is so different when he's the only kid around - always a delight, just very different.
He sang and yelled and dug dried soil out of a wagon and threw it off, the dust making moke.

Youo know the word moke - it's like those other words like kunk, nake, and mell.

Then Poppa got home from work, and as we left, Liam thanked us - with no suggestion from Poppa at all.
I asked him thanks for what? He thought a bit and said, "Digging a hole."

This from a blonde kiddie with Goldie Hawn-type blue eyes.

Hi guys. I haven't been keeping up much lately because I am still too hyper to focus and too stressed to spend much time reading stressful things but I did find an interesting article tonight on the Huff post.

"Summers recieved hundreds of thousands in speaking fees from TARP recipients"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/03/summers-received-hundreds_n_183058.html

Look at the list and amount of his speaking fees. This is one of the reasons I have zip, zero, nada confidence in our government handling of this financial mess.

Craig,

Smoke a joint first. THEN take a bite of the Obama stew. It'll taste good, I promise!

Craig ... oh .... Craig

Look what Jane Hamsher just tweeted:

"Can't tell one toothless Eastern European from another at Caps game. Need more cowbell."

Since you always have "one more cow", are any of them wearing bells?

Jamie, that is great. I encourage solutions and have serious problems with a terrible cost building on our country. Frankly, I think solutions can be regional which is one great advantage to federalism. We ought to learn from Mass.

I find the medical brotherhood and hospital administrations protecting themselves more than who they serve. I see drug companies not doing their best. I see insurance companies causing ten minute annual check ups and HMOs short changing patients. I see uninsured using emergency rooms and people dying from preventable hospital infections.

Something must change, but ideological mindsets and central control runs against my grain. We do need more nurses treating lesser problems. We need to solve obesity, stress and bad behavior which kills so many Americans.

I supported Hillary because she learned the first time. She was going to sit Republicans and democrats down and fashion a fix that would bridge the divide, then test it and work on it until it was right. Energy and welfare will drive up deficits after the interest paid on debt.

Somehow we must connect longer and more productive lives (using better healthcare and habits) with increased revenue for healthcare vendors. Heath like pollution and climate control needs a profitable model. The opposite of what happens when central control uses price controls.

Now why do I think Pelosi and Reid will screw it up?

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=aMC5d8uQQzto&refer=home

Do I have this correctly Craig? Blago tried to extort Rahm in 2006? Nothing was said while Obama and Blago supported each other's campaigns. Did Rahm ever talk publically about this extortion? Why wasn't something doen in 2006? Obama was unaware of Blago's activities and accepted his endorsement during the campaign?

Something here doesn't seem right.

Nothing like carefully timed flatulence to provide some levity, Corey.

Posted by: lord-bloggington.myopenid.com Author Profile Page | April 3, 2009 9:28 PM

I have a pet theory about fart humor........

it has to do with when i was in us coast guard boot camp.....some might scoff at "how tough could coast guard boot camp be, anyway?" but it was 1968 and the DI's were all ex-marines hired specifically to run boot camp.....and they all knew that every man-jack under their charge was a draft-dodging weasel........so it was tough.......

The jokes started in the first week..........the group of peoples ran a gamut of some sort......coast guard, fahcrissakes........about the 5th week the jokes ran out......the only thing which never failed to get a laugh was a creative fart.
That's the god's truth and I was there.

during the last week...... i got to peek into the tv room at the fire house where i did my final week, sick as a dog with flu and refusing to go to sick bay, and on the tv was mccartney on sullivan doing jude.......

paulie and the lads:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEkTsD7eeY4

and then, of course, when one considers the career of Le Petomaine on the stages of French Vaudeville.......well.....

Le Pétomane
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Le Pétomane

Le Pétomane (pronounced /ləˈpɛtəmeɪn/, French IPA: [ləpetɔˈman]) was the stage name of the French professional farter and entertainer Joseph Pujol (June 1, 1857 - 1945).

He was famous for his remarkable control of the abdominal muscles, which enabled him to fart at will. His stage name combines the French verb péter, "to fart" with the -mane, "maniac" suffix, found in words like musicomane (music lover). In English, a translation might yield "the fart maniac". His profession can also be referred to as a "Flatulist," "Farteur," or "Fartiste."[1]

Le Petomane explaining to his mother why he won't be working at the sewage collective any more........

Ma.....they pay me money to see my act.

But Josie.......breaking wind is not an art......it's not as if you were singing.......and in Bawdy Houses you break your wind as if you were in le toilette......shame, shame, joseph.....

Ma.....bawdy houses is where they pay the money......they LOVE me..... by the way, here's a hunnerd bucks......

Oh, Josie.......a hunnerd bucks.....are you sure you can afford it? Well....it's only FART money so I'll have to be carefull what i spend it on.......but, josie.....NOT AT SUNDAY DINNAH........

Le Petomane's salary at the sewage collective: 58 cents a decade..........

Yo Sturg -
How was "Mustang Sally"?

dreaded woids: "Ma......I'm going into show business......."

Jamie -
Maybe Gordo moved to Firedoglake ?

it was such a dark and stormy night..........not only was there no sally in a mustang, there was no van morrisonesque wild nights.......brown eye girl, yes.......proud mary did not show.......but.......everly botherers "let it be me"

I was looking at those planet tapes.......funny.....they had such high quality recording .............all i's got is a steamer trunk fulla wobbly cassettes......one of the reasons i started making wood things......

Sturg -
I went down to Buddy Holly Ave. tonight, a river of pretty women flowing along the sidewalks. If only my "Way Back Machine " was working.
I wouldn't be typing right now.

Sturg -
It's a Texas thing, when you come out of Texas there's an army of talent there to record you. Even if you're going nowhere, there's a sound man to carry your amp.

bob....tonight i played the old shit and wobbled half gracefully at times and looked out on a lake of young nice looking people dancing.......yonder back a way was ok, but now being now is gravy.......good brown giblet gravy......

got a good friend in burleson who showed me the texanicus actimus and how to ack in texas plus why.......LOL

Horny old guys rule!

horny young guys mule.......

Sturg -

Stubbs BBQ

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

I'm going to write a one act play for this place. The play will be staged here. Tom T. Hall and Joe Ely played a game of pool one time in this joint, using onions for pool balls. Stevie Ray played here.

I got my lights punched out here. ........... I had it coming.

LOL!

what's the nature of the play?

me and my old good friend bucky vandermeer from michigan always wannered to write a play about this stuff........it didnt happen of course, and good words have gone to waste......good thing Wm Price Fox , who wrote the book SOUTHERN FRIED + 6 was there to take up the slack......

Cory -
I told my manager when I got back from Ohio one time, that I wanted combat pay to cross the Ohio River again. I was speaking just about the women when I said that.
No offense, but it's a fact.

I'm going to rip-off "Our Town". Tables with plastic coated red and white checked table cloth . Characters sitting at the tables telling their little parts of a story. They fade in and out like ghosts.

I'm the stage manger as it were. The opening line is :

"I was the unidentified youth".

but did you raft on the cuyahoga?

I didn't either.......

where does the music come in?

I used to go to Cleveland on occasion. Down to "The Flats" which is near the river and full of bars.

where does the music come in?

That place was the musical club house for Lubbock in the 70's.

The musicians are the ghosts at the tables, telling their stories.

Ha....I'd make one helluva ghost.........

Dixie Chicks - Ready To Run

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3a9mx1IVZzU

the story my ghost would tell would be working as an organist with a snake man while my good friend goes nuts on the drums......

Yes you would Sturg . And the beauty of the play is we just add tables as time goes by, and people sit for their story. It's book that keeps getting new pages.

I'm'a tellya right now......brad pitt's playing me in the big show, or there's NO. DEAL.

Are we clear on rule # 1?

--O Ren Ishii

C.B. Stubblefield:
"Ladies & Gentlemen, I’m a Cook"

When asked how he was while in the hospital:
"My Spark plugs ain’t firing, and I got this tornado loose in my chest."

http://www.virtualubbock.com/stoCSStubbMemories.html

brad pitt? well then who does george clooney get to play? and can there be a few character actors to give a little dramatic color.... maybe john turturro

oldsea, thought of some candies for your repertoire. how bout a global leader political line? two that come to mind:
z-shaped chocolate (maybe with chambord flavor) on a stick = "sucker z"
hazelnut in choco-peanut butter goo = "nut n yahoo"

sturge -- I prefer Farteur....Said much like "Oh you kid!" "Oh you Farteur"

It's a very thin line between Farteur and Fluvius.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/04/making-the-g20-more-palatable.html#comment-216583

oldsea, better yet add more nuts and call the second goody "nutty yahoo"

do hope gracious host's in absentia is due to publication duties and not to sampling chez craig brats 'n beer 'n the kitchen sink.

Patd- You are so clever, love to start my day reading your posts!

Horny men are a dime a dozen, its the horny woman who has life by the balls.

oldsea, thank you... i think.

btw, who do you want to play you in cbob's "our town saloon" or whatever he's calling it? sturge has dibs on brad pitt. of course zorba dancing in the background throwing plates will be solar.

"of course zorba dancing in the background throwing plates will be solar."

LMAO! Very true!

NEW THREAD.. http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/04/europeans-love-obamas-style-bu.html

Patd- I am absolutely sincere, you are a pisser. I love your posts and the comedy routines between you and Sturge are simply the best. Thank you.

Hmm,who to play me... Would love to be Sturge's Angelina but alas I'm not a brunette ... perhaps Julia Roberts.

NEW THREAD