Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.

Ya know, Obama was so much more aggressive with this get out of the war stuff than Hillary. Of course I don't think the youngun knew as much. He just wanted to sound good and it worked and he got elected and now he is growing up on the job and we didn't get our girl. Darn, if people would have just listened to me......But nooooooo.

sturge, change plus meme equals chaos

and Stuge, huh?

kinda early to be speaking in tongues?

excuse me that is Sturge.

uh oh... sounds like a trend acoming
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/may/07/rupert-murdoch-charging-websites

and so happy to see that Patsi is ALIVE!

and Patsi, don't make us worry like that. I thought I was going to have to take a road trip. Then I thought that maybe you were on your way down here and I needed to put your name in the pot.

the 3 Stuges........any takers for Moe and Curly?

Please, don't remind me.

Sorry Sturge. I really didn't mean it. I promise.

"Trial drugs 'reverse' Alzheimer's"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8033422.stm

btw, how can they tell a lab rat has alzheimer's or is just another absent-minded scientist

ct.....not at all a problem......typos make the world go 'round.......

Hey, don't mess with my dementia.

and you can take great advantage of them.

any old straight-line in a storm, eh?

Just so happens I am I am in a good mood. I have a 4 day weekend, more fly coming in, not sure yet if that is good, but more time to play and find that big swamp foot I am looking for to put on C-Bob's blog.

and I seem to have a stutter

and don't worry I will be too busy to hog the blog with my trivia.

Alzheimer's Anonymous.........
Hi, my name is.....uh....hmmm........who are you people again?

me old man had it.....i took him to a play once in the fairly early stages (in the nation's oldest public theater) for "To Kill a Mockingbird" thinking maybe he could relate to the actors somewhat.......he's fidgeting and trying to keep quiet and finally blurts out, in a loud voice, "What are they DOING? People don't act like that......."
Me: "Shhhhhhhh"

Him: "These people are STUPID!"

failure on the live theater treatment of Alzheimer's

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/05/specter-unplugged.html#comment-225959

tsk, tsk, sturge.... one of these days you'll be 80 and still strumming a mean guitar (or is that pounding a piano?) on that thar stage.

lest we forget ole ben was 81 when he helped slap together the constitution

LOL Sturge,

I just love my early morning coffee with Craig and the gang.

"any takers for Moe and Curly?"

dibs on harpo

specter is to franklin as junior samples is to einstein........

(BR-549)

and playing a gee-tar down the street ain't exactly like guiding our nation thru the perils of the modern world.........lol

patsi, welcome home... re your lv losses, evidently you forgot about that slogan "what happens in vegas stays in vegas".... including all your money.

but a lot more fun Sturge.

left side of scale: US Senator

Right side of scale: gee-tar player in a joint.

hmmmm............gold is where you find it?

I'll take the right side any day. Playing in a band is one fantasy that never materialized for me. I'm glad someone invented the air guitar.

air guitar......ha.......played Lexington Ky oncet around 72 or so and spent a night in a big old farmhouse full of real hippies.....must have been around 10 of them living there, and more made the scene in the morning........just after sunrise they made a huge pot of Red Zinger tea and put The Stones on the player ("sympathy for the devil" first song) and they all grabbed mops and sticks and brooms and canes and a crutch or two and lined up across this big room and did "air band" complete with doing steps and such.....it was hilarious.....

Patsi, did you take your own tour bus or ride-along?? And why did you leave the rest of us at home? GLAD you're safe!

clayton i-house giant leap from trailer park.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090506/ap_on_re_us/us_clayton_i_house_1

Morning Flatus/Stinky.

Carol, certainly was quiet here yesterday morning. Everybody was tip-toeing around thinking you were trying to sleep in.

Back at you, Carol!

I never sleep in. I get up even earlier when I'm off. It's you guys that give me a reason to wake up early. Can't wait to see what you've been up to.

I was hanging out at C-Bob's place yesterday morning.

He's got a kool joint over there.

And, how's your crop?

This morning Stinky will be supervising me as I change the blades on the lawn tractor. Should have done it a month or two ago. But, I didn't hit the water meter housing until last week.

and Flatus, get Stinky out in those woods with a camera to show us what to pick.

Don't ask about the crop Flatus. Isn't a pretty story. Went to the house yesterday afternoon to check things out before a new insurance agent came out to take pics and ran into 4 young armadillos. I tried to clobber one but they all ran under the house.

One morning, a while back, I went out to check the pool and two armadillos musta been catching a drink. I startled them and they both fell in the pool. I had to use my net to get them out in a hurry before they made hash of my liner.

http://www.charlestoncity.info/dept/content.aspx?nid=385

that theater

and I am curious if Tony has problems with that Easter lubber grasshopper? He lives close to the water.

Happy cinco de siete, Prez Obama. ((yep, still funny))

Carol, Stinky's springtime foraging was a behavior Koreans developed over the centuries. It became especially important during the years of the Japanese occupation, and the period immediately after the Korean War. Generally, as the Spring vegetables come in, the transition, from foraging occurs.

So far, from our garden, she's had scallions, red leaf lettuce, a Korean lettuce that looks something like romaine, turnip greens, fresh herbs. The spinach and bok choi aren't yet ready.

It is indeed a happy harvest for Stinky, Toots, and Squeaky.

Bonjour mes amis.

Comment allez-vous? Je vais tres bien, et vous?

Armadillos, huh? Throwbacks to the time time forgot. Carol, are you on their natural migratory route - I-20? (Kidding.)

"I had to use my net to get them out..."

You'll know you made a mistake if they start calling you Mom.

You guys keep speaking in tongues. I am still working on my English and that's all I got.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/05/specter-unplugged.html#comment-226006

Ha
Yes this Boy missed you!!
Your comments make me think.I wish Pigs like KO didn't exist but I love the way you call them out......

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/05/moving-targets-in-warending-ti.html#comment-226062

Good morning Carol,all
Nope. I don't have problems with them here but my client Rose does..Rose lives right on the Atlantic and those grasshopper's are constantly eating on her roses...Big too.....

Well, I'm headed to the garage. Be back in a few.

geez Carol.... at least I can deal with my bears by simply bringing my bird feeders into the house at night....

I recall several times both Patsi and I posted during the primaries that no matter what any candidate said.... the road out of Iraq would be long, involved, and needing careful planning..... the Obama supporters generally didn't agree....

Corey..... I don't want any misunderstanding with you sweetie.... I knew your Ann Coulter remark was a joke..... and my response back was too..... maybe I need to put double smiley faces...... :0) :0)

Ivy...... I now have 2 pairs of RB Grosbeaks nesting in my yard.... I'm still waiting for the Indigo Buntings.... they are always the last to arrive....

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/07/us/politics/07obama.html?th&emc=th

"With Gay Issues in View, Obama Pressed to Engage"

"President Obama was noticeably silent last month when the Iowa Supreme Court overturned the state’s ban on same-sex marriage."

"But now Mr. Obama — who has said he opposes same-sex marriage as a Christian but describes himself as a “fierce advocate of equality” for gay men and lesbians — is under pressure to engage on a variety of gay issues that are coming to the fore amid a dizzying pace of social, political, legal and legislative change."

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/05/moving-targets-in-warending-ti.html#comment-226020

Patd

I love your variation

Things change a lot in a chaos.

"The Cabal" Act 2, scene 2.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/06/AR2009050603182.html?wprss=rss_politics

Renee -- I don't have indigo buntings where I live now --but used to have them....what WONDERFUL birds....alsothe painted buntings...I haven't seen one of those -- just photos from a Texas friend's yard.

Blackwater era ending in Iraq - About 8 years too late for the guys they electrocuted.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/05/07/iraq.blackwater/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

Jeff Sessions says he could support a gay SCOTUS nominee who did not oppose abortion? Wait a minute, wait a minute. I suspect he'll change that tune quicker than repugs who criticized Limpballs recanted and kissed his ring.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/06/sessions-i-could-support_n_198260.html

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/05/moving-targets-in-warending-ti.html#comment-226064

Flatus

In Swedish yet

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

"specter is to franklin as junior samples is to einstein"

goll dernit, sturge... trying to top you, made me think of spector is to sessions like chester is to festus... but no, festus was smarter than that. maybe barney to gomer?...
all day now i'll be off on sidekick tangents. who was the best? gabby hayes, andy devine, pat butram, joe biden?

Call me skeptical.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124165510131594083.html

I frankly don't see anything good that will come of these meetings trying to bridge the abortion divide othere than individuals feeling better about the people they chat with from the other side.

has anyone except ct even remotely addressed craig's topic today...
obama did sound a little dubba u-ish yesterday guaranteeing support to afganistan and pakistan's democratically elected gov'ts

....talk about something noone wants to talk about.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/05/moving-targets-in-warending-ti.html#comment-226082

pat, LOL. When you put Sessions into any of those comparisons you're going to have to go to the cartoon world to get someone comparable for the second comparison.

patsi, yes indigo buntings are magical
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Indigo_Bunting/id

but what's really to look forward to this time of year are the fireflies, aka lightening bugs... talk about magic!

pat - good question.

Renee did. Reality impinges on campaign promises. Nothing in this world is as easy as it seems at first. Little good will come of staying or of leaving. No matter what he does as far as a withdrawal timeline from Iraq, Afghanistan is calling, and aside from OBL and the Taliban, few in America have any idea why we might be there, or, I'd wager, care.

my apologies, renee, got caught up in my list of sidekicks and didn't see your comment on the war issue.

pogo, is there even a comparable cartoon character?

pat, good question. I may have to go home and do some research (read - sit on couch and watch cartoons all day).

If you want to do a face off of sidekicks, this is the place to do it ... Build your own bracket

http://www.bracketsmackdown.com/#/HOME/

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/05/moving-targets-in-warending-ti.html#comment-226071

Renee -

I'm jealous of your grosbeaks and buntings!

Here's a bird I've seen rarely that sorta combines the two...

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Blue_Grosbeak/id

http://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/site/backyard_birds/bird_id/blue_grosbeak.aspx

patd

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6tWB-8QKYk

Glad to see Patsi is back. Welcome back Patsi!
I hope you took some pictues, I haven't seen Vegas in a while.

"It is indeed a happy harvest for Stinky, Toots, and Squeaky."

Well, I don't have Stinky's green thumb or natural ability, but I do have eleven healthy blue corn plants looking all perky this morning. They've been coming up for three days now, and the smallest is about an inch and the largest about six inches (most about 4 or 5"). But they seem to be growing fast.... now I just have to wait and see. They came up faster than the herbs, but I didn't plant the herbs until a couple of days ago.... defeating the whole point of a sacrificial garden, I know. (That's me, half a__ backwards, but it's working... so far, so good).

pat, how about Hugo the Abominable Snowman? Best known for his line "Which way did he go George? Which way did he go?"

http://www.nonstick.com/characters/snowman.html

Ivy, That Blue Grosbeak is a beautiful little bird! The map on your link show that they are in Texas, but I don't recall seeing one.

"has anyone except ct even remotely addressed craig's topic today"

... what is the to say, that doesn't just sound like an excuse?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/05/specter-unplugged.html#comment-225961

Tony,
For some reason I was surprised to read this. I think you're the first person in a long time that's agreed with me on the sea food thing. I'm also surprised that they have better mexican food in Michigan than they have in Florida. The mexican food in California was better than it is here, but it has improved here in the last few years (or have I just gotten used to the change?).... whicheve, no complaints about it anymore.

Except for PF Changs, the chinese food here is not good, and it was the best in California....I've had to stop eating it as often. And I love chinese food too, especially cashew chicken.

Tony, My enter button clicked before I clicked it... strange.
But just want to add that I hope all is going well with you.

The same people who were trying to guide Bush are still in charge of the war in Iraq. It shouldn't surprise anyone that our strategy didn't change. Only difference with Obama he says he wants out as soon as possible while Bush never had that desire. Besides the situation in Pakistan may require all our attention.

The only thing that could really help the Afghanistan mess is if Pakistan and India finally made peace with each other and unite against a common enemies: Moslem extremists and drug cartels.

They almost did it until the Mumbai bombings and then the whole raprochement fell apart. Pakistan isn't going to stabilize until it gets dragged at least into the beginning of the 20th century.

Afghanistan isn't going to stabilize until the surrounding countries are strong enough to keep it in check and the drug cartels cut off from the source.

I don't know 'how' I forgot about Quick Draw McGraw!
Glad you linked that Jamie.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/05/moving-targets-in-warending-ti.html#comment-226098

Chloe,

It could be worse. Tacoma thinks Panda Express is Chinese food ... barf

patd -- Here's the painted bunting myTexas friend has at her feeders...

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/painted_bunting/id

We're never getting out of the Middle East....all that talk was campaign BS. And Renee's right, the Obama people burned Hillary with Iraq....now it seems nobody gives a damn.

"The mexican food in California was better than it is here, but it has improved here in the last few years (or have I just gotten used to the change?).... whicheve, no complaints about it anymore." said Chloe.

Chloe,

The Mexican food is different in Texas than in New Mexico or Arizona and certainly California.

Tex-Mex is the variety we get around here. The food is supposed to be brown. Has to do with what grows naturally around here. In New Mexico and Blonde Wino would be more of an export there than I, but it is inspired by the chili crop that grows in NM. I don't pretend to know much about Arizona Mexican food. The Mexican food I have been around in California seems to be a lot more influenced by the ocean. (Del Mar).

The main thing is that is good tasting.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/05/moving-targets-in-warending-ti.html#comment-226104

Patsi --

That's a real treat! Still hoping to add that one to my life list...

Reality Bites.......

Isn't it great to watch anti-war types turn to apologists.....

All I can do is shake my head, smile.......and have another cup of coffee

Ivy.... I've never seen a Blue Grosbeak..... what a beautiful bird.... I did have a Baltimore Oriole in my apple tree yesterday.... hadn't seen one in a couple years..... actually my favorite birds are woodpeckers.... seen quite a few Pileated.... and the Red Bellied has migrated up here in the last few years....
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pileated_Woodpecker/id
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-bellied_Woodpecker/id

patd.... no apology is necessary..... :0) :0)

The Chinese food in Mexico can be wonderful. A lot of the Chinese families who came in to build railroads and such migrated there and some of the restaurants have been family owned for several generations. It does tend to be hotter ... more like Szechwan rather than cantonese and on the coast some wonderful fish and shrimp dishes.

Interesting set of comments on Politico about "empathy" and the Supreme Court

http://www.politico.com/arena/

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/05/moving-targets-in-warending-ti.html#comment-226106

I also meant to add that California Mexican is too green for me. I prefer the brown look.

Your Mileage May Differ

Jax....
Patsi and I did a lot of jawing during the primaries about how hard it would be to get out of Iraq...... but the fact that Bush put us there in the first place is still stupid, IMO.....

Ivy.... really loved that poster with the green heron for the festival you posted about last night.....

Another possibility for the Seeions comparison, Droop-A-Long Coyote (Ricochet Rabbit's sidekick)

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

Maybe I missed this if linked yesterday, but something to whet your appetite...

"Wasserman Schultz Finds Prices at House’s Cafeterias Difficult to Swallow"

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000003111769

My favorite part is Alabama congressman Aderholt complaining about his plastic utensils melting in the food.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/05/moving-targets-in-warending-ti.html#comment-226113

Renee --

Me too, I want that poster...I wonder if it can be mail ordered?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/05/moving-targets-in-warending-ti.html#comment-226109

Renee --

Now you're getting me into bird stories. I chased that raven-sized Pileated Woodpecker all over Loxahatchie in Florida and never did see one, only to return home and eventually discover a resident pair in my backyard. They are reputedly "shy" but I say to that claim, nevermore.

"Tacoma thinks Panda Express is Chinese food"

LOL Jamie, I was just talking to the hubby about bringing some Panda home with him today..... That's the honest truth! All the talk about Chinese food got me in the mood and you've got to take what you can get around here. :)

Ivy,

I sent them an email asking if it was for sale. I'll let you know.

"I want that poster...I wonder if it can be mail ordered?"

I don't think there's anything that can't be mail ordered, as long as we have the internet to hunt it down.

jamie, my favorite comment from the Arena link you posted may be Greg Dworkin's:

"Empathy? Hey, it’s a good thing he didn’t say “mercy”. That would have sparked even more fake outrage. Here’s how it will play out. The Republicans will gin up a fight that they will lose over a non-issue to stir up their base. It is their right to do so. But they will marginalize themselves even more in the process (the new symbol for the GOP is the dinosaur), and Obama will get his nominee. The real question is when will the GOP stop playing games and start getting their philosophical act together and stand for smaller, more efficient government without standing for extremism? The partial answer is “not yet”. Some of my Arena colleagues have been very responsible on this topic, and their advice should be heeded, but ginning up a fake fight is not only bad policy, it’s bad politics."

Most of the comments from the likes of Norquist and others are simply idiotic. It's as if they didn't read the other words Obama used in his statement about what he is looking for - "somebody with a sharp and independent mind and a record of excellence and integrity", "somebody who is dedicated to the rule of law, who honors our constitutional traditions, who respects the integrity of the judicial process and the appropriate limits of the judicial role", "somebody who shares my respect for constitutional values on which this nation was founded and who brings a thoughtful understanding of how to apply them in our time." Nope we wouldn't want anyone like that if they also happen to possess the capacity for empathy. Morons.

Carol --

In your swampy habitat, you should keep your eye out for this elusive critter...

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ivory-billed_Woodpecker/id

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/05/moving-targets-in-warending-ti.html#comment-226119

Jamie --

That's a 100-mile+ drive for you, isn't it? We could chip in and pay your gas... (^_~)

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/05/moving-targets-in-warending-ti.html#comment-226115

Ivy, you'd expect anything different from a former top aide to Fob James and a supporter of Roy Blount?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/05/moving-targets-in-warending-ti.html#comment-226118

One of the things I miss about California is Dim Sum Sunday at the Empress Pavillion.

http://www.empresspavilion.com/dimsum.htm

The Mandarin Chateau is down the block for low decor wonderful food every other day of the week.

Drat! Now I want Chinese food and that means Safeway .... Yuck! Well the Shu Mai aren't that bad.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/05/moving-targets-in-warending-ti.html#comment-226124

Sadly, no.

He went to a good school though, Birmingham Southern College.

Ivy,

I checked its a four and a half hour drive one way. I think I can wait for a tube in the mail. :-)

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/05/moving-targets-in-warending-ti.html#comment-226106

Dooty, Thanks for pointing out some good reasons for the differences in mexican food from state to state. I think your taste has a lot to do with what you''re used to (learn to like?), actually that is true about 'all foods'. I like that chile taste in the sauce, as opposed to the gravy taste. Also, one of the things I liked about Califonia's is that they used good cheddar (along with mexican) cheeses and here it sometimes tastes like velveeta. I have leaned to really like our local Mexican restaurants though. My favorite food to have out (or in).

Jamie,
Thanks for posting that Politico link. I think Adam Bonin's observation stands in interesting contrast to some of the others, like Grover Norquist's. Seems to me that without empathy we could just write a computer program that would decide cases.

Gail Collins.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/07/opinion/07collins.html

I love this woman.

Where is the link to the poster everyone is ga-ga over?

Allow me to speak on point for a change.

We are in our 8th year of war in Afghanistan.
Our 7th year in Iraq.
Both seem slow enough to me. I mean how much slower should it be ?

Ivy, I'll give him that - in fact, I wouldn't mind seeing LP consider Birmingham Southern (if it didn't cost so damn much it would be all the better). But hey, Joe Scarborough went to school where I did.

"One of the things I miss about California is Dim Sum Sunday at the Empress Pavillion. "

I know just how you feel Jamie. I always say if I visit there, the first thing I will do is go out for Chinese Food. They have a lot of Chinese Buffets here, and they're popular, but they're no where near the same experience. They taste more like Panda to me. PF Changs is wonderful though..... different, but delicious.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/05/moving-targets-in-warending-ti.html#comment-226133

Pogo --

They have a good endowment. My baby's there now. Not much football though. For that, you still have to Roll Tide.

Thought for the day :
" They do not love that do not show their love. "

OOOhhhh, OOOOhhhh, I've got the Sessions comparison character - Capt. Wrongway Peachfuzz.

(Oh, and Bob, right you are. Forget my earlier post to the extent that I tried to provide explanation, context, justification, etc. - otherwise known as EXCUSE. I do stand by one thing I said - no good will come of our staying or leaving. Let's draw up the plans and get the hell out.)

Peter "Wrongway" Peachfuzz

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

(Not to be confused with the most recent ex president.

Tony, here is something I realized years ago. I worked with a guy who was from Mexico. We would talk about Mexican restaurants here. I would tell him which restaurants I liked and which foods I liked at these restaurants. He would always say to me, "That's not real Mexican food! That's not how they cook it in Mexico! There aren't any good Mexican restaurants here!" I was kidding too, Renee. I got it. LOL! BTW, some of my my brother-in-law's family went to D.C. a few weeks ago. I asked his Dad, "Did you go see Barry and Michelle?" His answer was, "I don't know who they are." My brother-in-law said, "He means the Obamas, Dad." His answer was "No."

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/05/moving-targets-in-warending-ti.html#comment-226131

CaJoe --

Here's the link to the festival. Scroll a bit to see the art poster with the green heron.

http://www.wingsandwinefestival.com/

I just saw Patsi's Painted Bunting.... another beauty. I love my Cardinals and Blue Jays, but I think they've crowded everything else out (except the crows, now and then).

.... either that, or I'm not aware enough and should be more one the look out.

.... that is a nice poster

Ivy,

Thank you. The poster is beautiful, and the festival looks great!

"Forget my earlier post to the extent that I tried to provide explanation, context, justification, etc. - otherwise known as EXCUSE. I do stand by one thing I said - no good will come of our staying or leaving. Let's draw up the plans and get the hell out.)"

Now, There's the Pogo I know and love. :)

Pogo -- interesting -- I emailed Gail C this morning and said she'd just lost the very small bit of feminist cred she ever had. They are all missing the point.

1885 George "Gabby" Hayes Wellesvile NY, actor (In Old Santa Fe, El Paso)

1355 1,200 Jews of Toledo Spain killed by Count Henry of Trastamara
1429 English siege of Orleans broken by Joan of Arc
1660 Isaack B Fubine of Savoy, in The Hague, patents macaroni
1700 William Penn began monthly meetings for Blacks advocating emancipation
1727 Jews are expelled from Ukraine by Empress Catherine I of Russia
1800 Indiana Territory organized
1824 Beethoven's 9th (Chorale) Symphony, premieres in Vienna
1861 Riot occurs between prosecessionist & Union supporters in Knoxville TN
1864 Battle of Wilderness ends (total losses: USA-17,666; CSA-7,500)
1888 George Eastman patents "Kodak box camera"
1902 Soufriere volcano on St Vincent kills 2-5,000
1915 Lusitania sunk by German submarine; 1198 lives lost
1928 England lowers age of women voters from 30 to 21
1941 British House of Commons votes for Churchill (477-3)
1941 Cornerstone of Bank of America building at 300 Montgomery laid
1941 Glenn Miller records "Chattanooga Choo Choo" for RCA
1942 Battle of Coral Sea ends stopping Japanese expansion
1942 Nazi decree orders all Jewish pregnant women of Kovno Ghetto executed
1945 Formal undertaking of complete German surrender
1945 German General Keitel repeats surrender signing in Berlin for the benefit of the Russians; WWII ends in Europe
1945 Mauthausen Concentration Camp liberated
1945 Nazi Generals Jodl & Von Friedenburg surrender
1960 USSR announces Francis Gary Powers confessed to being a CIA spy
1966 Mamas & Papas "Monday Monday" hits #1

Flatus -- I didn't take any pictures....but here's where I stayed....

http://www.greenvalleyranchresort.com/virtual-tours/

Here it's cardinals, robins, turkey vultures and LBBs - and the occasional woodpecker and owl. I was cleaning up the front porch a couple of weeks ago and discovered that a bird had made a nest behind one of the blown over cushions on our porch furnture. It had 4 very light blue eggs in it that I thought looked like robin's eggs - I moved it over to a corner, and have seen the mother (I think) fly in and out of the nest a few times. It looked like an LBB to me. Glad we don't have any cats active around the house.

Fact is, Iraqistan2 (that would be Iraq, Afganistan and Pakistan) are a mess. We all know how we got in this kimchee. Notwithstanding anything that was said during the campaign (it was a campaign, after all) we can't just leave in the short term and live with the consequences of a teetering Iraq, a failed state in Afganistan, and an unstable Pakistan. The stakes are enormous. The best we can say politically is that Obama favors a more rapid disengagement that either Clinton or Bush did, but 'rapid' must be cast in relative terms.

Ivy,
You don't ever have to 'roll tide.'

War Eagle!

Patsi - I can't argue that, because I do agree you're right - as to Collins' feminist cred (as if I'm anyone to judge) she may indeed not have much. But Collins' comic eye is like my own in many respects. All seriousness aside, I can't seem to get past the oh so Republican "Do as I say, not as I do" hypocritical slant of Bristol's position as the spokesperson for the teen pregnancy prevention foundation of a clothing line that has Britney Spears as its celebrity endorser.

"here's where I stayed..."

Beautiful Patsi! I'd forgotten how unbelievably plush the hotels are there. Did you gamble much?

No, Ivy, BSC is certainly not much of a football school, although I did use to park there and walk down the hill to Bama games when they stillhad them at Legion Field. And you can forget CJoe's "War Eagle" cry. "Roll Tide" will do just fine.

"Here it's cardinals, robins, turkey vultures and LBBs - and the occasional woodpecker and owl"

Pogo, We have the occasional woodpecker and owl too, but haven't seen any yet this year.

Please let us know when those eggs hatch and how they do. And yes, you are lucky there are no cats around to bother them They'd never make it down that low at my place.

Spiders Getting Bigger -- Global Warming to Blame?
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/05/090505-spiders-bigger-global-warming.html
............

The fact that the majoity of life-forms are still waiting recognition is a surpise to me...

Over 200 New Amphibians Found in Madagascar
"...the century of discoveries has only just begun—the majority of life-forms on Earth is still awaiting scientific recognition."
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/05/photogalleries/new-amphibian-pictures/index.html

Nice digs, Patsi - where is it located in sin city?

why is it that because someone is a young woman, she can't be called on the absurdity of her position regarding abstinence and sex before marriage? I happen to believe it is the Rupukes "do as I say not as I do" crap that has helped get this country in to the fine mess it is in now. That fact does not make me anti-feminist in my opinion. Your constant yelling against any female that seems misplaced here.

In this case, B. Palin vs Birth control advocates shows the weak attempt the GOP has fallen to. She was put up to this by, her mother, the GOP or some other group but it seems she was not given the talking points as she is stumbling over her answers to the pointed questions. This makes her vulnerable to attack. Not because she is female or a young mother and unmarried. No, it makes her vulnerable to attack because of the message she is trying to send to the young women of the world. "Do as I say not as I do."

It is the other young women you should be standing up to in my opinion.

sorry I guess I need to give Props to Pogo for the "do as I say not as I do" thingy. Thanks Pogo.

also the last line should read "It is the other young women you should be standing up FOR in my opinion.

Ivy a very nice poster indeed.
I don't think I ever showed you folks the one we did for our little Art Market venture, which is the same day .
We set this up as one we could write on with a marks-a-lot, as the season moves along.

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/585/artmarketpoleposter.png

"the absurdity of her position regarding abstinence and sex before marriage?"

The last time I said something about that here Doots , I got a few people very angry at me. A point of fact is that a lot of people really believe that can happen, and how are we supposed to tell them otherwise, without causing an unbelievable amount of anger and distress on their part? Plus, they think that's a personal decision.

I think people are just 'using' Palin as an example, in order to air their frustrations regarding the issue. But we can talk about it, without using a specific person to exemplify what we're saying, therefore causing that person harm or pain. I think you're right about her being used though.

If I'm understanding what you're saying, that we need to protect the majority of young women, by putting the truth out there then I agree. (?)

The artist that did our poster, and the web graphics we're using on the Market site -
Randy Fisher :

http://www.directoryofillustration.com/ArtistPortfolioThumbs.aspx?AID=2213

. . . speaking of Vegas - this shoed up in my e-mail this morning.

http://www.budgettravel.com/bt-dyn/content/article/2009/04/03/AR2009040302940.html?wpisrc=newsletter

Interesting read.

Luxury for Less in Las Vegas ?

.. Yes pogo, imo that's 'always' been the most enticing thing about the place.... love going there!

well . . . lunch

I think Solar is going to lunch now Pogo. :)

ah, missed it..... sorry Solar, I tried.

Speaking of birds,
Our little fledgling is still alive in the hollyhock forest , saw her fly 30 feet last night to avoid the water hose.

1824 Beethoven's 9th (Chorale) Symphony, premieres in Vienna

Beethoven's Ninth Symphony
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-mvutiDRvQ

Patsi.... the Green Valley Ranch is where Rick and I stayed when he took me out there for my 50th birthday (almost 5 yrs ago).... it was a beautiful place....
LOVED the pool and the movie theater..... Pogo it's not in downtown Vegas.... it's about 10 miles away in Henderson.... but you can see the strip clearly from the pool area....

CJoe.... your 11:06 post is right on, IMO... and dubbing what exists now as Iraqistan2..... brilliant!

CBob.... your thought for the day reminded me of something M. Scott Peck said in his many moons ago popular book, "The Road Less Traveled".... he stated that love was not an emotion.... love is action....

oh and all this talk about food reminded me of my other story about Page Arizona....

we were there for 4 nights and stayed in the Marriot.... one night while eating in their restaurant.... the soup of the day was clam chowder.... I ordered a cup, but told the waitress that we lived in NH and that I knew the difference between good and bad chowder.....

she made sure to ask me when I finished it if it met with my approval..... I told her it got 2 thumbs up..... a few minutes later the chef who made it came out to meet me..... he was so excited that I liked his chowder.... the manager of the restaurant was so pleased, he gave me the chowder as compliments of the house....

and I don't want to rain on anyone's parade..... but having a spokesperson for why certain behaviors aren't healthy be someone who actually engaged in the activity is done all the time....

remember the program "Scared Straight"..... people in jail told their horror stories to teenagers....
and it's usually former drug addicts that talk to teens about the dangers of imbibing.... same thing with alcoholics.... same thing with people who were in horrific car accidents.... etc. etc.

Renee - I usually have to COMPLAIN to get anything comped. LOL

I generally like Congressman Jim Moran Democrat of Virginia but now I may even have to send him money.

For the second time in four years, U.S. Rep. Jim Moran has introduced legislation that would ban erectile-dysfunction and male-performance-enhancement ads from commercial TV broadcasts between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.
http://www.businessinsider.com/you-wont-be-getting-viagra-ads-with-your-brian-williams-anymore-2009-5

Renee, of course that's done all the time. The irony of it is inescapable though, particularly when there is a political slant in addition to the obvious one, and particularly when it is tied to the family values party that at every turn seeks to impose its own view of morality on everyone except its own members. Bristol Palin may be the most appropriate "ambassador" for teen pregnancy awareness that Candies could find, certainly one of the highest profile ones, and lord knows she is certainly aware of the consequences of teen sex. It still strikes me as funny.

"having a spokesperson for why certain behaviors aren't healthy be someone who actually engaged in the activity is done all the time...."

I agree Renee. That's why I don't understand why she needs to be belittled for it. We can oppose her ideas, without putting her down.

KC, add urinary flow ads and you can put me down for a ten spot on that - god, I hate all those ads - but I would like to have that Mustang convertible on the Flomax ad.

Pogo
I hate all of the ones that use old rock and roll songs that cause people to end up with earworm and humming along to their hideous commercials.

Questions: Do we now need passports to travel to Canada? If so, is it expensive to get one?

Ridge's hat will remain on his head in 2010:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090507/ap_on_el_se/us_ridge_senate

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/05/moving-targets-in-warending-ti.html#comment-226167

chloe, nice try on Solar's behalf, but you've got to get up pretty early in the morning to better me on the lunch announcement front.

As for me, I'm not belittling Bristol Palin - she payed her money and took her chances. She's a shining example of the ineffectiveness of abstinence education as it goes toe to toe wtih raging hormones. I didn't belittle my sister when she was in the same situation, and I didn't think any less of my girlfriend when we thought she was pregnant way back when - to say nothing of the girlfriends who never had pregnancy scares. I'm making fun of the idea that you (well, Candies) have a newly pregnant teenager who obviously knows that abstinence education is worth less than the paper it's written on as the spokesperson for abstinence. Palin just happens to be that spokesperson, and but for her mother's celebrity, we probably wouldn't have even noticed.

My take is this, there are at least two primary issues surrounding this. One is what I mentioned above - the attempted imposition of mores that no one is willing to follow or really believes anyone will follow and the irony of the spokesperson.

The second is one that is purely comercial. This whole stupid campaign is not about teaching anyone anything, it's about cover for the teen version of Victoria's Secret (and I don't think they need to provide cover for anything or see anything wrong with the clothes they make and sell or the way they sell them - I might have a different view if I had a daughter, but I don't) and promotion of the Candies brand. But don't pretend that they aren't trying to use sex to sell their clothes and promote sexiness among teens by selling their clothes to kids who want to be just like Bristol - and Britney.

And as I see it, any sexism is coming from Candies, and calling them and their spokesppeople on it is not sexist. I just can't help it if I see humor in the whole damn thing. I saw the same humor in David Vitter getting caught with his pants down. I expect he'll be leading a crusade against prostitution in the Big Easy before we know it, sponsored of course by the Trojan Sexually Transmitted Disease Awareness Foundation.

KC, you'd think they're trying to sell stuff to us old farts who grew up with the music of the 60s and 70s.

Corey.... I know you're required to have a passport to enter Canada by plane...
I'm not sure about driving there though.... and it costs about $50...

Pogo.... I had to goggle Candies... not having a daughter, I'd never heard of them.... but I see your point.... it's not a non-profit organization... it's a commercial one that sells sexy clothing to teenagers.....

as of 6/2009 you need a passport

Right, Renee - like so much in this world, so often things aren't only as they appear.

Corey, and it takes a while to get one - about a month last time I got one - but you can get it expedited for a fee that isn't too much, and it's worth it if you really want to so there soon.

Pogo,
I'd prefer 'crepitatious senior' to 'old fart,' thank you.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/05/moving-targets-in-warending-ti.html#comment-226187

Pogo, buddy, I never thought you were putting down anyone. I was simply trying to figure out what Doots was upset about this morning.

travel alert: all ye crepitatious seniors who've forgotten your middle names, you have 1 week to find and memorize it.

"When MUST my airline ticket match the name on my ID exactly?

Secure Flight requires that domestic aircraft operators request and collect full name as of May 15, 2009, and date of birth and gender as of August 15, 2009 for their domestic flights. For international flights, full name, date of birth, and gender must be requested and collected as of October 31, 2009."

http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/layers/secureflight/faqs.shtm

... sorry if things are coming out wrong. I need to be more clear, because I sure wasn't criticizing anyone.

fessing up in public at the gate to one's birth date (and gender in some cases) may prove interesting and frought with embarrassing situations....

so to for unusual middle names

More on Sessions - this time about Immigration, ties to racist organizations, that sort of stuff. And really, look at that picture. Just add freckles and it's pretty apparent that he and Alfred E. Neuman were serarated at birth (well, AEN wasn't a real person, but you get the idea.)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/07/sessions-incendiary-on-im_n_198807.html

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

chloe, not to speak for doots, but I think he was upset at the suggestion that criticizing Bristol Palin or the choice of her was a continuation of the alleged sexism of criticizing her mother when she was the VP candidate.

Can someone please explain to me why my middle name is a more important piece of data for identifying me than my birthdate or gender, or why there should have been any difference betwen the deadlines for those items of information about travelers? I really just don't get it.

crepitatious indeed.

Corey

Passport or other government issued card such as the NEXXUS Trusted Traveler Card

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/trusted_traveler/

" I'd forgotten how unbelievably plush the hotels are there. Did you gamble much?"

Chloe -- the hotel really was stunning. I wish I hadn't been working and pretty much confined to the room when not in meetings. Or at least felt better -- something in the air made me nearly unable to breathe. But no, I've never been much of a gambler....I put one dollar in a slot on the way out of town...& lost it...ha

"Nice digs, Patsi - where is it located in sin city?"

Pogo -- I honestly am not sure -- I was brought in from the airport, went back and forth to meetings and then left. It was kinda crazy. I could see the strip from areas on the drive in though....

"It is the other young women you should be standing up to in my opinion. "

I will pretty much stand up for any teenage girl I see getting the treatment. However, I'll say no more on women's rights.

Patsi,

Some people react to dry desert air that way, particularly if they are from a normally humid climate. How was the heat? If still fairly cool, then spring was late and there is no telling what was floating in the air.

Has anyone here ever had a chocolate sprinkled with sea salt? If so did you like it much and was it the fine or coarse salt? Think I might start making sea shells with maybe sea salt on the back.

It's a Henderson address which puts it outside of LV--somewhere on the high ground out towards Boulder City.

The first time we were stationed in LV (1969 there was less than 100k people. Very comfortable even in summertime because there wasn't that much irrigation. Now, with millions of people, it's terrible in the summer.

Patsi, spring allergy season usually occurs only during years when there's above normal rainfall during the late winter. If it's dry, not too much stuff in bloom.

Second time we were stationed there (1977), the population had more than doubled. Pollution was becoming a big deal. Now, it's choking.

"In your swampy habitat, you should keep your eye out for this elusive critter..."

I read your link about the ivory billed woodpecker. Looks so much like the pileated woodpecker. I don't think I could tell them apart except their calls are so different. I mostly just hear the pileated and usually can't find them in all the trees and branches.

I did memorize the call and will keep an ear out.

Sis and I have been baiting theseTide jugs for catfish using beef heart and having no luck except one nice catfish. I couldn't understand why cuz the conditions were perfect.

Well today I put some beef franks in the basket of this crab trap and set it off the wharf. In 10 minutes I already had a brim. A few minutes later I had 2 catfish and another brim. Who'd have thunk that those fish liked their nitrites so much?

I went to Wally World for a bunch of cheap weenies. Should have supper tonight.

Sea, that really sounds good. Top quality sea salt is so deliciously sweet. And the forbidden chocolate...

Part of the appeal would be the salt's visible presence; that seems like it would argue for a coarser salt.

And, chocolate covered pretzels with coarse sea salt on the outside. Wow!

Sea
I have had a chocolate covered caramel with sea salt....it's all the rage -and apparently the Obama's favorite candy they buy from a candy make in Seattle

I get mine from a local chocolatier
http://www.gandolfsfinechocolate.com/truffles.html

patd....
I don't have a middle name..... and the thought of having to tell an airline employee that my birthday is 9/11 doesn't leave me with a warm and cozy feeling....

Patsi..... I'm not a gambler either..... I had 7 one dollar bills in my pocket and we decided to turn them into quarters and see how long we could play the slots with that.... I think it lasted all of 15 minutes....

Sidekick extraordinaire: Smiley Burnette......

Sidekick Junior.................Frog

chloe,

I thought long and hard before I typed out that line. I agree with Pogo and his position. It is hypocrisy of RWNuts wacko fringe elements that make me crazy. She is being used plain and simple and her mother is allowing this to happen. I hope they are paying her well to look this foolish.

NYT/CBS poll asks "what does the phrase the American Dream mean to you?" Interesting comments.

"What happens to the American Dream in a Recession?" Katherine Seelye NYT

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/08/us/08dreampoll.html?hp

carol,

have you ever fly fished? Fly fishing for bass can be exciting.

Hey KGC,how are you doing this week? Thanks for the link, looks like they use coarse. Googled and found some chocolate bars sprinkled with grey salt, but there is no photo. One has to buy rubber type molds for caramels and then I've heard they often stick. I make my caramel and funnel it out for turtles. The best is when I dip pretzels in caramel ,then chocolate, then I sprinkle it with almond butter crunch crumble- the insider name for that is stoner food.

sturg - Smiley Burnette - he may not have been a cartoon character, but you're right - sidekick extraordinaire. I have to admit I didn't know him from his association withGene Autry, but he was one funny engineer on Petticoat Junction and Green Acres.

Sea!! Stop it! You're describing all those wonderful things that I can't possibly eat. Arrrrgh!

OSH, now stop that. How am I supposed to get into the mental state that will have me eating less, exercising more and losing weight when you're talking about pretzels I would kill for - and I don't even really like pretzels.

OSH
Things are good. Finally stopped raining and the sun is out.
I like chocolate covered potato chips - sounds gross but they are good. A friend brings them from a shop in Phila and I think they make the pretzels too.

Hey Flatus, think you might enjoy Jamie's new post at the 94th blog. Pretty amazing letter from Eisenhower.
http://94campaign.blogspot.com/

Sorry guys!

Pogo,,,,,looks like we have one of those double spies on our hands,,,,,,they say the best way to deal with them is to just shoot them outright,,,or distribute pictures of them,,so they can't contunue going to one side or the other,,,,,,,who is it,,,,,,,,,CHLOE,,,,,aka S S S,,,,Side Saddle Sally,,,,and Gram ma Chloe Barker,

Here is the proof that a lawyer would want,,,,,first as was noted by you,,,,she was you wing man/wing person yesterday,,,,,,,and then just today,,,,,she thinks that you are too old to remember yesterday's move,,,,but just today she tries to sneak in a free lunch for me,,,,,who side is she really on???? I say just shoot her,,,what say you?

KGC- How's the neighbor?

Patsi,,,,,,,,,You said that Spanish phrase perfectly,,,,,it has almost all of the hard to pronounce worrrrrrrrds in it,,,,,,,now you can go on to speaking more and more of the language,,,,,,,Im going to try for Polish,,,lots of Polish builders,,,int the construction field,,,,,,we exchange words all of the time,,,but I keep forgetting,,,glad to see you back ,,,and with a bang,,,,nice language you picked up at NV HA!

Thanks, Sea and Jamie.

This is how the right intends to attack Obama, and, in particular, to saddle him with the costs we will incur to get out of the financial mess he inherited. Interestingly, they are now against the stimulus spending because it will lead, among other things, to inflation. Well, yeah, probably. But that's like complaining to the fire department about water damage to your burning house.

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=31643

OSH
Recovering -says he is still tired. I think his wife has it now.

Walter Pincus cuts close to the bone on newspapers ........

American journalism is in trouble, and the problem is not just financial. My profession is in distress because for more than a decade it has been chasing the false idols of fame and fortune. While engaged in those pursuits, it forgot its readers and the need to produce a commercial product that appealed to its mass audience, which in turn drew advertisers and thus paid for it all.

http://www.cjr.org/essay/newspaper_narcissism_1.php?page=all

Yeah, solar, but she's so likeable - which is of course an indispensible trait for a successful double agent.

Wulll, gotta go now. Lay-ter.

WASHINGTON, May 7 (Reuters) - The Obama administration on Thursday proposed cutting billions of dollars in big tax breaks for oil and natural gas companies, while boosting government spending to promote alternative energy sources.

http://www.reuters.com/article/OILINT/idUSN0736531920090507

ON today's thread,,,,,,I wasn't sure,,,but I kinda knew that Obama would not be too much diff,,,than Bush,,about foreign policy,,,,

I don't agree that we should think of Iraq,,,,Pakistan,,,Afhanistan,,,and all of the other tan's the same,,,they are different in many,,,many way's,,,and I don't like the idea of not being to tell the diff a ( "they all look alike") learn what makes each people different,,,and we can better deal with them

Just this week when Obama met with the Tan countries,,,,with those president's ,,,In Obama's own words, the "lasting commitment" is above all to "defeat al-Qaeda". As an afterthought, the president added, "But also to support the democratically elected, sovereign governments of both Pakistan and Afghanistan." To have George W Bush's man in Kabul and former premier Benazir Bhutto's widow definedas "sovereign", one would be excused for believing Bush is still in the White House.

He is talking like Bush IMO,,,,,and if he does believe this,,,then he should also back Hezbola,,,which I hate,,,but that is his logic not mine,,,,Im glad now that I voted for a third party,,,he is starting to make me feel that not too much has changed,,,,,,,I posted last night,,,a list of 25 large corps that they say planed this financial theft of our country,,,lets see what he does about that,,if anything???

Group names 25 lenders responsible for economic meltdown

US and foreign banks were not unwitting victims of circumstance but deliberately culpable in the financial meltdown that engulfed the United States last year, a campaign group said Wednesday.

The Center for Public Integrity named 25 “subprime” mortgage companies whose risky lending was blamed for the US property market collapse and the subsequent global economic crisis.

Many of the lenders were either controlled by US and European banks, or could not have indulged in their high-risk lending spree without the connivance of banks, the investigative journalism group said in a new study.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/05/specter-unplugged.html#comment-225965

When it comes to matters of Iraq/Iran/Afghanistan/Pakistan, I trust Fareed Zakaria.
http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/9067

Amazing man.

This could get ugly real fast - There's 1.2 million people living at the foot of this thing.

Scientist says volcanic eruption in Congo imminent

http://www.seattlepi.com/national/1105ap_af_congo_volcano.html

Joe the Fing Plumber is said to be quitting the GOP. E. Hasslebeck has denounced Joe the Fing Plumber for his "Queer" remarks.

I think it maybe time for the locus to arrive. The end of the world has to be near.

http://tinyurl.com/cf4j85

No Doots. It does sound exciting and I think I would like to try fly fishing but I have this picture in my head of that fly hung up on one of my butt cheeks. I know too many people in this area in healthcare and I don't want to share my ass with any of them.

Tylenol,,,,

"When it comes to matters of Iraq/Iran/Afghanistan/Pakistan, I trust Fareed Zakaria.
http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/9067"

"Amazing man."

I completely agree,,,,with this post,,,I have only seen one time when Fareed Z looked like he was neglecting his sense of journalism ,,,and I have now forgot what it was about,,,,I watched that Charlie Rose Interview of him,,,,and can understand it when he speaks so clearly,,,and I always watch him on Sundays,,or will record to watch later

But there are many news outlets that are not even talked about ,,here on this blog,,or on cable,,,,for example on cable the link network,,,they have a group of people that will make you like them,,,for all of the same reaons that you like F Z...another from Cnn is Christine Amanpour???spelling?,,,but she is the best of the best for me,,,thanks

"I had 7 one dollar bills in my pocket and we decided to turn them into quarters and see how long we could play the slots with that.... I think it lasted all of 15 minutes...."

That sound a lot like my speed, Renee. I've dumbed down a few times and lost money gambling....and found it a dismal experience.

OSH

Those pretzels sound amazing and NO i'm not getting any until I lose some more weight. There are certain items that are irresistable and caramel or butternut are among my downfalls.

The Ed Show is raking the Baucus committee over the coals for excluding a rep for "Single Payer". It is insane that they aren't even allowed to testify. When do Democrats shut down free speech?

I'm sick and tired of seeing taxes go to kill people but there aren't enough dollars to pay to heal people while the Insurance companies get bailouts.

Thanks for the info. Thought of a possible trip to Toronto in October. Depends on if I can get somebody to go with me. Talked to a travel agent today.

Just had a little excitement folkes. Sit down if you are squeamish. Since my stinky, no offense to the real Stinky, beef heart wasn't working for catfish we went out to take if off the hooks and rebait with the weenies. I just finished rebaiting the last jug and went to throw it out and did what I had warned my sister not to do. I put the hook thru the pad of my little finger.

I was one of those gnarly hooks used for catfishing. I was dragging my jug in the water, trying to drive the boat with that damn hook deep into my pinkie, just a little bit of the point sticking thru.

I managed to stop the boat and pull in the jug. Much to my good fortune, my river rat nurse friend who lives a short distance from my camp was home. I taught the guy years ago. He was getting ready to grill some meat.

After he examined the situation he went up and got a menagerie of equipment which included tools and surgical instruments. Lucky for me he had some lidocaine but injecting that in the pad of a pinkie is more painful than the hook was.

He had to push the barb thru, cut it off and then pull it out. Mission accomplished and it is not easy to type with a numb pinkie.

My sister went for help, a Dos Equuis. She doesn't drink much but thought if there was ever an occasion to do it, this was it.

I am kind of worried what that stinky rotten, deep beef heart innoculation will do to my pinkie. I need that little finger to type.

... diving right to the bottom of the thread without catching up, but...

"I went to Wally World for a bunch of cheap weenies"

Carol, I buy those for dog treats, and most cats love them too (broken up small). And you're right, Walmart is the cheapest. They're also good for trapping raccoons and possums (that we relocate when necessary). The problem is once you have them, they multiply quickly.
..........

Patsi, I saw where you said you had trouble breathing in Vegas. The last two years in California, we lived in Antelope Vallyey (where all those beautiful poppy fields are). It's the desert, much like Vegas climate, and I had asthma (for the first time in my life) for the whole two years. I didn't realize it was the dry air until we moved to Houston, and I immediately felt better in the humidity. Also, I have a allergy to dust, and in the dessert there's a lot of it blowing around. So it's probably a combination of both.

I'd like Boner to explain what victory in Afghanistan is
and David Obey should tell Nancy P where to get off.

and to accompany the surgical procedure my nurse friend had Proud Mary blaring on his sound system. It worked well since "people on the river are happy to give....." No bill for the service.

Carol, OUCH!!

... you'll have to learn to type without that little finger for a while girl.... glad you're a medical person, so I don't need to give you advice. But still, watch for infection.

and we are having spicy lemon chicken wings and turnips and greens for supper. Not in the mood for catfish tonight.

ct

Yikes! Hope it heals quickly.

Just don't get any of that spicy lemon on that cut.... yikes!

oops, Yikes was taken. How about, that hurts!

I'll let you know how it feels when the lidocaine wears off.

"caramel or butternut are among my downfalls."

I'm like a crazed animal around caramel.

I already know what it's going to feel like when that lidocaine wears off Carol (and it won't be pretty).

Carol, Just drink a lot of that Dos Equuis, and you won't have anything to worry about. :)

"CT Just drink a lot "
Chloe

That's what I was thinking too....

I don't drink. Alcohol and I don't get along. Makes me feel fluish.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/05/moving-targets-in-warending-ti.html#comment-226216

KGC, I didn't know the Obama's had a favorite candy, but went looking after I saw your post. I see that the CBS Morning show said he like the salted carmals, then this (the reference is about 3/4 down or so):

"After tasting, I visited Fran’s website and learned I’m not the only one that likes these exquisite caramels. It appears the Obama’s are also fans. When they were on the campaign trail, Fran’s caramels were their treat of choice. The Smoked Salt Caramels with milk chocolate were the President’s favourite while the Gray Salt Caramels with dark chocolate were Michelle’s. With all this added attention, these caramels have fast become Fran’s Chocolates best sellers."
http://www.8chocolate.com/

Sea,
If you're around, you might want to check it out (?)

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/05/moving-targets-in-warending-ti.html#comment-226254

Carol --

Yikes! Bad luck! Are you going to need a tetanus shot?

Bestever friend's grampy died of lockjaw in the days of yore. Since hearing that story as a young child, I have had in inordinate fear of rusty nails and such.

Thoughts are with you...

I don't either Carol. There goes that idea.

Going into work to get a tetnus shot in the AM.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/05/moving-targets-in-warending-ti.html#comment-226263

Sorry, I missed the no-yikes-ditto rule...how about gadzooks?

(^_~)

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/05/moving-targets-in-warending-ti.html#comment-226274

Carol, I had faith in you would, or would have already been up to date on it...is it a 10-year rule?

Carol,,,,,,sorry about you accident,,,I would trade places if I could,,,lot of Ibuprofen 800 mg tablets around??

Sea,,,,,,everything sounds good

Chloe,,,I did not mean it,,,I take it back,,,,It was just a little joke,,,,don;t get mad,,,shoot me

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/05/moving-targets-in-warending-ti.html#comment-226098

Hey Chloe
I agree it sounds insane but the Mexican food in Florida is terrible! I think the Mexican food in Michigan is better because so many Mexicans came to Michigan years ago to work for the big three and some went into the restaurant business.Having had Mexican food in Santa Monica,CA with my friends Ismael and Clinton I believe its better there...I think its also correct its probably a little bit of what you get used too........I'm doing great Chloe, hope you are...I'm still very busy but soon I will lose 2 clients as they head back North for the hot summer and I'm kinda looking forward to some pool time...I say that but it seems I always find something else to keep me busy.Oh ya I hate fish,its the smell that turns me off and that rare occasion when you get some that tastes oh so fishy,Yuk.......

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/05/moving-targets-in-warending-ti.html#comment-226139

Hey Cory
I have heard that before from some Mexican people I worked with at GM..I told them Tia Helita's sure has some damn good Mexican for food that's not really authentic Mexican food....HA makes sense to me....

OSH

I've been there. The sea salt truffle is a new one for my local guy and when he was telling me about it -he told me he got the idea from this candy maker in Seattle - he said she is a candy making trend setter.

Carol, surgically enlarge the wound your friend made until it's sufficiently large enough to allow a free flow of booze poured through it. Repeat hourly for 36-hours or until the contents of a liter bottle of vodka have been used (not consumed).

Wait three days and repeat if redness and swell persists.

I do have that 4 year old vodka bought just before Rita. Is old vodka better?

The beautiful heron poster is for sale, but not on line.
I received the following info from the Chamber and I suppose you might be able to order by mail:

That beautiful poster will be available for sale at the Festival for $5.00
OR you can stop by the Chamber office today or tomorrow and purchase one
here. The Chamber office is located at 24949 Hwy. 126 in Veneta (945-8443).

Thank you,

Vicki Piva

Chloe,,,I did not mean it,,,I take it back,,,,It was just a little joke,,,,don;t get mad,,,shoot me"

Solar, You know how curious I am... that's mean. :)

Glad to hear you're going to be getting in a little more pool time Tony. Now all you need to do is figure out a way to fit in that vacation you want. Maybe the end of the year holidays? I think the weather is always good in Australia and New Zealand, isn't it?"

Quacking Like a Duck

duckOne of the oft heard complaints about modern medicine is that it's dominated by "big pharma," that is greedy, soulless corporations who lie to us and suppress less expensive and more effective treatments for monetary gain. While it's true that corporations are out for monetary gain, and there have been irregularities as with any big business, let's take a look at the pot that's calling the kettle greedy here.

Consider a single product: Oscillococcinum.

Their site never actually says that the "FDA regulated drug" does anything... really, read carefully. It doesn't. They do claim it is a "Flu Medicine." And they claim studies have shown its effectiveness in reducing flu symptoms. We'll save examining the studies for another time, for the purpose of this article, let's focus on the ingredients.

Pharmaceuticals such as Tamiflu and Zithromax are tested for years before they're released to the public. Teams of chemists, lawyers, doctors, nurses, clinical researches, and study subjects go over every conceivable side effect or quality control issue before the drug is released to the market. These procedures cost an incredibly large amount of money, and while it may, in fact, be ridiculous to charge $5 for a pill, there is at least some basis for them being expensive. Part of that basis, is that they have active ingredients.

Not so for Oscilloccinum.,,,,read on incredible

http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/547-quacking-like-a-duck.html

Chloe

U didn't read up thread? good ,,,I was kidding around with Pogo,,about you being a double agent,,,that's all,,,,mean,,who me?

Solar, You're right, I'm 'still' not caught up... I've been in and out all day. I thought you were still talking about what I asked last night when you were kidding around. But calling me a double agent is probably right on. I'm always lookin' out for you Solar. :)

Jamie, Here's the web site for that Chamber. It would be nice to have one of those posters and $5 is a good price, if they're willing to mail it. Is the Chamber who you originally contacted?
http://www.fernridgechamber.com/

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/05/moving-targets-in-warending-ti.html#comment-226283

Thank you for that follow-up, Jamie! $5 is a bargain. Perhaps if they have an oversupply come Monday, they will be very willing to send them by mail...I would even pay a premium.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/05/moving-targets-in-warending-ti.html#comment-226271

Even Rachel Maddow is skeered of rusty nails!

Military clinics and field hospitals in Iraq and Afghanistan have supplied more than $1 million a month in health-care services to civilian contractors during the past two years without seeking reimbursement from their employers, as provided by law, according to a new audit by the Defense Department inspector general.

The report, issued Monday, noted that all costs associated with both emergency and primary medical care are reimbursable to the government and are the responsibility of the contingency contractor personnel, their employer or their health insurance provider.

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/staff/email/walter+pincus/

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/05/moving-targets-in-warending-ti.html#comment-226229

LOL Solar! ... bang! got you first, a perfect hit .... so there. :)
aka SSS or Gramma or nana
nite

sleep well

ET,,,an article for you,,,,we talked about it somewhat.

As Franklin Roosevelt understood, Americans will postpone immediate gratification and endure hard sacrifices--if they must--so long as they are convinced the future can be better than the past. But we face a far more difficult problem at our moment in history. What do you promise people who have been told they can have anything they want, who are repeatedly congratulated for living in the best of all possible circumstances? How do you tell them "the good times," as we have known them, are not coming back? Americans need a new vision that helps them deal with reality, a promising story of the future that helps them let go of the past.
Here is the grand vision I suggest Americans can pursue: the right of all citizens to larger lives. Not to get richer than the next guy or necessarily to accumulate more and more stuff but the right to live life more fully and engage more expansively the elemental possibilities of human existence. That is the essence of what so many now seem to yearn for in their lives. People--even successful and affluent people--are frustrated because the intangible dimensions of life have been held back or displaced in large and small ways, pushed aside by the economic system's relentless demands to maximize yields of profit and wealth. Our common moral verities have been trashed in the name of greater returns. The softer aspects of mortal experience are diminished because life itself is not tabulated in the economic system's accounting.

The political order mistakenly accepts these life-limiting trade-offs as normal, as necessary to achieve "good times." At earlier periods of our history, the sacrifices demanded by the engine of American capitalism were widely tolerated because the nation was young and underdeveloped. The engine promised to generate higher levels of abundance, and it did. But what is the justification now, when the nation is already quite rich and the engine keeps demanding larger chunks of our lives?

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090525/greider/single?rel=nofollow

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/05/moving-targets-in-warending-ti.html#comment-226282

Carol,

Unlike wine, once a distilled brown liquor is out of the barrel and in the bottle, it stops aging so the flavor isn't likely to change. If opened, it can evaporate which might have some effect on the strength until it completely disappears if left open.

Vodka is never in the barrel so it doesn't age at all.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/05/moving-targets-in-warending-ti.html#comment-226284

Hi Solar
Yes the weather is good most of the time..I have only been as far south as Melbourne in there winter and its pretty mild(40's daytime highs rarely mostly 60's to near 70).The weather in Victoria and landscape (Palm trees)kind of remind me of Southern California without all the people.Queensland is similar to Florida with Humid hot tropical weather...I would love to get back...Do you and the family have any travel plans this summer? I hope the housing and construction markets turn around for you soon..How's your corn doing?

"Smithfield brings home McDonald’s corporate responsibility prize"

http://www.grist.org/article/2009-04-30-smithfield-mcdonalds/

Irony is not dead but probably wasted on the folks at both McDonalds and Smithfield.

Tony

Hi,,,,No no plans for vacation this year,,,,things got a little tight ,,with very little work,,,and my son,,and a cpl of others that needed help,,,,There is great potential for me this year,,in a cpl of area's of construction,,,,but nothing concrete yet,,,a signed contract,,,for lots,,,and will be getting some address for a few more from a diff source,,,but Im not going to start work until all is right with the funding of the projects,,,I looks very good on paper,,,,but I will take it one step at a time,,,,lot of contractor are getting hurt cos,,,they can't finish what they start,,,,,,,,,,,,My corn,,shot up in the first week,,,,but slowed down now,,,,It still is a little cool at night,,,and will start growing at a better pace later on,,,I think?,,,,,how are those pesky inlaws,,,of yours that don't want to leave,,,,,,,the Diller family,,hahah

Thanks Jamie and the vodka has been closed tight. Used to keep it in the freezer but no room. I keep my freeze so full all the time like I am afraid they will run out of food one day. Coming up on hurricane season so I better eat it down a little.

The lidocaine has worn off and my finger feels fairly good so no infection yet. I shutter to think of all the micro-organisms that were on that hook when it took the dive into said finger.

Carol

I hope that you can get some sleep,,,,nite

and Solar, you aren't talking to me. No poor baby or anything??

I guess that hit at the same time.

OHHH poor mamacita,,,,,ohale que no te duela mucho

Huh?

I ain't no mama, I'm a senorita son. Well I am Maggie's mama but she dumped me for my sister.

A mamacita,,,is sorta like Foxy Lady,,,what you don't like me tellin you stuff anymore,,,ok I will stop,,,,from now on it's yes maam,,,,,no maam

That Maggie is just like Chloe,,,,,she dumped me for Pogo,,,just cos he took her out for an early lunch,,,,,no loyalty,,,,HMMMMMPH!

Oh and before I go,,,,,that meant,,,,Oh poor baby (mamacita),,,I hope that it doesn't hurt much.

I'll take the Foxy Lady if that is what it means. I like that but it is a real stretch. Some may call the the amadillo lady. Probably better fits.

armadillo? Having a little trouble with my typing.

that's more like it. You know I stabbed that gnarly hook thru my little finger and dragged a Tide, the mega size, jug thru the water with a weight attached to it just to get some sympathy here.

I was so distressed that I almost ran into a tree before I stopped the boat.

but you would be proud to know that I was a brave little soldier as I held my hand on that paper towel on a dirty little table while my nurse friend did the surgery.

I think he licked the BBQ sauce off his before he started.

Fishing mishaps ?

My cousin sat on a treble hook one night. We had been howling like coyotes a short time before ............ he howled just like a coyote, we thought it was the best scream we'd ever heard. Till we saw he had a hook in his butt.

and who was the lucky surgeon?

or did ya'll use an actual hospital?

on my river we like to do the Rambo routine.

It saves time and money. If I went to the hospital they would have probably done a CT of the head just to be sure I had a brain.

Nissan's electric car should generate loads of buyers

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/reviews/healey/2009-05-07-nissan-electric-car-review_N.htm
-----------------
Her come the electric cars.

C-bob, you know when they talked about sleeping under electric blankets, living next to high power lines or using the cellphone often causing cancer? Do you think that sitting in a car with powerful batteries will be a problem?

I mean maybe causing cancer not often.

Obama budget cuts funds for "abstinence-only"

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's $3.55 trillion budget proposal, released on Thursday, eliminates spending for programs that teach U.S. schoolchildren sexual abstinence and shifts funds to programs aimed at reducing teenage pregnancy.

http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-BarackObama/idUSTRE5470K220090508

Ct -
No , it won't be a problem . Batteries don't emit radio waves, or generate a elecrtrical field around them.

good

There's a new thread up there...somebody's got to get the woo-hoo...go for it... (^_~)

not me, let's let Mikie do it.

Carol --

You do it. It's okay...I got your back...

"Oh courage...oh yes! If only one had that."

Henrik Ibsen

Ivy, I had one too many woo hoos today.

or maybe it was an "oh shit"

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