Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

Woo-hoo...public option!

Imus looks thinner.

Blog-hog, here. Bravo, Craig. You were perfect!

I will watch after Stinky and I return from shopping. Have our granddaughter and her daughter as house guests. This afternoon our grandson from Michigan and one of his friends will arrive. It will be fun when we add Toots and her family.

Tonight's menu will be spareribs. Trying to decide whether to smoke them or cook them over the charcoal.

Had a dream last night where a caricature of a redneck cop had, after nine beers, his finger in Mr Obama's face. The Prez's aides were mortified and the secret service was paralyzed.

I'm really glad it was just a dream and far from reality.

oops, granddaughter = daughter

Flatus...good luck with the menu and the dream wasn't too far from reality...sort of metaphoric. The crap cops, the poop police...scolding Obama...don't step into it again, Prez O.

5 year old sings the blues:

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1918001

In case anyone needs a good laugh. We got our quarterly bonus checks last night. Now mind you...I have been laid off 9 weeks this Summer and our bonus percentage was very small, so I wasn't expecting much of a check. The biggest check I had heard of anybody getting was about 50 bucks after taxes etc.. I opened my check and saw that the gross amount was for $29.88. They took out $29.88 for Medical benefits. That left me with a net of $0.00 for my bonus check. Nothin' from nothin' leaves nothin, right?

Sturg...5 year old sings the blues...this is how Michael Jackson got started.

Corey, sort of gallows humor isn't it. :(

I was ticked off when the guy on NBC's evening news used his cash for clunkers check to buy a Toyota.

yep......if he keeps picking that thing it'll never get well...........

What is even funnier Corey, is that the actual bonus probably cost $29.88 to process, prepare and print.

morni'

Corey, I think there may be a song in there somewhere.

Solar,

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/congress-needs-staycation-to-p.html#comment-248157

LOL - I was late for lunch because I had a noon meeting that ended up starting a little late and running to 1. But I graciously accept your judgment (although you were mistaken on some of the facts - I did not actually wait patiently). btw, the dive I ate at had an excellent crab soup and rice pudding yesterday. The salad was, ummm, a salad.

So cash for clunkers may be too popular for its own good - oh, well. And that Toyota may very well have had its engine and transmission built in Buffalo, WV, helping to keep our unemployment rate somewhere just less than a gazillion percent.

Why didn't our fearful leaders think of cash for clunkers before they took apart Chrysler and GM? They sure were in a rush to dismantle the american brand of autos. For health care, they slow down...no sense of urgency here, people are only dying (a lot earlier than their 'shelf life' age!).

Krugman today.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/31/opinion/31krugman.html?_r=1&em

Timely.

"What is even funnier Corey, is that the actual bonus probably cost $29.88 to process, prepare and print. "

LMAO!

It's the insurance industry, stupid! --
Pelosi

Good luck with the bastards, Madame Speaker

Craig,

My Vista computer is still ill along with all my birthdays and anniversaries. What is the date for the 22 anniversary?

For the bloggers, I've created my first meme that has absolutely nothing to do with politics. It is purely for fun, but if anyone wants to leap in the prompt is up for folks to contribute on Monday. Also to throw in song suggestions for future weeks.

http://takethistune.blogspot.com/

Jamie...might be May 8, 1987

Thought for the day :
" He who wakes up and finds himself a success hasn`t been asleep. "

Nope, that was a speech in SF... how about Sept 17, 18 1987?

http://www.cqpress.com/incontext/constitution/docs/bicentennial_observance.html

BW,

I was thinking September but wasn't sure. That is when the Constitution bicentenniel was held in Philadelphia and I seem to remember doing something for the 20th.

Trying to keep track of dates around here can be a full time job. :-)

Jamie, personally, I think it is romantic. I am a sucker for the history of 'how' couples met, got together, etc.

".....you weren't even answering each other, but voices you have heard sometime in the past."

bethy, pure poetry. and what a hit of a song that sentiment could make.

"Craig, What is the date for the 22 anniversary? -- Posted by: jamie44.myopenid.com"

Sept. 17, same as the Constitution's (by the way, still have the Philly goodies you sent for the 20th - well, except for the stuff we ate)

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248246

BW

I see Craig just mentioned the Philadelphia basket the original Crawford's List group did. Now we will have to come up with something different..

Craig, Second question: Do you have a list of dates and locations for book signings? Should we start thinking about get togethers near them?

We shouldn't waste the term "Cash for Clunkers" -- just give to to the Blue Dogs who are getting bigger than usual donations from the insurance industry right now.

LOL Patsi

We should have a "Clunker" list - Would you buy an insurance plan from this person?

Jamie, I wish Craig would venture west beyond the Mississippi River for his book signings.

Patsi...blue dogs dems can best be described as clunkers in congress.

and where can we trade-in the BDDs?

Make the Blue Dogs the "Used Car Salesmen" of Congress.

Just because it broke down for the previous owner doesn't mean our top notch repair department hasn't fixed it all up ... here's the 24 hour guarantee.

RIGHT

Jamie and Blonde Wino, regarding book signings. Requests are coming in, for Helen or me, or both (mostly Helen, understandably). Like i've said before, the hard part is the travel cost. Publishers pay for very little, and it's not easy to get host groups to cover it either. Authors, if they are not careful, can easily end up losing money on a book if they cover it themselves. Anyone with an idea can contact our agent, Diane Nine at ninespeakers@usa.net

Once a calendar is set up we'll get it posted somewhere and linked here, for sure.

Thanks for asking!

During the beerfest, Prez O kept wiping his hands on his pants from the peanut dust. They had a butler, but no cocktail napkins.

"The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little." FDR

Well, you can hammer the Blue Dogs all y'all want--the net effect will only be kicking them over the edge to the Republicans. There, their votes will be guaranteed to the leadership. While being titular Democrats, the centrist Dems get their votes much of the time.

Witnessing the characterizing of Blue Dogs as self-serving imbeciles makes me proud that I declared my Independence.

Corey,

That sucks, and is an insult; when you think about the bonuses that the masterminds that got mils for screwing things up. Is there any information about the head of the unions...what were there bonuses, etc.

Pogo, That was a tough call believe it or not....my heart going one way, the head the other way.......sorta used to making decisions according to the information that is often see in daily construction work, and workers. You have to do the club house moose call to end the meeting properly.......I will do mine....MOOOOOSE......Bullwinkle....Bullwinkle......MOOOOOSE. There now im officially able to close this in the minuets of the meeting.....but first you should do yours.....as I told Chlo.......I don't make these rules as I go along you know..

I think that this got me in the dog house again....but I plead for mercy, and just did the call for her.....I wanted to share a laugh with her about making it last night.......Im guilty over here.......can't say that it will be the last time that i goof up, but hope im forgiven this time......

Cash for clunkers...should stay in effect...it puts people to work.....all they do is crush the cars...melt them down... shows you how fast they can do things...if they want to cancel it-it should take the congress critter to vote on it.......how long would that take?.....

Not Just the Wine Is Purple: Lavender Wafts Across Sonoma

http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/07/31/travel/escapes/31lavender.html?em

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248259

Flatus,

There are many ways that I appreciate the Blue Dogs, but on the Public Option for insurance, they are just plain wrong. They are backing an industry that has gouged the American public for decades. Over 400% in profits over just the past seven years, multimillion dollar bonuses to executives, boondoggle trips for doctors and drug manufacturers, and court decisions forcing paybacks in the millions for those they cheated.

Health care for the public must be non profit. That doesn't mean you can't charge enough to back research or pay decent salaries. It just means all the money goes to what improves care and services for people when they need it.

this is #9 of bob burnett's 10 actions to take to fix california. it's something that should be considered also in other states strapped for cash.

"(9) Reduce the prison population. In the recent budget compromise, education funds were cut by $6 billion but the Department of Corrections was reduced by only $1.2 billion. California continues to spend a disproportionate amount on prisons -- ten percent of the state general fund; the average cost per inmate is roughly $46,000, while the average cost per pupil is $11,626. The prison population -- 167,000 -- can be dramatically reduced by common-sense actions such as deporting undocumented aliens and making non-violent crimes, such as writing bad checks, a misdemeanor so that prison time is not an option. Reducing the number of prisoners would free up billions for other state purposes."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bob-burnett/fixing-california_b_248463.html

Flatus, who wants them if they are that easily found kissing the ass of the republicans? I heard you can't wash that smell-off of a butchered bill composed by them.

Mr. Dobbs' first began reporting on Obama birth certificate conspiracy theories on the night of Wednesday, July 15. In the roughly two weeks since then, from July 15 through July 28, Mr. Dobbs' 7 p.m. show on CNN has averaged 653,000 total viewers and 157,000 in the 25-54 demo.

By contrast, during the first two weeks of the month (July 1 to July 14) Mr. Dobbs averaged 771,000 total viewers and 218,000 in the 25-54 demo. In other words, Mr. Dobbs' audience has decreased 15 percent in total viewers and 27 percent in the demo since the start of the controversy.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/30/dobbs-ratings-take-a-hit_n_248307.html

c-bob, good morning,

Might be time to move Dobbs to Faux News...speaking of which, when does Tucker start on the network??
Between him and Hannity, I estimate about 50 lbs of head hair excluding eyebrows.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/congress-needs-staycation-to-p.html#comment-248205

Solar,
Did you see my post (linked above).

I was just playing last night, since I knew (thought) we were in role play. I was laughing so hard during the whole thing, especially when you asked me to do the moose call. (I'll be glad to take my turn, I do the best moose calls around these parts:).

Warning: Do not ever take me seriously.
I think I'll put a little sign on those posts when we're joking around: rp (for roleplay)

"..Im guilty over here.......can't say that it will be the last time that i goof up, but hope im forgiven this time.."

... I could never be mad at you Solar. I can't believe you didn't know I was kidding. :)

(man it's hard explaining things in a post)

music for old blue dogs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BdeO9nwz7w&feature=related

BW, Jamie

By and large their electorate is composed of brain-washed-from-birth Americans who believe unionism is a core Marxist philosophy intended to enslave Americans, and that any publicly funded healthcare beyond Medicare, places us on the slippery slope to Socialist Hell.

At the same time, there are people such as me who believe that single-payer healthcare is absolutely essential to the future of our country. And that unions that develop shared goals with management, further our progressive agenda.

Off to the store once more.

we'll lose the knack
for a good attack
if you don't come back
it's a fact
whiskyjack

pretty please with organic sugar on it?

Flatus...I come from a union family...my father was a teacher. Like the public option, I believe unions set a standard of wages and treatment for all American jobs. Not perfect, but there is a 'good' coming out of the brother and sister-hood.

I was ticked off when the guy on NBC's evening news used his cash for clunkers check to buy a Toyota.

Posted by: Flatus Author Profile Page | July 31, 2009 9:13 AM

He replaced a car that's falling apart for one that won't; one can't fault him for that. Every American car I've ever owned has literally fallen apart, every Japanese car I've owned lasted years, relatively problem free, and I drive one now. While running errands in my Ford a few years ago, I attempted to close the door and the DOOR PANEL came off in my hand.

As much as I'd like to support the American auto industry and its workers, those workers being my fellow citizens, I can't justify spending tens of thousands of dollars on an inferior product for patriotic reasons alone; that's irrational.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248272
Pat,
If you turn that into a card, I'd like to sign it too(please).
(Maybe you 'should' email it to him. He posted his address. I'm not sure he's even looking in here.)

At the cat show... : An owner poses with her Bengali cat during a two-day international cat exhibition in Prague.

http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Prague-Cat-Show/ss/events/sc/072709praguecatshow

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248274

Yeah, Lord. But it was a ford! What did you expect. :)

Before I go, Rahm needs to call-in his blue dogs. We are at war with the insurance industry...this will make Iraq looks like a cake-walk and the mountains of Afghanistan seem smaller.

We need all the soldiers on our side and if we can't trust them, we'll leave 'em behind as we would only have to shoot them down the road as traitors.

Be careful out there...even if we get health care relief, it won't happen for a couple of years.

And champ, I drive an American car because it is made in Mexico!

Adios!

Six-potato gatling gun

http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/30/six-potato-gatling-g.html

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/congress-needs-staycation-to-p.html#comment-248002

Chloe & Carol --

Thanks for "missing" me...just back from our own Boston "marathon." My ears were burning, but I thought that was from the unexpected heat and humidity. I was accused of bringing it from Alabama. Had my little Lenovo with me, but really had no time to spend on it, so I gots some ketchin' up to do here. The other thing was Martha's Vineyard not being close enough to Boston which thwarted my plan to spirit hubs away from his meetings and pop-in on Old Sea. (Old Sea, he promised me another trip during the "off season.") There was plenty to do in Boston anyway. More later, this will get too long, and piles of vacation laundry are summoning...

...I will say it was very interesting to be in the heart of the Cambridge controversy as it unfolded...the local coverage was entirely favored in Sgt. Crowley's direction, imo.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248271

Flatus,

What has always stunned me is that those who need unions or health care most are the ones seemingly easiest to convince that the Yellow Peril or the Red Menace is just over that thar next hill.

In its worst form it can lead to things such as poor white and black sharecroppers who should have been natural allies become opressor and opressed.

We need a true populist able to marshall those of common needs and interests to go to war against those whose greed outweighs public benefit.

The strange thing is that the richest nations are those with the least distance between rich and poor. The rich get richer simply because everyone beneath them has the greatest access to survival and production while greed in the fewest hands destroys societies in the long run.

Here is an interesting Graph on Income Distribution from the end of WW II to the Present. You don't have to look very hard to see that there is a major problem for the middle class and the damage that greed can do.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:United_States_Income_Distribution_1947-2007.svg

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248276

CBob

Don't show me kitty cats. They come to live with me. In 30 years, I may make the newspapers and it won't be pretty.

"During the beerfest, Prez O kept wiping his hands on his pants from the peanut dust. They had a butler, but no cocktail napkins."

Oh how funny! I didn't notice that!!!!

"Witnessing the characterizing of Blue Dogs as self-serving imbeciles makes me proud that I declared my Independence."

Dealing with people like my congressman will do that to you, Flatus. He's a phony who is a Democrat only because it's easier to get elected asa D in this district.

Plus -- I don't mind moderates. What I mind is people who sabotage their party's efforts. That does for people like Byrd and Tip who irreparably damaged Jimmy Carter.

More Blue Dog -- taking money hand over fist from these insurance crooks! Jeezus! I'd trade 'em all for a decent crook, like Huey Long.

Oops...one more thing -- Lard has posted a photo on Facebook that patd would love -- he's wearing a pirate-like bandana. Says he's doing great.

OK, Solar, if you insist - ....MOOOOOSE......Bullwinkle....Bullwinkle......MOOOOOSE. (Let me make a suggestion - follow your heart and F___ the rules).

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248290

Pogo --

What happened with Lard? I missed a beat...

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248275

chloe, feel free to adapt my little plea to jack poem into an email card to him. perhaps you could also include the others' messages for him today along with yours.

presently at a computer where email is impossible.

...pardon this, but it seems like a bit of history was neglected yesterday...

Written on each can were these words of endorsement, which were followed by Billy Carter's signature:

Brewed expressly for and with the personal approval of one of America's all-time great beer drinkers - Billy Carter.

"I had this beer brewed just for me. I think it's the best I've ever tasted. And I've tasted a lot. I think you'll like it, too."

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

I am glad the Beer Summit has patched things up. Having spent the better part of a day in the JFK Library viewing newsreels, I was struck by the fact that - post-911- we are in an entirely different age than when JFK took his forceful stand against a corrupt law enforcement on behalf of the cause of Civil Rights. There is now a thin line separating the brotherhoods of law enforcement and our military, and it is one our current Commander-in-Chief ought not cross.

patsi, man's gotta have holes in his head before he could lure me to link facebook.
oh right, he does.

just kidding, lard. bet you look down right jaunty as a pirate. hurry back to your mates on the good ship "trail mix"

Solar - Craig informed us a couple of days ago that LL had a chunk orf a tumor or some such growth cut out of his brain. He seems to be doing well.

I've thoughgt about this many times, Ivy -- if the terrorists wanted to change America....it worked.

patd -- here's the message he left on Facebook...I don't think he'd mind it posted here:

"How to fit the whole world into a small status update? I just want everyone out there to know I just got home from the hospital and will thank you all individually at some point for your incredible showing of love and support for me at this time. I am humbled by your outpouring. I have a big fight ahead of me dealing with and managing the remnants of the glioblastoma tumor that was removed from my noggin..."

Ivy sed @1:49 :

"There is now a thin line separating the brotherhoods of law enforcement and our military, and it is one our current Commander-in-Chief ought not cross."

Great observation. We had a similar admonition around here the other day.

Patsi, I completely agree with your take about BDDs just using the Dem party to get elected; if that was what you were suggesting at 1:02. imo they're indies without a party structure or money to run for office and so they leech off the DP.

rez, you got the "leech" part right. now they're feeding off big insurance. symbiosis in it's purest form.

forgive me if this was posted before, but i just saw cambridge cop sgt lashley's letter (which he asked crowley to passon to pres.) verbatim and tho't those who hadn't seen it yet would be interested.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0n_3EyRgVog

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248302

Rez --

That's a relief...I hate it when my thoughts float about in the netherworld all alone - makes me wonder what planet I really came from (^_~). If you or someone could link or cite the "admonition," I'd love to get to it quickly...I'm so far behind the Trail from you all, I'm not sure I'll be able to catch up....

more republicans reported to be flipping on sotomayor

http://www.npr.org/blogs/politicaljunkie/2009/07/hotline_lists_other_potential.html

Jamie, I agree completely with your remarks here.
http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248282

...speaking of that planet you really came from, interplanetary birthers...it had to happen sooner or later;

http://www.databird.com/images/yeswecan.jpg

Ivy,

I'll dig a little to try and find my reference. I know it was a comment about equating police with the military and how we ought to be more careful of what we say and/or more considerate of those that risk their lives for us. I just remember getting a wee chill of being cast unpatriotic since I was supporting Gate's perspective. I don't what to rehash it though.

cabinet retreat at blair house. some sort of grown up slumber party with pillow fights and sharing and panty raids?

http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/

We may be brothers, but we're separated, hopefully, by posse comitatus.

dem pty in mn latest snafu

http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2009/07/minn_dfl_accide.php

Well, folks, I'll be checking out for the next week. LP's going to guitar camp and me and th' missus are gonna hang in and around the Big Apple while he's honing his licks. Everyone be safe and have a good week.

i have a terrible ear infecton and had to skp Countdown tonight. Sorry for the false alarm.

Al Franken has apparently socked it to T Boon Pickens over finding the Swiftboaters....GO AL!

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0709/25667.html

Pogo,

The important thing first.....thanks for that about lard....I don't know if that was meant for me ...or someone else.....but I did send him .....best wishes by way of Craig.

Pogo,

Since there are new members now......and the doors are open to more......maybe we should come up with a name......the moose call stay's.........oh by the way I heard you all the way over here in Il.....must be all that Mexican food over in the Souther States....they have to make it different than over here......we don't have so much hot air in our here...hahhaha......but thay stay's in...and has to be made by a new member ...as way of entrance to our little club.....just one Moose fart...and there in HA!

Chloe,

I knew that we were in play roles.....and I went back to see what I said wrong.....and could not find it...but did not get my ...nite...as Im used to getting when you sign off...zzzzzzzzzz ooops sorry did not sleep last night....anyway I decided to cover my tracks and grovel for mercy.....( This one did not count...so its up there for one that does :-) I grovel good huh.....well don't get used to it....and Pogo did his call...I did mine......lets here yours.....comon we gotta close this meeting......who do you think that you are....a congress critter or something?......Hey! is That Toney Baloney guy going to join the club....how about Carol.....moose calls with funny accents........( I don't have juan).

Jack.......I thought we contractor had thick skin.....?

Fair's song of the day:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fpbCLNyPUA

Creek's been out of banks most of the day.

Sorry about the ear infection, Craig. Feel better soon.

there=their......here=hear.

Patsi,

great A. F. article.....never know...maybe just be watching him....some of others will start growing a set of their own no?

It would be great if they did, Solar!

Eric Cantor Rips Chris Matthews, MSNBC, HuffPo, Liberal Bloggers For Inflating Birther Story

GOP Rep. Eric Cantor says he’s no birther — he has no questions about Obama’s citizenship, his spokesman tells me. But Cantor is placing the blame for the spread of birtherism not on its authors or on those politicians playing along with it, but rather on Chris Matthews, MSNBC, lefty news outlets and bloggers.

http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/president-obama/eric-cantor-rips-chris-matthews-msnbc-huffpo-liberal-bloggers-for-pushing-birther-story/

Patsi,

Another think, about Pickens: The only way that I would trust him with his solar farm ideas....is if they were to directly distribute work amongst many, many mid size wind farm contractors........and that we have to make the steel that it takes here in the U. S....by small and mid size contractor......this would bring back some steel mill people back to work here...making the steel for the wind mills....I know that Im just going around and around.......but isn't this what would help us here in the U S ?

Ivy,

Welcome back. Did you read about the trouble you started with my Maggie? You helped me create a monster.

Solar, do you have any advice for Craig on how to balance his fan with using colored clothespens? And I don't know how to do a moose call because we don't have any moose around these parts. I can do a cow or a chicken sound.

Sorry about you earache Craig. They can be very painful. Is it your canal or the eardrum that's infected?

Chloe, it's been years since I've heard that song also. It was weird that it popped into my head. I did like that song

You can get pretty deep Bethy. And you totally lost me with your explanation on who/whom. Wasn't my best subject as you probably have noticed with my writing.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248312

Rez --

Thanks, didn't mean to drum up bad vibes...but I share the sentiment, and may take it a step further (at my peril). Even in the 60s, the line between police and military was thinner than realized. It occurred to me that as good, worthy and necessary a cause it was for JFK and Bobby to take the stand they did against law enforcement in the South, the de-legitimizing of those police forces may be what set a tone that allowed for disrespecting our soldiers returning from Viet Nam. I probably haven't said this very artfully...

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248329

Yes, Carol -- I'll get back to you this evening 'cuz I have to run out the door this minute...my pups haven't yet been picked up from their "vacation" at the kennel...they're done their baths now and panting for me to come get them...

"i have a terrible ear infecton and had to skp Countdown tonight"

craig, probably picked it up in that imus phone call... they still haven't got all the bugs worked out on those interviews.

seriously, take care if it's inner ear. causes imbalance sometimes.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248304

Rez, I really hate bringing this up again, but feel I have to explain after reading your post. I admit it was me that made the comparison. But I was only referring to the fact that they both were putting their lives on the line for our safety, and was pointing out what a tough, dangerous, thankless job it is. I never meant to imply that saying something against police corruption was being unpatriotic. Far from it, so I was surprised to hear you say that. Sorry if it came across that way.

I was never 'against' Gates, and if you look back, you'll see I never even commented on that particular incident. I couldn't without knowing more and I made no assumptions about it, even in my mind. All I was saying at the time, is that we should wait for more information and Obama shouldn't have commented so soon, without all the facts. The President should not have tied the incident to police corruption without more information 'in my opinion. Speaking about the Police force in general, they should feel the President is behind them.

I did go on to defend cops in general, because things felt out of balance to me. The whole 'assuming' the cop was guilty point of view bothered me at the time, it was too soon. That doesn't mean I don't understood that they often are, and of course would never defend that kind of behavior. I did get a little touchy when I felt like I was being accused of being insensitive and racist (imo) and that I didn't get it because they didn't think I had seen the things they've seen.

Actually, I'm the one that made Jack mad, and Carol ended up coming in on the bad end of it, imo. And for that I'm sorry too.

Buy I meant it all.

.. and I'd say it again.

Which raises the question: Why, in this country, is it always the religious right that won't take anything on faith?

So far, the reaction from Democrats is to laugh this off, and I understand why. If you seriously believe that President Obama is an African sleeper spy, get out of your chat room and have your house tested for lead.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-maher31-2009jul31,0,622151.story?track=rss

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248292

Patd, I think just about anyone here but me would be more welcome by Jack, in sending that email. Carol? Would you want to?

Chloe, I already wrote him my love letter right here in front of God and everyone.

Rez, I linked the wrong post. It was the one to Ivy.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248312

I know Carol. It was a beautiful love letter too.
Someone else will have to send him the poem then.

Carol,

Welcome back kotter,,er, Carol....I don't do advise using colored clothes pins..not for Craig....not for anyone: I only use the one wooden color when I help Judy hang cloths on the line. I do this only on one condition....that she stop saying " Don't these sheets just smell all fresh out here.....she pretends that she doesn't say this on purpose.....just like I don't take on of the sheets and wrap us up on purpose......I pretended that we could not find our way out once, jejeje

About that mouse......moose call: You say that you don't know how to do one, cos all you have are cows and chickens....mmmmm, you can do it.....do this...do the cow, but only 5 times as loud and as deep, while putting one thumb underneath your armpit.....that should help out with the chicken part.....the important things tho...is the Chant. LOL. I hope Coreen does hers the normal way..like Pogo, and I did, and like CHLOE will.

Pat,

You know, we could always go and send e-mails to Jack ...all day, every day ( all of us-often) until he comes back here......hear that Jack?

re inner ear
craig, if you are dizzy and unbalanced (honest, this is not leading up to a joke) you may have menieres disease. here's a link that tells you all about it.

http://www.dizziness-and-balance.com/disorders/menieres/menieres.html

Craig,

Sorry you aren't feeling well. Ear infections can be a real bear. Take care, we can look forward to seeing you on Countdown again the next time there are guest hosts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vf7eenXqbo

Solar, That's for you. :)

definition from above link:

"Meniere's disease is a disorder of the inner ear which causes episodes of vertigo, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), a feeling of fullness or pressure in the ear, and fluctuating hearing loss. In figure 1, the area of the ear affected is the entire labyrinth, which includes both the semicircular canals and the cochlea.

A typical attack of Meniere's disease is preceded by fullness in one ear. Hearing fluctuation or changes in tinnitus may also precede an attack. A Meniere's episode generally involves severe vertigo (spinning), imbalance, nausea and vomiting. The average attack lasts two to four hours. Following a severe attack, most people find that they are exhausted and must sleep for several hours."

btw, craig, did you sign the new contract before or after you were stricken? might be covered as job-related.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248271

Flatus
I think your great!! So practical and smart..

Lobbying Firm Employee Forged Letters About Climate Bill

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/31/AR2009073102587.html?hpid=topnews

"You know, we could always go and send e-mails to Jack ...all day, every day ( all of us-often) until he comes back here......hear that Jack?"

solar, that's cruel and unusual punishment. and unconstitutional to boot. what a devious and clever mind you have, sir.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248321

Hey Solar
I think you've been working more? I hope so..We just had are daily afternoon thunder storm,knocked out the power 3 times...I have planted 3 new Queen Palms in the back yard and their loving it...My little Jessie slept right through...Oh by the way (you so funny) with all your lady friends here...Your a smooth writer....HA HA

Ivy, I'm so glad you're back!
I haven't caught up with all the posts, but will by night fall.

Interesting thing about the Bonner firm: its acknowledged specialty is “grassroots” lobbying — even though grassroots politics used to mean efforts that come from the ground up, from the rank-and-file members of a group. The Union of Concerned Scientists, which strongly favors the legislation that Bonner’s clients presumably oppose, pointed reporters to a now-defunct Web site Bonner put up for the Western Fuels Association to oppose the carbon-capping Kyoto Protocol back in the 1990s.

http://blogs.reuters.com/environment/2009/07/31/the-case-of-the-forged-letters-a-cap-and-trade-mystery/

Craig
Hope you and your ear get better soon...

Patsi

Thanks for posting that bit from Lard's Facebook...I'm glad he's home...I knew it wouldn't be long...

Great appearance on Imus...it looks like TimeWarner will never sell us RFD Network.
Belated thanks for turning a bunch of us on to Facebook, too...I Twitter & Facebook quite a bit.

cbob, that bonner firm reply reminds me of sgt schultz:

"I hear nothing, I see nothing, I know nothing!"

and anyway we fired the dirty no-good perp. as soon as you and everybody else found out about it.

Hi Tony, I'm going to go back and find that facebook link when I get back.

Hey Dexter, Haven't seen you here in a while either. Glad to see you back.

Pat, Aw, shucks.

Chlo--That was just horrible.....funny as hell but horrible. And that did not count by the way.....you see, I know you very well by now, and knew that you would try to pull a fast one.....or two: That is why I put in the bullwinkle....bullwinkle in it......After the two of us ..Pogo, and myself did it...it could not have been more clear, about how it goes, that's the trouble with you pinks, trying to change things already..try it again please.....let er rip!!

Hi Chloe
Give it a look its just above...Hope all is well in your world..Off to Winn Dixie....

LETTER FORGERS BONNER AND ASSOCIATES HAVE A HISTORY

All well and good. But it's worth noting that Bonner's been previously criticized for the deceitful practice of "astroturfing." Let's cast our minds back to March of 2002, when the Balitmore Sun wrote:

Donna J. Stanley, director of Associated Black Charities, was ready to mobilize for political battle after she received a fax marked "urgent" this week.

The fax told her she needed to sign an attached petition "today" to prevent 600,000 of Maryland's poor and disabled from losing access to affordable prescription drugs. The fax, sent to dozens of community leaders, had the markings of a grass-roots effort, including grammatical errors and a handwritten cover letter.

But the appeal was actually generated by a sophisticated Washington lobbying firm trying to defeat several bills before the General Assembly supported by advocates for the poor.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/09/lobbyblog_n_228657.html

Tony,

Not busy, just in spurts. Good thing that I was working out with you all of this time...I have hired on as a concrete finisher, for a friend that got lucky, and gives me one to three days a week...for one more week. But I am in the middle stages of getting all of the paper work needed for 4 of my Solarcrete homes.....this will be my life saver...so going slow about it right now..so that I don't miss any steps in the paper work....and will go hell out after-wards...this should take my thru the winter....or out in the winter...I have other friends that could not hang on....they lost everything......they hate Obama,,,and will never vote for another Dem. again.....they also hate the R;s for starting all of this mess........

That moose call is what people around here sound like when they have too much roughage for dinner. It is not a sound that us southerns like to emit unless it is unavoidable.

And speaking of that, did anyone hear "the word" on Colbert the other night?. It was killer

Bonner & Associates has a long history of shady tactics and big business corporate associations:

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/07/31/bonner-forgery/

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248350

Chloe --

I am still Trailing-behind on what's been happening here lately. However, I can tell you a bunch of stuff that happened in 1775. (^_~)

Explosives stolen in Walla Walla

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- Hundreds of pounds of explosives and detonation cord were stolen from the Port of Walla Walla magazine at the airport industrial park.

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_wa_explosives_stolen.html?source=mypi

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248345

Pat --

I have the awful Meniere's thing you linked. There is no "cure" and, in my case, even the dignosis is by process of elimination (no tumors, etc.) Sometimes it's worse than other times, and I have to learn to live with it. Depressing.

Best get well wishes to both Lard and Craig.

Hi everyone. As far as beer and race, why kick a dead horse that has made Obama look a bit follish? My cooment about Obama's stupidity in this matter was the diversion from other more important topics and blue collar cops v a rich elitist Harvad professor who happens to be black.

Jamie, I disagree that healthcare be made a non-profit enterprise. Slate has a great review of how a consensus was reached that profit had to be controlled. America hasn't lead the medical revolution for decades because it was non-profit nor are the educational facilities that produce such bright minds run on a not for profit basis either. Now doctors owning hospitals was one item that broke that consensus about moderate profit nor should we forget that our best moments came under grand consensus, the Liberal Consensus being the best example. It brought real progress to America both culturally and economically unti the Viet Nam War broke politics into two more raging camps. What can we do to "control" prices? Well that is the two trillion dollar question, isn't it? But floating the public option in a veiled effort to do private insurance in, despite their profits, would likely break a critical aspect of our healthcare system. Underlying this problem is that 800,000 docotrs service 300,000,000 million people. You are talking about lowering that number by telling doctors they cannot get market prices for their labor. How much is saving someones life worth to both society AND the patient? Quite a lot I gather. We could increase the size of nurse practitioners, put bad hospitals under, push competition by listing all the dirt there is on both doctors, insurance companies, Bif Pharm and hospitals, but to take out profit would leave our government trying to cover. That is rather foolish given the daily stories about government.

My very best for LL. Even with half a brain, he could out think most of us here, myself of course included.

I have refrained from brnging up foreign policy lately. We are in a time of intense efforts. McCrystal is sure to ask for more troops for Afghanistan. The Pakistanis have decided to go after Musharraf instead of extremists. Yes, they are demanding we negotiate with the very groups Pakistan created in their conflict with India and Shia elements in Afghanistan. They will not kill OMar if they could. Saudis today rejects any good will gesture towards Israel. They demand a Palestinian State, not incremental steps. What to think? Hillary says not to worry and I suspect Israel is more concerned about what the Saudis really do to assist them in their efforts towards Iran. The world knows Hamas and Fatah cannot even coexist themselves, let alone with Israel. So we must hope the adminsitration has taken heed ofthe critics, modified their approach to Iran and Israel. THey must also know about the tough slog in Afghanistan and the problems brewing in Pakistan. They know Chavez has been caught again helping FARC as well as the help Equador has given. To see Hondurus outside this light would be a "stupidity" far worse than what happened at the Gates residence. The President must know what the Russians think as well as the feeble help out allies have given in situations around the world. Stunningly I was shoclked to learn that the O-team envoy to Sudan recommends takening that country off the terrorist list. Still, we are at a moment of efforts we do not know about and more time must unfold before arm chairing can resume.

I will add that Obama needs to revise his US consulate in Jerusalem website. Not one word of Israel is mentioned. Neither Hillary nor Obama have visited. Nor have they visited America's three most loyal allies, Australia, Japan and Korea. I find it poor Statesmanship to give more time and support to our adversaries than we do our allies. South Korea pays a lot of money to keep our troops there. SK, Australia and Japan never blink when we asked for their help.

By the way another missile defense test was successful. While Obama ended the Raptors which our allies above wanted to help build at their expense against threats listed below, our Presdient has not ended the helicopter program he promised us he would. The cost was about the same as keeping raptor production lines open. Meanwhile, the "cold war" bullshit touted as the reason why Raptors should end is under attack. I tried to explain, but the "myth" was just too strong.

http://www.defensetech.org/archives/004961.html

Now, I would love to see a sixth generation fighter (probably too fast for a human pilot) come along and end this gap, but that won't happen soon. As air defense systems via Russia, sea launched cruise missiles, drones and other advanced threats emerge to the US and to our theaters of conflict and commerce sooner rather than later, the F-22 offered some practical current solution. Now our own air defense will have to seek another remedy while the President waits for his chopper. Without missile defense or more Raptors, the President better be cautious about flying too close to the coast...........

CAMINADA HEADLAND, Louisiana - The booming oil hub called Port Fourchon, a nerve center in the nation's oil supply chain, is turning into a sitting duck for hurricanes as the beach that protects it from the Gulf of Mexico washes away.

The miles-long sand bank — blasted last year by hurricanes Gustav and Ike, and by Katrina and Rita three years before that — is nearly all that keeps the Gulf from thrashing the pipelines and shipyards that handle 15 percent of all crude oil flowing to inland refineries.

Port Fourchon, about 70 miles south of New Orleans, also supports 90 percent of the Gulf's 3,700 offshore platforms and connects with the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port — the only U.S. port capable of handling the largest oil tankers.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32240934/ns/weather/

Hi everyone. As far as beer and race, why kick a dead horse that has made Obama look a bit foolish? My comment about Obama's stupidity in this matter was more the diversionary affect on more important topics than blue collar cops v a rich elitist Harvard professor who happens to be black.

Jamie, I disagree that healthcare be made a non-profit enterprise. Slate has a great review of how a consensus was reached that profit had to be controlled. America hasn't lead the medical revolution for decades because it was non-profit nor are the educational facilities that produce such bright minds run on a not-for-profit basis either. Now doctors owning hospitals was one item that broke that consensus about moderate profit nor should we forget that our best moments came under grand consensus, the Liberal Consensus being the best example. It brought real progress to America both culturally and economically unti the Viet Nam War broke politics into two more raging camps. What can we do to "control" prices? Well that is the two trillion dollar question, isn't it? But floating the public option in a veiled effort to do private insurance in, despite their profits, would likely break a critical aspect of our healthcare system. Underlying this problem is that 800,000 docotrs service 300,000,000 million people. You are talking about lowering that number by telling doctors they cannot get market prices for their labor. How much is saving someones life worth to both society AND the patient? Quite a lot I gather. We could increase the size of nurse practitioners, put bad hospitals under, push competition by listing all the dirt there is on both doctors, insurance companies, Big Pharm and hospitals, but to take out profit would leave our government trying to cover. Allowing small busines and self-employed create bargaining pools which the governemtn ensures have clout is another good move. We talked a bit about worker comp, portability and pre-existing conditions, but we owuld have to eliminate deficits and end defense spending if one thinks 300,000,000 will get gold-plated insurance plans. To think government can afford this while run it having ended profit in the medical field is rather foolish given the daily stories about government.

My very best for LL. Even with half a brain, he could out think most of us here, myself of course included.

I have refrained from brnging up foreign policy lately. We are in a time of intense efforts. McCrystal is sure to ask for more troops for Afghanistan. The Pakistanis have decided to go after Musharraf instead of extremists. Yes, they are demanding we negotiate with the very groups Pakistan created in their conflict with India and Shia elements in Afghanistan. They will not kill OMar if they could. Saudis today rejects any good will gesture towards Israel. They demand a Palestinian State, not incremental steps. What to think? Hillary says not to worry and I suspect Israel is more concerned about what the Saudis really do to assist them in their efforts towards Iran. The world knows Hamas and Fatah cannot even coexist themselves, let alone with Israel. So we must hope the adminsitration has taken heed ofthe critics, modified their approach to Iran and Israel. They must also know about the tough slog in Afghanistan and the problems brewing in Pakistan. They know Chavez has been caught again helping FARC as well as the help Equador has given to terrorists in an effort to spread Bolivianism. To see Honduras outside this light would be a "stupidity" far worse than what happened at the Gates residence. The President must know what the Russians think as well as the feeble help out allies have given in situations around the world. Stunningly I was shocked to learn that the O-team envoy to Sudan recommends takening that country off the terrorist list. Still, we are at a moment of efforts we do not know about and more time must unfold before arm chairing can resume. I can only hope Obama and Clinton have heard the critics and are busy scoring points instead of trying to move the goal posts.

I will add that Obama needs to revise his US consulate in Jerusalem website. Not one word of Israel is mentioned. Neither Hillary nor Obama have visited Israel and this government website is a travesty. Nor has Obama visited America's three most loyal allies, Australia, Japan and Korea. I find it poor Statesmanship to give more time and support to our adversaries than we do our allies. South Korea pays a lot of money to keep our troops there. SK, Australia and Japan never blink when we asked for their help.

By the way another missile defense test was successful. While Obama ended the Raptors which our allies above wanted to help build at their expense against threats listed below, our Presdient has not ended the helicopter program he promised us he would. The cost was about the same as keeping raptor production lines open. Meanwhile, the "cold war" bullshit touted as the reason why Raptors should end is under attack. I tried to explain, but the "myth" was just too strong.

http://www.defensetech.org/archives/004961.html

Now, I would love to see a sixth generation fighter (probably too fast for a human pilot) come along and end this gap, but that won't happen soon. As air defense systems via Russia, sea launched cruise missiles, drones and other advanced threats emerge to the US and to our theaters of conflict and commerce sooner rather than later, the F-22 offered some practical current solution. Now our own air defense will have to seek another remedy while the President waits for his chopper. Without missile defense or more Raptors, the President better be cautious about flying too close to the coast...........

Chloe,

I almost forgot to thank you and KGC for posting that link to the update on swine flu. I read and printed it at work.

I had two guys, in their 20s, earlier this year around April, who developed a sudden onset pneumonia. Both were very healthy guys. One even had to be hospitalized for almost a week. I thought it was very weird at the time.

It was after that when we started hearing of the swine flu. I thought that those two cases may have been swine flu. The article you linked reported that swine flu really likes the lung tissue. So now I am pretty sure that is what it was.

Also interesting about the flu not liking humidity. That may be why our recent flu outbreak was short lived and didn't spread much. The prison, due to no AC, is even more humid than most people's environments.

Sorry about that. The first was what I thought was previewing what I had written. Then after soon quick corrections I pressed submit and found two posts here. The first was off the top of my head and the second was about as finished as I ever get things.

I think you can see which is the better........

Solar, Chloe

What's this? I didn't have lunch this week---too many
distractions at my office---& suddenly there is a coup
attempt---Bullwinkle Moooose---howling away--is there some secret handshake too?

Well then, & where's Rocket J? what about Natasha, & Boris, & even the Mooseketeers.

Thought this was a no restrictions club---so maybe we "pinks" need to set some new rules. Need to think
this over.

Chloe,
As I said like you, I'm not wanting to rehash. I went back over a couple of threads and didn't find anything so I thought I was being forgetful again. Thanks for recalling the comment.

It seems many times in arguments or discussions, questioning one's respect for the military is often employed as a tactic to gain an edge. imo, most of the time it's like playing the race card, it shuts down debate. I'm not saying that was your intent. I just picked up on the use of tying the job of law enforcement with that of the military. It's a bell ringer to me. I think we all understand the fact that the police are "putting their lives on the line for our safety," and "what a tough, dangerous, thankless job it is."

I wasn't shocked or I would have said something at the time. I just got that feeling. Maybe I'm a little paranoid from the recent campaigns. So, no harm, no foul.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/congress-needs-staycation-to-p.html#comment-248135

Renee --

That's good news and I hope it's true. That's more encouraging than what I'd read about habitat destruction in South America possibly wiping out our sole eastern hummingbird species.

P.S. Finally working my way backwards through the threads (at the expense of laundry).

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248351

In Republican speak "grassroots lobbying" means getting the grassroots to hynotically in zombie lockstep do the bidding of your well heeled and about to get wealthier clients.

Carol, I know how grammar explanations can sound ridiculous and really expected only Darklord and maybe Pogo to react to mine.

Shall I try a short lesson? Subjects and predicates go with each other. The phone rang = sub and pred.
I talked = sub and pred. ( Predicates are not necessarily verbs, so thunk sub and pred, not sub and verb.) (You) screw = understood subj, and whoever
doesn't understand = sub and pred and conjunction.
There are two groups of sub and pred , you screw and whoever does understand. Whomever cannot be a sub - the whom is an object. You wouldn't say
whom does - it's who does. Oh, well, would you be willing to send me your email address? I'm bbugg@sonic.net.

On the grammar thing, Darklord, you didn't agree or disagree with me. Are you ignoring me?

It seems to me that someone here said something about what happens if you donate $250 to the Clintin Foundation. Your name is either made public or something like that. Does anyone remember?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248361

Solar
Oh good! Wow four new Solarcrete homes,terrific..Its damn good you kept up with the working out because cement finishing sounds like a ball busting job...I can understand people wanting to dislike Obama but I'm not sorry for my vote as there were no other options..I have read so many places that the stimulus package only contains 10% for job creating..I do find that hard to believe so I guess we will have to wait and see.I feel for people like your friends and others without work and without options..I rode the roller coaster at GM for years so I have a real understanding of the pain...

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/the-fdr-way-do-something.html#comment-247930

Carol - I feel so bad if I contributed to the making of "Maggie the Monster." I'm wracking my brain to figure out what might have gone wrong, and there might be a clue right here. "Then when the lightening was bad, we were sharing cookies under the bed." Maggie probably remembers the comfort of you AND the cookies under the bed. Even so, I'm sorry for my part in your distress. But now you need a solution, and I'd like to help if possible. This is just a suggestion...

First, I say, no more cookies under the bed. She must come out to go potty or such? When she does, block her access to under the bed (put pillows or something around it). Next, provide ALL her food from your hand until she learns to come back to you. I think she will.

Finally, be strong and let her know you're the boss...just like you do with those fellows from the clink when they try to do a number on you. I hope my suggestions help. Maybe some other pet people here have some ideas that might work better.

(^_~)

Thanks Ivy. I'll work on it. Your original idea was a good one but I just had operator trouble. Maggie is smarter than me and she knows it.

51 Headless Vikings Found in English Execution Pit?

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/07/090728-headless-viking-execution-pit.html

"Shall I try a short lesson? "

Just suggest a book. Or a website devoted to split infinitives, et al.

Test your broadband speed

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7416471.stm

Update: Lard's friends and former newspaper compadres presented him with an Amazon Kindle and a whopping girt certificate.

I'm sorry Craig is under the weather and isn't on Countdown tonight...which topic was he supposed to cover? Our loss and I hope he feels better soon.

Glad to know Craig is re-upping with MSNBC...I'd love if they gave him his own show...that is, if Craig would want one.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248388

Good luck, Carol. Maggie may be "smarter," but you have more experience with master manipulators.

(^_~)

What's your speed Cbob? mine was 2.1

Tony,

Not there yet on the 4 houses. Im told that we have the funding, the buyers, and did have a tree demolition company give me an estimate. But we still have some work to do before we get there....and have been disapointed before.....from the banks and wherever the money was coming from......this is different in that, they say the money has been allocated, and not part of the stimulus, or anuthing. So I have my hopes up again. Thanks.

You think that it is easy trying to work with the gals in the Lunch club do you?, Im a wreck......cos everyone is seeing how silly I get...and the "gals" are not any push overs, they give as good as they get. Our little SSS is one tough Muchacha no? hahah,,,but Im have so much fun......last night I thought that I hurt my insides just imagining Chlos face contortions.....as she practice the moose call in front of the mirror.......oh she might say that she didn't ....or that "in you dreams Solar......that she learned from Patsi...or just uses it.......but she did......bet she even goes out and buys some antlers. LOL.......later.....gotta go before she....or that Fancy Lawyer shows up......

.I can't talk to her with out Pogo being around.......Lawyers "you can't live with em....can't live without em".......fun I tell you....duck!!!!!!

A "fun" grammar book...Patricia T. O'Conner's "Woe Is I: The Grammarphobe's Guide to Better English in Plain English."

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Woe-Is-I/Patricia-T-OConner/e/9781594480065/?itm=2

Ivy,

Welcome back. and thanks for that book link.

Synopsis

"A witty and therefore easy-to-read look at the rules of grammar. This is truly a fun book to read, which is pretty astounding, given its subject."

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248397

"You think that it is easy trying to work with the gals in the Lunch club do you?"

Solar, we can make you up a brown bag so you can keep working at your desk if you want?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248399

You're welcome, Solar. A totally witty book about such topics as "A Cure for the Whom-Sick" and "Who's Whose."

Well, Patsi, I didn't want to go beyond the subject and predicate thing since that's what the posts had been about. Carol doesn't seem to worry too much about what she sees as not getting grammar, and I don't blame her. She communicates very well - she just doesn't understand why she speaks as well as she does. I think the grammar here is excellent, and all the picky rules are basically boring to most people. I just happen to have spent so many years teaching English that rules like that are burnt into my memory.

The book Eats Shoots and Leaves was recommended to me, and I couldn't read it cuz I agreed
with everything. I don't like to correct anybody's grammar - almost can't do it - except with my sisters and nephew and nieces but not their mates. When it comes to people who make a lot of money writing or gain fame as an author, I have trouble not getting mad at them tho.

I guess I hate the sound of some grammar mistakes, but hate to hear the corrections more.

"knew that you would try to pull a fast one.....or two"

LMAO Solar. You really 'do' know me!
The only trouble you're going to have with us pinks is that we set our own rules. I told you before, I'm more of a rule maker than a rule taker. Get used to it!
ps I just love it when you 'grovel for mercy' (your words). I'd like to see more of that. :) (rp)

Ivy, Were your pups happy to see you?
ps Don't worry about Solar, Ivy. He's just looking for sympathy. We're ordering up take out for him to eat in the club house. (He knows what I'm talking about)

Ivy,

Between the way that you and Carol's cooking, bagging it would be a pleasure; even at the danger of getting big and lazy....eat....and snooze all day long....so no bring it to the club house.......but before you do that: Have you caught up on the threads......if you did; you know that you can't get in without doing the moose call.......for that, see Pogos excellent mimic of one; nothing like your mimicking birds. Like I keep telling you gals......the rules are the rules.....I don't make them up as I go along. Oh I like all grain bread with my samiches...thanks

Carol, KGC gets all the credit for that Swine Flu update, I just relinked it. I noticed the part about lung tissue too, and thought the humidity thing was interesting (but baffling). What's your take on the humidity. Does it have to do with weight, you think?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248376
Ha Coreen. You tell 'em.

You know Carol, the humidity factor probably does have something to do with the lung factor (vaguely speaking). When I lived in an extremely dry climate for a couple of years, I eventually got asthma. When I moved here, it was gone immediately.

XR,

You said we were pals.....I need you help....with these gals.....feel that im loosing my grip, come and get me out of these jams.

... ok, sorry that I keep doing too many posts in a row, but I finally caught up with the day:

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248379
I understand what you're saying Rez, but I would never use a tactic like that. Ever. Sorry if it came across that way, and I'm glad you brought it up. It gives me a chance to explain, plus I'll think twice next time something like that comes out. It's also is a good example of how hard it can be to communicate sometimes. Words get in the way.

".feel that im loosing my grip"

What makes you think you ever had a grip Solar? :)
(..... you keep setting yourself up)

"bring it to the club house..."

Now you're gettin' it. Just make sure you tip the pizza delivery guy (or gal). Because that's the only way anyone's going to be bringing it to you.

Hey Tony, how's it shakin? Solar, Jamie, and the rest? My sister just emailed me this list that has been circulating. It did make me laugh.

"Californians

So as not to be outdone by all the redneck, hillbilly, and Texan jokes, somebody had to come up with this, you know you're from California if:

1. Your coworker has 8 body piercing and none are visible.

2. You make over $300,000 and still can't afford a house.

3. You take a bus and are shocked at two people carrying on a conversation in English.

4. Your child's 3rd-grade teacher has purple hair, a nose ring, and is named Flower.

5. You can't remember .. . is pot illegal?

6. You've been to a baby shower that has two mothers and a sperm donor.

7. You have a very strong opinion about where your coffee beans are grown, and you can taste the difference between Sumatran and Ethiopian.

8. You can't remember .. . . is pot illegal?

9... A really great parking space can totally move you to tears.

10. Gas costs $1.00 per gallon more than anywhere else in the U.S.

11. Unlike back home, the guy at 8:30 am at Starbucks wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses who looks like George Clooney really IS George Clooney.

12. Your car insurance costs as much as your house payment.

13. You can't remember .. . .is pot illegal?

14. It's barely sprinkling rain and there's a report on every news station: "STORM WATCH."

15. You pass an elementary school playground and the children are all busy with their cells or pagers.

16. It's barely sprinkling rain outside, so you leave for work an hour early to avoid all the weather-related accidents.

17. HEY!!!! Is pot illegal????

18. Both you AND your dog have therapists, psychics, personal trainers and cosmetic surgeons.

19. The Terminator is your governor.

20. If you drive illegally, they take your driver's license. If you're here illegally, they want to give you one."

Probably just the environment that this particular virus likes to live in Chloe. I can't remember and I will have to find the link again since I left my print out at work, but I think it was not just the Swine flu but all flu viruses that don't like humidity. Said there was very little flu in the tropics.

We haven't ever had a bad flu season in our humid jail even though you would think it would be a great environment for it.

There was something also about people having low vitamin D levels being more susceptible to the flu. And people who are heavier usually have lower vit D levels.

I was tested recently, due to my osteoporosis, and I have a low vit D level. Of course everyone I know who has been tested also does so I'm wonder if that really is a big deal??One of my Docs gave me these mega vit D pills, 50,000 units. I think they are still in the frig. I'm as nervous about hypervitaminosis as I am vit deficiencies.

Flatus, did they test your vit D level??

That article was packed with neat info. Best I've read.

Chlo,

Thats enough silliness from me....but you have my reply in the mail.

That was hilarious Max. Is pot legal?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248405

Chloe --

Yes, thanks, they came home all powdered and puffed. I was probably more happy to see them. I didn't have the heart to tell them they will have to go back next week as we are taking off on another venture in Colorado. I'm not getting much "recovery" time between trips which makes me tired just thinking about it. I really am more of a stay-at-home-with-a-good-book type of person.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=5DD4234A-B532-B3CB-FCA55B1CF3A95106

The more water in the air, the less likely the flu spreads.

Ct, quite funny. I mean, IS pot legal in California?

Next, "Are illegals legal?"

I'll volunteer to do the cooking. I'm much better than take out. Maybe some take out just for an occasional break. I will have to learn to do more beans. I've never gotten along too well with beans. You know, it's take moose call thing.

Do you think Max that the flu virus just never learned to swim??

Any Jim Reeves fans around here?

He died in the crash of his single-engine Beechcraft, along with his piano player-manager Dean Manuel, on July 31, 1964.

He's another one I remember almost from birth; Dad had a lot of his records.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dak2GmhjLBc

RIP Gentleman Jim.

Sorry about the typo. It's supposed to be, it's that moose call thing.

"I just happen to have spent so many years teaching English that rules like that are burnt into my memory."

People who are proficient in grammar often break rules if the sentence sounds stilted, whether it breaks a "rule" or not.

"Both you AND your dog have therapists, psychics, personal trainers and cosmetic surgeons. "

Good one, Max!

The sourdough loaves are rising

Rez -
Got another 1/4 inch overnight.

Web speed - .49

Good bye July .

51 Headless Vikings

If that ain't a band name, I'm Newt Gingrich.

Heavy Metal Band name.

Thanks for the flu info Carol. I 'guess Max's link explains it, I'll mark it and read it tomorrow. Thanks Max.

Carol, I take 2000 units of Vitamin D. The recommendation is a lot higher than it used to be. 50,000 sounds unbelievable though. You get a lot of sun, that helps too.

Ivy, You sure travel a lot for a stay-at-home-with-a-good-book type of person. I feel the same way though. Glad your pups are doing well. We'll miss you here next week, just as much as they will.

You know Patsi, you were talking about not putting your granddaughter's recital pics on the Net last night. My niece has a blog where she posts lots of darling pics of her kids. The blog also has info that indicates the area in which they live and the school they attend.

I told her mom I was concerned about that since there are lots of pervs out there that could be taking notes. She told me that I was just warped because I worked at the jail. She's probably right but I think it's something that people should worry about these days.

Speaking of a good book....... Good night everyone. See you in the morning.

Media Matters To Run Ads Attacking Lou Dobbs' Birther Obsession -- On CNN!

A Media Matters spokesman tells me the group has bought a week of ad time on CNN, MSNBC and Fox News in D.C., New York, and Atlanta, beginning Tuesday. The catch: Media Matters has specifically purchased time to air the ad during Dobbs' show -- putting CNN in the position of either running the spot or nixing it and making this a bigger story.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/31/media-matters-to-run-adds_n_249078.html

I agree with you Carol. Too many weirdos out there to trust the internet that much. You can ignore them, but they're still there.

Is this your first loaf C-bob? I put your sour dough recipe in my favorites. Let me know how good it is. I have been wanting to try making some for a while.

Ivy, Maggie has spent the entire evening in here with me. First time in a couple of weeks. Maybe she is reading the blog over my shoulder??

At 3am this morning we were both awakened with a bad lightening storm. Instead of getting under the bed she crawled under the covers and stayed close to me. I even took her to the poddy with me so she wouldn't dive under the bed again. It ain't easy to poddy with a dog in your lap. Maybe is just showing me her appreciation??

"Flatus, did they test your vit D level??"

Yes, Carol, and it's low and has been unresponsive to 50,000 IU twice a week. The doc says that's probably because of malabsorption resulting from my Crohn's. And, my dermatologist goes crazy if I don't use a sunblock every time I'm outside, so I get little vit D from sunlight.

I've been doing the large doses for over a year. No apparent side effects.

Didn't Craig blow-out an eardrum in his parents' hot tub a year or two ago? I can see that being a great big ouch. Hope he get's a respite before long.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248432

Thanks, Chloe. I hope to actually have time to post during the trip. Even as more of an arm-chair traveler, I do like interesting places once I get there. It's just that, as hubs says, I'm not very "portable." He still has to figure out how he'll 'port me to England & Scotland, and then Hawaii, before the year is done. Poor pups will really be missing us.

I do think my circadian rhythm is stuck in the Eastern time zone, so I'll be taking myself off to Nod with the new book I picked up in Boston - "Hurricane of Independence" - the story itself isn't especially riveting, nor is the book well-written enough to be a best-seller - one reviewer says don't waste your money - but I'm finding enough arcane trivia to keep me intrigued...odd perspective it has too - almost pro-British, at times casting our vaunted Patriots as "nut-cases" of the Birther ilk.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/results.asp?WRD=hurricane+of+independence&box=hurricane%20of%20independence&pos=-1

Flatus, my sister's ortho told her that he didn't have much luck with that 50,000 unit vit D either. He told her of some OTC supplement that was better but she couldn't remember the name.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248437

Carol --

I'm glad to hear about Maggie's "recovery" ...just don't let her back under that bed. In it, maybe, but not under it. (^_~)

I agree with you about the pervs and perps.

Carol and Chloe, I agree with you completely about the pix of kids on the net. I firmly believe there are a whole lot more pervs out there than we expect. God knows I want to plaster this site with pix of my darlings, but I can't. If we ever have a group meeting, tho, watch out!

Patsi, I agree with you re grammar geeks breaking the rules - I feel very free to do so. Those rules are to expedite communication, and occasionally I just have to in order to say exactly what I mean. I'm sure you do, too.

The one thing that bugs me nowadays is 'Me and her went shopping.' I just caught my niece doing that and almost flipped out!

Flatus and Carol et al, Can't you absorb D thru your eyes in sunlight?

Don't know about the eyes. Seems I remember that it is cholesterol that is converted to vit D with sunlight on the skin. Wouldn't swear to it though.

I will look to see if Dr. Weil has anything to say about it.

“Vitamin D3 is made in the skin when 7-dehydrocholesterol reacts with UVB ultraviolet light at wavelengths between 270–300 nm, with peak synthesis occurring between 295-297 nm.”[12][13]

“...adequate amounts of vitamin D3 can be made in the skin after only ten to fifteen minutes of sun exposure at least two times per week to the face, arms, hands, or back without sunscreen. With longer exposure to UVB rays, an equilibrium is achieved in the skin, and the vitamin simply degrades as fast as it is generated.”[1] “

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

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248373

Max,

Profit in basic healthcare in assinine. It isn't socialized medicine, it is civilized medicine. Nothing about non profit prevents pricing of drugs or medical care that permits research and the highest quality care. France seems to manage fairly well.

Any system is going to have problems. I would rather the problems be on the side of human beings than on the side of whatever aberrant lifeform sits in the boardrooms of for profit insurance companies.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248440

Ivy,

Since he wants to take you to Hawaii, going east to west is easier on the body clock. Talk him into Australia and then the UK and back home. :-)

Thanks, Carol. I remember hearing that the eyes were a good source and that not wearing sunglasses would help. I don't wear shades. I used to need them but about ten years ago, I stopped needing them. Maybe me b ody needed the D so badly - HA! I would say I get that exposure to sunlight almost daily, but I never use sunscreen since I stay out of the sun because I hate it so much. I am always looking for shade. i really believe the sun is hotter than it was when I was a kid - it's almost painful now when it shines on me

That's a truly jumpy paragraph - sorry. Not enough time to write it better is my excuse and I'm sticking with it. I'm in a hurry to do laundry since we go to San Jose tomorrow for a few days for sweet baby Holly's third birthday.

By the way, the link to lavender is about the backyard of me and of KGC. I'm in Santa Rosa and about ten minutes away from Chateau St Jean. KGC is farther west and probably closer to that first lavender farm.
It's called the Redwood Empire here, for obvious reasons.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248415

Max, There's a few missing

It's a hundred degrees, but there is a sweater in your back seat for when the sun goes down.

You know the definition of "Rockfeller Double Feature"

You think the fence should have been on the East Coast before 1965

You are an OLD Californian if you remember when there was a rush hour.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248448

Jamie --

All the travel exertion will be worth it if I can get to see the Headless Vikings...don't you agree?

(^_~)

KT,

My son in law's mother was the all time JIm Reeves fan. As a result, I heard about everything he ever sang. My favorite

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

Ivy

Absolutely, You don't want to miss the headless vikings.

C-Bob --

Can you tell about this place again? If I can talk hubs into Estes Park again, I'll try to make it there.

http://thetwistedpine.com/

This was the sorrowful anniversary of the flood, wasn't it? Sad to think of the lives lost, but they deserve remembrance.

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

KT,

My son in law's mother was the all time JIm Reeves fan. As a result, I heard about everything he ever sang. My favorite

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

Posted by: Jamie

Good one, Jamie. I'm thinking of using his music for my Saturday music blog and I'm having trouble narrowing down my choices, there are so many good ones! I'll definitely use this one, though.:)

"True love is the only heart disease that is best left to "run on"--the only affection of the heart for which there is no help, and none desired."
- Mark Twain's Notebook

well......jim reeves, eh? them others are gooderns, but this is the biggern...............

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztHcGoSS_vA&feature=fvw

how on earth is jack lalanne on my tv? who's next, charles atlas? Maybe soupy sales.............or kukla fran and ollie........or beanie............

Imagine if these two guys could've worked together............

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e_j66mgTDE

By two, I speak of the two writers, not the four performers..............

Ree:

"The Bataan death march diet"...............lol

I'm watching C-span and all I see is a bunch of southerners going "Errrrrrrr- Errrrrrrrrr"...................it's like deja-vu or something.............

vuja-de.......the feeling that you find yourself in a place where you've never been before..................

it's joe barton on the tv now........that guy..............

Holy Crinolies.........Boris Karloff, Nick Adams in "Die, Monster, Die!"

I've heard that the monsters have banded together in a quest to be presented in the media in a kindlier light.................

Bethy, re: her and me -- don't hear it much, but yes, "we" is so much better. ha.

And about kids on the net....I'll put up photos on FB and a blog...but with no location info connected with the photo. But I think it's actually a legal issue with the entire dance class. (Even though you can't really distinguish their faces...in the case of my granddaughter's Lucille Ball-type performance, you have to know which one she by location...)

patsi, something on the news this week about photos being lifted from web posts (facebook) and used in ads without getting or needing poster's permission. can't remember who, what, where details.

that facebook photo news story makes me think that one has to worry more about sneaky admen than pervs. that old admonition that a picture steals one's soul might be at work here, especially if they're using it for those idiotic male enhancer ads.

guess there are pervs and there are pervs.

my all time favorite fun grammar books:

The Deluxe Transitive Vampire: A Handbook of Grammar for the Innocent, the Eager and the Doomed by Karen Elizabeth Gordon

The New Well-Tempered Sentence: A Punctuation Handbook for the Innocent, the Eager, and the Doomed by Karen Elizabeth Gordon

http://www.amazon.com/Deluxe-Transitive-Vampire-Handbook-Innocent/dp/0679418601

patd -- You can deny access to Facebook's using any of your photos for anything....I checked that one a long time ago.

You never know where dangers come from. My daughter told me that in her city a nine month pregnant woman was attacked in her home by a crazy woman with a knife who wanted to steal the baby. The wacko knocked on the young woman's door and said she was delivering something from a store's baby registry.

And in fact, it was from that registry that the woman had got the pregnant women's personal information!

Fortunately, the pregnant woman was a SERIOUS redneck...she got the knife away from the attacker and stabbed HER in the fight that ensued!

PS -- That fight didn't even bring on labor as I recall. The young woman had her baby about a week later -- mom and baby were just fine. (I want that young woman with me in a bar fight!)

A teachable moment: This is a prime time of year for infections of the ear canal due to the heat, humidity and increase in swimming activity.

I'm not sure what kind of ear infection Craig has, it could be of the eardrum or the ear canal. They are different and treated differently.

Canal infections are very painful and can lead to having to miss an opportunity to go on Countdown with KO.

To prevent canal infections, don't over clean the ear canal. Wax provides protection from organisms and cleaning it can cause trauma to the canal.

Keep your ear canals dry but don't stick anything in the ear canal that can scratch it. turn head from side to side and use a towel.

A mild acetic acid solution can keep the ear environment less friendly for bacteria and fungus. Those are available at the drug store. Never instill any solutions in the canal if there is any possiblity having a hole in the eardrum.

Middle ear infections that can cause ruptured eardrums are more likely to be present if you have had a cold or sore throat. Often, not as painful, but accompanied by a feeling of congestion in the head or pressure in the ear.

"don't over clean the ear canal. Wax provides protection from organisms and cleaning it can cause trauma to the canal. "

The children of America applaud you, Carol! ha

thanks patsi and ct for the info. now we can go forth properly posting pics with clean, but waxy ear.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248455

KT

I'll stop by today to see what you come up with. Jim Reeves is a great subject.

Hope you will do "Take This Tune". The prompt is up now for people to post on Monday. http://takethistune.blogspot.com

My guys at the joint who love to clean their ears with Q tips come in with hard wax plugs that completely close off the ear canal. We have to soften them up with a cerumen softener and then flush them out.

Good morning, Carol. My doctor uses stool softner in my ears...I have had problems way before q-tips..narrow duct, yada-yada.

bw, maybe your doc doesn't know a head from an a-hole.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/01/business/media/01feud.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

"Voices From Above Silence a Cable TV Feud"

"For years Keith Olbermann of MSNBC had savaged his prime-time nemesis Bill O’Reilly of the Fox News Channel and accused Fox of journalistic malpractice almost nightly. Mr. O’Reilly in turn criticized Mr. Olbermann’s bosses and led an exceptional campaign against General Electric, the parent company of MSNBC.

It was perhaps the fiercest media feud of the decade and by this year, their bosses had had enough. But it took a fellow television personality with a neutral perspective to help bring it to at least a temporary end.

At an off-the-record summit meeting for chief executives sponsored by Microsoft in mid-May, the PBS interviewer Charlie Rose asked Jeffrey Immelt, chairman of G.E., and his counterpart at the News Corporation, Rupert Murdoch, about the feud."

sorry, bw, but couldn't let sturge beat me to it.

no offense meant, btw.

The smoked spareribs were extraordinarily good last night. If they weren't so much work, I'd do them more often.

Or maybe he does, sturg, and I don't know which end is up! However, the stuff works wonders and they tout the way they take care of the wax!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248485
BW, too much information! :)

patd...no offense, I often write for comic relief. No shit, it works!

flatus, when you grill/smoke ribs, do you first boil them?
when grilling, a good recipe that never fails for me is boiling them in water and 1-2 guiness stouts for over and hour. tenderizes them and cuts down on the grill time.

Flatus...it really is a great health tip! And I am glad the ribs came out melting in your mouth with flavor! You are quite the chef, to me. Only dude I know who has made tofu.

Wait until you hear my cure for mental hemorrhoids!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248415

Good morning all
Max
Thanks for the shout out..Your California points are so funny..I'll copy and send to my friends in California( Clinton and Ismael) they will love it..How's things going? It seems like you've been working more? I hope so as you probably have a lot of expenses living in NY..I read your comments regarding healthcare but I'm in Jamie's camp on this one...So much profit taken by insurance companies and drug companies are not a good thing...Again I experienced this first hand with my mom!! I'll admit though before we actually started needing are Blue Cross we thought we had the best medical ever..But just get a catastrophic illness,it will change a person's whole perspective...

to fu, or not tofu--that is the question:
whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
the pains and stares of outrageous people
or to make spam against a sea of naysayers
And by opposing end them.

willie the shake

patd...

: ) My bff here in Cruces, who was the former poet laureate of Alaska, would be proud.

Pat, if I grille ribs, I will sometimes boil them for, perhaps, 15-minutes. I, too, like using beer in the process. But, for smoking, I just rinse then dry them and trim off the excess fat, etc. After that it's into _big_ smoker.

This, time, I did a rapid smoking by cranking the heat up to about 340-deg. This allowed a smoke 'infusion' to a depth of about 1/8th of an inch--enough to provide a decent smoky flavor while insuring the pork was done.

I new some of the people wanted theirs crispy brown/black, so I dumped theirs into the fire-pit side and let them do their thing for about 15-minutes.

After dinner, folks were actively discussing who was to get the leftovers.

You guys are too funny this morning. Now to do some research on astro tables, to see if they are correct in predicting that this is high period for fishing. Later.

The Cash for Clunkers success has gone over the heads of the folks in DC. Any stimulus money should have gone from the bottom-up. Giving the money to the banks and expecting it to trickle down was a GWB trick...doesn't work. Get more money on the streets to the little peeps...they will spend it as they have been starved too long. Cut the crap, DC, if you give us money we might splurge on food and eventually on products. And they did not have to kill GM or Chrysler...this program could have saved them.

BW, you're a good sport! I will file that idea along with Carol's hint about meat tenderizer applied to red-ant bites. (I did pick up a bottle of Adolph's).

It's been years since we made that tofu. It was well before the internet had developed into what we have now. So, I think I got the recipe out of one of the early editions of Joy of Cooking--IMO the best modern cookbook for general use,

At home, we had a copy of the Fannie Farmer, but I never got into the habit of using it.

I enjoy cooking. It's provides the chance to be really creative.

Flatus...you need to register...

http://bbqinstitute.com/BBQ_Pictures.htm

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248499
I hate it when I type new instead of knew. And other stupid things like leaving out words that I had processed in my mind but never transferred to the written thought.

Flatus, I learned to cook with the Joy of Cooking as a young adult in Boulder, Colorado. My mother was an adequate cook, (a good baker, however) and I really wanted to learn about ingredients, etc. I am a good cook, but not so good at baking. I love cooking with vegies from our garden. This year has been a good year for the swiss chard.

Off to meet a friend for coffee...have a safe day.

Blonde and patd -- you two are killin' me this morning. Brings whole new meaning to LMAO!

Carol -- the doc had to "irrigate" my son's ear when he was about five and it was horrible. I couldn't believe all that wax was in there!

BW -- your 9:09 post is right on.

BW, I'm glad you're having a good garden this year! Ours is a dismal failure--we just weren't meant to garden in the sand.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248504

Flatus
Me too! I hate it when I use too instead of to..Oh and theirs,there...Its endless...I wish I would preview more often....Striving for perfection is indeed a curse in some ways...BBQ sounds good I may attempt it this evening,thanks..

Before I go, I wasn't kidding about the stool softener.

http://www.healthcaresouth.com/pages/askthedoctor/earwax.htm

For people with real hard wax plugs that are difficult to remove, I recommend Colace - liquid drops which act as a pediatric stool softener. Do not use the syrup formulation. Colace liquid is over-the-counter, but your pharmacist may have to order the one ounce bottles which cost around $10. Apply Colace drops for several nights and then flush the ear with warm water.

"And other stupid things like leaving out words that I had processed in my mind but never transferred to the written thought."

That's why I hate proofreading books I write -- I often read what I thought I wrote -- not what I typed.

patsi...as you know, proof reading take more than one set of eyes! It is a fact that proof readers make the same mistake over and over, thus, the need for another proof reader. My bff is getting her book of poetry published and she is at the proof reading phase.

I really got to get out of here....

http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_plank/archive/2009/07/31/a-tip-of-the-hat-to-hillary.aspx

"A Tip of the Hat to Hillary"

"It took meticulous behind-the-scenes diplomatic work to get this far, and the deal could still unravel. The Arias plan faces powerful enemies, both from conservatives within Honduras and from authoritarian leftists in the Venezuelan-led ALBA block. For now, however, the State Department can take pride in coming much closer to squaring the Honduran circle than seemed possible even 24 hours ago. The U.S. has positioned itself as the prime mover behind efforts to restore both the democratically elected leader and the liberal constitution he has tried to destroy. And if all goes according to plan, Clinton could be remembered for transforming a potentially damaging crisis in Honduras into a historic turning point in U.S.-Latin American relations."

Tony, if you're using one of the large grills, my experience shows that I need a thermometer within the cooking chamber. It's only through temperature monitoring and control that I'm able to achieve a good result that won't threaten the lives of our guests.

I like bbq stories--tell us how yours turns-out!

Thought for the day :
" The hardest thing to do is to disquise your feelings when sending a large crowd of visiting relatives home. "

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/07/in-beer-summit-spoof-milbank-suggests-hillary-drink-mad-bitch-beer.php

"In Beer Summit "Spoof" Milbank Suggests Hillary Drink "Mad Bitch" Beer"

This same bullshit persists from these phony so called journalists...These bozo's have learned nothing from the gender politics practiced during the Dem primaries and yes to some extent against Sarah Palin...Read some of the comments there spot on...Hey Warren, here's an example of the word bitch being used to diminish!! Yes I know some will say its all in good fun...Its the same thing for me when I hear as I did a few weeks ago in a store from some clerks how an item on the shelve was so gay...The use of so gay in this instance was used to say the product was bad and hence gay=bad..Hillary=Mad bitch...Sad really..

1770 William Clark Charlottsville VA, 2nd lt of Lewis & Clark Expedition
1779 Francis Scott Key composer (Star-Spangled Banner)
1815 Richard Henry Dana spent 2 years before mast
1818 Maria Mitchell 1st American woman astronomer on Nantucket Island
1819 Herman Melville US, author (Moby Dick, Billy Budd)
1942 Jerry Garcia SF, rocker (Grateful Dead-Uncle John's Band)
1953 Robert Cray Columbus Ga, blues singer/songwriter (1987 Grammy)

1619 1st black Americans (20) land at Jamestown, Virginia
1774 Priestly discovers oxygen
1789 US Customs begins enforcing Tariff Act
1790 1st US census (population of 3,939,214)
1794 Whiskey Rebellion begins
1798 Battle of Nile
1834 Slavery abolished in British empire
1863 Cavalry action near Brandy Station-End of Gettysburg Campaign
1867 Blacks vote for 1st time in a state election in South (Tenn)
1869 1st voyage down Colorado River
1873 SF's 1st cable car begins service
1876 Colorado becomes 38th state
1903 1st coast-to-coast automobile trip (SF-NY) completed
1917 Frank Little, IWW organizer, lynched in Butte, MT
1936 Adolph Hitler opens Berlin Olympic Games
1955 1st microgravity research begins
1957 1st coml building heated by Sun (Albuquerque NM)
1957 Glen Gorbous throws a baseball a record 136 m (445'10")
1958 1st class postage up to $0.04 (had been $0.03 for 26 years)
1960 Chubby Checker releases "The Twist"
1981 MTV premiers at 12:01 AM

still here...tony...Matthews yesterday stated on his show that the Clinton presidency was nothing and compared him to Gerald Ford. He sure hates the Clintons and Matthews face is so disgusted looking these days...really running late, gotta go.

Dana Milbank is an ass....hes an oinker, too -- but mainly he's just a flat out ass.

And yes -- "bitch" and "gay" have such different meanings depending on how they are used and who is using them.

Thought for the day :
" The hardest thing to do is to disquise your feelings when sending a large crowd of visiting relatives home. " --CBob@9:06

Bob you're right. What we started doing years and years ago was having mass exoduses of everybody accept the core family who would all be out front waving goodbye until the last of the attendees was out of sight.

It seemed/seems to work as we continue the practice to this date.

BW
Matthews is a jerk..I agree he does hates the Clinton's.I think its so strange how someone like him can praise Reagan so much and down President Clinton who i believe left office with a point or 2 higher approval in the Gallop poll..This after impeachment..President Clinton's presidency was the best in my lifetime...Matthews is so full of shit..I heard him say on his show in 2000 that he voted for Bush,enough said....

"And yes -- "bitch" and "gay" have such different meanings depending on how they are used and who is using them."

Oh god yes Patsi...

The Making of a Prehistoric Brew

GUERNEVILLE, California — This isn’t your dad’s beer. Or even your grandpa’s. It’s your distant prehistoric mammalian ancestor’s. And you’ve never tasted anything quite like it.

There are only four ingredients in most beer: Malted barley, water, hops and yeast. But on the banks of northern California’s Russian River, Stumptown Brewery’s Peter Hackett is cooking up a different kind of brew. His unique ale is made with a special ingredient: 45-million year old Saccharomyces cerevisiae (aka brewer’s yeast) rescued from a piece of amber formed during Eocene epoch and reanimated in the lab of microbiologist Raul Cano.

The single-celled yeast, unsurprisingly robust for something that has lived 45 million years in dormancy, is shockingly good at making beer, though it’s not without its quirks. After all, modern brewer’s yeast has evolved in the anaerobic environment of a fermentation tank, while the ancient yeast hasn’t had the benefit of adapting to the harsh world inflicted by beermakers.
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/07/brewery/

Carol -
The loaves are ready for the oven , still on the bubble about the sun, or the regular oven to bake them . ( Cloudy here , more rain over night. Go Rez ! )
Be sure to feed the starter every 12 hours for at least a week .

Ivy -
That's Hank Glover's place at Estes Park . His 3 legged dog back in 1975 was named Tri-pod.

Ivy -
His store is mind boggling , it is crammed with stuff , and if you like the smell of leather it's the place to go.
Hank has several of my better creations .

When I worked there it was called the " Dark Horse Leather ".

Hey Tony. Well, I don't see anything in the Constitution that bans profits by medical workers, insurance companies. I believe price regulations would eventually be seen as unConstitutional, if not the cause of increased rationing, decreased quality and the fall of American excellence in the medical field. In fact, military pilots are often lost to commercial aviation so government offers them more money to stay. We will have a further erosion of the healthcare population driving up costs, not lowering them. Again, how much would you pay a doctor to save your life? Less than your plumber? America has a pretty bad record on service provided by government. I love how Democrats point to the VA after blasting it for 8 years under Bush. And Medicaid/Medicare? Such fraud would bring down provate insurance. Remember, compare costs with service provided.

Anyway, here is the Arab response to Obama's MIddle East policy. http://www.debka.com/article.php?aid=1398

Not too promising when you have Israel and Saudi Arabia rejecting Obama as show trials begin in Iran.

I love how Democrats point to the VA after blasting it for 8 years under Bush. And Medicaid/Medicare? Such fraud would bring down provate insurance. Remember, compare costs with service provided.

Max
I have my friend Baz in Australia.Baz loves his government run healthcare system.Australia has private insurance also..I also have many Canadian friends at my local gym and I haven't heard any real complaints from them regarding their healthcare system..I think its just right wing scare tactics..I would agree there may be problems at first with a government single payer option but lets get one first before we knock it..If there are problems they can be fixed..Enough of Insurance companies holding us hostage deciding what chemo you can have instead of the Doctor...I have experienced this first hand because of my mom...Nothing can change my mind here!!!

Beth,

...saw your post; no, I'm not ignoring you. I don't really keep up with the thread anymore, so I miss a lot of the discussions and as a result, try to stay out of them. I try not to burden the community with my inanity as long as I'm not bothering to read theirs. I'm comfortable dropping a quip every now and then, though.

"I love how Democrats point to the VA after blasting it for 8 years under Bush."

Max,

I am in the VA system. While it is not perfect, without it I have no health coverage. The only bitch I ever hear is the cranky bastards bitching about having to sit and wait for the doctor. I pass them off to just being cranky and they would bitch if the doctors came to them. Actually this VA socialized medicine is the best care I have ever had.

With regards to dems blasting the VA, maybe the debacle at Walter Reed was the reason for that. I have never seen that sort of problem here where I live.

Max,

No time to mix it up today..........but are you coming out of the closet??

I don't mean the gay closet: I mean, the Repug, closet. haaha

Solar
I'm sorry but you deserve another "You so funny"....

Max,

Last thing....I wish that we all had the kind of care that the VA provides it military people.....if we did, we would not be having this H C conversation.....we would be improving on it.......there were many problems...before......since H. Clinton focused on them, everyone at the VA jumps to give us vets the attention that we get now, itls much better under the Dems, then under the R's....this is not from reading about it......it is from going there and getting the care that I get.........A real Government run business that really works.......everyone makes a profit in one way or another,,,,including Doc, stafff, and us patients..........the reason for this is that......both the dems, and the repugs......are afraid not to make it work: As they both need the public support of it......so they can have their fuckin wars all over the world......but a good example of co-operation from the 2 party's imo.

Last thing. while you are loading your weapons to shoot me down.....I get the same things from people around me that has never been in the Military, never been in the VA system....but are always quick to Kill, and quick to criticize the VA.....spend some time in the rehab areas....listen to the screams of pain........

A message to..... ME.......don't think that I didn't catch that!

Dr. Dooty -
Here comes some rain Bubba.

Hey Tony what are we doing inside today......get to that gym...or the beach.....Me im in and out today, working on my next door neighbors house,,and mine. Are U in the lunch club or not?

Breads out, off to part B of today's experiment.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248547

Hey Solar
Count me as a member of the lunch club..Hell I would even love to buy!! I'm trying to get the housework done,pool cleaning,water new Queen palms..I'm heading to the Nautilus by The Sea gym soon...Its across the street from the Atlantic and usually unless its crowed I walk the beach for a bit and sometimes take a swim....Salty water not my favorite but I love the surf....

Doots -- I think Max must be talking about the Walter Reid mess, because we've talked about the VA many times here in positive terms. You've had good experiences, so have friends of mine. And I believe the main problems related to the VA has more to do with military policy regarding certain conditions...ie, PTSD and Agent Orange.

Sounds good Tony, The two thing that I miss about not being a member of a health club is ...the swimming pool....and a good sauna right after a work out and a swim......

Christians Largely Mum on Torture

Anyone harboring doubts that the institutional Church is riding shotgun for the system, even regarding heinous sin like torture, should be chastened by the results of a recent survey by the Pew Research Center.

Who but the cowardly crew leading the "Christian" churches can be held responsible for the fact that many of their flock believe torture of suspected terrorists is "justified?"

Those polled were white non-Hispanic Catholics, white Evangelicals, and white mainline Protestants. A majority (54 percent) of those who attend church regularly said torture could be "justified," while a majority of those not attending church regularly responded that torture was rarely or never justified.

I am not a psychologist or sociologist. But I recall that one of the first things Hitler did on assuming power was to ensure there was a pastor in every Lutheran and Catholic parish in Germany. Why? Because he calculated, correctly, that here would be a force for stability for his regime.

Thus began another horrid chapter in the history of those professing to be followers of Jesus of Nazareth but had forgotten his repeated admonition, Do not be afraid.

A mere seven decades after the utter failure of church leaders in Germany, their current American counterparts have again yielded to fear, and have condoned evils like torture by their deafening silence.

What kinds of folks comprise this 54 percent? An informal "survey" of my friends suggests these are "my-country-first" people — like the fellow who recently gave me the finger when he saw my bumper sticker, which simply says "God bless the rest of the world too."

They are people accustomed to hierarchy and comfortable being told what they should think and do to preserve "our way of life."

They place a premium on nationalism, which they call patriotism, and on what the Germans call Ordnung. I suppose that this may be part of why they go to church on Sunday.

It’s a problem that has existed for almost 1,700 years, ever since 4th Century Christians jettisoned their heritage of non-violent resistance to war and threw in their lot with Constantine.

Subservience

Nowhere is the phenomenon of obeisance to hierarchical power highlighted more clearly than in the Grand Inquisitor story in Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky, who could plumb the human heart as few others.

In the tale, Dostoevsky has Jesus joining the "tortured, suffering people" of Seville during the Inquisition. The Cardinal of Seville immediately jails and interrogates Jesus, telling him that the Church has "corrected" his big mistake.

Rather than donning "Caesar’s purple," Jesus gave us freedom of conscience.

While it has been 130 years since he wrote Brothers Karamazov, Dostoevsky captures the trap into which so many American "believers" have fallen in forfeiting freedom through fear. His portrayal of Inquisition reality brings us to the brink of the moral precipice on which our country teeters today.

It is as though he knew what would be in store for us as fear was artificially stoked after the attacks of 9/11.

Here is how the cardinal ridicules Christ for imposing on humans the heavy burden of freedom of conscience:

"Didst thou forget that man prefers peace, and even death, to freedom of choice in the knowledge of good and evil? … We teach them that it’s not the free judgment of their hearts, but mystery which they must follow blindly, even against their conscience. … In the end they will lay their freedom at our feet [and] become obedient. … We shall tell them that we are Thy servants and rule them in Thy name. … We shall tell them that every sin will be expiated if it is done with our permission."

Recently, prominent Baptist layman and distinguished senator from South Carolina, Lindsey Graham, gave a hat-tip to the Inquisition. At a May 13 Senate hearing discussing interrogation techniques like waterboarding, Graham explained that, "One of the reasons these techniques have been used for about 500 years is that they work."

"Dr. Dooty -
Here comes some rain Bubba. "

Colorado Bob,
It rained all morning here and last night few days ago it rained some more. I like rain. I lived in Seattle, but I have to say that after about the 4 straight month of rain every day, I did start to question how smart I was to move from North Texas to Seattle. Then the weather changed and it was beautiful. I sorta miss those days.

"Doots -- I think Max must be talking about the Walter Reid mess, because we've talked about the VA many times here in positive terms."

Patsi,

must be. Max sounds like he knows what he is talking about except when he is spouting the Reb talking points. Then it is painfully clear that he has no real knowledge of the subject. Just another Rep blowhard in my opinion. He is welcome to that opinion but IN MY OPINION he is wrong.

I have a friend that is now 100% disabled because of Agent Orange and PTSD. I used to think that he was the most together guy I had ever encountered. Now he is a mere shadow of his former self with all the flash backs he has. The VA has him on some pretty powerful meds these days and he seems like a pretty normal guy. Miss a few days and Boom back as a Tunnel Rat in the Marine Corp in Vietnam.

cont:

Jesus (and Luther) Didn’t Really Mean It?

A progressive Lutheran pastor in Dallas asked me to give a talk to his parish on the issues I had been addressing in my writings. It struck me that since George W. Bush had moved into their neighborhood, I might ask the congregants how they thought they should relate to someone who had given written approval to torture.

I was too clever by half — actually, naïve. I would show them the "smoking gun" memorandum signed by George W. Bush on Feb. 7, 2002, which the Senate Armed Forces Committee has determined "opened the way" to all manner of detainee abuse, and then I would challenge them by quoting Martin Luther who, after all, was one of their guys.

I chose this passage cited by George Hunsinger in an essay he wrote in 1987 (appearing in his book Disruptive Grace):

"If," wrote Martin Luther, "I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of Gods except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at the moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing him. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved and to be steady on all the battlefield, except there, is mere flight and disgrace if one flinches at that point."

Hunsinger emphasizes that faithfulness to Jesus of Nazareth is always situational, that one can spout impeccably orthodox theological truths and still be "fatally disloyal."

Genuine loyalty is proven where it counts — in the pitch of battle, where it really costs something. Writing 22 years ago, Hunsinger was already addressing what he called "an overwhelming spiritual collapse, in which we have lost touch with even minimal standards of morality."

"The prevailing sense seems to be that, if the demands of biblical morality contradict the dictates of national security, so much the worse for biblical morality. … Dungeons … torture, and death are described as belonging to the free world. … War criminals in high places we honor. … Acts of aggression we celebrate as noble deeds. … of preemptive self-defense. Orwell has become our destiny. …

"The passive acquiescence of a Christian community which has lost its moral conscience in matters of state contributes substantially … to misery and oppression. … ‘Seek your own welfare above all else’ has become the maxim of the day."

Hunsinger has earned the right to criticize those who confess Jesus of Nazareth "from the safety of some remote enclave, where confession may be true but costs nothing."

He is professor of systematic theology at Princeton Theological Seminary, but was so aghast at U.S. practice of torture that he devoted untold time and energy to founding the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT).

Flatus and BW, I have heard also that marinating ribs
in classic coke works really well.

Darklord, I just wanted to know if you agree with my statement re whoever and whomever since you appear to be another grammar geek.

cont:
....... One of the things Gandhi said about Christians: "Everyone in the world knows that Jesus and his teachings were non-violent except Christians."........

And the reason that regular churchgoers don’t seem to know this is because the historical Jesus is not preached.

Those who go to church on Sunday expect a modicum of moral leadership. If the pastor is silent on torture, then torture must somehow be okay. How easy it is then to cede one’s conscience to an American-flag-draped pulpit.

Jesus (and Luther) Didn’t Really Mean It?

A progressive Lutheran pastor in Dallas asked me to give a talk to his parish on the issues I had been addressing in my writings. It struck me that since George W. Bush had moved into their neighborhood, I might ask the congregants how they thought they should relate to someone who had given written approval to torture.

Too clever by half — actually, naïve. would be to show them the "smoking gun" memorandum signed by George W. Bush on Feb. 7, 2002, which the Senate Armed Forces Committee has determined "opened the way" to all manner of detainee abuse, and then challenge them by quoting Martin Luther who, after all, was one of their guys.

this passage cited by George Hunsinger in an essay he wrote in 1987 (appearing in his book Disruptive Grace):

"If," wrote Martin Luther, "I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of Gods except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at the moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing him. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved and to be steady on all the battlefield, except there, is mere flight and disgrace if one flinches at that point."

Hunsinger emphasizes that faithfulness to Jesus of Nazareth is always situational, that one can spout impeccably orthodox theological truths and still be "fatally disloyal."

Genuine loyalty is proven where it counts — in the pitch of battle, where it really costs something. Writing 22 years ago, Hunsinger was already addressing what he called "an overwhelming spiritual collapse, in which we have lost touch with even minimal standards of morality."

"The prevailing sense seems to be that, if the demands of biblical morality contradict the dictates of national security, so much the worse for biblical morality. … Dungeons … torture, and death are described as belonging to the free world. … War criminals in high places we honor. … Acts of aggression we celebrate as noble deeds. … of preemptive self-defense. Orwell has become our destiny. …

"The passive acquiescence of a Christian community which has lost its moral conscience in matters of state contributes substantially … to misery and oppression. … ‘Seek your own welfare above all else’ has become the maxim of the day."

Hunsinger has earned the right to criticize those who confess Jesus of Nazareth "from the safety of some remote enclave, where confession may be true but costs nothing."

He is professor of systematic theology at Princeton Theological Seminary, but was so aghast at U.S. practice of torture that he devoted untold time and energy to founding the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT).

...may i copy that into the birther blog i've been following?

R U talking to me C M?.....and if you are ....of course you can....there is a cpl more.....in and out...and seeing if its slow enough to post.

"The single-celled yeast, unsurprisingly robust for something that has lived 45 million years in dormancy"

cbob, for the sake of us all, don't let that thing anywhere near your starter.
they meet, mate and soon it's the sourdough that ate texas and then the world.

I just saw on the news crawl that McCain says Obama hasn't changed D.C. That, to me, is the surest sign that he has.

thanks! yeah...'preciate it!

Hey, that Guerneville is out there in KGC territory. That's where they held that big July 4th water parade.

"I'm comfortable dropping a quip every now and then"

dark, we'll fondly think of you as the blue bird of happiness making deposits of happy quips on our unworthy heads now and then.

..sc will be better off, alaska already is...gotta love 'change'!

Fair's Saturday music: Jim Reeves.

Jamie and Sturge, I hope y'all don't mind me giving you two shoutouts.;)

http://fairweatherlewis.blogstream.com

...if anybody feels like they can offer the birthers anything that has not already been beaten into their stubborn 'four balls 'a brain',(that is based on assumption), feel free to try...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tina-dupuy/the-birther-movement-beyo_b_248786.html

i leave for the day now...crow must go to crow's nest and look out for the noise levels!

"Now he is a mere shadow of his former self "

I had several friends who came home mere shadows. What a waste.

Champ,

Im with Pat, but would like them more often...and would not change anything that was done in the past...you is you...and you should be here!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248527

Thanks, C-Bob. We'll stop by this time, no doubt the weather will be better than last January's. Does Hank sell those creations of yours or collect them?

Looking forward to meeting this cute fella --

http://thetwistedpine.com/index.php?sku=3328-2264&cat=746

CBob and Hi Bethy

This is a photo of Peter Hackett and his old yeast!
I interviewed for a story on his bbq and beer festival. Possibly the best food festival.

His bar, Stumptown has a great deck with a view of the River.

http://www.stumptown.com/

Wait until you hear my cure for mental hemorrhoids!

Posted by: Blonde wino Author Profile Page | August 1, 2009 8:53 AM

You mean memorrhoids?

Of race and beer. From one of my fave blogsters:

"It was right out of central casting. (Except for the white butler) Two white guys; two black guys; black and white on each side; the beer placed just right. Isn't race relations wonderful when you plan it right? It was happy hour at the White House. Just a bunch of guys shooting the breeze and working out their differences: "So Jim, are you a saaax fan? Yes Mr. President, I am. Well you guys better do something with Dice-K or you are going to be in trouble. Well I am a Phillies fan myself. We don't have a team in Delaware. I know Joe, I was talking to Jim. Do you like baseball Skip? Is that the one where they score touchdowns? .....Let me stop and leave Skip alone. But he pissed me off when he dissed my Red Stripe and went with some A-merry-can brew. He knows damn good and well that he prefers Red Stripe. How can he have an honest discussion about race when he isn't even honest about the damn beer he drinks? "

http://field-negro.blogspot.com/2009/07/happy-hour-in-merry-ca.html

Hubs can always use another T-Shirt (^_~)

http://thetwistedpine.com/index.php?sku=174-2264&cat=2956

cont:

Luther Not Popular in Dallas

To suggested to the gathering of Lutherans that Dallas, where the "decider" on torture is now their neighbor, might be where the battle rages for them. there were...... very few takers.

"But he kept us safe … isn’t it better to fight the terrorists over there than to fight them here?"

There was little appetite to listening to THAT Luther in that Lutheran church. The pastor shared with me later that he had encountered all manner of criticism for having invited someone disrespectful of George W. Bush.

Despite the turbulence caused, the Pasteur noted that "torture is not high on anyone’s agenda."

In a brief thank-you note he wrote, "I believe that if the full scope of the nation’s use of torture comes to light, there may be need for churches to propose confession and repentance, as a positive witness for the rest of the world."

Presbyterians: To their credit, the Presbyterians have been more outspoken — some of them at least.

In 2006, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) called on Congress to convene an independent investigative body to establish responsibility for the abuse of detainees and, if appropriate, to recommend the appointment of a special prosecutor.

The clerk of the General Assembly followed up on April 23, 2009, with an appeal to President Barack Obama to work with Congress to establish a non-partisan Commission of Inquiry to bring "an understanding of what happened, how it happened, and who was accountable," adding:

"If those responsible are not held accountable, nothing beyond wishful thinking and admonitions exists to compel future leaders to resist the temptation to torture in times of fear or threat."

Good for the Presbyterians, but at a Sunday evening talk to a Dallas area Presbyterian congregation by complementing those assembled on the gutsy appeal of April 23. They did not know what was being talked about.......it wasn't discussed at church

This congregation was no exception to the general rule that courageous statements at high official levels do not find their way into Sunday sermons, much less workshops. A disappointment, but hardly a surprise.

Methodists: The United Methodist General Board of Churches and Society, acknowledging the results of the Pew survey, is also supporting an independent inquiry into torture.

Top executive Jim Winkler has been very direct: "Shame, shame, shame on any Christian who could imagine there is any justification of torture against another human being. We cannot conceive in our wildest dreams of Jesus Christ giving any blessing to torture."

It is another question, of course, as to whether Pew reaches the pews.

As for the Dallas Methodists, Southern Methodist University has shown itself eager to host George W. Bush’s presidential library and an independent institute to sponsor programs to "promote the vision of the president and celebrate" his presidency.

The protests of thousands of Methodists, including prominent alumni of SMU’s School of Theology pointing to the policy of torture, fell on the deaf ears of the Methodist bishops and trustees who blessed the enterprise.

critical review of "Die, Monster, Die" with boris karloff and nick adams:

"Die, Movie, Die"

of course, like many monster movies.......it was so bad it was great.............but now I know at least one reason why nick adams was so depressed......

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248579

ivy, have that very tee and get rave reviews every time i wear it.

This is where the gang got the 20th anniversary just in case you like patriotic gift selections with lots of goodies.

http://www.pageneralstore.com/?gclid=CNW1sMutg5wCFRZCagod-gfP-A

Ivy, to answer that t-shirt I would say, it kind of depends on what he says.

I love the tee.

You think the birthers are bad. I just got a "THIS IS THE TRUTH!!!!!" email with a link to a Michelle Bachman you tube video.

There is so much stupid out there.

Rez, did you see the Colbert Report where in his "the word" he compared the Gates/Crowley incident to passing gas?

Rez -- that blog is great! Who is this guy?

http://​alaskare​port​.com/​n​e​w​s​3​9​/​x​7​1​2​8​3​_​d​i​v​o​r​c​e​_​p​a​l​i​ns.htm

PALINS TO DIVORCE

http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=114786376115&h=mzNTh&u=E710h&ref=mf

try this link to palins' upcoming divorce

"ME.......don't think that I didn't catch that!"

Is that 'ME' or 'me'?
... and what did you catch Quickdraw?
(you always seem to be one up on me) :)

Sarah Palin's Camp Denies Divorce Rumors
Various Media Reports Claim Former Alaska Governor Divorcing Todd Palin
http://kdka.com/national/sarah.palin.divorce.2.1110969.html

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248592

Dexter, Quite an article. Multiple affairs on both sides? Those Republican family values of their politicians just keep on giving and giving and giving.

Gee "he said" "she said" This could replace The Argentine rambler and all the stoic Republican wives combined ... who needs Hollywood when you have C STreet.

Giuliani Hopes For No Health Care Reform, Says Those Making ‘$250k Or More’ Are ‘Struggling’

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/07/31/giuliani-health-reform-struggling/

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248585

Pat --

Isn't it a rhetorical question...?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248586

Jamie --

No Scrapple on the PA Dutch page?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248587

Carol --

It also depends on where he left her...

(^_~)

1981 MTV premiers at 12:01 AM

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

Then Reality killed MTV

Solar Sourdough -

Yippy !

Film at 11.

I hate this guy,

Lobbyist Dick Armey’s Pollution Gospel: ‘As An Article Of Faith,’ It Is ‘Pretentious’ To Believe In Global Warming

Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-TX) appeared as a witness for the Republican bicameral hearing on climate change legislation yesterday on Capitol Hill. Along with a cadre of polluter CEOs and Chamber of Commerce officials, Armey played his part leveling an array of attacks on any effort to transition to a clean energy economy.

As the hearing progressed, most of the witnesses spent their time recycling months-old debunked studies. But Armey distinguished himself by invoking a religious argument to back up his smears against what he called “environmental hypochondriacs” filled with “eco-evangelical hysteria.” Armey claimed that in his world view, because God created the heavens and the Earth, it would be “quite pretentious” for people to believe God would permit global warming to even occur:

DICK ARMEY: What I’m suggesting is we have a sort of an eco-evangelical hysteria going on and it leads me to almost wonder if we are becoming a nation of environmental hypochondriacs that are willing to use the power of the state to impose enormous restrictions on the rights and the comforts of, and incomes of individuals who serve essentially a paranoia, a phobia, that has very little fact evidence in fact. Now these are observations that are popular to make because right now its almost taken as an article of faith that this crisis is real. Let me say I take it as an article of faith if the lord God almighty made the heavens and the Earth, and he made them to his satisfaction and it is quite pretentious of we little weaklings here on earth to think that, that we are going to destroy God’s creation. [...]

SEN. ORRIN HATCH: Mr. Armey it’s great to have you here. Great to see you again and we appreciate all you’ve done throughout the years and your work on Capitol Hill. Great job.

Watch it:

Despite Armey’s claims, global warming is very real and has already caused great damage to creation. Indeed, though Armey would like to create a false dichotomy between people who want to stop global warming and people who believe in God, no such gap exists. A Faith and Public Life poll found 63% of Catholics and 50% of white evangelicals want the federal government to do more to address climate change. Pope Benedict XVI has called for a greater focus on the environment, saying “if you want to promote peace, safeguard creation.”

Armey’s use of faith to demonize clean energy reform should come as no surprise. After promoting a polluter agenda for many years in Congress, Armey became a lobbyist for the firm DLA Piper, which represents many interests with a stake against curbing greenhouse gas emissions:

–- DLA Piper represents Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister of the UAE, on energy related issues such as maintaining the U.S.-UAE relationship where “U.S companies have played major roles in the development of UAE energy resources, which represent about 10 percent of global oil reserves.” [US Department of Justice, accessed 7/30/09]

– DLA Piper recently signed on Colonial Oil as a new client. [Senate Lobbying Disclosures, accessed 7/30/09]

– DLA Piper represents Irving Oil, lobbying directly on clean energy reform legislation. [Senate Lobbying Disclosures, accessed 7/30/09]

After leaving Congress, Armey became the head of Citizens for a Sound Economy, a right-wing front group funded largely by oil companies like ExxonMobil. CSE later morphed into the astroturf organization known as FreedomWorks, which Armey has used to orchestrate the vicious anti-Obama tea party rallies. And, as ThinkProgress has documented, though FreedomWorks purports to fight on behalf of a purely free market ideology, Armey has used FreedomWorks to whip up “grassroots” support for the clients he represents.

I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts, and beer.
--Abraham Lincoln--

From the " Stumptown Brewery " page .

Ivy

Chocolate Scrapple :-)

http://www.pageneralstore.com/prodinfo.asp?number=C808

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248471

Pat --

Love your grammar book suggestion. Its title recalls another favorite "reference" of mine...

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Emotional-Vampires/Albert-J-Bernstein/e/9780071381673/?itm=2

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248598

Solar, It's hard to get by on five times the median family income. Body and soul just barely hanging together.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248606

Jamie --

Yum! I can skip the syrup I usually pour on my regular scrapple...what will they think of next?

Solar -
Here's yer " Atta Boy " .

Solar -
Here's yer " Atta Boy " .

Jamie,

I knew that was right up your alley, I was looking for that blog before,,but lost it...I found it by reading something else.......I can't believe that he is saying that.....hell if I made 250k about the only thing that would make me struggle.....would be how much of it, would it take to keep some family members afloat until things got better for them,,,with careful planning I could make that last. What BS!!

Me, is not you, so you leave me alone. hahaha. Or are you me?mmmmm

Pat, Ivy,,,,,I have both of your grammer links marked, tanks :-))

Ditto what Solar said about Dick Armey....God a'mighty.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248613

Solar --

I neglected to check if I used "its" properly...always a tough one, & I mighta messed it up. Bethy???

(^_~)

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

Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.

If it wasn't for Religion, the Repugs would have nothing imo: Everything that they say and do; revolves around it; from war to the abortion issue, etc. Not so much any more....the D's better take advantage of this time....and get born, again, and again.

James while John had had had had had had had had had had had a better effect on the teacher.

punctuation required..........

Ivy,

It's ok, don't worry about it: It's done all the time, except when It's done by grammar geeks like You guy's, than it's not so good then,,,,,,,but it's ok when I do it ....Bethy said it's was ok...cos she said solar is solar HA! (^_~)

Strug,

Why are you making fun of the way that I talk? Im sensitive you know.

Mr. Sturge --

http://www.farmersalmanac.com/full-moon-names

"Full Sturgeon Moon - August The fishing tribes are given credit for the naming of this Moon, since sturgeon, a large fish of the Great Lakes and other major bodies of water, were most readily caught during this month. A few tribes knew it as the Full Red Moon because, as the Moon rises, it appears reddish through any sultry haze. It was also called the Green Corn Moon or Grain Moon."

Also, so we may plan our August, here's a list of "best days."

http://www.farmersalmanac.com/best_days/month

James, while John had had "had," had had "had had"; "had had" had had a better effect on the teacher.

solar.....lol.......not a bit of it......your sentence made me remember teaching my friend's 11 yr old daughter the phrase "That that is is that that is not is not is that it it is" and i promised her I'd get back to her with the end of it if there were one which there is not but in searching I came across the buffalo and the john and james.......

Sturg, just kidding, of course, I always look forward to you and Pat teaching me a little here, and a little there. You, and she say so much in such short posts,,,and I say so little in my longer ones...so take mine apart any time you wish.

"1953 Robert Cray Columbus Ga, blues singer/songwriter (1987 Grammy)"

For those fellow Robert Cray fans -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bupbE-i-IY

Jamie, while cleaning house today,,,and I put on a stack of 45's, played some oldies but goodies...this one came up.........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb3iPP-tHdA#

Charleston Men of Integrity invites the men of the Charleston area to the Iron Sharpens Iron Men's Conference on Saturday at Faith Assembly of God in Summerville.

Keynote speakers are Steve Farrar, founder of Men's Leadership Ministries and author of the best-selling "Point Man, How a Man Can Lead His Family," and Larry Jackson, senior pastor of Bethel Outreach International Church in Charlotte and regional leader for Fellowship of International Churches.

excerpt of staff report article in charleston post and courier

sounds like a "guy thing".

Single Payer will get a floor vote. Probably won't go anywhere but at least a whole lot on Critters will have to go on record as to how much more they value Insurance companies than they do people

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/44893

Senor Fish

I would rather be a "has been"
than a "might have been" by far.
A "might have been" has never been,
While a "has been" was an "Are".

Ivy,

"Its" is one of the weird "exceptions" in that the apostrophe s version is "It is" while the "its" without the apostrophe means "belonging to it".

Of course the other weird one is that sentence is the spelling of weird which at one time was pronounced "wayrd" and is akin to "their" which was once pronouced "thayr" thus throwing it into the second half of the rhyme:

I before e except after c
Or when pronounce AY as in
neighbor and weigh

English is a truly frustrating if beautiful language.

Here is a link to a "guy thing" from which I've heard good things...

The Mankind Project --

http://www.mkp.org/index.htm

Hey Craig, congrats on staying with MSNBC!!!!

Hooray!

Sorry to hear about the ear infection. Glad you still remember our 'stuff'.

Jamie, you're always in charge. What will it be this year for 9/17? Let me know.

FaceBook's evil. It's rife with nasty conservatives. EWWWwwwww....

tt

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248631

"English is a truly frustrating if beautiful language."

Jamie --

'Tis true...though studying French, Spanish, and even German taught me much about English!

"English is a truly frustrating if beautiful language."

Tu, puedes deceir eso otra vese!

You can say that again!, specially when youre thinking in spanglish....it becomes all..........

Jamie, no Latin?

tt

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248633

Tiptoe and everyone who wants in, send me an email at webthings@comcast.net

Any suggestions are welcome.

Sturg, Ivy, Try and dance to this.

http://science.videosift.com/video/Bobby-McFerrin-plays-the-audience-as-an-instrument

Ivy,

You're going to love this one.

http://www.videosift.com/video/Bobby-McFerrin-improvises-with-audience

Tiptoe

I had two years of Latin, one of French, and one of Spanish. Most of which has totally disappeared except that I can sort of read a newspaper in Spanish with a whole lot of effort. :-)

The Latin did help with developing an immense vocabulary.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248639

Solar --

Thank you...I did love it...this comment on the link says it all to me...

"Bobby took the music to the audience, with no spoken words..."

Solar --

Your clips made me wonder where he's been lately...

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

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248641

Jamie --

It's a shame we can't hang on to it better...it has to be just lack of practice...

Sorry Carol & Patsi, I boogied out on some errands after posting this afternoon.

Patsi, that blog is one I bumped into during the primaries. He's a black lawyer out of Philly. He's a Dem but not in the tank for Obama, just his wife is, to whom he always differs. :-) imo He's got a great healthy attitude about race relations and seems to always have a keen perspective on the issues of the day.

Carol, I need to check out a repaly of Colbert's show. I like him and allof his outside 'correspondents'.

If you don't catch this tonite I'll repost b/c I don't want you to think I'm ignoring you. Impossible!

differ = defer but probably either or both in this context.

I followed this from a link at another site...a how-to of "best disruptive practices" for local town hall anarchists-in-training...

"– Artificially Inflate Your Numbers: “Spread out in the hall and try to be in the front half. The objective is to put the Rep on the defensive with your questions and follow-up. The Rep should be made to feel that a majority, and if not, a significant portion of at least the audience, opposes the socialist agenda of Washington.”

– Be Disruptive Early And Often: “You need to rock-the-boat early in the Rep’s presentation, Watch for an opportunity to yell out and challenge the Rep’s statements early.”

– Try To “Rattle Him,” Not Have An Intelligent Debate: “The goal is to rattle him, get him off his prepared script and agenda. If he says something outrageous, stand up and shout out and sit right back down. Look for these opportunities before he even takes questions.”

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/07/31/recess-harassment-memo/

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248647

More from the same...

"Town Halls Gone Wild"

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0709/25646.html

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248648

Despicable as such tactics are, I can't agree with the label "Un-American" attached by some. It's ironic, but the fact is intimidation, harassment, and violence by mobs were exactly the underhanded tactics used to organize opposition to British colonial rule. But that doesn't make using them now noble, moral or conscionable.

Time for poetry to August...

"Fairest of the months! ripe Summer's Queen
The hey-day of the year
With robes that gleam with sunny sheen
Sweet August doth appear"

--- R. Combe Miller

In honor of tonite's news:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ialhaxhr7iA

"In August, the large masses of berries, which, when in flower, had attracted many wild bees,
gradually assumed their bright velvety crimson hue, and by their weight again bent down
and broke their tender limbs."

--- Henry David Thoreau

"As in the bread and wine, so it is with me.
Within all forms is locked a record of the past
And a promise of the future.
I ask that you lay your blessings upon me, Ancient Ones,
That this season of waning light
And increasing darkness may not be heavy.
So Mote It Be!"

--- Faille, Lammas Ritual

Last but not least...

"Once upon a Lammas Night
When corn rigs are bonny,
Beneath the Moon's unclouded light,
I held awhile to Annie...
The time went by with careless heed
Between the late and early,
With small persuasion she agreed
To see me through the barley...
Corn rigs and barley rigs,
Corn rigs are bonny!
I'll not forget that happy night
Among the rigs with Annie!"

--- Robert Burns

Think I'll be going now...

...a short attempt at a little of the Gullah dialect, native patois of the vicinity!

....when una de' de' de', de' deh de' NO deh de...
....when una de' yeh'deh, de' deh de' deh!

thanks, crow

...sorry about posting such a thing as that without the audio accompaniment;
http://www.databird.com/mp3/dededede.mp3

"differ = defer but probably either or both in this context."

Ha -- I hadn't questioned the word, Rez...yes, both no doubt work. Anyway, thanks again for the link...the guy seems like someone worth reading!

On a related topic -- I asked a fairly young black acquaintance of mine what she thought of Obama entering the Gates mess. She didn't know what I was talking about -- thought I was talking about something that was being discussed among her friends -- whether Michelle had cut and straightened her hair more!

Patsi,

I didn't hear a soul talking about the incident down in these parts. I asked a black inmate what he thought and he told me of a night that two black cops were harrassing this white couple, with a baby, driving thru his hood looking for a friend. They accussed the couple of looking for crack. He tried to intervene and almost got arrested.

My inmates are more likely to know about current events than the staff. They watch the news.

One of my nurses said she was up burying her cat in the front yard at 3 am.. It had just been run over by a car when a cop driving by stopped and asked if he could help. She told him what she was doing and he said sorry and left. She guessed it may have looked strange being up in the middle of the night burying something in her front yard.

OK Rez, it is possible to ignore me. There is that little arrow down button you can hit.

"You, and she say so much in such short posts,,,and I say so little in my longer ones..."

solar, sometimes longer is better

In my estimation, the two worst things that came out of this Gates confrontation were:

#1: The "class" aspect. This continual chant about Gates's "position." It sounds as if the media is saying: "How DARE they hassle an important man." Class was also obvious after the police officer's well-handled press conference. Immediately the pundits started saying he must have been coached -- as if a cop couldn't possibly come up with any nuanced or carefully thought-through comments.

#2: The fact that Faux News and talk radio has been able to beat Obama over the head with his "stupidly" comment. I hate that he has to be so damn careful about race issues -- because the second he has an opinion, he's branded a racist.

Hmm...should read "have been"

I think we ought to get rid of that term, racist. It certainly confuses the issues. Probably sexist does also.

Ivy

Rabbie seems to have made a habit of dalliance among the corn rigs and more than once it got him into trouble

The Fornicator

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Fornicator

July 2009 sets record for temperatures
By Juana Summers
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Saturday, August 01, 2009

July 2009 goes down as the hottest month ever recorded, Lower Colorado River Authority meteorologist Bob Rose said Friday.

July 2009 had 26 days with temperatures over 100 degrees, and 42 days saw triple-digit highs so far this summer.
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/08/01/0801hotjuly.html

Conservative think tanks own the op/ed pages:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-08-01/the-right-wing-op-ed-insurgency?cid=hp:mainpromo5

Thought for the day :
" The first thing I do in the morning is brush my teeth and sharpen my tongue. "

Don't know about getting rid of terms like racist and sexist, although I understand exactly what you are saying. I often used the term gender-based...

1942 Garth Hudson keyboardist (The Band)

The Band - Chest Fever

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3X6W6-yawyI

Some of you have been talking about having fewer hummers around than usual. I have noticed a few more of them than usual for this time of year. So has a friend of mine. Animals know things we don't. What do you think they may be telling us?

How did your bread taste C-Bob? I'm eating some store bought sour dough for breakfast right now. I just love it. I think I could live just on bread, that is, a good crusty, tasty bread.

I've seen a few SUV's with bald tires lately.

"I think I could live just on bread, that is, a good crusty, tasty bread. "

Me too Carol.
Both plain, and with peanut butters, jams, etc.
Love crusty bread.....yeah, I could live on it too.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248676

And the significance of that is.....?

Carol, Did you see Renee's post. She knows some kind of expert on hummers, at her fair. He/She (can't remember) said that there's a cycle of less of them some places this year. You lucked out in your area. I've been seeing tons of dragon flies, more than ever before, and some on the site said they've seen less. I figure that's a cycle too.

Well, Mag said it is time to go check out the fishing. Yesterday the fish just took my bait and I didn't catch anything except, maybe, heat exhaustion. I have caught and released so often that the fish have learned how to get the bait and avoid the hook.

Ha Carol.
When you said hummers, I thought you were talking about the vehicle. I think Sturge 'may' have too. (btw, have been seeing lots of new hummers the vehicle in these parts lately).

I think Sturge may have been referring to the fact that the economy has affected their ability to buy new tires. Sturge?.... a little humor.

Go ahead, shoot me. I like the status quo on health care in the United States. I've got health insurance and I don't give a damn about the 47 million suckers who don't. Obama and Congress must be stopped. No bill! I'm better off the way things are.

I'm with that woman who wrote the president complaining about "socialized medicine" and added: "Now keep your hands off my Medicare." That's the spirit!

Why should I be entitled to the same insurance that members of Congress get? Blue Dogs need a lot of medical attention to treat their blueness. I'm just a regular guy and definitely deserve less.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/209817

CT -
" How did your bread taste C-Bob? "

Recipe needs more salt . 3 or 4 teaspoons instead of just 2.

CT -
Making gumbo today , finally got some okra from the garden .

This looks like a fun read... there's a piece on poison plants featuring it on CBS Sunday Morning show now...

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Wicked-Plants/Amy-Stewart/e/9781565126831/?itm=1

"Some of you have been talking about having fewer hummers "

LMAO! I need to stay out of the gutter! No need to tell you my first thought, but I will. I thought, "Huh, these guys would NEVER admit that!"

Alter's piece in Newsweek was great!

Secrets Of Caistor Roman Town

ScienceDaily (July 31, 2009) — In December 2007 a team of experts, led by The University of Nottingham, unveiled an extraordinary set of high-resolution images that gave an insight into the plan of the Roman town of Venta Icenorum at Caistor St Edmund in Norfolk. New research has demonstrated that Caistor is a site of international importance. .........................

The new investigations, by Dr Bowden and his team, have shown that rather than simply being a provincial Roman town, Caistor may represent the development of a major settlement from the Iron Age until the 9th century AD. Crucially, however, the site was ultimately superseded by medieval Norwich and reverted to green fields.

This is quite unlike other Roman towns that have the same long occupation sequence which now lie buried beneath the modern towns of Britain and Europe.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090624111021.htm

Patsi,

for your interest.....

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/02/arts/music/02cara.html

ROME -- Archaeologists have found the skeleton of a warrior from up to 5,000 years ago floating in a tomb filled with sea water on a beach near Rome, Italy's art squad said Friday.

http://www.seattlepi.com/national/1103ap_eu_italy_warriors_tomb.html

.... it's helped car sales:

DeMint not a "Cash-for-Clunkers" fan
The program exhausted its $1 billion budget in just one week, as car dealers across the country applied for money to help move new cars off their lots. After a brutal year for auto sales, dealers sold an estimated 250,000 cars in the last week alone." http://www.politico.com/blogs/politicolive/

Clinton out of debt; has $3 million mound of money
"Well, it turns out that Clinton now has $3 million: Her old presidential campaign has $1 million, and her old Senate campaign committee has $2.1 million. Where will the money go? An aide told New York Daily News that it will go to other candidates or be donated to charity.

It raises questions about that nascent presidential campaign for 2016 -- and she didn't close the door on that, if you read her remarks carefully," University of Virginia's Larry Sabato -- who is apparently at genius at predicting election outcomes -- told the Daily News. "Just having the committee and the money gives her political clout, if she ever needs it," he said." http://hillary.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/07/30/clinton_out_of_debt_has_3_million_mound_of_money

racist and sexist aren't good terms as they conjure different images in different folks' minds; and, because they are completely dismissive of the offending party.

I think it's much more productive telling how a person reacts to specific words or comments. For instance, I felt shocked and totally awful when he said the n-word as part of a normal conversation in which a person who happened to be black came into the conversation.

When I told him how I felt, he apologized profusely saying that it would never happen again. I said thanks for his understanding and that I would hate that another such comment would end our friendship.

Doots -- that piece is demoralizing...of course, Tanya Tucker was a very young blond with a record deal...but I don't think many of the new ones are Tanya Tuckers....

Salt in bread. I'm somewhat leery of increasing salt simply because of taste because of its potential of affecting the activity of the yeast. I've found that using a salted butter when serving the bread will sometimes correct the problem. I usually don't have any of it around because when I do use butter, I go with the unsalted version.

But, sometimes a recipe will simply not include enough salt. Looking through my cookbooks, I constantly alter recipes when I don't like outcomes. And, I often change the amounts of sugar or the type of shortening. (I'm one of the clods who prefers lard for serious baking.) I will often use raw sugar when I want a distinctive flavor, but a flavor more subtle than molasses.

Stinky's calling!

I am sure you are right, Patsi. That is the current thoughts of country music fans. Younger and younger audiences. Teenage boys lusting after the blond singers. The record execs are the reason for this. IMO.

I know we were joking about it a few weeks ago, but the "gag me with a spoon" schlock is happening. The series of four numbered Michael Jackson lithographs

http://www.asseenontvvideo.com/511910/Michael-Jackson-Lithograph-Poster-Set.html

Why isn't this in all the top news channels......A few our fathers....holy Mary's......say it was gods will........he will have a clear conscience and go on with his life................

Wis. jury: Father guilty in prayer death case

WAUSAU, Wis. — A central Wisconsin man accused of killing his 11-year-old daughter by praying instead of seeking medical care was found guilty Saturday of second-degree reckless homicide.

Dale Neumann, 47, was convicted in the March 23, 2008, death of his daughter, Madeline, from undiagnosed diabetes. Prosecutors contended he should have rushed the girl to a hospital because she couldn't walk, talk, eat or drink. Instead, Madeline died on the floor of the family's rural Weston home as people surrounded her and prayed. Someone called 911 when she stopped breathing.

Sitting straight in his chair, Neumann stared at the jury as the verdict in a nearly empty courtroom was read. He declined comment as he left the courthouse.

Defense attorney Jay Kronenwetter said the verdict would be appealed. He declined further comment.

Prosecutors also declined comment, citing a gag order.

Leilani Neumann, 41, was convicted on the same charge in the spring. Marathon County Circuit Judge Vincent Howard set Oct. 6 for sentencing for both parents, who face up to 25 years in prison.

Their case is believed to be the first in Wisconsin involving faith healing in which someone died and another person was charged with a homicide.

Last month, an Oregon jury convicted a man of misdemeanor criminal mistreatment for relying on prayer instead of seeking medical care for his 15-month-old daughter who died of pneumonia and a blood infection in March 2008. Both of the girl's parents were acquitted of a more serious manslaughter charge.

Neumann's jury — six men and six women — deliberated about 15 hours over two days before convicting him. At one point, jurors asked the judge whether Neumann's belief in faith healing made him "not liable" for not taking his daughter to the hospital even if he knew she wasn't feeling well.

Neumann, who once studied to be a Pentecostal minister, testified Thursday that he believed God would heal his daughter and he never expected her to die. God promises in the Bible to heal, he said.

"If I go to the doctor, I am putting the doctor before God," Neumann testified. "I am not believing what he said he would do."

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

IM watching G. S. Can't believe that Greenspan shows his face around....I put the most blame on him, for our financial mess...him and his wall st. buds.......

I side with the parents, Solar.

Flatus -
Thanks for those comments. My baking experience goes all the way back to yesterday.

Exciting clip of 2 loaves of bread -

http://cbsolaroven.blogspot.com/

Well ABC's This Week is having that Racist, Bigot Malkin on with George.

How much lower can MSNBC sink?

Well only time will tell I guess, but they sure can't sink much lower now IMHO.

That is unless the next guest is Rush Himmler Limbaugh or Ann Coulter.

"Thought for the day :
" The first thing I do in the morning is brush my teeth and sharpen my tongue. "

I like that a lot, C-Bob.

OOPs....

Me bad. Meant ABC and not MSNBC.

They have their own racist and bigots on regularly like that good ole boy Pat Buchanan.

Anon -- I despise Ann Coulter, but was surprised that she dissed the birthers....she's usually right in there with the most crazy of them....

Flatus

It is so rare that I don't see things your way.....please expound on this thought of yours......

"I side with the parents, Solar."

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248697

Have fun voting on the President's report card

http://reportcard.cnn.com/

Coulter may be evil, she's not brain dead.

Bob, I simply don't have the patience to nurture a starter. :)

I see nothing wrong with starting a yeast-based bread in a cold oven.

I would think the most productive collector surfaces would be a carbon black coating on the side facing the sun, with a totally reflective coating on the side facing the contents of the oven. I'm probably wrong, but that's the thought that crossed my mind when you were discussing the difficulty of cleaning inside.

FWIW, I've found that Mrs Imus' glass cleaner is the best all-around general purpose cleaner that I've used in recent years.

Solar, it's simply me being a libertarian.

Anon,

I can't believe that Malkin is on G S either: She just said that it was immoral to extend unemployment compensation.....that they should go and get jobs,,,instead of collection the comp....(which is fn taxable) There are not jobs out there......they aren't lazy...they had jobs in the first place........what a shit no?

Solar...

Of course she went ahead and plugged her book. She won't find too many ABC viewers who will buy it though I'm sure there are a few who will.

Well I'm outta here for awhile.

Take care and have a good day.

Flatus,

I see. You know: I kind of agree a little, I think. I do have a certain respect for their commitment to their God. They paid the ultimate price tho......the loss of a daughter......and not just lip service....I hope that this doesn't make me look crazy, but........

I think that (for my liking) these kind of stories be out there for a cpl of reasons: It just might save a few lives.......it exposes the false teachings of the bible, and should cast some doubt on it,,,even for the most ardent believers.!!

"(I'm one of the clods who prefers lard for serious baking.)"
flatus

I guess that makes me a clodette. I like a flaky crust.

Michelle Malkin ugh.

In the good old days, I used to keep a container of bacon grease on the stove and started everything with it. I stopped that years ago but I'm back to slipping it in again. I started my string beans today with bacon and onions.

With no one to take care of my old ass, I don't want to stick around too long. I just hope it is quick and when it is over, someone can just dump me in the river to feed the catfish.

Carol,

Every time that you say something like that.....I want to fly over and do all of the work for you..............I now have the perfect solution for you.....and how you would be taken very good care of...at a later date.......wanna hear it?

"The record execs are the reason for this. IMO."

Doots -- not to mention country radio. (corporate radio...)

"In the good old days, I used to keep a container of bacon grease on the stove and started everything with it."

Same with my mom and she used an empty coffee can on a saucer. Good old days is right. :-)

Hey Doots and Patsi, just learned something new from that article that makes sense after thinking on it.

"The target demographic for country radio, which has historically been middle-aged women,. ."

stray tho'ts on today's discussions:

1. alter's piece brings up the question how much does it cost taxpayers for each congress critter's healthcare plan and how does that cost compare to the average policy for the average taxpayer's plan.

2. the use of terms racist and sexist seems different than using the term feminist. why? and what is there about the suffixes -ist and -ism that makes them so powerful or abusive? the i-words.

3. if distrust or fear of incompentent medical treatment, instead of religion, was used as an excuse for nontreatment, would our reaction to the fate of those poor children be the same? concern about mrsa, hospital contracted diseases, mal- and mis- practice, overworked or undertrained staff can make one hesitate to subject loved ones to treatment unknowns.

4. if "the maria telkes" were a flower, she would look like this:
http://landscaping.about.com/od/colorfulflowers/ig/red-flowers/red_poppy_closeup_large.htm

oops meant premium instead of policy

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248708

Flatus,

Where do you buy the cleaner, if I may ask?

“A Book of Verses underneath the Bough,
A jug of Wine, a Loaf of Bread—and Thou
Beside me singing in the Wilderness—
O, Wilderness were Paradise enow!”

let's see, sourdough would be the loaf of choice today, but which book under what bough where and would the jugwine be red or white?

Rez -- that used to be conventional wisdom, that older women bought the records and that they spent more money on male artists. Now the market seems to be directed strictly at the very young. I do like some of these new younger artists...but would like to see some variety. (Hell, I'd still like to hear Ernest Tubb on the radio!)

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248709

Flatus,

Being a libertarian when it comes to the physical well being of your children strikes me as a bit off. That would mean you view children as chattal belonging to the parents and as property something they could dispose of at will. Might need a little more clarification than just "me being a libertarian"

Tell me your ideas Solar.

I cooked for my stepfather and twin sister. Chuck roast, smothered with onions/garlic, rice and gravy, green beans with bacon and onions, toasted Italian bread slathered with butter, the salty kind . Not a health food meal but definitely sticking to our innards.

Posted by: Jamie Author Profile Page | August 2, 2009 2:00 PM

The Dark Lord may have had chided Jamie for her tone towards the venerable Flatus if he had not read the thread a little more thoroughly than he ordinarily might. He will venture that while he may not have the official Libertarian handbook, he believes an adherent to such a philosophy would recognize the minor child's right to life, liberty and all such fine things, regardless of her parent's beliefs.

And Solar, I try not to complain too much about all my chores, I try to just look at them as my manditory exercise program to work off meals like I just described.

Dark Lord

Sorry for any confusion. I do respect a parent's right to oversee their child's religious instruction (They can always rebel at a later date). This does not extend to completely rejecting medical advice in an obvious crisis.

Like the man who prayed to be rescued from a flood while turning down a lift from a four wheeler, a row boat, and a helicopter. He drowns and gets to heaven complaining that God didn't save him to which God replied, "I sent you a four wheeler, row boat, and helicopter ... what more did you want?"

"I sent you a four wheeler, row boat, and helicopter ... what more did you want?"

Right.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248732

I agree Jamie. I have inmates who refuse to take their blood pressure or diabetes meds saying that they trust in God to take care of them. I tell them, I know, that's who sent me.

"Where do you buy the cleaner..."
http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248725
Ivy, I get it at our local military commissary. I'll take a look the next time I'm in Krogers to see if they carry it. That Imus product really is superior--and green on top of it.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248728

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248728

Jamie, Laird, Solar

I would be more sympathetic to government intervention in healthcare when confronted with the religions of idiotic zealots if they consistently applied their intrusions in all matters of child safety, not just those involving application of religious freedom as the motivator to provide or to not provide care.

Hypothetically, if the same bunch of kooks says their children will forgo sweets and eschew automobiles and mundane things such as wars, would the tally of survivors tilt towards the 'normal' or the 'zealots'?

I realize that these deaths were probably tragically unnecessary. But, I also believe government intervention in matters when religious beliefs are involved gets to the heart of our Revolution and our Constitution.

And, Laird, respectfully, I was speaking as a small 'l' libertarian. I have no association with those superior individuals who have awarded themselves the large 'L'. :)

And, of course, I would be much, much more sympathetic if our leaders brought single-payer to our people.

(Hell, I'd still like to hear Ernest Tubb on the radio!)

Posted by: Patsi | August 2, 2009 1:52 PM

You and me both, Patsi. . .they all sound alike to me these days. . .a vice nobody could accuse ET of. . .

That's the problem I have with radio now, KT -- sounds alike. And I could listen to some female singer/songwriters like KT Oslin (speaking of KTs...)

"Hypothetically, if the same bunch of kooks says their children will forgo sweets and eschew automobiles and mundane things such as wars, would the tally of survivors tilt towards the 'normal' or the 'zealots'?"

flatus, not so hypothetical when you consider the long history of cases involving quakers, amish, christian scientists, jehovah withnesses, some hasidics etc etc.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248743
Pat,
Of course. Now, why are we picking on this particular bunch of zealots when the government will reimburse for Christian Science practitioners who are most decidedly neither pill-pushers nor surgeons?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248740

Flatus,

There you have total agreement. Every time I hear an argument against single payer, my Ah oooo gah Ah ooooo gah, liar, liar, pants on fire needle on the meter waves with ever increasing rapidity until the mahine blows up in a horrendous burst of flame and showering metal.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248742

Patsi and KT,

Here in the Metromess (dfw area) we have at least one station that plays the older country music. you can listen on your computer live at http://www.countrylegends921.com/

enjoy

Posted by: Flatus Author Profile Page | August 2, 2009 3:04 PM

Philosophic ideals aside, and despite this individual not being studied in the field of law, it is criminal negligence at the very least for one to let a child in their care to die of a common, treatable disease on which there is a large body of available information easily accessible to any who wish to find it. Rare as the occurrence may be, it seems the court agrees.

So, Laird, where is the failure? Is it in the parents, or their sect, or in their neighbors, or in the governmental agencies who failed in recognizing that they needed to intervene?

Flatus,

That's why I said, what I said, I give the person that is willing to follow the bible to the letter of its word...more believable in his belief of it....than the others that just use it to gain wealth, and power....but it is still negligence to me..........

Jamie,

"I do respect a parent's right to oversee their child's religious instruction (They can always rebel at a later date). This does not extend to completely rejecting medical advice in an obvious crisis"

This should be the other way around no? Why brain wash an innocent mind when they are not capable of defending themselves at that point. At that point they are Baptized, and all of the other things that guarantees their affiliation to a particular Religion.

Why not-- let them choose on their own when they are older? Science and Religion could be taught to them in schools....separate from one another....

The churches would never agree to this ...cos they need to have mind control over those children that will grow up to be contributors to them.....in the long run...it is all about greed, and not about religion at all imo: I can remember when there were hardly any Black Catholics....they are a rich vein now, to the ones that did not want them in before, there were not seen as worthy to the pope at the time. Whats changed?

Carol,

I understand that you have tried to find someone to help you, and haven't found the right one......I just wanted to say hello to you thats all........but you know......you too can be taken care of a prison nurse when you get older.....just commit some sort of crime, and long on to Tm from the prison library.........rob a bank.....have relation with a minor..........:-)))))

Solar! I hope minor = miner

that should read....care of by a prison nurse.

"where is the failure? Is it in the parents, or their sect, or in their neighbors, or in the governmental agencies who failed in recognizing that they needed to intervene?"

flatus, hope the answer can be found fast as there are a big segment of kids out there who are not vaccinated for the most common treatable diseases and whose parents will soon face the dilemma of risking their kids lives by not alloing them to take the new h1n1 vaccine either.

dark, jamie.... who do you suggest step in? some of these kids are home schooled and the local gov't can't reach them thru the usual regs. how will this be handled short of massive quarantines or removing the children from their homes (remember the recent texas mess on efforts like that).

it's a puzzlement, folks.

solar, i meant to include you in asking that question since some of these cases are religious oriented but some have nothing to do with religion, only with fear or distrust of the gov't.

Sure, there are minor-miners around ....just trying to get Carol a little fun before she goes to the big house is all......

Flatus,,,,I see my error there: How about a minor, miner thats minuets away from 18, or...never mnd..she should just rob a bank.
But wouldn't that be a great retirement payback for Carol, that is when, and if she would want that.!!

Solar, I was off playing Sudoku. I haven't done that in a long time because I spend all my goofing off time here.

No Solar, I would rather be catfish bait than living in the prison. And we have no miners here Flatus.

I'm glad my family forced me to go to church as a youngster. I met many good people there and it is better to have learned what I did learn there and have a choice to continue if I chose to later.

If I would have had kids I would have gone and dragged them to church also. I love spirituality and feel it is important for overall health. I'm just not crazy about organized religion. I also can't fit it into my limited time off. Maybe I'll find a little, cool church when I retire. Maybe I'll start one. Solar, you ought to start one. I'd go to your church.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248749

Solar,

Virtually all religions have a similar set of ethical standards that don't hurt all that much in the long run. In addition to that, however you might feel about a particular religion (or lack thereof) it takes a great deal to raid a private home and extract the poor brainwashed infant from the arms of their loving mom and dad.

Just as I don't want anyone shoving their particular brand of belief down my throat, I wouldn't countenance doing it someone else unless there were actual injury or damage inflicted.

Also I was reading a bird blog that had comments posted from last year with some complaining about less hummers, the bird guys, being around. Some suggested that maybe there was more flowers around so they just didn't notice the hummers at the feeders. Some said they had more.

I make my place here at the camp bird friendly. And I use no pesticides here. The roaches and I have made a pact. They are to wait until I go to bed and then they can come out and PARTY. I have gotten up, unexpectedly, before my time, and interrupted a few of those parties. They weren't happy.

And those Christmas lights some of you made fun of me for still having up. They have many red bulbs and maybe the hummers have honed in on them and stopped by. I keep my feeders fresh and full even when I see nothing around.

Pat,

That is a puzzlement: Maybe it should be handled individually.

Have a Hospital inform them all. Charge for them (and rebate) so that they are not gov. run; for those that do like the gov. to give them out...free at hospitals, clinics; for the church people,,,,at a church? don't know, but there is my feeble attempt to your question.......maybe I should have kept quiet huh?

Carol, Thanks, and I would go to your church: Just because I know that you would be sincere in doing what would be best for your community.......Carol, one doesn't have to be at church to be spiritual; just have to be amazed at our surroundings and wonder how we fit in to them....
All animals are spiritual.....just remembered a scene; where King Kong puts down that foxy blond, sits down and looks up at the heavens, sighs a few times, and appreciates his place in the world....spiritual it was.....I would like to think that Im spiritual, that's why I wail against Max and his wars.....

I will go one step further: I think that there is less spirituality inside of a church than outside of one. Outs side of one, in a park, a beach, or at night you can feel others from the other side of the world; in church, just the guilt they put on you for not following the letter of the churches law.

Jessica Lang.........I was going on and on, till I remembered the foxy lady of Kongs HA!!!!!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248717

Carol
You are such a pleasure to read!! Not only is your name the same as my mom's but sometimes like with the bacon grease you remind of the good times...When I was a kid my my fried everything in bacon grease and lard and boy was it ever good..Nothing like fried potato's in bacon grease...It seems everything comes full circle because in the 4 and half years of my mom's cancer battle I fried everything for her and my grandmother in bacon grease and added it to the vegetables and potato's in an effort to keep them eating...It worked for all but there last 6 months...

I totally agree with you Solar. That's why I attend the Church of the Big River every week. Very spiritual out here. I pass my offering to the worm people.

I was kinda kidding about you starting a church but it is an idea. You are very knowledgable about religion. When times get tough, more people reach out to religion/spirituality and they don't mind giving you their last dime. It's not like you would be taking advantage of them, it makes them feel good and it would make you feel good too.

Foxy Lady of King Kong is a grandmother. :-)

Jamie,

"Virtually all religions have a similar set of ethical standards that don't hurt all that much in the long run. In addition to that, however you might feel about a particular religion (or lack thereof) it takes a great deal to raid a private home and extract the poor brainwashed infant from the arms of their loving mom and dad."

Jamie, you know the reason that they all seem similar....they all follow the same book basically, a book that is all myth....but lets put that aside. Once again, I think that this thinking is reversed somewhat. It is the church that brain washed the loving mom and dad that chooses the church over their children....over their families...

.I have some of them in my family...they would choose " the popes teachings over the families, and leave the family,,if the pope told them to. My answer to them...is what kind of God would tell you to do this....a good God would say family is the same as the church, but this is not what they teach...it is the church above anything else, family included.

But back to your point....I once gave an example of a catholic maid that baptizes a Jewish child with regular water....this the church said was doable, and tool the child away from the family. Later told the Jewish family to convert to Catholicism or never see that child again...they chose not to convert!!!

Jamie,

You are a grandmother too,,,,I bet King Kong would go for you. hahah

And Tony, they now have all those good statin drugs to keep the cholesterol down. They also help stabilize the plaque in the arteries. I think if you are going to have a high cholesterol, you're going to have a high cholesterol level. Grab you a statin drug and a bucket of lard. Now don't anyone quote me on that and if you do, tell them I work at Wal-Mart.

John..........Marsha............John................Marsha...........JOHN.............MARSHA

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248766

Ha Carol
I'll keep that in mind when i go for my phsical at the end of the month..My blood work is always good but i have no problem taking statin drugs if I need too....I generally don't use any oil. I use that Parkay fake buttery spray..It makes great fried anything and no calories no fat added...

My power just went off. I'm not sure if it was the church stuff I said or the cholesterol stuff that got me. It's neat that I have this electric company site that I can go to online that pops up exactly where the outage is, how many people involved and how long before it is fixed.

Nice to have a laptop with battery power and wireless internet. There are only 12 homes involved. I guess the Mag and me will have to go outside and wet a line to get a breeze. Too hot inside. Later.

one would probably have to have seen "December Bride" with Spring Byington to remember the "John and Marsha" lard advertisement.................

Sturg, our manners are so bad. Let's make things right. This next one's for our friend, Lard!

Patsi, or anyone else,
Can you tell me how to find Lards facebook. I'm not finding it under his name. Thanks

Scratch that request Patsi. I found it. I'd never seen his picture, but he's wearing a cap and it shows you as a mutual friend so I guess it's the right one.

Posted by: Flatus Author Profile Page | August 2, 2009 5:03 PM

C'mon Flatus... the failure is of the father. He let his kid die out of ignorance at best. Damn-near evil, if you ask me.

Funny you should mention Lard -- I was just going to post his update:

"Had a great day today: Walked the dogs in the park first thing; went to 10:30 Mass at St. John Vianney (and the temple curtain didn't even split in two); had brunch at Hue with Roger, MF and Sis; soaked up the NYT on my Kindle; started working through all my e-mail in the afternoon; napped for 90 minutes; then grilled a tenderloin for dinner. In general, livin' the Life of Reilly. Brain cancer, schmrain cancer."

I'm baack. Power's back. Don't know what knocked it out. I tried to drive down the road on the golf cart to see if I could find out and a big boxer dog chased Mag and me. I turned around and came back.

Chloe you mentioned having lots of dragonflies. I have seen a lot also recently. I think August must be a busy time for them.

I developed a love of them right after my mom died. I was sitting out on the back steps to my house being all sad and I noticed this dragonfly sitting next to me. It was looking up with compassion. Don't ask me how I know, it just was, OK. It's little mouth was moving like it was trying to talk to me. No, I didn't hear anything, if you are starting to worry.

About a month after mom died, my neighbor/good buddy died from lung cancer. I was out mowing and at about the time he died. At that time, this swarm of dragonflies started circling me. My buddy loved mowing and he would often sneak up on me when I was mowing and scare me.

From that day on I have loved dragonflies and feel they have some kind of spiritual connection. I collect them and have them all over inside and out. Many were given to me by my nurses.

I read somewhere on the Internet that they represent the souls of the dead. It might be some Indian lore. Who knows??

How do you characterize/handle the 'educated' parents who refuse immunizations for their children because of thimerosal?

Posted by: Flatus Author Profile Page | August 2, 2009 9:30 PM

Apples and oranges, my good man. The child in question had diabetes, which is well-understood and easily treatable.

...man walks into a church. Man says, "God, it hurts when I do this..."

God says, "Go see a doctor."

Is Lard going to come back to TM Patsi? Sounds like he is back home.

Childhood diabetes is most often type I, even though it is easily treatable, it kills fast if not treated.

Actually easy is an understatement. The care if quite complex but kids learn quick.

I don't know if Lard will make an appearance or not, Carol...I'll mention it.

OMG Patsi. Your pictures and your comments that come off facebook are so much fun. I signed into facebook, looking for lards page, and found all that great stuff from your page that automatically comes over when I sign in. I sent Lard a request and a little later he popped up to, and I got to see that paragraph on how he's doing that you linked earlier, plus his picture holding his new kindle. I can see why you all seem to have so much fun on facebook. I still don't know exactly how it works, but having you and lard popping up, I love.

ps Lard answered an email I had sent him and said he'd be back to TM when he got some more of his energy back. He said he really appreciated the good vibes he was getting from us here and was thankful. I'd forgotten how much I like him.

Sorry I can't type tonight.

Patsi, Also wanted to ask you if that beautiful child next to your name is a picture of you. Seems to me it looks a lot like adorable little Maria. She is really irresistible - what a cutie.

Also, I saw one of a child jumping in a huge snow mound, that I think is you? And one, as a young adult, where you're flipped in a contortion in the snow that I doubt that I could ever get into. Do I have the pictures identified correctly??

Carol, That thing that happened with the dragonflies today, when you needed a sign, is awesome.

I've never noticed dragonflies until this year. Can't figure out if I've become more aware, or if we suddenly have more this year. The colors are beautiful, and there's a whole assortment.

Chloe,

I found the site.

“Some Native Americans believe dragonflies are the souls of the dead.”

http://www.dragonfly-site.com/meaning-symbolize.html

Carol, That is so cool that they're symbolic. No wonder so many people collect them. It's weird that I've never noticed them until this year. Maybe that's the part about maturity and change. I'm always looking for signs.

I'm not sure what they symbolize to you, but they seem to show up for you in times of need. I wonder if it's the same for me?

FRom the site you just linked:
"The main symbolisms of the dragonfly are renewal, positive force and the power of life in general. Dragonflies can also be a symbol of the sense of self that comes with maturity. Also, as a creature of the wind, the dragonfly frequently represents change."

"as a creature of the wind"

... that's such a lovely way of putting it, isn't it. 'A creature of the wind'. Could look at it metaphorically, and come up with all kinds of things.

I like all the symbolism for the dragonfly but that "souls of the dead" happen to catch my eye because of the experiences I had. It was weird.

Yeah, but I don't think it's what it is this time. I really do think they seem to show up when you need a sign. I don't question that the 'souls of the dead' tied into it that time when your friend died, but things change, they're about change, and sometimes you have to look for a broader meaning in things.

.... time for me to clear out of here. nite.

nite, past my bedtime also.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248777

Carol --

Your "church" is the kind I like.

"...as a creature of the wind, the dragonfly frequently represents change. And as a dragonfly lives a short life, it knows it must live its life to the fullest with the short time it has – which is a lesson for all of us."

That's a beautiful site, Carol. Thanks for linking it. I thought I was partial to butterflies, but maybe I should develop a better appreciation for dragonflies. I once read that bird-people who are obsessed with "life-listing" sometimes turn to dragonflies once they "run out" of birds. Apparently there are multitudes of varieties of dragonflies.

Well now, it just might be time for a poem...

Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote "The Dragon-fly" in 1833:

Today I saw the dragon-fly
Come from the wells where he did lie.
An inner impulse rent the veil
Of his old husk: from head to tail
Came out clear plates of sapphire mail.
He dried his wings: like gauze they grew;
Thro' crofts and pastures wet with dew
A living flash of light he flew.

And then there's this..."some lyrics from a modern day songwriter, Ziggy Marley, from his 2003 song "Dragonfly"

hey mister bee the world change but you remain the same
and i wonder how you'll survive with the environment going down the drain
hey miss dragonfly i see you look at me with your beautiful eyes
you must be wondering what type of creature am i

More such fun you'll find at --

http://www.naturenorth.com/dragonfly/DOM/Page09_Culture.html

Not to be slighted or overlooked, in addition to the dragons, there are the damsels to consider which are provided conveniently in two genders...

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

Just liked this one, especially the last lines...

An August Mood

Where the pines have fallen on the hillside
The green needles burning in the sun
Make sweet incense in the vacant spaces
All along the run
Of the rill; and by the rillside
Rushes waver and shine;
In remote and shady places
Wintergreen abounds and interlaces
With twinflower vine.

The young earth appears aloof and lonely
Swinging in the ether, only
Nature left with all her golden foison;
No ambitions here to wound or poison
With their fears and wishes.
The pure life of birds and beasts and fishes.

All our human passion and endeavour
Idle as a thistle-down
Lightly wheeling, blown about forever;
All our vain renown
Slighter is than flicker of the rushes;
All our prate of evil and of good
Lesser than the comment of two thrushes
Talking in the wood.

Duncan Campbell Scott

http://www.geocities.com/~bblair/030408.htm

[Duncan Campbell Scott born August 2, 1862 was a Canadian poet and prose writer. Happy Birthday Duncan]

Not enough stamina to stay on as substitute night watchman...

(^_~)

Pop & lock that birthday cake.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yq77pTi03qQ

...oh, yeah. Drop it, also.

Hi Chloe -- yes that's me as a 3-year old! And the picture does look quite a bit like some of Maria's picures! Also me in the snow drift....Facebook really can be fun. I didn't think it would be -- but really like it a lot....and have reconnected with a LOT of old friends from high school and college. Plus there's a lot of my music business friends on there.

"one doesn't have to be at church to be spiritual; just have to be amazed at our surroundings and wonder how we fit in to them...." http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248759

Carol and Solar, I agree with Ivy: http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/of-race-and-beer.html#comment-248796

Solar, The way you described it above is what originally caught my attention. 'Very' nice.

Oh, and Patsi, your beautiful granddaughter does look like you! I enjoyed the pictures so much. And it's fun seeing what others comments to you on facebook too. Thanks for sharing that.