Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

rush should be careful what he wishes for.

Uhhhh, sorry. I believe that I was supposed to WOO HOO there.

2012 Electorlal College
a Remake of the 1912 Election

Democratic Party : Obama/Biden 405
Blue Sled Dogs Party : Palin/Baucus 128
republican't party : romney/Potholes Aplenty 5

two stories in the news yesterday
obesity accounts for nine percent of all health care spending''' cows are responsible for eighteen percent
of greenhouse gas emissions in the form of methane.
its obvious we should declare war on cows'' get them
before they get us
they look all dumb and docile but all this time they've
been plotting and scheming against us ''

"http://www.airlinehistorymuseum.com/connie.htm"

Great link, Jack....thanks!

Palin resigned to make some money. Thechoice -- Stay and keep getting ethics charges and have the kids attacked in ugly ways? Or go become a millionaire. Let's see, what to do...what to do?

She won't be the candidate. But she'll be used by both parties to make the business candidate seem like a step up.

Meanwhile this clown still yaps away:

"Who's gonna vote for torture, who's gonna vote for tyranny, who's gonna vote for dictatorship? But we did. We did, and you see it slowly encroaching."

-- Rush Limbaugh

the democrats more immediate concern is 2010
they are showing how well they can govern with
complete control of washington''
with the 750 billion stimulus bill that does nothing to stimulate the economy only serving to balloon the debt'
the cap and trade bill they're pushing for '' that only would shoot ourselves in the foot economically''
and this health care fiasco that has morphed from universal health care into health care reform into health insurance reform ' they can't even explain what they're trying to get at'' or the cost
people might decide a divided government would be better'' reasoning if they can't do any good'' then they shouldn't do harm
a little stalemate in washington could be what we need

people who argued that obama could deal with nine different major issues simultaneously are being
proven wrong ' he might want to find that reset button'
concentrate only on the economy '' jobs 'withdrawal
from iraq and formulating an exit strategy from afghanistan'' he needs to book some accomplishments in his resume' before taking on any more major social issues

Yes Patsi, Sarah had a tough choice there.

I heard Rush on my ride home for lunch yesterday. I can't take him for long but it is a short trip home. He said something like, if you want to know who the Dems fear the most, look at who they are attacking the most. Makes sense to me.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/no-honeymoon-for-health-care.html#comment-247272

jack, that was quite a picturesque welcome to crownman. as kgc mused "now there's a picture" watching whilst pres does what with his newly acquired set? handles it?

patsi, ct:

imo, rush is pushing palin at the moment because that
's where the buzz is and ultimately his ratings/$$$. he'll drop her as soon as a shinier bauble comes his way.

Ivy, Blondie, Chloe, Jamie and others who love birds here need to listen to this NPR story I heard going to work yesterday. It was about how crows can recognize people and even teach their friends and family all over town to harrass them when they think those people have been mean to them. Kind of like "The Birds"

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106826971

Maybe the crowman already knows this.

Palin will be the only candidate out there who doesn't have to pander to the religious wing of the party. Her religious faith is a comfortable coat that she wears with ease. They will be certain she will be guided by her faith and will not questian the details. This lets her run as a moderate and reasonable candidate.
It would be interesting to see her do a church tour of black and main stream churches.

Jack

"as a newcomer, i don't wish to post long paragraphs...
if obama is a true progressive, he realizes that he must lose this one for the benefit of the long run..."
Posted by: crow_man | July 27, 2009 10:35 PM

very astute.

crowman, welcome aboard. how do you like your coffee? scones, bagels or donuts? or hep y'sef to the sausage biskits drippin withscuppernong jelly if'n that's your pleasure. we got it all on the trail here in the mornings.

and maybe cbob can get the maria telkes to put out some sourdough cinnamon buns. mmmm, with cream cheese icing....

Patd

You have a dirty mind

patd -- Yes -- Rush pushes whatever he thinks drives his ratings I'm sure. What I hate about his ilk is the fact that in so many areas of the country that's the only kind of radio signal people can get.

Carol -- I heard that same crow story on NPR! Stunning!

" This lets her run as a moderate and reasonable candidate."

Interesting. My biggest disappointment in Palin was that in fact, as an early term Alaskan gov., she was fairly moderate. I'd followed her from the beginning and never heard any of the BS she was sent out to sell in the campaign. NOR did I hear any anti-feminist rhetoric from her. What I did see was a woman who fought her own party.

Funny how it all turned to crap. She allowed it to, of course....like so many in politics.

yup.... guess quitting is the new American value... well, that and making money.....

what I reeeeeeaaaally wanna know there, crow_man.... how is Mustang Sally doin'?

oh yeah.... in case I forget to mention it.... I really can't stand Harry Reid....

Hmm -- patd --you mention the full breakfast bar....from gravy to cinnamon buns...perfect -- I had gravy yesterday and having chocolate cake this morning....

Patsi, didn't you get a kick out the way they looked upside down to identify the mask?

I need help from a beer expert here. I know there must be at least one. My two neighbor guys saved me yesterday when I weed wacked through my water input because I couldn't see it for the weeds. They wouldn't accept any money but mentioned they drank Natural light beer that was real cheap.

If I wanted to upgrade their beer I get them as a treat, what kind of beer should I upgrade to or should I just get them what they usually drink? I just don't know if they drink it because it is cheap or because they really like the taste of it.

maybe just upgrade the quantity instead of the quality?

but I'm sure they'll appreciate whatever comes their way........

And here are some of the the military flavors of the Constellation:
http://www.dean-boys.com/ec-121.htm

And welcome to Cro-Magnon!

"Patsi, didn't you get a kick out the way they looked upside down to identify the mask? "

That whole show stunned me, Carol. Crows can identify human enemies? Whoa!

Carol, get them what they usually drink. Buy a lot!

Bob's mention of getting his starter working, and Carol's talk of beer, makes me wonder if I shouldn't start my trusty brewing machines. It's such a pain in the butt. But the beer is truly wonderful--hearty and full of healthy bugs and so dark one can't see from one side of the glass to the other and tasty, so tasty. A magnificent stout, indeed!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/sarah-in-charge.html#comment-247308

jack, what mind?
i just point, click and link

ct, agree with sutrge and flatus. a case (or keg for dramatic flare) is always appreciated. otherwise, amstel light for quality and less calorie.

Thanks guys, I'll do that and throw in a rotisserie chicken, salad and bread.

Patsi, I know my birds are glad to see me, and their friends seem to trust me as well.

flatus, ever have one of those blow-outs while brewing? you know the kind that go off in the middle of the night scaring everybody for miles around and making a mess of the kitchen. finding pieces of grolsch bottles behind the fridge... that sorta thing?

"now she's dumping Alaska for national politics."

You mean like Obama did Illinois Craig?
He may not have quit, to run for President, but just the same, he wasn't there doing the job he was elected to do. Some might even say, he took that job merely as a stepping stone to the Presidency.

Thanks Patd for quoting Crowmans post. I haven't caught up with yesterdays thread (or this one) yet.

Crowman, We love newcomers and long paragraphs. :)

OMG! I get IT now!

if there's a choice between doing what is right for your constituents and making money..... well... you know....

Hey Senators and Congresspersons.... it perfectly ok to become lobbyists after your terms are up.... and if you become one for the industry with which you held power over... even sweeter.

Jamie.... you suggested last night that Harry Reid was delaying a healthcare vote in order to fill up his election war chest.... hey... nothing wrong with that.

And all that caterwaulin' over Blago doing quid pro quo for Obama's old seat...
hell... the man was just gettin' while the gettin' was good.

Finally! I see the light! Praise be to Sarah!

I now turn you back over to your regularly scheduled programming....

"It was about how crows can recognize people"

hi Carol, I've heard the same thing. Birds are probably a lot smarter than we give them credit for.

Jamie and I (as well as others) have conversed at length on this board about excessive end-of-llfe "care." Here's a GREAT article from a doctor with ALS. Disclaimer: my sister died of ALS, and she, too, rejected the idea of spending her last months or final days receiving extraordiary measures.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-welsh26-2009jul26,0,5173890.story

Flatus -- the Bluejays do scream at me when they want peanuts!

"What Stumped the Blue Jays" by Twain

http://web.clark.edu/philgk/gkp%20(11_18_99)/reading/SSBLUJAY.htm

Renee -- Her very presense was disruptive to the state at that point. If I lived in Alaska I'd WANT her to leave the office. What the hell good could she do at this point? Why do people want Gov. Sanford to "do the right thing" and resign? And out of the other side of their mouths say that this decision was wrong...maybe even just another example of a weak sister...

Palin will never win the presidency...but, she can sure take a bite out of the big ass of the dem party. I have a difficult time following her when she speaks, but she has some sort of mystical speech that herds in republican animals. They love the talk -- the nonsense, etc. It is music to there ears and they will follow her.

BTW, I am at war with the dems....public option has split us apart.

Sorry for the typos...their vs there. When I am angry, I make mistakes which make me look like a bigger idiot!

: )

"BTW, I am at war with the dems...."

You mean because they've let us down Blonde?

... you never look like an idiot Blonde. You have every right to be angry. We all do.

BTW everyone. Sarah Palin isn't our problem. She's the Republican Party's problem.

We shouldn't even be talking about her, let alone arguing about her.

Chloe...I have in my possession an op ed piece from my Senator, Jeff Bingaman...it endorsed the public option and he sent it to me a couple of weeks ago. And he let me down...lied to us in New Mexico. The insurance industry wins!

Basically, I work for food, shelter and insurance.

sarah palin's going to have more examples of "goofy-speak" than gwb if she keeps talking............and that's amazing.

Here we go again another politician making promises while knowing what the American people want to hear & stating their willingness to actually speak for & defend the public. Its like a game show -I'm the real politician who you can trust. She has shown her willingness to do what she believes in whatever that may be & she isn't afraid to step away from the beaten path which we can't seem to avoid. Sara Barracuda

Sara Barracuda

Posted by: buford.myopenid.com | July 28, 2009 8:44 AM

Maybe she is a shape shifter....she sure has that primal appeal.

Lets not get to far ahead.. The Voice of understanding is making it to middle America.

What is going to happen with this next round of elections? At the current trend the Dems will have their house cleaning like the Rep had in '06.

But that would be good for Barack as nothing is keeping him in check at this point with the voters that make the difference

sarah palin's going to have more examples of "goofy-speak" than gwb if she keeps talking............and that's amazing.

Posted by: sturgeone | July 28, 2009 8:43 AM

GWB was prez for eight years! The funny thing is I think he is smarter than Palin. And what good does it do if your prez is smart? Really?

"And he let me down...lied to us in New Mexico. The insurance industry wins! "

I know. Politicians ALWAYS let us down, and the insurance industry always wins, for one reason alone. Money. Money buys influence.

I think we are all working for the same thing you are working for Blonde. Food, shelter and insurance.

Blonde, I am so sorry about the hardships you and your husband are through right now.

Pat, when I went to high school, we lived in a dorm, a couple of kids to each room. Like kids do, one of them bought a gallon bottle of apple cider to which he added a handful of raisins.

He then hid the bottle in his shared closet.

We were all fascinated when there was some activity starting within the bottle (the cider wasn't pasteurized). And, in the middle of the night on day 2, the tightly closed glass bottle exploded sending nicely fermented cider throughout the closet and destroying many of the clothes.

Have to run!

Ha, You're right. Smart hasn't helped anyone for a while.

We overshot it, maybe somewhere in the middle is best.

I remember during the primary season and election, we were all concerned about the repug hate and swift boating machine...well, they fooled us all. They sent all the repug congressmen with a dirty bomb down their pants into chambers....worked much better and I can't believe the repugs won again on health care. Yep, fooled the clueless dems, again.

"but she has some sort of mystical speech that herds in republican animals. They love the talk -- the nonsense, etc. It is music to there ears and they will follow her. "

That's why she'll be great -- hopefully she will split them enough that they won't be able to put Romney or some other big business a-hole in power....

"sarah palin's going to have more examples of "goofy-speak" than gwb if she keeps talking............and that's amazing."

I hear goofy-speak coming from a lot of people, including Joe Biden.....I bet Obama wishes he'd STFU!

"the Bluejays do scream at me when they want peanuts!"

I didn't even know Blue jays liked Pnuts!

So true, BlondeW -- the insurance company wins again...as did the banks et al.

"Basically, I work for food, shelter and insurance."

bw, last month, i calculated that i spent more on insurance than food and shelter combined. something's mighty wrong with that from an hedonist's pov.
perhaps it's time to dump the teabag tea parties and instead rouse the rabble against big bad insurance and their ilky political automatons. to the barricades! we have nothing to lose but our policies.

btw, bw, not to worry about the misspells. am sure there's a deadly virus out there today hitting the keyboards. just looked over the drivel i posted this am.

"maybe even just another example of a weak sister"
patsi, or a dithering brother

they all, yes, do have their moments of goofy-speak......but gwb and ms sarah carry it to sheer perfection...................can't think of anyone else who even comes close to their level of would-be communication...........

Chloe -- if you have jays, don't even give them any peanuts...they'll demand more...

"fooled the clueless dems, again."

Fooled them or did the dems just not try hard enough?

That's why she'll be great -- hopefully she will split them enough that they won't be able to put Romney or some other big business a-hole in power....

Posted by: Patsi | July 28, 2009 8:58 AM

Bingo!!!

I have lots of Bluejays Patsi, and never have. But.... I'd sure like to try it. I'm going to take your advice though. I don't need any more work.

i guess i better go see about putting some more food on my family.............

patd...I like the way you think...insurance industry, too big to fail, blew a trillion dollar hole in the economy, sucked in stimulus money and spat out..well, spit.

"maybe somewhere in the middle is best."

It always is Buford.

Chloe...I think the dems got fooled...they thought the repugs would play fair since they lost so much in the house and senate...never let your guard down with the repugs.

Wheres my 100 mil bonus? Is the latest. I made money ,ya right.

MSM...talking about Gates, Jackson, Palin....pure entertainment, nothing of substance. Avoiding the insurance talk..it's over.

".never let your guard down with the repugs."

.... never let your guard down around any politician. :)

Bank robbery in Baghdad......those folks are coming right along........

sturg...wait until they get a large insurance industry in Iraq!

sturge, liked the mules pix on cbob's hopiblue link; but who or what is that white critter in the corner? a shetland or a miniature albino mule?

"..those folks are coming right along........"

Ha! Democracy!

chloe...I guess you are right about all politicians, but I fell for the "yes, we can."

"pure entertainment, nothing of substance. Avoiding the insurance talk"

bw, that's the mego (my eyes glaze over) effect whenever insurance comes up... especially for msm.

"I fell for the "yes, we can.""

.. nothin' wrong with that.

We were desperate last time ,wonder how that will play out in the next?

"MSM...talking about Gates, Jackson, Palin....pure entertainment, nothing of substance. Avoiding the insurance talk..it's over."

Spot on, BW!

the white pony is "Marsh Tacky"...........i'll check, but i think he's a minature shetland.........

Blonde, One thing that always gets me through the hardest of times, is this: 'This too shall pass'.

"We were desperate last time"

We're 'always' desperate Buford.

Off to work, for me....I think it is the cadence of Palin's speech that drives the animals from the forest to listen to her.

Be careful out there, we are on our own...no health care relief in sight.

"Be careful out there, we are on our own.."

Thank god we're on our own 'together'. Thanks everyone, you've given me many words of wisdom today to make it through the day.

On and Forward.

mornin'

Ha! I avoided posting about Palin's pathetic farewell address yesterday. "Fight even harder" for Alaskans, avoid the inevitable lame duck session (obviously wasn't planning to run for re-election)? Give me a break. She quit the only position that gave here any opportunity to "fight" for Alaskans. Of course anything can happen in politics, but I expect that Mitt will get the Repug nomination in 2012 going away. But she is in a much better position to fight for dollars - and I expect she will do very well in that battle, both personally and politically, thank you very much.

Patsi....
Sanford has disappeared for weeks at a time without telling anyone how to reach him.... if that makes a majority of South Carolinians want him to quit,
then he should.... if they still want him to be governor.... then he should...
IMO, of course....

To my knowledge.... no ethic charges have been proven against Palin....

although you could be right.... her presence might be so disruptive as to make her a completely ineffective governor.... but we'll never know that for sure now...

But on to something of substance.

http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202432577989&src=EMC-Email&et=editorial&bu=Law.com&pt=LAWCOM%20Newswire&cn=NW_20090728&kw=Sotomayor%20Running%20Out%20of%20Potential%20GOP%20Support

I HOPE the Dems will learn their F*cking lesson for once, and will give the Repugs what they are receiving - party line votes on everything of substance as long as they are teh majority party. The bipartisan support of Dumya and his nitwit tax cuts for the rich and screw everyone else agenda has gotten them moronic party line opposition, and considering the current brittle state of the Repug party, the dems should use the power they have and pass a progressive agenda in every damn issue they can.

"We were desperate last time"

We're 'always' desperate Buford.
To what degree next time?

After all the conversation over the weekend about the Gates business, you might enjoy taking the Project Implicit test on racial preference that was taken by the Morning Meeting folks. There are several tests, but the one on race is the one you want.

https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/

Mine came out as I expected:

Your data suggest little to no automatic preference between European American and African American.

pogo....
I hate to say it.... but I don't think the Republicans are as brittle as the Democrats.... Bill Maher has hit the nail on the head for the past few weeks...

To paraphrase him...... "say what you will about Republicans.... but they pass agendas.... yes, even bad agendas.... but they get them passed.... even with the slimmest of majorities and without the popular vote"....

I'd say he has a point....

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/sarah-in-charge.html#comment-247312

Reb,

Palin may have created a new means of getting rid of politicians. She quit to avoid her final "lame duck" year.

Now if we know politicians are going to quit at the end of year 3, doesn't this make that year the NEW lame duck year. To avoid it someone would have to quit at the end of year two. Of course then year two becomes the lameduck year. To avoid it they have to resign after the first year and to avoid that becoming the lame duck year they must never, ever run in the first place.

Renee, that's the lesson I hope the dems will learn, but yes, Maher does have a point, the dems are too stupid to realize that they have no reason to support repug conservative economics or anything else, but they did because they were just afraid of looking weak. How ironic. They have a filibuster proof majority in the Senate (including the 2 indies who almost NEVER vote with the repugs) and a large margin in the House. They have no reason to act as if they need to kiss the repugs' fat white asses on anything. The blue dogs are the only thing standing between them and passing a meaningful agenda to undo much of the damage done to the economy thanks to the Reagan-Bush economic agenda, and to pass meaningful healthcare reform. I'm not hopeful.

Law enforcement officials say the traffickers, taking advantage of the fact that there are fewer sheriff's deputies and rangers monitoring parks, are cultivating more pot than ever before. This year's multibillion-dollar crop is on pace to be the largest in history, said state officials.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/28/MN6P18K1FV.DTL#ixzz0MYuDMFTz

legalize pot

“Governor Palin is one of many millions of Americans who have used marijuana and gone on to live productive, wildly successful lives,” said Rob Kampia, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C. “That she used marijuana is no big deal, but what is a big deal is that she thinks that the 100 million Americans who have used marijuana, including herself, belong in jail. That wouldn’t be good for her kids.”
http://orangepunch.freedomblogging.com/2008/08/29/sarah-palin-smoked-marijuana-and-inhaled/

maybe Gov Palin will lead the charge to legalize marijuana

Sotomayor committee vote now

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=2n&tag=watchnow

Yes, KC, one more from the "do as I say, not as I do" party (aka the Daddy party, the party of "No", and I'm sure I missed a few.

Legalize it, just don't smoke it near me please. That smell and my stomach do not like each other. :-)

Legalize it, just don't smoke it near me please. That smell and my stomach do not like each other. :-)

Posted by: jamie44.myopenid.com Author Profile Page | July 28, 2009 10:14 AM

we will just have cookies around you :::)))))

"her presence might be so disruptive as to make her a completely ineffective governor...."

Oh I definitely think it was to the point she couldn't be effective. And she was only effective against the monied oil GOP in Alaska anyway...

"They have no reason to act as if they need to kiss the repugs' fat white asses on anything. The blue dogs are the only thing standing between them and passing a meaningful agenda to undo much of the damage done to the economy thanks to the Reagan-Bush economic agenda, and to pass meaningful healthcare reform. I'm not hopeful"

Absolutely.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/sarah-in-charge.html#comment-247404

Smoke it outside and join me for "tea and brownies" inside. :-)

Jamie...
I'm not sure I'd want to smoke a joint at this point either....

but tea and brownies..... com'on.... how about some margaritas.... ;0)

Thought for the day :
" To make pleasures pleasant, shorten them. "

OK, now on to something really important. If you were going to be in NYC for a day, what is the one thing you would want to make sure you did? (Staten Island Ferry, Empire State Building, Ground Zero and Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island are not acceptable choice).

Woohoo!! Barack Obama is still our President...

"State officials in Hawaii on Monday said they have once again checked and confirmed that President Barack Obama was born in Hawaii and is a natural-born American citizen, and therefore meets a key constitutional requirement for being president."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090728/ap_on_re_us/us_obama_birth_certificate

From what I understand about the potency of modern pot - it's stronger now, right? - I'm not sure I could do anything other than sit on a couch and eat chips, watching stupid stuff on tv that struck me as brilliantly funny - wait, no, that's what I used to do isn't it? Well, I know I couldn't drive - I have more than enough trouble texting and chatting while I drive when I'm straight. =D But I'd be happy to join you for a few margaritas, Renee. I know better than to try and drive after I've been drinking, and I do love a good margarita.

warren, you are SOOOO naive. :-)

Of course I am pogo!! But in this world - you are either naive and cynical...and I gladly choose the former.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/sarah-in-charge.html#comment-247411

Pogo,

Arghhhh. Obvious: Central Park, The Metropolitan, and broadway shows. But for something I've always wanted to do:

The Cloisters
http://www.metmuseum.org/Works_of_Art/the_cloisters

Warren....
but being cynical is so much fun!

pogo.... without a doubt.... in NYC... going to the Metropolitan Museum of Art...
or the Met... as the natives call it....

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/sarah-in-charge.html#comment-247409

Reb,

I love Margaritas, but I really am the world's worst drinker. Some people get rowdy, others combative or affectionate. I'm the one curled up in the corner contentedly snoozing.

1866 Beatrix Potter England, children's author (Tale of Peter Rabbit)
1887 Marcel Duchamp painter (Nude Descending a Staircase)
1892 Joe E Brown Holgate Ohio, comedian (Buck Circus Hour)
1922 Jacques Piccard Switzerland, undersea explorer (bathyscaph Trieste)
1929 Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy Onassis 1st lady (1961-63)

1943 Mike Bloomfield blues musician (Analine)

1586 Sir Thomas Harriot introduces potatoes to Europe
1588 Spanish Armada sails to overthrow England's Queen Elizabeth I
1849 Memmon is 1st clipper to reach SF, 120 days out of NY
1868 14th Amendment ratified, citizenship to exslaves
1900 Hamburger created by Louis Lassing in Connecticut
1914 Austria-Hungary attacks Serbia-WW I begins
1914 Foxtrot 1st danced at New Amsterdam Roof Garden (NYC, by Harry Fox)
1915 10,000 blacks march on 5th Ave (NYC) protesting lynchings
1915 US forces invade Haiti, stays until 1924
1932 Pres Hoover evicts bonus marchers from their encampment
1933 1st singing telegram delivered (to Rudy Vallee), NYC
1942 Nazis liquidate 10,000 Jews in Minsk Russia
1943 Italian Facist dictator Benito Mussolini resigns
1943 Pres FDR announces end of coffee rationing in US
1945 US Army bomber crashes into 79th floor of Empire State Bldg, 14 die
1960 Republican National convention selects Richard Nixon
1977 1st oil flow through the Alaska pipeline
1951 Walt Disney's "Alice In Wonderland" released

RR:

Hah! I have my moments...

Reb,

Obviously we need to tour New York together. :-)

"Stop" Al Kooper & Mike Bloomfield (Super Session)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdMf-86Evro

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

Happy birthday Al

Er a Mike , Happy birthday Mike.

The House resolution to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Hawaiian statehood -- which included language recognizing the state as President Obama's birthplace, in a none-too-subtle jab at the Birthers -- passed this evening by a 378-0 vote.

Among the Yes votes: Rep. Bill Posey (R-FL), the lead sponsor of the infamous "Birther Bill" to require presidential candidates to present their birth certificates, and who had previously said he wouldn't "swear on a stack of Bibles" that Obama is a natural-born American citizen. Several other co-sponsors of the Birther Bill also voted yes: Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Dan Burton (R-IN), John Culberson (R-TX), Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), Randy Neugebauer (R-TX), and Ted Poe (R-TX).

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/07/lead-birther-bill-sponsor-votes-to-recognize-hawaii-as-obamas-birthplace.php?ref=fpb

Central Park and the Met - added to the short list. And the Cloisters looks like a great choice.

This knucklehead represents me in congress > Randy Neugebauer (R-TX),

Super Session - what a GREAT frickin' album. Bloomfield was amazing, as was Kooper, as was Stills (on his side of course).

warren, you are a lawyer. If you are worth your salt, or hope to be, better give up naivete and get on the cynicism express with the rest of us.

IT TAKES A LOT TO LAUGH, IT TAKES A TRAIN TO CRY -

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

Transparent Aluminum Is ‘New State Of Matter’

ScienceDaily (July 27, 2009) — Oxford scientists have created a transparent form of aluminium by bombarding the metal with the world’s most powerful soft X-ray laser. ‘Transparent aluminium’ previously only existed in science fiction, featuring in the movie Star Trek IV, but the real material is an exotic new state of matter with implications for planetary science and nuclear fusion.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090727130814.htm

oh, god, this is piss your pants funny.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/28/william-shatner-makes-pal_n_246034.html

Final frontier: Crowd sees spaceship launcher fly

WhiteKnightTwo has now made 16 test flights, Attenborough said. The company will keep testing it until fall, when tests will begin on SpaceShipTwo. Branson himself plans to take the first trip and bring his 92-year-old father and 89-year-old mother with him.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090727/ap_on_re_us/us_space_plane;_ylt=Anz876VuGP14uqM00IFLN_0PLBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTMwbjFkN2Z0BGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkwNzI3L3VzX3NwYWNlX3BsYW5lBGNwb3MDMQRwb3MDMgRwdANzZWN0aW9uc19jb2tlBHNlYwN5bl90b3Bfc3RvcnkEc2xrA2ZpbmFsZnJvbnRpZQ--

Bob, that transparent aluminum thing is pretty intriguing - but it looks like it may be more than a few years away from any real world application. I did find that the description of it as " a completely new state of matter nobody has seen before" kind of humorous - considering that it is transparent and all.

Pogo,

NYC----not sure what you enjoy---but "Jersey Boys"
is a pretty big attraction. Everyone I know that has
seen it said it was great--even if you were not a 4 seasons fan

Tour of the city by helicopter or on the water --- Circle Line tours.

I give Cenk Uygar 5 stars for this piece.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cenk-uygur/the-bipartisan-compromise_b_245991.html

It's as if we decided that Mardi Gras and Christmas are so much fun we ought to make them year-round ways of life. We started living large literally as well as figuratively. From the beginning to the end of the long boom, the size of the average new American house increased by half, even as the average family became smaller. During the two decades ending 2007, the average new American car got 29 percent heavier, 89 percent more powerful, and 2 percent less efficient. Meanwhile, the average American gained about a pound a year, so that an adult of a given age is now at least twenty pounds heavier than someone of the same age during the 1970s. Back in the late 1970s, 15 percent of Americans were obese; more than a third of us are now.

http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/28/reset-how-this-crisi.html

Coreen, Getting Mrs. P into a helicopter? Not likely - she digs her nails deeply into the back of my hand when we fly in big jets, and she won't fly out of our local airport because the propjets are too small for her. But I have heard that JB is really worth doing - short list.

WaPo Health Care 101 for Congress

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/28/AR2009072800933.html?nav=rss_email/components

About that obesity slant, healthcare treatment for obesity and obesity-related problems comprises 9.1% of our healthcare costs according to the Today show this morning.

Howie Klein writes:

No one serving in the Senate today has taken as much money from the Medical-Industrial Complex as Baucus ($2,865,881) other than notorious corporate whore Arlen Specter ($4,066,433) and two former presidential candidates, John Kerry ($8,163,141) and John McCain ($8,672,260). Baucus even tops Medical Industry shill Mitch McConnell ($2,755,468). And when it comes to the Financial Sector-- the banksters, Big Insurance and Big Real Estate-- Baucus was also on the payroll in a major way. His $4,675,393 in donations put him in the Top 10, with corporate whores like Mitch McConnell, Alexander Lamar, Arlen Specter, Joe Lieberman, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Chuck Schumer... basically the folks who oversaw the economic legislation that dragged the economy right over the cliff.

http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/baucus-leaves-america-behind-senate-fin

1915 10,000 blacks march on 5th Ave (NYC) protesting lynchings

Trivia Time. An earlier similar riot in NYC led to a song that has now been sung by virtually every performer ever and is prominently featured in UNCUT versions of Casablanca.

Guess or cheat by looking

http://jdurward.blogspot.com/2009/06/manic-monday-thats-why-they-call-me.html

C-Bob:

It is not surprising the Senators with the most power and influence over regulating certain industries would be showered with contributions from those industries seeking to curry favor.

But the real issue is not how much money they have accepted - but whether that money has forced them to support or propose legislation that favored such industries at the expense of the public good.

Most of these stories focus on the money and assume negative consequences - rather than actually doing some digging and exposing and analyzing such consequences...

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/sarah-in-charge.html#comment-247441

At some point I hope they figure out the genetic component to obesity. Sure it has a great deal to do with eating habits and exercise, but there is something going on with digestion, fat storage, energy conversion and possibly even viral response.

Stop treating just the symptoms.

OK - and all this talk about "healthcare savings" misses the point.

The point is to drive down costs - not drive down care.

"I hope they figure out the genetic component to obesity. Sure it has a great deal to do with eating habits and exercise, "

Exactly -- I eat the most fattening foods in the world and have stayed about the same weight over the years....I have friends & family who eat healthy and gain every time they turn around.

'Don't laugh, Democrats. The Palin Factor is here to stay." -CC

Ya think, Craig? She either quit because due to suspicion of corruption, or she quit because she's a quitter. Neither of those scenarios bolster her electability. I don't see how she could be taken seriously in a POTUS bid: "Vote for me, I'll quit mid-term!"

Patsi,

I have been fighting the weight battle all my life. (My skeleton is a size 10)

Recently I stopped eating wheat. Well, beat me slap me take away my credit cards, somebody might have mentioned this possibility before. Dropped 27 pounds in 30 days. Didn't change anything else. Didn't reduce quantities nothing else, nada, zilch. Still have a long way to go, but it is a start.

Mentioned it to doctor type. Response: Oh yes, I often tell my senior patients to give it up to reduce arthritis pain, tissue swelling etc.

Why aren't food alergy and negative response part of normal testing. Is there a test for many of these possibly related problems?

This paper is long, but well worth downloading and taking the time to read: From Poverty to Power

http://www.scribd.com/doc/9139754/From-Poverty-to-Power

Poverty is a symptom of the unequal society. The closer the distance from lowest to highest income levels, the richer the society is likely to be (The pear shaped model of a huge middle class). The greater the distance with wealth concentrated with a tiny minority, the more likely the society is to fail.

China drives electric bike, scooter boom

In China, electric bikes sell for $250 to $450. They require no helmet, plates or driver's license, and they aren't affected by restrictions many cities impose on fuel-burning two-wheelers.

It costs a mere 1 yuan (15 U.S. cents) — about the same as the cheapest bus fare — to charge a bike for a day's use, says Guo Jianrong, head of the Shanghai Bicycle Association, an industry group.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32172301/ns/world_news-world_environment/

Jamie...
good for you for losing weight.... I always encourage anyone who gives it the old heave ho..... but tell us how you're doing a year from now....

I've been there and done that so many times.... I've lost count... I've given up sugar, wheat (hell all grains), fruit, fat.... you name it....
then a moment of weakness.... just one little taste.... it all comes back so quickly....

I've decided to stop the yo-yo.... my doctor says that's actually more unhealthy than remaining fat.... which I am.... so what....

my main concern now is that my numbers.... blood sugar counts, cholesterol, etc., etc.... are good.... they are... I'm in control.... and happy not to be so obsessed with food every waking minute of the day....

Hamburg - A German health organization has issued a brochure with new conclusions about the effects of coffee on human health, saying that it is good for the brain and the liver. Germany's Green Cross said coffee speeds up digestion and protects people from age-related diabetes, Alzheimer's Disease and cirrhosis of the liver. The brochure summarizes the results of several studies on coffee consumption.

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/279068,coffee-is-good-for-the-brain-and-liver.html

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/sarah-in-charge.html#comment-247460

Renee

Agree. I eat when I'm hungry outside of that change. My blood sugar is now staying in the heathy range. Heck I even ate chocolate pudding the other day and it didn't move.

Never was a big sugar eater but I am the bread addict of all time, so this has really made a difference. Unfortunately, all the desserts I do love (fruit pies) are connected, so have to figure out substitutes but I'm afraid my twice a year bread pudding with brandy sauce is just going to stay even if it makes me sick afterwards. :-)

Charles Krauthammer said Monday on Fox News that her complaints have a "whining quality." Fred Barnes of the "Weekly Standard" agreed:

"There is a way to deal with the press. Look at the way Ronald Reagan did. He didn't attack the press. He teased them. He made fun of them. He jokes about them, embarrassed them. It was great. People loved it and it didn't have that edge, that whiny edge that you always want to avoid."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/28/fred-barnes-palin-has-a-w_n_246204.html

-------------------
Fred Barnes a real fount of wisdom on whinyness .

Jamie....
good deal on the bread pudding.... we all need treats every now and then....

of course.... as a diabetic, I do watch my carb intake.... and I NEVER drink alcohol without eating food also.... I've learnt that saying some type of foods is strictly forbidden is what drives us to obsession.... so I will eat "bad" things in small amounts.... I've discovered I can eat only 2 cookies every now and then.... and a handful of potato chips with lunch satisfies me.... if I really want mash potatoes or rice with supper I have some every once in a while..... it means I won't lose weight (I have to be unbelievably strict in order to do so).... but I've discovered I'm happier....

Off to the spark lab.

...loved the bluejays! ...also the bass player and bongo dude with bill...

“So, how about, in honor of the American soldier, quit making things up,”

it's time to wake up!...
all things must end....
take off your makeup...
the party's over,
it's all over...
my friend!

Wheat (at least processed into flour) and sugar - read simple carbohydrates here - are the biggest culprits for most people, and are absolutely the hardest things to cut down on in the American diet. They really are in everything except fresh fruits, veggies and meats. Ironically, fat is not so bad, at least as far as things like blood sugar and pressure, and to an extent, weight gain, is concerned, IF it isn't eaten with carbohydrates. Bless his soul, Adkins was right. I followed his diet loosely for a few months a couple of years ago and lost about 15 pounds without really trying. If it just weren't for all that stuff I like to eat with flour and sugar in it I could return to my skinny self.

And, yes, there are those folks who are genetically predisposed to a larger body type and more efficient energy storage mechanisms - my grandmother was one - and I know how they struggle to lose weight and keep their numbers in line. And those with diabetes - that has to be a long, slow nightmare. But genetics doesn't account for the doubling of the number of folks who are obese in just a couple of decades or the extra 20-30 pounds the average person is packing in that same generational gap. Don't get me wrong - I'mnot throwing stones at individuals, but I do indict our country over the obesity problem. Take e.g., me - I'm 20 pounds heavier than my dad was at this age (same height), and I have absolutely no doubt why, and absolutely no excuse. And I'd bet I'm in the majority.

Oh, and jamie, to give you an idea - in his first diet book Adkins cited some research done on bleached, enriched flour and its effecton blood sugar levels. It was done at Hopkins or Mayo or some other well known research hospital - the results were that equivalent amounts of flour caused a higher and quicker spike in blood sugar level than white sugar did.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKryG50KMeE

So Sotomayor went out of committee on a 13-6 vote, with Lindsey Graham the only Repug to vote "Yes."

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/29/us/politics/29confirm.html?hp

Like I said before, I hope the Dems take advantage of their majority and return the favor as long as they hold the majority.

guess we'll have to keep the old darling in office!

pogo....
there are diabetics who swear they've "cured" themselves with vegan diets...
who knows.... maybe they have.... I know I felt good at first.... then felt like shit when I tried one many years ago....

I think we all have to experiment and see what works for us as individuals...

I would say the biggest culprit is all the refined stuff we eat.... kids eat way too many treats on a daily basis.... and those HUGE sodas they drink can't help either....

Reb,

There is research that the stomach bypass surgeries "cure" diabetes, but you have to be willing to live with the side effects of the surgeries. I took a look at those and said no way.

Pogo,

When I was a kid, eating away from home was a major treat, now they shuffle through fast food several times a week. Government subsidizes corporate corn growers and we end up with corn oil in darn near every kind of processed food there is.

At the same time, local small farmers are taxed unreasonably, particularly when compared to the corporate behmoths. It is like everything else negative in this country, "Let the best lobbyist win and to hell with the people"

"f obama is a true progressive, he realizes that he must lose this one for the benefit of the long run..."
Posted by: crow_man | July 27, 2009 10:35 PM

Bien venido C_M , I like the way that you came on. Sounds nice but:

Don't agree with this tho: I would like to keep him at his word...he said that he would do H C, said that he would have the troops home....he looks lost on the wars...more of the same there, and many more dead. some of us did not belive him.....Yes we can sounded real good to lots of people!!! SI...Se...Puede whent a long way....will he just be another Dem. that was groomed to take advantage of us? When will we get tired of getting raped by the two parties?

Jamie, and some others: Welcome to the non kool aid drinking side of politics...they never do what they promise; no-not a Dem, and no Repug will ever do what they promise....they know that they can rely on the cheerleaders to keep them in office.

B-Wino,

I don't think that the Repugs, fooled the Dems, as much as I do think that they whent along with them...I keep thinking of C. Dodd, Charlie Rangle, Barney F.......now there are the real foolers to me, and ones that fooled us. Ronn Paul .....is looking very good latley, evern if he does not have all of the Dem ideas in mind....he does have the countries best interest in mind.........

Renee, Thats sounds good that you are happy with who you are: That is the begining to losing wieght for you I think....and all in moderation like your are doing is the way to go. I helped one of my sisters

hey all, i just talked to Lardass (sorry, can't get used to his more lordly title). for a man who just had a mess of brain cancer yanked out of his head, he's chipper as can be. doctors say they got it all but he'll still have to do a few weeks of chemo. he promises to rejoin us soon.

Great news, Craig. I hope LL can get medical marijuana.

Jamie... I would never take surgery lightly....

I have a good friend who's daughter could have easily been someone's poster girl for the picture of health.... she's 38... tall and slender.... eats only organic foods (including meats which she eats as a condiment) whole grains.... shuns all dairy and processed refined foodstuffs.... lives in the woods.... only way she can get to her house is to hike in or cross country ski and/or snow shoe.... so gets plenty of exercise...

she was recently diagnosed with a severe case of ulcerative colitis.... the worst case her doctor has ever seen....

and yet Patsi can eat chocolate cake for breakfast.... I don't get it....

oh... and for those of you thinking "isn't she doing a show really soon and should be working her ass off"..... I'm mostly all packed and am now relaxing.... once Thursday comes..... you probably won't see me for 12 days.

Posted by: Blonde wino Author Profile Page | July 28, 2009 2:20 PM

...hear, hear!

Craig....
great news on Lard!
please give him all our love...

Renee,

Did not finish that last post to you; my two way radio went off and I hit the go button before I knew it.......any way ,,that's the way to do it...eat anything you want, moderation, and exercise is the key tho. I started walking with my sis, ( she needed the company to get her started ) after awhile she started jogging a little at a time, she does a 1 mile run now at least 4 times a week,,and some exercises that I thought her daily.

had her switch her main (big meal) from evening to the morning, that gave her the energy she needed for the day, with a lot of small light meals during the rest of the day..very little after 6 p. m, a good nights sleep is also key to losing wieght.

pogo, re nyc trip, good list by jamie & renee but start the day off first in style with breakfast at the plaza. very romantic and cheaper than dinner. sweet gift hint for mrs.p would be one of kay thompson's "eloise at the plaza" books (btw, liza was the original eloise making mischief in that neat old place). hmmm, the sunday times, eggs benedict and kir or mimosa or both.

Pogo...thanks for the Shatner link...bongos!

Great news about Lardo, Craig. Tell him- the Frito Bandito --Solar, says hello!

...btw...did i say 'f obama' or 'if obama' lol

"f obama is a true progressive, he realizes that he must lose this one for the benefit of the long run..."
Posted by: crow_man | July 27, 2009 10:35 PM

i fully realize that is an over-simplification, and a shade utopian to boot! and i am a hopeless romantic!

...that said...
i agree fully with every comment that has been posted this afternoon. i am also tired of the faux two party system. in it's very existence it is the embodiment of a lie...how can we diss or defend something that seems to exist in another dimension?

the real two parties are not represented or even acknowledged for that matter...i won't insult you folks intelligence by naming them...

no relief in sight...irv may help, if that bone is tossed our way...

and yes, i was a supporter of dr. paul, but mainly his foreign policy as pertained to aggression and empires...i participated in his experiment during the primary season, and then of course, boarded a different train when the business end got clear...

"recently diagnosed with a severe case of ulcerative colitis.... the worst case her doctor has ever seen...."

renee, i also recently heard of a young super-conscientious type who ate the seeds, weeds and no red meats diet similarly diagnosed. wonder if there's a problem growing in that market or if it's just a case of excessive/obsessive good behaviour. too much of a good thing thing.

Solar...
I know you mean well.... but I truly don't care about the weight loss any longer...
I know that's hard for some people to wrap their heads around.... especially if they themselves don't have a weight problem.... but it is what it is..... and I am who I am.... no more "dieting" for me....

I've weighed within 3-4 lbs..... the same weight for about 6-7 yrs now....
no more keeping "skinny" clothes in the back of the closet for me.... :)

Back to work for me, glad LL has gotten this far and keeping a great spirit. And I am glad the humor is still on board with the trailmixers...it is all I have some days to get me through the day!

I just checked mail...more direct mail insurance offers (3 today). It used to be credit cards offers. Yep, the real bandits are the insurers!

patd...
I also had a good friend who was a vegetarian... ate not only just organic whole foods, but also was into this thing about eating only local foodstuffs and only in season...
she too was a very woodsy type person who hiked almost every day....
she was thin .... but she died a few yrs ago from a very rare type of cancer at the age of 57....

dang, just found out that the "theroot" project online run by gates is owned by wapo, newsweek etc. no wonder they were somewhat hesitant/careful with their reportage. sure wish we could go back to the laws & regs against media monopolies. it's getting boring hearing mostly one voice from msm.

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090728/FEATURES/907280317
"It is owned by The Washington Post Co.'s Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive and was conceived by Washington Post Chairman Donald E. Graham, and Gates, the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor at Harvard and director of the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research."

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

Good news about Lardo. Tell him he didn't need to add to the holes in his head. We will look forward to the new improved, chemically enhanced version.

"and yet Patsi can eat chocolate cake for breakfast.... I don't get it...."

I don't either, Renee....and it pisses me off that a friend of mine who is merely 30 pound heavier than me got her unsurance jacked up because she was "obese" -- Unbelievable!

jamie, Renee, I don't disagree with anything you've said re: food. Refined, prepared, upsized, drive thrus, all are big parts of the problem - not to mention almost complete and utter lack of self restraint (speaking for myself anyways).

pat, thanks - may have to do breakfast at the plaza - sounds great, particularly that cheaper part. :)

I understand Franken blasted the current Court for being activist, with Sotomayor being a moderating force against that activism - or something like that, and good for him.

Ok Renee...got you....luck on you next show.

R. Paul has seen the light......is even calling to bring the troops home now!

Lets give them more---MONEY!! to build homes, while we can't do the same here. No news of the Jewish Lobby ..AIPAC.. lately, what are they up to?

West Bank Settlers Top 300,000 as Growth Continues
11 New Outposts Set Up in Past Two Days

Comcast.netnews

According to the Israeli military, the population of settlers in the West Bank passed 300,000 for the first time this year, and sits at 304,569 as of the end of June, an increase of 2.3% in the past six months. Usually growth rates are even higher in the second half of the year. The number does not include some 200,000 more settlers living in East Jerusalem.

The announcement comes less than a week after a study by an Israeli think tank showed the heavy subsidies of the settlements by the national government were causing disproportionate increases in the populations of the outposts, at a time when Israel is under increasing pressure to halt their growth.

The Netanyahu government has resisted the calls however, and insists growth will continue. The settlers have considerable sway in Israel’s right-wing government and today held a massive anti-US rally in Jerusalem condemning President Obama’s criticism of the settlements.

The government has tried to salve international criticism with the promise to dismantle the smaller, illegal outposts in the West Bank, but over the past two days it is reported that 11 new outposts were set up by the militant “Youth for Israel” movement, which seemed to consist of little more than a handful of huts set up by teenagers. The Israeli military, however, declined to stop the construction of the new outposts.

pat, Who's the "they" being hesitant? just curious.

Pogo,

...had a cpl of days that I poured concrete early in the am (6) to beat the heat...so not have been around for lunch. The new members felt sorry for me , after they abused me that is...and Coreen even bought lunch...but I still had to ride in the back seat, and keep quite...while her and Chloe talked.....and talked.....and talked........... hahah

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/sarah-in-charge.html#comment-247526

Pogo,

Then there is the thing about "portion size". Most people don't have a clue. My son took me out for breakfast on Sunday. Now I enjoy eating, but I don't eat large amounts, never have. I'm telling you, the platter placed in front of me could have fed a small third world nation.

Let's start a chain of restaurants with 50% reduction in prices and 50% reduction in the amount of food on the plate. You have to wonder how many people keep eating past the point of "stuffed and ready for mounting" just because the food is in front of them. Start by eliminating those liter sized sodas people hand their kids from the super size menu.

DINOs

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/28/no-deal-yet-on-house-heal_n_246182.html

AHOs

Jamie....
5 yrs ago I hit that "middle age can't eat like I used to" thing.... I eat only small portions too.... if I go to lunch with a friend, I always bring home half the sandwich for eating lunch at home the next day....

I was in the city last week and grabbed lunch at Burger King.... whopper jr. and a small diet coke.... there was a woman there with 2 boys about 10 or 11.... they had these HUGE plastic cups of soda.... and then they went for seconds... I'd probably pass out if I knew how many teaspoons of sugar went into those 2 kids.

God, jamie, what truth you speak. Even at run of the mill restaurants, they give you so much food it's almost obscene. Good idea on the downsized meals with downsized prices. It would be an interesting experiment.

Solar, two words - brown bag. (Kidding- I bet lunch with Coreen & chloe - even if it was a virtual lunch - would be a hoot).

The US food system produces 4000 calories a day per person.
I have learned it is not necessary to eat your share every day.

The portion size is an interesting conversation. Food is the cheapest thing in a restaurant and more of it gives the appearance of value. I don't think they would save that much by cutting down to a reality based portion.

Pogo,,,,,I was a hoot...those two are serious about getting what they want from the Lunch Club.....and they have me broke all the time...when we go...i have to take them to a 5 star....count em***** my virtual credit card is maxed.......when they buy...they take me to some fast food joint that usually has a clown face to talk into it when you order........mmmmmmmm wonder what that means.....don't help me by telling me...I work on it and figure it out HA!

Mqw,

.....been agreeing with you on just about everything you been sending up the river to us as of late. This one I did not a little while back.

Now, according to a scoop in the Wall Street Journal, the CFTC is about to reverse its Bush-era position, and admit that market speculators — investors who bought oil futures on the expectation they would rise in value — “played a significant role” in the oil spike.

The Columbia Journalism Review reminds readers that, in his Rolling Stone article “The Great American Bubble Machine,” Matt Taibbi describes how major Wall Street players gamed the oil market: Free Market is right...free for the GREEDY to take all they want.

In a major U-turn from its claims during the Bush administration, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission is now set to admit that speculation in oil markets — and not the forces of supply and demand — are behind last year’s massive oil price spike.

In the summer of 2008, oil prices on the open market reached an unprecedented $147 per barrel. Many economists argue the spike helped push the US into an economic free-fall last autumn.

At the time, the CFTC — which is tasked with regulating commodity and financial futures — said that the huge price spike was a result of supply and demand. That explanation was met with ridicule from many market-watchers, who said it was impossible that demand for oil increased by such a huge margin even as the North American, European and Japanese economies were slowing down.

Renee, LOL. I went through 2 metabolism downshifts that I actually noticed - one at about 27 years old - when I jumped from about 135 to 155 pounds, then again at about 45, when I put on another ten - it's been downhill from there. Your take on eating out is dead on. Even LP doesn't eat foot long subs and the big burgers they put out at all the fast food joints. Last Sunday LP wanted to go to IHOP (which we don't have around here, so I said OK) he wanted 2 blueberry pancakes and didn't want to order them because you get 4 ancakes in an order - the 3 of us split them, a bowl of fruit and a bowl of grits. The table beside us - two late middle aged adults with plenty of padding to spare, each had the Pineapple Upside Down Pancakes IHOP is advertising these days, plus meat. I actually couldn't believe they were able to eat them - I think I would have barfed.

speaking on small portion size... the Europeans do know how to do it...

back when Rick worked for Compaq, he was awarded (along with several 100 others) an all expenses paid trip for 2 to Monte Carlo. They had a formal dinner one night for the entire group. We were served very small portions of very elegant food. One thing was a small filet mignon topped with a potato wedge.

A Texan seated across from us was not too happy.... he took one look at that filet and exclaimed... "you know you're in trouble when they can hide your steak under a potato chip".... thought I'd die laughing!

Pogo you want to piss in your pantaloons listen to this...

http://216.87.173.33/media/2009/0907/com_tds_kristol_hcr_090727a.flv

Bill Kristol admits govt.-run health care can be better than private

Weekly Standard editor and Fox News pundit Bill Kristol got booed heavily on The Daily Show Monday night when he said that ordinary Americans don’t “deserve” the same standard of health care that soldiers receive.

But the show’s truly revealing moment came when host Jon Stewart caught Kristol — long an opponent of public health care — admitting that government-run health care for soldiers is superior to private health plans.

On Monday night’s show, Kristol worked to explain why he didn’t support a public health option, arguing in essence that the existence of Medicare and Medicaid provided health coverage to those most in need.

“So no public option, even though that’s good enough for the military — not good enough for the people of America?” Stewart asked.

“They do not deserve the same quality of health care the soldiers fighting deserve, and they [the soldiers] need all kinds of things we don’t need,” Kristol said.

“Are you saying that the American public shouldn’t have access to the same quality of health care that we give to our better citizens?” Stewart asked.

“To our soldiers? Yes, absolutely,” Kristol responded, to a chorus of boos from the audience.

An incredulous Stewart asked: “Really?”

Moments later, Kristol added that “one of the ways we make it up” to soldiers that they receive relatively low pay is by “giving them first class health care. The rest of us can go out and buy insurance.”

That’s when Stewart struck.

“Bill Kristol just said … that the government can run a first-class health care system and a government-run health care system is better than the private health care system.”

“You trapped me somehow,” a visibly uncomfortable Kristol responded.

This video is from Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, broadcast July 27, 2009.

Solar,

I got your email, and in answering, all I can think to say is a little joke I heard in a movie a while back: 'A friend helps you move, a good friend helps you move a dead body'. You made your choice, and we can all live with it.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/sarah-in-charge.html#comment-247535

KGC

It might contribute to faster turnover, higher volume, and if marketed properly, prove they really care about their clientel.

I am so glad to hear that Lardass is doing 'ok'.
Craig, please tell him I send my love, if you are talking to him.

"I don't think they would save that much by cutting down to a reality based portion."

Ha, KGC. I think that 'is' reality based to many people.
(but then again, maybe I lived in Texas too long)

I used to get a little perturbed at tiny portions back in the nouvelle cuisine days - of course I was also going to mexican and chinese restaurants where the portions were huge, so it was just different from what I was accustomed to. I don't mind the smaller portions at all now - after all, there's always a Dairy Queen somewhere on the drive home. :-)

all the comments this am about the congress critters' lobby-lined campaign coffers inspired a cartoon vision. instead of sticking "kick me" signs on their back, how about signs that say "this vote cost them $___" as they go to the rostrum to vote. that is, if they're ever allowed to vote on this issue.
or maybe some t shirts that read "help, i'm being held hostage by insurance companies"

"- after all, there's always a Dairy Queen somewhere on the drive home. :-)"

LOL Pogo. I didn't realize Dairy Queen even existed until we moved here. I don't think there are any in Southern California. Here, like you said, they're everywhere.

But don't you hate to spend a lot of money on a meal, and then be hungry and hour later? )

"help, i'm being held hostage by insurance companies"

It's just too annoying to even think about it Patd.

Craig,

Does Lard have an email address he could let us have? Or would he consider opening one for us TMer's?

sure it would mean lost jobs and money for folks in the ad biz and the commercial-dependant media, but one costcutting reg for big pharma i'd like to see is a ban on pushing prescription drugs to the general public. educating (euphemism for advertising and marketing) docs is one thing, but this crap about "talk to your physician about taking x" isn't necessary and adds to healthcare costs.

KGC, I saw on tv a few weeks ago that there is a dating website out there for weed smokers. It's basically a place for single people who smoke weed to find other single people who also smoke weed. Because, often when people meet someone new and they bring up the fact they like to smoke weed, it's usually a deal breaker with someone who doesn't like to smoke. I thought that was pretthy funny.

"Moments later, Kristol added that “one of the ways we make it up” to soldiers that they receive relatively low pay is by “giving them first class health care. The rest of us can go out and buy insurance.”

Actually, Solar, quality of military healthcare is somewhat spotty. 'In house' services provided by uniformed docs is very stressed--stressed by the same factors affecting the rest of the uniformed force.

And, the supplementing docs, contract employees within the clinics, don't always have the confidence of the patients they treat.

The contracted companies administering the Tricare community-based treatment programs--companies like Humana, have difficulty recruiting docs willing to accept Tricare reimbursements on a fully participating basis. So, that makes care sometimes difficult to find.

What does work extremely well is the Tricare-for-Life program that provides supplemental insurance for retirees covered by Medicare. TFL almost always picks-up and pays the balance left by Medicare.

Those cases where they don't are ones where reimbursement is generally prohibited by law. That said, I'm hard pressed thinking of an example where payment isn't made. I suppose some of the eye surgery procedures solely for the elimination of glasses would fall into that category. Or, vanity cosmetic surgeries. Those types of things.

But, even with its faults, the military healthcare system is a fine alternative to what is available to many people on the outside.

And I must say, lifetime free medical and dental care was one of the carrots inducing career service.

I just received the latest issue of Air Force Times. Here's the heartbreaking lead story:
http://airforcetimes.com/news/2009/07/airforce_colton_read_072709af/

What gripes me most about weight issues is that people like Mika B goes on and on about obesity as if it is a damn crime! PLUS -- since when does 30 pound more than what someone thinks is "normal" mean obese????

Both of my children have to fight weight issues, yet neither eats as much as me.

OMG! A congressman is asking for a formal apology from Obama about the "stupid" comment....somebody shoot me.

It might contribute to faster turnover, higher volume, and if marketed properly, prove they really care about their clientel.

There are a couple of places like that in the Bay area
here's one
http://www.amandas.com/

McCotter from Michigan.

Greedy bastards.

For qualifying cars, both the new model and trade-in, you can get a 3.5-4.5k gov rebate? with the Cash for Clunkers program.

Now, we've been shopping a 09 for the past two months and the price last week for the model and options has been quoted in the local inventory (cars.com) at about 26k.

I just did another cars.com check on the local inventory and guess what that same car is listed for now since the announcement of the program. That's right 31k.

Unless I'm missing something, looks like the dealers are just marking up the price to capture the gov rebate so there's no savings for the buyer.

"Unless I'm missing something, looks like the dealers are just marking up the price to capture the gov rebate so there's no savings for the buyer."

What else is new? That's the way it works in this country.

First, let me say that I love bats. They are wonderful creatures and I have even handled one of the large fruit bats. Still, if you live anywhere near them, this article is worth reading

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/27/AR2009072702214.html?nav=rss_email/components

Corey

That's too funny
Is this the one?
http://www.singles420.com/

KGC,

You can take the girl out of California, but you can't take California out of the girl. I saw this on the menu and started drooling. lol

"Grapes, celery, avocado, almonds &
goat cheese with a cranberry
poppyseed vinaigrette"

Oh my there's more
http://www.potpartner.com/

http://mingle2.com/online-dating/new-mexico/weed

http://e-stoned.com/rec/47

Jamie

It does sound good.

Nor should we discourage the hallucinations of Jim Demint that he is 2012 Presidential timber.

Obama and Axelrod must be having a great laugh about all this.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/sarah-in-charge.html#comment-247583

This is one of those things the legislation should have considered, but rich people don't think the way average people think.

For instance, in political advertising there is a "window of time" prior to election season. Radio and TV cannot charge higher rates than they did during that window. Now that politicians understand, but create a window when car prices can't go up prior to a sale from the time the legislation passed ... nooooo that one never occurred to them.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/sarah-in-charge.html#comment-247593

KGC

What can I say. One of my childhood homes had orange trees and a fruit bearing avocados in the backyard. That style of eating has probably now become genetic.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/sarah-in-charge.html#comment-247594

bob h

The Republican Party is probably trying to clean house by running as many of the unelectable as they can in 2012 in order to clear the decks for some newcomers in 2016.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/sarah-in-charge.html#comment-247557

"Does Lard have an email address he could let us have?"

Hi Chloe,All
I was finally able to get in touch with Lard and he's doing great!! Lard sounds good..He told me he was sitting up to get ready for dinner.He said he changed from the hospital clothes to his own shorts and a tee shirt,sounds like he's almost home.I also told him about all the concern and best wishes from all the TMixer's..Chloe i asked him for that e-mail address you wanted and he said to pass it on and he would love to hear from us....What a treat it was for me to talk with him...Lards e-mail(seanholton@bellsouth.net)

Best line re: Sarah Palin: "She is a walking culture war."

Tony...
thanks for passing along Lard's email.... and now I think we all know his first name.... he was one of the few old timers here who's name I don't know...

and it's great to hear he's doing so well... he always been one of the funniest posters on this blog....

Hi Tony, Thanks for getting that email address! And for the report from Lard. I love you so much Tony! You're a Trail Mix Treasure, as they say.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/sarah-in-charge.html#comment-247610

Renee
It was a pleasure!! I think he's on the road to recovery.He does have to have chemo by pill and radiation.Lard told me he lives within walking distance to the treatment center and he has a lot of nice people helping with anything he needs...I agree he's so funny...I remember some of his responses too Brian,boy could Lard cut through his shit!! I also credit him for helping me to make my decision to vote for Obama.Lard addressed a post to me with a check list on why I should vote for Obama..I really listened as he is a big Hillary supporter also...

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/sarah-in-charge.html#comment-247612

Chloe
I feel the same way about you!! Those old Dem primary days bonded us....I'm glad as it was a life changer....I told a caller today that wants me to support Meeks here in Florida for the Senate that I no longer march in lock step to the Democratic Party...I told the guy I wanted to know where Meeks stands on a single payer government option for healthcare and where he stands on gay issues?? I can't believe the guy said when a finds out he will e-mail me with the answer....What are these Democrats thinking???

Now that's a pair, Palin/Limbaugh. Ick. But weirder stuff has happened like a misplaced yell by Howard dean.

NEWS for the conservatives and their socialist fetish.

The STOCK MARKET is UP. ^up^up^

tt

"I told the guy I wanted to know where Meeks stands on a single payer government option for healthcare and where he stands on gay issues??"

Ha... Good for you Tony!

Jamie:

"Poverty is a symptom of the unequal society. The closer the distance from lowest to highest income levels, the richer the society is likely to be [ ]. The greater the distance with wealth concentrated with a tiny minority, the more likely the society is to fail."

That is a great thesis statement.

Ha Warren
You live in Florida why don't you run for political office?Now your a Dem I could support!!..HA HA

Oops Warren
INDEPENDENT....

The thing about Palin is that she acts like she has ADD. She never follow through with stuff.

She also is making less sense as time goes by. Her departure from the Gov chair of AK made NO sense even when parsed.

tt

OK time to beat a dead horse. But this story ain't over.

I don't think Obama can or should walk away from his statement. Certainly not to the degree that all these nuts claiming "victory" want him too. I love it when Hannity and Rush teach middle Amurica about cultural sensitivity...

What got lost in all the furor surround the "stupidly" comment was an explanation that focused on the bigger picture.

In his response, Obama said:

"And number three, what I think we know separate and apart from this incident is that there is a long history in this country of African-Americans and Latinos being stopped by law enforcing disproportionately. That's just a fact.

...

.... And that is a sign, an example of how, you know, race remains a factor in the society.

That doesn't lessen the incredible progress that has been made. I am standing here as testimony to the progress that's been made. And yet the fact of the matter is, is that, you know, this still haunts us."

And the first two statements out of Obama's mouth that night represent why half the people are crying out for him to say again:

" I -- I should say at the outset that Skip Gates is a friend, so I may be a little biased here.

I don't know all the facts."

And Obama also pointed out how the issue of profiling impacts everyone - not just minorities:

"And even when there are honest misunderstandings, the fact that blacks and Hispanics are picked up more frequently, and oftentime for no cause, casts suspicion even when there is good cause. And that's why I think the more that we're working with local law enforcement to improve policing techniques so that we're eliminating potential bias, the safer everybody's going to be."

Now - when it comes to the controversy - I think we need to separate out any racism from acting "stupidly."

Hauling an obnoxious professor downton - (after you just confronted him for allegedly breaking into his own house!) - is an incredibly stupid thing to do. And we all have a right to say so because:

-it is a waste of tax dollars; and

-an abuse of power

Sure Gates might of been acting like an ass - but we as private citizens all have that right - especially in our own homes.

Speaking of which where are all the Libertarian Conservatives on this issue.

Racial profiling muddied the waters. The problem is that the facts didn't support it - but the headline screamed it. It was part of the story before anyone said a word about racism.

Exactly Tony. The only party I have ever been a member of.

(Thanks to mom!)

For those of you with blogs, I'm starting a fun meme with the first prompt appearing on Friday for people to use and publish the following Monday.

http://takethistune.blogspot.com/

From the music mavins, any suggestions for future songs, will be appreciated. They must have a you tube video that I can use.

"I don't think Obama can or should walk away from his statement."

Warren
I agree.I don't think the President has anything to apologize for.I think the police acted stupidly when they arrested the offensive speaking Gates..The police should have just said go back in your home and be quiet...I also wish the President had kept his opinion regarding Gates to himself...

Serioulsy. I honestly have no problem if the police would have told him to shut up or even hurled back some insults in defense (in other words I would cut the officers as much slack as I am cutting Obama).

But to arrest the guy is to take it to a level it never should of been. And yes - we should be discouraging our police officers from acting like that.

There was absolutely no "heat of the moment" or "danger" for the officers at the time the arrest was made.

Solar, I sent you an email.

Flatus,

Forgot to tell you that I read that Air Force article on that poor family, I feel for that young man and his family. Yes the V A is not at all the very best that it can be...I don't have the dental and vision that you have....but I am very glad that I have the V A to go to, if and when I need them. Judy is not covered at the time; we had to stop making the insurance payments a few months back...she is in good shape and health..but if she does get sick, before we get the economy, and back on our feet...... thanks

economy going that is

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/26/us-healthcare-obama-barack-change

"For Potter it was a dreadful realisation that healthcare in America had failed millions of poor, sick people and that he, and the industry he worked for, did not care about the human cost of their relentless search for profits. "It was over-powering. It was just more than I could possibly have imagined could be happening in America," he told the Observer

Potter resigned shortly afterwards. Last month he testified in Congress, becoming one of the few industry executives to admit that what its critics say is true: healthcare insurance firms push up costs, buy politicians and refuse to pay out when many patients actually get sick. In chilling words he told a Senate committee: "I worked as a senior executive at health insurance companies and I saw how they confuse their customers and dump the sick: all so they can satisfy their Wall Street investors."

Article in the Observer

More from Sharlet on C STreet

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-07-26/conspiracy-on-c-street/?cid=hp:mostpopular5

Be afraid, be very afraid.

Maybe Republicans don't want universal health care because then more minorities would live past 65 instead of working all their lives to subsidize Social Security for white people.

Flatus, I have a question for you. I have an inmate who is in jail. He has cancer and we use the state public/charity hospitals for all our specialty care and the hospital that treats cancer is all the way across the state.

This guy is a veteran and uses the VA hospital, much closer. No getting him out of jail since he almost killed his wife beating her. His crime, I feel is related to his PTSD from his years in Vietnam. Complicated story.

We usually can't send our inmates to the VA hospital but I was going to try since the hospital is closer and already knows his case. I am wondering if they will see him since he is incarcerated. I haven't ever tried before.

Just because he is incarcerated that shouldn't take away his veterans benefits. He is still a veteran.

"I worked as a senior executive at health insurance companies and I saw how they confuse their customers and dump the sick: all so they can satisfy their Wall Street investors."

Article in the Observer

Posted by: sturgeone | July 28, 2009 9:46 PM

And I am sure the congressional committee looked him straight in the eye and said, and "your point is?"

The insurance industry lined the vacation pockets of congress and we must let them have their recess so they can enjoy the fruits of their labors.

Kristol admits the govt runs a great healthcare program on The Daily Show.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/28/bill-kristol-admits-publi_n_246145.html

Take those pundits out of their element and they turn into punks.

The guy is also a river rat with a houseboat down the river. He is a frequent flyer in our joint. He just got married and I heard that his wife is crazier than he is.

When he came into jail this time, he told me he got married and I told him the last thing he needed was a wife. The next day I heard on the radio that he was arrested because he broke his wife's face in several places and when she came to he was trying to stuff her in a bag. I guess I was right, he didn't need a wife.

People who knew him said he was a nice, polite, very popular guy in high school, pre Vietnam/special forces. His cancer is most likely war related also. .

Anyone hears Al's comments supporting his vote for Sotomayor today. Great remarks for a newbie. He said he was saving up for the floor vote.

"With a vehemence not yet seen in his short tenure in Washington, D.C., Franken took issue with rulings on abortion, voting rights, price fixing, age discrimination, and corporate entanglement in elections.

"Noting how court actions have overturned or threatened even recent precedent, Franken said, emphatically, “This is judicial activism. This is a court that’s willing to reverse itself … to achieve its own agenda of what is right. … A vote for Sonia Sotomayor is a vote against judicial activism.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_drX9UcSvo&feature=player_embedded

"Just because he is incarcerated that shouldn't take away his veterans benefits. He is still a veteran. "

Carol, he is probably really out of luck no matter what the diagnosis. Please look at page 19 and the following pages in this booklet from Washington State:
http://www.dva.wa.gov/PDF%20files/IncVetHandbook.pdf

Not too many years ago there was a major effort towards restricting government benefits from incarcerated felons. I suppose there's a bunch of case law on criminal behavior resulting from service connected PTSD.

Obviously I don't have the tools available that someone practicing law would have. Perhaps one of our resident squires could clarify for us.

Thanks Flatus, you saved me a lot of time tomorrow. It was there on page 20,

"VA Medical Care is not provided to veterans in prison, but VA health facilities may provide care to you after your release."

He isn't convicted yet and if I would have called I might have just caused him more trouble.

Just more examples of what our service men and women have to deal with. War can make you crazy and then when you get there, no one wants any part of you.

Cbob, Sending you a West Texas rain dance song. :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1CAzKT9r1M&feature=related

Pogo, My next target for NYC is the Tenement Museum on the lower east side, but probably not much in the entertainment field.

I've decided that Palin's speech bothers me mostly because she tends to talk in proverbs (her own corny ones) and definitions.

I heard her say,"Democracy is..." before I could hit the mute. Of course, she has other faults in her speech such as the wandering road she takes to get to the place where she forgets what she started to say.

A man at work who's 75 told me last week that Obama's going to let the old folks die. The Obama health care plan, that is.

I just looked at him & then he changed the subject. He's a former minister in Texas, need I say more?

I heard this (theory....notion....madness) again tonight on Rachel Maddow.

So, there's a movement afoot amongst the conservative wing nuts hidden in the dark recesses of their paranoid, little minds.

Again.

tt

Rez -

It's raining here.

"I love it when Hannity and Rush teach middle Amurica about cultural sensitivity..."

No kidding, Warren....I actually think that if I could slap one of those two a-holes, I'd pick Hannity over Rush.

Thanks for the Al Franken comments, Rez! Thank God he has Paul Wellstone's seat!

Tennessee state senator stands by his socially conservative record despite sex and extortion scandals:

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090729/NEWS0201/907290405/Tennessee+state+senator+Stanley+resigns++admits+affair

You can't make this up!

Another neighbor calls police....

http://www.ajc.com/news/gwinnett/woman-charged-with-running-102293.html

back to my big pharma harangue and just to ward off free-speech worries, by banning ads (except to educate healthcare folks) i meant not letting said companies write-off expenses for such ads or make use of tax laws or otherwise jackup the costs to medical consumers to pay for the ads.

kgc, see this?

"An April Field Poll found that 56 percent of California’s registered voters support legalizing and taxing marijuana. State legislator Tom Ammiano has introduced a bill to do just that that. Even Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has said it is time to open that debate.

With millions or even billions of potential revenue, perhaps California will once again be a trendsetter."

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000003179537