Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

Oh Sinnerman, where you gonna run to?
Sinnerman, where you gonna run to?
Where you gonna run to?
All on that day
Well I run to the rock, please hide me
I run to the rock,please hide me
I run to the rock, please hide me, Lord
All on that day
But the rock cried out, I can't hide you
The rock cried out, I can't hide you
The rock cried out, I ain't gonna hide you guy
All on that day
I said, Rock, what's a matter with you rock?
Don't you see I need you, rock?
Lord, Lord, Lord
All on that day
So I run to the river, it was bleedin'
I run to the sea, it was bleedin'
I run to the sea, it was bleedin'
All on that day
So I run to the river, it was boilin'
I run to the sea, it was boilin'
I run to the sea, it was boilin'
All on that day
So I run to the Lord, please hide me Lord
Don't you see me prayin'?
Don't you see me down here prayin'?
But the Lord said, go to the devil
The Lord said, go to the devil
He said, go to the devil
All on that day
So I ran to the devil, he was waitin'
I ran to the devil, he was waitin'
Ran to the devil, he was waitin'
All on that day
I cried -
POWER!!!!!!!
(Power to da Lord)
Bring down,
(Power to da lord),
POWER!!!
(power to da lord)

nina simone:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uney6p40bcI

Morning guys,

Why aren't they taxing the hell out of alcohol?? Is it because most of our lawmakers use too much of it??
I really think that should have been first on the list and also because I don't use it. They are taxing all my favorite sins.

You guys are right about Sanford. He may be very humiliated that his wife wasn't by his side like most of the other politician's wifes who have been cheated on. His wife showed some self respect. That's unusual for these women. Thank God someone has had the courage to not be a door mat. This is progress.

Hi chloe and everyone else. I've missed you guys. Work was a bitch yesterday and then all the chores. and the heat. I relaxed after all with America's Got Talent. I don't watch much TV anymore but I have come to love that show and I love Sharen Osborn.

At the end of the day yesterday at work the mental health director told me about this guy who she couldn't wake up. I went to check on him and the security guys had just aroused him. He was growling, biting into the air, and pawing with his eyes closed acting like some kind of wild animal. Very dangerous.

We managed to get him to the hospital without anyone getting injured. From what I suspect, it is a benzodiazipine withdrawal. It usually occurs about 6-7 days after withdrawal. I hadn't seen this guy since he was incarcerated but from his charges, that is the most likely cause of his behavior.

If I could just video the reactions of withdrawal from heavy benzodiazipine use and show it to young people, I might just stop some of the abuse of those drugs.

Watching that guy I thought, if there was ever a time for using Holy water, this was one. Unfortunately it isn't on my formulary. And if I had it and used it, the devil that was released might just jump in me.

craig, in case this wasn't brought to your attention enough times yesterday:

"Federal drug regulators warned Wednesday that patients taking two popular drugs to stop smoking should be watched closely for signs of serious mental illness, as reports mount of suicides among the drugs’ users."
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/02/health/02drug.html?ref=health

ping probably attributes your recent thread topics to the above.

Craig - Did you get paid placement endorsements from Motts and others for adding to the video with National exposure?

And was that Soda in your Fridge?

patd - you say "ping probably attributes your recent thread topics to the above."

No not for Craig - he is pretty consistent ..

But wait ! Maybe Barack is using something - that might explain his behavior and direction..

had plans one time to write a book called "syntax of sin taxes: the quintessense of symbiosis"

never got beyond the title.

"State Sales, Gasoline, Cigarette, and Alcohol Tax Rates by State, 2000-2009"
http://www.taxfoundation.org/taxdata/show/245.html

Good title Pat.

Last day before my three day weekend! I hope it has settled down some at work today. There is no AC where the inmates reside and the heat has the natives very restless.

Good morning...

Well since we here all the time from Repugs about the Inheritance Tax otherwise known as the Death Tax on the Rich's Estates I think that maybe we really do need a Death Tax.

Yes, that's it. Anything that causes Death IE: Guns, Bombs, Chemical Weapons, Biological Weapons and all other forms of Weaponry needs to be taxed and Taxed heavily.

Look at all the money the Government could take in with this new Death Tax.

It could revive our economy, repay all our Nations Debt, Health Care, Infrastructure rebuilding and all the other items we need to make our country great again.

Just think what it could do for education. Every child could go to college and be anything they want to be.

So lets ask President Obama to Institute a real Death Tax. At least at the best we can rebuild our country. At the worst we will bankrupt the War Mongers and Merchants of Death.

Now I could definitely live with that.

patd - the symbiotic nature - very interesting.. the more you use the more you get the more you need?

What gets me is the ignorance and simplistic approach that is being taken on such a complex issue as healthcare.

And this sin tax has nothing to do with solving the problems - it is just what liberal dems do - Tax ya and find an excuse

here=hear.

ct, you're not alone on wanting to increase alcohol tax according to this article.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1562391/new_federal_alcohol_tax_on_the_way.html?cat=17

info on fed tax from alcohol, tobacco and trade bureau:
http://www.ttb.gov/tax_audit/atftaxes.shtml

Note to cable TV producers: Probably not a good idea to book one of John Edwards' former advisors as the Democratic strategist trashing Sanford's extramarital fiasco.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/tough-times-for-sinners.html#comment-240790

ct, thanks re title. however, my eyes began to glaze over after the colon and fell asleep while cogitating on and participating empirically in said symbiotic relationships. no did not passed out.

Well we could always follow Biblical Law concerning Mark Sanford. After all the Religious Right Wingers are always throwing the Bible in everyone's face or using it to defend what they do.

I say lets follow it and Stone Mark Sanford for Adultery and we can also Stone his Mistress. IIRC the Bible makes no empathy for one party or the other. They are both equally guilty under the Christian and Jewish versions of the Bible.

That way Mark Sanford does not need to resign since his punishment will already been determined by God.

Then South Carolina can get on with the States business and elect a new Governor to take Sanford's place.

Now it seems the Vatican is going after the nuns. I think the church would be much better off if we simply swapped out the nuns for the bishops.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/02/us/02nuns.html?_r=1&hp

AHhhhhhhhhhhh GET MICHAEL JACKSON OFF THE AIR...

There is work to be done - why is the MSM stuck on this story when our future is in doubt !!!!!!

NJ's One Gun a Month Bill. Gun traffickers, and other criminals need not apply.

http://www.evannappen.com/news.html

Operation Enduring Freedom; the other war.

2009 is well on its way to surpass 2008 as the most deadliest year for Coalition Military Forces.

http://icasualties.org/oef/

Chloe, I think your early morning analyses regarding Sanford and public reaction to his and Ms Sanford's public humiliations are absolutely spot-on.

I think she would be forgiven, if in a moment of incoherent rage, she exercised the Lorena Bobbitt option.

incoherent = totally coherent

Now, gentle early morning people, I'm off to the dentist.

Good morning, always love the videos and appreciate Craig's wee nod to Michael. I forgot he was the face of Pepsi for a few years. Anyways, I wouldn't toss Craig in with the rest, he did it right , they could take a tip from him.

Helen Thomas speaks out:: Not Even Nixon Tried to Control the Media Like Obama .

http://cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=50445

Good morning all

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8130543.stm

For New Pogo. Maybe we should hire EADS.....

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/sanford-gets-press.html#comment-240762

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/sanford-gets-press.html#comment-240763

Is our soft power working?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/now-they-tell-us-john-mccains.html#comment-240753

For Solar on construction trends in the Tri State area

My only morning comment is that is appears Hillary Clinton pressed Obama to change his tune on Iran and step back a bit on the issue of Honduras. I would hardly call it a coup, would you? If reports are true, then thanks you HRC. There appears someone thinking clearly about foreign affairs..........

And I thought Obama had a change of heart.....LOL

I would like to take umbrage with something the Dark Lord said about Mark Sanford being "incommunicado" while he was in Argentina. FYI....he was in constant contact with someone the entire time he was in Argentina! So there!

Obama Administration Not Ruling Out Tax on Health Care Benefits.

Whatever happened to idea that only the so-called rich, those families making over $250K, would see their taxes go up?

http://cnsnews.com/public/Content/Article.aspx?rsrcid=50374

Tax pot. That is the tax we are waiting for.......

Tax porn

Now if you could find a way to tax stupidity, we would all act a lot smarter.......

Read my lips TiR

Doubt the media will blast Obama half as much as Bush Sr. This is where Obama runs out of money to juggle.

Ping Pong

Iran lead MJ story by 1 percentage point and then it was Sanford. Then MJ surpassed Iran and Sanford.
NK threatens to nuke us, Iran arrests BBC workers, Chavez threatens to invade Honduras and MJ is the lead story for a week....gees

It seems media thinks MJ story is the most important event effecting us. And is the reporting even balanced? TMZ reported months ago that MJ is probably not even the biological father of his children, yet the story never got air play.

how about an unbalanced media tax, or sorry, Craig, a pundit tax?

I wish the lawmakers would quit dancing around the issue...legalize marijuana. It would also free-up our law enforcement and legal system to focus on the real crimes of society.

News you may have missed.

http://www.investigativeproject.org/1074/fbi-replaces-brotherhood-tainted-liaison-with

question to tm tech meisters: how did max in his 8:30 post get away with not three but 4 (four) links?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/tough-times-for-sinners.html#comment-240811

I have a hard time taking any link to a site where Brent Bozell is the head guy. Just another rw guy out to do anything to go against the Dems. Typical of the rightwingnuters.

* link seriously*

"...legalize marijuana. It would also free-up our law enforcement and legal system to focus on the real crimes of society."

bw, agree and believe that the savings in corrections costs would be a huge help in places like california.

btw, california and some of the other states in their current budget crises need to consider wholesale granting of early parole to the non-violent offenders. what's it cost a state yearly to house prisoners, $30 thousand plus per inmate? heck, that could pay for a beginning teacher or health care or food for the needy for a year. well maybe not health care, pretty expensive.

Law makers legalize marijuana, and tax big tobacco, a legal substance out of business under the guise that tobacco use is the leading cause of death. So to legalize marijuana that would also mean Congress would have to ignore all the health care risks associated with smoking marijuana.

Just Google the following: marijuana cancer causing study 2009

“What the hell do they think we are, puppets?” Thomas said.

wow! be sure to read that exchange in the link that tir posted at 8:19.

craig, can you get us a video link on that back and forth with reid and thomas? a real historic moment given the state of current msm affairs with the wh.

"...Congress would have to ignore all the health care risks associated with smoking marijuana"

tir, why? by taxing the stuff, they can write in all the regs they want to control it better than they do now.

Ha! morning.

Max. Sure, why not hire EADS - Their ineffective border guarding at least should cost less than Raytheon's (whose electronics they will probably buy to monitor the Saudi-Yemen border area). Here's a little background on that issue:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi-Yemen_barrier

It literally boils down, at least in part, to "Get off my grass." Aside from the grazing issue, there is a ring of familiarity to the issue.

Max, common ground on the HRC-BHO FP influence.

The largest study of its kind has unexpectedly concluded that smoking marijuana, even regularly and heavily, does not lead to lung cancer.

The new findings "were against our expectations," said Donald Tashkin of the University of California at Los Angeles, a pulmonologist who has studied marijuana for 30 years.

The largest study of its kind has unexpectedly concluded that smoking marijuana, even regularly and heavily, does not lead to lung cancer.

The new findings "were against our expectations," said Donald Tashkin of the University of California at Los Angeles, a pulmonologist who has studied marijuana for 30 years.

Pat,

I posted it yesterday.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/now-they-tell-us-john-mccains.html#comment-240709

Smoking marijuana leads to the snack food aisle.

http://paranoia.lycaeum.org/marijuana/facts/mj-health-mythology.html

most of the alleged health risks of pot are myths
and the studies supporting the myths are funded by the police and other agencies with a specific agenda to keep policing pot

Corey speaks the truth

Pat,

Sorry, here is the direct link that you asked for.

http://216.87.173.33/media/2009/0907/cspan_thomas_townhall_0900701a.flv

But, that don't mean I'ma smoke it. Prescription drugs are where it's at these days. Weed is so 1960's -1970's.

Patd,

'non-violent offenders"

What is your definition of a non-violent offender?

This is how the system works.

There are thousands upon thousands of prisoners who have had their charges pled down from, violent to non-violent. A person who commits an arm robbery, a violent crime, is arrested and charged with that offense, but later has the charges reduced or the most serious ones dropped by the prosecutor because of their cooperation with law enforcement. But the original action that cause their arrest was one of violence, but they now are incarcerated as non-violent offender. Not all non-violent prisoners are there because they committed non-violent crimes.

solar, thanks. guess i should read up before speaking up. shouold have known you guys were on top of things.

Here's a local story for you, KGC.

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2009/06/press_sports_writer_david_mayo.html

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/tough-times-for-sinners.html#comment-240785

Patd, I think it's the smoking withdrawl that causes the temporary problems, not the medication. Some of the people taking those antidepressants are sometimes suicidal to begin with (only a small percentage though), and they give the drugs a bad name when they lose it.

Oh, and Pat, I think that three link limitation rule went out the window a while back. (it may come in handy, lets not call it to Craigs attention :))

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/tough-times-for-sinners.html#comment-240803 "I think she would be forgiven, if in a moment of incoherent rage, she exercised the Lorena Bobbitt option."

Good idea Flatus!
If not her, someone should do it!

Max, I read your post from yesterday after I disappeared about the CIA's involvment with the rise of the Baath party in Iraq in the 60s and 70s with some interest.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/now-they-tell-us-john-mccains.html#comment-240703

I have a different take than you on that. My take is that it goes to show , along withthe prior posts we discussed about our role (again, the CIA) in making OBL what he became. I think there a a nuber of lessons we are refusing to learn from those two examples - (1) we don't understand the Middle East well enough to try and steer individuals into positions that will benefit our interests there other than in the very short term, (2) both of those examples demonstrate clearly the law of unintended consequences, (3) the relationships and interests in the Middle East are far too complex to predict what a change today will yield tomorrow, (4) if you use assassins and zealots to do your dirty work and raise them to positions of power, you have assassins and zealots leading the countries over whom they exercise their power, (5) absolute power corrupts absolutely, (6) our need for their oil is a terrible basis for guiding our actions - either open or clandestine - in the ME and (7) those guys over there hate us no matter what we do to help them. Oh, yes - and both parties are at fault for thnking otherwise.

In my state, marijuana is part of a medical treatment. For the life of me, why can't we invent an inhaler with active THC and all the goodies that help a human without the smoke. I know heat is needed to activate the organic ingredients, but this should be a medical priority to make it available in an inhaler.

Matt Taibbi, an Imus & Bill Maher favorite, in an
effort to identify some of the culprits in bringing the world to its knees last year.

His choice Goldman Sachs

An impressive (very long) article---even if you don't
agree with Taibbi's premise--he does have a way
with words. It is a great read---but takes some time &
may leave you shaking your head (at a minimum).

From his perspective, Goldman Sachs
has been tied to every "bubble" since the Depression
Tech Stocks, Housing, $4/gallon oil, Rigging the Bailout, Global Warming

So far Rolling Stone where the article was published
has not placed it on its website--but you can access
through Lynn Samuels site (she is a NYC Sirius radio
talk show host---pretty liberal)--you either love her or
hate her)

" Matt Taibbi: The Great American Bubble Machine"

http://lynnsamuels.com/

Corey

Thanks for the link. I look forward to reading his return column although I doubt he was "obessed or addicted" as the judge stated.

BW
Vaporizers kind of work that way but they are expensive and awkward to use and not very portable.

New Mexico's Medical Marijuana site

http://www.health.state.nm.us/marijuana.html

my favorite herbicidal treatment. and you get free fertilizer.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/offbeat/2009-07-01-animalgrass_N.htm

KGC,

Well then lit up.

If, as you say, all the studies are bogus, can you post any links from any leading, respected, or acknowledge, medical research organizations/universities, doctors, scientists to support your claims. Not only is THC a fat soluble, it stores itself in our organs, but the level of THC has tripled from the days of the 60's & 70's.

And it seems CNBC has a TV show tonite (& probably
to be repeated often) "The Marijuana Boom"

"While it may not be traded on Wall Street any time soon, marijuana has become a booming cash crop.

CNBC's Trish Regan goes behind the scenes to explore the inner workings of this secretive industry, focusing on Northern California's "Emerald Triangle," now the marijuana capital of the U.S.

In this scenic pocket of America, the pot business, much of it legal under state law, now makes up as much as two-thirds of the local economy. "

Posted by: TruthinReality Author Profile Page | July 2, 2009 9:51 AM

I don't see any link supporting your bogus b-llsh-t

hey....
I just had my new couch delivered!..... it's so comfortable and cushy.... now we can watch Red Sox home runs in luxury.....

Craig.... I'm guessing that you aren't taking anything in the news very seriously lately..... with the exception of the reporting on the Middle East.... what's been passing for news is like reading those stupid papers while waiting to empty your grocery cart....

and the 4th of July weekend is upon us.... here it is still raining... it's gonna rain all weekend.... but who cares.... we're going to have fun anyways....
Rick and I are leaving later this afternoon for 4 nights to the northern part of our state.... where it's raining too..... oh well.... the restaurants are very good and there's lots of shopping outlets..... and yes Pogo.... there's LaHouts...

so if I don't get back on (which I might).... let me say now....
Happy 4th of July everyone!

"wow! be sure to read that exchange in the link that tir posted at 8:19 http://cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=50445

Pat, I'm glad you pointed out that link, as I had missed it.
Go Helen!

Craig, If you talk to Helen, please tell her to keep up the good work.

Dear NotTruth

The largest study of its kind has unexpectedly concluded that smoking marijuana, even regularly and heavily, does not lead to lung cancer.

The new findings "were against our expectations," said Donald Tashkin of the University of California at Los Angeles, a pulmonologist who has studied marijuana for 30 years.

Do you have some local police chief you care to quote

I'm no economist, but this sounds like really bad news to me.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/03/business/economy/03jobs.html?_r=1&hp

I recommend going to NYTimes.com and looking at the graphics on the front page - very interesting stuff.

Chloe,

Morning, Don't let near this but.

Legalize marijuana: equals less police, equals less police brutality, equals less gangs, that equals less innocent deaths. Along with a flat income tax, and a flat sales tax, that equals less poor people getting harassed, that equals NO IRS, that equals no off shore tax havens for the Haliburtons/Enrons.

This would be bring the all of the $ needed. On the flat tax we can remember those that can't pay it. The ones that can go to work, must sweep the city streets, alleys, etc. under some limited supervision. If they want a government check. No free ride.

Just curious, is tomorrow the recognized 4th of July
holiday--day off from work-- around the country?

Here in CT most businesses are giving Friday as
the day off, including the state, local govts.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/tough-times-for-sinners.html#comment-240784
"Watching that guy I thought, if there was ever a time for using Holy water, this was one. Unfortunately it isn't on my formulary. And if I had it and used it, the devil that was released might just jump in me."

Could never happen Carol. The devil is powerless, where you're concerned. He doesn't exist.

Carol, I didn't quite realize the kind of stuff you must see on a daily basis. (Aren't you glad you aren't the mental health director). That place is lucky to have you. So is this place.

Chloe,

That was supposed to read: Don't let Emma near this. How is she doing.? Showing how smart she is every day, I bet.!

rez, re your post on helen and sour grapes, i understood that she only was given notice ahead of time that she would be called, that the issue/subject matter du jour was expected, but that the question wasn't pre-formed and what she asked was a surprise. also, as only woman at first and then as dean of press corps, this guaranteed opportunity was extended as a courtesy.
is this what you meant or are you saying pre-planned questions happened and happened on a regular basis with helen?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/tough-times-for-sinners.html#comment-240852

Top of the morning to you Solar.
And why not legalize marijuana. After all, alcohol is legal, and it's actually lethal in many cases. Your ideas for reaping the benefits of it's legality are good too, along with the benefits that will be automatic.

"Showing how smart she is every day"

.... you'd better believe it. Keeps me on my toes.

And we should all be marching on Washington...or at least all of the unemployed...demanding health care. The repugs believe that if they take away the work incentive for health care, we lazy Americans will just live off of the government...always wanting something for nothing. Assholes...they also tend to believe we will behave like them....seeking sex in all of the wrong places and not working while on the clock.

pogo, you're right, just saw a lttle bit of the sky fall when reading that nyt article. example of said chunk:

“We have never seen a duration of that magnitude,” Lynn Reaser, vice president for the National Association for Business Economics, said. “There are a lot of ramifications. A lot of these people become discouraged, and they drop out of the work force. It affects their spending, their whole psychological frame of mind.”

"....we should all be marching on Washington...or at least all of the unemployed...demanding health care"

That's right Blonde. It would be merely demanding what was promised by the person and the party in control.

Coreen, apparently, there is no consensus about whether tomorrow or Monday is the day to celebrate the 4th by staying away from work - our office is closed tomorrow, my dry cleaner is closed Monday. I think most folks are taking tomorrow off, though.

"I'm no economist, but this sounds like really bad news to me."

Yeah, as in 'things aren't getting any better'.

Yeah, pat, I'm afraid we are in for a long, slow ride before things get much better.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/tough-times-for-sinners.html#comment-240862

I bet ya Walmart will be open though. :)

Legalize and tax Marijuana and then tax potato chips

Bye Bye Deficit

Sin taxes really are a good idea up to a point. If you want to decrease the use of something, tax it. Usage will decrease, but a steady revenue stream will continue. Do not tax to the point that the thing goes illegally underground and the revenues disappear.

Give a tax break to anything you want to encourage: solar panels, hybrid cars, passenger rail etc.

Karl Malden died yesterday.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/02/movies/02malden.html?hpw

Funny, I really had no idea he was in his 90s, much less 97. I always enjoyed his acting, even in the cheesy Streets of San Francisco - from which Michael Douglass emerged.

Pogo, the NYT article just reinforces the fact that the
pain for many Americans will continue for quite some
time.

As you know, from my perspective, there was little
in the article that surprised.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/sanford-gets-press.html#comment-240744

Joe,
I'm still waiting for you to say something I disagree with. :)

I do NOT want marijuana legalized - I have enough trouble controlling my weight with wine and nuts - add chips and cookies to the mix and I'm doomed.

Oh, and jamie is right. I watched a guy spen $17 on 4 packs of cigarettes yesterday - damned expensive habit, thanks mostly to the taxes on them. Of course he did buy 4 packs of them - which will probably last him about as long as the tank of gas he paid $35 for at the same time.

Coreen, no, I didn't expect that article would hold any surprises for you - considering what you do for a living I'd hope not.

Americans are not like Iranians and will not march on Washington.

If they had the balls too Bush\Cheney would not have stayed in office destroying our country for eight long years.

Then to he would have had Blackwater shooting Americans the same way Iran was shooting Iranians over the election they just had.

In fact it may end up in the near future that the People may have to take to the street to stop Republicans from further destruction of our country by blocking everything President Obama is attempting to do to repair the damage caused by them and the Bush\Cheney War Crime Family.

Pogo, that is why I thought the Matt Taibbi article
about Goldman Sachs--bubbles---accumulation of
massive wealth set against the real world facts of
most people--was so intriguing. (I tried to link it above)

I hope you get a chance to check it out---I know its
long but it is very interesting & discouraging.

And if I don't catch up with you before you exit later today for the holiday weekend---a happy 4th---enjoy the weekend-- even if it winds up a rainout.

As to the unemployment numbers, if you add in all those who gave up looking for work and those whose benefits have run out the figure is more likely closer to 18% to 20%.

That's the real figure, not the one there saying it is.

If they had the balls too Bush\Cheney would not have stayed in office destroying our country for eight long years.

... It has nothing to do with ball AP.

s

and quote marks

I don't think you need all of this, but then again neither did our Congress before they voted on it.

This is the Wax-Markey 300 manager’s amendment page dump, with ref to American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, aka Cap&Trade. It is a pdf file, so if you are a homeowner search for the word "retrofit", look for single family home. You should become familiar with Retrofit for Energy and Environmental Performance program, better know as REEP, it's implications may has a significant impact on your future. Actually this may have just as much of a impact if you are a renter, or a real estate investor.

http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090518/hr2454_ans.pdf

AP,

I can't beleive I agree with you, but I do this time on the true unemployment figures.

Chloe,
hang in there, it'll happen, I'm sure.

Until then, peace.

Joe

Coreen, thanks and same to you - I'm going far enough west that the forecast is 82 degrees and partly cloudy Saturday and Sunday. Right now it's overcast and 62 here - some July.

AP - that's a good point - the official unemplyment figure is about the most conservative figure describing unemployment in the US - by exclusion of huge groups of unemployed - that the DOL could come up with. DOL tables are an interesting read btw for those who haven't taken the time to wade into them.

US Marines launch major offensive in Afghanistan
"Thousands of U.S. Marines poured from helicopters and armored vehicles into Taliban-controlled villages in southern Afghanistan on Thursday in the first major operation under President Barack Obama's strategy to stabilize the country." http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090702/ap_on_re_as/as_afghanistan

Max,

I know that you are just being a good Republican, and pushing for war, war, war. No matter to you who does it: The Neocolonialism Israeli's, or the U. S. They can't harm us. If all of t he $ dried up in that region, there would be almost immediate peace.

Also like I told U before. It would be suicide for the Iranian people to want a nuclear bomb. What would they do with just one. What if it miss-fired.? The radiation blow back would kill off at least 50% of them, I think. How would they deliver it, truck it over?

Step by step, they couldn't do it imo: They would need to refine it, to a perfect shape. Then they would have to test it. We would find out about it no?. Then they would have to deliver it. Then-the biggest then, would be that, then when this happened they would be wiped of the face of the earth.

As far as terrorist getting their hands of them, cos the Iranians sold it to them, if we were to find out. This would have the same results imo, We would annihilate them. I don't think that they have a death wish.

That article on Mckinney is very old, just pointing out that some things, is all. Max I caught up on most of the post's. You can tell me again that you are an independent, but I don't believe it now after reading how you are defending that asshole Cheney, and others.

Max, one last thing..... Iraq, no matter what happens there, it is Bushes failure, he started that needless war. I don't give a rats ass about Hussien. He is only relevant in the way that he was used as an excuse to kill the Iraqi people for their oil.

How Enron/Haliburton used it for it's own price gouging, the army of private contractors (mercenaries etc. that were/are owned by t he same. Last question for you. Where is the lost billions of U S money that is lost. How can 9 billion be stolen by them. The Bush crowd never did tell us where it went did they?

I am for the Israeli people. I want them to have all of the things that they deserve: Including-not having missiles fired on the civilians. All of it. But not by force. Like we did it when we took 44% of Mexican lands. Might is not right. It just means that you can enforce the wrongs done, and forget about it. But the wrong never goes away. There is no such thing as an Illegal imo.

Ha Joe! I will.

hey y'all....
I know times are tough.... I'm watching my own business... which I've worked hard for years to build up... implode before my eyes....

and I don't mean to rain on anyone's love of being negative parade.... but the biggest holiday of the summer season is upon us.... and I really hope that all of you can find it in your hearts to CHILL OUT... even just a wee bit...

I'm really looking forward to going to the Gypsy Cafe in Lincoln NH tonight....
they make lamb chops to die for.... and the best fresh margaritas made with real ingredients.... I may let this be a "let's really let my hair down" night and order two.... :0)

KGC,

"I don't see any link supporting your bogus b-llsh-t"

But I did. I gave specific instructions how to conduct the query. Guess you didn't read that part. So here they are again.

Just Google the following as typed: marijuana cancer causing study 2009

NYT companion piece to that on the economy---for
numbers on the broader measure of unemployment--which counts part-time workers who would like to
have a full-time job.

"The number of part-time workers who want full-time
work declined a bit in June & has been hovering around 9 million for months now.

As a result, the Labor Dept's broadest measure of unemployment & underemployment rose only slightly,
to 16.5% from 16.4% in June."

"A Setback on Jobs"by David Leonhardt NYT

http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/02/a-setback-on-jobs/

Solar, I don't care what anyone says, you're a treasure.

Google it yourself
if you have something to prove
prove it yourself

"the wrong never goes away"

Yeah Solar... sometimes the process 'is' more important than the end result.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/tough-times-for-sinners.html#comment-240888

That's a given. :)

FRiday is the designated official Federal holiday since the 4th falls on the weekend and federal employees are entitled to a day off.

Some places are turning it into a four day weekend, but for the feds and any state governments that follow their calendar, Friday is it.

Ha! I binged that search term you suggested truth, the ONLY result on the first page that returned any link between mj and cancer is an ACS study from 1999 looking at head and neck cancer in two groups of subjects. Of course, as they say, buyer beware.

"The ACS estimates about 36,000 cancers of the mouth, tongue, throat, and larynx will be diagnosed this year in the US and about 10,000 people will die of these cancers. In addition to marijuana use, the main risk factors for these cancers are tobacco and alcohol use."

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_1_1x_Smoking_Marijuana_May_Increase_Cancer_Risk.asp

And a study done at the same time, with a larger sample size, came to the opposite conclusion - that there was no link between mj use and head/neck cancers.

"According to Ford, he thought he would find an association between marijuana use and cancer, but "that the association would fall away when we corrected for tobacco use. That was not the case. The association was never there." And that surprised him because of the way marijuana is smoked: deep inhalations, with the smoke held in for effect. "It seemed natural that there would be some connection," he tells WebMD.

"Based on these findings, Ford says that cancer prevention efforts should "remain focused on tobacco and alcohol, two known carcinogens."

http://www.webmd.com/smoking-cessation/news/20000508/marijuana-unlikely-to-cause-cancer

Tashkin's study was of lung cancer, and found no link between mj and lung cancer.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/25/AR2006052501729.html

Cancers are pretty specific - it would be a good idea to be specific when talking about them.

Thanks, jamie - I'm taking tomorrow off - now about Monday ... maybe I'll follow my dry cleaner's lead and take it off, too. Nah. Mrs. P would have my ass if I did.

Pogo, How do you like Bing?

chloe, I like it - I really didn't choose it - our IT folks did, but it does seem to do a good job. It doesn't have those damn sponsored links that Google has. If you want to compare the two, here's a neat little site to do that.

http://www.google-vs-bing.com/

Hey, solar .... lunch

Max,

Thanks for asking about my biz. .....will tell you about it a little later on: Once I get caught on everything, like cutting the grass, getting my lazy butt out of this chair, and doing my exercises.

Maybe I will, maybe I won't. Flip, it's tails= I won't. It's a very nice clear, cool, sunny day. Think that I will spend it daydreaming. Slap.....can't do that Judy's home, and she will catch me at it sooner or later.

Pogo,

Have a nice 4th, but before U do, here.

http://img11.imageshack.us/i/577492lunch.jpg/

Read the fine print at the bottom. "all ties go to Solar" haha

Solar....
alright! that's the kind of spirit I wanna see around here....

going to pack now.... gonna leave in about an hour....

everyone take care and have some fun.....
might see you on Monday.... maybe not until Tuesday....

but let me leave you with this one thought..... let's hear more about ....
Michael Jackson..... :0)))))))

Thanks Pogo. I'm already using Bing. That and yahoo search.... I like them both.

Tony,
In case I'm not back later when you get here, glad to hear what a success your eye lasik surgery was. I've considered it myself, but haven't decided. The problem I have, is that I can't wear glasses, unless I'm reading small print. It's strictly far sightedness. I'll investigate.

... and Renee..... Have fun!

How long with the MSM allow Obama to take credit for the stimulus bill, when it hasn't created any new jobs, he points to jobs saved(?), and all the while the unemployment figures continues to rise?

This is nothing more than another version of the old shell game, and we are all dupes trying to guess under what cup is the pea.

patd sed: "i understood that she only was given notice ahead of time that she would be called, that the issue/subject matter du jour was expected, but that the question wasn't pre-formed and what she asked was a surprise."

pat, that is exactly what happened in this case with Nico Pitney.

He was called the night before and told to be expecting a question. And since, at the moment, he was working exclusively on the topic of the day (Iran election/protest) he was expected to have one of his Iranian tweeter contacts provide a question. It was to be random and would be a surprise. It was not even his question.

Specific issue aside, given the current state of the news media, I think it's time we start including acknowledged members from the blogosphere/internet from both sides in with the others in the so called MSM. I get a little tone of resistance and resentment for doing so included with this dustup.

btw here's a good clip of the exchange.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWWoQakb9M0

TinReality,

Please speak for yourself only. Maybe you are a dupe, but in fact I'm not seeing anything in the economic news that I didn't expect. The economy was on the rocks and the credit/financial system were on the brink of collapse. Recovery is going to take a long time, and many economists, as well as the Administration, said to not look for recovery before the end of this year. One might only guess how much worse things would be without the stimulus package. And, finally, employment is always lags recovery.

Come back in a year and we can discuss then whether the stimulus bill 'worked.' It is way to premature at this point.

KGC,

You asked me for a link. I provide you the information.

Truthiness

You provided your opinion. I guess that is information of a sort.

kgc and tir, you are juggling the old oranges and apples imo.

kgc, maybe tir is referring to this which was announced last week:
"Marijuana smoke has joined tobacco smoke and hundreds of other chemicals on a list of substances California regulators say cause cancer. ....
The listing only applies to marijuana smoke, not the plant itself. .....
Spokesman Sam Delson says the state agency found marijuana smoke contains 33 of the same harmful chemicals as tobacco smoke. "

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/19/AR2009061902945.html

tir, this is an article re what kgc posted:
"Study Finds No Cancer-Marijuana Connection
By Marc Kaufman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, May 26, 2006
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/25/AR2006052501729.html

How does the saying go? The best part of repentence is the sinning?

A happy & safe 4th to you all!

patd
thanks but don't do Truthiness's work for him.
And the study Truthiess alluded to does not make a direct connection but implies there may be a connection

could it be that smoke from any source causes cancer and that our lungs were designed to inhale smokeless air. probably had something to do with pesky old evolution and the critter that climbed ashore and took the momentous first breath.

I've heard that saliva causes cancer, but only when swallowed in small doses over many years.

patd
That's kind of what the study says without the evolution reference :)))

patd- We to may be doing the apples oranges thing too.

imo what started this discussion in the presser was the N Pitney question of a few days earlier.

See:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-tv/huffington-post-editor-ni_b_219825.html

And HT and Reid were just expressing discontent with the whole WH -press questioning process.

rez, guess so. here's your apple back. sorry about that missing hunk.
"probably a worm" she says as she slithers under the nearest rock.

altho' it was fun to hear: a little dust-up between a feisty veteran of the worst of political times against the wet behind the ears newage newbie.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/tough-times-for-sinners.html#comment-240814

Maybe the MSM is doing this to continue the now protection of the New Favored administration - Or as the New Obama Admin has not much to say?

So by default MJ gets the lead

KGC,

That was only 1 study. There numerous other studies that state just the opposite. But I can understand why you would put all your faith in that 1 study.

tir, what does it matter whether or not pot causes cancer? almost everything seems to cause cancer. even getting over-stressed by fellow bloggers causes cancer.
jamie's right about the efficacy of taxing when society wants to successfully control a harmful substance (or behaviour for that matter).

there even are studies that say sitting in front of this monitor for too long a time can cause cancer. therefore, shall we ban the trail, cq and craig?

Posted by: patd Author Profile Page | July 2, 2009 1:30 PM

My neck is getting a little sore. I wonder if they have liability insurance. Oh. . Pogo

Truthiness

Since you are the missing linkster your concern for validity of samples is somewhat amusing.

In all the studies over all the years and the results are pretty evident --smoking pot does not cause cancer.

And there are other ways to ingest pot that don't involve smoking which would erase any questions about cancer risk

Truthiness
You pick an idea and the cherry pick facts to support it.
You should just fire up a fattie and enjoy life instead of spending time trying to tell other people how to have fun.

Tir

If they are so numorous whare are they so they can be examined.

Jack

Patd

Taxing MJ and alcohol have the same problem. If you make the tax to high then entrepreneurs will find a way to supply it tax free.
Growing quality MJ is very easy to grow, so any tax big enough to deter use would result in a black market.

Jack

Ya know I think spell check has made me a worse speller, certainly a lazy one.
Then I forget to use it, lol

Jack

Break is over

One thing on the economy, Tues evening the wife and I went out to eat. We noticed that the parking lots at places like the Olive Gardens, were full. Not something you would expect on a Tuesday evening in the middle of a bad recession. I suspect this has been an uneven recession and has hit the "important" parts of the country(ex: NYC) worse than others.

Jack

Jack

Re the tax argument . I think there will be some of that but as with alcohol I think most growers would rather be law abiding
The consumer pays the tax.

Renee posted: "I know times are tough.... I'm watching my own business... which I've worked hard for years to build up... implode before my eyes...."

I thought about that when I was reading Anon's 18-20% unemployment figure. Because the fact is, even the expanded figures don't take into account the millons of self-employed people who are losing clients on a daily basis, and can't find any new ones.

And Wall Street still pays out excessive salaries and bonus's.

I remember once my grandfather telling me "If you can't trust your banker who can you trust".

Its obvious that banks can not be trusted and neither can Wall Street as they continue to manipulate the markets and the common folk go slowly broke losing everything they own.

And the beat goes on.

Will be getting ready to head out the door for a long weekend.

Have fun everyone, catch you later.

Patsi

Good post
http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/tough-times-for-sinners.html#comment-240936

I don't think things are getting better - they've just stopped getting worse as fast.

The increase in gasoline prices is not helping either.

Hey AP

Happy Fourth of July

Happy Fourth to you too KGC.

And Happy Fourth to all Trail Mixers.

In fact, Truth's truthiness is not even that. I provided links to 3 separate studies -

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/tough-times-for-sinners.html#comment-240894

- the one Truth told KC how to find through a Google search was done at UCLA, the one done at the same time (which had a sample size 3 times larger and controlled for cigarettes and alcohol - the UCLA study did not) was from Johns Hopkins. The third study was for lung cancer. All of them showed up on both the Google and Bing searches I did. Truth ignored the other two studies which did not support the cancer link claimed in the UCLA study and now denies their existence. As I said when Truth started posting here, that psuedonym is ironic.

Patsi, Exactly!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/tough-times-for-sinners.html#comment-240936

This is what has been happening to me. I was told to go for an S.B.A. loan if I wanted to. I kept thinking to myself-self, how would I provide a list of clients, and letters of award, or intents for projects that I don't have????

Joe, said.

"Come back in a year and we can discuss then whether the stimulus bill 'worked.' It is way to premature at this point."

Joe, this if fine, and I agree with it. There is however one little point to make about it. We need that $ NOW!!!: there is over 65 % of the stimulus money that is just sitting there. It has not even been allocated. We need to get this money into---Chloe's-----hands, she will know how to spend it. HA!

Pogo,

Did you see the fine print on our 11:40 post, and my 11:42, and thanks for you comments Compadre.

Solar, I did see that - my post appeared before yours - not a tie - but feel free to rationalize that away. (CQ's IT geeks need to put a seconds field on the posts.) :-)

" that psuedonym is ironic."
Doubly ironic .... very little truth and almost zero reality.

Noooo, I couldn't leave well enough alone. I had to go and rub it in, but.

http://img27.imageshack.us/i/575270whyblamememexican.jpg/

btw, apparently Zhang did control for cigarette smoking and alcohol use in his study, so it stands as one study finding a relationship between marijuana use and cancer of the head and neck. And the study group in each was of similar size, but the control group in Ford's study was 3 times larger. The most that can be said is that Zhang found a relationship that another study by Ford did not find. Happens all the time in epidemiological studies. So you can pick your study to support your belief.

Solar, NBD. You can have the ties if it makes you happy. :-)

Bob - right arm!

Oh, and Solar, I hope those pics you linked are humorous - since they are blocked by our enterprise software, I may never know. But it was not Mexican today - I took LP out and got a steak hoagie - and it was really good.

Pogo, I forgot, but yes they were: The first was a cartoon of you with a fishing pole hanging from the rear of your hat. You were chasing a nice juicy hot dog, that you couldn't catch.

The second was a pic of me in a large sombrero, the whole Mexican dress thing, down to the waracheis, and a sign at the bottom that read-"why blamed me"

Check one. Funny no____. Funny yes____.

Yes.

Incredible!! going to book mark this and read a cpl of times.

Staffer at SEC Had Warned of Madoff

An investigator at the Securities and Exchange Commission warned superiors as far back as 2004 about irregularities at Bernard L. Madoff's financial management firm, but she was told to focus on an unrelated matter, according to agency documents and sources familiar with the investigation.

Genevievette Walker-Lightfoot, a lawyer in the SEC's Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations, sent e-mails to a supervisor, saying information provided by Madoff during her review didn't add up and suggesting a set of questions to ask his firm, documents show. Several of these questions directly challenged Madoff activities that much later turned out to be elements of his massive fraud.

But with the agency under pressure to look for wrongdoing in the mutual fund industry, she wasn't able to continue pursuing Madoff, according to documents and two people familiar with the investigation, and her team soon concluded its work on the probe.

The SEC's inability to detect Madoff's fraud was a high-profile embarrassment for the agency, which was already under scrutiny for the collapse of investment banks under its watch, helping fuel the financial crisis. SEC Chairman Mary L. Schapiro, who took over shortly after the Madoff case came to light, has acknowledged that the agency's performance was a failure, saying the SEC needed to ?mprove enforcement and its surveillance of financial markets.

At least five times over nearly 20 years, the SEC has investigated Madoff's business, but it never discovered the tremendous fraud. In 2007, for instance, the agency reviewed his activities after warnings from a one-time rival, Harry Markopolos, that Madoff was probably running a Ponzi scheme.

http://www.truthout.org/070209B

Another issue in the world of the self-employed is getting paid. Many, many people I know are havng one helluva hard time collecting for work done right now. I believe times are a lot worse out there than what is being talked about.

KC, they are. Well, now I gotta go - swim meets at 65 degrees are not something I particularly look forward to, but are part of my life today.

Everyone have a glorious Fourth.

So, what should they do, Patsi, et al?

Go to small claims court and have their claims validated? Continue to do the work while grinning through the pain? Stop performing services for the non-payer? Settle the claims for goods or services in kind?

I suppose many people won't want to be hard on the debtor because they think it will destroy their business relationship. But, what kind of relationship is it if they enter into a transaction knowing that they're not going to pay you?

Is barter for services or product becoming more common now?

If you like foreign oil, you'll love foreign food," some signs read.

All kinds of problemas in CA.

Nearly 4,000 people march in Fresno for water

FRESNO, Calif.—Thousands of farmers, farmworkers and their supporters rallied at City Hall on Wednesday, calling on federal officials to ease regulations that have cut water supplies to the nation's most prolific growing region.

http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_12732004?nclick_check=1

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/tough-times-for-sinners.html#comment-240930

jack, yes it's a delicate balance to tax just the right amount. but the grow your own argument on taxing pot doesn't hold true because one can make their own beer/wine (limited amount a year), make their own cigs from their home grown 'bacca etc without paying taxes on it. yet most go out and pay thru the nose for lesser quality products. so far taxing hasn't caused those markets to go underground or extinct. same holds true for candy, art, jewelry, luxury clothes, and prepared foods all of which can be made (sometimes more superior) at home sans federal and state and municipal taxes.
the other point to be made is that with taxing the product, gov't can also if it wants regulate it, make it safer, control marketing to minors.

I'm going out on a limb, I don't know anybody who smokes marijuana. Although, with the persistant arguments for legalizing it, I'm wondering if some people here do. LOL!

further tho'ts on jack's admonition re taxing

making your own stuff for your own consumption is ok, maybe ideal in some cases; but when you want to sell to others, there needs to be some protection for the purchasers.

think china's pet food and baby formula disasters.

I may have to do penance to Patsi, but Gloria Allread is an ambulance chasing barracuda. If there is a spotlight, camera, or checkbook on or open, that woman would crawl on her belly over broken glass to get to them.

Cory,

Several here have admitted to doing so either in the past or currently. I've only tried it a few times in the far back of beyond but not now because the smell is really too sicky sweet. My stomach didn't take kindly to the experience.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/tough-times-for-sinners.html#comment-240972

Rez

Up on my population soap box again. When the central valley was a sleepy collection of little towns completely surrounded by farm lands, there was more than enough water from mountain snow run off.

Move in a million plus people fleeing prices on the coast, cement over some of the best agricultural land in the world and have all those people consume gallons more of water per acre than any crop or live stock and there go the supplies.

When you add that draining water from the bay to start the fishing industry screaming and then send any run off down to Los Angeles screeching for more and more water .... well there goes paradise.

The water wars are going to make the oil wars look like a gentle game of tag. Nobody drinks oil.

Allred is all that and more, Jamie... Say anything you want, as long as it doesn't have anything to do with a big butt, menopause, whore et al.

"suppose many people won't want to be hard on the debtor because they think it will destroy their business relationship."

Flatus -- that's the biggest problem...people are afraid to dump even bad clients.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/tough-times-for-sinners.html#comment-240984

Patsi

Nope - given age and personality, she looks darn good. I suspect a friendly surgeon or picture in the attic.

"Up on my population soap box again."

All yours! I know at least once a month I tell DW how much I'll miss seeing the grandkid(s) grow up but don't envy what they'll have to face with the world we're leaving them.

Now it's my turn to finish a little yard work and then start an long weekend. Tomorrow is our 16th anno, but we'll start early I'm sure :-) Maybe I'll try some of that Jose C we were talking about last week.. Cuidado, muy peligroso

I know. I was kidding about that, Jamie. I talked to my friend who is a cop in Toledo. He said their city has gone crazy. There has been a lot of homicides lately. The Toledo mayor laid off 75 police officers. What he didn't mention was that he has not replaced any of the officers who have retired in the past few years, so that number 75 is probably closer to 200. He pulled detectives out of their jobs and how has them working the streets. So, now when there is a homicide, they are no available detectives to help solve the crime, because they are working a normal beat job.

Patsi,

"Another issue in the world of the self-employed is getting paid. Many, many people I know are havng one helluva hard time collecting for work done right now. I believe times are a lot worse out there than what is being talked about."

Another post that tells the problems facing me, and some other contractors. Add to that-that I have to pay taxes (pay-roll) and unemployment comp.

Flatus,

I have stopped working for anyone, unless they are able to pay. Homeowners, Firemen, Policemen, city workers are my new clients. Just like they were 30 years ago, back to square one.

I have liened different contract, that total 96k, not in small claims but in regulars court. I do all of my own research on the properties and all, just to save the atty fees. I doubt if I will see much of this $ in the future. One client told me that he has a lot more atty than I do, they blame the bad times on not being able to pay out.

It's hard to do what Renee suggested, and have a good time. There is some goods new on down the line. received 4 lots, that are heavily wooded, and two have been sold already. These are affordable housing, Solarcrete homes that I wrote about. The thing is getting the banks to release the $ to build.....go to a diff state to register my corp, that will take time.

Anything can happen in between. So having a positive outlook is getting harder, and harder. We need to get that stimulus $ released to us, not just the ones that fucked this all up in the first place. How they can give this $ to the same people that got us into this mess is beyond me. How Greenspan can go and start his own consulting firm is beyond me. I blame him just as much as Bush.

...has nothing to do with taxation, and a whole lot to do with the pharmaceutical lobby. Zoloft prescriptions will plummet.

Patsi,

Another thing is that if you have equipment payments ( I don't ) that you have to pay on work related machines: Truck-and trailers, are lined up all along some highways, with for sale signs. Repo's are at all time highs, some say as many as 15,000 per month out in the In. area.

Craig, LOL!!

I say tax alcohol MORE.

MORE luxury tax on ...2nd & 3rd homes & boats & yachts & fishing gear & hunting gear & guns & vacations...and on...and on...

tt

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/tough-times-for-sinners.html#comment-240976

I used to smoke dope and cigs now Nothing. Been about 10 years for Cigs and about 15 years for dope.

More tax on fishing gear?! Fishing is fun, you should try it. Tax vacations?! Hotels, restaurants, and resorts employ people. What do you like to do? Let's tax that.

Tax, tax, tax... how about eliminating redundant and useless bureaucracy, for starters?

don't drink alcohol either. Very boring.

Man, there really is a serious cultural disconnect in this country. Why can't everybody leave everyone else alone? It works both ways; I understand. Let Bubba hunt and ride his ATV, and Evan can listen to his "Fiest" records and watch his "Lost" DVDs. Do we really need another war?

don't drink alcohol either. Very boring.

sorry for the double post

One last thought before I get all worked up:

People who hunt and fish, yes, kill & maim animals for recreation and sustenance, are far closer to nature and the life/death cycle than so-called "environmentalists" living in urban areas who recycle their organic soda cans they got from Trader Joe's will ever be.

Time to take a break (It's been one of those days for me, but I stand by the sentiment).

"Why can't everybody leave everyone else alone?"

Champ, Does that mean we can watch TV (as well as the kids) without you telling us it's rotting our brains?

Champ, Don't answer that. I just want to make sure you know I'm just kidding around. I actually agree with what you said.

"Tax Man" by George Harrison

all that "live and let live" would be ok if humans didnt always screw it up...........small groups and large, insanity is the rule.......

"Can't we all just get along?"

"Uh, nope.....don't seem so......"

Who said this just yesterday?

Moving forward, I suggest that we as Americans adhere to these five principles:

1. We do not abdicate American sovereignty to global institutions. The purpose of the United States is to protect the liberty of the American people. We should never allow the WTO, NAFTA, the U.N. or the Law of the Sea Treaty to transfer power from America to an international body.

2. We provide a strong national defense, but we do not police the world. America should be armed with defensive weapons capable of repelling any attack. We should spend all appropriate money to make sure that no country in world can credibly threaten us.

Unfortunately, our foreign policy is undermining our security. We have more than 700 military installations in 135 countries around the globe. We have 50,000 troops in Germany, 30,000 in Japan, and 25,000 in South Korea. Worse, we have our brave men and women bogged down occupying Iraq and Afghanistan in the midst of ethnic strife and civil war.

We spend more than $1 trillion per year on our foreign policy, and our military is stretched thin. We can no longer afford to be the world's policeman. We must bring our troops home from around the world, cut overseas spending and strengthen our national defense.

3. We obey the Constitution and follow the rule of law. The Constitution clearly states that only Congress can declare war. Congress abandoned that responsibility during the buildup to the Iraq war and must never make that mistake again. When wars are undeclared, they drag on with no clear plan or exit strategy. If we must fight, we should do so with overwhelming force, win as quickly as possible and promptly withdraw.

4. We do not engage in nation-building. Conservatives know government is a poor tool to solve problems. It then makes no sense that we would think that our government could build civil societies and solve the tremendously complex problems of a developing country. Nation-building does not work. It places a tremendous burden on our military and takes directly from the pockets of the American taxpayer. The best thing we as Americans can do is offer friendship while setting a good example of what a free and prosperous society looks like.

5. We stay out of the internal affairs of other nations. America should conduct trade, travel and diplomacy with all willing nations. Intervention, however, always has unintended consequences and almost always gets us in trouble. For example, in 1953, our CIA helped overthrow Mohammad Mosaddeq, the democratically elected prime minister of Iran and installed the Shah of Iran, a ruthless dictator. The blowback from our actions was in large part responsible for the extremist Iranian Revolution of 1979, the taking of our hostages and the many problems we have had with Iran ever since. So much of our intervention makes no sense. We backed Saddam Hussein for much of the 1980s, and then twice went to war against him. In the 1990s, we bribed North Korea not to pursue atomic weapons with nuclear technology, and Kim Jong-il used that assistance to build several nuclear bombs.

Intervention simply does not serve our long-term interests.

The world is a dangerous place and we should be concerned, but intervention and militarism cannot solve our problems. The answers to our foreign policy problems lie in defending our soil, scaling back our global military footprint and trading with all willing partners. We have strayed far from this philosophy, but we can get back on track by looking to our Constitution, our traditions and the example of our Founding Fathers.

Evenin', y'all--

From the NY TIMES: On July 2, 1937, aviator Amelia Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan disappeared over the Pacific Ocean while attempting to make the first round-the-world flight at the equator.

Think the odds of finding Jimmy Hoffa are better--

Meanwhile, though, since Craig brought up sinnin', gonna toss in some Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys:

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

"Sinners run and hide your face
Sinners run and hide your face
Run to the rocks and hide your face
The rocks cried out 'no hidin' place. . ."

Would have linked the Original Carter Family, for Surry's (yep, down home we still call her Surry) doleful alto makes the whole thing sound infinitely threatening, but alas, couldn't find a link.

Enough of my nonsense. Happy 4th, y'all.

Sorry Ronn Paul said that. There is more.

http://washingtontimes.com/

Solar -- a friend who owns one of the big recording studios in Nashville has this on his website now: "We expect 1/2 of the full amount of booked studio time at the beginning of the session, and the balance upon the session's end unless other arrangements have been made. No exceptions. If you're supposed to have the deposit when you arrive and you've "forgotten" your checkbook, everybody will just have to sit and wait until you get back from the ATM."

de gullah:

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2009/jul/02/keeping_gullah_culture_alive87821/

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/tough-times-for-sinners.html#comment-241021
Patsi, That's the only way to do business. Get half up front and the rest on completion. When everyone pays up, then it keeps everyone's prices lower too.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/tough-times-for-sinners.html#comment-240943 "she will know how to spend it."
Oboy, would I ever Solar. I'd have this economy hoppin' in no time.

"all that "live and let live" would be ok if humans didnt always screw it up...........small groups and large, insanity is the rule......."

... Yeah Sturge, but in a perfect world (as if that will ever exist).
But does that have to mean we're gonna keep blowing each others heads off? Besides, I think Champ was just talking about more tolerance.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/tough-times-for-sinners.html#comment-240866

Jamie:

They should tax fried food.

Who's gonna complain - the "grease companies"? (even the Colonel has grilled chicken)

Plus, I know I'd still pay.

Posted by: tonyb39 | July 1, 2009 8:31 PM :
"Hey Fry
Don't pick on are Champ,he's no Brian,we like him...."

I especially like him Fryed until really Dark.

Yeah, you would probably take us all to a movie, (of your choice) buy us all some popcorn. Thats not what I meant. SSSS?

FL gives hybrid cars a free pass for certain tolls.

(people love to think they're getting something for nothing ; )

That EXACTLY what I had in mind! How did ya know?

chlo....what dark lord said is fine.....yup.... "keep on truckin' " .........that's what ya do.........but humans is a old old situation and they keep provin' what they can most be relied upon for......hey.....maybe things are looking up.........

lol

Posted by: TruthinReality | July 2, 2009 10:49 AM : "You should become familiar with Retrofit for Energy and Environmental Performance program, better know as REEP, it's implications may has a significant impact on your future. Actually this may have just as much of a impact if you are a renter, or a real estate investor."
----------------------------------------------------------------
Duh. That's the entire point, Mr Realty.

That's suposed to read, Reality.

"That EXACTLY what I had in mind! How did ya know?"

I know, I know. Ask Jack how I knew that he was 6ft/3, 240 lbs. without ever seeing a pic of him or nuttin?

You might take us all to one of those fancy Texas Diiiner places, like popyes or something like that , but that is still not what I meant.

Spendthrift, Side, Saddle, Sally.

"They should tax fried food."

Warren, You're assuming they care about our health?
Besides, wouldn't that hurt the economy even more. Poor McDonalds. Plus we already pay tax on that food anyway. I bet you were just kiddin', huh?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/tough-times-for-sinners.html#comment-241022

Sturgeone,

Back in the 1980s PBS did the wonderful "The Story of English" about all the roots and divergent paths of the English language. One of the more memorable episodes were about Pidgen, dialect, and Patois. Gullah was prominantly featured

You can get the shows on VHS, but the DVD doesn't seem to be available though demand might bring it back on the market.

http://www.amazon.com/Story-English-Programs-1-9-VHS/dp/6302892058/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=video&qid=1246578224&sr=8-6

So that's what the extra S was for. Hey, stop making fun of our fancy diners here in Texas. We eat real well here. That's why this state is so high on the fattest list.

I didn't want to say too much about M J.....but I would like to keep it away from my buddy out in Florida. You know who. Can you see him high on the stuff, and chasing all those dillos around his house? Hell he even might drown trying to save one of those dillos in his pool. Might think it was drowning or something. hahaha

Carol, nope not her either, no MJ for her, tell u later why not.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/tough-times-for-sinners.html#comment-240870

For real pogo. Talk about regressive taxes!

And the Right is screaming about the rich losing a tax break. God forbid you give back some of all that money you can't spend to help out the rest of the economy which is in a downward spiral...

I think a lot of revenue could be generated from legalizing Mary Jane.

Tax the heck out of it - because once it becomes legal - there will be a spike in use.

Also - you will take money out of the hands of cartels and gangsters - and put it into the hands of farmers who can grow fields of it.

(And I like to think the Phillip Morris of the marijuana industry might be a bit more benevolent than the predecessor - but the jury is still out...)

Significantly, you will avoid some of the huge costs of imprisonment, and make sure there is more room in our prisons for people who are a threat to society. (not to mention the opportunity costs of those inmates - many who could be earning a living instead of rotting in a prison we pay for...)

And maybe making pot legal could even cut down on some of the stupid things people do on alcohol. Present company included.

Time to celebrate the 4th!! How old are We?

Posted by: xrepublican Author Profile Page | July 2, 2009 7:35 PM

Interesting how in a thread with 191 posts and numerous policy discussions, a man of your education and intelligence picks THAT one for reply. I suppose I should be somewhat complimented with your obsession with me, though it's actually more disturbing. In case you hadn't noticed, I've been allowing you to take pot shots at me for a while now without any retort, and there are two reasons: 1) I've gleaned you're a combat veteran, and I respect that; and 2) I'm doing my damnedest to avoid mucking up the thread. Sure, I slip up now and again; I'm human. Give it a rest. You're not as funny as I am; smarter... not funnier. Deal with it.

chloe

You are assuming "they" are somehow different than "we"

Who are they?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/tough-times-for-sinners.html#comment-241000

Tip Toe

I would probably go along with not giving tax breaks for second homes. But when it comes to yachts etc. it always has the potential to backfire since a lot of people are employed to make all those things rich folks buy. Maybe only tax it if it was made outside of the US?

That was supposed to read, supposed.

I missed the Palin quarrel. My 2c :

There was nothing wrong with her campaign until she used her family as a propaganda tool, the import of which was her SUPERIOR family values. That was tacky and it took a really big chance. That gamble was a loser; the message was undercut by the daughter recapitulating the premarital mistake of the mom. It was reeaally stupid of the Palin manager to approve that message.

I disagree with almost all of Palin's points. However, she did a great job delivering her messages and delivering the religious right to the voting booth, which is exactly what muckain needed. The weaknesses of the republican ticket was their laughably frenetic lead candidate, the hopelessly divided party, and the burden of the bushcrimefamily and the legacy of incompetence and criminality. The 'problem' was never Guv Palin.

Mr. Bloggington,

I am sorry if I offended you. I will be more careful in the future.

Yes, you are very witty, especially for a lord.

i don't ordinarily like any republican as soon as they decide to run for office there-by wishing to do actual damage with that crazy shit they believe instead of just being a general pain-in-the-ass around the water cooler......so i started out not impressed with sarah palin......but then when she started proving herself time after time to be an exceptionally silly person.....well, too bad......I had to laugh at her.

Fine restaurants? You mean those places that give U a rope, a sharp knife, and a moving cow. Ok.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/tough-times-for-sinners.html#comment-240970

Flatus

There are all sorts of "barter" groups that circulate services so that a business doesn't have to arrange it all on their own, and it doesn't have to be between only two parties.

You provide a service valued at such and such a price. You then select from available services items of equal of lesser value. The management group makes sure that services are delivered and credited to your account and your withdrawals are shown against that balance.

The problem with Palin is that it undercut the prior two months of the McCain Campaign's message. It was ALL - Obama's not "ready to lead."

Picking Palin meant that he didn't really mean what he was saying - because Obama was - at least - as qualified as Palin. Obama was out on the campaign trail - while Palin was plucked out of nowhere.

Also - it was his most significant decision of the campaign - and it was made on pure politics.

"Who are they?"

Ah, come on Warren, You know who I mean. The guys in charge, the ones making the decisions on what to tax and what not to tax. The government. 'They' and 'we' are totally different, and you know it. We aren't making any decisions around here.

Having been a member of the media community since 1967, I am very careful to note what is the reality of a situation, as opposed to the perception left by news outlets. I'm always surprised at what goes down the public throat with no objection.

"You mean those places that give U a rope, a sharp knife, and a moving cow. "

There you go again. You forgot the electronic bucking bronco. We like to have a little fun around here. So what? Wanna make something of it?

Very true Chloe. But we make decisions in each election. And we have perpetuated that nonsense for a long time now. I just don't think there has to be such a stark divide between "they" and "we" - and the further it gets - the less legitimacy the govt has. So they might be in control - but it is at least symbiotic.

Ha! See that, sturge? There IS hope for humanity. Now, if you'll excuse me, a bluebird just landed on my shoulder.

Thank you, xrep.

is the truth? its actual? matter of fact it's satis-factual?

"But we make decisions in each election."

Come on Warren. Give me a break here, would ya?

Carol, I need you. They're ganging up on me.

They, them, we, us, you and me. That's the way it'll always be.

Well, Michigan's governor wanted to have an "entertainment tax" a few years ago. She wanted to place taxes on concerts, sporting events etc....That didn't go over very well.

they are the egg men.............

chloe

When I think about the "they" and the "we" - I think about the 2 Americas John Edwards was talkin about.

I always figured "they" was somebody else. Not "me". So, I didn't worry about "they". However, if somebody wants to join me, I can become a "we". "They" might mess with "me", but not with "we".

no breaks ; )

I believe the "Yankees" and "Red Sox" are about as close to "they" as "we" can become.

"is the truth? its actual? matter of fact it's satis-factual?"

..... solipsism?

LOL Warren.

Carramba! Try to have a little chat with someone from Tejas, and they resort to violence. A city slicker is no match for em. Tell you what.....I think that I will just go to Emmas favorite places, that would keep me happy just right.

Put the boxing gloves away and act like SSS would. Oh never mind-you are already. Have to come up with a third persona for you. Got, it.....act like S. F. = Sally Fields. Scratch all of that. I like U just the way U R.

"I think about the 2 Americas John Edwards was talkin about."

Oh, I get it Warren. Now it makes sense. That is definitely not what I was thinking about though.

The lol was for the 'no breaks'. :)

corey.....i saw a t-shirt today which read: "I only support two sports teams.....The Red Sox......and whoever beats the yankees."

"A city slicker is no match for em."

Glad you finally figured that out. No match indeed. :)
(I like you just the way you are too)

"Put the boxing gloves away and act like SSS would"

By the way, I sure hope you weren't telling me to act like a lady. You know better.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/tough-times-for-sinners.html#comment-241039

Warren,

Another "benefit". Marijuana is a "gateway" drug but not for the users, but for the sellers. People coming in with little up front money can sell MJ when they can't sell the harder stuff. If they get arrested too bad. The successful ones make some profits off of MJ and it is off to the harder items.

Don't let them into the businesses in the first place.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/tough-times-for-sinners.html#comment-240904

Hi Chloe
Really good thread.I'm caught up,breaths a sigh of relief.Glad to read Emma's doing great and keeping you on your toes..The little one's have a special way of doing that.I hope you will check into Lasik.I have had a completely wonderful experience.I have never worn glasses and have 20/20 distance vision but after I turned 40 things started to have to be farther away to read.It finally got to the point my arms weren't long enough.I went to the nearest Lasik center for testing and tried Monovision with a contact in 1 eye.It worked so well i decided on the permanent fix.I think most of the people in the surgery center were getting corrected for farsightedness..I spoke with several the day after surgery(we were there for are follow ups) and not 1 was dissatisfied..I almost forgot,your post last night about that creep Sanford was spot on and reminded me of the Chloe from the Democratic primary days,HA HA....Keep them coming.....

Baseball. My life is simple. The Dodgers should win every game they play. If that isn't possible, the National League team should kick the bejeesus out of the American League team in the World Series.

Hi Tony. Thanks for all the info. and the good wishes.
I'm definitely going to look into the lasik.

I know I've really used up more than my share of space here today, so I think I'll just lurk for a while.

Nope, and Im not answering that: It is a trick question: Take a look at the 2nd paragraph, first line. Im quitting while Im ahead.!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/tough-times-for-sinners.html#comment-241038
"Can you see him high on the stuff, and chasing all those dillos around his house? Hell he even might drown trying to save one of those dillos in his pool. Might think it was drowning or something. hahaha"

Solar
I have to use my favorite line on you again,,You Funny..I think your correct though..I only smoked pot once and that was when I was sixteen and I got caught.My sister was babysitting and after the kids were asleep some of her friends came over and we smoked some in the garage.The lady she was babysitting for came home and smelled it and called our parents...It wasn't fun...I have had many opportunities but just said NO..I have many friends back in Michigan who do though and there great. Its the hopeless drunks you got to watch out for...I think your GREAT! I also think you stay very positive about everything..I remember back in the early years working for GM,i was constantly getting laid off(once for 2 years).It wasn't good but things always managed to come around and they will for you...Its the waiting it out that's tough,your tough..Thanks again for always making me smile...

Jamie:

I also think Marijuana is a "gateway" drug because it is illegal.

In other words, kids are told growing up - stay away from booze - but its legal. And you can't do illegal drugs - no matter what.

So kids grow up seeing all kinds of crazy thing people do drinking. And then they try weed - and its not that bad. Some of their parent's friends smoke. Its in the movies, etc.

So now that they have crossed the line into "illegal drugs" - why not try a few more. Most of which are very bad and destructive.

So if you tell kids that liquor and marijuana (and tobacco, and prescriptions pills, and sundaes ; ) are legal - but you should not do coke and meth cause those drugs have ruined millions of young peoples' lives. Then maybe they will listen a little more.

All this talk of MJ today. You had me confused for a while. You realize that Michael Jackson has the same initials and I've been wondering how we were supposed to smoke him. I thought just another way to use that poor guy. Need to find another abbreviation for marijuana.

I was outside watering and feeding plants and I faintly heard a call for help. I think it was Chloe calling. Anybody called?

Hey Chlo, Im the one that has been over posting. I even got a message about it. don't go anywhere.

And if we do smoke Michael, we are going to get a lot more than just marijuana. It will be a toxic cocktail. One good drag would put us all under.

"You had me confused for a while"

Me too Carol. Especially since a lot of people were calling Michael MJ here for a while.

Carol, They were ganging up on me, but Solar and Warren finally mellowed out a little. They must of had a beer or something.

Solar, When you get one of those pop ups that say you've been posting to much, do what I do. Ignore it and hit the submit button again and it takes your post.

Whiskey.

... even better

Well good, the boys are mellowing out. That's always fun. I guess it is a beer and pizza weekend. I'm starting to unwind a little too.

Whiskey.

I haven't had time to read the blog today except catch a few words here and there. Anything profound I need to read? No evacuations ordered anywhere? No new wars yet?

See, I knew they were mellowing Carol.
I don't remember anything profound today. If there was, it definitely wasn't anything I said.

I see our heat index is suppose to be 123F tomorrow. That ought to be refreshing. Great day for a day off!

Do you think C-Bob could start working on an AC unit we can wear?

I wonder if Accuweather made a mistake. Can a heat index be 123 F?

Beer pizza and work.

I gots to clear out the "in-box" before I head out to Kauai to my ex-girlfriend's wedding...

It was only 99 here today, and felt like about 104, I think. Isn't that the index number, what it feels like? 123 sounds awfully high.

You usually in the air conditioning, aren't you? When it's this hot, I'm usually out in it only long enough to get from an air conditioned building to my air conditioned car and vice versa.

When's the wedding Warren?

Are you a wedding crasher Warren? You do seem to always be going to a wedding somewhere.

Where do you live Warren?

I'm OK with the public option.

But I don't think I like mandates.

I live south of the Mason-Dixon.

July 10 - next Friday

Carol

I made 4 posts today.

As usual they were all profound

Jack

Your's always are Jack! I hate to miss them.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/tough-times-for-sinners.html#comment-241078

Warren,

Actually the majority of people never go beyond MJ any more than the majority of people don't become alcoholics. Unfortunately, the ones who do can inflict a lot of damage.

I'm in favor of punishing the behavior that injures others. If you get tanked up on a few cases of beer and beat the hell out of your wife, then into the hoosegow your go.

The same rule applies to all drugs. If you do nothing more than smoke or shoot yourself into your favorite oblivion either temporarily or with permanent effect, no harm no foul. If you injure or kill someone else while under the influence then behind bars and throw away the key.

Even if it is only one word. It is a profound word.

I don't think I've ever seen anyone who beat their wife after smoking dope. Too busy stuffing their face. Now maybe there might be an accidental injury from a rush to get that last slice of pizza. Never on purpose though.

Now alcohol is a different story and with xanax there is quite frequent warfare.

Posted by: ct | July 2, 2009 9:12 PM :
"Michael Jackson has the same initials and I've been wondering how we were supposed to smoke him. "

It's kind of a jeffrey dahmer question. By that, I mean that getting the answer calls for talking to someone who has a certain specialized expertise, which is always a dangerous enterprise, concerning the topic is smoked folks.

Dam' ct, I wouldn't look very far into it, if I were you. Especially, because I have so much meat to smoke. But, even if you are skinny as paris hilton, you probably have the regulation amount of tasty marrow.

Oops. It's the 4th coming up, not halloween. My mistake. Sorry for the creepy stuff.

Bang !

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/tough-times-for-sinners.html#comment-241097

Warren,

There has to be mandates in some form. The reason is very simple. The bigger the pool the lower the cost. As soon as you start picking and choosing who will be in and who will be out, then the costs go up.

Now how that mandatory system works can be up to various kinds of tweaking, but in order to deliver the lowest cost for the maximum number of people, it's everybody into the pool.

Do you think they will even need to embalm Michael? The meds he most likely injected probably had enough preservatives in them. It is amazing the amount of chemicals that the human body can tolerate with repeated use. What would kill us will not even get some of these users off at all.

The problem is that the point where it does kill is not predictable. So many die accidentally. So many. I have asked some of my chronic narcotic users how many people they knew who died of accidental overdoses. The answer was from about 7 to over 30. Don't you think that information, alone, would be a deterant? It's not.

ct

That is the main reason I don't oppose MJ. The worst thing I can say about habitual users is that they maximize personalities traits. If they were inane sober, under the influence they bcome assinine. Then those who smoke A LOT are pretty useless to the world.

And I checked on the wolf man this morning. He was back to almost normal after getting a hair of the dog that bit him last night. We are going to give him a couple more hairs for a couple of more days and start him on some antipsychotic meds.

You know there are many who abuse drugs and alcohol that are trying to self medicate a psychosis. You clean them out and find out they are full blown "nuts".

"Don't you think that information, alone, would be a deterant? "

That's because no one thinks it will be them Carol. Plus you talking about strong addictions. I don't think Michael could have faced his life without the drugs, and more than Anna Nicole Smith could have, or all the others.

Numbers with little context.

TOP 5 Assistance Recipients FY 2009 YTD

1 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES $18,908,037,649
2 NEW YORK STATE DEPT OF HEALTH $18,335,672,042
3 TEXAS HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION $13,514,862,175
4 PENNSYLVANIA DEPT OF PUBLIC WELFARE $11,168,181,944
5 LOUISIANA DEPT OF HEALTH & HOSPITALS $5,031,984,907

USAspending.gov

http://usaspending.gov/

BTW this web site looks like it might be very interesting for the policy wonk who likes to play with his numbers.
I've book marked it for future use.

I've just looked at the front page so far, think I may go back and poke around.

Jack

Geez, I'm constantly leaving off the end of my words when I type. you=you're. It drives me nuts that I keep doing that.

I have this sense that Jackson didn't think of himself as a "user". It was more, "I need to sleep", "I need to perform", "I need to move faster" etc.

When you combine that with a compliant prescription writers and a room full of enablers, there's no telling what he might have taken or at what point it all became tragically lethal.

BTW, I'm one of those people who believed that he wasn't guilty of sexual abuse of children. He just always seemed too asexual for doing anything with anyone. Someone who had been either born that way or was totally turned off to sex at a very early age. The ultimate child in a man's body.

They few habitual mj users I know, live a perfectly normal and productive life. They have been using since they were teenagers and now are in their 50s. They ones who are not productive, maybe, were probably not going to productive in the first place. They just might feel a little less bad about themselves by using mj.

I don't think mj causes uselessness, I think it may make being useless more tolerable. It would be hard to really know the answer to that question without some long term experimental studies.

I smoked something when I was young I didn't like it much. Smoking was mostly a social thing : puff, sex, laugh, glut, sex, laugh, glut, sex, & finally sleep. What a bore, eh. Anywhat, I put some of it away in an airtight can that I forgot about. I found it years later. I still didn't like it much.

Regarding the alleged pacivity of weedaholics, it was the weed-produced vision of the Heavenly Garden that gave the Assassins the gumption "to do what needs to be done." Hardly passive, anyway.

That Assassin stuff must have been kinda like Powdermilk Biscuits, I guess, always providing the oomph "to do what needs to be done." I always wondered if the courage Norwegian bachelor farmers received from Powdermilk Biscuits was from a secret ingredient like cannabis, cascara, or ergot. I have wondered for decades if those bachelor Norwegian farmers had accidentally stumbled onto the Assassins gumption right there in the crease of the official MN State Map. I always mean to ask Keillor about it and I always forget. Anyway, I wonder if modern bachelor Norwegian farmers would make good berserkers, as they did 1,200 years ago.

Gotta sleep. G'nite, and BANG ! BANG !!!

I totally agree with everything you wrote Jamie. This may sound crazy but if anyone needed some heavy drugs, it was Michael. It was an alternative to insanity. At least it got him 50 years of high achievement.

"I'm one of those people who believed that he wasn't guilty of sexual abuse of children. He just always seemed too asexual for doing anything with anyone."

Plus he knew right from wrong and knew how important those childrens innocence were and he knew children need to be protected.

But I think he needed those drugs to cope with his life. Like Carol said, people self medicate. It's done all the time.

I think women are more empathetic with Michael. I think women are basically more empathetic period! Michael didn't look like he had much testosterone and in my opinion, it is testosterone that screws up a man's ability to be empathetic.

Courtesy of local nyc news

A church organ tribute to Michael Jackson at
Trinity Wall Street Episcopal Church

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-mxVexV8v0

XR

The next thing you know, you will expect me to bake a ree bop a bee bop Rhubarb pie.

Women aren't empathetic with Sanford though.

Jamie:

I understand the benefit it theory. But i still have some issues with it.

At least with car insurance - that is attached to owning a car.

Mandatory health insurance is a tax just for living. Plus - I think lots of people will participate without mandates.

I also think about the wasted time and money setting up and enforcing this mandate/fine system. It could be more trouble than its worth.

Michael didn't think like a man, he thought like a woman.

Isn't it a shame. We can only be completely objective, when we're watching others from a distance, when we're not emotionally involved. We could probably tell these trouble people what they need to do to straighten out their lives, like you probably do with those inmates Carol. But we know full well, no ones ever going to listen.

ct:

I think Michael would have been much better of smoking some weed instead of all those meds...

We still don't fully understand all the side effects to most of those things. They are all so relatively recent.

I think Michael took female hormones.

Smoking weed doesn't work that way for everyone Warren. One of the problems with it, is it can make you slightly paranoid and may cause you to focus to much on the wrong things. All that, and it makes you fat too. The fat thing is enough to make me never want to have anything to do with it.

ct:

in general - women are way more empathetic. Guys can barely empathize with themselves!

chloe:

overeating and laying around makes u fat. And I agree with carol - weed doesn't make you do those things - it just makes doing them more fun.

Oh we are empathetic all right Chloe. We see right through Sanford. We see he is totally selfish, doesn't care about anyone except himself. He is very angry with his wife. He wants to hurt her deeply because she wasn't willing to sit back and put up with his crap. He is getting off to all the bragging about his sexual conquests. His cohorts are saying bad boy outloud and thinking atta boy in their heads, both of them.

Now Warren, You're going to try and tell me smoking dope doesn't make you hungry? Maybe it affects everyone differently, but I doubt that Carol will tell me it doesn't make anyone eat more. Granted, the paranoid thing, etc., probably depends on the individuals original personality. I'm not putting mj down Warren. I'm not arguing against it in any way. I could care less who smokes it. I'm just giving you my personal reasons for not liking it for me.

Carol, I don't really think this is about his wife (in his mind). I think all he's thinking about is himself (and Maria, his sexual soul mate - what a moron he is). Granted, he is bragging, but that's a guy thing, imo.

Michael Jackson got off to children having fun and he also had fun doing it. They were usually children who didn't have the opportunity to have fun like he didn't have when he was a child. It is totally different thing. We see what was in his heart.

We also see what is in Sanfords heart. Nothing is wrong with him falling in love but it should be a private thing. He could have told his wife and they could have dealt with that privately. It isn't something that you brag about it over and over to the world when it is going to deeply hurt those who you should have some sort of love and respect for.

i heard a pretty good theory that Sanford might be doing it so that his wife gives him the boot.

All because he is too much of a chicken shit to ask for the divorce himself.

All this talk about poor Michael reminds me of my trip today through the super market check out line.

According to the tabloids Obama is selling us out to the muslims and Michelle has a hit list of people she wants to destroy and besides that she is not a very nice person.

Oh, and Oprah's secret diaries are no longer secret. Don't know if they contain a hit list but it wouldn't suprise me.

The stories on the Obamas seemed very ugly just from reading the headlines. It is just starting.
I suspect it is going to get very nasty in certain parts of our country.

jack

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/tough-times-for-sinners.html#comment-241133

Exactly

There is so much going on in the world, I am stunned by the obsession with Michael Jackson. It is beyond explanation.

I see that Sanford was cleared of using public funds for his adultery so I would argue Craig's comment at the top says it all. I am sure many Liberals will try to beat the horse.

Tonight, I would like to make the following observation to all those here that supported Hillary Clinton. That was, why I ventured here in the first place. I remember clearly what was argued. I remember the predictions and anger, the records and policy discussions. So let’s see where we have come.

First, this in just today: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090702/pl_afp/usattacksiraqsanctions_20090702182935

The article notes the US deaths 2007 -2208 at the hands of Quds. What Hillary supporter didn't hear the attacks on her supporting the Kyle Bill which would have sanctioned Quds. Seems Hillary was right and Obama wrong. But alas, it does not end there so let me recap for posterity the road traveled on the Trail.

Hillary did not lose the primary, she just didn't win. Had Edwards had a grain of honor and the sleazy deal with Obama not gone forward to screw Michigan, Hillary would be POTUS. Look at what is happening in Congress and understand why Hillary was moved out by Reid and Pelosi. An angry Hillary would not be much help to Obama pass his agenda. So the only other spot was SECSTATE, but even that presented Obama risks. And look how she cornered Obama , by accepting the job before the deal was struck.

Now I was sad to see her shuttle around the world for months to listen to the masses ask her when Obama was coming. Her words were usual a defense of Obama policy. I know how hard it was for someone that offered a nuclear umbrella to Israel listen to the President link a near term Palestinian State to any action in standing up to Iran. Does anyone think Hillary doesn’t understand what is going on in Gaza and the West Bank?

And when as critics rose against Obama following bowing and hugging and aggressive actions by Iran, Hamas and Hizb’Allah there was a strange almost unscripted declaration from Hillary in Europe that Iran had better watch out as well the terrorists in Gaza, Syria, Lebanon and Africa. The press didn't think much of it and guessed good cop bad cop, but recent events have shed new light.

As I mentioned weeks ago, Hillary and Biden were not too pleased about Obama's initial reaction to the Iran election farce. Panetta disappeared from his Cheney remarks to see why the CIA was clueless about the elections in Lebanon and Iran. Hillary and Biden played a bigger role in the Lebanese election than Obama. Now reports claim that Obama reconsidered what a rupture in his cabinet would mean if he didn’t consider Hillary’s anger and decided to get tougher towards the Mullahs without even calling Hillary to discuss his change of heart.

http://ncr-iran.org/content/view/6651/1/

This has led to the BBC to ask if Hillary is running US foreign policy now. There is speculation if Hillary’s elbow is really why she will not join Obama in Moscow.

I was supportive of what I thought was Obama's clever calibrated response to the Mullahs. I think the administration has played it about right, but if the rumors are true, I can understand some reaction on the Right as to what kind of President would have remained silent in the face of such tyranny in Iran? Did Hillary reaaly need to argue with Obama about taking a harder stance? We are the leaders of the free world and Iran has spent six months trying to tell Obama through provocative actions that he will not get them to move towards compromise. Even now reporters ask Obama if he has given up trying to prevent them from getting their nukes. Is capitulation the new lowered expectations as our Marines take their first casualties in the new Afghanistan operations? Behind the scenes Obama is scrambling to recover from the Iran situation and reorganize his approach to Israel. Again, Hillary's finger prints are all over this.

And if you think I am just blowing crap. Look at the response to Honduras. In Iran Obama said little about the election or the absurd process. More than a few thousand protesters have been arrested and many tortured. I can supply the links. In Honduras we have a President that demanded the military take unconstitutional action and try to pull a Chavez. A head general refused and was fired. The Supreme Court of Honduras ordered him reinstated and called the President's action illegal. The Congress agreed and together, the Supreme Court, the Military and the Honduran Congress appointed another civilian leader to lead. Obama called this unacceptable, but it was Hillary that refused to call the action illegitimate or unconstitutional and appears to be the one preventing US sanctions.
What is the measure by which Obama judges was is fair and constitutional? We do see a President making a huge range of decisions beyond the scope of even George Bush. From baks, to car companies, from cap and trade and how long we wait on a line for a MRI. And I do not say this in a mean spirit or hoping Obama fails.

Is anybody in the White House listening? Don't they remember the primary speculations that Obama would be Carter Redux?

MY hat is off to Hillary. History may show what critical input she had in the course of recent events. Obama cannot simply brush her aside. She could have walked away or stayed in the Senate, but she rose to take the pulpit of the Secretary of State. In the Sudan where Blacks are murdered by Muslims, Obama has done little, Here is what the Muslims say to Obama:

http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/2166.htm

I cannot imagine Hillary taking that on her chin. Good will does not mean blind eyes Mr. President.

She must point out that our soft power in Pakistan is a blunder if Pakistan won't let Westerners distribute aid. America blows end games. Carter's plan in Afghanistan was to bleed the Soviets as they murdered thousands. Charlie Wilson is a good movie to watch. He couldn’t stand that tactic, so he pressed to do more. Reagan gave them the weapons to defeat the Russians and send them into a crumbling decline, but in the end the young Afghanis didn't know how much we helped and out failure to provide economic relief led to the Taliban gaining control and giving OBL sanctuary. Obama is not bettering our tactics with drones and our accepting faceless humanitarian aid as the NYT pointed out days ago.

So for all you Hillary supporters, remember what Hillary is doing and why it is important to tell her as LIBERALS you support her realism and toughness. Iran has shown us what their real game is. When Obama's plan A fails, there will be Hillary with plan B. NK threats to fire a missile at us this weekend. It was Hillary Clinton that defended missile defense. May she push harder and be more successful than Powell was with Bush when he went in wrong directions. She is serving us still.

We are all lucky for that.

Rhubarb pie. Ahhhhhhhhhhh. Like Gramma usta make. Not a sweet as Bakers Square's rhubarb. No. No. No. Half the sugar or less is just fine. A nice tart rhubarb pie is what I'll dream about.

Too bad that I am a raging diabetic. It'd still kill me deader than Mike Jackson, y'know.

Parenthetically, I don't think he "self-medicated" in order to "stay sane". He was way way past sane - he just medicated. That's who Jackson was, a great, moon-walking, tattooed-red-and-white, carved-up-and-reformulated, heap of medications, pretending to be an Aryan manchild. Way, way past sane.

Anyway, thanks Jamie. It's very kind of you to even think me into the same sentence as a rhubarb pie.

Sweet dreams.

You all can think what you want about Jackson but I would not leave him alone with a child.
Way too many things came out that were just plain wierd and can't be explained away.

Jack

Yep, just what we would expect of all that testosterone. It's OK, we understand, you can't help it. (insert smiley face here.)

My experinace with pot is that it amplifies existing emotional states of Mind. The older you get, the more stress and responsbility. Pot can amplfy that and make for unpleasant feelings. When I smoke pot, it is when I have the time and space to enjoy it.

And let us not forget that wonder boy Oliver Stone told Maher it was key to his artisitic progress. Maher agreed. LIfe without pot would be rather dull for these two. I say there next appearance together should be on acid. Now I would love to see that....

Californian probably needs pot taxes to survive.

We can empathize with you guys.

I wouldn't either Jack and I do feel sorry for those children. All that money didn't help MJ and it won't likely help those kids.

And I..... rest my case.

"I suspect it is going to get very nasty in certain parts of our country."

Jack, I hope you're wrong about that. Those tabloids are in every part of the country, as far as I know. So I can only guess that you must mean, that certain parts will take it more seriously than others, depending on their ignorance or leanings?

Chloe, some find pot an aphrodisiac (did I spell that right?). Then again, I knew a girl who could smoke an hour and it had NO EFFECT. Not only is pot unique in the multiplicity of biological effect, it works differently on different people. It has also shed scientific light on the blocking of traumatic memory. Goggle Scientific American. Pot helped reveal a very unusual function of our nervous sytem.

"it works differently on different people. "

.... just like every other drug Max.
I'm beat. Night everyone.

And time for me to watch my Colbert rerun online. It's great that the Daily Show and Colbert Report are available online since my satelitte dish is down the road at my house. I'm wasting over 90 bucks a month having satelitte where I can't watch it and I don't want it out here where I could.

One last thing Carol. The Yen and Yang are each as important as the other. The balance between the two is what's important. It''s that balance that we're lacking in government. But things are slowly changing.

But, imo, empathy is equally available to both sexes

Solar, your post to me is so confused it is hard to read. You say you are for the Israeli people, but don't give a shit about the threats to their way of life or existence. You could care less about Saddam or the Iraqis, the Afghanis or anyone else for that matter from what you posted above. Despite NK testing a nuke and working with Iran, your projections in this matter are absurd. Realism to you means war, war, war and you would rather stick your head in the sand and hope bad things go away. If you read history, we have been dragged into war when we buried our heads. I have offered repeated peaceful actions we could take to thwart the assholes of the world, but you fail to get it. No one will take those actions unless the prospect of war becomes more likely given the dangers. It is the apathy and denial that stands in the way of forceful, yet non-military action. You still don't get that.

Okay, I will wait until you come to a better state of mind. Right now the best you can offer is calling me a Republican....lol

If you live near Detroit, I might be able to get you a job as a trucker. A friend of mine is moving there because he knows the owner of a trucking company that's doing okay.

NewPogo, I was too busy today, but I will take a look at your posts. I mention the HRC-BO mix above.

Jamie, soft drinks are made in the US, no?

Tax ATV's, too. and snow machines....

tt

maxtrue, already in 1980, the Northern Alliance had fine wire-guided, shoulder-fired rockets, courtesy of Carter & Brown.

republicans opposed Carter on Afghanistan. They organized letter-writing campaigns and demonstrations against the olympics boycott. From PA to CA, republicans organized farm tractor sit-ins at the Capitol to protest the cutoff of grain sales to the soviets, at a time when 50,000 sq miles of russia's richest farmland had been made unuseable by the Chernobyl fogcup. Through 1979 -1980, republicans were blatantly standing up for the commies - whom, they reminded us, their man nixon had tamed and turned into dear, dear friends. Besides, some of them said, who cares about dirty ragheads. According to republicans of the time, the Afghans were just the same as those Ayatollah guys who were holding our boys hostage, and that Carter was a wimp on them all.

In fact, it was the Carter Administration who actively made friends with the Afghan rebels, especially the Northern Alliance. It was the Northern Alliance that killed off a russian division (about half the size of a US division) in the Salang Tunnel in less than 5 minutes, and blocked the pass for months.

"Sleazy deal" in Michigan is a red party herring. Every state had a chance to play by the same rules. Michigan knew of the consequencesn all along, but chose not to follow the rules. The state had an opportunity to change its primary election date, but decided not to do so. Senator Clinton's team did nothing to dissuade Michigan at the time, but later used the incident brilliantly to persuade the Michiganders that they were victims, and that she was the only one who loved them. This tactic made her an even greater favorite in MI. Very unfortunately for the Clinton campaign, the DNC did not relent. Dems avoid putting themselves in the position of looking soft to avoid the vicious name-calling that you republicans are so adept at. In this case, not being soft meant that the DNC held its ground in the delegation flap. 'Tough break' in a desperate situation is a better descriptor than 'sleazy deal'. If you want sleazy deal, look at the reagan campaign making alternative peace deals with our nation's enemies behind the back of the Commander in Chief, and arming terrorists like osama bin ladin and genocidal maniacs like saddam hussein. Now, THOSE were sleazy deals.

You are entitled to your own opinions, but you are not entitled to an alternative set of facts.

Thought you'd catch me napping, eh ?

G'night.

I am bored with this sanford thing, but here’s his chick:

http://www.inmodelsagency.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images /Maria_Bel%C3%A9n_Mu%C3%B1oz2.223155642_std.jpg

I ain’t bored no more!

http://www.inmodelsagency.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images /Maria_Bel%C3%A9n_Mu%C3%B1oz2.223155642_std.jpg

http://tinyurl.com/n55y7l

http://www.inmodelsagency.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/Maria_Bel%C3%A9n_Mu%C3%B1oz2.223155642_std.jpg

RR -
"Implosion" ???
I'm there for ya babe, hammer and tongs wearing my thong.
--------------------------------
Note to the reader -
Nobody is more responsible for the founding of my oven than Renee & Rick up in New Hampshire
-------------------------------------

Time to "weave the Bayeux Tapestry" for the beginning of the 21st century. Get all them yankees sewing, I'd pay to see that.

RR -
"Implosion" ???
I'm there for ya babe, hammer and tongs wearing my thong.
--------------------------------
Note to the reader -
Nobody is more responsible for the founding of my oven than Renee & Rick up in New Hampshire
-------------------------------------

Time to "weave the Bayeux Tapestry" for the beginning of the 21st century. Get all them yankees sewing, I'd pay to see that.

GOOD LORD !!! She's young enough to be...

(choose the incorrect answer)

A. Letterman's flight attendant

B. Sarah Palin's daughter

C. john muckain's running mate

D. Ann of Green Gables

E. SPECTRE's newest Super Agent

F. A friend of Madonna

G. A playmate of Michael Jackson

The answer is G. She's not that young.

" Tough Times for Sinners" ............... and "Righteous Weavers as Well'

On a lighter note -
Many " Holy Shit Bob ! This thing is really fucking cool " .......... here tonight & this week. ( Lots of eyeballs roll through the shop now. )
To which I reply -
"No, really hot, starting next week. 500 degrees ....... if it's clear at noon. "

I bought a pair of flaming red welding goggles on the internet. They are so cool. They match my paint job perfectly.
What a hoot.
Note to the reader -
Bob will be looking into a machine that has 8.86 times more sunlight per square inch landing in it than what falls on your face. It will be "very bright " ............ working it. I'll need those goggles. #5 lenses.
Rock and Roll ............... you can stare right at the sun with a #5 welder's lenses.

The Cub Scouts are gonna eat it up -

"Gentlemen, here are your goggles, please put them on. Anybody here know anything about the sun ? "

It'll be a puppet show with welders goggles.
What a hoot.

Gentlemen: Don yer goggles........

sounds good

that's what i used to do.....pick up me old man's goggles and look at the sun...........and probably never put them back where I found them..............lol

yere he come:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZtQh5EIgWQ

Rare copy of Declaration of Independence found

LONDON (AP) — British researchers have announced the discovery of a rare original copy of America's Declaration of Independence — just in time for the Fourth of July.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jcFZGF_TArNMHGexwmrexNNjrqyQD996E1K80

Sorry Bob,

No such thing as an "original copy" it is either an original or a copy, can't be both.

Good morning all, it hailed here yesterday thankfully the corn is fine!

Good Morning

Interesting article from Huffington Post about the real winners in all the new legislations: Lobbyists

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/lobbyists-on-a-roll-gutti_b_220521.html

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/tough-times-for-sinners.html#comment-241167

Now, if it had notes in the margin by George III, that would be too, too cool!

"Smoking was mostly a social thing : puff, sex, laugh, glut, sex, laugh, glut, sex, & finally sleep."

Xrep! Are you describing your youth? If so -- it's not so much that it was boring....but what a shame!

Looks as if there will be a must watch on WGBH tonight. Much more than our typical escapist viewing. Here's the Journal's review:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204058504574264073304411850.html

"The stories on the Obamas seemed very ugly just from reading the headlines. It is just starting.
I suspect it is going to get very nasty in certain parts of our country."

Oh yes...we'll have yet another person-into-myth situation. I could name several of them just from the past campaign. Because people don't pay attention to anything except the news that backs up their own preconceived notions. Notions which have, of course, been invented by the media in the first place.

The notion I'm getting emails on now is that Obama wants to let old people die. My God people are stupid.

ROFL@Dex! But Dexter, my question now is -- what did she want with Mark Sanford? Without his wife he's not even rich.

Patsi, one of the scares I've been receiving email on revolve around cutting Tricare-for-Life funding for our elderly military retirees. Evidently there is some substance to those threats.

Should the cuts come to pass, it would be totally devastating for people such as Stinky and me.

Salon story: Rush Limbaugh Is Still A Big Fat Idiot

http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2009/07/03/al_franken/index.html

Nice wrap up of the Franken / Coleman election.

Bowman

The document is called and "original copy" in the first sentence of the article

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jcFZGF_TArNMHGexwmrexNNjrqyQD996E1K80

While it sounds like an oxymoron, the term is used to describe the handwritten copies made at the time of the declaration to send throughout the colonies as opposed to later images

Correction first printed copies of the Declaration not the handwritten one.

This is the sort of thing that really upsets me. Federal Organic label permits artificial additives to baby food. Why? Well a lobbyist of course

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/02/AR2009070203365.html?nav=rss_email/components

Patsi, Dex, If that is really a pic of Sanford's mistress then I don't think he better quit his day wife. She doesn't exactly strike me as the for richer or poorer, for better or worse kind of woman but then again, looks can be deceiving.

Thanks for the Conason link Jamie -- he is so good. And it once more reminds me that there are actually people who listen to Glenn Beck. The man is a complete fool.

Jamie, those people we were discussing yesterday, who are self medicating their psychosis with drugs and alcohol, many are in Rush, Fox News and Glen Beck's audience. We must be very careful taking away their medication, at least not until we have a bomb shelter or fortress built somewhere.

A spokesperson for governor Sanford says the governor will be spending time this holiday with his family in Florida, didn't know he had a family there to.

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