Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

a chill in woo and hooville. omen of a snowy year on mt. olympus?

A poster on Craig's Facebook page nailed it: "We don't need a Snowe-job."

It's that "Less Than Energized Base" that could be a major problem. Remember the Hillary folks consider health care their principal issue because it was hers originally. They have been loyal to the President because of the change promise.

His original people are expecting change and they have sat quietly while nothing happened on Guantanamo or the war, but if health care goes down the tubes as well, there could be a lot of sitting on hands.

After all, if there is no difference between this guy and the last guy, why bother?

Nope, I wouldn't want inmates making vaccines. Some are hostile and can't always tell which ones. Had a few stay with us at the jail during Rita, to help out. Found broken auto glass in the spagetti sauce. Someone was pissed about something. Bad enough that there are also those out in "the world" pissed about something.

It seems like only yesterday that Garrison was singing, "We're all republicans now".

Pretty clever Craig..."Biparti-one" Need more like biparti-some.

Jamie. Just pointing out that you weren't making a very arguement for government run health care' that's pretty much what federal health care would be ' a government run agency contracting out health care ? ' i would rather have the flu than get the vaccine' you either get better or die' I'll take my chances

"you either get better or die' I'll take my chances"

mqw, where's the chance? we all die eventually.

and depending on the doc, some faster than others

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/oct/23/assisted-suicide-doctors-terminally-ill

That's right ' despte all the faith and confidence people have in doctors they have yet to cure death'

Asian leaders meeting in Thailand are discussing plans to "lead the world" by forming an EU-style community by 2015.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8323742.stm

Remember when I questioned the dollar numbers involved with the Raptor decision? I claimed that the JSF had hidden costs and that the Raptor was worthy of continuing. Closing production lines sends a stronger signal to adversaries contemplating S-300 Russian defense systems or even lone wolf strikes on the US (other reasons beyond the COLD WAR for Raptors) than it does to the DOD. Well here is what is now happening.

http://www.defensetech.org/ (oh excuse me for using such a Right Wing site as my source..) Would some here say our military is really a Right Wing organization?

Now if this may mean the end of manned fighters just look at what our President is doing in regard to manned space flight. If he doesn't come up with more money which is a fraction of a percent of our GDP, we will probably see the end of our manned space flight programs as well. The irony is that Obama has already lifted JFK's moon speech to hype his healthcare mess now taking place behind locked doors.

This news of JSF problems and NASA in crisis comes as the WH is advancing the idea of making hundreds of millions of dollars available to Muslim governments to better their technology. Yep, that is a bigger concern than national security or manned space flight.

When we add up the Pork, Stimulus programs (oh that is another story as first we were told the Stimulus is needed ASAP in January, but the effects will happen years out and then this week we were told the money has been spent and don't expect further improvement) and other spending pushing us over 1.4 trillion in budget deficit, the neglect of the programs above is staggering.

Now if FOX wants to point this out, should we shoot the messenger? Of course even the Press pool wouldn't go along with the WH on that count.

And when FOX points out the problems with a watered down compromise with Iran, they haven't even accepted, FOX is blasted again. Just saying.......

Several media outlets echoed my conclusion of last week. Conservative represent about half of this country whether Democrats admit that or not. Sure, many do not embrace the GOP branding at the moment, but that doesn't mean they will go away or are in fact rape-promoting, racist loonies in need of mental health coverage. The political realism displayed by some Liberals in regard to bipartisan, vetted, transparent and reasonable reform and policy is profoundly lacking. This is EXACTLY what got Bush into trouble. Demonizing or ridiculing the bipartisan approach to things like national security, healthcare, military procurement, foreign policy and economic stimulus is short sighted and dumb.

Until someone here comes up with polls reflecting a quickly shrinking number of conservatives or even hawks of both political persuasions, this attitude by Liberals is self-defeating, mistaken and above all, IRONIC.

Take your veta vita vegamins. Someone linked an article a while back that said vitamin D had a protective effect. Can't hurt.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/10/bipartione.html#comment-267919

mqw

I'm not in the least bit afraid of dying, but I do firmly believe that people who desire medical care should have access to it without a profit motive killing them.

And pop the garlic cloves. Slows down virus production.

Oh, and when Biden was confronted by the Cheney claim that the Bush administration did a complete review of Afghanistan policy (with people still at work today on the subject), he laughed and said he went to Afghanistan and redid the report himself. Holy crap, I didn't know Biden was a one man survey team complete with military commanders and foreign policy experts. He just hopped on a plane and had a better report. Shall I review Biden's Pakistani assertions and his recent idea that we should just make drone attacks in Pakistan our Afghanistan policy? Shall we review Biden's thoughts on missiles defense, that Obama's Israel's best friend or that a moderate Pakistan government would not make deals with militants? Shall we review Biden's idea of splitting up Iraq? No, I think not.

If Cheney releases his copy of the report and it looks just like McChrystal's, Cheney is going to continue in round two. Now Obama doesn't want to say he was surprised by the Lebanese, Iranian AND Afghanistan election. That would raise serious questions about our Intelligence servicies. So he can't use the Afghan election as an excuse to delay a decision on Afghanistan. As I commented last week, the Pakistanis need us to firm up the border and there is some truth to what Cheney said no matter how much the Democrats love to hate him. And before Liberals blast what Cheney did in Afghanistan, just look at Liberal opposition to send more troops. Same in Iraq. On one hand Democrats attack not sending more troops when it is obvious they wouldn't either. Now in power, they can't expect media to continue their non-vetting of such contradictory positions.

Those that keep quiet are nice media, Those that growl are bad ones. So it goes in a rather infantile view of the world.

That report saying the stimulas bill hasn't worked' isn't working' will never work was preparation for the justification for stimulus two.

Ah Max, As usual making wild assumptions about a host of people here about whom you know almost nothing.

Just because the current leadership of the GOP in Congress seems to be comprised of Right Wing Wackos, doesn't mean anyone here assumes they are the whole of what once were Republicans. Even Republicans can't stand them and are calling themselves Independents. Get back to the Conservative but sane standard and I'm certain they will become visible again.

I doubt anyone here is opposed to the military. Now the military industrial complex gobbling up tax dollars for projects that contribute little to real security might be a different matter. Then there are mercenaries who make four times the average soldier with little legal control to prevent them from committing horrendous acts in the name of the US are a problem as well. I liked it when the Army really was the Army not Blackwater or KBR.

Jamie. Might want check with doctors and nurses before you take all the profit out of the system' most doctors have probably grown accustomed to their pay scale

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/10/bipartione.html#comment-267926

Dying is killing them Jamie, not lack of care. Let us at least be fair to language. The Healthcare system, like the universe, is finite. There is no immdediate way to make gold coverage for all and those who work hard for their coverage should not be asked to accept inferior coverage so ALL can get the best life saving treatment possible (which can't ahppen because supply is finite). If one really wants to eventually have such a universal and gold system, we have got to fix our economy and run surpluses rather than deficits. While I share your goal, is is decades away. Reform now can start to change things, but the revenue isn't there now.

I don't think you get it sometimes. There is a lot of evidence that expanding care and coverage will lower quality and coverage for many who have it now. Why should I support reform when it might increase my costs and lower my acess to the best life saving measures? This is not about me wanting anyopne to die for lack of great coverage. It is opposite our system of government to seek equality of care at the expense of an Individual's right to obtain afforable extensive coverage. That is why Unions sought protection last week of their gold coverage. The deal-making is pathetic.

And why should Americans support reform that isn't transparent, logical, vetted by accountants and understandable to those who must impliment it?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/10/bipartione.html#comment-267930

Oh they are visible now Jamie and you ignore my point. Conservatives comprise roughly half of this country and most Democrats would like to ignore that. Dems laugh at Bipartisan, don't they? And only the Right Wing wackos represent the Republicans in Congress. Would you care to describe what sane conservatives would be doing?

Then you deflect from the space program or JSF costs to digress into Black Water who was the margin of victory in Iraq and have been hired by many governments. You take the actions of a few to conflate and divert, but turning private security into their worst impressions. Show me all the money the DOD has gobbled up and misued as though that even had a role in what I was pointing out. So the DOD should keep manned space flight going? The DOD should over rule Congress and keep the Raptor going? Hell, we should pull out all American private security from the world? We should not talk about bad stimulus projects, government waste and corruption and even billions for Muslim technology because of Black Water?

We should justify locked doors, unvetted policy, infanitle reactions to the Press and talk of a one party system because of Black Water or even the false idea that "only Right Wing wackos" control the GOP in congress? This is a bit like Maddow, isn't it? And please don't tell me she doesn't go through her minutes with as much partisan messaging as Hannity. It is just that you like her message and cal it "news". Sometimes she hits a good point as does Hannit from time to time. Still, the feel is one of selected news used to support a view point. Yep, we see a real battle here between smuggness and shrillness, a long way from bipartisan.

Chloe, here's the web site I was talking about:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/get/upgrade-advisor.aspx

I think if you're going to upgrade from vista business, then you'll need go to win 7 business. That way the file structure comes our correctly, I also think, if you do a fresh install, then you need not worry about that.

When I say fresh install, I mean installing it with a disk format. You can still use the upgrade version. Check at what stage it will ask for product ownership verification before you start formatting things.

Being an early adopter helps me understand things better.

Max, what we see is that you are trying to convince a bunch of us that Roger Ailes is right when he natters that, aside from the commentators like Beck and Hannity who ARE whackos, Fox is a legitimate unbiased news organization. If Fox truly is such, then it should take a long look at who's drawing in the audience. IT IS NOT THEIR UNBIASED NEWS PROGRAMMING. They depend on Beck et al, despite the withdrawal of $$$ to Beck's program that are still circulating through the network on other programs, to bring in the $$$.

While others of us, myself included, tend to cherry pick other networks and call it news, you're doing exactly the same thing with your protestations about stories that Fox is covering that other networks aren't. And the sites you use to back up your points don't strike me as particularly bipartisan.

Good Lord. It's fairly obvious that you're less interested in debate than in having someone to argue with who will exchange insults and use deliberately provocative language to try to stir up hornet's nests.

a little bitty musicness for Serious Saturday:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTFD1C4tVIg

Max

Again with the broad statements and assumptions. If you have a poll and 60% are in favor and 40% are against, I doubt anyone with a grain of common sense would deny that the 40% exist.

I've never said Maddow wasn't partisan but unlike FOX I've never known her to outright lie or fail to correct errors made. Yes the Republicans currently sitting in Congress are the most far right of the breed. The sane ones have become Blue Dog Democrats. A change in the tide and they might go back to being Republicans some day.

Do you think for a moment that Contractors haven't wasted money, padded bids, and hired military retirees to lobby the bidding deciders? NASA should be more concerned with science and exploration rather than defense, so I think their budget should be separate from Defense.

The only one talking of one party is you. Now if legislation can only be passed with one party, then that is the way you do it. The Republicans did it and the Democrats should do it now. Neither action meant that the other party ceased to exist.

"http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/10/bipartione.html#comment-267916"

Carol, I understand what you're saying; when I was at Leavenworth, I always had a funny feeling when an inmate was shaving around the backside of my neck. Didn't let them know that.

Still, I think it's worth considering with certain categories of inmates in federal institutions.

mqw

Salaries and income are part of the bottom line not the profit margin paid to shareholders.

Doctors and nurses around the world aren't selflessly starving to death for the sake of their calling.

Hi guys, What's going on?

"those who work hard for their coverage should not be asked to accept inferior coverage "

And so we get to the heart of it MAX. Those who work hard but don't make enough to afford health care coverage are obviously inferior people and should just go ahead and die unless needed for maid service.

How about those who work hard, have health care coverage and get cancelled because their insurance co thinks they have become too expensive. How about those so ill they exhaust their life time benefit. Yep that group can just go ahead and die as well.

Shall we just have anyone with a genetic anomally that might cause illness later strangled at birth? After all, they are going to be expensive. Let Darwin do his thing. If we eliminate medical care except for herbs you can pick growing wild in the field, only the strongest and healthiest will survive as long as they don't get poisoned, bit or sliced by accident.

Hi me168

We are fussing about health care and being snarky again. Feel free to join in. The President just gave H1N1 Emergency status which puts resources at the disposal of States in case of a pandemic.

I saw on the last thread that some were discussing the flu vaccine production. I remembered reading a few months ago that vaccines are very expensive to produce, are subject to very strict screening by the FDA, and that lawsuits have scared companies from developing and producing them. This article is from back in May, but discusses some of the issues

What made vaccine industry so sickly?
Red tape, price controls, lawsuits have decimated U.S. vaccine makers.
"The absence of an effective swine-flu vaccine is the natural result of government policies that have crippled our nation's once-thriving vaccine industry over the past several decades.

n 1957, 26 companies supplied the market for standard children's vaccines. By 2005, there were four. And even though at least 10 U.S. firms manufactured vaccines three decades ago to treat seasonal flu, only five of those companies remained by the late 1990s. Today, only one company is manufacturing flu vaccine in the United States.

According to the consulting firm Oliver Wyman, in the event of a pandemic, it would take roughly four years for drug makers to meet the global demand for vaccines." http://www.ocregister.com/articles/vaccines-flu-vaccine-2387306-swine-companies

Nineteen really neat microscopic photos

http://www.popsci.com/science/gallery/2009-10/best-medical-images-2009

I'm in Jamie

I honestly believe this is kinda pointless.

Not the vaccine. The part of people freaking out. It's has been around for a long time. We've had it since the first pandemic in 1918. Only when we get an over wave we freak out. People are STILL FREAKING OUT!!!!!! It's pointless to still freak over it. Get the vaccine and shut the heck up!!! Oh wait.......Somebody thought it would be a good idea to let GITMO INMATES MAKE THE VACCINE!!!!! This is just plain madness.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/10/bipartione.html#comment-267934

Flatus, Thanks for linking the website. I'll go over it when I get back today.

Office Depot is where they have the upgrade version on sale, and they will install it free for us if we want them to. But, I'm going to check the price over at BestBuy too, because I'd trust them with the install a lot more than Office Depot.

I've heard that there can be some complications installing it, so if they'll do it for free or a minimal charge, I'll go ahead and have them do it.

Do you think it's a big enough improvement, that it's worth changing the Vista over t it?
Thanks for all the information Flatus.

Chloe,

I would have to research the factual content as to the "reasons" for the decline in vaccine production, but two items raise red flags about that article

OC Register - Conservative Paper
Pacific Research Institute is a Conservative think tank funded by oil and drug money not to mention the Scaife Foundation

http://pacific-research-institute-for-public-policy.idilogic.aidpage.com/pacific-research-institute-for-public-policy/index.b124.u139.htm#GrantorsList

Jamie, That's just the first thing that came up on my search. I saw the same type of things said by many others a few months back, and there is nothing political about it, so I'm not sure why 'conservative' matters.

Sorry to get off topic... but does anybody know who made it to the World Series?

Oh the 75.3 million doses of vaccine we are getting from France are on schedule to be delivered on time as promised

http://www.reuters.com/article/governmentFilingsNews/idUSN2312707720091024

This is completely different look at the 'swine flu windfall', an 'analysis':

ANALYSIS - "Companies reap the swine flu windfall
Healthcare companies are reaping the benefits of a global swine flu pandemic, brightening what might otherwise have been a dismal third quarter and bringing new focus on the market for vaccines.

Large European pharmaceutical companies are reporting windfall sales from flu drugs and H1N1 vaccines.

"Pretty much everyone who does something in influenza in has gained from it," said Hedwig Kresse, an infectious diseases analyst"

With the exception of Baxter and Gilead, most other U.S.-based pharmaceutical makers have not benefited much directly from the swine flu bonanza, but a round of acquisition activity last month suggests U.S. big pharma may not be happy sitting on the sidelines. " http://in.biz.yahoo.com/091023/137/bauezp.htm"

Only 75.3mill I need a vaccine.

me168 Phillies for National League

American League still being contested between Angels and Yankees

Game six of series tonight

GO ANGLES!!!!!!

BEAT THE NEW YORK STEROIDS!!!

No offense to yankee fans. i'm a huge reys fan

Chloe

It matters because of the "Reasons" given for choices made by the companies. For instance does a company manufacture billions of Viagra pills but doesn't manufacture any "orphan drug" that might only be needed by 10 people because the desease is rare.

It goes to profit and motivation. You can get some think tanks to tell you to drink crude oil, it's really good for you. That doesn't make the "research" accurate.

So this one report says they got out of the vaccine business because of government demands, safety controls, pricing etc. and the laws need to be changed to encourage manufacturing again ... that's lobbying.

They could be telling the total truth, but you need to get the other side of the story as to why Congress didn't immediately fall over and change the laws. And that is the reason you need to know who paid for any research on any subject and what their affiliations might be before you jump on the bandwagon.

Some think tanks right and left are more trustworthy than others.

Biparty-one?

You can say that again. Unless it's for both party s voting to spend $ on wars, or for stuffing their own pockets...bipartisanship is one billion to one:

Does anyone understand the chance of one billion to one. It's like getting bite by a shark, while getting hit by lightening.......simultaneoulsy in the desert HA!!!

The only way that anything can be done now is to get the independents the power to do it.! What further proof do you need..that the two party's are in ca-hoots with each other.....

All of the fighting about taxes, the rich, the poor is just a way of keeping it all between themselves..and we keep electing them; the can keep saying the same things (promises) over, and over..

.we are the suckers in this game of keep the ball away from the little stupid kid in the middle..RONN Paul, Nadar, Dennis K. look for someone to get us away from the clutches of these two Greedy Pigs Party's

We need a Flat Sales Tax, and a Flat Income Tax...this will solve many, many problems...including the most needed to start the transpacific that they all promise.......Campaign Finance Reform.!!! which = no more Irs to harass, take away $, and jail only the poor.

No more, Lobbies t, they would not be needed..with the ability for some honest people to run for office....as it is: The corps get to choose our elected officials..they have all the money that it takes to get their chosen paid off congress, or senator pig in office....there is more but this is a good start ......glad to see that some here, are coming around....now lets talk up the benefits of a third party, and flat taxes....

snowe melts = biparti-none

One consideration for deciding whether or not to get the vaccine. If you parents were born before 1919, the chances are you don't need the vaccine as you probably have some immunity left over from the Influenza pandemic.

Another consieration: 30000 or so die from the normal flu. Even if swine flu matched that, it will usually be in those younger people with compromised conditions.

So anyone who wants can have mine ... I'm not going to use it. :-)

transpacific = transparency ...

China stepping up environmental industries

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/23/AR2009102304075.html?hpid=topnews&sid=ST2009102304093

I'm logging off for a bit. I'm hungry for a burger

solar, but "transpacific" sounds so fascinating.
looking up "trans" in yourdictionary and "pacific" in websters and blending the two, one gets one heckuva concept to think about.

trans-
1.on the other side of, to the other side of, over, across, through transatlantic, transpierce
2.so as to change thoroughly transliterate
3.above and beyond; transcending transonic
pacific
1 a : tending to lessen conflict : conciliatory b : rejecting the use of force as an instrument of policy
2 a : having a soothing appearance or effect b : mild of temper : peaceable

Mini me168,

I sorta agree with D.L. and can't do my job of keeping you away from getting the clutches of the left or the right (indoctrination that he was talking about) if all you do is Eat every time that you smell something cooking.

Like politics, eating is the same: Don't over eat, from one source or two, get a little bit of all foods, and grow healthy........Wash your hands.!!

bunny power, the new and extreme renewable energy program

http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/10/23/sweden_torches_bunnies_for_warmth

Patd,,

I like it...transpacific....I was thinking of both I guess....transparency, and specific...I was trying to be specific when I was talking to some one on the phone...and not being too transparent.....LOL i love it tho....thanks

yeah, above and beyond peaceable

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/25/business/smallbusiness/25health.html?_r=1&hp

Rising costs for small business, another promise left at the curb.....

Mini me 168

Another thing to keep in mind. I like all kids. They can't hardly say/ do any wrong as far as im concerned; and it looks like you were brought up with some manners:

One thing that you have to remember is to just say " I agree with Solar" and don't ever get smart with me.! If you have that need: We can get XR on the phone; he will take any disagreeable comments that you want to tell me...in other words..tell them to him.

Now if you do get smart with me...I will go after your Grand-Pa Purple, and I like him....he makes a lot of sense.

ps. what kind of sports do you play. When I was your age...I would leave (on weekends, and all my work was done) early in the morning..walk to the park about 1 mile away, and play a different sport all day....I loved basket ball and football.

I use to get punished quite a bit cos I would not get home until after dark.....we had lights out in the parks...and that when all the big kid payed basketball...I was good enough to play with them when they were short a player...kicked them in the shins- I did....HA! have to go and exercise ....later.

Jamie, got a Take This tune post up at http://fairweatherlewis.blogstream.com

How many degrees of separation I wonder actually between Dave Matthews and Lefty Frizzell? ;)

From your article max,

"Higher medical costs aside, some experts say they think the insurance industry, under pressure from Wall Street, is raising premiums to get ahead of any legislative changes that might reduce their profits."

Yes mini me. Solar is right. If you want to be a healthy me, you need to balance your smarts with lots of exercise. Too many young people are hanging out too much in front of TV's or computers and are getting unhealthy. Your state of health and fitness now will influence the rest of your life! You need to be a versatile genius

Mozart composed diveritmenti after school and on weekends.

Mozart died at age 35, Flatus.

He should have skipped school and concentrated on weekends.

And avoided 'hitziges Frieselfieber'.

You don't have to curse Flatus.

Rez,

What I find so darn aggravating is that health insurance was never meant to be a for profit business. It all started with guilds and unions as mutual protection funds so that should members of the group become ill or injured the money was there to pay the bills. Then someone figured out that there was gold in them thar hills and the whole sorry business has been going downhill ever since.

Single payer would just be getting back to the original mutual benefit idea.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/10/bipartione.html#comment-267976

Humble apologies, Carol.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/19/bo-obama-gets-official-wh_n_217882.html

Great photo! I think the one of the family is nice too. :-)

Clearly this is why Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize :))))

http://www.flickr.com/photos/whitehouse/3483994941/

me - this is important. Be careful re Solar and believing what he says! The phrase "I'm innocent, I tell ya!" is to be dis-believed at all times. He likes to stir stuff up.

Just saw a wonderful ad on tv for Yellow Tail wine. A young couple dining on a rooftop on a beautiful sunny day are crushed when she knocks over the bottle of wine, and sings out an aria about the tragedy. He bursts out with an aria and comes up with two more bottles of Yellow Tail

I'm going to get the h1n1 shot if available since I have asthma and will be around the kids so much. My parents weree born in 1907 and 1914, so I suspect I'm ok, but if I can get the shot I'll take it. My bil will also be super exposed. I'm terrified for our kids even tho they've had the vaccine already.

Re the matter of the knowledge and wisdom of others that we cannot even conceive of, my most recent reminder came when I head an expert talking re that big train wreck becak around DC months ago. the expert said that they would find out the cause eventually. He spoke of one man who would be involved, who had been working in the area for thirty years or so, probably the most knowledgeable
metallurgist in the world. A metallurgist????? Decades of experience working with metals and making assessments re train wrecks??? How can such a person exist? I know, I know. It makes sense, but I was struck by all the fields we don't even realize exist, and all the possibilities there are for expertise.
Thank god for all the un-knowns who have pursued arcane subjects to our benefit.

Bethy

As an "everyday" sort of wine, Yellow Tail has a really nice Shiraz

Thus ends your commercial interruption.

I'm in the bigs now, sturge... HVLP. No more spray-cans for me.

Bethy

Anyone who is in a group situation regularly should probably get it if out of simple courtesy if nothing else.

As to "expertise", I always distrust anyone who thinks they know everything. Maybe somewhere around 1000 AD it was possible to "know everything there is to know" though I doubt it. Now - no way no how. The best most people can do is have a generational cultural IQ and know almost everything most people around you of your age know, but even then you will be missing a lot.

Which is why I made my living for 40 years as a researcher. :-)

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/10/bipartione.html#comment-267980

I thought it was the beer summit.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/10/bipartione.html#comment-267985

Rez

And people said Obama didn't have enough accomplished to win the prize!

Conservatives comprise roughly half of this country and most Democrats would like to ignore that. Dems laugh at Bipartisan, don't they?

Oh Max,
NO!! President Obama and the Democrats have reached out their hands to Republicans for bipartisanship time and again and for what,NO NO NO...I don't give a damn what conservatives think or do,they've had years in control and have produced WARS..Massive tax cuts for years and look at the mess were in..Your so concerned about Conservatives!!! I can't believe you haven't had enough of them...

Amen, Jamie. Let's put it this way, if I or any one person knew everything, it would reflect a really sad world! I'm counting on there being an un-imaginable amount of stuff I don't know.

Did you all see that for a bit the home page here had a note that Gorbachev said Obama deserved the Nobel prize? I read the article but it has been removed now.
The old man had some nice things to say, and some very cogent ones, too.

Damn! No game tonight.

Bethy,

"Be careful re Solar and believing what he says! The phrase "I'm innocent, I tell ya!" is to be dis-believed at all times. He likes to stir stuff up."

Hi Teach. Thanks for the hug.! I hop every thing is all right in your world?

Things change so fast that it is impossible to know everything, or even come close...as soon as a student graduates from school: There is so much new information to replace what they have learned,
that over 90% of what they knew is obsolete.

Kids like Me have an excellent start b/c of his parents that have taken the time to share their knowledge....wish that all parents had the ability to do the same...Oh here is a Saturday night Hug. Don't get tipsy on that wine.....

>>>One thing that you have to remember is to just say " I agree with Solar" <<<

HA!!!!!

Why no game?

Just had a nice conversation with my nephew's wife. She's been part of the family fo about 35 years as she was his sister's best friend since first grade. I remember her talking about bugs and science stuff with my bil, and I thought it was cute. Little did I expect her to grow up and get her phd in parasitology.

She is really tired because of her work hours in public health, with all the h1n1 stuff etc. She also had promised to write a chapter in a book (reminded me of Craig). I said for your own book or some one else's.

It's for a book on Molecular Detection of Human Parasites. She said she's used to writing papers, but a chapter for a book is different. I said, you've had papers published? Oh, yeah, on my subject. What is that? Tapeworms. She's kinda a big-time, almost worldwide expert. I'm impressed.

She said that tapeworms and roundworms might have something to do with immunes systems, since people with them don't get the horrible other diseases. I said I'd rather get a shot or take a pill.

Sorry, Solar, I just think me has a right to know about the deep end here. Surely, you agree. I do agree re parents just plain talking with the kids and sharing knowledge, making life real.

Patsi, Honey....HA!! is that like "Yeah-in your dreams"? You say the sweetest things to me.....so here is one for U, for Halloween.

A man is walking home alone late one foggy Halloween night, when behind him he hears:

BUMP....

BUMP...

BUMP...

Walking faster, he looks back and through the fog he makes out the image of an upright casket banging its way down the middle of the street toward him.

BUMP...

BUMP...

BUMP...

Terrified, the man begins to run toward his home, the casket bouncing quickly behind him.

FASTER...

FASTER....

BUMP...

BUMP....

BUMP....

He runs up to his door, fumbles with his keys, opens the door, rushes in, slams and locks the door behind him. However, the casket crashes through his door, with the lid of the casket clapping.

Clappity-BUMP...

Clappity-BUMP...

Clappity-BUMP...

On his heels, as the terrified man runs.

Rushing upstairs to the bathroom, he locks himself in. His heart is pounding; his head is reeling; his breath is coming in sobbing gasps.

With a loud CRASH the casket breaks down the door.

Bumping and clapping toward him.

The man screams and reaches for something, anything, but all he can find is a bottle of cough syrup! Desperate, he throws the cough syrup at the casket...

And,

(hopefully you're ready for this!!!)

The coffin stopped...!!

Just going to shut down now..and I see that I stopped the press with that joke...Im innocent I tell ya. My son told me that joke.

they say that insanity is hereditary; We get it from our children. hahha..no? oh well...later

Bedtime music: tired and out of heart, so something familiar and soothing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o5baA0Z9g4

Makes me think of Schroder, actually. :)

Nite y'all.

Bedtime music: tired and out of heart, so something familiar and soothing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o5baA0Z9g4

Makes me think of Schroder, actually. :)

Nite y'all.

Oops. Sorry for double post; my server's acting out.

Solar, yer killin' me. That joke was TERRIBLE! But I laughed at it anyway....

Patsi,

You can say that again. Thats the point to that joke..it is "Terrible" but if all are to tell the truth...they all laughed..nite now, and sleep well.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/72450/family-guy-three-kings#s-p1-so-i0

OMG, the genius of Seth MacFarlane!

How many libertarians does it take to change a light bulb?

3?

"Before enlightenment chop wood and carry water.
After enlightenment, chop wood and carry water."
-- Wu Li

time for jerusalem to become an international protectorate

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/8772679

Why do Republicans hate small businesses

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/25/business/smallbusiness/25health.html?_r=1&hp=&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1256473505-3zKHx8TPPFyf36pooBlReA

Why is Washington - All of them - Selling out our future and Healthcare will be the Death of sustainable economics !!! Killing our Children

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orl-mike-thomas-seniors-102509,0,3434525.column?page=1

Why is Washington allowed to continue this fiscal assult which is taking away our Freedoms and placing a burden that will make us like the average of every other country in the world.
I do not want to be like the Others... This is an insult and shows the lack of ability of our leadership. ALL OF THEM.
If you want to be like them - move

Ping, from the opinion piece you linked:
"In truth, the average Medicare beneficiary gets two or three times as much money out of Medicare as he has paid into it."

Ping, you have to apply an imputed rate of interest on the monies paid into the fund by individuals and then used for the day-to-day operations of the government. This imputed rate would be the incremental cost of long-term debt if the Treasury sold bonds on the open market instead of dipping into the Medicare Trust Fund.

I suppose, over the years, that a reasonable imputed rate would be 8-percent. At that rate, each dollar in the fund would double in about 9-years. Meaning that if a person is contributing to the fund for 45-years, the $100 he put-in during his first year ultimately reflects $3,200 in bond interest that the government didn't pay to the Chinese, but should accrue to the benefit of the Medicare trust fund.

I don't feel like doing the math for the subsequent years, but you get the idea.

So, it's not Medicare that's killing our kids, it's folks in DC playing games with the books.

Flatus, MBA

new thread, flatus