Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

Woo Hoo....

Good post, Mr. Crawford. A world united by it's love for burgers.

"its"... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prHZ9ihnOs8

We could make a lot of friends around the world by giving out free hamburgers..

Hard to beat the Whopper as a metaphor for what's good and REALLY BAD about capitalism. I well remember intending that point when I wrote this piece, but in those days you had to be very subtle about such thoughts to get on the front page.

"Hard to beat the Whopper as a metaphor for what's good and REALLY BAD about capitalism."

On target!

Capitalism, where you can have your Whopper your way, unless that includes a beer.
If capitalism really worked I could have a beer with my Whopper.
Some things even trump capitalism in the good ol USA

Jack

Craig - Vielen Dunk, guter Artikel

Freedom was found - and at a cost!

and then the West German's helped to Pay the Price to bring forward the depleted East Germany to western standards. All for the good.

bet buffett knew about this when he bought the trains.

"The world is much closer to running out of oil than official estimates admit, according to a whistleblower at the International Energy Agency who claims it has been deliberately underplaying a looming shortage for fear of triggering panic buying.
The senior official claims the US has played an influential role in encouraging the watchdog to underplay the rate of decline from existing oil fields while overplaying the chances of finding new reserves."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/nov/09/peak-oil-international-energy-agency

ah.. whskyjack ... It is not capitalism that stops you from getting that beir with your whopper. It is capitalism that provides the opporutnity to have the beir with the whopper.....

"Perhaps this is too much freedom," said Beeskow, her husband nodding in agreement. "Perhaps we'll teach each other some lessons."

craig, wonder what eva beeskow would say now. did you ever hear from any of those you quoted in the article? seeing this today thru the internet, they may perhaps contact you with their follow-up stories. hope so.

Jack, Ping, they don't serve beer before 5:00 p.m.

I've never been there after 5, so I have no idea if they do it then. either.

wonder how many hamburgers are made Daily in america by the big contenders.....hardees, jacks, mcdonalds, BK, white castle (?), and also wonder how many cows give their all for said burgers......that's gotta be a whole buncha cows, wot?

not to mention the regular restaurants and the grocery stores.....

Sources for the average weight of a cow differ according to breed and location.

Basing the answer on a cow weighing 600kg, 1320 lbs:

half of that weight is removed in processing (at the slaughterhouse)

so we're down to 300kg 1160lbs

another third of that is bone and fat and cartilaginous materiel

down to 200kg 440lbs

Theoretically this weight could be used to make hamburgers, now given that many store bought burgers are about 85% beef that would give us around...

2024 1/4 pounder hamburgers per cow!

of course if you are talking about certain fast food outlet burgers they use more of the cow parts for their 100% beef hamburgers so you would get a different total again.
**********************************************************
You were probably floored when you heard that McDonald's pushes 600 million burgers a year, right? Well, you better sit down, pal, because the actual sales figure as of 1993 (the last time I checked) was more like five and a half billion burgers a year. That's through the entire worldwide McDonald's system, of course, not just in the United States.

Unfortunately, since McDonald's operates on a franchise (individual ownership) basis, there's no way of knowing how many of those 5.5 billion burgers were Big Macs, how many Quarter Pounders, and how many were those wretched little numbers at the bottom of the line. Quarter Pounders, the best seller, weigh in at 4 ounces (hey, truth in advertising!), while the small burgers are ten to the pound, or 1.6 ounces each. Therefore we must make a completely arbitrary determination that the average burger weighs--oh, let's make it three ounces. Employing awesome computational skill, we discover that McDonald's moves about one billion pounds of hamburger per annum. At 100 pounds per cow, that means that the company sends some ten million of the gentle creatures to their doom every year. (We'll assume all the said creatures are cows, and forget about that silly kangaroo story.) The meat that McDonald's buys amounts to a staggering 1 percent of the entire American beef market. Anybody for an Egg McMuffin?

— Cecil Adams

"that's gotta be a whole buncha cows, wot?"

sturge, that's a lot of bs.

plus their other pollution problem

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/12/05/tech/main4651448.shtml

those cow flati are the sounds of FREEDOM

http://www.rr.com/news/topic/article/rr/9000/9387222/Bill_Clinton_meets_with_Senate_Dems_on_health_care

"Bill Clinton meets with Senate Dems on health care"

"WASHINGTON— Former President Bill Clinton knows just how high the political stakes are in the fight to overhaul America's health care system.

His failed attempt to revamp the delivery of medical care contributed to the Republican takeover of the House and Senate in 1994.

Fast forward to 2009, where health care's white-hot spotlight now shines on the Senate. Clinton is still in the picture, and he's expected to speak to Senate Democrats about health care legislation during their weekly caucus Tuesday, officials said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss his schedule."

so, what's "one more cow?"

freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose... or loosen in flati terms

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sod5TeCCQHA

When Congress Sells Out Women

http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2009/11/09/stupak?source=newsletter

got a business idea...get a lot of land and buy some cows and raise and breed them and then drive them to to market...oh, wait.

freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose
and nothin's worth nothin' but it's free

flatus, ole kris' words sound a bit buddhistic don't they?

Congressesional Democrats to Jamie , Patsi, KGC and the "girls"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOCC1EKXRBc

oops a little slow here,

Grin, duck and run

Jack

The biggest whopper of all is Obama not going to Germany to commemorate the tearing down of the wall.

I got plenty of nothing
And nothing's plenty for me
I got no car - got no mule
I got no misery

Folks with plenty of plenty
They've got a lock on the door
Afraid somebody's gonna rob 'em
While there out (a) making more - what for

I got no lock on the door - that's no way to be
They can steal the rug from the floor - that's OK with me
'Cause the things that I prize - like the stars in the skies - are all free

[Hayward/Gershwin/Gershwin]

Bowmanc
Kinda makes a statement on how much the world has changed in 20 years.
This week he is going to China instead.

Jack

"Grin, duck and run"

jack

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8Tiz6INF7I

Hey does anyone remember "Attack the Messanger"? How about this from CBS News:

Justice Dept. Asked For News Site's Visitor Lists

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/11/09/taking_liberties/entry5595506.shtml?tag=mncol;txt

Days can be sunny with never a sigh
Don't need what money can buy
Birds in the trees sing their dayful of songs
Why shouldn't we sing along?
I'm chipper all the day
Happy with my life
How do I get that way?
Look at what I've got:

I got rhythm, I got music, I got my man
Who could ask for anything more?
I've got daisies in green pastures
I've got my man
Who could ask for anything more?

from Porgy and Bess

He could have stopped on his way. He does have aircraft at his disposal.

mornin'

Beer and a Whopper? Sure, I'll take that - I can do the Whopper take out style and stop by 7-11 and pick up a 6 pack. If I go to Germany for that combo, the convenience of getting the beer in BK makes me accept Miller - and I don't like MIller. Of course there's always the BK Whopper Bar in Singapore, but that's a long way to go for a beer and a burger. Or I could just go to Red Robin and get a burger that actually tastes good and whatever beer strikes my fancy. Good idea.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/tasting-freedom.html#comment-270257

Pat
that comes from someone who has his weeks meals all planned out.

Jack

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/tasting-freedom.html#comment-270258

And to Fort Hood.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/tasting-freedom.html#comment-270251

Jamie, I was in the car a good part of the day yesterday - that was all over Sirius Left - they were referring to it as the Stupid Amendment. Indeed.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/tasting-freedom.html#comment-270262

Yeah, he coulda but he didn't, he choose Japan instead.
Any previous president would have been there as they were all very Euro centric in their world view.
But Obama is not like any previous president.

Jack

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/tasting-freedom.html#comment-270256

Bowman,

If he went to Germany, someone would criticize and say, "He's no Reagan". If he doesn't go, someone (sayyou maybe) will criticize because he doesn't go.

I guess he thought taking a trip to honor slain soldiers was more in line with his role as Commander in Chief and more important than rubbing Merkel's shoulders.

I'm sure Hillary did quite well.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/tasting-freedom.html#comment-270259

LOL
"Oh Woman, oh woman how can YOU be so cruel"

Jack

But Obama is not like any previous president.

I won't argue with you about that.

Although many are comparing him to Jimmy Carter.

Pogo

It is my understanding(not having the time to read much news this week) that he changed his Asia schedual so he could stop by Fort Hood.
I'm not sure if this is Bowmancs point but his trip to China at this time can be viewed as a slight to Europe.

Jack

Better to be compared to Jimmy Carter than either George Bush.

Jack

Jack, I'm not sayin' nuthin' about slighting Europe, or China or putting one thing before another. I might have liked to see him in Germany rather than China, and certainly Germany would have been an appropriate stop to commemorate the fall of East German communism, but the president's staff doesn't care less what I think is more important - at least I hope they don't. I think Bowman's point is just that since there's a chance to criticize Obama, he's taking it. He's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.

Speaking of Bush Sr. and the wall.
I'm suprised that he wasn't there.

At the time I always felt that Bush sr and crew were always in reactive mode rather than proactive . They always seemed to be a day late and a dollar short to any event that happened at the time. This even though they were called the most exeprienced, ect, ect, ect.

Here is an article that confirms some of my feelings at the time.
Interesting read.

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2009/11/04/1989_the_lost_year

Jack

Pogo

I suspect your right, but his comment did stir the old brain cells a bit.
I think we are begining to see what the future of world diplomacy is going to look like, with Asia taking on a more dominate role as the century progresses.

It should be interesting if we can maintain the Pax Americana we have maintained for the last 60 years.

Jack

Got stuff to do and played around here too long.

See y'uns later.

Jack

One last thought.

One thing the Iraq war has proved is modern wars are too expensive to fight. We have spent a trillion dollars on a war that in the previous century would have been a minor colonial endeavor.

Jack

Jack, I can only hope that at some point we will not only recognize that wars as we are fighting them are not only too expensive to fight, but accomplish less than nothing.

As much as I like having a fellow NHerite on this blog.... I gotta agree with Pogo's 9:35.

Jack.... your one last thought was a brilliant insight.....
no, no, no.... I said insight.... not incite.... :0)

gotta million things to do today.... maybe later this afternoon.... until then, as Jamie would say.... play nice....

"Jack.... your one last thought was a brilliant insight.....
no, no, no.... I said insight.... not incite.... :0)"

Good one, Renee....

The Soviets were arrogant. They neglected their productive infrastructure and squandered resources on the military. Just like we are doing now.

In twenty years some Chinese journalist will be writing about how the US economy collapsed.

It doesn't matter whether you are capitalist or communist. What matters is whether you are stupid.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-11-09/senate-stonewallers/?cid=hp:mainpromo6

"When Sen. Joe Lieberman issued fresh threats to filibuster any health-care reform proposal including a public option, he did more than just blunt the momentum generated by the House of Representatives’ passage of a bill this weekend. Lieberman also took his place in a venerable line of legislators bent on using parliamentary procedure to hold up the works. The deans of delay have already been hard at work this Congress, blocking Obama’s nominations for the federal bench and slowing the appointment of the U.S. ambassador to Iraq. It's all becoming too much for Majority Leader Harry Reid, who let loose on the GOP for obstructionist tactics last week after Republicans held up a bill extending unemployment benefits for weeks, even though it passed unanimously after they relented."

I wonder how Ol' Joe is going to like the broom closet abd being stripped of his committee assignments? Dipshit.

"It doesn't matter whether you are capitalist or communist. What matters is whether you are stupid."

Can I get an "Amen?"

Over an hour without a comment? That won't do.

Lunch.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/tasting-freedom.html#comment-270279

Jack

One of these days people may actually learn that there are times when the best thing to do is nothing.

Thought for the day :
" A wise man can see more from a the bottom of a well than a fool can see from a mountaintop. "

Odd legal action from the Left:

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/11/09/taking_liberties/entry5595506.shtml?tag=mncol;txt

1975 Ore ship Edmund Fitzgerald & crew of 29 lost in storm on Lake Superior

" Does anyone know where the love of God goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours "

TIR

That's one big leap to judgement you just made. I'm inclined to agree with the defense attorney in the matter who said, "'Can you tell me the date you got approval from the attorney general's office'... I'm willing to chalk this up to bad lawyering on the part of the DOJ, or just not thinking."

The whole thing smells of some underling's incompetence not some massive conspiratorial threat from the left.

Pictures of the Edmund Fitzgerald, her recovred bell and the memorial dedicated to the 29 who died.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=6008

Embryonic Stem Cell Therapy Restores Walking Ability In Rats With Neck Injuries

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091109121345.htm

" The light has shined for almost 150 years except for the night of the Edmund Fitzgerald disaster. As the ship headed toward Whitefish Bay, forty-eight miles to the south, the light and its radio beacon failed. "

Residents of Palmer Station, Antarctica, used their bright red United States Antarctic Program parkas to send ground-to-air greeting to scientists and flight crew aboard NASA's DC-8 flying science laboratory as it flew over the station during Operation Ice Bridge.

http://www.redorbit.com/images/images-of-the-day/

It has become fairly obvious that criticism of President Obama isn't welcome here.

So with that in mind: It is cool and partially cloudy in Southern New Hampshire this afternoon. Have a nice day.

Tea Partiers' Next Target: The Climate Bill

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2009/11/tea-partiers-next-target-climate-bill

I understand the dilemma, Bowmanc....there's a lot about Obama that I have problems with -- mainly his lack of involvement and trying to be the most popular guy in class. Back to the old "voting present" syndrome. Nor do I find his speeches as inspiring as many seem to. But I also think it's still to early to see what results we're going to get.

At least he finally made a statement about the abortion sell-out, as did McCaskill...

As far as him going to Berlin, I couldn't care less whether he did or not. I'm more concerned about the troops he's getting ready to send to Afghanistan.

Criticism of Obama is fine, in fact it is common and expected, Bowman, but don't expect it to go unchallenged.

Candidate Obama visited the wall around the 19th anniversary, and made Wall Fall comments then. How precocious of him.

Nash,

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/tasting-freedom.html#comment-270282

China is our best buddy now..we don't need anyone else. This is one of the reasons that I keep thinking about, when it comes to Iran..they won't be too happy about us spoiling the chances of getting their oil field.. but I also think that we are close to becoming a has been...

Patsi,

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/tasting-freedom.html#comment-270302

Me too.!!!

Pogo, sup, no lunch yesterday, went to the doc, for blood test..she say's that im go to go....so I did....I ate everything that I wasn't supposed to yesterday....including some frozen rib tips......that I un-froze this time; thank you.....taking it easy today, and laying off the salt.........not the sugar..going to have some cake or something for desert later on.....I love my Doc......

re obama revisiting berlin

after having left them cheering by the tens of thousands and the lasting image of that 2008 speech, no way. his handlers would have hillary walking meekly in the crowd of statesman rather than diminish that memory imho.

theatre cliches come to mind like gotta leave em laughing... wanting more... and you can't go home again

The next Sarah Palin:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=4629837

Vanished Persian army said found in desert
50,000 soldiers believed buried by a cataclysmic sandstorm in 525 B.C.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33791672/ns/technology_and_science-science/

" The term “denialism,” used by Mr. Specter as an all-purpose, pop-sci buzzword, is defined by him as what happens “when an entire segment of society, often struggling with the trauma of change, turns away from reality in favor of a more comfortable lie.” "

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/05/books/05book.html?_r=2&ref=books

C-Bob,

I suppose the Great Satan is to blame for that also?

Solar, too much time on the road. Back in the office today and tomorrow, then not again for a few days - then to Mexico for the Thanksgiving week, then... too damn much travelling lately. (But I did have a nice Gen. Tsao's Chicken for lunch today - OK, I cheated BIG TIME on the ol' diet - so sue me).

New Orleans is sinking — and fast

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13065975/

“denialism” must be the new word for nihilism

Wow, the Maya invented the sombrero .....

http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/11/09/2123180.aspx

Mr. Nash2.0,

But, communism is stupid.

SoleilCrete,

Rib tips = LDL cholestrol.

If you're gonna eat that stuff, Pogo can help you make out that Last Will and Testament you've been putting off. You oughta take better care of yourself, so you can become a super-annuated old drone like me.

"Russian analyst and ex-KGB operative Igor Panarin wants the U.S. to enjoy its last eight months. Because after that, the world's sole superpower will be embroiled in a civil war that will destroy it. This message has found an audience in the radical right wing Tea Party movement."

http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/11/09/ex_kgb_predictor_of_doom_finds_friends_in_us_tea_party_movement

" too damn much travelling lately. (But I did have a nice Gen. Tsao's Chicken for lunch today - OK, I cheated BIG TIME on the ol' diet - so sue me)."

What.! Are you a salesman; or an Atty.?

I can't sue you cos, Coreen likes you too, and Warren is on the road also...atty' and the road?? I can't get the guy that I would have come after you,,cos he retired...you would give up just after hearing him start talking....XR..that's my guy for my legal work around here...

North and South Korean navies exchange fire

http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/node/71150

XR,

I'm going to work those rib tips off ; in a little while; I'm going to start my exercise...just waiting for that Tony Baloney guy to give me a push....How r you enjoying retirement??

At the risk of losing Patd forever to another site -

Real-time, global marine traffic map

http://www.boingboing.net/2009/11/09/real-time-global-mar.html

In the wee hours of Sunday morning, Spain set quite a record: The country got more than half its electricity from wind farms, a first for a country long invested in renewable energy.

http://blogs.wsj.com/environmentalcapital/2009/11/10/paging-don-quixote-spains-new-wind-power-record/

Bow -
If Obama had gone to Berlin somehow I think he would have been dinged for missing the memorial to the Ft. Hood shooting victims. Which is where he now.

ChannelXRFR is back blogging on Imus Times HERE.

http://imustimes.wordpress.com/2009/11/09/its-official-imus-is-awesome-on-fox-business-news/

Posted by: Colorado Bob Author Profile Page | November 10, 2009 2:48 PM

I agree, and people should note, he picked his countrymen at this time of deep national sadness.

I don't think this is a time for politics. The President is the Commander In Chief.

It is untrue that criticism of President Obama is not welcome here. I don't think this is the moment.

The President gave a very moving speech just now!

Bowman....
with few exceptions, everyone here criticizes Obama for something.... myself included....

but criticizing him for choosing Ft Hood over Germany is petty, IMO...

CB, the yowling from the right would have been deafening. "He cares more about Europe than about our own service members..." and so it goes. Like I said - damned if he does, damned if he doesn't.

Solar, keep it simple - all to Mrs. Solar, to the little Solars if she ain't still around. Do it completely in your own handwriting, avoid the lawyers. (This is not to be taken as legal advice - I have no idea whether holographic wills are legal in your neck orf the woods).

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

From sharkbabe @ Emptywheel -

Versailles clown posse

http://www.revolutionmuslim.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=519:an-officer-a-a-gentleman&catid=1:yousefalkhattab&Itemid=4

I saw some Muslims celebrating in NYC and now they are proclaiming Jihad on the internet. I would feel better if Holder wasn't a key note speaker at an event where Cairs is attending or that we make every excuse we have for those not worthy of respect.

Oh, and Dodd is just the guy with Franks to clean up banking. Anyone hear Democrat Warner's intelligent remarks about the mess Democrats created in healthcare for forgetting the prime directive of lowering costs? You can read it at Drudge if you want.....

Berlin was a huge event. The fall was caused by far more than what Nash explains. In his world view it seems only stupidity separates capitalism from communism. It shows that todays uber left is most directed towards changing all of what is "wrong" about America in reshaping ideology. Gallop suggests this is rather wishful thinking.

Let me clarify my statement, criticism of President Obama from the left (because he is being too moderate) is OK, and any criticism of him that includes Hillary would be better, more effective....is tolerable.

Still cool & cloudy in southern NH.

Put a tea bag in it, Max. :)

Sounds like its raining sour grapes in southern NH. In fact, there is plenty of criticism of Obama from both the right and the left here. The problem seems to be when someone disagrees with the criticism, hurting the critic's feelings, not the criticism itself.

I have two questions. Was President Obama ever scheduled to go to the celebration in Germany? Did he cancel to attend the Ft. Hood memorial service?

If he he was scheduled to go to Germany but canceled because of the memorial service I retract my objection. If he was never scheduled to go to Germany I stand by my earlier criticism.

No sour grapes in the forecast.

It seems to me that the President is criticized every time he leaves the country.

It seems to me that the President is criticized every time he doesn't leave the country.

You just can't win...

Movie Recommendations:

September Issue: I've never read Vogue but the documentary is great..

Bright Star: Story of poet, John Keats..Subtitles well done..very good movie..

Amelia: The critics hated it. I thought it was very good. I learned things about Amelia I didn't know including that her only husband was the publisher of the Salem newspaper for many years.

Note: Amelia..The movie didn't mention the Salem connection regarding her husband.

The theatre owner, Loretta, tells you about the movie prior to it being shown.

Salem Cinima has been here for 28 years. 6 months ago it grew from a small single screen to a beautiful 3 screen independent in a refurbished area near downtown Salem. It is the nicest and best run independent theatre I have ever seen.

salemcinema.com

I critisize Obama on a daily basis. Today he did the right thing. I even had a call from my Mom: She said that she didn't even mind t hem breaking into her Spanish Soap Operas to give his speech.

Max,

I do agree with one thing; and thats about Dodd, and Franks.!!!

I just made a post the other day, about what the Whole World is thinking about Capitalism at this particular time...t hey say is sucks.!!! I say a well balanced ism. or both Capital, and Social, is the right .....but all in all...you have to admit, that the greed that was created, was in large part due to rampant Capitalism...and the shits that take the Corporates lobbyist $ amount to bribes, imo...so it is not looking so good here either in itls present form.!!

Pogo, yes, I will keep it simple. If this economy doesn't turn around pretty soon, it will be very simple indeed.!! thanks.

It's hard to imagine that any long term good, or any long term harm is done to our relations with Germany whether Obama went or didn't go to the anniversary celebration of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Fox News cites criticism from Gingrich and Rick Lowry -- well, there's news. The primary reason for going cited by Fox is to celebrate the triumph of American diplomacy. I don't think that's what the Germans have in mind.

cbob, thanks for the maritime time thingy
good for keeping track of one's dingy

also liked the article about murdoch vowing to tear the heads off small baby animals among other evil doings.

http://www.boingboing.net/2009/11/08/rupert-murdoch-vows.html

Are There Pesticides in Your Soup? Dunk a Pollution Dipstick to Find Out.

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/11/06/are-there-pesticides-in-your-soup-dunk-a-pollution-dipstick-to-find-out/

The Beatles had as much to do with the fall of the wall as any cold warrior.

" Ruth Dost savored her first Burger King Whopper and laughed as mayonnaise and ketchup oozed onto her hands. "

I wonder if Ruth had the first "freedom fries" with that order ?

C-Bob, Your maritime tracking site is very cool.

Solar I agree that there is a need for balance, and that congress (among other thing) needs to be reformed.

1) No campaigning more than 60 days prior to an election.

2) 4 Televised debates preempting ALL programming - cable, broadcast, & satellite.

3) Limit congressional staff to 3 people. 1 receptionist, 1 constituant services person & 1 intern to do research. No speech writers, they have to write their own speeches.

4) Campaigns paid by taxpayers, no donations,no lunches, no dinners, no sexual favors, no flights...

5) All members of congress fly coach period, no military flights for overseas fact finding missions....

6) members have to live in dorms while congress is in session.

7) congress stays in session no more than 8 months of the year (they can do less damage that way).

8) congress cannot exempt itself from any law.

That is just my starting list off the top of my head.

Salmon, steelhead present hazard to dogs

The story of how the bacteria infects a dog plays out like Russian nesting dolls.

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/nov/08/salmon-steelhead-present-hazard-to-dogs/

Bomanc,

I like all of them...specially # 4: Campaign finance reform could give us better people to run for office....as it is now; they are spending a fortune for any office...the big Corps give them the cash for it..and favors of passing laws that they want are returned....I don't who is the biggest shits..the Corps, the Lobbyist, or the people taking in all of the money to run for office.....

Get some kind of TAX reform along with it, and it will take care of almost all of our problems no?

"Former President Bill Clinton told Senate Democrats Tuesday that "it's not important to be perfect" on health-care legislation......"

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20091110-716406.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/10/obama-ft-hood-speech-full_n_352633.html

Tell the families of the 13 service personnel kiilled last Thursday that Obama should have been in Europe instead of Texas. He gets a lot of things wrong - this wasn't one of them IMHO.

if wsj won't let you read the above link, the nyt has a better one.

"Former President Bill Clinton joined Senate Democrats for their weekly luncheon on Tuesday and urged them to band together and quickly pass health care legislation.

Senators said Mr. Clinton did not drill down into minute policy details, often a favorite pastime, and instead stuck to the big picture, urging lawmakers to get the bill adopted.

“I agree with him,” said Senator Patrick J. Leahy, Democrat of Vermont. “We can sit around here and dither and dither, and it gets worse and worse and more and more difficult."

http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/10/bill-clinton-urges-senate-democrats-to-move-quickly/

Patd & Joe -

Boing Boing never disappoints, it may be hard to understand, but it never disappoints.

Pogo,
In fairness to Bomanc, his point was that Obama was never scheduled to go to Berlin. If he had been, he would have, I hope, canceled to go to Ft. Hood. But he never did plan to go. (BFD)

"But the main thing, since we’re focused on the economy, is that we are spending 16.5 percent of our income on health care. The next most expensive country is Switzerland at 11.5. The next most expensive is Canada at 10.5. All of our competitors are between 9 and 10 percent. That means every year, it’s like we write a check to all of our economic competitors for $800 or $900 million. And they cover everybody — we only cover 84 percent, and we don’t get better outcomes. We get worse outcomes."
[the dawg]

Craig -
Andrew Sullivan's doing a very interesting project in book publishing ,

"The View From Your Window": An Update

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2009/11/announcing-the-view-from-your-window.html

The Fall of Mexico

Poor Mexico. So far from God and so close to the United States.
—Porfirio Díaz, dictator of Mexico from 1876 to 1880 and 1884 to 1911

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200912/mexico-drugs

CJ, I'm aware that was Bowman's point, although he could neither confirm nor deny whether that was actually the case. Even if it was, so what? My point was that Obama was going to be criticised for going (remember the last time he went there - he was excoriated mercilessly as trying to be some sort of citizen of the world instead of an American and using it as a backdrop to make a momentous occasion an excuse to bring attention to himself - it was BS then and it would be BS again). I could criticize his little 2 minute recording, but that would be a bit petty, too, dontchathink? My point is that no excuse to criticize Obama is allowed to go to waste, meritorious or not.

We need Voter reform --voters must reform and educate themselves before voting and remember separation of church and state is the law.

But now I think I'll go - and I guess I won't go to Berlin either.

KGC,

"We need Voter reform --voters must reform and educate themselves before voting and remember separation of church and state is the law."

It all starts there; doesn't it?

Is the U.S. News Media Failing to Do Its Job on Climate Change?

http://www.reuters.com/article/gwmEnergy/idUS343035023720091109

That would be a big yes.

One can try to teach anyone anything..... it doesn't mean they'll necessarily believe it....

When Rick and I were newly married we had an Iranian friend that claimed he was a communist. We used to have long intense arguments. The one thing he kept saying over and over again in order for communism to work was "one must re-educate the people". It obviously didn't work.

Here's a rundown of what has been done....

http://kotorimagazine.com/feature-the-times-they-are-a-changin/obamas_accomplishments.html

Televised debates pre-empting ALL programming? Are you talking even sports. cartoons etc....?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/tasting-freedom.html#comment-270330

"criticism of President Obama from the left (because he is being too moderate) is OK, and any criticism of him that includes Hillary would be better, more effective....is tolerable."

Hi Bowmanc,
I disagree.I criticize President Obama all the time!! My criticism is mostly about his refusing to take a stand and fight for anything..It has nothing to do with being to Moderate or not Liberal enough..I do feel your criticism of the President for not going to Germany is unwarranted..I tell Grace(my Republican business partner) all the time,criticize President Obama all you want,I won't call you un-American.I do however defend President Obama against some of the BS teabag stuff Grace throws out..I'm so glad Obama is President as McCain/Palin would have been a nightmare,don't you agree?,HA,I know...

Hey Cbob- been wondering where you've been.

Jamie, web domainitrix has posted a link to the petition at her marvelous site. If you haven't already , please sign!!
http://94campaign.blogspot.com/

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/tasting-freedom.html#comment-270364

Hey Sea,friend...How are you?Its getting that time of year,i'm going to order soon.My neighbor Karen sure is looking forward to some of your fudge for the Holidays..

Hey friend! Just let me know what you want and when. I've been thinking about making some pumpkin fudge for Thanksgiving. Not sure though if people just want their chocolate fudge. What do you think of pumpkin?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/tasting-freedom.html#comment-270366

Hey Kathleen,
It sounds good!! It made me remember the first time my Aunt made a pumpkin cheese cake,delicious..

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/tasting-freedom.html#comment-270366

Kathleen,
I will sure let you know soon...

It does sound good, Kathleen-- Pumpkin makes a great flavoring for all sorts of things....pumpkin eggnog is my all-time favorite!

I bought a half gallon of pumpkin ice cream at Publix a couple of weeks ago. I've been mulling in my mind whether I could turn it into a palatable pumpkin potage.

Thanks for the input- I'll give it a shot!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/tasting-freedom.html#comment-270371

I should think a dark rum would work.

Weird-went to amazon and they have used editions already of Listen Up. How does that happen?

Flatus- Ha! I agree.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/tasting-freedom.html#comment-270370

Oh Flatus,
I forgot about Publix pumpkin ice cream.If I wasn't so tired i would get in the car and go get some,tomorrow..

tennessee jed, tennessee dirt, dave letterman, and levon at the helm:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZaU3VtMfoM

Tony, I saw it the week before Hallowe'en--haven't checked since. I'm sure it's a seasonal flavor. Good luck!

Ed Schultz makes a good point:What would conservatives say if Autoworker's received a 60% bonus this year? I think we all know the answer....Hell,after the President and the union got together with GM, we had to give up dental and eye insurance coverage and rightfully so..What did Wall Street and the banks give up???Nothing, they got increased bonuses!!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/tasting-freedom.html#comment-270377

Yes Flatus,
I usaually see it through x-mas..

I find it hilarious that anybody could think it is not allowed here on this blog to criticize Obama. Most of us preferred Hillary and are still resentful that Obama got the nomination - and we keep talking about it. Some even re-registered as independents. Several here voted for McCain and constantly post their dis-approval of Obama. They are disagreed with often, but occasionally agreed with.

Just because I voted for him as a last resort doesn't mean that I have ever even liked him. In fact, I think he
may be close to going over the cliff cuz he's playing it too cute!

I also think he was right to go to Fort Hood and not Germany - the Clinton's also have more of a history with Germany and Angela Merkel.

Tennessee Stud

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5c1k949Zn4

old cold tater........wit a nice little solo by a dressed up buddy emmons........

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

Sea, I wrote letters to my senators with a copy of the article, and emailed to 19 of my closest friends. At least one has already signed it - my friend who is running for DA here, who wrote to thank me for my donation and for sending her the petition to sign.

Another friend just emailed me that she tried to sign it and it said the sight was not valid! I can't figure that out. I think I'll forward the other site to her.

horsey addresses the controversy over his (hilarious) cartoon about non-union boeing workers in SC.....and one more cartoon from a SC cartoonist.......

http://blog.seattlepi.com/davidhorsey/archives/184373.asp

Bethy..you are correct..I wrote in Hillary in November. Of course, I had the luxury of being in a state where Obama won by 16 points. If it were close here, I would have voted to make sure a Democrat was in the White House.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/tasting-freedom.html#comment-270335

OD

The one thing you almost never hear about Amelia Earhart is that she wasn't a very good pilot. She loved flying and loved publicity, but for women who really knew how to fly, you want Pancho Barnes called by Chuck Yeager, "The ugliest woman I ever met", but respected by all the test pilots and eventually the first astronauts.

In the movie, "The Right Stuff", the bar scenes though not credited take place at Pancho's "Happy Bottom Riding Club" and the woman serving the drinks and calling the youngsters "pudknockers" would have been Barnes.

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

http://jdurward.blogspot.com/2007/01/happy-bottom-riding-club.html

Limit congressional staff to 3 people. 1 receptionist, 1 constituant services person & 1 intern to do research. No speech writers, they have to write their own speeches.

Bowman,

Most of your suggestions actually sounded pretty good except for this one: 1 constituent service person for a quarter of a million people? I know you think slave labor is a good thing, but isn't that just a bit under staffed?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/tasting-freedom.html#comment-270366

Sea,

I vote for the fudge or fudge with walnuts or Penuche or penuche with walnuts. I'm such a dull purist and your fudge is so darn wonderful!!!

Oh and when it comes to pumpkin- Pumpkin soup nice and peppery hot.

http://www.mom-mom.com/southwestern_pumpkin_soup.htm

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/tasting-freedom.html#comment-270384

I thought the whole thing was a real hoot.

But, someone, somewhere along the line, must have told Horsey that humor of that style must be self-disparaging, not just disparaging.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/tasting-freedom.html#comment-270383

Bethy,

The petition from the 94th site is now functional. It needed one last little twiddle before Care2 could see it.

OK Jamie, two constituent service people, but one has to reside in the home district.

Also Jamie, when the constituents call, the first thing they hear on the answering machine should be JFK." Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country".

If you have already done something for your country press 1, if you have not done something for your country press the # sign, this call will be recorded for Quality Control purposes.

Posted by: Bowmanc | November 10, 2009 4:19 PM :
"1) No campaigning more than 60 days prior to an election."

>It's very hard to discriminate between news and campaigning, especially on faux news and tall radio

2) 4 Televised debates preempting ALL programming - cable, broadcast, & satellite.

> The right wing skrooballz will eat you alive if you try this. the rushians will accuse you of destroying the freedom of the press (they'll call it the
1st Amendment, and associate sqrueball scalia will concur) Othgerwise, I'm with you.

3) Limit congressional staff to 3 people. 1 receptionist, 1 constituant services person & 1 intern to do research. No speech writers, they have to write their own speeches.

>The chance of this finding an author from either party in the next millenium is about zero. Constituent services grew as the population grew, and tv made
Congers appear accessible. If you do this, you might as well ban news writers from the MSM. Nice idea, but no one who has ever wanted to chat with someone in the office of a CA, NY, TX FL, PA, IL, OH, MI, MA, VA, GA, TN, NC, or IN, Senator would go along with this.

4) Campaigns paid by taxpayers, no donations,no lunches, no dinners, no sexual favors, no flights...

> The bad news : the right wing psychos will burn you at the stake, if they finde out that you really want this. The good news, almost all of the TMers will stand behind you on this.

5) All members of congress fly coach period, no military flights for overseas fact finding missions....
> Most fly military rather than coach. That's one reason the Pentagon wants a bunch of palatial planes.

6) members have to live in dorms while congress is in session.

>GREAT !!! And, Sweetie and I get to play chaperone. They'll be SOOOOOO happy to see their wives when they get home. Quite a few actually live in DC and maintain a fiction that they live in the boonies. MN Senator dirty dave durenburger had a MN PO Box, and norm coleman had an empty house.

7) congress stays in session no more than 8 months of the year (they can do less damage that way).

>That's about the length of time they work on legislation right now.

8) congress cannot exempt itself from any law.

That is just my starting list off the top of my head.

>I think we can all go along with that. Senators only passed the Income Tax Bill in 1913 because they were exempted.

Also, how about not exempting the American people from the Health Care Coverage Congress critters get ?

Overall, Mr. Bowmanc, I'm impressed.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/tasting-freedom.html#comment-270389

Oh, that particular recipe would drive me up the wall with the cilantro and chili powder.

I'd make it much simpler.

Take a can of vegetable broth, combine it with three cups of Publix Pumpkin Ice Cream, add 1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper and 1/2 teaspoon celery salt. Heat to near boiling and correct the seasoning.

Serve with cheddar cheese and Guinness Stout and homemade bread.

Posted by: Flatus Author Profile Page | November 10, 2009 9:50 PM

I use fresh pumpkin and curry. Good stuff.

Okay, Jamie, Now I'm really confused. I signed the first petition Sea posted and forwarded it to my friends.
As I said, one has apparently signed it but this friend in New Jersey was told the site was not valid. I didn't send her the 94th one - is the other one now finished?
I'm wondering if others were blocked and I should let them know.

I would be thrilled if just one rule was voted in: Down with lobbyists.

Bethy,

The link from the 94th site seems to work. I signed for my son and all the previous signers were shown.

Posted by: bethyboo | November 10, 2009 10:25 PM : "Down with lobbyists."

I sort of agree. However, I would prefer to have them raised - upside down (to drain the bribe money out of them), & depended from the lamp posts along K Street. It's a cost savings from, and therefore preferable to, building new gibbets, especially if they are constructed by using halliburton.

How about a bounty on them ? $10 for the ears and paws ?.

Okay here we go. This is the web address to give to all your friends to sign for liberator status]

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Liberator-Status-For-Pattons-Army

The one from the webpage hangs up somehow and I'm going to delete it and just post the link

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/tasting-freedom.html#comment-270392

Bowman,

All that comment proves is that you don't have a clue what a constituent service person does. There aren't enough of them. Too many of the critters have their offices concentrated on politics and not enough on services. Unfortunately a lot of those functions fall to interns and get lost in the shuffle.

NEW THREAD