Here's wishing you a blessed ending to 2009 and a wonderful 2010!
_____
One more thing -- I swiped this from John Ruberry, because I'm a sentimental softie and it made me cry:
Tootin' The Horn
Here's wishing you a blessed ending to 2009 and a wonderful 2010!
_____
One more thing -- I swiped this from John Ruberry, because I'm a sentimental softie and it made me cry:
Drive-Bys
Nightmares:
see more Political Pictures
If I have to put up with really bizarre nightmares while I'm in the process of quitting smoking, you get to share them with me.
_____
Speaking of nightmares, how'd you like to come home to this?
_____
Napolitano says the U.S. will "find and fix" the systems vulnerabilities? Yeah, right. Only if they start with her. Hard to believe an agency like Homeland Security can succeed if the word "terrorist" isn't even allowed in their vocabulary.
see more Political Pictures
If I have to put up with really bizarre nightmares while I'm in the process of quitting smoking, you get to share them with me.
_____
Speaking of nightmares, how'd you like to come home to this?
A pickup truck went off a railroad viaduct and crashed into a house this afternoon in the city's West Lawn community, authorities said.Yeesh! That had to hurt.
_____
Napolitano says the U.S. will "find and fix" the systems vulnerabilities? Yeah, right. Only if they start with her. Hard to believe an agency like Homeland Security can succeed if the word "terrorist" isn't even allowed in their vocabulary.
Update: Nice to see that Janet's focusing on the really important issues when it comes to national security. Oh, that she would get in her pickup truck and drive off into the sunset just like another (in)famous Janet did... and would that she be just as successful. Heh.
Update II: My friend Steve has so many things go wrong on his return from Mexico, I won't even begin to try and enumerate them. Go read his whole post. When are we going to get over our crazy political correctness and put the focus on people who just might hate us and want to blow up our planes, instead of frisking grandmas and shaking babies upside down?
Update III: Nice to see the TSA is also focusing on the important issues regarding air travel security.
Is anyone in the government focusing more on actual issues than on ass-covering these days?
_____
I had lunch at this cool new French Market with two of my coworkers today. One had chicken curry from Chundy's Bistro, one had a really cool vegan/raw spaghetti and meatballs from Raw and I had a lunch box containing French cheeses, olives, seasoned blanched almonds and a baguette from Pastoral. It was all delicious. And then we brought goodies back from Provo's Village Bake Shop and Delightful Pastries.
The thing I like best about the Chicago French Market is that people strolling up and down the aisles all have big smiles on their faces, because there's so much to choose from and it all looks so darned wonderful. (Note: Produce Express had bunches of fresh thyme, basil and other herbs for $1 a bunch. At the grocery stores in my town, far smaller bunches go for three times that price!)
If you work anywhere near the Loop or travel through Ogilvy Transportation Center, you should stop by and give it a try.
_____
Giggles of the Day:
see more Engrish
... and...
see more Engrish
Oddly, they kind of sound like poetry to me... or yoga positions.
_____
I had lunch at this cool new French Market with two of my coworkers today. One had chicken curry from Chundy's Bistro, one had a really cool vegan/raw spaghetti and meatballs from Raw and I had a lunch box containing French cheeses, olives, seasoned blanched almonds and a baguette from Pastoral. It was all delicious. And then we brought goodies back from Provo's Village Bake Shop and Delightful Pastries.
The thing I like best about the Chicago French Market is that people strolling up and down the aisles all have big smiles on their faces, because there's so much to choose from and it all looks so darned wonderful. (Note: Produce Express had bunches of fresh thyme, basil and other herbs for $1 a bunch. At the grocery stores in my town, far smaller bunches go for three times that price!)
If you work anywhere near the Loop or travel through Ogilvy Transportation Center, you should stop by and give it a try.
_____
Giggles of the Day:
see more Engrish
... and...
see more Engrish
Oddly, they kind of sound like poetry to me... or yoga positions.
_____
Quote of the Day:
Woot!
_____
Interesting. A judge actually takes the first legal step towards admitting and punishing reverse discrimination. Hot diggity!
Manufacturer's Guarantee
Janet Napolitano, manufacturer and purveyor of codswallop extraordinaire, says that the underpants bomber is a lone nutjob.
I don't know about you, but I'm not buying Napolitano's guarantee.
Quick Stop
Just a quick note to let you know that, despite this...
see more Epic Fails
... Therapy Night continues apace on Tuesdays. Lloyd's at 1 S. Wacker Drive is the place. Any time after 5:00 p.m. is the time. Consider yourselves welcomed!
And, yes...
see more Lolcats and funny pictures
... I did.
see more Epic Fails
... Therapy Night continues apace on Tuesdays. Lloyd's at 1 S. Wacker Drive is the place. Any time after 5:00 p.m. is the time. Consider yourselves welcomed!
And, yes...
see more Lolcats and funny pictures
... I did.
Emissions Test
I'm still not smoking.
I won't claim it's entirely easy, but it's also not as hard this time, and I'm not using any crutches to do it.
I was ready.
I recognize that the little voice of temptation I hear in the back of my head is whiny, manipulative, greedy -- passive-aggressive, actually -- but not so insistent that I can't ignore it when I need to.
I actually think I'm better off doing this cold turkey, as I can't blame anything or anybody but myself if I fail... or if I actually succeed... and I'm going to succeed.
So far, so good.
One minute, one hour, one day at a time.
I'm determined. And I'm winning.
Road Kill
Remember how freaked out I was when the Buckaroo resurfaced after three years of being out of my life?
Well, my planets must be severely out of whack, because my ex-husband finally found me on facebook... after twenty years... and sent me a message on Christmas day.
Look, both are nice guys. And both were NOT the nice guys for me.
I guess this is another karmic lesson in learning how to say "NO" firmly and politely.
Sadly, these guys think I'm a little bit Crystal Gayle:
Whereas, I'd argue I'm more Jo Dee Messina these days:
And I'm more and more that way every day. (Yay!)
In the meantime, would somebody notify the Gods that it's time to realign the planets? Really, I don't need the lesson any more.
Holiday Stop
Merry Christmas to you and yours!
I was a Madrigal in high school, and this was always one of my favorites to perform:
I was a Madrigal in high school, and this was always one of my favorites to perform:
Lo, How a Rose E’er BloomingPeace on earth; good will toward man!
German Carol, Es Ist Ein Ros Entsprungen, ca. 1500
Translated by Theodore Baker, 1894 (Stanzas 1–2),
Harriet R. Spaeth, 1875 (Stanzas 3–4), and John C. Mattes, 1914 (Stanza 5)Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming from tender stem hath sprung,
of Jesse’s lineage coming, as men of old have sung.
It came, a flow’ret bright, amid the cold of winter,
when half-spent was the night.
Isaiah ’twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind;
With Mary we behold it, the virgin mother kind.
To show God’s love aright, she bore to men a Savior,
when half-spent was the night.
The shepherds heard the story, proclaimed by angels bright,
how Christ, the Lord of glory, was born on earth this night.
To Bethlehem they sped and in the manger found him,
as angel heralds said.
This flow’r, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air,
dispels with glorious splendor the darkness ev’rywhere.
True man, yet very God; from sin and death he saves us
and lightens ev’ry load.
O Savior, child of Mary, who felt our human woe;
O Savior, King of glory, who dost our weakness know,
bring us at length, we pray, to the bright courts of heaven
and to the endless day.
Drive-Bys
What do I want for Christmas? I want for this to come true. And it's looking very likely, indeed, that I may get my wish:
Don't get me wrong -- I do want health care reform. What I don't want is the horrible mess that Reid and Pelosi have cobbled together and rammed through with zero transparency and in contradiction to the wishes of the majority of the voting public.
Rather, I'm in agreement with Rick Moran:
And it's no wonder Pelosi and Reid flaunt tradition and rules -- the president himself apparently believes he's above the law:
_____
Giggle of the Day - Part I:
see more Political Pictures
Why? It reminds me of a number of my gun-toting blogger buddies, who would no doubt be playing "rock, paper, scissors" over who got the next turn...
(And I don't want to leave this guy out of that fraternity. He might never forgive me.)
_____
Giggle of the Day - Part II
This is the most spit-take laden thing I've seen on Regretsy yet, and that's really going some:
Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.), the chairwoman of the House Rules Committee and co-chairwoman of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, said that the Senate's bill is so flawed that it's unlikely to be resolved in conference with the bill to have passed the House.Good.
Don't get me wrong -- I do want health care reform. What I don't want is the horrible mess that Reid and Pelosi have cobbled together and rammed through with zero transparency and in contradiction to the wishes of the majority of the voting public.
Rather, I'm in agreement with Rick Moran:
You don’t need comity between warring parties to get something done on health care. What is needed is the application of common sense and a little prudence. Indeed, prudence has been sacrificed on the altar of process - the abandonment of the principle of “good government” in order to achieve a purely political triumph for the majority.I'm tired of politicians who are more interested in winning than they are in governing effectively.
And it's no wonder Pelosi and Reid flaunt tradition and rules -- the president himself apparently believes he's above the law:
With logic only a lawyer -- and perhaps only a government lawyer -- could love, the Obama administration is refusing to obey a federal judge's order that agrees with a position the administration supports.There ya go. The president himself has set the tone.
_____
Giggle of the Day - Part I:
see more Political Pictures
Why? It reminds me of a number of my gun-toting blogger buddies, who would no doubt be playing "rock, paper, scissors" over who got the next turn...
(And I don't want to leave this guy out of that fraternity. He might never forgive me.)
_____
Giggle of the Day - Part II
This is the most spit-take laden thing I've seen on Regretsy yet, and that's really going some:
Go read the whole thing, and try and do it with a straight face.
Rubber-Necking
Noooooooooooo! Mr. Bill, Judy and I passed right by here on our million mile march to Kilmainham Gaol.
Here's the news:
Storage Building Burns
15 Dublin Fire Brigade Companies Respond
2 Firefighters Hospitalized.
Beer Output Unaffected
Whew!
The Magic Bus
Day 5, still no smoking. This is the day when magical thinking finally kicked in -- that dialog between the addictive, craving side of personality that cajoles, wheedles, bullies, pleads and bargains with logic and willpower. Magical thinking is sneaky and insiduous and counterproductive... and very, very tempting.
I'm not giving in today. And it's good that I recognized that this is part of the healing process. But little voices are whispering in my ear.
I need psychic earplugs... and I need them right now!
Drive-Bys
And now I need a bit of a palate-cleanser...
_____
If I was buying blogger Christmas gifts, the Straight White Guy would be getting this.
_____
I wonder if this chick is related to the goober girlfriend who left all the stupid voicemail messages. How much do you want to bet she is?
_____
'Tis the Season:
moar funny pictures
_____
If I was buying blogger Christmas gifts, the Straight White Guy would be getting this.
_____
I wonder if this chick is related to the goober girlfriend who left all the stupid voicemail messages. How much do you want to bet she is?
_____
'Tis the Season:
moar funny pictures
Bus Fumes
I may not be smoking... but there's steam pouring out of my ears. Behold:
Regardless of your politics, you need to think very, very hard about this:
_____
Not only is the law in this bill uglier than sin, it is also unevenly applied:
Nice to know that a lot of folks are more important than you, and that you can just shut up and pay for them to be that way.
_____
Darling Denny posts The 12 Ways of Obama, ending with...
_____
One more thing -- a little rant on global warming that I wish I'd written:
Regardless of your politics, you need to think very, very hard about this:
IMAB is a board appointed by the President with congressional approval, to submit recommendations on Medicare payments and costs. IMAB is modeled, somewhat, on the Base Closing Commission which made recommendations on shrinking the military base structure in the late 1980s and 1990s.Even further:
IMAB's recommendations will have the force of law under the Senate bill unless rejected by Congress in toto. Congress cannot accept one recommendation and reject another.
As Erick Erickson points out in a post last night, the Senate legislation on IMAB goes even further than one could imagine. The Senate not only delegates the hard decisions to IMAB, it imposes a very tight timeline for consideration by the Congress, and precludes the Congress from ever changing the legislation.I cannot fathom that this is Constitutional. I pray that it is not.
In this rush to pass legislation by Christmas, the most fundamental aspect of representative democracy is being lost. The Democrats are about to pass legislation which divests the Congress of its ability to change legislation.If that doesn't give you some serious pause for concern, there's something wrong with you.
This is what we have come to. A Democratic majority ready to hand over a fundamental aspect of our health care system to an unelected panel without any future Congress being able to change this procedure.
Some readers have e-mailed me asking if this is constitutional. The answer is that I don't know, and in the rush to pass this by the day after tomorrow, no one will have time to fully sort through this issue. But that is the point of the rush. Load up the legislation with so many controversial points that no one can figure it all out prior to the vote.
_____
Not only is the law in this bill uglier than sin, it is also unevenly applied:
...[C]ontrolling insurance costs is enormously important, unless your very costly insurance is provided by an important Democratic constituency.Some of these things are not like the others.
The Reid bill also gives a pass on the excise tax to the 17 states with the highest health costs. This provision applied to only 10 states in a prior version, but other Senators made a fuss. So controlling health costs is enormously important, except in the places where health costs need the most control.
Naturally, the Secretary of Health and Human Services will decide how to measure "costs" and therefore which 17 states qualify. (Prediction: Swing states that voted for Mr. Obama in 2008 or have powerful Democratic Senators.)
These 11th-hour indulgences make a hash of Mr. Orszag's cost-control theories and Mr. Obama's cost-control claims. Their spin has been that wise men would convene and make benevolent decisions about everyone's health care based only on evidence and the public good. But as the Reid bill shows, politics will always dominate when Washington is directing a U.S. health industry that is larger than the economy of France.
Nice to know that a lot of folks are more important than you, and that you can just shut up and pay for them to be that way.
_____
Darling Denny posts The 12 Ways of Obama, ending with...
At the twelfth hour of year one, now spending is a spreeToo true.
Twelve trillion debit
Laws made in secret,
Nobody's read them,
"Just give me something!
We can fix it later.
Legacy's at stake here,
SOTU's coming,
Soros, call me!!!"
This is hope and change,
In full stride,
At Christmas time,
In a fucked up economy
_____
One more thing -- a little rant on global warming that I wish I'd written:
Climate change is real.Go read the whole thing... and be sure and tip your cap to GuyK for the pointer!
The climate of the planet Earth is constantly changing. It's been up and down like a whore's drawers, and the all that shit about mankind causing it is just that, shit. It's been warmer, it's been colder, it happens all the time, it hasn't wiped out the world yet, and mankind has nothing to do with it.
Come on, a single volcanic eruption pumps more carbon into the atmosphere than humanity can in decades, and even then it's got nothing on water vapor when it comes to atmospheric content and its effect on the climate, and I haven't even brought up sunspots and cosmic rays and their effect on the weather.
Emission Test
Day 4, and I still haven't had a cigarette. Nope. I didn't plan to quit; it just kind of happened organically.
I've been peeved about the price of a pack of cigarettes (almost $10/pack in the city). I've been peeved about the fact that Virginia Slims seems to have no quality control whatsoever, and one pack never tastes the same as the one before. I've started in on my seasonal smoker's hack. I've been thinking I really ought to quit.
Thursday night I smoked the last one in the pack.
Friday morning I got up, realized I was out of cigarettes and decided that I would try to make it through just one day of not smoking. Friday worked, so I did the same on Saturday. Saturday worked, so I did the same on Sunday. Yes, there's certainly a pull in the middle of my chest from time to time. No, it's not awful. (Yet.)
I must really want to quit this time, as I woke with a start in the middle of the night, realizing that I had inadvertently lit up a cigarette in my dreams and it set off a panic attack.
No patches, no gum, no pills, no excuses. I'm just going to take this one day at a time.
I've been peeved about the price of a pack of cigarettes (almost $10/pack in the city). I've been peeved about the fact that Virginia Slims seems to have no quality control whatsoever, and one pack never tastes the same as the one before. I've started in on my seasonal smoker's hack. I've been thinking I really ought to quit.
Thursday night I smoked the last one in the pack.
Friday morning I got up, realized I was out of cigarettes and decided that I would try to make it through just one day of not smoking. Friday worked, so I did the same on Saturday. Saturday worked, so I did the same on Sunday. Yes, there's certainly a pull in the middle of my chest from time to time. No, it's not awful. (Yet.)
I must really want to quit this time, as I woke with a start in the middle of the night, realizing that I had inadvertently lit up a cigarette in my dreams and it set off a panic attack.
No patches, no gum, no pills, no excuses. I'm just going to take this one day at a time.
Drive-Bys
Because if I don't laugh, I'll cry...
Karma. It's a beautiful thing.
Swiped from my BlogDaddy:
It was written in the stars that this relationship wouldn't work:
And finally, just in case you really needed to know, here are the best places in the world to get naked.
Karma. It's a beautiful thing.
Swiped from my BlogDaddy:
It was written in the stars that this relationship wouldn't work:
And finally, just in case you really needed to know, here are the best places in the world to get naked.
Full Stop
Listen to the whole thing:
The launch of the Titanic was historic, too.
Like the Titanic, it's massive and it's awe-inspiring... but the materials are substandard and rivets are rotten under all that shiny new paint.
I agree with McConnell -- if this was a good piece of legislation, it'd be available for everyone to see and the vote would take place in the clear light of day.
This isn't about giving us good legislation -- it's about "winning" at all costs.
Start rearranging the deck chairs. We're in for a world of hurt.
The launch of the Titanic was historic, too.
Like the Titanic, it's massive and it's awe-inspiring... but the materials are substandard and rivets are rotten under all that shiny new paint.
I agree with McConnell -- if this was a good piece of legislation, it'd be available for everyone to see and the vote would take place in the clear light of day.
This isn't about giving us good legislation -- it's about "winning" at all costs.
Start rearranging the deck chairs. We're in for a world of hurt.
Bus Fumes
Dear President Chicken Little --
1. The federal government will go bankrupt if healthcare costs are not reined in? Dude! The federal government is already heading in that direction, and it's because you and congress can't seam to rein any costs in. In fact, and correct me if I'm wrong, I believe it was little more than a week ago when you were advocating spending our way out of the recession, when spending more than we make got us into this mess in the first place. So which strategy is correct? Do you spend more or cut more?
2. You're in big trouble when Howard Dean, the SEIU and Roland Burris of all people won't cooperate with the program. Quite frankly, I don't care what their reasons, I just want the particular bill that your pal Harry Reid is trying to cram down our throats stopped.
(And it's the only time I've ever been thankful that Burris did that sneaky and unethical end run around our current governor. I could kiss the little booger right now, though.)
3. You know, it's absolutely ridiculous for you to ask anyone to vote for a $2.5 trillion, 2,074-page bill that nobody's read. It must really suck great big hairy ones, or you'd insist it be put it out for everyone to read, debate and create a groundswell of enthusiasm for.
By hiding it behind locked doors, you guarantee that anyone with half a brain will distrust it, and rightly so. If you don't trust it enough to let us see it, why should we trust you???
4. That "If we don't do it right now we fail forever" thing? It's getting old and no one believes it when you say it. What it really means is, "I want it right now and if you don't give it to me I'm going to hold my breath until I turn blue in the face and then you'll really, really feel guilty. Hah!" That we do get.
4. A leader is someone who creates consensus. A tyrant is someone who forces his will by fear-mongering and intimidation. Guess which one you are not? Nobody likes a bully, dude. And nobody likes a big, whiny baby who is so busy looking backwards and dissing the guy before him that he continually takes his eye off the problems of the present and the future.
5. You're right -- if this turkey isn't voted on before Christmas, it'll never be voted on... but that's not a bad thing. It is a turkey.
6. Quit campaigning and start governing, instead of letting all your henchmen push their own agendas forward while you jaunt all over the world kissing up to our enemies and pissing off our allies.
6. Fix Medicare. Allow health insurance to be purchased across state lines. Streamline claim forms. Push for tort reform. Make those fixes first and let us see that at least one thing you touch doesn't turn into an absolute boondoggle for everyone but the tax paying public.
I hate to tell you this, dude, but that B+? Not so much. D- and falling fast.
1. The federal government will go bankrupt if healthcare costs are not reined in? Dude! The federal government is already heading in that direction, and it's because you and congress can't seam to rein any costs in. In fact, and correct me if I'm wrong, I believe it was little more than a week ago when you were advocating spending our way out of the recession, when spending more than we make got us into this mess in the first place. So which strategy is correct? Do you spend more or cut more?
2. You're in big trouble when Howard Dean, the SEIU and Roland Burris of all people won't cooperate with the program. Quite frankly, I don't care what their reasons, I just want the particular bill that your pal Harry Reid is trying to cram down our throats stopped.
(And it's the only time I've ever been thankful that Burris did that sneaky and unethical end run around our current governor. I could kiss the little booger right now, though.)
3. You know, it's absolutely ridiculous for you to ask anyone to vote for a $2.5 trillion, 2,074-page bill that nobody's read. It must really suck great big hairy ones, or you'd insist it be put it out for everyone to read, debate and create a groundswell of enthusiasm for.
By hiding it behind locked doors, you guarantee that anyone with half a brain will distrust it, and rightly so. If you don't trust it enough to let us see it, why should we trust you???
4. That "If we don't do it right now we fail forever" thing? It's getting old and no one believes it when you say it. What it really means is, "I want it right now and if you don't give it to me I'm going to hold my breath until I turn blue in the face and then you'll really, really feel guilty. Hah!" That we do get.
4. A leader is someone who creates consensus. A tyrant is someone who forces his will by fear-mongering and intimidation. Guess which one you are not? Nobody likes a bully, dude. And nobody likes a big, whiny baby who is so busy looking backwards and dissing the guy before him that he continually takes his eye off the problems of the present and the future.
5. You're right -- if this turkey isn't voted on before Christmas, it'll never be voted on... but that's not a bad thing. It is a turkey.
6. Quit campaigning and start governing, instead of letting all your henchmen push their own agendas forward while you jaunt all over the world kissing up to our enemies and pissing off our allies.
6. Fix Medicare. Allow health insurance to be purchased across state lines. Streamline claim forms. Push for tort reform. Make those fixes first and let us see that at least one thing you touch doesn't turn into an absolute boondoggle for everyone but the tax paying public.
I hate to tell you this, dude, but that B+? Not so much. D- and falling fast.
Drive-Bys
Have you ever thought about adopting a greyhound? If so, the time is now as the need is dire:
You know you want one.
Just do it.
_____
I wish we'd push to legalize pot everywhere, not just in California. It would ease the numbers of people in jail by a huge margin, and take a huge weight off our court system. It would bring in needed tax revenues. I'm all for it.
_____
Last chance for health reform ever? Jeeze, President Chicken Little! Only "The One" can do this? Nobody else could do it better? Really?
Puh-leeze.
_____
100 Reasons Why Climate Change is Natural
Go read 'em all.
As far as I can tell, the greenies have now invested so much time, money and propaganda that they cannot afford to back down and admit that their numbers are fudged and their research is fracked.
_____
Swanson and other greyhound advocates have spent the last few weeks transporting dogs as they become available to avoid a last-minute panic when some 600 Dairyland dogs become suddenly unemployed. Swanson is bracing for a deluge of these gentle creatures -- most of them young, some injured -- who need good homes.Greyhounds are sweet, docile couch potatoes that make great apartment pets.
You know you want one.
Just do it.
_____
I wish we'd push to legalize pot everywhere, not just in California. It would ease the numbers of people in jail by a huge margin, and take a huge weight off our court system. It would bring in needed tax revenues. I'm all for it.
_____
Last chance for health reform ever? Jeeze, President Chicken Little! Only "The One" can do this? Nobody else could do it better? Really?
Puh-leeze.
_____
100 Reasons Why Climate Change is Natural
Go read 'em all.
As far as I can tell, the greenies have now invested so much time, money and propaganda that they cannot afford to back down and admit that their numbers are fudged and their research is fracked.
_____
Chamois Rag
I needed one just now to wipe away the tears and defog the windshield.
I have the best bosses in the world.
They just gave me this for Christmas:
I've been eyeballing them for a while now, but just couldn't bring myself to push the "buy" button.
Do they know me or what?
I'm telling you, these guys rock, and I am a lucky, lucky girl to work for them.
I have the best bosses in the world.
They just gave me this for Christmas:
I've been eyeballing them for a while now, but just couldn't bring myself to push the "buy" button.
Do they know me or what?
I'm telling you, these guys rock, and I am a lucky, lucky girl to work for them.
Drive-Bys
So President Chicken Little gives himself a solid B+ for his first year in office? Clearly he's paying no attention whatsoever to what the rest of us think, which puts him at at least a C-, and that's if you're grading on a generous curve.
_____
In other political news, Houston has elected itself a fiscally conservative mayor:
_____
And speaking of being fiscally conservative, maybe we should take a gander at the way Ireland is handling the current economic downturn:
Hmmm... I'm going to have to add the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering to my vacation wish list.
_____
Giggle of the Day:
see more Lolcats and funny pictures
_____
'Tis the Season:
_____
In other political news, Houston has elected itself a fiscally conservative mayor:
Yes, indeedy, it would be nice if for once the media would quit making a big deal about race or gender or sexual preference and focus on qualifications and character. That's when we'll know that we've achieved true equality.
_____
And speaking of being fiscally conservative, maybe we should take a gander at the way Ireland is handling the current economic downturn:
High-paid public sector workers face 20 per cent pay cuts. Brian Cowen, the Taoiseach, is leading from the front taking a fall in salary from 285,583 euros (£259,000) to 228,466 euros (£207,000). The welfare budget is being cut by 4.1 per cent.
Yup. Leadership actually cutting its own salary. Who'da thunk it?
By embracing policies of low taxation, Ireland was transformed from being among the poorest countries in Western Europe to among the richest. Lowest corporate tax rates meant it was a competitive country for multinationals to invest in and to benefit from the well educated work force. Unemployment fell sharply.
Yes, the Celtic Tiger has certainly felt the sting of the downturn. However, its leadership understands that spending one's way out of debt simply doesn't work:
_____
Yes, Ireland gets it.Lenihan also rejected the option of just continuing to borrow and hoping for the best. He said: ‘Some have argued we should continue to borrow and wait for the economy to grow again before tackling the budget deficit. There are three reasons why this is not a viable proposition.
‘First, we know from the 1980s how large deficits, left unchecked, can lead to a dangerous spiral of mounting debt and ever increasing interest payments. Never again should we return to a position where all of our income taxes go to pay interest on the national debt.
‘Second, international debt markets have become more crowded and more fragile. If lenders were to lose faith in our ability to restore order to the public finances, the consequences for our economic well-being would be profound.’
‘Third,’ he added, ‘only decisive action will restore confidence. Consumers will only start to spend and business owners will only invest and create jobs if they believe we are tackling our deficit problem now.’
Lenihan added: ‘In our everyday lives we do not borrow to pay for our household bills. We cut back and seek to live within our means. The same strictures apply at national level. Borrowing hundreds of millions a week to pay for day to day spending is just not on. Stabilising the deficit is the next key milestone in our plan to deliver economic recovery for this country.’
I wish our governing representatives had even half as much courage and common sense as Ireland's. And I'll bet you that their economy will rebound long before ours.Lenihan had to make some tough choices on public spending. The elderly have been protected, with no cuts in state pension. But elsewhere the savings are widespread.
Subsidies for everything from housing to the arts are being slashed. Surplus assets are being sold. Bureaucracy is being cut back. Unemployment benefit is being reduced because, according to Lenihan, ‘a welfare system out of step with labour costs in the rest of the economy can trap people in protracted joblessness.’Not everyone will agree with the choices he made. But at least he had the guts to make them.
_____
Hmmm... I'm going to have to add the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering to my vacation wish list.
_____
Giggle of the Day:
see more Lolcats and funny pictures
_____
'Tis the Season:
Rubber-Necking
I rocked at my company's annual holiday party in this totally hawt dress, full war paint, sassy new haircut, long dangly earrings and a brand new boost-em-up to hike the girls back up where they belong.Jaws dropped left and right when I made my entrance.
Made my whole holiday season, it did.
(And in the spirit of full disclosure, no, the divas at Igigi didn't give me this dress; in fact, I paid full price. *Grumble* If I'd waited two more days, I'd have gotten it for 30% off. However, given how great I felt in it, it was worth it at any price.)
Google-Eyed
I tripped across this frightening gadget on BlogHer, of all places.
see more Lol Celebs
... and...
There! Just try and bleach those images out of your brain!
After scraping myself up from the giggling heap I'd collapsed in, I continued my stroll through my RSS feeds, only to stumble upon this:
see more Lol Celebs
After a few more fits of the giggles, I googled... and here are a few more choice little morsels to round out this right turn down Crazy Lane:
... and...
There! Just try and bleach those images out of your brain!
Under the Hood
What kind of a day am I having? I feel like a Duncan Yo-yo in the hands of Tommy Smothers:
It makes for an amusing show, but I'm stretched to the end of my tether in a gazillion different directions...
It makes for an amusing show, but I'm stretched to the end of my tether in a gazillion different directions...
Drive-Bys
You do the math:
_____
Boys will be boys. (God love 'em!)
_____
Spend 6+ hours on a flight to anywhere, and this is the kind of crazy you can actually empathize with. (Which is why I happily pay extra to book my seat in advance, BTW.)
_____
Two things that made me smile today: Lions and Tigers and Bears... and Vanilla Roasted Pears.
_____
Giggle of the Day... in honor of Jay:
see more Lolcats and funny pictures
Remember, use no yeast past its sell-by date!
- McConnell is correct.
- McConnell is correct again.
- The math in the U.K. doesn't add up.
- Social Security doesn't add up.
_____
Boys will be boys. (God love 'em!)
_____
Spend 6+ hours on a flight to anywhere, and this is the kind of crazy you can actually empathize with. (Which is why I happily pay extra to book my seat in advance, BTW.)
_____
Two things that made me smile today: Lions and Tigers and Bears... and Vanilla Roasted Pears.
_____
Giggle of the Day... in honor of Jay:
see more Lolcats and funny pictures
Remember, use no yeast past its sell-by date!
Quick Stop
Oh, sure. I finally find hair products that make me appreciate the fact that I've got curly hair and the Aussies come up with this! Argh!
Shits and Grins...
... because I need some after that last post:
For those that doubted, looks like Tea Party candidates are gaining steam. Yahoo!
_____
I love this column about people singing on the els to tunes on their iPods. Me? I'd probably join right in and add a harmony line.
_____
It was right about the time that the bobble-head Jesus showed up here that I tripped over the old gigglebox.
_____
And if that didn't do it for you, this Regretsy ad (NSFW!) will. (Yes. I immediately thought of Catfish. I can't imagine why.)
For those that doubted, looks like Tea Party candidates are gaining steam. Yahoo!
_____
I love this column about people singing on the els to tunes on their iPods. Me? I'd probably join right in and add a harmony line.
_____
It was right about the time that the bobble-head Jesus showed up here that I tripped over the old gigglebox.
_____
And if that didn't do it for you, this Regretsy ad (NSFW!) will. (Yes. I immediately thought of Catfish. I can't imagine why.)
Bus Fumes
... because I just live for producing a little more carbon dioxide into the air:
The good folks at the EPA are just plain nuts.
_____
Speaking of nuts, Speaker Pelosi shows her ass again by happily stating she wants a global tax stocks, bonds and other financial transactions, which probably means any time money changes hands anywhere in the world.
Great. Gives you a whole lot of incentive to invest in the economy, doesn't it?
_____
About that global warming thing...
_____
Here's the stupidest part of the Medicare cuts just voted on in Washington:
And these are the people that want to be in charge of our national health care???
_____
I don't care how much you support Obama, you cannot possibly support his choice of this gargantuan asshole as his "Safe School Czar." Feast your beadies on this little audio clip taped at an education conference attended by 14 year old students and which was run by Kevin Jennings' organization:
I don't care what your political affiliation is -- this is an abomination... or you are if you think promoting fisting to 14 year olds is acceptable.
Electricity generation, transportation and industry represent the three largest sources of U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions.Not to mention cow belches and sheep farts... and every living creature that breathes out after it breathes in.
The good folks at the EPA are just plain nuts.
_____
Speaking of nuts, Speaker Pelosi shows her ass again by happily stating she wants a global tax stocks, bonds and other financial transactions, which probably means any time money changes hands anywhere in the world.
Great. Gives you a whole lot of incentive to invest in the economy, doesn't it?
_____
About that global warming thing...
_____
Here's the stupidest part of the Medicare cuts just voted on in Washington:
By a vote of 53 to 41, the Senate on Saturday rejected a Republican effort to block cutbacks in payments to home health agencies that provide nursing care and therapy to homebound Medicare beneficiaries.By disallowing those dollars to be spent, they'll drive Medicare beneficiaries into nursing homes and hospitals in droves, driving up the cost of their medical care, instead of allowing them to remain in their own homes and reducing the cost as a result.
And these are the people that want to be in charge of our national health care???
_____
I don't care how much you support Obama, you cannot possibly support his choice of this gargantuan asshole as his "Safe School Czar." Feast your beadies on this little audio clip taped at an education conference attended by 14 year old students and which was run by Kevin Jennings' organization:
I don't care what your political affiliation is -- this is an abomination... or you are if you think promoting fisting to 14 year olds is acceptable.
Screeching Halt
I'm having a bad auntie moment here. I got my nieces' Christmas lists and apparently Dippin Dots and Candy Jewels are #1 with a bullet at the top of each. Aside from the ridiculously high prices for the "factories" themselves, the cost of the refills is astronomical.
I can't help but wonder if buying each of them something like this or like this would be a better investment for long-term use and teach them some creativity in the kitchen with ingredients at hand, flavor combinations and the like, to boot.
Nah. They might thank me years from now, but I can imagine the disappointment on this Christmas day.
Argh!
I guess it's going to be Barbies and FurReal Pets this year. They'll get more real play time with those than with a Rube Goldberg contraption that spins gold into candy or ice cream dots.
I hate being a grumpy Scrooge of an auntie!
Drive-Bys
JihadGene says, "It's Friday! Let's Dance!"
_____
Because it made me giggle:
see more Funny Graphs
_____
So how was the Lions Club meeting last night? Sweet. Old fashioned. Lovely folks.
The meeting started with the Pledge of Allegiance:
Then we sang the first two verses of "America the Beautiful":
Then came requests for joys and concerns, and an invocation.
I got introduced to every single Lion -- from "Lion Ron" on down.
These are people who love their country fiercely, love doing good things for the blind, the deaf and the hearing impaired, and enjoy each others' company.
I could get used to this.
(Okay, maybe being called "Lion Leslie" will take some getting used to. But I'll deal with it, because clearly there's a lot of pride (no pun intended) in being able to use that label.)
_____
Because it made me giggle:
see more Funny Graphs
_____
So how was the Lions Club meeting last night? Sweet. Old fashioned. Lovely folks.
The meeting started with the Pledge of Allegiance:
Then we sang the first two verses of "America the Beautiful":
Then came requests for joys and concerns, and an invocation.
I got introduced to every single Lion -- from "Lion Ron" on down.
These are people who love their country fiercely, love doing good things for the blind, the deaf and the hearing impaired, and enjoy each others' company.
I could get used to this.
(Okay, maybe being called "Lion Leslie" will take some getting used to. But I'll deal with it, because clearly there's a lot of pride (no pun intended) in being able to use that label.)
Roadside Diner
Suzette is looking for a particular pineapple cookie recipe for her holiday baking. Not sure if this is what she had in mind, but I found it recently in the Chicago Tribune, and printed out a copy because they sound so yummy:
Pineapple Coconut Bars
Crust
Vegetable oil spray
1 pkg. (18.25 oz.) yellow or vanilla cake mix, plain or with pudding
1-1/2 cups quick-cooking oats
1 stick butter, melted
1 large egg
Filling
1/2 cup flour
1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk
1 can (8 oz.) crushed pineapple, lightly drained
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
Topping
1 cup each chopped macadamia nuts, sweetened flaked coconut and white chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat a 13" by 9" metal baking pan with vegetable oil spray. For crust, place the cake mix, oats, butter and egg in a large mixing bowl; beat with an electric mixer on low speed until the ingredients are incorporated, 1 minute. Measure out 1-1/2 cups of this mixture and set aside for the topping. Press the remaining mixture evenly into the bottom of the baking pan.
For the filling, place the flour, condensed milk, pineapple and nutmeg into the same mixing bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed until the flour is just combined, 1 minute. Pour the filling over the crust in the pan.
Add the three topping ingredients to the retained crust mixture; stir until just combined. Scatter the topping over the filling. Bake until the edges have set and the center is golden brown, 35-40 minutes.
Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool 30 minutes before cutting. (Store the bars, covered withe plastic wrap or aluminum foil, at room temperature for up to five days or freeze for up to 3 months. If frozen, let the bars thaw overnight on the counter before serving.)
Hope this helps, Suzette!
Pineapple Coconut Bars
Crust
Vegetable oil spray
1 pkg. (18.25 oz.) yellow or vanilla cake mix, plain or with pudding
1-1/2 cups quick-cooking oats
1 stick butter, melted
1 large egg
Filling
1/2 cup flour
1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk
1 can (8 oz.) crushed pineapple, lightly drained
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
Topping
1 cup each chopped macadamia nuts, sweetened flaked coconut and white chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat a 13" by 9" metal baking pan with vegetable oil spray. For crust, place the cake mix, oats, butter and egg in a large mixing bowl; beat with an electric mixer on low speed until the ingredients are incorporated, 1 minute. Measure out 1-1/2 cups of this mixture and set aside for the topping. Press the remaining mixture evenly into the bottom of the baking pan.
For the filling, place the flour, condensed milk, pineapple and nutmeg into the same mixing bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed until the flour is just combined, 1 minute. Pour the filling over the crust in the pan.
Add the three topping ingredients to the retained crust mixture; stir until just combined. Scatter the topping over the filling. Bake until the edges have set and the center is golden brown, 35-40 minutes.
Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool 30 minutes before cutting. (Store the bars, covered withe plastic wrap or aluminum foil, at room temperature for up to five days or freeze for up to 3 months. If frozen, let the bars thaw overnight on the counter before serving.)
Hope this helps, Suzette!
Drive-Bys
I saw this article on crazy people who play with Tesla coils... and all I could imagine is Holder and Yabu at the next Jawja Blodgmeet with a snoot-full of Chatham Artillary Punch.
Sounds like fun, doesn't it?
_____
Gotta love Barbara Boxer, who, if she doesn't like the bad news, tries to slay the bearers.
_____
So Obama and Ayers weren't friends? Then why this news?
_____
Oooo! I'm going to have to try Pammy's recipe for Sausage and Potato Gnocchi Soup! Sounds fabulous.
_____
'Tis the Season, and Mostly Cajun's got the Cajun 12 Days of Christmas:
_____
Blogthing of the Day:
_____
Giggle of the Day:
see more Lolcats and funny pictures
_____
Gotta fly! I'm off to check out the Lions Club in my town. I'm feeling the need to get more involved in my own community. Wish me luck.
(Reminds me of Satan's Little Helper, for some reason!)
Sounds like fun, doesn't it?
_____
Gotta love Barbara Boxer, who, if she doesn't like the bad news, tries to slay the bearers.
_____
So Obama and Ayers weren't friends? Then why this news?
_____
Oooo! I'm going to have to try Pammy's recipe for Sausage and Potato Gnocchi Soup! Sounds fabulous.
_____
'Tis the Season, and Mostly Cajun's got the Cajun 12 Days of Christmas:
Mon Dieux, Emile, what I’m gonna feed all these bozos? They too snooty for fried nutria, and da cow ate up all my turnip green.Haaaaaaaahahaha!
_____
Blogthing of the Day:
You Are a Caramel Brownie |
 You are a very sweet person. Even when you get yourself in to binds, people know that your heart is in the right place. You're the type of guy or gal that people never forget. There is something "sticky" about you - you stick in people's brain's. You are act naturally. You let the world see who you are, flaws and all. You're a little chaotic and even messy, but you're okay with that. You can be a bit hyper and unfocused at times. You don't stay organized - but that's part of your charm! |
_____
Giggle of the Day:
see more Lolcats and funny pictures
_____
Gotta fly! I'm off to check out the Lions Club in my town. I'm feeling the need to get more involved in my own community. Wish me luck.
(Reminds me of Satan's Little Helper, for some reason!)
Drive-Bys
Because I love me some Blogthings:
_____
After last night especially, I'm sure this is true: Obama wants to get out of Washington more.
Frankly, I think I must be related to commenter Peter Williams.
_____
Never say what I do for a living is boring. After all, I get to run across serious articles like this from time to time:
_____
For all those people who think Tiger Woods should come clean about what happened this weekend, please read this:
_____
Giggle of the Day:
(Gleefully swiped from Mike.)
_____
'Tis the Season:
You Are Italian |
 Ah, you are a true romantic. You enjoy all of the sensual pleasures in love - delicious food, soul stirring music, a beautiful sunset... And you always seem to be able to find the words to describe each experience perfectly. You are a charming and seductive person. You just have that certain something that draws people to you. You are passionate about words. Words can easily inspire, delight, or anger you. It's sometimes all about how something was said. |
_____
After last night especially, I'm sure this is true: Obama wants to get out of Washington more.
Frankly, I think I must be related to commenter Peter Williams.
_____
Never say what I do for a living is boring. After all, I get to run across serious articles like this from time to time:
The maker of the Kamelflage brand of ladies’ underwear has accused Camelflage LLC of blatantly ripping off the original product with its own widespread line of underpants for concealing “frontal wedgies.”Boy, I'd like to be working on that case! (The patent application alone would have me in fits of giggles for days.)
_____
For all those people who think Tiger Woods should come clean about what happened this weekend, please read this:
I’d love to hear Tiger make this argument to Elin: “Hi honey. You know, even though you (allegedly) attacked me because I (allegedly) cheated on you, I can keep you out of jail. But I’ve decided against it. You see, it’s hurting my brand and my image to keep my mouth shut right now. Sorry. Don’t worry, I’ll find a really good (hot) babysitter to take care of the kids while you serve your time.”Leave both Tiger and Elin alone already.
Talking would be the dumbest thing Tiger can do right now, if he wants to help his wife. Lawyers understand this fact better than most. Please spread the word so I can watch SportsCenter without spitting up my coffee.
_____
Giggle of the Day:
(Gleefully swiped from Mike.)
_____
'Tis the Season:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
