Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.
— Victor Hugo
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Obama's post-speech 'bounce:' Up again
In the days since President Barack Obama's televised address to a joint session of Congress, he has reclaimed the level of public approval with which he started his presidency.
Sixty-seven percent of Americans surveyed Wednesday through Friday said they approve of the job that Obama is doing as president, according to the findings of the Gallup Poll.
That restores the president's public support to roughly the level he enjoyed his first days in office, 68 and 69 percent in the Gallup Poll's daily tracking.
Continued...
Sixty-seven percent of Americans surveyed Wednesday through Friday said they approve of the job that Obama is doing as president, according to the findings of the Gallup Poll.
That restores the president's public support to roughly the level he enjoyed his first days in office, 68 and 69 percent in the Gallup Poll's daily tracking.
Continued...
The Wayback Juke Box - The Hombres - Let it All Hang Out
Memphis band The Hombres Gary W.McEwan Jerry Masters John W. Hunter B.B.Cunningham Jr. had a #12 hit in 1967 with this pastiche of Dylan's Subterranean Homesick Blues.
Obama Set to Undo ‘Conscience’ Rule for Health Workers
Another example of why elections matter. As a health worker myself I can't imagine denying services to someone for any legal procedure or medication because of my own beliefs or to deny service to someone because I disagree with their choices, religion, beliefs, etc.
The Obama administration moved on Friday to undo a last-minute Bush administration rule granting broad protections to health workers who refuse to take part in abortions or provide other health care that goes against their consciences.
The Department of Health and Human Services served notice on Friday, through a message to the White House Office of Management and Budget, that it intends to rescind the regulation, which was originally announced on Dec. 19, 2008, and took effect on the day President Obama took office.
Continued...
The Obama administration moved on Friday to undo a last-minute Bush administration rule granting broad protections to health workers who refuse to take part in abortions or provide other health care that goes against their consciences.
The Department of Health and Human Services served notice on Friday, through a message to the White House Office of Management and Budget, that it intends to rescind the regulation, which was originally announced on Dec. 19, 2008, and took effect on the day President Obama took office.
Continued...
10 Surprising Reasons to Eat Less Meat
You don't need to be a complete vegetarian for your diet to help protect the planet. Just eat less meat. Here's why:
Today I Will Make A Difference
Today I will make a difference. I will begin by controlling my thoughts. A person is the product of his thoughts. I want to be happy and hopeful. Therefore, I will have thoughts that are happy and hopeful. I refuse to be victimized by my circumstances. I will not let petty inconveniences such as stoplights, long lines, and traffic jams be my masters. I will avoid negativism and gossip. Optimism will be my companion, and victory will be my hallmark. Today I will make a difference.
I will be grateful for the twenty-four hours that are before me. Time is a precious commodity. I refuse to allow what little time I have to be contaminated by self-pity, anxiety, or boredom. I will face this day with the joy of a child and the courage of a giant. I will drink each minute as though it is my last. When tomorrow comes, today will be gone forever. While it is here, I will use it for loving and giving. Today I will make a difference.
I will not let past failures haunt me. Even though my life is scarred with mistakes, I refuse to rummage through my trash heap of failures. I will admit them. I will correct them. I will press on. Victoriously. No failure is fatal. It's OK to stumble...I will get up. It's OK to fail...I will rise again. Today I will make a difference.
I will spend time with those I love. My spouse, my children, my family. A man can own the world but be poor for the lack of love. A man can own nothing and yet be wealthy in relationships. Today I will spend at least five minutes with the significant people in my world. Five quality minutes of talking or hugging or thanking or listening. Five undiluted minutes with my mate, children, and friends.
Today I will make a difference.
Max Lucado
From On The Anvil
I will be grateful for the twenty-four hours that are before me. Time is a precious commodity. I refuse to allow what little time I have to be contaminated by self-pity, anxiety, or boredom. I will face this day with the joy of a child and the courage of a giant. I will drink each minute as though it is my last. When tomorrow comes, today will be gone forever. While it is here, I will use it for loving and giving. Today I will make a difference.
I will not let past failures haunt me. Even though my life is scarred with mistakes, I refuse to rummage through my trash heap of failures. I will admit them. I will correct them. I will press on. Victoriously. No failure is fatal. It's OK to stumble...I will get up. It's OK to fail...I will rise again. Today I will make a difference.
I will spend time with those I love. My spouse, my children, my family. A man can own the world but be poor for the lack of love. A man can own nothing and yet be wealthy in relationships. Today I will spend at least five minutes with the significant people in my world. Five quality minutes of talking or hugging or thanking or listening. Five undiluted minutes with my mate, children, and friends.
Today I will make a difference.
Max Lucado
From On The Anvil
Friday, February 27, 2009
Labels:
Norman Vincent Peale
"Nothing of great value in life comes easily. The things of highest value sometimes come hard. The gold that has the greatest value lies deepest in the earth, as do the diamonds."
Norman Vincent Peale
1898-1993, Pastor, Speaker and Author
Norman Vincent Peale
1898-1993, Pastor, Speaker and Author
Jindal Made Up Katrina Story
Looks like the game is up.
Remember that story Bobby Jindal told in his big speech Tuesday night -- about how during Katrina, he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with a local sheriff who was battling government red tape to try to rescue stranded victims?
Turns out it wasn't actually, you know, true.
Remember that story Bobby Jindal told in his big speech Tuesday night -- about how during Katrina, he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with a local sheriff who was battling government red tape to try to rescue stranded victims?
Turns out it wasn't actually, you know, true.
Nurses Fired Over Cell Phone Photos Of Patient
Nurses accused of photographing a patient and posting the pictures on the Internet have been fired.
The investigation started with an anonymous call from an employee at Mercy Walworth Medical Center in Lake Geneva, with the allegation that a nurse took pictures of a patient with her cell phone and posted them on her Facebook page.
"There were two nurses that independently took a picture each of an X-ray of a patient," Walworth County Undersheriff Kurt Picknell said.
The patient was admitted to the emergency room with an object lodged in his rectum. Police said the nurse explained she and a co-worker snapped photos when they learned it was a sex device. Police said discussion about the incident was posted on her Facebook page, but they haven't found anyone who actually saw the pictures.
Continued...
The investigation started with an anonymous call from an employee at Mercy Walworth Medical Center in Lake Geneva, with the allegation that a nurse took pictures of a patient with her cell phone and posted them on her Facebook page.
"There were two nurses that independently took a picture each of an X-ray of a patient," Walworth County Undersheriff Kurt Picknell said.
The patient was admitted to the emergency room with an object lodged in his rectum. Police said the nurse explained she and a co-worker snapped photos when they learned it was a sex device. Police said discussion about the incident was posted on her Facebook page, but they haven't found anyone who actually saw the pictures.
Continued...
An unapologetically liberal agenda
YES!!!!!!!
Just a month into his presidency, Barack Obama is calling for the most dramatic change in decades in the way the country tackles its most pressing problems—from the economy and health care to energy, education and taxes. Government, he says, must take the lead—do things big, and do them now.
Not since Lyndon Johnson and Franklin Roosevelt has a president moved to expand the role of government so much on so many fronts—and with such a demanding sense of urgency.
The scope of Obama's ambition was laid bare in the budget blueprint issued Thursday. It would raise taxes, redistribute income, spend more on social programs than on defense and implement policies that touch almost every aspect of Americans' lives—their banks, health care, schools, even the air they breathe.
Even starker than the breadth of Obama's proposals was his determination to break with the conservative principles that have dominated policymaking since former President Ronald Reagan's election in 1980."It changes the whole paradigm," said Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) "We're going to have a government that helps people."
Continued...
Just a month into his presidency, Barack Obama is calling for the most dramatic change in decades in the way the country tackles its most pressing problems—from the economy and health care to energy, education and taxes. Government, he says, must take the lead—do things big, and do them now.
Not since Lyndon Johnson and Franklin Roosevelt has a president moved to expand the role of government so much on so many fronts—and with such a demanding sense of urgency.
The scope of Obama's ambition was laid bare in the budget blueprint issued Thursday. It would raise taxes, redistribute income, spend more on social programs than on defense and implement policies that touch almost every aspect of Americans' lives—their banks, health care, schools, even the air they breathe.
Even starker than the breadth of Obama's proposals was his determination to break with the conservative principles that have dominated policymaking since former President Ronald Reagan's election in 1980."It changes the whole paradigm," said Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) "We're going to have a government that helps people."
Continued...
Nation Instinctively Forms Breadline
From 'The Onion'Drawn by a strange force they could neither resist nor describe, millions of Americans reportedly dropped what they were doing Tuesday and, acting as if by instinct alone, gathered into one massive nationwide breadline.
Continued...
Wal-Mart worker burns self to death in parking lot
A 58-year-old Wal-Mart employee who said he "couldn't take it anymore" lit himself on fire outside the Bloomingdale store where he worked late Thursday night and was later pronounced dead at a hospital, authorities said this morning.
Continued...
Continued...
Weed as Cash Cow? Calif. Considers Legalization
If California Assemblyman Tom Ammiano has his way, the Golden State might become known as the Green State to pot smokers around the country.
During a press conference Monday morning in San Francisco, Ammiano introduced “The Marijuana Control, regulation and education act.” The far-reaching bill would go well beyond decriminalization of marijuana to actually legalize the cultivation, sale, purchase and possession of the plant, the San Francisco Weekly reported.
“With the state in the midst of an historic economic crisis, the move towards regulating and taxing marijuana is simply common sense,” Ammiano said. “This legislation would generate much needed revenue for the state, restrict access to only those over 21, end the environmental damage to our public lands from illicit crops, and improve public safety by redirecting law enforcement efforts to more serious crimes.”
The proposed legislation is truly progressive, because by refusing to see immorality (and society’s collapse) in an adult’s choice to smoke marijuana, it represents a total break with the failed “War On Drugs.” But that’s not all: It goes beyond the morality debate, deep into the realm of pragmatism, by conceiving of California marijuana as a giant cash cow.
Continued...
During a press conference Monday morning in San Francisco, Ammiano introduced “The Marijuana Control, regulation and education act.” The far-reaching bill would go well beyond decriminalization of marijuana to actually legalize the cultivation, sale, purchase and possession of the plant, the San Francisco Weekly reported.
“With the state in the midst of an historic economic crisis, the move towards regulating and taxing marijuana is simply common sense,” Ammiano said. “This legislation would generate much needed revenue for the state, restrict access to only those over 21, end the environmental damage to our public lands from illicit crops, and improve public safety by redirecting law enforcement efforts to more serious crimes.”
The proposed legislation is truly progressive, because by refusing to see immorality (and society’s collapse) in an adult’s choice to smoke marijuana, it represents a total break with the failed “War On Drugs.” But that’s not all: It goes beyond the morality debate, deep into the realm of pragmatism, by conceiving of California marijuana as a giant cash cow.
Continued...
Urine to Fertilzer DIY Kit.
No, this is not a joke!Derive houseplant fertilizer and ocean-safe water from your pee!
We all think of human pee as gross and something that ought to be vigorously “cleaned up” or sanitized. However, human urine is actually sterile (unlike faeces, urine is bacteria-free). This liquid by product of our daily lives can be a rich food source if it gets into the RIGHT part of the right ecosystem. Now, most human urine travels untreated into the waterways and is a significant cause of eutrophication, a toxic condition caused by harmful algae blooms, in the oceans. The excess Nitrogen and Phosphorus in our urine overfeeds algae (like Red Tide) and effectively suffocates fish. However, a pioneering biological waste treament process being used in Switzerland can extract this phosphorus & nitrogen for use as a fertilizer, leaving the rest of urine almost harmless to aquatic life. This kit gives users the opportunity to replicate the new technique at home and fertilize their plants with their own pee.
Users will test their urine before the reaction. Then, they will add an enzyme, wait for their urine to hydrolyse, and then add Magnesium Chloride. A sediment will build up at the bottom of the jar. Using a filter, they will pour off and flush the liquid, leaving the fertilzer in the jar. They can add water and the seeds included in the kit to grow their own watercress in the glass container used for the reaction.
Whalin' Palin
The 180 watery miles from the Gulf of Alaska to Anchorage known as Cook Inlet are a tough place for a beluga whale to make a living.In the summer, when glacially fed streams and rivers wash fine sediment into the water, the turbidity makes the water opaque. The relatively small white whales, made famous to children everywhere in the Raffi song "Baby Beluga," use echolocation to find food and navigate their cloudy surroundings. The belugas send out noises until they bounce off something, like sonar in a submarine. They are the most vocal of all whales, and their frequent high-pitched twitters have earned them the affectionate nickname the "sea canary."
Looking for food, the belugas in Cook Inlet venture into perilously shallow areas. "They move in extremely dangerous areas and in some of the biggest tides in the world," says Craig Matkin, a marine mammal biologist for the North Gulf Oceanic Society. "Sometimes they strand and have to get off the sand." The whales can withstand being beached for as long as 12 hours, waiting for the next tide to come in.
But for all the amazing ways that the Cook Inlet belugas cope with their stark environment, there's one imminent threat for which they have no adaptation: Gov. Sarah Palin.
Continued...
Website of the Day - Zamzar
Via VSL
Zamzar — the free online file converter that changes text to HTML, MP3s to WAV files, and JPGs to PDFs — may turn out to be your new BFF.
There’s no sign-up, and no need to download new software: Simply upload a file from your computer (or enter the URL to, say, a YouTube video), and Zamzar e-mails you a link to your newly converted file. As for the funny name: It’s a play on Gregor Samsa — the shape-shifting protagonist of Kafka’s The Metamorphosis.
Zamzar — the free online file converter that changes text to HTML, MP3s to WAV files, and JPGs to PDFs — may turn out to be your new BFF.
There’s no sign-up, and no need to download new software: Simply upload a file from your computer (or enter the URL to, say, a YouTube video), and Zamzar e-mails you a link to your newly converted file. As for the funny name: It’s a play on Gregor Samsa — the shape-shifting protagonist of Kafka’s The Metamorphosis.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Labels:
Tina Turner
Whatever is bringing you down, get rid of it. Because you’ll find that when you’re free . . . your true self comes out.
— Tina Turner
— Tina Turner
Another Blonde Joke
A blonde goes into work one morning crying her eyes out. Her boss
asked sympathetically, 'What's the matter?'
The blonde replies, 'Early this morning I got a phone call saying
that my mother had passed away.'
The boss, feeling sorry for her, says, 'Why don't you go home for the
day? Take the day off to relax and rest.'
'Thanks, but I'd be better off here. I need to keep my mind off it
and I have the best chance of doing that here.'
The boss agrees and allows the blonde to work as usual. A couple of
hours pass and the boss decides to check on the blonde. He looks out
from his office and sees the blonde crying hysterically.
'What's so bad now? Are you gonna be okay?' he asks.
'No!' exclaims the blonde. 'I just received a horrible call from my
sister. Her mother died, too!
asked sympathetically, 'What's the matter?'
The blonde replies, 'Early this morning I got a phone call saying
that my mother had passed away.'
The boss, feeling sorry for her, says, 'Why don't you go home for the
day? Take the day off to relax and rest.'
'Thanks, but I'd be better off here. I need to keep my mind off it
and I have the best chance of doing that here.'
The boss agrees and allows the blonde to work as usual. A couple of
hours pass and the boss decides to check on the blonde. He looks out
from his office and sees the blonde crying hysterically.
'What's so bad now? Are you gonna be okay?' he asks.
'No!' exclaims the blonde. 'I just received a horrible call from my
sister. Her mother died, too!
Here's The Joke
A man asked his wife what she'd like for her birthday. "I'd love to be eight again." she replied.
On the morning of her birthday, he arose early, made her a nice big bowl of Coco Pops, and then took her off to the local theme park. What a day! He put her on every ride in the park: the Death Slide, the Wall of Fear, the Screaming Monster Roller Coaster, every thing there was.
Five hours later she staggered out of the theme park. Her head was reeling and her stomach felt upside down. Right away, they journeyed to a McDonald's where her loving husband ordered her a Happy Meal with extra fries and a refreshing chocolate shake. Then it was off to the movies: the latest kid flick, a hot dog, popcorn, all the Coke she could drink, and her favorite lolly and M&M's. What a fabulous adventure!
Finally she wobbled home with her husband and collapsed into bed exhausted. He leaned over his precious wife with a big smile and lovingly asked, Well, Dear, what was it like being eight again?"
Her eyes slowly opened and her expression suddenly changed. "I meant my dress size!
The moral of the story: Even when a man is listening, he's gonna get
it wrong.
On the morning of her birthday, he arose early, made her a nice big bowl of Coco Pops, and then took her off to the local theme park. What a day! He put her on every ride in the park: the Death Slide, the Wall of Fear, the Screaming Monster Roller Coaster, every thing there was.
Five hours later she staggered out of the theme park. Her head was reeling and her stomach felt upside down. Right away, they journeyed to a McDonald's where her loving husband ordered her a Happy Meal with extra fries and a refreshing chocolate shake. Then it was off to the movies: the latest kid flick, a hot dog, popcorn, all the Coke she could drink, and her favorite lolly and M&M's. What a fabulous adventure!
Finally she wobbled home with her husband and collapsed into bed exhausted. He leaned over his precious wife with a big smile and lovingly asked, Well, Dear, what was it like being eight again?"
Her eyes slowly opened and her expression suddenly changed. "I meant my dress size!
The moral of the story: Even when a man is listening, he's gonna get
it wrong.
Stop Your Sugar Cravings
Knowing what's causing your sugar cravings can help you put a cap on them long before they force you into bigger clothes. Which of the three main types of cravings do you have?
Continued...
Continued...
What Matters Most
by Alexander Green
Increased awareness of our own mortality needn't lead to fear and anxiety, however. We can use it as an opportunity to answer the question posed by poet Mary Oliver, "Tell me what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"
Do you know? Or are you so consumed with projects, deadlines, and responsibilities that you haven't given it much thought lately?
Meanwhile, the clock is ticking. And this realization is a good thing.
Increased awareness of our own mortality needn't lead to fear and anxiety, however. We can use it as an opportunity to answer the question posed by poet Mary Oliver, "Tell me what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"
Do you know? Or are you so consumed with projects, deadlines, and responsibilities that you haven't given it much thought lately?
Meanwhile, the clock is ticking. And this realization is a good thing.
Childhood Candies From Your Favorite Decade
This is such a neat gift idea. You can buy it at Amazon.com
Six different retro candy gift boxes from Candy Crate, regularly $31.99 and now $29.85 each, and includes free standard shipping (an $11.86 value). Travel back in time from 1940 to 1990 with each box of rare candies, including candy cigarettes, pop rocks, cinnamon toothpicks, and much more. This is an exclusive savings from Candy Crate. Offer good while supplies last.
10 Essential Money Skills for a Bad Economy
The economy is in a shambles. The stock market’s down, unemployment’s up, and the housing market is still skidding sideways. The people I know are beginning to get nervous. They’re worried that the recession will turn worse, and that their personal finances will end up in ruins, too.
When it comes to money, the best defense is a good offense. The best way to avoid fallout from the national economy is to take control of your personal economy. By developing smart financial habits, you can remain calm even in the midst of a financial crisis. (Well, mostly calm, anyhow.)
Continued...
When it comes to money, the best defense is a good offense. The best way to avoid fallout from the national economy is to take control of your personal economy. By developing smart financial habits, you can remain calm even in the midst of a financial crisis. (Well, mostly calm, anyhow.)
Continued...
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Today's Quote
Labels:
Today's Quote
You play the hand you’re dealt. I think the game’s worthwhile.
— CS Lewis
— CS Lewis
America Saves Week
During America Saves Week, February 22 - March 1, individuals are encouraged to assess their savings progress and take action to develop and increase personal savings.
If you have only a checking account, consider opening up a savings account this week.
Saving a portion of every paycheck? Review your finances and budget to find ways to increase your savings.
Visit the America Saves Web site for more information.
Use the Savings Goal Calculator to find out how long it will take for you to achieve your personal goals.
Visit www.FeedthePig.org for more money-saving tips.
If you have only a checking account, consider opening up a savings account this week.
Saving a portion of every paycheck? Review your finances and budget to find ways to increase your savings.
Visit the America Saves Web site for more information.
Use the Savings Goal Calculator to find out how long it will take for you to achieve your personal goals.
Visit www.FeedthePig.org for more money-saving tips.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Baby Carrots and Pearl Onions
These oven-caramelized fall vegetables will convert die-hard Brussels sprout foes into instant supporters. Brussels sprouts belong in the protective cruciferous vegetable family (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, mustard greens, etc.). For optimal health, we should eat a serving per day of one of this tasty and versatile group of vegetables. They are an easy, colorful and delicious preparation for the holiday table or for autumn and winter meals.
Recipe courtesy of Chef Laura Pensiero, Gigi Trattoria, Rhinebeck, NY.
SERVINGS
6
INGREDIENTS
1 pound baby carrots, scrubbed, stem trimmed
1 pound Brussels sprouts, ends trimmed and halved
1 1/2 cups pearl onions (fresh, peeled or frozen, thawed and drained)
3 garlic cloves, crushed
2 tablespoons olive oil
Kosher salt and pepper
PREPARATION
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Combine carrots, Brussels sprouts, onions, garlic, rosemary and olive oil; the pan should be just large enough to hold the vegetables in one layer.
2. Roast in upper center of oven, stirring or shaking the pan periodically through roasting, until vegetables are brown tender, about 30 to 40 minutes total. Season with salt and pepper, and toss or stir to combine. Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil if desired.
Recipe courtesy of Chef Laura Pensiero, Gigi Trattoria, Rhinebeck, NY.
SERVINGS
6
INGREDIENTS
1 pound baby carrots, scrubbed, stem trimmed
1 pound Brussels sprouts, ends trimmed and halved
1 1/2 cups pearl onions (fresh, peeled or frozen, thawed and drained)
3 garlic cloves, crushed
2 tablespoons olive oil
Kosher salt and pepper
PREPARATION
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Combine carrots, Brussels sprouts, onions, garlic, rosemary and olive oil; the pan should be just large enough to hold the vegetables in one layer.
2. Roast in upper center of oven, stirring or shaking the pan periodically through roasting, until vegetables are brown tender, about 30 to 40 minutes total. Season with salt and pepper, and toss or stir to combine. Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil if desired.
Scientists: Pace of Climate Change Exceeds Estimates
The pace of global warming is likely to be much faster than recent predictions, because industrial greenhouse gas emissions have increased more quickly than expected and higher temperatures are triggering self-reinforcing feedback mechanisms in global ecosystems, scientists said Saturday.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Proud once again......
WOW!I don't think I've ever heard a president talk that way. What an awesome speech - made more awesome by the fact that you could actually see the Republicans shitting on themselves as they realized this young whipper snapper had out flanked them once again.
My favorite parts were Ruth Bader Ginsberg, the Clinton/Obama kiss, the banker story, that finishing high school is a duty, 'I intend to hold these banks accountable', 'with the deficit we inherited', 'we do not torture', '...and responsibly ends this war',"we're not quitters"......I'm sure I will think of more. What was your favorite moment or moments?
Fly your flags folks.
GOP Stimulus Myths
Many claims of Democrats slipping in earmarks for frivolous projects aren't true.
Summary
Do some of the Republican claims you've heard about the stimulus bill sound too awful to be true? We find a few that are wildly exaggerated or downright false (In other words LIES).
It's not true that the bill contains spending for "golf carts." It has $300 million to buy fuel-efficient vehicles, some of which may be electric cart-like utility vehicles.
Money claimed to be for "remodeled federal offices" is mostly designated for upgrading buildings to "green" status through such things as thicker insulation and highly efficient lighting, not new drapes or paneling.
A widely repeated claim that $8 billion is set aside for a "levitating train" to Disneyland is untrue. That total is for unspecified high-speed rail projects, and some of it may or may not end up going to a proposed 300-mph "maglev" train connecting Anaheim, Calif., with Las Vegas.
There's no money in the bill specified for butterfly parks, Frisbee golf courses or water slides, despite a GOP congressman's claim that the bill "will fund" those projects. He culled those silly-sounding items from a list of 18,750 city projects that the U.S. Conference of Mayors cobbled together in January as examples of "shovel-ready" projects.
Don't look for FactCheck.org to defend any particular item in the bill, or to criticize it. We will, however, call out politicians for delivering trumped-up descriptions of the bill's contents.
Note: This is a summary only. The full article with analysis, images and citations may be viewed at FactCheck.org
Summary
Do some of the Republican claims you've heard about the stimulus bill sound too awful to be true? We find a few that are wildly exaggerated or downright false (In other words LIES).
It's not true that the bill contains spending for "golf carts." It has $300 million to buy fuel-efficient vehicles, some of which may be electric cart-like utility vehicles.
Money claimed to be for "remodeled federal offices" is mostly designated for upgrading buildings to "green" status through such things as thicker insulation and highly efficient lighting, not new drapes or paneling.
A widely repeated claim that $8 billion is set aside for a "levitating train" to Disneyland is untrue. That total is for unspecified high-speed rail projects, and some of it may or may not end up going to a proposed 300-mph "maglev" train connecting Anaheim, Calif., with Las Vegas.
There's no money in the bill specified for butterfly parks, Frisbee golf courses or water slides, despite a GOP congressman's claim that the bill "will fund" those projects. He culled those silly-sounding items from a list of 18,750 city projects that the U.S. Conference of Mayors cobbled together in January as examples of "shovel-ready" projects.
Don't look for FactCheck.org to defend any particular item in the bill, or to criticize it. We will, however, call out politicians for delivering trumped-up descriptions of the bill's contents.
Note: This is a summary only. The full article with analysis, images and citations may be viewed at FactCheck.org
Hydrogen Peroxide Uses
1. Remove spots from carpets. Spray the stained area, then rub and blot with a cloth.
2. Clean bathroom and hand mirrors. Spray peroxide and wipe glass until clear. Peroxide removes build-up of surface contaminants such as smeared make-up, dust, and streaking.
3. Use peroxide on mold. Spray on affected area and repeat as necessary until area whitens.
4. Whiten teeth by brushing with peroxide or by adding it to toothpaste
5. Sterilize cuts and wounds by applying peroxide. It will fizz and boil, which means it's working.
6. Remove blood from mattresses and clothing by spraying with hydrogen peroxide. If using on clothing, rinse to avoid bleaching of fabric.
7. Sterilize and keep your vegetables fresher longer by adding a little 3% peroxide to water when soaking vegetables. Peroxide has an odd flavor so rinse food items before eating.
8. Moisten a Q-tip with peroxide and use it to clean ears
9. Lighten and reduce blackheads on skin by applying peroxide to a cloth and wiping over affected area
10. Kill bacteria on cutting boards by wiping with a cloth that has been moistened with peroxide
2. Clean bathroom and hand mirrors. Spray peroxide and wipe glass until clear. Peroxide removes build-up of surface contaminants such as smeared make-up, dust, and streaking.
3. Use peroxide on mold. Spray on affected area and repeat as necessary until area whitens.
4. Whiten teeth by brushing with peroxide or by adding it to toothpaste
5. Sterilize cuts and wounds by applying peroxide. It will fizz and boil, which means it's working.
6. Remove blood from mattresses and clothing by spraying with hydrogen peroxide. If using on clothing, rinse to avoid bleaching of fabric.
7. Sterilize and keep your vegetables fresher longer by adding a little 3% peroxide to water when soaking vegetables. Peroxide has an odd flavor so rinse food items before eating.
8. Moisten a Q-tip with peroxide and use it to clean ears
9. Lighten and reduce blackheads on skin by applying peroxide to a cloth and wiping over affected area
10. Kill bacteria on cutting boards by wiping with a cloth that has been moistened with peroxide
Obama: "We will rebuild, we will recover, and the United States of America will emerge stronger than before."
A key excerpt from the speech tonight, via the White House Press Office:
But while our economy may be weakened and our confidence shaken; though we are living through difficult and uncertain times, tonight I want every American to know this: We will rebuild, we will recover, and the United States of America will emerge stronger than before.
The weight of this crisis will not determine the destiny of this nation. The answers to our problems don’t lie beyond our reach. They exist in our laboratories and universities; in our fields and our factories; in the imaginations of our entrepreneurs and the pride of the hardest-working people on Earth. Those qualities that have made America the greatest force of progress and prosperity in human history we still possess in ample measure. What is required now is for this country to pull together, confront boldly the challenges we face, and take responsibility for our future once more.
But while our economy may be weakened and our confidence shaken; though we are living through difficult and uncertain times, tonight I want every American to know this: We will rebuild, we will recover, and the United States of America will emerge stronger than before.
The weight of this crisis will not determine the destiny of this nation. The answers to our problems don’t lie beyond our reach. They exist in our laboratories and universities; in our fields and our factories; in the imaginations of our entrepreneurs and the pride of the hardest-working people on Earth. Those qualities that have made America the greatest force of progress and prosperity in human history we still possess in ample measure. What is required now is for this country to pull together, confront boldly the challenges we face, and take responsibility for our future once more.
When regular duct tape just wont do
3M Performance Plus 8979N Nuclear Grade 48-Millimeter-by-54.8-Meter Duct Tape, Slate Blue
Sour-Cream Mashed Potatoes with Chive Swirl
Labels:
recipes
Puree 2 Tbsp olive oil and 1/4 cup chopped chives together in a blender; set aside. Peel 2-1/2 lbs Idaho potatoes and cut into 1" chunks; boil until tender; drain. Add 1/4 cup milk, 1 cup sour cream, 2 Tbsp butter, 3/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp pepper and mash with potato masher; spoon into a serving bowl. Drizzle chive oil over potatoes and swirl it into them.
Makes 6 servings
Makes 6 servings
Best Buy had a corporate undisclosed policy of discouraging and denying customers the benefits of its price match guarantee
I never shop at Best Buy because they have a long history of being less than consumer friendly. Here is yet another example.
It was the Christmas holiday season in 2007 and Best Buy Associate Boris Manzheley was doing what he was trained to do. According to his sworn court deposition, that meant cheating customers out of price match deals.
Continued...
It was the Christmas holiday season in 2007 and Best Buy Associate Boris Manzheley was doing what he was trained to do. According to his sworn court deposition, that meant cheating customers out of price match deals.
Continued...
The Power of Negative Thinking
If you didn't know any better, you might say we're a country that preaches optimism. But some 30 to 35 percent of Americans employ a calculated form of negative thinking—called defensive pessimism—that can lead to very positive results, according to Julie K. Norem, PhD, a professor of psychology at Wellesley College.
We're not talking about a general disposition to see the glass half-empty: "Defensive pessimism is a strategy used in specific situations to manage anxiety, fear, and worry," says Norem, who has conducted seminal research on the subject. "Defensive pessimists," she says, "prepare for a situation by setting low expectations for themselves, then follow up with a very detailed assessment of everything that may go wrong." Once they've imagined the full range of bad outcomes, they start figuring out how they'll handle them, and that gives them a sense of control.
Continued...
We're not talking about a general disposition to see the glass half-empty: "Defensive pessimism is a strategy used in specific situations to manage anxiety, fear, and worry," says Norem, who has conducted seminal research on the subject. "Defensive pessimists," she says, "prepare for a situation by setting low expectations for themselves, then follow up with a very detailed assessment of everything that may go wrong." Once they've imagined the full range of bad outcomes, they start figuring out how they'll handle them, and that gives them a sense of control.
Continued...
Another Blonde Joke
A blonde was driving home one night when she suddenly found herself in the middle of a bad hail storm. The hailstones were the size of golf balls. Her car was dented beyond description.
The next day, she took it to a repair shop. Noticing that she was blonde, the technician decided to have some fun. He told her to take the car home and blow real hard into the tailpipe and the dents would pop out.
When she got home, she started blowing into the tailpipe as she was instructed. At that moment, her blonde girlfriend drove by and saw her puffing on the tailpipe.
Thinking the worst, the friend was startled and said, "What are you doing?"
She said that the man at the body shop told her to blow into the tail pipe real hard and the dents would pop out.
Her girlfriend said, "Well, duhhhhhh! You need to roll up the windows first!"
The next day, she took it to a repair shop. Noticing that she was blonde, the technician decided to have some fun. He told her to take the car home and blow real hard into the tailpipe and the dents would pop out.
When she got home, she started blowing into the tailpipe as she was instructed. At that moment, her blonde girlfriend drove by and saw her puffing on the tailpipe.
Thinking the worst, the friend was startled and said, "What are you doing?"
She said that the man at the body shop told her to blow into the tail pipe real hard and the dents would pop out.
Her girlfriend said, "Well, duhhhhhh! You need to roll up the windows first!"
The Manager
There was a manager of a company who was ready to retire, so he began training his replacement. Just before he left for good, he took the replacement aside and told him that if he ever got really jammed up, he should look in the center drawer of his desk and he would find two envelopes. He told him to open envelope #1.
Well, time goes by and one day, a big project went bad and the new manager was in real trouble over it. He remembered the drawer and the envelopes and went and got envelope #1 and opened it. Inside was a sheet of paper with just two words on it---"Blame me!"
A few months later, the new manager again found himself in hot water and remembered that there was an envelope #2. He went and opened that one and found another note. This one read, "Go get two envelopes".
Well, time goes by and one day, a big project went bad and the new manager was in real trouble over it. He remembered the drawer and the envelopes and went and got envelope #1 and opened it. Inside was a sheet of paper with just two words on it---"Blame me!"
A few months later, the new manager again found himself in hot water and remembered that there was an envelope #2. He went and opened that one and found another note. This one read, "Go get two envelopes".
Get 'em while they're young
From featherproof.comComing March 2009! Grow plants the seed of environmental responsibility in young children through a fun and interactive daily routine, with playful graphics and typography. This simple routine can benefit the environment, community, health, and a child’s awareness of self in the larger world. KJ Bradley and Alyson Beaton have created the first completely 'squeaky green' book to take a child through a typical day, implementing a routine that is environmentally and socially sound. The sharply designed book helps parents teach children very early on how easy it is to take steps for a cleaner earth. Check out growbook.org!
Monday, February 23, 2009
New videogame lets you 'slap' a CEO online
A Web entertainment company has launched an online videogame called "Trillion Dollar Bailout" which allows players to "slap" or reward CEOs and hand out bags of money to deserving homeowners.
Players of the game, created by AddictingGames.com, are given one trillion play dollars with which to "rescue the US economy before total economic meltdown strikes."
In the game, homeowners and corporate CEOs pop out of a New York City skyline requesting taxpayer-funded handouts -- such as the eight billion dollars requested by "Crysalot Motors."
Players can either hand out money by clicking on a money bag icon or give the person requesting a bailout a slap by clicking on an icon which looks like a hand.
The player's actions are charted on a graph and determine whether the economy is "saved" or "tanks."
The game's creators urge players to "punish greedy fat cats and save honest people" and "put the hurt on dudes in suits!"
The game can be found at this link.
Players of the game, created by AddictingGames.com, are given one trillion play dollars with which to "rescue the US economy before total economic meltdown strikes."
In the game, homeowners and corporate CEOs pop out of a New York City skyline requesting taxpayer-funded handouts -- such as the eight billion dollars requested by "Crysalot Motors."
Players can either hand out money by clicking on a money bag icon or give the person requesting a bailout a slap by clicking on an icon which looks like a hand.
The player's actions are charted on a graph and determine whether the economy is "saved" or "tanks."
The game's creators urge players to "punish greedy fat cats and save honest people" and "put the hurt on dudes in suits!"
The game can be found at this link.
Stimulate the Economy -- Forgive Student Loans!
Over the past twenty years, student loan debt in the United States has more than doubled. We are now graduating students with a marvelous skill set as well as a mountain of debt. If we were to take our tax dollars and invest them in paying off student loan debt in this country, we would be investing in our future and in ourselves. Many individuals and families pay more than a third of their monthly income to student loan debt. If we free up this earned income by paying off debt, our educated masses in this country could create new businesses, invest in homes, and become a foundation for the new economy. This will have a much deeper positive impact on all Americans than handing bailouts to corporations who have no impetus to invest in this country.
Please sign the petition HERE.
Please sign the petition HERE.
Extinct Bird Found, Photographed & Then Eaten
A rare Worcester’s buttonquail (Turnix worcesteri), a probable female, which is also locally known as the Philippines quail, is shown being photographed while being held by a bird hunter in Caraballo (above).The bird, thought to be extinct, was photographed for the first time in the Philippines, and then sold to a poultry market as food.
Continued...
Catching Cats and Other Stuff
Last night was the first time I've watched the Oscars in several years. I don't typically watch award shows or beauty contests or reality shows of any sort - I must say I enjoyed the program for the most part. Meryl looked like a dowdy old woman though. Angelina was very simply elegant - was surprised to see so much arm flab on her though. I'd never seen the guy who hosted the show but he sure was an eyeful!!!!!!! ;-) Was thrilled that "Slumdog" won as best pic as I can't say enough about it. A hopeful, uplifting, funny, brilliant movie.Winter still resides here in Ohio. We had snow yesterday and is still cold today. I don't have much energy or motivation during the winter months so my life is pretty dull right now. I hung around the house doing chores yesterday. Imagine my horror when I went to the garage to put trash into the bin and detected the distinct odor of cat urine. I am so sick of dealing with the neighborhood cats. So - I put some food in a live trap, opened the garage far enough for a cat to slink in and in less than an hour I had captured one of the cats I'd been wanting to catch this past summer. One that shits in my flower garden. One that shit in my flower garden less than 12 hours after I put it in last spring. My efforts to capture him with the traps outside were never successful but I got him yesterday and put him in a box and dropped him at the pound. I have the trap set in the garage again. There is one more pain in the ass cat I want to catch and then I will be satisfied. People who let their cats roam annoy the hell out of me. They would not appreciate my dogs digging and shitting in their yards and garages. These cats BTW are all pets of my pain in the ass neighbors. I wish they'd move to trailer parks where they'd be happier with their own kind.
An old associate walked into my office today to speak to me about another job. Thank God my boss was out of the office today. Anyway, we talked and I had to tell her that although it sounded like a wonderful opportunity and that I knew I would do a great job - the money just wasn't enough. There is no way in hell I'm taking a $10,000 a year salary cut. How in the world they can get away with offering the salary she was speaking of for a "director" position is beyond me but I told her I was worth more than that. It's funny how these opportunities always 'find' me. I also came home to a message from a headhunter. Very odd as I haven't been looking or applying for jobs - just thinking that the drama of the office is wearing on me and affecting my usually good nature.
I have a headache and still have to go to the library and make a couple more stops so...I'm outta here. I know I owe a couple of you an email. I apologize for my laziness. I will get to it before I leave for Philadelphia. Have a great week!
UPDATE: I caught my second pain in the ass cat in the trap I set - he has been 're-homed'.
More Tax Savings Tips
Don't let tax season intimidate you. Equip yourself with the proper knowledge and resources, and you may find yourself with additional savings at the end of April. Here are just a few 2008 tax savings tips to help give you an edge in today's tough economy:
If you changed jobs during the year, look to see if you had more than the required FICA tax withheld on your combined W-2s. If you did, any excess could reduce your tax obligation or increase your refund.
New baby in the family? On a typical return, a dependent child will reduce the family's taxable income by $3,500 for 2008. This amount is reduced after adjusted gross income reaches $239,950 when filing jointly.
Families may be eligible for the additional child tax credit if their earned income is above $8,500, and they owe less in tax than the credit amount.
If you are paying alimony, remember it is deductible for the person paying it but taxable for the one receiving it.
Be smart this tax season and research deductions that apply to your specific situation. Doing so may increase the size of your refund check and allow you to contribute a healthy amount to your savings. Read more on tax planning.
Check out the new Feed the Pig Podcast #24 - Investing 101.
If you changed jobs during the year, look to see if you had more than the required FICA tax withheld on your combined W-2s. If you did, any excess could reduce your tax obligation or increase your refund.
New baby in the family? On a typical return, a dependent child will reduce the family's taxable income by $3,500 for 2008. This amount is reduced after adjusted gross income reaches $239,950 when filing jointly.
Families may be eligible for the additional child tax credit if their earned income is above $8,500, and they owe less in tax than the credit amount.
If you are paying alimony, remember it is deductible for the person paying it but taxable for the one receiving it.
Be smart this tax season and research deductions that apply to your specific situation. Doing so may increase the size of your refund check and allow you to contribute a healthy amount to your savings. Read more on tax planning.
Check out the new Feed the Pig Podcast #24 - Investing 101.
Volkswagen, Toshiba To Partner on Electric Car
Volkswagen AG (VOW.DE) and Toshiba Corp (TOSBF.PK) signed a letter of intent to co-develop an electric-powered version of Volkswagen's subcompact Up! concept car according to a Reuters report.
"The objective is a cooperation for the development of electric drive units and the accompanying power electronics for Volkswagen's planned new small (car) family," Volkswagen reportedly said in a statement.
"Furthermore, Volkswagen and Toshiba are planning the development of battery systems with a high specific energy density for the next generation of electric vehicles," the statement continued.
Continued...
"The objective is a cooperation for the development of electric drive units and the accompanying power electronics for Volkswagen's planned new small (car) family," Volkswagen reportedly said in a statement.
"Furthermore, Volkswagen and Toshiba are planning the development of battery systems with a high specific energy density for the next generation of electric vehicles," the statement continued.
Continued...
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Be a Savvy Shopper
In today's economy, it's important to assess your needs versus wants before making a purchase. Is it something you really need or something you simply want to purchase? But remember, looking at needs versus wants alone may not be enough to keep your wallet happy and healthy. Here are some quick and easy shopping tips which may boost your savings at the end of the month:
Beware of no interest or low monthly payment offers on large items. Missing a single payment could increase the interest rate and potentially wipe out any money saved by buying this item on sale.
When comparison shopping, don't get distracted by how much an item has been marked down. Look at the current price and compare that with other similar items.
Considering a big ticket item? Remember to factor in additional expenses that may not be included in the ticket price, such as storage, transportation or an insurance increase.
Following these tips can help you shop smarter and save more. And always remember to contribute a portion of any savings to your retirement fund every month.
Beware of no interest or low monthly payment offers on large items. Missing a single payment could increase the interest rate and potentially wipe out any money saved by buying this item on sale.
When comparison shopping, don't get distracted by how much an item has been marked down. Look at the current price and compare that with other similar items.
Considering a big ticket item? Remember to factor in additional expenses that may not be included in the ticket price, such as storage, transportation or an insurance increase.
Following these tips can help you shop smarter and save more. And always remember to contribute a portion of any savings to your retirement fund every month.
The winners will be.......
Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight (86% chance of victory)Best Supporting Actress: Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (51% chance of victory)
Best Actor: Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler (71% chance of victory)
Best Actress: Kate Winslet, The Reader (68% chance of victory)
Best Director: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire (99.7% chance of victory)
Best Picture: Slumdog Millionaire (99.0% chance of victory)
So says Fivethirtheight.com
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Green-Bean-And-Tomato Saute
Boil 1-1/2 lbs green beans in water until crisp-tender, 3 to 5 minutes; drain.
Cook 4 large chopped shallots and 2 Tbs olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until softened, 5 minutes.
Add 3 minced garlic cloves and cook 2 minutes.
Add beans, 4 quartered plum tomatoes, 3/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper;
cook until tomatoes are heated through, 2 minutes.
Makes 6 servings
Cook 4 large chopped shallots and 2 Tbs olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until softened, 5 minutes.
Add 3 minced garlic cloves and cook 2 minutes.
Add beans, 4 quartered plum tomatoes, 3/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper;
cook until tomatoes are heated through, 2 minutes.
Makes 6 servings
Garlic-Herb-Crusted Roast Beef
Combine 8 minced garlic cloves, 1 Tbs minced rosemary, 1 Tbs minced thyme, 1-1/2 Tbs kosher salt, and 2 tsp freshly ground pepper; coat a 4lb boneless top loin roast with mixture. Bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes; lower over to 350 and roast 65 minutes for medium rare or to desired doneness.
Makes 10 servings.
Makes 10 servings.
Here's The Joke
Seems an elderly gentleman had serious hearing problems for a number of years. He went to the doctor and the doctor was able to have him fitted for a set of hearing aids that allowed the gentleman to hear 100%.
The elderly gentleman went back in a month to the doctor and the doctor said, "Your hearing is perfect. Your family must be really pleased you can hear again."
To which the gentleman said, "Oh, I haven't told my family yet. I just sit around and listen to the conversations. I've changed my will five times!"
The elderly gentleman went back in a month to the doctor and the doctor said, "Your hearing is perfect. Your family must be really pleased you can hear again."
To which the gentleman said, "Oh, I haven't told my family yet. I just sit around and listen to the conversations. I've changed my will five times!"
Mass. Governor considers higher fees for gas guzzlers
Governor Deval Patrick said today he is looking at a Hummer tax -- adding higher registration fees for gas-guzzling cars and offering discounts for those that do less harm to the environment. One industry opponent said it would be the first such fee in the nation on the state level.
Continued...
Continued...
500,000 gallons of sewage spills into San Francisco bay
EWWWWWWWW! I don't eat sea food because I could never get past the idea of eating something that lives in it's own excrement - I don't care about the ratio. Not to mention the dumping that goes on out there from ships, etc. Now THIS! Double EWWWWWWW!
A broken pipe gushed at least 500,000 gallons of partially treated sewage into San Francisco bay by Wednesday afternoon as Sausalito, California sanitary plant officials continued to try to contain the spill more than 24 hours after it was spotted.
Continued...
A broken pipe gushed at least 500,000 gallons of partially treated sewage into San Francisco bay by Wednesday afternoon as Sausalito, California sanitary plant officials continued to try to contain the spill more than 24 hours after it was spotted.
Continued...
Obama: Tax Cuts Will be Felt by April 1
"Never before in our history has a tax cut taken effect faster or gone to so many hardworking Americans," Obama said Saturday in his weekly radio and Internet address.
What can I do to remove static from my clothes and hair?
From Real Simple:
Static occurs when electric charges accumulate on fabrics that are rubbing together, especially in a dry environment. To get rid of static from the get-go, throw a dryer sheet in the machine with clothing, or minimize fabrics’ contact with one another by adding a few dryer balls. You could also try placing a damp washcloth or towel in the dryer with clothes, which will help keep the air from becoming too dry; use the lowest heat setting for about 10 minutes. If you still get a little static, try removing the clothes before they are completely dry. Warning: Do not try this with wool or wool-blend items, since overdrying these fabrics can lead to garment damage.
To get rid of cling on clothes you’re wearing, especially those made of delicate fabrics like silk, glide a wire or metal hanger between your clothing and your body to remove the electric charge. Or rub a small amount of water or lotion on your hands and then lightly run them over your hair or legs to add a bit of moisture.
Static occurs when electric charges accumulate on fabrics that are rubbing together, especially in a dry environment. To get rid of static from the get-go, throw a dryer sheet in the machine with clothing, or minimize fabrics’ contact with one another by adding a few dryer balls. You could also try placing a damp washcloth or towel in the dryer with clothes, which will help keep the air from becoming too dry; use the lowest heat setting for about 10 minutes. If you still get a little static, try removing the clothes before they are completely dry. Warning: Do not try this with wool or wool-blend items, since overdrying these fabrics can lead to garment damage.
To get rid of cling on clothes you’re wearing, especially those made of delicate fabrics like silk, glide a wire or metal hanger between your clothing and your body to remove the electric charge. Or rub a small amount of water or lotion on your hands and then lightly run them over your hair or legs to add a bit of moisture.
Snow Day
As we endure yet another snow day here in Ohio, I am whipping up my favorite comfort drink to help get me through the day. Here is my basic recipe for Hot Chocolate as well as variations you might enjoy.
Classic Hot Chocolate
2 ounces (1/2 cup) finely ground (in a coffee grinder) or grated bittersweet chocolate
1 cup milk (for best results use 2% fat or higher)
Whipped cream or marshmallows for garnish
In a saucepan, combine the chocolate and milk, and brink to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil 1 minute. Garnish with whipped cream or marshmallows. Serve immediately. Makes about 1 cup.
Spicy Hot Chocolate
1 recipe classic hot chocolate (above)
Pinch cinnamon
Pinch ground allspice
Pinch cardamom
Whipped cream, for garnish
Cinnamon stick, for garnish
Make classic hot chocolate, adding the cinnamon, allspice, and cardamom to the saucepan before bringing the mixture to a boil. Garnish with whipped cream and cinnamon stick. Serve immediately.
Peppermint Hot Chocolate
1 receipen classic hot chocolate (above)
2 Tbsp chopped mint leaves
Whipped cream, for garnish
Candy cane stick, for garnish
Make classic hot chocolate, addint the chopped mint leaves to the saucepan before bringing the mixture to a boil. Garnish with whipped cream and a candy cane stick.
Citrus Hot Chocolate
1 recipe classic hot chocolate (above)
2 oranges, peels only
Whipped cream, for garnish
Orange peel or slice, for garnish
Make classic hot chocolate, adding the orange peels to the saucepan before bringing the mixture to a boil. Strain the peels and discard. Garnish with whipped cream and an orange peel or slice.
White Caramel Hot Chocolate
2 ounces (1/2 cup) finely ground or grated white chocolate
1 cup milk (for best results use 2% fat or higher)
1 Tblsp caramel syrup
Whipped cream, for garnish
Caramel sauce, for garnish
In a saucepan, combine the white chocolate, milk, and caramel syrup, and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil 1 minutes. Garnish with whipped cream and drizzle with caramel sauce. Serve immediately. Makes about 1 cup.
Classic Hot Chocolate
2 ounces (1/2 cup) finely ground (in a coffee grinder) or grated bittersweet chocolate
1 cup milk (for best results use 2% fat or higher)
Whipped cream or marshmallows for garnish
In a saucepan, combine the chocolate and milk, and brink to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil 1 minute. Garnish with whipped cream or marshmallows. Serve immediately. Makes about 1 cup.
Spicy Hot Chocolate
1 recipe classic hot chocolate (above)
Pinch cinnamon
Pinch ground allspice
Pinch cardamom
Whipped cream, for garnish
Cinnamon stick, for garnish
Make classic hot chocolate, adding the cinnamon, allspice, and cardamom to the saucepan before bringing the mixture to a boil. Garnish with whipped cream and cinnamon stick. Serve immediately.
Peppermint Hot Chocolate
1 receipen classic hot chocolate (above)
2 Tbsp chopped mint leaves
Whipped cream, for garnish
Candy cane stick, for garnish
Make classic hot chocolate, addint the chopped mint leaves to the saucepan before bringing the mixture to a boil. Garnish with whipped cream and a candy cane stick.
Citrus Hot Chocolate
1 recipe classic hot chocolate (above)
2 oranges, peels only
Whipped cream, for garnish
Orange peel or slice, for garnish
Make classic hot chocolate, adding the orange peels to the saucepan before bringing the mixture to a boil. Strain the peels and discard. Garnish with whipped cream and an orange peel or slice.
White Caramel Hot Chocolate
2 ounces (1/2 cup) finely ground or grated white chocolate
1 cup milk (for best results use 2% fat or higher)
1 Tblsp caramel syrup
Whipped cream, for garnish
Caramel sauce, for garnish
In a saucepan, combine the white chocolate, milk, and caramel syrup, and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil 1 minutes. Garnish with whipped cream and drizzle with caramel sauce. Serve immediately. Makes about 1 cup.
Triple Citrus Cheesecake
Prep: 20 minutes plus refrigeration
Bake: 1 hour 5 minutes
Filling
4 pkg (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
2 Tbsp flour
1 tsp vanilla
1 Tbsp each fresh lemon juice, lime juice and orange juice
1 tsp each grated lemon peel, lime peel and orange peel
4 eggs
Crust
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/3 cup (1/2 stick) butter or magarine, melted
Crust: Mix crumbs, brown sugar, and butter or margarine; press onto bottom of 9" springform pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 10 minutes if using a silver springform pan. Bake at 300 degrees for 10 minutes if using a dark, nonstick springform pan.
Filling: Mix cream cheese, granulated sugar, flour and vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Blend in juices and peels. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing on low speed after each addition just until blended. Pour over crust.
Bake at 375 for 60-65 minutes or until center is almost set if using silver springorm pan. Bake at 300 degrees for 60-65 minutes or until center is almost set if using a dark nonstick springform pan. Run knife or metal spatula around rim of pan to loosen cake: cool before removing rim of pan. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight. Makes 12 servings.
Bake: 1 hour 5 minutes
Filling
4 pkg (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
2 Tbsp flour
1 tsp vanilla
1 Tbsp each fresh lemon juice, lime juice and orange juice
1 tsp each grated lemon peel, lime peel and orange peel
4 eggs
Crust
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/3 cup (1/2 stick) butter or magarine, melted
Crust: Mix crumbs, brown sugar, and butter or margarine; press onto bottom of 9" springform pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 10 minutes if using a silver springform pan. Bake at 300 degrees for 10 minutes if using a dark, nonstick springform pan.
Filling: Mix cream cheese, granulated sugar, flour and vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Blend in juices and peels. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing on low speed after each addition just until blended. Pour over crust.
Bake at 375 for 60-65 minutes or until center is almost set if using silver springorm pan. Bake at 300 degrees for 60-65 minutes or until center is almost set if using a dark nonstick springform pan. Run knife or metal spatula around rim of pan to loosen cake: cool before removing rim of pan. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight. Makes 12 servings.
Own Your Own Cave - Via ebay
Welcome to our home. We are offering a one of a kind home. We will consider owner financing offers. Here are the details. Who, Curt & Deborah Sleeper and children
What: An five year adventure of a lifetime. Our home in a cave.
( http://www.Caveland.US ) We may lose it all in less than 90 days.
When: Our story begins in December of 2003, St. Louis Missouri. Curt found a cave while searching for commercial property in our area on Ebay. That’s right, we found our cave on Ebay! A couple of weeks later we visited, and fell in love with the place.
It took us nearly five months to complete the purchase, and just over four years to build our offices and home here. We managed to sell our home in Sunset Hills and use that money as 50% down payment and the balance created a five year Balloon note. That note expires on May 1st, 2009.
Why: We never considered an economic bomb to hit the country at the same time as our balloon note.
We now have less than 90 Days. We must do one of three things.
- Pay the previous land owners for the balance owed for the property, partially finance the purchase or investment in our property.
- Sell our property and new house for as much as we can then pay off the balance owed for the property. Start a new adventure…
- Hand over the property to the previous owners and lose 100% of our equity in the property and our total life savings.
If you’d like to know more, the pages on our website detail our project. That is
http://www.Caveland.US
10 Photos of Stunning Green Roofs from Around the World
Green roofs are sprouting up around the globe, on both complex commercial and public buildings and tiny backyard sheds. Green roofs are planted with grass, flowers, shrubs and other greenery atop a waterproofing membrane and help to reduce heating and cooling loads, reduce stormwater runoff, filter pollutants and greenhouse gases out of the air and increase natural habitats in urban areas. Here are 10 beautiful green roofs from Tokyo to Wisconsin that illustrate just how versatile this concept really is.
Here's The Joke
A cowboy, who is visiting Wyoming from Texas, walks into a bar and orders three mugs of Bud. He sits in the back of the room, drinking a sip out of each one in turn. When he finishes them, he comes back to the bar and orders three more. The bartender approaches and tells the cowboy, 'You know, a mug goes flat after I draw it. It would taste better if you bought one at a time.'
The cowboy replies, 'Well, you see, I have two brothers. One is in Arizona, the
other is in Colorado . When we all left our home in Texas, we promised that we'd drink this way to remember the days when we drank together. So I'm drinking
one beer for each of my brothers and one for myself.' The bartender admits that this is a nice custom, and leaves it there.
The cowboy becomes a regular in the bar, and always drinks the same way. He orders three mugs and drinks them in turn. One day, he comes in and only orders two mugs. All the regulars take notice and fall silent. When he comes back to the bar for the second round, the bartender says, 'I don't want to intrude on your grief, but I wanted to offer my condolences on your loss.' The cowboy looks quite puzzled for a moment, then a light dawns in his eyes and he laughs. 'Oh, no, everybody's just fine,' he explains, 'It's just that my wife and I joined the Baptist Church and I had to quit drinking.' 'Hasn't affected my brothers though.'
The cowboy replies, 'Well, you see, I have two brothers. One is in Arizona, the
other is in Colorado . When we all left our home in Texas, we promised that we'd drink this way to remember the days when we drank together. So I'm drinking
one beer for each of my brothers and one for myself.' The bartender admits that this is a nice custom, and leaves it there.
The cowboy becomes a regular in the bar, and always drinks the same way. He orders three mugs and drinks them in turn. One day, he comes in and only orders two mugs. All the regulars take notice and fall silent. When he comes back to the bar for the second round, the bartender says, 'I don't want to intrude on your grief, but I wanted to offer my condolences on your loss.' The cowboy looks quite puzzled for a moment, then a light dawns in his eyes and he laughs. 'Oh, no, everybody's just fine,' he explains, 'It's just that my wife and I joined the Baptist Church and I had to quit drinking.' 'Hasn't affected my brothers though.'
Did Obama pay for Hamas-affiliated terrorists to emigrate to the United States?
More lies (again, still) from the right.
This claim is false. The president's memorandum to the State Department would pay for refugee assistance in Gaza, not for transporting anyone to the U.S.
This rumor stems from an article in the New Media Journal, a right-leaning site that describes itself as focused on "threats of aggressive Islamofascism and the American Fifth Column." (For the record, this site has posted other articles comparing Obama to Hitler and calling Islam "a pathological doctrine and a vestige of long ago barbarism.") The article in question claims that President Obama has signed an executive order allocating $20.3 million for refugees in Gaza, but that "few on Capitol Hill took note that the order provides a free ticket replete with housing and food allowances to individuals who have displayed their overwhelming support of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in the parliamentary election of January 2006."
Continued...
This claim is false. The president's memorandum to the State Department would pay for refugee assistance in Gaza, not for transporting anyone to the U.S.
This rumor stems from an article in the New Media Journal, a right-leaning site that describes itself as focused on "threats of aggressive Islamofascism and the American Fifth Column." (For the record, this site has posted other articles comparing Obama to Hitler and calling Islam "a pathological doctrine and a vestige of long ago barbarism.") The article in question claims that President Obama has signed an executive order allocating $20.3 million for refugees in Gaza, but that "few on Capitol Hill took note that the order provides a free ticket replete with housing and food allowances to individuals who have displayed their overwhelming support of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in the parliamentary election of January 2006."
Continued...
Soccer Jokes
After a visit to the doctor, Joe Bloggs, the city team's centre forward dropped in to his local pub for a quick one. "What's up mate?" asked his friend Brian, "you look worried."
"Yes, I am," Joe replied. "I've just been to the doctor's and he told me I can't play football."
"Oh, really?" said Brian. "He's seen you play too then, has he?"
***
The top scorer of a Premier League team was tragically killed in a car accident. Seeing an opportunity for glory, the reserve striker went to see the manager.
"How about me taking his place?" he asked.
"Well, I'm not sure about that," said the manager, "we'll have to speak to the undertaker first."
***
The Devil was constantly challenging St Peter to a game of soccer, but St Peter refused, until one day while walking around' heaven he discovered that quite a number of international footballers had entered the 'pearly gates'.
"I think I'll arrange to play that soccer game," said St Peter to the Devil. "We have a great number of international soccer stars in heaven at the moment from which to select a winning team."
"You'll lose, you'll lose!" taunted the Devil. "What makes you so sure we'll lose?" enquired St Peter. "Because," laughed the Devil, "we have all the referees down here."
***
A woman was reading a newspaper one morning and said A her husband,
'Look at this, dear. There's an article here about a man who traded his wife for a season ticket to Arsenal. You wouldn't do a thing like that,-would you?'
'Of course I wouldn't!' replied her husband. 'The season's almost over!'
"Yes, I am," Joe replied. "I've just been to the doctor's and he told me I can't play football."
"Oh, really?" said Brian. "He's seen you play too then, has he?"
***
The top scorer of a Premier League team was tragically killed in a car accident. Seeing an opportunity for glory, the reserve striker went to see the manager.
"How about me taking his place?" he asked.
"Well, I'm not sure about that," said the manager, "we'll have to speak to the undertaker first."
***
The Devil was constantly challenging St Peter to a game of soccer, but St Peter refused, until one day while walking around' heaven he discovered that quite a number of international footballers had entered the 'pearly gates'.
"I think I'll arrange to play that soccer game," said St Peter to the Devil. "We have a great number of international soccer stars in heaven at the moment from which to select a winning team."
"You'll lose, you'll lose!" taunted the Devil. "What makes you so sure we'll lose?" enquired St Peter. "Because," laughed the Devil, "we have all the referees down here."
***
A woman was reading a newspaper one morning and said A her husband,
'Look at this, dear. There's an article here about a man who traded his wife for a season ticket to Arsenal. You wouldn't do a thing like that,-would you?'
'Of course I wouldn't!' replied her husband. 'The season's almost over!'
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Masterpieces of the Prado Museum
From VSLLast month, the Prado became the first museum to open its collection to Google’s mapping technology, allowing you to take a virtual trip to Madrid and see super-mega-resolution views of 14 masterpieces.
The paintings include Bosch’s Garden of Earthly Delights, Rubens’s Three Graces, Fra Angelico’s Annunciation, and El Greco’s Nobleman with his Hand on his Chest, and you can zoom in so closely, it’s like putting your nose right up to the canvas (without angering security guards). Other museums, take note: It’s time to Google yourselves.
The Case for a Truth Commission
Here is Senator Leahy's take on why we need a "Truth Commission" to air the dirty laundry of the Bush administration. He makes some compelling points. In making his argument, Senator Leahy points to a Senate investigation of 30 years ago. Although that investigation revealed a great deal about what our government agencies had been up to - it did NOTHING to prevent the abuse of power which took place during the Bush Administration.
I am not in favor of a 'Truth Commission". I am of the opinion that if there has been any criminal wrong doing by the Bush administration, then those responsible should be held criminally responsible - and not just be given the opportunity purge themselves in public. We withstood the investigation into the sexual activities of a Democrat Commander in Chief - surely we can endure the investigation of illegal wiretapping, torture and the politicization of the justice department by Republicans. If we can't - shame on us.
By Senator Patrick Leahy
More than 30 years ago, a special Senate investigation peered into abuses that included spying on the American people by their own government.
The findings by Senator Frank Church's committee, drawn from testimony spanning 800 witnesses and thousands of pages of government documents, revealed how powerful government surveillance tools were misused against the American people. For instance, the FBI's COINTELPRO operation spent more than two decades searching in vain for communist influence in the NAACP and infiltrated domestic groups that, for example, advocated for women's rights. The Church committee's work led to creation of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and later to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act--reforms that largely held until the Bush years. (See George W. Bush's biggest economic mistakes.)
The parallels with today are clear, and so are the lessons. Then, as in recent years, some were willing, in the name of security, to trade away the people's rights as if they were written in sand, not stone. For much of this decade, we have read about and witnessed such abuses as the scandal at Abu Ghraib, the disclosure of torture memos and the revelations about the warrantless surveillance of Americans.
So what is to be done about the abuses of the Bush years? Some say do nothing, and a few Senators even tried to make Attorney General Eric Holder promise in his confirmation hearings to launch no prosecutions for Bush-era lawbreaking. At the opposite end of the spectrum, others say that even if it takes many years and divides the country and distracts from the urgent priority of fixing the economy, we must prosecute Bush Administration officials to lay down a marker. The courts are already considering congressional subpoenas that were issued earlier as well as claims of privilege and legal immunities. Those cases will stretch out for some time, as would prosecutions--taking even a decade or longer. Moreover, it is easier for prosecutors to net those far down the ladder than those at the top, who set the tone and the policies.
Continued...
I am not in favor of a 'Truth Commission". I am of the opinion that if there has been any criminal wrong doing by the Bush administration, then those responsible should be held criminally responsible - and not just be given the opportunity purge themselves in public. We withstood the investigation into the sexual activities of a Democrat Commander in Chief - surely we can endure the investigation of illegal wiretapping, torture and the politicization of the justice department by Republicans. If we can't - shame on us.
By Senator Patrick Leahy
More than 30 years ago, a special Senate investigation peered into abuses that included spying on the American people by their own government.
The findings by Senator Frank Church's committee, drawn from testimony spanning 800 witnesses and thousands of pages of government documents, revealed how powerful government surveillance tools were misused against the American people. For instance, the FBI's COINTELPRO operation spent more than two decades searching in vain for communist influence in the NAACP and infiltrated domestic groups that, for example, advocated for women's rights. The Church committee's work led to creation of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and later to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act--reforms that largely held until the Bush years. (See George W. Bush's biggest economic mistakes.)
The parallels with today are clear, and so are the lessons. Then, as in recent years, some were willing, in the name of security, to trade away the people's rights as if they were written in sand, not stone. For much of this decade, we have read about and witnessed such abuses as the scandal at Abu Ghraib, the disclosure of torture memos and the revelations about the warrantless surveillance of Americans.
So what is to be done about the abuses of the Bush years? Some say do nothing, and a few Senators even tried to make Attorney General Eric Holder promise in his confirmation hearings to launch no prosecutions for Bush-era lawbreaking. At the opposite end of the spectrum, others say that even if it takes many years and divides the country and distracts from the urgent priority of fixing the economy, we must prosecute Bush Administration officials to lay down a marker. The courts are already considering congressional subpoenas that were issued earlier as well as claims of privilege and legal immunities. Those cases will stretch out for some time, as would prosecutions--taking even a decade or longer. Moreover, it is easier for prosecutors to net those far down the ladder than those at the top, who set the tone and the policies.
Continued...
It's The Most Wonderful Time of The Year!
Oh how I love it when these two Cadbury items return to the store shelves each year. They are two of my favorite sweet treats - only available at Easter time.
Two Dumb Jokes
Q. What did the bartender ask Charles Dickens when he ordered a martini?
A. Olive or twist?
another......
I went to a store to buy some insecticide. "Is this good for beetles?" I asked the clerk.
"No," replied. "It'll kill 'em."
A. Olive or twist?
another......
I went to a store to buy some insecticide. "Is this good for beetles?" I asked the clerk.
"No," replied. "It'll kill 'em."
Robert Gibbs Takes Down Rick Santelli
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
The "Santelli Rant" with commentary by Cenk Uger.