"You are, at this moment, standing right in the middle of your own 'acres of diamonds.' "
— Earl Nightingale
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Army's largest base reeling from four apparent suicides in one weekend
Four soldiers from Fort Hood, Texas died over the week. In all four cases, it appears the soldiers, all decorated veterans from the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan, took their own lives, according to Christopher Haug, a Fort Hood spokesman.
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One in 28 US kids has a parent in prison: study
The US's exceptionally high rate of incarceration is causing economic damage not only to the people behind bars but to their children and taxpayers as a whole, a new study finds.
The study (PDF) from the Pew Research Center's Economic Mobility Project, released Tuesday, reports that the US prison population has more than quadrupled since 1980, from 500,000 to 2.3 million, making the US's incarceration rate the highest in the world, beating former champions like Russia and South Africa.
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The study (PDF) from the Pew Research Center's Economic Mobility Project, released Tuesday, reports that the US prison population has more than quadrupled since 1980, from 500,000 to 2.3 million, making the US's incarceration rate the highest in the world, beating former champions like Russia and South Africa.
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The Worst Drivers In America
Which state has the deadliest, least-skilled motorists on the road? The Daily Beast crunches new crash data, ranking all 50—and discovers a huge gap between how Republicans and Democrats drive.
Website of the Day
Name the Films Challenge tasks readers with naming 26 films in 85 seconds. It may sound simple, but think again: The cleverly animated short has a few gimmies (yes, we do see that the The Godfather is an easy one, and so is The Birds), but I'm not so sure about a few sneaky ones in the middle. If you’re feeling confident, you can enter the contest to win each film on DVD (as well as bragging rights), but just watching the charming animation (hey, is that Borat?) makes the site worth a visit.
It Is Official: The US Is A Police State
On September 24, Jason Ditz reported on Antiwar.com that “the FBI is confirming that this morning they began a number of raids against the homes of antiwar activists in Illinois, Minneapolis, Michigan, and North Carolina, claiming that they are ‘seeking evidence relating to activities concerning the material support of terrorism.’”
Now we know what Homeland Security (sic) secretary Janet Napolitano meant when she said on September 10: “The old view that ‘if we fight the terrorists abroad, we won’t have to fight them here’ is just that--the old view.” The new view, Napolitano said, is “to counter violent extremism right here at home.”
“Violent extremism” is one of those undefined police state terms that will mean whatever the government wants it to mean. In this morning’s FBI’s foray into the homes of American citizens of conscience, it means antiwar activists, whose activities are equated with “the material support of terrorism,” just as conservatives equated Vietnam era anti-war protesters with giving material support to communism.
Anti-war activist Mick Kelly whose home was raided, sees the FBI raids as harassment to intimidate those who organize war protests. I wonder if Kelly is under-estimating the threat. The FBI’s own words clearly indicate that the federal police agency and the judges who signed the warrants do not regard antiwar protesters as Americans exercising their Constitutional rights, but as unpatriotic elements offering material support to terrorism.
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Now we know what Homeland Security (sic) secretary Janet Napolitano meant when she said on September 10: “The old view that ‘if we fight the terrorists abroad, we won’t have to fight them here’ is just that--the old view.” The new view, Napolitano said, is “to counter violent extremism right here at home.”
“Violent extremism” is one of those undefined police state terms that will mean whatever the government wants it to mean. In this morning’s FBI’s foray into the homes of American citizens of conscience, it means antiwar activists, whose activities are equated with “the material support of terrorism,” just as conservatives equated Vietnam era anti-war protesters with giving material support to communism.
Anti-war activist Mick Kelly whose home was raided, sees the FBI raids as harassment to intimidate those who organize war protests. I wonder if Kelly is under-estimating the threat. The FBI’s own words clearly indicate that the federal police agency and the judges who signed the warrants do not regard antiwar protesters as Americans exercising their Constitutional rights, but as unpatriotic elements offering material support to terrorism.
Read more
Global warming a hoax? Your phone company might think so.
Who does your phone company support? AT&T gives hundreds of thousands of dollars to politicians fighting against your values, like Senator Inhofe, a rabid global warming denier. And Verizon Wireless gave to Senator Vitter, who called for more offshore oil drilling after BP's oil spill.
We need real change, not lip service. That's why I take action with CREDO Mobile. CREDO is a mobile phone company just like AT&T or Verizon -- except, unlike them, CREDO fights with us for progressive change.
CREDO gives 1% of their charges to amazing nonprofits like Doctors Without Borders, Planned Parenthood and the ACLU, and they've raised over $65 million in the last 25 years.
As a CREDO customer, I agree with their values AND love their service.
I'm telling you about them because they offered us a sweet deal:
If you sign up to be a CREDO customer, they'll give you a bill credit for the cancellation fee on your current mobile contract (up to $200) and give you 10% off your monthly voice fee for two years, plus they'll give me $100. Pretty good, right?
If you want to find out more, go to http://action.credomobile.com/tellyourfriends/friend1.html?id=1840371.
Or call one of their cool customer service people at 888.331.1663. Make sure to mention my name and phone number so I get credit! If you know me post a comment with your email and I will send you my # if you are interested in signing up.
Thanks for reading.
We need real change, not lip service. That's why I take action with CREDO Mobile. CREDO is a mobile phone company just like AT&T or Verizon -- except, unlike them, CREDO fights with us for progressive change.
CREDO gives 1% of their charges to amazing nonprofits like Doctors Without Borders, Planned Parenthood and the ACLU, and they've raised over $65 million in the last 25 years.
As a CREDO customer, I agree with their values AND love their service.
I'm telling you about them because they offered us a sweet deal:
If you sign up to be a CREDO customer, they'll give you a bill credit for the cancellation fee on your current mobile contract (up to $200) and give you 10% off your monthly voice fee for two years, plus they'll give me $100. Pretty good, right?
If you want to find out more, go to http://action.credomobile.com/tellyourfriends/friend1.html?id=1840371.
Or call one of their cool customer service people at 888.331.1663. Make sure to mention my name and phone number so I get credit! If you know me post a comment with your email and I will send you my # if you are interested in signing up.
Thanks for reading.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Obama in Command: The Rolling Stone Interview
In an Oval Office interview, the president discusses the Tea Party, the war, the economy and what’s at stake this November
Subpoena power in BP oil spill investigation blocked by Senate Republicans
Blocking subpoena power in disaster investigative commissions is unheard of. The terrorists crisis, the financial crisis and Three Mile Island commissions all had subpoena power. However, Senate Republicans gave no explanation on Monday when they blocked the Presidential Commission on the BP oil spill from having subpoena power to conduct the investigation. “These guys are in bed with the oil industry” said MSNBC Hardball host Chris Matthews.
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and California Governator Schwarzenegger blasts Big Oil interests
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Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
and California Governator Schwarzenegger blasts Big Oil interests
Website of the Day
Select the supermarkets you visit regularly and the items you buy often, and ShoppingNanny.com will automatically upload relevant coupons to your customer-loyalty cards. Once the card is scanned at checkout, your savings are applied. If you don’t save $40 a month, your next month is free
Did the Stimulus Create Jobs?
Yes, the stimulus legislation increased employment, despite false Republican claims to the contrary.
Summary
The economic stimulus package is a favorite target of Republican candidates and groups, but more than a few ads falsely claim it did not create or save any jobs. Some recent examples:
Republican House candidate Dan Debicella charges that Democratic Rep. Jim Himes failed Connecticut’s families because he voted for a “stimulus package that has done nothing to reduce unemployment.”
Rick Scott, the Republican candidate for governor in Florida, says Democrat Alex Sink “backed the failed stimulus bill, which created debt, not jobs.”
Similarly, Sink — who never served in Congress and didn’t vote on the bill — is attacked by the Republican Party of Florida in an ad that says the stimulus “gave us big debt and no jobs.”
Americans for Prosperity, a conservative group that does not have to disclose its donors, aired an ad against Democratic congressional candidate Denny Heck of Washington that claimed the “$787 billion stimulus … failed to save and create jobs.” The group has launched similar ads against other Democrats.
Kristi Noem, a Republican House candidate from South Dakota, calls the measure a “jobless stimulus.”
The truth is that the stimulus increased employment by between 1.4 million and 3.3 million people, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.
Note: This is a summary only. The full article with analysis, images and citations may be viewed HERE.
Summary
The economic stimulus package is a favorite target of Republican candidates and groups, but more than a few ads falsely claim it did not create or save any jobs. Some recent examples:
Republican House candidate Dan Debicella charges that Democratic Rep. Jim Himes failed Connecticut’s families because he voted for a “stimulus package that has done nothing to reduce unemployment.”
Rick Scott, the Republican candidate for governor in Florida, says Democrat Alex Sink “backed the failed stimulus bill, which created debt, not jobs.”
Similarly, Sink — who never served in Congress and didn’t vote on the bill — is attacked by the Republican Party of Florida in an ad that says the stimulus “gave us big debt and no jobs.”
Americans for Prosperity, a conservative group that does not have to disclose its donors, aired an ad against Democratic congressional candidate Denny Heck of Washington that claimed the “$787 billion stimulus … failed to save and create jobs.” The group has launched similar ads against other Democrats.
Kristi Noem, a Republican House candidate from South Dakota, calls the measure a “jobless stimulus.”
The truth is that the stimulus increased employment by between 1.4 million and 3.3 million people, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.
Note: This is a summary only. The full article with analysis, images and citations may be viewed HERE.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Today's Quote
“Remember, we all stumble, every one of us. That’s why it’s a comfort to go hand in hand.”
― Emily Kimbrough
Republicans' "Pledge to America" falls short on some of its facts.
The Republican “Pledge to America,” released Sept. 23, contains some dubious factual claims:
It declares that “the only parts of the economy expanding are government and our national debt.” Not true. So far this year government employment has declined slightly, while private sector employment has increased by 763,000 jobs.
It says that “jobless claims continue to soar,” when in fact they are down eight percent from their worst levels.
It repeats a bogus assertion that the Internal Revenue Service may need to expand by 16,500 positions, an inflated estimate based on false assumptions and guesswork.
It claims the stimulus bill is costing $1 trillion, considerably more than the $814 billion, 10-year price tag currently estimated by nonpartisan congressional budget experts.
It says Obama’s tax proposals would raise taxes on “roughly half the small business income in America,” an exaggeration. Much of the income the GOP is counting actually comes from big businesses making over $50 million a year.
For details on these and other examples please read on to the Analysis section.
Note: This is a summary only. The full article with analysis, images and citations may be viewed here.
It declares that “the only parts of the economy expanding are government and our national debt.” Not true. So far this year government employment has declined slightly, while private sector employment has increased by 763,000 jobs.
It says that “jobless claims continue to soar,” when in fact they are down eight percent from their worst levels.
It repeats a bogus assertion that the Internal Revenue Service may need to expand by 16,500 positions, an inflated estimate based on false assumptions and guesswork.
It claims the stimulus bill is costing $1 trillion, considerably more than the $814 billion, 10-year price tag currently estimated by nonpartisan congressional budget experts.
It says Obama’s tax proposals would raise taxes on “roughly half the small business income in America,” an exaggeration. Much of the income the GOP is counting actually comes from big businesses making over $50 million a year.
For details on these and other examples please read on to the Analysis section.
Note: This is a summary only. The full article with analysis, images and citations may be viewed here.
UN Warned of Major New Food Crisis at Emergency Meeting in Rome
Environmental disasters and speculative investors are to blame for volatile food commodities markets, says UN's special adviser
Hospice Nurse Reunites with Long-Lost Father in Hospital Where She Works
Hospice nurse Wanda Rodriguez hadn't seen her father since she was little -- but had a second chance to connect when he was placed in her hospice ward.
Apple-Pecan Crisp
2/3 cup maple-flavored syrup
1/4 cup Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
8 large baking apples (about 5 1/2 lb), peeled, cut into 1/2-inch slices (about 12 cups)
1/2 cup cold butter or margarine, cut into pieces
1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® oatmeal cookie mix
3/4 cup chopped pecans
1. Heat oven to 375°F.
2. In large bowl, stir together syrup, flour and cinnamon until blended. Add apples; toss until evenly coated. Spread in ungreased 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish.
3. In same bowl, with pastry blender (or pulling 2 table knives in opposite directions), cut butter into cookie mix until mixture looks like coarse crumbs. Stir in pecans. Crumble mixture over apples in baking dish.
4. Bake 30 minutes. Very loosely cover with foil; bake 10 to 15 minutes longer or until apples are tender.
Minority Rules - Ten Ways to Bring the Senate to Its Knees
It may only take 60 votes to get something accomplished in the Senate, but it takes 100 votes to do so quickly. Senators who want to block progress can force hours of irrelevant debate. Or they can gum up the works with extraneous amendments. Or they can force lengthy amendments to be read aloud. Or they can demand time-consuming roll call votes on frivolous procedural objections. And with each minute wasted, the clock ticks closer and closer to the end of the 111th Congress in January.
Let’s be clear—the level of obstruction in today’s Senate is unprecedented. But obstruction and delay is cooked deep into the Senate’s meat. Indeed, there are so many ways to shut down business in the Senate—many of which can be implemented by one lone senator—that the real surprise is that the Senate has ever accomplished anything. There are many more ways to block progress in the Senate than this brief paper can detail, but here is a short list of ten ways to bring the Senate to its knees.
Obstruction tactic No. 1—endless debate
The word “debate” does not mean much in the United States Senate. Rather than being a free exchange of ideas intended to convince other senators of one position or another, most Senate debate time is occupied by senators giving closely vetted speeches to an almost-entirely empty chamber. Nevertheless, the Senate rules make it very difficult to stop the serial speeches and actually hold a vote. Unless at least 60 senators agree to hold a vote, the speeches go on forever. A “filibuster” is nothing more than a senator’s decision to prevent the Senate from holding a vote on a particular issue until 60 of their colleagues finally tell them “no.”
Obstruction tactic No. 2—endless debate over whether to debate
Not only can senators use the filibuster to force endless debate, they can also use it to prevent debate from starting in the first place. Before the Senate can begin debate on most legislation, the senators must either unanimously agree to consider it or the majority leader must offer a “motion to proceed” to consideration of that bill. This motion can be filibustered. Thus, for almost all bills, dissenting senators have at least two opportunities to filibuster, once to prevent debate from starting and another time to prevent it from ending.
Obstruction tactic No. 3—endless debate over whether to negotiate
If the House and Senate pass similar but not identical bills, the differences between the two bills generally are hashed out through a process known as a “conference committee” comprised of relevant members of the Senate and House of Representatives. Before these negotiations can begin, however, the Senate must pass three motions: a motion formally disagreeing with the House bill; a motion expressing the Senate’s desire to conference; and a motion enabling a small group of senators to be designated as negotiators. Each of these three motions can be filibustered.
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Let’s be clear—the level of obstruction in today’s Senate is unprecedented. But obstruction and delay is cooked deep into the Senate’s meat. Indeed, there are so many ways to shut down business in the Senate—many of which can be implemented by one lone senator—that the real surprise is that the Senate has ever accomplished anything. There are many more ways to block progress in the Senate than this brief paper can detail, but here is a short list of ten ways to bring the Senate to its knees.
Obstruction tactic No. 1—endless debate
The word “debate” does not mean much in the United States Senate. Rather than being a free exchange of ideas intended to convince other senators of one position or another, most Senate debate time is occupied by senators giving closely vetted speeches to an almost-entirely empty chamber. Nevertheless, the Senate rules make it very difficult to stop the serial speeches and actually hold a vote. Unless at least 60 senators agree to hold a vote, the speeches go on forever. A “filibuster” is nothing more than a senator’s decision to prevent the Senate from holding a vote on a particular issue until 60 of their colleagues finally tell them “no.”
Obstruction tactic No. 2—endless debate over whether to debate
Not only can senators use the filibuster to force endless debate, they can also use it to prevent debate from starting in the first place. Before the Senate can begin debate on most legislation, the senators must either unanimously agree to consider it or the majority leader must offer a “motion to proceed” to consideration of that bill. This motion can be filibustered. Thus, for almost all bills, dissenting senators have at least two opportunities to filibuster, once to prevent debate from starting and another time to prevent it from ending.
Obstruction tactic No. 3—endless debate over whether to negotiate
If the House and Senate pass similar but not identical bills, the differences between the two bills generally are hashed out through a process known as a “conference committee” comprised of relevant members of the Senate and House of Representatives. Before these negotiations can begin, however, the Senate must pass three motions: a motion formally disagreeing with the House bill; a motion expressing the Senate’s desire to conference; and a motion enabling a small group of senators to be designated as negotiators. Each of these three motions can be filibustered.
Read more
15 Shocking Facts Show That the Middle Class is Being Wiped Out
As wealth continues to leave the United States and as the U.S. gets even deeper into debt, more Americans are going to become poor.
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Here's The Joke
A man is driving down a country road, when he spots a farmer standing in the middle of a huge field of grass. He pulls the car over to the side of the road and notices that the farmer is just standing there, doing nothing, looking at nothing. The man gets out of the car, walks all the way out to the farmer and asks him, "Ah excuse me mister, but what are you doing? “The farmer replies, "I'm trying to win a Nobel Prize. “How?" asks the man, puzzled. “Well, I heard they give the Nobel Prize . . .. to people who are out standing in their field."
Black Bean and Corn Enchiladas
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 cup chopped onion (1 medium)
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 cup frozen whole kernel corn, thawed
3/4 cup Thick 'n Chunky medium salsa
1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained
2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese (8 oz)
10 corn tortillas (6 inch)
1 can (10 oz) enchilada sauce
Chopped avocado, black olives, sour cream and cilantro, if desired
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 11x7-inch (2-quart) baking dish with cooking spray. In 10-inch skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and cumin; cook and stir 4 to 5 minutes or until onion is tender. Stir in corn, salsa, beans and 1 cup of the cheese. Remove from heat.
2. On microwavable plate, stack tortillas and cover with paper towel; microwave on High 1 minute to soften. Place 1/4 cup bean mixture along center of each tortilla. Roll up tightly, and place seam sides down in baking dish; spoon remaining bean mixture on top. Pour enchilada sauce over enchiladas, spreading to coat all tortillas. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese.
3. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until cheese is melted and sauce is bubbly around edges. Garnish with remaining ingredients.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Here's The Joke
A very loud Texan Engineer was visiting Australia, and talking big about all of the large civil works in the USA that he was involved in. To be polite his Australian counterpart took him on a tour of some of Sydney’s larger constructions.
First he took him to Gladesville Bridge. The Texan exclaimed, "What’s that!” In reply the Australian said, "Thats the Gladesville Bridge".
"Hmmph" said the Texan, "How long and how many men did it take to build?” The Australian replied, "About 5 years with 1000 men."
The Texan replied, "Well in Texas we would've done it in 2 years with 500 men."
Next they went to the Sydney Opera House. "What's that" said the Texan. "That's the Sydney Opera House" was the reply.
"Hmmph" said the Texan, "How long and how many men did it take to build?” The Australian replied, "About 10 years with 200 men". The Texan replied "Well in Texas we would've done it in 4 years with 200 men."
By this stage the Australian was a little put out by the Texan's attitude so he decided to get some revenge, they walked around the Sydney Opera House and as they did the Sydney Harbor Bridge came into view.
Immediately the Texan exclaimed, "Wow! What's that?"
The Australian Engineer replied, "I don't know, it wasn't there yesterday."
First he took him to Gladesville Bridge. The Texan exclaimed, "What’s that!” In reply the Australian said, "Thats the Gladesville Bridge".
"Hmmph" said the Texan, "How long and how many men did it take to build?” The Australian replied, "About 5 years with 1000 men."
The Texan replied, "Well in Texas we would've done it in 2 years with 500 men."
Next they went to the Sydney Opera House. "What's that" said the Texan. "That's the Sydney Opera House" was the reply.
"Hmmph" said the Texan, "How long and how many men did it take to build?” The Australian replied, "About 10 years with 200 men". The Texan replied "Well in Texas we would've done it in 4 years with 200 men."
By this stage the Australian was a little put out by the Texan's attitude so he decided to get some revenge, they walked around the Sydney Opera House and as they did the Sydney Harbor Bridge came into view.
Immediately the Texan exclaimed, "Wow! What's that?"
The Australian Engineer replied, "I don't know, it wasn't there yesterday."
Sick Bastards
By William Rivers Pitt
Recently, an event called the Values Voters Summit was held in Washington DC. It's a kind of big-tent showcase for the fundamentalist far-right base of the Republican Party, sponsored by such leading conservative lights as the Family Research Council, the Heritage Foundation, and Jerry Falwell's Liberty University. Some of the featured speakers included Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Insane), Gary Bauer, Bill Bennett, the wildly fertile Duggar family, Newt Gingrich, Sean Hannity, anti-masturbation candidate and occasional dabbler in witchcraft Christine O'Donnell, Phyllis Schlafly, Mitt Romney, and of course, Sarah Palin.
You can imagine the sort of demented gibberish that came from the podium over the weekend, and frankly, most of it was too mind-numbing to repeat in any detail. Newt Gingrich did his little song and dance about how Islam is coming to eat your children. Christine O'Donnell reprised the nonsense about "death panels." One fellow, a senior aide to Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), argued that all pornography is by nature homosexual, and therefore watching any form of pornography will make the viewer instantly gay. Gay people in general, a woman's right to choose and all things Obama took it in the chops, with plenty of birth certificate speculation to go around.
So, yeah, it was pretty standard stuff, given the roster of speakers who made the scene. But at one point during the event, new ground was broken in truly astonishing fashion. One becomes accustomed to cruel, insensitive, hate-filled rhetoric from the kind of people who dwell in this particular region of politics, but when Mike Huckabee took the stage, a whole new standard was set.
Huckabee was not content merely to repeat the "It's a government takeover, let's repeal it" rhetoric, choosing instead to carve a bold new path into the annals of infamy:
When Republicans attack health care reform, Democrats like to counter by accusing Republicans of wanting to repeal a law that requires insurance companies to cover people with pre-existing conditions. According to Republican Presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee, that's exactly right. People with pre-existing conditions, he explains, are like houses that have already burned down.
Let's look at some numbers, shall we?
According to the American Heart Association, more than 81,000,000 Americans suffer from one or more forms of cardiovascular disease. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 11,000,000 people in America currently suffer from some form of cancer. According to the American Diabetes Association, 23.6 million Americans currently suffer from diabetes, and the Center for Disease Control has estimated as many as half of all Americans will suffer from the disease by the year 2050, thanks to our deplorable dietary habits. According to the National Parkinson's Foundation, between 50,000 and 60,000 new cases of Parkinson's Disease are diagnosed in America each year. According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, some 400,000 Americans currently suffer from MS.
That's a pretty substantial portion of the population, with more being diagnosed with cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, Parkinson's and MS every day.
All of them, every single one of them, are like a house that has already burned down, according to Mike Huckabee and the sick bastards who cheered his comments. All of them, every single one of them, are not worthy of health insurance because they had the misfortune of getting sick before they got insurance. All of them, every single one of them, therefore, are not worthy of health care in any real form, unless, of course, they are wealthy and able to afford the staggering cost of ill health in America.
All of them, in short, every single one of them, can basically just go die in Mike Huckabee's world. They are not worthy of coverage, treatment or consideration. The five diseases I listed account for well over a third of the American population, and if Mike Huckabee or someone who agrees with him somehow becomes president someday, those millions of people should just dig their own graves and lie down in them.
Read more
Recently, an event called the Values Voters Summit was held in Washington DC. It's a kind of big-tent showcase for the fundamentalist far-right base of the Republican Party, sponsored by such leading conservative lights as the Family Research Council, the Heritage Foundation, and Jerry Falwell's Liberty University. Some of the featured speakers included Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Insane), Gary Bauer, Bill Bennett, the wildly fertile Duggar family, Newt Gingrich, Sean Hannity, anti-masturbation candidate and occasional dabbler in witchcraft Christine O'Donnell, Phyllis Schlafly, Mitt Romney, and of course, Sarah Palin.
You can imagine the sort of demented gibberish that came from the podium over the weekend, and frankly, most of it was too mind-numbing to repeat in any detail. Newt Gingrich did his little song and dance about how Islam is coming to eat your children. Christine O'Donnell reprised the nonsense about "death panels." One fellow, a senior aide to Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), argued that all pornography is by nature homosexual, and therefore watching any form of pornography will make the viewer instantly gay. Gay people in general, a woman's right to choose and all things Obama took it in the chops, with plenty of birth certificate speculation to go around.
So, yeah, it was pretty standard stuff, given the roster of speakers who made the scene. But at one point during the event, new ground was broken in truly astonishing fashion. One becomes accustomed to cruel, insensitive, hate-filled rhetoric from the kind of people who dwell in this particular region of politics, but when Mike Huckabee took the stage, a whole new standard was set.
Huckabee was not content merely to repeat the "It's a government takeover, let's repeal it" rhetoric, choosing instead to carve a bold new path into the annals of infamy:
When Republicans attack health care reform, Democrats like to counter by accusing Republicans of wanting to repeal a law that requires insurance companies to cover people with pre-existing conditions. According to Republican Presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee, that's exactly right. People with pre-existing conditions, he explains, are like houses that have already burned down.
"It sounds so good, and it's such a warm message to say we're not gonna deny anyone from a preexisting condition," Huckabee explained at the Value Voters Summit today. "Look, I think that sounds terrific, but I want to ask you something from a common sense perspective. Suppose we applied that principle [to] our property insurance. And you can call your insurance agent and say, "I'd like to buy some insurance for my house." He'd say, "Tell me about your house." "Well sir, it burned down yesterday, but I'd like to insure it today." And he'll say, "I'm sorry, but we can't insure it after it's already burned." Well, no pre-existing conditions."
Let's look at some numbers, shall we?
According to the American Heart Association, more than 81,000,000 Americans suffer from one or more forms of cardiovascular disease. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 11,000,000 people in America currently suffer from some form of cancer. According to the American Diabetes Association, 23.6 million Americans currently suffer from diabetes, and the Center for Disease Control has estimated as many as half of all Americans will suffer from the disease by the year 2050, thanks to our deplorable dietary habits. According to the National Parkinson's Foundation, between 50,000 and 60,000 new cases of Parkinson's Disease are diagnosed in America each year. According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, some 400,000 Americans currently suffer from MS.
That's a pretty substantial portion of the population, with more being diagnosed with cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, Parkinson's and MS every day.
All of them, every single one of them, are like a house that has already burned down, according to Mike Huckabee and the sick bastards who cheered his comments. All of them, every single one of them, are not worthy of health insurance because they had the misfortune of getting sick before they got insurance. All of them, every single one of them, therefore, are not worthy of health care in any real form, unless, of course, they are wealthy and able to afford the staggering cost of ill health in America.
All of them, in short, every single one of them, can basically just go die in Mike Huckabee's world. They are not worthy of coverage, treatment or consideration. The five diseases I listed account for well over a third of the American population, and if Mike Huckabee or someone who agrees with him somehow becomes president someday, those millions of people should just dig their own graves and lie down in them.
Read more
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Today's Quote
We are not human beings going through a temporary spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings going through a temporary human experience.
-Unknown
-Unknown
Peanut Butter-Cup Cookies
Makes 48 cookies
Hands-On Time: 15m
Total Time: 40m
Ingredients
* 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
* 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
* 3/4 cup dark brown sugar
* 1/2 cup granulated sugar
* 1 large egg
* 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
* 1 12-ounce package small peanut butter cups, coarsely chopped
Directions
1. Heat oven to 375° F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
2. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugars until creamy. Add the egg and vanilla and beat to combine. Gradually add the flour mixture, mixing until just incorporated. Fold in the peanut butter cups.
3. Drop tablespoon-size mounds of dough 2 inches apart onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake until light brown around the edges, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a baking rack to cool.
Baked Penne With Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Serves 4
Hands-On Time: 20m
Total Time: 40m
Ingredients
* 1 tablespoon olive oil
* 2 cloves garlic, chopped
* 1/4 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
* 1 15-ounce can or half of a 28-ounce can of crushed tomatoes
* 1 28-ounce can whole tomatoes
* 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
* kosher salt and black pepper
* 12 ounces penne (3/4 box)
* 1 5-ounce package baby spinach
* 8 ounces mozzarella, grated (about 2 cups)
* 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan (about 1/2 ounce)
* green salad, for serving
Directions
1. Heat oven to 400° F. Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and sun-dried tomatoes and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the crushed tomatoes.
2. Break up the whole tomatoes by cutting them with scissors (while in the can) or by crushing them with your hands. Add them to the saucepan along with the vinegar, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 15 to 20 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil; add 1 tablespoon salt. Cook the pasta for half the recommended time on the package directions (the pasta will continue to cook when it is baked).
4. Add the spinach to the tomato sauce and cook, stirring, until the spinach begins to wilt, about 1 minute. Add the pasta and toss to combine.
5. Place half the pasta mixture in an 8-inch square baking dish and sprinkle with 1 cup of the mozzarella. Top with the remaining pasta mixture and sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella and the Parmesan. Place on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until bubbling and beginning to brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve with the salad, if desired.
Is your phone company funding Tea Partiers?
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I switched to CREDO six months ago and have been very happy with the service and am even happier it supports causes I believe in.
New Rule: Rich People Who Complain About Being Vilified Should Be Vilified
By Bill Maher Host of HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher"
New Rule: The next rich person who publicly complains about being vilified by the Obama administration must be publicly vilified by the Obama administration. It's so hard for one person to tell another person what constitutes being "rich", or what tax rate is "too much." But I've done some math that indicates that, considering the hole this country is in, if you are earning more than a million dollars a year and are complaining about a 3.6% tax increase, then you are by definition a greedy asshole.
And let's be clear: that's 3.6% only on income above 250 grand -- your first 250, that's still on the house. Now, this week we got some horrible news: that one in seven Americans are now living below the poverty line. But I want to point you to an American who is truly suffering: Ben Stein. You know Ben Stein, the guy who got rich because when he talks it sounds so boring it's actually funny. He had a game show on Comedy Central, does eye drop commercials, doesn't believe in evolution? Yeah, that asshole. I kid Ben -- so, the other day Ben wrote an article about his struggle. His struggle as a wealthy person facing the prospect of a slightly higher marginal tax rate. Specifically, Ben said that when he was finished paying taxes and his agents, he was left with only 35 cents for every dollar he earned. Which is shocking, Ben Stein has an agent? I didn't know Broadway Danny Rose was still working.
Read more
New Rule: The next rich person who publicly complains about being vilified by the Obama administration must be publicly vilified by the Obama administration. It's so hard for one person to tell another person what constitutes being "rich", or what tax rate is "too much." But I've done some math that indicates that, considering the hole this country is in, if you are earning more than a million dollars a year and are complaining about a 3.6% tax increase, then you are by definition a greedy asshole.
And let's be clear: that's 3.6% only on income above 250 grand -- your first 250, that's still on the house. Now, this week we got some horrible news: that one in seven Americans are now living below the poverty line. But I want to point you to an American who is truly suffering: Ben Stein. You know Ben Stein, the guy who got rich because when he talks it sounds so boring it's actually funny. He had a game show on Comedy Central, does eye drop commercials, doesn't believe in evolution? Yeah, that asshole. I kid Ben -- so, the other day Ben wrote an article about his struggle. His struggle as a wealthy person facing the prospect of a slightly higher marginal tax rate. Specifically, Ben said that when he was finished paying taxes and his agents, he was left with only 35 cents for every dollar he earned. Which is shocking, Ben Stein has an agent? I didn't know Broadway Danny Rose was still working.
Read more
Top 50 Dumbest Conservative Quotes
No matter what your politics, we hope you'll have a good laugh.
1. "When the President does it, that means that it's not illegal." ~ Richard M. Nixon
2. "We spent a lot of time talking about Africa, as we should. Africa is a nation that suffers from incredible disease." ~ President George W. Bush
3. "The only way to reduce the number of nuclear weapons is to use them." ~ Rush Limbaugh
4. ''My grandmother was not a highly educated woman, but she told me as a small child to quit feeding stray animals. You know why? Because they breed. You're facilitating the problem if you give an animal or a person ample food supply. They will reproduce, especially ones that don't think too much further than that. And so what you've got to do is you've got to curtail that type of behavior. They don't know any better.'' ~ South Carolina Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, arguing against government food assistance for poor residents.
5. "The ACLU is to Christians what the American Nazi party is to Jews." ~ Jerry Falwell
6. ''Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on you.'' ~ Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-North Carolina)
7. ''We need to uptick our image with everyone, including one-armed midgets." ~ Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele.
8. "You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test." ~ George W. Bush
9. ''Feminism was established so as to allow unattractive women easier access to the mainstream of society.'' ~ Rush Limbaugh
10. "I couldn't imagine somebody like Osama bin Laden understanding the joy of Chanukah." ~ President George W. Bush
11. "Carbon dioxide is portrayed as harmful. But there isn't even one study that can be produced that shows that carbon dioxide is a harmful gas.'' ~ Rep. Michelle Bachmann
12. ''The greatest threat to America is not necessarily a recession or even another terrorist attack. The greatest threat to America is a liberal media bias.'' ~ Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX)
13. "He is purple - the gay-pride color, and his antenna is shaped like a triangle - the gay pride symbol." ~ Jerry Falwell's warning to parents that "Tinky Winky," a character on Teletubbies, may be gay
14. "Welcome to President Bush, Mrs. Bush, and my fellow astronauts." ~ Dan Quayle
15. ''The feminist agenda is not about equal rights for women. It is about a socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians.'' ~ Pat Robertson
16. "Ground Zero Mosque supporters: doesn't it stab you in the heart, as it does ours throughout the heartland? Peaceful Muslims, pls refudiate." ~ Sarah Palin
17. "'Refudiate,' 'misunderestimate,' 'wee-wee'd up.' English is a living language. Shakespeare liked to coin new words too. Got to celebrate it!'" ~ Sarah Palin
18. "Go back to what our founders and our founding documents meant -- they're quite clear -- that we would create law based on the God of the bible and the Ten Commandments." ~ Sarah Palin
19. "What I don't know is what the unexpected might be." ~ John McCain
20. "We have a lot of work to do. It's a very hard struggle, particularly given the situation on the Iraq-Pakistan border." ~ John McCain (the countries share no common border)
The other 30
1. "When the President does it, that means that it's not illegal." ~ Richard M. Nixon
2. "We spent a lot of time talking about Africa, as we should. Africa is a nation that suffers from incredible disease." ~ President George W. Bush
3. "The only way to reduce the number of nuclear weapons is to use them." ~ Rush Limbaugh
4. ''My grandmother was not a highly educated woman, but she told me as a small child to quit feeding stray animals. You know why? Because they breed. You're facilitating the problem if you give an animal or a person ample food supply. They will reproduce, especially ones that don't think too much further than that. And so what you've got to do is you've got to curtail that type of behavior. They don't know any better.'' ~ South Carolina Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, arguing against government food assistance for poor residents.
5. "The ACLU is to Christians what the American Nazi party is to Jews." ~ Jerry Falwell
6. ''Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on you.'' ~ Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-North Carolina)
7. ''We need to uptick our image with everyone, including one-armed midgets." ~ Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele.
8. "You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test." ~ George W. Bush
9. ''Feminism was established so as to allow unattractive women easier access to the mainstream of society.'' ~ Rush Limbaugh
10. "I couldn't imagine somebody like Osama bin Laden understanding the joy of Chanukah." ~ President George W. Bush
11. "Carbon dioxide is portrayed as harmful. But there isn't even one study that can be produced that shows that carbon dioxide is a harmful gas.'' ~ Rep. Michelle Bachmann
12. ''The greatest threat to America is not necessarily a recession or even another terrorist attack. The greatest threat to America is a liberal media bias.'' ~ Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX)
13. "He is purple - the gay-pride color, and his antenna is shaped like a triangle - the gay pride symbol." ~ Jerry Falwell's warning to parents that "Tinky Winky," a character on Teletubbies, may be gay
14. "Welcome to President Bush, Mrs. Bush, and my fellow astronauts." ~ Dan Quayle
15. ''The feminist agenda is not about equal rights for women. It is about a socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians.'' ~ Pat Robertson
16. "Ground Zero Mosque supporters: doesn't it stab you in the heart, as it does ours throughout the heartland? Peaceful Muslims, pls refudiate." ~ Sarah Palin
17. "'Refudiate,' 'misunderestimate,' 'wee-wee'd up.' English is a living language. Shakespeare liked to coin new words too. Got to celebrate it!'" ~ Sarah Palin
18. "Go back to what our founders and our founding documents meant -- they're quite clear -- that we would create law based on the God of the bible and the Ten Commandments." ~ Sarah Palin
19. "What I don't know is what the unexpected might be." ~ John McCain
20. "We have a lot of work to do. It's a very hard struggle, particularly given the situation on the Iraq-Pakistan border." ~ John McCain (the countries share no common border)
The other 30
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Today's Quote
None is more impoverished than the one who has no gratitude. Gratitude is a currency that we can mint for ourselves, and spend without fear of bankruptcy.
- Fred De Witt Van Amburgh
Gratitude is the path to your own joy. If you wish to be happy, be grateful for all of life.
- Fred De Witt Van Amburgh
Gratitude is the path to your own joy. If you wish to be happy, be grateful for all of life.
White Chocolate-Raspberry Cheesecake
Crust1 1/2 cups chocolate cookie crumbs (from 15-oz box)
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
Filling
1 bag (12 oz) white vanilla baking chips
3 packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup whipping cream
3 eggs
Glaze and Garnish
1 pint (2 cups) fresh raspberries
3 tablespoons raspberry jelly
1. Heat oven to 325°F. Lightly grease 9x3-inch springform pan with shortening or cooking spray. In medium bowl, mix cookie crumbs and butter. Press evenly in bottom and 1 inch up side of pan.
2. In small microwavable bowl, microwave vanilla baking chips on High 1 minute or until melted; stir until smooth. In large bowl, beat cream cheese with electric mixer on medium speed about 1 minute or until smooth. Beat in sugar until well blended. Beat in melted baking chips until well blended. Beat in whipping cream and eggs until well blended and smooth. Spoon over crust in pan.
3. Bake 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes or until edge is set but center of cheesecake still jiggles slightly when moved.
4. Turn oven off; open oven door at least 4 inches. Leave cheesecake in oven 30 minutes longer. Remove from oven; cool on cooling rack 30 minutes.
5. Without releasing side of pan, carefully run knife around edge of pan to loosen cheesecake. Refrigerate uncovered about 3 hours or until chilled.
6. Arrange raspberries on top of chilled cheesecake. In small microwavable bowl, microwave jelly uncovered on High 20 to 30 seconds or until melted; stir until smooth. Brush or spoon over raspberries. Store cheesecake covered in refrigerator.
Times have changed
Years ago an Alabama grandmother gave the new bride the following recipe: this is exact copy as written and found in an old scrapbook - with spelling errors and all.
WARSHING CLOTHES
Build fire in backyard to heat kettle of rain water. Set tubs so smoke wont blow in eyes if wind is pert. Shave one hole cake of lie soap in boilin water.. sort things, make 3 piles, l white, 1 colored, 1 work To make starch, stir flour in cool water to smooth, then thin down withboiling water.
Take white things, rub dirty spots on board, scrub hard, and boil, then rub colored don't boil just wrench and starch.
Take things out of kettle with broom stick handle, then wrench, and starch.
Hang old rags on fence.
Spread tea towels on grass.
Pore wrench water in flower bed. Scrub porch with hot soapy water.
Turn tubs upside down.
Go put on clean dress, smooth hair with hair combs.. Brew cup of tea, sit and rock a spell and count your blessings.
================================================
Paste this over your washer and dryer Next time when you think things are bleak, read it again, kiss that washing machine and dryer, and give thanks. First thing each morning you should run and hug your washer and dryer, also your toilet---those two-holers used to get mighty cold!
For you non-southerners - wrench means, rinse ;)
WARSHING CLOTHES
Build fire in backyard to heat kettle of rain water. Set tubs so smoke wont blow in eyes if wind is pert. Shave one hole cake of lie soap in boilin water.. sort things, make 3 piles, l white, 1 colored, 1 work To make starch, stir flour in cool water to smooth, then thin down withboiling water.
Take white things, rub dirty spots on board, scrub hard, and boil, then rub colored don't boil just wrench and starch.
Take things out of kettle with broom stick handle, then wrench, and starch.
Hang old rags on fence.
Spread tea towels on grass.
Pore wrench water in flower bed. Scrub porch with hot soapy water.
Turn tubs upside down.
Go put on clean dress, smooth hair with hair combs.. Brew cup of tea, sit and rock a spell and count your blessings.
================================================
Paste this over your washer and dryer Next time when you think things are bleak, read it again, kiss that washing machine and dryer, and give thanks. First thing each morning you should run and hug your washer and dryer, also your toilet---those two-holers used to get mighty cold!
For you non-southerners - wrench means, rinse ;)
Save Money Each Month
A penny saved isn't actually a penny earned. But every penny you don't spend can be a penny you put in your piggy bank. Here are some tips on ways you can save money each and every day, week and month.
Use your public library. Books, magazines, audio books, films, and CDs are all available for no charge at your public library. Many libraries even offer free events, classes and workshops for children and adults. It is crazy not to take advantage of all that your library can provide. Do yourself a favor and go see what your library has to offer you.
Look for free or inexpensive entertainment. Whether you are taking advantage of free movies in your local park or 'pay what you will' evenings at a museum, lowering the cost of keeping yourself entertained will up your savings total.
Evaluate the money you spend on food. Are you spending more or less than average for your household? If you are spending more than average, coupons and sale items are a great place to start, but there are other options as well. Is there a food or cooking co-op you could join or organize? Would ordering your groceries online allow you to spend less? Are there any farmers markets you can take advantage of? Everyone has to spend money on food, but you can get creative to find ways to lower your costs.
Shop for bargains. No matter what you are looking to purchase, there is probably an option online to find it. Remember to check websites such as Craigslist, auction sites and even Freecycle for products you need. Thrift stores, both online and traditional brick-and-mortar, also offer a lower cost on items from clothing and accessories to furniture and books.
You may not be able to reduce the cost of your mortgage or rent, but many of your other expenses can be tweaked to allow you to squeeze every last penny out of your budget.
Visit www.feedthepig.org for more money-saving tips.
Use your public library. Books, magazines, audio books, films, and CDs are all available for no charge at your public library. Many libraries even offer free events, classes and workshops for children and adults. It is crazy not to take advantage of all that your library can provide. Do yourself a favor and go see what your library has to offer you.
Look for free or inexpensive entertainment. Whether you are taking advantage of free movies in your local park or 'pay what you will' evenings at a museum, lowering the cost of keeping yourself entertained will up your savings total.
Evaluate the money you spend on food. Are you spending more or less than average for your household? If you are spending more than average, coupons and sale items are a great place to start, but there are other options as well. Is there a food or cooking co-op you could join or organize? Would ordering your groceries online allow you to spend less? Are there any farmers markets you can take advantage of? Everyone has to spend money on food, but you can get creative to find ways to lower your costs.
Shop for bargains. No matter what you are looking to purchase, there is probably an option online to find it. Remember to check websites such as Craigslist, auction sites and even Freecycle for products you need. Thrift stores, both online and traditional brick-and-mortar, also offer a lower cost on items from clothing and accessories to furniture and books.
You may not be able to reduce the cost of your mortgage or rent, but many of your other expenses can be tweaked to allow you to squeeze every last penny out of your budget.
Visit www.feedthepig.org for more money-saving tips.
Vegetable Stir-Fry With Peanuts
Serves 4
Hands-On Time: 20m
Total Time: 20m
Ingredients
* 1 cup long-grain white rice
* 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
* 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
* 1/2 teaspoon Sriracha or some other hot pepper sauce (such as Tabasco)
* 1 tablespoon canola oil
* 2 carrots, cut into very thin strips
* 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
* 8 ounces shiitake mushrooms, stems removed and caps thinly sliced
* 2 cups bean sprouts
* 2 scallions, thinly sliced
* 1/4 cup roasted peanuts, chopped
Directions
1. Cook the rice according to the package directions.
2. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, lime juice, and Sriracha; set aside.
3. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the carrots and bell pepper and cook, tossing frequently, for 3 minutes. Add the mushrooms and bean sprouts and cook, tossing, until the vegetables are just tender, 2 to 3 minutes more.
4. Add the soy sauce mixture and toss to coat. Serve over the rice and sprinkle with the scallions and peanuts.
The Seattle Couple Who Adopted Seven Siblings
Twenty years ago, Glen and Yvonne Lutz saw a Seattle Times feature profiling seven siblings who wanted to be adopted together. The Lutzes jumped at the chance and created an instant family. Now, the kids are grown and the parents are downsizing.
Read more
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Perception
Two mothers met for coffee. "Well Ruthie, how are the kids?"
"To tell you the truth, my son has married a real tramp!"
says Ruth. "She doesn't get out of bed until 11. She's out
all day spending his money on Heaven knows what, and when
he gets home, exhausted, does she have a nice hot dinner
for him? Ha! She makes him take her out to dinner at an
expensive restaurant."
"Oh! What a shame. And how about your daughter?"
"Ah! Now there's a lucky girl. She has married a saint. He
brings her breakfast in bed, he gives her enough money to
buy whatever she needs, and in the evening he always takes
her out to dinner at a nice restaurant."
"To tell you the truth, my son has married a real tramp!"
says Ruth. "She doesn't get out of bed until 11. She's out
all day spending his money on Heaven knows what, and when
he gets home, exhausted, does she have a nice hot dinner
for him? Ha! She makes him take her out to dinner at an
expensive restaurant."
"Oh! What a shame. And how about your daughter?"
"Ah! Now there's a lucky girl. She has married a saint. He
brings her breakfast in bed, he gives her enough money to
buy whatever she needs, and in the evening he always takes
her out to dinner at a nice restaurant."
Friday, September 24, 2010
Mom’s Favorite Candy Bars
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup light corn syrup
3/4 cup chunky peanut butter
1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® oatmeal cookie mix
1 bag (12 oz) semisweet chocolate chips (2 cups)
1 cup butterscotch chips
1 cup dry-roasted peanuts
1. Heat oven to 375°F. Spray 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray.
2. In 2 quart saucepan melt butter, corn syrup and 1/4 cup of the peanut butter over medium heat stirring frequently until melted. Stir in cookie mix until soft dough forms. Press dough in bottom of prepared pan.
3. Bake 11 to 13 minutes, or until edges begin to brown. Cool completely, about 45 minutes.
4. In medium microwavable bowl, mix chocolate chips, butterscotch chips and remaining 1/2 cup peanut butter. Microwave uncovered on High for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring once, until melted. Stir in peanuts. Spread evenly over cookie bars. Refrigerate about 1 hour or until chocolate is set. For bars, cut into 8 rows by 4 rows.
Cracker Barrel Copycat Chicken Casserole
This delicious Cracker Barrel copycat chicken casserole is so good you'll swear it's the real thing. Don't believe me? Try it out for yourself!
Ingredients
* --Cornbread:
* 1 cup yellow cornmeal
* 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
* 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1 tablespoon sugar
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
* 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
* 3/4 cup buttermilk
* 1 egg
* 1/2 cup melted butter
* --Chicken Filling:
* 2 tablespoons butter
* 1/4 cup chopped yellow onion
* 1/2 cup celery, sliced thin
* 1 3/4 cups chicken broth
* 1 can cream of chicken soup
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
* 2 1/2 cups cooked chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
Instructions
Cornbread:
1. Mix all except melted butter together in mixing bowl until smooth.
2. Pour into greased 8-inch square baking pan and bake at 375 degrees F for 20 - 25 minutes until done. Remove from oven and let cool completely.
3. When cool, crumble cornbread and place 3 cups of cornbread crumbs in mixing bowl.
4. Add 1/2 cup melted butter to crumbs and mix well, set aside
Chicken Filling:
1. In saucepan on medium low heat, place butter and saute onion and celery until transparent, stirring occasionally.
2. Add chicken broth, cream of chicken soup, salt and pepper. Stir until well blended and soup is dissolved completely.
3. Add chicken; stir and blend until mixture reaches a low simmer. Cook for 5 minutes, then remove from heat.
4. Place chicken mixture in buttered 2 1/2-quart casserole dish or individual casserole dishes (about four ).
5. Spoon cornbread crumb topping on top of chicken mixture; do not stir into chicken filling.
6. Place baking dish in preheated oven at 350 degrees F for 35 - 40 minutes. The crumbs will turn a golden yellow.
7. A side order of country green beans or salad makes for a hearty meal.
Ingredients
* --Cornbread:
* 1 cup yellow cornmeal
* 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
* 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1 tablespoon sugar
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
* 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
* 3/4 cup buttermilk
* 1 egg
* 1/2 cup melted butter
* --Chicken Filling:
* 2 tablespoons butter
* 1/4 cup chopped yellow onion
* 1/2 cup celery, sliced thin
* 1 3/4 cups chicken broth
* 1 can cream of chicken soup
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
* 2 1/2 cups cooked chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
Instructions
Cornbread:
1. Mix all except melted butter together in mixing bowl until smooth.
2. Pour into greased 8-inch square baking pan and bake at 375 degrees F for 20 - 25 minutes until done. Remove from oven and let cool completely.
3. When cool, crumble cornbread and place 3 cups of cornbread crumbs in mixing bowl.
4. Add 1/2 cup melted butter to crumbs and mix well, set aside
Chicken Filling:
1. In saucepan on medium low heat, place butter and saute onion and celery until transparent, stirring occasionally.
2. Add chicken broth, cream of chicken soup, salt and pepper. Stir until well blended and soup is dissolved completely.
3. Add chicken; stir and blend until mixture reaches a low simmer. Cook for 5 minutes, then remove from heat.
4. Place chicken mixture in buttered 2 1/2-quart casserole dish or individual casserole dishes (about four ).
5. Spoon cornbread crumb topping on top of chicken mixture; do not stir into chicken filling.
6. Place baking dish in preheated oven at 350 degrees F for 35 - 40 minutes. The crumbs will turn a golden yellow.
7. A side order of country green beans or salad makes for a hearty meal.
How to Let Your Life Speak
by Alexander Green
I had never been a Peeping Tom before...
But last week the clerk at a local bookstore in Nantucket suggested I walk a few blocks over to see the historic Parliament House, a Quaker Meeting House built in the 1700s and now situated at 10 Pine St.
Since the front door was locked and no one answered, I walked around the building and stood on my tiptoes, peering in the windows. Only later that day did I learn that the Parliament House is no longer a museum but rather a private residence and that I'm lucky no one called the authorities to report a tall, middle-aged man outside with his nose pressed against the windowpane.
Oops.
I was on Nantucket as a break from an investment conference on Cape Cod twenty-nine miles north. The ferry ride over is an easy trip and poking around the downtown art galleries, museums and bookshops is a fine way to spend a late-summer afternoon.
The island is beguiling - and full of history. (If you go, don't miss the Nantucket Whaling Museum, listed by international travel writer Andrew Harper as "One of 10 U.S. Places to Visit Before You Die.") Nantucket has one of the highest concentrations of pre-Civil War structures in the United States. Both its mid-nineteenth century charm and architectural beauty are well preserved.
The first settlers to formally organize on Nantucket were Quakers. Let me confess that, unless I'm looking at a box of oatmeal, I don't generally think much about Quakers. But they have a fascinating history.
Quakerism originated in mid-17th century England. Members called themselves the Society of Friends, since they were "Friends of one another, Friends of Truth and Friends of God."
Their religious practices conflicted with the Church of England, however, and they were aggressively prosecuted. Their leader George Fox - who believed all people are guided by an "Inner Light" and don't need a minister or priest to act as a spiritual intermediary - survived eight imprisonments and numerous beatings.
Many Quakers left for the New World in search of religious freedom. But they didn't find it, at least not initially. Puritans and other New England Protestants - many of whom had arrived to escape their own persecution - were highly intolerant.
And not just for theological reasons. Quakers refused to take oaths. They wouldn't serve in the militia. They wouldn't pay taxes to the established church. They wouldn't remove their hats except for worship. And because of their belief that every person is of equal worth, they refused to bow in deference to aristocrats and public officials.
When two Quaker women appeared in Boston in 1656, Governor John Endicott ordered them searched for signs of witchcraft. He let them go but laws were soon passed to keep Friends away. First-time Quaker visitors to Boston were "whipped out." If they had the audacity to return, they were to be hanged. (And some were.) Fines were imposed for even communicating with them.
Nantucket, however, was remote, tolerant and secular. Quakers there were free to manage their affairs - and to leave their stamp on the island.
On Fair Street, I visited a Friends Meeting House from 1864 preserved by the Nantucket Historical Association. These Quaker places of worship are famous for their austerity and simple grace. Aesthetically, they are about as far from St. Peter's Basilica as you can get - and yet there is something enormously appealing about them.
Quakers practice an unadorned simplicity in all outward things, including modesty and plainness in dress. Meetings are mostly silent. The quiet atmosphere is meant to lead to a shared state of spiritual community. When a member of the assembly rises to speak, it is to share his or her "Inner Light."
What do Quakers believe? Despite their Christian roots, that's not an easy question to answer.
According to Robert Lawrence Smith, author of A Quaker Book of Wisdom, "Quakerism is the only faith that is most commonly explained in a cascade of negatives. Quakerism has no theology, no body of religious dogma, no sacred books, no written creed. Traditional Quaker worship does not involve a minister, priest or other religious leader. There is no liturgy. There are no crucifixes or other religious images in Quaker Meetinghouses or homes."
Quaker wedding services are a simple exchange of vows between bride and groom. When Quakers bury their dead, the term funeral hardly applies. No prayers are offered, no pastor presides, and only a few quiet words of gratitude for the life of the deceased are spoken. Mourners do not speculate on the afterlife. For Quakers, death is the end of life as we know it. What comes after remains a mystery. It is enough that a life has brought joy and love.
By the 1820s, the number of Quakers on Nantucket had declined sharply. The Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 were disastrous for the Society of Friends. Not because of casualties but because they refused to participate. Strict pacifists, they cited the words of their Peace Testimony: We utterly deny all outward wars and strife, and fighting with outward weapons, for any end, or under any pretense whatsoever.
This can be an appealing notion when a nation is caught up in a senseless or futile war. But not all wars are senseless. As historian Bruce Thornton notes, "Pacifism is the transitory luxury of a people whose security has been earned by the bravery and militarism of earlier generations."
Most Quakers today would probably agree. More than half of all draft-eligible Quaker men in the United States served in the Second World War, a conflict that inspired a clear moral choice.
It is estimated that there are less than 120,000 Quakers in the U.S. today, and roughly 250,000 in other parts of the world. It is doubtful that theirs will ever be more than a small religious denomination.
Yet there is food for thought here. Quakers believe we should search within for truth and reach out to help others, that we should be more forgiving of others' shortcomings and less forgiving of our own.
They stress a commitment to truth. Living honestly means you don't have to wrestle with your conscience. You don't have to make up excuses. You don't have to worry about your reputation. Aside from issues of morality, honesty simplifies your life. As Mark Twain pointed out, if you stick to the truth you don't have to remember anything.
The pursuit of truth also means Quakers never view scientific inquiry as a threat. It is simply another part of the search for greater understanding.
Quakers also emphasize that as we age we grow in wisdom and are often in a position to share it with those around us. We shouldn't miss those opportunities.
As George Fox said, "Let your life speak." The Quaker leader taught that your true self is not what you profess or what you believe. It's the way you conduct yourself in your public and private affairs - the way in which, for better or worse, you let your life speak.
We can all benefit from the sustenance that Quaker wisdom provides. In a culture where success is often judged by what you own, what you wear or what you drive, it's advocacy of conscience, simplicity, truth and silent contemplation provide a timeless framework, a guideline for living.
Quaker wisdom reminds us to focus on the essential, keep first things first and live to the point.
How? By setting an example... and letting your life speak.
I had never been a Peeping Tom before...
But last week the clerk at a local bookstore in Nantucket suggested I walk a few blocks over to see the historic Parliament House, a Quaker Meeting House built in the 1700s and now situated at 10 Pine St.
Since the front door was locked and no one answered, I walked around the building and stood on my tiptoes, peering in the windows. Only later that day did I learn that the Parliament House is no longer a museum but rather a private residence and that I'm lucky no one called the authorities to report a tall, middle-aged man outside with his nose pressed against the windowpane.
Oops.
I was on Nantucket as a break from an investment conference on Cape Cod twenty-nine miles north. The ferry ride over is an easy trip and poking around the downtown art galleries, museums and bookshops is a fine way to spend a late-summer afternoon.
The island is beguiling - and full of history. (If you go, don't miss the Nantucket Whaling Museum, listed by international travel writer Andrew Harper as "One of 10 U.S. Places to Visit Before You Die.") Nantucket has one of the highest concentrations of pre-Civil War structures in the United States. Both its mid-nineteenth century charm and architectural beauty are well preserved.
The first settlers to formally organize on Nantucket were Quakers. Let me confess that, unless I'm looking at a box of oatmeal, I don't generally think much about Quakers. But they have a fascinating history.
Quakerism originated in mid-17th century England. Members called themselves the Society of Friends, since they were "Friends of one another, Friends of Truth and Friends of God."
Their religious practices conflicted with the Church of England, however, and they were aggressively prosecuted. Their leader George Fox - who believed all people are guided by an "Inner Light" and don't need a minister or priest to act as a spiritual intermediary - survived eight imprisonments and numerous beatings.
Many Quakers left for the New World in search of religious freedom. But they didn't find it, at least not initially. Puritans and other New England Protestants - many of whom had arrived to escape their own persecution - were highly intolerant.
And not just for theological reasons. Quakers refused to take oaths. They wouldn't serve in the militia. They wouldn't pay taxes to the established church. They wouldn't remove their hats except for worship. And because of their belief that every person is of equal worth, they refused to bow in deference to aristocrats and public officials.
When two Quaker women appeared in Boston in 1656, Governor John Endicott ordered them searched for signs of witchcraft. He let them go but laws were soon passed to keep Friends away. First-time Quaker visitors to Boston were "whipped out." If they had the audacity to return, they were to be hanged. (And some were.) Fines were imposed for even communicating with them.
Nantucket, however, was remote, tolerant and secular. Quakers there were free to manage their affairs - and to leave their stamp on the island.
On Fair Street, I visited a Friends Meeting House from 1864 preserved by the Nantucket Historical Association. These Quaker places of worship are famous for their austerity and simple grace. Aesthetically, they are about as far from St. Peter's Basilica as you can get - and yet there is something enormously appealing about them.
Quakers practice an unadorned simplicity in all outward things, including modesty and plainness in dress. Meetings are mostly silent. The quiet atmosphere is meant to lead to a shared state of spiritual community. When a member of the assembly rises to speak, it is to share his or her "Inner Light."
What do Quakers believe? Despite their Christian roots, that's not an easy question to answer.
According to Robert Lawrence Smith, author of A Quaker Book of Wisdom, "Quakerism is the only faith that is most commonly explained in a cascade of negatives. Quakerism has no theology, no body of religious dogma, no sacred books, no written creed. Traditional Quaker worship does not involve a minister, priest or other religious leader. There is no liturgy. There are no crucifixes or other religious images in Quaker Meetinghouses or homes."
Quaker wedding services are a simple exchange of vows between bride and groom. When Quakers bury their dead, the term funeral hardly applies. No prayers are offered, no pastor presides, and only a few quiet words of gratitude for the life of the deceased are spoken. Mourners do not speculate on the afterlife. For Quakers, death is the end of life as we know it. What comes after remains a mystery. It is enough that a life has brought joy and love.
By the 1820s, the number of Quakers on Nantucket had declined sharply. The Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 were disastrous for the Society of Friends. Not because of casualties but because they refused to participate. Strict pacifists, they cited the words of their Peace Testimony: We utterly deny all outward wars and strife, and fighting with outward weapons, for any end, or under any pretense whatsoever.
This can be an appealing notion when a nation is caught up in a senseless or futile war. But not all wars are senseless. As historian Bruce Thornton notes, "Pacifism is the transitory luxury of a people whose security has been earned by the bravery and militarism of earlier generations."
Most Quakers today would probably agree. More than half of all draft-eligible Quaker men in the United States served in the Second World War, a conflict that inspired a clear moral choice.
It is estimated that there are less than 120,000 Quakers in the U.S. today, and roughly 250,000 in other parts of the world. It is doubtful that theirs will ever be more than a small religious denomination.
Yet there is food for thought here. Quakers believe we should search within for truth and reach out to help others, that we should be more forgiving of others' shortcomings and less forgiving of our own.
They stress a commitment to truth. Living honestly means you don't have to wrestle with your conscience. You don't have to make up excuses. You don't have to worry about your reputation. Aside from issues of morality, honesty simplifies your life. As Mark Twain pointed out, if you stick to the truth you don't have to remember anything.
The pursuit of truth also means Quakers never view scientific inquiry as a threat. It is simply another part of the search for greater understanding.
Quakers also emphasize that as we age we grow in wisdom and are often in a position to share it with those around us. We shouldn't miss those opportunities.
As George Fox said, "Let your life speak." The Quaker leader taught that your true self is not what you profess or what you believe. It's the way you conduct yourself in your public and private affairs - the way in which, for better or worse, you let your life speak.
We can all benefit from the sustenance that Quaker wisdom provides. In a culture where success is often judged by what you own, what you wear or what you drive, it's advocacy of conscience, simplicity, truth and silent contemplation provide a timeless framework, a guideline for living.
Quaker wisdom reminds us to focus on the essential, keep first things first and live to the point.
How? By setting an example... and letting your life speak.
Bitter Tales from the Massive White Underclass in Joe Bageant's "Redneck" Memoir
"Economic, political, and social culture in America is staggering under the sheer weight of its white underclass, which now numbers some sixty million."
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Thursday, September 23, 2010
Today's Quote
“My doctor recently told me that jogging could add years to my life. I think he was right. I feel ten years older already.”
― Milton Berle
― Milton Berle
Here's The Joke
A man with a wooden eye was very sensitive about his eye for fear of people making fun of him. One day this man decides to go out and have some fun. So, he goes to a bar and orders a beer. Then, out of the corner of his eye he sees a woman with a flat face. He thinks,” Well, she wouldn't make fun of me because she would understand how I feel." So, he finally gathers up the courage to talk to her, he goes over and asks her, “Would you like to have dinner with me sometime?" And the woman answers, “Would I!!!" (Wood Eye) The man, obviously offended, screams, "flat face!!!" and storms out of the bar.
10 Terrible Things Republicans Will Try to Do If They Take Over in November
Think things are bad now? Take a look at what could happen if Republicans retake Congress in November.
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Did President Obama have his dog, Bo, flown to Maine in his own private jet for the family vacation?
No. The family and staff took two small jets because the airport couldn’t accommodate the usual presidential plane. Bo flew with several staffers.
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Another Blonde Joke
A blonde is sitting at home one day when she decides she's sick of hearing all those blonde jokes, so she decides to dye her hair brown. To see if it works, she goes to a farm.
She walks up to the farmer and says, "If I can guess how many sheep you have, can I take one home?"
The farmer kinda chuckles to himself, and then replies, "Sure, why not?"
The blonde pulls out a calculator and does a whole bunch of calculus and trig equations and comes up with a number. She says to the farmer, "There are 314 sheep out there."
The farmer looks at her with a shocked expression and says, "You're right! Go take your pick".
The blonde takes a few minutes to pick a sheep, waves to the farmer, and leaves.
She's sitting at home the next day when she hears a knock on her front door. She opens it and finds the farmer standing there, holding his hat. He says to her, "If I can guess your real hair color, can I have my dog back?"
She walks up to the farmer and says, "If I can guess how many sheep you have, can I take one home?"
The farmer kinda chuckles to himself, and then replies, "Sure, why not?"
The blonde pulls out a calculator and does a whole bunch of calculus and trig equations and comes up with a number. She says to the farmer, "There are 314 sheep out there."
The farmer looks at her with a shocked expression and says, "You're right! Go take your pick".
The blonde takes a few minutes to pick a sheep, waves to the farmer, and leaves.
She's sitting at home the next day when she hears a knock on her front door. She opens it and finds the farmer standing there, holding his hat. He says to her, "If I can guess your real hair color, can I have my dog back?"
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