"When we recall the past, we usually find that it is the simplest things—not the great occasions—that in retrospect give off the greatest glow of happiness."
— Bob Hope: Was a comedian and actor
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Website of the Day
350.org
350 is the most important number in the world—it's what scientists say is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Three years ago, after leading climatologists observed rapid ice melt in the Arctic and other frightening signs of climate change, they issued a series of studies showing that the planet faced both human and natural disaster if atmospheric concentrations of CO2 remained above 350 parts per million.
Everyone from Al Gore to the U.N.’s top climate scientist has now embraced this goal as necessary for stabilizing the planet and preventing complete disaster. Now the trick is getting our leaders to pay attention and craft policies that will put the world on track to get to 350.
350 is the most important number in the world—it's what scientists say is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Three years ago, after leading climatologists observed rapid ice melt in the Arctic and other frightening signs of climate change, they issued a series of studies showing that the planet faced both human and natural disaster if atmospheric concentrations of CO2 remained above 350 parts per million.
Everyone from Al Gore to the U.N.’s top climate scientist has now embraced this goal as necessary for stabilizing the planet and preventing complete disaster. Now the trick is getting our leaders to pay attention and craft policies that will put the world on track to get to 350.
Lemon Herb Roasted Chicken
This slow cooker Lemon Herb Roasted Chicken will become a staple in your household. Pleasing aromas will fill your kitchen, it's also great to pair with rice, potatoes and definitely pasta.
Serves: 6
Cooking Time: 8 hr
Ingredients
* 4 pounds fryer or roasting chicken
* 1/4 cup onions; chopped
* 2 tablespoons margarine or butter
* juice of one lemon
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1 tablespoon fresh parsley or dried parsley flakes
* 1/4 teaspoon leaf thyme
* 1/4 teaspoon paprika
Instructions
1. Rinse chicken well and pat dry; remove any excess fat.
2. Place onion in the cavity of the chicken and rub the skin with butter or margarine.
3. Place chicken in slow cooker, squeeze the juice of the lemon over the chicken and sprinkle with remaining seasonings.
4. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.
Serves: 6
Cooking Time: 8 hr
Ingredients
* 4 pounds fryer or roasting chicken
* 1/4 cup onions; chopped
* 2 tablespoons margarine or butter
* juice of one lemon
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1 tablespoon fresh parsley or dried parsley flakes
* 1/4 teaspoon leaf thyme
* 1/4 teaspoon paprika
Instructions
1. Rinse chicken well and pat dry; remove any excess fat.
2. Place onion in the cavity of the chicken and rub the skin with butter or margarine.
3. Place chicken in slow cooker, squeeze the juice of the lemon over the chicken and sprinkle with remaining seasonings.
4. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.
Tomato Mac and Cheese
Prep Time: 20 min.
Cook Time: 5 min.
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's® Condensed Cheddar Cheese Soup
1 cup Prego® Traditional Italian Sauce
1/3 cup milk
2 cups elbow pasta, cooked and drained
Grated Parmesan cheese
1. Heat the soup, sauce, milk and pasta in a 3-quart saucepan over medium heat until the mixture is hot and bubbling, stirring occasionally. Serve with the cheese.
Makes: 5 servings (about 1 cup each).
Serve this mac and cheese with a crunchy romaine salad full of cucumber and red pepper strips and tossed with a zesty balsamic vinagrette
Cook Time: 5 min.
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's® Condensed Cheddar Cheese Soup
1 cup Prego® Traditional Italian Sauce
1/3 cup milk
2 cups elbow pasta, cooked and drained
Grated Parmesan cheese
1. Heat the soup, sauce, milk and pasta in a 3-quart saucepan over medium heat until the mixture is hot and bubbling, stirring occasionally. Serve with the cheese.
Makes: 5 servings (about 1 cup each).
Serve this mac and cheese with a crunchy romaine salad full of cucumber and red pepper strips and tossed with a zesty balsamic vinagrette
New Test Detects Autism Early
New research shows autism can be detected in babies as early as their first birthday. By using a simple checklist to see how babies babble, gesture, and interact with others, researchers tested 10,000 children. The test needs more work, however, to verify its accuracy before it is implemented by pediatricians. Most children are not diagnosed with autism until they are 5.
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Eye of the Storm
A mile-wide tornado ripped through the college town of Tuscaloosa, Alabama at around 5 p.m. on Wednesday, causing one nuclear plant shutdown and widespread power outages. See more videos, photo's here.
Trump's Lunacy Reveals Core Truth About the Republicans
by Johann Hari
Since the election of Barack Obama, the Republican Party has proved that one of its central intellectual arguments was right all along. It has long claimed that evolution is a myth believed in only by whiny liberals – and it turns out it was on to something. Every six months, the party venerates a new hero, and each time it is somebody further back on the evolutionary scale.
Sarah Palin told cheering rallies that her message to the world was: "We'll put a boot in your ass, it's the American way!" – but that wasn't enough. So the party found Michele Bachmann, who said darkly it was an "interesting coincidence" that swine flu only breaks out under Democratic presidents, claims the message of The Lion King is "I'm better at what I do because I'm gay", and argues "there isn't even one study that can be produced that shows carbon dioxide is a harmful gas."
That wasn't enough. I half-expected the next contender to be a lung-fish draped in the Stars and Stripes. But it wasn't anything so sophisticated. Enter stage (far) right Donald Trump, the bewigged billionaire who has filled America with phallic symbols and plastered his name across more surfaces than the average Central Asian dictator. CNN's polling suggests he is the most popular candidate among Republican voters. It's not hard to see why. Trump is every trend in Republican politics over the past 35 years taken to its logical conclusion. He is the Republican id, finally entirely unleashed from all restraint and all reality.
Read more
Since the election of Barack Obama, the Republican Party has proved that one of its central intellectual arguments was right all along. It has long claimed that evolution is a myth believed in only by whiny liberals – and it turns out it was on to something. Every six months, the party venerates a new hero, and each time it is somebody further back on the evolutionary scale.
Sarah Palin told cheering rallies that her message to the world was: "We'll put a boot in your ass, it's the American way!" – but that wasn't enough. So the party found Michele Bachmann, who said darkly it was an "interesting coincidence" that swine flu only breaks out under Democratic presidents, claims the message of The Lion King is "I'm better at what I do because I'm gay", and argues "there isn't even one study that can be produced that shows carbon dioxide is a harmful gas."
That wasn't enough. I half-expected the next contender to be a lung-fish draped in the Stars and Stripes. But it wasn't anything so sophisticated. Enter stage (far) right Donald Trump, the bewigged billionaire who has filled America with phallic symbols and plastered his name across more surfaces than the average Central Asian dictator. CNN's polling suggests he is the most popular candidate among Republican voters. It's not hard to see why. Trump is every trend in Republican politics over the past 35 years taken to its logical conclusion. He is the Republican id, finally entirely unleashed from all restraint and all reality.
Read more
Did then-Sen. Barack Obama get a law "passed in dead silence" that allowed black farmers to file "unlawful" discrimination claims against the USDA totaling $1.25 billion?
No. Obama supported the 2008 bill, but did not sponsor it or vote on it. It was not "passed in dead silence"; there were six floor votes. All claims are pending judicial review and approval.
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The Royal Wedding
A day after their fairy-tale wedding went off without a hitch, Prince William and Kate Middleton’s (now, Duchess Catherine) trio of official wedding portraits have been released! In the first portrait, a beaming William and Kate appear standing side-by-side in the throne room at Buckingham Palace, with Kate’s fingers caressing William’s hand. The second picture has the royal couple sitting in chairs surrounded by the younger members of the wedding party, including three-year-old flower girl Grace Van Cutsem, whose frowning photo has turned into a royal wedding Internet meme. The third portrait, also in the throne room, features the royal couple flanked by their families and members of the wedding party, including The Queen, Prince Charles, Prince Harry, and, last but not least, the royal wedding’s other star, Pippa Middleton. View more photo's and stories about the wedding here.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Salade Nicoise
Preparation Time: 20 Minute(s)
Ingredients
4 cups mixed salad greens
4 cups sliced cooked potatoes
3 cups cooked cut green beans
1 hard-cooked egg, quartered
2 medium tomatoes, cut into wedges
1 can (7 oz.) tuna, drained and flaked
8 Kalamata olives
1 slice bacon, crisp-cooked and crumbled
1 cup Wish-Bone® Deluxe French Dressing
1. Arrange all ingredients except Wish-Bone® Deluxe French Dressing on serving platter. Just before serving, drizzle with Dressing.
Also terrific with Wish-Bone® Light Deluxe French-Style, Sweet 'n Spicy French or Light Sweet 'n Spicy French Dressings. See nutrition information for sodium content.
Nutrition Information per serving
Calories 540, Calories From Fat 250, Saturated Fat 4.5g, Trans Fat 0g, Total Fat 27g, Cholesterol 70mg, Sodium 740mg, Total Carbohydrates 53g, Sugars 15g, Dietary Fiber 8g, Protein 20g, Vitamin A 60%, Vitamin C 70%, Calcium 8%, Iron 15%
Is it true that this year’s deficit is greater than the total taxable income of Americans earning more than $100,000?
No, it’s not true. The statistic comes from a Wall Street Journal editorial, which has been corrected.
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LIberal Talk show host arrested at tea party Rep’s town hall
At a town hall meeting last night in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., staged by Rep. Allen West (R-FL), liberal talk show host Nicole Sandler was taken out of the event hall and arrested on camera.
She was initially just being removed from the hall, but Sandler shouted at the officer to take his hands off of her as they were escorting her out, likely providing a trigger for the arrest. Confronted by Sandler's boyfriend, the officer did not say why he was arresting her.
Similar to other recent Republican town hall meetings, this event was loud and angry, with numerous hecklers hammering Rep. West on his vote to cut Medicare.
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She was initially just being removed from the hall, but Sandler shouted at the officer to take his hands off of her as they were escorting her out, likely providing a trigger for the arrest. Confronted by Sandler's boyfriend, the officer did not say why he was arresting her.
Similar to other recent Republican town hall meetings, this event was loud and angry, with numerous hecklers hammering Rep. West on his vote to cut Medicare.
Read more
Dedicated Student Gets Degree After 19 Years of Part-Time Study
In 1992, a gallon of gas cost $1.13, Bill Clinton won the presidential election and Kathy Vitzthum took her first class at Iowa State University.
Vitzthum has taken about one class each and every semester since. For 40 semesters. Since Miley Cyrus was born. Since Charles and Diana split up. Since Ross Perot pulled out his charts and pointer on TV. Since the World Wide Web was in its infancy (and text only).
On May 7, the 48-year-old Vitzthum, who lives in Slater, graduates summa cum laude from Iowa State. She has achieved her goal -- a bachelor's degree in accounting -- after juggling family and career with finals and papers for 19 years.
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Vitzthum has taken about one class each and every semester since. For 40 semesters. Since Miley Cyrus was born. Since Charles and Diana split up. Since Ross Perot pulled out his charts and pointer on TV. Since the World Wide Web was in its infancy (and text only).
On May 7, the 48-year-old Vitzthum, who lives in Slater, graduates summa cum laude from Iowa State. She has achieved her goal -- a bachelor's degree in accounting -- after juggling family and career with finals and papers for 19 years.
Read more
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Today's Quote
“Wisdom doesn’t automatically come with old age. Nothing does—except wrinkles. It’s true, some wines improve with age. But only if the grapes were good in the first place.”
― Abigail Van Buren
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Today's Quote
“It isn’t our position but our disposition which makes us happy.”
-Unknown
The happiest people know it isn’t what they see that makes them happy; it’s how they choose to see it. See the good in your day today and let yourself enjoy it.
Paula Deen 'hides diabetes from fans while continuing to promote high-fat recipes'
Her fledgling TV career and nation-wide popularity has relied heavily on sugar, butter and fat - not too mention a healthy dollop of Southern charm.
But sadly for acclaimed chef Paula Deen, it is these very things that are said to have led her to battle with a deadly disease.
For the bubbly, plus-size celebrity cook has allegedly been diagnosed with diabetes.
According to the National Enquirer, friends of the Food Network star has kept the life-threatening illness a secret from her fans.
Georgia-born Deen is known for her rich and unhealthy Southern-style cooking which started out as a catering service which her sons Jamie and Bobbie delivered from their home and has grown into her own range of deserts, restaurants and star of her own show on the Food Network.
According to the National Enquirer, friends of the 64-year-old said she was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes several years ago, yet continues to tout exactly the type of butter or sugar rich high-fat recipes that bring on diabetes.
She is said to be under doctor's orders to steer clear of the foods.
Read more
But sadly for acclaimed chef Paula Deen, it is these very things that are said to have led her to battle with a deadly disease.
For the bubbly, plus-size celebrity cook has allegedly been diagnosed with diabetes.
According to the National Enquirer, friends of the Food Network star has kept the life-threatening illness a secret from her fans.
Georgia-born Deen is known for her rich and unhealthy Southern-style cooking which started out as a catering service which her sons Jamie and Bobbie delivered from their home and has grown into her own range of deserts, restaurants and star of her own show on the Food Network.
According to the National Enquirer, friends of the 64-year-old said she was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes several years ago, yet continues to tout exactly the type of butter or sugar rich high-fat recipes that bring on diabetes.
She is said to be under doctor's orders to steer clear of the foods.
Read more
How much of Planned Parenthood’s services are dedicated to abortions? Does the federal government fund those procedures?
Abortions represent 3 percent of total services provided by Planned Parenthood, and roughly 10 percent of its clients received an abortion. The group does receive federal funding, but the money cannot be used for abortions by law.
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Anti-Gay Crime Kills Eight Horses
Eight horses died after a barn fire in Ohio that appears to be a hate crime against the gay man who owned them. Brent Whitehouse woke on Sunday night to find his barn on fire and tagged with graffiti saying “Fags are Freaks” and “Burn in Hell.” One of the horses, Buddy, was just a week-old foal. "The barn I can rebuild, but the bond I had with those horses can't be replaced," Whitehouse said.
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Paprika Chicken with Sour Cream Gravy
Prep Time: 10 min.
Cook Time: 20 min.
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon ground red pepper
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (about 1 pound)
1/4 cup butter
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup (Regular or 98% Fat Free)
2 green onions, sliced (about 1/4 cup)
1 container (8 ounces) sour cream
1. Stir the flour, paprika, garlic powder, black pepper and red pepper on a plate. Coat the chicken with the paprika mixture.
2. Heat the butter in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken for 10 minutes or until well browned on both sides. Remove the chicken from the skillet.
3. Stir the soup and green onions in the skillet and heat to a boil. Return the chicken to the skillet. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook for 5 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. Stir in the sour cream.
Serving Suggestion: Serve with a rice blend, steamed cut green beans and carrot slices. For dessert serve your favorite fruit and gelatin combination.
Makes: 4 servings.
Cook Time: 20 min.
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon ground red pepper
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (about 1 pound)
1/4 cup butter
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup (Regular or 98% Fat Free)
2 green onions, sliced (about 1/4 cup)
1 container (8 ounces) sour cream
1. Stir the flour, paprika, garlic powder, black pepper and red pepper on a plate. Coat the chicken with the paprika mixture.
2. Heat the butter in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken for 10 minutes or until well browned on both sides. Remove the chicken from the skillet.
3. Stir the soup and green onions in the skillet and heat to a boil. Return the chicken to the skillet. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook for 5 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. Stir in the sour cream.
Serving Suggestion: Serve with a rice blend, steamed cut green beans and carrot slices. For dessert serve your favorite fruit and gelatin combination.
Makes: 4 servings.
Miss Maine Gives Up Chance at Glory for Sister’s Wedding
For Emily Johnson, family trumped Trump.
Instead of representing Maine in Donald Trump's Miss USA Pageant in Las Vegas, the 23-year-old will be taking part in her older sister's wedding in South Portland the weekend of June 18-19.
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Instead of representing Maine in Donald Trump's Miss USA Pageant in Las Vegas, the 23-year-old will be taking part in her older sister's wedding in South Portland the weekend of June 18-19.
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Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Today's Quote
“Shared joy is a double joy; shared sorrow is half a sorrow.”
-Swedish Proverb
It can be tempting to shut down and close other people out when you’ve been disrespected, betrayed or hurt. That’s when you need them the most. As unlikely as this may seem on days when it feels the whole world is against you, we are all in this together.
We really aren’t all that different. Everyone has challenges; everyone makes mistakes. We all have fears, insecurities, wants, and needs–and one thing we all need is to feel as sense of meaningful connection to the people and world around us. That connection starts with you.
Whether you smile or cry today, share it. When you’re willing to be seen you give the people around you permission to do the same. And isn’t that what we all want? To know that people understand us, see us, get us?
You don’t have to go it alone. Not in a world full of people whose lives would improve for the better for knowing and sharing with you.
Facebook Launches Groupon Rival
Groupon may be steaming toward a $25 billion IPO, but not if Facebook has anything to do about it: The social network launched a new service offering online discounts in five cities on Tuesday. Facebook “Deals” will begin in Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, San Diego, and San Francisco. People will recommend deals and see their friends’ purchases; the company will focus on deals that are best done with friends, like concerts or events.
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Some lab chimps left with poor health, shortened lives
They've been out of the lab for years, but for many chimpanzees at a federal primate facility here, the effects of long-ago medical experimentation can linger till they die.
Mercedes, for example, suffered a major loss of blood the day she died, a situation that probably was worsened by her chronic hepatitis, her death records say; she also had an enlarged adrenal cortex, "likely due to chronic stress."
For others, their years at the Alamogordo Primate Facility ended more disturbingly. Three died from electrocution, due to faulty wiring at the facility, and two others were the focus of an animal cruelty case brought by the local prosecutor.
The deaths at Alamogordo reflect an unfortunate reality of experimentation: In pursuit of cures for humans, some chimpanzees' lives are cut short.
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Mercedes, for example, suffered a major loss of blood the day she died, a situation that probably was worsened by her chronic hepatitis, her death records say; she also had an enlarged adrenal cortex, "likely due to chronic stress."
For others, their years at the Alamogordo Primate Facility ended more disturbingly. Three died from electrocution, due to faulty wiring at the facility, and two others were the focus of an animal cruelty case brought by the local prosecutor.
The deaths at Alamogordo reflect an unfortunate reality of experimentation: In pursuit of cures for humans, some chimpanzees' lives are cut short.
Read more
Keith Olbermann's Countdown Returns to TV
MSNBC's former liberal crusader Keith Olbermann is set to make a Countdown comeback, this time on Current TV. The network has announced it will premiere the new Countdown with Keith Olbermann on June 20. Current TV's co-founder and Executive Vice Chairman Joel Hyatt said the show "will showcase the return to television of one of America's most gifted thinkers and communicators." Current's CEO Mark Rosenthal added that the new Countdown will combine features of Olbermann's old show on MSNBC with "new elements that we can't wait to unveil." Rosenthal stressed that the show will attract new viewers and fans for Olbermann who will be "tuning into Keith for the first time." Olbermann is equally enthusiastic about having a new venue for his show. After leaving MSNBC in January and signing on with Current TV just a month later, Olbermann said, "Nothing is more vital to my concept of a free media than news produced independently of corporate interference."
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The Wayback Juke Box -Phoebe Snow - Poetry Man 1975
RIP
May her voice ring throughout the heavens as it rang and will forever ring throughout the earth. May she now know only joy...
Remembering 'Poetry Man' singer Phoebe Snow, who died Tuesday at 60
Another Blonde Joke
A state trooper was driving along in the country when he noticed a small black coupe swerving all over the lonely back road. He put on his flashers and pulled the car over. Hopping out of his cruiser, he then approached the blonde lady driver.
"Ma'am, is there a reason that you're weaving all over the road?"
The blonde replied, "Oh officer, thank goodness you're here!! I almost had an accident! I looked up and there was a tree right in front of me. I swerved to the left and there was another tree in front of me. I swerved to the right and there was another tree in front of me!"
Reaching through the side window to the rear view mirror, the officer replied, "Ma'am...that's your air freshener."
"Ma'am, is there a reason that you're weaving all over the road?"
The blonde replied, "Oh officer, thank goodness you're here!! I almost had an accident! I looked up and there was a tree right in front of me. I swerved to the left and there was another tree in front of me. I swerved to the right and there was another tree in front of me!"
Reaching through the side window to the rear view mirror, the officer replied, "Ma'am...that's your air freshener."
Monday, April 25, 2011
Today's Quote
“In times of great stress or adversity, it’s always best to keep busy, to plow your anger and your energy into something positive.”
― Lee Iacocca
The Corporate State Wins Again
By Chris Hedges
When did our democracy die? When did it irrevocably transform itself into a lifeless farce and absurd political theater? When did the press, labor, universities and the Democratic Party—which once made piecemeal and incremental reform possible—wither and atrophy? When did reform through electoral politics become a form of magical thinking? When did the dead hand of the corporate state become unassailable?
-SNIP-
We live in a fragmented society. We are ignorant of what is being done to us. We are diverted by the absurd and political theater. We are afraid of terrorism, of losing our job and of carrying out acts of dissent. We are politically demobilized and paralyzed. We do not question the state religion of patriotic virtue, the war on terror or the military and security state. We are herded like sheep through airports by Homeland Security and, once we get through the metal detectors and body scanners, spontaneously applaud our men and women in uniform. As we become more insecure and afraid, we become more anxious. We are driven by fiercer and fiercer competition. We yearn for stability and protection. This is the genius of all systems of totalitarianism. The citizen’s highest hope finally becomes to be secure and left alone.
Human history, rather than a chronicle of freedom and democracy, is characterized by ruthless domination. Our elites have done what all elites do. They have found sophisticated mechanisms to thwart popular aspirations, disenfranchise the working and increasingly the middle class, keep us passive and make us serve their interests. The brief democratic opening in our society in the early 20th century, made possible by radical movements, unions and a vigorous press, has again been shut tight. We were mesmerized by political charades, cheap consumerism and virtual hallucinations as we were ruthlessly stripped of power.
The game is over. We lost. The corporate state will continue its inexorable advance until two-thirds of the nation is locked into a desperate, permanent underclass. Most Americans will struggle to make a living while the Blankfeins and our political elites wallow in the decadence and greed of the Forbidden City and Versailles. These elites do not have a vision. They know only one word—more. They will continue to exploit the nation, the global economy and the ecosystem. And they will use their money to hide in gated compounds when it all implodes. Do not expect them to take care of us when it starts to unravel. We will have to take care of ourselves. We will have to create small, monastic communities where we can sustain and feed ourselves. It will be up to us to keep alive the intellectual, moral and culture values the corporate state has attempted to snuff out. It is either that or become drones and serfs in a global, corporate dystopia. It is not much of a choice. But at least we still have one.
Read more
When did our democracy die? When did it irrevocably transform itself into a lifeless farce and absurd political theater? When did the press, labor, universities and the Democratic Party—which once made piecemeal and incremental reform possible—wither and atrophy? When did reform through electoral politics become a form of magical thinking? When did the dead hand of the corporate state become unassailable?
-SNIP-
We live in a fragmented society. We are ignorant of what is being done to us. We are diverted by the absurd and political theater. We are afraid of terrorism, of losing our job and of carrying out acts of dissent. We are politically demobilized and paralyzed. We do not question the state religion of patriotic virtue, the war on terror or the military and security state. We are herded like sheep through airports by Homeland Security and, once we get through the metal detectors and body scanners, spontaneously applaud our men and women in uniform. As we become more insecure and afraid, we become more anxious. We are driven by fiercer and fiercer competition. We yearn for stability and protection. This is the genius of all systems of totalitarianism. The citizen’s highest hope finally becomes to be secure and left alone.
Human history, rather than a chronicle of freedom and democracy, is characterized by ruthless domination. Our elites have done what all elites do. They have found sophisticated mechanisms to thwart popular aspirations, disenfranchise the working and increasingly the middle class, keep us passive and make us serve their interests. The brief democratic opening in our society in the early 20th century, made possible by radical movements, unions and a vigorous press, has again been shut tight. We were mesmerized by political charades, cheap consumerism and virtual hallucinations as we were ruthlessly stripped of power.
The game is over. We lost. The corporate state will continue its inexorable advance until two-thirds of the nation is locked into a desperate, permanent underclass. Most Americans will struggle to make a living while the Blankfeins and our political elites wallow in the decadence and greed of the Forbidden City and Versailles. These elites do not have a vision. They know only one word—more. They will continue to exploit the nation, the global economy and the ecosystem. And they will use their money to hide in gated compounds when it all implodes. Do not expect them to take care of us when it starts to unravel. We will have to take care of ourselves. We will have to create small, monastic communities where we can sustain and feed ourselves. It will be up to us to keep alive the intellectual, moral and culture values the corporate state has attempted to snuff out. It is either that or become drones and serfs in a global, corporate dystopia. It is not much of a choice. But at least we still have one.
Read more
What Does Your Month Of Birth Tell About You?
JANUARY:
Stubborn and hard-hearted. Ambitious and serious. Loves to teach and be taught. Always looking at people's flaws and weaknesses. Likes to criticize. Hardworking and productive. Smart, neat and organized. Sensitive and has deep thoughts. Knows how to make others happy. Quiet unless excited or tensed. Rather reserved. Highly attentive. Resistant to illnesses but prone to colds.
Romantic but has difficulties expressing love. Loves children. Loyal. Has great social abilities yet easily jealous. Very Stubborn and money cautious.
_______________________________________________
FEBRUARY:
Abstract thoughts. Loves reality and abstract. Intelligent and clever. Changing personality. Attractive. Sexy. Temperamental. Quiet, shy and humble. Honest and loyal. Determined to reach goals. Loves freedom. Rebellious when restricted. Loves aggressiveness. Too sensitive and easily hurt. Gets angry really easily but does not show it. Dislike unnecessary things. Loves making friends but rarely shows it. Daring and stubborn. Ambitious. Realizing dreams and hopes. Sharp.
Loves entertainment and leisure. Romantic on the inside not outside. Superstitious and ludicrous. Spendthrift. Tries to learn to show emotions.
_________________________________
MARCH:
Attractive personality.sexy. Affectionate.Shy and reserved. Secretive. Naturally honest, generous and sympathetic. Loves peace and serenity. Sensitive to others. Loves to serve others. Easily angered. Trustworthy. Appreciative and returns kindness. Observant and assesses others.
Revengeful. Loves to dream and fantasize. Loves traveling. Loves attention. Hasty decisions in choosing partners. Loves home decors. Musically talented. Loves special things. Moody.
_________________________________
APRIL:
Active and dynamic. Decisive and haste but tends to regret. Attractive and affectionate to oneself. Strong mentality. Loves attention. Diplomatic. Consoling, friendly and solves people's problems. Brave and fearless. Adventurous. Loving and caring. Suave and generous. Emotional.
Aggressive. Hasty. Good memory. Moving Motivates oneself and others. Sickness usually of the head and chest. Sexy in a way that only their lover can see.
_________________________________
MAY:
Stubborn and hard-hearted. Strong-willed and highly motivated. Sharp thoughts. Easily angered. Attracts others and loves attention. Deep feelings. Beautiful physically and mentally. Firm Standpoint. Needs no motivation. Easily consoled. Systematic (left brain). Loves to dream. Strong
clairvoyance. Understanding. Sickness usually in the ear and neck. Good imagination. Good physical. Weak breathing. Loves literature and the arts. Loves traveling. Dislike being at home. Restless. Not having many children. Hardworking. High spirited. Spendthrift. _________________________________
JUNE:
Thinks far with vision. Easily influenced by kindness. Polite and soft-spoken. Having lots of ideas. Sensitive. Active mind. Hesitating, tends to delay. Choosy and always wants the best. Temperamental. Funny and humorous. Loves to joke. Good debating skills. Talkative. Daydreamer.
Friendly. Knows how to make friends. Abiding. Able to show character. Easily hurt. Prone to getting colds. Loves to dress up. Easily bored. Fussy. Seldom shows emotions. Takes time to recover when hurt. Brand conscious. Executive. Stubborn.
_________________________________
JULY:
Fun to be with. Secretive. Difficult to fathom and to be understood. Quiet unless excited or tensed. Takes pride in oneself. Has reputation. Easily consoled. Honest. Concerned about people's feelings. Tactful. Friendly. Approachable. Emotional temperamental and unpredictable. Moody and easily hurt. Witty and sparkly. Not revengeful. Forgiving but never forgets.
Dislikes nonsensical and unnecessary things. Guides others physically and mentally. Sensitive and forms impressions carefully. Caring and loving. Treats others equally. Strong sense of sympathy. Wary and sharp. Judges people through observations. Hardworking. No difficulties in studying. Loves to be alone. Always broods about the past and the old friends. Likes to be
quiet. Homely person. Waits for friends. Never looks for friends. Not aggressive unless provoked. Prone to having stomach and dieting problems. Loves to be loved. Easily hurt but takes long to recover.
_________________________________
AUGUST:
Loves to joke. Attractive. Suave and caring. Brave and fearless. Firm and has leadership qualities. Knows how to console others. Too generous and egoistic. Takes high pride of oneself. Thirsty for praises. Extraordinary spirit. Easily angered. Angry when provoked. Easily jealous. Observant. Careful and cautious. Thinks quickly. Independent thoughts. Loves to lead and to be led. Loves to dream. Talented in the arts, music and defense. Sensitive but not petty. Poor resistance against illnesses. Learns to relax. Hasty and trusty. Romantic. Loving and caring. Loves to make
friends .
_________________________________
SEPTEMBER:
Suave and compromising. Careful, cautious and organized. Likes to point out people's mistakes. Likes to criticize. Stubborn. Quiet but able to talk well. Calm and cool. Kind and sympathetic. Concerned and detailed. Loyal but not always honest. Does work well. Very confident. Sensitive.
Thinking generous. Good memory. Clever and knowledgeable. Loves to look for information. Must control oneself when criticizing. Able to motivate oneself. Understanding. Fun to be around. Secretive. Loves sports, leisure and traveling. Hardly shows emotions. Tends to bottle up feelings. Very choosy, especially in relationships. Systematic.
_________________________________
OCTOBER:
Loves to chat. Loves those who loves them. Loves to takes things at the center. Inner and physical beauty. Lies but doesn't pretend. Gets angry often. Treats friends importantly. Always making friends. Easily hurt but recovers easily. Daydreamer. Opinionated. Does not care of
what others think. Emotional. Decisive. Strong clairvoyance. Loves to travel, the arts and literature. Touchy and easily jealous. Concerned. Loves outdoors. Just and fair. Spendthrift. Easily influenced. Easily loses confidence. Loves children.
_________________________________
NOVEMBER:
Has a lot of ideas. Difficult to fathom. Thinks forward. Unique and brilliant. Extraordinary ideas. Sharp thinking. Fine and strong clairvoyance. Can become good doctors. Dynamic in personality. Secretive. Inquisitive. Knows how to dig secrets. Always thinking. Less talkative but amiable. Brave and generous. Patient. Stubborn and hard-hearted. If there is a will, there is a way. Determined. Never give up. Hardly becomes angry unless provoked. Loves to be alone. Thinks differently from others. Sharp-minded. Motivates oneself. Does not appreciates praises.
High-spirited. Well-built and tough. Deep love and emotions. Romantic. Uncertain in relationships. Homely. Hardworking. High abilities. Trustworthy. Honest and keeps secrets. Not able to control emotions. Unpredictable
_________________________________
DECEMBER:
Loyal and generous. Sexy. Patriotic. Active in games and interactions. Impatient and hasty. Ambitious. Influential in organizations. Fun to be with. Loves to socialize. Loves praises. Loves attention. Loves to be loved. Honest and trustworthy. Not pretending. Short tempered. Changing
personality. Not egoistic. Take high pride in oneself. Hates restrictions. Loves to joke. Good sense of humor. Logical
Stubborn and hard-hearted. Ambitious and serious. Loves to teach and be taught. Always looking at people's flaws and weaknesses. Likes to criticize. Hardworking and productive. Smart, neat and organized. Sensitive and has deep thoughts. Knows how to make others happy. Quiet unless excited or tensed. Rather reserved. Highly attentive. Resistant to illnesses but prone to colds.
Romantic but has difficulties expressing love. Loves children. Loyal. Has great social abilities yet easily jealous. Very Stubborn and money cautious.
_______________________________________________
FEBRUARY:
Abstract thoughts. Loves reality and abstract. Intelligent and clever. Changing personality. Attractive. Sexy. Temperamental. Quiet, shy and humble. Honest and loyal. Determined to reach goals. Loves freedom. Rebellious when restricted. Loves aggressiveness. Too sensitive and easily hurt. Gets angry really easily but does not show it. Dislike unnecessary things. Loves making friends but rarely shows it. Daring and stubborn. Ambitious. Realizing dreams and hopes. Sharp.
Loves entertainment and leisure. Romantic on the inside not outside. Superstitious and ludicrous. Spendthrift. Tries to learn to show emotions.
_________________________________
MARCH:
Attractive personality.sexy. Affectionate.Shy and reserved. Secretive. Naturally honest, generous and sympathetic. Loves peace and serenity. Sensitive to others. Loves to serve others. Easily angered. Trustworthy. Appreciative and returns kindness. Observant and assesses others.
Revengeful. Loves to dream and fantasize. Loves traveling. Loves attention. Hasty decisions in choosing partners. Loves home decors. Musically talented. Loves special things. Moody.
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APRIL:
Active and dynamic. Decisive and haste but tends to regret. Attractive and affectionate to oneself. Strong mentality. Loves attention. Diplomatic. Consoling, friendly and solves people's problems. Brave and fearless. Adventurous. Loving and caring. Suave and generous. Emotional.
Aggressive. Hasty. Good memory. Moving Motivates oneself and others. Sickness usually of the head and chest. Sexy in a way that only their lover can see.
_________________________________
MAY:
Stubborn and hard-hearted. Strong-willed and highly motivated. Sharp thoughts. Easily angered. Attracts others and loves attention. Deep feelings. Beautiful physically and mentally. Firm Standpoint. Needs no motivation. Easily consoled. Systematic (left brain). Loves to dream. Strong
clairvoyance. Understanding. Sickness usually in the ear and neck. Good imagination. Good physical. Weak breathing. Loves literature and the arts. Loves traveling. Dislike being at home. Restless. Not having many children. Hardworking. High spirited. Spendthrift. _________________________________
JUNE:
Thinks far with vision. Easily influenced by kindness. Polite and soft-spoken. Having lots of ideas. Sensitive. Active mind. Hesitating, tends to delay. Choosy and always wants the best. Temperamental. Funny and humorous. Loves to joke. Good debating skills. Talkative. Daydreamer.
Friendly. Knows how to make friends. Abiding. Able to show character. Easily hurt. Prone to getting colds. Loves to dress up. Easily bored. Fussy. Seldom shows emotions. Takes time to recover when hurt. Brand conscious. Executive. Stubborn.
_________________________________
JULY:
Fun to be with. Secretive. Difficult to fathom and to be understood. Quiet unless excited or tensed. Takes pride in oneself. Has reputation. Easily consoled. Honest. Concerned about people's feelings. Tactful. Friendly. Approachable. Emotional temperamental and unpredictable. Moody and easily hurt. Witty and sparkly. Not revengeful. Forgiving but never forgets.
Dislikes nonsensical and unnecessary things. Guides others physically and mentally. Sensitive and forms impressions carefully. Caring and loving. Treats others equally. Strong sense of sympathy. Wary and sharp. Judges people through observations. Hardworking. No difficulties in studying. Loves to be alone. Always broods about the past and the old friends. Likes to be
quiet. Homely person. Waits for friends. Never looks for friends. Not aggressive unless provoked. Prone to having stomach and dieting problems. Loves to be loved. Easily hurt but takes long to recover.
_________________________________
AUGUST:
Loves to joke. Attractive. Suave and caring. Brave and fearless. Firm and has leadership qualities. Knows how to console others. Too generous and egoistic. Takes high pride of oneself. Thirsty for praises. Extraordinary spirit. Easily angered. Angry when provoked. Easily jealous. Observant. Careful and cautious. Thinks quickly. Independent thoughts. Loves to lead and to be led. Loves to dream. Talented in the arts, music and defense. Sensitive but not petty. Poor resistance against illnesses. Learns to relax. Hasty and trusty. Romantic. Loving and caring. Loves to make
friends .
_________________________________
SEPTEMBER:
Suave and compromising. Careful, cautious and organized. Likes to point out people's mistakes. Likes to criticize. Stubborn. Quiet but able to talk well. Calm and cool. Kind and sympathetic. Concerned and detailed. Loyal but not always honest. Does work well. Very confident. Sensitive.
Thinking generous. Good memory. Clever and knowledgeable. Loves to look for information. Must control oneself when criticizing. Able to motivate oneself. Understanding. Fun to be around. Secretive. Loves sports, leisure and traveling. Hardly shows emotions. Tends to bottle up feelings. Very choosy, especially in relationships. Systematic.
_________________________________
OCTOBER:
Loves to chat. Loves those who loves them. Loves to takes things at the center. Inner and physical beauty. Lies but doesn't pretend. Gets angry often. Treats friends importantly. Always making friends. Easily hurt but recovers easily. Daydreamer. Opinionated. Does not care of
what others think. Emotional. Decisive. Strong clairvoyance. Loves to travel, the arts and literature. Touchy and easily jealous. Concerned. Loves outdoors. Just and fair. Spendthrift. Easily influenced. Easily loses confidence. Loves children.
_________________________________
NOVEMBER:
Has a lot of ideas. Difficult to fathom. Thinks forward. Unique and brilliant. Extraordinary ideas. Sharp thinking. Fine and strong clairvoyance. Can become good doctors. Dynamic in personality. Secretive. Inquisitive. Knows how to dig secrets. Always thinking. Less talkative but amiable. Brave and generous. Patient. Stubborn and hard-hearted. If there is a will, there is a way. Determined. Never give up. Hardly becomes angry unless provoked. Loves to be alone. Thinks differently from others. Sharp-minded. Motivates oneself. Does not appreciates praises.
High-spirited. Well-built and tough. Deep love and emotions. Romantic. Uncertain in relationships. Homely. Hardworking. High abilities. Trustworthy. Honest and keeps secrets. Not able to control emotions. Unpredictable
_________________________________
DECEMBER:
Loyal and generous. Sexy. Patriotic. Active in games and interactions. Impatient and hasty. Ambitious. Influential in organizations. Fun to be with. Loves to socialize. Loves praises. Loves attention. Loves to be loved. Honest and trustworthy. Not pretending. Short tempered. Changing
personality. Not egoistic. Take high pride in oneself. Hates restrictions. Loves to joke. Good sense of humor. Logical
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Today's Quote
“The test of good manners is to be patient with bad ones.”
―Solomon ben Yehuda ibn Gabirol
A Bunny Story
Once upon a time there was a man who was peacefully driving down a windy road. Suddenly, a bunny skipped across the road and the man couldn't stop. He hit the bunny head on. The man quickly jumped out of his car to check the scene. There, lying lifeless in the middle of the road, was the Easter Bunny.
The man cried out, "Oh no! I have committed a terrible crime! I have run over the Easter Bunny!"
The man started sobbing quite hard and then he heard another car approaching. It was a woman in a red convertible. The woman stopped and asked what the problem was.The man explained, "I have done something horribly sad. I have run over the Easter Bunny. Now there will be no one to deliver eggs on Easter, and it's all my fault."
The woman ran back to her car. A moment later, she came back carrying a spray bottle. She ran over to the motionless bunny and sprayed it. The bunny immediately sprang up, ran into the woods, stopped, and waved back at the man and woman. Then it ran another 10 feet, stopped, and waved. It then ran another 10 feet, stopped, and waved again. It did this over and over and over again until the man and the woman could no longer see the bunny.
Once out of sight, the man exclaimed, "What is that stuff in that bottle?"
The woman replied, "It's harespray. It revitalizes hare and adds permanent wave."
The man cried out, "Oh no! I have committed a terrible crime! I have run over the Easter Bunny!"
The man started sobbing quite hard and then he heard another car approaching. It was a woman in a red convertible. The woman stopped and asked what the problem was.The man explained, "I have done something horribly sad. I have run over the Easter Bunny. Now there will be no one to deliver eggs on Easter, and it's all my fault."
The woman ran back to her car. A moment later, she came back carrying a spray bottle. She ran over to the motionless bunny and sprayed it. The bunny immediately sprang up, ran into the woods, stopped, and waved back at the man and woman. Then it ran another 10 feet, stopped, and waved. It then ran another 10 feet, stopped, and waved again. It did this over and over and over again until the man and the woman could no longer see the bunny.
Once out of sight, the man exclaimed, "What is that stuff in that bottle?"
The woman replied, "It's harespray. It revitalizes hare and adds permanent wave."
All I need to know I learned from the Easter Bunny!
Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
Everyone needs a friend who is all ears.
There's no such thing as too much candy.
All work and no play can make you a basket case.
A cute tail attracts a lot of attention.
Everyone is entitled to a bad hare day.
Let happy thoughts multiply like rabbits.
Some body parts should be floppy.
Keep your paws off of other people's jelly beans.
Good things come in small, sugar coated packages.
The grass is always greener in someone else's basket.
To show your true colors, you have to come out of the shell.
The best things in life are still sweet and gooey.
May the joy of the season fill your heart.
Happy Easter!
Everyone needs a friend who is all ears.
There's no such thing as too much candy.
All work and no play can make you a basket case.
A cute tail attracts a lot of attention.
Everyone is entitled to a bad hare day.
Let happy thoughts multiply like rabbits.
Some body parts should be floppy.
Keep your paws off of other people's jelly beans.
Good things come in small, sugar coated packages.
The grass is always greener in someone else's basket.
To show your true colors, you have to come out of the shell.
The best things in life are still sweet and gooey.
May the joy of the season fill your heart.
Happy Easter!
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Today's Quote
"A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs; jolted by every pebble in the road."
Henry Ward Beecher
1813-1887, Preacher and Abolitionist
I'm gonna have to start a rescue except I can't part with them
#2 because I think she's asking too much for them - $350 - $50 of it refundable after spaying.
#3 I need to try to find a used playpen to contain her.
Ok, slap me and call me stupid but I got a call from a rescue this evening and Saturday I am going to go meet this little 9 wk old mini schnauzer who is in need of a home. Seems she was adopted but is being returned for 'being a puppy'. Izzy needs a playmate as Taz and Zoey are pretty bonded to one another and they are old and not as playful as Iz. So we will go meet our potential FOURTH addition to the fold. I've been laying here thinking up Z names all evening. (Mayzee, Bitzy, Bizzy, Soozee, Weezie....BUT I think I like Gracie). So we'll see. I'm taking Iz with me to meet her - the other two won't mind, Iz may.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Today's Quote
"It's easy to make a buck. It's a lot tougher to make a difference."
— Tom Brokaw: American TV journalist and author
A Faith-Based Wake-Up Call on Earth Day
By Bishop Gene Robinson
Is it just coincidence, or divine providence, that Earth Day 2011 is also Good Friday? In the midst of budget cut proposals, compromises on services to the poor and needy, and a rush to preserve the wealth of America’s top-earning 1 percent, it is not surprising that the environment is all but forgotten.
Ignoring environmental issues will cost us, too, however. Current efforts to rein in spending and reduce the federal deficit are all done in the name of future generations who, the thinking goes, should not have to shoulder the burden of massive federal debt perpetrated by previous generations. This sounds reasonable. But at the same time we are neglecting climate change and other environmental problems that will affect not just our children and grandchildren but every living thing on earth. What good will a manageable debt be if we can’t breathe the air, drink the water, or withstand the sun’s harmful rays?
The little attention that is paid to the environment in the current budget debate is troubling. For instance, there have been recent attempts to strip the Environmental Protection Agency of its newly won authority to control polluting emissions into the air. Yet this aspect of the budget fight has not been able to break through the larger narrative about deficits, taxes, and government spending.
Read more
Is it just coincidence, or divine providence, that Earth Day 2011 is also Good Friday? In the midst of budget cut proposals, compromises on services to the poor and needy, and a rush to preserve the wealth of America’s top-earning 1 percent, it is not surprising that the environment is all but forgotten.
Ignoring environmental issues will cost us, too, however. Current efforts to rein in spending and reduce the federal deficit are all done in the name of future generations who, the thinking goes, should not have to shoulder the burden of massive federal debt perpetrated by previous generations. This sounds reasonable. But at the same time we are neglecting climate change and other environmental problems that will affect not just our children and grandchildren but every living thing on earth. What good will a manageable debt be if we can’t breathe the air, drink the water, or withstand the sun’s harmful rays?
The little attention that is paid to the environment in the current budget debate is troubling. For instance, there have been recent attempts to strip the Environmental Protection Agency of its newly won authority to control polluting emissions into the air. Yet this aspect of the budget fight has not been able to break through the larger narrative about deficits, taxes, and government spending.
Read more
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Today's Quote
“What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: 'tis dearness only that gives
every thing its value.”
Thomas Paine (1737–1809)
American businessman, philanthropist
Here is a pic of a litter mate of the rescue I am considering....
Snatam Kaur - The Sun Shines On Everyone
From the album 'Feeling Good Today !' (Songs & Mantras For Children) by Snatam Kaur.
Take good care of each other.
I have send you nothing but angels.
Take good care of each other.
I have send you nothing but angels.
Wendy's New Fries Beats McD's in Taste Test
Actually, I don't like either one of them. McDonald's fries have had a funny taste to them for years...since they decided to have 'healthy fries'...totally distasteful....and I didn't care for the Wendy's....tasted like sticks of cardboard! If I'm gonna eat fries, I'm not expecting health food. I want them fried in oil with loads of salt. In my opinion, White Castle's krinkle cut fries are the best.
Wendy's/Arby's Group Inc. (WEN: 4.68, -0.07, -1.47%) is standing up to its biggest burger rival, McDonald's Corp. (MCD: 76.91, -1.49, -1.90%), by putting its marketing dollars toward gaining more French fry market share.
Wendy's unveiled its new French fries in November, a recipe that involves sea-salted Russet potatoes with the skin on that are cooked in a new oil to get a more "natural" taste. The chain says French fry unit sales were up 16% during the national media launch in December.
Wendy's also says that in a blind taste test, about 56% of consumers chose its new French fries, while only about 39% chose McDonald's as the best-tasting version.
Read more
Quarter-Million Dead and Not Counting
After this past weekend of horrific storms and tornadoes, it was clearly appropriate for our elected officials to declare a federal disaster in some areas. With the designation comes some federal money and help for the storm-ravaged areas and residents. Few would quarrel with our government stepping up and stepping in when so many lives and so many livelihoods have been damaged and lost. It is the right thing to do, and some suffering will be mitigated.
Over the past four years since the making of SiCKO, Michael Moore’s 2007 documentary, an estimated 45,000 people each and every year have died simply because they lacked access to healthcare. The US healthcare dead are dead not because the care wasn’t available – it just wasn’t available to them. They did not have the financial means (either the cash, credit or correct insurance coverage) to demonstrate to a healthcare provider or doctor that they should be treated and that their lives should be saved.
That’s tipping toward the quarter-million dead mark soon enough. The US healthcare dead could fill Trenton, NJ, or the Palm Springs area of California, or Daytona Beach, FL, or Canton, OH, or Boise City, ID, Rockford, IL, or Ann Arbor, MI – to name just a few of the cities with populations roughly equivalent to those killed by greed not disease or injury just since 2006 and 2007 when SiCKO was being produced and when it was released.
Read more
Over the past four years since the making of SiCKO, Michael Moore’s 2007 documentary, an estimated 45,000 people each and every year have died simply because they lacked access to healthcare. The US healthcare dead are dead not because the care wasn’t available – it just wasn’t available to them. They did not have the financial means (either the cash, credit or correct insurance coverage) to demonstrate to a healthcare provider or doctor that they should be treated and that their lives should be saved.
That’s tipping toward the quarter-million dead mark soon enough. The US healthcare dead could fill Trenton, NJ, or the Palm Springs area of California, or Daytona Beach, FL, or Canton, OH, or Boise City, ID, Rockford, IL, or Ann Arbor, MI – to name just a few of the cities with populations roughly equivalent to those killed by greed not disease or injury just since 2006 and 2007 when SiCKO was being produced and when it was released.
Read more
Best Free Stuff for Your PC
PC World has put together a useful list of 68 free webtools and downloads to help you with various computing tasks.
7 Layer Dinner
For an easy way to get your meat and potatoes - and other veggies - all in one tasty dish, try a casserole! This one is easy to make - and the whole house smells good while it's cooking.
Serves: 8
Cooking Time: 1 hr
Ingredients
* 4 white potatoes, sliced
* 1 16-ounce can peas, drained, 1/3 cup of the liquid reserved
* 1/2 head red or white cabbage, shredded
* 2 large sweet potatoes, sliced
* 1 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced
* 1 large Bermuda onion, sliced thin
* 1 large red onion, sliced thin
* 4 8-ounce pork or lamb chops
* garlic powder, salt, and pepper to taste
* 16 ounces marinara or catsup
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
2. Lightly grease a deep casserole dish on the bottom.
3. Layer the sliced white potatoes and sprinkle with garlic powder.
4. Layer peas.
5. Layer sweet potatoes.
6. Layer cabbage or spinach and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
7. Layer mushrooms and sprinkle with pepper.
8. Layer both onions and sprinkle with pepper.
9. Sprinkle chops with garlic, salt, and pepper and place them, seasoned side down, on top of the onions.
10. Mix the reserved pea water with the marinara or catsup and pour over the casserole.
11. Cover with a tight lid or foil and bake at 350F degrees for 40-45 minutes.
12. Remove cover and bake another 15 minutes or so, until top is browned well.
Related Recipes
Serves: 8
Cooking Time: 1 hr
Ingredients
* 4 white potatoes, sliced
* 1 16-ounce can peas, drained, 1/3 cup of the liquid reserved
* 1/2 head red or white cabbage, shredded
* 2 large sweet potatoes, sliced
* 1 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced
* 1 large Bermuda onion, sliced thin
* 1 large red onion, sliced thin
* 4 8-ounce pork or lamb chops
* garlic powder, salt, and pepper to taste
* 16 ounces marinara or catsup
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
2. Lightly grease a deep casserole dish on the bottom.
3. Layer the sliced white potatoes and sprinkle with garlic powder.
4. Layer peas.
5. Layer sweet potatoes.
6. Layer cabbage or spinach and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
7. Layer mushrooms and sprinkle with pepper.
8. Layer both onions and sprinkle with pepper.
9. Sprinkle chops with garlic, salt, and pepper and place them, seasoned side down, on top of the onions.
10. Mix the reserved pea water with the marinara or catsup and pour over the casserole.
11. Cover with a tight lid or foil and bake at 350F degrees for 40-45 minutes.
12. Remove cover and bake another 15 minutes or so, until top is browned well.
Related Recipes
CBS looks into brain differences in conservatives, liberals
On Wednesday night, CBS News explored a recent study by University College London researchers that found differing brain structures in liberals and conservatives. It also interviewed the authors.
“Liberals are better able to cope better with conflicting information, while conservatives are better at recognizing and responding to threats,” said a narrator, explaining one finding.
“Liberals are better able to cope better with conflicting information, while conservatives are better at recognizing and responding to threats,” said a narrator, explaining one finding.
Lotto Winner Janitor-Coach Keeps Job and Donates Track to School
Five years ago, Curry won nearly $3.4 million in the Washington state lottery. Even before his numbers were drawn, the coach knew where he wanted to spend it.
"Ten years ago, I said if I win some money, I'm going to put a track here."
In early April coach Curry presented the district with $40,000 to go towards a brand new track.
"Tyrone goes above and beyond in the sports he coaches," said senior Devante Botello. "It's a deep feeling. All I can say is thanks."
Curry said the gift he has given Evergreen pales in comparison to what the kids have given him.
Read more/video
"Ten years ago, I said if I win some money, I'm going to put a track here."
In early April coach Curry presented the district with $40,000 to go towards a brand new track.
"Tyrone goes above and beyond in the sports he coaches," said senior Devante Botello. "It's a deep feeling. All I can say is thanks."
Curry said the gift he has given Evergreen pales in comparison to what the kids have given him.
Read more/video
Stranger Catches Falling Baby
A tragic death was narrowly avoided in Orlando Wednesday night when a quick-thinking hotel guest caught a two year old as she fell from a fourth-floor balcony. Jah-Nea Myles was playing on a balcony and had apparently escaped the attention of her mother and a friend. Helen Beard, an English tourist, saw Myles hanging from the balcony, then slipping through and falling, so she caught the girl before she hit the ground. Although Myles struck a railing on her way down, police said she appeared to be unhurt and in good spirits.
Read more
Read more
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Today's Quote
“You get peace of mind not by thinking about it or imagining it, but by quietening and relaxing the restless mind.”
-Remez Sasson
The circumstances of your life and the people in it aren’t responsible for your state of mind–you are. You can’t control what happens around you; you can only shape what happens within you.
If you can find peace even when life seems uncertain, challenging, or scary, you’ll have a resource of calm to access through all of life’s highs and lows.
The Wayback Juke Box - She's Gone (1976) - Hall & Oates
This song, a blue-eyed soul slow jam, was released as the single off of Hall & Oates third LP Abandoned Luncheonette in 1974 to little success...But after Tavares had at #1 hit with it on the soul charts in the same year (Lou Rawls also recorded it in '74), and the success of Hall & Oates Sara Smile in 1975, Atlantic Records re-released She's Gone in '76, seeing it hit #7 on the pop charts.
Found! The Secret 12-Point Plan To Sell Pro-Wealth Policies To The Middle Class
By Richard (RJ) Eskow
It's almost like they had a plan. The right-wing has been trying to dismantle the New Deal since its inception, but after decades of failure it's found a new path to success. They're already persuaded quite a few Democrats to support the first steps toward dismantling Medicare and Social Security. They've also convinced a lot of journalists to ignore detailed economic analyses, and accept the ideological platforms of the far right as "moderate" and "reasonable."
How do you do it? How do you sell a nation on dismantling its most popular programs at a time when they're more needed than ever? How do you convince an entire class of people - the middle class - to voluntarily surrender their health and financial security to benefit those who are far wealthier than they are?
Well, we found it! We found the twenty-year-old PowerPoint presentation that outlines the whole thing - the radical agenda, and the 12-point marketing plan that made it possible. Here it is, available to the public for the first time anywhere:
Selling the Middle Class Sell-Out
It's almost like they had a plan. The right-wing has been trying to dismantle the New Deal since its inception, but after decades of failure it's found a new path to success. They're already persuaded quite a few Democrats to support the first steps toward dismantling Medicare and Social Security. They've also convinced a lot of journalists to ignore detailed economic analyses, and accept the ideological platforms of the far right as "moderate" and "reasonable."
How do you do it? How do you sell a nation on dismantling its most popular programs at a time when they're more needed than ever? How do you convince an entire class of people - the middle class - to voluntarily surrender their health and financial security to benefit those who are far wealthier than they are?
Well, we found it! We found the twenty-year-old PowerPoint presentation that outlines the whole thing - the radical agenda, and the 12-point marketing plan that made it possible. Here it is, available to the public for the first time anywhere:
Selling the Middle Class Sell-Out
Another Blonde Joke
WHAT IS A 710 ?
A few days ago I was having some work done at my local garage.
A Blonde Lady came in and asked for a new seven hundred & ten.
We all looked at each other and another customer asked,
'What is a seven hundred & ten?'
She replied, 'You know, the little piece in the middle of the engine,
I have lost it and need a new one..'
She replied that she did not know exactly what it was,
but this piece had always been there.
The mechanic gave her a piece of paper and a pen and
asked her to draw what the piece looked like.
She drew a circle and in the middle of it wrote 710.
He then took her over to another car which had its hood up
and asked 'Is there a 710 on this car?'
She pointed and said, 'Of course, it's right there.'
If you're not sure what a 710 is .... see below!
She wrote 710 on a piece of paper. You do the same and
then turn it upside down and read it. You'll know what a 710 is too.
A few days ago I was having some work done at my local garage.
A Blonde Lady came in and asked for a new seven hundred & ten.
We all looked at each other and another customer asked,
'What is a seven hundred & ten?'
She replied, 'You know, the little piece in the middle of the engine,
I have lost it and need a new one..'
She replied that she did not know exactly what it was,
but this piece had always been there.
The mechanic gave her a piece of paper and a pen and
asked her to draw what the piece looked like.
She drew a circle and in the middle of it wrote 710.
He then took her over to another car which had its hood up
and asked 'Is there a 710 on this car?'
She pointed and said, 'Of course, it's right there.'
If you're not sure what a 710 is .... see below!
She wrote 710 on a piece of paper. You do the same and
then turn it upside down and read it. You'll know what a 710 is too.
Crazy Facts
In the 1400's a law was set forth that a man was not allowed to beat his wife with a stick no thicker than his thumb. Hence we have "the rule of thumb".
Many years ago in Scotland, a new game was invented. It was ruled "Gentlemen Only...Ladies Forbidden"...and thus the word GOLF entered into the English language.
The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time TV was Fred and Wilma Flintstone.
Every day more money is printed for Monopoly than the US Treasury.
Men can read smaller print than women can; women can hear better.
Coca-Cola was originally green.
It is impossible to lick your elbow.
The average number of people airborne over the US any given hour: 61,000
Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.
The first novel ever written on a typewriter: Tom Sawyer.
Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king in history:
Spades - King David
Hearts - Charlemagne
Clubs -Alexander, the Great
Diamonds - Julius Caesar
111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321
If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle. If the horse has one front leg in the air the person died as a result of wounds received in battle. If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural
causes.
Q. If you were to spell out numbers, how far would you have to go until you would find the letter "A"?
A. One thousand
Q. What do bullet-proof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers, and laser printers all have in common?
A. All invented by women.
Q. What is the only food that doesn't spoil?
A. Honey
In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes. When you pulled on the ropes the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep on. Hence the phrase "goodnight, sleep tight."
It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month, which we know today as the honeymoon.
In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts... So in old England, when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them "Mind your pints and quarts, and settle down." It's where we get the phrase "mind your P's and Q's"
Many years ago in England, pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim, or handle, of their ceramic cups. When they needed a refill, they used the whistle to get some service. "Wet your whistle" is the phrase inspired by this practice.
Don't delete this just because it looks weird. Believe it or not, you can read it.
I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdgnieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the human mnid aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a word are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.
Many years ago in Scotland, a new game was invented. It was ruled "Gentlemen Only...Ladies Forbidden"...and thus the word GOLF entered into the English language.
The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time TV was Fred and Wilma Flintstone.
Every day more money is printed for Monopoly than the US Treasury.
Men can read smaller print than women can; women can hear better.
Coca-Cola was originally green.
It is impossible to lick your elbow.
The average number of people airborne over the US any given hour: 61,000
Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.
The first novel ever written on a typewriter: Tom Sawyer.
Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king in history:
Spades - King David
Hearts - Charlemagne
Clubs -Alexander, the Great
Diamonds - Julius Caesar
111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321
If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle. If the horse has one front leg in the air the person died as a result of wounds received in battle. If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural
causes.
Q. If you were to spell out numbers, how far would you have to go until you would find the letter "A"?
A. One thousand
Q. What do bullet-proof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers, and laser printers all have in common?
A. All invented by women.
Q. What is the only food that doesn't spoil?
A. Honey
In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes. When you pulled on the ropes the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep on. Hence the phrase "goodnight, sleep tight."
It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month, which we know today as the honeymoon.
In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts... So in old England, when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them "Mind your pints and quarts, and settle down." It's where we get the phrase "mind your P's and Q's"
Many years ago in England, pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim, or handle, of their ceramic cups. When they needed a refill, they used the whistle to get some service. "Wet your whistle" is the phrase inspired by this practice.
Don't delete this just because it looks weird. Believe it or not, you can read it.
I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdgnieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the human mnid aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a word are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.
Obama ran against Bush, but now governs like him
Which is why he's a huge disappointment to me.
He ran as the anti-Bush. Silver-tongued, not tongue-tied. A team player on the world stage, not a lone cowboy. A man who'd put a stop to reckless Bush policies at home and abroad. In short, Barack Obama represented Change. Well, that was then. Now, on one major policy after another, President Barack Obama seems to be morphing into George W. Bush.
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Beef and Broccoli
Prep Time: 25 min.
Cook Time: 20 min.
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 pound boneless beef sirloin steak or beef top round steak, 3/4-inch thick, cut into thin strips
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's® Condensed Tomato Soup
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon vinegar
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
3 cups fresh or frozen broccoli florets cut into 1-inch pieces
1 cup regular long-grain white rice, prepared according to package directions (about 3 cups)
1. Heat the oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef and stir-fry until well browned.
2. Stir the soup, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic powder and red pepper, if desired, in the skillet and heat to a boil. Stir in the broccoli and cook until it's tender-crisp. Serve the beef mixture over the rice.
Ingredient Note: To make slicing easier, freeze the beef for 1 hour.
Serving Suggestion: Serve with glazed baby carrots: steam carrots with a touch of butter, brown sugar and cinnamon. For dessert serve chocolate ice cream.
Makes: 4 servings (about 2 cups each).
Broccoli stalks are just as tasty as florets. To use them, simply cut the stalks into small pieces - because the stalks are denser than the florets, they'll need a few extra minutes to cook so plan accordingly.
Cook Time: 20 min.
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 pound boneless beef sirloin steak or beef top round steak, 3/4-inch thick, cut into thin strips
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's® Condensed Tomato Soup
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon vinegar
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
3 cups fresh or frozen broccoli florets cut into 1-inch pieces
1 cup regular long-grain white rice, prepared according to package directions (about 3 cups)
1. Heat the oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef and stir-fry until well browned.
2. Stir the soup, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic powder and red pepper, if desired, in the skillet and heat to a boil. Stir in the broccoli and cook until it's tender-crisp. Serve the beef mixture over the rice.
Ingredient Note: To make slicing easier, freeze the beef for 1 hour.
Serving Suggestion: Serve with glazed baby carrots: steam carrots with a touch of butter, brown sugar and cinnamon. For dessert serve chocolate ice cream.
Makes: 4 servings (about 2 cups each).
Broccoli stalks are just as tasty as florets. To use them, simply cut the stalks into small pieces - because the stalks are denser than the florets, they'll need a few extra minutes to cook so plan accordingly.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
10-Year-Old Crossing Guard Saves Child’s Life
A fifth-grade student who pulled a young girl out of the street as a distracted driver barreled through a crosswalk is being honored for his bravery with a major national award.
Evan Siegel, a fifth-grade student at Salmon Creek Elementary School, takes part in a safety program that helps children cross a busy road in front of the school.
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Evan Siegel, a fifth-grade student at Salmon Creek Elementary School, takes part in a safety program that helps children cross a busy road in front of the school.
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Arizona governor vetoes birther, campus gun bills
FINALLY some sanity in Arizona state government and from their intellectually challenged governor no less.
Arizona's Republican Governor Jan Brewer on Monday vetoed two controversial bills, one mandating proof of U.S. citizenship to run for president, the other allowing guns on college campuses, in a clear setback for conservatives who control the state legislature.
Brewer, who grabbed headlines a year ago when she signed a get-tough state law cracking down on illegal immigrants, vetoed the bills in an announcement late on Monday.
The so-called "birther bill," would have made Arizona the first state in the nation to require presidential candidates prove U.S. citizenship by providing a long form birth certificate, and other forms of proof including baptismal or circumcision certificates, to be placed on the state ballot.
"I never imagined being presented with a bill that could require candidates for president of the greatest and most powerful nation on earth to submit their 'early baptism or circumcision certificates' ... This is a bridge too far," she said..
A former Arizona secretary of state, Brewer said she did not support designating one person as "gatekeeper to the ballot for a candidate," as it "could lead to arbitrary or politically motivated decisions."
Read more
Six racehorses burned to death after driver flicks a cigarette into their trailer
There's a special place in hell.
Six racehorses burned to death after a driver flicked a cigarette into their trailer as they were being driven to their first start of the season.
The young thoroughbreds desperately tried to escape but were trapped in their box when the hay around them caught on fire.
As smoke started billowing from the New York bound-trailer its drivers pulled over and tried to put out the fire but they unable to save the animals.
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Sick Leave
I urgently needed a few days off work, But, I knew the Boss would not allow me to take leave. I thought that maybe if I acted 'Crazy' then he would tell me to take a few days off. So, I hung upside-down on the ceiling and made funny noises. My co-worker asked me what I was doing. I told her that I was pretending to be a light bulb, so that the Boss might think I was 'Crazy' and give me a few days off.
A few minutes later the Boss came into the office and asked, 'What in the name of our good Lord are you doing? I told him I was a light bulb. He said, 'You are clearly stressed out.' Go home and recuperate for a couple of days. I jumped down and walked out of the office... When my co-worker followed me, the Boss asked her, '...And where do you think you're going?!
(You're gonna love this part...)
She said, 'I'm going home too. I can't work in the dark.
A few minutes later the Boss came into the office and asked, 'What in the name of our good Lord are you doing? I told him I was a light bulb. He said, 'You are clearly stressed out.' Go home and recuperate for a couple of days. I jumped down and walked out of the office... When my co-worker followed me, the Boss asked her, '...And where do you think you're going?!
(You're gonna love this part...)
She said, 'I'm going home too. I can't work in the dark.
What The Heck's A Vision Board—and How Can It Change Your Life?
What The Heck's A Vision Board—and How Can It Change Your Life?
By Martha Beck
O, The Oprah Magazine | From the June 2010 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine
Comments (43)
| Print
I've discovered there's a trick to making a vision board that brings forth such improbable coincidences. It starts with avoiding common pitfalls that result in faulty, inoperative models. Many people hear the basic instructions—"Find pictures of things you want in your life and stick 'em where you can see 'em"—and create virtually identical collages: a wad of cash, a handsome husband, a gorgeous body, a luxury car, a tropical beach.
Snore. These images constitute our culture's idea of the good life. Even a rich, happily married beauty queen with a Porsche in the driveway and a house on the ocean will crank out this same damn vision board. This has no juice at all. To really work, a vision board has to come not from your culture but from your primordial, nonsocial self—the genetically unique animal/angel that contains your innate preferences.
When you start assembling pictures that appeal to this deep self, you unleash one of the most powerful forces on our planet: human imagination. Virtually everything humans use, do, or make exists because someone thought it up. Sparking your incredibly powerful creative faculty is the reason you make a vision board. The board itself doesn't impact reality; what changes your life is the process of creating the images—combinations of objects and events that will stick in your subconscious mind and steer your choices toward making the vision real.
Vision Board 101
I've known for some time that staring at objects while holding pictures in my head makes reality oddly responsive. I was persuaded of this by two events so striking and improbable that I'll describe them to you in some detail. Both occurred while I was illustrating a children's book, which was never published because: (1) My animal/angel didn't really want to create it; (2) I got tired after doing about 25 percent of the illustrations; and (3) the book basically sucked.
Read more
By Martha Beck
O, The Oprah Magazine | From the June 2010 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine
Comments (43)
I've discovered there's a trick to making a vision board that brings forth such improbable coincidences. It starts with avoiding common pitfalls that result in faulty, inoperative models. Many people hear the basic instructions—"Find pictures of things you want in your life and stick 'em where you can see 'em"—and create virtually identical collages: a wad of cash, a handsome husband, a gorgeous body, a luxury car, a tropical beach.
Snore. These images constitute our culture's idea of the good life. Even a rich, happily married beauty queen with a Porsche in the driveway and a house on the ocean will crank out this same damn vision board. This has no juice at all. To really work, a vision board has to come not from your culture but from your primordial, nonsocial self—the genetically unique animal/angel that contains your innate preferences.
When you start assembling pictures that appeal to this deep self, you unleash one of the most powerful forces on our planet: human imagination. Virtually everything humans use, do, or make exists because someone thought it up. Sparking your incredibly powerful creative faculty is the reason you make a vision board. The board itself doesn't impact reality; what changes your life is the process of creating the images—combinations of objects and events that will stick in your subconscious mind and steer your choices toward making the vision real.
Vision Board 101
I've known for some time that staring at objects while holding pictures in my head makes reality oddly responsive. I was persuaded of this by two events so striking and improbable that I'll describe them to you in some detail. Both occurred while I was illustrating a children's book, which was never published because: (1) My animal/angel didn't really want to create it; (2) I got tired after doing about 25 percent of the illustrations; and (3) the book basically sucked.
Read more
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