Weekend Watchdog

*

???

The Hanukit is a tiny, high-speed menorah made out of a piece of aluminum that you load with up to nine wooden matchsticks and set alight -- for people who like their holiday prayers fast.

http://reddishstudio.com/tabletop/hanukit01.htm

Good one!

If Iran follows Saddam's example can you expect a different outcome?

Who is willing play Russian Roulette?

Will Europe or Israel play a suicide game?

Who is will to trust their life on these NIE reports?

France, Germany, and Israel are not buying that NIE report.

Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy made a show of harmony on Thursday

Dec. 6.

The two agreed on the same line on Iran, and Germany's chancellor took back her criticism of the French president's Mediterranean Union plan.

Despite the findings of a US intelligence report earlier this week that said Iran had stopped its nuclear weapons program in 2003, the consensus between Chancellor Merkel and President Sarkozy in Paris Thursday evening, was that the Islamic republic remained a threat.

"I believe that we're in a process, that Iran also presents a threat," Merkel said at a joint press conference with Sarkozy, adding that there were "gaps" in Iran's cooperation over its nuclear program.

"Everyone is aware of the fact that the Iranian leadership wants a military nuclear program," Sarkozy said.

i thought you were gonna ask me about the pig...

else watching SpitBall? Heck of a review on Hillary. Lady called her a winger.

A Left Winger or A Right Winger?

like Lieberman. Called her a Rethug.

that was a tiny exaggeration but called her right wing. Same thing in my book.

but it sounds like you got it.

She said the republicans thing of her as a liberal but she is not. Said she was the one pushing Bill to defund womens issues.

hey its friday night, pizza night. the dog is waiting at the door for the pizza guy. lousy fucking week, i was on the wrong side of the market for the last three days. as painful at it was i decided to end up flat (no positions) at the end of the day, and start over on monday.

aint bad dan. Some days, that's a winner of a story. How does your dog know about the pizza guy?

my wifes dog (that says a lot) loves table scraps. somewhere along the way he learned the sounds associated with us talking about ordering pizza. this was reinforced by food showing up 30 minutes later. factor in that friday night is a repeatable event and you've got a good pavolvian response.

needless to say he doesn't care. he just knows that he heard the word pizza and that in about 40 minutes i'll be breaking off pieces and feeding him.

-2 sp. pavlovian

true. volume is remarkably low which means the institutions are on the sidelines waiting to pounce. the rally is really the dumb money thinking things are going great.

check out the graphs for rimm. it has been the target of some major manipulation.

Not the Real Thing: Detroit-Area Man Accused of Selling Fake Coca-Cola

Staff
AP News

Dec 07, 2007 16:04 EST

Federal authorities say a Warren man hasn't been selling "the real thing" to area restaurants. Officials say Cecil Donald St. Pierre has been offering a generic syrup for use in fountain drink dispensers, but labeling it as Coca-Cola.

St. Pierre told The Detroit News outside federal court in Detroit on Thursday that his customers know it is not Coca-Cola. He says he uses Coke boxes but puts his own labeling on top.

Federal officials have charged St. Pierre, 69, with conspiracy, trafficking in counterfeit goods, mislabeling a food product and operating a food processing plant without federal registration.

The trafficking charge is a 10-year felony.

she's playing the huckabee sound bite where he claims that god is causing the surge in his popularity.

how can you be so effin arrogant to think that god cares that you are the candidate.

http://www.samsedershow.com/node/1908
.=.=.=.=.=
Jamesbennett

for an old man selling a coke wannabe syrup. hmmm. tell me again how much time scooter pie spent in jail for lying about corruption at the highest levels of our government.

a Pizza Hut!

dr,

I responded to your question on the tail end of the previous thread before I noticed that I had been left behind in the blog dust.

Brett

I didn't do it, nobody saw me do it, there's no way you can prove anything!

- the bane of dan's existence

Is on fire!

This weeks McLaughlin Group
is a must see, even though
it has that peroxide idiot
Monica Crowley in for Tony.
Damn I never thought I'd miss Tony Blankly.
:p

Watch it when it plays in your area.

What a relief to be home in front of the fire again...

*

Was checking out James Baldwin books today...

Imagination

Imagination
creates the situation,
and, then, the situation
creates imagination.

It may, of course,
be the other way around:
Columbus was discovered
by what he found.

From: Jimmy's Blues, Selected Poems, James Baldwin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ty6XkY3O7b8&feature=related

This week on RadioNation: Lefty Male Pundits Heart Huckabee?

This week on RadioNation: A forum discussion on the vote in Venezuela: a defeat for Chavez or a victory for Chavista democracy? What will the NIE on Iran slow down faster: Bush/Cheney's rush to war -- or Hillary Clinton? KATHA POLLITT and the ARKANSAS TIMES' MAX BRANTLEY on lefty male pundits who love Mike Huckabee, and a RadioNation exclusive with a former Iraqi translator now seeking asylum in the states.

Hearting Huckabee

wtf kinda freak is she anyway?

http://action.freepress.net/campaign/tyownership?rk=vp2GDas1Efi6E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYkWMAbFVc0

Had company for dinner tonight and left the last thread open on my computer. Should have known to check for a new thread.

Evening all!!

Roll The Tape Larry Johnson
new
Submitted by toniD on Fri, 12/07/2007 - 10:44pm.
Roll The Tape
Larry Johnson tells us what the bottom line is on the CIA torture tapes.

--Josh Marshall

http://www.tpmcafe.com/blog/coffeehouse/2007/dec/07/torture_tapes

Reminder
Submitted by toniD on Fri, 12/07/2007 - 10:29pm.
Moyers is on tonight.

NEWSLETTER - Friday, December 7, 2007

"You can't just be President of the Christians. You can't just be President of Christian and Jews.
You have to be President of all the people in America.
And, we are people of great diversity including people who don't embrace a faith."
- Melissa Rogers

This week on BILL MOYERS JOURNAL (check local listings)

New media is changing the face, pace, and language of the election, but how is it affecting the candidates' races? Bill Moyers gets perspective on the impact of the Web—blogs, YouTube, and social networking—on the election from Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center.

Then, with evangelical pastor Mike Huckabee surging in the polls and Mitt Romney's speech on his Mormon faith, Moyers and Jamieson are joined by scholar Melissa Rogers for a discussion of religion in politics. Rogers is visiting professor of Religion and Public Policy at Wake Forest University Divinity School.

Kennedy: Tape destruction is ‘a mockery of the rule of law.’ On the Senate floor today, Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) railed against the Bush administration over the revelation that the CIA had destroyed videotapes in 2005 of agency officials using harsh interrogation tactics. Calling it a “cover-up,” Kennedy declared that “we haven’t seen anything like this since the eighteen and a half minute gap in the tapes of President Richard Nixon” and that the administration is “making a mockery of the rule of law.” Watch it:

Kennedy noted that news of the tape destruction came “the very same week that we learned that as many as ten million White House emails have not been preserved,” saying that “the pattern is unmistakable.”

UPDATE: Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers and Reps. Robert Scott, William Delahunt and Jerrold Nadler have sent letters to Central Intelligence Agency Director Gen. Michael Hayden and Attorney General Michael Mukasey requesting details about today’s reports that the CIA destroyed videotapes of interrogation activities.

UPDATE II: Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ): “Next week, I plan to hold an oversight hearing in the Select Intelligence Oversight Panel with General Hayden to examine this matter in detail.”

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/12/07/kennedy-tape-destruction-is-a-mocker...

break my heart all over again.
.=.=.=.=.=
Jamesbennett

Bush’s ‘too little, too late’ subprime solution. On The Situation Room yesterday, CNN financial analyst Ali Velshi broke down Bush’s mortgage plan “Despite the fact that the White House says it’s going to help up to 1.2 million people,” Velshi said, “the best numbers we can get is 240,000 people who are going to be helped by this.” CNN noted that the rules attached to the plan cut out many homeowners who need help. “There’s still a lot of people who stand to lose their homes. That means a lot of people are saying this plan is a little too little and a little too late,” Velshi said. Watch it:

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/12/07/bushs-too-little-too-late-subprime-s...

No Abba !

Just kidding,sort of ! ;)

"Hello to our friends and fans in domestic surveillance."

Hybrid sales up 82 percent in one year. Sales of hybrid cars rose 82 percent from Nov. 2006 to Nov. 2007, with sales of the Toyota Prius up 109 percent. Since General Motors does not report its hybrid sales sepearately, the total figure of hybrids sold is likely even higher. Climate Progress attributes to sales increase to the rise of gasoline prices.

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2007/12/hybrids-post-st.html

This Modern World
by Tom Tomorrow
November 27th, 2007 5:05 PM

http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0748,tomorrow,78489,9.html

"just getting out of one car, getting into another."
--John Lennon

La. GOP lawmaker McCrery plans to retire

La. Rep. Jim McCrery, Senior Republican on House Ways and Means Committee, Plans to Retire

DAVID ESPO
AP News

Dec 07, 2007 21:22 EST

Louisiana Rep. Jim McCrery, senior Republican on the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, told associates Friday he intends to retire rather than seek re-election in 2008.

McCrery, 58, joins 17 other Republicans who are headed into voluntary retirement as the party struggles to adjust to its return to minority status in the 2006 elections.

Officials disclosed McCrery's decision on condition of anonymity, not wanting to pre-empt a formal statement.

A statement prepared for release said that McCrery reached his decision out of disappointment that Republicans no longer controlled the House as well as a desire to spend more time with his children.

McCrery had been well-positioned to take over as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee in January if the GOP had held control in last year's elections.

"The chairmanship would have allowed me to play a leading role in addressing some of the biggest long-term problems facing our country," the statement said.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/mochila.php?articleId=10910621&channelId=76...

Death...
Submitted by CeeCee on Fri, 12/07/2007 - 11:03pm.

"just getting out of one car, getting into another."
--John Lennon

GOP California Scheme Fails
By Paul Kiel - December 7, 2007, 6:09PM
So much for that. From The Los Angeles Times:

A proposed initiative that drew national attention for its potential to affect next year's presidential election will not appear on the June ballot, organizers said Thursday.
Republican backers of the measure, which could have tilted the presidential contest toward the GOP nominee by changing how California awards electoral votes, conceded that they were unable to raise sufficient funds.

Sacramento consultant Dave Gilliard, the campaign manager, said that even if a financial angel were to shower the campaign with $1 million, there was not enough time to qualify the measure for June.

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/004857.php

Pelosi calls Cheney swipe undignified

By: Mike Allen
Dec 7, 2007 12:22 PM EST

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) says a swipe that Vice President Cheney took at Democratic House leaders is “beneath the dignity of his office.”

Capitol Hill was abuzz Thursday with discussion of the vice president’s assertion in an interview with Politico that House Democratic leaders had been surprisingly supine: “They are not carrying the big sticks I would have expected.”

Cheney added that when he served in the House, “We would not have had a Speaker who, from my perspective, is that far out of the sort of mainstream — she is a San Francisco Democrat, certainly entitled to her views, but able to dictate policy as effectively as she apparently does to the rest of the caucus.”

The speaker, a few hours after winning a long-sought victory on an energy bill that increases auto efficiency requirements, said in an interview with Politico that she had paid little attention to the hullabaloo.

“To tell you the truth, I’ve been really busy the last 24 hours,” Pelosi said. “How can I say this with the dignity of the office that I hold, and especially the dignity of the office that the vice president holds? It’s so beneath the dignity of his office — and mine — that I don’t even want to address it.”

Pelosi said her leadership style is to find consensus among leaders and committee chairs.

“Of course, I have the responsibility at the end of the day,” she said. “But I’m very respectful of their read on the situation,” she said. “Those people are … our distinguished chairmen. I have enormous respect for their knowledge of the subject.”

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1207/7254.html

great photo of Malloy.
Where did you get that pic.?
Missed a lot of the show tonight (vacuuming the library)so I coudln't hear it all.
Hope you all are feeling good tonight :)

Martin Chávez Quits New Mexico Senate Race
By Eric Kleefeld - December 7, 2007, 10:45PM
In a surprise announcement today, Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez dropped out of the New Mexico Senate race, essentially clearing the Democratic field for Congressman Tom Udall. Chávez had previously indicated that he would wage a tough primary race, running to the right of Udall, but in his announcement showed that he'd clearly changed his mind. The announcement makes the campaign much easier for Udall, who is the favorite in polling for the seat of retiring GOP Senator Pete Domenici.

"While I deeply appreciate all the support I have received, it has become very clear to me that Democrats should not be divided in the upcoming election," Chavez said. "A hotly contested primary, as this one certainly would be, would likely weaken the Democratic nominee and place the general election in jeopardy."

http://tpmelectioncentral.com/2007/12/chavez_quits_new_mexico_senate_rac...

"a taste of honey is worse than none at all"
new
Submitted by Alice on Fri, 12/07/2007 - 11:07pm.

Memories attached. Thanks Alice!

*

"Pelosi calls Cheney swipe undignified"

"That is one tough monkey."
http://www.seinfeldscripts.com/TheLibrary.htm

(not)

she would BLAST it on the "hi-fi" in the mornings while she got ready for work....

.=.=.=.=.=
Jamesbennett

Pelosi calls Cheney swipe
new
Submitted by toniD on Fri, 12/07/2007 - 11:13pm.
Pelosi calls Cheney swipe undignified

Cheney trashed dignity when he stole the office.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jz7IjXu0DfQ

Not that I don't love ABBA...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRbPWcLode0&feature=related

This Country's on a Friggin Crazy Train..Impeaches !
"Hello to our friends and fans in domestic surveillance."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CyR_hoGC74

great photo of Malloy.
Where did you get that pic.?

It came from Creative Loafing, the largest free Alt weekly in Atlanta.
It used to be independent, but now is part of a chain based in Tampa Bay. There's now "Creative Loafing" papers in a lot of cities around the southeast.

I'll ask once more...have any of you bloggers here ever owned a business?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZim89bKido

NO! Don't believe in markets.

joke:
Noun
1.Something said or done to evoke laughter or amusement, especially an amusing story with a punch line.
2.A mischievous trick; a prank.
3.An amusing or ludicrous incident or situation.
(;)

"Hello to our friends and fans in domestic surveillance."

I owned my Travel Agency. And my parents owned businesses that I was involved in.

What do you need to know?

A non-profit

where every one can go

open a long time

free information

books

wireless

computers

coffee

talking

all that jazz...

Is that possible?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MH8wrM0NARo

worth it?

Doe's the black market count?

Hee Hee ;)

synch ship

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etjpcF2X_mY

You have got to bring in the do-re-me, or the predators will be at your front door. Papers in hand.

Open a Starbucks franchise.
McDonalds

Hey. If you can do it. I love independent cofeeshouses. Bookstores. Whatever.

Marge stopped smoking - Yeah!!!!

Do you have a sufficient customer base?

Anything is possible if you have the money.

I understand non profit but you'll need to have a building or area, there is build out, equipment, supplies, staff. Are you talking volunteers or paid staff?

Where is the money coming from? You'll still need to do a business plan to get the money to start and continue to fund this non profit.

Malloy show :)

"Hello to our friends and fans in domestic surveillance."

You might want to do some research on government grants.

Have you done any market research to determine:
- if it would be viable in your area?
- how much it would take to be sustainable?
- who your competition is and what they are doing?
(just some of the questions)

I did not know that Indiana marge smoked. Anyway...back to business.

Sit to figure books and always in the red.
Dollar signs running through my head.
Debt man's coming. He's coming to town.
He wants to kick my fucking front door down.

Music is a good idea..we could bring the record player too..

*

This tiny town I live in is making it's first retail place..and I might want a place in it...I've never thought this big before in my life... I want to be in a place where everyone is on the same plane...so volunteers (sort of), Toni...common interests and all that...

"I mean, talk about a direct I-V into the vein of your support. It's a very efficient way to communicate. They regurgitate exactly and put up on their blogs what you said to them. It is something that we've cultivated and have really tried to put quite a bit of focus on."

-- former WH communications director Dan Bartlett, on conservative blogs

BIG! We need sanctuaries. Hey. I do some of my best work in coffeshops and restaurants.

a patron would donate or buy things or use resources and their money (or the majority of it) could go to a LOCAL ONLY non profit...like the library, or Sonora Cat Rescue, or Meals on Wheels, etc...?

Could that work?

Are there any liberal arts colleges near by? Alternative medicine schools? Establishments like that?

This is RED country...

Someone would probably stab me before I made a dollar...

*

Any artist colonies? Anarchist enclaves?

Original Coca-Cola formula

* Citrate Caffein, 1 oz.
* Ext. Vanilla, 1 oz.
* Flavoring, 2.5 oz.
* F.E. Coco, 4 oz.
* Citric Acid, 3 oz.
* Lime Juice, 1 Qt.
* Sugar, 30 lbs.
* Water, 2.5 Gal.
* Caramel sufficient

Mix Caffeine Acid and Lime Juice in 1 Qt Boiling water add vanilla and flavoring when cool.

* Flavoring Oil Orange, 80
* Oil Lemon, 120
* Oil Nutmeg, 40
* Oil Cinnamon, 40
* Oil Coriander, 40
* Oil Neroli, 40
* Alcohol, 1 Qt.

let stand 24 hours.

The funding thing has to work out.

You have to set it up as a non profit.

Non-Profit
Find out how to start your own non-profit, how to ... Blueprint for Social Entrepreneurship The Essentials of Starting a Nonprofit ...
nonprofit.about.com -

How to Start a Not-For-Profit Business
This page describes the process of starting a nonprofit. ... Starting a Nonprofit. How to Start a Non-Profit. How to Start a 501(c)(3) ...
www.labyrinthinc.com/sharedcontent/startnonprofit.asp?Page=1&subs=5

How to Start a Nonprofit Business - Start a Non-Profit Business - Start ...
... will teach you how to start a non-profit business and become a social entrepreneur. ... the time to start doing work you believe in — by starting your own ...
www.fabjob.com/nonprofit.asp

After the failure of the industrial cooperative colony Glennis located east of Eatonville, three former Glennisites -- George H. Allen, Oliver A. Verity, and B. F. O'Dell -- set out in the summer of 1895 into Puget Sound on a rowboat they built themselves to find an isolated location for a new community.
They decided upon Von Geldern Cove (also known as Joe's Bay) as the site for their new Home Colony, which would be an intentional community based on anarchist philosophy. The founders purchased 26 acres there at $7 an acre, working odd jobs to pay for it. By 1896, their families had joined them and cabins were constructed.
By 1898 a land buying corporation was set up called the Mutual Home Association, whose Articles of Incorporation and Agreement stated their purpose as "to assist its members in obtaining and building homes for themselves and to aid in establishing better social and moral conditions." Land was apportioned to those who became members of the Association, agreeing to its anarchist ideals and to pay for their lot. The title to each member's land would stay with the Association, however this was changed in 1909. The Association also held title to a meeting hall, called Liberty Hall, and a trading post.

****

County and state governments, as does the US Small Business Administration usually offer free to minimal fee business seminars on all aspects starting and running a business, and its a great place to network. They also can provide grants and loans. Joining the local chamber of commerce for networking.

artists/anarchist...?

well artists...

(HAHA) :)

Handmade Dream Catchers... $20.00

--Lots of paperwork
Submitted by CeeCee on Sat, 12/08/2007 - 12:05am.--

*

--Maybe minus operating expenses
Submitted by toniD on Sat, 12/08/2007 - 12:04am.--

THANKS! I'll start there...the one odd thing we do have in this town is a place that is on the main tourist st. that is only there to assist non-profits...

It was joke!

helps you focus and organize and a necessity for grant or loan application.

Description of Business
Product/Service
Market
Location
Competition
Risks /Opportunities
Mgmt
Personnel
Application & expected effect of loan or grant
Sources/Applications of Funding
Capital Equipment List
Balance Sheet
Breakeven Analysis
Projected Income Statement
Cash Flow Projection

Insurances:
General Liability
Property
Workers Comp
Unemployment

It sounds daunting but YOU CAN DO IT, it just takes time. You'll need a good and trustworthy attorney and accountant.

did someone already post that..? sorry..

Lennon. Not that I was good friends with him...
but the music. :)
Gotta drive home now...will blog later.

I'm a bullet point type of woman...

Thank you!

(I don't want employees tho..I want co-people...) but I would guess I will still have to pay those fees...

There's a Stevie Ray Vaughn concert on PBS now....nice...

Tomorrow night's Union Party (all you can eat and all you can drink for free, and we're talking the good stuff, i.e. Captain Morgan, Crown Royal etc...) will NOT have Karaoke.

This is the best favor they could ever have done me. When drunk, I cannot resist singing karaoke, and last year I was soooo drunk, I forgot all the words to a really simple song...

Aieee. Embarrassment makes hangovers that much worse.

I know Sam Seder and Marc Maron have no good things to say about Seinfeld..but he did do the one about people's #1 fear being public speaking, and #2 is death...

...so (he said)

...that means that if you are at a funeral, you would rather be in the casket than doing the eulogy....

Anywhoozle... :)

Seriously..I had not one single idea about how to do any of that....

was prematurely noted a little above but the acknowledgment should go on...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6wxTkkfLqM&feature=related

(kinda of a heavy topic for a Friday nite) retail space - unless your buying a space for investment, investigate all your options thoroughly...leasing etc. I know someone who was stuck with a lease and associated bills long after the business went under.

Negotiate and that works to your advantage when you know all the options.

there's the first retail place opening a a major intersection ... got me a little excited on the idea..

Beatles fan..(I preferred Kiss when she discovered the Beatles...)..she was very upset on this day lo so many years ago...

makes me do stupid things. like karaoke.

Paul McCartney and Wings - Band On The Run.mp3

only I don't know exactly what they are..."

:-) I MADE THE LIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-)

I'm so happy. I gotta go wake the kiddies. They won't know what the flock I'm talkin' about, but I don't care!!!

Thanks again, surreal one!

This is tres cool!

John Lennon-Watching The Wheels

It's my contention John was the lyrics and Paul was the melody.

Whatever gets you through the night...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ho1yJwvWCrw

what was the worst part and the best part of owning a business in your experience?

all of their songs you mean?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjLVm4L2C3Y

"Hello to our friends and fans in domestic surveillance."

George Harrison - My Sweet Lord.mp3

IMHO I think John was the better and versatile artist of the two. Don't get me wrong I love each individually and collectively (George and Ringo included). But in my perception, when the Lennon-McCartney collaboration dissolved and they did their own thing, it seemed to me John's music was stronger lyrically and Paul's was stronger melodically.

& Humor"

Ringo Starr - It don t come easy.mp3

I find Harrison more compelling

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AarhZScyuz0

--John's music was stronger lyrically and Paul's was stronger melodically--

Wait for it....

The Beatles - The Long and Winding Road.mp3

John Lennon-Love
Submitted by MMRules on Sat, 12/08/2007 - 1:37am.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjLVm4L2C3Y

"Non Violence
Submitted by Alice on Sat, 12/08/2007 - 1:56am.
& Humor"

Wow - beautiful and insightful - Wow

Bush wields Colombia trade deal to halt Venezuela

...
US President George W. Bush's contention that a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Colombia is key to halting the influence of Venezuela's leftist president in Latin America has convinced few in the US Congress.

Opposition Democrats that control Congress have refused to ratify the agreement -- which Washington and Bogota signed in December 2006 -- in part concerned over ties between President Alvaro Uribe's government and a right-wing paramilitary group involved in human rights violations and drug trafficking on the US list of terrorist organizations.

To help get the agreement approved, Bush is now presenting the FTA as the main US policy tool to halt the influence of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a firebrand leftist who famously described Bush as "the devil" at the United Nations.

"The US-Colombia FTA is clearly the administration's top priority with regard to Latin America currently, now that the Peru FTA has been approved," said Nelson Cunningham, a former adviser on Latin America to ex-president Bill Clinton.

The US-Peru FTA, negotiated over several years, cleared the US Congress on Tuesday and awaits the president's signature for enactment.

On that same day Bush firmly warned the US Congress of the importance of approving a FTA with Colombia.

"I am going to repeat to you," Bush told reporters. "If the Congress does not pass the free trade agreement (with) Colombia it will be a destabilizing moment."

He said by implementing the agreement, the United States "can make a difference in South America, in terms of Venezuela and influence."
...

Students demonstrate against a Free Trade Agreement between Colombia and the United States

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aoyWoO28Fc&feature=related

"Hello to our friends and fans in domestic surveillance."

--Wait for it....
Submitted by Brett on Sat, 12/08/2007 - 2:02am.--

--That's what I'm talking about...
Submitted by CeeCee on Sat, 12/08/2007 - 2:06am.--

we crossed the Guatemalan-Mexican border and are now in San Cristóbal de las Casas, a city and a municipality in the highlands of a Mexican state called Chiapas.

So we arrived to the northernmost latino country in the hemisphere, before we continue to Los Angeles

- a city stolen from Mexico, but that's another story...

Never agreed with the people who claim to love John, but hate the woman John loved, to the point of wishing her dead.

Man, some people are just nuts.
Those Yoko haters are no different
than Mark David Chapman if you think
about it.

http://www.bagofsongs.com/samples/TommyTutone-867-5309-jenny.mp3
.

"Hello to our friends and fans in domestic surveillance."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHOhD0RT9NU

I like Yoko too...P was telling me tongight while I was playing him some song of Yoko abd John playing with Zappa..and he said he had an album of Yoko's "wailing" he called it..he said he actually threw the record away...and that now it would probably be worth more money... :) Do you have albums in your music collection? I have no idea what your age is...

*

--For Alice.
Submitted by Sir Real on Sat, 12/08/2007 - 1:32am.--

Thanks! I let the whole thing load so I could see it and it just finished... last night I ordered a book about women and their cats...I can't remember if you have cats or not SR...do you?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76Q9pGArBGE&feature=related

Yoko's OK in my book
Submitted by Brett on Sat, 12/08/2007 - 2:31am.

If John was happy. She's a strong woman, now and then, which can be threatening to some, now and most assuredly then.

Kelly is/was an album collector, she has shelves of Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand and stuff of that era.
We are both 39, Kelly's 5 months older than me.

She also has Judy and Barbra CD's
so maybe I should post some of that
at mp3 Oasis!

Just kidding MMRules
:-p

You Can't Live Without It.. ;)
.

MP3 Oasis - Part Deux! Whoo-hoo! Come On Down!)

Link-Listen to the music-Drop off a link to a song or a Vid-Clean up that double post you left last time ;)-Enjoy
"Hello to our friends and fans in domestic surveillance."

They don't make them like that anymore..

Just no Idol crap.. ;)

"Hello to our friends and fans in domestic surveillance."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4kSZaEI4VQ

Kelly has an extensive collection of damn near everything (movies and music) that those women put out. LP's, cassettes, CD's, VHS, DVD's, also framed show posters. She collected in the 80's and 90's, and has now moved on to Emma Thompson. Oh, and anything Shakespeare, lots of Shakespeare.
I do love her dearly, but we are no longer a couple, it's more like best friend roommates.
With her tastes one wonders how she ended up in love with a gay man.
Hmmm. ;)

She made John happy..
I'll get hell for this..
But,her wailing was kinda self indulgent,maybe..I don't know..
She's never had to work a day in her life..Even before John Lennon..
At least she tried to stop the War,with John..
But,I'm sure she gives to alot of charities..
Sorry.. :)

"Hello to our friends and fans in domestic surveillance."

It's totally naive to think that anything less than the total elimination of nuclear weapons, and their evil twins – nuclear reactors – would actually work. Let us not condemn our planet to a state of perpetual war – with unimaginable catastrophes.

Giving peace a chance by negotiating an end to the nuclear age is the only practical way out of our terrifying dilemma. Let us seize the opportunity of this brief pause on the path to war and move with hope into a nuclear-free 21st Century.

Alice Slater

;)

"Hello to our friends and fans in domestic surveillance."

I was referring to her relationship with John, and the way some people hated her for that, and blame her for the break-up of the Beatles. As if those four grown men could not decide things for themselves. sheesh.

As for her audio art, yeah some of it's not so good.
It's all in the ear of the beholder.

So sad though..

Babs is well,Butta !

"Hello to our friends and fans in domestic surveillance."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqXSjFB08C8

I did hear that She did have a part-time job as a dog catcher once ! ;)

Sorry,I really couldn't resist that.. :)

"Hello to our friends and fans in domestic surveillance."

Yoko was ok
Submitted by MMRules on Sat, 12/08/2007 - 3:07am.
But,her wailing was kinda self indulgent,maybe..I don't know..
She's never had to work a day in her life..

I remember that too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqXSjFB08C8

oko was the puzzle lennon was the kid shuffling the pieces on the dinner table.

then they'd change places...

The English Beat-Save It For Later

Sorry gang I'm just in Sarcastic Mood-Abba & Yoko..Great boots though.. ;)

Eve 6-Inside Out

"Hello to our friends and fans in domestic surveillance."

Dorgan: American Indian health care a national embarrassment Email this page Print this page
Posted: December 07, 2007
by: Sen. Byron Dorgan

Recently in North Dakota, a woman from the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation had severe chest pains and extremely high blood pressure. At a local IHS clinic, she was diagnosed as having a heart attack. The staff of the clinic insisted she go by ambulance to the nearest major hospital, 80 miles away. She resisted because she knew she would be billed for the trip and could not afford it, but the clinic insisted.

When she arrived at the hospital and was being transferred from the ambulance to a gurney, an envelope was found taped to her leg. In the envelope was a letter stating that the IHS lacked funds to pay for the health care she needed because a ''life or limb'' medical condition was not involved. Really? A suspected heart attack is not ''life or limb''? Fortunately, the individual survived. But she later received a bill for approximately $10,000.

This past August, the U.S. Senate's Indian Affairs Committee held a hearing at the Crow Reservation in Montana. The Crow Tribe's health director told this heartbreaking story about her 5-year-old granddaughter, Ta'Shon Rain Littlelight.

Between May and August of 2006, Ta'Shon was brought numerous times to an IHS clinic. She was treated for depression. During one clinic visit, Ta'Shon's grandfather pointed out the bulbous condition of her fingertips and toes, believing that this condition indicated a lack of oxygen to the body. The grandfather's concern was dismissed. In June 2006, the grandmother asked Ta'Shon's doctor to eliminate the possibilities of cancer or leukemia. Once again, the concern went unheeded.

In August 2006, Ta'Shon suffered a collapsed lung. She ended up in Denver, where she was diagnosed with an incurable form of cancer. She died on Sept. 1, 2006. Her grandmother believed that Ta'Shon's last two years of life were spent in ''unmedicated pain'' and wondered whether an earlier diagnosis would have made any difference.

These stories are repeated every day on Indian reservations across the country. Health care has become a hot issue. But as we work to improve the nation's health care system, we ignore the health care crisis affecting American Indians, the First Americans.

Why is Native health care not simply an indistinguishable component of the overall health care system? Because our country has an affirmative trust obligation toward American Indians. That obligation is grounded in numerous treaties and, more generally, in the moral responsibility for the negative impact over generations of changing federal policies.

The great Chief Justice John Marshall, in the 1831 decision of Cherokee Nation v. Georgia, recognized that the United States had a unique trustee relationship toward Indian tribes.

Statistics highlight the desperate condition of American Indian health care. Compared to the U.S. population as a whole, Natives have a 600 percent higher incidence of tuberculosis, a 189 percent higher incidence of diabetes and a 510 percent higher incidence of alcoholism. Suicides on reservations in the northern Great Plains are 10 times higher than the national average.

To improve the performance of the United States as trustee for the health care of American Indians, more funding and continuous innovation are needed. For 2005, the per capita federal health expenditure by the IHS was $2,130. By the way, that's about one-half the per capita spending for federal prisoners' health care, and it was far below the estimated per capita benchmarks of Medicare at $6,784 and the Veterans Administration at $4,653. It means we have full-scale ''health care rationing'' for American Indians, and it has to stop. We need to meet our obligations.

The U.S. Congress is now considering a reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. It has been eight years since the Congress has taken action to improve Indian health care. This new legislation will make some needed improvements such as developing a new type of convenient care clinic and authorizing a new effort to combat the clusters of teen suicides on Indian reservations. But this is just a first step.

Our nation has a trust responsibility for the health of American Indians, and it's long past time we own up to that responsibility.

Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., is chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.

I've pondered for the longest about sharing something personal with everyone here, and I think I'm ready now. And please don't get depressed, we're ok, all thing considered.

Kelly and I had a daughter who died during labor from an umbilical cord accident, which is the term they use for that kind of stillbirth.

It was on July 25, 2002 Her name is Bonnie Grace Morgan Schneider

She is Kelly's angel, and mine too.
I'm not a religious man, but things like this
are hard on one's soul. If there is
such a thing as heaven, she's in good company.

through n old friend billy sunshine, they were getting some bad shit in NY.

they thanked me, lennon sent me his turquoise cheifs bracelet, old new mexico pawn.

You weren't with that Osley gang were ya ? ;)

"Hello to our friends and fans in domestic surveillance."

they go on to another run at it carrying the love with them. you can touch em when you want to.

07
Dec
War, refugees, and gorillas
There is no respite in the fighting. The rebels and the army are still shooting at each other and lobbing mortars around the Gorilla Sector. I cannot tell who is “winning”, but the rebels are continuing to make headway to cut off the road between Goma and Rumangabo.

I just spoke to Balemba, the accountant for the Rangers, and he was at Kibumba (for you newcomers check out Monday’s map) yesterday for his meeting with the youth of the area. He could hear the gunfire and shelling.

The rebels are essentially trying to cut off the road and create a corridor from Bunagana on the Ugandan border all the way over to the Masisi area west of Goma that is one of their strongholds. I am guessing this would basically strengthen their position, and facilitate supply routes.

The humanitarian crisis is worsening and more camps are being set up for the internally displaced people, or IDPs as they are know in the humanitarian community. One major problem we have that I mentioned a couple of days ago are the IDPs that are next to the park. Specifically there are an estimated 4,000 people who have set up a spontaneous camp at Kibumba, right next to the Gorilla Sector.

The site will not become an official IDP site, as per the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), because it does not have water and it is simply impossible to bring water from Goma because the necessary tanks are not available. In the meantime however, these people are not being relocated because of the fighting, and they have nothing.

Balemba was at the camp yesterday and said people are arriving daily, which means numbers are increasing. They are getting bamboo from the Gorilla Sector to build shelters and making charcoal in the Gorilla Sector too.

These people need support. They need to be provided with shelter, food, water and fuel wood. They are extremely vulnerable.

It is an incredibly challenging time. Yesterday I went to a meeting with UNHCR to address this problem. I was with Rob from Frankfurt Zoological Society and Bruno from World Wildlife Fund. WWF has actually been providing fuel wood to about 20,000 IDPs since early September to the west of the park at enormous expense - so they know what to do. WWF actually has an excellent institutional knowledge of forestry and tree-planting.

You see here it is all about response times. While the DR Congo government actually has the full responsibility to help these IDPs and provide assistance, the reality is that this rarely happens. The UNHCR is successful to a large extent I believe (and I must stress I am no expert on this as I work in conservation, not emergency work), but is heavily criticized in the press for its slow response time. It always seems to be that the larger the organization, the slower the response times. This is why WWF intervened 3 months ago because the IDPs west of the park had food and shelter, provided by UNHCR and other organizations, but no firewood, which just forces people to destroy the park, whether they want to or not.

So now we have a similar crisis on our hands that needs an immediate solution. The people at Kibumba need to be provided shelter in a proper camp. There is one at Kibati being set up, but it is not in place yet, because of the insecurity. Then, WildlifeDirect, with FZS (Rob) and WWF (Bruno) can intervene to provide the fuel wood. We cannot provide fuel wood when the camp is not an official IDP camp, as per the UNHCR, because it would just be too chaotic and this is not what we do.

We are going to channel donations towards this. So far I do not know how much and when, but maybe in the region of $20,000. We are still looking at the logistics. But something needs to be done. Now.

If the forest in the Gorilla Sector is being destroyed, it is a severe threat to the Mountain Gorillas. When peace arrives to eastern DR Congo, and tourism follows, the Mountain Gorillas will represent a major pillar of economic revenue for the people of the region. If it is for this reason alone, we must protect these animals.

Samantha

Technorati : congo, drc, iccn, wildlifedirect

little tiger wood boxes.

40 vials, 25 panes in each

sent em the box and a few full ones.

clear light family has some interesting history.

American Indian Health Care
Submitted by smcgee43 on Sat, 12/08/2007 - 3:34am.

what is the true religion and to demand religious symbols be put in public places.

check out his website:

http://www.thebear.org/

I'm so sorry to hear that..
That's got to be hell to go thru..
Man..That's really tough..
My wife past away and she was only 37 years old..
I'm still not over that.And,it was 10 years ago..
I guess all you can do is to think that they are in a better place
than here..
That's what I do..
There has to be something better than this crazy world..
I just hope so..
But,I'm only human..So,I don't know dip..
Whatever works for you is good..
Whatever gets you through the why,is good..
Sorry Brett,I not very good at writing,expressing..
Hang in there Buddy ! :)

"Hello to our friends and fans in domestic surveillance."

Angels are all around you.

Good night, citizens of Sederville.

Sweet dreams, Alice.

Billy Joe Shaver - "Live Forever"

from a friend.

with a .exe virus in it, says my virus scanner.

too bad. into the vault.

SJ, Sir Real and MMRules.

Rules, I know losing your wife was devastating.
I feel for you. I had a buddy back in Atlanta
(who also happens to be Irish) who lost his wife
in a house fire. Much too young dieing in one's thirties.
He struggles with it, walking through life haunted
by something he can't change.
You hang in there too buddy.
:)

and hold the memories close.

night gang, time for a snooze.

love ya all, sweet dreams gang!

Goodnite Sir Real :)

Goodnite too,SJ..Windowpane..I haven't thought of that in about 30years..
"Hello to our friends and fans in domestic surveillance."

Goodnight my friends in Sederville

I'm going to bed.

:)

:)

"Hello to our friends and fans in domestic surveillance."

...opening yourself up to us made me realize Sam's already created the commune he and Marc were talking about last Tuesday.

I'm still looking forward to seeing last Tuesday's show.
VOD is MIA
:)

I haven't seen it either..

Incubus if ya read me..How about a little early Christmas/Hanuka present ?!

VOD-Feed us ! Thank you.. :)

"Hello to our friends and fans in domestic surveillance."

you expressed it perfectly, in fact you always do. And I'm sorry for your loss too.

thanks for the link sj

I was trying to make Brett feel better and,since Brett has a good soul he made me feel better..
We try to relate to friends problems/suffering by relating our own story..
But,I always feel like I'm talking about myself too much when I should be talking about them..
Where was I during creative writing in HS ? Surfing probably..It's all abit blurry..
Something about growing up in the 70's..
I don't think I could have made it thru the 60's.. ;)

"Hello to our friends and fans in domestic surveillance."

it can't get any better.

When it's coming from the heart,
Submitted by CeeCee on Sat, 12/08/2007 - 4:49am.
it can't get any better.
*******
Where city are you from ?

Good to read you.. :)

"Hello to our friends and fans in domestic surveillance."

If you don't mine me asking.

"mine" should be "mind."

No..Not for quite a few years unfortunately..
I have chronic pain from a work injury..
No can do,anymore.. :(
That's life..
How about you ?

"Hello to our friends and fans in domestic surveillance."

Laurel, Maryland - I'm down the street from where "domestic surveillance" takes place NSA, Ft Meade. Actually, it is where I was born in Fort Meade and may very well be an experiment gone awry since I'm liberal in a mostly Republican and/or conservative-thinking family.

Of course it is kinda of getting blurry for me now...
Submitted by CeeCee on Sat, 12/08/2007 - 4:58am.
"mine" should be "mind."
*******
If it wasn't for google spell check,it would take
me 30mins to post a post..Instead of the 15 to 20mins it takes me to post now..
I screwed around alot in school..Dah ?!
Guitar playing,surfing,chasing girls..Basically anything besides what I was suppose to be doing..
But,I have a nice personality ! HeeHee! ;)

"Hello to our friends and fans in domestic surveillance."

But I love both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans but just to sit by and gaze.

Cool !
I'm a brat squared !
Air Force & Navy !
Liberal ya say ? Me too ! Who woulda thunk it ? :)

"Hello to our friends and fans in domestic surveillance."

I'm in San Diego..
But,got stuck in Phoenix for about 4 1/2 years..
Drove me crazy not being by the ocean..
I grew up in So Cal so I'm very spoiled when it comes to weather..
And,ocean gazing..I can do it all day..
That's where I was during creative writing class ! It's all
starting to come back to me.. ;)

"Hello to our friends and fans in domestic surveillance."

a Renaissance man after that until the day he died. I thought he was a liberal but as some do as they grow older he got more conservative. Unless, I was just looking through rose-colored glasses growing up.

Of everywhere I've visited it's my favorite place.

Bush calls for 100,000 math and science professionals to help out in classrooms. What the f$#%?

War On Brains-Jim Earl

"Hello to our friends and fans in domestic surveillance."

Woke up and could not sleep again. I've been going through the MRR group site from 4 years ago. We've got some stuff stored there like photos. Found this...

For a big city not bad at all..You can't beat the weather..

I was born on a Air Force base in Austin Texas..
2 years later we moved outside Boston..
But,I kept getting sick..Bronchial pneumonia..
The Air Force Doctor told my Dad and,the Air Force
that if we didn't get this kid out of this climate I was
probably going to die..

So we got transferred to Los Angeles..Swimming pool,movie stars etc..
As soon as I got old enough and, smart enough I moved to San Diego..
That's my life story..What's yours ?
Just kidding..It's getting super late back there..
If you have to say goodnite I won't blame you.. :)

"Hello to our friends and fans in domestic surveillance."

Bush having his way puts us all in line for that pill.

Funny pic..Hee..

Did you find the MP3 stash ?
There is a page or 2 that they put most of Mp3's (Bumper Music)on.
I had it on my old laptop..But,it fried !

There are alot of great posts on there..
I posted one yesterday of Ono explaining to Crank
what Air Ono means..Crank as usual comes up with a good joke.

Hope you feeling a little better ! :)

"Hello to our friends and fans in domestic surveillance."

Did you see this one of Sam:

Sam and friend. Kinky...

Sam Seder Wedding
Sam Seder & Bride, Janeane, Ross Brockley

your Dad died,CeeCee..
My brother- in law just retired from the Marines about 2 years ago..
He was in for about 15 years..
His back gave out..Too much wear and,tear..It's not easy being a Marine..
None of the military is..A tough life..
How long was you Dad in the Marines ?
Just wondering.. :)

"Hello to our friends and fans in domestic surveillance."

just about. I lived in Chicago for about three years (6-7-8)on Spaulding Street and went to Lowell Elementary School (Do you know where that is tonid?) Now you may not have been able to tell but politics has always interested me so where else would I go. I've worked in public relations and marketing in the construction industry, and surprisingly politics figures prominently in that industry.

Sam looks so young in that Cop one..
How did you find a photo stash ?

"Hello to our friends and fans in domestic surveillance."

Just kidding ! ;)

"Hello to our friends and fans in domestic surveillance."

He died about fifteen years ago of emphysema. Those are great pictures!

Probably but since I am a liberal who wears it on her sleeve and very opinionated (could you tell?)it wouldn't have been done where I could see or find it.

I have a bad habit of posting the first thing
that pops into my head..
It's just all the corruption that is going on today..It's crazy !

Very opinionated? Not that I can tell.. :)

"Hello to our friends and fans in domestic surveillance."

Spaulding St? I think it's the north side of the city.

MMR, the photos are all on

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MRRpics/?yguid=144309584

I think you have to be a member to see them. Cathy in Seatle can get you approved.

That would be cool.. :)

"Hello to our friends and fans in domestic surveillance."

and a nap for me. Today's my long day at work 8 1/2 hours.

later

blog ya later or Seder on Sunday for sure. Nite or morning.

CeeCee

:)

"Hello to our friends and fans in domestic surveillance."

George said that all the Beatles' wives broke up the Beatles.

I'm glad they did. I love the Beatles. But I love them just the way they are. And I love the solo work in the 70's and beyond.

rip John - you're still right here

You Need A Business Plan regardless of type of business
Submitted by CeeCee on Sat, 12/08/2007 - 12:24am
"....and good and trustworthy attorney and accountant."...

Dang it, here comes reality. That qualifier makes it near impossible. (Unless you're a Skull and Bones sanctioned Religious organization collecting Faith Based Grants to promote the Reperv Product)

It would take the first cool million to hire the tax attorney, who could show you how to hide your money, and the best accountants are the biggest crooks.

Things that make you go, hmmmmm.

Is it acceptable to use any "legal" tactic to enrich?

Could you sell the Reperv product for profit?

Would it depend on HOW MUCH profit?

Shakes head...this is what we face in this current regime, these people have no scruples.

Now the biggest question....
am I stupid to have scruples?
☺♥☺♥☺
One election at a time...

Forecaster Predicts 7 Hurricanes in '08

Friday, December 7, 2007 7:00 PM

DENVER -- Using a simplified forecasting technique, researcher William Gray is predicting an above-average hurricane season in the Atlantic next year, with seven hurricanes, three of them major.

Gray's team at Colorado State University had called for above-average storm seasons the past two Decembers _ and both turned out to be wrong. But Gray said he believes this year's forecast will be better.

"We think we're finally onto a scheme that will be more accurate," he said Friday.

The new forecast calls for a total of 13 named storms in the Atlantic. It says there is a slightly higher-than-average chance that at least one major hurricane will hit the United States.

Gray's predictions, now in their 25th year, are watched closely by emergency responders and others in hurricane-prone areas. But officials routinely express concerns that residents might become apathetic if predictions prove overblown.

Government forecasters also predicted an above-average season for 2007.

An average of 5.9 hurricanes form in the Atlantic each year.

AFP

Major crude producer Iran has completely stopped carrying out its oil transactions in dollars, Oil Minister Gholam Hossein Nozari said on Saturday, labelling the greenback an "unreliable" currency.

"At the moment selling oil in dollars has been completely halted, in line with the policy of selling crude in non-dollar currencies," Nozari was quoted as saying by the ISNA news agency.

"The dollar is an unreliable currency, considering its devaluation and the oil exporters' losses," he added.

The world's fourth largest oil exporter, Iran has massively reduced its dependence on the dollar over the past year in the face of US pressures on its financial system.

The United States has successfully encouraged major European and Asian banks to cut their dealings with Iran in a bid to make the Islamic republic give way on its controversial nuclear programme.

Washington has also blacklisted major Iranian banks for alleged support of terrorism and seeking nuclear weapons, charges denied by Tehran.

Iran has reduced its assets in dollars held in foreign banks and urged OPEC to take collective action to price oil in other currencies such as the euro, instead of the US currency which is used across the world at present.

The fall of the dollar, which has weakened considerably against the euro and other currencies in the past 12 months, has affected the revenues of OPEC members because most of them price and sell their oil exports in the US currency.

Free Democracy

http://thisishell.com/

Saturday, December 8th, beginning at 9 AM (central), on WNUR 89.3 FM Evanston/Chicago, This is Hell broadcasts a live new four hour show. We are also live online via WNUR's web site (http://www.wnur.org) under the heading, "Listen Online."

This week's guests include:

* Maurice Carney is the Executive Director of Friends of the Congo, which "was established at the behest of Congolese human rights and grassroots institutions in 2004, to work together to bring about peaceful and lasting change in the Democratic Republic of Congo, formerly Zaire.
The Friends of the Congo is led by people of African ancestry and others of goodwill. We believe that with strong support from friends of the Congo throughout the globe , the vast human and natural resource potential of the Democratic Republic of Congo can serve as an instrument to meet the great needs of the people of Congo and Africa."
* Michael Fox is a writer at Venezuelanalysis.com. Mike will tell us what happened in last Sunday's vote and discuss his most recent writing including, "U.S. Companies Behind Anti-Reform Propaganda in Venezuela."
* Robert Lipsyte who recently wrote the TomDispatch.com piece, "Corruption 101, Gladiators and Beer: Why Bowl Games Are the Real Final Exams."
* Jonathan Schell is the author of the new book, "The Seventh Decade: The New Shape of Nuclear Danger (Metropolitan Books). His most recent writing includes The Nation article, "The Old and New Shapes of Nuclear Danger."
* Carah Ong is the Iran Policy Analyst at the Center for Arms Control and Nonproliferation (http://www.armscontrolcenter.org), Carah writes a blog on the ongoing Iran weapons controversy at http://irannuclearwatch.blogspot.com.

TACOMA, Wash. -- A Fort Lewis soldier is to serve more than 11 years in federal prison for robbing a Tacoma bank twice so he could pay off debts before he was deployed to Iraq.

Sgt. Christopher Brian Thompson, 29, pleaded guilty in May to armed bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, the U.S. attorney's office said in a news release.

Thompson told investigators he robbed the bank because he was $25,000 to $30,000 in debt to payday loan agencies and wanted to pay it off before being deployed to Iraq.....

RAW STORY

Defense attorney had claimed boy made it up; said client was 'conservative guy, caring'

A former GOP congressional aide has pleaded guilty to molesting two male teens, including the 13-year-old son of a family with whom the staffer lived while working on Capitol Hill.

37-year-old Jeffrey Ray Nielsen, who has worked previously for Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), as well the Republican chair of California's Orange County, agreed to two felony counts of lewd acts upon a child, reports the Associated Press. A jury had deadlocked at an earlier trial this year -- in which Nielsen was accused of engaging in sexual acts with a 14-year-old boy he met on the internet -- and prosecutors were prepared to bring additional charges in a retrial.

The plea deal is expected to bring a sentence of three years in state prison, according to the Los Angeles Times.

"Prosecutors contended that Nielsen had met the 14-year-old victim on a gay Internet site and driven the boy to his Ladera Ranch condominium, where the two engaged in oral sex," the Times reports. "The boy, a high school freshman, told a friend who alerted school authorities." After his arrest in 2003, police found "thousands of images" of child pornography on his home and work computers......

It's just getting there that's hell.

lol

Broadway show tunes.
OMG

http://thisishell.com/

Saturday, December 8th, beginning at 9 AM (central), on WNUR 89.3 FM Evanston/Chicago, This is Hell broadcasts a live new four hour show. We are also live online via WNUR's web site (http://www.wnur.org) under the heading, "Listen Online."

☺♥☺♥☺
One election at a time...

Overtone 24 (5-3.7.7.7)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

red resonant moon ~ kin 189

CHANNEL in order to PURIFY,
INSPIRING FLOW
seal the PROCESS of UNIVERSAL WATER
with the RESONANT tone of ATTUNEMENT.
guided by the power of BIRTH.
6th quartet galactic activation portal...enter......

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
◄ 12.19.14.16.0 ≈ lahun ahau ►

Free Democracy

http://www.booktv.org/schedule.aspx

Stream it on C-SPAN 2 --

http://www.c-span.org/watch/cspan_rm.asp?Cat=TV&Code=CS

Operation Mockingbird
The CIA infiltration and take over of the media.

Look it up.

For those who like their holiday prayers fast...
The Hanukit
The Hanukit is a tiny, high-speed menorah made out of a piece of aluminum that you load with up to nine wooden matchsticks and set alight -- for people who like their holiday prayers fast.

http://reddishstudio.com/tabletop/hanukit01.htm
The Hanukit is a tiny, high-speed menorah made out of a piece of aluminum that you load with up to nine wooden matchsticks and set alight -- for people who like their holiday prayers fast.

"My administration will be the first to have an overarching strategy for dealing with HIV and AIDS here in the United States, with a partnership between the public and private sectors that will provide necessary financing and a realistic path toward our goals," Huckabee said in a statement posted on his campaign Web site last month.

Also in the wide-ranging AP questionnaire in 1992, Huckabee said, "I feel homosexuality is an aberrant, unnatural, and sinful lifestyle, and we now know it can pose a dangerous public health risk."

A Southern Baptist preacher, Huckabee has been a favorite among social conservatives for his vocal opposition to gay marriage. In 2003, Huckabee said that the U.S. Supreme Court was probably right to strike down anti-sodomy laws, but that states still should be able to restrict things such as gay marriage or domestic partner benefits.

"What people do in the privacy of their own lives as adults is their business," Huckabee said. "If they bring it into the public square and ask me as a taxpayer to support it or to endorse it, then it becomes a matter of public discussion and discourse."

"Hello to our friends and fans in domestic surveillance."

My working routine has had a big change and haven't been around as much.
I have been checking in.

Observations offered:
I have checked in now 'n again and read y'all past few days it seems there are fewer post. However,I have to say of the post a larger percentage are worth reading.

And I noticed some older nicks that haven't seen in a while and some new nicks.

C9

Huckabee doubles up rivals in new Iowa poll

16 hours ago

WASHINGTON (AFP) — Republican White House hopeful Mike Huckabee's stunning Iowa surge took him to a gaping lead in a new poll Friday, just 27 days before the state holds the first 2008 nominating contest.

Huckabee, an ordained Baptist minister, led long-time Iowa poll leader Mitt Romney 39 percent to 17 percent among Republicans likely to attend the Iowa caucuses on January 3, in the new Newsweek survey.

Romney, the ex-governor of Massachusetts, delivered a landmark speech on Thursday, asking Americans not to reject him over his Mormon religion, partly motivated by Huckabee's support among crucial evangelical voters in Iowa.

Screen star and former Senator Fred Thompson was third in the poll on 10 percent, a point ahead of former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani.

The poll was the latest major survey to suggest that Huckabee, who toiled in low single digits a few months ago, is making a remarkable run from nowhere in the vital state.

That was the other big Wallflowers hit I was trying to think of. I like it better than One Headlight.

Just when Dennis and the 3% were about to "GET" Bush, he goes public with that NIE report and ruins everything.

Cindy must be beside herself with anger, Bush was goin down!

Rats! No they have to start all over with a new charge!

But who said being a 3%er was going to be easy?

This is a great time of year to be part of the 97%! Everyone is so happy.

keiran
I read sometimes here but rarely have anything of substance to add to you smarties on this blog. My hub is away in Vegas with his commodities trader buddies so I am by myself with the kids. I am going nuts. How is everyone?????????????

We are sooooooooo lucky to live in the greatest country in the world. That's what I was thinking at Thanksgiving. Now here we are getting ready for Christmas. This year has gone by so fast. New Years is almost here!

show time 'waltz of the flowers' w/ dancing bears

.=.=.=.=.=
Jamesbennett

Submitted by keiran on Sat, 12/08/2007 - 12:10pm.
That's a good start.
Please, anything you want to offer is most welcome.
.=.=.=.=.=
Jamesbennett

good 'this is hell' today!

http://www.paris-live.com/
.=.=.=.=.=
Jamesbennett

By ANDREW DeMILLO, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 37 minutes ago

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Mike Huckabee once advocated isolating AIDS patients from the general public, opposed increased federal funding in the search for a cure and said homosexuality could "pose a dangerous public health risk.

As a candidate for a U.S. Senate seat in 1992, Huckabee answered 229 questions submitted to him by The Associated Press. Besides a quarantine, Huckabee suggested that Hollywood celebrities fund AIDS research from their own pockets, rather than federal health agencies.

"If the federal government is truly serious about doing something with the AIDS virus, we need to take steps that would isolate the carriers of this plague," Huckabee wrote.

"It is difficult to understand the public policy towards AIDS. It is the first time in the history of civilization in which the carriers of a genuine plague have not been isolated from the general population, and in which this deadly disease for which there is no cure is being treated as a civil rights issue instead of the true health crisis it represents."

The AP submitted the questionnaire to both candidates; only Huckabee responded. Incumbent Sen. Dale Bumpers won his four term; Huckabee was elected lieutenant governor the next year and became governor in 1996.

When asked about AIDS research in 1992, Huckabee complained that AIDS research received an unfair share of federal dollars when compared to cancer, diabetes and heart disease.

"In light of the extraordinary funds already being given for AIDS research, it does not seem that additional federal spending can be justified," Huckabee wrote. "An alternative would be to request that multimillionaire celebrities, such as Elizabeth Taylor (,) Madonna and others who are pushing for more AIDS funding be encouraged to give out of their own personal treasuries increased amounts for AIDS research."

Huckabee did not return messages left with his campaign.

More @ Yahoo News

back later!

Just like clockwork, every four years our lonely 3%er's must come in out of the cold and support a 97% candidate. Do you have your Hillary bumper sticker yet?

i hear they're terribly expensive and that we'll be paying for them for a long long time.

Make up your feeble mind.

Hillary, Huckabee, Romney, Gouliani, Thompson

Which Corporate Fascist are you supporting?

Are you going to the party? Gonna wear a funny hat? Don't drink too much and make

your usual asshole out of yourself! In my opinion....if that Jesus guy was around

today...he wouldn't piss on you if your fucking heart was on fire. He was a screaming

liberal you know. One of the original three per centers. Surprised that you're into

him like you're into us!

keiran
TELL IT!!!!!!

If we're payin' for yer booty, you could AT LEAST dish some gory details!

Gaudeamus Igitur (mp3)

Lolita (mp3)

A Family's Nightmare: Accident Photos of Their Beautiful Daughter Released

Family of Nikki Catsouras Has Sued Investigators for Allegedly Releasing Accident Pictures

By JIM AVILA, EAMON McNIFF and SCOTT MICHELS
Nov. 16, 2007

Not long after their 18-year-old daughter died in a car accident, Christos and Lesli Catsouras were forced to relive their grief.

They soon began receiving anonymous e-mails and text messages that contained photographs of the accident, including pictures of Nicole Catsouras' decapitated body, still strapped to the crumpled remains of her father's Porsche. A fake MySpace page was created, which at first looked like a tribute to Catsouras but also led to the horrific photos.

"What type of individual would do that?" asked Christos.

The pictures, taken by California Highway Patrol officers and e-mailed outside the department, spread around the Internet, making their way to about 1,600 Web sites, according to an investigator hired by family. The images became so persistent that Lesli Catsouras stopped checking her e-mail. Nikki's three younger sisters were forbidden to use the Internet, and 16-year-old Danielle was taken out of school to be home schooled out of fear that her peers might confront her with the pictures.

"There was threats that people were gonna put the pictures on my locker, in my locker," said Danielle. "I remember her in such a great way, I don't wanna see it and have that image stuck in my head."

"I've stopped using my e-mail," says Lesli Catsouras. "I don't want to see these every single day. …And you know, I take a risk every time I go on the computer."

We talk about Nikki all the time, " said Christos. "We've got pictures of her everywhere, We laugh about her, cry. I always called her Angel."
************************************

Con't @ ABC News

Cher - Gypsies, tramps and thieves.mp3

There's no room for faith, truth, nor honesty in this bosom of thine. It is all filled up with guts and midriff.
-Taken from: Henry IV, part I
.=.=.=.=.=
Jamesbennett

Watercooler Sensation

* Well, we can certainly tell you what he wouldn’t watch: videos of dogs riding skateboards, news-reel bloopers, SNL’s Iran So Far Away. Or, maybe he would. Who can really tell. Regardless, a pious, entrepreneurial mind has come up with a YouTube alternative: GodTube. [USA Today]
* The site, created by Chris Wyatt, aims to “help the church get people back into the pews.” And it’s doing a pretty damn — sorry, darn — good job of it. According to comScore Inc., which tracks the growth of websites, GodTube grew nearly 1,000% in its first month, and had 1.6 million unique visitors every month. There are currently more than 38,000 videos on GodTube.
* And the Christians aren’t the only ones latching on to the Internet upswing. Though the two sites are considerably smaller — JewTube gets about 175,000 visitors per month and IslamicTube 23,000 — the two sites are similar to GodTube in their mission to promote their individual faiths and surrounding cultures.
* So what can you expect to find on YouTube? Try pastor Dan Smith’s spoof on Baby Got Back, appropriately entitled Baby Got Book. Though the spoof on the rap song has been viewed more than 603,000 (!) times on GodTube, Smith wonders how effective the site will be in reaching non-Christians.
* Wyatt, the site’s creator, sees GodTube as his ministry, a way “to bring as many people to Christ ... as possible.” He doesn’t think he is the reason for the site’s success. Rather, it’s the result of “God in GodTube.”
* “I’m not really the CEO,” Wyatt said. “I feel like I’m the CEO’s man on the ground.”

_____________________________________

Basically, how Jesus wastes his time at work.

DON'T SWALLOW!

God would forgive the 3%ers if only they would rejoice at the birth of His Son Jesus. I'm sure even Mike Huckabee would even allow you in his church if you were to repent, change your ways, and join the 97%!

5/99 -- Judith Nathan and Giuliani meet at Club Macanudo, a cigar bar on the Upper East Side.

7/3/99 -- NYPD Officers charge the city for gas to "accompany the mayor to Southampton."

7/31/99 -- Four officers accompanying Giuliani stay at the Atlantic Utopia Lifestyle Inn in Southampton for $1,016. Giuliani had no events in the area that day.

8/20/99 -- Giuliani visits Southampton, where Nathan has a condo. He brings along his aide Manny Papir, and Manny charges the city for a room at the Southampton Inn for $331.16. That same night, Giuliani's four man security detail charged $1,704.43 at the same inn. Giuliani had a fundraiser on the 21st.

Early 2000 -- NYPD officers start escorting Nathan around. Giuliani aides say that the protection at the time was "sporadic and did not include a full-time, round-the-clock detail." They cited previously undisclosed "threats" as the reason. But "former neighbors of Nathan's, as well as a law enforcement source, describe a full-scale valet service at Nathan's beck and call...."

4/08/00 -- NYPD officers charge the city for gas a half-hour from Nathan's hometown of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, where her parents live. It's unclear who they were accompanying.

5/10/2000 -- Giuliani announces that he will be separating from his wife, Donna Hanover. Giuliani tells the press that he and Nathan are "very good friends."

5/13/00 -- The New York Post reports that Giuliani's regular weekend visits to the Hamptons cost taxpayers at least $3,000 a day for his detail of NYPD detectives.

7/29/00 -- Three officers charge the city for gas and one night at The Inn at Baron's Cove in Sag Harbor in order to "advance/accompany the mayor to Southampton."

8/20/00 - Giuliani files for divorce.

1/12/01 -- The Post reports that two NYPD detectives have been assigned to guard Nathan from 7 AM to 7 PM, seven days a week. The Post explained, "Her security detail was upped from one to two detectives about two weeks ago after a New Yorker recognized her on the street, walked up to her and casually said, 'Hey, I know you. You're the mayor's girlfriend.'" Since the detectives earned overtime for the gig, the cost to taxpayers was estimated at $200,000 per year. The following day, Giuliani responded angrily, saying that the media should be "ashamed" and that if "you had any concern for decency, or people's safety, you'd leave it alone." You can see video of that here.

Then-NYPD chief Bernie Kerik said that the threat which had triggered the need for the detail had been more menacing than the Post described. Police officials told The New York Times that a man had identified Nathan by name, "made several threatening comments to her, then followed her," and then fled after she went into a store. Kerik wouldn't specify how much the detectives guarding Nathan are paid, only saying, "You can't put money figures on security. Security is security."

Neither Giuliani nor Kerik disclosed that detectives had in fact been accompanying Nathan for approximately a year.

6/01 - The New York Post reports that Nathan's detail, temporarily ended after it was exposed by the Post early that year, has once again been reinstated -- even as the security detail for Giuliani's estranged wife had been scaled back. The piece was accompanied by a picture of a detective escorting Nathan while she walked her dog.

The Daily News later reports that during this time, "it was not uncommon to see Nathan being chauffeured around the city in an undercover Dodge with two detectives, who sometimes even helped to walk her dog."

8/3/01 - Detectives charge the city $1,371 for a stay at Southampton's Village Latch Inn.

10/20/01 -- NYPD cops accompany Nathan to her parents' home again in Pennsylvania. They charge the city for gas.

12/01 -- NYPD cops again accompany Nathan to her parents' Pennsylvania home. More gas.

1/1/02 -- Giuliani steps down as mayor.

7/10/02 - Giuliani's divorce with Hanover is finalized.

Andrew Berger provided research for this post.

**Under pressure from outraged viewers, NBC has reversed its decision not to air the Freedom's Watch ads thanking troops...

----------------------------------------------

NBC Rejects Ad From Conservative Group

Dec 7, 3:45 PM (ET)

By JIM KUHNHENN

WASHINGTON (AP) - NBC has rejected a TV ad by Freedom's Watch, a conservative group that supports administration policy in Iraq, that asks viewers to remember and thank U.S. troops during the holiday season.

NBC said it declined to air the ad because it refers to the group's Web site, which the network said was too political, not because of the ad's message.

"Anybody in the world who would look at this ad would come away with nothing other than we should be thankful for their service," Freedom's Watch president Brad Blakeman said.

The spot was to be part of a seven-figure campaign that includes newspaper ads and television commercials. The ads are to run on CNN and Fox News Channel and are running in various newspapers. The New York Times ran a full-page Freedom's Watch ad Friday that said "Thank You!" and depicted a soldier reading a letter. The newspaper ad also contained the Web site address.

Alan Wurtzel, NBC's head of standards and practices, said the network decided not to run the Freedom's Watch ad because the group insisted that the spot contain the URL address of its Web site.

Isn't wonderful that there are so many 97%er's in both parties to choose from in this election. God-fearing Real Americans who want to do the Right Thing. It makes me proud to be a Real American!

Finally, a note under the door says Air America Radio’s Rachel Maddow will be offered the hour following Keith Olbermann on MSNBC, but only with a ‘funny’ co-host, as it appears increasingly unlikely that The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart or Bill Maher and others will step in for the kind of unimpressive money and short-term contract that are on the table. Rumor is the cable channel’s execs are impressed with Maddow, but she’s not perceived as ‘funny’ enough by herself for the uptempo news/comedy format they’re seeking. Paul F. Tompkins and Joel McHale, that guy Keith has on who hosts E!s “The Soup,” have been mentioned as co-hosts, as well as Rachel’s AAR colleague Randi Rhodes, although Randi is seen by some as too partisan and combative. If this goes through, the prime-time weekday line up for MSNBC would then be “Hardball”; “Countdown with Keith Olbermann”; the as-yet-unnamed Rachel Maddow show, and “Live with Dan Abrams.” Expect a press release in January.

Again, this is just a rumor, and one that hasn't hit the big media gossip sites yet, so do with it what you wish.

Labels: MSNBC, Rachel Maddow, Rumors

http://ltradio.blogspot.com/

http://mfile.akamai.com/12441/live/reflector:39570.asx

December 08, 2007 3:39 PM

ABC News' Raelyn Johnson reports: Democratic presidential contender Sen. John Edwards isn't convinced voters are solely impressed by the star-studded names gracing the campaign trail this weekend.

"Well I think most people vote on the basis of the candidates themselves," Edwards said following a Saturday town hall meeting in Concord, N.H.

Talk queen phenomenon Oprah Winfrey will campaign with Sen. Obama this weekend, while Sen. Clinton is joined by her mother Dorothy and daughter Chelsea in Iowa, and former President Bill Clinton will campaign in South Carolina on Saturday.

"I think their primary role is just to get people to show up so that you can make the case about why you should be President of the United States," said Edwards, who's had campaign events with Bonnie Raitt, Lance Armstrong and James Denton of ABC's Desperate Housewives.

But with the Iowa Caucuses less than a month out and the top three Democrats in a statistical dead heat, it seems only timely to pull out the big guns -- or names, rather.

"Having been through this before I don't think that’s a critical part of what's happening.," Edwards said. "I think people take this very seriously. I don't think they decide who to vote for based on what movie star's for you."

Friday during a conference call with reporters, supporters of Edwards’s campaign slammed Oprah's appearance on the trail. "If you can build a school in Africa, build one in South Carolina," said Linda Dogan, a city councilmember in Spartanburg, S.C.

A day later, Edwards downplayed the criticism. "Any presidential candidate has the right to bring somebody out who's supporting them… But I don't believe voters decide who they're going to work for based on what Hollywood star, television star is supporting them."

ABC News

Radar Categories

* Biden, Joe
* Clinton, Hillary
* Dodd, Chris
* Edwards, John
* Giuliani, Rudy
* Huckabee, Mike
* Hunter, Duncan
* McCain, John
* Obama, Barack
* Paul, Ron
* Richardson, Bill
* Romney, Mitt
* Thompson, Fred
* Vote 2008: Democrats
* Vote 2008: Republicans
* Washington
* White House

http://judiciary.house.gov/Media/PDFS/DAG2821.pdf
.=.=.=.=.=
Jamesbennett

I heard jesus was gay... ahh funny ol world

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1238172678

Jesus wasn't gay, he was just FANCY.

Tha's all.

OKBYE SEAMONKEYS.

http://judiciary.house.gov/Media/PDFS/ContemptReport071105.pdf
.=.=.=.=.=
Jamesbennett

...This would be
the coolest song
of the year.

ROTSBMAIGMAFG

Right On Time She Blows Me As I Give My Absolute Full Gratitude

Love. Love. Love.

The bio linked below might interest you. Andrea Seabrook has a light and playful radio voice. It's young and girlish, which is not meant as anything other than an observational opinion. I am always curious about the person behind a voice.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2790202

Tillman named Bears' nominee for Man of Year honor

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Cornerback Charles Tillman has been named the Bears’ nominee for the 2007 NFL Walter Payton “Man of the Year Award,” the only league honor that recognizes a player’s off-the-field community service support and activities as well as his playing excellence.

The award was created in 1970 and honors NFL players who demonstrate outstanding balance between their civic and professional responsibilities. In 1999, the league renamed the NFL “Man of the Year” award after Payton as a tribute to his greatness both on and off the field.

Cornerback Charles Tillman joined the Bears as a second-round draft pick in 2003. One finalist from all 32 NFL teams will receive a $1,000 contribution toward the charity of his choice, and the overall winner will receive $25,000 for his selected charity. The winner of the award will be announced by commissioner Roger Goodell prior to Super Bowl XLII in Phoenix.

Four Bears players have won the NFL Man of the Year Award: Payton in 1977, Dave Duerson in 1987, Mike Singletary in 1990 and Jim Flanigan in 2000.

Since being selected by the Bears in the second round of the 2003 draft, Tillman has been a consistent performer and leader both on and off the field. He has made a tremendous impact on the lives of deserving individuals throughout the Chicago area, and in 2006 he started Charles Tillman’s Cornerstone Foundation in an effort to make a larger impact in the community. The foundation has been designated as the charity that will receive the $1,000 donation in his name.

The mission of Charles Tillman’s Cornerstone Foundation is to provide Chicago area children and youth with educational opportunities and resources needed to excel in the classroom and life. The foundation’s interactive programs and events are designed to help build a strong foundation through education.

Since 2006, the “Pick it Up” program has provided nearly $20,000 in back-to-school items like backpacks, lunch boxes, school supplies and clothing to over 300 inner-city Chicago elementary and middle school children.

In 2007, the Cornerstone Foundation provided $25,000 in Hooked on Phonics products to more than 400 inner-city Chicago children who struggle with reading.

Also in 2007, the Cornerstone Foundation launched the “It’s Cool to be in School” program in Chicago Public Schools, which is an incentive based program that encourages more than 9,000 inner-city high school students to attend school.

As part of this program, students who achieve 95 percent or better attendance for each grade period have the opportunity to earn a visit from Tillman at their school, one-of-a-kind autographed merchandise, and a dream day with the cornerback at Soldier Field where kids will receive lunch, a Tillman jersey, and a behind-the-scenes glimpse into a Bears’ game day.

Tillman also continues to support numerous Bears community programs, with a special emphasis on serving underprivileged children and their families. Several of his recent contributions to the community include:

-- Serving as spokesman for the Staples “Dream Park Challenge with the Bears,” a park improvement initiative which will give over $50,000 to 14 parks in the city of Chicago that host the Junior Bear Youth Football program.
-- Purchasing and donating 12 tickets to each home game to children from LYDIA Home and Lawrence Hall Youth Services.
-- Participating in a holiday shopping spree to benefit children from LYDIA Home.
-- Serving as spokesman for the Chicago Bears Coat Drive the past four seasons, helping to provide thousands of coats to deserving families during the winter.
-- Supporting Bears Care, the team’s charitable beneficiary, by attending the Bears Care Gala, which raises money to fund researchers who are leaders in their field in the fight against breast and ovarian cancer and to help them extend their breakthroughs to low-income women.
-- Participating in the Bears “Hello to Our Heroes” program by helping students write letters to members of the military who are currently serving overseas.
-- Taking part in a photo shoot to support the Bears “What Moves U” fitness initiative. Magnets were produced using his image and are handed out to children at school assemblies.
-- Supporting the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association of Illinois by joining individuals and their families who are affected by Prader-Willi at a benefit at Halas Hall.

is on the air.
Does anyone else listen to Garrison Kellior & the Gang?

Submitted by Crank Bait on Sat, 12/08/2007 - 6:09pm.

The bio linked below might interest you. Andrea Seabrook has a light and playful radio voice. It's young and girlish, which is not meant as anything other than an observational opinion. I am always curious about the person behind a voice.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2790202

----------

from link:

Andrea Seabrook was named weekend host of NPR's signature newsmagazine All Things Considered in September 2007. She joins All Things Considered weekday hosts Melissa Block, Michele Norris and Robert Siegel.

_______________

Irascible aside:

Does Michele Norris' (suspected, tain't sure) name-pronunciation affectation annoy you as much as it does me?

"And I'm MEEE-shell Norris."

Yeah. Right. Sure you are.

Reminds me of this guy I knows whose name is Michael but he writes it: Mykl.

Thinks I, fer chrissakes, just change yer fuckin' name if its commonality bothers you so much.

(Went into major brain-fart mode there and couldn't for the life of me 'member how to spell "common"; exhausted "a" 'n "e" as possibilities a-fore I finally got unrutted.)

Iceknife, those dancing elves had me laughing out loud.

Thanks for sending it along.

Jamie O'Brien

"They said they loved me, but that I'd finally lost my goddamned mind.
I wasn't sure exactly how to take that.
Though, it was said with a semi-confortable smile.
So,with gratitude I took it as something positive and nice."

--author unknown--

"They said they loved me, but that I'd finally lost my goddamned mind.
I wasn't sure exactly how to take that.
Though, it was said with a semi-confortable smile.
So,with gratitude I took it as something positive and nice."

--author unknown--

Those of you taking another crack at recovery from the 3% would do well to listen to NPR as sort of a halfway house in getting back into the mainstream of American life. One step at a time.

Wavy Gravy/Hugh Romney Cruise
Featuring multi-generational activities, family pets invited
For Dogs and Cats: Train your human caregiver
Costume making with recycled objects
Sing alongs with Burl Ives cover band, Kathy Reid-Naiman and Raffi and many more.
Parades on Deck nightly, Picnics on the dining room floor ...Fun for all
Juggling, tumbling and trapeze arts classes

RAM DASS HOSPICE CRUISE
Burial at Sea available as necessary
Full hospice medical staff
20 piece harp orchestra
Tibetan Monk Chorus
Gurney’s and drips enjoy dining room ambiance
Ports of Call include ACID Sunrise Farewell on hill overlooking bay
Evening viewing of “My Life” DVDs of passengers in gurney auditorium

Timothy Leary Memorial Cruise
For all (over 21) generations of drug enthusiasts
Scrooms at fabulous archeological sites
24 Hour Dance in all ball rooms, all genres, featuring vintage clothing costume each night - 1965-95
IBIZA REUNION
Reggae Lounge
New: Full botanical Afghanistan Bazaar
and much more
Full medical staff and testing service

...featuring rock 'n roll saint & former dead boy, Stiv Bators.

"Open your eyes, Stiv.
The lights right in front of you.

Watch out for cars." (R.I.P.) Love.

--Odd Info For Alice
Submitted by Crank Bait on Sat, 12/08/2007 - 6:09pm.

peckish peeves
Submitted by dr on Sat, 12/08/2007 - 6:31pm.
"And I'm MEEE-shell Norris."--

How

about

"Stevinski"?

...and

husbot's favorite..."Watch Me Sing"?!

!!!!
????

dr,
I have chosen to assume until advised otherwise that Michele Norris was given the pronunciation along with the name and the spelling by her parents.

If I had answered to nothing but the foreign pronunciation of my name when I entered school, I would be resistant to having it Americanized.

Of course, I don't know that this is the case with Norris. The pronunciation doesn't make me peckish. It makes me immediately free-associate to a rousing chorus of "Mee-shell, Ma Bell" (followed by French stuff)...

--: ) "Grace"
Submitted by Brett on Sat, 12/08/2007 - 3:35am.
I've pondered for the longest about sharing something personal with everyone here--

My younger brother, named Brett, killed himself in 1994 at age 25...(my parents lost three babies prior to adopting me and Brett...)..I saw what happen to them after losing Brett...I think it's very cool how you feel her spirit around as an angel..I have a book that says that children who die so young do so for some benefit to the parent's growth...I can't remember the exact words, but I just remember thinking about the idea...A woman at work..her husband right now has something so horrible that they are amputating body parts...it's nice how in the County here, they have a program where employees can give their vacation time to someone like my co-worker..and also since he is using blood from the blood supply, there is also a program where we can give blood in his name and it lowers their medical bills..

connection long enough to actually DO the Blog...listen to each song and watch each video as it is posted...It seems like it would be a totally different experience than the one I have now...

O M G !

Submitted by Alice on Sat, 12/08/2007 - 7:05pm.

--Odd Info For Alice
Submitted by Crank Bait on Sat, 12/08/2007 - 6:09pm.

peckish peeves
Submitted by dr on Sat, 12/08/2007 - 6:31pm.
"And I'm MEEE-shell Norris."--

How

about

"Stevinski"?

...and

husbot's favorite..."Watch Me Sing"?!

!!!!
????

____________

They's fanciful improvements over the originals: Steve Inskeep 'n Lakshmi Singh.

Tho' both is unnerstandable misunnerstandin's of hearin', not annoyin' affectations, imo.

MEEEEEEEEEEE-shell Norris. Kee-rist.

--MEEEEEEEEEEE-shell Norris. Kee-rist.--

http://judiciary.house.gov/Media/PDFS/Interview071107.pdf
33/276
MR. SAMPSON: As I testified in my hearing on
17 March 29th, I remember learning from the Attorney General
18 that Karl Rove had complained about U.S. Attorneys in three
19 jurisdictions, and the substance of the complaint was their
20 failure, alleged failure to aggressively prosecute voter
21 fraud cases. And I think, although I am not sure, I think
22 this packet of materials must be related to that complaint.
23 I had forgotten, but in reviewing these documents
24 I remember that this came into my possession. I don't.=.=.=.=.=
Jamesbennett

Cora Vacolman or Korva Coleman?

(I wondered about that one for a good while.)

[long one but worth it I hope ...pulling ropes, trying to remember if I go in or out...]
http://judiciary.house.gov/Media/PDFS/Interview071107.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Siegelman
L. Interview of Dana Jill Simpson
September 14, 2007
268/276 ff
A And so, anyway, he was telling me all of the things
that Alice had done as far as having messed up the deal.
And then I -- and that since she had messed it up, he was
definitely running, you know what -- I mean -- and then he
proceeds to tell me that Bill Canary and Bob Riley had had a
conversation with Karl Rove again and that they had this
time gone over and seen whoever was the head of the
department of -- he called it PIS, which I don't think that
is the correct acronym, but that's what he called it. And I
had to say what is that and he said that is the Public
Integrity Section.
And I read in the paper since they call it PIN, but he
called it PIS. So anyway, I said at the time that, you
know, what happened -- you know what I'm saying? So -- but
they had a conversation with Karl and then Karl, it is my
understanding, then went over to the Public Integrity
Section and talked to the head of it.
Q About what?
A About Don Siegelman and the mess that Alice Martin
had made and it was my understanding in that conversation
after that conversation that there was a decision made that
they would bring a new case against Don Siegelman and they
would bring it in the Middle District, which is not my
==
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/timeline_don_siegelman_1126.htm
Timeline: The prosecution of Don Siegelman
Muriel Kane and Larisa Alexandrovna
Published: Monday November 26, 2007

http://www.harpers.org/subjects/DonSiegelman/SubjectOf/BlogEntry
==
district where -- you know, you and I have had that
discussion, I do not practice -- I am admitted to the Middle
District back but that is getting pretty far afield from the
location of my office.
Q Okay. And who -- when you say they had made a
decision, who are you thinking of?
A Whoever that head of that Public Integrity -- the
PIS was as Rob referred to it. And then whoever -- and Karl
Rove.
Q And what -- well, from talking to Rob, this
conversation you're describing for me was in late January,
early February 2005?
A That is correct. Right after -- I was home with the
baby for about 3, 3-1/2 weeks or so, and then I started
getting out because I wanted more baby clothes and more baby
stuff. So --
Q And is your understanding, then, that the
conversation between Bob Riley and Bill Canary and Karl Rove
would have occurred sometime in 2004?A I understood -- whenever Alice's case was over --
which we had the discussion -- I don't know when it was
over, but I think it was in October or September from what
I've been told. But sometime between when that case had
ended and when -- and I kind of understood from what --
Q And when you were talking?
A Yes, and when I was talking. And I kind of
understood it had occurred before Christmas, but I don't
know, November or December. But --
Q But it could have been any time --
A It could have been any time during that time.
Q Okay. And did Rob give you the name of the
person at -- I'm just going to call it Public Integrity --
that he thought he understood Karl Rove had spoken to?
A No, he said it was the head guy there and he said
that that guy had agreed to allocate whatever resources, so
evidently the guy had the power to allocate resources, you
know.
Q To the Siegelman prosecution?
A Yes. And that he'd allocate all resources
necessary.
Q And did Rob -- well, did you discuss anything else
about the reason to bring the case or the decision to bring
the case in the Middle District?
A Oh, yes.
Q And what is that?
A I asked Rob why we needed to bring it in that area.
And, of course, he mentioned Leura Canary, Bill Canary's
wife, would be a good reason as to why to bring it. But he
also mentioned Mark Fuller.
Q And who is Mark Fuller?
A Well, at that time -- I had heard about Fuller, but
I've never met Mark Fuller so, you know. But Mark Fuller is
the Chief United States Federal judge for that district.
Q Had you heard his name before Mark mentioned him?
A Yes, I had.
Q What did you know about Fuller then when Rob
mentioned him that day?
A In 2001 and 2002 when I was up here trying to --
helping with the campaign and trying to collect the money on
the -- the FEMA deal you read about, I made several trips up
here for that. We would meet over at Stewart Hall's office,
the Federalist Group. And I brought clients with me too.
And I had one particular one that came a lot, but he would
bring an entourage of folks who was involved in that FEMA
deal. Well, anyway, Rob and Stewart and I had several
discussions about these cotton tractors that do the storm
work. I represent folks without naming any identities, but
they predominantly do one kind of work and it is natural
disasters or manmade disasters. And when you do a storm
cleanup, you can make, like, 20, 30 million, 15 million in a
60-day period, a large percentage of the time. Rob and
Stewart were fascinated by that because they knew Mark
Fuller who had been -- Mark Fuller had been at Alabama with
us because Stewart Hall was at Alabama when I was at
Alabama.
Ms. Lynch. I'm going to object right now. I'm
confused about -- are we still talking about a telephone
conversation with Rob Riley?
The Witness. This was not a telephone conversation.
Ms. Lynch. I think the question she is responding to
was still in regards to what was said to her or by her.
Mr. Broderick-Sokol. The question she is responding to
now is what did you know about Mark Fuller when Rob Riley
mentioned him.
Ms. Lynch. We're still getting there?
Mr. Broderick-Sokol. We're circling around to it.
The Witness. But anyway, I'll come --
BY MR. BRODERICK-SOKOL:
Q You're giving us a lot of how you know as opposed to
what you really knew about Mark Fuller, which is what I want
to understand. Why don't you start with -- you had just
mentioned college, that he had been at Alabama. Is that
what you had understood?
A With Stewart, me and Rob at the same time. But I
did not know Fuller at college. They claim I knew him, but
I don't recall him.
Q What is your recollection?
A I do not recall him. But they proceeded to tell me
that Fuller has all these contracts, but his contracts are
not the same type of contracts as mine. They were amazed
that my clients could get these cleanup large sum, whereas
Fuller was getting large contract, but he was doing more
what I consider to be maintenance on aircraft and fuel
contracts, aviation kind of stuff which was not anything I
was familiar with. It really sounded kind of like an oil
job or doing government contracting.
Q So you knew that he had some business doing these
contracts, you have learned this from Rob Riley and Stewart,
whose name I'm not remembering.
A Hall.
Q And Stewart Hall. Thank you. Over that period, did
you know he was a federal judge when Rob mentioned him to
you that day?
A He wasn't a federal judge in 2001 and 2002. And,
no, on 2005 on -- when Rob and I were in the office, no, I
did not.
Q Okay. But when Rob mentioned Mark Fuller -- well,
did Rob tell you he was a judge at that time?
A Rob, asked me, do you remember Fuller and I, it took
me a minute and I said, yeah, I remember Mark Fuller. He
said he is now a federal judge. I said she that guy that
did those aviation contracts, and that's how I -- that's how
I connected him.
Q Okay. And in that conversation in 2005, did you
talk about Mark Fuller's business dealings in government
contracts?
A We did.
Q And what did you learn at that time?
A Rob told me that Mark Fuller was still a government
contractor in 2005 and a United States Federal judge, which
I found unusual.
Q Did he discuss with you any of the types of
contracts that Mark Fuller was working?
A Yes, he did.
Q What did he say about that?
A He said that Fuller was doing fuel contracts, that
he was doing maintenance contracts, that he was doing
clothing contracts. He -- he makes flight suits. So you
know. And he had Air Force and Navy and that he was -- did
contracts with the FBI.
Q Okay.
A And I think the ATF, but -- I'm pretty sure he said
the ATF also, but I'm not sure.
Q And did he talk to you about Mark Fuller's politics
or political work?
A He did.
Q What did you talk about in that regard?
A I asked him -- he made a statement that Fuller would
hang Don Siegelman. And I asked him how he knew that, if he
got him in his court. And he said that Fuller was -- had
been on the Executive Republican Committee at Alabama -- in
Alabama before he been a judge and he also told me about a
backlogging case, which is what you call the salary spike.
He called it the "backlogging."
Q Why don't you describe that?
A I had never heard the term "backlogging." So I had
to ask Rob what backlogging was. Evidently from what I
understand, Fuller had an employee when he was at the DA's
job, before he got to be a job in Coffee and Pike. And he
had two employees, a secretary and an investigator. And
during his term of being DA, somehow that investigator
wasn't making your typical salary, he kicked it up. And Rob
got to telling me that there was an audit done, a couple of
audits, I think, and that Fuller just hated Don Siegelman
and thought he was responsible for these audits on those
salaried employees and that there was something involving a
backlogging because they go back to figure your retirement
and there was something kind of backlogging deal. But I
didn't fully understand it at that time.
Q And did he say any more about what Don Siegelman had
to do with those audits that put Mark Fuller out?
A He said that Don Siegelman had caused Fuller to get
audited. That's what Fuller thought. He hated him for
that.
Q And this comment that he is going to hang Don

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Jamesbennett

Corvacoleman

:)

like Cher

*

smcgee43 - P is reading only Garrison books he's checked out from the library lately, (after reading way too many books about gold rush history, imo :)..and he LOVES the humor and loves the way Garrison writes..He says if he wrote he would like to write like him....

George Walker, GW's great-grandfather, set up the takeover of the Hamburg-America Line, a cover for I.G. Farben's Nazi espionage unit in the United States. In Germany, I.G. Farben was most famous for putting the gas in gas chambers; it was the producer of Zyklon B and other gasses used on victims of the Holocaust. The Bush family was not unaware of the nature of their investment partners. They hired Allen Dulles, the future head of the CIA, to hide the funds they were making from Nazi investments and the funds they were sending to Nazi Germany, rather than divest. It was only in 1942, when the government seized Union Banking Company assets under the Trading With The Enemy Act, that George Walker and Prescott Bush stopped pumping money into Hitler's regime. (1)

Prescott Bush, the president's grandfather. According to classified documents from Dutch intelligence and US government archives, President George W. Bush's grandfather, Prescott Bush made considerable profits off Auschwitz slave labor. In fact, President Bush himself is an heir to these profits from the holocaust which were placed in a blind trust in 1980 by his father, former president George Herbert Walker Bush. (2) On the 20th of October, the government commenced action against the company under the trading with the enemy act. (3) After the seizures in late 1942 of five U.S. enterprises he managed on behalf of Nazi industrialist Fritz Thyssen failed to divest himself of more than a dozen "enemy national" relationships that continued until as late as 1951, newly-discovered U.S. government documents reveal. (4) In 1952, Prescott Bush was elected to the U.S. Senate, with no press accounts about his well-concealed Nazi past.(5)

George Herbert Walker Bush, the presidents father. Bush, as director of the CIA, had funneled enormous amounts of cash to drug runners including Manuel Noriega and helped in the destabilization of Argentina. Bush utilized his own connections to help fund drug runners from Laos to Panama. Most shocking was the so-called "cocaine coup" in Bolivia in June 1980, masterminded by fugitive Nazi Klaus Barbie, "The Butcher Of Lyons." Barbie, who had been previously secreted in Latin America by the CIA, began working closely with the Argentines and used drug money to finance a neo-Nazi cabal, one that succeeded in overthrowing the government. The troops swept through the capital wearing Nazi armbands, according to former DEA agent Mike Levine. George H.W. Bush later facilitated the Iran-contra affair, employing many of the same methods: secretly selling Central American cocaine in America and weapons to Iran while using the profits to fund the contras and to overthrow democratically elected socialists in Central America.(6) as the head of the CIA and later as Vice President, toppled democratically elected regimes in South and Central America and began propping up a dictator by the name of Saddam Hussein in Iraq. Although forbidden by congress to do so, he continued to sell chemical and biological weapons to Saddam even after he used them on villages of innocent civilians. A decade later The United States had to go to war against him and the Bush family again, made millions from it.

Submitted by Alice on Sat, 12/08/2007 - 7:36pm.

P is reading only Garrison books he's checked out from the library lately, (after reading way too many books about gold rush history, imo :)..and he LOVES the humor and loves the way Garrison writes..He says if he wrote he would like to write like him....

__________________

Please tell me P has read "Roughing It".

I have been reading here & there about unfortunate things that have happened to different people.
It is amazing how we can stand back up, brush ourselves off & get back into the swing of life.
It takes a little longer for others & not so for others. But we are all different & that is the beauty of it.
In 2002 I lost 5 people that I knew - 2 of those people were very close to me.

My step-dad whom was a very cool guy died of cancer in 2004 - I watched the man whom I could call dad (I have been very fortunate in life to have 2 dads)
get ravaged by this sickness we call cancer. He went through cemo. for 2 yrs & it just wasn't enough.
He died @ home with, his sister, my stepbrother,my mom & me @ his side. The meaning of life & death changed for me the night.
My step-dad was a Vietnam Vet & a proud Marine. He did 2 tours of duty in Nam. He had a 1962 Triumph and owned a Jaguar. He worked all of his life for the phone company (Illinois Bell) and was a wonderful loving husband to my mother. He was the love of her life.
I miss him - but there are (every now & then) signs of him that he is with us. I know he is in a better place.
I am sorry for the pain that you, MMRules & Brett have had to go through. In life there will always be death. I think that we learn that @ a young age--but we don't realize it
until we are older.
Sorry for going on...& on.
I just wanted to say - Im sorry for all that you all have been through.

he wants to know if you read 1956 Lake Wobegon Summer...that's the one he just finished...

http://www.harpers.org/archive/2007/07/hbc-90000675

In theory, federal judges are assigned to cases at random. But according to a well-placed Alabama GOP source who wishes to remain anonymous, some senior figures in the Alabama GOP appear to have known from the start that this case was going to be handled by a man they counted a friend, namely, George W. Bush–appointee Mark Fuller. Regardless of whether the GOP had the power to influence case assignments, Mark Everett Fuller was in fact assigned as judge who presided over the grand jury proceedings in this second effort to prosecute Siegelman.
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Jamesbennett

page 2...

Where for art thou?.=.=.=.=.=
Jamesbennett