Lifeguard tower... so far away... not like Christmas, which is only 70 shopping days away!

re: #1 freetoken

Lifeguard tower... so far away... not like Christmas, which is only 70 shopping days away!

Are you employed by Santa in some mad viral marketing scheme?

re: #2 cenotaphium

Ahh... you made my cover... I told Santa the lizards would never fall for it!

re: #3 freetoken

Ahh... you made my cover... I told Santa the lizards would never fall for it!

I just got a vision of Consumerist Santa on a hoard of gold with his child laborers attending his every need.. maybe it's just the memory of that one MST3K episode that's haunting me?

*shudder*

re: #2 cenotaphium

As a former retailer, let me tell you just HOW the clock tics towards the biggest spending of the season. "Black Friday" the Friday after Thanksgiving, used to be when the retailers started to make money for the year. Yes, they ran in the red for 11 months. If you had a good December, you had a good year & vice versa.

(I don't miss that treadmill a BIT!)

re: #4 cenotaphium

Definitely not a politically correct MST3K! Biting commentary...

re: #5 Floral Giraffe

As a former retailer, let me tell you just HOW the clock tics towards the biggest spending of the season. "Black Friday" the Friday after Thanksgiving, used to be when the retailers started to make money for the year. Yes, they ran in the red for 11 months. If you had a good December, you had a good year & vice versa.

Sounds pretty nerve-wracking. That December month could turn bad for any number of reasons through no fault of your own, which makes it a bit like betting, and I only like to bet when the odds are heavily in my favor.
I've always had this little dream of owning a weird bookstore/coffee-shop hybrid store, but I never could figure out how to make it profitable. Maybe if I can resurrect beatnik culture?

The flounce-song of J. Alfred banned account

Let us Flounce then you and I
When sleep is spread across the owners eyes
Like a patient etherized upon the table.
The changed owner, asleep, to notice unable
That changed owner, asleep upon a liberal bed
I’d jump the blog to come.

Let us flounce through certain half-deserted threads
The muttering retreads,
Of restless nights in one-night ocean views
And liberal arguments, and other spew.
Threads that follow like a tedious argument
Of unpatriotic intent!
Oh do not ask what’s in it, let us go and make our visit.

The yellow lizards who curl about the dead thread,
Some cowardly posters, lurking about the dead thread,
Lingered upon the voices in their brains.
Scanned once about the active thread, content,
Should I not flounce and flounce again?
The blog owner has gone to sleep tonight.

And indeed there will be time,
For the yellow lizards to write and celebrate
Let me prepare a post to make the lizards weep.
One final post, to announce to all, the blogs defeat!
One great post, on which I work a week
While Charles sleeps, my post will linger
And get the satisfaction I seek.

Ah, to compose a farewell of momentous meaning
Flounces that cry and moan and weep
And take one week to compose and sneak.
Some great question, to scold the owner dreaming
Some great flounce that screams upon the dead thread late
Enough to make the owner weep, and break.

Full of angst and insidious intent, oh do not ask "what’s in it"
Charles has deleted my farewell message dammit!
Into the ether it goes.

In the chat room the lizards come and go
Speaking to friends I once knew,
They will not speak to me
For I am terminated, flounced and gone.

On the sea shore MandyManners posts galore,
Combing the white and black overnight thread
Chatting with other members
She will not chat to me…
It wasn’t flounce to me, it wasn’t and it was.

For I have rolled, my pajamas old
And I have grown weary, and irrelevant.

re: #4 cenotaphium

"Oh, I suppose Hell got a NEA grant..."

Love it!

Interracial couple denied marriage license in La.

The comments at breitbart are beyond insane make hot air comments almost seem sane and reasonable. This is the Drudge-reading, Limbaugh-listening, Beck-watching base.

re: #8 Bagua

oh do not ask "what’s in it"
Charles has deleted my farewell message dammit!

Brilliant.

re: #10 affenkopf

From the link:

... Bardwell told the Daily Star of Hammond that he was not a racist.

"I do ceremonies for black couples right here in my house," Bardwell said.

...

Sound familiar? Earlier in the day on this very website someone tried to prove Limbaugh was not a racist because Limbaugh has a black screener ("Snerdly"). Well, the judge in this case doesn't think he is a racist because he lets black people into his house...

re: #7 cenotaphium

There's a GREAT bookstore in Los Angeles, that has just been sold to a really good family owned chain (not the right word, but they have a couple of stores). BookSoup in West Hollywood, amazing. Vromans in Pasadena just bought them. Either would be a good business model.
Part of the problem, IMHO is the sheer volume of inventory for a bookstore.

And, on this thread killing note...
I wish all the Lizards a safe & sane evening & night.

re: #14 Floral Giraffe

Good night!

re: #7 cenotaphium

Sounds pretty nerve-wracking. That December month could turn bad for any number of reasons through no fault of your own, which makes it a bit like betting, and I only like to bet when the odds are heavily in my favor.
I've always had this little dream of owning a weird bookstore/coffee-shop hybrid store, but I never could figure out how to make it profitable. Maybe if I can resurrect beatnik culture?

As an Architect and a native New Yorker with experience in retail design and service, I may be able to offer some advice:

First of all, a bookstore/coffee-shop would not be as dependent on Holiday sales as much as other businesses are, but seasonal traffic may be variable if you only serve hot beverages and no food items. A constant menu with interesting variables is always a good thing, so is creating an atmosphere that encourages customers to come back again.

In my experience, most retail locations fail for one of 3 reasons:
1-Lack of noteworthiness and purpose.
2-out-of-control expenses that eat up all profits.
3-lack of capitalization and credit.

Sounds like you have the first problem solved, as beatnik culture is interesting and the written word+caffeine is a natural fit. (I'd call it a good business plan!)

The 2nd and 3rd problems require that you set aside at least twice as much money as you think you will need, control costs like a hawk, and be willing to wait up to 3 years to start earning a monthly profit. (So be prepared to have your nest egg evaporate!)

If you can afford to take this bet, I would encourage you to do so by all means. If not, then don't do it until you are able to. Because a dream deferred will eat at our souls until the day we die...

Just checked PJM, which I used to do daily but now... maybe once or twice a week... and they seem to be a full on race with WND to go over the cliff. Especially when it comes to science, but also other topics.

Noticed that tonight they put up yet another AGW is a hoax thread... but that wasn't enough. They also have an essay up by creationist Frank Tipler attacking the Nobel prize... no, not for the Peace prize, but for the prizes in the hard sciences!

After spouting what to some eyes will look like an impressive survey of the history of the award, though it isn't, Tipler says this:

In 1954, Max Born was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for a result that was actually disproved three years later, though many physicists are not even today aware of this refutation. Born had claimed that the most important concept in quantum mechanics, the wave function, was a measure of the probability that an event would occur, and that there was a fundamental randomness in nature. But quantum mechanics is really more deterministic than classical mechanics. Einstein was utterly correct when he said, “God does not play dice with the universe.” Hugh Everett proved Einstein correct in 1957, when he showed that the wave function is not a measure of a probability, but rather a measure of the density of universes identical to ours but parallel to ours in the overall reality called the “multiverse.”

Erwin Schrödinger, who discovered the equation that governs the wave function, actually pointed this out in 1926, but he was ignored. The prestige of the Nobel awarded to Born has been an important reason why the Everett-Schrödinger true and correct theory of the wave function has not been generally accepted. The Nobel Prize has held up the advance of physics.

Sorry, but no. The bolded section is what creationist Frank Tipler wants to believe. However, any survey of quantum mechanics (and the follow-up additions that together make up what is known as the "standard model") will show that even though the standard model is very good in predicting our world around us the interpretations (or philosophical implications) of them is hardly a sealed and shut case.

That is just one of many examples of where PJM is bringing in writers who pull the wool over the readers eyes, if by no other means than that which Tipler uses - confusion by lexical hypertrophy!

BTW, there is another bad piece by VDH up there too, lamenting racism. After taking on the usual easy targets (e.g., Sharpton) he turns on Van Jones, Holder, Gates - all the boogie men of right wing. But he goes even farther and starts to rant about comedian Chris Rock.

Yet VDH nary mentions anything about the numerous attacks on Obama.. because it is all Obama's fault (in his eyes.) The Breitbart story and comments in that story, linked to above, isn't even on VDH's screen. My summary still stands - VDH is "mailing it in", and is simply putting out fluff to appeal to the right-wing.

The long long summer has been replaced by the bitterly dreary fall.

Politico - Bogus email: Christmas myth dogs Obama

The White House Historical Association has been receiving calls and emails about an alleged Obama decree that the Christmas trees in the White House would now be known as "holiday trees." And artists submitting designs for ornaments on the Blue Room tree were not allowed to depict Christian themes.

It's a twofer – yet another viral Obama myth that will never really go away combined with the more traditional holiday season "war on Christmas" rabble-rousing.

re: #19 simoom

Damn... it'll be Christmas before we know it. Better stalk up on hand grendades and ammo if there is gonna be a war on it...

/sarcasm

re: #19 simoom

Don't expect any mea culpas from the HATE☢ON™ To The Keyboard crowd.

re: #18 [deleted]

Life imitates art.

re: #12 freetoken

"I do ceremonies for black couples right here in my house," Bardwell said.

I believe this falls under the heading of "Separate but Equal", which is about as valid as "Fair and Balanced"...

re: #20 BlackFedora

Only 70 shopping days...

re: #16 Surabaya Stew

If you can afford to take this bet, I would encourage you to do so by all means. If not, then don't do it until you are able to. Because a dream deferred will eat at our souls until the day we die...

I'm not going to quote the whole thing, but it's certainly worth more than just an upding. That was a really inspiring reply! I tip my hat to you, and offer you a coffee & a book at some unspecified future point!

re: #25 cenotaphium

I'm not going to quote the whole thing, but it's certainly worth more than just an upding. That was a really inspiring reply! I tip my hat to you, and offer you a coffee & a book at some unspecified future point!

Why thank you very much! Am glad to be of service to any Lizard with a question in my field of expertise. In anticipation of your cool library-java cafe, I prefer a bold Sumatra roast with half & half + 1 sugar, and anything of Keroac's other than The Road.

re: #22 Bagua

re: #18 [deleted]

Life imitates art.

And indeed there will be time
To wonder, “Do I dare?” and, “Do I dare?”
Time to turn back and preview the flounce
Knowing an erasure will pounce—
[We will say: “How his wit is growing thin!”]
His morning coat, his collar mounting firmly to the chin,
His necktie rich and modest, but asserted by a simple pin—
[We will say: “But how his arms and legs are thin!”]
Does he dare
Disturb the multiverse?
In a minute there is time
For decisions and revisions which a deletion will reverse.

Am going to bed now, but I wanted to share this article about our president with you all, if you haven't read it already. Whether one approves or disapproves of his politics, it's a great read.

'Night, Lizards!

Thank you fucking AP...

Don't let the fact that I'm American fool you. I can find Pakistan on a fucking map.

re: #24 freetoken

Not if I can help it. I'm sworn this will be the last Christian holiday celebrated in the new commie nation. There's a WoC, and I'm fighting on every front.
//

More attacks against military and police installations in Pakistan today.

11 Killed in Suicide Bombing of Police Garrison in Peshawar.

re: #31 Fenway_Nation

They won't be happy until they have the keys to the nukes. Makes you almost miss the days of Musharraf.

re: #32 theheat

Oh damn...I'm blogging about exactly that right now.

I also think the ISI has an unacknowledged role in all of this.

re: #33 Fenway_Nation

It's been going to shit in Pakistan for the last year with their nationwide appeasement program. At least Musharraf put some effort into quashing uprisings. Now, the radicals are emboldened without consequence.

re: #34 theheat

As soon as the post Musharraff gov't offered that truce, they smelled blood in the water, theheat.

re: #35 Fenway_Nation

I'd venture more bad guys have been killed with US drones in the past year than the new government there. How pathetic.

re: #36 theheat

Might explain the luke warm 'uproar' whenever that happens.

NANESB! Blog updated on this very topic.

This is one issue I can get behind Obama on (bombing the snot out of bad guys). The trouble is, none of this is 100% committed. And it's a sticky situation, besides, because Pakistan hasn't officially granted permission for us to bomb the shit out of their bad guys. They have to act outraged about it or lose face with the sympathizers. But at least with Musharraf, there was one more ball in our court, even though it may not have been ideal. We're on our own now, and Pakistan is losing ground every day to terrorism.

re: #38 theheat

Military dictators are called 'strongmen' for a reason.
/

Which is why I'm distracting myself watching bad horror movies all month long. Right now it's Boa vs. Python on ScyFy. This flick sucks so hard it makes the curtains flutter, but sometimes it beats reality.

re: #40 theheat

Is it a feathered boa?

Which constrictor are you rooting for?

re: #39 Fenway_Nation

For the most part, I dug Musharraf. He was a tough little bastard; smart, and charming. He probably wasn't any more trustworthy than the next guy, but I believe he had a very forward thinking vision for his country. He knew that in order for Pakistan to advance, he couldn't ignore extremism. And you can imagine, in a country that diverse, with all these pockets of tribalists and extremists, that's no easy feat. It's easy to sit over here and bitch about how he did things, but I can't see anyone else doing a better job when that's the plate of shit put in your lap. And, obviously, the next guy ain't up to the task.

re: #41 Fenway_Nation

I caught some really bad CGI out of the corner of my eye. I'm not exactly sure what's what yet. I'm working and peeking over my monitor from time to time, to see if there's anything interesting going on. So far: not.

I think all the kids in computer graphics classes get their feet wet doing really bad effects for the ScyFy channel. Some of it's so bad, the edges of their critters aren't even anti-aliased. They must be rendering this stuff on $699 Dell desktops or something. It's baaad.

re: #43 theheat

I see...well, I caught some shitty baseball last week.

Unfortunately, it was the Red Sox.

re: #44 Fenway_Nation

I swore off baseball after the Mariners tanked ___ times in a row. Used to be a big fan. Now it's boxing, or nothing. Lately work has been pretty hectic, so I haven't had the dedication to follow much of anything closely, save the occasional really crappy horror flick on TV this month.

re: #45 theheat

Meh...my hopes were pretty rudely dashed last week.

ESPN had on a bunch of weeknight college football games all week- I'm not complaining too much about that.

re: #46 Fenway_Nation

Well, I know that feeling to have your team go so far, and then take a nosedive. It feels like a punch to the gut. But I'm not such a sports fan that I'll watch other teams to fill the void. Once I'm done, I'm emotionally detached.

Am I talking sports, or relationships?
//

Uh oh. They're holding up a real boa next to a CGI python. Nothing like illustrating how poorly your 3D critters are holding up. This is insufferable.

FAIL.

Wait a minute. Some hunk in Levis just stepped out a Porsche. I vaguely heard something about how he's the rebel scientist, stepping up to save the day.

Now the slow motion walking as a team thing, looking all badass. Like, that hasn't been done a thousand times before. Lemme see, the last movie I watched had that, too.

Well, at least the scenery is improving. Hot guys in Levis beat bad CGI every time. I suppose if they have any cleavage, like the badass women scientist, you might try tuning in. (A little something for everyone.)

re: #49 theheat

So which one's The Scrappy?

re: #50 Fenway_Nation

I'd classify the badass in Levis as Eye Candy Scrappy for Women Two Seconds From Changing the Channel. He's the Last Ditch Scrappy, the Please Don't Leave Scrappy. Most likely, he'll die a thousand deaths in the jaws of a shiteous CGI snake.

re: #51 theheat

There are worse ways to go...like suffocating on Jennifer Tilly's cleavage.

No wait...scratch that.

Partial Repost:

Short form: A young woman was hired by KBR/Haliburton. She was housed with 400 men in Iraq and begin complaining of harassment form the first day. Within four days, she was drugged and gang raped. Haliburton "lost" the rape kit and locked her into a cargo crate under armed guard and prevented her from speaking to anyone. She managed to convince her gaurd to give her a cell phone. She called her dad, who called a senator and the senator got her home.

Due to a fine print arbitration agreement in her contract, Haliburton fought her legitimate right to sue. This was recently over-turned BTW.

Senator Franken issued an amendment, that would prevent arbitration clauses in future government contractor contracts in the case of gang rape and false imprisonment etc.

Here is him presenting the amendment to the defense spending bill.

You would think this would be a slam dunk yes? Who could possibly be fore denying gang raped women their day in court?

Well...

Here are the 30 Republicans who voted against allowing raped and falsely imprisoned women - yes Halliburton really did lock the poor woman up - being able to sue their contractors.

Don't be surprised by the list.

Alexander (R-TN), Nay
Barrasso (R-WY), Nay
Bond (R-MO), Nay
Brownback (R-KS), Nay
Bunning (R-KY), Nay
Burr (R-NC), Nay
Chambliss (R-GA), Nay
Coburn (R-OK), Nay
Cochran (R-MS), Nay
Corker (R-TN), Nay
Cornyn (R-TX), Nay
Crapo (R-ID), Nay
DeMint (R-SC), Nay
Ensign (R-NV), Nay
Inhofe (R-OK), Nay
Isakson (R-GA), Nay
Johanns (R-NE), Nay
Kyl (R-AZ), Nay
McCain (R-AZ), Nay
McConnell (R-KY), Nay
Risch (R-ID), Nay
Roberts (R-KS), Nay
Sessions (R-AL), Nay
Shelby (R-AL), Nay
Specter (D-PA), Not Voting
Thune (R-SD), Nay
Vitter (R-LA), Nay
Wicker (R-MS), Nay

re: #52 Fenway_Nation

You do know she was the vixen from Bride of Chucky, correct? You got a thing for Doomed to Be Reincarnated in Plastic Scrappy.

Actually, I like Jennifer Tilly. She's her own deal in a business swimming in ultra-thin women that need to eat a freakin' sandwich. And most women wished they aged that well. I'd pack an extra twenty pounds if that meant my face looked that good at 50.

re: #53 LudwigVanQuixote

Charles, please make this despicable story into a thread.

re: #54 theheat

Yea...never understood the whole appeal of the scrawny/malnourished look. Curves can be a good thing, y'know?

re: #53 LudwigVanQuixote

I read about that, and interestingly enough, a gal I knew in the service was raped in Iraq by other servicemen, and I can say without hesitation it ruined her life. And the shit she had to go through, just to bring up these MFs on charges, could fill a book. In short, it made her nuts. She is not the same person she used to be - not by a long stretch. And no woman should have to go through that much red tape and bullshit to bring the accused to trial.

re: #56 Fenway_Nation

Man, I gots 'em. I spent a good portion of my life maintaining that waif look, and finally threw in the towel. I'm not as Rubenesque as Jennifer Tilly at the 50 mark, but I haven't heard any complaints. Now, if wanna eat a damned sandwich, I eat a damned sandwich ;-)

re: #58 theheat

Fifty?

*shakes head*

I can only hope I eventually wind up with someone who looks half as good as she does at the half-century mark.

re: #57 theheat

I read about that, and interestingly enough, a gal I knew in the service was raped in Iraq by other servicemen, and I can say without hesitation it ruined her life. And the shit she had to go through, just to bring up these MFs on charges, could fill a book. In short, it made her nuts. She is not the same person she used to be - not by a long stretch. And no woman should have to go through that much red tape and bullshit to bring the accused to trial.

Of course it is terrible for them. My heart goes out so much. I have a few friends too who experienced this crime. They were never quite the same either.

What is repulsive beyond measure is the behavior of KBR/Haliburon in this case. What is even more shocking to me are the lame excuses that the GOP lackeys of Haliburton made in order to protect this criminal behavior. It is honorless and shameful.

re: #59 Fenway_Nation

Bring home enough hairy prostitutes, and you may find one.
//

For the rest of us, it's either good genes or a great face cream. I'm the big 50 next year, but my mom says I've held up well. (Like, your own mom would say, "You look like hell?") We have to consider the source before we get all cocky...

re: #61 theheat

(Like, your own mom would say, "You look like hell?")

Mine has.

re: #60 LudwigVanQuixote

Tell me again why anyone thought Halliburton was the pillar of virtue. Did I miss that meeting? Compound that with the bullshit misogynist mindset the GOP can't seem to outgrow, and you have a recipe for disaster.

re: #62 Fenway_Nation

Oh. Umm. Well, then maybe you should stick with the hairy prostitutes. You know, the ones with a heart of gold.
//

Mom Fail.

re: #64 theheat

Well...to be fair, she has a point.

re: #65 Fenway_Nation

Oh, bullshit! Look at Jack Nicholson! The guy has a face for radio, man boobs, smokes, and doesn't care what his remaining few hairs on his head look like. But he has the cool factor in spades, and gets more butt than a toilet seat. The guy has "it". Looks aren't everything. Take it from a gal that's been around [wink wink - makes Beavis & Butthead "huh huh huh huh" grunt]. Some of the coolest and sexiest guys out there some gals wouldn't give a second glance. But that doesn't make them any less cool or sexy.

re: #65 Fenway_Nation

Okay, and Jon Lovitz. Tell me he's a hunk. NOT. But Janice Dickinson (the rubbery-faced self-proclaimed First Supermodel) said he was the sexiest guy she ever dated. I rest my case.

re: #66 theheat

Believe it or not, I've actually had infrequent bouts of 'it'...and not really realized that until too late [to the point where it's become a running gag w/Slumbering Behemoth]

re: #53 LudwigVanQuixote

Here are the 30 Republicans who voted against allowing raped and falsely imprisoned women being able to sue their contractors.

That was the only thing in the amendment? Those guys voted specifically against allowing falsely imprisoned women being able to sue their contractors?

re: #67 theheat

I loves me some Jon Lovitz!

re: #70 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Funny, you showed up, we were just talking about hot mens that don't necessarily fit the stereotypical mould ;-)

re: #58 theheat

Rawr.

re: #71 theheat

Double Rawr.

See, Fenway? FBV cruises the web looking for cake pron, sometimes without his pants on. Now, to some women, that's hot.

re: #74 theheat

Cake pr0n and not train pr0n?

Anybody know more about what LVQ was talking about? It is an old political trick to attach "saving puppies" to something that they know the opposition will vote against to be able to say, "See! They voted against saving puppies!".

Wondering if that was the same type of thing.

What was the back story?

On the other hand, some cake pron is better left to the imagination.

re: #75 Fenway_Nation

What the hell would I want with "train pr0n"?

re: #77 theheat

What are you talking about? That cake looked delicious.

re: #75 Fenway_Nation

You have to go after a target market. Like... rusty train pron. You know, there are infinite niches.

re: #78 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Dunno...but you can get yersself some right hea'

re: #79 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

I don't think she's into sharing, to your detriment.

re: #53 LudwigVanQuixote

One of the arguments given was that they did not see that the government should "interfere in private contracts".

This is a just a conservative codeword for "letting well-connected government contractors get away with rape/murder/grand theft".

re: #83 ralphieboy

But, what is still up for determination, is whether that's all there was to the bill, as FBV wondered. If that's a standalone, it's beyond shameful. I can't imagine anyone thinking it's a good idea.

re: #32 theheat

God help them if islam vs. everyone else goes atomic.

re: #83 ralphieboy

This is a just a conservative codeword for "letting well-connected government contractors get away with rape/murder/grand theft".

Yep, that's what conservatives do. That's all they do.

Screw you.

re: #84 theheat

If that's a standalone, it's beyond shameful. I can't imagine anyone thinking it's a good idea.

Agreed.

re: #53 LudwigVanQuixote

It was attached to the defense spending bill?

But these guys voted against the defense spending bill in order to ensure that men could rape women with impunity?

Evening honcos. How goes it?

I would like to see the actual amendment in question. Somehow I doubt it is that cut and dried.

re: #89 lazardo

Evening honcos. How goes it?

Not sure.

re: #90 rwdflynavy

I think it was attached as something to make those who voted against it look bad. But I don't know. Seems as though the people who brought it up have been disappeared.

re: #92 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Sooo flippin' dishonest.

re: #91 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Not sure.

Me neither.

re: #94 lazardo

How's things. Y'all drying out?

re: #95 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Yep. Typhoons are pretty much gone though some lingering cool air remains. Not that I'd like that cool air to leave too though.

Pakistan: World's First Failed Nuclear State?

Mornin' Lizards. What's the topic of the day on this cold and wet weekend?

re: #98 thedopefishlives

Mornin' Lizards. What's the topic of the day on this cold and wet weekend?

re: #83 ralphieboy

This is a just a conservative codeword for "letting well-connected government contractors get away with rape/murder/grand theft".

Appears to be this?

Good morning lizards, happy Friday!

re: #90 rwdflynavy

I would like to see the actual amendment in question. Somehow I doubt it is that cut and dried.

I would tend to agree. I think I detect the sound of a centrifuge whirring in the distance.

I'll wait for additional information.

re: #76 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Anybody know more about what LVQ was talking about? It is an old political trick to attach "saving puppies" to something that they know the opposition will vote against to be able to say, "See! They voted against saving puppies!".

Wondering if that was the same type of thing.

What was the back story?

I, for one, would like to see the entire bill that was voted on in this manner.

re: #100 irish rose

It is Friday, isn't it! I forgot what day it was! I'm feeling better already.

re: #55 LudwigVanQuixote

Charles, please make this despicable story into a thread.

I hope he doesn't. Seems to be a loaded dishonest story.

Throw in Al Franken... you know it smells.

re: #100 irish rose

Good morning lizards, happy Friday!

And to you as well, {Rose}. How are you doing today?

re: #102 Taqyia2Me

I, for one, would like to see the entire bill that was voted on in this manner.

Me too.

re: #104 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Al Franken = Not sexy.

re: #100 irish rose

Hey Rose! How you feelin'?

re: #106 theheat

Al Franken = Not sexy.

From a great blogger:

[Link: cheezburger.com...]

re: #108 Taqyia2Me

From a great blogger:

[Link: cheezburger.com...]

Excuse me while I apply eye bleach.

Nice beach. 40 degrees and raining in NYC.

re: #108 Taqyia2Me

Nooo.

Sexy Fail. Bigtime. I think I'm gonna hurl. That's more like an ad for birth control.

I have one for FBV, though.

re: #111 theheat

Nooo.

Sexy Fail. Bigtime. I think I'm gonna hurl. That's more like an ad for birth control.

I have one for FBV, though.

"She's got her puddin' in the oven and it's gonna be good": The Traveling Wilberys (sp?)

re: #112 Taqyia2Me

I have to wonder, when I/we link to these images of food in the wee hours, if anyone looks in their referral logs and ask, "Now, WTF is the deal with all these 'conservatives' and their damned cake? I don't get it. Freaks."

re: #111 theheat

Cake good.

Tattoos on wemmens? bad.

A great thinker that I know said this...

"If she can stand the pain of getting a tattoo, I ain't going to do her much good."
-FBV

re: #114 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Oh, yeah, it's so much better when our kids get 'em.
//

re: #115 theheat

My son looks like a fridge, all the artwork that is attached to him.

re: #113 theheat

I have to wonder, when I/we link to these images of food in the wee hours, if anyone looks in their referral logs and ask, "Now, WTF is the deal with all these 'conservatives' and their damned cake? I don't get it. Freaks."

"Cake, like conservatives, are a lie."

/Portal joke

Feeling great this morning, thanks for asking.

Although I'd probably feel better if I hadn't just watched the video on shrieking harpy's front page.

These people are freaking insane.

re: #118 irish rose

I agree. IF YOU DIDN'T GO LOOKING FOR THAT STUFF you'd feel better.

Love ya, Rosie, but, I gotta say it.

(cold, wet, miserable) morning everyone.

It's less than 24 hours and I'm already tired of the balloon boy story.

re: #118 irish rose

Psst - it's 'cuz she's nuts. But don't tell anyone. It's a secret.

FWIW - also an example of Totally Not Sexy, despite being attractive, as that's been a subject earlier.

So what's the consensus on the ballon boy and his family here at LGF?? When my wife and I saw who the parents were, we remembered seeing them on "wife swap". the husband came off as an aggressive ( not in a good way), arrogrant, immature doofus, and the wife was a kooky new ager "children should be allowed to do as they please" type...of course this was for a reality TV show, so I'm sure alot of it was an act...but soon as we saw who this kids parents were..my inner bullshit alarm went off.

re: #83 ralphieboy

I hope you accidentally left sarc tag off of that. If not?...

re: #122 Spider Mensch

I think that once it was determined he was safe? No one gave a shit.

re: #124 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

I think that once it was determined he was safe? No one gave a shit.

yeh..but if they were pulling some shit..alot of police and rescue workers ain't going to be happy. and if it was a hoax, they could be prosecuted..of course that's "if"..

re: #120 Mad Al-Jaffee

re: #122 Spider Mensch

Obviously, very happy he didn't fall out of the balloon. That would have been too horrible. But the story smells bad, for sure. If everyone around the countryside was desperately searching for the kid, just for publicity, that's criminal. Smacks of a failed reality show attempt.

re: #119 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

I agree. IF YOU DIDN'T GO LOOKING FOR THAT STUFF you'd feel better.

Love ya, Rosie, but, I gotta say it.

Lova ya too, FBV, but I'm not here at LGF for just the social stuff.
This is important business.

re: #126 theheat

re: #122 Spider Mensch

Obviously, very happy he didn't fall out of the balloon. That would have been too horrible. But the story smells bad, for sure. If everyone around the countryside was desperately searching for the kid, just for publicity, that's criminal. Smacks of a failed reality show attempt.

he was never in the ballon..he was supposedly hiding in box in an attic over the garage or some such shit...a place the police supposedly checked twice...like I said..inner bullshit alarms going off...lol

re: #127 irish rose

Of course. Do what you will, me lady... will butt out.

re: #125 Spider Mensch

I meant here at LGF.

Woo-hoo! I finally got my 2008 tax return filed and I'm feelin all up to date. Now all I ned to do is find enough money to cover the check I wrote.

re: #129 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Of course. Do what you will, me lady... will butt out.

Don't think that I don't appreciate your concern... I do.
You're a vey dear person, and a good friend.

re: #130 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

I meant here at LGF.

ah.. :)

re: #128 Spider Mensch

Which leads one to wonder, did his parents know what and were creating drama de jour, or if they honestly believed he was in the balloon. Even 6 year old kids can be pretty sneaky, it's possible he hoaxed his parents.

I say possible. Probable? That's the burning question.

Tea partiers and GOP regulars scuffle in N.Y. House race

hmmm...

re: #134 theheat

Which leads one to wonder, did his parents know what and were creating drama de jour, or if they honestly believed he was in the balloon. Even 6 year old kids can be pretty sneaky, it's possible he hoaxed his parents.

I say possible. Probable? That's the burning question.

well as I stated they were prior reality TV show people...they may be publicity attention whores'...if that is the case, they didn't realize what the ramifications of their actions could turn out to be...

So, I've never gotten a flu shot in the past, but I'm definitely in the "at risk" category (Type I diabetic) and my physician gives me grief about skipping it every year. That, and the recent upsurge in anti-vaccination stupidity convinced me that I ought to get 'er done this time around. If it wasn't too hard.

So I've been all over the damn web this morning, trying to figure out how to go about getting both ordinary and H1N1 vaccinations.

After countless fruitless searches, the county health department web page informs me that they ran out of ordinary flu vaccine a week ago, thanks to the rushed production of H1N1 taking precedence. And the H1N1 vaccine still isn't available yet. No word on when either of these situations will be resolved. They're suggesting that I spend a lot of time washing my hands.

And some other sites suggest - without much in the way of backup - that you need the ordinary vaccination before they'll give you the H1N1 vaccine. Meaning, if true, that I'm shit out of luck, since there's no ordinary vaccine to be had, apparently.

Another government clusterfuck of the first order. Gee, I can't wait until they're in charge of all of my health care needs.

re: #137 SixDegrees

GEORGE BUSH!

CONSERVATIVES!

THEY HATES YOU!

re: #138 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Now if we could just find a way to get you raped...
/

re: #137 SixDegrees

So, I've never gotten a flu shot in the past, but I'm definitely in the "at risk" category (Type I diabetic) and my physician gives me grief about skipping it every year. That, and the recent upsurge in anti-vaccination stupidity convinced me that I ought to get 'er done this time around. If it wasn't too hard.

So I've been all over the damn web this morning, trying to figure out how to go about getting both ordinary and H1N1 vaccinations.

After countless fruitless searches, the county health department web page informs me that they ran out of ordinary flu vaccine a week ago, thanks to the rushed production of H1N1 taking precedence. And the H1N1 vaccine still isn't available yet. No word on when either of these situations will be resolved. They're suggesting that I spend a lot of time washing my hands.

And some other sites suggest - without much in the way of backup - that you need the ordinary vaccination before they'll give you the H1N1 vaccine. Meaning, if true, that I'm shit out of luck, since there's no ordinary vaccine to be had, apparently.

Another government clusterfuck of the first order. Gee, I can't wait until they're in charge of all of my health care needs.

I hear ya, I'm in the "at risk" category too and they're telling me the same thing.

Senate move on Medicare payments sets up pay-go showdown with House

Already at odds over healthcare, the Democratically controlled House and Senate are now on a collision course over legislation to require both chambers to pay for everything they pass.

The Senate is looking to quickly move legislation costing more than $200 billion over 10 years that would adjust Medicare reimbursement rates for doctors, but it does not plan to pay for the bill with offsetting spending cuts or tax increases.

The move tests the will of House leaders on pay-go and sets the stage for a standoff that could come in advance of what is already sure to be a difficult healthcare reform conference.

More at the link.

re: #139 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Now if we could just find a way to get you raped...
/

Perv alert on the morning DT!

re: #137 SixDegrees

I wish it was as easy as buying vaccinations for your critters. I can go to the local feed store, and buy all the vaccines and syringes pre-packaged, dope the critters, and go about with my life. No phone calls, no drama, and (so far) no shortages.

It gets to be a little ridiculous after awhile, depending on someone else for the basics when it comes to your own care, and the runaround it entails.

re: #134 theheat

Which leads one to wonder, did his parents know what and were creating drama de jour, or if they honestly believed he was in the balloon. Even 6 year old kids can be pretty sneaky, it's possible he hoaxed his parents.

I say possible. Probable? That's the burning question.

As far as the balloon goes, it's ridiculous to think it could lift a child; it was much, much too small. It probably wouldn't even have gotten a cat off the ground. There's no possibility I can think of that the adult who designed and built it would ever think that it could loft a six year old into the sky.

But there's no indication anywhere of what communication may have transpired between the authorities and the parents. It's entirely possible that the parents were the voice of reason, and their input was ignored in favor of running around and screaming.

I agree that this story has a faint odor about it, but I'm waiting for more information before accusing anyone of anything other than the parents calling police to report that their child was missing.

re: #138 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

GEORGE BUSH!

CONSERVATIVES!

THEY HATES YOU!

You're feeling good this morinng, eh? :)

re: #88 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

It was attached to the defense spending bill?

But these guys voted against the defense spending bill in order to ensure that men could rape women with impunity?

They voted against attaching the amendment. Why not look at the video I attached?

It was a narrowly focused amendment to prohibit the military from contracting with companies that forced these arbitration clauses on employees in these sorts of cases.

And yes, the GOP voted against the amendment, because they wanted to protect their criminal cronies at Haliburton from facing heat over gang rape charges and other terrible misconduct, like imprisoning the victim.

Before you decide to bash a story at least get the basic facts.

There is absolutely nothing to be said in defense of the GOP senators actions - NOTHING.

re: #138 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

GEORGE BUSH!

CONSERVATIVES!

THEY HATES YOU!

PRIVATE INSURERS!

re: #146 LudwigVanQuixote

And here is an article about this disgusting action by the GOP.
[Link: news.bostonherald.com...]

re: #146 LudwigVanQuixote

They voted against attaching the amendment. Why not look at the video I attached?

It was a narrowly focused amendment to prohibit the military from contracting with companies that forced these arbitration clauses on employees in these sorts of cases.

And yes, the GOP voted against the amendment, because they wanted to protect their criminal cronies at Haliburton from facing heat over gang rape charges and other terrible misconduct, like imprisoning the victim.

Before you decide to bash a story at least get the basic facts.

There is absolutely nothing to be said in defense of the GOP senators actions - NOTHING.

I may have missed it somewhere earlier, but is there text of the amendment available?

re: #149 pianobuff

Seconded. What is this amendment ye be chattin' about?

re: #144 SixDegrees

There's no possibility I can think of that the adult who designed and built it would ever think that it could loft a six year old into the sky.

Well, that certainly puts a different complexion on the matter. I don't know squat about helium balloons, other than this one is said to have reached an altitude of several thousand feet. What one can lift, and how large it has to be - I haven't a clue.

How big to effectively launch my neighbor's cat that craps in my garden? Of that, I'm curious.

I have a group of friends who are over in Ireland right now, just got an email from one of em out of an internet cafe in Galway.

I wanna be there too, wah!

re: #148 LudwigVanQuixote

Terrible story, poor girl. Al Franken has a long-standing grievance against KBR. They were a favorite target of his in his Air America days. (Can't say I have a particularly positive impression of them or either.) Not like those clean-cut young fellows at Goldman Sachs, making money hand over fist to keep our economy moving. God bless 'em, brings a tear to my eye.

re: #143 theheat

I wish it was as easy as buying vaccinations for your critters. I can go to the local feed store, and buy all the vaccines and syringes pre-packaged, dope the critters, and go about with my life. No phone calls, no drama, and (so far) no shortages.

It gets to be a little ridiculous after awhile, depending on someone else for the basics when it comes to your own care, and the runaround it entails.

This has always been easy in the past, as far as my experience goes, which has consisted of totally ignoring the signs advertising flu shots at drugstores, walk-in clinics and county health department offices and outreach clinics in years past. The government has gone out of it's way to create alarm over this season's prospects, and the result is...no vaccine. Great planning.

I wonder how long it will be until we start hearing that the shortfall is proof that we need government-run health care?

Vaccines are one of those things I really don't mind the government subsidizing at all. Timely, extensive vaccination is definitely in the public interest. But if my tax dollars are subsidizing vaccine production it doesn't seem to be too much to ask that there be enough vaccine produced, on time, and distributed so people can receive it.

re: #151 theheat

Well, that certainly puts a different complexion on the matter. I don't know squat about helium balloons, other than this one is said to have reached an altitude of several thousand feet. What one can lift, and how large it has to be - I haven't a clue.

How big to effectively launch my neighbor's cat that craps in my garden? Of that, I'm curious.

Probably two or three times bigger than this one was.

Good Morning Lizards!

It's rainy and gray here.

What's up?

re: #156 ggt

Good Morning Lizards!

It's rainy and gray here.

What's up?

Pretty quiet morning so far.
FBV is gettin' a little pervy ;).

Has this Price Waterhouse report been discussed on LGF yet?
[Link: www.politico.com...]
It's a study on the potential impact of the Senate health reform bill on private insurance costs. Looks pretty damning, but I've only skimmed it.

re: #149 pianobuff

I'm looking for the text.

Here is some background on the case that inspired the amendment.
[Link: en.wikipedia.org...]
[Link: abcnews.go.com...]

Here is Franken's release on it.

[Link: franken.senate.gov...]

here he is presenting it.

Here is the complete text: It is short and sweet.
[Link: www.azcentral.com...]

Sec. 8104. (a) None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used for any existing or new Federal contract if the contractor or a subcontractor at any tier requires that an employee or independent contractor, as a condition of employment, sign a contract that mandates that the employee or independent contractor performing work under the contract or subcontract resolve through arbitration any claim under title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 or any tort related to or arising out of sexual assault or harassment, including assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, false imprisonment, or negligent hiring, supervision, or retention.

(b) The prohibition in subsection (a) does not apply with respect to employment contracts that may not be enforced in a court of the United States.

New thread already?
Must be an auto.

re: #155 SixDegrees

Note to Self: get dimensions of news story balloon, triple it, send neighbor's cat on a one-way flight, send SixDegrees a thankyou note ;-)

Kidding!
//

re: #157 irish rose

Pretty quiet morning so far.
FBV is gettin' a little pervy ;).

Hey Rose! That's FBV for you.

And here are the thirty scumbags who voted against it.
Don't be surprised by the list.

Alexander (R-TN), Nay
Barrasso (R-WY), Nay
Bond (R-MO), Nay
Brownback (R-KS), Nay
Bunning (R-KY), Nay
Burr (R-NC), Nay
Chambliss (R-GA), Nay
Coburn (R-OK), Nay
Cochran (R-MS), Nay
Corker (R-TN), Nay
Cornyn (R-TX), Nay
Crapo (R-ID), Nay
DeMint (R-SC), Nay
Ensign (R-NV), Nay
Inhofe (R-OK), Nay
Isakson (R-GA), Nay
Johanns (R-NE), Nay
Kyl (R-AZ), Nay
McCain (R-AZ), Nay
McConnell (R-KY), Nay
Risch (R-ID), Nay
Roberts (R-KS), Nay
Sessions (R-AL), Nay
Shelby (R-AL), Nay
Specter (D-PA), Not Voting
Thune (R-SD), Nay
Vitter (R-LA), Nay
Wicker (R-MS), Nay

re: #146 LudwigVanQuixote

That was my question. You disappeared. The only choice I had was to watch Al Franken... c'mon man! Don't make me watch Al Franken!

Now I has to disappear to work. See y'all in a bit.

Ludie!? I'll look into it further. Stinks to high heaven.

If you're right, I'll eat tofu crow.

The fall colors are so beautiful right now, I think I'm going to take the dog on a nice long walk this morning.

re: #163 LudwigVanQuixote

Interesting. Both my state senators voted against it. I haven't followed the issue very closely and certainly don't always agree with Corker and Alexander, but I believe Corker is a non-scumbag dude so it makes me wonder if something is wrong with the amendment.

re: #167 Danny

Read the whole text and listen to the whole story. The best that can be said is that the GOP closed ranks around it's corporate masters.

second-city cop.blogspot is not happy!

Wish I could stay and chat this morning lizards, but I gotta get.
Have a great morning.

re: #41 Fenway_Nation

Is it a feathered boa?

Which constrictor are you rooting for?

Last night at cub scouts they brought in a 90lb albino burmese python. It was friendly as all get out. The week before at cub scouts we saw a boa constrictor almost take the zookkeeper's hand off instead of the large white rat he was holding. I'll vote for the Boa.

A friend of mine does CGI stuff for the movies. One of his movies was hanging out with Jlo and snakes all week so he could figure out how to do the digital Anaconda. He did NOT get academy award nomination for that one.

I've been thinking about this song on my way home from work.
Eve of Destruction by P. F. Sloan, performed by Barry McGuire.

Eve of Destruction

Tried to do an embed but it didn't seem to work, so just a regular old link.

re: #172 Timmeh

Thanks, I loved that song when I was a kid. Takes me back...

Re: Fenway nation

Used to know a locomotive salesman (seriously). I asked him what one cost, new. His answer: "Per pound? Same as hamburger."