Sunbathing is... so... so... pre-ozone hole.

Horizons are nice though... helps us to think of the future.

The rock jetty is also good...a finger of man-made land protecting the beaches...

...and giving citizens a place to cast their rods into the surf...

A couple of thoughts on Buffet's acquisition of the BNSF railroad this week and how it may or may not be tied into cap & trade.

I'm assuming that Buffet took into account the bill that already passed in the House earlier. A good deal of BNSF's traffic originates from Wyoming's Powder River Coal Basin, and I'm thinking one of three things happens that buffet anticipated in his purchase of the railroad.

1) The current version that passed in the House dies the gruesome, nasty death it deserves in the senate. Online loadings of coal contiue as-is- primarily to power plants in the midwest.

2) The bill passes, but in this version, the coal from Wyoming is deemed 'clean' by their standards. Again, carloadings continue for BNSF and railroads that service the Alleghanies like CSX, Norfolk Southern, Reading & Northern or Alleghany & Ohio are harder hit, since the legislation affects coal that originates on their lines.

3) The bill passes and Powder River coal is verboten along with the black diamonds from the Alleghanies. BNSF shifts whatever traffic it lost from coal to ethanol instead [The siren song of ethanol is what lured to invest in railways in the first place]. Ethanol cannot be transported via pipeline- trains are basically the only way to move it in sufficient quantites.

Granted #3 would be the most radical and farfetched scenario, but I think Buffet set himself up to come out ahead no matter what happens in regard to cap and trade.

Occultists Narrowly Observe Tenants

re: #4 Fenway_Nation

Saw a news article which claims that farmers in the area are upset because the concentration of railroad ownership is now into one set of hands, and that they fear monopoly pricing for shipping.

re: #5 Slumbering Behemoth

Occasonally Nobody Orders Tater-tots.

Oranges Never Offer Tareytons

Orangutans Normally Oppose Tarantulas

/Okay, that's a big stretch, but it's still in the spider family

G'nite Lizards.

Optionally Not On Topic

If no one says anything else for the next 15 minutes, we'll have exactly 3000 comments for the day.

/D'oh!

Nighty night...

re: #11 Sharmuta

If no one says anything else for the next 15 minutes, we'll have exactly 3000 comments for the day.

/D'oh!

What?

oh well, posterity will have await another chance.

Obamas Not Overly Thrifty

re: #13 Bagua

What?

Now we're at zero comments for the day.

/D'oh.

re: #16 Sharmuta

Now we're at zero comments for the day.

/D'oh.

He, he. Sabotage!

And for the record: Sharmuta is part of the solution.

re: #17 Bagua

I saw down there. Thank you for your support. :)

Did somebody say Sabotage?

The NannyState™ nips talent in the bud, stepping on butterflies in the name of elf'n'safety.

State Silences Young Guitarist

Ohkaay- some of the other 12 people need to start talkin'... or I'll link disco.

re: #19 Sharmuta

Did somebody say Sabotage?

I don't say sabotage, you say sabotage, I say sabotaage.

"Is this why you sabotaaged my ship?" He says to the lady in blue.

Allright...shameless plug before my bed...Bobibutu and I were discussing Indonesia so we both uploaded pics of our time there to Flickr. These are mine, and here are his. I'd stay and discuss...but I'm about to fall asleep at my chair...

Take care Lizards!

re: #21 Sharmuta

I'll call your disco, and throw down some bad disco. Unmentionable funny story about that song. Texas, circa 1979. Oh, memories...

Sen. Charles Grassley seeks an amendment to prohibit a proposed commission that will recommend ways to reform the criminal justice system from even discussing the possibility of decriminalizing any drugs currently considered illegal. When asked about this by a reporter here was his response:

GRASSLEY: Well, my intent on that amendment isn't any different than any other amendments that are coming up. The Congress is setting up a commission to study certain things. And the commission is a -- is an arm of Congress, because Congress doesn't have time to review some of these laws.

And -- and -- and the point is, for them to do what we tell them to do. And one of the things that I was anticipating telling them not to do is to -- to recommend or study the legalization of drugs.

Their -- their program would be what we tell it it is. And one of the reasons that maybe there's -- there are several amendments that I floated around. And I probably only anticipated offering two or three of them anyway. You always circulate more amendments than you want to offer because you want everything on the table because once the agenda goes out, then it's too late to put something on the table without unanimous consent.

So -- and this isn't one of them.

But, getting back to what I started to say -- I got -- digressed there a little bit on explaining how the system works -- and that is that one of the things I think is going to come up is whether or not this commission on making recommendations has to have a simple majority or a super majority or maybe even by consensus. And the extent to which you get a larger percentage, particularly if it's consensus recommendations, you're probably going to get more reasonable and -- recommendations, and probably a narrower set of recommendations.

Actually, this is similar to, for instance, you probably don't remember this, but I was involved in rewriting the bankruptcy laws. Well, we set up a commission in the early 1990s, or maybe it was mid 1990s. They studied for two or three years and made recommendations. And -- and that was the basis for our legislation.

And so, this commission that Webb is suggesting would be a -- a basis for possible legislation in the future.

WHARRGARRBL!
About the only thing there that made any sense to me was "for them to do what we tell them to do."

Source: [Link: copssaylegalize.blogspot.com...]

Celebrity news isn't my big thing to pass along, but I want to make an exception in this case. I'm really proud of Rhianna for coming forward and speaking about her ordeal, and for having the forethought that girls look up to her- to know that her actions in staying or leaving Chris Brown would make an impact on other women in situations like hers. Bravo Rhianna. Stay strong.

re: #26 Sharmuta

Celebrity news isn't my big thing to pass along, but I want to make an exception in this case. I'm really proud of Rhianna for coming forward and speaking about her ordeal, and for having the forethought that girls look up to her- to know that her actions in staying or leaving Chris Brown would make an impact on other women in situations like hers. Bravo Rhianna. Stay strong.

[Video]

That's almost crazy timing...

I am listening to this at the moment:

Off to the gym. Later all.

re: #26 Sharmuta

I've been curious why she hasn't said anything until now, but I suppose it may have interfered with the charges against Chris Brown.

I've known several victims of domestic violence, and they don't respond to things the way you would think they would or should. Namely, why they put up with it.

re: #28 Oh no...Sand People!

Hit the treadmill for me...

re: #26 Sharmuta

Don't forget Tina Turner. Her coming out about Ike made a lot of people stop and think. Yes, it can happen to beautiful, brilliant, sucessful, and talented people too.

[Link: en.wikipedia.org...]

re: #29 theheat

She said she waited because she was embarrassed. I can believe that- it's not easy to step forward and discuss something so personal and traumatizing. It took a lot of courage for her to speak up about it, and I hope her strength will give another woman the courage she needs to stand up for herself.

re: #32 Sharmuta

She had one thing going for her a lot of beaten women do not: money. Money to go to a hospital, money for an attorney, money to stay at any hotel she chose, money to fly to another state or country to clear her head. This is one thing I see so many victims of domestic violence do not have: money. Having no money is a tremendous disadvantage, and does affect options they have to escape their situation. The second advantage Rihanna had was the fact she had no children. So many women have small children or babies, and that complicates matters significantly. They may not have a safe place to stay, or family nearby, or transportation to get everyone safely out of the house. Basically, the feel like prisoners.

PIMF - they feel like prisoners, not the.

I need a break from the heaviness, so I give you The Christmas Tree Cluster.

Good night, Lizards.

re: #34 theheat

I agree with your previous comment, even with the typo it was good. Wish I wasn't so tired, I'd discuss it with you more, but I'm about to pass out, so I hope we'll get a chance to discuss it more another time. Good night.

re: #20 Bagua

The NannyState™ nips talent in the bud, stepping on butterflies in the name of elf'n'safety.

State Silences Young Guitarist

Not so much Nanny State, just enforcing existing regulations. He can still play other venues, he does not have to play in bars. That's the other wonderful thing about America: there are always alternatives for those with creative minds and the drive to back it up.

re: #37 ralphieboy

Flowery words. He's banned from all the places Blues are actually played missing out at a magic time of his life.

re: #6 freetoken

Which area, tho? BNSF covers a wide range of georgaphy west of the Mississippi.

Ordinarily I might say 'These guys are about 15 years too late'. In the mid-90s, the number of major railroads running through the prarie belt was essentially cut in half when Burlington Northern merged with the Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe. Union Pacific was even more agressive, snapping up the Chicago & North Western and Southern Pacific almost simultaneously. But despite that- the situation has been pretty fluid since then with the advent of reigonal railways (Wisconsin Southern, Dakota & Missouri Valley, Montana Rail Link, Dakota Minnesota & Eastern, Iowa Interstae) starting up from scartch or considerably expanding their trackage by buying up lines considered uneccecary or redundant by the newly-formed BNSF or expanded Union Pacific. To make things even more chaotic, the Canadian Pacific purchased Cedar America Holding's Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern and Iowa, Chicago & Eastern a year ago- almost to the day. This gives the CPR a much more significant presence in the Dakotas and Iowa...which in turn would allow it to compete with BNSF and Union Pacific for agricultural traffic.

Interestingly, Canadian Pacific would be able to offer direct access to east coast ports in the USA for any crops that needed to be exported.

I think some of the farmers might be leery of buffet, but by and large, not much has changed for alot of them since 1996

re: #39 Fenway_Nation

Montana:

Montana Farmers Fear a Buffett ‘Dictatorship’

Few states have more at stake in Warren Buffett’s acquisition of Burlington Northern Santa Fe than Montana. The company owns 90% of the state’s tracks, which are the primarily means for Montana farmers and coal miners to ship their goods across the country.

[...]

re: #40 freetoken

From the article:

For years, Merrill says, the state’s 11,000 farmers have complained about the monopoly that Burlington Northern holds over rail shipping in Montana.

30 Years to be exact. Burlington Northern was formed in 1970 when the Northern Pacific, Great Northern, Chicago Burlington & Quincy and Spokanne Portland & Seattle merged (the GN and NP owning the two mainlines across Montana that are in use today).

The Milwaukee Road had a mainline across Montana as well- part of their Twin Cities/Seattle transcon, which would've turned 100 this year. Sadly, they gave up the ghost on everyhing west of the Dakotas in 1978. And ever since, Burlington Northern and it's successor BNSF have had a near monoply on rail freight in Montana. The only thing that's changed is Buffet's ownership of the railway.

If he purchased the Omaha-based Union Pacific instead, shippers and industries in Nevada in Utah would be voicing similar concerns.

re: #3 Surabaya Stew

...and giving citizens a place to cast their rods into the surf...

It's late and practically no one's up. If you've got energy, tell me about those favorite islands of yours around Flores. I spent a year in Indonesia at the beginning of the seventies: one of the best experiences of my life...

re: #23 Surabaya Stew

Allright...shameless plug before my bed...Bobibutu and I were discussing Indonesia so we both uploaded pics of our time there to Flickr. These are mine, and here are his. I'd stay and discuss...but I'm about to fall asleep at my chair...

Take care Lizards!

Well, maybe some other time...

Wow...this is just fucking sad.

Without even trying, I scooped the Washington Post

If you want to actually see where all the money in the budget goes then this graphic is for you. You can make it full screen, zoom in, and navigate by dragging. It shows all the departments as graphic icons with their spending shown as smaller icons, all Icons are scaled by the amount spent. It is really pretty cool just to play with for awhile even if your not that into the budget.

Death and Taxes

Oh...and does anybody want 2400 lbs of almonds that may or may not be fit for human consumption?

re: #46 Fenway_Nation

Your link needs https...

Privacy Required
The resource you have requested requires privacy.

Explanation
You are accessing the resource using an unencrypted connection. The resource has access controls set by the server's administrator that restrict access to encrypted connections.

Solutions
You must access this resource via HTTPS (SSL). Re-access the page using HTTPS.

[BACK BUTTON]

re: #47 ausador

Like this?

/thought I already took care of that.

re: #48 Fenway_Nation

That's no good...well, I sure do suck.

But not as bad as the Washington Post.

re: #48 Fenway_Nation

Must be the board software changing your link, but it works fine if you just add the 's' to it, no worries.

Morning

Mornin.

re: #54 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Mornin.

Ahem... Mornin'.

re: #55 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Ahem... Mornin'.

re: #20 Bagua

The NannyState™ nips talent in the bud, stepping on butterflies in the name of elf'n'safety.

State Silences Young Guitarist

This is probably a fairly old law. There used to be all sorts of unscrupulous exploitation of children for entertainment, especially around the turn of the century, so laws like this aren't uncommon.

But one has to wonder why the state legislature can't take ten minutes out of their day to pass a modified version that would let the kid play.

re: #56 freetoken

THAT'S what I'm talking about...

Morning Lizards.

Good Morning all,

I'd like to request prayers. I have a sick little boy that my wife, an RN, thinks is probably H1N1 influenza. He and I are off to the clinic in a minute. He's young, strong & in good health, but we can use all the "positive waves" we can get.

Thanks much, more info later,

William

re: #61 wlewisiii

Done!

re: #62 rwdflynavy

Done!

and done...

re: #61 wlewisiii

Done!

re: #61 wlewisiii

and done!

Today there will be another Health Care rally at capital hill at 1pm. I will head down and see if I can get some interviews and take pictures of the event.

When I get back from Washington DC I will post the pictures and interviews and provide a link, probably late Sunday or Early Monday. I will also spend some time this afternoon at Congress while the health care bill is on the floor.

It should be an interesting debate on the floor to say the least.

re: #66 lrsshadow

Try not to get any on you.

lol, yah it should look like a WWF match between the protesters invading the galleries and the congressman fighting it out.

If I have time I will stop by the congressional offices to see if any "protesters" are doing any crazy stuff their. I cannot take a camera into the gallery of the congress, but I can take it into the office buildings so I may be able to get some interesting photos there.

re: #67 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

LOL,
He/ should wear a raincoat, chilly and rainy I hear.

re: #69 littleugly

I'm about hundred miles away... Beautiful fall day... Crisp and clear! (with brewing badness on the horizon about a hundred miles away).

Between meetings on Thursday I was listening to a congressman on the phone who was talking about a little girl (child) who was reading him the riot act telling him "keep you hands of my body" and "don't kill my grandma" plus many other interesting catch phrases.

He was saying that he has never seen anything like it before.

One congressman I was meeting with said that an anti-health care bill protester was berating him about the bill. The congressman said "have you read the bill?" the guy said "no" and the congressman reply "well then how can you tell me to or not vote on a bill you know nothing about? go read the bill and then come back and tell me what parts of it you don't like, but don't stand here and waste my time if you don't know anything about it."

re: #71 lrsshadow

More important... Had the congressman read the bill?

re: #72 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

He said that he was about 2/3 the way through it and was going to finish reading the rest on Friday.

re: #1 freetoken

Sunbathing is... so... so... pre-ozone hole.

Horizons are nice though... helps us to think of the future.

Staring at the horizon saved my vision--revealed early macular degeneration
so soon that it was arrested w/o much damage. If you see a "blip" on the
ocean, get thee to an eye doc.

re: #70 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Brother about 25 minutes from Dulles, go visit all least twice a year, beautiful just about now, wish I was there, Hummm

re: #73 lrsshadow

He said that he was about 2/3 the way through it and was going to finish reading the rest on Friday.

So he has little room to bitch at a citizen for not reading the bill. IMO.

re: #68 lrsshadow

lol, yah it should look like a WWF match between the protesters invading the galleries and the congressman fighting it out.

(snip)

Roided wrestlers or outraged pandas?

Good Morning Lizards

Ahh a beautiful ocean scene. It reminds me of Long Beach Island, NJ.

re: #78 HoosierHoops

Good Morning Lizards

We were talking about pro rassling and I've gotta leave, can I tag you in?

re: #80 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

We were talking about pro rassling and I've gotta leave, can I tag you in?

You betcha...Where is my chair and who do I hit?

re: #76 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

So he has little room to bitch at a citizen for not reading the bill. IMO.

In the end, Congressmen certainly need to be reading the bills they're voting on; that's their job, after all, and it's expected.

Citizens opposed to the bills, on the other hand, may base their opposition in one of a couple of places. On the one hand, as this Congressman is insisting, there may be specific points contained in the bill that are objectionable. But on the other, it is entirely possible to be opposed to the very idea of the bill itself, regardless of the specifics it contains.

In this particular case, it is perfectly reasonable to be opposed to the notion of government-run health care of any kind. The traditional role of government's interaction with the private sector has been one of regulation and imposition of penalties. It is difficult to find a precedent for government takeover of a portion of the private sector, which is what this measure seeks in it's present form. And it is entirely possible for the government to achieve most or all of it's stated ends - slower growth in medical costs, more competition among insurers, even a shift away from employer-based health care provision - through the mechanisms of regulation. It doesn't required the government to actually run the health care system.

This is a valid position to take - that government imposition of the management of health care is both unprecedented and fraught with uncertainty. I'll grant that the Congressman is correct to chastise those present simply to bleat for not even knowing what they're bleating about, but it certainly isn't a requirement that they possess encyclopedic knowledge of the contents of a bill if they feel the bill itself shouldn't be debated in the first place.

re: #82 SixDegrees

That's what I said...
/

Good morning. It looks like such a beautiful day outside, but I have a feeling if I open the door I will be blasted with cold.

Fake Plastic Trees - Radiohead

re: #84 Bloodnok

Good morning. It looks like such a beautiful day outside, but I have a feeling if I open the door I will be blasted with cold.

Fake Plastic Trees - Radiohead

[Video]

Good Morning. It's hard to believe that I could be golfing on Sunday...Weee!

re: #85 HoosierHoops

Good Morning. It's hard to believe that I could be golfing on Sunday...Weee!

In November? Wow, hard ground. Watch those greens, they'll run fast. And I have a feeling you'll get a lot of roll distance on your drives. Don't let it get to your head! /

Barney Frank and a pot bust? What? Need to learn more..But it is all starting to make sense now.

re: #87 HoosierHoops

Couple years ago.

Good morning, lizards.

re: #88 Decatur Deb

Couple years ago.

Boy..To be a fly on the wall when Barney was getting stoned with all his stoner buddies talking about work.

re: #89 irish rose

Good morning, lizards.

Good Morning Irish...Beautiful weather this weekend.
Hope today finds you well

re: #89 irish rose

Good morning, lizards.

Good morning!

re: #90 HoosierHoops

I think I'd like Bachmann better if she smoked. Some people are just
born a couple tokes behind the others.

It is a beautiful day today.
I know I have to get out there and rake up the leaves, but I really don't want to.

Greets and saluts from the NYC metro area. It's a sunny and crisp fall day here, which is fitting for the commissioning ceremony of the USS New York at the Intrepid Sea Air Space Museum today. It's a day not unlike one more than 8 years ago when the Islamic terrorists struck and destroyed the WTC and killed nearly 3,000 in the process. The USS New York's bow was fabricated in part with steel from the Twin Towers, and the decision to do so was announced from the Intrepid.

Elsewhere, there are reports that PA President Abbas is not going to run for reelection. Don't buy into the hype that he's somehow indispensible to the peace process since he's done nothing to advance the cause of peace - and he's in no position to make a deal in any event. Hamas and all the rest of the Palestinians aren't going to sign a deal and still hold to the belief of wiping out Israel and imposing a 1-state solution. Ignoring this at Israel's peril. Moreover, this is also a ploy to extract concessions; Abbas "reconsidered" after getting President Obama to "recommit to a peace process", which translated into more pressure on Israel to make concessions.

Good Morning LGF.
And a beautiful, crisp, sunny, clear fall morning it is.

Oh, and unemployment is actually at 17.5%. That's from the NYT, which gives it top billing. The shine is off the Administration's stimulus efforts because it shows that many people have given up their job hunting and who are underemployed:

With the release of the jobs report on Friday, the broadest measure of unemployment and underemployment tracked by the Labor Department has reached its highest level in decades. If statistics went back so far, the measure would almost certainly be at its highest level since the Great Depression.

In all, more than one out of every six workers — 17.5 percent — were unemployed or underemployed in October. The previous recorded high was 17.1 percent, in December 1982.

This includes the officially unemployed, who have looked for work in the last four weeks. It also includes discouraged workers, who have looked in the past year, as well as millions of part-time workers who want to be working full time.

The official jobless rate — 10.2 percent in October, up from 9.8 percent in September — remains lower than the early 1980s peak of 10.8 percent.

The rate is highest today, sometimes 20 percent, in states that had big housing bubbles, like California and Arizona, or that have large manufacturing sectors, like Michigan, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island and South Carolina.

Moreover, there's few signs that this situation is improving as the rate jumped from September to October by four points. (9.8 to 10.2). That suggests we have yet to reach a peak in unemployment, even if you consider this a lagging indicator of economic health, the trend should be worrisome; which itself builds in caution to employers considering employment decisions.

re: #95 lawhawk

The most glaring failure in the GWOT (or whatever term) is that we have
not filled that hole. It should have two towers, tallest in the world.

re: #98 Decatur Deb

The most glaring failure in the GWOT (or whatever term) is that we have
not filled that hole. It should have two towers, tallest in the world.

Sorry, but gotta disagree. The most glaring failure is that the active duty force is still not much larger than it was at the end of the Clinton administration.

running from the HC bill...saving their necks

[Link: blogs.usatoday.com...]

re: #95 lawhawk

Moreover, this is also a ploy to extract concessions; Abbas "reconsidered" after getting President Obama to "recommit to a peace process", which translated into more pressure on Israel to make concessions.

100% correct. It's the old "If I don't get my way I'm taking my marbles and going home" stratagem. The only place such a childish maneuver works is at the children's playground...and of course in the ME Arab street where maturity, good faith and reality are foreign concepts.

re: #99 funky chicken

Sorry, but gotta disagree. The most glaring failure is that the active duty force is still not much larger than it was at the end of the Clinton administration.

If we had focused the force properly, instead of chasing ghosts, the
TDA's would probably been sufficient. Oddly, I worked for both
McNamara and Rumsfeld. Both POS.

re: #99 funky chicken

Sorry, but gotta disagree. The most glaring failure is that the active duty force is still not much larger than it was at the end of the Clinton administration.

that Hamas and Hezzbollah...even exist beyond an office and some posters is very disappointing...the IDF should be occupying Gaza as wee speak

re: #100 albusteve

running from the HC bill...saving their necks

[Link: blogs.usatoday.com...]

I tell ya Goose, she's lost that lovin' feeling.

I hate it when that happens.

re: #98 Decatur Deb

They're working on it. I've been following the rebuilding efforts from day 1, and while it is far slower than it should have taken, steel is now rising at the Freedom Tower, and much of the steel for the 9/11 memorial and museum is in place. It doesn't look like much else is rising, but Tower 4 is also nearing street level, the Deutsche bank building is coming down (it was delayed b/c of multiple violations resulting in the death of 2 firefighters back in 2007), and Fiterman Hall is nearly demolished and will be replaced by a new building starting next year.

The memorial, Tower 4 and other structures at Ground Zero need to be built up and over a PATH station and start at bedrock, 9 stories below ground. It's taken way too long to get to this point, but there is progress.

re: #104 SteveC

I tell ya Goose, she's lost that lovin' feeling.

I hate it when that happens.

Feel the need for speed?

Sorry lizards, was hoping for a good visit this morning but I have company to contend with. BBL.

Hi, I'm still trying to make sense out of this tragedy at Fort Hood. I'm obsessing a little bit because I was at a school shooting about eight years ago and it has always bothered me that no one really knows why it happpened. In our case it was a 40 year old immigrant who had lived here for 22 years. He had flunked out of school and came back to shoot the dean, another prof, and several non traditional female students. He walked around men to shoot at the women. Apparently he felt they were taking a spot that should have gone to him. Anyway, he was a complete bastard before this happened. I disliked him and so did most of the other students. Because he was a jerk. I keep seeing parallels to other shooters. Especially this new one and the one in Orlando. They were not nice people. But no one really thinks that everyone who is a not nice person is a potential killer. Why do they do this? It's not just jihad, because this guy isn't the only one. It isn't American culture (despite Michael Moore) since our guy was an immigrant. Why? and how can we tell when and if this will happen again? Why the hell don't they just kill themselves? Why do they have to take others with them?
Sorry to start this discussion up at random but I wanted to hear what other people thought outside of the heat of the moment.

re: #76 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

So he has little room to bitch at a citizen for not reading the bill. IMO.

Well it was Thursday morning and the bill will go to vote either late Saturday or early Sunday. I think he wanted to know what parts of the bill were the problem so they could be addressed. I think at this time there are 3-4 separate health care bills between the Senate and Congress. All in all it must be around 4000-5000 pages with all the bills combined.

One senator is thinking about having the entire 2000 page bill read aloud in the Senate.
[Link: www.politico.com...]

re: #105 lawhawk

They're working on it. I've been following the rebuilding efforts from day 1, and while it is far slower than it should have taken, steel is now rising at the Freedom Tower, and much of the steel for the 9/11 memorial and museum is in place. It doesn't look like much else is rising, but Tower 4 is also nearing street level, the Deutsche bank building is coming down (it was delayed b/c of multiple violations resulting in the death of 2 firefighters back in 2007), and Fiterman Hall is nearly demolished and will be replaced by a new building starting next year.

The memorial, Tower 4 and other structures at Ground Zero need to be built up and over a PATH station and start at bedrock, 9 stories below ground. It's taken way too long to get to this point, but there is progress.

We're doing it in a rational business-as-usual way. We don't seem
to use "symbolic" struggle very well. Think how different things would
be if we had packed Abu Ghraib with demo charges instead of signing
the lease.

I am pissed off at some of the talking heads saying the Ft. Hood shooting is a result of the two wars. It is as stupid as saying it is the President's fault for the Orlando shooting due to his inability to keep people working.

And they wonder why their publications are going bankrupt.

re: #106 MandyManners

Feel the need for speed?

[Video]

Only if it will help splash Pelosicare!

re: #39 Fenway_Nation

Which area, tho? BNSF covers a wide range of georgaphy west of the Mississippi.

Ordinarily I might say 'These guys are about 15 years too late'. In the mid-90s, the number of major railroads running through the prarie belt was essentially cut in half when Burlington Northern merged with the Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe. Union Pacific was even more agressive, snapping up the Chicago & North Western and Southern Pacific almost simultaneously. But despite that- the situation has been pretty fluid since then with the advent of reigonal railways (Wisconsin Southern, Dakota & Missouri Valley, Montana Rail Link, Dakota Minnesota & Eastern, Iowa Interstae) starting up from scartch or considerably expanding their trackage by buying up lines considered uneccecary or redundant by the newly-formed BNSF or expanded Union Pacific. To make things even more chaotic, the Canadian Pacific purchased Cedar America Holding's Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern and Iowa, Chicago & Eastern a year ago- almost to the day. This gives the CPR a much more significant presence in the Dakotas and Iowa...which in turn would allow it to compete with BNSF and Union Pacific for agricultural traffic.

Interestingly, Canadian Pacific would be able to offer direct access to east coast ports in the USA for any crops that needed to be exported.

I think some of the farmers might be leery of buffet, but by and large, not much has changed for alot of them since 1996

When I was in college, I joined a geeky gaming club, and one of the gams we played was Railroad Baron. One of my friends, even geekier than I was, created his own version of the game on a giant map of the US with lots of the old railroads. I hadn't thought about that in years.

Good morning. Have a clip of a machine with body image discontent issues

"Whether he became angry or something else, I don't know... What I do know is that it is impossible that he would do something like that," Hamad, 88, said.

[Link: www.reuters.com...]

Unpossible!

re: #108 Dona Quixote

You have to seperate each and every one of these tragedies. Ft Hood had nothing to do with Orlando which had nothing to do with your incident which had nothing to do with McVeigh etc etc etc etc

There are, always have been and always will be "loose" cannons in the world. The big difference between the past and now os our instantanious and omnipresent news cycle.

On the record with Joe Wilson

He also took to task those who would equate auto insurance to health insurance; these folks point out that auto insurance is mandatory, but neglect to finish the sentence: "if you want to drive." But no one is required to own a car, whereas we are all "required to breathe." Thus, it becomes a tax simply for living.

On the one hand, he has been described by some as a gentle man who was involved in his mosque's charitable endeavors and spoke little of America's conflicts abroad

good grief...shocking that gentle, quiet people are killers?...get a grip

[Link: washingtontimes.com...]

now comes the obsession with motive...which seems pretty obvious to me

re: #111 lrsshadow

I am pissed off at some of the talking heads saying the Ft. Hood shooting is a result of the two wars. It is as stupid as saying it is the President's fault for the Orlando shooting due to his inability to keep people working.

And they wonder why their publications are going bankrupt.

I think it's code for "blame Bush".

re: #112 SteveC

Only if it will help splash Pelosicare!

Now, why did you have to put that woman's face in my brain this early on a lovely Saturday morning?

re: #108 Dona Quixote

Hi, I'm still trying to make sense out of this tragedy at Fort Hood. I'm obsessing a little bit because I was at a school shooting about eight years ago and it has always bothered me that no one really knows why it happpened. In our case it was a 40 year old immigrant who had lived here for 22 years. He had flunked out of school and came back to shoot the dean, another prof, and several non traditional female students. He walked around men to shoot at the women. Apparently he felt they were taking a spot that should have gone to him. Anyway, he was a complete bastard before this happened. I disliked him and so did most of the other students. Because he was a jerk. I keep seeing parallels to other shooters. Especially this new one and the one in Orlando. They were not nice people. But no one really thinks that everyone who is a not nice person is a potential killer. Why do they do this? It's not just jihad, because this guy isn't the only one. It isn't American culture (despite Michael Moore) since our guy was an immigrant. Why? and how can we tell when and if this will happen again? Why the hell don't they just kill themselves? Why do they have to take others with them?
Sorry to start this discussion up at random but I wanted to hear what other people thought outside of the heat of the moment.

Some people are just evil.

re: #120 MandyManners

Now, why did you have to put that woman's face in my brain this early on a lovely Saturday morning?

My bad!

*waves pocketwatch in front of Mandy's eyes* You are getting very sleepy... you will forget our last discussion..

re: #122 SteveC

My bad!

*waves pocketwatch in front of Mandy's eyes* You are getting very sleepy... you will forget our last discussion..

zzz zzz zzz zzz

I walked out of a room and then a killer walked in and shot four of my friends. It makes you a little paranoid. I have my desk at work set up so I have cover if a disgruntled client comes in with a gun. I also wonder how to recognize the possibility someone will become a shooter. If it is pure evil it would be helpful if there really were some sort of sign. I do have less tolerance for people who are really meanspirited, like our killer was. I avoid them and trust my instincts. When I don't like someone I now realize that maybe I have a reason. I used to feel guilty about it as if I should be more understanding.

re: #123 MandyManners

zzz zzz zzz zzz

Great ,,, Now we know Mandy snores ,,

in and out of bed !

I see the clip of Kos and Tancredo is making the rounds this morning. Kos is a douche but he scored a big win with that one.

re: #124 Dona Quixote

I walked out of a room and then a killer walked in and shot four of my friends. It makes you a little paranoid. I have my desk at work set up so I have cover if a disgruntled client comes in with a gun. I also wonder how to recognize the possibility someone will become a shooter. If it is pure evil it would be helpful if there really were some sort of sign. I do have less tolerance for people who are really meanspirited, like our killer was. I avoid them and trust my instincts. When I don't like someone I now realize that maybe I have a reason. I used to feel guilty about it as if I should be more understanding.

Pardon the prying question but, have you had therapy?

re: #108 Dona Quixote

Hi, I'm still trying to make sense out of this tragedy at Fort Hood. I'm obsessing a little bit because I was at a school shooting about eight years ago and it has always bothered me that no one really knows why it happpened. In our case it was a 40 year old immigrant who had lived here for 22 years. He had flunked out of school and came back to shoot the dean, another prof, and several non traditional female students. He walked around men to shoot at the women. Apparently he felt they were taking a spot that should have gone to him. Anyway, he was a complete bastard before this happened. I disliked him and so did most of the other students. Because he was a jerk. I keep seeing parallels to other shooters. Especially this new one and the one in Orlando. They were not nice people. But no one really thinks that everyone who is a not nice person is a potential killer. Why do they do this? It's not just jihad, because this guy isn't the only one. It isn't American culture (despite Michael Moore) since our guy was an immigrant. Why? and how can we tell when and if this will happen again? Why the hell don't they just kill themselves? Why do they have to take others with them?
Sorry to start this discussion up at random but I wanted to hear what other people thought outside of the heat of the moment.

A man-made mystery is unraveled in the end. A natural mystery is a mystery forever. Nevertheless, there are clues, for those trained to see.

re: #112 SteveC

Only if it will help splash Pelosicare!

Well, MoveOn.org is saying that any Dem who won't toe the line may face primary challenges and they're raising money for those challenges now. Let's hope this works out as well for the Dems as NY-23 worked for the Club for Growth. The "Purge the DINOs" impulse is as bad an idea for the Democrats as "Purge the RINOs" is for the Republicans.

re: #126 Killgore Trout

I see the clip of Kos and Tancredo is making the rounds this morning. Kos is a douche but he scored a big win with that one.

If Big Win ='s being a smarmy disrespectful douche, you are right

No, I only think about it a lot when another shooting happens, and then for only a few days. But this shooting is even worse because I have a child in the military so it is hitting a lot of keys. Anyway, I would just like to know why? Our guy ended up saying he was depressed. I wish he had just killed himself. Then I could have felt sorry for him, and sorry I hadn't liked him. Instead of me distrusting people who are complete jerks more than they deserve.

Fire up a large hadron collider and rip a hole in the fabrice of space/time? C'mon, what could happen?

re: #105 lawhawk

I was there for the bicentennial and while the towers were majestic and dizzying in scope, the area around was just not all that.
Three hour wait for the Statue and a Burger King/MC with Police Officers warning about pick pockets as the only relieve site for Senior Citizens and children aside from potty potties.
Granted there was a whole slew of us there and everything went smoothly but it was just not pleasant, family wise.
I would think that all the delays are due to considerations regarding these past shortcomings.

Judge not, lest ye be judged judgmental.

Iran to Obama: Uh...no thanks on the enrichment, thing. We're good.

A Moebius cubicle.

You know as regards the shooting, I suspect that the answer really may be that some people are just evil. And that is a sad thought. Thanks for the help.

re: #137 Dona Quixote

You know as regards the shooting, I suspect that the answer really may be that some people are just evil. And that is a sad thought. Thanks for the help.

There is a darkness in man's heart...Hatred instead of love..empty hearts.
Lord..Hear our cry..Heal our souls..heal our county

A good source for updates on the Healthcare vote...

House Health Care Vote: Breaking Updates

re: #42 ryannon

It's late and practically no one's up. If you've got energy, tell me about those favorite islands of yours around Flores. I spent a year in Indonesia at the beginning of the seventies: one of the best experiences of my life...

Ah, another traveler to the land of 17,000 islands here on LGF. :-) I think you may want to talk to Bobibutu about Flores and the rest or Nusa Tenggara, as he was also all over the country in the 70's and I haven't made it to Lesser Sundas yet. Have you been back to Indonesia since?

re: #139 Killgore Trout

A good source for updates on the Healthcare vote...

House Health Care Vote: Breaking Updates

Thats a good source

Here's a better destination for it!

Image: waste2.jpg

re: #129 Dark_Falcon

Well, MoveOn.org is saying that any Dem who won't toe the line may face primary challenges and they're raising money for those challenges now. Let's hope this works out as well for the Dems as NY-23 worked for the Club for Growth. The "Purge the DINOs" impulse is as bad an idea for the Democrats as "Purge the RINOs" is for the Republicans.

Maybe, maybe not. Many people are realizing that many of the current Democrats are hooked to longstanding political machines. At the same time the Democrats are about the only left-leaning party with the relative clout to get reforms through.

/also good evening.

re: #43 ryannon

Well, maybe some other time...

Sorry, am on EST here...and couldn't stay up. :-( I'll be sure to make it a point i the future to hang around on the late night threads, if that's when you're usually awake, 'cause it appears we all have the same traveling bug. ;-)

re: #141 sattv4u2

I do wish the GOP had been more reasonable in participating in the process. I'd prefer the public option be taken out and the GOP probably could have it removed in exchange for votes.

About a week ago there were some articles about the Ole Miss chancellor shortening the school's fight song to stop "The South Will Rise Again" chanting at its end. Here's the latest on that story for anyone who is interested:

U.S. News and World Report: Segregationist Tells Ole Miss President to Back Off Student Body

As if the University of Mississippi needs more attention given to the subject, a segregationist has chimed in on the recent controversy surrounding a student chant.

The chant, sung by some students at sporting events, includes the phrase "The South will rise again." School administrators, faculty, alumni, donors, and coaches have asked that the chant no longer be used, but Richard Barrett, whom the Southern Poverty Law Center calls a "white supremacist," told University of Mississippi President Dan Jones to back off, the Daily Mississippian reports.

Barrett took on a previous University of Mississippi president, Robert Khayat, in 2000 over a ban on waving the Confederate flag at Ole Miss's stadium, the report says. Barrett says students should have the right to say whatever they want.

Ole Miss Life: Segregationist pushes 'TSWRA' chant, tells Jones to 'back off'

“Democracy is offensive to tyrants, but, I am glad it is,” Barrett said. “Mississippi is the most-democratic state in the Union. It is our legacy from the post Reconstruction era. We have more people elected, we have second-primaries and run-offs, to prevent pluralities from ruling and minorities from lording over the majority. What a virtue of being a Mississippian and what a lesson to America.”

...

Barrett said that this was the beginning of peaceful solutions to racism by alluding to segregation.

“You are going to see some great homecomings, at Jackson State, as well as Ole Miss.” He then quoted Dr. Hendrick Verwoerd, “the architect of apartheid,” who said, “Different ones touch, without colliding.” After quoting Verwoerd, Barrett said, “That’s why the students chant that the South shall rise again.”

Barrett ran for governor of Mississippi in 1979.

re: #127 MandyManners

Pardon the prying question but, have you had therapy?

I ask that as someone who's dealt with two PTSD-inducing events: one, a high-speed MVA which killed my best friend and put me into a month-long coma and multiple injuries and, two, being raped at gun-point.

The first "bout" of PTSD was treated successfully with EMDR and I have only extremely minor issues with it now. The second, well, I will never get over but I've learned marvelous coping skills.

Thanks folks, just got back from the urgent care clinic with a prescription of Tamiflu. One grumpy and not feeling well 7 year old as well, though a toy light saber has done much to help.

William

re: #144 Killgore Trout

I do wish the GOP had been more reasonable in participating in the process. I'd prefer the public option be taken out and the GOP probably could have it removed in exchange for votes.

Yeah, because Pelosi and Reid have been so "inclusive"

All this talk about "bipartisinship". There IS bipartisanship on this. Both Repubs AND some Dems are against it

re: #141 sattv4u2

Thats a good source

Here's a better destination for it!

[Link: sproutnottingham.files.wordpress.com...]

I'm not fond of HuffPo either, but they have cleaned up their act a good bit. Yes, its still a left-wing site. But they have greatly improved their monitoring systems and run off some of the crazies, so the site is no longer coated with moonbat guano.

While at the clinic I learned that one of my home town Army Reserve units paid a heavy price at Ft. Hood - 2 dead & 4 wounded were from the 467th Medical Detachment (that specializes in PTSD...) from here in Madison, WI. May the good lord hold them and their families close today and always.

William

re: #148 sattv4u2

Yeah, because Pelosi and Reid have been so "inclusive"

All this talk about "bipartisinship". There IS bipartisanship on this. Both Repubs AND some Dems are against it

Quite Concur.

EMDR is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, a fantastic therapy for PTSD.

Washington Post:
Painting a street green hasn't stimulated one new job

One problem: government trips over itself -

But hurdles have sprung up left and right, resulting in little insulating work getting done before the onset of cold weather. Officials in charge of the spending have become entangled in bureaucratic disputes over federal wage requirements, historic preservation rules and environmental regulations

re: #149 Dark_Falcon

I'm not fond of HuffPo either, but they have cleaned up their act a good bit. Yes, its still a left-wing site. But they have greatly improved their monitoring systems and run off some of the crazies, so the site is no longer coated with moonbat guano.

My link had nothing to do with HuffPo,,, but thanks for the thoughts!

There is quite a show going on in the house right now.
Almost like Parliament.

Dingle is beating Price up...

re: #146 MandyManners

I ask that as someone who's dealt with two PTSD-inducing events: one, a high-speed MVA which killed my best friend and put me into a month-long coma and multiple injuries and, two, being raped at gun-point.

The first "bout" of PTSD was treated successfully with EMDR and I have only extremely minor issues with it now. The second, well, I will never get over but I've learned marvelous coping skills.

I am deeply sorry...
Nothing bad has ever happened to me...well except sports injuries...
I will keep you in my prayers and thoughts...
You are a very special Woman Mandy

re: #143 Surabaya Stew

Sorry, am on EST here...and couldn't stay up. :-( I'll be sure to make it a point i the future to hang around on the late night threads, if that's when you're usually awake, 'cause it appears we all have the same traveling bug. ;-)

There are many steps on the lizard path. I'm getting control of simple
commenting tasks, but see that thread/timezone issues must be
mastered. I've wasted profound insights and really bad puns on dead
threads.

re: #146 MandyManners

The strongest metals are forged in the hottest fires. I salute thee.

re: #156 HoosierHoops

Awww, shucks. Thanks, Hoops.

re: #158 laZardo

The strongest metals are forged in the hottest fires. I salute thee.

*smoochie*

re: #138 HoosierHoops

Haaaleeehhluyahhh to you brother Hoops!

Bery..bery.. bo. bery..fi .fy.. bo. bery,,,...bery...

re: #160 MandyManners

*smoochie*

OHGODITBURNS

/ :x

I didn't post that to get praise or anything. I posted it to show that PTSD *can* be treated. It does not have to consume your life.

re: #162 laZardo

OHGODITBURNS

/ :x

Want another one?

re: #155 webevintage

There is quite a show going on in the house right now.
Almost like Parliament.

Dingle is beating Price up...

feh,,

Dingle asks if he wants to object, republicans one after the other say they want to object, then Dingle tells them they are out of order

re: #164 MandyManners

Want another one?

NOPLEASEOHGODNO

/ q:

re: #166 laZardo

You've brought a smile to my face and laughter to my lips.

re: #146 MandyManners

I ask that as someone who's dealt with two PTSD-inducing events: one, a high-speed MVA which killed my best friend and put me into a month-long coma and multiple injuries and, two, being raped at gun-point.

The first "bout" of PTSD was treated successfully with EMDR and I have only extremely minor issues with it now. The second, well, I will never get over but I've learned marvelous coping skills.

I am in awe of you Mandy. You've survived things that would have killed me. I salute your bravery and I'm proud to know you.

re: #147 wlewisiii

Been waiting for word,
Thanks for posting the follow-up.
You're a good Dad.

re: #144 Killgore Trout

I do wish the GOP had been more reasonable in participating in the process. I'd prefer the public option be taken out and the GOP probably could have it removed in exchange for votes.

If they had been doing their jobs on Thursday and not been out having a anti-health care party they might have gotten some of their amendments voted into the bill.

re: #167 MandyManners

I aim to please. D:

Saturday Morning Cartoons with Music!

re: #168 Dark_Falcon

I am in awe of you Mandy. You've survived things that would have killed me. I salute your bravery and I'm proud to know you.

Why, thank you.

You'd be surprised what you can endure.

re: #170 webevintage

hahahah,,, HAHAHAHA ,,, Really ,,,HAHAHAHa

That a handful of congresspeople take a couple of hours TOTAL out of ONE day you think IF they had stayed inside Nancy would have included one repub amendment, be it tort reform, cross state purchases, et al in the final bill?? ???

Thanks ,,, I needed a good chuckle today

re: #172 Sharmuta

Saturday Morning Cartoons with Music!

[Video]

Love the cartoons. They got me into the Beatles when MTV aired them in the 80s. One of the oddest ones was a cartoon featuring Tomorrow Never Knows. One of the coolest songs they ever did (a work of art as a sound collage) but a little heavy for a Saturday morning cartoon. I'm sure the kiddies loved it!

re: #168 Dark_Falcon

I am in awe of you Mandy. You've survived things that would have killed me. I salute your bravery and I'm proud to know you.

I second that, only change "would have killed me" to "would've gotten me killed."

Quests for vengeance don't always work out as well as they do in the movies.

/which reminds me, I need to go see Law Abiding Citizen.

re: #175 Bloodnok

Love the cartoons. They got me into the Beatles when MTV aired them in the 80s. One of the oddest ones was a cartoon featuring Tomorrow Never Knows. One of the coolest songs they ever did (a work of art as a sound collage) but a little heavy for a Saturday morning cartoon. I'm sure the kiddies loved it!

I have Yellow Submarine on VHS. :D

I just came across a great photo gallery of women involved in the War effort during WWII. The first image is of four women firefighters battling a fire at Pearl Harbor:

WWII: Women in the Fight

re: #178 simoom

I just came across a great photo gallery of women involved in the War effort during WWII. The first image is of four women firefighters battling a fire at Pearl Harbor:

WWII: Women in the Fight

Yes They Can!

/the original.

Cleric: Shooting suspect was conflicted over duties

Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, the Army officer who went on a murderous shooting spree here Thursday, confessed to his local imam months before that he was conflicted between his devotion to Islam and his allegiance to the U.S. military.

"If soldiers come to me and have problems fighting other Muslims, what do I tell them?" Hasan asked Osman Danquah, co-founder of the Islamic Community of Greater Killeen, in August.

Hasan also asked about soldiers changing their minds after joining the military and inquired about other members of the congregation. His line of questioning sounded so disjointed, however, that mosque officials suspected he might be a federal agent trying to infiltrate the mosque, Danquah said Saturday.

"I told him, 'There's something wrong with you, and if you're here to gather information, we're not here to do anything against the government. We're here to worship,'" Danquah said.

re: #175 Bloodnok

I almost forgot about the cartoons- don't hurt me! Here's more to appease you so you don't hurt me!

re: #19 Sharmuta

Did somebody say Sabotage?

[Video]

Listen All Y'all this is Sabatoge!

re: #176 laZardo

I second that, only change "would have killed me" to "would've gotten me killed."

Quests for vengeance don't always work out as well as they do in the movies.

/which reminds me, I need to go see Law Abiding Citizen.

I said nothing about revenge. My statement was related only to my own desire not to survive such events. My own will to live is quite low. I would not want to survive a life altering catastrophe, and if I did I spare those around me the trial of dealing with me by self-terminating.

re: #183 Dark_Falcon

I said nothing about revenge. My statement was related only to my own desire not to survive such events. My own will to live is quite low. I would not want to survive a life altering catastrophe, and if I did I spare those around me the trial of dealing with me by self-terminating.

I guess that's why you're Dark. I'm sorry you feel that way.

re: #181 Sharmuta

As the other resident Beatles nut on the site I forgive you for your temporary oversight. Take two of these and call me in the morning. You'll be fine.

re: #184 Hengineer

I guess that's why you're Dark. I'm sorry you feel that way.

Not really. The nic is actually from a game I play called Classic Battletech. It's Dropship name I never got to use, so I made it my nic instead.

re: #178 simoom

I just came across a great photo gallery of women involved in the War effort during WWII. The first image is of four women firefighters battling a fire at Pearl Harbor:

WWII: Women in the Fight

As someone whose grandmother was literally a "Rosy the Riveter" many thanks.

re: #183 Dark_Falcon

I said nothing about revenge. My statement was related only to my own desire not to survive such events. My own will to live is quite low. I would not want to survive a life altering catastrophe, and if I did I spare those around me the trial of dealing with me by self-terminating.

Those who love you would only be strengthened by helping you cope, survive and thrive, Falcon. From a pile of shit, a lovely flower can grow and bloom.

re: #188 MandyManners

Those who love you would only be strengthened by helping you cope, survive and thrive, Falcon. From a pile of shit, a lovely flower can grow and bloom.

I could say a few things, but since you were being serious, I won't degrade the comment with an amusing one-liner.

Why I'm actually telling you this I have no idea.

re: #177 laZardo

I have Yellow Submarine on VHS. :D

Some old lady was cleaning out her garage and gave me the 4 Beatles dolls from the yellow submarine period still in the package from 1969.. Ebay baby!
I'll sell them someday.. The best deal I ever got..(And I do feel kindof bad)
Some lady sold her husbands stuff in a garage sale when he died.. I saw an old baseball in a box signed by Babe Ruth and bought it for 1 dollar...She had no idea...I still feel guilt over that. I'll never do that again...It's not worth the guilt for 20 years thinking I should have told her how much value she had.

re: #188 MandyManners

Those who love you would only be strengthened by helping you cope, survive and thrive, Falcon. From a pile of shit, a lovely flower can grow and bloom.

Being the type of person that does not believe in any form of afterlife, I wouldn't have to worry about things like relationships if ever I do end up offing myself.

re: #190 HoosierHoops

Some old lady was cleaning out her garage and gave me the 4 Beatles dolls from the yellow submarine period still in the package from 1969.. Ebay baby!
I'll sell them someday.. The best deal I ever got..(And I do feel kindof bad)
Some lady sold her husbands stuff in a garage sale when he died.. I saw an old baseball in a box signed by Babe Ruth and bought it for 1 dollar...She had no idea...I still feel guilt over that. I'll never do that again...It's not worth the guilt for 20 years thinking I should have told her how much value she had.

If you sell those instead of letting me buy them from you- I will never forgive you. I will love them and give them a good home.

re: #189 Hengineer

I could say a few things, but since you were being serious, I won't degrade the comment with an amusing one-liner.

Why I'm actually telling you this I have no idea.

Oh, c'mon. We need amusement!

Does anyone remember laughter?

mornin' peeps. did anyone see lt. col. ralph peters on o'reilly last night? he put the fort hood shootings into an amazingly accurate perspective that i've been waiting to hear on the media. i'd link to it but i dunno if there is one :/

re: #190 HoosierHoops

Some old lady was cleaning out her garage and gave me the 4 Beatles dolls from the yellow submarine period still in the package from 1969.. Ebay baby!
I'll sell them someday.. The best deal I ever got..(And I do feel kindof bad)
Some lady sold her husbands stuff in a garage sale when he died.. I saw an old baseball in a box signed by Babe Ruth and bought it for 1 dollar...She had no idea...I still feel guilt over that. I'll never do that again...It's not worth the guilt for 20 years thinking I should have told her how much value she had.

My dad got the VHS from an actual store when it was new. I should definitely hold onto it though. >_>

re: #194 rollwave87

mornin' peeps. did anyone see lt. col. ralph peters on o'reilly last night? he put the fort hood shootings into an amazingly accurate perspective that i've been waiting to hear on the media. i'd link to it but i dunno if there is one :/

Give us a Cliff Notes version, then

re: #191 laZardo

Being the type of person that does not believe in any form of afterlife, I wouldn't have to worry about things like relationships if ever I do end up offing myself.

Huh? Are you saying you wouldn't worry how your suicide affects those you leave behind?

re: #193 MandyManners

Oh, c'mon. We need amusement!

Does anyone remember laughter?

[Video]

Right now I've gotta try to cry myself to sleep. Gotta wake up for a 10K run in about, oh, FOUR HOURS.

/good times!

re: #198 laZardo

Right now I've gotta try to cry myself to sleep. Gotta wake up for a 10K run in about, oh, FOUR HOURS.

/good times!

Bah what's a few shots of espresso?

re: #197 MandyManners

Huh? Are you saying you wouldn't worry how your suicide affects those you leave behind?

Well, I'd be dead. I wouldn't exactly be cognizant of thought.

For the time being though, life is for living. And I hope it never has to come to that.

/disclaimer: if you believe something like that WOULD affect those left behind, that's no problem with me.

re: #200 laZardo

Well, I'd be dead. I wouldn't exactly be cognizant of thought.

For the time being though, life is for living. And I hope it never has to come to that.

/disclaimer: if you believe something like that WOULD affect those left behind, that's no problem with me.

That's an amazing way to live, not worrying about whether you'll be remembered or not. So if nobody shows up to your funeral, or if you even have a funeral, you don't even care?

re: #173 MandyManners

On the topic of strong women, and women in "the fight" I have a bit to share. For reasons relating to work, I undertook (so far) about twenty years of martial arts and firearms training. Long ago I began instructing. This was no "fun for the young" karate class or fun target shooting. This was all about self defense. Anyway some of my most capable students and instructors were women. Women take to tactical handgun very, very well. They have a certain aptitude to keep their brain in the game.

One of my teen age girl students was assaulted & seized by the neck by a neighborhood older larger boy-Not sexually but physically. A bully who had hurt people. He will use a cane the rest of his life for the quickly blown knee. I am grateful it worked out for that 14 year old girl.

I have never faced true lethal combat. I will always worry/ponder about the students when something goes really bad in their face. Honestly, the guys worry me more.

re: #187 Hengineer

As someone whose grandmother was literally a "Rosy the Riveter" many thanks.

Really?

RAWR!

re: #194 rollwave87

mornin' peeps. did anyone see lt. col. ralph peters on o'reilly last night? he put the fort hood shootings into an amazingly accurate perspective that i've been waiting to hear on the media. i'd link to it but i dunno if there is one :/

Is this it?

[Link: www.freedomslighthouse.com...]

re: #203 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Really?

RAWR!

Hell yea, she worked in a factory and my mother told me a few stories that she herself was told. The ladies used to be literally shits. Apparently they had quotas to do each day, and sometimes they would "overdo" themselves and do all the parts that were supposed to be done that day in one 8-hour shift. So when the day shift rolled around they had nothing to do because all the day's material was used up. They used to drive the supervisors batty.

re: #201 Hengineer

That's an amazing way to live, not worrying about whether you'll be remembered or not. So if nobody shows up to your funeral, or if you even have a funeral, you don't even care?

Like I said, I'd be dead.

As I might have stated (long?) before, I'm a bit of a nihilist. Life is about enjoying life (and balancing that with not tripping over enough nerves to send it all to shit). It won't be perfect, but if I can spend my last conscious moments looking back and thinking, "It was a good run!" then I'd be content.

re: #188 MandyManners

Those who love you would only be strengthened by helping you cope, survive and thrive, Falcon. From a pile of shit, a lovely flower can grow and bloom.

The thing is I probably wouldn't cope Mandy. The most likely outcome of my survival would a break of some kind. I'm a stress case at the best of times, and when I'm pushed over the edge I don't come back stronger, I lash out instead. I've caught glimpses of who lies beneath in my soul, and what I see terrifies me. That's a cardinal part of the reason I dislike myself as much as I do. I'm afraid of what I might become is such a circumstance, and I'd be irresponsible to risk a bad outcome.

re: #202 Rightwingconspirator

On the topic of strong women, and women in "the fight" I have a bit to share. For reasons relating to work, I undertook (so far) about twenty years of martial arts and firearms training. Long ago I began instructing. This was no "fun for the young" karate class or fun target shooting. This was all about self defense. Anyway some of my most capable students and instructors were women. Women take to tactical handgun very, very well. They have a certain aptitude to keep their brain in the game.

One of my teen age girl students was assaulted & seized by the neck by a neighborhood older larger boy-Not sexually but physically. A bully who had hurt people. He will use a cane the rest of his life for the quickly blown knee. I am grateful it worked out for that 14 year old girl.

I have never faced true lethal combat. I will always worry/ponder about the students when something goes really bad in their face. Honestly, the guys worry me more.

Small point of clarification: sexual assault *is* physical assault.

re: #158 laZardo

The strongest metals are forged in the hottest fires. I salute thee.

Speaking of which... Christening the "USS New York" Battleship today. Steel from 911 forged into it.

And may that steel is not as strong as the resolve of the soldiers and sailors who sail on her.

re: #209 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Speaking of which... Christening the "USS New York" Battleship today. Steel from 911 forged into it.

And may that steel is not as strong as the resolve of the soldiers and sailors who sail on her.

They'd have to be, that ship's gonna be haunted.

CNN can't get into the health care meeting on Capitol Hill. So, instead of wiring up a guest expert and having them blather, they are running the Dems' and the GOP's Twitter feeds.

re: #206 laZardo

Like I said, I'd be dead.

As I might have stated (long?) before, I'm a bit of a nihilist. Life is about enjoying life (and balancing that with not tripping over enough nerves to send it all to shit). It won't be perfect, but if I can spend my last conscious moments looking back and thinking, "It was a good run!" then I'd be content.

Oh I'm the same way. To quote a Barenaked Ladies song "I'm the kind of guy who laughs at a funeral". I completely understand about living for the moment, and that death is just a part of life. That doesn't mean I know that if I DO die, I may not care but the people around me (especially the women) will. My girlfriend probably would collapse in pieces (not anything bad about my girlfriend, I just understand how she is emotionally and her history), my older sister would probably bawl her eyes out, my younger sister would probably shed a few tears, my mom won't cry but she will miss me (I AM her only "widdle boy"). My dad on the other hand, probably won't cry but I know if I were dead it will affect him.

re: #211 The Sanity Inspector

Last I checked they were talking about a vote at 5pm EST.

Governor Haley Barbour did the Republican response today.

He talks funny.

re: #192 Sharmuta

If you sell those instead of letting me buy them from you- I will never forgive you. I will love them and give them a good home.

LOL
I'll tell you what...email me.. You can have the Beatles dolls for free..I never liked them anyways...Give them a good home..Somebody told me they are worth a shitload of money...Perfect condition...You can't have the Babe Ruth ball or all the signed Basketballs but I've never been to eBay... I need someone to sell them for me..Want to be my agent? I have a garage full of cool shit I want to sell...But I'll never get around to do it

re: #208 MandyManners

Small point of clarification: sexual assault *is* physical assault.

Yes it is, but not all physical assault is sexual.

Another small point of clarification.

re: #209 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Speaking of which... Christening the "USS New York" Battleship today. Steel from 911 forged into it.

And may that steel be not as strong as the resolve of the soldiers and sailors who sail on her.

PIMF

re: #204 MandyManners

yup.

re: #211 The Sanity Inspector

CNN can't get into the health care meeting on Capitol Hill. So, instead of wiring up a guest expert and having them blather, they are running the Dems' and the GOP's Twitter feeds.

Now they know how the Republicans have been feeling since the spring!

re: #215 HoosierHoops

{HOOPS}! {HOOPS}! {HOOPS}!

You hold on to those Beatles dolls for me, and I'll pick them up when we hook up at the cabin. I don't want the Ruth stuff, though it's very cool you have it.

re: #209 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Speaking of which... Christening the "USS New York" Battleship today. Steel from 911 forged into it.

And may that steel is not as strong as the resolve of the soldiers and sailors who sail on her.

Sorry to correct you, we don't make battleships anymore. It's an "LPD". That is, its part of the gator navy. I find its poetic justice that the USS New York will be used to ferry Marines to do battle.

re: #208 MandyManners

I stand corrected. Inept sentence structure.

Anyway-You have that strength inside you!

re: #209 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Speaking of which... Christening the "USS New York" Battleship today. Steel from 911 forged into it.

And may that steel is not as strong as the resolve of the soldiers and sailors who sail on her.

She's a Amphibious Landing Ship, not a Battleship. The previous USS New York was a BB and the new New York will have her ship's china, according to avanti.

Congress is debating.

I sense a disturbance in the force.

Not yet...
G-20 finance officials: Too early to end stimulus

Finance officials from rich and developing countries pledged Saturday to maintain emergency support for their economies until recovery is assured and committed themselves to urgent action on tackling climate change.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said the "process of growth is now beginning" but warned that ending stimulus measures too early would be damaging to the economy.

He said U.S. jobs figures out Friday showing unemployment at a 26-year high of 10.2 percent "reinforced that this is still a very tough economic environment."

"If we put the brakes on too quickly, we will weaken the economy and the financial system, unemployment will rise, more businesses will fail, budget deficits will rise, and the ultimate cost of the crisis will be greater," Geithner said.

...but maybe soon.

re: #200 laZardo

Well, I'd be dead. I wouldn't exactly be cognizant of thought.

For the time being though, life is for living. And I hope it never has to come to that.

/disclaimer: if you believe something like that WOULD affect those left behind, that's no problem with me.

I'm gonna' be a patronizing asshole for a minute while I tell you that your POV will change if you ever have a child. Don't say you never will. You're young and you just might change your mind. Having a child tends to do away with the selfishness inherent in us all.

re: #221 Hengineer

re: #223 Dark_Falcon

Picky McCorrector...

re: #210 laZardo

They'd have to be, that ship's gonna be haunted.

Oh, for fuck's sake.

re: #192 Sharmuta

re: #215 HoosierHoops

Beatles Yelolow Sub Dolls on E-Bay for 40 bucks
[Link: cgi.ebay.com...]

re: #216 Hengineer

Yes it is, but not all physical assault is sexual.

Another small point of clarification.

Neener.

re: #229 sattv4u2

Those look dumb. Hope the others are cooler.

Speaking as a Guy who laughs at a funeral

re: #222 Rightwingconspirator

I stand corrected. Inept sentence structure.

Anyway-You have that strength inside you!

And, for what I lack, I have a Desert Eagle .50. And, a few other pretties.

re: #230 MandyManners

Neener.

Yea yea, but speaking as person with a penis (whom all feminazis label rapists just for having one), I have to make that point.

re: #228 MandyManners

Seriously. Some of the steel recovered was literally several floors crushed and fused together from the heat into lumps barely the height of a large truck.

re: #229 sattv4u2

I don't want them for money- I want them for the sheer love of all things Beatles.

re: #227 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

re: #223 Dark_Falcon

Picky McCorrector...

Heh. It is an important distinction, though. I read it and said "wha? That can't be right." No country uses Battleships these days. I hate using the word "obsolete" to describe these beautiful kings of the sea so I'll just call them retired and leave it at that.

re: #234 Hengineer

Yea yea, but speaking as person with a penis (whom all feminazis label rapists just for having one), I have to make that point.

Yeah, well. I can write my initials in the snow. So, double neener.

re: #237 JasonA

Heh. It is an important distinction, though. I read it and said "wha? That can't be right." No country uses Battleships these days. I hate using the word "obsolete" to describe these beautiful kings of the sea so I'll just call them retired and leave it at that.

Hey, we still have the king of all Frigates still active duty commissioned!
USS Constitution

re: #231 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Those look dumb. Hope the others are cooler.

Heres all the Beatles dolls on E-Bay

Non of them look "fly"!
[Link: shop.ebay.com...]

re: #235 laZardo

Seriously. Some of the steel recovered was literally several floors crushed and fused together from the heat into lumps barely the height of a large truck.

You don't believe in the hereafter so how can you say anything will be "haunted"?

re: #238 MandyManners

Yeah, well. I can write my initials in the snow. So, double neener.

I'd pay to see that.

I salute this MGD I'm drinking right now in your honor.

re: #233 MandyManners

And, for what I lack, I have a Desert Eagle .50. And, a few other pretties.

Point. Five-oh.

/awesome British gangster movie.

re: #236 Sharmuta

I don't want them for money- I want them for the sheer love of all things Beatles.

I know, but Hossier was speculating on their worth

re: #241 MandyManners

You don't believe in the hereafter so how can you say anything will be "haunted"?

Forgot the sarc slash for my case. Sorry. But there will be people who do.

re: #241 MandyManners

You don't believe in the hereafter so how can you say anything will be "haunted"?

As Groucho Marx said to the lovely young lady

"Do you beleive in the hereafter?"
lady
"Yes I do"
Groucho
"Then you know what I'm hereafter"

re: #246 sattv4u2

As Groucho Marx said to the lovely young lady

"Do you beleive in the hereafter?"
lady
"Yes I do"
Groucho
"Then you know what I'm hereafter"

I recall the old line, "If you're not here after what I'm here after, you'll be here after I'm gone."

WOW! $750.00 for these Beatles dolls:

[Link: cgi.ebay.com...]

re: #226 MandyManners

I'm gonna' be a patronizing asshole for a minute while I tell you that your POV will change if you ever have a child. Don't say you never will. You're young and you just might change your mind. Having a child tends to do away with the selfishness inherent in us all.

You're right. And I do want to make the point that nothing I said above should be considered a threat to any person. If anything it represents my determination not to hurt anyone. I've been an asshole in the past, and sometimes I'm an asshole these days, but I'm trying not to be one. In that, I thank you all. Whatever else is true about LGF, it's helped me be a better man.

And, now I'm gonna' go participate in a male tradition: PeeWee football for The Kid.

Have a great day, Lizards!

re: #248 Sharmuta

WOW! $750.00 for these Beatles dolls:

[Link: cgi.ebay.com...]

They're worth what someone else is willing to pay.

Ebay is a study in commerce and capitalism.

re: #220 Sharmuta

{HOOPS}! {HOOPS}! {HOOPS}!

You hold on to those Beatles dolls for me, and I'll pick them up when we hook up at the cabin. I don't want the Ruth stuff, though it's very cool you have it.

You'll love the Cabin...No need to wait till spring...I'll FED-EX you the dolls next week...I sent Walter rare coins and money a few months ago and blew his socks off..I've been collecting stuff for years...I have a safe full of rare coins
I want to sell...I have a rare picture of Babe Ruth playing an exhibition game in the Negro league.. Very rare...I offered Walter the chance but he directed me to another agent.. I trust you...Let's hook up Sharm...I'll never take the time to sell this stuff

re: #250 MandyManners

And, now I'm gonna' go participate in a male tradition: PeeWee football for The Kid.

Have a great day, Lizards!

Well kids do have a wee lil pee.

//

re: #253 Hengineer

Well kids do have a wee lil pee.

//

re: #248 Sharmuta

WOW! $750.00 for these Beatles dolls:

[Link: cgi.ebay.com...]

Play school..You can have them for free...I need a agent to sell the real stuff