Clean slate...at last!

re: #1 BryanS

Clean slate...at last!

Thank goodness!

Loituma - Ieva's polka

Waves pounding stoic rocks of eons gone by... never ceasing to demonstrate that the water, though solid not, wins in the end... but for now, water and rock work their duet, day in and day out, a type of harmony.

Speaking of harmony:

BTW, there are only 35 more shopping days till Christmas. I actually got some of my shopping done today, for stuff I will ship overseas.

A reminder to those shipping overseas - if you are sending to an APO or FPO you may be running out of time sooner than you think.

Theres a shoal dead ahead Captain!

Graphic represntation of the previous thread.

re: #3 simoom

Loituma - Ieva's polka

[Video]

Which language is that?

re: #7 Fenway_Nation

Best line of the week

re: #6 ausador

Theres a shoal dead ahead Captain!

That's Doctor shoals to you!

Ah, peace and quiet, I needed this after being downpage. Let the remaining warriors complete their battle in solitude.

WOW, lgf certainly has a lot of passion. The last thread put me in the mood for Sagan

And LOL, forgot about this one

Man, an open thread tonight after the previous thread is like going to sleep in fresh sheets ^_^.

re: #12 checked08

WOW, lgf certainly has a lot of passion. The last thread put me in the mood for Sagan

[Video]

The Onion one brings back memories of the last presidential campaign...fun stuff.

Wow, the poor bird has been washed away!

So sad...

re: #7 Fenway_Nation

Graphic represntation of the previous thread.

Yep...

*NSFW LANGUAGE*
Image: 1220432998119.jpg

Garbage-"I'm only happy when it rains" live

King of the Road

It's a cover, but one of the best I've heard of the song. The guy has some great sounding covers of a number of songs.

re: #8 BryanS

Which language is that?

I'm pretty sure it's Finnish.

re: #19 simoom

I'm pretty sure it's Finnish.

Seems to be--with some scat thrown in for good measure (not that I would know the difference :) )

re: #11 ausador

Them's fightin' words! Fuck you, troll!

//

re: #15 Bagua

Nah...it's just getting cleaned. Should be in the spin-cycle by now.

Beneath some fallen leaves;
On the forest floor,
Lies a bird; silent.
Chirping no more...
The once esteemed beauty
Of his golden feathers,
Are now washed away,
[...]
Things get harder;
Worse than they were before,
More things die,
And drop to the ground.
Things vanish away,
Without making a sound,
And while they are now happy,
We can not ignore,
The bird we left there to die,

James V. Harker, Jr.

The terrible secret of space.

Steely Dan- Do it again

Well isn't that nice, they all got the same script from the biotech firm
Genentech/Roche:
(Quotes are from the congressional record)

Joe Wilson

I wish we could remove this provision from this fatally flawed piece of legislation and consider it separately because it would pass with the kind of overwhelming bi-partisan support that Americans across the country wish to see.

Jerry Moran

I wish we could remove these specific provisions from H.R. 3962 and consider them separately because it would most likely pass with the kind of overwhelming bipartisan support.

Kay Granger

I wish we could remove this provision from this bill so that I could vote for it on its own. I believe that if this provision was considered on its own it would pass the House of Representatives with bipartisan support.

Lee Terry

I wish we could remove this provision from this fatally flawed piece of legislation and consider it separately because it would pass with the kind of overwhelming bi-partisan support that Americans across the country wish to see.

Ted Poe

I wish we could remove this provision from this fatally flawed piece of legislation and consider it separately because it would pass with the kind of overwhelming bi-partisan support that Americans across the country wish to see.

Blaine Luetkemeyer

I wish we could remove this provision from this fatally flawed piece of legislation and consider it separately because it would pass with the kind of overwhelming bi-partisan support that Americans across the country wish to see.

Lynn Jenkins

I wish we could remove this provision from this fatally flawed piece of legislation and consider it separately because it would pass with the kind of overwhelming bipartisan support that Americans across the country wish to see.

Heath Shuler

I wish we could consider this as a stand-alone bill because it would pass with the kind of overwhelming bi-partisan support that Americans across the country wish to see.
---

Joe Wilson

One of the reasons I have long supported the U.S. biotechnology industry is that it is a homegrown success story that has been an engine of job creation in this country.

Kay Granger

One of the reasons I have long supported the U.S. biotechnology industry is that it is a homegrown success story that has been an engine of job creation in this country.

Lee Terry

One of the reasons I have long supported the U.S. biotechnology industry is that it is a homegrown success story that has been an engine of job creation in this country.

Ted Poe

One of the reasons I have long supported the U.S. biotechnology industry is that it is a homegrown success story that has been an engine of job creation in this country.

Blaine Luetkemeyer

One of the reasons I have long supported the U.S. biotechnology industry is that it is a homegrown success story that has been an engine of job creation in this country.

Lynn Jenkins

One of the reasons I have long supported the U.S. biotechnology industry is that it is a homegrown success story that has been an engine of job creation in this country.

Heath Shuler

One of the reasons I have long supported the U.S. biotechnology industry is that it is a homegrown success story that has been an engine of job creation in this country and in my home state of North Carolina.

re: #26 ausador

Wow...well, I'm convicned. Insurance companies are evil (unless they fall in line with 0bama) and we should nationalize 1/6th of the economy.
//

What does a biotech firm have to do with insurance?

I'm not talking about friggin healthcare, I'm talking about our representatives acting like paid shills for pharma companies. I don't happen to like it very much.

re: #28 ausador

Oh...my bad.

Opposed to 0bamacare = paid pharma shill.

Are we still gonna try our hand with opposed to cap & trade = Big oil shill?

Both Republicans and Democrats made statements from their version of the script, they both had things they were "advised" to say, and by the same company. So you are completely wrong when you say that this is about opposition to the Obama reform mess. The Republican version had some anti-HR3962 statements along with other statements that said nothing about the bill, one of which you might notice I used above. The Democrat version had statements that were pro-HR3962 along with other statements that had nothing to do with the bill.

Check your facts before accusing me of bias please.

Again, when I posted this I had absolutely no thought in my mind about healthcare whatsoever, none. I was disgusted at how openly both sides were shilling for a campaign donor drug company!

From the original NYT article...

E-mail messages obtained by The New York Times show that the lobbyists drafted one statement for Democrats and another for Republicans.

The lobbyists, employed by Genentech and by two Washington law firms, were remarkably successful in getting the statements printed in the Congressional Record under the names of different members of Congress.

Genentech, a subsidiary of the Swiss drug giant Roche, estimates that 42 House members picked up some of its talking points — 22 Republicans and 20 Democrats, an unusual bipartisan coup for lobbyists.

re: #29 Fenway_Nation

Oh...my bad.

Opposed to 0bamacare = paid pharma shill.

Are we still gonna try our hand with opposed to cap & trade = Big oil shill?

It is interesting how advocating for either industry is considered to "shill" something derogatory.

In all of human industry is there any business that has done more to ease human suffering worldwide, cure illness, eradicate disease and improve human quality of life than "big" Pharma with its miraculous research and development of new medications?

Why yes, the other "big" and evil industry for which people "shill": Big Oil, because of their amazing advances the standard of living for billions worldwide is the highest in human history, the ability to feed the human population is likewise the best in history, our ability to heat, clothe, manufacturate, transport, and on and on are all thanks to Big Oil. Our entire modern existence is made possible by their efforts and industry.

Both of these industries deserve the gratitude and admiration of the human race, and yet they are the most demonised by the Radical Left Wing.

Who else is demonised by the international Leftist agenda? America of course, which nation has saved the world from domination in two world wars, spread aid, education, medicine and food to every corner of the globe in quantities that no other nation can even come close.

I see a pattern here. For my part, I am happy to "shill" for the good guys who alleviate human suffering and very suspicious of those who would demonise them.

California: State regulators pass a law banning the sale of large televisions that consume too much energy. Rumor has it it's going to be "deficit neutral". ///

re: #33 Sergeant Major

...really?

Oh, man...
[Link: www.timesonline.co.uk...]

re: #32 Bagua

re: #33 Sergeant Major

Cap & Trade and bringing KSM to Manhattan for a trial in civilian courts.

Never mind the real-world implications of these decisions, it's how the rest of the world feeels about us that is important.

re: #32 Bagua

Right, because after all it isn't as if we elect these people to represent us, their lowly constituents. We just send them to Washington to parrot whatever lines the person with the most campaign contributions and the best cocktail parties tells them to say. How silly of me to think otherwise.

re: #33 Sergeant Major

California: State regulators pass a law banning the sale of large televisions that consume too much energy. Rumor has it it's going to be "deficit neutral". ///

And thus the "Bootleg" TV smuggling rings were born...

re: #35 Cannadian Club Akbar

Wow! I was accosted by scientologists when I was in Australia. I thought they were mormons at first...after a few sentences in, I wished they were mormons...

re: #37 ausador

Jesus bald-headed christ on a pogo stick. I grew up in a blue state before moving out to another blue state...I'm trying to think of a time in my life when my 'representative' wasn't a gun-grabbing tan & spend grow-the-government (except for the military) lib...

You'll forgive me if I don't work up enough faux outrage for this nontreversey.

re: #34 TheMatrix31

Yep is sure is...I thought I was reading someones practical joke...here it is: [Link: www.wired.com...]

re: #38 ausador

And thus the "Bootleg" TV smuggling rings were born...

Old-timey newsreel announcer voice:

'Meanwhile...Ness and his men speed towards another Capone speakeasy- with 30 big-screen plasma TVs!'

re: #41 Sergeant Major

Yep isit sure is...I thought I was reading someones practical joke...here it is: [Link: www.wired.com...]

re: #41 Sergeant Major

Oh I knew about this. I thought it had actually passed.

Sorry everyone 2 tired to spell correctly and 2 lazy 2 use spell check good night all.

Heh...

Tom retired in his early 50’s and started a second career. However, even though he loved his new job, he just couldn’t seem to get to work on time. Every day, he was 5, 10, 15 minutes late. Finally, one day, his boss called him into the office for a talk.

“Tom, I must tell you, I truly like your work ethic, you do a bang-up job, but being late for work nearly every day is quite annoying to me as well as your fellow workers.”

Tom replied, “Yes, sir, I know. I’m sorry, but I am working on it.”

“That’s what I like to hear,” his boss said. “However, the fact that you consistently come to work late does puzzle me because I understand that you retired from the United States Marine Corps, and they have some pretty rigid rules about tardiness. Isn’t that correct?”

“Yes. I did retire from the Marine Corps, and I’m mighty proud of it!” said Tom.

“Well, what did they say when you came in late?” asked his boss.

“They said, ‘Good morning, General’.”

Dogfish Head/Sierra Nevada collaborator session ale, A++++++

all you beer fiends who don't live here, you better come visit and drink yourselves blind

Oh great, that punk David Plouffe is on Carson Faily.

re: #37 ausador

Right, because after all it isn't as if we elect these people to represent us, their lowly constituents. We just send them to Washington to parrot whatever lines the person with the most campaign contributions and the best cocktail parties tells them to say. How silly of me to think otherwise.

The only thing I see wrong with the above is the outright parroting of talking points, rather than actual thought, on display by these representatives.

Apart from that, it's difficult to muster any outrage. Lobbying is a large occupation, and this group seems to have been particularly successful at getting their message out, but it isn't a zero-sum game; anyone who's interested can play. More likely, it's a response from someone who doesn't care for the message, but isn't interested enough in the issue to get peddle their own message effectively.

And to be blunt, demanding that representatives respond to their constituents - rather than to organized groups that can effectively organize and present their ideas and agendas - will almost inevitably lead to a populist destruction of fundamental liberties. The mob is stupid and self-serving, and thinks nothing of tearing up the Constitution in order to satisfy it's short-term, immediate cravings for satisfaction. One look at Beck or Limbaugh gives a telling glimpse at how mob mentality works, and it isn't pretty.

re: #48 TheMatrix31

Who's on what?

re: #50 Fenway_Nation

The Obama campaign manager on Carson Daly's late night show.

re: #51 TheMatrix31

Lemme know how many times the phrase 'failed policies of the last 8 years' comes up.

re: #37 ausador

Right, because after all it isn't as if we elect these people to represent us, their lowly constituents. We just send them to Washington to parrot whatever lines the person with the most campaign contributions and the best cocktail parties tells them to say. How silly of me to think otherwise.

I wasn't really responding to what you posted, rather, the idea of "big Pharma" and "big Oil" and the idea of "shilling" for them as opposed to advocating.

Politicians are certainly contemptible, but if they spend some of their time advocating for these two vital and noble industries then at least they are doing something valuable with their time.

As far as the issues, I would hope they take advice from the industry as it is they who know what is best for them. Better they should hear from the experts and supporting these industries is supporting the advancement of mankind.

re: #52 Fenway_Nation

You think I'm watching that crap? I switched it to Three's Company.

re: #54 TheMatrix31

You think I'm watching that crap? I switched it to Three's Company.

You were born about 20 years to late.

re: #54 TheMatrix31

You think I'm watching that crap? I switched it to Three's Company.

Oooo! Oooo! What's Crissy wearing!?//

re: #56 Fenway_Nation

Oooo! Oooo! What's Crissy wearing!?//

I wonder if it is the episode where there is a misunderstanding.
//

re: #55 Cannadian Club Akbar

Pretty much. Would have loved growing up under a President Reagan.

re: #56 Fenway_Nation

Red and white shorts ;)

Geez, the anti-Israel crap never stops does it?

I cannot believe that people actually think that this is a valid interpretation of the situation, even if it is just a "cartoon" (propaganda).

Image: wall.png

re: #59 ausador

Geez, the anti-Israel crap never stops does it?

I cannot believe that people actually think that this is a valid interpretation of the situation, even if it is just a "cartoon" (propaganda).

[Link: i603.photobucket.com...]

Makes ya wonder why they didn't show the wall Egypt has up to keep the Palis out.

Well. Last night was fucking terrible.

How are things today?

re: #61 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Well. Last night was fucking terrible.

How are things today?

Why was last night terrible? We figured out a health care bill. (actually, I bailed early, so not sure what happened after I left)

re: #62 Cannadian Club Akbar

Oh, the poll thread was terrible. Don't go there.

It was sad, it was insulting, both sides of the debate got out of line.

"Fargin' ice-hole" terms were being thrown back and forth.

Seriously, don't go and look.

I thought it was a sad, community changing night.

re: #63 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

If someone has to resort to name calling, that might be a sign to step away from the computer and take a breath.

re: #63 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Did Charles step in? He usually does when people get personal with their comments.

re: #64 Cannadian Club Akbar

It was flying.

"On the good ship, LGF
Please don't tell folks, to fuck themselves
And we all can play
And have threads on the Milky Way..."

re: #65 Cannadian Club Akbar

I played the "Brave Sir Robin" before he did, if he did.

It was pretty bad.

re: #68 TheMatrix31

It was pretty bad.

I saw you and Ice and Jimmah going at it. I bailed not long after that.

re: #69 Cannadian Club Akbar

It got worse. I suggest going to read it, honestly. It was a pretty big deal.

2010- Year of the (Iron) Horse?

The National Railroad Historical Society will be holding it's annual convention in Scranton, PA- home of Steamtown and Electric city trolley museum in June 2010. Aside from restoring Boston & Maine 4-6-2 #3713 (a project I'd love to see completed post-haste!) and Delaware Lackawana & Western 'Mogul' 2-6-0 #565 some of the big steam likely to be up and running for the event would include:

Canadian Pacific 4-6-2 'Pacific' #2317
Canadian National 2-8-2 'Mikado' #3254
And most likely Reading & Northern's 4-6-2 'Pacific' #425, which isn't owned by Steamtown, but by the nearby Reading & Northern Railroad, which sometimes uses it on excursion trains out of Jim Thorpe, PA.
[also- while having nothing to do with steam, nearby Delaware-Lackawana railroad operates a fleet of vintage diesels built by Alco- which shut it's doors 40 years ago- in revenue service].

North of the border, look for Canadian Pacific to trot out 4-6-4 'Hudson' #2816 for the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver. It would also be something of a no-brainer to have the West Coast Railway Association's 'Royal Hudson' streamlined 4-6-2 #2860 to make an appearence as well.

On the other side of the Rockies, Canadian National U1-f 4-8-2 #6060 (sometimes referred to as 'Bullet Nosed Betty') most likely won't be straying too far from her home in Stettler, AB, although the Rocky Mounatin Rail Society announced that they've secured funding to rebuild an additional 20 miles of track between Stettler and Donalda, AB.

So far, I think all but one of the working big steam locomotives I mentioned were made in Canada. In the very southeastern corner of the USA, the San Bernadino Railway Historical Society announced they their May 1, 2010 trip from LA Union Station to San Diego, CA behind Santa Fe 4-8-4 #3751 is still on.

Union Pacific will more than likely be using either 4-6-6-4 'Challenger' #3985 or 4-8-4 'Northern' #844 to haul passengers between Denver, CO and Cheyenne, WY for Cheyenne's Frontier Days from July 23-Aug 1, 2010.

The Grand Canyon Railroad and groups that operate locomotives like Pere Marquette 2-8-4 'Berkshire' #1225, Southern Pacific 'Daylight' 4-8-4 #4449, Spokane Portland & Seattle 'Northern' 4-8-4 #700, Nickel Plate 2-8-4 'Berkshire' #765 or Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 'Northern' #261 will likely operate to some extent in 2010, altho' no specific plans past Christmas have been announced as of yet.

re: #70 TheMatrix31

It got worse. I suggest going to read it, honestly. It was a pretty big deal.

Made me sad.

re: #72 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Made me sad.

That bad?

re: #73 Cannadian Club Akbar

That bad?

Lets just say there are quite a few people who will be holding onto grudges for a while after that mess.

re: #74 ausador

People don't like being called traitors, funny how that works.

re: #74 ausador

Lets just say there are quite a few people who will be holding onto grudges for a while after that mess.

Maybe Charles should bust out the 24 hour ban stick. Just my opinion. His blog, his rules.

re: #76 Cannadian Club Akbar

Maybe Charles should bust out the 24 hour ban stick. Just my opinion. His blog, his rules.

Hopefully he was getting laid or something and never even saw it.

re: #77 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Hopefully he was getting laid or something and never even saw it.

I'm pretty sure he goes over stuff every day. Especially when he knows he was away, if he was.

re: #71 Fenway_Nation

Addendum- although it may not constitute 'Big' steam, some of the following railways feature intermediate-sized steam locomotives hauling excursions a relatively short distance on a regular basis:

Texas State Railroad: Rusk, TX

Rio Grande Scenic Railroad: LaVeta, CO

Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum: Chattanooga, TN

re: #74 ausador

Not good for me, I hold onto grudges easily anyway. I never forget anything.

re: #75 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

People don't like being called traitors, funny how that works.

Or having their family slandered, or their religion questioned, or having the f-word used on them 50 times, or being told to "shut up a**hole", etc, etc..

What I do find funny is people will go after each other on a subject and be in lock step on another.

re: #79 Fenway_Nation

Roanoke Va, You like the choo choos?

re: #75 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

People don't like being called traitors, funny how that works.

I want those posts to stay exactly as they are- no cleaning up or editing. They should be a monument to a certain poster's hypocracy when they keep bitching and moaning about 'teH jingoisitc right' while he and he alone apparently decides what constitutes a 'true' and patriotic American.

re: #81 ausador

I shouldn'tve brought it up.

re: #81 ausador

I admit, I'm guilty of some of that. But I never casted the stones first.

Passionate subject.

Yeah we better quit this train of thought before it starts in this thread...people are still going to be pissed off this morning.

re: #87 ausador

Yeah we better quit this train of thought before it starts in this thread...people are still going to be pissed off this morning.

Well, they can go back to the original thread and fight. Don't bring the rest of us down.

re: #87 ausador

Yeah we better quit this train of thought

You just said the magic woids...

Okay, just saw these looking for a quote about people who live to argue. Didn't find it, but these are funny. The were listed on employee evaluations.

"Got a full 6-pack, but lacks the plastic thing to hold it all together"

"He has knack for making strangers immediately"

"When his IQ reaches 50, he should sell"

"If you see 2 people talking and one looks bored, he's the other one"

"Gates are down, the lights are flashing, but the train isn't coming"

"It's hard to believe that he beat out 1,000 other sperm"

"The wheel is turning, but the hamster is dead"

"If he were any more stupid, he'd have to be watered twice a week"

re: #89 Fenway_Nation

When I was a boy, my parents took me and my brothers and sisters to Cass Scenic Railroad... I was so excited.

Flippin' train didn't top 15 miles per hour... the most bored I have ever been in my life. Don't know what I was expecting, but AAARRRGGGHHH!

Oh, crap.

People went to read...

re: #92 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Oh, crap.

People went to read...

I'm just looking at shiny objects.
/

re: #91 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

With some of the grades and turns like they have on the Cass, it's probably for the best that they didn't top 15 MPH when you were there.

re: #93 Cannadian Club Akbar

I'm just looking at shiny objects.
/

I used to BE a shiney object!
/

Is it too late to liven up the thread a little with some gratuitous linkage?

re: #94 Fenway_Nation

Yeah, but for a 9 year old boy?

For my 10th they took me to the "Watch Paint Dry" museum.

re: #91 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

When I was a boy, my parents took me and my brothers and sisters to Cass Scenic Railroad... I was so excited.

Flippin' train didn't top 15 miles per hour... the most bored I have ever been in my life. Don't know what I was expecting, but AAARRRGGGHHH!

ummm,,, were you FAT back then !??!?!

just sayin!

re: #98 sattv4u2

heh... wasn't fat until I reached adulthood.

But, funny as hell.

re: #97 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Yeah, but for a 9 year old boy?

For my 10th they took me to the "Watch Paint Dry" museum.

I cured my son of his "boredom" when he was about 7. After he told me he was bored, I told him to go out to the backyard and measure the grass at various locations each day for a wek and make a chart to guage the difference in a week

re: #100 sattv4u2

Now he smokes grass and its your fault!
/

re: #101 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Now he smokes grass and its your fault!
/

Nahhh ,,, but the heroin IS starting to become an issue!

//

Today is National Smoke Out day. Wonder how many Lizards that indulge in the weed will take that the wrong way.
/

re: #103 Cannadian Club Akbar

Today is National Smoke Out day. Wonder how many Lizards that indulge in the weed will take that the wrong way.
/

Damn you told me too late, oh well, now that I have already smoked today I might as well keep on puffing.

/

re: #103 Cannadian Club Akbar

Today is National Smoke Out day. Wonder how many Lizards that indulge in the weed will take that the wrong way.
/

As a former smoker (tobacco) (( 2 1/2 + packs a day years)) I just want to say to all those Anti Smoking people and orgs ("The Truth")
BITE ME ! When I see them berating a smoker I feel like starting again just to piss them off!

re: #104 ausador

Damn you told me too late, oh well, now that I have already smoked today I might as well keep on puffing.

/

Thats one of the reasons I quit. I couldn;t walk without huffing AND puffing !!

/

re: #105 sattv4u2

I quit for a few months recently. Shit.

I have recently decided to not have a drink for a month... we'll see how that goes.

Want to make sure I'm not becoming an alcoholic, I hope I'm just a drunk. Drunks don't have to go to those damn meetings.

re: #107 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

I quit for a few months recently. Shit.

I have recently decided to not have a drink for a month... we'll see how that goes.

Want to make sure I'm not becoming an alcoholic, I hope I'm just a drunk. Drunks don't have to go to those damn meetings.

Ahh ,, the meetings are okay, especially when you all go out to the bar after!

SHAMELESS SELF PROMOTION (will repeat through the day)

TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY!!!

re: #105 sattv4u2

Back in the early '90's, I was a kitchen manager and I banned smoking at work. First in my state to do so. Now it is company wide. I only banned smoking because it was being abused.

re: #109 sattv4u2

Happy birthday! You get an upding...

re: #109 sattv4u2

Happy Birthday!

re: #109 sattv4u2

SHAMELESS SELF PROMOTION (will repeat through the day)

TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY!!!

Happy birthday!!! (I only celebrate mine if there is free booze)

re: #110 Cannadian Club Akbar

Back in the early '90's, I was a kitchen manager and I banned smoking at work. First in my state to do so. Now it is company wide. I only banned smoking because it was being abused.

I have no problem with a PRIVATE company banning smoking in their workplace

What I do have a problem with is the Gov't stating that ALL bars and restaurats MUST ban smoking. Nobody "HAS" to go into a particular restaurant. If you're a non-smoker and I want to allow smoking in my place, I know I risk not having you as a client. oh well

MY call

re: #113 Cannadian Club Akbar

Even at the expense of the TGI servers gathering around and singing some ridiculous birthday song @ your table?

re: #113 Cannadian Club Akbar

Happy birthday!!! (I only celebrate mine if there is free booze)

Well ,,, I'm at work right now and don't get out till noon. If you can get to Atlanta by 1 i'll be pouring at my house !

re: #114 sattv4u2

They forced that shit down our throats in Florida.

re: #115 Fenway_Nation

Even at the expense of the TGI servers gathering around and singing some ridiculous birthday song @ your table?

Worse on a cruise ship... none of the servers speak English as a first language, and they are singing it with multiple accents. Wife and I were on cruise (have I mentioned that my wife hates me?) I'd go over and sing it with them with the accent of the day.

re: #114 sattv4u2

As much of a conservative as I try to be...personally, the no-smoking indoors ban in CA is probably the best law they've passed in years.

re: #115 Fenway_Nation

Even at the expense of the TGI servers gathering around and singing some ridiculous birthday song @ your table?

I HATE THAT!!! When I was a server at Chili's we had to sing. And I got to prove that I am tone deaf.

re: #120 Cannadian Club Akbar

MMMmmm... Chilis... Black bean burger... fantastic.

re: #119 TheMatrix31

As much of a conservative as I try to be...personally, the no-smoking indoors ban in CA is probably the best law they've passed in years.

It killed some independent businesses here.

re: #117 Cannadian Club Akbar

They forced that shit down our throats in Florida.

iirc, the 1st state to do it was Massachusetts, THIS just a few years after they made bars/ restaurants re-fit their dining areas into two seperate areas (smoking/ non-smoking) and upgrade their HVAC systems. I know of one place in Boston that spent over $300,000 in renovations just to have the state say a few years later "no smoking ANYWHERE" now

re: #120 Cannadian Club Akbar

I'm a certified Chili's addict.

re: #122 Cannadian Club Akbar

Yeah, I know its sometimes bad for business, but for my personal experience, I love it. Cannot stand cigarette or cigar smoke, especially when I'm tryin' to eat.

re: #119 TheMatrix31

As much of a conservative as I try to be...personally, the no-smoking indoors ban in CA is probably the best law they've passed in years.

See my #123. I know of several small bars/ restaurants that were forced out of business because they either didn't have the cash to renovate or didn't want to go through the hassle

re: #117 Cannadian Club Akbar

They forced that shit down our throats in Florida.

At least you can still smoke in bars, if they don't serve food anyway.

re: #126 sattv4u2

Yeah, that's unbelievable! Ridiculous.

Applebee's got some beaucoup brownie points from me for their Veteran's day promotion. They probably took a huge 1-day hit in terms of profits and overhead, but bought themselves alot of goodwill and publicity IMHO.

Shower time, be back in a bit.

re: #125 TheMatrix31

Yeah, I know its sometimes bad for business, but for my personal experience, I love it. Cannot stand cigarette or cigar smoke, especially when I'm tryin' to eat.

And thats the point I made. Why is it the gov;ts job? Why not let it up to the individual owner of the place? He wants to allow smoking knowing he won't have you as a patron, oh well. You can go across town to a reataurant that does not allow smoking

He has no choice. You do!

In Florida, X% of sales must be alcohol to allow smoking. The way around it? Ring up a cocktail when ordering a burger on the computer.

I smoke, but prefer non smoking restaurants and bars.

1. Everyone can breathe.
2. I smoke less because I have to go outside.
3. I don't have to look over and see parents with children smoking with a fuckin' kid in their lap and want to walk over and slap the shit out of them.

Many benefits, in my mind.

Remember, it used to be legal to smoke in elevators.

re: #120 Cannadian Club Akbar

We most emphatically did not do that at the sports bar where I used to work.

re: #131 sattv4u2

Definitely true.

re: #133 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

3. I don't have to look over and see parents with children smoking with a fuckin' kid in their lap and want to walk over and slap the shit out of them.

Why would you want to slap a little kid, ya big meanie you !

re: #124 TheMatrix31

I'm a certified Chili's addict.

I live in the largest city in Virginia without a Chilis, probably in all of America.

re: #133 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

I smoke, but prefer non smoking restaurants and bars.

1. Everyone can breathe.
2. I smoke less because I have to go outside.
3. I don't have to look over and see parents with children smoking with a fuckin' kid in their lap and want to walk over and slap the shit out of them.

Many benefits, in my mind.

Remember, it used to be legal to smoke in elevators.

And you could smoke on planes, in hospital rooms, etc. Look at some old news footage. Those guys smoked on the set.

re: #138 Cannadian Club Akbar

And you could smoke on planes, in hospital rooms, etc. Look at some old news footage. Those guys smoked on the set.

Movie theaters.

AGAIN,, I have NO problem banning smoking in public places where there is NO real option to get away from it (elevator, planes, etc)

What I DO object to is in a PRIVATE bar/ restauarant mandating to the owener he MUST not allow smoking

And again, this from a longtime former smoker!

re: #140 sattv4u2

AGAIN,, I have NO problem banning smoking in public places where there is NO real option to get away from it (elevator, planes, etc)

What I DO object to is in a PRIVATE bar/ restauarant mandating to the owener he MUST not allow smoking

And again, this from a longtime former smoker!

I used to wear a patch on long flights. Even handed a couple out to people going from LA to Hawaii.

re: #141 Cannadian Club Akbar

I used to wear a patch on long flights. Even handed a couple out to people going from LA to Hawaii.

Pirate recruiter?

As a musician, I was pleased when they banned smoking in bars in Ohio. I get the freedom to run your business as you see fit, but it's quite pleasant to get home at 4am and not have to sleep on the couch (my wife's allergic to smoke) and I'm to tired to shower. I feel better, too. All the bars I play in have not seen a hit on business in the 2 years since the ban. The year the ban took affect was my best year income wise.

Go figure.

And good morning.

re: #143 Jeff In Ohio

If everyone is forced to ban it, then the playing field is leveled.

I am in a dilemma about it. I agree with both sides... so I lean toward my preference. Glad that's not in the Constitution, huh.

re: #142 sattv4u2
Funny.

re: #143 Jeff In Ohio

Bars in Florida allow smoking. But I understand your point.

re: #144 Jeff In Ohio

Hi, Jeff.

re: #143 Jeff In Ohio

Thats all well and good, but again it should be the owners decision. And also yours whether to play in that bar or not
Sorry, but you don't "have" to play at any venue

My radio said today is also World Toilet Day. Whatever.

re: #149 Cannadian Club Akbar

My radio said today is also World Toilet Day. Whatever.

I didn't know

Shit,,,!

re: #149 Cannadian Club Akbar

My radio said today is also World Toilet Day. Whatever.

Your radio "talks" to you !?!?!

I have a waffle iron that once spit at me!

re: #120 Cannadian Club Akbar

I HATE THAT!!! When I was a server at Chili's we had to sing. And I got to prove that I am tone deaf.

I had a friend with the same problem. He handled it with a stroke of genius. Told the boss he wanted to lead the group on his first day. When he was allowed, sang the birthday song, full voice (TERRIBLY)...

The boss never even allowed him in the back of the group again.

((( folks ,, the above is what happens when you wake up at noon on one day and are still awake at 7 a.m. the next day!)))

re: #148 sattv4u2

Thats all well and good, but again it should be the owners decision. And also yours whether to play in that bar or not
Sorry, but you don't "have" to play at any venue

No disagreement, but that doesn't change that I'm pleased I don't have to and I have not suffered in economic consequences.

re: #154 Jeff In Ohio

No disagreement, but that doesn't change that I'm pleased I don't have to and I have not suffered in economic consequences.

Hence the "Thats all well AND good!"

re: #151 sattv4u2

Your radio "talks" to you !?!?!

I have a waffle iron that once spit at me!

You should hear my lamp. Swears like a sailor!!
/

re: #152 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

I had a friend with the same problem. He handled it with a stroke of genius. Told the boss he wanted to lead the group on his first day. When he was allowed, sang the birthday song, full voice (TERRIBLY)...

The boss never even allowed him in the back of the group again.

I call bullshit on that story

No,, I don't doubt that person was a terrible singer

It's the "I had a friend " part!

//

Well they love to claim how much they have cut the number of smokers with the bans, taxes, and other efforts. 46% smoked in 1950 and only 19% today, but I don't think the freaking nanny state rules should get all the credit. !950 was when the first scientific connections between smoking and lung cancer were made. Readers Digest went on an anti-cigarette crusade (hey, they were a big deal back then), and public perception started to shift. Since then smoking rates in this country have gone steadily downhill.

re: #157 sattv4u2

Name's Ian. And he can sing. Was just embarrassed by the whole thing.

re: #156 Cannadian Club Akbar

You should hear my lamp. Swears like a sailor!!
/

Shut it off!

re: #158 ausador

Well they love to claim how much they have cut the number of smokers with the bans, taxes, and other efforts. 46% smoked in 1950 and only 19% today, but I don't think the freaking nanny state rules should get all the credit. !950 was when the first scientific connections between smoking and lung cancer were made. Readers Digest went on an anti-cigarette crusade (hey, they were a big deal back then), and public perception started to shift. Since then smoking rates in this country have gone steadily downhill.

And when they raised taxes on smokes in Florida, they lost tax revenue. And that was a state tax just before a new federal tax was piled on.

re: #159 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Name's Ian. And he can sing. Was just embarrassed by the whole thing.

Just becasue you know his name doesn;'t mean you had a "freind"!!!
/

re: #162 sattv4u2

Just becasue you know his name doesn;'t mean you had a "freind"!!!
/

You're just a meanie poopy-pants today, aren't you? :P
///

re: #163 Varek Raith

You're just a meanie poopy-pants today, aren't you? :P
///

Happens when the calender tells me I have to add +1 to my current age

re: #162 sattv4u2

Just becasue you know his name doesn;'t mean you had a "freind"!!!
/

Oh! Yeah, he's just a guy I know. Wouldn't call him a friend.

You're my only friend. (*bats eyes*)

re: #164 sattv4u2

Happens when the calender tells me I have to add +1 to my current age

Whoa!!! Your calander talks? Wonder if it knows my radio.
/

re: #164 sattv4u2

Happens when the calender tells me I have to add +1 to my current age

Ah, that'll do that! Mine was 17 days ago, I'm 26 now.

re: #166 Cannadian Club Akbar

Whoa!!! Your calander talks? Wonder if it knows my radio.
/

It doesn't "talk". It chants !

It's Gregorian ,,

re: #167 Varek Raith

Ah, that'll do that! Mine was 17 days ago, I'm 26 now.

I have SHOES older than 26

re: #168 sattv4u2

It doesn't "talk". It chants !

It's Gregorian ,,

Oh, bad pun is bad! :)

re: #169 sattv4u2

I have SHOES older than 26

Lol.

re: #165 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Oh! Yeah, he's just a guy I know. Wouldn't call him a friend.

You're my only friend. (*bats eyes*)

{smooch}

Lots of birthdays in November around here, mine was on the 4th.

re: #172 ausador

Lots of birthdays in November around here, mine was on the 4th.

Princess Diana died on my birthday.

re: #173 Cannadian Club Akbar

Elvis died on my 15th birthday.

He wasn't a friend of mine either.

re: #172 ausador

Lots of birthdays in November around here, mine was on the 4th.

I think Cato told me his is tomorrow

re: #174 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

I was in a car going to Indiana for summer vacation when Elvis died. I remember the announcement on the radio.

Scorpios unite!
Remember our slogan, your not drunk if you can lie on the floor without hanging on.

re: #174 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Elvis died on my 15th birthday.

He wasn't a friend of mine either.

Another Fat Bastard though!

Here's something just fucking lovely.

18 year old employee set the local "PetSmart" on fire the other day. All of the animals were rescued. Several months before it will reopen.

There's some people without jobs for a few months.

Mother Fucker.

re: #174 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Was he nuthin' but a hound dawg?

re: #179 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Arson?

re: #181 Fenway_Nation

Yep. Little corksocker. Farging icehole.

re: #179 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Here's something just fucking lovely.

18 year old employee set the local "PetSmart" on fire the other day. All of the animals were rescued. Several months before it will reopen.

There's some people without jobs for a few months.

Mother Fucker.

Pee Wee Herman was unavailable for comment.

(Insert clip from Pee Wee's Big Adventure which YouTube doesn't have HERE)

re: #183 Bloodnok

When he came out with the snakes, I laughed my ass off.

re: #180 Fenway_Nation

Was he nuthin' but a hound dawg?

Actually, he was nuthin' but a "down dawg".

Trumpet player Maynard Ferguson died on my birthday.

Classic from an Eddie Murphy routine:

"Elvis never spoke in his movies, he sang all his lines. Someone would say `Come on Elvis, we have to win this race!' and Elvis would sing `We gotta win this race, ah-haw!' "

//Works better in audio than in print

I have the exact same birthday as Steve Carrell.

The Chernobyl disaster happened on my birthday. That's not a metaphor.

A county patrolman was shot on my birthday, that's my claim to fame. He recovered, IIRC.

I was born on my birthday...

re: #186 right_wing2

Trumpet player Maynard Ferguson died on my birthday.

His rendition of Ole was breathtaking.

When I was a lot younger I was a Drum and Bugle corps instructor. We did a rendition of that and our soloist nailed it

re: #191 Fenway_Nation

I was born on my birthday...

We told them not to start without you!

re: #191 Fenway_Nation

I was born on my birthday...

I have had only 1 birthday my entire life.

I plane on living forever
So Far, So Good

,,,

This is the oldest I've ever been!

re: #195 sattv4u2

I plane on living forever
So Far, So Good

,,,

This is the oldest I've ever been!

PIMF

Good morning, Lizards.

re: #191 Fenway_Nation

I was born on my birthday...

Will you die on the day of your death?

re: #195 sattv4u2

I plane on living forever
So Far, So Good

,,,

This is the oldest I've ever been!

Until tomorrow.

re: #198 MandyManners

I'd like to put that off for some reason.

re: #199 Cannadian Club Akbar

Until tomorrow.

Actually , until right NOW

no ,, NOW ,, ,ummm, NOW ! No,, wait ,,, NOW !

re: #195 sattv4u2

This is the oldest I've ever been!

And now you're even older...

re: #195 sattv4u2

I plane on living forever
So Far, So Good

,,,

This is the oldest I've ever been!

One day, this bum heart will kill me. That's pretty much a given - it's just gonna go Gak! and give it up.

Not much I can do about that, but I have promised myself that it will not happen today. I plan to live forever, just 24 hours at a time! :)

re: #191 Fenway_Nation

I was born on my birthday...

The first line from my autobiography: I was born at an early age...

re: #198 MandyManners

Will you die on the day of your death?

Bye, bye, Miss American Pie...

re: #204 SteveC

The first line from my autobiography: I was born at an early age...

Attorney: Chicolini, when were you born?
Chicolini: I don't remember. I was just a little baby.

re: #203 SteveC

My best friend died last month from an Aortic Aneurysm. Didn't even see it coming. Bummer.

re: #205 SteveC

Mmmm...pie.

re: #206 Obdicut

Attorney: Chicolini, when were you born?
Chicolini: I don't remember. I was just a little baby.

I was born at night, but I wasn't born last night!

re: #203 SteveC

I have a friend that is (within the next day or two) losing a two year battle with pancreatic cancer (well, not a friend, but I know him, there SAT!). A big ole' Marine who is now at 117 lbs.

There are worse ways to go than, "Gah!"

But, Steve... you make it through the next 48 hours, okay?

re: #204 SteveC

The first line from my autobiography: I was born at an early age...

"Diary of a Baby...
Day 1. Still tired from the move.
Day 2. Everybody talks to me like I'm an idiot."

-Steven Wright

re: #207 Cannadian Club Akbar

My best friend died last month from an Aortic Aneurysm. Didn't even see it coming. Bummer.

dad-gum, my friend. My sympathies to you and to his/her family.

re: #207 Cannadian Club Akbar

My best friend died last month from an Aortic Aneurysm. Didn't even see it coming. Bummer.

It's shocking, but, WHAT A WAY TO GO!

re: #207 Cannadian Club Akbar

Damn dude. Didn't know that. Sorry to hear it. Did you mention it here?

re: #208 Fenway_Nation

Mmmm...pie.

There's pie?

re: #215 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

There's pie?

with animal fat!

Hey everyone. Last night after work I spent some time looking at this piece of visionary art:

[Link: www.fredweaver.com...]

One of the things I love about DC is I can walk ten minutes after work and go to a museum that has stuff like this, and it's free. Plus, on a weekday evening the place isn't full of tourists.

I really need to check out the Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore one of these days.

re: #216 sattv4u2

awww.

re: #188 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

I have the exact same birthday as Steve Carrell.

I have the same birthday as Richard Nixon.

Good morning lizards. The atmosphere seems much more civil this morning.

re: #214 TheMatrix31

Damn dude. Didn't know that. Sorry to hear it. Did you mention it here?

I think so, but I'm not here to be a bummer. I did my mourning period.

re: #219 SixDegrees

I have the same birthday as Richard Nixon.

Same birthday? Geeze. You a hundred or sumthin?

re: #220 NJDhockeyfan

Ix-nay on the Ead-thray!

re: #223 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Ix-nay on the Ead-thray!

Gotcha.

;)

re: #215 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

There's pie?

Twinkie pie.

re: #225 MandyManners

Twinkie pie.

*whack*

re: #225 MandyManners

Twinkie pie.

You rang? I even brought my own spork.

re: #220 NJDhockeyfan

Good morning lizards. The atmosphere seems much more civil this morning.

Fuck you! Get out of my country, you fascist quisling lickspittle!

///

re: #210 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

I have a friend that is (within the next day or two) losing a two year battle with pancreatic cancer (well, not a friend, but I know him, there SAT!). A big ole' Marine who is now at 117 lbs.

There are worse ways to go than, "Gah!"

But, Steve... you make it through the next 48 hours, okay?

Sounds like an uncle - Marine who was the loadmaster on one of those huge cargo planes. Survived a hard landing - really just walked away. Now 30 years later he's bed ridden, pretty much because of residual damage from that hard landing/almost crash. It's a mess seeing him going downhill.

I know that we're all here by the Grace of G-d, me moreso than others. But I refuse to dwell on it and sit around and say "Woe is me!"

If my attempt at a little humor didn't sit well with anyone, please accept my apologies.

re: #222 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Same birthday? Geeze. You a hundred or sumthin?

Us Masons typically live well into our eight hundreds.

Look at Ernest Borgnine.

Today is Lunch With Dad Day at the school. I get to eat at the school with my kids. Today is going to be a great day!

re: #223 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

re: #224 NJDhockeyfan

Oops...

re: #229 SteveC

Oh! I thought what you said was fantastic!

re: #231 NJDhockeyfan

Today is Lunch With Dad Day at the school. I get to eat at the school with my kids. Today is going to be a great day!

Hope they're serving pizza!!! With corn!!!

re: #231 NJDhockeyfan

Brown bag?

re: #231 NJDhockeyfan

Today is Lunch With Dad Day at the school. I get to eat at the school with my kids. Today is going to be a great day!

One year, I went with my daughter. She was in third grade (IIRC)

They had ketchup packets for the fries. She was so happy. "Most days the ketchup comes out of a squirt bottle and looks like tomato soup".

They were scammin' the parents.

re: #234 Cannadian Club Akbar

Hope they're serving pizza!!! With corn!!!

OMG, tried a new recipie for Taco Soup, thought I had died and gone to Margaritaville!

re: #237 SteveC

OMG, tried a new recipie for Taco Soup, thought I had died and gone to Margaritaville!

I've been to Margaritaville in Key West.

re: #234 Cannadian Club Akbar

Hope they're serving pizza!!! With corn!!!

I loved school pizza.

And school tartar sauce was great! Real sweet, havn't found anything like it since, and I have looked! Tartar sauce on french fries... mmm...

re: #230 SixDegrees

I thought he sold his soul...altho' if I sold my soul, I'd like to appear in better movies the Merlin's Shop of Magical Wonders...

re: #230 SixDegrees

Look at Ernest Borgnine.

Yech. Please, some of us are trying to eat.

re: #234 Cannadian Club Akbar

re: #235 Fenway_Nation

They are serving turkey, stuffing, etc. It's not bad. I did this last year too.

re: #238 Cannadian Club Akbar

I've been to Margaritaville in Key West.

My vision of Hell includes a non-stop Jimmy Buffet soundtrack.

Oh, my goodness! Two of my posts are in the Top 10.

*smoochies*

re: #228 Fenway_Nation

Funny as shit, tho.

re: #244 MandyManners

Oh, my goodness! Two of my posts are in the Top 10.

*smoochies*

You got nothing from me.
/

re: #244 MandyManners

Oh, my goodness! Two of my posts are in the Top 10.

*smoochies*

LudwigVanQuixote owns the bottom 10 comments list.

re: #244 MandyManners

You've gotten thousands of dings on that one post. Gotta be number one of all time.

re: #247 NJDhockeyfan

Ahem..

re: #239 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

I loved school pizza.

And school tartar sauce was great! Real sweet, havn't found anything like it since, and I have looked! Tartar sauce on french fries... mmm...

Ugh, I worked for 6 months in a freezer chopping onions for tartar sauce for the regional tartar supplier for Frisches. I can barely not throw up at just the thought of the stuff.

I made the top 10 list at the post office.
/

re: #248 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Boy, I wish that post never had to exist.

re: #247 NJDhockeyfan

LudwigVanQuixote owns the bottom 10 comments list.

After last night, I can understand!

re: #244 MandyManners

There's one we all need to get into the top ten.

re: #109 sattv4u2

SHAMELESS SELF PROMOTION (will repeat through the day)

TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY!!!

re: #244 MandyManners

*smoochies*

in bed