It's like someone put them there.

"I'm looking over
A four leaf clover,
That I overlooked before..."

Simple leaves adorned with water,
Green ideals do signify.
Tripartite symmetry hides the meaning
From those who desire fourfold.

Crimson and clover?

re: #4 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Ah, you beat me to it...I was going to post the same thing...though I think I'll do so anyway, over and over...

Beatiful picture. I notice each leaf has a single droplet of water, not a few, just one, all about the same size. My guess is that as wind blew the clover around the tiny drops of dew on each leaf aglomerated into one bigger droplet. Just a theory.

Then again the drops are all just sitting at the low point on the leaf.

re: #7 Mich-again

Nature's pretty frickin' cool, huh.

The mythical four leafed clover, is still waiting to be discovered!
Nice crimson & clover links!

Joan Jett...

I'm looking over a four-leaf clover
That I overlooked before
One leaf is sunshine, the second is rain
Third is the roses that grow in the lane!

No need explaining, the one remaining
Is somebody I adore
I'm looking over a four-leaf clover
That I overlooked before!

Oh Joan... my heart flutters.

I saw Joan Jett in a small outdoor venue in the 80s in Miami. We were right up close. All of a sudden, these guys were trying to lift this girl up over their heads, I guess to pass her around and they got crazed and started ripping her clothes off. Joan just stopped the show, mid song and started screaming at them to put her down. She let them have it. They quickly obeyed. It was awesome.

I love her.

re: #13 marjoriemoon

I saw Joan Jett in a small outdoor venue in the 80s in Miami. We were right up close. All of a sudden, these guys were trying to lift this girl up over their heads, I guess to pass her around and they got crazed and started ripping her clothes off. Joan just stopped the show, mid song and started screaming at them to put her down. She let them have it. They quickly obeyed. It was awesome.

I love her.

Bravo for her. She kept her head in the game and prevented a horrible crime.

re: #11 marjoriemoon
I remember Bugs Bunny's version..

I looking over a three-leaf clover
that I overlooked be threee.

re: #15 Mich-again

I remember Bugs Bunny's version..

I looking over a three-leaf clover
that I overlooked be threee.

He sings that in "Operation: Rabbit" right before clubbing Wile E Coyote over the head.

REM
Loosing my religion

Missed a hell of a day, huh? We had our own little Christmas miracle. I'm gettin' my Santa on the other night, the world is calming down for me, I'm laughing at the bad translations, putting things together and then looking at the diagram to see if that looks right and about 3.00 my daughter comes screaming down the stairs. She had her tonsils out last Wednesday and the one thing we had to look out for was bleeding. Well, she was BLEEDING. My wife calms her down and we pretend to calmly walk out to the car and we pretend to drive slowly to Childrens' Hospital. Since it's either really late or really early, I figure I'll take a liberty with a red light. Just as I do something flashes right in front of us fast enough to shake the whole car, and then a police car does the same behind us. My wife doesn't see it so she asks what was that, I just say "What was what?" When we get there we were lucky to find out that one of the scabs must have peeled back but didn't break off, (which would have been a disaster if they break off to soon). My wife had managed to keep her calm and wouldn't let her talk, just take slow deep breaths. So we dodged a bullet and a police chase. While she being kept for evaluation, she makes me go home and wiat for Santa. I had a hunch she knew what she was doing, she backed my wife into a corner as soon as I left and my wife had to fess up. Our daughter was determined not to let a lot of blood ruin her Christmas. To wrap up a fortyeight hour day, the most boring family in the world came to our house this afternoon. My wife is sleeping at the kithchen table, my daughter goes to show the other kid her new Wii games, but she's asleep on the couch, and the kid is watching a blank tv. My turn to finally crash

re: #18 SteveMcG

Missed a hell of a day, huh? We had our own little Christmas miracle. I'm gettin' my Santa on the other night, the world is calming down for me, I'm laughing at the bad translations, putting things together and then looking at the diagram to see if that looks right and about 3.00 my daughter comes screaming down the stairs. She had her tonsils out last Wednesday and the one thing we had to look out for was bleeding. Well, she was BLEEDING. My wife calms her down and we pretend to calmly walk out to the car and we pretend to drive slowly to Childrens' Hospital. Since it's either really late or really early, I figure I'll take a liberty with a red light. Just as I do something flashes right in front of us fast enough to shake the whole car, and then a police car does the same behind us. My wife doesn't see it so she asks what was that, I just say "What was what?" When we get there we were lucky to find out that one of the scabs must have peeled back but didn't break off, (which would have been a disaster if they break off to soon). My wife had managed to keep her calm and wouldn't let her talk, just take slow deep breaths. So we dodged a bullet and a police chase. While she being kept for evaluation, she makes me go home and wiat for Santa. I had a hunch she knew what she was doing, she backed my wife into a corner as soon as I left and my wife had to fess up. Our daughter was determined not to let a lot of blood ruin her Christmas. To wrap up a fortyeight hour day, the most boring family in the world came to our house this afternoon. My wife is sleeping at the kithchen table, my daughter goes to show the other kid her new Wii games, but she's asleep on the couch, and the kid is watching a blank tv. My turn to finally crash

Sleep well. I'm glad things turned out all right for you.

re: #13 marjoriemoon

I saw Joan Jett in a small outdoor venue in the 80s in Miami. We were right up close. All of a sudden, these guys were trying to lift this girl up over their heads, I guess to pass her around and they got crazed and started ripping her clothes off. Joan just stopped the show, mid song and started screaming at them to put her down. She let them have it. They quickly obeyed. It was awesome.

I love her.

I saw her several years ago in NYC. It was a great show and she's a good person. I'm not surprised she did something like that.

Yikes, Steve, I'm glad everyone is OK.

Getting back to the religious strain from the last thread, legend says that St. Patrick used the shamrock to teach the concept of the Trinity. I have no idea what a four-leafed one does to the theology.

re: #21 SanFranciscoZionist
There are even more multiples out there:

Clovers can also have five, six, or more leaves, but these are more rare. The most ever recorded is twenty-one, a record set in June 2008 by the same man who held the prior record and the current Guinness World Record of eighteen.

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

re: #22 jaunte

Visualizilng a man with tiny needle nose pliers & a tube of glue...
LOL!

re: #18 SteveMcG

Glad to hear that your little one is OK.
And you deserve to sleep, the sleep of a concerned parent!

re: #20 beekiller

I saw her several years ago in NYC. It was a great show and she's a good person. I'm not surprised she did something like that.

I didn't see the guys, but I saw her, crying and all disheveled. Joan asked her if she was ok. I was impressed. I never saw anything like that before or since.

re: #25 marjoriemoon

Very cool to see a "rock star" behave responsibly!
Real people care, and act as they believe!

re: #1 Obdicut

It's like someone Someone put them there.

re: #22 jaunte

There are even more multiples out there:

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

We used to pull their little heads off, the purple clover and suck the nectar when we were kids. They were sweet.

re: #3 freetoken

Simple leaves adorned with water,
Green ideals do signify.
Tripartite symmetry hides the meaning
From those who desire fourfold.

[Video]

And only 363 more days until Christmas.

Where's Ludwig been? He on vacation?

Time for me to get to bed. Goodnight, all.

re: #16 Dark_Falcon

He sings that in "Operation: Rabbit" right before clubbing Wile E Coyote over the head.

Speaking of rabbits, here's one in your headlights for a little late night pick-me-up:

Sorry, posted incomplete video. Here's the whole thing. Happy ending, honest...

re: #29 ryannon

And only 363 more days until Christmas.

Speaking of which... Only 5 more days until 2010!

re: #34 freetoken

And a Happy New Year to you freetoken!
Got any good resolutions?

Me? I'm just perfect the way I am!
LOL!

re: #34 freetoken

Speaking of which... Only 5 more days until 2010!

[Video]

ABBA?

Last Saturday of the decade comes to an end.

Has anyone ever noticed that ABBA is ABBA spelled backwards?

Pretty clever, if you ask me.

/must I?

re: #37 ryannon

That's working pretty hard...
Still, a job is a job!

re: #37 ryannon

Has anyone ever noticed that ABBA is ABBA spelled backwards?

Pretty clever, if you ask me.

/must I?

Wow, you know what? You're right. I never noticed that.

//

re: #39 Gus 802

Wow, you know what? You're right. I never noticed that.

//

Isn't it amazing? I'll bet if you played their songs backwards, they would sound just the same too!

I mean, how cool would that be?

Hey, who turned out the lights?

re: #40 ryannon

Isn't it amazing? I'll bet if you played their songs backwards, they would sound just the same too!

BABA ABAB BAAB BAAB

Anarchist
Belzebub
Boston
Assimilation

We must warn Boston!

//Glenn Beck = Off

/

Oh good, a religious thread.

psst someone with the username BEAM is in the previous entry downdinging anyone speaking harshly of HotAir.

re: #45 beekiller

psst someone with the username BEAM is in the previous entry downdinging anyone speaking harshly of HotAir.

Do you want me to eliminate him?

re: #46 Walter L. Newton

Do you want me to eliminate him?

Yeah, Walter. We want you should rub him out.

re: #44 Walter L. Newton

Oh good, a religious thread.

Make it so number one.

Set phasers on, stun.

re: #46 Walter L. Newton

Do you want me to eliminate him?

:)

Shun the downdinger, shun.

re: #44 Walter L. Newton

Oh good, a religious thread.

Man, it is RAINING here! I wonder if tomorrow's counterprotest to the Gaza Marcher people in SF is gonna get rained out.

I updinged the ones he downdinged...except for mine, of course.

re: #53 beekiller

I updinged the ones he downdinged...except for mine, of course.

I shall complete your counter-hegemonic action.

Religion thread? What religion thread?
/

I'm not totally sure WHAT that one is doing. He she or it has also dinged up some things. No consistent pattern detected.

re: #56 SanFranciscoZionist

I'm not totally sure WHAT that one is doing. He she or it has also dinged up some things. No consistent pattern detected.

Yeah, that's what I noticed.

re: #54 Bagua

I shall complete your counter-hegemonic action.

re: #54 Bagua

I shall complete your counter-hegemonic action.

*high-five*

re: #51 ryannon

[Video]

That's a good song. I hear the best music here.

re: #53 beekiller

Done, downding reversed. But I notice he updinged you on one as well but I didn't reverse that one. Inconsistent I suppose.

G'nite gang. I have to get some sleep so I can get to church tomorrow! Happy...y'all! (just fill in the blank)

re: #60 Bagua

Done, downding reversed. But I notice he updinged you on one as well but I didn't reverse that one. Inconsistent I suppose.

He's clearly insane AND confused.

re: #45 beekiller

Maybe BEAM's first name is Jim, since he or she or it, seems to be under the influence of it.

re: #63 Irenicum

Maybe BEAM's first name is Jim, since he or she or it, seems to be under the influence of it.

ha! Good one.

Good night, Lizards and sweet dreams.

re: #59 SanFranciscoZionist

That's a good song. I hear the best music here.

It's a gem of a song.

Here's another you might like by a different artist.

Where My Dogs At?

re: #66 Bagua

Where My Dogs At?
[Video]
- Lil Bow Wow feat Snoop

Where's you head at?

re: #65 ryannon

Big up for Bukka.

Here's another version of that classic.

Good night, Lizards of the Evening.
May you have a good rest, and a warm rock in the sun, tomorrow.
Mine is reserved!

And here of course, my favourite version,

Streamline Special

Banned from going to the U.K. but he is OK to come here?...not good.

The son of a prominent Nigerian banker, who allegedly attempted to blow up a transatlantic flight over America, was barred from returning to Britain earlier this year.

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 23, graduated from a university in London last year but his visa request was refused in May when he attempted to apply for a new course at a bogus college.

Yet he was only on one of lists of people we knew had terrorist inclinations or affiliations but not on the "No Fly" list...hmm.

Abdulmutallab was from a privileged background. His father, Dr Alhaji Umaru Mutallab, was until recently the head of First Bank of Nigeria and had been a government minister during the 1970s.

There must be some kind of joke to be made out of that, but I'm too tired to think of one.

Source: [Link: www.timesonline.co.uk...]

Marcus Brigstocke on COP15

OMG
I just watched the video down stairs from HT about making a bomb..
So what's next HT? The pure republican guide to making thermonuclear triggers?
Words matter
Content matters

re: #71 ausador

i have urgent offer for u.

my father is head of 1st bank of nigeria but was forced out by MILITARY COUP. because of this he needs to transfer his massive fortune of SIXTY MILLION US DOLLAR to offshore account and i am requesting u send processing fee to help him after which u will receive a share.

i assure u that this money will not be used to finance terrorism. my family is always a good friend of america and we have many american cusotmers.

/For more funny Nigerian scammer reversals, see this website.

re: #74 laZardo

Hi LaZardo! Hope you are well

re: #75 HoosierHoops

Doin' splendid. Got some photos up on my art site.

re: #76 laZardo

Doin' splendid. Got some photos up on my art site.

Checked them out..Nice work

re: #77 HoosierHoops

Thankee.

Watching the re-run of the Denver-Portland game from last night..It's 74-74 in the 3rd Quarter...Don't tell me who wins..But I'm trying not to look at the little trailer on the bottom of the screen giving scores.. That is so annoying

I just got home from work. I am usually waking up at this time of day. Ugh!

Morning Lizards,

Back in Jacksonville after an 800 mile drive from Ohio. Not recommended! Good to be home.

re: #81 rwdflynavy

Morning Lizards,

Back in Jacksonville after an 800 mile drive from Ohio. Not recommended! Good to be home.

I had a friend who drove to LA. He said it took him 2 days to get through Texas.

re: #81 rwdflynavy

Did you pick me up a Stukeys Pecan Log?

re: #83 Cannadian Club Akbar

Did you pick me up a Stukeys Pecan Log?

Not this time.

Looks like I missed a lively discussion last night. First bomb making and then some one made the mistake of arguing with Walter about religious texts and theologies. The man knows his stuff!

re: #82 Cannadian Club Akbar

I had a friend who drove to LA. He said it took him 2 days to get through Texas.

The sun is ris, the sun is set and I ain't out of Texas yet.

I lived in Kingsville for 3 years and it was a solid day almost to get down there from the state line (it is south of Corpus Christi).

re: #85 rwdflynavy

I considered moving to Texas a while back. But I think I am good where I am now. I don't like snow so I need to be where it is warm.

re: #86 Cannadian Club Akbar

I considered moving to Texas a while back. But I think I am good where I am now. I don't like snow so I need to be where it is warm.

I'll be leaving Jax this summer and may or may not ever be back. If the Navy says go back I will, otherwise not. I like seasons!

re: #87 rwdflynavy

The Atlantic is to cold to swim in. For me. The water temp over here is usually 10 degrees warmer in the Gulf.

re: #87 rwdflynavy

How have your Christmas travels been?

re: #84 rwdflynavy

Walter's a frickin' evil genius.

Loves me some Walter.

re: #89 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

How have your Christmas travels been?

Road conditions were great everywhere but Roanoke. My MIL had to be rescued by a friend with a 4x4 and meet us at a hotel for our trip to Ohio. She stayed up there and we drove all the way back to Jax yesterday! Glad that's done!

re: #91 rwdflynavy

You could've snitched one of those fancy jet-aeroplanes you know...drop a cable on the MIL and SNATCH! right off the front porch...

re: #92 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

You could've snitched one of those fancy jet-aeroplanes you know...drop a cable on the MIL and SNATCH! right off the front porch...

A helicopter would work better, but the Navy takes a dim view of me borrowing one for a job like that!

re: #93 rwdflynavy

A helicopter would work better, but the Navy takes a dim view of me borrowing one for a job like that!

Didn't stop William Jefferson after Katrina. Oh, wait, he's going to prison.

bbl, kids call

re: #95 rwdflynavy

bbl, kids call

bbl, church...

re: #94 Cannadian Club Akbar

Didn't stop William Jefferson after Katrina. Oh, wait, he's going to prison.

Only because FEMA didn't care!

/

It's nap time before football. See ya'll in a bit.

The New Year will usher in a better working environment for women employed by defense contractors; thanks to an amendment to the .“2010 Defense Appropriations Bill”

Big Dick Cheney’s, former personnel policy at Halliburton/KBR that “boys will be boys” has been slapped down.

Who would have ever thought that the a new fairness doctrine for working women; would really piss, thirty Republican men, Senators..?

Great picture!

Morning all. Watched the "bomb making" video over at HA. Don't know what the fuss is all about. It didn't give the ingredients/ratio of the compound. All it showed was some white powder being mixed with a red fluid and then a watermelon being blown up with this alleged "explosive". Sorry, but this one goes into the notroversy slot for me.

Watching Fox just now, and have a question. They had a hotel chain owner on that was critical of the new health care bill. He has been providing health care insurance for his employees for decades at a cost to him of a couple of $1000/year and claims he'll consider dropping it and paying the new $750 fine.
If he was not legally required to provide health insurance before, why wait for a fine to drop it ?
It seems he was providing the insurance all these years as a perk, and could have dropped it and any point. IMHO Fox is making a straw man argument by claiming a fine will cause businesses to drop their insurance when the lack of a fine didn't have that effect.

re: #101 Bubblehead II

Morning all. Watched the "bomb making" video over at HA. Don't know what the fuss is all about. It didn't give the ingredients/ratio of the compound. All it showed was some white powder being mixed with a red fluid and then a watermelon being blown up with this alleged "explosive". Sorry, but this one goes into the notroversy slot for me.

I agree to a point, but it could the seed for a idea. i.e. if I saw the video, and learned how small a quantity of explosive I needed, it might motivate me to do some homework on binary explosives that would not have occurred to me.

Morning, folks. We have around 3" of snow outside and it's snowing now. From looking at the projections, I think we're going to have another 3" of snow today. I spent about 20 minutes last night clearing snow from the front door to the vehicle, but you can't even tell that I did that much.

Let's just say we're not making it to church today. They haven't plowed our street, and the country road we connect to get plowed half as often as the big road going into town.

Time to make hot chocolate!

re: #102 avanti

Many years ago, Michigan's government decided to make auto insurance mandatory; it had been voluntary up to that point. The promise was that this would somehow reduce costs and ensure that everyone had a shot at recovering damages, as those without insurance frequently didn't have the assets to pay off on a legal claim.

Anyone want to guess what happened to rates when insurance became mandatory for all drivers? Not surprisingly, the spiked immediately after the bill was passed, and the promised savings never materialized. In fact, the rate of increase, year over year, never even slowed down.

Then, of course, there's always the possibility that people don't like being forced to do things, and will stop doing them simply to make a point. After all, this guy's employees will still be guaranteed the health insurance he once provided, and it will cost him only a fraction what he was paying previously, so he gets to hammer his point home at a savings, without causing anyone any harm.

Well, except all the other taxpayers who now have to shoulder the delta his "fine" (*cough* tax *cough*) doesn't cover.

re: #103 avanti

I agree to a point, but it could the seed for a idea. i.e. if I saw the video, and learned how small a quantity of explosive I needed, it might motivate me to do some homework on binary explosives that would not have occurred to me.

Uh - that was already amply apparent from the deluge of news reports on this story.

I can't say I care much for the video, as it tends toward sensationalism, but characterizing it as "bomb making instructions" strikes me as overreach.

Greets and saluts from the NYC metro area. It's finally sunny in these parts and most of the snow has melted, but we have no leaf clover in these parts for the moment...

Meanwhile, the Casbah is still being rocked.

re: #7 Mich-again

Then again the drops are all just sitting at the low point on the leaf.

Gravity works.

re: #106 SixDegrees

Uh - that was already amply apparent from the deluge of news reports on this story.

I can't say I care much for the video, as it tends toward sensationalism, but characterizing it as "bomb making instructions" strikes me as overreach.

The bomb-making video is fake. I've explained my arguments in the other thread and already got down-dinged for it, but from a purely scientific point of view nothing in the video is correct.
Pure scaremongering, used probably to make flying an even less nice experience...

Good Morning LGF.
Hope everyone's managing to keep their globes warm today.

re: #111 Spare O'Lake

;D

Alleged terrorist criminal known but not thought a threat

The alleged Christmas Day terrorist criminal had been in one of the U.S. government's many terror criminal databases since November, which is when his father brought him to the attention of embassy officials in Nigeria.

However, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab came to the attention of intelligence officials months before that, according to a U.S. government official involved in the investigation. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because it is ongoing.

Still, none of the information the government had on Abdulmutallab rose to the level of putting him on the official terror criminal watch list or no-fly list. On Christmas Eve, the 23-year-old Nigerian — who later claimed to law enforcement that he was operating on orders from al-Qaida — was able to carry a concealed explosive device onto a U.S.-bound airplane.

It's a little like Major Hasan all over again- not taken seriously when it should have been.

re: #113 Sharmuta

Alleged terrorist criminal known but not thought a threat

It's a little like Major Hasan all over again- not taken seriously when it should have been.

Absolutely.
People tend to poke fun at airport security and our TSA, but in this case, it appears the error was made much higher up.

btw - I've been following my Iran twitterers on tweetdeck, and it appears things are heated up over there.

Well it's once again time to get ready to go to w*rk. Hopefully I will have the time to check in off and on through out the day.

L8R

re: #114 reine.de.tout

See my #108? They're really coordinated enough to make it a real YouTube Revolution. Not getting my hopes up though, as the Basiji truncheons are no less effective than they were before.

re: #113 Sharmuta

Alleged terrorist criminal known but not thought a threat

It's a little like Major Hasan all over again- not taken seriously when it should have been.

I think it may now have been upgraded to an unsuccessful attempted alleged terror incident.
Quadruplespeak.

re: #110 mr.JA

The bomb-making video is fake. I've explained my arguments in the other thread and already got down-dinged for it, but from a purely scientific point of view nothing in the video is correct.
Pure scaremongering, used probably to make flying an even less nice experience...

I'd say that the video is non-specific enough that calling it "fake" is also an overreach. There simply isn't enough information presented to reach such a conclusion.

re: #113 Sharmuta

There are databases, and then there are databases, Mutallab's actions weren't sufficiently known to put him on one of the lists that would have required closer scrutiny and secondary screening.

What the case also shows is that yet another middle class privileged Muslim decided to go join al Qaeda in Yemen and then carry out a suicide bombing with the intent to kill hundreds of people. It's not about terrorism due to poverty; it's about a morally bankrupt ideology that woos people with too much time on their hands to submit to a fundamentalist Muslim ideology to engage in mass carnage.

And it was because of his background - from a middle class privileged lifestyle in Nigeria that he used by al Qaeda in this fashion.

re: #105 SixDegrees

Many years ago, Michigan's government decided to make auto insurance mandatory; it had been voluntary up to that point. The promise was that this would somehow reduce costs and ensure that everyone had a shot at recovering damages, as those without insurance frequently didn't have the assets to pay off on a legal claim.

Anyone want to guess what happened to rates when insurance became mandatory for all drivers? Not surprisingly, the spiked immediately after the bill was passed, and the promised savings never materialized. In fact, the rate of increase, year over year, never even slowed down.

Then, of course, there's always the possibility that people don't like being forced to do things, and will stop doing them simply to make a point. After all, this guy's employees will still be guaranteed the health insurance he once provided, and it will cost him only a fraction what he was paying previously, so he gets to hammer his point home at a savings, without causing anyone any harm.

Well, except all the other taxpayers who now have to shoulder the delta his "fine" (*cough* tax *cough*) doesn't cover.

Good morning all. Hope there isn't too much work to do and time to enjoy today.

However, the parallels between auto insurance and medical insurance are weak at best. The point is that if you have insurance and the other guy doesn't, you don't pay for his car. If you both have heart attacks however, you do pay for his care.

re: #118 SixDegrees

I'd say that the video is non-specific enough that calling it "fake" is also an overreach. There simply isn't enough information presented to reach such a conclusion.

Have a look at my other post. The amount of explosive used in this video (50mg, max), taped to the side of a water melon (not inside) can never, ever, vaporize a water melon. Not a chance in hell.

re: #120 Naso Tang

Good morning all. Hope there isn't too much work to do and time to enjoy today.

However, the parallels between auto insurance and medical insurance are weak at best. The point is that if you have insurance and the other guy doesn't, you don't pay for his car. If you both have heart attacks however, you do pay for his care.

True, but I believe the parallel with the topic, price increases brought about through the imposition of mandated coverage, applies. In fact, I believe we'll see price increases the moment such a mandate becomes certain, well ahead of whatever target is set by the legislation involved.

re: #122 SixDegrees

We'll see cost increases because the House and Senate Democrat plans are curtailing the use of FSAs and HSAs to cover OTC drugs, a major reason people use FSAs and HSAs in the first place.

Instead of taking actions that would reduce costs to the consumer, it's an action that will have the opposite effect.

re: #119 lawhawk

I'm wondering at what point can the question of a 9/10 mindset be legitimately asked?

re: #116 laZardo

See my #108? They're really coordinated enough to make it a real YouTube Revolution. Not getting my hopes up though, as the Basiji truncheons are no less effective than they were before.

No, I'm not getting my hopes up either.

However - one video was of a guy holding up some sort of helmet - I'm assuming a police helmet?? - and everyone beating it with sticks.

I see what appears to be a lack of fear in some of the protesters.

re: #121 mr.JA

Sorry, but I'm not interested. I've already commented on the bit that I am interested in.

And I'm even less interested in someone who makes the claim that a 50 mg quantity of something would even be visible. If your units of measure are off by three orders of magnitude, it's hard to take your conclusions seriously.

re: #114 reine.de.tout

I've been keeping an eye on Iran myself. They've been protesting all weekend.

re: #123 lawhawk

We'll see cost increases because the House and Senate Democrat plans are curtailing the use of FSAs and HSAs to cover OTC drugs, a major reason people use FSAs and HSAs in the first place.

Instead of taking actions that would reduce costs to the consumer, it's an action that will have the opposite effect.

Not at all surprising. The Dems were desperate to "get something done," even it if involved cutting deals with corporate interests to obtain their backing.

Is it safe to use the monkey analogy without being called a racist if I point out that even a monkey could have come up with a better solution that this mess?

re: #126 SixDegrees

Sorry, but I'm not interested. I've already commented on the bit that I am interested in.

And I'm even less interested in someone who makes the claim that a 50 mg quantity of something would even be visible. If your units of measure are off by three orders of magnitude, it's hard to take your conclusions seriously.

I work in a lab, and weigh off amounts in the range of 1-100 mg on a (near) daily basis. 50mg is perfectly visible, it is also about 50ul of water, which would make a substantial drop.

re: #129 mr.JA

I work in a lab, and weigh off amounts in the range of 1-100 mg on a (near) daily basis. 50mg is perfectly visible, it is also about 50ul of water, which would make a substantial drop.

Uh huh. Sure.

re: #102 avanti

Watching Fox just now, and have a question. They had a hotel chain owner on that was critical of the new health care bill. He has been providing health care insurance for his employees for decades at a cost to him of a couple of $1000/year and claims he'll consider dropping it and paying the new $750 fine.
If he was not legally required to provide health insurance before, why wait for a fine to drop it ?
It seems he was providing the insurance all these years as a perk, and could have dropped it and any point. IMHO Fox is making a straw man argument by claiming a fine will cause businesses to drop their insurance when the lack of a fine didn't have that effect.

There was a tax break to him for providing the health insurance - which is a benefit that gets different tax treatment. One of the by-products of the Health care plans being proposed is a shift away from the favorable tax treatment for those employer costs.

OT OT
Has anyone in LGF circles reviewed the writings and positions of Pilar Rahola?

Pilar Rahola is a Spanish politician, journalist and activist. She is a passionate defender of the United States and Israel and an indefatigable fighter ...

re: #124 Sharmuta

Well, there are law enforcement agencies that see everything presented to them as nothing but common crimes, even if it's terrorism or jihad induced terrorism. When you're a hammer, you see everything as nails. Since 9/11 many law enforcement agencies, particularly the NYPD have shifted so that they focus on terrorism as a separate and distinct activity that gets different treatment than a common crime. However, it's also a political decision and when the policy makers decide that terrorism is treated like a crime, and not as an act of war (which the jihadis have been doing since before 1993's WTC bombing), then you continue to see the terrorists respond by engaging in larger attacks because they perceive the failure to heed their demands/claims as a sign of weakness in resolve (strong/weak horse argument).

The Little green football prayer list
Today is 12-27-2009
On this day in History: 12-27-1996
1831 British naturalist Charles Darwin set out on a voyage to the Pacific Ocean aboard the HMS Beagle. Darwin's discoveries during the nearly five-year journey helped form the basis of his theories on evolution.
.

We pray Father for our dear Lizards in need... Those that cry out for help and comfort in this hour.
Reine: Health and Family
gregb - 4 year old son who suffered a head injury last Friday and spent the
weekend in the ICU with some lingering effects all week.
Irish Rose… midlife retraining for a new career
I.R. My Marine was just taken into medical at MCAS Miramar, they think that he may have a blood clot in his leg.
SteveC: Two friends, one needs heart surgery, and one might.
Update from our friend SteveC:
News on both my friends - the one who might have heart surgery: They're going to adjust her medication and try a Brachoscopy (?) before deciding on the surgery.
Update
After surgery to replace her Aortic valve, my friend was released from the hospital today! Since she is at Mayo Clinic and lives several hundred miles away, her family is staying at a local hotel and will head for home tomorrow!
Anyone who held a good thought for her, I humbly thank you.

My other friend got a surgical date in January. She quickly got tired of the waiting and asked the surgeon if she could reschedule earlier. Now she's set for Nov 16

lurking faith… prayers for an aunt
,
Beekiller: Sister has been diagnosed with Cancer…We pray for a speedy recovery
Wlewisiii: Son John has the H1N1 flu….May God touch and heal him this morning
Prairiefire: Good friend John had surgery on cancer in the jaw..We pray for a speedy recovery
Mcspiff: if you could add my uncle to the list. He went in for surgery today and it didn't go so well. Extra organs had to come out, etc. Still just hearing bits and pieces now. But any prayers would be greatly appreciated.
Yesandno’s husband passed away Friday.. Pray for her comfort
Thanksgiving: Odbicut: Friends little brother recovering From N1H1 virus..
Thank you Lord
In Memoriam:
Obi Wan
Dublin(CA)Dude
USMC 1968
ElderZion
All our Troops who have died protecting our Freedom and their families.
Lord. Hear our Prayers

Celebrity news . . . I will admit to being a fan of Nicholas Cage. It seems he's in deep doo-doo with his financial problems. Sad.

re: #134 HoosierHoops

Thanks, HH.

re: #135 reine.de.tout

Celebrity news . . . I will admit to being a fan of Nicholas Cage. It seems he's in deep doo-doo with his financial problems. Sad.

Hollywood needs people like him, of course...

BEIRUT -- Three bombs planted under a car exploded south of Beirut on Saturday, killing one person and wounding several others in an attack that apparently targeted an official from the Palestinian militant group Hamas, the state-run news agency said.

intercine whoop ass?

[Link: online.wsj.com...]

re: #102 avanti

One of Fox News’, favorite gambits, are to set straw men as their counter points.

re: #138 albusteve

And Israel will be blamed in 3...2...1

Good morning, Lizards

I hope all are having a pleasant early Sunday. This week, the final week of the year, always provides just the quiet I need to get things together in prep for taxes. I work on it between and during (depends on the score) football games. Kinda enjoy it.
Oh! and the weather outside is not frightful.

re: #133 lawhawk

However, it's also a political decision and when the policy makers decide that terrorism is treated like a crime, and not as an act of war (which the jihadis have been doing since before 1993's WTC bombing), then you continue to see the terrorists respond by engaging in larger attacks because they perceive the failure to heed their demands/claims as a sign of weakness in resolve (strong/weak horse argument).

That's what I'm worried about. We're moving back to treating Al-Q like a criminal justice issue and not a national security issue. I can only hope this is enough of a wake-up call that we don't have to hear about another security check failure for a long time.

re: #130 SixDegrees

Sorry the pedant here, but here's a picture of 50 milligrams of sugar, that I just took:

Image: 2qi75tu.jpg

and a close-up:
Image: qr0t1d.jpg

You can clearly see that the amount on the fuse in the video is even less than this...

re: #143 mr.JA

I'm trying so hard to care...and it just isn't working.

re: #140 lawhawk

And Israel will be blamed in 3...2...1

well the Hezbollah/UN dream team in Lebanon has gone about and built this huge arsenal, fortified the are above the Litani, dug in and now they got ants in their pants...I'll bet someone wants to move on Israel and whoever resisted that notion is now cat food...one angle anyway

re: #131 lawhawk

“...One of the by-products of the Health care plans being proposed is a shift away from the favorable tax treatment for those employer costs."

Is that provision in the Senate or House bill, or both…?

re: #142 Sharmuta

That's what I'm worried about. We're moving back to treating Al-Q like a criminal justice issue and not a national security issue. I can only hope this is enough of a wake-up call that we don't have to hear about another security check failure for a long time.

I live in a fantasy world where the US sealed it's borders after 9-11...profiled every traveler and visa request from a ME country, any Arab name and any known or suspected Muslim person...full stop auto...tough titty, because in my world not one American life is worth endangering with a PC mindset...reality is a harsh mistress

re: #141 Semper Fi

Good morning, Lizards

I hope all are having a pleasant early Sunday. This week, the final week of the year, always provides just the quiet I need to get things together in prep for taxes. I work on it between and during (depends on the score) football games. Kinda enjoy it.
Oh! and the weather outside is not frightful.

Good morning. I have my LGF calendar up and waiting for New Year's Day.

re: #120 Naso Tang

Good morning all. Hope there isn't too much work to do and time to enjoy today.

However, the parallels between auto insurance and medical insurance are weak at best. The point is that if you have insurance and the other guy doesn't, you don't pay for his car. If you both have heart attacks however, you do pay for his care.

Admittedly, I never gave your last sentence a single thought. If so, it's a good reason to beef up the medical on my auto insurance. Thanks

re: #146 oldegeezr

Both. The House version:

SEC. 531. DISTRIBUTIONS FOR MEDICINE QUALIFIED ONLY IF FOR PRESCRIBED DRUG OR INSULIN.

(a) HSAs- Subparagraph (A) of section 223(d)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following: ‘Such term shall include an amount paid for medicine or a drug only if such medicine or drug is a prescribed drug or is insulin.’.

(b) Archer MSAs- Subparagraph (A) of section 220(d)(2) of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following: ‘Such term shall include an amount paid for medicine or a drug only if such medicine or drug is a prescribed drug or is insulin.’

(c) Health Flexible Spending Arrangements and Health Reimbursement Arrangements- Section 106 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

‘(f) Reimbursements for Medicine Restricted to Prescribed Drugs and Insulin- For purposes of this section and section 105, reimbursement for expenses incurred for a medicine or a drug shall be treated as a reimbursement for medical expenses only if such medicine or drug is a prescribed drug or is insulin.’.

the Senate version is essentially the same. It has the effect of pushing people to use prescription drugs, which remain covered in the FSA/HSA, but which are usually more expensive than OTC drugs.

This isn't merely a sop to the drug companies (which do make substantial profits from OTC, and often push to get OTC designation from their drugs particularly after the drugs go off patent). It's a cost that will inure to the consumer.

re: #150 lawhawk

Oops... that's the HSA/FSA treatment, not the question you asked, which is about the change in tax treatment for health care benefits.

It is my understanding that both the House and Senate plans operate in a similar fashion to reduce the benefit to employers to provide the health insurance as a cost-cutting measure (to balance the 10 year CBO cost of the bill). The penalties are also a way to balance the scoring on the bill and to gain compliance (but not too much compliance since you need those penalties to make the budgeting work out).

re: #60 Bagua

Done, downding reversed. But I notice he updinged you on one as well but I didn't reverse that one. Inconsistent I suppose.

Not knowing what is going on here but could the person in question have an opinion?
Now you all are making me nervous about dinging anybody up or down.

Ugh... ding politics on LGF...

re: #148 Sharmuta

Good morning. I have my LGF calendar up and waiting for New Year's Day.

That's a nice calendar. Unfortunately, I had already purchased on for 2010. The photos are outstanding.re: #113 Sharmuta

Alleged terrorist criminal known but not thought a threat

It's a little like Major Hasan all over again- not taken seriously when it should have been.

Totally agree with your Major Hasan take.

re: #152 Blueheron

Not knowing what is going on here but could the person in question have an opinion?
Now you all are making me nervous about dinging anybody up or down.

Don't worry about it.
Some people never comment, ever - I've never seen a comment by "beam" - but come into dead threads and go through and downding (or sometimes upding). It seems to me (and I think to some other) to be very strange behavior to never comment, never engage in the discussion, but then come into a thread after everyone has left and downding.

re: #152 Blueheron

Now you all are making me nervous about dinging anybody up or down.

IMO, the rating system wasn't installed so that folks would feel intimidated using it.

re: #155 reine.de.tout

Don't worry about it.
Some people never comment, ever - I've never seen a comment by "beam" - but come into dead threads and go through and downding (or sometimes upding). It seems to me (and I think to some other) to be very strange behavior to never comment, never engage in the discussion, but then come into a thread after everyone has left and downding.

a ding flasher

a dingbat!

BLUEHERON - if you haven't done so already, check out "master spy" in the log in block upper left -

If I had a Dinger
I'd ding in the morning
I'd ding in the evening
All over this land
I'd ding out danger
I'd ding out a warning
I'd ding out love between my brothers and my sisters
All over this land

re: #160 HoosierHoops

If I had a Dinger
I'd ding in the morning
I'd ding in the evening
All over this land
I'd ding out danger
I'd ding out a warning
I'd ding out love between my brothers and my sisters
All over this land

And in bed.

/ 8D

re: #160 HoosierHoops

If I had a Dinger
I'd ding in the morning
I'd ding in the evening
All over this land
I'd ding out danger
I'd ding out a warning
I'd ding out love between my brothers and my sisters
All over this land

HH, that's funny!

Rasmussen

The number who believe that the stimulus plan has hurt the economy rose from 28% in September, to 31% in October, and 34% in November before jumping to 38% this month.

[Link: www.rasmussenreports.com...]

totally, 100% unreliable...probably a fake

and then you get those pedantic karma moochers who make silly little jokes in a sinister plot to acquire more karma...

re: #87 rwdflynavy

I'll be leaving Jax this summer and may or may not ever be back. If the Navy says go back I will, otherwise not. I like seasons!

I moved to Florida. Contrary to public opinion here and elsewhere there are discernible changes as the seasons change. Very subtle but there to see nonetheless.
I have not missed the snow one iota but I do miss seeing the Continental Divide.
I enjoy visiting in Colorado but my hairy monster becomes ill at elevations over 7000 feet. High elevations don't phase me a bit :)

re: #164 BigPapa

and then you get those pedantic karma moochers who make silly little jokes in a sinister plot to acquire more karma...

Karma whores!
I admit it - I like Karma

re: #165 Blueheron

I moved to Florida. Contrary to public opinion here and elsewhere there are discernible changes as the seasons change. Very subtle but there to see nonetheless.
I have not missed the snow one iota but I do miss seeing the Continental Divide.
I enjoy visiting in Colorado but my hairy monster becomes ill at elevations over 7000 feet. High elevations don't phase me a bit :)

I was fine at 7000 feet. But when I visited the Alpine Center at the Rocky Mountain National Park years ago, I got very ill--and if I remember correctly, that's at 12,000 feet.

re: #164 BigPapa

and then you get those pedantic karma moochers who make silly little jokes in a sinister plot to acquire more karma...

Bwahahahaha.

re: #166 reine.de.tout

Karma whores!

Baby, I can give ya a good time for a ding.

Sick Racist email spamming Christian and Conservative mail lists:

A little girl wrote to Sarah Palin and asked;
'How did the human race start?'
Sarah Palin answered, "God made Adam and Eve.." They had children, and so was all mankind made."
Two days later the girl wrote to Michelle Obama And asked the same question.
Michelle Obama answered, "Many years ago there were monkeys from Which the human race evolved."
The confused girl went to her father and said, "Dad, how is it possible that Sarah Palin told me, "The human race was created by God," and Michelle Obama said, "They were evolved from monkeys?"
Her father answered, "Well, Honey, it is very simple, Sarah Palin told you about her ancestors, and Michelle Obama, told you about hers."

re: #166 reine.de.tout

Karma whores!
I admit it - I like Karma

I think you're awesome. More karma than comments. To me, that means whatever you say is of some value to some lizard(s). I compliment you.

re: #170 Thanos

sick, sick, sick "joke".
"joke" in quotes because it's not even funny, nowhere close.

re: #155 reine.de.tout

Don't worry about it.
Some people never comment, ever - I've never seen a comment by "beam" - but come into dead threads and go through and downding (or sometimes upding). It seems to me (and I think to some other) to be very strange behavior to never comment, never engage in the discussion, but then come into a thread after everyone has left and downding.

Thanks Reine. Maybe the person is bashful but if so LGF may not be a good fit for them.
I upding or downding people for a variety of reasons...I like the political take they have ...something they said tickled me...being cruel to someone will get a downding from me...being to far left ?...I suck it up and pass those posts by because everyone is entitled to their opinion.
In other words I am like the rest of you.
And Reine you got an upding for your kindness :))

re: #170 Thanos

That's vile.

re: #173 Blueheron

Thanks Reine. Maybe the person is bashful but if so LGF may not be a good fit for them.
I upding or downding people for a variety of reasons...I like the political take they have ...something they said tickled me...being cruel to someone will get a downding from me...being to far left ?...I suck it up and pass those posts by because everyone is entitled to their opinion.
In other words I am like the rest of you.
And Reine you got an upding for your kindness :))

*blush*
thank you kindly.

re: #170 Thanos

And now it's here.

re: #159 reine.de.tout

BLUEHERON - if you haven't done so already, check out "master spy" in the log in block upper left -

Ok will do :)

re: #176 darthstar

And now it's here.

I reported myself in case Charles doesn't want it here. It's also in quotes.

re: #177 Blueheron

master spy is a nice feature, especially if you have been in an active thread and then had to take a break for a few minutes and want to catch up quickly with what you missed.

re: #150 lawhawk

“…It has the effect of pushing people to use prescription drugs, which remain covered in the FSA/HSA, but which are usually more expensive than OTC drugs.

Thanks for that LH. That’s obviously the effect of Big Pharma’s powerful lobby, influencing the structure of the preliminary bill from the Senate.

My question was; how does it benefit an employer to drop medical coverage for their employees?

I believe Fox News was quoted as saying he [the employer] was now paying $2000 per employee so that under the new provisions of the bill, he [the employer] would only have to pay a $750 fine per employee if he failed to provide medical insurance.

Thusly the employer would opt for paying the $750 fine rather than providing insurance for his employees.

That one’s easy. In conference triple the damn fine…!

Hoekstra, on Fox News on Saturday, said his biggest concern is that the intelligence community seems to have missed "red flags" about the suspect if he had ties to al Qaeda and Yemen and had been known to U.S. officials for the past two years, as the AP has reported.

[Link: thehill.com...]

re: #178 Thanos

I reported myself in case Charles doesn't want it here. It's also in quotes.

Yes, sorry...hit post before finishing my thought. I do like that blockquotes aren't carried to the next level. I'd seen that joke float through my email a few weeks ago. It'll keep making the rounds for a while yet, sadly.

re: #147 albusteve

I live in a fantasy world where the US sealed it's borders after 9-11...profiled every traveler and visa resquest from a ME country, any Arab name and any known or suspected Muslim person...full stop auto...tough titty, because in my world not one American life is worth endangering with a PC mindset...reality is a harsh mistress

I think Dennis Miller once said that recognizing that 99% of terrorists are Arab males is not racial profiling, it's being minimally observant.

re: #167 vxbush

I was fine at 7000 feet. But when I visited the Alpine Center at the Rocky Mountain National Park years ago, I got very ill--and if I remember correctly, that's at 12,000 feet.

Yes it is mostly elevations over 9000' feet which seperate the natives from the flatlanders. 12000' is a bit much for a newcomer to take on to soon.
Afetr a day or two, if you keep yourself well hydrated and take it easy you will do fine presuming you are fit otherwise.

re: #103 avanti

I agree to a point, but it could the seed for a idea. i.e. if I saw the video, and learned how small a quantity of explosive I needed, it might motivate me to do some homework on binary explosives that would not have occurred to me.

Watching a fireworks show could be a seed for an idea about explosives.

re: #165 Blueheron

I moved to Florida. Contrary to public opinion here and elsewhere there are discernible changes as the seasons change. Very subtle but there to see nonetheless.
I have not missed the snow one iota but I do miss seeing the Continental Divide.
I enjoy visiting in Colorado but my hairy monster becomes ill at elevations over 7000 feet. High elevations don't phase me a bit :)

I've lived in Florida off an on since 1993. While there are some changes in seasons, they pale in comparison to say, Virginia, where the leaves change color, it snows etc.

re: #180 oldegeezr

Thanks for that LH. That’s obviously the effect of Big Pharma’s powerful lobby, influencing the structure of the preliminary bill from the Senate.

My question was; how does it benefit an employer to drop medical coverage for their employees?

I believe Fox News was quoted as saying he [the employer] was now paying $2000 per employee so that under the new provisions of the bill, he [the employer] would only have to pay a $750 fine per employee if he failed to provide medical insurance.

Thusly the employer would opt for paying the $750 fine rather than providing insurance for his employees.

That one’s easy. In conference triple the damn fine…!

My point was, he could have dropped the insurance many years ago without penalty. It seems to me he provided the insurance as a perk to recruit and keep his workers, why drop it now just to get a fine? The only reason I can think of is to protest the new program at the expense of his workers that might well seek greener pastures.
I ran a small buissness, too small to be covered under the new bill, but you'd think the fine and government breaks would encourage bigger small businesses to provide coverage.

Is it just my imagination or are both the Obama administration and the MSM studiously avoiding the use of the word Islam in connection with the latest criminal incident?

Here's a story to round off the year: a murderous New York gangster tripped over his own baggy trousers last week and fell to his death. Hector Quinones, 44, was in the middle of an apparently drugs-related killing spree when his low-slung trousers fell down and tripped him up. One of his would-be victims fled on to the fire escape of her apartment block; Quinones yanked up his trousers and struggled after her, but no sooner had he reached the fire escape than they fell down again, and he toppled overboard.

[Link: www.telegraph.co.uk...]

re: #188 Spare O'Lake

Is it just my imagination or are both the Obama administration and the MSM studiously avoiding the use of the word Islam in connection with the latest criminal incident?

It's a new era. We no longer have an fundamentalist in the White House who claims God told him to become president. And as such, he doesn't surround himself with people who talk in Christian-versus-Muslim language (gone is the word 'crusade' from our political vocabulary, thankfully). During the campaign, and again as President, Obama has said, quite clearly, that the US is not at war with Islam.

Separating terrorists from their religion isn't just good politics, it's smart. It takes away the ideological argument and, yes, reduces the failed attack to a 'criminal incident' to use your most appropriate words.

re: #187 avanti

avanti, absolutely…!

When I entered the work force about fifty years ago; even partial health insurance co-pay, was a hugh perk!

Full coverage almost guaranteed an employer a new hire, even if the total salary package was less than those competing for your knowledge and resume!

re: #190 darthstar

I see it differently. 800 pound gorillas should be acknowledged and discussed. Ignoring generally is not an effective means of making things go away.

re: #190 darthstar

It's a new era. We no longer have an fundamentalist in the White House who claims God told him to become president. And as such, he doesn't surround himself with people who talk in Christian-versus-Muslim language (gone is the word 'crusade' from our political vocabulary, thankfully). During the campaign, and again as President, Obama has said, quite clearly, that the US is not at war with Islam.

Separating terrorists from their religion isn't just good politics, it's smart. It takes away the ideological argument and, yes, reduces the failed attack to a 'criminal incident' to use your most appropriate words.

To deny that radical Islam is the major sponsor and perpetrator of anti-US terrorism is to sacrifice many Americans on the altar of political correctness. Apparently, this is a worthwhile sacrifice for creeps like Obama, the MSM and you.

re: #163 albusteve

Rasmussen

The number who believe that the stimulus plan has hurt the economy rose from 28% in September, to 31% in October, and 34% in November before jumping to 38% this month.

[Link: www.rasmussenreports.com...]

totally, 100% unreliable...probably a fake

I'd rather trust the much better economic numbers and the experts than a poll of Joe six packs. It's a silly poll, since it asks a opinion of the unknowable, since we'll never know how the economy would have fared without the stimulus. IMHO, it was effective in providing a physiological lift, even though most of it is unspent.
Rasmussen is a master at careful wording to get the results he wants to bolster his reputation with Fox and get more speaking fees.

Jarrett: Accusations of 'seedy Chicago politics' at WH unwarranted
By Jordan Fabian - 12/26/09 03:30 PM ET

One of President Barack Obama's closest advisers Saturday said claims that the White House is engaging in "seedy Chicago politics" are "completely unwarranted."

[Link: thehill.com...]

from the comments...

This mob that carries the Obama brand has not only enriched themselves from the poorest Chicago neighborhoods they have devastated them in the process.Even now as unemployment reaches an all time highs in these neighborhoods Obama and co. completely ignore these area's. Starts at the pulpit, then moves to the wards, blame someone else for the misery,suck it dry, then sell it. It's the chicago way.

re: #194 avanti

I'd rather trust the much better economic numbers and the experts than a poll of Joe six packs. It's a silly poll, since it asks a opinion of the unknowable, since we'll never know how the economy would have fared without the stimulus. IMHO, it was effective in providing a physiological lift, even though most of it is unspent.
Rasmussen is a master at careful wording to get the results he wants to bolster his reputation with Fox and get more speaking fees.

the point is, people are increasingly unhappy and distrustful...sniff the air Fido

re: #190 darthstar

[snip]

Separating terrorists from their religion isn't just good politics, it's smart. It takes away the ideological argument and, yes, reduces the failed attack to a 'criminal incident' to use your most appropriate words.

No it's not, not until the terrorist themselves start separating their terrorism from their religion. And do you think the terrorist hides his ideological argument? And the ideological part of the argument is certainly not lost on the rest other wannabe terrorists.

The only thing that separating the ideology from the terrorist does is removes one piece of the forensic puzzle.

That makes no sense at all. Let's get rid of FBI profilers. We don't need them, they have never helped stop a killer before. Let's stop cataloging and studying any criminal activity, hell, the ideology of crime is a worthless pursuit.

Honestly.

re: #178 Thanos

I reported myself in case Charles doesn't want it here. It's also in quotes.

It's pretty bad Thanos.
I applaud you for trying to inform us but at the same time kudos to you for reporting yourself.

re: #178 Thanos

I reported myself in case Charles doesn't want it here. It's also in quotes.

And now please report to the Ministry of Love. We have a room with your name on it.

re: #186 rwdflynavy

I've lived in Florida off an on since 1993. While there are some changes in seasons, they pale in comparison to say, Virginia, where the leaves change color, it snows etc.

Oh well yeah but I am going snapper fishing on the Gulf next week :)

re: #122 SixDegrees

True, but I believe the parallel with the topic, price increases brought about through the imposition of mandated coverage, applies. In fact, I believe we'll see price increases the moment such a mandate becomes certain, well ahead of whatever target is set by the legislation involved.

In the case of mandated coverage you also have increased premium revenues, but in the final analysis we don't let people die in this country because they don't have insurance. We pay for it anyway, the accounting is just more hidden.

Of course the insurance companies are in the business of maximizing profits and minimizing coverage (and if anyone thinks we don't have "death panels" now they are naive).

They will try to shaft the public in the future too. How much they get away with depends on how much we let them and how much we kid ourselves about trusting "the marketplace".

.

re: #188 Spare O'Lake

Is it just my imagination or are both the Obama administration and the MSM studiously avoiding the use of the word Islam in connection with the latest criminal incident?

Well do we know for certain this guy wasn't a Presbyterian or some such?/

re: #201 Naso Tang

In the case of mandated coverage you also have increased premium revenues, but in the final analysis we don't let people die in this country because they don't have insurance. We pay for it anyway, the accounting is just more hidden.

Of course the insurance companies are in the business of maximizing profits and minimizing coverage (and if anyone thinks we don't have "death panels" now they are naive).

They will try to shaft the public in the future too. How much they get away with depends on how much we let them and how much we kid ourselves about trusting "the marketplace".

.

Your last sentence sums up the point I was trying to make.

re: #192 cliffster

I see it differently. 800 pound gorillas should be acknowledged and discussed. Ignoring generally is not an effective means of making things go away.

You missed my point. I said nothing of ignoring.

re: #193 Spare O'Lake

To deny that radical Islam is the major sponsor and perpetrator of anti-US terrorism is to sacrifice many Americans on the altar of political correctness. Apparently, this is a worthwhile sacrifice for creeps like Obama, the MSM and you.

Radical Islam and Islam in general are not the same. Originally, you mentioned Islam...do you equate radicals with the general population of muslims? If so, that would be like saying all Christians are like the guy who shot Dr. Tiller.

Nobody is ignoring radical islam for the sake of being PC. That's just stupid fucking wingnut thinking, if I might be blunt. The fact that you consider the President of the Untied States to be a creep, however, warrants it.

re: #170 Thanos

It's actually an old, non-racist joke. Kid asks "mommy" first, then "daddy."

The officials say they will take a close look at the system to "maximize the opportunity to keep the American people safe" by examining the criteria put in place over the past several years to determine who should be given the most scrutiny and who should be replaced on the "no fly" list.

[Link: www.foxnews.com...]

right...depends on the definition of 'maximize'...these dumbasses are gonna get alot of people killed one of the days...limp wristed, PC handwringers...blah blah blah...stupid fuckers never learn

re: #204 darthstar

Maybe it's YOU who needs to make themselves clearer, since a number of commenters read your comment the same way. We missed your point possibly because your point was not clear.

Possible?

re: #197 Walter L. Newton

If a holy war is what you want, Walter, then you're in good company, because that's exactly what the radical jihadists are looking for (it's great for recruitment!).

Terrorists are criminals, and they should be treated as such. Whether they're inspired by wacko Imams or American Idol re-runs is irrelevant.

I won't begin to address your non-sequitur about profilers and the FBI.

re: #201 Naso Tang

In the case of mandated coverage you also have increased premium revenues, but in the final analysis we don't let people die in this country because they don't have insurance. We pay for it anyway, the accounting is just more hidden.

Of course the insurance companies are in the business of maximizing profits and minimizing coverage (and if anyone thinks we don't have "death panels" now they are naive).

They will try to shaft the public in the future too. How much they get away with depends on how much we let them and how much we kid ourselves about trusting "the marketplace".

Therein lies my reservation about mandated single-payer coverage though. In a country (and bureaucracy) as big as the United States is, what will prevent politicians from running it like an "insurance company" of their own? Just because there's no overt profit motive doesn't counter the fact that someone still has to get paid.

re: #207 Walter L. Newton

Possible?

Yes. Possible, but not probable. There are more than a few people here who equate Islam with Terrorism. It's sad, really, that otherwise well educated adults can think so simply.

The Chicago Way

A third and final ingredient to Obamism is the Chicago way. Here we see an interesting updated version of the old big-city, Daley thuggery. Rahm Emanuel threatens recalcitrant congressmen with reminders of the long Obama memory. The Axelrod/Jarrett clique ensures that the government channels stimuli to blue-states, that key Congress people are bought off with tens of millions of government largess, that every campaign promise—from no lobbyists and airing on C-span health care debates to posting impending legislation on the Internet for set durations and “reaching across the aisle”—is simply cynical fluff that no sane person would take seriously.

Victor Davis Hanson

I suppose none of that is even true

re: #196 albusteve

the point is, people are increasingly unhappy and distrustful...sniff the air Fido

That is true if you rely on polls that that court the Fox base. Rasmussen is the go-to pollster for Fox, and they tend to jump on the biggest one day swing in a Rasmussen poll that is positive for the Fox viewers. Even when the polling the next day swings back, Fox ignores it and still cites the low outer. Like Fox, Rasmussen has carved out a market with conservatives and get a lot of free press by its sensational numbers. The fact that Obama's polling has been pretty flat for many weeks and similar to Reagan's with a bad economy is less news worthy.

"Scott Rasmussen is well aware of how Republicans use his polling to make their arguments. “Republicans right now are citing our polls more than Democrats because it’s in their interest to do so,” he said on Monday. “

re: #208 darthstar

If a holy war is what you want, Walter, then you're in good company, because that's exactly what the radical jihadists are looking for (it's great for recruitment!).

Terrorists are criminals, and they should be treated as such. Whether they're inspired by wacko Imams or American Idol re-runs is irrelevant.

I won't begin to address your non-sequitur about profilers and the FBI.

No, you haven't been paying attention since the 1400's have you? It's a holy war THEY WANT. And history bears me out, I don't have to have your blessings.

And I want my country to be totally aware of all aspects of the conflict, the ideology, the social aspects and the politics that motivates these people.

And I'm not going to let uninformed and mindless political correctness cloud the facts.

If you want to hide you head, if you want to ignore an important part of the equation, go for it, but thank goodness your not advising anyone important.

re: #210 darthstar

Yes. Possible, but not probable. There are more than a few people here who equate Islam with Terrorism. It's sad, really, that otherwise well educated adults can think so simply.

I equate RADICAL ISLAM with terrorism, plain and simple. If you can't see the distinction, then you have a problem.

re: #210 darthstar

Yes. Possible, but not probable. There are more than a few people here who equate Islam with Terrorism. It's sad, really, that otherwise well educated adults can think so simply.

Would you disagree that the "face" of islam for the past century has been the radicals, much like I'm sure you would agree that the "face" of republicans has been the wingnuts?

and do NOT mischaracterize me as saying islam IS the radical terrorists. My muslim freinds are disgusted and appalled at the radicals, just as my republican/ conservative ones are at the wingnuts

re: #210 darthstar

Yes. Possible, but not probable. There are more than a few people here who equate Islam with Terrorism. It's sad, really, that otherwise well educated adults can think so simply.

While that is true it's completely ignorant to not equate terror with Islamic fundamentalism. It's also sad that educated adults can think that merely using the term 'Islamic' or 'Islam' in terror stories will quantify in less recruits. That's very simplistic.

re: #208 darthstar

If a holy war is what you want, Walter, then you're in good company, because that's exactly what the radical jihadists are looking for (it's great for recruitment!).

Terrorists are criminals, and they should be treated as such. Whether they're inspired by wacko Imams or American Idol re-runs is irrelevant.

I won't begin to address your non-sequitur about profilers and the FBI.

criminals/terrorists
terrorists/criminals

okay now that you cleared that up how do you think the US, FBI, CIA, Interpol and NATO can improve the world war on criminalism?...are they all doing something you don't like?...what new advantage can we find and exploit?...should we even be putting out the effort to reduce world criminalism?

re: #208 darthstar

Terrorists are criminals, and they should be treated as such.

Even the ones that have declared WAR ?

re: #213 Walter L. Newton

Okay, so THEY want a holy war...does that mean we have to give it to them? The best way to defeat extremist ideology is by taking away their argument. As their ranks shrink, they become even more fringe, and less of an enemy.

Annihilating them isn't the answer, nor will it ever be.

And no, I wasn't paying attention in the 1400s. My bad. What do you say we agree to disagree about whether the Spanish Inquisition was a good thing?

re: #218 sattv4u2

Terrorists are criminals, and they should be treated as such.

Even the ones that have declared WAR ?

Hence the term war criminals.

re: #219 darthstar

What do you say we agree to disagree about whether the Spanish Inquisition was a good thing?

I certainly didn't expect that argument.

re: #219 darthstar

Walter is a fan of the Spanich Inquisition? Please show me where he stated that!

re: #204 darthstar

Radical Islam and Islam in general are not the same. Originally, you mentioned Islam...do you equate radicals with the general population of muslims? If so, that would be like saying all Christians are like the guy who shot Dr. Tiller.

Nobody is ignoring radical islam for the sake of being PC. That's just stupid fucking wingnut thinking, if I might be blunt. The fact that you consider the President of the Untied States to be a creep, however, warrants it.

You seem anxious to steer the conversation towards name calling. Why is that?

When thing become more generally applicable about Christians, I want it out on the forefront and discussed. I don't want lurking negative perceptions about Christians, warranted or otherwise. On the other hand, with Islam and terrorism, taking it head-on seems to hurt peoples feelings. Bad approach imo

Okay, so THEY want a holy war...does that mean we have to give it to them?

yes, makes sense to me

re: #215 sattv4u2

Would you disagree that the "face" of islam for the past century has been the radicals, much like I'm sure you would agree that the "face" of republicans has been the wingnuts?

and do NOT mischaracterize me as saying islam IS the radical terrorists. My muslim freinds are disgusted and appalled at the radicals, just as my republican/ conservative ones are at the wingnuts

The wingnuts have only been the face of the GOP for the past year, largely in response to losing the general election. I don't equate them with all republicans, only their leadership.

Likewise, radical islam has been the focus of the western world for the past few decades (not the last century). But it's not the 'face' of Islam any more than Glenn Beck is the 'face' of the Republican party.

What's happening now is a fresh approach to radical islam--working with the leaders in those countries to change the impression of the western world so we're NOT seen as a threat to their religious principles. That's what President Obama meant when he said that the "US is NOT at war with Islam and never will be." He was saying, "Stop blowing yourselves up, it's not necessary." In time, it will prove to be the right strategy.

re: #188 Spare O'Lake

Is it just my imagination or are both the Obama administration and the MSM studiously avoiding the use of the word Islam in connection with the latest criminal incident?

I think your right but they are saying AQ in the media reports. Don't know if that's true of the administration though.

What troubles me is that, in my opinion, sufficient emphasis is not being placed on the 'act' itself. To me, Abdul Mutallab did his job and that was to ignite it thus completing an attack. Thru no fault of his own (seemingly) the destructive device went 'pop-pop-fizz' with accompanying fire and smoke instead of 'KaBoom". Therefore, the plane didn't blow as intended.

I think of it this way: The explosive device reached the target and ignition took place. I'm thinking AQ is both happy and disappointed at the same time.

Corrective action for TSA is very difficult and they'll have to come up with something meaningful to thwart additional, similar acts.

Sorry I got carried away in my affirmation of your concern.

re: #151 lawhawk

Just a bit cynical LH…?

“…The penalties are also a way to balance the scoring on the bill and to gain compliance “but not too much compliance since you need those penalties to make the budgeting work out.”

You say LH; the CBO hasn’t included employer provided benefits into their formula with respect to the total cost for national health insurance?

You’re saying; the formula looks better if we can fine noncompliant employers rather than have the employer take the employee off the rolls of the uninsured…?

That’s interesting…!

Do you do the critical math, as well as you do the cynicism?

as I see it, the free world has a moral obligation to defeat radical Islam

re: #225 darthstar

The wingnuts have only been the face of the GOP for the past year, largely in response to losing the general election. I don't equate them with all republicans, only their leadership.

Likewise, radical islam has been the focus of the western world for the past few decades (not the last century). But it's not the 'face' of Islam any more than Glenn Beck is the 'face' of the Republican party.

What's happening now is a fresh approach to radical islam--working with the leaders in those countries to change the impression of the western world so we're NOT seen as a threat to their religious principles. That's what President Obama meant when he said that the "US is NOT at war with Islam and never will be." He was saying, "Stop blowing yourselves up, it's not necessary." In time, it will prove to be the right strategy.

what year were you born, if I may ask?

We can defeat terror if we merely 'take their argument away.' Whoda thunk?

Of course we're dealing with people who operate in another rationality, but sure, might work. Till then we should consider annihilation too.

re: #219 darthstar

Okay, so THEY want a holy war...does that mean we have to give it to them? The best way to defeat extremist ideology is by taking away their argument. As their ranks shrink, they become even more fringe, and less of an enemy.

Annihilating them isn't the answer, nor will it ever be.

And no, I wasn't paying attention in the 1400s. My bad. What do you say we agree to disagree about whether the Spanish Inquisition was a good thing?

It means we better know the fuck what's up. It means we better be ready to deal with raging lunatics, the same way we better be prepared to beat the ever loving shit out of any Christian Identity groups that pull any shit, or any KKK's styled race war proponents who take to the streets or any neo-Nazi's, where ever, who want to start flinging shit.

Really, take away their ideology. You mean eliminate the Koran? That's real politically correct. Let's get rid of the Bible while we are at it. As long as they have the Koran, the foundational text of everything they believe, their ranks will never shrink.

Oh, and do you remember what happen to the Crusaders and the Catholic Church in general? Islam beat the ever loving shit out of the Crusaders and sent them packing back to Europe. And because of things like the Inquisition, years and years of religious wars flamed over Europe and radical Christian tyrants lost their hold on the population.

That's how you deal with lunatics.

re: #223 cliffster

I don't think anyone's worried about 'hurting other peoples' feelings, and the current approach IS a head-on approach (or should we bomb Palau and show 'em we're really serious?).

re: #225 darthstar

That's what President Obama meant when he said that the "US is NOT at war with Islam and never will be

He wasn't the 1st that stated that, he won;t be the last

You seem to think that someone's "words" will soothe the savage beast. I suggest you GOOGLE Chamberlain, Neville

And
radical islam has been the focus of the western world for the past few decades (not the last century)

I sugeest you also GOOGLE Barbary Coast Pirates

You're correct, it wasn't the "last century" as I stated, it's been the last 4 centuries

re: #230 BigPapa

We can defeat terror if we merely 'take their argument away.' Whoda thunk?

Of course we're dealing with people who operate in another rationality, but sure, might work. Till then we should consider annihilation too.

Their argument is that blowing themselves up and slaughtering all non-believers will bring salvation to whatever people they claim to represent. We take that away by showing it only prolongs those peoples' desolation and desperation.

I agree with you, in a sense, that the annihilation of these radicals is a key factor in taking away their argument.

Name 19 Christians who have murdered thousands of civilians at once.

Name the Christians who blew up La Belle disco in Germany.

Name the Christians who occupied a multinational hotel in Mumbai.

Name the Christians who blew hundreds of sleeping Marines to bits as they slept.

Name the Christians who attacked the U.S. Cole.

*crickets*

re: #225 darthstar

. . .

Likewise, radical islam has been the focus of the western world for the past few decades (not the last century). But it's not the 'face' of Islam any more than Glenn Beck is the 'face' of the Republican party.

What's happening now is a fresh approach to radical islam--working with the leaders in those countries to change the impression of the western world so we're NOT seen as a threat to their religious principles. That's what President Obama meant when he said that the "US is NOT at war with Islam and never will be." He was saying, "Stop blowing yourselves up, it's not necessary." In time, it will prove to be the right strategy.

See, if I recall correctly, radical Islam has been the focus of many in the west for the past few decades because radical Islamists keep blowing up people and the places where people are.

That "focus" didn't appear suddenly out of a vacuum. There's a reason for it.

I think they know full well we are not, and have not been, a threat to Islam in general. What the radical Islamists want is full world capitulation to Islam, and they are using terrorism to try to achieve it.

re: #231 Walter L. Newton

Their ideology is theirs. Taking away their argument (that the US is only interested in raping their land of its petroleum products and converting everyone to Christianity) is a far cry from what you said...deep breaths. Deep breaths.

Headin' to bed, 1:11 AM here. Nighty.

Gotta' feed the horde.

re: #233 sattv4u2

Godwin's law. sigh.

Sooo... how about all that stuff going down in Iran?

re: #237 darthstar

Their ideology is theirs. Taking away their argument (that the US is only interested in raping their land of its petroleum products and converting everyone to Christianity) is a far cry from what you said...deep breaths. Deep breaths.

how do you take away an irrational argument?...they will devise another and another...radical Islam says all kind of goofy shit...you don't really believe them do you?...the religion of peace?...where's the love?

re: #225 darthstar

[snip]

Likewise, radical islam has been the focus of the western world for the past few decades (not the last century). But it's not the 'face' of Islam any more than Glenn Beck is the 'face' of the Republican party.

[snip]

Do you know one of the reasons why the United States built the corp know as the Marines? Er, to fight Radical Islam, the Barbary Pirates... ever hear of them.

Focus, the last few decades, really, your knowledge of history is very narrow.

re: #241 JasonA

Sooo... how about all that stuff going down in Iran?

I got my Iran twitters up and running.
Tehran Bureau has good coverage.

re: #236 reine.de.tout

What the radical Islamists want is full world capitulation to Islam, and they are using terrorism to try to achieve it.

Evangelicals with a different strategy than ours. Let's hope our evangelicals never get this desperate.

re: #240 darthstar

Godwin's law. sigh.

sigh?...maybe you need to fine tune your argument about defeating radical ideologies...how exactly does one accomplish that?...you never answered Walters question

re: #243 Walter L. Newton

Do you know one of the reasons why the United States built the corp know as the Marines? Er, to fight Radical Islam, the Barbary Pirates... ever hear of them.

Focus, the last few decades, really, your knowledge of history is very narrow.

I blame the NEA

re: #237 darthstar

Their ideology is theirs. Taking away their argument (that the US is only interested in raping their land of its petroleum products and converting everyone to Christianity) is a far cry from what you said...deep breaths. Deep breaths.

There ideology is the Koran, it is their religion. They don't yell "Allah Exxon" before they pull one of their stunts. You are all over the place because you don't have a leg to stand on.

re: #240 darthstar

Godwin's law. sigh.

And whats the name of the "law' when you bring up Christian atrocities (the Spanish Inquisition) as a means to deflect

See your {sigh} and raise you!

re: #237 darthstar

Their ideology is theirs. Taking away their argument (that the US is only interested in raping their land of its petroleum products and converting everyone to Christianity) is a far cry from what you said...deep breaths. Deep breaths.

Yep, the drilling should stop immediately in Bali, Mumbia, Madrid, ...
Oh, and the Middle East should cease all commercial operations of the only resource at their disposal because of the plethora of churches springing up in their nations.
Righto, Skippy.

re: #242 albusteve

how do you take away an irrational argument?...they will devise another and another...radical Islam says all kind of goofy shit...you don't really believe them do you?...the religion of peace?...where's the love?

Steve the argument is not oil, it's the ideology, which is their religion which is the Koran. Really.

re: #246 albusteve

sigh?...maybe you need to fine tune your argument about defeating radical ideologies...how exactly does one accomplish that?...you never answered Walters question

One never answers Walter's questions. One tries, but one never completely answers his questions. I've replied directly to Walter where I felt I could communicate. Elsewhere, I'm happy to leave him with his preconceptions.

re: #245 darthstar

Evangelicals with a different strategy than ours. Let's hope our evangelicals never get this desperate.

You're right. But, if that happens, you gonna ignore their ideology? You've come full circle. I already made this point. You are painting yourself into a corner.

re: #249 sattv4u2

And whats the name of the "law' when you bring up Christian atrocities (the Spanish Inquisition) as a means to deflect

See your {sigh} and raise you!

The Spanish Inquisition was in response to Walter's asking me if I'd been paying attention "since the 1400s"...it was snark, but it went over a few people's heads.