Minerva's Musings

Voter irregualrities by Detroit Interm Mayor Cockrel

2009-05-05T12:40:00.005-04:00

Anyone catch the noonish broadcast of local Detroit channel 7 news? See it at the 18 second mark!

It sure looks as if there are a few irregularities in the process.

I don't have my mental tape measure going but it certainly looks as if the campaigners are well in the 100 foot mark of the polling locations they show and this really PISSES me OFF-

IS KEN COCKREL AND WIFE VOTING IN THEIR CAMPAIGN GEAR?

WTH?

Nothing will happen I am sure-and yet MY candidates' would be harassed and thrown out for the smallest infraction.

###

MIA-moving has been completed but the unpacking and life too busy-back to my regularly scheduled commentary on the news of the day :-)

2009-05-05T10:54:00.008-04:00

Haven't we learned ETHANOL is bad business? It's inefficient and with out subsidies is just bad common sense-with subsidies it's beyond sense or efficient cents.

I am a conversationalist-TRULY and honestly. I believe in the best resource use that is equitable for the BEST service to the people. I LOVE animals-but I subscribe to the belief that the good Lord put them on to serve us humans-the same to be said of the planet and it's resources.

###

More union promotion and expansion under the Obama admin-I am NOT anti-union! I am TRULY for safer and better working conditions. I really feel they have some place even today. I do feel very strongly that they have taken advantage of their often uneducated and unskilled members...they have become worse than lampreys or mistletoe...Abuses of their power and rewards and protection of employees that should have been fired LONG ago in many, many industries.

I have very much seen it first hand, from teachers that don't or can't teach, drunk or drugged up unskilled assembly line workers, and even had a friend threatened BECAUSE she worked too hard and too fast in her new autoworker job.

I am saddened that the great employee protection and basic human rights work that the Unions provided is so overshadowed by corruption and stupidity.

###

Chris Dodd is STILL AN IDIOT! Nuremberg style charges against the Bush admin-insane my family members were in German work camps etc! Not at all the same here-we do not TORTURE and I still keep my opinion, waterboarding is UNPLEASANT but it's not torture and it's NOT a beheading! My older brother held us down and did the whole lugey drip back and forth thing over us younger kids...that was sure as hell torture to US kids...was it child abuse-ha no-but I'd still like to bengay his bvd's in retaliation. :-(

###
"Acorn submitted 91,002 completed forms in Clark County, which includes Las Vegas, of which 23,186 turned out to be valid new voters who voted in November, according to data provided by Mr. Miller’s office."

FINALLY, some more charges in the well-known ACORN fraud. Funny how the author of the news article puts the SPIN on the numbers----AMAZING that the number of FRAUDULENT voter registrations aren't listed. B-S!

###

From the other day, Donors demand return of their $$$ from turncoat senator.

hahahaha I demand a refund of my mental support you idiot lol.

###

Near and dear to my heart is small aviation and local pilot's freedom!

General Aviation deserves to be overlooked in the great tax increase and over-regulation that is so immense right now.

Civil Aviation is yet another think being terrorized for dollars and insane new rules that are not only cost prohibitive but down right silly!

###

I hope this listening tour includes HEARING-so far it sure seems like they do a lot of telling not actually implementation of the grassroots (God, I still despise that name) ideas or knowledge.

###

Palin, Palin, Palin...often dissed but for many of the public voters in my little neck of the country was the reason that the conservatives came out to the polls. Do I think she is THE voice of the GOP??? No. Do I think she deserves some seat at the table??? Yeah. Do I find it funny that the factions are still fighting with many thinking that SHE was the reason for the loss and from the trenches I see it as the reason many came out. I did what I could for that ticket-but it sure was a hard sell.

###

Welcome to the world Saudi Arabia=imagine a world where 8 year olds DON'T MARRY 50 YEAR OLDS...golly gee, Beav, pretty soon we woman's will be able to drive even or go to market with out our menfolk's permission!

I am amazed that these woman's libbers are not UP IN ARMS about our friends and the abuse and horrors of their kinfolk...I am heartbroken that this administration (which had all those broads in their back-pocket) is not pro-active in woman's rights.

###

This just in: stupid money grubbing has been Aretha Franklin wants ROYALTIES for wearing that UGLY hat in the coronation oh, excuse me inauguration of Obama.

Spring in Michigan (snowed all week thus far) Wed's Warblings

2009-04-08T11:41:00.008-04:00

"Lawyers for ex-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and his former chief of staff Christine Beatty assured U.S. Magistrate Judge Steven Whalen that none of the recently released messages from the mayor's criminal case will apply to the suit alleging that certain city officials thwarted an investigation into Greene's 2003 death."

Oh yeah, we believe their lawyers and them...oh no we can't trust anything they say-frankly, I would check to see we weren't under an eclipse if they told me the sun was shining...

###

Also from the FREEP: editorial: Michigan Central Depot : a symbol worth saving.
It is a gorgeous structure and heck, with all the blight I think this beauty can wait until the economy starts to come back a bit and then restore it. I agree it's a pi$$ing contest to slap Matty Moran in the face a bit more... I am not necessarily a fan of his-but am all for success. It's like yelling that there is a gas can lying around when the dang chimney is afire and you are made of straw...Crimeny-clean up some OTHER area of the city-how bout morals, ethics, city council meetings, school systems, lights, roads, etc etc etc.

###

As a parent of a soon to be college bound loverly prudish and pleasantly non-boosey floosey, this headline caught my eye: 'Dry' colleges go too far
Haha I thought they were booze free but NO, they are banning water bottles TOO DANG FUNNY. I am a slight (ha) germaphob and know in my mind bottle water is no safer and often worse than municipal water but find it funny that it's being banned but bad education on our dime's flourish lol.

###

This just is plain and simply WRONG-wrong, wrong, wrong and oh so EWWWW-

"A judge has granted a mother’s request to have someone harvest sperm from her dead son’s body, so she can have the option of carrying out his wish to have children."

Ok, come on lady! this is not your priced pooch, nor your favorite rose you want to re-graft. This is just WEIRD and creepy. The judge is crazy as well. I hope she can't find a Dr to harvest sperm from her dead boy's body.

Next we'll hear she's CARRYING her own grandchildren. Apparently her beloved son already picked out his not yet conceived 3 kids names. UMMM hello??? GET A DOG LADY!

Peace and prayers are sent for the untimely loss of her son, certainly. But this goes against my creep-factor. I am guessing harvestomom was a single parent without a sense of reality???

k###

These Somali Pirates need to be reigned in! I am sorry that the economy over there is terrible-I feel for the horrors that war and internal conflict have done. I am concerned over the religious conflicts as well. NO MORE HIJACKS AND KIDNAPS! Enough already! You know what they are stealing? The FOOD I HELPED PACK last weekend-dang charity stealers!

###

Yesterday's humor and news

2009-04-03T09:49:00.003-04:00

I have had these links open all day as they absolutely REQUIRED commentary-seriously-how can a coon stand in the D NOT get a load of laughter...

To urban hunter, next meal is scampering by

Detroit retiree, 69, supplements his income by living off the land

Now, I am all over the ingenuity of Mr Retiree... it is beyond words to watch the host of the newspaper's travel guide (the article is under the travels with charlie) try not to laugh. The video is beyond words-well not for me-I am rarely speechless. The video is so ebonically odd-and I can't help but feel weird watching it wondering if this is supposed to viewed, if it's a bad internet spoof on an old country black dude that is eating RACCOON??? I feel like someone sent me an internet joke fwd that is pretty funny but... anyway, I am still laughing at the skinned carcass with a FACE and it's paws still attached. Can't get good eatin' like that at Kroger folks. I am also all for entrepreneurial spirit, but this ain't no lemonade stand haha. OMG-I say soaking the meat in vinegar for 6 weeks (ok I think it was like one day but lol still ewww) and then a 2 hour boil and THEN tenderiser before cooking makes me thing Rocky the Raccoon is ONE tough eats haha.

It brings to mind, my reading as a child of the Little House books and Ma making blackbird pie after the pesky vermin ate a whole crop. I am not so sure that I could eat city coon-country non-antifreeze filled critters maybe. I have warned my family though-check the trash cans before dining, as I may launch my own suburbanite Coon stand-no FDA-no City inspections required :-)

###

Leaving Michigan Behind: Eight-year population exodus staggers state

Duh---like we didn't know since the neighborhoods are getting sparse and the obvious for sale or empty houses nearby aren't obvious.

This is my sadness:
"The state loses a family every 12 minutes, and the families who are leaving -- young, well-educated high-income earners -- are the people the state desperately needs to rebuild."

...and this:
"In simplest terms, those with the skills to leave Michigan are doing so; high-skilled people from other states who once might have moved to Michigan are choosing to go elsewhere."

• The net loss of school-age children was more than 12,000 in 2007 alone, costing individual school districts roughly $84 million in state aid.

• With about 36,000 more households leaving the state than moving in, that leaves 36,000 empty houses and apartments, damaging already weak home values. "When there are more properties on the market, it drives down prices," said Ron Walraven, a real estate agent in West Bloomfield. "With the layoffs and the buyouts at the auto companies, people are leaving. Some are just abandoning their homes."

• People moving from state to state are disproportionately young. While almost 13 percent of Michigan's population is over 65, only 2.5 percent of those leaving are that old. That means outmigration is adding to the costs associated with an aging population, such as the state's share of Medicaid payments to retirement homes.

• There will be fewer tax dollars to pay for those services, maintain roads or run schools. According to Senate Fiscal Agency estimates, the income leaving the state cost Michigan more than $100 million in personal income tax revenue in 2007 alone."

Of course the bullets above are obvious-but as the local schools have to close, and the say local karate school dies as does the dance school dwindles...those proprietors loose their livelyhoods...the local ice cream place, the yuppy style chain restaurant closes, who can afford a jaunt to the Great Wolf lodges, who will buy the camping gear to schlep to the UP and show their family the mighty Mac???

"Indeed, demographers have said the sharp population losses from 1979 to 1983, when the state lost nearly a half-million people in four years, created an "echo dip" in the state's population nearly two decades later. The current migration, which has seen similar total losses, has lasted twice as long."

We will be loosing more nationwide clout-how many congressional seats? We are still the laughingstock for Kwame's crap. How many electoral college votes? That has been underdiscussed. I liked being relevant for 15 minutes last election...Crimeny, our relevence may be reduced to a territory ha. Being a territory may be the answer to our woes-we can just be on the receiving end of the National milk lol arrgh.

I am grateful that my family has been able to stay but I wonder if I am doing them a disservice as well...it seems it's always cloudy and threatening rain... I hope that the sun will shine again in my home state. I hope that my state will soon be glorious again. Perhaps it will be the better for the shakedown somehow. One always feels better after a good cry-it clears the eyes and and the mind. I just don't think we are done crying.

###

Editorial: Area roads need repairs after just 10 years; contractors face no penalty:The Detroit News

"The culprit: inferior concrete caused by using the wrong kind of sand in the mix.

It's not just Livonia's problem. The bad concrete was used in projects ranging from highways to subdivision streets throughout Metro Detroit, and scattered reports of pavement breakdowns are starting to come in. The state faces repairs to a section of I-75 Downriver that was also repaved 10 years ago. West Outer Drive in Dearborn Heights, repaved in the late 1990s, has deteriorated to the point that it's now nearly impassable.

With the state in line to get $847 million in federal stimulus money for roads and other infrastructure projects, it would be a good time to figure out why our roads break down so quickly.

One reason may be that road builders are rarely held accountable for the quality of their work. For the most part, if the roads hold up for a year, the builder is off the hook. The Michigan Department of Transportation has for several years debated the merits of demanding a long-term warranty from contractors, guaranteeing their work will hold up for the promised life span. "

YUP this is CRAP and it's ridiculous-all the indignities and annoyances we have suffered-I can't help but think of the several business friends that were put out of business or very nearly so when road construction projects totally shuttered their business for months and months and they could not go on.

###

Tuesdays with terror

2009-03-31T11:35:00.003-04:00

So on a sunny after the snow greeted Monday Morning, I awake to less bad news than yesterday but some bizarre and humorous info:

Barstool bonanza

Pic linked above-what a clown to crash his motorized stool while looped. Too funny and yet INSANE the bloody stool could go nearly 40mph!

###

A more depressing note:

The plan for Michigan taxpayers to pay $500 a year so everyone can go to school. I'm for education-truly-but HOW can we expect people to fund extra things in this time. Thank goodness it comes to a vote-I just can't afford to send you to university when I haven't completed my degrees.

###

Staff of 500 to accompany Barack to Europe??? WTH-Did George bring so many? Insane! With teleconferencing can't he just stay home? I can't believe this-he needs his chefs? My God folks, that's gotta cost at least a bailout of some failing ice cream parlor in Alaska ;-(

###

I can't believe I may agree with the Ruskies...

Return to the Gold Standard...yup-I hope we can!

They just don't train Suicide Bombers like they used to.-or All the good ones are gone

2009-03-28T00:20:00.004-04:00

Blundering suicide bombers...

Glad they grade on a curve at the Afghan bombing school...

"A would-be suicide bomber accidentally blew himself up on Thursday, killing six other militants as he was bidding them farewell to leave for his intended target, the Interior Ministry said.

"The terrorist was on his way to his destination and saying good-bye to his associates and then his suicide vest exploded," a statement from the ministry said."

This struck me as comical...but then I have a quirky sense of humor

Friday Frankness

2009-03-27T09:20:00.004-04:00

So I am a bit cheered this morning by yesterdays news. The Spectar that is Arlen has waffled our way on CARD CHECK.

"The Pennsylvania Republican said he found significant problems with two provisions in the bill. One, the card-check provision, would prevent employers from demanding a secret-ballot election to form a union if a majority of workers sign authorization cards stating their intention to organize. The other would have the government appoint an arbitrator to mediate stalled contract negotiations between unions and management.

Specter said the card-check provision would eliminate the secret ballot, which he called “the cornerstone of how contests are decided in a democratic society.” The arbitration measure could saddle an employer with “a deal he or she cannot live with.” "

DUH, what took you so long? Card Check is a horrible scam-it would make people afraid of their union 'bosses' much like the days when the BIG BAD business would lock in workers-refuse days off, hire children etc... It's NOT anti-union to be against card check-but I sure would be afraid of my tires, my windshield, my lunch, and my J-O-B if the annoying often do-nothing union hauncho was watching me sign my wavering name to a card.

This quote annoys me :
"But Specter left himself some room to maneuver. He said he would be willing to reconsider the bill once the recession ends and if other legislation could not boost labor’s collective bargaining rights.
Toomey noted that statement in his own response to Specter’s decision. He said Specter has reserved the right to change his position if his own “political fortunes” improve."

Pandering and just plain annoying. I am glad I am not a Pennsylvanian.

This other point further's the reasoning for me to oppose the huge monstrosity that the unioncarnival has become:

"In exchange for Specter’s vote on the bill, the AFL-CIO had offered to register union members in 2010 as Republicans to help Specter beat primary challenger Pat Toomey. Specter has said repeatedly that he does not make such deals, which he reiterated in his floor statement Tuesday."

Article in it's entirity from the HILL here.

So a cyber-friend of mine lol is shilling for this idea:

Newt Gingrich's American Solutions. Take a look around. I heartedly agree with secret ballot. In general, I am pretty ballsy as they say---however, worker's rights and PRIVATE voting is too great an issue to BS around with. Newt's pedantic presentation annoys me. Look around and sign up the online petition if you will.

Morning musings...

2009-03-20T10:41:00.002-04:00

Tent City in California...Hey, if I was homeless, I'd sure rather be in more temperate CA than in

"Similar camps exist elsewhere in California and in Portland, Ore., Seattle, Chattanooga, Tenn., and Columbus, Ohio."

The media implies it's a current crisis due to lost jobs but I have seen more than one report/article suggesting as the Director of the local homeless taskforcethingy does ...

"Some recent news reports have inaccurately described the Sacramento camp as home to a thousand or more people who began gathering there because they lost jobs in the recession. But local groups said many of the city’s chronic homeless have gathered there for years, in part because it is close to a food bank.

“The people in the tent city are primarily chronic homeless people who have been out there for a long time,” Brown said."

Sad on many counts...

Detroit Freepness this moringing is full of aMUSEments

2009-03-20T10:10:00.002-04:00

Quick notes before an appointment:

I'm wondering why Dave Bing won't debate Cockeral...at his age and stature he should be able to handle the guy or at least not be as bad as my guy Devos was against Ginny... It strikes me as very odd and the bad press is more than making any bad debate he might have done worse. Geesh-hire or find a free debate coach buddy.

###

Norovirus at a decent banquet center...mmmm, I am against getting and sharing diarrhea attacks with my fellow patrons and guests of any fundraising event I had organized. Frankly, I think many of these are hygiene issues and not necessarily the fault of the proprietors-WHY on earth did we/they have to put signs TELLING people to wash their dang hands after using anything that FLUSHES?

###

So another law passes...Carbon Monoxide detectors...not really a bad thing BUT man can't I in theory be in charge of myself?

###

Peters the GREAT???? UGH.

So now he is the Mr Smith goes to Washington-I hardly think so but it looks like we will have a heck of a time ridding ourselves of him. Sad, we lost a good guy in '08. I am ANGRY actually, we are NOT to write laws for one issue/one group. It's WRONG. While I don't appreciate the bonuses, the whole bailout thing was wrong and you can't punish people for violating rules that did not exist until you thunk of 'em. Kinda like playing fish-o-oldmaid-o-crazy8s with a 4 year old...they mimic adult games and make up the rules mid play at whim and whimsy!!!

###

Strike and hoodlum protests begin early in France this year I think

2009-03-19T13:19:00.003-04:00

Link in title...

"The unions are calling for the government to do more to prevent private sector lay-offs and to halt to its own plans to reduce the public sector workforce."

I haven't had time to study this year's riots to know if I am joinging them or once again rolling my eyes at the sense of entitlement and stupidity...

I usually side with the less gov't intervention in PRIVATE sector businesses the better off te world lol. Oh the shrinking of free markets and freedom around the world

hmmm Let the businesses do what's BEST for them...

It's almost summer 'leave the relatives to roast while we vacation season'.

The spring Riot and Burn season may begin...

I respect right to protest and riot in reason...burning, pillaging, and general buffonery should be refrained from.

Vive le France

Barack's Teleprompter blog

2009-03-19T13:18:00.001-04:00

FUNNY stuff and we all need entertainment ;-)

Is the Pres so hard up he needs to make book deals while in OFFICE?

2009-03-19T13:13:00.002-04:00

See link here

I wonder if the drug use is included in the kid's version lol

Rest in Peace Blogger of freedom and dissent!

2009-03-19T12:35:00.004-04:00

Let the World know his name:

Omid Mir Sayafi

Let his epithet be he wrote for freedom---

Let the youth know that we in the FREE world that complain of the line being too long for a mochacrapafrappachino that people DIE for what we take for granted!

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE
This young man was jailed for writing against the religious leader of his country...

I gave up cursing for my Lenten self sacrifice---this man gave his life for writing a dissenting BLOG POST- my heart cries for his family.

We don't even know his true age, he's around 25... he might have lived to be just a regular guy-nothing special except to his family and circle of friends...he might have liked scrabble and fishing, perhaps he was a jokester---he might have been a jerk or a soft soul---I only know his death is on the hands of oppression.

"Iran has launched a crackdown on bloggers and internet users deemed to be hostile to the authorities and their Islamic values.

Those arrested include Hoder Derashkhan, a Canbadian-Iranian journalist and blogger detained in Iran last November. Mr Derashkhan's family is said to have had no news of him since his arrest."

Please pray for Hoder Derashkhan... I hope he does not commit suicide as well.

So I am wondering how long the Insurance Adjuster will sit in their car in my driveway lol

2009-03-19T11:51:00.003-04:00

So far I have read an online edition of a newspaper...refilled my coffee, answered 2 emails and joined a facebook group lol.

I'd like her to turn off her car though-very efficient use of a high-bread lol ;-)

Movie Deal for the masses

2009-03-18T09:59:00.001-04:00

I am sad that small business gets sucked in and out from the reality that is life...

Alas, if you have one of these machines that dispense movies out of them it's a bargain for sure...

DVD PLAY has movies for under a buck often lol.

What's for Dinner?

2009-03-18T09:45:00.002-04:00

Sick of not being able to cook a nice proper meal.

Moving sucks-I have a huge turkey Honey cooked but no time to enjoy the leftovers, make good sides etc.
I hope to get it freezer wrapped before it goes bad lol.

Tired of paying taxes without a voice? Sick of the waste in Lansing and in DC? Join our TEAPARTY in Lansing April 15th

2009-03-16T22:17:00.003-04:00

Join us! Let your voice be heard!
City: Lansing
When: April 15, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Where: Michigan State Capitol, 100 N Capitol Ave

Lansing MICHIGAN Tea Party!

Conservative grassroots organizations will mark April 15, 2009 with nationwide Tax Day Tea Parties

Building on the success of the Nationwide Chicago Tea Parties held last week in multiple cities around the nation, conservative grassroots organizations and free market activists will once again come together on April 15th to protest out-of-control government spending. Timed to coincide with the date by which Americans must pay their federal income taxes, the Tax Day Tea Party effort will be coordinated by Smart Girl Politics, Top Conservatives on Twitter and the DontGo Movement, in addition to other center-right activist groups.

Plans are under way for rallies to take place in nine American cities, with more sites to be added in the coming weeks. The goal of these protests is to call attention to the unprecedented wasteful spending by Democrats in Congress and the Obama Administration.

When asked about the need for nationwide rallies based on the Boston Tea Party of 1773, Eric Odom, Chairman of the DontGo Movement, remarked, “Building on the free market ideas of our founding fathers, and embracing the passion they shared to bring them to light, the Nationwide Tea Party Movement is giving voice to tens of thousands of Americans.” Added Stacy Mott, President of Smart Girl Politics, “Average Americans do not support mortgaging away our children’s futures, and the time to speak out against it is now.”

Information on The Tax Day Tea Party can be found at http://taxdayteaparty.com.

Monday and slowly getting back to life-Mostly boxes/barrels/and BS all over 2 house so sloooow to return to life lol

2009-03-16T21:56:00.003-04:00

Hoping Steel gets a chance to prove his leadership

"The new party chair has been mired in internal feuds, but expectations for next elections are building."

I hope things come together-we need a leader-we need a job well done.

I am watching-waiting and hoping.

More on this op/ed here.

**********

Love that others are publicly announcing they hate ethanol lol.

**********

Am I the only one that doesn't LOVE and adore Newt? I like him well enough-but don't think he walks on water. I think he spends too much time dallyin' with his hair prior to interviews lol.

**********

Living without wireless and virtually w/o internet SUX

2009-03-09T00:56:00.002-04:00

I can see I spend entirely too much time on the internet when it takes me 2 hours to CHECK in with the sites I feed off of in a day----I have to be up at 6:30 and Honey will probably wake me up at 5:40 AM and that is too close to the time it is now.

He's snoring, the kids and our neighbor boy guest (yeah it's a school night but he needs us) are blissfully sleeping...youngest 103+ fever has broken and not resurged this night than Goodness!

I am tired and overtired from painting and hauling-have about half of it done hahahaa.

At least the highway noise is no more.

Argh, I have not had caffeine since 4:15 this evening so that's not it. If I hadn't given up my beloved cola beverages-I'da def had a frosty coke about 6 PM.

Daylight savings is total CRAP!

Farewell Friend, The Rest of the Story I hope to hear in heaven! Paul Harvey: Good Day!

2009-03-01T12:29:00.003-05:00

I haven't been able to catch him much in the last few years. When I would accidentally come across him, it was often mid story or during one of his sponsor stories lol. He was truly a delight and a blessing!

What a full and magnificent life and a joy to hear...his wit and wisdom may have helped me become the person I am. His subtle and conservative thought provoking statements have done great for the conservative cause. A gentle man (with a razor mind) geared many toward some thoughts they might not have.

I think I found myself listening to him whilst working a dead-end job with nothing to stretch my mind...when he had his snippets and mini-news feeds, I listened...and had the time to think-pre-internet days and no close library-so back in the day, WE THOUGHT lol. I believe I was fully conservative before his stories struck my mind-but when someone broadcasts like you think-you can get a sense that there are others out there-others that share your belief system.

I'm saying it poorly, a lot on my mind these days. Hope his son has peace and I am glad he has gone on to his reward where his beloved was waiting I'm sure!

Paul Harvey

New Patriot Revolution: Can You Hear It?

2009-02-28T12:41:00.000-05:00

New Patriot Revolution: Can You Hear It?

Tea Pot Rebellion: Iced tea Time: Lansing Loves Lipton

2009-02-28T10:23:00.004-05:00

TEA TIME:

The Lansing Michigan Tea Party Protest/rally went very well. It was VERY cold (below the bank sign of 29 F with a rather BRISK wind). We did not get there until just about 12 and so we did not help with any of the organizing (hahaha so odd for us) and were only participants for a change. Our friend Scott w/ AFP :American's For Prosperity (here's the Mi group link) spoke and the organizing gals fired up the crowd. It was an assortment of folks, some RonPauler's (both types-normal and the moonbats lol) some new to the political process, and a few friend's (my NORC buds) and my beloved FAIR TAX (Mi group) (and National) friends.

I promo'd the Fair Tax a bit and after the brief rally promoed AFP info to a mostly recpetive chilly crowd. I approached the 10 items or less nutjob anti-war IDIOTS and could barely contain my anger...I was proud of myself that I did not accost them. Point for me!

WATCH for a similar larger scale event happening in late April!!! My estimate is more than 300 were there yesterday and hope to have double that at the next.

PLEASE FORWARD this TEA PARTY and the next one out...the media barely covers this as you know.

Original Blog of 3 days notice here.
Rally info from the Lansing Press here.
My fun filled must read photos included (Right Michigan) here.
Just Jack's story report here. Thanks Rep Hoogendyk (you are still missed in the state legislature ;-(
Video news links found on this page:
More Blogs here, here (another original organizer Joan :-).

There are more I shall try and link up later.

Love our friends in Germany that have the cajones to stand up and say NO to bailing out their fools! "We're not paying for your crisis" You go guys!

If anyone wants to read some interesting thoughts follow my pal Phil Kerpen...

&&&&&

Been very busy packing and wrapping now that we've found something...so my rants have been mostly mental (and to those sorry enough to be around me lol).

%%%%%%%

WTH is up with Mother Russia? They are def getting brass balls and I hope the Obama administration is prepped to deal with them.
Russian bombers Rousted off Canadian Coast...So Russia claims they told our friends up there that they would be doing a flyby---Ummm "hon'ey, I'm going to stop after work at a friends" one might forget, a neighboring hostile country flying their nuclear capable bombers just outside the airspace---not so much.

Fun Facts about the Russian Tu-95---it's nickname is the "Bear" it's the aircraft of choice for annoying flybys and friendly waves, it has been around since the 1950's, the American Cousin (by length of use and longevity-not style) is our beloved B-52 Superfortress, and " It remains the fastest propeller-driven aircraft and the only turboprop-powered strategic bomber to go into operational use" to quote Wikepedia (forgive me lol)... Pictures here.

Seriously, Russia is returning as that really annoying bully that everyone puts up with cus it's too much of a PITA to put in their place. How long before THAT Big Bear quits playfully dancing and decides to go crazy Chimp on it's neighbors?

*****
WTH x2: Placentas being disposed in the Illinois sewers. Seriously, do the world a favor and bury them in your backyard, serve them up to a Scientologist, or call the dang medical waste gang. Story here.

))))

Stupid-@$$ find of the day: " Mayor who sent Watermelon email says he'll resign" If I did not get that stupid email sent to me, sent to me at least 10 times I lost count. It was the one with the Easter Egg hunt being cancelled for a watermelon patch.

Many of those that sent it on did not use BCC and their whole compliment of friends and MY EMAIL is there...sometimes it had three days worth of past names.

It was not a 'funny' email, I never found the watermelon race jokes humorous. I LOVE watermelon and grew up in the ghetto. I never saw a dirth of watermelon eating black people and us white folks standin' around watching... I LOVE a GOOD JOKE, I admit I love stereo-typical humor as well... I am NOT PC and agree with Clint Eastwood that we are too namby-pamby and go to far attacking people on political correctness crap!

Lesson learned here: Don't forward crap that can be taken as racist mockery (that one was for sure), use BCC so all of us are subjected to the lady we dislike suddenly having our email, and THINK before you hit FWD. At least make it funny.

I loved his latest movie Gran Torino and there was plenty of racial humor in there-I suppose when you are old and respected you can get away with more...but PC needs to be balanced with being an elected offical and sending stupid race baiting crap out.

$$$$
Incidentaly, the self imposed lenten sacrafices I have made of a CURSING ban and my beloved Cola is going ok...fine on the Coke/Pepsi fast...ummm, well, medicore on the (*^$#@*(% speech. Funniest thing is a epithat will spill out and I will say 'damn' as I hear my mistake.

I'm not required to make the Lenten Tradition, but do so as a personal growth experience. Since I try one of my flaws or issues I should be working on anyway, I entertain myself and have something light to whine about. I surely LOVE Coke and Pepsi-and am drinking a heck of a lot more coffee to substitute which can't be good either-I wonder if I am actually having more calories based on the volume of cream I use hahahaha.

Wednesday's Warblings :-)

2009-02-18T13:20:00.005-05:00

I love alliteration, don't YOU?

Weather: dreary, coldish but not unbearably...snow on the ground, merely a dusting. No sunlight and today I need it.

What's Cookin'? Steak, I think. Finally! Perhaps we'll have the venison??? Would prefer Chinese but there are no good ones locally. :-(

Detroit second on 'emptiest cities' list: Sad story...good for the urban farmer. Glad to see we dropped to 7th on the most miserable city lol. What a tarnished jewel the city of my youth has become.

State Rep. Jim Slezak our (D) friend from Flint: Funny Fund raising trip with a Senator...nothin' like pimpin' yourself out. At least it's in the open and quite humorous. I would have thought he'd strive to keep the money in Michigan though. Perhaps he can work on the tourism inniciatives that the Granny thinks will save us. At leaset he could have chosen the Virgin Islands or Puerto Rico or some Americanish destinations.

Our Friend CSM. McCotter, he's HOT! I am fairly gushing with admiration of his lingustic, pedantic, and fantastic musings. I am PROUD to have him in DC...alas, he needs to start FIGHTING NOW to avoid an ouster next cycle. His fairly transelike manner of speaking is always fun, and I rarely disagree with him. Watch his youtubes. It's good!

More later as I peruse the news to amuse.

More news to amuse!

2009-02-16T22:34:00.002-05:00

Muslim Babes protesting Sir Hilary's Visit to the Indonesia??? I wonder why? I do hope that Hilary can do some good in her position. She certainly would not be my choice to babysit-but...

Gasp, celebrities that lean to the right lol...oh my that's news-get out the blacklist. I think it should be more celebrities that DON'T lean to the left 'cus that's enough to make the news. It's at least a fun looksee.

My new fav Dem Rep Gillibrand...what do Dems call their RINOS? DINOS? Bet she has her guns on her dresser instead of under the bed now haha.
News from downunder, headline reads:
Householders to be charged for each flush of toilet. It is based on actual usage measuring sewage output so I kinda like it.

Gasp, they are considering daylight savings crap~! ARGGGH vote no sisters and brothers, vote no!

THIS JUST DOWNRIGHT TICKS ME OFF!!! Student Jonathan Lopez told the Times that the professor, John Matteson, called him a "fascist bastard" and refused to let him finish his speech during a public speaking class last November, weeks after California voters approved Proposition 8 banning gay marriage. Free speech only seems to go one way in Ca.

FYI facebook fans! " You've been told to be careful what you post on your Facebook profile in the past, but there's an entirely new reason to worry.

The social-networking site recently changed its terms of service, and in doing so gave itself rights to anything you've uploaded to your profile. The TOS used to say that once a person closed his or her account, Facebook no longer had the right to that content. But those lines were taken out of the new TOS on Feb. 4."

Although, I see they don't really mean it...but in light of the below drug story...I will have to go through my pics and make sure my pics are something I don't feel are really MINE and that I wouldn't care if they are used in a commercial or courtcase somewhere lol.

***********

What was for dinner?

Pork Roast (Honey cooked-I sorted my endless heaps of paperstacks). He bought one today to have instead of the steak and venison chops I pulled from the freezer lol. We will have them tomorrow or Wed. I also made sure to pull out a nice large package of ground round to have burgers or stuffed cabbage for Honey later this week.

Monday's musings

2009-02-16T13:11:00.003-05:00

Divorce Muslim style? Or just a random fruitloop? SAD...why can't she just quit you?

THIS article should scare the bejeebers out of ALL of us...I'm no conspiracy theoracist...I like my privacy as much as the next guy. I don't do anything REALLY illegal lol...minor speeding, I know I was a bit more free with life when I was younger, sure I have some music or a movie someone gave me somewhere etc BUT DAMN...: "The way Mr. Rodriguez’s positive steroid test result became public followed a path increasingly common in the computer age: third-party data collection. We are typically told that personal information is anonymously tracked for one reason — usually something abstract like making search results more accurate, recommending book titles or speeding traffic through the toll booths on the thruways. But it is then quickly converted into something traceable to an individual, and potentially life-changing."

Scarey stuff...we all know this but forget.

***********

Aren't hamburgers the leftovers of fine cuts of beef? DAMMIT-I can't enjoy my juicy cheeseburger w/o killing the world now? What happens if I add BACON lol.

Beef too costly? tell that to the dairy cows ;-( This might be the most logical thing I read all week:

""We need to get supply and demand into alignment as quickly as possible so this economic trainwreck isn't strung out," said Marsh of the industry association. "

In reference to the cow/milk/cost situation...WOW what a concept!

Does KYOTO know of the new obsession with burgers in Japan? I see it's till our fault lol from the article ;-)

So WHAT'S COOKIN? Tonight...STEAK, for lunch-probably a burger lol...and a salad ;-)

What does $13 buy?

2009-02-13T00:02:00.002-05:00

Well, doggy...we've got us a big bonus now...$13 extra to spend every week.

What will that buy?

Dinner for 3 at McDonald's if 2 of you order off the dollar menu and the other orders a meal.

A rotisserie Chicken from the deli of your favorite supermarket and maybe a lb of processed yucky potato salad, a package of cheap rolls, and a large can of heat and serve baked beans.

A movie and your share of a jumbo popcorn if you go on a dutch treat date.

A bag of dog food that should feed Fido for a week-week and a half.

A gallon of Milk, box of cereal-KELLOGG'S ( I hope lol), a frozen concentrate (from Brazil, Argentina and US oranges-read the labels folks lol), and toast with some sort of fruit serving...enough for a couple days family of four.

A haircut with a coupon and most likely no tip at a flim flam sams haircuttin' place.

A pair of made in China clearance shoes at payless or walmart.

6-8 gallons of gas.

3 beers at happy hour lol

1 game of bowling, shoes and a pop at the local lanes.

A new lipstick or two if you shop at CVS.

Monopoly game or the game of Life on sale.

A hamster cage.

2 pillow cases if you don't mind the scratchy kind.

or my favorite:

2 $5 pizzas and a 2 liter of pop to serve volunteers to the CAUSE and work for the conservative goals...

Also, don't get comfortable...it goes down to $8 a week in January.

Websites that AMAZE me! Random info, learnin' stuff, and wowsers!

2009-02-05T07:33:00.002-05:00

So here's a site that at 1 am EST posts a new tech oddity for sale. Sometimes it seems to be a great value, sometimes it's a refurb, othertimes just something that didn't catch on. Sometimes things sell out quickly, I also enjoy once in a while looking at the Shirt's and wine and other linked to them sites. They also have an amusing way of describing their deal, and if you have the time to read the weirdos (has not to date included me) comment on the quality or bargain of the DEAL is comical. Add it to your daily checklist and you may find something you can't live with out.

WOOT : the biglots of tech crap.

*****

This just found, a VISA clearinghouse of world wide travel requirements.

I am not a world traveler, I am still raising up my 3 kids (2 that will eventually grow up and away and one spouse-Honey). Life keeps getting in the way of my rediscovering of the silk road, Christmas in Azerbaijan (haha), and Nepalize Navavarsha ;-) so for now, I watch Anthony Bourdain travel where I want to go, and put up with his liberal musings, for his cussin' smokin, and vodka tales and whistfully recall what my life might have been had I not picked this path...

Back to the neat thing for VISAS. About us: Since 2003 VisaHQ.com, Inc. has provided online visa services and U.S. passport solutions enabling travelers to apply online for visas to virtually any country in the world. Using unmatched, cutting-edge online technologies customers can apply for travel visas simply by filling out one universal, 100% paperless electronic form. We can also obtain, renew, replace or add pages to passports for U.S. Citizens.

For the record, I really enjoy Bourdain.
*****

Silly chain email from a HS friend...

2009-02-04T12:49:00.001-05:00

Dissolution Agreement

Dear American liberals, leftists, social progressives, socialists,
Marxists, Obama supporters, et al:

We have stuck together since the late 1950's, but the whole of this
latest election process has made me realize that I want a divorce. I
know we tolerated each other for many years for the sake of future
generations, but sadly, this relationship has run its
course. Our two ideological sides of America cannot and will not ever
agree on what is right, so let's just end it on friendly
terms. We can smile, slate it up to irreconcilable differences, and go
on our own ways.

Here is a model dissolution agreement:

Our two groups can equitably divide up the country by landmass each
taking a portion. That will be the difficult part, but I am sure our two
sides can come to a friendly agreement.

After that it should be relatively easy! Our respective
representatives can effortlessly divide other assets since both
sides have such distinct and disparate tastes. We don't like
redistributive taxes so you can keep them. You are welcome to the
liberal judges and the ACLU.

Since you hate guns and war, we'll take our firearms, the cops, the
NRA and the military. You can keep Oprah, Michael Moore, and Rosie
O'Donnell (you are however, responsible for finding a bio-diesel vehicle
big enough to move them).

We'll keep the capitalism, greedy corporations, pharmaceutical
companies, Wal-Mart, and Wall Street. You can have your beloved
homeless, homeboys, hippies, and illegal aliens. We'll keep the hot
Alaskan hockey moms , greedy CEO's, and rednecks. We'll keep the Bibles
and give you NBC and Hollywood .

You can make nice with Iran , Palestine , and France and we'll retain
the right to invade and hammer places that threaten us. You can have the
peaceniks and war protestors. When our allies or way of life are under
assault, we'll provide them job security.

We'll keep our Judeo-Christian Values. You are welcome to Islam,
Scientology, Humanism, and Shirley McClain. You can have the U.N.
But we will no longer be paying the bill. We'll keep the SUV's, pickup
trucks, and oversized luxury cars. You can take every Subaru station
wagon you can find.

You can give everyone healthcare, if you can find any practicing
doctors (that is practicing, Howard Dean) who will follow to your turf
(sic). We'll continue to believe healthcare is a luxury and not a right.

We'll keep The Battle Hymn of the Republic and The National Anthem.
I'm sure you'll be happy to substitute Imagine, I'd Like to Teach the
World to Sing, Kum Ba Ya or We Are the World.

We'll practice trickle down economics and you can give trickle up
poverty its best shot.

Since it often so offends you we'll keep our History, our Name, and
our Flag.

Would you agree to this? If so please pass it along to other likeminded
patriots and if you do not agree just hit delete and
hang on.

In the spirit of friendly parting, I'll bet you ANWAR on who will need
whose help in 15 years.

Sincerely,
John J. Wall
Law Student and an American

P.S. Please take Barbra Streisand.

News that makes me laugh this morning

2009-02-04T09:30:00.005-05:00

So the thug is loose and interviewing in TX...good luck folks...you took in Katrina Trash and became the victims...and haven't recovered...so why not send ours? Nice digs for a FELON thug!!!! LEAR JET?? Left the jail with his usual pretense of his entouragey of fake body guards...

Funniest thing...the moran...err mayor and I like the SAME place for Ribs in the D... Uptown BBQ...I haven't been there in a couple years, it's right near UofD and the sauce is spicey-licious! Owner offering a 10% off Kwame Special lol. At least this is one perk that wasn't a mayoral bribe (or alleged payoff)... I didn't know they were open at nearly 2 AM on a Tuesday lol.

*****

Of interest to random online postings...be careful what you choose to say anonymously...or not ;-) My libertarian leanings (don't get excited RP's, I haven't joined you yet lol)... make me aghast that my sarcastic sayings on a website could have me hauled into court...of course, one should refrain from slander/libel and general unfounded attacks...what will we tag cyber statements??? I pick trollisms? or perhaps keyboardcrapper...

Oh if only we could require the Aunt Mabels, and MacDaddy's from sending off stupid chain emails with sending to ten friends for the butterfly/prayer/or wish granted and/or today's fabulous find: McDonald's is putting American Cattle Farmers out of business by importing millions of SA beef and or eyeballs etc...Oh Lord, if you don't want to eat at McDonald's DON'T but leave my Mac Attack alone and QUIT SENDING ME that crap!

*****

In today's wacky wonderings, I come across this headline:

Woman stole to pay off prior victim WTH!

A Warren woman working as a bookkeeper for an Eastpointe motorcycle dealership in 2007 stole $18,000 to pay off a prior embezzlement at a Fraser auto auction, according to police.'

That's downright funny (except to those involved of course) but seriously---that's the stuff of sitcoms, bad lifetime movies, and Maury episodes.

All I can say...what a pile of CRAP! I wish for the days of the STOCKS in the middle of the town square!

*****

Intriguing fun-raiser of the month:

Members of the Chippewa Valley Schools community are taking a page out of the "Dancing With the Stars" playbook to launch a fundraiser featuring a number of elected officials and educators on the dance floor.

Article here. I agree, beats selling cheese logs or 4 oz candles for $14.98 lol.

*****

Bitch of the day: Samira Ahmed Jassim

"...the woman said she was part of a plot in which young women were raped and then sent to her for matronly advice. She said she would try to persuade the victims to become suicide bombers as their only escape from the shame and to reclaim their honor."

I spit on you and through ALL my shoes at you...every last pair of my ever-expanding collection. I hate woman like you that perpetuate the death, the hatred, and the damage!

She may be a victim herself---but she could have done the honorable thing and killed herself instead of sending other victimized girls to do so.

Am I too judgemental...yeah, but my boys are over there, my daughters, my $$$...

****

And in Japan:

Japan’s Panasonic to cut 15,000 jobs, shut plants.

Argh, more job losses.

Injured Japanese Man Dies After 14 Hospitals Refuse to Admit Him

An intersting case of medical incompetitude- WTH, 14 hospitals refused treatment...OK, that's just plain crazy!

They don't quite have socialized medicine, but it's def not free market.

*****

What an ASS, Michael Phelps bongs the news.

2009-02-02T10:34:00.003-05:00

Pics Here. It's all over the wire but what a dopey disappointment.

"“He didn’t know many people so you’d think he’d be a little shy. But he was loud, obnoxious and slamming beers from the get-go"

This part is disturbing as well "

Phelps is represented by marketing giant Octagon, which works with huge brands such as Mastercard and HSBC. They admitted proven cannabis use would be “a major taint” on Phelps’ character.

Spokesman Clifford Bloxham offered us an extraordinary deal not to publish our story, saying Phelps would become our columnist for three years, host events and get his sponsors to advertise with us."

I am not a fan of the Olympic dream...it makes monsters out of youth, who can't be normal. I admire the hard work...but would rather kids were kids with a well rounded life.

I hope that there is some repercussions. We keep glorifying bad behavior.

Balance Budget in California: cut out the Illegals

2009-02-02T10:14:00.002-05:00

In a move that would frighten the kings of Amnesty, George Skelton:Capitol Journal has an amusing read in the LA Times. He dares to suggest that some services offered to illegals and thier Anchor Babies be looked at as a possible cost savings measure.

Family Channels that aren't...

2009-02-02T09:43:00.002-05:00

A debate over ABC Family values: ... "The TV series "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" opens with a 15-year-old girl coming home from band practice, reaching into her French horn case and pulling out a home pregnancy test. Her horrified look confirms the results.

No less startled are some parents whose children watch the ABC Family cable program that revolves around the sex lives of high school students. The titillating themes, in their view, are out of place on a channel with the word "family" in its name -- especially given the chaste image of its owner, Walt Disney Co." Article here.

I've despised the tactics of DISNEY for years...ever since I saw a Disney Channel show humorously sitcomming teens having 'affairs' on each other when they were long term dating. Same show had allusions to having sex. CRAP, crap, more crap.

That was about 4-5 years ago...during the same time The Proud family cartoon had an episode I just happened to catch that the main character was SPYING on her Daddy and I believe in typical adult sitcom style exclaimed "My Daddy's steppin' out on my Mama". Turns out that Daddy was planning a party or somesuch for Mama...but WTH is a 9 year old spying on their parents and I really don't think it's entertainment for a kid to witness an affair NOR make it normal kid viewing...she didn't tell her Mama either...thanks Kid.
My kids are beyond this show, but I sure hope parents are watching what their kids are watching... the dumbing down of America's morals are very frightening.

Why is Kwame Kilpatrick STILL getting a FREE pass?

2009-02-02T08:31:00.004-05:00

So America's favorite thug mayor Kwame Kilpatrick served a very short sentence considering his vast suspicion of, well, issues...at the risk of slandering a family man I shall allow you to research his crimes yourself...see here, here, here, and here lol...there so much to find-including while on trial his racking up a cozy love nest in North Carolina with a woman who was not Christine Beatty nor his wife.

He's due out tomorrow. I am VERY PO that he can fly to Texas for a job interview...is the average local thug awarded such a boon when on probation??? Hell to the NO! He has to suffer and struggle and yet this GOON will get yet another eased restriction.

AMAZING that our legal system is not working for us. For some reason I doubt that he

Medof on a tether livin' it up while his victims cleans toilets?

No wonder the PEOPLE are so jaded.

Local Columists suggest an END to Black History Month?

2009-02-02T08:25:00.002-05:00

Love this gal's take and ideas. Like Affirmative Action, the more we divide ourselves the more we separate our goals.

Read her article this morning here : ROCHELLE RILEY • FREE PRESS

I like it, I agree, and hope that we can FINALLY end the divisiveness by intellectual separation via do-good plans.

"It is now time that American history be American history every day, that Americans be Americans all the time and that we stop learning and living and celebrating separately."

What's Cookin': My pea soup as stolen and altered for clarity from cooks.com

2009-02-01T22:48:00.005-05:00

SPLIT PEA AND HAM SOUP

1 ham bone
1 lb. dry split peas
4 cloves garlic, minced (I use a couple teaspoons pre-minced jarred garlic)
1 tablespoon each butter and olive oil ( I use just olive oil)
1 Medium onion chopped very fine so it disappears as it cooks
2 quarts water
2 bay leaves
Handful of celery leafy tops or one good stalk
1 lb baby carrots
salt and pepper, to taste
1 can evaporated milk or 1 cup light cream or milk (I add at the table0it cools the soup a bit too)

Empty package of split peas into a colander or bowl. Sort through well, removing foreign matter and imperfect peas. (in all my years I have only found ONE stone but habits remain). Rinse well. Soak for two hours in 2 cups water. ( I never soak if I am home that day, I just boil it longer)...

In a large soup pot or Dutch oven, sauté minced garlic in 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil until garlic golden, but not brown in color (since I used jarred I only cook the onions until they turn translucent). Add ham bone, water in which peas have been soaked (heck no, I bet that soaking water makes it gassey so I'll skip the farts) and 2 extra quarts of water, and bay leaves.

Bring to a boil for 1 minute; reduce heat and simmer, covered for 1 hour. Remove cover and simmer an additional hour or until soup is desired consistency. Add baby carrots during final 20-30 minutes of cooking (may be roughly chopped, if desired, or leave whole). I actually add the carrots much earlier and end up straining most of the particles out-onions, celery, and virtually all the carrots cus Honey doesn't like carrots much ugh).

If you prefer a pureed soup, process using a hand blender before adding carrots.

Taste soup one half hour before serving; add additional garlic or garlic powder and salt and pepper, as desired.

If you have any leftover ham, add at this time. I ALWAYS make sure I have ham to add...I try and keep some chopped ham in the freezer if need be to make sure there's meat in it. I am a carnivore and more esp my family are ;-).

In a pinch, I've made this w/o a bone and even used a couple of smoked pork chops for flavor---but WATCH out and use NO salt if you use the smoked chops...

I also like to add some diced potatoes in the last 15-20 minutes but again Honey doesn't so rarely have that lol.

Serve with a nice crusty loaf, or my husband's fav cheapo JIFFY corn bread and butter.

The best pea soup I ever had was from the MAGIC PAN and they had some great light almost Fritos type but cheesy chip for dipping...mmmm

Magic Pan Potage St Germain

MAGIC PAN RESTAURANT POTAGE ST GERMAIN (Pea Soup)

This pea soup recipe is from the Magic Pan Restaurant.

1 (1 pound) ham bone
4 1/2 cups water
1 (13 ounce) can chicken broth
2 cups split peas
2/3 cup finely chopped leeks or green onions
1/3 cup finely chopped carrots
1/3 cup finely chopped celery
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon thyme
Bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 1/2 cups milk
1 cup whipping cream
1 cup chopped ham, cooked
1/2 cup chopped chicken (cooked) (optional)

Place ham bone in large pot. Add water, chicken stock and peas and bring to
boil over medium heat. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally for 30
minutes.

Sauté the onions, carrots and celery just until limp. Add them to the soup
pot along with all the seasonings and continue to simmer until peas are very
soft and mixture is thick - about 45 minutes. Remove ham bone. Gradually
stir in the milk and cream. Add ham and chicken. Simmer, stirring
occasionally, about 10 to 15 minutes.

Potage St. Germain soup should be served with a dollop of sour cream
and a splash of sherry. The sherry was served on the side in a tiny
glass pitcher, while the sour cream was placed in the bowl and dusted
with chopped parsley.

Credit from various sources but stolen from Uncle Phaedrus...

Dare we trust em?

2009-02-01T22:15:00.002-05:00

Senate won't change if Gregg leaves: McConnell

Link Here

I applaud the hope of Bi-Partisanship, however...the polar opposites of thought and ideas and purpose do not often lend themselves to such easy work.

""Senator Gregg has told me that if he were to take this appointment, it would not alter the makeup of the Senate in terms of the majority and the minority," McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, said on CBS's "Face the Nation."

I haven't fully researched him to see if I even see he is justly qualified (I'm sure I'll get a call to vet him lol) but hope that things shake out for the best. I am so jaded after the recent stellar picks.

Things I love but alas should not: STOK caffeine shots

2009-02-01T21:27:00.002-05:00

STOK caffeine shots...

Who thought of them? Why? Why didn't I know about them sooner?

Why weren't these available when I was younger?

I can't think of something MORE wrong but OH so happy to have.

I found them a while ago but my children were kind enough to remind me lol! Unfortunately they nabbed me some SWEET ones with their treat of the week 'crappuchinos'. I must buy myself a batch or go to the further away gas station that offers these.

I am not apologizing for America's actions!

2009-02-01T16:21:00.004-05:00

Obama disparages America on treatment of Muslims

I am SOO sick of US bashing ourselves on the treatment we have given the Muslims that hate us...

Other than a Norse Country that has given so much social programs and aid to those immigrants group they are now broke lol...we have done damn good by them.

"In these most recent 20 years -- the alleged winter of our disrespect of the Islamic world -- America did not just respect Muslims, it bled for them. It engaged in five military campaigns, every one of which involved -- and resulted in -- the liberation of a Muslim people: Bosnia, Kosovo, Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq."

For the record, I don't hate or even dislike the Muslim Faith...I do find it mildly annoying when SOO many followers want to kill me, rape my daughter, prevent me from wearing the oh so stylish clothes I do (ha) and circumcise the girl babies... I also dislike the whole beard think but that's personal preference as well. I also like a good BLT and Christmas ham if just so I can have a yummy pot of PEA SOUP (as told by cheery chef jason use a ham bone and ham instead of bacon though in my book lol)...

I have had a couple friendly acquaintances that are of the faith, but they were lazy ones and I never even saw them take time out of their day to pray.

Congrats to Chairman Steele hope you move us forward

2009-01-31T18:00:00.006-05:00

I'dda voted for my Favorite MIGOP Chair Saulius, alas, after several riveting hours on C-SPAM, Steele won chairmanship of the RNC.

I had nothing against Duncan except, well, he looked like a prune and seemed to far away from the folks, a few other things...but I'm a TEAM player and the TEAM needs help not gossipy hen-pecking.

Michael Steele came out on top. Bio here.

Got ideas for Mike?

Send em along lol.

Text Your Idea

Do you have a great new idea for the future of the Republican Party or just think there is room for improvement? Now you can text your ideas directly to Michael Steele. Text Steele to 66937 today!

To send a text simply follow these steps:
1 - Select messages on your cell phone
2 - Dial the Short Code 66937
3 - Enter Message "Steele" and send

4 - You will then receive a return message confirming your registration. Just repy back - Y.
5 - You are now able to text your ideas to the Steele website. To do that -
- Select Message and dial the short code 66937
- Start your message with @Steele (and then text in your thoughts)

I wish Steele the best...if he succeeds my team does. Hopefully, I misinterpreted his TY speech---no big tent ...that gave us Mc-PAIN and all the loses that RINO's have contributed.
If you want to play in my game, you have to follow the rules...life, liberty, pursuit of happiness and economic success.

Not amnesty, abortion, and gov't takeover of all things business-oh yeah, and let me be responsible for my health care.

Side note:

HOW DARE THE DETROIT FREE PRESS use this headline yesterday:

GOP's dirty race for a leader winds up today

BY DAWSON BELL • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER • January 30, 2009

It really pissed me off! After the dirty little campaign that was all over under His Highness Obama, how can they suggest that after all the voter fraud, BS and drama of the last campaigns their only hint of a scandal is:

Multiple published and online accounts reported this week that the candidates have been subjected to anonymous e-mail attacks, most of them of obscure significance to outsiders.

Wowsers, that's some scandal...email BS. Half of the emails I get need to be 'snoped'...a few aggressive geeks sending half truths or whole truths not wanting to be heard does NOT a scandal make.

Contact the Free Press here and tell them they SUCK!

2009-01-31T17:45:00.002-05:00

Daschle...another case of ooopsies, I forgot to pay something only cus I need a clean slate to be obiminated...

Why, why oh why is this not condemmed and an outcry.

I'd think I'd notice a car and driver at my disposal after I returned to private life.

What an ass.

His glasses are ugly as well
"Mr. Daschle was supplied a car and driver by InterMedia Advisors LLP, an investment firm specializing in buyouts and industry consolidation. Mr. Daschle served as chairman of the firm's executive advisory board."

Story here.

UGH

Congratulations Iraq...elections are exciting!

2009-01-31T17:18:00.002-05:00

Freedom isn't free...please earn what we have given so dearly to you. Voting is an obligation pray that you love it as much as I.

Iraq wraps up provincial elections

Hamza Hendawi / Associated Press

BAGHDAD -- Iraqis passed through security checkpoints and razor-wire cordons to vote Saturday in provincial elections that are considered a crucial test of the nation's stability as U.S. officials consider the pace of troop withdrawals.

Polls opened shortly after dawn after a step-by-step security clampdown across the country, including traffic bans in central Baghdad and other major cities and closure of border crossings and airports. Voting ended 11 hours later with no reports of major violence, though voters at some polling stations complained that their names did not appear on lists. Balloting was extended for one hour to accommodate voters.

What's cookin' ?

2009-01-31T15:45:00.004-05:00

TWO meatloaves...

Why two you ask???

Well, dh is a pita with the food. I'm a very good cook but allowed him to terrorize the menus over the years.

I like dry well done, with a crusty baked top, sauce free, onions and garlic ground sirloin baked meat loaf. Served with a baked potato and salad yum...

He: Cheap burger, extra greasy, barely cooked, ok to garlic-suddenly off onions after 45 years (wth?) with ketchup or barbecue sauce.

So thus, I make one for the kids and I, and one that I add to the oven a while after ours.

This isn't a restaurant buddy!-but I'm sure he appreciates it-HA

Meat Loaf Recipe:

3 lbs Ground sirloin or better

2 eggs

1/2 C or so of instant oatmeal (so I can pretend I'm lowered cholesterol of something lol)

1/2 C or so of seasoned breadcrumbs

3 splashes of Onion Salt

3 splashes or more of Garlic salt (we like salt)

1 t of Italian seasoning

forgot to add pepper today
forgot to add a smidge of cayene pepper as well for zing

one medium onion cut in HUGE chunks so the PITA's can pick it out easily

2-3 t of jar o' minced garlic (the best convenience ever in my book for garlic lovers)

Heat oven til 375

Spray crap o' non stick on large lasagne type dish to hopefully make clean-up less of a nightmare

Measure by eye most of the dry goods into the bottom of the casserole pan (why dirty another dish and waste water/energy etc to clean up another bowl)

Add most of the burger, break eggs over and massage the ever so cold stuff together gently. Dish is usually too low to add all the meat at once and since I want to avoid extra dish dirtying, I suffer.

Bitch about the mega-cold meat silently as your hands freeze.

Add the rest of the burger to the mix, saving the styro dish from the meat package. Don't mix too much as it makes the finished masterpiece tough.

Pull out 1/3 of the meat mix, place on the styro tray.

Shape 2/3 of the meat into a loaf place to one side of the casserole pan.

Put in oven, set the timer(s) in the kitchen for 15-20 minutes

Add a 1/2 C of ketchup to the remaining meat mix on the tray and combine, shape into a loaf.

When the timer(s) go off place secondary dh loaf in the pan and cover with 1/4 C of ketchup.

Lower heat to 350 and set timer(s) for 30-40 minutes til juices are clear in the main loaf.

Sometimes I wait and add the ketchup topping a bit later so it doesn't carmelize so much, but since I don't eat that one and dh doesn't express a preference, I don't remember to wait. lol

Sometimes I serve with instant chemical laden brown gravy and mashed potatoes, but I prefer Baked...when rushed I scrub, microwave to start and then finish them off in the oven so they taste correct.

My family still approaches my meatloaf with trepidation. For a short while-I was trying to healthy them up by adding random crap like flax seed (just a bit and should have today lol), shreaded miniscule diced carrots, and that's when I started using oatmeal.

I have kept the oatmeal, as they have quit complaining about that...but too many days of Pierces eyeballing the slop like a Mash messhall episode have 'learnt me better'.

Chris Weber's Detroit area home on the market...GORGEOUS!

2009-01-31T15:37:00.003-05:00

Can somebody lend me $3.5 Mil? This is one hell of a house! Love the architecture and the bones.

Article

Weather: cold blustery winnie the pooh style day...

2009-01-31T15:25:00.002-05:00

My weather watcher says a big one degree. Wind is whistlin' through this old house.

Tucked in watching movies and writing.

Should be culling my many books.

Today's Favorite Movie spot Freedom

2009-01-31T15:18:00.006-05:00

"They'll never take our FREEDOM" by a very hot blue painted Mel Gibson depicting William Wallace...

Some inaccuracies surely...but still a great make you want to get up and fight for what's right.

Plus a man that can wear blue Cover Girl deserves some smiles!

Clip