Traditional Friday Afternoon Open Thread

The thrill of the open road awaits!

Comments

[boricuafudd]

First?

[Truthbetold]

Clarice

Isn't the firm Hastert is with, Dickstein Shapiro the firm that handle Libby's legal defense fund?

Dennis Hastert Defends Turkey Trip as 'Exclusively Within the Rules '

http://www.nationaljournal.com/congress/dennis-hastert-defends-turkey-trip-as-exclusively-within-the-rules-20140116

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Family Maguire-- enjoy the 3 day weekend. Drive safely.

[Janet - the districts lie fallow, while the Capitol gorges itself]

and remember - Drinking linked to faster mental decline in men - so stay away from water, Hawaiian Punch, Everclear & Yoo-hoo!

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Yoo-Hoo, wow. There's a blast from the past. I bet Maguire was (is) a big Yoo-Hoo drinker, Yanks like Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle endorsed it.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

ObummerCare-- thanks to the excellent JOM host and commenters, nothing in this Weekly Standard piece is new, but it's good to get confirmation of the views here-- How to unwind ObummerCare-- if the House Repubs don't do this.... http://www.weeklystandard.com/articles/unwinding-obamacare_774775.html

[Frau Dolmetscherin]

Yoo-Hoo?

I'm still stuck in the cherry phosphate era.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Chocolate "flavored"... yeah, that was one word for it. Vile stuff.

[Jeff Dobbs]

NK:
Family Maguire-- enjoy the 3 day weekend. Drive safely.

Stephen Foster Memorial Day? Is that a thing?

[boricuafudd]

Hey, where did you guys get my glove to take that picture?

As for Yoo-Hoo sweet chocolate goodness, yum yum.

[matt]

I had to do an insurance review yesterday and found that my company medical plan jumped 33% last year. It is now the second largest cost we have.

The entire industry has become a train wreck.

[matt]

Don't Yoo Hoo and drive!

[Frau Gummibärchen]

Via Insty I found this in an article about sugar-free Gummy Bears:

Of course, this also means you now have the perfect hate-gift for your foes:

"I bought one order for the Westboro Baptist Church as a donation," one Amazon reviewer wrote. "Because we all know how much God hates irregularity."

[Danube on iPad]

The problem with the Weekly Standard's prescriptions is that they require Obama's signature or 67 Senate votes to override a veto. Either occurrence is extremely unlikely. I think the GOP should unveil a detailed alternative, hammer it incessantly and make the next two elections into refernda: Obamacare or the GOP plan.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

As you know I disagree with that DoT. At least for 2014. 2014 means winning the Senate, and winning the Senate means good candidates and joining the Dems at the hip with ObummerCare. These prescriptions are all about making current Dem senators cast unpopular votes, or at least making reid prevent a Senate vote entirely in 2014. Either way, the vulnerable Dems will be crucified in Novemeber for preventing these popular partial repeals of unpopular ObummerCare provisions. Coupled with the millions who will be dumped from employer plans Aug-Oct, the chances of winning the Senate are excellent. Then repeal ObummerCare in 2015 with budget reconciliation and make Obummer veto that repeal. That all sets up 2016.

[geezer]

A round of Dixie.

Today be Lee-Jackson Day

[Captain Hate]

Since I don't trust the gutless Repukes to make a serious effort to repeal 404Care, both of your points will be moot. I'd like to be wrong.

[Frau Gummibärchen]

Ah, yes...Forward!
First, the great train robbery and then the crash.

[Danube on iPad]

"Then repeal ObummerCare in 2015 with budget reconciliation and make Obummer veto that repeal."

Which he will do. There can be no repeal without a new plan ready for enactment, and no GOP plan will ever be signed by this petty man.

This law is with us until 2017. Let us hope that its growing unpopularity will suffice to keep Hillary out of the White House.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

If a failing ObummerCare through 1/17 is the price of destroying the bogus Clintonista 'third way' wing of the Dem Party leaving only the Alinskyites? I'm good with that. It would be a terrible war of attrition, but victory would be sweet and worth the cost.

[James D.]

I want a YooHoo now! I haven't had one in forever - I wonder if it'll still taste as good as I remember it being when I was a kid?

[JIB (in Typhus hell)]

Does anyone here believe this map?

Its the West that is the biggest contributor to Global Warming not China building all those coal plants and giving low visibility a new illustration. LOL.

[Miss Marple]

Test.

[Miss Marple]

Good afternoon, all.

Had problems logging in yesterday.

Rand Paul is making the rounds talking about Obama's speech.

[JIB (in Typhus hell)]

Does anyone make a good cream soda anymore?

[MarkO]

I mourn the loss of Canada Dry Collins Mixer.

[rse]

JIB-my kids like Stewart's when I can find them.

They are also terribly fond of Abita Root Beer in any place that serves it on draft.

[peter]

JIB you don't understand. Gaia likes carbon burnt by non-white people. It's only racist white people burning coal that hurts Gaia.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Dr. Brown's Cream Soda is still good.

[Marlene]

Stewart's and IBC is good. Shipyard Brewing in Portland makes handcrafted root beer,ginger beer and blueberry pop under the name Capt'n Eli's. I think it is available on Amazon.

[JIB (in Typhus hell)]

I think Publix has Stewarts.

My other favorite is Schweppes Bitter Lemon but that is also hard to find.

I think it was Nehi that made the cream soda of my childhood but I could be wrong. It was the perfect accompanyment to a Good Humor Toasted Almond bar.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Cream Soda and GH Toasted Almond? JiB definitely had a sweet tooth in his ute.

[Stephanie lots of surprises in the BCS bowls]

Kroger has yoo-hoo, Stewart's, Jones', and most of the yummy alternatives to coke and Pepsi. I've been drinking alot of the flavored vitamin waters and they are pretty good, too. Blackberry-blueberry is my fave so far.

[Marlene]

The best alternative to Coke and Pepsi is Moxie,Maine's official drink.

[henry]

Sprecher makes excellent cream soda and root beer.

[narciso]

Well my preference is the malt, not the shake, but the non alcoholic counterpart to bear, with hops and barley,

[Miss Marple]

When I was a kid we used to vacation in northern Wisconsin. I first had cram soda there, made by the Wabeno Bottling Works.

Nothing has ever tasted as good as that.

[narciso]

Something once seen, require full neuralization;

[rich@gmu]

>>>New York Times:
The Inequality Problem — Suddenly the whole world is talking about income inequality.<<<

I wonder why.

[rich@gmu]

had a great meet up with Janet and James this afternoon. Thank you both. I had a fantastic time. However, I feel like I should do some good deeds now.

[Account Deleted]

The Atlantic is Running a Steam Calliope Through the Catacombs.

I don't mind a little lying with statistics but this piece of trash to manipulate Millenials is simply ridiculous. The writer of this fantasy completely ignores the comparative cost of a Gen-Y BA-Barista and a Millenial BA-Barista, he neglects to mention Moron Credentials were issued at a 36% rate to Gen-Y versus 44% to Millenials and he neglects to mention that only 16% of Gen-Y was exposed to the clutches of tenured thieves at any given time while 24% of the Millenials are having their pockets picked every day as they purchase their Serf Collars.

Stating that

Using Census data, the bank's researchers found that, through 2012, roughly 44 percent of working, young college graduates were "underemployed," meaning they were in a job that did not require their degree. While the number sounds pretty daunting, it's not actually without precedent. It's about the same rate as in 1994.

may only earn one Pinocchio but it's one of the most damnable lies I've seen.

The comments are much, much better than the fantasy.

[narciso]

Remember he goes back to 'the golden age of ballooning;

http://www.buzzfeed.com/katenocera/obamacare-enrollee-who-didnt-enroll-is-really-going-to-the-s

[Captain Hate]

I mourn the loss of Canada Dry Collins Mixer

It seems to me that there was another Collins Mix that was tastier but I can't find it on Bing. I thought it was by Schweppes but can't find an image for it. After a point I just started pounding G&Ts until the stresses of parenthood dictated that I severely cut back on them.

[rich@gmu]

WHITE HOUSE: Obama didn't know extent of surveillance...

they never seem to know anything.

[Miss Marple]

narciso,

I remain convinced that all of this talk about how cool and hip and appealing to the young this administration is is nothing but a lie, to cover up their manipulation of votes and money.

I have seen better clothing at garage sales.

[expat229]

Something fun to read: An excerpt from the upcoming book A Secret History of The American Crash, by Gonzalo Lira, called “The Bombing of Gachsaran Oil Field”.

http://gonzalolira.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-bombing-of-gachsaran-oil-field.html

[Captain Hate]

rich, after four years he still wants to be thought of as an outsider to everything.

Does anybody agree with Levin that the Repubs should boycott the State of the Union address and have an alternative one where they communicate how the JEF is violating the Constitution and that nothing more important needs to be said to the country? Not that I think they'll do it but why should they just sit there and listen to the same old boilerplate garbage like complacent slugs and issue some namby pampy excuse for a rebuttal that avoids mentioning what he's really doing?

[narciso]

Well the absurdity of the thing, struck me, and the Python reference came to mind, specially Mike Hemderson.

[Account Deleted]

CH,

I'd rather see a 40% turnout reading the Senate Benghazi Report rather than listening to President Gasbag. No applause, no rising when the commies leap to their feet, lots of furrowed brows and note taking.

[rich@gmu]

Rick-

that guy is a douchebag...

>>>That rough 9 percent figure is the good news here. Not nearly so many graduates as you might imagine are grinding coffee beans for a living<<<

[daddy]

I hate the Gizmodo website: I can't get that damn box on the left that clobbers half the screen to go away, so I can't ever read the linked story in full without sliding the damn thing left and right to try to read their damn sentences. Their layout blows and I run out of patience with whatever their story is.

[rich@gmu]

CH-

I'm ***almost*** convinced that the administration actually had a hand in Snowden flying the coop. I polished my tin foil hat this afternoon and want to show it off.

ie, zombie mentioned something that I hadn't thought of ...that the protests would come from the administration left so the administration could move more left over time (a delphi technique on a grand scale). if they wanted to dismantle those programs what better way than to burn them.

[peter]

Does anyone still drink whiskey sours? What is in the mix?

[Frau Gummibärchen]

Rick, not even one disrespectful brave soul to yell "Liar!"?

[Captain Hate]

rich, zombie usually has an interesting take on things and is worth at least considering.

[matt]

what is cram soda? Not sure if I should try that one. Our market has a section for the alt brand sodas. Seems like it is a growing field.

More importantly, what are YOU doing to celebrate Michelle's 50th today? I may head over to In 'n Out myself. Haven't had one in a good long time. May I suggest a nice lasagna or perhaps just reclining and having a cold calorie filled beverage?

We could also whine about white privilege while we're at it. Go to ABC for more on how to honor Princess Shopping Cart.

[JIB (in Typhus hell)]

Peter,

From The American Bar: Whiskey Sour

3/4 oz. lemon juice
1 barspoon powdered sugar
1/4 oz. sugar syrup
11/2 oz.Bourbon
stemmed cherry

Shake well over ice cubes in a shaker, strain into a sour glass, add cherry.

[Miss Marple]

matt,

A cram soda is what you get with my poor typing.

Although it sort of fits with the times we are in.

[daddy]

The Gizmodo chart of biggest Global Warming offenders is idiotic. Alaska is almost the same size as India and China pollution wise, according to that chart. Any moron on the planet who has been to either India as much as I have or China as much as I have, and compared that to living in Alaska for going on 20 years now, knows this chart is complete poop. Total BS.

I have seen more man made air and ground pollution in 1 day in Mumbai as I've seen in 20 years in Alaska, and ditto the air pollution part for Beijing, where in 3 days I'll be working my butt of trying to try to see their runways thru horrendous smog. And don't forget the 16,000 dead pigs floating in the main source of drinking water for Shanghai a couple months back. And don't even get me started on Harbin. Total crap, start to finish.

[TexasIsHeaven]

3/4 oz. lemon juice
1 barspoon powdered sugar
1/4 oz. sugar syrup
11/2 oz.Bourbon
stemmed cherry
Posted by JIB

JIB, if I put eleven 2oz shots of Bourbon in this I won't be able to find my way out of the kitchen - much less out of the house. Are you sure that's right?

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

matt@5:49-- very wicked. you naughty boy.

[peter]

To celebrate Moochelle's birthday, I am going to walk around with a snarl on my face and talk about my "shtruggle."

[Account Deleted]

Frau,

I'd prefer the Speaker to make a statement prior to the address, promising that no GOP member would shout LIAR!! during the address due to there being no further need to inform the public.

Audible muttering of "There he goes again." at every pause would be acceptable.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Texasi@5:55-- I see what you did there.....

[JIB (in Typhus hell)]

TIH,

LOL. That's one and one-half onces. But in actuality not enough.

[Captain Hate]

When I was in Delhi in January of 2007, it was the worst air pollution I've ever experienced; far worse than anything in the US. When I heard that cities in China were significantly worse, I wondered how anything could survive in such a toxic mess.

[JIB (in Typhus hell)]

BTW, if anyone wants the original Daquiri recipe from the Mezzanine Bar of the Army-Navy Club let me know. I had one this evening watching The Five.

Really, a superb concoction.

[Frau Gummibärchen]

Rick, heh! Much better and it would be the best SOU ever!

Launching paper airplanes might be a nice touch.

[Ignatz]

LOL, peter at 5:56.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Again nothing you haven't heard from commenters here at JOM regarding 2014, but nice to know the smart guys are coming around to our way of thinking: http://www.nationalreview.com/article/368692/rebuking-new-new-deal-jonah-goldberg

[daddy]

Forgive me for bringing this up, (since I don't want to start a "Birther" topic) but Jerome Corsi was just on the Dennis Miller show pushing his new book, which I think ultimately beclowns him and will do more damage to his Birth Cert campaign than anything his critics have said of him.

Here's the book: Hunting Hitler: New Scientific Evidence That Hitler Escaped Nazi Germany

I thought it was a parody at first, before I realized Corsi was serious at telling us that Adolf Schickelgruber and his babe Ava were spirited down to some estate in Argentina where he spent his twilight years wandering around his compounds soccer fields. I missed much of the conversation as I was on a Library run and the reception on the headsets was iffy, but I heard that the dead bodies in the bunker were planted to fool the Soviets, and Ava''s ashes were found in I think Russia in 1994, and supposedly that seals the deal.

Dennis paraphrased it all at the end of the show, Okay, Hitler and Ava got on the Nautilus with Captain Nemo and went to South America. Got it.

I think Corsi should have used this as the cover for his new book:

Adolf in Argentina!

[Extraneus]

"shtruggle."

Heh.

[narciso]

Carlos Slim's, tried to walk away from the fetid pile, 'Abbott' Kirpatrick, presented as his bookreport, and did that brand of hagiography,
that bgates, has had Kim Jong Un complaining,

[Miss Marple]

daddy,

Corsi was on Coast tot Coast a couple of nights ago about the book. He claims he found documents in the National Archives and has interviews with people in Aregentina.

He sounded sort of believable, but since the normal interviewees on that show are completely whackadoodle, that wasn't hard.

Don't know what to think about that. At one point several years ago he seemed normal.

[JIB (in Typhus hell)]

IIRC, it's Boehner's call to invite Obama to give his SOTU speech. Another gutless decision by the Tan Man. Obama probably bribed him wiith a carton of Luckies.

[Miss Marple]

Speaking of Argentina, President Christina Kirchner has been AWOL for a month:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2541372/Fears-grow-Argentinian-president-Kirchner-not-seen-month.html

[narciso]

Apropos of nothing, the folks at the Rupert Pupkin network, were noting that Duck Dynasty's premiere had dropped some, of course it was still three times what theit ratings are on their best day.

[Frau Gummibärchen]

matt, my trusty and always entertaining "Secrets Language of Birthdays" book offers this for those born today:

The Day of the Heavyweight
Those born on January 17 are some of the most powerfully direct individuals of the year.
...
Whether physically imposing or not, January 17 people have a commanding presence that tends to dominate most occasions...Those born on this day do not ask permission to be who they are. They tend to throw off those inhibitions...
thus they rarely make the best team players, and usually operate on their own.
It is not surprising that the greatest danger for January 17 people is in losing touch with the feelings, concerns and philosophy of others.
Health - those born on January 17 must be very careful on the one hand not to indulge their aggressive impulses or on the other hand to repress them...
Advice - Give others a chance, too. Relinquishing control can free you. Cultivate humility and stay in touch with the times.
Meditation: There is room for many stars in the firmament.
Strengths: independent, expressive, forceful.
Weaknesses: dominating, isolated, uncooperative.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Thanks for the reminder Narciso- I guess that David Kirkpatrick reportage on "IT WAS THE VIDEO" in Benghazi is ... how does one put it... 'inoperative' after the BiPartisan Senate report. We'll need another Ring of Hell for asslickers like Kirkpatrick.

[Jim Rhoads f/k/a vnjagvet]

Here's the approximate Rhoads recipe for sugarless frozen whiskey sours (it is approximate because I eyeball the measurements when I make them).

10 - 12 oz bourbon
juice of one lemon
juice of one lime
Juice of 1/2 orange
1/2 to 3/4 ounce of maraschino cherry juice (depending on sweetness desired)
five or six maraschino cherries.

Mix all of above in blender. (should be about three cups after blending)

Combine 1/2 of mixture (save the other half for the second batch) with enough ice to fill blender to 4 cup mark

Blend until smooth.

Garnish with cherry if desired.

[Extraneus]

Podesta, Left-Wing Mastermind, to Lead NSA Review

[daddy]

Remember he goes back to 'the golden age of ballooning;

Narciso,

On the Library run I picked up again (since I never get to half the books I check out) Falling Upwards: How We Took to the Air

It's a history of Ballooning. His previous "The age of Wonder" was really an excellent read.

Anyhow, breezing thru the first chapter I was surprised to come across some South American Priest (perhaps the son of Adolf and Ava!) who just 5 years back tied a thousand helium balloons to a lawn chair and rose to 20,000 feet as a publicity stunt to raise money for a Brazilian Truck stop. How come I hadn't ever heard of that? Who's responsible for my ignorance?!?

From the web: Body of Missing Brazil `Balloon Priest' Found at Sea (Update1)

The body of a Brazilian priest who tried to break a record for flying suspended by helium balloons was found in the Atlantic Ocean near Rio de Janeiro more than two months after he disappeared.

According to the new book, (not Corsi's) "an oil-rig support vessel found the remains of his body (lower torso and legs only) floating about sixty miles off the Brazilian coast, still attached to his buoyancy chair...It seems that Padre Baloniero must have spent some time meditating in the sea, Finally he was probably eaten by sharks.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Speaking of Rings of Hell-- when many innocents are slaughtered by Jihadis who weren't investigated by the FBI becuase they were Muzzie, Holder and his Muzzie Loving aids will go to the special ring of hell. They should meet up with jamie gorelick there.

[Frau Gummibärchen]

Honestly, I do *not* believe the stuff in my birthday book. "The Day of the Heavyweight" is, however, really good.

NK, the construction workers are finishing that new ring this week. It was shovel ready.

[Captain Hate]

I've cut Corsi some slack in the past because he's related to a friend of mine but this is complete wackadoodle territory.

[daddy]

Does anybody agree with Levin that the Repubs should boycott the State of the Union address and have an alternative one where they communicate how the JEF is violating the Constitution and that nothing more important needs to be said to the country?

Captain,

I would say no because that would require leadership individuals that are effectively and forcefully able to explain why they were doing it and to handle the consequences of doing it. Unfortunately we do not have men in our Leadership positions capable of doing that. If individuals wish to do that, feel free, but Levin is asking for political Mozart's when we're stuck with Salieries.

[narciso]

have at it, bgates;

http://hotair.com/archives/2014/01/17/hard-hitting-scoop-from-abc-news-50-ways-to-honor-flotus-on-her-birthday/

[Captain Hate]

IIRC, it's Boehner's call to invite Obama to give his SOTU speech. Another gutless decision by the Tan Man. Obama probably bribed him wiith a carton of Luckies.

You sell Johnny B too short; I'm sure he held out for a pint of Kesslers too.

[Extraneus]

GOP establishment panics over Christie’s troubles: “I think we need Mitt back”

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Serious question-- the Repubs have an excellent chance of winning the Senate in November and starting back on the road to national sanity. OR, if you are rightly cynical, if the Repubs win the Senate and control of the budget process, we all get to test the premise of what they would do with that power... or what they would fail to do. Why then is it a good idea to risk that opportunity for a useless stunt like boycotting JEF? Honestly-- that useless stunt could result in Harry reid remaining majority leader, or even Speaker Pelosi. That isn't Mozart, it's Spike Jones.

[Captain Hate]

daddy, Salieri, despite his portrayal in that mawkish movie, had a good musical mind. We'd be fortunate to have somebody of his caliber explaining the points.

[Captain Hate]

I'm not arguing with you over this, NK, b

[Captain Hate]

POS software *and* laptop.

I'm not arguing with you over this, NK, because we're not going to agree on some basic things.

[BB Key]

gezzer, The Kappa Alpha Order (KA) calls January 19 th Convivium
...lift high your glasses here tonight,and,in the liquid as spotless as his name...

[daddy]

Salieri, despite his portrayal in that mawkish movie, had a good musical mind.

Interesting Captain.

I know nothing of him but the movie. If you have a favorite of his you can link to I'd be pleased to give it a listen. I don't devote the time nowadays to listening to Classical guys like I did back in college, but I loved Handel and Bach, and most of the rest of the usual suspects.

And I complete agree with your comment on the pristine weather in Delhi.

BTW, it's blowing like crazy up here on the hillside. Weather report is saying up to 60 knots tonight, and the temp is above freezing so everything is melting and it's super slippery outside. I am trying not to take the dogs out but the dummies want to go. Ughh:(

[BB Key]

typo name = fame

[Extraneus]

He has a pen.

http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/labor/195735-obama-weighing-executive-action-on-minimum-wage

President Obama is considering using his executive authority to raise the minimum wage for federal contractors, he told Senate Democrats during a closed meeting at the White House.

[Jane-Rebel Alliance1]

I think Michelle looks 75. If you put AB next to Michelle, she would be running for cover, and AB has quite a few years on her. (Hope you don't mind me saying that AB, but you are spectacular. )

However, I feel like I should do some good deeds now.

Janet really does have that impact on people. She is such an inspiration, and I'm telling you there is no greater feeling than doing a good deed. I thank Janet (and Amy) for that.

[Extraneus]

Proponents of the plan say Obama need not wait for Congress to pass legislation. Sanders and Boxer were among 15 senators who sent a letter to Obama in September, urging him to set a minimum-wage preference for private companies doing business with the federal government.

An executive order to that effect would be tantamount to setting a minimum wage for federal contractors, they said.

“Profitable corporations that receive lucrative contracts from the federal government should pay all of their workers a decent wage,” the lawmakers wrote.

Apparently that's being paid for out of his own funds, because otherwise wouldn't the Congress need to weigh in?

[Captain Hate]

Here's one for starters, daddy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_5Dr8Bz5Bc

Note some of the comments between people who were influenced by the movie and the others.