May 25, 2011 archive

Today on The Stars Hollow Gazette

Our regular featured content-

Wednesday is mishima‘s well deserved day of rest

These featured articles-

The Stars Hollow Gazette

This is an Open Thread

From Roomba to O’Bama

For anyone except the TV-intoxicated imbeciles who nominated and elected him, Barack Obama’s usual mugging is just about as convincing as a Roomba reading Hamlet.

Prince Roomba of Denmark

But put that guy in an Irish pub for 15 minutes and suddenly I believe him!

O'Bama

So if there’s any real hope that Barack Obama will ever actually fight back against the right-wing billionaires and their tools who rule our world, forget about the tender-hearted and idealistic Harvard liberal that you thought you elected. That guy never existed.

But somewhere inside the otherwise plastic soul of Barack Obama there’s a real Irish shit-kicker lurking, and one fine day he might even ask John Boehner and the Kochs and Rupert Murdoch and all the rest of those sons-of-bitches a very Irish question!

“Did you ever pick up your teeth with broken fingers?”  

I don’t like being lectured by well dressed, well coiffed people

slouching imperiously around a table – telling me that Medicare is unrealistic in its present form.  You know what else is unrealistic – being lectured by a man and woman whose weekly clothing allowance and haircare allowance cost more in two weeks than what I pay in a year at the thrift store for my own clothing. (I’ve taken to cutting my own hair in between 2 month visits to a hairdresser.)  One would think Mika would consider her own father – but wait – he had a government job, so he’s probably covered in his healthcare and Joe, of course, was a congressperson so he’s not sweating healthcare.  As well, Joe makes a decent salary slouching at the table issuing wisdom to the stupid consumers (once called citizens) out here who depend on Medicare both for themselves and their parents.  

And the tut tutting about the Paul Ryan Plan – Don’t we get that it’s just an opening gambit!  Poor Paul.  Btw, great blog out there “Paul Ryan is Pretty” – check it out.  Do I have the stones to go downstairs and watch Paul.  I’d better I guess if I’m writing this essay.

Not yet – but a love fest, two of them as a matter of fact.  One for Kissinger and another ten minutes of love extended to Netanyahu.  My favorite:  Mike saying that since N lived in America he understands America.  “This country is about fairness.” This after the Medicare conversation.  Mike who used to have a working class kind of aura now is fully a member of the Village.  And we see footage of the Congress standing up and giving N a big love applause moment.  Do they think O won’t walk back on what he said re Israel —

they get it.

Let’s see if Paul (I paid my way thru college with SS payment) Ryan is on yet —  Yes – but I couldn’t watch all of it.  His take: Dems are demagogues on this issue.  And he repeats at least three times – it won’t affect people over 55.  It will keep the program strong.  Yeah, I’m willing to throw my son under the bus – why not?  Of course, it will affect all of us all the time.  Also: This isn’t a voucher program.  It will give us choices to find the best value.  It’s giving us options and will keep it solvent for people like Paul.  Will Paul rely on Medicare?  That’s good news – you mean the congresspersons will rely on Medicare now?  I have to research this.  He also mentioned that the Tea Party candidate was a problem for the Republican.  And who encouraged the Tea Partiers the last year or so?  It’s called coming home to roost.  

I live across the way from a hospital so everyday I see several old people getting off the bus or out of cars (with or without their children or younger friends or relatives) and with their walkers and arthritic hands and feet take l5 minutes to walk about ten yards to the doors of the hospital.  None of them – none – have a clipboard thereby making it easier to check out if this hospital has the best plan for them.  And it’s not like they don’t have the time as it takes them so damn long to walk.  So – what’s to say about them except they are ungrateful and “entitled.”  

Even when it looked like the Democratic woman would win that NY Republican district last night, Stenny Hoyer said it’s all on table (now when the Republicans are on the mat – hey it’s a rough game).  Plus O is not trustworthy on SS and Medicare.  He plans to have a Board overseeing Medicare – who will be on the Board I wonder?

I took my mom to all doctors’ visits, hospitals and for the last few days, nursing homes.  How could she have accomplished this on her own, or with some stranger?  Who would have been her advocate?  Well, it looks like the answer for some who may not have a daughter with functioning grey cells – Paul Ryan.  

Krugman Decoded

Crossposted from The Stars Hollow Gazette

I often find it’s better to read him bottom to top, like stack language or a blog.

The ‘elite’ economists are arrogant morons-

If Greek banks collapse, that might well force Greece out of the euro area – and it’s all too easy to see how it could start financial dominoes falling across much of Europe. So what is the E.C.B. thinking?

My guess is that it’s just not willing to face up to the failure of its fantasies.

What are those fantasies?

European leaders offered emergency loans to nations in crisis, but only in exchange for promises to impose savage austerity programs, mainly consisting of huge spending cuts. Objections that these programs would be self-defeating – not only would they impose large direct pain, but they also would, by worsening the economic slump, reduce revenues – were waved away. Austerity would actually be expansionary, it was claimed, because it would improve confidence.

What are the results?

(T)he confidence fairy hasn’t shown up. Europe’s troubled debtor nations are, as we should have expected, suffering further economic decline thanks to those austerity programs, and confidence is plunging instead of rising. It’s now clear that Greece, Ireland and Portugal can’t and won’t repay their debts in full, although Spain might manage to tough it out.

Realistically, then, Europe needs to prepare for some kind of debt reduction, involving a combination of aid from stronger economies and “haircuts” imposed on private creditors, who will have to accept less than full repayment. Realism, however, appears to be in short supply.

Clinging to a thin reed of hope.

I often complain, with reason, about the state of economic discussion in the United States. And the irresponsibility of certain politicians – like those Republicans claiming that defaulting on U.S. debt would be no big deal – is scary.

But at least in America members of the pain caucus, those who claim that raising interest rates and slashing government spending in the face of mass unemployment will somehow make things better instead of worse, get some pushback from the Federal Reserve and the Obama administration.

“Realism, however, appears to be in short supply.”

State and local governments may cut 450,000 jobs in FY2012

Reuters

Mon May 23, 4:23 pm ET

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Around 450,000 people who work for U.S. states, counties, cities, towns and villages could get pink slips in fiscal 2012, sharply up from the 300,000 positions shed this year, a report said on Monday.

Cartnoon

Buccaneer Bunny

Health and Fitness News

Welcome to the Health and Fitness weekly diary which is cross-posted from The Stars Hollow Gazette. It is open for discussion about health related issues including diet, exercise, health and health care issues, as well as, tips on what you can do when there is a medical emergency. Also an opportunity to share and exchange your favorite healthy recipes.

Questions are encouraged and I will answer to the best of my ability. If I can’t, I will try to steer you in the right direction. Naturally, I cannot give individual medical advice for personal health issues. I can give you information about medical conditions and the current treatments available.

You can now find past Health and Fitness News diaries here and on the right hand side of the Front Page.

Leeks: Onion Flavor, Without the Onions

Photobucket

In French cooking, rare is the soup or stew that does not feature a leek or two in its supporting cast of aromatics, not to mention the tarts, soups and starters in which it has the starring role.

If you are one of those people who can’t tolerate an abundance of onions in a dish, try leeks instead. They’re milder, even though they contain many of the sulfur compounds present in onions that are difficult for some people to digest. But these compounds, also found in green garlic, are the source of many health benefits. Leeks contain other important nutrients as well, like lutein and zeaxanthin, carotenoids that are being studied for their role in eye health. Leeks also are a good source of calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and vitamin K, and are a very good source of vitamin A.

Leeks should be trimmed and cleaned before you use them. As the green shoots push up from the ground, dirt can become lodged between their thin layers. The dark green part is tough, and while good for stocks, it doesn’t have the delicate flavor and texture of the white bulb or the tender light green part just above the bulb.

Cut away the dark green parts and the hairy root end, where most of the dirt is. Then cut the leek in half lengthwise and soak it in a bowl of water for about five minutes to loosen the dirt. Finally, run the leek under cold water, fanning the layers under the stream to wash away any lingering sand. Alternatively, you can trim and slice the leeks, soak the slices for five minutes, swish them around in the water, rinse again and drain on paper towels.

Stir-Fried Leeks With Amaranth and Green Garlic

Amaranth, a beautiful leafy green used in the cuisines of China and Mexico, can be found at some Asian markets and farmers’ markets.

Chicken Soup With Leeks and Lemon

This flavorful soup, much like the Greek avgolemono, is enriched with eggs and lemon.

Roasted Leeks and Potatoes Vinaigrette

Use tiny whole potatoes, if you can find them, for this elegant salad.

Leeks in White Wine

Cooked in wine, leeks develop a rich, tangy flavor.

Braised Spring Carrots and Leeks With Tarragon

Serve this sweet springtime dish as a starter or side dish, or as part of a vegetarian main dish with grains.

Muse in the Morning

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
Muse in the Morning

Time for a break from poetry…in order to create some art.

I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet.

— Mahatma Gandhi



Metallic

On Hole Cards, Or, “Drill, Baby, Drill”? Why? Is Canada Out Of Sand?

In America, today, there are three kinds of drivers: those who look at the other gas pumps down at the ol’ gas station and think: “Oh my God, I can’t believe how much that guy’s spending on gas”, those who look at their own pump down at the ol’ gas station and think: “Oh my God, I can’t believe how much I’m spending on gas” – and those who are doing both at the same time.

Naturally, this has brought the Sarah Palins of the world back out in public, and once again the mantra of “Drill, Baby, Drill” can be heard all the way from the Florida coast to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

But what if those folks have it exactly backwards?

What if, in a world of depleting oil resources, the last thing you want to do is use yours up?

To put it another way: why isn’t all our oil part of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve?

Late Night Karaoke

Nevada becomes 14th state to outlaw employment discrimination against transpeople

Governor Brian Sandoval broke ranks with the his party today and signed into law a bill that prohibits discriminating against transgender workers.

The bill will go into effect October 1.  Employers in Nevada will be prohibited from discriminating against employees based on gender identity or expression.  Employers are allowed to require appropriate workplace clothing and grooming standards.  What that usually means is that an employee who identifies as a woman must meet the appropriate requirements for female employees and an employee who identifies as a male must meet the appropriate clothing and grooming standards set for male employees.