Saturday, March 14, 2009

From the department of HUH!?!?

Employee Free Choice Act as Stimulus for US Economy

by: Seth Sandronsky, t r u t h o u t | Perspect

. . .

All things constant, the more a worker earns, the less she needs to borrow to get by.

. . .
In fairness Seth Sandronsky's article focused on the economic merits and faults of organized labor. But...

This single sentence epitomizes in my view the real problem of our economy. We as a nation have gotten to the point where we feel compelled to 'borrow to get by.'

'To get by' suggests to my mind a base level of economic existence. Having been independently poor for the majority of my life I believe that I have a well established sense of what it takes 'to get by.' I can say that it doesn't include a McMansion, a "bubble" salary, the right clothes, or other trappings of our social largess. It does mean living within our means.

My observation is that for much too long we have established our desired life style and then tried to afford it on our earnings. This could well precipitate a need to 'borrow to get by.' Wouldn't it be much better all the way around to establish our earnings and then live an affordable life style?

Huh?

I like Pi

3.14159

Happy Pi Day!

...beyond the primal fear box.

Ronni Bennett from Time Goes By, Elder News shared this ...

Sad news. On 7 March, 78-year-old Gene Maudlin who blogged for four years at Old Horsetail Snake died. According to a lovely tribute to him at A Mark on My Wall,

“Gene died today utilizing Oregon’s Death with Dignity plan. He was tuckered out from trying to breathe. His Scamp was with him at Hospice Hopewell House.”

Gene's site was one of the best daily laughs in the blogosphere. He was irascible, irreverent, profane and fall-down funny. His blog is archived here. Give yourself a smile or two today and read some of it.

I took an involuntary breath, a small gasp, when I read 'Oregon's Death with Dignity plan.' The small gasp surprised me. Why?

I have long been a staunch supporter of personal life/death rights. I believe that every individual should be allowed to make decisions regarding their "quality of life". I believe that every individual should be allowed to decide when to initiate their own death process.

That having been said let me acknowledge that such a decision, 'to initiate their own death process', is not the same as wantonly taking one's own life in desperation or fear. It is of paramount importance that we acknowledge that our frail biological canister we call our body has very finite resources. I believe we should honor and acknowledge this fact in accepting gracefully that eventually our body will stop functioning properly. When that becomes obvious to the person then we must have programs like Oregon's Death with Dignity plan.

So what can I take away from my surprise gasp?

Here is a man, Gene Maudlin, that I never knew. Until Ronnie mentioned him and his blog I would have never had the opportunity to discover Gene. (Sadly the blogosphere is so huge that many great and small, like me, will go undiscovered.) So, what can I take away from my surprise gasp?

I am not the only one who gasps. I am not the only one who is surprised when they gasp.

I surmise that a great number of folks upon gasping and possibly being surprised simply turn their backs on the matter. Reacting to a sort of primal fear they label Oregon's Death with Dignity plan as bad. Without giving any thought to Gene's personal circumstance. Without giving any thought to the extensive soul searching that Gene did prior to making his decision. Without knowing that the people who really knew Gene honored and supported his decision.

Human beings are great because we have the ability to move beyond our primal fears. So, while you are moving 'beyond the box' take Ronnie's good advise and read some of Gene Maudlin. His blog is archived here. Give yourself a smile or two today and read some of it.

My father would have loved this... Thanks Gene!

A young ventriloquist is touring the clubs and one day he stops to entertain in one of the many bars in West VirginiaKentucky. He's going through his normal run of stupid jokes when a large fellow in about the fourth row stands on his chair and says, "I 've heard just about enough of your denigrating jokes."

He continues to berate the joker. "What makes you think you can stereotype us that way. I'ts guys like you who keep people like me from being respected at work and in the community, or of reaching their full potential as a person, because you and your kind continue to perpetuate discrimination against us, all in the name of humor."

Flustered, the ventriloquist begins to apologize, when the harrasser pipes up, "You stay out of this, Mister. I'm talking to that little jerk on your knee."

Thursday, March 12, 2009

What does one TRILLION dollars look like?

What does one TRILLION dollars look like?

$100,000,000 (one hundred million dollars)

Nope! Think BIGGER!!!

WAY BIGGER


"Beyond the Box"

Coined by yours truly, the new mantra for our time...

If we are to really grow in these perilous times then we must indeed...

Think beyond the box!


Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Strawberry fields forever...


Thanks Sean

Sunday, March 08, 2009

Middle is the new black...

Now we are starting to see the New Calvinism take hold, and being middle class is once again something to laud or hold onto...
How sad!!!

That living-within-one's-means (exercising fiscal responsibility) while being an average Joe working an average job is now something to be lauded. I wonder if the 'New Calvinism' will protect all those upper-class-wannabes who built their McMansions over in the new economic subdivision, the gated community of Gluttony, right on the corner of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Sunday Salavation: Salmon Eggs

No, no, not roe... from the Urban Gourmand series...

Hot cuisine during the econolapse, er... econolypse, er... downturn.

(This worked so well I really should have taken pictures...)

Two small potatoes, cut into 1/4" cubes.
Half a slice of homemade pumpernickel bread, cut into 1/4" cubes

2 eggs
1 green onion
1/3 cup salmon, flaked. (Leftover from Friday's baked salmon fillets)



Potatoes go into a HOT skillet with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Salt and pepper to taste. As they begining to brown (2-3 min.) toss and add a little more olive oil.

Finely chop the green onion (ya'll call 'em scallions) and add to the 1/3 cup flaked baked salmon. Mix ever so gently so they become good friends.

Even small cubed potatoes take a while to cook so don't rush the process. Use that fancy wrist-flick and give them a good toss. Spread them back out so each cube has at least one side down to the skillet.

Now timing is everything. Taste a potato. Done? Done-ish? Done-ok? then add in the bread cubes. Toss them to soak up any residual flavor fortified olive oil. Continue over moderate heat.

Now like I said, timing is everything. Heat a clean skillet with one drop of water in the center. When the water evaporates spray the skillet with the non-stick cooking spray of your choice. Vigorously beat the two eggs and add to the clean-hot-sprayed skillet. Commence to scramble.

Timing is EVERYTHING. Add the salmon&green onion (ya'll call 'em scallions) mixture when the scrambled eggs are just beginning to coalesce (reads still wet but firming up fast.) Continue to scramble until they are still moist (they look slightly undercooked) then plate them. Don't wait! They will finish cooking while you plate the potatoes.

Enjoy!

I found the potato/pumpernickle an interesting counter point to the salmon&green onion.

Bonus nonsense:

Stan Freberg Lyrics

"Stan Freberg Christmas Dragnet lyrics"

This is the season.
My name's Wednesday.
My partner's Frank Jones.
The Chief's name is Captain Kellogg.

December the 24th, Christmas Eve.
They brought in a guy named 'Grudge'.
When I heard what they booked him on, my blood ran cold.
It was a 4096325- 096704: not believing in Santa Claus.

4:35 p.m.
I was working the holiday watch out of homicide with Frank.

"Hang up your stocking yet, Joe?"

"Yeah, just before I come down. You too Frank?"

"Alway do.
Hung it up early just in case I have'ta work late tonight.
Wouldn't wanna miss out on when Santa Claus comes you know. "

"Sure wouldn't, be a shame."

"Whatcha gonna do tomorrow, Joe?
Whatcha gonna do on Christmas, got any plans?"

"Nothin' much."

"Why don't you come by the house Joe?
We're gonna have Christmas dinner.
You know, all the trimmings:
turkey, celery stuffing, oysters maybe.
Chestnuts, all the trimmings, you know.
Cranberry sauce, love'ta have ya.
The Missus always fixes a plate of relish
with them little carrot sticks.
You know, olives, pickles, scallions.
Most people call them green onions, but they're really scallions.
Did you ever notice that Joe?"

"Notice what Frank?"

"How most people call them green onions but they're really scallions."

"Uh-huh. Scallions."

"Anytime after two, Joe. Love ta have ya."

"Uh-huh. Well I'll see."

"Love ta have ya."

"Uh-huh. Well, I'll see."

"Love ta have ya."

"Uh-huh. Well, I'll see."

"Missus always fixes a plate of relish with them little carrot sticks.
You know - olives, pickles, scallions."

t r u t h o u t | President Barack Obama: Toward a Better Day

t r u t h o u t | President Barack Obama: Toward a Better Day




Isn't' it refreshing to hear from a public official who doesn't sound like he is fibbin'? A president who doesn't sound like he was just caught with his hand in the cookie jar?

International Women's Day

About International Women's Day 2009

Russia Today:

International Women’s Day: from rallies to flowers

. . .