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I love Thai guys! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEx5C86VUCE

They just keep on giving. This has gotten well past embarrassing. Here is Woodward's misstep... http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/25/sequester-david-brooks-bob-woodward_n_2759600.html?utm_hp_ref=politics IMO, this biased reporting has been going on for 18 months. It is based on the Press' buy-in to the fact that Deficits are the nation's biggest problem and pending doom. While this is a real and significant issue for the medium to long term, it is not the biggest issue in the near term -- jobs and economic recovery is. The Press has bought in to the GOP austerity meme almost exclusively while giving much less 'air-time' to the importance of getting the economy moving through government action on infrastructure renewal and education refurbishment, and restaffing teachers police and fire at the local level. Everybody needs to understand one thing. The main goal of the GOP is to cut government as much as possible and that include whatever it can save defense and corporate welfare programs. That means Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Head Start, Food Stamps, Education programs including loans... the list goes on. Will they admit to this? Some will, most will couch it in better alternatives like Ryan's Medicare Voucher which achieves the same goal over time without the GOP being found standing over the bloody body with knife in hand. The plan is simple: distract them with money in hand, even though it is drastically insufficient to meet the cost of present Medicare service, throw them in an insurance pool which tries to avoid the infirm and charges premium prices, let the gov't contribution shrink with inflation over the years so that it's remaining cost to the government shrinks to inconsequential. That allows tax rates to drop even lower on the upper once percent. That is the game plan in a nut shell. Sure, we have a deficit that is in critical need of fixing but it is not today's burning problem. Jobs and the economy are. Forsaking austerity now and seeking real budgetary reform in the long term is the sane game for those without an ideological agenda. In typical fashion the Press follows the heat and controversy over the light and sound policy discussion. Very few overlook the shiny object in favor of the gem-in-the-rough that provides the real value to the discussion. If you wish to read a sane and very knowlegable head with his feet on the ground read and watch Ezra Klein of the WAPO every where you can. He is a straight shooter with real facts at his disposal.

A loaf of bread, a jug of wine, and Thou... Oh well, I'm not so very hungry anyhow! Richard Armour

As soon as I read this I went out and got a bunch of wine. I'm planning to get the rest of the stuff the very next chance I get.

I am extremely offended by the term "ladies." It really gets under my skin lookin. Please, please don't refer to me that way. Just because I love designer purses and shoes and an occasional boa, it does not mean I am a lady. I just like to look pretty.

A catamite poofter named Jay Thought that nancy boy sounded too gay. 'To be labelled a fag Is a bit of a drag, But I'll answer to queer any day.'

It's all about context. Some dude beating me up and calling me a fag at the same time - not good. Talking with my friends and calling each other fags - harmless good fun. Words are totally about intent.

About 30 percent of heart attacks, strokes and deaths from heart disease can be prevented in people at high risk if they switch to a Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil, nuts, beans, fish, fruits and vegetables, and even drink wine with meals, a large and rigorous new study has found. The findings, published on The New England Journal of Medicines Web site on Monday, were based on the first major clinical trial to measure the diets effect on heart risks. The magnitude of the diets benefits startled experts. The study ended early, after almost five years, because the results were so clear it was considered unethical to continue. The diet helped those following it even though they did not lose weight and most of them were already taking statins, or blood pressure or diabetes drugs to lower their heart disease risk. Really impressive, said Rachel Johnson, a professor of nutrition at the University of Vermont and a spokeswoman for the American Heart Association. And the really important thing the coolest thing is that they used very meaningful endpoints. They did not look at risk factors like cholesterol or hypertension or weight. They looked at heart attacks and strokes and death. At the end of the day, that is what really matters. Until now, evidence that the Mediterranean diet reduced the risk of heart disease was weak, based mostly on studies showing that people from Mediterranean countries seemed to have lower rates of heart disease a pattern that could have been attributed to factors other than diet. For full article: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/26/health/mediterranean-diet-can-cut-heart-disease-study-finds.html?hp

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/c0be736778/oscar-s-best-hand-job-award

There are a lot of words that have the potential to be offensive. How we deal with them and how we deal with life has a lot to say about how well we are doing as a society. Personally, I would prefer that such words not be used by anyone at any time, but I am very aware of life as it exists. Therefore I try to not get too upset with those among us who choose to do otherwise. For they are human beings also and deserve a chance to do better. We can all plan to do better and ascribe thereto and if we fail and we need to try harder, then let's. In the meantime, let's do our best to allow our fellow human beings to be themselves and hope they allow the same for us. Best regards, RA1

http://soundb.us/s/975 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080391/quotes

I'm not sure if the NY TImes coverage of this story is funny, ironic or sad. They have already written on this phenomenon six months ago and for the older article these dietary assumptions were already clearly explained. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/28/magazine/the-island-where-people-forget-to-die.html?pagewanted=all Similar to what the older Brasilians here still are eating with bean, whole grains and lots and lots of fresh fruits and veggies.

Ummmm!

Starting this past weekend the Metro stations at Cantagalo and General Osorio have been closed due to the construction of the new line that will connect Ipa with Jardim Oceanico at the more-or-less start of Barra da Tijuca. It is "planned" for Cantagalo to be closed for about a month and the station at Gal Osorio for the next year. The reason is that they are reworking the tunnel and platforms so there will not be a need to change platforms/trains when continuing on to Leblon, Gavea, Sao Conrado and Barra. Here is a link to a site. www.metrolinha4.com.br Not in English, but should be easy to cut and paste into a translator for those with any interest. Most important part is that MetroRio will be running some new shuttle lines for the next year to connect the Siqueira Campos stop with Cantagalo, Arpoador and Ipa until the end of Leblon. Before you exit the turnstyle at the station, be sure to request a free transfer or integracao. MetroRio already operates a number of other bus routes as well in this manner. Makes it easy and cheap to get to various places in Rio away from the limited number of lines.