TampaYankee

Can't be any less effective than doing nothing. Also, there is power in numbers. Ten thousand individual calls or letters may be better than ten thousand on a list. But that is better than a few letters here and a few calls there. Also, when my state congress people see my address or phone number they recognize that as a constituent. That means a vote. Also, Credo often is an easy source for contact info for campaign targets and for other like minded supporting organizations. (Consumers Union is another active organization for political issues that effect our lives.) It's a tool that makes it easier to participate if one is inclined to. I never was much inclined before the past few years but the GOP has gone off the rails as well as their rockers and I've had enough. I'm adding what little effect I can have as a voice and contributor where I belive it might do some good. I was never moved to become active or a contributor in politics before, other than voting in each and every election (save one). I had a preference in candidates and sometimes in party but I was always confident that whoever won, it wasn't going to screw up the country and disenfranchise citizens. I'm no longer quite so sanguine about our future starting with the supreme court, social saftey net, labor rights, basic privacy rights, war and other foreign adventurism, etc. As I said, the GOP is off the rails. Paul Ryan and Grover Norquist want to fundamentally change the nature of this country and they are working to do it. They are succeeding, in part, too. They want to return this country to the 20's, institute a plutocracy, and secure our business access to foreign oil through active military intervention on a continuing basis. They seek to strangle the government of funds until it can only fulfil the national security function and keep the internal peace. There is a reason behind giving the richest more and more in tax breaks and swtiching mecidare off to a voucher program. With no new taxes and with more tax give aways, that proposed pitifully inadequate Medicare voucher will slowly shrink to nothing which is just where they want it. Clearly the GOP has changed strategy from the short game to the long game, hoping the people, who have more concrens with short term issues, will not see it for what it is.

Here is a progressive blog site that makes that possible in a relatively easy way. I do not agree with all of their campaigns but I do agree with several of them, like defeating my neanderthal tea party would-be GOP congressman, for one. Check them out. You might find some issues that stir your political passions. Free to look. http://credoaction.com

LOLOLOL.....

I love lists like this one. It always pisses a lot of people off.

Damn, that's an early start. It's all the DHT you exuded as a young man. No wonder they called you the 'Rake of NYC'... well I can imagine they did.

They recently came to my attention. I see them on cooking shows all the time. Figured they were pricey but that is way above my pricepoint for the little kitchen work I do anymore. My son gave me a Ninja for Xmas. Very very effective and very dangerous. It's like three surgeons on speed with a scalpel in each hand. Very sharp, unforgiving blades. Sharpest blades I believe I ever encountered. They are safe enough in the machine but watchout when handling for cleaning. Just getting them in and out of a dishwasher requires the same concentration as defusing a bomb.

It's been done already.

I tried to watch it the first season. I was never bowled over by it but originally did have hopes based on the ad-hype. I thought the story lines a little weak. I watched a handful of episodes until something better came on opposite it. I do not recall what that was. Frankly, I was suprised to see it last more than a season, two at most. So, maybe they got better?

Two totally different audiences. One looking for depth and discussion and the other looking for comedy, irony, satire, minute essays. Both audiences valuable with different attention hooks and spans.

I think people who follow these campaigns are aware that oftem candidates end with campaign debt. Much was made of Hillary's and Kerry before. McCain too, I think. Cain came to light as well as Bachman on this go-around and Newt has been seen in the red since Adelson closed his wallet. Merchants ought to be saavy enough not to be left holding the bag. It's is one thing to extend credit to a permanent entitiy with a credit rating history. It's another to extend credit to a temporary entity with no long term record -- credit or otherwise. I suspect there must be a little supporter in those merchants that gamble on the risk. Certainly not a prudent business practice no matter what sweet nothings are whispered in the ear. For me cash is king, credit cards acceptable, whatever the party, whoever the candidate. Business must be kept separate from political contributions.

Problem is that you have immediately opened up yourself to terms for dismissal for providing misleading or inaccurate data for your job application process. I'm sure that won't stop most from taking that route. I'm equally sure there will be instances where that deception will come to light. Again, this shouldn't be a sword hanging over the heads of people looking for work.

And what if you are recent college graduate who hasn't been able to get a job interview not to menation a job... and the student loan nonpayment notices keep piling up with no other prospects in sight. Or youv'e been out of work a year and you dont know how you will feed the kids next month. Many of us are in a position to flash the 'up-yours' sign. Many are not and they are desperate. That's where privacy laws ought to step in, IMO. As sure as manure stinks we are on our way back in time when workers rights were a dream.

How to Make Perfect McDonald’s-style French Fries at Home By Sarah B. Weir, Yahoo! blogger | Shine Food Even food snobs who shun McDonald's have to admit that they serve the mother of all French fries. Ray Kroc, one of the chain's founders wrote in his autobiography that the fry was "almost sacrosanct for me. Its preparation a ritual to be followed religiously." The end result is a crispy golden-brown baton showered with just the right amount of salt. The exterior's initial crunch yields to a tender and steaming white center. More, please? "They are consistent," says David Myers, chef/owner of Comme Ca in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. "I can't imagine how many millions of dollars in research and development they have spent in order to achieve a perfect fry around the world." Myers is no stranger to fried potatoes. His restaurants, which serve classic French brasserie fare, cook hundreds of orders of "pommes frites" (French-fried potatoes) a week. McDonald's French fries are shipped to outlets frozen. "We do all of ours fresh everyday," says Myers who uses the same recipe at his restaurants and at home. Myers also uses the best Idaho russet potatoes, French sea salt, and super fresh cooking oil. He says the key to making a perfect, consistent, McDonald's-style fry is in the advance preparation. The cut potatoes need to be soaked for at least two hours before cooking which pulls out excess starch and ensures the crispiest product. Also, Myers recommends that, "you have plenty of paper towels, a lined sheet pan, and have your oil ready to go." The beauty of Myers' two-step cooking method is that you can cook your fries ahead of a dinner party and keep them in the fridge until you are ready to finish in hot oil just before serving. This way you get the most delicious, sizzling, salty, golden-brown fries every time. Perfect French Fries (adapted from David Myers's recipe for "pommes frites") Ingredients: 6 Idaho russet potatoes Peanut oil Sea salt (Myers prefers Sel Gris, a fine light grey French salt) Method: Peel and square off potato ends. Cut into 3/8" batons. Soak for two hours changing water after an hour. Dry thoroughly with paper towels. Heat about an inch of oil (or enough to cover potatoes) in a large, heavy bottomed pot to 290 degrees. Blanch potatoes gently for about two minutes until cooked through but still completely pale. Place on a paper-towel lined sheet pan and cool in the refrigerator to stop cooking process. Re-heat oil to 370 degrees. Cook fries until golden and crispy, about 3 to 4 minutes. If necessary, agitate gently with a spatula to prevent sticking. Remove from pan and toss with salt to taste (Myers doesn't blot but you can if you want less fat). Serve immediately. Recipe serves 4 to 6. See original article at: http://shine.yahoo.c...-192700419.html

Stick to the two-legged strain and you'll be ok. Even the rare three-legged strain wouldn't hurt... much.

Newt's ego takes a hit. It must be hard for him to come to terms that his intellect and the shear will of his determination was not enough to carry the day. But that is true for most blowhards.

Playing with Facebook is playing with fire unless one has the discipline and maturity to manage networking tools. Being careful means being cautious and minimalistic in use. Target it to professional use if you wish. Use only for private life if do not value your privacy. Know you may put future employment at risk. There have been numerous stories of prospective employers demanding passwords to FB accounts as a requirement for job applications. So far, although there have been howls over privacy intrusion, there are no laws to prevent that practice at this time. I do not see the GOP rushing to embrace such laws, being the business-friendly party that it is. Maybe some states will step in but that won't cover the entire country.

LOL... The old 'bait and switch' baited with the promise Tuna. May drive many to the site but with how many spam posts? Or maybe even Tuna posts. lolol

Some good ideas we need to think through, keep em coming. I haven't spoke to Oz yet as we still collect ideas but I think it is pretty safte to say that the Arts & Entertainment Forum is in our future. There is has been lots of interest in shown in various aspects including: theatre, books, TV & movies, pop cullture icons and more. It will free up the main forum for sports, recipes, neighborhood gossip and other items current interest.

I was somewhat suprised by the source of the comment as well. Rockhard must have had a life-changing experience based on my impressions of him from a few years back. As for giving opinions, that is fine -- more than fine -- but the replays get old after a time when everyone already has been informed of it. Add to it an accusatory or disapproving tone and it becomes more than just opinion, IMO.

You most definitely are not a 'guilty party'. Although you and I often have differences in views you are thoughtful and courtious in holding up your end of the discussion -- the kind of poster that makes an interesting forum IMO.

He could drop twenty pounds... but then so could I.

Odd idea of no punishment. I consider getting fired, forced resignation, and taking your employer to court all punishment. Not a hand slap, any of them. They might find work with Blackwater or whatever it is called now but I doubt they will have a high profile job with a high profile publicly traded company any time soon.

The only way this guy is funny is as a figure-of-fun which comes oh-so-naturally. I wonder if his fall-back will be to mouth the words of 'America The Beautiful' or 'Davey Crockett'?

I can see it now... Broadway: Mittney Lays Egg On Sat Nite!

Where does this latin hunk come up with that name? Is he channeling Lenny Kravitz?