September 24, 2008

The Purple Pod Café.

DSC09282

It's a place where you can talk about what you like.

157 comments:

Simon said...

The latest shilling from the NYT, exposed.

Bissage said...

Lawgiver, there’s a gift for your three month old granddaughter waiting here.

All I ask in return is that you be the best grandfather a little girl ever had.

Good.

Then we have a deal.

Simon said...

Also, readers may enjoy this virtual seminar on election law in advance of the coming storm. Rick Hasen recently warned that New Mexico in particular may be problematic, and he's probably right, especially because it wouldn't take much to throw this election into the House. If McCain wins New Hampshire (likely), Obama wins Iowa (likely), Colorado (more likely than not) and New Mexico (probable), and the map stays otherwise unchanged from '04, we're going to the House.

Brad V said...

Whirl up, sea --
Whirl your pointed purple pods,
Splash your great royal robes
On our rocks;
Hurl your violet over us,
Cover us with your murex shells

- H.D. on lavender

Brian Doyle said...

Let's talk about John McCain getting his lying, flip-flopping ass kicked all over the country.

Peter V. Bella said...

Let's talk about Joe Biden continuing to make a bigger fool out of himself than he already is.

Brian Doyle said...

52-43

Brian Doyle said...

Maybe people will start liking Sarah Palin again now that she's been photographed with Henry Kissinger?

Peter V. Bella said...

We can discuss Obama's connections to the corrupt Chicago Political Machine.

Obama has not distanced himself from Mayor Daley or Emil Jones. If he gets in Washington will grow to be a larger, more fetid swamp of corruption.

Anonymous said...

Good morning everyone. It's a lovely day where I am and I hope it is where you are as well.

Life is indeed good. We can see, speak, hear; our limbs work, our minds work, we are blessed with the abilities to think, reason and love. Life is rich.

Matters political have consumed a disproportionate amount of our time of late. May I suggest that The Purple Pod Cafe be kept free of politics? All the better to enjoy each others' company.

How's your garden? What are your brewing? What's new with the kids and grandkids? Are you planning any travels this fall and winter? Can you share a recipe?

All the best.

Michael_H

Peter V. Bella said...

Maybe people will start liking Sarah Palin again now that she's been photographed with Henry Kissinger?

When did people stop disliking her?

Peter V. Bella said...

The latest shilling from the NYT, exposed.

All the news that is fit for puppies to shit on.

MadisonMan said...

How many purple pods could a purple person pick if a purple person could pick purple pods?

Total agreement with Michael_H. All some of you can do is talk politics. No wonder you have no friends from the other side of the aisle. There's a word for a person who talks about one thing all the time: BORING!

I am enjoying a great raspberry season this year. The Wisconsin harvest season is good in 2008 -- so if farmers avoided the floods in June, at least they're getting a nice September to bring in the crops. So I'm thinking that that is ahead of schedule. The family farm down in IL? Not so good -- flooding rains from Ike. I'm hoping things dry out fast.

Unknown said...

Well, I'm disappointed that Simon brought politics into this thread right from the first post, because I was all set to count how many posts it would take for Doyle to doyle himself.

Anonymous said...

Doyle said...
Maybe people will start liking Sarah Palin again now that she's been photographed with Henry Kissinger?

10:31 AM

Unknown said...

Any wealthy home theater nuts here? If so, how about this?
103-inch plasma screen.
Blu-ray disk player.
3D glasses.
from Panasonic.

Unknown said...

The original maverick? Maybe. But maybe mavericks are a dime a dozen.

Anonymous said...

I went shopping for a new snow thrower yesterday. The owner of the power equipment shop near my home mentioned that the inventory of new snow throwers will probably last only part way through December because the manufacturers have limited production due to uncertainty about consumer purchasing.

Good idea to buy one now, if you were planning to do so this year.

Lisa said...

Ann..

Did you give up your cruel neutrality? Have you decided whom you will vote for?

Also, I recommend reading this...30% solution.

Just so you know.. Congress (both houses) are roughly 16% women as are Governors.

Anonymous said...

I like some Mavericks, but not other Mavericks

Henry said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
DaLawGiver said...

Bissage,

No problemo. I will be the most spoilingest grandfather ever. I'm trying to get Maddie to call me Big Daddy instead of grandfather though. For two reasons. My wife hates it and I think it's funny since I'm not really a big guy. 5'10" 205 is just a fat old guy. You should really be around 300 lbs to be properly considered a Big Daddy here in Texas. So I will work on it.

Now. how about a cheer for them Cowboys!

Unknown said...

There are some good mavericks

MadisonMan said...

Now. how about a cheer for them Cowboys!

Bronx or otherwise?

Henry said...

Whoops. I withdraw my political comment. I write too slowly. The thread moved fast.

The kids got to be the K-6 reviewers for a design project yesterday and ended up with gummy bears for their efforts. The designers get to rethink their product. Everyone wins.

Trooper York said...

"I went shopping for a new snow thrower yesterday."

Hey me too. I had to let Paco go because he got a green card and I would have to pay him minimum wage. So Hector will be shoveling for me this year.

Simon said...

Thinking more on the House contingency: we have no way of knowing how that would play out. My recent post is correct as far as it goes, but it overlooks the fact that the present House won't be the House that would make the decision. This Congress expires at noon on 1/3/09, U.S. Const., Amdt. 20, and by statute, Congress won't count the votes for President until 1/6/09, see 3 U.S.C. § 15. So it's the unknown House - the House we will elect in a few weeks - that would decide.

If the college has deadlocked, the House would then have two weeks to figure out the mess. Remember: each state gets one vote, and by the precedents of the house, each delegation internally ballots with equally-divided states abstaining. The last time we did this, it took several rounds. If the House can't figure it out by noon on the 20th, Bush and Cheney's terms expire, and one of two things will happen.

When the college deadlocks, the House chooses the President, and the Senate chooses the Vice President. U.S. Const., Amdt. 12. Even if the House can't resolve the election before the 20th, it is possible (but not certain) that the Senate will manage to choose between Biden and Palin in time. If they do, § 3 of the 25th Amendment comes into play and the Vice President chosen by the Senate will "act as President until a President shall have qualified." If they do not, 3 U.S.C. § 19 comes into play. I suspect that in a crisis, the problems with the line of succession will simply be brushed over. Speaker Pelosi, presumably, will not resign from the House in order to be President until the House can sort out the mess. It isn't clear who the President pro tem will be, but one assumes that none of the possibilities* will resign either. That would leave Secretary of State Rice holding the baby.

I don't see the House contingency as a crisis, or as illegitimate, or even as being especially problematic. The system will work, and work well. I do worry, however (similarly to my worry here), that if Obama loses, his supporters are going to go apeshit and attack whatever they perceive as having caused that loss. If they lose because of the process, I fancy they will set up an almighty clamor to amend the Constitution to provide for direct elections, God help us.


_______________
* Robert Byrd is the senior Democrat, but at his age, we shouldn't assume that he'll make it to 1/20/09. Ted Kennedy is next, but in his health, we shouldn't assume that he'll make it to 1/20/09 either. Dan Inouye is next in line if the Democrats hold the Senate. In the extremely unlikely event that the GOP retakes the Senate, Ted Stevens would have seniority but he is almost certain to be defeated or jailed before then. Pete Domenici is next in line, but he faces a perilous reelection battle this fall and may not be coming back. The next in line after him is Dick Lugar.

UWS guy said...

I'm off to teach a class on Berlioz' fantastic symphony.

exit question: do artists and musicians today take too little drugs, or the wrong kinds of drugs in order to make their banal neo-baroque uninspired works?

Trooper York said...

The NFC East will be the strongest division in football again this year. THE WORLD CHAMPION NEW YORK GIANTS should be around 6 and 1 by the time we have to play those Romosexuals from Dallas.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Joan said...

It's funny to read about buying a snow blower here when it's supposed to hit 103 here today. In this part of the country, we have two seasons, summer and not-summer. Not-summer doesn't start until late October or early November. I can't wait.

On the upside, my lemon and orange trees have set a lot of fruit, so we should have a nice little harvest this year.

MadisonMan said...

I got an email from a student yesterday. She is concerned about not doing well in class and was inquiring about tutors.

She has missed half the classes. It amazes me that she doesn't relate not being in class to poor performance.

Kids. I don't know what's wrong with these kids these days.

Simon said...

Lisa, why stop at 30%? Personally I'd be happy with 100% as long as that number's reached by free choice and not artificial contrivances such as the all-women shortlists tried by Britain's Labour party.

Anonymous said...

UWS, I vote for the wrong kind

Anonymous said...

UWS, I vote for the wrong kind

Unknown said...

MM, back in the early 90's I was a TA for an undergraduate course in signal processing, and we received a desparate plea from a student not to be flunked. Seems he was slated to graduate that quarter, but only if he passed the class. I looked at his record and he did abysmally on the midterm and final, which didn't surprise me much because he didn't bother to turn in homeworks, either. No extenuating circumstances were put forward.

He should have flunked. But he got a D. Argh. What sucks is that by then, one presumably has the job offer or grad school acceptance letter in hand, so the D really isn't a serious consequence.

DaLawGiver said...

Hurricane damage at my Uncle Joe's house in Texarkana.

My first granddaughter.

My minpin brought this
up to my backdoor. It's about six inches long, with a 3 inch tail. Mouse or rat?

AllenS said...

It's a beautifully cool day here in west central WI. I'm going to change oil and oil filter in my Farmall Super M tractor. Then I need to work on my disc. Then I'll chant some right wing slogans.

MadisonMan said...

Rats have naked tails, mice have tails with fur.

Trooper York said...

"Kids. I don't know what's wrong with these kids these days."

Man ain't that the truth. When you keep saying that you know you have turned into an old coot. I mean I think I have turned into Mr. Wilson from Dennis the Menace. When a woman comes into the store with kids I get all agitated. I mean I don't want them to put their dirty filthy unwashed hands on my expensive silk dresses. And the yuppie scum parents never correct them. Only the working class or the Africa American moms keep their kids under control.

UWS guy said...

And people wonder why a bachelors isn't worth the paper it's written on...

kids today...

UWS guy said...

wait...90's? I was in highschool...

DaLawGiver said...

Romosexuals from Dallas.

I like it, it conveys a certain strength and envy. I am sure Tony is secure in his Romosexuality. Just like the rest of the league wishes they had FIVE superbowl rings, most of the players wish they had a babe on a string like Tony does.

DaLawGiver said...

Rats have naked tails, mice have tails with fur.

Well dang, I really didn't look and the picture's resolution isn't that good but I think I see some hairs so then, large mouse?

Trooper York said...

I know she's pretty and all dude but you have to admit she is kinda dumb. I mean she couldn't tell the differance between chicken and tuna. That's why she got all confused with a Dallas Cowboy and a real man.

I think she would do a lot better with a GIANT.

OF THE WORLD CHAMPION NEW YORK GIANTS.

Did I tell you lately that the Giants won the Super Bowl?

Trooper York said...

By the way, I don't think any of the current Cowboys have even one Super Bowl ring.

The only rings they will have will be in their bathtubs.

DaLawGiver said...

I mean she couldn't tell the differance between chicken and tuna.

Young guys seem to like the stupid chicks while most older guys realize the value of female intelligence. Unless you're a rich guy and that's a different story.

Trooper York said...

I know man, but if she realizes she really likes tuna she might start dating Lindsey Lohan and then Tony if gonna be all messed up.

chickelit said...

Michael_H said: I went shopping for a new snow thrower yesterday.

Snow thrower? Where I grew up it always "snow blower". Is "snow blower" verboten now because of Obama's past?

Christopher in MA said...

Well, it's a warm day in the high 60s here in Massachusetts (Newburyport, if any of you care). Not a sign of snow, though I did get a card in the mail reminding me my snowblower needs a tuneup.

As does our piano (UWS guy, I don't like your politics, but I wish I was in your class. I'm not particularly a Berlioz fan, but I'd love to speak with someone who can make things clear).

Tonight I have a silent film to watch ("Cleopatra," 1912, taped from TCM) and that's about it. And since I'm in the market for a Blu-Ray player, I could use some advice.

Anonymous said...

I'd love to see that movie, Christopher. PBS yesterday was showing a special about the history of Warner Brothers studio. It was extremely interesting, I recommend it.

Chip Ahoy said...

I have to go to a pot luck tonight. Yes, have to. I managed to avoid it three times but at last allowed myself to be cornered. There's of portion of me that hates the rest of me for allowing this.

Yesterday the organizer asked me what I intended to bring. I told her three things. She said somebody is already bring one of the things. Hummus. I've been making the most incredible hummus lately. Experimenting with curries you've probably never heard of. The organizer added, "She's from New York." As if that had anything to do with the excellence of hummus. So I go, "Well, we'll have a hummus-off then, won't we." In that annoying way I picked up of delivering a declarative in the form of an interrogative. But now I ask you, isn't the whole point of naming such an event 'pot luck' to put emphasis on luck? If so, then quit planning it! I seriously don't get that impulse in people. A-types. Sometimes they're intolerable. I wanted to try a new tahini. The stuff I used was too close to peanut butter to suit me. When I went to Whole foods they had only the same kind I had before. I talked it up with a guy stacking the shelves right there at the tahini spot. He said, "We have fresh tahini." "Is that toasted?" I aked. "No." So that's going to be different. I also got a jar of almond paste just to see what that does to hummus. So I'll make two varieties by way of experimentation.

The other thing I'm going to bring is guacamole. I make the best on Earth. No brag, just fact. And that's not just me blowing smoke, everybody says so, and so now I become convinced, "Yo, Chip, dis here's da best guac I ever tasted!" So there you go. Here's my method, because I want you to make the best guacamole on Earth too. Use 50% avocado and 50% tomato by weight. Just estimate when you buy them. This is where people usually go wrong. Squeeze out the liquid from the tomato. Hand squeeze the avodaco. That way the mixture doesn't end up too wet, and results in the right combination of mushiness and lumpiness. It's technique. Machine processing cannot produce this. Then diced onion and a bit of fresh garlic. Then the rest is hitting the tongue taste points. Salt, lime, heat. Then, here's the thing that puts it over the top, add a small amount of cumin, because it's so strong and an utterly Mexican smelling spice, an essential, along with fresh cilantro, an herb popular in Mexican and Asian cuisine. Cilantro is an herb people usually either love or hate. Do not omit it. It's a strong aromatic that if left out leaves guacamole flat. If a person hates cilantro, then that's just too bad for them. The heat can be anything. I prefer diced fresh jalapeño, but it can be canned, chile flakes, tobacco sauce, habanero sauce, pretty much anything that's hot. Do not use chili powder. That stuff is gross and will ruin your guacamole. If somebody's watching you while you're making this, don't let their personal dislikes affect your decisions. Just stick with all the elements. If you remove any single element, the guacamole will be something less than the best on Earth, and that would be a shame. For instance, you'll always have somebody hovering nearby saying, "Eeew, don't put garlic in that. I get such the heartburn with garlic" Or, "I'm not that big on hot stuff," in an effort to get you to back off from the jalapeños. Or most likely, "I hate cilantro." But don't allow an of this nonsense to influence your progress. Picky eaters are not to be humored.

I also intend to make my own chips. Starting with masa herena and pressing it with a tortilla smasher. Pan frying, cutting, deep frying. Now who does all that when they're so convenient to buy in a bag? I do, that's who. And I go to all that trouble because it's a whole 'nuther ball game. And because it's fun!

MadisonMan said...

My piano -- a 1941 Mason & Hamlin -- also needs a tuneup. And it needs new keys. In the last year, 6 of the keys have lost their ivory!

MadisonMan said...

chip ahoy, one of my favorite potluck stories happened when I was in College. Every single person -- a dozen of them -- brought fruit in one shape or another. No duplications at all, just a cornucopia of fruits, melons, berries, you name it.

Your organizer would have died. But we all thought it was hilarious.

Justin said...

Lawgiver said...

Hurricane damage at my Uncle Joe's house in Texarkana.

Oh no! That branch almost hit the mushroom! Whew. That was close.

Chip Ahoy said...

Lawgiver, she's adorable. I swear I could smell a fresh baby.

Justin said...

Chip Ahoy said...

...isn't the whole point of naming such an event 'pot luck' to put emphasis on luck? If so, then quit planning it!

In my experience, if you don't plan the pot luck, you end up with a dozen buckets of chicken and two of those nasty pink fruit salad things.

Minzo said...

Just want to bring something up again- I mentioned this in another post but had the inevitable 'Run off to Huffington post you Obama groupie!' rejoinder which presumably someone thought was very droll.
But this is a serious question and Im not saying it to attack Anne or defend Obama- Im fairly neutral in this campaign (and admired Mccain very much until the last month or so) Why does Anne claim 'cruel neutrality' when its obvious she is very pro-Mccain? And why has she not linked to any of the valid criticisms of Sarah Palin- she's become more of her cheerleader than anything else. I admire Anne and I enjoy the blog, but I wonder: is she really neutral anymore? Why do the vast majority of her posts attack Obama but gloss over Mccain's failings? And why does she highlight only the loony attacks on Sarah Palin but not the valid ones?

Chip Ahoy said...

Then let's rename the event to pot-planned.

Palladian said...

"Why does Anne claim 'cruel neutrality' when its obvious she is very pro-Mccain?"

Who can know what dwells in the attic of the Alt house?

Justin said...

Minzo said...

I admire Anne and I enjoy the blog...

Yet you can't spell her name. A-N-N.

It's not that hard. Why do so many people get it wrong? It's all over the blog.

Sorry, this is a pet peeve of mine.

George M. Spencer said...

Do we come out whole or in holes?

Bond maven James Grant's op-ed on the dollar in today's NY Times is about as good a piece you will read on the underlying causes of the present financial cataclysm.

"The remote cause of its troubles is the paper dollar itself — the dollar and the growth in the immense piles of debt it has facilitated. The age of paper money brought with it an increasingly uninhibited style of doing business."

We have an unconvertible, uncollateralized currency which he calls "faith-based."

Grant concludes, not unsurprisingly, that the dollar is not going to emerge from this "whole."

There's also a new word in the financial pages. The word is "clawback." It refers to legislation in Congress that would permit the government to seize income taken by executives, if it could be determined that their gains were wrongful. Such is the way government will tear holes in risk-takers. Translation: Entrepreneurs will flee the United States and set up shop in Hong Kong or under whatever flag they can feel safe and still raise capital. I know one person who is giving up his US citizenship to do just that.

There have also been four terror strikes in India in the past four months as it prepares for national elections. The witching month is upon us. Let us hope that we all emerge whole in November.

Chip Ahoy said...

minzo. I don't know. Trying to stay neutral, trying to, allows for full range of blogging subjects. Coming into blogging with a mind made up limits blogging potential unacceptably.

Plus, the Democratic side is just so much more interesting from a blogging perspective. Until at last the conservative side does something actually interesting, from a bloggers point of view, and the left goes ballistic, which is also bloggable. Gaffs and other stupidities, along with notable flips are all bloggable.

Drudge gets hit with this as well. He's ever being accused of being conservative when actually all he's looking for is stories that are interesting.

I've noticed Liberals seem offended by this more than Conservatives do. While speaking with friends, it's common for one to respond with something like, "Chip, you sound like a Republican! But I've never once had an actual Republican accuse me of being too liberal, and I've actually voted liberal far more often than conservative.

But here's my question: why concern yourself with Althouse's perceived orientation? Why not just enjoy it? Can't you agree however she chooses finally to vote, or whatever her blog projects, she's delightful?

Justin said...

Do your friends really call you Chip?

Simon said...

Minzo said...
"Why does Anne claim 'cruel neutrality' when its obvious she is very pro-Mccain?"

The reason you were treated fairly brusquely the other day, I suspect, is that your question isn't on the line. The answer to the question is that she claims to be neutral because she's undecided, but your question tries to foreclose that with the assumption that she's pro-McCain. You aren't asking why she takes the position she takes, you're disputing the veracity of her claim with a rhetorical question. Perhaps you hadn't realized what you're doing, but that is what you're doing.

Simon said...

Palladian said...
"Who can know what dwells in the attic of the Alt house?"

I don't, but I think it's got a swell façade.

Anonymous said...

Chip, I would kill for some guacamole right now...

It's.....Mrs. Hornblower ! said...

Can you imagine if Mom had been a social butterfly?, all the connections she'd have made, and then her sons could have entree to those connections.

For such a popular blogger, Mom has amazingly few social connections.

Sons are trying to make it in the World, but how does one go about expanding his social circle?, and with parents that have achieved, perhaps, a modicum of success and popularity, yet few connections.

A good start is banding together as a family. The basic family unit is the nucleus of the social circle, and then you expand out from there to include ever more individuals.

Yet, this is a scattered family----by choice.

Son moves to a new town, with no family, or friends, to speak of....but needs connections.

Difficult, but not impossible. In the old days the elders wrote Letters of Introduction (in longhand, not email !!!) .

Even if Mom and Dad wrote letters, pulled the strings.....it's still up to the Individual to perform, produce, charm, and attract, and with these Sons....social skills seem to be lacking...how to make charming conversation, small-talk, mingle at parties etc.... all the things you don't learn texting on MySpace !!!

Mom and Dad might have it in them to get their little darlings a foot in the door, but then the rest is up to YOU.

Anonymous said...

Speaking of guacamole... I apologize in advance, it is crass...

Christopher in MA said...

Ernie, a friend of mine is going to copy the "Cleopatra" VHS tape to DVD sometime next month, so shoot me an e-mail, and I'll have him make a copy for you, too.

The film was produced by the Helen Gardner Feature Play Company and shot at Tappan-on-the-Hudson. It stars (and was costumed, designed and edited by) Helen Gardner, a figure so obscure in the history of motion pictures that even Terry Ramsaye's wonderful "A Million And One Nights" barely mentions her.

I'm sorry I missed that show about Warner Brothers, but frankly, they interest me the least of all the major studios - I'm more of a Paramount / MGM man myself. Although, if WB interests you, I'd recommend the new box set of "The Jazz Singer," which includes a disc of early Vitaphone performances. Vitaphone was the WB's sound system, and these shorts were used to show audiences what the "talkies" would be like. Utterly fascinating, if you've a taste for old vaudeville acts like the Seven Little Foys.

I'm staying out of Ann's "cruel neutrality" or the financial hellhole. The political dialogue here gets a little too sharp-edged sometimes, and I know that as a homeowner with a mortgage I will, as that great economist Dilbert said, be "taking it in the shorts."

Chip Ahoy said...

Call me Chip. Some do. Most call me a contraction of my first and last name which is close to the name on one of my blogs. Which was short-hand for the shortened form of the pet name my family calls me. Which is also a contraction of a formal name. If this continues, my name will eventually be a simple voiced aspirated bilabial plosive "b".

Anonymous said...

OMG, Christoper, you rock!! THANKS!

Chip Ahoy said...

erniecu, the comments thread to the article you linked are hilarious.

It's.....Mrs. Hornblower ! said...

This is my basic problem with Divorce. Down-the-line....when the next generation goes out into the World, and tries to make it.....they're working from a fractured foundation. And so they start looking for 'Family' in all the wrong place.

You don't look for a Family at work. Co-workers are not your family. They don't care about you. One more time: They. Don't. Care. About. You. They're just trying to survive the tedious workday, and that's it. They couldn't care less.

So where do you find a family? Your "buddies" on MySpace don't care about you either, in that phony world !

Mom and Dad were two dynamic people. They were the Matriarch and Patriarch that everyone else looked to, that everyone else wanted to go to for Thanksgiving, Holidays, Celebrations.....these two dynamic people were the leaders of both brances of extended family and in-laws. But when they divorced, everything fell apart.

They would have been better together. Typical selfish 60s Hippies, the 'me' generation, not thinking long-term.

Didn't these two Hippies realize their own power without their extended family unit....that all the relatives and in-laws looked to them, wanted to always go to their place on Holidays, wanted to hang out with them.....as a couple.

But when they divorced, all of that came crashing down, and the loss of this dynamic Matriarch, and Patriarch left everyone scattered, fleeing to different states and different locales, and the shockwaves felt by these lost and wandering offspring.

It was the most selfish act of their entire lives......that Divorce.

howzerdo said...

Chip, why don't you make your own tahini for the hummus?

Minzo said...

Chip- Its a good point you make there. I guess I'd love to see her particular brand of wit taking on Mccain's recent shambolism (is that a word?) I think he's just as ripe for comedy as Obama- maybe even more so now that the Sarah Palin factor is there. I guess you are right that it shouldnt bother me, but it does in the same way I got bothered when Andrew Sullivan began his Palin obsession.
Simon- Interesting argument but you have it the other way round. I didnt come onto the blog assuming she was a Mccain suporter. I came to that conclusion ONLY after I'd read about 2 months worth of her writing. I wouldnt have attempted to discount her netruality if the blog actually appeared neutral! Perhaps she really is undecided, but you certainly couldnt tell from reading her blog could you? So it might be a rhetorical question, but I think its a valid one.

Anonymous said...

Chip Ahoy said...
erniecu, the comments thread to the article you linked are hilarious.

12:35 PM


What can I say? It's homegrown humor. This is a town of jazz and clowns...lol

DaLawGiver said...

Chip,

Your guac sounds awesome. But, I am one of those cilantro haters because most people tend to use too much of it. Its aroma has a tendency to overpower. I also use cayenne for the heat, sometimes jalapenos. But I would eat yours and enjoy it because I can tell you see it as not just food, but as art.

If you make your own chips though you have too much time on your hands. Get involved in a good MMORPG or something.

vbspurs said...

I want to talk about:

- San Francisco wine connoisseurs refusing to drink a Chilean wine named Palin Syrah.

Too close to Sarah Palin for their oenophilic tastes, thankyouverymuch.

- Cindy Michaels, a news anchor in Maine, looks BOKU like Sarah Palin and even wears an updo and glasses.

So much so, she's gotten some Palin Derangement Syndrome of her. She's been receiving hate emails and voicemails saying she's "influencing" voters during a critical time.

- An UK firm has begun minting coins bearing Barack Obama's profile, with the words "President of The United States".

Let's see. We had the Vero Possumus quasi-Presidential seal. The Greek columns at Invescopalooza. And now his own coin presumptively calling him a POTUS.

This is the kind of stuff that drives Conservatives crazy about Obama, and makes them determined to cut this in the bud, by voting against him.

Mother Teresa politely asked a baker to stop making sticky buns with her likeness. But Obama's Team can't VOIP this company to say: yo guys, I appreciate it, but I'm trying to win an election here. Knock it off...until November 5.

Cheers,
Victoria

Maxine Weiss said...

Is there no undertaking more important than expanding one's social circle ?

I know someone who writes 'Letters of Introduction' for worthy individuals, in longhand. There's a skill to doing that.

You have to have beautiful cursive and penmanship.

Monogrammed, embossed freesia-scented stationery, and posh Mark Cross pens ....essential !

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

A young David Foster Wallace might have felt right at home at "The Royal Tenenbaums"

http://tinyurl.com/2bk6vg

bearbee said...

I'd be veeeeeeeery careful to not fall asleep at night without some sort of protective security.

Purple pods gave birth to Barney

vbspurs said...

Well, shoot. I didn't read Michael_H's exhortation before posting.

So you know, carry on, doctor.

Me, I'm deliberating working out or having lunch. Toughie.

Anonymous said...

Victoria, eating is overrated...

Chet said...

"Social circles spin too fast for me. My hobo-hemia is the place to be !"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R21196Yf7Ho&feature=related


________________

vbspurs said...

So are the Kennedys.

Just a clever segue to say thatKerry Kennedy is on MSNBC talking about her Catholicism (she has a book out).

Ruth Anne alert!

vbspurs said...

So far, I've heard:

* White women will decide this election.

* White men will decide this election.

Now Kerry Kennedy says that what with 40% of Catholics undecided who to vote for for PResident, it's:

* Catholics will decide this election.

Any other demographic want to jump on board?

Christopher in MA said...

We silent film fans will decide the election. If all the candidates were seen and not heard, it would be a boon to the Republic.

Hoosier Daddy said...

Well I did a 26 mile ride with a local riding group yesterday which is known for their speed and I am proud to say that I was able to hang in for the whole ride without being dropped once which is an achievement for me considering this is the same group last year that left me on the side of the road throwing up and wanting my mommy. Averaged 22.7 mph. Not quite ready for the Tour but respectable for master’s class.

And yes I drafted for 80% of the ride. I’m not an idiot.

KJohnson said...

'Ruby Moon' Hyacinth Bean??

vbspurs said...

Well, apparently the Palin Couric interview was taped this morning, to be shown on the Evening News at 6:30 PM EST, so heads up.

There is a sneak video peak out already. You can view it over at my blog.

Couric's Palin Interview Tonight

(First thoughts: I'm not happy)

Don't forget President Bush will air an address to the nation at 9 PM EST. I'll be here chatting for both events.

Cheers,
Victoria

ricpic said...

Michael H asked about our recent travels. I recently spent 4 days in Moab, Utah and was deeply affected by the desert country around it. The town is situated between Arches National Park (or National Monument) and Canyonlands National Park. Impossible to describe not only how dramatic but how welcoming these places are, desert but somehow not hostile or forbidding desert. Blake mentioned in a post that he lived in the desert, don't know where. Anyone else a desert dweller. Like to talk about it?

Anonymous said...

Snow thrower? Where I grew up it always "snow blower". Is "snow blower" verboten now because of Obama's past?

I think the difference is that a snow thrower is a single-stage, smaller machine, and a show blower (non-human) is a larger machine that has an auger and an impeller.

I've gotta question for any one of you who is good with numbers. What's $700 billion divided by 100 million? Is it $700,000 (my calculator goes all expotential before the billion mark)?

Reason I'm asking is that if there are, say, 100 million homes in the US, why not just divide that big pot of money the Fed wants and give every homeowner a nice round $700,000 (or whatever the number works out to be)?

Everyone gets to pay off their mortgage, except for a few really wealthy folks, but they're okay anyhow, and probably keep a few extra bucks besides. That'd rev up the economy a bit, wouldn't it?

Plus, the $#*$^ Congressweasels wouldn't get to toss earmarks into the package.

vbspurs said...

BREAKING NEWS: John McCain suspends his campaign!!

He is suspending his campaign for the foreseeable future and has issued a challenge to Barack Obama to go back to Washington with him, to hammer out some kind of better financial solution, than the one currently being debated by Congress.

This is HUGE.

Cheers,
Victoria

Anonymous said...

I know man, but if she realizes she really likes tuna she might start dating Lindsey Lohan and then Tony if gonna be all messed up.

Trooper! You almost got there, then stalled. I'll say it for you: TUNA TACOS!

Which, by the way I enjoyed last evening (restaurant variety) with a great jalepeno papaya cilantro relish. Really hit the spot.

vbspurs said...

BTW, my first thought on hearing this was that the debate this Friday would be postponed.

So far no word, but reporters seem to think that's what will happen.

Anonymous said...

Okay Vic, you're granted a moment of Purple Pod Cafe amnesty for your post about political matters, but just this one time.

How's the weather in your part of Florida this afternoon?

Simon said...

Minzo said...
"Simon- Interesting argument but you have it the other way round. I didnt come onto the blog assuming she was a Mccain suporter. I came to that conclusion ONLY after I'd read about 2 months worth of her writing."

Nevertheless, your question asks why she calls herself undecided while assuming that she is a McCain supporter and thus dismissing her stated answer to the question. At very least, the question you're asking is "I don't believe your stated reason - why do you really yadda yadda yadda."

"Perhaps she really is undecided, but you certainly couldnt tell from reading her blog could you?"

I take her at her word.

George M. Spencer said...

"I now believe we are in for one hell of a deep downturn," Welch told the World Business Forum in New York on Wednesday, adding that the first quarter of 2009 would likely be "brutal." Until recently, Welch said, he had believed the U.S. economy could avoid recession, but he has now changed his mind. "I am now caving," he said. "Get ready for real tough times. They're coming. There is no credit available."

No credit. None. Zero. Go home. Cut up your credit cards, America.

GE's stock is down about 50% from 2000, and it's on the do not short list cuz it's a financial company, really.

Here is a list of Jack's retirement perks.

(Incidentally, the other big financial company, GM, is getting ready to go below $10/share. It is running out of money. "External sources of capital for GM remain limited, indicating that liquidity drains will accelerate through year-end 2008.")

MadisonMan said...

Are either McCain or Obama on the Senate Banking Committee? No. Until the Banking Committee does its work, are they needed, or are they just there to muddy waters? So serious question: What would their presence add? There already seems to be a good deal of bipartisanship (surprise!) wrt this bill.

I'm very happy, btw, that Congress seems to be turning down the original "Trust Me" proposal from the Executive Branch.

Minzo said...

Simon- you're a lawyer arent you?

vbspurs said...

MadisonMan, as a fiscal conservative who doesn't like the markets to be interfered with, I am in agreement with you.

But it strikes me that if we are wrong, the United States will go down the crapper. The stakes couldn't be higher.

Michael_H, I am so sorry. My political world has been turned upside down.

It's cloudy down here and I have no access to fish tacos. Bummer.

Cheers,
Victoria

Anonymous said...

*Sighs*

All rules suspended until further notice.

MadisonMan said...

Wow, Victoria can't get a fish taco and all rules are suspended.

Anonymous said...

I used to think Jack Welch was brilliant. Then he appointed Jeffrey Immelt to be his successor. So much for brilliance.

Anonymous said...

Yes. All rules are suspended. I propose a meeting in Washington for all the major Althouse posters in order to hammer out a solution to the impending crisis.

Trooper York said...

As long as Ingrid Casares is in Miami, then Victoria can always get the fish taco.

bearbee said...

I've gotta question for any one of you who is good with numbers. What's $700 billion divided by 100 million? Is it $700,000 (my calculator goes all expotential before the billion mark)?

Had to knock off the zero's to calculate. Comes to a paltry $7,000.

The chest-clutching numbers are the unfunded liabilites going into the TRILLIONS! I hear numbers ranging from $52 t to $77t.

Whats another trillion here or there.

Anonymous said...

Bill Clinton is suspending his campaign activities on behalf of Barack Obama out of respect for the Jewish holidays. I am not making this up.

vbspurs said...

Hey, I know Ingrid real well. And by real well, I mean, I've spoken to her exactly twice (once about her dog).

vbspurs said...

Bill Clinton is suspending his campaign activities on behalf of Barack Obama out of respect for the Jewish holidays. I am not making this up.

LOL!

Check out what he says about campaigning in Florida:

You know, they think that because of who I am and where my politic[al] base has traditionally been, they may want me to go sort of hustle up what Lawton Chiles used to call the 'cracker vote' there."

If I were Obama, I wouldn't want Bill to be ANYWHERE near my campaign. His heart is just not into it. He could say anything...

George M. Spencer said...

McCain had been scheduled to meet with Bono and be on Letterman.

True.

Smart move.

vbspurs said...

So far, my Liberal dad and registered Independent (leans Republican) mother think the move is brilliant. It's very bold.

Anonymous said...

The fact that Obama didn't have an immediate response is telling.

So Barry, are ya in or are ya out?

Or are ya polling the 867 economic advisors on your campaign team?

Anonymous said...

C'mon Barry, stop the fuc*ing stammering and make a decision.

(Sound of music from Jeopardy)

Anonymous said...

Hmmm, let's see what comes out of this.

Anonymous said...

Jeez, Barry. The phone rang at 2:00. It was John McCain. he's heading to DC to some really important stuff and wants you to come along.

Are you going or not?

Hello?

vbspurs said...

Michael_H, heh.

I don't know if any other Althouse commenter felt this way, but I found the campaigning on both sides and even Sarah Palin's visit to the UN absolutely JARRING whilst there are momentous hearings taking place about the economy.

It was like seeing an alternate reality, where everything was normal, whist Wall Street dipped lower and people around America felt marooned.

Though I don't advocate some Carter-putting-his-administration-on-hold-during-the-Hostage-Crisis, I think doesn't make Obama look bad if he grips McCain's hand and says, let's do it. Let's try to use our influence on the Hill, and hammer out some kind of bipartisan solution.

Trooper York said...

"Hey, I know Ingrid real well. And by real well, I mean, I've spoken to her exactly twice (once about her dog)."

Well if you ever dicuss her pussy I would be happy to be a fly on the wall. Just sayn'

garage mahal said...

Somebody didn't like that WaPo poll from today.

Baron Zemo said...

My dear lady, the estimable Senator Obama votes "Present."

Anonymous said...

Holee sheet. Send out an Amber Alert for Barack Hussein Obama.

vbspurs said...

Madonna stole Ingrid's pussy years ago. I think it's dead by now.

(BTW, she's a real lipstick lesbian, not one of these self-hating butch Samantha Ronson Lilo girlfriend types)

Anonymous said...

Show Rin Tin Tin a picture of Obama. Ol' Rinty will find him!

Palladian said...

Victoria would never let you in on her meetings with Ingrid. She never kisses and tells. As Ingrid says, loose lips sink ships.

vbspurs said...

Somebody didn't like that WaPo poll from today.

What's the under-over on Campbell Brown using that exact same rationale tonight on her show?

Palladian said...

"What's the under-over on Campbell Brown using that exact same rationale tonight on her show?"

So garage mahal is Campbell Brown?

Anonymous said...

Okay, cut out the middle man and call David Axelrod directly. He'll know what Barry'll do, even before Barry does.

vbspurs said...

Whenever I'm opposite a lesbian, I make sure I give her plenty of eye-contact.

I call it being polite. They call it flirting. Can't win.

Trooper York said...

Just don't call this a stunt. Cause Eli Blake gets real upset if you call somebody a stunt.

Anonymous said...

Maverick and Goose (or Moose in this movie) are in the damn jet, afterburners lit, vectored in on DC and Barry is still trying to decide which helmet matches his flight suit.

Palladian said...

"Whenever I'm opposite a lesbian, I make sure I give her plenty of eye-contact."

Just as long as that's the only body part that makes contact.

Anonymous said...

What's the under-over on Campbell Brown

I believe Chris Matthews has the over and Keith Olbermann has the under. Or so they imagine.

vbspurs said...

Republicans on the Hill embracing the McCain suspension of his campaign.

Anonymous said...

Forty-five minutes and counting. It's Barry watch. Sorta like Bay Watch, without taco fantasies. But more danger. Way more danger.

Mrs. Lillian Forkliss said...

Why is Althouse beholden to Glenn Reynolds ? What has he done for her lateley? Does he have a trust fund? Has he bequeathed his largess to Althouse's children ?

Of course, you never burn bridges, but there comes a time when you go through your Rolodex and sift out those who have, and who have not, done for you.

I ask, again....how has this faux friendship with Glenn Reynolds really benefited Althouse monetarily ?

I'm not saying Reynolds is a bad person. What I am saying is that, the sense of importance with which Althouse regards Glenn Reynolds seems to be wildly out-of-proportion to what he has tangibly provided her.

It's nice to have social connections.....(not really a social connection---more of an online mentor?)....but sometimes you need to evaluate, with a razor-sharp critical eye, who's done what for you, lately.....and the monetary remuneration you are getting (on a regular basis) from having this person in your life.

Time to purge some of the listings in that Rolodex !!!

vbspurs said...

Two more gay references:

First, I was felt up by a lesbian at Club Kremlin in Amsterdam once. I pushed her away, and she smirked. I'll never forget that. She acted like a rude guy. If she had acted like a sweet girl, I would've gone Nigella Lawson on her ass.

Secod, this is Drudge's headline about McCain's campaign suspension. Gay.

Anonymous said...

How damn long does it take to set up the teleprompters for Barry to say: "Okay, I'll be there"?

vbspurs said...

Michael_H, I give Team Obama 2 hours to make an announcement, from the moment the story broke, before he starts looking VERY bad. Right now, he just looks Obama-ish, which is to say, reactive rather than proactive. It smells like the Palin roll-out all over again.

It's been 45 minutes? So 1:15 mins to go. Tick-tock.

Anonymous said...

*Reads through recent posts for a second time*

Oh wait. There's talk of lesbian activity. We can wait for Barry a bit longer. Please carry on.

vbspurs said...

Barack going live in a few moments. So not bad, Michael_H. Ahem, let's see what he has to say.

Anyone want to predict what he'll say?

Simon said...

Victoria, the report I read suggested Obama has already claimed that he thought of it first.

Minzo - no, why?

vbspurs said...

Victoria, the report I read suggested Obama has already claimed that he thought of it first.

Yes, sir. I did post that on my thread on Sundries, but I haven't found any links.

Stupe said...

Uh, Mrs. Forkliss, I don't think anyone keeps a Rolodex anymore.

Actually, the other day, I did see some lady in a knit suit and shampoo-n-set hairdo, emerge from a Towncar with a with Fil-o-Fax in hand.

No Mark Cross pen, though.

Fred Drinkwater said...

"Performance Art".
I can't be the only one who remembers our hostess saying that, can I?

Anonymous said...

ok, I'm warming up to the idea.

Mrs. Topsy Canning said...

When they lived in Texas, the two brothers hardly ever spoke. You'd never see them out and about together either. --Walking down the street, clutching eachother as brothers do.....never saw it !

What is the level of affection between these two brothers ?

You know when I used to hang around Airports, I'd always see two brothers, after a long absence greet each other in a flurry of hugs and kisses. --Lots of kissing.

At least I think those were brothers.

Maybe they were cousins.

Trooper York said...

You know when I heard that Barack was running for President I wondered how the hell could Mr. Spock's father run for President. I mean he's a Vulcan right?

Anonymous said...

Sixty minutes and counting.

vbspurs said...

Obama's camp says the "debate is on".

No word yet about the other stuff.

Again, this is very jarring. McCain conceded to Obama's request that the first debate should be about foreign policy.

But the ONLY focus of the first debate should be the economy. It's a weird decision. It's like Obama is trying to hang on to whatever decision-making that is left to him in the short-run.

Trooper York said...

You guys are just unfair…Senator Obama is right to discuss this important matter with his advisors…reach out to congressional leaders like Nancy Pelosi….discuss the tax ramifications with Charley Rangel…maybe ask for some spiritual guidance from his pastor…I mean it takes time to make a decision…it’s not like the phone rang at three o’clock in the morning…and NORAD is saying that the Iranians just shot off a nuke…Oh…what was that….nevermind.

Mrs. Topsy Canning said...

THE CHRISTOPHER SPEAKS !

_____________________


...very slowly.

______________

Ha ha. Just kidding !

______________________

"Do you think there's something mildly racist about people's amazement over the fact that he's a good speaker? Lots of politicians can give speeches that are just as energetic and well-delivered. It's might be a little like Biden's "articulate" comment. A lot of the Obama love to me comes off like, Wow, he can actually speak. Wow, he's black and yet doesn't frighten us. And then they accuse anyone who doesn't support him of racism."

---Christopher Althouse Cohen

vbspurs said...

Some comic relief as we away The One To Speak. From another site:

Michael Medved just suggested that Obama debate Biden on Friday since they disagree on so many things.

LOL.

vbspurs said...

Shorter Obama statement to Congress:

"If you need me, call me"

Great leadership abilities, Barack.

Simon said...

vbspurs said...
"Obama's camp says the 'debate is on.'"

That's so cute. I have in mind Obama as Zapp Brannigan's angry concession - "you win again, gravity!" Obama - still struggling to deal with reality. McCain has said, in effect, that the debate is off. He won't be there if the Senate hasn't hammered out a plan. What's Obama going to do, stand there and answer questions by himself? That isn't a debate, it's a press conference.

Anonymous said...

Obama's message, translated:

Hey! Over here! I was supposed to speak on Friday. You were supposed to listen to me. That icky economy stuff isn't as important as you listening to me speak.

Okay, I'm going to speak to you anyway. Even if that other guy isn't there.

McCain's message, translated:

I'd rather lose an election than stand idly by while our nation faces its most grave economic circumstances since the Great Depression.

That would be leadership, in my opinion.

Maxine Weiss said...

The Democrats love a bad economy, that's how they win elections.

If anything, the Democrats are trying to figure out how to keep it going and prolong it.

______________________

Does anyone here have a working rotary-dial phone ?

Meade said...

Karen said...
'Ruby Moon' Hyacinth Bean??

Excellent call!