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    marye
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    Nuclear power! Carcinogenic cell phones! The Stanley Cup! and the usual parade of kids dancing and shaking their bones, politicians throwing stones, etc. Discuss.

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  • Anonymous (not verified)
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    show me all that you know
    on the nights they nailed it, i think that song could cure cancer.
  • klextra2
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    Lancaster, Calif., Mayor Thinks Bird Song Reduces Crime
    This is a headline from today's Wall Street Journal We all know it's a great song, but I was very happy to hear it also reduces crime.
  • Anonymous (not verified)
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    where crickets and cicadas sing
    yep, that is certainly Terrapin Crossroads, Gr8fulTed!!!!see here - http://terrapincrossroads.net/home/ absolutely fantastic news, i think we all agree. and yes, i saw that address for inticketing; had a quick search to look into them but can't yet confirm whether that's all they're going to use. i really hope so. be splendid to think that both enterprises will be independent. i know i know, it sounds like more kvetching, but i really don't mean it in that way; just believe that, as both are one-off venues, how wonderful would it be if they kept everything in-house and handled all their own sales. a perfect opportunity, right? (can't seem to find any contact email for Terrapin either, but maybe that will come in due course). i recently read your article Mary, Burners Without Borders, and your musings about wishing 'Shakedown Street' was more Burning Man-like; "...would turn into–a group of creative, skilled people assembled for a common purpose to accomplish a shared goal". just would love to see that these two ventures maintain or generate such a spirit. but am really excited about what lays ahead. both venues are fantastic news.
  • Gr8fulTed
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    from the Marin Independent Journal
    Jonapi, I saw this while surfing around the 'net this morning: Sweetwater Music Hall tickets are available at http://sweetwatermusic hall.inticketing.com. From the same article, Phil Lesh announced that he's bought the Seafood Peddler restaurant in San Rafael and an adjacent ballroom he's transforming into a concert hall called "The Grate Room." Is this to be the Terrapin Crossroads?
  • sherbear
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    --------------------------------(-----@
    Alright! Thank you marye, xo!The Sweetwater Music Hall read was fantastic! Very special to have such a historic site in good hands. ----------------------------------(----@ Woo Hoo Indeed, xo! How about a new thread called the Newspaper. Trouble ahead and Trouble behind---isn't very fitting for such a great read. Current Events - does it but---(eye's crossed) only -kinda, xo. Okay, 1,000 other things to say but only time to say.... I love you, all, xo! Congradulations Bob and The Other Ones! @smmmmm- Sweetwater -@smmmmmmm
  • Anonymous (not verified)
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    good idea!
    good idea!i'll have to wait until their website is up and runnin' as i don't use Facebook.
  • marye
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    hey, it's a press release
    email 'em and ask for yourself! Seriously, never hurts to raise this stuff as an issue.
  • Anonymous (not verified)
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    sweet chariot
    the sweetwater return sounds mighty fine!way to go! will all the ticketing be handled 'in house' as it were, or do ticketmaster et al get their grubby hands on them? please say they've bypassed all that and are independent...
  • marye
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    meanwhile, more news on the Marin nightclub front
    here's a press release that I'm sure will make some folks happy: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sweetwater Music Hall to Open this January in Mill Valley Rebirth of Landmark Roots Music Venue Marks a New Chapter for San Francisco Bay Area Treasure Founded Nearly 25 Years Ago MILL VALLEY, CA (January 11, 2012) – The much-anticipated Sweetwater Music Hall – a community gathering place and live music venue dedicated to bringing back the Sweetwater’s musical legacy to Mill Valley – is set for a soft opening this January. The opening of Sweetwater Music Hall marks a rebirth of the landmark roots music venue and Bay Area treasure founded by original owner Jeanie Patterson nearly 25 years ago. A local venture that will be comprised of multiple investors including Bob Weir (Grateful Dead, Furthur) and other longtime supporters of Patterson’s club, the Sweetwater Music Hall is a state-of-the-art nightclub and café that will not only present nationally recognized top-quality entertainment but also will provide a comfortable home venue for local and emerging talent to perform and experiment. Through its intimate setting, the club is designed to be both a neighborhood hangout as well as a world-class entertainment destination employing cutting-edge Meyer Sound and streaming video technology capable of bringing exceptional live events to broader audiences. "For years, the Sweetwater was the place many of us local and visiting musicians headed to when we were looking to play for fun,” said Weir. “Well, our clubhouse is back – and it belongs to all of us. Woo hoo – Mill Valley finally has its playpen back! Here we go..." Located in the Masonic Hall at 19 Corte Madera Avenue in Mill Valley, the Sweetwater Music Hall will offer food, drinks and live music for all ages, including national and local headline musical acts; Open Mic Mondays with Marin County keys player Austin DeLone; as well as other types of performances and private events. The club also will offer residencies and master classes with accomplished artists beginning on opening weekend. In addition to entertainment, the Sweetwater Music Hall will include a full-service restaurant and on-site catering led by renowned chef-restaurateur Gordon Drysdale (Pizza Antica, Café de Amis), who will offer artfully crafted, fresh, locally sourced and organic fare. At the soft-service café, initial orders will be taken at the counter and served by staff; subsequent orders may be placed tableside. While initially focusing on evening and happy hour fare, it is expected that by spring the Sweetwater will introduce breakfast and lunch, patio dining and musical Sunday Brunches featuring fresh-squeezed juices and super-premium coffee from Stumptown Coffee Roasters. Over its nearly 25-year history, the original Sweetwater hosted performances by artists including Weir, Carlos Santana, Clarence Clemons, Elvis Costello, Gregg Allman, Huey Lewis, Jerry Garcia, Maria Muldaur, Sammy Hagar, Richie Havens and many other musical luminaries. In 1992, BBC Television shot a documentary at the club featuring Bonnie Raitt, John Lee Hooker and Ry Cooder. That same year, Hot Tuna recorded two live albums at the Sweetwater. The new club intends to carry on this storied tradition. Sweetwater Music Hall’s Live Music Calendar Sweetwater Music Hall’s opening month includes outstanding musical collaborations; guitar-slinging rock ‘n roll; old-school funk, Latin, reggae and R&B; global funk; acclaimed singer-songwriters; fun for the whole family; and the return of a rollicking community favorite, including: Friday, January 27: The Outlaws Born to the blue-collar port city of Tampa, Florida, in the early 1970s, The Outlaws established themselves as premiere players in the phenomenon that came to be known as Southern Rock. Driven by the band’s high-powered, guitar-driven country-rock and three-part harmony, The Outlaws' earliest hits include their AOR classic, “Green Grass and High Tides,” as well as “There Goes Another Love Song.” The band’s 1980 cover of "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky” was their biggest single chart success, reaching #31 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart. Today, The Outlaws are at the threshold of a new era, with original singer/songwriter/guitarist Henry Paul and original drummer/songwriter Monte Yoho, Chris Anderson, Billy Crain, Randy Threet and Dave Robbins.  Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. Tickets:  $31.50 Saturday & Sunday, January 28 & 29: Steve Kimock plus Special Guests Steve Kimock is widely regarded as the quintessential musician’s musician. For nearly four decades, Kimock has been inspiring music fans with his transcendent guitar speak. While one can say that his genre is rock, no one niche has ever confined him. Instead, through the years, he's explored various sounds and styles based on what's moved him at the time, whether it’s blues or jazz; funk or folk; psychedelic or boogie; traditional American or world fusion. Every Kimock show is a fresh exploration of expansive jams and euphoric grooves -- and whenever this master collaborator with deep Bay Area musical roots comes to town, magic is in the air.  Doors at 8 p.m., show at 9 p.m. Tickets: $40 in advance; $42 at the door Sunday, January 29: Master Class with Steve Kimock Bring your guitar and get ready for a rare opportunity to learn guitar technique from Steve Kimock in an intimate setting. Participate in hands-on instruction as the prolific guitar master discusses his approach to the instrument and some of the theory behind his technique. Limited seats are available for this very special event!  Doors at 1 p.m., master class at 2 p.m. Tickets: $67 in advance; $77 at the door Monday, January 30: Open Mic Monday A much-cherished Sweetwater tradition is back! Open Mic Monday returns to downtown Mill Valley at the Sweetwater Music Hall, hosted by Austin deLone. To sign up, email openmic@swmh.com on Mondays after 3 p.m.  Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m.  Monday, February 6: Open Mic Monday To sign up, email openmic@swmh.com on Mondays after 3 p.m.  Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m.  Wednesday, February 8: “Wednesday Night Live” with Mark Karan and Special Guests Best known for performing with the extended Grateful Dead family, Mark Karan’s soulful blues-based vocal stylings and inspired guitar work hit that sweet spot where rock meets R&B and country, then is blended with the soul of New Orleans and spiked with reggae, folk, funk and whatever else the muse might bring. At “Wednesday Night Live,” Karan will explore new material and approaches with drummer Dave Brogan (ALO); bassist Joe Kyle, Jr. (The Waybacks); Danny Eisenberg on keys (Mother Hips, Ryan Adams); drummer Billy Lee Lewis (Tommy Castro, Roy Rogers, Jemimah Puddleduck); new friends Robert Powell and David Phillips on guitars, pedal steel and dobro; and surprise guests.  Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. Tickets: $8 in advance, $10 at the door Sunday, February 12:  YouthRock the Rebuild Youth musicians from YouthRock the Rebuild (YRR) will host a concert to celebrate the return of Sweetwater Music Hall. The fun family event will include performances by Marin-based youth bands and vocalists. As a service organization, YRR is committed to raising money to support important causes. Proceeds from this concert will be donated to Kiddo! to help keep music and the arts as an integral part of our schools.  Doors at 4 p.m., show at 5 p.m. Tickets: $15 in advance, $20 at the door Monday, February 13: Open Mic Monday To sign up, email openmic@swmh.com on Mondays after 3 p.m.  Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m.  Friday, February 17: The 21st Annual Mardi Gras Mambofest with Rhythmtown-Jive and Special Guest Bonnie Hayes A special Louisiana musical package of original music and selected covers of New Orleans R&B, funk, swamp-pop and marching brass tunes by a top-tier dance combo of Bay Area players who have worked with the likes of Earl King, Frankie Ford, Dr. John, Zigaboo Modeliste and Leo Nocentelli of The Meters, Lee Allen, La Vern Baker, Queen Ida, Sly & The Family Stone, Allen Toussaint, Commander Cody, Jesse Colin Young and Boz Scaggs, to name a few. Featuring: Tim Eschliman (vocals, bass), Ken "Snakebite" Jacobs (bari-sax), Mike Rinta (trombone), Michael Peloquin (tenor sax, harp), Kevin Zuffi (piano), Jimmy Sanchez (drums), and special guest Bonnie Hayes (vocals, keys).  Doors at 8 p.m., show at 9 p.m. Tickets: $15 in advance, $17 at the door Saturday, February 18: Dan Bern with Common Rotation Singer-songwriter Dan Bern is joined by friends and collaborators Common Rotation for a special West Coast tour stop at the Sweetwater Music Hall. While Bern’s musical tales receive comparisons to those of Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie, most recently Bern has focused much of his talent and sharp wit on writing songs for movies and other projects. He composed songs for the Jake Kasdan/Judd Apatow spoof Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, starring John C. Reilly, as well as for Apatow’s Get Him to the Greek, starring Russell Brand and Jonah Hill. L.A.-based Common Rotation’s modern folk-rock features a melodic blend of acoustic guitar, trumpet, banjo, harmonica and cajon.  Doors at 8 p.m., show at 9 p.m. Tickets: $22 in advance, $24 at the door Monday, February 20: Open Mic Monday To sign up, email openmic@swmh.com on Mondays after 3 p.m.  Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m.  Wednesday, February 22: “Wednesday Night Live” with Mark Karan and Special Guests Ace axe man/signer Mark Karan (RatDog, Jemimah Puddleduck) explores new material and approaches with drummer Dave Brogan (ALO); bassist Joe Kyle, Jr. (The Waybacks); Danny Eisenberg on keys (Mother Hips, Ryan Adams); drummer Billy Lee Lewis (Tommy Castro, Roy Rogers, Jemimah Puddleduck); new friends Robert Powell and David Phillips on guitars, pedal steel and dobro; and surprise guests.  Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. Tickets: $8 in advance, $10 at the door Saturday, February 25: Vinyl Marin County’s favorite funky sons, Vinyl is the rare sort of band that can meld funk, Latin jazz, dub and reggae without coming across as pale imitators of the style of the moment. Instead, Vinyl can alternately sound like the best live funk, Latin, reggae or dub band you've heard in ages -- and occasionally, all at the same time. Instead of going for flash or gimmicks, Vinyl brings it with fierce musicianship and zesty abandon, proving you can have both substance and style. It's an approach that has made the band favorites of the festival circuit, but the best place to experience them is on the dance floor of a hot, sweaty indoor venue.  Doors at 8 p.m., show at 9 p.m. Tickets: $15 in advance, $17 at the door The Venue The first floor of the 107-year-old Masonic Lodge No. 356 in Mill Valley underwent an extensive renovation and has been transformed into a live music venue and café evoking the deconstructed elegance of a grand old home. Arriving at Sweetwater Music Hall, guests will walk through a courtyard and enter the café through four black French doors flanked by two courtyard lanterns. The café features an open kitchen and espresso bar, with classic French bistro tables and café chairs as well as a U-shaped pistachio-hued banquette. Walls dressed in exposed brick and warm camel color frame the space, while three chandeliers hang languidly from the high ceiling. Moving into the music hall, guests are welcomed by an inviting ambience marked by a blend of comfort, rawness, beautiful touches and hidden acoustics. Guests may choose between standing room or seating options that include a long deep burgundy velvet and leather-tufted banquette; cocktail tables and chairs in black and brass; generously sized drink ledges that double as seating; and at the back bar, elevated seating that provides great sight lines across the music hall. Walls cloaked in antiqued burlap wallpaper with stenciled gold transition seamlessly to the coved ceiling, which reveals exposed wood joist and pin-spot lighting at its center. Sound panels are fashioned as decorative wall panels, while Moroccan wall sconces, black casework and black drapery accent the space throughout. Those who frequented the original Sweetwater venue may notice two memorable pieces of artwork: two much-loved mermaid paintings that have been retrieved for display at Sweetwater Music Hall. Sweetwater Music Hall supports the San Francisco Bay Area Musicians Fund, the regional chapter of Sweet Relief Musicians Fund. A portion of all ticket sales will be donated to the non-profit charity organization, which provides financial assistance to all types of career musicians who are struggling to make ends meet while facing illness, disability or age-related problems. Tickets for all shows will be available at http://sweetwatermusichall.inticketing.com. For bookings, please contact General Manager KR Holt at booking@swmh.com or info@swmh.com. For more information, please call (415) 388-3850 or visit www.sweetwatermusichall.com or the Sweetwater Music Hall’s Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/pages/Sweetwater-Music-Hall/174766919255146
  • Anonymous (not verified)
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    tee hee!
    my apologies!
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Nuclear power! Carcinogenic cell phones! The Stanley Cup! and the usual parade of kids dancing and shaking their bones, politicians throwing stones, etc. Discuss.

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Although the popular vote will be very close the Democratic "Get-Out-The-Vote" operation will be blistering and Obama has a n 86% chance of winning the eletoral vote. The Romulans and Republicans in general lied and lied and lied and attacked women's reproductive rights, among every other decent thing under the sun. After a ton of hard work we should be all raising a glass of champagne to 4 more years of progressive policies. Many thanks to Bruce Springsteen for his efforts in support of the president!
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Will make a huge difference all around the world from Dubai to Mumbai to Shanghai. Like it or not you're a citizen of the Empire with all the rights and responsibilities. Jerry didn't give it any energy. Phil & Bob helped Obama four years ago. The Grateful Dead/Rex/Furthur support(ed) progressive policies that come from people like Barak Obama. I hate to sound pedantic, but this is the most important election until a progressive third party breaks through.
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and in the spirit of reaching across party lines, may some healing vibes and quality organic salve be applied to romney's booty for the severe spanking he received from his home state of massachusetts............ouch! "when life looks like easy street, .................."
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Congratulations to the President: may he enjoy a successful second term. Thank you all, especially the women voters, for supporting Barack Obama and surviving the barrage of negative advertising aka Rove and the Koch brothers. Washington and Colorado passed initiatives legalizing the recreational use of marijuana: wonder how long it will take Kansas to step in that direction??
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A truly great, Lincolnesque victory speech to a crowd of of 10k campaign workers who had to spend at least 20 hours knocking on doors. We should all hope that Republicans come to their senses and work to ensure health care, cuts in the military and a way to stop the interest on the national debt from going nuclear. In the words of Bush after his re-election: "I have earned political capital and i intend to use it." Bring it Mr. Obama!
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Democratic demographics: lost white men won blacks won hispanics won woman (single, married, single moms) won asians The Republicans are dead!
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Let's just say I have friends and family of all political persuasions, and I don't choose either for their politics. That said, I'm finding the plight of my lifelong-Republican sister, who cannot believe the hijacking of her party by the loonies, pretty interesting.
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reminds me of lama gonzo in some ways. Good wishes to either, or both?
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17 years 4 months
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That Gonzo done good this election cycle. Anna, if you're in touch, send him congrats.
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when second congressional district representative tammy baldwin was elected to the u.s. house of representatives, displacing a genuinely shocked tommy thompson (good riddance)! tammy will be the 77th woman in the house, the first woman from wisconsin in the house, and the very first non-incumbent, openly gay person to serve in congress. she is a true progressive and a leading advocate for universal healthcare, energy independence, civil rights and women's reproductive rights. i will probably never see the day when women rule the house and the senate ( or the country) with their hearts and their minds, but it sure did my heart good on tuesday night to see that this politically bipolar state thought with their hearts and minds and made history by electing a TRUE representative of the people. way to go wisconsin and congratulations to tammy baldwin! and . . . . . . .since this is called "trouble ahead, trouble behind" i'll say -- with reservation: the house remains red the senate is blue once again obama is screwed! the obstructionistic behavior from boehner and norquist and company has already started in full force and it looks likely that pres. obama is going to have one hell of a fight on his hands for the next 4 years (again) with these assholes. i sincerely hope i'm wrong.
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The only thing is now the legislature and governorship in WI is single-party controlled...
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hence the "politically bipolar". sure don't know how the hell tea party muppet scott walker got voted in as gov. along with a tea party majority state congress and then folks here turn around and vote for tammy over tommy, but it happened. glad, too. she's a great change from this state's "norm" ploliticos and a good seed to have been planted. you know what else, wtj? one of my favorite pastries is an eclaire...... :))))))))))) hehehe
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73 Saturday > 23 Monday, in KC. Thanks to those of us who pushed for, participated in and contributed to the recent reelection of our US president. Like Marye mentioned, I too have an older sister hell-bent on voting Republican, regardless of who they are and what they stand for. I hope Congress will avert the fiscal cliff dilemma now facing us. Don't laugh too hard when the Chiefs get throttled in Pittsburgh tonight on national tv....
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- from an ex-doorman who used to load his limos every other weekend for the hamptons and would receive a check for $50 at the holidays from the wealthiest resident of 740 park avenue, n.y. -- exclusive home of more billionaires than any other address in the u.s. this youn man was fired as a doorman from 740 park avenue when he inadvertantly opened the limo doors in "incorrect sequence", thus causing the poor billionaire's ego some undue and unwarranted distress .........
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The Republicans may be down but they are not out. When Obama and the liberals have spent the US into bankruptcy in 4 years, the Republicans will rise again and save the country.
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Stalin had a word for you Obama lackies - useful idiots. Voting for your own demise. Obamacare puts your health into the hands of big, bloated out of touch government. 2700 pages of rules, taxes and regulation. Try reading a page sometime. Not one person who voted for it read it. 2700 pages written by lobbyists and special intrest groups. It has already increased health care costs. If it was so good, why was the subject avoided on this year's campaign trail? Why wasn't it implimented immidiatly? Why don't the eletists who voted for it subject themselves to it? San Fran Nan (Pelosi) idiotically stated " We have to pass the bill to find out what is in it" - How stuipid! (For good reading some day look into how her Starkist Tuna operation in American Samoa benefitted from the stimulus package). Socialism has never worked and will never work. Piven, Ayers, Alinsky - smart people - They know how to turn their followers into useful idiots. Don't fall into the trap. I remember the sadness I felt when it was announced that Woodstock was a "free" concert. Many people worked countless hours to deliver a great product. The glee from people who stormed onto the concert site was disappointing. The generation who wanted something for nothing is now stealing from future generations to bolster their own power. We are trillions in debt. A trillion seconds ago it was 29,000 B.C. I despise government and want less of it. Look for candidates who promote freedom, property rights and individual liberty. Oooo freedom, Oooooo Liberty.
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It is okay to disagree here. It is not okay to call people names. Cut it out. ME, forum moderator
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are flying their flags at half mast
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the cupcakes with the squiggles on top any more? Back in the '50s, those things were hot stuff. Of course, back in the '50s they were probably made with real food ingredients, too.
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loved one of their products so much, they immortalized it in a song....... :) ...... (that's my belief and i'm stickin' with it) @mike: "a world without twinkies, ho hos,and ding dongs" who among us would be left? :D.....lol
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I loved those little cupcakes. I would peel off the frosting skin and eat that first before making my way to the cake. Life used to be so simple.
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The arctic ice cap melted down to a record 24% ice-cap (in other words 76% ice free). 97% of the Greenland ice sheet was melting this year. Read the article from the NY Times @ nytimes.com/2012/09/20/science/earth/arctic-sea-ice-stops-melting-but-new-record-low-is-set.html?_r=0. 350.org, an environmental group crunching the numbers, with the help of Price, Warterhouse, Coopers, says that 2% is the amount of global rise in temperature that can be tolerated (a figure accepted by scientists worldwide). We are at 1%. The amount of carbon that can be spewed in the air before we reach that 2%, total, is 587 gigatons. The amount of carbon based fuels stockpiled ALREADY, by companies such as Exxon-Mobil and Peabody coal is 2800 gigatons. The Keystone Pipeline will be the first environmental test for the Obama Administration. Even if he doesn't go after that project there are other projects in the works to bring tar sands oil to export from the Gulf of Mexico states. Sandy showed our planet is changing. Extremes are the new norm. There is a large measure of psychic-numbing out there. Not to mention poor people in W. Virginia in the coal industry wanting their jobs in coal and being forced by their companies to contribute to Romney super-pacs. Global warming is mutating our planet. It doesn't matter who is to blame. I hope the restored Rex Foundation gives 350.org a grant. There is no place to live, no matter how much money you have, not to be effected by this.
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"A system of conservation based solely on economic self-interest is hopelessly lopsided. It tends to ignore, and thus eventually to eliminate, many elements in the land community that lack commercial value, but that are (as far as we know) essential to its healthy functioning. It assumes, falsely, I think, that the economic parts of the biotic clock will function without the uneconomic parts. It tends to relegate to government many functions eventually too large, too complex, or too widely dispersed to be performed by government. "An ethical obligation on the part of the private owner is the only visible remedy for these situations." – Aldo Leopold
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The essential philosophy of the last Bush Administration was that "God" put the whole planet at our disposal to profit from. The landowner has a moral duty and responsibility to take stewardship. collectively, of that land which he does not own. I see both extremes where I live in Vermont. People who dump their garbage over a hill (it cost money to dispose of garbage, never mind recycle) , into a watershed and people who show up annually for "Green-up Vermont" day and pick up the garbage as well as being active in their local communities about land use all year round.
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Those vowing the Republicans will rise again. Ain't gonna happen unless they learn GOTV (Get Out The Vote). Billions spent by Karl Rove's and Koch's on negative advertizing couldn't defeat the ground operation. There are more people at the bottom than the top. Keep on demonizing, Rush You're pushing them right into our column.
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that voting for the extremist candidate who wants to gut social security, medicare, the epa, and privatize everything in sight -- all paul ryan objectives (and an ayn rand, "atlas shrugged" devotee) -- would be voting for your own demise, but that's just me.
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I think this election has shown the nation what a bag of nuts and bolts the Republican party truly is. The fact that "legitimate rape" was a discussion that made its way to the political stratosphere shows just how out of touch the Conservative brand is from the rest of the nation. Personally, as father to a daughter, there's no way in Hades I'd vote Republican after that kind of talk was entertained. Another big problem we have in this country is the media, and I'm not just talking about Fox News; the media has been allowed to get away with contorting and/or flat-out making up facts to persuade/dissuade the public, and it's appalling. Whatever responsibility to the public the media of yesteryear pledged, that code of ethics and conduct died out long ago. The problem is that they have no one but themselves to answer to, and they are the primary outlet for any and all information the majority of Americans receive on a regular basis. Morale Majority my left foot....
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it's really real....... reality sank in today when i was in my local grocery store, and the hostess section was already wiped out! no more suzy-q creamy particles to wipe off my face no more munchie time, no more lunchie time no more "any" time. hostess produced a fine line of laboratory made, industrial grade survival foods a culinary symphony of sugar, fat, and all things artificial with an ingredient list that only an accomplished chemist could appreciate chewy, gooey and who didn't feel better with a hostess product in their hand? just seeing the box brought about a sense of mild euphoria (i was pavlov's dog, incarnate, at the sight of a fresh suzy-q) not to mention that all hostess products qualified as an important part of a balanced vegetarian diet "the times they are a changin' " this is TRULY sweet - sorrow....... :(
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In case you haven't heard, the latest is Hostess will get a reprieve. All this talk is part of a hardball game between management and unionized bakers. The latest court challenge has rejected management's bankruptcy request...so that means prepare for frosting.
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i hadn't heard. that is definitely good news. ever since friday, i thought that maybe this really was the event the mayans were predicting.i feel cautiously optimistic now.............. maybe there's hope for those store shelves after all. and thanks, mike, for the link.............cool article.
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Been having difficulties with posting lately. Usually I get some kind of timing-out error message, but then when I check, the post is actually there. But right now I'm just filling up space to get rid of the double post that just occurred (I only hit save once, I swear!).
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Twinkies are still being produced in Canada. Road trip!
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Hope everybody out there has a happy, healthy and safe holiday weekend. (PS) Slow down, relax, listen to music in the car, no need to text while driving...
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17 years 3 months
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Happy Thanksgiving y'all! Just made another WAG on 30 Days of November: haven't spent a lot of time on researching the daily selections. Appreciate the "picks" and the fun provided by DL. Sure hope the winter precipitation starts happening in the draught-stricken Rockies and great plains region: Hardly any snow on the mountains at Steamboat this morning.
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14 years 10 months
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The Patriots lost Rob Gronkowski last week to a broken arm and I thought they might have a hard time against the Jets, a divisional rival like the Dolphins that often give them fits. No need to worry. Brady & Company, with superb coaching of Bellichek (His 200th career victory), jacked the Jets, stealing the football 5 times and marching easily up the field on offense to chew up the clock. In the last two games the Pats have scored 59 and 49 points respectively. Their defense ain't nothing to sneeze at either. With a seven and one divisional record, they are going to the playoffs with a first-round bye -- nobody close! Imagine when they are healthy? Gronkowski is due back for the playoffs. This Thanksgiving Day the Lions game was far more interesting to watch.
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17 years 4 months
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The rich got richer and the poor got poorer, while I had a leftover turkey sandwich and graded student essays, which is my plan for today and tomorrow too.
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14 years 10 months
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The election is over and people are trying to breath a sigh of relief. No need to talk about this again. Unfortunately, the fiscal cliff has thrown it back in our face. To be clear, it is about taxes and balancing the budget. The bad news is that it is is a one-sided debate. We have the debate being driven by old-fashioned conservative "balance-the-books" conservatives. Only today the Keynsians have raised their heads to chime in about the debate. The Brits and Europeans have gone through the conservative approach before and have now found themselves bogged down in a double-dip recession. The liberals are now floating more Keynsian ideas that would include the best of Obama's ideas (tax the freakin' rich) close loopholes, raise the capital gains tax to 20% and gut the military-industrial complex. Make cosmetic changes to entitlement programs, mostly making sure the rich can't take advantage of them. Then spend money on creating jobs, mostly by rebuilding America's infrastructure. We could have 4% growth in this country with that policy. The only thing standing in the way is the Republicans. Next time somebody asks you about the "Fiscal Cliff" give them this version or a variant for an answer, don't let somebody else's agenda dominate the debate.
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14 years 10 months
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President Obama has personally approved 2500 drone strikes in his first four years. Talk about karma! Most of the people killed had it coming. They were plotting against us and would kill innocent people. This is a major escalation in the drone method, which allows us to attack enemies in countries where we have not declared war. The Obama administration, it was revealed today, made up rules to make sure the President always has the final say, instead of delegating the responsibility to others. They were afraid of what Mitt might do. People have remarked on the cold steeliness of Barak Obama. He is not a man to be crossed. I think people who doubt his resolve should watch how the Iranian nuke problem plays out...
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14 years 10 months
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Palestine was admitted to the UN as an observer state last week. The entire world, 139 countries, voted for the resolution and two voted against, the US and Israel. Listening to the talking heads justifying the US move made me laugh out loud. The building of Israeli settlements is now the hugest obstacle to peace in the matter and the US insists it is other factors that are to blame. For a better understanding of how the US relates to Israel and against Palestine in this humanitarian tragedy, the building of the largest and most densely populated slum in the world, read Noam Chomsky's words on the subject. I don't have a specific book right off the top of my head, just google it and you'll find multiple words of his on the subject by Chomsky. What is the old saying? Treat other people the way you would like yourself to be treated? Israel should heed those words. Perhaps it wouldn't find itself reviled around the world.
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14 years 10 months
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Royal Dutch Shell has announced publicly that through expansion of fracking shale oil and natural gas production the US will become the world's leading energy producer within ten years. This will in turn produce a manufacturing(!?!) boom in the US as energy is the driving cost factor in sending jobs overseas. It will now be again cheaper for manufacturing (and better for the environment) to be done in the US, most probably in the mid-west. This is a major WOW factor for the US. For the next 100 years we are guaranteed to be the strongest economy on the planet and our political ties to the Mid-East will change forever.
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14 years 10 months
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Because Israel has announced new settlements in Gaza & the West Bank. Imagine in ten years when the US will no longer be that interested in the Middle East? Perhaps the 5 billion dollars a year in foreign aid to Israel can be used for more worthwhile causes within our own country.
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17 years 3 months
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I hope you west coasters are doing okay with all the rain these past few days. The moisture has moved mostly northeast due to the jet stream and the strong gulf air pushing dry air north through the great plains, where we're setting high temp records. We can't buy a raindrop in eastern Kansas. Colorado ski resorts are hurting for snow. What snowfall amounts are registering in the Cascades and Sierras?
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14 years 10 months
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You would be a good one to enter this Dogfish contest.
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14 years 10 months
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I never condone violence. I only highlight this to show how pissed-off people are that the government is going to screw with our medicare and social security benefits, raising the retirement age to 67. Not a done deal you say? We elected Obama and he'll save the day you say? Don't count on it. The Democrats are going to cut a deal eventually that will include these provisions. Why do i know this? Because Democratic spokespeople like Howard dean are saying it already. Screw that and screw the democrats. We worked hard to retire at 65 and and NOBODY should be able to take that from us. All people who have their heads buried in the sand and don't listen to the news or have anything to do with politics? LISTEN! You won't be able to retire at 65 anymore unless you're in the top five percent of income earners. Are you? Do you have a combined income of more than 250k a year and have planned so well for retirement that you don't need these two things? Well aren't you special! I need them. I worked hard for them. This whole drama of the fiscal cliff is a bad morality play with bad actors and a bad script!!!