Good morning, firepups!

It’s snowing in East Tennessee.

Good morning! I just turned on the news to see when it is going to start here.

It’s 26 degrees here in Central TX….cold is not my favorite.

NPR coverage about Senate slowing down the health care bill…Hard not to be depressed…bill just wants to expand gov’ment. Good Morning..stay warm.

Morning all. We have a warming trend here and I may spend spme time outside. Yesterday it was -2 but this morning it is all the way up to 14.

Looking at heavy hard frost on the rooftops nearby, in N.TX.
Listened to the health care debate last week as well, RevBev, am astonished at the brazen lies the right wingers persist in. Though it’s comforting to see that I am increasingly joined by the press itself, especially as McAyn combats the stance he promoted in his campaign, for cutting fraud expense in Medicare, reversing himself with every word he utters now on the floor of the Senate.

Is it snowing?

Wow…much too cold for me.

Not here…flakes were predicted yesterday, but missed this area; some not so far away. And thankfully supposed to warm up.;)

Many times, I force myself to just sit and do absolutely nothing. Just meditate or listen to music.

Good morning DeVeria.

Outstanding book of snowflake photographs. Page through to see several.

It’s snowing in East Tennessee

WOW. I am just below you all. Hope it gets here –. Just enough to be pretty.

I just saw on the MSNBC scroll something about Max Bauccus returning “favors” from a staff member with a government appointment. Anybody know anything about it?

Now maybe the rest of the country will look at Bauccus for the slime ball he is. Nothing like a sex scandal to focus attention.(sigh) Selling out the health of the entire nation to corporate moguls is nothing compared to adultry.

What a country.

Then why do I still have to listen to Ensign and Vitter and the like?

I’m actually a little excited about the little snow we are supposed to get.

I think I am going to try to do that for a little while everyday. I love music and I go to bed with my music on, but that’s not the same thing.

Nice

yes, what a country

When I tuned into WJ, the first item I heard went something like this: Baucus recommend someone he was having an affair with for U.S. Atty. She later withdrew.

You can check online Washington Post, frontpage..

Here’s the link.

Good point.

No one will care about this. He was already separated from his wife, and the article on MSNBC went to the trouble of pointing out:

Just on Friday, Baucus went against his party and backed a Republican effort to eliminate a long-term care insurance program to help seniors and the disabled. Republicans argued that the new plan would be a drain on the federal budget.

So he’s burnished his centrist bona fides. No prob, he’s OK.

Thanks. I’ll take a look.

He had forwarded a list with four names on it as suggestions. She was one of the four and another one from the list was nominated. Not that it matters because spineless Reid is honoring all of the rethug holds on nominees and not bringing up for a vote.

Good Morning, DeVeria.

It’s 22 degrees here with our first snowflakes of the season floating down. I love it.

Yoga is great to help you not only stretch but relax, as well. I use the relaxation yoga that helps me focus and mindfully relax each part of my body.

Music is good, too. :)

Darcy Burner on WashJournal decimating the insurers’ run health care.

On Friday, Baucus went against his party and backed a Republican effort to eliminate a long-term care insurance program to help seniors and the disabled. Republicans argued that the new plan would be a drain on the federal budget.

The Democrat has also been in the middle of other congressional battles: He played a key role in 2003 legislation adding a prescription-drug benefit to the Medicare program and enactment of President George W. Bush’s tax cuts in 2001.

From the Washington Post article on Bauccus. I guess the arrangement with his sweetie is just further establishing his credentials as a Repug in Dem clothing..

Good morning, pups. It’s Collins, Blow and Herbert today. Ms. Collins, in “The Lost Weekend,” says if Republicans can’t kill the health care bill completely, they seem intent on raising its price tag, which can only be explained as crass political calculation. Well, Gail dear, that’s what they do. Mr. Blow, in “Black in the Age of Obama,” says blacks are living a tale of two Americas — one of the ascension of the first black president; the other of a collapsing quality of life and amplified racial tensions. Mr. Herbert, in “In Search of Education Leaders,” says to help address the crisis in education, Harvard is creating a new, tuition-free doctoral degree to be focused on leadership in education.

Here they are.

The coffee, tea and hot chocolate are ready, and I’ve got waffles with warm maple syrup and/or a dusting of confectioner’s sugar. It’s about 48° and rainy here, which makes it a perfect day for what we have planned. This is the day when we really gear up on Christmas cookie production. We already have some chocolate chip cookies and peanut butter cookies with chocolate stars made, and I made the dough for spice cookies last night because that needs to chill overnight. Chocolate drop cookies, oatmeal lace cookies and sugar cookies are also on the agenda. Later on I’ll put the recipes up on my wee bloggy thingy if anyone wants to try them. Have a great day.

I just saw on the MSNBC scroll something about Max Bauccus returning “favors” from a staff member with a government appointment. Anybody know anything about it?

I kinda disagree with Riesz @ 21 when s/he says, “No one will care about it.” If all anyone sees is that crawler at msnbc, “Dems do it too!” is gonna be the immediate reaction…….all of us here know how little attention most of the country (or the media) pays to any kind of in-depth analysis. One of the few things at which the thugs excel is blowing up any speck of questionable behavior into a major conflagration…..when it involves someone with a (D) after his/her name. :-(((

Good morning DeVeria,
I am not ready for snow,
One thing I’ll do for myself today, for an hour, is turn off the “noise” of politics and other news. I let it overwhelm me.

Am in the midst of testing a new recipe for shortbread cookies (in freeze/slice/bake form) for a reception for the local beautification club’s Christmas Tour of Houses. Hope it is good b/c I luvs me some shortbread in any form.

And if I had homemade cookies, I’d eat them.

Good Morning, Firepups…

Woke up way too early to the sound of the smoke detector chirping importunately. As ever, trying to track down the culprit has proven elusive, however. Sorta like going to the car repair shop to tell them about “that sound” which invariably goes deafeningly silent the instant you begin describing the problem to the mechanic. But I digress…

I’ve been ruminating about the President over a cuppa. My conclusion, I’m afraid, is (in no particular order):

Healthcare – Bust
Stopping the looting of the Treasury by the “financial services industry” – Bust
Upping the ante in Afghanistan – Bust
Infrastructure upgrades / Jobs creation – Bust
Copenhagen – Pending.

Did I miss any biggies?

Maybe time for another cuppa. Perhaps I’ll wake up and find out it’s been a nightmare all along.

We make lots. They’re on the counter, so take some!

Good Morning, Ellie.
Break out the mixer. I made some sugar cookies last night, but they were the lazy break apart dough kind. I was watching a friend’s 3 1/2 year old for four hours! Yikes. Nice kid. Very precocious. We played the piano together. Then marbles. Then coloring book. Then, I broke down and put on a Disney movie. Whew. Maybe I’ll stop complaining that I don’t have grandchildren yet. *g*

Why thank you, can I get you some milk?

A half gallon of heavy cream is left from Thanksgiving. Not ultra pasturized – gotta do something with it today before it’s too late.

Lemon cream pies with meringue crusts or boiled custard? Tough choice.

Great recipe for lemon shortbread in The New Basics.

Torture?

Thanks. Can’t have chocolate chip cookies without it!

Often times….. even before they’re baked…especially in the case of icebox cookies. Apologies for talking with my mouth full. *G*

Also Ruth Marcus….the most trivializing voice in news, IMHO. Still, she must comment a Non-comment on Tiger. As in who cares what she thinks she shouldn’t opine but does…Trivial and maybe nuts?

Sounds like those ratbastards want to pull the plug on grandma.

-G

Natch. I’d say the jury is still out on that one. Wait. What jury?

Today will be a good day to watch college football. There are several good games. The Florida v. Alabama game might be for the national title.

Hi Waccamaw.

I’m a “he”. :-)

Well, if the thugs go after Max Baucus I’ll be cheering them on!

Purist here…..vanilla and/or almond only…other flavors need not apply. *g* Tho’ this particular recipe does give three variations: cranberry-orange, toffee-espresso, and coconut-macadamia.

I’ll do lemon in anything.

sounds delicious!

tell me about it

I love shortbread cookies!

And TX v who?

I have thought about trying yoga…I heard it does wonders to relax you.

I just saw on the MSNBC scroll something about Max Bauccus returning “favors” from a staff member with a government appointment. Anybody know anything about it?

Hi, TalkingStick!

Somebody at DKos has a post on the RecList called:

Max Baucus’ Mistress’ Interesting Past

I can’t create a link to it.

He *does* come across as a pompous, sanctimonious SOB, does he not?

me too!

Definitely lemon cream pies!

I’m doing something for myself this weekend: I sing with the symphony chorus, and we are doing a concert this weekend. Stravinsky and Rachmaninoff, fortunately not in Russian. Singing is a real treat for me. Later this month, we do the Messiah, which is a great pleasure for me. I like the rehearsals, too.

That sounds like a good idea. I love pro football, but I haven’t looked at college football in years.

Does Max’s wife have access to a golf club?

Now that sounds like a great outlet. I used to sing all the time in church, but now not as much.

I would recommend it. The college game is more varied and played at a brisker pace.

LOL

do you know what time?

I use Patricia Walden’s PM Yoga. I like it a lot.

She has an hour long tape, too, for beginners that is really uplifting and relaxing at the same time–I know that sounds odd, but it reinvigorates without feeling “hyper”. At least, for me, it does.

The PM yoga is a quick tape–about 20-30 minutes, so it’s easy to fit into a busy schedule.

4:00 o’clock eastern.
http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/12614529/weekend-watch-list-gearing-up-for-the-biggest-sec-title-game-ever

I’ll check it out…

Yeah, what else is new?

thanks…I’m gonna set my tv

Mornin’, DeVeria, pups

He and wife are separated. In March Max nominated his girlfriend for US Attorney. She withdrew cuz of a better opportunity. HuffPo

Go Gators!!

Be prepared for a great game. I bought a bottle of nitro for all the heart attacks the Gators are gonna give me. *g*

I’ll be watching, but also Texas vs. Nebraska at 7:00 CST.

hmm

much livelier, more risks taken, and not always content with the field gold – as compared to the pros.

And then there’s pew wee football :)

Great. You might be able to obtain a copy at your library to “try before you buy”.

Off to start the day. Enjoy the game today.

so you are saying I should go for Florida, huh?

Thanks…have a good one!

HIi PhilK

Thanks. I will check it out. Looks like more of the Same old Same old.

How are the Cornhuskers and corn flakes different?

Naw, you gotta choose on yer own. *g*

Okay, I give up. How? (The answer to that one won’t hurt my feelings. Just don’t follow with any Longhorn jokes.)

Corn flakes belong in a bowl.

lol.

Crosstimbers, Is it true the Texas legislature is considering raising the drinking age to 24?

see…

I hadn’t heard that. I seriously try to avoid learning much about day to day news about Texas government, since there’s nothing short term I can do about it.

I heard they want to keep alcohol out of the high schools.

Probably true. Don’t want to mix guns and alcohol.

A first grade teacher explains to her class that she is a Horn fan. She asks her students to raise their hands if they are Horn fans too.

Not knowing what a Hornfan is, but wanting to be liked by their teacher, their hands fly into the air. There is, however, one exception. A little boy named Johnny has not gone along with the crowd.

The teacher asks him why he has decided to be different. “Because I’m not a Horn fan” he retorts.

“Then,” asks the teacher, “What are you?”

“I’m a proud Husker fan!” boasts the little boy.

The teacher is a little perturbed now, her face slightly red. She asks Johnny why he is a Husker fan.

Well, my Dad and Mom are Husker fans, so I’m a Husker fan too, he responds.

The teacher is now angry. “That’s no reason,” she says loudly. “What if your Mom was a moron, and your dad was an idiot. What would you be then?”

Johnny smiles and says, “Then I’d be a Horn fan.”

No fair converting Aggie jokes.

OK, as usual, you are a good sport. So, I won’t go on.

It’s snowing!!!

[modnote: Please forward all comments, suggestions and story tips to firedoglake [at] gmail.com]

My critical, but polite comment has twice been censored completely from this site. If all you want is honey, please specify that in your invitation to people to comment.

Thanks DeVeria!

Hi, y’all, if anyone is still here. I stayed up way too late watching a movie and thus slept even later than usual.

My treat for myself this weekend is to go to the local ballet’s performance of “The Nutcracker” tomorrow. Don’t know any kids to take along, so I’m going just cause I love it. Went last year for the first time in decades; may make it an annual thing.

Waccamaw – hope your shortbread turns out well. The best recipe I know is from Rose Levy Birnabaum’s Christmas Cookies. It’s foolproof, if you follow the very detailed instructions exactly. Done in a food processor.

My ex loved shortbread and experimented with different recipes til he found this one; people given those cookies always rave.