tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-561217888833448692024-03-16T08:07:49.987+01:00palingatesreginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04311352941909440862noreply@blogger.comBlogger1696125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56121788883344869.post-38436817737120939662011-10-15T15:00:00.000+02:002015-05-31T02:09:03.573+02:00Bye bye, SarahThis week has been very liberating for me. I'm convinced that I wrote everything I could possibly have written about Sarah Palin. However outrageous her behaviour from now on, it would just be a replay of some previous idiocy.<br />
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There are excellent blogs on my blog list where you can follow her antics, some of them still pursuing the truth about Babygate, always a very popular topic.<br />
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I won't be writing main posts anymore and I think it's pointless to keep a political blog running on open threads alone. I designed a new blog back in February, when the fate of Palingates was uncertain. The idea was to do what we normally do on the open threads: A mix of everything, with contributions from the readers or anything that took my fancy. It's time to bring it to life!<br />
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As Palingates will be frozen in time and comments will automatically close after fourteen days, all readers are invited to continue chatting, sharing and venting <b><a href="http://whattimeisoclock.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">HERE</span></a></b>. I believe this community deserves a dedicated space to continue to pursue their friendships and I hope you'll feel comfortable in the new home. That means there will be no open thread on Palingates today... or tomorrow or the day after...<br />
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I may not post on Palingates anymore, but the blog list will be automatically updated as usual, so you may continue to use it to access other blogs, if you wish.<br />
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It's been fun for two and a half years and I'm grateful to Sarah Palin for bringing us together.<br />
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Bye bye, Sarah.<br />
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reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917700680229397609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56121788883344869.post-17637998990192278702011-10-15T13:00:00.000+02:002015-05-31T02:43:46.329+02:00Sarah Palin<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1x22nWTcrkvBKJk4BlGI0sJzTm_vF6mkFuEdAEpzhue8lQreWVzr-WA5C799nr7Qo5it6cn41_kIncWGBydIuFEyMnP4rsimiayVszc6pIS_hWyvpM4dpN5R-UluslG9tE1CaD4i9Q/s1600/the+tongue+purple.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568029016475626562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1x22nWTcrkvBKJk4BlGI0sJzTm_vF6mkFuEdAEpzhue8lQreWVzr-WA5C799nr7Qo5it6cn41_kIncWGBydIuFEyMnP4rsimiayVszc6pIS_hWyvpM4dpN5R-UluslG9tE1CaD4i9Q/s400/the+tongue+purple.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 352px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 295px;" /></a><br />
I started this blog a few months after Sarah Palin returned to Alaska, having lost the election to Obama. She was still the governor and I focused on her record and on her day-to-day "governing." How things have changed!<br />
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Today Sarah Palin is the mouthpiece and poster girl for the ultra-conservative movement that gained momentum in the wake of Barack Obama's arrival in the White House. That's a very important detail, a black man at the helm, swimming against the current, with the economy in freefall. Perfect.<br />
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But what's Sarah Palin's role? Who is this woman and where did she come from? We have been scratching our heads, asking many questions and looking for the answers since McCain presented her to the world at large. Before that day, there she was chugging along, pretending to govern the largest, wildest state in the US and all that.<br />
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In the absence of proper vetting from the McCain people, we took it upon ourselves to find out what was behind this hockey-mom of five and lipstick wearing pit bull.<br />
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We went way back, to her city councillor and mayor of Wasilla days. I want to have another look at her good old days, but from a slightly different perspective and starting a little bit further back into the past.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTe5PWu8qmzJSz8lvONNRJhVykYJr_AfdAtQIMhNjTkveUS-btuGb1YN52phRwoclb4gA3FU6BEh7l5igcOEJYgpvUodARIPdJdeORnbl9_6NfyVsEWQIxc2e8IRwFAD8tPZkvAHA2w/s1600/sp+flute.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568031101601055202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTe5PWu8qmzJSz8lvONNRJhVykYJr_AfdAtQIMhNjTkveUS-btuGb1YN52phRwoclb4gA3FU6BEh7l5igcOEJYgpvUodARIPdJdeORnbl9_6NfyVsEWQIxc2e8IRwFAD8tPZkvAHA2w/s400/sp+flute.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 202px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 314px;" /></a>In 1983 Linda Menard talked Sarah Louise Heath into entering a beauty pageant to win some tuition money for college. Sarah says she was reluctant (Going Rogue), but decided to give it a try, the tuition money would be worth any embarassement she had to endure. She won the Miss Wasilla leg of the contest and went on to become the second runner-up in the Miss Alaska pageant, with a Miss Congeniality trophy on her mantelpiece as a bonus. Sarah has a fragile ego, her sense of self is based on the input from people around her. When Linda Menard suggested that Sarah should enter a "who's the fairest of them all" competition, was she really telling Sarah that she was indeed the prettiest girl in Wasilla? Did other people tell her the same thing? I believe they did. And they did it with the best of intentions, their minds were on the tuition money. Strut your stuff, sister, play your flute, that would be neat. Sarah would be able to continue her education and make something of herself. So they flattered and reassured her about what she could achieve.<br />
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But Sarah started to believe she was the prettiest (not quite) and also the nicest girl in Alaska. Don't get me wrong, she was a good looking girl and possibly a nice enough lass. But not the fairest of them all... No beauty contest winner is, and probably most of them know it. But not our Sarah. Low self-esteem makes people believe in certain things so they feel better about themselves, they feel bigger and stronger. Sarah wasn't terribly interested in education but went college hopping anyway - feeling pretty and congenial. So far, not much harm had been done.<br />
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Moving on to politics, that's when things start taking a less savoury turn. Opportunists can spot a useful tool (fool?) a mile away. I guess the AIP, the Dominionists and the very conservative Texans and Oklahomans who lusted after the Alaskan oil considered this ambitious but vulnerable person a fantastic find. If she was susceptible to the well intentioned flattery of people who loved her, she was just as likely to buy it from these groups. The prize was bigger. It would validate her in a much more desirable sphere, she would become an important person, not just a pretty face. We all know she couldn't do the job and so did she, but that wasn't important to her at that point, she would get around it somehow. Somewhere down the line, she convinced herself that hell yeah, she could not only do that job, but could do bigger ones as well. The people who put her there kept on feeding her illusions, this pretty woman would go far and deliver them what they wanted. Power, what else?<br />
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Sarah took aim at bigger and better prizes. She ran for lieutenant-governor and didn't make it, she thought she was going to be appointed to a Senate seat in Washington, DC and didn't make it. She warmed a seat at the Oil & Gas Commission for a while, then decided to go for the top position in Alaska and made it this time. I don't believe for one minute that she plotted her own way into that mansion in Juneau. Our opportunists above had reached their goal and Sarah convinced herself that she was qualified for any job as she cleared each hurdle. Life was good for Sarah.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3QPpTvfl-pvxAyCsX6kXpVkzem5boKdOzXOc5Q41y0XHOqGToAWdzpl8KLixkPx7D3Ks5oUdwueGW57z3Nk-PPnI6J0q89dGkjC6UdcJF7GQwSyS61ORynXIRHaTArON4G8w6Df24GQ/s1600/sp+sworn+in.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568035109698850002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3QPpTvfl-pvxAyCsX6kXpVkzem5boKdOzXOc5Q41y0XHOqGToAWdzpl8KLixkPx7D3Ks5oUdwueGW57z3Nk-PPnI6J0q89dGkjC6UdcJF7GQwSyS61ORynXIRHaTArON4G8w6Df24GQ/s320/sp+sworn+in.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 251px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>She was ambitious, enjoyed the good things in life and saw nothing wrong with making the most of her position to score a few state funded freebies for family and friends.<br />
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Then McCain won the primaries. His campaign needed a presentable woman so they could bank on the Hillary effect. There were loads of disgruntled women up and down the country who were very cheesed off when Obama beat Hillary Clinton in the primaries. Hey, how about that Sarah from Alaska? Opportunists in shinier suits had spotted her. It had happened again.<br />
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Yes, she was ready. No, she didn't blink. Sarah's ego felt warm and toasty. And a myth was born.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguDktY-JdMekLlnWd23D-JtXwaTNUNHoJTWUijVzTbnPGodsON0PHinropV3zmOEDyaHIO0f3hjIYXInEyxi6HUwW_kLNPunT42d6aemT2Du93JXlNFflsP6RWAbPXQi04ALjhm27sRg/s1600/sp+suit.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568035637514520194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguDktY-JdMekLlnWd23D-JtXwaTNUNHoJTWUijVzTbnPGodsON0PHinropV3zmOEDyaHIO0f3hjIYXInEyxi6HUwW_kLNPunT42d6aemT2Du93JXlNFflsP6RWAbPXQi04ALjhm27sRg/s400/sp+suit.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 289px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 176px;" /></a>Sarah Palin does have a magnetic presence. She evokes strong reactions in people, whether they love her or loathe her. We know that she's reactive, so the criticism directed at her bolstered her ego in the same measure as the flattery she received. She wasn't being criticized bacause she was incompetent, nooo. It was because she was a woman, because she had a large family, because she had chosen to have a child with Down syndrome, because she was loved by so many, because, because...<br />
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Election lost, Obama in the White House, back to Alaska.<br />
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Back to Alaska... The unofficial vetting of Sarah Palin opened the eyes of many Alaskans to a less than flattering picture of their governor. They found her to be somewhat lacking in the ethics department. The complaints multiplied in rapid succession while she half-heartedly carried out her duties as governor. Maybe the opportunists in Alaska had lost some of their interest in her and she was at a lose end, drifting and dreaming of all the glory that could have been hers.<br />
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Some adoring groups had been formed in the Lower 48, notably C4P. The media still liked her, she sold well. Everybody still talked about her. Perhaps things weren't so bad after all. I don't think she could do much more other than dream at that point. A few magazine covers for herself and the hapless Bristol was the best she could hope for.<br />
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Enter our sinister characters from outside Alaska. Hey, that Sarah from Alaska seems to be still very popular, couldn't we use her again? Everybody talks about her, people are still talking about pregnancies and her daughter or something like that all the time and those C4P people worship at her feet. The media is doing very well from all her stories. Good or bad, folks can't get enough of this woman and the rest of the clan. Hey, she's still quite hot too. We could repackage the girl and that whole family of hers and they would come in handy, don't you think?<br />
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Oh yes, and how! They made her an offer she couldn't refuse. Listen, Sarah from Alaska, we think you would make a great president. But you would have to leave this governor gig behind. We need to raise your profile, make you really presidential. Publishing your memoirs woud be a great start. It worked for Obama and it would put some dollars in the bank. That can't be bad, eh? You need to be seen and heard all the time, how about a Fox News contract? Oh, and speaking engagements, starting with one abroad. Foreign policy credentials, you know? You already have the Twitter and Facebook thingies covered, clever girl! We need to raise money as well, a Pac would be ideal. Anybody who wants to be president has one, what do you say? Oh, you have that covered as well? You clever, clever, clever girl! There might be something in it for your lovely family as well. What say you? Are you with us?<br />
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This time she blinked, repeatedly, but it was from excitement, not hesitation. Hell yeah, I'm outta here! Not so fast, Sarah. We need Alaska to build up your image. You know how fascinated those people in the Lower 48 are with this beautiful state, the last frontier, and how much they admire your tough image, you hunt, you fish, you're sooo fantastic.<br />
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You know the rest. We had to suffer the tweets, the Facebook notes, the op-eds, Going Rogue, America by Heart, the Tea Party rallies, the Beck/Palin jamboree, the Fox News interviews, the pedophile labels she attaches to her foes, the death panels, "Sarah Palin's Alaska", the crosshairs, the surveyor signs, the "Blood Libel", the abstinence, Candies, Dancing with the Stars and much much much more.<br />
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Sarah Palin and her family are in our faces all the time, day after day. We direct all our venom at the Palins. We talk about Sarah's wigs, her lips, her boobs, her clothes. We talk about Todd and question his cojones, we call Bristol a fat slut, we say Willow is a vandal, we wonder who fathered Track, we went from seeing Piper as a cute little button to seeing her as a sullen little brat who wears make-up and wears a bumpit under her highlighted hair. We wonder about Chuckles, we have loads of theories about everything. We have also worried our heads about Levi, Sherry and Mercede. Awww... we still love Trig and Tripp.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDAl01VoUgkp7p_7H0sCEpSLMA1IYZf7L1uruYEw_cLxacZFZHSv63ZZzhOtriJpi_1hSgUpnZ2wimLAR0yiXFEN3gSdIsk__n6E-QwBRJf9cae6xc_6_FPoEM9tA8TkprIH3NMMk_Gw/s1600/behind-the-curtain.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568036269306983074" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDAl01VoUgkp7p_7H0sCEpSLMA1IYZf7L1uruYEw_cLxacZFZHSv63ZZzhOtriJpi_1hSgUpnZ2wimLAR0yiXFEN3gSdIsk__n6E-QwBRJf9cae6xc_6_FPoEM9tA8TkprIH3NMMk_Gw/s400/behind-the-curtain.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 208px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Any of these things may or may not bring Sarah Palin down. I think not. Dissecting the Palins, finding fault in eveything they do helps us vent our spleen and direct our frustrations at someone. I admit that it's a lot of fun at times. We need a break from the anger every now and then. While we do that, our sinister friends are satisfied, rubbing their hands in glee. Everything is going according to plan. While we watch Sarah and her family, we fail to see the real villains. We know they are there, but we can't see them very clearly and can't direct our anger at them. That's what Sarah Palin is for. They put her out there to screech their talking points at every possible opportunity and to absorb the criticism, the insults, anything we can throw at her, as long as none of it reaches them. We started to find out who they are and asked questions on a few occasions, we started to pay attention and were beginning to make some progress in the right direction but they were b-o-o-o-ring and oh? What's that over there? Yay! Another Sarah Palin tweet! She screeched again, is that a wig? Back to the Koch Brothers... hello? Is Bristol preggers? Did Sarah have another facelift? Black bra under a white t-shirt? Honestly! Ah, ok, Koch Br... wasn't that a terrible tweet by Ram? Is Todd ill? Was that Bristol or Willow? What were we talking about? Yes, the Koc... Abstinence my ass! This new woman of Todd's must be Trig's mother. Does she have a cold sore or is that a scar?....... It. never. stops.<br />
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Meanwhile, the corporate citizens move the country to the right, to the right, to the right, they whip up the passions of people full of fear and not much intelligence, they make the vitriol emanating from their talking heads appear normal and acceptable. We talk about all these things, we worry, but we are too easily distracted. People who are sincere Republicans and wish to embrace different values shake their heads in despair, with nowhere to turn to in order to validate their own concerns.<br />
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I have been distracted as well and enjoy a bit of gossip as much as the next person. But when I did a retrospective to compare where Sarah Palin and I were two years ago to where we are now, prior to jumping back in, the penny dropped. I saw the whole picture for the first time.<br />
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Does the fact that neither Sarah Palin nor her family are ultimately responsible for all the ugliness we've seen in the past two year absolve her? Probably not, not entirely. But the deluded beauty queen from Wasilla is not going to be president of the United States. She's been duped. Again.<br />
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Do we keep holding her feet to the fire? Yes, we do. But her fall won't be a complete victory unless we challenge the rest of the culprits. When she falls, they will be done with Sarah from Alaska, ready to replace her with a less colourful, less tabloidy figure who would repeat exactly the same talking points, using exactly the same rhetoric, but this person would sound credible, sober and balanced. People who wouldn't buy it from Sarah Palin might buy it from this new serious, intelligent sounding character. Sarah would have accomplished her mission, she would have made all the junk she spewed ad nauseam for two years a big part of the political discourse already and nobody would bat an eyelid.<br />
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That's the story as I imagined it to be. It's not accurate in the detail, but not too far fetched when we look at the whole. After two years with Sarah Palin, fiction appears to be more believable than reality...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBkFe69YT_-xGwCI3yKz-snz4BKakpg2r63ydK5HQMwlw3iiKJsad2zcQrtIMpQ4XEDj3VNJ93mJ9IprDCYd2DnHimHxHIMh0lqBFGhBbWT0YITjlPZX3VCm42xOOjXqId8Xmoql7xcQ/s1600/sp+oct+2010-2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568038157207323234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBkFe69YT_-xGwCI3yKz-snz4BKakpg2r63ydK5HQMwlw3iiKJsad2zcQrtIMpQ4XEDj3VNJ93mJ9IprDCYd2DnHimHxHIMh0lqBFGhBbWT0YITjlPZX3VCm42xOOjXqId8Xmoql7xcQ/s400/sp+oct+2010-2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 241px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 224px;" /></a>We should still keep our eyes wide open. But we could do better if we closed our eyes to shiny objects, myself included. There's room for snark and humour, of course. But let's us not take our eyes off the ball for too long or we'll lose this game.<br />
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I will need some help navigating the dark waters where the elusive characters behind the scenes sail their yachts. I specialized too much in one particular subject, but whilst she may be the star of this play, she didn't write or direct it. I'm very interested in the production as a whole.reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04311352941909440862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56121788883344869.post-83710474170613090732011-10-14T21:00:00.009+02:002011-10-14T21:00:01.335+02:00Open Thread - FridayMrsgunka sent me some photos of this aeroplane. The <a href="https://www.kulula.com/info/aircraft-pictures-kulula-fleet-photo-gallery.aspx"><b>airline</b></a> definitely has a good sense of humour.<br />
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Another funny design:<br />
<br />
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Their announcements are quite amusing too:<br />
<br />
<b>On a Kulula flight, (there is no assigned seating, you just sit where you want) passengers were apparently having a hard time choosing, when a flight attendant announced,</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>"People, people we're not picking out furniture here, find a seat and get in it!"</b><br />
<br />
*****<br />
<br />
<b>On another flight with a very "senior" flight attendant crew, the pilot said,</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>"Ladies and gentlemen, we've reached cruising altitude and will be turning down the cabin lights. This is for your comfort and to enhance the appearance of your flight attendants."</b><br />
<br />
*****<br />
<br />
<b>"There may be 50 ways to leave your lover, but there are only 4 ways out of this airplane." </b><br />
<br />
*****<br />
<br />
<b>As the plane landed and was coming to a stop at Durban Airport , a lone voice came over the loudspeaker: </b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>"Whoa, big fella. WHOA!"</b><br />
<br />
*****<br />
<br />
<b>"Weather at our destination is 50 degrees with some broken clouds, but we'll try to have them fixed before we arrive. Thank you, and remember, nobody loves you, or your money, more than Kulula Airlines."</b><br />
<br />
*****<br />
<br />
<b>"Your seats cushions can be used for flotation; and in the event of an emergency water landing, please paddle to shore and take them with our compliments."</b><br />
<br />
*****<br />
<br />
<b>"As you exit the plane, make sure to gather all of your belongings. Anything left behind will be distributed evenly among the flight attendants. Please do not leave children or spouses.."</b><br />
<br />
*****<br />
<br />
<b>"Kulula Airlines is pleased to announce that we have some of the best flight attendants in the industry. Unfortunately, none of them are on this flight!"</b><br />
<br />
*****<br />
<br />
<b>Overheard on a Kulula flight into Cape Town, on a particularly windy and bumpy day: During the final approach, the Captain really had to fight it. After an extremely hard landing, the Flight Attendant said,</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>"Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to The Mother City. Please remain in your seats with your seat belts fastened while the Captain taxis what's left of our airplane to the gate!"</b><br />
<br />
*****<br />
<br />
<b>An airline pilot wrote that on this particular flight he had hammered his ship into the runway really hard. The airline had a policy which required the first officer to stand at the door while the passengers exited, smile, and give them a "Thanks for flying our airline". He said that, in light of his bad landing, he had a hard time looking the passengers in the eye, thinking that someone would have a smart comment. Finally everyone had gotten off except for a little old lady walking with a cane. She said,</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>"Sir, do you mind if I ask you a question?"</b><br />
<b>"Why, no Ma'am," said the pilot. "What is it?" </b><br />
<b>The little old lady said,</b><br />
<b>"Did we land, or were we shot down?"</b><br />
<br />
*****<br />
<br />
<b>"Ladies and gentlemen, if you wish to smoke, the smoking section on this airplane is on the wing... If you can light 'em, you can smoke 'em."</b><br />
<br />
Thank you, Mrsgunka!reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917700680229397609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56121788883344869.post-31988701367781592322011-10-13T21:00:00.046+02:002011-10-13T21:13:00.350+02:00Open thread - ThursdayToday we're taking a trip to Algeria, a country of constrasts. It has a beautiful coastline and a vast expanse of desert. The original people of Algeria were the Berbers, then came the Arabs and the French...<br />
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North African food is delicious, with very deep flavours. The smells in the kitchen are something else when a tagine is being cooked!<br />
<br />
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A tagine is a North African stew made in an earthenware dish that has a conical top. You can make a tagine in other types of heavy casseroles, like enameled cast iron, but you can use an earthenware set over a flame tamer. I selected three different recipes, the first two cooked in heavy saucepans and the third using a slow cooker.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Vegetarian Tagine</b></span></td></tr>
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INGREDIENTS<br />
<br />
1 1/2 pounds okra, ends trimmed<br />
Salt<br />
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar<br />
1 1/2 pound small boiling potatoes, like fingerlings<br />
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil<br />
2 medium onions, finely chopped<br />
2 garlic cloves, minced<br />
1 pound tomatoes, seeded and grated; or peeled, seeded and chopped<br />
1/4 cup minced parsley<br />
1/4 cup minced cilantro<br />
1 teaspoon spice mix (see below)<br />
1 teaspoon turmeric<br />
Pinch of saffron<br />
2 tablespoons tomato paste dissolved in 1 cup water<br />
1/2 preserved lemon, thinly sliced (optional)<br />
Salt and freshly ground pepper<br />
<br />
DIRECTIONS<br />
<br />
1. Place the okra in a large bowl. Salt generously, douse with the vinegar, and let sit for 30 minutes to an hour while you prepare the remaining ingredients, tossing from time to time. Drain the okra, and rinse thoroughly. If the potatoes are not very small (no more than 1 inch wide and no more than 2 inches long), quarter them or cut them in half.<br />
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2. Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy casserole or (preferably) an earthenware pot set over a flame tamer. Add the onions and cook, stirring often, until tender, about five minutes. Add the garlic, and stir for about half a minute until fragrant. Add the tomatoes, parsley, cilantro, spice mix, turmeric, saffron and salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a simmer, and simmer until the tomatoes have cooked down slightly and smell fragrant, about 10 minutes. Add the dissolved tomato paste, and bring to a simmer.<br />
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3. Add the potatoes, okra and the preserved lemon. Cover and simmer 45 minutes to an hour, adding a small amount of water if the mixture seems dry, until the potatoes and okra are tender and the sauce they have cooked in is thick. Taste and adjust seasonings.<br />
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<b>Algerian Spice Mix</b><br />
<br />
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon<br />
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger<br />
1 teaspoon powdered turmeric<br />
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper<br />
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg<br />
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground cardamom seed<br />
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground cloves<br />
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice<br />
<br />
1. Mix all of the spices together. Keep in a jar in a cool place or in the freezer.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Lamb Tagine</b></span></td></tr>
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INGREDIENTS<br />
<br />
1 pound lamb (cut into bite sized pieces)<br />
2 teaspoons paprika<br />
1 teaspoon ground turmeric<br />
1 teaspoon ground cumin<br />
1 teaspoon ground coriander<br />
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon<br />
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom<br />
1 teaspoon salt<br />
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper<br />
1 pinch saffron<br />
1 teaspoon lemon (zest)<br />
1 tablespoon oil<br />
1 tablespoon oil<br />
1 onion (chopped)<br />
1 tablespoon garlic (grated)<br />
1 tablespoon ginger (grated)<br />
2 tablespoons tomato paste (or chopped sun dried tomatoes)<br />
1-2 cups beef stock<br />
3/4 cup dried apricots<br />
1/2 cup raisins<br />
1 tablespoon honey<br />
2 tablespoons harissa<br />
1/4 cup pistachios (chopped, optional)<br />
1/4 cup cilantro (chopped, optional)<br />
1/4 cup parsley (chopped, optional)<br />
1 cup Greek style yogurt (optional)<br />
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DIRECTIONS<br />
<br />
1. Mix the paprika, turmeric, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, cardamom, salt, cayenne pepper, saffron, lemon zest and oil in a ziplock bag.<br />
2. Add the lamb, mix well and marinate the fridge for a few hours to overnight.<br />
3. Heat the oil in a large pan.<br />
4. Add the lamb, brown well on all sides and set aside.<br />
5. Add the onion and saute until tender, about 5 minutes.<br />
6. Add the garlic and ginger and saute for about a minute.<br />
7. Add the lamb and tomato paste and cover with beef stock.<br />
8. Bring to a boil, reduce the meat and simmer covered until the lamb is fall apart tender, about 2-3 hours.<br />
9. Add the apricots, raisins and more beef stock to cover.<br />
10. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for about 20 minutes.<br />
11. Add the honey and harissa.<br />
12. Serve on couscous and garnished with pistachios, cilantro, parsley and Greek yogurt.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Chicken Tagine</b> </span></td></tr>
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INGREDIENTS<br />
<br />
8 skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces<br />
2 tablespoons olive oil<br />
1 eggplant, cut into 1 inch cubes<br />
2 large onions, thinly sliced<br />
4 large carrots, thinly sliced<br />
1/2 cup dried cranberries<br />
3/4 cup chopped dried apricots<br />
1/2 cup green olives, sliced<br />
2 cups chicken broth<br />
2 tablespoons tomato paste<br />
2 tablespoons lemon juice<br />
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour<br />
2 teaspoons garlic salt<br />
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin<br />
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger<br />
1 teaspoon cinnamon<br />
3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper<br />
<br />
DIRECTIONS<br />
<br />
* Searing the chicken before adding it to the crock pot is important to lock in flavour.<br />
<br />
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Place the chicken pieces and eggplant in the heated oil; stir and cook until the chicken is browned on all sides but not cooked through. Remove the skillet from the heat.<br />
<br />
Place the browned chicken and eggplant on the bottom of a slow cooker. Layer the onion, carrots, cranberries, and apricots over the chicken.<br />
<br />
Whisk together the chicken broth, tomato paste, lemon juice, flour, garlic salt, cumin, ginger, cinnamon, and ground black pepper in a bowl. Pour the broth mixture into the slow cooker with the chicken and vegetables.<br />
<br />
Cook on Low setting for 8 hours.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Couscous</b><br />
<br />
1 cup water<br />
1 cup couscous<br />
<br />
Bring water to boil in a saucepan. Stir in couscous, and remove from heat. Cover, and let stand about 5 minutes, until liquid has been absorbed. Fluff with a fork.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>*****</b></div><br />
I'm a great fan of Algerian music. The three singers in this video are very popular in France. <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="335" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-oSCF8Bl-ys" width="600"></iframe><br />
<br />
And here is Rachid Taha on his own, in a strange, weird video, but I like the song.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="437" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/HwUC9oRB4VE" width="600"></iframe>reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917700680229397609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56121788883344869.post-59734457671157274432011-10-13T14:49:00.000+02:002011-10-13T14:49:39.611+02:00Just for funA reader sent me this:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYr6vHUl4xyYrI6mp73bTn-N0it2AXrueYeYycZytqm_xZUF6J1grp-dWySyYI63yR_FPxKsqNqvOlSEfo8ygktPHbSq_rc6pnKAbD5dJAH2MhvE4D384vL8R5meBI9o9EB-H3bIf7Kk/s1600/c4p+banners.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYr6vHUl4xyYrI6mp73bTn-N0it2AXrueYeYycZytqm_xZUF6J1grp-dWySyYI63yR_FPxKsqNqvOlSEfo8ygktPHbSq_rc6pnKAbD5dJAH2MhvE4D384vL8R5meBI9o9EB-H3bIf7Kk/s400/c4p+banners.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917700680229397609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56121788883344869.post-59920186193824008102011-10-12T21:00:00.001+02:002011-10-12T21:00:02.319+02:00Open Thread - WednesdayThis is a lot of fun. It starts slowly, but soon builds up.<br />
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<iframe width="600" height="335" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/UhDgpXWkFHE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917700680229397609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56121788883344869.post-46803896433276207952011-10-11T21:00:00.001+02:002011-10-11T21:00:05.879+02:00Open Thread - TuesdayGrasshopper sent me the following joke:<br />
<br />
<b><i>A while ago a supermarket near my home was revamped.</i></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZx2kxfnthZiMEX0iLH0CMj3idMeyV1UiXfs_q_Bkk2i9_bayeSZcaNIYBiNexsqr_VMAzqZ0DNQmGOKtaM-SJmFZxPCZotaUAiRw8_dn65SyhUexXtO4DFw5DTw2H0T2EU03RjV-22ps/s1600/supermarket+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZx2kxfnthZiMEX0iLH0CMj3idMeyV1UiXfs_q_Bkk2i9_bayeSZcaNIYBiNexsqr_VMAzqZ0DNQmGOKtaM-SJmFZxPCZotaUAiRw8_dn65SyhUexXtO4DFw5DTw2H0T2EU03RjV-22ps/s400/supermarket+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>It has an automatic water mister to keep the produce fresh. <br />
Just before it goes on, you hear the sound of <br />
distant thunder and the smell of fresh rain.</b></span></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnrSB8YP0nyewQbuTHPrlA5P8xOp15VLjqfBKxW660jrUoUhSYK3DG0TVMK9IiRFHyxtEqPPO50wX_hyphenhyphenqlQ_22sZtV0QbTsW8xae5eAL60G-eQMV7YoCWn2FmHUfhq2-0nN0Ussui1Gbg/s1600/supermarket+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnrSB8YP0nyewQbuTHPrlA5P8xOp15VLjqfBKxW660jrUoUhSYK3DG0TVMK9IiRFHyxtEqPPO50wX_hyphenhyphenqlQ_22sZtV0QbTsW8xae5eAL60G-eQMV7YoCWn2FmHUfhq2-0nN0Ussui1Gbg/s400/supermarket+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>When you pass the milk cases, you hear cows mooing and <br />
there is the scent of freshly mowed hay. </b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dfvpnWfEV4-UeDOshAeKN24H6ORsvNHfiRVBKJ5cwiOCdMmC_-jL2-8mZZy5EwGm04UQsjTV-_h9erk4tploKAcl0zQQTDIps9kxqfd_IVJdgJB3v_9GWc3ohVsn8rdPEtaUio1QiRk/s1600/supermarket+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dfvpnWfEV4-UeDOshAeKN24H6ORsvNHfiRVBKJ5cwiOCdMmC_-jL2-8mZZy5EwGm04UQsjTV-_h9erk4tploKAcl0zQQTDIps9kxqfd_IVJdgJB3v_9GWc3ohVsn8rdPEtaUio1QiRk/s400/supermarket+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>In the meat department there is the aroma <br />
of charcoal grilled steaks with onions. </b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIByqB-xO-diq5YCkkFHZx0hsSuJrnAOtHcIdiPjHTdnx2Mb-ScDEjO8KNZolxrLVBQCpzX2kxVnU9GwbwwwDpXiXVbXkr7v8LCI8Fmb98fDzJ4dsqU8uZQFYzLiWaxVqXN3Ckyqmz2E/s1600/supermarket+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIByqB-xO-diq5YCkkFHZx0hsSuJrnAOtHcIdiPjHTdnx2Mb-ScDEjO8KNZolxrLVBQCpzX2kxVnU9GwbwwwDpXiXVbXkr7v8LCI8Fmb98fDzJ4dsqU8uZQFYzLiWaxVqXN3Ckyqmz2E/s400/supermarket+4.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>When you approach the egg case, you hear hens <br />
clucking and cackling, and the air is filled with <br />
the pleasing aroma of bacon and eggs frying. </b></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIgT6xAsS15EjgZPd_TczI61Bk6pMnZnotuTT5IiuhiL0B66q0Z1YAHI14vin9t-wj31_cW2zxZ3yK7vS82zGFut4BEFVrqBmyQHRhIdLZ9F-fkCSgiju4X6iW9K_mEePqwwmastXlnJw/s1600/supermarket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIgT6xAsS15EjgZPd_TczI61Bk6pMnZnotuTT5IiuhiL0B66q0Z1YAHI14vin9t-wj31_cW2zxZ3yK7vS82zGFut4BEFVrqBmyQHRhIdLZ9F-fkCSgiju4X6iW9K_mEePqwwmastXlnJw/s400/supermarket.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The bread department features the tantalizing <br />
smell of freshly baked bread and cookies. </span></b></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>*</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>*</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>*</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>*</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>*</i></b></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjktuKimLZYmSh4TjFWKaVFcNLkf1INqjPvsaJcQF7mA9Qp-udmmMXG9S_cm8XFU1B9GNf9d7FORdThgXfpRn8wk7FT3TqEyYMCfogkeJDV5SzkIXFDqJaxefDbZwlg4LQgAg2D31jFQP8/s1600/bad+smell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjktuKimLZYmSh4TjFWKaVFcNLkf1INqjPvsaJcQF7mA9Qp-udmmMXG9S_cm8XFU1B9GNf9d7FORdThgXfpRn8wk7FT3TqEyYMCfogkeJDV5SzkIXFDqJaxefDbZwlg4LQgAg2D31jFQP8/s200/bad+smell.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>I don't buy toilet paper there anymore.</b></span></td></tr>
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</i></b></div>Thank you, Grasshopper!reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917700680229397609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56121788883344869.post-36074155159747684342011-10-10T21:00:00.001+02:002011-10-10T21:00:01.060+02:00Open Thread - MondayWithout further ado, here's a shiny new open thread, courtesy of Mrsgunka:<br />
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Thank you, Mrsgunka!reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917700680229397609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56121788883344869.post-3319247917749888792011-10-10T16:23:00.000+02:002011-10-10T16:23:02.009+02:00Questions...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQSEdLviojTXEltHhloRWe0jWQdwAzmOthI-OQf3Yc37O1M9ExC5c-_GqhHGvhtfpeBZNQroH6m6qIHNPm5TzJBrUU4MyHr1s3c4ijcHtlQVvfbKpg7Fb0xaeub3RLNYvbg-_5t0heVVI/s1600/question+mark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQSEdLviojTXEltHhloRWe0jWQdwAzmOthI-OQf3Yc37O1M9ExC5c-_GqhHGvhtfpeBZNQroH6m6qIHNPm5TzJBrUU4MyHr1s3c4ijcHtlQVvfbKpg7Fb0xaeub3RLNYvbg-_5t0heVVI/s320/question+mark.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I haven't written any main posts for a couple of days and did a lot of thinking about the blog during this break. My original idea was to start campaigning for Obama as soon as Sarah Palin made her announcement about not running. I would have turned Palingates into a satire blog, with Sarah Palin as Obama's most enthusiastic cheerleader.<br />
<br />
But after a couple of days away, I realized that I have reached my limit and that I can't be a slave to the computer anymore. Following Sarah Palin in recent months wasn't the most arduous of tasks, the posts wrote themselves. If I tried to turn my attentions to Obama, it would be a very different ball game, as I would have to spend much more of my time doing research about him than I did about Sarah Palin. There are many excellent blogs covering general politics and they do a better job of it than I could ever hope to achieve.<br />
<br />
Another added factor is that our Billy is coming back from Australia in a couple of weeks. We haven't seen him in two years, so I doubt I would find the time to write many in-depth posts about anything in the coming weeks. <br />
<br />
I would love to continue posting the daily open threads, though. I enjoy them too much! They would give the community their usual meeting place and you could still send in your contributions, exchange views, ideas and links, discuss politics or whatever took your fancy.<br />
<br />
After two and a half years of a daily dose of Sarah Palin, I'm more than ready to take a breather from the topic. I'll continue to follow the events and if anything worth commenting comes up, I'll write a post, but I simply can't find the energy to do it on a daily basis anymore.<br />
<br />
Sarah Palin has always been irrelevant because of who she is, because she has nothing important to say, but for three years she was a dangerous irrelevance. Now that the immediate threat has passed, I think I've earned a bit of downtime.<br />
<br />
That's how I feel at this very moment, but you never know, I may miss it too much, make a full comeback and resume business as usual, especially if Sarah Palin proves to be too much of a nuisance, albeit without a "title."<br />
<br />
Please let me know how you feel about having only the open threads. Would you find Palingates still worthwhile? Would you continue to visit and have a chat? Do you think Palingates has run its course? If you decide* you don't want a blog without the regular "meat" I'll call it a day. I would miss the community, but I wouldn't miss Sarah Palin, that's for sure!<br />
<br />
[*I would not delete the blog, it would stay as it is and become a reference blog, with all the Palingates and other resources intact.]<br />
<br />
Here's a bonus photo, she looks really hot:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoAdNtPH_XBHbKs3R5RJRCiTn0d1r0wJXYvcG0epHBDDsTuJ6V86p57uXFybhfaq5OHFkr_6rXAcvTR4Z7jEdZylhyshNx5keyKapkk6nf_dsFTxunxNNKqqyz17SKcU4d9y5yC24fk_I/s1600/sp+ugly+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoAdNtPH_XBHbKs3R5RJRCiTn0d1r0wJXYvcG0epHBDDsTuJ6V86p57uXFybhfaq5OHFkr_6rXAcvTR4Z7jEdZylhyshNx5keyKapkk6nf_dsFTxunxNNKqqyz17SKcU4d9y5yC24fk_I/s320/sp+ugly+detail.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917700680229397609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56121788883344869.post-11954427021231069932011-10-09T21:00:00.002+02:002011-10-09T21:00:00.584+02:00Open Thread - SundayHey Linda1961, this is for you!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="437" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/F3RYvO2X0Oo" width="600"></iframe>reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917700680229397609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56121788883344869.post-11052004890473917332011-10-08T21:00:00.013+02:002011-10-08T21:00:00.238+02:00Open Thread - Saturday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnWe70i9LzXQILptZHQ8ZnE9ZhOhqrGaLpNTlXJjZwi6XggNfcJc_4oxUDi8Wg9szO3gDAIo1M4xTq9Fg0OYO0m9YknhE0mtNibtvoKxGrq0feoD_rielx_ahrBhT_GS_LZJCp9KKNCE/s1600/reg+peter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnWe70i9LzXQILptZHQ8ZnE9ZhOhqrGaLpNTlXJjZwi6XggNfcJc_4oxUDi8Wg9szO3gDAIo1M4xTq9Fg0OYO0m9YknhE0mtNibtvoKxGrq0feoD_rielx_ahrBhT_GS_LZJCp9KKNCE/s1600/reg+peter.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Today is Peter's birthday (that's why I've been busy these the past few days). We're having a birthday lunch tomorrow (we had to wait for some friends to return from a trip to Barcelona) and I had to plan and shop for it. The menu won't include his favourite dish because it's too hot for most tastes, but the least I can do is share the recipe, courtesy of Jamie Oliver:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpFZYfp2WtJWyTGPykdzYuX3WtcJT5Fe8WFVBB87RjbflgcThLQKN56_ohzObVoeYns6dLrjCaeT3U5l7a1ooN-_zsU5qlnpPAcSbar7PAYF2SXpu6nkDV0FXbzKzhUIaB8MPJ6lf138/s1600/chicken+madras+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpFZYfp2WtJWyTGPykdzYuX3WtcJT5Fe8WFVBB87RjbflgcThLQKN56_ohzObVoeYns6dLrjCaeT3U5l7a1ooN-_zsU5qlnpPAcSbar7PAYF2SXpu6nkDV0FXbzKzhUIaB8MPJ6lf138/s320/chicken+madras+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>CHICKEN MADRAS</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Ingredients<br />
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* 4 chicken breasts<br />
* 2 large onions<br />
* 4 cloves of garlic<br />
* 1 jar of tomato puree<br />
* 3 teaspoons of garam masala<br />
* 2 teaspoons of ground cayenne pepper<br />
* 1 teaspoon of ground cumin<br />
* 1 teaspoon of ground turmeric<br />
* 8 cardamom pods<br />
* 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger<br />
* 1/2 teaspoon of ground coriander<br />
* juice of 1/2 a lemon<br />
<br />
Directions<br />
<br />
1. Find a large saucepan or frying pan which has a lid. Place on a medium heat and add a liberal amount of cooking oil and then when at temperature add the two onions finely chopped, cook the onions for a couple of minutes until they start to brown slightly.<br />
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2. Now add the garlic (finely chopped), ground Cayenne pepper and Garam masala and stir for 2 to 3 minutes.<br />
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3. Now add the ground cumin, ground turmeric, ground ginger and ground coriander and stir in for about 30 seconds.<br />
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4. Add the diced chicken and stir until the chicken is cooked through.<br />
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5. Now add the tomato puree which you will have diluted down 1:1 with water and the seeds from the 8 cardommon pods, stir and then lower the heat and place a lid on the saucepan. Simmer for 30 minutes stirring occasionaly (if the sauce starts to stick to the pan add some water)<br />
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6. After 30 minutes remove the lid and squeeze the juice of half a lemon into the pan along with a pinch of salt, stir and let simmer uncovered for 10 to 15 minutes.<br />
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7. Serve<br />
<br />
Hot curries are best accompanied by a nicely chilled Indian beer:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig20dNqNwp0C4iKvWVTslax5mWOHvLuPRVYJHGRxd58qp6jv4OFmy8f9LyjOSzGBMWcZuj12vYrj1Oij_s8onuE0k6b5TtxgbnSrrI0MutvieXB2LOfSf5WDCXl8ycfcRS8CEqTuewLfQ/s1600/cobra-beer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig20dNqNwp0C4iKvWVTslax5mWOHvLuPRVYJHGRxd58qp6jv4OFmy8f9LyjOSzGBMWcZuj12vYrj1Oij_s8onuE0k6b5TtxgbnSrrI0MutvieXB2LOfSf5WDCXl8ycfcRS8CEqTuewLfQ/s200/cobra-beer.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
But as we're in France and won't be having curry, Peter's favourite wine will be served:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTVTGKV64s9tas7fbtDWtqV2whXsz62gILp-0vkl3j3pAnaohByB4S34dJMHYYLRWVtPKf_hkitwZfpEybVDcWHCsIYEbF20m90ugyxvJMupp-F1R3x9NLyaa8R6oRahwpkxSjTTUnUvA/s1600/vin_cahors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTVTGKV64s9tas7fbtDWtqV2whXsz62gILp-0vkl3j3pAnaohByB4S34dJMHYYLRWVtPKf_hkitwZfpEybVDcWHCsIYEbF20m90ugyxvJMupp-F1R3x9NLyaa8R6oRahwpkxSjTTUnUvA/s320/vin_cahors.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qwYuf7LeMksslnYGX2zCYwq_8jHjaVi1wWm9d5EefVUNH-fliMRZogG3rUeJqLBJYe9IR0ga5GphT_ca1JB-9ST0kiqpaGVERj_WcLQyBo6mKKmMJT4ZKdEF4RmQTYkcQ7Pyll43Wkk/s1600/cahors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qwYuf7LeMksslnYGX2zCYwq_8jHjaVi1wWm9d5EefVUNH-fliMRZogG3rUeJqLBJYe9IR0ga5GphT_ca1JB-9ST0kiqpaGVERj_WcLQyBo6mKKmMJT4ZKdEF4RmQTYkcQ7Pyll43Wkk/s320/cahors.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPEyNuYRNc9rXPSyErU7vUMZFfw3lfLyIY1Z0YW0rgnLk4ki0-NA7wua6DEL120Q6D8xj18vVRz6vhGQdM4BhyphenhyphenGuOjgSd8b4-MqYwQw3gh1eZY3SpTWe8iT1jAkXjuyspXl6tRjNNfHH4/s1600/Le_Vin_de_Cahors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPEyNuYRNc9rXPSyErU7vUMZFfw3lfLyIY1Z0YW0rgnLk4ki0-NA7wua6DEL120Q6D8xj18vVRz6vhGQdM4BhyphenhyphenGuOjgSd8b4-MqYwQw3gh1eZY3SpTWe8iT1jAkXjuyspXl6tRjNNfHH4/s1600/Le_Vin_de_Cahors.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Finally, here's one of his favourite songs:<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="335" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BbnYMOmnrXY" width="600"></iframe><br />
<br />
Happy birthday, pet. I love you heaps.reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917700680229397609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56121788883344869.post-47751935748077312682011-10-07T21:53:00.000+02:002011-10-07T21:53:29.661+02:00Sarah Palin, taking the money and...Reader Meena asked me to post a couple of videos. I'm happy to oblige. The discussion about Sarah Palin taking the money and running (not for president) is fascinating.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color:#000000;width:520px;"><div style="padding:4px;"><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:video:colbertnation.com:399180" width="512" height="288" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="." flashVars=""></embed><p style="text-align:left;background-color:#FFFFFF;padding:4px;margin-top:4px;margin-bottom:0px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><b>The Colbert Report</b> <br/>Get More: <a href='http://www.colbertnation.com/full-episodes/'>Colbert Report Full Episodes</a>,<a href='http://www.indecisionforever.com/'>Political Humor & Satire Blog</a>,<a href='http://www.colbertnation.com/video'>Video Archive</a></p></div></div><br />
<div style="background-color:#000000;width:520px;"><div style="padding:4px;"><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:video:thedailyshow.com:399163" width="512" height="288" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="." flashVars=""></embed><p style="text-align:left;background-color:#FFFFFF;padding:4px;margin-top:4px;margin-bottom:0px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><b><a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-october-6-2011/indecision-2012---take-the-money-and-don-t-run">The Daily Show with Jon Stewart</a></b><br/>Get More: <a href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/'>Daily Show Full Episodes</a>,<a href='http://www.indecisionforever.com/'>Political Humor & Satire Blog</a>,<a href='http://www.facebook.com/thedailyshow'>The Daily Show on Facebook</a></p></div></div>reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917700680229397609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56121788883344869.post-41589674219675686842011-10-07T21:00:00.008+02:002011-10-07T21:00:01.864+02:00Open Thread - FridayThere are women who really lead remarkable lives... (unlike a certain manufactured last frontier myth)<br />
<br />
From the <b><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2046246/Pilot-Kathryn-Chapman-halts-train-avert-disaster-level-crossing.html#ixzz1a5dUy9gX">UK Daily Mail</a></b>:<br />
<br />
<i>From the birdseye vantage of her helicopter, police pilot Kathryn Chapman saw disaster unfolding. </i><i>An abandoned car sat on a level crossing with police chasing the driver on foot while a passenger train hurtled towards the vehicle at 50mph.</i><br />
<br />
<i>Then, in a scene that could have come from a Hollywood movie, Mrs Chapman swooped to the rescue.</i><br />
<br />
<i>Flying at three times the speed of the train, she dropped to little more than 60ft above the ground and managed to get ‘ahead and just above’ it.</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6DlxfsbyDV9cxj5-3iPR7P5kppisFRgeZyMFguiA2mZXXJorMzyAkZoS6fJKhRK_q5nZtY_FnjehyphenhyphenVZaDqXweJbAMeYpaBoJWAQ7tE6bl316djmqr_llLAj-YdsLNFtzcW-ZJYOKY72Q/s1600/woman+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6DlxfsbyDV9cxj5-3iPR7P5kppisFRgeZyMFguiA2mZXXJorMzyAkZoS6fJKhRK_q5nZtY_FnjehyphenhyphenVZaDqXweJbAMeYpaBoJWAQ7tE6bl316djmqr_llLAj-YdsLNFtzcW-ZJYOKY72Q/s400/woman+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<i>She signalled to the driver to stop by swinging the aircraft round to face the train and flashing the landing lights. Realising there was an emergency, the driver slammed on the brakes and brought the train to a halt just 30 yards from the crossing.</i><br />
<br />
<i>Mrs Chapman knew exactly what to do because she was also a qualified train driver and briefly had a job driving the same type of train four years ago. This meant she knew what signals to use to get the driver to stop.</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_J9wgPVfiCLXTgqouAK5teR9w_w2vikI6gE1vC4e6r7REMxcZKuvffoomqzdFqbCrgXEgSmdwLNq8AMS38G5Fwb4vdBbM0UBecL7Vh5Xbd57BBw1UxotyiNfPrAp3Cbdnexb_EvyCeU/s1600/woman1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_J9wgPVfiCLXTgqouAK5teR9w_w2vikI6gE1vC4e6r7REMxcZKuvffoomqzdFqbCrgXEgSmdwLNq8AMS38G5Fwb4vdBbM0UBecL7Vh5Xbd57BBw1UxotyiNfPrAp3Cbdnexb_EvyCeU/s320/woman1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<i>Yesterday the mother-of-two, 51, said: ‘My stomach churned a little bit when I looked across and saw the train heading towards the vehicle and the officers on the line. It was probably less than a mile away and there was no time to spare.’</i><br />
<br />
<i>The pilot, who is also a Royal Navy Gulf War veteran, estimated the train was travelling at around 50mph before she intervened and the helicopter swooped down at around 150mph to catch up.</i>reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917700680229397609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56121788883344869.post-68084936815743479212011-10-07T11:22:00.002+02:002011-10-07T11:26:44.107+02:00It started with Wall Street...<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="437" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/XzbTlY1uOJk" width="600"></iframe><br />
<br />
Obviously, President Obama can't join the peaceful protesters, but he has been taking steps to prevent Wall Street abuses. He also counts on the power of the <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/barackobama">internet</a></b> to spread his message.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="335" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/STAm_6csuxc" width="600"></iframe><br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/hold-wall-street-accountable-video?source=20111006_BO_FB_Signon">Guess who's trying to block his efforts?</a> </b>(Please click on the link to take action.)<br />
<br />
<i>Republicans in Congress want to stop President Obama’s Wall Street reforms from being implemented and they’re blocking Richard Cordray’s appointment to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.</i><br />
<br />
[H/T to View_From_Here for the first video]reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917700680229397609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56121788883344869.post-24873853570201832292011-10-06T21:01:00.003+02:002011-10-06T21:01:00.855+02:00Open thread - ThursdayTongue firmly in cheek, I would like to dedicate this song to the poor palinbots...<br />
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<iframe width="600" height="437" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/s2q202l1uNc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917700680229397609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56121788883344869.post-24945469514860473562011-10-06T11:36:00.001+02:002011-10-06T12:14:55.749+02:00Sarah Palin: "Family comes first." (But I'm not spending more time with them)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUQugss111IWlEMOGRkR2VHbRTjy7zaG4pErNkwOG1TqOkWrsjfnqwBtYAwGJSYKjSnL6sjrCBn_DhSGnKfl6a_mQQ-5J2rbmv-C_E74fE6zkd_6TV9bGcA8j7B94UbtLcDIbjafGnpQ/s1600/sp+not+running.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUQugss111IWlEMOGRkR2VHbRTjy7zaG4pErNkwOG1TqOkWrsjfnqwBtYAwGJSYKjSnL6sjrCBn_DhSGnKfl6a_mQQ-5J2rbmv-C_E74fE6zkd_6TV9bGcA8j7B94UbtLcDIbjafGnpQ/s1600/sp+not+running.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I woke up to a big surprise this morning. I had already written a post:<br />
<br />
<i><b>I'm taking a bit of a break from the blog because I'm going to be quite busy in the next few days. I've prepared a few posts to fill the gap. Unless something absolutely spectacular happens, you'll have to make do with revisiting some old posts... I'll resume the normal schedule after Sunday.</b></i><br />
<br />
I then reposted something about Sarah Palin's qualifications. Oh well, it seems that every time I decide to take a break, she does something!<br />
<br />
Via <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150321133893435">Facebook</a></b>:<br />
<br />
<i>After much prayer and serious consideration, I have decided that I will not be seeking the 2012 GOP nomination for President of the United States. As always, my family comes first and obviously Todd and I put great consideration into family life before making this decision. When we serve, we devote ourselves to God, family and country. My decision maintains this order.</i><br />
<br />
God comes before family? <br />
<br />
If God wrote her one of his letters urging her to destroy her children, would she do it without blinking?<br />
<br />
<i>God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, on Mount Moriah. Abraham sets out to obey God's command without questioning (Genesis 22:5 and 22:8). After Isaac is bound to an altar, the angel of God stops Abraham at the last minute, saying that "now I know you fear God." </i><br />
<br />
Sarah Palin has been sacrificing her children for years. Unfortunately, no angel appeared to spare them...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9o0gxTRnaPN9tvusx7HNTVUPaGH9hl7LdQAiwPYM-IyMhHiqZ7WhooCpwvVL_glGOlxqfhaO2vHpxUB11LefFR_cfL1is1lHxcwpdXpySGhx4Z0tZ0tkSIl21yiVI6_zCkjwCeOUc3uw/s1600/sp+trig+roanoke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9o0gxTRnaPN9tvusx7HNTVUPaGH9hl7LdQAiwPYM-IyMhHiqZ7WhooCpwvVL_glGOlxqfhaO2vHpxUB11LefFR_cfL1is1lHxcwpdXpySGhx4Z0tZ0tkSIl21yiVI6_zCkjwCeOUc3uw/s320/sp+trig+roanoke.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Sarah Palin's god (<b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammon">Mammon</a></b>) doesn't send angels...<br />
<br />
Her decision has nothing to do with her family and everything to do with herself. She has no plans to devote more of her time to her children:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwPI-z4zcIeE9aGyef4-JxN2sKq0iPDy5L0CLJSTytRnHu7B60YwVWqOur_FWpcRIBdN0u8TfF9FNDvx9o1' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<i>I believe that at this time I can be more effective in a decisive role to help elect other true public servants to office.</i><br />
<br />
<i>In the coming weeks I will help coordinate strategies to assist in replacing the President, re-taking the Senate, and maintaining the House.</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
I think she will be busy coordinating strategies on how to continue to fleece the palinbots...<br />
<br />
[I'm still going to be busy in the next few days, so any main posts will have to be very short...]reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917700680229397609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56121788883344869.post-52656761012102875452011-10-05T21:00:00.001+02:002011-10-05T21:00:01.539+02:00Open Thread - WednesdayMrsgunka sent me this video. Is this guy a preacher or a stand up comedian?<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="437" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/qWH-VToohro" width="600"></iframe><br />
<br />
Thank you, Mrsgunka!reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917700680229397609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56121788883344869.post-38863698064303249402011-10-05T13:47:00.000+02:002011-10-05T13:47:52.170+02:00The circus is coming to town<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2q-0fe0teTLGQSWsaFmq6pS3qL8tuKAljJvWy-yEVebULpmcicdiPtQqJiRSWW4jTJ3-g5CxzhFZ-bSo-2WlT2p1aVTKgXj0swIHx9y3cXmXgHOsk_lx0DNkbPdP7AKJkVb57xUiEm_A/s1600/election+balloons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2q-0fe0teTLGQSWsaFmq6pS3qL8tuKAljJvWy-yEVebULpmcicdiPtQqJiRSWW4jTJ3-g5CxzhFZ-bSo-2WlT2p1aVTKgXj0swIHx9y3cXmXgHOsk_lx0DNkbPdP7AKJkVb57xUiEm_A/s320/election+balloons.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Politics in America is mind boggling. Before I started following it closely, I had the impression presidential campaigns were a bit of a circus, where the person with the most balloons and the loudest music was elected.<br />
<br />
The 2012 GOP primaries definitely look like a circus, but it seems to be a contest to find the best clown. There's still the possibility of a certain celebrity clown pitching her own tent and going rogue, running on a third party ticket.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKtJ9CvgfdhBwO2y8y7-M1aAEw_2KDNlDcUYxH2-gcSstS9zpEfR7ukcGvL4MHIgqhuvKwTSx88TZ-8KIcw8RawdevSHk35N7iC7EnQYq7BkGYiiPffOfk4w89lS7blDhLuNg0SUju-g/s1600/sp+clown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKtJ9CvgfdhBwO2y8y7-M1aAEw_2KDNlDcUYxH2-gcSstS9zpEfR7ukcGvL4MHIgqhuvKwTSx88TZ-8KIcw8RawdevSHk35N7iC7EnQYq7BkGYiiPffOfk4w89lS7blDhLuNg0SUju-g/s200/sp+clown.jpg" width="197" /></a></div><br />
I find it very hard to take candidates like Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann or Herman Cain seriously, but when it comes to Sarah Palin, the whole thing becomes completely ridiculous.<br />
<br />
Ironically, Sarah Palin herself compared the campaign to a reality show, and she's right. They might as well be in the Big Brother house, all of them behaving in the most outrageous manner for our entertainement.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyddyGQb11uty0Fdn7DVzMKkBwcgUFlEldqHcp2R-bJ1i0rNVfzcDbw4GbfzykUOeAUx-u9ZsCGDr3vTb7Azms4JNNhWJztWmCPNUYyYPJMaJKkgPUfCbFMxcMw1GCAb3Ir0Xxu2JZ8E0/s1600/Big-Brother-US.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyddyGQb11uty0Fdn7DVzMKkBwcgUFlEldqHcp2R-bJ1i0rNVfzcDbw4GbfzykUOeAUx-u9ZsCGDr3vTb7Azms4JNNhWJztWmCPNUYyYPJMaJKkgPUfCbFMxcMw1GCAb3Ir0Xxu2JZ8E0/s200/Big-Brother-US.png" width="200" /></a></div><br />
That would be OK if there weren't so many important issues at stake. The state of the economy is a global problem. They're already predicting another credit crunch in Europe. The 2008 crisis, which started in America, had a domino effect that plunged the whole world into a serious recession. <br />
<br />
Problems can't be solved with idiotic soundbites or by quoting the Constitution (and getting it all wrong). All the candidates (declared or not) who are challenging President Obama sound absolutely pathetic and their rhetoric shows a deep contempt for the electorate. <br />
<br />
Pandering to different groups, tailoring their soundbites to please them won't solve any problems. In their quest for power, they don't see the big picture.<br />
<br />
Yes, American politics always looked like a bit of circus, but now it seems to be official...reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917700680229397609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56121788883344869.post-7208683025434070202011-10-04T21:00:00.001+02:002011-10-04T21:00:02.072+02:00Open Thread - Tuesday<iframe width="600" height="437" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TCUmSijiWxA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917700680229397609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56121788883344869.post-42962408085361832682011-10-04T11:47:00.003+02:002011-10-04T12:32:30.768+02:00Sarah Palin, the Koch Brothers and crony capitalismSince her speech at the teabagging event in Indianola, "crony capitalism" has become Sarah Palin's favourite expression. She has mentioned it in just about every interview since then. She doesn't spare anybody. Republicans and Democrats are guilty of indulging in it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwzFrvFB9OA_CVQnY0urWrotSe45Kg74ueJ8fCguPLct511j3KGvGPdWCb6tI2hczYFfg66TOfNXVIfgui3' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
The <b><a href="http://www.politicususa.com/en/koch-brothers-iranian-treason-sarah-palin-glenn-beck">Koch Brothers bankroll the Tea Party</a></b> movement through Americans for Prosperity and Freedom Works. Sarah Palin has received a fair amount of their money to speak against government regulation, among other topics.<br />
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Koch Industries has an abysmal record of breaking regulations and have paid millions of dollars in fines. People died or got sick due to their disregard for safety. The environment has suffered as well.<br />
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They don't like paying taxes and don't like paying enormous fines for breaking safety and environmental regulations. They would love to get rid of both. Enter Sarah Palin, advocating tax cuts and urging the government to leave the "job creators" alone.<br />
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Now I understand why she says a title would be too "shackling." Should she run for office, she would stand guilty of the crony capitalism she detests so much, but if she's paid just to make a lot of noise on behalf of her paymasters, she can invoke her 1st Amendment right to say whatever she wants... and remain free to take as much money as she can.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx9kdEm9rHrE4T5RzAwzsHL9FNFCW3OOpmtbB2TxQIrkT62LX8ErowAjZQOYG1_dBbJeMjgW0NQtjuHJG3b' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917700680229397609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56121788883344869.post-34223248127438471082011-10-03T21:00:00.002+02:002011-10-03T21:00:05.428+02:00Open Thread - MondayOk, so this is not the most patient parent in the world, but it's comedy, not real life and it's really quite funny.<br />
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<iframe width="600" height="437" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MS5P6GcUC4s" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917700680229397609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56121788883344869.post-77815880950608273832011-10-03T13:30:00.001+02:002011-10-03T13:33:35.918+02:00Sarah Palin will speak, speak and speak<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTL630CBvO7I12e2gMmusFnx_031qqIf6IRbCvUCt4QoyyWd-J5mSp2w46XsAmiBccy8sJ3e9LhxTzSLtUuXYe-3ET6p_8vdr7a24dSPaxDPEOoDPeZXYWT6hUwIJMT22nY9I3pU3zKbc/s1600/sp+extraordinary+women.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTL630CBvO7I12e2gMmusFnx_031qqIf6IRbCvUCt4QoyyWd-J5mSp2w46XsAmiBccy8sJ3e9LhxTzSLtUuXYe-3ET6p_8vdr7a24dSPaxDPEOoDPeZXYWT6hUwIJMT22nY9I3pU3zKbc/s200/sp+extraordinary+women.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
Sarah Palin will speak at the <b><a href="http://www.ewomen.net/conference/2011-10-07/vines-center">Extraordinary Women Conference</a></b> at the Liberty University on Saturday, October 8, which will <b><a href="http://www.wset.com/story/15582092/vul-students-forced-to-move-out">inconvenience the students</a></b> at the nearby Virginia University of Lynchburg.<br />
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<script src="http://www.wset.com/global/video/videoplayer.js?rnd=371669;hostDomain=www.wset.com;playerWidth=630;playerHeight=355;isShowIcon=true;clipId=6302597;flvUri=;partnerclipid=;adTag=News;advertisingZone=;enableAds=true;landingPage=;islandingPageoverride=false;playerType=STANDARD_EMBEDDEDscript;controlsType=overlay" type="text/javascript">
</script> (If video doesn't play, please watch it <b><a href="http://www.wset.com/story/15582092/vul-students-forced-to-move-out?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=6302597">HERE</a></b>.)<br />
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Sarah will be very busy in the next few days, as she's joining her pal Glenn Beck to <b><a href="http://www.971talk.com/palinbeck/">defend the Republic</a></b> in St Louis the day before.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC9GEacBl-qieKUepU6BsXI6nuEhf7g37zMrHqluVdIi8ZCkrhq5zaVvDp7AGZaTPso3mPvNt19M_pm4ZlDcb3cBIJKG2dCpOncBqxUDuAGuSgDdoJdWVcfUnCNijQlkAiRnryEYWMkSU/s1600/palin+beck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="35" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC9GEacBl-qieKUepU6BsXI6nuEhf7g37zMrHqluVdIi8ZCkrhq5zaVvDp7AGZaTPso3mPvNt19M_pm4ZlDcb3cBIJKG2dCpOncBqxUDuAGuSgDdoJdWVcfUnCNijQlkAiRnryEYWMkSU/s320/palin+beck.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGnDtjsbjhdV7X1ubVQTomOgjaWAAZceMxuZAxPwATe-xc8ZaBw6ISfKj6-fndn0uJGQfvgxC6YIjFVroKUnwOoSnDmMgttIhGFZ1MMc1Rm88-VqRG0bs3jpFG4mYwou2AHpY7oFuJuG4/s1600/sp+gb+defend+republic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGnDtjsbjhdV7X1ubVQTomOgjaWAAZceMxuZAxPwATe-xc8ZaBw6ISfKj6-fndn0uJGQfvgxC6YIjFVroKUnwOoSnDmMgttIhGFZ1MMc1Rm88-VqRG0bs3jpFG4mYwou2AHpY7oFuJuG4/s320/sp+gb+defend+republic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
A few days later, she'll fly to South Korea, to speak at <b>The World Knowledge Forum</b>. She'll make the <b><a href="http://www.wkforum.org/WKF/2011/eng/e_sub02_event_schedule_201107.php?mc=2&smc=21">second solo speech of the event</a></b>, early on October 11.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOs_20cmUkD50TLNL6g7Snv9G5a3yuhJpv-z348lCoLCOLfWB-ZKiX_m_RUXLmb_Vr3kcBeqxk9fLK6MJj30UyaGZsfbXi_Wbxt4NuCzBQ1Jvs1XnuGjDAmLvZJ6Xzwkic5y2-dYfLJ4/s1600/sp+south+korea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOs_20cmUkD50TLNL6g7Snv9G5a3yuhJpv-z348lCoLCOLfWB-ZKiX_m_RUXLmb_Vr3kcBeqxk9fLK6MJj30UyaGZsfbXi_Wbxt4NuCzBQ1Jvs1XnuGjDAmLvZJ6Xzwkic5y2-dYfLJ4/s320/sp+south+korea.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Sarah Palin will have to make speeches on three different themes, so she must be working very hard not to get them all muddled. It should be easy for somebody with a communications degree: The word salad will flow beautifully, delivered in her unique style.<br />
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[I've noticed that the same photo is used in the publicity for all her events. Is this her official photo? Couldn't she have chosen something more elegant than a fleece top?]reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917700680229397609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56121788883344869.post-8499941642539138262011-10-02T21:00:00.028+02:002011-10-02T21:00:01.948+02:00Open Thread - SundayHere are some unusual or funny photos.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk5QhI50P4Yeidrnk0dGphfqzs2-6qcPM6W7JxS_W0sgc7L_nVw5lofwXxmjPGx-JdxLj9DjhVzYlubQwfyB_VYgV_4pEQr0ptpL4ScTLLaZBi7uQfK5DN6HKxZT8QW7iqpfsVCGF9hzQ/s1600/fire-hydrant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk5QhI50P4Yeidrnk0dGphfqzs2-6qcPM6W7JxS_W0sgc7L_nVw5lofwXxmjPGx-JdxLj9DjhVzYlubQwfyB_VYgV_4pEQr0ptpL4ScTLLaZBi7uQfK5DN6HKxZT8QW7iqpfsVCGF9hzQ/s400/fire-hydrant.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><br />
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The next two items were sent in by our Mrsgunka:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZw9WuyltBPy6ngOLVqpN6bWHhinR3Y3O6SSB1yZSfm_4u5ZNPeqmjOL_RR1D0taeRF4hcXLJW4NV7A6LzmL5ltxjZr3XbkV8Ysazh_QnDjsRBZP9b3FnZeT_VxyjYs82Lnry0tEPh4Q/s1600/mt+rushmore.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZw9WuyltBPy6ngOLVqpN6bWHhinR3Y3O6SSB1yZSfm_4u5ZNPeqmjOL_RR1D0taeRF4hcXLJW4NV7A6LzmL5ltxjZr3XbkV8Ysazh_QnDjsRBZP9b3FnZeT_VxyjYs82Lnry0tEPh4Q/s400/mt+rushmore.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A very famous monument, seen from a different angle... </td></tr>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="437" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/q8DiOthAKek" width="600"></iframe><br />
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Thank you, Mrsgunka.reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917700680229397609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56121788883344869.post-60112036170240574392011-10-02T12:10:00.002+02:002011-10-02T19:52:47.522+02:00Learning with Sarah Palin is fun!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgI8ntyJOAkw-IIk2tGPyLLnhDfjB5z2dy98f-VFEhTIj3MrZ3CD01wb31uvlcgCyN0BG8PgUnOVEWL1vAgmXr1LNguox9rFQmmpJwJzbfvRUA4qf2WF2hQ7LZklRtJlZtVYVqYxrFXlo/s1600/sp+blunder-woman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgI8ntyJOAkw-IIk2tGPyLLnhDfjB5z2dy98f-VFEhTIj3MrZ3CD01wb31uvlcgCyN0BG8PgUnOVEWL1vAgmXr1LNguox9rFQmmpJwJzbfvRUA4qf2WF2hQ7LZklRtJlZtVYVqYxrFXlo/s320/sp+blunder-woman.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><br />
<i>"Paul Revere did warn the British. And in a shout-out, gotcha-type of question that was asked of me, I answered candidly. And I know my American history."</i><br />
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<i>"I haven't heard the president state that we're at war. That's why I too am not knowing -- do we use the term intervention? Do we use war? Do we use squirmish? What is it?" </i>(on the U.S. and NATO bombing of Libya.)<br />
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<i>"But obviously, we've got to stand with our North Korean allies."</i><br />
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<i>"Ground Zero Mosque supporters: doesn't it stab you in the heart, as it does ours throughout the heartland? Peaceful Muslims, pls refudiate."</i><br />
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<i>"Barack and Michelle Obama have power in their words. They could refudiate what it is that this group is saying." </i><br />
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<i>"This is Reagan country. Yeah! And perhaps it was destiny that the man who went to California's Eureka College would become so woven within and inter-linked to the Golden State."</i> (Eureka College is in Illinois.)<br />
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<i>"I think on a national level your Department of Law there in the White House would look at some of the things that we've been charged with and automatically throw them out."</i> (There's no Department of Law.)<br />
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<i>"Ohh, good, thank you, yes."</i> (after the Canadian prank caller complimented her on the documentary about her life, Hustler's "Nailin Paylin.")<br />
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<i>"They're in charge of the U.S. Senate so if they want to they can really get in there with the senators and make a lot of good policy changes that will make life better for Brandon and his family and his classroom." </i>(Explaining what the VP does.)<br />
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<i>"I like being here because it seems like here and in our last rally too -- other parts around this great Northwest -- here in New Hampshire you just get it."</i><br />
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<i>"They are also building schools for the Afghan children so that there is hope and opportunity in our neighboring country of Afghanistan." </i><br />
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<i>"Oil and coal? Of course, it's a fungible commodity and they don't flag, you know, the molecules, where it's going and where it's not."</i><br />
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<i>"Our next door neighbors are foreign countries. They're in the state that I am the executive of. And there in Russia ... We have trade missions back and forth. We... we do... it's very important when you consider even national security issues with Russia as Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where... where do they go? It's Alaska. It's just right over the border. It is from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there. They are right next to... to our state."</i><br />
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<i>"But ultimately what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the healthcare reform that is needed to help shore up our economy."</i><br />
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Sarah taught us some lovely words and adorable pronunciations: Ions for eons, mandation for mandate, gutteral for guttural, chronosone, nucular, contradictoring and pundents.<br />
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Finally, there's the flavour of the week GOP candidate "Herb" Cain also, too.reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917700680229397609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56121788883344869.post-50675111918906750832011-10-01T21:00:00.003+02:002011-10-01T21:00:00.943+02:00Open Thread - SaturdayIt's Saturday, so let's spending a few hours relaxing at the beach. View_From_Here sent me some photos of a beach in China:<br />
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Questions:<br />
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Where do you stretch to sunbathe? What if you need a restroom? How do you find your umbrella?<br />
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It's not surprising that China tries to control the growth of the population...<br />
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Ah well.. this is more like it, in Guadeloupe:<br />
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Thank you, View.reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917700680229397609noreply@blogger.com