Monday Open Comments

Just a few more minutes, pleeeeeeze!

My usual routine (after the morning ablutions, of course) is to prepare my breakfast, eat while reading my Bible or other developmental piece of literature, rinse the dishes and set aside for washing, pet the cat (sometimes while I’m eating – she’s persistent and pitiful), and trek upstairs to the office.
Today, I’m digging. I haven’t worked out in some days, and it might rain later, so I’m going to get my exercise in while it’s cool and the dirt is still loose. I’ll put the radio on. It helps me keep track of time. Then I’ll come in, eat, etc.
What are your morning routines? The ones you dare to share, anyway?


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  1. Texpat Avatar
    Texpat

    beer bottle dominos

    (aka WAY too much time on our hands!)

  2. Katfish Avatar

    beer bottle dominos
    (aka WAY too much time on our hands!)

  3. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    Start the coffee, feed the cats, turn on the laptop and take 5-10 mins to check personal email & see if the Couch is open yet, then login to the company VPN site and see what work is in store for me that day.

    Today’s routine will be different because I am going in to the office after I’ve had breakfast and the morning traffic has tempered a bit on the Loop. Say, 10ish. My morning drive time is almost doubled because of the road construction at 290 and Loop 610. Rather than go straight to the North Loop and get on, I first have to drive a good ways in the wrong direction to find an open ramp where I can get on either the Loop or 290. And both are still unbelievably congested even at 10 a.m.

    In the long run, the new bypass from 290 to I-10 will improve traffic flow on the north and west loop, but prolly won’t be finished in time to do me any good. I was driving to Sugar Land through the mess while 59 South was being widened, but by the time they finished, I didn’t work in S.L. any more. Same thing will happen here closer to home — I expect to be fully retired before they finish this project.

  4. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    Start the coffee, feed the cats, turn on the laptop and take 5-10 mins to check personal email & see if the Couch is open yet, then login to the company VPN site and see what work is in store for me that day.
    Today’s routine will be different because I am going in to the office after I’ve had breakfast and the morning traffic has tempered a bit on the Loop. Say, 10ish. My morning drive time is almost doubled because of the road construction at 290 and Loop 610. Rather than go straight to the North Loop and get on, I first have to drive a good ways in the wrong direction to find an open ramp where I can get on either the Loop or 290. And both are still unbelievably congested even at 10 a.m.
    In the long run, the new bypass from 290 to I-10 will improve traffic flow on the north and west loop, but prolly won’t be finished in time to do me any good. I was driving to Sugar Land through the mess while 59 South was being widened, but by the time they finished, I didn’t work in S.L. any more. Same thing will happen here closer to home — I expect to be fully retired before they finish this project.

  5. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    Sigh.

    I find myself embroiled in another controversy involving another cheese-centric comfort food.

    It all started out so innocently—–

    I don’t know about you, but my favorite comfort food of all time is Macaroni and Cheese.

    Well, OK—its Macaroni and Cheese with Spam chunks in it, but I’m trying to keep your attention here.

    I’ve never been able to eat it on the trail, however. There are several logistical problems that I could never seem to surmount or justify the weight and bulk to overcome. First off, the best pre-packaged Mac & Cheese you can buy in the store is the “Deluxe” kind that comes with an aluminum packet of cheese sauce, but it makes way too much for one person to consume and there’s no real good place to put left overs when you’re living out of your pack, even if you didn’t have to worry about critters and bugs getting into them.

    Even if I could find a way to store the leftovers conveniently, the water capacity of my stove is only half that of what it takes to cook the pasta. I thought about cooking half a batch, but that still left me carrying around an opened half-packet of cheese spread—which could spell disaster in a pack. Then there’s the problem with straining the pasta after its cooked. Much as I love Mac & Cheese, I could never justify the weight and bulk of anything that might do the job.

    One night last week, inspiration hit me.

    That’s the first paragraph in a post I made to Hammock Forums that you an read here if you want to donat $10.00 to the site to access the “Camp Kitchen” forum.

    It outlines my successful attempt at coming up with a method to cook Mac N Cheese on the trail using MRE Cheese spread packets. A relatively non-controversial topic, even boring to those whose interests don’t lie in that direction.

    At first the comments were salutory, even congratulatory. Some hailed me as an innovator, savant, even as a savior. Then THEY came in. You know who I’m talking about: The Easy Mac eaters. They who eat Mac N Cheese made with powdered cheese. Not even the powdered cheese that came in the 29 cents a box Mac N Cheese you ate in college that requires milk and butter to make. I’m talking powdered cheese where you just. add. water. Not even the vicisitudes of having to live out of one’s pack for days at a time should force one to consume such filth.

    Will the madness ever end?

  6. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    Sigh.
    I find myself embroiled in another controversy involving another cheese-centric comfort food.
    It all started out so innocently—–

    I don’t know about you, but my favorite comfort food of all time is Macaroni and Cheese.
    Well, OK—its Macaroni and Cheese with Spam chunks in it, but I’m trying to keep your attention here.
    I’ve never been able to eat it on the trail, however. There are several logistical problems that I could never seem to surmount or justify the weight and bulk to overcome. First off, the best pre-packaged Mac & Cheese you can buy in the store is the “Deluxe” kind that comes with an aluminum packet of cheese sauce, but it makes way too much for one person to consume and there’s no real good place to put left overs when you’re living out of your pack, even if you didn’t have to worry about critters and bugs getting into them.
    Even if I could find a way to store the leftovers conveniently, the water capacity of my stove is only half that of what it takes to cook the pasta. I thought about cooking half a batch, but that still left me carrying around an opened half-packet of cheese spread—which could spell disaster in a pack. Then there’s the problem with straining the pasta after its cooked. Much as I love Mac & Cheese, I could never justify the weight and bulk of anything that might do the job.
    One night last week, inspiration hit me.

    That’s the first paragraph in a post I made to Hammock Forums that you an read here if you want to donat $10.00 to the site to access the “Camp Kitchen” forum.
    It outlines my successful attempt at coming up with a method to cook Mac N Cheese on the trail using MRE Cheese spread packets. A relatively non-controversial topic, even boring to those whose interests don’t lie in that direction.
    At first the comments were salutory, even congratulatory. Some hailed me as an innovator, savant, even as a savior. Then THEY came in. You know who I’m talking about: The Easy Mac eaters. They who eat Mac N Cheese made with powdered cheese. Not even the powdered cheese that came in the 29 cents a box Mac N Cheese you ate in college that requires milk and butter to make. I’m talking powdered cheese where you just. add. water. Not even the vicisitudes of having to live out of one’s pack for days at a time should force one to consume such filth.
    Will the madness ever end?

  7. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    It’s your microwave/toaster cheesy chickens coming home to roost 😉

  8. Hamous Avatar

    It’s your microwave/toaster cheesy chickens coming home to roost 😉

  9. Hamous Avatar

    That poochie looks really comfy and has the serenity of knowing that it is safe.

  10. Bonecrusher Avatar
    Bonecrusher

    That poochie looks really comfy and has the serenity of knowing that it is safe.

  11. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    Saying “cheesy chickens” will prolly inspire Sarge to invent some new convenience food.
    I’m just sayin’…

  12. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    Saying “cheesy chickens” will prolly inspire Sarge to invent some new convenience food.
    I’m just sayin’…

  13. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    At least with the MWGCS, there is no messing wth the most important parts. All of the ingredients are present: bread, cheese, butter. Its merely a difference in preparation.

    But cheese where you just add water?

    Only pastuerized processed cheese food product is worthy of the name “cheese” in Macaroni and Cheese.

  14. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    At least with the MWGCS, there is no messing wth the most important parts. All of the ingredients are present: bread, cheese, butter. Its merely a difference in preparation.
    But cheese where you just add water?
    Only pastuerized processed cheese food product is worthy of the name “cheese” in Macaroni and Cheese.

  15. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    knowing that it is safe

    As in, not on the menu at the Obammy White House?

  16. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    knowing that it is safe

    As in, not on the menu at the Obammy White House?

  17. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    #7

    Only pastuerized processed cheese food product

    Sarge has a point — I’ve never been able to get “real” cheddar cheese to melt properly for a Mac n Cheese casserole. It ends up lumpy and stringy, not melty.

    Maybe better cooks than I (easily achieved!) know how to do it.

  18. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    #7

    Only pastuerized processed cheese food product

    Sarge has a point — I’ve never been able to get “real” cheddar cheese to melt properly for a Mac n Cheese casserole. It ends up lumpy and stringy, not melty.
    Maybe better cooks than I (easily achieved!) know how to do it.

  19. Hamous Avatar

    Maybe better cooks than I (easily achieved!) know how to do it

    Maybe try adding some heavy cream and heat gently in a double boiler.

  20. Bonecrusher Avatar
    Bonecrusher

    Maybe better cooks than I (easily achieved!) know how to do it

    Maybe try adding some heavy cream and heat gently in a double boiler.

  21. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    Mama used Velveeta. I tried to find Velveeta in suitably sized pakages for single serving and could not.

  22. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    Mama used Velveeta. I tried to find Velveeta in suitably sized pakages for single serving and could not.

  23. Hamous Avatar

    #8 M42: My understanding is that a dog will only sleep on its back if and only if it feels secure, otherwise the belly is on the floor.

  24. Bonecrusher Avatar
    Bonecrusher

    #8 M42: My understanding is that a dog will only sleep on its back if and only if it feels secure, otherwise the belly is on the floor.

  25. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    Maybe try adding some heavy cream and heat gently in a double boiler.

    You carry a double boiler in your pack and you put yourself in danger of hating Mac N Cheese.

  26. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    Maybe try adding some heavy cream and heat gently in a double boiler.

    You carry a double boiler in your pack and you put yourself in danger of hating Mac N Cheese.

  27. Hamous Avatar

    I would like some assistance from one of the resident computer experts on Hammie’s couch. I just got a notice that the certificate has not been verified for the site. It did not verify the site, but when I viewed the certificate it was connected to an oracle computer/software package/thingamajig ?? I declined allowing it to download on my machine. What the wiss happened? The only sites I had opened were pandora, google ( my home page), my att.net email acct, and hammies couch. Now pandora is pausing after every song, but never on the commercials.

  28. Bonecrusher Avatar
    Bonecrusher

    I would like some assistance from one of the resident computer experts on Hammie’s couch. I just got a notice that the certificate has not been verified for the site. It did not verify the site, but when I viewed the certificate it was connected to an oracle computer/software package/thingamajig ?? I declined allowing it to download on my machine. What the wiss happened? The only sites I had opened were pandora, google ( my home page), my att.net email acct, and hammies couch. Now pandora is pausing after every song, but never on the commercials.

  29. Katfish Avatar

    #11 sarge
    Maybe you could use one of those seal-a-meal vacuum bag devices and put a chunk of velveeta in that?

  30. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    #11 sarge
    Maybe you could use one of those seal-a-meal vacuum bag devices and put a chunk of velveeta in that?

  31. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    I don’t own a double boiler, haven’t used one in decades, and would not even consider that route when Kraft Mac-n-Cheese Deluxe 2% is readily available at the store. Life is too short to cook in a double boiler. A pox on your double boilers, I say!

    At the H42 household, we only eat Mac n Cheese a couple times a year anyway.

  32. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    I don’t own a double boiler, haven’t used one in decades, and would not even consider that route when Kraft Mac-n-Cheese Deluxe 2% is readily available at the store. Life is too short to cook in a double boiler. A pox on your double boilers, I say!
    At the H42 household, we only eat Mac n Cheese a couple times a year anyway.

  33. Katfish Avatar

    #9 mh42
    Couple of tricks –
    You have to use quite a bit of milk relative to the amount of cheese. Flour will help stabilize it. Cheese must be added to hot milk off the heat and you have to be very very gentle with the heat after you add the cheese.

    Here’s what looks like a good basic recipe. You should be able to spice it however you like (cayenne, nutmeg, whatever).

  34. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    #9 mh42
    Couple of tricks –
    You have to use quite a bit of milk relative to the amount of cheese. Flour will help stabilize it. Cheese must be added to hot milk off the heat and you have to be very very gentle with the heat after you add the cheese.
    Here’s what looks like a good basic recipe. You should be able to spice it however you like (cayenne, nutmeg, whatever).

  35. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    Pyro, have I ever posted anything here that makes you think I am going to add nutmeg to my Kraft Mac-n-Cheese? My attempts to make it from scratch were long ago and far away. Thanks, but I am no longer in the market for culinary tricks.
    🙂

  36. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    Pyro, have I ever posted anything here that makes you think I am going to add nutmeg to my Kraft Mac-n-Cheese? My attempts to make it from scratch were long ago and far away. Thanks, but I am no longer in the market for culinary tricks.
    🙂

  37. Katfish Avatar

    I admit that I have gotten myself inebriated to the point of not knowing much about my surroundings in my younger, more foolish days. But how crocked do you have to be to get hit by a train and not realize or remember what happened?

    A 31-year-old Village of Pewaukee man was so intoxicated early Sunday morning he did not know he had just been hit by a freight train even though he had suffered severe injuries, according to police.

    Mr. Boersma apparently thought he could drink like a Russian, or at least a couple of Kennedys and manage to make it to where he needed to be, but was sorely mistaken.

  38. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    I admit that I have gotten myself inebriated to the point of not knowing much about my surroundings in my younger, more foolish days. But how crocked do you have to be to get hit by a train and not realize or remember what happened?

    A 31-year-old Village of Pewaukee man was so intoxicated early Sunday morning he did not know he had just been hit by a freight train even though he had suffered severe injuries, according to police.

    Mr. Boersma apparently thought he could drink like a Russian, or at least a couple of Kennedys and manage to make it to where he needed to be, but was sorely mistaken.

  39. Katfish Avatar

    #18 mh42
    philistine

    But we knew that, what with your easy acceptance of that abomination from the toaster & microwave.

  40. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    #18 mh42
    philistine
    But we knew that, what with your easy acceptance of that abomination from the toaster & microwave.

  41. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    #19 Pyro
    OMG, the comments on that train story. The USA has become a big open-air insane asylum.

  42. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    #19 Pyro
    OMG, the comments on that train story. The USA has become a big open-air insane asylum.

  43. Katfish Avatar

    Well the article said he has a habit of sleeping on the tracks. He took the gamble and lost his butt. I bet he’d give his left arm for a safer place to sleep;then again,maybe not.

    😆

  44. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    Well the article said he has a habit of sleeping on the tracks. He took the gamble and lost his butt. I bet he’d give his left arm for a safer place to sleep;then again,maybe not.

    😆

  45. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    Philistine. I’ve been called worse. Did I tell y’all lately that I LIKE fish sticks (Gorton’s, frozen, in the yellow bag) with my Kraft Mac-n-Cheese?
    BWA HA HA HA
    🙂

  46. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    Philistine. I’ve been called worse. Did I tell y’all lately that I LIKE fish sticks (Gorton’s, frozen, in the yellow bag) with my Kraft Mac-n-Cheese?
    BWA HA HA HA
    🙂

  47. Hamous Avatar

    181 El Gordo says:
    May 7, 2012 at 3:38 am
    The end

    What’s the deal EG, have you got insomnia or sumptin?

  48. Bonecrusher Avatar
    Bonecrusher

    181 El Gordo says:
    May 7, 2012 at 3:38 am
    The end

    What’s the deal EG, have you got insomnia or sumptin?

  49. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    Nutmeg? In Mac N Cheese? And M42 is the philistine? Who wants to stick thier pinky finger out when they eat their Mac N Cheese?

    Nutmeg?

    Really?

  50. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    Nutmeg? In Mac N Cheese? And M42 is the philistine? Who wants to stick thier pinky finger out when they eat their Mac N Cheese?
    Nutmeg?
    Really?

  51. Hamous Avatar

    #19 Pyro: One of the commenters was really indignant at the fact that people were making fun of the drunken doofus who lost his @$$ in a fight with the train, because his father was killed on that very same line. How does one get killed by a train unless they are doing something really stupid?

  52. Bonecrusher Avatar
    Bonecrusher

    #19 Pyro: One of the commenters was really indignant at the fact that people were making fun of the drunken doofus who lost his @$$ in a fight with the train, because his father was killed on that very same line. How does one get killed by a train unless they are doing something really stupid?

  53. Katfish Avatar

    #25 sarge
    I didn’t say it was only for mac and cheese. It’s a cheese sauce base. You can put it on anything. Broccoli, asparagus, an omelet, a pork chop, heck – even ice cream. Nutmeg would work with the eggs & veggies. Cayenne would work with most anything.

  54. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    #25 sarge
    I didn’t say it was only for mac and cheese. It’s a cheese sauce base. You can put it on anything. Broccoli, asparagus, an omelet, a pork chop, heck – even ice cream. Nutmeg would work with the eggs & veggies. Cayenne would work with most anything.

  55. Katfish Avatar

    You people need to branch out a little from your culinary comfort zones.

  56. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    You people need to branch out a little from your culinary comfort zones.

  57. Shannon Avatar
    Shannon

    I always thought nutmeg was pretty worthless – for looks only. It registers zero on my tastebuds.

  58. Shannon Avatar
    Shannon

    I always thought nutmeg was pretty worthless – for looks only. It registers zero on my tastebuds.

  59. Hamous Avatar

    #30 Pyro: When cultures are engaged in this kind of horrendous depravity, can they possibly hope to escape the Sword of Justice from The ALMIGHTY? Can HE be that far away in HIS RETURN? If China and the Norks are not punished for this horror, will the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah get an apology?

  60. Bonecrusher Avatar
    Bonecrusher

    #30 Pyro: When cultures are engaged in this kind of horrendous depravity, can they possibly hope to escape the Sword of Justice from The ALMIGHTY? Can HE be that far away in HIS RETURN? If China and the Norks are not punished for this horror, will the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah get an apology?

  61. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    #30 A new low for Asian superstitious “medicine”…

  62. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    #30 A new low for Asian superstitious “medicine”…

  63. Hamous Avatar

    #27: Don’t be dissin the Milk Duds by comparing them to that dipstick Bazarkly.

  64. Bonecrusher Avatar
    Bonecrusher

    #27: Don’t be dissin the Milk Duds by comparing them to that dipstick Bazarkly.

  65. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    29 wagonburner says:
    May 7, 2012 at 9:37 am
    You people need to branch out a little from your culinary comfort zones.

    I did.

    I used a new technology to prepare my tradtitional comfort food.

    Now you call that an abomination.

    Then tell us to put eggs and veggies in our Mac N Cheese and season it with nutmeg.

    The cognitive dissonance is deafening.

  66. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    29 wagonburner says:
    May 7, 2012 at 9:37 am
    You people need to branch out a little from your culinary comfort zones.

    I did.
    I used a new technology to prepare my tradtitional comfort food.
    Now you call that an abomination.
    Then tell us to put eggs and veggies in our Mac N Cheese and season it with nutmeg.
    The cognitive dissonance is deafening.

  67. Tedtam Avatar

    #30 WB
    From your link:

    However, in reality the human flesh capsules contain super-bacteria and other harmful ingredients.

    We can only hope for a certain amount of justice.

  68. Tedtam Avatar

    #30 WB
    From your link:

    However, in reality the human flesh capsules contain super-bacteria and other harmful ingredients.

    We can only hope for a certain amount of justice.

  69. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    Nutmeg? Sounds like something yankees prolly put in their scrapple.

  70. Hamous Avatar

    Nutmeg? Sounds like something yankees prolly put in their scrapple.

  71. Tedtam Avatar

    I just finished my daily dent in Mirkwood. It was slower going, what with the warmer weather and the long break since my last dig. The clay has gotten harder, and I had to stop more often for hydration breaks.

    And to top it all off, my trusty cart has begun to split. The front lip, where I tip the cart over to dump my dirt, has begun to crack. I need to find some way to stabilize the plastic edge so it doesn’t continue. I’m thinking about gluing a stiff piece of plastic the underside of the cart edge with some kind of super glue. I don’t want to put the piece on the inside, else it’ll interfere with my dirty activities.

    Looks like I’ll be making a trip to the hardware store later.

    I just read what I wrote. I’m bracing myself for the double entendres.

  72. Tedtam Avatar

    I just finished my daily dent in Mirkwood. It was slower going, what with the warmer weather and the long break since my last dig. The clay has gotten harder, and I had to stop more often for hydration breaks.
    And to top it all off, my trusty cart has begun to split. The front lip, where I tip the cart over to dump my dirt, has begun to crack. I need to find some way to stabilize the plastic edge so it doesn’t continue. I’m thinking about gluing a stiff piece of plastic the underside of the cart edge with some kind of super glue. I don’t want to put the piece on the inside, else it’ll interfere with my dirty activities.
    Looks like I’ll be making a trip to the hardware store later.
    I just read what I wrote. I’m bracing myself for the double entendres.

  73. Hamous Avatar

    else it’ll interfere with my dirty activities.

    What else are you doing with that cart other than hauling dirt?

  74. Bonecrusher Avatar
    Bonecrusher

    else it’ll interfere with my dirty activities.

    What else are you doing with that cart other than hauling dirt?

  75. Hamous Avatar

    #36 TT: The problem with the super-bacteria is that, once they are in a live human, they can then be more easily transmitted to other live humans. Before the jet airplane, this was not such a big deal as the bugs would kill the offending cultures, now the bugs get implanted in less offensive places and we all suffer the same penalty for other’s depravity.

  76. Bonecrusher Avatar
    Bonecrusher

    #36 TT: The problem with the super-bacteria is that, once they are in a live human, they can then be more easily transmitted to other live humans. Before the jet airplane, this was not such a big deal as the bugs would kill the offending cultures, now the bugs get implanted in less offensive places and we all suffer the same penalty for other’s depravity.

  77. Katfish Avatar

    #31 Shannon
    You hafta grate it fresh. The stuff in the bottle/can has no flavor.

  78. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    #31 Shannon
    You hafta grate it fresh. The stuff in the bottle/can has no flavor.

  79. Hamous Avatar

    How many times do these people have to wizz on the electric fence before they learn??

    KABUL – The US has been secretly releasing captured Taliban fighters from a detention center in Afghanistan in a bid to strengthen its hand in peace talks with the insurgent group, the Washington Post reported Monday.
    The “strategic release” program of high-level detainees is designed to give the US a bargaining chip in some areas of Afghanistan where international forces struggle to exercise control, the report said.
    Under the risky program, the hardened fighters must promise to give up violence and are threatened with further punishment, but there is nothing to stop them resuming attacks against Afghan and American troops.
    “Everyone agrees they are guilty of what they have done and should remain in detention. Everyone agrees that these are bad guys. But the benefits outweigh the risks,” a US official told the Post.

    So let me get this straight: We are going to release hardened fighters from custody, who were captured by the blood and guts sacrifice of our soldiers under ridiculous ROE, in order to make friends with the wissin talywackersban?? To add insult to injury, we get them to “promise” not to resume the battle against us?? Have they never heard of the concept of “taqiyya??” the talywhatevers are required to lie to the infidel!! This is even more stupid than the Rs trusting the Ds to keep their word and cut spending.

    The more appropriate solution in Afcrappystan is to pull out all of our troops and promptly convert the entire country into a glass parking lot. This should be preceeded by a summary execution of all the Gitmo terrorists.

  80. Bonecrusher Avatar
    Bonecrusher

    How many times do these people have to wizz on the electric fence before they learn??

    KABUL – The US has been secretly releasing captured Taliban fighters from a detention center in Afghanistan in a bid to strengthen its hand in peace talks with the insurgent group, the Washington Post reported Monday.
    The “strategic release” program of high-level detainees is designed to give the US a bargaining chip in some areas of Afghanistan where international forces struggle to exercise control, the report said.
    Under the risky program, the hardened fighters must promise to give up violence and are threatened with further punishment, but there is nothing to stop them resuming attacks against Afghan and American troops.
    “Everyone agrees they are guilty of what they have done and should remain in detention. Everyone agrees that these are bad guys. But the benefits outweigh the risks,” a US official told the Post.

    So let me get this straight: We are going to release hardened fighters from custody, who were captured by the blood and guts sacrifice of our soldiers under ridiculous ROE, in order to make friends with the wissin talywackersban?? To add insult to injury, we get them to “promise” not to resume the battle against us?? Have they never heard of the concept of “taqiyya??” the talywhatevers are required to lie to the infidel!! This is even more stupid than the Rs trusting the Ds to keep their word and cut spending.
    The more appropriate solution in Afcrappystan is to pull out all of our troops and promptly convert the entire country into a glass parking lot. This should be preceeded by a summary execution of all the Gitmo terrorists.

  81. Katfish Avatar

    PJ O’Rourke nails it (from a 2008 commencement speech).

    #6 is most apropos, given the events in Yerp over the weekend.

  82. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    PJ O’Rourke nails it (from a 2008 commencement speech).
    #6 is most apropos, given the events in Yerp over the weekend.

  83. Katfish Avatar

    #43 bone
    Hey, c’mon. That kind of risky forward-thinking worked wonders with the Mexican drug cartels.

  84. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    #43 bone
    Hey, c’mon. That kind of risky forward-thinking worked wonders with the Mexican drug cartels.

  85. texanadian Avatar
    texanadian

    Morning all, Althouse is reporting on this idiocy.
    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2140579/Whitney-Houstons-family-hire-round-clock-guide-patrol-grave-robbers-target-300-000-jewels-buried-with.html

    Take a look at the picture of the security guard. Good grief

  86. texanadian Avatar
    texanadian

    Morning all, Althouse is reporting on this idiocy.
    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2140579/Whitney-Houstons-family-hire-round-clock-guide-patrol-grave-robbers-target-300-000-jewels-buried-with.html
    Take a look at the picture of the security guard. Good grief

  87. bob42 Avatar

    In the wake of Obama’s Secret Service sex scandal comes this.

  88. bob42 Avatar

    In the wake of Obama’s Secret Service sex scandal comes this.

  89. Shannon Avatar
    Shannon

    Veggies in maccheese?
    Time to form a firing squad.

  90. Shannon Avatar
    Shannon

    Veggies in maccheese?
    Time to form a firing squad.

  91. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    48 Shannon says:
    May 7, 2012 at 11:15 am
    Veggies in maccheese?
    Time to form a firing squad.

    With. Nutmeg.

    I’m starting to think more charitably towards the Easy Mac Eaters.

  92. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    48 Shannon says:
    May 7, 2012 at 11:15 am
    Veggies in maccheese?
    Time to form a firing squad.

    With. Nutmeg.
    I’m starting to think more charitably towards the Easy Mac Eaters.

  93. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    I mean, Mac N Cheese with veggies and nutmeg is the kind of lunch you’d have while hiking with your dog on a pipeline or something—-

  94. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    I mean, Mac N Cheese with veggies and nutmeg is the kind of lunch you’d have while hiking with your dog on a pipeline or something—-

  95. bob42 Avatar

    Adopted couple invited us over to their new place for some beer pong Friday (we lost.) She cooked homemade mac & cheese, spooned it into muffin tins, and baked it just long enough to slightly brown/firm the outsides, thus making them finger food. She calls them Cheese MacMuffins.

  96. bob42 Avatar

    Adopted couple invited us over to their new place for some beer pong Friday (we lost.) She cooked homemade mac & cheese, spooned it into muffin tins, and baked it just long enough to slightly brown/firm the outsides, thus making them finger food. She calls them Cheese MacMuffins.

  97. Texpat Avatar
    Texpat

    Nutmeg?

    Reallllllllly?

    *mmmmmmmmmmmebbe on top of cappucino*

    otherwise it’s used for coloring stamped concrete aint it?

  98. Katfish Avatar

    Nutmeg?
    Reallllllllly?
    *mmmmmmmmmmmebbe on top of cappucino*
    otherwise it’s used for coloring stamped concrete aint it?

  99. Tedtam Avatar

    Try nutmeg in pasta sauce.

  100. Tedtam Avatar

    Try nutmeg in pasta sauce.

  101. Katfish Avatar

    You people need to take a third grade remedial reading class.

    I said cheese sauce. Did not mention it in the context of mac ‘n’ cheese (technically mac ‘n’ cheeze based on your recipes). I only mentioned processed cheese food product once, when suggesting a seal-a-meal for our intrepid hiker to carry Velveeta.

    Real cheese sauce, made with actual sharp cheddar, can host a variety of spices & herbs.

  102. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    You people need to take a third grade remedial reading class.
    I said cheese sauce. Did not mention it in the context of mac ‘n’ cheese (technically mac ‘n’ cheeze based on your recipes). I only mentioned processed cheese food product once, when suggesting a seal-a-meal for our intrepid hiker to carry Velveeta.
    Real cheese sauce, made with actual sharp cheddar, can host a variety of spices & herbs.

  103. Katfish Avatar

    Try nutmeg in pasta sauce.

    She may be crazy, but she’s wise beyond her years.

  104. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    Try nutmeg in pasta sauce.

    She may be crazy, but she’s wise beyond her years.

  105. Tedtam Avatar

    #55 WB

    My dad’s a good cook.

  106. Tedtam Avatar

    #55 WB
    My dad’s a good cook.

  107. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    I used to make a raisin sauce to put on Thanksgiving ham. Can’t recall anything else I ever used nutmeg in. Haven’t made that sauce in a number of years, either.

  108. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    I used to make a raisin sauce to put on Thanksgiving ham. Can’t recall anything else I ever used nutmeg in. Haven’t made that sauce in a number of years, either.

  109. Katfish Avatar

    Egg nog + bourbon/brandy/rum + freshly grated nutmeg = ambrosia

  110. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    Egg nog + bourbon/brandy/rum + freshly grated nutmeg = ambrosia

  111. Katfish Avatar

    Don’t know why Connecticut would claim to being the Nutmeg State, when the actual nutmeg tree is tropical and native to Indonesia.

    It’s also a fairly close relative of the magnolia.

  112. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    Don’t know why Connecticut would claim to being the Nutmeg State, when the actual nutmeg tree is tropical and native to Indonesia.
    It’s also a fairly close relative of the magnolia.

  113. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    Nevertheless, nutmeg is inextricably linked to Yankees.

    Its not called “The Lone Star Spice”

    As I said.

    I rest my case.

  114. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    Nevertheless, nutmeg is inextricably linked to Yankees.
    Its not called “The Lone Star Spice”
    As I said.
    I rest my case.

  115. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    A freshly opened magnolia bloom has a powerful spice scent, seems like the taste of vanilla to me,,,

  116. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    A freshly opened magnolia bloom has a powerful spice scent, seems like the taste of vanilla to me,,,

  117. Shannon Avatar
    Shannon

    54
    Touchy, touchy.

  118. Shannon Avatar
    Shannon

    54
    Touchy, touchy.

  119. Katfish Avatar

    The dinosaurs went extinct because they farted a lot.

  120. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    The dinosaurs went extinct because they farted a lot.

  121. Katfish Avatar

    Peanuts’ National Security Advisor, the hapless Zbigniew Brzezinski, grades Obama’s foreign policy efforts between a B+ & A-.

    That tells us nothing we did not already know.

  122. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    Peanuts’ National Security Advisor, the hapless Zbigniew Brzezinski, grades Obama’s foreign policy efforts between a B+ & A-.
    That tells us nothing we did not already know.

  123. Tedtam Avatar

    #65 WB

    He’s being very generous in his grade.

  124. Tedtam Avatar

    #65 WB
    He’s being very generous in his grade.

  125. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    A freshly opened magnolia bloom has a powerful spice scent, seems like the taste of vanilla to me,,,

    They smell like orange blossoms to me.

  126. Hamous Avatar

    A freshly opened magnolia bloom has a powerful spice scent, seems like the taste of vanilla to me,,,

    They smell like orange blossoms to me.

  127. Tedtam Avatar

    #64 WB

    The dinosaurs went extinct because they farted a lot.

    I wonder if some smarta$$ velociraptor was running around with a cigarette lighter?

    Obviously not, I guess. They are extinct.

  128. Tedtam Avatar

    #64 WB

    The dinosaurs went extinct because they farted a lot.

    I wonder if some smarta$$ velociraptor was running around with a cigarette lighter?
    Obviously not, I guess. They are extinct.

  129. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    Honest Occifer, I wuhn’t tryna hit you:

    Police say Martinez told them after his arrest that he wasn’t trying to hit the officer. He said he was rolling a joint and trying to call his “peeps” to tell them he was going to jail.

  130. Hamous Avatar

    Honest Occifer, I wuhn’t tryna hit you:

    Police say Martinez told them after his arrest that he wasn’t trying to hit the officer. He said he was rolling a joint and trying to call his “peeps” to tell them he was going to jail.

  131. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    #67 Hammy

    smell like orange blossoms to me

    Any chance being from Flarda makes every bloom smell like orange blossom to you?

  132. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    #67 Hammy

    smell like orange blossoms to me

    Any chance being from Flarda makes every bloom smell like orange blossom to you?

  133. Tedtam Avatar

    I wonder if his farts are orange-y, too?

  134. Tedtam Avatar

    I wonder if his farts are orange-y, too?

  135. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    I would never dream of asking our host such a question!

  136. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    I would never dream of asking our host such a question!

  137. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    And to think this philandering moron was 19 electoral votes from being one heartbeat away from the presidency:

    John Edwards asked philanthropist Rachel “Bunny” Mellon for an additional $3 million several years after the botched cover-up of his extramarital affair, according to testimony in his criminal trial today.

    ….

    “She in her later years had very few close friends,” said Forger, explaining Mellon’s relationship with Edwards. “She took a liking to Mr. Edwards. She liked him as an individual, as a person.”

    What a slimy little punk.

  138. Hamous Avatar

    And to think this philandering moron was 19 electoral votes from being one heartbeat away from the presidency:

    John Edwards asked philanthropist Rachel “Bunny” Mellon for an additional $3 million several years after the botched cover-up of his extramarital affair, according to testimony in his criminal trial today.
    ….
    “She in her later years had very few close friends,” said Forger, explaining Mellon’s relationship with Edwards. “She took a liking to Mr. Edwards. She liked him as an individual, as a person.”

    What a slimy little punk.

  139. Tedtam Avatar

    #73 Hammy

    But he has such great hair! /sarc off

  140. Tedtam Avatar

    #73 Hammy
    But he has such great hair! /sarc off

  141. Katfish Avatar

    #66 tedtam
    Zbig is the architect of Peanuts’ disastrous foreign policy. Given that, his “A” is really an “F” and vice versa.

  142. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    #66 tedtam
    Zbig is the architect of Peanuts’ disastrous foreign policy. Given that, his “A” is really an “F” and vice versa.

  143. Tedtam Avatar

    I just found out my favorite aunt has been taken to the hospital after she reported shortness of breath. She can be melodramatic at times, so we don’t know how serious this is. Lovely has become extremely fond of her lately, going to her condo for dinner and spending time with her. She is in her mid-eighties, and while she’s cute as a bug, she isn’t in the best of health. She was hoping to get to Lovely’s wedding at the end of the month. Lovely really wanted her to be there, also.

    I’m just hoping that certain members of my family don’t blow this out of proportion. I have one or two that just HAVE to be in the middle of everything, and be the purveyors of information for the clan. The fact that I knew before her is going to chap her wiss. We’re hoping for no drama in the family, also. That wouldn’t be helpful.

    Please pray for a positive outcome to this event.

  144. Tedtam Avatar

    I just found out my favorite aunt has been taken to the hospital after she reported shortness of breath. She can be melodramatic at times, so we don’t know how serious this is. Lovely has become extremely fond of her lately, going to her condo for dinner and spending time with her. She is in her mid-eighties, and while she’s cute as a bug, she isn’t in the best of health. She was hoping to get to Lovely’s wedding at the end of the month. Lovely really wanted her to be there, also.
    I’m just hoping that certain members of my family don’t blow this out of proportion. I have one or two that just HAVE to be in the middle of everything, and be the purveyors of information for the clan. The fact that I knew before her is going to chap her wiss. We’re hoping for no drama in the family, also. That wouldn’t be helpful.
    Please pray for a positive outcome to this event.

  145. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    I wonder if his farts are orange-y, too?

    Nah, they’re more nutmeggy.

  146. Hamous Avatar

    I wonder if his farts are orange-y, too?

    Nah, they’re more nutmeggy.

  147. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    Yankke dinosaurs

  148. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    Yankke dinosaurs

  149. gtotracker Avatar
    gtotracker

    We had to wait a month to hear the two British teens, Charlotte and Jonathan, sing again. Wow. Watch his face, this time he knows they can do it.

  150. gtotracker Avatar
    gtotracker

    We had to wait a month to hear the two British teens, Charlotte and Jonathan, sing again. Wow. Watch his face, this time he knows they can do it.

  151. Dooood Avatar

    #80 gto

    That was remarkable. Thanks.

  152. Texpat Avatar
    Texpat

    #80 gto
    That was remarkable. Thanks.

  153. Dooood Avatar

    Our Republican senators and House members often get accused of not doing anything to fight the Obama/Leftwing assault on liberty. Many of them do work very hard to at it, but end up with their legislation tabled or killed in the upper house run by the Demon Reid. And those efforts rarely get the wide publicity deserved in order for the public to be aware of them.

    Remember when Gibson Guitars was raided last year for hazy, unproven allegations of violating the 110 year old Lacey Act ?

    Senator Rand Paul and Rep. Paul Broun have introduced legislation to decriminalize the statutes of the Lacey Act and to relegate them to the civil courts.

    But the feds expect everyone to get those questions right. Just ask Abner Schoenwetter. He was charged under a law called the Lacey Act with precisely those “heinous” crimes: importing lobsters that, supposedly in violation of Honduran law, were too small to be taken and should have been packed in boxes, not clear plastic bags. Turns out, the law was void. But the U.S. Justice Department prosecuted him anyway, and the federal courts upheld his conviction.

    Unfortunately for Abner, he wasn’t just asked to leave the courtroom empty-handed. He spent five-plus years in federal prison for getting those two questions wrong. True story.

  154. Texpat Avatar
    Texpat

    Our Republican senators and House members often get accused of not doing anything to fight the Obama/Leftwing assault on liberty. Many of them do work very hard to at it, but end up with their legislation tabled or killed in the upper house run by the Demon Reid. And those efforts rarely get the wide publicity deserved in order for the public to be aware of them.
    Remember when Gibson Guitars was raided last year for hazy, unproven allegations of violating the 110 year old Lacey Act ?
    Senator Rand Paul and Rep. Paul Broun have introduced legislation to decriminalize the statutes of the Lacey Act and to relegate them to the civil courts.

    But the feds expect everyone to get those questions right. Just ask Abner Schoenwetter. He was charged under a law called the Lacey Act with precisely those “heinous” crimes: importing lobsters that, supposedly in violation of Honduran law, were too small to be taken and should have been packed in boxes, not clear plastic bags. Turns out, the law was void. But the U.S. Justice Department prosecuted him anyway, and the federal courts upheld his conviction.
    Unfortunately for Abner, he wasn’t just asked to leave the courtroom empty-handed. He spent five-plus years in federal prison for getting those two questions wrong. True story.

  155. bob42 Avatar

    Texpat, I’m in full agreement with you on the substance of both cases that you mention above. Both are clearly bad laws selectively enforced by a justice department run amok. I wouldn’t be so quick to assert that one half of the political industry does it less than the other. My guess is that both prefer government authority over liberty, and often pick their targets for their own political gain.

    I do agree that it’s a shame that legislation specifically introduced to right the kinds of wrongs you mention too often gets intentionally ignored, tossed under the political bus, and left to die on the vine. This is yet another reason I refuse to call it a political system, and prefer the term “political industry.”

  156. bob42 Avatar

    Texpat, I’m in full agreement with you on the substance of both cases that you mention above. Both are clearly bad laws selectively enforced by a justice department run amok. I wouldn’t be so quick to assert that one half of the political industry does it less than the other. My guess is that both prefer government authority over liberty, and often pick their targets for their own political gain.
    I do agree that it’s a shame that legislation specifically introduced to right the kinds of wrongs you mention too often gets intentionally ignored, tossed under the political bus, and left to die on the vine. This is yet another reason I refuse to call it a political system, and prefer the term “political industry.”

  157. Hamous Avatar

    #80 GTO: While I don’t really dig the genre, the talent is incredible. The way they sing together is great. He is this generation’s Pavarotti; a voice like his only comes around rarely.

  158. Bonecrusher Avatar
    Bonecrusher

    #80 GTO: While I don’t really dig the genre, the talent is incredible. The way they sing together is great. He is this generation’s Pavarotti; a voice like his only comes around rarely.

  159. shamaal Avatar
    shamaal

    I mean, Mac N Cheese with veggies and nutmeg is the kind of lunch you’d have while hiking with your dog on a pipeline or something—-

    You must not do much hiking with scout on pipelines. 😉

    Gypsy’s not big on veggies or nutmeg AFAIK.

    The only recipe that I learnt Mrs. Shamaal was Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, 5 boxes for a dollar, with hamburger mixed in.

    Nutmeg is for sprinkling on Tom and Jerrys in Green Bay.

  160. shamaal Avatar
    shamaal

    I mean, Mac N Cheese with veggies and nutmeg is the kind of lunch you’d have while hiking with your dog on a pipeline or something—-

    You must not do much hiking with scout on pipelines. 😉
    Gypsy’s not big on veggies or nutmeg AFAIK.
    The only recipe that I learnt Mrs. Shamaal was Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, 5 boxes for a dollar, with hamburger mixed in.
    Nutmeg is for sprinkling on Tom and Jerrys in Green Bay.

  161. Katfish Avatar

    The only recipe that I learnt Mrs. Shamaal was Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, 5 boxes for a dollar, with hamburger mixed in.

    Blech.

    Reminds me too much of Hamburger Helper, which I consumed way too much of in college. Ditto Kool-Aid.

    Won’t go near either now.

  162. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    The only recipe that I learnt Mrs. Shamaal was Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, 5 boxes for a dollar, with hamburger mixed in.

    Blech.
    Reminds me too much of Hamburger Helper, which I consumed way too much of in college. Ditto Kool-Aid.
    Won’t go near either now.

  163. Dooood Avatar

    The most amazing, delicious macaroni & cheese I have ever had was in the Flatiron District of Manhattan on 27th Street at Blue Smoke BBQ restaurant. I’m not crazy about their North Carolina style barbeque, but I would go back there again just to eat their mac & cheese. I could tell this much: they mix Velveeta for smoothness, sharp cheddar for flavor and I’m almost positive they put some sour cream and/or possibly cream cheese in the recipe. The recipe is guarded like that of Coca-Cola.

  164. Texpat Avatar
    Texpat

    The most amazing, delicious macaroni & cheese I have ever had was in the Flatiron District of Manhattan on 27th Street at Blue Smoke BBQ restaurant. I’m not crazy about their North Carolina style barbeque, but I would go back there again just to eat their mac & cheese. I could tell this much: they mix Velveeta for smoothness, sharp cheddar for flavor and I’m almost positive they put some sour cream and/or possibly cream cheese in the recipe. The recipe is guarded like that of Coca-Cola.

  165. Katfish Avatar

    They prolly put nutmeg in it.

  166. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    They prolly put nutmeg in it.

  167. shamaal Avatar
    shamaal

    I’m sure he wasn’t referring to anyone here ……………………….

    “To all you able-bodied people out there: Get off the couch and get yourself a job.”

  168. shamaal Avatar
    shamaal

    I’m sure he wasn’t referring to anyone here ……………………….

    “To all you able-bodied people out there: Get off the couch and get yourself a job.”

  169. Dooood Avatar

    #83 bob

    Find me a Democrat anywhere trying to restrain federal power by decriminalizing the Lacey Act and then I’ll listen to your duopoly organ grinder monkey.

  170. Texpat Avatar
    Texpat

    #83 bob
    Find me a Democrat anywhere trying to restrain federal power by decriminalizing the Lacey Act and then I’ll listen to your duopoly organ grinder monkey.

  171. Dooood Avatar

    #90 WB

    No way. I have radar tongue for nutmeg. Bad stuff – I would’ve known.

  172. Texpat Avatar
    Texpat

    #90 WB
    No way. I have radar tongue for nutmeg. Bad stuff – I would’ve known.

  173. bweldon Avatar
    bweldon

    Heh the OC doggie looks like I felt this AM after 4 hours sleep.

    Here is a Dad update.
    Dad had several polyps that were removed. One had a hole in it and was the possible bleeder. Now we pray that the biopsies come back benign. Right now he is resting comfortably and under observation to make sure his hemoglobin levels get back to normal. do not know when he will be home. It was a good thing that Mom came home to sleep last PM. she was one tired puppy last night. I stayed up with Dad till late late helping him get in and out of bed, that would have wiped Mom out I Ithink if she had another night of that stress.
    Thank everyone for your continued prayers and well wishes.

  174. squawkbox Avatar

    Heh the OC doggie looks like I felt this AM after 4 hours sleep.
    Here is a Dad update.
    Dad had several polyps that were removed. One had a hole in it and was the possible bleeder. Now we pray that the biopsies come back benign. Right now he is resting comfortably and under observation to make sure his hemoglobin levels get back to normal. do not know when he will be home. It was a good thing that Mom came home to sleep last PM. she was one tired puppy last night. I stayed up with Dad till late late helping him get in and out of bed, that would have wiped Mom out I Ithink if she had another night of that stress.
    Thank everyone for your continued prayers and well wishes.

  175. Southern Tragedy Avatar
    Southern Tragedy

    I just got back from the Brookshire Brothers asking for fresh nutmeg. They handed me a six pack of Busch tallboys.

  176. GJT Avatar
    GJT

    I just got back from the Brookshire Brothers asking for fresh nutmeg. They handed me a six pack of Busch tallboys.

  177. Dooood Avatar

    #95 GJT

    One of the very few, small pleasures about leaving Texas is not having to ever go into a Brookshire Bros. store. Man, I hate that company.

  178. Texpat Avatar
    Texpat

    #95 GJT
    One of the very few, small pleasures about leaving Texas is not having to ever go into a Brookshire Bros. store. Man, I hate that company.

  179. Southern Tragedy Avatar
    Southern Tragedy

    It’s all we got, I’m good with it. Shop in your underwear if you want to.

  180. GJT Avatar
    GJT

    It’s all we got, I’m good with it. Shop in your underwear if you want to.

  181. shamaal Avatar
    shamaal

    Just ask Abner Schoenwetter. He was charged under a law called the Lacey Act with precisely those “heinous” crimes: importing lobsters that, supposedly in violation of Honduran law, were too small to be taken and should have been packed in boxes, not clear plastic bags.

    Well what exactly was poor Mr Schoenwetter convicted of?

    FN10. McNab was found guilty of conspiracy, smuggling, and money laundering. Blandford was found guilty of conspiracy, smuggling, Lacey Act violations, and money laundering, as well as two lesser included offenses under the Lacey Act. Schoenwetter was found guilty as charged for conspiracy and smuggling, and Huang was found guilty as charged for conspiracy, Lacey Act violations, and false labeling.

    47 instances between 1996 and 1999 and convicted by a jury.

    I’m not going to defend Lacey, but you might want to cast about for another poster boy.

  182. shamaal Avatar
    shamaal

    Just ask Abner Schoenwetter. He was charged under a law called the Lacey Act with precisely those “heinous” crimes: importing lobsters that, supposedly in violation of Honduran law, were too small to be taken and should have been packed in boxes, not clear plastic bags.

    Well what exactly was poor Mr Schoenwetter convicted of?

    FN10. McNab was found guilty of conspiracy, smuggling, and money laundering. Blandford was found guilty of conspiracy, smuggling, Lacey Act violations, and money laundering, as well as two lesser included offenses under the Lacey Act. Schoenwetter was found guilty as charged for conspiracy and smuggling, and Huang was found guilty as charged for conspiracy, Lacey Act violations, and false labeling.

    47 instances between 1996 and 1999 and convicted by a jury.
    I’m not going to defend Lacey, but you might want to cast about for another poster boy.

  183. Dooood Avatar

    #97 GJT

    That’s the marketing strategy of BB. Find a rural demographic/geographic isolated and capable of supporting only one store. Open a store before HEB or Kroger so they never will until the population triples or quadruples. Run a crappy, low rent operation with no frills or selection. Devote most of your shelf space to BB private label goods and price your brand name stuff really high.

    They will never willingly go into a market where they have any competition.

  184. Texpat Avatar
    Texpat

    #97 GJT
    That’s the marketing strategy of BB. Find a rural demographic/geographic isolated and capable of supporting only one store. Open a store before HEB or Kroger so they never will until the population triples or quadruples. Run a crappy, low rent operation with no frills or selection. Devote most of your shelf space to BB private label goods and price your brand name stuff really high.
    They will never willingly go into a market where they have any competition.

  185. Dooood Avatar

    #98 shamaal

    I didn’t pick Mr. Schoenwetter. The author of the article chose him. It doesn’t matter to me what other crimes he may have been convicted of since my point is confined to the Lacey Act and still stands. It doesn’t diminish my argument in the least. I’m not running a choirboy contest here for publically suitable victims of absurd and ridiculous overreach of federal power.

  186. Texpat Avatar
    Texpat

    #98 shamaal
    I didn’t pick Mr. Schoenwetter. The author of the article chose him. It doesn’t matter to me what other crimes he may have been convicted of since my point is confined to the Lacey Act and still stands. It doesn’t diminish my argument in the least. I’m not running a choirboy contest here for publically suitable victims of absurd and ridiculous overreach of federal power.

  187. Hamous Avatar

    #100 Texpat: The most egregious example of the feds picking winners and losers of which I am aware (aka separating R donors from their property, money and freedom and letting D donors skate free) using the Lacey act would have to be Gibson Guitars vs Martin Guitars; the former supports Rs and the latter supports Ds; they both get their wood from the same source; yet Gibson has been raided twice and had expensive wood seized on both occasions and Martin has yet to be raided. This is a blatant violation of the 14 amendment “Equal Protection under the Law” clause.

  188. Bonecrusher Avatar
    Bonecrusher

    #100 Texpat: The most egregious example of the feds picking winners and losers of which I am aware (aka separating R donors from their property, money and freedom and letting D donors skate free) using the Lacey act would have to be Gibson Guitars vs Martin Guitars; the former supports Rs and the latter supports Ds; they both get their wood from the same source; yet Gibson has been raided twice and had expensive wood seized on both occasions and Martin has yet to be raided. This is a blatant violation of the 14 amendment “Equal Protection under the Law” clause.

  189. Dooood Avatar

    #101 BC

    Michelle bought and gave a Martin D-35 to Sarkozy’s wife, Carla Bruni, as a gift so they could hardly bust them, could they ?

  190. Texpat Avatar
    Texpat

    #101 BC
    Michelle bought and gave a Martin D-35 to Sarkozy’s wife, Carla Bruni, as a gift so they could hardly bust them, could they ?

  191. Darren Avatar
    Darren

    #68;

    I wonder if some smarta$$ velociraptor was running around with a cigarette lighter?

    Only if it were male.

  192. Darren Avatar
    Darren

    #68;

    I wonder if some smarta$$ velociraptor was running around with a cigarette lighter?

    Only if it were male.

  193. Darren Avatar
    Darren

    #82;

    Demon Reid

    Heh. “Demon Reid”. I like it.

  194. Darren Avatar
    Darren

    #82;

    Demon Reid

    Heh. “Demon Reid”. I like it.

  195. shamaal Avatar
    shamaal

    #100 pattex
    I see, thanks for the clarification.
    The fact that the article you selected and block quoted features the one smuggler who apparently was not convicted of a Lacey violation most certainly supports your position that the Lacey Act is heinous overreaching.

    Unfortunately for Abner, he wasn’t just asked to leave the courtroom empty-handed. He spent five-plus years in federal prison for getting those two questions wrong. True story.

    Well it does say true story and it is on the internet, that’s sufficient for me to show that Reid is a daemon.

    Whoa, and you do have Bonecrusher on your side, that most certainly bolsters your argument. 😉

  196. shamaal Avatar
    shamaal

    #100 pattex
    I see, thanks for the clarification.
    The fact that the article you selected and block quoted features the one smuggler who apparently was not convicted of a Lacey violation most certainly supports your position that the Lacey Act is heinous overreaching.

    Unfortunately for Abner, he wasn’t just asked to leave the courtroom empty-handed. He spent five-plus years in federal prison for getting those two questions wrong. True story.

    Well it does say true story and it is on the internet, that’s sufficient for me to show that Reid is a daemon.
    Whoa, and you do have Bonecrusher on your side, that most certainly bolsters your argument. 😉

  197. Darren Avatar
    Darren

    that’s sufficient for me to show that Reid is a daemon

    Oh, I think there’s several reasons Reid qualifies asa demon.

  198. Darren Avatar
    Darren

    that’s sufficient for me to show that Reid is a daemon

    Oh, I think there’s several reasons Reid qualifies asa demon.

  199. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    Hamsters, consider this a hypothetical question, but I am known by my thirst for knowledge: Do trolls really sleep upside down, hanging by their clawed feet, underneath the bridge?

  200. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    Hamsters, consider this a hypothetical question, but I am known by my thirst for knowledge: Do trolls really sleep upside down, hanging by their clawed feet, underneath the bridge?

  201. Southern Tragedy Avatar
    Southern Tragedy

    Well we’re not discussing Gibson guitars anymore, are we.

  202. GJT Avatar
    GJT

    Well we’re not discussing Gibson guitars anymore, are we.

  203. Darren Avatar
    Darren

    BELLEVUE, Wash. (CBS Seattle) – A local woman’s arm was injured severely after her boyfriend’s pet lynx attacked her at home.

    According to KING-TV, the woman was attacked Friday while she was cleaning. It reportedly escaped from its cage and bit her.

    “There was a lynx cat – a pet that lived in the house – and a girlfriend,” Jenee Westbend, King County Animal Control officer, told the station. “The cat got jealous of the girlfriend, who was vacuuming, and it jumped on her and bit her.”

    Why anyone in their right mind would keep a lynx cat as a pet is beyond me. There’s a good reason certain animals are labeled as “wild”.

    Woman Attacked By Boyfriend’s Pet Lynx

  204. Darren Avatar
    Darren

    BELLEVUE, Wash. (CBS Seattle) – A local woman’s arm was injured severely after her boyfriend’s pet lynx attacked her at home.
    According to KING-TV, the woman was attacked Friday while she was cleaning. It reportedly escaped from its cage and bit her.
    “There was a lynx cat – a pet that lived in the house – and a girlfriend,” Jenee Westbend, King County Animal Control officer, told the station. “The cat got jealous of the girlfriend, who was vacuuming, and it jumped on her and bit her.”

    Why anyone in their right mind would keep a lynx cat as a pet is beyond me. There’s a good reason certain animals are labeled as “wild”.
    Woman Attacked By Boyfriend’s Pet Lynx

  205. Darren Avatar
    Darren

    Do trolls really sleep upside down, hanging by their clawed feet, underneath the bridge?

    Ask Shamaal. 😉

  206. Darren Avatar
    Darren

    Do trolls really sleep upside down, hanging by their clawed feet, underneath the bridge?

    Ask Shamaal. 😉

  207. Southern Tragedy Avatar
    Southern Tragedy

    Trolls do not sleep.

  208. GJT Avatar
    GJT

    Trolls do not sleep.

  209. shamaal Avatar
    shamaal

    Sorry, I’m bad at identifying the referenced post. The topic was post #82 regarding what appears to be a correct application of the Lacey Act in convicting a group of smugglers.

    However, the Gibson story is not as cut and dried either.

  210. shamaal Avatar
    shamaal

    Sorry, I’m bad at identifying the referenced post. The topic was post #82 regarding what appears to be a correct application of the Lacey Act in convicting a group of smugglers.
    However, the Gibson story is not as cut and dried either.

  211. Darren Avatar
    Darren

    Well, darn it! For a moment there when I first read the headline, I thought we were finally in for a bodacious instance of youthful rebellion revealing that Romney has a hitherto unknown “cool factor” all his own… but alas, it really wasn’t anything untoward. I do, however, think it was a rather plucky bit of civil disobedience:

    It’s a little reported anecdote, but in 1981 presumptive Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney was arrested for disorderly conduct. …

    According to what Romney told the Boston Globe in 1994, he had taken his family off to Wayland, Mass.’s Lake Cochituate, about an hour outside Boston, for a summer excursion. As Romney prepared to put his family boat into the water, a park officer told Romney not to launch because his license appeared to have been painted over. The officer told Romney if he put his boat into the water he would face a $50 fine. …

    “I figured I was at the state park with my kids. My five kids were in the car wondering why we weren’t going out in the boat, so I said I’d launch and pay the fine,” Romney said in 1994.

    After Romney put the family boat into the water, the officer reappeared visibly angry and arrested Romney for disorderly conduct. Romney was handcuffed on the scene, taken to the local police station, and booked.

    “There I was, dripping wet in a bathing suit,” Romney told the Globe. A magistrate let him go without bail.

    Rebel scum!!!! 🙂

    Gasp: Mitt Romney, once arrested for disorderly conduct?

  212. Darren Avatar
    Darren

    Well, darn it! For a moment there when I first read the headline, I thought we were finally in for a bodacious instance of youthful rebellion revealing that Romney has a hitherto unknown “cool factor” all his own… but alas, it really wasn’t anything untoward. I do, however, think it was a rather plucky bit of civil disobedience:

    It’s a little reported anecdote, but in 1981 presumptive Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney was arrested for disorderly conduct. …
    According to what Romney told the Boston Globe in 1994, he had taken his family off to Wayland, Mass.’s Lake Cochituate, about an hour outside Boston, for a summer excursion. As Romney prepared to put his family boat into the water, a park officer told Romney not to launch because his license appeared to have been painted over. The officer told Romney if he put his boat into the water he would face a $50 fine. …
    “I figured I was at the state park with my kids. My five kids were in the car wondering why we weren’t going out in the boat, so I said I’d launch and pay the fine,” Romney said in 1994.
    After Romney put the family boat into the water, the officer reappeared visibly angry and arrested Romney for disorderly conduct. Romney was handcuffed on the scene, taken to the local police station, and booked.
    “There I was, dripping wet in a bathing suit,” Romney told the Globe. A magistrate let him go without bail.

    Rebel scum!!!! 🙂
    Gasp: Mitt Romney, once arrested for disorderly conduct?

  213. shamaal Avatar
    shamaal

    Do trolls really sleep upside down, hanging by their clawed feet, underneath the bridge?

    Ask Shamaal.

    Or Publius 😉

  214. shamaal Avatar
    shamaal

    Do trolls really sleep upside down, hanging by their clawed feet, underneath the bridge?
    Ask Shamaal.

    Or Publius 😉

  215. Dooood Avatar

    #108 GJT

    We haven’t been discussing the Lacey Act or any of the victims of it since Shamaal decided to deploy his usual crap. It’s predictable and pointless, as usual.

  216. Texpat Avatar
    Texpat

    #108 GJT
    We haven’t been discussing the Lacey Act or any of the victims of it since Shamaal decided to deploy his usual crap. It’s predictable and pointless, as usual.

  217. Dooood Avatar

    Good night.

    I’m not really willing to put up with shamaal’s stupidity tonight.

  218. Texpat Avatar
    Texpat

    Good night.
    I’m not really willing to put up with shamaal’s stupidity tonight.

  219. shamaal Avatar
    shamaal

    For Pete’s sake it’s the National Review Online. It’s only meant for consumption by freepers.
    Not my fault you didn’t read the article you posted and got punked by the authors.

    Good Night

  220. shamaal Avatar
    shamaal

    For Pete’s sake it’s the National Review Online. It’s only meant for consumption by freepers.
    Not my fault you didn’t read the article you posted and got punked by the authors.
    Good Night

  221. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    I had never heard the term freeper before but now that I have looked it up, I can see what a disgusting insult it is, applied to any Hamster. Unless I see an apology and retraction posted by claw-foot by noon tomorrow, I call on it to stop fouling Hammy’s Couch with its presence.

  222. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    I had never heard the term freeper before but now that I have looked it up, I can see what a disgusting insult it is, applied to any Hamster. Unless I see an apology and retraction posted by claw-foot by noon tomorrow, I call on it to stop fouling Hammy’s Couch with its presence.

  223. Shannon Avatar
    Shannon

    Yeah. It’s time. He had his chance to disprove the stereotype.
    They’re powerless to overcome their as$hattery.

  224. Shannon Avatar
    Shannon

    Yeah. It’s time. He had his chance to disprove the stereotype.
    They’re powerless to overcome their as$hattery.

  225. fat albert Avatar
    fat albert

    #98 Sham:

    Following a jury trial in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama, petitioners were convicted of conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, and other federal offenses arising from violation of the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 (the Lacey Act), 16 U.S.C. 3371 et seq. Petitioners McNab, Blandford, and Schoenwetter were sentenced to 97 months of imprisonment, while petitioner Huang was sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment.

    (from the appeal summary – emphasis mine.)

    Contrary to your half a$$ed attempt at trollery, the record appears to be pretty straightforward here. All three men were arrested, charged and convicted of various infractions stemming from the importation of “illegal” lobsters. I put illegal in quotes because it appears that if you did the same thing today you wouldn’t be breaking any laws.

    Nevertheless, it apparently took lawyers from NOAA, the NMFS, the Justice Department, and the State Department; along with lawyers from 2 different Honduran government agencies, several months of meetings and discussions to determine exactly which laws might have been broken and when.

    You can snark all you want, but those are the facts. Those who are curious can read the final ruling on the writ of cert. to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals here.

  226. fat albert Avatar
    fat albert

    #98 Sham:

    Following a jury trial in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama, petitioners were convicted of conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, and other federal offenses arising from violation of the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 (the Lacey Act), 16 U.S.C. 3371 et seq. Petitioners McNab, Blandford, and Schoenwetter were sentenced to 97 months of imprisonment, while petitioner Huang was sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment.

    (from the appeal summary – emphasis mine.)
    Contrary to your half a$$ed attempt at trollery, the record appears to be pretty straightforward here. All three men were arrested, charged and convicted of various infractions stemming from the importation of “illegal” lobsters. I put illegal in quotes because it appears that if you did the same thing today you wouldn’t be breaking any laws.
    Nevertheless, it apparently took lawyers from NOAA, the NMFS, the Justice Department, and the State Department; along with lawyers from 2 different Honduran government agencies, several months of meetings and discussions to determine exactly which laws might have been broken and when.
    You can snark all you want, but those are the facts. Those who are curious can read the final ruling on the writ of cert. to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals here.

  227. shamaal Avatar
    shamaal

    I’ll assume that you’ve reposted my link from #98 in which I repeated the court’s finding #10. Abner was not convicted of Lacey act violation. Others were, thems the facts. Why is this important? The article uses Abner to make their argument that this was merely a mistake that anyone could make and it cost him 10 years – not true. The article then goes on to highlight two Republicans who are submitting legislation that does not address the fundamental issues with the legislation only the penalty. That is, there would be no effect on the guitar case or the Abner case.
    This article is a puff piece designed to be consumed by folks conditioned to respond to red meat.

  228. shamaal Avatar
    shamaal

    I’ll assume that you’ve reposted my link from #98 in which I repeated the court’s finding #10. Abner was not convicted of Lacey act violation. Others were, thems the facts. Why is this important? The article uses Abner to make their argument that this was merely a mistake that anyone could make and it cost him 10 years – not true. The article then goes on to highlight two Republicans who are submitting legislation that does not address the fundamental issues with the legislation only the penalty. That is, there would be no effect on the guitar case or the Abner case.
    This article is a puff piece designed to be consumed by folks conditioned to respond to red meat.

  229. fat albert Avatar
    fat albert

    You know what happens when you assume? As is turns out you are wrong (yet again) my link is to the final ruling of the appeals court. Specifically, where it states that ALL of the charges stem from the initial violation of the Lacey Act. In other words, (I’ll try to make it simple here so you can follow along) if there’s no Lacey Act, all of the other charges dry up and go away also.

    Try to assert that Abner should have known what he was doing if you want, but it wasn’t all that simple, according to the Appeals court it took a whole team of lawyers from 2 different countries several months to figure out exactly what, if anything, he had done wrong.

  230. fat albert Avatar
    fat albert

    You know what happens when you assume? As is turns out you are wrong (yet again) my link is to the final ruling of the appeals court. Specifically, where it states that ALL of the charges stem from the initial violation of the Lacey Act. In other words, (I’ll try to make it simple here so you can follow along) if there’s no Lacey Act, all of the other charges dry up and go away also.
    Try to assert that Abner should have known what he was doing if you want, but it wasn’t all that simple, according to the Appeals court it took a whole team of lawyers from 2 different countries several months to figure out exactly what, if anything, he had done wrong.

  231. shamaal Avatar
    shamaal

    is turns out you are wrong (yet again) my link is to the final ruling of the appeals court

    Not even close Bubba 😉

    Sorry, I was on the road and unable to view your link. I assumed that you were referring to an actual court case instead of a brief by the US ASG to deny the petition. The final ruling of the 11th Appeals Court is in my #98.

    Abner’s point of contention is that he was breaking Honduran rules/regulations not laws. The court saw through this as would most folks. Kill some time, read the 11th’s reasoning particularly the short history of the law; there is a real legal issue here.

    You can twist it all you want and run down blind alleys, the fact remains that texpat’s troll article in #82 is a typical Democrat Bad/Republican Government Good puff piece with no sustance.

  232. shamaal Avatar
    shamaal

    is turns out you are wrong (yet again) my link is to the final ruling of the appeals court

    Not even close Bubba 😉
    Sorry, I was on the road and unable to view your link. I assumed that you were referring to an actual court case instead of a brief by the US ASG to deny the petition. The final ruling of the 11th Appeals Court is in my #98.
    Abner’s point of contention is that he was breaking Honduran rules/regulations not laws. The court saw through this as would most folks. Kill some time, read the 11th’s reasoning particularly the short history of the law; there is a real legal issue here.
    You can twist it all you want and run down blind alleys, the fact remains that texpat’s troll article in #82 is a typical Democrat Bad/Republican Government Good puff piece with no sustance.

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