Knives and fire...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lF2erYQWIOs&feature=related

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/16/us/16hospital.html?_r=1
BOSTON — A hospital that serves thousands of indigent Massachusetts residents sued the state on Wednesday, charging that its costly universal health care law is forcing the hospital to cover too much of the expense of caring for the poor.

Hmm...what's this? Paragraph 10:
"The suit comes as Congress looks to Massachusetts as a potential model for overhauling the nation’s health care system. Even before the suit, the state’s fiscal crisis had cast doubts on the law’s sustainability."

Of course, I am certain that this is only an isolated incident and that there is no way that any universal health care system run by the Federal Government will ever be rationed, or cut, or fail...Yeah, right.

Let me put it in culinary terms: If I have a pizza and 5 friends, I cut six decent size slices and everybody gets a piece. If I have eight friends, those pieces are smaller. Ten, twelve people: smaller still. I know, I could simply get more pizza, and that is what I would do. But not in the world of Government programs.

Sadly, the Government has for decades argued in a zero-sum environment. Listen to any argument over government programs and you will hear rhetoric which amounts to my analogy: You have more pizza than someone else, so by definition they have less pizza.

This "logic" leads to decisions (based on "fairness" of course) as to who gets pizza and who doesn't: You had pizza last week, so this week you don't get any; this person came from a place where they had bad pizza, so they should get some before you who may be used to good pizza; this person over here has had enough pizza over a lifetime, so no more pizza ever again...and THIS person knows how to make his own pizza, so it's in the public interest to confiscate all he makes to give to those other people.

Makes about as much sense as the health care idea they're shoving down our throats right now.

Barney Frank, Ted Kennedy, Chris Dodd, Joe Lieberman and Chuck Schumer can get their own pizza and leave mine alone thank you very much. And I want Nancy Pelosi to stay the hell out of my restaurant; I have some pizza to make.

And it's up to me, NOT Congress, to share it with whom I wish.
 

Since my packing strategy involves organizing everything but the tentage in the living and dining rooms, I plan to have some "put me in the mood" movies on in the background. What good "In the mood for Pennsic" movies might you suggest?

Saw this ad today: http://newhaven.craigslist.org/fuo/1246035740.html

Just a friendly suggestion on pricing.

If your "firm" price is virtually the same, or God forbid, even HIGHER than the item is new (like say at IKEA), you are not going to sell your stuff. Whether your butcher block is shaved AND waxed, or your chairs have that coveted custom limited edition cat poo smell, or you really need to move the table today because you feel a hernia coming on, etc., we can all check your prices pretty readily, especially if you INCLUDE A LINK showing the lower retail price (no, in fact, I'm NOT kidding, it's happened to me TWICE in the past two weeks alone). When someone asks you if the item you're selling is the same one they saw at, say IKEA, for, oh, I don't know, plus or minus $10.00 of what you're asking, that's actually code for, "I'm not a moron. You know, and now I know, and now you know that I know, that you're way overshooting the reasonable used value of what you're selling.

My favorites? Watching someone try to unload a bed, a storage shed, or an aircraft carrier, all-the-while marking the price down from, say, $1,000,000 to $999,999, specifying that, "It MUST GO TONIGHT," and that the price is, wait for it..."FIRM." Yeah, good luck. I'll see your latest "firmly" priced Beanie Baby next week. Same place, same time, same futile demand for a %100 return on your (used) investment. Seriously, do you really want to sell this thing, or are you just enjoying the quality time you and your computer are having?

Look, all kidding aside, I need what you're selling, and I have cash. You need cash, and you have what I'm trying to buy. It should be so simple, yes? I have actually started laughing out loud when I see the words, "still available," and "firm" in the same ad. Yeah, no kidding Sherlock, wanna take a guess at WHY it's still available, after six weeks of trying? Here's a hint. Ready? Your firm price is, well, not going to happen, unless you're firmly committed to keeping your stuff.

Great idea, right? Ask anyone who has dealt with Medicare or the Veteran's Administration.

BTW, you're welcome. For what, you ask? For the tax increases I and every other American taxpayer will have to fork over to pay for free healthcare for all. (No, not just "the Rich" will be paying more; if you buy that bullshit I feel sorry for you)

But it's OK. Democrats and Republicans are in total agreement...that their sorry elitist asses WILL NOT have to take part in whatever scheme they shove down our throats over the next few months.

sigh.

EDIT: I was not referring to emergency care in reference to government entities. The law already requires ER's to treat people. I was referring to "health maintenance" care, and even with my own doctor there are issues with bureacratic BS. I shudder when I think of the exponential levels of government bureacracy "National Health Care" will produce.

 

A cotton canvas duvet cover, black with thin tan stripes, 84" square. While this may not seem exciting, it was precisely what sarahbyrdd and I needed since we've opted for a rope bed with a straw tick mattress (actually it was her idea!) and needed the bag with which to stuff the straw.  Enter Goodwill, and viola!

Now I just gotta make the bed :-\

 

Please come and enjoy the hospitality of Clann O’Choda at our annual Hafla, to be held the first Friday evening of Pennsic (July 31), after the grass has cooled.

As the Prophet forbids alcohol, none shall be served or allowed during the Party. Drummers welcome, non-drumming musicians playing Middle Eastern melodies especially welcome!
 
This will be an evening jam session between all those who appreciate Middle Eastern music and dancing. Coffee and light snacks will be served. Please seek out Jaji at Clann O'Choda (Block E-02) if you have any questions.

For no apparent reason, I want ridged potato chips with clam & bacon dip...

Strange.

Wine pairings:http://www.heluvagood.com/partytips/default.aspx?id=534

As mentioned previously, Northern Region War Camp was my happy place.

In our impromptu camp were sarahbyrdd and myself, hugh-mannity, gryphonsinistre, ladypeyton, mrmanx (yes, her hubby has an LJ!) and their 7YO, measanan, Master Feral, and at times Darren (sp?), Dragonship Haven's own cheerleader and recruiting officer ;-D

Other than that fine mix of people, there were many other highlights: A beer lesson on Saturday from liamstliam, fair skies for most of the time and only a little spitting rain after Friday's precipitation, a decent Farmer's Market not far from the site, getting to hang out with Campbell as is my wont, Master Feral playing a command performance of "11th Century Blues" for the assembled masses, and to cook over the fire for the weekend.

I've been so wrapped up lately with running "Chef Jaji" establishments and schlepping propane kitchens all over that I had forgotten how much fun it was to blow the embers of an apparently lifeless fire to life in the morning and simply make toast on the grate (Thanks baronadhemar for the loan of said grate and the pit below it!). Of course, the Need to Feed is ingrained, and even though I was making eggs one at a time in an "egg spoon" which was really a Chinese wok ladle on a long handle I managed to make them for whoever wanted one.
 

My thanks to all who put this event together. Haven't had this much fun at an event in years!

Pictures thanks to sarahbyrdd ;-D

Breakfast!


Me and my "establishment"


"...as great joints seethed in cauldrons..."


Lamb for lunch, aka "a place for all God's creatures"

I *am* awake enough to post the following: I didn't give a flying f**k about a certain gloved singer/dancer while he was alive, so why should I care now? In fact, the only person by that name I ever want to hear about is this man:

http://www.amazon.com/Michael-Jackson/e/B002EZQQ52/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

 

No sh*t, there I was....at an event and not working. Yeah, I know that to untrained eyes it looked like I was busting my ass to set up camp, and I spent the weekend tending a fire and cooking. That was not work by any stretch of the imagination; It was pure heaven.

More details to follow when I wake up...

 

General Patton lives!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyUX6wV1lBQ

 

Not *that* Lt. Dan, silly, this one: http://www.couragecampaign.org/page/s/RepealDADT

"Don't ask, Don't tell" is easily one of the stupidest things to come out of the Clinton Administration, and this is me saying so! FTM, should Nancy Pelosi actually do this, it will mark the first time I agree with anything she's done ;-D

Seriously, a person's sexuality is nobody's business, and I couldn't care less who is with who when they take their uniforms off.

Sign this petition, and pass it on.

 

Pennsic will be only 1 week (land-grab to middle Saturday)for sarahbyrdd and myself both. I had thought to head back out to play on the cannon line, but I will not have enough vacation time accrued by then. Ah well!

Have fun for us the second week!
 

Since it's been 10 plus years since I've attended this event, I cannot recall how firewood was obtained. Transport my own? Buy some up there? Collect on site? All of the above? I have some natural charcoal, but some wood will be required.

Thanks!

 

Whenever thinking that "Carbon Credits" is a great idea, replace the word "Carbon" with the words "Weight Watchers Points" and then apply the same logic proponents of Carbon Credits use.



 

Foxon Park Diet Birch Beer.

Life is good. :-D

From a list I watch, mayoob. Massad Ayoob is well known to us gun-nut types; he's a decorated police officer and self-defense instructor. From his latest post:

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MassadAyoob/~3/rBmgQcay41c/

http://backwoodshome.com/blogs/MassadAyoob/?p=314

I am not by any means an expert on the Gender Wars.  During the Sexual Revolution, I was MIA, and during the Battle Between the Sexes I was a POW.

However, I’ve noticed that cute threads on this topic sometimes pop up in the Internet gun forums.  A few years ago there was one called “Ten Reasons Why Guns Are Better Than Women.” (Your primary doesn’t get jealous of your backup. You can get a silencer for a gun. You can trade a .44 for two .22s.)

This was quickly followed by a riposte on the theme of “Ten Reasons Why Guns Are Better Than Men.” (Guns don’t leave spent casings all over the toilet seat.  Guns work whether you stroke their ego or not. And, yes, you can trade a .44 for two .22s.)

I was reminded of this by a recent “joke for guys” on the Internet titled “Spring Classes For Women.”  A self-styled shooterchick of my acquaintance responded.  Apparently, one rule of life that should be right up there with “do not eat the yellow snow” is, “do not tease smart women who carry guns and have shooting trophies.”  Her responses can be found in red, below.

I’ll go hide behind solid cover now…

Spring Classes for Women at
THE ADULT LEARNING CENTER

REGISTRATION MUST BE COMPLETED
by Tuesday, June 23, 2009

NOTE: DUE TO THE COMPLEXITY AND DIFFICULTY LEVEL OF THEIR CONTENTS, CLASS SIZES WILL BE LIMITED TO 8 PARTICIPANTS MAXIMUM.

Class 1
Up in Winter, Down in Summer - How to Adjust a Thermostat
Step by Step, with Slide Presentation.
Meets 4 wks, Monday and Wednesday for 2 hrs beginning at 7:00 PM..

It was Hot, it was cold, go outside if you don’t like it.

Class 2
Which Takes More Energy - Putting the Toilet Seat Down, or Bitching About It for 3 Hours?
Round Table Discussion.
Meets 2 weeks, Saturday 12:00 for 2 hours.

Doesn’t matter bitching is an art form, a means of expression.

Class 3
Is It Possible To Drive Past a Wal-Mart Without Stopping?–Group Debate.
Meets 4 weeks, Saturday 10:00 PM for 2 hours.

Not if they may have ammo.

Class 4
Fundamental Differences Between a Purse and a Suitcase–Pictures and Explanatory Graphics.
Meets Saturdays at 2:00 PM for 3 weeks.

A suitcase is rigid, hard to the touch. A purse needs to hold all your personal items, a camera, a recorder, and all his shit you need to keep track of.

Class 5
Curling Irons–Can They Levitate and Fly Into The Bathroom Cabinet?
Examples on Video.
Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM

They don’t need to; they can happily coexist with the Hair/beard trimmer that men leave on the counter.

Class 6
How to Ask Questions During Commercials and Be Quiet During the Program.
Help Line Support and Support Groups.
Meets 4 Weeks, Friday and Sunday 7:00 PM

When is there a break on Glocktalk?

Class 7
Can a Bath Be Taken Without 14 Different Kinds of Soaps and Shampoos?
Open Forum.
Monday at 8:00 PM, 2 hours.

No

Class 8
Health Watch–They Make Medicine for PMS - USE IT!
Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours.

Do they have an equivalent for crabby men?

Class 9
I Was Wrong and He Was Right!–Real Life Testimonials.
Tuesdays at 6:00 PM Location to be determined.

This is a class on Fantasy/Mythology

Class 10
How to Parallel Park In Less Than 20 Minutes Without an Insurance Claim.
Driving Simulations.
4 weeks, Saturday’s noon, 2 hours.

Or you can be like a man and park 2 blocks away.

Class 11
Learning to Live–How to Apply Brakes Without Throwing Passengers Through the Windshield.
Tuesdays at 7:00 PM, location to be determined

Yeah, slow down two blocks before you need to.

Class 12
How to Shop by Yourself.
Meets 4 wks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM.

Leave his butt at home, take the plastic.

Class 13
How to Fight Cerebral Atrophy–Remembering To Take a List To The Store, Avoiding Separate Trips for Each Item Needed.
Cerebral Shock Therapy Sessions and Full Lobotomies Offered..
Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours…

Just go to Walgreens, they have everything you need and if you look long enough you will find it all.

Class 14
The Stove/Oven–What It Is and How It Is Used.
Live Demonstration.
Tuesdays at 6:00 PM, location to be determined.

Yes, if he gets the ammo off/out of it, you can actually cook with it.

Upon completion of any of the above courses, diplomas will be issued to the survivors.