1

On this day in 2005 I retired.

2

Sorry Coburn, I have to throw the BS flag on this one

The cash-strapped U.S. government could start saving $39,000 per student of military families by sending them to public schools -- if only the proposal could get a vote. 

Snip

According to Coburn's office, the Pentagon is spending an average of $51,000 per student per year to attend the U.S. schools on military bases. That figure is sure to rise as the Defense Department endeavors to repair the glut of schools that are in deteriorating conditions, though the military estimates the per-pupil cost is far lower than Coburn's figures show. 

If they can show that the military is spending $51,000 per student in the U.S. then they should be able to show who needs to go to jail. If I a not mistaken the most expensive civilian school in the country is Washington, DC (gov run as well) at $18K per student. And think about this, if you are an E5 stationed in Washington, DC would you want to send your kid to DC schools? You canÂ’t afford to send them to private schools like the politicians do.

So they want to send $12K per military student to local school system eh? I got news for you Coburn, they already do that. I was bringing home paperwork from school in the 50s for parents to complete so that they got money from the feds for gov employee/military families sending children to school.

3

Boner will shutout conservative budget hawks on negotiations for spending bill to avert shutdown.

Time for him to go and I say force the dam commies to negotiate or do shut the damn government down. And this time not a fucking soul gets paid. But face reality as ace likes to say. We will get sold out again.

4

As expected Fed dumps more printed money on Europe

Notice no mention of the amount because they did it by lowering interest rates so there is not limit for the amount. And it does NOTHING for the actual problem. This is the same kind of shit they did with Gm and Chrysler to keep them from going bankrupt, which they did anyway.  (and is this the only money they are doling out? See below)

5

Dog steps on gun and shoots owner in the ass - how many people believe this?

How many people believe alcohol was involved.

 

6

Congressman wants to outlaw abortions motivated by race or gender

This is utterly stupid. If you want to outlaw abortion, then give it the 10 millionth try (it will fail), but donÂ’t start throwing the race card in here.

7 Happy Retirement Anniversary, Vic. How'd the poison session go and how's the progress?

8

Frum explains why he is a "true conservative" while espousing liberal ideals.

He wants to save conservative from themselves. They need to get rid of stupid ideas like cutting spending and not raising taxes.

9

Outrage of the day and why a lot of us raised hell about TARP.

The Federal Reserve doled out a staggering 7.77 trillion dollars in secret loans in an effort to stabilize banks during the  financial crisis — cheap money from the public purse that the banks subsequently lent out at higher rates for a profit of $13 billion dollars, Bloomberg News reports.

I remember $600B from the fed being dumped but $7.7T? When they dumped the $600B a lot of us said there is no need for TARP. They approved it anyway ad then instead of using it as congress intended they basically spent it on BS just like the damn “stimulus”.

The Fed doesn’t need “auditing”. It needs to be eliminated. This financial collapse has a lot of its roots in action by the Fed which helped create the damn housing bubble to begin with.

10

Former Top Israeli General Says Explosions That Rocked Two Iranian Nuclear Sites Were Not AccidentsÂ…

Did anyone actually think they were?

11

Obama - If I don't get that extension of the 2% earned income tax withholding break I will hold my breath and the economy will tank!!!!

The stupid is epic, both in the WH and the public. Who is getting this tax break? The key voting blocks for Obama are at the extreme ends of the political spectrum. Neither of those end pays SS taxes to any great extent. Peggy Joseph pays no taxes of any kind and Warren Buffet makes his money off of capital gains, dividends, and interest; all of which are “unearned income”.  So who thinks this tax break will help the economy? Stupid people.

12

And Republicans act like they will help Obama out with a plan

I posted on this yesterday but at that time the plan did not yet say how they would “pay for it”.

Republican aides said the GOP will offer a plan to extend the payroll tax cut but pay for it through budget cuts rather than a tax increase on the wealthy. The Republican plan would extend a two-year pay freeze on most federal workers and lawmakers and reduce entitlement benefits and unemployment insurance for those earning more than $750,000.

What entitlement benefits and unemployment are people earning more than $750,000 getting and will it pay for this cut that only the middle class will get?

Of course Obama and the Dems have no intention of doing anything short of a massive tax increase (which is why calling this extension a tax cut is ludicrous) so this “plan” will go nowhere and the Dems and their lackeys in the press will still blame Republicans.

13

For those of you who think American citizens will be treated "fairly" when charged by the government

Marine finally cleared of murder charges after autopsy performed. Why wasnÂ’t it performed in the first place? Probably because the military has become overrun with PC lawyers like asshole Lindsay Graham.  They really donÂ’t give a damn about truth and justice.

14

Our wonderful DOJ at work again, indicting the wrong people for non-crimes

Blogger indicted for advocating jury nullification. Listen folks, I personally have told a federal judge during jury selection that I believed in jury nullification. If the founders did not believe in jury nullification there would be no juries.  We would be like France where a panel of judges determine guilt and innocence. Almost all Constitutional scholars believe in jury nullification.

 

But lawyers and judges hate it. What really pisses me off is they got a damn indictment. Which just proves that old adage that federal grand juries are shit now and willing to indict a ham sandwich if requested by the feds. If I had been on this Grand Jury I would indicted the DOJ asshole bringing the charges. Because a federal grand jury can indict anyone they want.

 

H/T Coyote Blog

15

And finally I checked all the major news outlets for the Newt story from aceÂ’s post. Nobody is covering yet, not even the SC papers where it occurred. Admittedly the original article was posted at 7:40 pm yesterday after the major papers had wrapped, but wouldnÂ’t they have had reporters at the event as well?

I have a feeling that this story will get short shrift.

16 That's it for new news.

17 Posted by: BackwardsBoy at December 01, 2011 07:14 AM (d0Tfm)

SOS, wearing the pump now. Will not know any progress until the Spring, and then if the detect nothing will not know if it was due to chemo are just that the initial operation got it all.

18

In news that will probably come back to hurt us, the Muslim Brotherhood had a big election win in Egypt yesterday. I have a vague recollection that they said they wouldn't run candidates.

Is there anyone outside of the commie assholes in government who didn't know this would happen?

19

Good luck and best wishes for a speedy, full recovery.

I'll repost this from the last thread I killed about Neut's shocking revelation (that we already knew) about the SCOAMF's Alinsky addiction/worship:

It's about damned time somebody told America she has domestic enemies.

20 vic you are too young to be retired.....but good for you......

21 you are too young to be retired.....but good for you......

The only time you are too young to be retired is when you can't afford it or you love your job. I stuck around as long as I did just to get medical. Good thing I did.

22 Drudge's headline that Obama is saying to the OWSers that he "needs another term to finish the job" should sound ominous to the world. I hear a cackle.

23

OK, 'rons 'n 'ettes, I'm off to the salt mine for the last time this week. Have a drumming gig tonight filling in for the regular drummer who woke up yesterday unable to move his head and neck. It'll be a long day, but the latter half will be fun as always.

Have fun and try not to trash the place.

24

Congressman wants to outlaw abortions motivated by race or gender

I know people abort based on gender but race? Isn't that weird. How do you not know the race?

25 I retired a few years ago. My health is #1. Nothing else matters if you do not have your health.

26 Good morning,  all!

I distinctly remember being told I was "uninformed" when I worried about Mubarak being shoved out.  And I was told this on Twitter by a Fox panelist,  who told me "reputable media sources in Cairo" had assured him that the Cairo demonstration was a democratic movement led by students.

That panelist,  Stephen Hayes,  has completely lost my respect,  because apparently Anderson Cooper is believed to be smarter than common-sense people who look at how things REALLY are in Egypt.

The person who DID say it was a disaster,  Kirsten Powers (who is married to an Egyptian doctor) kept telling everyone that the Egyptian middle class knew it was a disaster.  No one listened to her,  even though she had multiple accounts from friends and relatives in Cairo that the Muslim Brotherhood was orchestrating the entire thing.

It is PATHETIC that I can sit here in Indiana,  look at recent history and a damn map,  and figure out what is going on in the Middle East better than the highly-paid professional journalists.

Bah.

27 Okay Backwards Boy is gone, break out the ValuRite!

28 I am really a clusterfk of a miserable failure.

29 By the way what is Valu Rite? I guess I better google it...

30 No you are not Vic

31 Gabe we have a repeat offender that needs banning.

32 Posted by: Doctor Fish at December 01, 2011 07:33 AM (Lt/Za)

My question for the NRO guy is this, if the stuff is so good and so cheap why isn't it already on the market and selling like hotcakes?

We sure as hell don't need the government to "mandate" it if it is good.

33 Argh.... who is this t4YF+ guy???? It's too early to read the IPO address thingy, or whatever that is... my trifocals don't focus that early

34 Yeah Dr Fish - let the market demand the need, not government. Offhand I cant think of any major innovation that came about because of government mandate. I can think of some good pollution controls (husband from Youngstown so steel mills come to mind) but no technology advances.

35 30 I am really a clusterfk of a miserable failure.

Posted by: Vic at December 01, 2011 07:36 AM (t4YF+)

Since you're rudely socking a respected member of this place, you certainly are a miserable failure.

36 Good morning all. And good morning to the new muslim gov. in egypt that was ushered in by obama's abject ignorance and stupidity. Ah the smell of napalm in the morning, I love it, I need it, I want it!

37 Is there anyone outside of the muslim & commie assholes in government who didn't know this would happen?

Posted by: Vic at December 01, 2011 07:22 AM (YdQQY)

FIFY

38 It flashes at a lower ignition point than gasoline?

If that is so why does it have a higher octane rating?  Besides, gasoline is about as flamable as you can get. The vapor is actually explosive. (meaning that the fire propagates faster then the speed of sound.)

39 Do we need someone to second the motion? Gabe (or whomever) ban t4YF+. That is seriously not acceptable.

40

Is there anyone outside of the commie assholes in government who didn't know this would happen?

 

Don't forget the commie assholes in academe.  My school paper was creaming itself over the great Obama and his awesome leadership.

41 Ah the smell of napalm in the morning, I love it, I need it, I want it!

Posted by: nevergiveup at December 01, 2011 07:44 AM (i6RpT)

Good that you like it because I have the feeling that we will all be smelling a lot of it in the near future.

42

Best of the Morning to you Vic!  Everyone... good morning.  Good luck at the gig tonight BB, though you can't read this cause you're busting rocks... heh...

 

How 'bout any of that pizza left from last night to go with the ValuRite?

43 Ah the smell of napalm in the morning, I love it, I need it, I want it! Posted by: nevergiveup at December 01, 2011 07:44 AM (i6RpT) Good that you like it because I have the feeling that we will all be smelling a lot of it in the near future. Posted by: Hrothgar at December 01, 2011 07:47 AM (i3+c5) Yup. Be prepared I say!

44
NRO article Methanol Wins is a great read, and 'splains why Congress along with O'Fartfuck needs to be replaced.

Posted by: Doctor Fish at December 01, 2011 07:33 AM (Lt/Za)

I'm still gonna need E10 (or even better, E0) for my power tools.

45

You are all, again, presuming that Obama thought Egypt was going to turn into a pro-western Jeffersonian democracy. 

I think he knew how it would turn out, and that he likes it this way.

46 Hey there is at least some good new this AM. With all the budget cuts in the Military I was worried about my yab, but I woke up this morning and checked: I got a new Billet till 2015! They ain't getting rid of me to easily

47 The only problems I know of with methanol besides it is poison, is that when it burns it has an invisible flame, much like H2.

I burned my hand badly using an alcohol lamp from a chemistry set when I was a kid.

48 Sounds like that new Medicare benefit will be another large sinkhole in which they will pour billions more in unavailable dollars for little to no result.
 
Medicare is already the #1 underfunded and about to go bankrupt plan -- Hey, I know, let's tack on some more ballast to this sinking ship.

49 good morning
It would be awesome if cars could run on methanol

50 On it, Vic.

51
Meghan McCain, MSNBC's newly hired contributor, conducted her first interview for the cable news network on Wednesday with Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann.

McCain--who in January called Bachmann "a poor man's Sarah Palin" on MSNBC--said that the interview will air "soon" on "Now With Alex Wagner," the network's lunch hour show.




McCain first question for Bachmann during the lunchtime interview? "Ya'll goona eat that fat from your steak, or can I have it?"

52 Posted by: Andy at December 01, 2011 07:52 AM (XG+Mn)

Thanks Andy. This troll has been showing up multiple times in the past couple of weeks.

53 Can someone explain to me why anyone is being treated for "obesity" ? If you are allegedly "overweight", but otherwise healthy, you don't need ANY medical care. The problem is that the "health care" wants to label anyone that doesn't have the BMI of a marathon runner as "obese". Any medical condition you have - high cholesterol, high blood pressure, etc. - is what you get treated for. It doesn't matter WHAT the underlying cause is, and frankly, being "obese" as it relates to health is not a condition you can treat. There are many underlying causes OF obesity, and THOSE are what should be treated. And the fact is, those kind of causes are the same ones that cause people to abuse all kinds of thigns, from alcohol to drugs to sex. Just because your outlet of choice for your screwed up life is EATING should not make you any more or less applicable for health insurance coverage. The entire obesity industry in this country ought to fuck off, if you ask me.

54 Medicare is already the #1 underfunded and about to go bankrupt plan -- Hey, I know, let's tack on some more ballast to this sinking ship.

Yeah, now they need to add the common cold to diseases that qualify for SSDI.

55

If i remember correctly Methanol is called "wood alcohol" 'cause it's usually extracted from wood by-products like chips and stuff.

Good morning, Vic! Go easy on the oatmeal today.

56

You are all, again, presuming that Obama thought Egypt was going to turn into a pro-western Jeffersonian democracy. 

I think he knew how it would turn out, and that he likes it this way.

Posted by: Truman North at December 01, 2011 07:50 AM (I2LwF)

This. See also, every other majority Muslim country in the world.

57

In news that will probably come back to hurt us, the Muslim Brotherhood had a big election win in Egypt yesterday.  I have a vague recollection that they said they wouldn't run candidates.

Gabriel, ever hear about takiyya?  Come on, it's been 10 years now.

58 LOL, haven't had oatmeal for a while.

59

Posted by: deadrody at December 01, 2011 07:55 AM (aT8Zk)

Spoken like a guy who has never been anything but a little bit overweight.

There is a lot that goes into fighting obesity.  It is not just "eating less and exercising more". 

60 If i remember correctly Methanol is called "wood alcohol" 'cause it's usually extracted from wood by-products like chips and stuff.

You can make it from just about anything now.

61 yeah, methanol is very simple to make.
You can make it from wood.
You can make it from coal.
You can make it from fermentation (just feed the little bugs different sugars).
You can make it from natural gas.

62 Another potential problem with methanol is that it can be absorbed through the skin.  Spill it on yourself and you get the same toxic effects as drinking it...

63 yeah, methanol is very simple to make.
You can make it from wood.
You can make it from coal.
You can make it from fermentation (just feed the little bugs different sugars).
You can make it from natural gas.

Posted by: chemjeff at December 01, 2011 08:02 AM (s7mIC)

I'm guessing the farm lobby and their pet Congress Critters hate it then? Which probably explains why it's not being used?

64

Really, dude?  Really?  Hard to tell what part of this statement is more asinine:

 

Barack Obama to Jewish Donors: “I Try Not to Pat Myself on the Back” But I’ve Done More For Israel Security Than Any Other President

65

66 There is a lot that goes into fighting obesity.  It is not just "eating less and exercising more".

That is about the only thing that will fight obesity that is not hereditary. And that type of obesity can not be fought successfully to any great extent.

But with Americans, it is a case of eating better and exercising more. In the 50s every neighborhood had a "fat Albert the biggest buck-busk breaker". Now just about every kid in the neighborhood is Fat Albert. I don't think heredity has changed that much since the 50s.

67 70 concerned/jon/aka loser fuck off

68
The only problems I know of with methanol besides it is poison, is that when it burns it has an invisible flame, much like H2.

I burned my hand badly using an alcohol lamp from a chemistry set when I was a kid.

Posted by: Vic at December 01, 2011 07:50 AM (YdQQY)

I was going to mention, as a drawback, that alcohol burns with an invisible flame. But believe it or not, I've seen 18" bluish flames jetting from the exhaust of a gasoline powered generator at night that were invisible during the day.

But in the case of a fuel spill and subsequent ignition you'll see the gasoline flames but not the alcohol flames. Not good.

Also, Vic -- they're not talking methanol, it's ethanol. That's why it's called E10, not M10. I have a funny feeling that if you could buy straight ethanol from the pump, lots of people would resort to drinking modern day "torpedo juice".

69 Just binged it. As little as 10 ml causes permanent blindness. I remember my brother using it in is Remote controlled toys.

70
France honors Lenny Kravitz with highest award

France has paid tribute to Grammy winner Lenny Kravitz* with its highest award, the Legion of Honor.

Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand hailed the 47-year-old singer-songwriter at a Paris ceremony on Wednesday, telling him "you freed yourself of the barriers between black and white sound."

*Romeo Blue, Mr. Lisa Bonet



Kinda puts that whole Jerry Lewis thing in perspective.

71 Also, Vic -- they're not talking methanol, it's ethanol.

The article we were talking about WAS methanol, M100.

72 There is a lot that goes into fighting obesity. It is not just "eating less and exercising more". Posted by: chemjeff at December 01, 2011 07:59 AM (s7mIC) I must have missed where I said it was (since I didn't). I said there is a LOT going on behind "obesity", and those are the things that should be treated, not some BS diagnosis of "obesity". That is complete BS. I am well aware that there are people who will NEVER be anything BUT "obese". And there is, frankly, nothing that can be done to make them NOT obese. And yet, now, the obesity industry has successfully lobbied the gov't to basically give them a blank Medicare check to try anyhow. There may be a real "epidemic" of some sort associated with food, nutrition, exercise, whatever. But what there is not is a magical epidemic of people mysteriously becoming "obese". Neither doctors, nor "weight loss specialists" are going to fix this magic epidemic.

73 “I try not to pat myself too much on the back, but this administration has done more for the security of the state of Israel than any previous administration,” Obama said. “We don’t compromise when it comes to Israel’s security … and that will continue.” SCOAMF probably needs some additional letters

74 WASHINGTON—The Labor Department reported Monday that the U.S. economy created a staggering 4 million jobs in October, though government officials hastened to add that the new positions are all located in the St. Louis metropolitan area. "New employment opportunities are emerging in the fields of engineering, medicine, and manufacturing, but, to be clear, one would have to move to and live in St. Louis to fill these openings," said government spokesperson Stephanie Bergsen, noting that the city has a high crime rate and not much in the way of culture, so be sure to take that into consideration.

75

I retired a few years ago. My health is #1. Nothing else matters if you do not have your health.

I've just been to one of those leadership seminars where you consider a disaster scenario with a certain number of survival items you have to choose from.  You have no idea how many people assume that help is just over the horizon and you will be rescued within five days.

76 80 AE "d" for delusional "a" for arrogant "b" blatant "l" liar

77 It flashes at a lower ignition point than gasoline?

If that is so why does it have a higher octane rating?  Besides, gasoline is about as flamable as you can get. The vapor is actually explosive. (meaning that the fire propagates faster then the speed of sound.)

Negative Red Ryder.  Gasoline flashes at -50°F; methanol 50°F.

Also methanol generates about half the BTU/gallon that gasoline generates.

78

 4 million jobs in October, though government officials hastened to add that the new positions are all located in the St. Louis metropolitan area.

I'm calling bullshit. STL Metro has a population of less than 3 million.

79 85 ciderokid what? some people can't work two jobs? ///////

80 81

The Saint Louis area is a nice place to live, TN.

81 To add, ethanol generates about 70% of the BTU/gallon of gasoline.  Ethanol and methanol have virtually the same flash point.

82 As a matter of fact, my suburb city was just named the best place in Missouri to raise kids by Bloomberg.

83 83 80 AE

President Dabl.  I like it.

84 re: St. Louis jobs:  Yeah, the only problem is, it's not a real story.  It's from the Onion.

85 #49  I agree.  If you look at the map of Middle Eastern countries you can see that pretty soon Israel is going to be in serious danger from the Mediterranean to Iran.  This is what Obama wants,  because he is working on unifying the Muslims against israel.

MY complaint is about the media,  who fail to see this and in fact,  were completely clueless about Cairo (and the rest).  Libya will go Muslim Brotherhood,  too.

86 if we add an "i" for idiot and "o" for offensive....we could spell "diablo"

87 I disagree with abortion in all its forms because I believe in the sanctity of life.  I am also anti-death penalty for the same reason.

That said, I hate these back-door attempts to ban abortion like the GOPer mentioned in Vic's link is trying to do.  Abortion is clearly here to stay, and energy would be better directed toward imposing reasonable limitations on baby-slaughtering clinics and late term abortions.  Yet more laws based on minority status are not the answer.

88 And speaking of gasoline and ethanol/methanol I need to go fill up the truck now that the temps are above freezing.

bbl

89 Now that Medicare will pay for obesity treatment, national "weight-loss experts" say they, and not actual doctors, should get their cut of the money since doctors don't really know anything about weight loss, or something. Have you seen how many fat doctors there are?!!

90 I knew it wasn't a real story.  When a metro area of 3 million creates 4 million jobs, that's big news in an Obama economy.

91 1 On this day in 2005 I retired. Congrats, Vic. You do know, though, that you are not allowed to retire from AoSHQ!

92 SCOAMF probably needs some additional letters

Posted by: AE at December 01, 2011 08:08 AM (AsVq7)

L_yingSCOAMF?

93

There is a lot that goes into fighting obesity. It is not just "eating less and exercising more".

You are right, we have been sold a lemon with the low fat philosophy.  Fat is an important metabolic ingredient that has been demonised by the diet industry.  What they did is substitute fats for carbs.  When you look at our evolutionary diet, fat is not a enemy, it gives an important metabolic signal that carbs cannot.  Once you have had a certain amount of fats you feel satisfied and for much longer than carbs can do.  But no, some fad diet idiots thought we should swap the two.  And what do we have 30 years later?  Obesity and not just in US but everywhere that this philosophy held sway, meaning that UK., Europe and Australia have the same problem.  The reason that US got tarred with it first it that Americans are so keen to try everything first.

94 It is PATHETIC that I can sit here in Indiana,  look at recent history and a damn map,  and figure out what is going on in the Middle East better than the highly-paid professional journalists. But can you see Alaska from your house?

95 Oops, fail! I meant Russia!

96

I think he knew how it would turn out, and that he likes it this way.

Posted by: Truman North at December 01, 2011 07:50 AM (I2LwF)

Yes,  the right attributes his policy to incompetence and blunder because his actions are foreign to our thought process. Yet, his a well oiled machine accomplishing exactly what is intended.  

97 SCOAMF probably needs some additional letters Posted by: AE at December 01, 2011 08:08 AM (AsVq7)

Any new letters would have to flow so that the acronym could still be easily spoken, maybe ISOSCOAMF or something like that... let's see, Ignorant Sarcastic Obstructionist Stuttering Clusterfuck of a Miserable Failure?  Definitely describes O'Loser, but could obviously be improved upon with some thought.

98 85  4 million jobs in October, though government officials hastened to add that the new positions are all located in the St. Louis metropolitan area. I'm calling bullshit. STL Metro has a population of less than 3 million. That would mean child labor laws are being violated on a scale that hasn't been seen since Charles Dickens.

99 80 “I try not to pat myself too much on the back, but this administration has done more for the security of the state of Israel than any previous administration,” Obama said. “We don’t compromise when it comes to Israel’s security … and that will continue.” SCOAMF probably needs some additional letters Yeah, I guess that's why Netanyahu is advocating Israelis not to marry American Jews. Yup.

100

Posted by: Weight Loss Experts Who Know Better at December 01, 2011 08:17 AM (u/RSM)

I talked to my doctor about making a lifestyle change...

Q: Doctor,  I've heard that  cardiovascular exercise can prolong life.  Is this true?  
A: Your heart only good for so many beats, and that it...don't waste on exercise.  Everything wear out eventually.  Speeding up heart not make you live longer; it like saying you extend life of car by driving faster.  Want to live longer?  Take nap.  

Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?  
A: You must grasp logistical efficiency.  What does cow eat?   Hay and corn.  And what are these?   Vegetables.  So steak is nothing more than efficient mechanismof delivering vegetables to your system.  Need grain?  Eat chicken.  Beef also good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable).  And pork chop can give you 100% ofrecommended daily allowance of vegetable product.

Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?  
A:  No, not at all.  Wine made from fruit.  Brandy is distilled wine, that mean they take water out of fruity bit so you get even more of goodness that way.  Beer also made of grain.  Bottom up!

Q: How  can I calculate my body/fat ratio?  
A: Well, if you have body and you have fat, your ratio one to one.  If you have two bodies, your ratio two to one, etc.

Q: What  are some of  the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?      
A: Can't think of single one, sorry.  My philosophy is: No pain...good!  

Q:  Aren't fried foods bad for you?  
A:  YOU NOT LISTENING!  Food are fried these day in vegetable oil.  In fact, they permeated by it.  How could getting more vegetable be bad for you?!?  

Q:  Will  sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?  
A: Definitely not!  When you exercise muscle, it get bigger.  You should only be doing sit-up if you want bigger stomach.  

Q:  Is chocolate bad for me?  
A:  Are you crazy?!?  HEL-LO-O!!  Cocoa bean!  Another vegetable!  It best feel-good food around!

Q:  Is swimming good for your figure?  
A:  If swimming good for your figure, explain whale to me..

Q:  Is getting in shape important for my lifestyle?  
A:  Hey!  'Round' a shape!  

101 Okay.  Here is my obesity rant for the day.  This is coming from a guy who has been fat all his life.  And, frankly, if you haven't had to deal with losing significant amounts of weight, you should just STFU about what it takes to do so.  I don't presume to know what it is like to serve in the military or fly a jet or whatever, so don't tell me what it is like to lose weight.

There are people who are fat and who just don't care that they are fat.  I'm not talking about those people.  I'm talking about people who are fat and who try to lose weight but are, for whatever reason, unsuccessful.  This is the best way I can describe it.

Imagine that you are told by your coach that you have to do 20 pushups a day.  It is difficult for you, but not impossible.  You are told that if you do this, for a long enough period of time, that you will get in shape.  So, you do your daily 20 pushups, which are challenging for you, but you see no perceptible change.  None.  Other people, who do the 20 pushups a day, they are losing weight and getting in shape, but you aren't.  You complain to your coach that you aren't losing weight and that something must be wrong, but your coach just tells you to keep doing it.  After a while, you just give up.  Why should you keep doing something that is difficult and does not seem to give you any benefit?

And of course it is worse for people who are already fat to begin with, because we generally have a problem with self-discipline.  (Shocker, I know!)  So we tend to give up sooner.

So after a while of trying different methods, and seeing no progress, you start to give up entirely on the whole concept of losing weight.  Because you just can't seem to do it right, or because you are just pre-destined to be fat forever, or whatever.  But you start to blame yourself.  It isn't the diet's fault, it is your fault.  You start to believe that no diet or exercise regimen will work because the problem is inherent to you.

So you have this nexus of a lack of self-discipline, a lack of self-confidence, and poor eating habits in general.  It leads to depression and hopelessness.  When you don't think anything will work, why even bother trying to lose weight?

So if you just tell a fat guy "hey, it's easy to lose weight, just eat less and exercise more", don't be surprised if he hits you in the jaw.  It is not that easy.

102 " the Muslim Brotherhood had a big election win in Egypt yesterday. " Told yah. Attempts to instill democracy in muslim countries usually seem to end in Islamism. Turkey used to be a big exception.

103 Unemployment claims: 402,000 Three years after the country voted for suicide. I though armageddon would be more fun.

104
The article we were talking about WAS methanol, M100.

Posted by: Vic at December 01, 2011 08:07 AM (YdQQY)

You're correct about the article but the stuff they put in today's gasoline is ethanol. Congress has mandated that all gasoline contain 10% ethanol and they've been tinkering with the idea of bumping that up to 15%. Which would ruin my tractor, leaf blower, chain saws, lawn mower, roto-tiller, weed whacker, outboard motor and snow thrower. Plus some other stuff I probably forgot.

If the market will support higher alcohol blends go ahead and sell it. Just don't eliminate the market for the lower blends I need.

105 I try not to pat myself too much on the back

It's amazing that lightning has not yet disintegrated this man.

106 Obama’s ill-timed trip turned Midtown into a parking lot for hours, and ticked off New Yorkers simply looking to get around as the President glad-handed fat cats from the Upper East Side to the East Village to the Sheraton New York. [...] “Every time Obama comes to New York, it’s a nightmare,” said Tom Hall, 52, who was trying to get home to the Upper West Side from Midtown. “It probably wasn’t a good idea to have both of these events the same night.” Obama touched down at JFK at 5:14 p.m., zooming into Manhattan for a three-stop fund-raising blitz that wreaked havoc on Midtown streets and bus routes while aggravating commuters. “I’m totally screwed getting home,” fumed Celeste Gold, 30, a who was struggling to walk home to Hells Kitchen. “I’ll be directed the whole way by police.” At Gotham Bar and Grill on East 12th St., fans of the President paid more than $35,000 for an exclusive sitdown. On the Upper East Side, the price was $10,000 a head. Bwhahahaha! Suck it, NYC! You idiots voted for this man-child!

107 So if you just tell a fat guy "hey, it's easy to lose weight, just eat less and exercise more", don't be surprised if he hits you in the jaw.  It is not that easy.

Posted by: chemjeff at December 01, 2011 08:30 AM (s7mIC)

You certainly understand that humans are chemical beings. Everone's chemistry is different. Todays rules for losing weight are archaic. One size does not fit all.

108 Ugh those initial jobless claims are troubling.

109 I am a weight loss expert and my stock advice to fat people is to just STOP EATING! 

It works every time.  lol

Where is my money???

110 cat piss so early in the morning.....

111

Attempts to instill democracy in muslim countries usually seem to end in Islamism. Turkey used to be a big exception.

Turkey used to be an exception only as long as the military that was loyal to Ataturk's memory was in charge.  Turks aspire to the Euro membership and what did the Eurodits do?  The Euroidiots made them place the military under the political rule which resulted in - ?  Ta da - sharia.

112 As far as the obesity conversation goes, I think there is a huge difference between obesity and overweight.  Maybe I am stating the obvious, but as a woman, I much prefer to be with a larger man.  Larry the Cable Guy is what I consider an attractive man.  Obesity is life threatening.  Slightly overweight is normal.

113 Two of my friends' dads are on something called "the doucan diet".  The guy has his book, which has a tiffany blue cover, on the best seller list.  It's working for those guys.  Really working.  Both cheated horribly on Thanksgiving.  Went back on the diet and still maintained their weight before thanksgiving.  To me, that's a great diet.

114 I'm going to go get another cup of coffee so I can't smell the feline pee.

115

cat piss so early in the morning.....

phoenixgirl, someone kicked her out of bed early.

116 I'm with Doctor Fish @86 *and* Decaf @101. The two things I would add are: 1. McGovern's Food Pyramid contributed heavily to overloading American diets with sugars, starches, and other refined carbohydrates. This overload breaks people's insulin response systems. It's not slowing "metabolism" that makes people gain weight as they age, it's a breakdown in their ability to deal with blood sugar spikes and troughs. 2. Looking back, organized sports is what threw a wet blanket on the the play-all-day enthusiasm I had when I was really young. Organized sports didn't really start for us until about fourth grade or so. Before that, we would run down to the local ballfield in the summertime and play for six or eight straight hours. Nobody brought us snacks or water. Once the organized stuff started, it became a chore with schedules and drills and weigh-ins and try-outs and standings and tournaments. This is all important stuff, but it's not for everyone, and I think I was somewhere near the margin.

117

Two of my friends' dads are on something called "the doucan diet".

curious, it's called a Dukan diet. 

118

Posted by: phoenixgirl..(oZfic) is cat piss at December 01, 2011 08:38 AM (SH3gZ)

Now, now.  Be charitable.

It's not early here on the East Coast.  ;-)

 

119 122 It's "Duquesne", cat piss, like the University or the Fort.

120

Posted by: FRONT TOWARD LEFT at December 01, 2011 08:42 AM (p7SSh)

Amen.  Exactly right.

121 the tiffany blue cover grabs the attention of the social climbers every time

122 So to all you people who think all fatties need to do is "get off the couch" and "put down the cheeseburgers", this is for you.

123 This blog needs a daily limit on the word "@ssh-le." People, we do NOT have a quota on it. Sheesh.

124 ((chemjeff))

125 How I got in shape and went from 260 down to 215:

I bought a treadmill and an iPod.  I downloaded new songs all the time because any song set gets old after awhile.

Three times a week I hit the treadmill for 20 minutes.  I started at zero incline but pushed myself on the speed.  I started at 3.2 mph, and went up and then back down in increments of .2 mph.  So, my initial morning routine was:

Minutes 0-2 @ 3.2 mph - minutes 2-4 @ 3.4 mph - minutes 4-6 at 3.6 mph - minutes 6-8 @ 3.8 mph - minutes 8-10 @ 4.0 mph (when you first start, 4 mph will feel like you're going to die) - minutes 10-12 @ 3.8 mph - minutes 12-14 @ 3.6 mph - minutes 14-16 @ 3.4 mph - minutes 16-18 @ 3.2 mph - minutes 18-20 @ 3.0 mph.  Eat breakfast, shower and go to work.

I educated myself about basic nutrition and changed my diet.  I cheated when I was weak (Mexican food is my Achilles heal), but still lost 15 pounds in less than 12 weeks.

Two years later I'm down 45 pounds and workout and have a trim, firm body.  I can now do 60 mins. on the ole 'mill at 3-5 incline.  I'll never be an underwear model but I wasn't before either so whatever.

Like most hard things in life, weight loss is really just a matter of applying practical education.  Learn, learn, learn - it's the secret to feeling good about yourself, which is in turn the secret to success.

126 Assholes.  I'm surrounded by assholes.

127 I don't care how it's spelled, all I know is that both dads were/are having health problems and tried to lose weight before this diet.  They couldn't, they'd be defeated by the meal they would sneak in the middle of the night when everyone else was asleep.

128

Assholes.  I'm surrounded by assholes.

You're a suppository?

129

Once the organized stuff started, it became a chore with schedules and drills and weigh-ins and try-outs and standings and tournaments. This is all important stuff, but it's not for everyone, and I think I was somewhere near the margin.

FRONT TOWARD LEFT, you're right.  I'm a child of the 60s and we played carefree during summer holidays when we made our own rules, had lunch at our friends' homes and only went home to check in with mom and to sleep.  And then came feminism and two-income families and our children did not have the same privilege.  Very sad.

 

130 accuracy....not it's strong suit........

131 The diet has a website.

132 Hippocrates, if you are retired all bets are off.

133 “President Obama is coming to town solely to raise money from the richest of the rich”

134

I don't care how it's spelled, all I know is that both dads were/are having health problems and tried to lose weight before this diet.  They couldn't, they'd be defeated by the meal they would sneak in the middle of the night when everyone else was asleep.

Curious, are you prepared to defend the official food pyramid or the Dukan diet?  One resulted in a generation of obese people and the other has not yet. So, which is it?

135 if you are retired all bets are off.

I'm sure it's even harder then.  I'm nearly 50 and it took every fiber of strength I had to impose even the minimal discipline I described above.  I respect you for trying.

136

Hippocrates, if you are retired all bets are off.

Hippocrates, I have not made myself clear in this comment.  What I meant is that if you are retired you have enough free time to do all that while the rest of us working stiffs after work have to collect our grandchildren from daycare, cook dinner, chat to our elderly parents etc so that when there is any free time we spend it on improving our mind by reading Ace.

137 Amen. Exactly right. Funny. I was down in your neck of the woods in October to babysit over the weekend for two nieces and a nephew. The eldest niece is seven but is already in her third year of organized soccer, and it was obvious to me that she sees it as a chore. Her brother, three years behind her, looks like he cannot wait to play "grown-up" soccer like his big sister does (he's in an organized kickball league). The artificial turf field at that school behind Bradlee shopping center was wall-to-wall little primary elementary kids with at least four games happening simultaneously. I'm not advocating any kind of a change for my niece because she's in the system now, but I cannot imagine what this culture is doing to what I assume to be a majority of these kids. I did all right for myself even into adulthood, but since I got out of the Army, my weight and my fitness level has fluctuated wildly because I don't care until I do. Then, I care until I don't care anymore. These cycles last a few years and are usually driven by work schedules/stress or injuries or the once-every-five-years cold/flu that I cannot shake for a couple of weeks. I happen to be on the upswing at the moment, so I'm a little heavy on the introspection.

138

...so that when there is any free time we spend it on improving our mind by reading Ace.

Or Gabriel, or DrewM or rdbrewer, or Truman North, or LauraW, or Monty, or CAC, or Maetenloch, or CDM or Russ, or, or, or...  Guys, you are all fabulous, better than anyone at Hot Air.

139 Posted by: Decaf at December 01, 2011 09:02 AM (0LHB0)

Ah ... sorry, I misunderstood.  I hear you, though ... real world obligations are why I started doing it in the morning before work.  Had to get up a half-hour earlier to make it work.  I made up for it by turning off the TV and going to bed earlier.  Wound up sleeping more and feeling better (not to mention having occasional sex again and reading more too).

I know everyone's life is different and some have nearly overwhelming obligations.  I'm not trying to proselytize, just relating my personal experience in case anyone might find it helpful.  The weight battle is really tough.

140 HIppocrates, you and my husband would get on really well, same game plan.

141 when there is any free time we spend it on improving our mind by reading Ace.

Posted by: Decaf at December 01, 2011 09:02 AM (0LHB0)

You are obviously mixing Valu-Rite with the decaf!

142 So they want to send $12K per military student to local school system eh? I got news for you Coburn, they already do that. I was bringing home paperwork from school in the 50s for parents to complete so that they got money from the feds for gov employee/military families sending children to school. Posted by: Vic at December 01, 2011 07:12 AM (YdQQY) Morning Vic, I hope you are feeling well after your poison. Is Coburn including overseas DODDS schools in that figure? Because I fully believe it costs close to that to send a military kids to a DODDS school in Germany or Okinawa. And yes, we still have to fill out the forms for extra funds from the military for our kids here in the US. That really frosts me that the public schools double dip on that basis.

143 Vic: I believe Reason (not my favorite people) claim taxpayers are paying double the amount reported as the cost per student in US schools. So, DC was something like 26k and that was a couple of years ago.

144 Is Coburn including overseas DODDS schools in that figure?

No, acording to the article that was only US schools. I have a SIL teaching at a DOD school in Japan. As long as we have bases overseas we will have to have those schools unless they simply make parents with children stay in the U.S.

145

You are obviously mixing Valu-Rite with the decaf!

Hrothgar, not vodka but gin and tonic.  Shaken or stirred does not even enter into it, it's just poured.

146 Hippocrates: What kind of treadmill did you buy? I'm tempted to get one but I live in SoCal so there is no reason why I can't just walk outside. Oh, and congratulations.

147 Talking about losing weight. I actually got down to 165 after the hospital. I am now on the way back up. It is damn hard to stay below 2000 calories which is where I need to be to lose maintain weight. I was doing my 2 mile power walk every morning but I had to go two months with no exercise and now it is two damn cold in the morning to walk.

Of course stopping at Bojangles after gas for a chicken biscuit and large hash round doesn't help.

148 Where's the puppehs? We need advent puppehs?

149 What kind of treadmill did you buy?

Make sure you check a few things first. These things have a large foot print and the good ones are very heavy. I wanted one of these but wound up with an exercise bike because I had no room downstairs and I didn't want to carry the thing upstairs. Also no room upstairs either.

Exercise bike got old after a year and I gradually qu9t using it after two years.

150 Unemployment claims: 402,000

Three years after the country voted for suicide. I though armageddon would be more fun.

Posted by: Big Fat Meanie at December 01, 2011 08:31 AM (V6fqC)

Or at least more interesting.

151 I'm tempted to get one but I live in SoCal so there is no reason why I can't just walk outside. Not addressed to me, but this arrived just yesterday: LifeSpan TR3000i It's $700 off right now. I prefer using the treadmill for ramp-up because I'm not a "natural" runner. With the treadmill, I can run heartrate-targeting interval programs for dropping weight and improving cardio fitness. Then, when I start running, I can use it to ensure a 190+ cadence until it "sinks-in." If I don't do that last bit, I can lag below 160 steps-per-minute, and that's a recipe for injury.

152 So, DC was something like 26k and that was a couple of years ago.

The last numbers I saw for DC were 18K per year per student. Here it runs about 8K if I remember correctly. If their numbers were off by 50% I am sure it would have showed up in a few more places than reason.

The numbers are easy to check. All you have to do is divide the budget by the number of students.

153 I wanted one of these but wound up with an exercise bike because I had no room downstairs and I didn't want to carry the thing upstairs. Vic, Have you looked at the ones that fold, and have you considered putting it in your garage? The one I linked @160 is as solid as healthclub ones I've used.

154 All you have to do is divide the budget by the number of students. Speaking of which, I expect there is a major capital expenditures hit happening right now as US Forces Korea is being relocated out of Seoul. When I was there as a brat, we got a brand-spanking-new high school in 1982, so it's less than thirty years into what could easily have been fifty or more years of serviceability.

155 Vic: I found a video but there is a detailed Cato report. http://goo.gl/y4nxM They say DC is really 28k a year.

156 Have you looked at the ones that fold, and have you considered putting it in your garage? The one I linked @160 is as solid as healthclub ones I've used.

Yes, I looked into the ones that fold. They still have a good size foot print. I don't have a garage. I do have my old pool house but it is unheated/cooled and although summer mornings would be OK, Winter not so good. Besides the pool house has now become a "storage" building full of junk.

157

GQ's list of the years Least Influential People includes Bono and Obama.  *fist pump*

 

158 Thanks, Mike.

I bought a NordicTrack T7si.  I wanted a big machine (comparable to a gym) because I'm a big guy, and the tipping point was the iPod dock above the display so I could just plug it in and go (self-charging, no headphones required, and reasonably good sound that drowns out my panting).

The link says $1,299 but I paid $799 on clearance at Sears.  Vic is right, though, check the footprint before buying because they do take up a lot of room.

159 FRONT TOWARD LEFT: Thanks. Looks good but a bit expensive until I'm sure I'm willing to commit. I figure if I start walking in my hilly neighborhood I can then advance to investing in a treadmill. Vic: Thank, too. I had a bike for a while but it was so boring I got rid of it. My real bike I never use because my neighborhood is so hilly, I pretty much have to drive it somewhere else to ride it.

160 I can't get that CATO page to load. I am not sure I would trust it anyway. Unless they are hiding fund movement (entirely possible in DC) it is easy to check.

161 Besides the pool house has now become a "storage" building full of junk. Heh. I hear you. We were very fortunate to have purchased our place from a family that loved to collect and keep stuff. Whenever my wife or I discuss a purchase for the home, we pull the sales brochure, look at the pictures, and about four times out of five, we say, "maybe not." One other thing is that the stinkbugs have moved into our area (another blast from my youth since we had them in Korea), and they will crawl behind anything hanging on the walls, so we don't have anything up yet. I am about halfway through a case of latex caulk because I am filling any gaps anywhere that I find. Even the boards I mounted for hanging hooks and the like in our drywalled-but-not-finished detached garage have nice caulk beads around them.

162 I figure if I start walking in my hilly neighborhood I can then advance to investing in a treadmill. If you don't mind fending off high-pressure sales tactics, try a trial membership at a health club to make sure that treadmills are for you. My father has been a fairly serious runner since the early 1970s, and he cannot stand treadmills.

163 One other thing RE: "not for you." Check craigslist about midway through January.

164 Hippocrates: Thanks. I'm also pressed for room but I'm at that point in my life I'm trying to get rid of a lot of stuff. So, theoretically, I will have more space.

165 Posted by: mike at December 01, 2011 09:43 AM (kG1Iq)

Make sure that if you do get one you get a good one, particularly if you are going to use it for jogging. I have heard horror stories on the cheaper ones tearing up quickly and warranties aren't worth a damn.

if you can't afford on in the $1000 range you are better off with none. 

166 Vic: Here it is on youtube: http://goo.gl/fJrW

167 If you don't mind fending off high-pressure sales tactics, try a trial membership at a health club to make sure that treadmills are for you.

Yeah, the Y is pretty good here. My wife joined them and goes about every other day. I should go but I just like to get my stuff out of the way early in the morning and don't want to have to drive into town to exercise.

168 Posted by: mike at December 01, 2011 09:54 AM (kG1Iq)

OK I see what they are saying, but that kind of cost shifting is done by ALL government agencies, not just school systems. Gov is exempt from standard accounting methods. imagine that.

But it is a little disingenuous also for CATO to single out school districts when they all do the same thing.

169  Ah, Fudge. I forgot to do the November straw poll (after having forgotten in October too). Tomorrow, I guess.

Vic! I rely on you to remind me of these things!

170 Last week was a bad week for me "remembering" things. It was a valu-rite week.

171 102 But can you see Alaska from your house?
103 Oops, fail! I meant Russia!
__________

Give me some time.

172 Obama "needs another term to finish what he wants"; the existing term is SCOAMF. No mas. Yet this administration has another year's worth of DOOM in its bag 'o plagues. Grace America with "lame duck" Christmas '11.

New Year Policy Resolutions? Since Obama plays the big bad international warmonger, neoconservatives compulsively overreact to outperform Obama's aggressions though the "latest study" that only reproduced the 2009 study -- no new Iranian nuclear developments to date.

But since 2008 the Federal Reserve and IMF are effectively bankrupt, burdening taxpayers around the world, especially US taxpayers to cover losses due to the banking/investment/insurance corrupt scams profiting elitists, having lent worthless money to every WTO nation et al. in order to place everyone in debt-as-wealth. Given that printing press "money" is worthless, the IMF/Fed pirate the oil wealth nations' central banks in the name of human rights making war for banking-profit while demonizing entire populations. As if that justifies genocidal holocaust? No.

173 Tsar Obama reset Tsar Putin

SYRIA is the Middle East's "Alamo" line drawn in shifting sands.

It ain't gonna be a cakewalk.

174 My advice is to start your kids in organized sports from the beginning and keep them in as long as possible. They are too busy to get into trouble, they don't become overweight during that critical time in their lives, they learn discipline and teamwork and they have an automatic peer group of achievers. Plus they learn how to lose and pick themselves up; it's easy to win--the learning to lose is the tough part.

175

Chemjeff @ 110:

Thank you, sir. You have described my predicament perfectly. 

176 @183 I believe everything you said in your comment. I know I've enjoyed those benefits my entire life. I had a full schedule of year-round organized sports from fifth grade through school. The problem I'm talking about is my unhealthy view of attaining and maintaining fitness as a chore to be dutifully performed as the price to achieve some *other* end whether it be organized sports, PT tests, or fitting into my trousers.

177 I'm pretty sure all alcohols will pull water vapor out of the air into solution.  Methanol and Ethanol both attack various common rubber and plastics.  Methanol attacks some metals.  The high flash point means they're harder to start in the cold.  The high ?heat of vaporization? means they both will pull a lot more heat out of the top of an engine, carb/injector icing.  Lower energy density means you need more fuel.  The higher octane does allow for more compression and thus power.

178 Obama is a stuttering clusterf*ck of a miserable failure.

179 Wow this is soo helpful I have been trying to figure this out on my own for a long time now. Hopefully making this change will help encourage discussion on my blog.

180 I love what you guys are frequently up too. Such clever work and reporting! Keep up the terrific works guys IÂ’ve added you guys to my blogroll.

181 I have been absent for some time, but now I remember why I used to love this website. Thanks , I will try and check back more frequently. How frequently you update your web site?

182
I am not clear if I totally understand the full thought pattern behind this.