Community > Posts By > mnhiker

 
mnhiker's photo
Fri 01/16/09 07:18 PM
Edited by mnhiker on Fri 01/16/09 07:19 PM
Although I don't smoke, I think that anti-smoking advocates have become as vehement and mean as Nazis.

They have forced their will on restaurants, bars and other institutions here in Minnesota, who have lost money because the smokers that used to frequent their establishments are going elsewhere.

I mean, it's become the New Prohibition.

And not only can smokers not smoke indoors, they can't smoke in a lot of places outdoors, either.

I think we all agree that smoking is a bad habit, but this is a free country and you can't just force your will on everyone you disagree with.

If the anti-smoking Nazis really wanted to put their money where their mouths are, they would raise money to finance 'Quit Smoking' programs in the workplace, to make it easier for people who want to quit, instead of outlawing smoking everywhere but in a glass cage underground somewhere.

This way, the employers wouldn't have to foot the bill for it.

mnhiker's photo
Fri 01/16/09 07:00 PM
Let's hope there will be a sense of balance when the new President is inaugurated.

He shouldn't be swayed by the demands of the far-left, which are as out of touch and intolerable to most sensible people in this country as those of the far-right. ohwell

mnhiker's photo
Sun 01/11/09 10:27 PM
Edited by mnhiker on Sun 01/11/09 10:28 PM

Several oversight mechanisms are established by the bill.

Financial Stability Oversight Board
The Financial Stability Oversight Board is created to review and make recommendations regarding the Treasury's actions. The members of the board are:

Chairman of the Board of the Federal Reserve
Secretary of the Treasury
Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency
Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission
Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development
Congressional Oversight Panel
A Congressional Oversight Panel is created by the bill to review the state of the markets, current regulatory system, and the Treasury Department's management of the Troubled Asset Relief Program. The panel is required to report their findings to Congress every 30 days, counting from the first asset purchase made under the program. The panel must also submit a special report to Congress about regulatory reform on or before January 20, 2009.

The panel consists of five outside experts appointed as follows:

One member chosen by the Speaker of the House
One member chosen by the minority leader of the House
One member chosen by the majority leader of the Senate
One member chosen by the minority leader of the Senate
One member chosen by the Speaker of the House and the majority leader of the Senate, following consultation with the minority leaders of Congress
Comptroller General oversight requirement
The Comptroller General (director of the Government Accountability Office) is required to monitor the performance of the program, and report findings to Congress every 60 days. The Comptroller General is also required to audit the program annually. The bill grants the Comptroller General access to all information, records, reports, data, etc. belonging to or in use by the program.

Office of the Special Inspector General
The bill creates the Office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The Special Inspector General's purpose is to monitor, audit and investigate the activities of the Treasury in the administration of the program, and report findings to Congress every quarter.




What is needed now desperately is more job opportunities for the working class.

Put more people to work and they will have more money to spend on necessities of life, and maybe a few luxuries.

This will help grow the economy and help businesses stay in business.

Look, it's not going to be easy, and it will take a long time to get this country out of the economic doldrums caused by Bush Jr. and his greedy swine.

But it's a start.

The wealthy have been living off the fat of the land for the past 8 years while many other people have been struggling.

It's time the poor and middle class got a break.

mnhiker's photo
Thu 01/08/09 10:05 PM

Fried Grasshoppers
Catch a bunch of grasshoppers and keep them in a container overnight so that they purge their last meals.
The next day boil the grasshoppers for about ten minutes in order to soften them up a bit. For larger grasshoppers you can then easily remove the tough wings and legs.
Next beat some eggs and stir in the boiled grasshoppers so that they are thoroughly covered in egg.
Throw some corn meal and the egg-coated grasshoppers into a bag and shake well.
Place the hoppers into a hot skillet with 1-inch or 2.5-cm of hot oil and fry to a golden brown.
Remove the grasshopper from the pan and place on towels to soak up the excess grease.
Fried grasshoppers are excellent when eaten plain or dipped in various sauces including horseradish, mustard, ketchup, honey, or barbecue sauce. Many people prefer honey and grasshoppers and I do too.




Didn't John the Baptist eat those?

mnhiker's photo
Thu 01/08/09 10:02 PM
Edited by mnhiker on Thu 01/08/09 10:03 PM

I dont need can goods!

Opossum Stew:...
Mm-Mm that's good eating!




Ingredients:


1-dead opossum
1/2 pound of worms
2-carrots, potatoes & tomatoes
your choice of spices
one can of cheap beer

Equipment:

a sharp knife
a big cooking pot
a bag to hold the hair
a big spoon
several small bowls



What, no onions?

All the possums froze to death up here. laugh

mnhiker's photo
Thu 01/08/09 10:01 PM

Obama will save us


He has the right intentions, I'm sure.

But I'm not sure even he can save this economy.

Instead of giving more money to businesses who have already had loads of cash given to them, how about not giving more money to businesses and give it to the poor and middle class.

They will buy more goods and services and this will help keep businesses profitable.

Then let the free market decide which businesses thrive and which fail.

mnhiker's photo
Thu 01/08/09 09:53 PM


Assaulted with flour?

What damage can flour do? noway huh


Take a handfull and rub it in your eyes and see


It's not like he was assaulted with acid or lye. ohwell

mnhiker's photo
Thu 01/08/09 09:51 PM

Stores are closing in my city. One of our Macy stores is now.

Target's shelves are empty from the holiday shopping and they're not filling them back up.


Most of what those stores sell aren't basic needs anyway.

If another Great Depression hits, the wealthy will still be wealthy, with less money, some of the wealthy will lose most of their wealth and have to live like the rest of us, and the rest of us will be standing in line for food.

mnhiker's photo
Thu 01/08/09 09:40 PM
http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/depression/overview.htm

The phrase I think tells it all is "politicians and industry leaders continued to issue optimistic predictions for the nation's economy".

Think it can't happen again?

Now might be a good time to stock up on canned goods. ohwell

mnhiker's photo
Thu 01/08/09 09:10 PM

It's about keeping money moving.

There are businesses failing now not due to mismanagement. The credit crunch, fear etc. are crippling the flow.

Like Rush said? We should care what he says why? Rush is an entertainer who makes his money telling people what they want to hear. He knows his audience...I'll give him that.


Rush is a clown who owns his own private circus which allows him to speak his opinions and stir up the crowd. ohwell

mnhiker's photo
Thu 01/08/09 09:08 PM

Wall street, banks.. Bailouts = Obscene

Haven't we already entertained and carried out a version of porn?


Yes.

I concur.

mnhiker's photo
Thu 01/08/09 09:07 PM

The problems we see today in the ME are problems created by the western governments, esp British, forced creation of a Jewish homeland.


The U.S. usually backs Israel because there are a lot of Jewish people in this country with money, and money buys influence with politicians.

Oh, and they also vote.

There you go. ohwell

mnhiker's photo
Thu 01/08/09 09:00 PM

Im a landlord I lost three tenants in one month. None of them in auto industry. Restarants cause nobody is going out to eat. Why cause their customers were effected by the auto industy. The steel workers. Little shops. Auto salesman.


http://www.rhymes.org.uk/for_want_of_a_nail.htm

mnhiker's photo
Thu 01/08/09 07:31 PM


Details:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090106/ap_on_go_pr_wh/stimulus_tax_cuts

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090106/ap_on_go_pr_wh/stimulus_tax_cuts

I'm cautiously optimistic, but don't think businesses should get tax breaks just because their profits are down.

If you go into business, say you buy a little mom and pop shop down the street.

You sell little knick knacks along with the standard convenience store items.

Your business should grow, right?

Not necessarily. You see, someone down the street had the same idea, and they're selling items similar to what you have.

So you offer discounts, advertise, get people to come to your store.

In the end, your business will either grow or you'll be holding a 'Going Out of Business' sale.

But you knew the risks when you bought the business, didn't you?

If you didn't, you should have.

Another bad business model:

Detroit making big gas guzzling cars and SUVs.

Sure, they're sporty.

But then the price of gas goes up and people want to buy cars and trucks that guzzle less gas.

So the executive CEOs from the auto makers fly to Washington, DC in their Lear jets and beg for money.

Do you see a pattern here?

Some businesses should go out of business, because they didn't plan for the future and sell things the public is willing to buy.

Why reward them for making bad business decisions?


that was Rush's point on his show today...what's the doffference what kind of buisness it is...a bda business is a bad business...people just feel sorry for the ma and pops stores...


I'm no Rush fan, but if there are things we both agree on, it's only a coincidence.

mnhiker's photo
Thu 01/08/09 07:23 PM
Edited by mnhiker on Thu 01/08/09 07:23 PM
How ridiculous.

Maybe it's about time people started spending less money on porn and more money on dating real people who aren't part of a fantasy world. noway noway noway ohwell

mnhiker's photo
Thu 01/08/09 07:16 PM
Assaulted with flour?

What damage can flour do? noway huh

mnhiker's photo
Thu 01/08/09 07:08 PM
Edited by mnhiker on Thu 01/08/09 07:09 PM
Details:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090106/ap_on_go_pr_wh/stimulus_tax_cuts

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090106/ap_on_go_pr_wh/stimulus_tax_cuts

I'm cautiously optimistic, but don't think businesses should get tax breaks just because their profits are down.

If you go into business, say you buy a little mom and pop shop down the street.

You sell little knick knacks along with the standard convenience store items.

Your business should grow, right?

Not necessarily. You see, someone down the street had the same idea, and they're selling items similar to what you have.

So you offer discounts, advertise, get people to come to your store.

In the end, your business will either grow or you'll be holding a 'Going Out of Business' sale.

But you knew the risks when you bought the business, didn't you?

If you didn't, you should have.

Another bad business model:

Detroit making big gas guzzling cars and SUVs.

Sure, they're sporty.

But then the price of gas goes up and people want to buy cars and trucks that guzzle less gas.

So the executive CEOs from the auto makers fly to Washington, DC in their Lear jets and beg for money.

Do you see a pattern here?

Some businesses should go out of business, because they didn't plan for the future and sell things the public is willing to buy.

Why reward them for making bad business decisions?

mnhiker's photo
Thu 01/08/09 06:39 PM
I hope he succeeds.

However, I am cautious as to whether or not the stimulus package will succeed.

A lot of various interests will be waiting to get their hands on that money, and I despise the way Washington often treats average, hard working Americans.

I have no particular love for either Democrat or Republican politicians. They're both to blame for the mortgage and banking crises.

You see, their way of fixing these crises was to throw money at the business interests, which they gladly received.

The problem with this was there was little accountability demanded of those they gave the money to, which is a slap in the face to most of us who aren't rich or well connected.

Fiscal responsibility?

It's dead.

Perhaps one day they'll get it and consider that America consists mostly of people who pay their taxes, don't ask for a handout and work hard for their money, unlike a lot of politicians, who seem to be just kowtow, bowing and scraping (and giving in) to wealthy interests.

For your entertainment, the SNL bailout skit that didn't air:

http://hotair.com/archives/2008/10/06/whered-the-snl-bailout-skit-go/

mnhiker's photo
Sat 12/27/08 08:16 PM

There is something I have been noticing of late. That is the new found class of the closet Republican.
While they claim to be Independent one only has to talk to them for a short while to understand their political beliefs are actually Republican. You can generally tell by their total resistance to joining the cause and working with the rest of America (and Obama), to rebuild this country and right the many problems created by the Bush Administration.
Are these closet Republicans really Bushies who have been shamed into hiding behind the Independent label or racists who just cant stand the thought of a Black man as President?
Do you intend to ambush and try to undermine the efforts to rebuild the country and the morale of the people?
Is this why you hide?
Or are you just hardheaded, evidentually willing to climb on board and join this great an valiant effort to redine America as a world power once again ready to lead the world. Only this time from a position of example rather than fear of military might and a leadership too willing and quick to use it?


As an Independent, I subscribe to the political philosophy of common sense.

I will vote for the candidate that seems to make the most sense.

The most absurd candidate I will not vote for.

I must admit I was conflicted on the Franken-Coleman race, as they are both absurd.

In these cases, I usually for for the Independent candidate, even though they might not stand a snowball's chance in hell to win.

Call it a 'protest vote'.

mnhiker's photo
Sat 12/27/08 08:09 PM

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081226/ap_on_re_us/happy_holidays_firing;_ylt=Av9dG14e.xV0MkfhGlwqNGjtiBIF

PENSACOLA, Fla. – A Christian woman claims she was fired from her job because she greeted callers with "Merry Christmas," but the vacation rental company says it's no Scrooge and the woman is just a disgruntled employee.

Tonia Thomas, 35, said she refused to say "Happy Holidays" and was fired, even after offering to use the company's non-holiday greeting. The Panama City woman filed a federal complaint that accuses the company of religious discrimination. She is seeking compensation for lost wages.

"I hold my core Christian values to a high standard and I absolutely refuse to give in on the basis of values. All I wanted was to be able to say 'Merry Christmas' or to acknowledge no holidays," she said Tuesday. "As a Christian, I don't recognize any other holidays."

Thomas said she is Baptist.

Her former employer, Counts-Oakes Resorts Properties Inc., said she wasn't fired for saying "Merry Christmas," but would not elaborate.

"We are a Christian company and we celebrate Christmas," said Andy Phillips, the company's president. Thomas is "a disgruntled employee," presenting a one-sided version of what happened when she was fired Dec. 10, Phillips said.

Liberty Counsel, an Orlando-based legal group that advocates for people discriminated against because of their religion, is representing Thomas before the federal Equal Opportunity Employment Commission. Their complaint also accuses the company of harassing and taunting Thomas after she was fired by calling the police to watch her pack her belongs and leave.

Thomas could have hard time winning the case, said G. Thomas Harper, a Jacksonville-based labor attorney who writes a newsletter on Florida employment law.

"I wouldn't think an employee has the right to insist (on saying Merry Christmas) unless that really is a tenet of their faith. She would have to make a strong case that was part of her beliefs, if not, it becomes insubordination," he said.

Thomas has found another job, but she makes less than the $10.50 an hour she earned with the rental company. She said the trauma of being fired and the pay cut has made for a tough holiday season for herself, her husband and their 6-year-old son.

Harper said when it comes to holiday greetings, the smartest choice might be ignoring the season.

"The best option is just not to say anything," he said.




Perhaps she should have said "Happy Holidays" instead.

Score another one for political correctness.

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