la grande poussée

Please Excuse my Indisgression - a Fantasy - I can't help myself! Afterall, How would you Celebrate your New Year's Fantasy? ...Whew!...MyBad!

2009-12-31T06:25:00.049-07:00

It goes without saying, that this is a meal requiring time between courses - and savoring all of the flavors - mind you - going back for seconds at any juncture requires more time indeed.

I would guess that to enjoy this properly 6 to 12 hours would be about right.

Hummus - double the Garlic

My Wine of Choice - Masi Valpolicella 1996

On crushed Ice, hold the salt, Low Ball Glass

and of course to quench our thirst.....

BTW - The proper way to drink 1554 is in a wine glass - my opinion

I would have preferred a large bowl, thin stem, Burgundy

wine glass - Hornitos and 1554 go well together (paired)

There are many fine Belgium Dark beers... after trying

all the small breweries in my travels this Belgium

Dark had the best finish - chocolaty* - if you will

N/B 1554 is not sold on east coast

...........and finally

Just before Dawn

A favorite New Year's Eve Menu all of my favorites

all vegan!

Disappointed in Me? How would you improve on this menu if you were planning your own?

"*Chocolate is the flavoring, no mater how discrete,is in every course of this menu - its importance in life is without question. There has been some confusion about the spelling of “Chocolatey”. Some believe it should be “Chocolaty” or even “Choclaty”. So, which is the correct spelling, and what are the global consequences of misspelling "Her" name?

Which is the correct spelling?

The answer to this is not a straightforward one. The official position of the Chocolate Church on this - wisely and rightfully decided by the High Priest - is that the correct spelling is “Chocolatey”.

However in some ancient texts, one can also find other spellings. So they are not altogether wrong, they are just not favourably looked upon in this day and age. Even something as everlasting as Chocolate, has to face and accept cultural changes, including changes in spelling.

So will I starve in Vanilla Hell if I use it wrong?

No, you will not. The Chocolatey Mistress is a very forgiving deity. In contrast to some other (imaginary, I might add) deities, she has no personal issues or complexes. That is the reason why she has no urge to suppress her followers. Nor does she draw satisfaction from her worshippers lacking it" - .....http://www.chocolatecakechurch.org/

Every hormone released in this menu is in the Chocolate Family. Broccoli?.....use your imagination - this menu was created by mine.

2009 - SpaceMonkies

2009-12-31T05:39:00.001-07:00

2010 International CES, January 7-10...Should be mindblowing!

2009-12-29T06:23:00.012-07:00

Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is where all of the companies with new products in the Information Technology (IT)
industry come to "The Disneyland of the Adult World" Las Vegas - to show off their new products - which will turn into Both Business and Consumer's most wanted and needed products of the "near" future.

Such things are on Dock - Announcements Galore:

Downloading PDF documents and having them converted into speech - for listening rather than reading - and step 2 - converted to read at a faster pace if desired.

Attempts by other companies to simulate (what Apple will finally produce) The Touch Tablet - combo Laptop/web book... book reader and probably other than providing "pyhsical" sexual satisfaction - another type of satisfaction most desired. At the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next week, at least a half dozen companies will unveil new e-reading devices, including Plastic Logic Ltd., Hearst Corp.’s Skiff, Spring Design Inc. and Entourage Systems Inc.

Product Categories:

Accessories
Audio Hardware & Software
Blank Media
Bluetooth Technology
Broadband Technology
Car Audio
Computer Hardware & Software
Content Distribution
Content Production
Digital Car
Digital Hollywood

Global Positioning Systems

Handheld Information Devices

High-performance Audio & Home Theater

Home Appliances

Home/Personal Healthcare

Digital TV/HDTV
E-Commerce

Electronic Gaming

Once the CES begins - two providers will be offering live Information: (search)
cNet
Engaget

Automation Home Security
Home Theater & Custom Installation
Internet Applications & Services
In-Vehicle Technology
MP3/Internet Audio

Personal Electronics

Photography/Digital Imaging

Retail Resources

Robotics

Satellite Systems

Small Office/Home Office

Speech Technology

Telematics & Vehicle Navigation

Telephony Equipment

Video Hardware & Software

Wi-Fi Technology

Wireless/Mobile Communications

Happy New Year - El Viejo

2009-12-28T04:43:00.002-07:00

Scent of a woman

2009-12-28T04:38:00.001-07:00

Some Days You're the Dog and others the Mule

2009-12-28T04:28:00.000-07:00

Amazing - How Quickly the "Economic Weather" will change when the holiday season ends this year.

2009-12-28T04:03:00.002-07:00

There appears to be an unsettling atmosphere of optimism in the Securities Markets. Who believes them?
They say (?) real estate has bottomed - By looking at the advertising here in the Phoenix area - you would think Real Estate is a great investment - the advertising prices look like they never fell - too much deception. In commercial real estate, lots of dead bodies - LOTS! - It will be interesting how many commercial business stayed alive thru the holidays - but the future, without stimulus, looks very cloudy - The Automobile Industry seems to have run into another drought. Good time to buy a new car - if you care. I came out today to gather some acorns and I'm ready to come out on sunny days - and stay near my "hollow." My mind is already wandering toward spring and my plans for Mountain Rivers and Streams - cool summer weather at altitude - keeping my tan and working up my exercise and down my appetite. Happy New Year - I know mine will be!

There is always the challenge of being an older person. We, as a group, are not even considered - on the other hand - we generally, most of us, will not be suffering - what is at hand for those who are counted.

El Viejo

4am Christmas Morning - The Economy - The People - GBA

2009-12-25T04:35:00.007-07:00

"My Motto: I like to have everything so perfect,
I can take it for granted!" - Charlie Brown

Tomorrow - the rest of everything that did not sell before xmas will be going on sale at 5AM - so what is left - All of the Hype - all of the hope - take a look down the road - Xmas to the First Day of Spring....the economy will have to be propped up by various stimulus plans to keep all of the crippled sectors from falling out of site.

Mercy, Mercy, Mercy... there is a health feature to the final cleansing that is necessary for all of us to once again move into a normal thriving economy - we should see this in the next 3 months...and it will be a slow birth out of the dreads of all those who fell and may not recover until 2012. We are just finishing a Decade of the worst economic and international social happenings in the past 80 years.

As a trader, I am slowly moving my trades into "short" derivatives, a way to profit from adversity. Millions of traders are awaiting this change...when? When It's ready and not a moment sooner. As always Patience is the key - and patience begins when patience runs out...

We will eventually have a new class of people in America - the permanently unemployed - about 10% of the workforce

So, thank god Charlie Brown and I have the same philosophy - God Bless America - and everyone else too!

PS. There was a reason that our forefathers insisted on "Separation of Church and State." In this Decade, now approaching its end in 6 days - Our Country was Run by a Mental Infant - controlled by a religious group 100 million strong. George Bush Sr. didn't like Broccoli (as we know is one of the richest nutrients in the vegetable category.) This void in his own nutrition had genetic consequences in the passing of attributes to George W. We have all suffered - the world suffered - Eat Your Broccoli!!!! Pray to God and hope that those who feel theirs is the only way to god - perish to Hell forever...of course both Charlie Brown and I do not recognize the concept of "Hell" as being anything - so heaven it is for us - and maybe you.....

Is Life Fair?

2009-12-20T10:38:00.002-07:00

Sure! My mother once said "everyone gets what they deserve (and if you see or meet a couple and wonder why they are together) everyone deserves who they are with - don't even question it......"

NOW everything my mother said was not worth mentioning and not even worth listening listening to.

She spent lots of time trying to manipulate everything and everyone....human nature, I guess

Happy New Year

The Fig at Christmas - Dandelion Wine - Brooklyn

2009-12-14T21:32:00.002-07:00

Jackpot (Jack) is One Year Old this week

2009-11-30T08:32:00.002-07:00

Ever since Lily and Bonita (my previous great dog) became lovers, I have been looking for a new friend. In the past 2 years, I have had 2 dogs that did not work out. One went to a Ranch in Utah and the other had an infant disease.

This past summer I visited the Boise Humane Shelter (a first class operation - including a Vet Practice onsite.) I was looking for a working female type dog - Healer, Border Collie, etc. As I passed through the Kennels I got this look (above) from a Male Border Collie/Aussie Shepherd/and ? cross. I walked by, I walked back, then I walked by again. I went to the front desk and asked about other dogs, puppies, etc. that were being home cared.

I then asked about Jack. He had been adopted twice and returned...and then the receptionist said "One of the nicest dogs here - and I'm not hustling you here - he's just too active for being a house pet - very smart...blah, blah, blah.....I adopted him and he has turned out to be the greatest dog I have ever kept company with.

I honestly believe he is a gift from a greater power, for my last stretch in life. Happy Birthday Jack!! and Thanks for being my friend.

December Begins with a Full Moon and Ends With a Full Moon - Partial Lunar Eclipse December 31

2009-11-29T07:46:00.005-07:00

“Economic history is a never-ending series of episodes based on falsehoods and lies, not truths. It represents the path to big money. The object is to recognize the trend whose premise is false, ride that trend, and step off before it is discredited." -George Soros

Urban Legend - Lemmings - Our Market Environment

2009-11-24T12:01:00.004-07:00

I originally posted this on September 7th 2007 before the Recession was officially announced. I am bringing it forward - as we are about to begin the other half of the Charting "W" we are at the small peak inside the "W" and will begin the 2nd half of this recovery, with a slide to declare us "temporarily" hopeless.
(Anger, Depression and Disbelief)

More Banks need to Fail!
Real Estate auctions need to withdraw the "hold back"
(Minimum bid)...and let the property go "at Whatever!"
The Security Markets need to face "reality."
Most current profits are a result of cost reductions.
Finally, we have to face that our base unemployment will
find a fixed 10% new class of "havenots" until they are willing
to accept less and vigorously retrain.

When you look toward January - do you see brighter skies or a "Darkness?"

A story involving incidents of the past, that spreads quickly and is popularly believed to be true.that barely have a shred of truth in them - Urban Legend

Well there is such a story about Lemmings Rushing to the edge of a Cliff and committing mass suicide. While many people believe that lemmings commit mass suicide when they migrate. Lemmings will often migrate in large groups. Often, a small stream or similar obstacle will block the migrating lemmings' path, , causing them to stop and scurry around in a panic until the overwhelming urge to press on drives them to overcome the obstacle no matter what the consequence. In most cases, large migrating groups of lemmings will reach a cliff overlooking the ocean (as is common in their environment), where they will stop until the urge to press on causes them to all jump off of the cliff and start swimming to exhaustion. They, inevitably, drown as a result. (This has been documented)

Lemming suicide is a frequently-used metaphor in reference to people who go along unquestioningly with popular opinion, with potentially dangerous or fatal consequences.

......again

click on image to make larger

In this scenario the lemmings would reach the edge of the cliff at "Anxiety" and drown somewhere between "Capitulation", "Depression" and "Disbelief"

H a s s e l b l a d - $34,000 - beyond Digital, Digital

2009-11-19T11:13:00.002-07:00

Tim Gunn - Perfect in his every way!

2009-11-18T10:19:00.000-07:00

Warren Buffett - says it well.

2009-11-14T06:51:00.002-07:00

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Billionaire Warren Buffett offered some advice to Uncle Sam on Friday: Time it right, but tackle the nation's enormous federal deficit.

In an interview with Charlie Rose, Buffett said if the United States keeps flooding the world with its debt, countries will eventually notice that U.S. fiscal policies are "out of control" and become "less and less and less enthused" about lending to it.

But the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway added that though the United States will want to act "fairly soon" to cut the deficit, it has to wait until the economy comes back.

"We want to put out the fire," he said. "Then we want to quit squirting water on those buildings. We have to know when the fire's out."

And how will we know?

"Well, it will be retail sales. It'll be automobile sales. It'll be when home construction starts coming back," Buffett said, adding that the signs might not be recognized until three or four months after the fact. Still, it could happen in the next two years.

Jobs
Buffett said that while unemployment might stabilize later, it will also come down to a normal rate.

"We'll create new jobs," has assured Rose, explaining that the United States has created millions of jobs since the unemployment rate was last above 10% in the 1980s and it will do the same this time around.

"Who would have thought that when Paul Allen and Bill Gates were down there in Albuquerque eating pizza and drinking coke at two in the morning, that they were a big part of our future?" Buffett asked. "The American economy will come back. And it won't be tomorrow, and it won't be exactly the same, but in the end, we have not changed the American people and their capacity to innovate or their excitement about becoming more prosperous and coming up with new ideas."

And as far as China beating and growing faster than the United States? Buffett said while China's population is four times larger and will thus grow faster, its economy is still much smaller overall.

"I'll meet some guy on the street today whose net worth will be growing faster than mine on a percentage basis. But if I start with a big enough number, it'll be a while before he catches me," Buffett said, adding that it's a "long way off" for China's economy to be larger per capita than that of the U.S.

'I want to make it painful for them'
While Buffett said Washington came together to respond to the financial meltdown "like they should" have, the government should have been more aggressive in dealing with bank executives at too-big-to-fail institutions that needed government intervention.

"If you run a financial institution that, in effect, can bring down the system unless the government steps in, I think something very bad should happen to you," Buffett said. "I want to make it painful for them."

Buffett said while he's "not for shooting them," the executives should not be able to walk away with even 10% of their previous net worth and the directors who hired them should also be punished.

What do you suppose - makes life great? Jackpot watched this video sitting above my right shoulder and at the conquering of the first step he let out a loud bark!

2009-11-09T11:02:00.002-07:00

Now you gota ask yourself - Is this proof of Evolution, Global Warming - of an oddity of Texas?

2009-11-04T11:05:00.003-07:00

1-888-Hogs Fly if you are interested in ordering slabs of Ribs

Trading into Monday, Some thoughts about Patterns, Clint Eastwood and The Full Moon

2009-10-31T08:08:00.001-07:00

T2108 (and MACD included within) called the turn within one day - 5 to 6 trading days ago - as I related in a post THEN. http://stockcharts.com/h-sc/ui?c=$spxa50r

More on MACD: http://macd-trader.blogspot.com/2007/01/moving-...

More on T2108 - Search T2108 and read from Trader Mike and Dr. Duru

I have been trading - in the past few days - with 3 15 min Bars/Volume... the profits are greater for less $ in... as the $VIX moved up (what?) 25% yesterday -

What are you watching - what are your signals - what are you missing not using Bar Charts w/ Volume of Course if you have increased the value of your trading account by atleast 125% in the past 6 months well then, what you are using is working well - even atleast 60% - less than that - well you have to look at how centered you are in your trading. Winning is about "how you do it" not what you are (bear/bull/fool) like Clint Eastwood in "The Unforgiven" - slow down and make every shot count - listen to the writer questioning him when he "dropped" the room - "Who did you shoot first? Why, then Who?, etc"

Listen to Whohoo - "so if we get to 950 to 960 area dont u guys think we should be balls deep long" 950 - 960 Why, but when the price gets there - what is happening at the moment - that is how you make your decision - don't pull your gun out and pull the trigger at a # - pull the trigger because a "set-up" is present - and only then!

Finally, in more times than not, The Full Moon represents change. Astrologers differ on the Draw of the Full Moon - does it begin 3 to 4 days prior - or does change occur - within hours, minutes. The Markets have made a change starting last week - so...does that continue as the change or will a change occur on Monday.

I believe the White House made a proper decision in "calling out Fox TV" if the tables were reversed... and a program about abortion appeared on another network - the right wing would call out "The Guard" and intimidate the advertisers. It's time to shove their own medicine up their asses.

2009-10-30T14:51:00.001-07:00

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

For Fox Sake!

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Political Humor

Health Care Crisis

Nice Hair, Howie!

2009-10-29T10:54:00.005-07:00

Friends (and not) of WalMart

2009-10-29T10:33:00.001-07:00

Arrogance is an unsightly attitude observed by others. Actually, Arrogance's most closely related sibling is Ignorance. Arrogance and Ignorance are also closely related to the Evanlelistas, the Far Right and Republican Party!

People's attitude toward WalMart Comes to mind. A town in Oregon decided to challenge the challengers.

CORNELIUS,Oregon -- Walmart won't open here for nearly a year, but a few weeks ago, the city manager sent out an enthused e-mail: "I think you can tell all your friends now that they can shop for the Christmas holidays at Walmart Supercenter in 2010!"

Walmart doesn't usually get that kind of greeting from Oregon cities.

In recent years, metro cities from Hillsboro to Gresham have fought -- and defeated -- proposed Walmarts. The superstore drives out local businesses and increases traffic, opponents say. In those cities, anti-Walmart activists rallied in droves. Hundreds showed up at council meetings, protesting until the superstore gave up.

Not so in Cornelius. In the four years since Walmart first announced its interest in building a store there, only one group -- Cornelius First -- has formed to protest. Its ranks were slight, and in 2006, the group disbanded after losing a state land use appeal.

Since then, Walmart's Cornelius plans have sailed through. When construction crews broke ground in early October, no one protested.

The difference, city leaders say, is Cornelius needs it more.

Jobs, community improvement, retail ... what's not to like?

Cornelius calls itself Oregon's family community.

But, City Manager David Waffle says, "All our parents work out of town." The city has the longest daily work commute of any metro city -- 29 miles.

Nearly 75 percent of Cornelius' assessed tax value is residential; that means residents -- through property taxes -- shoulder a larger share than usual of city funding.

Economically speaking, it is a state-certified "severely distressed" city and has one of the highest poverty rates in the metro area.

So when Walmart representatives arrived, promising increased tax revenue, 300 new jobs and millions for street improvements, Cornelius residents rejoiced.

"The mood is pretty fantastic," said City Manager Dave Waffle. "(The town is) very eager."

Waffle said the city does have a few naysayers, but in the past year, hundreds of people have called him to ask, "When is Walmart coming?"

"I get my hair cut across the street from the proposed site," he said, "And when I go in there, they always get excited and ask me about the progress so they can tell all their customers. People come in there asking them when it's coming."

Never mind that two of the city's larger stores are a Fred Meyer and a Grande Foods grocery store.

"That's just good competition, and people deserve to have choices," Waffle said. "Our residents are mostly lower and middle income, and they can really benefit from Walmart's low prices."

Walmart is also a destination, says Jose Orozco, an Intel engineer and a member of Cornelius' planning commission. Orozco writes a blog detailing even the most minute details of Walmart's arrival.

Since starting the blog in February, he's heard from people across the state who say they'd drive long distances to go to a Walmart. Orozco himself often drives 45 minutes to McMinnville to shop at Walmart. The same isn't true, he says, of Fred Meyer stores, which proliferate throughout the metro area.

But, Forest Grove City Manager Michael Sykes adds, "I'm happy for them. They're very excited, and we hope it does bring the positive benefits that they're anticipating."

-- Casey Parks

Dog - Lawrence Ferlinghetti

2009-10-27T09:36:00.002-07:00

Dog

The dog trots freely in the street
and sees reality
and the things he sees
are bigger than himself
and the things he sees
are his reality
Drunks in doorways
Moons on trees
The dog trots freely thru the street
and the things he sees
are smaller than himself
Fish on newsprint
Ants in holes
Chickens in Chinatown windows
their heads a block away
The dog trots freely in the street
and the things he smells
smell something like himself
The dog trots freely in the street
past puddles and babies
cats and cigars
poolrooms and policemen
He doesn't hate cops
He merely has no use for them
and he goes past them
and past the dead cows hung up whole
in front of the San Francisco Meat Market
He would rather eat a tender cow
than a tough policeman
though either might do
And he goes past the Romeo Ravioli Factory
and past Coit's Tower
and past Congressman Doyle of the Unamerican Committee
He's afraid of Coit's Tower
but he's not afraid of Congressman Doyle
although what he hears is very discouraging
very depressing
very absurd
to a sad young dog like himself
to a serious dog like himself
But he has his own free world to live in
His own fleas to eat
He will not be muzzled
Congressman Doyle is just another
fire hydrant
to him
The dog trots freely in the street
and has his own dog's life to live
and to think about
and to reflect upon
touching and tasting and testing everything
investigating everything
without benefit of perjury
a real realist
with a real tale to tell
and a real tail to tell it with
a real live
barking
democratic dog
engaged in real
free enterprise
with something to say
about ontology
something to say
about reality
and how to see it
and how to hear it
with his head cocked sideways
at streetcorners
as if he is just about to have
his picture taken
for Victor Records
listening for
His Master's Voice
and looking
like a living questionmark
into the
great gramophone
of puzzling existence
with its wondrous hollow horn
which always seems
just about to spout forth
some Victorious answer
to everything

Kramer - every single enterance in crolonological order

2009-10-18T06:14:00.000-07:00

Time finally, to move from PC to MAC - Windows XP will not move to Win7

2009-10-17T18:36:00.000-07:00

I bought two Apple MacBook Pros this year. The transition from a PC to a Mac is very easy. Only called tech support once. I don't think there is a person in the whole world that after using a Mac for a month, would ever go back to using a PC.

The Mac experience is wonderful. If you have a question, they have tons of staff available to answer any question you might have.

Oh yeah. lets see I bought 5 HP notebooks 3 years ago. How many are actually working today? Only 2, and one of those one had two mother boards replaced. HP's are total POS.

Let's compare some stats. My high powered HP notebook takes like 5 to 6 min to boot up. My Macbook Pro takes 23 seconds. My HP takes minutes to shut down. My Mac 7 seconds even with 10 plus apps open.

My HP will run for maybe 20min on its battery. My Mac will always go 5 to 6 hours and as many as 10 hrs.

My HP will lock up oh on average once every other use. My Mac locked up once in 9 months.

You screw up installing something on a HP, you end up getting out the original backup disks and starting over.

I completely did a no no upgrading to snow leopard, my butter fingers. The Mac recovered flawlessly from me doing a bad thing during the up grade process with no hitch what's so ever.

Buy a PC ever again. Not a chance in hell. Frankly you couldn't even give me one free.

From Greg at The Slope