Comments by AbbieNormal (page 4)

Are you nuts? Clearly Yosemite Sam and Foghorn Leghorn are both Blue Dog Democrats. Bugs is a libertarian, bordering on anarchist. Daffy is probably a Republican, but an FDR voter if it came down to it, he'd want a government bailout if his get rich quick scheme went awry.

It'd be a toss up between Jessica Alba and Scarlett Johanson. Kristin Bell might be a runner up.

Nikki Dial if I had to choose just one.

Things like this both amuse and depress me. The shortages are quite literally the inevitable result of political policy. We are at the limits of refining capacity in this country, yet it is politically impossible to build a new refinery, so what do you expect when a refinery shuts down?

Well, the democrats don't need a single republican vote in the house to pass a bailout, but then it would be their bailout, and it seems they'd rather see it fail than own it. And hey, the sky didn't fall today.

I will admit to a cursory reading of the posts, but let me just post based on a simple economic principle. Gasoline and oil are not the same thing. Refineries, if they are shut down for a hurricane make no money, but they still must sell their inventory and buy crude oil when they start back up. A refinery that shuts down for a week makes no money, and creates a shortage, given that we are short of refineries. Shortages mean prices go up. Gas stations price the gas based on what it will cost them to replace the gas that is in their tanks. If they bought it for 3.35/gallon, and that gas lasts a week, and by the time that gas is exhausted, they need to pay 3.50/gallon to refill those thanks, and yes, gas stations make pennies per gallon, how long do you think that business model can be sustained. Buy at 3.35, sell at 3.37, replace at 3.50 and sell for 3.52. Do the math folks, its called replacement pricing and it's not all that confusing. Like cigarettes local, state, and federal governments all see more revenue per gallon of gas than refiners, oil companies and gas stations.

I once went to my regular club to find that a waitress who worked at the restaurant where I tended bar was up on stage. I didn't know her real well, and it took me a while to recognize her "out of uniform", but it was a little odd. She had a much better body that I thought. Sadly of all my co-workers I wanted to see naked she wasn't even in the top ten.

I'm not averse to seeing the occasional feature. Probably the absolute most beautiful woman I've ever seen was a Friday afternoon feature in a San Antonio strip club. She was a Penthouse Pet, and though I can't remember her name off the top of my head I'll just say her pictures didn't even come close to doing her justice. I've seen a few other pornstars and models as features, most are a cut above the club girls in both looks and dancing, but a bit silly with the costumes. As for the novelty acts, no interest. 58FFF does not quicken my pulse, it makes me think of a freak show.

I think I made it clear enough I'm not sure people understand.

WG, stirring up flames isn't really necessary. Nor does it really add to discussion. But your post was funny ;) Or to abbreviate; LOL

A man did a despicable thing. If he were your neighbor you wouldn't hesitate to say so. I know I brought up the pragmatics of politics, but I thought it just highlighted his absolute disregard for anyone but himself. I also brought up the hypocrisy since that lately seems the only sin worthy of sanction. He is a bad man because he cheated on his sick wife, abused the trust of others and lied to the public whose trust he sought. What on earth does that have to do with anyone other than himself? Well since you asked it does have some larger context. Other people covered for him. So, ask yourself who, why and why you should trust them ever again.

My summer reading: Finished Liberal Fascism, The Forgotten man, Old Man's War, Glory Road. Ready to start A Confederacy of Dunces, Fallen Angels

He is a despicable man. In the campaign he paraded about touting his family values, pimping his heroic support of his wife suffering from cancer, and all the while he knew, and apparently most of the media knew as of about December of last year, that the allegations were true. Yeah, sure, defend him, it's all about those evil Republicans. Let's go to pragmatic politics. He obviously knew about this, as did his wife and advisors, by his own admission, in 2006, yet he still ran, and was not the third option as the Democratic nominee for president, Barrack hadn't caught fire yet. And in December of 2007, before the first primary ballot had been cast, he, and pretty much all of the press knew of these allegations, yet reported nothing, and he ran, on family values. Change the parties, would the "allegations" have been a non-story? He is a despicable man. He cheated on his cancer stricken wife, and then ran on his family values, pimping out his support of her as a qualification for the presidency. He is a despicable man, and nothing about his behavior has anything to do with Republicans. He is a despicable man.

The sad part is she's got the best articulated energy policy of any of the candidates.

Anyone who has been to Pittsburgh wanna give a shout out to the O? No? Well me neither really, you have to be pretty drunk. Other notable dives in western PA. Bob's Subs, Slippery Rock and Clarion Burger Hut, Butler Hot Dog Shop, Butler (closed now) The Iron Bridge, Grove City Rachel's Roadhouse, Grove City Quaker Steak and Lube, originally in Sharon PA, now everywhere in east Ohio and western PA. Primanti Bros., Pittsburgh Slightly further afield, BJ's, Fredonia, NY

Oh, and an AMEN to FONDL on Dunkin' Doughnuts. I'll also add Tim Horton's (having some experience in my travels up north).

An AMEN to lopaw.

As I said, I'd be interested in a learned opinion.

Oh, and I forgot to mention, in Little Italy you can order a large coffee, black, and they'll give it to you.

And what the hell is up with this venni viddi vicci crap! Small, Medium, Large, is that so fuckin' hard? I wanna cup of coffee, not a fuckin' lecture on culture. Coffee, black, large. Is that so goddamn hard? Every time I go into a Starbucks (very infrequent nowdays) I get involved in a 5 minute discussion to order a large black coffee. I know this is a bit of a rant, but I am a customer, willing to pay $4 for a fuckin' cup of coffee because, well I need my cup of coffee. If there were a Dunkin' doughnuts within a mile I'd have no problem, but no, I end up at Starbucks with some glorified counter attendant who call's himself a "barista" lookin down his nose at the rube who doesn't speak the proper language. It's not my job to learn a new language to order a fuckin' cup of coffee! You know exactly what I mean when I say large coffee, black, so give me a large coffee, black. Is that so hard? Oh, and I've been to little Italy and had a real cappachino, and all the others... They laugh at the crap Starbucks serves, and they don't charge $8 either. And their deserts are out of this world! By contrast a Waffle house, Perkins, or Cracker Barrel is absolutely unpretentious. They serve tasty food in large quantities for a cheap price, and if you ask for a large coffee, black, to go, they give it to you without seeking to educate you.

This brings us to an interesting point, a point I would very much like to hear some actual learned opinions on. Jury nullification. I know this is very controversial, but there is, I believe, a very well established common law principle where a law that has not been enforced for some time can be found null and void by a jury. But then we have recently decided that common law, the very basis of most of our legal system doesn't apply anymore, and only the text written by bureaucrats empowered by legislation constitutes law.

"Anyone with $200 can fuck a stripper." Let's deconstruct. You can fuck "A" stripper. Not any stripper, not the stripper of your choice, not a stripper at your local club, or even a stripper in your city. Presented as is, he's probably right, I'm sure there are tons of strippers who will fuck for $200. Except that that $200 might have to cover air fare, gas, cover charge, a hotel room... it gets a little more complicated. Can any guy with $200 get laid? I'd say that is probably a safe bet. If you don't mind street walkers or the lower end call girls I'd guess it is practically certain. "A" stripper becomes more problematic. The stripper you want, chances are slimmer that $200 is all you need.

WG, I am a bit of a coffee snob too, which is why I hate Starbucks. They have one flavor, burnt.

Probably a slice of life most aren't aware of, but in DC, the late night hangout (strippers, hookers, politicians with a habit) was, when I did late nights, Pied de Cochon in Georgetown, which translates loosely to The Pig's Foot. Now as a midwestern boy (technically the midwest starts at Pittsburgh) I didn't see a lot of difference between that and the late night hangouts of my mis-spent youth. And frankly I like the Waffle House, and Perkins, and Eat'n Park, and the Cracker Barrel. You know who I can't stand? Starbucks.

In my area not too bad. Some housing prices are down, but that's probably a good thing. Gas and some foods are more expensive, but there are still a lot of help wanted signs and nobody seems to mind sitting in rush hour traffic burning $4/gallon gas. But then I live in the Washington DC area. This is the one area whose major industry, government, is absolutely recession proof. If the economy is good the revenues roll in and the government expands because they are flush with cash (nevermind that pesky debt). If times are bad, well then the government must expand to provide services to all those people hurt by the weak economy. Permanent growth, regardless of the economy. They really have it worked out.