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"ANOTHER White House Power Grab that Congress & America Don't See - The deliberate setup for the White House power grab is built into the each of the health care bills and, if they fail, little-known twin bills called “MedPAC Reform of 2009” are waiting in the wings. The bills, S.B. 1110 and H.R. 2718, craftily amend the Social Security Act and transfer the Medicare guideline and rule setting processes, from the legislative branch to the executive branch. These bills offer cover to one another in case one doesn’t pass the House or Senate, respectively. Remember, Democrats need to gain executive branch authority by amending the Social Security Act over Medicare regulations and physician fee schedules to transform the health care system in a single-payer, socialized system."

- http://biggovernment.com/2009/12/08/a-white-house-power-grab-that-congress-and-america-doesnt-see/

[ /o http://o-2opine-o.livejournal.com/73826.html - links to http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=s111-1110 and http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h2718/text ]

[16]Firefly/Serenity icons



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Meeting 1010

December 7, 2009

Trey Haddad, President
Chris Garcia, Vice-President
Dave Gallaher, Treasurer
Galen Tripp, Sargeant at Arms
Barbara Johnson-Haddad, Secretary
held at Coco's, 1206 Oakmead Parkway (Lawrence Expressway/101 fwy), Sunnyvale

Began 8pm - with anticipation

We established a party jar

23 people attended

Secretary’s report: the minutes of meeting 1009 were accepted as 'that's nice, that's verrah nice'

the Treasurer reported that last week we took in $14.23 in the regular jar and $5.25 in the party jar

the Vice President reported that there were 2 new 'Drink Tanks' out, that 'soon' there will be a new 'SFinSF', that he will be running the fanzine lounge at Renovation & there's a new 'Exhibition Hall' out now

The President had nothing fannish to report

The Vice President made a motion and it was not seconded


Announcements:
[evil] Kevin announced that the Imperial Snow Ball is Dec 12, 7:30 at the Billy deFrank center in SF & that he may be performing as 'Miss Debra' & announced that a new issue of 'Yipe' is out now

Glenn announced that SMOFcon for 2010 will be in San Jose in the Larkspur hotel, December 3-5, $50 until May 1 & Dave C may have flyers for it

Ken announced that the Psychotronic Film Festival will be this weekend at Foothill JC this Saturday at 7pm

Adrienne announced that she'll be one of the participants at Gene Burn's Dining Around annual Cookie Exchange this Saturday

Dave C announced that there are new Cargo Cult catalogs out & that he can sell SMOFcon memberships

Radar announced that there will be a big geek sale at her place this Saturday, from10 am till 5pm & see her about the Alex fund to help Johanna with funeral expenses

Dave G announced that there will be a party at the House of Spike on Jan 2 & it will have a 'Dr Who' theme

Chris announced that there is a forbes.com article on the 12 most influential video games that quotes him

Carole announced that they will host a Sunday holiday brunch at their place on Dec 13 from 11am till 3pm


Reviews:
Chris reviewed the life day party at LosCon as wonderful & reviewed 'Transylmania' as not a good viewing experience & awful in ways he can almost forgive & reviewed that in his Cinequest viewing he saw the best SF short film EVAR - 'Night Mayor'

Glenn reviewed Patricia MxKillip's 'Cygnet Duology' as really, really interesting, quite enjoyable, an enjoyable fantasy world & worth full price & reviewed SMOFcon as he got the chance to talk to lots of people & the SFSFC party went thru a lot of wine and cheese

John reviewed the Photoflex sale as they went there bright & early to get the good stuff & it was packed - but they still got good deals

Mo reviewed the audio drama 'Tender Morsels' as full of magic, very enjoyable & well done - she recommends it

Lisa reviewed 'Blind Side' as a wonderful movie & very well done & she reviewed LosCon as worth full price & she had fun

Fred reviewed the Tcho Chocolate factory on Pier 17 as he got good chocolate there ^ it's a fun place to get good chocolate at

Chris reviewed the ST exhibit at the Tech as very good & worth the price & also reviewed SorcererCon as very small but very good and she hopes it continues

Andy reviewed a silly topic on Twitter [badmusicals] as funny & they've been adding to the silly

we did auctions: we auctioned off books for $0.25, $0.75, $0.25; then various stuff for $0.25; movie trailers for $0.25; bins for $0.25, magazine & a video for $0.50 & plushies for $0.25

We adjourned at = 9:43

And the rumor of the week was: 'Zod lives'

A rant, in letter form, from a casual lurker:

Dear B,

I understand you are from a culture that stresses the importance of marriage and procreation, but I do not subscribe to your beliefs.

I know you like my boyfriend, and you think he is a good guy. Hey, I do too! He's got a great job, his own house, and he loves me. However, we are not in a rush to have children. Why? Let's consider the following:

- Even though I am thirty, I do not feel my biological clock ticking down to zero. I haven't firmly decided against children, but I'm leaning toward 'no'.
- He is only twenty-three. He hasn't decided whether or not he wants to have children, for various reasons. He has plenty of time to figure that out. We have actually discussed this.
- We have only been dating for three months. It's a bit early to be decorating the nursery, don't you think?

Despite the fact that you have known my family for years, and are considered more of a friend than a superior, it really isn't your concern if or when I decide to settle down. No, I really don't think my life is incomplete unless I have children. I like my life the way it is now: I answer to no one but myself. Besides, I have three nephews and a niece whom I love very much and spoil when I can.

Love,
Me

(I should say that my boss really is a nice guy. He's not a creeper or anything, he just gets overly concerned about my supposed well-being.)

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• I have written a new Uncyclopedia article. I wish to propagate the meme "blue-suited spirochetes."

Our elderly ex-stray cat Tabs has just had his first vet visit since we got him! He got blood tests, will need his teeth cleaned and needs an X-ray. He has three meals a day, doesn't put on weight and has chronic diarrhoea. He has a heart murmur. His back legs have muscle wastage. Old cats, eh? The vet bill means Tabs is arkady's present this Christmas, birthday and Bosič. Good thing I have money now.

Anyone got a spare drumkit they could lend us? The younger teen has formed a band (exercising the musical talent inherited from both parents) and their drummer doesn't actually have a kit of her own ...

• 17:55 @razzlecupcake crazytalk!!! #

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http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/

ARRL Audio News--OPEN--In this edition . . .; Utah Hams Coordinate Rescue; Major Computer Publication Devotes January 2010 Issue to Amateur Radio; ARRL Audio News ID--Satellite Update--BREAK:; Scott Robbins, W4PA, to Purchase Vibroplex; FCC Dismisses Two Amateur Radio-Related Petitions; Now You Know!: The ARRL 10 Meter Contest and Satellites; ARRL Audio News--News Briefs--CLOSE

I've known Steve for a few years being in and out of OC for business to the first Conservative leadership conference (mis-named, greedy non-lib Chuck Muth organizer aside it used to be a decent conference) and of course Freedom Fest here in Vegas. Steve is the real deal. I'm surprised it has taken him this long to write the book w/ as many long-standing articles he's had on the over-priced Gov employment scheme of California and beyond.

Take a gander:
http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig5/seiler8.1.1.html

( Because I have to work tonight I'll be musing until long after the answer is posted. More: )

I've seen this in several people's journals so rather than comment in each one, I'll just post here:

One, Two, Many, Lots

* You ask me five questions that will satisfy your curiosity.
* I will update my journal with the answers to the questions.

Along with the opportunity for you task me any questions, up to five, you may:

* Leave me a comment saying "One, two, many, lots."
* I'll respond by asking you up to five questions so I can satisfy my curiosity.
* Update your journal with the answers to the questions.
* Include this explanation in the post and offer to ask other people questions.

There, we'll see if I get any takers. In the meantime, I'm going to shower, do two things of paperwork and get my toushie out the door pronto.

This might be one of those moments when I'm glad I don't have direct siblings?

*sigh*

M has a brother, A, and a sister, C.

Mom and Dad's 50th wedding anniversary is coming up.

A has been talking with C and with M...and sometimes with me. He has indicated in the past that C is not looking forward to this because she's going to have to do all the work.

Hmmmm.

Today he had an unpleasant conversation with her in which she indicated that she thought my idea for a memory/well wishes scrapbook was stupid and wanted no part of it. Besides, she would be too busy doing the real work. And she was the only one to do the work, we weren't to do it because we wouldn't do it right.

Or at least that's the interpretation he got from his conversation with her.

Needless to say, he's pretty upset. So is M. M said, "Just because she was always Dad's favorite doesn't mean she's the only child!"

*more sighing*

So, tonight I will call C and say something to the effect of, "A related a conversation he had with me this morning and I'm hoping he got some of it wrong. Here's what I'd like to share with you. We love you and we love Mom and Dad. This is a big celebration that we'd all like to be part of and there's no reason for you to feel you have to carry the burden all by yourself, please let us help. We've all very much been looking forward to planning this together as a happy family. So what can we do to work together so no one person feels they are being left with the whole job, no one feels excluded and no one feels pushed around?"

And then I'll let her talk and I'll see where we stand and see if I can't finagle her into thinking it is her own idea to have us all work together. Heck, she can even be organizer if she wants.

Unfortunately, A hasn't yet told her that Mom wants to turn the celebration into a T/R (family names omitted) Family Reunion. A's idea was that we could let her have the anniversary celebration and we'd plan the reunion and tell her later. I told him why that wasn't such a good idea.

Towards the end of the conversation, when he wanted to call Mom and tell her what C was doing, I reminded him that this was their celebration and no time for them to be settling sibling squabbles. We needed to behave like adults. He said that and what I planned to say to C made him feel like crying. When I asked why, he said he realized how selfish siblings could be and how much the folks have had to put with and how could it change. *sigh* I told him we have to choose to behave like adults, solve our problems with love and compassion in our hearts and just make it work.

Meanwhile, I'm thinking, ladynanook, I really want to borrow your sledgehammer. C has been known to easily get me riled up when I was younger. I certainly hope I can help this along patiently and productively. For everyone's sake, including mine, but most especially Mom and Dad's!

If I came with a warning label, what would it say?

Recalling how "It's a Wonderful Life" gets played every year around Xmas, I was struck by the inspiration for a pro-CF adaptation. Dunno if it's ever been done before, but here's the outline:

Some annoying anti-choice type person (could be anything from a meddling relative to an anti-abortion activist) gets his panties so in a wad over what they see as people "not honoring life" and choosing not to reproduce that he goes to jump off the bridge, only when the angel-in-training shows up, he (or she?) takes him on a tour of how his life would look if everyone he knew who had chosen NOT to have kids did have them. And predictably, it would be stuff like his high school sweetheart died in childbirth rather than abort, or his best friend couldn't hang out with him anymore because he was broke from child support payments, and he had to work overtime constantly because half of his coworkers were always taking time off to do stuff with/for their kids--there are surely more extreme cases, but that's just the start. And he decides that maybe he should mind his own business about other people's life choices.

Maybe it's a bit nonsensical, but I just thought it'd be funny, especially if done as a webcomic.

http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/12/10/11241/

On Wednesday, December 9, the Federal Communications Commission dismissed two separate Petitions for Rulemaking: One filed by Murray Green, K3BEQ, concerning the operation of repeater stations in the Amateur Service, and one filed by Glen Zook, K9STH, requesting amending Section 97.119(a) to change how often stations must identify themselves.

Title: Mistleno-no
Rating: PG
Fandom: Glee, spoilers through December 9th
Synopsis: What is Christmas like for the kids in New Directions?

( What is Christmas like for the kids in New Directions? )

Today's fandom suggested by allisona (with thanks to aiglet for musical assistance). To suggest a fandom, pairing, or situation for tomorrow, please comment on this post. Only comments on THIS POST will be considered for tomorrow.

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Last weekend was the cookie/candy making party. Since then toe surgeries and strokes have occurred. I've swept on occasion but not cleaned like I wanted or was able.

I kid you not, but I just spent 1.75 hours on the floor scrubbing and cleaning (wiping down cabinets and fridge as I went by ) and I am only 3/4 through with the floor in my kitchen.

A pause for breakfast and then back in I'll go to finish up the job.

Then laundry and socks and my room. A bit of paperwork and stuff for children's choir as well. Then back out to Martinez.