The Countertop Chronicles

Details later, but its a killer time to get a deal on a gas guzzling SUV, so much so that I’d never be able to financially justify the price difference for some of the more “environmentally friendly” options I was considering.

Plus, it has an add-on manufacturers lifetime bumper to bumper warranty.

Sticker price - $36,959 plus $3,500 for warranty.

Countertops out the door price (tax, tags, etc) - $22.5k ($19.5k + 2k +1k) +72 month loan at 5.9% (its nice to have a credit score of 750+)

Yes, my Jeep Grand Cherokee got crunched a couple of weeks ago. Went out hiking with the kids (really, scouting for waterfowl) and on the way back we were hit by a Ford Explorer chock full of 7 Mexican’s who couldn’t speak English and without a drivers license amongst them.

So, its back to teh drawing board. Which sucks, cause the Jeep was the first car I really liked. Perhaps ever (or at least since I got rid of the Jeep I had in college). It was a 1996 Laredo Limited. With the Selec Trak 4wd. It was perfect for me, except it would have been nicer to get higher mileage.

Now, the thing is, I don’t necessarily want another Jeep. The new GC’s are smaller, and uglier. And are really built more as glorified soccer mom transports than off road vehicles. Plus, with the full time computer controlled 4wd, their mileage sucks. If I’m gonna get full time 4wd, I ought to get a Rover. And indeed, I’ve been looking at both late 90s Land Rover Discovery’s and GCs. In both cases, they are better cars than whats available now.

But that doesn’t have to be the case. You see, Jeep sells a GC with a diesel powerplant. The problem is, it doesn’t get more than 3 mpg extra - which doesn’t justify the cost. I simply don’t understand this - and see it as indicative of the reasons America’s auto industry is heading down the tubes. Diesel powerplants in this country - even a Mercedes plant like the Jeep has - are designed for power. But I want a Diesel not to tow a yacht, but for its efficiency.

Did you know that overseas, diesel powered Land Rover’s (with full time 4wd) get 35+mpg??? And Jeep certainly has within its grasp the ability to stick in an even more efficent engine. But they won’t. And so, I won’t buy a new Jeep.

The other car I’m looking at is the VOlkswagon Jetta tDi Superwagon. I love Diesel. But the Jetta, while it meets my space needs (somewhat - its a bit smaller, but still has the rear storage I like) and performance needs (its a rocket ship with German handling) isn’t a 4wd vehicle and for someone who spends a lot of time in the woods deep down dirt roads and in the moutains in the winter, thats a necessity.

So I’m torn. I’ve also looked at Volvos, but I don’t like ‘em.

Car shopping sucks.

This time, in honor of his Annoited One, it comes from funky groovster and black panther left wing freakoid Gil Scott Heron. I think Shockra’s cover is better - but I can’t find a copy online (I will try to upload a copy)

Gun
Lyrics by Gil Scott Heron

Brother Man nowadays living in the ghetto
Where the danger’s sure enough real
Well when he’s out late at night
and if he’s got his head on right
Well, I lay you 9 to 5 he’s walking with steel.

Brother Man says he’s ‘fraid of gangsters
Messing with people just for fun
He don’t want to be next
He got a family to protect
So just last week he bought himself a gun.

Everybody got a pistol, everybody got a .45
And the philosophy seem to be
At least as near as I can see
When other folks give up theirs, I’ll give up mine.

This is a violent civilization
If civilization’s where I am
Every channel that I stop on
Got a different kind of cop on
Killing them by the million for Uncle Sam

Saturday night just ain’t that special
Yeah, I got the constitution on the run
‘Cause even though we’ve got the right
To defend our home, to defend our life
Got to understand to get it in hand about the guns

Everybody got a pistol, everybody got a .45
And the philosophy seem to be
At least as near as I can see
When other folks give up theirs, I’ll give up mine.

Saturday night just ain’t that special
Freedom to be afraid is all you want
Yes if you don’t want to be next
You’ve got a family to protect
9 out of 10, you’ve got a friend, you’ve got a gun.

Everybody got a pistol, everybody got a .45
And the philosophy seem to be
At least as near as I can see
When other folks give up theirs, I’ll give up mine.

Everybody got a pistol, this must please the NRA
Yeah ’cause when it’s time to shine up
You know damn well they’re gonna line up
Everybody…

And the philosophy seem to be
At least as near as I can see
When other folks give up theirs, I’ll give up mine

Win’s $79k+ on the Price Is Right

A Very Lucky Day - Watch more free videos

And I bet he bedded Rachel the showcase model too!

Bleg 1: The outlook Bleg.

Here’s the deal. We have an organization that used to be the same as ours, but because of Congressional mischief we needed to spin off. My counterpart there is a good guy, but an engineer and definite type B (or C) personality. Nothing wrong with that, he’s the engineer I’m the lawyer. We make a good teamn. But sometimes he gets sensative if I forge ahead and forget to call. His boss asked if I could just, to keep him happyn make random weekly “shoot the shit” phone calls.

So my bleg #1 is this, is there an outlook plugin that won’t wreck havock which can randomly schedule weekly phone calls at various times?

Bleg #2: Barack wins. Son #1 says” does this mean I won’t ever be able to own a gun?”. I promise to get him an AR15 lower and build him (and his brother) each one for X-mas. I find lowers. I say I’m gonna buy them, then I have to travel and get back and said lowers are 1) sold or 2) $300 bucks.

So, anyone know where I can order 2 lowers tonight/tomorrow at reasonable proces ($150 or so)??

Well, Barack’s strongest support DID cum from San Francisco

An aide to Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., has been charged in federal court in Virginia with receiving and distributing child pornography.

Jeff Rosato, 32, of Arlington, Va., was arrested Friday on a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Virginia. Boxer’s office fired him the same day.

. . . . .

The investigation began in January when a man sent more than 600 files of graphic images to an undercover detective whom the man believed was a 13-year-old boy, the affidavit said.

Evidence showed that the man, whose name was not released, had also been trading child porn with other Google Hello users, investigators said. Google Hello was a photo sharing and chat application that was discontinued this year.

For what its worth, I guess we need to give credit to Boxer for firing this guy. I mean, thats an improvement from simply blaming the vast right wing conspiracy.

FULL DISCLOSURE: Rosato worked for EPW on endangered species, oceans and water policy issues. I’ve tangled with the scum bag before.

Check out the 2nd Set

Dead, at their zenith in the magic of Red Rocks.

Starting with Bobby’s “I’m moving to Australia” at 8:29 of Ship of Fools and then BOOOM

Estimated Prophet -> The Other One -> Eyes of the World

An insane mind melting experience.

How, you ask, might GM’s present situation be related to the 2nd Amendment?

John Dingell, Detroits Congressman and the spouse of GMs top lobbyist.

How it will impact, is anyone’s guess. But, I can’t imagine Democrats ever carrying Michigan if they killed Michigan’s most powerful member of Congress and then let GM (and then Ford and Chrysler) go under.

How fitting.

Black liberals were the critical voting bloc. Jewish liberals voted overwhelmingly against Prop 8, to offer a simple contrast. Obama has always opposed marriage equality, even splitting with his own church on the issue. In California, he got his way.

Hey Andrew Sullivan!!

How does it feel to have gone and fucked yourself???

It seems there was some ta do in DC the other day

Here’s the AP Report

A Jersey City councilman has reportedly been arrested for urinating on a crowd of concertgoers from the balcony of a Washington D.C. nightclub.

The New York Daily News reports in Sunday’s editions that two-term Jersey City councilman Steve Lipski has been charged with simple assault.

The newspaper says 44-year-old Lipski was removed from a place called the 9:30 Club on Friday night.

That’s after club staffers saw him relieve himself onto the crowd from a second floor balcony during a concert by a Grateful Dead tribute band.

Messages left at Lipski’s council office, and a Jersey City listing under his name were not immediately returned.

Hmm, a politician arrested - for a lewd and crude (and most likely drug induced) crime. What other information could they tell us about Mr. Lipski???? Well, maybe they do tell us, cause if he was a Republican, I bet that would be in the opening sentence.

The bottom has fallen out. I’d say Fire Phil Fulmer, but they already did.

Might as well forfeit the rest.

Pathetic

Folks, get ready for a knock down drag out. and remember, politics makes STRANGE bedfellows. The “shall not be infringed” crowd can go to hell.

Remember, this fight started over primary challenges launched against John Dingell by Nancy Pelosi because of his ability to kill gun control bills.

Frankly, no matter what they did in the past or do in the future, I’m treating everyone on the Dingell Whip team as a friend of the 2nd Amendment.

I’d urge your support too.

———-
NEWS RELEASE

Committee on Energy and Commerce

Rep. John D. Dingell, Chairman

For immediate release: November 7, 2008

Contact: Jodi Seth/Dingell, 202-225-5735

Nick Choate/Stupak, 202-225-4735

Matt Dinkel/Doyle, 202-225-2135

Josh Taylor/Edwards, 202-225-6105

Dingell Announces Initial Whip Team for

Energy and Commerce Committee Race

Washington, DC – Today, Rep. John D. Dingell (D-MI) announced the first round of the Whip Team for his re-election as Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

“I am honored by the tremendous support of my friends and colleagues,” Dingell said. “The strength of our Caucus is our diversity, and I’m pleased that our initial Whip Team Members represent varying backgrounds, different points on the political spectrum, and different geographic regions. I look forward to continuing the Committee’s important work next year.”

Reps. Chet Edwards (TX-17), a Member of the Budget and Appropriations Committees, Bart Stupak (MI-01), Chairman of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, and Mike Doyle (PA-14), a member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, have been named co-chairmen of the Whip Team.

Stupak:

“I am confident that Chairman Dingell will remain at the Committee’s helm, which is exactly where we need him,” said Stupak. “There is simply no basis for challenging Chairman Dingell. In fact, there is a clear need to keep the gavel in Dingell hands. Dingell’s leadership and legislative-brokering skills are exactly what we need to bring about the change Americans demanded on Tuesday — and precisely what Speaker Pelosi and President Obama are calling for.”

Doyle:

“When a Member runs for a Committee Chairmanship, he should have a strong case for why the current Chairman cannot or should not continue,” said Doyle. “There is simply no basis for challenging Chairman Dingell. In fact, there is a clear need to keep the gavel in Dingell hands, and I’m pleased by the strong support that Dingell has received in the last couple of days.”

Edwards:

“Next year presents our best chance to repair our broken health care system, protect Americans from unsafe food and drugs, address global climate change, protect our environment, and rebuild our struggling economy,” said Edwards. “Chairman Dingell is without question the most qualified Member of Congress to lead the Committee’s work.”

Additional Members of the initial Whip Team include Reps:

*Robert E. Andrews (NJ-1), Member of the Committee on Armed Services;

*John Barrow (GA-12), Member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce;

*Rick Boucher (VA-9), Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality;

*Allen Boyd (FL-2), Member of the Committee on Appropriations and Co-Chair of the Blue Dog Coalition;

*Kirsten E. Gillibrand (NY-20); Member of the Committee on Armed Services, Founder of the Congressional High Tech Caucus;

*Charles A. Gonzalez (TX-20), Member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce and member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus;

*Bart Gordon (D-TN), Chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology and member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce;

*Gene Green (TX-29), Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Environment and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee and Interim Chairman of the House Ethics Committee;

*Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (SD); Member of the Committees on Natural Resources, Agriculture and Veterans Affairs, and Leader of the Blue Dog Coalition;

*Baron P. Hill (IN-09), Member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce and member of the Blue Dog Coalition;

*Jesse Jackson, Jr. (IL-2), Member of the Congressional Black Caucus and member of the Progressive Caucus;

*Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX-30), Member of the Committee on Science and Technology, member of the Progressive Caucus, member of the Congressional Black Caucus;

*Jim Matheson (UT-2), Member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce and Chair of Blue Dog Coalition Energy Task Force;

*Charlie Melancon (LA-03), Member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce and member of the Blue Dog Coalition;

*Gary Peters (MI-9), newly elected member;

*Collin C. Peterson (MN-7), Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture;

*Mike Ross (AR-04), Member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce and Co-chair of the Blue Dog Coalition;

*Bobby L. Rush (IL-1), Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection, member of the Congressional Black Caucus and member of the Progressive Caucus;

*Mark Schauer (MI-7), newly elected member;

*Heath Shuler (NC-11), Member of the Young Democrats, Speaker Pelosi’s “30 Something” Working Group and the Committee on Natural Resources;

*John S. Tanner (TN-8), Senior Member of the Blue Dog Coalition and member of the Committee on Ways and Means;

*Ellen O. Tauscher (CA-10), Chair of the New Democrat Coalition and member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure;

*Edolphus Towns (NY-10), Member of the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform and Energy and Commerce, and Congressional Black Caucus.

Additional members of Dingell’s Whip Team will be announced as appropriate.

# # #

Folks, it looks like Dingell is done for, and even worse Obama is buying into Pelosi’s sharp turn left (surprise, surprise).

Why do I say this? Cause he’s named Phil Schiliro as Director of Congressional Relations.

A graduate of Lewis & Clark Law School, Schiliro was chief of staff to Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif.

Looks like that Hopechange isn’t pinning for the middle so much as the easy middle between Socialism and Marxism.

Looks like the fix is in and Henry Waxman and Nancy Pelosi are going to toss John Dingell aside (shit - they do that to the longest serving most partisan member of congress??? I can’t imagine the crap Leiberman is going to face).

Anyway, it now looks like Pelosi has given Waxman approval and cover to challenge Dingel and may in fact even be whipping votes for him in an attempt to placate the left wing and move sharpy to the fringes. This was an easy decision for Pelosi who has long clashed with Dingell and ran Lynn Rivers against him in a primary attempt to defeat him.

The Lynne Rivers campaign was all about gun control. For it to rear its head in this fashion, so soon after the election, doesn’t bode well for anyone.