Government Healthcare

Why is it that those that claim they don't want the government getting between you and your doctor is some areas are more that willing (in fact absolutely insist on it) to have the government outlaw some procedures??????

H/T to Yellowdog Granny for the cartoon.

36hr Erection

This might just be too much of a good thing.

Ye Olde Yooper Scooper

All the talk about Snomagedon got me to thinking about the Yooper Scoopers. I don't know when they were invented, I remember when I was a kid we had a homemade one. It was made from wooden boards with a sheetmetal bottom. When I was in high school we had a store bought one made from galvanized sheetmetal with a handle bent out of conduit.

Last Summer I went to visit my brother, but nobody was home. Then I noticed the Yooper Scooper hanging on the garage wall. I made this for him over 40 years ago and I was surprised to see it was still around. I made the bottom and sides from 1/8th inch aluminum that I riveted together. Brought the bottom and pieces for the handle to my brother and he welded the handle together and attached the handle.

I took a couple of pictures of it because I had my camera with me. I think I wanted to record the fact that it was still around after all these years. It's a little worse for wear, but all in all it has held up pretty well over the years.

I was going to do a link to a company that makes Yooper Scoopers, but if anyone is interested, all they have to do is Google "Yooper Scooper".

The Real? Sarah Palin

For all those that think there has been too much of her on TV lately.

Who Dat Dat Say Who Dat When I Say Who Dat??

The above has nothing to do with the Super Bowl. It's the punch line from an old, old joke.

Italian Auction In Finnish

Today I got an email about a Ming vase at auction.

" An Italian auction
A Chinese Ming vase is up for auction. The bidding opens at a half-million Euros. Bidding is brisk and each bidder is clearly identified as each raises the bid by 100,000 Euros. (The exchange rate today is 1 Euro = $1.54.) Within seconds, the bid stalls at one million Euros, and the gasp from the crowd identifies the excitement that prevails in the room.The successful bidder is the last one who bid one million, and the auctioneer counts down the bid, "Going once, going twice, and sold to the gentleman sitting in front of me for one million Euros."Now, you are going to have to see the video for yourself. The auctioneer is exuberant. The pace is fast. The conclusion? Priceless."



While everything about this video says it was an Italian auction, the auctioneer is speaking Finnish. I guess having the auction done in Finnish makes up for the operas being in Italian so people don't understand what's going on.

Wasn't able to get the embed code from the e-mail attachment, so I went to YouTube and put Italian Auction in the search block and this video titled "Italian Auction" was one of the ones that came up.

Turns out it is an ad for aspirin, but if they can't get the country right, why would I buy their product???

Update: Turns out this is an ad from Finland for aspirin. The ad won a bronze in the 2008 Epica Awards . Whoever gave it the tag "Italian Auction" is the Idiot not the company doing the ad.

Wild Beagles Terrorize Lon gIsland!!

I was hoping to post the video, but all I can get is the link.

http://www.ajc.com/video?bcpid=1659825399&bclid=1716449804&bctid=64515964001

It appears that there are wild beagles on Lon gIsland and they are terrorizing the residents in some areas. One woman said she first thought it was wolves coming after her. (WTF????)
The media is blaming hunters for abandoning beagles that don't perform well hunting. Having seen and heard beagles in action, I can't see why anyone would keep one in the first place.

Threat Levels According To Republican'ts

This is the best explanation of how the threat levels work that I have seen yet!!!

H/T to Bouphoia where I found this.

Groundhog Recipes

In honor of the day, I found a site with some ideas on what to do with a Groundhog.

The following is from Outdoor-Michigan.com .
"Surprisingly there are many recipes for Woodchuck (A.K.A. Ground Hog, Whistle Pigs, Pasture Pigs, etc.). Woodchucks are fatty, however it is claimed the fat does not have a bad taste but is still is generally removed. The meat is dark with a mild flavor and will work in any squirrel or rabbit recipe. Woodchucks have scent glands in the small of the back and on the inside of the forelegs which must be removed. If the Woodchuck is old (look how worn teeth and claws are,) it should be parboiled or soaked before cooking, some cooks always soak woodchucks in cold salted water for 6 to 12 hours. The Older Woodchucks will also benefit parboiling in water with a 1/2 teaspoon or more of baking soda."
Oriental Groundhog Recipe By: Hunters Information Service
Amount Measure Ingredient Preparation Method
1 Ground hog
2 quarts Water
¼ cup Salt
½ cup Soy sauce
2 cloves Garlic whole
3 Hot chili peppers whole
¼ Onion
¼ teaspoon Paprika
¼ bunch Parsley whole
4 Beef bouillon cubes
¼ teaspoon Freshly-ground white pepper
1 cup Beef or chicken broth Teriyaki glaze

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Cut meat into pieces and soak in 1 quart water and salt for 3 hours. Transfer meat to 1 quart clear water and soak another 4 hours. Drain and then dry meat. Place meat in a baking pan with broth, soy sauce, garlic cloves, chili pepper, onion, paprika, parsley, bouillon cubes and white pepper. Cover and bake for 1 to 1 1/2 hours at 350 degrees . Baste frequently and brush with teriyaki glaze while cooking.

The site also has recipes for "Waco Groundhog in Sour Cream", "Woodchuck (Groundhog) Stew" and "Woodchuck Meat Loaf".