Free Republic

What is the cost of living in Puerto Rico? It seems to me, that since 1/3 of the people are on food stamps, that the cost of living must be quite a bit lower there than here, and therefore, one isn’t necessarily living in poverty to reach the income level to receive the benefits.

This is a perfect picture! Congratulations.

Wonderful!

I wonder, since Rubio is the only face associated with the immigration bill, if this was actually a scheme by the go8 and gop-e to torpedo Rubio as a tea party darling. It certainly has done that, and locked him into the gop-e for the rest of his career.

bfl

Alexander and Corker have both managed to do what no democrat has ever managed to do..... force me to vote for a democrat. I have voted for over 40 years and have never voted for a democrat, but if they are not primaried out I will be doing so. I was sick of Alexander 4 years ago, and the ONLY reason I voted for him was to try to keep Obama from having 60 senators. Even that is not a good enough reason any more.

Thanks Miss E. You have a wonderful child.

Praying this morning.

Mesta, I am praying for you this morning. Hope your day is a wonderful one!

Glad you are home. I will keep on praying until you are right as rain!

Still praying.

Praying for you Carlo.

Thanks for the ping girl.

Sorry to be late to the party!

TJI, my husband and I are in the music business, (Mr G for 50 years now) and we have lived in Franklin for over 25 years. It is the most wonderful place to live and raise a family. In fact, we decided when we got here that even if the music biz didn’t work out, and we had to sell shoes and belts for a living, we weren’t leaving.

The basic rule of thumb we were given was “south of Nashville, more books, north of Nashville, more video games.” Williamson county has been rated as the most “conservative friendly” county in the country, and also has the highest percentage of musicians living here. (an apparent oxymoron, I know.... I guess regular folks outnumber the loon musicians)

While Franklin itself may have gotten too pricey, there are other areas of Williamson county that are affordable and worth looking into. Wmson county has the best schools, and I think, is the prettiest part of the state.

Nashville is the only place in the country that treats music like a business. It was so different for us to come here and see sessions scheduled on a 10-2-6 basis.... a 3 hour session with an hour available to get to another. It was amazing to not have to work all night! And someone couldn’t schedule you in the middle of the day for 30 minutes and mess up the whole day for other work! Writers book writing sessions. There are all the supporting people here that are needed.... agents, artwork, publishing, studios, engineers, side men, touring musicians (different from studio musicians)... the whole thing!

But, with all that said, moving here just to be in music could be an exercise in frustration, as it is hard to get anything going quickly. The basic rule is they ignore you for at least 5 years, and if you are still here then they might acknowledge that you exist. Or they might take advantage of you for a while, but that doesn’t mean you are “on your way!!!” You would be astounded at the number of Dr.s, Lawyers, waitresses, and bus drivers who are here to try and make it in the music biz.

So, come prepared to support yourself with something else. Keep music as a fun sideline, and if something wonderful happens consider it a blessing. If not, at least you had fun while you were at normal life.

bfl

I know someone who wanted to leave S. Africa but wasn’t allowed to take his money. So he sold everything he owned, bought a big honkin seaworthy boat, outfitted it with gold faucets and every possible amenity.

Then he sailed to someplace in Europe, where he sold the boat and started over.

Julie, I am so sorry for your loss. I know that sometimes I will start missing someone so much, that I just ask Jesus to give them a hug for me. It makes me feel better.

I have given up on the GOP. I am even disgusted with my “conservative” representative Marsha Blackburn..... who started out on fire, and has now settled into a nice comfortable GOPe type of behavior. At the age of 61 I have never voted for a democrat, but now I have a new party, self created, that I am going to follow.

It is called the Anti-incumbent party. I may not be able to change the GOP, but at the least, perhaps a bunch of us can keep those scum sucking politicians cycling enough that they won’t get firmly established and comfy up in DC..

When cell phone towers get overloaded, sometimes the phone company will just shut down the area code. Emergency responders have cell phones with a different area code than the local one. Those get through.

bfl

We kept telling my mom hers should be PB4UGO.

bfl

Here’s my problem with all the hysteria. By declaring pop tarts and finger pointing to be “dangerous”, they desensitize kids to *real* dangers. I started with this thinking when I heard a commercial that said “What do you call someone who doesn’t recycle? Dangerous!”

So, since I don’t recycle, my granddaughter gets to consider me dangerous. Of course, she knows that the grandma who gives her chocolate isn’t dangerous, so when we tell her a stranger trying to get her into his car is dangerous, how is she going to react? By telling her eating a pop tart into the shape of a gun is dangerous, how is she going to react when we say taking drugs is dangerous? Or driving too fast? Or any number of things that have the potential to cause her harm? We are disabling her ability to be discerning with all this PC nonsense.

We have destroyed language, as well as common sense. And all I can do is keep telling her these people are full of s%$#.

Add me to the Tennessee list please.

Hey Carlo... I always love your threads. Could you add me to your ping list please?

I know someone who probably fits this picture.... I believe her folks are illegal and she has been here most of her 15 year long life. It is truly terrible that her folks have done this to her.... but it is not my responsibility to fix the stupidity of her family.

I would be happy to make a cake for them..... full rate plus tax plus delivery plus set up..... but at the same time I will explain to them that I am an intercessor. As an intercessor, I will pray for them every day that they meet Jesus, and come to see the error of their ways. And I DO have the ear of God.

Excellent!!! Congratulations Drumbo.

When my niece was studying biology in college one of her assignments was to go and collect dead birds beneath windmills. My sister was surprised at the number and variety that were gathered in her freezer.

Praying for your family Gonzo. God bless you.

Thanks for all you do Jim.

I will be praying for your dad too ups driver. God bless you both.

Hey! watch it bub!

bfl

God bless you Drumbo. My prayers for His will follow you.

Your original post stated there was “no evidence”. And you also stated “NOBODY has found any side effects.”

I am not “nobody” I am somebody, and I have evidence. While mine is, yes, anecdotal, even though first hand experience and not “a friend of a friend”, it is evidence contrary to your opinion. It is factual enough for me.

Your problem is you wouldn’t accept a fact that countered your dearly held belief. So, thanks for the chat. We’re done here.

I must disagree. I know 3 people who have been messed up by LSD. The first was my brother. He took some and had serious memory problems for years.

Another was a musician I know. A group he was touring with thought it would be cute to spike his drink with LSD. Well, aside from falling backwards off the stage, his brain has never worked the same since. If he weren't married, he would be on the streets. He can't balance a checkbook, or pay a bill or follow logic for very long. He can still play his brains out though, so at least he can earn a living.

The third is my good friend's son. His friends spiked his drink and it triggered a schizophrenic break which he has been working many years to overcome. If he didn't live with his mom, he too would be on the streets.

Oh, and none of these three is a long term user, and neither do they take other drugs. I have spent over 40 years in the music business and cannot tell you how many people I have seen ruin their lives with illegal drugs. No, I am not a user. I hardly even drink wine.

Wonder if any of them owns a Hummer?

Lol..... you may very well be right.

I have a friend who went back to the old country. The relatives there said “you guys actually eat that stuff?”

bfl

I made this recipe from Cooks Illustrated last week and it was wonderful. Perhaps it will hit the spot for you....

SERVES 6 TO 8
Adjust the heat in this dish by adding the minced ribs and seeds from the jalapeño as directed in step 6. If Anaheim chiles cannot be found, add an additional poblano and jalapeño to the chili. This dish can also be successfully made by substituting chicken thighs for the chicken breasts. If using thighs, increase the cooking time in step 4 to about 40 minutes. Serve chili with sour cream, tortilla chips, and lime wedges.
INGREDIENTS
3pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken breast halves, trimmed of excess fat and skin
1tablespoon vegetable oil
3medium jalapeño chiles
3poblano chiles (medium), stemmed, seeded, and cut into large pieces
3Anaheim chile peppers (medium), stemmed, seeded, and cut into large pieces
2medium onions, cut into large pieces (2 cups)
6medium cloves garlic, minced or pressed through garlic press (about 2 tablespoons)
1tablespoon ground cumin
1 1/2teaspoons ground coriander
2(14.5-ounce) cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
3cups low-sodium chicken broth
3tablespoons fresh lime juice (from 2 to 3 limes)
1/4cup minced fresh cilantro leaves
4scallions, white and light green parts sliced thin
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Season chicken liberally with salt and pepper. Heat oil in large Dutch oven over medium-high heat until just smoking. Add chicken, skin side down, and cook without moving until skin is golden brown, about 4 minutes. Using tongs, turn chicken and lightly brown on other side, about 2 minutes. Transfer chicken to plate; remove and discard skin.
2. While chicken is browning, remove and discard ribs and seeds from 2 jalapeños; mince flesh. In food processor, process half of poblano chiles, Anaheim chiles, and onions until consistency of chunky salsa, ten to twelve 1-second pulses, scraping down sides of workbowl halfway through. Transfer mixture to medium bowl. Repeat with remaining poblano chiles, Anaheim chiles, and onions; combine with first batch (do not wash food processor blade or workbowl).
3. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon fat from Dutch oven (adding additional vegetable oil if necessary) and reduce heat to medium. Add minced jalapeños, chile-onion mixture, garlic, cumin, coriander, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables soften, about 10 minutes. Remove pot from heat.
4. Transfer 1 cup cooked vegetable mixture to now-empty food processor workbowl. Add 1 cup beans and 1 cup broth and process until smooth, about 20 seconds. Add vegetable-bean mixture, remaining 2 cups broth, and chicken breasts to Dutch oven and bring to boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until chicken registers 160 degrees (175 degrees if using thighs) on instant-read thermometer, 15 to 20 minutes (40 minutes if using thighs).
5. Using tongs, transfer chicken to large plate. Stir in remaining beans and continue to simmer, uncovered, until beans are heated through and chili has thickened slightly, about 10 minutes.
6. Mince remaining jalapeño, reserving and mincing ribs and seeds (see note above), and set aside. When cool enough to handle, shred chicken into bite-sized pieces, discarding bones. Stir shredded chicken, lime juice, cilantro, scallions, and remaining minced jalapeño (with seeds if desired) into chili and return to simmer. Adjust seasonings with salt and pepper and serve.
Per Serving:
Cal 370; Fat 6 g; Sat fat 1 g; Chol 115 mg; Carb 25 g; Protein 52 g; Fiber 7 g; Sodium 710 mg

My siblings all have everything they need, so I was always struggling with what to get them..... especially since we didn’t have a lot of money to throw around. I started making things for Christmas. One year it was a fun jam, another cookie boxes (the box is the cookie.... decorated beautifully) filled with lovely chocolates. Another year I made spiced and candied nuts of various sorts.

After many years of this, my sister told me she was making something for everyone.... since I always had such cool gifts. Boy was I surprised!

This year? Spiced blueberry maple pecan conserve.

Illinois

In the meantime.... my friend, who qualifies for unemployment, and still has funds owed her was just told “Sorry, the well has run dry.” No warning, just all of a sudden, no money put in her account. This, of course, happens juuuuusst after the election.

BTW, she’s a Romney voter.

I had a friend who did that. Some guy took her to a secluded place for a handy dandy date rape. She pointed at him and said "You're going to hurt me with that little thing? " and laughed.

He took her home.

My friend here in Nashville had a machine that kept changing his vote to Obama. After several (5?) attempts, it finally accepted Romney. He complained about it, but I never heard even a word mentioned here.

Nice job!

My son’s troop leader asked when they were going to get me on a camping trip. I said “when it says Holiday Inn”.

Another time they asked us what role we would like to have in the camping portion of the scouts....

“Waving goodbye”

That's because it costs more to sort those things into usable and not, filthy used things and new, then to package and transport those items to the scene where they are needed, than it does to buy new ones, cheap because of the bulk price. Would you want to use a pillow that was pulled from someone's roach infested basement? I have seen these types of donations before.

Praying for Yellow Rose.