No Title Needed

Each Presidential candidate is engaged in the most monumental challenge in their lives thus far. How each responds to this challenge is reflective ofhow they will respond to the even more difficult challenges of thePresidency. McCain's answer to this challenge is to resort to division and invective. His efforts further divide white from black, rich from poor and Democrat from Republican. He has chosen to set aside his own principle of civil campaigning for the sake of winning. Civil campaigning is necessary because after any election all must come together to find solutions. McCain's chosen tactics of division will make it even more difficult togovern, no matter who wins the election. "A nation divided against itself cannotstand." Does anyone seriously think that division is good for America? It may be good for Senator McCain, but is it good for the nation? McCain supporters scream that Obama is evil, the anti-Christ, a terrorist. McCain makes no effort to stop these screams and thus he is responsible for rage behind those screams. We are seeing our nation torn apart by Senator McCain's efforts. As President, I think that Mc Cain would be as confrontational and divisive as Bush. His policy would be one of turning Americans against one another. The overriding policy would still be "Divide and Conquer". For those who are addicted to the emotional high of always being angry and outraged, my comment will have no appeal. I acknowledge that. I am speaking those who reject anger and passion in favor of calm deliberation and consideration of the problems with which we must deal. Our problems are worse now than ever before in our lifetimes. Which of the two candidates will best be able to get us through this economic nightmare. If united, we could come out of this nightmare better and stronger for having endured it. If divided, we will fail. "A nation divided against itself cannot stand." Which candidate offers the better hope for unity? You decide. I support Obama because of his calm and reasoned approach to the challenges of the campaign. How Obama handles the campaign is reflective of how he will govern. He will not govern with rage and passion, but with considered opinion and rational deliberation. America has had enough rage and passion for a lifetime. McCain offers America fear. Obama offers hope. The choices are clear:
Reason or Rage.
Division or a chance for Unity

The eve of Friday

I now have internet access at the groovy little hippie pad I call home. Ahhh, the small little things that we take for granted. I have a funky old laptop that has certainly seen better days. A little is better than nothing.

I hope it's the Phillies and the Rays. I hate the old Red Sox nation crap (perpetrated on us by ESPN, Boston homers) and I cannot stand Manny Ramirez. While I respect his talent, I think he's a punk.

Mother Murphy's

We have had a great response to our "Off The Record" program. That's the one where we feature a "vinyl album" on Sunday nights. One business we had to talk to was the local "rock and roll emporium" here in uptown Normal. Yes, Mother Murphy's is a local head shop that has been in the same location for the past 40(yes, 40) years. One of my younger sales people (who I think gets it) went there the other day and presented him with a package for a sponsorship. His first words were.."where have you been I have had customers tell me about it?" We closed the deal today. He wanted to be the only sponsor of the show. It filled the newbie with confidence. That's what they are looking for, just some small victories.

Cell Phone Danger?

Pop Corn téléphone portable micro-ondes
Uploaded by sassiere

Man, this is hard to believe. I'm glad I don't use the cell phone much.

Another Motivational Poster

Gotta Love This...

Prized in Asia for centuries for its medicinal and culinary properties, the shiitake mushroom is now the second most widely produced mushroom in the world. The legendary health benefits of this dark brown, umbrella-shaped fungus stem from a concentration of lentinan, which may help prevent and treat cancer, lower cholesterol, and stimulate the immune system. However, much of the research backing these claims has been done with injectable forms of lentinan.
Still, this meaty mushroom is clearly good to eat -- it has eight amino acids as well as vitamins and minerals including B6, B2 (riboflavin), niacin, and selenium. One cup of cooked shiitake has only 81 calories, is low in saturated fat and cholesterol, and is a good source of dietary fiber. It may also be good for your looks: Some beauty products now contain shiitake extracts.

Looking for more ways to add B2 to your diet? Try riboflavin-rich milk, eggs, enriched cereals and grains, ice cream,liver, and green vegetables, such as broccoli.

Shiitake Mushroom Risotto
Makes 8 first-course or 4 main-course servings
2 tbsp olive oil, divided
1 onion, finely chopped
4–6 garlic cloves, minced
8 oz shiitake mushrooms, stemmed, caps sliced
6 oz crimini, button, or baby portobello mushrooms, sliced
2 cups arborio rice
1¼ cups dry white wine
5 cups vegetable broth orchicken stock
¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tbsp chopped fresh basil
2 tbsp chopped fresh thyme
Salt and pepper to taste
Additional grated Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh herbs for garnish
Heat 1 tbsp oil in heavy large skillet over -medium heat. Add onion and garlic and sauté until tender, about 10 minutes.
Add all the mushrooms; sauté until brown, about 3 minutes. Set aside.
Heat wine and broth in a 4-quart pot until simmering.
In same skillet used to sauté onions, garlic, and mushrooms, add rice and 1 tbsp oil and toss to coat over medium heat. Ladle 1 cup of simmering broth into rice and stir until liquid is almost absorbed.
Continue adding liquid and stirring until -mixture is creamy and rice is tender, about 20 minutes.
Stir in cheese, onion/mushroom mixture, and herbs. Season with salt and pepper.
Garnish with chopped herbs and Parmesan cheese and serve immediately.

Biff Barf with Sports in My Shorts

This one is for the previous 30 years of beatdowns in Lincoln, this one was for Chase Daniels getting spat upon by a Nebraska player (which "pissed him off"), this one was for the time I lived in Lincoln and Mizzou was down 59-0 at halftime, this one was for all the alumni who have suffered at the hands of the Huskerplex curse. 52-17. Mizzou scored in the first minute. I watched this at a party on Saturday night and you could feel the excitement in the room. Who would have thunk this? As of today the University of Missouri football Tigers are ranked number two by the coaches and number three by the writers. This one's for you, Nebraska.

Fear and loathing await the Oklahoma State Cowboys, who come into Columbia also 5-0 and ranked number 17. Still waiting for Mizzou to trip up...can't shake the feeling. Maybe, just maybe, it's not your older brother's Mizzou.

Lou Piniella....what the hell happened? Soriano sucked, your defense sucked and your hitting sucked. Wow, even the most hearty Cubs fan has to wonder what the hell... I am rooting for the Tampa Bay Rays, have been for awhile and I hope they get past the White Sox becasue I can't stand the manager of the Sox. I always like the underdog.

Anyone...anyone but the Red Sox and the "Red Sox nation" which covers...Boston and the northeast.

How bad will the Chiefs be this year? Really, really bad. How did this playoff team two years ago disintegrate into this mess? I know that when I lived in KC the first time, the Chiefs were horrible but at least the Royals put on a good show. Now...

I hate the clowns in the booth for Monday Night Football. They are equally as bad as Chris Berman who has pictures of someone somewhere. Ick. Could I do it better? Give me a shot, Ill try...



Speaking of shot, nothing like a nice shot of Cuervo to calm the nerves.....you should try one, Chris

I hate Sunday night, I always have and I always will, I harken back to being a kid and it's probably separation anxiety issues....thank you Dr. Freud

William Guy (Butch) Raley Jr. October 5th 1948-October 8th 1993

My brother, you would be 60 today. How time files and how much I miss you.

Thank you for showing me what a man was all about. Thank you for your service and dedication to your family and your country. That dedication to your country ultimately lead to your downfall. Thank you for taking time away from your friends to put up with your little brother. Thank you for teaching me about girls, cars and music. Thank you for your children, you would be so proud of them. Thank you for your patience, understanding and your tough love. Thank you for telling me when I was getting off the track. Thank you for the tears when I told you I had finally made it to KSHE. You knew how imporatant it was for me. Thank you for reminding me of my commitment to make things right in the world. Thank you for everything, there is a hole in my heart that will never be filled. Your absence has been felt every day of my life. I lost my big brother on that fateful October day. I just wonder what you'd think of me now. Would you be proud? I hope so. I lived for your approval. I hope I have finally received it.

I love you so much and miss you incredibly. I hope there is no pain but eternal happiness. You deserve it.

These mist covered mountains

Are a home now for me

But my home is the lowlands

And always will be

Some day youll return to

Your valleys and your farms

And youll no longer burn

To be brothers in arms

Through these fields of destruction

Baptisms of fire

Ive watched all your suffering

As the battles raged higher

And though they did hurt me so bad

In the fear and alarm

You did not desert me

My brothers in arms

Theres so many different worlds

So many differents suns

And we have just one world

But we live in different ones

Now the suns gone to hell

And the moons riding high

Let me bid you farewell

Every man has to die

But its written in the starlight

And every line on your palm

Were fools to make war

On our brothers in arms