Virginia’s General Assembly became the first in the nation Wednesday to approve legislation that bucks any attempt by President Barack Obama and Congress to implement a national health care overhaul in individual states.
The Republican-ruled House of Delegates, with wide Democratic support, voted 80-17 without debate for the largely symbolic step aimed at the Democratic-backed reforms pushed by Obama and stalled in Congress. The vote sends the measure to Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell who intends to sign it.

Thirty-four other state legislatures have either filed or proposed similar measures — statutes or constitutional amendments — rejecting health insurance mandates, according to the American Legislative Exchange Council.

Obama carried Virginia in his historic ride to the presidency in 2008, the first Democrat to do so in a presidential race in 44 years. But since then, the tide has turned…

...

mmmm.....

Panna Cotta Shots

Set 1: [4 glasses]
8 T CranRaspberry juice
1/2 t gelatin [scant] 1/4 T gelatin
few drops creme de cacao

Set 2: [2 glasses]
3T Cassis
1/4T gelatin [generous] 1/8T gelatin

Halve the liquid and sprinkle the gelatin over top.  Let sit a few minutes then stir.  Warm in microwave, 10 seconds at a time, until gelatin dissolves.  Stir in rest of liquid.

Pour into pretty shot glasses—about 1/3 full or less.  Set glasses into empty egg carton at rakish angles.  Refrigerate for about an hour til set.

Panna Cotta
1C Cream
1T sugar [scant]
drops vanilla
drops almond
1.5 oz shaved good chocolate [ScharffenBerger 70% or 99% recommended]
1/4C cream
1T gelatin 1/2T gelatin

Put 1/4C cream into 2C pyrex spouted measuring cup and sprinkle gelatin over top.  Heat 1C cream on stove with sugar until sugar melts.  Do NOT allow to boil, but heat well.  Stir gelatin cream and add chocolate shavings.  Pour warm cream over top and stir.  Add vanilla and almond essence and stir more.  Keep stirring until gelatin is melted and chocolate incorporated.

Pour gently over top of chilled tilty shots.  Fill to almost top edge covering all gel.  Chill again—upright—for at least 2 hours.  4 would be better.  Garnish with dusting of nutmeg / chocolate shavings / single perfect raspberry / imagination.

Serve with demitasse coffee as an excuse to use demitasse spoons.  A good ruby port wouldn’t hurt.

Just for fun.  Also to experiment with:  Kaluha and Vanilla /or/ Raspberry vodka.

I’ll update and let ya know which was better…

Taste—gooood.  I prefer the CranRaz; it’s delicate yet yummy.
Teh Mister preferred the more strongly flavored Cassis.
We agreed that we prefer both the gel and the Panna Cotta softer, so I’ve reduced the amount of gelatin above.
I b’lieve I’ll add some 99% chocolate next time, too.  Just cuz.

Stimulus Bucks to Start Flying
Bulk of Billions in Stimulus Money Will Hit Private Sector in Coming Months

What started as a trickle of money into the private sector could soon be a gusher, an analysis of the status of President Obama’s $787 billion stimulus plan reveals.

A roughly $200 billion chunk of stimulus money – much of it earmarked specifically for projects ranging from highway repairs to alternative energy initiatives – is only just now beginning to wind its way from government agency coffers and into the economy, and will continue to do so over the next [ ELECTION ] year....

“Nancy Whatsherface”

Thatisall.

Rodgie

humans in captivity—small steps

Remember those sustainable high-rises?  Those 800sf apartments with a workplace downstairs and a smart train in walking distance?  Yeah.  Here’s another step towards herding us all in there.

The Obama administration will accept no more public input for a federal strategy that could prohibit U.S. citizens from fishing some of the nation’s oceans, coastal areas, Great Lakes, and even inland waters.

This announcement comes at the time when the situation supposedly still is “fluid” and the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force* still hasn’t issued its final report on zoning uses of these waters.

...Council on Environmental Quality *…

...WWF, Greenpeace, Defenders of Wildlife, Pew Environment Group and others produced a document entitled “Transition Green” shortly after Obama was elected in 2008. What has happened since suggests that the task force has been in lockstep with that position paper. ["Recommendations for the Adoption and Implementation of an Oceans, Coasts, and Great Lakes National Policy.” *PDF]

...some of these same organizations have revealed their anti-fishing bias by playing fast and loose with “facts,” in attempts to ban tackle containing lead in the United States and Canada.

Typical tactic.  Remember the “take the lead out of hunting” dealio recently, based on the claim that condors are eating the lead left in the wild and dying?

[Phil Morlock, director of environmental affairs for Shimano* and board member of Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) *] fears that “what we’re seeing coming at us is an attempted dismantling of the science-based fish and wildlife model that has served us so well. There’s no basis in science for the agendas of these groups who are trying to push the public out of being able to fish and recreate.

“Conflicts (user) are overstated and problems are manufactured. It’s all just an excuse to put us off the water.”

uhm… Yup.

“...unless anglers speak up and convince their Congressional representatives to stop this bureaucratic freight train, it appears that the task force will issue a final report for “marine spatial planning” by late March, with President Barack Obama then issuing an Executive Order to implement its recommendations — whatever they may be.

If ya can’t fish and ya can’t hunt… If ya can’t own private property nor set foot on national park/federal property… Well ain’t that the very definition of dependent?

It’s a series of small steps—lots of ‘em.

WZ

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Wednesday shows that 22% of the nation’s voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Forty-one percent (43%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -21. That matches the lowest Approval Index rating yet recorded for this President…

Americans have come to detest Congress ever more deeply as it nears the end of a nasty fight over health care. But more than half still back President Barack Obama, a bright spot for a Democratic Party counting on its leader to help stave off expected losses in elections this fall.

The latest Associated Press-GfK poll found that fewer people approve of Congress than at any point in Obama’s presidency. Support has dropped significantly since January to a dismal 22 percent as the health care debate has roiled Capitol Hill. Neither Republicans nor Democrats are safe; half of all people say they want to fire their congressman.

1980s child star Corey Haim has been found dead in Los Angeles, Fox News confirms.

The actor was 38.

The LAPD said his death appeared to be an accidental drug overdose, and an investigation is underway.

Still my favorite vampire movie ever.  Thanks for that, Corey.

English Muffin Suck It Taxman* Pizzas

AH

U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts said Tuesday the scene at President Barack Obama’s first State of the Union address was “very troubling” and that the annual speech to Congress has “degenerated into a political pep rally.”

Responding to a University of Alabama law student’s question about the Senate’s method of confirming justices, Roberts said senators improperly try to make political points by asking questions they know nominees can’t answer because of judicial ethics rules.

“I think the process is broken down,” he said........

JR’s good pal at work told him that it is literally impossible for him to find a source of primer for re-loading.....kinda scares the crap out of me.
Is this true as far as you all know? If not, care to share your source with me? If you’re afraid of a stampede you can even e-mail it to me........

Oh, and while we’re on the subject, want:

1927 A-1 Deluxe SBR Model T1SB