Al.

Trapped in the Drive-Thru - parody of Trapped in the Closet.

I'll Sue Ya

Don't Download This Song

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/03/21/MNGELOOMG51.DTL

(03-21) 04:00 PDT Ramallah, West Bank - A new Palestinian movement being launched today is aimed at the moderate middle of Muslim politics.

Wasatia -- Arabic for "moderation" -- is the first Islamic religious party to advocate a peaceful, negotiated settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and a tolerant, democratic society at home.

The new party is the brainchild of political science Professor Mohammed Dajani, director of the American Studies Institute at Al-Quds University in East Jerusalem.

Dajani hopes to build Wasatia into a movement with a social and political wing that will eventually compete with Hamas for the votes of what he calls the silent majority of Palestinians.

"Wasatia is a term from the Quran which means 'centrism,' 'balance' or 'moderation,' " Dajani said. "The new party will foster a culture of moderation and attract Palestinian voters who are moderate in their religious beliefs. The existing Palestinian Islamic parties breed radicalism and fundamentalism."

Dajani said most Palestinians are proud of their Muslim heritage and respect the religious identity of Islamic groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad, but many are uncomfortable with the fundamentalism of those groups -- and after years of disastrous armed resistance, also are tired also of their extreme militarism.

"We want to foster a culture of moderation so that our children do not grow up just with the literature of hate and violence," he said. "We want our children to grow up in a culture where people can co-exist in peace and harmony."

Palestinian politics are now dominated by Hamas -- a hard-line Islamic party that refuses to recognize Israel -- and by Fatah. The two parties have just formed a power-sharing government.

The meeting this evening brings together Islamic religious leaders from several West Bank towns, former prisoners in Israeli jails, women, intellectuals and youth. They are expected to endorse a founding platform that blends verses from the Quran, extolling the virtues of moderation and tolerance, with calls for a negotiated peace with Israel and solutions to the acute economic, social and political crises plaguing Palestinian society.

In common with the mainstream Fatah movement, the Wasatia platform calls for the establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza, with East Jerusalem as its capital. But in contrast to all other major Palestinian parties, it does not endorse the return of the estimated 4 million Palestinian refugees to their homes in what is now Israel.

"I would say to the refugees: 'Move on with your life.' We cannot let the past bury the future, even though it should always be remembered," said Dajani.

Among the founders of Wasatia is Bashar Azzeh, a doctoral student in conflict system management who spent seven years studying and working in Kentucky before returning to the West Bank to work for a Palestinian development organization.

"The image of Islam in the United States is that it is extremist, but we have found that hardliners are not the majority among Palestinians," Azzeh said. "I have been to the villages and talked to people. There is a feeling that people have tried violence, they have tried everything, and this is what we need now. People want a moderate political culture and an end to violence and ignorance. They want a reflection of what we are."

Surveys suggest that many of those who swept Hamas to power in the January 2006 Palestinian Legislative Council elections were casting votes against the institutional corruption of Fatah. A poll by Near East Consulting found that 54 percent of Hamas voters also supported the peace process with Israel. "A moderate, centrist Islamic party will take support from Hamas voters who will not vote for secular parties," said Hanna Siniora, a veteran Palestinian activist and publisher of the Jerusalem Times.

But Mahdi Abdel Hadi, director of the Palestinian Academic Society for the Study of International Affairs, said that centrist parties won only six of 132 seats in last January's election.

"Without alliances with powerful elites in society, this new initiative will be born dead," said Abdel Hadi.

Nicolas Pelham, a senior analyst for the International Crisis Group in Jerusalem, agreed that Wasatia faces a major challenge.

"Political power relies on patronage," said Pelham. "Those factions which do maintain some form of popular allegiance are those which can offer services and jobs and some access to the remaining centers of power or salaries."

Dajani said that Wasatia will spend the next year building itself as a movement, undertaking voluntary work, creating new jobs and economic opportunities.

"Charity and voluntarism -- this is Islam," he said. "The creation of new jobs does not have to be related to arms and violence."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/03/22/weu22.xml

"Political Correctness is killing our freedoms"
By Bruno Waterfield
Last Updated: 2:22am GMT 23/03/2007

Europe's citizens must be on their guard against political correctness and moralising politicians, says the European Commission President José Manuel Barroso in an interview with The Daily Telegraph.

The former Portuguese premier and centre-Right politician is concerned that freedom can be the loser in European culture wars over climate change, cheap air travel, Islam and free speech.

etc.

Clicky link for full story.

Whatever happened to it? Have any versions of it been signed into law yet? Looks like H.R. 2 has passed the senate and house, but not yet been signed by the president.

How much of Pelosi's much vaunted 100 day agenda has been completed yet? How many days into it are we? :-p

It needs twenty years to lead man from the plant state in which he is within his mother 's womb, and the pure animal state which is the lot of his early childhood, to the state when the maturity of the reason begins to appear. It has needed thirty centuries to learn a little about his structure. It would need eternity to learn something about his soul. It takes an instant to kill him.

-The Philosophical Dictionary by Voltaire

[Very slowly]
Beep beep beep beep
His horn went beep beep beep
While riding in my Cadillac
What to my surprise
A little Nash Rambler was following me
About one third my size
The guy musta wanted to pass me up
As he kept on tooting his horn
I'll show him that a Cadillac is not a car to scorn
Beep beep beep beep
His horn went beep beep beep

[Slowly]
I pushed my foot down to the floor
To give the guy the shake
But the little Nash Rambler stayed right behind
He still had on his brake
He musta thought his car had more guts
As he kept on tooting his horn (beep beep)
I'll show him that a Cadillac is not a car to scorn
Beep beep beep beep
His horn went beep beep beep

[Normal speed]
My car went into passing gear
And we took off with gust (whoosh)
Soon we were going ninety
Musta left him in the dust
When I peeked in the mirror of my car
I couldn't believe my eyes
The little Nash Rambler was right behind
You'd think that guy could fly
Beep beep beep beep
His horn went beep beep beep

[Quickly]
Now we were doing a hundred and ten
This certainly was a race
For a Rambler to pass a Caddy
Would be a big disgrace
The guy musta wanted to pass me up
As he kept on tooting his horn (beep beep)
I'll show him that a Cadillac is not a car to scorn
Beep beep beep beep
His horn went beep beep beep

[Very quickly]
Now we're going a hundred twenty
As fast as I can go
The Rambler pulled along side of me
As if we were going slow
The fella rolled down his window
And yelled for me to hear
"Hey buddy how do I get this car out of second gear?"

Now that we have a bona-fide muslim congressman, I wonder if we're still allowed to use the phrase "pork barrel spending" :-P

http://www.americanthinker.com/printpage/?url=http://www.americanthinker.com/2007/03/a_letter_to_immigrants_1.html

Dear Fellow Immigrant:

As you may know, immigration has become a very serious problem in this country. So much so, there are even concerns that if not dealt with wisely, it has the potential to subvert American society altogether. Whether or not such fears are justified, one thing is certain: Addressing this issue will be a major challenge in the years to come. As such, it is only appropriate that we who are at the center of it should do our best to help with the solution. I am afraid, however, that the behavior and attitude of some among us only make the already complex matters worse.

You may have noticed certain unlovely tendencies that of recently have been becoming increasingly prominent in the immigrant population. Almost every day someone from our midst comes up with new demands and then grumbles when these are not met. In addition to requesting benefits of various kinds, many repudiate their host culture and insist that natives conform to their ways. There are even those who refuse to learn the English language and then chide their hosts for not accommodating their linguistic peculiarities. When they meet with resistance or difficulties they protest and complain, tossing about the charges of cultural insensitivity, discrimination or worse.

It is safe to say that this ungracious attitude would not be tolerated anywhere else in the world. That it has been in America is due to the matchless amity of her people who try their best to satisfy the desires of their guests. But as criticisms and complaints grow more and more unreasonable, the situation is reaching the point of becoming intolerable.

Being an immigrant myself let me say something that needs to be said, but which Americans - the genial hosts that they are - are reluctant to do: If you do not like it here, you should seriously think about going back to where you came from. Ultimately such a move may prove to be the best thing for you, because living in a country you dislike is probably more damaging to you than you realize. For one thing, in the long run this kind of festering dissatisfaction tends to embitter the heart, a condition which should always be a matter for concern.

But regardless of where you ultimately decide to live, you would definitely benefit from introspection, since your attitude shows that there something profoundly wrong either with your judgment or character or both.

It is because of this that you have failed to recognize that you live in the most immigrant-friendly country on this planet. I have been privileged to visit many places and have realized long ago that Americans are by far the most welcoming and hospitable people anywhere. This is especially true where foreigners are concerned. Whereas in most other lands, immigrants are often looked upon with prejudice, suspicion and even scorn, Americans greet them with open arms. Rather than holding your foreignness against you, they encourage you when you're weak, help you when you're in need, and lift you up when you stumble. Patients with our shortcomings, Americans are ever ready to overlook our blunders.

This, my friend, is not how aliens are normally treated in other places. But I probably do not need to tell you this, since you must have enough first-hand experience from your homeland. The chances are that in your own country foreigners are not treated nearly as kindly as they are here. In fact, it is very likely that your own country does not treat its own citizens as well as America does its foreign-born inhabitants, which is probably the reason why you are now here in the first place.

You would do well to remember that America has given you the most precious thing a country can give: The freedom to pursue your dreams. Whatever your inclinations, whatever the deepest stirrings of your heart, whatever your ambitions in America you can try to make them come true. America is one country on this earth where you truly have the opportunity to live up to your God-given potential.

But this is not all, for even while you pursue your dreams, America will faithfully protect your rights and freedoms. And while she gives so much, she asks for almost nothing in return. You are even free to criticize if you feel like it and America will defend your right to do so. Can you conceive of any other country that would allow you to do this? Can you think of any other system that would guard your rights and autonomy to this extent?

This, however, does not mean that we should abuse the privilege. America is a gracious host and you should try your best to be a gracious guest. Although you will never be asked to pay for all the things you have received here, you should have the good sense to recognize that to give something in return is the decent thing to do. Bestowing upon America a measure of our love and loyalty is, in my opinion, the least we immigrants can do.

A young American president once said: 'Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country.' We immigrants especially should be mindful of this admonishment. America has given us the unique opportunity to pursue our dreams and live a life of dignity, which is something most of us could never hope for in the country of our birth. Let us never forget that.

Be thankful to this generous nation and its kind-hearted people who do not despise you because you look different, smell different or speak with an accent. Most Americans who crossed your path - I am sure - have done their best to overlook your idiosyncrasies and offered support instead of criticism. It is only proper that we should at least try to match their goodwill, which is why it is so unseemly to gripe and complain about mostly imaginary grievances. Of all people, we immigrants should be most keenly appreciative of the benevolence and kindness of this great nation. If despite your best efforts you are still not able to do so, then you really would be better off living somewhere else.

This is a land of immigrants who responded to this country's goodness with industriousness and faithfulness. They gave of their sweat and life to build this wondrous thing called America. They strove and labored and struggled uncomplainingly, even though their lives were far more difficult than yours or mine are today. Let us, then, each carry our burden with good cheer and resolve. To be sure, life won't always be easy. It rarely is, and if truth be told, human existence is arduous no matter where you live. But for honest and hard-working people nowhere is life more rewarding than in America.

Despite its share of problems, America is by almost any objective measure the greatest country that has ever been. Let us, therefore, be continually thankful for the incredible privilege of being allowed to live here. And above all, let us learn how to love her, for if there ever was a country that merits the love of its people, it surely must be America. She deserves it especially from those us who arrived as aliens, but whom she nevertheless so graciously accepted as her own.

V. Kohlmayer

Vasko Kohlmayer defected from Communist Czechoslovakia at the age of 19. He can be contacted at vasko_kohlmayer@msn.com.

Another tofu soup - Beancurd in Consomme
And despite being a sichuan recipe, it's not spicy and doesn't even use peppers.

1 pound soft tofu
3 egg whites
1 tablespoon softened lard
1.5 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with a little bit of cold water
7 cups clear chicken or vegetable stock
salt to taste
white pepper to taste
1 pound napa (or other leafy green like bok choy or spinach)

* Mash the tofu until smooth. Beat the egg whites and mix into the tofu. Add the lard and cornstarch and mix until amalgamated. Pour into a lightly oiled square tin and place on a rack in a wok. Cover a steam for 15 minutes until firm, then remove and leave to cool (several hours, or overnight)

* Cut the tofu mixture into rectangular shaped pieces

* Boil the stock and season with salt and pepper

* Place the cabbage leaves on the bottom of a serving bowl and arrange the tofu on top. Pour the boiling stock into the bowl and serve!

As always. So much for a democrat revolution :-p

House Results:
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2006/pages/results/house/full.list/index.html
358 incumbents win a contested race
22 incumbents win an uncontested contest
23 incumbents lose
32 set up for grabs

403 races involving incumbents, in which 23 incumbents lost.
That's a 5.6% turnover rate. Hardly a revolution. If you went to Las Vegas and knew you had a 94.4% chance of winning every game you played, you'd bet huge every time. It's a no-brainer.

Over in the Senate it's a moderately bigger quake:
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2006/pages/results/senate/full.list/
23 incumbents win
6 incumbent loses
4 seat up for grabs

6 out of 29 incumbents lost, for 20.6% turnover rate amongst incumbents. Much closer to being a revolution, but not really there - 79.4% odds of winning at Las Vegas would still be worth betting big every time.

That's the problem we have - everybody likes to complain about politicians, but when it comes time to put their money where their mouth is, oh, well, it's everybody else's politicians that are the problem - their's is just fine!

And so very little ever changes. The incumbents know they are relatively safe, the vast majority of turnover occurs only when someone retires or is otherwise forced out.

*yawn*

This next recipe is not vegetarian, but does use tofu: Red-Cooked Chicken, Vegetables and Tofu

5 dried Chinese black mushroom caps
2 cups chicken broth
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice wine or dry sherry
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1 tablespoon firmly packed light brown sugar
Two 3x1/2" strips orange zest
One 2" cinnamon stick
1.5 pounds chicken thighs, skinned
2 carrots, thinly sliced
1 cup trimmed snow peas
1/2 pound firm tofu, cut into 1" chunks (I generally use a whole container, typically 1 pound worth, but whatever)
1 tablespoon cornstarch dissolved in 2 tablespoons water
8 scallions, minced

* Boil 1 cup of water and add the mushrooms; cover and remove from heat. Let stand for 20 minutes. Reserver 1/2 cup of the liquid.

* Bring the broth, mushroom liquid, soy sauce, wine, oil, brown sugar, orange zest and cinnamon to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, until the flavors are blended, about 20 minutes.

* Add the chicken and simmer, covered, until the juices run clear when pierced with a fork, about 40 minutes.

* Add the carrots and cook for 5 minutes more.

* Add the snow peas, mushrooms and tofu and cook for 1 minute longer.

* With a slotted spoon, transfer chicken, vegetables and tofu to serving plate. Bring the liquid to a boil and stir in the dissolved cornstarch. Cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce is thickened, about 1 minute. Add the scallion. Spoon over the chicken and serve!

crwth
cwm

http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2007/03/native_american.html

It's an interesting idea, and I sure hope it meets with success.

This next recipe is supposed to be made with scallops, but tofu is a great substitute here: Tofu-Cucumber stir-fry

2 tablespoons rice wine or dry sherry
1/2 teaspoon minced peeled ginger
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1 pound firm tofu, cut into 1/2" cubes
4 cucumbers, peeled, halved lengthwise, seeded and thinly sliced
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup chicken broth
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon sugar
2 teaspoons peanut oil
2 carrots, diced and steamed

* Combine the wine, ginger and onion powder and add the tofu. Mix until the tofu is well coated.

* Layer the cucumber slices in a colander, sprinkling with the salt between each layer. Let stand for 20 minutes.

* Whisk the broth, cornstarch, sesame oil and sugar until smooth

* Heat 1 teaspoon of oil in a wok. And the tofu and cook for a minute or two. Remove to a plate and keep warm.

* Heat the remaining teaspoon of oil. Add the cucumbers and carrots and cook for about 2 minutes, tossing lightly. Add the tofu and broth mixture. Cook, stirring as needed, until the sauce thickens and coats the tofu.

I missed linking to a tofu recipe yesterday, so let me link to it here: Bean curd appetizer

But for today's recipe I give you bean curd soup:

8 cups of chicken broth
1 can bamboo shoots (5 oz.)
1/4 pound of fresh mushrooms, sliced lengthwise
1/4 pound fresh spinach, cut into small pieces
1 pound of tofu, cut into 1 inch cubes
salt and pepper to taste

Bring the broth to a boil and add the bamboo, mushrooms and spinach and simmer for 3-5 minutes.

Add the tofu, salt and pepper and cook only until heated.

Ah, this recipe is for serving 6-8, so you may want to halve the ingredients if you aren't feeding a family.