Neighborhood

Went for a walk this morning, to the post office and the bank. In between the two there is a German sausage-making factory and associated deli and store. I hadn't been in there until today, even though I have lived just a few blocks away for 10 months now. In the store there is a great selection of meats, both imported and made right there. There are also cheeses, wines, tinned fish, and chocolates of every description including Toblerone. I bought a couple of Hungarian bratwurst (spicey!), a half pound of beef-only hard salame, and some Irish garlic-herb butter. I didn't look at the wines, but I will next time!
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Edelweiss Meat Case

Edelweiss_meat_case_Portland

Swastika Legitimacy

In response to something I read on my FL (about a Canadian mother who put a swastika on her child's arm and lost custody of her children), I googled "neonazi", and then "swastika". I discovered the story "Swastika tops Google searches" from Sunday, July 13, 2008. When swastika searches are a "Hot Trend", you have to wonder what is going on. The google-watchers say that there was not a single big swastika-related news story or blog post that morning.
( explorations in the news )

Congress Overrides Shrub's Veto of Medicare Bill

Medicare Bill Passes Into Law After Congress Overrides Presidential Veto.....so we are perpetuating the flow of federal moneys into the hands of doctors and psychiatrists by way of federal health insurance. Our congress is propping up our failing medical system.... because they are so worried about getting votes that they will do anything to appear that they care about our health.....Ironically they voted for the impending changes back in June, and this bill was simply them reversing themselves from June. Our congress is a bunch of scared sheep. Where are the wolves??? We need some wolves to eat up these sheep. In the house 41 voted against the override of Shrub's veto, and I'll bet you a dollar Ron Paul was one of them.
( from Medscape, notes on an article by Marlene Busko, July 16, 2008 )