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December 30, 2009
End of an Era
The lines to get a coffee pot are usually long. Tomorrow, they are going to be epic.
BANGOR, Maine — The Coffee Pot — an institution to sandwich lovers all over the globe who have been lucky enough to enjoy one — is closing effective Jan. 1, according to owner Skip Rist on Wednesday.I wrote about the place a few years ago. In our increasingly post-customer service economy, the Coffee Pot was a place where you knew you'd get good food for a fair price served by a friendly face.Rumors that the famous State Street sandwich shop, which daily has lines extending out onto the sidewalk, was closing have been circulating for weeks, and Rist had downplayed them.
This video from a local tv station gives a good idea of what the place was like, and how popular it is around here.
Posted by slublog at 06:51 PM | Comments (43) | TrackBack
December 24, 2009
Merry Christmas
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
Luke 2:1-21 (English Standard Version)
Posted by slublog at 08:26 PM | Comments (70) | TrackBack
December 22, 2009
'Tis the Season
Because nothing says 'transparent and open government' like voting on a bill that no one has read at 1 a.m during the holiday season.
Most people
In America
Liked their healthcare a lot
But the Reid,
Who lived in Washington,
Did not
The Reid hated healthcare, thought the system was smashed
Now please don’t ask why his hate was so unabashed
It could be that he was filled with much gall
It could be, perhaps, that his glasses were too small
But I think the most likely reason of all
May have been that his heart to Obama was enthralled
But
Whatever the reason,
His worship or glasses
He stood there on Christmas Eve, hating the masses
Staring down from his perch with a sour, nasty frown
At the people with healthcare below in their town
For he knew every person with coverage below
Disagreed with him, and that made them his foe
“They’re happy with their healthcare” he snarled with a sneer
“The polls are against me! Their opinion is clear!”
Then he growled with his thin fingers not able to hold still
“I MUST find a way to pass this Obamacare bill!”
For next year, he knew…
All the Americans would start calling their reps
And would wake up to his plans and rush the Capitol steps
And then! Oh the noise! Oh, the noise, noise, noise!
That’s one thing he hated! The NOISE NOISE NOISE NOISE!
Then the Americans, young and old, would start to protest
And they’d protest, and protest!
They’d PROTEST PROTEST PROTEST PROTEST!
They would start their tea parties and threaten his career
Which was something that filled the Reid with great fear
And THEN
They’d do something he liked least of all!
Every American, the tall and the small
Would all stand together, and with one voice cry
“You’re not listening to us, and have gone awry!”
And they’d cry and they’d cry
And they’d CRY CRY CRY CRY!
And the more the Reid thought of the people’s point of view
The more the Reid thought, “I know just what to do.”
“I’ll ignore what they think and continue to pursue”
“A takeover of healthcare…we’ll shove it through”
“I have sixty votes and nothing to lose”
Then he got an idea
An awful idea
The Reid
Got a wonderful, awful idea!
“I know just what to do!” the Reid laughed in his throat
As he used taxpayer money to buy every vote
And he chuckled and said “What a great little trick!”
“I’ll use pork to make this bill pass so quick!”
“All I need is some suckers”
And the Reid looked around
And since this was Washington, such lowlifes abound
So Reid offered some cash
And promised some pork
“Votes are easy to buy, this will pass without fail!”
The Reid made many deals and made the sale
“With so many votes, we will surely prevail!”
THEN
He loaded the bill
With plenty of presents
For those willing to sell
Their principles for mere cents
Then the Reid said “Let’s vote!”
On a bill few had read
Affecting the Americans
Whose paychecks would be bled
And what happened then?
Well in America they say
That our taxes went up
And grew three sizes that day!
While at the same time, our healthcare declined
But the Reid didn’t care, he had achieved his gain
And he…
He himself…
The Reid voted to cause us all pain.
Cross-posted at The Greenroom.
Posted by slublog at 12:25 AM | Comments (86) | TrackBack
December 21, 2009
Snowe is 'Shocked, Shocked' at Rushed Healthcare Timeline
A future Renault Award nominee?
Snowe said the Christmas deadline imposed by President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats for voting on the Senate measure is unacceptable and fails to allow for the continued analysis and change she feels is necessary to protect consumers, taxpayers and the shaky business sector. In particular, she said, she cannot accept a 400-page amendment filed late last week by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid that, because of the process of adhering to the Christmas deadline, is not subject to debate or amendment.I'm not sure why Snowe is so shocked by this. Last week, President Obama made his views on when he expected the bill quite clear. As is the case with many subjects, Obama declared back in September that the time for "bickering" and "games" was over and that it was the "season for action." And remember, this is a president who tells his critics to "get out of the way." With leaders like this, the Democrats would never act in bad faith, right?She said she does not discount the urgency of the health care reform issue or the broad support in Maine for change.
“I recognize the imperative of accomplishing this reform,” she said. “But in the final analysis, I will be accountable for the outcome of this legislation.”
Snowe pulled the switch that brought this monster to life, and it looks like she's finally begun to realize it isn't as friendly as she created it to be.
Cross-posted at The Greenroom
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December 09, 2009
Blame the Holidays, and Twitter
How about a picture of the world's unhappiest squirrel?
Posted by slublog at 09:26 PM | Comments (80) | TrackBack
December 02, 2009
And With This, It's...Well...
Posted by slublog at 10:18 PM | Comments (173) | TrackBack