Blueberry Muffins

The grocery had some nice looking blueberries so I made these blueberry muffins. The recipe makes about 16. I think I ate a dozen of them myself. That's why there's no picture of them.

1 stick (8 oz.) unsalted butter, softened

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1 1/2 cups fresh

2 cups flour

1/2 cup milk

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line the cups or a muffin tin with paper liners. 

With a mixer, cream the butter until smooth. Add 1 cup of the sugar and mix. Add the eggs, vanilla, baking powder, and salt and mix. With the mixer running at low speed, add 1/2 of the flour, then 1/2 of the milk, and mix. Add the remaining flour and  then the remaining milk. Fold in the blueberries by hand until well mixed.

Fill the muffin cups 3/4 full. Bake until golden brown and risen, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool in the pan at least 30 minutes before turning out.

Makes about 16.

I'll try to make more in the next few days and get a photo of them before they're all gone.

Who Is Lying, Michelle or Corey?

I can believe that Michelle Fields thought she was being pulled down by Corey Lewandowski. Maybe she never played any contact sports or games like King of the Hill when she was a child. And she's way too young to have attended a concert at Riverfront pre-1980. Her attention was on Trump and being pulled startled her and it felt worse than it looked. For her it was a rare event that happened to her.

I can also believe that Lewandowski doesn't think he did anything. He mostly only saw her from behind, his attention was more on Trump than her, and he was just moving away a random person who had gotten to close and refused to move when told to back off. It happened quickly, and for him, it could be something he has to do a lot - push or pull people away from Trump so they can get through the crowd. (I'm not saying he's always yanking people out of the way. If he grabs someone who is paying attention to him, it would be easier to pull and gently maneuver that person out of the way than it someone whose attention was elsewhere.) For him it was a common event (people crowding Trump).

This is where Fields in continuing to touch Trump after having been told to back off, before Lewandowski grabs her.

Their perceptions of what happened are different, but for similar reasons:

• their attention was on Trump
• how rare/common the event was
• who was the principal in the event - for Michelle, it became about her. For Corey, it started out being about Trump and stayed about Trump.

So, I think they can be both be telling the story the way they believe it happened. I also think that if she were a man, we never would have heard of any problem.

If You Don't See It...

...It's because you're not looking.

Relaxing River of Music Flows in You

Goodnight, sleep well.

March Against Fear Cancelled

Because of security concerns.

No, This is a Dove

Free for Photographers!

The Google Nik Collection that used to sell for $150 is now free. It's a set of seven plug-ins for Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom, and Apple Aperture.

He Also Denied Eating a Booger

☑ REKT

Cruz accused Trump of getting the National Enquirer to publish the story but The Daily Beast says it was being peddled by friends of Marco Rubio.

Take Me In, Oh Tender Woman

Watch This!



The audio is from a January Trump rally in Iowa.

If you're not familiar with the Al Wilson song, watch this video.

Feel the Johnson

Gary Johnson is interviewed by the NYT.

Gary Johnson is the former Republican governor of New Mexico. During his two terms in office, he slashed the state budget while pushing for tax cuts, school vouchers and the legalization of marijuana. 

 The Libertarian candidate is a former Republican. The leading Republican is, who knows what, really, I'm going to go with pragmatist. The number two Republican is anti-establishment GOP. The only think old and familiar to the Republicans will be their opponent, Hillary Clinton (or maybe Bernie Sanders).

They're old and familiar with the voters too. The people are tired of leftovers.

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

by John McCrae

I'm Helping!

All over social media. The virtue signaling has begun.

I'm not making fun of everyone who has added the Belgian flag to their photo, just the ones who didn't notice there was a potential problem before today and will forget about it again in a week or two.

Organized Hatred

"Everybody feels, like, look, this is a university, we don't need a kind of organized hatred to be spilling onto our center." - Bill Ayers, co-founder of the radical, domestic terrorist group Weather Underground.




Should we expect another Days of Rage event, only this time against the Republicans?

When the Lord Commands You to Steal

atiraandthediamondsDoing the Lord's work ridding the town of these horrendous signs with Gabe.#actuallymakingamericagreat

Anyone in McAlester, Oklahoma have some Trump signs go missing? You might want to ask Atira Feliciano and Gabe Andrews where they went.

Why Didn't They Have Camps Like This When I Was a Kid?

BrainVyne LEGO camp. How cool is that?

As I Predicted

There are complaints that the Trump ad showing Hillary Clinton barking was taking her out of context. This post is getting the hypocrites tag because of how the same people didn't care that woman in Chicago giving the Nazi salute was taken out of context.

Literally* Hitler

*Used by people who aren't clear on what "literally" means.

Hey Carl, How is Trump Like Hitler?

Oh, well, that explains it.

I don't know his real name, but in the meme he's Carl.

Trump, Racism, and Antisemitism in Palm Beach Florida

In the 1990s, private clubs in Palm Beach still excluded Blacks and Jews from becoming members...until Donald Trump opened Mar-a-Lago. He refused to discriminate against them, angering the old crusties in town.

He fought back and the restrictions were lifted. The inclusive club and golf course were opened.

She'll Complain She Was Taken Out of Context

We Didn't Lose a Single Person in Libya

Says Hillary Clinton.

Her memory seems to be slipping.

Hillary on a Hot Mic

Hillary Clinton and Chris Matthews discuss Trump and endorsements by Christie and Carson.

Hillary wonders if Christie had a debt, implying that The Donald is helping to pay it. The best part comes when Matthews is talking about Dr. Carson and the Academy of Achievement. He's saying there was also a guy there who was the first to climb Everest. The name of the guy seems to be eluding him.

Trump is a Bully

Says the man who tried to rush the stage in Ohio.

I was thinking that I could get up on stage and take his podium away from him and take his mic away from him....

Wait, who's the bully?

Violent Words in Politics

1. "If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun."
2. “I don’t want to quell anger. I think people are right to be angry. I’m angry.”
3. “I know they are gearing up for a fight as we speak. My message to them is this: so am I.”
4. “If you get hit, we will punch back twice as hard.”
5. "I want you to argue with them and get in their face."

1. Obama at a fundraiser in Philadelphia, June 2008
2. Obama, March 2009 talking about Wall Street bankers (after taking $16 million from Wall Street for his 2008 campaign - makes you think the rhetoric was just for the rubes)
3. Obama's radio and television address in February 2009
4. Obama's Chief of Staff Jim Messina speaking for the president to Senate Democrats, 2009
5. Obama at a rally in Las Vegas, September 2008

Stopping (Temporarily) Isn't Stumping

Chicago rally postponed.

Protesters, meanwhile, shouted “We shut s*** down” and “We stumped Trump.” Others chanted “Bernie” as supporters whipped out Bernie Sanders campaign signs.

Organizations got together to stop the rally (see the video at the :37 mark).

Trump's Hacked Voicemail

You won't believe what they found.

Anonymous wanted to find dirt on Trump after he said he would ban Muslims from entering the country. Instead they found messages from MSNBC hosts thanking him for charitable donations.

His Words, Not Mine

Kevin Swanson: "Yes, Romans chapter one, verse thirty-two, the Apostle Paul does say that homosexuals are worthy of death! His words, not mine!"

That was the man who introduced Ted Cruz at the National Religious Liberties Conference in Iowa in November. His views were known to Cruz before the conference - although Cruz said in an interview, "I don't know what this gentleman has said and what he hasn't said."

"What he hasn't said"? As if that's ever an issue. But, I don't know, Ted, maybe Google the guy before you attend a conference hosted by a religious extremist?

Donald Trump's Penis

NBC has the headline: Donald Trump Makes His Penis a Campaign Issue During Debate

First, Rubio began this all by saying that Trump had small hands and implying that meant he also has a small penis. I'm not sure why he would say that to begin with. Maybe he thinks penis size is important for the Republican nominee so it will contrast even more with the presumed Democratic nominee, Hillary. Or maybe he was just tired of getting schlonged.

The main point is, what about the debates are people talking about today? What's making headlines? Anything about policy? No, they're talking about Donald Trump's penis.

You Go First

A teen is in jail after shooting another teen in the head.

The shooting happened Monday, Feb. 1...when a group of teens were hanging out in front of an apartment talking about playing Russian Roulette with a semi-automatic handgun.

There are no empty chambers with a semi-automatic the way you could have with a revolver. If the gun is loaded, it will shoot when you pull the trigger.

Gang of 84

We the undersigned, members of the Republican national security community, represent a broad spectrum of opinion on America’s role in the world and what is necessary to keep us safe and prosperous. We have disagreed with one another on many issues, including the Iraq war and intervention in Syria. But we are united in our opposition to a Donald Trump presidency. 

Read the whole thing.

Loyal Republicans or establishment politicians who are afraid the gravy train will get run off the tracks by the Trump train?

Immunity for Clinton Email Staffer

The FBI and Department of Justice offered immunity to Bryan Pagliano, a former Clinton staffer who helped set up her email server. He had previously invoked the Fifth Amendment and refused to talk to  congressional investigators.

John Oliver Fixates on Donald Trump

I can't wait to see the show he devotes to trashing Hillary the same way. I won't hold my breath though. Last summer the HBO President of Programming, Michael Lombardo, hosted a fundraising party for Hillary Clinton. That makes me think that they have the kind of relationship that doesn't lead to one of them being trashed on a TV show.

Trump's Healthcare Reform Plan

1. Completely repeal Obamacare. Our elected representatives must eliminate the individual mandate. No person should be required to buy insurance unless he or she wants to.
2. Modify existing law that inhibits the sale of health insurance across state lines. As long as the plan purchased complies with state requirements, any vendor ought to be able to offer insurance in any state. By allowing full competition in this market, insurance costs will go down and consumer satisfaction will go up.
3. Allow individuals to fully deduct health insurance premium payments from their tax returns under the current tax system. Businesses are allowed to take these deductions so why wouldn’t Congress allow individuals the same exemptions? As we allow the free market to provide insurance coverage opportunities to companies and individuals, we must also make sure that no one slips through the cracks simply because they cannot afford insurance. We must review basic options for Medicaid and work with states to ensure that those who want healthcare coverage can have it.
4. Allow individuals to use Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). Contributions into HSAs should be tax-free and should be allowed to accumulate. These accounts would become part of the estate of the individual and could be passed on to heirs without fear of any death penalty. These plans should be particularly attractive to young people who are healthy and can afford high-deductible insurance plans. These funds can be used by any member of a family without penalty. The flexibility and security provided by HSAs will be of great benefit to all who participate.
5. Require price transparency from all healthcare providers, especially doctors and healthcare organizations like clinics and hospitals. Individuals should be able to shop to find the best prices for procedures, exams or any other medical-related procedure.
6. Block-grant Medicaid to the states. Nearly every state already offers benefits beyond what is required in the current Medicaid structure. The state governments know their people best and can manage the administration of Medicaid far better without federal overhead. States will have the incentives to seek out and eliminate fraud, waste and abuse to preserve our precious resources.
7. Remove barriers to entry into free markets for drug providers that offer safe, reliable and cheaper products. Congress will need the courage to step away from the special interests and do what is right for America. Though the pharmaceutical industry is in the private sector, drug companies provide a public service. Allowing consumers access to imported, safe and dependable drugs from overseas will bring more options to consumers.

Read the whole thing.

How To Avoid Being Deported

Don't make threats against presidential candidates. An Egyptian student living in the US is being deported after posting on Facebook, “I am willing to kill Donald Trump and serve a life sentence. The whole world would thank me for doing that."

In fact, don't make threats against anyone. When you have been given a visa to live in another country, you are a guest of that country and should behave the same way you would if you were a guest in someone's home. You treat your hosts (and their family and friends) with respect. You follow their way of doing things, even if it's different from the way you prefer. I know there are Americans who act like assholes when they're abroad - they need to learn manners too.

According to another source, he had been studying at a flight school, the Universal Air Academy. They say his deportation is because the US is paranoid about terrorism.

Trump is a Threat to American Democracy

So says Larry Summers.

What will a demagogue with a platform like Trump’s who ascends to the presidency do with control over the NSA, FBI and IRS?

We've already seen what using the IRS for political purposes looks like. Or when the NSA violates privacy laws. But now it will suddenly be worse, because, Trump.