Feb 24, 2014

CNN: Find Your Head and Put It On--Piers Morgan Bangs on but not on CNN


Piers Morgan Bangs On:  Apparently not on CNN

scenicroute  6 hours ago

My only real issue with Piers was that (like Bill Maher), he's not a qualified debater - he's an arguer. He talks over his quest's answers in a berating and demeaning way. This is not discussion, it's not debate and it's most certainly not an interview.

Can't believe your saying that about Bill.......as a dem Bill is a ball and chain for the party.  He is a gifted comedian but his insults were out of line...also he was a bully to Ms. Palin.  I don't agree with Sarah but she gets to talk just like Bill...In the long run he was more offensive.  Also, he is a grand self-promoter at others expense.  All the dems are so in love with Bill because he is funny but in reality he uses his humor as a ruthless weapon and, as you said, does not really debate.  Liked Piers, but still miss Larry.

George Strombo was a gifted interviewer........

Strombo was one of the best talk shows out there but they would not run it, instead, endless repeats of AC 360 and Piers......3 times each in one evening...over and over....couldn't they run Strombo once rather 3 of AC and PM.

That's where CNN made their giant mistake...CNN, find your head and put it on.


from the Wrap:


Piers Morgan CNN Show To End Its Run

Piers Morgan CNN Show To End Its Run
New York Times confirms Wrap report from January, saying the show was in trouble
“Piers Morgan Live” will be canceled after a three-year run in CNN’s 9 p.m. news hour, the network confirmed to TheWrap.
“It’s been a painful period and lately we have taken a bath in the ratings,” Morgan told David Carr of the New York Times, who reported that Piers Morgan Live will “probably” see its last episode air this March. Though CNN said no official end date for the show has been determined yet.
TheWrap reported exclusively last month that Morgan’s show was in trouble.
Carr wrote:
Mr. Morgan said that his show, along with much of the rest of CNN, had been imprisoned by the news cycle and that he was interested in doing fewer appearances to greater effect — big, major interviews that would be events in themselves. Although a change has long been rumored, it was the first time that both he, and the CNN executives I talked to, acknowledged that his nightly show was on the way out. Plans for a replacement at the 9 o’clock hour are still underway, but Mr. Morgan and the network are in talks about him remaining at CNN in a different role.
“Piers Morgan Live” has failed to deliver on ratings in the three years since the British host took over the format from Larry King.
CNN Worldwide President Jeff Zucker has acknowledged multiple times that primetime needs a lot of work, and the ratings-challenged Morgan was a likely target. Morgan damaged himself by taking a strong partisan position against guns during his yearlong coverage of the gun debate, according to network insiders.
For the week of Jan. 6, MSNBC’s “Rachel Maddow Show” topped the time slot with 325,000 viewers in the coveted 25-54 news demographic, while Fox News’ “The Kelly File,” drew 305,000, and “Piers Morgan Tonight,” had 159,000, according to Nielsen.
Morgan’s show has averaged less than half a million total viewers in recent weeks, while competitors draw closer to 1 million, more on par with predecessor Larry King.
Zucker has acknowledged multiple times that primetime needs a lot of work. The view from inside the network is that Morgan damaged himself by taking a strong partisan position against guns during his yearlong coverage of the gun debate.
Morgan acknowledged as much in his comments to Carr: “Look, I am a British guy debating American cultural issues, including guns, which has been very polarizing, and there is no doubt that there are many in the audience who are tired of me banging on about it,” he said. “That’s run its course and Jeff and I have been talking for some time about different ways of using me.”

Feb 23, 2014

The Dalai Lama and Jerry Brown: Two Cool Dudes--Good Job, Jerry, and Thank You for Your Good Work





Liked · 5 minutes ago 

With His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama who is speaking in San Francisco on the nature of mind.


from facebook

Thanks, Jerry, for doing a good job for our state.

Pasta Puttanesca with Gorgonzola Garlic Bread: re-blogging from Thibeault's Table

"Recipes are meant to be shared"...Ann Thibeault

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Pasta Puttanesca with Gorgonzola Garlic Bread

This is our favourite garlic bread.

Lots of butter and garlic and Gorgonzola cheese to put it over the top.


Served with Pasta Puttanesca.
One of the easiest pastas to make.

Pasta Puttanesca

This is one of those sauces that you don't really need an exact recipe for. Made to personal taste.

olive oil
5 or 6 Anchovies, chopped
2 large cloves of garlic, minced
Large can of quality Italian tomatoes, coarsely chopped
salt and pepper
oregano (fresh or dried)
Chili pepper (Optional)
Black olives Green Olives
Note:  Capers are traditional in Puttanesca, but I don't care for capers so I sub in green olives.
Fresh Basil
Heat 2 or 3 tablespoons olive oil. Add chopped anchovies and cook over medium heat until the anchovies break up.  Add the garlic, cook for another minute.  Add the tomatoes and a little oregano. Season with salt and pepper.  Simmer for about 10 minutes and then add the  olives (capers if using) and continue to cook until sauce has thickened, about ten minutes. Tear basil and add to sauce and serve immediately with your choice of long pasta.



Italian Bread with Gorgonzola

Long loaf of Italian Bread or long crusty rolls.

1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup Gorgonzola cheese
1 to 2 cloves garlic
Parsley
Salt
Pepper
Fresh grated Parmesan cheese

Optional: Basil or Oregano

Cream the butter with the Gorgonzola cheese.

Mince garlic and add to cheese mixture.  Add chopped parsley, and
season with salt and pepper.

If using the basil or the oregano add now as well.

Leave loaf whole, but cut slices so that the loaf stays together. 
Spread cheese mixture in between each slice and reshape loaf. Sprinkle
top of loaf with Parmesan cheese and wrap in foil.  Place in 400°F oven
for 10 or 15 minutes and serve hot.

Feb 22, 2014

my chanel purse: is it real?

right, this was a gift......

what do you think?






from the facebook page of my girl Greta Van Susteren--the beautiful but lazy kitty







I would be ashamed if I were THIS lazy. I got up this morning…built a fire because I was cold…and then started daily chores (which, of course, including feeding the cats and the dogs.) When I returned to the fire to get warm, I was stunned – there was Mike. Mike is so lazy that I was absolutely speechless. He looked at me...and I decided to snap a pic with my ipad to show how lazy he is and he happened to yawn. Then he put his head down and went back to sleep. At least, while I am working around the house he could do something constructive - like check for mice or something. And if you look close in the yawning pic, he is actually sleeping next to / on a bag of cat treats. He is so lazy…

from the facebook page of my girl Greta Van.....

Hot Number Alan Rickman: I could listen to him talk all day--Happy B Day



File under:  British actors with sexy voices.

Happy 68th Birthday to Alan Rickman who was born on this day in 1946. What's your favorite Alan Rickman role?

from anglotopia

Ronald gives a thumbs up to United's new Pit Bull rule

Pit Bulls, Other Breeds No Longer Banned on United

May 9, 2012 11:52am
ht jesse huart jp 120509 wblog Pit Bulls, Other Breeds No Longer Banned on United
Jessie Huart and her dog, Slaw, a pit bull mix. (Courtesy Jessie Huart)
An online campaign to lift a ban on certain breeds of dogs on United Airlines has succeeded.  A total of nine breeds, including pit bulls, had previously been banished from the airline.
The banned breeds (and breed mixes) were  pit bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers, preso canario, perro de presa Canario, dogo Argentino, cane Corso, fila Brasileiro, Tosa (or Tosa Ken) and ca de bou.
The effort to lift the ban on the breeds began when Jessie Huart was making plans to move from Hawaii back to the mainland in December 2011. When she and her dog, Slaw, a pit bull mix, had moved to Hawaii, they flew on United. That was before United had adopted Continental’s  Pet Safe  program as part of the carriers’ merger.
“I had heard great things about Pet Safe and was making plans to fly on Continental. But then I saw that pit bulls were on the banned breed list,” Huart said. She filled out an email form online and then made reservations on another airline. But in late January, she recounted the story to a friend who suggested she start a petition on Change.org, the same site that got Bank of America to lift its proposed debit card fees. She did, with the goal of getting 1,000 signatures.
Nearly 46,000 signatures later, Huart is “thrilled” the airline has changed its policy. She believes dogs should be judged individually, not on breed. “To have a major airline like United repeal a breed-specific ban is so huge,” she said. She hopes legislators will see what United has done and reconsider laws that she believes discriminate against certain breeds.
“As a result of feedback, United will now accept previously restricted breeds of dogs traveling in a nonplastic, reinforced crate meeting International Air Transport Association Container Requirement #82. All IATA Container Requirements can be found on IATA.org. Information on breeds and other policies can be found on united.com, “ United Airlines said in a statement to ABCNews.com.
Will she fly on United again? “Absolutely,” she said. “I was a frequent flier on United, and I’m looking forward to flying them again.”
from abcnews
Ronnie

Ronald is in favor of United's new rule:

"You know, I've given it a lot of thought, and for me, the new rule seems like it could be a winner."

"It just makes sense."

"Now, when we want to get out of town, we have options just like every one else; we are no longer just bound to the car.  If it takes a law to stop the discrimination, I'm all for it."

Thanks, Ronnie, for telling us your thoughts as every one was waiting to hear your opinion on this very important issue.