And Congress said - 'Let there be light'

'The shutdown-averting budget bill will block federal light bulb efficiency standards, giving a win to House Republicans fighting the so-called ban on incandescent light bulbs'.

'GOP and Democratic sources tell POLITICO the final omnibus bill includes a rider defunding the Energy Department's standards for traditional incandescent light bulbs to be 30 percent more energy efficient'.

'DOE's light bulb rules — authorized under a 2007 energy law authored signed by President George W. Bush — would start going into effect Jan. 1. The rider will prevent DOE from implementing the rules through Sept. 30'.
From : http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1211/70534.html

This is one of the things I wasn't looking forward to. Replacing cheap incandescent bulds with very not so cheap CFL's of LED's. I've spent the last year stockpiling so I've got a 1-2 year supply of the cheap bulds and since I get my Natural Gas via Avista NOT my electricity, Avista isn't going to send me 7 CFL's.

Yes we all need to help in 'saving the Planet' yada, yada, yada BUT! when we are so use to getting a 4 pk of incandescents for a dollar and then having to go to a single CFL for $4-$5. Come on man!

Sunday picks on Wednesday for Thursday

Week 15

Good breakdown here http://espn.go.com/nfl/standings/_/type/playoffs/sort/conferenceRank/order/false as to who's gotta do what, when and why to get where.

THU, DEC 15..Kane....
Jack v Atl...Atl
Atlanta hasn't cinched yet and who knows which team Jacksonville will bring. I'm going with the team that's got something to play for.

SAT, DEC 17

Dal v. T.B...T.B.
Why not?

SUN, DEC 18

Sea v. Chi...Chi
Seattle is NOT Denver and Chicago should handle them.

Car v.Hou....Hou
Houston has cinched so good time to srat resting/healing up as much as possible.

Wash v. NYG..NYG
Still playing for position. Good Buddha I really hatge the NFC East!!!!

Mia v. Buff..Mia
I always like the odds when you have a new coach.

N.O. v. Minn.N.O.
N.O. are playing poorly but good time to start tuning up for a run.

Cin v. StL...Cin

Tenn v. Indy.Tenn
Hoping Locker starts and plays the whoule game. 

G.B. v K.C...G.B.
And here's the exception to the 'new coach' rule.

Det v. Oak...Oak
Who wants it more........

N.E. v. Den..Den
GAME OF THE WEEK!

NYJ v Phil...NYJ

Cle v Ari....Ari

Balt v S.D...Balt

MON, DEC 19 

Pitt v S.F...Pitt
San Fran has lost a couple of games they shouldn't.

The raise of Ron after the sagging of Newt

This could very well be the 9th 'new front runner' in almost as many months for the GOP.

Beginning in March, Huckabee, Palin and Romney traded places for several months. Then The Donald rose breifly in May. Then Bachmann. Then Perry. Then Cain. Then Newt and now - but not quite lastly - Ron Paul. And if Jon Huntsman could win in Hew Hampshire? Who knows?

Actually Romney, Hunstman and Paul have been and are the only serious candidates. It's been less about the GOP having a Republican Primary run and more about seeing howq many clowns can fit into the race.

'A new Public Policy Polling survey in Iowa shows Newt Gingrich clinging to the lead in the GOP presidential race with 22%, followed by Ron Paul at 21% and Mitt Romney at 16%'.

'Key findings: "Gingrich has dropped 5 points in the last week and he's also seen a significant decline in his favorability numbers... The attacks on him appear to be taking a heavy toll... Paul meanwhile has seen a big increase in his popularity... There are a lot of parallels between Paul's strength in Iowa and Barack Obama's in 2008 -- he's doing well with new voters, young voters, and non-Republican voters'."
From : http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/12/13/paul_surges_in_iowa.html

'What's the difference between Newt Gingrich and God'?

'God doesn't think he's Newt Gingrich'.

A great article here http://www.perrspectives.com/blog/archives/002348.htm.

Mitt to Christine - 'Please don't endorse me again'

'"That's one of the things that I like about him -- because he's been consistent since he changed his mind."
-- Christine O'Donnell, quoted by Politico, on her endorsement of Mitt Romney.
From : http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/12/14/bonus_quote_of_the_day.html

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Gingrich

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcV4EaSElfw

(GRINS!)

Newt on pot

The ultimate Newt : 'Gingrich would explain his shift in position in an interview with journalist Hilary Stout in 1996'.

“See, when I smoked pot it was illegal, but not immoral. Now, it is illegal AND immoral. The law didn't change, only the morality… That's why you get to go to jail and I don't.”
'August 8, 1996, Wall Street Journal'

We all may want to start smoking (if we aren't already) if this lovable guy gets elected.

'H.R. 4170: Drug Importer Death Penalty Act of 1996'

'104th Congress: 1995-1996'

'To provide a sentence of death for certain importations of significant quantities of controlled substances'.

'Sponsor: Rep. Newton Leroy Gingrich [R-GA6]'
From : http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h104-4170

And just how much are 'significant quantities of controlled substances'?

'a proscribed quantity of a mixture or substance containing a controlled substance in an amount the Attorney General has determined is equal to 100 usual dosage amounts'.
From : http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h104-4170&tab=summary

About 2 Ounces.

A great read :
http://www.november.org/razorwire/rzold/05/0526.