ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES

Senator Charles Schumer has been widely quoted as saying something along the lines that if a supreme court justice nominee cannot get the 60 votes needed for confirmation, the nominee should be changed, not the rules.

Apparently Democrats DID NOT feel this way when the last president was nominating lower court judges who could not get 60 votes in the Senate. At that time, it was NOT deemed prudent to change the nominee, but to change the rules. 

Changing the rules for a Supreme Court nominee to a simple majority is the 'so-called' nuclear option. 

Our last president very famously said that "Elections have consequences." Can't argue with that.  So my question for Senator Charles Schumer and the rest of the Democrat Senators: When did election stop having consequences?  (follow-up question - Do elections only have consequences if the Democrats win?)

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Your Food Diary For:

Sunday, April 2, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Essential Everyday - Butter Flavored Grits	500	105	5	10	1,700	5
Kirkland - Pre-Cooked Bacon	200	0	15	15	875	0
	700	105	20	25	2,575	5
L U N C H
Costco - Cheese Pizza Slice	350	35	14	22	685	4
Vita Coco - Pure Coconut Water	90	22	0	0	90	22
Fresh Express - Asian Chopped Salad	360	42	18	6	1,050	21
	800	99	32	28	1,825	47
D I N N E R
Fajita - Chicken Wraps	900	89	23	81	0	0
	900	89	23	81	0	0
S N A C K S
Lucerne - Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwich	300	48	10	4	260	24
	300	48	10	4	260	24
Totals	2,700	341	85	138	4,660	76
Your Daily Goal	2,173	271	72	109	2,300	81
Remaining	-527	-70	-13	-29	-2,360	5
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g

       Your Exercise Diary for:

Sunday, April 2, 2017

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
TREADMILL WALKING 4.7mph	99	454
Daily Total / Goal	99 / 30	454 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	366 / 210	4,304 / 4,130

I sincerely need some bonafide spring weather. Since, I have little patience for walking outside in blustery damp conditions, I spent some time on the treadmill yesterday.... My speed was only 3.7mph and I did not incline at all, but at least I was at it for 99 minutes and I traveled 6.13 imaginary miles.

SUPREMELY BAD CHOICE

Today is Tuesday, January 31st and President Trump is expected to make an announcement regarding his choice for the vacancy on the Supreme Court at 8PM Eastern Time. I am very hopeful that his choice will be a jurist who understands and respects the United States Constitution. I am very hopeful that his choice will be politically conservative. I am even hopeful that his choice will be a young man or woman, so that they can serve for many years. One thing is certain. If the choice is good, the left in this country will go absolutely bonkers. They will claim what they always claim. This candidate is outside the 'mainstream.' Mainstream is apparently defined as leftist. The candidate is likely to be called a far-right winger or perhaps a member of the 'alt-right' (whatever the heck that is).  It is certainly likely that the candidate will be called anti-union, anti-black or anti-gay,  It usually does not matter what the facts are. It is important that the left paint the nominee as the worst person ever.  Another thing is certain. The louder the lefties scream about this candidate, the more likely I am to approve of the candidate. Tonight when this nominee is announced, I hope the left is enraged. If they are not enraged, I likely will be. 

If the nominee is a supremely bad choice from the perspective of the leftists, it will be true that Donald Trump will have saved the Supreme Court which was hanging together by a lone fraying thread prior to election day last November.

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Your Food Diary For:

Monday, January 30, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Essential Everyday - Butter Flavored Grits	400	84	4	8	1,360	4
	400	84	4	8	1,360	4
L U N C H
Subway - Turkey Sub Sandwich	560	92	7	36	1,620	14
Sun Chips - Veggie Harvest - Tomato, Basil & Cheese	200	28	9	4	190	4
	760	120	16	40	1,810	18
D I N N E R
Garden Salad	300	18	0	11	1,200	11
Pot Roast, Beef	500	0	32	50	79	0
	800	18	32	61	1,279	11
S N A C K S
Lou Malnatis - Pepperoni Pizza, 1 slice	540	38	32	25	670	2
	540	38	32	25	670	2
Totals	2,500	260	84	134	5,119	35
Your Daily Goal	1,991	249	66	100	2,300	74
Remaining	-509	-11	-18	-34	-2,819	39
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g

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SHORT LIVED RELIEF FROM A NIGHTMARE

I had been napping on Saturday afternoon with the TV on. I dreamt that Justice Antonin Scalia had passed away. I remember thinking, that this was extremely bad news for the conservative movement and amazingly bad news for America. I was still dreaming, when I dreamt that I had woken up and that this was not true. What a nightmare I thought. It was a great relief. Sadly, my dream actually ended when I really did wake up and learned that this news was true. I hope that what Senator Mitch McConnell said is true: that the next Supreme Court justice will be picked by the next President of the United States. God help us if that President is Hillary Clinton or self-described socialist, and full-time looney tune, Bernie Sanders. God help us if it is Donald Trump.  Trump has already indicated that he thinks his own sister would be a worthy selection. God Help us if Jeb Bush should get (somehow) elected. The Bush family does not always have a good track record with these things [Justice David Souter, Justice (Obamacare penalty is a tax, except when it is not, but it sometimes is a fine, except when it is not a fine - but a tax) John Roberts].  There is only one man who can be trusTED to make this selection.  His last name is CRUZ. Antonin Scalia was a national treasure. His opinions will be read for decades to come - that is, if we can hold onto this Republic which increasingly is sliding into fascism by the lefties who love diversity of skin color and HATE DIVERSITY OF THOUGHT.  

Justice Antonin Scalia, National Treasure
INTELLECTUAL GIANT, NEVER REALLY LOOKED LIKE A FITNESS ENTHUSIAST

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Saturday that the Senate should wait until a new president is elected to confirm a replacement for Justice Antonin Scalia, whose sudden death Saturday shook Washington and threatened to reshape the 2016 presidential race. 

Democrats said that with 11 months left in President Obama’s tenure, the Senate has enough time — and indeed an obligation — to confirm a replacement. Sen. Harry Reid, the top Democrat in the chamber, said it would be “shameful” to put off a replacement that long.

I am hoping that Mitch McConnell has the 'marbles' needed to make good on this statement. Regarding what Harry Reid said would be shameful. Harry Reid himself is shameful.  I am still waiting for him to explain who told him that Romney failed to pay his income taxes. When has Reid apologized for that shameful lie? 

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Your Food Diary For:

Sunday, February 14, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Hyvee - Apples & Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal	520	108	6	12	640	36
	520	108	6	12	640	36
L U N C H
Starbucks - Reduced Fat Turkey Bacon, 1 Sandwich	230	28	6	13	560	3
Campbell's Chunky - Manhattan Clam Chowder	240	36	6	10	1,600	6
	470	64	12	23	2,160	9
D I N N E R
Sweet Peas (canned)	315	56	0	14	1,015	14
Whole Corn (canned)	315	63	4	11	1,015	14
Oberto - Original Beef Jerky, All Natural	480	36	6	78	2,460	30
	1,110	155	10	103	4,490	58
S N A C K S
Roundy's - Honey Nut Tasteeos	440	88	6	8	560	36
General Mills - Nature Valley - Oats 'n Honey Crunchy Granola Bar, 2 bars	190	29	6	4	160	12
	630	117	12	12	720	48
Totals	2,730	444	40	150	8,010	151
Your Daily Goal	3,889	486	129	195	2,300	145
Remaining	1,159	42	89	45	-5,710	-6
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 1,959 extra calories from exercise today

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       Your Exercise Diary for:

Sunday, February 14, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
STAR TRAC ELLIPTICAL	50	1,028
STAR TRAC ELLIPTICAL	50	1,050
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	-119
Daily Total / Goal	101 / 30	1,959 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	766 / 210	13,549 / 4,130

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total calories consumed 2730 calories

total calories burned (elliptical) 2078 calories

total net 652 calories

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fitbit day 161

15356 steps  

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CHINATOWN

CHINATOWN.  It had appeared that my daughter had nixed the idea of seeking a Chinese Restaurant to visit on  Christmas Day.  However, I was successful in 'selling' the idea to my family that not only should we go to a Chinese Restaurant, and not only should we go to Chicago's Chinatown to find a restaurant, but we should also walk there and back.  And that is precisely what we did.  What could be more Jewish than a family having dinner in Chinatown on Christmas Day?  (I will skip asking my Chabad Rabbi friend this question as yesterday was the Shabbat - and it is highly likely that he might think it would have even been more Jewish to go to Friday Night Services!)

There i am standing in the middle of the street under the iconic 'Welcome to Chinatown' sign

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From our home to Chinatown, we walked 5 miles and the trip took only 80 minutes.  The trip home was accomplished at a slower rate.  That route was 6.25 miles and the trip took 124 minutes.  No matter how you slice it, walking is a healthy pursuit at any speed.  I was very happy that not only did I encourage my wife and daughter to eschew the subway for the return trip, but that it did not take a great deal of effort on my part for everyone to the conclusion that walking would be a healthier, more rewarding, preferable mode of travel.  The interesting thing about walking to Chinatown is that before we started our urban hike, I did have to check a map to find out precisely how to get there... It turns out that it is practically a straight line south from our home.  The more that I walk around and through the city of Chicago, the smaller an more intimate the city appears.  

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THE CHINESE RESTAURANT
LITTLE LAMB

LITTLE LAMB.  MONGOLIAN CUISINE, HOT POT, BARBEQUE, NOODLES

THIS WAS THE HOT POT THAT WAS ON A BURNER IN THE CENTER OF OUR TABLE.  IT WAS IN  THAT COOKED OUR FOOD

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Your Food Diary For:

Friday, December 25, 2015

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Malt O Meal - Honey Nut Scooters, 120 g	480	96	6	12	840	36
	480	96	6	12	840	36
L U N C H
Campbells Home Style Soup - Italian Wedding Soup, 2 cup	200	26	5	12	820	8
libby's - Sweet Corn, 1.75 cup	210	32	5	7	700	25
fresh express - Baby spiniach, 3 cups	20	3	0	2	65	0
Kroger - Stuffed Scallop, 1 shell	200	17	11	9	550	2
	630	78	21	30	2,135	35
D I N N E R CHINATOWN CHINESE HOT POT DINNER
Shrimp - Raw, 5 medium	32	0	1	6	44	0
Crab Salad - Imitation Crab, Deli, 0.25 cup	56	5	1	7	170	1
White Rice - White Rice, 1 cup	205	44	0	1	0	0
Generic - Chinese Almond Cookie, 1 cookie	100	11	6	1	20	0
Wegmans - Deli Roast Beef, 6 oz (aprox.4 slices)	180	0	6	30	690	0
Mollusks, mussel, blue, raw, 0.5 cup	65	3	2	9	215	0
Kind Fruit & Nut Bar - Nut Delight, 1 Bar	200	17	13	6	10	9
	838	80	28	60	1,149	10
S N A C K S
365 Everyday Value - Organic Dried Mango, 40 g	110	26	0	1	0	21
Lindt Lindor - Milk Chocolate Truffle (Updated 12/13/2015), 6 balls	450	33	36	3	75	30
Ghiradelli - Intense Dark Cherry Tango, 10 piece	600	73	40	7	0	56
	1,160	132	76	11	75	107
Totals	3,108	385	131	113	4,199	187
Your Daily Goal	5,779	722	192	289	2,300	216
Remaining	2,671	336	61	176	-1,898	29
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 3,849 extra calories from exercise today

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Your Exercise Diary for:

Friday, December 25, 2015

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
STAR TRAC ELLIPTICAL	92	1,696
TREADMILL WALKING 4.7mph	13	125
Walking, 3.5 mph, brisk pace	81	796
Walking, 3.0 mph, mod. pace, walking dog	124	940
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	292
Daily Total / Goal	311 / 30	3,849 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	1213 / 210	17,143 / 4,130

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total calories consumed 3108 calories

total calories (92 minutes elliptical, walking) 3557 calories

total net calories 449 calorie deficit

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fitbit day 114

36001 steps

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Long before the decision was made to walk back and forth to and from Chinatown, I had already logged my traditional daily workout.  In the morning, I spent 92 minutes on the elliptical machine and before I left the fitness room, I hopped onto the treadmill for a quick one mile session at 4.7 mph.  This was only a 13 minute addition to my workout.

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This is from the 'About Us' page on the website for Little Lamb Restaurant

Our Mongolian Herbal Broth comes from an ancient legend…

In the time of the Nomads, there lived a Monk who traveled with Mongolian armies in the Chile Valley, northern part of China. He was highly respected because of his extensive knowledge of medicine and astrology, as well as his leadership and ability to care for injured soldiers.

Proficient in Tibetan and Mongolian medicine, he made a broth from lamb with special herbs for the soldiers. Not only did it taste delicious, it greatly strengthened the soldier’s bodies and helped them conquered the world. Later on, the recipe became popular among Nomads in the area. Since that time, his hotpot broth has been a favorite of the Mongolian people and has been respected as a “sacred” soup for thousands of years.

Our recipe for Hotpot Broth inherited from the Sacred Broth. It embodies traditional Chinese cooking methods based on nutrition, using Chinese herbs such as astragalus, liquorice, desert cistanche, sand- shallot seeds, and others to enhance the flavor and rejuvenate the body.

As you savor our broth, we hope you taste the rich flavors of China’s ancient heritage and are filled with the strength of the nomadic warriors. Enjoy!

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JEWS AND CHINESE FOOD ON CHRISTMAS DAY

from theatlantic.com

If there’s a single identifiable moment when Jewish Christmas—the annual American tradition where Jews overindulge on Chinese food on December 25—transitioned from kitsch into codified custom, it was during Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan’s 2010 confirmation hearing.During an otherwise tense series of exchanges, Senator Lindsey Graham paused to ask Kagan where she had spent the previous Christmas. To great laughter, she replied:  “You know, like all Jews, I was probably at a Chinese restaurant.”Never willing to let a moment pass without remark, Senator Chuck Schumer jumped in to explain, “If I might, no other restaurants are open.”

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216.5 lbs

I weigh 216.5 lbs.

I allegedly lost 1.5 lb this week?

C'mon....my doctor weighed me on his $2000+ scale this week and with clothes on and I only weighed 213 lbs... So what gives?  I do not know.  Water weight?  Perhaps I ate too much too late last evening?  It matters not.... It is crystal clear that everything that I own that is supposed to fit still fits... I can not be driven crazy by my wildly fluctuating weigh-ins at home.  Nevertheless, I will continue to weigh myself weekly (at least) and on January 1, 2016 I am going to weigh myself and use that as my baseline for my weight loss goals going forward... I am going to partially 'retire' the fact that the journey started at 309 lbs on December 24, 2014.  Since that person no longer exists, and that person will never again exist, it is seemingly becoming more and more pointless to have my current weight compared to the weight of that person...  

I have lost 92.5 lbs in 367 days. Today begins Day 368.

I will always be at the beginning of a journey that never ends.

I weigh 216.5 lbs (367 days ago I weighed 309 lbs)

I have lost 29.9% of my weight since Dec 24.

I have a BMI, body mass index of 28.96

I had a 42.0 BMI on Dec 24 just 353 days ago (Class III obesity)