Flap Your Lips Friday
Posted by Michelle Moquin on April 20th, 2012
Good morning!
Romney is socially inept.
Mitt Romney Asks If Pennsylvania Bakery’s Cookies Were Made At 7-Eleven
Mitt Romney drew some criticism during a campaign stop in Pennsylvania on Tuesday for comments he made about one bakery’s cookies.
According to CNN:
The small town stir began Tuesday at a community center event when Romney paused to take note of the desserts while sitting down at a picnic table.
“I’m not sure about these cookies. They don’t look like you made them,” Romney said to the woman sitting next to him. “No, no. They came from the local 7-eleven, bakery, or whatever.”
The cookies were actually donated to the event by Bethel Bakery, a popular local business. The comment quickly echoed through area news outlets and social media, according to the Wall Street Journal. Residents were not pleased.
The episode probably won’t help ease the image of Romney as an out-of-touch multimillionaire, a perception he has struggled to combat for years. Still, a bakery spokeswoman said she believed Romney’s comment was meant in good humor:
I’m sure he meant it all in jest and didn’t mean to slam a local bakery. It’s nothing that we want to get really upset about it, no reason to be angry. We’re just having fun with it.
The bakery’s owner, John Walsh, seemed less forgiving in an interview with WTAE:
“When I heard it, I thought, ‘Oh, my goodness. This guy has no idea how beloved this institution is that provided these cookies’ … We wanted him to be welcomed with the best in the burgh, and he had no idea.”
Walsh also quipped to the Wall Street Journal, “Let him eat cake next time,” linking Romney to Marie Antoinette yet again.
The bakery, for its part, is using the incident to drive sales, offering a “CookieGate” special where customers can buy a dozen of the stackable items to get a half-dozen on the house.
Readers: I don’t know. I saw that interview with the owner, John Walsh, on the Lawrence O’Donnell show. Although he said he was shocked he seemed pretty forgiving to me – The owner said, “The comment he made was, simple naive; an ice breaker. He (Romney) made a mistake and we would love to have him come back….” Hmm…
Helen: I wanted to respond to you. With respect to Glen’s apology and your opinion, I am going to change my mind and defer to you. I will accept his apology on the face of it. Of course I can’t talk for Zen Lill, but as far as I am concerned I can see that there is merit to giving the person the benefit of the doubt. With no other actions by him showing me to believe otherwise, I apologize.
Thank you Helen for standing up for your opinion. I like a strong woman who has a strong opinion. You additional comment backed up your first comment with something solid and logical. So thank you for getting on this girl.
Additionally, I might add, just because I don’t voice an opinion on everything Zen Lill says, doesn’t mean I agree with or disagree with her on everything she posts.
Correction 9:00 AM: I posted this morning and realized now that my choice of words were not sound. I meant to say that I cannot “speak” for Zen Lill. And that the apology was not made to me, therefore, ”I” cannot accept an apology for someone else. Please forgive my bad grammar. Additionally, Glen: I made a mistake. I am not making an excuse, but I realize my initial opinion may have been skewed and not well thought out before I posted it. Perhaps you felt somewhat the same way. Please forgive me.
Blog News:
For at least a week, starting today, I am going to be off-line with respect to my blog. I will most likely pre-post a weeks worth of blog entries ahead of time so they will automatically post on their scheduled day. I may or may not be able to read the comments. If you need to address me for any reason, please be patient, I will be responding after the 27th, unless of course, I feel the dire need to do so beforehand.
That being said, this will not affect any of you being able to comment “as usual”. I will miss you. I wish all of you a Beautiful Week and Happy Blogging!
Peace out.
Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)
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April 20th, 2012 at 7:00 am
Have a fun week, Mischa
Helen, my opinion as yesterdays’ explanation of glen and how I take apologies from someone like him still stands, I’m a strong girlZ also and I often disobey the commander : ) and I may/may not always agree with her either, sometimes I say it, sometimes I don’t. We are all entitled to our own opinions. I just love that we have this place to do that.
Mitt might want to sharpen his ‘know your audience’ skills before he speaks/spouts, he’s not that popular that he can have too many CookieGate events.
Luv, Zen Lill
April 20th, 2012 at 7:10 am
The way I see it is you are not going to give the man who you disagree with the benefit of the doubt. That is your right as the apology was made to you.
I hope in the future you will be as generous to women who have similar problems with men.
Michelle, thank you for recognizing there are second opinions other than Zen Lill”s.
I know that you are not taking sides and are merely acknowledging the existence of a difference of opinions.
Helens
April 20th, 2012 at 7:17 am
The Truth About Garlic
Here are the claims that you can trust…
Garlic is one of the most exhaustively researched herbs—the National Library of Medicine’s Web site lists more than 3,700 studies addressing garlic’s effect on everything from elevated cholesterol and various types of cancer to fungal infections.
So why is there still so much confusion about the health benefits of garlic?
Even though garlic has been used medicinally by some cultures for thousands of years, much of the contemporary research on garlic is mixed—some studies show that it has positive effects, while others indicate no significant benefits.
Here’s what the research shows…
HEART HEALTH
Over the years, scientists have investigated garlic’s ability to reduce cholesterol levels and blood pressure and act as an anticlotting agent to prevent blood platelets from being too sticky—a main cause of heart attack.
Key scientific finding: A recent meta-analysis in China looked at 26 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials—the “gold standard” in scientific research.
In that meta-analysis, researchers concluded that garlic reduces total cholesterol by 5.4% and triglyceride levels by 6.5% compared with a placebo.
Garlic powder and aged garlic extract were found to be the most effective at lowering total cholesterol, while garlic oil had a greater effect on lowering triglyceride levels.
When it comes to high blood pressure, some credible research shows that garlic can help lower it.
Important scientific findings: Two meta-analyses showed that garlic reduced systolic (top number) blood pressure by 8 mmHg to 16 mmHg and diastolic (bottom number) blood pressure by 7 mmHg to 9 mmHg in people with high blood pressure.
As for garlic’s antiplatelet effect—that is, its ability to make blood less sticky and therefore less prone to clotting—a meta-analysis of 10 trials showed a modest, but significant, decrease in platelet clumping with garlic treatment when compared with placebos in most of the studies.
Bottom line: Garlic does help reduce risk for cardiovascular disease, with positive effects on both total cholesterol and blood pressure.
It also has enough of an effect on clotting that I recommend patients discontinue garlic supplements seven to 10 days before surgery because it may prolong bleeding.
My advice: If you have a personal or family history of heart disease, ask your doctor about using garlic (in food or supplements) as part of a heart-healthy lifestyle. Be sure to consult your doctor first if you take a blood pressure or statin drug.
CANCER
Large population studies have shown that people who live in countries where a lot of garlic is eaten—as well as onions and chives—are at lower risk for certain cancers.
Key scientific findings: In China, high intake of garlic and other alliums, including onions, was associated with a reduced risk for esophageal and stomach cancers.
Specifically, the study found that people who ate alliums at least once a week had lower incidence of both forms of cancer than people who ate these foods less than once a month.
Meanwhile, the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition, which involves 10 different countries, found that higher intakes of garlic and onions lowered the risk for intestinal cancer.
My advice: If you are concerned about cancer—especially if you have a family history or other risk factors for stomach or esophageal cancer—include one to two cloves of garlic in your diet each day.
INFECTIONS
Historically, garlic has received attention as a potent antibacterial agent.
In 1858, Louis Pasteur touted garlic as an antibiotic. Garlic was later used in World War I and World War II as an antiseptic to prevent gangrene.
Bottom line: There have been few contemporary studies looking at the use of garlic to treat infections.
However, preliminary research suggests that it may reduce the frequency and duration of colds when taken for prevention and may speed the healing of a fungal infection or wart.
My advice: For most people, garlic is worth trying as a preventive/treatment for these infections (see options described below).
SHOULD YOU USE GARLIC?
It’s wise to make garlic part of a healthful diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fiber.
Caution: Consuming large quantities of garlic—either in the diet or as a supplement—may cause body odor and/or bad breath. Chewing a sprig of fresh green parsley, mint or cardamom can work as a breath freshener.
Hot tea also can help by rinsing away garlic oil still in your mouth. Drinking a glass of milk—full-fat or fat-free—may be effective as well. Garlic, especially on an empty stomach, can cause gastrointestinal upset and flatulence.
Because garlic may also interact with certain prescription drugs, such as warfarin (Coumadin), consult your doctor before significantly increasing your intake of the herb if you take any medication or have a chronic medical condition.
Options to consider…
Raw garlic. If you prefer raw garlic, try eating one or two cloves a day. You can chew and swallow it or use it in pesto, guacamole or a salad dressing.
Cooked garlic is less powerful medicinally—heat inactivates the enzyme that breaks down alliin, the chemical precursor to allicin.
Aged garlic extract (AGE). If you prefer liquid, AGE is available in this form, which is popular in Europe. Follow label instructions.
Powdered garlic supplements. These are typically sold as capsules or tablets and standardized to contain 1.3% alliin. They usually contain 300 mg. Typical dose: Two or three capsules or tablets a day.
FACTS ABOUT GARLIC
Garlic has been used since ancient times as a medicinal remedy.
It is a member of the allium family of plants, which also includes onions, chives and leeks. Garlic’s medicinal powers are attributed to its sulfur compounds, including a substance called allicin, which is formed when garlic is crushed or chopped.
Besides fresh cloves, garlic is available in supplement form made from fresh, dried, or freeze-dried garlic, garlic oil and aged garlic extracts.
Source: Ellen Tattelman, MD, director of the faculty development fellowship at the Residency Program in Social Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City.
She is an assistant professor of family and social medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, also in New York City, where she organizes the integrative medicine curriculum.
Dr. Tattelman specializes in a variety of integrative modalities, including herbal therapy and nutrition.
April 20th, 2012 at 11:19 am
Helen, that sounds like motherly advice, and I will take it as such.
Although I don’t ever remember a time on this blog where a man said ‘you’re dumb and probably an easy lay’ to another woman and I condoned the behavior, did I ever do that?
…let’s not misquote me and/or mix up my stances.
I give benefit of the doubt when I think it’s a tit for tat, or cheat for cheat or in situations where I believe people want to make bad behavior only male in origin (although let’s face it around the world men can be very bad, though not all men), if that offends the sensibilities of some of the women here (and it does, I know) then I will refrain from expressing those views, bc I think it’s a mass mentality situation, if you don’t agree or go along with the crowd, you’re dumb (or an easy lay) – and to that I will just simply say: yeah, sigh, ok…
& if Mischa wants to make what she said yesterday a mistake and take it back, that’s cool, although her original comment rang so true for how men often behave I must admit i am surprised by the turnaround (and not just bc it is in opposition to my opinion, though try to remember I accepted the apology with my personal caveat).
Luv, Zen Lill
April 20th, 2012 at 11:21 am
…it is also projection to think that because I comment frequently that I am the premiere ‘second opinion’ I most certainly am not and don’t even want the title : ) – ZL
April 20th, 2012 at 11:48 am
I found this on FB posted by a woman, telling everyone to do their research wisely…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2H0IaXCAz0
- ZL
April 20th, 2012 at 2:07 pm
It was a serious surprise to the fed’s boys; girls in Columbia want to be paid. Unlike American girls that is. And if you think that is bad, wait until American girls have all the rest of us buying their birth control. And you thought they are tramps now!
April 20th, 2012 at 2:08 pm
Funny, I would have thought the biggest scandal in the Secret Service’s history was letting Kennedy get assassinated. *shrugs*
April 20th, 2012 at 2:10 pm
Michelle you are truly a woman’s woman. Most on this blog can’t bring themselves to admit they are wrong without attempting to make mitigating circumstances.
You showed them how a real woman does it.
Jenny
April 20th, 2012 at 2:13 pm
So since most of these Secret Service men AND Supervisors have been with the organization for a decade or more how come it is President Obama’s fault?
He wasn’t even in Columbia when these guys went wild. I blame President Obama for NOT asking his administration to transfer ALL of the Bush appointees out of positions of authority and put HIS men in charge.
Then if something happened he would get the blame and rightly so.
How come the Secret Service were not scolded and reprimanded when the Bush girls were not kept from drunken brawls and running naked down Argentine hotel hallways.
I guess that’s cause it was a republican administration and the GOP think any thing a republican does is AOK.
April 20th, 2012 at 2:21 pm
When one talks about gall, it pales in comparison to that exhibited by STARK.
They openly take bribes, never recuse themselves from cases which they have questionable relationships with the litigants before the Court, brazenly write the majority opinions in some of the cases giving the victory to those who employ their relatives or even past employees of their own.
Justice Clarence Thomas (I shudder to even refer to him with that title) WROTE THE MAJORITY OPINION in favor of Monsanto basically giving them control over 85% of WORLD corn supply and 93% of the WORLD Soy bean supply.
What is the problem with that? Thomas was at one point an Attorney for Monsanto.
The crooks get bolder and bolder.
Robert, rt
April 20th, 2012 at 2:27 pm
The repubs will stop at nothing to attack anyone about anything. They are picking on Gwen Ifill, 1) b/c she is a woman, 2) she’s a black woman, and happens to have a large viewing base, 3) she’s a black woman who’s smarter than they are, and 4) they believe this organization is about Lesbians, Gays Bisexuals and Transvestites.
Other than women and blacks who are smarter than they are, they hate LGBTs more…regardless of race or intelligence.
I am a big fan of the PBS service. Take your trash elsewhere, and lay off PBS and the good people that do a great service for all of us.
Better yet, try to take lessons from the people of PBS and do some ‘serving’ yourselves. I’m tired of paying you for doing nothing except stonewalling and wasting our time and money, and just keeping dust off the chairs in Congress with your LGFN butts.
April 20th, 2012 at 2:31 pm
Michelle, the more I read you, the more I admire the thinking of American women.
Your logic is impeccable!
Michelle for President. I know I could not vote for you because I live in Poland, but I would move to campaign for you.
Love
Gabrjela
April 20th, 2012 at 2:32 pm
You can’t blame CONservatives,…it had all the elements they despise:
Healthcare, women, minorities, and Gays,…
Put a muslim and an unarmed Black kid in a “Hoodie” in the mix,…and they’d voted to invade the place, and playing “Catch Scratch Fever” to torture the attendees while they’re inside the place
April 20th, 2012 at 2:33 pm
For those of you thinking this is a non story: The Republicans have been trying to get rid of NPR and PBS since they have gotten clout in Congerss.
They watch for any perceived opportunity to attack. It just gives more fodder to the, “I told you so”, crowd of hate.
April 20th, 2012 at 2:36 pm
Democrats hope very much that Mitt Romney’s VP is not Marco Rubio.
It probably will be–and as the nation hears him speak as we in Florida have–they’ll all be impressed.
He’s a jewel.
April 20th, 2012 at 2:37 pm
What if Romney is so far ahead in the polls that he could choose Bozo the Clown and still beat Obama by 30 points? Could it happen? Absolutely.
The incumbent has accomplished absolutely nothing in four years, unless you consider plunging the nation into near-bankruptcy an accomplishment.
April 20th, 2012 at 2:39 pm
Romney WILL be a good, maybe a great, president. He is not a strict conservative, no matter what he says. He is a social moderate/lib.
He will not try to get Roe v. Wade taken off the books. I don’t think he cares one way or the other about gay marriage. His immigration policies will be moderate, too, after he is elected.
What he is is a strong family man with good moral values and an incredibly successful business career.
All the money that he inherited from his father, George, he donated to charity. He is a self-made millionaire.
What’s he guilty of? Being a successful, American capitalist? As a person who “turned around companies”, he is the perfect person to do the same for our country.
April 20th, 2012 at 2:50 pm
Mitt’s one and only idea is bash Obama. He cannot use the keeping us safe line used by McCain. He cannot say that Obama has not been fire tested internationally.
Romney the 2008 reject, the business man had learned that bashing Obama gets the crowds, he has learned that a message of what he will do is not needed.
In short his is a less screechy version of the GOP 2008 veep; he still has not risen to the level of the 2008 GOP candidate.
So, what will Romney poke at… national issues; here again he cannot go to far because while his backers – the vultureCaps and RobberBarons are still making money and dumping plenty in his pigfest he had to spend 7-10 to every 1 dollar that Rick Santorum spent to beat him.
Rick has the most extreme ideas of our generations and still gave the pathological liar all he could handle. Rick would have done even better if Romney’s big money friends had not bought off elections.
I have not even started on the flip flops; the attacks on women, the anti OTW immigration policies, and his insistence on protecting the wealth of the super rich.
His inability to take a stance against the words of Rush open the door and in stepped Ted Nugent.
Ms Ann birther bash; the list seems endless especially when including the Rand tax and Rubio bill and insulting the little guys like 7-11 and the baker that was generous to donate cookies.
Time and again this guy comes off as exactly what he is; our highest elected office is no more that a check on his bucket list.
April 20th, 2012 at 8:21 pm
I am a devout catholic, but what just went down shows that the catholic church is still the bastion of racists white boys they were when they looked the other way when the nazis murdered Jews and other OTWS.
The same racists when the looked the other way during the segregation and murder and torture of OTWs by american whites for 200 years.
Now they look the other way while one of their bishops compares Obama to Hitler. The white boy is truly the anti-christ posing as one of God’s human beings.
I just decided to not support our Bishops Annual Appeal anymore. They are going over the top with their anti-Obama nonsense.
Perhaps we will support the radical Nuns who really have a sense of reality not spiritual buffoonery.
April 21st, 2012 at 6:32 am
MW,
A self made millionaire?! I don’t think so. Romney’s deal with Mr. Bain, of Bain Capital, allowed Mitt to become a part of that organization without any risk to Mitt to include a massive pay structure, and job guarantee whether he was successful at the helm of Bain or not. That is not in any way a “self” made millionaire. He does care on way or another about gay marriage, and that way is whichever way the Koch’s or others tell him to care. He is a very weak human being without specific personal values whatsoever. His values change to whichever way the wind blows. He holds no compassion for people that are not in the top .05%. His arrogance is exemplary in his speech, his actions, and his body language…It is one thing to turn a company around for a profit, than it is to turn a country into a corporate profiteering center. That is not good governance, but simply playing to the 1%.
Get a clue.
April 21st, 2012 at 6:41 am
Liliana, the link I posted above is a ‘pro-life’ Christian ‘response’ to an Obama ad regarding women’s healthcare…now that’s hypocrisy and very leading in nature bc the right will do anything to discredit President Obama (including comparing him to Hitler). Try to remember how mass mentality works though, you only need 20% of people on your bandwagon and suddenly ‘groups’ of people make the leap, provide back up and sometimes without even questioning their own true beliefs. You can watch closely here and see it at times, it’s everywhere there’s a ‘group’ be vigilant about guarding what you believe in.
- ZL