graham ....

You are about as well grounded in reality as anyone in here could possibly be ....

And probably more than most ...

AND ....

You are also from New York City, while most of us or all of us are not ....

So you have seen a thing or two in your life while maybe some of us have not ....

And on top of that, being a LIBERAL, you are a sensitive person ...

So tell us ....

WHAT THE HECK IS UP WITH THIS:

"Cops: Mass. couple beat man at KFC over slow order - Police say Mass. couple beat man at KFC after complaining of slow order"

Associated Press

Last updated: 9:45 p.m., Friday, October 2, 2009

NORWELL, Mass. -- Authorities say a couple, upset over the slowness of their Kentucky Fried Chicken order, assaulted a man who asked them to stop yelling profanities for the sake of children in line.

The couple was arrested Thursday after witnesses told police the couple beat the man as he was leaving the restaurant.

Police say 31-year-old Jared Garfagna of Marshfield punched the man in the head, and then Garfagna's girlfriend, 24-year-old Sara Mohn, kicked the man.

The victim had cuts on his eyelid and wrists.

Mohn has been charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

Garfagna has been ordered to appear in court on assault and battery charges.

It's unclear whether either has hired an attorney.

------

Information from: The Patriot Ledger, http://www.patriotledger.com

WHY is Kentucky Fried chicken slow with their order delivery, graham?

Do you think that it is an intentional work slow-down on the part of the employees to protest something or other?

Or is it that they are just slow?

I mean, you can't just fry a chicken in like ten or twenty seconds, can you?

It would seem to need at least a minute or so, I would think ....

I know I worked at McDonald's way back when, in the 60's, actually, when I was young, and I was cooking hamburgers and they took at least a minute or so to cook ....

So how long for fried chicken?

And so ...

And then, there is this one, graham ....

I know that you are always saying that some days, it don't pay to get out of bed, and this could be one of those cases ....

And there is a lot of irony in this story as well, isn't there?

Which just goes to show the NY TIMES is full of it when they say that irony is dead ....

And talk about the gun violence, graham ....

If guns had been outlawed back when you wanted them to have been, this dude wouldn't have been shot in the hand, most likely anyway ....

Which just goes to show you ....

And so ...

"Beaten Ohio man is shot during self-defense lesson - Ohio man beaten during break-in is accidentally shot 4 days later during self-defense lesson"

Associated Press

Last updated: 2:45 a.m., Saturday, October 3, 2009

GROVEPORT, Ohio -- An 80-year-old Ohio man is recovering from a week in which he was beaten during a home invasion and then shot while trying to learn about guns.

Ralph Needs says he wouldn't want anyone to experience what he's been through.

He was tied up and pistol-whipped when at least three intruders broke into his Columbus-area home Sept. 20.

Needs' nose was broken and his pickup truck, a computer and credit cards were stolen.

Four days later, Needs was shot in the hand during a self-defense lesson.

A 9 mm pistol went off as one of his sons was loading it.

Groveport police say it was an accident, so there will be no charges.

No one has been arrested in the assault, but one person was charged in connection with the stolen computer, now recovered.

------

Information from: The Columbus Dispatch, http://www.dispatch.com

I don't eat at KFC myself, so I am like totally clueless as to how long you should have to wait for a fried chicken from there ....

And I am not afraid to admit that here on live internet ....

I mean, well, it is the truth ....

And this is the last place on earth or in CYBERSPACE where we should feel afraid or reluctant to speak the truth ...

And so ...

The world is getting too complicated, graham ....

How are us mere mortals to stand it?

And so ...

I went to a KFC when I was younger and they were out of chicken. I've never stopped chuckling every time I think about that.

I'm chuckling now, heart ....

Soooo ....

Did you go berserko?

Or did you go across the street and get a BIG MAC?

And so ....

I went berserk if I remember correctly, but eventually I just started laughing and couldn't stop....so no one got hurt....just a bit red faced!

Did they at least have water?

Or an idea when they might get some more chicken in?

I mean, they do advertise chicken there ....

So you would think ....

Well, okay .....

And so ...

That sounds like a scene for graham's upcoming movie about life in America ....

Seinfeld had a show about nothing, while graham is going to have a movie about something, so nobody will confuse the two and think they are the same ...

Who would you like to play you?

Meryl Streep, perhaps?

And so ...

No, that movie would require the same actress that's in my avatar - Helena Bonham Carter looking just as puzzled as I usually look

hey livyjr- I have 3 KFC stories

#1
just a few weeks ago I pull into the drivethru, as I ordered only sides for some friends/family
(didn't order any chicken as we had a main course already at home waiting)
ordered
2 mac/cheese
2 mashed potatoes
2 beans
2 sweet corn
2 corn cob
we get it and go out and we are about to enter the well traveled road we were going on, when we heard something banging on our trunk

the guy inside said Hey Mister, we forgot to put your two corn on cobs in your bag
and this wonderful guy (and coincidentally he was a black guy around 18), and he was sweating from having run hard and fast said I will run in and get it...

what a wonderful world we live in in New Jersey USA...

thats story #1 about KFC

You should have a cameo appearance in that segment of the movie is my thought, heart ...

Maybe you could play the part of the KFC counter person who has to tell yourself (as portrayed by Helena Bonham Carter) that even though it is a Kentucky Fried Chicken place, you don't have no chicken, but how about some sushi and a grande latte ....

And so ...

WHOA!

graham ....

HOW did the dude get inside your trunk?

When did that happen?

Was he already in there when you got there?

Was he hitchhiking and you didn't have room in the car for him?

And so ...

And graham ....

What about this above here?

What is the difference between the sweet corn and the corn on the cob?

Are they serving cow corn down there in addition to sweet corn?

Or are they selling just the cobs, like a la carte, so if you want corn on the cob, you have to buy an order of just the corn along with a purchase of a cob to go along with it?

This would make a great scene in a Jack Nicholson movie, graham ....

And so ....

that's funny!

the sweet corn is corn in a butter sauce (just te niblets)

corn on the cob is as says

Thanks for de-stressing us in here by clarifying that, graham ....

Is it possible that there are now too many choices in life, graham?

Although I would agree with you that corn can be served off the cob in a butter sauce just as easy as it can be served on the cob ....

And a lot of people don't like to eat it off the cob because they find it gets stuck in their front teeth ...

And so ...

Much to my mother's sneer, my grandmother used to love (and we still do), to have a corn on the cob, a stick of butter open, and take the corn
and spin it on top of the corn on the cob

and yeah, the older one gets, the harder it is to eat on the cob isn't it?

My partial refuses to cooperate with eating corn on the cobb--one of the tradegies of my life...

Corn season just ended up here, graham, but while it was on, I was eating two ears a night from the farm down the road ....

It was delicious ...

And as you say, I would roll the ear of hot corn on top of a stick of butter to ghet it all slathered up with butter ....

Then some salt ....

Great eating stuff it was ....

So far, I haven't gotten too old to eat the stuff ....

And thank God for that ....

And so ...

We'll have to have a moment of silent prayer for you, rla, and a group hug in commiseration ....

And it is good to see you back among us ....

I still think the purple bowling shirt with yellow stripes down the front along with a tweed jacket with leather patches on the arms and an ascot and red cumberbund would have made a much more boffo fashion statement up there in Philadelphia than a Navy blue suit ....

But what the hey, rla ....

Maybe you could wear that get-up to the next barn dance down there and still make the fashion statement ....

And so ...

I've had a busy social calendar lately. This weekend is my wife's 40th high school reunion (class of 69, first class to integrate) and at a different hotel here in town, her sister's 45th reunion. Bill Clinton was in her class and he was in town to help celebrate.

I was in the Viet Nam class of '69, rla ....

And it was integrated, too ....

Except we didn't have Bill Clinton helping us to celebrate anything ....

Did you see him down there?

Old Bubba ....

Could play the saxophone real well, though ....

If he hadn't of gone into politics, I bet he would have been playing with Bruce Springsteen ....

And so ....

I guess you have, rla ....

You're turning into a real jet setter on us in here ....

Go for it with gusto, rla ....

We pass through but once ....

And so ...

he would have been hanging with the groupies, making himself seem important and telling people he was with the band

I heard Bruce Springsteen was seen begging Bill Clinton on bended knee to come play in his band ...

And Bill refused ....

Bill wanted the sleaze of politics more than he wanted the sleaze of rock and roll ....

So Bruce had to then settle for the Clarence dude he ended up with ....

What do you think, graham?

Sound plausible to you?

And so ...

I didn't see Bill this trip. I'm sure I'll be hearing all about it from my sister-in-law...

It is OctoberFest time up here, rla, and last night, a good friend took me out to a local resturant where I had a delicious meal of saurbraten ....

And a glass of Reisling ....

Which I sipped, of course ....

Which would have made a European proud of me ....

And so ...

Have you seen him before, rla?

WHERE ARE YOU STANDING ON THIS, graham?

"Democrats: Monserrate must go - Assault conviction draws calls for ouster from fellow Democrats"

By CASEY SEILER, State editor, Albany, New York Times Union

First published in print: Saturday, October 17, 2009

ALBANY -- As the fate of state Sen. Hiram Monserrate moved from the courtroom toward the Senate chamber, Friday brought a flurry of news releases from his Democratic colleagues.

Most of them called for him to resign or -- if he refused -- for the chamber to boot him from his seat.

The Queens Democrat was found guilty Thursday of misdemeanor assault despite being acquitted of much more serious felony charges stemming from a December 2008 incident in which his girlfriend's face was slashed by a broken glass.

After the verdict in the non-jury trial, Senate Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson released a statement saying that the majority Democrats were exploring their options for taking action against Monserrate.

On Friday, a half-dozen members of Sampson's conference became much more vocal about what that action ought to be.

"Being an elected official is an honor and a privilege, not a right," said Sen. Liz Krueger of Manhattan in a statement.

"As a state legislator, the voters give you the power to decide what laws all 19 million of us live under."

"And as such we are obligated to hold ourselves to the highest standards of our laws."

" ... The Senate is exploring our institutional legal options now that the courts have ruled, but haven't yet issued a sentence," Krueger continued.

"For me, the length of the sentence does not matter – domestic violence is domestic violence, guilt is guilt."

"We, the Senate, have been through so much this past year," said Sen. Neil Breslin of Bethlehem.

"It is time for us to take the steps necessary to earn back the public's trust."

"Hiram Monserrate remaining a member of the Senate contradicts this effort."

"I have followed the developments in the domestic violence abuse case ... and been disgusted by what I have seen and heard," wrote Sen. David Valesky of Oneida.

"Domestic violence is a serious matter and a violent crime that cannot be ignored or dismissed."

Some of the relatively few words of support for Monserrate came from Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr., a member of the so-called "Gang of Four" that made trouble for the larger Democratic conference following last year's elections and during the June coup crisis.

The Bronx Democrat defended Monserrate by comparing the calls for his resignation to his colleagues' seemingly more lenient reaction to former Sen. John Sabini's February 2008 plea to a charge of driving while ability impaired -- a non-criminal violation.

"Sen. Monserrate did not hide behind a plea."

"Sen. Sabini did," Diaz wrote, contending that Monserrate "was found guilty of trying to do good by forcing his girlfriend to go to the hospital for treatment."

Sabini, who had been arrested after a September 2007 incident in Albany, subsequently left the chamber in June 2008 to become head of the state Racing & Wagering Board; Monserrate was elected to Sabini's vacant seat a year ago.

" ... How many of my colleagues have posed in photos with Mothers Against Drunk Driving after embracing with our former Sen. John Sabini?," Diaz added.

"Is this because my colleagues practice drunk driving, too, or are my colleagues just more comfortable with drunk drivers?"

Democrats control the Senate 32-30.

They keep the majority if Monserrate is ousted, but it would be reduced to a single vote.

The majority will have ample support from Republicans if they decide to move for Monserrate's ouster.

Sen. Martin Golden of Brooklyn, for example, told the Daily News "he should not be sitting in that Senate, and if someone thinks otherwise, I'd like some of the crack they're smoking."

The Associated Press reported Monserrate has a defense fund set up by backers, according to a person familiar with the case who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The person, who was not authorized to speak publicly about Monserrate's finances, says the network consists of "high-net individuals" and Monserrate did not use campaign funds to pay his legal bills, estimated at $500,000.

Blair Horner of the New York Public Interest Research Group says Monserrate should release the names of all who donated since some may have business before the state government.

Calls to Monserrate were not immediately returned Friday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

A few times but we were never buddies.

"Senate Democrats announce Monserrate committee"

By IRENE JAY LIU, Capitol bureau, Albany, New York Times Union

Last updated: 4:36 p.m., Tuesday, October 20, 2009

ALBANY -- Senate Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson announced the formation of a nine-member committee to consider disciplinary action against Democratic Sen. Hiram Monserrate, who was found guilty of misdemeanor assault last week.

Monserrate, a Queens Democrat, was aquitted on felony charges related to an incident last December in which his girlfriend's face was slashed by a broken glass.

Since the verdict, a number of senators have called for Monserrate to resign or, failing that, for the Senate to boot him from the chamber.

The committee will be chaired by Sen. Eric Schneiderman of Manhattan, one of Sampson's closest advisers.

The other four Democratic members are all women: Sens. Diane Savino of Staten Island, Andrea Stewart-Cousins of Westchester, Ruth Hassell-Thompson of the Bronx/Westchester, and Toby Ann Stavisky of Queens.

Senate Republicans have not yet announced the names of the four committee members that will represent the minority conference.

"This is a difficult situation for all involved -- for the member, our conference and, most importantly, the victim and the constituents of the 13th Senatorial District," Sampson said at a press conference in New York City, referring to Monserrate's district.

"Violence against women is not acceptable and will not be tolerated," he continued.

" … No one knows what happened in the dark."

"... We must bring light to those dark rooms."

Sampson committed to working in a "bipartisan fashion," but added, "We have to remember that we are Democrats."

"We are the party charged by history, by common decency, to care for the least, the lost and the last."

He had harsh words for Monserrate:

"As a father with daughters I'm not only angry, but I'm pissed off," he said.

"But as a leader, I cannot let my personal feelings supercede."

Schneiderman said that once the chamber's Republicans appoint their members, the committee will proceed as quickly as possible.

Before the news conference, Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos released a statement criticizing Sampson for not referring the matter to the Senate Ethics Committee, which is chaired by Sampson but whose membership is split evenly between the parties.

"In appointing members to this committee, I will appoint Senators without preconditions who will serve the committee and pursue the investigation in a fair manner," Skelos said.

A statement from Monserrate's office said the embattled senator "respects Conference Leader John Sampson's and the Democratic Conference decision to review the matter."

Irene Jay Liu can be reached at 454-5081 or iliu@timesunion.com

I know of the case, I am not all that familiar with him in the past.

I think he should do a big apology, go on Letterman or something, then have a big reunion kiss with her and its up
to her, isn't it?

let's see the facts though

I think she has crawled back to him, graham ....

Some women just seem to need a man that beats them and slashes their face with a broken glass because he thought she was a puta running around on him ....

Maybe he could show people in America how to properly beat the f*** out of a woman on Letterman ....

And then the dude could do like that rapper and have a good cry over it ....

And so ...

His MACHO got up on him, graham ....

And so ...

AND WHAT IS UP WITH THIS NOW, graham?

IS THE WHOLE WORLD GOING CRAZY?

OR WHAT?

And so ...

"Man pleads guilty to DWI in motorized La-Z-Boy"

Thu Oct 22, 9:17 pm ET

DULUTH, Minn. – A Minnesota man has pleaded guilty to driving his motorized La-Z-Boy chair while drunk.

A criminal complaint says 62-year-old Dennis LeRoy Anderson told police he left a bar in the northern Minnesota town of Proctor on his chair after drinking eight or nine beers.

Prosecutors say Anderson's blood alcohol content was 0.29, more than three times the legal limit, when he crashed into a parked vehicle in August 2008.

He was not seriously injured.

Police said the chair was powered by a converted lawnmower and had a stereo and cup holders.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Heather Sweetland stayed 180 days of jail time Monday and ordered two years of probation for Anderson.

His attorney, David Keegan, did not immediately return a call for comment.
___

Information from: Duluth News Tribune, http://www.duluthsuperior.com

think he stole that from George Jones who was found driving drunk in something similiar back when he was still married to Tammy

It sounds like quite a rig, graham ....

Maybe that is a prototype for the compact car of the future ....

And it is a luxury model with the cup holder and stereo ....

I wonder what kind of mileage it gets ....

And so ...

AND HERE IS YET ANOTHER ONE, graham, THAT HAS PEOPLE TALKING UP HERE, ANYWAY ....

WAS IT AN INSURANCE FIRE?

And so ...

"Fire destroys brand new $1.7M mansion - Huge blaze consumes fashionable home; family was set to move in soon"

By BOB GARDINIER, Staff writer, Albany, New York Times Union

First published in print: Friday, October 23, 2009

NORTH GREENBUSH -- State fire investigators are investigating a blaze that destroyed a $1.7 million mansion following an early-morning explosion Thursday.

Local, county and state investigators pored over the still-smoking charred remains of the home on Forest Hills Boulevard.

The fire occurred shortly before 2 a.m., Defreestville Fire Chief Ray Swart said.

Town officials said residents in the area heard a loud explosion about the same time.

''People have been coming in here all day talking about it,'' said Town Clerk Kathryn Connolly.

''People are saying the explosion shook their homes.''

Firefighters had difficulty fighting the blaze since there was no water running to the home, which was still under construction.

Crews had to bring in 70,000 gallons of water to douse the blaze.

No serious injuries were reported.

Swart's crew has cleared the scene for investigators.

Swart said the residents of the new home were scheduled to move in soon.

The home is located in Forest Hills Estates, just off Route 43.

State fire investigators were assisted by the Rensselaer County Fire Cause and Origin Team and the North Greenbush Police Department.

North Greenbush police, State Fire investigators and county fire coordinators were all at the scene using a large lift to get a aerial view of the rubble.

Officials at the scene refused comment Thursday.

Christen Gowan contributed to this report.

and I read a headline online that showed a sneak peak of one of the big stores Black Friday sales...

YUP ....

Lots of questions, graham, like first of all, what kind of a lunatic would spend $1.7 MILLION for a house up here?

Where do these people get that kind of money to simply toss away on a house, graham?

And what is up with this explosion, do you think?

And so ....

If I had to vote on it, graham, I would have to rate that as one of your more engimatic posts in here this year ...

Well done ....

Sooo ....

What did they say?

How was it going to go?

And so ...

it showed a Aspire acer computer was going to be $120 bucks off their already cheap price

it did not mention Mr Damour though


in case anyone forgot
Mr Jdimytai Damour dead from the crush of people wanting a few bucks off their 52inch and 62inch plasma tv's, in one of the worst episodes in American history

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJ0Ac3_CKRc

Graham, I remember reading about Mr. Damour. That was really sad wasn't it, and says something about our society in general, doesn't it? People rushing in to get the almight special - not caring about the safety of others. Just viewed that youtube video and couldn't believe the massive crowd. You would think they must be running for their lives the way they stampede and kill someone, but no, it's all about the big screen tv's.

Did the House of the Rising Sun get washed away by Katrina?

RIP, Mr. Damour (Jesus) ...

graham and I remember ...

And so ...

One of the theories emerging for this explosion and fire, graham, outside of the insurance fire angle, is a DRONE MISSILE STRIKE from one of Obama's drones that we will be seeing flying in the skies of America right above our heads, as Obama adopts them over here as a means of enforcing his will on us, as he is doing in Pakistan and Afghanistnam right now ....

People are thinking they picked that house to see what a drone-fired HELLFIRE missile could do to a house that size ....

A test-fire, you see, graham ....

On-going design and development of more and better killing machines for Obama ....

And so ...

at the very least its a droll humor bomb

you are hilarious Livyjr

you make my day (and not saying that in any clint eastwood type way either)

It's a Sunday, graham ....

I think we can lighten up in here between noon and five on Sundays, if I remember the rules correctly ....

But we have to get serious again right at five ....

And it is 4:10 PM EST by my clock right now ....

So we only have 50 minutes left ....

And so ...