catesta

To me the fact it's from a musician like Satriani makes it even more believable. It's not like they would have much of a chance getting sliding it by if was Van Halen or Bruce Springsteen. But an instrumental tune from an 80s dude like him? Hell yes it is possible they lifted it. I think he has a solid case and I think Rachel is right. This will be settled with cash to Satriani and then swept under the carpet.

How do you say that in French? "croissant" "Yes, I kneuw that... I kneuw that".

Damn, not only did you use roux in a sentence, you went on and used "haute cuisine" in another.

I feel a "Throw-Down" coming on!!! Free, you spoke of making popovers and a roux. Most men wouldn't even begin to know how to use roux in a sentence. Extra points for that. You also play trombone... that's hot. Feel better? Hmmm..., guess I better sign up for trombone lessons to add to my repertoire.

At least say you're going to have some wacky eccentric infused vodka. Yeah, like maybe eggplant vodka.

Made Arancini Di Roso on Sunday. The arborio riso is mixed with little locatelli, mozzarella, Parmigiano-Reggiano, peas, and finely diced pancetta and capicola. Served with a salad made of asparagus tips, cucumber, and ceci beans. Tonight = Peppers and egg sandwich.

Have a great one, my friend!

bye bye scumbag

Very belated birthday wishes. I will eat a cannoli tonight in your honor.

Bullshit. Five days after unions disappear, they'll be needed again. Today's UAW? I doubt it.

I don't think that's true, Chris. British manufacturers had all the same sorts of problems with their unions as the big three have with theirs. (OK, few British cars were in the same market as the big three - some luxury cars and sports cars did well in the US, but the bread and butter British cars weren't suitable for the US market.) And the biggest British firm is now out and has been for the best part of a decade. I am pretty certain that the same union problems applied to continental manufacturers. As I've said before - even in this thread, I think - there comes a time when it is realised that the balance between unions and management is wrong and adjustments have to be made. They were in Britain. And yes, it bloody well hurt. Mrs Thatcher used to say, "if it isn't hurting, it isn't working," but she was gloating because she just hated the unions anyway. But we got over it after twenty or so years I don't know if you can get this link http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/TSDdownload2.asp edit - no, you can't I just tried it. It's a series of stats about the number of days (in thousands) lost in Britain through industrial disputes - annually from 1891 to 2007 and monthly from 1931 to September 2008. You'll see a big reduction after the early eighties. Which is not to say that there are no strikes; as Jim says, not all firms act reasonably; not all unions act reasonably. So there is still conflict, but at a very much lower level now, and more legal incentives for negotiation and better ways of handling negotiation now. You need all these things - not just a bash at the unions. But if government can put in place an all-round new deal that encompasses negotiation as well as reducing the unions' power, it seems it can work. MG MG, I was referring specifically to the foreign manufacturers with non-union plants in the U.S.. I should have made that more clear.

Tell you what, make it my way sometime and I'll not only make sure your pie has the right amount of fresh salsiccia, I'll make damn sure it is made by a non-union Italian.

As long as there is not a need for what the union provides (or should provide...), no there won't be (not unless we go back to the pre-union days of hired goons beating up and/or murdering people...). But labor does not determine that. I really want to know though - do Honda, Toyota, etc. allow any sort of "employees association" or some such? Or are they such awesomely Sensitive New Age folks that they maintain harmony intuitively? I really don't know, but I doubt there is any type of organized employee association. Maybe just a more representative lower and middle management structure. For what it's worth. While we keep reading articles and hear praise about how great the foreign companies are to their employees in this country, it ain't so rosey back home.... Nov. 21 (Bloomberg) -- Toyota Motor Corp., Japan's biggest carmaker, will cut its domestic temporary workforce by 50 percent as vehicle demand slumps globally. Toyota will cut the number of temporary workers to 3,000 from 6,000 by the end of March, spokesman Paul Nolasco said today in a phone interview. The automaker follows Mazda Motor Corp. and Isuzu Motors Ltd., which yesterday said they would slash a combined 2,700 temporary jobs in Japan in response to slowing sales. Earlier this month, Toyota forecast a 68 percent drop in full-year net income, the biggest decline in at least 18 years, as a global recession cripples auto demand. Honda Motor Co., Japan's second-largest carmaker, also said today it is cutting 270 temporary workers at its Saitama plant, where the carmaker is reducing output of Accord sedans by 40,000 units. Honda is also cutting production in the U.K. of Civic compacts and CR-V sport-utility vehicles by 21,000 units. Nissan Motor Co. said last week it will reduce its domestic production by an additional 72,000 units. Japan's third-largest automaker had its credit rating cut one notch today by Fitch Ratings, which cited the company's dependence on the weak U.S. auto market and an appreciation of the yen. Toyota gained 4.6 percent to 3,080 yen at the close of trading today in Tokyo. The shares have dropped 49 percent this year, set for the worst annual performance since at least 1975. Full story here... Toyota cuts 3000 jobs

Hey, the last pizza I got was short on sausage. That wasn't bad engineering either, but I'm not going to blame the actions of the jerkoff who made it on the Italians... Well let me ask you this... Was it delievery, or DiGiorno?

Jim, I think in principal we agree. For me it breaks down like this... The UAW got fat when times were good for Ford and GM. Now times have changed. When you look at what it costs a domestic manufacturer to build a car versus one of the imports, it is a significant difference. The imports have never had the union around their neck (for the right or wrong reasons) in fat or lean times. GM, Ford and Chrysler cannot say the same. So this is do or die? Does the UAW want to survive? Because if these three fail, they're finished. If they want to survive like the auto makers want to survive, then it can no longer be business as usual for them either.

Chris, how can you say that the time for unions is "over" when you know that most American companies are still being ran like TruGreen ChemLawn? Maybe the UAW needs to start thinking in terms of "dealing with" Subaru, Honda and Toyota, instead of them Subaru, Honda and Toyota with the UAW. Because clearly these are companies that are doing what a union should (even/especially now) be focused on - delivering job security in an environment of mutual profitability and overall benefit. Maybe it's more to the point to argue that there was a time and a need for the aggressive, "sales first" management strategy of TruGreen ChemLawn, but that time is over. Until then, there ain't even the possibility for a level playing field w/o organized employee representation. Viability & sustainability are never unilaterally created in a free society. Look, the UAW was and still may very well be a major part of the problem. Remember back when all those shitty cars were being made? It wasn't all because of bad engineering, a good majority of the time is was also some jerkoff not tightening the bolt down. Now, that said, I agree completely with those that say these companies have made some poor/bad management decisions as well. It's not all the fault of the union. But let me ask you this. Why should Honda or any other foreign manufacturer even consider dealing with the UAW in any form? They obviously do not need to. The employees don't seem to want it, so where is the need? If Toyota and Honda are used as examples of how an auto manufacturer should run, then union is out of the equation. That's all I'm saying. Now I could be wrong, if the UAW gets it all together and follows through with some of the shit they say needs to be done for the good of both business and the employee, then sure, there is a place for them. Still, I don't believe we will ever see the UAW in a Honda plant anytime in the future.

Oh yeah, and a very happy Thanksgiving to all. My father's 95 year old second cousin is joining us this year. They have not seen each other in about 50 years.

I assume you thank heaven for redheads as well. Not that this has anything to do with anything, but you said redhead, so I'm gonna tell it anyways. Way back, when I was selling cars this old dude walked onto the lot and my partner got up to greet him with the ceremonial "what can we help you find today"? The old man answered, "I'll take a redhead and a blonde on rye". The moral of the story is we should thank heaven for redheads and all women every day. Except when they're driving, of course.

My parents just hi-tailed it out of there this morning. I checked the road conditions for them before they left and looks like they're safe if they take it slow. I'm not crazy about them making the drive but they insisted and would not allow me to come get them.

Here is the story.... Vehicle Safety Ford/Volvo had the highest number. My midsize SUV is on the list... Large cars Acura RL Audi A6 Cadillac CTS Ford Taurus Lincoln MKS Mercury Sable Toyota Avalon Volvo S80 Midsize cars Acura TL, TSX Audi A3, A4 BMW 3 series 4-door models Ford Fusion with optional electronic stability control Honda Accord 4-door models Mercedes C class Mercury Milan with optional electronic stability control Saab 9-3 Subaru Legacy Volkswagen Jetta, Passat Midsize convertibles Saab 9-3 Volkswagen Eos Volvo C70 Small cars Honda Civic 4-door models (except Si) with optional electronic stability control Mitsubishi Lancer with optional electronic stability control Scion xB Subaru Impreza with optional electronic stability control Toyota Corolla with optional electronic stability control Volkswagen Rabbit Minicar Honda Fit with optional electronic stability control Minivans Honda Odyssey Hyundai Entourage Kia Sedona Large SUVs Audi Q7 Buick Enclave Chevrolet Traverse GMC Acadia Saturn Outlook Midsize SUVs Acura MDX, RDX BMW X3, X5 Ford Edge, Flex, Taurus X Honda Pilot Hyundai Santa Fe, Veracruz Infiniti EX35 Lincoln MKX Mercedes M class Nissan Murano Saturn VUE Subaru Tribeca Toyota FJ Cruiser, Highlander Volvo XC90 Small SUVs Ford Escape Honda CR-V, Element Mazda Tribute Mercury Mariner Mitsubishi Outlander Nissan Rogue Subaru Forester Toyota RAV4 Volkswagen Tiguan Large pickups Ford F-150 Honda Ridgeline Toyota Tundra Small pickup Toyota Tacoma ALSO-RANS These 26 vehicles earn good ratings in front and side crash tests. They have ESC, standard or optional. They would be 2009 Top Safety Pick winners if their seat/head restraints also earn good ratings: Chevrolet Malibu Chrysler Sebring, Sebring convertible, Town & Country Dodge Avenger, Grand Caravan Infiniti G35, M35 Kia Amanti Lexus ES, GS,IS Mazda CX-7, CX-9 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder, Endeavor Nissan Altima, Pathfinder, Quest, Xterra Saturn AURA Smart Fortwo Toyota 4Runner, Camry, Prius, Sienna

"At American auto companies, finance guys and marketers rise to the top. Not at Honda" This is a problem with a lot of companies being poorly managed. Years ago I was a manager for TruGreen ChemLawn and was arguing with the division VP at a metting about the sales program being too agressive and cramming shit donw people's throat that they did not need. The guy looked at me and said, "we're not a service company, we're a maketing company". Needless to say I knew I was never going to advance any further than I had, jumped ship and went on my own. You hear people say shit like that all the time. Of course sales are the highest priority, but quality products and service should be what drives the sales. Of course, Honda also does not have to deal with the UAW. There was a time and need for the union, but in my opinion that time is over. People are beginning to figure that out. It's obvious when you look at how the amount of dues paying members keeps shrinking. The UAW keeps making runs at Subaru, Honda and Toyota and the door keeps slamming in their faces.

OK, in that case, have a happy birthday when it is your birthday. As for the rest of the time......, up your nose with a rubber hose.

That sounds about right.

Art Vanderlai?

Both of the above sound tasty to me. I grilled a couple of petite filet mignons, some eggplant, and red and green bell peppers.