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Late Night Open Thread: Larry Craig Gets His Ya Yas Out

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 09:13:40 PM EST
Tags: Larry Craig (all tags)
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with apologies to the Rolling Stones.

Via Crooks and Liars: Video of Sen. Larry Craig in the Senate saying:

"We won't let [those foreigners] jerk us around by the gas nozzle."

Too funny. This is an open thread.

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    Late Night Open Thread: Larry Craig Gets His Ya Yas Out | 195 comments (195 topical)

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    Obama will have 3 major network news anchors (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by Saul on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 09:24:25 PM EST
    with him when he takes off to Europe and Middle East next week.  You think that would only be allowed if he was president already.  McCain gets no one when he goes over there.
    Media is to much in the tank IMO

    Yeah, but if Obama blows it, (5.00 / 0) (#20)
    by Grace on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 09:44:16 PM EST
    it'll be all over the news.  I believe, sending that many anchors, they expect him to say something "Dopey" (and not "Sleepy" or "Sneezy.")

    ;-)

    Parent

    A lot of foriegn media will not be (5.00 / 1) (#35)
    by Cream City on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 09:58:15 PM EST
    so easy on Obama, either -- and this over-coverage by American media will increase foreign coverage, in that global media synergy thing that gets going so easily now (See Di, Death of Princess.)

    And if something gets snafu'd there, it will get covered there -- even if it's the sort of thing that so often doesn't get covered by the pro-Obama media here.  Journalist spouse and I have watched this happen, now that we can monitor foreign media online, watch BBC here, etc.  

    Btw, we mostly monitor foreign media just for the joy of getting less biased, pro-American boosterish coverage of this country, especially since the current wars.  It was such a relief to see some media do straight reporting of the Bush idiocies, long before our media finally began to attempt a modicum of objectivity.

    There will be rock-star-style coverage by some media there, of course, because it looks to be the typical rock-star-style Obama tour of rallies and such.  But many foreign media are much less star-struck about celebs in general than our are media, too.  In sum, it will be more interesting to watch foreign coverage of this Obama tour than to watch our own chatterers oohing and aaahing about, gosh, how old Europe is and all.  Ugh.

    Parent

    But, isn't the most important thing which (none / 0) (#46)
    by oculus on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 10:04:09 PM EST
    bands are opening?

    Parent
    Of course. My bad. (none / 0) (#81)
    by Cream City on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 10:57:37 PM EST
    Rock on, America.

    Parent
    The Independent and the Guardian in the UK (none / 0) (#190)
    by DeborahNC on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 10:36:54 AM EST
    provide more accurate coverage of American current events than American newspapers do. Only McClatchey news(then Knight-Ridder) provided comprehensive and truthful information when the war in Iraq began. The NYT was really into propaganda.

    There's an interesting article in the Guardian today about the news anchors' broad coverage of Obama's overseas trip and the lack therof for McCain in March.

    I'm with you Cream. Learn the truth. Read reputable foreign newspapers.

    Parent

    It just struck me... (none / 0) (#67)
    by Grace on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 10:27:26 PM EST
    But if Obama wants to bring something that blows it, he might think about bringing Larry Craig along....  

    Just kidding.  

    Parent

    Thank you for accomplishing (5.00 / 2) (#70)
    by Cream City on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 10:33:39 PM EST
    synthesis with the diary topic.  Somehow.

    Parent
    Zing.... (none / 0) (#169)
    by kdog on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 09:23:27 AM EST
    That was below the belt...pun intended:)

    Parent
    Mostly good news for him (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by andgarden on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 09:45:37 PM EST
    I like what Digby said about it.

    Parent
    Good for him (5.00 / 2) (#90)
    by Steve M on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:04:57 PM EST
    Not so good for the cause of ending the war.  We need more Lara Logan reports telling us what it's really like in a war zone, and fewer starstruck anchors following a presidential candidate around on a safe and sanitized tour.

    Parent
    And where did that get Lara Logan, (none / 0) (#92)
    by oculus on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:09:01 PM EST
    may I ask.  She is the new Jessica Simpson's younger sister or something.

    Parent
    Hm? (none / 0) (#102)
    by Steve M on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:23:36 PM EST
    That's not very nice.

    Parent
    Ms. Logan is all over Huff Post (5.00 / 1) (#106)
    by oculus on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:30:14 PM EST
    as being pregnant by a married Blackwater employee.  Did we need to know that?  Would we if she wasn't also in the news for reporting more explicitly on what is actually happening in Iraq than other reporters?  

    Parent
    Well (5.00 / 1) (#107)
    by Steve M on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:31:03 PM EST
    She is taking far greater risks than having the media dish on her personal life.  What a gutsy journalist she is.

    Parent
    I agree. Just don't understand why (none / 0) (#109)
    by oculus on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:33:04 PM EST
    her personal life is splashed everywhere now.  I never heard of her until her bureau called her back to the states.

    Parent
    Digby's right. (none / 0) (#39)
    by pie on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 09:59:16 PM EST
    Those particular newspeople will most likely make a circus out of this.  Katie Couric.  Ugh.

    It makes me angrier and angrier that this election has turned into a celebrity event, when the dolts should be focusing on so many important, even life-and death, issues.

    A joke.  A sad joke.

    Parent

    This will be like (5.00 / 0) (#55)
    by Grace on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 10:10:35 PM EST
    Angelina has twins.  Too cool.  He'll not get a second to relax and we'll get to see everything -- warts and all.  

    I don't think the European media will go easy on him.  They don't go easy on anyone.    

    Parent

    Sometimes the Euro-Media is (5.00 / 1) (#96)
    by MsExPat on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:12:57 PM EST
    just as star-struck as ours. Case in point: the State visit of Carla Bruni and Sarkozy to London a couple of months ago. Bruni got the full Monty breathless Jackie O treatment from the London media.

    Really, since the days of Princess Di, the Brit media has been tilting towards our U.S. style of celebrity-itis.

    And, after all, Britain is the home of a gazillion tabloids and Fleet Street.

    Parent

    Obama may not be ready for tabloids (5.00 / 0) (#104)
    by Cream City on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:24:26 PM EST
    British-style.  Amazing, the stuff they do.

    He may wish to be at the mercy of the New Yorker.

    Parent

    Sad joke. (none / 0) (#47)
    by pie on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 10:04:38 PM EST
    Actualy, that's what Larry Craig is, too.  Mr. Zero Credibility.

    Parent
    Larry Craig plays the Republican (5.00 / 1) (#101)
    by hairspray on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:22:06 PM EST
    game.  Just tough it out. Don't apologize.  Bluff your way through. See he is still standing. What Chutzpah!!

    Parent
    Sen. McCain's surrogate: (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by oculus on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 09:51:24 PM EST

    Spokeswoman Jill Hazelbaker went on Fox News and said of Obama's trip abroad, "Let's drop the pretense that this is a fact-finding trip and call it what it is: the first-of-its-kind campaign rally overseas."



    Parent
    It's a damn spectacle... (5.00 / 1) (#80)
    by kredwyn on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 10:57:11 PM EST
    Debord would be proud...maybe.

    Parent
    That has to be (none / 0) (#161)
    by mg7505 on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 06:23:38 AM EST
    the first (intentional) reference to Debord I have read on this site -- brilliant! Of course American politics became a spectacle long before Obama came on the scene.

    Parent
    I think I like Jill Hazelbaker. (5.00 / 1) (#83)
    by Cream City on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:01:44 PM EST


    Parent
    Sen. McCain may have preferred (5.00 / 1) (#32)
    by oculus on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 09:57:34 PM EST
    the news media stayed home when he kept mixing up Sunni and Shia.

    Parent
    The media is in the tank for mcCain, not (5.00 / 1) (#176)
    by JoeA on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 09:41:12 AM EST
    Obama.

    The reality is that people both in the US and abroad are more interested in Obama.  Here in the UK McCain would be viewed as an improvement,  but there is only really any excitement about an Obama presidency as really turning the page from the GW Bush era.

    Parent

    That media are in the tank for McCain (5.00 / 1) (#180)
    by Cream City on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 09:50:05 AM EST
    is what only somebody in the tank for Obama would see.

    Parent
    Matter of opinion I guess (none / 0) (#183)
    by JoeA on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 09:53:59 AM EST
    McCain gets a free ride on everything from most of the media, with the AP offering him sprinkles for his donuts.

    The fact that there is a much greater focus on Obama's foreign trip ist just a function of there being more interest in it, and the networks thinking the ratings are there.  It's hugely expensive for them to cover and if they had thought anyone would want to tune in for coverage of McCain's fundraisers in London with a British Lord then they would have covered it.

    Parent

    Heard someone on the radio call it (none / 0) (#118)
    by PssttCmere08 on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:41:00 PM EST
    The Network Groupie Tour....

    Parent
    Did they travel for Clinton or Bush's (none / 0) (#156)
    by OrangeFur on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 03:32:25 AM EST
    first trips overseas as actual presidents?

    The star treatment has been unbelievable. Aliens could have landed on the day of Obama's Greatest Speech Ever and appeared only on page A4.

    Parent

    They always do, don't they? (none / 0) (#158)
    by weltec2 on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 04:00:40 AM EST
    You always hear that the mainstream press is in toe. But the main thing to me is, as you say, Obama's seeming STAR power. We seem to be a country of celebs and there is nothing that our press loves more than creating celebs and then venerating them.

    Parent
    McCain Supposedly Nixed Coverage (none / 0) (#189)
    by daring grace on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 10:21:20 AM EST
    on his last trip according to some talking head on one of the cable shows last night. I don't know if it's true (although after some of the scenes with Lieberman correcting him on camera, it's credible).

    Also don't know if he would have gotten three anchors, but I wonder if this is as much an element of the slow summer news cycle and no one network wanting to be left out, esp. if something 'good' happens.

    Parent

    Larry in his future job as a lobbiest for Dole: (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by Grace on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 09:41:24 PM EST
    "South America is sending us undersized bananas and we want something done about it fast!"

    Something needs to be done about athletic (5.00 / 1) (#16)
    by MarkL on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 09:42:39 PM EST
    shoes which don't make enough noise in a crowded airport bathroom when they tap.

    Larry has it all worked out (5.00 / 2) (#34)
    by Grace on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 09:58:04 PM EST
    When he retires, he'll write the book "Morse Code for Bathroom Stalls" just to prove that he didn't mean anything by tapping on the floor, etc.  He was just checking out his unused Boy Scout skills.  

    Parent
    Is that his official stance? (5.00 / 5) (#44)
    by myiq2xu on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 10:02:30 PM EST
    I hope he wasn't just stalling

    He' making a wider point (5.00 / 3) (#61)
    by Salo on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 10:24:30 PM EST
    about topping off and the arabs strapping us for cash.

    You have to wonder how much his comments in the past have such double entendres contained within.

    Remeber him calling Slick Willy... (5.00 / 1) (#170)
    by kdog on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 09:27:17 AM EST
    a "dirty dirty boy" or something to that effect when Bill was in trouble for his own proclivities.

    Looking back he was just jealous of Monica.

    Parent

    he was just jealous of Monica (none / 0) (#173)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 09:37:41 AM EST
    um, no.
    they blue dress, maybe.

    Parent
    oooooh (none / 0) (#174)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 09:38:15 AM EST
    you meant "he was just jealous of Monica"
    now I get it.
    maybe.

    Parent
    joss whedon (5.00 / 1) (#76)
    by boredmpa on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 10:47:14 PM EST
    has an online musical out:

    dr horrible

    Three episodes, only available through the 20th.  Starring neil patrick harris.

    yep, that's my random interweb geek suggestion for the day.

    A friend sent me that link (none / 0) (#77)
    by kredwyn on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 10:54:12 PM EST
    earlier. Thanks for reminding me.

    I just watched Batman Begins. Am going to miss the opening of the new Batman. But I'm hoping to see it next weekend.

    Parent

    Joss: (none / 0) (#93)
    by Valhalla on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:09:58 PM EST
    Possibly the only person alive I would actually drink the Kool Aid for.  Seriously.

    Just started part I, and already brilliant.  Sigh.  Why can't all tv/webvids be so good?  Ok, I'll settle for some.

    Thanks for the reminder boredmpa!

    Parent

    I think this is interesting (5.00 / 2) (#82)
    by NJDem on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 10:58:02 PM EST
    McCain calls Obama's plan "HillaryCare."  How will Obama react?  Defend it?  I'm holding myself back from snarking about Harry & Louise...

    link

    I vote for (5.00 / 2) (#85)
    by Steve M on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:03:16 PM EST
    "I appreciate the compliment."

    Parent
    like Hunter said, over at DK, its Obama's to lose (5.00 / 1) (#89)
    by thereyougo on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:04:54 PM EST
    McCain steps all over dog doo everytime he thinks he's headed in the right direction. I'm withholding from stating my true sentiments of course.

    Parent
    Well, Obama can play the video of (none / 0) (#128)
    by nycstray on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:55:07 PM EST
    Hillary sayin' "Shame on you!" . . . .

    Yup, Obama did himself well with that one . . .  NOT.

    Parent

    If I were McCain... (none / 0) (#157)
    by OrangeFur on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 03:37:19 AM EST
    ... I'd be doing everything I could to appeal to Clinton supporters while their anger is still fresh.
    I'd personally run ads featuring not Jeremiah Wright, but rather Michael Pfleger. In a campaign filled with angry moments, watching the video of him mocking Hillary Clinton while the congregation roared its approval made me perhaps the angriest.

    Calling Obama's plan HillaryCare is just dumb. And the sad part is it's not even as good as HillaryCare would be.

    Parent

    Good ol Larry (5.00 / 2) (#137)
    by CoralGables on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 12:21:26 AM EST
    obviously has a strong stance on this topic and has shown to have a firm hold of the problems with the pump. He's not going to just toe tap around the issue and be caught with his pants down. No sir, he's been there done that. Let's hear it for Larry, who won't be taken to his knees by foreign nozzle yankers.

    So, I'm off to NYC tomorrow (4.33 / 3) (#18)
    by andgarden on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 09:43:35 PM EST
    for the foreseeable future.

    Best of everything. I love Manhattan, (5.00 / 1) (#22)
    by oculus on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 09:46:19 PM EST
    not that you'll have time to enjoy it.

    Parent
    I wish I was going! (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by Grace on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 09:47:07 PM EST
    Where are you going there from?  NYC seems like the best place in the world to me... sometimes.  

    Parent
    From DC by way of a few days in PHL (none / 0) (#24)
    by andgarden on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 09:48:16 PM EST
    I love New York; always have.

    Parent
    I've only been to NYC a few times (none / 0) (#27)
    by Grace on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 09:54:15 PM EST
    Earlier, when I was younger, I found it kind of scary (small town girl).  Now though, I think I'd suck it up.  I love LA's downtown which isn't really very cosmopolitan at all even though it's trying to be.  (Give us 20 or 40 years and we'll get there!)

    Parent
    I did the left coast once (5.00 / 1) (#43)
    by andgarden on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 10:01:53 PM EST
    in grade school. My dad had a college friend who wrote for "Mad About You," and he showed us some of LA. We rented a Sebring Convertible.

    Parent
    Grace, you're in LA? (none / 0) (#155)
    by otherlisa on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 03:27:47 AM EST
    So am I!

    Parent
    Gee, andgarden, (5.00 / 1) (#103)
    by Radiowalla on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:24:07 PM EST
    I hope you won't be too busy to check in here from time to time.
    Somehow I missed the memo about your going to law school, but I want to wish you all the best as you embark on a new adventure.

    Parent
    Thanks! (5.00 / 2) (#111)
    by andgarden on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:34:17 PM EST
    My expectation is that I won't be going anywhere But I might have some work to do. . . ;-)

    Parent
    What Radio said (5.00 / 2) (#138)
    by Jane in CA on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 12:24:40 AM EST
    Best of luck in law school!

    Parent
    I will tell you a secret (5.00 / 2) (#105)
    by Steve M on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:27:38 PM EST
    First year is not nearly as bad as they say, unless you let it be.

    Mentally, the trick is convincing yourself that no one else has a clue about anything either.  It's easy to find yourself feeling like you're the only one in the room who doesn't know what's going on.  You're not.

    Parent

    So I've been told. Thanks. (none / 0) (#113)
    by andgarden on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:35:45 PM EST
    In fact, the best advice I've gotten is to tone down my know-it-allness. That's always good advice, but seems most apt here.

    I'm never one to keep my mouth shut, but. . .

    Parent

    A story (5.00 / 1) (#123)
    by Steve M on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:50:10 PM EST
    I had a Contracts professor who now teaches at Columbia, which might be your school, for all I know.  This was first semester, when everyone was absolutely terrified of getting called on and not knowing the answer.

    One day, the professor's fickle finger pointed at me.  "Mr. M, what do you think Professor Priest would say about this case we're discussing?"

    Well, I didn't have the slightest idea who Professor Priest might be.  To my horror, I realized there was this book of secondary reading for the class - one of those little books you pick up at the bookstore, and then never pick up again - and we must have been assigned some extra reading for today's class that I didn't know about.

    Foolishly, I tried to muddle my way through.  "Well, I don't think it's entirely clear how Professor Priest would view the court's reasoning..."

    Naturally, he smelled blood at this point.  With a satanic grin on his face that probably looked like a pleasant smile to everyone else in the room, he quietly said, "Why don't you give it your best shot."

    Silence.  The lecture hall looked to me.  And I replied, firmly, "Let me make myself more clear.  I don't have a clue what Professor Priest would say."

    Everyone cracked up.  The professor smiled and moved on to the next customer.  And at that moment, many of us were struck by the same realization - you can have absolutely no idea what the answer is, and a bolt of lightning will not strike you dead!  It seemed to me that the classroom experience got a lot less stressful after that point.

    Parent

    Remember Massiah, the (none / 0) (#130)
    by oculus on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 12:05:15 AM EST
    case where the two suspects were in the back of the patrol car talking about the crime they just committed?  I was called on in Crim. Pro.  I had read half the case but didn't know how it all turned out.  Usually the professor called on more than one person re each case.  Not this time.  So, I was his first choice to call on for the next several months.  Later he hired me!

    Parent
    That's a good story (none / 0) (#131)
    by andgarden on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 12:07:53 AM EST
    My undergraduate experience is that the remedy of actually doing the reading is often the most effective. That's not to say that I always avail myself of the option, however.

    Parent
    Actually, my classmates were amazed (none / 0) (#132)
    by oculus on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 12:10:21 AM EST
    anyone actually read the casebook, as opposed to the Cliff Notes.  

    Parent
    You just don't want to be known as the (none / 0) (#115)
    by oculus on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:36:54 PM EST
    student in the front row who always says, but, what if, . . .

    Parent
    heh (none / 0) (#121)
    by andgarden on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:48:17 PM EST


    Parent
    We had such a fellow in my class. Not (none / 0) (#122)
    by oculus on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:50:09 PM EST
    popular.  But the thing is, he taped every lecture, so if you missed a class, you could ask to borrow his tape.  He'd say, come to my place.  he lived at a nudist colony!

    P.S.  I'm expecting you to become Pres. of the law review, so study hard.

    Parent

    Oy (none / 0) (#133)
    by andgarden on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 12:12:42 AM EST
    That seems a rather high price to pay for a recording.

    Parent
    Hope you love law school (none / 0) (#26)
    by Jeralyn on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 09:53:28 PM EST
    but still have time to check in with us. Good luck!

    Parent
    The way I figure it, andgarden is so (5.00 / 1) (#29)
    by oculus on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 09:55:51 PM EST
    bright he can skip right to the bar exam.

    Parent
    heh (5.00 / 1) (#36)
    by andgarden on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 09:58:25 PM EST
    I would sure save some money.

    Parent
    Did that legislation pass whereby a (none / 0) (#41)
    by oculus on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 10:00:29 PM EST
    law student who becomes a DDA for a certain no. of years gets rid of, maybe $30,000 in student loans?  Its a really good job if you want to be in court, learn to think on your feet, and try lots of cases.

    Parent
    Good question (none / 0) (#49)
    by andgarden on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 10:05:43 PM EST
    I don't know, but to be honest I'm undecided about whether I want to be a litigator.

    Parent
    Me too (none / 0) (#30)
    by andgarden on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 09:56:20 PM EST
    The real work doesn't start just yet. . .

    Parent
    We'll save some humidity for ya! ;) (none / 0) (#28)
    by nycstray on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 09:55:44 PM EST
    where are you going to be staying?

    Parent
    I can't give too much away! (none / 0) (#33)
    by andgarden on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 09:57:44 PM EST
    But yes, I know the NE humidity quite well. I am a Philly native, after all.

    Parent
    Just tell us if you'll be living in a (none / 0) (#38)
    by oculus on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 09:58:55 PM EST
    "pre-war bldg."  I've never figured out which war that refers to in the rental ads.

    Parent
    WWII (none / 0) (#40)
    by squeaky on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 09:59:38 PM EST


    Parent
    I think it's WWII (none / 0) (#42)
    by Jeralyn on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 10:01:49 PM EST
    All the old buildings on Park Ave on the east side and West End and Riverside on the west side.  Great high ceilings but of those I've seen, old NYC apts (except for the super rich)have  such tiny, antiquated kitchens. I wonder if it's changed.

    Parent
    Usually tiny kitchens and no closet space (none / 0) (#56)
    by nycstray on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 10:12:26 PM EST
    Open the oven and hit the sink across the kitchen, lol!~ You stand sideways when you use your oven  ;)

    I have a huge kitchen now by NYC standards. Not too wide, but long. Plenty of room for 2 freezers and a fridge along with a regular sized table. Late 1800's/early 1900. Two big sunny windows that are great in the winter for catching some sunlight.

    Parent

    Jack Paar (5.00 / 2) (#119)
    by gyrfalcon on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:41:25 PM EST
    used to say that NYC apartments were so small, when you put the key in the front door lock, you'd break the window.

    Parent
    How did you rate (none / 0) (#62)
    by Grace on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 10:24:34 PM EST
    to get such a large kitchen?  

    I always find it fun to try and explain to people that houses are smaller and more expensive in cities like LA (and NYC) than most of the country.  

    I used to post on a board for people looking to relocate and it was always fun to respond to the people leaving a 4,000+ sq. ft. home in Texas looking for something similar in Los Angeles.  Since much of LA's housing stock was built pre-1940, the best locations are expensive AND small.  

    Parent

    Sheer luck! (none / 0) (#68)
    by nycstray on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 10:32:30 PM EST
    I also have a major deal on rent. $536 per month! I got the lead on the apt when I was teaching a class at the senior center down the street.

    SF is the same way, so I wasn't shocked at the apts here. I had a great place in SF that also had a decent kitchen and a sep eating area as part of the kitchen. I think the cooking angles like me :) I spend more time than many people looking for places. Partly because I have pets and it's usually a bit harder. And I also need creative office/work space. The few places I remember from LA weren't as bad as NYC and SF, but still not what most folks are used to :)

    Parent

    I always figured if I followed my dream (5.00 / 1) (#94)
    by oculus on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:11:18 PM EST
    and moved to Manhattan I would have to say goodbye to sun-filled rooms.  

    Parent
    Not true! (none / 0) (#112)
    by MsExPat on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:34:57 PM EST
    I've lived in New York apartments for more than 25 years. They have all been on the cheap side, and every single one has been sunny!

    Parent
    Ah. But are you w/i walking distance (none / 0) (#116)
    by oculus on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:39:52 PM EST
    of Lincoln Center?  I have some hard and fast criteria.  

    Parent
    I moved to LA from Florida (none / 0) (#72)
    by Grace on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 10:39:20 PM EST
    In Florida, everything was NEW!  Big apartments!  New kitchens!  Big closets!  800 sq. feet is a one bedroom apartment!

    Then I moved to LA where 800 sq. feet is a 2 bedroom HOUSE!  Little everything!  A living room that's made for a family of chihuahuas!  The bathroom is 1/2 the size of the bedroom!  

    It was hard to adjust to this at first...  but now I understand NYC housing!  LOL!  I could handle a kitchen with no oven.  I have one now!    

    Parent

    My bathroom is so small . . . (none / 0) (#78)
    by nycstray on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 10:55:19 PM EST
    they don't make bathmats small enough, lol!~ OK, I could have more space if I got rid of the tub, but that's not an option! The 30's and 40's apts are considered "generous" in some areas like closets compared to earlier. Along the way, someone built a double closet in my apt, but my friend downstairs doesn't have ANY! We have original pantries type cupboards in the kitchen. She has the original cupboards and I have free standing ones I brought in. The originals are nice, but you need a step ladder to use the top couple of shelves. The only other built-ins are in the front "parlors" that are built off the old fireplaces. I do not know how they raised families in these apt, but my LL was born in this building with 3 siblings! OY!

    Parent
    I think people had (none / 0) (#120)
    by gyrfalcon on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:45:36 PM EST
    fewer possessions in the "old days."  My 1850s house has zero downstairs closets and only low cubbyholes on 2nd floor.  Closets were freestanding pieces of furniture, and ordinary people only had a couple changes of clothing.

    Parent
    Our 1930's/1940's house (none / 0) (#134)
    by Grace on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 12:12:54 AM EST
    had cabinets in the kitchen you could only reach via stairs.  (No one is that tall.)  

    The house was so tiny though...  Tiny bedrooms, tiny closets, everything was built for munchkins.  

    Parent

    My apartment in Brooklyn (none / 0) (#91)
    by MsExPat on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:06:59 PM EST
    is 550 square feet and has one bedroom. My apartment in Hong Kong is also 550 square feet--but it has two bedrooms! The style in Hong Kong is to cut up living spaces into tiny compartments, because usually more family members are sharing the space. My #2 bedroom in Hong Kong barely fits my desk and bookcase. I don't know how you'd get a bed in there.

    Kitchen-wise, I'm pretty lucky on both ends. In Brooklyn, I own the apartment and so was able to renovate the kitchen to my specs--granite counters, cool terracotta and Mexican tile that I carried all the way from Miami. In Hong Kong, my long narrow kitchen is larger than most, and has windows, a rare thing. But, like most flats in Hong Kong, there's no oven--kitchens are designed for Chinese cooking, with gas burners for woks.

    Oh, and no dishwasher in Hong Kong either. That's because domestic labor is cheap, and everybody has a maid--a word that is never uttered. Here, they are called "helpers."

    Parent

    Thief! Or, Fibber! No one pays (none / 0) (#164)
    by scribe on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 08:49:49 AM EST
    only $536 a month in rent in NYC!

    Some (a lot of) buildings, the maintenance is 5 or 6 times that and then there's the rental.

    And, "pre-war" is Pre WWII.  It's a synonym for "sturdily built" (it's still here, after all), smallish rooms, tiny (and I mean tiny!) bathrooms, kitchens where you stand sideways to open the oven and, sometimes (esp in the un-renovated buildings)pipe stubs running through the ceiling for a couple inches, and patches on the floor (covering the coordinate hole).  The pipe is/was the old drain pipe for the icebox runoff water.

    Of course, my sister once rented a place on the UES where the tub & shower and toilet were also in the kitchen.  A little stall wall around the toilet.  You never know just what you'll get in NYC.

    Parent

    Gotta be rent control.... (none / 0) (#171)
    by kdog on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 09:33:09 AM EST
    or the landlord has Alzheimer's or something.

    $536 is stupid cheap.

    Parent

    Rent Stabilization (none / 0) (#192)
    by squeaky on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 11:10:35 AM EST
    Or a swell landlord, which she evidentially has. Ex cop if I remember correctly.

    Parent
    I'll be in a building built in the 90s. (none / 0) (#45)
    by andgarden on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 10:03:43 PM EST
    It replaced a movie theater, I'm told. Only place in range with a dishwasher (I really didn't want to do without one again).

    Parent
    One thing I won't miss when (none / 0) (#57)
    by nycstray on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 10:16:14 PM EST
    I move back to CA next year. That and iced over streets in April! They just said on the news the heat is locked in place :( Last night they gave us the dewpoint comfortability ratings, lol!

    Parent
    You'll love it here (none / 0) (#69)
    by Grace on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 10:33:20 PM EST
    weatherwise, where you are moving...  But what about wildfires and landslides?  Will you get those?  

    Earthquakes are another problem but they don't happen that often.  

    Wildfires are more of a problem in rural areas.  

    Parent

    I was raised there :) (none / 0) (#75)
    by nycstray on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 10:46:19 PM EST
    born and bred CA gal. I'm moving to Calaveras County up by Arnold/Big Trees. My parents are handing their cabin over to me for awhile :) I'll prob end up along the Russian River in the long run, but more than happy to get settled at the cabin for the immediate future.

    I've done pretty much all the natural disasters there except mudslides. I already have my evac plans worked out with the 5 cats and 1 Dal :) Right now I'm monitoring the wildfires from a website in the area I'll be living. The cabin area was already cleared when the fires broke out. My dad's pretty good about that stuff, so I can just follow what he's done in the past. One of the reasons I'm moving there is the upkeep is getting too much for them and my dad's health issues.

    My dog is going to be in HEAVEN!

    Parent

    Heaven (none / 0) (#79)
    by squeaky on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 10:56:05 PM EST
    My closest friend, a rottweiler/beagle 4 yrs old, recently moved to the Alpuharra mountains in southern Spain. As traumatized as I am it is mitigated because she is in dog heaven.  Twelve acres on a mountain top with almond and fig trees, lots of dirt to roll in. No leash, other dogs friends, and neighbors (mile away) who offer a (cough Cough) snack, whenever she decides to visit.  The nearest PO office only open two days a week. The sticks, but doggie heaven. Your dog is going to love getting out of the city.

    Parent
    My dog is going to be in river (none / 0) (#141)
    by nycstray on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 12:42:00 AM EST
    and lake heaven :)  Along with mountain trails. I think I'm going to cart train her or at least get her to pull me sledding. There's also horses in the area (yes, I remember getting my dad on a horse!) and since she's a Dalmatian, we will be learning to road trial with horses.

    I'm sorry your closest friend is in Spain for you, but understand the acceptance you have of her new life. I almost didn't keep my girl because she is noise sensitive, she's come a LONG way from when I met her, but giving her the peace and quite along with a dogs life, is going to thrill me to the rafters. And yes, if she hadn't had her earlier issues, I would still be thrilled to give her this life.

    It's funny, I haven't been to the cabin in several years, but I can see Dot as clear as day livin' the life there. My cats are going to love it also. I'll be making them a safe yard so they will have a contained area with free access. And me, I'll be on the deck enjoying life :)

    Parent

    SOunds Great (none / 0) (#145)
    by squeaky on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 12:54:27 AM EST
    My second best friend, Sissy's owner, can't believe that she stayed in NYC so long. She is in heaven too, but not nearly as much as her dog, though.. The only problems are an occasional bee sting and thistles in her feet otherwise total heaven.

    I like the city, though, not so keen on bugs.

    Parent

    My bee sting kitty went to the bridge (none / 0) (#149)
    by nycstray on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:09:58 AM EST
    in Fall of 05. This cat couldn't resist a flower or whatever with a bee in it. He was also famous for sleeping on a tree branch and falling off! lol!~

    I don't know if a bee would sting my dog. She thinks little critters are the bestest of friends. You should see her with a lady bug!

    I'm worried about ticks (even though we have them here), snakes, scorpions, foxtails (I know many who have that prob! and someone who lost a kitty to one). It's just going to be an adjustment for me and the pet care. Before when I lived in CA, no prob with fleas etc. In NYC, cats indoors, so very few nature issues. Bringing the dog in, I was worried about fleas and ticks and heartworm. No issues and I don't use any preventive. I feed a raw diet to all pets and the dog hasn't brought home fleas or ticks. Thank Dawg!!!! But I will be reading up and adjusting before I move.

    Parent

    Lots (none / 0) (#150)
    by squeaky on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:21:59 AM EST
    Of ticks where Sissy is. Also dog AIDS, she wears a special collar for that. But has ticks, a plenty, yuck.  I think she stepped on a bee hole when she got it in the ear, crying for a half hour. But loves to  catch flies so maybe she went after a bee... ouch...

    First day there she ate all her heartworm pills. That was scary but nothing came of it..

    Parent

    I think there's a lot where I'm going (none / 0) (#154)
    by nycstray on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 02:02:14 AM EST
    one too many phone calls with mom where she talked about ticks and her dog. They creep me out and I will not have the back up there that I have here. The shelter I got my dog from (and have spent many hours working at) is close enough that I can bring her there for help with de-ticking (while I silently scream!). I've never needed the help, thank dog!

    heartworm meds are tasty from what I get. Most dogs will snarf them up! They also last longer than they tell you. When I used them the first year with my dog, I did 3 times over the season here. I haven't used them in 5 yrs, but that's something else I need to look at after the move.

    Damn, Sissy's a bit of a challenge! :) My girl is also, but not in the ingestion arena!  Speaking of challenging dogs, mines asking for a romp outside, so off I go!  :)

    Parent

    If ticks are a problem (none / 0) (#166)
    by scribe on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 09:01:19 AM EST
    buy yourself one of these to remove them from the dog.

    It's a hundred times easier, and better, than just about anything else, fits nicely on your keychain, and works.  Plus, it's relatively cheap.

    I've sworn off any other means for removing ticks.  And, I've tried it on myself, too.  It's a slightly strange "pulling" sensation, but then the tick comes out clean.

    Parent

    Nice One (none / 0) (#193)
    by squeaky on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 11:12:59 AM EST
    I like the magnifier..  Thanks for the tip... although I am dogless these days.

    Parent
    I'm here with my dad (none / 0) (#87)
    by Grace on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:03:59 PM EST
    so I can relate.  

    I haven't been to Northern California since I was a kid but I'm dying to make a trip back up there!  

    Parent

    Will you be changing your screen name? (none / 0) (#117)
    by oculus on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:40:24 PM EST


    Parent
    Hard to say. (none / 0) (#142)
    by nycstray on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 12:44:49 AM EST
    Currently, all my strays are from NYC!. lol!~ If I do, it will be to my studio name of Strababe (Straybaby) just to keep things simple.

    Parent
    Here's another cultural tip b/4 (none / 0) (#143)
    by oculus on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 12:49:43 AM EST
    you leave.  Have you been to BargeMusic?  An old coffee barge moored at the east end of the Brooklyn Bridge.  Classical music.  Quite delightful.  

    Parent
    NO! Thank you!! (none / 0) (#146)
    by nycstray on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 12:57:13 AM EST
    That's the next bridge down from me and a hop skip n' jump! They also have the "Waterfalls" art project this summer and I think one is on the Brooklyn Bridge. I was planning on that in Sept after the tourist season wound down. The falls are until Oct. iirc.

    Parent
    I really want to see those waterfalls, but (none / 0) (#147)
    by oculus on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 12:58:19 AM EST
    won't be in Manhattan until Nov.  Too bad.

    Parent
    Stupid (none / 0) (#148)
    by squeaky on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:01:48 AM EST
    If you ask me. First thing I thought was: what a waste of energy.

    Parent
    My understanding was they were (none / 0) (#152)
    by nycstray on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:31:05 AM EST
    green friendly?

    Parent
    Amen... (none / 0) (#175)
    by kdog on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 09:38:38 AM EST
    the waterfalls are retarded.

    Running those pumps can't be green friendly...and so much of the infrastructure is falling apart I can't see spending that dough on eye candy.

    Parent

    Not Even Eye Candy (none / 0) (#194)
    by squeaky on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 11:20:09 AM EST
    As far as I am concerned. This was a great piece at the Tate Modern  (London) by the same artist, Olafur Eliasson . It was in the large turbine hall, a free space.. It got people to change their museum behavior. Most lied down on the floor and enjoyed looking up and around. It was a bit like a rock concert without the music and more variety or spectators. Really nice vibe.

    Parent
    Did you two object to Christos's Gates (none / 0) (#196)
    by oculus on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 12:31:03 PM EST
    in Central Park?   How about the satirical version,being towed around Manhattan island?  I did really enjoy the Tate Modern piece.

    Parent
    How about the cats? (none / 0) (#124)
    by gyrfalcon on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:50:47 PM EST
    When I moved to Vermont, I decided to let my cats go out.  I lost one, which just about broke my heart, but there's no question they're much, much, much happier being able to do what they're designed to do and prowl around outside and catch mice.  I do keep them in the house for the night after they come in for food, though, much to their disappointment.

    Parent
    I'll build a safe yard (none / 0) (#144)
    by nycstray on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 12:52:24 AM EST
    kinda like an atrium. They'll have access through a window. My main worry is the natural critters there. I need to study up on them as it's been 20yrs since I lived in CA. One of my "boys", that passed away a couple years ago, was famous for sticking his nose in flowers with bees. A couple of my younger ones now, I wouldn't trust with critters invading their "space". I should be able to deter most critters from entering the cat space through natural methods, but I need to do my homework.

    Another worry is growing things and inviting bigger creatures. But again, homework!

    Parent

    Grace....were you in SoCal for the (none / 0) (#108)
    by PssttCmere08 on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:32:43 PM EST
    Northridge earthquake?

    Parent
    Best of luck to you! (none / 0) (#31)
    by Little Fish on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 09:57:17 PM EST
    I love NYC.  Except the air quality.  I'm kind of spoiled over here in Seattle.

    Parent
    Air quality isn't an issue most of the time (none / 0) (#48)
    by nycstray on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 10:05:03 PM EST
    granted it's not mountain like air, but as far as cities go, not bad at all. We don't have too many air quality warnings. Wouldn't be surprised if we had one in the next day or 2 though. Depends on if the breezes stick around or not.

    Parent
    Will you get a chance to see Liam Neeson (5.00 / 1) (#51)
    by oculus on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 10:06:36 PM EST
    and Ralph Fiennes in the Becket one-acts at Lincoln Center Festival?  Oh how I wish I could be there.

    Parent
    I hadn't heard about that!! (none / 0) (#86)
    by nycstray on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:03:40 PM EST
    Now I'll have to check into it! I've been sitting here making a list of all the things I want to do one last time before I leave. Who knows when I'll get back . . . :) I have some fun memories of summer events. I've been bogged down with work and a few other activities and this summer just seems to be happening without me. Aside from the heat that is! Yikes, just got another email from one of my fantasy BBall leagues. I'm even absent on those and the boys are getting worried, lol!~ I'll have to buy the local ones a beer and show up in my football league winning T-shirt  ;)

    Parent
    Here's a blurb. Probably sold (none / 0) (#97)
    by oculus on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:15:55 PM EST
    out by now though:

    Following his role as Trigorin in Classic Stage Company's The Seagull, Alan Cumming will open the Lincoln Center Festival on July 2, starring in Euripides's Bacchae by the National Theater of Scotland. The festival will end July 27 with the Gate Theater of Dublin's Gate/Beckett, three one-man dramas by Beckett that were not originally conceived for the theater: Liam Neeson is in Eh Joe (a television work from 1965), Barry McGovern stars in I'll Go On (adapted from three novels), and Ralph Fiennes is in First Love (a novella), according to the New York Times.

    I was fortunate enough to see Falph Fiennes and Cherry Jones in Faith Healer on Broadway a couple years ago.  A memorable evening of theatre.

    Parent

    ah, but there is no such thing as sold out (none / 0) (#125)
    by nycstray on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:51:02 PM EST
    thanks for the info! Couple of my friends and I aren't above going for "too expensive" tickets to see something we would really enjoy. It's the "instead of going to everything, let's spend more and enjoy what we REALLY want to see" concept :) So we can "hunt around" on events like this :) And then it helps when they work in the right fields, lol!~ We've even started doing it for baseball games, fewer with better seats. Show up at sold outs etc. Which we will be doing with both stadiums being in their final season {sniff, Yankee Stadium!}

    I was thinking about theater I wanted to see before I leave and this is a good starting point and it will get me to look into some of the just off Broadway also! (have seen some great work there) :)

    Parent

    So true. I was in Rome and, before I (none / 0) (#127)
    by oculus on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:54:33 PM EST
    went, I got a ticket on line for Puccini's Girl of the Golden West.  But the next opera was Tosca, which was completely sold out on line and through an on line ticket agency.  I asked at the box office and got a look of dismay.  Tosca?  You must be kidding.  So, I hung around about a half hour before the last performance and got a ticket in the third box from the stage.  I could see the conductor, the orchestra, and everything on stage, including Zeffirelli, who designed the production many years ago.  Such fun.

    Parent
    You just reminded me of years ago (none / 0) (#135)
    by nycstray on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 12:15:44 AM EST
    when I lived in SF and got lucky with a few Ballets at the War Memorial. They weren't from waiting around front, but friends knowing my desires/interests. And I got to take my mom to them :) I remember calling her one afternoon and saying can you be here in a couple hours, just drop EVERYTHING! I also have had the pleasure of doing the Broadway/slightly off Broadway shows with my mom when she visits and we used to go to the shows when they hit SF. Also did the smaller  shows there and saw some Sam Shepard works.

    OY! I'm sitting here thinking about getting in a few shows and all the memories. Including pulling an all nighter doing backdrops for a friends fringe festival show, oy!~

    Parent

    NYT just reviewed a brand new Sam (5.00 / 0) (#136)
    by oculus on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 12:17:30 AM EST
    Shepherd play--another one about brothers.  Love his work.  

    Parent
    Local news in Philly suggests a code red (none / 0) (#52)
    by andgarden on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 10:06:47 PM EST
    But yeah, in my experience city air is perfectly livable. Now being in the burbs with ragweed. . .

    Parent
    Ragweed should be banned!! (none / 0) (#63)
    by nycstray on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 10:25:41 PM EST
    I will say my dog has been VERY helpful for my allergies. I think it's because she's always got some pollen on her it's kinda like allergy shots  ;)

    They just gave a summer heat warning on the weather. Not unexpected. And I have plenty of work to do sitting quietly behind the computer, lol!~

    Parent

    Philly is just hotter, by nature (none / 0) (#167)
    by scribe on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 09:07:50 AM EST
    than NYC.

    It's kinda built on a swampy lowland almost like DC, and the ocean is 40 or 50 miles away (maybe more, depending how you measure) so there's no moderating effect from the ocean.

    If I had to choose between the two, I'd choose NYC's weather, but Philly might win for a little less bustle and more neighborhood feel.  It's not all high-rise and hive, and that seems a little more appealing to me.

    Parent

    Yes (none / 0) (#54)
    by squeaky on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 10:10:25 PM EST
    The rivers and ocean help move the air. A friend of mine was once visiting from Dusseldorf and kept taking big breaths, going on about how nice the air was here (NYC) compared to D'dorf which is in a valley. I was a bit shocked, but I think he is right. Not bad for a city with a lot of cars, trucks and busses etc.

    Parent
    I'm close enough to the East River (none / 0) (#58)
    by nycstray on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 10:22:08 PM EST
    to catch the breezes. I used to sit down there and work in the afternoons before they closed it off.

    Heh, tomorrow is supposed to be banking on oppressive and Sat/Sunday break beyond oppressive on the dewpoint. Not liking this weather guy!! Guess I'll skip the farmers market tomorrow. The thought of the subway stations . . . .

    Parent

    Oy (none / 0) (#65)
    by squeaky on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 10:26:19 PM EST
    I have been avoiding putting the AC in, maybe I will break down and install it. The humidity is the killer. August can be brutal.

    Parent
    The main AC in my apt is through the wall (none / 0) (#71)
    by nycstray on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 10:35:56 PM EST
    and does 2/3rds of the apt. I don't have the second one in yet. I was trying to avoid installing it, but depending on how long the mugginess lasts . . . I'm on the top floor {sigh}

    Parent
    Yes (none / 0) (#73)
    by squeaky on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 10:42:27 PM EST
    I put a large one through a wall but it needs to be replaced, ugg.. but I am OK without it. I do have a smaller one (uninstalled) that goes in the window as a supplement. So far it has not been too bad. Cooler indoors than out here w/o a/c.  

    I always try to delay the a/c as long as possible, because once it is installed or started up, it is usually on the rest of the summer.

    Parent

    Yup. Mine's been on a lot since the June heat (none / 0) (#95)
    by nycstray on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:11:39 PM EST
    one of the reasons I want to leave next spring verses fall 09, no Con-Ed bill! WTF is up with the "delivery charge" being almost as much as actual usage?!!!!!!! And they're hiking our fees again! I used literally the same amount in Dec and Jan and there was a 17 dollar increase. I switched to CFLs a year and a half ago. ALL of the savings has been eaten up by rate hikes. Thank dog for free heat!

    I have good luck with fans in the un-AC'd part of the apt until we go several hot days without rain. If the rain cools off the roof, I'm good to go without the AC. I have windows all around, which is good most of the year. Late July through early Sept is the only time it can be a bear to deal with, which isn't too bad in reality :)

    Parent

    I Am On The Second Floor (none / 0) (#99)
    by squeaky on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:17:09 PM EST
    A/C is on downstairs and above me, so I can hold out longer. Top floor is always the worst, roof and all..

    Parent
    Depending on who lives across the hall (5.00 / 1) (#110)
    by nycstray on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:34:16 PM EST
    depends on how bad it gets. I had neighbors that used no AC (heatwave in the hallway!!) and some that used major AC (lower electric bill!). Right now I have part time AC users. Which is fine as they use it when it's hot. When I had the no-ACer's, walking up the stairs and you hit my floor, wow!  My LL does come up and open the roof door to let in the cool air after heatwaves. He's a gem of a LL I tell ya :)

    Parent
    Dusseldorf (none / 0) (#126)
    by gyrfalcon on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:53:10 PM EST
    is very bad.  It really is in sort of a sink, very industrial, pollution just hangs there.  Ugh.

    Parent
    Yes (none / 0) (#129)
    by squeaky on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:55:36 PM EST
    Nice otherwise, though. The beer (alt) is sooooo good. Good artscene as well..

    Parent
    Next time you get a chance, (none / 0) (#168)
    by scribe on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 09:12:23 AM EST
    try a Radeberger.  It's a pilsner from Dresden and way, way excellent.  Even the bottled one gets Stateside, you get the true pilsner head, taste and texture.  I've been drinking this over even the Czech stuff for a while now.

    Though altbier is good, too, I'm of the feeling that alt is better in cold-damp or wintry weather.  Just seems to go well with it.

    Parent

    Yes It's GOod Too (none / 0) (#195)
    by squeaky on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 11:22:55 AM EST
    I am a big pilsner fan... There are places in NTC that serve Radeberger on tap. Yummmmmie

    I like a cold alt any time of the year. Kolsch second place, imo.

    Parent

    Emmys! (none / 0) (#59)
    by Little Fish on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 10:23:48 PM EST
    The Emmy noms were announced today.  John Adams got 23 noms and Recount got 11. 30 Rock, my fav show right now, was nominated for 17 awards, the most for a comedy series.  (yay!)

    And to tie this all in to the election . . . Amy Poehler was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for Saturday Night Live (which is just random to me).  The episode she submitted was the one Tina Fey hosted, which featured the first democratic debate parody in the cold open.  

    Parent

    whoops! (none / 0) (#60)
    by Little Fish on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 10:24:21 PM EST
    Wanted to post that as a new comment but replied instead.  

    I need to step away from the computer today.

    Parent

    I was there a year ago (none / 0) (#64)
    by Little Fish on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 10:26:10 PM EST
    Granted it was in the middle of a heatwave, but I was miserable.  My asthma was crazy.  Not as bad as when I visited DC this last June though.  

    It wouldn't be enough to deter me from living there though, I love NYC.

    Parent

    I don't have asthma, but am sensitive (none / 0) (#100)
    by nycstray on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:17:32 PM EST
    LA was a problem for me. NYC not so much. I do have problems with some of the weather changes and humidity, along with allergies, but air quality is not often a problem. If we have bad air this weekend, not like I'm going to be hanging outside in the swamp weather! I'll do my farm pick up in the early AM and spend the rest of the weekend putzin' around the apt and walking the dog late at night. The park is well lit and I can take her down there at midnight and jog along the track with about 20-30 other folks, lol!~

    Parent
    Larry Craig, of all people, (none / 0) (#1)
    by Grace on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 09:18:39 PM EST
    knows what it's like to be jerked around by the nozzle.  :)

    Larry Craig (none / 0) (#50)
    by Salo on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 10:06:02 PM EST
    The boy with the arab strap.

    Parent
    Huh? Or don't I want to know? (none / 0) (#139)
    by oculus on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 12:36:22 AM EST


    Parent
    LMAO. This thread will become degenerate in (none / 0) (#2)
    by Angel on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 09:18:42 PM EST
    record time, I predict.

    It's screaming for snark! (none / 0) (#3)
    by Grace on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 09:21:14 PM EST
    Maybe we can find some good Elliott Spitzer quotes while we're at it...  ;-)

    Parent
    at least the hooker wasn't called Ms Swallows. (none / 0) (#53)
    by Salo on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 10:06:54 PM EST
    small mercy.

    Parent
    Just keep it clean (none / 0) (#5)
    by Jeralyn on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 09:22:03 PM EST
    I'm hoping for witty. Check the comments at Crooks and Liars.

    You used ya yas... (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by kredwyn on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 09:26:21 PM EST
    and nozzle jerking with Larry Craig.

    And you want to keep it clean...

    Right...

    Parent

    that'll teach her to hope. (5.00 / 1) (#66)
    by Salo on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 10:27:02 PM EST


    Parent
    What's the joke about (none / 0) (#19)
    by pie on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 09:43:35 PM EST
    restrooms at a gas station?

    Parent
    Number 16 is hilarious. Check it out if you are (none / 0) (#10)
    by Angel on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 09:26:37 PM EST
    in the mood for a laugh.

    Parent
    I'm hoping to not have my sex life (none / 0) (#12)
    by Cream City on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 09:38:56 PM EST
    ruined forevermore, now that I'll be thinking filthy thoughts about gas nozzles.

    But at the price at the pump these days, anything to put the fun back in a stop at the gas station to . . . y'know . . . do some, uh, nozzling.

    Parent

    personally (none / 0) (#159)
    by boredmpa on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 04:21:19 AM EST
    I think it's not just about foreign dependence on and costly, dripping, nozzles.  I think it's really about a patriotic, can do attitude...locally grown foods, self-sufficiency, etc.  I mean, gavin newsom has his slow food garden outside city hall and nobody gets all up in his sh1t.  

    So why are people piling on Larry Craig over his preference for local drilling?

    Parent

    Is it late night in Colorado already? (none / 0) (#6)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 09:23:01 PM EST
    Time for bed for me then.

    I bet you could stay up for (none / 0) (#11)
    by Jeralyn on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 09:36:00 PM EST
    one more story.

    Parent
    Oh, no, you di'nt say (none / 0) (#13)
    by Cream City on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 09:39:51 PM EST
    BTD could "stay up."

    Parent
    hehehe (none / 0) (#17)
    by andgarden on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 09:42:52 PM EST


    Parent
    Good one!! (none / 0) (#187)
    by DeborahNC on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 10:15:44 AM EST


    Parent
    Must Be Code (none / 0) (#8)
    by squeaky on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 09:25:22 PM EST
    Someone help me out here.

    Tap-tap-tap. (none / 0) (#191)
    by scribe on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 11:10:10 AM EST
    Tap-tap.  Taaaap-tap-tap.

    Tippity-tap.

    Yee-haw.

    Parent

    HA! (none / 0) (#15)
    by pie on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 09:41:54 PM EST
    Speak of the devil...

    Too funny.

    Then make wind (none / 0) (#37)
    by CSTAR on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 09:58:37 PM EST
    power possible.

    Latest update on Favre from Wisconsin (none / 0) (#74)
    by Cream City on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 10:45:53 PM EST
    since the agony of it all here has come up in the open thread every night for a couple of nights now, I feel behooved to bring you word that the annually a-maze-ing corn farmers here have, with this year's creation, managed to turn manure, as it were, into a Favrefest.  Check out Corn Maze 2008.  

    You even can enter the contest.  It's all for a good cause -- breast cancer research.  Read more here.  But don't wait miss the deadline.  We gotta reap that corn.  We have the butter melting already . . . mmmm, Wisconsin sweet corn.

    I'm on pins and needles.... (none / 0) (#182)
    by kdog on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 09:51:23 AM EST
    waiting for the Long Island corn harvest.

    So sweet you don't even need butter.

    Parent

    anybody have a hard time getting into FDL? (none / 0) (#84)
    by thereyougo on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:02:06 PM EST
    Jane said they were making an announcement from the netroots convention tonight and the site not allowe me find out what the heck it is.

    anybody know and can share it? thx :^)

    I Couldn't Get On Either (none / 0) (#88)
    by squeaky on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:04:42 PM EST
    It is down or super heavy traffic.

    Parent
    They are going to be doing diaries on a new page (none / 0) (#98)
    by Angel on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:16:46 PM EST
    called Oxdown Gazette.  I can't get into the site now either.  Heavy traffic I guess.

    Parent
    Thanks for the info. I got on and they're trying (none / 0) (#153)
    by thereyougo on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:58:55 AM EST
    to be like DKs? - strange. I Like the new site colors. But I don't post there, so I'm not too familiar with the diaries and such.

    good luck to angarden and his studies.

    Parent

    Mellencamp (sp?) on Letterman for those (none / 0) (#114)
    by nycstray on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:36:38 PM EST
    in the central and pacific time zones. Interview and music  :)

    Obama campaigns efforts to (none / 0) (#140)
    by oculus on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 12:41:12 AM EST
    woo evangelicals isn't effective, per new Pew study:  

    LAT

    it just writes itself. (none / 0) (#160)
    by cpinva on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 05:59:30 AM EST
    "We won't let [those foreigners] jerk us around by the gas nozzle."
    Larry really is (none / 0) (#162)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 08:41:25 AM EST
    the gift that keeps on giving.

    Parent
    as far as his ya yas (none / 0) (#163)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 08:43:39 AM EST
    Im not even going there

    Parent
    anyone see the Dark Knight (none / 0) (#165)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 08:52:22 AM EST
    last night?
    Might go tonight.... (none / 0) (#179)
    by kdog on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 09:46:27 AM EST
    with the ladyfriend if I can procure special cinema enhancers after work...otherwise we're gonna wait.  

    I haven't been this excited about a film in a long time, and I want it to be extra special:)

     

    Parent

    definitely (none / 0) (#181)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 09:50:43 AM EST
    big box office weekend:

    Warner Bros.' "The Dark Knight" is poised to enter the record books as it
    opens today -- and the weekend has a shot at being the best on record in
    overall grosses on the strength of the Batman sequel and Universal's
    adaptation of stage musical "Mamma Mia!"
    The record holder for best nonholiday weekend is the weekend of July 7-9,
    2006, which brought in $218.4 million in total domestic box office grosses,
    led by the $131.5 million bow of Disney sequel "Pirates of the Caribbean:
    Dead Man's Chest."

    "Dead Man's Chest" presently sports the
    second-best opening on record after that of "Spider-Man 3," which nabbed
    $151.1 million over the May 4-6 weekend last year.

    **

    love to see this beat the spiderman 151 mil opening weekend record.


    Parent

    however (none / 0) (#184)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 09:56:50 AM EST
    call ahead.  this was from several days ago:

    MovieTickets.com says that, four days prior to its release, Warner Bros'
    Batman: The Dark Knight has sold out 700 performances in North America and
    is outselling 3 of MovieTickets.com's Top 10 Performing Films of All-Time.
    To date, the pic has more than 3-times as many advance tickets as Pirates of
    the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, more than 2-times as many as Spider-Man 3
    and almost 2-times as many as Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers at the same
    point in the sales cycle. This fuels predictions that the latest Batman
    152-minute pic can make $130+ million in domestic gross for the upcoming
    3-day weekend opening because of round-the-clock showings.

    Parent

    The only thing between.... (none / 0) (#185)
    by kdog on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 09:57:41 AM EST
    the Caped Crusader and the record is that so many people are hard up for leisure cash...in a good economy the record would be a lock I think.

    Parent
    I dont know (none / 0) (#186)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 10:14:43 AM EST
    they say escapist movies always do better in economic hard times.
    in the depression movies were pretty much the only booming business.
    Dark Knight and Mama Mia.  cant get much more escapist than that.


    Parent
    Gotta point.... (none / 0) (#197)
    by kdog on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 12:43:58 PM EST
    didn't think of it that way.

    Movies, drugs, assorted vice...recession proof.

    Parent

    Trends on Talkleft (none / 0) (#172)
    by Edgar08 on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 09:36:56 AM EST
    Two situations over the last few days.

    If this is going to be a site where people are featured on the front page mis-representing the statements of Howard Wolfson.  

    And people who would like to turn Bill's good intentions here into an opportunity to turn Bill into a submissive are more welcome than others, then you know, that's a call that can be made by the people who run the site.

    I can definitely see a trend here.  

    What are you talking about? (none / 0) (#177)
    by JoeA on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 09:42:45 AM EST
    I'm confused.

    Parent
    Anti Gay amendment in California in trouble (none / 0) (#178)
    by JoeA on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 09:44:01 AM EST
    according to this diary at MyDD and a Field Poll.

    link

    here in va, (none / 0) (#188)
    by cpinva on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 10:20:35 AM EST
    when a building is referred to as "pre-war", it's the civil war or, the war of northern aggression. for the more genteel, the recent unpleasantness.

    in some rare cases, the revolution.

    years ago, i lived in half a duplex in the fan district of richmond. it had been built in the 1870's, by the tredager iron works, for its artisans. what made it even more interesting was that some of the brick used had come from an old fence, that dated back to the 17th century, built by the original owner of the property, who had received it as a land grant from the king. so i guess the building was sort of a couple of hundred years old.

    the fireplaces (the original sources of heat) started out as wood burning, later bricked up and converted to coal burning, later covered over entirely with patterned and painted tin covers. the dining room ceiling was also covered in tin. no built-in closets, we had to get wardrobes to hang our clothes in.

    the walls were thick plaster, great for insulation, not so great for repair or installation of indoor plumbing/heating/electric wiring.

    the neighborhood itself was somewhat eclectic. near hollywood cemetary, it was in the process of gentrification, hosting a population ranging from low-rent redneck to college professors (it was only a few blocks from VCU's campus). as well, my house was right across the street from the state pen; i had a lovely view from my kitchen window!

    during the summer, i would get these horrid sinus headaches, and go walking around late at night, in an effort to either rid myself of them, or just get exhausted enough to finally crash. i always walked by the front of the prison. i wish i had tape recorded the sounds coming from inside, it would have made a great halloween sound effects tape!

    Late Night Open Thread: Larry Craig Gets His Ya Yas Out | 195 comments (195 topical)

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