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Thursday Afternoon Open Thread

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Blog Related
Posted on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 05:18:39 PM EST
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I'm watching Fringe tonight. What are you doing?

This is an Open Thread.

Also, Jon has nixed any more "Plus 8" shows. Thanks to the Gawds.

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    Thursday Afternoon Open Thread | 64 comments (64 topical)

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    Source checking a journal article (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by andgarden on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 05:21:55 PM EST
    That is, until I get so bored I can't think anymore.

    Hope it isn't on Law of the Sea. (none / 0) (#7)
    by oculus on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 05:48:21 PM EST
    Talk about mindnumbing.  You must have made law review.  Congratulations.

    Parent
    Not exactly (none / 0) (#14)
    by andgarden on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 06:14:55 PM EST
    but we do have other journals. . .

    Parent
    Oh, and Governor Corzine debates (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by andgarden on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 05:23:57 PM EST
    the blob. That's probably even more boring. . .

    Fringe of course (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by waldenpond on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 05:42:21 PM EST
    Interesting?

    Breaking News: amendment close to a public option passes the Finance by 1 vote.

    Was this Carper's faux-PO? (none / 0) (#5)
    by magster on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 05:44:22 PM EST


    Parent
    Mo Blue got it (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by waldenpond on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 05:51:02 PM EST
    It's to be like Washington State Plan....

    quasi-public option

    Parent

    Wonder what the current dollar value (5.00 / 1) (#16)
    by MO Blue on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 06:16:47 PM EST
    of the Washington State Plan start up costs are? Another question is who foots the bill for costs to implement this plan in each state? Cantwell only mentions giving the federal tax credits that would otherwise have been given to those individuals* would instead be paid to states to finance the plan.

    *Restricted to people with incomes between 133 percent and 200 percent of the federal poverty level who do not get insurance at work.

    Parent

    This is the email Cantwell sent out (5.00 / 1) (#43)
    by Inspector Gadget on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 08:22:56 PM EST
    to her email list yesterday:

    Dear xxxxx,

    Yesterday my committee voted late into the night on a series of important amendments to the health care bill. While we made great progress, several amendments to provide a robust public option, one of which I cosponsored, did not pass.

    I believe a robust public option needs to be part of health care reform and while yesterday's vote was disappointing, the fight to reform health care continues.

    We can still add a public option to the bill on the floor of the Senate and if that fails it can be added during conference committee (when members of the House and Senate meet to resolve the differences in their respective bills). But to accomplish this we need you to make your voice heard.

    Join me today by adding your name to the call for a public option.

    While we must wait to fight another day on the public option, we did make real progress on other key provisions. Several amendments that I introduced did pass the committee - including one to make sure savings from negotiations over drug prices are passed on to consumers and NOT contributing more to pharmaceutical companies' bottom lines and another to reward doctors for providing high quality care and make sure that doctors get paid more for keeping you healthy than for ordering duplicate tests - putting quality over quantity.

    As I promised you when this fight began, I've been working day after day and late into the night for real health care reform. There are still many important amendments to debate and to vote on and I promise to keep you updated as this important legislation moves through the Senate. Again, the best way for you to be involved is to make your voice heard.

    Thank you,

    Maria Cantwell




    Parent
    Seems there might be some financial (5.00 / 1) (#30)
    by MO Blue on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 07:24:33 PM EST
    problems with the Washington State Plan.

    Basic Health has a Wait List

    To stay within the appropriated budget, Basic Health is no longer processing incoming applications to determine eligibility and has officially implemented a waiting list. New applicants will be placed on a list behind those already waiting. When space becomes available in the future, Basic Health will release names from the list in date-received order and notify applicants.

    The following groups, however, may by-pass this wait list. This includes:

    Foster Parents
    Personal Care Workers
    Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC)
    Tribal Sponsored Accounts
    Washington National Guard or Reserves who served in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, or Operation Noble Eagle.
    BH Plus and Maternity applicants who we sent to DSHS and who were deemed ineligible for DSHS programs.
    Former BH members who disenrolled due to Medicaid coverage who have since lost that coverage and notified BH within 30 days.
    ...
    Due to passing legislation and required budget reductions, Basic Health must reduce enrollment by approximately 40,000 members. Reductions must take place no later than January 1, 2010.

    Basic Health will increase rates for our enrollees rather than force anyone off the program. No one qualified for the program will be arbitrarily removed. The increased premiums will be effective January 1, 2010. We will also increase the current $150 annual deductible to $250. The decision to raise rates came down to how to protect the most vulnerable, while maintaining the viability of the program. In the end, our members will make the choice whether they stay enrolled or not.
    ...
    Because available space depends on disenrollment, budget availability, and the demographics of the enrolled population, Basic Health cannot predict how long someone will wait and cannot guarantee the opportunity to enroll.hca.wa.gov



    Parent
    The problem with state plans (none / 0) (#49)
    by jeffinalabama on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 09:33:36 PM EST
    is the dependence on a balanced budget. Don't know if WA requires one. A fed plan wouldn't be affected by an economic downturn, unless we give it away. Washington, California, Michigan, these states, if they have balanced budge requirements, suffer now.

    Parent
    Of course WA requires a balanced budget (5.00 / 1) (#59)
    by shoephone on Fri Oct 02, 2009 at 01:41:19 AM EST
    And now that our state is suffering a $9 billion deficit, thousands of people are being cut from the rolls of the BHP. Same thing happened in 2002, 2003 and 2004.

    Does anyone read the newspapers? Governor Gregoire has been making noises this past week that the state may have to dismantle the BHP completely! But hey, Maria's got a plan....

    Anyone who thinks the fed is going to cough up the start-up money for this plan in every state is dreaming.

    Oh well. Single payer was just a dream. The public option was just a dream. Maria's got a plan....

    Parent

    something is better than nothing (none / 0) (#13)
    by magster on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 05:57:36 PM EST
    there were some encouraging words from Harkin today too.

    Parent
    This would be a private insurance plan (5.00 / 3) (#28)
    by MO Blue on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 07:11:02 PM EST
    Anyone hoping for a nose of the camel under the tent outcome will not get it from Cartwell's amendment.

     Also, since it is restricted to people with incomes between 133 percent and 200 percent of the federal poverty level who do not get insurance at work, either the state or the federal government would have to set up an alternative plan(s) for those over those income levels providing they want to "reform" insurance for people outside those limits. By, the time the Senate gets done with finding alternatives to a real public option, they will have split up the insurance pool into so many tiny pieces that none will be able to drive premium costs down.

    Parent

    MO Blue, you have nailed it on the head: (5.00 / 1) (#60)
    by shoephone on Fri Oct 02, 2009 at 01:44:13 AM EST
    "By, the time the Senate gets done with finding alternatives to a real public option, they will have split up the insurance pool into so many tiny pieces that none will be able to drive premium costs down."

    Exacatacally.

    Parent

    Rockies clinch wildcard berth!!!!!! (5.00 / 2) (#4)
    by magster on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 05:43:14 PM EST
    Sorry Braves fans. Really, I am truly very sorry.

    Join the party at (none / 0) (#6)
    by magster on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 05:46:19 PM EST
    purplerow.com

    Parent
    Happy Rocktober Day! (none / 0) (#27)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 07:01:00 PM EST
    Now we'll see if my co-worker is really serious about not wanting to go sit in the cold and watch the games...

    Parent
    Flash Forward (5.00 / 2) (#9)
    by Anne on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 05:49:20 PM EST
    Seems to be a good show, so far.

    There is so much on on Thursday nights:

    Flash Forward
    Bones
    Fringe
    Grey's Anatomy
    Project Runway
    Private Practice

    I watch too much TV!

    Me too - wish they would spread them out (none / 0) (#36)
    by ruffian on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 07:44:02 PM EST
    I watch hardly anything Monday - Thursday, then I OD on Thursday and Sunday.

    Parent
    Solution=DVR or TiVo (none / 0) (#37)
    by coast on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 07:54:36 PM EST
    Wife watching Greys...I'm working and taping Fringe.

    Parent
    I even have the two channel Tivo (none / 0) (#38)
    by ruffian on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 07:56:33 PM EST
    and on Thursday nights it's not enough!!

    Parent
    Do any of the shows (none / 0) (#40)
    by coast on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 08:07:58 PM EST
    come on the internet, so you can watch them anytime?  I don't know anything about that stuff, but my sister watches different shows all the time.  Pick wisely.

    Parent
    Most of them (none / 0) (#44)
    by Inspector Gadget on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 08:30:32 PM EST
    are available by noon the day after they aired on TV on the network website. ABC is the most generous with online broadcasting, NBC is so-so, and CBS is rather selfish. Most of the programs I enjoy are ABC programs :)

    Parent
    Hulu.com (none / 0) (#48)
    by byteb on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 09:12:02 PM EST
    current series, old series, movies, cartoons, etc....and it's all free.

    Parent
    I know, it sux! (none / 0) (#51)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 11:14:24 PM EST
    I've got 2 channel DVR recording + playback of prior DVR recordings. (That's probably not a lot, is it?) It's actually a GOOD night when that's not enuf.

    Parent
    Wednesday night (none / 0) (#45)
    by Inspector Gadget on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 08:32:56 PM EST
    has the new show "cougar town" with a few that look good leading up to it....it's hysterical. Courtney Cox is so talented.

    Parent
    I hope you're serious! (none / 0) (#52)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 11:15:03 PM EST


    Parent
    I am serious (none / 0) (#61)
    by Inspector Gadget on Fri Oct 02, 2009 at 07:58:48 AM EST
    the show is really clever. I kept missing Dirt, but knew it existed, tried to find it online, then forgot to check Fox when the series began. I should look to see if Hulu.com has it available.

    Parent
    Did you ever see Cox's series "Dirt"? (none / 0) (#53)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 11:25:23 PM EST
    I thought it was fabulous! But I was in a severely altered state, during self-imposed exile in Florida (Lauderdale by the Sea), so who knows. I went to the, for real, world's biggest outlet mall - often - and shopped a lot on line. Heeere's Dirt.


    Parent
    Nobody watches too much TV! (none / 0) (#56)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 11:38:14 PM EST


    Parent
    Joshua has a project due too (5.00 / 1) (#22)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 06:31:43 PM EST
    that I must pull him away from Xbox live for.  He needs to write about interaction between people and land formations and he told me this morning watching a.m. news he's doing it about the Tonga quakes.  I have something to do now, stear the child.

    MT, you're a good writer. (none / 0) (#55)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 11:35:19 PM EST
    Do you have a background in lit?

    Parent
    Have the tweets from Sick of It... (5.00 / 1) (#33)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 07:36:05 PM EST
    ...over on the sidebar always been there and I am just noticing them or it that a new thing?

    Also, no more +8?  Hmm, what will I not care about now?  What will America fill the void with?  Is that Dugger family show still on?

     

    Mile-Hi, do not despair (none / 0) (#39)
    by caseyOR on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 08:05:18 PM EST
    The Kardashian family is still around for us to not care about.

    By the way, congrats on the Rockies' success. Maybe someday the Cubs will come through for me. : (.

    Parent

    My theory on the Cubs... (none / 0) (#64)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Fri Oct 02, 2009 at 11:23:05 AM EST
    ...is that Cubbie fans are too loyal.  They'll come out and fill up the friendly confines of Wrigley Field no matter how bad product on the field is.  As long as the seats are filled, ownership is content to count their money.  

    Here, we set MLB attendence records the first few years because of the novelty and newness of having baseball.  When the Monfort boys thought they could continue get by with not spending any money on the team and the on-field product suffered, the bodies in the seats weren't there anymore.  Those were the years that season ticket holders like myself could not give tickets away and decided that the investment wasn't worth it.  

    I always figured that the Rockies would become our version of the Cubs--lovable losers.  Or worse, the team would wither and die and we'd be without baseball again (after all, this is and always be a football town).

    But I'm hopeful that management/ownership has come to realize that there is a connection between attendence and fielding a competative team.  Although, I suspect they will always remain rather tight-fisted in their spending.  

    Parent

    Ken Burns' National Park Series (5.00 / 1) (#42)
    by hollyfromca on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 08:19:06 PM EST
    Yes, government can do great things!  

    And like all great things... (5.00 / 2) (#46)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 09:02:51 PM EST
    ...establishment of the NP's was not without many a struggle.

    What amazes me is the power of the individual to go great things and inspire others to do great things.  People like Stephen Mather, Horace Albright, John Muir and John D. Rockefeller, Jr.  People who had a dream and worked most of their lives to see it come true (or provided the financial support to realize the dreams).  

    Parent

    I think there's even a word (5.00 / 1) (#58)
    by gyrfalcon on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 11:44:19 PM EST
    for that-- leadership.

    Parent
    Fringe. (none / 0) (#8)
    by snstara on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 05:48:38 PM EST
    Anyone else check out "Flash Forward" last week?  

    Fringe. (none / 0) (#25)
    by byteb on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 06:51:55 PM EST
    I watched Flash Forward last week. I liked it enough to tune in tonight. It was weirdly intriguing....'tho nothing compares to Fringe for weirdly intriguing.

    Parent
    Flash Forward (none / 0) (#41)
    by hollyfromca on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 08:16:48 PM EST
    I thought the premise was great, and so far, in the first episode, extremely well executed.  You can still watch the first episode on abc's site.

    Parent
    Tonight's episode is re-airing (none / 0) (#50)
    by nycstray on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 10:12:05 PM EST
    tomorrow night at 8 PM. Which is good as I missed the first 1/2 :)

    Parent
    No TV as Pads are dark tonight. Off (none / 0) (#10)
    by oculus on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 05:49:38 PM EST
    to enjoy the sunset from a friend's backyard overlooking the beach and the Mormon Temple!

    I'm going to try to dig up a movie (none / 0) (#17)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 06:17:48 PM EST
    On Demand or something.  The new Dexter season has started, but that's Sundays.  I really need to hose down the back porch just to get the musty humid summer washed off.  First days of "southern coolness" started yesterday.  It's like a heads up to get the bleach out and start washing stuff down.  I'll do it tomorrow.  Spouse did buy me a new pressure washer before he left.  It has wheels!  I used to heft a smaller one around, until the water connection rusted out.

    Parent
    I got a pressure washer for Christmas (5.00 / 1) (#32)
    by ruffian on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 07:32:43 PM EST
    It is a must-have for Florida. I had never heard of them anyplace else I lived.

    Isn't it nice to have this blast of 'cold' air? Amazing that cooling down even to 70 at night makes it feel like a whole different place.

    Parent

    I love it (none / 0) (#47)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 09:10:05 PM EST
    It is wonderful.  I have a snake too staking out the same territory I am though.  My nextdoor neighbor has been redoing her septic system and also trying to deploy at the same time so I've had my dogs kenneled and not in the yard bothering her workers or her for that matter as she is having certain items hauled out and around to be placed in storage.  Nobody has been discouraging snakes though with the patter of large feet around here.

    Parent
    Sunset sounds more fun--even with that (none / 0) (#21)
    by oculus on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 06:29:39 PM EST
    new power washer.

    Parent
    I can't explain the joy I experience (5.00 / 4) (#29)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 07:12:19 PM EST
    over washing things.  I have issues.  Nor can I explain how this is not my school project but I feel the overwhelming need for poster board right this minute or I will die.

    Parent
    You're in or near The Golden Triangle right? (none / 0) (#54)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 11:31:51 PM EST
    You can see both the beach and the temple? It must be a high elevation, no? You know people with money.

    Parent
    Questions for Springsteen fans: (none / 0) (#12)
    by oculus on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 05:57:35 PM EST
    (1) Do you like the acoustic albums?  If so, which?

    (2) Has Springsteen commented on the Obama presidency since the inaugural?

    I like 'Nebraska' OK (none / 0) (#34)
    by ruffian on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 07:38:58 PM EST
    And there is an acoustic live album that I like a lot. I think it was recorded in Ireland.  When he is singing just plain on the acoustic songs, I like it a lot, but I don't care for the songs where he does the wierd vocal effects  - not sure what to call it. Like yodeling or  high pitched keening.  Not a fan of that style, from him anyway!

    I have not heard him talk about Obama since the election. He didn't talk much at all during the show I saw a couple of weeks ago.

    Parent

    Nebraska... (none / 0) (#62)
    by kdog on Fri Oct 02, 2009 at 09:53:49 AM EST
    is a sick record...no doubt.  

    My fav acoustic jam though is probably "Mary Queen of Arkansas" off the first album...what a tune.  What lyrics.

    Parent

    I also like the album of Woodie Guthrie songs (none / 0) (#35)
    by ruffian on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 07:41:10 PM EST
    he did a couple of years ago. It is not all acoustic, but folk songs with the band, and they do a great job.

    Parent
    Poor John. (none / 0) (#15)
    by ChiTownDenny on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 06:15:16 PM EST
    He married a shrew.  Both discovered a financial gain for multi-birthing.  Now John's gain is threatened?  Is anyone surprised he said; "Back at ya!"?  BTW, has anyone actually seen the show???

    Never (5.00 / 1) (#19)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 06:20:41 PM EST
    And my desire to wanes with each passing week.  And when mom's at school talk about Kate's free tummy tuck she got so America could experience the tummy tuck benefit....well........makes me like dogs even more :)

    Parent
    We all know so much about the show. (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by ChiTownDenny on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 06:23:09 PM EST
    I don't know anyone who's actually seen it. lol

    Parent
    Dang. (none / 0) (#63)
    by Fabian on Fri Oct 02, 2009 at 10:56:07 AM EST
    I had the super tummy tuck and nobody put me on TV!

    Women can "lose their figure" because connective tissue stretches out during pregnancy and doesn't always return to its original state.  Exercise can actually worsen the condition because it only works to tone muscle and pulling on the connective tissue can stretch it further.  

    Men can have the same problem - but they have to pack on the pounds to do it.

    Parent

    My impression was (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by Steve M on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 06:43:24 PM EST
    that neither of them were necessarily a prize, and I hated every moment that my wife had the show on.  I am truly amazed that developments on a show which no one watched can be headline news, even in this country.  I would rather watch Tom DeLay dance with the stars and that's saying something.

    Parent
    LOL! (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by ChiTownDenny on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 06:55:43 PM EST
    Tom Delay vs. J & K + 8?  Free teevee is punishing.

    Parent
    Why do you suppose your wive watches it? (none / 0) (#24)
    by oculus on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 06:46:46 PM EST


    Parent
    Well (none / 0) (#31)
    by Steve M on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 07:26:31 PM EST
    she doesn't any more!

    Parent
    BTW, how is your wive? (none / 0) (#57)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 11:42:00 PM EST


    Parent
    The Willingham case is getting funkier (none / 0) (#18)
    by jr on Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 06:19:51 PM EST
    The Cameron Todd Willingham execution investigation in Texas is entering the cover-up phase.

    Rick Perry sacked three members of the commission about to review the case 48 hours before their meeting, and caused the meeting to be indefinitely postponed.

    Yeah, I'm sure THAT is going to make the issue go away.  Stacking the deck further and delaying the review is certain to play well with the press.  Bang up job, Mr. 39%.

    Thursday Afternoon Open Thread | 64 comments (64 topical)

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