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Monday Night Open Thread

I've been out all day and am just getting to the day's news. Did anyone watch Bristol Palin on DWTS? How did she do?

The Justice Department has asked the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals for en banc review of its decision holding a warrant is required for GPS surveillance. In August, a 3 judge panel reversed a conviction and life sentence in a drug case because the defendant was tracked through a GPS device installed on his car without a warrant. The earlier opinion is here.

Paris Hilton was placed on a year's unsupervised probation on two misdemeanors today. The judge gave her a strong warning: [More...]

Considering Nevada's unemployment rate has jumped to an all time high of 14.4% , I would think the state has more important things to worry about than whether Paris Hilton had a gram of cocaine and tried to talk her way out of it.

Sad news for the Denver Broncos: Wide Receiver Kenny McKinley committed suicide today. He was 23.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

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  • Display: Sort:
    b palin (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by jharp on Mon Sep 20, 2010 at 09:52:58 PM EST
    I'd rather a sharp stick in the eye than watch Bristol Palin on Dancing with the Stars.

    If it makes you feel any better (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 12:10:04 AM EST
    If it makes you feel any better, her score was 6-6-6 (aka the mark of the beast ;-).

    Seriously, that was her score....

    Parent

    I thought she was cute. (none / 0) (#20)
    by nycstray on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 01:37:34 AM EST
    and not the worst dancer. gotta give her props for stepping out that way. was any of her family there?

    Parent
    Here, here! (none / 0) (#83)
    by Chuck0 on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 11:17:43 AM EST
    And exactly, what makes Bristol Palin a "star" anyways? Stardom now comes from passing through the loins of a quitter?

    Parent
    Collins and Snowe (5.00 / 2) (#2)
    by andgarden on Mon Sep 20, 2010 at 09:56:30 PM EST
    are telegraphing that they intend to block the Defense authorization bill. I do not intend to forget their actions.

    Thats an interesting move by them (5.00 / 3) (#4)
    by Socraticsilence on Mon Sep 20, 2010 at 10:02:25 PM EST
    didn't know they hated our troops- and quite literally don't think men and women who put their lives on the line for this country should be able to become citizens of it.

    Parent
    Not to mention DADT (5.00 / 2) (#5)
    by andgarden on Mon Sep 20, 2010 at 10:14:40 PM EST
    DADT fails to reach cloture (5.00 / 2) (#108)
    by MO Blue on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 02:34:15 PM EST
    Just now, the Senate voted against consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act, which contained an amendment to begin repeal of DADT (I say begin because there's a whole separate process including Pentagon review, certification, etc. to come even after the President signs the legislation). The vote was 56-43. Every single Senate Republican voted no, as did Lincoln and Pryor (Reid voted no for procedural reasons so as to bring it back up again).

    There's a lot of discussion going around on blame. As usual, the GOP sucks- even Susan Collins, who voted for repeal in committee, but is beholden to stupid procedural arguments from McConnell on amendments. Open left



    Parent
    I regret to say that I think (none / 0) (#150)
    by gyrfalcon on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 11:29:58 PM EST
    this was a set-up from the get-go.  I think the vote was designed to get the GOPers plus their worst Blue Dog allies to all vote against it in order to provide the Dems with some cred with the DFHs and aid in the fund-raising.  Teh Gays tend to be important contributors.

    Parent
    They make enemies (none / 0) (#42)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 09:12:29 AM EST
    of the Pentagon too by doing so in more ways than one.  Not just withholding funds, but the Pentagon has been lobbying hard for DADT to be lifted. They are our UnAmerican Senators at work :)

    Parent
    Listening to McCain (none / 0) (#44)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 09:14:53 AM EST
    right now complain about having to repeal before "the study" is completed.  If NATO can have gay soldiers certainly we can too, or I guess we can aspire to be the global rednecks.

    Parent
    Really? (none / 0) (#149)
    by gyrfalcon on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 11:27:21 PM EST
    All we hear about on the news are the old, fat, deskbound muckety-mucks who are still horrified by the idea.  That's really good to know, MT.

    The military is mostly such an amazingly practical organization that I'm always amazed when gross impracticality, usually from the genr'ls, ends up ruling the day.

    Parent

    I guess if you're a teenager who had a child out (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by steviez314 on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 04:46:26 AM EST
    of wedlock, you're now a "star".

    I guess (5.00 / 3) (#91)
    by ruffian on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 12:23:02 PM EST
    Dancing With People You May Have Heard Of

    isn't a very catchy title.

    Parent

    Watched Boardwalk Empire last night (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by ruffian on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 07:08:01 AM EST
    Liked it a lot. Well plotted, acted, great writing, and I have lost any doubt about Steve Buscemi being able to carry a show as a lead. He's got 'it' whatever 'it' is. Scarily charismatic.  One quibble - everything looks way too pristine. I think they probably had a few specks of dirt in 1920 Atlantic City. I can see why they would not want to mess up those gorgeous sets and costumes, but still.  Minor point though - I'm hooked.

    I let the prospect of the gorgeous Idris Elba lure me back into watching 'The Big C' last night. Huge mistake. Any correspondence to actual human behavior on that show is purely coincidental. Disturbed by my out of all proportion disgust with the show, and as someone with a real interest in why some productions work and and some don't, I went searching for reviews. Salon's critic agrees with me and describes it way better than I can.

    Idris Elba however? Still hot. I wish he were on Weeds instead, which is great this year. I like Andy and the boys calling Nancy out on her BS, but wish one of them would get away from her for good.

    You didn't like the recent Big C? (none / 0) (#52)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 09:34:50 AM EST
    For some reason I did, granted though it was not comparable to real life events.  I was cracking up when she was getting waxed.

    Parent
    That scene was funny (none / 0) (#57)
    by ruffian on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 09:46:28 AM EST
    if you could separate it from the context of the rest of the show.

    I can take imaginative leaps when they are well executed, but a teacher sitting in a classroom flashing her Brazilian at the maintenance guy in the hall? Maybe some other show could have pulled that off, put this one just can't.

    I also get irritated with the way she almost winks at the camera at the end of every scene, like she thinks she is on one of those pseudo-documentary shows like The Office.

    I could go on...I think I am especially angry because I think they really could have done a good show with this cast.

    Parent

    I thought it would have more depth (none / 0) (#64)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 09:57:42 AM EST
    DADT test today (5.00 / 1) (#56)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 09:38:48 AM EST
    for Snow and Collins.  if they vote no I think it means they are going to allow themselves to be the stepchildren of the republican party.

    on the other hand I could be an excellent opportunity for one or both of them to show just how sick they are of the party bullies.

    not holding my breath though.


    We'll see huh? (none / 0) (#61)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 09:54:24 AM EST
    This is a big test in my opinion though of the party of NO.

    Parent
    DADT showdown (5.00 / 2) (#78)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 10:41:22 AM EST
    What I think, if the Repubs are going to block it?  Let em....call the bluff.  Observe how Clinton how to deal with the party of NO and learn something!  If they really want to not fund the two wars that their party started, if they really want to burn down their house....let em.  The soldiers will make it through their B.S.  The Republicans should not.

    CNN is talking about homeschooling (5.00 / 1) (#85)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 11:31:55 AM EST
    today and how these parents become teachers.  The worst idea in the world.  The minute I open my mouth my kids turn their hearing off.  I would sound like Charlie Brown's teacher in their heads.  If I wanted my kids to be dumb as a post, I'd homeschool.  Some of these parents said that homeschooling creates a well rounded person, and IMO someone with the longest apron strings in world :)  Poor kids

    I'd do both... (none / 0) (#86)
    by kdog on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 11:52:50 AM EST
    send them to school for the sociological aspect of dealing with other kids, and prep 'em for a society bogged down with rules...then deprogram them every night when they got home and teach 'em the straight dope.

    It's definitely something too important to outsource completely to the school system.

    Parent

    Completely agree on that (none / 0) (#87)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 11:59:01 AM EST
    while understanding that not all parents have the time.  Most nights though I study with Joshua like going over his spelling, he has a big science test on Friday and he brought his study guide home and we will go over it each night.  And he and his dad are doing the science fair, how to alter a Nerf gun to get more range....stunning knowledge to share with the masses of sugar high kids :)

    Parent
    It ain't easy... (none / 0) (#88)
    by kdog on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 12:01:47 PM EST
    I don't know how y'all do it, raising kids and all it entails...uncle is more my speed.

    I chip in on the education of the family youngins...much to my sister's dismay I'm sure...she's gotta double deprogram...forget what the teacher said and definitely forget what uncle kdog said:)

    Parent

    Everybody must have an Uncle kdog (5.00 / 1) (#90)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 12:03:35 PM EST
    in order to raise the well rounded child :)

    Parent
    You're too kind... (none / 0) (#99)
    by kdog on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 01:44:04 PM EST
    maybe if you wanna raise a square peg in a world of round holes:)

    Parent
    I have been influenced by (none / 0) (#104)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 02:18:00 PM EST
    one or two Libertarians.  Didn't kill me :)  Sometimes other people would like to though :)  I can ask myself more than two standard questions though when I have a difficulty.

    Parent
    Gotta say (none / 0) (#152)
    by gyrfalcon on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 11:42:16 PM EST
    the home-schooled kids I've encountered have been some of the brightest, most curious kids I've ever met, with a real hunger to learn about stuff.  Maybe there's some self-selection involved in that, but I've absolutely not found them to be tied to apron strings.  I'm sure it varies, I've just not encountered any who were really badly home-schooled.

    Parent
    Holy Crap! (5.00 / 1) (#143)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 05:35:20 PM EST
    Larry Summers is gone.  It's phucking Christmas!  I'm sure this is his crap fit over Warren.  Good bye.

    well (none / 0) (#144)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 05:53:31 PM EST
    after November

    Parent
    He's really not QUITE (none / 0) (#154)
    by gyrfalcon on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 11:46:05 PM EST
    that petty.  I think it's more likely Obama (and Rahm et al) have decided they need a complete overhaul of the economic team-- for the optics and also probably because they didn't agree on much.

    Parent
    Word is, according to CBS News, (none / 0) (#156)
    by caseyOR on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 11:56:03 PM EST
    Obama's advisors think they need to bring in an economic advisor from the corporate world as a way to prove that Obama doesn't hate big business. Apparently there is concern that big business is just not being listened to.

    So, when do the American people get an there own mouthpiece in Obama's inner circle?

    Parent

    How in the world couldn't (none / 0) (#158)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Sep 22, 2010 at 08:41:23 AM EST
    Larry Summers not be seen as being all about the corporate world?  Maybe he was only the Wall Street World, there is a difference.  He was all about attempting to make corporate America feel confident though.  I don't think confidence is their problem though.  They have the lion's share right now.....someone pass me the cake please.

    Parent
    Any Wiskies in here tonight (none / 0) (#3)
    by Socraticsilence on Mon Sep 20, 2010 at 10:01:22 PM EST
    So um can any Badgers tell me what's up with the "I didn't do my essay until five minutes before class" Jobs plan the guy who looks to be there next Governor released- I mean seriously, a guy put up a 48 pt font plan on his site and tried to claim it as a policy brief that's hilarious.

    That sounds like an ad (none / 0) (#40)
    by Cream City on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 09:07:10 AM EST
    for a "feminine hygiene product."

    Parent
    Watching the Big Dog on Letterman (none / 0) (#6)
    by andgarden on Mon Sep 20, 2010 at 11:03:37 PM EST
    Did he lose so much weight that his fingers became bony? Furthermore, did he admit to going on a vegan diet? I'll never believe that!

    Sounded like the Dean Ornish diet. (5.00 / 3) (#23)
    by caseyOR on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 02:44:36 AM EST
    I just saw Bill on Letterman (west coast time). In talking about his heart he said that his big problem is that he does not process cholesterol well, which leads to build up in his arteries. He said that in the '80s people had developed a diet for cardiac patients that was totally plant-based. As Bill described it, the diet sounded like the one developed back in the '80s by the cardiologist Dr. Dean Ornish.  So, this is what he's been eating. So far, he's lost 24 lbs. and feels great.

    As usual, Bill took the big issues (economy, unemployment, climate change, oil, etc.), explained what was going on, why what's going on is not helping us, and laid out several ideas for solving (or at least starting to solve) these big problems. He is so good at breaking big issues down so that they are easy to understand.

    Parent

    Looks like Bill (5.00 / 1) (#47)
    by brodie on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 09:24:24 AM EST
    is finally getting smart about his diet.  I'm just a little surprised he didn't make this sensible and necessary change years ago when he had the major heart problems.  Ornish, overall, is a good plan to follow.  

    Mine is probably 75% in line with the Dean of Diet, though I added the quirky but effective concord grape drink (diluted) several times/day.  No more food cravings, except for the healthy stuff.  

    Plenty of veggies, fruits and nuts in the house at all times (not just counting the house's human occupant), and what extra there is goes to the local (spoiled silly) squirrels, and the opportunistic crows who hang around my house waiting for the easy handout.  Hey, everyone eats healthy around here!

    Parent

    Looking at it, (5.00 / 1) (#95)
    by jeffinalabama on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 12:48:11 PM EST
    I have been trying, somewhat succesfully, to follow some, if not most, of these guidelines since returning from Colombia, and I've lost at least two inches off the waist. Not checking pounds, but some of those down also.

    I like the foods, and beans and rice with cumin and onions is meaty enough, except when I crave some  barbecue (not that often, surprisingly).

    Parent

    Don't think you're leaving... (none / 0) (#102)
    by kdog on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 02:10:11 PM EST
    NYC without knocking back a couple dirty water dogs Jeff:)

    Parent
    Exercise (none / 0) (#151)
    by gyrfalcon on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 11:36:27 PM EST
    You can't do it by diet alone, either losing pounds or making your system healthy.  Exercise qua exercise is to me spectacularly boring, and i don't do boring well at all.  But I now heat my house with a woodstove, and splitting my firewood down provides strenuous daily cardiovascular exercise year-round, the result of which is that I've melted off pounds and inches over the last several years to the point that my shape and my weight at 60 are about where they were at 30.  (Not 22, sigh, but 30 is pretty darn good.)

    The trick for me was to find something I had really strong motivation to do-- ie, saving $$ and staying warm.  Just exercise for the sake of exercise has never worked for me.  But I can't tell you how much stronger and generally healthier I feel now that five years ago.

    Parent

    I thought he looked great on (5.00 / 1) (#79)
    by ruffian on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 10:53:36 AM EST
    the Daily show last week. Maybe he was more tired by the time he got to Letterman, which I did not see.

    Parent
    Father & daughter vegans. Awwww..... (none / 0) (#8)
    by Joan in VA on Mon Sep 20, 2010 at 11:11:11 PM EST
    GIven my family history (5.00 / 3) (#9)
    by andgarden on Mon Sep 20, 2010 at 11:28:24 PM EST
    I should probably be living on kale and beans myself. But IMO life is too short to live without cheese, ice cream, and steak (in moderation. . .)

    Parent
    I gave up meat but not seafood (5.00 / 3) (#15)
    by Joan in VA on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 12:20:06 AM EST
    or cheese or eggs.  Though seafood laced with Corexit seems pretty unappetizing to me so maybe that could go. Salmonella eggs don't seem so great, either. Veggies smothered in melted cheese? Yeah, that's the ticket.

    Parent
    Butter (5.00 / 3) (#17)
    by gyrfalcon on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 12:38:28 AM EST
    I could live with almost any diet restriction, as long as I can eat as much butter as I want.

    Parent
    I love my butter! (5.00 / 4) (#21)
    by nycstray on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 01:44:33 AM EST
    dairy would be the hardest for me to give up. I need my yogurts, cheeses, creams etc :) of course, you'd have to pry away my meats also. Don't overeat them, but do like to keep them in my rotation . . . .

    Parent
    I am so lucky (none / 0) (#45)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 09:19:06 AM EST
    I have abnormally low cholesterol and have been told that I should use butter.  I also use heavy cream in my coffee.  It is nice.....but then I went and paired myself with someone who has a big cholesterol problem and that can complicate life.

    Parent
    Build a Bettah Buttah (and savor the flava) (none / 0) (#128)
    by Ellie on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 03:55:57 PM EST
    Absofreakinlutely. I'd rather enjoy real food wisely -- there's ALWAYS a way! -- than stuff my pie hole with fakery. Strategies:

    • Pick your Poison and Rotate: No one can have all the decadent stuff s/he wants always, evah. Having the real thing(s) moderately and less frequently replenishes the pleasure and reduces the guilt factor.
    • When you do have your guilty pleasure, cherish your enjoyment of it with dedication. Don't multi-task through it; attentiveness is much of the flavor.
    • If you have the patience, make some ghee (or clarified butter) and use it only as a gild, eg, finely misted on steamed veggies (or toast, etc.) Rule of thumb: don't use beyond what you can't taste up front.
    • Make your own Lite but Real buttah doing one or more of (a) simply whipping air into a room-temp block using a beater (or going mano a mano with a wooden spoon) and refrigerating it (b) make it(calorically) lighter by whipping in some buttermilk (c) and/or less cloggy by incorporating olive oil or canola or other delish heart-smart oil (almond, seed oils) in.
    • Make flavored buttah by whipping in different occasions ingredients: (a) mashed fruit or cinnamon and a touch of sugar (for toast, pancakes, dessert dishes) (b) mashed with slo-baked garlic and/or herbs for savory dishes.
    • As we age we do lose our acuity of smell and taste, so compound the Lite buttah with a stronger flavor (as above) like saffron-infused oil, defatted chicken or onion/veg broth to make it register on the brain's pleasure center.

    I've gone with 35-70% buttah as the foundation, pretty much with better results than the store bought OMFG This Doesn't Taste Anything Like Butter type products.

    Parent
    I'm reading this (5.00 / 1) (#148)
    by gyrfalcon on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 11:22:57 PM EST
    as I'm eating a gorgeously tender little artichoke just picked from my garden drenched in glorious buttah.  I don't have a cholesterol problem, and honestly, if I did, I wouldn't care.  A long life ain't worth living butterless, IMO.

    I totally agree that the fakey substitutes are disgusting, even if they weren't pretending to be actual butter and falling flat.  I'm enough of a butter maven that I even have strong brand preferences and stick with Cabot butter, unless for a special occasion I get one of the numerous wildly expensive hand-crafted and/or imported organic butters my local natural foods co-op carries.  Oh, bliss!

    I get lovely raw Jersey milk from a spotlessly clean and careful little farm in the next town, and one of these days I'm going to try making a little butter from the cream and see what that's like.

    My diet by taste preference, not virtue, is heavy in veg, grains and fruits and very little red meat, I'm not much into ice cream or gooey desserts, so butter and milk (and mayo, especially in tomato sandwich season, now coming to an end, dammit) is where most of my fat consumption comes from.

    I think the low-fat diet cookbook authors just have handicapped taste buds and honestly can't tell the difference.  Lucky for them, I guess, but it sure doesn't work for me.

    Parent

    I'm never giving up lox & creamcheese (5.00 / 5) (#18)
    by shoephone on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 12:42:24 AM EST
    and no one can make me!

    Parent
    They were always somewhat (none / 0) (#10)
    by gyrfalcon on Mon Sep 20, 2010 at 11:41:34 PM EST
    bony, but yes, that happens when you lose a lot of weight.  And his head is now too big for the rest of his body, which also happens.  Ditto the loose skin, which isn't elastic enough at his age to recover from being stretched when you lose weight.

    He looks slightly skeletal to me.

    He's probably been given so many restrictions on fat in his diet, he decided he might just as well go all the way and go vegan.

    Parent

    Good points (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by andgarden on Mon Sep 20, 2010 at 11:44:18 PM EST
    I wonder what age it is that being skinny begins to make you look old and not young?

    Parent
    Well, it's really a problem (5.00 / 5) (#16)
    by gyrfalcon on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 12:36:28 AM EST
    of losing a lot of weight after a certain age, which surely varies from person to person.  The skin gradually loses its elasticity-- which is how cosmetic surgeons make their big bucks.  But I've noticed it myself, having lost not a lot but a bit of weight at 60, the skin stays slack at its original shape, rather than sort of snapping back.  One of the many small but depressing indignities of getting older.

    I think actual "skinny" looks awful at any age, but maybe that's just me.  Now something like "svelte" is a different story. :-)

    But some people, especially women, get very, very thin in their old age because they simply lose interest in food.  I suspect that's because the senses gradually get less acute, including smell and taste, and the effort of preparing good meals doesn't seem worth it.  A doc friend of mine with many elderly patients refers to it as the "tea and toast" diet, and I've definitely seen that happen with older friends and relatives.

    One way or another, the struggle with food goes on one's entire life for most of it, doesn't it.

    Parent

    When your skin (none / 0) (#92)
    by jbindc on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 12:30:37 PM EST
    Sallows and starts to droop.

    Parent
    I think Bill doesn't quite (none / 0) (#62)
    by brodie on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 09:55:30 AM EST
    look as healthy as he probably actually is for a couple of reasons.  First, the bags under the eyes, probably from all the frequent flying and jet lagging he experiences on a regular basis, then also the fact that we've become accustomed over the years to seeing him a little more fleshed out in the face so that, now slimmed down and probably at or near his ideal weight, he doesn't quite "look right" to us.

    But I think he's now on the right track to living a longer healthier life.  Slimmer is better and healthier, though not emaciated thin.  I think there's probably something to some of the recent longevity studies that say, essentially, Eat less, live longer.  Pains me to say it, but that racist SC senator -- Thurmond -- managed to get one thing right in his life, and that was his diet -- a half-dozen or so very small portions of real food daily, and that's it.  

    Parent

    no doubt he did. (none / 0) (#7)
    by cpinva on Mon Sep 20, 2010 at 11:08:59 PM EST
    The judge gave her a strong warning

    which she will also no doubt completely ignore. good for her, that she had excellent legal counsel. unfortunately, this merely goes to prove, yet again, that justice is a bought and sold commodity. had she an overworked and underpaid public defender, i question whether ms. hilton would be out with only unsupervised probation.

    not a slur on public defenders by any means, merely a comment on how the rich get a different brand of justice than the rest of us.

    UK wants all salaries to go first to government (none / 0) (#12)
    by gyrfalcon on Mon Sep 20, 2010 at 11:44:26 PM EST
    OK, I admit it, I found this through Drudge, but it does appear to be a serious proposal for employers to send all employee pay through the government, which will calculate and deduct the appropriate taxes and then send the remainder on to the employees.

    I can hardly believe what I'm reading.  This sounds utterly insane.  Can you even imagine this being proposed in the U.S.?


    I suggest similar things to (5.00 / 1) (#55)
    by ruffian on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 09:37:05 AM EST
    my friends in the defense industry just to get their goat. They like the corporate middle man that lets them pretend they don't get paid by the government already.

    Parent
    In Australia, so an Australian says (none / 0) (#19)
    by Cream City on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 01:08:55 AM EST
    their taxation system is something along those lines.  They don't do tax forms, which absolutely tossed the Aussie here.  Down Under, they just are told what to pay or already have it taken or something.  And they just go along with the gummint's decision.

    Also, they pay far more in taxes there -- owing to national health care, in part.  But it doesn't cover everything, so many Aussies still buy insurance to cover items like ambulance transport.

    I still cannot quite figure it all out, as when we talk about the system there vs. here, it's like someone from Mars talking to someone from Jupiter.

    Parent

    Thats awesome (none / 0) (#22)
    by efm on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 02:00:19 AM EST
    Will end up being like all of the other money the government sends to people. You'll end up seeing your 1st pay check 8-12 weeks after you start at a job.

    Parent
    It is insane... (none / 0) (#43)
    by kdog on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 09:13:05 AM EST
    I can't see it ever happening here...but we've seen things we'd never thought we'd see, haven't we?

    It's a Brave New World.  

    Parent

    Bristol on DWTS (none / 0) (#13)
    by Swiggs on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 12:03:33 AM EST
    Bristol was actually surprisingly not terrible.  The worst might have been Kurt Warner.  He was pretty bad.  The Situation was also terrible.  Hopefully he will be the first to go.  Jennifer Grey not surprisingly was fantastic.  Loved Mrs. Brady, too!

    Change! (none / 0) (#27)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 07:08:05 AM EST
    Everybody and their mother... (5.00 / 1) (#49)
    by kdog on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 09:31:13 AM EST
    knew the ins. co's were gonna find the loopholes and end-arounds to any new consumer protections...such shenanigans were a given.

    There is but one way I can think of to reign in the ins. co...everybody stop paying them till our grievances are addressed...kinda like a rent strike.  

    Washington can't or won't via legislation People...it's on us.  Bottom line...they're salaries & profits all come from our pockets voluntarily...at least until the mandate takes effect. We can stop the pillaging at any time, all it takes is a little guts to gamble, and a little organizing.

    Parent

    I like this idea (5.00 / 1) (#96)
    by ruffian on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 01:13:46 PM EST
    There is but one way I can think of to reign in the ins. co...everybody stop paying them till our grievances are addressed...kinda like a rent strike.
     

    If only there was a well funded organization that claims to want to free the common people from the tyranny of large organizations that are stealing their money. One that has the undivided attention of the media. Hmmmm.....

    Parent

    LOL.... (none / 0) (#98)
    by kdog on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 01:42:25 PM EST
    yeah ruffian...government bueracracy and tyranny bad, private sector beuracracy and tyranny good.

    Speaking of the totally full of sh*t tea party movement...Carl Paladino is being exposed as one of the biggest welfare kings in NY State...for those that didn't already know.

    Now if Crazy Carl wants to put his gotten on the shady side gains where his mouth is and cut a check with 8 or 9 zeros payable back to the People of NY...then I'd be prepared to take him and his rants a little more seriously.  C'mon Carl...give it back and pull up those bootstraps ya clown.

    Casey once asked "Can anybody here play this game?"...I ask you all today "Is anybody here not totally full of sh*t?"  

    Full of it to the left, full of to the right, and we're stuck in the middle drowning in sewage.

    Parent

    if this isn't (5.00 / 1) (#69)
    by CST on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 10:18:57 AM EST
    an argument for public health care, I don't know what is.  It's like insurance companies are out to prove that they're @ssholes.

    In any event, as soon as they are required to cover pre-existing conditions for everyone, this "loophole" will disappear.

    Parent

    Robert Zirkelbach, a spokesman for AHIP (none / 0) (#28)
    by Rojas on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 07:30:58 AM EST
    "said, extending such coverage in child-only policies "provides a very powerful incentive for a parent to wait until their child becomes very sick before purchasing coverage."

    Insane...
    I've noted this before, we are killing the wrong people.

    Parent

    Paris' judge cracks me up... (none / 0) (#29)
    by kdog on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 07:47:48 AM EST
    what "conduct" is he talking about?  She didn't bother a soul that night as far as I can tell, maybe her beau did, but not her.

    Is he talking about her story that the blow wasn't hers?  That's not poor conduct, that's the smartest play in a bad situation...deny, deny, deny.

    It couldn't possibly be a little blow in her purse...whats that got to do with conduct?  

    Talking tough with his years cage time...what a d*ck.

     

    In related celebrity run-in... (5.00 / 2) (#30)
    by kdog on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 07:52:15 AM EST
    with John Law news, Lohan could be headed back to a cage...failed a p*ss test...here we go, more criminal justice resources down the drain.  

    If we were all celebs and every case of drug war misadventure was publicized...every arrest, every 90 day sentence, every p*ss test parole violation blasted on the tube and the net...we mighta called this thing off by now.

    Parent

    I believe the number is (none / 0) (#31)
    by Rojas on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 08:13:32 AM EST
    The public is in danger... (5.00 / 1) (#32)
    by kdog on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 08:22:02 AM EST
    allright...from those who claim to want to protect us.

    Parent
    Case in point... (5.00 / 1) (#37)
    by kdog on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 09:00:07 AM EST
    Florida guy spends 3 days in a cage because cops confuse his heart meds for cocaine...in the interest of public safety, of course.

    Funti said he felt like an animal as he was handcuffed and shackled and shuttled through first the Walton and then the Okaloosa County jails, and now he's contemplating legal action.

    "This was not a mistake, this was neglect," he said. "Somebody just didn't care to follow through with the paperwork to keep a man out of jail."

    C'mon Mr. Funti...dontcha feel safe?

    Parent

    When I was a probation officer (5.00 / 1) (#48)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 09:29:05 AM EST
    one of the kids who had to see me was busted for weed.  Later on he was pulled over and the cops confiscated his aspirin and his quartz rocks that were in his pocket (remember the healing quarts rock phase in the 90's?).  The cops really thought they had some hot items, until the stuff was tested.  I could not believe cops were actually that phucking stupid, but I was of course not in a position to fully express myself at that time.

    Parent
    Back in the olden times (none / 0) (#157)
    by Rojas on Wed Sep 22, 2010 at 08:40:17 AM EST
    when I was a teenager a cop was searching my car. My heart stopped when he had eureka moment as he exclaimed "ah ha!" He emerged from the vehicle with a small object moving in the deliberate practiced way of an IED team. He sat a small makeup compact on the hood of my car as though it were a thermo nuclear device. He could barely hid his glee when he opened the compact and inquired "what is this?" My oh sh@t what have they left in my car meltdown turned into out right laughter as I peered at the small blue pill with bits of glitter that had one been eyeliner.

    He was dubious and dumbfounded and I know he really wanted to arrest me over this discovery. I'm pretty sure he decided discretion was the better part of valor as a rookie might have a hard time living that one down.

    Parent

    Damn... (none / 0) (#38)
    by kdog on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 09:00:49 AM EST
    I suck today...linkage.

    Parent
    Gotta love it (none / 0) (#50)
    by republicratitarian on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 09:31:31 AM EST
    I believe he was referring to Ms. Hiltons' (none / 0) (#36)
    by Harry Saxon on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 08:57:41 AM EST
    lie about the purse with cocaine in it not being hers to the cop when she had previously posted a picture of said post using Twitter.

    Parent
    Probably Talking About (none / 0) (#73)
    by squeaky on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 10:27:21 AM EST
    Paris lied about the purse not being hers...  Judges hate lying.

    To tell you the truth, she is on record as saying that she is against drugs. Someone in her position, were she more libertarian and less right wing, could influence the absurd drug laws.

    Too bad she won't go there.

    Parent

    Yeah... (none / 0) (#76)
    by kdog on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 10:35:59 AM EST
    endorsements and such trump a good cause everytime I'm afraid...anybody with an endorsement contract possibly riding on it pulls out the "I made a mistake, drugs are bad" canned bullsh&t.

    That's what makes a guy like Ricky Williams so cool...he failed an NFL p*ss test and refused to apologize. Mo matter how much money it cost him, he was honest and refused to play the canned bullsh*t game.  

    Paris Hilton is no Ricky Williams.

    Parent

    And (none / 0) (#81)
    by squeaky on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 10:59:54 AM EST
    She does not need endorsements.

    If all the top talent in Hollywood, Music world, Art world, Literature super stars, etc. joined in to lobby for treating drug abuse as a medical matter and not a crime, it would have an impact.

    Just say no to drug laws, they are abusive.

    Parent

    It would have an impact... (none / 0) (#84)
    by kdog on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 11:18:10 AM EST
    but you need numbers so no one is out on a limb by their lonesome, yet someone needs to go out on the limb to get numbers...catch-22.

    Ya can't really blame people for copping out...when I've been in front of a judge I dropped a line of bull too..."made a mistake, never happen again, yadda yadda yadda, can I go home now?".

    Parent

    More change! (none / 0) (#33)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 08:44:49 AM EST
    Bad News Jets fans... (none / 0) (#34)
    by kdog on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 08:48:55 AM EST
    somewhere in a Manhattan precint a cop is getting an earful this morning (I hope)...Braylon Edwards nabbed for a dee-wee.  He's a knucklehead on and off the field...but we're thin at wideout and 2 more weeks till Santonio comes back from suspension...not good.

    I'm missing the old school right now...Joe Namath woulda got a ride home in exchange for an autograph and a pair of tix.  Musta been a Giant fan behind that badge.

    Oops... (none / 0) (#35)
    by kdog on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 08:49:17 AM EST
    Maybe he read (none / 0) (#39)
    by Harry Saxon on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 09:02:00 AM EST
    this from Mens' Journal?(Warning, NSFW):

    For most American men, this time of year means the kickoff of NFL training camp -- the start of the New Year on the couch-potato sports calendar. But for me it's a sad time. It's the end of Arrest Season.


    Click Me


    Parent

    Taibbi... (none / 0) (#41)
    by kdog on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 09:08:25 AM EST
    is one funny s.o.b...good stuff Harry.

    Parent
    Tough day with your links lol (none / 0) (#51)
    by republicratitarian on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 09:34:25 AM EST
    How do you get the link in one word like that? I've done the tinyurl thing, but it's still kind of long.

    Parent
    Others are better at explaining it... (none / 0) (#59)
    by kdog on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 09:50:34 AM EST
    but I'll give it a shot r-crat.

    You type a word in the comment box, highlight it with the mouse, then hit the chainlink icon, put the page you wanna link to in the box that pops up, hit "ok" and you're done.

    Parent

    Ok, thanks. That sounds simple enough (none / 0) (#66)
    by republicratitarian on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 10:04:16 AM EST
    Is it just me (none / 0) (#46)
    by jondee on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 09:23:42 AM EST
    or does there seem to be an inordinate number of "erratic" personalities at the wide receiver position in football?

    I wonder if it has anything to do with the kind of hits those guys take on a fairly regular basis? I'm thinking yes. Obviously difficult to prove, though.

    Parent

    WR is the new... (none / 0) (#63)
    by kdog on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 09:55:42 AM EST
    prima donna position to rival QB...but I don't think it's the hits, they've always taken the hits...more likely it's celebrity obsessed culture.

    Parent
    I dont know, dog (none / 0) (#67)
    by jondee on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 10:05:52 AM EST
    Chuck Hughes died on the field in the seventies..Darryl Stingly..Kenny McKinley's suicide recently..

    And some of the behaviors some of these guys have manifested, imo, go beyond prima donna into self destructively nutty. Who takes more vicious, unguarded hits in games than wrs? Rbs at least see it coming most of the time..

    Parent

    I see your point... (none / 0) (#71)
    by kdog on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 10:25:03 AM EST
    you do have to be a little nuts to go over the middle for a ball defenseless.

    Covering and returning kicks is crazy too though...the whole game is crazy as big and fast as they play it.

    Parent

    Maybe not the position (none / 0) (#68)
    by brodie on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 10:12:50 AM EST
    but the sport itself might attract somewhat larger numbers of quirky and extreme characters compared to other team sports.  Though it's possible that re wide receivers, they learn to adopt an "attitude" -- colorful or highly aggressive or crazy -- in order to deal psychologically with the constant vulnerability they must experience in playing their position and knowing they'll be hit hard.

    Actually, traditionally the craziest players on NFL teams are usually the defensive backs -- perhaps because they're expected to deliver the big blows to the wide receivers, or generally intimidate them into not playing well.  

    Parent

    I was thinking linebackers... (none / 0) (#72)
    by kdog on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 10:26:46 AM EST
    are the craziest...but maybe they just look the craziest.  Ray Lewis, Mike Singletary, Jack Lambert...

    Parent
    Well, LBers are certainly (none / 0) (#101)
    by brodie on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 02:00:53 PM EST
    the biggest crazies on the field.

    But pound for pound and player for player, I'd still put money on the DBs having more whackjob locos, borderline schizos, psycho and sociopaths among their ranks.

    And notice, the LBers are actually sane enough -- or enough of them anyway --  to actually be entrusted to coach an occasional NFL team.  Doesn't happen often that DBs are handed such responsibility.

    Ex LB greats also have a tendency to get work in Hollywood.  That doesn't require a lot of smarts, sure, but it does usually require for a movie shoot that the person undergo a medical exam for insurance purposes.  Not many DBs have made it to Tinseltown -- might be the insurance risk ...

    Parent

    Gee thanks... (none / 0) (#107)
    by kdog on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 02:27:12 PM EST
    I always played corner primarily...can we stick to safeties being psychos:) Jack Tatum, Ronnie Lott...

    Parent
    Hey, don't get me started (none / 0) (#115)
    by brodie on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 02:46:56 PM EST
    about Mad Dog Tatum.  But Lott was/is actually quite the approachable gentleman off the field, and I believe has been sought for honest, gainful, not to mention lucrative employment in his post-gridiron years.  One of those rare DBs who could turn off the crazed hitman attitude once he stepped off the field.

    But I didn't of course mean to indict all DBs.  It's probably fair to say no more than 90-95% of them are actually psycho or borderline certifiable.  That's still less than 100%!

    Parent

    very much a gentleman (none / 0) (#117)
    by nycstray on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 02:56:34 PM EST
    did a shoot with him during his playing days. have very nice memories of that day and a cute pic of us ta boot :)

    Parent
    Lott was the best I ever saw (none / 0) (#123)
    by jondee on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 03:15:10 PM EST
    not only in coverage and for open field tackling, but because he could come up to the line and play the run better than half the LBers in the league. He was one of those rare players who lifted the whole team up a notch. I always thought he was as valuable to San Fran as Montana or Rice, even though he got nowhere near the amount of accolades they did.

    You could tell Tatum might be the kind of guy to do some serious damage to someone even when he was at Ohio State. He used to hit people in the open field so that they stayed hit. Even that "immaculate reception" was the result of Tatum laying possibly too much wood on a receiver: the force of the blow contributing to the ball ricocheting back twenty feet into the hands of Harris, and the rest was-is history..

    Parent

    Lott was special... (none / 0) (#129)
    by kdog on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 04:01:14 PM EST
    what I'll always remember about him is when given the choice of saving his pinky and missing some games, or choppin' it off and missing no time...Ronnie said take my pinky.  And it became an urban legend where they chopped it off at halftime, and everybody believed it!

    Parent
    LBers..I remember Sayers saying (none / 0) (#113)
    by jondee on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 02:43:58 PM EST
    that Dick Butkus used to tear off his uniform and lick himself clean after every game..:)

    Parent
    I remember Sayers and (none / 0) (#120)
    by brodie on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 03:00:05 PM EST
    Butkus playing in real time.  Yes, he was an animalé on the field (the polar opposite of smooth-as-silk Sayers).  A rep also for being something of a dirty player, not to mention a vicious headhunter.

    But there again you have a LBer who was still sane enough to transition to another honest line of entertainment (comm'ls, teevee sitcoms).  That crusty grumpy uncle figure is a commonly found character.

    Also a bit of a right-winger as I understand it, and almost got tapped successfully to run against -- was it Obama for senate in 2004?  Sure would have been more entertaining to watch that Crazed LBer vs Rookie Southpaw QB matchup than the lunatic RW whackjob Obama easily crushed -- Keyes.

    Parent

    What a dummy (none / 0) (#53)
    by lilburro on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 09:36:16 AM EST
    seriously, take a damn cab!  Hire a driver!!  You make millions of dollars!!!!

    Parent
    No argument... (none / 0) (#70)
    by kdog on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 10:20:01 AM EST
    I just hope there is a cop calling his fellow officer an idiot for not giving Braylon a ride home and a stern warning...I mean we got Miami Monday Night!  Discretion!  Priorities! :)

    I know it's asking too much...the good old days are long gone...unless you've got a PBA card or a badge you're going down.

    Parent

    when you consider (none / 0) (#74)
    by nyjets on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 10:33:09 AM EST
    When you consider the number of people killed by drunk drivers who are sports players, I for one am GLAD edwards was arrested.
    It was not the good old days when people, including sports players were given a free pass.

    Now we have to make sure cops do not get a free ride as well.

    Parent

    My daughter was just (none / 0) (#75)
    by jondee on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 10:33:42 AM EST
    telling me the other day that a friend of hers from High School, who waitresses at a local restaurant where the town cops eat, has been pulled over twice in the last few months so hammered that she could barely stay on the road and has been given a ride home with no ticket both times. I just hope she doesn't kill somebody the next time..

     

    Parent

    Glad to hear... (none / 0) (#77)
    by kdog on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 10:40:57 AM EST
    breaks and a ride home are still given somewhere...not happy to hear the breaks are being squandered by your daughter's friend.

    Drunk driving is bad news...how we've gone bonkers over it is no prize either...that's all I'm getting at.  

    Parent

    she's slightly out of control (none / 0) (#80)
    by jondee on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 10:53:51 AM EST
    and enabled by the owner who plies the gals with free drinks and lines after work; the better to have a crack at getting into their knickers. So it goes..

    Parent
    Ugh! (none / 0) (#139)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 04:39:24 PM EST
    Some things will never change huh?

    Parent
    really f*cking stupid (none / 0) (#82)
    by nycstray on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 11:11:38 AM EST
    especially when you read this part of your link:

    "The Player Protect program is in place for our organization to prevent this situation. Braylon is aware of this program and showed poor judgment."

    The Player Protect program provides car service to players who are out partying.



    Parent
    Deepak Chopra just said that (none / 0) (#54)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 09:36:51 AM EST
    Timothy McVeigh was Christian.  Is this true?  I was always under the impression that McVeigh was more under the influence of the military than anything religion based.

    All I know is that (none / 0) (#58)
    by jondee on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 09:47:59 AM EST
    he was supposedly very bent out of shape over Waco, and may have had more than a touch of lingering,  undiagnosed PTSD from Desert Storm.

    Parent
    That is my understanding too (none / 0) (#60)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 09:52:37 AM EST
    I know nothing of any religious affiliation that McVeigh may have had.

    Parent
    odd interpretation (none / 0) (#65)
    by jondee on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 09:57:57 AM EST
    of christianity-in-action, if he was one. Which, obviously, wouldn't be the first time that's happened..

    Parent
    The defense bill still too close to call (none / 0) (#89)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 12:02:35 PM EST
    according to CNN.  Still threats to filibuster, do it you FOOLS.....I dare you, I double dog dare you.

    And now the President presents (none / 0) (#93)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 12:34:38 PM EST
    Richard Eichberger the Medal of Honor for risking his life and saving those who worked with him on a top secret mission in Laos during the Vietnam War.  Go ahead and $hit on the troops today Republicans!

    Mispelled...Richard Etchberger (none / 0) (#94)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 12:35:26 PM EST
    Bad time to mispell today Tracy

    oh my (none / 0) (#97)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 01:24:12 PM EST
    The U.S. Attorney's Office is looking into claims by a watchdog group that Tea Party hero Christine O'Donnell used campaign funds for personal expenses.

    Over the weekend, a Washington government watchdog group says O'Donnell spent tens of thousands of campaign dollars on personal expenses.



    Old news (none / 0) (#153)
    by gyrfalcon on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 11:43:45 PM EST
    her former campaign manager has been talking about this for weeks, and made robocalls for Castle.

    Parent
    Boardwalk Empire (none / 0) (#100)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 01:51:38 PM EST
    After one show? (5.00 / 1) (#106)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 02:19:25 PM EST
    Wow....I'm chalking this up to Soprano addicts who are looking for a new drug :)

    Parent
    never had much of a thing for (none / 0) (#110)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 02:40:15 PM EST
    Sopranos.  this is very very different.  the period setting is just great.  it is such a great opportunity for history.  sort of a forgotten time in organized crime.  

    one great bit early in the show is when two drivers are standing out in the cold smoking and talking while the bigwigs do bigwig stuff inside.  the conversation ends and they introduce themselves to say goodbye and one of them is Al Capone.


    Parent

    from the link (none / 0) (#112)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 02:42:28 PM EST
    Reviews on the first episode of Boardwalk Empire were generally positive, though many people - such as Ken Tucker at Entertainment Weekly  - mentioned that the pilot episode, which Scorsese directed, is the weakest of the early episodes. And considering the episode was so entertaining, I can't even imagine how good this series can get.


    Parent
    I watched it (none / 0) (#131)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 04:10:04 PM EST
    and I did like the scene you describe.  I also liked husbands that beat you into miscarriage getting whacked :)  I need a little more character development before I can decide for certain.  I am watching Al Franken cry right now on the Senate floor because we failed on DADT.

    Parent
    mentioned below (5.00 / 1) (#134)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 04:23:38 PM EST
    pretty sure he has more than a passing interest in that woman.

    Parent
    Ah yes (none / 0) (#135)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 04:26:54 PM EST
    the madonna/whore complex :)  Been there, spent my whole being defined by that "Bell Curve" :)

    Parent
    I just can't leave it alone yet Capt (none / 0) (#136)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 04:29:47 PM EST
    My inner Feminist Awakens

    One man's trash is another man's treasure, and man's whore is another man's madonna :)

    Parent

    Oh yeah (none / 0) (#137)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 04:31:43 PM EST
    Sending you an email.

    Parent
    well (none / 0) (#138)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 04:33:26 PM EST
    to be fair I dont think she was a whore.  she just had an a$$hole for a husband.

    Parent
    Oh no (none / 0) (#140)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 04:43:18 PM EST
    Wasn't saying she was a whore. Only responding to a lifetime of men defining me and telling me that I'm either/or.  They do too, and hers did.  If you talk to the wrong guy you can suddenly be a whore, if you talk to nobody ever....you can be a madonna until they get tired of that too :)  Patriarchy in action

    Parent
    oh (none / 0) (#141)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 04:45:47 PM EST
    yeah.  I looked at her and saw my mother.


    Parent
    also (none / 0) (#114)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 02:44:02 PM EST
    the obvious correlation between prohibition and the current drug war are everywhere.  
    particularly in the glee with which the underworld greets prohibition.  that is how the series starts with the beginning of prohibition.

    Parent
    Sadly... (none / 0) (#116)
    by kdog on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 02:51:55 PM EST
    I don't have much faith in the public making the obvious connections to modern day prohibition...but that was my thought too, especially in the scene you mention where all the AC players were sitting around the table toasting the useful idiots in Washington for passing prohibition and writing their blank check...and the talk of raising the retail price of a drink to 3 clams.  "Nobody is gonna pay 3 clams for a 15 cent drink."

    Of course they will...imagien if they had lived to see people pay 20 clams for a gram of reefer!

    Parent

    it also great (none / 0) (#118)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 02:57:34 PM EST
    that it opens with his talk to the womens temperance league.  hilarious.


    Parent
    That was a cool scene... (none / 0) (#121)
    by kdog on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 03:06:22 PM EST
    he played the temperance league like a fiddle...hitting the flask on the way out the door...a true politician:)

    I like how they are already blurring the good vs. evil lines too...Thompson is corrupt as all hell, but he put the love in that poor pregnant lady's hand...and cold clocks her bastard husband when he finds him gambling and drinking it away.  Ya can't help but like the guy...so far.

    Parent

    I think that pregnant (none / 0) (#122)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 03:13:03 PM EST
    woman ends up being his love interest.  he is based on a real guy you know? from wiki.

    Enoch Lewis "Nucky" Johnson (January 20, 1883 - December 9, 1968) was an Atlantic City, New Jersey political boss and racketeer. From 1911 until his imprisonment in 1941, he was the undisputed "boss" of the Republican political machine that controlled Atlantic City and the Atlantic County government. Using his 6 foot one inch 250 pound frame to advantage, his rule encompassed the Roaring Twenties when Atlantic City was at the height of its popularity as a temporary refuge from Prohibition, his organization also being involved in bootlegging, gambling and prostitution.


    Parent
    Me either (none / 0) (#130)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 04:06:56 PM EST
    It was ok (none / 0) (#109)
    by jbindc on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 02:37:40 PM EST
    I'll watch a couple more episodes, but it was definitely a show I could take or leave.

    They were a nit gratuitous with the f-bomb too - in places where one would have sufficed, they would repeat the line a couple of times just to make sure they could drop more f-bombs.  I found it distracting and in some parts it took away from the story.

    Parent

    they are gangsters (none / 0) (#111)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 02:40:56 PM EST
    they do things like that

    Parent
    Lack of creative writing, IMO (none / 0) (#119)
    by jbindc on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 02:59:20 PM EST
    The David Mamet school (none / 0) (#132)
    by jondee on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 04:13:27 PM EST
    of gritty realism writing..

    Whenever I have the urge to go gangster, I just watch Miller's Crossing again for the thirtieth time..

    Parent

    curious (none / 0) (#133)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 04:22:33 PM EST
    I recently had a heated argument with someone who did not believe that the relationship between Eddie Dane(the bada$$ hitman) and Mink (Steve Buscemi) is supposed to be a homosexual one.

    I got is from netflix and watched it again to make sure I was not interpreting.

    did you see it?

    Parent

    definately homosexual.. (none / 0) (#155)
    by jondee on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 11:48:06 PM EST
    I don't know how else you could interpret the information put forth. And the implication also seemed to be that "Mink" was two-timing "The Dane" with Turturro's character Bernie Birnbaum.

    The whole movie has the feel of an R rated, slightly surreal, Dick Tracy comic strip from the thirties come to life. Leave it to the Coen brothers.

     

    Parent

    Smile NYC... (none / 0) (#103)
    by kdog on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 02:17:05 PM EST
    the spy-der web just got wider...and we're the flies.  Though real flies don't pay the spider to spin the web that snares them.

    The thought of some cop sitting in a command center with access to all these real-time images, and the ability to sort 'em, just gives me the cold orwellian chills.  

    And ladies, mind your hem and bust lines...these puppies can zoom zoom zoom.

    Japanese authorities detain Paris Hilton (none / 0) (#124)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 03:17:45 PM EST
    Japanese authorities detain Paris Hilton at airport
    (Reuters) - Celebrity socialite Paris Hilton was held for questioning by officials at Tokyo airport on Tuesday where she had flown for business one day after pleading guilty to possessing cocaine in Las Vegas.

    Immigration officials at the Narita International Airport detained Hilton for hours after her chartered plane landed there, and then asked Hilton to stay overnight at an airport hotel for more questioning on Wednesday before allowing her to enter the country, according to Japanese media reports.

    She can't catch a break.

    so (none / 0) (#125)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 03:21:18 PM EST
    I guess the question now is will Obama have the nads to end the witch hunts under DODT.  which he could do by executive order.

    Simple answer to a simple question (5.00 / 1) (#126)
    by MO Blue on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 03:43:31 PM EST
    No

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    I think he (none / 0) (#127)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 03:51:06 PM EST
    might

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    If not fixed during lame duck session, (none / 0) (#146)
    by MO Blue on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 06:40:02 PM EST
    I would expect him to save the executive order thing  for 2012.

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    Sketchy (none / 0) (#147)
    by squeaky on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 07:42:32 PM EST
    2) Legislative action is still required to permanently remove "don't ask, don't tell."

    Seems to me that if there is hostility from amongst the ranks, an EO would make it more dicey for the troops who decide to come out.

    Most likely that is why Clinton did not issue an EO, but put in place DADT.

    The congress will have to relent sooner or later as public opinion is for repealing the antiquated discrimination in the military.  

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    militant pushback to (none / 0) (#142)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 05:00:27 PM EST
    airline policies? whatever.  it is certainly going to be my sisters new excuse:

    Western surge in obesity may have been caused by a virus

    The obesity explosion that has swept the Western world over the past 30 years may have been caused by a virus, scientists have said.

    Researchers have discovered new evidence for an illness they have called "infectobesity" - obesity that is transmitted from person to person, much like an infection. The agent thought to be responsible is a strain of adenovirus, versions of which cause the common cold. It has already been labelled the "fat bug".

    There are more than 50 strains of adenovirus known to infect humans but only one, adenovirus 36, has been linked with human obesity.

    Now scientists at the University of California, San Diego, have found that children who showed evidence of infection with adenovirus 36 were more likely to be fat. In tests on 124 children aged eight to 18, the virus was present in more than 20 per cent of those who were obese, compared with less than 6 per cent of the rest. Among those infected with adenovirus 36, four out of five were obes

    e.


    Boeing awarded contract for solar (none / 0) (#145)
    by oculus on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 06:24:24 PM EST
    drones.  How green.  See LAT.

    Wow, I'm under the impression (none / 0) (#159)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Sep 22, 2010 at 08:44:16 AM EST
    we crash a few drones.  It seems a bit challenging in that respect, and now solar drones?  Isn't it amazing what we are told can't be influenced and then seeing what can seemingly be influenced?

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