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Tuesday Night Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Tue Jun 21, 2011 at 09:22:33 PM EST
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Still no verdict for former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich after 7 days of jury deliberation.

Semi-finals on the Voice: It's not even close in my view -- Frenchie and Beverly by miles.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

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    Tuesday Night Open Thread | 59 comments (59 topical)

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    Well, the money begging begins... (5.00 / 2) (#20)
    by jeffinalabama on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 08:36:21 AM EST
    DCCC has sent me letters and a daily email since last week to raise funds to fight Republican "censorship."

    The House isn't blameless in this mess, but, geez... I feel like replying, "Thanks for your letter. Since the first stimulus didn't provide me with sustainable employment, I'll wait until you pass a jobs bill and I am able to get re-hired. Additionally, since this administration stopped my child from boarding a plane to the US, I'll wait until you end this travesty called TSA, possibly Homeland Security itself, until I donate one red penny. Get your act together and quit blaming the republicans for policies you and your party did nothing about when you had the chance."
    How does that sound? I'm open to suggestions ;-)

    It's the (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 08:52:23 AM EST
    same thing I would say. I replied to an email with a nasty statement a while back and they took me off their mailing list.

    Parent
    Not bad, not bad.... (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by kdog on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 08:56:07 AM EST
    If I was a dime-dropping sort I'd consider filing a complaint for internet harassment or stalking Jeff...you are being subjected to that in your inbox daily?  Far more offensive is this begging for cash than any junk pics or ED drug ad in ones inbox...am I wrong?

    But since I'm not the dime-dropping sort, how bout this...

    "Listen up chief...I open my wallet for two reasons, to purchase goods or services or for charity...you provide no good or service of value, and ya sure as hell ain't no charity...go find another sucker to fund his or her own demise...cuz it ain't me babe, not no more.  Sincerely A Man Without a Country."

    Parent

    I like it! (none / 0) (#25)
    by jeffinalabama on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 08:58:53 AM EST


    Parent
    Two suggestions: (5.00 / 0) (#35)
    by Anne on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 11:33:55 AM EST
    (1) Unsubscribe from the e-mail

    (2) Write your message on a post-it, slap it on the material they sent you, cram it all back into the envelope they provided for your "contribution" and send it back to them - all of it.  And don't do them the favor of picking up the tab for the postage.

    I've done both, and it works - I no longer hear from them, or anyone else who keeps trying to get me to fund their plutocratic protection enterprise.

    It won't work the first time, so the next time, a succinct "When hell freezes over" takes less time to write and makes the same point.

    Parent

    If I get ticked off enough, (5.00 / 1) (#37)
    by Zorba on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 11:38:37 AM EST
    I stuff random bits of cardboard in the postage-paid return envelope, too- as much as will fit.  They get to pay extra for the extra weight.  I know, I know, rather petty, but it cheers me up, albeit briefly.    ;-)

    Parent
    Suggest changing your last sentence: (none / 0) (#38)
    by oculus on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 12:27:17 PM EST
    Get your act together and quit blaming the republicans for policies for which you and your party have actively advocated.  [See Social Security and Medicare "reform," and continuing tax reduction for the richest among us.

    P.S. Jeff, would TSA have permitted your son to fly alone?  

    Parent

    Although, Bloomberg poll indicates (none / 0) (#41)
    by oculus on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 12:54:57 PM EST
    people polled are more worried about GOP takeover than what Obama admins. is or isn't doing:  link

    Parent
    no, not old enough (none / 0) (#51)
    by jeffinalabama on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 03:33:04 PM EST
    for international flights, or something... blah blah blah...

    Parent
    When we flew from Amman to Cairo, (none / 0) (#57)
    by oculus on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 04:49:29 PM EST
    pre Twin Towers, there was a grade school age kid on the flight (unaccompanied).  He had to change planes in Cairo to go visit his Dad in Germany.  Anyhow, the flight attendant asked the woman seated next to him to keep him company.  We briefly landed in Damascus (a great surprise to my friend and me)--scheduled but not published.  

    Parent
    Pre 9/11 (none / 0) (#60)
    by jeffinalabama on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 06:02:49 PM EST
    Well almost 40 years befor 9/11, I was flying between Brazil and the US by myself. Times have changed...

    Parent
    Padres 5, Red Sox 4, @ Fenway. (none / 0) (#1)
    by oculus on Tue Jun 21, 2011 at 10:10:15 PM EST
    Largest crowd since WWII.  (Won't mention last night's fiasco.)

    Braves win again over (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by jeffinalabama on Tue Jun 21, 2011 at 10:12:15 PM EST
    the Bluejays.

    Parent
    Cubs lose. . . again <sigh> (none / 0) (#10)
    by caseyOR on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 01:34:35 AM EST
    This time they lost to the White Sox. Cubs beat the WS yesterday, but just couldn't hang on to make it two in a row. I should probably be happy that they are managing any wins at all. What a sad season, sad even for the Cubs.

    Parent
    The Phillies (none / 0) (#6)
    by Makarov on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 12:14:42 AM EST
    scored 9 runs, 8 of them with 2 outs, in the top of 8th in St. Louis to eventually beat the Cardinals 10-2.

    The 1/2 inning lasted over 43 minutes and saw Cards manager Tommy La Russa use 5 different pitchers, each of whom gave up at least 1 earned run. Cards relievers through 64 pitches, resulting in:

    lineout - 1 out
    single
    walk
    hit-by-pitch
    hit-by-pitch (run)
    strikeout - 2 outs
    single (run)
    walk (run)
    walk (run)
    single (2 runs)
    walk
    single (2 runs)
    single (run)
    flyout

    I'm pretty sure it's the first time in recent Phillies history they scored 10 runs in a game without an extra base hit.

    Parent

    Phillies starter Roy Halladay (none / 0) (#7)
    by Makarov on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 12:24:45 AM EST
    gave up just 1 run in 6 innings, but was pulled for Ross Gload to pinch hit with a RISP in the 7th. Halladay got a no decision. Reliever Michael Stutes, who gave up a go ahead run to the cards in the 8th collected the win.

    Cards starter Kyle McClellan also gave up only 1 run in 7 innings. Reliever Trever Miller, the first of 5 pitchers to appear in the 8th for St. Louis, got the loss giving up 2 earned runs.

    Parent

    Halliday's the (none / 0) (#21)
    by jeffinalabama on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 08:38:16 AM EST
    best pitcher in the majors. But even the best get robbed.

    Remember 1968, when Bob Gibson had a 1.12 ERA? HE lost 7 games that year... how?

    Parent

    Halladay, ugh. (none / 0) (#22)
    by jeffinalabama on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 08:38:37 AM EST


    Parent
    how long until they declare a hung jury? (none / 0) (#3)
    by desmoinesdem on Tue Jun 21, 2011 at 10:14:03 PM EST
    Seven days seems like a really long time--anyone who hasn't changed her/his mind by then is probably not going to change. But I guess if they're going through a bunch of counts, they could have reached verdicts on some and be bogged down on others.

    the jury in his first trial (none / 0) (#12)
    by Jeralyn on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 01:50:18 AM EST
    deliberated 14 days.

    Parent
    this got buried on the other thread (none / 0) (#4)
    by desmoinesdem on Tue Jun 21, 2011 at 10:20:49 PM EST
    But David Flores got some good news last week.

    Relatives' efforts to free David Flores, convicted in a 1996 murder in Des Moines, are expected to pick up steam this week after the Iowa Supreme Court refused to take further action in the case.

    The move means Flores, 34, who has been serving a life prison sentence in Fort Madison since 1997, now has a clearer path to the new trial he was granted in rulings by a district court and the Iowa Court of Appeals.

    Flores has been in legal limbo since 2009, when Polk County District Judge Don Nickerson granted him a new trial based on evidence pointing to another possible shooter and questions about whether Flores' then-lawyer, public defender John Wellman, had access to a report that named the other possible shooter.

    Wellman died in 2006.

    Friday's Iowa Supreme Court decision eliminates a hoped round of appeals for Polk County Attorney John Sarcone and moves the Flores family one step closer to resolution. The clock on Flores' right to a speedy trial is expected to begin ticking once the Iowa Court of Appeals issues its "procedendo," or the formal order carrying out its decision.

    That order had been delayed pending the Supreme Court's decision.

    If his relatives can pull together $500K, he could be released while awaiting a new trial.

    It's ridiculous that he has already had to wait two years after a judge ordered a new trial in his case.

    comment in response to this (5.00 / 2) (#13)
    by Jeralyn on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 01:58:00 AM EST
    deleted for suggesting that jurors should disregard their oath and the law and consider crimes a defendant was not convicted of and which were not evidence in the case before it. Jurors may not base a guilty verdict on their speculation that that a defendant probably got away with other crimes, so it's ok to convict him of the one he's on trial for.

    I hope Diogenes never get called for jury duty, and if he does, he reveals his irresponsible bias and willingness to disobey the rules, so he gets challenged for cause.

    Parent

    As long (none / 0) (#17)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 06:25:12 AM EST
    as he's honest about how he feels I don't think he would get picked. I got called for jury duty a few years ago and one of the cases was a DWI with the defendant being under the influence of marijuana. The attorney asked if anybody thought marijuana should be legal and me and a few others raised our hands. Needless to say, none of us were picked for the trial. LOL.

    Parent
    quite possibly this (none / 0) (#8)
    by observed on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 12:53:32 AM EST
      is your most ignorant and insulting comment ever, or in other words, you are hitting your batting average with this  one.
    I'm trying really hard (none / 0) (#9)
    by NYShooter on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 01:04:50 AM EST
    to live up to my New Year's resolution of attempting to be "nicer" this year, and so, I didn't give in to my urge of jumping all over our clairvoyant commenter ("Who knows how many crimes he committed .......?) above.

    But I don't think I'd be breaking my vows by standing on the sidelines and applauding enthusiastically your comments.

    Way to go, (guy?)

    Parent

    I had to check out (none / 0) (#15)
    by nycstray on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 02:27:38 AM EST
    when I read the comment. J would have been deleting me, I think . . ..


    Parent
    it's been deleted (none / 0) (#14)
    by Jeralyn on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 01:58:57 AM EST
    see my comment right above this

    Parent
    Afghan War TV series. (none / 0) (#11)
    by caseyOR on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 01:45:13 AM EST
    Tonight was the first episode of a new ABC TV series entitled Combat Hospital. I think this is a summer show. This is a scripted drama, not a reality show.

    The setting is a NATO combat hospital located on the edge of the NATO air base in Kandahar. The hospital staff is a mix of Canadian and U.S. military, but the Canadians have command of the hospital.

    Tonight was the usual introduce the main characters and the setting first episode. I have no idea how realistic it is, but I noticed the series is produced by a Canadian production company, leading me to think (hope) the show will be longer on realism and shorter on the rah-rah stuff.

    I was  combing through my memory banks trying to remember if there has ever been a television show about a war that aired while we were still fighting that war. I don't recall any Viet Nam based shows, for example, that aired while we still had combat troops in VN. China Beach, which was an excellent show, aired after we were gone form VN.

    It airs on Tuesdays at 10 PM PDT on ABC.

    I have enjoyed (none / 0) (#16)
    by Amiss on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 03:56:01 AM EST
    America's Got Talent for all the years it has been on much more than American Idol which I dont watch and have immensely enjoyed the Voice this year on Tuesday summer nites.

    Parent
    UNHCR reports (none / 0) (#18)
    by Nemi on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 06:38:13 AM EST
    that 80% of refugees in the world are hosted by developing countries.

    From the report

    Pakistan, Iran and Syria have the largest refugee populations at 1.9 million, 1.1 million and 1 million respectively.

    Pakistan also has the biggest economic impact with 710 refugees for each US dollar of its per capita GDP (Gross Domestic Product), followed by Democratic Republic of the Congo and Kenya with 475 and 247 refugees respectively. By comparison, Germany, the industrialized country with the largest refugee population (594,000 people), has 17 refugees for each dollar of per capita GDP.

    The 2010 Global Trends report shows that 43.7 million people are now displaced worldwide - roughly equalling the entire populations of Colombia or South Korea, or of Scandinavia and Sri Lanka combined.

    Particularly distressing are the 15,500 asylum applications by unaccompanied or separated children, most of them Somali or Afghan. The report does not cover displacement seen during 2011, including from Libya, Côte d'Ivoire and Syria.

    Is This The World We Created?

    Gore is critical of Obama's lack of climate policy (none / 0) (#19)
    by kempis on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 07:38:10 AM EST
    ...in Friday's issue of Rolling Stone according to a blurb I read at Huffpo. Should be an interesting read.

    Oooh, and that was even (none / 0) (#50)
    by Nemi on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 03:24:25 PM EST
    part of the reason for awarding him the Nobel-PP:
    Thanks to Obama's initiative, the USA is now playing a more constructive role in meeting the great climatic challenges the world is confronting.
    They even endorsed and quoted an earlier statement made by him:
    "Now is the time for all of us to take our share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges."
    I suppose, as usual, that "all of us" means "other than me", and that he expects his words will be sufficient to encourage those others to work on it and make it happen?

    Parent
    My standard poodle has (none / 0) (#26)
    by jeffinalabama on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 09:46:14 AM EST
    a new way to wake me up. This morning, about 5:30, he jumped on the bed and dropped a lizard on me.

    Doggie doors, good or bad? the next reality show...

    Something tells me it wasn't much (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by Anne on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 10:07:12 AM EST
    fun for the lizard, either...

    Parent
    It turned into a flying wingless lizard (none / 0) (#29)
    by jeffinalabama on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 10:10:54 AM EST
    real fast.

    Parent
    I have an irrational fear of lizards... (none / 0) (#34)
    by vml68 on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 11:19:10 AM EST
    so glad this did not happen to me!

    Parent
    Gertrude Stein reported cat dropped it's (none / 0) (#42)
    by oculus on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 12:55:44 PM EST
    prey under dining table.  Probably better.

    Parent
    Obama to annouce drawdown (none / 0) (#27)
    by jeffinalabama on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 10:01:03 AM EST
    in Afghanistan... 10,000 to be removed this year.

    Hmf. Seems like we have enough transport to move a whole lot more out between now and Dec. 31.

    What's our goal there again? end Taliban rule? check.

    when did that happen?

    So long ago nobody remembers.

    Declare victory and come home. Land wars in Asia... Brilliant!

    More than 1,500 personnel dead for a landlocked, barren area that right now doesn't function as even a confederation, much less a nation-state.

    Obama has tripled troops there (5.00 / 1) (#33)
    by Towanda on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 11:08:50 AM EST
    and then some, from 30,000 at the start of his administration to 100,000 now, so I read this morn.

    A return of 10,000 of those troops would seem to be fewer than ought to be heading home at the end of their enlistments, anyway.

    And from what I'm reading and seeing on the tv news, the Repubs already are winning the spin game on this one with slogans about not being able to afford rebuilding our own country while rebuilding others, too.  So Dems had better hope that Obama has more to announce than a trickle-down troop reduction.

    Parent

    Headline announces NATO to meet (5.00 / 1) (#39)
    by oculus on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 12:29:04 PM EST
    in May 2012 to figure out what to do about Afghanistan.  Ridiculous.  

    Parent
    This should be (none / 0) (#30)
    by jeffinalabama on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 10:19:35 AM EST
    on facebook and twitter accounts everywhere.

    What would Facebook's... (5.00 / 1) (#31)
    by kdog on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 10:34:04 AM EST
    advertisers think?  Facebook won't program an "I dislike" button, despite user demand, for this very reason...it'll p*ss-off the advertisers.

    How about we wear it around our necks as a placard instead, like the shaming punishments some judges hand down (cuz we should be ashamed)...old school social networking.

    Parent

    At recent university bookstore sale, I bought (5.00 / 2) (#40)
    by oculus on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 12:31:23 PM EST
    my "marches to a different brother" an LED pin, into which he can input six different messages.  Cannot wait to see what he comes up with.

    Parent
    add "drummer"! (none / 0) (#43)
    by oculus on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 12:56:24 PM EST


    Parent
    Advice for the mad cyclist... (none / 0) (#44)
    by kdog on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 01:02:37 PM EST
    courtesy of Ryan Bingham...

    "Be careful what ya say if they ain't gonna listen anyway."

    Parent

    Ha. I think he will cycle from Chicago area (none / 0) (#45)
    by oculus on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 01:10:08 PM EST
    to my bday bash at Fallingwater, in PA, in early Sept. 2011.  Hope he leaves soon!

    Parent
    Did someone say party? (5.00 / 1) (#46)
    by kdog on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 01:20:02 PM EST
    I assume mu invitation is in the mail:) j/k

    Parent
    Hey, check your e-mail. (none / 0) (#47)
    by oculus on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 01:29:15 PM EST


    Parent
    Fallingwater? I've always wanted (none / 0) (#48)
    by Towanda on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 03:11:21 PM EST
    to add that to my list of Wright architecture that I have enjoyed.  And I recently enjoyed a fine exhibit of his preliminary drawings the the like, many not exhibited before, including a series of plans (and revisions of plans) for Fallingwater, plus a fascinating video on that achievement.


    Parent
    We will also check out Kentuck Knob (none / 0) (#49)
    by oculus on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 03:14:19 PM EST
    nearby.  Another FLW house, still occupied but open to the public when the owners are away.  Have you visited Taliesin West?  Or the oft-rebuilt original?  

    Parent
    ehhh, kdog has my email... (5.00 / 1) (#52)
    by jeffinalabama on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 03:35:22 PM EST
    I've always wanted to see fallingwater, also...

    Parent
    Hey, join us. I gather you have (none / 0) (#56)
    by oculus on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 04:18:32 PM EST
    some spare time.

    P.S.  I may need to rethink my position of planning to pick up the tab for bday dinner!

    Parent

    No, don't rethink it, lol! (5.00 / 1) (#59)
    by jeffinalabama on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 05:53:25 PM EST
    I'll be glad to order something relatively inexpensive, lol!

    Parent
    Taliesin in the Midwest, only (5.00 / 1) (#58)
    by Towanda on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 05:08:11 PM EST
    and have you been there, combined with seeing the marvelous Spring Green theatrical troupe?  Top flight.

    Taliesin West still is on my to-do list, too, and especially after viewing its plans, revisions, revisions, revisions, video, interviews and more at the recent Wright exhibit.

    My favorite, though, still may be the Dana-Thomas house, which is quite early Wright and actually a remodeling project, which he wrapped around an older home.  But that actually allows a glimpse into his transitional place, as well as into the evolution of his thinking toward the Taliesins and more in his future.  The D-T also is just such a warm, charming house, a home, which cannot always be said of his creations.

    Parent

    fallingwater is pretty cool (none / 0) (#53)
    by CST on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 03:45:43 PM EST
    it's also literally falling in places.  You can no longer go out onto the balconies because they are structurally unsound - at least that was true in 2005 or so.

    Wright was not a big fan of engineers.

    Parent

    I think it was closed for renovation (none / 0) (#54)
    by oculus on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 04:14:54 PM EST
    w/i recent years.  Hope so!

    Parent
    Now's the time. Sept. 5: Fallingwater. (none / 0) (#55)
    by oculus on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 04:16:29 PM EST
    Sept. 6, Kentuck Knob.

    Parent
    Gore criticizes Obama ... (none / 0) (#32)
    by Yman on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 10:57:52 AM EST
    ... for failing to lead on global warming.

    Consuming healthcare (none / 0) (#36)
    by lilburro on Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 11:37:20 AM EST
    the insurance labels to be used in the exchanges are debuted.  See Ezra.

    Tuesday Night Open Thread | 59 comments (59 topical)

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