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Thursday Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Thu Mar 07, 2013 at 12:56:28 PM EST
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Busy at work today. Here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

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    Sen. Carl Levin (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by jbindc on Thu Mar 07, 2013 at 04:20:03 PM EST
    retiring and won't seek re-election next year.

    WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, who has been a force for progressivism in the Senate since 1979 and made his mark in recent years as chairman of the powerful Armed Services Committee, will not run for re-election next year, likely setting off a political avalanche of interest in the seat.

    Levin, 78, released a statement Thursday afternoon saying he made the decisions believing "I can best serve my state and my nation by concentrating in the next two years on the challenging issues before us ... in other words, by doing my job without the distraction of campaigning for re-election."

    Speculation had been running high that Levin might decide not to run for reelection, but Levin had repeatedly said he hadn't made up his mind. Last month, his office staff knocked down speculation that he might not seek a seventh 6-yeaer term in 2014 after filing a small fundraising report for the last quarter of 2012.
    And, with his departure (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by NYShooter on Thu Mar 07, 2013 at 05:36:20 PM EST
    goes the last vestige of hope that we will ever get to the bottom of Wall Street's crimes against humanity. While under no illusion that he could change the vile system of symbiotic corruption that exists between the banks/corporations, and Congress, at least he let us know that he knows it exists.


    Parent
    Hey, jb (none / 0) (#15)
    by sj on Thu Mar 07, 2013 at 06:51:21 PM EST
    What is the status these days of the cherry blossoms?  I have a family member who would like to see them and is mor interested in the trees than the festivities.  Last year, the trees were already past prime by the time the festival rolled around...

    Parent
    Not out yet (none / 0) (#28)
    by jbindc on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 07:24:47 AM EST
    Peak time is predicted to be between March 26 - March 30. This prediction is as of March 5th.

    (Here's the website for the festivities if they change their mind)

    National Cherry Blossom Festival

    It looks like they should plan for a trip around Easter! (Which will be perfect because other flowers will be out too - I already saw daffodils around the GW Parkway near the Memorial Bridge). As they are walking around the Tidal Basin, just off Independence Avenue, they should look for the Floral Library.

    And then just before you end up back at Independence and 17th, you'll stumble upon the Floral Library. (Just don't step on any flowers as you stumble.) At least 92 flower beds house various varieties of beautiful blooming flowers. Each bed has a number and a nearby pamphlet can tell you the species of flower. This is a great picture-taking opportunity as long as you don't disrupt the flowers.

    Except for my allergies, I really, REALLY love DC March and April.

    Parent

    My alma mater, the Univ. of Washington, ... (none / 0) (#64)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 04:58:25 PM EST
    ... is similarly renowned for its campus cherry blossoms lining the Quad, which attracts everyone and their grandmothers each spring. I'm an asthmatic, but the cherry blossoms never bothered me while I was in school.

    My downfall was always mockorange and gardenias, and those tend to come much later than the cherry blossoms -- and last longer.

    Parent

    Thanks! (none / 0) (#78)
    by sj on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 11:14:49 PM EST


    Parent
    Now THIS is a floor routine (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by Dadler on Thu Mar 07, 2013 at 04:38:33 PM EST
    Caught this last night on ESPN, then found it on YouTube. A gal with the great name of Lloimincia Hall, from LSU, summons an otherworldy force from within. Awesome routine. (link)

    Love it! (none / 0) (#7)
    by Zorba on Thu Mar 07, 2013 at 04:42:04 PM EST
    Thanks, Dadler.

    Parent
    Alcoa Eagles Back... (5.00 / 1) (#29)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 09:54:13 AM EST
    ...with some new eggs.  LINK

    Where is a new open thread? (5.00 / 1) (#95)
    by Zorba on Sat Mar 09, 2013 at 05:39:09 PM EST
    At any rate, I have been cooking for three fricking days.  We have a big luncheon tomorrow at church.  It is called Meat Fare Sunday.
    It's the last day that we can eat meat before Great Lent, leading to Pascha (Eastern Orthodox Easter).  Our Easter, which we call Pascha, is not until May 5, way later than Western Easter.
    So I made a humongous pan of pastitsio, a humongous pan of baklava, and I am in the process of making a humongous pan of Greek roasted potatoes.

    It sounds so delicious, Zorba. (5.00 / 1) (#97)
    by caseyOR on Sat Mar 09, 2013 at 08:16:50 PM EST
    I have never made baklava, but it strikes me as a dessert that would be very time-consuming and labor-intensive. Tasty, but tiring.

    Sounds like you will be having a lovely feast at tomorrow's luncheon. If this is how you prepare yourselves for 7 weeks without meat, I am wondering how elaborate your Easter feast is.

    And not that I want you to stop cooking, which would deprive me of my vicarious eating, but I thought you were going to ease out of the Greek festival/holiday event cooking. Maybe turn it over to some younger souls.

    Parent

    The Paschal feast (5.00 / 1) (#116)
    by Zorba on Sun Mar 10, 2013 at 04:44:32 PM EST
    is generally pretty good.   ;-)
    Often consisting of what I made for the luncheon today, plus roast lamb, sweet Greek Easter bread, tyropita (cheese pie in phyllo) and/or spanakopita (spinach and cheese in phyllo), koulourakia (a butter cookie, with a twisted shape, usually with sesame seeds on them), in addition to baklava or galaktoboureko (a custard in phyllo, with the same type of syrup as baklava).  And lots of red dyed eggs.
    Believe me, there were others who made stuff, too, not just me.  They made spanakopita, tyropita, koulourakia, Greek salad, stuffed peppers, and stuffed cabbage.
    There was no lack of food.  Lots of people, especially considering our small parish.  It was our parishioners, but many brought friends and relatives.

    Parent
    Oh, my (none / 0) (#98)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Mar 09, 2013 at 08:17:56 PM EST
    goodness. You must be exhausted.

    Unfortunately I lost the recipes you gave me a while back when the motherboard on my other computer fried itself.

    Parent

    Let me know (none / 0) (#117)
    by Zorba on Sun Mar 10, 2013 at 04:47:23 PM EST
    which recipes you lost, and maybe I can repost some in the next few weeks on open threads.


    Parent
    Scott, more about Cuba... (none / 0) (#1)
    by fishcamp on Thu Mar 07, 2013 at 03:03:46 PM EST
    Since we last spoke about the problems Americans face regarding travel to Cuba I have given it more thought.  If you fly from Cancun or Mexico City it would behoove you to watch a few flights arriving back into Mexico and see if you can spot any activity from US Customs or Interpol.  If not then go for it.  With the Federal cutbacks looming I foresee fewer US Customs problems for travelers.  They have already removed "Fat Albert" the DEA, FBI, etc. giant balloon that had been up for years down in Cudjoe Key.  It was tethered to a big truck with a 1,000' cable and allegedly saw "everything".  I'm not 100% sure that licensed guide you spoke of can travel on the daily Miami/Havana flight that is for Cuban/Americans.  I do know it's quite expensive.  I have had two friends hassled in Nassau by US Customs but nothing but threats ever resulted.  It is fun to go to Cuba but it is beyond third world and gets depressing fast for me.  It's a big island with high mountains that could be fun to explore.  We count on those mountains to break up any hurricanes that are heading our way.  Good luck.

    Funny... (none / 0) (#5)
    by ScottW714 on Thu Mar 07, 2013 at 04:32:14 PM EST
    ...go when Congress creates a budget nightmare.

    National Geographic offers the companion travel, but it's ridiculously priced and they have an itinerary that is meant for interaction.  I like interacting, but probably not with the same folks a guide would.  I like finding the underbelly of a city, the places not on post cards.  It's a group of 5 or 6 guys and we aren't looking to salsa dance and see the meet local baker, you know.  I think you mentioned about coming in a flight that felt too much like running drugs.  But I like shady with a little danger, the not knowing exactly what's going to happen.

    We were just kicking it around, but since then we found out Turkish Airlines just set-up shop in Houston and R/T to Istanbul is $600.

    Cuba might get mothballed.

    Parent

    While you're in Istanbul (5.00 / 4) (#8)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Mar 07, 2013 at 04:53:37 PM EST
    can you find out why we have so many Turkish spammers?

    Parent
    LOL! (none / 0) (#10)
    by Zorba on Thu Mar 07, 2013 at 05:24:53 PM EST
    Good one, sarc!

    Parent
    Sa&#287; olun! (none / 0) (#12)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Mar 07, 2013 at 05:43:30 PM EST


    Parent
    That was supposed to be "Sag olun!" (none / 0) (#13)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Mar 07, 2013 at 05:44:16 PM EST


    Parent
    And (none / 0) (#14)
    by Zorba on Thu Mar 07, 2013 at 05:48:09 PM EST
    παρακαλώ!
    (You're welcome.)


    Parent
    When you get to Turkey (none / 0) (#40)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 01:16:03 PM EST
    and
    "But I like shady with a little danger, the not knowing exactly what's going to happen|"

    Remember, Midnight Express.


    Parent

    "Ohhhhh Billy..." n/t (none / 0) (#44)
    by kdog on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 01:45:43 PM EST


    Parent
    Yeah... (none / 0) (#47)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 02:22:59 PM EST
    ...I like shady, not fricken stupid.  I won't be smuggling drugs in the near future, home or abroad.  Less Stone, more Kubrick and Anderson.

    I am sure there are hash dens in Turkey and all kinds of mischief in Bulgaria & Romania for us to check out.

    Parent

    SITE VIOLATOR (none / 0) (#3)
    by jbindc on Thu Mar 07, 2013 at 03:52:33 PM EST


    Chavez and sarcoma (none / 0) (#9)
    by SuzieTampa on Thu Mar 07, 2013 at 04:54:38 PM EST
    I put out this news release today about Hugo Chavez and the cancer that many think he had: rhabdomyosarcoma. If it was rhabdo, he had very little chance of survival and going to the U.S. or Europe wouldn't have made any difference. (Chances are better for kids, teens and young adults, just fyi.)

    Is anyone else (none / 0) (#16)
    by sj on Thu Mar 07, 2013 at 06:55:22 PM EST
    getting script errors when accessing a discussion in IE?

    ...cdnapi.kaltura.com/index.php/kwidget/wid...
    (don't want to post the whole thing)

    Yes, I've gotten script errors (none / 0) (#17)
    by shoephone on Thu Mar 07, 2013 at 07:02:07 PM EST
    and a frozen browser three times today, but I've switched to Safari since then. OTOH, my computer has been f*cking up on a number of issues the past week and I'm still trying to fix all those...

    Parent
    I use (none / 0) (#20)
    by Zorba on Thu Mar 07, 2013 at 08:16:25 PM EST
    Firefox on my desktop, and Safari on my iPad, and neither has this problem.  I did switch to IE on my desktop briefly, just to see what happened, and yes, it seems to be pretty scr*wed up.
    Can you use Firefox?  Or maybe Chrome?  (I didn't check Chrome, but I am assuming that it doesn't have the IE problems.)

    Parent
    James O'Keefe to pay $$$$$ ... (none / 0) (#18)
    by Yman on Thu Mar 07, 2013 at 07:14:53 PM EST
    $100,000 to the ACORN employee he videotaped, according to Wonkette.

    thats alright.. (5.00 / 1) (#34)
    by jondee on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 11:44:52 AM EST
    the neo-Nixonian-dirty-tricks punk got the message
    "out there" and every wingnut-media jackdaw who loyaly, publicly repeated it gets away relatively scott free..

    Which was the whole idea to begin with.

    Let us know when too-big-to-fail Scaife apologizes for being behind Clinton being publicly branded as a murderer, drug dealer, and rapist.

    Parent

    Love this part... (none / 0) (#19)
    by unitron on Thu Mar 07, 2013 at 08:01:12 PM EST
    ..."O'Keefe has also agreed to ink an 11-word non-apology apology, that sources close to reality are calling "insincere" and "suuuuuuuch bulls..."

    Parent
    I've had to write one of those once (none / 0) (#21)
    by CoralGables on Thu Mar 07, 2013 at 08:35:05 PM EST
    it's lawyer speak for, I admit to nothing and promise to never do it again.

    Parent
    SPAM OVERLOAD!!! tupbebek01 (none / 0) (#30)
    by Anne on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 10:09:48 AM EST
    This and the next four or five comments.

    The Turks must be the new Nigerians...

    Anybody else get the feeling... (none / 0) (#31)
    by kdog on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 10:59:04 AM EST
    certain government agencies are gonna play games with the sequester cuts as to maximize public discomfort?

    Take Customs & Border Protection for example, threatening long delays getting through customs. (As if the best day in customs isn't a long arse totally unnecessary delay, but that's another story.)

    Smells like spite to me...they mean to tell us they can't cut 754 million from an over 11 billion dollar budget without wait times increasing up to 200%?  Surely Deputy Commish Aguilar & Homeland Security Napolitano can't be serious...if they are, they are the first two that should be furloughed for incompetent allocation of resources.

    We're getting played y'all.

    Did you see this that I posted the other day? (5.00 / 2) (#32)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 11:19:04 AM EST
    Citizens exercising their rights at check points, I think some were customs checkpoints.

    Parent
    Damn it... (none / 0) (#33)
    by kdog on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 11:36:18 AM EST
    I did and meant to check out the video at home with audio, and forgot all about it.  

    Thanks for the reminder!

    Parent

    Man, it's awsome. A dozen or so videos of stops. (none / 0) (#35)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 12:04:45 PM EST
    A: "Are you a citizen?"
    B: "That's my business."
    A: "Well it's our business to ask, are you a citizen?
    B: "You can ask, that's fine."
    A: "Well, you have to answer."
    B: "I don't have to answer. This is America, I have rights.
    A: "Sir, go ahead and pull over there behind that other vehicle."
    B: "No thanks."
    A: "Pull your vehicle over there."
    B: "No."
    A: "Pull your vehicle over there into secondary."
    B: "No thank you I'd like to go free on my way."

    {...]

    A: "Go ahead and go."
    B: "Go where?"
    A: "Go on your way."
    B: "OK, see you later."

    Parent

    That does sound beyond awesome... (5.00 / 2) (#36)
    by kdog on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 12:12:48 PM EST
    I'm surprised no one got tased or shot.

    Parent
    Wow - that was something I was (5.00 / 2) (#39)
    by Anne on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 01:08:14 PM EST
    happy to see - the pushback; thanks for posting it.  I wonder if the outcome is different without the cameras, though - I think that's as much the reason why these people were allowed to proceed as anything.  

    Clearly, the people staffing the checkpoints have no idea what to do when someone they've stopped goes off-script - these "agents" have no idea what the basis for their demands are, what anyone's rights are.  Not that that matters to them.

    And the last one, where the driver was asking the officer whether he was a citizen, whether he had any ID - that was priceless.

    I can't even believe we spend money on this authoritarian nonsense.

    Parent

    Ya, the last guy has big brass ones. (5.00 / 1) (#49)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 02:35:32 PM EST
    A: "Are you a citizen."
    B: "Are you?"
    B: "Show my your papers."
    B: "Where have you been today?"
    A: "You can go."

    Parent
    Heroes all... (none / 0) (#66)
    by kdog on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 05:17:50 PM EST
    even better than I thought.  Checkpoint agents pullin' Gleasons...priceless!

    What is up with all these DHS checkpoints well within the borders?  I've been sleepin' on this abomination.

    Parent

    What can possibly take any longer than ... (none / 0) (#43)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 01:39:11 PM EST
    ... U.S. Customs in Atlanta? I can always count on spending over twice the amount of time going through customs in that city, than I can in any other major U.S. port of entry.

    ATL has surpassed DFW as my least favorite American airport. where it always takes me practically forever to get to my next gate from my last when trying to make a connection. I swear, ATL is like one long and interminable terminal, where Delta Air Lines personnel must make a special effort to note whenever I'm passing through -- because they always seem to schedule my arrival at the far end of one concourse, and then have my connecting flight depart from the far end of another concourse on the opposite side of the airport.

    Parent

    That's what I'm saying... (5.00 / 3) (#45)
    by kdog on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 02:13:02 PM EST
    I can see customs agents being directed to drag-arse and bust balls even more than they do now, just to spite taxpayers for giving them 754 million less suckles from the teet than the almost 11 billion suckles to which they have become accustomed.

    Sh*t put me in charge of customs and I'd bet I can cut 754 million, and 754 million more, while lowering wait times and reducing hassles in customs...with a bonus of increased drug imports and lower street prices;)

    Parent

    I'll (none / 0) (#48)
    by lentinel on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 02:31:32 PM EST
    vote for you.

    I don't care what party.
    I don't care if no party.

    Parent

    ATL (5.00 / 1) (#50)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 02:37:40 PM EST
    Like a week after I got home from a trip to Bonaire, via Atlanta, I realized some of my diving stuff was missing.  There was a customs tag in the bag.

    I called Delta and they were total dicks, saying I had to report it sooner, and blah, blah, blah.

    I went online anyways and filled out the form.  A month later I got a check for the amount exactly, no call no email, just a check for nearly a grand.  I felt so guilty about marking up the prices, because I was under the assumption they weren't going to pay, that I donated the extra.  My feeling was I would take them to small claims court and the markup was the hassle fee, but no hassle.

    So I don't what to make of it, they were total aholes on the phone, but no hassle whatsoever for the funds.

    Anyways, at some point I did a little research and ATL is the capital of missing stuff.  Not just the leader, but that airport far exceeds any other US airport by a large margin.  The King, if you will.

    Parent

    When we returned from South Africa ... (none / 0) (#54)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 02:58:07 PM EST
    ... in Dec. 2010, we claimed our luggage at ATL and then dutifully went through customs, before re-checking our luggage for our connection flight to Los Angeles. Six hours later, upon our arrival at LAX, the Delta baggage handlers there walked my large traveling duffel bag to baggage claim in person, separate from the conveyor belt.

    Seems they had discovered upon unloading our aircraft's baggage compartment that my bag had been slashed open with box cutters at ATL, sometime after we had re-checked our luggage upon emerging from customs. Fortunately, I had absolutely nothing of value in there, but the person who slashed the bag had clearly rifled through my dirty laundry in an effort to look for something.

    To the airline's credit, Delta immediately replaced my damaged luggage and I did further receive a written letter of apology, in which they had almost casually remarked that they've long had problems with missing items and damaged luggage at their ATL base, but of course they're "working to resolve" the issue.

    Parent

    It's Weird (none / 0) (#59)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 03:14:39 PM EST
    Atlanta is their hub and yet they almost concede to it.  It boggles my mind how much control they have at airports, except over baggage.  A couple years ago, here in Houston, they found like 100 empty bags in some dumpster at some business close to the airport.  How in the F does an employee leave the airport with luggage.

    Parent
    Delta has a small hub out here ... (none / 0) (#61)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 03:38:14 PM EST
    ... at HNL, and we certainly don't have any such problems with stolen property and missing / damaged luggage. I'd say the issue is probably endemic to ATL and the city of Atlanta, and not necessarily to the airline itself.

    Three decades ago, airline jobs used to be coveted, and employers back then never really lacked for good, quality applicants for open positions. Sad to say, that's not the case any more, particularly with the big three legacy carriers of United, American and Delta.

    The pay is lousy, the once-excellent benefits are now minimal, and the hours are long and inconsistent -- and quite frankly, when it comes to the hired help, the legacy carriers are getting exactly what they paid for. The problem here is that we're no longer necessarily getting what WE'RE paying for when we purchase our tickets.

    Parent

    Chavez not a good person (none / 0) (#37)
    by Slado on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 12:23:27 PM EST
    Giving away money to the poor shouldn't excuse an otherwise horrible and selfish record.

    http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21573106-appeal-populist-autocracy-has-been-weakened-not-extin guished-hugo-ch%C3%A1vezs-rotten

    The Economist thinks he's bad (5.00 / 2) (#38)
    by Yman on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 12:38:14 PM EST
    I'm shocked.

    Parent
    Yes, absolutely. Heaven forbid that Chávez ... (5.00 / 3) (#41)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 01:16:32 PM EST
    ... should direct some of Venezuela's oil revenues toward otherwise-successful efforts to lower the country's poverty rate by two thirds over the course of his presidency, from 66% in 1998 to 24% today. What in the world was he thinking? That's simply not done in Latine America. What's next -- indigenous peoples of the Amazon region demanding their right to vote?

    After all, Venezuela has only surpassed Saudi Arabia as the nation with the largest known petroleum reserves in the world. Why should the oil princelings and their hard-working oligarchy be compelled to share their lucrative and well-lubed petrodollars with a bunch of cadillac-driving welfare queens?

    Oh, wait -- do they even have cadillac-driving welfare queens in Venezuela? Oh, they don't? Hey, who knew? My bad. I'll be back later to finish this thought, once I think of a suitable perjorative with which to casually tar and feather that country's impoverished class.

    Parent

    So it doesn't bother you that he collected (5.00 / 1) (#42)
    by Slado on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 01:22:37 PM EST
    A personal fortune of more than a billion dollars?  Did he earn that money in your view?

    Couldn't he have given that money to the poor?

    Take off the blinders man.

    Parent

    Chávez had his issues, no doubt. (5.00 / 1) (#51)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 02:44:00 PM EST
    He was an egocentirc blowhard with authoritarian tendencies. Personally, I didn't care for him, but then, I'm not Venezuelan -- and last I knew, neither are you.

    I'm not going to argue with you. Literally, you're beating a dead horse -- pun intended. I've said my piece about Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías in a prior thread.

    Suffice simply to conclude by noting that:

    (a) Embalming Hugo Chávez's body for permanent display in a glass coffin at a Caracas military museum is somehow an oddly appropriate testament to the late presidents's overblown opinion of himself;

    (b) Nevertheless, there's good reason why several million people are turning out in force for his wake and funeral; and

    (c) The fact that you and your fellow Fox News aficionados and Radio Nowhere addicts don't like Chávez could not possibly be any more irrelevant to an overwhelming majority of his poor countrymen, who truly appreciated his efforts on their behalf to alleviate their plight.

    Parent

    Well said... (5.00 / 2) (#53)
    by kdog on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 02:54:25 PM EST
    You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have Hugo Chavez...Hugo Chavez.

    The opening line of that Economist piece cracks me the f8ck up...

    BACK in the 1990s Latin America seemed to have turned the page on military rule and embraced democracy and free-market economics, with the sole, beleaguered exception of communist Cuba

    Nice editing...I guess "turned the page on brutal right-wing military dictatorships sponsored by the democratic free market capitalist USA's Central Intelligence Agency" doesn't have the same ring.

    Parent

    How much good does it take to, (5.00 / 1) (#71)
    by Slado on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 08:07:08 PM EST
    Wash away so much bad?

    He literally gave some money away to gain and keep power and then abused that power and his people.

    They are worse off as compared to their democratic neighbors.

    He was a terrible leader both in terms of democracy and in simple execution.

    Why must anyone defend him?

    Just makes me chuckle.  There don't have to be two sides of every issue.

    He can just be a bad leader.  What I find so amusing is how little a dictator or statist has to do to or say to get some around here to defend them.

    Did you know that Stalin ran a children's home?

    Parent

    We get it (5.00 / 1) (#73)
    by Yman on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 09:01:36 PM EST
    Conservatives hate that socialist Chavez.

    Anything else?

    Hate to tell you, but an article from the Economist isn't convincing.  Hell, just the fact that Fox News and Rush Limbaugh hated Chavez so much makes me think he must have been doing something right.

    Parent

    Its not that I hate Chavez (5.00 / 1) (#80)
    by Slado on Sat Mar 09, 2013 at 12:48:01 AM EST
    It's that I don't understand the cheer leading for him by the likes of Sean Penn and even US congressman.  

    Actually Sean Penn is free to be as crazy as he likes.  I find it alarming that a US Congressman hopefully schooled in the workings of democracy would take the time to tweet out something nice about Chavez.

    Chavez was such an inept leader in terms of results.  

    He was a great politician and after winning a real election made sure to the power of government to make sure he never lost another.  So many on this site talk about "fair elections". It fine to be fair on Election Day but when you spend the other 364 days using state controlled media to put out your propaganda and use your own special election laws to set up districts that favor you and even use other laws to,disqualify candidates it's hardly what we'd call here in the states a "fair election.

    So what are we left with?  He took over the media, cleverly rigged elections, ran the economy into the ground, possibly ruined or set back the oil infrastructure ( they have a complicated oil industry that required lots of engineering know how and investment and he neither invested or kept the engineers needed to keep it going), jailed political opponents and critics but he did give money to the poor.

    You're right.  Not such a bad guy.   We should all hope our leaders had a little more Chavez in them.

    Parent

    Reading a problem, too? (none / 0) (#84)
    by Yman on Sat Mar 09, 2013 at 07:43:34 AM EST
    You're right.  Not such a bad guy.   We should all hope our leaders had a little more Chavez in them.

    I didn't say any of those things.  OTOH - the real problem conservatives/libertarians have with Chavez is the fact that he's a socialist (gasp!).  They don't really care about the welfare of Venezuelans - they care about people saying positive things about a socialist who redistributes wealth and nationalizes American (and other) assets while criticizing the US in the process.  The Economist article you cited is the perfect example.  They attack Chavez with little in the way of facts or evidence, while lauding Simon Bolivar as a hero - a man who literally declared himself dictator.

    Too funny.

    Parent

    Why wouldn't we go after socialism? (none / 0) (#86)
    by Slado on Sat Mar 09, 2013 at 12:08:39 PM EST
    It's never worked.  It should be criticized every time it is tried because it hurts the people it's supposed to help in the long run.

    Is that even arguable?

    Parent

    Of course it is (5.00 / 1) (#102)
    by Yman on Sat Mar 09, 2013 at 09:18:13 PM EST
    Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Finland, numerous western European countries  - not to mention China - would be surprised to hear that "it's never worked".  Not to mention all the numerous countries that have - at some point - engaged in nationalization of some industries.

    Of course, the real point is that you don't take the word (and certainly not the opinions) of conservatives and libertarians when it comes to Chavez.  They hate socialism, they're biased beyond belief, and their crocodile tears for the people of Venezuela aside, they seek to delegitimize Chavez by giving only half the facts, ...

    ... if that.

    But it's refreshing to hear one acknowledge their true agenda.

    Parent

    Those are social democracies (none / 0) (#107)
    by Slado on Sun Mar 10, 2013 at 12:34:22 AM EST
    Not totalitarian regimes..

    China?  Are you serious?  Do you want to live in china?

    We're done here.

    Parent

    They are "social democracies" (none / 0) (#113)
    by Yman on Sun Mar 10, 2013 at 09:11:38 AM EST
    ... as is Venezuela.

    China?  Are you serious?  Do you want to live in china?

    Uhhhm, no.  You claimed that socialism has "never worked".  I think China - as well as the other countries - would be surprised to hear that.

    Parent

    Fair enough (none / 0) (#118)
    by Slado on Sun Mar 10, 2013 at 06:25:17 PM EST
    I guess it's how you want to define socialism and if you consider a social democracy a form of socialism or a democracy heavily influenced but not completely socialist.

    If you go by the definition the countries in Europe are not socialist.  Meaning their economies are not completely controlled and regulated by the state.

    Venezuela however was.

    I would argue like other completely socialist states it didn't and eventually wouldn't work.

    Even China is now pushing the definition as while the state  controls most of the economy they have moved away from a purely communist state but still aren't democratic by any means.

    I'd argue that in the long run socialist and communist systems are unsustainable and eventually fail or hold on ( like N Korea ) through tyrannical rule.

    We probably won't agree on this one.


    Parent

    Probably not, since your premise ... (none / 0) (#120)
    by Yman on Sun Mar 10, 2013 at 07:01:27 PM EST
    If you go by the definition the countries in Europe are not socialist.  Meaning their economies are not completely controlled and regulated by the state.

    Venezuela however was.

    ... is false.  Interesting use of the past tense, though.  Did the economy stop being "completely controlled and regulated" (whatever that's supposed to mean) when Chavez died?

    Parent

    Not false (none / 0) (#128)
    by Slado on Sun Mar 10, 2013 at 09:29:05 PM EST
    But good catch on was.  I meant is.

    Parent
    Really? (none / 0) (#131)
    by Yman on Sun Mar 10, 2013 at 09:52:03 PM EST
    How is the economy of Venezuela "completely controlled and regulated by the state" and not in the European countries?

    This should be interesting to see how you try to draw this (convoluted) line.

    Parent

    Nothing? (none / 0) (#136)
    by Yman on Tue Mar 12, 2013 at 08:09:00 AM EST
    Yeah, ... I wouldn't try to draw that crazy line, either.

    Parent
    Socialism never worked? (none / 0) (#99)
    by sj on Sat Mar 09, 2013 at 09:03:44 PM EST
    What does that even mean?  But I can talk out of my a$$ just as well as you can, so I'll just say that I can look around me and say for sure that capitalism isn't working.  

    I don't think any system ever "works" indefinitely.  I don't see how it can when there are always these pesky humans in there mucking it up.

    Parent

    He gave money away... (5.00 / 1) (#89)
    by kdog on Sat Mar 09, 2013 at 12:13:11 PM EST
    to poor people..is that worse than giving it away to powerful lobbies?

    Venezuela's poor are better off today than in 2000.  Our poverty rate moved the other way.

    There aren't two sides to every issue, but not every issue/person is black and white either.  There are two sides to Chavez, even if his biggest fans and biggest haters refuse to see that.

    Let's face it Slado...if Chavez was a shady crook who sold the oil reserves to BP or Exxon, The Economist wouldn't be so harsh.  That's the main beef with the guy, he cut big oil outta Venezuela's action.  That part of his reign don't bother me.

    Parent

    Diesel fuel is 32 cents per gal in Venezuela (none / 0) (#91)
    by fishcamp on Sat Mar 09, 2013 at 01:05:06 PM EST
    We always fuel up our tanks and extra 55 gal barrels on the boat before going through the canal to the Pacific.

    Parent
    According to some (none / 0) (#92)
    by Slado on Sat Mar 09, 2013 at 01:44:11 PM EST
    The poor will be worse off in the long run because of inflation and currency issues.

    You can only run an economy for so long by fiat before the poor wind up losing.

    Do you simply not care about all the other stuff ?

    Parent

    "According to some" (none / 0) (#100)
    by sj on Sat Mar 09, 2013 at 09:07:20 PM EST
    Another version of "some say."  People can say anything.  Come back when the results are in.  And be sure to factor in any changes post Chavez.

    Parent
    Do,you really want to take that bet? (none / 0) (#108)
    by Slado on Sun Mar 10, 2013 at 12:36:03 AM EST
    I'm all in.

    You name the rules.

    Parent

    This isn't a game (none / 0) (#124)
    by sj on Sun Mar 10, 2013 at 08:25:22 PM EST
    I don't bet on the potential for another's misfortune.  I find that whole idea rather repulsive.

    Parent
    How Much Did Cheney... (5.00 / 3) (#52)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 02:49:20 PM EST
    ...profit from his stunt as VP ?  Bush was already filthy rich and Obama is going to die a very wealthy man.  

    But that is A-OK because we are capitalists and their methods of stuffing their pockets aren't as direct ?  And like you said, at least Chavez helped the people who actually need it, not the ones with the biggest campaign checks.

    Seems like the person with blinders on is you.

    I am not excusing any of it, but filling their pockets is not reserved for the evil doers.

    Parent

    Sh*t.... (5.00 / 1) (#56)
    by kdog on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 03:03:20 PM EST
    forget Cheney, the Koch Bros. have amassed 37 billion a piece buying legislation, and they didn't even have to go through the motions of "public service".  What have they done for the poor in America, or anybody in America besides themselves?

    If the blinders are off, everybody should be able to see things are shady all over..no country is immune.  Power corrupts...capitalist, socialist, communist...the only difference is who gets over, old money & power or new money & power.  

    Parent

    Classic (none / 0) (#70)
    by Slado on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 08:01:52 PM EST
    Don't defend Chavez, assume I like Bush and Cheney and make some half baked comparison.

    If you are to be believed then they either both suck or are both great.

    Which is it?

    You can't have it both ways.

    Parent

    Logic (5.00 / 2) (#72)
    by Yman on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 08:57:01 PM EST
    Not your strong suit, huh?

    BTW - No one said you "liked Bush and Cheney" - although the non-denial denial was funny.  You were attacking Chavez because he collected a personal fortune.  Scott pointed out that Bush and Cheney amassed personal fortunes - and Obama will when he leaves office (somehow you forgot Obama).

    Parent

    I don't like either (none / 0) (#74)
    by Slado on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 09:23:03 PM EST
    Chavez ruined his country's economy to hold on to political power.

    his tired statist form of government has been proven inadequate by history but we're all supposed to look the other way because he gave money to the poor.

    Never mind that...

    Before he was president only 77 percent off exports where oil.  Due to his nationalization of everything their only export now is oil.

    The currency has been devalued 5 times in the last 10 years and has lost 68 percent of its value since he became president.

    Inflation is running at 23 percent robbing the poor of purchasing power.

    In a response to food shortages he imposed price controls on beef and arrested vendors who tried to sell items high enough to not loose money.

    He attacked journalists and shut down the free press because it has the Gaul to criticize him.

    He jailed dissidents.

    Due to his nationalization of electric power the country is now plagued by blackouts.

    Infrastructure, water and all basic forms of government have crumbled on his watch and to fix the problems he's left behind we have a former bus driver selected to be his successor.

    Most around here would like to ignore this sad reality which inflicts hardship on the poor and instead focus on the fantasies of all statist regimes in that its the thought that counts, not the results.

    Parent

    "Never mind that" - heh (5.00 / 1) (#85)
    by Yman on Sat Mar 09, 2013 at 09:52:09 AM EST
    You mean, ignore the very reason conservatives and libertarians hate Chavez?

    Heh.

    Since you include no links to support your claims (at least some of which are clearly hyperbole/exaggeration/half-truths), I'm not remotely convinced.  An opinion piece in The Economist and a British tabloid just don't cut it.

    No one is claiming that everything Chavez did was good, but your Stalin comparison is ridiculous.  The very reason conservatives and libertarians hate him is because of his "statist"/socialist policies and his legacy, not because you're worried about free press or Venezuelan inflation.  It's the same, old "our Capitalism good, their socialism bad" blah-blah-blah ... not a surprising position for those born into privilege, but the poor people in Venezuela have benefited greatly under Chavez - hence his tremendous popularity.

    Parent

    All these points have links and are (none / 0) (#87)
    by Slado on Sat Mar 09, 2013 at 12:11:40 PM EST
    Easily googled if you want to learn.

    I read all of them in multiple sources.

    You don't want to learn do you?

    If you really do I can post all the links for you when I get home tomorrow.  

    Or you can tell me how to post with Safari on an IPad.

    Parent

    You're the one making the claims (none / 0) (#101)
    by sj on Sat Mar 09, 2013 at 09:08:49 PM EST
    Source them.  Why should anyone else do your research for you?

    Parent
    Uh, I think Slado offered to get the (none / 0) (#103)
    by Anne on Sat Mar 09, 2013 at 09:27:33 PM EST
    links when he gets out of the hospital - he's already said that he's had trouble doing all of that with his iPad.

    I've had my issues and disagreements with Slado, but I think I can make allowances for his situation - can't say I will be so conciliatory in the future, but it's not bothering me much to afford him some consideration now.

    Parent

    Thanks. I forgot :( (none / 0) (#105)
    by sj on Sat Mar 09, 2013 at 11:02:50 PM EST


    Parent
    Then Google them (none / 0) (#104)
    by Yman on Sat Mar 09, 2013 at 09:30:26 PM EST
    "Multiple sources" - wow.  You mean sources as good as "The Economist" and a British tabloid?

    Heh.

    As far as how to post with Safari on an IPad, Google is your friend.  Well, ...

    ... apparently not your friend.

    Guess "you don't want to learn, do you?"

    Parent

    I'm done. (none / 0) (#109)
    by Slado on Sun Mar 10, 2013 at 12:43:17 AM EST
    Thanks for the snarky link.

    No need to be so nasty.  


    Parent

    Here's your link (none / 0) (#111)
    by Slado on Sun Mar 10, 2013 at 02:04:07 AM EST
    To mother jones no less.

    Parent
    You figured it out! (5.00 / 1) (#112)
    by Yman on Sun Mar 10, 2013 at 09:07:53 AM EST
    As far as snarky, you get what you give, I guess.

    An interview with Rory Carroll (The Guardian tabloid) is interesting, but all it confirms is Carroll's opinion of Chavez, certainly not the accusations you made.  Moreover, Carroll himself has acknowledge he is not acting as a "champion of impartiality" in his coverage of Chavez, and the Guardian stated they are "not required to be impartial".

    Yep.

    Parent

    Interesting critique of the work of (none / 0) (#115)
    by brodie on Sun Mar 10, 2013 at 11:09:09 AM EST
    Carroll -- and I'd never heard of that website before, but they seem credible even as I find the name of their org unfortunate (at least from the American pov).

    It's a reminder that even usually respected publications on the left can have a bogey in the bunch and should always, on controversial matters at least, be read with skepticism.

    And most here are familiar with how the various intel agencies, here and abroad in the west, have infiltrated establishment left organs of media over the years, both at the reporting and editing levels, in order to influence opinion on hot topics of concern to TPTB.

    Not saying definitively this has happened in the instant case, just that it's one angle it would be naive not to consider.

    Meanwhile, pretty good overall discussion today re Chavez and his legacy on Msnbc-Chris Hayes' Up With People Show, which included one journalist mostly favorably disposed to HC and his governance. They also tried a hookup to Venezuela with an elected rep of Chavez' party, but -- just coincidence?? -- the connection failed and he didn't get a single word through.  Chris himself seemed fair in allowing both points of view of Chavez to be heard, and at length, even if at times I thought he revealed some eagerness not to be seen warmly embracing Hugo.  Worth watching on replay.

    Parent

    mea culpa (none / 0) (#106)
    by sj on Sat Mar 09, 2013 at 11:03:26 PM EST
    It appears I have a short memory.

    Parent
    BTW - A "former bus driver" (5.00 / 3) (#114)
    by Yman on Sun Mar 10, 2013 at 09:57:05 AM EST
    ... to fix the problems he's left behind we have a former bus driver selected to be his successor.

    Another great example of your use of half-truths in order to try to fill a laundry list of Chavez evils.  Maduro hasn't been a bus driver in decades.  Funny you omit his positions since then - union leader, an elected member of the national assembly, Foreign Minister and Vice President.

    "Former bus driver" - heh.

    Parent

    I myself (5.00 / 2) (#125)
    by sj on Sun Mar 10, 2013 at 08:27:08 PM EST
    am a former fast food worker.

    Parent
    Heh - guess I'm a "former" ... (5.00 / 1) (#127)
    by Yman on Sun Mar 10, 2013 at 08:37:08 PM EST
    ... paperboy, dishwasher, factory maintenance worker, limo driver...

    No idea how my wife got put in charge of her company, being a "former" hotel chamber maid, "salad bar girl", restaurant hostess ...

    Might have had something to do with all the work, experience, BAs/MAs/J.D./PhD, etc., in the past 25-30 years.

    Parent

    Well lets hear it. (none / 0) (#83)
    by Wile ECoyote on Sat Mar 09, 2013 at 04:39:31 AM EST
    How much?  How much did they take from their countries treasury?   Lets hear how much they took as opposed to the 2 billion taken by the "progressives" current favorite dead dictator.

    Parent
    One more thing, Slado. (5.00 / 1) (#60)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 03:28:04 PM EST
    Jeralyn is obviously busy, but were she lurking today, no doubt she would once again admonish you and others to use the "link" tab above the dialogue box (third from the right) to create a hyperlink for your articles, etc., because including the HTML format in a comment can otherwise skew the TL site. It's really not that hard to use. Please be courteous to her as our host, and make an effort to do so in the future.

    Here's your linked article from The Economist, which others can use as reference in case she ends up having to delete your post later on.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    My apologies (none / 0) (#69)
    by Slado on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 07:22:52 PM EST
    Immactually in the hospital and can't figurenoutnhow to link with anmipad.m I tried and tried.

    Should have just trusted you'd take my word for it.

    Parent

    Sorry to hear you're in the hospital (5.00 / 2) (#75)
    by Anne on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 10:15:34 PM EST
    Know you've had some serious health problems in the past, so hope things are in hand/under control/stable.

    Parent
    Thanks (none / 0) (#76)
    by Slado on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 10:43:35 PM EST
    It is an odd thing my health.

    I am healthy as can be and then I get a tumor.

    Big operation, recovery and its back to being healthy again.

    I am again in the recovery stage so things are looking up.

    Thanks again for the kind words.

    Parent

    Same happened to me a few years ago (none / 0) (#79)
    by sj on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 11:40:14 PM EST
    My best advice is that you strictly observe any restrictions on physical activity your doctors give you and take seriously the recovery time that they are indicating. Counting on a quicker recovery period due to prior good health is a very, very bad idea and is more likely to get you ticket to the ER instead of a get out jail free card. It turns out the doctors kinda know what they're talking about.

    I hope you feel better soon.

    Parent

    Good advice (5.00 / 1) (#81)
    by Slado on Sat Mar 09, 2013 at 12:50:29 AM EST
    Also not getting any younger.

    The one good thing is I plan to spend the next two weeks watching some basketball.

    Parent

    Hey, Slado, sorry to hear you're (none / 0) (#82)
    by caseyOR on Sat Mar 09, 2013 at 01:20:47 AM EST
    on the DL. I hope your recovery is swift and uneventful.

    Parent
    Me too Slado and Suzie Tampa too (5.00 / 1) (#93)
    by ruffian on Sat Mar 09, 2013 at 02:31:59 PM EST
    Sounds like you have both had more than your share of hospital time. Hope your home recovery is restful and healing.

    Parent
    Thanks (none / 0) (#88)
    by Slado on Sat Mar 09, 2013 at 12:12:27 PM EST
    Get out of here tomorrow.

    Parent
    Hope (5.00 / 1) (#96)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Mar 09, 2013 at 08:16:48 PM EST
    you feel better soon. I have been in the hospital about three times in the last three decades and that is three too many.

    Parent
    Thanks (none / 0) (#110)
    by Slado on Sun Mar 10, 2013 at 12:44:10 AM EST


    Parent
    SITE VIOLATOR! (none / 0) (#46)
    by caseyOR on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 02:16:18 PM EST
    Several by bebek &#:ekeri in this thread alone.  

    Also, this name is more involved than we usually see.

    Need some tech advise on my MacBookPro (none / 0) (#55)
    by MO Blue on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 02:58:54 PM EST
    Some Ahole from Romania somehow got access to the  yahoo email account I use for miscellaneous stuff and sent some spam to a couple of people using my account name. I made the changes that Yahoo recommends but I am concerned that maybe they left some malware or other dastardly stuff on my MacBook. I called the Apple store where I purchased my Mac but they were not much help.

    Is there some GOOD software that I can get that will check my computer for malware etc. and fix it if necessary? Any and all recommendations would be appreciated.

    BTW it is version 10.8.2.

     

    Malwarebytes... (5.00 / 2) (#58)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 03:09:00 PM EST
    ...is the highest rated malware programs.  I ran it just to see and it found a really deep program, It was installed in the Windows directory and called something like WINDVD.exe and it was installed years ago.

    Not sure if they have and Apple version, but the Windows version is free.

    LINK

    Parent

    Also, check out Trend-Micro. (5.00 / 1) (#62)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 03:43:19 PM EST
    I've had their software installed on my machines for years now, and I swear by them. I don't have a Mac, but if the quality of their Mac products is anything like what I use on my PCs, you'll be pleased with them. I have never had a problem with viruses and other malware once I switched from MacAfee to Trend-Micro.

    Parent
    MO another way to rid that crap (5.00 / 1) (#67)
    by fishcamp on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 05:40:06 PM EST
    is to use Disc Utility which is at the bottom of all your applications.  It's under utilities and you need to click that little arrow and find Disc Utilities.  Then click on your hard drive name on the left and go to erase.  Erase the free space on your HD as that is where your trash goes.  Disc Utility is also an important maintenance program.  You will see disc permissions etc. which do take a bit of time the first go around but help tremendously with your computer speed.

    Parent
    The programs that (5.00 / 1) (#68)
    by fishcamp on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 05:44:52 PM EST
    Scott and Donald mentioned are fine but are for Windows.  Apple has Disc Utility built in the computer and is the way to go to git r' done.

    Parent
    International Woman's Day (none / 0) (#57)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 03:03:57 PM EST
    Is today.

    Google has a pretty cool graphic up as well.

    Daylight Savings Time... (none / 0) (#63)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 04:00:47 PM EST
    ...starts on Sunday at 2:00am, ends on Nov 3rd, same time.

    Hate losing the hour, but love the that it doesn't get dark so soon.

    Man this snuck up on me (none / 0) (#77)
    by Slado on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 10:44:56 PM EST
    I keep forgetting Bush made the Fall back so much shorter.

    Parent
    See what you did, Scott? (none / 0) (#65)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Mar 08, 2013 at 05:01:24 PM EST
    All you had to do was mention Cuba, and viola! -- here come the Turks.

    Chavez & the hospital (none / 0) (#90)
    by SuzieTampa on Sat Mar 09, 2013 at 12:50:48 PM EST
    Here's Rory Carroll on Chavez. He writes for the Guardian, not the Economist, and he still thinks Chavez was incompetent economically.

    Slado, are these malignant tumors that keep returning? I'm just curious because I spent two weeks in the hospital, starting in Feb and getting out this month. My sarcoma has spread twice, but now I deal with late effects. I just had to have a colostomy; I already have a urostomy. I know what it's like to be healthy for a while, and then back into it.  

    I have a rare form of testicular (none / 0) (#119)
    by Slado on Sun Mar 10, 2013 at 06:37:39 PM EST
    Cancer called Germ Cell.

    I was first diagnosed in 1997 and have had reoccurrences in 2000, 2003, 2010 and now 2013.

    All of these tumors originate in my chest cavity specifically from the medial steinem region.

    All have been removed with surgery and none have grown back in the same place.

    The troublesome thing for me is most people die from it or have a couple reoccurrences before it stops.

    According to my doctors I am a rare (as in the only one they've seen) case to have successfully made it through so many reoccurrences and to top it all off the tumors have changed from a traditional teratoma to a type of sarcoma that they've never seen.   Germ cell does not respond to chemo or radiation but sarcoma can so they may try some super fancy radiation this time to maybe kill any pre cancerous cells so it doesn't grow back.

    Good news is we have time as I have to heal from the surgery ( my 5th thorocotomy) before they do anything.  

    I remain optimistic as eventually ill run out of these spots I've just got to keep figuring out how to beat it each time.   So far I'm 5 for five.

    Parent

    Great to see that you are 5 for five (none / 0) (#121)
    by MO Blue on Sun Mar 10, 2013 at 07:17:18 PM EST
    Here's hoping that you have run out of spots and it never comes back.

    Keep staying optimistic. Staying positive is often the best medicine. Good luck.

    Parent

    Hey, you're batting .1000 so far, Slado. (none / 0) (#122)
    by caseyOR on Sun Mar 10, 2013 at 07:23:56 PM EST
    That's good. You've been through a lot with the cancer. I hope the radiation does the job, and the cancer is vanquished.

    Parent
    Between what you have shared and (none / 0) (#123)
    by Anne on Sun Mar 10, 2013 at 07:47:16 PM EST
    what Suzie has related, it seems like cancer has become like the irritating relative who keeps showing up and expecting you to take him or her in - and you do - and you deal with whatever new thing is part of the package until you can eventually show Crazy Aunt Betty/Uncle Eddie the door.

    Much luck to you in this latest odyssey; you seem to have a really good outlook, fitting it into your life rather than allowing it to become your life.

    When all is said and done, we really just have to live, and say the hell with all the nonsense and trials and tribulations that conspire to paralyze and frighten us.

    Hope the recovery goes well.

    Parent

    A year or so ago my priest said something (5.00 / 2) (#129)
    by Slado on Sun Mar 10, 2013 at 09:41:10 PM EST
    That really changed my life.

    He was discussing illness and how people often use the word "fatal" when discussing certain conditions or relatives.

    "We are all fatal.  It's up to us what we do before the inevitable."

    You would have had to hear the whole  sermon but that one phrase really has carried with me and gives me strength.  We are all fatal and we choose for the most part what we do with the time we've been given.

    Another phrase I lean on was given to me by a man who spent 7'years in a Vietnamese prison camp.   When living through that nightmare he told me he focused on each day by itself and woke up,every day saying the same simple phrase to himself...  " I'll be here tomorrow."    No matter what happened he knew he could get through that day to see the next one.  

    Thanks to all for the kind words.  It means a lot.

    Parent

    Get better fast... (none / 0) (#132)
    by desertswine on Sun Mar 10, 2013 at 10:31:00 PM EST
    Sometimes I get the feeling the aspirin companies are sponsoring my headaches.

    Parent
    Good luck (none / 0) (#126)
    by sj on Sun Mar 10, 2013 at 08:32:05 PM EST
    May we have many more years of disagreement.  Be well.

    Parent
    Will do (none / 0) (#130)
    by Slado on Sun Mar 10, 2013 at 09:42:08 PM EST
    Thanks

    Parent
    Slado, sarcoma? (none / 0) (#133)
    by SuzieTampa on Mon Mar 11, 2013 at 06:25:32 PM EST
    Hey, mine is sarcoma, too. Specifically, leiomyosarcoma. I'm on the board of the Sarcoma Alliance. I've been a sarcoma advocate since 2004, at least.

    Does this study sound like what happened to you?

    I'd love to talk to you off-blog. I don't know how others commenters contact one another, but you can email info at sarcomaalliance.org and put "For Suzie in Tampa" in the subject header, and it will be forwarded to me.

    My story is here.

    Parent

    Done (none / 0) (#134)
    by Slado on Mon Mar 11, 2013 at 07:29:33 PM EST
    Thanks

    Parent
    A HS buddy of mine (none / 0) (#135)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Mar 11, 2013 at 11:56:17 PM EST
    has been clear of his sarcoma for 3-4 years now. Slado and Suzie, Let me know if you have interest in being in contact with him. Though, you may be already...

    Parent
    SUO, he's welcome to contact me (none / 0) (#137)
    by SuzieTampa on Tue Mar 12, 2013 at 06:32:38 PM EST
    at info at sarcomaalliance.org if he needs any help, would like to be connected to someone with a similar diagnosis, or would like to volunteer to help others.

    Otherwise, I wouldn't need to talk to him. At least once a day, I talk to someone with sarcoma. Slado is different because he has something rare and he's still in the thick of things.  

    Parent

    Understood, good luck to both of you. (none / 0) (#138)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Mar 12, 2013 at 06:51:39 PM EST


    Parent
    John Patrick Shanley piece in the NYT (none / 0) (#94)
    by shoephone on Sat Mar 09, 2013 at 03:09:56 PM EST
    Really a wonderful read: "The Darkness of an Irish Morning."

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