Monday Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Colorado News
Posted on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 08:56:00 AM EST
Tags: (all tags)

Share This: Digg!

This may be everyone elses Monday, but mine, metaphorically speaking, not literally, feels like this.

After a week buried in Craig's List, Zillow and Trulia, I see only one option for a place to live. I will probably sign the lease today. Then the real fun begins: Going through 3,000 sq ft of stuff to pare it down to what will fit in 1700 sq ft, get mover and storage estimates, and then start making rooms filled with stuff going to each one, as well as good will and other charities. [More....]

This will be another week when I won't be online, reading news or caring about anything other than getting through the miserable experience of moving and crunching numbers to find the most economical way to do this. I figure right now, one room in the basement will be for Got Junk to come and haul off, another will be for things going to storage, and another for things going to the new place. But before I get seriously into moving, there's taxes, and correctly labeling all items except those being thrown away or given to Good Will or other charities. Have I said I hate moving? Maybe not enough. I hate moving.

If you'd like to help out or buy me a birthday drink (it was Saturday and I stayed in with a measuring tape), you can (as always, no obligation.) The link is here.

I don't think I'll be back to blogging other than open threads until October 18 or so.

And as if I don't have enough going on, I broke a back tooth a few weeks ago (eating a BLT of all things) and have to get a new crown this week. I'm not complaining, I know how many others are in worse shape. But having all of this, plus taxes which have to get to the accountant by Oct.7 for a filing date of the 15th, is really overwhelming me at the moment. I could use some positive thinking right now so I don't get overwhelmed.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

< Breaking Bad: "Guess I Got What I Deserved" | Countdown to Shutdown or Compromise >

Legal

Nothing on this site should be construed as legal advice. TalkLeft does not give legal advice.

TalkLeft is not responsible for and often disagrees with material posted in the comments section. Read at your own risk.

Monday Open Thread | 63 comments (63 topical)

Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

AN AXE LENGTH AWAY, vol. 143 (5.00 / 2) (#5)
by Dadler on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 07:19:37 AM EST

Eve doesn't need no stinkin' Adam to help rouse the Devil. (link)

Volume 142 -- Junior GOP Summer Camp
Volume 141 -- She had a hunch her paycheck was lighter than Steve's

Rainy days and Mondays, my friends, just like Karen Carpenter sang. Blah.

I forgot to tell you... (5.00 / 2) (#16)
by DebFrmHell on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 10:07:22 AM EST

How much I loved No. 136. Sans the wig...that is so me. At a bar I ran in CA, the guys were convinced I had plaques with testicles and a ball cap in my room.


Many thanks, Deb (none / 0) (#20)
by Dadler on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 10:31:36 AM EST

Like Mark Twain, I can live a few months on a single compliment. ;-)


: And you ARE DebFromHell, after all (none / 0) (#21)
by Dadler on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 10:34:25 AM EST

So perfect for the BEAUTIFUL & ANGRY chops. This was the first that inspired them, sans title.
Vol. 26

Ball cap (none / 0) (#22)
by Dadler on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 10:46:20 AM EST

I'm so slow, I only got the In You End Oh.


: Hahaha! (none / 0) (#57)
by DebFrmHell on Tue Oct 01, 2013 at 11:30:52 AM EST

All of my ball caps would have been from guys that supported my beloved San Francisco Giants.
Still beloved even with the crap season. I loved them with worse records. They have found ways to shatter my charcoal heart that I never knew existed! ((sigh))

Regarding moving mountains (5.00 / 1) (#7)
by Edger on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 07:35:27 AM EST

There's a old saying, I have no idea how old, from where or whom I have no idea, but I think it was written for you on this monday Jeralyn...

"Everything is okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's probably not
the end."

Van Morrison also sang Days Like This

When it's not always raining therell be days like this
When there's no one complaining there'll be days like this
When everything falls into place like the flick of a switch
Well my mama told me there'll be days like this

That quote is generally credited ... (none / 0) (#8)
by Robot Porter on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 07:52:10 AM EST

to John Lennon. So not that old as sayings go.


It does sound like something (none / 0) (#9)
by Edger on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 08:03:16 AM EST

Lennon would have said, doesn't it?


: It does! (none / 0) (#11)
by Robot Porter on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 08:53:21 AM EST

Some people's kids. Yeesh. (5.00 / 4) (#13)
by Edger on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 09:34:09 AM EST

An Oklahoma youngster tried to right a terrible wrong when he attempted to pay back a woman who was allegedly mugged by his father.
Christian Lunsford saw the mug shot on TV of a man who allegedly robbed 78-year-old Tona Herndon when she was visiting her husband's grave. The 15-year-old realized the man in the mug shot was his father and he reached out to Herndon.
Lunsford wanted to meet with her so he could apologize for his father's crime and give her the $250 that his father had recently given to him. Lunsford's parents divorced when he was young and he hasn't seen his father very often, but the two apparently met recently and the father gave him $250 for a band trip for school.
[...snip...]
She clearly was moved by his actions and when the teenager gave her the money, she gave it right back to him and told him she wanted him to take the band trip.
"You're not who your parents are," Lunsford said. "Even if they do raise you, you can become whatever you want to be."

Wasn't he adorable? (5.00 / 2) (#15)
by DebFrmHell on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 10:00:36 AM EST

I saw this on the news over the weekend. What a great young man. And I was thrilled that he is going to band camp after all.


: Kid would never make it (none / 0) (#18)
by Edger on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 10:13:00 AM EST

on Wall Street, for sure...
;-)

Gees.... (5.00 / 1) (#17)
by DebFrmHell on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 10:08:53 AM EST

that analytics.js is irritating. Do I have to open it to make it go away?

Nothing you do (none / 0) (#41)
by NYShooter on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 05:54:01 PM EST

can make it go away.

I'm not completely computer stupid, have read everything there is on the subject on line. And, no one, and I mean no one has figured out a way to get rid of it. It's primarily an internet explorer problem; no problems reported from firefox, chrome, etc.

Maybe Jeralyn's Web Master can fix it as it is a "sitemeter" caused problem. And, not all web sites have the problem, only TL, and a few others. (at least in the circle I navigate.) The problem also exists on "The Reality Based Community," as an example.

Microsoft is aware of the problem and claims they "will look into it."


It seems to have gone away (none / 0) (#46)
by desertswine on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 08:58:32 PM EST

for me. I didn't do anything, it just didn't come back this time. I hope it's gone for good.


: It's magic! (5.00 / 1) (#49)
by NYShooter on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 10:59:55 PM EST

After 4-5 days, it's gone for me too.
Hooray!

From the unwritten rule department (5.00 / 2) (#28)
by CoralGables on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 01:09:36 PM EST

for marching bands
Never have the sousaphone players walk backwards

: Oh my gosh! (none / 0) (#52)
by jbindc on Tue Oct 01, 2013 at 06:36:15 AM EST

That happened to a friend of mine when we were in college. We were at marching band practice and she was the last tuba player in the line going backwards (we had on the shoulder tubas, and not sousaphones). She was the only female out of 12 and she stood about 5'4" and weighed about 120 pounds. The rest of her section did not hear the whistle to stop and 11 male tuba players and their tubas dominoed down on top of her.
Luckily, all she got was a good laugh and was not hurt.

Jeralyn, congrats if you already found a place! (5.00 / 3) (#36)
by shoephone on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 03:20:14 PM EST

That's incredible to have done that in just a few days. I know it's not the place you really want (because that would be the one you've already been living in) but signing the new lease and just knowing you have a place to land will, hopefully, ease some of the stress, and enable you to focus fully on all the tasks you need to take care of before moving day.

DWTS--it can't be my imagination (5.00 / 1) (#50)
by shoephone on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 11:38:09 PM EST

The contestants this season are so much better than in previous seasons. At least half of them can really dance! It makes the show so much more fun to watch than in the past.

AN AXE LENGTH AWAY, vol. 144 (5.00 / 1) (#56)
by Dadler on Tue Oct 01, 2013 at 10:46:22 AM EST

Psychoanalysis and stopped up drains. Connection? (link)

Volume 143
Volume 142

Happy Tuesday, my friends. Phuck the roof and raise the floor! And tell both parties to go suck it.

One of my favorites (none / 0) (#1)
by Mikado Cat on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 05:23:04 AM EST

Richard Thompson, Friday on my mind.

: Just saw him (none / 0) (#3)
by jbindc on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 06:14:57 AM EST

Last week at the Birchmere in Alexandria, VA.
Great show.

working on link (none / 0) (#2)
by Mikado Cat on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 05:24:09 AM EST

Friday on my mind

: Still prefer the original... (none / 0) (#6)
by unitron on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 07:29:03 AM EST

...too bad The Easybeats didn't have a followup single with a title less likely to cost them U.S. airplay.

Good luck with the move, J (none / 0) (#4)
by Dadler on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 07:15:03 AM EST

As a kid I did nothing but move, and now loathe it more than most, EXCEPT for the aspect of it that lets me minimalize my life each time. The older I get, the less junk I want to own or haul around.

Electric Skillet Recipes? (none / 0) (#10)
by Robot Porter on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 08:52:10 AM EST

They're doing some work on my kitchen, leaving me without a stove for a couple of months.

So I picked am electric skillet. I grew up with these. And I owned them before. I once even lived for over a year with it as my only cooking method. So I know their versatility.

But I'd love some new recipes. Anyone have any favorites geared toward this appliance?

Maybe some good tips (5.00 / 2) (#14)
by KeysDan on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 09:44:51 AM EST

in the new cookbook by Ann Romney. Don't know if a skillet works for pheasant under glass, but it probably does for one of Mitt's favorites--pancakes slathered with peanut butter and covered with maple syrup. This collection of Romney recipes organized for your eating pleasure hits the bookshelves tomorrow, Oct l, but if you wait, it is likely to be available soon at a 47 percent discount.


I was going to suggest some Green Eggs and Ham. (5.00 / 1) (#19)
by Angel on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 10:17:26 AM EST

You might be able to get some good tips from Ted Cruz.


Geez, I don't have (none / 0) (#32)
by Zorba on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 02:53:46 PM EST

an electric skillet, but I would imagine that anything that you could cook in a regular skillet could be cooked in an electric skillet.
Here is a recipe booklet from Cuisinart for their electric skillet, though. Hope it helps!
Link.
Good luck, RP!


Electrric (none / 0) (#40)
by Mikado Cat on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 05:50:00 PM EST

skillet is sort of like a flat crock pot that can sear and brown.

My favorite dish, sliced zucchini, onions, some celery, then throw in some cheese at the end.


Oh, that sounds good! (none / 0) (#54)
by Robot Porter on Tue Oct 01, 2013 at 09:10:22 AM EST

What kind of cheese do you use?

And do you think mushrooms might work in that as well?


Speaking of zucchini... (5.00 / 3) (#55)
by Anne on Tue Oct 01, 2013 at 10:09:30 AM EST

this might work for you:

First, if you have a food processor, tear up a couple slices of good bread and pulse until you have crumbs. Grate a clove of garlic into the bowl (microplane grater works perfectly for this), and add some rough-chopped parsley and a couple tablespoons of olive oil and pulse until combined. If you don't have a food processor, just use some seasoned bread crumbs, but add the garlic and oil and proceed.

Dump the crumbs in the skillet and push them around until they start to brown and have some crunch.

Remove from the pan and set aside.

Shred a couple of zucchini into a bowl, and add some finely chopped onion, to your liking. Grate a clove of garlic into the mixture. Grate a handful or two of Parmesan cheese into the mix. Add some salt and pepper. Stir to combine and set aside.

Slice some good tomatoes and set aside.

Grate any cheese of your choice, or grab a bag of pre-grated cheese.

Now for the assembly:

Swirl a little olive oil in the bottom of the skillet. Put about half the zucchini mixture into the pan in an even layer. Put the tomato slices on top. Put the rest of the zucchini mixture on top in an even layer and press down on it a little. Sprinkle as much or as little cheese on top as you like.

Cover and cook until zucchini looks done - 15 minutes will probably do it.

Finish with the browned bread crumbs.

I kind of threw this together one night, and happened to have some bacon left over from breakfast; I chopped it up and sprinkled it into the mix. Bacon makes everything better, doesn't it?


: Thanks! (none / 0) (#58)
by Robot Porter on Tue Oct 01, 2013 at 12:16:04 PM EST

I'm saving both of these. I'll let you know how they turn out.

Sure (none / 0) (#63)
by Mikado Cat on Fri Oct 04, 2013 at 02:53:23 PM EST

Mushrooms should be OK, I'd try it maybe depending on the cheese used. What I grew up on was longhorn cheddar.


Good thing his name (none / 0) (#12)
by Edger on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 09:03:42 AM EST

didn't start with "al-" I guess. Fox News and obama would be calling for attacking some country somewhere by now if it had?

John Lee Baldwin, 35, now faces a felony charge of aggravated assault.
The three Jehovah's witnesses were in the process of leaving and heard Baldwin say from his front door, "Get me my 9," according to a probable cause report.
As they drove away that's when Baldwin allegedly started shooting.
In an interview with detectives, police say Baldwin admitted to firing about 19 rounds.
-- Man Allegedly Fired Gun at Jehovah's Witnesses

Hey, he was in his own house (5.00 / 3) (#23)
by Peter G on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 11:09:06 AM EST

Wasn't he entitled to stand his ground and shoot if he felt threatened by unwanted prosyletizing?


I Hate Any Unknown People Coming to My Door (5.00 / 1) (#30)
by ScottW714 on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 01:23:39 PM EST

While the use of a gun is pretty damn extreme, I don't like strangers who think they can walk onto my property in order to benefit themselves.

The door to door model should be banned, beyond the annoyance and the scams, it's not safe for anyone to open their door for a person they do no know. Especially during the winter when they show up after dark peddling their BS.

But in any case, this guy should lose his right to own a gun for a bit and be forced to take some kind of gun common sense class.


We've always just told them we're Jewish. (5.00 / 2) (#43)
by Angel on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 06:47:21 PM EST

They scat for some reason.


I tiptoe up to the peekhole in the door. If I (5.00 / 1) (#44)
by oculus on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 07:25:08 PM EST

am not interested in contact by the person on the outside, I just tiptoe away. Worked so far. Even with religious proselytizers. I did feel kimd of guilty about the cute little boy in uniform yesterday though.


I have to admit (5.00 / 3) (#51)
by sj on Tue Oct 01, 2013 at 03:01:07 AM EST

that I am a sucker for kids selling stuff on my doorstep. I used to sell Christmas cards for my parish and I know how tough it is. I have bought candy, candles, a picture frame, greeting cards, magazines, cookies and who knows what else.

Some of the stuff I even use.


Great Idea... (none / 0) (#60)
by ScottW714 on Wed Oct 02, 2013 at 10:42:06 AM EST

...if you don't have door height windows on each side of the door and dog barking like it just discovered crack. I tried several types of blinds, but the dog hates not being able to look outside and has ensured that view is never diminished.

With the windows, anyone at the door can look in and down the hallway.

I have been trying to find a wifi camera that I can pull up on my phone when the bell rings.


: Exactly why I didn't choose a door with windows! (none / 0) (#62)
by oculus on Thu Oct 03, 2013 at 03:02:28 AM EST

My mother taught me to respond (none / 0) (#31)
by Peter G on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 02:14:21 PM EST

to JWs at the door with something like this, "Thank you for coming, but we already have a religion. If we ever need one, though, we'll be sure to call you."


Maybe I'm weird... (5.00 / 2) (#33)
by kdog on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 02:57:59 PM EST

but I don't mind a knock on the door one bit. Much preferred to a phone call.

I'm always amused by a cordial theological debate on my stoop with missionaries, that's entertainment! Gotta represent the kindness and goodwill of heathens;) Political debates with those going door to door for candidates or with petitions are fun too. Don't even mind the endangered species door-to-door salesman, I'm not gonna buy nuthin' but I like to use the opportunity to just be nice and offer a drink...as a respite from slammed doors and nasty people for what is a tough job. Or in some cases, an oasis from bullets! I was a door to door political action committee donation solicitor back in the day, I lasted a half a day...just brutal, as I am very uncomfortable asking people for money. So I know how much it sucks.


We have a friend (5.00 / 1) (#35)
by Zorba on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 03:13:15 PM EST

who had Mormon missionaries come to his door, early one Sunday morning. (I guess they figured that if someone was not in church on Sunday, they were ripe for picking.)
He had just awakened, was bleary-eyed, but trying to be polite, invited them in to have a seat. His first mistake was offering them a cup of coffee. LOL!
He listened politely to them for awhile, then blinked a few times and asked them, "Do you mean to tell me that you actually believe this total bullsh!t?"
They immediately excused themselves and left. We all had quite a few laughs about this as he related the story.


: Classic... (5.00 / 2) (#37)
by kdog on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 03:41:49 PM EST

Cuss words do do the trick when the fun is over and it's time to wrap it up...or offer them to share in the sacrament aka bong hits. Still have never been taken up on that offer to a missionary, but the guy who was schilling free roofing estimates was all over it! ;)

I'm like that too (5.00 / 1) (#38)
by Militarytracy on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 04:04:22 PM EST

But my roommates used to hate me for it because it's their house too. If you talk to the JW they come back. More than once I heard a roommate holler with unbridled irritation that my friends were here :)


The last time (5.00 / 1) (#34)
by Zorba on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 03:03:46 PM EST

the JW's came here, many long years ago, Mr. Zorba and I were out in the garden weeding, so we could not escape them. As it turns out, they had come by a few weeks before, and dropped off some of their literature; one of our teen-age kids was at home at the time, and she said, just leave your stuff, I'll give it to my folks.
I actually looked over their propaganda, so when they showed up, I told them that I was Greek Orthodox, could read New Testament Greek, and proceeded to tell them all of their mis-translations. They kind of turned green, gulped a few times, and left. (Meanwhile, Mr. Zorba was stuffing his fist in his mouth to keep from laughing out loud.)
They have not returned since.
;-)


What does Greek have to do with Christianity? (5.00 / 1) (#39)
by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 05:49:47 PM EST

I mean, everyone knows that Jesus was sandy- / brown-haired, blue-eyed and spoke impeccable English -- because if not, why would Hollywood have ever cast Jeffrey Hunter, Max Von Sydow, Robert Powell and Willem Dafoe in the role?

;-D


Bu..bu..but...I'm blonde and blue eyed (5.00 / 1) (#45)
by shoephone on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 07:46:20 PM EST

and Jewish...okay, I'm a bad Jew who hasn't stepped foot inside a synagogue since my little cousin's bar mitzvah, but still...okay, the blonde is partly courtesy of my hair stylist, but still...okay, some people think my eyes are sorta green, but they're wrong, so wrong..

The JW's drive me crazy, with their perfect little haircuts and their briefcases and the short-sleeved white shirts and black ties...the least they could do is add a snazzy necktie now and again. I used to live with a guy who loved it when the JW's came knocking. Within five minutes of "debate" he'd have them twisted in so many philosophical knots they'd flee in exasperation.


What, you've (5.00 / 1) (#47)
by Zorba on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 09:10:31 PM EST

never had the Mormon missionaries show up on your doorstep? Just as clean-cut and conservatively dressed as the JW's. Oy!
And I don't mean to disparage your Jewish credentials, but 2000 years ago in the Middle East, before the Diaspora, most of the Jewish people, at least those who claimed lineage from King David (which supposedly Jesus did; well at least on his mom's side), would not have been blond and blue-eyed. Always accounting for, of course, all the admixture of genes from the countries that occupied Israel over the centuries. But then, the Assyrians, Babylonians, Egyptians, and so forth, would also have been of darker hair and complexion. ;-)


: We're Ahkenazi... (none / 0) (#48)
by shoephone on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 10:08:04 PM EST

Not only blonde blue-eyeds in the family, but a couple of redheads to boot!

Hahahahaha! (none / 0) (#42)
by Zorba on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 06:47:04 PM EST

Maybe because the New Testament was written in Greek? Not English.
And Jesus was Jewish, of course. Not a light-haired, blue-eyed Goy.
Very cute, Donald. ;-)


The consensus ideal Jesus (none / 0) (#61)
by jondee on Wed Oct 02, 2013 at 03:50:19 PM EST

in America seems to be a guy who looks like one of the Beach Boys during their acid period.


I just answer the door naked... (5.00 / 4) (#53)
by fishcamp on Tue Oct 01, 2013 at 07:12:58 AM EST

I guess you never can tell (none / 0) (#26)
by Edger on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 12:53:02 PM EST

with these religious fanatics, eh? They could have exploded on his porch if he hadn't shot at them while they were leaving?


Hillary Doc Cancelled (none / 0) (#24)
by squeaky on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 11:30:32 AM EST

(Reuters) - Cable news network CNN has canceled a documentary on Hillary Rodham Clinton after the director said pressure from the Clinton camp as well as Republican leaders made it too difficult to complete the film.
A CNN spokeswoman confirmed on Monday that the program would be canceled, saying director "Charles Ferguson has informed us that he is not moving forward with his documentary about Hillary Clinton."

Charles Ferguson Speaks (none / 0) (#25)
by squeaky on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 11:42:19 AM EST

Why I Am Cancelling My Documentary on Hillary Clinton

It's a victory for the Clintons, and for the money machines that both political parties have now become. But I don't think that it's a victory for the media, or for the American people.

I liked his movie "Inside Job", but ... (5.00 / 1) (#27)
by Robot Porter on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 01:07:23 PM EST

those are lame reasons for giving up a documentary. Quite the contrary. They are reasons to continue. Just make those issues part of the documentary and keep going.


: Yes I Agree (none / 0) (#29)
by squeaky on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 01:14:06 PM EST

Pretty lame. I guess he felt he had too much to lose pursuing the film. Everyone would hate him..

Good luck with it all J! (none / 0) (#59)
by ruffian on Tue Oct 01, 2013 at 03:10:42 PM EST

I missed the news of your impending move, but glad you found something so fast. I know how hard it is to cull the stuff to take.