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Saturday Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 01:33:31 PM EST
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Is anyone here going to try and catch up on movie going this weekend for tomorrow night's Golden Globes? Slumdog Millionaire is the film I most want to see.

Here's an open thread for those of you online today, all topics welcome.

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    Saturday Open Thread | 186 comments (186 topical)

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    Bill Moyers on Gaza (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by CDN Ctzn on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 01:52:19 PM EST
    Posted at Salon via Greenwald.

    I know I seem fixated on the subject so please forgive me if you are offended. I do, however, find this ongoing trajedy to be very disturbing.

    Other than that, I hope you have a safe Saturday and can appreciate your peaceful corner of the world.

    Naomi Klein (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by CDN Ctzn on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 03:44:43 PM EST
    Joins the discussion this morning and makes the case for an international boycott of Israel as posted in The Guardian.

    Parent
    GOod Luck (5.00 / 1) (#29)
    by squeaky on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 03:56:57 PM EST
    The US Presbyterian Church did enact a boycott in 2004. The NYT buried it and then it disappeared from the on line page.

    Other mainline Protestant churches have followed in the campaign of the Presbyterian Church using corporate divestment as a tactic in the Middle East conflict.

    The Episcopal Church of U.S.A., the United Church of Christ, two regions of the United Methodist Church, as well as international groups like the World Council of Churches and the Anglican Consultative Council have all urged similar economic boycotts of Israel.

    They caved due to lobbying pressure:

    After careful consideration of the overtures brought before the Assembly Committee on Peacemaking and International Issues of the 217th General Assembly (2006), we offer the following recommendations.

    1. We acknowledge that the actions of the 216th General Assembly (2004) caused hurt and misunderstanding among many members of the Jewish community and within our Presbyterian communion. We are grieved by the pain that this has caused, accept responsibility for the flaws in our process, and ask for a new season of mutual understanding and dialogue.

    To these ends, we replace the instructions expressed in Item 12-01 (Minutes, 2004 Part I, pp. 64-66) Recommendation 7, which reads.....

    ZioNation


    Parent

    Oy Veh (none / 0) (#43)
    by CDN Ctzn on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 04:20:24 PM EST


    Parent
    War Crimes (5.00 / 1) (#42)
    by mmc9431 on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 04:18:24 PM EST
    It will be interesting to see how Obama handles this.

    The U.N. high commissioner for human rights Friday called for an investigation of possible Israeli war crimes in Gaza as local residents told more gruesome tales about Israeli troops neglecting wounded civilians and the killing of unarmed Palestinians

    Parent

    How about firing rockets into Israel. (5.00 / 1) (#67)
    by Wile ECoyote on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 06:11:23 PM EST
    Who are they targeting there?

    Parent
    Your Right (5.00 / 2) (#140)
    by CDN Ctzn on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 11:57:02 PM EST
    And none of this probubly would have happened if only Hamas had not started firing rockets into Israel AFTER Israel broke the 4 month old truce on November 5, 2008 by sending a raiding party into Gaza to attack Hamas.

    Don't you just hate those pesky FACTS?

    Parent

    Yeah (none / 0) (#76)
    by Spamlet on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 07:05:30 PM EST
    And how about calling bombs "rockets."

    Parent
    Yes, I Read That (none / 0) (#48)
    by CDN Ctzn on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 04:31:43 PM EST
    And the Guardian has a couple of good articles on the subject today, including this one. I guess only time will tell, but the sceptic in me tells me not to hold my breath.

    Parent
    Red Cross in Gaza (none / 0) (#63)
    by DFLer on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 06:03:31 PM EST
    This story in the NYT is very depressing and cause for concern.

    Parent
    Slumdog is good (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by MKS on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 01:54:13 PM EST
    Kinda of throwback in a way to movies of the 1940s or so.  Engaging characters.   Clear good guys v. bad guys....

    Milk was very good.....interesting in many ways large and small....  

    My spouse just got back from India (none / 0) (#157)
    by Cream City on Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 12:02:12 PM EST
    after two weeks teaching near Mumbai, site of the movie -- and it's playing down the street.  So we plan to see it once he's past jet lag (made worse by delays with the near-shutdown at O'Hare, so it took almost 48 hours to get back).  Of course, we won't be going out for Indian food afterward, as we usually do after great Indian films.  The spouse has had Indian food for more than two weeks -- much as he loved it and lost several pounds despite eating so well.  It's all the veggies and fruit, he says.

    Parent
    Did sd. spouse manage not (none / 0) (#160)
    by oculus on Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 01:40:09 PM EST
    to get sick whilst in India?  

    Parent
    He never got sick -- but (none / 0) (#165)
    by Cream City on Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 03:15:08 PM EST
    just about everyone else did.  He has traveled a lot and knows how to avoid the local waters, which brought down others.  Not that they drank the water -- that's too obvious.  But they loved the treats of poori filled with sweet water.  Ooops.

    We know when in Mexico, for example, to use bottled water even to brush our teeth.  And to take some magic pills, recommended by fellow lovers of our isla, starting a week before we depart.

    Btw, for the first time, spouse did try magic anti-jet lag pills that we now will order by the case, he says.  Recommended by a colleague on this trip, too, who travels a lot for the campus -- as in back and forth to Rome in a day and still able to teach.  

    And my spouse starts teaching tomorrow, despite just being back from what turned into the two-day trip with only a few hours of sleep.  Yet today, he is rarin' around on errands and making me generally exhausted just watching him, as usual.  And spouse turned a year older in India, too -- even more past retirement age but still amazing. . . .

    Parent

    Avoid water for sure. Although I am (none / 0) (#167)
    by oculus on Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 03:18:41 PM EST
    an iced tea addict in hot weather, I must resist.  Got my broad sspectrum antibiotic, especially for India, according to travel medicine specialist here.  

    Parent
    More tips from spouse: (none / 0) (#180)
    by Cream City on Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 09:00:48 PM EST
    He washed his hands often and brought along a lot of wet wipes for in between (he was doing a lot of teaching on computer keyboards and other equipment handled by many people).  He steered away from lettuce, tomatoes, and similar stuff washed in water -- but missed them not at all, with all the wonderful fruit.  Avoid ice cubes (see below) -- and above all, he says, use those wet wipes after shaking hands with monkeys (enormous monkeys, everywhere on the campus) or petting the camels.  Or at least use those wet wipes afterward.

    Btw, all this amazes me.  He's been down the Amazon, he's not the finicky sort at all.  He just had been warned enough about the stress in India on our pampered innards -- and he was working, not vacationing, so didn't want to miss a day . . . as just about everyone else did by not taking precautions to adapt there.

    He loved it, he can't stop talking about it, he's got thousands! of photos -- I've seen just some, and you're going to have a fantastic time in a wonderful country with wonderful people.  While you're gone, we'll be watching the PBS Story of India series, rerunning here soon. . . .

    Parent

    I really hadn't planned on shaking (none / 0) (#181)
    by oculus on Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 09:07:45 PM EST
    hands w/any monkeys, but, if it happens, I have my handy bottle of antibacterial hand cleanser--back pack ready.  Fruit:  can't tell you how sick I got in Guatemala after I just couldn't resist the delicious looking fruit salad.  And I knew better!  No camels this trip. Been there--done that in Egypt.  Once was enough.  Thanks for the information.  I'm hoping by the time I get back you and you-know-who will have reached an accommodation.  

    Parent
    What were the jet lag pills (none / 0) (#177)
    by hairspray on Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 07:07:18 PM EST
    called?  We have had little trouble in Baja California (Mexico) and Mazatlan in recent years.  We fill up on Activa or some other plain yogurt pretty religiously for about 10 days before we go.  Of course we only drink the water in our hotel and bottled drinks everywhere else. Works pretty well, if you avoid the ice cubes.

    Parent
    And yes, he is enjoying (5.00 / 1) (#179)
    by Cream City on Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 08:55:03 PM EST
    his first ice cubes in weeks.  He craved those a lot, he said -- very weary of warm soda.:-)

    Parent
    It was soooo hot and humid in Saigon (5.00 / 1) (#182)
    by oculus on Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 09:09:33 PM EST
    that, when I saw a Starbucks knock-off, complete with green umbrellas, and a sign:  purified ice--I parked there and enjoyed several gigantic glasses of ice tea.  No repercussions.

    Parent
    No.Jet.Lag. (none / 0) (#178)
    by Cream City on Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 08:54:17 PM EST
    is the name, available from Magellan, says spouse.

    Parent
    Thanks. I get the magellan catalog! (none / 0) (#183)
    by hairspray on Mon Jan 12, 2009 at 12:46:27 AM EST


    Parent
    Ha, I was just looking for an open (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by ThatOneVoter on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 01:56:01 PM EST
    thread. I was looking for kale recipes online, and I found a blog... iheartkale.blogspot.com
    One person says she puts kale in her oatmeal, and tops it off with  bananas and yogurt.
    I'll have to try that.. some day.
    Portuguese kale soup is great!! (5.00 / 1) (#18)
    by befuddledvoter on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 03:34:58 PM EST
    Kale and various beans (white and kidney as I recall) carrots, spare ribs, linguica and potatoes.  Really hearty!!  

    Parent
    I was making it every couple weeks (5.00 / 1) (#27)
    by nycstray on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 03:53:56 PM EST
    towards the end of the season. Love it! I have a bunch that I canned for crappy days like today {grin} Hey, I could use short ribs instead of spare, right? I used sausage in one batch and in another, slab bacon and portobello mushrooms

    Just got back from my CSA mtg. Looks like we're going to have something close to a mini farmers market this upcoming season. Eggs, cheese, wine and beer might be added. We already have produce, fruit and poultry. Oh, and grains were mentioned also. Makes me very happy knowing I'm going to have access to all this good food  :)

    Parent

    I think short ribs are fine (5.00 / 1) (#34)
    by befuddledvoter on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 04:06:50 PM EST
    We made a different version with kale since we had no linguica.  I had some all natural andouille sausage (Emerial's brand).  I left word to add it for flavor.  90 year old mother told sister to put in entire package.  Woah!! It was hot and way too spicey.  So, experimentation is fine but with moderation.  Mother had never tasted andouille.  I think it is great for flavoring, but adding 6 sausages to a soup is just too much.

    Parent
    I can't remember the brand I used (none / 0) (#41)
    by nycstray on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 04:17:33 PM EST
    But it's an all natural (perhaps organic?) one and they do some good sausages with interesting flavor combos that are great for adding to greens and/or soup. I don't think I've seen the Emeril brand. I haven't tried andouille with kale, but will keep your experience in mind. I've gotten good about not getting too spicy with the chipolte. Have a bad habit of using too much when wanting to give my greens a bit of a kick. Deceptive ingredient  ;)

    I'm going to do a turkey and wild rice tonight, but think I'll do kale soup with the short ribs tomorrow.

    Parent

    I had kale last night (none / 0) (#12)
    by nycstray on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 03:20:04 PM EST
    I get a lot of it from my CSA, so that blog will come in handy, thanks!

    Parent
    Since kale is one of the cole crops (5.00 / 1) (#82)
    by scribe on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 07:37:20 PM EST
    you could also use it in one of my all-time Central European soul-food faves:  (translated from the German) cabbage noodles.

    There is no fixed recipe, but do it like this.

    Noodles - make noodle dough with flour, whole egg and water.  You can either make them drop noodles, in which case the dough should be a bit wetter, or rolled-out flat noodles (a drier dough).

    Either drop the dough by teaspoons into boiling salted water and allow to cook until they're done (they float) or roll the dough out and cut into squarish pieces about 1 to 1 1/2 inches on a side, then allow to dry a bit and then boil.

    In either event, you want good, stout noodles.  To me, commercial noodles are never broad enough, nor stout enough for this, so I make my own.  Keep them warm and moist on the back of the stove in a big pot.  Reserve some of the cooking water.

    Take the cabbage and chop it coarsely.  Chop a medium-sized onion (one onion per half-head of cabbage) about 1/4 inch dice.  Start some oil over medium to medium-low heat in the bottom of your largest frying pan.  Saute the onion until going translucent, then add the cabbage and wilt and saute it.  Use a lid and turn frequently.  If you need to add moisture, use some of the water from the noodles.  You want something almost like a mirepoix, but not too well-done.

    Season with salt, black pepper and, if you want, a little celery seed.  Be generous with the pepper.

    When the cabbage is starting to go translucent, take it and mix it into the noodles thoroughly.  Add a little more of the cooking water to assist in mixing.  You want to make enough noodles so you have noodles with cabbage and not the other way around.

    Serve with anything.  These reheat well.

    This is serious stick-to-your-ribs, fill you up and send you out into the fields (or barn) and work all day kind of food.  Ideal on nasty winter days.

    Parent

    Thanks! Officially added to my recipe file :) (none / 0) (#133)
    by nycstray on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 11:29:13 PM EST
    We also get a fair amount of cabbage. 3 different varieties. The owner of the local cook shop is going to hold a krauting class for us. We're thinking of perhaps doing a massive amount up which she can store for us until it's ready.

    I just watched a program where they did the drop noodles, so I think I'm going to try it that way. More kitchen fun! :)

    Parent

    Enjoy the kraut (none / 0) (#172)
    by scribe on Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 05:46:09 PM EST
    it's "just" cabbage and salt, but ohhhh.  Those who have only eaten the canned stuff have no idea.

    My grandmother used to make her own, but I have only my dad's telling me about it, as she stopped before I was born.  

    I like it done with a bay leaf, and juniper berries or a clove or two.

    This is starting to make me antsy for a choucroute.  I wonder how much pork and how many pork products I have around the house.

    Parent

    Only Two To Three Weeks (none / 0) (#173)
    by squeaky on Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 05:56:59 PM EST
    And you get to buy a companion for your cherry pitter. I am quite surprised that you are daunted by making sauerkraut.

    You can shred the cabbage with a regular vegetable grater, but a full-sized cabbage slicer is easier and more fun. These large graters look like antiques, but you can purchase one through eBay for $15 or less.

    link

    Parent

    I grew up on something similar (none / 0) (#148)
    by Amiss on Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 02:39:04 AM EST
    that my Mother cooked with her "greens" which in the south is mostly turnips, collards and mustard, but the "noodles" were made with corn meal and were called "corn dodgers", somewhat similar in recipe to a "hushpuppie" which are eaten with seafood.

    Parent
    Kale anecdote: sitting in a (none / 0) (#161)
    by oculus on Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 01:41:43 PM EST
    restaurant in Burgos, Spain.  Even the competent Spanish speaker in our group has no idea what one element of the special might be.  Waiter couldn't communicate it either.  Answer:  kale.

    Parent
    Another Kale Anecdote (none / 0) (#162)
    by squeaky on Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 02:47:53 PM EST
    Summer tai chi camp in the finger lakes, keuka college, always had one terrible aspect, the food.

    It was crazy. All around the college were farms, farm stands dotted all the roads selling fresh local veggies in abundance.

    Keuka College got its food from a truck coming somewhere from the midwest, mostly canned and heavily processed food, nothing fresh.

    One day my teacher politely complained that there were no fresh vegetables and asked if it would be possible to procure some local veggies, the manager said that would be impossible. My teacher then asked if the manager could steam up some of the abundant decorations lining the tray line counter. The food service people were using fresh kale as decoration meant to make the slop they were serving look appetizing.

    The manager laughed and for the rest of the week we had fresh steamed kale with garlic, etc.. It was yummy. Further interventions/inventions took place and we wound up having lots of good laughs with the kitchen staff from that point on. Every year, upon returnig we get lots of kale.

    Parent

    So, you do have roots in (none / 0) (#164)
    by oculus on Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 02:57:16 PM EST
    protest movement.  Tai chi-ers, unite.

    Parent
    Yes (none / 0) (#166)
    by squeaky on Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 03:16:42 PM EST
    Kale is considered a deep root veg. Have you practiced tai chi?

    Parent
    No. (none / 0) (#168)
    by oculus on Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 03:19:57 PM EST


    Parent
    I just steam it (none / 0) (#26)
    by rdandrea on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 03:48:20 PM EST
    and put a little butter or margarine and balsamic vinegar on it.


    Parent
    Kale with browned buttter, garlic and (5.00 / 1) (#31)
    by ThatOneVoter on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 03:59:18 PM EST
    walnuts is great. The kale soups are great, but I was looking for a simple idea.
    I found a nice looking recipe for kale, lentils and pasta.
    yum

    Parent
    That does look good (5.00 / 1) (#36)
    by nycstray on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 04:08:20 PM EST
    I've done a similar lentil dish with chard that was really good.

    Last night I just sauteed with shallots, garlic and slab bacon. Tossed some prawns in with wine at the end and served with rice.

    Parent

    I've been eating a lot of lentils (none / 0) (#44)
    by ThatOneVoter on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 04:20:31 PM EST
    .. they're great for appetite management.
    I learned how to make daal recently, and I've been making that all the time, with  the big fat yellow ones---toor daal.
    Yesterday I cooked daal and chicken curry...yum.

    Parent
    I keep lentils on hand (none / 0) (#49)
    by nycstray on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 04:34:42 PM EST
    I haven't tried making daal, but I think I will this week. I love expanding my food education  :)

    Parent
    You can find lots of daal recipes (none / 0) (#51)
    by ThatOneVoter on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 04:38:31 PM EST
    online. I got a spice mix just for daal from the local Indian who runs an international store.
    Daal is really just the Indian version of refried beans.

    Parent
    Margarine? (5.00 / 1) (#32)
    by squeaky on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 03:59:21 PM EST
    Gross, I did not think anyone used that anymore, guess I was wrong.

    Parent
    Olivio (none / 0) (#37)
    by befuddledvoter on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 04:08:24 PM EST
    is very good and good for you also.  We usually use olive oil with greens though.

    Parent
    Olive Oil (none / 0) (#56)
    by squeaky on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 05:06:24 PM EST
    Does the trick for me. Also ghee.

    Parent
    Braised kale (none / 0) (#62)
    by caseyOR on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 06:02:44 PM EST
    Molly Stevens has a great cookbook on braising just about everything. The title is "All About Braising." One is a recipe for braised kale with white beans. So easy and so good. I have it at least once a week. Good dish if you don't have a lot of time to cook.

    Parent
    Wonderful find! Thank you! (none / 0) (#78)
    by Radiowalla on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 07:14:21 PM EST
    Everything on that blog looks delicious!

    I add kale steamed with garlic and olive oil to cioppino. It is wonderful.

    Parent

    You and this braising Casey poster (5.00 / 1) (#86)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 07:57:15 PM EST
    really ummmm need to come and visit my house and bring your pans.

    Parent
    MT, I am quite a fan of braising. (5.00 / 3) (#98)
    by caseyOR on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 08:28:47 PM EST
    It is my current cooking obsession. I'd be delighted to cook for you and Josh and Mr.MT. Unfortunately, I am here in the Pacific NW, and you are down south, right? Alabama? If you are ever out my way, though, come on by.

    Another current favorite Sunday dinner of mine is a slow-roasted whole chicken with potatoes and brussel sprouts. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pour a glug or two of olive oil in the bottom of a roasting pan. Add 3-4 sprigs of fresh rosemary; cut up potatoes (I like red for this); fresh brussel sprouts cut in half; 1 onion roughly chopped; and several whole cloves of peeled garlic (whatever you like). Add salt and pepper. Wash and completely dry a 4-5 pound chicken; salt and pepper the cavity and throw in a couple more sprigs of rosemary; tie up the chicken; salt and pepper well. Place chicken, breast side down, in top of vegetables. Place in oven. After 45 minutes stir vegs and turn chicken breast side up. Roast for total of 2- 2 1/2 hours, until juices run clear.

    House smells great all afternoon, and dinner is delicious.

    Parent

    You can also add some (5.00 / 1) (#122)
    by nycstray on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 11:05:00 PM EST
    citrus quarters (I use lemons and oranges) or cubed apples (and pears) to the pan and the cavity  for an extra layer of flavor and moisture. Halfway through I sometimes glug some wine over the chicken. I think I cook for 90minutes and rest for 10. But I generally  do the hot oven and turn down to 350 when I put the it in the oven. And for people that don't like sprouts, root veggies also work.

    Next day I make soup and towards the end add in some of the roasted veggies. The pan dripping really add a good flavor to the stock.

    I had a poultry share with my CSA this year and all I've done is roast them in various ways. I keep saying I'm going to cut one up and do something else, but they are just so easy and good cooked whole, why bother, eh? lol!~

    Parent

    This sounds quite lovely (none / 0) (#108)
    by Radiowalla on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 09:29:21 PM EST
    but I wonder about the cooking time of 2-2 1/2 hrs at 350 which to me isn't slow cooking, but moderate cooking.

    Sounds a bit long to me for the stated temperature.   But then you have made it and I haven't...

    I'm a great fan of dumping the dinner in the oven and leaving it cook, unattended so this recipe sounds enticing.

    Parent

    I'm a great fan of putting an onion (5.00 / 1) (#150)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 08:09:40 AM EST
    in the oven while the delivery guy is in route :)

    Parent
    Do You Turn The Oven On? (5.00 / 1) (#158)
    by squeaky on Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 12:20:43 PM EST
    Or is the onion just a talisman to bring good luck and speed to the delivery person?

    Parent
    I feel like you have been talking to my (none / 0) (#184)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Jan 12, 2009 at 08:39:44 AM EST
    family about how often I forget to turn the oven on and how often I forget to turn the oven off.  I got my cooking skills from my mother I believe.  I lost her when I was young but I remember knowing I was never going to be a fat kid under her wing :)  It was a joke with her, that apparently an onion cooking in the oven makes the house smell "cooking wonderful" while you're sneaking the food someone else prepared in the back door.  Of course if you forget to turn the oven off you get different smells.  I was a baby, but my father claims that my mom tried to hide the umpteenth burning of morning bisquits by hiding them under a bed one morning.  I guess I got my sense of smell from her too and not my dad.  I burned the rolls at Thanksgiving totally black while we were all eating the other food for probably the tenth time now.  My son cheered, he was counting on me to provide coal for Christmas stockings he said.

    Parent
    lol (none / 0) (#186)
    by squeaky on Mon Jan 12, 2009 at 03:07:06 PM EST
    Of course if you forget to turn the oven off you get different smells.
    very funny.

    My mother stayed out of the kitchen, domestic work was an anathema to her. Her favorite cooking story was about her attempt to make fudge. It would not harden, she put it in the freezer and it still would not harden. She was a lawyer.

    Fortunately my grandmother (her mother) lived with us and was at the stove all day, a real babushka and great cook.

    Parent

    That is so cute (none / 0) (#187)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Jan 13, 2009 at 01:45:49 PM EST
    My mom wanted to go to law school, but she also wanted to have a large family and both don't often go together.  Perhaps later on she would have.  When we lost her she was carrying baby number five.  We were all very shiny and scrubbed and matched, and she took us everywhere because she said that if children aren't taken to all places they don't know how to conduct themselves in all places.  We all looked athletic too without much exercise :)

    Parent
    I have never braised (none / 0) (#149)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 08:08:28 AM EST
    I'm learning to cook later in life.  These recipes sound soooo delicious.  Cooking does not come naturally for me.  I can bake alright.  Baking doesn't require a lot of communing with what is happening to the food to get a good result.  My husband is an innate carnivore preparer.  He hasn't read a book about it or been taught by anyone, he instinctively knows how to blacken, how to not over cook, how to maintain moisture and juices, what spices will taste divine.  His tongue has led him.  I have none of this instinct :(  But I can be taught to do some things.  Maybe Braising?

    Parent
    do let me know if you (none / 0) (#81)
    by ThatOneVoter on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 07:27:27 PM EST
    try kale with oatmeal.. heh

    Parent
    I'll write a diary about it! nt (none / 0) (#85)
    by Radiowalla on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 07:56:38 PM EST


    Parent
    I finally went to the blog. What does kale (none / 0) (#88)
    by Teresa on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 07:59:22 PM EST
    taste like? The picture at the blog looked like something that I would never be able to swallow.

    Scribe's recipe sounded like something I could try and I'll eat most anything with garlic, onions, and more garlic.

    Parent

    Kale is a cabbage relative (5.00 / 2) (#96)
    by ThatOneVoter on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 08:22:57 PM EST
    I'd say the taste is somewhere between cabbage and broccoli. One thing about kale---if it's undercooked, it's not only tough, it tastes just horrible. The taste is much milder once it's fully cooked. The leaves and stems should be quite soft before you eat it.


    Parent
    My dog likes it raw! (5.00 / 1) (#123)
    by nycstray on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 11:08:05 PM EST
    all the goodies I bring back from the CSA and she noses around for the kale. She also likes carrot greens. The cats like the veggies that roll so they can play games while eating . . . .

    Parent
    I think kale is a bit bitter (5.00 / 1) (#119)
    by befuddledvoter on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 10:49:15 PM EST
    not as strong as mustard greens or collards, but with a bite.  

    Parent
    Motown turns 50 (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by jbindc on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 02:27:45 PM EST
    Monday

    Campaign tactics being used to sell economic plan (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by jbindc on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 03:27:18 PM EST
    Bloomberg

    Paging Frank Lutz, anyone?

    DADT (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by Alien Abductee on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 03:28:28 PM EST
    Robert Gibbs answering reader-posted questions on change.gov:

    The five-minute segment featured Gibbs answering questions that had been posted on the site and voted up by users. At the very end, he addressed this one: "Is the new administration going to get rid of the `don't ask, don't tell' policy?" He responded, "You don't hear a politician give a one-word answer much, but it's yes."

    Video here (final minute).

    Believe it when I see it. (none / 0) (#17)
    by jbindc on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 03:32:00 PM EST


    Parent
    Of course (none / 0) (#19)
    by Alien Abductee on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 03:35:28 PM EST
    But such a straightforward yes is a promising sign of future action as opposed to a bad sign.

    Parent
    Maybe (none / 0) (#21)
    by jbindc on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 03:37:39 PM EST
    But "Read my lips, no new taxes"  and "I did not have s**ual relations with that woman" are also straightforward.

    Parent
    They all disappoint us (none / 0) (#23)
    by Alien Abductee on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 03:39:58 PM EST
    But the one was a campaign promise and the other a defense against persecution. This is unforced, so maybe more reliable. But we'll see, won't we.

    Parent
    the only (5.00 / 3) (#33)
    by cpinva on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 04:02:24 PM EST
    Is this really "change" you can believe in?

    "change I can believe in" is given to me when i break a bill. aside from that, i have no particular great expectations from the obama administration, he certainly showed me little enough during the primaries.

    squeaky, i hate to break the news to you,

    It should be a military decision, not something proscribed by homophobic BushCo to shore up political points.

    but it was the homophobic military that initiated the whole "no gays allowed to get killed for their country" thing to begin with. they were less than enthused about DODT.

    the bush administration didn't saddle that horse, they just hopped on board for the ride.

    DCers, take heart: inaugural projection (5.00 / 1) (#57)
    by Cream City on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 05:13:38 PM EST
    of crowd size going down -- there even are rooms available in DC hotels.

    Looks like the inaugural crowd may parallel the election turnout -- just as the 2008 turnout did not break the 1964 record, the story suggests that the 2008 crowds may be about what they were (or less) than in 1964.  And just as the Chicago election night party numbers proved to be far less than projected owing in part, say some, to the projections that kept people away.

    However, as I recall, that 1964 inaugural also was hit by bad weather in DC (that is, a snowstorm of a couple of inches that crippled DC, to the laughter of those of us who consider that "a dusting":-).  So we'll have to see if Obama's weather luck holds (i.e., it was a major factor in the Wisconsin primary last fall, the primary that turned out to be a turning point).

    Btw, the linked story doesn't mention another factor that I suspect is in play: the economy, as a lot of people who had work in November may not have work now or fear further layoffs.  And even those of us with more job security are cutting back to help our unemployed family members -- or I'd be on a beach right now instead of heading out to shovel again.  Sigh.

    don't laugh at us in our snow! (5.00 / 2) (#80)
    by Teresa on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 07:16:32 PM EST
    Our roads aren't built for snow and we don't have equipment ready to go out everywhere.

    One Christmas, I had to go to Nashville and it started snowing hard. There was about four inches on the road and everyone was going very slow. A four-wheel drive cruised past all of us as if it was no biggie.

    A few miles down the road, the only car that had wrecked was the four-wheel drive dude with the Michigan tags. I couldn't help but smile a little.

    Parent

    I've been noticing a trend (5.00 / 3) (#66)
    by Lil on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 06:11:09 PM EST
    of some blogs that were huge supporters of Obama, especially during the primaries, seem to really be critical of Obama's moves, picks, etc. I find it ironic to see some former sychophants going crazy now. Weirdly, I was all about Clinton, but I like a lot of what Obama's been doing (not all of it, of course). When I read these blogs now, I wonder if they see the irony. Would they admit that Obama is not the god they thought he was, just a Dem like the rest. I can't wait until the 20th I still love Hillary, btw; I'm just kind satisfied with Obama right now.

    Steve Carell movie tonight from Netflix.

    The uncritical supporters (5.00 / 1) (#69)
    by Fabian on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 06:24:22 PM EST
    are still there.  I and others really don't understand why Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN talking head and practicing neurosurgeon, has been suggested as Surgeon General.

    The three most common reasons to support Gupta are because
    Obama wants him.
    He's qualified.  (Not highly qualified, just "qualified".)
    He's a familiar face.

    My favorite comment from a supporter "He(Gupta) seems like a nice guy.".  I didn't ask if they wanted to have a beer with him.  

    I'm glad people are being critical now, even if they were toe sucking sycophants two months ago.  Probably especially if they were.

    Parent

    My suspicion (5.00 / 2) (#91)
    by spiceweazel on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 08:08:08 PM EST
    is that next administration believes Gupta will be an effective pitchman for whatever mess it cobbles together as "healthcare reform". Given Gupta's likability and the public's familiarity/comfort level with him, I'd expect him to perform that function well.

    Parent
    THe job should go to a primary care doc (5.00 / 1) (#99)
    by samtaylor2 on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 08:46:36 PM EST
    Not a specialist.  Not so much because the specialists don't care, or aren't smart enough, but because the focus needs to be primary care if we are to begin to fix our health care system.

    Parent
    I think an ER physician would (5.00 / 1) (#100)
    by ThatOneVoter on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 08:49:27 PM EST
    also have the right viewpoint.

    Parent
    There was a Dem running in the CA district (5.00 / 1) (#126)
    by nycstray on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 11:11:26 PM EST
    I'm moving to and one of the things I liked about him aside from his position on issues was that he was a physician/ER doc. More voices from the field instead of the Hill  ;)

    Parent
    Dr. Sam! Good to see your input (5.00 / 1) (#102)
    by Cream City on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 08:59:24 PM EST
    and it's interesting and useful; thanks.

    What would you think of a family practitioner?  We have been blessed with some whose perspective is so good -- and it is so encompassing in assessing impact of health care, or lack thereof, on others around the primary patient.  I like that.

    Parent

    Do you mean a doctor practicing family medicine? (none / 0) (#159)
    by samtaylor2 on Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 12:25:29 PM EST
    That is a dying breed of doctor unfortunately.  But they are considered primary care providers.  

    What I would like to see more then anything in this position is an medical ethicist.  Before any real change can or should occur in terms of health care there needs to be an honest discussion of ethics (I think that is right word) in this country.  We need to come to an agreement about what the end goal of health care should be.   Prevention vs. saving lives vs. prolonging life vs. combo of above.  The answers to what should be a national debate will define what type of health care system this country needs and wants.
     

    Parent

    Don't know; my bro is (5.00 / 1) (#169)
    by Cream City on Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 03:21:01 PM EST
    a family practitioner, so I just use that term.

    I appreciate your thoughts on a medical ethicist and the questions of long-term care, having just gone through a week of almost losing again my kids' grandma in her late 90s.  It really looked like the end again, all the symptoms both physical and mental with her talking to loved ones long gone, etc.  But it turned out to be delirium from an antibiotic interacting with other meds, so she's bouncing back again.  And she is a wonderful woman, and I really hope she makes it to her 100th birthday party -- if only to see her old college boyfriend, even older than her, come from two states away to dance with her again!  It was great.

    But I also admire her because she had the guts and good sense, having been through so many losses and hard decision herself, to do a living will and ask for no extreme measures.  She did so even before we did -- while watching the Schiavo horror.  I even was scribbling codicils such as "and if anyone ever rips open my shirt to show my breasts on national tv, I will come back to haunt you!"

    Parent

    So glad she got through this last scare (5.00 / 1) (#170)
    by samtaylor2 on Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 04:37:11 PM EST
    I hope to see that dance on YouTube :)

    Peace Sam

    Parent

    Ha, then we'd have to explain (none / 0) (#174)
    by Cream City on Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 06:31:52 PM EST
    YouTube to a woman born almost a century ago, who grew up in logging country still in the 19th century, who learned how to snowshoe before she could walk, who tells such stories. . . .  

    But she also is amazing as a woman who got a college degree in the 1920s, landed work in a law firm doing what today would be called being a paralegal, moved to the big city and landed work again at a huge company where her position would make her ex officio on the board today.  And that was just the start, before a series of tragedies hit -- widowed in WWII with an infant, almost losing her only child when he served in Nam, etc. -- that make her an inspiration to generations.

    And the small-town girl raised in a climate of bigotry has held to her simple faith but also grown through it all, leading the way in embracing LGBT family members, learning to love their partners and new family members of an array of cultures never even known when she was young.

    However, despite all the inventions that she has mastered since the snowshoe era, email proved beyond her willingness to keep adapting, at a time when she began to have to adapt to poor health, too.  And we got her on webcam via Skype last week, but she just couldn't quite grasp that she was seeing in reality what used to be only in Dick Tracy and sci-fi comics.  So I am not going to tackle YouTube with her, lest she look around it and see some of the stuff that would shock even a woman who has seen so much!

    Btw, she also expended a lot of energy adapting politically this past year.  She voted Democrat -- and the things she had to say about Bush. . . .

    Parent

    Cool story (none / 0) (#176)
    by samtaylor2 on Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 06:51:04 PM EST
    I love to read those stories.  It makes me think that someone should write/ compile a book titled "Before they were called feminists".  I have some similarly awesome stories about my grandmother and aunt.   They are so inspiring.

    My grandmother told me this story about when she was a child in Missouri for a 4 grade essay I had to write about my family.    She was sent into what she said was White castle to get all the burgers for her and her classmates leaving school(She said they didn't want lots of kids in the establishment).  She orders all these burgers (which when she told me I imaged a ton of burgers:), and then she went to sit down while she waited for them to cook.  They said she couldn't sit down because she was black.  She tells them, screw you I am keeping my money, you can keep the burgers.  The next time she comes in they let her sit.  

    The one time a man hit her (one of her many husbands).  It ended when she went after him with her car (he was sorta scared and granted the divorce).

    Parent

    My mother had the same reaction (5.00 / 1) (#171)
    by nycstray on Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 05:38:35 PM EST
    to the Schiavo horror. I had let everyone who was close to me know my feelings. My mother came back with the "If you EVER let them show me on TV while in a coma . . . " I was still trying to wrap my head around what was going on in DC and with all the right wing god freaks, I was busy scribbling to "keep them far, far, away OR ELSE!"

    She did perform a great service before she passed. Many of us could suddenly make it very clear what we did not want to happen to us. And living wills prob got much more creative . . . .  Who knew we needed to include directives about Congress, RWGF and TeeVee appearances . . .

    Parent

    Gupta drawbacks... (5.00 / 1) (#120)
    by jedimom on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 10:50:22 PM EST
    I would rather not see him b.c of his argument about UHC when Sicko came out, and his position on decriminalization of marijuana...

    Parent
    Assuminh Gupta (none / 0) (#70)
    by Lil on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 06:30:56 PM EST
    doesn't have a huge skelton in his closet, I kind of like him. His role is partially to be a pitch man, and with his tv experience he can do that well. As for the other aspects of the job, I really have no idea if he'd be good at that. In fact, I'm not really sure what else that job requires, besides being a doctor and articulate issues related to that well.

    Parent
    I would have liked to see (5.00 / 3) (#71)
    by Cream City on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 06:33:21 PM EST
    one of the many, many physicians who have been active in Doctors Without Borders (and I don't recall that including Gupta).  

    After all, they're all Nobel Peace Prize Winners.

    Parent

    He's been pretty anti-single payer HC. (5.00 / 3) (#75)
    by Teresa on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 06:59:28 PM EST
    That's enough for me. He's fine at CNN but I want someone who doesn't repeat talking points against health care for all.

    Parent
    Yes, Teresa, he is anti-UHC (5.00 / 3) (#94)
    by caseyOR on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 08:13:24 PM EST
    and he lied many times on the air when challenging Michael Moore about the movie "Sicko."

    Parent
    Hillary Blew Him Off Too (5.00 / 1) (#97)
    by squeaky on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 08:28:22 PM EST
    Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's (D-N.Y.) proposal to mandate that all people purchase health insurance would be a boon to the industry, filmmaker Michael Moore said Friday.

    "Can you imagine, every time Sen. Clinton says that, the licking of the lips that goes on with these health insurance executives?" Moore said during a conference call with reporters.

    Her response:

    "His movie notwithstanding, Michael Moore clearly doesn't know a whole lot about how healthcare policy works," Clinton spokesman Jay Carson said in an e-mail.

    link

    Bottom line from Moore, Hillary and Obama are the same and fall short.

    Moore, director of the Academy Award-nominated documentary "SiCKO" about the U.S. healthcare system, criticized both Clinton and her rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.), for failing to support a universal system of government-financed health coverage during their runs for the White House. "The two Democratic candidates don't quite get it," he said.


    Parent
    I don't care what Michael Moore said (5.00 / 5) (#109)
    by Teresa on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 09:29:33 PM EST
    about Hillary or Obama. It's what he said about UHC. Watch the videos of his flat out misstatements about it in a debate on Larry King. CNN had to admit they were wrong in the statistics he used.

    He took the anti-UHC side and used all the typical talking points doing it.

    Parent

    Yeah (none / 0) (#124)
    by squeaky on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 11:08:44 PM EST
    I remember watching that clip, and being repulsed by Gupta.  Moore poits that he and his boss CNN are what the problem is with the media. Otherwise Gupta and Moore are basically in agreement.  Moore exposes who Gupta is working for.

    Did you catch the I hope people vote their conscience at the ballot box, line at the end? Is he talking about the primary, or the general election?

    It seems that he is making a plug for republicans to vote their conscience and not vote party (republican) nov 08 as the best way to change a broken system.

    Parent

    I kind of took it that way, too. (none / 0) (#136)
    by Teresa on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 11:40:16 PM EST
    I think he meant in the general even though that was primary time (I think). As far as I know, he has only been associated with Democrats but I still don't like his stance on UHC.

    If he was just playing devil's advocate for CNN with Moore, it will be used against him. Not that I really expect us to ever have true UHC.

    I'm so frustrated with Democrats for not being aggressive on health care. With the economy falling apart, this is our best chance to truly reform health care and instead we will settle for baby steps.

    Parent

    At some point, glitter wears thin.... (5.00 / 3) (#79)
    by blogname on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 07:14:27 PM EST
    I have argued before that progressives were in an "Obama-Vegetative State" during the Democratic primaries.  They turned Obama into an icon of progressive reform - which required them to engage in willful blindness. Now they are scream foul play. But they seem to also lack an understanding of how change happens. It's not decreed from "on high," but through social movement activity -- which is why a lot of older liberals were a little uneasy about the O-Movement.  You might appreciate these essays:

    Progressives Awaken from Obama-Vegetative State

    Chicken Little Politics: Moderate Obama Causes Progressive Panic


    Parent

    He offers a lil' something for everyone (none / 0) (#73)
    by SOS on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 06:37:29 PM EST
    Obama takes a break for some chili and sausage AP - 1 hour, 36 minutes ago

    WASHINGTON - What does the president-elect order on his first Saturday afternoon since moving into town? A chili dog and cheese fries.

    So go out now and git' urself a bunch of those dogs' and fries.


    Parent

    I'll tell you, I am a curse this year. (5.00 / 1) (#77)
    by Teresa on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 07:06:24 PM EST
    Vols - stunk
    Dolphins - stunk
    Colts - lost and I hate NFL playoff formats
    Titans - gave it away and the refs can't tell time
    My job I just had - the co is closing soon
    My old job - co is liquidating-10,000 employees

    The last job was my life for years and every single friend I have in Knoxville works there except two who left last year. That job is why I moved to Knoxville.

    Anyone got any good news? I guess Bush leaving should help some.

    If I'm ever headed your direction (5.00 / 1) (#84)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 07:53:34 PM EST
    for a dog show I will give you a shout here.  We can have some dinner and a drink or three :)  I need three to get giggly.  Hang in there baby!!!!

    Parent
    Good luck Teresa (5.00 / 2) (#127)
    by lilburro on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 11:14:36 PM EST
    I feel ya :(  And when it comes to the Dolphins, my dad feels you too.  Here's to a better 2009.

    Parent
    Hopefully, you were in no way... (none / 0) (#155)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 11:50:31 AM EST
    ...connected to this?

    A luxurious castle-like home in Johnson City, Tenn., has been badly burned by fierce flames.

    Assistant Fire Chief Mark Finucane (Fee-new'-cahn) says the roof and top floor of Crantzdorf Estate's main three-story complex were badly burned Saturday night. The lower two floors suffered water damage as about 25 firefighters took hours to extinguish the blaze.

    And to be fair, the Dolphins didn't suck this year--especially when compared to the Broncos.  

    Chin up, its a new year with a clean slate!

    Parent

    The good news T.... (none / 0) (#185)
    by kdog on Mon Jan 12, 2009 at 10:04:50 AM EST
    the sun rose this morning, will set tonight, and with any luck rise again tomorrow.  We laid our heads to rest last night in warm beds with full bellys...there are people that love us and people we love...after that it's all gravy.  

    At least that's what I try to remind myself when I'm in the midst of a run of bad luck and feel like I just can't win...hang in there kid:)

    Parent

    I most want to see Slumdog as well (5.00 / 1) (#83)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 07:49:36 PM EST
    but unlikely I will get caught up on my movies this weekend or next.  I'm probably going to have to settle for Netflix for a lot of what I want to see right now.  Tomorrow is Josh's B-day and then he's having a big sleep over party next weekend.  I have to do a "Pirates of the Carribean at World's End" cake for that party.  I'll try to get a picture up of it  We are redoing the flooring in our hallway.  Completely removed all of it this weekend.  We will be making minor leveling repairs to the slab and still haven't settled on what exactly will be replacing it.  2009 has breathed new life and vigor into us, but seeing as this is a blog for doers it seems that there is so much doing going on I'm not having a whole lot of time for entertainment outside of B-days.  My last German Shepherd litter is now 12 weeks old and I can't tell one iota who I need to hold back for the ring.  I need some old timer American Shepherd breeder help here, and I'll probably be videoing sometime next week and asking for that help.  The dam is out of Ken Delaine/Fran Jo lines, old lines....but I have no idea what I'm seeing in infancy here and where it leads to in adulthood.

    Movies? It's Playoff Weekend, people! (5.00 / 3) (#87)
    by Anne on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 07:57:59 PM EST
    Am just now recovering from watching my Baltimore Ravens win a game that has to have been one of the most difficult games to watch I can remember.

    Now watching Arizona giving Carolina a major heart attack...Panthers need to snap out of it!

    Tomorrow is San Diego at the Steelers and Eagles at the Giants - should be two smashmouth games.

    See?? I am rooting for Carolina. (5.00 / 2) (#90)
    by Teresa on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 08:02:00 PM EST
    I told you I'm a curse. Anne, next weekend, I will root against the Ravens just for you. :)

    Parent
    Funny story about a Ravens shirt I bought (5.00 / 3) (#128)
    by Anne on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 11:14:44 PM EST
    a couple years ago...

    In 2006, the Ravens went 13-3 and won the AFC North, so I went out and bought a Ravens polo shirt - in purple of course.  It was like an XXL or something because so much of the Ravens gear had been snapped up in anticipation of playoffs.

    We had a first round bye and met the Colts in the first divisional game.  We lost.  I was wearing the shirt.

    Last season, we went 5-11, and it seemed to me that whenever I wore the shirt, we didn't do well, so I decided I would not wear it this season.

    So, last game of this season, we're playing the Jags here, and we HAVE TO win this game to get the #6 wild card.  We're getting ready to watch the game, and here comes my husband, and he's wearing the shirt.  

    When I give him the evil eye - he asks why, and I tell him that I think that shirt has some bad ju-ju or something, and he looks at me like I'm nuts.

    So, a couple series into the game, it's starting to look kind of iffy, and I finally say to him, "either you take the shirt off, or I'm going to rip it off your body myself."  He knows not to mess with me where football is concerned, so off he goes to change out of the shirt.

    Within a few minutes, the entire feel of the game changes, we start putting up points, and we can just feel that this is all going to go the Ravens' way.

    He turns to me and says, "I say, we burn the shirt at halftime."

    We didn't, of course, but I can guarantee you that no one will be wearing that shirt ever again...

    As for the Panthers, I actually felt sorry for Jake Delhomme - what a cr@ppy way to spend his birthday.  Six turnovers - wow.

    As hard as it was to watch the Ravens tonight - the edge of my seat is really not very comfortable - as soon as we got two turnovers, I knew we would win the game.

    And, I may be biased, but I think the NFL missed the boat on who the real Offensive Rookie of the Year is; Joe Flacco is the real deal.

    Parent

    Who got ROTY? (5.00 / 2) (#130)
    by nycstray on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 11:17:25 PM EST


    Parent
    Matt Ryan, QB from Atlanta... (5.00 / 2) (#134)
    by Anne on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 11:34:15 PM EST
    who is, along with his head coach, Coach of the Year Mike Smith, and MVP Peyton Manning, sitting home watching football instead of advancing deeper into the playoffs.

    If I were Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison, Defensive Player of the Year, I would be worried about tomorrow's game...

    Parent

    I thought Johnson from the Titans did well (5.00 / 2) (#138)
    by nycstray on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 11:48:19 PM EST
    sucked he got hurt today. I picked him up as a lark on my fantasy team and he kicked butt in the points dept. The bit I saw of him this season was fun. Fast and slippery, just how I like them, lol!~

    An upside to Ryan getting it is it diminishes Vick when he starts making his come back (possibly next season!) Atlanta may be home watching football, but at least they have some closure to the Vick issue by having an up and coming QB in his place.

    I'm drawing a blank, who are the Steelers playing?

    Parent

    I think it's the Chargers. (5.00 / 1) (#139)
    by Teresa on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 11:54:59 PM EST


    Parent
    hehe (5.00 / 2) (#103)
    by lilburro on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 09:03:01 PM EST
    I was going to go out, but I was sucked into football!  

    Your Ravens did wonderfully!  The Ravens are the one football team I've actually seen in person.  I like how their QB, Flacco, is from Delaware...he's the perfect example of how top NFL players can come from any school, anywhere.

    But my team is the Eagles.  I'm looking forward to them toppling the Giants tomorrow.  Teresa...root for the Giants please!  :P

    Parent

    I will! In my part of TN, we root for (5.00 / 1) (#107)
    by Teresa on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 09:26:59 PM EST
    Peyton and then Peyton's brother. :)

    Parent
    bwhahah (5.00 / 2) (#116)
    by lilburro on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 10:27:10 PM EST
    GOOD :)

    I'm really surprised that the Cards beat the Panthers though.  WTH?  

    But tomorrow is Eagles football!  Can't wait!  It's always a question of whether McNabb and Westbrook can realize their potential.  McNabb's been good recently.  And I love our rookie, DeSean Jackson!  He's made his mistakes but if he stays, I think he will be a franchise player.

    SUPERBOWL BABY!

    Parent

    They're out there working on the field (5.00 / 1) (#129)
    by nycstray on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 11:15:17 PM EST
    for tomorrow. They had news crews out there so we could see the progress. The guys salting the seating area I think were volunteers. NUTS! I say  ;)

    Parent
    Poor devils (5.00 / 1) (#131)
    by lilburro on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 11:17:47 PM EST
    while we'll be at home watching the game in the warmth of our homes and our bars :)

    Parent
    So I'm not the only one in a football coma... (5.00 / 1) (#112)
    by otherlisa on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 10:06:12 PM EST
    Boy these games have been bizarre today..especially this one. I am really surprised that the Cardinals are winning by this much and the Panthers are playing sooooo badly.

    Tomorrow should be fun. Don't count the Chargers out, is all I'm saying. People who talk about their record forget that they lost all but one of their games by one score. I think the cumulative total was 34 points. And they are playing a lot better now too.

    Parent

    extremely bizarre (5.00 / 1) (#132)
    by lilburro on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 11:19:59 PM EST
    we've been mocking the Cards at my house for a full month.  After all, they made the playoffs with a record worse than the Pats, who didn't make the playoffs at all.  They did well tonight though.

    Parent
    The Chargers need... (none / 0) (#156)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 12:00:49 PM EST
    ...a big game out of Tiny Darren today if they're going to win. If he plays like he did last week, they've got a chance.  The Steelers have much better defense than Indy though.

    Saturday the road teams went 2 for 2.  I'm not sure that's going to happen again today, but you just never know.  

    It is a tough decision figuring out who to root for in either game, but at least for the Stillers/Chargers game, I'll fall back on the ol' "who has more Iowa players on their roster".  So, as much as it pains me as a Bronco's fan to say it--Go Chargers!

    Parent

    they'll need a huge game from Sproles (none / 0) (#163)
    by otherlisa on Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 02:48:54 PM EST
    and a strong performance from the tight ends, which is a little scary given Gates' injury.

    Parent
    Blackberry wars (5.00 / 5) (#92)
    by caseyOR on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 08:10:30 PM EST
    I just watched yet another "news" story about Barack Obama's fight to keep his blackberry post-inauguration. I don't understand why this is so "newsworthy." I don't have a blackberry myself; maybe this is why I don't get it.

    However, if the president-elect had the same regard for universal health care as he seems to have for his blackberry, UHC would be a near slam-dunk.

    PEBO thinks his Blackberry is (none / 0) (#142)
    by oculus on Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 12:35:51 AM EST
    indispensable because he has grown accustomed to being able to read and respond to his e-mail 24/7.  But won't he be advised never to send e-mails as President?  

    Parent
    Is it necessary to read (5.00 / 2) (#110)
    by andgarden on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 09:35:39 PM EST
    David Ignatius, or can we just guess how stupid and pointless his columns will be?

    I can't wait to see (none / 0) (#115)
    by lilburro on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 10:21:03 PM EST
    if Obama actually grants a $300 mil tax cut though.  If he's really going to spend $300 mil on touchy-feely....um...what can I say?  He's astonishingly stupid?

    Parent
    Oh, groan! (none / 0) (#121)
    by gyrfalcon on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 11:00:24 PM EST
    "His advisers say he makes decisions more confidently than anyone they've ever watched in politics. He's fashioning a new style of governing, as if by instinct."

    Just what we need, another eight years of governing "by instinct."

    Parent

    we've had our share (none / 0) (#125)
    by lilburro on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 11:09:50 PM EST
    of pseudo-governing.  Is it 10 or 9 days til Inauguration now?

    Parent
    Well I sure hope no one is expecting (none / 0) (#137)
    by nycstray on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 11:40:39 PM EST
    governing by experience . . .

    just sayin'

    Parent

    Ha. Fightin' words. (none / 0) (#143)
    by oculus on Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 12:36:39 AM EST


    Parent
    Indeed (none / 0) (#146)
    by gyrfalcon on Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 12:46:59 AM EST
    Sigh.

    I'd settle for governing by consultation and thinking, though.  This "instinct" crap drives me around the bend.  Next we'll be hearing about his "gut," just like the Bush creature.


    Parent

    Thinking through is so last . . . (5.00 / 3) (#147)
    by nycstray on Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 01:23:42 AM EST
    decade?

    It bothered me when we weren't supposed to worry about his lack of experience because he would surround himself with people smarter than him. (I know how that one works!) I find it very disturbing they are running around talking about his new "instinctive' style. OY.

    I guess the next roll out from Team Obama Brand will be "Now with Instinct! A style change you can believe in!"

    Parent

    Holidays are over (5.00 / 2) (#113)
    by lilburro on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 10:17:01 PM EST
    and I don't have any cookies on hand to nurse as I come to grips with Brennan's new job.  I present to thee a new diary about John Brennan - John Brennan's B.S.  It's a bit of a retread of previous diaries - but repeating stale talking points doesn't seem to bother the media, so why should it bother me?  The important thing is to keep our eyes on John Brennan - and pressure him to say, if he is so innocent, that he supports an inquiry into the CIA's actions over the past 8 years.

    Have you heard of Phillipe (none / 0) (#144)
    by oculus on Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 12:41:44 AM EST
    Sands?  He is a British lawyer.  Terry Gross interviewed last week on Fresh Air about his new book on torture:  Fresh Air

    I heard part of the interview.  He seemed to think a new day has dawned.  

    Parent

    Weather better than promised. (none / 0) (#4)
    by Fabian on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 01:58:47 PM EST
    Did my grocery shopping yesterday both because we needed provisions and because we were promised both snow and ice today.  It seemed that other people had the same motivation because Friday afternoons aren't usually busy.

    We got maybe an inch of snow and some freezing rain.  Glad I won't be going out today, but it's not bad so far.  Whatever we get will freeze solid overnight.  My son is very disappointed - the original forecast was for up to three inches of snow.  He wanted to go out and play!

    Snow snow go away! (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by mmc9431 on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 03:01:35 PM EST
    He can come and play in my yard. We got almost a foot here! I just spent the last hour digging out the drive way. I'm in Chicago area and they said 4 to 6 inches.

    Parent
    Sorry, mmc, you got our snow (none / 0) (#175)
    by Cream City on Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 06:35:02 PM EST
    that swung away from us to the south, to Chicago.  But if it helps, your snow messed up a lot of lives up here, where we were waiting for family members flying back to O'Hare.  Delays of many hours, and we couldn't figure out why until I checked my Chicago papers online . . . and found out you got a foot of snow and a h*llish day in other ways.

    After an alltime record December of snow here -- and that's saying something to the north of you -- it was nice to hear it was shifting away from us, but I wish it had hit somewhere other than Chicago.  Like maybe the middle of Lake Michigan?

    Parent

    I just walked home from a mtg (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by nycstray on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 03:24:18 PM EST
    streets are real slick. I don't think we're supposed to get much snow until later. All we have right now is enough to slip and smack your tail bone . . .

    Parent
    Freezing Rain (5.00 / 1) (#16)
    by squeaky on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 03:30:35 PM EST
    After midnight. Yuk...

    Parent
    Drats! Can't stand that crap!! (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by nycstray on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 03:56:16 PM EST


    Parent
    Hey, (none / 0) (#68)
    by Lil on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 06:15:13 PM EST
    we are just to the west of you over the bridge and it has been snowing all day.

    Parent
    Too much (5.00 / 1) (#47)
    by mmc9431 on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 04:25:32 PM EST
    My poor basset hounds could hardly trudge through the snow. It was up past their shoulders!

    Parent
    I bet that was cute (none / 0) (#153)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 08:50:00 AM EST
    We used to have a tiny poodle in Colorado.  It was so funny watching her take on the snow.

    Parent
    Slumdog is a really good movie (none / 0) (#5)
    by oculus on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 02:20:49 PM EST
    but has its violent moments.

    Today's Met broadcast:  Puccini's "La Rondine."  So far, not memorable.

    Saw Met HD movie of Massenet's (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by oculus on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 02:48:29 PM EST
    "Thais" this week.  Pretty silly plot (so what's new) but Renee Fleming sang beautifully and looked stunning in her La Croix costumes. Also, David Chan played the "Meditation" so musically.  During gthe intermission interview, Chan referred to how important his Christian faith is to him and how often he has played this piece at church events.  Too much information, IMO.

    Parent
    Rondine (none / 0) (#10)
    by gyrfalcon on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 03:05:19 PM EST
    You're surprised?

    Speaking of opera, I watched the old Jeanette MacDonald/Nelson Eddy "Maytime" last week, which was fascinating.

    The climax of the movie revolves around the performance of an opera ostensibly written for MacDonald's character, and the movie makers made a full-fledged opera scene using the music of Tchaikovsky's 5th symphony!  The very idea makes me cringe, but it was just fabulous, with perhaps the most intensely passionate and moving love duet I've ever heard short of Eugene Onegin's final scene.

    Parent

    Onegin: the gold standard. (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by oculus on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 03:13:14 PM EST


    Parent
    Eugene Onegin (none / 0) (#54)
    by christinep on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 04:53:18 PM EST
    The Onegin character--one of my favorite literary persona--is not unlike the wanderer Lermontov created or Clint Eastwood in the "spaghetti westerns." Both in verse and in opera, Onegin truly haunts the imagination. Yet, as for considering Onegin other than a lost romantic soul without the ability to love, I don't know.... For me, I'd prefer the less enigmatic and wonderfully flawed characters in Mozart or the dramatic Verdi.  (Oh, and it is hard to beat the movie "Maytime" in the sweetness and swooning arena. Wonderful!)

    Parent
    Read Pushkin (none / 0) (#101)
    by Upstart Crow on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 08:50:59 PM EST
    ...not the libretti

    Parent
    Pushkin translations (none / 0) (#104)
    by gyrfalcon on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 09:12:55 PM EST
    are hopeless.  Try looking at the same sections back and forth in several. Not even recognizable as being the same thing.

    I actually once considered learning Russian for the sole purpose of being able to read Pushkin.  Unlike Shakespeare, he's for some reason utterly untranslatable.

    In any case, the section quoted is from the opera libretto, and it's true to the opera's content, if not Pushkin's original.  I believe Lensky's aria, "Kuda, Kuda" is the only part of the opera to use the original Pushkin verse.

    Parent

    The lost soul (none / 0) (#105)
    by gyrfalcon on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 09:19:26 PM EST
    finally awakened by the love of a woman, no?  And who isn't free to go to him by the time he wakes up and smells the roses.  The ultimate romantic tragedy since it's utterly self-inflicted.

    I don't know Pushkin's Onegin, only Tchaikovsky's, and I confess I'm a sucker for a handsome baritone hero.

    Onegin is in many ways emblematic of the character of the Russian aristocracy pre-revolution-- dissipated, aimless, bored, passionate about nothing, creating greater and lesser mischief in his attempt to at least amuse himself momentarily.  He doesn't have as much actual character as the Clint Eastwood guy, IMO.


    Parent

    He's kind of a weak sister and she gets (none / 0) (#141)
    by oculus on Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 12:20:30 AM EST
    the best music.

    Parent
    Maytime (none / 0) (#52)
    by christinep on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 04:42:57 PM EST
    My sister & I saw that movie many years ago as little girls. Funny how we all remember certain performances. The promise of the Maytime ending always remained with her as it does with me.

    Parent
    I confess that (none / 0) (#106)
    by gyrfalcon on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 09:23:50 PM EST
    Nelson Eddy doesn't float my boat at all, at all, and seems to me unworthy of MacDonald both personally and certainly vocally.  I'm also bugged by the fact that the moral of the "Maytime" story is that women who decide to pursue a career will live lonely, miserable lives and die unsatisfied and unloved.  Yech.  MacDonald is a real peach, though, and Barrymore as the quasi-villain is just fantastic.

    Parent
    Slumdog / Milk (none / 0) (#114)
    by noholib on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 10:20:22 PM EST
    Slumdog is a good movie, but there is an awful lot of violence and brutality.

    I recommend the movie Milk.  Great acting.  Also sad of course too.

    Parent

    I'm going to see (none / 0) (#6)
    by Democratic Cat on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 02:26:15 PM EST
    Rachel Getting Married tonight, as long as the freezing rain holds off.

    Repealing DADT (none / 0) (#20)
    by mmc9431 on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 03:36:22 PM EST
    Doesn't address the situation. It just puts it back to the way it was before. They aren't saying gays can serve openly in the military. The last word I heard on the issue was that Obama would allow the military to make the decision. Is this really "change" you can believe in?

    If Obama allows the "military" to make (5.00 / 5) (#95)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 08:16:18 PM EST
    the decision he's a damned fool......from hell.  Come on Commander in Chief! Get with the damned Commander Program.....CRIPES FRIGGIN CRACKERS.  With every changing of the CIC the military changes.  Lord help me, when Bush took office suddenly every Christian felt it was okay to preach at work.  When Clinton was CIC gays didn't get kicked out of the military unless they had sex in front of everyone else......and so did straight people when they did that too back then.......it was really weird.  The bad thing with DADT is that it does not provide complete protection for gays when the Christians are running things.  Well, right now in the military the Christians have the strongest voice because who has been running things for the past eight years and what military culture trends have been encouraged and what trends have been discouraged?  Allow the military to make this decision right now and we'll get the Christian decision.  Allow Clark's voice to run anything for awhile in whatever format or way we can, and two years down the road allow the military to make their own decision and we will get a nondescriminating decision.  Funny thing about the military, you don't become career military because you like creating your own framework to operate within.  Nope, you like that framework defined for you and then you do your super damned best to achieve within that framework.  The existing military framework at Big Bad Officer Pentagon level is more anti-gay at this moment than level headed.  Heck, let's face it.......everyone who was sane at the Pentagon quit about four years ago, and the only doofuses left in the Pentagon are sickening martyr hero types and those that are half nuts kill them all and let God sort them out until the civilians catch you nut jobs.  Someone slap Obama awake......PLEASE!

    Parent
    this is very interesting - lots here to digest (5.00 / 2) (#117)
    by DXP on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 10:29:58 PM EST
    So repealing DADT will not itself confer greater protection to gays and lesbians in the military. And I'm also understanding that in your comment the 'culture' set by the CIC is extremely important in a trickle down sort of way in the military. I hope Obama gets off the evangelical love fest, anti-gay-and-woman Rick Warren invitations, and sets a new culture. The simple "repeal DADT" of the now-left is really a false cry to action. It goes much deeper and broader.

    Dem leaders seem so much that they just want to be LIKED. Congressional dems have bent over backwards (or forwards) to be 'nice' and conciliatory, compromising all along with Bush and not getting in his way. Not threatening him with impeachment or any real deterrent (such as FISA, or stringent oversight to bailouts). I see the same pattern emerging with the new dem leadership - except dems don't like to be 'nice' to each other!

    Parent

    Also, repealing DADT will leave (5.00 / 2) (#152)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 08:48:35 AM EST
    gays extremely vulnerable within the military system unless the military comes right out and says being gay is fine period.  They haven't done that and understand that it isn't the soldiers on the ground fighting alongside each other who have much of a problem with who likes who off duty, it is the Officers who have problems with this stuff and it is the Officers who praise, reward, and punish for whatever they choose to.  One thing that civilians don't understand about the military is that Commanders hold huge sway over the 24 hr a day lives of those under them.  If you are being abused by a Commander there are ways to address that but it can be very time consuming, career destroying, and those easily wounded had better bring their ceramic therefore likely useless after visiting Iraq flak jackets.  What DADT does is that it makes talking about and gossiping about someone's sexual orientation unsoldierly and questionable behavior.  If we aren't supposed to be asking about sexual orientation or telling about sexual orientation that ends that information sharing on the job now doesn't it?  If a commander doesn't like gays and discovers through the grapevine he/she has a gay soldier there are a million ways to make that soldier miserable or destroy that soldier's career.  Without DADT, commanders no longer have a shot fired across their bow that they had better not get caught allowing sexual orientation bias them.......they've been warned.  They can still hide gunning for a soldier but DADT made it a little less easy to gun for gay soldiers, and it made sexual orientation information sharing questionable and dishonorable behavior among all the soldiers.  It made spreading gossip and info among the gay hating much much more difficult and you had better not get caught doing it at the water cooler until they repeal DADT.

    Parent
    Just my opinion (none / 0) (#151)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 08:28:42 AM EST
    but there is no other American community that a President has more influence over than the military.  I'm not sure if you have been inside many military installations, but even in the Commissary if you shop the Commissary the first thing we all see when we walk in the door is the photo of our current President.  Walk into any building on a base or post and you find it that way.  The picture next to that one is the Vice President......perhaps you can now understand why I don't shop at the Commissary right now, seriously :)  It is that way at the hospital too, so nonduty spouses and children are all exposed to this climate.  God is only second to the President in the military.  The President is our God.  We take up arms and leave families and current lives at the crook of his finger, and for a short period of time nobody has any say otherwise.......not even Congress if they disagree with him/her about a short term military action.

    Parent
    Do you have a link for that (none / 0) (#22)
    by Alien Abductee on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 03:37:42 PM EST
    "what Obama said"?...

    Parent
    Yes (none / 0) (#24)
    by squeaky on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 03:44:18 PM EST
    It should be a military decision, not something proscribed by homophobic BushCo to shore up political points.

    The military is against DADT big time. They have lost many good people because of the stupid law, and know that no one gives a sh*t about who you like to have sex with particularly when there is a war going on.

    Parent

    I'm very confused about DADT (none / 0) (#35)
    by DXP on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 04:07:26 PM EST
    Was this not a step forward when first enacted? I thought it was to prevent discrimination by basically saying its no one's business. Before that anyone could ask and then discriminate freely.

    Repealing it does not automatically prohibit discrimination does it? If discrimination is the real problem then this policy is not the real problem.

    Parent

    If the military is against DADT, why did they (none / 0) (#38)
    by tigercourse on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 04:13:59 PM EST
    enforce it so rigorously over the past years? They've been kicking out gay service men and women left and right.

    Parent
    Not under Clinton (5.00 / 1) (#154)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 08:51:46 AM EST
    It is HOW it is enforced under different CIC's that we all need to notice here.

    Parent
    again confused (none / 0) (#74)
    by DXP on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 06:53:00 PM EST
    I thought DADT was to prevent military from kicking out gays and lesbians by letting their sexual preferences remain private and thus shielding them from a bigoted culture. Is it not true that it is supposedly (already) not legal to discriminate against gays and lesbians in the military? How would the repeal of DADT affect that at all? Seems that if one wanted discrimination to end it could be addressed much more directly. I'm not sure about this as I don't understand military policy and law.

    Parent
    Consensus Building (none / 0) (#93)
    by squeaky on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 08:13:11 PM EST
    On 4 May 2008, current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen, when speaking to graduating cadets at West Point, expressed the view "that Congress, and not the military, is responsible for the 'Don't ask, don't tell' law banning openly lesbian, gay and bisexual Americans from military service."

    [...]

    He went on to say, "I'd love to have Congress make its own decisions", with respect to considering repeal.[21]

    [...]

     In late November, 2008, Obama advisers announced that his plans to repeal the policy may be delayed until as late as 2010, because Obama "first wants to confer with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and his new political appointees at the Pentagon to reach a consensus, and then present legislation to Congress."[24]

    Remember President Clinton's path on this? It did not work.
    Perhaps building consensus from the military leaders is wise before going to congress.

    After a large number of people flooded the Congressional phone lines with oppositions to lifting the ban, President Clinton soon backed off on his campaign promise to lift the ban on homosexual and bisexual people in the armed forces. The final result was a Congressional compromise of "Don't ask, don't tell" that was later amended to include "don't harass".

    Wiki


    Parent

    Has there ever been a secret ballot... (none / 0) (#118)
    by EL seattle on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 10:38:10 PM EST
    ...vote on this issue at any level?  Or accurate confidential polling?  (Among those serving in the military, or those leading the military, or those in congress who lead the leaders, etc., etc.....)

    This seems to be a topic that gets tainted by politics and screeching exaggerations almost instantly whenever it's publicly discussed.  I'm not sure that a new discussion will generate options for a solution that are less tainted than the way things are now.  But, of course, maybe there's compelling and honest data that I'm not aware of.

    Parent

    Dining With Rivals: Obama to Honor John McCain (none / 0) (#30)
    by blogname on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 03:58:43 PM EST
    So, if you were one of the many Democrats passionately contesting McCain's country first theme on behalf of Obama -- you could have saved your energy for another,less cynical, purpose.  Why -- Obama is set to honor McCain as a leader who put country first. Amazing.

    Dining With Rivals: Obama to Honor McCain, Biden and Powell at Pre-Inauguration Event

    I just thought I should mention that (none / 0) (#39)
    by Trickster on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 04:15:14 PM EST
    Vassar Clements is the greatest popular-music instrumentalist in the history of recorded music.

    Thank you.  That is all.

    Well, not quite all (none / 0) (#45)
    by Trickster on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 04:22:00 PM EST
    Here, an aged and decrepit Vassar Clements labors his way through "Orange Blossom Special."

    Parent
    Itchin' for a fight?!? (none / 0) (#46)
    by oldpro on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 04:25:04 PM EST


    Parent
    Affirmation would be better (none / 0) (#55)
    by Trickster on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 04:54:54 PM EST
    I suppose I'll take what I get, but I don't see how anybody could listen to a significant amount of Vassar and then register any kind of strong disagreement.

    Parent
    Natcherly! I've observed, (none / 0) (#60)
    by oldpro on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 05:27:28 PM EST
    though, that there are few easier ways to start a fight than beginning with "__is the greatest ___ever.  The end."

    Here at the home of the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes you could always get either...argument or affirmation.

    Personally, I prefer big bands, swing and jazz.  Vasser was fond of them, too.

    Yes.  He was great.  The greatest?  I dunno.  He wasn't Muhammed Ali.

    Parent

    I suppose (5.00 / 1) (#64)
    by Trickster on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 06:07:26 PM EST
    My presentation does have a faint redolence of "put up yer dukes."  But it's an opinion I've held long enough by now that I think it's worth throwing out there with some force.

    I'm not even a bluegrass aficianado, but the guy blows me away.  Not just his technique, but his musical inventiveness.  

    I'm not aware of whether he ever wrote any songs.  Too busy with his fiddle, I suppose.  You have to stay pretty busy to be that good.

    Parent

    As I recall, he taught himself (none / 0) (#89)
    by oldpro on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 07:59:23 PM EST
    to play and found the fiddle much more difficult than the guitar...so when he saw them both, he picked up the one he wasn't good at yet...the fiddle...and just kept at it.  Perhaps he never was quite satisfied that he had mastered it...

    Parent
    Happened across a documentary (none / 0) (#40)
    by oldpro on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 04:16:26 PM EST
    on IFC today..."The Year of Yao" about the first year of Yao Ming in the NBA.

    Don't know what I missed by coming in late but it was well worth watching...remarkable, really, on so many levels.

    Mrs. Robinson and World War Three (none / 0) (#50)
    by lentinel on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 04:36:52 PM EST
    Mrs. Robinson, Barack Obama's mother-in-law, will be moving into the White House with the Obamas.

    The scenario:

    Barack and Michelle are getting cozy.
    They exchange special glances.
    They start to snuggle.

    A door opens down the hall.
    The unmistakable sound of slippers flapping is heard as momma Robinson makes her way to the bathroom.
    Flap, flag, flap, flap....
    Michelle looks at Barack.
    Barack looks at Michelle.
    They smile faintly at each other and roll over, facing opposite directions.
    "G'night".
    "G'night".
    Michelle falls asleep.
    Barack starts thinking about whom he can bomb.

    Blend of Old Sit Com Joke And Aaron Sorkin (5.00 / 1) (#61)
    by daring grace on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 05:57:58 PM EST
    The West Wing episode that featured that memorable sexual bantering between president and first lady where she ends up lecturing him on women's history and he utters the line:

    "BARTLET
    Keep talking. I'm just gonna sit here and think about plutonium and the things I can do with it."

    Parent

    Gross on so many levels (none / 0) (#53)
    by jbindc on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 04:44:04 PM EST


    Parent
    Your mother-in-law lives (none / 0) (#59)
    by oldpro on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 05:19:41 PM EST
    with you?

    Project much?

    Hope you're not a cop...

    Parent

    Well (none / 0) (#65)
    by SOS on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 06:07:50 PM EST
    my life is a movie (so is yours) so I don't go anymore. Mine is exciting enough. As far as the globes "awards" shows don't excite me to much anymore. Been around famous people my entire life until 7 years ago.

    Time for a break.

    Bush Sr received (none / 0) (#72)
    by SOS on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 06:33:30 PM EST
    perfect gift of his own aircraft carrier (instrument of foreign policy) today.

    http://tinyurl.com/7s3hur

    I would love to hear (none / 0) (#111)
    by jen on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 09:36:06 PM EST
    Big Tent Democrat's take on this:

    PEBO Wants AEI Libertarian Opposed to Product Bans Deciding OMB's Health and Enviro Rules

    by Kirk James Murphy, M.D. @ FDL
    FDA scientists want PEBO to overhaul (5.00 / 1) (#135)
    by nycstray on Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 11:37:38 PM EST
    the FDA

    I'm not sure how tuned in he really is to some of these issues. He always seemed more focused on lead toys than all the other issues. But that could have been because he was trying to get a lead bill through. More to do with housing/paint iirc, I think the lead toys arrived at a convenient time. During the primaries he was always a good 24hrs behind and much more vague (news to anyone?!) on toxic problems.

    This is one area I hope he surprises me in . . . lol!~

    Parent

    Chuck Todd already has already (none / 0) (#145)
    by oculus on Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 12:42:27 AM EST
    written a book on the election.  Fast, huh?

    Saturday Open Thread | 186 comments (186 topical)

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