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Thursday Afternoon Open Thread

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Blog Related
Posted on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 03:42:20 PM EST
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The big news today is that Gator star Percy Harvin is going to the NFL.

Ok, the big news for ME is that Percy Harvin is leaving the Gators for the NFL. I expected it and thought it was a no brainer. Gator linebacker Brandon Spikes decided to come back for his senior year with Gator QB Tim Tebow.

In less interesting news, Roland Burris was sworn in today.

For those not fascinated by Gators goings-on, this is an Open Thread.

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    Some good news... (5.00 / 5) (#2)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 03:51:17 PM EST
    ...at least from my POV as someone who values wilderness areas.

    The Senate has approved a bill setting aside more than 2 million acres in nine states as protected wilderness.

    The 73-21 vote today came after days of partisan wrangling over one of the largest expansions of wilderness protection in 25 years. Land to be protected includes California's Sierra Nevada mountain range, Oregon's Mount Hood, Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado and parts of the Jefferson National Forest in Virginia.

    Link

    Here's hoping the House passes it too.

    Oh yes! (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by weltec2 on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 05:47:36 PM EST
    Poor Tom Coburn was having a fit calling it "a land-grab that would lock up acreage that could be used for future development such as oil and gas drilling." See here.

    Parent
    Oh my God (5.00 / 2) (#39)
    by SOS on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 06:23:58 PM EST
    the Republicans must be literally freaking out over the idea of these Public Lands not being open to be being exploited and raped for profit so they can further stuff their bank accounts and tell everyone else to f~~~ off I got mine now eat my scraps.

    Parent
    I can't lie... (5.00 / 1) (#45)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 06:33:48 PM EST
    ...the prospect of that brings some pleasure as well.  

    I think we're going to see an awful lot of the GOP faithful have melt-downs over many, many things in the coming days.

    At least there will be some wild, undeveloped land to flee to when the Big Breakdown comes.  

    Parent

    Not for nothing... (5.00 / 0) (#67)
    by kdog on Fri Jan 16, 2009 at 09:12:25 AM EST
    we have a Republican to thank for so much of our currently preserved lands...Teddy Roosevelt.  If you've ever enjoyed the beauty of one of our national parks, raise your glass to Teddy.

    Too bad they gone forget about the root word of conservative...conserve.  

    Parent

    He was also (none / 0) (#73)
    by jondee on Fri Jan 16, 2009 at 02:23:37 PM EST
    significantly, a Republican who interfered with "the free market" by passing significant anti-trust legislation.

    On the other hand, he was a man who seemed to idealize warfare and the whole 19th century whiteman's burden mentality to the point of serious nueroses.

    Parent

    I keep wondering if the number (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by Anne on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 03:53:47 PM EST
    of college football players deciding not to enter the NFL draft this year has anything to do with which teams they fear ending up with.

    Can't imagine anyone being too excited to be putting on a Detroit Lions - or even a St. Louis or Kansas City - jersey.  Unless you think you are going to be the catalyst for going from the basement to the Super Bowl...

    I'd be thrilled.... (none / 0) (#4)
    by kdog on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 03:59:17 PM EST
    look at the Cardinals...perennial doormats to hosting the NFC Championship.

    Any given Sunday, and any given year, anybody can win...even the Lions.  And its not like a paycheck with 6 zeros on it from the Lions is gonna bounce...they all clear.  

    At least for now...I wonder how and to what degree the economic downturn will effect sports...will we see half empty stadiums or will us suckers keep on shellin' out bucks we don't have to be a part of the sports we love?

    Parent

    No different from any other year. (none / 0) (#7)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 04:06:39 PM EST
    Going to the show is going to the show, no matter what team you end-up on.  It's what most every football player dreams of from a very early age.  Not to mention the piles of cash.  

    These days, with free agency, players don't typically spend their entire career with one team, so they never know where they'll end up in a few years anyway.  They could be drafted by the Ravens and end-up playing for the Lions.

    Not everyone has the ability to say "no way" to the team that drafts them like Elway did to the poor ol' Colts.  Or like the Mannings telling San Diego to take a hike.  

    Parent

    Harvin made the (none / 0) (#22)
    by JThomas on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 05:42:10 PM EST
    smart decision..he is like a porcelien doll out there. He needs to get healthy, run fast in the combine, get drafted high,get a big bonus, then put himself in a bubble til the season starts...oh and put that bonus in his mattress.

    Parent
    The big news today (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by Steve M on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 04:00:18 PM EST
    is this commercial jet that crashed in the Hudson River.  Miraculously, it seems like everyone will be OK.

    The boats are towing the plane past my window as we speak.  Amazing story, that water is COLD.

    A lot of happy people (none / 0) (#24)
    by BernieO on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 05:45:13 PM EST
    here in Charlotte - although as a hub, a lot of people may well not be from here.

    Parent
    A gratifying night for those of us (5.00 / 3) (#52)
    by ruffian on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 07:47:16 PM EST
    in the flight simulation and training business. Pilots spend hundreds of hours practicing 'engine out' emergency procedures in the simulators I and my friends build.  'Bird strike' is one of the emergencies I have worked on myself, trying to make the simulator behave exactly as the real airplane would in that situation. This USAIR pilot obviously learned his lessons well - executed his procedures flawlessly. Obviously you don't like to see the pilots have to use the procedures in the real world, but those of us who build simulators love to hear these pilots come back and say 'it was just like I practiced it in the sim'.

    So hats off to the whole USAIR team. In fact, I used to date a simulator technician who worked at the USAIR training facility in Charlotte. I hope they are patting themselves on the back tonight.

    Parent

    pilots (5.00 / 1) (#53)
    by sleepingdogs on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 07:53:39 PM EST
    I agree it was a wonderful job done by the pilot and crew.  I come from a family of pilots, dad, 2 brothers, a sister-in-law and numerous friends.  All of them are professional and skilled and would do the same to get their passengers and crew down as safely as possible.  


    Parent
    Indeed (5.00 / 1) (#54)
    by andgarden on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 07:56:13 PM EST


    Parent
    The big news today is that (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by SOS on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 04:47:22 PM EST
    this country is still in a sh*tload of trouble and Jan 20th can't get here fast enough.

    When your young (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by SOS on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 04:48:51 PM EST
    and don't have to worry about being broke in old age it's another story.

    Parent
    Heh (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by CST on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 04:53:42 PM EST
    I am young, and worried about being broke tommorow...  The vast majority of the people I know who've been laid off have been young employees, including at the company I work for.  We are considered "expendable".  Especially the ones with young children at home.

    Parent
    Try being over 50 in this economy (5.00 / 2) (#18)
    by shoephone on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 05:29:41 PM EST
    You'll find out what "expendable" really means.

    Parent
    Fair enough (5.00 / 1) (#29)
    by CST on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 05:52:37 PM EST
    But where I am, the "over 50" crowd are the ones making the decisions to fire the "young mother" who has worked at our company longer than anyone else in the whole place including the boss...

    In my family, the "over 50" crowd is wondering how they will manage to support the laid off/ in school/ trying to get married, buy a house and start a life "under 30" crowd.

    But hey, the grass is always greener right?  I'll stop here b/c otherwise this will turn into a "which bad thing is worse" convo that never goes anywhere.

    Let's just say, it sucks for EVERYONE

    Parent

    And it could suck worse... (5.00 / 1) (#68)
    by kdog on Fri Jan 16, 2009 at 09:17:59 AM EST
    I mean, we all ate last night right?  Had a warm place to sleep?  Some ain't so fortunate.

    Sometimes I think people expect way too much out of life...if you're eating, staying warm, getting some love and having a few laughs in between...count your blessings.  Even if you only have two pennies to pinch together after the bills are paid.

    Parent

    Word!!!! (none / 0) (#33)
    by samtaylor2 on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 05:58:58 PM EST


    Parent
    Good news in the economic stimulus for science (5.00 / 4) (#13)
    by Dr Molly on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 05:08:07 PM EST
    Apparently, billions targeted for federal funding of scientific research, science infrastructure, and science education. Federal funding agencies for science have had flat budgets for years; this is great news.

    YEAH (5.00 / 3) (#26)
    by BernieO on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 05:48:32 PM EST
    Now if we would only fund civics education, history, etc., so our kids would be better prepared to be citizens. Our collective ignorance is a serious threat to our democracy. (Why else would people shrug off wiretaps of citizens without judicial review.)

    Parent
    Parents, help! Am I getting old? (5.00 / 2) (#14)
    by Teresa on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 05:10:23 PM EST
    My step-daughter has lived with me since she was 5 years old. Her mom lives 150 miles away and sees her maybe once a month.

    She just called my husband to tell him that Little T. has been begging her to take her to get her belly button pierced. She wants to take her but wouldn't go along with "Daddy will never know".

    My husband, much to my shock, told her he will think about it. Her mom is coming to get her tomorrow.

    She is a junior in high school and I am disgusted at this. Am I becoming a fuddy duddy? I believe in live and let live but not when it comes to her.

    A belly-button ring? (5.00 / 2) (#15)
    by CST on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 05:20:39 PM EST
    That's pretty standard fare these days, and a junior in hs is not THAT young, in most foreign countries you don't even need parental supervision once you are 16 for piercings and tattoos.  I'd say be glad it's not a nipple ring :)

    But I'm not a parent.

    Parent

    lol, it you knew her mom, you'd really be (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by Teresa on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 05:28:58 PM EST
    crossing your fingers! Am I being too strict? I really don't want her to do this until she's old enough that I can't stop her. Actually, I can't stop her anyway.

    It just irks me that I am the "parent" who is 100% responsible for parent-teacher conferences, homework, etc and I have no say so in this.

    Parent

    You should have a say... (5.00 / 2) (#32)
    by kdog on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 05:57:07 PM EST
    no doubt, I'm sure your husband will hear you out right?

    My non-parent opinion, it's not a tatoo, with any luck she will tire of it T.

    Parent

    I dunno (5.00 / 1) (#16)
    by Steve M on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 05:27:38 PM EST
    I don't have a strong reaction one way or the other, although I'd definitely draw the line at a tongue ring.  But my wife says no way, no how, so I'm pretty sure you're not a fuddy-duddy, given that she's under 30 herself.

    But by the time my daughter is 16, I have to imagine the kids will be finding much, much scarier stuff to do...

    Parent

    I hope not Steve. It's pretty scary the stuff (5.00 / 1) (#19)
    by Teresa on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 05:32:14 PM EST
    they do now. She's at a disadvantage in that she tells me everything, so I always know what they are up to.

    Her mom took her to have fake nails put on when she was 11 and I spent all night getting the dang things off. I'm with your wife on this one.

    I consider myself the ultimate liberal but I guess I've found my limit. :)

    Parent

    Teresa, there may be state laws (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 05:32:28 PM EST
    that set a minimum age for body piercing, as there are laws for tattos.

    Parent
    There are but her mom can sign. (none / 0) (#21)
    by Teresa on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 05:33:30 PM EST


    Parent
    At the risk (5.00 / 3) (#23)
    by Cream City on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 05:43:58 PM EST
    of being called out for commenting here (just deleted, BTD, after Teresa sees this) -- tell the sweet young thing that my daughter rues the day.

    First, the bb ring took forever to heal -- and is constantly chafed by clothing (yeh, a lot are lowslung jeans but not all).  Ouch, ouch.  This took months.

    Worse, comes the day that an MRI is needed . . . the bbring (and tongue rings and all) have to come out.  Ouch, ouch.  And then have to get put in again, going through the healing, chafing, etc.  (I think this removal also is needed for other tests.)

    Btw, the MRI warning also is useful for teens enamored of tattoos.  We found out that there are two kinds of tattoo ink, and one kind can cause bad MRI tests.  And my daughter needed lots of MRIs for a while.  

    And once daughter got into the job market and saw the reaction to some friends with bodypiercing and tattoos . . . and then daughter got into event planning and saw otherwise beautiful brides in strapless gowns with gross tattoos on backs and shoulders -- well, she thanks mom today for stopping her from worse.  (And it was her dad who allowed the bbring, over my objections.:-)

    Hope that helps.  Then again, friends and I learned to survive those years by setting minimal standards.  Repeat after us:  They're not pregnant, they're not in jail; we must be good mothers.

    Parent

    I did not know (5.00 / 1) (#27)
    by Steve M on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 05:51:18 PM EST
    that it wasn't the kind of piercing you can just pop in and pop out, like an earring.  That would probably affect my decision.

    Parent
    You can't (5.00 / 2) (#31)
    by CST on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 05:56:45 PM EST
    just "pop out" an earring either.

    I had to get my ears pierced 3 times (the last two over painful scar tissue) because I kept having to take them out for soccer and would forget to put them back in within the alotted time.

    I think belly-rings are a bit messier.  Plus, quite frankly, not that cool once you're past 18...   Although less visible than some, so you don't have any work related problems.

    Parent

    If we're going to be deleted anyway, what (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by Teresa on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 05:51:30 PM EST
    did I miss?

    Thanks for the advice. Last Saturday, she got a french manicure. My husband wasn't pleased but I told him to choose his battles.

    When she got home from school Monday, she had bitten them all off and left a terrible mess of her fingers. They were driving her nuts!

    Parent

    At least a bb ring (5.00 / 1) (#30)
    by BernieO on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 05:56:07 PM EST
    is easily undone. Not so much with tattoos. I am amazed at the number of young women who get tatoos in places that will eventually get saggy,like my daughter's friend who got a daisy tatooed around her navel. It looked like a giant sunflower during her pregnancy and now it looks like a wilted one.

    I am still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that my 50+ exercise instructor just got her bb pierced. Granted she is in great shape, but it still seems silly. I get creeped out by older women who are still trying to act like they are still in their twenties - and I can guarantee my kids do too.

    Parent

    A wilted one? lol (5.00 / 1) (#35)
    by Teresa on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 06:04:55 PM EST
    There is a girl who goes to school with my daughter who is covered in tattoos. Her dad owns a shop and they are really racking in the money.

    I can't imagine using my daughter as a walking advertisement for tattoos. The kid is 16!

    Parent

    I have had (5.00 / 2) (#40)
    by CoralGables on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 06:27:54 PM EST
    the distinct displeasure of seeing a bad case of post pregnancy tattoo sag myself. If women keep getting stomach tattoos there just may be a market for belly tattoo enhancement surgery in the future when the breast augmentation market slows down.

    As for the belly ring debate, it's far more common than you know so I wouldn't sweat the small stuff. I'd try to make her wait until she's 18 but good luck with that. There are probably as many belly piercings as there are double ear piercings today.

    Just keep her away from eyebrow, nose, and tongue piercings, and pray she doesn't come home with tire rims in her ears.

    Parent

    I worked with a young woman (5.00 / 1) (#41)
    by BernieO on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 06:28:23 PM EST
    like that. Turned out her mom also had a lot of tattoos, too. I was amazed at the amount of money she had spent and how much pain she had endured to get them. I was completely grossed out to see how much her back oozed after getting a new tattoo. I am definitely not someone who avoids pain if at all possible. Tweezing my bushy eyebrows is about as far as I am willing to go although I did pierce my own ears as a teenager. But my motivation was to avoid the pain of clip-on earrings.

    Parent
    Forget it (5.00 / 6) (#43)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 06:32:14 PM EST
    Comment in any post you want. I was cranky. My apologies for taking it out on you.

    Parent
    Just say no. (5.00 / 2) (#36)
    by samtaylor2 on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 06:11:35 PM EST
    However, it reminds me of being at my aunts house on Shabbat when my cousin told her mom that she got a tongue pierce.  Ohh big mistake.  Firt call to the doctor, second call to the rabbi, third call to the piercing establishment telling them that they had put a ring through the tongue of a  under age girl, who happened to be the daughter of a Supreme Court Judge of Manhattan, NY.  The bland chicken was a little more fun that night.

    Parent
    I am saying no Sam. I just don't have the (none / 0) (#38)
    by Teresa on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 06:20:06 PM EST
    final say so. She thinks tongue piercings are gross so at least I don't have to worry about that.

    Do you have any medical advice? Maybe I can tell her that her belly button will get infected and grow together?  

    Parent

    No. Though obviously (5.00 / 3) (#44)
    by samtaylor2 on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 06:33:43 PM EST
    Putting any item in your body can lead to an infection.  I demand she find the cleanest place. If she gets the go ahead, maybe say she has to find a place where they use new needles every time (not just a steriliztion tool- which I would not trust in a place like that).  You might want to give her a quick lesson on Hep C or B, if she questions your rule.

    Parent
    more input (5.00 / 1) (#49)
    by sleepingdogs on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 07:13:15 PM EST
    She may find she has a metal sensitivity and cannot keep the ring in place.  My daughter had no other problems with metal but her belly button definitely had problems.  After multiple infections, two piercings and considerable pain she finally gave up and removed the ring permanently.  Shorty after that, she got pregnant.  The scarred tissue resulted in some angry, large stretch marks radiating from the BBring scar.  That will stick around for a long time.  If my daughter could talk to her, she'd tell her to reconsider.  It's more for her to think about.  I hope it helps.

    Parent
    The short answer is no (5.00 / 1) (#47)
    by Molly Bloom on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 07:11:44 PM EST
     you are not becoming a fuddy duddy on this issue. At least not in my opinion.

    Parent
    We got lobbied hard for a bb ring (5.00 / 2) (#50)
    by Anne on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 07:15:39 PM EST
    when younger daughter was about 15, and of course, the best argument she could offer was that "everyone else" was getting one.

    We just said "nope, not until you're 18 and don't need our permission."  And we said "nope" every time it came up - until it just stopped coming up.

    Seems like the passage of time did the trick - she eventually came to the conclusion that she didn't want one and didn't care if she was the only one on earth who didn't have a hole in her bb; she's 22 now and nothing but her ears are pierced.

    My older daughter's friend, who did have a bb ring (and a nose piercing and tattoos), just had a baby, and she told our daughter that had she known the effect a pregnant belly would have, she'd never have gotten one.

    I didn't have a problem with acrylic nails and manicures, as long as they could pay for them.

    It's an age where you really do have to pick your battles, but it's worth it.

    Parent

    Call your dermatologist (5.00 / 1) (#64)
    by oculus on Fri Jan 16, 2009 at 05:38:45 AM EST
    first.  Risk of infection is quite high as I recall.

    Parent
    Was Hillary's farewell Senate speech on TV (5.00 / 3) (#46)
    by mogal on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 07:06:39 PM EST
    today?
     Also wasn't it great that Vitter was the only vote against her?

    You can watch the video (5.00 / 3) (#56)
    by andgarden on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 08:07:01 PM EST
    here.

    Parent
    My feeling is (5.00 / 1) (#61)
    by Amiss on Fri Jan 16, 2009 at 04:59:41 AM EST
    "let her do it". These days it is a different way of kids "expressing themselves" and part of the process of growing up and becoming independent. I would gather all of the information I could on belly button piercings pro and con and present it to her and her father first tho. Be thankful that it is not her lip or her tongue :) When I was her age, we were just beginning to get our ears pierced LOL.

    Piercings close to organs (5.00 / 2) (#63)
    by Fabian on Fri Jan 16, 2009 at 05:38:22 AM EST
    such as eyes or mouth make me nervous.  Combine a reaction to the object and infection and you could have a serious problem.  

    This is a great time to discuss hygiene, infection and proper post surgical care.  Plus proper sanitary procedures for piercings and tattoos and how to find a good business to serve you.

    Parent

    Belly button update: (5.00 / 1) (#69)
    by Teresa on Fri Jan 16, 2009 at 01:19:52 PM EST
    Dad said no. :)

    Parent
    A small victory, eh T? (5.00 / 1) (#72)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Fri Jan 16, 2009 at 02:08:11 PM EST
    Good!  :>)

    Do you have any "insider" thoughts on this?

    New Tennessee Speaker of the House Kent Williams "lied" to fellow Republicans Tuesday by ignoring the party's choice for the job and joining with 49 Democrats in voting for himself, new state Rep. Joe Carr said.

    "There is history in Tennessee politics for this kind of shenanigans," Carr, a newly elected Republican from the Lascassas community northeast of Murfreesboro, said during a phone interview.

    Shenanigans!  LOL.


    Parent

    Big victory to me :) (5.00 / 1) (#75)
    by Teresa on Fri Jan 16, 2009 at 05:03:25 PM EST
    The GOP guy, one of the few moderates left in TN, is being kicked out of the party. I think he said he'd be an Independent. It was a delightful day considering the alternative.

    Parent
    Good. (5.00 / 1) (#74)
    by Fabian on Fri Jan 16, 2009 at 04:34:45 PM EST
    I wouldn't ever use horror stories on my kids, but I would definitely discuss the right way to do things and the wrong way.

    Parent
    I am sure you are relieved. (5.00 / 1) (#76)
    by Amiss on Fri Jan 16, 2009 at 07:55:33 PM EST
    FWIW, my daughter has several piercings that she has gotten since she became an adult, so I don't comment on them unless she brings it up. I did ask her today about her bb tho and she said it was the most prone to infection and pain of any that she had. She grew up living with me and a step father, her father was the liberal one with her and it seemed I had a tight rope to walk many times because of things he would let her do at his house, so I do appreciate what you are going through. Being a parent or a good step parent is a tough job, but the rewards are well worth it.

    Parent
    Jon Corzine (none / 0) (#1)
    by andgarden on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 03:44:17 PM EST
    will Fund his own campaign again.

    What is going on in Florida? (none / 0) (#5)
    by jbindc on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 04:00:07 PM EST
    Monkeys are always on the loose!

    April 2008

    Link 1 - January 2009

    The Editor of Tikkun Newspaper here (none / 0) (#8)
    by hairspray on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 04:17:27 PM EST
    in the SF Bay Area says that the Obama/Clinton plan for Israel and Palestine will not work.  The plan is to call for a cease fire that will freeze in place Israeli military gains after giving them more time to destroy or weaken Hamas. These military sucesses will allow Ehud Barak and Tzipi Livini to win elections in February and negotiate a peace with the Palestine Authority. Barak and Livini, says Rabbi Michael Lerner, will not be able to make any real concessions and so the agreement will be another false start allowing another fundamentalist uprising. Just thought you'd like to know.

    Did he say what would work? (5.00 / 1) (#34)
    by samtaylor2 on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 06:03:01 PM EST


    Parent
    He called for a conference of (none / 0) (#51)
    by hairspray on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 07:43:05 PM EST
    all of the players in the region, Syria, Iran, Jordan, etc.  I do recall that being a plan by Wesley Clark when he was once advising the Democrats in general.  I hope they try it, but I can see the problems getting them all to sit down together and talking nicely.

    Parent
    Didn't Kerry want something like this (5.00 / 1) (#62)
    by sallywally on Fri Jan 16, 2009 at 05:16:34 AM EST
    with regard to Iraq and the Middle East in general when he ran for President?

    I know a lot of people didn't care for Kerry, thought he was a bad candidate, but as an Ohio resident I think had we not had the execrable Ken Blackwell as our SoS, with his dirty tricks, Kerry would have won Ohio and the election.

    Things would be different today had that been the case.

    Parent

    I'm so sick and tired of (5.00 / 1) (#37)
    by SOS on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 06:17:28 PM EST
    war, violence, corruption, games, lies, and deceit this planet doesn't even appeal to me anymore.

    As a pacifist I am now irrelevant and feel anymore I'm just "doing my time" till the end.

    Parent

    Just drove through (none / 0) (#9)
    by Lahdee on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 04:19:33 PM EST
    Tempe on my way home. As I passed the US Air buildings I noticed a lot of smiling faces.

    Have you ever wanted... (none / 0) (#42)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 06:28:27 PM EST
    ...to be invisible?

    They can't match Harry Potter yet, but scientists are moving closer to creating a real cloak of invisibility.

    Researchers at Duke University, who developed a material that can "cloak" an item from detection by microwaves, report that they have expanded the number of wavelengths they can block.

    /Still waiting on my Jetson's car
    //and cloning of vital organs

    Not Just Invisible (none / 0) (#60)
    by squeaky on Fri Jan 16, 2009 at 01:46:25 AM EST
    it also might have a very practical use by making mobile communications clearer, they said on Thursday.

    reuters

    Parent

    I was actually trying... (none / 0) (#71)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Fri Jan 16, 2009 at 02:00:43 PM EST
    ...to figure out the applications for this and the only obvious ones I could come up with were for military or hunting purposes.  

    Sure, being a fly on the wall and freaking out your co-workers, friends and family would be great fun, but probably not too practical.  Good to know there might be some "real-world" applications of this technology.  

    Parent

    Another Minnesota Senator by spring (none / 0) (#48)
    by Cream City on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 07:12:54 PM EST
    was a prediction in one of the Twin Cities' papers yesterday, owing to the state high court refusing Franken's suit to just call it a done deal.  Coleman's side offers a process in stages that could stop the battle at several points . . . or not.  But the first step is not until February 5.

    The problem is that the paper did not define "spring."  Late March, per the calendar almost everywhere?  Or late May -- when here in the upper Midwest, as the last snow still can linger in the shady corner of my yard until then?  Or June, just to be safe, since we have had snowfalls in May?

    Somebody should shut down the Gators (none / 0) (#55)
    by digdugboy on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 08:00:14 PM EST
    Their team and the school is a criminal enterprise.

    good luck percy (none / 0) (#57)
    by blogname on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 08:07:59 PM EST
    great to see spikes and tebow return. great to see burris seated - if only to stick it to reid/obama for their unconstitutional shenanigans.

    Pre PResidentiaL Bubble (none / 0) (#58)
    by squeaky on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 09:09:06 PM EST
    At a quiet dinner meeting late last week in Washington's Ronald Reagan Building, President-elect Obama reached out to outside foreign-policy experts, trying to resist the presidential bubble that is rapidly closing around him.

    [..]

    Last Thursday, the Wilson Center president [Lee Hamilton} assembled a small collection of scholars on the Middle East and South Asia for a meeting that stretched through dinner for hours into the night.

    Among those who attended the off-the-record dinner: Iran scholar Haleh Esfandiari, Pakistani journalist Ahmed Rashid (who had flown in from Lahore), Obama friend and foreign-policy advisor Samantha Power of Harvard University (who accompanied PEOTUS to the meeting), incoming White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, and a few others. Obama told the group, none of whom reached would discuss the details, that he already felt in the bubble and was trying his best to meet with independent experts.

    Scholars at the center noted the group leaned toward experts on the Middle East and South Asia. "They talked mostly about what was going on in the world, from Gaza to the financial crisis and its implications," one source summarized.

    Laura Rozen

    Minneapolis Star Tribune (none / 0) (#59)
    by CoralGables on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 09:32:56 PM EST
    The Minneapolis Star Tribune filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition Thursday night.

    In its filing, the newspaper listed assets of $493.2 million and liabilities of $661.1 million. The company said it hopes to use bankruptcy to restructure its debt and lower its labor costs.

    I really though there would be a black (none / 0) (#65)
    by oculus on Fri Jan 16, 2009 at 05:40:30 AM EST
    border surrounding the announcement of Harvin's decision to leave the Gators for filthy lucre.

    Sanchez, the USC (none / 0) (#66)
    by oculus on Fri Jan 16, 2009 at 05:52:30 AM EST
    quarterback, is also jumping ship.

    Parent
    Chomsky Video (none / 0) (#70)
    by squeaky on Fri Jan 16, 2009 at 01:35:40 PM EST
    Chomsky at MIT talks about the genocide in gaza, the collusion of US and the media for ignoring blatant war crimes, and the general horror of witnessing defenseless civilians penned up and exterminated by US/Israeli forces.

    Thursday Afternoon Open Thread | 76 comments (76 topical)

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