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Thursday Morning Open Thread

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Blog Related
Posted on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 07:44:25 AM EST
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The big story of the week remains 'will Tim Tebow play?' in Florida's game at Baton Rouge on Saturday night. Florida coach Urban Meyer says it will be a game time decision. I think Tebow should sit this one out myself, but that's easy for me to say.

On a related note, excessive celebration penalties have been rampant in the SEC. The rule is ridiculous - something about not calling attention to yourself. Absurd. That said, coaches must have been briefed on the fact that this penalty would be called. Tebow, the most excessive celebrator in all of college football certainly has toned it down this year. So apparently he got the memo. This is a coaching issue as well as a ridiculous rule issue.

This is an Open Thread.

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    Excessive celebration? (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 08:30:44 AM EST
    Depends on what you think sports are supposed to teach. (If anything.)

    California... (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by kdog on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 09:32:19 AM EST
    has some very liberty-friendly ballot initiatives on the horizon in 2010...hopefully 2010 is the year the drug war comes to a head...if Cali gets something passed and every stoner in America starts planning their next vaca in Cali, as well as the international stoner looking for a warmer locale than Amsterdam or Vancouver, maybe other states will wise up and get on the gravy train.  Nevada would be next up for sure...imagine Vegas with coffeshops...oh baby let the good times roll!

    kdog, you know I am very (none / 0) (#12)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 10:21:22 AM EST
    libertarian on this issue. In fact I would legalize almost all illegal drugs for sale or just give away to addicts...

    Now, from a practical view, seeing as how it takes a blood test to determine if a person is high on pot, will you agree to one being administrated by the CHP??

    I write as one who has spent more than a bit of time on I10 in 65 mph bumper to bumper traffic. (Smart card players don't travel during rush hour.)

    Parent

    Of course not... (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by kdog on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 10:26:13 AM EST
    skin is sovereign Jim.

    Trust me old friend...if driving while high is the big concern there is no big concern...police can still do a field sobriety test if somebody is driving recklessly, and even if they pass field sobriety testing they can still be charged with reckless driving.

    I'd be more worried about the pill-poppers on the roads anyway, after the boozers and texters of course:)

    Parent

    Why so??? (none / 0) (#44)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 02:06:13 PM EST
    A simple blood test and the pulled over dude can drive away or be driven away... and that would work for pill poppers and boozers...

    Sounds like you are looking for a defense....

    ;-)

    And I agree, texters are a huge problem.

    Parent

    It takes quite awhile to get back (5.00 / 1) (#59)
    by oculus on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 05:16:56 PM EST
    lab results on that simple blood test.  Although driving under the influence is a book and release first offense in CA.  

    Parent
    Texters are easy. (none / 0) (#51)
    by Fabian on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 02:22:08 PM EST
    Jam the signal.  Don't know how many watts that would take, but it's easy enough to do.

    They are also looking into technology that would pinpoint mobile devices that are traveling at speed and "redirecting" their communications.  IOW - once a cell tower figures out a call is being directed to highway speed target device, the message would be rerouted to voice mail or some other version of a drop box.

    Parent

    Yeah... (none / 0) (#53)
    by kdog on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 03:07:52 PM EST
    a simple invasion of privacy involving a sharp object...what could possibly go wrong?

    Not to mention you can fail a blood test and still not be impaired or a threat.

    Thats why I'm always saying lets just scrap all the "driving while blank" nonsense and just police and punish reckless driving...let freedom ring:)

    Parent

    What about the freedom (5.00 / 2) (#58)
    by jondee on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 04:32:14 PM EST
    of people who dont wanna be stressed out worrying about some sh*t faced person broadsiding their carload of kids.

    Are there ANY studies anywhere that some people drive more safely when they're blotto?

    Parent

    No such freedom exists... (none / 0) (#62)
    by kdog on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 05:36:37 PM EST
    I'm afraid...every time we get behind the wheel we risk our very lives, and no law is gonna trump physics...fallible people in a ton of plastic and metal moving at high speeds is a tragedy waiting to happen.

    Arresting a bunch of people for no other reason than blood content is a tyrannical fool's errand.

    Parent

    Except it isnt just about blood content (5.00 / 1) (#66)
    by jondee on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 05:50:22 PM EST
    it's about a the large number of people willing to get behind a ton of steel borderline incapacitated with often devastating consequences.

    It's all moot any way, because as soon as that first school bus gets plowed into, the legislators percieved as being responsible will have their as* and career in the wringer and a new law will get passed. As one percieved freedom trumps another.

    Parent

    Exactly... (none / 0) (#68)
    by kdog on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 05:55:23 PM EST
    its about stupid inconsiderate people...and I don't think there is anything you can do about it really, without getting too tyrannical like we are now, especially in Idaho and Texas. Except punishing them when they get reckless or worse, kill....regardless of whats in their blood, reckless is reckless, a wreck is a wreck.

    Parent
    Well Im way on the side (none / 0) (#70)
    by jondee on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 06:08:20 PM EST
    of education over "punishment", which, from where I sit, has accomplished next to nothing. But education is considered too "secular" in this country in certain Old Testament, wrath-of-Palin quarters, and we cant have that.

    Who knows what the answer is; it's a G.D mess.

    Parent

    Ya got that right... (none / 0) (#72)
    by kdog on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 06:21:29 PM EST
    a god damn mess...but its all we got. And it can be a beautiful mess at times:)

    I wish legslators thought more like doctors in dealing with the mess...first, do no harm.  Then try and fix what you can.

    I just thought of this case in NYC now of the cop who killed some poor lady with his whip, he was probably loaded.  By the time they got the needle in him the blood came back clean...maybe it costs the DA the case.  What if we weren't so fixated on his blood, and instead just focused on the act of him killing somebody with his car due to recklessness?  

    Parent

    How about the freedom... (none / 0) (#64)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 05:46:13 PM EST
    ...from people driving who don't have the mental or physical capacity to do so--without being "blotto"?

    Plenty of studies that show the deterioration of such things as reaction time and fine motor skills as we age.  

    Should we have a maximum driving age as we do with the minimum age requirements?    

    Parent

    I say we get rid of the fossil fuel (5.00 / 2) (#69)
    by jondee on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 06:00:11 PM EST
    guzzling, peace disturbing, mostrosities altogether.

    Then we figure out what to do about all the cars.


    Parent

    We do limit driving past a certain age (none / 0) (#78)
    by Cream City on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 08:10:45 PM EST
    in my state, when drivers have to retake all of the tests.  Now I find out that's not universal, either, as I take my life in my hands in your state?

    I remember well when my dad had to retake the tests.  It was the first time -- in his late 60s -- that he ever had read the required book.  When he got his license at 14, he said, all he had to do was send in 25 cents.

    Parent

    MAde the main site, dog. (none / 0) (#24)
    by scribe on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 11:22:26 AM EST
    Here.

    Did Jeter deal last night or what?  It seems like, at least for one night, his intensity and desire even managed to get A-Dog to drive in a couple runs.  Jeter's home run was reminiscent of him, in 2000, taking the first pitch of the first WS game at Shea and depositing it over the left field bleachers and out in the parking lot (next to the auto body shop).

    FWIW, prior to last night and his two RBIs, in post-season play A-Rod had failed to drive in men on base in his prior 40 (that's right - forty) straight plate appearances. No hits, no bases-loaded walks, no nothing.  All the way back to 2004.  0 for 40.  Let's hope this change is not some momentary aberration, but a real change.

    And I would have loved to hear the Japanese media call the Matsui shot.  Just because.

    Parent

    I hate the Yanks... (none / 0) (#25)
    by kdog on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 11:31:15 AM EST
    with every ounce of my being...but even I gotta give it up for Jeter...he should win AL MVP this year.

    May go down as the best all-around shortstop of all time when all is said and done...what a player.

    That being said...c'mon Minnie and get Game 2!!

    Parent

    Heh (none / 0) (#26)
    by Steve M on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 11:37:35 AM EST
    Maybe the third-most valuable player on his own team!  Maybe.

    Parent
    No. Most valuable. (none / 0) (#28)
    by scribe on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 11:46:35 AM EST
    Despite being the third most-expensive.

    The consensus seems to be that, when all is said and done and Jeter retires, he will be one of the three greatest shortstops in the history of the game.  The consensus as to other two would be Ripken and Honus Wagner.

    Like I said in my comment last night, one should watch Jeter just so you can tell your kids "I saw the great Derek Jeter play." and why he was so great.

    Parent

    You could agrue... (none / 0) (#74)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 06:28:30 PM EST
    ...that Ripkin paved the way for Jeter.  After all, Carl was the one who proved that big guys could play SS at an All-Star level.  

    At 6-foot-4 (225lbs), Ripken was viewed by some as being too tall for a shortstop, but Orioles manager Earl Weaver resisted suggestions that Ripken play third base, which he eventually did but not before redefining the offensive role of the middle infielder. Jeter (6'3"/195) is among the generation of shortstops who followed Ripken's path in being productive with the bat as well as the glove without being hindered by a basketball player's frame...

    ..."You couldn't be a shortstop and not be influenced by Cal in some way," Rodriguez said. "It's impossible. He was that big. He was a pioneer in many ways. The most underrated thing about him was his defense. The year [1990] he went out and made three errors and led the league in double plays was awesome. He'll be remembered more for his home runs, RBI and games played, but his defense was something."

    /born an O's fan
    //waiting patiently for competent ownership in Charm City

    Parent

    Yeah right (none / 0) (#75)
    by Steve M on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 06:57:19 PM EST
    "The consensus seems to be," indeed.  Jeter isn't even the greatest shortstop on his own team.

    Jeter is an excellent player, but he is frankly mediocre defensively and his "greatness" is as attributable to Yankees aura and mystique as anything else.  No one would be authoring lengthy paeans to Derek Jeter if he were the storied team leader of the Milwaukee Brewers.

    Parent

    Are you joking.... (none / 0) (#29)
    by kdog on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 11:49:06 AM EST
    .334 average, 212 hits, 107 runs, 30 steals, 18 dingers 66 rbis batting mostly leadoff, and the highest fielding percentage for shortstops in the AL...and the undisputed team leader.

    Parent
    That's nice (none / 0) (#38)
    by Socraticsilence on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 01:19:37 PM EST
    .368, 28 Homers, 96 RBIs, 94 Runs, 191 Hits- from the catcher position, oh and unlike Jeter who had A-rod and Teix, after Morneau went out Mauer had to carry his team with little help.

    Parent
    You win:) (5.00 / 1) (#41)
    by kdog on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 01:27:47 PM EST
    I've said enough nice things about a Yankee to last a lifetime...Mauer it is:)

    Parent
    I'm sorry (none / 0) (#37)
    by Socraticsilence on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 01:16:01 PM EST
    did Joe Mauer change his name to Derek Jeter this week or something, because he's hit better at a position where its much harder to be a good hitter (seriously, it might not be common for SS to hit well, but Catchers doing so is nearly unheard of- the positions just too physically demanding).

    Parent
    Thats his only competition... (none / 0) (#39)
    by kdog on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 01:19:47 PM EST
    right there...Mauer is something else.  I'll give him better hitter, but Jeter is the better all around player.  Though Mauer may be more valuable to his squad...either one is certainly worthy, and neither team would be in the playoffs without them imo.

    Parent
    On the contrary (none / 0) (#52)
    by CoralGables on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 02:33:23 PM EST
    Joe Mauer has no competition.

    Parent
    Breakin' the law, breakin' the law... (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by kdog on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 09:47:28 AM EST
    what else is new, the NYPD is breakin' the law.

    A little... (none / 0) (#6)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 09:55:58 AM EST
    ...Judas Priest reference there?

    Parent
    Of course... (none / 0) (#8)
    by kdog on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 09:59:53 AM EST
    channeled through Beavis and Butthead:)

    Your Rockies gonna get Game 2 or what?  At least make the evil Phils sweat will ya?

    Parent

    We'll see. (none / 0) (#10)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 10:07:28 AM EST
    A split would be good.  Cook v. Hamels today.  I'm not a big fan of these day games when I'm stuck at work though.

    Hopefully they'll take full advantage of the snowy home field advantage this weekend.  

    Altitude and Winter weather!

     

    Parent

    You know I'll be rooting for ya... (none / 0) (#14)
    by kdog on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 10:27:32 AM EST
    cuz if the Phils make the series, and the Yanks make the series...I gotta root for the thing to get cancelled somehow:)

    Parent
    Rockies win game 2. Off to Denver. (none / 0) (#60)
    by oculus on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 05:20:30 PM EST


    Parent
    Rockies win... (none / 0) (#63)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 05:40:11 PM EST
    ...and I'm sitting in my recliner watching the snow fall.  Four day weekend already started.  

    Normally, all those things would be a delight, but tomorrow's agenda has a thallium stress test on it.  Nothing spoils a good long weekend like the prospect of running on a treadmill with a needle in your arm and radioactive isotopes coursing through your veins.

    Parent

    Sounds like the beginning... (none / 0) (#65)
    by kdog on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 05:47:20 PM EST
    of a new super-hero comic book...and Mile-Hi Man was born from the radioactive isotope reaction!

    An effort at laughter medicine my friend...you keep on keepin' on and know there are numerous cats you've never met proper who care.

    Parent

    Thanks, my friend. (none / 0) (#67)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 05:51:09 PM EST
    Woud I have any superpowers besides glowing in the dark?  

    Parent
    Watch the news and get mad... (none / 0) (#71)
    by kdog on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 06:10:53 PM EST
    and see if you rip your pants and grow guns:)

    Parent
    Can you watch a MLB game whilst running? (none / 0) (#73)
    by oculus on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 06:26:12 PM EST
    Sure doesn't sound pleasant.

    Parent
    Just another day... (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by kdog on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 11:18:24 AM EST
    in the occupation...time to take the Taliban up on their offer...and pronto.

    Some thoughts from the soldiers...some seem as confused as we are about what we're even occupying the joint for.

    this disturbes me (none / 0) (#23)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 11:20:41 AM EST
    American soldiers serving in Afghanistan are depressed and deeply disillusioned, according to the chaplains of two US battalions that have spent nine months on the front line in the war against the Taleban.

    Many feel that they are risking their lives -- and that colleagues have died -- for a futile mission and an Afghan population that does nothing to help them,

    its sounding like another war I remember

    Parent

    Well, those forward bases that keep getting (5.00 / 1) (#31)
    by scribe on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 11:57:42 AM EST
    shot up are seeming an awful lot like the old firebases they used to hack out of the jungle.

    The difference is that there's less vegetation, it's drier, higher, snows in the winter (instead of monsoon rains), and it's harder to fill sandbags b/c the ground's rockier.

    I read a more in-depth article about that firebase that was nearly overrun last week with 8 killed.  That base suffered from the same flaws (though on a smaller scale) as did Khe Sanh - someone higher up who didn't want to give up the real estate despite knowing it was not tenable, and being a hilltop (and therefore isolated from resupply/reinforcement) surrounded by higher hilltops from which the enemy had superior observation and which concealed his approach routes and assembly/indirect fire positions.

    Forty years on, and they still don't get it.

    Parent

    Khe Sanh? (none / 0) (#46)
    by caseyOR on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 02:12:18 PM EST
    My first thought when I read about that Afghan base was Dien Bien Phu.

     I know we are supposed to be looking forward, not backward these days, but there is a reason we study history.

    Parent

    Sounds like the troops (none / 0) (#48)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 02:14:17 PM EST
    have figured out Obama doesn't support them.

    Parent
    You finally got through to them (none / 0) (#55)
    by jondee on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 03:55:44 PM EST
    and they've seen the light.

    Troops and support in the same sentence; where do you come up with this stuff, Jim?

    Parent

    Fox News (none / 0) (#91)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Oct 09, 2009 at 08:47:57 AM EST
    Try it. Educate yourself.

    lol

    Parent

    LOL (none / 0) (#94)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Oct 09, 2009 at 09:52:58 AM EST
    What would you know about a network you don't watch??

    What would Obama know about a network he won't go on?

    Yeah, the Great One Trembles at the name, "Bret Hume."

    Parent

    Huh??? (none / 0) (#96)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Oct 09, 2009 at 01:43:22 PM EST
    Every grape on the vine?

    hahahahahahahahaahaha

    Parent

    did anyone see (5.00 / 1) (#27)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 11:45:09 AM EST
    Olbys hour long special comment last night?

    I have been watching Maddow when I am around the tv and was sucked in when I heard him say he was doing an hour just gabbing.

    I have to say.  I thought it was pretty good.

    if you (none / 0) (#30)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 11:50:33 AM EST
    have an hour to kill

    Parent
    ever wondered if your husband is gay? (none / 0) (#3)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 09:37:46 AM EST
    take this simple quiz

    I laughed outloud a couple of times

    Some terrible choices there. (5.00 / 1) (#18)
    by Fabian on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 10:37:56 AM EST
    My man is a theater lover so his favorite actor out of that lame line up would be Ian McKellen.  (Mine too.)  

    What's on TV?  Unable to choose "nothing" I had to go with "House" as being the only show we both might watch.  ESPN?  

    Now I should take it for me.  Am I secretly a gay man?

    Parent

    yeah (none / 0) (#19)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 10:42:39 AM EST
    pretty silly

    Parent
    awsum trailer (none / 0) (#4)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 09:43:20 AM EST
    The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
    You missed the important credit. (none / 0) (#7)
    by Fabian on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 09:56:17 AM EST
    Terry Gilliam!
    Writer!
    Director!

    Yay!

    Parent

    yeah (none / 0) (#9)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 10:01:28 AM EST
    with CG!!

    Parent
    omg (none / 0) (#11)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 10:15:57 AM EST
    Thugs attack two transvestites... who turn out to be cage fighters wearing fancy dress

    (there is video!)

    Saw that yesterday... (none / 0) (#15)
    by kdog on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 10:28:09 AM EST
    street justice succeeds again...I love it.

    Parent
    I'm confused. (none / 0) (#16)
    by Fabian on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 10:33:28 AM EST
    Anyone want to explain the difference between "fancy dress" and "cross dressing"?  

    According to Wikipedia, fancy dress parties are what we would call "costume parties" and usually have a specific theme.  So I guess cross dressing doesn't require any specific occasion, but fancy dress does.

    Parent

    "fancy dress" (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 10:36:36 AM EST
    is used for people who can kick the crap out of you if you call them a cross dresser.


    Parent
    See, now that's funny! (none / 0) (#33)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 12:49:17 PM EST


    Parent
    Obama once again chooses Third Way (none / 0) (#34)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 01:01:45 PM EST
    We won't leave Afghanistan and we will not send more troops to protect the population from the Taliban.  A method already proven to fail.  He will push this war to the brink of collapse just like he has done the economy.  I think he's a total loser at this point.  Don't know when my opinion of him will improve.  A robust public option could help, that won't be enacted until 2012....hmmmm, maybe not.  Lots of years till then.  Lots of heartbreak and hardship all in the name of Third Way.

    This is a switch (none / 0) (#76)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 07:17:07 PM EST
    Code Pink wants more troops in Afghanistan.

    Parent
    My god the horror... (none / 0) (#35)
    by kdog on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 01:09:45 PM EST
    The census bureau did not adequately check the prints of their door-to-door census takers...everybody panic!

    Cuz I'm sure there are legions of homicidal maniacs anxious to go to work for the census...its just so hard to find innocent victims these days for a homicidal maniac.

    It amuses me to no end... (5.00 / 1) (#42)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 01:44:01 PM EST
    ...that two entities that I worked for way back in my youth--ACORN and the Census Bureau--are now deemed to be so evil and un-American.

    How do they know?!?

    Parent

    My moms... (none / 0) (#45)
    by kdog on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 02:07:23 PM EST
    was a door-to-door census taker back in 1980...some of my earliest memories were of her dragging me door to door with her at age 3...I remember one house had a hobby horse and the lady let me ride it!

    I wonder if they took moms prints back then...I know pops couldn't make the cut today...too bad too, he had one helluva work ethic.

    Parent

    That's the year I did it too. (none / 0) (#47)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 02:13:26 PM EST
    Wasn't out in the field, but rather doing admin work.  Not bad part-time pay for a poor college student.  

    No fingerprinting involved that I recall.

    Parent

    The good old days... (none / 0) (#54)
    by kdog on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 03:48:04 PM EST
    no piss test either I bet...sounds like pre-Reagan heaven!

    Parent
    I've never had to take... (5.00 / 1) (#56)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 04:04:25 PM EST
    ...one of those for employment purposes and I seriously doubt I ever will.  

    What's in my pee is between me and my doctors!

    Parent

    Lucky dog.... (none / 0) (#61)
    by kdog on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 05:29:17 PM EST
    its freakin' humiliating..."loved your interview, I think you'll do fine here at Acme, but lets leave the final decision to the folks at the lab, shall we?".

    And the waiting to see if the GNC magic drink did the trick is no fun at all....never failed me yet though!

    Parent

    Georgia's just reaping what they sowed (none / 0) (#36)
    by Socraticsilence on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 01:13:27 PM EST
    Have the whole team dance on the field and the refs are going to be a little extra vigilant the next few seasons.

    Now admittedly I can understand dancing (none / 0) (#40)
    by Socraticsilence on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 01:22:34 PM EST
    when you've only won 2 times in my sisters entire life (17 of 19 Dawgs, 17 of 19).

    Parent
    Here's your airport security... (none / 0) (#43)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 01:56:13 PM EST
    ...at work.

    Denver police say the handcuffed man was being transferred from Salt Lake City to Colorado Springs via Denver on Wednesday when he ran from his escort on Concourse B at Denver International Airport.

    A handcuffed man runs away from authorities on the concourse, hops on the train to the terminal and walks out the front doors of DIA.  

    Sure makes me feel safer.

    Gives me hope... (5.00 / 1) (#49)
    by kdog on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 02:14:49 PM EST
    Run Terrance Run!

    Parent
    Do you remember when the (none / 0) (#50)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 02:19:25 PM EST
    metal detector at Concourse A was accidently disconnected from AC and no one knew about it???

    Every thing was shut down. Everybody had to go back and go through security.....again. The Mother of All Messes.

    Parent

    Ever noticed how easy it is to get out of (none / 0) (#82)
    by oculus on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 10:13:12 PM EST
    an airport?  Going in--not so much.

    Parent
    Love watching and/or listening to (none / 0) (#77)
    by oculus on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 07:19:01 PM EST
    MLB playoff games.  Hate repeated, identical commercials for Viagra.  

    Man I'm feeling BLUE tonight (none / 0) (#79)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 10:03:45 PM EST
    Word has gotten to Afghanistan now about everything going down stateside.  Spoke to my husband.  Then went outside and tried to put the trailer away in a parking spot above the driveway.  Ended up cracking a rear lens on the the Mitsubishi, it still works but I hate breaking stuff...all stuff...any stuff.  My husband was so depressed tonight.  He said that by the time Obama is done with them and they have to do this mission the way they are going to have to do it, when the world finds out what they had to do to complete this mission the way they have been told to complete it, they will be spit on and called scum just like they were due to Vietnam.

    And now the GOP is saying won't vote for (none / 0) (#81)
    by oculus on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 10:12:18 PM EST
    funding because of gay/lesbian stuff in funding bill.

    You have my sympathy.  What a mess.  The photo on front page of NYT of three soldiers in a "temporary" foxhole was pathetic.  Totally exposed to anything arriving via top.

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    I don't know what to make of any of this (none / 0) (#83)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 10:26:24 PM EST
    I really don't.  I think I could take no WMDs again though over this.  Don't make these guys do this.  Just bring them home then.  We'll go from there.

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    Good idea. (none / 0) (#84)
    by oculus on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 10:34:36 PM EST


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    Interesting photo though (none / 0) (#85)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 10:45:31 PM EST
    It looks like four female Marines.  Those are some tough girls.  They scare my husband :)

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    Man I'm feeling BLUE tonight (none / 0) (#80)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 10:03:45 PM EST
    Word has gotten to Afghanistan now about everything going down stateside.  Spoke to my husband.  Then went outside and tried to put the trailer away in a parking spot above the driveway.  Ended up cracking a rear lens on the the Mitsubishi, it still works but I hate breaking stuff...all stuff...any stuff.  My husband was so depressed tonight.  He said that by the time Obama is done with them and they have to do this mission the way they are going to have to do it, when the world finds out what they had to do to complete this mission the way they have been told to complete it, they will be spit on and called scum just like they were due to Vietnam.

    Why will they be spit on? (none / 0) (#86)
    by caseyOR on Fri Oct 09, 2009 at 01:29:41 AM EST
    What is it the troops are being asked to do? Is the concern that Obama is opting for the Biden "bomb-em" plan? And that the continued and not always accurate bombing will kill too many people? And our troops will be blamed for the carnage?

    Has a final decision been made and the American people just don't know it yet? Or is Mr. MT hearing things through the grapevine? My hope is that Obama is taking the time to put together a reasonable and well-thought out policy for this war. And that would include not asking our troops to do the impossible. It would not include shortchanging them on what is needed to complete the mission, whatever that turns out to be.

    If the decision is to just bomb, then bring home everybody who isn't essential for that mission.

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    I don't know most of what my husband (none / 0) (#88)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Oct 09, 2009 at 08:20:08 AM EST
    does over there at this point, and I won't.  I know some of what he went into from when he was preparing to go and what he had to study.  I won't know anything else as far as details though.  It isn't allowed and all phone conversations are being monitored.  If he says something or I say something suspicious the line just goes dead.  I was surprised he said that much. When he was in Iraq once and not even behind the scenes so he didn't have to be so secretive, we had run out of things to talk about but just missed each other so I started talking about the bread machine.  I began to list the ingredients in a recipe I was trying and the phone went dead...we were speaking in code I guess :)  We can have phone sex too.  It's okay to do, but how many people on the line would be having sex :)  I just can't do it.  I never could do it even when I wasn't being "monitored".

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    You have to have forces there to hold (none / 0) (#90)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Oct 09, 2009 at 08:27:31 AM EST
    the capital and "essential elements".  They can't have the government being overrun.  Anything that this administration deems necessary will be protected, and attacked, and attacked, and attacked, and attacked.  I've done this before.  And military leadership reports it and reports it and reports it...and then finally something really bad happens and the President has enough and then they bomb Fallujah and they bomb Fallujah and they shoot white phosphorus all over Fallujah and people melt.  And then soldiers do shoot dogs when they are eating the dead.

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    No kinder, gentler military? (none / 0) (#87)
    by Fabian on Fri Oct 09, 2009 at 04:31:42 AM EST
    I can't say I'm surprised.  Afghanistan resembles Vietnam in some ways.  Some of those isolated regions want to be isolated.  Look up the Kuchi nomads - something I found by looking up the Sage Kuchi, the Afghan livestock guardian dogs.

    Tell your husband not to shoot the dogs.  There's some good genetics in there.  It's the only large dog breed with a very low natural incidence of hip dysplasia.  Here's the only primary source link I've found on the internet.

    Also don't shoot these particular dogs because then you'll really p!ss off the people.

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    The only way he would shoot a dog (none / 0) (#89)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Oct 09, 2009 at 08:21:00 AM EST
    is if it was attacking him.

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    They probably won't. (none / 0) (#92)
    by Fabian on Fri Oct 09, 2009 at 09:31:46 AM EST
    But they'll spot you a mile away and sound the alert.

    The Hungarian Kuvasz was almost wiped out by the Nazis.  It's amazing they brought the breed back without a slew of genetic problems.

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    One of these days (none / 0) (#98)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Oct 10, 2009 at 09:55:13 AM EST
    I'm going to learn about a different breed.  My breed is so young though, the german shepherd is a baby breed in terms of years present on earth.  I did learn from Dr. Batagllia though that when it comes to hip displaysia in dogs each hip component has its own DNA strand for each leg.  When you understand that you have to get the electrical storm of conception right four separate times for each puppy in a litter...it's pretty profound to improve hip dysplasia in a larger picture.  You have to be dedicated to it to make headway.  And then we have dogs in particular who don't have a problem with it that when bred together will create dogs with horrible problems with it just because their DNA strands colliding together lead to a joint that will not serve.  But hip dysplasia is polygenic, and remains a formidable problem.  And fat puppies will develop it in the large breeds because the bones grow fast but brittle with too many calories.  The puppy acts like a puppy and romps around chipping those too quickly grown brittle joints while being overweight.  The chips reweld themselves to different areas of the joints and then begin to rip and tear the cartilage protecting the joint for the rest of the dogs life.  Get out your pocketbook early and have the surgeries done to remove the bone spurs and things can still be alright, but it is costly and is seldom done and then most of the new owners blame the breeder.  Even when you specifically tell them this dog only gets X amount of calories a day its first year, many people do what they want to do and will not listen because they want a "BIG" dog.  They end up with a miserable dog and then a dead dog.

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    I'm against "big" dogs (none / 0) (#99)
    by Fabian on Sat Oct 10, 2009 at 01:26:11 PM EST
    on principle because "bigness" is such a risk factor for many problems.

    The real question is "Is this dog big enough to do its job?" and the answer to that has more to do with skeletal structure and muscle structure than sheer size.

    Some mastiffs are classified as livestock guardian dogs, which I'd have to see to believe.  The physical hallmarks of an LGD are soundness, hardiness and athleticism.  I've never seen a mastiff that I would classify as "athletic".  

    Thanks for the info on the genetics.  I keep reading that Sire and Dam aren't enough - that you should check the entire litter and any previous litters.  It goes doubly if you plan on breeding.  

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    Thursday Morning Open Thread | 92 comments (92 topical)

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