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Thursday Morning Open Thread

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Blog Related
Posted on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 10:23:09 AM EST
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For non-wanking topics.

The Civil War is tonight. Autzen will be a madhouse.

This is an Open Thread.

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    Thursday Morning Open Thread | 64 comments (64 topical)

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    Pretty uplifting you tube (5.00 / 3) (#6)
    by Anne on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 10:50:29 AM EST
    Received via e-mail:

    Our daughter-in-law, Emily (MacInnes) Somers, created, directed and choreographed this in Portland last week for her Medline glove division as a fundraiser for breast cancer awareness. This was all her idea to help promote their new pink gloves. I don't know how she got so many employees, doctors and patients to participate, but it started to really catch on and they all had a lot of fun doing it.

    When the video gets 1 million hits, Medline will be making a huge contribution to the hospital, as well as offering free mammograms for the community. Please check it out. It's an easy and great way to donate to a wonderful cause, and who hasn't been touched by breast cancer?

    Pink Glove Dance

    It's had over 2 million hits.

    Even this old cynic (5.00 / 1) (#16)
    by Spamlet on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 12:56:56 PM EST
    couldn't keep from smiling at that great video. Thanks for the link.

    Parent
    I don't know why... (5.00 / 1) (#41)
    by desertswine on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 02:21:22 PM EST
    stuff like that...  gets me all weepy. Aargh.

    Parent
    Heartwarming follow-up... (5.00 / 6) (#10)
    by kdog on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 11:06:42 AM EST
    to a story we talked about awhile back...remember the convenience store owner who took mercy on a would-be robber and gave him some cash and some bread?

    He says he got a letter from the would-be robber with 50 bucks to pay him back...states he's got a new job, a new kid, and is staying out of trouble.  

    This just made my week...:)

    Non-wanking? (none / 0) (#1)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 10:25:12 AM EST
    Hmmm.  TMI!

    Eww...thanks for the visual! :) (none / 0) (#4)
    by jbindc on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 10:34:35 AM EST


    Parent
    I like (none / 0) (#2)
    by lilburro on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 10:30:18 AM EST
    Ezra's take on the Collins/Snowe renewed involvement in the bill.

    But to flip that around, the issue isn't simply that Snowe and Collins are pro-choice, so Democrats should want them on the bill. If Snowe and Collins are pro-choice, they should want to be on the bill. It's pretty clear that neither of them loathe this legislation, and pretty clear that their presence could be decisive in preventing Nelson from helping Stupak rid primary insurance of abortion coverage. Naive as it is to say, it's a chance to make a very big difference on an issue that both have historically held quite dear.

    Keep the opt-out option in, and make them stand for choice.  In terms of party politics, this is an incredibly effed up situation, but nothing new there.

    I do not follow your point (none / 0) (#3)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 10:32:38 AM EST
    or Ezra's.

    Parent
    Well, if they really (none / 0) (#5)
    by lilburro on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 10:44:18 AM EST
    really don't want Nelson's amendment, then maybe they would be inspired to vote for a bill without it, even if that bill included the PO.  An opportunity for pressure?  Although that is probably more liberal than they are willing to go.

    Parent
    I think my solution is cleaner (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 10:53:26 AM EST
    Oppose the Exchange.

    Parent
    well the Exchange, anyway (none / 0) (#9)
    by lilburro on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 10:57:16 AM EST
    IMO should [have] be[en] framed as a sop to centrism or the market, second in importance to the public option.  Something that says fine we can let the two approaches duke it out.  Viola, pragmatism.

    I would like to see the Ezra freak-out though...

    Parent

    Go Ducks! (none / 0) (#7)
    by Steve M on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 10:52:41 AM EST
    We are a 100% pro-Duck household.  Of course only an Obamabot could love Oregon State in the first place.

    I've been labeled (none / 0) (#12)
    by CoralGables on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 11:54:33 AM EST
    an Obamabot and a Tea Bagger and I'm a 100% pro-Duck today right up to the Big O on this green cap on my head.

    Parent
    Wrong, Steve M (none / 0) (#13)
    by caseyOR on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 11:59:42 AM EST
    Eugene is much more an Obamabot town than Corvallis will ever be. The land grant schools were much more Hillary's demographic.

    The entire state of Oregon has been going nuts all week. Civil War week is always a big deal, but this year the stakes are so much higher. This game sets neighbor against neighbor, husband against wife, mother against daughter. Come to think of it, this is reminiscent of the real Civil War. Who knew Oregon was a border state?

    Is your family all decked out in green and gold? I know there are teeny tiny t-shirts in Desmond's size just begging for for a NYC family.

    Parent

    Well (none / 0) (#14)
    by jbindc on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 12:01:30 PM EST
    Come to think of it, this is reminiscent of the real Civil War. Who knew Oregon was a border state?

    We also didn't know that Oregon was part of the Great Lakes either....<snark>

    Parent

    But at last I understand Obama's (none / 0) (#17)
    by Cream City on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 12:58:55 PM EST
    confusion.  As a Chicagoan, a Bears fan, he sees green and gold and thinks . . . Packers! Wisconsin!  Thus, Oregon landed on the shoreline of Lake Michigan, too.  It all becomes clear now. . . .

    Nah, it's still not clear why he thought there were as many states as Heinz ketchup has flavors.

    Parent

    Game time temps Wisconsin-like (none / 0) (#39)
    by caseyOR on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 02:13:19 PM EST
    Temperature will be in the 30s, which to us here in the maritime NW is comparable to snow bowl temps in Green Bay. In Illinois we counted up days of below zero temps in the winter; here in Oregon we count days below freezing. That's right , anything below 32 degrees F is arctic weather to us.

    On the plus side, no rain at the game tonight.

    Parent

    Crazy (none / 0) (#42)
    by CST on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 02:21:44 PM EST
    It is almost 70 degrees out and sunny (for another 10 min or so till it becomes dark) in Boston today.

    Walking down the street for lunch today seeing all the christmas decorations and hearing christmas music is just eerie in this weather.

    Someone upstairs is playing tricks on us.

    Parent

    Not for long; we had that weather (none / 0) (#60)
    by Cream City on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 06:58:06 PM EST
    a few days ago here.  But heading your way next is what we had today: brrrrrr.  Going below freezing tonight, too -- absolutely arctic in Oregon. :-)

    Parent
    Well sure (none / 0) (#15)
    by Steve M on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 12:40:53 PM EST
    I was referring more to Obama's family connection with OSU, but of course you're right.  I don't know if Desmond has any Oregon paraphernalia, actually, but my wife just got a new Ducks jacket.  The little guy is outgrowing everything!

    Parent
    Are we allowed to say (none / 0) (#19)
    by ruffian on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 01:00:42 PM EST
    100% pro-Beaver on a family site?

    There, I just did it. Go Beaves!!!

    Parent

    And just because I am originally from Chicago (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by ruffian on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 01:02:58 PM EST
    and have a brother teaching at OSU, it does not mean that I am Michelle Obama, in case there was ever any doubt.

    Parent
    I'm afraid (5.00 / 2) (#23)
    by Steve M on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 01:11:44 PM EST
    that we will have to inspect your arms before we can be sure.

    Parent
    Ha! There was a day.... (none / 0) (#38)
    by ruffian on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 02:08:10 PM EST
    but I haven't been to the gym in a month.

    Parent
    USA Today says being a dog guardian (none / 0) (#58)
    by oculus on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 06:43:16 PM EST
    is more beneficial than having a gym membership.

    Parent
    I don't know... (none / 0) (#21)
    by kdog on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 01:08:36 PM EST
    but between beavers and wanking this thread has gone down the tubes and straight to the gutter...I love it!

    Parent
    Resignation at DoJ (none / 0) (#11)
    by jbindc on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 11:52:21 AM EST
    David Ogden, the #2 person at Justice is resigning and returning to private practice.

    A tale of two... (none / 0) (#18)
    by kdog on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 01:00:21 PM EST
    reactions to a terrible tragedy...on one hand you have the campaign for the creation of a new felony, and on the other hand you have two of the young victims of the tragedy selling cupcakes in a longshot effort to get the very person who caused them harm out on bail for the holidays.

    Sun god bless these girls.  Though I can totally understand the father of the poor kid who died being furious...to imply the kids or their parents need a psychiatrist because they believe in forgiveness is just sad...I hope he finds some peace and maybe can learn a lesson from these girls about embracing love instead of hate.

    Be fair (none / 0) (#22)
    by jbindc on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 01:09:23 PM EST
    That man just lost his child due to the woman's recklessness and yes, crimial behavior.  While it's admirable what these young ladies are doing, maybe they aren't learning the lesson that if you do something wrong, you need to suffer the consequences without someone bailing you out.

    And frankly, driving drunk with children in the car should only NOT be a felony - it should have much more stringent punishments allowed, if only they were legal.  

    And I'm sure you're surprised :) - I have no sympathy for this woman.  She knew what she was doing when she decided to drink enough to have a .13 blood alcohol level and then get behind the wheel of the car.

    Parent

    Thought I was being more than fair... (none / 0) (#25)
    by kdog on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 01:17:55 PM EST
    actually, saying I can totally understand his anger...sh*t if I was him I might be trying to break into the jail to strangle the lady...ya never know till it happens to you how you will react.

    Just thought him saying the girls and/or their moms needing a psychiatrist was really sad, as if forgiveness is a mental defect or something...hopefully he doesn't really mean it and its just the rage talking.

    I'll tell ya this...I don't think anybody feels worse than the lady in the cage...she has already attempted suicide...if it wasn't for the state she'd probably have already sentenced herself to death...hopefully, with the help of such wonderful friends, she too can find some peace eventually...though I doubt it, I don't think I could ever forgive myself if I killed an innocent child.

    Parent

    I bet (none / 0) (#26)
    by jbindc on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 01:25:17 PM EST
    it IS the anger talking, although I can understand it - I can very easiy see me feeling the same way ("Are you crazy?? How can you not only forgive here so soon, but want to help her??")

    Hopefully, they all find some peace.

    Parent

    See that... (5.00 / 1) (#27)
    by kdog on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 01:29:54 PM EST
    you did have a smidgen of sympathy after all...I'm proud of ya jb:)

    Parent
    Hey (none / 0) (#32)
    by jbindc on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 01:50:57 PM EST
    I have lots of sympathy for lots of people.  I'm a big ol' softie (too soft, usually - sometimes I get taken advantage of).  I just reserve my sympathy for those who don't deliberately do things like commit crimes (especially those crimes that hurt or kill people).

    :)

    Parent

    I know you're a good egg:)... (none / 0) (#35)
    by kdog on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 02:03:59 PM EST
    hope you feel the same old pal...and as much as we bang heads on this stuff we're probably not as far apart as either of us realize...I think we just have a different definition of what a crime is, yours much closer to Websters:)...and very different opinions on how to best deal with it when it occurs.

    Parent
    kdog (none / 0) (#36)
    by jbindc on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 02:05:32 PM EST
    You are one of my favorite posters here and I love sparring with you.

    I bet you're a hoot in person!

    Now, enough with the mutual admiration society - back to arguing about something else!  :)

    Parent

    Like... (none / 0) (#40)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 02:16:58 PM EST
    ...Ten year olds getting tasered?  

    Parent
    That'll work... (none / 0) (#43)
    by kdog on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 02:22:57 PM EST
    jb will be happy to hear no laws were broken, and no "official" crime no foul:)

    "They followed all policies and procedures. This was appropriate use of the Taser device," Teschner said

    Hey Teschner...maybe time to rewrite those policies and procedures...whadya think?  Maybe add a line like "tasers not be used on pre-pubescent little kids under any circumstances"...whadya say?

    Parent

    Or maybe (none / 0) (#45)
    by jbindc on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 02:26:58 PM EST
    People should keep their kids under control?

    Parent
    Foster kid... (none / 0) (#56)
    by kdog on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 05:10:55 PM EST
    it appears the foster parent called the cops...to keep it under control...we see how that turned out.

    Normally though I'd hear ya there...I'd expect most any parent would be leaping between their 10 year old and the tase.

    Parent

    Sure (none / 0) (#44)
    by jbindc on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 02:25:44 PM EST
    The boy did not sustain injuries in the 3:30 p.m. incident in the 300 block of West Morning Glory Drive, Teschner said.

    Deputies Mark Myers and Randy Mondragon were sent to foster parent Daniel Biby's home to help with an "out of control juvenile" who was reportedly destroying property. Mondragon said the boy had threatened Biby with a pipe and a stick, and had thrown a landscape timber at Biby.

    Mondragon said that when deputies arrived, the boy ran away from them holding a 2-foot-long pipe.

    "This lad, we have a long history of (him) running away. I don't know what his entire psychological profile is, but obviously he has emotional distress," Teschner said.

    The boy ran to a neighbor's yard where he cornered himself between a camper trailer, pontoon boat and a fence, Mondragon said.

    The boy ignored a deputy's commands to drop the pipe. "I'm not going to drop the pipe," the boy is quoted as saying in a report.

    This boy was clearly a threat -  wielding a weapon and was out of control. Or would you have preferred if they took him down with something more lethal? Or my guess is, we should let children do whatever the heck they want and run wild, possibly hurting themselves or others?

    Parent

    He's ten years old.... (5.00 / 4) (#47)
    by kdog on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 02:30:15 PM EST
    if a grown-arse police officer can't get a pipe out a ten year old's hands without use of a taser or more deadly weapon I don't know what I can do to help them...they're hopeless and should find another line of work.

    Unless he's a 6'2" 200 lb. ten year old, there is no justification for this...none.

    Parent

    Absolutely freakin'... (5.00 / 2) (#54)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 04:02:44 PM EST
    spot on.  No excuse for this.  Period. End of story.  

    Parent
    The excuse for it (5.00 / 1) (#57)
    by jondee on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 06:13:15 PM EST
    is the existence still of so many in this country who get all weak in the knees when a man in uniform violently exerts his will on anyone in the name of law and order.

    Tasering a ten year old. Are you kidding me, jb?

    Parent

    Maybe, maybe not (none / 0) (#61)
    by jbindc on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 07:03:57 PM EST
    But frankly, the knee-jerk reaction around here is always that the cops are wrong.  Again, yes there are bad cops.  And we hear about the bad stuff they do.  But we don't hear about the tens of thousands who do their job right every day - yet many (especially around here) immediately jump on the "all cops are bad" routine.

    And frankly, if a ten year old was swinging a pipe at me or someone else, if I didn't have a taser, you can bet I'd at least kick his a$$.  No "poor baby" crap.

    Parent

    Wait for awhile (5.00 / 2) (#62)
    by jondee on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 07:20:06 PM EST
    before having kids.

    Sorry but, any healthy adult man who tasers a ten year old WILL "always be wrong". Cop or no cop.

    Parent

    Comcast buying NBC (none / 0) (#24)
    by jbindc on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 01:17:10 PM EST
    Prety soon we'll have thousands of media outlets of all types owned by one company.  THEN see how much diversity of opinion and points of view we get.  It will be like "1984" ....

    Link

    Comcast Corp. said Thursday it has finalized a deal to buy a majority stake in NBC Universal for $13.75 billion, giving the nation's largest cable TV operator control of the Peacock network, an array of cable channels and a major movie studio.

    Although the deal could mean that movies could reach cable more quickly after showing in theaters, it already is raising concerns that Comcast will wield too much power in the entertainment industry.

    Indeed, if the deal clears regulatory and other hurdles, Comcast would rival the heft of The Walt Disney Co. -- which Comcast CEO Brian Roberts already tried to buy.

    Comcast, which already serves a quarter of all U.S. households that pay for TV, would gain control of the NBC broadcast network, the Spanish-language Telemundo and about two dozen cable channels, including USA, Bravo and Syfy. It also would have regional sports networks, Universal Pictures and theme parks.



    30 Rock is the only NBC show I still watch (none / 0) (#28)
    by ruffian on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 01:32:13 PM EST
    and I used to watch almost exclusively NBC. Their quality has dropped so much in recent years that things can only improve. The Comcast takeover will just mean that it is even more a commercial network than ever - whatever is popular will be broadcast. Hard to imagine quality could suffer any more than it already has. Commercial networks as a source for news are already a thing of the past.

    Parent
    I wonder who gets 30 Rock (the building)? (none / 0) (#29)
    by andgarden on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 01:44:04 PM EST
    If NBC management moves to Comcast's massive new building in Philly, that would be huge. Comcast is to Philadelphia as Wal-Mart is to Arkansas.

    As to the media landscape. . .that's a different story. But honestly, I'm not sure if having Comcast own NBC is any worse than having GE own NBC.

    Parent

    Back in the day (none / 0) (#30)
    by Steve M on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 01:45:38 PM EST
    us folks in the neighborhood used to call 30 Rock "the Anthrax Building."

    Parent
    Shh, that never happened! (none / 0) (#31)
    by andgarden on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 01:47:55 PM EST


    Parent
    Good question (none / 0) (#33)
    by ruffian on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 01:58:59 PM EST
    They do a fair share of GE jokes also. It will be interesting to see what (if anything) changes.

    Parent
    Forget the Slowskys, it's Comcastic! (none / 0) (#34)
    by andgarden on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 02:02:47 PM EST


    Parent
    So, if all/most of Comcast's customers were (none / 0) (#53)
    by Inspector Gadget on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 02:58:08 PM EST
    to switch service to Verizon Fios, DirecTV, DISH, or their local cable company, what would happen to NBC?

    I'm willing to switch my service...I fear my Comcast rates will climb whenever a spoiled celebrity gets a raise.

    Parent

    Whoever Kidnapped Josh marshall (none / 0) (#37)
    by ruffian on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 02:07:01 PM EST
    is figuring out that the White House is more attached to the Exchanges than they are the Public Option. Good for him!

    Tiger update. (none / 0) (#46)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 02:30:11 PM EST
    Uchitel cancelled her scheduled presser for today, rumor is Tiger paid her to do so.

    Related:

    However, TMZ.com is reporting that it was Uchitel and not California cocktail waitress Jaimee Grubbs, 24, who prompted the fight between Woods and his wife of five years, Elin Nordegren.

    Unnamed sources tell TMZ less than an hour before the accident, Woods and Uchitel were texting each other. Nordegren reportedly confronted her husband and asked whom he was texting.

    TMZ reports Nordegren grabbed the phone and called Uchitel to confront her.

    An unnamed acquaintance of Uchitel told Us Weekly she's been intimate with Woods for about six months in a report published yesterday. The story also details a Nov. 12 meeting between Uchitel and Woods at the Crown Towers hotel in Melbourne, Australia.
    He better hope Nike... (none / 0) (#48)
    by kdog on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 02:32:19 PM EST
    stays on board...the shush-money payoffs are really adding up for ol' Tiger.

    Parent
    Also: (none / 0) (#49)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 02:36:25 PM EST
    John Ziegler, the pastor of the "First Church of Tiger Woods" announced in a statement on the blog (www.tigerwoodsisgod.com) that the organization is being dissolved because of the golfer's "personal sins."
    Now that's gotta hurt.

    Parent
    Pastor Ziegler... (none / 0) (#50)
    by kdog on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 02:46:35 PM EST
    must be really pissed to just throw away his tax exemption like that:)

    Parent
    I wonder what Alred's cut of the payout (none / 0) (#51)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 02:51:05 PM EST
    to Uchitel would be?

    Parent
    Not sure... (5.00 / 1) (#52)
    by kdog on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 02:56:49 PM EST
    but I heard she's on the horn with Pastor Ziegler right now about a wrongful deification suit:)

    Parent
    You funny! (none / 0) (#55)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 04:52:34 PM EST


    Parent
    Due to my unseemly interest in Tiger's (none / 0) (#59)
    by oculus on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 06:45:59 PM EST
    travails, my daughter called me from CA to report the latest.  I am in NY.  But she doesn't seem to know about the revised prenup.  Keep up!!

    Parent
    What revised prenup? (none / 0) (#63)
    by caseyOR on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 07:49:20 PM EST
    Whose revised prenup? How did I miss this? Did you report on this earlier, oculus?

    Parent
    Keep up (none / 0) (#64)
    by CoralGables on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 08:56:25 PM EST
    "the original agreement would give Elin $20 million if the couple remained married for 10 years. The new agreement, according to the Sun-Times, has shortened the time frame and increased Elin's payout "substantially."

    By some accounts that 20 mil for Elin for ten years has been upped to 75 million.


    Parent

    Thursday Morning Open Thread | 64 comments (64 topical)

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