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Wednesday Night Open Thread

In news no one but Teresa and I care about at this blog, Nu Keese Richardson, from my hometown of Pahokee, Florida, bagged his verbal commitment to play for the Gators and instead decided that Rocky Top is his new favorite song. Traitor.

This is an Open Thread.

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    In other news (5.00 / 1) (#19)
    by Steve M on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 09:40:45 PM EST
    Michigan State signs its first top-15 recruiting class in decades, and the bball team caps it off with a 29-point win over a ranked opponent.  A good day.

    Collapse (none / 0) (#23)
    by Socraticsilence on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 10:06:02 PM EST
    of your instate rival will do that for a school Miami falling a part and FSU continuing the "Weekend at Bobby's" run has certainly helped my Gstors.

    Parent
    Any Top Chef fans out there, (5.00 / 0) (#20)
    by Anne on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 09:54:29 PM EST
    who find Stefan as annoying as I do?

    Really sets my teeth on edge.

    I think that's why he's there (5.00 / 0) (#29)
    by andgarden on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 10:15:10 PM EST
    He's a reality show cliché.

    Now no spoilers, because I haven't seen tonight's episode!

    Parent

    i actually like him (none / 0) (#24)
    by Democratic Cat on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 10:07:33 PM EST
    He's arrogant as all get out, but he can walk the walk, so I do not mind him talking the talk.

    Parent
    No question he can cook, (5.00 / 0) (#26)
    by Anne on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 10:12:37 PM EST
    and I'm sure I would be happy to eat his food, but his smug arrogance gets on my nerves.

    Parent
    He just irks me to no end (none / 0) (#51)
    by Amiss on Thu Feb 05, 2009 at 03:05:15 AM EST
    Contemplating the possibility (none / 0) (#1)
    by andgarden on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 08:38:14 PM EST
    that this is a one term Presidency, I think it's probably wise for someone to ask our ailing liberal Justices to please step aside, so their seats can be refreshed.

    Moribund, I know, but that kind of stuff matters. Better to do it this Congress, too. Just in case there is a backlash and we lose seats in the senate.

    Oh man (5.00 / 2) (#7)
    by Steve M on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 08:57:08 PM EST
    This comment deserves some kind of award for hand-wringing.  Impressive!

    Parent
    Prepare for the worst (5.00 / 2) (#10)
    by andgarden on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 09:04:22 PM EST
    I would assume that stevens (5.00 / 0) (#11)
    by ThatOneVoter on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 09:10:59 PM EST
    plans to retire during this term, and possibly Ginsburg as well.
    I can only wish that Scalia's health is so robust that he finds SCOTUS too confining, and retires so that he can hunt.

    Parent
    And Thomas, of course (none / 0) (#12)
    by andgarden on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 09:14:02 PM EST
    He's so young (none / 0) (#15)
    by ThatOneVoter on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 09:22:38 PM EST
    maybe he could go on the senior tour for some sport.

    Parent
    I heard a rumor (none / 0) (#16)
    by andgarden on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 09:25:32 PM EST
    that he has a heart condition of some kind.

    Parent
    ah, well, i expect (none / 0) (#17)
    by ThatOneVoter on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 09:29:14 PM EST
    he has had high blood pressure for many years now

    Parent
    Lack of Excercise (none / 0) (#25)
    by Socraticsilence on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 10:08:50 PM EST
    Its not like he presses himself at work, I mean I could do what he does on the Bench- without going to DC.

    Parent
    I would prefer if Obama would first (5.00 / 2) (#14)
    by Anne on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 09:21:23 PM EST
    have a 150-watt light-bulb moment where he realizes the post-partisan thing is not the way to go; until he does, I'm more than a little concerned that he would make the ultimate post-partisan reach-out, and make a mockery of Justice Stevens' hanging in there for a Democratic president before retiring, by nominating someone for the SC who would end up tilting the court farther to the right.

    Parent
    Really, it's only been a few weeks (none / 0) (#9)
    by WS on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 09:00:31 PM EST
    into Obama's Presidency.  President Clinton had a rough patch at the beginning too (actually a very rough patch). But Obama better realize he's in a street fight not a dinner party.    

    Kennedy and Franken need to get to Washington to help the Democrats with Republican obstruction too.      

    Parent

    Obama and his team (5.00 / 2) (#13)
    by ap in avl on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 09:15:02 PM EST
    need to find a backbone and fight for all of us.  We can't wait for the cavalry (Franken, Kennedy, et al) to save us.

    Parent
    Exactly (1.00 / 1) (#22)
    by Socraticsilence on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 10:04:44 PM EST
    I mean he hasn't even had the worst mid-term election by a Democrat this century yet, until he does that he's at the very least ahead of the Clinton curve.

    Parent
    I'm just "contemplating the possibility" (none / 0) (#27)
    by andgarden on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 10:14:13 PM EST
    I'm not saying that the die is cast.

    Parent
    The die was cast in Nov. (5.00 / 0) (#32)
    by ThatOneVoter on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 10:17:11 PM EST
    Now we're just along for the ride.
    I don't see reason to panic, but worry is definitely understandable.

    Parent
    I am pretty sure (none / 0) (#36)
    by Steve M on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 10:47:00 PM EST
    that no Democrat has had a midterm election this century.

    Parent
    Obama will have the worst midterm (none / 0) (#37)
    by ThatOneVoter on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 10:53:30 PM EST
    election of the millenium, for a Democrat.

    Parent
    I hope he isn't (none / 0) (#47)
    by Manuel on Thu Feb 05, 2009 at 12:56:48 AM EST
    bringing a fork to a knife fight.

    Parent
    new Buy American Amend (none / 0) (#2)
    by jedimom on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 08:48:44 PM EST
    the new version of this amend jsut passed, and COburn says its trade war and Wyden says its all good and Baucus fixed it, CNBC just now...

    anyone know what provisions are in there that labor likes?

    My understanding is it has specific language saying we must comply with WTO and other trade agreements which IIRC say we cant restrict to Buy American

    so what exactly does it do that makes it worth it to leave language saying BUY AMERICAN in our stimulus when the EU Canada and other trading partners have already objected and sent emissaries to talk us off that ledge??

    WTO (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by Socraticsilence on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 08:51:29 PM EST
    Was such a massive mistake in retrospect- it basically ties our hands not just in things like this where it has a reasonable place (IMO) but also in places like enviromental and labor restrictions where it has virtually no place, I think this even in cases where it helps the US (like labels of GMO food for the EU).

    Parent
    Steel and Iron (none / 0) (#49)
    by Socraticsilence on Thu Feb 05, 2009 at 01:12:13 AM EST
    Are exempt from WTo regulation- see the TNR post about it apparently signatories were allowed to exempt certain industries when used by government from WTO oversight.

    Parent
    You think Florida has problems (none / 0) (#3)
    by downtownted on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 08:51:20 PM EST
    Today's Detroit News

    Nine players decommitted from Michigan this recruiting season. That is an unusually high number.

    WOW no kidding

    Anyone else watch 'Damages'? (none / 0) (#5)
    by ruffian on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 08:51:42 PM EST
    If Obama was walking around with the same look of wrathful determination that Glenn Close had at the end of last week when William Hurt screwed her over in court, I would feel a lot better right now!

    Losing Keese (none / 0) (#6)
    by Socraticsilence on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 08:52:38 PM EST
    Hurts, BTD you're from Pahokee- did you do the rabbit chasing thing ESPN runs a story on every few years?

    A few times (none / 0) (#8)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 08:57:54 PM EST
    Interesting (none / 0) (#28)
    by Socraticsilence on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 10:14:34 PM EST
    I grew up in N. Florida outside of Tally before we moved for HS, its cool to here about this stuff.

    Parent
    Me too! (5.00 / 1) (#50)
    by Amiss on Thu Feb 05, 2009 at 03:02:02 AM EST
    Grew up SE of Tallahassee, between Tallahassee and Gainesville. BTW, BTD, you and Theresa are not the only ones that care about such things Gator!

    Parent
    Perry? (none / 0) (#53)
    by CoralGables on Thu Feb 05, 2009 at 08:48:13 AM EST
    Once upon a time the home of the worlds largest free fish fry.

    Parent
    LOL yes (none / 0) (#54)
    by Amiss on Thu Feb 05, 2009 at 12:38:48 PM EST
    After (none / 0) (#18)
    by CoralGables on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 09:32:44 PM EST
    Andre Debose signed early in the morning, I'm guessing Nu'keese figured he would never be "the" star in Gainesville. And at 5'9" he might have found himself fighting for playing time in that offense. Deonte Thompson is taller, bigger, faster, and is still trying to find more playing time in his third year in Gainesville.

    Still, it's odd to see someone from Pahokee not wind up a Gator.

    As a Vol fan, I hope he can catch passes (none / 0) (#30)
    by Teresa on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 10:16:16 PM EST
    thrown in the dirt. We really are hurting for receivers so he should get lots of playing time here. If someone can just pass the ball to him.

    We had a 4 star quarterback committed a long time ago and Kiffin told him he would honor the commitment but we weren't running that style of offense anymore, so he should maybe visit other schools. He must be confident of getting a good one next year to let Boyd go.

    How does Alabama get two #1 classes in a row??

    Parent

    They oversign (none / 0) (#33)
    by Socraticsilence on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 10:18:52 PM EST
    Look at a class like Florida's massive average per recruit- what Bama does is just sign huge numbers of players each year because unlike a UT or a UF they don't care if players graduate- its the only possible way they can do it considering there's like a 72 scholarship limit.

    Parent
    I think we signed less than 20. (none / 0) (#34)
    by Teresa on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 10:30:53 PM EST
    The new coach said he wasn't going to inflate numbers just to get higher in recruiting rankings and let a kid sit on the bench for four or five years.

    They can still only have so many on scholarship next fall. They must think some will have to go to junior college first. I haven't actually looked to see how many they signed, I just saw their rating.

    Parent

    27 (5.00 / 1) (#38)
    by Socraticsilence on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 10:58:01 PM EST
    After signing 30+ I think last year, Florida sigined 16, but had big years in 06 and 07 so it balances out- either Bama has an incredibly small year next year or their basically flunking 7-10 players out per class.

    Parent
    This is (none / 0) (#31)
    by Socraticsilence on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 10:16:58 PM EST
    Deonte's year- it pretty much has to be I mean unless Debose just comes in and blows up we don't have anyone to fill the Percy role, the RBs can't run those routes and Cooper and Nelson aren't quick enough (Cooper has the straight-line speed).

    Parent
    Whew, BTD, that's twice this week you've (none / 0) (#21)
    by Teresa on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 09:57:39 PM EST
    given me chest pains. I think you're just taunting me to see if I'm still around. :)

    That was pretty shocking, wasn't it. I forgot that you said you went to school there. Tennessee's best player went to the stinkin Dawgs.

    Vols gave me heartburn the other night (5.00 / 1) (#35)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 10:36:50 PM EST
    Only fair I make you suffer some too.

    Parent
    Isn't the SEC tournament going to be fun? (none / 0) (#40)
    by Teresa on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 11:06:06 PM EST
    Anyone can win. We beat Arkansas by 2 on the road tonight. This year is very stressful to me! Our freshman are either perfect or throwing air balls.

    Parent
    I just watched Transsiberian, (none / 0) (#39)
    by ThatOneVoter on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 11:00:18 PM EST
    a 2007 movie with Woody Harrelson and Ben Kingsley. It's not a great movie, but it's interesting and very well acted.


    AmaZing Story (none / 0) (#41)
    by squeaky on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 11:08:27 PM EST
    David and Goliath sort of.  RIAA sues a boston college kid Tenenbaum, for downloading 8 or 9 songs. Kid offers $500. RIAA refuses and sues for more, goes on, bla bla bla, and the judge step in and makes a remarkable statement:

    I've said this before in open court. There is a huge imbalance in these cases. The record companies are represented by large law firms with substantial resources. The law is also overwhelmingly on their side. They bring cases against individuals, individuals who don't have lawyers and don't have access to lawyers and who don't understand their legal rights....

    Judge Gertner also promised to help Tenenbuam find a lawyer, and she put him in touch with Professor Nesson.

    Professor Nesson teaches a course at Harvard where the students take on major cases. Nesson functions much like the senior partner of a law firm where caffein adrenalin pumped students do the bulk of the work. Some even get waivers to defend in Federal COurt.

    In opposition to the RIAA who were demanding that "The schools would be "doing their part," while the recording industry got its missives delivered without needing to bother with courts and judges and subpoenas"

    Professor Nesson response to RIAA demands:

    ""Universities should have no part in this extraordinary process," wrote Nesson and Palfrey. "The RIAA's charter is to promote the financial interests of its corporate members--even if that means preserving an obsolete business model for its members.

    The university's charter is quite different... The university strives to create knowledge, to open the minds of students to that knowledge, and to enable students to take best advantage of their educational opportunities.

     The university has no legal obligation to deliver the RIAA's messages. It should do so only if it believes that's consonant with the university's mission."

    .

    I'm not sure if this is the most... (none / 0) (#42)
    by EL seattle on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 11:40:48 PM EST
    ...appropriate thread for this link, but it's very interesting, I think.

    Three more copyright litigators to join Obama DOJ

    Why can School Officials see what's on a cellphone (none / 0) (#43)
    by jerry on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 11:41:59 PM EST
    Here's yet another story of a school confiscating a cellphone and then examining it to look at the photos.  

    If you read the article, it seems to be another case of a girl sending out nude photos of herself, with the recipient being charged for possession of child pornography.

    In this case, without the recipient's story being told, it sounds pretty bad, he was her assistant principal.  (Remember, the principal is your pal, p-a-l.)

    But in general why can a school inspect a phone's content?  I can understand they have legit reasons to confiscate the phone, but why are they allowed to turn that phone on or use it in any manner?

    Seriously? (none / 0) (#45)
    by Socraticsilence on Thu Feb 05, 2009 at 12:54:35 AM EST
    That's even worse than people being labeled as Sex Offenders for having intra-HS relationships (Jr dating a Fr. and so on).

    Parent
    Copyright Infringement Suit (none / 0) (#44)
    by squeaky on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 11:50:48 PM EST
    Shepard Fairey of Obama Poster fame, is getting sued by the AP. AP photographer Manny Garcia took the photograph of Obama in April 2006 and Fairey appropriated it.

    "The Associated Press has determined that the photograph used in the poster is an AP photo and that its use required permission," the AP's director of media relations, Paul Colford, said in a statement.

    "AP safeguards its assets and looks at these events on a case-by-case basis. We have reached out to Mr. Fairey's attorney and are in discussions. We hope for an amicable solution."

    "We believe fair use protects Shepard's right to do what he did here," says Fairey's attorney, Anthony Falzone, executive director of the Fair Use Project at Stanford University and a lecturer at the Stanford Law School. "It wouldn't be appropriate to comment beyond that at this time because we are in discussions about this with the AP."

    FaIry may win.

    Jeffery Koons is also getting sued for pretty much the same reason. The issue is that if the final work is transformative of the original it can be used.

    This is odd (none / 0) (#46)
    by Socraticsilence on Thu Feb 05, 2009 at 12:55:55 AM EST
    I mean non-commerical artistic appropriation is one thing but you would think for commercial use that the person would at least have sought a usage waiver.

    Parent
    It Is His Art (none / 0) (#48)
    by squeaky on Thu Feb 05, 2009 at 01:04:35 AM EST
    Fine Art is commercial, big bucks in fact. Koons is selling paintings for 1 million or more, I think that Fairey views this work as his art. Fair use.

    Parent
    I'm sure this will be settled... (none / 0) (#52)
    by EL seattle on Thu Feb 05, 2009 at 08:23:21 AM EST
    ... probably with a little cut of royalties and the addition of the original photographer's credit to the copyright identification.  If they'd known that this particular posterwould become so popular I'm sure they would have secured rights ahead of time when they could have gotten them at a better price.

    There's some information about the murky realm of "derivative works" here.

    No (none / 0) (#55)
    by squeaky on Thu Feb 05, 2009 at 03:44:07 PM EST
    I doubt Fairey will settle. This is a political position and the basis for all his artwork.

    He will have to lose the case to pay, imo.

    Parent