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Wednesday Afternoon Open Thread

BTD is traveling this afternoon. Here's an open thread for you, all topics welcome.

Update: In the news: Via Sentencing Law and Policy, a Utah woman was sent to jail for 30 days for contempt for texting in court.

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    Joshua told me this morning as he was (5.00 / 2) (#2)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 01:28:26 PM EST
    getting ready for school that he wanted to participate in the CNN national report card tonight.  I didn't even know what the heck he was talking about but I do now.  Once again I don't know as much as a nine year old.  I watch CNN....not him, how could I have not noticed the report card symbol at the bottom right on the screen.  I guess Josh can't wait to be able to grade someone instead of being graded for a change.  I watched Obama's townhall today.  Baby Zoey clapped everytime the crowd clapped, she thought it was great fun.  Talk about a totbot.

    my 9 year old son... (5.00 / 4) (#4)
    by Dadler on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 01:35:54 PM EST
    ...has his science fair tonight (his project is on scanning electron microscopes).  3rd graders doing science fair projects, a lot different than when I was that age.  Back then, we were just happy to sniff the ditto pages.

    BTW, what is graded on CNN's report card?

    And replying to a post of yours, Tracy, reminds me I need to call my little brother at Lejune, he's shipping out to Afghanistan (4th tour) tomorrow.  My poor mother is tensed out of her mind.

    Peace.

    Parent

    Scanning electron microscope for (5.00 / 3) (#26)
    by coast on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 02:16:16 PM EST
    the 3rd grade science fair...good lord.  Let us know what wins, because if that doesn't I want to know what is better than that.

    Gratitudes for your brother for his service.  Prayers are with him.

    Parent

    Is he making one (5.00 / 2) (#33)
    by Jen M on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 02:26:24 PM EST
    out of straws and toothpicks??

    Sheesh, my fourth grade science fair was on "plants"

    Parent

    I remember that we did "birds" (5.00 / 2) (#42)
    by Cream City on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 02:45:15 PM EST
    And I drew a robin for the cover of mine.

    I was real good at coloring between the lines.

    Parent

    It's an ireport (none / 0) (#15)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 01:57:07 PM EST
    where you upload a little video.  I have no idea what he would say :)

    Parent
    Peace to your family at this time (5.00 / 3) (#16)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 01:58:36 PM EST
    Best to your brother and all of you as you endure this deployment.

    Parent
    Christopher Buckley: (none / 0) (#3)
    by oculus on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 01:31:16 PM EST
    "100 Days of Platitude":

    FT

    Parent

    That was great (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 01:45:35 PM EST
    Josh won't be impresssed.  It is difficult to educate your own children that the report card can be biased yet indicative:)  Especially when you have a child who works as hard as Josh does to make all A's.  His older sister went through her schooling after grade school denouncing grading and declaring that teachers were hypocrites and unfit to pass judgement on anyone until they cleaned up their own backyards.  She used to collect data on all her teachers that could hopefully reflect badly upon their character and prove they were unfit to judge anyone.  Talk about herding cats :)

    Parent
    Oh, good lord. I have had to explain (5.00 / 2) (#43)
    by Cream City on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 02:52:00 PM EST
    to so many students that we, or at least I, do not judge anyone in grades.  I only judge their work, for just a few months, and it may have been months when their lives went to heck, so their work did, too.  Grades are reports on the sorts of things that can help us give good references to grad schools and employers -- they're records of whether students showed up on time, did the work on time, followed instructions to do it well, etc.  

    Sounds like your Josh has figured that out just fine.

    I've seen the same students do poorly or do wonderfully well at different times, depending upon how much life, families, significant others, etc., were messing with their lives.  That's all.

    Sounds like your daughter, like mine, had to figure out that teachers are just like parents.  Not perfect.  Probably hypocrites some times, about some stuff.  But probably not about grades, which are about whether students are doing perfect work or at least trying hard, like Josh.

    In the end, both sorts of kids can do darn well.  But isn't it amazing to have two kids so different, as do I, too?  I keep saying that one must have been left on the doorstep.

    Parent

    She used to tell me that her brother (none / 0) (#91)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 06:01:01 PM EST
    would go into her room when he was four and tell her that she was the bad kid and he was the good kid.  I couldn't believe that our golden child would do something like that, he was only four, he was disabled, he was thoughtful and industrious and geniune.  And he was perfectly capable.....I caught him a few months down the road telling her that one day when she had just got into trouble AGAIN and I was standing in the hall outside her room.  I'll never forget the look on the golden child's caught face :)

    Parent
    Teachers are human? (5.00 / 1) (#80)
    by Fabian on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 04:40:27 PM EST
    Oh noes!

    This was in Texas, right?  I have some sympathy for her, but...

    BTW - I'm reading The ADD/ADHD Checklist and it should be required reading for all teachers.  A lot of what they suggest to help keep students focused should be SOP.  I'd also suggest a couple courses in advertising for teachers since teaching is all about getting and keeping students' attention in the face of various distractions.  

    It's a fascinating read - especially when you find out that some kids will do anything to get out of an activity they do poorly in - including deliberately provoking the teacher so they get sent to the office.  

    Parent

    Well, I managed to make it into work (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by Anne on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 01:41:31 PM EST
    today, after yesterday's unexpected day off due to a huge water main break that occurred in the middle of the intersection in the blcok where my building is.

    Yesterday I posted this at the tail end of an open thread:

    As I was leaving for work this morning, I heard there had been a water main break very close to my building, and that the street I would take off the expressway was closed.

    Okay, I thought, I'll just take a slightly different route and come into the garage from the other entrance.

    Well, 'twas not to be.

    As I got closer, I could see enough flashing lights that I was pretty sure the street the other garage entrance was on would also be closed.

    Called a co-worker, who was most likely to be at work already, and he confirmed that we could not get into the garage, and because the water to the building had been turned off, the office was closing.

    Great (sort of - I had postponed until today sending a FedEx because my secretary was out yesterday and I didn't want to impose on the only other secretary in the department) - I'll just go home.

    Well...it took me an hour to go about four blocks (it then took me 20 minutes to drive the 25 miles home).  And this was early - before 8:00.  I'm convinced it had a lot to do with the "traffic-control officers" who were "directing" traffic around the closed streets.  I've gotten so that when I see them in the street, I know I'm screwed and it will take 10 times longer.

    Anyway, when all was said and done, I think they closed something like 10 blocks in the heart of downtown.

    Here are some pictures of the flood.

    And a snip of the story:


    City transportation officials say the water pipe broke under the intersection of Lombard and Gay Streets around 5:30 am this morning.
    All city buildings in downtown Baltimore and the federal and circuit courts were closed after the water main break.

    The Schaefer Tower was closed due to low water pressure.

    The Schaefer Tower houses 14 State agencies among them the Maryland Transit Administration and the Maryland Public Service Commission. More than 1,100 employees are affected by the building's closure.

    The Maryland Department of General Services will alert State employees when the building reopens. Employees and anyone conducting business with State agencies in the building should listen for announcements on reopening on local radio and television stations.

    Crews have turned off the 40-inch main and 20-inch main. Kocher says the flooding in the area reached about 2 feet at one point, but the water has receded.

    People are being asked to check to see if their businesses are open before going to work and use mass transit since many parking garages in the area are inaccessible.

    This morning's commute was not too bad - I think a lot of people may have just been avoiding the area - but it will be interesting getting out of the garage tonight.  Both exits are on one-way streets that are closed, so we will be going the "wrong" way to get out of the garage and get to a street that will take us out of the city.

    It's been an adventure.

    Anne (5.00 / 2) (#12)
    by jbindc on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 01:50:05 PM EST
    You missed the sign - it said "Don't go to work today."  :)

    Parent
    Yeah...if I weren't such an early bird, (none / 0) (#18)
    by Anne on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 02:04:09 PM EST
    I might not have just gotten in the car and headed to work - but the news reports were so skimpy, and we almost never close for anything - so...no good deed goes unpunished.

    I ended up logging on remotely to grab the document I needed to send out, but then had to go get my signature notarized and then go to the Fed Ex place to send it.  I just didn't trust that we would be back in the office today, so once the FedEx person took the envelope, I could stop worrying about it.

    It was a beautiful day - and breezy - so I spent some time out on the deck - it wasn't a total loss!

    Looking at where the main broke from our 9th-floor offices, it is just a huge, gaping hole that they were still pumping water out of this morning.

    To make matters worse, another main broke on the SW side of the city, which flooded the train tracks and has stopped both Amtrak and MARC train service in or out of Baltimore.

    Apparently, these abrupt changes in temperature have a rather negative effect on 100-year old water mains...

    Parent

    re Baltimore, MD, Chesapeake and Water (none / 0) (#51)
    by DFLer on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 03:34:27 PM EST
    sort of a connection there, heh?

    Anywho, did you see the Frontline show last week called "Poison Water"? a must see.

    I think you can view it on the Frontline site.

    Parent

    was this the break (none / 0) (#36)
    by Jen M on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 02:27:57 PM EST
    that closed down amtrak and some marc lines?

    Parent
    oh nm (none / 0) (#37)
    by Jen M on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 02:28:34 PM EST
    just reread the post

    Parent
    Rule #1... (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 02:09:16 PM EST
    ...when encountered by a bear, do. not. run.  Only bad things happen when you break rule #1.

    Had to teach my niece (5.00 / 1) (#86)
    by Fabian on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 04:51:41 PM EST
    the same lesson, only it was a huge galumphing puppy instead of a bear.

    The dog (perfectly friendly) would run up to her and she would turn (wrong) and run waving her hands (wrong again) and emitting high pitched shrieks (still wrong).  That's called "acting like prey" - running away, acting agitated and screaming and it excites predators.  I taught her to stand facing the dog, hands at her side and to be quiet.  

    The woman initially thought the bear was "cute" and that more than anything makes me want to scream at the public.  Wild animals are wild.  They might be cute'n'cuddly in pictures, but not up close in person.

    Parent

    Dogs, bears... (5.00 / 1) (#95)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 09:33:55 PM EST
    ...coyotes, wolves, cougars--they all possess a strong preditor/prey instinct.  Running away is the primary trigger.  

    Bears tend to lose their cuteness factor once they get to be yearlings--especially up close and personal.  I can't imagine it being like a "cute dog" unless it was young or far-away.    

    Wild animals are indeed wild--and should never be fed by humans.  The bear is probably dead because of people who left food out/around to feed the "cute" bear.    

    Parent

    Did you all see where Leahy has (5.00 / 3) (#29)
    by Anne on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 02:19:01 PM EST
    invited Bybee to come have a little confab with the Judiciary Committee?

    Leahy's been a bit confused over some contradictory things he's been reading in the WaPo and NYT about Bybee's thoughts on the memos, and wants Bybee to come explain himself.

    The interesting little tidbit is this, from the letter:

    According to the press account, you became the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Office of Legal Counsel after interviewing with White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales because you were interested in being nominated to a judgeship on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
    Apparently he asked if you would be willing to head OLC first. I am sure you would like an opportunity to come forward and set the record straight with respect to whether and, if so, how your judicial ambitions related to your participation at OLC.

    Not that I expect Bybee to take Leahy up on the invitation - I just like that at least Leahy is still working on this issue.

    Ooooh, a little snarky there, Leahy. (none / 0) (#41)
    by Cream City on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 02:43:57 PM EST
    It must be darned difficult to not be a bit snarky about some of the crap from the Bush era that now is beginning to surface.

    Parent
    Considering the run around (none / 0) (#75)
    by Fabian on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 04:23:33 PM EST
    the Bush administration gave Congress, it would take a saint to be congenial and open minded to any Former Administration Officials.

    The Bush administration flipped Congress the bird repeatedly - when they weren't hiding behind National Security and Executive Privilege.

    Parent

    WHO raised pandemic alert level (5.00 / 1) (#50)
    by gyrfalcon on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 03:33:20 PM EST
    to 5 out of 6.  Alert level 5 is "Pandemic imminent."

    Listening to the press conference, it sounds like the reason for this is primarily to gig up the vaccine and anti-viral makers to get going right away.

    Interestingly, the WHO head is heaping praise on the U.S. for its open sharing of scientific and other information with WHO and other countries and just a generally extra-cooperative attitude.  Not hard to read between the lines on that.  Apparently, the U.S. hasn't been quite so cooperative over the last 8 years.

    WHO head points out very forcefully that in pandemics, the severity of disease and the mortality are typically a lot higher in developing countries than in wealthy ones like the U.S.

    In Egypt... (5.00 / 1) (#55)
    by desertswine on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 03:49:11 PM EST
    they're killing their pigs.  I don't know why. This is supposed to have some effect on the spreading flu. Panic?

    Parent
    Given your ID, (5.00 / 3) (#57)
    by coast on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 03:53:02 PM EST
    I would be on the lookout.

    Parent
    Ouch! (none / 0) (#59)
    by desertswine on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 03:55:02 PM EST
    Sorry, (none / 0) (#65)
    by coast on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 04:04:46 PM EST
    I could resist a softball like that.:)

    Parent
    Misinformation and (5.00 / 1) (#69)
    by gyrfalcon on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 04:15:05 PM EST
    mistaken assumptions because it's being called "swine flu."  One part of the virus originated in pigs, but you can't catch it now from a pig or from eating pork.  It's too late to kill the pigs, IOW.

    Many viruses originate in animals and then mutate slightly and jump to the human beings who live and work closely with them without careful hygiene.  They become epidemics then only if they mutate again so they're transmissible person to person.  That's what happened with HIV, which originated in monkeys.  That's what they're afraid could happen with avian flu, which so far has only infected people who closely handle infected birds and their droppings and can't be spread from person to person.

    This current virus is an ugly combination of swine, avian and human flu viruses, and it is fairly easily transmitted from person to person, hence the extreme concern at WHO.  There's one theory that it may have originated when a pig with swine flu ingested some droppings from a bird with avian flu, and then got into a pig handler/farmer who had regular people flu and the three viruses combined.

    Fascinating things, viruses, and almost completely unpredictable.

    Parent

    Over at Grist (none / 0) (#72)
    by nycstray on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 04:18:09 PM EST
    there's an article that Columbia U says it may be 100% swine flu. Haven't read it yet. Was busy reading this one

    Parent
    Interesting article (none / 0) (#79)
    by gyrfalcon on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 04:40:18 PM EST
    Thanks for the link!

    Parent
    From the CDC website: (none / 0) (#62)
    by Anne on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 03:58:02 PM EST
    here:

    What is swine flu?
    Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that causes regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. Swine flu viruses have been reported to spread from person-to-person, but in the past, this transmission was limited and not sustained beyond three people.

    My emphasis.

    Parent

    It's a shame they are doing that (none / 0) (#63)
    by nycstray on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 04:00:49 PM EST
    yes, the pigs could be a problem, but not if they are healthy is my understanding. Flies can carry the virus around from pig farms, And I'm not sure, but it would seem it could get into the water also. There's a large Smithfield pig operation in the Mexico flu area. Viruses mutating on the large farms shouldn't be a surprise, what with all the antibiotics, conditions, etc.

    I would tend to trust that the smaller farms aren't as much of a problem. Just for starters, it's easier to monitor the pigs when you don't have thousands of them . . . conditions are generally better as are practices. I get my pork from a ranch upstsate. They don't use any antibiotics etc unless the animal specifically needs it. If that happens it's separated from the others, etc.

    I'm wondering if the cases in Mexico are stronger because they are getting a more direct dose of the virus and perhaps it weakens when passed between humans . . .

    Parent

    Mexico has higher poverty (none / 0) (#70)
    by Jen M on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 04:15:40 PM EST
    and population density.  This is what makes any illness worse.

    Parent
    Just FYI-- antibiotics (none / 0) (#76)
    by gyrfalcon on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 04:23:51 PM EST
    have zero effect on viruses.  Their use or misuse has nothing to do with swine flu (in pigs or humans) or any other flu.

    I could be wrong on this, but my understanding is that it's largely through accidental ingestion or absorption through mucous membranes or cuts of infected waste that animal viruses infect human beings directly.  I actually think that big mechanized factory farms are less likely to be a problem than small ones.  It's when people live and work closely with animals that these things get transmitted.

    Read Jared Diamond's fascinating "Guns, Germs and Steel" for good background on how Europeans carried viral diseases to the New World, which likely hadn't had any before ever (he thinks not even the common cold), which nearly wiped out the native American populations within only a few years.  Bottom line, there were no indigenous domesticatable animals in the Americas like there were in the Old World.

    Parent

    {bangs head on wall} anti-virals. (none / 0) (#77)
    by nycstray on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 04:36:49 PM EST
    Conditions play a part. Large operations vs pastured pigs. The operation in Mexico does over 900,000 per year. And with some of what we know about practices here and in Mexico . . .

    I saw a piece on PBS set a bit later on Ellis island and they covered the immigrants coming over and the hospital etc. Interesting stuff. I'll have to check out GG&S :)

    Parent

    GGS is riveting (none / 0) (#83)
    by gyrfalcon on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 04:46:38 PM EST
    I think.  He covers all sorts of stuff in teasing out why Europeans and Asians had such an immense advantage over native Americans and Africans by virtue of everything from simple geography to native animal and plant species amenable to cultivation and domestication.

    If this kind of stuff interests you, there's another wonderful book called "1491" that came out a couple years ago about the Americas before Columbus based on recent archeological research.  Turns out, among other things, native North Americans as well as Mayans and Aztecs had very big flourishing "cities" before the arrival of the Europeans and their germs wiped them all out.

    Parent

    Yet, last night LKL had Dr Mehmet Oz on (none / 0) (#53)
    by Inspector Gadget on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 03:38:27 PM EST
    and he calmly told people, "it's the flu". Wash your hands.

    I'm having a hard time getting scared of this outbreak.

    Parent

    You aren't supposed to be scared (5.00 / 1) (#68)
    by Jen M on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 04:08:05 PM EST
    You are supposed to be careful.

    And considerate of others if you get ill.

    Parent

    Which has me wondering, once again, (5.00 / 2) (#92)
    by Anne on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 06:10:18 PM EST
    about those oh-so-considerate people who believe themselves to be so indispensible that they come to work even when they're sick - I have one of those in my office, and she seems unconcerned that because we're all breathing the same re-circulated air, her germs/viruses are blithely infecting us all.  This is someone who doesn't wash her hands even when she's healthy, so I doubt she will do so now - and she's someone who makes well into 6 figures and could truly afford to stay home until she is no longer contagious.

    Which makes me think, once again, of so many people who are working jobs where they get no paid sick leave, and who drag themselves to work because if they don't work, they don't eat,and who are afraid an absence of even a couple days could cause them to lose a job; that's been a problem for a long time.

    And what will people do about child care if schools close for extended periods of time?  Most people cannot afford to take time off from work, and if the point is to isolate people - keep them from clustering in large groups where flu can easily spread - what good would a day care center be?  That might be just as bad, or worse - and I still don't know what people do for whom school is what they do for day care.

    And then there are all of the unemployed, who may not have health insurance and who can't afford the trip to the doctor or ER...

    I'm not sure the economy can take a hit from flu on a large scale.

    Easy to see why people could panic; it's not just health, it's about everything else, too.

    Parent

    ok (5.00 / 2) (#93)
    by Jen M on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 07:11:51 PM EST
    SHE would scare me

    Parent
    The WHO lady (5.00 / 1) (#96)
    by gyrfalcon on Thu Apr 30, 2009 at 12:39:16 AM EST
    made exactly these points today, as have HHS people, that companies have to plan now for how to cope if large numbers of employees have to stay home because of illness in the family, and that individuals have to start figuring out now how they will cope. Not at all clear what either can do, though.

    People who come to work sick make me crazy.  Back in the days I had a regular office career, I forbade the people I supervised to come in sick, no matter how urgent the looming business tasks were.  If one of my people came in sick, I made them go home, in severe cases under threat of having their pay docked.

    Not only do they spread germs, they usually do lousy, lousy work.  I found that pointing that fact out made them more willing to give in and take to their beds than any other argument.

    Parent

    Dr. Mehmet Oz (4.50 / 2) (#67)
    by gyrfalcon on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 04:06:33 PM EST
    I heard him on LKL last night, too, and spent the whole time shaking my head and rolling my eyes at the boneheaded stuff he was saying, frequently blithely contradicting himself from one sentence to the next.

    For just one example, LK asked him about the fact that the deaths in Mexico are mostly among young and healthy people, Mehmet acknowledge that and explained briefly it was because of the immune system overreaction.  But then without hardly drawing a breath, he went on to say how important it was to reserve anti-viral drugs primarily for the elderly and very young and immunocompromised who are most at risk.  WTF???

    Based on his mess of a performance last night, I would suggest not taking a word this guy says without cross-checking it thoroughly.  Better yet, change the channel when you see him pop up.  He's spreading far more disinformation and confusion than any ill-prepared reporter.

    I would not be scared of this outbreak-- yet.  But do keep your eye out for updates, especially next fall when the next flu season rolls around.  These things typically go in waves, with the first wave fairly mild and then the second being the whammo.

    This virus has very, very worrisome characteristics.  It may not turn out to be a major deal, but it has the potential to more than anything we've seen in a very long time.

    Parent

    Oh, come on.... (5.00 / 1) (#71)
    by Inspector Gadget on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 04:16:11 PM EST
    he's Oprah's go to guy for everything medicine :)

    I'm well aware of Dr Oz's chronic contradictions and absence of common sense.

    Parent

    Then why (none / 0) (#97)
    by gyrfalcon on Thu Apr 30, 2009 at 12:42:45 AM EST
    would you cite him in justifying your ho-hum attitude about this?  Just curiously.

    There are few things that enrage me more than TV types who mangle scientific issues, and most particularly those with ostensible scientific or medical credentials.  Oz is a disgrace, IMHO.

    Parent

    Level 6? (none / 0) (#54)
    by coast on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 03:40:34 PM EST
    If they take it to "6", will I be here to read the response?

    Parent
    Conditioned not to react after the (5.00 / 2) (#66)
    by Inspector Gadget on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 04:05:23 PM EST
    Orange Alerts and the suspicious timing those were known for.

    This whole thing seems like over-reacting.

    Parent

    What? No important NBA (none / 0) (#1)
    by oculus on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 01:28:23 PM EST
    playoff games today?

    tommorow night (none / 0) (#6)
    by CST on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 01:38:56 PM EST
    Game 6

    It might get ugly.

    The officiating has been horrible.

    For the record - it was a flagrant foul by Rondo.  But Ben Gordon was also out of bounds - so it should've been moot.

    And Ray Allen got screwed.

    Parent

    Or, in the words of Bill Simmons (none / 0) (#13)
    by CST on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 01:55:48 PM EST
    "If the Bulls fans want to whine about it, fine, just remember that (A.) Boston's best clutch guy (Ray Allen) fouled out on two of the worst calls of the playoffs, and (B.) Ben Gordon stepped out of bounds right as he got fouled by Tony "Why Am I In The Game Again?" Allen for three game-tying free throws in the final 30 seconds. Sweeping incompetence will eventually even out over time.
    " Link emphasis mine


    Parent
    Well, I was pulling for the Bulls (none / 0) (#25)
    by brodie on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 02:13:52 PM EST
    and they had their chances, but some poor play, lousy coaching and terrible reffing doomed them.

    Someone in Chicago needs to tell their coach to put an extra body on a talented streak shooter like Pierce who almost single-handedly took his team to victory while being "guarded" by a much smaller defender.  Ferchrissakes, force him to give up the ball and, with Ray Allen on the bench, make someone else take the winning shot.

    And they need to send word to Bulls players, like the big guy Matt Miller, that this is the playoffs and so soft layup attempts, especially in crunch time, are going to be met with fierce resistance.  Go in strong and slam it through, particularly if you happen to be 6 foot 11 and weigh 250.

    But yeah, that whack job across the face he received we could have called with braille.  Sure, it's the rule in the NBA to let the players decide it late, except for the clear exceptions when the guy with the ball is being criminally assaulted right before your eyes.  

    Terrible non call -- case should be sent not to the league office but to the D.A. for possible prosecution.


    Parent

    All is fair (none / 0) (#30)
    by CST on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 02:21:44 PM EST
    in love, war, and sports (which is kind of like war).

    I mean, assault happens on a regular basis in sports, look at football, boxing, hockey, etc...

    The horrible officiating was two-way my friend.

    Also - what was with Noah being the 6th man on the court TWICE in the last few minutes.

    Parent

    I foresee... (none / 0) (#19)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 02:06:08 PM EST
    ...some more time spent on the floor in the fetal position for you.  Those Baby Bulls aren't going to roll-over for the defending Champs...

    Parent
    I think (5.00 / 1) (#32)
    by CST on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 02:23:17 PM EST
    I'm just gonna have to get really drunk for the next ones.

    Parent
    Indeed there is... (none / 0) (#7)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 01:39:12 PM EST
    ...my Denver Nuggets look to close out their series with New Orleans tonight.  That's what I'll be watching...

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    The Caps and Pens series... (none / 0) (#5)
    by professorWagstaff on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 01:37:55 PM EST
    Is going to be interesting. Too bad we all have to wait over a week until the first game. Did anyone see the New Jersey and Carolina game? I tried to find it after the Caps game but I was unsuccessful in doing so. I can't believe the ending of that one! Game 7 hockey is the best, all the way.

    I heard the Celtics/Bulls game was a good one too. They shouldn't put the games on at the same time!

    oops... correction (none / 0) (#10)
    by professorWagstaff on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 01:45:42 PM EST
    It's THIS Saturday the Caps/Pens series starts.

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    Caps-Pens (none / 0) (#11)
    by jbindc on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 01:48:47 PM EST
    Start on Saturday at 1 pm.

    But more importantly is the lack of sleep Red Wings fans (myself included) will get next week, as once again we have to trek to the west coast to play stupid 10:30 pm games.

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    Yes 10:30 is late (none / 0) (#56)
    by professorWagstaff on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 03:50:41 PM EST
    to start a game especially during the week. Good luck to the Champs though!

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    Especially (none / 0) (#73)
    by jbindc on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 04:21:15 PM EST
    when these tend to be the games that always seem to go into 6 OT's.  I can't tell you how many nights I stayed awake until 2 am to watch the end of a game, and then was too jacked up to go to sleep!

    There are always many bleary-eyed people in the Detroit area the day after the Wings play a west coast game.

    Parent

    Bruins/Hurricaines (none / 0) (#17)
    by CST on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 02:02:29 PM EST
    on Friday.

    For a second I thought it was the same time as Celts/Bulls and I was gonna be PISSED, but luckily I was wrong.

    That happened during game 2 celts/ game 3 bruins.

    Parent

    Honestly, (none / 0) (#14)
    by KeysDan on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 01:57:00 PM EST
    I neither possess a collection of tinfoil hats, nor am I wearing a metal colander on my head.   However, am I the only one who wonders about the Air Force One (back-up) with fighter jet escorts story?  The explanations, to date, do not make much sense to me.  A photo-op against the Manhattan skyline, FAA secret, etc. Even the look on President Obama's face seemed odd for him (I hate to say it, but almost a smirk)  when he discussed the matter and vowed that it would not happen again--and, with a bold stroke, put the deputy chief of staff on the case. The WH military officer is not a novice, he is a former Secretary of the Army, after all.

    Yup, tinfoil (5.00 / 1) (#22)
    by gyrfalcon on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 02:10:20 PM EST
    The reporting on this is that they do something like this every year or so in order to have nifty postcard souvenirs and the like to hand out to reporters and others traveling on AF1 and also workers and government officials in other countries when the POTUS visits.

    AF1 I believe always has a fighter jet escort, even if POTUS isn't aboard, and its movements are not publicized in advance for (excessive, IMHO) fear of sabotage of some kind.  The in-air pix are also taken from the escort jets, not from the ground, just as they were for the previous PR pic at Mt. Rushmore.  I think there's an earlier version over the Grand Canyon, too.

    The White House military officer is, as you say, a former Sec of the Army, but long-time Washington reporter Tom DeFrank said the other day on Hardball that he'd been notorious even in those days for his very tin ear for PR and politics.

    To underline that last fact, it turns out this dimwit's plan was to take the jet to D.C. after NYC and take pix of it over the White House and the Capitol.

    They're treading a bit carefully with this, though, because the guy is one of the few Hispanics in the Obama administration, which has come under a lot of pressure from Hispanic groups for that.  IMHO, the guy should be sent off to retirement immediately as he clearly can't be trusted even to hold a suggestion box without screwing something up.

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    Well (none / 0) (#27)
    by jbindc on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 02:17:47 PM EST
    As I've read in several places around the blogosphere, this could have been done using Photoshop and not only saving tons of taxpayer money, but not scaring people in NY as well.

    And, can't believe he passed up a great campaign opportunity.

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    Shadow on the water tis a bit heavy (none / 0) (#35)
    by nycstray on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 02:27:19 PM EST
    imo :)

    Yup, P-shop would have been a breeze. I've had to do all kinds of crazy sh!t for jobs, this would have been a no-brainer. I saw where they tallied up the cost . . . $325,000+

    Parent

    I cracked up when I heard about the planned (none / 0) (#38)
    by nycstray on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 02:30:29 PM EST
    since scrapped DC shoot. I figured whoever came up with the idea wasn't in NY on or anytime after 9/11, but geeze, being in DC you must know about air space, security etc! Should have at least raised a red flag with the clueless, but I guess not.

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    Caldera.... (none / 0) (#47)
    by desertswine on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 03:09:56 PM EST
    was the president of UNM for a while (for about 2 1/2 yrs - 2003 to 2006. Then he got fired. (Well, resigned by mutual agreement). IIRC they bought him out of his contract.

    Parent
    Photoshop anyone? (5.00 / 2) (#34)
    by coast on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 02:26:38 PM EST
    Does anyone in the White House know that there is a wonderful piece of software out there that allows you to kind of do whatever you want to a photo.  Like maybe put the Statue of Liberty and Air Force One in a single photo.  You don't actually have to fly the plane over the Statue of Liberty to get the shot.  Wow.

    Parent
    Ha. We're sorry, but that technology (5.00 / 1) (#44)
    by Cream City on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 02:54:35 PM EST
    is not available to our superduper military.  They can fly a man to the moon, but they can't Photoshop.. . .

    Very funny comment, cracked me up.  Thanks.

    Parent

    White Houses (5.00 / 4) (#48)
    by gyrfalcon on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 03:26:34 PM EST
    (note plural) are extremely sensitive to tinfoil (ahem) accusations of cover-ups based on things like faked photos, apparently.

    Personally, I think the whole business is ludicrous from the ground up, so to speak.  Why the ** can't they give out souvenir postcards/photos of AFI on the tarmac, maybe with the current POTUS/FLOTUS waving from the top of the steps?

    The whole concept of AFI flying over Mt. Rushmore or the Statue of Liberty or whatever is so crashingly phony-baloney to begin with, they might as well photoshop it and be done with it, IMHO.

    Parent

    What's really funny (5.00 / 3) (#60)
    by Spamlet on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 03:55:19 PM EST
    is that they will probably have to use Photoshop to touch it up anyway.

    Parent
    You know, last night on the news, (2.00 / 1) (#21)
    by Anne on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 02:09:29 PM EST
    the reporter cue-ing up the video said something along the lines of "...and President Obama was pretty angry about it."

    My reaction once I saw Obama speak was, "did they put up the wrong clip?  Is that really anger?"

    He was pretty laid-back about it, I thought - there was nothing in his facial expression or his body language that would have conveyed anger.

    But maybe that's how the really cool - I'm sorry, hip - people do it...

    Parent

    And it cost a third of a million dollars (5.00 / 2) (#45)
    by Cream City on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 02:56:48 PM EST
    to terrify southern Manhattanites again.

    Yeh, per the comment above, Photoshop would have been a lot cheaper as well as a tad more sensitive in a post-9/11 world, especially on that little part of the world that is an island called Manhattan.

    Parent

    $300,000 for a photo (5.00 / 3) (#49)
    by Inspector Gadget on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 03:33:14 PM EST
    and, they aren't done.

    They were also planning a fly-over of the WH with that plane for yet another shot.

    I think the gov't NEEDS to be spending money right now...just would prefer it was spent in places where it was truly needed.


    Parent

    Also (4.00 / 3) (#52)
    by jbindc on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 03:34:36 PM EST
    not good for an administration that is supposedly "green".

    Parent
    Thanin (none / 0) (#64)
    by jbindc on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 04:01:50 PM EST
    Why on earth would you downrate that comment?

    Parent
    Crickets (5.00 / 1) (#74)
    by jbindc on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 04:22:27 PM EST
    Business as usual, I guess.

    Parent
    Just to add my 2 cents.... (5.00 / 1) (#90)
    by NJDem on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 05:45:36 PM EST
    I keep thinking, what if someone had a heart attack b/c of this stunt?  Seriously?

    And I too noted the smirk (not as bad as W's, but it was definitely smerky) and realized it was the same expression as when he was supposedly upset about the AIG bonuses--I should find the youtube.  

    It's almost like he knows he's using tough words and is (unconsciously?) trying to offset it--trying not to be too emotional--which I think is wrong, he has/d every right to show his anger.  

    I know ppl appreciate his calmness, but I'm a righteous anger kinda person myself...

    Parent

    Or as John Stewart would say (none / 0) (#23)
    by CST on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 02:11:26 PM EST
    Is "yes we can" an argument?

    Parent
    That footage was from Tuesday (none / 0) (#31)
    by nycstray on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 02:22:15 PM EST
    It was on Monday that he was pissed. They even said something on the news I watched about him having cooled off by Tuesday. Hasn't changed his tune, just not furious anymore.

    Parent
    Must have missed that one... (none / 0) (#39)
    by Anne on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 02:36:56 PM EST
    maybe I can find it somewhere, because I would really like to know what he looks like when he's angry.

    Parent
    I don't think anyone caught him on camera (5.00 / 2) (#46)
    by nycstray on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 03:04:09 PM EST
    when he was angry. I'm hoping someone did catch Rahm though, apparently that "conversation" with LC was a tad lively, lol!~

    Parent
    Check out video (none / 0) (#58)
    by Spamlet on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 03:54:12 PM EST
    I would really like to know what he looks like when he's angry.

    from his victory rally after the South Carolina presidential primary.

    Parent

    SC hears Voting Rights case (none / 0) (#24)
    by jbindc on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 02:12:10 PM EST
    Link

    The thing that kills me about this article is, if you look at the photo, it says:

    When the Canyon Creek utility board tried to change a voting location from Jack and Beverly Stueber's Austin, Texas, home to a local school, they ran into federal hurdles.

    The town votes in their house??

    No unheard of (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by andgarden on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 02:18:22 PM EST
    I'm more concerned about the reports I've heard on the arguments.

    Parent
    American people were betrayed (none / 0) (#40)
    by joze46 on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 02:40:38 PM EST
    As I listened to Obama about the one hundred day mile stone a comment jumped out at me, among others was "The American people were betrayed by business".

    Very interesting, however for me, Obama is on target, though what business did he consider as the one that betrayed Americans? AIG? Insurance stuff?  GM? The auto?  Or the business of education? Perhaps the legal business? I know the media business, No; I know the business of politics, yep!

    As once commented before, many in the Republican Party said the Country should be run like a business. Now Chinese say American very hǎowán. (Funny), you American people always thought Wall Mart was American but it is "Chinee".

    So, here we are bailing out big business especially one that is too big to fail but does not want to have the electorate have any say in the operations or who operates these business even though we are kind enough to offer billions to do good and don't know if or when we will ever that money back.

    Sheesh, one thing is for sure if I went a bank and said give me a billion dollars and don't ask any questions they would likely haul me off in hand cuffs. Yikes chuckle, chuckle. A lot of political people are stupid.  

    There's a tremendous amount of idiots who look so good. It's frightening. In a world of pollution, profanity, adolescence, zits, broccoli, racism, ozone depletion, sexism, stupid guys, and PMS, why the hell do people still tell me to have a nice day?  

    So the Ronald Reagan said "Big Government is the Problem" heck we the people are the government, so the logic holds we the people are the problem? I don't think so. Or Obama says business has betrayed us. But, we the people are those that work in big business.

    So, we are betraying our selves? No I don't think so, or heck we are giving ourselves money because we screwed up, and now want to help our self but we tell our selves we can not and stay the heck out. Sounds crazier than Screwy Louie's Sports Shop doesn't it. LOL.        

    Actually, this notion with the saying America creates business that is too big to fail is also interesting yet can happen with positive effects in capitalism with the possibilities of an extraordinary bull market. Seriously though the one percenters are have a difficult time parting with their money.

    Everyone realizes that when big business merges all those involved need to be pensioned out not layed off. Health care for everyone is way over due period. America the world already has a pandemic its called paranoia.

    Again to reflect on business, those that want to merge, even if it is a big merger or especially if it is a big merger, people need to be pensioned out rather than laying of the work force. It is a very needed page to be written in our history.

    The American people are very generous people and will forgive almost any weakness, with the possible exception of stupidity.
    - Will Rogers (1879-1935)

    That algorithm used in mergers will help poverty disappear, and that is not stupid.    


    The House (none / 0) (#61)
    by CST on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 03:55:54 PM EST
    Passed a $3.44 trillion dollar budget - including "major increases for energy, education and health care programs"

    and we are on to the senate.

    New Hampshire Senate (none / 0) (#78)
    by CST on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 04:38:20 PM EST
    Approves same-sex marriage.

    Onto the House.

    House (none / 0) (#81)
    by jbindc on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 04:45:24 PM EST
    passes $3.4 trillion budget and they are supposedly voting on it this afternoon in the Senate.

    With zero Republican votes. (none / 0) (#82)
    by desertswine on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 04:46:32 PM EST
    And without (none / 0) (#84)
    by jbindc on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 04:48:02 PM EST
    17 Dems

    Parent
    they only need (none / 0) (#85)
    by CST on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 04:50:48 PM EST
    a majority in the senate

    Parent
    Can't wait to see (none / 0) (#87)
    by jbindc on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 05:18:26 PM EST
    What parliamentary procedures the minority uses to block legislation if the Dems only require 50 on this.

    Parent
    who knows (none / 0) (#89)
    by CST on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 05:23:33 PM EST
    I don't think they can do much.  But they sure will try.

    From CNN:

    "Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyoming, speaking for most of his GOP Senate colleagues, warned earlier in the budget debate that if a health care "reconciliation winds up in the budget bill, it'll be like a declaration of war.""


    Parent

    Sen. Mike Enzi?? (none / 0) (#98)
    by gyrfalcon on Thu Apr 30, 2009 at 12:47:24 AM EST
    Who the h**l is that?  Amazing how these people you never heard of before come out of the woodwork on this sfuff.  Sheesh.

    Parent
    FOX (none / 0) (#94)
    by CoralGables on Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 07:39:02 PM EST
    In a statement, Fox said an on-screen graphic would alert viewers to coverage of the press conference on Fox News Channel and the Fox Business Network. The drama "Lie to Me" will air at 8 p.m.

    Not sure if they changed their minds but the FOX affiliate in South Florida is showing the press conference.

    Guess it doesn't really matter (none / 0) (#99)
    by jbindc on Thu Apr 30, 2009 at 08:58:35 AM EST
    Presidential press conference vs. "Lie to Me". Franky can't tell the difference.....

    Parent
    uhhhh... (none / 0) (#100)
    by daring grace on Thu Apr 30, 2009 at 04:04:09 PM EST
    Who's Franky?

    Parent