Thursday Late Afternoon Open Thread

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Blog Related
Posted on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 03:52:53 PM EST
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If you could go to the U.S. Open tennis tournament in Flushing Meadow, NYC or go watch the Woodward Stakes, featuring super filly Rachel Alexandra, at Saratoga in upstate New York this weekend, which would you choose?

Here was Rachel Alexandra destroying Belmont and Travers winner Summer Bird in the Haskell:

This is an Open Thread.

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Thursday Late Afternoon Open Thread | 57 comments (57 topical)

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The filly (5.00 / 2) (#1)
by nycstray on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 04:02:50 PM EST

it's a 2fer. Upstate and horses :)

: I concur.... (none / 0) (#52)
by kdog on Fri Sep 04, 2009 at 08:44:22 AM EST

Saratoga is a special place...what a beautiful track, when I've walked through the gate it felt walking back in time to the 1890's...its got such an old school feel.
And the access! One trip I was able to get right on the rail on the last turn, close enough for the horses to get a contact high...so cool.
If Rachel wins again, I hope racing finds a way to match her up with the other super-filly Zenyatta...that would be epic!

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darn (5.00 / 1) (#22)
by Capt Howdy on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 04:42:57 PM EST

looks like I have weekend plans after all

OMG too funny (none / 0) (#24)
by Militarytracy on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 04:46:11 PM EST

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: My life resembles that invitation (5.00 / 1) (#42)
by jeffinalabama on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 06:35:59 PM EST

sigh...
So it's Auburn football for me! War Eagle!
Playing La Tech, with Vince Dooley's son coaching. It could be a game... time to look at Auburn under Chizic.
Florida should romp this year. Good for you BTD. In the championship game if it's against Bama,
DESTROY THEM.

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HA! (5.00 / 1) (#25)
by ChiTownDenny on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 04:47:16 PM EST

I just turned on Glen Beck to see who's adverising on his show. I had to suffer with watching this idiot state... Obama's a socialist, he's a Nazi, he's responsible for 9/11!....
Advetisers:
Wall St. Journal
Seoul, South Korea
Video Professor (learn how to use eBay)
one company I never heard of.
Ha! Now back to the news....

thank god for YouTube (5.00 / 2) (#26)
by Capt Howdy on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 04:59:39 PM EST

because we wont have to actually watch the show to be able to see the one when the guys with the white coats come to pitch a net over Glenn.

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: Ratings up (none / 0) (#31)
by waldenpond on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 05:24:48 PM EST

His ratings are up as is Fox as a whole. Fox can afford to have Beck as a loss leader.

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A really good (5.00 / 2) (#41)
by Steve M on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 06:15:36 PM EST

pro-gay marriage ad from Ireland.

: quite wonderful! Thanks. n/t (none / 0) (#45)
by oldpro on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 07:33:44 PM EST

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: Now you've gone and made me cry! (none / 0) (#50)
by FoxholeAtheist on Fri Sep 04, 2009 at 12:18:44 AM EST

In a good way, SteveM, in a good way. Thanks.

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Woodward for me. (none / 0) (#2)
by Tony on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 04:03:23 PM EST

I am bummed that it is happening on the first weekend of college football and won't get the attention it deserves, but I am really looking forward to Rachel Alexandra running again. If she beats the older males, maybe we will finally get the matchup against Zenyatta that everyone wants to see. Amazing animal.

Have you seen this video (none / 0) (#7)
by nycstray on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 04:07:53 PM EST

of Zenyatta working?

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: So cool! (none / 0) (#21)
by Tony on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 04:42:47 PM EST

Man, what I would give to see those two meet up! Seems like a once-in-a-generation opportunity, I hope there is a way they can make it happen.

Parent

third choice? (none / 0) (#3)
by Capt Howdy on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 04:04:13 PM EST

if not, horses. definitely.

tennis (none / 0) (#4)
by The Last Whimzy on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 04:06:29 PM EST

that's just me.

: Tennis for me too (none / 0) (#51)
by cpa1 on Fri Sep 04, 2009 at 12:23:01 AM EST

I have two US Open fantacies. One is where Roddick beats Federer in the Final.
The other involves Venus and Serena playing in the final and everyone getting up, ripping up their tickets and leaving while at the same time thanking them for thinking it wasn't that important to boycott the Dubai tournament that locked out the Israeli athletes.
When Andy Roddick heard about what those bastards in Dubai did to the Israelis, he cancelled his appearance.
Maybe some country will lock out black athletes some day and we'll see what the Williams girls say then. We can only hope.

Parent

Difficult decision since I like both (none / 0) (#5)
by MO Blue on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 04:06:54 PM EST

but the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament would be my choice.

Both venues have super fillys (none / 0) (#6)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 04:07:25 PM EST

the ones in Flushing Meadow get my vote.

Easy, US open (none / 0) (#8)
by andgarden on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 04:11:49 PM EST

My late aunt went every year, but I've never been.

I put this in last nights open (none / 0) (#9)
by Capt Howdy on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 04:15:41 PM EST

but I am reputting it. I have not been so jazzed about a movie in a long time.

Surveillance

I really suggest putting this on your netflix list.
just out on DVD, directed by Jennifer Chambers Lynch (Davids daughter)it is great. cant talk much about it without spoilers but it is nothing you expect. looking at Rotten Tomatoes I found it interesting that most of the positive reviews were from women and most of the negative ones were from men. not sure what that means but I found it interesting since its a female director.

did you like Let the Right One In?

SITGES -- Jennifer Lynch's thriller "Surveillance" nabbed the main nod at the 41st Sitges Intl. Film Festival of Catalonia, Europe's biggest fantasy film fest, which wrapped Sunday (Oct. 12).
Lynch's pic, which received a warm welcome at Sitges, beat out local crix favourite, Tomas Alfredson's contempo vampire fable, "Let the Right One In," which received a rapturous reception at the Catalan resort.

it also got best Actress (for the little girl I think) and best director from the NYC Horror Film Festival.

Done - right behind Delgo! (none / 0) (#11)
by ruffian on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 04:22:54 PM EST

Now I have to watch the movies I have out already.

Looks good - and Julia Ormond is on my 'I'll watch anything she's in' list.

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she is dazzleing (none / 0) (#15)
by Capt Howdy on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 04:25:14 PM EST

in this. but like the poster says. its twisted and disturbing.

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Well, so am I (5.00 / 1) (#18)
by ruffian on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 04:27:06 PM EST

Twisted and disturbing, that is. OK, occasionally dazzling.

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: some of the netflix comments (5.00 / 0) (#20)
by Capt Howdy on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 04:29:34 PM EST

are pretty funny:

"I wouldn't even rate this movie 1 star if I could. It was disgusting. I think movies like this should be banned and feel pity for the director,writer, producer, that they can not come up with anything better. Anyone could make trash like this. It's no wonder that we have problems in our world today with such as this embellishing our thought process."

personally, this is the kind of comment that makes me want to see a film.
particularly if they talk about "banning" it.

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Football (none / 0) (#10)
by TeresaInSnow2 on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 04:20:00 PM EST

not even a choice?

The other two choices -- BLEH!!!

: provincial brutishness (none / 0) (#12)
by The Last Whimzy on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 04:23:33 PM EST

bleh

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neither! (none / 0) (#13)
by CST on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 04:24:31 PM EST

it's the last beach weekend of the year.

Fun in the sun and on the water is where it's at.

Aren't the Gators playing? (none / 0) (#14)
by ruffian on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 04:24:48 PM EST

I pick the tennis. I've only been to one live tournie, and it was a lot more fun than I expected, since I'm not a huge fan. I'd love to go to a major tournament like that.

73 point favorites (none / 0) (#17)
by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 04:26:27 PM EST

I kid you not.

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: Wow. (none / 0) (#19)
by ruffian on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 04:27:55 PM EST

Yeah, the tennis should be more entertaining.

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tough (none / 0) (#16)
by progrocks on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 04:26:19 PM EST

the track is much prettier than flushing, but the food in flushing for after tennis is better than what you get up there. best chinese in the country?

Woodward Stakes (none / 0) (#23)
by Militarytracy on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 04:43:03 PM EST

The series Jockeys is starting Season 2 now and I have a brand new no longer freaking out DVR. For some reason I got hooked last season. I like that they hang together, mentor the young while the young try to kill them on the track, and they compete hard yet wish good things for each other.

Jocks never get their due... (none / 0) (#55)
by kdog on Fri Sep 04, 2009 at 09:48:28 AM EST

as some of the most impressive athletes on the sports scene...its no joke steering a thoroughbred at 40 mph, not to mention doing it while starving yourself, sitting in the hot box for hours on end, and/or hurling right before the weigh in...6 days a week.

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Sounds like... (5.00 / 1) (#56)
by MileHi Hawkeye on Fri Sep 04, 2009 at 10:19:25 AM EST

...every wrestler I've ever known. Except they ride each other rather than horses.

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: They play the weight game... (none / 0) (#57)
by kdog on Fri Sep 04, 2009 at 10:36:23 AM EST

the same way...don't see them breaking nearly every bone in their bodies on spills though...edge jockeys:)

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For BTD: Here is the first article in the WSJ (none / 0) (#27)
by steviez314 on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 05:07:10 PM EST

that I can agree with:

The Wall Street Journal speaks the truth!

Don;t tell the Jeter Haters at (none / 0) (#28)
by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 05:11:15 PM EST

L,G & M.

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Forget it (none / 0) (#29)
by Steve M on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 05:14:17 PM EST

not even the most valuable player on his own team. intangibles are nice but tangibles are better!

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I think he is more valuable than Texeira (none / 0) (#30)
by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 05:15:33 PM EST

So I disagree with you on that.

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You may be right (none / 0) (#33)
by Steve M on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 05:28:27 PM EST

but the Yankees with Teixeira (how come no one has trouble pronouncing that, by the way) are looking a heck of a lot better than the Yankees looked last year sans Teixeira. Something must account for it.

If we're going to focus on intangibles and leadership and that, why don't we make Nick Swisher the MVP as I hear he is a hilarious guy to have around the clubhouse. Really, it's not so much that Jeter is disliked outside of NYC as that he is put way up on a pedestal in Yankee country.

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Well (none / 0) (#35)
by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 05:32:08 PM EST

to me it is silly to compare the offensive stats of a shortstop, even an average defensive shortstop, with a first baseman, even a superior defensive first baseman.

Of course this is not a rotisserie or strato game, so you can't put just anyone at any position, but Jeter's .333 BA, .400 OBP, .500 slugging from the shortstop position is superior to Texeira's .285 BA, .390 OBP and .560 slugging from the first base position.

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Rachel Alexandra would have been an (none / 0) (#36)
by steviez314 on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 05:32:32 PM EST

improvement at first base over Jason Giambi.

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: Well (none / 0) (#40)
by Steve M on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 05:44:58 PM EST

You can't teach speed, as they say.

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Didya see this one? (none / 0) (#34)
by nycstray on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 05:31:57 PM EST

link

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I think CC has a good argument myself (none / 0) (#37)
by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 05:33:08 PM EST

especially given the ballpark.

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Once they started calling giving up 3 runs in 6 (none / 0) (#38)
by steviez314 on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 05:40:54 PM EST

innings a "quality start", my view of pitchers went way down.

Jeter plays every day, hurt or not, hustles all the time and plays unselfishly. I wouldn't be surprised if he adds 10 points to everyone else's BA.

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He does (none / 0) (#39)
by nycstray on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 05:43:04 PM EST

I didn't realize how good Mo's stats were this year. CC's on my Fantasy team, so I'm more up on his ;)

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: End the DH, (none / 0) (#43)
by jeffinalabama on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 06:38:51 PM EST

watch pitching improve in the AL. It will be a better game.

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Where Healthcare... (none / 0) (#32)
by desertswine on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 05:25:15 PM EST

industry money goes.

Top 20 Recipients
Rank Candidate Office Amount
1 Reid, Harry (D-NV) Senate $402,800
2 Crist, Charles J Jr (R-FL) $350,784
3 Lincoln, Blanche (D-AR) Senate $330,850
4 Schumer, Charles E (D-NY) Senate $294,450
5 Specter, Arlen (D-PA) Senate $275,610
6 Wyden, Ron (D-OR) Senate $256,350
7 Meek, Kendrick B (D-FL) House $209,750
8 Pallone, Frank Jr (D-NJ) House $193,150
9 Grassley, Chuck (R-IA) Senate $186,600
10 Hoyer, Steny H (D-MD) House $183,910
11 Murray, Patty (D-WA) Senate $182,700
12 Burr, Richard (R-NC) Senate $166,150
13 Dodd, Chris (D-CT) Senate $163,470
14 Pelosi, Nancy (D-CA) House $151,400
15 Hatch, Orrin G (R-UT) Senate $147,402
16 Price, Tom (R-GA) House $137,850
17 Blunt, Roy (R-MO) House $137,100
18 Pomeroy, Earl (D-ND) House $127,585
19 Portman, Rob (R-OH) $126,700
20 Stabenow, Debbie (D-MI) Senate $126,240
METHODOLOGY: The numbers on this page are based on contributions from PACs and individuals giving $200 or more. All donations took place during the 2009-2010 election cycle and were released by the Federal Election Commission.
Feel free to distribute or cite this material, but please credit the Center for Responsive Politics

Krugman's long piece for the Sunday mag (none / 0) (#44)
by andgarden on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 06:57:06 PM EST

here.

A good overview of the politics of academic economics.

The Open. I'll be glued to my (none / 0) (#46)
by oldpro on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 07:35:18 PM EST

TV as I always am, watching the best do what they do.

Help me understand. (none / 0) (#47)
by caseyOR on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 08:11:52 PM EST

I just saw a piece on ABC Nightly News about the outrage among the rightwing because Obama is going to speak to American school children on Tuesday. People claim Obama is violating the executive branch, the constitution and the bill of rights by giving this speech. School districts in some states have said they will not allow their students to watch this speech.

What is the problem? The POTUS gives a talk to all kids at the beginning of the school year urging them to study hard, plan their academic futures and stay in school. Why is this a bad thing? GHW Bush gave a speech to kids; Reagan did the same. Why is this different?

People were actually insisting that Obama will use this talk to recruit our innocent schoolkids to his very own version of Hitler youth. Who are these people and why is anyone giving them airtime?

I despair for our country.

It's pretty simple, really. (5.00 / 1) (#53)
by MileHi Hawkeye on Fri Sep 04, 2009 at 09:38:13 AM EST

The disaffected like to b@tch and moan. For those on the Right that means painting the POTUS as a commie/socialist/nazi/non-American. On the Left, it is portraying him as an "empty suit" or a failure worse than Hoover because he hasn't given them the exact policy that they want on a particular issue.

Granted, one side is more results orientated, while the other is based more in racism. But still, both sides come at it from the same place--because they didn't get what they want.

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I'm in the same boat as you (none / 0) (#48)
by nycstray on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 08:52:04 PM EST

He's now going to release the text of his speech on Mon so everyone can see it.

WTF?!

The Newark Mayor was in schools today urging kids to write down goals, and check on those goals etc. Oh, yeah, I live in bleeding heart liberal territory . . . can't wait to see what my Mayor is going to do . . .

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It's annoying (5.00 / 1) (#49)
by Steve M on Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 09:58:43 PM EST

There's all this completely irrational paranoia going around, and they keep catering to it as if somehow they can make it go away with soothing rationality.

Look, there are people who are simply wired to believe in stuff like crazy Glenn Beck conspiracy theories. That's the way it goes. The idea that you can win them over by releasing a ten-point checklist of ways in which the Obama Administration is actually quite dissimilar from Nazi Germany is extremely naive, to say the least.

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: "catering to it" (none / 0) (#54)
by Capt Howdy on Fri Sep 04, 2009 at 09:44:45 AM EST

THIS is the problem as far as I am concerned.
catering to it. they should treat this like the right wing nutcase bull$hit it is.
the catering makes me angrier than the actual lunacy.
we expect the lunatics to be lunatics. we do not have to coddle them. they should simply say what the president is going to do and do it. like Bush or Reagan or any other president including Clinton would have done.
this is literally sickening to me.

Parent

Thursday Late Afternoon Open Thread | 57 comments (57 topical)

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