home

Monday Morning Open Thread

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Blog Related
Posted on Mon Oct 04, 2010 at 10:45:29 AM EST
Tags: (all tags)
Share This: Digg! StumbleUpon del.icio.us reddit reddit

I don't want to talk about it.

Open Thread.

< Denver Post Taking Marijuana Ads | Foreclosure >

  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


    • Display: Sort:
    Monday Morning Open Thread | 37 comments (37 topical)

    Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

    I imagine Urban... (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Mon Oct 04, 2010 at 11:44:46 AM EST
    ...won't be inviting you back to do any more game planning for awhile.

    Wester medicine crawls toward progress (5.00 / 1) (#22)
    by Dadler on Mon Oct 04, 2010 at 12:43:23 PM EST
    This alternet piece is interesting to me because, as a firm and passionate advocate of psychosomatic medicine, it shows the first hints of the medical establishment possibly acknowledging what many have known and successfully practiced for years. Still, it is odd, and a bit disheartening, to see the author of this landmark study, not yet able to make the full connection of his own work's import: that is, even he cannot fully accept or realize that the brain will produce physical symptoms for purely psychological reasons, to keep noxious subconscious emotions from surfacing.

    But we're on the way, I would like to think.

    WESTERN medicine...sheesh. (none / 0) (#23)
    by Dadler on Mon Oct 04, 2010 at 12:43:42 PM EST


    Parent
    I have a funny story for Captain Howdy (5.00 / 1) (#36)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Oct 04, 2010 at 07:22:11 PM EST
    Yesterday I needed to fix one of the running lines for my dogs.  I have two really long lines that run from the house to the lake and it helps me cheat a little bit on leash training and exercising.  But one of my snaps had broken and needed replacing.  I sent my husband to the store for a new snap and went outside to get the old broken one off the line.

    A black widow  was in a tree nearby just a little bit over my head, and I didnt want a black widow around my dogs either.  So after I undid the bolts and got the old snap off I walked a little ways toward the lake to find a stick to knock her down with.  Our yard is covered in oaks and the acorns are all falling like in that stupid  creepy movie 'Antichrist'.  All the falling acorns and then the black widow was 'Antichrist' creeping me out.

    I found a stick and knocked her down.  I went to step on her then and I remember thinking to myself to step squarely on her and don't have the damned thing crawling up your leg.  So I bent over and focused really hard, while still feeling creepy.  The exact same moment that my foot hit the ground a damned acorn fell out of the tree overhead and into the back of my cropped pants and it was about the same size as this spider I was hyperfocused in.  I straightened up really quick and gee, then it was lodged in between my butt cheeks.  I am really freaking out now, jumping around and digging around in my backside.

    And while I had gone to look for a stick my husband had returned home and was sitting in the car in the driveway staring at me, doing that love struck staring thing you do when the one you love doesn't know you are there.  How embarassing!  And try telling him why you are so weird.....it's a good thing he finds weirdness charming.

    MT, that is hilarious! (none / 0) (#37)
    by shoephone on Mon Oct 04, 2010 at 08:33:29 PM EST
    I just about fell out of my chair with that story. Really good visuals, BTW. ;-)

    Parent
    Rammer Jammer Yellowhammer!!! ;-) (none / 0) (#1)
    by BTAL on Mon Oct 04, 2010 at 10:52:36 AM EST


    Sorry, BTD...that hurts. (none / 0) (#2)
    by Anne on Mon Oct 04, 2010 at 11:03:16 AM EST
    Thought I might be feeling the same way until the Ravens picked the Steelers apart in the last minute of the game yesterday, and then sealed the deal with a Ray Lewis interception of a really bad Charlie Batch pass...
    Bama is your #1 team -- (none / 0) (#6)
    by brodie on Mon Oct 04, 2010 at 11:34:38 AM EST
     for now.

    The Canards from Oregon put on a mighty offensive display in the 2d half against a very good Stanford Cardinalé team which was (and still should be) a legit Top Ten team.

    Boisé State of course has the disadvantage of their fairly weak conference and the fact that their first big win of the year against a highly rated team, Va Tech, on the road, doesn't look quite as impressive after VT lost another game.  I think the Broncos have only the pretty good NV team to play as major competition the rest of the way, though they do have to travel -- to Moscow -- for one of their other games.

    Ohio State -- just played their first road game of the year this weekend, which is quite a ridiculously favorable schedule.  And they barely beat the very beatable Illini.

    My Top 5:  1) Bama.  2) Boisé State.  3) Canards.  4) TCU.  5) Buckeyes.  

    Parent

    changing the subject... (none / 0) (#3)
    by jeffinalabama on Mon Oct 04, 2010 at 11:04:43 AM EST
    Some folks here want to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by handing out chips and dip. That's it.

    I am speechless.

    And enraged.

    To clarify, here where I work... (none / 0) (#8)
    by jeffinalabama on Mon Oct 04, 2010 at 11:37:34 AM EST
    not here at TL.

    Parent
    Wondered about that! (none / 0) (#9)
    by oculus on Mon Oct 04, 2010 at 11:40:22 AM EST


    Parent
    After re-re-re reading (none / 0) (#10)
    by jeffinalabama on Mon Oct 04, 2010 at 11:42:31 AM EST
    my post, I thought, "Geez, what will folks think?"

    Parent
    My first reaction (none / 0) (#17)
    by sj on Mon Oct 04, 2010 at 12:23:44 PM EST
    Add a margarita to the mix and I'll overlook it.  

    Glib, I know, but I'm not sure what else to think.

    Parent

    I'm at an institution (none / 0) (#32)
    by jeffinalabama on Mon Oct 04, 2010 at 03:37:18 PM EST
    of 'higher education,' and chips and salsa doesn't seem the most effective way of demonstrating Hispanic culture, or Hispanic heritage month.

    The Texas state snack. no history, no Bolivar, no examination of the presidios, el camino real, Spanish Mobile, Spanish New Orleans, San Francisco, Monerey, San Jose, Santa Barbara...

    No discussion of the Mexica, the Maya, the Inca, or the conquistadores.

    Texas' state snack. No history, no context.

    Nothing but chips and salsa. Oh, maybe some rancheros on the radio.

    The lack of history amazes me. De Soto walked this area. Yet Latinos and their culture, more than 10 percent of the population here, are 'chips and salsa.' Might as well put a leaf blower, a chicken, and a shovel on the table, along with the chips and salsa. Park a low rider here, too.

    Geez. More than 10 percent of the population here. More than 40 percent of the school-age population.

    My reply isn't as much to your glib answer as to the wilful ignorance I keep encountering.  Head meet desk.

    Parent

    Thanks for explaining (none / 0) (#35)
    by sj on Mon Oct 04, 2010 at 04:39:53 PM EST
    Now I'm even more sorry for my glib response.  This is my own heritage I was joking about here.  Thank you for caring.

    Parent
    Me neither. Though different sport. (none / 0) (#4)
    by oculus on Mon Oct 04, 2010 at 11:20:30 AM EST


    You're not used to... (none / 0) (#12)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Mon Oct 04, 2010 at 11:46:25 AM EST
    ...it by now?  

    Parent
    I am, actually. (none / 0) (#14)
    by oculus on Mon Oct 04, 2010 at 11:51:00 AM EST


    Parent
    I was pulling hard (none / 0) (#27)
    by CoralGables on Mon Oct 04, 2010 at 02:26:11 PM EST
    for the Braves AND the Pads yesterday so we'd have baseball both today and tomorrow. Instead I end up with diddly-squat making today and tomorrow the worst two days of the year since July 12 and July 14.

    Parent
    Ha. Not long to wait--Oct. 6-7. (none / 0) (#28)
    by oculus on Mon Oct 04, 2010 at 02:38:07 PM EST
    Meanwhile, Marlins were topic of discussion on NPR last week.  

    Parent
    The Giants didn't suck. (none / 0) (#5)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Oct 04, 2010 at 11:22:44 AM EST


    The Packers started to suck (none / 0) (#18)
    by Cream City on Mon Oct 04, 2010 at 12:25:03 PM EST
    and barely won, but started to suck so much that even the hometown media don't think that the Packers deserved the win.

    This is not the year for the Green and Gold.  Again.

    Parent

    Boo hiss (none / 0) (#21)
    by jbindc on Mon Oct 04, 2010 at 12:41:19 PM EST
    Was watching the Steers lose as I was listening to the Lions let another one slip away to the dreaded Packers.  A bad day all around.

    Parent
    I imagine a lot of Texas fans (none / 0) (#7)
    by standingup on Mon Oct 04, 2010 at 11:37:22 AM EST
    aren't too happy either.
    For the first time since October 2000, the Texas Longhorns are unranked in the college football rankings. Voters in both the AP and USA Today polls dropped the Longhorns from the Top 25 following their loss to the Sooners in the Red River Rivalry. (SB Nation)
    Good news, that. (none / 0) (#13)
    by brodie on Mon Oct 04, 2010 at 11:49:40 AM EST
    Not a big fan of anything from TX these days (political reasons, of course).  The Horns' ugly, embarrassing crushing by a formerly soft squad of Bruins from UCLA last week, on the TX turf no less, should have been a signal that this was not a very good UT team this year.

    But, at least the Lone Star State still has TCU to root for.

    Parent

    I have to admit (none / 0) (#30)
    by standingup on Mon Oct 04, 2010 at 03:16:23 PM EST
    I am taking a little pleasure in seeing the Longhorns struggling this year. As a fan of another Big 12 conference team, we have had our fill of the Texas demands on the rest of the conference. And like you, the political climate in Texas only adds to the unattractiveness of the state.

    Parent
    Burn baby burn (none / 0) (#15)
    by waldenpond on Mon Oct 04, 2010 at 11:52:34 AM EST
    MY thinks that the TN fire dept letting a house burn down because the owner didn't pay the $75 annual fee is a matter of PRICING POLICY.  ha!ha!ha!  I am actually laughing out loud.

    Dazed and confused (or just really, really stupid)

    Even more than stupid, (none / 0) (#19)
    by Zorba on Mon Oct 04, 2010 at 12:33:20 PM EST
    It's a moral failure.  Ugh.  What have we come to?  (On the other hand, I could totally see a truly private, for-profit company saying to the owner, "Sure, we'll put it out, for $10,000.  Here, sign this paper.")

    Parent
    And, the raging house fire (5.00 / 0) (#26)
    by KeysDan on Mon Oct 04, 2010 at 02:08:38 PM EST
    caused the neighboring house to catch fire (whose owner did pay the subscription fee).  Seems like fire protection and fire fighting are a communal undertaking--including the county contracting with the city.  Moreover, fire insurance rates will affect everyone.

    Parent
    Different govt entities are involved (none / 0) (#24)
    by BTAL on Mon Oct 04, 2010 at 01:20:21 PM EST
    The house was not within the city limit therefore paid no city property taxes to support the costs of the fire dept.

    The owner knew the rules and the risks.

    Parent

    Oy: (none / 0) (#25)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Oct 04, 2010 at 01:47:31 PM EST
    "I thought they'd come out and put it out, even if you hadn't paid your $75, but I was wrong," said Gene Cranick.


    Parent
    Read and weep--or yell. Amazing. (none / 0) (#16)
    by oculus on Mon Oct 04, 2010 at 12:20:10 PM EST
    LAT re out-of-state withdrawal of welfare funds

    Residency requirement (none / 0) (#20)
    by waldenpond on Mon Oct 04, 2010 at 12:37:39 PM EST
    Some of that spending could be because someone has paid for a person to go on vacation and they are buying basic necessities while gone but the system is easily abused.

    Border cities are susceptible to the residency requirement for general relief program.  I'm familiar with a city that has paid Oregonian college students gr for years.  They car pool down once a month, stay in the parking lot for 3 days and get a check and head out.  Frustrating.

    Parent

    Can I laugh? (none / 0) (#29)
    by ruffian on Mon Oct 04, 2010 at 02:57:27 PM EST
    Californians spending welfare money in Orlando at Walt Disney World! Do they know there's one in Anaheim?

    Parent
    Re: Diaz, Allred & Whitman (none / 0) (#31)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Oct 04, 2010 at 03:22:31 PM EST
    It looks like Allred's play may benefit Diaz:
    In the case of Diaz-Santillan there are two visa classifications entitled "T visa" or trafficking visa and "U visa" or victim of crime visa in play.

    The 'T visa' is "awarded" to those who claim they have been taken advantage of in this country; abused by an employer, compelled to enter into indentured servitude, have not been properly paid or not paid at all, and those who have been brought to this country to engage in prostitution and other unlawful activities.

    "By making the allegations that Ms. Diaz-Santillan is making, it allows her to apply for a `T visa' with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

    If granted, she will be given employment authorization and `T visa' status for four years.

    At the end of three years she can apply for her green card.

    Once that is obtained, Diaz-Santillan would be on the path to citizenship," says Sakelarides.
    Thank you for providing that information. (none / 0) (#33)
    by Anne on Mon Oct 04, 2010 at 03:54:26 PM EST
    I guess there is some value in consulting an immigration lawyer after all...  :-)

    I have a feeling that the combination of the W-2s, which probably reflect the same wages in each of the last nine years (I'm assuming, based on the fact that the 2003 letter from SSA reflected that for 2002, the third year Diaz was working for Whitman), together with statements that will support that Diaz worked far more than the 15 hours a week she was being paid for, will support an argument for the "T"-class visa.

    So, you were right that there was nothing Whitman could have done for Nicky, because Whitman, as the employer, wasn't going to admit to taking advantage of Diaz by requiring that she work more hours than she was being paid for.

    Parent

    Exactly, Whitman is not going to hire a lawyer (none / 0) (#34)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Oct 04, 2010 at 04:12:32 PM EST
    for Nicky so that that lawyer and Nicky can file a claim against Whitman.

    The article went on to say the standard of proof of employer abuse is pretty low, so it seemed pretty assured that Nicky would get her T visa.

    It will be interesting to follow this.

    Parent

    Monday Morning Open Thread | 37 comments (37 topical)

    Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment