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Tuesday Afternoon Open Thread

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Blog Related
Posted on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 06:25:59 PM EST
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It's the afternoon on the West Coast.

Open Thread.

< The New "Progressives" | Oral Arugments in Crack Cocaine Sentencing and Good Time Cases >

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    Tuesday Afternoon Open Thread | 51 comments (51 topical)

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    At the Supreme Court oral argument (5.00 / 3) (#21)
    by Peter G on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 08:20:00 PM EST
    Tuesday morning on the crack-sentence reduction case, Justice Kennedy got in the face of an Asst to the Solicitor General (with SG Kagan sitting there) about the fact that there were no Presidential sentence commutations or other clemency grants last year, none, and only five the year before (page 39 of the linked transcript).  Good for him!  And during the argument on whether the Bureau of Prisons is cheating federal prisoners in their method of calculating good conduct time credits, Justice Kennedy noted that the total difference, when you count all the years of all the sentences, is 36,000 years of illegal time served (p. 53).  And Justice Stevens noted that it might involve $100 million in wasted money (illegally spent) on keeping people locked up an extra week per year each (p. 42).

    It is. And I still don't have my (none / 0) (#1)
    by oculus on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 06:28:03 PM EST
    tax prep. done.

    But, BTD, do you have an opinion on whether Congress and Congressional staff members must be included in the exchange?

    Don't forget (none / 0) (#2)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 06:33:03 PM EST
    to fill out your IRS Sschedule M....could be worth half an iPad.

    Parent
    I have to do that one due to nontaxable (none / 0) (#6)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 06:46:17 PM EST
    combat pay.  I wonder if I'll get any goodies?

    Parent
    Huh? (none / 0) (#13)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 07:11:23 PM EST
    Schedule M is the "Making Work Pay" rebate form for a stimulus rebate. Not sure about the connection to non-taxable combat pay...

    http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=205922,00.html

    Parent

    I didn't think we could (none / 0) (#17)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 07:23:29 PM EST
    use the combat pay in calculating the credit, but I received an email about filing it and where to enter the combat pay.  I assumed it was a special form, not the same for all filing for the credit.

    Parent
    Increased pay (none / 0) (#29)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 08:58:22 PM EST
    will reduce rather than increase the credit, but only after you make, um $150,000 for a couple (off the top of my head figure).  I assume that you'all aren't making that much (but if you are, congrats!)

    Parent
    I don't even touch that figure (none / 0) (#36)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 07:44:31 AM EST
    That would be Blackwater pay grade :)

    Parent
    Jelani Cobb (none / 0) (#3)
    by andgarden on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 06:44:42 PM EST
    is teaching in Moscow for the semester, and gives a firsthand report.

    Balloon Juice spat (none / 0) (#4)
    by waldenpond on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 06:45:08 PM EST
    I have been entertained watching the spat at Balloon Juice.  Like I noted earlier... much better than TL spats.

    Dougj, in his desperate eagerness, could not resist an attempt to smear Hamsher, gave the BJers an opportunity to go after Greenwald.  They ate it up.

    Then Dougj, chagrined and oh so sad, had to eat his words.

    Glenn responds ..... and it continues.  Anyone but me notice that a few commentors over there really dislike liberals and some others are upset Glenn was just so meeeeeaaaaaannn.

    War of the Purity Trolls... (5.00 / 1) (#34)
    by mike in dc on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 10:46:23 PM EST
    ...one side questions the purity of an alleged ideological purity troll, who then responds by accusing them of being politico purity trolls.  I could swear I've seen this movie before...

    BTW, I agree Progressives need to become more politically effective in order to get more/better progressive legislation passed, but I think they should be looking to emulate (in their own way) the impressive policy lobbying infrastructure that corporate interests have built up over the years.  That would be a pragmatic way to advance progressive causes.  Getting "better Democrats" elected will only go so far, if it's not followed up with an effective lobbying effort.

    Parent

    I was watching that train wreck (none / 0) (#14)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 07:13:50 PM EST
    Hilarious.

    Parent
    He's not "Glenzilla" for nothing! (none / 0) (#16)
    by observed on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 07:16:17 PM EST
    BTD clobbers; Greenwald, slices, dices, minces and then grinds into a fine paste which he check for perfect evenness befores disposing.

    Parent
    Oh but he uses so many (none / 0) (#24)
    by ruffian on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 08:32:39 PM EST
    woooords.....

    Hilarious.

    Parent

    Heh ... (none / 0) (#19)
    by Robot Porter on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 07:44:31 PM EST
    They've really earned their "BJer" moniker on this one.

    Parent
    Obama: Tea Party activists have 'legitimate concer (none / 0) (#5)
    by Dan the Man on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 06:45:38 PM EST
    ns'.  Obama:


    I think that there's a broader circle around that core group of people who are legitimately concerned about the deficit, who are legitimately concerned that the federal government may be taking on too much.

    Since Obama's saying far kinder things to Tea Partiers than single payer activists (even though Tea Partiers are the ones who've been syaing "he's a foreign-born Socialist"), my suggestion to single payer activists is they should start joining the Tea Partiers and demand Medicare for All at the Tea Party meetings.  Maybe Obama would start listening to Medicare for All when that happens.

    Wow, then how come they weren't (none / 0) (#7)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 06:53:24 PM EST
    concerned about those things in 2008 or 2007 or 2006?  I suppose Obama wants to play nice. And denying anyone's reality even though it is a made up one to cover the real one, which is the guy running the country is black and doing stuff and he will not call himself a Republican, only escalates the "rage"...but it is total B.S.

    Parent
    Why is my Christmas cactus blooming at Easter? (none / 0) (#8)
    by Dr Molly on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 06:56:22 PM EST


    Well (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by squeaky on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 06:59:54 PM EST
    I can relate, I always found the mumbo jumbo between being born, resurrected and born again really confusing, not to mention the trinity.

    Parent
    Well, now... (none / 0) (#20)
    by christinep on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 08:16:38 PM EST
    There are those of us--even liberals like myself--who are believers. Think about it. I'm not going to preach. In fact, I just had a bit of wine, and I thought: Squeaky is ok--he has the courage, guts, or plain chutzpah to say what he thinks--but.... Hey there, no one here talked about what you consider "mumbo jumbo" etc. (let alone the trinity.) No reason, then, to add the aside as a rather derogatory put-down. Seriously, Squeaky. In recent days, you have been on the end of some unkind and even over-the-tope put-downs. I've respected you. Now--especially during this Holy Week--refrain a bit on the religious issue. Spiritual beliefs are personal. No need to try to smash believers. Okey, dokey?

    Parent
    Oh My (none / 0) (#22)
    by squeaky on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 08:24:36 PM EST
    Did not realize that this was holey week....  my apologies for any offense taken. I am a lapsed jew, and even forgot that it was Passover...

    I thought it funny as Dr Molly is a biologist or something like that, who was flumoxed by her pet plant's biological bad behavior, and I also assumed that she would not be offended, (except by my  mere temerity to respond to her) because she is a scientist, and I bet that she was not religious.

    Anyway nothing wrong with mumbo jumbo, in my book, save that it is hard to fathom... I have lots of mumbo jumbo in my life, as I am an artist and musician...  two fields built on mumbo jumbo.  

    Parent

    Thanks squeaky (none / 0) (#25)
    by christinep on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 08:35:33 PM EST
    I appreciate your comment, and consideration. This is not a put on from me; it really is very personal. Thanks again.

    Parent
    You're Quite Welcome (none / 0) (#27)
    by squeaky on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 08:44:35 PM EST
    I appreciate your comment as well.

    Parent
    Yes, this is the week for (none / 0) (#23)
    by observed on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 08:27:07 PM EST
    Newsweek to discuss whether we have actual physical bodies after the resurrection, and whether the Large Hadron Collider will find God.
    If it does, I hope it doesn't blow him up!

    Parent
    And, the shroud of Turin has met (none / 0) (#26)
    by Inspector Gadget on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 08:42:24 PM EST
    technology...we will see the 1 dimensional image become 3D for a look at the complete person. I thought it was revealed not that long ago that the shroud was many decades newer than it needed to be to be real, but who am I to know?

    Parent
    Yep, that looks like Jesus! (none / 0) (#28)
    by observed on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 08:48:43 PM EST


    Parent
    Thanks for picking this particular week (none / 0) (#42)
    by Farmboy on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 08:31:25 AM EST
    to call people's faiths "mumbo-jumbo."

    Parent
    I should read the entire thread before commenting (none / 0) (#44)
    by Farmboy on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 08:37:19 AM EST
    as i see you've already addressed this.

    Parent
    Did it experience a time of low light (none / 0) (#10)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 07:00:46 PM EST
    Was it recently in a darkened place?  They like to bloom right after such an experience.  So some people cover their cactuses at certain times to control when they bloom.

    Parent
    Yes, I've heard that too. (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by Dr Molly on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 07:03:58 PM EST
    But, no, it's been sitting on a windowsill in my office for months in the same spot. Funny. I am pretty bad with plants. But suddenly it is covered in beautiful blooms.

    Parent
    A treat for you (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 07:09:29 PM EST


    Parent
    We have one at the office, too.... (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by Inspector Gadget on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 07:15:36 PM EST
    it bloomed beautifully at Christmas and is now producing another round of buds! Poor plant. It waits for water until one of us notices that it is laying down in bone dry dirt, then we drown it and leave it in the sink for a day. That plant has bloomed for 3 straight Christmas's. None of us can figure out why it's blooming again so soon, but we're enjoying it!

    Parent
    The Christmas cactus I bought in CA blooms (none / 0) (#35)
    by oculus on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 11:11:12 PM EST
    3 or 4 times/year.  The one I nourished in Michigan barely bloomed once a year.  

    Parent
    they bloom due to a dark/light schedule (none / 0) (#37)
    by jeffinalabama on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 07:48:56 AM EST
    my mother's is blooming also.  something about sticking it in the closed for a month or so before Christmas leading to Christmas blooming, but this is springtime in the deserts, so succulents want to flower naturally.

    Parent
    Aha, springtime in the desert. (none / 0) (#39)
    by Dr Molly on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 08:11:56 AM EST
    That makes cacti sense. Thanks.

    Parent
    There is an older woman (none / 0) (#41)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 08:16:13 AM EST
    who lives down the road for me.  Her porch is covered in hanging cactus.  She covers them with pillow cases still in their hanging pots around Nov.  Around this time she uncovers them and her whole porch is blooming.

    Parent
    I"m eating a moderately (none / 0) (#18)
    by observed on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 07:31:52 PM EST
    successful cooking experiment--eggplant spinach curry.
    It taste pretty good, but its' really ugly.
    Sounds (none / 0) (#30)
    by BackFromOhio on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 09:04:48 PM EST
    delicious -- any recipe?  I promise not to look while eating.....

    Parent
    I didn't have a recipe. (none / 0) (#31)
    by observed on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 09:13:03 PM EST
    The problem is knowing which spices to use.
    I have an Indian friend who gives me tips, but the mix of spinach and eggplant had me guessing.
    Start by heating oil with spices---I put cumin, fennel, mustard seeds and hot pepper in.
    Then add onions and caramelize them. I'm always impatient on that step.
    Then I added ginger, eggplant, spinach, coriander, turmeric, green cardamoms and yogurt.
    It took about 25-30 minutes to cook.
    I think the problem was using canned tomatoes instead of tomato paste---it made the yogurt curdle.

    Parent
    Listening to Milsteins' Bach Chaconne (none / 0) (#32)
    by observed on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 09:52:33 PM EST
    on youtube. I was having a conversation with someone about Bach violin and piano music and started browsing.
    OMG.. I had forgotten Milstein. Did anyone every play Bach's violin music better?

    For violin players, I can see something (none / 0) (#33)%%norm_f