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Sunday Morning Open Thread

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Blog Related
Posted on Sun Sep 19, 2010 at 10:09:20 AM EST
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Open Thread.

< O'Donnell Runs For Cover After Witchcraft Comments | Intellectual Honesty >

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    Sunday Morning Open Thread | 44 comments (44 topical)

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    Arrr matey!!! (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by hookfan on Sun Sep 19, 2010 at 11:57:52 AM EST
    It be speak pirate day! Perhaps he be flying the jolly roger, drank so much rum he lost his bearings. . .

    Arrrrr! Scuttled by the Crown's auto-frigates! (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by Only Me from Across the Sea on Sun Sep 19, 2010 at 01:20:19 PM EST
    A humorless lot they be.  Still, 'tis better than to be dancing the hempen jig, I suppose.

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    Hoist sails captain! (5.00 / 1) (#16)
    by hookfan on Sun Sep 19, 2010 at 03:16:34 PM EST
    Full sheets to the wind--they can't outrun us!! Pull along the starboard side n give 'em a taste of the cannons. A drink to ye if ya hit the main sail, then sink em to Davey Jones locker!!!

    I guess there is a reason for (5.00 / 2) (#18)
    by MO Blue on Sun Sep 19, 2010 at 03:34:56 PM EST
    your user ID. Is that a Capt. Hook fan?

    Control yourself, you are having just too, too much fun with this speak like a pirate thing. BTW these are happy faces :-), :-). :-)

    Have some rum for me and good sailing.

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    Partly (5.00 / 3) (#21)
    by hookfan on Sun Sep 19, 2010 at 04:34:01 PM EST
    I like Cap'n Hook. . . but the name mostly comes from my enjoyment of crochet. In Russian (so I'm told) there is no full distinction between knitting and crochet. There is only needle knitting and hook knitting. . .
      In 2000 I suffered a stroke. Part of my rehabilitation in regaining my manual dexterity involved learning to crochet. So, I'm now a fan. =)

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    Took up knitting 2 years ago (5.00 / 3) (#24)
    by MO Blue on Sun Sep 19, 2010 at 05:19:42 PM EST
    to have something to keep my hands busy during long hours at the doctors for visits and chemo. Some of the meds along with the distractions made it hard to focus other things like reading.  At times I had to unravel the work that I did during chemo since I lost stitches but figured that keep me busy just as well. I became a fan and also have some really nice hand made hats, scarfs and socks for my effort.

    Hope you regained all of your dexterity and you are currently in good health. BTW, it was an interesting aside on the Russian terms for knitting and crochet.

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    Cool, a hooker! (5.00 / 2) (#45)
    by Ellie on Sun Sep 19, 2010 at 09:30:37 PM EST
    Excellent rehab!

    In my family we had a basic rule that everyone learned pretty much every skill that everyone else had. We were education driven and, having come from a remote alpine town in Yerp, it made good sense.

    I never realized, when forced to learn crochet (as a kid, from my grandmothers), how many possible applications that simple push and pull looping would have. I always carry a couple of fine hooks and small skeins of cotton.

    Best app: when I lived in Mexico in a coastal town, I used to go to the beach after morning coffee to get the catch of the day from the local fishermen. It would be around the time the crew bosses took the bigger, perfect-looking fish -- and high enough count to have as a menu special -- to the nearby hotels and resorts.

    The remaining crew stayed behind to sell the smaller and less numerous fry to the villagers and smaller inns ... and to repair the nets. Of course I was curious about the needlework, which turned out to be needle and thread based, meaning the knots would keep coming undone and have to be repaired frequently.

    Short story long: I taught a few of them how to use a fine crochet hook to make a basic pass weaving a few inches of excess beyond the knot forward into the new loops, and cut down on having to re-repair the same area.

    Made some new hookfans and I got an honorary outfit of traditional fisherman's gear out of it! (Although that might have been for scoring them an extra long beer time between work and home, with neither the crew boss or the homestead being the wiser.)

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    Maybe the geneticists could (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by Edger on Sun Sep 19, 2010 at 05:27:23 PM EST
    grow a human brain in Christine O'Donnell?

    On second thought, it would be a miracle if she used it.

    Such an angry young man :) (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Sep 19, 2010 at 05:56:09 PM EST
    She's silly, she is going to be easy money now :)

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    Roll roll roll in ze hay :) (5.00 / 1) (#27)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Sep 19, 2010 at 05:58:55 PM EST


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    as long as she has company . . . . (5.00 / 1) (#29)
    by nycstray on Sun Sep 19, 2010 at 06:07:59 PM EST


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    I just thought it would be easier (5.00 / 2) (#32)
    by Edger on Sun Sep 19, 2010 at 06:38:08 PM EST
    to grow one in her head, since mouse skulls are too small to grow a human brain in, and besides, there is already more than enough space in her head where something the size of a human brain could nestle comfortably.

    No? ;-)

    Parent

    To continue from last thread, (4.75 / 4) (#1)
    by ghost2 on Sun Sep 19, 2010 at 10:25:23 AM EST
    Here is Bob Somerby about what the left is/ is not discussing:


    Those data describe a social revolution. In the 1970s, the top one percent received eight percent of national income. By 2007, their share had tripled, to 23 percent. Herbert went on to state a concomitant point: "A male worker earning the median wage in 2007 earned less than the median wage, adjusted for inflation, of a male worker 30 years earlier."

    The rich have gotten a great deal richer. Everyone else has stood still.

    ...

    In the face of that staggering social revolution, are you aware of any politics or political messaging on the left which has tried to encompass this revolution? Have liberal entities even tried to make the public aware of this change? Have liberal entities tried to build political frameworks in which average people of the left, the center and the right can see their obvious common interest in confronting this revolution?

    Actually, no--you have not. And by the way: Average people of the left and the right are the joint victims on this vast grab of wealth at the top. Progressives will never be able to address this revolution as long as average people are split into two warring camps, with big dumb nuts like Ed Schultz and Sean Hannity encouraging the two rival tribes to despise one another.

    Hannity serves the interests of wealth and power. Whose interests does Ed Schultz serve?
    I had to deduct one point from my 5 (none / 0) (#22)
    by DFLer on Sun Sep 19, 2010 at 05:02:57 PM EST
    for you ghost, 'cause I still like big dumb Schultzy

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    Bill Clinton (none / 0) (#2)
    by samsguy18 on Sun Sep 19, 2010 at 11:25:22 AM EST
    Enjoyed watching him on Meet The Press this morning........Obama could learn a lot from our former President

    Looks like the right person won (none / 0) (#3)
    by andgarden on Sun Sep 19, 2010 at 11:36:16 AM EST
    in HI GOV.

    Fareed Zakaria on CNN (none / 0) (#8)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Sep 19, 2010 at 12:35:08 PM EST
    Just took on the issue of Cuba and the embargo and hit it out of my park, don't know about anybody else's park.  For me, this pundity journalist just keeps on coming.

    This is an opportunity that should be siezed (none / 0) (#9)
    by Politalkix on Sun Sep 19, 2010 at 12:46:39 PM EST
    If handled carefully, it has the potential to create a "Nixon opens up China" or "The Fall of the Berlin Wall" moment for the administration.
    Cuba has an educated workforce too. It will be nice if a lot of manufacturing which is done in China these days can be brought back to sites within the USA, Mexico, Cuba and other Carribean countries.

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    Agreed (none / 0) (#14)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Sep 19, 2010 at 02:56:57 PM EST


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    I'll assume his chances in November (none / 0) (#11)
    by shoephone on Sun Sep 19, 2010 at 01:22:30 PM EST
    are good?

    People talk about "Palinization" but (none / 0) (#12)
    by glanton on Sun Sep 19, 2010 at 02:20:14 PM EST

    Here is a representative moment for her.  Palin, Rand Paul, Sharron Angle, Christine O'Donnell, etc.: loonies all.

    pretty slim pickins glanton (none / 0) (#23)
    by DFLer on Sun Sep 19, 2010 at 05:07:43 PM EST


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    As I say (none / 0) (#28)
    by glanton on Sun Sep 19, 2010 at 06:03:03 PM EST
    it's representative.  "O look,a reporter!  Might ask questions! Run away!"

    This is actually a pretty scary trend.

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    because the Raiders s*ck . . . . (none / 0) (#17)
    by nycstray on Sun Sep 19, 2010 at 03:26:52 PM EST
    and didn't sell out . . .  I'm getting Jets v NE!!!  {grin} happy camper (for now)  :)

    Another rough day... (none / 0) (#33)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sun Sep 19, 2010 at 06:43:07 PM EST
    ...for the J-E-T-S and their fans it sounds like.  And Revis too--getting burned by Moss after shooting his mouth off.  Ah, karma...

    And in the altitude and heat of Denver, the Bronco's win convincingly and Timmay Tebow doesn't take a single snap--not even in garbage time.  A sign from above, no doubt.  

    If you need to pick a receiver--our real 1st round draft choice, Demaryius Thomas, is going to put up some very nice numbers.  Eight catches for 97 yards and a touchdown in his first NFL game...

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    And, they played like they REALLY wanted it (yea!) (none / 0) (#34)
    by christinep on Sun Sep 19, 2010 at 06:55:52 PM EST


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    Definately some improvement... (none / 0) (#37)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sun Sep 19, 2010 at 07:10:48 PM EST
    ...over last week, that's for sure.  Finally ran the ball well and the secondary was making plays.  

    Now, if only it would start to feel like football weather!  93 is a bit much--although there was steam coming off the pool yesterday morning when I was up, so it is coming.

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    My bad... (none / 0) (#38)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sun Sep 19, 2010 at 07:18:00 PM EST
    ...I just saw they did in fact win today.  Hope Shonn had a better week than last.  

    Somewhere CST is sad tonight...

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    They did a good job (none / 0) (#40)
    by nycstray on Sun Sep 19, 2010 at 08:13:10 PM EST
    and looked good doing it  ;) there was hope before the half when they were behind because they were playing well. After the half, they shut down the Pats. Sanchez had 3 TD tosses :) LT was having fun, and the injuries didn't stop them. Revis out in the 2nd half, but since they had the preseason without him . . . .

    Now, if I can only train my bird to say J E T S . . . .

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    We only got one game... (none / 0) (#41)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sun Sep 19, 2010 at 08:31:38 PM EST
    ...in each time slot today for some reason, so I had to watch some serious FarveFail.  The Ravens lost on an equally crappy performance out of Flacco.  A little bit of comeuppance for last week perhaps?

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    Same here I think (none / 0) (#44)
    by nycstray on Sun Sep 19, 2010 at 08:57:39 PM EST
    I was watching the early FOX game, but I think CBS didn't start broadcasting until 1PM. Then I got to see game endings until 1:15 when the Jets kicked off. Wasn't sure I was going to get the game as they went to commercial when the Jets were setting the kickoff (and all listings didn't have a football game listed!). I think it has to do with contracts etc and black out games. I was cruising around the internet to see if I could get the game on radio when I came across the 'each network can only show one game at different times' thingy. That's when I had hopes for the Jets since the Raiders were on black out. I may get lucky this year since the Raiders don't sell out. I'd have to switch to Direct TV to get the NFL package for the Jets games . . . . or I can watch online after the fact and still have to pay.

    Farve needs to participate (or at least show up!) in the preseason ;) My BIL and I were noticing last week how hard the receivers had to work to catch Flaco's throws in the first half. Be interesting to see how things shake out this season now that the teams are settling. KC 2 n' 0?!  :) Currently going for Colts over Giants . . . Got Payton and Addai on one of my teams  ;)

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    Good football day for me. (none / 0) (#48)
    by caseyOR on Sun Sep 19, 2010 at 11:20:36 PM EST
    Bears win. Colts win. Jets win, which for me means Pats lose. Favre has a terrible game, always good news to me.

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    thanks for the sympathy (none / 0) (#50)
    by CST on Mon Sep 20, 2010 at 09:15:26 AM EST
    I think... :)

    yea, that $ucked.  But that's what happens when you turn the ball over 3 times.  And the Jets def came to win.

    Oh well, I got over it pretty quick.  A good weekend will do that.  Sadder about the fact that it's monday already.

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    The only polling I saw (none / 0) (#19)
    by andgarden on Sun Sep 19, 2010 at 03:41:35 PM EST
    predicted just this result. Good for you guys.

    Whatever you guys have in the water there (none / 0) (#51)
    by andgarden on Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 08:22:42 PM EST
    I'd love back on the mainland.

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    Elitism (none / 0) (#20)
    by glanton on Sun Sep 19, 2010 at 04:05:52 PM EST
    Anti-intellectualism is a much more prominent and dangerous form of elitism than "anti-unwashed" sensibility in the United States.

    Besides the whole "unwashed" image is a highly deceitful construct  anyway:

    Unwittingly for the most part (their racism, too, has been excused as unwitting), they provide a populist smokescreen for corporate revenge. Even the lamest, tamest captive media might balk at parades of angry investment bankers in pinstriped Armani suits. Enter Joe the Plumber and Sarah the Hockey Mom.
    If you can get a ticket, go see (none / 0) (#31)
    by oculus on Sun Sep 19, 2010 at 06:36:04 PM EST
    Sophocles' "Elektra" in the outdoor amphitheatre at the Getty Villa in L.A.  Worth the effort.  But read the play first.  Olympia Dukakis is The Chorus.  Performed in a new English translation.  Elektra

    I'm trying to imagine it, oculus (none / 0) (#35)
    by christinep on Sun Sep 19, 2010 at 07:05:21 PM EST
    Especially with O. Dukakis. Husband, sister, & I heard it years ago in Santa Fe; powerful, tho strident, yet holds the attention. John Crosby loved R. Strauss, so every season had to have Strauss. I'm trying, but my natural inclination predates that. (Husband keeps trying to push me past baroque or Mozart or Verdi or other emanations from before the 20th century.) 'Love to hear your plans for the coming opera seasons.

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    Whoops! (none / 0) (#36)
    by christinep on Sun Sep 19, 2010 at 07:08:09 PM EST
    So sorry. For some reason, my mind was on opera...and, I confess, that the title hit me and set off a chain of thoughts. I've long been a devoted opera fan. I just wanted to hear your thoughts.

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    I have seen Strauss' Elektra once-pre (none / 0) (#39)
    by oculus on Sun Sep 19, 2010 at 07:48:17 PM EST
    super titles.  Maybe in Santa Fe.  Can't remember.  Very hard to follow.  I would like to hear it again w/super titles, especially now that I have read the play!

    Opera plans 2010-2011 (so far):

    Los Angeles Opera:  (1) Daniel Katan's new opera "Il Postino" w/Domingo as Neruda and 2) Britten's "Turn of the Screw" w/Patricia Racette,

    San Francisco Opera:  (1) Massenet's "Werther,  (2) Alfano's "Cyrano de Bergerac w/Domingo, and (3) Janacek's "The Macropoulus Affair."

    I also have tickets to hear Bryn Terfel sing with Los Angeles Philharmonic (Salonen) and a solo recital at Disney Hall.  And tickets for solo voice recitals by Rene Pape and Dmitri Hvorostovsky in LA at the Music Center.  

    Metropolitan Opera:  (1) Debussy's "Pelleas et Melisande" w/Sir Simon Rattle and Gerald Finlay; and (2) Verdi's "Don Carlo."

    I also have a ticket for Britten's "War Requiem" at Carnegie Hall.  Ozawa is scheduled to conduct.  Don't know if he will though due to his poor health.  I have never heard "War Requiem."


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    Thanks, oculus (none / 0) (#42)
    by christinep on Sun Sep 19, 2010 at 08:31:54 PM EST
    Sometimes its nice to interact as humans rather than just push & pull about politics.

    We were fortunate enough to hear Hvorostovsky (sp?) a few years back in concert @ Newman Hall in Denver where we live. Fantastic in voice and presence. I can still hear that voice in my head.

    Britten's War Requiem: Some time back, we attended a performance @Albert & Victoria Hall in London. Reflectively memorable.

    Bryn Terfel: I admire his story and voice. Envy you; would love to hear him.

    In the coming months in Denver: the great standby Boheme, Cinderella, and Rusalka.  I've got to double-check the Dvorak Rusalka...but, 'have never heard it live and am looking forward to it.

    Thanks again.

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    Rusalka is a wonderful opera. (none / 0) (#43)
    by oculus on Sun Sep 19, 2010 at 08:34:37 PM EST
    I heard Renee Fleming sing it here b/4 anyone really knew who she was.  

    I hope Terfel shows up.  Can't tell you how many times I have tried to hear him but he cancelled.

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    Might one infer you are also (none / 0) (#46)
    by oculus on Sun Sep 19, 2010 at 10:33:19 PM EST
    sick of reading about "The American Taliban"?

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    heh heh (none / 0) (#47)
    by christinep on Sun Sep 19, 2010 at 10:54:42 PM EST


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    Sunday Morning Open Thread | 44 comments (44 topical)

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