Monday Night Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Mon Jan 31, 2011 at 09:07:23 PM EST
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I'm sure there's big news but I'm focused on the deep freeze. And there's a new Harry's Law with Kathy Bates tonight. If you haven't seen it, check it out.

Here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

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Monday Night Open Thread | 51 comments (51 topical)

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Dadler is moving to NoCal (5.00 / 2) (#1)
by Dadler on Mon Jan 31, 2011 at 09:37:39 PM EST

Done deal. We just agreed to a lease on a house in Millbrae. Wife is working for a relatively new and socially conscious (no laughing please) bank. Good schools with band at the elementary level was the clincher. That and nothing we saw in the east bay in our price range did it for us at all (considering the longer commute my wife would have into the city). Any San Francisco tips, recommends, whatever, are more than welcome, they are encouraged. I'm a SoCal boy 44 years from birth, I'll be all outta whack. Just hoping, mostly, we get a good crop of kids in the neighborhood for Eli to make friends with. Really, that'll make everything else moot for me.

I can just add my congratulations (5.00 / 1) (#23)
by ruffian on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 09:36:17 AM EST

and recommendation to check out the Golden Gate National Recreation area and Marin Headlands (in addition to everyone else's fine recommendations of course). I had the most soul soothing walk there after a long week of work in San Jose many years ago. You can walk along the bluffs on the coast, then go down to Muir beach and see otters.

I have a continual debate with myself as to whether I will end up back in California or Colorado when I finish my stint in Florida. Today California is winning!

Parent

i hope you love it. (none / 0) (#2)
by jeffinalabama on Mon Jan 31, 2011 at 09:59:09 PM EST

I interviewed three times in nocal, and wound up in north alabama. I hope you can find a good community garden, also... please keep me informed.

I loved Ft. Ord, and wanted to stay, but time and karma said no. North of there was just better.

Parent

Thanks, I'm sure I'll keep EVERYone informed (none / 0) (#4)
by Dadler on Mon Jan 31, 2011 at 10:04:25 PM EST

And the only time I ever heard of Millbrae before we looked at houses there was in the great Jack Kerouac poem "October In The Railroad Earth." (LINK)

Parent

Well Jeff (none / 0) (#9)
by Ga6thDem on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 07:47:14 AM EST

at least you didn't end up in Lower Alabama :)

Parent

: Yep, I've had more interviews in California (none / 0) (#11)
by jeffinalabama on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 08:11:35 AM EST

that left me in Alabama... most of them because of Cali funding issues. Two jobs offered and pulled because of colleges/universities having to cut back during the last 15 years.
At least in LA they just say, "Nope. don't want ya any more."
But watching the sun rise magestically over the Wiregrass, wearing PT clothes soaked before starting because of the humidity, and watching fat aviators run... priceless. Cue Paul Anka's "The times of your life," with a Lycoming engine warming up underneath, brings a lump to my throat ;-)

Parent

Try this: (none / 0) (#5)
by oculus on Mon Jan 31, 2011 at 10:31:42 PM EST

Bombay Superstar

Plus Opera in the Park (free; Sept.; see San Francisco Opera website)

Opera at the baseball park on the big screen.

San Francisco Symphony

ACT for theatre.

Lucky you.

Parent

Don't forget down in the South Bay (none / 0) (#8)
by Harry Saxon on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 12:37:01 AM EST

Gilroy Garlic Festival

In my home town of San Jose, there are:

The Rose Garden with 4,000 rose bushes.

Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum

The nations' largest urban trail system with 53 miles total in length

The Ira F Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies, the largest collection of Beethoven outside of Europe, located as San Jose State

The Dr. MLK, Jr. Public Library, which shares its collection with SJSU, making it the largest public library west of the Mississippi

but

don't go to the Winchester Mystery House, that's for the rubes(I meant tourists)

Do you know the way to San Jose?
I've been away so long. I may go wrong and lose my way.
Do you know the way to San Jose?
I'm going back to find some peace of mind in San Jose.
L.A. is a great big freeway.
Put a hundred down and buy a car.
In a week, maybe two, they'll make you a star
Weeks turn into years. How quck they pass
And all the stars that never were
Are parking cars and pumping gas
You can really breathe in San Jose
They've got a lot of space. There'll be a place where I can stay
I was born and raised in San Jose
I'm going back to find some peace of mind in San Jose.

Parent

My kids loved the Winchester Mystery (none / 0) (#42)
by oculus on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 11:43:40 AM EST

House. The Most Beautiful Public Building (Courthouse in Santa Barbara), not so much. Recommends from Sunset book re travel in CA w kids.

Parent

: Kelley Park is also a great place (none / 0) (#46)
by Harry Saxon on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 12:53:52 PM EST

for children, although you can't feed the seals at the Zoo with fish like you could when I was a child.
Alum Rock Park on the northeast side of the city, is almost unique when it comes to city parks, IMHO:

The steep sides of the valley demonstrate the diversity of vegetation native to California. The south-facing slopes primarily consist of grasses, Poison Oak, sagebrush, and occasional live oak trees. The warm sun on the sagebrush lends a unique smell to the air.
The north-facing slopes are dominated by trees, including Coast live oak, California bay laurel, madrone, and California buckeye. On the valley floor, in the moist areas along Penitencia Creek, bigleaf maple, white alder, and Western sycamore provide shade for the abundant ferns.
Several larger varieties of birds frequent the park, including the Red-tailed Hawk, Turkey Vulture, Wild Turkeys, Great Egrets, and California Quail. Larger wildlife includes Black-tailed Deer, bobcats, and occasional mountain lions. There has been an increase in the mountain lion population in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Click or Wiki Me

Parent

I think you'll like it (none / 0) (#7)
by nycstray on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 12:14:55 AM EST

up here :) Just go with the flow and give yerself a few months to get used to it. Lot's of things to explore and do, just don't try them all until you settle :)

Welcome to the area!!!

Parent

Just bought a 2 tickets to see Eric Clapton. (5.00 / 1) (#6)
by oculus on Mon Jan 31, 2011 at 10:33:21 PM EST

Last time I was just under the roof. Very distorted sound. This time I sprung for the floor.

Conversation on Reagan (5.00 / 1) (#20)
by lilburro on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 09:11:25 AM EST

at digby's, Sargent's, and on Brandon Nyhan's blog is interesting.

This thing is spreading (5.00 / 1) (#26)
by NYShooter on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 09:48:32 AM EST

from NYT:

"Jordan's King Dismisses Cabinet

AMMAN, Jordan -- King Abdullah II of Jordan fired his government in a surprise move on Tuesday, in the face of a wave of demands of public accountability sweeping the Arab world and bringing throngs of demonstrators to the streets of Egypt."

absolutely spreading (5.00 / 1) (#27)
by Capt Howdy on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 09:52:38 AM EST

I repost from a few days ago:

if Obabma means what he says about wanting to be a transformational president IMO this is an opportunity that will not come twice. if he would grow a pair and get out in front of this ending up on the right side of these conflicts as the dominos fall he could transform the view the arab world has had of the west for a thousand years.

I think his approach so far has been acceptable. marginally. but he needs to show them that we are willing back the freedom and democracy that we like to talk about so much.

aljazerra yesterday pronounced US speaks out of both sides of its mouth. its true.
man up barry.

Parent

: Obama seems (none / 0) (#48)
by sj on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 01:21:57 PM EST

to have a knack for never missing an opportunity to miss an opportunity. Besides, do you really feel that freedom here is a priority? Never mind over "there".
I expect he'll "facilitate" a safe exit for Mubarak and is even now looking for the next malleable purveyor of "stability." With any luck at all, this is moving too fast for the US to fall back on our usual tricks..

Parent

also I assume (5.00 / 1) (#28)
by Capt Howdy on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 09:54:13 AM EST

you saw that the leader of Kuwait announced that he planned to give every single citizen several thousand dollars a months for the next several months.

Parent

al jazzera (none / 0) (#30)
by Capt Howdy on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 10:02:47 AM EST

"the people sense they are on the cusp of history"

Parent

And, (none / 0) (#36)
by NYShooter on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 11:12:23 AM EST

they are right.

The potentates are shaking in their sandals; and I wonder when "the wave" will reach our shores.

Oligarchs checking their passports and making sure the private jets are fueled up.

It can't happen too soon for me.

Parent

I hope the wave we feel... (none / 0) (#37)
by kdog on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 11:18:55 AM EST

isn't middle east tyrants joining the oligarchy party here in the US...getting in on this grift.

Send us your tired and poor, thats cool...not your crooked and rich, we're carrying all the leeches we can already.

Parent

That picture (none / 0) (#40)
by NYShooter on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 11:28:42 AM EST

that Jeralyn posted (million common folks congregating in the streets) is the one thing our Banksters & CEO's fear more than anything else. Millions of regular people, phucked & victimized by this tiny gang of Corporate criminals, locking elbows and acting as ONE.

The sale of adult "Depends" is going to skyrocket.

Parent

I dont think we can keep (5.00 / 1) (#41)
by Capt Howdy on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 11:39:08 AM EST

comparing the things that put all those people in the streets in egypt with our piddly political differences in this country. they are in the streets because they WANT to live in our country.

they have lived under a tyrant for 30 years. Bush sucked. he was no Mubarak. even if he was the son of a previous president.

Parent

: I am talking about (none / 0) (#44)
by NYShooter on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 12:12:35 PM EST

The metastasizing spread between the "haves" and the "have nots" in America.
I don't think the analogy between them and us is mis-placed.

Parent

Ms. Jeralyn, (none / 0) (#3)
by jeffinalabama on Mon Jan 31, 2011 at 10:02:19 PM EST

thanks from Cookie, Jack, and me for the musical choice tonight. So many happy memories wrapped up in this one!

winter storm warning (none / 0) (#10)
by Capt Howdy on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 08:10:31 AM EST

for Champaign county but the counties north east and west all have blizzard warnings. so we are right on the line and probably will be the worst of both worlds ice and then snow.

woo hoo

I am fulfilling my flex time obligations (2 hours) and gettin the hell outta dodge. its going to get ugly this afternoon.

if you havent (none / 0) (#12)
by Capt Howdy on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 08:17:21 AM EST

checked out al jazzera lately you should. hundreds of thousands in the streets. I give Muby 48 hours

2 million people in the streets (none / 0) (#15)
by Capt Howdy on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 08:29:46 AM EST

they say
holey crap.

if I was a Saudi royal I would be preparing plan B

Parent

like I said (none / 0) (#18)
by Capt Howdy on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 08:45:54 AM EST

48 hours

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt -- Egypt's economy approached paralysis on Monday as foreign commerce, tourism and banking all but halted, placing acute pressure on President Hosni Mubarak to find a way out of the weeklong chaos.

Parent

Probably booking rooms at the Bush compound (none / 0) (#21)
by ruffian on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 09:25:34 AM EST

as we speak.

Parent

maybe McCain (none / 0) (#22)
by Capt Howdy on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 09:27:38 AM EST

will offer a few of his 17(was it?) residences for them.

Parent

Ture, Arizona is better cloimate for them (none / 0) (#24)
by ruffian on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 09:38:11 AM EST

then Kennebunkport.

Parent

Provided their papers.. (5.00 / 1) (#38)
by kdog on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 11:20:02 AM EST

are in order...but I'm sure the CIA will take care of them with fresh and clean aliases and docs.

Parent

you know what (none / 0) (#39)
by Capt Howdy on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 11:22:25 AM EST

if thats what it takes to get them out, Im all for it.

Parent

Hosni can hide here... (none / 0) (#47)
by kdog on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 01:04:27 PM EST

I really don't care either, as long as his arse is off the teet...he should have plenty socked away already.

Just sayin' the CIA better make the new identity Harry Mason, born and raised in Tempe, papers in triplicate...lest some podunk cop shake him down for papers and try to deport his arse back to Egypt, causing an international incident.

Parent

: Funny. (none / 0) (#51)
by oculus on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 03:12:13 PM EST

Parent

Mardi Gras parade schedule (none / 0) (#13)
by jeffinalabama on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 08:17:29 AM EST

here.

Some killer parades between March 3-8...Plenty of beads.

sigh (5.00 / 1) (#14)
by Capt Howdy on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 08:25:23 AM EST

Parent

: Last night I (none / 0) (#29)
by jeffinalabama on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 09:56:58 AM EST

pulled up Dr John's version of Tipitina and listend to it, oh, 10 times. I like Professor longhair, but something about Dr John's voice...
Since it's so late this year, I might make it, too. If so, I'll look for a tall woman and an uncomfortable looking CWO... ;-)
Yeah, we'll meet up, MT, never big crowds for this, lol!

Parent

We are going this year (5.00 / 1) (#25)
by Militarytracy on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 09:38:51 AM EST

Parent

I'm gonna miss out this year (none / 0) (#31)
by republicratitarian on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 10:27:48 AM EST

I'll recovering from my surgery :(

Bring beads and take pics!

Parent

Hope it's minor (none / 0) (#33)
by jeffinalabama on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 10:43:11 AM EST

and your recovery is quick!

Parent

: Thanks Jeff, me too! (none / 0) (#34)
by republicratitarian on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 10:51:31 AM EST

Parent

Take good care (none / 0) (#35)
by Militarytracy on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 11:06:48 AM EST

Parent

A history lesson (none / 0) (#16)
by Harry Saxon on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 08:38:15 AM EST

from the Tea Party:

We must keep our eyes on the prize-- a world in which white male conservatives are free at last from the oppression they have long endured!

Click or Salon Me

: oh man (none / 0) (#17)
by Capt Howdy on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 08:43:45 AM EST

that would be more hilarious if it wasnt so close to the truth.
pfft
"give or take 2/5"

Parent

76 in Houston... (none / 0) (#19)
by ScottW714 on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 08:59:39 AM EST

... on the way to work at 7am, at 46 at 7:20 when I got to work, but definitely not the big/deep freeze the rest of you speak of.

the danger of predictions (none / 0) (#32)
by Capt Howdy on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 10:42:16 AM EST

Edisons predictions for 2011

From golden taxis to books printed on nickel, some of his theories were spot on and some where quite far fetched.

: Capt H, Very Cool, But... (none / 0) (#49)
by ScottW714 on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 02:07:48 PM EST

... he never said anything about printed on nickel, just that... "a book two inches thick will contain forty thousand pages, the equivalent of a hundred volumes."
Sounds like a 90's hard drive to me, I just don't know if the discs contain nickel.

Parent

With wars in Iraq and Afghanistan... (none / 0) (#43)
by Dadler on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 12:11:21 PM EST

...America is perfectly placed to, uh, GET THE PHUCK OUT NOW and let this tide roll. How can Iraq or Afghanistan get in this freedom-from-the-people-game if we're there occupying them?

Just a thought. I know, I know, believe me, I know, each country is different. Just something to think about. A big something, IMHO.

south dakota (none / 0) (#45)
by Capt Howdy on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 12:47:45 PM EST

dont make us buy insurance. but you damn well better buy a gun.

Bill would require all S.D. citizens to buy a gun

Well now. (none / 0) (#50)
by jeffinalabama on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 02:53:50 PM EST

Just spoke to the student body president about having something for mardi gras/carnival. He admitted that he knows little about them and what he does know is probably wrong.

Going to try to organize a combination educational program followed by dancing, beads, food, and a king cake for sometime close to Mardi Gras.

This place is somewhat more culturally isolated than I thought. At least we can do something about it here.

Monday Night Open Thread | 51 comments (51 topical)

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