Wednesday Night Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 10:18:17 PM EST
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The media is in its full Royal Mania phase. There are 8,652 news articles on Google right now about Kate Middleton's wedding dress. No one's figured out who designed it. Bruce Oldfield tells Women's Wear Daily he is not the designer. Vegas odds are on Sarah Burton of Alexander Queen. Other possibilities: Alice Temperly, Sophie Cranston (who says it's not her) , Issa designer Daniella Helayel, and Philipa Lepley. One person who knows but isn't telling: Olivier Theyskens, formerly of Nina Ricci, lately with Theory.

The royal wedding site is here. It has its own You Tube channel where you can watch everything live, starting at 2:00 am PT tomorrow night. Unless I can find a place to watch without media commentary, I'll probably skip it. [More...]

On the TV front, the Voice is pretty good. American Idol seems a bit dated by comparison -- and way too drawn out. Speaking of Idol, James Durbin is by far the best remaining contestant on Idol, but he's been my favorite since week one.

Other than that, there's a new episode of "Justified" tonight. And no verdict yet in the DEA African Adventures case. Could there be a holdout juror? Will they split and convict all but one or two? Or reject the DEA stings entirely?

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

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Wednesday Night Open Thread | 61 comments (61 topical)

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I'll catch the wedding on re-cap (5.00 / 1) (#2)
by nycstray on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 10:28:54 PM EST

while watching the AM news over coffee :) They are telling us to watch from 1AM-7AM. Sorry folks, those are my prime sleeping hours!

Watching Idol while putzing around. Mom's coming over tomorrow so we can dig up some of my bounty of plants and fill out some areas in her yard/garden. Hopefully, my muscles won't be too sore from the yard work I did today . . . went on a tear, literally :P

I always tell brides to be (5.00 / 2) (#14)
by desmoinesdem on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 11:19:41 PM EST

not to sweat the small stuff, because 99 percent of their wedding guests won't notice the inevitable small things that go wrong during the ceremony, but 100 percent of the guests will notice if the bride loses it over something trivial on her wedding day.

This advice does not apply to Kate--no matter how well things go the media will pounce on any small misstep or breach of protocol they can criticize.

My Dad's often-repeated mantra: (none / 0) (#15)
by oculus on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 11:22:21 PM EST

keep it simple.


: Some decent food, a little music (none / 0) (#27)
by Militarytracy on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 07:06:56 AM EST

and a free bar can make any wedding a GRAND success on a huge scale :) You can even forget that your cousin who you always fight with wore white to your wedding :)

Has Jeffinalabama. posted anything recently ? (5.00 / 2) (#29)
by samsguy18 on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 08:26:32 AM EST

Pressed for time today.....anyone have info if he is OK .
The tornado's have literally ripped apart the lives of many families...Today is a very sad day !

He was okay after the worst of it (none / 0) (#32)
by Militarytracy on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 08:38:30 AM EST

was through. Don't know if anything touched down again overnight though, there were sirens that went off here. He didn't have power though after the big one hit.


Tracy I know you're in that area as well. (none / 0) (#41)
by samsguy18 on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 09:00:04 AM EST

Hope all is OK. Stay safe !


: Heartbreaking morning (none / 0) (#56)
by Militarytracy on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 11:05:30 AM EST

A lot of people hurt and killed. A lot of local people had children at school in Tuscaloosa. I did not think about that originally because Josh says he's going to Auburn. Is there another college in Alabama?

Syrian foreign minister's invite to the (5.00 / 1) (#42)
by ruffian on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 09:03:15 AM EST

royal wedding was revoked. How's that for sanctions!

Now maybe there is room for Sarah Ferguson.

Checking in, I'll check back later... (5.00 / 4) (#45)
by jeffinalabama on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 09:20:12 AM EST

Lost a student and her husband that I know of, may be without power for 3-5 days, if so I'll head to LA where it wasn't so bad, be online more.

It was over here after about 9:30 pm.

I lived through Katrina and now this... and then got laid off from both universities!

Am I that Joe fellow from Lil Abner?

Sunny and cool today, boiling a pot of water to wash some dishes.

Glad (5.00 / 2) (#46)
by Ga6thDem on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 09:24:26 AM EST

to hear you are okay!


: I'll say the same. (5.00 / 2) (#47)
by jeffinalabama on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 09:28:17 AM EST

Glad you didn't get hammered like we did!

Add me to the list of people who are (5.00 / 1) (#48)
by Anne on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 09:29:40 AM EST

glad/relieved to hear that you are okay; terrible news about your student and her husband.

Keep us posted when you can, and if there are agencies/relief efforts/particular places where you think contributions might go a long way to helping, please let us know.


Jeff (5.00 / 1) (#51)
by sj on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 10:00:16 AM EST

I'm very glad to know that you're okay. And I'm sorry about your student and her husband. Stay well.


I Went Through IKE, but... (5.00 / 1) (#54)
by ScottW714 on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 10:30:22 AM EST

... nothing like Katrina or the tornadoes, but a week w/o power/water/phone will test anyone's limits, especially if it's muggy out. Once the booze runs dry, everyone gets on your nerves.

Good to hear the Alabama folks are OK.


Thanks for checking in... (none / 0) (#52)
by kdog on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 10:18:47 AM EST

both my AL pals are good...whew!

But very sorry to hear about your student.

By the grace of mother nature, we stay or we go. So easy to forget how fragile it all is....


Oh Jeff, well it is good to see your fingers (none / 0) (#57)
by Militarytracy on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 11:09:12 AM EST

I'm so sorry about the loss of your student. Today is not fun. I wish it was spring break so we could go help. I'm not shell shocked as others are here. Everyone at Josh's school is very shocked this morning. I don't have all the memory connections though that most people here have, no Iron Bowl games in my memory. I have good memories of Birmingham because Josh has some of his health needs met there but I don't have many yet.


: Glad all is well with you, Tracy... (5.00 / 1) (#60)
by Anne on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 02:29:45 PM EST

whenever these things happen, I just feel sick at the idea of my husband and kids being somewhere where I'm not, and having no way to know if they're okay.
I felt like that on 9/11 - with me in downtown Baltimore, my husband at a conference in Philadelphia, and my kids in school near home; it was horrible.
Let us know if Josh's school takes up any collections for relief efforts in the area, would you?

: Jeff and MT, glad to see both (5.00 / 1) (#61)
by caseyOR on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 03:02:48 PM EST

of you checking in today. I have to say, I was a bit worried about you guys. Please keep us updated, as your time and energy allows.
Jeff, so sorry to hear about your student and her husband. Although I grew-up in Tornado Alley, I don't remember anything on this scale in terms of deaths and the massive swath of territory hit by the twisters. So tragic.
Jeff, MT, know that you and yours are in my thoughts and in my heart. Stay safe.

I love royal wedding (5.00 / 2) (#49)
by loveed on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 09:49:47 AM EST

maybe because I'am over fifty. The first cartoons I remember was in black&white.Then along came disney with cinderella,snow white.All young women from that time dreamed of meeting there prince, and living happly ever after.
Diana was a wonderful and amazing women. When i look at the treatments for aids now ,I do not think this would have happen without her. She raised her children to give back.
I also heard they're not accepting gifts, instead send donations to there charities.
Willaim & kate seems so happy.And i wish them nothing but the best.
There getting married on my birthday.Me and my mom who is 91yrs old,will be watching drinking mamosa, with our terrias on our head.It's on at 4:00am.
I truly hope they live happy everafter!!!!!

At least 25 deaths due to tornadoes (none / 0) (#1)
by Militarytracy on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 10:28:27 PM EST

in Alabama today.

I'm so glad I don't live in tornado territory (5.00 / 2) (#3)
by nycstray on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 10:32:06 PM EST

those things are just too scary and sudden. (she says from earthquake land)

Everything 'okay' where you are? Hope Jeff checks in again . . .


It was boring here (none / 0) (#5)
by Militarytracy on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 10:43:26 PM EST

A little windy in a place where there is usually very little wind, but that was it. We wouldn't have known anything was going on if the cell phones weren't going off during the little kids gymnastic class. The storms here sweep in a very distinct West to East trajectory, so it is possible to be only 100 miles South and have nothing going on of note.


Good to hear (none / 0) (#9)
by nycstray on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 10:55:24 PM EST

I remember the one that hit in Brooklyn. Not in my 'hood, but my friend's. The storm was so crazy we had both shut down our computers* and were dealing with our dogs in the wee hours from all the thunder, lightening and wind. She finally went to sleep and woke up to find she was one street over from the destruction . . . .

*we work together and when serious thunder storm/tornado warnings came through we would call each other depending on who was in the storm's path first to report reality.


: you never know (none / 0) (#53)
by CST on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 10:22:55 AM EST

I don't think of the northeast being tornado country. But during Hurricane Bob we were up in VT and there were tornados there. It was absolutely terrifying, went right across our lawn. Luckily this is VT, where a lawn is more like a field, so the house was fine, trees were not.
But it was by far the scariest weather I've ever experienced because it's so random and so destructive.
Best wishes jeff, etc... Hope you're hanging in there.

Bad scene... (5.00 / 2) (#31)
by kdog on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 08:35:59 AM EST

thought of you and Jeff when I saw it on the news...that tornado is a monster.

Stay safe, Talkleft's Alabama contingent!


They Reported 125 on the News, and Counting (none / 0) (#55)
by ScottW714 on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 10:32:00 AM EST

Not sure if that was AL or all from yesterday, sounds like GA took it pretty good.

That twister they keep showing was unreal.


As expected, (none / 0) (#4)
by Makarov on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 10:41:32 PM EST

Judge Nelson denied the NFL's request to stay her injunction ending the lockout. I'm looking for a link to the complete decision.

Reportedly, she said she would not stipulate how the league should operate, that it was their decision.

For Philadelphia Eagles fans, this is the hail mary pass we've been looking forward to - the potential to trade Kevin Kolb for a 2011 1st round draft pick.

The NFL Draft, which according the expired CBA is supposed to occur in the new league year, begins Thursday at 8pm EDT. Round 1 is Thursday. Rounds 2 and 3 are Friday. Later rounds begin Saturday and typically last into Sunday.

Thanks for the draft times :) (none / 0) (#6)
by nycstray on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 10:45:32 PM EST

But I have to say, I have no love for yer Eagles ;)


: Here's (none / 0) (#7)
by Makarov on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 10:49:13 PM EST

Judge Nelson's decision:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/54100387/Brady-v-NFL-Stay-Denied
I'm reading it now. Also, the draft begins earlier on Friday at some bizarre time - I think last year it was like 5:20pm or something. On Saturday I think it starts around Noon, but if you watch Thursday night I'm sure they'll tell you 1000 times exactly when.

Not a Fan Either, Unless they are Playing the... (none / 0) (#59)
by ScottW714 on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 11:33:37 AM EST

... Cowgirls.

Haven't looked at the draft at all, just getting bits and pieces on the radio. Go Pack.


We do get tornados (none / 0) (#8)
by Harry Saxon on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 10:50:05 PM EST

here in CA, but they usually occur in the rural areas so they don't get noticed, let alone cause much in the way of significant damage or injury.

You can assess your tornado risk here.

Will sleep ever so much better tonight (none / 0) (#10)
by oculus on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 10:56:29 PM EST

knowing the risk is very low in my zipcode.


Seems to me, we had some just recently (none / 0) (#13)
by nycstray on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 11:02:41 PM EST

in my area. But it is less common and not high on my need to be prepared for list :) Also, the severity didn't seem as intense . . . Quite frankly, I have a whole new appreciation of storms from being a CA gal living on the east coast for the past 20 yrs. Yes, some are bad, but they aren't as frequent or as intense. I'm quite happy being back on the west coast and not dealing with some of the sh*t I've seen going on back in my old stomping grounds. I actually feel a bit guilty loving our current weather . . .


: This is typical of news reports (none / 0) (#36)
by Harry Saxon on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 08:52:43 AM EST

about tornadoes in CA, about 2 years ago:

A tornado briefly touched down near rural south Merced on Monday, according to the National Weather Service.
A funnel cloud appeared at approximately 11:25 a.m. and dissipated by 11:45, said Gary Sanger, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Hanford office.
"We have a very cold unstable air mass over the valley, so there's a potential for scattered showers, thunderstorms and more funnel clouds into the evening hours," Sanger said.

Shouldn't Kate be relying on the (none / 0) (#11)
by oculus on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 10:59:37 PM EST

designer of John F. Kennedy, Jr.'s bride's dress? An absolute winner.

: Kate pretty much has to (none / 0) (#12)
by caseyOR on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 11:02:14 PM EST

choose a British designer.
And I agree, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy's dress was gorgeous.

: Yes, that was my favorite too (none / 0) (#39)
by ruffian on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 08:55:11 AM EST

Picked up my (none / 0) (#16)
by lilburro on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 11:42:12 PM EST

Bloody Mary mix - Zing Zang - today for the royal festivities. A breakfast casserole will be prepared. Hoping that the opportunity to laugh at our fawning media and snark at all the ceremony in general is worth a hangover that will probably begin at 6 PM.

: Going all out :) (none / 0) (#20)
by Militarytracy on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 06:35:56 AM EST

Went to bed but the tornado sirens went off (none / 0) (#17)
by Militarytracy on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 01:13:54 AM EST

So back up until 1:45 when the warning expires. Really tired of this weather. The tornado sirens went off at 2:00 am a few weeks back.

We were (none / 0) (#18)
by Ga6thDem on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 05:19:34 AM EST

lucky. They all went north of us but I tried to stay up and watch what was happening however I just fell asleep.


Very glad you guys are okay!!!! (none / 0) (#19)
by Militarytracy on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 06:35:20 AM EST

The news is ugly this morning. The storm system has claimed over 100 lives and that number will be increasing today.


The latimes has the number (none / 0) (#21)
by Militarytracy on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 06:39:42 AM EST

at over 170 now. Horrible storm


haha (5.00 / 1) (#22)
by Ga6thDem on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 06:40:46 AM EST

Yeah, it reminded of the GA joke that nothing good comes out of Alabama :)


I'm sorry (none / 0) (#23)
by Ga6thDem on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 06:42:04 AM EST

that sounded really flip about the people that were killed and I didn't mean it that way.

It is horrible what has happened to so many people. I don't know if there are any deaths here in GA yet but areas north of me were really pounded.


I don't know how to not try to find (none / 0) (#24)
by Militarytracy on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 06:48:36 AM EST

something to laugh at here and there, because this is pretty horrible and it is going to be a very long day. They just had a group of people on the news that were praying, and my husband in honor of Westboro and deceased soldiers says, "If only Alabama wasn't so accepting of homosexuals. Look what God did because of that." Then we laughed, I suppose to try to scare up some extra energy to deal with the reality of what today will bring.


I know. (5.00 / 1) (#26)
by Ga6thDem on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 06:54:04 AM EST

It's either laugh or cry and sometimes you just need a laugh.

I'm sure the Gov. of Alabama will be screaming that these areas need to be designated a federal disaster area and in the next sentence screaming about "the gubmint".


Like Gov Rick Perry of TX (5.00 / 1) (#28)
by Harry Saxon on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 07:25:15 AM EST

talking about secession last year, while this year he goes hat in hand to the Federal Government for funds to deal with all the damage caused by the massive wildfires there.

Wingnut reasoning isn't pretty, from Salon.com:

I sometimes challenge True Believers. Never mind that no law ever encouraged bad loans, I say. Shouldn't Presidents Reagan, Bush I or Bush II have done something? Rep. Barney Frank, comes the response, prevented a vigilant George W. Bush from acting.
And how did a minority congressman do that? Frank would resent being called a "minority" one guy answered. Uh oh, I think we've touched bottom. There's no point mentioning W's advocacy of sub-prime lending to somebody with no clue how the U.S. government works.

The futility of reasoning with crazy.


Yeah, I'm waiting for Jeff Sessions' (none / 0) (#44)
by ruffian on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 09:05:49 AM EST

sermon on sacrifice and deficits.


: As they say in Texas (none / 0) (#58)
by Harry Saxon on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 11:24:31 AM EST

"You can't fix stupid."

Tea and biscuits (none / 0) (#25)
by dk on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 06:50:26 AM EST

We ordered from Harrods.com (got to have the real thing), and if my partner has time today he's going to whip up some scones. Still not pleased that Camilla gets to sit up front, but the whole thing will be worth watching for all the glimpses of Prince Harry (oh, and I'm sure the bride and groom will look splendid as well).

As for Idol, I agree that James is definitely the best, though Lauren has been growing on us. Idol might be getting dated, but it's the first watchable season in years, both in terms of the overall talent of the singers as well as the judges.

Is anybody (none / 0) (#30)
by Ga6thDem on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 08:34:51 AM EST

else hoping that we never hear the two words "birth certificate" again?

It would be nice... (5.00 / 1) (#33)
by kdog on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 08:39:07 AM EST

GA, but the phrase will be continued to be used ad naseum when Brand R decides to play the immigration wedge issue card again.

I long for the day though...I long for the day when we no longer obsess over paper.


Well (none / 0) (#34)
by Ga6thDem on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 08:42:48 AM EST

once they start yammering about Hispanics they are going to lose big out west.


We can hope! (none / 0) (#37)
by kdog on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 08:53:10 AM EST

Not the Dems are angels in this regard, by no means, just a little less dispicable about...but they chain, cage, deport over paper just the same...rip apart families, cause general grief and pain just the same.


I know. (none / 0) (#38)
by Ga6thDem on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 08:54:09 AM EST

Obama has practiced benign neglect while the GOP has practiced outright hatred.


: "benign neglect" (none / 0) (#50)
by sj on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 09:51:04 AM EST

Not so benign, actually. And not nearly neglectful enough.

"It could have been worse" (none / 0) (#35)
by MO Blue on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 08:51:36 AM EST

The best thing that can be said about our economy.

The economy slowed sharply in the first three months of the year as high gas prices cut into consumer spending, bad weather delayed construction projects and the federal government slashed defense spending by the most in six years.
The Commerce Department said Thursday that the economy grew at a 1.8 percent annual rate in the January-March quarter. That was weaker than the 3.1 percent growth rate for the October-December quarter. And it was the worst showing since last spring when the European debt crisis slowed growth to a 1.7 percent pace.
...
An inflation gauge in the report showed consumer prices rose last quarter at the fastest pace in nearly three years, with most of the increase coming from higher fuel costs.
Rising gas prices are draining most of the extra money that Americans are receiving this year from a Social Security payroll tax cut. AP

But all is well with the world because:

NEW YORK (AP) -- Exxon earned nearly $11 billion in the first quarter, a performance likely to land it in the center of the national debate over high gasoline prices.
...
The quarter was Exxon's best since it earned a record $14.83 billion in 2008's third quarter. It comes at a time when some drivers are paying $4 or more for gas and President Obama is threatening the oil industry's multibillion-dollar tax subsidies. AP

I have not even noticed the SS tax cut (5.00 / 1) (#40)
by ruffian on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 08:58:00 AM EST

sure does not seem to be any extra money in my account. Probably the higher gas and food costs, as the article says.

Not much stimulus there.


: Millions of people do not get any (none / 0) (#43)
by MO Blue on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 09:04:39 AM EST

benefit from the SS tax cut. Teachers, government workers and retired seniors do not pay into the SS system and are having to cope with the increase in gas and food costs on a fixed or reduced income. Then again you have the working poor who actually had a tax increase under Obama's tax cuts.
But like I said as long as "savvy friends" are doing well, the economy is just doing great.