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Saturday Morning Open Thread

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Blog Related
Posted on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 07:49:54 AM EST
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5 bowl games today, my picks:

Rice +2 over Air Force, Syracuse +4 over West Virginia (4 units), Navy +14 over Arizona State, Oregon State -3½ over Texas, TCU -2 over Mich State.

Open Thread.

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    Saturday Morning Open Thread | 56 comments (56 topical)

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    Annoying televisions in waiting rooms, lobbies, (5.00 / 1) (#40)
    by Jack E Lope on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 10:09:55 PM EST
    ...etc. were discussed on Thursday's Open Thread, which I just got around to reading.

    A possible solution for some: TV-B-Gone

    "You can use TV-B-Gone® to control access to television for philosophical or practical reasons, or simply to have fun!"

    --Mitch Altman, Inventor of TV-B-Gone®

    I lost mine a couple of years ago, but I no longer travel for work - so I don't visit restaurants-near-the-hotel for the majority of my meals these days.

    Sometimes, it was hard to be surreptitious about using it.

    Bought it (5.00 / 1) (#41)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 10:45:36 PM EST
    If this works you are a God!  I am now packing a concealed weapon, Shhhhhhhhhhhhh

    Parent
    It's a defensive device. (5.00 / 1) (#43)
    by Jack E Lope on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 11:35:09 PM EST
    ...you are a God

    I get that a lot.  

    But it's not my invention/creation/product; I can't take credit for anything beyond bringing it to your attention.

    The function varies from one TV to the next - it can take a while to turn off the TV, so it must be kept in sight of the TV for a while.

    Parent

    Killer Baby Jesus (none / 0) (#1)
    by TeresaInPa on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 08:14:42 AM EST
    I was driving home after seeing Les Miz yesterday.  A neighbor had the following display in their yard:

     A light up plastic Nativity with Baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the Wise men and a Camel. Christmas lights on the bushes.  Not far from the nativity, a  dead deflated Santa, reindeer and a group of dead deflated Christmas Carolers.

    I'm (5.00 / 4) (#3)
    by lentinel on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 09:32:12 AM EST
    not sure that this deflation can be blamed on Jesus.

    Santa has made it quite known that he is fed up and exhausted.

    The reindeer are also fed up with all the attention directed toward Rudolf. They're tired of it.

    And the Carolers are all unemployed and bummed out.

    Parent

    It Was The Reinfather (5.00 / 3) (#6)
    by P3P3P3P3 on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 12:07:14 PM EST
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-ewgLXd6EI

    ;-)

    Parent

    sneaky bastards (none / 0) (#14)
    by TeresaInPa on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 02:04:26 PM EST
    lol

    Parent
    maybe it was their way of saying (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by desmoinesdem on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 12:16:10 PM EST
    "Jesus is the reason for the season."

    Parent
    Go Beavers... (none / 0) (#2)
    by fishcamp on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 09:03:58 AM EST


    Beavers lead Longhorns 20-10 at the half. (none / 0) (#24)
    by caseyOR on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 07:41:06 PM EST
    So far so good for Oregon State. C'mon, guys, you can do it.

    GO, BEAVERS!

    Parent

    UT fan here, but I have to tell you I am sooooo (none / 0) (#27)
    by Angel on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 07:56:19 PM EST
    disgusted with Mack Brown and the two players who were suspended.  I want Mack gone yesterday....and if those two players did what was alleged then I want them to be prosecuted.  UT needs to clean up their program pronto.  

    Parent
    At least credit the team (none / 0) (#30)
    by CoralGables on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 08:33:37 PM EST
    with suspending them then. At Notre Dame a similar case (with a far worse outcome) has had the player on the field all season.

    Parent
    I read about that case, sickening. (none / 0) (#32)
    by Angel on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 08:49:20 PM EST
    I'm sure the lawyers for these two players are furiously working to make any potential charges "disappear."  That's how it works here, probably the same at ND.  If this had happened in Austin and not San Antonio it would have already been buried and swept under the rug.  

    Parent
    Beavers blew it. Texas wins 31-27. (none / 0) (#35)
    by caseyOR on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 09:21:05 PM EST
    The Beavers led through the whole game until the last three minutes of the 4th quarter. Then Texas scored a TD to take the lead and the win.

    Oregon State played a very sloppy game. Very sloppy. Texas wasn't all that great, either, but they did pull off the win.

    Parent

    Yep. That was a very winnable game. (none / 0) (#42)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 11:29:18 PM EST
    By all rights, the Beavers should have been up by at least three scores at the half. But their sloppy play at various inopportune moments -- i.e., failing to call a timeout and allowing the game clock to expire at the end of the first half, when they were easily within field goal range -- came back to bite them royally in the a$$ in the waning minutes of the contest.

    Parent
    Getting pretty creepy out there (none / 0) (#5)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 11:07:29 AM EST


    a recent Iowa Supreme Court ruling (none / 0) (#7)
    by desmoinesdem on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 12:15:11 PM EST
    has gotten a lot of publicity around the country. A dentist fired one of his assistants who'd been working for him for 10 years after his wife got jealous. They weren't having an affair, but he was attracted to the younger woman and was making inappropriate comments about her clothes, etc. After seeking advice from their pastor, the dentist fired her, and she filed suit for gender discrimination. The Iowa Supreme Court unanimously affirmed a lower court ruling dismissing her lawsuit. Link to decision (pdf).

    A lot of commentators are bashing the court, but the case law seems to support the decision. The defendant didn't have a pattern of discriminating against women, he just acted like a jackass with this one woman. I think the plaintiff should have filed a sexual harassment claim, given the outrageous set of facts.

    The plaintiff's attorney in this case has an excellent reputation in Iowa. Does anyone in the Talk Left community have a theory on why a good lawyer would sue for gender discrimination when the case law is against her client, instead of nailing the guy on sexual harassment? Is it hard to prove a harassment claim if the harassed party didn't complain promptly? She ignored the inappropriate comments, probably considering them harmless--the boss didn't make any direct sexual advances.

    could a male assistant (none / 0) (#15)
    by TeresaInPa on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 02:22:41 PM EST
    in the office be fired for the same reason, jealous wife of the boss?  I am not lawyer, but that would be my wild guess.
    The assistant did nothing wrong.  She didn't have to feel harassed.  She may not even have known the kinds of things he was saying if he said them to other people who were around including his wife (otherwise how would his wife know?).  His wife made him fire the woman because he was a jerk and it made her feel insecure.  No male in the office would have been treated that way.  So it's gender discrimination IMO.  Just a guess.

    Parent
    that was basically (none / 0) (#20)
    by desmoinesdem on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 06:26:25 PM EST
    the plaintiff's argument--if she had been a man, she would not have been fired for this reason. There are several similar cases from various federal courts and other state courts that say this doesn't constitute gender discrimination if the dismissal was because of a personal relationship or a family member's jealousy in the absence of a personal relationship. The defendant was able to claim there is no pattern of gender discrimination because all of his employees are women and he replaced the fired plaintiff with a woman.

    The decision does NOT say she was treated fairly and specifically says they were not asked to consider whether she was treated unfairly--only whether the unfair treatment constituted gender discrimination.

    Parent

    Lawyer for Newtown survivor seeks (none / 0) (#9)
    by Angel on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 12:48:16 PM EST
    $100 million lawsuit against the state.  Says surviving victim (child) has  sustained emotional and psychological trauma and injury.   Parents of child contacted lawyer within one week of shooting.  

    I wonder what the families of the dead victims think about this.  

    I'm sure the lawsuits will be many (none / 0) (#10)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 12:58:49 PM EST
    They were many when the tornado hit Enterprise H.S. and the principal had refused to dismiss students because it was a student count day for funding.  Gag on all settlements too.  Some of the kids who survived though do have PTSD from the building collapsing on them and tornado weather here makes them lose it in various ways.

    Was the state at fault though?  That is the question in my mind?

    Parent

    The stories on the lawsuit (5.00 / 3) (#13)
    by Towanda on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 01:41:35 PM EST
    explain the argument as to the state's liability, and thus the motivation for the lawsuit -- if the state allows it, which is for the state to decide, and that seems unlikely.

    But the publicity could achieve the aim, which is that the states that mandate innumerable reports, such as the Sandy Hook school's security plan, then actually review and respond to the reports rather than just never look at them and file them away.

    We all would be better served by elected legislators, members of Congress, and others in government who would stop the practice of appeasing the public with laws that mandate all sorts of reports -- without funding for the work -- rather than actually mandating action . . . also with funding for all of the work to be meaningful.

    Parent

    I can't see how the state would be at fault based (none / 0) (#11)
    by Angel on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 01:06:41 PM EST
    on what we know so far.  But I do wonder how the filing of the lawsuit so soon after the event  makes the  families of the dead victims feel.  

    Parent
    Don't know (none / 0) (#12)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 01:18:22 PM EST
    Everyone handles grief differently.  My spouse can't watch the parents of the little girl speak who immediately decided they would not succumb to grief.  He says the father is repressing true feelings to the point it makes his skin crawl.

    Parent
    I presume (5.00 / 2) (#17)
    by CoralGables on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 02:57:07 PM EST
    you are referring to the father of Emilie Parker. My daughter sent me the video of him speaking because she thought it was fantastic. It's been two weeks and I've been unable to click the link because I still see my daughter as being Emilie's age.

    My guess is both Mr. MT and myself are seeing things from our own perspective, and our inability to imagine accepting such a thing happening to our family, rather than from the view of Emilie's parents.

    Parent

    I think my spouse is coming from the perspective (none / 0) (#18)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 03:36:33 PM EST
    That repressed grief and trauma twists us and morphs us. I am relatively certain that this comes from what he has lived through and how soldiers are doing all they can to help and heal each other.

    We also have grieving with Josh that we must deal with, some surgical procedures don't yield everything he needs or we all hoped for.  To stay on your feet you have to go cry it out sometimes.  I think that is why Emilie's dad chills him.  I think that poor child's father is dealing with as much grief as he can handle, the rest will be there when he can handle it.  I think we all know that when the night gets long and dark some anger and grief won't stay denied.

    Parent

    I see my daughters in Emilie, too, which (none / 0) (#19)
    by Anne on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 05:22:59 PM EST
    makes it very painful to watch and listen to her father; at the same time, part of me feels like it's a little cheap and easy for me to open that window to someone else's grief because I know I can shut it and have my nice, little intact family.

    It takes me back to when my brother lost his best friend, his friend's wife and two of their three children to a car accident caused by a woman weaving in and out of traffic at 90+ mph, who clipped their bumper and sent them spinning and tumbling out of control.  It was shocking and senseless and deeply painful: the sight of those two little caskets next to the two larger ones, the recording of the wife's singing of a hymn at the funeral, the notes of taps being played at the cemetery, the miles-long funeral procession, knowing the funeral was being recorded so the surviving daughter - just 6 years old - could see it when she was able, watching the pain on my brother's face, his shoulders shaking with sobs.  It was just so hard, and yet, after all the tears, I got to go home with my husband, and back to my own children, utterly grateful that the fates had spared us.

    At some point, especially when we don't really know any of the victims or their families, continuing to be shown their grief starts to feel uncomfortably voyeuristic, and I begin to question the purpose.

    I'd like to think that perhaps it causes people to be a little kinder, have a little more understanding and tolerance, show their love and affection more, reach out to the people they do know to support and nurture - some good has to come out of such pain, doesn't it?  

    Parent

    Interesting (none / 0) (#16)
    by TeresaInPa on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 02:26:21 PM EST
    how exactly is the state responsible I wonder.

    Parent
    Positive report from the dining room table (none / 0) (#21)
    by Peter G on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 06:48:54 PM EST
    We turned the leftovers from the Christmas ham into a homemade "Galician broth" this evening, by simmering it (on the bone) for a hour or so with sliced onions, bay leaf, paprika, a few carrots (for the last 15 min, at which point you remove the ham bone, cut off all the meat, and put the pieces of ham back into the broth), plus a can of white cannellini beans and a bunch of freshly chopped kale (for the last 10 min).  Could have included potato and/or garlic as well, but we didn't.  Hearty and delicious; perfect for a cold Philadelphia day when the season's first inch of snow fell.

    Caldo Gallego (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 07:38:50 PM EST


    Parent
    Yes, that's the name of the soup. (none / 0) (#25)
    by caseyOR on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 07:42:00 PM EST
    Thanks, BTD.

    Parent
    One of the best things about soup (5.00 / 1) (#44)
    by Towanda on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 11:57:23 PM EST
    cooking for hours, even all day on a cold winter's day, added to the enjoyment for me today, too, as I kept checking back to give it a stir, a taste, and another cup of broth:

    All that evaporation!

    It's such a comfort to be in humidity, again.  This is about the point in winter at which I have been in central heating for so many weeks that I begin to feel as dry and desiccated as leaves in autumn.

    Then, getting to serve and sup on the soup feels like an extra gift.

    (My soup today:  minestrone, mmmmmmmm.)

    Parent

    Sounds delicious, Peter. (none / 0) (#22)
    by caseyOR on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 07:10:38 PM EST
    I've seen recipes for this Galician soup, but I've never had a leftover bone-in ham handy.

    Parent
    Wish I liked ham more... (none / 0) (#26)
    by Anne on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 07:51:20 PM EST
    love it in pea soup, especially love it as ham salad, even kind of like it in sandwiches, but never developed a taste for the baked variety, with or without the pineapple/cherries/glaze glop.  Makes no sense, I know.

    Your recipe sounds like a version of ham that I could like, though!

    And, hey, that was some non-event, snow-wise, wasn't it?  They were calling for 2-4 inches here, but I bet we didn't get more than an inch.  The silver lining was that probably everyone hurried to the store yesterday, so doing my weekly shopping today was much more relaxed!

    Parent

    We got (none / 0) (#28)
    by Zorba on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 08:09:06 PM EST
    about three inches up here.  Two inches Monday, although that was mostly melted by Christmas afternoon, three inches of mixed sleet and snow Wednesday with a glaze of freezing rain over that, and three inches today.  Although it was fluffy snow, at least, and easy to clear.
    You want to see some snow?  Come on up here!

    Parent
    Do you have a pea soup recipe you (none / 0) (#29)
    by caseyOR on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 08:12:56 PM EST
    like that you could share? While I have eaten split pea soup in restaurants, I have never made it myself. I like it, though. And I always like to expand my soup repertoire.

    So, share those pea soup recipes, please.

    Parent

    I made ... (none / 0) (#33)
    by Yman on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 08:58:52 PM EST
    ... this version several times for a traditional Slovak/holiday dinner.  I'm not a huge pea soup fan, but everyone raved about it and even I thought it was pretty good.  The reviews are nice for some hints.

    Also, an easy dutch oven version you can make with ham.

    Parent

    The split pea soup I make is pretty easy. (none / 0) (#36)
    by cpresley on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 09:35:44 PM EST
    Boil the ham bone with ham left on it in 3qrts water with 3 bay leaves for about 1 1/2 hrs.

    Chop 2 med. yellow onions, 2 carrots, 2 stalks celery.

    Coat fry pan with olive oil, add onion,carrots, and celery. Cook on med. for about 10 mins. stirring often. When they have soften turn down heat to low and add 2 clove garlic and a pinch of sugar and cook for about 20 mins.

    When the ham is ready take it out of the broth and set aside to cool. Add one package dried split peas to the broth and turn the heat up to medium.

    Cook peas for about 30 mins. until the peas are soft but not cooked. Add the onion, carrot & celery mix to the pot along with the shredded ham from the bone.

    Dice up 3 red potatoes, skin left on and throw them in the pot. Cover and leave on low until the potatoes are cooked.

    Try and find all 3 bay leaves and take them out of the soup. If you can't find all 3 the person that gets one in their soup gets and extra scoop of icecream:)

    Eat and enjoy. This makes enough for about 4 meals. It refrigerates and freezes well. When reheating, add some cream or milk to thin it out.

    Parent

    I fogot to add (none / 0) (#37)
    by cpresley on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 09:43:42 PM EST
    When you put in the vegies also add 1 tps of dry thyme and if you want pepper.

    Parent
    Sounds a lot like mine except I've never (none / 0) (#45)
    by ruffian on Sun Dec 30, 2012 at 05:47:53 AM EST
    added potatoes. I add a little dollop of sour cream when serving , or else as you say, add some half and half or milk.

    It is my favorite soup. I've been known to bake a ham just to get to the soup part! I'll try the Galician too - it also looks yummy.

    Parent

    I make split pea soup with my left over ham. (none / 0) (#34)
    by cpresley on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 09:07:48 PM EST
    It is also good on a cold winter night.

    Parent
    Porky Pig (none / 0) (#31)
    by P3P3P3P3 on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 08:44:39 PM EST
    objects to Positive Report

    Parent
    While I feel for poor (5.00 / 1) (#54)
    by Zorba on Sun Dec 30, 2012 at 03:23:28 PM EST
    Porky Pig, I must say that it is too bad for him that pork just tastes so gosh-darned good.  Tastiest meat on the planet, IMHO.  ;-)

    Parent
    Site violator. (none / 0) (#38)
    by oculus on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 09:54:02 PM EST
    I guess.

    Parent
    Nah. Just P3x4 is just objecting (5.00 / 1) (#39)
    by Peter G on Sat Dec 29, 2012 at 10:05:07 PM EST
    to use of porcine flesh for purposes of human consumption.  At least, that's my theory.

    Parent
    The Journal News will be publishing more names of (none / 0) (#46)
    by Angel on Sun Dec 30, 2012 at 08:12:20 AM EST
    suburban gun permit holders, this time those in Putnam County, New York.

    They're must be tens (none / 0) (#47)
    by fishcamp on Sun Dec 30, 2012 at 11:22:55 AM EST
    of thousands of WW2 guns all over the US that are not registered.  My father and uncles brought home all kinds of both German and Japanese guns, swords, helmets and lots of other stuff after the war.  Are people supposed to take those in and register them to be legal?

    Curious myself (none / 0) (#48)
    by CoralGables on Sun Dec 30, 2012 at 11:38:37 AM EST
    as someone that happens to have an Astra 300 9mm Kurz that hasn't been fired since the summer of 1944 and has been handed down. I'd prefer to be legal.

    Parent
    Are you asking about the current law (none / 0) (#57)
    by Peter G on Sun Dec 30, 2012 at 10:10:41 PM EST
    in your state (depends which it is) or under some hypothetical new law (state or federal) that is presently under discussion?

    Parent
    Sen. Feinstein's proposed legislation (none / 0) (#49)
    by oculus on Sun Dec 30, 2012 at 02:07:45 PM EST
    seems reasonable in my opinion:

    LAT

    She could add in (none / 0) (#51)
    by CoralGables on Sun Dec 30, 2012 at 02:54:28 PM EST
    an optional buyback for the assault weapons also. Certainly the Republicans wouldn't expect it to cost anything since even Senator Graham would want to keep his AR-15 and his man card.

    Parent
    The comments to the link center on (none / 0) (#52)
    by oculus on Sun Dec 30, 2012 at 02:56:46 PM EST
    small male genitalia.

    Parent
    You read the comments (none / 0) (#53)
    by Zorba on Sun Dec 30, 2012 at 03:20:53 PM EST
    on the news sites?  You have more fortitude than I do, oculus.  I studiously avoid the comments on any of the news websites.

    Parent
    I was interested to read LAT (none / 0) (#55)
    by oculus on Sun Dec 30, 2012 at 03:24:56 PM EST
    Readers' reactions to the proposed legislation. Reading the comments is similar to J's rationale for watching reality shows. Delve into the mindset of potential jurors. Scary. Glad I am no longer picking and kicking.

    Parent
    Switching to taxes (none / 0) (#56)
    by CoralGables on Sun Dec 30, 2012 at 03:33:32 PM EST
    With the GOP conceding that SS is off the table, looks like a deal is probably about to be put forth. Either that or we'll see a tax, unemployment benefits, and probably AMT bill advanced in the Senate early this evening.

    Parent
    eugenics via 1913 = GMO apples in 2012 (none / 0) (#50)
    by coigue on Sun Dec 30, 2012 at 02:26:13 PM EST
    seriously?

    Saturday Morning Open Thread | 56 comments (56 topical)

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