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Monday Morning Open Thread

Best take on Seth McFarlane by Alex Pappademas:

Contempt

That too-long-by-about-three-halves Captain Kirk bit hinged on the idea that Seth MacFarlane cared about how he'd be remembered as an Oscar host, which meant it was the evening's best joke. Dude made Ted, dude makes hundreds of millions of dollars making Family Guy and was probably the richest person to host the Oscars since Johnny Carson; dude is long, long past the point where the opinions expressed by Entertainment Weekly (or in morning-after roundups like this one) will cost him a millisecond of editing-room-tanning-bed shut-eye. (Also he hates women, so that was 51 percent of the Oscar-opinion-having population factored out right there.) Really, honestly, and truly not giving a sh[*]t is life's cheat code; MacFarlane radiated confidence because he knew, probably from the moment he took the gig, that he wouldn't be invited back. Ricky Gervais's I'm–a–naughty–Golden Globe–host routine is the obvious comparison, but you always knew Gervais was negging Hollywood because he wanted its respect. MacFarlane was in this to offend, and therefore the only truly offensive thing about his performance was its cynicism.

[More....]

Writing an actual joke about Harvey Weinstein engaging in European sex tourism would have showed contempt for Harvey Weinstein; pretending to be reading the words "Harvey Weinstein joke to come" off the teleprompter showed contempt for the audience, for joke-writing, for anyone dumb enough to try hard at hosting the Oscars or at anything, for anyone who was not Seth MacFarlane. Hair-plugs joke to come.

I disagree McFarlane hates women (I think he has contempt for men and wonders why women put up with us) but the rest I agree with completely.

Open Thread.

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    Words of wisdom. (5.00 / 3) (#26)
    by lentinel on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 04:37:09 PM EST
    When the government lies to us, we go to war.
    When we lie to the government, we go to prison.
    Somehow, we're getting the short end of the stick here.

    Former Governor Jesse Ventura

    More and more talk about (5.00 / 1) (#34)
    by MO Blue on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 05:19:56 PM EST
    Ashly Judd running for the Senate in KY.

    Ashely Judd] hasn't announced yet, but her biggest supporter in Kentucky, Democratic Rep. John Yarmuth, told ABC News, "I would be surprised if she doesn't run at this point."

    "My impression is this is something she wants to do, and she is now taking the time to make the contacts she needs to make throughout the state to try and generate commitments of support and in some cases fundraising," Yarmuth said. "She is certainly acting like a candidate, a potential candidate.

    "I think in her own mind ... she has made a decision to run and she's doing the right thing and not ruffling any feathers along the way," Yarmuth said. link

    Anyone from KY or in that area? What do you think? Will she or won't she? Also, what are her chances?

    Mitch McConnell and Karl Rove Rove are already (5.00 / 1) (#37)
    by caseyOR on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 05:41:42 PM EST
    out with ads attacking Ashley Judd. So, my guess is that the GOP considers her possible candidacy a risk for McConnell.

    Parent
    I'd like to see her take them on (5.00 / 1) (#43)
    by TeresaInPa on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 06:15:25 PM EST
    I hope she can stay cool.  They are going to throw some real ugly crap at her.  

    Parent
    She is a touch chick. (5.00 / 1) (#48)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 06:35:12 PM EST
    And a smart one (5.00 / 2) (#51)
    by shoephone on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 06:50:37 PM EST
    I don't think academic degrees automatically confer intelligence on the recipient, but... the fact that Judd received her M.A. in public administration from the Kennedy School of Govt. leads me to believe she is automatically smarter than Mitch McConnell.

    Parent
    and to the point. She won't be at a loss for words. And you don't get anywhere in this town unless you have a very thick skin.

    Parent
    Yes. (5.00 / 1) (#53)
    by Zorba on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 07:06:37 PM EST
    Although he may not be the absolute dumbest of the current Republicans, I do think that there a whole lot of other people who are smarter than Mitch.  Just the fact that Karl Rove is attacking her makes me think that the Republicans are worried.
    So, go Ashley!  

    Parent
    Do you mean tough chick? (none / 0) (#61)
    by caseyOR on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 07:43:10 PM EST
    If not, what is a touch chick?

    Parent
    Yes, tough, sorry. (none / 0) (#86)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 10:25:18 PM EST
    I know I said this already today, but I briefly was on a movie with her too. She chewed tobacco, did karate, and had no patience for fools.

    Parent
    Since I'm new to "the area" (none / 0) (#57)
    by NYShooter on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 07:27:40 PM EST
    I can't speak with much authority, but Romney won Ky with 60% to Obama's 37%, so that should give us a clue as to "her chances."

    But, I'll tell you this, living for the time being in neighboring Tennessee, I know that if she follows Obama's namby-pamby approach in spelling out the issues, she's doomed.

    I've found that the folks down here are ripe for some real change. Pretty interesting, actually. There are more churches here than NYC has car horns. And, yet, nobody has gotten into my face regarding "Jesus," or "being saved" at all, so the stories I had read about that sort of thing simply are not true.

    As far as the economy goes, all (most) of the Southern States fall into the lower half of the country, and also have very low tax rates, especially real estate taxes. It does seem that churches, charities, and community organizations actually do make up a lot of the shortfall for necessities. And, even though, like I said, there a lot of churches, I don't see any of the zealotry I was expecting.

    In my opinion, if Judd runs she should do two things: express real, genuine love and respect for the folks here. And, drive a wedge between her Republican opponent's concern for the locals, vs. their cult-like commitment to the National (Wall St.) Leadership.

    In sum, I doubt she would win, but if she genuinely lets it all hang out, and defines "the government" as helping the people build upon the good things the people have done for themselves instead of the stereotypical, Democratic approach (class warfare), she could make some real inroads.  


    Parent

    Judd spent the majority of her (none / 0) (#85)
    by MO Blue on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 10:13:47 PM EST
    childhood in Kentucky and graduated from the University of Kentucky.

    I visited Louisville this year and saw a short film promoting the state of Kentucky of which she was a major contributor. I don't think she will have a problem expressing a real, genuine love and respect for the folks of Kentucky.

    IIRC a recent poll showed her within striking distance. Also, if the gods are kind and he gets beaten up during a primary challenge from a tea party candidate, who knows what could happen.
     

    Parent

    Got my fingers crossed (none / 0) (#87)
    by NYShooter on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 12:12:12 AM EST
    RIP, C. Everett Koop, M.D. (1916-2013). (5.00 / 1) (#73)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 08:46:44 PM EST
    He was 96 years old, and his death was announced a few hours ago by Dartmouth's School of Medicine.

    At a time of moral cowardice on the part of our elected officials in the face of some of the biggest threats to public health in this country, the former U.S. Surgeon General during the Reagan and George H.S. Bush administrations braved the wrath of his fellow Republicans and Christian conservatives with his frank and non-judgmental talk about both the burgeoning AIDS pandemic and the perils of second-hand smoke.

    We are a better country for his leadership and service. Godspeed, Dr. Koop.

    For the low, low price of $500,000, (5.00 / 1) (#94)
    by Anne on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 08:37:07 AM EST
    you, too, could get a seat on the national advisory board for Organizing For Action AND get to attend quarterly meetings WITH THE PRESIDENT!

    From the NYT:

       President Obama's political team is fanning out across the country in pursuit of an ambitious goal: raising $50 million to convert his re-election campaign into a powerhouse national advocacy network, a sum that would rank the new group as one of Washington's biggest lobbying operation.

    [snip]

        At least half of the group's budget will come from a select group of donors who will each contribute or raise $500,000 or more, according to donors and strategists involved in the effort.

        Unlike a presidential campaign, Organizing for Action has been set up as a tax-exempt "social welfare group." That means it is not bound by federal contribution limits, laws that bar White House officials from soliciting contributions, or the stringent reporting requirements for campaigns. In their place, the new group will self-regulate.

    [snip]

    But those contributions will also translate into access, according to donors courted by the president's aides. Next month, Organizing for Action will hold a "founders summit" at a hotel near the White House, where donors paying $50,000 each will mingle with Mr. Obama's former campaign manager, Jim Messina, and Mr. Carson, who previously led the White House Office of Public Engagement.

    Giving or raising $500,000 or more puts donors on a national advisory board for Mr. Obama's group and the privilege of attending quarterly meetings with the president, along with other meetings at the White House. Moreover, the new cash demands on Mr. Obama's top donors and bundlers come as many of them are angling for appointments to administration jobs or ambassadorships.

    "Self-regulation" has always worked so well, I can't imagine anything ever going amiss with this new "social welfare" organization, can you?

    [Excuse me, I'm feeling a sudden urge to bang my head on my desk...]

    Transparently (5.00 / 1) (#96)
    by MO Blue on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 09:16:56 AM EST
    Pay to Play

    Moreover, the new cash demands on Mr. Obama's top donors and bundlers come as many of them are angling for appointments to administration jobs or ambassadorships.

    I'm sure all these rich folks will lobby to raise their taxes rather than cut benefits for regular folks just like the CEOs belonging to "Fix the Debt."

    Actually that would be an interesting question. How many people on Obama's, I mean OFA's, new advisory board are also members of Fix the Debt.

    Parent

    Nothing like making it public, I guess (none / 0) (#95)
    by sj on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 08:59:56 AM EST
    O's priorities have always been clear.  This is just another arrogant step up the ladder.  But you know, Anne, self-"regulation" has served these people very well indeed.

    National advocacy network, my a$$.  Oh wait, I guess it probably will be.  They'l be advocating for the weakening of the social safety net, with the long-term of goal of dismantling it.

    Parent

    "self-regulation" (5.00 / 1) (#126)
    by NYShooter on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 01:23:22 PM EST
    "has served these people very well indeed."

    JPMorgan/Chase has reported a net PROFIT (not sales) of 21 Billion Dollars.....way, way more than in 2007, the year they, and their TBTF cohorts self regulated the near destruction of the world-wide economy.

    So, when we told those Rich Slobs back then, "don't worry, we don't need our jobs, homes, savings, and futures, here, take them. And, just so we don't stand in your way of rebuilding the world you destroyed, or hamper you in any way as you create millions and millions of new jobs to replace the ones you snuffed out, you can have the money with no strings attached."

    That was 6 years ago, and, I guess 21 Billion simply doesn't go as far as it used to. So, to this very day, your Government, and mine, continues feeding those swine Trillions of dollars (our dollars) at 0% interest. So, as they set off for another really, really hard day of work with our money, and our Government pats them on the head before the gambling begins, they whisper in their ears, "and, don't forget, whatever you win, you keep for yourselves, and when you lose, why, there's just so much more where that came from.

    Have fun!

    Parent

    Hagel cruising (5.00 / 1) (#101)
    by CoralGables on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 11:20:04 AM EST
    to his 60 votes in the Senate, so he'll get a vote where he'll only need 50 votes in the Senate. Go figure.

    We can't have a Hagel crisis now (none / 0) (#102)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 11:23:19 AM EST
    That crisis is so yesterday

    Parent
    71-27 (5.00 / 1) (#103)
    by CoralGables on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 11:38:13 AM EST
    Amazing what can get done (none / 0) (#113)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 12:30:08 PM EST
    When you can't have one more thing you aren't doing or 90% of the heads in this country will explode in a slight breeze :)

    The Republican Department of Army Civilians are on the cusp of figuring a few things out now that the privatized Army is cheaper than they are and under a prepaid contract :)

    It's a minefield out there, Republican House Members better hope a stiff breeze doesn't knock them over.  Stuff could blow

    Republican DACs, they are people that must have stability, that is why they do what they do and yammer what they yammer.  I don't think this throwing under the bus is going to go as well as Boehner and Company thinks.  For one thing it has sort of exposed this privatization of the ARMY in a shocking way and the old guard woke up and they look like someone slapped the hell out of them when they were dead asleep.  TRAUMA

    Parent

    Tonight (Tuesday) on PBS (5.00 / 1) (#105)
    by CoralGables on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 11:44:52 AM EST
    8:00pm ET (and will replay again at 1:00am ET)

    MAKERS: Women Who Make America

    A 3 hour feature narrated by Meryl Streep, it will cover a host of women like Betty Friedan, Hillary, Gloria Steinam, Oprah, and Sandra Day O'Connor.

    It will also include many that a lot of folks barely know. I'll be watching specifically for the features on Judy Blume and Kathrine Switzer.

    I read that Katie Couric (none / 0) (#107)
    by shoephone on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 11:48:34 AM EST
    is also on the list. Streep, Clinton, Steinem, Oprah, yes. Katie Couric? For what?

    Parent
    My guess (none / 0) (#118)
    by CoralGables on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 12:45:04 PM EST
    is your dislike may also extend to including women such as Phyllis Schlafly and Hope Solo? Martha Stewart and Meg Whitman?


    Parent
    Phyllis Schaffly is a scourge, IMO (5.00 / 2) (#124)
    by shoephone on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 01:10:47 PM EST
    and we shall never speak of her again... Martha, Stewart, OTOH, is someone I used to love to hate, but, honestly, she did start a home decorating/cooking/DIY revolution...and I even have a Martha Stewart roasting pan. ;-)

    I don't follow soccer, so Hope Solo doesn't mean much to me, though she is a big deal in Seattle. I'd think if they want to include mavericks of women's sports, they could do no better than to feature Billie Jean King, Chris Evert, and Martina Navratilova. Yes, I'm a tennis fan.

    Parent

    Ha! Watching the show now (none / 0) (#149)
    by shoephone on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 11:50:56 PM EST
    In a clip from "All in the Family" Archie Bunker refers to Schlafly as "that Phyllis Shoefly."

    Parent
    Couric was the first woman to solo anchor (none / 0) (#128)
    by caseyOR on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 02:14:46 PM EST
    an evening network nightly news show. That may be why she is included.

    Parent
    Barbara Walters would've been better. (5.00 / 2) (#137)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 03:30:31 PM EST
    Back in 1976, she was the first woman to anchor a nightly network newscast in any capacity.

    But I'll be eternally grateful to Katie Couric for exposing America's Most Favoritest Female Vice Presidential Candidate and Half-Term Governor EVAH! on prime time TV, and revealing her before the nation to be the total nincompoop that she is.

    Parent

    Barbara Walters (none / 0) (#141)
    by CoralGables on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 03:35:24 PM EST
    will be there too.

    Parent
    I don't think Martha Stewart (none / 0) (#148)
    by sj on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 06:00:32 PM EST
    belongs on that list, does she?

    Parent
    Also on PBS tonight, right after (none / 0) (#108)
    by caseyOR on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 12:04:02 PM EST
    MAKERS is an American Masters on Sister Rosetta Tharpe, The Godmother of Rock 'n Roll.

    If you don't know of Sister Rosetta here is a link.


    Parent

    Seth, the Simpsons called... (none / 0) (#1)
    by Dadler on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 02:33:51 PM EST
    ...they want their show back.

    Patrice O'Neal skewered McFarlane... (none / 0) (#3)
    by Dadler on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 02:36:49 PM EST
    Drunken frat boy humor.. (none / 0) (#49)
    by jondee on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 06:38:09 PM EST
    Seth definately knows his audience, though.

    Parent
    Love Patrice O'Neal. (none / 0) (#69)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 08:15:44 PM EST
    "Just say you're gay. No straight man writes that many show tunes -- that's a fact."

    God bless him.

    Parent

    Found O'Neal's entire bit... (none / 0) (#99)
    by Dadler on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 11:02:33 AM EST
    Best lines (none / 0) (#100)
    by Dadler on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 11:09:13 AM EST
    "I respect Charlie Sheen. Not his body of work. Cuz it's all been very sort of Christian Slaterish. I mean he sucks, but he's good, but he still sucks."

    and

    "He proved that you can't keep a Sheen down. But you can keep an Estevez down, cuz his brother, I mean he's the good one, he does everything right, and that mothereffer's career is OVER."

    RIP, Patrice, we miss you.

    Parent

    Yes we do... (none / 0) (#131)
    by kdog on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 02:28:18 PM EST
    luckily we still have my man Jeff Ross.

    On Sheen..."His nostrils are so snotty and full of coke he calls them the Hilton Sisters."

    Parent

    Site Violator (none / 0) (#4)
    by Dadler on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 02:42:42 PM EST
    Selling lord knows what in some Icelandic or Nordic, or some hybrid Inuit tongue. Is there an online linguistic archaeologist in the house?

    It's Turkish, Dadler (none / 0) (#12)
    by Zorba on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 03:41:32 PM EST
    Most of the spam seems to be Turkish lately.  Don't ask me to translate- all I can do is recognize it.

    Parent
    Mediterranean Diet Can Cut Heart Risk By 30% (none / 0) (#17)
    by ScottW714 on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 04:07:03 PM EST
    Not Spam.

    The study was actually published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

    They were randomly assigned to one of three groups: a Mediterranean diet with extra-virgin olive oil added; the same diet but with mixed nuts; or just a standard diet with advice to cut fat. They were given either a liter of olive oil per week (for the olive oil group), 30 grams of walnuts, hazelnuts and almonds (for the nut group), or little non-food presents for the control group.

    Scott in Houston wants to know:
    How does one consume a liter of olive oil in a week ?  I burn through the stuff, but maybe a liter in a month.  Please help Zorba.

    Parent

    Why don't you try pouring some over ... (none / 0) (#23)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 04:27:21 PM EST
    Scott in Houston: "How does one consume a liter of olive oil in a week?"

    ... a scoop of vanilla ice cream for dessert, garnished with a greek olive of course, and then use it in lieu of milk on your raisin bran in the morning. Please let us know how it tastes, will you?
    ;-D

    Parent

    Donald, do not disparage (5.00 / 2) (#46)
    by Zorba on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 06:27:04 PM EST
    or make fun of, in any way, shape, or form, olive oil, or you may be subject to the Greek evil eye.
    Be warned, my brother.    ;-)

    Parent
    Far from it. (5.00 / 1) (#59)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 07:42:01 PM EST
    I love olive oil, and use it for a lot of things. Whenever I barbeque, I lightly baste whatever I'm grilling, usually chicken or fish, with olive oil and then use crushed black pepper or cajun spices as the seasoning. It's both easy and nobody's complained yet.

    And I do make a wicked tabbouleh, in which I'm somewhat generous with the olive oil because I like tabbouleh to be moist and not dry. My trick is to substitute finely chopped cilantro in lieu of parsley, which I discovered accidentally when I was compelled to improvise one afternoon. With the lemon and onion, the cilantro gives the tabbouleh a bit of a tasty kick -- as long as you don't overdo it.

    Parent

    Donald my brother, (5.00 / 1) (#68)
    by Zorba on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 08:03:37 PM EST
    I have been using cilantro in  tabbouleh for more years than I can remember.  
    I remove the threat of the Greek evil eye from you.    ;-)

    Parent
    See, great minds think alike -- and ... (5.00 / 3) (#70)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 08:17:50 PM EST
    ... they're not afraid of improv in the kitchen.

    Parent
    Sometimes, I use (none / 0) (#127)
    by Zorba on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 01:42:41 PM EST
    both cilantro and parsley.  But only flat-leaf Italian parsley.  Curly parsley, as far as I'm concerned, is an abomination unto The Lord, and only good as a not-eaten garnish on top of or to the side of a dish.  Which I never bother with, so I never buy curly parsley.

    Parent
    I'll try that. (5.00 / 1) (#140)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 03:33:19 PM EST
    But sad to say, fresh Italian parsley is not always readily available out here in the islands. And I agree on the curly-leafed parsley. I'd sooner use lawn clippings.

    Parent
    Italian parsley is pretty much (none / 0) (#142)
    by Zorba on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 03:41:44 PM EST
    readily available here.  But I grow Italian parsley in my garden, so I have a steady supply in the growing season.  I grow cilantro, too, but it really prefers the cool weather, comes up fast, and you have to succession-plant it.
    Do you have a place where you can grow your own?  Italian parsley can also be grown in pots.  And so can cilantro.
    I also grow Greek oregano, basil (several different varieties) and dill.
    Love those fresh herbs!    ;-)

    Parent
    It would take ... (none / 0) (#41)
    by sj on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 06:10:17 PM EST
    ... and awful lot of fresh bread.  
    How does one consume a liter of olive oil in a week ?

    And salads. :)

    Parent
    One of My Favorite 'Meals'... (5.00 / 1) (#133)
    by ScottW714 on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 02:55:23 PM EST
    ...if getting some focaccia bread and dipping it in oil with loads of pepper and salt.

    Panera uses it for their sandwiches so they always have it and occasionally it's still warm.

    I can do a liter a month, easy, two liters is going to take some work.  I was reading that some people just drink a shot of it with a little balsamic vinegar before they brush their teeth in the morning.  I can't imagine doing shot of oil before work.

    Also, there is no better grilled cheese then the ones where butter is substituted with olive oil so long as it doesn't get too done.  OO tends to really taste bad when it's cooked past a certain point, it almost sours.  I never grill with it, butter works the best, it burns off leaving a really good flavor.

    Parent

    The one thing (5.00 / 1) (#135)
    by Zorba on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 03:09:04 PM EST
    you cannot do with EVOO is fry or grill with it for very long- it's not meant for that.  But for short sauteeing, yes.  
    Good bread with olive oil and freshly ground pepper and freshly ground sea salt- one of my faves!

    Parent
    One liter (none / 0) (#44)
    by Zorba on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 06:22:33 PM EST
    is a bit more than a US quart, which is 4 cups.
    I probably use about half that in a week.  So, say, more or less, a half liter a week, or two liters a month.  Although, perhaps some weeks, more.
    But I do a lot of Greek cooking, we eat a lot of salads with olive oil in the salad dressing, and I use olive oil to cook vegetables.
    We use butter very seldom.  If you put butter on your toast or bread, for instance, we use olive oil.  Extra virgin Greek olive oil, of course.   ;-)  

    Parent
    You use the right amount :) (5.00 / 2) (#60)
    by nycstray on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 07:42:46 PM EST
    The report I just saw said 4TBLS a day or 2 liters a month.

    4TBLS a day doesn't seem like that much to me as I cook a couple/few meals a day and use OO. Salads, pasta, veggies etc . . . all scream for OO.

    Parent

    Well, there you go! (none / 0) (#72)
    by Zorba on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 08:34:30 PM EST
    ;-)

    Parent
    How does Greek olive oil differ from (none / 0) (#45)
    by caseyOR on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 06:26:36 PM EST
    Italian or Spanish olive oil? Also, where does one find Greek oil? I've never seen it on the store shelves.

    Parent
    Well, Casey, (none / 0) (#47)
    by Zorba on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 06:34:43 PM EST
    I like it better, but that's the way I was raised.  
    Plus, some "Italian" olive oils, at least in the past, have been known to have been adulterated with other, inferior olive oils, whereas the Greeks kept a closer eye on what was allowed to be labelled as "Greek" olive oil.
    The stores here have Greek extra-virgin olive oil.  Plus, I have a source for our church food festivals for Greek products that we use, and I can get Greek olive oil from him by the gallon.
    If your stores don't carry it, all I can suggest is that you go online and order some.

    Parent
    I was asking about the taste. My everyday (none / 0) (#65)
    by caseyOR on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 07:54:11 PM EST
    olive oil is a Spanish oil. Its taste is fruity with a bit of spiciness, but not peppery. I've had some Italian oils that were bitter and some that were very peppery. What is the flavor profile of Greek oil?

    I know the taste of oil depends on the type of olives used. Arbequina olives are the pre-dominant olive in the oil I use.

    Parent

    Depends upon (none / 0) (#71)
    by Zorba on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 08:31:52 PM EST
    which Greek olive oil you get.  Kalamata, probably the most commonly available, is a bit peppery, but with green fruit and bitter almond flavor.
    Cretan olive oil, which I prefer, and which is harder to find, is more fruity, low acidity, with a nice grassy, and sort of a fresh artichoke, green veggie flavor.  Only a little bit spicy/peppery.

    Parent
    Me, too, with the using of all the olive oil. (none / 0) (#80)
    by caseyOR on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 09:40:42 PM EST
    Scrambling or frying eggs? Olive oil. Salad dressing? Olive oil. Sauteing vegies or anything? Olive oil. Roasting veggies? Toss with olive oil.

    The only time I use butter is in baking when the recipe calls for butter. No butter on my toast or my vegies or anything.

    Parent

    Is it true that none (none / 0) (#106)
    by fishcamp on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 11:45:14 AM EST
    of the various oils are actually good for you?  I believe good olive oil is just a better choice than butter.  My cats love a small dollop of regular olive oil on their food but they won't eat virgin or extra virgin olive oil.

    Parent
    No, that is not true. (none / 0) (#111)
    by caseyOR on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 12:10:29 PM EST
    A major 5 year study has concluded that following the Mediterranean diet, which includes olive oil, can reduce one's risk of heart attack or stroke by 30%.

    The study results were released the other day. Researchers felt that the results were so significant that they halted the study early because they felt it was wrong to keep the control groups from following the Mediterranean diet.

    So, eat lots of fruit and vegetables and nuts and whole grains and fish and poultry and olive oil. Drink red wine. Save yourself

    Parent

    Thanks again casey but (none / 0) (#114)
    by fishcamp on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 12:30:33 PM EST
    why do my cats refuse virgin and extra virgin olive oil and love regular olive oil.  I guess I'm asking what's the difference between the oils.  Extra virgin olive oil always seems bitter to me.

    Parent
    Cats (5.00 / 1) (#117)
    by CoralGables on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 12:43:18 PM EST
    don't pay for their medical bills, so they don't give a flying furrball about their health.

    Parent
    Sorry, fishcamp, I can't help you with the cats. (none / 0) (#116)
    by caseyOR on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 12:38:30 PM EST
    I have always been baffled by the choices made by our feline friends.

    Parent
    And dogs... (5.00 / 1) (#130)
    by kdog on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 02:26:05 PM EST
    my Notorious D.O.G. won't eat left over mashed potatos without butter.  But he will eat his own barf.  Go figure.

    Parent
    FWIW, one of my Pincers (none / 0) (#138)
    by NYShooter on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 03:31:52 PM EST
    was about 20 lbs overweight. And, the dog absolutely would not eat any of the Vet lo-calorie crap.  She would devour boulders and tree trunks, but wouldn't touch lo-cal. So, the solution? Mix a can of string beans into her dry meal. She devours it, and it fills her belly up, with almost no caloric intake.

    I thought the vet was crazy when she suggested it, but my 100 lb. Doby just loves it.

    Not to say your dog has a weight problem, dog-man, just thought of it when reading your post.


    Parent

    My Beautiful Boy was... (none / 0) (#146)
    by sj on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 05:53:10 PM EST
    ... more than half-starved when I found him and he would eat anything -- even birdseed.  His meals were usually gone in about a minute and his body wouldn't have received the information that he'd had enough to eat.  It was a struggle to keep him lean and fit.  Even with all the exercise.

    So I got fresh string beans, steamed them slightly (there's a word for this but I can't remember right now) and then froze them.  A few minutes after he ate his meal (while the girls would be barely half done) he would get a big handful of those for dessert.  He loved them -- little string bean popsicles.  I could break them into bits for training treats.

    Even the girls liked string beans, but my Boy loved them.

    Parent

    When I was a kid (none / 0) (#147)
    by sj on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 05:56:26 PM EST
    the Family Dog liked her Saturday morning pancakes with butter and syrup. But she wasn't spoiled or anything.

    Parent
    Extra-virgin (none / 0) (#123)
    by Zorba on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 01:09:29 PM EST
    And virgin oils have more olive taste.  Olives are, basically, a fruit.  The different types of extra-virgin olive oils can either taste fruity,or peppery/spicy, or some of each, and some types can have a green vegetable/grassy taste, as well.  Regular olive oil tends to be bland, with much, much less olive taste.
    Cats are carnivores.  Evidently, yours don't like the taste of fruit, pepper, or green vegetables.  Most carnivores do appreciate some extra fat/oil their diets, though, so your cats are liking the oil, but not liking the olive flavor of the extra-virgins.
    I don't find extra-virgin olive oil bitter, but then, I grew up with olive oil.

    Parent
    For all you olive oilophiles. (5.00 / 1) (#136)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 03:12:59 PM EST
    There is a store I've been to that's trying to make a go out of selling only olive oils and vinegars. The Olive Vineyard.

    I've been there and there is every flavor of olive oil/vinegar you can imagine.

    I'm sure they ship, too.

    Parent

    Thanks, sarc (5.00 / 1) (#139)
    by Zorba on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 03:32:06 PM EST
    I'll have to check it out.
    But I don't see that they carry any Greek olive oils.    :-(
    There is a specialty olive oil and vinegar store in Frederick, MD, as well.  Link.
    I'll have to go there and try some of their oils.  And vinegars.  Probably go there in the Spring.  Although I notice that they, too, have no Greek oils.  Spanish, Italian, and French, plus specialty oils.  Maybe I can talk them into stocking Greek EVOO.  They ship, too.

    Parent
    And RIcky Gervais is actually funny (none / 0) (#5)
    by Dadler on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 02:45:57 PM EST
    That's it with me when all is said and done (none / 0) (#16)
    by ruffian on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 04:05:55 PM EST
    I don't mind offensive as much if it makes me laugh, as Gervais usually does. But Seth was just not funny to me.

    I am certainly way out of what I assume is his fan base. I wish the Oscars would go back to catering to middle aged women! How about Meryl Streep and Daniel Day Lewis co-hosing next year? Bring some class and real humor to the proceedings.

    Parent

    I think they should go with (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by MO Blue on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 04:11:35 PM EST
    Tina Fey.

    Parent
    The Academy may now be (5.00 / 1) (#35)
    by KeysDan on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 05:23:39 PM EST
    concerned that Tina Fey may offend--Sarah Palin.   Seth MacFarlane was, for me, a risky and risque choice for them to make, especially after the "edgy" hosting of Chris Rock in 2005.  

    Apparently, the Academy wanted to appeal to a younger movie-going crowd.  If they find it did not work out as well as hoped, there can be little more sympathy for them than for the host who invites a skunk to a garden party and finds that everything is not coming up roses.

     I like Seth MacFarlane's Family Guy and appreciate his range of talent, from animation, song, dance and big band pianist.  His dark and sardonic humor has been appreciated  in the context of his liberal positions, including support of writer's guild and its strikes, his activism in gay rights, including marriage equality, and other social justice issues.  He was awarded Harvard's Humanitarian Award in 20ll.

    MacFarlane's hosting of the Academy Awards started off badly, but he did improve over the course of the show--an ample period in which to fine tune.   Most of his jokes/insults were acceptable and some were even funny. They may have been in the edgy but stereotyping category of the old Henny Youngman mother-in-law jokes (just got back from a pleasure trip, took my mother-in-law to the airport) .  Funny,to us now,  but not sure how the mother-in-laws liked it, although it said as much about the son-in-law.

    MacFarlane  had a mastery of the stage and the audience seemed to enjoy most of his equal opportunity/roast-like offenses. But, he missed big time on the women's piece--had me cringing as to where he was going to go with it--and it was nowhere.  He might have gotten out of it if he did an equal opportunity offense on male actors, but he didn't, letting whatever he intended to come off as misogynistic.

    Otherwise, the show lived up to its past, of being too long aided and abetted by the acceptance speeches that proclaimed that achievements would not have happened without their agents, lawyers, spouses and toddlers. MacFarlane was the wrong host but there are two good outcomes to it all: He will not be invited back, he can be seen in other venues or  we can tune in to Tosh.0.  And,  Zero Dark Thirty only won half an award.

     

    Parent

    It wasn't his best performance for sure (none / 0) (#36)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 05:32:22 PM EST
    Not a flattering venue for him.  As is pointed out in the article should Seth lose sleep?  Probably not.  Was he trying out for a permanent host job, hell no...why would he?  I'm getting old though I guess, in this instance done trumps perfect for me.  If people want to genuinely be upset, who the hell hired him for the Oscars?  He has always been thus

    Parent
    Offending Sarah is a (none / 0) (#40)
    by MO Blue on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 05:52:24 PM EST
    bad thing? :o)

    All joking aside, thanks for your viewpoint on his performance. I don't own a TV so I didn't actually see the event. I got my updates on who won the various categories through a blog that updated the winners as they happened and posted short blips of what they considered major events. Read the thread here to get additional feedback. Viewed the male and female attires via sideshows and used youtube to view some performances that interested me.

    Must say I preferred this method to watching an event that I think is always too, too long although I can understand why others would prefer to watch it on TV.

    Thanks again for your input. As always it is well done.

    Parent

    MO how can you know (none / 0) (#112)
    by fishcamp on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 12:19:26 PM EST
    so much great stuff without a TV?  You must have a row of laptops like Jeralyn and research just about everything.

    Parent
    Thank you for the kind words (5.00 / 2) (#145)
    by MO Blue on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 04:52:14 PM EST
    I am addicted to reading.

    No row of laptops. Just one. Over the last couple of years I've discovered which sites do a good job of covering issues that I think are important. If I have the time I also tend to follow the links in articles and often discover additional information or new sites for me to check out.

    I am terrible at trivia but seem to be able to remember tidbits of information on things related to health care, civil liberties and domestic and social insurance programs. I am getting better at using (to quote Dubya) The Google. My skills are still rather primitive but my past coworkers didn't nick name me Hooper the Hound when I was researching information for nothing.    

    Parent

    Meh (none / 0) (#89)
    by jbindc on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 07:15:28 AM EST
    I know I'm in the minority, but I don't find Tina Fey funny.  She occasionally gets in a humorous line here and there, but mostly when I watch her, I'm already at the punch line as she's doing the set-up - it's just so predictable. I've never cracked up out loud at any of her humor. Her Sarah Palin impression was amazing - for  one skit.  After that, it was overexposed and overdone.

    And no, I'm not that old. (Gen X'er here).

    Parent

    Found... (none / 0) (#6)
    by kdog on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 03:13:19 PM EST
    out my old high school and one of my favorite teachers has been in the news recently, and not in a good way.  Can't believe I only heard about it through the grapevine this weekend.

    I remember Mr. K exactly as described by his other former student who has started this petition to at least get an apology out of St. Francis Prep.  A loving, caring, effective educator who never brought his personal sexual preferences into the classroom ever.  Also an excellent musician (keyboardist) who I loved to talk music with.

    By all counts a huge asset to the school, till one lame-arse parent complains and the man who gave 30 + years of service gets sh*tcanned for being honest.  Truly shameful...I see they've still got the same principal too as when I attended, and apparently he's still a total douchebag.

    Do your old pal kdog a favor and sign the petition at change.org...this one is personal!

    Signed it, matey. (5.00 / 1) (#18)
    by caseyOR on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 04:09:25 PM EST
    Although I wonder why the petition is for just an apology. Why not demand that St.Francis give Mr. K his job back?

    For those who do not want their full names displayed, there is a box located below the box that asks your reason for signing, that you can check to keep your name from being displayed.

    Parent

    Please remind me what century we're in. (5.00 / 1) (#19)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 04:10:28 PM EST
    I signed the petition.

    Speaking for myself only as a Roman Catholic, I think it's really a damned shame that in the year 2013, men who doll themselves up in miter hats, gold robes and ruby slippers should still somehow continue to believe that they've the right to pass moral judgment upon other men who choose to accessorize with hoop earrings and impeccable manicures.

    My two favorite teachers in elementary school were a lesbian couple who taught fourth and fifth grade, respectively. By the time I was their student, they'd been teaching at my school for nearly two decades. Miss B. was an irrepressible showman at heart who made math and science relevant, accessible and interesting, and Miss H. introduced us to the wonderful world of literature, which she did by reading aloud books such as  "Charlotte's Web" to us in class.

    I innately knew there was something different about those two, although at that age I couldn't quite figure out what it was, other than Miss H. was quite affectionate toward Miss B., and Miss B. was decidedly less feminine than most women I knew. My mother would deflect my questions about it, telling me that I'd better understand when I was older. She admitted later that she and other parents knew about them, and it didn't bother her.

    (Now that I think of it, Miss B. actually looked an awful lot like Glenn Close in "Albert Nobbs.")

    Gender identity and sexual orientation have nothing to do with one's ability to be a good teacher, coach and mentor to young people. It's probably too bad that Sen. James Inhofe and other troglodytes didn't have a lesbian teacher who loved the sciences like Miss B., because if he had, he wouldn't currently be making such a friggin' fool of himself over the issue of climate change.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    If you want to bring our country (5.00 / 1) (#74)
    by NYLeft on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 09:06:05 PM EST
    into the current century, the most important event in the next month will be the Supreme Court decisions on DOMA and Prop 8.

    This is as good a time as any to attend a rally to help convince five justices that we want gay and lesbian equality and they'd do well to be on the right side of history next month.


    Parent

    Absolutely. (5.00 / 2) (#75)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 09:12:37 PM EST
    Anyone who claims to be a proponent of civil rights should weigh in personally on this important issue at this most critical juncture.

    Parent
    Signed it. (5.00 / 1) (#144)
    by jbindc on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 04:16:27 PM EST
    Just signed it, Dog (none / 0) (#8)
    by Dadler on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 03:18:57 PM EST
    And gladly. Phucking shame I even have to in the year 2013. Hope it works out the way it should. Peace, my man.

    Parent
    And Peace be with you... (5.00 / 3) (#11)
    by kdog on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 03:35:13 PM EST
    thanks D...I guess he shoulda just buggered some kids instead of wearing a little nail polish and earrings, then the diocese would have directed the principal to just transfer him to the math department.

    F*ck the Church!

    Parent

    Where's Dante? So many circles in Hell... (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by Mr Natural on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 03:46:03 PM EST
    ... So little time.

    Parent
    Hey... (none / 0) (#15)
    by ScottW714 on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 03:57:30 PM EST
    I just signed it as well and noticed it displayed your full name and city.  Just as mine is displayed, that kind of sucks...

    And kdog, as much as this inequality business is really starting to tick me off, teachers have to know, especially transgender ones, that some parts of their lives in 2013 will get them canned.  It sucks, but it's also living with reality, we don't need to to come clean to our employers about everything.

    I would be shocked to find one openly transgender person holding a job as teacher of kids.  Not making excuses, it's wrong, but I think at some level we all keep certain aspects of out private lives away from work.  Especially the ones that could leave us jobless.  But I got mad respect for the person that does the right thing, regardless, and that is why I signed it.

    A gf a while back had a dad that was transgender, I think, he was trans something.  He liked to dress up as a woman, but no surgeries and he dated women.  He was no slump in that department either, his gf was very pretty.  It was weird because I talked to the guy several times, then once we ran into him at a restaurant all decked out and while I knew he did it and recognized his gf, it didn't click and I felt like a total a$$ once it did.  The guy was cool and I can't imagine how anyone who dresses up would somehow effect their job performance.

    Parent

    There's a box you can uncheck (none / 0) (#32)
    by Anne on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 05:08:29 PM EST
    to not display your signature, but I don't know if unchecking it after you've signed will work.

    As a parent, how would you explain to say, your 10 year old that Mr. Smith is now Ms. Smith, or vice-versa?  I'm not saying it can't be explained, but not all parents would be willing to take it on voluntarily - a lot would be royally ticked off at being put in a position where they had to explain transgender to their kid.  Hell, some can't even handle your basic birds-and-bees conversation.

    And then there's just so much ignorance out there.

    I feel terrible for anyone who is in the situation this teacher was in - to think of what a wonderful job he did, even while dealing with an intensely difficult personal situation, and then to be tossed out on the street - well, it's just not right.

    People are just such jerks sometimes.

    Parent

    Some of the greatest proponents of ... (5.00 / 1) (#67)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 08:02:28 PM EST
    ... the arts in our schools are often gay and lesbian teachers. And as one study put it:

    "Those who study the arts outperform arts-poor students by virtually every measure: grades, test scores, attitudes and behavior irrespective of socio-economic status.  Students of the arts regularly outperform their non-arts peers, with average SAT scores 59 points higher on the verbal portion and 44 points higher on the math." (E. Fiske, Ed., "The Impact of Arts on Learning," Champions of Change, 1999)

    It's a shame that some people will willingly shortchange their own children in order to indulge ignorance and prejudice.

    Parent

    Do your old pal kdog a favor... (none / 0) (#27)
    by desertswine on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 04:37:46 PM EST
    So I signed too...  some people have to be dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century. If the guy's a great teacher, then he's a great teacher.

    Parent
    Thanks All... (none / 0) (#76)
    by kdog on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 09:25:02 PM EST
    you guys rock...ya hate to see bad things happen to good people and Mr. K is good people.

    He couldn't have been more low-key...back in the day I just thought he had a little shirt and tie Ziggy Stardust thing going, but very low-key.  He couldn't have been more respectful of the religious curriculum.  It makes no sense, no sense at all.

    Parent

    But there's still karma at work here. (none / 0) (#143)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 03:43:59 PM EST
    Your teacher was very good to all of you when you were in school and now, years later, you're standing up with him and for him in the face of an obvious rank injustice being done to him.

    Regardless of however it turns out in the short term, I'd say that Mr. K did his job very well, to have inspired such good will and loyalty amongst his former pupils, even years after the fact. Such individuals are somewhat rare in life.

    Parent

    Could Obamacare make Medicaid (none / 0) (#7)
    by MO Blue on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 03:18:10 PM EST
    more Republican?

    Republican governors are making a big ask of the Obama administration in return for cooperating on the Medicaid expansion: They want to overhaul the underlying insurance program that covers 60 million low-income Americans.

    If the Obama administration agrees, the battles over the health-care law could have an unexpected resolution: A larger, but more conservative, Medicaid program.

    Emerging deals show governors exploring approaches that would significantly reshape the program, such as moving beneficiaries into privately managed health coverage or giving enrollees a greater financial stake in their health care.
    ...
    Hours before announcing his decision to expand Medicaid, Florida Gov. Rick Scott had two waivers approved by Health and Human Services. The new flexibility will allow the state to move nearly all Medicaid enrollees into privately managed plans.
    ...
    Indiana Gov. Mike Pence will only consider the Medicaid expansion if he can move forward using the state's Healthy Indiana Program, which puts new enrollees in a private-style plan with a high deductible. link




    Wow, the govs plan to reform a program (5.00 / 2) (#9)
    by caseyOR on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 03:32:47 PM EST
    that provides health insurance to the poor will increase the costs that those poor people must pay for the poor people health insurance. Way to help the poor, guys.

    All those Democrats who insisted we had to support Obamacare because of its historic and far-reaching expansion of Medicaid were damn fools. Or maybe they were just being normal everyday tools. I don't know.

    Yes, for some small number of people Obamacare delivers some benefit. Young people up to age 26 whose parents can afford to pay to keep them on insurance are served. People with pre-existing conditions cannot be denied coverage, provided they can pay for it. Good things. Still, the program as a whole is terrible for most people, especially those who must swim in the private insurance market, and as we now know, for those who were counting on Medicaid.

    And, as more employers opt to jettison their company-provided health insurance plans, more and more people will find themselves desperately treading water in the private market, poring over their computer screens searching for a plan that has premiums they can afford and deductibles and co-pays that they can also afford.

    Parent

    The total emphasis on reducing the amount (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by MO Blue on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 04:28:14 PM EST
    spent on health care is to make it so expensive that only the rich and congresscritters (most also rich) can afford actual care. The insurance industry will receive their bloated premiums but not have to pay any claims for those who cannot afford to pay the high deductibles. This is pure BS:

    The goal is to lower the cost of care by giving Medicaid patients a financial stake in their own health-care spending.

    They receive Medicaid because they are extremely poor so the goal is to put even minimal care out of their reach due to the high deductibles.

    Good god fearing folks we have running our governments. When I see what they are planning to do to the most vulnerable to satisfy their greed, I truly hope there is a hell.

    Parent

    The goal is to lower the cost by (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by caseyOR on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 04:33:37 PM EST
    making it so expensive that the poor, and really the middle-class, will not be able to get any health care. As a result they will die at an ever earlier age. And that means even fewer parasites will live long enough to collect the ever-diminishing Social Security benefits.

    Parent
    Yes Casey I agree... (5.00 / 1) (#109)
    by fishcamp on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 12:05:28 PM EST
    and also when people receive those reports from SS telling them how much they will receive when they decide to go on SS they mistakenly think the government is there to help.  But they also include how much more you will receive if you wait until you are 70.  What many people do not realize is the government wants you to keep working until you drop dead and they get to keep all your money.  Sad but true.

    Parent
    hey! (none / 0) (#50)
    by CST on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 06:40:45 PM EST
    School is great, I find myself being that annoying person who won't shut-up in class.  Which is a very stark turn from my undergrad days.  It was a lot harder to have opinions about engineering than planning though, 2+2=4 every time.  As everyone here knows I'm not shy with my opinions when I've got them, so I'm definitely enjoying that aspect of it.  

    Otherwise stuff is kind of "meh", still struggling with how to turn this academic interest into a career I'd enjoy.  Been busy though,  which means I have less time for surfing the web and TL.  Good to stop by every once in a while though.  Hope the pirate business is going well as always.

    Parent

    I'm so glad you like grad school. (none / 0) (#83)
    by caseyOR on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 09:59:02 PM EST
    I don't know if you need to stay in the Boston area for post-Masters work, but if not, well, we are pretty planning obsessed here in Portland and, really, the entire state of Oregon. It is almost a fetish with us.

    So, maybe you could Go West, young woman when the time comes.

    Parent

    Saw the results of a poll (5.00 / 1) (#30)
    by NYShooter on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 04:48:20 PM EST
    on MSNBC, or Bloomberg News (I flip between the two,) where two groups were asked the same question. Group #1 was the 1%, and #2 was everyone else. The question was:

    List, in order of importance, the biggest issues facing American today.

    Group #1 (The 1%).........97% said, The Deficit

    Group#2 (Everyone else)........Don't recall the exact percentages but, the great majority said JOBS & THE ECONOMY was #1, and the deficit was way down in 5th or 6th place, single digits, after education, health care, infrastructure, immigration reform, etc.

    We'll see how President Obama listens to the "will of the people."

    I know this is an opening for a ton of <snark> responses but,  it is not meant to be.

    Parent

    the opposite of imrovement (none / 0) (#90)
    by TeresaInPa on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 07:40:45 AM EST
    this will just mean that more people go to the emergency room for care and then don't pay the bill.  This is the opposite direction from where we should be going to fix our healthcare problem.

    I would love for Hillary Clinton to be president...but we need someone to take on single payer healthcare MEDICARE FOR ALL. (DAMN IT) like Gore has taken on Global Climate Change. We need for someone to do it without the need to win elections in the process.  If Secretary Clinton took on this issue and educated the American public on why it would work and why it would be the best thing for our economy etc... I would be good with that.  In the meantime who else has the stature and the guts to do the job and stand up to the mocking that would come with the task?

    Parent

    I think, as we get closer to the (5.00 / 2) (#93)
    by Anne on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 08:13:59 AM EST
    alleged full implementation of the ACA, things are going to get maybe about 50 kinds of screwed up.

    I was reading the other day that a lot of companies are beginning to limit enrollment in employer-sponsored health plans to just the employee, leaving employed spouses with the option of enrolling in their own company's plan - if there is one - or having to go out in the open market for coverage if there is no plan.

    Are companies positioning to dump plans altogether as the so-called exchanges come into being?  Does the average person have the foggiest idea what's coming for them on health care coverage?  How could they?  Jesus, you've got states who want out of Medicaid expansion and states who want in; you've got states who won't create exchanges and states that will, or have.  

    I don't know - it just looks to me like we've built a Rube Goldberg-type structure when we didn't need to, because we know that a much simpler option exists - Medicare for All? - that we know works.

    The ONLY reason this has to be so complicated is...money.  Follow the money: who's making it, who's going to be spending it, who benefits from it.

    I'd like to think there is someone who could take this on in a non-political way, but even the most non-political, no-axe-to-grind person will be deemed political by interest groups trying to steer the outcome.

    Why couldn't the government open up Medicare to, I don't know, all those living in 5 random states who are between the ages of 55 and 64, and see how that goes?

    Wait, I know why it can't happen - insurance companies losing all those premiums...I keep forgetting that this isn't about health CARE, or about anyone's actual HEALTH, but about the bulging pockets of the insurance industry executives and shareholders.

    What was I thinking?

    Parent

    ... that he stunk up the joint last night. As I've always contended, his type of humor isn't for everyone.

    What's considered edgy when you're playing to your own discerning crowd of fans can quickly be interpreted as obtuse and insensitive or worse when you're out there in prime time before a nationwide audience -- and MacFarlane should have known that better than anyone else.

    An even better use of "prime time" (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by Mr Natural on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 03:47:49 PM EST
    is turning off the television.

    Parent
    That's what happens. (none / 0) (#22)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 04:16:56 PM EST
    It's hard for people to see the ads which you the advertiser have paid good money to air on a prime show when they're turning the TV sets off. We turned ours off after MacFarlane made that awful joke about Lincoln's assassination.

    Parent
    And he stole that joke, basically, (none / 0) (#28)
    by desertswine on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 04:40:34 PM EST
    from Letterman who has used it several times on his show.... The "too soon?" part after the Lincoln joke anyway.

    Parent
    It wasn't funny then, either.

    Parent
    We like Seth (none / 0) (#21)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 04:16:05 PM EST
    Josh and my husband went to Ted, I haven't seen it but it was too much for Josh.  We all thought it would be mellower.  Between Josh and I, our favorite Family Guy episode is when Stewie blows his mother away.  But then it turns out she didn't really die.  It's very Freudian for us.  But when you are disabled you need your mom and she is up your everything, and you hate her sometimes and you hate needing her. It's possible everyone has a little mother hatred going on...at least according to modern psychology it is.

    I feel like Seth is always pointing to the dark side of people and culture.  Everyone is always very happy to pretend those things don't exist and we have all these hiccups happening to us and around us because we do have these ongoing issues and few want to acknowledge any of what isn't pleasant.  If you are going to partake of Mcfarlane work, don't expect a warm blanket to come with any of it.  

    What does Seth really think about life, and women, and children, and sex, and race?  Heck if I know.  I don't think much of his work is about what he nurtures and cherishes.


    This was the Oscars (5.00 / 1) (#42)
    by TeresaInPa on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 06:11:10 PM EST
     not a Lenny Bruce concert.  I didn't tune in to be creeped out by joke about a 9 year old girl and George Clooney or songs about seeing actresses boobs as in "ha ha ha, wasn't it funny when we saw Jodi Foster's boobs in that gang rape scene in The Acused".

    Parent
    All (none / 0) (#31)
    by lentinel on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 04:59:36 PM EST
    that may be true...

    but did you see his bit at the Oscars the other night?

    Parent

    I saw the last half (none / 0) (#33)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 05:16:24 PM EST
    But I'm familiar with his humor and how dry, brittle, and in your face he can get. Many comedians straddle the inappropriate, Lenny Bruce comes to mind easily.  McFarlane has something to say that speaks to us or we wouldn't be paying him what we pay him.  If you were unfamiliar with his humor I suppose I understand that his hosting might come as a shock but I knew what I was getting into.

    We watched Anna Karenina first though, sorry Seth

    Parent

    Obviously, (5.00 / 1) (#38)
    by lentinel on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 05:42:01 PM EST
    this is in the eye of the beholder.

    I love Lenny Bruce.

    I cringed at Seth's performance.

    Lenny makes me laugh and think.
    Seth made me want to turn off the tv - or mute the sound until he vacated the stage. Not because his "humor" was inappropriate, but because it was sickening and severely unfunny.

    Since you missed the first half of the show, you missed some of the most atrocious racist and sexist crap I have seen. Really stupid.

    I really wonder how the members of the academy - the actors, writers, technicians, directors - felt about having a performance such as his befouling their show and their art.

    Why don't they have someone like Gene Hackman mc?
    Someone who knows something about the industry - about film?
    Why not Scorsese?

    Why these burlesque comics?

    I had never seen or heard of Seth before.
    I don't know his cartoon work.
    But I know what I saw last night. And it was dreadful. Really pathetic.

    Parent

    Only those who hired Seth know (none / 0) (#39)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 05:51:24 PM EST
    Why they hired Seth.  

    Parent
    True. (5.00 / 1) (#55)
    by lentinel on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 07:18:28 PM EST
    I would like to know who hired him.

    And if I were a member of the academy - or an invited guest at that ceremony - I would really like to know so that I could run them out of town on a rail.

    Parent

    That's easy (5.00 / 1) (#56)
    by shoephone on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 07:27:05 PM EST
    The producers of the show are desperate to get more eyeballs. So they appealed to the frat boys they think are spending all the money on going to movies these days, hoping that would do the trick. I haven't seen the numbers from last night's broadcast, but I'd be willing to bet the people who made the decision are not patting themselves on the back today.

    Parent
    Highest entertainment TV show ratings (none / 0) (#58)
    by CoralGables on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 07:33:49 PM EST
    in three years. Ratings for the 18-49 age group jumped 11% over last year.

    Poor comparison against last year though because it was the same night as the NBA All Star game. Still the second best Oscars broadcast viewership since 2005.

    Parent

    But at what cost to the (5.00 / 1) (#66)
    by shoephone on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 07:57:09 PM EST
    49 and over viewership? I know a bunch of people who simply quit watching at a certain point. During the "hey, let's make fun of the Jews now!" Ted segment, I turned the sound off to go do laundry and make dinner...I did get a lot of household chores accomplished during this Oscars. Even cleaned the bathroom.

    So, do the numbers mean MacFarlane will be back next year? Doubtful.

    Parent

    Damn, it worked? (none / 0) (#63)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 07:48:38 PM EST
    Speaking of boobs, one of the strange wingnutty guys that works around my husband said that Beyonce's Super Bowl performance was gross and the most sexually suggestive horror he'd ever seen during halftime. I guess it made his eyes feel dirty or something. I'm told this was a kind of theme with some boobs out there...who I guess forgot about past wardrobe malfunctions :). I didn't say a word to him though, just smiled and was tickled by his observations.

    Parent
    We didn't tune in for Seth though (none / 0) (#64)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 07:50:08 PM EST
    It was a fierce competition year.  That was why we tuned in.

    Parent
    Seth was seemingly (none / 0) (#79)
    by MKS on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 09:40:32 PM EST
    good natured and easy going in demeanor.  I confess I didn't pay much attention to what he said.   I do recall the Lincoln joke and that he got appropriately booed.

    He may have been similarly wretched across the board, but I wasn't listening. He looked nice and pleasant....

    What is that they say about non-verbal communication being 90% of all information actually received and assimilated?   And how does that affect websites like this one?  

    Parent

    when I was in middle school (none / 0) (#29)
    by TeresaInPa on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 04:43:35 PM EST
    anytime I failed at something I pretended I didn't care about it and didn't really try. I wasn't aware at the time that boys actually got other boys to write their excuses for them.

    With the tragic case of Oscar Pistorius (none / 0) (#54)
    by shoephone on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 07:11:07 PM EST
    all over the news the past week, I keep caught up on how close his last name is to one of my all time favorite musicians, Jaco Pastorius. So, I've started listening to a bunch of Jaco again, plus the Word of Mouth Revisited recording w/ bassist Jimmy Haslip (another incredible player) as leader.

    I will never forget when Jaco died. I and the rest of the players in my band at the time couldn't bring ourselves to rehearse at all. Just sat there talking about Jaco for hours, both laughing and crying. I still miss his musical brilliance. It's a really weird feeling when you realize nearly all your musical heroes are gone.

    Those that hate the Patriots (none / 0) (#77)
    by CoralGables on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 09:35:52 PM EST
    get ready for more years of them being good.

    Tom Brady signed an extension through 2017 paying him less than half per year compared to Peyton Manning's salary. With a team salary cap in the NFL, that's nothing but good news for the New England Patriots.

    Yeah, I thought Denver with Peyton (none / 0) (#81)
    by MKS on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 09:43:38 PM EST
    would be a juggernaut....

    The Ravens?  Still don't believe it....

    Parent

    In the NFL (none / 0) (#82)
    by CoralGables on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 09:55:25 PM EST
    it's not just what players you manage to get, but how little you can get away with paying your high end players so the entire roster remains strong.

    Will be interesting to see how the Ravens handle that problem with their expiring contracts.


    Parent

    In Ozzie we trust... (none / 0) (#84)
    by Anne on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 10:08:04 PM EST
    I think there are some players we won't be able to re-sign, but that's not uncommon in this day of the salary cap.

    Brady's what? 36 or 37?  He's made a ton of money, and he can afford to play more for the love of the game, and of his team, as he gets closer to the end of his career.

    I think the Ravens will get a deal done with Flacco, Pat Moriarty will structure it well, and we'll be able to keep some key players.  And we'll draft well, and we'll pick up some undrafted free agents who will fit well with the scheme.

    Can they repeat?  Who knows?  All I can say is that playoff run was like capturing lightning in a bottle - plays got made, balls got caught, that felt like fate, or something.

    Whatever it was, it was a hell of a lot of fun.  Every fan should experience that once with their team - there's really nothing like it.

    Parent

    Townhall at Fort Rucker last night (none / 0) (#88)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 06:59:30 AM EST
    I don't understand why we have two differently employed instructor pilots, it is like the guards on the gates, there are IPs who are DOD civilian employees and there are IPs who are contractors.  DOD civilian employees will be furloughed and of course sequestration will not affect the contractor instructor pilots.  All hell broke loose when that reality set in.

    I used to live in DC (5.00 / 1) (#91)
    by Yman on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 07:57:57 AM EST
    My wife and numerous friends worked for the federal government.  I had a few conservative friends who were always spouting off about "bureaucrats" and wasteful government spending.  When the government was shutdown in '95, it was amazing to watch the reality hit home when they had to go without a paycheck for a couple of weeks.  Suddenly, the disdainful use of the word "bureaucrat" stopped, and they weren't amused when Rush and other conservatives derisively referred to them as "non-essential" government workers ("If they're 'non-essential', we don't need 'em!").

    "Oh, wait, ... I didn't mean 'us', ... I meant all those other bureaucrats that are part of some agency I don't like!" ...

    Parent

    My in-law is a DOD IP civilian (5.00 / 1) (#92)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 08:03:53 AM EST
    He is cussing Obama a blue streak.  Who has been the biggest privatizers of the military though?  That would be Republicans.  He would never work as  a Contractor though because they must worry every time each contract is negotiated and no benefits no paid sick days no vacation no representation over job issues....and Obama did it :)

    Parent
    After 4 days out on bail (none / 0) (#97)
    by CoralGables on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 10:06:52 AM EST
    Pistorius's attorney is considering asking the court to ease some of his bail conditions.

    The lawyer, Kenny Oldwage, told Bloomberg News:

    "He just really wants to get on with his life."

    His gf is dead, Oscar is just brain dead.

    Wow (none / 0) (#98)
    by jbindc on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 10:41:57 AM EST
    Bail is hard.  Let's just all move on.

    Sheesh.

    Parent

    "Better to keep your mouth shut.... (none / 0) (#121)
    by kdog on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 12:56:36 PM EST
    and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt" must not be a common saying in SA.

    Parent
    At this very moment Dennis Rodman is in (none / 0) (#104)
    by caseyOR on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 11:43:22 AM EST
    North Korea. Could this be a carefully planned super-secret operation to drive Kim Jong-Un completely around the bend once and for all?

    Could this be considered a "first strike" by the U.S.?

    LOL... (none / 0) (#110)
    by kdog on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 12:09:46 PM EST
    If The Worm plays a little one on Jong-Un, he better let him win! ;)

    In all seriousness, it's pretty cool...basketball diplomacy is a great idea.  After soccer, it is the world's game...always good to remember the ties that bind us all.

    Parent

    Hey, kdog, check out tonight's (none / 0) (#115)
    by caseyOR on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 12:37:08 PM EST
    American Masters series on PBS. The subject is Sister Rosetta Tharpe. She was your kind of people, matey.

    Parent
    Aye Aye Cap... (none / 0) (#120)
    by kdog on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 12:54:24 PM EST
    I'm on it, see ya tonight "Down by the Riverside";)

    Parent
    Just saw this show last week (none / 0) (#122)
    by shoephone on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 01:02:21 PM EST
    Fantastic singer, and the woman could really play guitar! You will love it. She seemed to favor one very oblong white guitar that looks like a stretched out Gibson SG...

    Parent
    I know the name.. (none / 0) (#125)
    by kdog on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 01:16:57 PM EST
    but am embarassed to say I'm not that familar with her work, other than knowing she helped blaze the trail for all the greats I am familar with.

    She looks so bad arse in pictures with that guitar.

    Parent

    Here ya go, kdog. Sister Rosetta performing (none / 0) (#129)
    by caseyOR on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 02:21:35 PM EST
    two songs, Didn't It Rain and Trouble in Mind at the Chorlton Railway Station outside Manchester in 1964.

    Watch and get a taste of the wondrous music that awaits you tonight.

    Parent

    Gracias... (none / 0) (#132)
    by kdog on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 02:51:06 PM EST
    I'll warm up at home when I get audio.

    Week just got more musical...paroling myself from self-imposed hermitude to go see the Allman Bros Friday, their annual March run at the Beacon Theater, aka "Peakin' at The Beacon".

    Parent

    The Allman Bros., eh? If you are spending (none / 0) (#134)
    by caseyOR on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 03:04:01 PM EST
    money to see them, I'm guessing they're good, but it isn't the Allman Bros. for me without Duane. It has just never been the same.

    You have a good time, though. After all, I do believe Duane died before you were born.

    Parent

    I've been cheated.... (none / 0) (#150)
    by kdog on Wed Feb 27, 2013 at 08:55:07 AM EST
    my local PBS didn't air American Masters last night!

    But I checked the schedule and it is airing over the weekend on my local PBS.

    Yes ma'am, Duane went to jam with Jimi long before my time, but this will be my first time seeng the Allmans since Dickey Betts left the group over ten years ago.  Psyched!

    Parent

    Former AB guitarist... (none / 0) (#151)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Feb 27, 2013 at 09:18:40 AM EST
    Dan Tolin passed away from ALS the other day.  Also a little before your time, he played with them from '79 to '82.  

    A good friend of Bonnie Bramlett too.

    Parent

    on one of NY's piers, 47th St. Pier maybe? It was near a battleship.

    Anyway, it was pretty hectic up in front of stage, and our group included some of the girls from our HS, so we sat back in the bleachers at the end of the pier.

    Such a great show - warm summer breezes and the soft echo of distant boat horns off the West River at our backs, and Gregg singing and pounding on the keys in front.

    Those were the days!

    Parent

    Nice memory... (none / 0) (#153)
    by kdog on Wed Feb 27, 2013 at 11:58:42 AM EST
    Never say the Gregg Allman band, but I did catch Gregg at the big Levon Helm tribute, performing one of Jeralyn's favorite tunes, "Long Black Veil".

    I must have seen the Allman Bros. at least half a dozen times in the late 90's early 00's...best show would have to be at Southampton College.  Beautiful summer evening, outdoor show on a big grass field, I had just given myself a very short crew cut and this pretty little thing, damned if I can remember her name, couldn't stop rubbing my freshly shaved head.  Good times.

     

    Parent

    Outdoor summer concerts are the best. (none / 0) (#154)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Feb 27, 2013 at 12:05:26 PM EST
    Obama was great in Newport News (none / 0) (#119)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 12:45:09 PM EST