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Friday Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Fri Jul 12, 2013 at 04:20:08 PM EST
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Here's an open thread for all topics, except the George Zimmerman trial. Please comment on Zimmerman in one of the threads about his case.

I'm pretty drained from the time and energy expended on the Zimmerman case but I'm looking forward to returning to blogging about larger and more important issues, which should be by early next week. Thanks to our readers who don't care about the Zimmerman case, don't get why I have so singularly focused on it, or disagree with my views on the case, who have stuck around anyway.

< George Zimmerman: Jury Begins Deliberations | Janet Napolitano Resigning as Homeland Security Secretary >

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    Friday Open Thread | 46 comments (46 topical)

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    AN AXE LENGTH AWAY, vol. 65 (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by Dadler on Fri Jul 12, 2013 at 04:31:40 PM EST
    Scientology and jumping jacks are more connected than you might think. (link)

    Vol. 64 & 63

    Standing on the corner outside our house here in Millbrae, I can just see the last bits of plane wreckage being pored over and collected from the crash site. Should be back to normal in a few days, it seems. If we'd have been in town, there's a good chance we'd have witnessed the crash, as we walk our dog at that time right there on the Bayshore Trail, about 3/4 of a mile directly across the water from the runway. Glad we weren't there.

    Have a good TGIF, my friends.

    A Magnificent talk from Malala (5.00 / 6) (#3)
    by christinep on Fri Jul 12, 2013 at 05:05:14 PM EST
    I heard a speech today that could have been given by the great orators of our time...except that this direct, poignant statement of belief & purpose from a young girl seemed even more remarkable.  Malala, the teenaged girl shot & critically wounded last year by the Taliban for the "crime" of wanting to go to school, spoke to the UN for about 17 minutes. The full speech can be found @ www.huffingtonpost.com.  

    Malala spoke to the world body with thanksgiving & passion for life and living. She encouraged, really demanded, the right for everyone to go to school; she called for women & girls to take up the torch proudly, openly.  Her youthful energy and spirit refreshes the soul. Her bravery continues in the face of the Taliban who have said they seek her death. She is a wonder as she denounces <these people> " who are afraid of women."  

    Thank you, Malala, a true heroine.  

    Still shaking my head over this one: (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by Anne on Fri Jul 12, 2013 at 08:28:36 PM EST
    From Think Progress:

    In a shockingly racist move on Friday, San Francisco news station KTVU misreported the names of the pilots aboard Asiana Flight 214, which crashed at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and killed two girls from China.

    They reported that the pilot names were Captain Sum Ting Wong, Wi Tu Lo, Ho Lee Fuk, and Bang Ding Ow.

    An anchor later apologized for the error and laid the blame on an NTSB official who purportedly confirmed the names before the piece went on air. A spokesperson for NTSB told ThinkProgress that they never released any names in this case.

    So, the news anchor is reading it out loud, and...nothing.  Not a clue.  Reading "Sum Ting Wong" doesn't even register.  "Wi Tu Lo?"  

    It would be funny if it weren't so sad.

    Oh dear (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by sj on Fri Jul 12, 2013 at 09:32:11 PM EST
    I know I shouldn't laugh...

    Parent
    How can you not? It was like an (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by Anne on Fri Jul 12, 2013 at 09:38:39 PM EST
    SNL Weekend Update skit...

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    I thought I was reading something from The Onion! (5.00 / 2) (#27)
    by Angel on Fri Jul 12, 2013 at 09:46:40 PM EST


    Parent
    KTVU (none / 0) (#33)
    by cpresley on Fri Jul 12, 2013 at 11:38:05 PM EST
    Came on again tonight on the news and apologized for the names. They did check the names with the NTSB and had them confirmed. The NTSB came out tonight and admitted they confirmed the names that KTVU used.The NTSB did blame it on an intern, but at least they took credit for the screw-up.

    Parent
    Many Local Anchors (none / 0) (#17)
    by CoralGables on Fri Jul 12, 2013 at 08:48:23 PM EST
    are just TV face friendly readers paying little attention to what they are reading off the teleprompter.

    Parent
    How ridiculous. (none / 0) (#21)
    by Teresa on Fri Jul 12, 2013 at 09:02:30 PM EST
    Do they not have producers or anyone to proof that? That's San Francisco, not Podunk, Tennessee.

    Parent
    Yes, that's cringe-worthy. (none / 0) (#26)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Jul 12, 2013 at 09:43:43 PM EST
    But truly and honestly, there are some real-life Asian names that will almost always elicit a giggle from our inner pre-adolescent.

    For example, there's a local supermarket over in Kahului, Maui called "Ah Fook's," and a very popular Chinese restaurant just outside Waikiki called "Fook Yuen." There's also a noodle factory a few blocks from my office over in Chinatown called Fu Ling Yu, which is a clever play on the last names of its three owners.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    T here used to be a Chinese greasy spoon (none / 0) (#37)
    by caseyOR on Sat Jul 13, 2013 at 01:51:56 AM EST
    in downtown Portland called Hung Far Low. Sweet and sour pork and cheap, strong drinks.

    Parent
    Had one near the DC courthouse (5.00 / 1) (#46)
    by Yman on Sun Jul 14, 2013 at 01:20:11 PM EST
    The Big Wong.  I think they changed the name to The New Big Wong.

    Much better!

    Parent

    That's too funny (none / 0) (#39)
    by shoephone on Sat Jul 13, 2013 at 01:34:53 PM EST


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    geez...I remember that place. (none / 0) (#40)
    by fishcamp on Sat Jul 13, 2013 at 02:55:28 PM EST


    Parent
    Turns out an NTSB summer intern (none / 0) (#32)
    by Towanda on Fri Jul 12, 2013 at 11:15:56 PM EST
    confirmed the names, unquote.  Still unclear just what that means -- the intern did not provide the names?  the intern did provide aka confirm the names?  Odd wording.  But the bottom line is that the NTSB did have a role in this appalling story, and on the day that a third passenger, another child, died -- and after days in agonizing pain.

    Parent
    Okay, so you believe the Muslim (1.00 / 4) (#4)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Jul 12, 2013 at 05:06:36 PM EST
    Brotherhood is preferable to whoever the Army brings in.

    No surprise.

    Where did I express a preference? (none / 0) (#5)
    by Politalkix on Fri Jul 12, 2013 at 05:18:55 PM EST
    I expressed a fact that the Muslim Brotherhood has support from a very large sections of society.
    I think the US government as well as most western governments understand that the best solution in Egypt is to keep the Muslim Brotherhood involved in the political process and not have it abandon it and go underground. That will start a civil war in Egypt.

    Parent
    I deleted your comment (5.00 / 2) (#36)
    by Jeralyn on Sat Jul 13, 2013 at 01:06:30 AM EST
    saying Talkleft has to become "better educated" about Egypt. I have never written a word about Egypt. If you are referring to commenters here, then please make that clear. Commenters here do not speak for TalkLeft. Nor do they speak for each other. Also, if you disagree with comments here, then say you disagree with several comments here. But don't insult their education or knowledge because your opinion is different. If they say something that is in error, point out what you think is in error and say why. Tone is important.

    Parent
    The Germans and US government (none / 0) (#6)
    by Politalkix on Fri Jul 12, 2013 at 05:28:19 PM EST
    seem to understand the situation in the same way that I do. They are asking the Egyptian military to release Morsi because they have a more comprehensive understanding about Egyptian and Middle East politics than you do, jimakaPPJ.
    link

    Parent
    Ah yes, the Germans and the US (none / 0) (#45)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sun Jul 14, 2013 at 01:11:00 PM EST
    governments understand the ME so well that Syria is in revolt, Iran is completing a nuclear weapon and IBM.

    Parent
    Nothing new here (none / 0) (#47)
    by Politalkix on Sun Jul 14, 2013 at 03:06:59 PM EST
    Syria has been in revolt for a long time. When Reagan was present, Hafez-al-Assad put down a revolt and massacred 20000+ people in Hama. Lebanon had a civil war, the Beirut barracks were bombed and the United States had to withdraw from Lebanon. Iran has been trying to build a nuclear weapon for a long time but President Reagan was doing Iran-Contra deals with them.
    The ME is more stable now and the current US and German governments understand ME issues better than the Republicans did when Reagan was President.
    No cause for alarm, particularly if you have survived Reagan's presidency!

    Parent
    Speaking of narcissism (none / 0) (#48)
    by jondee on Sat Jul 20, 2013 at 10:46:56 AM EST
    and infantile delusions of grandeur..

    Where else can the fantasy stem from that because the U.S can understand the genesis of events that it should be able to control all events?

     

    Parent

    jimakaPPJ (none / 0) (#8)
    by Politalkix on Fri Jul 12, 2013 at 05:37:01 PM EST
    Has it occurred to you that the only people who want the Egyptian military to run the country without holding elections are people like you and the monarchies of Saudi Arabia, UAE and Kuwait.
    Western governments (along with most countries from Africa and Asia) want the Muslim Brotherhood to be part of the democratic political process in Egypt and not be banned like it was before during military rule in Egypt.

    Parent
    The innate problem with the ... (5.00 / 2) (#11)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Jul 12, 2013 at 08:05:18 PM EST
    ... Muslim Brotherhood's political ascendancy in Egypt was that it was clearly attempting to hijack the revolution, not unlike how the Communists attempted to do the same in Russia in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Romanovs. Unlike the Brotherhood, the Communists were successful.

    Two ingredients that are required of any group seeking to become an active and contributory part of a country's political fabric are an ability to be inclusive and a willingness to compromise with others. From my perspective, what I saw instead from the Brotherhood over the last 14 months was their naked attempt to consolidate power by rewriting the Egyptian constitution to their own primary benefit. Ergo, the backlash from the growing Egyptian middle class and the Egyptian military, both of whom have a personal stake in maintaining the country's secularity, was inevitable.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Donald, I totally agree with you (none / 0) (#14)
    by Politalkix on Fri Jul 12, 2013 at 08:30:54 PM EST
    Morsi's government should have just focused on the economy and should have made extra efforts to be inclusive (since minorities and urban women and people in other countries had so much suspicions about them). He should have at the very least worked the way, Tayyip Erdogan and the AKP governed in Turkey (though Erdogan is also facing a lot of criticisms now).
    There is no doubt that a lot of problems that Morsi and the MB government faced in recent months were created because of their own ineptitude and zealotry and trying to rewrite the Constitution. Hopefully, he will learn his lesson.
    I hope that the Egyptian military does not overreach. I think western governments are giving the right advice to the Egyptian military but the Saudi, UAE and Kuwaiti money is complicating matters.

    Parent
    Can I ask a favor of you? (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by Anne on Fri Jul 12, 2013 at 08:38:26 PM EST
    Can you put a return between your paragraphs, so there's a space between them?  It would make your comments so much easier to read (not that I will agree with you in greater frequency, but you never know).

    Thanks.

    :-)

    Parent

    Sure, Anne! :-) (none / 0) (#16)
    by Politalkix on Fri Jul 12, 2013 at 08:41:04 PM EST


    Parent
    I'm proud of you two (5.00 / 5) (#18)
    by CoralGables on Fri Jul 12, 2013 at 08:49:34 PM EST
    Sometimes common ground can be found in a keystroke

    Parent
    Have your posted the daily update (none / 0) (#22)
    by oculus on Fri Jul 12, 2013 at 09:13:42 PM EST
    re Snowden?  NPR had a piece on all the reporters in the airport in Moscow. Burger King, CA Pizza Kitchen. TG I Fridays.

    Parent
    Early this morning (none / 0) (#24)
    by CoralGables on Fri Jul 12, 2013 at 09:33:35 PM EST
    before the hullabaloo went down.

    Friday Morning Snowden Update

    Parent

    Your intelligence and knowledge of (none / 0) (#20)
    by Teresa on Fri Jul 12, 2013 at 08:59:16 PM EST
    history truly blows my mind.

    If we were to meet, what do we discuss? College football and the latest Harlan Coben novel? I feel so inferior, seriously.

    I might can hang with debits and credits, but I'm not even sure of that anymore. I worked too many hours. I lived budget variances and you've lived history.

    Parent

    Thank you. (none / 0) (#28)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Jul 12, 2013 at 10:29:27 PM EST
    We all have our interests and hobbies, and outside of baseball and sports in general, mine so happens to be history. I've always found the subjects of history and geography to be fascinating, from the time I was in elementary school in Southern California and first learned who Father Junipero Serra was.

    I attended the University of Washington on a baseball scholarship, where I was a double major with a B.A. in both biology and history. I also have an M.A. in history from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

    Additionally, thanks in large part to my political interests and environmental activities, as well as being at the right place at the right time, I've worked in the state legislature and for our congressional delegation in Washington, and with the Council of State Governments and the National Conference of State Legislatures.

    Nowadays, I have a consulting business in partnership with a former colleague of mine at the State Capitol, and we work with not-for-profit organizations both here in the islands and on the U.S. west coast, specializing in fundraising and capacity development.

    I'm sure you have your own interests, and probably have any number of wonderful personal stories and experiences to share, as well.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Donald, did you read the NYT article (none / 0) (#30)
    by shoephone on Fri Jul 12, 2013 at 10:40:35 PM EST
    which delved into the sabotage of utilities and the economy by Mubarak's cronies? If not, I'd be interested to hear what you think about that. There appears to be  evidence that the blackouts and oil shortages were not due to incompetence on Morsi's part.

    Do you really support military coups, as long as they are used against people/groups/governments you don't like? Morsi was democratically elected, whether we like it or not. That's not something anyone can say about Mubarak -- not with a straight face anyway.

    Parent

    Did anyone see "Sharknado" last night? (none / 0) (#9)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Jul 12, 2013 at 07:47:38 PM EST
    We accidentally stumbled upon this piece of goldplated schlock on SyFy last night while channel surfing, and --

    Oh! My! Gawd! Cinema Velveeta! It's one of those truly rare low-budget cinematic efforts that's so utterly ridiculous in its premise and breathtakingly over the top in its execution as to be positively riveting. It has to rank right up there with "The Valley of the Dolls" and "Psycho Beach Party." John Waters and Charles Busch would be so proud of its producers, director and actors.

    Anyone who claims to possess an innate camp sensibility (and an abiding concern about global warming) really needs to see "Sharknado -- preferably in the company of a pitcher or two of margaritas, and maybe a bong for those still inclined.

    Trust me, you'll love the scene with the chainsaw, and if perchance you're ever stuck having to listen to someone complain about L.A.'s traffic, you can always tell them, "Well, I've seen it worse" -- because once you've watched this, you will have. I'll say no more.

    Aloha.

    But is it as good as (5.00 / 1) (#31)
    by Towanda on Fri Jul 12, 2013 at 11:11:08 PM EST
    "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes"?  That's Spouse Towanda's favorite for truly so-terrible-it's-worth-watching films.  If so, I will have to tell him to put "Sharknado" on his must-see list.

    My favorite is "Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death," and I doubt that there can be competition.  Consider how well guacamole goes iwth margaritas.  Better yet, consider that Bill Maher is the love interest.  I rest my case.

    Parent

    Wasn't "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes" (none / 0) (#34)
    by shoephone on Sat Jul 13, 2013 at 12:04:45 AM EST
    Clooney's first film, when he was about 17 years old? OK, now I have the theme song in my head.

    Parent
    "Ice Castles" and "Xanadu." (none / 0) (#35)
    by oculus on Sat Jul 13, 2013 at 12:21:31 AM EST


    Parent
    Famous last words, Donald: (none / 0) (#10)
    by shoephone on Fri Jul 12, 2013 at 07:52:00 PM EST
    ...you'll love the scene with the chainsaw."

    Parent
    I take it that you saw "Sharknado." (none / 0) (#12)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Jul 12, 2013 at 08:07:08 PM EST
    ;-D

    Parent
    Actually, no, I didn't! (none / 0) (#29)
    by shoephone on Fri Jul 12, 2013 at 10:31:16 PM EST
    But, apparently, I'm an accidental psychic. Or something.

    I definitely was amused to find out that Mia Farrow and Philip Roth watched it together. Portnoy and Rosemary finding solace in the frightful...the jokes almost write themselves

    Parent

    This article says nothing about the popularity (none / 0) (#19)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Jul 12, 2013 at 08:58:28 PM EST
    Of the Egyptian military, but it says a bit about the Muslim Brotherhood thinking that sizable counter protests could save Morsi.  They couldn't maintain them though, and one that occurs on his ouster is kind of indicative of a new crop of elites losing power suddenly.

    The problem is not going away (none / 0) (#38)
    by Politalkix on Sat Jul 13, 2013 at 01:15:35 PM EST
    The support for the MB in Egypt is more organic than you seem to think. Here is a link from an article in the Guardian in 2012.
    The Egyptian military has been trying for 70 years to destroy the MB without success.
    The Egyptian military is now getting a lot of support from Saudi Arabia, UAE and Kuwait. Do you think that Booz Allen Hamilton will be able to do to the MB what the Egyptian military could not do in 70 years?


    Parent
    That's just absurd (none / 0) (#41)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Jul 13, 2013 at 05:12:49 PM EST
    Give me your proof that the Egyptian military has been attempting to destroy the MB for 70 years.  1.5 Egyptians belong the Egyptian army alone.  It has existing within its strata Egyptians of all walks of life, much like our military does.  It is the largest army in the Middle East.

    You wonder why some of its members may seem singularly intolerant of religios radicals, gee, what a mystery.  Look to your own military for the answers.  And the Egyptian army fought alongside us in the first Gulf War.  Radicals destroy morale and cohesion, based simply on that fact alone YOUR military has now demanded a recovery of soldiers from homophobia and sexism.  You know what is truly sad about all that, that in this stupid country the military often has to be the first one to adopt social reform before everyone else is willing to give it a try...but I have left the main topic.

    Our military has fought against and deeply discouraged prosthelytizing because of how overall destructive among the troops it is.  You want me to be upset because some of the Egyptian military feels the same way about radical faith?

    And Egypt isn't my country. I have all I can deal with right now with the crazy Christians.  They are my crap attempting to destroy my Democracy.  I don't know the trials that Egyptians have had, and neither do you.  But to attempt to sell me that the military has been trying to destroy the MB while members of the military are MB...what a load.  Go sell crazy someplace else.

    And yes, the Morsi protest is large.  How big were the protests to oust him?  Were they a couple hundred thousand too?  No, they were in the millions.

    Parent

    MT (none / 0) (#42)
    by Politalkix on Sat Jul 13, 2013 at 06:34:17 PM EST
    The fact that the Egyptian military has been trying to destroy the Muslim Brotherhood for the last 70 years is not an opinion, it is a fact.
    Some of it was even indicated in the article from the Guardian that I provided in a previous post.
    Why would it ban the organization, imprison, torture and hang some of its leaders if the purpose was not to destroy? Whether the Egyptian military was justified in proceeding against the MB throughout its history in every way it did is a separate question-that can be subject to opinion.

    If you do not want to discuss Egypt because it is not your country (and neither mine), you do not have to discuss it. However, you do not have to sell me crazy stuff :-).

    I was however particularly amused by this statement from you "But to attempt to sell me that the military has been trying to destroy the MB while members of the military are MB...what a load.  Go sell crazy someplace else"

    It is saying something as crazy as "since Mohammed Morsi has a doctoral degree from the University of Southern California, supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood are really supporters of the USC Trojans".

    Parent

    Get your evidence up here then (none / 0) (#43)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Jul 13, 2013 at 06:40:07 PM EST


    Parent
    Just blowing hard (none / 0) (#44)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Jul 13, 2013 at 06:41:17 PM EST
    To hear yourself blow

    Parent
    Friday Open Thread | 46 comments (46 topical)

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