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Friday Open Thread

Busy work day ahead. Here's an open thread, all topics welcome, except Zimmerman, who has his own threads. Far as i can tell the B-29 thread is still open.

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    Halliburton holds out wrist - gets slapped. (5.00 / 2) (#3)
    by Anne on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 08:25:01 AM EST
    Ouch?

    Halliburton, of Iraq War profiteering fame, has plead guilty to destroying evidence related to the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. For its crime the company will pay a measly $200,000 as the Department of Justice agreed not to pursue further charges against the company.
       
    Halliburton has agreed to plead guilty to destruction of critical evidence after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill in 2010, the Justice Department announced on Thursday.

        The oil services company said it would pay the maximum allowable fine of $200,000 and will be subject to three years of probation. It will also continue its cooperation in the government's criminal investigation.

    [snip]

        The Justice Department filed one criminal charge against the company. In a statement, Halliburton said that the violation was a misdemeanor associated with the deletion of records created after the accident. Additionally, the company said, "The Department of Justice has agreed that it will not pursue further criminal prosecution of the company."

    I sure hope they'll be able to recover from this significant financial blow; not having to worry about additional criminal prosecutions should really help, eh?

    A Kos diarist.... (5.00 / 2) (#52)
    by magster on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 01:13:12 PM EST
    pointed out that this penalty is 0.03% of Halliburton's 2nd quarter profits.

    Parent
    Yes (5.00 / 2) (#58)
    by squeaky on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 01:27:59 PM EST
    And I would not be surprised that their insurer will pay the fine.

    Parent
    You beat me to it (5.00 / 1) (#90)
    by Towanda on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 04:38:51 PM EST
    as that was my immediate reaction, too.

    We can hope that Haliburton might see at least some increase in its insurance premiums, anyway.

    But Dick (in every sense of the word) Cheney will be fine.

    Parent

    It is interesting though, as I had seen.... (none / 0) (#7)
    by magster on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 09:26:04 AM EST
    in a cable disaster re-creation show (Seconds from Disaster!!) that the primary blame fell on BP for using six instead of the 21 collars recommended to stabilize the pouring of the concrete cap, and Halliburton was charged and now convicted of destroying evidence of its own simulations showing that the fewer collars wouldn't have made any difference. The show mentioned and partially blamed Halliburton's concrete slurry mix for not being able to sufficiently harden at that depth, but now it's looking like the slurry mix prepared by Halliburton was a much bigger factor. Obviously, the Halliburton propaganda folks got to influence a documentary on the whole deal.

    While this criminal sanction is a joke, BP just got a big boost in its finger pointing in the civil litigations going on. Not like I have a rooting interest or anything, just, like I said above... interesting.

    Parent

    I love "Seconds from Disaster" (none / 0) (#8)
    by jbindc on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 09:27:39 AM EST
    Me too. (none / 0) (#10)
    by magster on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 09:32:54 AM EST
    Lawyers...why is the max (none / 0) (#21)
    by Teresa on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 10:36:14 AM EST
    $200,000? Because it affects a civil case, even though the act itself is a criminal charge against them?

    I wonder if I could destroy evidence in a legal case and get the equivalent wrist slap?

    $200,000 : Halliburton = X : Teresa

    I think that answer would be pennies.

    Parent

    $200 K (5.00 / 2) (#22)
    by jbindc on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 10:46:45 AM EST
    is the maximum by statute.

    Separately, Halliburton made a $55 million "voluntary contribution" to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

    Link

    I won't say that's a payoff, because that would be making an accusation of other criminal activity without any proof, but will leave it to your best judgment to decide....

    Parent

    What chaps my hide is that the official.... (5.00 / 3) (#23)
    by magster on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 10:50:23 AM EST
    .... who makes the call to commit the crime for the corporation isn't held individually responsible. Now that guy is probably being consoled by Dick Cheney with a "nice try, it was worth the gamble. Have a bonus even because, hey, it only cost us $200,000 and we just got a multi-billion dollar contract to build tents in Kuwait. Bwahahahaha!!"

    Parent
    Here's the DOJ announcement (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by jbindc on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 10:56:42 AM EST
    This is probably why (none / 0) (#24)
    by CoralGables on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 10:53:11 AM EST
    blogs are a bad place to get news. They start with a bias and give lousy information.

    Total payments thus far (before the civil trial is done) from BP, Transocean, and Halliburton...about $6 billion...and it's going to climb much higher.

    Three BP employees are facing criminal charges. Two of them are facing manslaughter charges in the 11 worker deaths.

    The civil trial in New Orleans is ongoing and all three companies are expected to take another serious hit, especially since all three have pleaded guilty in criminal proceedings.

    BP was the major culprit here, but the Halliburton guilty plea will certainly up their percentage of the damages when the civil suit winds up. The civil suit is looking to collect about $20 billion more from the three companies.

    Parent

    There's a difference between (5.00 / 2) (#29)
    by Anne on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 11:11:49 AM EST
    writing some checks and people going to jail; we saw this with the bank/Wall Street/mortgage situation, didn't we?

    How high up in the company are those facing criminal charges?

    Paying fines with no criminal liability or making low-level employees the fall guy, reduces accountability to just another cost of doing business.

    Parent

    What is Your Point ? (5.00 / 3) (#72)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 02:56:01 PM EST
    If you or me destroy evidence, we are going to the slammer and pay a fine that we pay out of our own pocket.  These clowns play with other people's money and rarely do any time, and if history is any indication, get big fat bonuses as a show of appreciation.  

    People who destroy evidence should not benefit because there is no evidence left.  Destroying evidence should be regarded with the same degree of punishment as the original supposed crime.

    Parent

    That is a good point.... (none / 0) (#30)
    by magster on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 11:12:15 AM EST
    While Halliburton might have had the flaw in concrete slurry recipe, BP had all the warning signs and pressure readings well in advance of the blowout to put on the brakes.

    Parent
    Oh, Nancy...really? (5.00 / 3) (#18)
    by Anne on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 10:15:41 AM EST
    From Foreign Policy's "The Cable:"

       The obituary of Rep. Justin Amash's amendment to claw back the sweeping powers of the National Security Agency has largely been written as a victory for the White House and NSA chief Keith Alexander, who lobbied the Hill aggressively in the days and hours ahead of Wednesday's shockingly close vote. But Hill sources say most of the credit for the amendment's defeat goes to someone else: House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. It's an odd turn, considering that Pelosi has been, on many occasions, a vocal surveillance critic.

        But ahead of the razor-thin 205-217 vote, which would have severely limited the NSA's ability to collect data on Americans' telephone records if passed, Pelosi privately and aggressively lobbied wayward Democrats to torpedo the amendment, a Democratic committee aid with knowledge of the deliberations tells The Cable.

        "Pelosi had meetings and made a plea to vote against the amendment and that had a much bigger effect on swing Democratic votes against the amendment than anything Alexander had to say," said the source, keeping in mind concerted White House efforts to influence Congress by Alexander and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. "Had Pelosi not been as forceful as she had been, it's unlikely there would've been more Democrats for the amendment."

        With 111 liberal-to-moderate Democrats voting for the amendment alongside 94 Republicans, the vote in no way fell along predictable ideological fault lines. And for a particular breed of Democrat, Pelosi's overtures proved decisive, multiple sources said.

    So, what was the letter she sent to Obama all about?  Cover against the inevitable "lefty" anger?

    "Dear Mr. President," reads the letter. "Although the amendment was defeated 205-217, it is clear that concerns remain about the continued implementation of the program in its current form. Although some of us voted for and others against the amendment, we all agree that there are lingering questions and concerns about the current 215 collection program."

    The letter goes on to question whether the bulk metadata collection program sufficiently protects the privacy of Americans, whether it could be tailored more narrowly and whether the law is being implemented in a manner consistent with Congress's intent. An aide later emphasized that Pelosi did note declare an official leadership position against the amendment, meaning there was no whip or count established to see how Democrats would vote.

    Thanks so much for your hard work, Nance!

    I guess it's easier (5.00 / 3) (#31)
    by Semanticleo on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 11:32:00 AM EST
    to ask for forgiveness, than permission.  It shows to go you, that when House Dems or Obama want/hate something, they aren't as powerless as they want us to believe.

    Parent
    When needs real action? (5.00 / 1) (#32)
    by sj on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 11:42:41 AM EST
    When one can send a sternly worded letter?

    Parent
    I bet Obama (5.00 / 1) (#47)
    by jbindc on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 12:55:38 PM EST
    was shaking in his boots from that letter.

    Parent
    Fax her... (5.00 / 1) (#67)
    by fishcamp on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 01:50:12 PM EST
    F you...strong letter to follow.

    Parent
    "Who" (none / 0) (#77)
    by sj on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 03:21:09 PM EST
    "Who" needs real action. ::sigh::

    Parent
    "Who" (5.00 / 3) (#78)
    by jbindc on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 03:23:08 PM EST
    is on first.  :)

    Parent
    And (5.00 / 1) (#91)
    by Zorba on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 05:43:59 PM EST
    What's on second.    ;-)

    Parent
    I Don't Care / Give a D@mn (5.00 / 2) (#93)
    by jbindc on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 06:04:36 PM EST
    (Shortstop)

    :)

    Parent

    Possibly... (none / 0) (#33)
    by christinep on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 11:42:58 AM EST
    Prep for the upcoming Udall-Wyden Senate revision of section 215.  The revision would address the metadata limitations to which Pelosi refers without (as some have suggested) essentially throwing out the more acceptable parts of any national security efforts.  That would seem to be the strategy.

    Parent
    With all due credit (5.00 / 1) (#35)
    by sj on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 11:49:33 AM EST
    to Senators Udall and Wyden (and I mean that sincerely), I would very much prefer to throw out the "more acceptable parts of any national security efforts" and then require them to be enacted specifically instead of bundled in blindly with the smorgasbord we currently have.

    Parent
    I would too ... Theoretically (none / 0) (#42)
    by christinep on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 12:10:11 PM EST
    Maybe the underlying calculation is that it is easier to get the votes for the revision -- considering the momentum -- than to risk not getting any change that comes with taking the time to do a complete re-do.

    Parent
    Whatever the 'strategy' (5.00 / 1) (#45)
    by Semanticleo on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 12:47:08 PM EST
    it seems the Leadership on this is from behind.  If Pelosi thought this was worthy of doing well, why wait for others to push?

    Parent
    Results will count (none / 0) (#46)
    by christinep on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 12:50:15 PM EST
    So, I guess, we'll see.


    Parent
    You don't consider (5.00 / 1) (#79)
    by sj on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 03:23:16 PM EST
    this result to be "results"? I do.
    Results will count (none / 0) (#46)
    by christinep on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 11:50:15 AM MDT

    So, I guess, we'll see.

    We can already see. No need to wait til later.

    Parent
    I expect that's true (5.00 / 1) (#76)
    by sj on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 03:13:31 PM EST
    which is why it's maddening that the Dems derailed this. And (according to Glenn):
    The amendment was simple. It would de-fund one single NSA program: the agency's bulk collection of the telephone records of all Americans ... "by requiring the FISA court under Sec. 215 [of the Patriot Act] to order the production of records that pertain only to a person under investigation".
    So, apparently it wouldn't have affected any of the what-you-call-acceptable parts. But the WH got their way. Along with a no doubt sternly worded letter.

    Parent
    - nothing but CYA (none / 0) (#80)
    by Mr Natural on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 03:36:36 PM EST
    I don't know why we even bother quoting our politicians.  We don't really believe anything they say or write (in public) so why bother quoting them?

    Their only believable words are said in back room dealing; we're not privy to those except in very rare cases like Manning's highly illuminating wikileak.

    Parent

    AN AXE LENGTH AWAY, vol. 79 (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by Dadler on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 10:58:55 AM EST
    Willa shakes a spear. Or William Shakespeare. Either way. (link)

    Vol. 78
    Vol. 77

    Have a great Friday, peeps. And any Bay Area TLers, Sunday night, at the San Francisco Jazz Center, my cool jamming brother-in-law, Scott Mayo, will be backing Brazilian legend, Dori Caymmi. Get your tix and see the show. Incredible auditorium, more incredible music, check it out.

    Official announcement (5.00 / 5) (#34)
    by MO Blue on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 11:43:10 AM EST
    WASHINGTON (AP) -- The House Ethics Committee is launching a full-tilt investigation of Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota.

    The committee announced on Friday it had received a referral from the Office of Congressional Ethics, an independent investigative body, and said in a brief statement that it would formally investigate the one-time Republican presidential candidate. link



    She is the poster child of the.... (5.00 / 2) (#36)
    by magster on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 11:50:01 AM EST
    unethical whackadoo Republican. Or maybe Steve King is? Or maybe Scott Walker? Or maybe....

    Parent
    So many choices (5.00 / 1) (#38)
    by Zorba on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 11:55:52 AM EST
    It's hard to decide who the actual poster child is.  Let's just call them all poster children.  And add Rick Perry.  And Louis Gohmert.  And Rick Santorum.  And, and, and..........
    ;-)

    Parent
    Ted Cruz. (5.00 / 2) (#40)
    by Angel on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 11:57:04 AM EST
    Darrell Issa... (5.00 / 3) (#41)
    by magster on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 12:05:28 PM EST
    We could go on (5.00 / 4) (#43)
    by Zorba on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 12:37:15 PM EST
    all afternoon.

    Parent
    That's exactly what I was thinking. The list is (5.00 / 1) (#44)
    by Angel on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 12:40:33 PM EST
    waaaaaaaaaaay too long.

    Parent
    Darrell Issa! (5.00 / 2) (#49)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 01:08:42 PM EST
    Now, THERE'S a guy who really needs to be investigated, particularly after that phony IRS / 501(c)(4) kerfuffle about the poor white wingbats being targeted by the nasty guvmint boogeymen. Because this isn't the first time he's attempted to manufacture a scandal out of whole cloth.

    Parent
    I'll Put Inhofe... (5.00 / 4) (#74)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 03:02:35 PM EST
    ...up against anyone for the biggest idiot award.

    Parent
    Pierce considers Louis Gohmert (none / 0) (#48)
    by MO Blue on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 12:56:19 PM EST
    Emperor for Life. This paragraph about one of MO's finest ( :( )from his semi-regular weekly feature was just too good not to share.

    With the announced departure of Michele Bachmann from the World's Greatest Legislative Body today, we inaugurate a new semi-regular weekly feature in which we study the possible successor to la Bachmann as Queen Regent of the Crazy People. (Louie Gohmert is, of course, emperor for life). A Top Commenter from Missouri has suggested Vicky Hartzler, who represents the Fourth Congressional District of that state and, boy howdy, the Top Commenter is not kidding. Among other things, Ms. Hartzler apparently believes that the heathen Chinee are spying on us through our toasters. link



    Parent
    Couldn't happen to a nicer person. (5.00 / 2) (#37)
    by Angel on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 11:52:30 AM EST
    Next week's (5.00 / 2) (#50)
    by jbindc on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 01:10:00 PM EST
    New Yorker cover

    I think that cover (5.00 / 1) (#54)
    by indy in sc on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 01:21:25 PM EST
    is perfect.

    Parent
    Finally, a magazine cover we can all support. (5.00 / 3) (#59)
    by magster on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 01:28:49 PM EST
    Sure takes skills :-) (none / 0) (#70)
    by Nemi on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 02:34:36 PM EST
    It's not easy to make a joke about Anthony Weiner a week after all the simple jokes have already been made. You can't just bank on a Weiner pun. Or a "Carlos Danger" joke. But [...] Somehow, The New Yorker and artist John Cuneo pulled it off.


    Parent
    I think "Carlos Danger" jokes .... (5.00 / 1) (#71)
    by magster on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 02:37:59 PM EST
    have a little more mileage left.

    Parent
    "Carlos Danger" is perhaps ... (none / 0) (#124)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 02:15:41 PM EST
    ... the most damaging aspect of all this, politically -- never mind that Anthony Weiner's now been caught twice with his pants down.

    With that silly nom de porn, Weiner instantly transformed himself into a ready-made caricature subject to ridicule. And while more than a few pols have survived getting caught en flagrante over the years, offering himself up as a live-action cartoon in the process is something that he's going to find awfully hard to live down.

    I'd say that not only are his political prospects in the toilet, so is practically any employment opportunity for the foreseeable future, i.e., lobbying, which would require him to interact with others and maintain some sort of public face.

    What a pathetic putz!

    Parent

    AG (5.00 / 4) (#63)
    by lentinel on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 01:42:30 PM EST
    Eric "We-need-the-patriot-act-more-than-ever" Holder has assured Russia that if the US will not execute or torture Edward Snowden, and so they have no reason to protect him.

    Sounds great.

    The looming prospect of a tiny jail cell with a couple of hours of daylight and a shower or two shared with some fine fellows once a week for the next thirty years ain't so bad.

    Gotta keep remembering:
    The crime is not all the bugging and snooping and Constitution-shredding by Aunties Eric and Barry, it is the revelation of these activities.

    Got it.


    "But is it Illegal (5.00 / 1) (#81)
    by Nemi on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 03:53:15 PM EST
    to Drive a Swimmingpool?"

    Heat Beater: Police Discover Swimming Pool on Wheels

    A BMW convertible first aroused the suspicions of a motorcycle cop on patrol in the eastern German town of Eibenstock when water sloshed out of it as it drove around a curve. When the officer pulled the car over, he could hardly believe his eyes.

    In a police report released on Monday, he described encountering"a convertible of a slightly different kind." The car had been converted into a swimming pool on wheels complete with a wooden railing and cheap floral decoration that could have come out of a chintzy Hawaiian hotel.

    In addition to the driver, the officer also found two young men sitting inside in bathing suits and a third sitting on the trunk, dipping his feet in the "pool". The car reportedly only had one functioning gear, but could travel at speeds of up to 25 kilometers per hour (15.5 mph). The vehicle was also lacking a license plate ...



    Cool Idea... (5.00 / 2) (#82)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 03:57:27 PM EST
    ...but that water looks so nasty.

    Parent
    Ewww.... (none / 0) (#83)
    by magster on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 04:07:59 PM EST
    More like a mobile pond.

    Parent
    Aha. Profiling. No license plate. (none / 0) (#85)
    by oculus on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 04:17:08 PM EST
    It even comes with (none / 0) (#89)
    by Nemi on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 04:35:08 PM EST
    a shower, as the police discovered when they found a pump in the trunk, supposed to pump water from the 'pool' into the bamboo pipe.

    The otherwise proud designer admits though, that it doesn't really work. :-)

    Parent

    Okay, okay bragging time (5.00 / 9) (#100)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 09:54:38 PM EST
    My Grandson was named to the All Star team as the Catcher. The team made it through District, State Regional and into the State Tournament and was just one win away from the Southeast Regional in NC.

    When I watched these young people of all races and backgrounds come together and work for the common good I became convinced that America will survive and flourish.

    Excellent! Congrats! Catchers are the coolest. (5.00 / 3) (#101)
    by ruffian on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 09:57:01 PM EST
    Smartest player on the field. (5.00 / 3) (#102)
    by caseyOR on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 10:23:51 PM EST
    Catchers are the best.

    Congrats to your grandson and his teammates, Jim.

    Parent

    Congrats! (5.00 / 2) (#103)
    by MO Blue on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 12:06:49 AM EST
    To your grandson and his teammates.


    Parent
    Congrats!! Mr. Angel is a former youth coach so (5.00 / 1) (#108)
    by Angel on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 09:43:20 AM EST
    I know how tough the competition is to make that All Star roster, not to mention just getting into the playoffs.  Enjoy his accomplishment, I know you helped him get there.  

    Parent
    My thanks to all! (none / 0) (#112)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 01:39:39 PM EST
    Oh, well done! (none / 0) (#104)
    by sj on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 01:06:25 AM EST
    Congrats!

    Parent
    Congratulations to your grandson ... (none / 0) (#130)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 02:40:38 PM EST
    ... from a former ball player. That's a significant accomplishment for him, because catcher is not an easy position to play.

    I hope that he continues playing, because as a duly designated All-Star, recruiters will now start to take notice, and he's potentially one step closer to earning himself a college scholarship somewhere.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    AN AXE LENGTH AWAY, vol. 80 (5.00 / 3) (#106)
    by Dadler on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 09:22:00 AM EST
    When your National Geographic fetish meets your new prescription. (link)

    Went to the Giants game bundled like an Eskimo last night. At one point, the third base ump, rather than calling a runner safe or out, actually whistled the Cubs for icing. Mark Twain was more than right. The City is so damn cold in the summer.

    your cartoon: (5.00 / 3) (#107)
    by DFLer on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 09:35:17 AM EST
    Rudely hilarious!

    Parent
    I do my best (none / 0) (#109)
    by Dadler on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 09:48:01 AM EST
    Really, you know, it's for the kids. Ahem.

    Parent
    One of many reasons why (5.00 / 2) (#110)
    by MO Blue on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 12:07:36 PM EST
    Summers might not be Fed Chair. Not even Wall St. is in favor. I particularly like the way this is worded:

    The other, more surprising factor helping Yellen with Wall Street seems to be concern about Summers' personality. Yellen is personally a lot more like Bernanke -- soft-spoken, collegial, academic -- while Summers occasionally has the temperament of a raccoon that has just been thrown down the stairs. more at Hullabaloo

    I do not know enough about Yellen and am worried that Wall St. supports her but I do have a very definite opinion about Summers. I am definitely against him becoming the Fed chair.

    A cooling down period in play, (5.00 / 1) (#111)
    by KeysDan on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 12:11:47 PM EST
    but some like it hot.  President Obama put off, until later this year, appointment of a successor to Federal Reserve Chair, Ben Bernanke.  Apparently, too much controversy between top contenders, the unlovable Larry Summers and the experienced and competent, Dr. Janet Yellen.

     Dr. Yellen  currently serves as the Federal Reserve vice-chair bringing a particular focus on getting workers back on their jobs.  Dr. Yellen enjoys the support of key Democratic senators, including Dick Durbin and Patty Murray.

    Summers and Yellen disagree on how much harder to push for economic growth; Summers has questioned the benefits of the Fed's efforts to stimulate the economy, but, according, to a professor at George Mason University, Summers has more "right-wing street cred"  which may endear him to the Obama administration.  

    In my view, Summers is too smart for his, and our, own good.  The man seems to have an inverse Midas Touch.  An example of his judgment can be seen in his tenure as president of Harvard University--a job he lost after five years, following no confidence and censure votes by the Arts and Sciences faculty.

     Summers managed with apparent ease to compile a record of mis-steps that included unusual direct presidential intrusion into faculty evaluation (Cornell West affair); his infamous suggestion as to why women were underrepresented in sciences and engineering (intrinsic aptitudes and variability); toxic support for a faculty friend in a US governmental conflict/false claim charge that cost Harvard about $28 million; and losses on a Harvard interest-rate gamble to the tune of almost $1 billion.

    And then there is Summer's economic record to evaluate--one that does get approval from his mentor, Robert Rubin. Although if we only had Summers and Rubin to chose from, we might be better with the mentor.  But we don't.  Hope that President Obama does not use his cooling off period to "sneak Summers into town."  That would not be cool.  Hope, the heat stays on.

    I remember all the brouhahas you mention (5.00 / 2) (#120)
    by shoephone on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 02:03:53 PM EST
    except for this one:

    toxic support for a faculty friend in a US governmental conflict/false claim charge that cost Harvard about $28 million

    What was that all about? Combined with the interest rate fumble, it starts to look like Harvard was hemorrhaging funds due to Summers' wheeling and dealing. Not a good prerequisite for running the nation's bank.

    Parent

    The toxic support was for (5.00 / 1) (#139)
    by KeysDan on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 03:41:50 PM EST
    Summer's close friend and protege, Andrei Shieifer.  Harvard and Shiefer had a contract with the US government to assist in  Russia's privatization program, including developing a new Russian stock market. The DOJ brought a suit under the False Claims Act, as Shiefer bought stock while designing the program using inside information for lucrative personal gain.

     In 2004, a federal judge ruled that while Harvard violated the US government's contract, Shieifer and his group alone was liable for treble damages.  In August of 2005, DOJ, Harvard and Shieifer reached an agreement under which  the University paid $26.5 million to settle the lawsuit.   Shieifer was to pay $2 million in damages.  Since the University paid almost all of the damages and let Shieifer keep his faculty position, feelings of some faculty were that of favoritism, adding to the unpopularity of Summers.

    Parent

    Who do you suggest? (none / 0) (#134)
    by Visteo1 on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 03:02:09 PM EST
    This position has more power over our daily lives than any single person, including the President. IMO

    This job needs to go to the most ethical, most respected person in the field.  He/She SHOULD be scrutinized more than any other person in our government.

    Who do you suggest?

    Parent

    And I'll just add that these positions (5.00 / 1) (#137)
    by shoephone on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 03:15:47 PM EST
    never go to the most ethical person in the room. The Fed and Treasury jobs routinely go to those most connected to Wall Street. From what I know of Yellen, she is also well-connected to WS. But perhaps, unlike Summers, she hasn't antagonized those she's worked with.


    Parent
    I don't need to suggest anyone (none / 0) (#136)
    by shoephone on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 03:11:26 PM EST
    to know that Larry Summers is the wrong person for the job.

    Parent
    RIP, J.J. Cale (1938 - 2013). (5.00 / 1) (#133)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 02:58:53 PM EST
    After suffering a major heart attack yesterday, the prolific and Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter died late last night at Scripps Hospital in San Diego at age 74.

    He was one of my all-time favorites, and I'll simply let his music speak for him.

    Me ke aloha pumehana, to a great and consummate artist.

    My parents had an 8 track of his as a kid.... (5.00 / 1) (#135)
    by magster on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 03:10:03 PM EST
    and have been a fan of his ever since. Very unique and cool style to his music. Sad to hear this news.

    Parent
    Sad. I saw him open for Leon Russell (5.00 / 1) (#138)
    by shoephone on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 03:18:43 PM EST
    at the Catalyst in Santa Cruz about a million years ago. One of the best shows ever. I was so pleased to hear him play live, because he was a really good guitarist.

    Parent
    His guitar playing always reminded me (none / 0) (#173)
    by jondee on Tue Aug 13, 2013 at 04:20:02 PM EST
    of a dreamy, absent minded guy telling a haunting story..

    One of a kind..

    One of my all-time favorites too.

    Parent

    Prime example of wasting taxpayer money (4.20 / 5) (#114)
    by MO Blue on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 01:40:48 PM EST
    WASHINGTON -- House Republicans plan a 40th attempt at repealing Obamacare next week, with legislation that would block the Internal Revenue Service from enforcing or implementing any portion of the health care reform law. link

    After the 33 attempt to repeal Obamacare, Congressional Research Service estimated the cost:

    CBS' Nancy Cordes reported Wednesday that Republicans' many fruitless attempts at repealing the Affordable Care Act have taken up at least 80 hours of time on the House floor since 2010, amounting to two full work weeks. As the House, according to the Congressional Research Service, costs taxpayers $24 million a week to operate, those two weeks amounted to a total cost of approximately $48 million. link

    They have probably spent another $10,000 on their continued grandstanding. They are making a major push to cut all domestic programs yet are willing to throw money down the toilet for these stunts. How could this money be better spent:

    That $50 million spent blowing hot air could have provided subsidies for about 4,500 families of four in the exchanges, or one year of foodstamps for 31,131 people.


    AmericanPsyco you are new here so (5.00 / 3) (#141)
    by MO Blue on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 07:41:19 PM EST
    maybe you don't understand how things work. You evidently do not share my POV but troll ratings (1) are not to be given per the blog owner for that reason. See below:

    by Jeralyn on Tue Jul 23, 2013 at 01:28:59 AM CST
    no one should give a 1 rating based on point of view. A 1 is for a troll comment or site violator or an unintelligible comment. I can't erase ratings for individual comments, only all ratings by a particular commenter.

    AmericanPsycho     1

    Parent

    FEC (none / 0) (#1)
    by jbindc on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 08:06:38 AM EST
    Speaking of same-sex couples... (5.00 / 4) (#2)
    by Anne on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 08:13:24 AM EST
    this just seems mean-spirited to me:

    John Arthur is dying. He is in the terminal stages of Lou Gehrig's disease and has entered hospice care. Arthur is also gay, and in a 20 year relationship with a man named Jim Obergefell. Because the couple's home state of Ohio will not allow them to marry, Arthur and Obergefell recently flew to Maryland together and were legally married on the tarmac -- just weeks after the Supreme Court's landmark marriage equality decision in United States v. Windsor. Arthur was unable to rise from his hospice bed.

    In his final days, Arthur wants to honor his commitment to his husband. He wants his own death certificate to list Obergefell as his "surviving spouse." And he wants to die knowing that his partner of 20 years can someday be buried next to him in a family plot bound by a directive that only permits his lawfully wedded spouse to be interred alongside him. And, on Monday, a federal judge ruled that Arthur should indeed have the dignity of dying alongside a man that Ohio will recognize as his husband.

    And now, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine (R) wants to take that dignity away from Mr. Arthur. The day after a judge issued a temporary restraining order requiring Ohio to list Arthur's husband as his "surviving spouse" on his death certificate, DeWine announced that he would appeal this decision and try to strip a dying man of his final wish.

    There are marriage equality cases with sweeping national implications. This is not one of them. The judge's order is limited exclusively to Arthur and Obergefell. Indeed, as the judge explains, "there is absolutely no evidence that the State of Ohio or its citizens will be harmed by the issuance" of an order requiring Ohio to acknowledge the two men's marriage. "No one beyond Plaintiffs themselves will be affected by such a limited order at all."

    What a jerk move.

    Parent

    Update (none / 0) (#4)
    by jbindc on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 08:38:39 AM EST
    The AG says he has no plans to appeal the judge's decision in this case.

    DeWine's office is not planning to appeal the temporary restraining order issued in James Obergefell and John Arthur's case because, Hackley noted, such temporary orders are not generally appealable.

    She also affirmed that the attorney general's position is as he stated in a Tuesday news report from WKRC Cincinnati, when he said, "This is not the end of the game here. It's one decision and the Judge issued his decision, which we certainly respect."

    Although the temporary restraining order was granted Monday and is scheduled to expire at 5 p.m. Aug. 5, Obergefell and Arthur have requested a preliminary and permanent injunction to allow Arthur, who is in hospice care, to be listed as married on his death certificate and Obergefell to be listed as his surviving spouse.

    Referring to the permanent injunction request, DeWine told WKRC, "The matter will ultimately be decided by the judge on the merits. And we look forward to that argument. My job as Attorney General is to follow the will of the people," who DeWine has noted voted for the amendment banning same-sex couples from marrying or from the state recognizing such marriages in 2004. His office would decide at that time whether it would appeal such an injunction, although Hackley would not speculate before the judge issued such an injunction.



    Parent
    No plans to appeal the temporary order, (none / 0) (#5)
    by Anne on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 08:52:07 AM EST
    but appears to still be planning to oppose the permanent injunction being sought by the couple.

    If death occurs before hearing/ruling on the permanent injunction, does the temporary one become the last word, and allow Arthur's death certificate to show his husband as "surviving spouse?"

    [on a lighter note, I initially read the name of the TV station as "WKRP Cincinnati"...]

    Parent

    Last Thankgiving... (5.00 / 2) (#11)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 09:33:46 AM EST
    ...they played the WKRP Thanksgiving episode, the one where they drop live Turkey's out of a helicopter, I was in tears laughing.

    "As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly."


    Parent
    I still smile when I remember (none / 0) (#12)
    by Anne on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 09:37:21 AM EST
    "Les Nessman" doing the report on "Ch-eye Ch-eye Rodrigweeze."

    Loved that show!

    Parent

    I still have a crush on Bailey. (none / 0) (#13)
    by magster on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 09:43:20 AM EST
    Now (none / 0) (#14)
    by jbindc on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 09:44:18 AM EST
    I have the theme song running through my head!

    (And I can picture Les Nesman's "office" - with the tape on the floor!)

    Parent

    I loved conspiracy-addled Les Nessman's ... (none / 0) (#51)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 01:12:53 PM EST
    ... on-air announcement of the death of Bing Crosby:

    "First it was Elvis, and now Bing. Coincidence -- OR IS IT?!!??"

    Parent

    Thanks Scott (none / 0) (#98)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 09:48:26 PM EST
    I needed that.

    Parent
    WKRP - me too! (none / 0) (#6)
    by jbindc on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 08:57:59 AM EST
    And he may only file a perfunctory objection to the permanent injunction, to say he's fulfilling his duties in following the law, or may not do anything at all.  Since it says he hasn't decided, and since the TRO applies only in this case and has no precedential value, I wouldn't be surprised if he does nothing because, as you correctly point out, all it does is make him look like a douchebag.


    Parent
    Like how the Justice Department is going .... (none / 0) (#9)
    by magster on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 09:32:24 AM EST
    to try to use Section 3 of the VRA in all the Southern states that re-instituted discriminatory voting laws with lightning speed after the Sup. Ct. gutted section 5 of the VRA. The speed with which the states previously governed by section 5 re-instituted discriminatory laws marks that Sup. Ct. decision as big of a sick joke as the Citizens United case.

    Holder tells Russia (none / 0) (#15)
    by jbindc on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 09:45:40 AM EST
    US won't seek the death penalty against Snowden.

    Breaking news - no link yet.

    Too bad we won't see it for Holder (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by Dadler on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 11:01:39 AM EST
    This entire episode reveals the cancerous tumor at the heart of the American body politic. Holder's incompetence alone has been infinitely more damaging to this nation than any information Snowden shared with the world. Amazing how sociopaths are created hand over fist by the power they "attain."

    Parent
    Going through Russia.... (none / 0) (#16)
    by magster on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 09:51:32 AM EST
    was not a smart move by Snowden.

    Parent
    Not really breaking (none / 0) (#27)
    by CoralGables on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 11:01:24 AM EST
    He wasn't facing the death penalty, but the media in Russia was saying that he was. This was just a clarification to Russia to stop the current spread of bad information. Snowden's asylum claim was that he would be tortured and face the death penalty.

    Sounds like the powers that be are dotting their i's and crossing their t's.

    Here's your link

    Parent

    If They Could Only Erase... (5.00 / 1) (#75)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 03:09:04 PM EST
    ...our rendition and torture policies, someone might even believe them.

    Parent
    Lincol Memorial shut down (none / 0) (#17)
    by jbindc on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 09:59:42 AM EST
    because of vandalism

    There are cameras there, idiots!

    That's my favorite monument (none / 0) (#39)
    by sj on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 11:57:03 AM EST
    I get all teary-eyed every time I read or hear the Gettysberg Address.  I'm glad the damage was easily remedied.

    Parent
    Ariel Castro (none / 0) (#19)
    by indy in sc on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 10:15:42 AM EST
    Is anyone else watching the live plea deal hearing?  It's completely fascinating.    

    I wish James' Holmes was offered this same.... (none / 0) (#20)
    by magster on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 10:23:14 AM EST
    deal, and save the emotional and actual expense of a huge trial.

    I wonder how much Ohio, Cuyahoga County resources for both prosecution and public defenders played a role in the DA making this offer.

    Parent

    It was a smart offer for all concerned (5.00 / 1) (#56)
    by CoralGables on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 01:26:21 PM EST
    especially the three women and the child.

    Parent
    I don't think (none / 0) (#57)
    by indy in sc on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 01:27:39 PM EST
    he had public defenders, but otherwise I agree that expense was probably a consideration along with relieving the victims from having to testify and be cross examined, etc.

    It is such a high profile case, that the DA's office could easily have decided not to offer any pleas just to get the exposure a trial would bring.

    Parent

    One of Jeralyn's past blog favorites (none / 0) (#53)
    by MO Blue on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 01:19:09 PM EST
    is back in the news.

    PARIS (AP) -- Former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn will have to defend himself in a French court on charges of aggravated pimping despite recommendations by prosecutors that the charges be dropped.

    Judges investigating the case in the northern city of Lille decided on Friday to go ahead with charges of aggravated pimping in a group. link

    While not a fan of DSK, I question why they would go through with charging him prosecutors advise.

    "Aggravated pimping"? (none / 0) (#55)
    by jbindc on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 01:23:40 PM EST
    You left out the part of the charge (none / 0) (#61)
    by MO Blue on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 01:37:01 PM EST
    "aggravated p!mping in a group"

    Gotta love DSK lawyer's statement:

    "In very calm and serene fashion, we await a public debate that will show the absurdity of this decision," Baulieu said.


    Parent
    I love this line (5.00 / 1) (#64)
    by jbindc on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 01:42:48 PM EST
    A more serious charge of organized pimping was dropped.

    As opposed to "unorganized pimping"?

    Or, are they unionized?

    Parent

    I wonder (5.00 / 2) (#66)
    by lentinel on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 01:47:23 PM EST
    what the difference between aggravated pimping and ordinary pimping might be.

    Might it be a state of mind?
    The accused got aggravated while pimping?


    Parent

    Well, women DO (5.00 / 4) (#92)
    by shoephone on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 05:48:48 PM EST
    find DSK to be rather aggravating.

    Parent
    Taking an unreasonable percentage? (none / 0) (#96)
    by magster on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 06:30:04 PM EST
    He is a banker.

    Parent
    According to my sister, who ... (none / 0) (#127)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 02:30:42 PM EST
    ... lives in France and is no fan of DSK, "aggravated pimping" would the use of force, fear or any other threat of physical intimidation to compel someone to engage in the act of prostitution.

    Parent
    Thanks for the info (none / 0) (#131)
    by MO Blue on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 02:42:53 PM EST
    Wow. A very serious charge, indeed. (none / 0) (#132)
    by shoephone on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 02:50:43 PM EST
    Yes, it is. (none / 0) (#142)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 09:31:48 PM EST
    I'm left to wonder if, given his behavior, DSK isn't channeling the ghost of the Marquis de Sade. Suffice to say that the man is moving beyond the status of serial womanizer into potentially hazardous territory which could get him imprisoned, if he doesn't get a grip on his apparently insatiable sexual urges.

    Parent
    He has a need to dominate women (none / 0) (#145)
    by shoephone on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 10:49:33 PM EST
    Perhaps he and Berlusconi can share a jail cell into their ever twilighting twilight years.

    Parent
    Listen to his lawyer, then throw up! (none / 0) (#146)
    by Politalkix on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 11:27:32 PM EST
    link

    I am sure he will get good legal representation though people like me will always wonder in what world these defense lawyers live. Here are some lines from the Guardian article.

    "It will all come out publicly before the tribunal and everyone will realise that there is nothing in this case," Henri Leclerc, one of Strauss Kahn's lawyers said on Friday.

    "This decision is based on an ideological and moral analysis, but certainly not on any legal grounds. We're sending someone to court for nothing," said the lawyer.

    After an earlier hearing into the Carlton affair, Leclerc told the French radio station Europe 1 that Strauss-Kahn could not have known whether the women at the parties were prostitutes.

    "As you can imagine, at these kinds of parties you're not always dressed, and I challenge you to distinguish a naked prostitute from any other naked woman," Leclerc said.


    Parent

    Are these (none / 0) (#147)
    by Nemi on Sun Jul 28, 2013 at 06:32:09 AM EST
    Frenchmen for real!?

    Parent
    Come See Detroit, America's future! (none / 0) (#60)
    by jbindc on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 01:33:56 PM EST
    Sad, but true, unfortunately

    In our town, the 911 dispatch system recently went down for 15 hours, and no one seemed to give a damn. When the system is running, the average wait is 58 minutes. Firefighters can't use hydraulic ladders on fire trucks to do their jobs unless there is an "immediate threat to life." In a fire -- imagine that. The ladders haven't been inspected in years.

    If this were New York, these stories would have ricocheted around the world. But this is Detroit and, of course, nobody gives a damn. Even here people have been conditioned to accept these things as normal, a nuisance, the buzz of a fly.

    This numbness, in a peculiar way, is a sign of strength. People here manage to get along somehow.

    So we went broke, bust, bankrupt. We've known that in Detroit for years. Only now it is official with a Chapter 9 filing last week. The biggest municipal default in United States history -- at least $18 billion. Suddenly, America gives a rip.

    How did it get this way, I'm asked? After all, it was just 99 years ago that Henry Ford offered the workingman $5 a day and profit-sharing. How, in less than a century, did it come to this?

    The short answers: municipal mismanagement, race riots, white flight, black flight, dead flight (people routinely disinter their deceased and relocate them to the suburbs). There were the overreaching unions and management that couldn't balance a ball. Proof? The multibillion-dollar bailout of the auto industry. Thank you, American taxpayers!



    That last paragraph is bull (5.00 / 6) (#62)
    by magster on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 01:40:30 PM EST
    because the bailout saved the industries in Detroit and wasn't a bailout of the city itself. And the filing of the bankruptcy is just a ploy (like the Twinkie's owner) to bust unions and not pay pensions rather than something that needs to be done.

    Now, Detroit is building a $450 million hockey arena. This bankruptcy is just another redistribution of wealth ploy.

    Parent

    Looking to sell the contents (5.00 / 1) (#165)
    by sallywally on Sun Jul 28, 2013 at 10:46:24 PM EST
    of the Detroit Institute of Art.

    Heartbreaking. I bought my first bit of art at a little show there many years ago. I still have it.

    Parent

    Oh - I agree (none / 0) (#65)
    by jbindc on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 01:43:57 PM EST
    But I agree with rest of his essay.

    Parent
    Sorry. I'm a little touchy on the ... (5.00 / 1) (#68)
    by magster on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 01:54:19 PM EST
    Sean Hannity crowing about this development and taking the Obama/Romney back and forth out of context.

    Parent
    Me too (5.00 / 4) (#69)
    by jbindc on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 02:20:20 PM EST
    I'm a Detroiter!

    Parent
    Charlie just lost a little (none / 0) (#99)
    by Visteo1 on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 09:49:32 PM EST
    of my respect...what is that bailout comment?

    This appears misleading too..."When the system is running, the average wait is 58 minutes."

    That might be the average time for a responder to arrive, but the way it is worded some of you may think we have to wait that long for a 911 operator.

    Charlie is quite the character on Fox Detroit.

    Hockey arena a go?!?!??!!!! in bankruotcy?!!?!!?  

    Parent

    Apparently there was also (none / 0) (#163)
    by sallywally on Sun Jul 28, 2013 at 10:38:17 PM EST
    the participation of earlier Republican governors, too, especially Engler. I remember my sister, a Democrat who lived in Lansing, raving about how bad he was. Starving Detroit of money, I think. So not just on the locals, etc., as far as public officials go.

    Parent
    The auto companies took 300,000 (none / 0) (#164)
    by sallywally on Sun Jul 28, 2013 at 10:41:25 PM EST
    jobs out of Detroit when they moved their factories away from the city and threw other Michigan cities under the bus as well.

    Hard to replace all those jobs.

    Parent

    Mayor Filner: (none / 0) (#73)
    by oculus on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 03:00:55 PM EST
    Link

    I, for one, do not need Nancy Pelosi and/or Deborah Schultz Wasserman to weigh in on this local issue.

    Well, when the RNC is using Filner and Weiner.... (none / 0) (#84)
    by magster on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 04:17:01 PM EST
    to claim the "war on women" is coming from Democrats, they kinda do need to disown them as spokeswomen for the national party.

    I've no problem with it.

    Parent

    First Dem. mayor in 20 yrs. (none / 0) (#86)
    by oculus on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 04:18:07 PM EST
    ... and last one for a while (5.00 / 1) (#87)
    by magster on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 04:25:25 PM EST
    if he doesn't stop the bleeding by taking a hike.

    Parent
    Either way the GOP wins. (none / 0) (#88)
    by oculus on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 04:26:26 PM EST
    ObamaCare in Maryland (none / 0) (#94)
    by Politalkix on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 06:11:10 PM EST
    link

    Good job, Governor O'Malley!

    Good for Maryland, (none / 0) (#95)
    by Zorba on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 06:18:42 PM EST
    the Governor, and the state insurance officials.  Nice to hear some good news.

    Parent
    I don't know what to think of .... (5.00 / 1) (#97)
    by magster on Fri Jul 26, 2013 at 06:33:47 PM EST
    the conservatives who are decrying the tea party sabotage of Obamacare. Everything they say is like "it's about time" but I'm so jaded that I'm trying to figure out what their ulterior motive is.

    Parent
    Oculus: Have you seen the entire Ring cycle? (none / 0) (#105)
    by shoephone on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 02:07:06 AM EST
    I may have the opportunity to go to a final dress rehearsal of the Die Walkure performance this weekend. For free. But, oy. Five hours??

    I have. "Die Walkure" is long (5.00 / 1) (#113)
    by oculus on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 01:40:22 PM EST
    but is the most accessible. Don't worry too much about the story lines. The music is beautiful.  Enjoym. (You can always leave at intermission.)

    Parent
    Intermission? (none / 0) (#116)
    by squeaky on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 01:47:52 PM EST
    YOu can leave any time.. no need to wait for intermission.

    but why would you leave? Hard to imagine a good reason, other than being deaf..

    Parent

    Oh please. Long rows. No center aisle. (none / 0) (#117)
    by oculus on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 01:52:08 PM EST
    At least wait until Siegmund sings "Meine Schwester, meine Weib,".

    Parent
    Well (1.50 / 2) (#119)
    by squeaky on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 01:57:50 PM EST
    I guess room would have to be made for someone who needed an emergency exit because they couldn't bear grossly obese fat loudmouths..  aka opera stars.

    Parent
    They're not all fat anymore (none / 0) (#121)
    by shoephone on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 02:04:50 PM EST
    Who Said All? (none / 0) (#122)
    by squeaky on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 02:07:28 PM EST
    Apparently all it takes is one for oculus.

    Parent
    How in the (5.00 / 1) (#157)
    by Zorba on Sun Jul 28, 2013 at 04:42:11 PM EST
    he!! did you get this impression from anything that oculus said?  You apparently need to step back and take a few deep breaths before you comment, because you seem to be seeing things that are not there.  

    Parent
    You can find the start of this nutty exchange (none / 0) (#159)
    by CoralGables on Sun Jul 28, 2013 at 06:21:38 PM EST
    with my flippant good morning comment in the Kimdotcom thread

    Parent
    Yep. And many still have (none / 0) (#160)
    by oculus on Sun Jul 28, 2013 at 06:47:14 PM EST
    comments re the case that shall not be named. Life is a lark.  

    Parent
    I avoid the Lord Voldemort Threads (5.00 / 1) (#170)
    by CoralGables on Mon Jul 29, 2013 at 09:43:49 AM EST
    not sure what disgusts me more, Voldemort or his groupies.

    Parent
    Take Your Own Advice (none / 0) (#161)
    by squeaky on Sun Jul 28, 2013 at 10:05:11 PM EST
    Maybe you need to take your own advice and step back before you start in telling commenters what to do or not to do.

    I am not following his saga. I guess (none / 0) (#6)
    by oculus on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 01:48:31 PM EST
    I harbor a bias against grossly obese loud mouths.


    Parent
    Where is the "advice" in the comment? (none / 0) (#162)
    by oculus on Sun Jul 28, 2013 at 10:23:41 PM EST
    The "advice" only exists (none / 0) (#166)
    by shoephone on Mon Jul 29, 2013 at 02:09:53 AM EST
    in some parallel universe. And, boy, the non-sequiturs are coming fast and furious these days.

    Parent
    The mad hatter is a TL (none / 0) (#169)
    by oculus on Mon Jul 29, 2013 at 09:27:51 AM EST
    commenter?

    Parent
    The advice was in Zorba's comment (none / 0) (#168)
    by Anne on Mon Jul 29, 2013 at 09:01:18 AM EST
    at #157; why he quoted your comment in the "take your own advice" comment is a mystery to me.

    Parent
    And for one (5.00 / 4) (#171)
    by jbindc on Mon Jul 29, 2013 at 09:55:10 AM EST
    who loves to trot out Jeralyn's rules on people, squeaks sure loves to break them.

    Parent
    Advice (none / 0) (#172)
    by squeaky on Mon Jul 29, 2013 at 09:47:55 PM EST
    You apparently need to step back and take a few deep breaths before you comment, because you seem to be seeing things that are not there.  



    Parent
    Predominantly in excellent physical shape now. (none / 0) (#123)
    by oculus on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 02:14:54 PM EST
    A huge change w/i my opera-going lifetime.  

    Parent
    Thanks Oculus (none / 0) (#118)
    by shoephone on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 01:55:57 PM EST
    That's funny - my friend who's treating me to it said "we'll last as long as we last. And the best bars are right down the street!"

    I'm sure we'll stay for the whole thing. I've been wanting to see the Seattle Opera's famous performance of this for years, but just couldn't ever afford the tickets.

    Parent

    A friend asked me to recommend one of (none / 0) (#125)
    by oculus on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 02:17:38 PM EST
    The four operas in the Ring cycle. So I said, join me for "Die Walkure."  I think she enjoyed it but did comment on the length.

    Parent
    I'm exhausted. (none / 0) (#167)
    by shoephone on Mon Jul 29, 2013 at 02:33:03 AM EST
    But it was so well worth it. The set was remarkable. The singing was, to a person, fantastic. Not one weak link among the cast. Really strong voices -- great control, perfect intonation -- and impressive acting skills. I admire them for their stamina alone!

    The orchestra, which is made up of many of the Seattle Symphony players, was excellent. Asher Fisch conducted. Here is the list of singers.

    Just found out I may be going again this week, either for Seigfried, or Gotterdammerung.

    Parent

    Finally, someone will be able to tell us ... (none / 0) (#126)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 02:20:27 PM EST
    ... if it's really true that the opera's over when the fat lady sings.

    Five and a half hours? Geez, that's longer than the average transcontinental plane flight.

    ;-)

    Parent

    Well, the thing is, after Wotan surrounds (none / 0) (#128)
    by oculus on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 02:33:25 PM EST
    His daughter Brunnhilde w/a ring of fire (her request) for her long sleep on top of the mountain, there are still two operas to finish the story!

    Parent
    Great. I could've watched ... (none / 0) (#143)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 09:36:40 PM EST
    ... Wagner's entire Ring Cycle on DVD when we flew nonstop 17 hours from Atlanta to Johannesburg, South Africa a couple years ago. As it was, I had to settle for the entire third and fourth seasons of Showtime's The Tudors.

    Parent
    Once (none / 0) (#148)
    by Nemi on Sun Jul 28, 2013 at 06:56:14 AM EST
    I sat through 5 hours of Parsifal. Note: Once!

    Actually I really like Wagner's earlier operas, Tannhäuser and The Flying Dutchman, but never quite got the 'hang' of The Ring.

    That said, this is truly mesmerizing and productions like that might eventually get me on board.

    A little bit of 'behind the scenes' from the above.

    Parent

    The Met HD with Jonas Kaufmann (5.00 / 1) (#150)
    by oculus on Sun Jul 28, 2013 at 11:50:32 AM EST
    singing the role of Parsifal was quite good. I have never seen the opera live. Dutchman is a fave.

    Parent
    Parsifal & Indiana University (5.00 / 2) (#151)
    by christinep on Sun Jul 28, 2013 at 01:21:31 PM EST
    As an undergraduate -- lo, many & many more years ago, I lived in the dorm next to the music school; and, at all kinds of hours throughout the day in spring and fall when the windows were open, the sounds of instrumental & vocal music wafted from the practice rooms next door.  Sometimes, occasional guest instructors -- like Kathleen Farrell or Jerome Hines "dropped in" the dorm parlor for talks & chat.  I think how fortunate we were, as I remember too the cheap seats for students for the IU opera performances.  The low cost (as well as the excitement of the performances) made Saturday opera a preferred choice for my husband & I when we lived in student housing as young marrieds.

    There was one weekend opera held before Easter every year that we avoided well into graduate school.  Good ol' Parsifal.  To deal with the gnawing reality, the music school provided a break for dinner as part of the opera.  When we finally went, we found ... that we actually liked it.  

    Parent

    First link doesn't lead anywhere? (none / 0) (#149)
    by shoephone on Sun Jul 28, 2013 at 11:45:53 AM EST
    But, yes, the second one is interesting background.

    Parent
    Sorry you can't (none / 0) (#152)
    by Nemi on Sun Jul 28, 2013 at 03:08:20 PM EST
    see what's in the first link, as the second link kind of explains what's seen in the first. (Yet another joke about "Who's on first" in there somewhere. :-/)

    This: "Wagner das Rheingold: Prelude and first scene" is the title of the Youtube, maybe that will help?

    Parent

    I will look for it, thanks. (none / 0) (#153)
    by shoephone on Sun Jul 28, 2013 at 03:57:05 PM EST
    Curtain goes up in 4 hours.

    Parent
    Enjoy :-) n/t (none / 0) (#156)
    by Nemi on Sun Jul 28, 2013 at 04:25:31 PM EST
    Interesting obit: (none / 0) (#115)
    by oculus on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 01:46:33 PM EST
    Lindy Boggs

    (Please refrain from dissing Cokie Roberts.)

    Hilary Clinton Mini-Series? (none / 0) (#129)
    by squeaky on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 02:37:07 PM EST
    NBC announced that it will air a four-hour miniseries titled Hillary about Hillary Clinton starring Diane Lane as the former secretary of state at the 2013 Summer Press Tour on Saturday. While no airdate has been set as the project is currently in the early stages, NBC's president Bob Greenblatt said the miniseries would likely air before Clinton formally declares herself as a presidential candidate in 2016.



    Egypt is slipping into the abyss (none / 0) (#140)
    by Politalkix on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 05:38:01 PM EST
    We are under a tropical storm warning ... (none / 0) (#144)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Jul 27, 2013 at 09:47:27 PM EST
    ... here in the islands as TS Flossie approaches from the east, but you'd never know it looking outside right now, because its a nice day. It's actually forecasted to roll over the Big Island  late tomorrow night, then hit Oahu Monday morning, and could cause local flooding.

    I was scheduled to work over in Hilo that day, but I've since postponed my trip until later in the week, because it's expected to be a mess.

    But in the meantime, I'm watching the Dodgers on our new 56" HD TV, while the cat sleeps on my lap. Skip Schumacher just hit a 2-run HR in the bottom of the 5th to give the Blue Crew a 3-1 lead. Spouse and Elder Daughter are out shopping.

    Aloha, everyone. Have a good evening.

    SITE VIOLATOR. n/t (none / 0) (#155)
    by caseyOR on Sun Jul 28, 2013 at 04:24:17 PM EST


    And it's Turkish, again (none / 0) (#158)
    by Zorba on Sun Jul 28, 2013 at 04:46:52 PM EST
    Why am I not surprised?  I wish that there was a way for Jeralyn to just block all ISP addresses that originate in Turkey.

    Parent