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Friday Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 12:07:34 PM EST
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It's the end to a busy week for me. Our last open thread is about to be filled. Here's a new one, all topics welcome.

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    Darlene Love on Letterman tonight. (5.00 / 2) (#1)
    by caseyOR on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 02:17:07 PM EST
    One of my favorite yearly Yuletide events is Darlene Love's Christmas appearance on David Letterman. And, because Letterman is retiring next year, tonight is the final Christmas performance by Ms. Love.

    Darlene is an amazing singer. Well worth staying up a bit later than usual to catch her tonight.

    Here is a mash-up of various Love Christmas performances.

    I love (none / 0) (#2)
    by Zorba on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 02:26:36 PM EST
    Darlene Love!

    Parent
    And I love that ... (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 05:38:14 PM EST
    ... you love Darlene Love.

    ;-D

    Parent

    I take it (5.00 / 1) (#35)
    by Zorba on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 06:50:48 PM EST
    that you love her, too, Donald.
    How are you doing with your treatments, my brother?
    And congratulations on buying your place in Hilo!  We love the Big Island, and have visited Hilo.  Great place!  And Hilo Bay, between the slopes of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa- wonderful!
    Take care, and have a wonderful Christmas.  My thoughts and prayers continue to be with you and your family.
    Namaste.

    Parent
    Same here - Happy Holidays. (5.00 / 2) (#39)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 08:41:12 PM EST
    I'm hanging in there and feeling better. I have another round of treatment starting the second week of January, and then I'll be evaluated to see where I stand.

    My partner and I are shutting down the office for the week between Christmas and New Year's Day. Our family is spending the holidays here in the islands. My mother and aunt arrive on Christmas Eve, and then we're all going over to Hilo on the morning of Dec. 31, so we can show off to Mom what we bought.

    We'll spend the long weekend there, and return to Honolulu on Jan. 4. My mother and aunt will return to L.A. directly from Hilo. (United Airlines flies nonstop between the two, so there's no need for them to connect in HNL.)

    Aloha.

    Parent

    President Obama (5.00 / 2) (#3)
    by CST on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 02:37:48 PM EST
    weighs in on the interview:

    "President Obama on Friday sharply criticized Sony, saying the entertainment company erred in bowing to pressure from the North Korean government and choosing to cancel the release of "The Interview."

    "Yes I think they made a mistake," Obama said, speaking at his end-of-year press conference at the White House briefing room.

    "We cannot have a society in which a dictator in some place can start imposing censorship in the United States," he said."

    Anyone else wondering what the hell else was in those emails or whatever that scared Sony so much?

    The earth moved (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 02:49:04 PM EST
    I totally agree with Obama.

    And what's even more funny or ironic is that the NORKS, having established that Sony will pay, has demanded that all traces of the film be erased and be prepared for more demands or else more emails will be released.

    We live in interesting times.

    What's next? ISIS telling Kroger it must stop selling pork?

    Parent

    Jim (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by Politalkix on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 02:55:17 PM EST
    I gave you a "5" for your comment. The earth has really moved. I will be in agreement with you if you stop right here without attempting to expound them any further :-).

    Parent
    There's an old southern saying (none / 0) (#17)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 04:29:03 PM EST
    Even a blind hog can find am acorn every now and then.

    The question is... is that about me or Obama??

    ;-)

    Parent

    Not mutually exclusive, you know (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by sj on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 04:51:46 PM EST
    The question is... is that about me or Obama??


    Parent
    Are there any old southern sayings (none / 0) (#40)
    by jondee on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 09:14:02 PM EST
    that refer to people who observe nature for hundreds of years and still don't understand how it works?

    Hogs have notoriously poor eyesight to begin with, and rely more on a highly acute senses of smell and hearingi to locate food sources.

    Parent

    Leave it to Jondee to inject himself (none / 0) (#47)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Dec 20, 2014 at 09:27:58 AM EST
    into a thread to make an off subject snark.

    But since you brought the subject up.

    In spite of my proof that MMGW doesn't meet the requirements of a Scientific Theory and my continued proof that consensus is not science I see that you haven't grasped the simple fact that group belief proves nothing.

    We say, pronounce, sentence, and declare that you, the said Galileo, by reason of the matters adduced in trial, and by you confessed as above, have rendered yourself in the judgment of this Holy Office vehemently suspected of heresy, namely, of having believed and held the doctrine--which is false and contrary to the sacred and divine Scriptures--that the Sun is the center of the world.....

    Early in 1633,.... as Galileo left the Inquisition hall after recanting his views, he supposedly muttered, E pur se muove. ("Nevertheless, it moves.")

    The Catholic Church officially denied Copernican Theory until 1922.

    Link

    And since you like Southern sayings, here's what you prove about yourself.

    He doesn't know whether to check his a$$ or scratch his watch.

    Have a nice day.


    Parent

    He hasn't figured out (5.00 / 1) (#94)
    by jondee on Tue Dec 23, 2014 at 04:36:37 PM EST
    yet exactly how how his brothers locate food, but he knows more about climate science and atmospheric chemistry than Nobel Prize winners..

    He sympathizes with Galileo, but still insists, like Galileo's enemies, that the answers to the origin of the universe are to be found in Genesis..

    Parent

    And who appointed you (none / 0) (#48)
    by Mordiggian 88 on Sat Dec 20, 2014 at 09:37:27 AM EST
    Table captain of this thread?

    Parent
    Are you incapable of (none / 0) (#54)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Dec 20, 2014 at 10:48:52 AM EST
    understanding the difference between saying what someone can't do versus telling what they have done?

    Why yes. Yes you are.

    Parent

    That you (none / 0) (#56)
    by Mordiggian 88 on Sat Dec 20, 2014 at 12:47:44 PM EST
    Feel compelled to add your own interpretation to jondee's efforts here is different from being the table captain then.

    Much obliged.

    Parent

    Jondee's "efforts" were about me (none / 0) (#69)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Dec 20, 2014 at 03:41:54 PM EST
    Now, why shouldn't I have the right to respond??

    Parent
    Mordi, were you the school tattletale? (none / 0) (#62)
    by fishcamp on Sat Dec 20, 2014 at 02:33:00 PM EST


    Parent
    Nah, just the little kid, (none / 0) (#78)
    by NYShooter on Sat Dec 20, 2014 at 06:34:37 PM EST
    armed with his peashooter, hiding behind the bush waiting for a victim.

    Parent
    Funny, I was going to ask the same of you. (none / 0) (#95)
    by Mordiggian 88 on Tue Dec 23, 2014 at 05:15:37 PM EST


    Parent
    Strange days... (none / 0) (#9)
    by kdog on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 03:21:38 PM EST
    America (almost) United!  Jim, myself, Obama, Mitt Romney, and even Donald Trump all on the same page.

    At least we know it's possible! ;)

    Parent

    There really is a Santa! (none / 0) (#11)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 03:38:02 PM EST


    Parent
    Santa Un? (none / 0) (#13)
    by kdog on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 03:48:10 PM EST
    or is it Kim Kringle?

    I've been curious as to your take on all this, being TL's man in Hollywood and all.  What say ye?  

    Parent

    I don't have anything super insightful. (none / 0) (#16)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 04:10:48 PM EST
    You'd think NK must have something on Sony that's more than what's been released, but I really don't know.

    Also, I would guess Sony has some kind of insurance on the movie that could cover this, not that it's likely to at all make them whole.

    Parent

    If they voluntary give up (none / 0) (#18)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 04:31:17 PM EST
    will the insurance pay??

    Seems to me that would be like someone burning their own house down and expecting to be paid.

    Parent

    Good point. (none / 0) (#19)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 04:36:51 PM EST
    This is what Variety says.

    Parent
    Just saw part of an CNN interview (none / 0) (#28)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 05:53:27 PM EST
    with Lyton.

    He made the point that not a single VOD provider has said they would distribute the movie digitally.

    Why am I not surprised??

    Parent

    Heh (none / 0) (#12)
    by nycstray on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 03:39:54 PM EST
    I think the earth is moving a lot in the last 24hrs. I had to agree with McCain and Romney!

    Parent
    That's what I want to know (5.00 / 2) (#6)
    by nycstray on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 02:53:15 PM EST
    ... what the hell else was in those emails or whatever that scared Sony so much?

    I mean seriously, they are an entertainment company. Are the working on some super secret spy tech play station or something? This certainly can't be about movie scripts, pay inequality and snarky/embarrassing emails . . .  

    Parent

    From what I understand, ... (5.00 / 1) (#30)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 06:13:21 PM EST
    ... the hack attack targets Sony Pictures specifically, and not Sony USA or Sony Corp. (Tokyo) in general. But yeah, I've also been wondering what else is out there that Sony Pictures execs don't want in public circulation.

    Regardless, to best serve the interests of Sony shareholders at this point, the corporate board of directors ought to schittcan the entire senior management at their Hollywood subsidiary and start fresh and anew.

    This was a readily avoidable fiasco of the first magnitude, with significant damage inflicted upon both that subsidiary's infrastructure and its general reputation as a direct result. If senior heads aren't rolling here, then I'd have to further question the general competence of the rest of Sony USA's management and board as well.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    While the president feels that (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by KeysDan on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 04:05:39 PM EST
    Sony and the theatre executives made a mistake for not disseminating "Interview," I am not--Not at the point to which  matters escalated.  It is not so much censorship, as it is extortion.  Never-the-less, it is directed at private businesses who were incautious against hacking and irresponsible in their filmmaking.  They corrected their course as a business decision.

    Sony employees and audiences were needlessly exposed to digital damage and physical threats by pushing the Rogen brand of outrageousness to the limit.  The over-reach could have benefited from, at a minimum, some prepubescent maturity.  

    I am not advocating that movies need to be North Korean-friendly, but I do not appreciate Seth Rogen, in his quest for publicity and to gain the Christmas market-share, to impact, if not play with, our national security and ignore foreign policy implications.  And, then, look to bailouts and shared risk-taking.    

    A "comedy" in which Kim Jong-un's head is hilariously blown off in a US assassination is not one that could go without a Korean response.  The despotic Dear Leader maintains his hold by being thought of as something of a god.  The Studio's attempts at even minor changes were rejected by Rogen.

    The escalation of matters reached to concern for the safety of moviegoers. Not a good design.  While advised that such threats were not credible, fear is always at the ready.  And, if there was, in fact, a tragic happening at a movie theater, the demand for a response, including calls for bombs away, would be ringing in the president's ears.  

    As it is, we are considering a "proportional" response.  As events have progressed, a response is now necessary.  But, hopefully, it will be proportional--difficult with North Korea, no ambassador to recall, sanctions galore already in place, and computers primarily in the hands of the elite.

    We are still living with the "proportionate" chain of events in response to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and the Duchess Sophia by the Serbian teenager, Gavril Principic. Maybe, Rogen can see a box office hit about that comedy, with a big movie star such as Justin Bieber as Gavril.  

    Parent

    To be fair to Seth Rogen, ... (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 05:20:38 PM EST
    ... I'd offer better than decent odds that the he likely never even thought of the possibility that he'd ever be the immediate cause of an international incident, when he first pitched "The Interview" to studio executives. And given what's since happened, apparently nobody at Sony Pictures ever told him, "No, you can't do this, it's offensive."

    The job of anticipating potential problems and issues was the responsibility of those Sony executives who wear the big sombreros. But alas, they sound like they were too busy dishing on everyone and everything via internal e-mails to even consider the possibilities. Instead, they gave Rogen the green light.

    This is why a well-rounded liberal arts education is so important. I have to wonder if most of the top executives at Sony aren't little more than professional bean counters who can obviously crunch numbers, but who'd otherwise probably have trouble locating North Korea on an unmarked map of the world.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Michael Lynton, CEO Sony Pics Ent (none / 0) (#25)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 05:37:46 PM EST
    Lynton, the son of Jewish émigrés who fled Nazi Germany, was born in London in 1960. His parents, Marion and Mark Lynton, were executives at Hunter Douglas in the Netherlands.[3] His father was born Max-Otto Ludwig Loewenstein in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1920 and moved to Berlin two years later when his father was named head of a major German car manufacturer. He enlisted in the British military, where he served for seven years and worked for the British Intelligence, interrogating German officers.[4]

    Lynton and his family moved to the United States for several years before moving to the Netherlands in 1969.[5][6] He attended the International School of The Hague and transferred to Phillips Exeter Academy for his senior year, graduating in 1978.[7][8] and received his BA in history and literature from Harvard College in 1982.[6][9] After several years in finance at Credit Suisse First Boston, he earned an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1987.[8][10]

    He is a citizen of the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom. Lynton speaks four languages: English, French, Dutch and German.[1]



    Parent
    And yet, ... (5.00 / 3) (#27)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 05:51:14 PM EST
    ... Lynton & Co. still managed to drop the ball big time, didn't they? It never even crossed their minds that making a movie about the assassination of Kim Jong-un would provoke a hostile and damaging response from North Korea.

    Mr. Lynton can take his Bachelor's diploma from Harvard College and wrap a salmon in it for shipping, for all the good it did him here.

    Aloha.  

    Parent

    Ha! That's actually pretty funny, and true. (none / 0) (#29)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 06:03:46 PM EST


    Parent
    Yeah, Lynton's a ... (none / 0) (#32)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 06:26:56 PM EST
    ... real smooth operator. If Sony USA's own management knows what's good for them, this guy should be hustled out the front door so fast that he catches cold in the resultant draft, with the rest of his cohorts following in short order. What's been exposed at Sony Pictures these past few days requires some very serious and thorough housecleaning in the executive suites.

    Parent
    And all over a movie, which... (none / 0) (#8)
    by Dadler on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 03:20:00 PM EST
    ...from all the feelers I've sent out to Hollywood peeps I know, is nothing but a sophomoric piece of sh*t, not even mildly satirical in the real sense of the word, and not worth ten minutes of anyone's time otherwise.

    Bravo!

    Parent

    Are we now 100% certain (none / 0) (#45)
    by ZtoA on Sat Dec 20, 2014 at 12:43:44 AM EST
    that this hack was from the NK government?

    Parent
    Just Wanted to Say... (5.00 / 5) (#4)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 02:40:26 PM EST
    ...Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.  I will in excommunicato until Jan 5th.

    Hope everyone has peaceful holiday, and may Santa be kind to you even if you made the naughty list.

    I look forward to reading your comments in 2015.

    ENJOY

    Merry Christmas and Happy (5.00 / 3) (#10)
    by MO Blue on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 03:37:14 PM EST
    New Year to you Scott.


    Parent
    May you have a joyous holiday season, Scott, ... (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 05:35:59 PM EST
    ... wherever it might take you.

    Mele Kalikimaka e Hau'oli Makahiki Hou.

    Parent

    Merry Christmas, Scott... (5.00 / 1) (#42)
    by Anne on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 10:23:18 PM EST
    Hope you have a wonderful day with family/friends.

    And here's to a great 2015 for all of us, eh?  Perhaps the spirit of the holiday will bring a glimmer of light to hearts that have gone a little dark, a tickle of laughter to those who have forgotten what that feels like, a crack in the hard shell of those who've been afraid to let anyone in.

    Kiss someone you love, snuggle in front of a crackling fire.  Bring a twinkle to the eye of someone twice your age.  Hold hands with someone old, and someone young.  Get lost in the laughter of children entranced by the magic of Santa.  Eat too much, sleep late, take a walk in the snow if you have it.

    Be silly.  Laugh til you cry.  Make Clarke Griswold your hero, just for a day.  Give more than you get.  

    Have a wonderful holiday - we'll see you on the other side of 2014.

    Happy New Year!

    Parent

    Backatcha (none / 0) (#49)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Dec 20, 2014 at 09:47:47 AM EST
    and happy ny too.

    Parent
    We are having the family (none / 0) (#64)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Dec 20, 2014 at 03:21:28 PM EST
    Christmas dinner and the rest tomorrow because as usual the cops and EMTs have to work.  This is good because it means I can crash someone else's Christmas dinner later.

    Maybe more than one.  

    Parent

    And on a different note (5.00 / 3) (#36)
    by Zorba on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 07:14:47 PM EST
    Kangaroo punches a drone out of the sky.  You go, kangaroo mom!

    Link.

    Haha....kangaroos are so cool... (5.00 / 2) (#38)
    by desertswine on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 08:36:55 PM EST
    Oh! kangaroos, sequins, chocolate sodas!
    You really are beautiful!  
    Pearls, harmonicas, jujubes, aspirins! all
    the stuff they've always talked about
                            - O'Hara

    Parent
    Interesting couple days (5.00 / 1) (#51)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Dec 20, 2014 at 10:05:14 AM EST
    last week I decided to take down an old out building on my property before the first big snow did.  In the process of doing that I stepped square on a big nasty rusty nail.  I did not put my full weight on it but it poked me pretty good.  My brotherinlaw said I should get a tetanus shot and I blew him off joking that if I got lockjaw I could lose that extra 20 pounds I'm carrying around.  A few days passed and I guess he told my sister who called and yelled at me and told me the story of a teacher friend of hers who got it from a thumbtack in her finger and almost died. So I started reading about tetanus about which I knew pretty much nothing.  Turns out it's quite a horrific thing.  Reading the wiki page will give you nightmares.  And they helpfully provide terrifying image.  Thanks Sir Charles.  I needed that (not).  Anyway I got a shot on Thursday, 5 days after the puncture.  And I'm not sure if it was the shot or psychosomatic from all the reading but Thursday night I started feeling a definite pain in my jaw muscles.  Which needless to say scared the sh!t out if me.  I seem fine now so hopefully it's over but thanks to knowing more than I ever wanted to know about tetanus I know it can take months and a shot after the fact does not necessarily protect you.  And death most often happens to infants and those over 60.
    It did make me realize how completely unprepared I was for such a thing.  No one really knows how to take care of my dogs.  One needed meds twice a day.  Or my fish.  Or really anything else.  But I'm now working on that.  And if I drop out of sight for more than a couple of days it's a fair bet I am in intensive care.
    So
    I guess the point is, it's a good idea to think about these things. And more importantly, get a tetanus shot the next time you see a doctor if it's been more that 5 years.

    LOL; somebody fooled with you, Captain. (5.00 / 2) (#52)
    by Mr Natural on Sat Dec 20, 2014 at 10:21:50 AM EST
    That's a pic of somebody who sat through a screening of The Interview.

    Parent
    No, it's not. (none / 0) (#57)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Dec 20, 2014 at 01:06:49 PM EST
    That's obviously someone who saw Exodus: Gods & Kings.
    ;-D

    Parent
    Saw this (none / 0) (#66)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Dec 20, 2014 at 03:25:41 PM EST
    it was almost bad enough t be good.  But not quite.  Otoh I loved the new Rings movie.  
    Yeah yeah, I know.  Doesn't follow the book.
    I still love them both.

    Parent
    Keeping (5.00 / 1) (#73)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Dec 20, 2014 at 04:40:54 PM EST
    them up is a good idea. My dog bit me when I was pregnant and it caused all kinds of problems because I was not up to date on tetanus.

    Parent
    One of the things I learned (none / 0) (#76)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Dec 20, 2014 at 05:03:52 PM EST
    about is something called Neonatal tetanus.

    Scary stuff.

    Parent

    Fortunately (none / 0) (#79)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Dec 20, 2014 at 07:14:57 PM EST
    I did not have that problem but there was a shortage of the shots or something. I really can't remember the details but the biggest problem for me was I got an infection and it was bad enough that the doctor threatened to put me in the hospital on an IV drip.

    Parent
    I'm due for a tetanus booster shot (none / 0) (#60)
    by McBain on Sat Dec 20, 2014 at 02:07:19 PM EST
    I've been told to get one every 10 years not 5. It's debatable if you really need the booster or if you should just wait until you a cut like you did. Some people think immunization does more harm than good.

    I called my nearest Wallgreens pharmacy and they asked if needed the tetanus booster only or if I needed the Tdap shot..... which is tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis all in one shot.  Apparetnly, if you've had the Tdap once in your life you don't need it again but you might need the tetanus booster.  

    Parent

    It's possible you don't need one (none / 0) (#61)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Dec 20, 2014 at 02:16:16 PM EST
    I read some people don't.  i wouldn't worry about it.

    Parent
    Honestly, "some people" ... (none / 0) (#68)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Dec 20, 2014 at 03:36:35 PM EST
    McBain: "Some people think immunization does more harm than good."

    ... are simply ignorant. Please don't listen to them.

    Rather, if you do harbor concerns or have questions about immunization regimens, or want to know whether or not you require any boosters to immunizations already received, then I very strongly suggest that you discuss these matters with your physician.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    I did talk to my doctor (none / 0) (#70)
    by McBain on Sat Dec 20, 2014 at 03:59:37 PM EST
    She recommended I get the booster but didn't seem to think it was a big deal to wait a while. What I like about her is she's not afraid to admit modern medicine doesn't know everything.

    I don't know a lot about immunization but I do know a fair amount about other areas of health care. Doctors tend to error on the side of drugs even when the data suggests otherwise. I'll probably get the tetanus shot soon but I won't dismiss all skepticism as being ignorant.    

    Parent

    Then that decision is your own. (none / 0) (#71)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Dec 20, 2014 at 04:26:33 PM EST
    Speaking for myself, while I think that maintaining a healthy skepticism is not necessarily a bad thing when it comes to my health and physical well being, I'm really not in the habit of second-guessing my own physicians without due cause once I've consulted with them.

    Now, I don't know either of you personally. That said, while you obviously like your doctor as a person, you also sound to me like you don't quite trust her professional judgment.

    And if that's the case, you should then seriously ask yourself why that is, so as to determine for yourself whether or not your hesitation to take her advice -- advice which YOU solicited -- is perhaps well-founded.

    Because if your doctor doesn't enjoy your full confidence and / or has at any time given you reason to pause before heeding her recommendations, then you might be best served by seeking another physician for your primary care.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    I'm very happy with my doctor (none / 0) (#75)
    by McBain on Sat Dec 20, 2014 at 05:03:22 PM EST
    she has a better "big picture" knowledge/philosophy than most.  As much as I like her, I only see her once every two years or so.

    In general, doctors/modern medicine are good at fixing something that's broken.  They aren't very good at prevention.  They tend to treat symptoms rather than actual illness. We live in a "magic pill" loving society.    

    Parent

    There are plenty of physicians ... (5.00 / 1) (#83)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Dec 21, 2014 at 01:04:38 AM EST
    McBain: "In general, doctors/modern medicine are good at fixing something that's broken. They aren't very good at prevention. They tend to treat symptoms rather than actual illness. We live in a 'magic pill- loving society."

    ... throughout the United States whose practices focus on the art of wellness -- particularly at federally qualified health centers (aka community health centers) in economically challenged communities, where cost containment practices are an absolute necessity. It is really up to you as a consumer of health care to seek them out, if you wish to incorporate the concept of wellness into your own lifestyle practices.

    In economically challenged communities, health care providers must further account for the significant roles that culture, family and community play in regard to the patient's ability to implement and sustain healthy lifestyle practices. In many challenged communities, individual health outcomes are intrinsically linked with the social determinants of community health, such as poverty, racism, housing, education, employment and environment.

    For example, there is no practical benefit to be realized from a physician instructing patients to eat healthier and reduce their intake of processed foods, if that same physician also fails to establish whether or not their patients possess the socio-economic means necessary to acquire fresh vegetables and fruits for consumption on a daily basis.

    To be fair, many physicians in private practice may not necessarily be trained sufficiently to identify those relevant social determinants which can impact an individual's health beyond the obvious or superficial, i.e., the symptoms.

    Further, these physicians may not possess the knowledge or experience necessary to either make referrals or defer judgment to those qualified individuals such as social workers or behavioral specialists, who could otherwise complement the physician's efforts to keep the patient healthy, if and when the opportunity arises.

    This sort of professional compartmentalization, often marked by a lack of communication and coordinated care between various service providers, has arguably been one of the most prominent characteristics and shortcomings of modern American medicine, particularly in middle class and affluent communities. In many instances, it contributes directly to needless duplications of effort and an accompanying escalation of health care costs.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    That's a lot of cliches in one paragraph. (none / 0) (#81)
    by Mr Natural on Sat Dec 20, 2014 at 10:03:00 PM EST
    Medical care may be a bit more empirical than you'd like but at least it's based in science and the scientific method.  Some day they'll know everything, be able to cure everything, prevent everything, and fix everything, but for now Medicine is a work in progress.

    Parent
    I've been told 10 years also (none / 0) (#93)
    by sj on Mon Dec 22, 2014 at 01:19:00 PM EST
    and I know exactly when my last one was.

    And "some people" are idiots.

    Parent

    With the sale of the last of the GM stock (5.00 / 1) (#53)
    by CoralGables on Sat Dec 20, 2014 at 10:37:40 AM EST
    The end of the bank bailout and auto bailout is complete.

    Total cost to the taxpayers after sale of all stock and collected interest payments:

    A profit of $15.35 billion

    Same-sex marriage will (5.00 / 1) (#63)
    by KeysDan on Sat Dec 20, 2014 at 02:56:38 PM EST
    begin in Florida, January 6, 2015.  A precis of the ruling was inadvertently posted on the Ferguson thread.

    The L.A. Times has an interesting report ... (5.00 / 3) (#65)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Dec 20, 2014 at 03:22:00 PM EST
    ... on the fate that's been bestowed upon many wrongfully convicted inmates in California AFTER they've been exonerated. It hardly ever ends with "happily ever after":

    Los Angeles Times | December 20, 2014
    Wrongully Convicted Inmates Fight for Compensation -- "After Ricardo Aguilera took a bullet to the back of his head in a drive-by shooting, he recovered enough to tell police he had seen the gunman: a light-skinned Latino with a goatee, riding in a Dodge Ram pickup with a guy from the Ford Maravilla gang. [...] Investigators didn't believe him, and neither did a jury. Madrigal was sentenced to 53 years to life for attempted murder. It took three years before he found an attorney willing to appeal, three more years before they could convince a judge that Madrigal's original attorney defended him ineffectively. Madrigal walked out of Chino State Prison on Oct. 6, 2009, with the clothes on his back and $187. He was free to return to the life he'd left behind nine years earlier. Except it didn't exist."

    Definitely worth a read. And as you do, it's worth keeping that the State of California is statutorily required to compensate people who've been wrongfully convicted and imprisoned. In some other states, such people are simply screwed twice over.

    Aloha.

    The Bush Dynasty Xmas Card (5.00 / 3) (#85)
    by Mr Natural on Sun Dec 21, 2014 at 07:10:10 PM EST
    Courtesy of William Banzai.

    OMG (none / 0) (#86)
    by Politalkix on Sun Dec 21, 2014 at 07:15:32 PM EST
    Please don't recycle Halloween cards for Christmas :-).

    Parent
    X-Mas from I-SIS: (none / 0) (#87)
    by Mr Natural on Sun Dec 21, 2014 at 08:07:33 PM EST
    Do Not Open - Ever

    Parent
    On the previous thread (none / 0) (#14)
    by Mordiggian 88 on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 03:56:06 PM EST
    Jim, you wrote:

    First of all prove that Israel knew that there were no weapons. After all, Yman has claimed that Gaza is covered in weapons.

    There were no Hamas members or weapons in the UN-run shelters that the Israelis bombed, not once, not twice, not three times, but repeatedly.  Even Yman would agree with that assessment, and I don't know why I would have to agree to everything he says when I'm making my own argument.  Or are you getting your "Shadows" confused again?

    That you don't want to address the deaths of civilians who clearly were not in the midst of Hamas fighters or weapons is very telling.  

    Anyway, I came across this a couple of days ago looking for another quote, for some reason it reminds me of you:

    The constant fluttering around the single flame of vanity is so much the rule and the law that almost nothing is more incomprehensible than how an honest and pure urge for truth could make its appearance among men.

    Friedrich Nietzsche

    Oh give it up (none / 0) (#21)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 04:51:48 PM EST
    There were no Hamas members or weapons in the UN-run shelters that the Israelis bombed, not once, not twice, not three times, but repeatedly.

    You have no way of knowing whether or not Hamas had weapons/radicals there or not.

    I mean, really. You want us to believe that Israel, knowing full well they are engaged in a PR contest that is run by the slanted media repeatedly bombed places where there was nothing.

    Remember the kid that was shot but wasn't?

    link

    link

    link

    I say again.  Hooey.

    BTW - I have addressed the deaths of civilians again and again. In fact, it is my doing so that you want to bitch about. You are being used.

    Hamas is a radical Islamist organization supported by Iran who has repeatedly pledged to kill Jews and destroy Israel and absolutely hates the west and America specifically.

    link<'a>

    >a href="http://www.haaretz.com/news/ahmadinejad-iran-will-support-hamas-until-collapse-of-israel-1.253 714">link

    Why you chose to support these wonderful people I have no idea. Wait. I do know but I'm not going there.

    Parent

    Sorry, don't know what happened (none / 0) (#22)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 04:57:42 PM EST
    on the links.

    Parent
    Sorry, but that excuse is so dumb (none / 0) (#33)
    by Mordiggian 88 on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 06:36:01 PM EST
    That not even the Israelis are using it:

    Israeli officials said they were trying to determine who was responsible for the bloodshed. In past incidents, the Israeli military blamed errant rocket or mortar fire by Gaza militants for explosions at U.N. schools -- or said the blasts were under investigation.

    U.N. says Israel violated international law, after shells hit school in Gaza

    Parent

    Nothing you have (none / 0) (#37)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 08:33:26 PM EST
    provided proves anything.

    "There was mortar fire in the area, directed at our troops," he said. "There was an exchange of fire. We have yet to determine if it was Israeli munitions that struck the compound."

    And this is a joke.

    "I condemn in the strongest possible terms this serious violation of international law by Israeli forces," said Pierre Krähenbühl, the UNRWA commissioner-general. "This is an affront to all of us, a source of universal shame. Today the world stands disgraced."

    The shame is all the support a radical islamist group that hates Jews and Israel gets from some people who should know better.

    Parent

    Funny how we haven't heard about (none / 0) (#50)
    by Mordiggian 88 on Sat Dec 20, 2014 at 09:48:11 AM EST
    The investigations to determine who was responsible for the multiple incidences of mortar fire on the UN-designated refugee sites, isn't it?

    And how is calling out Israel for the actions supporting Hamas?

    If, say, the Ukranian nationalists are caught violating human rights, and I denounce them, does that then make me a Putin supporter?

    You're just flailing here, Jim.  You really need to step back and realize that you're basically supporting war crimes if you argue that shelling a civilian refugee center is acceptable conduct by the Israelis, and to equate calling them on it by claiming this supports the folks who like to chant "Death to Israel" is the dumbest thing you've written all year.

    No charge for the lesson.

    Parent

    You are incapable of understanding (none / 0) (#55)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Dec 20, 2014 at 10:59:14 AM EST
    that I don't care what you think or claim.

    I firmly and completely believe that what the radical islamist group Hamas is doing is to use money given for food to buy weapons and attack Israel.

    And when Israel responds Hamas has placed people in the areas it knows Israel will attack so that Hamas can then cry and claim how evil Israel is.

    I have also given you links that show how HAMAS lies.

    So I say again.

    When Israel starts the fight instead of responding let me know.

    I say that Hamas is the killers of their own people just as if a parent forced their child to play in the middle of I 10 at night so they could claim someone deliberately killed it.

    Now. Let's discuss something else. We have both expressed our opinions time and again.

    Parent

    Wrong! (none / 0) (#59)
    by Mordiggian 88 on Sat Dec 20, 2014 at 01:16:23 PM EST
    I firmly and completely believe that what the radical islamist group Hamas is doing is to use money given for food to buy weapons and attack Israel.

    Fine. What that has to do with the shelling of refugee centers by the Israelis?

    And if that's the case, that the money Hamas solicited is/was used for food, then the answer is to open the border and allow the UN to bring food in, thus undercutting the Hamas ability to raise money on false pretences.

    And where have I ever vouched for the truthfulness of Hamas or their representatives?  That they use the shelling of civilians to their own advantage is to be expected, but the proper response to that is to STOP SHELLING CIVILIANS.

    It's a P.R. twar that Hamas is always going to win, even at the expense of their ostensible people, because the hardliners always benefit on both sides when things get tough.  Didn't you ever watch Star Trek VI?

    Get off of your high horse, instead or resorting to your old cliches of "quit making things up","You don't understand", etc. and face the fact that you're not the fount of wisdom you make yourself out to be.

    Good day, sir.

    Parent

    As I said (none / 0) (#67)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Dec 20, 2014 at 03:33:29 PM EST
    Now. Let's discuss something else. We have both expressed our opinions time and again.

    Parent
    If by that, you mean (none / 0) (#74)
    by Mordiggian 88 on Sat Dec 20, 2014 at 04:43:15 PM EST
    You have nothing sensible to say today, I quite agree.

    Parent
    What I wrote was (2.00 / 1) (#80)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Dec 20, 2014 at 09:12:09 PM EST
    Now. Let's discuss something else. We have both expressed our opinions time and again


    Parent
    You just can't stand any disagreement (5.00 / 1) (#84)
    by Mordiggian 88 on Sun Dec 21, 2014 at 06:32:35 AM EST


    Parent
    Bob McCulloch Interview (none / 0) (#31)
    by McBain on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 06:16:18 PM EST
    http://tinyurl.com/mf5l8yu

    At the 9:15 point he talks about why he allowed witnesses, he knew were lying, to testify.

    At 16:45 he talks about Witness #40.  He says the jury didn't give her any credibility.

    At 18:25 he talks about the leaks from DOJ.

     

    I have a thread up on the McCulloch Interview (5.00 / 1) (#44)
    by Jeralyn on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 10:53:47 PM EST
    now here.

    Parent
    And suddenly, just like moths to a flame ... (5.00 / 1) (#58)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Dec 20, 2014 at 01:08:17 PM EST


    Parent
    Where have I seen this movie before? (none / 0) (#34)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 06:40:23 PM EST
    Oh, yeah: LINK.

    Parent
    Hey, Anne... (none / 0) (#41)
    by unitron on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 09:47:00 PM EST
    ...in the previous open thread you were talking about scam calls from Microsoft support.

    Microsoft is going after those people.

    Thanks for posting that, unitron... (none / 0) (#43)
    by Anne on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 10:26:14 PM EST
    I'm actually surprised it's taken them this long to take some action.

    Parent
    I didn't read the link, so . . . (none / 0) (#46)
    by nycstray on Sat Dec 20, 2014 at 12:49:48 AM EST
    in case it isn't mentioned, there are also scams that pop up on your computer that say you need to call tech support (computer specific, told me to call apple tech, there are microsoft ones also). They are big 'Warning' screens.

    Parent
    Another good read: (none / 0) (#72)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Dec 20, 2014 at 04:34:29 PM EST
    New York Times | December 19, 2014
    Paul Krugman: Putin's Bubble Bursts - "If you're the type who finds macho posturing impressive, Vladimir Putin is your kind of guy. Sure enough, many American conservatives seem to have an embarrassing crush on the swaggering strongman. 'That is what you call a leader,' enthused Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor, after Mr. Putin invaded Ukraine without debate or deliberation. But Mr. Putin never had the resources to back his swagger. Russia has an economy roughly the same size as Brazil's. And, as we're now seeing, it's highly vulnerable to financial crisis -- a vulnerability that has a lot to do with the nature of the Putin regime."

    Aloha.

    That's why Vlad shares expenses (none / 0) (#82)
    by Mr Natural on Sat Dec 20, 2014 at 10:08:52 PM EST
    Russia announced this week that it will be operating a sizable contingent of its first stealth fighter, the Sukhoi PAK-FA (also known as T-50), by 2020. The first deliveries will begin in 2016, and in four years' time the Russians will field 55 of the impressive-looking jet, which resembles closely the American F-22.

    The T-50 is also the product of a partnership between the Indian and Russian governments, with both contributing to the cost of developing the plane



    Parent
    Jesus (none / 0) (#77)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Dec 20, 2014 at 05:38:02 PM EST
    i just went to WallyWorld to help my brotherinlaw get a tablet for my sister.

    What a freakin madhouse.

    Don't go to the mall!

    Final: Seahawks 35, Cardinals 6. (none / 0) (#88)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Dec 21, 2014 at 11:28:17 PM EST
    And with one game to go, the defending Super Bowl champions are looking like defending Super Bowl champions who are ready to repeat. If Seattle beats St. Louis at home next weekend, they'll likely clinch home field advantage throughout the NFC playoffS, barring a tie game between Green Bay and Detroit.

    A Recent Comment on a TL Open Thread (none / 0) (#92)
    by CoralGables on Mon Dec 22, 2014 at 06:48:05 AM EST
    Not Worried About Seattle...they are punks, who don't stand a chance at Lambeau in December.

    Two weeks later Seattle will likely be home for the entire playoffs, and Green Bay needs a win next week or they'll never see home in the playoffs.

    As of now, looks like the road to the Super Bowl in the NFC goes through Seattle again.

    Parent

    Interesting article analyzing (none / 0) (#89)
    by oculus on Mon Dec 22, 2014 at 01:31:26 AM EST
    U.S., British, and Indian intelligence gathered prior to the attacks in Mumbai:

    NYT

    Snaketivity meets Nativity at Michigan Capital (none / 0) (#90)
    by Mr Natural on Mon Dec 22, 2014 at 02:07:43 AM EST
    Michigan's state capital has become the latest battleground of Angels and Knowledge.

    There was more curiosity than outrage Sunday morning in front of the Michigan Capitol, where a group called the Satanic Temple set up a display to counter a Nativity scene.

    Instead of Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus, this "snaketivity" display had a red serpent, a pentagram with a goat head and a cross with "Knowledge is the Greatest Gift of All" written across it.
    Santa shoots 2 at a Detroit Gas Station (none / 0) (#91)
    by Mr Natural on Mon Dec 22, 2014 at 03:24:29 AM EST
    Ho Ho Ho!

    Friday Open Thread | 95 comments (95 topical)

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