home

Monday Night Open Thread

Check out this photo in this article from the National Post on the people fleeing Sinjar. The caption is "Iraqis from the town of Sinjar head towards the autonomous Kurdistan region on Aug. 4, 2014, as they seek refuge after ISIS militants took control of their town." Photo credits are to "AP stringer/Getty Images."

Now check out this one from 2013 in the New York Times -- it's the same same photo. The caption says "Syria-Iraq border, August 2013."

You really have to watch the media. (This photo and this one are really from yesterday.)

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

< ISIS Takes Mosul Dam and Wreaks Havoc in Yezidi Towns | Heavy Redactions Coming for Torture Report >
  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


  • Display: Sort:
    Inquisition in the age of social media (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Aug 04, 2014 at 08:58:03 PM EST
    The Persecution of Witches, 21st-Century Style

    In recent years, there has been a spate of attacks against people accused of witchcraft in Africa, the Pacific and Latin America, and even among immigrant communities in the United States and Western Europe. Researchers with United Nations refugee and human rights agencies have estimated the murders of supposed witches as numbering in the thousands each year, while beatings and banishments could run into the millions. "This is becoming an international problem -- it is a form of persecution and violence that is spreading around the globe," Jeff Crisp, an official with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, told a panel in 2009, the last year in which an international body studied the full dimensions of the problem. A report that year from the same agency and a Unicef study in 2010 both found a rise, especially in Africa, of violence and child abuse linked to witchcraft accusations.
    ---
    One of Nigeria's most popular Pentecostal preachers, Helen Ukpabio, wrote that "if a child under the age of 2 screams in the night, cries and is always feverish with deteriorating health, he or she is a servant of Satan." As that implies, children in those communities are especially likely to be identified as possessed. The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights reported that most of the 25,000 to 50,000 children who live on the streets of Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, were abandoned by family members who accused them of witchcraft or demonic possession.



    Tuesday Night Lights (5.00 / 3) (#106)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 10:38:16 PM EST
    Football Jamboree!! Can you believe it?? Here already!

    Grandson caught one pass for a nice gain and made some nice tackles... he plays both O and D.

    And yes, I'm bragging.

    ;-)

    That is Nice... (5.00 / 1) (#119)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 09:09:53 AM EST
    ...but I think you kind of lost your right to brag about your grand-kids when you decided to write that killing kids for a greater purpose was Okey Dokey.  My opinion of course.


    Parent
    Although offensive and tasteless (5.00 / 1) (#150)
    by CoralGables on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 01:00:20 PM EST
    there may also be some validity to the above comment.

    Parent
    And I think you are an a$$hole (1.00 / 2) (#173)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 05:07:36 PM EST
    wait... make that know... for not knowing that I don't put my grandson in front of the gun I use to defend my home..

    Catch on??

    gesh

    Parent

    You just put your grandkid (5.00 / 2) (#184)
    by jondee on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 07:30:08 PM EST
    and everyone else's in front of the guns you want everyone else in the country to have.

    Parent
    jondee, the only women and children (none / 0) (#187)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 09:59:26 PM EST
    being placed in front of guns are Palestinians.

    Put there by there by Hamas.

    Everyone knows this, including you and Scott. Yet you try to pretend that it is not true.

    The Muslim radicals have a long and terrible history of dealing with women and children.

    So Hamas's actions should surprise no one.

    Mullahs hang 16 year old girl

    Or this

    had 80 women raped for suicide mission

    Or this

    Taliban hang 7-year-old boy accused of being a spy

    Or this

    would not allow the girls to escape or to be saved from the fire because they were "not properly covered

    Parent

    The horrendous treatment of children ... (5.00 / 1) (#192)
    by Yman on Thu Aug 07, 2014 at 06:22:23 AM EST
    ... by the Taliban or other "Muslim radicals" does not excuse your advocation of mass slaughter of those same children (and other innocents) for the crime of living in the same place as the "Muslim radicals", and then excusing it as the price of war.

    Parent
    I don't know how to explain this to you (none / 0) (#193)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu Aug 07, 2014 at 07:28:28 AM EST
    because you obviously have no understanding of history or logic.

    I will try.

    The deaths of non combatants, women, children, et al, is terrible.

    The issue is this. When war becomes necessary, what should you do??

    Your answer is that you must not attack the enemy if the enemy surrounds themselves with non combatants.

    What that means is that you cannot successfully prosecute the war.

    What that means is that you will fail to win the war.

    What means is that you will leave your women, children and other non combatants open to the attacks of your enemies.

    Thus, by choosing to fight with your hands tied you are placing your people in harms way.

    This is exactly what is happening in Gaza. Hamas is using its women and children as human shields while it launches a continual stream of rockets against ALL inhabitants inside Israel.

    So Israel has a choice, just as we had during WWII. Attack, as best possible, military targets with the understanding that non combatants will be killed.

    Sad but unavoidable if we wanted to defeat Germany and Japan and sad if Israel wants to defeat Hamas.

    There is no other choice if you believe that Israel represents a civilized country that deserves to exist without being attacked.

    Your condemnations of the Muslim radicals ring hollow in the face of your support for the enemies of Israel.

    Parent

    I will expand this a bit further (1.00 / 1) (#194)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu Aug 07, 2014 at 07:41:36 AM EST
    the crime of living in the same place as the "Muslim radicals", and then excusing it as the price of war.

    Like it or not we are all responsible for the society/culture/country we live in. If we allow outlaws and criminals and terrorists to live within us, as a group, then we expose ourselves to complying with their demands. This, as the examples I gave you, has terrible consequences.

    The consequences are also terrible because of the attacks against those terrorists that live within the group because of their actions.

    Now, how can thus be avoided?

    Simple. Throw out the radicals and terrorists.

    And yes, difficult to do. Perhaps, in Gaza now impossible.

    But that is the only choice. Clean your own house or someone will clean it for you.

    Parent

    I will expand this a bit further (1.00 / 0) (#195)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu Aug 07, 2014 at 07:41:36 AM EST
    the crime of living in the same place as the "Muslim radicals", and then excusing it as the price of war.

    Like it or not we are all responsible for the society/culture/country we live in. If we allow outlaws and criminals and terrorists to live within us, as a group, then we expose ourselves to complying with their demands. This, as the examples I gave you, has terrible consequences.

    The consequences are also terrible because of the attacks against those terrorists that live within the group because of their actions.

    Now, how can thus be avoided?

    Simple. Throw out the radicals and terrorists.

    And yes, difficult to do. Perhaps, in Gaza now impossible.

    But that is the only choice. Clean your own house or someone will clean it for you.

    Parent

    So should Israel (5.00 / 1) (#198)
    by jondee on Thu Aug 07, 2014 at 10:15:51 AM EST
    throw out the militant settlers who keep gobbling up the West Bank and who believe in the special destiny of their tribe and that we shall all have war-upon-war and apocalypse until the return of the Messiah?

    Of course you don't. Perish the thought.

    Parent

    Nope (5.00 / 1) (#197)
    by jondee on Thu Aug 07, 2014 at 10:11:04 AM EST
    Sad to say, you and Mullah Lapierre are putting all the little kids in this country in front of guns.

    On that note, have you and Wayne ever thought of getting up a list of all the deranged loners in the country and starting a right-to-your-front-door AR-15 home delivery service? I see it taking off.

    Plus, this country already has too many innocent culture-of-dependency children than we can take care of. Sending them back to where they came from may be the best long-term solution for all concerned.

    Parent

    I Guess The Fact That... (5.00 / 3) (#203)
    by ScottW714 on Thu Aug 07, 2014 at 10:30:59 AM EST
    ...the kids didn't do anything, and are by all definitions, innocent, like your grand kids, isn't part of your equation.  You clearly missed the point, so here it is.

    Lucky for you, your grand-kids they weren't born in Gaza because you would have promoted their deaths, because of what you think other people may have done, last week, right here, on this blog.

    Don't get mad at me for pointing out you failures as a human being, you promoted the killing of children, not me.  And FYI, lunatics use kids for shields right here in America.  And fortunately for parents and grandparents of those kids, the police don't share your caveman* mentality.

    *My apologies to cavemen, they would never promote killing of kids to get to desired targets.  But there just isn't a word in the English language to accurately describe that sort of mentality.  And I didn't want to go all Godwin on Jim's A.


    Parent
    That's what grandparents are for... (none / 0) (#115)
    by kdog on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 08:37:35 AM EST
    bragging and boasting...enjoy it Jimbo!

    What positions does he play?  High School ball I assume?

    Parent

    WR and CB (none / 0) (#174)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 05:08:23 PM EST
    sometimes Safety

    Parent
    Very cool... (none / 0) (#196)
    by kdog on Thu Aug 07, 2014 at 08:22:59 AM EST
    here's to a fun and injury free season for the lad!

    Parent
    If it looks like a vendetta... (5.00 / 1) (#116)
    by kdog on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 08:48:36 AM EST
    and smells like a vendetta...it's probably a vendetta.

    The guy who shot the killing of Eric Garner video has been arrested, and so has his wife.  

    I hope the rest of his family have left the state, to be safe.  The biggest crime family in NY ain't f*ckin' around.

    Ramsey Orta is hardly is no angel or saint. (none / 0) (#162)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 02:50:02 PM EST
    Of course, who's a better and easier target for a frame-up, than a 22-year-old Hispanic male with two felony and six misdemeanor convictions?

    I'm not going to speculate further as to what happened in this particular case, because I wasn't there. That said, the coincidence here is just a tad too convenient for my liking, and one could be forgiven for concluding -- as you do -- that Orta's arrest looks like an attempt by NYPD to discredit him as a prospective prosecution witness against Officer Daniel "Respect Mah Authori-TAY!" Pantaleo, et al.

    But even if that were the case, I'm not quite sure what that's supposed to accomplish, since the imary evidence against Pantaleo in the death of Eric Garner is not Orta's eyewitness account of the encounter but rather, the video he took of the incident in question.

    But as we've seen time and again, most recently in the July 2011 beating death of Kelly Thomas at the hands of Fullerton police, even damning video evidence of a fateful encounter is often not enough to secure the conviction of police officers in a court of law.

    I honestly don't know why prosecutors are so reluctant to pursue charges against law enforcement personnel suspected of serious misconduct against civilians. And even if they do seek and obtain indictments against officers or deputies -- often as a result of massive public outcry and backlash, as was the case in Kelly Thomas's death -- juries for some reason have often proved just as reluctant to convict them in criminal court. Though the evidence against the defendants may appear both stark and conclusive, there are both prosecutors and jurors who will simply refuse to pull that trigger, so to speak.

    And that in itself is rather damning. Small wonder why some cops will act with arrogance and impunity while on duty.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Great catch, Jeralyn (none / 0) (#2)
    by lentinel on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 07:23:08 AM EST
    Using photos from 2013 to illustrate something happening in the present... Our media really need some shock therapy.

    ACA (none / 0) (#3)
    by jbindc on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 08:41:23 AM EST
    More fun times and confusion to come.

    If you like your Obamacare plan, you can keep it--but you might end up paying a whole lot more.

    People who decide to stick with the coverage they've already gotten through Obamacare, rather than switching plans, are at risk for some of the biggest premium spikes anywhere in the system. And some people won't even know their costs went up until they get a bill from the IRS.

    Insurance plans generally raise their premiums every year, but those costs are just the tip of the iceberg for millions of Obamacare enrollees. A series of other, largely invisible factors will also push up many consumers' premiums.

    In some cases, even if an insurance company doesn't raise its rates at all, its customers could still end up owing thousands of dollars more for their premiums. It's all a byproduct of complicated technical changes triggered, ironically enough, by the law's success at bolstering competition among insurers.

    The lesson is - don't auto-renew.

    Anyone that price shops (5.00 / 2) (#10)
    by CoralGables on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 09:41:09 AM EST
    doesn't auto-renew anything. Those that do have only themselves to blame.

    That being said, thus far the premium rates for 2015 look to have a lower average rate increase than any of the last several years.

    Parent

    Probably not mine (5.00 / 0) (#36)
    by jbindc on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 12:07:59 PM EST
    I don't get subsidies, but CareFirst BCBS has submitted their 2015 rates, and it appears they are going up by an average of 15%.

    And again, as the article points out, premium increases are only a part of it.

    Parent

    And, from what I'm reading (none / 0) (#22)
    by NYShooter on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 10:12:18 AM EST
    the polls indicate approval of the ACA keeps climbing.

    While down here in Tennessee Democratic politicians are even campaigning on the fact that the Republicans are denying Tennessee citizens health care, which much of the rest of the country is enjoying, for purely political reasons. I even saw one sign/slogan saying, "Reality Works, throw out the Tea Party."

    I don't follow this stuff all that much, but, from what was looking to be a blowout mid-year election for the "R's" may just be waning.

    Parent

    I agree (none / 0) (#23)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 10:16:00 AM EST
    Pryor is campaigning on it.  And on the republicans intention to take it away and raise the Mecicare eligibility age to 70.

    All true.

    Parent

    My 2013 premium and my wife's (none / 0) (#39)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 01:06:00 PM EST
    Went up 100%.

    No word on 2014 but I expect another double.

    And don't judge TN by Davidson, Shelby or Knox counties. They have been Demo for years.

    Parent

    what happened (5.00 / 1) (#181)
    by NYShooter on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 06:17:50 PM EST
    with your Medicare?

    Parent
    I think I found your problem (none / 0) (#101)
    by Mordiggian 88 on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 09:55:41 PM EST
    As suspected, Obamacare isn't being completely implemented in TN:

    Tennessee won't help the federal government establish a vital component of President Barack Obama's health care reform law, Gov. Bill Haslam (R) said Monday.

    Including Tennessee, 21 states have now officially declared that they won't create health insurance exchanges under the law. The exchanges will be online marketplaces that will serve as gateways for as many as 30 million uninsured people to obtain health coverage and financial assistance starting in 2014. States face a Friday deadline to inform federal officials whether they will run the exchanges on their own, leave the task to federal authorities, or partner with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

    "Tennessee will not run a state-based exchange. If conditions warrant in the future and it makes sense at a later date for Tennessee to run the exchange, we would consider that as an option at the appropriate time," Haslam said in a news release.

    "I'm not a fan of the law," Haslam said. Despite his opposition to Obamacare, Haslam had entertained creating a state-run health insurance exchange as a way to exercise some control over the law before deciding against it, he said.

    Haslam echoed complaints made by other governors that the federal government has been slow to provide information to states and to publish key regulations. Likewise, Haslam said Tennessee didn't have enough time.

    Here in California, we have the exchanges and, as a result:

    Covered California`s health insurance rates will go up an average of 4.2 percent next year, a proposed increase that supporters of President Obama's health law hailed as a victory.

    Peter V. Lee, Covered California's executive director, said Thursday that 16 percent of consumers will either see no hike or even a small decrease in their rates. Rates could go up as much as 5 percent for 35 percent of policyholders, and 36 percent could get increases between 5 and 8 percent. About 13 percent of consumers could get hit with increases of 8 to 10 percent.(ed)



    Parent
    Uh no (none / 0) (#102)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 10:25:55 PM EST
    That has nothing to do with MediGap, which Obama stole from....

    As for CA, I wouldn't count my blessings until the actual new rates arrive.

    Of course if you are getting a subsidy, why should you care??

    Parent

    Medigap? (none / 0) (#107)
    by Mordiggian 88 on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 11:22:03 PM EST
    That has nothing to do with MediGap, which Obama stole from....

    Except Medigap policies are regulated state to state.

    Medicare Supplement insurance plans are sold by private insurance companies, such as AARP, Mutual of Omaha, BCBS, and other insurers licensed to offer Medigap policies in each state(ed).

    I would write to the Commissioner of Insurance or whatever the equivalent is in your state to find out why that is.

    As for CA, I wouldn't count my blessings until the actual new rates arrive

    If it's anything like last year, I think we'll be able to live with it.

    The results of Covered California's negotiations with health insurance companies belie predictions of massive premium increases under the law, at least for products that offer a range of benefits similar to those currently sold to small businesses.

    ............................................

    "This is a home run for consumers in every region of California," Peter Lee, the executive director of Covered California, said in a press release. 'Our active negotiating will not only benefit potential enrollees to Covered California, but will benefit all Californians by making health care affordable.' California is one of just six states that will use their negotiating leverage to force lower premiums under Obamacare.

    Too bad the powers that be in your state(and many others)thought otherwise.

    As for the subsidy, we make too much money to qualify for it. FYI, it's from 133 to 400% of the federal poverty level.  

    Parent

    Medigap is not a supplemental (1.00 / 0) (#168)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 04:58:57 PM EST
    Sorry, but (5.00 / 1) (#178)
    by Mordiggian 88 on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 05:20:10 PM EST
    According to the Wiki, you're wrong:

    Medigap (also Medicare supplement insurance or Medicare supplemental insurance) refers to various private health insurance plans sold to supplement Medicare in the United States. Medigap insurance provides coverage for many of the co-pays and some of the co-insurance related to Medicare-covered hospital, skilled nursing facility, home health care, ambulance, durable medical equipment, and doctor charges. Medigap's name is derived from the notion that it exists to cover the difference or "gap" between the expenses reimbursed to providers by Medicare Parts A and B for the preceding named services and the total amount allowed to be charged for those services by the United States Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). As of 2006, 18% of Medicare beneficiaries were covered by a Medigap policy.[1] Public-option Part C Medicare Advantage health plans and private employee retiree insurance provides a similar supplemental role for almost all other Medicare beneficiaries not dual eligible for Medicaid.

    Hope that clears up your confusion.

    Parent

    BTW, you need to read this: (none / 0) (#112)
    by Mordiggian 88 on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 07:14:58 AM EST
    Conservatives get their Obamacare wish -- and now condemn their own sabotage

    Scott's opposition to Obamacare and his commitment to its failure were such that he actively worked against the interests of his constituents. He and the Legislature passed another law in 2013 that "made it more difficult for Floridians to obtain the cheapest insurance rates under the exchange and to get help from specially trained outreach counselors." All this despite the fact that Florida, at the time of the ACA's rollout, had the second highest uninsurance rate in the country.

    Generally speaking, Obamacare is performing well in the states that embraced the law, and not as well in the states that rejected expanded Medicaid and declined to build their own insurance exchanges. It's a simple bit of cause-and-effect logic: cooperation with Obamacare produced better outcomes, while opposition made the law less effective. But the Republicans and conservatives who fought desperately against the law's success are now professing to be absolutely shocked and appalled that the Affordable Care Act isn't able to fully make good on its promises. That's about as disingenuous an argument as you can make.



    Parent
    Go ask Oregon (none / 0) (#169)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 04:59:32 PM EST
    Glad you asked (5.00 / 1) (#175)
    by Mordiggian 88 on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 05:13:48 PM EST
    Huffington Post

    Washington state, Colorado, West Virginia, Oregon, California and New Mexico each cut their uninsured rates by at least 5 percentage points, and Connecticut's fell 4.9 percentage points.



    Parent
    Glad you asked part 2 (5.00 / 1) (#179)
    by CoralGables on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 05:34:04 PM EST
    More Oregon news from earlier this month:

    The average rates announced for 2015 are lower this year than last year.

    Health insurance premiums will be slightly lower in 2015 for small group and individual policyholders and the state insurance commissioner credited factors spurred by the Affordable Care Act.

    It's the first time in many years that Oregon has seen a decrease in average rates. In 2008, the increase was as high as 21.34 percent in the individual market and 13.44 percent in the small group market.

    This year, less unpaid medical services and increased competition and transparency were the major factors that drove down prices, Insurance Commissioner Laura Cali said of the approved rates released today.



    Parent
    Uh no (none / 0) (#103)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 10:25:55 PM EST
    That has nothing to do with MediGap, which Obama stole from....

    As for CA, I wouldn't count my blessings until the actual new rates arrive.

    Of course if you are getting a subsidy, why should you care??

    Parent

    At least some public servants... (none / 0) (#4)
    by kdog on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 08:57:55 AM EST
    are protecting and serving the people of NY...handcuffed mentally ill man getting pummeled by 4 thugs, until FDNY EMT's save the day.

    More Cowbell! (none / 0) (#8)
    by kdog on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 09:29:19 AM EST
    I'd say this flatfoot is in line to get another medal!

    Parent
    We have the earth blasting (none / 0) (#5)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 09:10:34 AM EST
    Sports field sized holes in the earths crust and Ebola infected people about to be given a serum that has been 100% effective in primates but has never given to humans.

    The news is starting to sound like previews of coming attractions.

    You can't test the serum (none / 0) (#6)
    by Mordiggian 88 on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 09:15:29 AM EST
    unless you have a human subject infected with Ebola, which, the last time I checked, aren't very common in this part of the world.

    Parent
    No shortage (none / 0) (#7)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 09:19:35 AM EST
    Of infections in Africa.  Faucci said yesterday there is only three doses in existence

    I'm not being an alarmist.  Just a pre caffeine impression of Tuesday morning.   Things will look better after the second cup.

    Parent

    No need to be alarmed (5.00 / 2) (#13)
    by CoralGables on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 09:54:50 AM EST
    There will be more deaths by firearms this month in the US than ebola has killed in the entire world thus far in 2014.

    Parent
    But firearms deaths are so passé. (5.00 / 1) (#58)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 02:46:49 PM EST
    Ebola is like, exotic and trendy because it's what's happening now! And all the cool kids on CNN -- who otherwise aren't qualified to discuss home remedies for the common cold -- will want to pontificate about how the illegal kids from Honduras are likely conduits for its transmission, and why it's all Obama's fault.

    That should take up the entire first hour of "The Situation Room." Now, what do producers do for the second hour?

    :-)

    Parent

    Yes, and Todd Rokita (R. IN) (5.00 / 1) (#64)
    by KeysDan on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 03:34:44 PM EST
    is concerned about ebola in kids from Central American placed in good, clean homes in Indiana.   Maybe, Todd could run over to Purdue University near his Lafayette office and get informed.  Perhaps the University scholar/president/former Republican governor/ Mitch Daniels could refer him to someone who knows something.

    Parent
    Ha (none / 0) (#19)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 10:06:38 AM EST
    Dark but true.  You know what was disturbing for me, the description of what is happening in places like Sierra Leone where the disease is spreading like crazy because they can't make people understand that they can't treat the dead in their traditional way because that's is how it spreads.   By contact with fluids.  Apparently the only people in that part of the world even making an effort to spread this information is doctors like the two who got infected.
    Pretty much no government information effort.  
    It's a relatively easy disease to contain but it is not being contained.

    Parent
    I said they were doctors (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 10:10:03 AM EST
    Were they doctors?  Missionaries?  Whatever they are god bless sum.

    Parent
    But Ebola hasn't had a chance (none / 0) (#171)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 05:01:06 PM EST
    Given the special isolation unit (none / 0) (#9)
    by Mordiggian 88 on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 09:31:22 AM EST
    at Emory U in Atlanta, wouldn't you prefer that it be tested there instead of a facility in Africa that may not have the same controls against infection and experts to monitor the patients condition?

    Parent
    Of course I would. (none / 0) (#11)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 09:47:25 AM EST
    There you go. (none / 0) (#12)
    by Mordiggian 88 on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 09:49:00 AM EST
    There you Go ? (5.00 / 1) (#46)
    by ScottW714 on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 01:51:28 PM EST
    You mean people in the US who have nearly a zero chance of getting it would like it tested in laboratory like conditions ?  Put me down as a yes as well.

    But what about the people who actually have it who have a good chance of dying from it, who have never seen, nor will ever see laboratory conditions, how about asking them if they are cool with two doses being tested in Atlanta.

    You get my point.  Real word conditions would provide just as much useful data as lab conditions when most of the victims live in poverty in Africa.

    I thought I remembered reading or seeing one of them rejected the only know dose, this isn't what I read, but it's the same report.
    From last week:

    The Texas doctor who came down with Ebola while volunteering in Liberia has given the only dose of a potentially life-saving drug to the other American aid worker infected with the deadly virus.

    Dr. Kent Brantly requested that the experimental serum be given to his colleague, Nancy Writebol, of Charlotte, N.C., Brantly will be given a blood transfusion, with one unit of blood coming from a 14-year-old boy whom Brantly saved from the dreaded disease.

    That is remarkable.  A doctor from Texas volunteering in Africa and donating a possible cure to his colleague.  There is still hope for humanity, even from a Texan.

    But where in the he11 did two doses appear from ?

    If it works and they can make it that quick...

    Parent

    Here's an explanation from TPM (none / 0) (#51)
    by Mordiggian 88 on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 02:23:31 PM EST
    On why not using the drug before might've been the right thing to do:

    You ask: "So how are we only hearing about this treatment when two American aid workers came down with the disease after going on 800 people have died in the current outbreak in three countries in Africa?"

        I don't know anything about this particular case, but I do do bioethics, so: It's hard to overstate how unusual it is for a drug at this stage of development to be given to humans. This CNN piece suggests that they've only tried it on eight macaques so far. That's a small number; they'd normally do significantly more testing in primates (or some other good animal model) before moving on to humans. Then when they did move to humans, they'd begin by testing for safety, then do various complicated further tests on larger numbers of people, and only then, if it had proved to be safe and effective, would they be able to apply for FDA approval.

        This means, first, that this probably wouldn't have been considered a "treatment" yet, just a promising lead. But second: trying a drug at this stage on humans has serious ethical risks. You'd want to be really, really sure that the people in question had given informed consent, and that that informed consent included their being absolutely clear that this drug not only might not work, but that it might actually be harmful to them. You'd want to be sure that they understood what it means for a drug to be at this preliminary stage of testing, and that they fully appreciated the fact that they were taking a huge gamble. (No, this procedure was not designed with something as nightmarish as Ebola in mind, something that makes statements like 'you know, you're assuming a real risk here' sound silly, but still. It was a real risk. Ebola is not 100% lethal; it's quite possible that an untested treatment could kill someone who would otherwise have recovered.)(ed) I think that this (along with the fact that the drug seems to require careful handling of the sort that would best be provided in a serious hospital, and the fact that there seems to have been only a limited amount of the drug available) would argue strongly in favor of trying the drug first on doctors, and specifically doctors who understand how much of the normal testing process was being bypassed, and what that meant.

        As for why American doctors: here I am really speculating, but: I have read the same articles you probably have about the levels of distrust in the affected countries. I cannot imagine what it would be like things went badly wrong and Westerners were seen to be killing e.g. Liberians. Especially if the US government was (as the reporting suggests) involved in getting the drug to them.

        Views about medical research seem to oscillate between thinking of research as risks inflicted on human guinea pigs and thinking of it as offering desperate people a chance at a cure, a chance which is held up by annoying research protocols and red tape. (On the one hand, Tuskegee; on the other, experimental HIV treatments.) The problem is that ex ante you just don't know which drugs will work, which will not, and which will have awful unforeseen effects. There have been a number of very serious criticisms of drug companies doing research on people in developing countries, especially when that research bypasses (or is thought to bypass) the kinds of controls we'd insist on in this country. (See, e.g., this.) It would surprise me if that hadn't played some role here.(ed)

    And the drug mentioned before was another substance, not the stuff they're getting now.

    Parent

    please keep your quotes from the work of others (none / 0) (#100)
    by Jeralyn on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 09:51:53 PM EST
    to a short paragraph or two. Just link and make your point about it or summarize. Thanks.

    Parent
    And he is also a (none / 0) (#66)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 03:51:21 PM EST
    Church of Christ Missionary.

    Parent
    We will be at Emory soon (none / 0) (#14)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 09:54:56 AM EST
    I hope it isn't crazy.  Not worried about anyone being treated there, just the insanity of the press these days.

    Parent
    Good luck MT! (5.00 / 2) (#35)
    by ruffian on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 12:02:26 PM EST
    I hope they have shoved the press out of the way and made space for the patients. That is not something anyone should have to worry about going in for surgery.

    Parent
    Someone might enjoy this (5.00 / 1) (#96)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 08:37:26 PM EST
    Hospitals usually have side entrances (none / 0) (#15)
    by Mordiggian 88 on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 09:57:10 AM EST
    that can be used to get in and out where the press isn't around.

    Parent
    Parking is always difficult there (none / 0) (#16)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 09:59:34 AM EST
    It is already a very congested area.

    Parent
    Not surprising (none / 0) (#17)
    by Mordiggian 88 on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 10:02:57 AM EST
    If it's not a budget buster, I'd suggest parking a distance away and taking a taxi or bus to the building itself.

    Parent
    Major surgery? (none / 0) (#18)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 10:04:17 AM EST
    Two bilateral titanium rods from hip bones to shoulder blades removed?  I don't think so :)

    Parent
    Wow (none / 0) (#20)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 10:07:48 AM EST
    Will send vibes

    Parent
    He did marching band camp here (5.00 / 5) (#24)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 10:16:06 AM EST
    I was so worried about him.  He plays bass drum in the pit, but they did four hours a day in the heat building tolerance.  Since he is percussion he did a week extra of this camp too, all total 13 half days in the heat.

    He was wobbly on day one and two, then he found his stride.

    And I worried, maybe I should take him home and end this exercising :)

    Sometimes the hardest thing a parent must do is get out of the way, shut up and just drive :). Band camp was probably the best PT he could have done preparing physically for this.  Lots of other kids throwing up in the heat too, but not Josh.  I did hover a bit with frogg toggs and spray bottles :)... Tried to blend in before I got chewed out....AGAIN :)

    Parent

    My two cents... (5.00 / 2) (#62)
    by kdog on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 03:04:43 PM EST
    worth two cents less than that;)...he knows his limitations better than anybody, gotta let him spread his wings and fly.

    That's what I tell my sister anyway when she wants to reign her daughter in on the monkey bars or playing soccer in the yard...but my niece doesn't have half the challenges Josh has, just one rod.

    Parent

    A TX cousin of mine (none / 0) (#28)
    by Mordiggian 88 on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 10:25:21 AM EST
    is on disability because of heat stroke due to his idiot band instructor in high school who insisted that they practice in the dry, hot, TX summertime heat in the afternoon.  I would say that it would be better for your child to refuse to do any practice in the afternoon if anyone asks him to.  Better an expelled child than a more medically-compromised one handed back to you.

    Parent
    They are all aware of what to look for (none / 0) (#31)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 10:39:37 AM EST
    Nobody stays on the field who is suffering .  Vomiting is usually one of the first indicators the heat is overly affecting you.  Most of those who did vomit usually did not eat prior to practice and ingested a caffeinated soda.

    So now we have 240 students shunning soda....to include my child (shocking) and eating more regular meals.  Josh gained five pounds, most of that looks like added muscle to me though.  It was mostly around his trunk, which is where he needs to build strength with the rod removal.  I bought him two pairs of cargo shorts for practice but they had to be replaced with stretchy athletic shorts because his waist thickened.

    I am sorry for what your cousin experienced, sounds horrible, from what I can see of Josh's band instructor he would never place them in that sort of danger.  It really was a godsend for us, an unanticipated godsend.

    Parent

    Clarification (5.00 / 1) (#44)
    by Mordiggian 88 on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 01:42:40 PM EST
    Yeah, I was just speaking in general for the future because I lived in Mobile, AL for a few years and I know that hot weather isn't necessarily limited to the summer months down there.  

    So far I haven't heard of any kids getting heat stroke from summer football practice, that's why they're taking precautions these days, from the past incidents that have in some cases been fatal.

    Parent

    They have medical taxis and medical transport (none / 0) (#25)
    by Mordiggian 88 on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 10:18:19 AM EST
    vehicles available for even short rides from the airport.

    And I'd forgotten just how bad your sons' condition was and is, but it isn't an excuse to be snappy, FYI.

    Parent

    Who is being snappy (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 10:20:42 AM EST
    Did I miss something

    Parent
    We aren't flying in (none / 0) (#27)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 10:24:13 AM EST
    Then park where it's not congested and get (none / 0) (#29)
    by Mordiggian 88 on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 10:26:46 AM EST
    a medical transport vehicle to take you the rest of the way to the hospital.

    Parent
    And you're paying for this? (5.00 / 1) (#32)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 10:41:13 AM EST
    Don't know what the rates are down there (none / 0) (#40)
    by Mordiggian 88 on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 01:13:15 PM EST
    but I do know that it would be a medically deductible expense and worth at least looking into.  Perhaps you could start a Paypal account or something that people could donate to defray the expense.

    Just throwing out ideas here.

    Parent

    FYI (none / 0) (#30)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 10:36:09 AM EST
    STARZ is running special deals in advance of Outlander starting this weekend.

    Orange is the New Black, season 2 (none / 0) (#33)
    by Dadler on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 11:36:18 AM EST
    IMHO...it mostly sucked. Morphed into caricatures of the writers' mad desire to escape their own limitations as thinkers. Just weak tea to me.  
    Same, pretty much IMO, with what I've seen so far of Masters of Sex season 2. Flailing. Both these shows should have been single season experiences, it seems clear, with a few more episodes padded on.

    But that's just my opinion. I need laughter, truthfully, laughter by the truckload.

    I have to disagree on OITB. (none / 0) (#34)
    by ruffian on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 11:54:44 AM EST
    I liked most of Season 2, with the exception of the plot line with Piper's fiance and best friend. That was annoying. But I loved the backstories we hadn't seen yet, and the introduction of someone truly bad into the mix. I did not feel like it was treading water at all.

    Masters - yeah, it seemed to take a long time to get anywhere. Seems to be moving forward after the most recent episode.

    Up against the vast majority of the rest of what is on TV.... they both are still high quality IMO.

    Parent

    Orange (none / 0) (#38)
    by Dadler on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 12:20:55 PM EST
    It entirely lost the core idea of the book that inspired it, to me anyway. Piper has morphed into a caricature. And the way they dealt with, or didn't deal with, Piper's perjury at the beginning of the season, weak. The warden stuff, weak -- I mean, come on, "Okay, I'll suck your d*ck," seriously? That lady would bit his joint right OFF. And the way, oddly, that the villains were either gay or black. Hmm. Just a weird turn that I didn't dig ultimately. But I'm a moron, you have to factor that in. ;-)

    Masters seems like it wants to be a play this season. I love the theatre, but still...same problem as Orange, to me its just losing its focus. And I feel sorry for Virginia's kids, they are non-existent. Which says something about her character, but also about the character of the writing. Her kids, IMO, would be fantastic foils to the adult stuff. I want a relentless barrage of psycho-sexual kid banter, from her son especially. But all I get is the hotel affair she and Bill are having. And I just don't like what Michael Sheen is doing with this character. He's Oedipus, and they're playing him like King Bullsh*t. I mean, come on, getting rid of his mom like they did? Boo. That freakshow relationship needs to be mined for every ounce of utterly deranged Freudian poop that it an be. So, I hope they bring Mom back soon.

    Not that I have issues myself of anything. ;-)

    Parent

    Virginia is trying so hard to hold on to (5.00 / 1) (#65)
    by Anne on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 03:45:52 PM EST
    her perception of herself as the rare woman functioning in polite society who can separate her desires and needs from that thing called love.  She's failing - falling for Bill, who seems to be a terribly damaged and dysfunctional man.  I really wanted to see his relationship with his mother play out, but it ended just as it was getting good.

    I find Virginia fascinating - she's so afraid to let down her guard and let people in; I think when she finally cracks, it's going to be epic.  And between Libby, who's threatening to crack for reasons at the other end of the spectrum, and Virginia, Bill is going into the meat grinder.

    Kinda makes me wonder how that baby turned out...

    Parent

    Interesdting! I welcome the other opinion... (none / 0) (#53)
    by ruffian on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 02:27:50 PM EST
    especially when it is so different from mine! I want the kids as far off screen as possible in most of my TV shows. I have zero interest in what Virginia's kids have to say about any of the goings on....

    I do hope they bring Mom back - that was getting interesting.

    And please, bring back Allison Janney soon.

    Parent

    Allison Janney seems to be ... (none / 0) (#59)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 02:50:39 PM EST
    ... terribly busy nowadays. She's everywhere.

    Parent
    re: OITNB (none / 0) (#55)
    by ruffian on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 02:35:30 PM EST
    I think even black and gay women are so happy to see gay and black women portrayed at all on a decently written show they may not mind if some of them were bad people. I think it was apparent that most of them have some redeeming qualities, with the possible exception of Vee. The white and Hispanic women are no angels either. It is a prison after all.

    Parent
    That bad, huh? (none / 0) (#61)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 03:04:15 PM EST
    Maybe Netflix should dispense with OITNB, and offer a Sybil Danning film retrospective in its place. They simply don't make good trash like that anymore.

    ;-D

    Parent

    Season 4 of The Killing (none / 0) (#37)
    by ruffian on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 12:08:00 PM EST
    I've been nursing a sinus infection and pinkeye for the last week...fun!

    Settled in on the couch Saturday to look for something relaxing to watch, like an English series I had not seen yet, but I found that Netflix produced a final season of The Killing! Not relaxing, but it was worth binging in for a few hours. I think it was about 6 episodes. It picks up where Season 3 left off, with Holder and Linden having to deal with what Linden did at the very end of Season 3. Just trying not to spoil. Wrapped it all up well I thought and had a nice ending. Just letting you all know it is out there - can't remember who else here was watching 'the Killing'.

    Ohhh! Thanks! (none / 0) (#45)
    by nycstray on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 01:49:32 PM EST
    I missed that it was available now. I'll start on it tonight :)

    Parent
    btw (none / 0) (#50)
    by sj on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 02:17:26 PM EST
    What happened with the Found Puppy?

    Parent
    She has a new home (5.00 / 3) (#52)
    by nycstray on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 02:23:40 PM EST
    I hung onto her for the required 30days for ownership and then worked with a rescue who got her all vetted and found her a home in about 10 days :) She now has 3 human boys of her own and a big backyard. I still can't believe no one was looking for her, even though I should be used to it.

    Parent
    that is great to hear (5.00 / 2) (#56)
    by ruffian on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 02:37:15 PM EST
    Glad she landed in a good spot. Thanks for taking such good care of her!

    Parent
    In Maryland the holding period (5.00 / 2) (#67)
    by sj on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 03:54:10 PM EST
    is 4 days. The short time frame is for the benefit of the animal shelters, but it applies to private citizens as well.

    Which is how I acquired my Chow Chow. I notified all the appropriate agencies and then hunkered down to wait. I'm glad as a "finder" who wanted to be a "keeper" that the holding period wasn't for 30 days because I agonized during 3 of those 4 days.

    Parent

    It's iffy here (none / 0) (#71)
    by nycstray on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 04:07:20 PM EST
    And could possibly be a local vs state law thing. The HS told me once when I had another stray, it was only the legal 72hr waiting period that shelters are required. But I have also heard the 30 day thing. I really didn't want anyone to come a looking if I had placed her too soon and have a legal hassle on my hands and a tug of war over the pup. And she was an easy keeper. She now lives in a different city/county  :)

    Parent
    That makes sense (3.67 / 3) (#72)
    by sj on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 04:39:09 PM EST
    Definitely better safe than sorry.

    Parent
    Wow! MKS (none / 0) (#146)
    by sj on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 12:38:38 PM EST
    had to really look hard to find a comment to troll rate, because try as I might I don't see a thing about this comment worth rating one way or the other. Oh wait a minute, he's troll rating the commenter and not the comment.

    Wev  ::eye roll::

    Parent

    Welcome to the club! (5.00 / 2) (#147)
    by Zorba on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 12:41:53 PM EST
    It seems to be some kind of retribution.
    Pay no attention, my dear.    ;-)

    Parent
    Still pretty sad though. (none / 0) (#154)
    by nycstray on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 01:35:09 PM EST
    Oh, I forgot to (5.00 / 3) (#68)
    by sj on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 03:56:15 PM EST
    ... add:

    Nice job: :)

    Parent

    What a great update! (5.00 / 1) (#170)
    by vml68 on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 05:00:41 PM EST
    I am currently on "sock watch". My &*#@ lab swallowed a sock and I am anxiously waiting for it to come back up. This is the second time he has done it. The last time was a month ago and it came back up after 3 days.
    This time I have already been waiting a week. So far there are no signs of a blockage but it is really starting to stress me out.

    Parent
    Oy! (5.00 / 2) (#177)
    by Zorba on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 05:18:54 PM EST
    Years ago, our Standard Poodle ate part of our rug.  
    So, I was on "rug watch" for awhile.  She didn't regurgitate it, but fortunately, it all came out okay in "the end," if you know what I mean.    ;-)

    Parent
    The sock swallowing is a new thing. (5.00 / 1) (#180)
    by vml68 on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 05:59:38 PM EST
    But, eating my sheets, pillows, blankets, cushions, etc., is an ongoing losing battle for me and my things/wallet! The only upside to it is that he chews it thoroughly and so it comes out the other end in very colorful "packages".

    Parent
    Our previous Great Dane was an inveterate (5.00 / 2) (#185)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 09:28:05 PM EST
    sock eater. They all came out fine "in the end."

    Parent
    Are you sure (none / 0) (#182)
    by Angel on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 06:23:21 PM EST
    you're dealing with a cat??  :}

    Parent
    The joys of having a lab (none / 0) (#172)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 05:02:11 PM EST
    Raw American Blues (none / 0) (#41)
    by Dadler on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 01:17:08 PM EST
    Legend style. Family Style. Burnside style. (link)

    (and that little kid on the drums has become quite the accomplished musician. look him up.)

    One more Burnside (none / 0) (#42)
    by Dadler on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 01:18:57 PM EST
    And here's how small the Blues world is (5.00 / 1) (#43)
    by Dadler on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 01:34:34 PM EST
    Kdog, take note:

    I linked to this Tom Waits performance on Letterman a few months ago (link). You loved the bass player, Larry The Mole, but rhythm guitar behind Tom is being played by Big Bill Morganfield, aka the son of Mudy Waters. My little brother (by 18 years, same fathers, different mothers) is a luthier. He sends me a photo of himself and his toddler boy, Miles (you can guess who the name is after, my little bro being a musician and all), both in hipster hats, both mugging for the selfie. I love it, write back: "I bet Muddy Waters took a pic of he and his own son just like this." Little bro responds, "I actually did some work on Muddy Waters kid's guitar not too long ago." I send him the Tom Waits clip, he responds with, "That's the one, the guitar in that video, yes sir, Red Gibson 345."

    I love the fates.

    Parent

    Small Musical World indeed... (none / 0) (#57)
    by kdog on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 02:43:44 PM EST
    look forward to checking out the clips later bro...and as always good luck with the back Jack, I can't imagine.  

    And a speedy recovery to my man Dr. John, I was in attendance in Central Park when he had to cancel last minute.  Major bummer, but the good Dr's health comes first.  The opening act was worth the trip...Hurray for The Riff Raff, good stuff.

    And my one day of the Vibes festival last Friday was killer-diller....John Fogerty is one rock-n-roll fogey who is in excellent shape...voice sounds great and tons of energy.  Two cute hippies made a sandwich outta me dancing to a romping version of "Lodi".  Hog heaven man.

    Parent

    Ack, I'll survive (none / 0) (#60)
    by Dadler on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 02:54:27 PM EST
    The clip you'll remember.

    Hope you have a killer end of summer music sked.

    Get your groove on, my good man. ;-)

    Parent

    That's the plan Stan! (none / 0) (#63)
    by kdog on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 03:11:31 PM EST
    Next stop is Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds tomorrow night...love those cats.

    Was first on the online line yesterday for Phil Lesh & Friends tix for 9/21 at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium...Warren Haynes playing lead guitar.  Gotta get GA on the floor ya know.  Can't get enough of the Lesh!

    Parent

    Warren Haynes as in... (none / 0) (#133)
    by Dadler on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 10:52:39 AM EST
    ...Gibby of the Butthole Surfers? Or am I daft?


    Parent
    Warren Haynes... (none / 0) (#136)
    by kdog on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 11:03:15 AM EST
    as in Government Mule and The Allman Bros. Band and too many guest appearances to count.  

    Or as Bob Weir calls him, Uncle Warren.

    Parent

    IOW, I am daft (none / 0) (#149)
    by Dadler on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 12:48:19 PM EST
    And this is not news. Just ask Lady Kay.

    Parent
    The furthest thing from daft... (none / 0) (#151)
    by kdog on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 01:13:03 PM EST
    You're talking to a fellow self-deprecator!

    Besides, it's always nice to see the Butthole Surfers referenced;)  Speaking of hardcore, after Dr. John was cancelled we headed to the lower east side to hit up a hookah bar, and there was some live hardcore music going in Tompkins Square Park...not my cup o' tea, especially being in a N'awlins state of mind that day, but the band had a cool name.  Transgendered Jesus.

    Parent

    AC/DC Thunderstruck (none / 0) (#81)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 06:11:41 PM EST
    Jaysus, that's brilliant! (none / 0) (#137)
    by Dadler on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 11:09:19 AM EST
    Thanks for the linkage. Seriously. I have several friends who have already enjoyed it, as well.

    Parent
    saw him again last summer. He was looking very frail, unfortunately.

    Parent
    I saw him once (none / 0) (#125)
    by jondee on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 10:04:29 AM EST
    in smaller band with Levon Helm and Paul Butterfield. The were friggin' fantastic. One hundred % soul and musicianship.

    Parent
    Musta been... (none / 0) (#127)
    by kdog on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 10:23:02 AM EST
    Levon Helm & The RCO All-Stars...I have the record, can only imagine how awesome they kicked it live.

    Parent
    They indeed kicked awesomely (5.00 / 1) (#129)
    by jondee on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 10:37:39 AM EST
    as you young hipsters like to say ;-)

    I was an aspiring harp player at the time, and got to meet Butter after the show. l felt like a green kid meeting Micky Mantle. He was a very nice guy.

    I wish he and Mike Bloomfield, and course Levon, were still here. The world would be a better place.

    Parent

    No doubt.. (none / 0) (#131)
    by kdog on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 10:46:15 AM EST
    we would have a better soundtrack...thank goodness the records never die, and that there are plenty of young bucks and does carrying the torch of America's greatest gift to the world...our music.  And putting their unique spin on it...like Levon, Butterfield, and Bloomfield did before them.

    Parent
    I think those guys played (none / 0) (#134)
    by jondee on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 10:53:21 AM EST
    on SNL back then. Hosted by Broderick Crawford.

    Someone should track that down.

    Parent

    Favorite RL (none / 0) (#82)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 06:17:09 PM EST
    Love that one (none / 0) (#130)
    by Dadler on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 10:41:31 AM EST
    Never tire of seeing it. Just funny how my mind, out of nowhere, floods me with the sound of these cats I hadn't listened to in a few decades, since I was a lonely college dork digging through the Humanities Library record collection at midnight.

    Parent
    My. Back. Is. PHUCKED!!! (none / 0) (#47)
    by Dadler on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 01:53:26 PM EST
    If I don't require an L5/S1 fusion in the next few years, a goddamn gruesome procedure for a dude with an already lame right leg and foot, then, to semi-quote Orson Welles on a bad day in the looping booth, I will go down on all of you AND give you half an hour to draw a crowd. Just sayin'.

    One of those days. Time to start my mid-day rehab routine. Gimp that I am. Sigh...

    Oh, so very sorry, D.! (5.00 / 1) (#48)
    by Zorba on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 02:09:24 PM EST
    Sending healing thoughts your way.  
    Namaste, my brother.

    Parent
    That sounds horrendous (5.00 / 1) (#54)
    by ruffian on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 02:30:42 PM EST
    So sorry - do what you can do today and try not to worry about a few years down the road. Easier said than done, I know.

    Parent
    so sorry to hear that (5.00 / 1) (#98)
    by ZtoA on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 08:56:05 PM EST
    Today I heard about Prolotherapy using stem cells which seems promising (I have hip issues). Googled it and apparently it is a real thing. Might not be covered by insurance and might be rather expensive, but I'm going to look into it further. Might interest you.

    Parent
    Dadler, (5.00 / 1) (#99)
    by ZtoA on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 09:14:57 PM EST
    there are many Prolotherapy centers and doctors in LA - just googled it. I have a friend who had lots of problems in his back and joints mostly from surfing forever. He's in his 60s. Got it this year and has had excellent results.

    Parent
    Well, the garden is going (none / 0) (#49)
    by Zorba on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 02:12:34 PM EST
    Full blast.  Tomatoes, zucchini, yellow crook-neck squash, broccoli, more green beans, some okra.  And the herbs are at last producing at a very usable rate.
    Canning and freezing operations are commencing.  Big time.

    Sounds good... mine is over (5.00 / 1) (#70)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 03:58:27 PM EST
    except for the beans, okra and peppers.

    Have 40 meals of beans frozen. Okra next.. About 30 sweet corn... Looking for some purple hull peas at the farmer's market.

    Start the fall garden next week. Beans, cukes, squash and greens.

    Parent

    We have to wait (none / 0) (#73)
    by Zorba on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 05:06:31 PM EST
    Before we start the fall garden.  But we are north of you.
    I have canned a whole lot of green beans already, plus made a lot of dilled (pickled) beans, which we love.  We prefer canned green beans to the frozen, but you have to have a pressure canner for that.
    I forgot to mention the sweet peppers and hot peppers that are also coming in.  We like pickled peppers, too, which I make.
    Okra freezes well, and I also make okra pickles.  Not too many people around here seem to grow okra, and it is not available at the farmers markets.  It seems that okra is more of a Southern thing, as well as an ethnic thing.
    We are still getting some new potatoes.  The rest will be root-cellared when the plants die back.
    Our apple trees are producing very, very well.  I will root cellar some, and also make and freeze some apple pies, as well as making and canning some apple sauce.

    Parent
    I prepare my okra ready to cook (5.00 / 1) (#105)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 10:35:19 PM EST
    and flash freeze it on a cookie sheet and store in meal size quantities. All you have to do is get your oil hot and you're ready to do.

    Do you do Bread and Butter pickles?? Tasty on peas and beans on cold nights.

    Parent

    Yes. (none / 0) (#120)
    by Zorba on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 09:09:57 AM EST
    Never had them on peas and beans, but why not?
    I also make dill pickles, and green tomato pickles, at the end of the season when they're not going to ripen in time.
    I like the flash freezing for okra, too.

    Parent
    I prepare my okra ready to cook (5.00 / 1) (#104)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 10:35:19 PM EST
    and flash freeze it on a cookie sheet and store in meal size quantities. All you have to do is get your oil hot and you're ready to do.

    Do you do Bread and Butter pickles?? Tasty on peas and beans on cold nights.

    Parent

    I'm big fan of flash freezing (5.00 / 1) (#109)
    by nycstray on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 02:25:12 AM EST
    and extra freezers ;)

    Parent
    Understand but I think it is (none / 0) (#188)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 10:05:53 PM EST
    easier and preserves the flavor.

    Parent
    I wondered (none / 0) (#74)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 05:18:26 PM EST
    why I hadn't seen you around here much lately. It sounds like you've been very, very busy. You must really not have to buy much or cook much when the garden season is over.

    Parent
    You do have (none / 0) (#76)
    by Zorba on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 05:29:11 PM EST
    to reheat the veggies before eating them.   ;-)
    And I have a freezer full of venison, too, which needs a lot of cooking, but we eat a lot of venison rather than beef.  It's much leaner than beef.  And a whole lot cheaper, since we don't have to buy it.

    Parent
    Plus, I do (5.00 / 1) (#77)
    by Zorba on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 05:33:15 PM EST
    can and freeze the tomatoes, and I make and can a lot of spaghetti sauce using our plum tomatoes.
    When the Zombie Apocalypse happens, we will be hunkered down up here on the mountain, with plenty of food.    ;-)

    Parent
    I have more grapes (none / 0) (#80)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 06:02:27 PM EST
    Than I can give away.  Wish you had some.

    Parent
    We have grapes, too (none / 0) (#83)
    by Zorba on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 06:29:56 PM EST
    Not quite ripe, but they will be.
    We eat some, and the rest I make into grape jelly.

    Parent
    Next year I will plan for it and make wine (5.00 / 1) (#85)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 06:39:27 PM EST
    Or something.

    Parent
    This is something I know a bit about. (none / 0) (#108)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 12:38:19 AM EST
    My suggestion is start researching now, for next year.

    Best advice you'll ever get about making wine:

    If you have commitment and strong "attention to detail" personality traits you will likely learn to make good wine (as the result of making a certain amount of sh1t wine first).

    If you do not have those personality traits, well, simply buy your wine at the store like most everyone else.

    Lastly, grape-jelly grapes generally make, er, "unusual" tasting wine.

    If you've tried grape jelly grape wines and dig them, well, hey, make what you like!

    If you pretty much like mainstream wines, buy  frozen Cab Sauv, Merlot, Chard, etc., grapes from Cali or S. America.

    If you like your wine to taste like paint thinner,  vinegar or skunk, be casual about the above...

    Parent

    My husband laughs and says that (none / 0) (#111)
    by Anne on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 06:55:31 AM EST
    the only thing more frustrating than trying to produce a good batch of wine is trying to play more than one round of good golf...

    We have white wine grapes from which I could count on one hand the number of years we've gotten really good wine.  There's just so much involved - weather, soil conditions, which bugs dominate, whether the deer get to the juicy leaves, how wet it is when it's time to pick, spray/don't spray, net/don't net, what's making the leaves curl, what's the sugar content of the grapes...it just goes on and on.

    And yet, he carries on...still striving for the elusive goal of a good, eminently drinkable wine.  I tell him we should experiment with making wine vinegars, so that might be something we do this year - depending on what the vines yield.

    It keeps him out of trouble, and as hobbies go, it's probably not nearly as expensive as golf, lol.

    Parent

    Tell him to (none / 0) (#118)
    by Zorba on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 09:05:53 AM EST
    try mead, if you have a good source of honey.
    Mr. Zorba has made several batches, and they turn out very well, especially if you are patient and let them age a few years.
    Our twelve year old mead was really, really good.

    Parent
    I have a cousin (none / 0) (#121)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 09:17:33 AM EST
    Who has bees.  

    Parent
    See if you can trade him (1.00 / 1) (#122)
    by Zorba on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 09:21:24 AM EST
    Some fruit for honey, and try mead.
    I don't know Mr. Zorba's recipe- he found directions in an old book, years ago.  But I'm betting you can find out on the Internet.
    Daughter Zorba likes to make different kinds of beer.  They turn out pretty well.

    Parent
    Zorba, I have read and re-read your comment... (5.00 / 1) (#141)
    by vml68 on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 12:05:04 PM EST
    and I cannot figure out why it was troll rated.

    Parent
    You'll have to ask (5.00 / 1) (#145)
    by Zorba on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 12:38:35 PM EST
    The troll-rater himself.  Personally, I don't give a royal rat's patootie.   ;-)

    Parent
    I got one, too! (5.00 / 1) (#148)
    by sj on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 12:47:45 PM EST
    The troll-rater himself.  Personally, I don't give a royal rat's patootie.
    It's a revenge rating. I just assumed that s/he was striking out at me for troll rating him/her when s/he was getting all controlling with Anne.

    Parent
    I've been busy lately. So, have not been able to (5.00 / 2) (#167)
    by vml68 on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 04:50:27 PM EST
    keep up on the current feuds. Does not look like I've missed much... :-)!

    Parent
    True dat (3.00 / 2) (#183)
    by sj on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 06:53:12 PM EST
    Does not look like I've missed much... :-)!
    And the new feuds are the same as the old feuds. Your hiatus was good thing. Mine should have lasted longer. :\

    Are you in Florida now?

    Parent

    Moral of the story... (none / 0) (#152)
    by kdog on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 01:14:07 PM EST
    don't rate...just debate!

    Parent
    Normally, I would agree, Dog (5.00 / 2) (#155)
    by Zorba on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 01:47:47 PM EST
    But lately, many of the debates seem to turn into endless back-and-forth "Yes, you are," "No, I'm not," and "You're wrong," " No, you're wrong," and "You're an idiot," "No, you're the idiot" types of endless sub-threads that go on and on and do nothing to further the conversation.  They only serve to clog the threads.
    There are some commenters who are like dogs with bones.  They can't seem to let go.
    And BTW, my brother, we have plenty of food down here, so if you are still intent on the pirate ship, you can always come down here and re-provision.  Or if food becomes scarce up there in New York, for any reason.  We also have a large barn and a lot of out buildings.  Plenty of room for pirates, or refugees.  ;-)
    Namaste.  

    Parent
    Exactly (5.00 / 1) (#156)
    by sj on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 01:54:01 PM EST
    But lately, many of the debates seem to turn into endless back-and-forth "Yes, you are," "No, I'm not," and "You're wrong," " No, you're wrong," and "You're an idiot," "No, you're the idiot" types of endless sub-threads that go on and on and do nothing to further the conversation.  They only serve to clog the threads.
    When someone is trolling, rate (if you feel a response is due) and don't feed.

    Or do what I've been doing more and more: take a hiatus.

    Parent

    I think the answer there is... (5.00 / 1) (#157)
    by kdog on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 02:09:53 PM EST
    to disengage totally...if people can't manage disagreeing without being disagreeable.  I mean what's a rating but saying "you're an idiot" or "you're not the idiot" or "you're a troll" with a number instead of words?

    Just my opinion of course, my style is to agree of disagree with words. But to each their own, and all that being said, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking at who gives me the 5's and the 1's;)

     

    Parent

    PS... (none / 0) (#158)
    by kdog on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 02:13:12 PM EST
    thanks for the continued visa to The Republic of Zorba!  However, for the moment, I'm still eating good and having fun and staying relatively free under the radar...no need to exodus.  Yet!

    Still hoping to head down to VA for the big Lockn Festival in Sept....maybe I can swing by the farm going to or fro.  You're on my list of "must meet one day" for sure, my hippie breathren!

    Parent

    Excuse me . . . (5.00 / 1) (#160)
    by nycstray on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 02:24:21 PM EST
    but shouldn't you be planning the ultimate west coast road trip?

    Parent
    Perpetually planning Stray! (none / 0) (#161)
    by kdog on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 02:42:44 PM EST
    My problem is my dreams bite off more than my budget & vacation time can chew, and something closer & cheaper always pops up.  Or Mexico and the special lady, always the priority.

    But you're on the list too...don't give up on me!  

    Parent

    You have my email (none / 0) (#163)
    by Zorba on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 03:05:05 PM EST
    It's on my info page.  Let me know.  Would love to meet you!
    I might send you home with some pickles and jam.   ;-)
    Peace out, Dog.

    Parent
    My dad used to make beer (none / 0) (#123)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 09:35:10 AM EST
    I was really small and never paid attention to how he did it

    Parent
    Me and My Brother Made Beer... (none / 0) (#139)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 11:48:17 AM EST
    ...in high-school, amazingly enough my parents bought us the equipment one year for xmas.

    I think it blows, the dollars you spend outpace any micro-brew on the shelves.  We never made a single batch after I was of legal age.  But then again, that is when micro-brews started talking off.

    The part we could never remove was the sediment, so fine that when you tipped the bottle it would cloud the beer.  Which now I realize was probably a super vitamin, but at the time just ticked us off.

    We also tried our hand at wine making; it resulted in some very nasty output, but being the hardheaded W's we were, we drank it with smiles, and both ended up sick as dogs.  Vinegar is not tasty, no matter how much you convince yourself it will be before hand.

    The beer wasn't bad, i would say OK to descent.  But it's a total pain and the GD time, I have zero patience, which is problematic for home brewing.  This was back when everything had to be ordered before the internet, which meant more word of mouth and company recommendations than any real research on our part.

    I do love the internet, what we figured out through trial and error for a couple years could be learned today in an afternoon or less.

    Parent

    the only thing more frustrating (none / 0) (#135)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 10:55:53 AM EST
    the only thing more frustrating than trying to produce a good batch of wine is trying to play more than one round of good golf.

    That is a great quote.

    Here in Cali we almost always get good grapes, so if the wine turns out bad we only have ourselves to blame!

    Parent

    My husband's always had an interest (5.00 / 3) (#144)
    by Anne on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 12:28:40 PM EST
    in winemaking, so when we bought our land some 30 years ago, he really wanted to plant vines.

    He had the great good fortune to be able to meet and talk with Philip Wagner, who lived not far from us - and was able to buy vines from him, as well.

    We also got to know Bert Basignani, who has a vineyard right up the road from us - we spent many a weekend picking grapes (and my husband picking Bert's brain!) - and enjoying great Italian feasts for lunch and dinner!

    Parent

    tough way to make a living...

    Parent
    Brings to mind a saying frequently (5.00 / 1) (#159)
    by Anne on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 02:14:08 PM EST
    heard on and around horse farms and barns, race tracks and the show ring: if you want to make a small fortune in the horse business, start with a large one.

     

    Parent

    Thanks for the info (none / 0) (#113)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 07:54:14 AM EST
    What do you know about plum wine ?

    Parent
    Asking because I know novices who have had (none / 0) (#114)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 07:55:24 AM EST
    Some success with plum wine.

    Parent
    except that they can be made very well.

    Here is the website of Rex Johnston who is probably the best fruit wine maker in the country and can be very generous in passing along his knowledge: www.bentleycellars.com

    Parent

    Truth (none / 0) (#132)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 10:49:41 AM EST
    If you have commitment and strong "attention to detail" personality traits

    I am a lazy ADHD sufferer.  

    Parent

    Not many grapes around here (none / 0) (#84)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 06:38:18 PM EST
    For whatever reason.  They have been a barter gold mine.  Just guessing probably 20-30 supermarket type bags full.   And there is a few bags left.  

    If you have grapes maybe you can tell me why this happened.  Was it the rain?  Was it that I did not cut the vines back last year like I have the previous two years?  I have ten time as many as I have ever had before.

    Parent

    I don't know. (none / 0) (#86)
    by Zorba on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 06:56:40 PM EST
    I think it just depends upon your local conditions.  Some years, we have tons of grapes, some years, not so much.
    We have never tried to make wined from them.  We are satisfied with lots of grape jelly, for us, and they make nice gifts.
    Although, Mr. Zorba has made mead (honey wine), and that turned out great, especially if you let it age a few years.  Honey is too expensive to buy for mead, but we have a few friends who have bee hives.  They give us honey, we give them produce, venison, and/or pickles, jams, or jelly.  Works for us.

    Parent
    With all the fruit (none / 0) (#87)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 07:15:55 PM EST
    I always get about as much jelly as I can process for free.   I would love to experiment with some kind of beverage.   I may also try plum wine.  I usually have lots of plums.

    Parent
    I say, go for it (none / 0) (#88)
    by Zorba on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 07:28:30 PM EST
    Both grape wine and plum wine.
    What's the worst that could happen?  If some of it winds up not terribly drinkable, you could always make vinegar out of it.
    I wonder what a plum vinegar would taste like?  Good, I'll bet.
    ;-)
    I have made some grape juice and peach nectar in the past, with excess grapes or peaches.  Good stuff.  Not at all like the stuff you get at the store.
    I have also made tomato juice.  And it's not like store-bought, either.  Makes really great Bloody Mary's, by the way.

    Parent
    My sister always does (5.00 / 2) (#89)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 07:33:15 PM EST
    Gallons of tomato juice and crushed tomatoes.   I usually have some BMary mix in the fridge based on that juice.

    Parent
    Do you cut your grape vines back? (none / 0) (#90)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 07:37:46 PM EST
    I thought that's what you "did" so I had been doing that.  This year I sort of never got around to it and I have a grape explosion.
    But it has also been a very wet year.  So who knows.

    Parent
    Perhaps the cooler temps have something to (none / 0) (#91)
    by Angel on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 07:44:46 PM EST
    do with it as well.

    Parent
    That too (none / 0) (#93)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 08:03:28 PM EST
    We trim them a little bit, (none / 0) (#92)
    by Zorba on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 07:59:08 PM EST
    But we don't cut them back.  Seems to work for us.
    But then, we also often get some wild grapes from around our wooded areas.  Nobody cuts them back, and they seem to do just fine on their own, assuming the deer and bears and birds, etc., don't eat them before we get to them, which often happens.
    And if you have never tasted wild grape jelly, it is beyond better than jelly made from cultivated grapes.
    We also have wild blackberries in our woods.  This is also assuming we can get to them before the wildlife does. They make superb jam and pies.

    Parent
    I have a loaded (none / 0) (#94)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 08:08:40 PM EST
    Mulberry tree

    Parent
    I don't (none / 0) (#95)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 08:22:29 PM EST
    think there isn't much you don't have or can't trade for it sounds like.

    Parent
    Purple hull peas? (none / 0) (#75)
    by nycstray on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 05:21:40 PM EST
    Haven't run across those. Gonna have to look for some. I have a thing for purple veggies :P

    Parent
    Only the pods are purple (5.00 / 2) (#79)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 06:00:00 PM EST
    They are sort of like black eyed peas

    Parent
    I just brought some home (none / 0) (#78)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Aug 05, 2014 at 05:47:10 PM EST
    That I got in trade for a huge cooler full of grapes.  The grapes are almost done.  I have so far got jelly from 4different sources.  Today's delivery will make 5.  
    Also brought home squash and peppers onions and tomatoes.

    Parent
    We are now under a tropical storm watch ... (none / 0) (#110)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 03:03:58 AM EST
    ... as Hurricane Iselle approaches the islands, and unlike most others eastern Pacific cyclones which most always veer south, we're looking to take a direct hit from this one. It's presently a Category 3 storm, but was expected to weaken (hopefully!) to tropical storm status by the time it reaches the Big Island on Wednesday, and then us on Oahu by Thursday night. And right on its heels is Tropical Storm Julio, which is expected to reach hurricane strength tomorrow and hit the Big Island by Sunday, and us by Monday.

    Time to batten down the hatches.

    Stay safe! (5.00 / 1) (#124)
    by Angel on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 09:53:21 AM EST
    Today... (none / 0) (#117)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 09:05:25 AM EST
    ...they are reporting tow hurricane's headed to the big island.  Scary stuff.

    Parent
    Probably neither Iselle nor Julio ... (none / 0) (#143)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 12:12:52 PM EST
    ... will be at hurricane strength when they reach the islands, but yeah, two consecutive tropical storms bearing down is definitely cause for serious concern. Local forecasts are for up to 20 inches of rain. We were actually planning on going to Hilo this weekend, since cancelled for obvious reasons.

    Parent
    Tyrant (none / 0) (#126)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 10:18:03 AM EST
    Was good last night.   Well, better.  At least things are happening.

    Do they finally explain why the (none / 0) (#138)
    by ruffian on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 11:16:26 AM EST
    president brother has a heavier accent than any of the rest of the people in his country? I wish for the hastening of the inevitable exit of that character.

    I'll watch my recording tonight!

    Parent

    Well, no. (none / 0) (#140)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 11:51:30 AM EST
    My suspension of disbelief has more problems with the wife of the pediatrician.    His whole family could use some depth in fact.

    Parent
    I guess the reason they are giving him so much (none / 0) (#142)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 12:05:50 PM EST
    Story time is they want him to be a likable monster.  Maybe.
    IMO if so the likable part is not working.

    Also curious about your opinion of the introduction of a new character last night.  To me it seems like the last possible character needed to help make the story believable.  Just the opposite in fact.    I hope she is there for a really good reason.


    Parent

    Ugh, it occurred to me it is turning into (none / 0) (#200)
    by ruffian on Thu Aug 07, 2014 at 10:25:36 AM EST
    'Dynasty'. We have the Linda Evans blonde good girl and the Joan Collins brunette bad girl - can't wait to see them fight it out and land in the pool. The addition of the Heather Locklear prototype was the last straw. Pretty obvious she is going to get involved with the president.

    Why did he do away with his girlfriend? Just cuz he's a jerk? I guess that is a good enough reason, as far as reasoning on this show goes.

    Of course none of the above means I can stop watching now!

    Parent

    Stephen Colbert should (none / 0) (#164)
    by KeysDan on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 04:20:31 PM EST
    be Hillary Clinton's campaign manager.  Secretary Clinton's appearance and interchange with Stephen (in character as the Bill O'Reilly-type blow bag) was great fun to watch.  No policy discussion of note, but demonstration of a great style that will leave any Republican thrashing around at the gate.

    Wit, personality, smarts, experience... (5.00 / 1) (#176)
    by Angel on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 05:16:28 PM EST
    ...exactly what we need!

    Parent
    It was so great. Loved the reception she got (5.00 / 1) (#202)
    by ruffian on Thu Aug 07, 2014 at 10:28:04 AM EST
    from the audience. It really made me smile. And the bit was well done too. She needs writers that good in her campaign.

    Of course I am already convinced there is no job Stephen Colbert could not do if he tried.

    Parent

    Very funny bit, actually. (none / 0) (#165)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 04:44:02 PM EST
    And entirely scripted, fwiw.

    Parent
    exchanges. When I watched the rest I realized how obvious it became and that they were loving it. Well done bit, for sure.

    Parent
    Becky Hammon --- (none / 0) (#186)
    by desertswine on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 09:51:28 PM EST
    GO!

    I saw that last night on ESPN. (none / 0) (#190)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Aug 07, 2014 at 02:22:10 AM EST
    Kudos to the Spurs and Coach Popovich for recognizing Ms. Hammon as a true student of the game and bringing her on board. Men have been coaching women's teams for ages. There's no reason why women can't coach the men or boys. They simply need to be given the opportunity to show what they can do.

    Elder Daughter is entering her second season as the head coach of a high school boys volleyball team. She enjoys it, and the boys respect her knowledge and authority as coach and really play hard for her. Of course, they had a winning season and made the state tournament last school year, and one doesn't argue or take issue with success.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    WA Post calls for US help in Iraq (none / 0) (#189)
    by Green26 on Wed Aug 06, 2014 at 11:46:47 PM EST
    The Post editorial board is calling on the US to assist with the worsening humanitarian crisis in northern Iraq and to help the Kurds. This includes carving a path to the Yazidis on the mountain top, not just dropping supplies. They referred to Obama's response so far as "listless".  I will refrain from providing my own editorial comments at this time.

    Let me help you and the WP (1.00 / 1) (#191)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu Aug 07, 2014 at 05:57:24 AM EST
    Listless and witless.

    You know, there's gotta be something going on in his head. I really think he's trying to elicit attacks from the Repubs.

    Which means this all about politics to him.

    Parent

    The Repubs would attack (5.00 / 3) (#199)
    by jondee on Thu Aug 07, 2014 at 10:23:45 AM EST
    if..Wait, did they ever stop attacking?

    Ever?

    I love it. When Bush was President it was all about "this no time for divisiveness and transparently partisan attacks from the other side of the aisle."

    Parent

    Obama knew that being a black, socialist (5.00 / 1) (#201)
    by Mordiggian 88 on Thu Aug 07, 2014 at 10:27:10 AM EST
    sekret scary Muslim from Kenya would bring on the Republican attacks if he got elected to the Presidency, and now the country is being torn apart because of this selfish act on his part.

    Parent
    I honestly think he did not know (5.00 / 1) (#204)
    by ruffian on Thu Aug 07, 2014 at 10:31:11 AM EST
    He really believed that the GOP mad dog behavior in the 90's was because the Clintons are "so devisive!". I think he believed in his own power to bring people together, which only works if the other side is not totally sociopathic. He should have seen it - many of us did.

    Parent
    Jim (5.00 / 0) (#205)
    by jondee on Thu Aug 07, 2014 at 10:35:30 AM EST
    has made some headway in saying "it's all about politics".

    At his website the main thrust is the brilliantly original thesis that it's all about radicals who carry a grudge against America for it's history of colonialism.

    Parent