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Wednesday Night Open Thread

The House voted to train and arm "moderate" Syrian rebels.

Australia carried out big anti-terror raids. Official government statement here. The media says a senior ISIS member, who is Australian, had called for a random public execution via beheading in Sydney.

This is a open thread, all topics welcome.

< Obama: No Ground Troops For Iraq | ISIS: Major Change of Hostage Media Strategy >
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    I posted this at the end of the last (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by Anne on Wed Sep 17, 2014 at 10:25:40 PM EST
    open thread, so thought I would re-post:

     I guess it all starts at home...

    Link

       The mother of Adrian Peterson came to his defense Wednesday in her first public comments since the running back's indictment for child abuse, saying he has six kids and "wants to be a good father to them all."

        "I don't care what anybody says," Jackson, 50, said in an interview with the Houston Chronicle from her home in the Houston suburb of Spring, where Peterson also has a house. "Most of us disciplined our kids a little more than we meant sometimes. But we were only trying to prepare them for the real world."

        [snip]

       "When you whip those you love, it's not about abuse, but love," Jackson said. "You want to make them understand that they did wrong."

    "It's not about abuse, but love?"  Are you fking kidding me?

    I wonder how he treats the other 5 children he has?

    What I find interesting (5.00 / 3) (#2)
    by nycstray on Wed Sep 17, 2014 at 11:34:54 PM EST
    is all the folks up in arms because they think it's okay to whip a child, but call it "spank", like it is no worse than a swat on the behind. And that there is even a discussion about how hard you can hit infants and children.

    I was honestly surprised that people still went out and got a switch to whip their child with . . . I kinda thought that was illegal.

    Parent

    Up to 97% of Scottish registered (none / 0) (#4)
    by fishcamp on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 06:28:50 AM EST
    voters expected to turn out.  My mistake about the nuclear facilities as Scotland does want them out of their hopeful new country within four years.  Also Apple OSX has a new update today to 10.9.5 along with a Canon printer up date.  I just bought a new Canon photo printer last week...yae.  Also hit four numbers on the Florida lotto for a big win of 70 bucks.  Could be a fine day, finally.

    Parent
    It's a good bet that 70 bucks (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by CoralGables on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 07:14:48 AM EST
    will get you a handful of fine grouper sandwiches. Don't bet it on the Scots voting for Independence though. A win could turn the 70 into $350 but it's far more likely it will cost you the handful of grouper sandwiches.

    Parent
    Grouper? (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by kdog on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 09:03:09 AM EST
    What kinda gambler are you?  Hit 4 on the Lotto for 70 clams, there is only one thing to do....parlay!

    If not on Scottish independence, then on Escapefromreality the #5 in the 8th Race at Belmont today, Javier Castellano up.

    Parent

    Looks like no grouper sandwich for you (none / 0) (#173)
    by CoralGables on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 10:27:24 PM EST
    Yep and I still have my 70 bucks... (none / 0) (#183)
    by fishcamp on Fri Sep 19, 2014 at 06:36:17 AM EST
    All I have to do is hit the docks when the offshore big boats come in and they give me bags of filets.  My cats are so spoiled they will only eat mahi-mahi and they sit and stare at the fridge door when it's in there.  I do pass by the rum store on the way to the docks.  Maybe I'll invest in a bottle of sippin' rum, like Gosling, and of course another lotto ticket.

    Parent
    Whaddya mean? (none / 0) (#197)
    by kdog on Fri Sep 19, 2014 at 11:21:44 AM EST
    Escapefromreality scratched yesterday...parlay the 70 refund on No Nukes # 4 in the 4th at Belmont to break his maiden, Jose Lezcano up.

    Parent
    Q: when wii we know (none / 0) (#10)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 09:27:45 AM EST
    So here's when to set your alarm, depending on where you are in the country, if you want to watch the results live -- with CBC offering coverage starting at 5 p.m. EST.

    Newfoundland

    Polls close at 6:30 p.m. local time. Most ballots will be counted by 1:30 a.m. on Friday and announced between 3 and 4 a.m.

    Atlantic Canada

    Polls close at 6 p.m. local time. Most ballots will be counted by 1 a.m. on Friday and announced between 2:30 and 3:30 a.m.

    Ontario and Quebec (Eastern Standard Time)

    Polls close at 5 p.m. local time. Most ballots will be counted by 12 a.m. on Friday and announced between 1:30 and 2:30 a.m.

    Manitoba, Saskatchewan and northwestern Ontario (Central Standard Time)

    Polls close at 4 p.m. local time. Most ballots will be counted by 11 p.m. Thursday and announced between 12:30 and 1:30 a.m. on Friday

    Alberta and parts of eastern B.C. (Mountain Standard Time)

    Polls close at 3 p.m. local time. Most ballots will be counted by 10 p.m. Thursday and announced between 11:30 p.m. that night and 12:30 a.m. on Friday.

    British Columbia (Pacific Standard Time)

    Polls close at 2 p.m. local time. Most ballots will be counted by 9 p.m. Thursday and announced between 10:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.

    Parent

    There's also a live blog Howdy (none / 0) (#13)
    by fishcamp on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 09:45:25 AM EST
    with continual updates I saw early this morning but forgot to save it before falling back asleep...lotta help there...sorry.

    Parent
    Here's one (none / 0) (#15)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 09:48:48 AM EST
    Another site (none / 0) (#20)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 10:07:44 AM EST
    With lots of ways to look at the incoming data

    Indy-scott

    Parent

    Q: who will win (none / 0) (#9)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 09:24:45 AM EST

    A: It's too close to call. A poll in early September showed support for independence slightly ahead. Since then, most polls have shown the "No" campaign to be ahead by a few percentage points. Social media are also providing clues: From Aug. 1 to Sept. 8, Facebook had more than 10 million referendum-related posts from across the U.K. Interactions around the phrase "Vote Yes" outpaced "Vote No" by 2-to-1.



    Parent
    Capt, (5.00 / 1) (#174)
    by CoralGables on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 10:30:39 PM EST
    if you're going to get sucked in by Facebook, never ever become a gambler.

    Parent
    Did ya get paid on this one? (none / 0) (#193)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Sep 19, 2014 at 10:12:40 AM EST
    Polls closed at 4 (none / 0) (#143)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 05:14:47 PM EST
    CST 5eastern

    Parent
    I am on pins and needles (none / 0) (#145)
    by sj on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 05:21:34 PM EST
    Although I guess I expect the "No" vote to win, it's close enough that I am totally hoping the "Yes"-ers will pull it out in the end.

    They will have, in any case, scared the bejesus out of Westminster. Not that I am convinced that will translate into action on their part.

    Parent

    New live blog (none / 0) (#146)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 05:36:18 PM EST
    Most interesting (none / 0) (#150)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 05:47:14 PM EST
    Factlet I've seen there so far -

    80+ could be pro yes 90+ could be pro no

    Glasgow is supposedly 89.6

    ????

    Parent

    Oh My (none / 0) (#157)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 06:54:45 PM EST
    Suspected voter fraud in Glasgow.

    That live link is great.  Minute by minute updates of results and info

    Parent

    Na lukin guud fer yes (none / 0) (#164)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 08:03:04 PM EST
    ya kin?

    Parent
    Yikes Howdy you would get (none / 0) (#184)
    by fishcamp on Fri Sep 19, 2014 at 06:46:30 AM EST
    a beatin' in the breeks with that accent.  It's Nae looking' guid for yae ye ken.  But so what since they laugh at my Spanish accent down here until I give them a fierce Scottish stare.

    Parent
    Looking less close and more like a blowout win (none / 0) (#175)
    by CoralGables on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 10:37:51 PM EST
    for the "NO"

    Parent
    Yeah Mom... (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by ScottW714 on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 10:36:31 AM EST
    ...no doubt he loves them, like all people who abuse their kids.  I would love to dig into this comment a little deeper:
    But we were only trying to prepare them for the real world.

    We need to learn not to cry when being whipped by a sadist who says he doing it for our own good ?  Yeah I have needed that metaphorically at work, but in the literal sense, come on.

    Does she not understand that she is the reason Peterson is in legal trouble, why his sponsors dropped him, and why he isn't playing football ?

    _________

    My friends coined a phrase when I would not answer my phone and missing for long periods of time.  Going Dark.

    It's official, Roger Goodell has Gone Dark:

    Roger Goodell has disappeared. In the NFL's hour of greatest need, its leader has decided to remain silent and invisible. Poof! Vanished. For more than a week, as pictures emerge and indictments are filed and news conferences collapse under the weight of doublespeak and obfuscation, Goodell has sealed himself away from the mounting pile of rubble.  LINK

    Money quote"Best speechwriters in the world can't fix this PR nightmare"

    One minute a team is demanding due process, the next it's reversing, and then wash and rinse some version for other teams.  Clearly there is no leadership in NFL when it needs it the most.  And now with this new allegation:

    Arizona Cardinals backup running back Jonathan Dwyer was arrested in connection with domestic abuse allegations, Phoenix police said Wednesday night. LINK
    ...
    Police said he was booked on one count of aggravated assault causing a fracture, one count of aggravated assault involving a minor, two counts of criminal damage, one count of preventing the use of a phone in an emergency, and assault.

    The two victims were a 27-year-old woman and an 18-month-old child, police said.

    Does he not own a TV, this is the worse time in history for an NFL player to hit his woman/child and it appears Dwyer did both with a side of threatening to kill himself if the cops were called.

    The NFL's greatest crisis manager has not been seen since September 9th.

    Parent

    Actually (none / 0) (#27)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 10:45:57 AM EST
    I think the Dwyer incident is from July.  So it's probably the victim who has been watching TV.  they say others may start coming forward because of the coverage.

    Parent
    Which I would say (none / 0) (#29)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 10:58:42 AM EST
    Means the wall to wall coverage may have an upside.  For the victims.   Not the NFL.

    Parent
    Profile (none / 0) (#28)
    by squeaky on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 10:50:44 AM EST
    Seems to me that the type of man who would be a wife/husband/child beater would be perfect for American Football.

    It is a game where large men ram into each other at high speed in order to knock them to the ground, injuries are icing on the cake.

    Testosterone shots, steroids... all aggression enhancing chemicals are coursing through these athletes brain and blood.

    Do we expect that they go home and turn into pussy cats?

    The National Football League has agreed to pay $765 million to settle thousands of player lawsuits over head injuries -- a deal that both sides declared a win for retired athletes with debilitating brain damage.

    The proposed agreement, which was hashed out during court-ordered mediation and announced Thursday, includes $675 million to a compensation fund, $75 million for medical exams and $10 million for a research and education fund.
    The lawsuits accused the NFL of glorifying the violence of the sport while ignoring the health risks and failing to warn players that repeated concussions could cause brain damage or even leave them prone to depression and suicide.

    NBC


    Parent

    Of course (5.00 / 1) (#31)
    by jbindc on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 11:14:06 AM EST
    There are plenty of artists who beat and abused women as well....

    And more (Yes. John Lennon is on the list)

    And more who behaved badly in so many ways

    Parent

    Huh? (none / 0) (#32)
    by squeaky on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 11:20:10 AM EST
    Quite the non-sequitur. But I assume that you have a point about artists and football players, no?

    Oh, are you suggesting that artists beat people up at the same rate as US football players?

    I guess you do not know many artists.

    Not surprised.

    Parent

    All your links are broken (none / 0) (#33)
    by sj on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 11:40:45 AM EST
    And the one that I fixed went to a site with more junk on it than information.

    I hate that kind of Buzzfeed-like gossipy, ad-heavy site. Next time a warning would be good.

    Parent

    JB... (none / 0) (#52)
    by ScottW714 on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 01:45:56 PM EST
    ...I posted a link yesterday stating that the rates of DV are lower for men in the NFL than the men of the same age group in the general public.

    Parent
    Irrelevant to my Point (none / 0) (#59)
    by squeaky on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 01:53:34 PM EST
    My point was not about statistics, but about surprise.

    Most of the people I know say that they are surprised when someone acts totally out of character when in private. Mild mannered person in public, monster in private.. i.e...

    Most of the people I know are not surprised when someone who is involved in violent activity every day, also is violent in their private life.

    It seems normal to me for people to be surprised when someone they never suspected of violence turns out to be a monster.. Much literature, and film, narrative in general is based on that sort of surprise.

    Must be boring to not be surprised at things that seem surprising to the general public.

    Parent

    It isn't about being violent in your everyday job. (5.00 / 2) (#64)
    by Angel on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 01:59:11 PM EST
    It's about low self-esteem, having a low level of educational achievement, identifying with the authoritarian perspective, and other characteristics.  You really should read up on the topic.  

    Parent
    I also think it's about "nurture" (5.00 / 1) (#66)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 02:01:35 PM EST
    And cycles of abuse.

    Parent
    There are a lot of factors that contribute to it, (none / 0) (#71)
    by Angel on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 02:12:16 PM EST
    too many to list here to make their meanings clear.

    Parent
    Yes (none / 0) (#84)
    by squeaky on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 02:35:17 PM EST
    I know what it is about.. Just still capable of being surprised when it happens with people who do not show any violence in their day job, or general demeanor.

    Not surprised by cops, certain athletes, soldiers etc. who are involved in abusive relationships.

    Parent

    In my experience (none / 0) (#88)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 02:40:23 PM EST
    It's the quiet repressed ones that go home and slap their spouse around or kick their dog through a hedge.

    Parent
    Yes (none / 0) (#95)
    by squeaky on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 02:56:17 PM EST
    Yes that is what they say is typical, which is why those types are always surprises when it comes out that they are abusers.

    When Bill Sykes kicks Bull's Eye (his dog), until it needs stitches, we are horrified, but not surprised. But if Oliver did the same thing, most of us would be shocked.

    My friend who smacked her husband is hardly the quiet and demure type.. she is a firebrand..  still I was shocked. It made sense though as she totally dominated her husband in general.

    Parent

    I'm not sure anyone particularly (5.00 / 2) (#73)
    by Anne on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 02:17:16 PM EST
    cares what does and doesn't surprise you, although it is rather interesting the kinds of things you manage to extrapolate from what people have said here.  I'm kind of astounded that stating the obvious - that all men are capable of intimate partner abuse - would generate an assumption that one must be afraid to be around all men.  I mean, what is that all about?  Can't stand to have things like facts pointed out to you?

    As many times as we have seen on-the-street interviews of some shell-shocked person saying that the next-door neighbor who just confessed to killing all of his children "always seemed like such a nice guy, quiet and polite - never heard him raise his voice," I don't know why anyone is surprised to find out what people are capable of.

    People make as many assumptions that are wrong about people engaged in physically violent sports as they do about the quiet accountants and the meek librarian; what people do for a living isn't predictive of anything, other than things like the accountant must be good at math, the football player must be highly coordinated and so on.

    A lot of ugliness can lurk behind the public personas we present to the outside world.  People manage to hide addictions and mental illness and learning disabilities and domestic violence.  They even manage to hide things from the people who are supposed to know them best: husbands and wives cheat, parents don't see the problems their children are having.  People lie to themselves and they lie to each other - they do what society expects from them most of the time, even if all that is is a veneer.

    What it proves is that we never really know people as well as we think we do; that's where the surprise comes from.  At least for those who take people at face value based on their interaction with them.  

    One question: did you ever think that playing a physically demanding sport like football could be an outlet and not a trigger?

    Parent

    Another Lesson From Anne (none / 0) (#85)
    by squeaky on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 02:37:00 PM EST
    Missed the point, not surprised.

    Parent
    really? (none / 0) (#106)
    by sj on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 03:40:35 PM EST
    My point was not about statistics, but about surprise.
    I think focusing on whether or not anyone is "surprised" about any other human being's capacity for violence is just kind of a waste of energy. Whether or not "surprise" is experienced is so completely uninteresting and not even close to germane to the core issue.

    Boring really.

    Parent

    Bored? (none / 0) (#110)
    by squeaky on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 04:05:45 PM EST
    Well you sure are wallowing in your boredom..  

    And please take your own advice and skip over my comments.

    Parent

    Yawn (none / 0) (#121)
    by sj on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 04:33:48 PM EST
    It must be very self-congratulatory to have led such a sheltered life
    The only domestic violence I have witnessed, (they thought they were unseen) was by a wife hitting her husband really hard in the head. I was shocked....  she was significantly smaller than he was.
    While it explains your total lack of insight into ... well anything related to other human beings, it does explain... I don't probably something.

    And yes, it makes you very boring.

    Parent

    Spending A Lot of Bandwidth on Boring (5.00 / 1) (#129)
    by squeaky on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 04:47:10 PM EST
    Does it make you boring to be so engaged with such a boring commenter as me?

    You seem to be quite into it.

    Parent

    hahahahahaha (none / 0) (#135)
    by sj on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 04:53:58 PM EST
    I could have let you have the last hypocritical word but then I thought: "nah... let him/her make it even more obvious that she is being the thing s/he accuses other of."

    Now you can have the last word. I can't wait to see how you describe yourself in it ... using me as your mirror of course.

    That might be a little less boring, though still lacking in integrity or thoughtfulness.

    Parent

    Be 'nice' if it was limited to NFL players (5.00 / 3) (#35)
    by nycstray on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 12:03:35 PM EST
    sadly, men of ALL walks of life beat women. They don't need testosterone shots, steroids... just a bad day at work and WHACK!

    Parent
    True (none / 0) (#36)
    by squeaky on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 12:32:49 PM EST
    But are we surprised when Football players do it?

    Not me.

    But what do I know.

    Parent

    I'm not surprised when (5.00 / 1) (#38)
    by sj on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 12:37:15 PM EST
    any man does it. By extension that includes football players. Who all just happen to be men.

    Parent
    OK (none / 0) (#39)
    by squeaky on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 12:42:57 PM EST
    OK sounds like a political position.

    I think it is unusual to not be surprised when people who are otherwise mild mannered turn out to be abusers, killers etc.

    Soldiers with PSTS (as if there are ones who do not have it), athletes involved in violent sport, violent criminal types etc do not surprise me when it turns out that they turn on the violence around loved ones.

    It is surprising when peace activists, accountants, librarians, school teachers etc engage in violent relations with their spouses.

    But that is just me.


    Parent

    A political position? (none / 0) (#51)
    by sj on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 01:44:46 PM EST
    That's what you got out of that? And again, I made the mistake of taking your comments seriously.

    I plead caffeine deficiency.

    Parent

    Rhetorical Then? (none / 0) (#53)
    by squeaky on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 01:48:09 PM EST
    Because if you assume any man could be beating his intimate partner, your world must be pretty scary.

    Hard for me to put myself in your shoes.

    Parent

    You would be surprised at the men who abuse (5.00 / 1) (#58)
    by Angel on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 01:53:09 PM EST
    their partners, sadly.  There are plenty of studies on this topic so perhaps you could do a little research.

    Parent
    Yes (none / 0) (#61)
    by squeaky on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 01:57:14 PM EST
    My point exactly Angel. I would be surprised. And I am fully aware of the statistics. Abuse is rampant, and it is not only men who do it.

    Thank the spaghetti monster, that I am not so damaged that I would not be surprised were I to find out a friend or someone I admire who brings beauty to the world abuses his (or her) intimate partner.

    Parent

    The numbers (none / 0) (#75)
    by kdog on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 02:20:12 PM EST
    of men abusing women didn't surprise me as much as the number of women abusing men.  Some estimates but it at almost equal, with men being more likely not to report it.

    To be expected, women suffer more serious injuries from physical abuse, but the overall estimates are closer than you would think.  At least closer than I would have thought.

    Parent

    As it happens, my nephew's marriage (none / 0) (#80)
    by Anne on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 02:28:05 PM EST
    broke up because his wife was physically - and emotionally - abusive to him.  And we're not talking about some puny little guy, either - my nephew is at least 6 feet tall and stocky.

    But he wouldn't hit back, not physically and not verbally; it got to the point where she kept escalating the violence to the point where he really was afraid for his life.

    And if you think it's hard for women to talk about being abused, it's even more stigmatizing for a man to admit he's been the victim of abuse.

    Parent

    My paternal grandmother (none / 0) (#86)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 02:38:18 PM EST
    Was so abusive to my grandfather that he got a divorce claiming abuse and this is a long time ago.  Back when normal people did not get divorces.  At least around here.  The triggering event was her throwing a bucket if hot coals in his face for, of all things, complaining about her being drunk.  It disfigured him and blinded him in one eye.  But at least he got rid of her.


    Parent
    Should be a scene in a movie. (none / 0) (#87)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 02:40:03 PM EST
    Heh (none / 0) (#90)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 02:42:41 PM EST
    The screen play continues.  My grandfather went on to marry a woman younger than my father.  I have aunts younger than some of my siblings.

    Parent
    Did I mention my family was insane? (none / 0) (#92)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 02:44:08 PM EST
    And those are the interesting ones.  We haven't even discussed the scary ones.

    Parent
    Must not have disfigured him too badly! (none / 0) (#93)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 02:47:07 PM EST
    He (none / 0) (#96)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 02:57:34 PM EST
    Was quite the ladies man.  Even with a glass eye.  I loved him.  When I was very young, he died when I was about 16-17, I stayed with him quite a bit. He was a character.  I was always drawing and he would encourage me to draw women with ever larger breasts.  Later I would sometimes stop by to see him on my way "out" as a teenager.  He said he could always tell when I was "on the prowl" because my ears would be laid back against my head.  He was a bawdy old crackpot but he did not have a mean or violent bone in his body.  
    My grandmother made his early life miserable and no one who knew him begrudged him him happiness he found with his second wife.  Who only died a few years ago.

    My fathers mother had almost no contact with anyone in the family ever again except my father.  When my father died she died less than an hour later in another hospital never having "officially" heard the news.  

    Parent

    One more (5.00 / 1) (#105)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 03:36:12 PM EST
    "Character development" story about my grandparents.
    My grandmother spent most Christmases with us because as I said no one else wanted her around.   I was a sickly baby for the first year of my life.  So they tell me.  Never sick a day once I got my second wind but anyway, my first Christmas, born early November, my grandmother got me some kind of little thing that cost about a nickel, she had money, and explained to my mother she didn't want to spend much money on me since I wasn't going to live long.
    After that my mother hardly spoke to her unless absolutely necessary for the rest of her life.

    She was a toxic and miserable human being.

    Parent

    My grandfather (5.00 / 1) (#116)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 04:17:10 PM EST
    as a young man

    Ladies man.  

    Parent

    He's kinda got... (none / 0) (#177)
    by unitron on Fri Sep 19, 2014 at 12:33:33 AM EST
    ...a Chad Everett thing going on there.

    Parent
    Dear God (none / 0) (#168)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 08:31:34 PM EST
    Women seem to get a kind of social pass for being abusive to their partner when it comes to being publicly shamed for it.

    Parent
    Yes (none / 0) (#83)
    by squeaky on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 02:32:31 PM EST
    The only domestic violence I have witnessed, (they thought they were unseen) was by a wife hitting her husband really hard in the head. I was shocked....  she was significantly smaller than he was.

    Both Artists.

    Parent

    After your hackles-raised comment (5.00 / 2) (#102)
    by Anne on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 03:22:57 PM EST
    to jb about her suggesting artists could be violent, I find it hilarious that you just told a story about one artist friend being violent with her artist husband.

    But you were shocked, so I guess it's okay.

    Parent

    Yes You Lost The Plot Long Ago (none / 0) (#103)
    by squeaky on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 03:26:45 PM EST
    So not surprised that your black and white academic world, causes you to laugh at others.

    Parent
    An old flame... (none / 0) (#100)
    by kdog on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 03:08:53 PM EST
    got to wailing on me pretty good one time, closed fists to the dome...not to sound like a stereotypical "victim", but I kinda did have it coming...I blew off our anniversary to hang out with my buddies and she f*ckin' lost it.  No excuse for violence, if you can even call it violence, but I was definitely callous.  Not my finest moment, nor hers I'm sure.

    It was over not long after.

    Parent

    Oy (none / 0) (#55)
    by sj on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 01:51:19 PM EST
    And down your imaginary rabbit hole you go. I'm not following you there.

    Parent
    Football players are no different than any other (5.00 / 1) (#40)
    by nycstray on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 12:49:28 PM EST
    men when it comes to hitting women, aside from the fact they are going to generate headlines. You should not be surprised that MEN hit women, period.

    Parent
    Really? (2.00 / 1) (#41)
    by squeaky on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 01:07:53 PM EST
    It must be difficult for you to be around any men.

    Sad state, sorry to hear it.

    Parent

    Not difficult at all. I play well with them. (5.00 / 5) (#43)
    by nycstray on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 01:17:59 PM EST
    Nice try though.

    Parent
    Oh, I See (none / 0) (#46)
    by squeaky on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 01:34:20 PM EST
    I have run into some people who are afraid of dogs, and can't bear to be around them no matter how much I tell them that my dog is as sweet as sugar.

    I would imagine that if you were never surprised that a particular man, who you know, would be beating his partner, you would be afraid of all men.

    Just trying to understand.

    Maybe it is the word surprised. We all know that humans are capable of any violent act, brutal, so it is not surprising that a person (man in this case) would be violent. But for me it is certainly a degree thing. If I see a man who is spitting on people and in a foul mood and I hear that he beat someone up, I would not be surprised. But if I found out that a male friend of mine who I have known for years and has never shown any tendency toward violence, was beating his wife, girlfriend, or boyfriend, or even dog, I would be shocked.

    But again we are all different, so I guess I can accept that you assume that all men could be beating their intimate partners.


    Parent

    Nice try at a twist again (5.00 / 6) (#79)
    by nycstray on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 02:23:27 PM EST
    WTF is your problem?

    All men from all walks of life are capable of domestic abuse. Period. Go ahead and be shocked that your friend is beating his wife because you know a different side of him, not because he isn't an NFL player.

    Yes dear, even your refined friends are capable of abuse. Just because a man doesn't spit on people in public, doesn't mean he's an angle behind doors. No woman should think she is safe from abuse because her guy isn't in the NFL.

    Please see if you can refrain from twisting my words again, aka don't be a d*ck.

    Parent

    No Twist at All (none / 0) (#81)
    by squeaky on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 02:30:07 PM EST
    I mentioned that I was not surprised that a NFL football player was found to beat his wife or child.

    In response to jbindc et al. I also said I would be surprised if someone who does not have a violent day job would be violent.

    I know the statistics, but alas I am human and not so callous or damaged that I am not surprised when someone who seems calm and non-violent turns out to be violent.

    Sad to hear that some here have lost the capacity for surprise.

    I am glad that no one I know is so callous or damaged, even though most people I know are fully aware that anyone is capable of violence

    Parent

    Oh, for the love of God... (5.00 / 2) (#89)
    by Anne on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 02:42:10 PM EST
    I guess you think that all those people out there stabbing, shooting, abusing, raping, and killing all have "violent day jobs."  What, exactly, is a "violent day job," pray tell?

    You can say that kind of utter nonsense and in the next rhetorical breath assure us that you know the statistics.  Mmmmm..I think not.

    And Lordy - we have finally found the one person who doesn't personally know any callous or damaged people.  Alert the media!

    And you're sad.  But glad.

    Seriously, does your brain know that your a$$ seems to be doing all the talking?

    Parent

    On His Other Kids... (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by ScottW714 on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 10:45:36 AM EST
    ...it not even been a year since one of his kids was beaten to death.
    (CNN) -- A 2-year-old boy who was reportedly the son of Minnesota Vikings star Adrian Peterson died Friday of injuries he suffered after allegedly being abused, police said.

    Sioux Falls, South Dakota, police said Joseph Robert Patterson, 27, has been charged with aggravated battery of an infant and aggravated assault. If convicted on the charges, both felonies, Patterson could face up to 40 years in prison and an $80,000 fine. LINK



    Parent
    Hannity (none / 0) (#30)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 11:07:52 AM EST
    What is the Saying... (5.00 / 2) (#56)
    by ScottW714 on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 01:52:12 PM EST
    ...about politics and bedfellows ?

    Adrian Peterson and Sean Hannity come together over abusing their kids.

    Good to see Hannity mention that his dad punched him in the face and that he's never been to a shrink. Now that that is settled...

    Parent

    My thoughts too (none / 0) (#63)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 01:57:23 PM EST
    Explains a lot

    Parent
    Michael Eric Dyson (5.00 / 2) (#99)
    by KeysDan on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 03:06:49 PM EST
    offers an instructive and enlightening perspective in his NYT op ed today (September 18). Dr. Dyson states that too many black people believe beatings make better people, essentially, misunderstanding the differences between discipline and punishment.  His thesis presents roots in plantation mentality, the recruitment of God to their position, and misinterpretation of the bible, specifically....he who spares the rod hates his son...where he claims the "rod" is meant to be interpreted as the rod used to guide sheep, not beat them.  

    Parent
    Interesting read, Nonsense nonetheless (5.00 / 1) (#107)
    by vicndabx on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 03:46:07 PM EST
    People of all classes, races and nationalities were using pain as a means to teach long before slavery.  To tie this latest public episode to some legacy of slavery is silly, IMO.

    Parent
    Very rare (5.00 / 1) (#108)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 03:55:36 PM EST
    To find a person of our generation who did not experience corporal punishment in some form.  At least that's my experience.

    Of course the people we are talking Bout are not of our generation.  Very common southern thing.  At least as regional as racial probably.

    Parent

    Oh yeah, I used to get (5.00 / 2) (#191)
    by fishcamp on Fri Sep 19, 2014 at 09:44:23 AM EST
    whacked in the breeks periodically.  But we had really flimsy yardsticks back then and when one broke during mid whack my mom and I burst out into hysterical laughter.

    Parent
    Buncha softy whiners, this generation is (none / 0) (#111)
    by vicndabx on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 04:06:34 PM EST
    :-) just kidding.

    Parent
    not uncommon (none / 0) (#112)
    by CST on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 04:08:01 PM EST
    among certain immigrant populations as well.

    Parent
    Yes (none / 0) (#114)
    by squeaky on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 04:11:23 PM EST
    I just heard about a friend, parents were Czech and both scientists,
    although maybe his parents were born here to recent immigrants, or here as children.

    He was beaten so badly that he could not wear shorts otherwise his father would have been arrested for the welts and cuts on his thighs and legs.

    A family of nine, he was beaten as an example for the other kids.

    Parent

    I personally never did (none / 0) (#119)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 04:20:28 PM EST
    After being very small.  And as I have said I was not abused or punished with the real intent to inflict pain.  But most of my friends were.  Some brutally so.

    Parent
    I did not get that (none / 0) (#140)
    by KeysDan on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 05:07:25 PM EST
    Dr. Dyson was attempting to tie this instance of child abuse to a legacy of slavery, but rather, to observe that slavery has, and continues to have, an effect on the culture of black Americans. (Indeed, as it has on all Americans).

    There are several elements that promote acculturation and adapting as a means of survival is one of them, particularly necessary for an oppressed community.  "Whippings" are not unique to a provenance of slavery.  However, the history of slavery includes being told what to do and being conditioned to react. Adopting the behavioral patterns of surrounding cultures is a likely response.

    If  Dr. Dyson's scholarship can assist in breaking any rationale for child abuse, masquerading as discipline, culturally-based or not, it is a welcome contribution.  

    There should be no confusion or Biblical justification for inflicting, by hand of an adult (actually a hand wielding a "rod"}  welts on the buttocks, scrotum and legs of a little boy.

    Parent

    Wow (none / 0) (#101)
    by squeaky on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 03:19:00 PM EST
    Super sad...  makes sense that the whipped become the whippers, and when the whipping comes out of fear that you will lose your child to a white policeman's bullet, even sadder.

    A friend of mine who grew up in DC, in a large family was never allowed to run as a child. He is black and his mother did not allow the children to run in public, ever, for fear of getting shot by a white cop.

    He and his whole family turned out to be very successful people, contributing lots to society. I doubt he was ever beaten.. but now I am not so sure.

    Parent

    "When you whip those you love..." (none / 0) (#34)
    by Mr Natural on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 11:54:40 AM EST
    uh, yeah.

    Parent
    So, how many times did (5.00 / 2) (#37)
    by Anne on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 12:35:22 PM EST
    Peterson get beaten as a child, all the while being told it was out of love?  How many times does someone hear that message before he believes that that is what love really looks like?

    I would be curious to know if Peterson has ever expressed his "love" that way with all of his many "love" interests - if there was a smack here, a push there - you know, to discipline them for their own good.  I mean, if that's how you love a child, why wouldn't you love a woman that way, too?

    I hope - I really, really hope - that this coming out now will put an end to Peterson "loving" his children this way, and he can find other ways to prepare them for the realities of life - as if the reality he's inflicted on them hasn't been bad enough.  Otherwise, there are at least 6 children out there being taught that love means beating up on people.

    They don't call it "the cycle of abuse" for nothing.

    Parent

    Off Topic a Bit... (none / 0) (#60)
    by ScottW714 on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 01:56:47 PM EST
    ...but I find it very odd for black folks to defend whipping anyone for any reason.

    Parent
    Read KeysDan's Link (none / 0) (#104)
    by squeaky on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 03:29:02 PM EST
    Here, It may help you make sense of why black folks defend whipping.

    Parent
    How many times (5.00 / 6) (#3)
    by Repack Rider on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 01:07:11 AM EST
    ...does a policy of "arming rebels" have to fail before it becomes a bad idea?

    Other than every time, I mean.

    don't even try for my record (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by fishcamp on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 09:37:10 AM EST
    seven fivers on yesterdays swim fin story repack...but you're sure right about that one

    Parent
    This may break new ground (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 09:46:34 AM EST
    Since we may be fighting on both sides of the Syrian conflict at the same time.

    Parent
    Holy Crimefighter Batman! (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by kdog on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 08:50:00 AM EST
    Who needs cops when you got Buddha...crime drops 82% around 11th & E. 19th Oaktown once Buddha showed up.  

    Only love can conquer hate...

    And lots of apparently unjustified moral indignation.

    Last week here in LA the police were called, supposedly by staff member(s) of the Directors Guild of America, regarding a couple parked in front of a tee vee studio and supposedly having sex in the front seat of their car with the door open.

    The woman was black actress Danielle Watts, of Django Unchained fame, etc., and her white celebrity chef boyfriend.

    (There seems to be some confusion as to whether the guy is her boyfriend or her husband, however she refers to him as her "boyfriend" in the recordings of the incident, so that's what I'm going with.)

    Long story short, when the po po arrived the two were no longer inside the car. Danielle qas on the phone with her dad, and her boyfriend was just hanging out. When the po po asked for ID, DW went ballistic and then she got handcuffed while she asserted her right not to have to show ID.

    During and after the incident, DW and her boyfriend claimed the police response was racist.

    As it turns out, the officers who responded were all minorities; an openly gay white male, a Hispanic male, and a female. This does not mean, of course, that they could act in a racist manner.

    But most if not all of the incident was recorded by one or more the officers on the scene and the recordings seem to pretty much exonerate the officers.

    The gay officer, Sgt. Parker, said:

    he fears that if he and other officers had not recorded their run-in with Miss Watts, her allegations would have ruined their careers.

    And, fwiw, there are photos of the couple "getting jiggy with it" in the car with the door open, and pretty graphic descriptions of what they were doing, if the linked article is to be believed.

    Anyway, it seems to me that these cameras can protect both the public and police with regard to such incidences.

    Maybe we all should get ourselves a camera?

    Regardless of whether... (5.00 / 2) (#49)
    by kdog on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 01:39:08 PM EST
    they were in the act of coitus or not, she was still within her rights to refuse to show ID since the cops didn't witness any indecency, and presumably had not yet gotten any witness statements.  The cuffs were still uncalled for, imo.

    Minor sh*t compared to other abuses of power, definitely...but still no way to treat a citizen.

    Parent

    Ya, no argument there. (none / 0) (#69)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 02:07:26 PM EST
    The arguments I have read that said she was correct in that are persuasive, and good info to know.

    Parent
    I would suggest.. (5.00 / 1) (#76)
    by kdog on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 02:22:07 PM EST
    instead of calling the police, the tv studio should just put up a Buddha statue out front...worked in Oakland, no handcuffs required! ;)

    Parent
    Touche... (none / 0) (#94)
    by kdog on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 02:48:30 PM EST
    There's no business like show business!

    Parent
    There's no such thing as bad publicity (5.00 / 1) (#97)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 02:58:19 PM EST
    if you're in the biz!

    Parent
    I think this is one of the arguments (none / 0) (#44)
    by CST on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 01:19:55 PM EST
    in favor of cops wearing cameras.  It's to protect them as much as it's to protect us.

    Parent
    Yup. (none / 0) (#47)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 01:35:12 PM EST
    So the married couple was not just. (none / 0) (#57)
    by oculus on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 01:52:25 PM EST
    walking down the street minding their own business?

    Parent
    Apparently not. (none / 0) (#62)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 01:57:14 PM EST
    oh to be young (none / 0) (#67)
    by CST on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 02:02:39 PM EST
    and in lust.

    Honestly it's just sex.  I wonder who called the cops.

    And no, I wouldn't care if some kid saw this.  Might even consider it a "teachable moment".

    Parent

    I'd rather my kids saw people having sex (5.00 / 2) (#78)
    by Anne on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 02:23:11 PM EST
    than a parent screaming at or smacking around a child, or seeing a couple engaged in a loud and violent argument.

    Parent
    There are more photos on TMZ. (none / 0) (#72)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 02:16:41 PM EST
    Gotta say, it was about 1,000F last Thursday when this all happened. And I'm not exaggerating! ;-)

    TMZ said some office workers actually went to the car and asked them to stop, and they said no.

    Crazy heat and knowing there are people watching you and kinda ruded out by it? Young lust is right!

    Of course, maybe this whole thing was cooked up by the publicist that she kept referring to on the recording.

    Parent

    I dont know... (none / 0) (#154)
    by kdog on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 06:00:09 PM EST
    that asking them to stop business sounds like great cover for a closer look.

    Young lovers park in front of my office I guarantee you'll have no shortage of volunteers to "ask them to stop".


    Parent

    The first story I saw (none / 0) (#70)
    by ruffian on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 02:11:15 PM EST
    The husband or boyfriend said they were in the car kissing.

    Parent
    Django Unchained (none / 0) (#82)
    by Uncle Chip on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 02:30:46 PM EST
    The husband or boyfriend said they were in the car kissing.

    It looks like there is more than just kissing going on there

    Parent

    Dashboard Cameras... (none / 0) (#74)
    by ScottW714 on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 02:20:00 PM EST
    ...are getting very popular, more for accidents, but they can at the very least get an audio recording of events inside the vehicle.

    The question you should be asking, is why the cops are so against them and why dash cam footage seems to always get misplaced when cops are accused of misdeeds.

    I doubt you could find many people who be against police having cameras on their person at all times, well with the exception of the police.

    Like Ferguson, in 2014 no cop car should be without a dash cam.  Yet the departments with histories of excessive force are the ones who always have them ready for installation.  Video of what happened could keep that cop from prosecution, but in reality, it would land a lot of cops on the other side of bars, and that is why departments like Ferguson don't have them installed and functioning at all times.

    I don't believe a cop is going to have a their careers hampered by some random thing like above.  Certainly not with the notorious skull thumping departments like LAPD or NYPD.

    You didn't mention, was she or her man ever charged with anything ?

    Parent

    According the the Sgt, (none / 0) (#77)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 02:23:03 PM EST
    there was no intention at any time to arrest or charge anyone with anything.

    Parent
    Zero Theorem (5.00 / 1) (#48)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 01:35:43 PM EST
    Terry Gilliams vision of a grim FaceBook dystopia

    The latest trailer for Terry Gilliam's latest opus, The Zero Theorem, has landed, and it's every bit as visually arresting as it is philosophically dense. Here, Christoph Waltz plays computer genius Qohen Leth as he struggles to solve the titular Zero Theorem, an impossible proof that would effectively verify the meaninglessness of existence. Grappling with existential angst in his dark, ad-drenched future, he finds solace in "the girl with pink hair" and eventually a reason for being.


    Wow (none / 0) (#50)
    by squeaky on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 01:42:22 PM EST
    Looks great... can't wait..

    Parent
    Crest (5.00 / 1) (#54)
    by Uncle Chip on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 01:48:42 PM EST
    Why I will never brush with Crest even after 6 months.

    FDA calls polyethylene a food additive????

    Those little beads (5.00 / 1) (#65)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 01:59:48 PM EST
    Will also apparently be floating around in the environment when the pyramids are a small pile of gravel

    Parent
    I F'ing Love Science (5.00 / 1) (#68)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 02:07:14 PM EST
    Microbeads In Soaps Facing Bans Due To Great Lakes Pollution

    These tiny particles coat the floor of the lake, choking out plant life. Additionally, some creatures mistake them for fish eggs and ingest them. Unable to digest the particles, their gut becomes filled with the plastic until they ultimately starve to death. The small fish who eat the plastic are eaten by progressively larger fish, all of whom begin to accumulate the plastic.

    Unfortunately, the plastic alone isn't the only problem. Plastic can act like a sponge for pollutants like motor oils and pesticides. These toxins could work their way into bloodstreams all the way up the food chain, even into the fish eaten by humans.

    There may not be too much that can be done about the plastic that is already in the lakes. The microbeads are similar in size to zooplankton, so any efforts to get rid of the plastic would also devastate the base of the food chain. Environmentalists chose to focus on preventing additional plastic from entering the water, and many states began discussing bills that would ban the sale and distribution of soaps, toothpastes, and other products containing microbeads. They expected a long fight, but manufacturers put up little resistance in the measure and were quick to agree to deadlines when they would be phased out.



    Parent
    Yikes (none / 0) (#98)
    by squeaky on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 03:01:38 PM EST
    Glad to be using only organic products..

    Parent
    Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS) is now ... (5.00 / 1) (#148)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 05:45:04 PM EST
    ... officially in electoral trouble, as the Kansas Supreme Court today ordered Secretary of State Kris Korbach to strike Democratic Senate candidate Chad Taylor's name from the November ballot, per Taylor's request.

    Polling says that means he is (none / 0) (#152)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 05:52:27 PM EST
    Now 6 points down.  Being two point up with him on the ballot

    Parent
    Good news. (none / 0) (#153)
    by Angel on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 05:55:48 PM EST
    For those keeping score (none / 0) (#169)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 08:48:24 PM EST
    the sec of state who had told the court they had to rule by today because is was a hard deadline to print ballots now, after losing in court, says it can be delayed a week.  He has ordered dems to pick another candidate.  No one expects the dems to do that.  He has no right to tell them they must.

    I have an idea tho.  If they have to pice a name to be listed as a dem on the ticket I say they should pick Kris Korbach

    Parent

    They should pick Greg Orman. :) (none / 0) (#171)
    by Angel on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 09:08:29 PM EST
    As if we needed more confirmation that Americans (5.00 / 1) (#155)
    by Angel on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 06:13:21 PM EST
    America, she is not alone. (none / 0) (#165)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 08:10:25 PM EST
    None of this surprises me (none / 0) (#166)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 08:22:50 PM EST
    who ever said people get the government they deserve nailed it.  That's what we have.   Or rather what they have.  Sadly we have it too.

    Parent
    Heartbreaking (5.00 / 4) (#170)
    by ruffian on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 09:02:59 PM EST
    Don Spirit ID'd as Bell, FL Shooting Suspect; Allegedly Shot Daughter Sarah Spirit and Six Grandkids

    Oooh, ISIL! So scary. When are we going to do something about actual problems in THIS country?

    It gets worse... (none / 0) (#182)
    by unitron on Fri Sep 19, 2014 at 01:40:15 AM EST
    ...in 2001 he, apparently as the result of a hunting accident, killed one of his own sons.

    With a gun he wasn't supposed to own because of a previous felony.

    Orlando Sentinel article

    Parent

    Excerpt from NYT re Scottish vote: (5.00 / 1) (#176)
    by oculus on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 11:40:42 PM EST
    Almost 4.3 million people -- 97 percent of the electorate -- had registered to vote, including 16- and 17-year-olds, enfranchised for the first time. Analysts forecast a turnout in excess of 80 percent at about 2,600 polling places stretching from urban centers to remote and sparsely populated islands and far-flung settlements in the Scottish Highlands. Only residents of Scotland were permitted to vote.



    Just heard on my local news (5.00 / 3) (#181)
    by nycstray on Fri Sep 19, 2014 at 01:36:59 AM EST
    the turnout was around 86%. Impressive.

    Parent
    debasing the culture and not teaching patriotism (5.00 / 3) (#203)
    by jondee on Fri Sep 19, 2014 at 12:49:23 PM EST
    Yes, lets "reopen the discussion".

    Beginning with a discussion of the cultural debasement involved in devaluing reason and science and intellectual inquiry and making the main point of emphasis concern over an imagined assault on tribal symbols like the flag, the Bible, and white European "culture".  

    Re: Refusing to help itself. (5.00 / 1) (#204)
    by Mordiggian 88 on Fri Sep 19, 2014 at 03:34:51 PM EST
    The issue is that an organization in trouble is refusing to help itself.

    The NFL is about selling a product, and by appearing in a Jesus shirt, he took the spotlight off of the product.  That would be true whether it was a quote from the Koran in Arabic, a portrait of Buddha, or that of Ganesh, the elephant-headed deity of the Hindu Pantheon.

    If he wants to appear on his own free time in a Jesus shirt, that's fine, but when you're on the clock, you're not allowed to wear ashes and sackcloth to work because it's the Feast of St Francis of Assisi or whatever.

    Anyway, your concern for the NFL is touching.  You have all the makings of an HR director.

    Ga6thDem... (none / 0) (#8)
    by kdog on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 09:16:11 AM EST
    sounds like you got a nice little taste of NY...military-style cops to panhandlers.  You're probably more used to seeing NRA nuts walking around with weapons of war! ;)

    Hope you had a lovely visit, y'all come back now ya hear!

    Actually (5.00 / 2) (#115)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 04:15:01 PM EST
    not used to seeing people carrying semi automatics around though you do see a lot of rifles and pistols around here.

    Oh, we had a wonderful time. My son now knows what real pizza tastes like and eat might never eat the garbage they call pizza around here again. He wanted to eat Italian every night and go to Little Italy but we didn't make it there. Too much to do and only two days to do it is what it boiled down to.

    We also rode the subway! Only went down the wrong steps one time and that was my fault. LOL.


    Parent

    D'OH (none / 0) (#11)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 09:33:47 AM EST
    The Upshot (none / 0) (#16)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 09:50:38 AM EST
    Everyone who is surprised (5.00 / 4) (#17)
    by jbindc on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 09:59:04 AM EST
    Please raise your hand.

    Parent
    Ha (none / 0) (#18)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 10:01:11 AM EST
    Beat you to it

    Parent
    Shrug (none / 0) (#19)
    by jbindc on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 10:03:17 AM EST
    One of many clusters to come.

    Parent
    Well, Captain Renault phoned in... (none / 0) (#178)
    by unitron on Fri Sep 19, 2014 at 12:42:27 AM EST
    ...to say how shocked he was.

    Parent
    Insurers have been jacking drug costs (5.00 / 4) (#21)
    by caseyOR on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 10:17:34 AM EST
    in Medicare Part D for a couple of years now. People on Medicare, the old and the disabled, often have some, if not many, health issues. They take a lot of medications.

    Part D, George W. Bush's big wet kiss to the pharmaceutical and insurance industries, started out with reasonable monthly premiums and manageable co-pays. Generics were tier one because they are supposed to be cheaper than name-brand. Each year monthly premiums have climbed. And in the last couple of years all kinds of former tier one drugs have been bumped up not to just to tier two, but all the way up to tier four, the level that is supposed to be for the newest most expensive drugs. Not for generic muscle relaxers and other such drugs.

    Part D requires one to buy a drug plan from a private insurance company, just like the ACA. There does not seem to be much if any government oversight of these plans, and AFAIK no government regulations as to price.

    Oh, and if you do not buy a Part D plan when you first go on Medicare you are penalized monetarily.

    Also, the law was written to clearly forbid the government from negotiating cheaper drug prices for Medicare recipients. Everyday is a big holiday buffet for the insurance companies.

    Parent

    Casey, do you have any examples of (none / 0) (#109)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 04:02:33 PM EST
    Tier One drugs being moved up??

    Parent
    the "non-preferred" (5.00 / 3) (#45)
    by CST on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 01:27:46 PM EST
    drug costs have always been a thorn in my side.   I'm allergic to most antibiotics.  Guess which ones I am not allergic to?  The expensive ones.

    The insurer wants me to take penicillin (for example) because it's cheaper, but penicillin will kill me, so I get charged an arm and a leg for an "elective" drug.  The whole concept of charging more for those drugs to encourage people to take the cheaper drugs falls apart there - most of us don't really choose which drugs we are taking.  If anything it is your doctor who makes that choice.

    Parent

    Tom of Finland (none / 0) (#22)
    by squeaky on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 10:18:30 AM EST
    Funny (none / 0) (#23)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 10:24:50 AM EST
    Can't say I ever thought I would live to see Tom being recognized and celebrated this way.  It's quite wonderful actually.

    Parent
    Very funny (none / 0) (#24)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 10:32:48 AM EST
    Previously TV - The Bridge

    Finally, Someone Tells Sonya To Get Rid Of That Ugly Jacket


    Anybody wanna reopen the discussion (none / 0) (#113)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 04:09:47 PM EST
    of how we are debasing our culture and not teaching kids patriotism??

    Four patriotic students were forced to take down the American flags hanging on their trucks when they arrived to school on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks this year.

    Aaron Fulmer, the principal of Woodruff High School in Spartanburg County, South Carolina confiscated the flags from the students because he said it was a "violation of school policy." The flags purportedly drew too much attention to the students' vehicles and thus went against school code.

    This is not the first time in recent weeks that something like this has happened in schools. Recently, 24-year Lt. Col. Sherwood Baker attempted to talk to his daughter's guidance counselor at school, but was turned away because he was in uniform.

    Security officers at Rochester Adams High School in Michigan said that Baker would not be permitted onto school grounds until he changed into civilian clothes because it could possibly offend students. School officials at Adams High later apologized for the misconduct.

    An incident in South Carolina from 2013 was even more demonstrative about a schoolteacher's disdain for the U.S. flag and what it stands for. A Chapin High School teacher named Scott Compton was reported to have thrown down an American flag and stomped on it in front of his Honor's English class.

    Link

    It can be argued that the first two are just bone headed actions but without the existing culture hatred they wouldn't have happened. The third speaks for itself.

    I'm currently (5.00 / 2) (#117)
    by CST on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 04:18:01 PM EST
    clutching my pears

    Parent
    Don't clutch those pears, CST. (5.00 / 5) (#122)
    by caseyOR on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 04:36:35 PM EST
    Poach them in red wine.  :-)

    Parent
    And since we think that whipping (1.00 / 1) (#128)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 04:45:19 PM EST
    children is bad...maybe the NFL should try for some other theme.


    Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III was told by an NFL representative to flip his `Know Jesus, Know Peace' t-shirt inside-out at a press conference over his dislocated ankle on Sunday, reportedly because it was not a Nike t-shirt.

    link

    I wonder if they:

    1. Considered that was much better than a press conference about a player with multiple children with multiple females.

    2. Thought about telling Nike that they should come out with a RGIII T shirt like the one he had on.

    Probably not.

    But the brand is slipping. Maybe someone will start thinking outside the box.

    Parent

    Yawn. (5.00 / 2) (#131)
    by Angel on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 04:47:32 PM EST
    Shirt could have said anything (5.00 / 1) (#161)
    by nycstray on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 07:08:19 PM EST
    and the same request would have been made. Yes, that's right (and you know it), if the shirt had said "Know NFL, Know Peace" and not made by the sponsor, it would have been requested. Same as if it had said "I Love Puppies", which, in my opinion, would cause a major uproar if he had to flip it . . .  all those d@mn puppy loving' fools out there . . .

    Parent
    Did you click the link (5.00 / 2) (#162)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 07:12:28 PM EST
    the flag story is from That bastion of credible journalism  "fox & friends"

    Parent
    I never click his links :P (5.00 / 1) (#172)
    by nycstray on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 09:24:52 PM EST
    I be a 'fraidy cat  when it comes to him . . .

    Parent
    Point being that maybe the NFL (1.00 / 1) (#163)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 07:39:09 PM EST
    needs to get some sponsors that actively promote a stable family life..

    Instead we get Nike who has made billions by selling overpriced tennis shoes endorsed by athletes... and athletes are at the base of the problem...

    Until you change the culture of many partners having many kids you won't accomplish anything.


    Parent

    Becasue Promoting... (5.00 / 3) (#202)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Sep 19, 2014 at 12:35:56 PM EST
    ...jesus = promoting 'a stable family life' in the NFL ?  Now that is funny.  I wonder if anyone tracks the guys who thank jesus on field and their family situations for stability.  I have to say I doubt the two would show any correlation, no I know they wouldn't.  If anything the correlation would be inverse.  

    I love how you want to promote Nationalism, which last time I checked this is a free secular country, then in the next breathe have issues with people not promoting jesus.  Pick one, because they are direct conflict with each other.

    Nationalism in America would include not promoting jesus, or rather not having some clown whine about what they want to promoted, and decide for yourself, not have Fox News tell us what qualifies as national pride, which just so happensto include jesus and co.

    You want a US the way you think it should be and all others can suck it, not exactly what this country or freedom is about.

    Parent

    Sure it wasn't (none / 0) (#130)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 04:47:31 PM EST
    No Jesus, no peace"

    Parent
    Well it is clear... (none / 0) (#151)
    by kdog on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 05:49:46 PM EST
    the NFL knows nothing of Jesus...at least his bit on casting stones.

    Parent
    pearls (none / 0) (#118)
    by CST on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 04:18:12 PM EST
    damnit

    Parent
    Well, it is pear season :) (none / 0) (#120)
    by nycstray on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 04:30:47 PM EST
    Should I tell him (none / 0) (#127)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 04:42:02 PM EST
    I had an American flag rug in college?

    Parent
    No! (none / 0) (#133)
    by sj on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 04:48:43 PM EST
    I mean, "no thank you".

    Please... it will probably cause him to use up the rest of the Open Thread either making baseless, factless assertions or being all surprised and sh!t.

    By the way. My DVD player has no "find remote" button :(

    Parent

    Fine (5.00 / 1) (#134)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 04:51:14 PM EST
    We won't tell him

    Parent
    No problem.. kinda bad taste thing (none / 0) (#156)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 06:51:13 PM EST
    but hey! Someone who has served the country as you have deserves some slack.  ;-)

    The problem would have been if someone told you you couldn't display one.

    I trust you can understand the difference.

    Parent

    In a word, no (5.00 / 3) (#123)
    by ruffian on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 04:37:34 PM EST
    Second (none / 0) (#125)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 04:38:45 PM EST
    Third. (5.00 / 1) (#136)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 04:57:46 PM EST
    "Patriotism is the willingness to kill and be killed for trivial reasons."
    - Bertrand Russell (1872-1970), British philosopher and social critic

    Parent
    +1000 n/t (none / 0) (#147)
    by Repack Rider on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 05:38:42 PM EST
    No. (5.00 / 3) (#124)
    by Angel on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 04:38:33 PM EST
    Anybody wanna reopen the discussion of how we are debasing our culture and not teaching kids patriotism??


    Parent
    If only that would stop him (5.00 / 2) (#126)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 04:39:36 PM EST
    Anyone want to stick a sharp pencil (5.00 / 5) (#132)
    by ruffian on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 04:47:41 PM EST
    in their eye?

    Parent
    Two in your (5.00 / 1) (#139)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 05:05:54 PM EST
    lovely Republican state and completely controlled by Republicans. The guy probably stomped on the flag because Obama is president. Have you considered that?

    Parent
    How do you teach patriotism? And whose (5.00 / 1) (#201)
    by Anne on Fri Sep 19, 2014 at 12:30:52 PM EST
    version is supposed to control?  Yours?  Mine?  Someone else's?  

    Isn't "patriotism" largely a feeling, a belief that comes into being in different ways for different people?  And which people express in different ways?

    I mean, I think it's a lot like faith, isn't it? How do you teach that?

    If you believe in the essential freedom of people to believe what they want, and express it the way they want, and further believe those freedoms derive in large part from the founding fathers' belief in our inalienable rights, you really need to stop insisting that everyone march in lock-step in accordance with what meets your approval.

    Parent

    I think your blurbs... (none / 0) (#149)
    by kdog on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 05:46:53 PM EST
    belong in the zero-tolerance in schools gone mad file, more so than the debasing the culture or lack of patriotism file.

    Unless you are saying zero tolerance debases our culture...I'd go along with that. I think kids should be able to fly any flag they want on their cars, I think military personnel should be able to wear their uniforms where ever they want, and that a teacher can make a point with the flag as part of a lesson plan.

    Let freedom ring, God Bless America.

    Parent

    Well two out of three ain't bad (none / 0) (#158)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 06:55:44 PM EST
    On the third, it wasn't in the lesson plan.

    And the problem is not that we have zero tolerance... As shown in the RGIII scene we have zero tolerance for anything that might smack of Christianity because it might..... gasp....offend somebody...

    Maybe the world would be a better place if a few people were offended.

    Parent

    Well I've long said... (5.00 / 1) (#160)
    by kdog on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 07:06:00 PM EST
    If you aren't offended on the regular, you can't be living in a free country.

    I grant you the secular can be just as intolerant as the religious...no monopolies, no immunities.

    Parent

    actually no (5.00 / 1) (#167)
    by nyjets on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 08:26:00 PM EST
    If you are not offended on the regular that means you live in polite society.

    Parent
    Censorship... (none / 0) (#194)
    by kdog on Fri Sep 19, 2014 at 11:01:29 AM EST
    is impolite.

    Parent
    that is not what i said (none / 0) (#199)
    by nyjets on Fri Sep 19, 2014 at 11:52:15 AM EST
    It is possible to live in a society with no censorship and not be offended.


    Parent
    Perhaps possible... (none / 0) (#200)
    by kdog on Fri Sep 19, 2014 at 12:02:52 PM EST
    but highly unlikely...people are too uptight.  

    Parent
    I'd say that the RGIII scene... (5.00 / 1) (#180)
    by unitron on Fri Sep 19, 2014 at 01:30:43 AM EST
    ...says we (meaning "they") have zero tolerance for not displaying the logo of the company that's paying big bucks to get their logo displayed.

    Next year, see if you can get Jesus to outbid Nike.

    Parent

    And exactly how much money did (1.00 / 1) (#189)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Sep 19, 2014 at 09:33:30 AM EST
    Nike pay the media who attended the press conference?? I mean if they want to control the content shouldn't they also control the transmission ??????

    You folks tickle me. You moan and opine about the athletes and the NFL's effect on families and children yet refuse to demand that the NFL support a group of people that are very much for a loving, kind, supportive family.

    Parent

    Put (5.00 / 2) (#185)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Sep 19, 2014 at 08:37:05 AM EST
    the Christian victim card back in the deck Jim.

    Parent
    The gentleman in question wasn't (none / 0) (#187)
    by Mordiggian 88 on Fri Sep 19, 2014 at 08:55:34 AM EST
    in a church or at a revival, he was at a football press conference.  

    If he wants to be Godly in public, he can always be a minister or reverend, he'd be avoiding acquiring CTE as well.

    Parent

    Great idea (none / 0) (#159)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 07:00:54 PM EST
    Maybe the world would be a better place if a few people were offended.

    Being offended  can be your job!

    Parent

    I feel sorry for al these Christians, (none / 0) (#186)
    by Mordiggian 88 on Fri Sep 19, 2014 at 08:45:12 AM EST
    Being persecuted and reviled in this country everyday.

    By this country, I mean the one in James' mind.

    Parent

    Mordiggian, why do you always (none / 0) (#190)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Sep 19, 2014 at 09:35:31 AM EST
    miss the point??

    The issue isn't persecution.

    The issue is that an organization in trouble isrefusing to help itself.

    Hope that isn't too confusing.

    Parent

    If they alllow... (none / 0) (#179)
    by unitron on Fri Sep 19, 2014 at 01:25:19 AM EST
    ...The U.S. flag (and if the pictures accompanying the article are of the actual flags, those things are like 3 feet by 5 feet and the fear of drawing attention is well warranted), then, in the name of free speech, they'd have to allow "other" flags, and I think we all know how that would go.

    Keeping the Lt.Col. out because he was in uniform sounds like someone on a lower level misunderstood what very well may have been a rather convoluted policy handed down from on high.

    Parent

    Actually we have a case (none / 0) (#188)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Sep 19, 2014 at 09:25:32 AM EST
    so we know what our  school officials who are afraid of their own shadow  do:

    On any other day at Live Oak High School in Morgan Hill, Daniel Galli and his four friends would not even be noticed for wearing T-shirts with the American flag. But Cinco de Mayo is not any typical day especially on a campus with a large Mexican American student population.

    Galli says he and his friends were sitting at a table during brunch break when the vice principal asked two of the boys to remove American flag bandannas that they wearing on their heads and for the others to turn their American flag T-shirts inside out. When they refused, the boys were ordered to go to the principal's office.

    "They said we could wear it on any other day," Daniel Galli said, "but today is sensitive to Mexican-Americans because it's supposed to be their holiday so we were not allowed to wear it today."

    Link

    I guess it is okay to an American only 359 days a year.

    BTW - This has gone to court and the boys lost...it is now on the way to the SC.

    Parent

    Apple says OS8 (none / 0) (#137)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 05:00:08 PM EST
    Says it's available if you back up on iCloud (none / 0) (#138)
    by Angel on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 05:04:45 PM EST
    because the information would come from Apple's servers.  I'm wondering if most people will actually know this or go with the thought that it's fully protected.

    Parent
    I think apple users (none / 0) (#141)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 05:11:30 PM EST
    Are in general pretty savvy
    I'm downloading now.

    Parent
    You'd be surprised. :) (none / 0) (#142)
    by Angel on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 05:13:51 PM EST
    The (none / 0) (#144)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 05:16:33 PM EST
    Face book post I got that from had the info.   But it was from a nerds nerd

    Parent
    Well those nerds are (none / 0) (#192)
    by fishcamp on Fri Sep 19, 2014 at 10:02:37 AM EST
    the ones that can crack any firewall including Apple's new iCloud platform.  It may have to go back to the pony express and smoke signals.  kdog can you send me a smoke signal down here?  Forget the pony express since I sold my saddles when I left Colorado.

    Parent
    Ask and ye shall receive... (none / 0) (#195)
    by kdog on Fri Sep 19, 2014 at 11:03:25 AM EST
    yup-a-do (none / 0) (#196)
    by NYShooter on Fri Sep 19, 2014 at 11:15:25 AM EST
    The illusion that any cloud is secure, is, well.....an illusion.

    Parent
    You just reminded me of my childhood home (none / 0) (#198)
    by sj on Fri Sep 19, 2014 at 11:48:04 AM EST
    Right next to the property is a marker commemorating the Pony Express stop that once stood there. We used to call it The Monument which is a pretty grandiose term for it, but everyone knew what that was.

    A look at Google maps shows that the large garden my parents had is completely overgrown.

    Parent