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Tuesday Open Thread

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It's been days since our last open thread. Here's a new one, all topics welcome.

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    This will sound like a small beef, I know, (5.00 / 2) (#1)
    by shoephone on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 01:28:46 AM EST
    but it still irks me:

    What started a few short years ago has now become the usual thing, in that the majority of holiday wishes I receive (whether Hanukkah or Christmas) are sent via email or text. And it just seems cheap and without much thought. A throw-away. Yeah, yeah, I'm old-fashioned, blah, blah, blah. But I still mail out a fair amount of holiday cards to the people I see regularly and those I don't see hardly ever because they live far away and visits are rarely possible. I still get a few mailed cards, but c'mon. E-cards and texts just don't cut it.

    Sometimes I get a little frustrated with some of the older members of my family (now in their 80's and 90's) for not being of a mind to check emails (they do not text -- ever) but I appreciate that they still love to send and receive the holiday and birthday cards. It makes a person feel more special than getting a "Merry Christmas!" text at 10:00 a.m. on December 25th.

    I've been working six days a week this year, so I'm busy and very tired. And I don't make a ton of money, so there's the expense of cards and stamps. But I do it because I think it's something that matters in its own way.

    For cripes sakes, people. Can we really not show an ounce of class anymore?

    Funny (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 08:00:18 AM EST
    I was just b!tching about the opposite yesterday.

    "Why the hell in the age of email and social media do people make the mail carriers do this every year?."  You can send wishes, photos, even videos.  I don't get it.  

    Save a tree.  Send an email.

    Parent

    So the mail carriers get to keep their jobs? (none / 0) (#9)
    by CoralGables on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 08:04:33 AM EST
    I have a friend who delivers mail (none / 0) (#10)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 08:08:03 AM EST
    They HATE Christmas.

    Parent
    Your friend is nuts... (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by kdog on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 08:31:10 AM EST
    my brother the letter carrier loves Christmas... sh*t he depends on Christmas to pay for Christmas...between all the tips and overtime pay, he cleans up this time of year.  And with the contract with Amazon now, he's even out delivering parcels on Sundays...working 7 days a week.  

    Parent
    City vs rural (none / 0) (#12)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 08:38:07 AM EST
    I suppose.  Tips?  Pffft.   Mailmen don't get "tipped" here.  I leave her cookies in my mailbox every year and she say I'm pretty much the only one who bothers.   And I don't think she gets OT.   Btw, around here they are not federal employees.   They are contracted.    I will ask.  Mail carriers here have a very steady job.  They don't need to carry 10 times the load for the same money.  

    Parent
    No tip for the letter carrier? (5.00 / 2) (#17)
    by kdog on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 09:14:22 AM EST
    What kinda animals you got down there man?  

    My brother has had the same route for so long now, he's like part of the family to many on his route.  He checks in on the elderly and brings out their trash cans. Dude eats 3 lunches a day all year long if he wants, with all the food and drink offered daily.  We jokingly call him "the mayor" of the neighborhood. And at Christmas some people are insanely generous...way more than I give my letter carrier.

    Let this be a reminder y'all...don't forget the letter carrier and the sanitation guys.  

     

    Parent

    My letter carrier (none / 0) (#19)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 09:21:24 AM EST
    Actually is part of my family.   She is married to my second cousin.  They only get out of their cars here (their own cars on which they pay gas and upkeep) to walk a quarter mile up to a house to leave one of the Amazon packages on the porch that won't fit in the box.

    Most people here never see ther carrier unless they happen to be home when that happen.  And even then they do NOT get tipped.   That's not even a concept here.   Or I suspect in most rural areas.

    Parent

    Different world... (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by kdog on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 09:36:47 AM EST
    What about sanitation?  Tipping them is the best investment I make all year...they take everything, I could leave toxic waste on the curb.

    Parent
    They cut the crew to one here (none / 0) (#25)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 09:47:06 AM EST
    One guy.  Drives the truck.  Dumps the cans.  Cleans up the mess where the white trash are to cheap to buy a can and the dogs spread it around.

    My sanitation guy never has to clean up a mess at my house and along with the mail person gets cookies every year.  

    Parent

    For Me... (none / 0) (#20)
    by ScottW714 on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 09:23:59 AM EST
    ...no tip because I never actually see them, the mail box is two blocks away and the person is like Howdy's, a non-uniformed contractor.  Mine also uses their own car and I would guess that at least 3, probably closer to 5 different people have delivered my mail over the past year they either have high turnover or switch routes often.

    I might see them once a month, when they ring the door bell on Saturday and leave a package, if I am lucky I see the back of them as they are walking away, but usually catch the back of their car as they leave.

    I don't even have a real post office, officially my post office is an Ace Hardware, which is actually more convenient, but the post office area is manned by Ace employees, not postal workers.

    Parent

    We have a spiffy (none / 0) (#23)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 09:29:36 AM EST
    Brand new post office.  Not sure why or how that happened .And it's about a block away.  I've considered getting a box just to lighten Carols load.

    Parent
    Sanitation... (none / 0) (#26)
    by ScottW714 on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 09:51:35 AM EST
    ...get 5 12 packs, 3 for garbage and two for recycles.  I was suppose to do it today, but completely forgot until I heard them.

    Next week I will catch them with a 12 pack each.

    I also catch the lawn guys, 3 of them with a 12 pack each.

    Parent

    kook.

    We've had him for years. Among a number of other things, a while back, the neighbor across the street told him he could grab a soda out of their garage fridge if he wanted when he came by.

    So last summer the mom happened to be home when he came by and he went to her front door and complained that there was no orange soda.

    He's done a number of other kooky things, but this one still makes us laugh.

    Parent

    That's funny... (none / 0) (#40)
    by kdog on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 01:45:53 PM EST
    better get that man some Orange Soda, he knows all your secrets!  

    Parent
    secrets.

    Parent
    No Union is what I mean (none / 0) (#13)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 08:39:39 AM EST
    Not like a "postal worker"

    Parent
    Btw (none / 0) (#16)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 08:55:45 AM EST
    If you want to give a postman job security, according to Carol, subscribe  to NetFlix DVD service.  Big easy to handle easy to read things that don't all come in one month of the year.   She just told me that yesterday when I was waiting at the mailbox for the latest LOST DVD with cookies.

    Parent
    The USPS needs the business. (none / 0) (#28)
    by Chuck0 on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 11:44:17 AM EST
    I like getting cards too (none / 0) (#7)
    by jbindc on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 07:30:50 AM EST
    It is frustrating to send out, say, 50 cards and get 10-15 back.

    I took the easy way this year - I sent out a picture card of the BF and me standing in front of a Christmas tree.  Words and signatures pre-printed, and I bought a return address stamp.  No writing involved except for addresses (and I could have made labels).  Oddly enough, I've gotten several positive comments about how absolutely adorable we are.  :)

    Parent

    Mine Must Have Gotten... (5.00 / 3) (#15)
    by ScottW714 on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 08:53:03 AM EST
    ...lost in the mail.

    Parent
    I still have a couple of days. :) (none / 0) (#31)
    by jbindc on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 12:20:00 PM EST
    I Don't Know... (none / 0) (#18)
    by ScottW714 on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 09:15:14 AM EST
    ...I am a guy, you get a phone call, no texts, no cards, no emails, one phone call and if you don't pick up, it's probably going to be a couple days before you get another from me.

    I know I will get a package from my mom with tons of Wisconsin cheese, homemade candy, and a check from my mom in the card, yeah my mom still gives me cash for xmas.  I have begged her not to for no other reason than I feel guilty because the only person I buy for is the GF.  My brother sends a family picture of him, his wife, and their two kids.  That is all I need.  My GF gets tons of cards and sends tons of them, she likes and needs it, I do not.

    What I did get this year was a GD wedding invitation from a cousin that I have spoke to maybe twice in the past 20 years, both times at funerals.  The date was Dec 31st, but the kicker is, no return envelopes, I was asked to email the RSVP.  Good idea right until I sent it, WTF do you say to someone you never see, 'Sorry, but are you crazy, I am not going to your wedding on New Years Eve in northern Wisconsin.'  

    With a return card, you just check no and mail it, but with email, first I had to identify myself, cousin Scott, I had to congratulate them, then regretfully decline the wedding invitation.  It was very awkward, but I did stick a Happy Wedding graphic in the email.

    Anyways Shoephone, I have never, and probably will never sent out a Christmas card.  Nor do I email/text holiday wishes, if we were friends or closely related I would call and shoot the sh1t for a bit.

    Parent

    Single guy thing... (none / 0) (#21)
    by kdog on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 09:25:25 AM EST
    I don't do cards either...I make the rounds and visit the NY/NJ/CT contingent of friends and fam between Christmas and New Years...those further away get a phone call.

    Parent
    The single guy thing is definitely true, kdog (none / 0) (#32)
    by shoephone on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 12:21:05 PM EST
    But I'm a gal. I have family, current and longtime friends, co-workers, and--until I shut down my previous business--many clients! People like to know that they've been remembered. For crissakes, my sister and I both still exchange Xmas cards with the woman who was our grandmother's nurse/caretaker during her last days. This woman is elderly herself now, and has moved all the way across the country since last year, for family, and I know it means a lot to her to send and receive the greetings.

    Email and texts are great for some things--they're how I communicate a lot of the time. But we're talking about Christmas and birthdays. Different sensibilities, for sure. In my family, we still call and talk to each other too.

    And I'm with you on the mailman tips or goodies. My current mailman is just okay, but the one in my previous neighborhood was awesome! We all loved him, and he paid attention to the little things--encouraging us to get locking mailboxes, knowing the safest spot to leave that package, even recognizing if the back gate lock needed fixing. When he was gone for weeks, having back surgery, the subs did a terrible job! They didn't know us and they didn't care. We sighed relief when Mr. Regular came back to work. And he deserved that nice bundle of cash he got at the holidays.

    Parent

    I'm with ya pal... (none / 0) (#39)
    by kdog on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 01:44:04 PM EST
    If I ever did cards, I would definitely still do cards...it's classier and more personal.  I mean sh&t, I still write and mail hand written letters on occasion.

    Parent
    I'm a single girl (none / 0) (#41)
    by CST on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 02:24:19 PM EST
    who apparently acts like a single guy.

    I don't know a single person under 40 who sends Christmas cards.  Not even my parents do it anymore.

    Then again, we're also the kind of family who goes out for Chinese food on Christmas.

    Parent

    A Christmas Story (none / 0) (#53)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 03:19:11 PM EST
    Christmas !

    fwiw I have not found this to be gender specific.

    Parent

    My Cuban cleaning lady (none / 0) (#60)
    by fishcamp on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 04:23:15 PM EST
    is coming on Christmas Day to clean.  She and her family celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve.  Guess I'd better go to the bank, again.  Since it's a jungle down here, my trash guys come on Tuesday and Friday, but Friday's are garbage, recycle, and foliage.  The palm frond scene down here is ginormous.  My Christmas will be with my cleaning lady and the trash guys.  I am invited to a nice Christmas dinner, where I'll be bringing more of Zorbas famous tzatziki.  Cheers.

    Parent
    We will be doing Christmas Eve (none / 0) (#61)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 04:25:33 PM EST
    The cops and EMTs almost always have to work.

    Parent
    I usually think most (none / 0) (#22)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 09:27:08 AM EST
    People have better things to do at that time of year than to chat with me.  I do send electronic greetings.  Lots of the.   And I get lots.  Because I actively discourage "cards".  I'm down to a few that come from people who are entirely electronically illiterate.

    Parent
    I still send and receive cards (none / 0) (#73)
    by ruffian on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 05:43:30 PM EST
    I am vowing that next year I will make personalized ones though. My friends are out-doing me in that arena.

    However I am a middle aged woman...I'm sure my demo is probably the last pillar holding up Hallmark.

    Parent

    My Father (5.00 / 3) (#84)
    by TrevorBolder on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 07:16:42 PM EST
    Had some talent as a artist (oil paint, then watercolor when the oil paint caused allergic reactions),
    For 5 years, in his 70's, hand painted Christmas cards for me, my brother and sister and a select number of friends.
    I saved all of mine and display them every year.

    Parent
    How lucky you are to receive such (5.00 / 1) (#88)
    by MO Blue on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 11:03:53 PM EST
    treasures.

    Not quite the same but I do like receiving the cards with the annual photos of the family* of close friends and relatives.

    I save the family ones and it is fun to compare them and see how people have changed over the years.

    * (I prefer them holding the family pet rather than guns)

    Parent

    Hand-made cards are the best (5.00 / 1) (#91)
    by shoephone on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 11:23:17 PM EST
    My siblings and I used to make our own cards. And a cool friend of mine down in California used to create his own collage holiday cards. I still have some of them from years back.

    Parent
    Have any of you "card people" (2.00 / 1) (#74)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 05:55:04 PM EST
    Checked out what's available on the e-card area?

    Some very cool ones.

    Being honest with you I hate the personalized ones most.  Especially the ones that try to be funny.  Well next to the look at us with our guns ones.

    Bah humbug


    Parent

    One of many (none / 0) (#145)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 04:26:47 PM EST
    BLUE MOUNTAIN E-CARDS

    For crabby card people who can't take a joke

    this is one of several I sent

    Parent

    Blue Mountain (none / 0) (#182)
    by TrevorBolder on Sun Dec 27, 2015 at 06:06:17 AM EST
    E Cards are pretty good,

    I have sent some the past 2 years for various occasions,

    Parent

    Blue Mountain pot (5.00 / 1) (#183)
    by fishcamp on Sun Dec 27, 2015 at 08:06:52 AM EST
    from Jamaica was pretty good too, back in the day...

    Parent
    Some are nice but for example (none / 0) (#181)
    by ruffian on Sat Dec 26, 2015 at 02:15:17 PM EST
    I got a notice of one and clicked the link and it took so long to load that I gave up. That happens a lot.

    If I'm going to bother at all it is not going to be an ecard.

    I do have a couple of friends from high school that make hand made cards every year, always beautiful. One is an architect and she does ink drawings of Christmas decorations on her door, hearth, or some other part of the house. I done saved all of them, but do have some that are too pretty to throw away.

    Parent

    I have never seen a (none / 0) (#184)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Dec 27, 2015 at 09:30:20 AM EST
    Problem with loading speeds.

    Parent
    Space X (5.00 / 1) (#29)
    by ScottW714 on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 11:50:30 AM EST
    I am still trying to wrap my head around a rocket taking off and the first stage booster returning, after it's been used, to the landing pad, upright.  The booster is 156 feet tall adn they managed to land it upright from the very spot it took off from.  Unbelievable.

    There is a VIDEO.

    The rocket carried 11 satellites into space.

    Sounds like a big step foward (none / 0) (#57)
    by McBain on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 04:00:32 PM EST
    Around 15 years ago, I heard it cost around $10,000 per pound to get something into low earth orbit. I wonder what is is now?

    Parent
    I Have Read That... (none / 0) (#107)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 09:47:31 AM EST
    ...is what NASA pays currently to either the Russians or any other 3rd party.  Presumably they are doing it considerably cheaper and making some cash.

    NASA would pay around $2.3M to get me into space, right now you can buy a ride into space for considerably cheaper.  I can't find it now, but there is a company selling tickets, it's on one of the flight ticket sites, but you need codes to get to certain area to reserve a flight into space.

    This isn't the site, but Virgin Galactic will get you there for $250k.

    They should start a lottery, cause I can't afford the current ones, but I would flip in $20 a year for a small chance.

    Found it Kayak is taking reservations:

    Kayak is now offering flights by XCOR Space Expeditions--owners of the Lynx space plane, which would take travelers on a trip into suborbital space.

    The travel booking site is offering trips starting in 2016 for about $100,000 and more departing from either the spaceport in California's Mojave Desert or the Dutch Caribbean island of Curacao.

    You have to enter 90N, the code for Spaceport America, as your departure city and set 50M -- that's 50 miles into the sky, until you reach the earth's Thermosphere -- as your destination, and First Class under status.

    According to an itinerary we pulled up, customers leaving Sept.1, 2016 can experience the hour trip for about $121,000.

    A view of Earth can be seen through a 45.2 square-foot cockpit canopy window, before a "40-minute glide back to Earth," where upon completion, each passenger will be awarded their official astronaut wings, the U.K.'s Telegraph reports.

    At $120k that is a serious bargain if you got that kind of cabbage.

    PIC of the reservation.

    Parent

    I'm fostering a rescue dog for a few weeks (5.00 / 1) (#58)
    by McBain on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 04:12:33 PM EST
    maybe longer..... a 2 year old shepherd mix who's very sweet but very insecure.  He follows me all over the house and barks when I leave him to go to work.  Even though he's housebroken and I take him out several times a day, he's had three indoor accidents in one week.  

    I live in a condo without much of a patio, so I have to leave him inside, usually in his crate, when I go to work for a few hours.  I've taken care of several dogs before but never one like this.  Anyone know any tricks for dealing with an insecure dog?    

    Spend as much time with him (5.00 / 3) (#59)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 04:20:46 PM EST
    As possible.   Shepherds can form intense attachments and suffer separation anxiety.

    As far as accidents feed him on a strict schedule.  In extreme cases you can feed once a day when you get home from work.   That gives him time to go before bed.  If your patio or can be made secure is secure I would consider leaving him outside but he might bark.

    Good luck.  Thanks for fostering.  The last dog I fostered chewed up my grandfather clock.

    Shepherds are great digs.  They will literally die for you.

    Parent

    My favorite dog was a mixed breed (5.00 / 1) (#66)
    by MO Blue on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 04:54:13 PM EST
    German Shepard that I had during my preteen years. I was his girl and as far as he was concerned it was his job to guard me from any form of aggression. He definitely didn't like my mother to raise her voice to me and would go into a guard position in front of me whenever it happened. Needlessly, to say I throughly enjoyed this. My mother not so much. ;-)

    Parent
    Christmas dog story (none / 0) (#67)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 05:05:50 PM EST
    This actually happened over Christmas.  In the mid seventies after my dad died my mom lived alone.  There was a snow storm with cars in the ditch for weeks.  She said she thought that is where the dog came from.  An abandoned car.
    A beautiful shepherd started hanging around her house.  She tried to chase him away a couple of times.  One day she went to the barn for some reason and found the dog.  So weak, she said, he could barley raise his head, raising the courage to bare his teeth.  She, of course, fed him.  She was MY mom.  And he became her dog.  He would lay at her feet and protect her.  The dog became so protective of her they had him put down because one day one of the grand kids came charging up to her and the dog almost attacked him.

    It's a sad and beautiful story.  Story of a shepherd

    Parent

    Sad, sad story (none / 0) (#70)
    by MO Blue on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 05:27:04 PM EST
    Luckily, Rusty never charged anyone. My mom would just lower her voice and the  tell him how ungrateful he was. The funny thing was that my mom feed him more often than not and he slept by her bed but no matter, I was his girl.

    He did save the Mom and Pop convenience store next to our house from being broken into and robbed. And once, when I was walking him in a neighborhood park he stopped some overly aggressive AH from coming to close but lucky he never charged or bit anyone.

    Great dog.

    Parent

    This dog likes to chew things as well (none / 0) (#76)
    by McBain on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 06:13:25 PM EST
    which is one of the reasons I have to put him in a crate when I leave the apartment.  I hate doing that but I don't really have a choice.

    I think his accidents (all of the #1 variety) might be out of protest.  He probably did those when I left my apartment for around 10 minutes each time. That seems more like cat behavior but this dog get's plenty of outdoor opportunities and doesn't react well when left alone.  

    One the plus side, He's extremely affectionate and doesn't act aggressively to cats or other dogs in my complex.


    Parent

    I Have Never Had Anything But... (none / 0) (#109)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 10:05:31 AM EST
    ...rescue dogs.  One especially went bonkers when I left him home alone.  This is when I was in apartments, and one time I locked him in the bathroom and he reached under the door with his paws and shredded the carpet.

    He was OK when I let him have the keys to the castle.  It's been my experience with rescue dogs that they don't learn the bathroom routine when growing up, and it's very hard to teach them when they are older.  But the trick isn't a hard one, give them a treat, even a tiny one, right after they go outside, when they are still outside and give them a ton of praise, like they just solved cold fusion.

    That being said, it's why I no longer get males.  The rescue males are damn near impossible to get to not go inside, you can get them to do better, but never 100%.  I learned this lesson long ago, and haven't had a a rescue male in a decade.  It's in their DNA and IMO if they aren't taught from puppydom, they never learn 100%.

    Now I have 4 females, 3 are my GF's, but the problem with females is they are constantly competing for attention which is annoying, but beats the alternative.  For the record, the 3 she has don't weight 10lbs combined, all Maltese rescues, all related, mine is a border collie mix around 45lbs.

    Also, they make a blanket like thing you can wrap around them if they have separation issues.  It's suppose to make them feel hugged.  I have read they work really well.  My dog does not like fireworks, but I am usually home when they are going off, either the 4th or New Years, but I coddle her and wrap my arms around her like the blanket and she really digs that, but her breathing is pronounced, I would call it huffing.

    Tracy is probably the best source here if she is around.

    Parent

    Same here (none / 0) (#117)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 10:21:55 AM EST
    Always rescue dogs.  I currently have three beautiful wonderful dogs that give me more than I give them.

    I have not had the "male"  experience.  Two of my current dogs are male.  Neither was really houstrained when I got them as adults.

    They got it very quickly.  Consistency.  That's the key.  You want them to do something or not do something, consistency is the key.

    It's a commitment.  Well worth it IMO


    Parent

    Typical, or atypical gun-toting conservative? (5.00 / 1) (#90)
    by shoephone on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 11:19:24 PM EST
    Becoming more typical by the day.

    Wisconsin State Senator Bob Gannon (R) explains it all for you:

    Rep. Bob Gannon (R) responded to a recent shooting at East Towne Mall in Madison by saying that the incident could have been stopped if more people were carrying guns. During the incident over the weekend, a teen was shot in the leg and suffered non-life threatening injuries.

    "Wisconsin does not have a death penalty law, but with significant practice and careful aim, law-abiding citizens can help clean our society of these scumbags," Gannon said in a statement on Monday. "Criminals no longer have any fear of our courts or our prisons, so it's time that the citizens of this fine state stand up and fight back."

    Yep. That's why all of Wicsonsin's gangbangers do what they do: because there's no death penalty  there. Now, if Mr. Genius in the state senate could just explain why people in states that DO have the death penalty are still committing gun crimes...well, he'd really be onto something.

    Compete Hogwash... (none / 0) (#110)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 10:12:32 AM EST
    ...police chief shoots himself while showing someone online how to clean a gun.

    I mean seriously, presumably a police chief knows a thing or two about guns, yet because they are extremely dangerous, he is currently dead.

    Funny and sad; I heard the story on the news today, so I googled 'cop shoots himself online cleaning gun', not knowing he was the police chief.  Imagine my surprise to find out this is not rare in any sense of the word, over a million hits.

    Parent

    82 degrees down here (5.00 / 1) (#138)
    by fishcamp on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 01:19:47 PM EST
    With humidity at 79%.  Not too bad.  Finally got the swollen oak drawer open where my five hundred bucks was, and it's  in my pocket now.  Guess I better head to town for Christmas supplies.  For some reason it takes me a long time to make tzatziki, but it's worth it.  Hopefully both the Dems and Repubs will both slow down the noise over the Christmas weekend.  Holiday cheers y Boas Festas.

    Tzatziki (5.00 / 1) (#147)
    by Zorba on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 05:26:14 PM EST
    shouldn't take terribly long to make, fish.
    The main thing to remember is make it enough ahead of time to let the flavors all meld and "bloom," as it were.


    Parent
    The Obamas in the 'Hood. (5.00 / 1) (#139)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 01:59:43 PM EST
    The Koko Head Crater Stairs Trail in my old neighborhood of east Honolulu, aka "The Stairmaster from Hell," is actually a former and decaying military rail track that was once used to haul men and supplies up the side of a 1,200-ft. cinder cone to a World War II-era artillery spotting post on top.

    It is literally a straight shot up the mountain and a pretty tough climb that's certainly not for the sedentary or faint of heart. But the view from up top is stupendous and well worth the effort. For that reason, it's a very popular trail with local residents in east Oahu.

    Personally, I'm in good shape and I've never had a problem on the ascent. It's actually the descent that gets me, because coming down over 1,000 steps on a steep decline like that tends to aggravate knee and hip joint problems I've developed, which are likely the result of aging.

    I can only imagine what the President's security detail must've thought the first time they laid eyes on that trail from the base of the crater yesterday morning, when the First Couple and a few friends decided to make the climb. Their appearance on the trail triggered more than a few Instagram posts from surprised and delighted locals who were on a similar outing.

    We'll be back in the 'hood ourselves tomorrow evening. Aloha.

    Fr. closing mosks; where are CNN, NPR? (5.00 / 1) (#151)
    by zaitztheunconvicted on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 05:51:40 PM EST
    France has reportedly closed 3 evil mosques and there are plans to close another 100 to 160.  This is about 5% of the mosques in France; they are being closed on the basis of preaching hatred, inspiring terror, etc.  

    One interesting thing is that Muslims themselves agree that many of the Mosques should be closed down . . .  because there are mosques that preach takfiri, which is when one Muslim group claims or preaches that other so-called Muslim groups are really heretics and not true Muslims.

    Of course, there are dozens of more or less Christian churches that practice takfiri against other more or less Christian churches.

    Following news that three mosques have already been closed since the November 13 attacks on the capital, Hassan El Alaoui, who is in charge of nominating regional and local Muslim imams and mediating between the imams and prison officials, told Al Jazeera on Wednesday that more were set to be shut.

    "According to official figures and our discussions with the interior ministry, between 100 and 160 more mosques will be closed because they are run illegally without proper licenses, they preach hatred, or use takfiri speech," he said.

    Takfiris are classified as Muslims who accuse others of the same faith of apostasy, an act which has become a sectarian slur.

    "This kind of speech shouldn't even be allowed in Islamic countries, let alone secure countries like France," El Alaoui, who became the first Muslim prison chaplain-general in 2005, said.

    *  Here we have one of the chief Muslims of France declaring that many of the mosques in question should be shut down . . .

    *

    Also, note that it appears that while El Alaoui is currently in agreement with shutting down mosques that preach takfiri . . . I assume that he was silent or did not ask for closing down the mosques preaching "hatred," i.e. murder and terror, prior to the Paris attacks.

    France has about 2600 mosques.  130 of that is 5%.  So France seems to think that about 5% of its mosques are preaching various forms of "hatred," justifying shutting them down.

    *  One of my questions is where is NPR?  I mean, here we have a civilized Western nation and a beacon of enlightenment and good culture, closing down the "religious freedom" of 5 to 10% of its Muslims to attend and support and be a part of a mosque that preaches that killing people for Islam is the right and proper thing to do . . .

    and some of the mosque closings are being supported by leading Muslims in France . . .

    If ISIS recruiting goes up when the West actually oppresses Muslims, then, surely, France is supporting ISIS recruiting.  Correct?

    Anyway, why is that cnn and npr have neglected to tell anyone about this violation of religious liberty being engaged in in France?  Do they think it is not news?

    Christmas Story (5.00 / 1) (#158)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 06:44:38 PM EST
    My very pious older brother with spouse just dropped by on his way to his kids house for the holiday.  He dropped off a present.  An (excellent, I just had some) 18" summer sausage.  Wrapped with a bow.  No box.
    We both burst out laughing and said "OMG! How did you know what I wanted"
    He said his wife had it in a box and it was his idea to take it out for wrapping.

    Political differences twisted family sense of humor.

    Congress ends medical pot ban (5.00 / 2) (#159)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 07:48:10 PM EST
    This escaped my notice

    Buried in the 1,600 pages of Congress' new spending plan is a quiet little passage that radically alters the way America treats medical marijuana.

    The provision ends the federal prohibition on medical marijuana and bans federal agents from policing its users or raiding dispensaries in any state or district where it is legal.

    The spending plan, and the medical pot provision within it, became law on Friday, with President Obama's signature.

    LINK

    Gotta love Conservative-land (5.00 / 3) (#165)
    by shoephone on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 11:04:48 PM EST
    Motto of Idaho:

    "F*ck you, hungry children. And f*ck you, compassionate humans who care about them."

    I've been to Idaho, and lemme tell ya, as a Jewish woman, I wouldn't want to be caught anywhere outside the Boise city limits after sundown.

    Idaho was (5.00 / 1) (#171)
    by Zorba on Thu Dec 24, 2015 at 08:25:33 AM EST
    the birthplace of the anti-Semitic, racist, white supremacist Ayan Nation.  (Although I know they're in several places now.)

    Parent
    I understand (none / 0) (#169)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Dec 24, 2015 at 07:38:22 AM EST
    I read an article some time ago about how a woman was dragged out of her car and beaten up because someone thought she was Jewish and it happened in Idaho.

    Parent
    Sun Valley, Idaho (none / 0) (#175)
    by fishcamp on Thu Dec 24, 2015 at 12:15:50 PM EST
    Is one of the greatest ski mountains in the world.  

    Parent
    Happy Holidays and Season's Greetings (5.00 / 2) (#174)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu Dec 24, 2015 at 12:01:16 PM EST
    Before we run out of space, I want to wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

    Now for the gifts.

    For jondee a training class on Advanced Google so h/she can quote me correctly.

    For GA, a rag doll named "Republican" so she has something to beat up on when the Internet is down.

    For Scott an audio copy of "The Complete Works of Julius Caesar" so he can find out what real collateral damage is.

    For shoephone a secret copy of my DD214 so she can find something to complain about but isn't allowed.

    For FLJoe some cold weather so s/he can appreciate Global Warming.

    For Nyshooter,  a side of fried okra, aka Candy, and  a dish of chitlin's with corn removed.

    For  CaptHowdy, the channel number of Turner Classic Movies...and a  copy of each movie's synopsis.

    For Donald in Hawaii a mirror that he can look into and ask... "Who's the smartest of them all?" (You can guess the mirror's reply.)

    For BTD, a copy of the paper's next day's sport section.

    For anne, training on how to use the SHIFT key on her keyboard.

    For fishcamp some smarter gym partners. He must be getting bored.

    For my old bud kdog the use of an acre of prime New York soil so he can grow his favorite...ahemmm.... "vegetable." (As long as he promises to not install SAM's to launch at the police helicopters.)

    And for our hostess, Ms Merritt,  a double dose of patience to help her put up with us.

    But most of all..... to all of you good health and happiness!

    Thank you, Jim; (none / 0) (#177)
    by Anne on Thu Dec 24, 2015 at 01:50:42 PM EST
    I guess this really is a magical time of year.

    Parent
    HRC's goofballing with Boko Haram (3.00 / 2) (#3)
    by zaitztheunconvicted on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 04:58:34 AM EST
    If by chance someone other than Trump is the Rep nominee, thereby making things easier for Clinton . . .

    when she was sec of state she apparently declined to name boko haram as a terrorist group . . .

    In addition to making the news for kipnapping girls, BH has been responsible for, or so it is alleged, killing about 10,000 people, creating 100,000 refugees . . . killing about 2000 innocent noncombattants in the village of Baga, and strapping explosives to young girls . . . and pledging their allegiance to and becoming what is now regards as a part of ISIS . . .

    By some estimates, in terms of numbers killed, BH is ahead of ISIS in Syria though I somewhat think that ISIS has probably killed a lot of people by creating refugees who would die from other causes . . .

    "This is going to be a problem for Hillary Clinton because Boko Haram has been around for quite a while," MSNBC analyst China Okasi said. "When Hillary Clinton was secretary of state, she was a bit reluctant to put the group on the terrorist list because she did not want to give the group the validation." [OK!  And some moderate Islamic militias make for great guards of embassies . . .]

    It is alleged that as secretary of state, Hillary Clinton refused to put the group on the official U.S. terrorist list.

    It appears that hrc lets a number of other factors cloud what should be good judgment . . .  If trump is the nominee,  then a lot of the contest will be about trump's judgment and willingness to insult everybody . . . except a certain Russian . . . for nearly everything . . .

    The inability of Clinton to figure out if Boko Haram was a terrorist group--doh!--and allow US agencies the ability to use the laws for terrorists groups against it could fade into insignificance.  Who cares, really, about Nigeria?


    what is a bigoted rant? (1.00 / 1) (#4)
    by zaitztheunconvicted on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 05:30:24 AM EST
    I was reading the news yesterday and I saw that Miss Puerto Rico or someone similar was punished in some way for what was alleged to be a rant of hers.  In her alleged rant, she apparently called Muslims terrorists.  The way that the "rant" is summarized varies from news story to news story.  Some news articles are alleging that Miss PR said that all Muslims are murderers, but I have not read that in the twitter of Miss PR.  Maybe I missed it.

    Anyway, reading about the "rant" of Miss PR, I checked the dictionary and definitions for rant.

    to talk loudly and in a way that shows anger : to complain in a way that is unreasonable

    1. Angry, emotionally charged, or tediously negative speech or writing: a speech that was more rant than reason.
    2. An example of such speech or writing: a rant against the university's policies.

    A rant is an argument that is fueled by passion, not shaped by facts.

    The definition of a rant is a complaint that is often lengthy and filled with anger and emotion.

    Anyway, since it has been alleged that a post I posted was a bigoted rant, you folks make me curious as to which post it was and what I had said.  I don't know if you folks notice, but generally I try to cite documentation and sources.  I use references and links to studies . . .

    For example, if I or someone were to allege that most Muslims are radicals, that would not be a rant.  That claim is a factual claim that depends on two things.  One is the definition we use for radical and the other is what factual objective studies from neutral sources have shown about the views of Muslims worldwide.  

    You can make that claim true or false by using different definitions . . . and  the question is really what is a reasonable definition of radical.

    That is a question we can and should have as reasonable people . . . but most people who know me do not believe I engage in unreasonable ranting . . . and the claim or the denial of the idea that most Muslims are radicals is a reasonably objective "thing" that can be argued . . . or in fact proven one way or the other.

    I cite sources, facts and studies and say lets consider the implications . . . and once in a while, I then admit that my source is bad or misleading . . . but usually my source is right.

    And, in the case of the claim that most Muslims are radicals, the source that Shapiro and I cite is a bunch of Pew Research studies.  The claim is not a rant . . . It might be a false claim if you can prove that your definition of radical is superior . . . but the claim itself is not a rant.

    One man's rant (none / 0) (#111)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 10:14:18 AM EST
    is another's truth.

    Parent
    Obama admin hypocrisy re refugees (1.00 / 1) (#5)
    by zaitztheunconvicted on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 06:00:40 AM EST
    Keep in mind that it took twenty months for the US Embassy to process his [Jaan's]visa application.  [Jaan was an interpreter for US soldiers in Afghanistan.]  Compare and contrast with the length of time it took the female San Bernardino shooter to get her visa.

    His story is only one of many. Routinely, their visas are approved after their passports have expired. Because these people were typically not wealthy, many of them spent time on the run and are totally broke by the time they receive their visa and can't afford plane fare to the United States.

    A non-profit, No One Left Behind, has been formed by former Marine Matthew Zeller and his interpreter, Janis Shinwari, to help resettle interpreters but that is only part of the battle. Congress and Department of Defense seem supremely uninterested in the fate of these men and women, who served America loyally and at the risk of their own lives, and much more interested in responding the media feeding frenzy about "Syrian refugees" about whom we know nothing.

    The United States issued visas to more than 2,600 interpreters through September. The defense spending bill signed in November granted an additional 3,000 for the next fiscal year. The State Department estimates that 11,500 Afghan applicants were "at some step in the SIV application process" as of August 28. They compete for about 4,400 remaining visas before the embassy stops accepting applications on Dec. 31, 2016.

    So, folks, you who are great advocates of taking in all these Muslim refugees  . . . some of whom then commit terrorist acts in the USA or are arrested while conspiring to do so . . . how come we can't provide visas and a reasonable time period to approve them for Afghans and Iraqis, those who risked their lives for the USA?

    Jones, who reviewed the cases while he served on the 9/11 Review Commission, listed 10 occasions since 2009 when refugees were arrested on terrorism-related charges in the United States. His research did not specify how the person obtained refugee status, and he looked at cases where a refugee within the U.S. border was in contact with, or provided support (financial, materials or any other assistance), to known terrorist groups or entities.

    hrc's backdoor request, no fly, 1st AM (1.00 / 1) (#6)
    by zaitztheunconvicted on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 06:52:14 AM EST
    Are you folks who are supporting hrc also in favor of her ideas, apparently, for

    1. requiring telecommunications companies to create backdoors in all the software being used everywhere;

    2. creating a no fly zone in Syria?

    Given that Russia has installed some weaponry on the ground in Syria, how do you establish a no-fly zone without destroying it or getting  Russian agreement?

    by the way, what does this one mean . . .

    "We also have to figure out how we're going to deal with the radicalization here in the United States."

    Does that mean monitoring and surveilling mosques which radicalize people or does that mean something else?  Criminal sanctions against radicals does not serve as a strong deterrent . . .  cause the radical are often dead after their terrorism . . .  So how exactly is hrc proposing that we "deal with radicalization" in the ole US of A?

    Shut down certain mosques or infiltrate them with undercover and informant operatives?

    Persuade certain internet companies to not distribute ISIS videos?  Rewrite the SCOTUS precedents as they relate to free speech as both Trump and HRC are suggesting?

    By the way, now it seems that the idea that Trump first floated about closing off parts of the Net is being advocated in a different form by HRC . . . another of you lawyers who has a low and dim view of the 1st amend . . . at least as currently understood by SCOTUS . . .

    Somebody will say, `Oh freedom of speech, freedom of speech.' These are foolish people.--Trump

    It would be easier to deal with if it were. But Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, too, had her own very Trumpish "close that Internet up" moment recently, at a speech in Washington: . . .

    University of Chicago law professor Eric Posner -- an occasional guest blogger here on the VC -- has now joined their ranks as well, with a more thoughtful (and therefore even more distressing) argument for greater speech curbs (over at Slate.com: "ISIS Gives Us No Choice but to Consider Limits on Speech"). . .

    Consider a law that makes it a crime to access websites that glorify, express support for, or provide encouragement for ISIS or support recruitment by ISIS; to distribute links to those websites or videos, images, or text taken from those websites; or to encourage people to access such websites by supplying them with links or instructions.

    You folks would rather do this than send a few thousand snipers to Syria?


    French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve called for the "dissolution" of radical mosques following last week's terrorist attacks in Paris that killed 130 people. Belgium's Prime Minister, Charles Michel threatened similar action in his country where the attacks were staged.

    Neither President Obama nor other officials in his administration, however, have spoken of shutting down radical mosques in the U.S. But U.S. reticence about taking actions now being implemented by France and Belgium isn't for a lack of mosques in this country in which hatred for American values and support for jihad terrorism are regularly heard.

    Now, since HRC is saying we have to figure out how to stop or prevent radicalization taking place on US soil, yeah, well, really, there are some forms of religion we don't have to grant the right to exist . . . especially in the USA and God isn't going to stand in favor of radical mosques any more than God stood behind the Spanish Armada in 1588.

    Bad news (none / 0) (#2)
    by MO Blue on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 04:46:23 AM EST
    The US-led military coalition in Afghanistan suffered one of its worst days in 2015 on Monday, as six US service members were killed and three others were wounded when a motorcycle laden with explosives detonated near them in Parwan province in an apparent suicide attack.

    A US military official in Afghanistan confirmed that the slain troops were all Americans. The incident occurred north of the capital, Kabul, at about 1:30 p.m. in a province best known for Bagram air base, a sprawling military complex from which US forces fly F-16 fighter jets and other aircraft. While the US military no longer carries out offensive operations in Afghanistan following the end of its formal combat mission, it patrols around the base daily to protect it against the Taliban and other enemy groups.

    Link



    Lots of new polling (none / 0) (#14)
    by CoralGables on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 08:48:25 AM EST
    What they show:

    Carson is done. He just doesn't know it yet. The campaign is hemorrhaging cash and he's fallen to 4th in Iowa; a tie for 7th in NH; and while leading some national polls in late October, eight weeks later he has dropped to 4th.

    Bush has finally found a state where he isn't in 5th. He is holding his ground with a 4th place showing in....Florida. Worse news for Bush, in NH where he is staking his ground, he is in a virtual tie for 5th... with Kasich

    Cruz is still gaining on Trump everywhere, but it's at the expense of everyone but Trump(e.g. Carson).

    The final three as of now still look to be Trump, Cruz, and someone from the trifecta of Bush, Rubio, and Christie. The 12 people that supported Graham appear to be moving to Bush.

    Clinton still leads in 48 states.

    But...but...New Hampshire! (none / 0) (#34)
    by jbindc on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 12:23:25 PM EST
    Virginia (none / 0) (#33)
    by jbindc on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 12:22:46 PM EST
    To stop recognizing concealed carry gun permits from 25 states.

    Yay Attorney General Herring!

    Link

    The states are: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

    Agreements will remain with West Virginia, Michigan, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah.

    The move also means several states will no longer recognize Virginia's concealed carry permits because they require mutual recognition of permits. Those include Florida, Louisiana, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Wyoming.



    January 1st... (none / 0) (#35)
    by ScottW714 on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 12:33:18 PM EST
    ...Texas is going open carry.  Basically same rules as concealed, but is can be displayed.

    I don't like it one bit, it's one thing not knowing who has a gun, it's quite another to see them wearing it.

    Parent

    So, hypothetically.. (none / 0) (#36)
    by jondee on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 01:10:35 PM EST
    some person who still has PTSD from say, surviving the Virginia Tech massacre, can be sitting in a coffee shop in Austin and have to deal with some apocalyptic, survivalist Branch Davidian type dressed in black walking into the joint carrying an AR15?

    Parent
    Hypothetically ? (none / 0) (#38)
    by ScottW714 on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 01:37:30 PM EST
    ...that is a reality in many states already, this map is frightening, basically Texas was in the minority in banning open carry, now we will be like 44 others.  If you can believe it, we are safer in that we require you be licensed to do it, most state don't require even that.  That is completely bonkers.

    Any business can post a sign to keep them out, so I would imagine most places, especially around Austin will not be open carry.

    Basically it's going to put businesses in a tight spot, open and lose customers, no open and lose customers.
    ------------

    I remember reading that one of the people in Oregon shooting had also been at another mass shooting.

    Parent

    Any private business (5.00 / 1) (#86)
    by ragebot on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 07:30:01 PM EST
    can post a sign prohibiting firearms.

    As someone who has actually been inside gun stores I have never seen one that did not have a sign posted prohibiting loaded guns inside the store.  It is considered good manners to remove the magazine as well.  In fact many folks will first to into the gun store and asked permission to bring a firearm into the gun store and then return to their vehicle to get the gun and bring it into the store.

    Parent

    You Don't See the Absurdity... (3.00 / 2) (#113)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 10:18:08 AM EST
    ...of a place that sells guns not allowing them inside, presumably because they are dangerous.  That is about as goofy as the NRA not allowing guns at their events.

    Good manners, that is like saying it's good manners to leave the pin in the grenade before you shake hands.

    That is not manners to most people, that is fricken common sense and should be the law everywhere.

    Parent

    Firearm sales are through the roof (none / 0) (#51)
    by NYShooter on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 03:13:48 PM EST
    this Xmas, up over 25%.

    The latest gimmick: "Give a gift of love for the ladies in your home."

    Besides weapons in all sorts of colors, the hot items are concealed holsters for women: ankle holsters, thighs, small of back, "panty packs."

    Another skit on the news showed a whole lot of grandfathers lined up at the gun range with their 10-12 year old grand children learning to "protect" themselves.

    Now that's real love.

    Parent

    And (none / 0) (#52)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 03:16:43 PM EST
    The "armed and dangerous family" Christmas card.  I got 2 and as discussed I don't get many Christmas cards.

    Parent
    I Saw That... (none / 0) (#56)
    by ScottW714 on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 03:54:40 PM EST
    ...and I had no idea that you can give a gun as a gift in most states which means that the recipient doesn't get a background check.

    Why even have guns laws when they are so easily circumvented.  The only condition for gifting is it has to be a gift, no quid pro quo.  I mean seriously, that IMO is a far bigger loophole than gun shows.  

    If I had the means, I could legally purchase a gun for everyone in the state and gift them, 25 million guns and only one background check.

    Parent

    yeah, you're right (none / 0) (#68)
    by NYShooter on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 05:09:33 PM EST
    Forgot that little hunka, hunka love.

    Parent
    You know what they say (none / 0) (#80)
    by CoralGables on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 06:39:02 PM EST
    Nothing says Birthday Jesus more than a handgun for a love one. If Jesus was carrying he may still be alive. Of course in that case we'd never celebrate Easter.

    Parent
    Or Easter... (none / 0) (#116)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 10:20:32 AM EST
    ...would be the day when the militia broke out of the cave with Jesus leading the charge to mow down Pontius Pilate adn Co.

    Parent
    So much for that old (none / 0) (#112)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 10:17:37 AM EST
    recognizing each other's laws thingee.

    Parent
    If You Are Going to Commit Armed... (none / 0) (#37)
    by ScottW714 on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 01:13:10 PM EST
    ...robbery in broad daylight, you might want to put a little make-up over your "F*CK COPS" tattoo above your eye brows, they tend to remember those, ditto with the devil horns tattooed on your forehead and the lips on your cheek.

    Or not.

    HAHA.... (none / 0) (#89)
    by desertswine on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 11:15:08 PM EST
    Oklahoma.

    Parent
    I had a bunch of conference calls (none / 0) (#42)
    by CST on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 02:25:53 PM EST
    This week with some people in Alabama/Georgia/South Carolina.

    I could've used a translator.  I wonder if they felt the same way.

    Depends (none / 0) (#43)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 02:33:44 PM EST
    on whether you know there is an R in the alphabet.

    Parent
    I do not have (none / 0) (#44)
    by CST on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 02:37:39 PM EST
    A Boston accent, I can't even intentionally fake it well, although it will occasionally slip out at random times.  I am starting to realize however that I definitely have a northeast/regional accent, because someone on the phone at Verizon called me out on it the other day.

    Parent
    It's kind of (none / 0) (#45)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 02:44:35 PM EST
    a running joke with some people I know here who are from the Boston area. One of them I said you don't sound like you're from Boston and she said I learned there is an R in the alphabet.

    It probably depends on who you talk to. When I used to travel to NYC for business, some of the people I dealt with would say you have a huge southern accent while others would say you don't have much of a southern accent.

    Parent

    yea (none / 0) (#46)
    by CST on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 02:48:39 PM EST
    Kids used to make fun of me in highschool for pronouncing my R's in Boston.  And then in college in Pittsburgh they used to make fun of me for saying wicked too much.  So somewhere in between "no accent" and "drops R's" is me :)

    Although the lack of an R is a misconception.  There are R's in the Boston accent.  They just show up in places where there's no R in the word.

    Parent

    They do (none / 0) (#48)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 02:57:07 PM EST
    I was thinking during the debate that it would be tough with President Bernie hearing about Mooslims in Syrier and Eye-rack.

    Parent
    Bernie's accent (none / 0) (#49)
    by CST on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 03:03:48 PM EST
    Is all New York, extremely distinctive.  You can't blame that one on New England.  There is a lot of regional crossover for "soft" accents, but he's got one of the unambiguous ones.

    Parent
    I would say New England (none / 0) (#50)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 03:13:48 PM EST
    Northeast.  There are accents in parts of NY that sound and awful lot like a southern accent.   Same in other parts of the far northeast.  Like Maine.

    Parent
    Yea (none / 0) (#54)
    by CST on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 03:19:53 PM EST
    But Bernie grew up as a Jew in Brooklyn, and he sounds like it.  (think Larry David/George Castanza).

    Vermont has it's own thing that is closer to NY than MA.  Maine definitely has a quasi-southern thing, but with a weird New England flavor.

    Honestly the "hard" Boston accent, like many others I would imagine, is disappearing.  It's one of the things that makes "Boston" movies so annoying these days - the accent is forced and unnecessary.  You still hear it sometimes but it's the exception more than the rule.  And it's more likely to show up in certain suburbs than the city itself.  That being said - clearly there is still a regional accent.

    Parent

    Yeah (none / 0) (#55)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 03:26:05 PM EST
    to me he sounds more Brooklyn than Vermont too. Having known people from Vermont and NH most don't have much of an accent that I can notice.

    Parent
    is one of our favorites.

    (Very Boston) Michael Mullins: "Are you a narc?"
    (From DC) Special Agent Sarah Ashburn: "I'm sorry?"
    Michael Mullins: "Are you a narc?"
    Special Agent Sarah Ashburn: "A knock? I'm sorry. I don't know what that is."
    Michael Mullins: "A narc. Am I speaking Japanese?"
    Mark Mullins: "Yeah, listen to him."
    Michael Mullins: "I'm going to sound it out for you. Are you, or are you not, a narc?! Like Johnny Depp in 20 Jump Street?"
    Special Agent Sarah Ashburn: "Ahhh, I see, I see, okay, a narc."
    Michael Mullins: "A narc, yes"
    Special Agent Sarah Ashburn: "Yes, yes"
    Michael Mullins: "What was I saying?!"
    Special Agent Sarah Ashburn: "I was missing the R when you were saying. I heard knock."
    Mullins Brother: "What are you? What are you doing here? What are you doing?"
    Special Agent Sarah Ashburn: "I'm a federal agent. I'm a special agent."

    The movie is a pissah from start to finish.

    Parent

    There is (none / 0) (#148)
    by Zorba on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 05:36:03 PM EST
    more than one accent in New York City, though, depending upon the burrough.  Although, the accents seem to be lessening year after year.
    For that matter, there is more than one accent in the Boston area.

    Parent
    Correct way to ask directions in NYC (none / 0) (#166)
    by NYShooter on Thu Dec 24, 2015 at 12:16:15 AM EST
    (In places like Orchard St.)

    Hey Mista, how I find toidy toid street?

    Parent

    Nope (none / 0) (#115)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 10:20:01 AM EST
    We're quad lingual.

    Parent
    Try a Cajun Conference Call... (none / 0) (#119)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 10:29:39 AM EST
    ...we a lot of locations there and OMG, it is literally a case of me getting about 1 in 3 syllables.

    CoralGables did an insane translation of my words that I would call spot on.

    Having spent a little time in the area let me help you:

    English -
    "I don't know what the heck they are talking about most of the time"

    Cajun -
    "Idunowhadahekdeybedawkinaboudmodadime"



    Parent
    I believe it (none / 0) (#122)
    by CST on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 10:37:16 AM EST
    Louisiana is the only state in the south that has a distinctive accent to me.  I'm sure there are differences between the other states but I can't hear them well enough to know what's what beyond "slight southern" and "heavy southern".  

    Louisiana on the other hand is unmistakable.

    Parent

    I Find Myself Saying Things... (none / 0) (#128)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 11:02:48 AM EST
    ...southern, and in a southern accent.  Not often, but if I am in a big group of Texans, the Texas comes out.

    I have been here 15 years, but the 6 months I spend in Boston, I was speaking Boston almost immediately, and I bet 'wickid' stayed in my vocabulary for a good year.  But that was because my two homies from Lawrence and their friends had thick, thick accents.  MY GF, who I was staying with in Andover, did not.

    It's the first place I have ever been where accent seemed very dependent on economic status, it was apparent everywhere.  Not so much in Texas, but Houston isn't really Texas as far as accents.

    Parent

    yes and no (none / 0) (#137)
    by CST on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 01:18:26 PM EST
    It's based on economic status and race.  Only white people have the Boston accent.  When you consider that Boston is technically now a majority-minority city, you realize that it's not so much a "Boston" accent as it is a Lawrence, Canton, etc... accent.  Although there are some neighborhoods in the city with accents they are usually more subdued these days then you will find out in the burbs.

    Parent
    The most beautiful (none / 0) (#146)
    by jondee on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 04:57:45 PM EST
    pleasing-to-the-ear accent I ever heard was the accent of an old black man I met from the Sea Islands off the coast of Georgia..

    Like wild honey and soft tropical breezes..

    Parent

    You might (none / 0) (#150)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 05:45:46 PM EST
    like the Gullah language then. Very interesting history behind the language but for me even being from SC it was hard to understand at times.

    Parent
    Gaelic (none / 0) (#152)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 05:56:35 PM EST
    As a (none / 0) (#162)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 09:40:02 PM EST
    Registered Coon Ass - RCA - let me help.

    Phidieux is the name of a small dog.

    Parent

    Now this does (none / 0) (#63)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 04:38:02 PM EST
    kind of shock me. Bill Kristol is threatening to run another candidate if Trump is the GOP nominee. I have never bought into the GOP splintering but it just might happen. It's gotten to be a lose/lose proposition. If Trump is not the nominee his supporters are refusing to vote for the GOP candidate. Kristol though has been supporting the same junk Trump is spewing for decades though. Again, I guess it must be because Trump says it loud and proud that must be the problem because his ideas are not far off what the GOP stands for.  

    The argument being made (none / 0) (#64)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 04:48:41 PM EST
    Is that the party would be better off losing big time because of pi$$ed off Trump supporters than destroying itself for decades by becoming the party of Trump.

    It's a pickle.  Pass the popcorn.

    I do love that's it's all Cruz now.  See above comment.  From HuffPo of course.  They would love it if the person they have insisted was "entertainment" did not win.  And they are joined by wingers like National Review mouthpieces.  Cruz is just going sweep up all that Trump support.  Uh-huh.

    The fact is Cruz would be every bit, if not more, of a disaster than Trump.


    Parent

    Oops (none / 0) (#65)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 04:50:27 PM EST
    The comment I was referring to is in the Trump thread.

    Parent
    My understanding is that Cruz (none / 0) (#71)
    by NYShooter on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 05:35:21 PM EST
    is only popular in ultra-evangelical places like Iowa. Don't see him as close to Trump  in other early Primary states. And, as much as many Republicans hate Trump, they hate Cruz more.

    On another topic, there's an article in the NYT that helps explain why Rubio is leading in all the polls where you vote with your cash. The "smart money" is still pointing to Rubio.

    Historically, these early primaries are really poor indicators for who the ultimate Candidate will be.

    Of course, Trump is a candidate that may not fit into any historical patterns.

    But, the good news is that Trump's "unfavorables" in the General, among all voters, are approaching 60% My main concern, as it's been from the beginning, is democratic turnout. And, from what little I've read, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, with her fingers on the scale, and her open support for Hillary, and, animosity towards Sanders is going to have the opposite effect. She truly is a disaster.

    Parent

    Yep (none / 0) (#72)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 05:42:40 PM EST
    I just heard the famous Charlie Cook say Rubio would be it.   Probably after a contested convention.

    I stil think it's wishful thinking.  

    And all the pundits saying Cruz is going to do so well in the south I'm thinking don't live in the south.  IMO he will do ok. Donald will do better.

    On turnout one thing is sure. Trump or Cruz but definitely Trump would drive dem turnout to record levels.  Im betting.

    Parent

    Man, you turn away from the news (none / 0) (#83)
    by NYShooter on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 07:13:30 PM EST
    for a minute, and, everything's changed.

    Cruz is "surging," both in the Primary States, and, Nationally, up 8 points....just 4 points behind Trump.

    Crazy, isn't it? From the beginning, many of us were saying the only guy we'd hate more than Trump was Cruz. So, look whose "surging' and challenging Trump for the top spot?

    It seems like it was just a few days ago Trump was leading Cruz "BIG" in So. Carolina, now they're tied.

    And, boy-oh-boy, does the Media know a good thing when they've got it! I never heard this question before: "Would you be embarrassed if Trump/Hillary were President?

    50% if Trump.

    33% if Hillary.

    Parent

    Cruz has one very big problem (none / 0) (#85)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 07:24:35 PM EST
    Even evangelicals think he is a phoney.  It shows up all the times in the polls.  They don't trust him.  They think he is insincere.  That is not Donalds problem.

    If it comes down to a Trump Cruz battle my money us on Trump.   We will see if his "rise" is like Carsons.  He may well take Iowa.  Which historically has meant squat as far as getting the nomination.

    I truly believe the pundit class does not understand Trimos strength in the south.

    Parent

    These (none / 0) (#87)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 07:48:28 PM EST
    pundits might as well be from Planet Orca for all they know.

    Yeah, my money is on Trump however Cruz might be able to pull out a few. He might even pull out SC.

    Parent

    USA and Syrian "rebels". (none / 0) (#77)
    by lentinel on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 06:17:21 PM EST
    U.S. Congress approves arming Syrian rebels, funding government


    The U.S. Congress gave final approval on Thursday to President Barack Obama's plan for training and arming moderate Syrian rebels to battle Islamic State, a major part of his military campaign to "degrade and destroy" the militant group.

    The Senate voted 78-22, in a rare bipartisan show of support for one of Obama's high-profile initiatives. With the House of Representatives approving the legislation on Wednesday, the measure now goes to Obama to sign into law.

    Ten Senate Democrats and 12 Republicans voted no.

    Obama thanked Congress for the speed in which it acted to back the plan, which he announced on Sept. 10, and said the strong bipartisan support showed Americans were united in the fight against Islamic State.

    LINK TO REUTERS

    Parent

    The beltway (none / 0) (#78)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 06:21:04 PM EST
    seems to think that Rubio is somehow going to win the nomination. I think that kind of thing just shows how out of touch they are with their own voters. I don't see Rubio even having a chance at winning until Florida and even there he's not polling well. Trump is gonna own Super Tuesday IMO unless something happens and he is out. Then Cruz will sweep Super Tuesday.

    The problem is the entire GOP is suffering from Dixie Influenza. Dixie Influenza affects the majority of the GOP voters here in the south. However there are GOP voters suffering from the same disease even in blue states. I don't see them being able to swallow Rubio ever.

    Parent

    They can try to take it (none / 0) (#79)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 06:32:26 PM EST
    At the convention.  And they might.  Again, it comes down  to what's worse 10s of thousands of pi$$ed off Trump supporters or seeing any hope of ever becoming a national party go up in smoke.  And utter immolation of down ticket races right down to dog catcher.  Which is the Trump scenario.

    As I said, it's a pickle.

    Parent

    I think the utter (none / 0) (#81)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 06:51:27 PM EST
    immolation down ticket would happen with Rubio too. Because if you've got a party that's basically 39% of the electorate and you've got 40% of those ticked off Trump voters sitting home you've got a problem.

    Parent
    I think (none / 0) (#82)
    by FlJoe on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 07:00:57 PM EST
    Cruz is stronger than you think, Iowa is probably his and second in NH is not out of the question. IMO Carson will be long gone by SC and Cruz will gather most of his support. That will put him in spitting distance of Trump.

    Cruz has money and is reportedly building a serious ground game in the south, he will end up owning virtually all of the evangelical vote by super Tuesday which will give him a solid base throughout the south. Right now I would make him the favorite in his Texas home, the biggest early prize.

    I keep seeing where the "smart money" is going and I understand the logic, historically the Republican establishment has coalesced  around a candidate, Rubio would seem to be the logical choice.

    You are almost correct here  

    Trump is a candidate that may not fit into any historical patterns.
    (I would substitute does for may) The very existence of Trumps ascendancy has proven that we can throw history out the window.


    Parent
    Any embracing (none / 0) (#69)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 05:20:03 PM EST
    of Cruz looks like sheer desperation but however Cruz is at least an elected official.

    But I agree Cruz would be even more of a disaster than Trump would be.

    Parent

    Maybe I misunderstood Hillary... (none / 0) (#75)
    by lentinel on Tue Dec 22, 2015 at 06:07:52 PM EST
    but it seemed to me that during that dreadful mess last Saturday she laid blame for the mess in Syria upon Mr. Obama --- for not following her sweetly militaristic advice to arm the "rebels".

    I'm sure he appreciated that.

    A mess.

    Franklin Graham (none / 0) (#92)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 07:51:19 AM EST
    quits the GOP. He also says he has no faith in the tea party and wants ministers to start running for office.

    THE LEFT HAS LOST ITS MIND (none / 0) (#93)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 08:13:35 AM EST
    This was in the WAPO (5.00 / 1) (#167)
    by Repack Rider on Thu Dec 24, 2015 at 12:24:15 AM EST
    While I agree that it is reprehensible and disgusting, any suggestion that liberals are to blame for what appears in a publication that carries the GOP's water is ridiculous.

    The GOP elite of the sort favored by the WAPO dislike Cruz even more than liberals do, because he is one of theirs.  That's why they have to attack him.

    Parent

    I saw (none / 0) (#94)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 08:23:13 AM EST
    that story about his kids and though leave this whole story alone. That's the kind of crap the right wing does.

    Parent
    He had his kids oh stage (none / 0) (#95)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 08:33:18 AM EST
    OMG where's my fainting couch.  No one has EVER done that before.
    I am the first to the defense of free speech especially when it comes to political cartoons.

    This is despicable.  And worse it's stupid.  He's already fund raising off it.  And you know what.  He should.

    Parent

    One of the reasons (none / 0) (#96)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 08:44:51 AM EST
    I abhor personality politics. It leads to this kind of nonsense. Ted Cruz's stances on the issues should be enough to do him in. Who cares about his children? I certainly do not.

    Parent
    I think (none / 0) (#98)
    by TrevorBolder on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 08:50:46 AM EST
    http://tinyurl.com/p4chs69

    It was in response to this satirical Christmas ad,

    the Post cartoonist said Cruz made them fair game,

    Fred Hiatt pulled the cartoon, but actually sort of gave the cartoonist some cover...Why, I do not know.

    Editor's note from Fred Hiatt: It's generally been the policy of our editorial section to leave children out of it. I failed to look at this cartoon before it was published. I understand why Ann thought an exception to the policy was warranted in this case, but I do not agree.

    The cartoonist would never think of doing that to Obama's daughters, and they appeared in a OBama infomercial as well.

    No, children are not fair game

    Parent

    A Christmas ad (none / 0) (#100)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 08:55:33 AM EST
    WITH CHILDREN?!?!

    Horrors!

    Fred Hiatt is a stupid tool.

    Parent

    Is Cruz... (none / 0) (#101)
    by kdog on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 09:05:44 AM EST
    wearing lipstick in that video?  He kinda looks like Liza Minelli.

    I agree about the kids, but the pols can do their kids a favor too and also leave them out of it.  The tradition of trotting out the family in ads and at the conventions is tired, imo.  

    Parent

    Perhaps (none / 0) (#103)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 09:17:50 AM EST
    He is secretly a transgendered activist.  

    I think I need to see his voter registration.

    Parent

    The Cowboy Boots... (none / 0) (#136)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 01:07:18 PM EST
    ...and crossed legs is pretty funny.

    And not to point out the obvious, but what politician hasn't been the organ grinder with their family.  I especially love the wives who stand by their philandering jacka$$es at the press conference.

    They all bring their families into the campaigns for one purpose, to get more votes.  Like anyone else would take their family to an interview or use them to get a job.  But they have been off limits, and apparently still are for some reason.  Like this campaign has had any decorum or dignity.

    IMO if you don't want your kids being part of the campaign quit using them to score votes.  I mean seriously, they want to use them to get votes and then when they are used to negate votes, it's an outrage worthy of a meltdown.

    If you think Cruz was grinding the organ before, wait, we ain't seen nothing yet.  I read he wants $1M to fight back, against what, exactly, the evil liberals that one cartoon must represents ?

    Who is using whose kids for what Mr Cruz ?  Your goto move is to ask for money, money in which your 'harmed' kids won't see a dollar, at least pretend this is about your kids and not the winning an election.

    If you want to act like the Taliban and the cartoon was of Mohamed giving a BJ, go for it, but it was a cartoon of your kids being used by you to garner votes, which is 100% accurate, whether you like it or not.

    I don't think the kids should have been in a political cartoon, nor do I think they should be in political ads.

    Parent

    Cruz used his kids (none / 0) (#155)
    by Chuck0 on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 06:07:31 PM EST
    in a campaign commercial specifically to take shots at HRC. He put his kids in the line of fire, no one else. Use your kids for ammo, expect them to become cannon fodder.

    Parent
    Actually, kdog, now that you mention it ... (none / 0) (#161)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 09:11:59 PM EST
    kdog: "Is Cruz wearing lipstick in that video? He kinda looks like Liza Minelli."

    ... and speaking of Liza Minelli, Ted Cruz actually bears a rather uncomfortable resemblance to her co-star Joel Grey as the creepy Master of Ceremonies at the Kit Kat Club in "Cabaret." He even sounds a little like him too. Check it out.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    The Washington Post was right to pull that cartoon. Conversely, neither should a pol blatantly use his or her minor children as political props, or as the political equivalent of a human shield in TV ads.

    (Here in Hawaii about 18 years ago, a local female GOP candidate used her then-7-year-old son as the centerpiece of a political ad which was expressly critical of same-sex marriage and urged voters to "think of the children." She was roundly condemned across the board for having done so, even by her Republican allies. Family Christmas cards and other non-issue-oriented public appearances are obviously excepted.)

    Let's leave the kids out of the line of fire altogether. They grow up fast enough as it is.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Really? (none / 0) (#118)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 10:28:27 AM EST
    "One awkward moment for Sarah Palin at the Yankee game," Letterman said, "during the seventh inning, her daughter was knocked up by Alex Rodriguez."

    Link

    Parent

    Letterman was inexcusably wrong (1.00 / 1) (#144)
    by jondee on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 03:38:32 PM EST
    for saying that.

    For starters, everyone knows it was the fourth inning, and that all the "action" took place within the confines of the Cleveland Indians mascot's costume.

    A-Rod had no part on any of it.

    Parent

    Jim I Don't Think You Want to... (none / 0) (#123)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 10:40:35 AM EST
    ...battle over what group of idiots has made the moist disparaging comments in regards to kids considering your own track history..

    Are walls, ID cards, and 'handouts' not aimed at kids, for christ sake, they are all bad, but we surely know the GOP, including your remarks about kids used as shields, are infinitely worse than anything the the left has ever, or will ever, do.

    Parent

    Just a note (none / 0) (#163)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 09:43:56 PM EST
    This is what GA said.

    That's the kind of crap the right wing does.

    If you can't stand to be corrected then don't write it.

    Parent

    Yes, why can't lefties be as classy (5.00 / 2) (#164)
    by jondee on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 10:07:16 PM EST
    and respectful as the guy who posted pictures of Obama with a bone in his nose..

    Parent
    The subject is kids (none / 0) (#168)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu Dec 24, 2015 at 07:22:49 AM EST
    Of course Obama acts like one..he'll just issue an EO if he doesn't get his way..

    BTW - 6 US service men died yesterday...

    And Obama sank a 40 put golf put....

    The irony is just delicious.

    Parent

    Which part is delicious? (1.00 / 1) (#170)
    by jondee on Thu Dec 24, 2015 at 07:38:56 AM EST
    the 6 US service men that died or the fact that kids are being exploited and attacked?

    Well, you know how those primitive jungle tribesmen are..devoid of all normal human feeling..only interested in fulfilling their primal urges and going on apology tours in their native land...

    Parent

    Hollow headed, eh?? (none / 0) (#173)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu Dec 24, 2015 at 11:22:37 AM EST
    And you don't get the sarcasm?

    Lol.

    Parent

    How do you think the Obama (none / 0) (#176)
    by jondee on Thu Dec 24, 2015 at 01:10:08 PM EST
    girls feel when they see their father portrayed as an African headhunter by Tea Party night riders?

    Parent
    Who knows?? (none / 0) (#178)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu Dec 24, 2015 at 02:15:38 PM EST
    Maybe the same the Palin girls and the Bush girls felt with all the attacks on their mommies and daddies....

    But I understand that you can dish it out but you can't take it.

    lol

    Parent

    How about posting your Christmas (none / 0) (#179)
    by jondee on Thu Dec 24, 2015 at 02:26:11 PM EST
    burning-cross buns recipe?

    And I always wanted to know the secret to making a seculent chicken hawk under glass..

    Other people have been sharing their holiday favorites. Why not join in the fun?

    Parent

    I can think of some Christmas (none / 0) (#180)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Dec 25, 2015 at 03:26:35 PM EST
    meals that was far away from my wife and loved ones.

    In that I am not unique nor am I complaining.

    I hope that you never had to do that.

    Parent

    Ted Cruz is a slimy (none / 0) (#153)
    by Chuck0 on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 05:59:13 PM EST
    hypocrite. I agree the cartoon was not the best decision by WaPo. However I saw on the news tonight, Cruz whining that his kids didn't "sign up for this." NO! He signed them up for that attention. He's the slimebag who put them into a campaign commercial going after Hillary Clinton and her emails. You don't want folks taking shots at you via your kids, don't put your kids in a scripted TV commercial going after another candidate.

    Parent
    they even pick on his little dog Checkers (none / 0) (#154)
    by jondee on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 06:04:39 PM EST
    Look (5.00 / 4) (#156)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 06:28:18 PM EST
    Fellas....

    Could we admit to the reality that every person on this blog and the larger internets would be wetting their pants if this was done to a democrat.

    It's disturbing to me that from Trump to Cruz to whoever we seem to be losing our ability to see who we are supposed to be.

    If you wrestle with a pig you get dirty and the pig has fun.

    This is not about what a colossal ass Cruz is.  Of if he should or should not use his kids in ads.

    It's about his kids, two young girls, be portrayed as monkeys.  Is am not suggesting suppressing speech.   I am saying its f@cking stupid.  Stupid to give him the high ground.  Stupid to give him the fundraising tool.

    Stupid.  AND in bad taste.


    Parent

    Here comes Santa Claus (none / 0) (#97)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 08:46:01 AM EST
    In a thong on rollerblades

    the warmest Christmas Eve on record

    Jesus... (5.00 / 3) (#124)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 10:41:43 AM EST
    ...are you trying to wake the thonged beast on purpose ?

    Parent
    You beat me to it (5.00 / 1) (#126)
    by MO Blue on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 10:55:06 AM EST
    Great minds and all that! ;-)

    Parent
    I Am So Glad... (5.00 / 1) (#129)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 11:05:36 AM EST
    ...you troll rated as I don't have it in me to touch those posts, but it needed doing.

    Parent
    I joke (none / 0) (#99)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 08:53:29 AM EST
    that Georgia has become the new Florida. I have to say though all of this had made the summers utter h*ll here in Metro Atlanta.

    Parent
    Tornado warning (none / 0) (#102)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 09:15:53 AM EST
    At 7 here this morning

    Not a watch, that's still in effect, a warning.   The phones went off the sirens went off.  I had to jump out of bed half asleep and dash over to my sisters to help my nephew trundle her down to the basement because her husband can't leave his dying mother.

    Happy holidays!

    Parent

    I feel (none / 0) (#106)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 09:39:39 AM EST
    bad for your sister :(

    Parent
    Thanks (none / 0) (#108)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 09:52:35 AM EST
    But she's fine.  She just doesn't do stairs well.  If you want to feel bad for someone feel bad for her husband.  After dealing for the last year or so with her near death experience and recovery he is now dealing with a very very slow exit of his 97 year old mother who insists on staying at home so he insists on staying with her.  She has been expected to go any minute for more than a month.   On top of all that there is his worthless drug addicted daughter who requires more upkeep than either of them and everyone else in the family tells her to shut up grow up and take care of herself - that may sound harsh but trust me, you don't know her - so that falls on him too because he is and always has been her biggest enabler.

    If things stay on course Ms Ruby will probably go on Christmas day.
    Which happens to also be his birthday.

    Parent

    Actually (none / 0) (#114)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 10:19:35 AM EST
    it does not sound harsh. Having a 23 year old son not an addict but still immature I have said the same thing myself. Though with people like his daughter cutting her out of his life might be the best thing but I know that can be very, very hard to actually do.

    My husband had an aunt like your sister's husband's mother. Ever week home health came and said they could not believe she was still alive. I mean this went on for months. Sad to say it was a relief when she finally passed away for the family.

    Parent

    This woman is mid 40s (none / 0) (#120)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 10:30:06 AM EST
    She has ruined the life of all three of her children.  She is a religious zealot who who never in a million years admit she is a drug addict.  It's "medicine".  She is "sick".  She can never tell you exactly how she is sick or what hurts but she is sick and needs her medicine.
    She is the first to condemn in the strongest terms casual drug use.   She is an insufferable hypocrite and moralist.  Usually with slurred speech.
    She needs to be locked up to dry out but her husband, who conviently works away from home and does not have to deal with her or the damage she has done to their children won't allow it in spite of years of pleading from the parents and the rest of the family.
    I don't need a lecture about harsh.  I know drugs and the needs of drug addicts.  


    Parent
    I have to vent just a bit more (5.00 / 1) (#127)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 10:57:21 AM EST
    Sorry
    We just found our my spinster cousin is getting married.  The whole family is stunned an thrilled.  We never thought it would happen.  On Dec 29th.
    Why is this relevant?
    Because the drug addict called my sister, my still very ill sister, at 2 am a couple of days ago hysterically bawling and squawlin because she had learned Tammy is getting married.
    Tammy, my selfless dear cousin, has lived with and waited hand and foot on the drug addict for a couple of years.  I warned her not to do it. Everyone did.  But she has a heart as big as a house so she became the servant of the drug addict.  This was needed because the kids are gone.  The youngest has had it and is unwilling to do what the other two did.  Which is be a full time nurse.
    She kept my sister on the phone for hours.  What am I going to do?  Who is going to take care of me!  Like my sister, or her husband need this.
    Another thing, she was "going" to have thanksgiving at my sister big house.  Where it always is.  She never does anything to help.  Usually shows up wearing sunglasses to fall asleep someplace.  But she was going to make my sister host thanksgiving.  My sister said she could not.  My sisters husband said she could not.  It's would just be to much stress for my sister.  It didn't matter.  She was going full steam ahead inviting people, planning for a big thanksgiving at my sisters house.
    I came over and my sister was in tears.  I don't know what to do she said.  I just can't do this.
    I knew what to do.
    I called Th drug addict and ripped her a new one.
    "Get this through your head. You are not having thanksgiving in this house.  You will as of this moment STFU about it and NEVER mention it again"
    Her husband was VERY upset that I would "talk to his wife this way"
    Since you know me pretty well I think you can imagine what I told him.

    Parent
    I'm sorry. (none / 0) (#130)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 11:27:34 AM EST
    That sounds like a big mess. I have an aunt that has two daughters like your niece. She even got them a house to live in. I have decided that she apparently has decided that dealing with addicts is better than not having them in her life. It's all hush hush in the family and people don't ask about these two women. Fortunately for everybody else I guess they don't try to insert themselves into any event but they are not religious though they were raised to be that way.

    Parent
    Well (5.00 / 1) (#131)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 11:35:56 AM EST
    My family may have profound political and cultural differences verging on internecine warfare but one thing we have is a sense of humor.  When we get together we laugh. A lot.  It's probably the only think that keeps us a family.

    No hush hush here.  She and her idiot husband who is really the biggest problem is a running joke.  Even with her teenaged son.

    Gallows humor.  It's a family trait.  It's the one thing I love and share with nearly all my family.

    Parent

    Probably better (none / 0) (#132)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 11:49:57 AM EST
    and healthier that you can laugh about it. If you ask my aunt about these two she automatically clams up. I think it's a source of shame for her. They never come to any family functions. Whether they don't come because they know they are happening and don't come or whether my aunt just does not tell them I don't know. I have been instructed by my mother to never ask about those two. I guess maybe if they did show up the family might be forced to deal with the problem so staying away kind of keeps up the hush hush thing. It's how her whole family deals with things. I call them carpet sweepers. If there's a problem let's sweep it under the carpet. Same reaction with cousin who was an alcoholic though he was very upfront with his problem and went through treatment.

    Parent
    Good for you, Howdy (none / 0) (#133)
    by Zorba on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 11:52:12 AM EST
    It appears that someone in your family needs to be both the voice of reason, and the tough one  "telling it like it is."
    You step up to the plate.  Kudos.

    Parent
    Congrats to your cousin (none / 0) (#134)
    by MO Blue on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 12:07:01 PM EST
    Also, good for you doing what was needed to be done to protect your sister.

    Maybe, all of this occuring, your sister sick and your cousin getting married, is the universe's way of telling everyone that it is time for the addict to be forced to responsible for her own actions. Extremely difficult, I know but maybe it is time.

    Either way, you are a great guy for helping out where really needed.

    Parent

    Adding (none / 0) (#121)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 10:34:02 AM EST
    Her third son the not one left at home is the one that just helped me with my sister.  He wanted to stay with my sister to help my brotherinlaw because he takes any and every chance to get away from her.
    The other two sons now have children which they will not leave her alone with.

    Parent
    Howdy, you can't move (5.00 / 1) (#135)
    by fishcamp on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 01:04:40 PM EST
    To Colorado or Oregon or Washington, or anyplace else.  You are the Sgt. At arms of your family and that's it.  I now understand some of the reasons you want to move, but you no can do.  Just drive over here and go boating and fishing for a few days to get your mind right.  

    Parent
    Yeah, But Who Can COmplain About... (none / 0) (#125)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 10:44:45 AM EST
    ...today being 70-80 and tomorrow being 72-80 and sunny both days.  Remind me to get El Nino a xmas card, cause this is the bestest xmas ever.

    I am wearing short sleeves today, December 23rd.

    Parent

    we (none / 0) (#104)
    by FlJoe on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 09:26:59 AM EST
    are on pace to smash the December record in my neck of the woods, after tying the record in Nov.

    Parent
    Mid 70s here (none / 0) (#105)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 09:32:22 AM EST
    Right through Chrustmas

    Got the windows that don't get rain open

    Parent

    Pretty sure all of Florida (none / 0) (#141)
    by CoralGables on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 02:55:05 PM EST
    will smoke the December record for heat.

    The average low for December here is 63°. We haven't reached 63 the entire month. It was a lovely 76° for this morning's low and the average low for the month has been a crisp 72°. My AC could use a break. Maybe in February.

    Parent

    Merry Christmas... (none / 0) (#140)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 02:20:10 PM EST
    ...if you want to mess with your spirit, here is a break down of popular christmas songs involving criminal activity and/or really bad behavior.

    It's rather funny.

    2 hours to go and I am off for 12 fricken days...


    this (none / 0) (#142)
    by CST on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 03:00:29 PM EST
    Is the greatest Christmas song of them all.

    Link

    Parent

    No indictments in Sanda Bland death (none / 0) (#143)
    by McBain on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 03:02:19 PM EST
    Link

    "After reviewing all the evidence in the death of Sandra Bland, a Waller grand jury did not return an indictment in the death of Bland, nor were any indictments returned against any employee of the Waller County Jail," Jordan said after the grand jury met for more than eight hours Monday.

    "The grand jury has looked at all the evidence and found no evidence of murder," he said.

    But the grand jury will consider other charges relating to the case.  I'm not exactly sure what that means.

    I'm glad the traffic cop wasn't indicted.  He might have violated some policy but he didn't commit any crimes. I would like to know more about what happened in her jail cell.  Why was she given any opportunity to commit suicide when they knew that was a possibility?

    I saw one of the family members interviewed on CNN. She wasn't happy with the special prosecutor but didn't really answer the question of why no one bailed Sanrda out of jail.

    hrc, 2a and scotus (none / 0) (#149)
    by zaitztheunconvicted on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 05:36:38 PM EST
    apparently in private fundraisers, or at least one of them, HRC has been saying that the scotus is wrong about the 2nd amendment and she will make that case all she can . . .

    There are, I suppose, 2 ways to consider the 2nd amendment . . . one is the originalist view and the other is whatever one believes individuals should have, if anything, in terms of a right to kba.

    It is interesting that HRC would pick an issue and then state the scotus and its decision or decisions on that issue are wrong . . . I actually believe that candidates for pres or senate should do that more often.  The scotus is not infallible.

    One question is whether or not the press and/or persons in debate will ask her to restate her opposition to the 2A clearly and publicly  . . .

    a bit of liberal hypocrisy? (none / 0) (#157)
    by zaitztheunconvicted on Wed Dec 23, 2015 at 06:28:45 PM EST
    Water apocalypse (none / 0) (#172)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Dec 24, 2015 at 10:06:05 AM EST
    The NG channel has been running a very good series called Breakthrough.  Each episode a different director on some issue in cutting edge science.

    This one was Directed and Narrated by Angela Bassett.  I just watched on the StairMaster.  It's really excellent.  

    you can watch the whole or parts here