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Friday Open Thread

I've been offline for a week because it's moving time again -- after 4 years in my condo that the movers set on fire when moving in my stuff, the owner has decided to sell when my lease is up in September.

I am pretty sure I have OCD when it comes to new places to live: I turn on the shower to test the water pressure, knock on the bathtub to see if it's plastic, open the cabinet door on top of the microwave above the gas stove to make sure it's vented to the outside, make sure the apartment or condo is not too close to the trash room, the freight elevator, the residents' elevator or the inside dog park. I remember to ask if my Weber barbecue with a one pound propane cannister is allowed on the balcony. I ask if every unit is pre-wired for gigabyte speed internet; is the washer dryer stacked or side by side and are they full size; and on and on. Not to mention, who would want to live in a mid rise or high rise anywhere near downtown Denver and not have a gorgeous and unobstructed view of the mountains or city skyline? They are becoming harder and harder to find. [More....]

I'm done, I found my new place. It's a considerable downsize, but mostly I'm losing wasted space. I love the mountain and city view. It's situated just right and checks almost all my boxes and I think I will absolutely love it.

What I've learned visiting almost every new residential building with the "luxury" tag in central Denver over the past six weeks: Denver is in the midst of an impossible growth cycle. The highways are jam- packed leading in and out of the city in all directions. It is next to impossible to drive around downtown. Due to the sheer number of new construction projects, many of them for sky-rises, (you can see the big cranes in every direction) there are road closures on almost every street from I-25 and I-70 through Rino and Lodo and other parts of downtown. The bike lanes and electric scooters that were added to downtown Denver over the past two years significantly increase the risk of accidents when turning drivers for whatever reason don't see the biker in their rear or side view mirror. Big buses are everywhere, as is light rail. Mostly, there are just way too many people for a limited amount of road space. Seriously, if you have wanted to move to Denver for the great outdoor life or relaxed, healthy lifestyle, pick another place. The sheer density has resulted in lines everywhere -- I was told yesterday there are even lines to hike up the 14'ers.

And what's up with these dumb-a*s construction blogs praising the death of every parking lot in favor of the boxy high- rise taking their place? I think a ground-level parking lot is better for the city and less of an eyesore than yet another high rise. I actually mourn the loss of downtown parking lots -- high rises devour the views of the buildings next to them and create huge traffic jams because people have to drive round and round the block looking for a place to park.

Hopefully, now that my new lease is signed and all I need to do is get rid of a ton of stuff (which is always liberating) and hire a mover that wont set the place on fire, my life will get back to normal, including blogging.

I haven't seen the news in several days. En route to and from the state prison in Limon earlier this week, I heard about Trump's statement in an interview that he'd accept dirt on his opponent from a foreign government and that Ms. Most Unimportant Person in the World has been subpoened in an investigation into possible Hatch Act violations. On the other hand, I haven't missed an episode of La Reina del Sur 2.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

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  • Display: Sort:
    I don't envy you moving (5.00 / 3) (#1)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Jun 14, 2019 at 02:04:18 PM EST
    Moving gives me major panic attacks. Actually it is putting the house up for sale which I know you don't have to do is what brings on panic attacks. Moving is just a level 2 panic attack and I do not know why I am that way.

    Good luck with everything. It sounds like you have an ideal place and I bet you'll find that you do not miss all that extra stuff at all once you are without it.

    I owned a moving company (none / 0) (#4)
    by Repack Rider on Fri Jun 14, 2019 at 03:21:12 PM EST
    So when I had to move, I had the truck and the guys already.

    I was the worst kind of moving customer. Badly packed, needing two days to complete the move. Also, one house I lived in was at the top of 65 stairs.

    Never moving again though. My mortgage and taxes combined are now about half of what I would have to pay to rent my house in the current market.

    Parent

    I am going to have (none / 0) (#8)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Jun 14, 2019 at 04:08:24 PM EST
    to move at least one more time. However the next time I move I hopefully will only be moving 2 people not 2 adults and 2 children. So much less stuff and I plan to sell 1/2 the stuff in my house or give it away. So a lot less stuff to do anything with too.

    Parent
    I am a bit of a hoarder, so moving is always (none / 0) (#20)
    by vml68 on Fri Jun 14, 2019 at 09:36:05 PM EST
    a miserable time for me. My last move, my husband's employer took care of everything, financially and logistically, and yet I hated it.

    I am now in the process of moving to a new house just 8 miles away from our old one and I am taking my own sweet time. Still stressed but not miserable!

    Parent

    I have done (none / 0) (#31)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Jun 15, 2019 at 05:04:19 AM EST
    that across town move and it's the worst for me because it seems like instead of being a day or two it's weeks of moving. When everything has to be on the truck that day, moving day is incredibly stressful but then it is done.

    Parent
    The last time we moved (in 1986) (none / 0) (#32)
    by Peter G on Sat Jun 15, 2019 at 10:01:39 AM EST
    it was to a bigger house five doors up the same street, as we went beyond having one kid. It was still "moving," like any other move, a giant challenge (including because it was with a toddler and a baby -- both of whom are now young mothers, the ex-toddler of a baby and the ex-baby of a toddler).

    Parent
    Oh, boy (none / 0) (#36)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Jun 15, 2019 at 10:53:10 AM EST
    I'm seeing moving and toddler and toddler in the same paragraph. Sounds like some heroic moving to me.

    I have moved twice with a toddler. The first time I only had one child and so i handed him off to family and it was not much of a big deal. The 2nd time oh, boy 1 toddler and 1 10 year old. It was an entire year after I moved in before all the boxes were unpacked.

    Parent

    Gibson Bakery wins lawsuit against Oberlin College (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by McBain on Fri Jun 14, 2019 at 02:24:29 PM EST
    Link
    The family at the center of a defamation lawsuit against Oberlin College hugged in celebration on Thursday when a jury granted them $33 million in punitive damages on top of the $11 million compensatory award they're already owed by the liberal arts school.

    The lawsuit had to do with accusations of racism.  Some felt it was free speech.
    A contentious piece of evidence during the trial was a flyer printed and handed out by students during November, 2016, protests against Gibson's Bakery. The flyer read "DON'T BUY" and "This is a RACIST establishment with a long account of RACIAL PROFILING and DISCRIMINATION. Today we urge you to shop elsewhere in light of a particularly heinous event involving the owners of this establishment and local law enforcement."

    Not sure how the $44 million will hold up on appeal.  Here's an article arguing against the decision, calling it "Dangerous".

    Economic boycotts are protected (5.00 / 1) (#46)
    by Peter G on Sun Jun 16, 2019 at 02:58:21 PM EST
    by the First Amendment, including a perhaps surprising amount of what would otherwise be considered criminal or tortious behavior.

    Parent
    Heinous event (none / 0) (#5)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Fri Jun 14, 2019 at 03:24:01 PM EST
    Calling the cops on a shoplifter.

    Parent
    Oberlin digs deeper (none / 0) (#41)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Sun Jun 16, 2019 at 03:19:42 AM EST
      "Gibson bakery's archaic chase-and-detain policy regarding suspected shoplifters was the catalyst for the protests," the college said. "The guilt or innocence of the students is irrelevant to both the root cause of the protests and this litigation."

    Archaic?

    NYT Link

    Blaming the victim of shoplifting, yikes!  

    Parent

    I'm curious what rights store owners and workers (none / 0) (#45)
    by McBain on Sun Jun 16, 2019 at 10:04:06 AM EST
    have when someone shoplifts?  I'm also not clear on just what is libel and what isn't when it comes to protests/boycotts?   Lots of things to discuss in the case the media mostly ignored until recently.

    From what I've read so far, I agree with the verdict.  

    Parent

    You all would do well to read the coverage at (none / 0) (#126)
    by scribe on Sun Jun 23, 2019 at 06:47:55 PM EST
    the Legal Insurrection blog, which covered the trial end-to-end.  See, e.g., this post re the time the blogger was on TV.  (It's the first link I could find ....)

    The long and the short of it, as it came out at trial, is that Oberlin's dean Raimundo was (for all intents and purposes ) leading the mob outside Gibson's and using a bullhorn to do so, Oberlin provided copying for the fliers, pizza, etc. to the students, and otherwise supported them against the store.  Moreover, Oberlin cut off a decades-long commercial relationship with Gibson's then floated an idea that they might reinstate Gibson's if they dropped the idea of prosecuting shoplifters and called the college instead of the police, so the college could "take care of it" (i.e., do nothing).

    Keep in mind, too that this was not just lifting a few donuts.  Gibsons, and other businesses, were losing substantial amounts of goods, expensive goods (I recall a reference to a $100 bottle of wine...).

    Setting aside that soliciting a business to not call the police and instead cover up crimes is likely a crime in itself (I'm not familiar with Ohio law), the suggestion of favorable business relations in return for covering up crimes smacks of violating the extortion laws, particularly when it's backed up by a near-riot, the end of business relations and the suggestion they might resume under certain conditions.  How far is Oberlin's conduct from Paulie Walnuts going to a corner grocery and suggesting they look the other way while his buddies do certain things lest his buddies trash the grocery?  Not very, if at all.

    The college also did a good job of insulting the jurors.  Among other things, their economic expert said the Gibson's business (130 years old) was worth only $35,000.

    Oberlin had it coming.  They'll benefit from damages caps under Ohio tort reform and they won't change their attitude.  They should have been hit harder.

    Parent

    People have to live somewhere (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by CST on Fri Jun 14, 2019 at 03:09:36 PM EST
    American cities are definitely undergoing some serious growing pains but I don't see a better alternative than density.

    Another (none / 0) (#7)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Jun 14, 2019 at 04:05:21 PM EST
    alternative would be for smaller towns to attempt to make themselves attractive to young people.

    Parent
    Depends on the town (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by CST on Fri Jun 14, 2019 at 04:28:21 PM EST
    And if they can support jobs.  Either way it's the same principle on a different scale, but residential sprawl alone isn't going to fix traffic issues.  

    Parent
    Going the other way (none / 0) (#65)
    by MKS on Mon Jun 17, 2019 at 07:32:22 PM EST
    Going off grid.

    But long time coming and anticipated.

    Parent

    Speaking of moving (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by CST on Fri Jun 14, 2019 at 03:58:17 PM EST
    I'm officially looking to buy, and it's beyond terrifying.  Everytime I've made an offer thus far I have a sinking pit in my stomach that is followed by a strange sense of relief when someone else gets it.  I know that's not how its supposed to work, but here we are.

    This also feels like terrible timing and a market top, but I just can't justify paying rent anymore.

    Also, goodbye Boston, it's been real but I just can't afford you anymore.  Hello Gateway cities.

    A house is just a (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by ragebot on Fri Jun 14, 2019 at 09:38:32 PM EST
    boat so poorly built and run aground so hard it is pointless to try and refloat it.

    Here is where I have lived since 2012 when I bought it.  Been to the Bahamas three times, Cuba twice, and the DR once; along with of lots of places along the way.

    Parent

    That looks terrifying to me. (none / 0) (#24)
    by leap on Fri Jun 14, 2019 at 10:26:18 PM EST
    Nope nope nope, rope a boat. Nope. All that water. Nope. I need to be on terra firma. To each his own!

    Parent
    the boat looks very fun (none / 0) (#28)
    by Jeralyn on Fri Jun 14, 2019 at 11:21:36 PM EST
    for a vacation, I don't think I could live on one. My parents had a "cabin cruiser" when I was a kid and we went all over the northeast on it for a few weeks at a time. One time I was walking up the ramp after we docked somewhere to go buy some candy or something and I fell through the rail at the top and my hip landed on a rock at the bottom. My mother dove into the water to reach me and I was in the hospital a few days. Surprisingly, I still love to go on boat rides, especially in the Bahamas and Caribbean. (Luckily there was no permanent damage to my hip).

    Parent
    I was staying in the (none / 0) (#29)
    by ragebot on Sat Jun 15, 2019 at 12:35:13 AM EST
    Marathon City Marina and needed to rent a car to go upstate in Florida.  While talking to the guy at the rental counter I told him I had just returned from Cuba and he asked me if I was not worried about the dangers of sailing a boat in the ocean.  I replied I was more worried about the danger of driving on US1, the most dangerous road in the US.  Not to mention that Florida has six of the top ten most dangerous roads in the US and I would be driving on five of them, US1, US41, US27, US441, and US98.

    No doubt in my mind it is more dangerous to drive on the road than to sail off into the sunset.

    Parent

    Buying your first (none / 0) (#9)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Jun 14, 2019 at 04:11:19 PM EST
    home is a scary proposition. At least it was for me. The good news is that each house you buy afterwards becomes easier. It's also easier to know what you want and don't want after owning a couple of houses so you don't spend as much time looking either.

    Parent
    Building your first house (none / 0) (#10)
    by fishcamp on Fri Jun 14, 2019 at 04:23:10 PM EST
    and then living in it is a big challenge.  You always move in before it's finished.  Money just flies away.  And it was cold.

    Parent
    What about buying (5.00 / 2) (#12)
    by CST on Fri Jun 14, 2019 at 04:29:57 PM EST
    A fixer upper and moving in before it's fixed?  Because that's probably what I'll be doing.  Like being your own slumlord.

    Parent
    That's tough. (none / 0) (#14)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Jun 14, 2019 at 05:42:17 PM EST
    My last house needed work. Just remodeling the bathroom tore up the entire house. I know that makes like zero sense but when you have a toilet sitting in the living room you can understand. I could only do it in spurts. I would take a room and fix it and then wait months before starting another project. I told my husband that my next house had to be move in ready which it kind of was but not completely. I don't think there really is any such thing as move in ready or that meets my definition of move in ready.

    Parent
    We did that (none / 0) (#26)
    by Towanda on Fri Jun 14, 2019 at 10:29:04 PM EST
    and I called it the historic preservation project from hell.

    I also have built a house and had to finish it -- painting, staining -- while lining in it.  Also not easy.

    This time, we moved into a truly move-in-ready home.  Whew.

    Parent

    I did that with (none / 0) (#13)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Jun 14, 2019 at 05:39:44 PM EST
    our first house. However there was not much left to do and it was mostly an issue of calling the builder to finish some things. I'm guessing yours was not nearly as finished as mine was. My new house cost an arm and a leg with landscaping. Then it nickled and dimed me about a lot of things.

    Parent
    I always thought that building a new house (none / 0) (#23)
    by vml68 on Fri Jun 14, 2019 at 10:14:15 PM EST
    would be really exciting and fun. We just had a new house built and it turned out to be just the opposite.  
    I absolutely hate our builder. There were so many mistakes made during construction that had we not hired our own building inspector to check on things throughout the construction process, we would have ended up with an absolute lemon.

    Our house was supposed to be ready April '18, we got occupancy just before Christmas and I just moved in a couple of weeks ago.
    Last week, I mowed grass for the first time in my life!

    Money just flies away.

    This is oh so true!

    Parent
    You must not have seen (5.00 / 2) (#25)
    by leap on Fri Jun 14, 2019 at 10:28:54 PM EST
    We are shopping now also (none / 0) (#16)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Jun 14, 2019 at 06:43:46 PM EST
    No rush. Also feels like a market top in Silver Spring too. Actually we've seen some prices come down a bit and properties on the market for a few weeks now instead of days.

    We are thinking about moving closer to Zorba above Frederick. Spouse retired May 31st, so we don't need to be near the metro. He says he is never working full time again.

    We also have possible fixer upper on our shopping list if it has good bones. My husband really wants to buy an RV and RV for a year, and the thought of that gave me the panic attack. He did point out though that an RV makes a home that needs work much easier to manage.

    I'm focused on not over buying space. I don't want an overly large home where I will spend hours cleaning, but I want enough space for guests to feel comfortable and uncrowded when they visit.

    We went to the Eastern Market last weekend. I love being downtown , it is a different mindset. I could do it. Small fixer upper near the Eastern Market is only 1.5 million LOL.

    Parent

    Things have subsided a bit (none / 0) (#35)
    by CST on Sat Jun 15, 2019 at 10:42:37 AM EST
    Makes me nervous but also takes some of the pressure off for looking. Gives me an excuse to be picky (ish). Needless to say the housing prices in eastern MA are out of control, plus the housing stock is really old.  Anything built after 2000 gets slapped with the luxury label and half the buildings are pre-1930. My job is outside Boston, but rather than moving to the burbs or getting an overpriced condo and doing a reverse commute, I'm looking at the old mill cities. They are more urban and still affordable, but a lot of the property is in pretty rough shape.

    Parent
    It sounds like you (none / 0) (#43)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Jun 16, 2019 at 07:21:22 AM EST
    Are going to be acquainted with people who can advise you on good fixer upper solutions and you will also know the more reputable contractors.

    I miss having my dad around to advise on those things. Seems appropriate for Father's Day.

    Silver Spring neighborhood we like was mostly built around 1965. It is hard for me to imagine these houses selling for 500,000 but they are. The homes in this neighborhood though are mostly very large.

    Doing what it sounds like you are doing, I could see you building, running the subs yourself.

    Parent

    Husband and I rented for years because (none / 0) (#22)
    by vml68 on Fri Jun 14, 2019 at 09:54:04 PM EST
    no matter where we ended up, we knew our next move was just 2-3 years away.
    When we moved down to FL, the plan was to be here for just a year or two. But, I was done with renting so, I told him that I wanted to buy a place even if it was for just a year. Even though I had been waiting years to buy a house, when it came down to actually buying, I too found it terrifying.

    Parent
    SoCal Valedictorian gives uncomfortable speech (5.00 / 1) (#34)
    by McBain on Sat Jun 15, 2019 at 10:39:11 AM EST
    Link
    To my counselor, thanks for teaching me to fend for myself," Buhr said, hardly changing her tone of voice. "You were always unavailable to my parents and I, despite appointments. Only in these past few weeks, with the awards ceremonies and graduation coming up, did you begin making your appearance."

    "Might I note," she continued, "you expressed to me your joy in knowing that one of your students was valedictorian when you had absolutely no role in my achievements."

    She goes on to say...

    "To the teacher who was regularly intoxicated during class this year, thank you for using yourself as an example to teach students about the dangers of alcoholism," she said. "Being escorted by police out of school left a lasting impression."

    Not sure what to make of this.  I believe there are lots of lazy teachers who phone it in but I'm not sure this ambush was appropriate.

    Manuel Rubio, a spokesperson for the school district, said this..

    "We thought it was inappropriate," Rubio said. "She didn't raise any of her concerns prior to her speech. It takes away from the experiences of everybody else that day who worked really hard."


    Another grossly ill-mannered (none / 0) (#47)
    by jondee on Sun Jun 16, 2019 at 04:56:03 PM EST
    person abusing a public platform.

    It's very in these days for some reason.

    It's almost like folks think they've been given permission from on high. Sad!

    Parent

    Kind of hard to feel sorry for a valedictorian (none / 0) (#49)
    by McBain on Sun Jun 16, 2019 at 07:07:29 PM EST
    who, according to her, had good parents.  

    Parent
    I've been in my current home for 13 years. (5.00 / 1) (#52)
    by Chuck0 on Mon Jun 17, 2019 at 09:50:04 AM EST
    Longest I have ever lived in one place ever. I was a Navy brat, so we were moving every 2 to 3 years. Adak, AK, San Diego, Guam, Virginia Beach, Japan, Stockton.

    I lived in the same house in Fort Worth over a 17 year period, but not consecutively. Left, came back, left again, came back. The house was owned by my sister. So I was able to always move back in. I actually paid one of her tenants to move next door on one of my returns.

    We would like to move to a single story house. My mobility issues make stairs difficult. However, single story homes are hard to find around here (PA). Also, my mortgage payments are very low. Moving would mean taking on more debt and I want to retire in the next couple of years.

    Plus, like many of you, the idea of moving is terrifying. I used to do it all myself. Now I can do nearly none of it. I would certainly have to pay for movers.

    Maybe (5.00 / 1) (#53)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Jun 17, 2019 at 10:12:35 AM EST
    A stair lift?

    Parent
    That is an option. (5.00 / 1) (#56)
    by Chuck0 on Mon Jun 17, 2019 at 11:14:45 AM EST
    At some time. Not cheap. Would like to figure out a way to get my insurance to pick up some cost.


    Parent
    cheaper than moving to another house, (none / 0) (#59)
    by leap on Mon Jun 17, 2019 at 03:05:27 PM EST
    I would think. My brother put in a tracked stair chair lift to the second floor. Originally it was for our Mom when she temporarily lived with him while she was on a waiting list to move into an independent living place. After she moved, he put in another one to the basement for my sister-in-law, whose art studio is down there, since she has mobility problems. Those chair lifts are expensive, but I think insurance covered some of the costs. And they are sure worth it. Beats the horrors of moving! You can use them to haul $hi† up and down stairs, too.

    Parent
    One-story living (5.00 / 3) (#70)
    by Towanda on Wed Jun 19, 2019 at 07:53:34 AM EST
    has made a major difference for our health, with one of us with postpolio syndrome and the other with Parkinson's. The mive from a huge old house with stairs, stairs, stairs was a huge project -- two professors have a lot of books to donate, papers to shred (with student information), and files to toss -- but declittering by more than half of our stuff was good for our mental health, too.

    And now our condo pool is open, and I am there almost every day, doing water-therapy exercises, while my spouse does his prescribed exercise on our condo's nature trail. We have more energy to do so, without hundreds of steps on stairs every day,

    Parent

    Was in my condo pool couple of days ago. (5.00 / 1) (#94)
    by ragebot on Fri Jun 21, 2019 at 12:31:09 PM EST
    My cousin and her friends (5.00 / 3) (#61)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Jun 17, 2019 at 05:58:41 PM EST
    wow, is that beautiful! (none / 0) (#62)
    by leap on Mon Jun 17, 2019 at 07:00:38 PM EST
    What a wonderful thing to do. That is a LOT of work and time, and so much kindness to give to a stranger.

    Parent
    It is (none / 0) (#63)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Jun 17, 2019 at 07:12:05 PM EST
    They have done a bunch.  It's really amazing how fast they can do they.

    Parent
    Joe Biden is tone deaf (5.00 / 6) (#71)
    by Chuck0 on Wed Jun 19, 2019 at 01:50:53 PM EST
    and delusional. I don't care if he can beat Bone Spurs or not. He is not the man to this country into 2024. The Democrats would be making a huge mistake in nominating him for 2020. It not the 1980s anymore. It's not the Senate or House of those days. The GOP is not magically going to work with Joe just because he says so. Or because Bone Spurs is gone. They are Bone Spurs.


    The irony (5.00 / 3) (#73)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Jun 19, 2019 at 03:42:28 PM EST
    is that is what Obama ran on in 2008 and it did not work out well for him. If being VP for 8 years of all that he still doesn't understand there is no help for him.

    Parent
    But for those reasons you cited, he's definitely not my first choice in the upcoming primary / caucus season. I understand why, for many Democratic voters, he's perceived as a safe bet because he's a known quantity. But to be honest, I prefer nostalgia only for my historical studies. When it comes to politics, I tend to look forward and not backward. While you can certainly learn lessons from the past, I think it's rather foolish to believe that you can somehow replicate it.

    Parent
    after reading (none / 0) (#76)
    by leap on Wed Jun 19, 2019 at 07:55:35 PM EST
    this, you would "gladly" vote Biden? Gads. He's just awful. He's been awful over and over. I still cannot shrug off his ways during the Thomas hearings. Just fü¢k that guy.

    Parent
    In the sense (5.00 / 4) (#77)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jun 19, 2019 at 10:03:38 PM EST
    I would gladly eat cat food if I was hungry enough.  Maybe.

    Parent
    Yeah (5.00 / 2) (#79)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Jun 20, 2019 at 05:41:13 AM EST
    that pretty much explains it for me. There are a lot of other candidates I could get excited about but not Biden.

    Everyday Biden shows why he has lost in the primary 3 times before.

    Parent

    Well, I just (none / 0) (#78)
    by leap on Wed Jun 19, 2019 at 10:31:08 PM EST
    would not use the word--or sense of--"gladly" when voting for that guy, if I have to vote for that guy, if he is the...gasp...Dem nominee, which I hope he is not. Maybe grudgingly, loathingly.

    Parent
    ... then yes, I would gladly vote for Joe Biden. What the hell is the matter with you? For once, you really ought to consider prioritizing our country's security and well being ahead of your need to trumpet your own self-perceived moral superiority.

    If you want to see change happen rather than just talk about it, then you have to be on the side that wins elections, and attitudes like yours are exactly why liberals tend to lose. Time and again, not only do you refuse to acknowledge that perfect -- or in Joe Biden's case, the fairly decent -- is always the enemy of the good, you much prefer to hold your own side hostage to your insane demands for political purity.

    Trump, not Joe Biden, is the one who poses a mortal threat to our nation and our democracy. And if you can't see that, then for all your leftist preening and primping, you're really no better than Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) or House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).

    :-(

    Parent

    ¿What th'? (5.00 / 1) (#124)
    by leap on Fri Jun 21, 2019 at 08:14:11 PM EST
    Did I say I would not vote for Biden? Nope. I did not say that I would not vote for him. I just voiced my opinion on that guy, who I find odious. I would PREFER not to vote for him. What's wrong with you, jumping up and down with moral and verbal superiority, with prolix pompous blather? And what do you mean "Time and again, not only do you refuse to acknowledge that perfect...is always the enemy of the good, you much prefer to hold your own side hostage..." blah blah blah. I have no idea to what "time and again" you are referring. Sheesh.

    Parent
    donald, please don't lecture others (none / 0) (#135)
    by Jeralyn on Mon Jul 08, 2019 at 12:42:32 AM EST
    and don't insult others with comments like "your need to trumpet your own self-perceived moral superiority."  You are not a licensed psychiatrist. By the way, I'm not voting for Biden if he gets the nomination because of his 30 year record on criminal justice issues. Before the primaries is the time to point out candidates' weaknesses.  I'm hoping by voicing our well-founded criticisms of his record, someone else will get the nomination. I encourage other commenters to do the same. This  has nothing to do with voting for Trump or supporting Republicans or third party candidates.

    If Biden gets the nomination, I'll vote downticket and focus on trying to help Dems gain control of the Senate but I'm  not voting for Biden.

    Parent

    Humbly offering for consideration (none / 0) (#136)
    by MKS on Mon Jul 08, 2019 at 04:26:40 PM EST
    a couple of observations (which you may have  already considered), since it could well be Uncle Joe:

       1.  The Crime Bill was passed during a different time.  Bill executed Ricky Ray Rector. He did so in part to differentiate himself from Dukakis's perceived weakness on crime.  Dukakis had lost the election during the prior cycle (this shows just how long ago this occurred) in part based on his perceived weakness on crime.  The Crime bill came on the heels of this.

       2.   Biden is a pol.  That means he will follow popular will.   The zeitgeist is different now, and Joe will take a different position now.

       3.  A Democratic Senate is critical in securing Progressive values.   Biden and a Democratic Senate could work wonders for additional Criminal Justice Reform.

       4.  As Lombardi (a famed Democrat) said, Winning isn't everything, it is the only thing.  I do not like Bernie and many of his supporters. I think Elizabeth Warren is too far left.  I think Kamala is uncertain, hesitant and looks weak when it comes to her policy positions.  But I would vote for any of them in a heartbeat over Trump.    

    Parent

    Deepfake marches on (5.00 / 1) (#82)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jun 20, 2019 at 04:27:07 PM EST
    Evangelical morons F'ck themselves (5.00 / 2) (#85)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jun 20, 2019 at 05:49:25 PM EST
    Again.  

    This totally cracks me up.  For one thing has there ever a creepier name than "the `Return to Order' campaign, an offshoot of the US Foundation for a Christian Civilisation"?

    Yes that's really how it's spelled apparently


    More than 20,000 of its supporters have signed the petition which claims the show is "another step to make satanism appear normal, light and acceptable". They add it "mocks God's wisdom," has God "voiced by a woman", and say: "this type of video makes light of Truth, Error, Good and Evil, and destroys the barriers of horror that society still has for the devil."

    The petition then asks for Netflix, not Amazon, to cancel the show even though Netflix has zero involvement in the series. Gaiman responded to the petition on Twitter, writing: "I love that they are going to write to Netflix to try and get #GoodOmens cancelled. Says it all really. This is so beautiful ... Promise me you won't tell them?"

    Return to Order's previous petitions called for Walmart to "stop selling Satanic products" and stood against a "blasphemous ice cream chain called Sweet Jesus".

    And I would love to hear what Francis McDormand AKA, God has to say about that part of the complaint.

    In the same vein (none / 0) (#88)
    by jmacWA on Fri Jun 21, 2019 at 05:36:44 AM EST
    Evangelical Christians tried to get Good Omens taken off Netflix

    There's just one problem it's on Amazon... what sheep, they simply follow orders, from a moron no less.

    The show has probably my favorite title sequence since True Blood.

    Parent

    I love this series (none / 0) (#101)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Jun 21, 2019 at 02:44:30 PM EST
    Happy Solstice! (5.00 / 4) (#91)
    by desertswine on Fri Jun 21, 2019 at 10:40:03 AM EST
    Heh. (none / 0) (#128)
    by scribe on Sun Jun 23, 2019 at 07:01:00 PM EST
    On a bit of a vacay - it's lupine time in New England.

    Parent
    Apropos of nothing (none / 0) (#15)
    by Repack Rider on Fri Jun 14, 2019 at 06:30:47 PM EST
    ...but I see endless threads about Game of Thrones, a cultural icon of which I remain blissfully ignorant.

    I just scored tickets to see Grace Vanderwaal headlining at the Fillmore auditorium in San Francisco. I have worked on a lot of shows in that building, never paid to come in the front door.

    I have spent a lifetime around music and musicians. Roadie for decades, I met Jerry Garcia, Grace Slick and Janis Joplin. I have played in bar bands for decades. I have friends with multiple Grammys. I attended a BBQ last week where the man sitting next to me had played in Miles Davis' band. I like to think I know something about music and performers.

    This will be Grace's third tour. Now just 15 years old, she is less than three years removed from winning America's got Talent at the age of 12, presenting new original songs at each performance. In my opinion the last teenager with this level of profound talent was "Little" Stevie Wonder on his recording of "Fingertips, Part II" at the age of 13.

    This is certainly my only chance ever to see her in a venue like the Fillmore.

    Two of the songs that she wrote at age 12 were used in commercials by Windex and Google.  Grace was the fifth most searched name of 2016.

    Turns out that a significant percentage of Grace's fans are over the age of 60. What teenage pop performer ever pulled THAT off?

    The old saying: "if you have talent ... (none / 0) (#127)
    by scribe on Sun Jun 23, 2019 at 06:59:50 PM EST
    they'll find you", seems to apply here.

    I'm not familiar with this girl's work but I'll accept she's one of those rare birds who transcend everything.  The resume you cited says it all - she would not get the gigs were she not that good.

    Enjoy.  

    Parent

    Glad you found (none / 0) (#17)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Jun 14, 2019 at 06:53:20 PM EST
    A suitable new home Jeralyn. I think every Metropolitan city in the United States is experiencing traffic gridlock. We need better transportation solutions.

    I have decided (none / 0) (#18)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Jun 14, 2019 at 07:32:51 PM EST
    that until the business community lays down and throws a fit nothing is going to happen on that account. You know how bad Atlanta traffic is. When we first moved here in 1996, there were times when you could travel. Now there is no good time to travel unless it's a Saturday. I took my sister to the airport at 1:00 the last time she was here and it was wall to wall and this was a couple of days after Christmas. As long as people are willing to sit in traffic the businesses could care less. Only when people are refusing to fight the traffic and businesses cannot get people to come work for them is anything going to be done. I have neighbors that commute 90 minutes to and from work everyday.

    Parent
    Husband says downtown Austin (none / 0) (#19)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Jun 14, 2019 at 07:51:19 PM EST
    Is impossible also

    It was an hour commute for him here, two hours a day total. But mostly on the subway, so he could listen to books to and from.

    Crowds can be stressful for him though. They are for most Vets now. Going somewhere with my husband and brother-in-law together feels very tense when it is crowded. Neither one of them can help it. They just don't feel like anyone is safe in crowds anymore.

    Parent

    I hear you, MT. (none / 0) (#42)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Jun 16, 2019 at 03:55:00 AM EST
    Oahu is a 562-square mile island with a de facto population (incl. tourists) of 1.1 million - and over half of them are found along a 30-mile stretch on the south shore. Traffic in Honolulu and throughout Oahu can be described in one word: Hellacious.

    I think like most major urban centers, the build-out of transportation infrastructure simply failed to keep corresponding pace with the population growth. The City and County of Honolulu's highway / roadway network was designed for an urban community half its present size.

    I'm so glad we moved to the Big Island. I have to admit, there's a lot to be said for small-town living, especially now that we're middle-aged. Here, Hilo is the "big city" at 43,000 residents, and in fact we're the largest town on all of the neighbor islands outside Oahu.

    Besides, when it's a clear day, I really like the view.

    ;-D

    Parent

    Gorgeous (5.00 / 1) (#44)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Jun 16, 2019 at 08:09:45 AM EST
    Geez, I haven't moved since 1976... (none / 0) (#27)
    by desertswine on Fri Jun 14, 2019 at 10:34:17 PM EST
    I feel like such an outsider.

    My mother (5.00 / 1) (#37)
    by Repack Rider on Sat Jun 15, 2019 at 12:14:37 PM EST
    has lived for 75 years in the same house.

    Parent
    Got me beat (none / 0) (#30)
    by ragebot on Sat Jun 15, 2019 at 12:36:55 AM EST
    I bought my condo in 1979.  In 2012 I moved on my boat but lately I have been living on dirt in hurricane season and only sailing in the winter.

    Parent
    Have to wonder about the lineup (none / 0) (#33)
    by ragebot on Sat Jun 15, 2019 at 10:12:26 AM EST
    Just my two cents but the dems seemed to have screwed the pooch with the debate lineup.  Not much question in my mind Warren is already the big loser.

    Warren, Booker, and O'Rourke seem like light weights compared to the real heavyweight match between Biden and Sanders along with  Buttigieg and Harris.

    Not sure who put four of the top six; not to mention the far and away top two on the same night but looks like a mistake to me.

    Politico goes into more detail; but agrees with my assessment of winners and losers.

    "Far and away top two"? (none / 0) (#40)
    by Yman on Sat Jun 15, 2019 at 08:22:56 PM EST
    Biden sure.  Sanders?  He's not far ahead of Warren and they broke even in the two most recent polls.

    As far as "screwing the pooch", a drawing mixing top tier and lower candidates was probably their best choice.  Otherwise, they would've been accused of rigging the primary.  Of course, they'll be accused of it no matter what method they chose, sooo ...

    Parent

    Way too early (none / 0) (#48)
    by ragebot on Sun Jun 16, 2019 at 05:28:20 PM EST
    for polls to mean a lot.  Sanders has been losing or Warren has been gaining ground but Sanders is still a clear second place at Real Clear Politics.  

    Bottom line is there are way too many dems who are not realistic candidates.  If you draw the line at 5% support or more the field would be a lot smaller.

    There has been speculation that the first debate field was chosen because the first debate would draw eyeballs based on it being first and the second debate needed heavy hitters to get eyeballs.  I am not sure how many folks will watch in any case.

    Parent

    The media (none / 0) (#51)
    by NoSides on Mon Jun 17, 2019 at 08:28:55 AM EST
    seem to be unanimous in telling us that the Democratic front-runner is Joe Biden.

    I see only disaster in November 2020 should he be the nominee.

    I would also add that when I see these unanimous reports, they feel phony - It feels as if the news-media are pushing Biden's candidacy because they are most comfortable with an establishment politician - no matter how draconian.

    Parent

    The nicest thing about ... (5.00 / 2) (#121)
    by Yman on Fri Jun 21, 2019 at 07:26:29 PM EST
    ... "feelings" is they don't need to be based on facts, evidence, or reality.

    The reality is "the media" is telling us Biden is the front runner because, ... well, ...

    ... he is.

    Parent

    Capt have you seen this. (none / 0) (#38)
    by ragebot on Sat Jun 15, 2019 at 02:58:21 PM EST
    No (none / 0) (#54)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Jun 17, 2019 at 10:12:59 AM EST
    Thanx

    Parent
    Youtube (none / 0) (#97)
    by ragebot on Fri Jun 21, 2019 at 12:47:55 PM EST
    is having lots of posts of the HU recently.  Not just songs but one of the members rehearsing in 360.  Interesting that their front man has the words on a stand in front of him. I got a 360 camera and have been impressed with it.  Any thoughts about 360 and what will happen next.

    Parent
    Well (none / 0) (#104)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Jun 21, 2019 at 02:48:44 PM EST
    It's pretty cool

    Parent
    Chernobly series criticized for getting (none / 0) (#39)
    by McBain on Sat Jun 15, 2019 at 07:06:51 PM EST
    a few things wrong...
    Unfortunately, apart from these striking moments, the series often veers between caricature and folly. In Episode 2, for example, the Central Committee member Boris Shcherbina (Stellan Skarsgård) threatens to have Legasov shot if he doesn't tell him how a nuclear reactor works. There are a lot of people throughout the series who appear to act out of fear of being shot. This is inaccurate: summary executions, or even delayed executions on orders of a single apparatchik, were not a feature of Soviet life after the nineteen-thirties. By and large, Soviet people did what they were told without being threatened with guns or any punishment.

    Here's a quote about the Mary Sue character, Ulyana Khomyuk...

    The biggest fiction in this scene, though, is Khomyuk herself. Unlike other characters, she is made up--according to the closing titles, she represents dozens of scientists who helped Legasov investigate the cause of the disaster. Khomyuk appears to embody every possible Hollywood fantasy. She is a truth-knower: the first time we see her, she is already figuring out that something has gone terribly wrong, and she is grasping it terribly fast, unlike the dense men at the actual scene of the disaster, who seem to need hours to take it in.

    I read other articles that suggested some of radiation science was misleading.  Even with all it's flaws, the strong acting (especially by Jared Harris) made Chernobyl worth viewing.  

    Trump (none / 0) (#50)
    by NoSides on Mon Jun 17, 2019 at 08:21:08 AM EST
    and his man Pompeo are threatening war with Iran.

    I think this would be devastating.
    A new push to war.

    Is there anyone in public life speaking out against this idiotic idea?

    I'm not saying that no one is saying anything, just that if they are, I haven't seen it.

    This is reminiscent of GW Bush's claims of WMD in Irag - the evidence of which was clearly bogus. Watching Pompeo spew his swill on tv was uncomfortably déja vu.

     

    If (none / 0) (#55)
    by FlJoe on Mon Jun 17, 2019 at 10:56:44 AM EST
    you are disturbed by the lack of public outcry, you should be very disturbed about what's going on behind the scenes
    You might ask who's cheerleading for conflict. Well, turns out the chorus includes U.S. taxpayer-funded trolls targeting journalists on social media. Welcome to a new chapter in the disinformation wars," John Avlon said.

    "Front and center is Washington Post columnist Jason Rezaian, who was held in an Iranian prison for about 18 month. He's the last you would think is an apologist or collaborator, but those are the slurs hurled at him and others. His sin is apparently not being sufficiently enthusiastic about regime change. He's been critical of ramped up economic sanctions and the threat of military intervention. What makes this story more than troll and man: It was funded by the U.S. State Department as part of its Global Engagement Center, which is supposed to fight online disinformation and propaganda.

    "In this case, it appears they did exactly the things they were supposed to fight. The Global Engagement Center was supposed to be focused on combating Russian disinformation in campaigns and funded with $80 million to do just that.



    Parent
    "It is irresponsible not to speculate", (none / 0) (#60)
    by KeysDan on Mon Jun 17, 2019 at 03:12:45 PM EST
    corresponds with the incoherent Iranian strategy of the former tea party congressman come Secretary of State, Mike Popmpeo, and the hawkish hawk John Bolton.  The only thing certain about their assertions is there uncertainty.  Indeed, Pompeo went afar of these tanker incidents to accuse Iran of several other attacks with less proof than the Collin Powell-variety.

    Trump, of course, can be thought to see Iran in the light of diversions from domestic matters affecting him, not the least of which is impeachment. He must not entirely believe Speaker Pelosi and her lame arguments that impeachment may  be on the table--even if most others know that she won't let that happen.

    Trump's withdrawal from the 2015 Iran agreement was in pursuit of a better, albeit artless, deal that would erase an Obama achievement and have the Trump name on it.

    This is consistent with what we know to be his arsonist policy so as to get credit for putting out his fires.  He might have pursued amendments to the agreement rather than jettisoning the entire deal. But, then, he appears not to understand, and Pompeo and Bolton don't care, that "maximum pressure" to close down Iran's main source of livelihood--oil, might yield a reaction.

    Trump seems to be now backpedaling on his earlier desire to "talk" probably because he has not gotten beautiful letters from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.  The same advisors who advocated for the 2003 Iraq war are now whispering in his ear about the latest "slam dunk".  

     However, someone in the White House might, at least, prepare an comic-book type drawing pointing out the military/economic differences, including the vaster land mass of Iran as compared with Iraq as well as the differences in population (80 million/Iran; 40 million/Iraq).

    American allies seem skeptical, with Japan stating that the evidence has not gone beyond speculation. Indeed, it seems curious that one of the tankers (Japanese-owned) was attacked at the same time that Japanese Prime Minister Abe was meeting with Iranians in Tehran. Somewhat of a downer to effective negotiations, some might say.

    Republican responses, to date, are tepid. And, we might expect Democrats, such as Joe Biden, who supported the destabilizing Iraq war, would be among the first to ring the alarm bell. Right?

    Rep. Adam Schiff, Chair of the House Intel Committee, also a supporter of the Iraq war, was quoted as saying there was "no question" that Iran was responsible; the "evidence was compelling."

     That evidence seems to be filed right nest to the archived Gulf of Tonkin memos and Iraqi WMD intel. The cause of the explosion (mine, flying object, Iranian boat removing a mine) is in dispute by the tankers' crew and owners. The compelling evidence should, at least, provide some clarifications, wouldn't you think? The outcome seems to have gotten ahead of the process.

    At least Mr. Schiff, has cautioned that Trump should not using the antique AUMF or a Trumpian rule pulled from thin air.  He would like to see this taken to the Congress and UN so that all could get aboard his express train.

    Like Trump's Wall that will be built and Mexico will pay for it, provocations to get his way will not happen.  More likely to occur-- a new regional disaster and another American debacle.

    Parent

    Actually, (none / 0) (#66)
    by NoSides on Tue Jun 18, 2019 at 04:42:32 AM EST
    it is not the lack of "public outcry" that disturbs me.

    In fact, if there were a public outcry, I would expect that the media would either not report it, or would under-report it.

    To be frank, it is the lack of outcry by those vying for the Democratic nomination to oppose Trump in 2020 that is disturbing to me. So far, across the board, from AOC to Biden, I have heard nothing.

    And the print media have forgotten about the concept of investigative journalism. They have become little more than the newsreaders on cable.

    It is frighteningly reminiscent of the run-up to the war in Iraq.

    Parent

    Seriously??? How is that possible? (5.00 / 1) (#122)
    by Yman on Fri Jun 21, 2019 at 07:48:25 PM EST
    To be frank, it is the lack of outcry by those vying for the Democratic nomination to oppose Trump in 2020 that is disturbing to me.  So far, across the board, from AOC to Biden, I have heard nothing.
     

    For real?  Turn on the TV or radio.  Not sure what media you're talking about, but the Democratic candidates have universally opposed a rush to war with Iran.

    Also, AOC is not a candidate, but IS (of course) opposing a rush to war.

    Biden.

    Warren.

    Sanders.

    Harris.

    Etc., etc., etc.

    Parent

    Thanks for the links...but (none / 0) (#131)
    by NoSides on Thu Jul 04, 2019 at 09:31:17 PM EST
    "While most of the Democrats running for president expressed concern about what they see as the Trump administration escalating tensions with Iran, the candidates differed on how they would handle a similar situation if they occupied the Oval Office, what impact military action could have and whether they would support re-entering the Iran nuclear deal."

    This is the kind of thing I was referring to.

    I didn't get a clear sense that they would not do something similar - in "handling a similar situation". In fact, I think they would feel that they had to prove how "tough" they are...

    I must admit I have become jaded because of what I perceive as a readiness on the part of mainstream establishment Democrats, to have abandoned the notion of being openly for peace. No calls for immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan No calls for closure of Guantanamo. I have, in short, absolutely no sense that when push comes to shove, they would behave any differently than the Republicans when it comes to confrontations, coups or "regime change". Witness what they did in Libya. I would like to believe I'm wrong, but I don't see any peace candidates out there.

    Parent

    What you "see" ... (none / 0) (#132)
    by Yman on Fri Jul 05, 2019 at 08:59:23 PM EST
    ... "feel", "sense" or "think they would feel" doesn't really mean much.

    Facts ... evidence ... try them.

    Parent

    Point well taken. (none / 0) (#133)
    by NoSides on Sun Jul 07, 2019 at 09:38:51 AM EST
    Can you direct me to any quote by any of the candidates that say unequivocally that as a first order of business he or she would withdraw our troops from Iraq and Afghanistan?

    I am of the opinion that our troops were put there  under false pretenses. And they are dying there, killing there, with no end in sight.

    I would like to vote for a "peace candidate".
    Can you suggest one to me?

     

    Parent

    Nope (none / 0) (#137)
    by Yman on Mon Jul 08, 2019 at 10:26:55 PM EST
    But that wasn't the issue - it what you falsely claimed about the candidates.

    Frankly, I couldn't care less whether any of the candidates meet your purity test   just don't lie about them.

    Parent

    What I said (none / 0) (#138)
    by NoSides on Sat Jul 27, 2019 at 11:14:53 AM EST
    was that I have yet to hear a politician vying for president express a clear alternative approach to Iran.

    What you condemn as a "purity test" is kind of laughable. Either a politician is on your side, or is not on your side.

    We have gotten used to having to give a candidate the benefit of the doubt - and we shouldn't have to.

    And where has that gotten us?


    Parent

    You really should (none / 0) (#139)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Jul 27, 2019 at 11:29:52 AM EST
    Write Fortune Cookies

    Parent
    My current plan is to move to somewhere less (none / 0) (#57)
    by McBain on Mon Jun 17, 2019 at 12:48:22 PM EST
    expensive in about 6 years but I've said similar things in the past.  One challenge is I can't take the mild weather with me.  I don't like it hotter than 85 degrees or colder than 45.  And humidity isn't an option.  

    There's also a culture/education issue.  Even though I'm mostly a blue collar, average guy, I'm used to being around highly educated, Tesla driving workaholics.  I'm not comfortable being  around pick up trucks and people who hang out at the local bar.  

    I keep looking for some kind of compromise but I haven't found it yet.  I've heard good things about Southern Oregon and Boulder.  Any other options for a middle class snob like me?

    Gibraltar (none / 0) (#58)
    by CST on Mon Jun 17, 2019 at 02:05:24 PM EST
    California weather is tough to match, gotta look on the west side of the northern hemisphere continents, but not too north.  Anything on the east coast will be humid with more extreme temperatures. There was some fluff piece recently about a couple that retired in Gibraltar and saved a bunch of money doing so.  It's basically southern Spain, but they speak English.

    Parent
    Californis prices are hard to match too (none / 0) (#67)
    by ragebot on Tue Jun 18, 2019 at 11:06:29 AM EST
    My solution is to live on my boat in the Florida Keys/Bahamas/down island in season; hard to beat that weather.  But travel during hurricane season.  I have a friend in the Rio who goes up in the mountains there when it is too hot.  Once you get above 5,000 the weather is great.  Several other places in Central and South America have great climates that match your 45-85 limit if you get high up in the mountains.  Cost of living is often very cheap.  But you won't find any Prius driving tree huggers there.  I love experiencing new cultures but often find political and social differences are extreme.  As an example you should never talk about abortion South of the border.  Drugs are another topic that I put off limits.  But once you figure out what is OK to do it can be a great experience.

    Parent
    Your climate conditions (none / 0) (#68)
    by Chuck0 on Tue Jun 18, 2019 at 12:16:50 PM EST
    pretty much leave you limited to Southern California if you want to stay in the US.

    I find the mid-Atlantic to be reasonable weather-wise. The summer are not too hot or humid. We get a few days, but never for very long. Not like the endless months of 100+ degrees I started to experience in Fort Worth.

    And winter isn't too bad. We get a bad snow storm about every third year. This past winter wasn't bad. It does get cold and stays cold.

    This past week we barely made it out of the 60s for a high.

    Parent

    I like Southern California (none / 0) (#69)
    by McBain on Tue Jun 18, 2019 at 08:54:07 PM EST
    I've thought about Burbank a few times.  Nothing is going to be perfect, I'll have to sacrifice something.  Right now, I'm sacrificing living space.  

    Parent
    Medellin or Cuenca, Ecuador (none / 0) (#134)
    by Jeralyn on Mon Jul 08, 2019 at 12:34:14 AM EST
    Medellin is the city of eternal spring - same weather all year round, in the 70's. During an average day the temperature typically ranges from 63.2 to 82.1 degrees. Cuenca in Ecuador, a World Heritage site, has similar weathre.

    Mexico is also worth looking at. If you want to be near the water, Ixtapa and Zihuantanejo in Mexico has great beaches and low humidity because it's in the desert. If you want beaches and middle class, try Playa del Carmen, Cancun or Tulum. If you want more high-brow, try San Miguel de Allende or Lake Chapala.

    Boulder gets hotter than 85 in the summer and way colder than 45 in the winter. Not sure what you would do there if you aren't in academia.

    Parent

    Los Espookys (none / 0) (#64)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Jun 17, 2019 at 07:13:43 PM EST
    Try this

    very funny HBO comedy Los Espookys. In fact, one of those creators, Saturday Night Live alum Fred Armisen, tells Thrillist that his own house is basically going for the same aesthetic.

    Armisen is one of the minds behind the series, along with current SNL writer Julio Torres, who wrote the perfect "Wells for Boys" sketch, and the hilarious comedian Ana Fabrega. (Please, just watch Fabrega say "Hola, Mike Pence" on Twitter. You'll get it.)

    Los Espookys is arguably the most bizarre and delightfully perplexing thing you'll see on TV this year. Primarily in Spanish, it's about a group of friends in an unnamed Latin American city who form a horror group. What exactly is a horror group? Well, they create fantastical, spooky scenarios. In the premiere, they help a priest win back the love of his parishioners by staging an exorcism. In another episode, they create a sea monster to boost tourism for a town whose former mascot was an owl with a wig. (The owl lost its wig, creating the need for another attraction.)



    scandal, there are now some class actions lawsuits against the colleges involved in the scandal brought by rejected applicants who wish to recover their application fees.

    "Each of the universities took the students' admission application fees while failing to take adequate steps to ensure that their admissions process was fair and free of fraud, bribery, cheating and dishonesty," the suit reads.

    As these colleges' application processes were clearly rigged, I think the rejected applicants should get their application fees returned.

    Agreed. (none / 0) (#74)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Jun 19, 2019 at 05:34:25 PM EST
    Given that nobody can really tell who got rejected in favor of whom when whom's moneybagged parents had their thumbs on the scales, I think that those universities and colleges implicated in this scandal should refund all application fees to those who request it. It's a matter of fairness.

    Parent
    Another victory for single payer clients. (none / 0) (#80)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Thu Jun 20, 2019 at 10:55:38 AM EST
    Not bothering to read (none / 0) (#123)
    by Yman on Fri Jun 21, 2019 at 07:56:47 PM EST
    There's an ad blocker.  Besides, it's nothing more than a failed attempt to smear government healthcare, which is laughable on its face.

    Yawn.

    Parent

    The TERROR. Season 2 (none / 0) (#81)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jun 20, 2019 at 03:56:20 PM EST
    looks great

    Anywhere you go, it follows you.

    AMC's Ridley Scott-produced anthology series "The Terror" is returning this year with second season "The Terror: Infamy," and today brings a new 1-minute long trailer for the season.

    Set during World War II, the haunting and suspenseful second season of the horror-infused anthology, "The Terror: Infamy", centers on a series of bizarre deaths that haunt a Japanese-American internment camp, and a young man's journey to understand and combat the malevolent entity responsible. It will premiere on AMC Monday, August 12th.

    The series stars Derek Mio as Chester Nakayama; Kiki Sukezane (Lost in Space) as Yuko, a mysterious woman from Chester's past; Cristina Rodlo (Miss Bala) as Luz, Chester's secret girlfriend; Shingo Usami (Unbroken) as Henry Nakayama, Chester's father; Naoko Mori (Everest) as Asako Nakayama, Chester's mother; Miki Ishikawa (9-1-1) as Amy, a Nakayama family friend; and renowned actor, producer, author and activist George Takei (Star Trek) as Yamato-san, a community elder and former fishing captain.  



    Captain, (none / 0) (#84)
    by KeysDan on Thu Jun 20, 2019 at 05:42:57 PM EST
    have you seen the British series, Happy Valley or In the Line of Duty (Netflix).   If so, do you recommend?  Just finished Broadchurch, very good.

    Parent
    I don't remember them (none / 0) (#86)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jun 20, 2019 at 06:30:19 PM EST
    If I have so probably not

    Parent
    I thought the first season of Happy Valley (none / 0) (#87)
    by McBain on Thu Jun 20, 2019 at 08:08:51 PM EST
    was really good.  Same with season one of Top of the Lake.

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    IMO (none / 0) (#83)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jun 20, 2019 at 04:33:00 PM EST
    Wacky anti vaxxer Marianne Williamsons comments -

    Presidential candidate Marianne Williamson, an author and self-help guru who will appear on the Democratic debate stage next week, apologized Wednesday night after she attacked mandatory vaccinations as "draconian" and "Orwellian" at a Manchester, N.H., event.
    "To me, it's no different than the abortion debate," Williamson said at the event, according to a tweet from an NBC News reporter. "The U.S. government doesn't tell any citizen, in my book, what they have to do with their body or their child."

    inRead invented by Teads

    About "Orwellian" vaccination schemes is more offensive than Uncle Joe waxing rhapsodic about segregationists

    But I guess at least she was smart enough to backpedal

    I might care (5.00 / 1) (#89)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Jun 21, 2019 at 06:43:05 AM EST
    more if she was polling above zero.

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    She is going to be (none / 0) (#90)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Jun 21, 2019 at 08:26:46 AM EST
    On the debate stage

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    Yes, (none / 0) (#92)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Jun 21, 2019 at 11:08:56 AM EST
    but so are a number of other candidates of her ilk.

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    And they will all get as much air time (none / 0) (#93)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Jun 21, 2019 at 11:14:07 AM EST
    As the serious ones.  And not sure about her ilk.  As far as I know there are no other anti vaxxers

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    Have to wonder about the lineup redux (none / 0) (#96)
    by ragebot on Fri Jun 21, 2019 at 12:40:03 PM EST
    Guessing there will be a lot of soundbites from the debates the pubs will use in their ads against the dems.  And not all the soundbites will come from the one percent dems.

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    The GOP (none / 0) (#103)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Jun 21, 2019 at 02:48:25 PM EST
    has a candidate that is a one person make an ad for the Dems. I know the GOP is desperate and they are gonna try screaming it is the end of the world but who is going to believe them outside of their 40% base? Even Trump's campaign says he is in serious trouble to the point of doing worse than Bob Dole in 1996. The states he desperately needs like WI, MI and PA have gone out of his reach.

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    To think Trump can't win (none / 0) (#107)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Jun 21, 2019 at 02:57:01 PM EST
    Is delusional.  I was listening to Charlie Pierce the other day talking about how dangerous this kind of talk is.  And that this will be the craziest dirtiest ugliest most dangerous and most sickening political campaign in history by a lot.

    That Trump will do absolutely anything to win because he knows perfectly well if he loses he's going to jail so he literally has nothing to lose.  And the republicans will cover for him and enable him because they know they are in the same boat.

    To try to judge the outcome of this based on any history or normal expected result  is beyond pointless.  

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    No he (none / 0) (#108)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Jun 21, 2019 at 03:13:35 PM EST
    can win but it is going to take a confluence of events for him to do it. The information we have now says he is in serious trouble. Do you think he can turn it around? Then there's always the GOP finding ways to cheat and help him like they've done in the past.

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    Not sure turning it around is the goal (none / 0) (#109)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Jun 21, 2019 at 03:20:36 PM EST
    His approval/disapproval is roughly where it was when he won the first time.  Do I think he is capable of putting on such a repulsive show lots of people just want to crawl under a rock until it's over?  Do I think it's possible he will push turnout in blue states so this time we lose the popular vote by 5-6 million and still lose the EC?

    I do.

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    Trump understands he can't win (none / 0) (#110)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Jun 21, 2019 at 03:24:06 PM EST
    That his only path is to make the democrat lose.  To make them frightening alien and unelectable.

    Who we nominate will influence how effective that is.

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    Well (none / 0) (#113)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Jun 21, 2019 at 03:42:40 PM EST
    that certainly has worked in the recent past. It is the strategy used by George W. Bush in 2004 and Obama in 2012. So I understand the strategy. It doesn't always work though either. To me it really depends on how much Americans want to get rid of Trump. It is going to be a referendum on him.

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    I (none / 0) (#115)
    by FlJoe on Fri Jun 21, 2019 at 04:55:10 PM EST
    think republicans in general understand they can't win without cheating, and cheat they will.

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    Well, the good (none / 0) (#112)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Jun 21, 2019 at 03:39:40 PM EST
    news is MI and WI no longer have their governors. Nobody hopefully is going to be complacent. I understand the wanting to crawl underneath a rock for sure. I know it is going to be ugly. The GOP is desperate. There is a team working on getting 20 million more people to show up to vote in 2020. So there are plenty of people who are taking zero chances. Well, his approval is down 5 points which is more than enough to erase 77K votes. The big unknown is how much cheating the GOP is going to do. Will they collude with Russia again? I think that pipeline has been slammed shut with Assange for now. Probably not enough time for Putin to develop another one. The scary thing is the election security. How many states have good security? I know Georgia does not.

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    The Russians never left (none / 0) (#114)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Jun 21, 2019 at 04:07:58 PM EST
    Another thing.  Don't believe these polls.  I do not believe Warren and Trump are statistically tied in TX.

    What I think, and what I think will spread, is that as Trump becomes increasingly unstable and visibly insane more people will be reluctant to tell a pollster they will vote for him and then they will vote for him.

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    Russia (none / 0) (#116)
    by FlJoe on Fri Jun 21, 2019 at 05:20:33 PM EST
    never left and next year tRump will conspire with them, bigly.

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    Yeah (none / 0) (#117)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Jun 21, 2019 at 05:43:52 PM EST
    but don't you think some of the media organizations are going to be more careful about publishing Russian garbage? In 2016 they took the Russian garbage and ran with it. I'd like to think some of them have learned their lesson (not looking at the NYT though).

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    No (none / 0) (#118)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Jun 21, 2019 at 06:05:22 PM EST
    I don't think Bone Spurs (none / 0) (#119)
    by Chuck0 on Fri Jun 21, 2019 at 06:07:39 PM EST
    can win PA. Scott Wagner, who is a Bone Spurs clone, was resoundingly rejected in the 2018 Governor's race. There are diehards in the Pennsultucky regions of the commonwealth but I think they are becoming outnumbered.

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    I suppose my point is (none / 0) (#120)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Jun 21, 2019 at 06:36:32 PM EST
    Whatever we may think, I would remind us of what we all thought in Oct 2016, we should live every day between now and Nov 2020 like you think he could win PA.

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    The story that just won't die (none / 0) (#95)
    by ragebot on Fri Jun 21, 2019 at 12:37:22 PM EST
    Looks like a special prosecutor for Jussie.

    I am not sure about what technicalities are involved in this but my guess is there will be a long dragged out fight about it.

    Chicago needs to let it go (none / 0) (#100)
    by McBain on Fri Jun 21, 2019 at 12:57:40 PM EST
    If he was guilty of something significant they had their chance and blew it.  Maybe look into corruption but not Smolett.

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    Honestly this whole primary business (none / 0) (#98)
    by CST on Fri Jun 21, 2019 at 12:48:23 PM EST
    Just makes me miss 2008. I'd kill for that caliber candidate right now.

    As it is, I'll probably vote for whoever is polling first at the top of my "not-$hitlist".   Right now that's Warren but tbh if its Harris or Beto or Amy or whoever at that point, that's who it will be.  In case anyone is wondering, the $hitlist currently consists of Biden, Bernie, Buttigieg, and Gabbard.  There's always room for more though if anyone else feels like standing up for segregationists, inciting a cult, or just being completely unqualified.

    I guess I could add (none / 0) (#99)
    by CST on Fri Jun 21, 2019 at 12:49:27 PM EST
    Being anti-vax but tbh if you're polling under 1% you haven't earned the right to be on the $hitlist.

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    I dread a 2016 republican style (none / 0) (#102)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Jun 21, 2019 at 02:45:24 PM EST
    Pig f'ck with this two ring debate circus.  With that many people no one is going to have more that a couple of minutes which I fear will lead to making some outrageous statement or attack that will raise them to shi+list qualifiers.

    The more I watch of this the more it strikes me how idiotic it is there are at least 15 people running who know they have absolutely no chance and are just there to "raise their profile" while ignoring senate races coast to coast that could be won.

    And it pi$$es me off.

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    I feel (none / 0) (#106)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Jun 21, 2019 at 02:52:09 PM EST
    the same way. Bulloch and Hickenlooper come to mind for senate races.

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    Sam Bee (none / 0) (#125)
    by leap on Fri Jun 21, 2019 at 08:23:11 PM EST
    Yeah, (none / 0) (#105)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Jun 21, 2019 at 02:51:09 PM EST
    I know. Maybe someone will break out but so far IMO the two leading are the worst candidates we have.

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