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Sunday Open Thread

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Blog Related
Posted on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 12:54:45 PM EST
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I'm getting on a plane again. You're on your own until Jeralyn gets back.

This is an Open Thread.

Update (Jeralyn): It's going to be a while before I can blog today, I've got a big brief due tomorrow. I hope you all will carry on without us for a bit.

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    Sunday Open Thread | 75 comments (75 topical)

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    Chance for a laugh...maybe.... (5.00 / 7) (#3)
    by jawbone on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 01:40:47 PM EST
    Mad Kane's Political Madness blog, with this about Obama and the Summit:

    Dear Obama, Enough With The Voltaire!

    I don't know about you, but I'm getting really tired of this line frequently used by Obama and other pols: "America can't afford to let the perfect be the enemy of the good."

    Obama usually uses this Voltaire paraphrase as an excuse to disappoint progressives yet again.

    The original Voltaire quote is "The perfect is the enemy of the good," translated from the French, "Le mieux est l'ennemi du bien." (The literal translation actually should be, "The best is the enemy of the good.")

    This brings me to my latest double limerick:

    Dear Obama, Enough With The Voltaire!
    By Madeleine Begun Kane

    There once was a guy named Voltaire,
    A Frenchman whose wisdom pols share.
    They say, "Perfect, though fine,
    Is hardly divine
    When it blocks the essential. So there!"

    Dear Obama, this line is just guff --
    An excuse for not doing enough.
    So instead of excuses,
    Fight right-wing abuses.
    Voltaire is annoying. Hang tough!

    Lots more there.

    I bet the Canadian men's team (5.00 / 1) (#30)
    by Jen M on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 08:07:36 PM EST
    gets to celebrate without being yelled at for being unladylike.

    This cover of "Baba O'Reilly"... (none / 0) (#1)
    by Dadler on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 01:16:26 PM EST
    ...won't get out of my head for some reason.

    Antidote (none / 0) (#2)
    by squeaky on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 01:19:55 PM EST
    Have a good sexual fantasy, that usually wipes out songs that you cannot get out of your head.

    Parent
    50 K X-Country Classical -- gorgeous trails, used (none / 0) (#4)
    by jawbone on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 01:51:21 PM EST
    two different loops.

    Norway (Petter Northug) gold, Germany silver, Sweden bronze. US skier, trains with college team in AK, came in 28th, which was considered very good.

    There was a sprint at the end with the German skier leading approaching the finish line, but Northug was able to do that pole, hop, one ski slight kick thing way faster than the German and pulled ahead. Amazingly faster at the poling, at the end of 2:05-ish minutes of hard, hard skiing.

    Took a bit of time get up off the ground and was his chest heaving!

    And the trails...so beautiful.  

    Times: 2:05:35.5 over 2:05:35.8 -- looked clearer! (none / 0) (#5)
    by jawbone on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 02:04:43 PM EST
    Results from BBC.

    Parent
    Grassroots beverage activism (none / 0) (#6)
    by Politalkix on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 02:13:41 PM EST
    Tea & Coffee

    Great - another party that pretends ... (none / 0) (#20)
    by RonK Seattle on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 06:32:51 PM EST
    ... to represent the grassroots by pretending not to stand for anything!

    Let's fill out the tournament bracket by adding:

    #5 - The T.P. Party, and

    #6 - The Cough Syrup Party.

    (The D's and R's get first-round byes.)

    Parent

    Fondue Party? So we can have fun doing it? (5.00 / 1) (#31)
    by jawbone on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 08:33:24 PM EST
    Coke Party? Diet Coke Party? Dr. Pepper Party?

    Parent
    Can we have some w{h}ine with that (5.00 / 1) (#33)
    by nycstray on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 08:35:34 PM EST
    Fondue?

    Parent
    I've decided Irish whiskey straight (5.00 / 1) (#34)
    by oculus on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 09:20:25 PM EST
    is the drink of choice tonight.  Not sure what it will accompany foodwise.

    Parent
    I have a soft spot (none / 0) (#38)
    by nycstray on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 09:35:48 PM EST
    for the Irish {drinking wise} ;) Great cooking aide on the creative end, lol!~

    Parent
    Yup -I run down to the whine cellar.... (none / 0) (#36)
    by jawbone on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 09:31:21 PM EST
    But of course one has wine. Or even champaign...

    Parent
    what about the (none / 0) (#29)
    by Jen M on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 08:05:54 PM EST
    beer party

    or the

    milk and cookies party (for elementary school age kids)

    Parent

    Is Depression Functional? (none / 0) (#7)
    by squeaky on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 03:20:29 PM EST
    Speaking of not being able to get something out of your hear here is an interesting take on the process of rumination:

    Andrews and Thomson struck up an extended conversation on the evolutionary roots of depression. They began by focusing on the thought process that defines the disorder, which is known as rumination.

    [snip]

    Their evolutionary perspective, however -- they see the mind as a fine-tuned machine that is not prone to pointless programming bugs -- led them to wonder if rumination had a purpose.

    NYT via Laura Rozen

    Bill Maher really tried to whup on (none / 0) (#8)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 03:43:00 PM EST
    Buddhism last night :)  I just watched it this morning and I guess the path isn't for him.  Too bad :)  Plus he had Adam Carolla on, and for the life of me I still can't figure out how Bill or Adam ever got laid.  And then Bill started hacking on Dr. Drew.....and hey Bill, I would have wined and dined Drew ages ago but sadly he was already spoken for.  Dr. Drew is a hottie!  Buddhism has some teachings on depression that ask if there is a "functional life reason" for depression, and entertains that there is a unknown truth coming to the surface or a deeper wisdom being learned and it is hard work.  Ruminating is an opportunity to revisit our past and the decisions we made and make different choices in our future based on what we have learned from our sometimes depressing pasts.  It can be depressing though :)  I think that there are depressions that are dangerous and stop serving a rational functional, maybe never did.  I recently saw an article though that indicated that all the antidepressants we pump into the population seems to have little effect on mild depressions....and perhaps that is because those depressions aren't biochemical in nature.

    Parent
    Wow (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by squeaky on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 04:11:34 PM EST
    Never thought about that now obvious connection. The very essence of meditation (and prayer) is rumination. When repeating a mantra, or quietly observing ones thoughts we are engaged in rumination.

    Saw this beautiful interview with Thich Nhat Hahn last week on mindfulness. I have always admired him, so simple and sweet.

    Missed those characters you mention though. I don't know who they are, so I assume that they are from the teevee, a modern appliance that I do not have.

    Along the lines of the ineffectualness of antidepressants, I read  something some time ago, about placebos having the same effect as anti depressants. Makes you wonder about the wonder drugs..

    Parent

    I thougth gays, vegetarians (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by observed on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 05:15:06 PM EST
    and atheists, but not no-fault divorce, caused depression.

    Parent
    a nice hot curry is pretty good (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by observed on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 05:46:00 PM EST
    for mild depression too.
    I'm about to dig into a yoghurty hot chicken curry I'm making.. boy my mood is improving.

    Parent
    I had a boyfriend (5.00 / 0) (#15)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 06:20:34 PM EST
    at one time....long time ago, and he and his engineer father used to attempt to test how much they could lift their moods by eating different chili.  They used to talk a lot about "vapor locking" too as they weekly engaged in this behavior.  Then they bought some contraption that would chocolate cover things and they made chili covered in Belgium chocolate and ate them.  Interesting family, always uplifting :)

    Parent
    The curry was pretty good (none / 0) (#19)
    by observed on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 06:31:19 PM EST
    I put mint chutney on one side of the plate and mango chutney on the other.. yum.

    Parent
    It just clears out the gunk doesn't it? (none / 0) (#21)
    by Ellie on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 06:42:04 PM EST
    I have to have my daal and rice (or flatbread) at least twice a week. Leftovers are nice at room temp for lunch, too. (Leftovers ... ahhhhHAHAHA as if there ever are any.)

    Tip: if you're making beans from dried/scratch: simmer briefly with a bay leaf and those monstrous looking clean ginger skins that are left over when you grate ginger into a final dish.

    Works for Indian, Carib/Mexican beans; any world bean dish, actually, and you hardly need to add salt till the very end. I keep the ginger skins in a zip in the freezer.

    Parent

    Nice tip. I use the ginger paste (none / 0) (#23)
    by observed on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 07:03:45 PM EST
    if I can get it---store bought ginger doesn't seem to have much taste any more.
    Next time I order from Penzeys I'm going to try their dried chinese ginger.

    Parent
    Mmm -- now you have to upload for the whole class! (none / 0) (#25)
    by Ellie on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 07:27:06 PM EST
    'Enh' ginger develops a stronger, mellow flavor if you let it dry slowly and gently.

    I've tried to grow it (with not very good results) but the fresh is so widely available wherever I've been situated I don't bother.

    Dried and ground it's a great treatment for nausea or motion sickness. Alton Brown's home-made ginger beer kicks @ss, too! (I think it's UToobed.)

    Another way to go is to take fresh (peeled) ginger, sliced wafer thin on a mandolin or the side of a box-cutter, and preserve it under rice wine vinegar (and oil if you like). You can chop it for curries or use it for sushi.

    Parent

    Happy day for Canada! 3-2, OT; So nice for them! (none / 0) (#10)
    by jawbone on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 04:57:19 PM EST
    A nation with the good sense to provide health care for its people deserve to win this!

    Oh, I feel really good about this game: Great play, last minute tie by USA, and the Canadian victory.

    Oh, Canada! Now, just rid of Harper....

    That was a tense one (5.00 / 1) (#46)
    by FreakyBeaky on Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 01:20:07 AM EST
    I thought both teams played most of the game like they were afraid to make a mistake.  Not surprising considering how little room for error there was out there.

    Going into OT,  I thought "dear god, don't let this end in a shootout." Instead, it ended just the way it should, a clean, unquestionable goal. Perfect.  Hey, not everybody makes that pass from Iggy to Crosby, or that shot.  Great game, great tournament.

    Hat tip to the women too, who have mastered such hockey essentials as looking back over your shoulder and yapping at the ref while skating to the penalty box, moving cross ice or down the boards to clean your opponent's clock even when you know it is going to be called a penalty, and the extracurricular activity in front of the net after the whistle.  No body checking my @ss. :-)

    Parent

    O Canada! (none / 0) (#11)
    by Cream City on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 05:02:56 PM EST
    Love the country, love the people, loved the game.

    Now I gotta stand and sing the most beautiful national anthem from the country of my foremothers.

    Parent

    My BC neighbors...so great. (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by oldpro on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 06:14:35 PM EST
    Love the people, love the country, loved the game and loved your comment!

    Parent
    Wiki has the lyrics, French (written first), (none / 0) (#26)
    by jawbone on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 07:58:32 PM EST
    English, and  Inuktitut:

    O Canada!
    Our home and native land!
    True patriot love in all thy sons command.
    With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
    The True North strong and free!
    From far and wide, O Canada,
    We stand on guard for thee.
    God keep our land glorious and free!
    O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
    O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
    Français:

    Ô Canada!
    Terre de nos aïeux,
    Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux!
    Car ton bras sait porter l'épée,
    Il sait porter la croix!
    Ton histoire est une épopée
    Des plus brillants exploits.
    Et ta valeur, de foi trempée,
    Protégera nos foyers et nos droits,
    Protégera nos foyers et nos droit

    Translation of French Lyrics

    O Canada!
    Land of our ancestors,
    Thy brow is wreathed with a glorious
    garland of flowers.
    As in thy arm ready to wield the sword,
    So also is it ready to carry the cross.
    Thy history is an epic
    Of the most brilliant exploits.
    Thy valour steeped in faith
    Will protect our homes and our rights
    Will protect our homes and our rights.

    The Wiki articles has the history of the anthem, it's various changes. Not too long and interesting.

    We really should be taught the anthems of our both our immediate neighbors in grade school, I think.

    Parent

    I learned the English one years ago (none / 0) (#44)
    by Cream City on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 11:44:35 PM EST
    when I fell in love with my ancestral land.  I  since have worked on the French accent for the French-language version, which is so lovely, ever since finding a Youtube with a series of voices singing it in both languages (and with great Canadian landscapes for the visuals, more breathtaking than even the beautiful tune).  But I fear that I do not do the French accent well.

    As for our anthem, I would settle for American schoolkids learning it in another language in this country, for starters. :-)

    Parent

    hockey (none / 0) (#41)
    by noholib on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 10:33:22 PM EST
    Thank  you for these gracious comments! I know many Canadians who move to the U.S. and become socially and politically active American citizens, but whose inner Canadian comes out in full and passionate force when it comes to hockey on the international stage!  
    So, speaking as one of those, I offer these thoughts on the game.  Of course, I am thrilled that Canada won.  Some of you may have no idea how deep is the love and pride of Canadians when it comes to hockey, and just how much it matters -- even to those who no longer live in Canada.

    The Americans were the Cinderella team of these Olympics, far surpassing expectations, goalie Ryan Miller was the most outstanding player of all and earned MVP award, and the U.S. team played the most consistently throughout the tournament. The team should be very proud of itself, and so should all Americans who follow hockey. Congratulations!

    This was a great game because it was so close.  Both teams showed real grit today.  It was a classic of suspense, but not a classic in terms of play-making, passing, finesse, etc.  There was a lot of sloppy play.  In fact, Canada played its  best game against the Russians; old rivalries do rev up the engine in unique ways -- Canada's intense determination in that game was a sight to behold, and it was not present through much of today's game. The youth of the U.S. team showed as they got stronger during the course of today's game, while Canada looked increasingly tired especially in the third period.  Yes, 4 wins in 6 days is grueling.  To the U.S. team's credit, they never gave up; to Team Canada's credit, they didn't let the tying goal deflate them though the momentum was clearly against them at that point.  Canada came out much stronger and more focused during the overtime than before, seeming to have have woken up and regained some intensity.
    Unbelievable ending to a very good game!

    Now, given Canada's gold-medal strength in these games -- 14 is an Olympic record! -- is there any chance that the U.S. will learn some lessons from Canada in two fundamentally important areas: (1) Canada's prudent, regulated banking system has proven itself very sound during these past two years of global economic crisis, and (2) Canada's single-payer health care system does provide coverage for all citizens at a reasonable cost and without forcing people into bankruptcy for medical reasons.  When President Obama follows through by sending Molson Canadian beer to Prime Minister Harper in payment of his lost bet on the hockey game, might he take just a moment to think about some of Canada's public virtues?


    Parent

    Oh please...... (none / 0) (#42)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 10:56:43 PM EST
    Spare me the commercial and pass the Screech.

    Parent
    Our bacon still kicks their 'bacon'! (none / 0) (#16)
    by RonK Seattle on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 06:24:16 PM EST
    But a game well played and fairly won.

    Parent
    Would you like pineapple with that (none / 0) (#18)
    by observed on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 06:30:29 PM EST
    greasy american bacon, to go on your pizza?

    Parent
    Ugh - I've always hated all the fat in our streaky (none / 0) (#27)
    by jawbone on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 08:00:20 PM EST
    bacon -- love Canadian bacon, the bacon I had in England.

    If the bacon isn't totally crisp I can't eat it. And when it is I still know there's all that fat there.

    Parent

    Are you insane?...:) (5.00 / 3) (#50)
    by kdog on Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 08:54:09 AM EST
    The fat is what makes it so god damn good!

    Besides, we have Canadian Bacon too, it's called ham:)

    Parent

    My husband refers to bacon as (5.00 / 1) (#51)
    by Anne on Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 09:05:05 AM EST
    "Meat Candy," which he saw on a t-shirt worn by chef Rick Bayless...

    For my money, the fattier the bacon the better, and crisp is the only way to go...

    Parent

    Amen... (5.00 / 1) (#52)
    by kdog on Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 09:16:03 AM EST
    extra crisp...and I always specify when ordering bacon and egg sandwiches, fatty undercooked bacon can ruin a delicous cardiac-arrest breakfast.

    There is a small deli in my old neighborhood that makes the best egg sandwiches ever...Sal's Deli.  Scrambled eggs with chunks of ham in it, extra-crisp bacon, on Italian bread smeared with butter...we call it the cardiac special and it is heaven on earth.  Spent many a sunrise sitting on the curb in front of Sal's waiting for him to open after an all-nighter.

    Parent

    Microwave (none / 0) (#53)
    by mmc9431 on Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 09:29:37 AM EST
    The only reason I have a microwave is to cook bacon, soften the butter and reheat the coffee. Bacon comes out great!

    Parent
    I'll microwave in a pinch, (5.00 / 1) (#55)
    by Anne on Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 09:39:06 AM EST
    but I think there's nothing like bacon cooked in a pan on the stove, slow and steady, until it reaches perfection.

    Take some toast made from decent bread, slather both sides with mayo and a little mustard, sadd ome thin slivers of onion, vine-ripened tomato, bacon and top with cheese.  Slide into toaster oven for a few minutes to heat through and melt cheese.

    Squish both pieces together, and grab a couple of napkins for the mess you'll make eating it.

    Chew slowly and struggle to make the sandwich last longer than it does, and kick yourself for not making two...my mouth waters just thinking about it!

    Parent

    That should say "add some" (none / 0) (#56)
    by Anne on Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 09:40:13 AM EST
    not "sadd ome" - sheesh, I guess it really is Monday...

    Parent
    Double amen... (none / 0) (#59)
    by kdog on Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 10:00:10 AM EST
    slow cooked, low flame, frequent flipping...and save some grease to cook your eggs in.

    I'm gonna add onions to me next BLT, make it a BLOT...TY Anne for the tip.

    Parent

    Try a BLOAT too.... (5.00 / 1) (#60)
    by vml68 on Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 10:31:50 AM EST
    Avacadoes.

    Parent
    Or better yet..... (none / 0) (#61)
    by vml68 on Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 10:33:09 AM EST
    avocadoes

    Parent
    Thanks... (none / 0) (#62)
    by kdog on Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 10:39:43 AM EST
    but I'm not an avocadoe guy...I can't stand guacamole.

    Parent
    That's it Kdog.... (5.00 / 1) (#65)
    by vml68 on Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 10:55:53 AM EST
    the wedding is off. This is blasphemy... :-)!

    I'm not an avocadoe guy...I can't stand guacamole


    Parent
    Oh well... (5.00 / 1) (#66)
    by kdog on Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 11:27:33 AM EST
    the loss is all mine:)

    Parent
    Love avocados... (none / 0) (#67)
    by Anne on Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 12:15:13 PM EST
    At the risk of creating something too big to get one's mouth around, you can add chicken and avocado to the bacon, onion, tomato, and cheese...

    If I'm eating it warm, I skip the lettuce; if cold, definitely have to have the lettuce.

    A local deli makes a Cobb Salad wrap that is to die for; it's my standing order for our once-monthly department lunch meetings...I exercise great self-control and only eat half the day of the meeting, and save the other half for the next day.

    Parent

    I think we can cut to the chase... (none / 0) (#70)
    by kdog on Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 12:52:42 PM EST
    and say adding bacon to most any sandwich makes it that much better...I love a couple slices on tuna and chicken salad sandwiches.

    Parent
    I beg to differ... (none / 0) (#54)
    by kdog on Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 09:38:15 AM EST
    I can't get down with microwave bacon...gotta be fried up in a skillet.

    Parent
    Ah, I disagree (none / 0) (#57)
    by jbindc on Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 09:50:40 AM EST
    Ruberry bacon is the best.  Crispy, to me, is a waste of good bacon!

    Parent
    Rather (none / 0) (#58)
    by jbindc on Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 09:50:54 AM EST
    "rubbery"

    Parent
    Still catching my breath; a classic for the ages (none / 0) (#17)
    by Ellie on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 06:29:12 PM EST
    I was conflicted because it was one of those "Who ya rootin' for, Mom (Canuck) or Dad (U! S! A! ... U! S! A!)?" situations. I leaned Mom-ward because she made us put on the skates in the first place, hoping for a figure skater in the bunch, but the girls ended up playing hockey. (That was back when girls' hockey drew hostility for "preventing" boys from getting scholarships blah blah blah.)

    Any result would have been great, so I split the diff and cheered for U! S! Eh!!

    Great Olys all-around. I have to lie down now or have a serious beer; maybe both simultaneously.

    Parent

    U S Eh! --that's too funny. Very clever. (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by jawbone on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 08:01:13 PM EST


    Parent
    Don't look now, but (none / 0) (#22)
    by lentinel on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 06:57:28 PM EST
    Obama signed the extension of the misnamed "Patriot Act" today.

    Politicians like Obama evoke the "founding fathers" now and then.
    But they pay no attention to what they said.

    "They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security."-  Benjamin Franklin

    The "they" in that statement is us.

    Voltaire sez: Obama is the enemy (none / 0) (#24)
    by observed on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 07:04:39 PM EST
    of the perfect. That's rough news for TL'ers;)

    Parent
    Undercover Boss (none / 0) (#32)
    by nycstray on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 08:34:14 PM EST
    I think some folks in DC need to watch this show . .

    just sayin'.

    Wow, between the increase (none / 0) (#35)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 09:27:31 PM EST
    in our homeowners insurance and property taxes....what my house is worth continues to rise around here yearly even though I could never sell it for what they claim it is worth....my house payment increased a $100 this year.  What is the unemployment percentage right now?  My house is worth what even the housing market has totally crashed and bleed out? How can the cost of everything really be going up like this?  I smell everyone getting fecked over some more, as if what has taken place so far wasn't enough.

    Like climbing Mt Everset (5.00 / 1) (#49)
    by mmc9431 on Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 08:38:18 AM EST
    My property tax has almost doubled in the last three years. It's gone from $2800 to $5400. My insurance has more than doubled in the same period. All the while home pricing have dropped 24% here. (I won't even go into utility costs, food or health care combined with stagnated salary). It doens't take Einstein to figure out why foreclosures and bankruptcies are off the chart.

    That's why I cringe any time I hear of a tax cut! I know full well that for every dime the Feds cut, the state, county and city will add a dollar. It's like one step forward and ten steps back.

    Parent

    Watcha talkin `bout? (5.00 / 1) (#64)
    by NYShooter on Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 10:54:40 AM EST
    The Gubmint says inflation is "under control," only 2%. Of course that's the "core rate," excluding food, energy, and everything else everyone needs every day to live.

    Yup, dey got everything under control

    Parent

    In the past three years (none / 0) (#73)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 09:10:05 PM EST
    our house payment has increased 20% due to the added property taxes and homeowners insurance....and for no other reasons other than that.

    Parent
    And my son just called it (none / 0) (#74)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 09:14:10 PM EST
    a cracker shack :)

    Parent
    Let's have a bit of respect for hearth (5.00 / 1) (#75)
    by oculus on Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 10:18:10 PM EST
    and home.

    Parent
    None this matters one whit. Just ask Sen. (none / 0) (#39)
    by oculus on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 09:46:49 PM EST
    Bunning and the Dem. Senate leadership.  Heck, let's all just take a long weekend and go home..

    Parent
    Well you could live in Cali (none / 0) (#68)
    by Socraticsilence on Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 12:15:58 PM EST
    they haven't raised property taxes in like 3 decades, of course this also means the states been in an economic crisis for the past 10 years or so.

    Parent
    Much attention to Prop. 13 on (none / 0) (#69)
    by oculus on Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 12:20:32 PM EST
    local PBS radio last week.  Turns out, due to tincture of time only 8% of residential property is still benefiting from Prop. 13 re tax limitations and also only 8% of commercial property.  

    Parent
    Ugh - NBC has cut us off from the very end of the (none / 0) (#37)
    by jawbone on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 09:34:08 PM EST
    closing ceremonies -- went to new Seinfeld program. And it was so fun, so camp with elan!

    PO'd viewer here (and that's not public option PO).

    I really want one of those moose antler headpieces with the largish flashing light...great for walking at night.

    How depressing: (none / 0) (#40)
    by oculus on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 10:24:11 PM EST
    Starbuck's ok with guns if state law permits

    State Laws (none / 0) (#43)
    by squeaky on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 11:32:13 PM EST
    The [SC] justices on Tuesday will hear arguments in a challenge to a Chicago area ban on handguns and semiautomatic weapons, weighing for the first time whether the Second Amendment right to bear arms applies to local and state gun regulations. For a state such as California, which has long been a target of gun rights advocates for a slew of firearms regulations, a Supreme Court ruling extending Second Amendment protections to cities and states could open the floodgates to a new generation of lawsuits.

    link

    Parent

    That is exactly what I am worried about. (none / 0) (#45)
    by oculus on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 11:51:08 PM EST


    Parent
    Our culture is already (none / 0) (#47)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 04:58:42 AM EST
    utterly defined by dog eat dog, and the dogs are getting hungry.  Just what we all need, guns everywhere as have nots begin to realize there is nobody coming for them.

    Parent
    Per "Uncivil Society," the Eastern (none / 0) (#63)
    by oculus on Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 10:40:05 AM EST
    European have-nots didn't even need guns.

    Parent
    Why is ours so different? (none / 0) (#71)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 05:14:10 PM EST
    Is it because our have nots have no history of seizing power and a guillotine.......yet?

    Parent
    The author opines the guillotine got (5.00 / 1) (#72)
    by oculus on Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 05:34:41 PM EST
    such a workout because the "haves" remained so haughty and entitled.

    Parent
    It's going to be incorporated (none / 0) (#48)
    by andgarden on Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 07:17:05 AM EST
    Heller settled the hard question (for now).

    Parent
    Sunday Open Thread | 75 comments (75 topical)

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