Tuesday Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Tue Sep 16, 2025 at 02:40:40 PM EST
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Our last open thread is filling up fast.
Here's a new one, all topics welcome.

I turned on the TV coverage of CNN for Tyler Robinson's court appearance. Laura Coates is unwatchable in my opinion. I remembered from the Sean Diddy Combs verdict watch that she was so prosecutor-oriented, I had to turn it off. Same thing happened today. She was a live guest on the coverage and started out with how the state didn't need to prove anything other than probable cause and what a low burden that is. Of course, that's true, but why lead with that? One of CNN's correspondents was on just before her and he was completely impartial and just gave facts. For example, he said Robinson is not going to be in the courtroom, but he'll appear by video from the jail. He explained the evidence the state might introduce. All in a neutral stance. I think it's fine to take sides when there are two analysts on at the same time with opposing viewpoints, but when you are on alone, you should be neutral. At least that's how I viewed it during my 12 years as a TV analyst.

Again, this is an open thread, all topics welcome. And no speaking ill of the recently departed, including their character, views or politics. Thanks everyone.

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The three evening CNN political shows (5.00 / 1) (#2)
by fishcamp on Tue Sep 16, 2025 at 05:31:19 PM EST

are good sometimes, but often hard to watch with all the arguments raging. Scott Jennings with his goofy facial acting is just stupid, and his follow up statements are usually worse. I'm glad you pointed out the reason I don't like Laura Coats much besides being too late in the evening for me. Abbey Phillip has her hands full slowing down her guests. Kaitlin Collins the CNN hottie, is very good, but overly determined with many of her questions to guests. A few years ago several pointed out that they didn't like CNN and I disagreed but didn't give a good reason . That reason is CNN has more camera crews all over the world filming what's happening as it's happening. I worked for them three times, twice in Europe and once in Aspen during the Spider Sabich memorial. One of the European jobs was in Bolzano, Italy during an election year and was quite dangerous. A CNN guy asked me if I could give his girlfriend a ride down to Bolzano to visit her mother and grab a few shots of any election activity. Well the Communists were shooting at people around voting locations and I didn't like that. After getting some short camera shots I told her we were leaving and just telephone your mother. We made it safely back fifty miles up to the ski races.

: Hey fishcamp how are you? (none / 0) (#7)
by Militarytracy on Tue Sep 16, 2025 at 07:06:55 PM EST

I've had a major life event change. I have a freezer full of sea fishes and I live on a lotta lotta fish now. Including bluefin. The mister's retirement hobby is deep-sea fishing. I honestly did not understand why someone who was the worst trout fisherman I had ever seen was now a deep-sea fisherman. His best friend here is a retired Ranger, and they have two other guys that are not ex military that go with them sometimes. But sometimes it is just the two of them. Once though at the air conditioning fishing friends house the A/C guy starts talking about how all the deep-sea fish are dangerous on the boat. Both Ranger boy and chopper boy have been man overboard. All kinds of teeth and beaks and fins that cut you. I stared at my husband through slitted eyes lolol. So that's what you and mister Ranger are about, you found a danger substitute.

: Spider Sabich! (none / 0) (#12)
by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Sep 16, 2025 at 07:29:16 PM EST

Now there's a blast from the past. His controversial demise in 1976 was the catalyst for TV lounge act crooner Andy William to compel NBC and "Saturday Night Live" to publicly apologize for an incredibly tasteless but still funny skit that aired at his ex-wife's expense.
While it really wasn't defamatory, "The Claudine Longet Invitational Ski Championship" skit was certainly an early indicator during that first season that producer Lorne Michaels, his writing corps and the self-labeled "Not Ready for Prime Time Players" were more than willing to push traditional network broadcast boundaries and court controversy and even public denunciation in order to get a laugh. That's what made the show so legendary early on.
;-)

The Great Insect Crisis (5.00 / 1) (#8)
by CaptHowdy on Tue Sep 16, 2025 at 07:09:30 PM EST

This is actually scary. I read recently something reminding people of "back when you were a kid" you would get bugs on your windshields when you drive at night, why not anymore. It's true. The last couple of summers I've been amazed how few bugs there are. It's almost like when the lived in LA (in the desert) and you could leave your doors open all the time.

Insects underpin ecosystems worldwide, yet they are disappearing at alarming rates. In this 2019 special series, Mongabay reporter Jeremy Hance traces the global scale of the so-called "Insect Apocalypse,"

: Talking with cousins on the Colorado plains (none / 0) (#10)
by Militarytracy on Tue Sep 16, 2025 at 07:18:40 PM EST

It was weird around the time Josh was born that grasshoppers had kind of disappeared in Colorado. And when I was a kid they were really a pain. Sometimes in summer driving around the fields, it would demolish your car. Around 2000, you didn't experience grasshoppers. It did not occur to me that it could be from insecticide and there were still a lot of folks farming out that way. Climate change has ended most trying to dry land farm out that way. But my cousins say grasshoppers are back.

If anyone is at peace.. (5.00 / 1) (#21)
by desertswine on Tue Sep 16, 2025 at 08:33:34 PM EST

in the merciful arms of Jesus, it's this guy, who would have been 100yrs old today.

BB King

I did (none / 0) (#1)
by Ga6thDem on Tue Sep 16, 2025 at 05:23:15 PM EST

not watch but have wondered if a plea bargain will happen. It seems on its face the prosecution has a lot of evidence against him but I am also reminded of the FBI screwups and wonder if he thinks he can win with a jury based on that.

: I'm catching up on everything (none / 0) (#4)
by Militarytracy on Tue Sep 16, 2025 at 06:50:21 PM EST

Wow, some attorneys are saying that Kash and friends blew this so badly by trying to invent narratives that they knew were not true, they may have done extensive damage to the case.
One predicts they won't get aggravated murder, and there won't be a federal charge. And he thinks Tyler gets 25, out in 15.

This is great (none / 0) (#3)
by CaptHowdy on Tue Sep 16, 2025 at 06:37:52 PM EST

Activists Unfurl Enormous Banner of Trump and Epstein Along Path to Windsor Castle Ahead of Trump's State Visit
Protesters highlighted Trump's former friendship with Epstein in a massive way before his arrival at Windsor Castle to spend time with the royal family

I bet Charles and Camilla ... (5.00 / 1) (#6)
by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Sep 16, 2025 at 07:03:35 PM EST

... are really looking forward to that encounter. Prime Minister Kier Starmer just fired Peter Mendelson, Britain's U.S. Ambassador, over questions regarding his own dubious links with Jeffrey Epstein.
:-O


: Yeah, that's going to be a grand time oof (none / 0) (#9)
by Militarytracy on Tue Sep 16, 2025 at 07:12:20 PM EST

The royals are so stiff and hate bad press so much. I wonder if they feel like Trump has them between a rock and a hard place with his pathetic, unpredictable, destablizing NATO support.

Worth every penny (none / 0) (#5)
by CaptHowdy on Tue Sep 16, 2025 at 06:52:09 PM EST

Legendary science fiction and fantasy artist Frank Frazetta (1928-2010) just smashed his own record for the most expensive work of comic book or fantasy art with a $13.5 million sale of a painting of Conan the Barbarian at Heritage Auctions in Dallas last week.

I remember him (none / 0) (#11)
by jondee on Tue Sep 16, 2025 at 07:23:18 PM EST

from those 1960s Creepy and Eerie Magazine covers, for which he was probably grossly underpaid at the time.


He was my hero and role model. (none / 0) (#13)
by CaptHowdy on Tue Sep 16, 2025 at 07:31:02 PM EST

I used to steal those covers. I had dozens of them. Not just Frazetta but mostly. With tight pants it was easier than stealing the whole book which I could not afford. (Paperbacks)

He is almost literally the reason I dropped out of art school/college to be an illustrator fantast artist.

His art was not like anything I had ever seen.


Lol I got caught (5.00 / 1) (#16)
by jondee on Tue Sep 16, 2025 at 07:49:18 PM EST

I got caught after stealing one of those Frazetta mags and I had to take it back and apologize to the guy at the drugstore.


That painting (none / 0) (#14)
by CaptHowdy on Tue Sep 16, 2025 at 07:33:18 PM EST

And most of his work, I was stunned to learn, is like 8 1/2 x 11 inches. It just looks so big.


Yeah I would've thought (none / 0) (#15)
by jondee on Tue Sep 16, 2025 at 07:45:17 PM EST

a lot bigger too.

Reminds me of my wife talking about seeing
the original Starry Night and being surprised at how small it was.


: There is a Frazetta Museum (5.00 / 1) (#17)
by CaptHowdy on Tue Sep 16, 2025 at 07:51:21 PM EST

I've been.

Cory Booker gives me strength (none / 0) (#18)
by Militarytracy on Tue Sep 16, 2025 at 07:51:40 PM EST

I did not get to see the end of his questioning Patel until now. Cory Booker is oxygen.

It was good (none / 0) (#19)
by CaptHowdy on Tue Sep 16, 2025 at 07:53:02 PM EST

I saw it happen. Schiff was good too.


Have you folks seen (none / 0) (#20)
by jondee on Tue Sep 16, 2025 at 08:28:35 PM EST

Patel's self-penned Trump-themed children's book? Talk about taking shameless brown-nosing to heretofore unimagined levels. There's even an evil queen/witch in there who looks like Hillary.

But, maybe I shouldn't be so quick in assuming it's a children's book. It could be for Maga adults.


Dear God (none / 0) (#22)
by Militarytracy on Tue Sep 16, 2025 at 08:58:54 PM EST

I have not seen it.

I am seeing that a Russian who lives here and makes anti-West propaganda for poopin paid Kash $25,000 last year to appear in a "documentary" he made.

It feels like when this is all over Patel is going to become the new Ancient Aliens guy.


: I had forgotten (none / 0) (#24)
by jondee on Tue Sep 16, 2025 at 09:43:27 PM EST

that the theme of that children's book is how the 2020 election was 'stolen.'
Cuz it's never too early to get kids started seeing the world through a right-wing conspiracy theory lense.
Of course, it's coming out now that all the Trump hires were required to prove their loyalty by sanctioning his election fraud bs.

My husband just read to me (none / 0) (#23)
by Militarytracy on Tue Sep 16, 2025 at 09:13:12 PM EST

The two Podcasters running the FBI are currently investigating the death of a third Podcaster while the VP sits in the White House trying to become a Podcaster. I think I'll have an Aleve.