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Wednesday Morning Open Thread

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Blog Related
Posted on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 08:55:23 AM EST
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    Wednesday Morning Open Thread | 98 comments (98 topical)

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    Texas wants to secede.... (5.00 / 3) (#3)
    by ruffian on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 09:06:10 AM EST
    and vote against the stimulus bill...but first give us $3 billion in stimulus funds for NASA.

    Not that there's anything wrong with that, if it is a worthy project. I just hope smart Dems get some mileage out of it.

    smart (5.00 / 2) (#5)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 09:11:01 AM EST
    dems?

    Parent
    Hey, a girl can dream (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by ruffian on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 09:19:03 AM EST


    Parent
    Oh, stop it. That secede talk goes on all the (5.00 / 1) (#36)
    by Angel on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 11:15:03 AM EST
    time amongst the stupids in this state.  It's not the prevailing opinion of the majority of citizens.  In fact, it isn't even a cogent thought by any sane person.  

    Parent
    I know it's not everyone (5.00 / 3) (#62)
    by ruffian on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 01:03:57 PM EST
    Of course it's not. But if I were James Carville on TV this Sunday I would sure say it that way, and let the Republican spokesperson have to respond as you did.

    Parent
    TEXAS? (none / 0) (#22)
    by Inspector Gadget on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 10:15:02 AM EST
    A few politicians, a few people, or the majority of residents? You think the Bush's are onboard with that idea? Would they both lose their pensions and secret service guards if that happened? Can people outside of Texas vote on this? :)

    Parent
    The jury in the Brooke Astor estate case (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by scribe on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 09:06:51 AM EST
    is out for its tenth or eleventh day, after a 19-week trial.

    One of the jurors asked to be released, because of feeling threatened by other jurors.

    This is one of the great travesties of NYC justice, in that the defendant is in his mid-80s.

    And, in the State Sen. Hiram Monserrate case, the judge has dismissed two of the charges at the end of the prosecution's case, and Tacopina's starting to put in the defense case.  It seems like the alleged victim was so drunk earlier in the evening of the alleged assault, that she was asked to leave a party.  Says the host of the party, who did the asking.

    And, just as a bright shiny object is needed (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by scribe on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 09:18:52 AM EST
    the AP coughs up the results of its FOIA for the FBI file on Anna Nicole Smith.

    As if on cue, even....

    I am not going to look. (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by Fabian on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 09:21:06 AM EST
    Even if the file says she was a suspected Taliban operative.

    Parent
    ah come on (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 09:25:09 AM EST
    I thought it was sort of interesting.
    and puts her "overdose" in a slightly different light I would guess.


    Parent
    All overdoses are interesting. (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by Fabian on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 09:35:46 AM EST
    From the DJ who didn't just fall off the wagon, but leaped off of it, to Michael Jackson who went to the extreme of hiring his own private doctor to dose him - overdoses are interesting, even if the end result is same.

    Parent
    It does sat that the FBI investigated her (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by scribe on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 09:52:06 AM EST
    because of an alleged plot which she was allegedly involved in, to whack the relative of her dead ancient rich husband, the guy who challenged her right to inherit from the dead ancient guy and took her all the way to the Supreme Court over it.

    Not for nothing, but in every state there is either a common-law line of decisions, a statute, or both, which makes clear that if you are involved in killing someone from whom you'd inherit, you don't inherit.

    Most of them give exceptions for things like real accidents.  But having someone whacked so you can inherit or so you can clear them out of the way of inheriting so you can inherit, winds up getting you nothing, scripts and screenwriters to the contrary notwithstanding.

    Parent

    From the "could be worse" file... (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by kdog on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 09:21:21 AM EST
    dude gets five years for talking about sex on tv in Saudi Arabia.

    And we though Janet Jackson n*pple-gate was bad...damn.

    When I lived there, (5.00 / 1) (#19)
    by Inspector Gadget on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 10:02:59 AM EST
    all the US tv programs broadcast on Saudi tv were heavily edited. They even blipped out tv moms kissing their tv tikes on the foreheads.

    Parent
    Thank you Mr. Stork... (none / 0) (#29)
    by kdog on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 10:41:35 AM EST
    for dropping my infant-arse where you did...what an awful way to live.

    Parent
    It's a very different way of life (5.00 / 1) (#31)
    by Inspector Gadget on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 10:46:02 AM EST
    compared to ours, but it is what they know as normal. They are very happy people.

    Parent
    I hear ya... (none / 0) (#32)
    by kdog on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 10:52:18 AM EST
    if it is all you've ever known it is normal, and people can be happy in spite of a lot.

    But knowing what I know I'd want no part of such a whitewashed life, sounds hellish.

    Never mind such tyrannical government.  5 freakin' years for doing what Salt-N-Pepa got a grammy for!  

    Parent

    That could be seen other ways, though (none / 0) (#33)
    by Inspector Gadget on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 10:57:45 AM EST
    There's not much their gov't can take away from them. On the other hand, we are seeing a non-stop inching away from our freedom of speech and choice. We are going to know what we lost when it's gone.

    Parent
    As part of a sub-culture... (none / 0) (#35)
    by kdog on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 11:05:51 AM EST
    long denied essential inalienable freedom...you get used to living free under the radar.  As long as the authoritarians remain relatively inept, as opposed to all-star authoritarians like the Saudis, we'll be allright...I hope:)

    Parent
    We'll see (5.00 / 1) (#39)
    by Inspector Gadget on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 11:24:28 AM EST
    They have healthcare, food, housing, and they know how to live without some of the utilities we find an absolute necessity. They know how to entertain themselves without a tv...they didn't even have movie theaters (not sure if they do now) not so long ago. Crime is rare. MJ is probably legal, though. :)


    Parent
    Not the women I know.... (none / 0) (#37)
    by sallywally on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 11:17:37 AM EST
    who are rich and have homes in Italy, Switzerland, California, etc. They can't wait to get out of there to their other abodes.

    Parent
    Noting, of course, those are NOT (none / 0) (#40)
    by Inspector Gadget on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 11:26:57 AM EST
    the people being discussed. We are talking about the Saudi's who have never experienced anything outside of their own culture. You are talking about those who have.


    Parent
    Appreciate your posts on this (none / 0) (#52)
    by gyrfalcon on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 12:22:07 PM EST
    Different cultures value different things.  In the U.S., we value freedom to do what we want and say what we want more than just about anything else.  Not necessarily the case elsewhere.  Security, safety and stability are paramount in some other cultures.

    Parent
    It's always been interesting to me (5.00 / 2) (#63)
    by Inspector Gadget on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 01:05:03 PM EST
    to see the genuine smiles on the faces of the people from undeveloped countries...those people don't pose like we do for the camera. We are not a happy culture. They find joy in places we wouldn't think to look. We entertain ourselves with crime shows, cuttingly rude/mean "sitcoms", and the perfectly posed, but photoshopped and so-called 'beautiful' people...especially when they've been caught withOUT their makeup, arrested for bad behavior, or going through a dreadful divorce :)

    Parent
    FWIW (5.00 / 1) (#89)
    by CST on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 02:59:06 PM EST
    not all undeveloped countries are created equal.  

    and not all Americans are unhappy.

    From my travel experience I have found one thing to be true.  People are people wherever you go, complete with ups and downs.

    Parent

    Don't sell us too short (none / 0) (#70)
    by kdog on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 01:36:27 PM EST
    here in the USA...yeah our culture can be a bit decadent, a bit cruel even...but its more honest that a sanitized by the iron fist of tyranny culture.  A decadent and somewhat cruel culture might be a natural result of a culture so rooted in free speech and free expression...who knows.  It still beats a culture sanitized "clean" by the iron fist of tyranny, both governmental and religous.

    People are happy and unhappy all over...I know plenty of happy go lucky Americans without too many luxuries.

    Parent

    Have you ever lived or (5.00 / 1) (#82)
    by Inspector Gadget on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 02:20:34 PM EST
    spent more than a few days in another country, a really different culture? There is a gigantic difference in the sense of being.

    Parent
    Fair enough... (none / 0) (#86)
    by kdog on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 02:39:47 PM EST
    I have not, unlike you...but do me a favor and keep an eye out for those genuine smiles from simple pleasures here in the USA...they are out there, we're not all miserable spoiled pr*cks, despite what we see on TV:)

    Parent
    Of course there are happy people (5.00 / 1) (#92)
    by Inspector Gadget on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 03:46:42 PM EST
    everywhere. That should go without saying.

    Parent
    Yes I have and you are wrong and (none / 0) (#87)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 02:44:06 PM EST
    right.

    The happiness comes from not knowing any better.

    The not knowing any better comes from the government and the religious "leaders."

    This means they can be easily swayed to kill themselves for Allah... and a shot at 72 virgins.

    The expression "Insha'Allah," is demonstrative of how the Muslim peoples have become put down. It means, "God Willing," and of course that flies directly into the fact that we have free will, given by God, to do right or wrong. The extension of "God willing" turns into a ready made excuse for all failures.... God did not will.

    Parent

    What coswallop (5.00 / 1) (#98)
    by gyrfalcon on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 11:15:08 PM EST
    Far as I can see, you are no different from the Islamists who insist their way is the only way. (Also, you might want to look up some bedrock Christian phrases like, oh, say, "By the grace of God" and the like.)

    Parent
    Why, kdog, who knew you had a soft (none / 0) (#77)
    by oculus on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 02:06:02 PM EST
    spot for the good ole US of A?

    Parent
    A farewell to coffee? (5.00 / 2) (#11)
    by Fabian on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 09:27:56 AM EST
    I know I should probably give up coffee, just on principle.  I always meant to...but it was my only vice!  Then my stomach got upset when I had a cup.  My stomach almost never gets upset.  Then it happened again.  And again.

    I'm seriously craving a cup now, but it's not worth the discomfort.  That saves me, eh, only about twenty bucks a month.  

    I have decided to stay (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 09:30:39 AM EST
    away from the coffee place down the street for a while.
    I was spending more like 100 bucks a month.


    Parent
    I quit coffee (5.00 / 2) (#13)
    by CST on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 09:33:19 AM EST
    because I realized I was drinking 2-3 cups a day and going through peak/crash cycles.

    Then the headaches started.  Coffee is a drug, and an addictive one at that.  So I switched to tea.  I know it's still got caffeine, but it's a lot milder going down and doesn't make me crash afterwards.

    Parent

    Oh and by quit (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by CST on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 09:34:17 AM EST
    I really mean cut back on.  Full disclosure - I'm drinking it right now.  But this is the only day so far in the last week.

    Parent
    I might try tea. (5.00 / 1) (#16)
    by Fabian on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 09:40:50 AM EST
    I have to restrict my tea drinking to one or two cups a day.  Tannins don't sit well with me.

    Got a leetle headache right now as a reminder that my body likes its daily dose of stimulant.

    Parent

    Tea gives me (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by Inspector Gadget on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 10:12:45 AM EST
    a scratchy throat, and coffee gives me acid indigestion. When I decided to quit coffee I discovered that really hot water in a coffee mug was a great substitute.

    Parent
    Well, there's tea and there's tea. (5.00 / 1) (#27)
    by brodie on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 10:30:46 AM EST
    The herbal kind, noncaffeinated, is your more healthy choice, and for most folks it shouldn't disturb anything.  Black tea however is some serious stuff -- no better than, and possibly worse than regular coffee -- and probably should be avoided, or so I've been informed.

    As for coffee and acid, never combine coffee with cream or milk -- that adds greatly to the acidity.  Also, I've heard that drinking coffee on an empty stomach has an acidic effect, but it's alkilinizing if you drink it after a meal.

    Parent

    Take an Excedrin: (5.00 / 1) (#66)
    by Anne on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 01:17:31 PM EST
    it has caffeine in it.  I try to stay away from caffeine in general, but when I get a migraine, caffeine often helps.

    Might take the edge off the withdrawal headache.

    Parent

    Changed blends recently? (5.00 / 2) (#24)
    by jeffinalabama on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 10:22:53 AM EST
    I bounce around depending on which is on sale, but the blends I buy are not heavy roasts. When I was drinking some of the coffe house kinds, terrible acid.

    But as a parallel, I did cut out almost all beef...that's where a lot of my acid problems come from, either the beef or the sauces used to marinate it.

    Parent

    Good point (none / 0) (#26)
    by Inspector Gadget on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 10:27:19 AM EST
    I recall years ago ordering my coffee from a european roaster...offers for the mail order coffee include free coffee maker, etc. Started with a G...  That was the first coffee I found that was really flavorful and almost absent of acid.

    Parent
    I know that Trader Joe's (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by brodie on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 10:36:24 AM EST
    sells a de-acidified coffee.

    I've tried it, and it just doesn't get the job done by any measure.  Like drinking colored hot water -- and barely any of that rich coffee aroma which for most coffee drinkers is half the joy of coffee drinking.

    Parent

    Gevalia! (none / 0) (#53)
    by gyrfalcon on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 12:28:40 PM EST
    Fabulous, fabulous coffee.  The Swedes for some reason have a genius for roasting coffee.  The airplane coffee I had on SAS or the snack bar coffee in the subway in Stockholm were just as fabulous.  Don't know what they do, but I wish more coffee companies would get into it.

    I quit Gevalia when the whole issue of the terrible effects on migratory birds from mono-culture coffee plantations started getting some attention and Gevalia wasn't making any accommodations to that, but I still miss that coffee!

    Those 4-cup Melitta coffemaker machines were also the absolute best by far for making a small amount of coffee.  When mine finally died, I tried several other small coffeemakers, and they were terrible.  Melitta then stopped making the 4-cup machines, so I was stuck until I looked on eBay and found quite a few for sale.  I bought three or four of them and have them stashed away so I'll never have to do without again!


    Parent

    Yes, I know, but (5.00 / 1) (#72)
    by Inspector Gadget on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 01:39:28 PM EST
    I wasn't sure if it would be considered pushing a product.

    It is fabulous coffee, though I haven't bought it now for years.

    There's a red mushroom drink that tastes like a latte and is considered really healthy. Not a drop of coffee in it. Ganoderma. Some brands much less expensive than others. I haven't had any around for over a year, but really enjoy it.

     

    Parent

    I bought it too for a while (none / 0) (#80)
    by ruffian on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 02:11:18 PM EST
    I liked it a lot, but I stopped when I had a whole cabinet full. I just don't drink enough coffee to keep up - but I gave a lot of it away as gifts.

    Parent
    Gevalia (none / 0) (#57)
    by caseyOR on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 12:42:27 PM EST
    Gevalia is the mail order company that gives a free coffee maker to go with their coffee.

    Parent
    Thank the sun god... (5.00 / 2) (#30)
    by kdog on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 10:45:07 AM EST
    it don't mess with my stomach...I couldn't live without my 6 cups a day minimum.  My condolences Fabian:)

    Or without blessed beef...sorry to hear ya had to kick glorious red meat jeff...btw still  comin to NYC?  

    Parent

    As far as i know right now yes on the trip (none / 0) (#49)
    by jeffinalabama on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 12:09:50 PM EST
    and I'll eat pastrami and corned beef, too, as long as they aren't too fatty.

    Odd what I can and can't eat as far as beef...hamburgers? a non-adulterated Micky D's doesn't bother me. A steak, marinated, grilled to perfection?

    Argh, sleep sitting up with a bottle of maalox AFTER taking antacids!

    The latest to begin to gripe me? Pepper skins. Not skinned peppers, but a roasted pepper with the skin still on, or a pepper in sauce with the skin? terrible.

    Getting old is no fun!

    Parent

    Hey wait a gd minute. (none / 0) (#58)
    by oculus on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 12:42:58 PM EST


    Parent
    I'm not making the same mistake... (5.00 / 1) (#71)
    by kdog on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 01:37:36 PM EST
    again Oc...I did apologize for flakin' on ya:)

    Parent
    Until you can truly quit (none / 0) (#25)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 10:25:57 AM EST
    Zantac is your friend.  Take a 150 mg pill before you start drinking coffee.

    But that is just a protective measure until you can get off the coffee.

    Parent

    They understood their mistake too late. (5.00 / 1) (#38)
    by scribe on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 11:20:38 AM EST
    Classic Gallic understatement, describing an incident in which Somali pirates mistook a French navy ship for a cargo vessel, and attacked it.

    I can see the guy saying it, then taking a drag on a Gitane, looking coolly into the middle distance and shrugging his shoulders.

    We didn't talk about... (5.00 / 1) (#44)
    by kdog on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 11:58:40 AM EST
    "Dairy Harry" and I missed it, did we?  I love this guy..."Go ahead, make my day agricultural ministers".

    Nice photo. (none / 0) (#48)
    by Fabian on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 12:04:45 PM EST
    Not sure about the issue though.  Any time that the state supports an industry, the industry will rely on the supports.  If the supports are cut, the industry will need to adapt to the changes.  

    Parent
    I agree... (none / 0) (#56)
    by kdog on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 12:42:07 PM EST
    I can't say I'm down with price fixing and market rigging and excessive central planning...I'm just definitely down with creative civil disobedience:)

    Parent
    That's too much! (none / 0) (#50)
    by jeffinalabama on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 12:11:27 PM EST


    Parent
    Wellpoint sues Maine for the right (5.00 / 1) (#55)
    by MO Blue on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 12:38:29 PM EST
    to a guaranteed profit.

    dday has a post on why this matters. Be sure to read the "Theres More" portion of the post.

    Yesterday, there was a protest here (5.00 / 1) (#59)
    by oculus on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 12:45:38 PM EST
    outside Anthem Blue Cross about the amount of $$ the company is spending on ads against HCR.  

    Bowden v Tebow (none / 0) (#1)
    by ruffian on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 09:00:18 AM EST
    compete for headlines in central Florida this morning. Tebow practices! Bowden betrayed Florida!

    gotta love it.

    A large omission there (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by CoralGables on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 10:09:36 AM EST
    shouldn't it read:

    Tebow practices! Bowden betrayed Florida "State"!

    Parent

    It should - and maybe it did. (none / 0) (#23)
    by ruffian on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 10:20:19 AM EST
    It was early when I saw the paper this morning. I will verify when  go home for lunch!

    Parent
    On Tebow, from (none / 0) (#34)
    by brodie on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 10:57:48 AM EST
    my armchair perspective, it would be rather reckless to let him play so soon after suffering what looked to be a serious concussion.

    He should sit out the LSU game, and maybe the one after that.  Better safe than sorry.

    But that's not likely to happen.  Not with Urban Meyer in charge and not with a possible nat'l championship bid on the line.

    So, look for a lot of short, quick passes and not nearly the normal number of aggressive Tebow scrambles out of the pocket.

    Parent

    The Mr. WInkle Reality Show (none / 0) (#2)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 09:02:26 AM EST
    Episode 1 ; The Patient

    check out others on the list to the right

    Oh, the irony.... (none / 0) (#41)
    by NJDem on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 11:41:38 AM EST
    ...but it sure explains a lot!

    [Referring to the first painting shown called, "I think I'll ..." that currently hangs in the White House]

    link

    Interesting... (none / 0) (#42)
    by kdog on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 11:45:21 AM EST
    the nasal spray live virus vaccine shipments are coming in...NY State is mandating it for healthcare workers, at least 3 Chicago area hospitals don't want their workers taking it, want to wait for the shot because of the potential risk of the spray.  Link

    Schools closing in Wisconsin for flu (5.00 / 1) (#43)
    by Cream City on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 11:56:08 AM EST
    today again, as last spring.  This time, it's the Wisconsin Dells school district (near Madison).

    It's worst at the high school level -- in one high school there, of 589 students, 280 were home with the flu.

    It's also awful at the college level.  The UW campus outbreak is slowing, but absenteeism is at 25% at one large campus in Milwaukee -- a private campus that can best track such things.  At my campus, even larger, absenteeism is at about 25% to 33% in my classes for the last couple of weeks.

    And we're close to Chicago, and the large private campus has a lot of students from Chicago, where the flu already is at a higher level there per CDC maps.  So it will be interesting to see if it gets worse there, and then what its hospitals will do.

    Parent

    Is it me... (none / 0) (#46)
    by kdog on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 12:02:31 PM EST
    or does it seem like the young are being hit worse than the old?  That shouldn't be....unless the youth being bathed in anti-bacterial sh*t all their lives has had a negative impact on their immunes...and the old who were raised rubbing dirt on their wounds are Ford Tough.

    Cheesy link...will poke around for better.

    Parent

    You didn't know that? (5.00 / 1) (#54)
    by Cream City on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 12:33:55 PM EST
    The targeted age group by this flu has been known since last year.  You post so much about it -- but maybe you need to go to the CDC site to see more that may explain to you why the worries this year.

    Parent
    I find the... (5.00 / 1) (#60)
    by kdog on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 12:48:05 PM EST
    individual liberty aspect of mandated vaccination very interesting and post a lot about that, and general germophobia/over-sanitization...I admittedly can't be bothered to keep track of the flu itself.  

    Parent
    20 million-plus deaths from the flu (5.00 / 1) (#91)
    by Cream City on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 03:41:37 PM EST
    in the pandemic of 1918, the one that has disquieting similarities with this one -- especially the greatest loss of life among the younger age groups -- bothers me and those in the medical profession who bother to know about it.

    They're the ones who don't want to see that happen again and are lining up for the vaccine.  Now, if they want to wait for the shot that employed the killed virus instead of the spray that employed the live virus, I can understand that concern.

    But for health workers to refuse the vaccine at all would make me hope that they find another line of work, because they must be not bothering to find out what is easily learned about the flu in past.

    Parent

    kdog (none / 0) (#51)
    by Fabian on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 12:14:25 PM EST
    You know better!  Antibacterial / antiviral.

    Plus for a large portion of the population (under 55), this virus is indeed novel since their immune systems haven't been exposed to it before.

    The 1918 Influenza A H1N1 pandemic [LINK] occurred well before antibiotics (WW II) and killed millions.

    That was when the human population was much less dense and transportation much slower.  

    Parent

    The young (none / 0) (#61)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 01:02:56 PM EST
    are hit worse from this flu because older adults have developed partial immunity via exposure to other flus over the years.

    Parent
    Maybe instead of giving... (5.00 / 1) (#67)
    by kdog on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 01:19:12 PM EST
    kids shots and mists we should just have 'em rub each others snot on each other...sure is cheaper!

    Parent
    They do that anyway (none / 0) (#81)
    by ruffian on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 02:12:29 PM EST
    I guess it is not very effective!

    Parent
    Funny (none / 0) (#45)
    by Inspector Gadget on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 11:59:21 AM EST
    The last time I recall the spray version of a flu vaccine was a few years ago. They quickly discovered that Walmart wasn't just giving the vaccine, but they were passing out the flu virus to every worker and customer who came into the store while those sprays were happening.

    Incredible to think that the hospital workers who are in constant contact with the high risk population would be asked to take the vaccine via the spray method. Unless, of course, they have a reason for wanting to expose so many people to the H1N1.


    Parent

    The live virsus spray (none / 0) (#88)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 02:49:56 PM EST
    is contradicted for people with weak immune systems.

    That could include some HC workers, but they know who they are.

    Can't believe a hospital is doing this.

    Parent

    Contradicted? or Contraindicated? (none / 0) (#93)
    by Inspector Gadget on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 03:50:31 PM EST
    n/t

    Parent
    Take your choice (none / 0) (#94)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 04:29:47 PM EST
    lol

    Parent
    either way don't do it (5.00 / 1) (#95)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 04:31:37 PM EST


    Parent
    The Wyden Amendment (none / 0) (#47)
    by lilburro on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 12:04:03 PM EST
    debacle seems to be clear now...Jon Walker at FDL.  The Wyden Amendment is still useless, but now we also know Baucus is a huge @sshole.  Well, we knew that too.

    Wyden - saves $1 billion.
    Public Option Medicare Rates - saves $110 billion.

    La dee dee....

    What happens when the jingle-mail (none / 0) (#64)
    by ruffian on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 01:08:53 PM EST
    comes from an owner of a multi-hundred-million dollar hotel?

    Cities are hurt enough by empty homes - what happens when hotel-row stands empty? So who is going to get bailed out next - more money to the banks, or maybe to the hotel owners this time? Sure is not going to homedebtors in the same situation, that much has been made clear. Moral hazard, you know.

    How about... (none / 0) (#74)
    by kdog on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 01:51:36 PM EST
    a vacation stimulus a la cash for clunkers...government (aka taxpayer or China or Printer) pays half your hotel tab if you book a vacation this year.

    F*ck it...lets go down partying/takin' her easy at least:)

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    Ha! I'm all for it! (none / 0) (#84)
    by ruffian on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 02:33:14 PM EST
    Or give foreclosed veterans suites at the St. Regis.

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    I like it I like it.... (none / 0) (#85)
    by kdog on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 02:37:29 PM EST
    and give every vet returning from the occupations zones a couple weeks rest being served with their families...minibar included!

    I think Tracy would be down when her man gets home:)

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    Absolutely! (none / 0) (#90)
    by ruffian on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 03:37:44 PM EST
    We'll sign them up for the first wave.

    I think we've got this one figured out. Next!

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    Ruffian/kdog 2012... (none / 0) (#99)
    by kdog on Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 11:34:50 AM EST
    We;d have the joint tip-top in time to take the last two years of the term off...but I might embarass ya more than Biden does Obama:)

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    Andrew Sullivan (none / 0) (#65)
    by Plutonium Page on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 01:11:21 PM EST
    [Expletive redacted]

    There's one reason the Clinton healthcare bill failed and it isn't Betsy McCaughey. It's Hillary Clinton.

    [More nasty words redacted.]

    Don't torture yourself (5.00 / 1) (#68)
    by ruffian on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 01:21:12 PM EST
    Stop reading Sully. Just. Stop.

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    I agree with ruffian (5.00 / 2) (#69)
    by Inspector Gadget on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 01:32:22 PM EST
    AND, stop providing links that feed hits to his garble. Resisting, without much effort, the click.


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    Related....read the Daily Howler (5.00 / 2) (#73)
    by ruffian on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 01:45:39 PM EST
    this week for more evisceration of Chris Matthews.

    As Somerby would say, try to believe this man makes millions of dollars a year:

    MATTHEWS: Let me ask you about Bill Clinton himself. It seems to me he was a genius. He's really smart. And I've always wondered about something personally. He will be interviewing you or talking to you. And yet he uses the extra 40 IQ points to do crossword puzzles or to play Hearts with you. What is it about a guy with that incredible talent, why he doesn't apply it directly to the presidency, for example? Why he has to always be using his brain to sort of slice off some of it for other uses? What is that about?

    Do not watch MSNBC, even if they seem to be on your side at the moment. Any network employing such idiots is doing outright harm to the Democracy. Think of how many more intelligent questions we would have heard asked of Taylor Branch by half the people that comment on this blog, not to mention Jeralyn and BTD themselves. think of it as your money going to Chris Matthews when you watch MSNBC.


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    I'm with you on not (none / 0) (#79)
    by brodie on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 02:09:57 PM EST
    watching Matthews -- though I wish I could get some good people like Branch and Joan Walsh and similar to stop stopping by his studio for yet another wasted 15 minutes of interrupting and motormouthing nonsense by the egomaniac host.

    Gotta stick though with watching some of the network's other shows -- liberals KO, Rachel and occasionally Big Ed.  Looking forward to Keith's one-hour rant tonight on HCR.

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    Not to worry..... (none / 0) (#83)
    by Inspector Gadget on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 02:29:36 PM EST
    I haven't watched MSNBC since Olberman became a raging lunatic against Hillary Clinton 1.5 years ago. It became crystal clear that those over-paid chatterers had no worthwhile information to share. Will never pick up that habit again in my lifetime. Not for any of them.

    Also won't watch CNN, CNBC, FOX, or any of the network talking heads. The only opinion that shapes who I vote for or what issues I support is my own...and I read the factual publications that are available to get my information.

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    Heheh (none / 0) (#75)
    by lilburro on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 02:04:03 PM EST
    that's pretty funny.

    At no point during that Sull-ied piece did I read "I allowed her to lie."  Because you can "rebut" or "offer new perspectives" if you want but that doesn't erase the fact that you've legitimized straight up lies.

    Here is a gem from one of his old articles defending the piece - "TNR tried to rescue universal healthcare at the time by proposing an alternative"

    Always more to hate with Sullivan!

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    The (mis)Matchup (none / 0) (#76)
    by CoralGables on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 02:05:29 PM EST
    CC Sabathia:
    Career Wins: 136
    Career Strikeouts: 1590
    2009 Salary: $15,285,714

    vs

    Brian Duensing:
    Career Wins: 5
    Career Strikeouts: 53
    2009 Salary: $400,000 (this is the league minimum)

    The Yankees top three player salaries for 2009 equals $75.2 million. For the record, that $75 million payroll would give them a team with no pitchers, no catchers, and no outfielders.

    Entire payroll for 40 players on the 2009 Twins:
    $67.6 million.

    On paper it looks like a mismatch, but on the diamond...
    Go Twins!!!

    Pads couldn't do it in '68 but maybe (none / 0) (#78)
    by oculus on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 02:09:35 PM EST
    the Twins can?  What a way to start off in pennant race in AL.

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    I took your thought the other day (none / 0) (#96)
    by CoralGables on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 04:41:14 PM EST
    of sending the Michigan band to Afghanistan to clean things up, and it got me to wondering (which often happens with too much time on my hands)...what college marching band could inspire a pacifist to charge into battle.

    After much meaningless but enjoyable research, I believe I have found just the band to lead the charge...Texas A&M playing The Fightin' Texas Aggie War Hymn.

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    Ha. But I remember a story on NPR when (none / 0) (#97)
    by oculus on Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 04:55:37 PM EST
    we went into Iraq.  Seems the musicians were there with there mouthpieces, not their entire instruments, and had no special status.  Hey, I thought I would be in the Marine Band?

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    Wednesday Morning Open Thread | 98 comments (98 topical)

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