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Sunday Afternoon Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 01:25:50 PM EST
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Here's another open thread, have fun.

I'll be back in time for the Oscars.

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    Sunday Afternoon Open Thread | 61 comments (61 topical)

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    Gibbs (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by Socraticsilence on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 04:30:57 PM EST
    seems to do pretty well explaining the mortage knockdown program and answering critics on the right : http://wonkette.com/406454/robert-gibbs-eviscerates-that-working-class-hero-the-cnbc-derivatives-tra der-guy#comments

    Since we're being open (5.00 / 2) (#35)
    by hitchhiker on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 06:30:54 PM EST
    can I just say that I hated Slumdog?

    I mean, I stayed to the very end, including the credits -- and that movie never felt good to me.  I truly don't understand.

    The story line was, I guess, supposed to be some kind of magical realism (hero lives a life that is one unfair, dangerous, impossible situation after another, but ah . . . each one was necessary to prepare him for his big chance.)  Tortured, dumb theology is what that is.  "Everything happens for a reason, grasshopper."  Your mother had to get bashed in the head so that you could know the answer to the $100,000 question.

    Blech.

    The kid actors and the fancy camera work were impressive, I'll give it that.  Everything else just seemed contrived and stupid.  The female lead was --as a character-- a classic helpless female dependent on the whims of the men around her.  Oh, and that worked out for her because she was stunningly beautiful.  There's a theme for ya.

    What did I miss?  

    Kind of operatic, really. (5.00 / 0) (#41)
    by oculus on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 09:02:35 PM EST
    Male lead is there at the beginning, then disappears for a substantial period of time, returns to resue the distressed damsel.  

    I liked the movie.  Saw it twice.  

    Parent

    thanks (none / 0) (#45)
    by hitchhiker on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 10:19:14 PM EST
    this is one of those times i find myself just scratching my head -- not that i'm usually in perfect sync w/the culture, but usually i can at least see the attraction, even when i don't share it.

    i found this movie repulsive, is the truth, and yet a lot of people i like are into it.  can't find the disconnect.

    Parent

    I felt the same way about Braveheart. (5.00 / 0) (#46)
    by oculus on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 10:25:24 PM EST


    Parent
    You're not alone (none / 0) (#59)
    by Dr Molly on Mon Feb 23, 2009 at 05:58:59 AM EST
    I've heard many people say they had the same reaction as yours.

    Parent
    sheesh squeaks (5.00 / 4) (#42)
    by DFLer on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 09:39:09 PM EST
    Scarcity Model
    Getting the short end of the stick as a boomer explains everything. Must be tough having to compete for attention all the time

    and

    That boomer reflex kicking in again like a game leg?

    what the frack? that's downright nasty

    what do you have against older people, or is it just cream,? are you yourself fairly young, or fairly "older"?

    sometimes you sound like there is only one sin  - racism, and all other discussions about conditions that do not involve issues around color are by definition racist or selfish, as they don't fit the your model.

    Squawky just stalks me (4.50 / 6) (#44)
    by Cream City on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 10:15:38 PM EST
    and the hosts let him get away with it, for some reason.  So at the request of others, rather than let him pull what you see here, diverting a thread again, I usually just let it go -- with a hope for a change in his health.  Don't let it get to you, too. :-)

    Parent
    Stalk You? (5.00 / 1) (#47)
    by squeaky on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 10:39:21 PM EST
    That is hilarious. Maybe in your dreams I am stalking you, but certainly not here at TL. This is not your personal Kaffe Klatch and usually what you blather on about is not so interesting to me.

    All are welcome to participate here at TL at the pleasure of our hosts. Your claim that I stalking you is particularly absurd considering I am the one that started this thread, not that it matters.

    Parent

    jeez lewease....there you go again (4.00 / 7) (#52)
    by DFLer on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 11:37:48 PM EST
    Maybe in your dreams I am stalking you,.....

    now once again, that is kinda creepy...just saying.

    Parent

    I Agree (5.00 / 1) (#56)
    by squeaky on Mon Feb 23, 2009 at 12:04:00 AM EST
    Cream City is acting quite creepy calling me a stalker. Seems pretty egoistic, imo, yeah and creepy.

    Parent
    No, if you look up (2.00 / 1) (#57)
    by Cream City on Mon Feb 23, 2009 at 12:32:08 AM EST
    I started this one, and you're here . . . again. . . .

    Parent
    If YOu Do Not Like (3.00 / 2) (#58)
    by squeaky on Mon Feb 23, 2009 at 12:44:51 AM EST
    People having the freedom to challenge your nonsense or respond to your wisdom, you may want to try something else than a blog in the style of TL.

    Maybe you could find a vehicle where you control the conversation at all times.  Or a support group, fan club, where everyone finds your comments wonderful and agree with you all the time.

    Parent

    Confusing yourself with TL (2.00 / 1) (#62)
    by Cream City on Mon Feb 23, 2009 at 08:48:17 AM EST
    I like TL fine, its substance and its style, at least of its hosts and most commenters.  

    I don't like your style.  Neither do a lot of others.

    You and TL are not the same, despite your comments continuing to speak as if you were TL.

    Separate.

    Parent

    Huh? (5.00 / 1) (#65)
    by squeaky on Mon Feb 23, 2009 at 11:11:26 AM EST
    TL is a blog. Jeralyn likes to think of it as her living room, so to speak. We are all here at her pleasure. I have no illusions about what TL is and where I sit in relation to the blog. If you do not like being responded to by commenters that you do not like or disagree with go somewhere else where you can control the thread or conversation.

    You have accused me of stalking you. That is absurd. Now you accuse me of claiming that I am the same as TL, that is delusional.

    Parent

    Older People? (none / 0) (#43)
    by squeaky on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 09:59:42 PM EST
    I have nothing against older people. What makes you think that.

    Some of my best friends are older people.

    lol

    Parent

    hee hee (none / 0) (#50)
    by DFLer on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 11:33:59 PM EST
    but you didn't answer my question about YOUR age. that's okay. it's a question that never HAS to be answered in polite society.

    Some of my best friends are older people.

    your parents, perhaps? &:0)

    Parent

    You Are FOS (3.66 / 3) (#67)
    by squeaky on Mon Feb 23, 2009 at 12:53:43 PM EST
    Your hypocrisy is once again evident. Cream City troll rates all time, namecalls and diverts threads as do you.

    and in case you did not notice I started this thread, and it is an open thread. No thread hijackng, as you put it, is possible in an open thread.

    FYI: Open thread: All topics welcome. Read the doormat on your way in, it would help you to understand what is going on.

    For those interested... (none / 0) (#1)
    by santarita on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 02:06:45 PM EST
    there is an interesting discussion at the naked capitalism site on what "nationalizing" big banks would look like and what the difficulties and implications are.  

    It is difficult for me not to use bankruptcy notions as a frame of reference.  Right now it seems like we are in that  stage  before the Chapter 11 filing. The creditors are debating whether or not Chapter 11 would be better than a consensual workout.  The debtors are hoping for a change in the environment or maybe a white knight.   Could happen.

    Part of the issue is whether the bankruptcy (none / 0) (#17)
    by scribe on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 05:00:42 PM EST
    would be voluntary or involuntary.

    As it is, the way I see it the signals that say "nationalization coming" have been flashing so long for the reason that TPTB want institutional/pension fund shareholders to get out insofar as possible ("greater fool" theory in operation) so that they don't get too badly hammered in the takeover.  B/c the shareholders are going to be the ones taking the hit, by getting wiped out.

    Parent

    I tend to agree... (none / 0) (#38)
    by santarita on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 07:26:12 PM EST
    If the large banks under insolvency watch survive with government $$$ and then can recover, then that would be ok.  So I'm thinking that there are a lot of people in Washington and NYC hoping the banks can pull out of this with just a reorganization and downsizing.

    Parent
    Implicit Bias (none / 0) (#2)
    by squeaky on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 02:31:14 PM EST
    An interesting op ed reacting to Eric Holders statement:

    Then came Attorney General Eric Holder's scathing comments about America being "a nation of cowards" because we don't have "frank" conversations about race. That got a lot of attention.

    I take exception to Holder's language, but not his line of reasoning. Calling people cowards is counterproductive. It turns the conversation into a confrontation -- moving it beyond the breach of true dialogue and the pale of real understanding.

    NYT

    Well worth a read, and then take the test to see what your implicit (racial) bias is. Pretty fascinating stuff, not to mention revealing.

    If the racial test is anything like (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by nycstray on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 03:22:56 PM EST
    the fat/thin one . . .  not that revealing at all, imo. It seemed more akin to a round of Concentration vs revealing anything about one's self. Not like we could sep what they considered "Bad" from "Fat". The test is set up that if you have to put someone in the "Fat" category, you have no choice but to also attach negative words to them. So the results don't really say anything, especially since they answers can only go the way they set it up. You can't put a "Fat" image in the  "Thin" category or the "Thin/Good" category. I don't recall it giving me the option to put "Fat" images in the "Good" category as a stand alone, only "Fat/Bad"" or "Fat" or "Fat/Good" at the end when they switched the words up. The "test" became more about whether I could remember what finger to use to put the image in the test's correct category {grin} On reflection though, it does say a bit about my motor skills, lol!~

    Parent
    nycstray, nice to see (5.00 / 2) (#8)
    by caseyOR on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 04:17:13 PM EST
    you back. How are things?

    Parent
    Thanks! (5.00 / 2) (#14)
    by nycstray on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 04:47:28 PM EST
    Things are good, and busy. Trying to get some personal projects off the ground, gearing up for baseball and the next harvest season (YES!!), and stupidly trying to do it during crunch time before market week, lol!~

    How's things on your end?

    Parent

    Things aren't bad here. (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by caseyOR on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 05:48:41 PM EST
    Redesigning the garden for this year. The strain on the food bank is so huge now that I want to expand the amount I grow for them. The "Grow-a-Row" program is pretty successful, but the situation is even more dire now. In some counties in Oregon requests for food boxes have jumped more than 40%.

    I've never tried to grow food year 'round and want to give that a go this year as well. I've been told that kale and cabbage go reasonably well here in the winter (except when we have a 19 inch snowstorm, like this winter). Since those two are my go-to winter vegies, along with brussel sprouts, I am setting up part of the garden for that effort.

    Like everyone else I am driving myself crazy trying to figure out what Obama plans to do about SS and healthcare and getting out of Iraq and ending torture and all that.

    On the upside, spring training started. Can the season be far behind? Once again I ponder that age old question-- will the Cubs ever go to, much less win, the World Series?

    Parent

    We're working on how to best help (5.00 / 1) (#36)
    by nycstray on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 06:47:23 PM EST
    families in the community through the CSA. For some where the cost isn't an ender issue, just being able to pay upfront is, we're going to do payment plans. Our group coordinator went to a mtg to see about accepting food stamps and we're also working with a couple sources to help families that can't afford the cost. We're expanding the farms involved so we'll have eggs this year along with 3 times as many fruit shares, the poultry and produce. I like the idea of grow a row! And you reminded me I need to donate some money to City Harvest. I wish I could grow rows :(

    Can't you also leave root veggies in the ground through the winter? I love the idea of a winter garden. That's a couple years out for me :(

    I'm trying to avoid some of the Obama issues like SS for a bit longer. That one makes me nuts. Healthcare I wasn't expecting much of anything there, so if something positive does happen, I'll be thrilled. Hmmm, do the Cubs have better odds at winning the series than we do getting UHC?! lol!~ I'm so thrilled seeing baseball on the news. It really does a mind good when it's freezing cold and gray out. That coupled with mtgs about our upcoming CSA season really help relieve the winter dulldrums. Now we just need to make sure Damon can pay his mortgage and Nady can buy his house . . .

    Parent

    Food stamps in NYC (none / 0) (#39)
    by caseyOR on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 08:47:33 PM EST
    I just read that Bloomberg is NOT going to apply for the expanded food stamps $$$ in the stimulus bill. WTF!! Here is hoping folks in NYC rise up and scream bloody murder at your mayor. He's got lots of $$$ for out of work Wall Streeters, but bubkis for the hungry????

    All the farmers' markets in the Portland area accept food stamps. I don't know about the CSAs. I have my own garden space and a Saturday farmers' market just 10 blocks from my home, so I haven't seriously looked at CSAs.I do know they are very popular here.

    The state of Oregon has expended a lot of effort in food stamp outreach. We always rank as one of the hungriest states in the union, and things are so much worse now. It is all very unsettling.

    Parent

    What has he given the out of work (none / 0) (#49)
    by nycstray on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 11:05:26 PM EST
    Wall Streeters? (I'm not current!) Also, keep in mind, when WS rolled over, it put many more people out of work than just those that screwed us. Those people got screwed. Think of the folks at Sterns, all the "other" employees who prob saw their 401k's go to nothing because they were using the company "plan". 2 bucks a share is what they got along with a spot on the unemployment line.

    Bloomie has his reasons for what he does. People need to be active in his "work program" and/or be actively looking for work to qualify for benefits. He's looking to expand that program, which may be more useful (?) down the road. Bloomberg is pretty liberal on the social front, but his ideas sometimes make people react strongly. On the flip side, the city is already working on expanding getting fresh food and programs in even more areas where they are needed. Heard this a bit back when everything started crashing. Before everything went to the gutter, he was already very pro-farmers market and expanding fresh food availability to the poorer 'hoods and to 'hoods that just didn't have programs set up. Our food stamp issue in the markets came about with the electronic switchover and getting enough machines in the hands of the vendors (iirc), Apparently we have a lot more becoming available. For CSA'a, it looks like they need to hook up with a non-profit. I have to wonder if City Harvest might become a vehicle for them or Just Food NY.

    I haven't looked too thoroughly into the FS/Stimulus issue, but if it becomes an issue down the road, I'm sure Bloomberg will adjust it. Why does Oregon end up on the hungriest list? I don't know a lot about the state, but hungry isn't something that comes to mind when I think of the state. My brain always fills up with pretty pictures  ;)

    Parent

    Must be in Bloomberg's work program (none / 0) (#51)
    by caseyOR on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 11:34:22 PM EST
    The new stimulus bill removes the food stamp restrictions on able-bodied adults w/o dependents. Bloomberg is still requiring people to be in his works program. In the articles I've read (NY Times) poverty workers are pretty upset with your mayor over this. One point is that Bloomberg's program uses very scarce city resources to operate the works program and provide food stamps, and that more hungry people would get food, at a lower cost to the city, if he would accept the federal money and the federal rules. Some people don't think that Bloomberg's works program is big enough to cover everyone who needs food assistance. Also, expanding the pool of food stamp recipients is, in and of itself, economic stimulus because people actually spend their food stamps.

    About Wall Streeters-- Bloomberg is funding, with city money, retraining programs, seed money for new businesses and incubator space (free office space) to Wall Streeters who have lost their jobs. This seems to be aimed at traders, bankers (not the CEOs). It does not appear to be a program for lower level employees, clerical staff, etc. Doesn't sound all that bad, but the argument is that the city's money could be better spent to help folks in crisis. Maybe there is more to this than I have found, but this is what I've read so far.

    Parent

    Oregon and hunger (none / 0) (#54)
    by caseyOR on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 11:44:50 PM EST
    Much of Oregon's economy is based on natural resources-- fishing and timber. Large swaths of the state have never recovered from the collapse of the logging industry. And fishing takes big hits almost every year due to dwindling salmon runs, over fishing in the ocean, various environmental problems. Agriculture is the other big economic engine. That is often seasonal work. Lots of people here live very close to the bone.

    It is a beautiful state. In terms of acreage, Oregon is a big state, but the population is only about 4 million, and half of that lives in the Portland metro area. Now we are also losing high tech and manufacturing jobs. Our housing market, which lags a little behind the rest of the country, is now taking a big hit with foreclosures and falling housing prices.

    The director of the Oregon Food Bank went to the state legislature a couple of weeks ago to ask for $1 million just to meet current needs across the state.

    Parent

    yes, welcome back nycstray. (5.00 / 2) (#13)
    by Dr Molly on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 04:46:17 PM EST
    was worried.

    did you move yet?

    Parent

    Thanks! No move yet. (5.00 / 2) (#15)
    by nycstray on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 04:52:36 PM EST
    Looks like fall unless I have to do a sudden pack up and quickie move (Dad's health). CA is starting to scare me these days with all their mounting issues. Oy.

    Parent
    add me to the worried list. I did a search (5.00 / 2) (#19)
    by Teresa on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 05:22:26 PM EST
    on your name yesterday just to see if you had been around and I had missed you. I'm so glad you are ok. I was starting to wonder if I'd see a story on cable news about a missing girl with a dalmatian in NYC!

    Parent
    My Dal keeps me from going missing ;) (5.00 / 1) (#27)
    by nycstray on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 05:46:21 PM EST
    I just got bogged down with some work and in the middle of it suddenly got energized on my personal projects. Tricky combo when you consider you're supposed to sleep once in awhile, lol!~

    It was kinda nice to take a break from news and current events though. Head explosions were kept to a minimum, lol!~

    Parent

    OK (none / 0) (#5)
    by squeaky on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 03:42:59 PM EST
    I did not do the fat thin test only the race one, and I thought it pretty good. I have really good motor skills from being a pianist, but am somewhat dyslexic, so I pressed the opposite one I wanted a couple of times, but I think that is built into the test.

    My take is that the test about reflexively associating  (not pondering) bad or good words with images of blacks and whites at least in the racial bias test. I am sure that any relatively intelligent person can outsmart the test, most easily by being slow and careful.

    Also the statistics quoted in the article do not seem in the least bit surprising to me, based on personal experience. So I assume that the test must be accurate for most people.

    I am sure that the people at Harvard would like to hear from you as to how you think the test fails to predict bias in your case. Your feedback could help them to improve it.

    Parent

    "somewhat dyslexic" (none / 0) (#12)
    by nycstray on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 04:42:06 PM EST
    That was what was revealed about my motor skills, lol!~

    I don't think it works on the reflexively associating front. Without even pondering, you "know" where they want you to put the imagine/which key to hit, so there is no free or reflective association going on. It's a matter of getting your fingers to co-operate. Also, there was no neutral ground. One extreme or the other. Most people aren't that hardwired, ime.  I guess I just don't see where clicking the "right" key according to the way they set it up really reveals anything. I know what an obese person looks like, but my finger didn't always co-operate after putting them on the left for 3 rounds and then having to switch and put them on the right . . . and it certainly had nothing to do with the words they assigned to go with the images. This could easily have been an ECE motor skills test with colored blocks and shapes  ;)

    I think I'll stick to filling rice bowls if I'm going to click. More fun, you learn things and some rice gets distributed in the process.

    Parent

    This country talks at one level or another (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by tigercourse on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 03:34:32 PM EST
    about race all the time. I don't know what would qualify as "frank" but I do know that it is talked about. Particularly now. However, I don't see how "frank" discussions are possible. If someone told me, frankly, that they just didn't like white people/black people, I can't see how much of a discussion we could have.

    Parent
    Well, you could start by (5.00 / 4) (#9)
    by oldpro on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 04:23:55 PM EST
    pointing out that there are more than two races.

    Why is it that whites and blacks tend to think that the issue of race is only about them?  The people I'd like to engage in discussion about this are asian and hispanic...you have to wonder what they're thinking as they observe this self-absorbed, limited and exclusive discussion.

    Parent

    Possibly (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by squeaky on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 04:31:26 PM EST
    Why is it that whites and blacks tend to think that the issue of race is only about them?
    It is because it is Black History Month

    The test regarding biases have asian, native american, arab-muslim categories as well.

    Parent

    If there's any one group that deserves a (5.00 / 5) (#16)
    by tigercourse on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 04:53:15 PM EST
    frank conversation it's Native Americans. They're at the bottom rung of the ladder.

    Parent
    The economic ladder, you mean (5.00 / 1) (#18)
    by oldpro on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 05:03:31 PM EST
    or the social ladder...or both?

    Not sure why I didn't include them on my list above...a mere oversight, I think, for I actually have had this conversation with a Native-American friend.  Now, I intend to raise it with a Japanese-American friend and a Latina and get their take on it.

    Parent

    I'd say likely both. The few remaining NAs (5.00 / 1) (#22)
    by tigercourse on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 05:32:00 PM EST
    that we didn't manage to kill are largely relegated to slums of their own with even less economic oppurtunity then the worst inner city (except maybe Detroit). I'd say the fact that neither of us thought of them until Squeaky mentioned them really does mean this country could use some frank discussion about Native Americans and their place (or lack thereof) in this society.

    Parent
    Actually, that is somewhat of a myth. (5.00 / 2) (#30)
    by Cream City on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 05:51:57 PM EST
    No question we devastated the population that was here with our Euro diseases, and later the British and American policies.  But in between, there was an era in which some Euro cultures did far better at coexisting than did our more Anglo ones -- so in between, the good ones intermarried and created wonderful mixed cultures, the Creoles, the Metis, etc. (names depending upon regions).

    Most American aka Anglo history books don't talk much about that, though, or we really would have to face that there was another way to settle here, without so disrupting and devastating and even deliberately removing and then re-moving them again and again.  So such textbooks tend to impart that the First People were not just devastated but nearly destroyed.

    Actually, because of intermarriages, far more still are with us than we may know, unless we ask (as I do in my classes, public lectures, etc.).  Of course, some don't know, as families hid their heritage to avoid removal and/or discrimination.  But many descendants are discovering their heritage now -- and many are reclaiming and relearning some of their culture, as they can.

    I may see this more in my state, which has more Native Americans than many, but I also have found it true as I travel.  So it may be that the history to teach is of an incredibly adaptable people -- who thus still could teach us much. . . .

    Parent

    Yes, it's complex. Casinos, (5.00 / 1) (#37)
    by oldpro on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 07:24:29 PM EST
    for instance.  In some states, gambling compacts with states have provided real economic opportunity and development.  It's true for some tribes in my state, Washington.

    Lawsuits and legal decisions have made a huge difference re land claims, fishing rights, etc. as well.  They've had some really good leadership in the last 50 years, are well respected at city/county/state levels by governmental officials.

    That's my local observation, anyway.

    Nationally, they've been robbed...and especially by the BIA who were supposed to protect their assets.  I cannot understand why this hasn't yet been resolved.  Too much money involved, I suppose.

    Both Democrats and Republicans have let them down but they've fought back rather well in recent years.

    Parent

    It varies dramatically by tribe (5.00 / 1) (#40)
    by Inspector Gadget on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 08:50:38 PM EST
    For example, the Yavapai tribe in AZ benefits hugely by the economics of the Casino industry, but they are careless with their huge monthly checks. Education is minimal, drinking is so widespread that many young deaths. I worked with one woman who lost two of her sons to liver disease before they turned 30, and many others who lost theirs to car accidents involving alcohol.

    It would take hours for me to share what I learned from the Yavapai, but returning to one's Native American roots for the Yavapai would only mean that they wanted their share of the money. One only has to prove something like 1/8th Yavapai to be eligible. The Yavapai have lost their traditions, their language, and all that goes with it.

    You are very right about many of the WA tribes, though. I'm not sure they all make much off their casinos...I vaguely recall my Lummi friends saying they don't. Then, casinos are no longer restricted to the reservations and Native American ownership here.


    Parent

    Yes, you're right.... (none / 0) (#53)
    by oldpro on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 11:43:48 PM EST
    ....great variation among tribes, even here in Washington State.  The Lummi haven't done as well as some other tribes...partly location, partly management issues I think.  Location is a huge issue for casinos, just as it is for retail.  When limitied to rez land only, it can be a problem for development but hotels, convention centers, etc. are coming along now...slowed, however, by the economy's collapse.

    Parent
    Oh, goodie. If it's tied to the month (5.00 / 3) (#20)
    by Cream City on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 05:28:31 PM EST
    then I'm sure that we all can look forward to the NYT doing a similar test next month, Women's History Month, to assess gender.

    And I'm looking forward to the AG castigating this country as cowards for not discussing gender bias.

    Ah well, a girl can dream. . . .

    Parent

    Hey, we're having that discussion (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by tigercourse on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 05:34:50 PM EST
    right now. "Which female politician would best run a daycare".

    http://www.usnews.com/sections/news/washington-whispers/index.html   on the right.

    It's ridiculous.

    Parent

    Tiger, that's marvelous! (none / 0) (#32)
    by Cream City on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 06:02:29 PM EST
    And I've bookmarked it to definitely have fun with it in a couple of classes this week -- and also will send it to colleagues in journalism.  USA Today is rather infamous for its gender bias in past examples.  Little "hope" for "change" there. :-)

    Parent
    Scarcity Model (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by squeaky on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 05:41:52 PM EST
    Getting the short end of the stick as a boomer explains everything. Must be tough having to compete for attention all the time. But you should take comfort that there are African Americans who were born the same year as you, and even some that were born women.

    Next time Hillary speaks about the plight of women and how hard it is to talk about, I will let you know.

    Oops, she just did that, and in China of all places. Guess you were not paying attention, which is understandable with the stress of daily competition you must have to endure.

    Parent

    An interesting discussion on gender (none / 0) (#33)
    by Steve M on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 06:05:53 PM EST
    over here.

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    Thanks. (none / 0) (#34)
    by Cream City on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 06:15:54 PM EST
    It looked promising, including for my men students -- but then it (rather funnily for a guy saying he was going to confront dumb gender dichotomies) fell into too much anti-intellectual talk to be useful for my classes, because the blogger is misusing the term "academic."  So do too many students, so I don't want them to get yet more muddled about it. :-)

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    What's the explanation (none / 0) (#21)
    by oldpro on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 05:31:02 PM EST
    the eleven other months of the year?

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    Ha. Maybe cuz April Fool's Day (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by Cream City on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 05:42:40 PM EST
    is the annual inauguration of White Men's History Months? :-)

    Me, I'm frankly a bit abashed to admit that I sort of look forward to their return, as -- because my research and teaching is on race and gender -- it means that I get back lots of time in my schedule.  Right now, I'm out of town almost every week at conferences, giving free talks (women's groups never pay, men's groups never invite me:-), etc.  

    It works perfectly with my gardening schedule.  Nonwhites and women go down on the interest agenda of the media and public just as tulips and daffodils are coming up.

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    Well (none / 0) (#7)
    by squeaky on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 03:49:57 PM EST
    If that was the end of the discussion I could see it not being fruitful, but if the question as to why and how got fleshed out, I could see people moving past stereotypes and biases.

    What was really interesting for me is that when white people who experienced all blacks as looking alike, learned to distinguish individual black faces from one another, their bias dropped accordingly.

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    Rep. Jan Schakowsky for US Senate, (IL) (none / 0) (#6)
    by Blowback on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 03:48:16 PM EST
    Rep. Jan Schakowsky for US Senate, (IL)

    Why so passive? (none / 0) (#55)
    by rghojai on Mon Feb 23, 2009 at 12:01:45 AM EST
    Reading this about doings in Dublin made me wonder why (as best I can tell) there is little or none of this in the USA.

    "For two hours yesterday Dublin's O'Connell Street was a swollen river of anger as 100,000 people marched in protest at the government's handling of the financial crisis."

    Why is this not happening in SF and LA regarding the political/budget mess in Calif., and on a national level; in other cities as a response to things at state and national levels?

    The Million Human-being March in DC?

    Get to the million via an average of 50,000 in 20 cities?

    Something?

    Anything?

    We have the Internet.

    We have frustrated people.

    Maybe too many people are too passive?

    Maybe it's more a matter of people reeling from a big blow and they'll get a little steadier on their feet and respond with some energy?

    Boomers are an "us," a big us (none / 0) (#61)
    by Cream City on Mon Feb 23, 2009 at 07:27:00 AM EST
    squawky, which is the point if you would get off your, um, animus against me.  It is what is happening to millions, and it is what will delay millions behind us.

    Do try to understand what is written -- "us."

    Yes (none / 0) (#63)
    by squeaky on Mon Feb 23, 2009 at 10:58:24 AM EST
    But you personalize it and whine as if you are representative of all the poor boomers who don't have it as easy as the generation before them. And to frame your whine around Black History Month as if there is some sort of competition where African Americans are getting too much attention at the expense of women is absurd and quite counter productive for civil right issues.

    That is a scarcity mentality, which you to attribute to being a boomer. You do not speak for all boomers and that is a fact. So I would drop the us bit because it is obvious that you are talking about your self.

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    Jeez. can't get a joke (none / 0) (#69)
    by Cream City on Thu Feb 26, 2009 at 12:15:03 AM EST
    about the calendar, even.  Useless waste of cyberspace.

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    Sunday Afternoon Open Thread | 61 comments (61 topical)

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