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Late Night Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Fri Mar 06, 2009 at 11:54:14 PM EST
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I just finished watching this week's "24" about a terrorist attack on the White House. It was way better than the Bachelor Finale. Jason is now the butt of jokes everywhere from Jay Leno to Jimmy Fallon. He knows he's gone from Most Eligible of the Year to Most Hated of the Year... but it's only March. So he's embarked on a media apology tour, groveling for forgiveness on Ellen and Extra... just pitiful.

What's going on in your neck of the woods? This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

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    Late Night Open Thread | 41 comments (41 topical)

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    The NCAA gave FSU 4 years (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by Amiss on Sat Mar 07, 2009 at 12:04:30 AM EST
    probation for their academic cheating scandal.

    The NCAA said 61 Florida State athletes cheated on an online test from the fall of 2006 through summer 2007 or received improper help from staffers who provided them with answers to the exam and typed papers for them.

    The NCAA said the school must vacate all wins in contests in which athletes involved in the cheating participated. That could involve up to 14 football victories.

    LINK

    The horror, the horror! (none / 0) (#18)
    by Fabian on Sat Mar 07, 2009 at 05:16:55 AM EST
    I feel for all the academically gifted athletes who suffer because of their academically incompetent teammates.  The dumb jock stereotype has survived for a reason - there's a steady supply of athletes who fit the mold.

    Parent
    My mother is on MySpace! (5.00 / 5) (#2)
    by nycstray on Sat Mar 07, 2009 at 12:29:55 AM EST
    O.M.G.!!!

    So after seeing the posts and commenting on the FaceBook thread, I find out tonight my mother has a MySpace page. She's in her mid 70's. Of course I was too shocked to ask for a link, lol!~ We were discussing my weekend food/CSA related plans and I was telling her how I had (in my brain numbing work haze) put together layouts for my CSA group and a blog/sites for myself. She thought it was great and talked a bit about social networking and that she has a MySpace page. Oy! I'm suddenly behind my mom in internet/tech/networking?!?! I'm guessing MySpace is fairly easy? Haven't had to do any "tech" work from across the country! Geeze, I remember the day I bought her internet access for Christmas. We actually got in an argument about whether it was going to be another "problem" that she would have to deal with . . . nevermind that I still get phone calls about email "issues", lol!~

    I am laughing so hard (5.00 / 7) (#12)
    by oldpro on Sat Mar 07, 2009 at 01:09:04 AM EST
    I almost wet my pants!

    It all rings so true (your mother is my age, give or take a year or two) and my tech-terrific son just rolls his eyes when he has to teach me something about my DVD player or my new wireless laptop or anything more complicated than "plug it in, turn it on and hit 'go!'"  If I had a MySpace page (or even knew what FaceBook was or is), he too would freak out.

    Keeping you kids alert is one of the few things we live for these days, so watch it Cookie.  You never know what we'll do next!

    Parent

    For the record . . . :) (5.00 / 5) (#16)
    by nycstray on Sat Mar 07, 2009 at 02:12:09 AM EST
    Not rolling my eyes (too much!), but it's a tad frustrating when mom calls and wants help. She has this idea that I can see her screen!!! I remember one night it was a photoshop question (YES! my fault, I gave it to her!!) and she was talking to me like I could see that "little pointer on the screen"! I've gone into auto-solve mode and it's been working. She calls with an email issue and I run her through "typical" solutions and we usually hit it pretty quick.

    I know she reads blogs and stuff, but I sure didn't expect "social networking" cheerleading from her, or to find out she had a MySpace page, lol!~  I'm almost afraid to ask for the link. I remember one time when she showed me the pics she carried around of me in her purse. O.M.G.!!! The 80's, need I say more?!

    I'll have to give her a call tomorrow. I'm now curious if it was her knitting groups or my niece (20's) that moved her to MySpace :)

    The internet sure adds a new dynamic to families, eh? What's funny is my niece is living with my parents, so she's prob more tech educated (maybe why I haven't gotten a phone call?!) net wise, but as the "old standard", it's me, lol!~ I will say I'm proud that they managed to "wireless" the house without me. Mom used Apple Help line for setup help."Whew", another computer issue I wouldn't want to deal with from the opposite coast!

    Parent

    What? You live on the (none / 0) (#22)
    by oldpro on Sat Mar 07, 2009 at 10:24:09 AM EST
    opposite coast from your Mom?

    A big part of the problem.  Who moved?  You...or Mom?

    And your niece has moved in with Mom?  And is helping her with stuff?  Hmmm.

    Better check to see if you're still in the will!

    Parent

    New Surgeon General (none / 0) (#3)
    by squeaky on Sat Mar 07, 2009 at 12:41:06 AM EST
    Dr. Howard Dean? via Raw Story

    Hmmmm... According to that story... (none / 0) (#13)
    by EL seattle on Sat Mar 07, 2009 at 01:17:56 AM EST
    CNN said two White House officials noted that, while it is too early to compile a list of candidates for surgeon general, they did not rule out Dean getting the job.

    So, was Gupta the only one they'd been considering for the position before he dropped out?  Or were they planning to wait until springtime to spend time to get the position filled?

    Parent

    Am I wrong (5.00 / 2) (#20)
    by Steve M on Sat Mar 07, 2009 at 08:47:27 AM EST
    or could the story have equally well been about how I am a potential candidate for Surgeon General?  Because, I mean, it's too early to compile a list of candidates, but they haven't ruled me out.  Or you.

    Parent
    Having built in oh so much (none / 0) (#14)
    by oculus on Sat Mar 07, 2009 at 01:27:31 AM EST
    suspense before announcing Obama tapped Biden for VP--let's try that again.

    Parent
    Somehow (5.00 / 3) (#15)
    by Cream City on Sat Mar 07, 2009 at 01:38:59 AM EST
    I don't see millions signing up to get their exclusive alert on this on Twitter or email or Ipods or whatever. . . .

    Parent
    Update (none / 0) (#27)
    by squeaky on Sat Mar 07, 2009 at 12:15:41 PM EST
    Dean not interested.

    CNN said he had privately made clear that he is interested in the job. But a source close to Dean told Reuters he was not.



    Parent
    Friday Night Lights (none / 0) (#4)
    by hitchhiker on Sat Mar 07, 2009 at 12:49:52 AM EST
    I'm addicted.  

    My insomnia-based google search (none / 0) (#5)
    by andgarden on Sat Mar 07, 2009 at 12:50:33 AM EST
    was for "fiscalizing a deficit." I was reading about deficit monetization on the wikipedia page about hyperinflation.

    One of the first results was "Will Bank Bailouts Bust Budgets? Fiscalization of the East Asian Financial Crisis" (PDF) by Jay Rosengard.

    I'm about to find out if I have the economics background to understand the article. . .

    Or (5.00 / 6) (#6)
    by squeaky on Sat Mar 07, 2009 at 12:51:39 AM EST
    Have your insomnia cured...

    Parent
    Indeed (5.00 / 2) (#9)
    by andgarden on Sat Mar 07, 2009 at 12:55:54 AM EST
    I've already about given up. . .

    Parent
    Before you totally immerse yourself, (5.00 / 3) (#7)
    by oculus on Sat Mar 07, 2009 at 12:54:19 AM EST
    how did the oral argument go today?

    Parent
    Very, very well, thanks (5.00 / 2) (#8)
    by andgarden on Sat Mar 07, 2009 at 12:55:38 AM EST
    Though I was told at the end that I made the mistake of sarcastically insulting the Petitioner. Knowing myself, I am quite sure that I did.

    Parent
    Ha. Unconsciously, no doubt. (none / 0) (#10)
    by oculus on Sat Mar 07, 2009 at 12:58:11 AM EST


    Parent
    Not exactly. . . (none / 0) (#11)
    by andgarden on Sat Mar 07, 2009 at 01:02:53 AM EST


    Parent
    Thanks for the laugh (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by nycstray on Sat Mar 07, 2009 at 02:19:06 AM EST
    I don't know enough about the oral arguments you were doing, but your knowledge of yourself and admittance of perhaps being "sarcastically insulting" brought a smile to my mug. I think I may be able to relate, lol!~ I think it's a good thing I went to art school, and you just reminded me of another reason why  ;)

    Does it "harm" you in your future endeavors (that it was called out)?

    Parent

    No, no harm (none / 0) (#21)
    by andgarden on Sat Mar 07, 2009 at 09:21:25 AM EST
    just a small note about my personality. . .

    Parent
    Did you accept that as constructive (none / 0) (#30)
    by Inspector Gadget on Sat Mar 07, 2009 at 01:21:51 PM EST
    criticism with an intention of working at taming that habit?

    I would think that being respectful to all people in a courtroom (well, everywhere, actually) would be an asset.


    Parent

    I given this some thought. In light (none / 0) (#26)
    by oculus on Sat Mar 07, 2009 at 12:10:41 PM EST
    of your history here, did you say:  I am done engaging with you?

    Parent
    Heh, no (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by andgarden on Sat Mar 07, 2009 at 01:06:34 PM EST
    I was not disrespectful to the judges.

    Parent
    "With all due respect, . . ." (