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Saturday Evening Open Thread

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Blog Related
Posted on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 08:20:00 PM EST
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Your turn.

This is an Open Thread.

Update (TL): I'm watching The Wrestler. Have any of you seen it? It's out on DVD and On Demand.

Update (TChris): If you share TalkLeft's distaste for Sheriff Joe Arpaio, you'll want to watch Stephen Colbert's masterful interview of "America's Toughest Sheriff."

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    Saturday Evening Open Thread | 94 comments (94 topical)

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    The shrimp who designed my AC thermostat (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by andgarden on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 08:36:56 PM EST
    might have been satisfied with 70°F, but I need 68 to sleep.

    Yeah, yeah, I'll have to answer to Al Gore, but reeeeally.

    That is hilarious. (5.00 / 2) (#7)
    by Joelarama on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 08:51:43 PM EST
    And not very green of you.

    Parent
    Let the people who live in the burbs (none / 0) (#8)
    by andgarden on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 08:59:02 PM EST
    go green first. I figure my tiny city footprint and lack of a car gives me some leeway.

    Parent
    exactly! (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by nycstray on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 09:04:16 PM EST
    I actually did my carbon footprint on one of those sites. I'm below the optimum they would like everyone to aim for. I'll crank my AC when it's hot out TYVM!

    Parent
    Made me look! (none / 0) (#12)
    by andgarden on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 09:11:38 PM EST
    I'm well below too. And I don't even recycle! (OOH!)

    Parent
    I recycle, but not that much as (5.00 / 1) (#19)
    by nycstray on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 09:32:57 PM EST
    I don't grocery shop etc. All appliances are 3yrs or younger except my 90yr old gas stove. I was surprised how low my footprint was. I knew not driving would count for a lot, but wow, I'm so good that I won't be sweating during heatwaves unless the power goes out {grin}.

    Parent
    Indeed (none / 0) (#24)
    by cal1942 on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 09:52:24 PM EST


    Parent
    Excellent (none / 0) (#61)
    by Wile ECoyote on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 06:02:03 AM EST
    It sounds like you will not preach about reducing carbon footprints, etc.  

    Parent
    My spouse and kids sleep very hot too (none / 0) (#71)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 08:31:34 AM EST
    Seems like R.E.M. causes their core temp to rise.  The grandbaby also seems to be in that boat.  When I go in and check on her her brow seems to always be damp.  I think we are sitting at 72,  I'll probably have to bring it down to 70 though next month or I'll have super grumpy people to live with.

    Parent
    I watched a bit of hannity (5.00 / 3) (#5)
    by kenosharick on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 08:42:04 PM EST
    last night for some bizarre reason and can't decide whether the complete mental breakdown of those on the far-right is an act. If it is for real, he, and others including guest mike huckabe need to be locked up in a rubber room.  They all keep screaming about moving on and letting the past go. These same people who hounded President Carter for years, and spent $100million investigating Bill Clinton's private sex affair. Huckabee actually said that "Moveon.org needs to move on." I guess they now believe that since all crimes are "in the past," they should be forgotton. hannity gave President Obama an F- for the first 100 days, kept comparing him to FDR, then accused Obama of comparing himself to FDR. All the while screaming "SOCIALISM!!!!," and insisting Obama is stupid beause he uses a teleprompter. Oh well. The meltdown is somewhat entertaining, at least.

    Baseball and girls (5.00 / 11) (#6)
    by caseyOR on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 08:50:40 PM EST
    Last week 12 year old Mackenzie Brown became the first girl in the Bayonne New jersey Little League to throw a perfect game. That's right- she threw a no-hitter. And today Mackenzie threw out the first pitch at the Mets game.

    It was great to see. When I was Mackenzie's age I wanted to grow up to pitch for the Yankees. That was pre-Title IX, though, and girls were not allowed to play little league. In Illinois, where I grew up, girls' interscholastic sports competition was illegal. So, the adults in my life kept telling me I needed a more reasonable career plan.

    Watching Mackenzie throw the ball over the plate at Citi Field, I got a little misty-eyed. It was a happy sight for this old baseball fan.

    People keep trying to gut and eliminate Title IX. Some argue that girls just are not that interested in sports. They say Title IX penalizes boys because it takes resources that once all went to boys and, in their minds, wastes those resources on the girls. No one who watched Mackenzie today or watches girls' basketball or saw Kara Goucher take 3rd place in the Boston Marathon last week should have any doubts about the value of Title IX.

    You go, girls!

    Aw! (5.00 / 2) (#11)
    by Steve M on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 09:04:40 PM EST
    That's a great story.  They'll ditch Title IX over my dead body.

    Parent
    How is Audrey's (none / 0) (#13)
    by caseyOR on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 09:14:23 PM EST
    throwing arm? Is she able to throw overhand yet?

    Parent
    Oh yes (none / 0) (#30)
    by Steve M on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 10:10:07 PM EST
    She has a great throwing arm.  Tons of athletic potential in that little girl.

    Parent
    A personal aside (5.00 / 7) (#23)
    by cal1942 on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 09:50:33 PM EST
    loosely related.

    I bought my daughter a glove and bat when she was about 12.  She'd go out in the backyard and play catch with me but clearly wasn't interested, more concerned with keeping her hair and keeping her nails polished, etc.

    Well times change.  On Monday I saw my little girl (now 43) nearing the end of Heartbreak Hill running in the Boston Marathon.

    I can't even begin to describe how that felt.  

    She didn't benefit directly from Title IX but certainly benefited from the environment that Title IX created.

    My two granddaughters playing basketball, softball and volleyball are benefiting directly.

    Title IX was a master stroke and on Monday gave this old man the thrill of a lifetime.

    Parent

    Congrats (5.00 / 2) (#25)
    by Jen M on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 09:53:34 PM EST
    to your 'little' girl on an admirable accomplishment!

    Parent
    Many, many thanks (none / 0) (#28)
    by cal1942 on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 10:06:47 PM EST
    She didn't run her best time but then again it was her first Boston Marathon, arguably the toughest of them all.  She'll be back to Boston next year hopefully with a healthier knee.

    Parent
    Which (none / 0) (#40)
    by CoralGables on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 10:33:00 PM EST
    Marathon did she run to qualify for Boston? I'm not sure if Boston is the toughest, but I am sure there isn't an easy one.

    Parent
    She qualified (none / 0) (#45)
    by cal1942 on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 11:14:32 PM EST
    at Grand Rapids last October.  As you say 26.2 miles is 26.2 miles. Compared to her other marathons at Detroit, Disneyworld, Traverse City and Grand Rapids she said Boston is far, far the most difficult.

    Parent
    Is she going to run NYC? (none / 0) (#48)
    by nycstray on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 12:10:05 AM EST


    Parent
    No (none / 0) (#87)
    by cal1942 on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 11:04:07 AM EST
    she has a bit of a knee problem and may run another local marathon before running Boston next year.  She went into Boston with a bit of a training deficit and is determined to get healed and intensify training, especially on hills.

    NYC is on her list though.

    Parent

    I didn't enjoy athletics (none / 0) (#72)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 08:38:07 AM EST
    until my early 20's.  There are studies about brain development indicating that for some of us it is a brain chemistry happening preventing us from enjoying being athletic and getting an endorphin response when we are growing.  The other gene pool in play in this marriage seems to be completely the opposite and very athletic while growing up.

    Parent
    Congratulations (5.00 / 3) (#46)
    by cal1942 on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 11:25:48 PM EST
    on your daughter's stellar achievement.  I believe I have something of a clue to how you feel.

    There's something extraordinarily special about watching our daughters and granddaughters compete in athletics.  It touches heart and soul like nothing else. What it does for them is immeasurable and maybe knowing that is a large part of that feeling.

    Any attempt at dropping Title IX and I'll carry both torch and pitchfork.

    Parent

    It must never go away (5.00 / 1) (#73)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 08:39:54 AM EST
    There will always be athletic young women

    Parent
    Three Cheers for Casey (none / 0) (#14)
    by CoralGables on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 09:17:24 PM EST
    Anyone that is able to mention factual material with regard to the 112th running of the Boston Marathon deserves kudos.

    Parent
    Kara is an Oregon (none / 0) (#17)
    by caseyOR on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 09:25:02 PM EST
    girl. She trains here in Portland with Alberto Salazar in Nike's elite distance runner program.

    Boston was Kara's official debut as a marathoner (she ran the shorter distances in Beijing). I've long been a fan of running and track and field. And Oregon is a great place to be fan. With Kara the USA has a real chance of having a women's distance champion.

    Parent

    You are on top of your game (none / 0) (#21)
    by CoralGables on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 09:36:10 PM EST
    Yup, her first try at Boston and was just nine seconds behind the winner, making it the best finish by an American woman since 1993 when Kim Jones finished second. The last female American winner at Boston was Lisa Larsen Weidenbach in 1985.

    Alberto Salazar won Boston in 1982 and runs the Nike Oregon Project for long distance runners in Beaverton where Kara trains.

    And although it has nothing to do with Boston or Kara Goucher or Alberto Salazar, let me just say Go Pre.

    Parent

    We will always love Pre. n/t (none / 0) (#22)
    by caseyOR on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 09:42:48 PM EST


    Parent
    Kara may be an Oregon woman now (none / 0) (#38)
    by DFLer on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 10:26:57 PM EST
    but she WAS a Minnesota girl, at least through In high school. She ran track in Duluth , home of the Grandma's marathon.

    Parent
    Good For Her!!!!! (none / 0) (#47)
    by easilydistracted on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 11:29:41 PM EST


    Parent
    Actually, with women comprising (none / 0) (#56)
    by MKS on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 01:21:33 AM EST
    the majority of undergraduates, Title IX is resulting in more scholarships and money to women's sports than men's.  Title IX typically requires athletic scholarships proportionate to the undergraduate enrollment.  When women comprised 40% of undergraduates, then it was viewed as a break to men's sports.

    Now, with women comprising upwards of 60% of some undergraduate populations, women get 60% of the athletic scholarships.  Anamolies have resulted.  There is no UCLA men's swim team--in So Cal, no men's swim team?  There is, however, a UCLA women's swim team.  

    Men's Baseball is facing great pressure and may be dropped in some instances.

    A 50/50 split would seem more fair....

    Parent

    yes (none / 0) (#67)
    by Jen M on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 07:41:59 AM EST
    title nine should cut both ways.

    Fair is fair.

    Parent

    no, if fair is fair (none / 0) (#79)
    by Cream City on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 09:46:50 AM EST
    then let the funding reflect representation of the genders on campus.  If 55% of students are women, then 55% of funding ought go to women's sports.

    And 55% of the time available in the sports facilities ought go to women's sports, too.  That still is a huge issue, as is which time slots they get.  My women student-athletes still have ghastly practice schedules.

    Parent

    sounds like the same kind of excuses (none / 0) (#90)
    by Jen M on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 12:17:50 PM EST
    they used to close (or not establish) women's sports programs

    Parent
    The anomaly (none / 0) (#75)
    by Steve M on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 08:51:05 AM EST
    is largely due to football, which has a zillion scholarships and no female equivalent.

    Parent
    Exactly. (none / 0) (#78)
    by Cream City on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 09:44:56 AM EST
    Football is exorbitantly expensive.  And if you're an alum of a campus that claims that its football team pays its way, don't believe it for a minute.  None of them pays the way -- the budget sheets never show the full, real costs such as office space, all staff, and such.  The students in other sports and the nonjocks and the taxpayers at public campuses or the donors at private campuses are paying for the football programs.

    Not that any sport's true costs are ever admitted, but the others are so much cheaper and don't claim (except for a few hoops teams) to be paying their way.

    Parent

    Football is, in the average university context (none / 0) (#83)
    by scribe on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 10:22:30 AM EST
    an amazingly knotty issue.

    A few years back, I was working in an office where one of the attorneys also was a long-time trustee of a well-known private college and had had long-time friendships with many of the other trustees.

    The new president decided that it would be economically efficient, and prudent, and better enhance the marketability of the college (academic distinction and exclusivity) if football were eliminated.  It leaked.

    The trustees were apoplectic.  One, a prominent funder whose family had over a number of generations been a major supporter of the college (there were, by my count, two academic buildings a dorm or two or three, and a lot of the athletic complex donated by (or lead donations by) that family said, in so many words:  "after all our millions, this?"

    The President's decision was, after some hue and cry and, worse, after some of the team members and future recruits started to transfer or commit to other colleges, reversed.  About a year or two later, a new president was installed.  Last I checked, the outgoing one had been taken off the Board of Trustees, kind of unique as all other ex-presidents were ex-officio members....

    While it was fun to watch these folks go to war with each other, it impressed a certain point:  football is less - much less - about the game and more about the social relationships in the stands, the opportunity to get alumni back (and their wallets to open)  during the fall, when most college campuses are at their prettiest, and all the advertising that comes from having your college's name mentioned on SportsCenter, from being on TV, and from all the rest.  No particular university is intended for opprobrium here, but there are a lot of schools which would otherwise be derided (accurately) as cow colleges that nonetheless have a much higher national profile than any of the Ivies (or, moreso, the highly selective academic schools one "rank" "below" the Ivies), and that owe their (inflated) reputation to football.

    Said another way (and picking two names out of a hat), if you ask a teenager from, say, Ohio, which school is "better", LSU or Williams, that teenager will know of LSU but would likely have no idea that Williams exists.  And that teenager will likely go with LSU - because of football.  That, even though Williams is academically in a far different league than LSU....

    Colleges and their relationship to football is sort of rational (once you get inside it), but there is one thing clear about it - try to change it and you will get it in the neck.

    Parent

    Not trying to change it (none / 0) (#85)
    by Cream City on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 10:32:50 AM EST
    just calling for truth about it.

    I'm glad I'm at a campus that dropped football a while ago, and there was no dissent about it.

    Parent

    Your story could be my story (none / 0) (#77)
    by Jjc2008 on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 09:39:06 AM EST
    I even went to the Little League tryouts when I was about 9 (in 1954).  I wore my hair under a baseball cap and I think I was hoping no one would notice I was female.  It was not a conscious attempt ...just a hope.  Didn't work.  I remember whining to my dad how I knew I was better than (my male cousins) the others.....and they did not last more than a year (both were more debate team types than athletes but their dads wanted them to play).

    I had the same reaction when I saw the clip.   I missed all the benefits of Title IX but I was sure glad it happened.  I swell with pride whenever I see any girl getting the chance to show her talent in sports......

    Parent

    Follow the money (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by SOS on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 09:03:15 PM EST
    ZURICH -(Dow Jones)- The World Health Organization said Saturday initial findings show a multi-strain swine flu which has killed up to 60 people in Mexico is responding to Roche Holding AG's (ROG.VX) flu drug Tamiflu.
    04-25-091215ET

    LOS ANGELES, April 24 (Reuters) - The swine flu outbreak is likely to benefit one of the most prolific and successful venture capital firms in the United States: Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Thomson Reuters Private Equity Week reported on Friday.

    Shares of the two public companies in the firm's portfolio of eight Pandemic and Bio Defense companies -- BioCryst Pharmaceuticals (BCRX.O) and Novavax (NVAX.O) -- jumped Friday on news that the swine flu killed a reported 60 people in Mexico and has infected people in the United States.

    Welcome to New York, it was (none / 0) (#16)
    by vicndabx on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 09:22:16 PM EST
    inevitable I guess, but still something I hoped to avoid seeing here.  Got young kids to worry about.

    Parent
    Oy (none / 0) (#18)
    by andgarden on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 09:27:10 PM EST


    Parent
    Heard on NY1 they are also looking at (none / 0) (#20)
    by nycstray on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 09:35:02 PM EST
    illnesses at a daycare center.

    Isn't Fresh Meadows kinda out there?

    Parent

    For me in the Bronx it is :-) (none / 0) (#26)
    by vicndabx on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 09:55:53 PM EST
    from the wiki.  It does seem a bit out of the way.  Mexico is pretty far too though.

    Parent
    not that it would make you worry less (none / 0) (#68)
    by Jen M on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 07:42:54 AM EST
    but so far all cases have been mild.

    Parent
    Leonard Cohen (5.00 / 2) (#49)
    by hitchhiker on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 12:10:31 AM EST
    was in town on Thursday . . . if any of you are able, don't miss the chance to see him on this tour.

    3+ hours of rich, lovely music in the presence of a poet/wise elder/sassy old man/great human being.  Just, wow.

    His closing scene is a benediction that will carry me for years.

    Three for three today. (5.00 / 4) (#54)
    by oldpro on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 01:09:35 AM EST
    Should have bought my lottery ticket.

    My parks bill passed the legislature and is sent to the governor for signature.  Whew.

    The biopsy came back negative for cancer.  Whew.  Scary.  Dodged a bullet this time.

    The Seattle Sounders won, 2-0 tonight.  Quite exciting.

    oldpro, congratulations (none / 0) (#59)
    by caseyOR on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 02:19:40 AM EST
    on all three, but it is especially good to know the biopsy came back negative.

    Parent
    Definitely a winning day for you (none / 0) (#64)
    by MO Blue on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 06:36:53 AM EST
    The biopsy results alone are worth their weight in gold. What a relief you must be feeling.

    Congratulations.

    Parent

    Will Percy thrive in Minnesota? (none / 0) (#1)
    by oculus on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 08:23:50 PM EST


    Absolutely (none / 0) (#2)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 08:27:47 PM EST
    Minnesota got a steal.

    Parent
    So Percy was farther down the list (none / 0) (#69)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 08:24:45 AM EST
    than he should have been if we were grading only on his athletic talents?

    Parent
    This was probably (none / 0) (#76)
    by CoralGables on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 09:25:22 AM EST
    right about where Percy should have been drafted. He has had injury issues, but his quickness when healthy trumps the potential problems.

    With Adrian Peterson running the ball for the Vikings there will be a lot of open field for either Adrian or Percy when both are on the field. And on artificial grass in the Hubert H Humphrey Metrodome, Percy should have even quicker bursts through openings in the defense.

    Minnesota is a perfect fit for Percy.

    Parent

    In baseball the considered wisdom (none / 0) (#88)
    by oculus on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 11:18:22 AM EST
    is playing on artificial turf is harder on the body.  Not so re football?  

    Parent
    Same wisdom applies. (none / 0) (#91)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 12:29:56 PM EST
    Even though the artifical turf of today is much, much better than the old stuff, it's still tougher on the body than natural grass.

    It's a trade off--more speed/better footing v. more injuries.

    Parent

    My brain just fell (5.00 / 1) (#92)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 12:51:57 PM EST
    out and is writhing on the floor attempting to absorb this thread and all of its sporting nuances:)

    Parent
    Any jazz fans here? Marcus Boxer (none / 0) (#4)
    by oculus on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 08:38:34 PM EST
    is playing here tonight and I'm going.  Free ticket.  What to expect?

    "Marcus Roberts." (none / 0) (#15)
    by oculus on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 09:18:38 PM EST


    Parent
    For a fleeting moment (none / 0) (#27)
    by cal1942 on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 09:57:09 PM EST
    I thought you were talking about the Utah Jazz.  I've got to start getting more sleep.

    Parent
    Actually, me going to a jazz concert is about (none / 0) (#93)
    by oculus on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 02:25:50 PM EST
    as unlikely as me going to a Utah Jazz game.

    Parent
    Some days you're the dog (none / 0) (#29)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 10:09:55 PM EST
    And some days you're the big giant mournful bodiless clay head statue:

    LINK

    I just want to tickle his chin or something.  It can't be that bad!

    No one's seen the wrestler so far? (none / 0) (#32)
    by Dadler on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 10:13:48 PM EST
    Interesting.  Come on, Mickey Rourke, wrestling picture, should be a hoot.

    Hope you get that Coen Bros. reference, Tent.

    Peace.

    Pip (none / 0) (#33)
    by Dadler on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 10:14:24 PM EST
    Pip, not hoot.  Coen Bros. fan indeed!  Bah!

    Parent
    And my Lakers... (none / 0) (#34)
    by Dadler on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 10:15:27 PM EST
    ...better not blow this lead.  Sad that I could think them capable.  After last year's game four collapse against the Celts, well, just the way it goes.  

    Parent
    Alright, Lakes by 20... (none / 0) (#35)
    by Dadler on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 10:23:30 PM EST
    ...with six and change left.  I guess I can have another gimlet.

    Parent
    And if Andrew Bynum... (none / 0) (#36)
    by Dadler on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 10:25:44 PM EST
    ...can give me 10/5 a game minimum, which is more than possible, please, this nba crown is forum blue and gold this year.

    forum blue, who the phuck remembers that?

    Parent

    forget 10/5 (none / 0) (#39)
    by Dadler on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 10:29:50 PM EST
    make that 8/4.

    Parent
    I didn't like it (none / 0) (#42)
    by Jeralyn on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 10:46:08 PM EST
    the violence was over the top and I don't understand the ending. I fast forwarded through some of it so maybe I missed it, but it didn't seem that way. Sure, Mickey Rourke was good but it was just a very depressing, violent movie.

    Parent
    "Funny Girl" was on TCM tonight, (none / 0) (#44)
    by Anne on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 11:10:52 PM EST
    and it's been years since I've seen it; Streisand was wonderful, of course - it was her first movie - but I had forgotten that it's really quite a sad movie.

    Still, so many great songs, and no one does them quite like Barbra.

    Parent

    watched Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde on TCM (none / 0) (#60)
    by of1000Kings on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 03:39:47 AM EST
    earlier...such a good movie...

    the Fountainhead is on too, but on around 5am so I'll just have to record it and watch it later (one of my favs, although I went to school to be an architect, so I have a bit of fondness for any movie that focuses on it...the speech at the end gives me goosebumps most of the time)

    Parent

    I saw it in the theater back around New Years' (none / 0) (#62)
    by scribe on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 06:24:30 AM EST
    and commented on it here, then.  I thought it was an excellent movie.  I think you might not have done it justice by fast forwarding through it - I think it's the kind of movie which really can't stand up to that and requires an uadience which allows itself to remain involved.

    Yes, it was violent (it's about wrestlers, fer Pete's sake), but more than that it did give an accurate portrayal of (a) the desperation that is Joisey, (b) [I wanna say somethng profound about the human spirit] the reality of what happens when fame leaves town.

    It was pretty unvarnished.

    I thought Rourke was excellent.  I didn't see Milk, so I won't say he should have gotten the Ocar over Penn, but I would have voted for Rourke if I'd had a vote.

    I also thought the actresses were brilliant.

    Parent

    I just came back from seeing Tom Rush (none / 0) (#37)
    by cpa1 on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 10:26:56 PM EST
    He was so good and sounded so much the same as he always has.  He's an incredible guitarist and much more versatile than I thought.  

    But when he sings "No Regrets" and "The Circle Game" you are taken for quite a ride. Unfortunately, he didn't sing "The Circle Game" and if you search through his YouTubes, there is no Circle Game performance, other than someone playing it while holding his record jacket, for those of you who know what a record is.

    He has an incredible ability to keep the audience interested with stories and talking about his life.  It was a great concert but we all missed hearing "the Circle Game".

    powerful film! (none / 0) (#41)
    by Turkana on Sat Apr 25, 2009 at 10:44:57 PM EST
    rourke deserved the oscar.

    I'm getting ready to start thinkiing about (none / 0) (#50)
    by Jeralyn on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 12:45:33 AM EST
    new summer drinks, Even though it was only 39 degrees today, I just put an 8oz can of Diet Pepsi in the blender, added two scoops of Starbucks coffee ice cream, lots of ice and a shot of Bailey's irish cream and a shot of Chivas. I topped it off with some sprayed whip cream. It's not bad. I'm wondering what to do with the leftovers.

    forgot to ask (none / 0) (#51)
    by Jeralyn on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 12:46:25 AM EST
    any suggestions for how to improve it?

    Parent
    Or a name for it? (5.00 / 1) (#52)
    by Jeralyn on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 12:48:40 AM EST
    one of Hunter Thompson's very favorite drinks was a "Bif" -- made with baileys and ice, topped off by Chivas. I just added the pepsi and coffee ice cream.

    Parent
    Dear god. (5.00 / 1) (#53)
    by oldpro on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 01:05:10 AM EST
    You drank it?

    Whatever possessed you to add Pepsi?!?

    Parent

    I didn't have root beer (5.00 / 1) (#55)
    by Jeralyn on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 01:13:34 AM EST
    and I thought it would make a kind of root beer float with pepsi.

    Parent
    Speaking solely for myself, I can't (none / 0) (#63)
    by scribe on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 06:33:35 AM EST
    see why one would go with Bailey's and Chivas, since Bailey's is really just heavy cream and Irish whiskey.  Maybe its the different flavors of the whiskies, but with all that other stuff in there I can't see catching that distinction.  I know there's an old drink which was scotch and cream - forget the name right now.  But sticking with that might form a good base for the drink.

    Regular coca-cola or pepsi rather than diet might work better, taste-wise, since the nutrasweet can do funny taste-things, particularly when there is regular sugar (from the ice cream) involved.  I remember as a kid one could get root beer floats and coke floats - but they always used vanilla ice cream.  I tried a root beer float with coffee ice cream once - I thought it was pretty gross.

    Me?  I'm sticking with beer.  Good German pilsner.  I spent most of the day yesterday painting metal railings (and will get to do a couple windows today), and beer beats just about anything at the end of that.  FWIW, the other day was National Beer Appreciation Day in Germany - they were making a big, humorous thing about it on the radio.

    Parent

    Good beer and detail painting (none / 0) (#74)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 08:44:14 AM EST
    It works for me now too.  When I was younger though it would have made me silly painter.  Lots of painting in the South to preserve wood.  I need to do the back porch railing before it gets too hot.

    Parent
    Yeh, blecch. Plus, why diet? (5.00 / 1) (#80)
    by Cream City on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 09:49:23 AM EST
    The calories in the cream in Bailey's, plus all the calories in the alcohol, canceled out any benefit of diet soda right there.:-)

    Parent
    To improve it (5.00 / 1) (#89)
    by TChris on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 11:39:42 AM EST
    I would leave out the ice cream and diet pepsi, drink the shot of chivas first, then chase it with the bailey's.

    Parent
    Suggestions for improvements (none / 0) (#66)
    by MO Blue on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 06:42:12 AM EST
    Leave out theDiet Pepsi and the Chivas.

    If you like ice cream drinks, try spiced rum over the ice cream of your choice.

    Parent

    I'm going to rebel against the naysayers here (none / 0) (#70)
    by snstara on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 08:27:22 AM EST
    and say, 'keep the diet Pepsi in!"  I sense you want the syrup and fizz of the soda without the sugary wallop of the ice cream/regular soda combo - especially when you're then adding a sweet alcohol like Bailey's.  

    Back in the day, I had a friend who mixed diet Pepsi and milk. Not bad - kind of an egg cream knockoff!

    Parent

    in a blender add Newman's Lemonade, a pint of (none / 0) (#84)
    by byteb on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 10:28:22 AM EST
    lemon sorbet and liberal amounts of vodka, plus a little ice, blend to your desired consistancy, pour into tall glasses and sit in your backyard, deck, favorite chair and enjoy the summer.

    Parent
    oh! and if you really love lemon (none / 0) (#86)
    by byteb on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 10:35:27 AM EST
    add a bit of lemoncello. heaven.

    Parent
    that does sound very good... (none / 0) (#95)
    by of1000Kings on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 08:21:54 PM EST
    big lemon fan, HUGE vodka fan...
    going to be sitting on my back porch with one of these this summer...

    Parent
    What's your vodka... (none / 0) (#96)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 08:36:25 PM EST
    ...of choice?  Back when I could drink, lemonaide and vodka was my drink of choice.  High quality Polish potato stuff, of course.  Luksosowa for home use and Chopin out and about.

    Tried to make lemoncello one time and it didn't turn out well--at least compared to my lemon infused vokda.  

    Parent

    Diet Pepsi?! (none / 0) (#57)
    by nycstray on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 02:07:29 AM EST
    If you want the carbonation, perhaps sparkling water?

    The best way to improve it would be ditch the Diet Pepsi and use homemade ice cream {grin}. I personally like Bailey's milk shakes. My dog's not happy when I make those because she can't have any. I guess I could make her a virgin one, eh?

    Bailey's has been a good friend. Got me through the pet food recall and the FDA/USDA twice weekly press updates. Good thing they were in the afternoon! I even experimented with making my own for a bit. Gotta do something when they are telling you it's a-okay to eat toxins  ;)

    Parent

    Oh, and at 3AM it's 76 degrees! (none / 0) (#58)
    by nycstray on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 02:08:08 AM EST


    Parent
    Darby's, if you can find it (none / 0) (#81)
    by Cream City on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 09:50:40 AM EST
    is half the price of Bailey's, badly overpriced, and Darby's is just as good.  I taste-tested a LOT of it to be sure. :-)

    Parent
    For what it's worth (none / 0) (#82)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 10:06:28 AM EST
    Milk and pepsi are a wonderful combination as far as I'm concerned.

    People shouldn't balk until they try it.

    Parent

    We attempted to go see 'State of Play' (none / 0) (#94)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 03:51:03 PM EST
    last night.  It was PG-13 and nothing else anyone in the fam was interested in so we gave it a shot.  Josh and his sleepover friend were so bored we had to leave midway and it was a bummer because both spouse and self wanted to finish watching it so badly.  Oh well....date night or DVD.

    "Redskins" (none / 0) (#97)
    by DancingOpossum on Mon Apr 27, 2009 at 10:00:20 AM EST
    I completely agree, lentinel. The team's refusal to change that name is truly revolting and intransigent.

    I do like the way at least one newspaper -- the Seattle Times -- in their football coverage, refuses to call them "the Redskins" and only refers to "D.C." or "the Washington team." Other papers and broadcasters should follow suit since it appears the team and fans are wholly impervious to any other kind of pressure. Sheebus, they changed the basketball team's name from "the Bullets" and that was a whole lot less offensive!

    Have a good friend who is a lifelong D.C. fan and he says the name just embarrasses the hell out of him, but that opinion seems to be rare among the many fans I've talked to. (As a fan of the immensely great Ravens I'm just over the water and see lots of them.)

    BTD, I just watched the Wrestler -- waited anxiously for it to come out on On Demand -- and thought it was terrific. Was especially blown away by Marisa Tomei's performance. Rourke is as good as the critics said, but it was difficult to watch him, that face is more than aged or craggy, it seems to have completely deteriorated. (A friend said she read that he had some plastic surgery that was botched, is this true?)

    Saturday Evening Open Thread | 94 comments (94 topical)

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