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Wednesday Afternoon News And Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 01:21:13 PM EST
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I've missed a lot of news yesterday and today while trying to meet a deadline for filing briefs. Now I'm off to the jail to share them with my clients. Here's what I would have blogged about if I had been online:

[More...]

  • Financier Allen Stanford has been appointed a public defender. His previous counsel, Dick DeGuerin, in moving to withdraw, noted that in addition to the Government not allowing Stanford to pay him even one dollar in fees, the attorney-client relationship had been irreparably damaged by other lawyers jousting for the case.

    Was he referring to Karl Rove's lawyer Robert Luskin? Did Luskin think he could get money released from the Government where DeGuerin failed? The bottom line is that Stanford, who had millions, will now be represented by the public defender's office.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

< Health Care Reform And Obama's Theory Of Change | HCAN Pans Baucus Care: "Gift to The Insurance Industry" >

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    Wednesday Afternoon News And Open Thread | 90 comments (90 topical)

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    I just won a free lunch (5.00 / 3) (#4)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 01:35:08 PM EST
    downstairs at this restaurant in our building.  they have a contest that gives someone in our company a free lunch every day.  that was the third time I won and the third time I ordered the 25 dollar filet which is the most expensive thing on the menu.

    is that wrong?  it was really good.

    It's only wrong if you're a vegan. (5.00 / 3) (#10)
    by Cream City on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 01:43:31 PM EST
    But if you're carnivorous, then heck, you're just a lucky carnivore.  

    [ Parent ]
    It's only wrong (5.00 / 1) (#49)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 03:07:52 PM EST
    if it was a filet of fish.  I hate fish.

    But filet mignon is never wrong.

    You obviously are a regular customer at this restaurant.  Your patronage is their goal in offering this contest.  

    They've already won on you.

    Hope it was tasty!

    [ Parent ]

    Jim Goulds (none / 0) (#52)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 03:09:34 PM EST
    one main plaza
    if ever in champaign it about as good as it gets.

    [ Parent ]
    Why would that be wrong?... (none / 0) (#8)
    by kdog on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 01:39:21 PM EST
    You ain't rigging the contest are ya bud?

    Better to be lucky than good.

    [ Parent ]

    thank you (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 01:45:19 PM EST
    I was having a rush of guilt.   not so much luck.  since they do it every day and there are probably about 100 people in the pot (of the 170 or so here) so its sort of numerically expected.

    I just think if they want to put a cost cap on it they should say so up front and not rely on manners.


    [ Parent ]

    Buy lottery tickets! (none / 0) (#83)
    by robert72 on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 08:37:23 PM EST
    Some people are lucky and some aren't...

    [ Parent ]
    Just don't forget (none / 0) (#12)
    by oculus on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 01:46:26 PM EST
    to take your statin.  

    [ Parent ]
    ha (5.00 / 3) (#13)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 01:48:16 PM EST
    thanks
    but its ok.  I dont really eat that much meat but sometimes I just crave a good steak.

    for the record I have actually paid for the same thing a couple of times there.

    and I always give the waiter about what I would usually spend for lunch to mitigate my guilt.
     

    [ Parent ]

    There ya go.... (5.00 / 2) (#17)
    by kdog on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 01:56:13 PM EST
    free lunch=extra fat tip for the working stiff...the gods will smile on that:)

    [ Parent ]
    I can use (none / 0) (#23)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 02:09:06 PM EST
    all the help I can get

    [ Parent ]
    Dear Captain (none / 0) (#27)
    by lentinel on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 02:15:04 PM EST
    Yes it was wrong of you to take the most expensive item on the menu.

    A great poet once said, "Have thy fill of Ye vittles, but squander not the abundance of the rack of the lamb".

    In these troubled times, it behooves us to remember that the quality of mercy is not strained, but rather broiled in a cursory manner.

    So the next time, take the chicken salad.

    [ Parent ]

    three times (5.00 / 2) (#29)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 02:19:35 PM EST
    take the most expensive item on the menu three times

    like Judas I am dammed

    [ Parent ]

    There is no sin in your win (5.00 / 1) (#41)
    by shoephone on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 02:47:35 PM EST
    It's likely that there may be other people in your office building who have won multiple times as well.

    Now is not the time for guilt and atonement. After all, Yom Kippur does not fall until September 27th!

    Eat what you want and enjoy!

    [ Parent ]

    That'll teach you (5.00 / 3) (#43)
    by Inspector Gadget on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 02:54:33 PM EST
    to ask :)

    If you feel it's okay, and the restaurant feels it's okay, then the likelihood is that it's okay.

    Those who would be more comfortable ordering the chicken salad, should order the chicken salad.

    I say, enjoy every bite :)

    [ Parent ]

    Yea (none / 0) (#66)
    by lentinel on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 03:49:06 PM EST
    No less a personage than Noah many times expressed his preference for Ducking à l'Orange, an indulgence he was forced to suppress for obvious reasons.

    But that was then.

    So eat thy steak with full joyous abandon.

    Let all guilt be lifted from thy brow and the sun shall shine thereon.

    But it is very suspicious that you keep winning.

    [ Parent ]

    no really (none / 0) (#69)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 03:53:26 PM EST
    in two years I won three times.  thats almost a numerical certainty considering the pool.

    really.


    [ Parent ]

    I'd take whatever I liked. (5.00 / 2) (#46)
    by Fabian on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 03:06:21 PM EST
    And my opinion of the average chicken salad is pretty low.  

    [ Parent ]
    Who are you? The Public Ethicist? (none / 0) (#32)
    by oculus on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 02:25:50 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    I (5.00 / 1) (#51)
    by lentinel on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 03:09:23 PM EST
    am not a public ethicist although I have noticed that it is very difficult to say "ethicist" several times in succession. It eventually becomes "ethisis" and there is nothing to be done.

    [ Parent ]
    I used to laugh loudly when I heard (none / 0) (#67)
    by oculus on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 03:50:22 PM EST
    "The Public Ethisist" on NPR on Sunday afternoons.  Same query:  is it unethical to eat a grape at supermarket before selecting a bunch of grapes to purchase?

    [ Parent ]
    Sh*t.... (none / 0) (#71)
    by kdog on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 03:56:57 PM EST
    you mean those aren't free samples?

    I thought the rule was whatever you can eat/drink before you got to the register was gratis:)

    [ Parent ]

    my rule too (none / 0) (#74)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 04:05:40 PM EST
    but then we have already established I am going to hell.

    in other food news. we stay up on snacks here and the verdict on these is mostly thumbs down.  actually I sort of like them.

    Candy Review: Skittles Chocolate Mix

    One of the many new products that were being displayed at the All Candy Expo was this new addition to the MARS family: Skittles Chocolate Mix. They were kind enough to give me a few samples and as I walked away from the booth I looked at the package with a strange sense of curiosity and confusion. I'm wondering how this all fits into "Tasting the Rainbow." Is the new rainbow shades of brown?

    I poured them all out and immediately organized them by flavor. The brownie batter and the chocolate pudding were a little hard to tell apart, maybe because I was using bad lighting, but the former is a dark brown and the latter had a reddish tint to it. S'mores was the most common flavor by far and outnumbered the others followed by a tie with brownie batter and chocolate pudding, then vanilla, with chocolate caramel coming in last with only five pieces.



    [ Parent ]
    Finally a touch of sanity... (5.00 / 1) (#33)
    by desertswine on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 02:26:33 PM EST
    in the world!

    Because god knows that ceo's are under-represented in Congress (as are leather-brained wresters in general).

    it would be more fun (none / 0) (#38)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 02:36:23 PM EST
    if her husband Vince ran.


    [ Parent ]
    It would be... (none / 0) (#40)
    by desertswine on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 02:46:29 PM EST
    It would be a lot more fun.

    [ Parent ]
    He's surely be useful (none / 0) (#45)
    by scribe on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 03:05:41 PM EST
    when the next iteration of steroids-in-sports brouhaha started up.

    And, fer-sher, he would have no trouble getting compliance with his subpoenas.  All he'd have to do is bring some of his WWE employees - the ones who wear funny costumes - down to DC as "aides".

    Of course, if you read Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, you will find out that one of the last emperors (Maximinus) was ... a giant wrestler, who ... got the emperorship by ... wrestling and generally kicking the butts of anyone who got in his way all the way from being born a shepherd to the imperial palace.

    OF that emperor, it is said:

    According to British historian Edward Gibbon:

    [H]e was conscious that his mean and barbarian origin, his savage appearance, and his total ignorance of the arts and institutions of civil life, formed a very unfavourable contrast with the amiable manners of the unhappy Alexander. He remembered that, in his humbler fortune, he had often waited before the doors of the haughty nobles of Rome, and had been denied admittance by the insolence of their slaves. He recollected too the friendship of a few who had relieved his poverty, and assisted his rising hopes. But those who had spurned, and those who had protected, the Thracian, were guilty of the same crime, the knowledge of his original obscurity. For this crime many were put to death; and by the execution of several of his benefactors Maximin published, in characters of blood, the indelible history of his baseness and ingratitude.

    Sounds like what we might expect from bringing wrestlers into the Senate, no?

    [ Parent ]
    One thing for sure... (none / 0) (#42)
    by kdog on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 02:50:05 PM EST
    she'll fit right in with Congress...and since our elections resemble WWE-style entertainment, she should be one helluva campaigner.

    [ Parent ]
    Best. ruling. ever. (5.00 / 2) (#53)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 03:09:45 PM EST
    Fourteen pages of smack-down. (PDF)

    Go Judge Clay D. Land!

    hilarious (5.00 / 2) (#56)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 03:12:21 PM EST
    After
    conducting a hearing on Plaintiff's motion, the Court finds that
    Plaintiff's claims are frivolous. Accordingly, her application for
    a temporary restraining order (Doc. 3) is denied, and her Complaint
    is dismissed in its entirety. Furthermore, Plaintiff's counsel is
    hereby notified that the filing of any future actions in this Court,
    which are similarly frivolous, shall subject counsel to sanctions.
    See Fed. R. Civ. P. 11(c).
    BACKGROUND
    Plaintiff's counsel is a self-proclaimed leader in what has
    become known as "the birther movement."

    [ Parent ]
    It's a fairly lengthy order (5.00 / 1) (#59)
    by andgarden on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 03:23:33 PM EST
    Plaintiff's counsel, who champions herself as a defender of liberty and freedom, seeks to use the power of the judiciary to compel a citizen, albeit the President of the United States, to "prove his innocence" to "charges" that are based upon conjecture and speculation. Any middle school civics student would readily recognize the irony of abandoning fundamental principles upon which our Country was founded in order to purportedly "protect and preserve" those very principles


    [ Parent ]
    "Any middle school civics student " (none / 0) (#60)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 03:25:19 PM EST
    and then there is Glenn Becks audience

    [ Parent ]
    He's just playing with her (5.00 / 1) (#63)
    by andgarden on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 03:30:11 PM EST
    From the notes:

    One piece of "evidence" Plaintiff's counsel relies upon deserves further discussion. Counsel has produced a document that she claims shows the President was born in Kenya, yet she has not authenticated that document. She has produced an affidavit from someone who allegedly obtained the document from a hospital in Mombasa, Kenya by paying "a cash `consideration' to a Kenyan military officer on duty to look the other way, while [he] obtained the copy" of the document. (Smith Decl. ¶ 7, Sept. 3, 2009.) Counsel has not, however, produced an original certificate of authentication from the government agency that supposedly has official custody of the document. Therefore, the Court finds that the alleged document is unreliable due to counsel's failure to properly authenticate the document. See Fed. R. Evid. 901.


    [ Parent ]
    Veddy nice. n/t (none / 0) (#57)
    by Fabian on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 03:21:27 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    Judge Land (none / 0) (#58)
    by Steve M on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 03:21:41 PM EST
    was appointed to the bench by President Bush in 2001.

    Just in case anyone was curious. :)

    [ Parent ]

    And as if to prove it (none / 0) (#61)
    by andgarden on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 03:25:44 PM EST
    goes to the unnecessecary by relevant step of citing Iqbal and Twombly:

    Although the Court has determined that the appropriate analysis here involves principles of abstention and not an examination of whether Plaintiff's complaint fails to state a claim under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), the Court does find the Rule 12(b)(6) analysis helpful in confirming the Court's conclusion that Plaintiff's claim has no merit. To state a claim upon which relief may be granted, Plaintiff must allege sufficient facts to state a claim to relief that is "plausible on its face." Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 1949 (2009) (internal quotation marks omitted). For a complaint to be facially plausible, the Court must be able "to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged" based upon a review of the factual content pled by the Plaintiff. Id. The factual allegations must be sufficient "to raise a right to relief above the speculative level." Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007). Plaintiff's complaint is not plausible on its face. To the extent that it alleges any "facts," the Complaint does not connect those facts to any actual violation of Plaintiff's individual constitutional rights. Unlike in Alice in Wonderland, simply saying something is so does not make it so. The weakness of Plaintiff's claim certainly weighs heavily against judicial review of the deployment order, and in fact, would authorize dismissal of Plaintiff's complaint for failure to state a claim.

    [ Parent ]

    Henry Gibson, RIP (5.00 / 2) (#75)
    by scribe on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 04:59:58 PM EST
    Henry Gibson, whose most-remembered performances were on the Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In and in Nashville, has died, aged 73.

    He was truly one of the great comic character actors of this, or any, generation.

    May he rest in peace.

    ahh (5.00 / 1) (#77)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 05:05:02 PM EST
    very sweet man.  met him once at a party in hollyweird.


    [ Parent ]
    Ah, man (5.00 / 1) (#79)
    by sj on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 05:29:59 PM EST
    I'm really sorry to hear that.  He has entertained me for years, most recently in "Boston Legal".  

    [ Parent ]
    Federal Judge to Orly Taitz: "Buh-bye!" (5.00 / 1) (#80)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 06:26:35 PM EST
    Here are a few highlights from U.S. District Court Judge Clay Land's decision in Rhodes v. MacDonald, et al., which was issued today:

    "Plaintiff, a Captain in the United States Army, seeks a temporary restraining order to prevent the Army from deploying her to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Plaintiff alleges that her orders are unconstitutional and unenforceable because President Barack Obama is not constitutionally eligible to act as Commander in Chief of the United States armed forces. After conducting a hearing on Plaintiff's motion, the Court finds that Plaintiff's claims are frivilous. Accordingly, her application for a temporary restraining order (Doc. 3) is denied, and her Complaint is dismissed in its entirety. Furthermore, Plaintiff's counsel is hereby notified that the filing of any future actions with this Court, which are similarly frivilous, shall subject counsel to sanctions. See Fed R. Civ. P. 11(c).

    (NOTE: Emphasis is mine.)

    ...

    "[The Plaintiff, Captain Connie Rhodes] has presented no credible evidence and has made no reliable factual allegations to support her unsubstantiated, conclusory allegations and conjecture that President Obama is ineligible to serve as president of the United States. Instead, she uses her complaint as a platform for spouting political rhetoric, such as her claims that the president is `an illegal usurper, an unlawful pretender, [and] an unqualified imposter.'

    ...

    "Finally, in a remarkable shifting of the traditional legal burden of proof, Plaintiff unashamedly alleges that [President Obama] has the burden to prove his 'natural born' status. Any middle school civics student would readily recognize the irony of abandoning fundamental principles upon which our country was founded in order to purportedly 'protect and preserve' those very principles. Unlike in 'Alice in Wonderland,' simply saying something is so does not make it so."

    Shorter Judge Land: Orly Taitz, your fifteen minutes are up.

    Why not sanction counsel (none / 0) (#84)
    by oculus on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 08:45:21 PM EST
    now?

    [ Parent ]
    Good question (5.00 / 1) (#87)
    by Steve M on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 09:55:07 PM EST
    Federal judges are way too gunshy with sanctions IMO.

    [ Parent ]
    Rest in Peace (5.00 / 2) (#86)
    by CoralGables on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 09:36:41 PM EST
    Mary Travers

    DOMA... (none / 0) (#1)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 01:25:44 PM EST
    ...intesting that Polis is pushing ahead full steam and Frank is not exactly on-board.    

    Frank said he has "strategic differences" with supporters of the DOMA repeal. ""It's not anything that's achievable in the near term," Frank told the Blade, adding that Congress has enough on its plate with a host of other gay-rights proposals, including overturning the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Frank also said he thought Nadler's plan to recognize gay marriages in states that outlaw it could "stir up unnecessary opposition" in Congress.

    Link

    The botched Ohio execution... (none / 0) (#2)
    by kdog on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 01:31:45 PM EST
    In the old days if the guillotine failed to do the trick ya got a pardon, if I'm not mistaken.  And those were considered more barbaric times.

    The crime he was convicted of is the worst of the worst kinda sh*t...but I still believe its all about us and not him.  Two trips to the death chamber has just gotta be classified as cruel and unusual...doesn't it?

    Not a nice guy. (none / 0) (#16)
    by Fabian on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 01:56:09 PM EST
    LWP is what I'd prefer for him.  That kind of serial predator should never be let out - no law will stop him, no punishment will discourage him and society isn't missing his kind of contribution.

    The previous recipient of the death penalty was worse - the kind of person who thinks he has a direct line to the divine.  No remorse, no conscience, no connection to the rest of humanity.

    [ Parent ]

    I hear ya... (5.00 / 1) (#19)
    by kdog on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 02:01:41 PM EST
    he sounds like just the type I'd keep a fraction of our prisons around for...the type of sc*m who gives us no choice...assuming he committed to most heinous crime he was convicted of course.

    But I don't think he should be strapped to a gurney again...thats a precedent I don't wanna see cemented, as I view it as the epitome of cruel and unsual, especially since the death penalty itself is able to dodge that distinction.

    [ Parent ]

    but seriously (none / 0) (#22)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 02:08:05 PM EST
    how the hell do you botch an execution?

    talk about being able to f*ck up a two car funeral . .

    [ Parent ]

    huh? (none / 0) (#24)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 02:10:52 PM EST
    An execution in Ohio was delayed for a week last night after prison technicians failed to find veins suitable for a lethal injection in the arms of a convicted child killer.

    its not that hard.  really.  he did not look extremely overweight.  I bet I could have found one.

    [ Parent ]

    not that I would have (none / 0) (#26)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 02:14:15 PM EST
    being opposed to the DP and all.  it just seems like a completely stupid excuse.


    [ Parent ]
    I Wonder Why (none / 0) (#70)
    by daring grace on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 03:55:52 PM EST
    they didn't resort to the back of the hand? Veins are usually easy to find there.

    Maybe something against the extra discomfort (cruel and unusual...?) or some statute that specifically restricts the manner of lethal injection?

    [ Parent ]

    Nurses in the hospital (none / 0) (#78)
    by Inspector Gadget on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 05:27:43 PM EST
    don't find it cruel and unusual when they are doing it to patients.

    [ Parent ]
    I Was Kinda Joking (none / 0) (#81)
    by daring grace on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 06:53:40 PM EST
    as to the cruel and unusual...

    But it is unusual where I live to have a nurse drawing blood or running an IV any more.

    [ Parent ]

    actually... (none / 0) (#89)
    by diogenes on Thu Sep 17, 2009 at 10:01:01 PM EST
    Often people with no veins available are those who have been IV drug users and blown all their veins.
    A gas chamber filled with nitrous oxide first and then ether followed by a lethal gas would do the trick.

    [ Parent ]
    Lots of ways... (none / 0) (#25)
    by kdog on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 02:11:04 PM EST
    the guillotine malfunctions, the hangman cuts the rope too short, the "health care practitioner" can't find a decent vein...dudes have even survived the chair.

    Murphy's Law...whatever can go wrong will go wrong.

    [ Parent ]

    Native Hawaiians, pre-Capt. Cook, had it down. (none / 0) (#82)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 07:04:53 PM EST
    Those who were condemned by the kahuna (high priests) to receive the ultimate punishment, chief and commoner alike, were tossed into a deep pit next to one of the four corners of a heiau (temple), and then buried alive as a sacrifice to appease the anger of the gods.

    It should be noted that among the final recorded human sacrifices in the kingdom's history were three American sailors from the U.S.S. Fair American, a U.S. Navy brigantine which had previously opened fire without warning on the Hawaiian village of Olowalu, killing over 300 people, in punishment for the alleged theft of one of the ship's longboats.

    In retaliation, King Kamehameha I subsequently ordered his warriors a few nights later to storm the vessel while it was at anchor off east Maui, whereupon the ship was captured intact and its entire crew killed, save for five men. The aforementioned three were taken to the king's personal heiau in Kailua-Kona and sacrificed to honor Kukailimoku, the God of War.

    The other two - Isaac Davis and John Young - were spared by the king, and became his personal assistants to advise him in the strange ways of na haole (white men). Both Davis and Young would subsequently prove themselves to be very loyal subjects of the King - who eventually made both of them chiefs - and Davis later died from injuries received in the course of saving Kamehameha from a Russian-inspired assassination plot.

    [ Parent ]

    The madness spreads north: (none / 0) (#3)
    by steviez314 on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 01:32:02 PM EST
    PPP just did a poll of NJ.

    14% of Republicans think Obama IS the anti-Christ.  Another 15% are not sure.

    That's in New Jersey!  Imagine the #s in, say, South Carolina!

    I kinda wonder... (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by kdog on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 01:37:23 PM EST
    if the responders were thinking the literal biblical anti-christ or just the slang version meaning very bad dude up to no good.

    The latter ain't so bad...the former just boggles the mind.

    [ Parent ]

    The NJ poll is a little funny (none / 0) (#5)
    by andgarden on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 01:37:08 PM EST
    because it measures voters likely to appear THIS NOVEMBER for the gubernatorial election. And that's a much more Republican universe than usual.

    [ Parent ]
    Maybe they misheard and thought (5.00 / 2) (#9)
    by steviez314 on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 01:42:53 PM EST
    they were asking about Corzine....he's the anti-Christie.

    [ Parent ]
    the scary part is (none / 0) (#7)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 01:38:53 PM EST
    that almost equals the number linked to here yesterday who believe in evolution.

    [ Parent ]
    Funny! (none / 0) (#85)
    by robert72 on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 08:49:53 PM EST
    Does that almost equate to the number of far lefties who really believed Obama would give them a pony? Or free healthcare? You ARE talking about blind devotees, right?  :0)

    [ Parent ]
    Oh good, now I can bring my luger pistol (none / 0) (#14)
    by andgarden on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 01:51:25 PM EST
    on Amtrak!

    Stimulus (none / 0) (#18)
    by oculus on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 01:58:09 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    at least (none / 0) (#20)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 02:02:08 PM EST
    the have to be checked

    [ Parent ]
    Indeed (none / 0) (#28)
    by andgarden on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 02:18:52 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    otherwise (none / 0) (#31)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 02:20:10 PM EST
    you have the makings of a Hitchcock movie.

    [ Parent ]
    Freedom is good... (none / 0) (#21)
    by kdog on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 02:05:20 PM EST
    all aboard the freedom train!

    Before this change gun owners who wanted to travel with their guns were practically forced to fly...now Amtrak is back in the game for their business...not that they will win it, but they've got a shot.  

    [ Parent ]

    Did you see (none / 0) (#30)
    by andgarden on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 02:20:00 PM EST
    how much it would cost to implement the security procedures to make it possible?

    Of course, we're arguing at cross purposes. I do not have much respect for the Republican interpretation of the 2nd amendment.

    [ Parent ]

    I certainly hope Amtrak implements (none / 0) (#34)
    by oculus on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 02:27:12 PM EST
    the necessary security measures.  None at present.

    [ Parent ]
    It's security for the (minimal) amount (none / 0) (#36)
    by andgarden on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 02:30:21 PM EST
    of checked baggage they carry. I do NOT want to see passenger security checks on Amtrak that resemble airports.

    The whole system will collapse.

    [ Parent ]

    And I firmly believe... (none / 0) (#37)
    by kdog on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 02:34:28 PM EST
    as long as guns exist governments can't be the only ones to possess them.

    I didn't see how much it would cost...and I can't imagine I'd agree all the "security procedures" are necessary.  I'm on the LIRR all the time and nobody has ever checked my knapsack out or frisked me down...yet. Thank the sun god I've been lucky to dodge the ghastly "random" searches on the NYC subways.

    [ Parent ]

    My theory is anti-gun libs don't mind the guns (none / 0) (#48)
    by Wile ECoyote on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 03:07:24 PM EST
    it is the people who own the guns the anti-gun libs don't like.

    [ Parent ]
    Anybody know how to search for (none / 0) (#15)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 01:55:53 PM EST
    past National Geographic Mag articles? I can't through their website, it seems.

    Reason I ask is because I recall reading a Nat Geo article w/in the last year or so that said that skin color will change from dark to light, or light to dark, w/in something like 9 generations if a people from, say, Africa, migrate to, say, the Netherlands, and/or visa versa.

    Something about skin color changing to make more vitamin D, or something like that.

    Anyway, I can't seem to google any reference to the article, anybody remember this article?

    Have you tried their (none / 0) (#44)
    by shoephone on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 02:58:59 PM EST
    archives page?

    If you can remember the year and the cover article, you might be able to find it.

    [ Parent ]

    Thanks, I can't find it. (none / 0) (#68)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 03:51:31 PM EST
    Now I'm thinking it was Scientific American or something...

    Fascinating article.

    [ Parent ]

    found it (none / 0) (#47)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 03:07:04 PM EST
    I think

    somewhat hilariously I found it via a link from Stormfront.org which came up when I googled what you asked.

    [ Parent ]

    obviously its tv (none / 0) (#50)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 03:08:03 PM EST
    not the may but the subject seems to be the same.
    the stormfronters were freaked by the "race doesnt exist" thing.

    pfft.


    [ Parent ]

    um (none / 0) (#55)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 03:10:40 PM EST
    not the MAGazine

    [ Parent ]
    Yeah, I found that one too. (none / 0) (#62)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 03:30:03 PM EST
    but it's not the one I was looking for...

    [ Parent ]
    Just globalization (none / 0) (#54)
    by Wile ECoyote on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 03:10:30 PM EST
    with people having money enough to travel and air travel much easier and more prevalent than in the past, coupled with the internet and easy communications, I would say in 9 generations most people will be the same tan color.

    [ Parent ]
    Maybe so. (none / 0) (#65)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 03:47:45 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    New data on our recent evolution (none / 0) (#88)
    by Dark Avenger on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 10:32:02 PM EST

    The pace of human evolution has been increasing at a stunning rate since our ancestors began spreading through Europe, Asia and Africa 40,000 years ago, quickening to 100 times historical levels after agriculture became widespread, according to a study published today.

    By examining more than 3 million variants of DNA in 269 people, researchers identified about 1,800 genes that have been widely adopted in relatively recent times because they offer some evolutionary benefit.

    Until recently, anthropologists believed that evolutionary pressure on humans eased after the transition to a more stable agrarian lifestyle. But in the last few years, they realized the opposite was true -- diseases swept through societies in which large groups lived in close quarters for a long time.

    Altogether, the recent genetic changes account for 7% of the human genome, according to the study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.


    Mandatory Link

    [ Parent ]

    Who are you to tell me what's Mandatory? (none / 0) (#90)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Sep 18, 2009 at 01:32:39 AM EST
    Seriously, what's up wit dat?

    [ Parent ]
    NY Daily News... (none / 0) (#35)
    by kdog on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 02:27:29 PM EST
    says more raids are coming in Flushing.

    Question...what reason is there for all the "sources" to not put a name to their claims, yet the FBI will announce more raids on the way?  Is that odd or just my bias showing?

    3 more US troops killed... (none / 0) (#39)
    by desertswine on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 02:45:46 PM EST
    in Afghanistan.

    BBC:

    Three US servicemen have been killed by a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan, a Nato spokesman has said.

    The spokesman said that the deaths occurred on Tuesday. He did not release any other details.

    The latest deaths come as the Taliban intensifies its attacks against coalition forces in the south through roadside bombs and ambushes.

    The number of deaths among American troops in Afghanistan this month has now risen to 22.

    The month of August was the deadliest for US forces since the war with the Taliban began in 2001.
    Pity the Washington Nationals (none / 0) (#64)
    by scribe on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 03:46:25 PM EST
    Now their alternate-color hats are deemed terrorist symbology.

    oy (5.00 / 1) (#72)
    by andgarden on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 03:57:07 PM EST
    I thought it was because they were formerly Canadian.

    [ Parent ]
    Ha. (none / 0) (#73)
    by oculus on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 04:03:00 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    very cool (none / 0) (#76)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 05:00:14 PM EST
    mouseover and have fun. (dont forget to click)

    Demo of the MSAFluid library (www.memo.tv/msafluid_for_processing) controlled by TUIO
    Move mouse to add dye and forces to the fluid.

    Wednesday Afternoon News And Open Thread | 90 comments (90 topical)

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