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Friday Afternoon Open Thread

It's back to court for me, here's an open thread for you. All topics welcome.

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    just (5.00 / 2) (#1)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 01:09:23 PM EST
    And he saves on tie money too! (none / 0) (#2)
    by BarnBabe on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 01:16:06 PM EST
    Red stripe red stripe red stripe.

    A beer I believe.

    Parent

    didnt notice that (none / 0) (#5)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 01:24:01 PM EST
    that must be his "meeting with the rubes" tie


    Parent
    Watch the high-speed slideshow (none / 0) (#6)
    by scribe on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 01:38:20 PM EST
    and it's evident the man's a cardboard cutout.

    That's the only reasonable explanation.

    No one - other than maybe an Oscar-worthy professional actor - could hit the same pose and facial expression well over a hundred times in a row like this one.

    Parent

    One other explanation (5.00 / 2) (#14)
    by nycstray on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 02:02:27 PM EST
    they borrowed his likeness from the wax museum . . .

    Parent
    its a bit (none / 0) (#8)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 01:42:12 PM EST
    erie

    Parent
    that would be of course (none / 0) (#9)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 01:42:50 PM EST
    eerie not the lake

    Parent
    Did you notice that BO and MO (none / 0) (#17)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 02:13:25 PM EST
    were the only ones showing a big toothy grin? Every other important leader looks, well, important leaderish, not like a toothpaste commercial audition.

    No offense to the O's, I think it's an American thing.

    Also, they both do exactly what I do for pictures - a nice, safe, repeatable, picture smile.

    My wife always ALWAYS complains about her pictures, that she doesn't like her smile, her mouth is weird, she's squinting, whatever, and that every picture of me is perfect.

    I tell her to practice a good picture smile in the mirror, doesn't take but a minute or two, and use that same, safe, repeatable smile every time.

    Obviously the O's have been similarly coached.

    Parent

    It's the anti tabloid strategy. (none / 0) (#41)
    by Fabian on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 03:56:17 PM EST
    Once I used to be shocked at the pictures that tabloids used.  Then I realized that publications have hundreds of "candid" photos on file and simply use the ones that fit the narrative - even if they aren't remotely current.

    It has to be a drag to perform for the camera so often, but it's part of the job.

    Parent

    Is that the 1st couple's portmanteau - BOMO? (none / 0) (#51)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 04:48:19 PM EST
    Or MOBO? I prefer the latter.

    Parent
    You funny! I like MOBO better too.... (none / 0) (#53)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 06:02:59 PM EST
    Just say "cheese"... (N/T) (none / 0) (#49)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 04:44:02 PM EST
    Good news. (5.00 / 2) (#7)
    by Fabian on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 01:41:30 PM EST
    Came close to doing the Ballistic Parent routine last week for my special ed kindergarten son.  There were a few things but the topper was him throwing mulch on the playground and being told, literally, "No mulch!" by a teacher like he was a two year old or a dog.  That set my teeth on edge.  He's six years old and not at all cognitively impaired.  Plus every kid in hearing range watched An Adult treat a kid their own age like that.  Whadda role model!

    I held my tongue.  Later, I found out that the teacher was a sub and not a special ed teacher.  That's pretty poor performance for a regular teacher, but at least she isn't around all the time.

    In the good news category, there were reports of acting out by the kindergarten son.  As they accumulated, it became clear that he was trying to get out of doing things by using high drama.  I talked with his teacher and we both agreed he shouldn't be allowed to do that.  My suggestion was "Frog march him if you have to!".  

    He's now behaving better, so apparently he's found out his teacher isn't easily fooled or manipulated and decided to cooperate.  Now if we can just get him talking....

    No Mulch! (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 01:48:17 PM EST
    doesnt seem that far from No Wire Hangers!

    Parent
    It's the audience (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by Fabian on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 01:55:12 PM EST
    of little kids that floored me.  They already know he's different and they aren't sure how to treat him.  (Most kids, y'know, talk.)  This teacher's example was not at all helpful.

    Parent
    Was your son playing Stalag 17 with (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by oculus on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 02:02:16 PM EST
    bags of mulch inside his jeans?  

    Parent
    Heh. (none / 0) (#36)
    by Fabian on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 03:42:52 PM EST
    No.  But if you don't watch him carefully, he'll try to find co-conspirators to teach all of his tricks to!  

    His teacher says that he is very good at reading faces and even when they tried to keep straight faces, he'd catch the slightest change of expression.  

    Parent

    If I may ask, (none / 0) (#52)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 04:57:21 PM EST
    Fabian, how old is your son? And does he talk, or vocalize, at all? I ask because I have a younger brother who vocalized, but nothing sounded like words until he was around four years old.

    He learned to speak but he's still virtually unintelligible to anybody outside of the immediate family. He has cognitive difficulties but in school he always had more problems with language than math. It's still all pretty much of a mystery.

    Parent

    He's six. (5.00 / 1) (#55)
    by Fabian on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 06:34:17 PM EST
    He can talk, but seems to lack the need to socialize.  His actual speech skills are about where you expect them to be for someone who may utter a few dozen sentences a day.  His enunciation can use some work.

    He gets put under the autistic spectrum disorder for his expressive speech problems (receptive appears to be fine) but in general is atypical of an autistic.  My best description is that he seems to lack the social gene that compels us to interact socially.  As a result, his responsiveness is erratic.  Watching him in a group kindergarten screening was instructive.  An adult was giving instructions to four children who were (supposed to be) seated in a row of chairs.  Three of them were focused on the adult while my child was busy exploring his environment.  To him, the adult was another part of the environment and not a particularly important or relevant one at that!  Any teacher has to first convince him that they are the most important thing in the room.  It's not a given.  

    OTOH - I'm beginning to think that Special Ed experience could be invaluable for teachers.  (Classes are nice, but....)  If you know anyone going into teaching, suggest that they spend some time in a special ed classroom.  They'll probably learn much about dealing with behavior issues.  

    Parent

    Follow-up... (5.00 / 1) (#30)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 03:03:29 PM EST
    Kristen Diane Parker, the former surgical technician accused of stealing drugs and ultimately infecting patients with hepatitis C, is expected to plead guilty today.

    She is scheduled to be in court at 2:30 p.m. today. Her attorney said discussions with the prosecution involve her serving at least 20 years of jail time.

    Link

    No trial? (none / 0) (#40)
    by Fabian on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 03:52:26 PM EST
    Pity that.  I was very much interested in how she managed to get hired, especially when she was fired once for testing positive and found with syringes in her possession.  Hard to imagine another hospital would hire her knowing that.

    Since she apparently practiced this strategy (stealing drugs, leaving tainted syringes and shooting up on the job) multiple times, it's hard to pretend this was a tragic mistake.  

    Parent

    Report says 16 hepatitis (none / 0) (#56)
    by Fabian on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 06:42:31 PM EST
    cases are definitively linked to her, with even more potentially linked to her.

    What did someone say in the 11 Dimensional Chess thread?  Once could be luck, but more than once is a pattern of behavior?   At least she won't be working in hospitals any time soon.

    Parent

    From a frequent flier... (none / 0) (#57)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 06:54:26 PM EST
    ...in the OR perspective, I'd be more interested to know what is being done to prevent these kind of things from happening going forward.  It's scary enough without having to worry about getting HepC or saline instead of PK's.

    The bell can't be unrung, but I sure hope a lesson has been learned.

    Parent

    She took advantage (none / 0) (#58)
    by Fabian on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 07:29:14 PM EST
    of a very slim loophole in the system.

    I commented in Jeralyn's post that her last employer didn't contact her previous one, the one that fired her for testing positive.  Now THAT was ridiculous.  

    Parent

    Never mind the lack of reference check (none / 0) (#59)
    by Inspector Gadget on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 08:01:51 PM EST
    Why didn't the employer who did the test she registered a positive to get her license suspended, if not revoked?

    Parent
    Not sure. (none / 0) (#62)
    by Fabian on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 08:16:54 PM EST
    I don't know what it takes to get that done - plus she managed to get another job very speedily indeed - possibly fast enough to outrun any bureaucracy.

    What squicked me out was that she gave a passing nurse a needle stick because she was carrying an uncapped syringe in her pocket.  She tested negative that time.  But really - needle sticks are something that health care workers try very hard to avoid and she was carrying an uncapped needle in her stinking pocket!  That's noncompliance with universal precautions right there, not to mention that she had absolutely no reason to be in possession of a syringe.

    Parent

    Bill Clinton and gay marriage (5.00 / 2) (#35)
    by jbindc on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 03:37:38 PM EST
    He tells Anderson Cooper:

    "I was against the constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage nation-wide, and I still think that the American people should be able to play this out in debates," Clinton said. "But me, Bill Clinton personally, I changed my position.

    "I am no longer opposed to that," he added. "I think if people want to make commitments that last a lifetime, they ought to be able to do it."



    A little too finessed for my taste (none / 0) (#38)
    by andgarden on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 03:49:44 PM EST
    There is no debate to be had: either you think it's a matter of equality or you don't.

    Parent
    Good for Bill... (none / 0) (#39)
    by kdog on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 03:50:35 PM EST
    now if I can only get him to revise his position on people in a committed relationship with Mary Jane...I'm thinking it might be a life long love affair and I'd sure appreciate his blessing:)

    Parent
    Hmmm... (5.00 / 1) (#50)
    by jbindc on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 04:45:30 PM EST
    Look who's accusing Obama of playing the race card now - Tucker Carlson - no surprise there (see 2:49 in the clip). But what's interesting how he makes his point

    (Transcript taken off The Confluence)

    Carlson:  Let me just say that very clearly it was the Obama campaign that first brought up the race question.  It was the Obama people that smeared the Clintons as racists.  Bill and Hillary Clinton.  They made the case to reporters off the record, including me, that the Clintons were racists.  They started this.

    So for him to get up with a straight face and say "Oh the media's bringing this race issue up" - no, it was your campaign that started it.

    Van Susteren:  How did they bring it up?

    Carlson:  By this whisper campaign that Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton were somehow opposing Barack Obama because they didn't like the fact that he was black and that various statements they made . . . Hillary Clinton remember famously said that "Of course it was, you know, Lyndon Johnson that signed the Civil Rights Act.  Martin Luther King might have advocated for it but it was the President who signed it."  Somehow that became a racist statement according to allies of Barack Obama.

    He didn't, he didn't tell them to be quiet then.  He allowed that to happen, allowed that, I think, the slur against the Clintons to fester, that they were somehow animated by bigotry.  It was outrageous, and he did nothing to clear the air.



    What a shame he waited to (5.00 / 1) (#60)
    by Inspector Gadget on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 08:04:10 PM EST
    come forward with what he knew.

    Parent
    NY State does some right by 9/11 volunteers (none / 0) (#3)
    by scribe on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 01:23:07 PM EST
    and 9/11 rescue/cleanup workers who suffered exposures to chemicals, etc.

    The NY State legislature passed, and Governor Paterson signed, a bill which gives people injured, particularly (though not especially) those who suffered exposure to toxins while working on the Pile at Ground Zero and/or at Fresh Kills Landfill, an additional year within which to file their notices of claim and start proceeding.

    In short, to sue (or otherwise seek compensation from) municipalities for injuries inflicted by or as a result of the municipality's action/inaction, one must file a notice of tort claim with the municipality within 90 days of the injury or when the injured person reasonably became aware of it.  This notice of tort claim is prefatory to (and an essential condition precedent to) filing suit.

    The workers and volunteers who, post 9/11, went into the Pile or to Fresh Kills Landfill (where the debris was shipped for sorting, etc.) were, by and large, time-barred from filing notices of claims.  A lot of this was by virtue of Christie Todd Whitman's and Rudy Giuliani's assertions that it was not unsafe to go into the soup of chemicals that was Downtown - the folks were effectively duped out of their rights to seek compensation and there were a lot of heart-rending stories of people being sick solely because they sought to help, and getting no recompense.

    The bill which Paterson signed gives the people injured another year within which to file their notices of claim and start their claims. The bill took effect September 16, 2009.

    Suffice it to say that tort claims law is complicated in any state, and especially so in New York.  See a New York lawyer specializing in that area of law for further advice.

    Please let this be a hoax.... (none / 0) (#4)
    by kdog on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 01:23:20 PM EST
    the military arresting a civilian?

    Please let it be a hoax because if not we've got a real big problem on our hands.

    Well (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by jbindc on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 02:01:33 PM EST
    The G-20 Summit has been declared a "National Security Special Event", which means that the U.S. Secret Service has taken charge.

    According to Wiki, when an NSSE is declared, the procedure includes:

    A number of factors are taken into consideration when designating an event as a National Special Security Event. Department of Homeland Security press releases usually point out the following factors:

    Anticipated attendance by dignitaries: Events which are attended by officials of the United States Government and/or foreign dignitaries also may create an independent federal interest to ensure the event transpires without incident and sufficient resources are brought to bear in the event of an incident.

    Size of the event: A large number of attendees and participants generally increases the security requirements. In addition, larger events are more likely to draw the attention of terrorists or other criminals, particularly those interested in employing weapons of mass destruction.

    Significance of the event: Some events have historical, political and/or symbolic significance that may heighten concern about possible terrorist acts or other criminal activity.

    ...

    Some of the security measures people can expect on the scene when a major event is declared an NSSE:

    Heavy police (days off and leaves may be canceled) and military presence[citation needed]

    Police dogs

    Surveillance

    Sharpshooters

    Flight restrictions around the area

    Coast Guard patrols

    Increased railroad security

    Extensive road closures

    Many unseen security "enhancements"



    Parent
    Not what I wanna hear jb:)... (none / 0) (#16)
    by kdog on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 02:12:00 PM EST
    I was hoping to hear its some protestors playing moviemaker...the state can declare whatever they want, the military can't disappear civilians into the backseat of a Ford.  

    Parent
    Raw Story... (none / 0) (#21)
    by desertswine on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 02:34:31 PM EST
    has the story.  Cops dressed in camo.

    Parent
    Thank you very much... (none / 0) (#28)
    by kdog on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 02:55:06 PM EST
    d'wine...explanation sounds kinda shady to me.

     

    Parent

    Of course... (none / 0) (#31)
    by desertswine on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 03:05:43 PM EST
    cops should dress in a manner as to be recognizable as such when making arrests. (If they were cops).

    Parent
    I gotta watch again with sound.... (none / 0) (#32)
    by kdog on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 03:13:53 PM EST
    later...was there a Miranda warning?  Did they identify themselves as police?

    Sure as hell looked like a political kidnapping.

    Parent

    The way the car sped to the scene (none / 0) (#45)
    by Inspector Gadget on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 04:26:13 PM EST
    and, the car was neither military nor police. Very hard to believe it was real.

    The "protest" underway also didn't look extreme enough to merit any activity by authorities.

    Parent

    It isn't a hoax (none / 0) (#15)
    by maddog on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 02:02:42 PM EST
    Where are all the gnashing of teeth regarding the violence of these protestors at the G20 conference?  I never saw that type of response to the "violence" at the taxed enough already gatherings.
     

    Any confirmation anywhere... (none / 0) (#18)
    by kdog on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 02:16:25 PM EST
    that the military is arresting people?  Not that I don't believe ya maddog:)

    Parent
    Ten years ago... (none / 0) (#61)
    by Inspector Gadget on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 08:14:27 PM EST
    The military were also participating in the protection of attendees to the WTO in Seattle in 1999. Protesters were active during the day, and destructive after dark. They did incredible damage to the downtown retail shops.

    This practice of bringing in the military is not new.

    Parent

    Here's some (none / 0) (#42)
    by jbindc on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 03:59:21 PM EST
    of those good "law abiding" protesters in action - watch near the end where they gas a CNN reporter.

    Jerks.

    Parent

    Was your link supposed to go to (none / 0) (#43)
    by Inspector Gadget on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 04:20:26 PM EST
    video on "Gadhafi met Lockerbie families"?

    Parent
    No (none / 0) (#48)
    by jbindc on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 04:41:00 PM EST
    It was supposed to go to this (without the commentary)

    Parent
    Paul Kirk about to be sworn in (none / 0) (#19)
    by andgarden on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 02:21:03 PM EST


    Nancy Pelosi on the Senate floor (none / 0) (#29)
    by andgarden on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 02:56:27 PM EST
    I've never seen that before.

    Parent
    And just for fun (none / 0) (#20)
    by jbindc on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 02:22:01 PM EST
    According to Mark Knoller of CBS News, on his Twitter feed,

    US officials say Obama first told of Iran secret nuclear plant during the transition - as President-elect.

    So, no - the administration wasn't holding this information back because of the Iranian election protests.

    Deja vu (none / 0) (#23)
    by lentinel on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 02:39:56 PM EST
    Iraq had a secret weapons program, we were told.

    Lots more oil to go. Iran, here we come.

    Parent

    I wonder the reason... (none / 0) (#24)
    by kdog on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 02:40:07 PM EST
    for beating the war drum at this juncture...

    Parent
    Oil prices are down (none / 0) (#26)
    by scribe on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 02:44:51 PM EST
    and a war will push them up.

    Parent
    Plausible theory... (none / 0) (#33)
    by kdog on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 03:14:55 PM EST
    are weapons stocks down too?  I don't pay attention to casinos without roulette wheels.

    Parent
    The oil industry is on a roll, with new finds (none / 0) (#44)
    by KeysDan on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 04:21:26 PM EST
    despite lower prices and tough economies. According to James T. Hackett, Chair and CEO of Anadarko Petroleum, thanks to the "free market" (and American military, which was unsaid, but I might add).  Three major discoveries over the past couple of years in Iran, in the sw part of the country, particularly in the Andimeshk region.  Also, big new finds in the Kurdish region of Iraq (we got that one), and friends: Australia, Israel, Brazil (Lula better be careful when showing his oats), Norway,Ghana, and Russia (our new best friend).  We have new finds in the Gulf of Mexico, but there may be some nettlesome bathers and fisherman). So, that leaves Iran as sort of odd man out what with there secret nuclear weapons program and all.

    Parent
    Patriot Act extensions (none / 0) (#46)
    by Inspector Gadget on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 04:30:03 PM EST
    change the subject from HRC, economy, Afghanistan...name anything. I think  Iran has a fairly good sized military, don't they? We really want to be messing with that? Iraq was what it was because there was no military or equipment on their side.

    Parent
    I watch some of (none / 0) (#22)
    by lentinel on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 02:36:22 PM EST
    Obama's address to the UN.
    It reminded me of Bush to the extent that it was aimed at an American audience instead of the international one that had been assembled at the UN. It also reminded me of Powell.

    I wonder what the member nations were thinking and feeling while Obama was talking.

    They were thinking... (5.00 / 2) (#25)
    by kdog on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 02:43:14 PM EST
    what they think when anybody speaks...when is this over and when does the cocktail party start.

    Parent
    Perhaps something like, (none / 0) (#47)
    by Inspector Gadget on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 04:31:15 PM EST
    here we go, again!

    Parent
    Anglo-Saxons (none / 0) (#27)
    by eric on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 02:48:37 PM EST
    I heard a very puzzling piece on NPR yesterday.  It seems that someone found a buried treasure in England that dates back to the seventh century. The part that struck me was this, when the British guy reported on the importance of the find:  (paraphrased)
    "This treasure will revolutionize understanding of the Anglo-Saxons who, before becoming part of the American ruling class, were a Germanic people who ruled England from the 5th century until the Norman conquest"

    LINK
    Start listening at about 1:20

    Isn't this really pretty strange?  Do the British really openly discuss how WASPS run this country?  Sure we make jokes about WASPS and such, but I don't think many of us in the US would say something like this.

    Makes sense. (none / 0) (#37)
    by Fabian on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 03:46:35 PM EST
    All of us are ethnocentric to some extent and the WASPs definitely ran large chunks of the country for at least a century.  

    Now I'm wondering what they think of all the Irish-Americans?

    Parent

    Of course Republicans don't want a Public Option (none / 0) (#34)
    by joze46 on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 03:21:41 PM EST

    They are sending legions of protesters likely siblings of think tanks, and profiteering agencies out to the streets. The free Federal Reserve Ponzi money is shut down. The Republicans have one final stage that is to unload portfolios in the market place to get those tax benefits before expiration.

    My prediction: the market gets hammered in a super bear plunge finally signaling the change of power to the Democrats. The Republicans will then proceed needing to spend the trillions of tax dollars laundered as quickly as they can to prevent new claw back rules.

    The fun begins in an Eleven Dimensional Judicial Legislative Renaissance.    


    A new twist on a sad situation (none / 0) (#54)
    by jbindc on Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 06:15:28 PM EST
    Former Marines / children of Marines stricken with breast cancer

    The twist in this story? They are all men.

    TAMPA, Florida (CNN) -- For Rick Kelly, the first sign of cancer was a feeling of discomfort in his chest.

    "My wife would hug me, and it became almost unbearable," he said. "I went to a doctor, and they sent me to the oncologist, and they did biopsies on both sides. And then I ended up with a double mastectomy."

    Kelly is one of 20 retired U.S. Marines or sons of Marines who once lived at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and who are now suffering from breast cancer, a disease that strikes about one man for every 100 women who get it. Each of the seven men CNN interviewed for this report has had part of his chest removed as part of his treatment, along with chemotherapy, radiation or both.

    All 20 fear that water contaminated with high levels of toxic chemicals may have caused their illnesses, but the Marine Corps says no link has been found between the contamination and their diseases. Without that link, the men are denied treatment by the Department of Veterans Affairs, which says it can't treat them for a condition that hasn't been shown to have been "service-related."