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Monday Night Open Thread

Another season of The Bachelor starts tonight. I'm not expecting much, but it's like a train wreck, I just keep watching. I think Jake will make a terrible bachelor, he's bland, cheesy and moralistic. I'm hoping the women provide some fireworks.

For those of you not watching, and I suspect that's all of you, this is an open thread, all topics welcome.

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    Today is one of the sadder days (5.00 / 4) (#4)
    by scribe on Mon Jan 04, 2010 at 08:47:26 PM EST
    on the calendar.  It's the day the Christmas tree comes down.

    German family? (none / 0) (#5)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Jan 04, 2010 at 08:48:33 PM EST
    Our sadness comes after January 6th (the Epiphany) (none / 0) (#11)
    by Ellie on Mon Jan 04, 2010 at 09:31:41 PM EST
    But I might prolong tree-enjoyment beyond that because my own holiday debauch was abbreviated due to the flu. I uninvited myself from (respectively) my sister's splashy Xmas and BFF's New Year's and held modest observances here, open to anyone who dared get within 6 feet of me.

    Public Sis: Oh Noes ... are you surrrre you can't make it? BAD NEWS, KIDS -- Aunt Ellie can't make it; travel probs &c

    Private Sis: Thank you thank you thank you! It's a Christmas Miracle! There really is a Santa Claus! How did you know that this was what I really wanted?!? IT'S PERFECT!

    Parent

    Cheer up everyone. (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by DFLer on Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 09:56:20 AM EST
    Russian Christmas is January 7th...still the season to be jolly...

    (Russian Orthodox Church)

    Parent

    CSPAN asks Dems for transparency (5.00 / 1) (#30)
    by jbindc on Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 12:08:00 PM EST
    Wants to televise health bill negotiations.

    Flacker Gibbs blew that in the presser (5.00 / 1) (#36)
    by Cream City on Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 02:08:11 PM EST
    today.  Dissed Helen Thomas.  What a doofus he is.

    Parent
    Sounds like it would be best if Jake (none / 0) (#1)
    by oculus on Mon Jan 04, 2010 at 08:29:53 PM EST
    remains a bachelor!

    Bland, cheesy, and moralistic? (none / 0) (#2)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Jan 04, 2010 at 08:31:17 PM EST
    Sounds like West Point found a new pond to fish :)

    Is that generic West Point or (none / 0) (#23)
    by oculus on Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 08:09:43 AM EST
    "West Point."

    Parent
    "West Point" (none / 0) (#24)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 08:15:44 AM EST
    Jeralyn... (none / 0) (#3)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Mon Jan 04, 2010 at 08:31:51 PM EST
    Boulder County DA Stan Garnett is being mentioned as a possible candidate for our US Attorney, do you have any thoughts on him in that position?  

    interesting poltical contribution history (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by Jeralyn on Mon Jan 04, 2010 at 09:07:24 PM EST
    here. Brownstein, Farber  etc., his former law firm for 22 years, is Colorado's most politcally connected. It's already produced one U.S. Attorney, Tom Strickland. If Brownstein and Farber want Garnett, it will probably happen.

    Don't forget the job is a poltical plum.

    He's given a lot of money to Sen. Mark Udall and Rep. Ed Perlmutter. With Bennett being a new Senator, and Perlmutter being a lawyer, I think Perlmutter will be consulted. (Usually it's the Senators call.) Also interesting: He first supported Joe Biden for President, and then Hillary. No contributions to Obama. While the Senators make the recommendation to Obama, it's Obama who makes the appointment.

    I don't know him and I haven't had any cases in Boulder while he has been DA (only 1 year.)

    I wouldn't have thought that a third candidate would emerge at this late date, but if Brownstein and Farber want him to get it, he probably will.

    My thoughts: He's a trial lawyer and a strong Democrat and not a career prosecutor. That has good potential, in my view.

    Parent

    I found it interesting... (none / 0) (#9)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Mon Jan 04, 2010 at 09:21:04 PM EST
    ...that he was on the Boulder School Board before he was elected DA.  Seems like an unusual path.

    He's being touted as the "consensus" candidate--which to me means the GOP would have a hard time finding any dirt on him.  Well, besides being branded a "Boulder liberal"--not unlike Sen. Udall.

    Sounds like he's pretty connected to the State Democratic Party.


    Parent

    That's not surprising (none / 0) (#13)
    by Jeralyn on Mon Jan 04, 2010 at 09:44:58 PM EST
    Brownstein, Farber is known for hiring Republicans and representing Republican interests when Republicans are in power in Colo. They aren't ideologues.

    Parent
    This certainly sounds promising... (none / 0) (#15)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Mon Jan 04, 2010 at 10:07:39 PM EST
    ​Boulder County District Attorney Stan Garnett loves, loves, loves talking about medical marijuana, unlike just about all of his colleagues. In a recent Joel Warner blog, he confirmed his willingness to consider legalizing marijuana, enforcing his previously stated desire to be the most progressive DA in the state when it comes to the medical-marijuana issue.

    Link


    Parent

    If you think The Bachelor might be a (none / 0) (#7)
    by Anne on Mon Jan 04, 2010 at 09:12:54 PM EST
    train wreck, you'll fall over in disbelief if you watch the show that follows: The Conveyor Belt of Love...yes, it's every bit as bad as you're imagining.

    Oy.

    Really?!!?? (none / 0) (#8)
    by otherlisa on Mon Jan 04, 2010 at 09:17:31 PM EST
    "The Conveyor Belt of Love"?!!!

    Well, I'm watching the Bachelor. I can't help it -- I like train wrecks.

    Parent

    Imagine American Idol, only with (none / 0) (#10)
    by Anne on Mon Jan 04, 2010 at 09:23:17 PM EST
    men pitching their case to five women looking for a man.

    And they enter - and sometimes exit - the room on a conveyor belt.

    All the women have paddles that say, on one side "Interested," and on the other "Not Interested," which they hold up when each man gives his spiel.  If only one woman chooses a man, he gets to go stand on a pedestal with her name on it.  I don't know what happens if more than one woman is interested in the same man.  She can also replace anyone she chooses with someone she likes better.

    I don't know which is more humiliating: being one of the men on the belt, or one of the women having to choose.

    Parent

    And we're supposed to believe teh Gays (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by caseyOR on Mon Jan 04, 2010 at 09:38:29 PM EST
    are destroying traditional marriage? Really? Us queers and our darned committed relationships are more harmful to traditional marriage than these shows and the mindset that makes them successful?

    Parent
    Wow.... (5.00 / 1) (#16)
    by otherlisa on Mon Jan 04, 2010 at 10:11:39 PM EST
    Sometimes I think satire has become obsolete.

    I notice that they got the Bachelor shirtless IN THE FIRST MINUTE of the show. That has to be a record.

    Parent

    I want to start a We Need More Teh Gays movement (none / 0) (#17)
    by Ellie on Mon Jan 04, 2010 at 10:22:11 PM EST
    ... not just as a contentious pushback or even that I'm particularly gay-friendly as a point of fairness and dignity for all humankind (though there is that, of course.)

    No. I want to base it on personally selfish aims, like the increased availability of better goods and services in communities that go Way Gay, eg, more and better dry-cleaners and laundries, incl. 24-hr "emergency" ones that pick up and deliver!!! [/snivelling into lace hanky] I'm sorry ... I just still really tear up at that.

    Like forcing the local doofuses (and enablers) to get the f*ck over themselves already so everyone else doesn't have to deal with the lame "debate" of whether it hurts traditional marriage or not. (As if I care whether Cletus and Churleen are happy, or getting busy with each other in the biblical sense.)

    I'd also like there to be an equivalent More Foreigners, Please movement based purely on similar selfish indulgences. Not sure what to call it, but the title would be along the lines of: What Did Great Tandoori and HomeStyle Pampas-Churrasco Style BBQ Ever Do To You, You Big Meanie?

    Parent

    Hey, I'll join (none / 0) (#18)
    by gyrfalcon on Mon Jan 04, 2010 at 11:28:02 PM EST
    I've long said that since it seems that it's the straight men who cause all the problems in the military-- for women, for gays, for each other, not to mention things like Iraqis-- we should reconstitute our military with women and gay men only.  We'd have a much more effective and congenial fighting force.

    Parent
    Oh wow, thanks for the heads-up! (none / 0) (#14)
    by Ellie on Mon Jan 04, 2010 at 09:50:23 PM EST
    Good grief, that out-drecks the worst of the worst.

    I've barely watched any toob over the past few weeks (and stay away from "reality" shows generally).

    It's nice to know what's out there though. It's kind of like heeding the Traffic 'Copter during rotten weather to get a little blast of pleasure about living close enough to my particular salt mine to walk there comfortably (or not, if I don't want to.)

    Stupid pre-emptive anti-idiocy trick: I use "parental controls" to eliminate POS shows I don't even want to surf/rubberneck.

    Piece of cr@p you say? :-D

    Parent

    Yellow-fleshed, flavorless navel oranges (none / 0) (#19)
    by andgarden on Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 12:53:08 AM EST
    from Fairway this week. At least they were cheap. . .

    Stupid flavorless orange resuscitation trick (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by Ellie on Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 01:49:04 AM EST
    Adapt this Classico Italian method of enjoying blood oranges (see below) to use the flavorless wonders alone or in salads.

    1. Peel the damn thing and slice crossways
    2. Spread the slices on a plate
    3. Add a little salt, dots of balsamico and a drizzle of good extra virgin olive oil
    4. Let this sit a bit in the fridge, and then serve it with mixed salad greens. You can separate the wedges and toss into your salad or cut with a knife when you serve it, or have it in a pita, alone or with some sliced critter flesh. (This would go great with leftover turkey.)

    For classic blood orange salad (or sandwich buddy), omit the balsamico. Or not, whattevah, this one's hard to screw up.

    This is a also a great Buddy Side Dish that goes with almost anything, esp. off the grill.

    Parent

    Good idea (none / 0) (#21)
    by andgarden on Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 02:24:14 AM EST
    That actually sounds like a kind of a quick pickling.

    I haven't had any great produce for almost a year (sometime last winter I found some exceptional ruby red grapefruit). The apples this fall have mostly been watery (i.e., not sweet), and so was a lot of the stone fruit over the summer.

    Parent

    I Want to Work for Diddy (none / 0) (#22)
    by ruffian on Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 05:59:51 AM EST
    Well not me, but Daniel, a friend of a friend. He was in the finals last night, but apparently lost. I didn't even know there was such a show until my friends told me about it Sunday.

    But the fact remains that I can get to Diddy in 2 hops in the 6 Degrees game. That must take me almost anywhere in 6.

    Brand new US Attorney in Detroit (none / 0) (#25)
    by jbindc on Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 08:46:55 AM EST
    Sworn in on Christmas Eve and already has a big case in her lap - the underwear bomber.

    Legal predictions for 2010 (none / 0) (#27)
    by jbindc on Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 10:00:42 AM EST
    CBS' Jan Crawford Greenburg's predictions at least:

    The newly-appointed CBS News legal correspondent Jan Crawford said she expects, "Justice John Paul Stevens will retire from the Supreme Court at 90, giving Obama his second nomination. Solicitor General Elena Kagan will be the nominee to replace him."


    will Howard primary Barry? (none / 0) (#28)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 10:04:16 AM EST
    A year into Obama's presidency, it is no longer inconceivable, if still unlikely, that he could face a challenge within his own party in 2012, especially if Democrats suffer sizable losses next November. (When Howard Dean made a point of trying to scuttle health care reform altogether, was he simply trying to get a better bill, or was he setting himself up as a populist insurgent?)

    MATT BAI

    What are we Israel now? (none / 0) (#29)
    by kdog on Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 10:06:54 AM EST
    Shooting people for throwing rocks?  At least Israel uses rubber bullets most of the time.

    Link

    My experience with the cops last night (none / 0) (#31)
    by MKS on Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 12:19:41 PM EST
    Driving home on a narrow side street last night in our hometown, I saw a cop pulled over next to another car.  A routine stop?   Nope.  Four other squad cars then rushed past us and swooped in on the car that was pulled over.

    I'm stuck, not knowing whether to pass the cops, or stay put, or try to turn around.  Then, I see a guy get out of the car that had been pulled over. He was a average built white guy with a white tee shirt on.  His hands were at his side and he appeared unarmed.  He was just standing still.  

    Then one of the cops draws his gun.  The guy in the tee shirt's hands go up.  We are about 15-20 yards away sitting in my car.  With my wife in the passenger seat, there is no way I want to pass by what could be a hail of bullets.

    I can't turn around, so I back up about 20-30 yards until I came to the entrance of the nearby church and then turned around and got out of there.  What irked me was the cops had no control of the scene.  With 5 cop cars, one of them could have parked diagonally to block traffic.  Cars coming in the opposite direction were equally flumozed and had no idea what to do.  People were exiting the church and trying to drive out of the parking lot.  All of us within firing range and no cops giving any kind of direction or warning.

    So, I wake up this morning and check the Sheriff's Blotter on the internet which (supposedly) posts all calls.  The guy in the tee shirt?  He had interrupted a youth meeting at the church panhandling.  Someone got scared and called the cops.  He was suspected of a breach of the peace--the charge against Professor Gates.  Not assault.  Not battery.  Not threatening anyone.  

    He was not arrested.  And when the cop drew his gun, he had already left the church property and was in his car.  A guy going to church trying to beg for Christian charity.  And we get five cop cars and drawn guns?  The cops could not figure a better way to deal with a panhandler?

    A local businessman in his 60s told me he was accosted by these same local cops.  Gun in his face as he was checking the door of one of his properties.  Even after identifying himself, the cop said he could have an accomplice waiting in the bushes.

    Our local cops have too much time on their hands.  

    They are also under active investigation by the DOJ and may be taken over by the Feds.  Oculus knows who they are.  I hope they do get taken over....They are a menace.
     

    Parent

    Helluva story MKS... (none / 0) (#32)
    by kdog on Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 01:11:26 PM EST
    Imagine what Mary and Joseph would go through in America today...I'm sure giving birth in a barn could lead to a whole littany of charges these days...and of course, guns drawn.

    Parent
    I was impressed with the way (none / 0) (#33)
    by MKS on Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 01:24:27 PM EST
    the Honolulu Police Department deals with the homeless at Waikiki in the morning.  Nice and kind.  "Hi, how are you doing this morning."  No rousting them out, no guns, no threats, no barking of orders....

     

    Parent

    NYPD is not so kind... (none / 0) (#34)
    by kdog on Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 01:44:15 PM EST
    I almost got into it with an officer a couple winters back when I witnessed them throwing a homeless guy with a bum leg out of the subway station and into the cold.  I regret to this day being a punk-arse and not doing more for the guy...let the fear of chains get to me and I it's one of my lasting regrets.

    Parent
    Good decision (none / 0) (#35)
    by MKS on Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 01:50:09 PM EST
    Cops are always the winners in any argument.

    And, how to help if you're not living there and don't know of the available resources...

    Parent