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    BP blowout in Gulf (5.00 / 2) (#1)
    by MO Blue on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 06:10:28 PM EST
    Tests warned cement used might not hold. AP

    WASHINGTON (AP) -- Tests performed before the deadly blowout of BP's oil well in the Gulf of Mexico should have raised doubts about the cement used to seal the well, but the company and its cementing contractor used it anyway, investigators with the president's oil spill commission said Thursday.
    ...
    BP and Halliburton decided to use a foam slurry created by injecting nitrogen into cement to secure the bottom of the well, a decision outside experts have criticized.

    The panel said that of four tests done in February and April by Halliburton, only one -- the last -- showed the mix would hold. But the results of that single successful test were not shared with BP, and may not have reached Halliburton, before the cement was pumped, according to a letter sent to commissioners Thursday by chief investigative counsel Fred H. Bartlit Jr.

    BP had in hand at the time of the blowout the results of only one of the tests -- a February analysis sent to BP by Halliburton in a March 8 e-mail that indicated the cement could fail. The slurry tested in that case was a slightly different blend, and assumed a slightly different well design, but there is no indication that Halliburton flagged the problem for BP, or that BP had concerns, the letter said.



    Report on (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by Zorba on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 06:36:33 PM EST
    NPR this morning on the:
    "quiet, behind-the-scenes effort to help draft and pass Arizona Senate Bill 1070 by an industry that stands to benefit from it: the private prison industry."

    Link
    I don't like for-profit prisons (not that I'm overly fond of government-run prisons, but private prisons have a monetary reason to try to make sure more people are locked up).  This just confirms my feelings.

    How to increase your income if (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by MO Blue on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 06:58:15 PM EST
    you were an McDonald's employee in Brazil. AP

    SAO PAULO (AP) -- A Brazilian court ruled this week that McDonald's must pay a former franchise manager $17,500 because he gained 65 pounds (30 kilograms) while working there for a dozen years.

    The 32-year-old man said he felt forced to sample the food each day to ensure quality standards remained high, because McDonald's hired "mystery clients" to randomly visit restaurants and report on the food, service and cleanliness.

    Besides the lunches were free to employees.


    I'm no McDonald's fan... (none / 0) (#47)
    by kdog on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 08:27:22 AM EST
    but that sounds utterly ridiculous...did McDonald's forbid Tubby from excercising?  Eating right off the clock?  

    There goes the free lunch policy...much needed too with what McDonalds typically pays.

    Parent

    I'm no McDonald's fan either (none / 0) (#49)
    by MO Blue on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 08:31:31 AM EST
    but share your view about the ridiculousness of this verdict.

    Parent
    Porto Alegre, my old stomping grounds! (none / 0) (#52)
    by jeffinalabama on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 08:42:43 AM EST
    Glad to see such a verdict. Different system than here, Kdog, not the same job protections or workers rights. Free lunch was to keep wages low, because a burger, fries, and coke are cheap compared to paying living wages, especially when there's systemic unemployment among the lower classes who want careers at McDonalds.

    Seriously, imagine a career as kitchen help at McDonalds, no retirement, no real bennies... there have been some changes under Lula, but not that many.

    Oh, Kdog, I been dumped-- before even getting there, lol! Latinas, my kryptonite! This one took oh, a natty lite to get over, though. just one. So... next time you head to Guadalajara, let me know, I might try to join you there!

    Parent

    Bummer! (none / 0) (#55)
    by kdog on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 08:56:44 AM EST
    I was just about to check on your progress before I locked up those Levon tickets!

    I was gonna splurge on orchestra seats too...now I'm hitting the balcony cuz my arse is broke as a joke...had way too much fun this spring/summer.  

    Unless this is the year the Breeders Cup Pick-6 comes in...we're putting a big syndicate ticket together, me and some degenerate gambler buddies of mine...if that puppy hits pack your bags cuz we're leaving the next day:)

    Parent

    Heh. I keep my "fork you" bags (none / 0) (#58)
    by jeffinalabama on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 09:01:07 AM EST
    packed. Looks like Tunica for me for the break. Buffets and no-limit... I hit big, same offer for you! Enjoy Levon. Hey, at least I got off cheap this time, lol!

    Parent
    Come play some poker (none / 0) (#63)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 09:18:06 AM EST
    at the 'Shoe. I'll get you free booze and food..

    Call ahead for low room rates.

    Parent

    I'll see you there, Jim. (none / 0) (#65)
    by jeffinalabama on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 09:23:19 AM EST
    I'll come over Wednesday afternoon.

    Parent
    I'll post here this PM after I make my (none / 0) (#68)
    by jeffinalabama on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 09:27:00 AM EST
    reservations... Can't really do that from where I work, system blocks any "gambling or gaming sites." I think it's a keyword filter.

    Parent
    Ask TL to send me your email address (none / 0) (#72)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 10:07:23 AM EST
    and I'll send you a tel number and name to call for special room rates.

    Parent
    Jim (none / 0) (#82)
    by jeffinalabama on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 12:20:38 PM EST
    here's an email I use on TL-- bobodix AT yahoo, it's a great way to get in touch. Kdog and I correspond using this one. Or if you're still moderating comments on your site, I can send an email that way, if you'll delete it.

    Catfish for breakfast... definitely Mississippi! Middle Alabama, too, and this time of the year quail, sometimes... Mmmmmmm!

    Parent

    You can enjoy too... (none / 0) (#64)
    by kdog on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 09:20:48 AM EST
    11/7/10 at the Saenger Theatre in Mobile...11/8/10 BJCC Concert Hall in Birmingham.  You didn't think a good old Arkansas boy like Levon would stay outta the south for long did ya? :)

    Keep your eyes open for PPJ down in Tunica,  he's there filleting catfish on the regular!

    Parent

    BJCC for me. (none / 0) (#66)
    by jeffinalabama on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 09:24:05 AM EST
    Less than an hour away (the way I drive).

    Parent
    Do it up bro! (none / 0) (#69)
    by kdog on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 09:27:37 AM EST
    I'm probably at around a half dozen Levon shows, and never regretted a one of 'em.

    Parent
    The breakfast buffet has catfish (none / 0) (#75)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 10:25:20 AM EST
    southern is as southern does

    ;-)

    Parent

    Do the employees have a realistic (none / 0) (#51)
    by observed on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 08:40:49 AM EST
    option besides eating lunch there?
    I don't know about McDonalds, but a 1/2 hour lunch or less is standard at a lot of jobs.

    The day McDonald's  is forced to put up signs saying "Food NOT served here" is the day I'll feel sympathy for them.

    Parent

    Not crying... (none / 0) (#61)
    by kdog on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 09:07:25 AM EST
    for McDonalds at all, happy for the guy getting 17 large (better him than Mickey D's), even happier if he spreads it around amongst all the employees.

    But it's still a total bullsh*t lawsuit...blaming McDonalds for getting fat is like blaming your neighborhood cocaine dealer for getting strung out.  

    Parent

    I find it rather similar to the smoke in (5.00 / 1) (#62)
    by observed on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 09:11:02 AM EST
    workplace issue.

    Parent
    Why does that... (none / 0) (#67)
    by kdog on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 09:25:48 AM EST
    not suprise me OB?

    There has to be an acceptable level of hazard on certain jobs...sampling a Big Mac in the fast food industry is an acceptable hazard to me...we're not talking radioactive waste here.

    Parent

    Radioactive waste causes far (none / 0) (#70)
    by observed on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 09:42:59 AM EST
    fewer deaths than McDonald's, fo' sure.

    Parent
    Back in my (none / 0) (#73)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 10:11:19 AM EST
    youth... when I was working at Dairy Queen and later at the local drug store's soda fountain we were allowed to eat all the sundaes, shakes, sodas, etc., that we wanted....

    Smart move because after about 10 days I could hardly look at the stuff much less eat it.

    Parent

    My old roomie... (none / 0) (#74)
    by kdog on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 10:22:12 AM EST
    in FLA worked at the ice cream parlor...he packed on some pounds at that job...he could have sued!  

    Oh yeah, he was a stand up guy who would never dream of suing somebody over his own over-indulgence.

    Parent

    Yep. (5.00 / 1) (#76)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 10:34:56 AM EST
    When I was working at the bar and could drink all I wanted for free, who's fault was it I drank way too much?  Mine and mine alone.  

    We used to call it personal responsibility.

    Parent

    And if you had a 15 min lunch break (none / 0) (#80)
    by observed on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 11:38:33 AM EST
    what would you do?  Your hoary tale has nothing to do with the modern workplace.

    Parent
    And your point is???? (none / 0) (#84)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 02:17:55 PM EST
    Brown bag it n/t (none / 0) (#92)
    by Yman on Sat Oct 30, 2010 at 09:52:06 AM EST
    Go Giants. (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by Stellaaa on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 08:10:16 PM EST
    Humm baby,  

    One zip!!! :) (none / 0) (#16)
    by nycstray on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 08:19:08 PM EST
    Wow (none / 0) (#32)
    by Stellaaa on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 09:58:01 PM EST
    I feel bad for the Rangers.  (NOT).  

    Parent
    nine zip . . . (none / 0) (#37)
    by nycstray on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 10:13:41 PM EST
    not feeling bad at all :)

    Parent
    Agree, but I feel sorry for the Ranger (none / 0) (#17)
    by magster on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 08:19:59 PM EST
    who just missed a home run.  The look of disbelief on his face was sympathy-evoking.

    Parent
    Looked like a homer to me. It hit the top of the (none / 0) (#18)
    by Angel on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 08:27:10 PM EST
    rail.

    Parent
    The wicked witch of Ohio (5.00 / 1) (#50)
    by MO Blue on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 08:36:59 AM EST
    The principal of a Cincinnati Catholic school has apologized to parents after Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Ohio) discussed abortion during a speech to kids as young as 6. HuffPo


    Oh. My. God. (5.00 / 0) (#87)
    by gyrfalcon on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 03:07:21 PM EST
    I can't even imagine what 6-year-olds would make of the whole idea.  Geez.

    Parent
    Educate me on midterm elections (none / 0) (#2)
    by Saul on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 06:22:36 PM EST
    Were midterm election created by design or just a coincidence.    Seems that midterm election hurt the existing president and administration from completing their mandates.  

    Would it not be better to have the elections during the same year of the presidential election?  Although I know not senators fall in a four year grouping but could there be a better job of not having elections that would derail a presidents agenda.  I know it works both ways like it could be a blessing vs a crippler.

    They are in the Constitution by design (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by ruffian on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 06:47:02 PM EST
    house members every 2 yrs, Senate every 6 yrs, with a third of them up every 2 yrs, and of course Pres every 4. I think the idea was that Representatives are taken from people that were not planning to stay in gov forever, plus they, being closest to the sentiment of 'the people' should have to stay current. The Senate is meant to be the stabilizer.

    Parent
    Ok but (none / 0) (#14)
    by Saul on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 08:10:07 PM EST
    did they not see that those years could coincide with the presidential election as opposed to be in mid stream of his administration.

    In other words was the design made on purpose to derail any president and his administration just two years into the presidency.  If it was done with this specific design as we see it today then what were they afraid of?  Or did they just not see the fact that a midterm election would be detrimental to a president and his administration?

    Parent

    If I recall correctly (5.00 / 2) (#22)
    by ruffian on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 08:46:28 PM EST
    the founders feared a runaway executive most of all. I don't think they saw derailing his agenda as necessarily a bad thing. Checks and balances.

    One thing I doubt they had in mind was the gerrymandering of districts such that Represemtatives are so hard to unseat. They should run more of a risk of losing their jobs in repayment for possiblynsubverting the will of the people as putnforth bybthe president.

    Parent

    Again (none / 0) (#78)
    by Saul on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 10:47:18 AM EST
    why did they pick that congress would be re elected in the midterm of a Presidential session?    They could have picked that congress would be reelected at the same time the President is elected.  Again is the midterm election coming up in Nov done this way on purpose in the midterm of a presidential  session or was it a coincidence that they picked the dates to be in the midterm of a presidential session.  

    Parent
    the house of reps (5.00 / 1) (#79)
    by CST on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 10:51:45 AM EST
    have everyone up for re-election every 2 years

    the president is up every 4

    you have to have midterms to do that math.

    Congress gets re-elected during presidential years and midterms.


    Parent

    Limits the citizenry (none / 0) (#4)
    by waldenpond on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 06:27:28 PM EST
    I always thought it was to limit the power of the people.... they could never throw everyone out so it makes it easier for politicians to maintain their systems of power.

    I'm sure it was explained that it would add continuity... if one gets kicked out, the recycled staffers can get them on to the party line and tell them how to vote.

    Parent

    Members (none / 0) (#19)
    by CoralGables on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 08:29:45 PM EST
    of the House of Representatives serve a two year term. That guarantees a midterm. Ask the writers of the Constitution.

    Parent
    Spending on elections continue (none / 0) (#3)
    by MO Blue on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 06:23:02 PM EST
    to skyrocket.

    The 2010 election will be the most expensive non-presidential contest, and spending might reach $4 billion by Election Day, a Washington research group said.

    The Center for Responsive Politics reported today that federal candidates, parties and outside groups have spent more than $2.8 billion, matching the figure from the 2006 midterm elections with a week to go in the campaign.

    If the center's projection of a $4 billion election holds, it would be the third most expensive ever, trailing only the 2004 and 2008 presidential contests. Bloomberg

    The money the U.S. spends on elections is ridiculous IMO. No wonder ordinary people have little or no voice in their government.


    Kevin Drum has the solution (none / 0) (#5)
    by waldenpond on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 06:30:08 PM EST
    You know something wrong has happened to someone when they not only read McArdle but push her story line....

    Get rid of Corporate Taxes.  That'll take the money out.

    ha!ha! ha!

    oh yeah, that'll end the greed!

    Some of these bloggers are getting really funny now that they have to twist their politics so hard to fall in line with Obama.

    Parent

    Do corporations still pay taxes? (none / 0) (#7)
    by MO Blue on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 06:37:46 PM EST
    Thought they all funneled their profits offshore and had the states give them exemptions just to be located in their state. ;-)

    BTW, Keven has missed his calling. He is better suited to be a stand up comedian than a political blogger.

    Parent

    I really take exception (none / 0) (#85)
    by gyrfalcon on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 03:02:09 PM EST
    to the constant mischaracterization of Drum's rather thoughtful posts.  He's one of the few center-leftish bloggers around who actually takes logical arguments seriously from all sides, considers them and throws them out for thought rather than knee-jerk ideological reaction.

    For those who don't bother to actually read what he actually says, here's his point:

    "The corporate tax code is by far the most popular way for politicians to reward favored interests without making those rewards too obvious. As long as it exists, even if the tax rate is low, it's a way to funnel money to one sector over another or one company over another."

    He goes on to say,

    "The big question, though, is what to replace it with. Higher capital gains and dividend taxes are an obvious possibility. Higher top marginal income tax rates. A carbon tax. A financial transaction tax. There are lots of alternatives."

    And "On a more substantive level, it would seriously raise the incentives for income shifting scams, so we'd have to amp up tax audits to catch that."

    It's an intriguing idea.  Can anybody seriously argue that the way we handle corporate taxation now actually works?

    Parent

    IMO most corporations do not incur their (none / 0) (#89)
    by MO Blue on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 10:03:27 PM EST
    fair share of taxes now. Since politicians reward their favored interests through providing them with even more tax breaks we should eliminate corporate taxes all together rather than eliminating the politicians who cut corporate taxes. While increasing individual taxes on high earning individuals is a good idea that should be done without giving corporations a free ride. Sorry I don't agree with you at all that his suggestions is an intriguing idea. Much of our current tax system doesn't work as effectively as it should. Maybe we should eliminate taxes all together.    

    Parent
    It's absolutely (none / 0) (#90)
    by gyrfalcon on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 11:31:45 PM EST
    an idea that's interesting to consider and debate pro and con, which is my point, and Drum's, not some mindless corporate propaganda.

    In any case, it's, as Drum points out, theoretical only since it will never happen.

    You're entirely right that most of our current tax system doesn't work at all, which is why the idea of a flat tax or a VAT to replace it has some adherents.  There really is something to be said for replacing the collossal mess we have now with something much less manipulable.

    But the abuses of the income tax absolutely pale in comparison to what corporations get away with, and the spectacularly pernicious effect they have on governance, which was the point of the post.

    Parent

    While I agree with the premise of corporate (none / 0) (#91)
    by MO Blue on Sat Oct 30, 2010 at 12:00:14 AM EST
    abuse of the system and the "spectacularly pernicious effect they have on governance", I still strongly disagree with Drum's remedy even theoretically. Their corruption need not be further rewarded by eliminating corporate taxes. It just gives them more money to use to further influence politicians on regulations and no bid contract etc.    

    But the abuses of the income tax absolutely pale in comparison to what corporations get away with, and the spectacularly pernicious effect they have on governance, which was the point of the post.

    Not a fan of a lot of Drum's writing and do not think it advances leftward progress. But then YMMV.

    Parent

    That's my point (none / 0) (#93)
    by gyrfalcon on Mon Nov 01, 2010 at 11:33:51 PM EST
    It's not "Drum's remedy."  It's an idea he ran into that he found intriguing and worth thinking about.

    And no, his objective is most definitely not to "advance leftward progress."  He's a center-left guy, and certainly has big blind spots.

    The reason I like his blog so much is precisely, exactly because he's NOT trying to advance progress in any particular ideological direction, he's just pondering information and possibilities of all kinds.

    That's why I object so strongly when people try to put him in a pigeonhole and claim he's advancing some agenda or other.

    In our hyper-partisan/ideological world, I find that an enormous relief and refuge.  I have my prejudices, but I vastly prefer honest exploration to agitprop.  I disagree with him pretty violently on some issues, but I always find him interesting and much of his stuff thought-provoking.

    Parent

    The memoir blog returns!! (Hello? Are these on?) (none / 0) (#9)
    by Dadler on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 06:53:50 PM EST
    THE EARLY DAZE, PART 16 is hot and fresh from the oven of doubt. Enjoy.

    And it returns as we just have from Hawaii. The Big Island was grand.  Peace.

    Speaking of "The Value Of A Label"... (none / 0) (#11)
    by EL seattle on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 07:08:45 PM EST
    Apparently a bit of label-identification disclosure-delay strategery has gone on in the NW.

    October 27, 2010 - Washington Ledge

    The upshot of the 130-page report is that a Seattle-based political consultant allegedly shuffled campaign donations through several Political Action Committees (PACs) in an effort to conceal the backers - labor unions and trial lawyers - of a stealth "attack from the right" on Senator Jean Berkey during last August's primary election.

    Dem backers posing as a conservative outfit sponsored a Get Out The Republican Vote mailer and robo-calls program in an effort to deny one particular (D) candidate enough primary votes for a place in a top-two election.  Since the democrat in question came up about 122 votes short of the republican candidate, the ruse appears to have been successful.  But now the previously concealed identities of the backers and the disclosure camoflage methods are being revealed.

    What labels apply here, I wonder?


    Making the best... (none / 0) (#12)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 07:18:54 PM EST
    ...of a bad situation.  Many thanks to the dive teams for bringing some closure to this young woman's family and friends and for braving some of the worst possible conditions.  

    And kudos to the various agencies involved for working out a solution that worked for everyone.  Nature is inherently dangerous and permanently "fixing" this sieve/cavern would set an unwarranted (an extremely costly) precedent.  

    Kendrick Meeks dropping out? (none / 0) (#13)
    by magster on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 08:01:05 PM EST
    Meeks has a press conference in about a half hour after a day in which Clinton has supposedly been negotiating for Meeks to drop out and endorse Crist. (so says TPM).

    Interesting story (none / 0) (#20)
    by CoralGables on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 08:32:16 PM EST
    but it's about 2 weeks late to have the desired effect. We've been voting in Florida for 11 days.

    Parent
    do a lot of folks vote early there? (none / 0) (#21)
    by nycstray on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 08:42:46 PM EST
    Well, I did anyway (none / 0) (#23)
    by ruffian on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 08:48:34 PM EST
    Voted for Meek. oh well, too late.

    Parent
    I voted early here also (none / 0) (#27)
    by nycstray on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 09:03:04 PM EST
    thankfully i didn't have the situation you have with a three way. easy choices for me, brown/boxer/pot, lol!~ :)

    so what's the deal with this? is Meeks still in? is this a ploy to give 2nd place Christ a final push over Rubio?

    Parent

    Christ? lol. (5.00 / 1) (#29)
    by Joan in VA on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 09:17:13 PM EST
    lol!~ (none / 0) (#33)
    by nycstray on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 10:03:57 PM EST
    and from Ms non-religion to top it off!  {grin} the game and bottle feeding the kittens prob should alert me not to comment while that distracted :P

    Parent
    Meeks Still In (none / 0) (#28)
    by squeaky on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 09:08:48 PM EST
    Believe in CRIST (5.00 / 1) (#34)
    by Politalkix on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 10:06:36 PM EST
    and blessed are the MEEKS, for they shall inherit Florida.

    Parent
    Good One! (none / 0) (#36)
    by squeaky on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 10:11:42 PM EST
    Thanks! (none / 0) (#35)
    by nycstray on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 10:08:11 PM EST
    There was a story the other day (none / 0) (#24)
    by ruffian on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 08:53:27 PM EST
    That said a large majority of the early voters so far were Republicans. So maybe there is still a good shot at Dem voters.

    Parent
    I waited (none / 0) (#25)
    by CoralGables on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 08:57:58 PM EST
    in line for about 15 minutes this afternoon. Another family member waited 45 on Monday.

    Parent
    What did you decide on the Senate vote, (none / 0) (#26)
    by ruffian on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 09:01:02 PM EST
    if you don't mind saying? I went back and forth. The idea of Meek dropping out never occurred to me so I voted for him. Ddn't think either him or Crist had a chance.

    Parent
    I ventured (none / 0) (#30)
    by CoralGables on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 09:27:45 PM EST
    the other direction thinking, if there's a chance that's the slim chance.

    Parent
    Yup, that makes sense (none / 0) (#31)
    by ruffian on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 09:37:19 PM EST
    Maybe I gave up too soon.

    Parent
    The most interesting race going (none / 0) (#38)
    by CoralGables on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 10:15:06 PM EST
    might be the Alaska Senate Race. Would be rather humorous if a write-in can win a statewide race. Not sure this could happen anywhere other than Alaska.

    I thought the Dem had bounced (none / 0) (#39)
    by nycstray on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 10:17:34 PM EST
    to the front today?

    Parent
    In one poll (none / 0) (#40)
    by CoralGables on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 10:22:08 PM EST
    yes. But that same outfit hasn't been really close with past Alaska polling.

    Butif so, even more interesting. A Democrat wins in Alaska over Palin backed Tea Party Candidate?

    Parent

    I'll take either one over Palin's (none / 0) (#42)
    by nycstray on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 10:36:18 PM EST
    guy, but the Dem would be better :)

    thanks for the polling info. i'm hoping the numbers i want to hear here are true. aka brown up by 10. not hearing consistent numbers on the boxer race :(

    Parent

    It is painful (5.00 / 0) (#86)
    by gyrfalcon on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 03:05:49 PM EST
    to think of Murkowski as the "good guy" moderate.  Yech.  But Miller is such a nasty piece of work.  It'd be fabulous if McAdams could pull this off.

    Parent
    I think (none / 0) (#43)
    by CoralGables on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 10:53:23 PM EST
    you can rest easy with Barbara. She should still manage a minimum of a 5 pt margin.

    Parent
    Russ Feingold is (none / 0) (#41)
    by andgarden on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 10:36:18 PM EST
    fully cooked (PDF).

    Tuesday is going to be that kind of election, folks.

    UGH.

    UGH is right (none / 0) (#44)
    by MO Blue on Thu Oct 28, 2010 at 11:00:20 PM EST
    The Senate will be much poorer without him. Can we trade a Nelson or two for him. Maybe throw in a Baucus and a McCaskill.

    Parent
    Sorry (none / 0) (#45)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 02:08:53 AM EST
    to hear that.

    Parent
    hopefully this will (none / 0) (#48)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 08:29:54 AM EST
    prevent any more need for smelling salts from TL commenters:

    (CNN) - Former President Bill Clinton says he talked to Rep. Kendrick Meek about ending his bid for Senate twice, but that he never discussed the issue with the White House.

    "He was trying to determine what was the best thing for him to do," Clinton said in an interview with CNN's Susan Candiotti Thursday. "I knew it was being discussed, people had discussed it on and off... it was no secret."

    Clinton said Meek did not have enough money to break through in the polls.

    "He was trying to think about what was the best thing for Florida," Clinton said.

    at least one democrat is not crassly 'playing the race card' and trying to keep Meek in the race to help the governors race.  and its the one I would expect. heh

    like I said (none / 0) (#53)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 08:45:21 AM EST
    the Japanese sex industry will drive the development of robotics.


    Japanese Fembot Has Incredibly Realistic Facial Expressions


    Amazing. (none / 0) (#54)
    by jeffinalabama on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 08:50:37 AM EST
    Not even thinking about the sex industry side, but the accomplishment itself.

    Parent
    I cant look at that (none / 0) (#56)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 08:57:36 AM EST
    as amazing as it is without thinking about the sex industry.

    does that make me a bad person.

    Parent

    Nah, I think I'm older (none / 0) (#59)
    by jeffinalabama on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 09:02:55 AM EST
    and my hormones have disappeared. Ten years ago, I'd be investing. Of course, I was broke then...

    Parent
    not much I bet (none / 0) (#71)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 09:44:23 AM EST
    lookin at 59 in a couple of weeks.
    I keep waiting for the hormones to go but no sign of that so far.


    Parent
    the end of days (none / 0) (#57)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 08:58:13 AM EST
    Media Post  reports a horrible story about a mother who allegedly killed her baby for interrupting her playtime in the Facebook game, FarmVille.

    Alexandra V. Tobias entered a guilty plea in court this week for the January murder of her infant son Dylan Lee Edmondson. The 22-year-old Jacksonville, Florida mother lost her temper when her child began crying while she was playing FarmVille on Facebook, according to the report. Enraged, she shook the baby once, smoked a cigarette, and then shook the baby again.



    nature or nurture (none / 0) (#60)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 09:05:12 AM EST
    Personal political ideology could be shaped by a combination of factors, including the number of friends one has during adolescence and whether or not a person posses a specific dopamine receptor gene.

    A trio of University of California, San Diego researchers, in conjunction with a Harvard University participant, examined the subject in a research paper entitled Friendships Moderate an Association between a Dopamine Gene Variant and Political Ideology.

    You're likely to think that political leanings are influenced by parental units, but these researchers claim that evidence from recent studies indicate that "the mechanism by which parents pass their ideology to their children may in part be due to heredity, and that political attitudes themselves are genetically influenced."

    The researchers explain:

       ... we hypothesize that the combination of an innate desire for novel experience and many friends may contribute to the activation of a liberal ideology. People who have many friends may nonetheless remain uninterested in their friends' point of view. Alternatively, people who crave new experiences may not get them from their social context if they have only a few friends.


    Nature (none / 0) (#77)
    by waldenpond on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 10:40:53 AM EST
    My 18 yr old son has grown up in a largely liberal family and has some extremely bigoted views.  When discussing TP hate and extremism, we pointed out that they don't want gays in the military... he perked up at that, didn't think it was possible to do and said he didn't think they should be allowed in the military, women either.  We were so shocked and disgusted, we told him to leave the room.  Then a week ago, we were working in the front yard and someone said hello to his hawaiian friend who was helping me remove a tree.  My son said he couldn't understand why this driver would think someone that looks hispanic would live there when two white people were standing there.  I was sickened... and said 'who the f^ck are you? You should be ashamed?  Again, not the right response, but really, I was stunned he was such a mean person.  He's spent way too much time with this other 'Christian' kid and his family, he's turned into a hater.  (I actually hate sharing this)

    It has affected his relationships with family.  It's certainly affected my desire to be around him. ugh.

    Parent

    Family... (none / 0) (#81)
    by jeffinalabama on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 12:15:08 PM EST
    painful that it's your son. I don't know quite how I'd react. of course, my miracle is only 7, and I'm in grandpa years.

    Rebellion? let's hope.

    Again, sorry for the feelings you must be having. It's been about a year since I've spoken with one of my sisters, similar reasons. We don't talk because it seems to always end in a fight.

    Parent

    Hoping for rebellion also (5.00 / 2) (#83)
    by waldenpond on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 12:32:55 PM EST
    but ick, what a way to rebel.  We're struggling... I really want him out of the house (we've put over $5100 in the bank for him and have everything he would need to set up a household in storage) and as he quit his first job after 3 weeks he needs to get another.
    He lives in a bubble with just a couple of friends, he needs life to knock the chip off his shoulder or he's going to struggle.

    Parent
    sometimes a little (5.00 / 1) (#88)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Oct 29, 2010 at 03:34:24 PM EST
    struggle is a good thing.  or at least it was for me.


    Parent