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Saturday Night Open Thread: Don't Forget. To...

How may times have you said, "If I could turn back time?" Tonight's the night. Daylight Savings Time ends at 2:00 a.m.

Here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

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    Oh boy, Mike Pence is sooooo (5.00 / 3) (#14)
    by ruffian on Sun Nov 07, 2010 at 10:20:23 AM EST
    running for president. He just told Christiane Amanpour he is "prayerfully considering it". I never knew a politician talk to god and then decide not to run. God always tells them they're the awesomest.

    Criminal barbering in Orlando (5.00 / 2) (#17)
    by ruffian on Sun Nov 07, 2010 at 10:58:36 AM EST
    No, I'm not reading  Sweeney Todd lyrics like yesterday. The police raided several minority owned barber shops in Orlando yesterday, ostensibly for barbering without a license. This in a time with double digit unemployment in those neighborhoods. Just insane.
     

    Good grief.... (none / 0) (#28)
    by kdog on Mon Nov 08, 2010 at 10:25:30 AM EST
    That you still need a license to cut hair is bad enough, to actually enforce it during these economic times is just criminally cruel.

    Ya can't call it a free market land of opportunity when you need a permission slip to cut hair...its not freakin' brain surgery.

    Parent

    I'd like to turn time back (none / 0) (#1)
    by the capstan on Sat Nov 06, 2010 at 09:56:43 PM EST
    maybe a couple of weeks.  It would be real nice to be able to read the comments without stopping to filter out the jabs and pokes some commentators are dishing out.  This is, after all, a left-leaning blog: if some of us are disappointed in the direction the D's have taken, that is not the same as prexy bashing.  And I do not recall any of us rejoicing in our economy and freedoms  going down the drain.

    Agree (none / 0) (#3)
    by Jeralyn on Sun Nov 07, 2010 at 12:13:53 AM EST
    and I'm going to start putting people in time out if they don't stop the nasty tone and accusations against other commenters.

    Parent
    thank you, thank you (none / 0) (#23)
    by NYShooter on Sun Nov 07, 2010 at 06:37:16 PM EST
    thank you

    Parent
    I already forgot (none / 0) (#2)
    by NealB on Sat Nov 06, 2010 at 11:27:28 PM EST
    Watched Avatar on the HBO tonight.

    It got me. Ride on a blue bird and that's quite an accomplishment. Subdue and own an orange bird, even better. But the best part was the credits. Just a guess, but it looked like 10,000 people got jobs because of this movie. Whether it was good or bad, I'm glad those folks had jobs.

    I enjoyed the movie. I wasn't inclined to rush right out and go see it a year ago, but I liked it for the price I paid to HBO tonight. I'd like to see more where this came from.

    about 10 minutes into it (none / 0) (#7)
    by ruffian on Sun Nov 07, 2010 at 06:07:28 AM EST
    I found myself thinking I wanted all movies to be in 3D. Even that basic scene of walking around the lab blew me away.  I'd love to see even a Merchant-Ivory film with 3D interiors.

    Parent
    Went to see "Fair Game" (none / 0) (#4)
    by shoephone on Sun Nov 07, 2010 at 12:36:11 AM EST
    It was very well done. Good performances (especially Sean Penn's) and it moves a good clip. But by the end, I felt just as angry and disgusted as I did back then that the people responsible for lying us into war, outing Plame, and working so hard to discredit her and Joe W. never had to pay for it. Libby didn't serve a day in jail, Rove was never even tried, and Cheney still walks the earth.

    I want (none / 0) (#6)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Nov 07, 2010 at 05:44:17 AM EST
    to see that. I'm glad to know it's a good movie.

    Parent
    TO: gyrfalcon (none / 0) (#5)
    by Dr Molly on Sun Nov 07, 2010 at 05:39:18 AM EST
    Could you email me at this temporary email address:  mollyVA50@gmail.com

    I had a slight change of itinerary on my trip. Wanted to email you this morning about plans, but OF COURSE I lost your email address.

    Sorry, Dr. Molly (none / 0) (#25)
    by gyrfalcon on Mon Nov 08, 2010 at 09:16:07 AM EST
    Only just saw this just now, Monday AM, and assume it's no longer a valid address.

    Parent
    I'm worried (none / 0) (#8)
    by kmblue on Sun Nov 07, 2010 at 07:26:49 AM EST
    about the Catfood Commission recommendations.
    They're coming up soon.

    Hadn't heard that. Any idea ... (none / 0) (#9)
    by Yman on Sun Nov 07, 2010 at 07:35:32 AM EST
    ... when?

    Parent
    They are due to report by (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by Anne on Sun Nov 07, 2010 at 08:56:52 AM EST
    December 1 - so it really is coming up soon; one reason I am very uneasy about all the "working together" talk that is floating around DC: I don't want Democrats helping Republicans pull the rug out from under those who need Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid to help keep them from going under.

    If people haven't already, now would be the time to educate themselves on just what the possibilities are, and what the truth is about the "fixes" that may be on the table.  As far as I'm concerned, raising the ceiling on income subject to the SS tax would be the only "fix" acceptable - raising the retirement age, "indexing" benefits, and pretty much whatever other remedies we've been hearing are only going to hurt those with the least so that those with the most don't have to sacrifice anything.

    I would like to be confident that Dems can hold the line, but this is a commission created by a Democratic president, who named anti-entitlement co-chairs to it; if ever there was a time for Dems to push back, it might be now, and that doesn't really fit with the "working together" meme, does it?

    Parent

    Obama specifically mentioned on Wed (none / 0) (#12)
    by MO Blue on Sun Nov 07, 2010 at 09:12:27 AM EST
    that the commission was one area where he and the Republicans might be able to work together.

    Raising the retirement age, "indexing" benefits, etc. are nothing more than cuts in benefits. Means testing would put the program into the welfare category rather than a shared insurance program making its elimination more acceptable to a large segment of the population.

    I agree, it will definitely pull the rug out from under those who need Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid to help keep them from going under. These programs are a matter of survival for a whole lot of people.

    Parent

    Medicaid - CHIP under attack in Texas (none / 0) (#13)
    by MO Blue on Sun Nov 07, 2010 at 09:25:36 AM EST
    Some Republican lawmakers -- still reveling in Tuesday's statewide election sweep -- are proposing an unprecedented solution to the state's estimated $25 billion budget shortfall: dropping out of the federal Medicaid program.

    Not surprising is that they plan to blame the recent health insurance legislation for their action.

    "With Obamacare mandates coming down, we have a situation where we cannot reduce benefits or change eligibility" to cut costs, said State Representative Warren Chisum, Republican of Pampa, the veteran conservative lawmaker who recently entered the race for speaker of the House. "This system is bankrupting our state," he said. "We need to get out of it. And with the budget shortfall we're anticipating, we may have to act this year."

    The Heritage Foundation, a conservative research organization, estimates Texas could save $60 billion from 2013 to 2019 by opting out of Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program, dropping coverage for acute care but continuing to finance long-term care services. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission, which has 3.6 million children, people with disabilities and impoverished Texans enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP, will release its own study on the effect of ending the state's participation in the federal match program at some point between now and January.

    Source: NYT

    Parent

    Have you written to (none / 0) (#10)
    by Inspector Gadget on Sun Nov 07, 2010 at 07:42:46 AM EST
    them to share your worries?

    Parent
    If you're rich it's a misdemeanor (none / 0) (#15)
    by Makarov on Sun Nov 07, 2010 at 10:42:08 AM EST
    Seems to be the lesson from this story:
    Finance Manager to not face felony hit and run
    A financial manager for wealthy clients will not face charges for a hit-and-run because it could jeopardise his job, it has been revealed.

    Martin Joel Erzinger, 52, was set to face felony charges for running over a doctor who he hit from behind in his 2010 Mercedes Benz, and then speeding off.

    But now he will simply face two misdemeanour traffic charges from the July 3 incident in Eagle, Colorado.

    That's a pretty interesting concept of justice from Colorado. Has anyone encountered this before?

    Certainly, prosecutors didn't hesitate to go after Michael Vick or Plaxico Burress for their crimes just because it would damage their future earning potential.

    forgot (none / 0) (#16)
    by Makarov on Sun Nov 07, 2010 at 10:42:49 AM EST
    to h/t Corrente

    Parent
    Know your rights! (none / 0) (#19)
    by Harry Saxon on Sun Nov 07, 2010 at 01:53:37 PM EST
    From elyrics(dot)net:

    Know your rights all three of them

    Number 1
    You have the right not to be killed
    Murder is a CRIME!
    Unless it was done by a
    Policeman or aristocrat
    Know your rights

    And Number 2
    You have the right to food money
    Providing of course you
    Don't mind a little
    Investigation, humiliation
    And if you cross your fingers
    Rehabilitation

    Know your rights
    These are your rights
    W*ng

    Know these rights

    Number 3
    You have the right to free
    Speech as long as you're not
    Dumb enough to actually try it.



    Click Me


    Parent
    Different Rules Different Fools... (none / 0) (#24)
    by kdog on Mon Nov 08, 2010 at 08:28:21 AM EST
    case file # 7,834,966.

    Parent
    Effect on defendant's job, family, etc. (none / 0) (#26)
    by oculus on Mon Nov 08, 2010 at 10:16:53 AM EST
    are usually, and should be, only matters considered at sentencing.  The DA's justification for only charging misdemeanours here is especially objectionable, as the victim did not support the decision, and in fact, objected to it.  

    Parent
    What do you suppose would happen (none / 0) (#18)
    by Inspector Gadget on Sun Nov 07, 2010 at 01:46:53 PM EST
    if businesses (like janitorial services, for instance) were to all raise their rates to $2,000/hour for the major corporate locations, and housekeepers, yard maintenance people, handymen, etc., to the very wealthy were to raise their rates to the same levels (forcing payment in advance or no service)? The very wealthy are very wealthy because they treat the rest of the population like slaves, and get away with it.


    then the service suppliers would become (none / 0) (#20)
    by nycstray on Sun Nov 07, 2010 at 01:56:40 PM EST
    part of the very rich. freelancers and indies would do better, but for those that are hired through provider agencies . . . . prob much wouldn't change.

    Parent
    But, would they pay it and treat (none / 0) (#22)
    by Inspector Gadget on Sun Nov 07, 2010 at 04:35:18 PM EST
    their assistants like peers, or would they do their own cleaning and maintenance work?

    Our politicians have taken on the persona of celebrity, consider themselves above us while they run the country the way Executives run profitable organizations.

    Parent

    Chilean miner, Edison Pena, (none / 0) (#21)
    by MO Blue on Sun Nov 07, 2010 at 04:02:34 PM EST
    runs New York Marathon.

    NEW YORK (AP) -- A Chilean miner ran, walked and hobbled his way to the finish line of the New York City Marathon, showing the determination that helped him survive more than two months trapped underground.

    Edison Pena needed bags of ice for his knees as he made his way over the 26.2-mile course Sunday. He crossed the finish line in Central Park around 3:30 p.m. after starting in Staten Island at 9:40 a.m.

    The 34-year-old was among the 33 miners rescued last month after spending 69 days entombed 2,300 feet underground by a cave-in. An avid runner, he jogged several miles every day through tunnels. AP



    Be a "homework helper" @ $100/hr.: (none / 0) (#27)
    by oculus on Mon Nov 08, 2010 at 10:19:48 AM EST
    NYT