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Wednesday Afternoon Open Thread

The big story of the day - the Florida Gators college football recruiting class. Florida got the #1 class. Texas and Alabama followed.

The premiere of the final season of Lost did a great number. (American Idol of course is the #1 show on TV. I have not even watched an episode in years personally.) As for the Lost episodes themselves, I am intrigued but thought there was a lot of filler in the episode. I think now that the set up is taken care of for Season 6, it should be great.

BTW, I have stopped writing about the health bill because there is nothing left to say. IF the bill is to be passed, for better or worse, the Senate Dems have to deliver a reconciliation fix, especially of the excise tax. Everyone knows it. Do the Dems n the Senate want to do it? If they do, it will pass. If they don't, it won't. It is the Senate's call. And only their call.

This is an Open Thread.

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    Chocolate (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by nycstray on Wed Feb 03, 2010 at 04:59:03 PM EST
    I have been craving it. So I thought I would share this yummy link I think I'll try the Chocolate Dulce de Leche Bars. And of course make my own Dulce de Leche

    Have you ever looked at (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by Anne on Wed Feb 03, 2010 at 07:38:33 PM EST
    Joy the Baker?  I love her blog and the photos - I've tried a few things here and there, but mostly, I just like to drink in the food via the excellent photography.

    pastry studio is another gorgeous site.

    Parent

    I personally enjoy (none / 0) (#30)
    by cawaltz on Wed Feb 03, 2010 at 08:55:48 PM EST
    Annie's Eats and Pioneer Woman Cooks

    http://annies-eats.com/

    http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/

    Both blogs make me hungry

    Parent

    SEC recruiting... 7 of the top 20. (none / 0) (#1)
    by jeffinalabama on Wed Feb 03, 2010 at 04:02:29 PM EST
    It was a slight not to mention the #4 recruiting class. Gross negligence, BTD.

    There seem to be some uncertainty (none / 0) (#7)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Feb 03, 2010 at 04:11:22 PM EST
    on whether Auburn will hold the 4 spot but it looks like they will.

    Parent
    s carolina's RB pickup (none / 0) (#11)
    by jeffinalabama on Wed Feb 03, 2010 at 05:11:41 PM EST
    takes some rating power from Auburn, but that's for the recruiting class, not overall. Auburn's trying to become running back U again, it looks like.

    All in all, the SEC is dominating recruiting. Do you think there's just that much more top level talent in SEC stares?

    Parent

    Yes (none / 0) (#12)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Feb 03, 2010 at 05:18:42 PM EST
    Florida especially.

    Parent
    i agree. (none / 0) (#13)
    by jeffinalabama on Wed Feb 03, 2010 at 05:38:36 PM EST
    It's not simply a southern phenomenon. Yexas has a larger population, and is geographically similar. California-- more diverse geogrphically, larger. Yet year in, year out, top recruiting classes are filled with southern high school kids.

    The state of Florida has three perennial top teams and two up and comers. AU has fished in the Florida pond for years, as has Georgiaand virtually every SEC school. Still there's enough talent from the state to send players to Rutgers, Notre Dame, Michigan, and the west coast. Rare to see many Texans far from Texas, Oklahoma or Colorado.

    Now Texas does have a lot of good football schools, which might lessen out of state play, but Florida sends kids EVERYWHERE. Must be the climate.

    Or the oranges.

    Parent

    ugh. so much for preview. Texas. (none / 0) (#14)
    by jeffinalabama on Wed Feb 03, 2010 at 05:39:20 PM EST
    Crazy about football (none / 0) (#15)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Feb 03, 2010 at 05:40:48 PM EST
    My late husband put it down to.... (none / 0) (#18)
    by trillian on Wed Feb 03, 2010 at 07:17:21 PM EST
    ....them running on sand ;p

    Parent
    Heh. Better that than (none / 0) (#25)
    by jeffinalabama on Wed Feb 03, 2010 at 07:38:08 PM EST
    attributing hookworm and pellagra;-)

    Maybe it's barbecue...

    apropos of nothing, got to talk to my 7 year old tonight. I get him for the summer, and this year's christmas! Was bothered by one thing,

    he said," Dad, I want to stay with you. I want to be an American, not (his other country of citizenship)." I deferred that talk by saying we could discuss it when he's here... At what age does he get to decide which country he wants to live in? It's not the same as declaring citizenship, but at some age, a minor, in an international joint custody does have some input into which parent he spends the majority of his time with. I just don't know the answer, nor do  know any international custody lawyers.

    I'm just glad my case isn't like the fellow from New Jersey.

    Parent

    I see that lineman from MN... (none / 0) (#17)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Feb 03, 2010 at 06:17:49 PM EST
    ...picked USC.  I don't understand why anyone would want to go play for Lame Kiffen.  

    Sure SoCal is 180 degrees different than MN in weather, scenery and lifestyle, but still.

    Parent

    Where else can he get a head (none / 0) (#19)
    by MKS on Wed Feb 03, 2010 at 07:18:34 PM EST
    start on his acting career?.....Leinart showed us all about that.....

    Parent
    auburn signed a juco (none / 0) (#21)
    by jeffinalabama on Wed Feb 03, 2010 at 07:24:14 PM EST
    transfer from Visalia, Ca, originally from Minnesota... not a 5 star like the fellow you reference, but 6'7" 295... he's already enrolled for the spring term.

    Oh, as far as recruiting classes, I saw an analysis last week, wish I could find a link, on the relationship between top finishes and top recruiting-- there's a strong one. No guarantee, though-- Michigan was in the top 5 in recruiting on this analysis, over the past 5-10 years, but that hasn't helped. So, not perfect causation, but a strong correlation. If 5-10 out of each class become starters, and they are highly rated, it does pay off. Look at Texas, Florida, LSU, and UAT. There was a west coast team listed, I think-- possibly USC-- wish I had perfect recall.

    Parent

    No, it doesn't hurt. (5.00 / 1) (#27)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Feb 03, 2010 at 07:41:55 PM EST
    I'm probably just spoiled by a staff that takes the over-looked and the unwanted and turns them into players.  But then, I like rooting for the underdogs...

    That's why I'm an Americanzi.

    Parent

    USC has the edge... (none / 0) (#24)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Feb 03, 2010 at 07:35:27 PM EST
    ...on the crime rate though.  

    LOL @ tOSU being #5 AND #6 on the list.  

    Parent

    Come to Ohio! Get Burglarized! (none / 0) (#28)
    by jeffinalabama on Wed Feb 03, 2010 at 07:42:53 PM EST
    Texas is 2 and 10.

    Where I teach now? Crime? Does that mean you have to, like, lock your door? Lock your car?

    Small towns aren't all bad by any stretch of the imagination. Neighborhood kids here ride their bikes to the creek, and parents come to find them when it's getting dark. Sort of a throwback.

    Parent

    Sounds like Iowa... (none / 0) (#29)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Feb 03, 2010 at 07:48:52 PM EST
    ...and rural Colorado.  Ah, life in the Heartland.

    Parent
    A bit too premature... (none / 0) (#16)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Feb 03, 2010 at 06:11:51 PM EST
    ...isn't it?  I know Iowa's #8 class from a few years ago is nowhere close to that in reality.  Injuries, transfer/drop-outs, early draft entries and potential not reached can drastically change a class.  

    Talent and potential are nice--like a shiny new car, but you never know what you have until you get it on the road.  The real ranking comes 3 or 4 years down the line.  

    Parent

    Oops-- was replying in part (none / 0) (#22)
    by jeffinalabama on Wed Feb 03, 2010 at 07:25:28 PM EST
    to the recruiting question and it posted above your post.

    Some uncertainty, yes, but over the long term it pays off.

    Parent

    so (none / 0) (#2)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Feb 03, 2010 at 04:04:35 PM EST
    this weekend I put up a 120 gallon aquarium and today I read this in my horoscope:

    This is the only possible fly in the oatmeal. Neptune will be conjunct the Sun, suggesting Father Neptune may want to come in! Of course, this would be important to discover. Check the purity of the water, look at the roof for possible past leaks - you get the idea. Have an engineer check things out for you.

    now she tells me

    That's a BIG aquariaum. (none / 0) (#3)
    by jeffinalabama on Wed Feb 03, 2010 at 04:06:25 PM EST
    Fresh or salt? or has the water already leaked out;-P ?

    Parent
    fresh (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Feb 03, 2010 at 04:10:06 PM EST
    salt is way to much work.  I already have a 40 with a couple of fish that have totally outgrown it.
    so I really have 160 gallons of water in my living room.

    and no leaks when I left this morning.

    Parent

    It was Holder's decision (none / 0) (#5)
    by jbindc on Wed Feb 03, 2010 at 04:10:51 PM EST
    to charge Abdulmutallab in criminal court.

    Attorney General Eric Holder said Wednesday he made the decision to charge the Christmas Day terrorism suspect in civilian court rather than the military system, with no objection from all the other relevant departments of the government.

    In a letter to Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, the attorney general wrote that the FBI told its partners in the intelligence community on Christmas Day and again the next day that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab would be charged criminally.

    SNIP

    Holder said that the possibility of detaining Abdulmutallab in the U.S. military system under the law of war was explicitly discussed in the days following the arrest, including at a Jan. 5 meeting that included President Obama and senior members of the national security team.

    "No agency supported the use of law of war detention for Abdulmutallab, and no agency has since advised the Department of Justice that an alternative course of action should have been, or should now be, pursued," the attorney general wrote.

    Holder said his decision was consistent with earlier practices followed uniformly in both the Obama and Bush administrations.

    "The Bush administration used the criminal justice system to convict more than 300 individuals on terrorism-related charges," Holder wrote. The attorney general specifically mentioned the case of Richard Reid, who tried but failed to ignite a shoe bomb on a U.S.-bound trans-Atlantic jetliner.

    "The practice of the U.S. government followed by prior and current administrations without a single exception, has been to arrest and detain under federal criminal law all terrorist suspects who are apprehended inside the United States," Holder added.



    Apparently (none / 0) (#6)
    by CST on Wed Feb 03, 2010 at 04:11:14 PM EST
    I should buy a house now in Boston.

    Anyone want to give me the $348,000 I'll need to do it?


    you better hurry cuz we're in recovery (2.00 / 1) (#36)
    by seabos84 on Thu Feb 04, 2010 at 07:16:39 AM EST
    and the bubbles based upon, founded upon ... bubbles!

    well those bubbles are gonna recover! we're giving tax cuts to the pigs at the top cuz they're on top and cuz they take the first pig cut of the pie, and they take the biggest pig cut of the pie, and the MORE they pig out the more pig s**t there will be for the rest of us to enjoy!

    yup, ya better buy now ... the big zee-r0 is doing such a great job of reversing 30 years of lies, stealing, lies, and stealing.

    rmm.

    Parent

    very cool (none / 0) (#8)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Feb 03, 2010 at 04:51:46 PM EST
    Political trends (none / 0) (#10)
    by jbindc on Wed Feb 03, 2010 at 05:03:54 PM EST
    "Unaffiliated" voters at highest levle since 2007:

    In January, the number of Americans identifying themselves as Democrats fell another tenth-of-a-percentage point. Now the number of Democrats is at the lowest level recorded in more than seven years of monthly tracking by Rasmussen Reports.

    However, in January, the number of Republicans in the country dropped by nearly two percentage points.

    Currently, 35.4% of American adults view themselves as Democrats. That's down from 35.5% a month ago and 36.0 two months ago. Prior to last month, the lowest total ever recorded for Democrats was 35.9%, a figure that was reached twice in 2005. See the History of Party Trends from January 2004 to the present.

    The number of Republicans is now down to 32.3%. The number of Republicans in the country has stayed between 32.3% and 34.05% in every month for the past 18 months.

    The number of adults not affiliated with either major party is now up to 32.3%. That's the highest number of unaffiliateds since the summer of 2007.



    Q: are "teabaggers" mostly (none / 0) (#23)
    by observed on Wed Feb 03, 2010 at 07:26:23 PM EST
    Republican, or is there a sizeable unaffiliated contingent? ( I think using that term is a stupid move by Democrats, btw).

    Parent
    I strongly object to the appropriation (5.00 / 1) (#34)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Wed Feb 03, 2010 at 10:00:15 PM EST
    of the term "tea-bagging". In certain circles, it used to be nothing more than a perfectly non-objectionable sexual practice.

    Parent
    Well (none / 0) (#31)
    by cawaltz on Wed Feb 03, 2010 at 09:05:16 PM EST
    Indiana's tea party actually ask that question and this is what they found

    http://www.indianapolisteaparty.com/polls/what-is-your-political-affiliation

    Parent

    Sample size of 37 is way small. (none / 0) (#33)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Wed Feb 03, 2010 at 09:55:09 PM EST
    I can't believe BTD never has (none / 0) (#20)
    by observed on Wed Feb 03, 2010 at 07:23:05 PM EST
    anything to say about The Bachelor.
    Or what about Joysy Shoas?

    Lost is the Blanche Dubois Crowd - (none / 0) (#35)
    by seabos84 on Thu Feb 04, 2010 at 07:12:50 AM EST
    lets rely on the kindness of strangers instead of the 9mms and the .308s when there are kinds of nuts and monsters hunting you in the middle of no where.

    I'd be feeding the blanche's and the pacifists to the monsters.

    rmm.

    Uh oh (none / 0) (#37)
    by jbindc on Thu Feb 04, 2010 at 08:46:24 AM EST
    Too much time on the internet linked with depression risk

    Fueling the debate over the existence of internet addiction, and new study from researchers at the University of Leeds finds that people who compulsively browse, chat and play online have higher rates of moderate to severe depression than people who aren't compulsively driven to use the internet. Additionally, people with addictive tendencies toward internet use were more likely to spend proportionately more time on sites featuring sexually gratifying content, gaming or social networking. As with previous research on addictive internet and video game use, researchers said that it wasn't clear which came first in the apparent link between compulsive internet use and depression--that is, are people more likely to be depressed because they spend too much time on the internet, or is whiling away hours online a common hobby of people who are depressed?