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Tuesday Morning Open Thread

World Cup - Penalty kick shootout to finish Paraguay-Japan. Spain faces Portugal this afternoon.

Open Thread.

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    The dem leadership just blinked (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by BTAL on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 12:50:19 PM EST
    Wall Street reform conference reopens

    In an extraordinary move aimed at winning over reluctant Republican senators, the top Democratic negotiators on the Wall Street reform bill will reopen the conference committee Tuesday to swap out a controversial $19 billion tax on big banks, according to House and Senate aides.

    The unusual development points to deepening troubles for Democrats in their push to finish the bill before the July 4th recess. The death Monday of Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.V.) and the decision by Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) to oppose the bill unless the tax was removed left Democrats several votes shy of Senate passage.

    Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0610/39167.html#ixzz0sGWfPdWa

    remainder at the link above.

    And blinked again.... (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by BTAL on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 12:53:09 PM EST
    Democrats, Obama willing to scale back energy and climate change bill

    Key Senate Democrats offered, during a White House meeting with President Barack Obama and skeptical Republicans on Tuesday, to scale back their ambitious plans to cap greenhouse gases across multiple sectors of the economy.

    Sens. John Kerry and Joe Lieberman told reporters after the 90-minute West Wing meeting that Obama held firm in his calls for a price on greenhouse gases. But they said the president acknowledged that he could agree to a more limited climate and energy bill than any the senators had previously drafted.

    "We believe we have compromised significantly, and we're prepared to compromise further," Kerry said.

    ...



    No surprise there. Obama's (5.00 / 1) (#48)
    by observed on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 02:33:41 PM EST
    green credentials were always suspect.

    Parent
    He was big on ethanol. <snk.> (none / 0) (#58)
    by oculus on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 02:44:47 PM EST
    Ah yes, Kerry and Lieberman, (none / 0) (#125)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Wed Jun 30, 2010 at 11:58:40 AM EST
    always up for a good skull-fu@king -- Lieberman more on the giving end, Kerry more on the receiving end.

    Parent
    Wow....Kerry really knows how to play (none / 0) (#64)
    by vml68 on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 02:49:00 PM EST
    hardball... :-0!
    I've met street vendors in third world countries that have better negotiating skills.

    "We believe we have compromised significantly, and we're prepared to compromise further," Kerry said.


    Parent
    Give the man another medal (none / 0) (#73)
    by observed on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 02:56:16 PM EST
    for bravery.

    Parent
    did a spit take on that quote (none / 0) (#111)
    by ruffian on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 04:42:45 PM EST
    Hard to imagine that guy was not elected as a wartime president.

    Parent
    I cannot believe he said that (none / 0) (#120)
    by gyrfalcon on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 11:22:24 PM EST
    Really, I'm gob-smacked. Kerry is a long way from being my favorite pol, but that statement is just beyond STOOPID.

    Stockholm syndrome maybe.

    Parent

    Guys and Dolls (5.00 / 3) (#15)
    by ruffian on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 01:15:14 PM EST
    Happy 100th birthday Frank Loesser!

    Take a break from politics today and listen to NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross. It is a Frank Loesser tribute show, with Michael Feinstein providing a treasure trove of rare recordings and anecdotes about working with Loesser. I know there are other musical theater fans here - the hour is a real treat.

    Link (5.00 / 3) (#18)
    by ruffian on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 01:17:13 PM EST
    Thanks. Very interesting. (none / 0) (#29)
    by oculus on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 01:42:01 PM EST
    Maybe my all-time favorite (none / 0) (#121)
    by gyrfalcon on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 11:25:04 PM EST
    Broadway show.  Except when I'm listening to Carousel...

    I got the horse right here, the name is Paul Revere...

    Parent

    Soccer? (5.00 / 1) (#35)
    by CST on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 01:48:50 PM EST
    I know I know, the U.S. is out of it, but there is still an interesting game today in the Spain-Portugal match up.

    The most "visible" player in the game today Christiano Ronaldo is playing for Portugal.  He's one of the best players in the world - and one of the best underwear modelers too :P

    Unfortunately he is also insufferable, he dives on the regular, and makes whiny faces whenever calls don't go his way.  However, even his whiny faces are hard to look away from...

    Spain was the #1 ranked team going into the tournament.  I really hope they lose today.

    The lousy officiating (none / 0) (#38)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 01:52:20 PM EST
    has really limited my enjoyment.

    Parent
    I think (none / 0) (#39)
    by CST on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 01:56:07 PM EST
    this has to change, and FIFA is finally starting to realize that.  Link

    My guess is this will be in place by the next world cup.  Way too many major gaffes.

    Parent

    Bound to be lots of resistance. (none / 0) (#44)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 02:04:33 PM EST
    Was talking to to a Brit ex-pat Fri night about the lame reffing and he firmly denounced any sort of "American football-type technology."

    I wonder if he's as resolute, now, after Sunday's game...

    Parent

    I think this cup showed the importance (none / 0) (#45)
    by CST on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 02:08:36 PM EST
    of it.  Honestly, I was surprised to read FIFA was even considering it since they have been so anti-technology in the past.

    US soccer chief also said they might be willing to try it out in MLS first as sort of a testing ground for greater acceptance.

    It would have to be done carefully - couldn't be football style on every play, too disruptive.  But at least check on goals I think - there is time then to make sure you get it right.

    Parent

    Offsides calls... (none / 0) (#46)
    by kdog on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 02:26:07 PM EST
    are blown more than goal/non-goal calls. Review would help taking goals away on an obvious offsides, but on a offsides wrong-call play is stopped...review won't help.

    Maybe FIFA just needs better refs...granted it's a tough sport to officiate, but these guys are the pits.

    Parent

    Maybe the refs should sit in front (none / 0) (#59)
    by oculus on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 02:45:36 PM EST
    of TV during the game?

    Parent
    Viva VILLA! Spain turned Ronaldo into a Waiter ... (none / 0) (#106)
    by Ellie on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 04:25:36 PM EST
    That'll teach him to try and out-preen the undisputed masters of the practice.

    I didn't want to jinx or spoil, since it looked like I was doing my version of the BTD Curse and watching my picks flame out. (Today's victims: the Blue Samurai!)

    Unsung hero for Spain: Iniesta, whose return sparked the Spanish offense.

    As for electronic goal-line tech, that can be as bad as human error.

    I contributed dark-chocolate covered, sweet chestnut cream filled castanets to the tapas bar and added to the non-stop racket with my real ones.

    Parent

    God, did you plug the hole yet? (5.00 / 4) (#41)
    by KeysDan on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 01:58:20 PM EST
    The governors of five Gulf states proclaimed a "Day of Prayer" to help stop the gusher.  Right now, intercession of the deities may be useful to BP intervention.  Kent Wells, a BP senior vice president, said that the first relief well is progressing very well and should, as previously billed, plug the runaway well. The second relief well is about two weeks behind the first. However, BP and Admiral Allen are now talking about a long-term containment plan to pump the oil to an existing platform should the relief well(s) fail.  Admiral Allen now claims that we always wanted to have backups for backups. The lowered confidence in relief wells introduces questions about the damaged well's condition and whether it could take the relief well kill procedure.

    I liked what Stephen Colbert said (5.00 / 5) (#56)
    by ruffian on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 02:43:45 PM EST
    about the Day of Prayer - God already did his part by hiding the oil under a mile of water and a few thousand feet of rock.

    Parent
    No doubt (none / 0) (#74)
    by Zorba on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 03:00:15 PM EST
    He thought that would keep us away from it.  But we didn't listen.  It's an old story.    ;-)

    Parent
    Where's Pat Robertson... (5.00 / 1) (#78)
    by kdog on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 03:11:36 PM EST
    blaming American gluttony and greed for the wrath of god via oil spill?  

    Who am I kidding, it's the tolerance of homosexuality...always is:)

    Parent

    A Pat wannabe, (none / 0) (#104)
    by KeysDan on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 04:20:09 PM EST
    Preacher Joseph Herrin, of Houston, says the gusher is the fault of abortion-loving Houstonians.  Something to do with tropical storms in the Gulf looking like birth canals and all which makes a world of sense.  But, you are right, the real deal will no doubt be sticking to his tried and true it was the gays, we only await his competing confection for the blow.

    Parent
    Question for KeysDan about BP Spill news... (none / 0) (#124)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Wed Jun 30, 2010 at 11:52:43 AM EST
    What blogs or other non-establishment media sources are you going to for your daily updates on the spill?

    Dan Froomkin at HuffPo is outstanding. I wish he, or somebody of his caliber, was committed to covering this subject exclusively, or semi-exclusively, for the duration. IOW, a better version of Anderson Cooper who once promised not to forget New Orleans and Katrina -- but then he did rather quickly.

    In terms of the prog blogs, FireDogLake is doing a superlative job -- although I'd like to see a lot more from them. Corrente usually has something worth reading too. Other than that, I go to TruthOut and CommonDreams, both of which have something every other day or so; also Counterpunch and RealNewsNetwork which have good coverage but less of it. I read TheOilDrum less frequently as I find it pretty arcane.

    What are you reading? And how is the situation down in key West? Do you feel like the spill is a welcome subject at TL? Does anybody other than you and I and ZtoA speak of it with any regularity? I can't help but find the apparent lack of sustained interest discouraging -- here and elsewhere. Be well.

    Parent

    Just wanted to add Washington's Blog (none / 0) (#126)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Wed Jun 30, 2010 at 12:45:17 PM EST
    I haven't been reading it before now, but Corrente and Naked Capatilism both linked to it today and it looks very promising. Here 'tis Washington's Blog. Enjoy, if that's the right word.

    Parent
    Fox, sorry for the delay - just checked back (none / 0) (#127)
    by KeysDan on Wed Jun 30, 2010 at 06:23:59 PM EST
    on replies.  Thank you for your kind thoughts.  The blogs you cite are pretty much the ones I follow, but I do get a lot out of theoildrum.com, but it is tough slogging through the complicated and complex technical and engineering information.  But after over two months, I am getting better at it, sort of like when I go to buy an appliance of some sort, I seem to start out not knowing anything about it, but by the time I make the purchase I can probably build it myself.  Another source, special for me, is information from Coast Guard friends--Key West is a Coast Guard Training Station as well as a Naval Air base and training site.  So we get a lot of information/gossip to sort out as well.  Key West and several of the Keys, including the middle key, Marathon, have taken it upon themselves, in frustration, to plan for clean-up.  Marathon city council is concerned by the Coast Guard and BP's stance of we will help clean up once it hits, rather than prevention, through booms and the like.  I suppose, for many, the oil gusher is of immediate concern to Gulf residents, but for people such as you and A to Z, the concern runs so much deeper, including ecological worries for faraway places like Alaska.  I have never been to Alaska but I have as much concern as if I lived there.  My greatest disappointment has been the politicization of the catastrophe, particularly when criticisms such as having the corporate spiller be in charge, despite protestations to the contrary for most of the first two months, and even now.  Certainly, the Administration was amiss in containment and clean-up which should have been nationalized out of the gate, and "plugging the hole" should have been by a consortium of contracted oil engineers and oil patch guys.  Indeed, the relief wells and much of the capping expertise has been jobbed out. BP should have been permitted to be among consultants, but it seemed to suffice for many that BP will pay and it is a free spill.  Of course, it is far from over, and the relief well solution is our best bet, but some of the new talk about back-up to the back-up is worrying.

    Parent
    Funny that people have to resort to myths (none / 0) (#77)
    by ruffian on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 03:09:08 PM EST
    and allegories when real life lessons are right there to be had.

    Parent
    We don't listen (none / 0) (#84)
    by Zorba on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 03:21:47 PM EST
    to real life lessons any more than anybody, past or present, has listened to the words of whatever god or gods they purport to believe in.  Humans basically do whatever they want, whenever they want to, as long as they think they can get away with it, and nobody bigger and stronger (or better-armed) is there to prevent it.

    Parent
    What do you guys make of... (5.00 / 0) (#49)
    by kdog on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 02:35:00 PM EST
    this Russian spy ring bust?

    Seems to me, if the allegations are true (big if), Moscow was getting ripped off...what could these clowns have known about nuclear weapons or anything else that isn't public common knowledge?

    It makes no sense to me. (none / 0) (#71)
    by vml68 on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 02:55:07 PM EST
    Apparently all the information they shared was public knowledge and available if googled.

    Parent
    Exactly... (none / 0) (#75)
    by kdog on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 03:04:38 PM EST
    doesn't say much for Russian intelligence...if they done what the FBI say they done we shoulda let 'em be...we could use the Russian cash in the local economy:)

    Parent
    No wonder (none / 0) (#115)
    by NYShooter on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 05:43:36 PM EST
    They kept typing in: Gulagoo.

    And I'm an (embarrassed) Russian.

    Parent

    Gibbs says WH will do all it can to (5.00 / 1) (#51)
    by oculus on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 02:36:38 PM EST
    assure McC retires with all four stars.  Army regs. state must have 4th star for 3 yrs. to retire at that rank.  He hasn't had 4th star but a year.  AP

    What happened to deficit reduction?

    Wrong message, IMO. The White House (none / 0) (#55)
    by observed on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 02:40:43 PM EST
    should humiliate him as much as possible, without going overboard; they definitely shouldn't be bending over backwards to give him something he didn't earn.

    Parent
    A new form of PPUS. (5.00 / 2) (#57)
    by oculus on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 02:43:56 PM EST
    post-partisan? (none / 0) (#66)
    by CST on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 02:51:09 PM EST
    I keep hearing that he is a liberal, voted for Obama, hates Fox News...

    Parent
    Looking ahead to midterm elections. (none / 0) (#69)
    by oculus on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 02:53:24 PM EST
    Mr. Nice Guy Pres.

    Parent
    Where do nice guys finish? Does O know? (none / 0) (#70)
    by observed on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 02:54:56 PM EST
    Quid Pro Quo (none / 0) (#60)
    by BTAL on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 02:45:49 PM EST
    for future silence.

    Parent
    Or another Sestak-like inducement (5.00 / 1) (#61)
    by oculus on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 02:46:51 PM EST
    not to run for public office?

    Parent
    If they wanted to keep him from running (none / 0) (#72)
    by scribe on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 02:56:15 PM EST
    for public office (or otherwise causing trouble), they should have taken my suggestion:

     after relieving him, reassign him (and his admirable organziational skills) to .. climate problems, cut him orders for McMurdo Sound (or Thule, Greenland) and have him there under a "bar to favorable personnel actions" (which can be imposed for any reason at all, like indiscipline and lifted at any time), and under strict orders to not communicate with the press, counting snowflakes and recording the weather until the President got tired of it. Say, in January 2013 or even January 2017.

    Because you know that once he retires he'll be getting speaking invitations from wingnuts everywhere.

    Parent

    Right. Playing hardball is good politics. (none / 0) (#76)
    by observed on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 03:04:47 PM EST
    In some countries a general like that would have been executed. That's going too far, but giving him a raise is WAY too far in the other direction.

    Parent
    I guess Scribe recommends Siberia. (none / 0) (#81)
    by oculus on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 03:18:21 PM EST
    What didn't he earn? (none / 0) (#82)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 03:20:30 PM EST
    I think stars are awarded when earned, not in anticipation...

    Parent
    According to AP link, not entitled (none / 0) (#87)
    by oculus on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 03:26:40 PM EST
    to retirement benefits unless held the rank pre-retirement for 3 yrs.  

    Parent
    Ah, thanks. (none / 0) (#97)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 04:08:20 PM EST
    Send him to Paris (none / 0) (#98)
    by KeysDan on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 04:08:48 PM EST
    as an envoy, as punishment.

    Parent
    I'd love to see a week go by... (5.00 / 1) (#92)
    by kdog on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 03:44:02 PM EST
    without NY trying to ban something...this week it's short-term apartment rentals.  Hotel lobby paying somebody off or what?  I'm not getting the concerns.

    OMG. Fight this to the max. (none / 0) (#101)
    by oculus on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 04:16:41 PM EST
    My grade in Gun Control Law (none / 0) (#1)
    by andgarden on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 11:35:03 AM EST
    was posted today. I think the professor must have been waiting for McDonald to be handed down!

    So...are you going to leave us all in (none / 0) (#4)
    by Anne on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 11:48:57 AM EST
    suspense?  

    How'd you do?

    Also, did you see that the Don Siegelman conviction was vacated and case is going back to the 11th Circuit for reconsideration?  Fallout from the "honest services" ruling in Skilling.

    Parent

    I was sAtisfied (5.00 / 3) (#17)
    by andgarden on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 01:16:55 PM EST
    As for Siegelman, yup, I saw.

    Parent
    Love It (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by squeaky on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 01:30:10 PM EST
    CongrAtulations!

    Parent
    Oh, that's good to hear; (5.00 / 3) (#26)
    by Anne on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 01:36:08 PM EST
    It might have Been of some Concern - and Depressing, For sure, otherwise...

    :-)

    Parent

    Congrats! (none / 0) (#54)
    by ruffian on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 02:40:42 PM EST
    Do you get a summer break at all?

    Parent
    Interesting that your law school offers (none / 0) (#27)
    by oculus on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 01:39:54 PM EST
    a separate course in gun control law.  Timely.  Did you discern any pressure to opine in a particular direction?

    Parent
    No, (none / 0) (#33)
    by andgarden on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 01:46:39 PM EST
    As to whether the content was skewed, I can't say.

    Parent
    Can't or won't? (none / 0) (#34)
    by oculus on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 01:48:14 PM EST
    Can't and haven't! (none / 0) (#42)
    by andgarden on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 01:58:56 PM EST
    But the truth is that I walked out with some unexpected ambivalence.

    Parent
    One more time with CLIPPERVENTION (none / 0) (#2)
    by Dadler on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 11:46:20 AM EST
    Meant to check it last night... (none / 0) (#40)
    by kdog on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 01:57:26 PM EST
    thanks for the reminder...as a Knicks fan I'm interested!

    Parent
    True... (none / 0) (#53)
    by kdog on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 02:40:30 PM EST
    and we had a good run with Riley & Van Gundy...though it seems like a lifetime ago.

    Those June Jones teams could fling it too boy...a fun team to watch!  

     

    Parent

    Banking on "reform"? (none / 0) (#3)
    by Edger on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 11:46:38 AM EST
    Don't hold your breath.

    As the final Wall Street negotiations came to a close last week, the Obama administration quietly sided with Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) against most Democrats in support of a loophole in one of the key provisions of the financial reform bill.

    ...

    "Treasury's official position went from opposed to [the loophole] to supportive," one aide says. "They may have [even] overshot Brown's desires by a bit."

    -- TPM

    Really? (5.00 / 2) (#5)
    by NYShooter on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 11:58:42 AM EST
    Maybe the fact that "our" Government rushed to confiscate every last dollar the poor and middle class had and brought it (on bended knees) to the Oligarch/Bankster  Crime Families the instant their reckless gambling blew up the world should have given us a clue.


    Parent
    I think the tail wagged the dog on that one (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by ruffian on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 12:00:35 PM EST
    I'm sure Brown really had to twist their arms.

    Parent
    Never hold your breath.... (5.00 / 2) (#7)
    by kdog on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 12:02:10 PM EST
    any reigning in of the Wall St. casino is gonna have to come with from the street...we've got more power than we realize in this regard.

    Stop putting money in your 401k, stop borrowing from mega-banks, cut up the cc.  iow, stop playin' the fool.  If enough people do it, you'll see terms improve right quick...they need our dough to run their scams.

    Parent

    But I thought (none / 0) (#8)
    by Edger on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 12:12:25 PM EST
    Obama and the Dems were supposed to save the day for the "small people", being as willing to spread the wealth as they are.

    They're way better than the republicans, don't forget. What more could you ask for?

    Republicans never gave democrats everything they demanded.

    Parent

    Huh? (5.00 / 3) (#11)
    by squeaky on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 12:53:14 PM EST
    What ever gave you that idea? Oh, you are being sarcastic.... lol

    Anyway, they are significantly better than GOP, imo.

    Just imagine another two Roberts on the Roberts court.. not to mention the unmitigated arrogance of BushCo in the international community.

    And we get watered down gruel, but the pure stuff, well just flash back to the pure idea voiced by Sen Barton that Obama is "shaking down" poor BP, or that Thurgood Marshall did a terrible job because he helped Black people to have the same rights as whites.

    Yes, DEM and GOP are both beholden to $$$ and corporate power, but I will take the Dem version anytime.

    Parent

    That's good. (none / 0) (#30)
    by Edger on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 01:43:21 PM EST
    Somebody has to take care of those poor oppressed repubs and their corporate owners, after all. ;-)

    Parent
    clearly, you thought wrong. (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by cpinva on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 01:13:45 PM EST
    But I thought Obama and the Dems were supposed to save the day for the "small people", being as willing to spread the wealth as they are.

    of course, no one ever asserted that, aside from the batsh*t crazy right-wingnuterions. bear in mind, they have their own unique take on the constitution as well, a version no one who actually went to school in this country, and actually read the document, would recognize.

    and always, always, always remember:

    "pols are pols, they do what they do"

    have that tattooed on your right butt cheek, so you don't forget it.

    Parent

    Oh, but listen to this. I was at the (none / 0) (#13)
    by oculus on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 01:09:54 PM EST
    Getty Villa yesterday.  When I gave the cashier my credit card to pay for my lunch, she sd., you saved 20% by using your Chase cc!  Seems Chase is one of the sponsors of the special exhibit.  When did that ever happen?

    Parent
    Was it sunny yesterday there? (none / 0) (#20)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 01:20:35 PM EST
    Or did the marine layer linger?

    Parent
    Very pleasant, with intermittent sun. (none / 0) (#21)
    by oculus on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 01:23:31 PM EST
    Nice. (none / 0) (#24)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 01:32:17 PM EST
    The exhibit re Aztecs/ancient Rome/ (5.00 / 1) (#36)
    by oculus on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 01:49:03 PM EST
    Cortes is interesting.

    Parent
    Yeah (none / 0) (#22)
    by squeaky on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 01:29:43 PM EST
    Chase makes $5 million a day. Tax write offs are important to them. Good PR as well...

    Parent
    They'll get that 20% back... (none / 0) (#25)
    by kdog on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 01:34:49 PM EST
    and more when they're done with you oculus.

    Parent
    Don't I know it. (none / 0) (#28)
    by oculus on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 01:40:39 PM EST
    Kos suing Research 2000 for fraud (none / 0) (#12)
    by magster on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 01:00:24 PM EST
    With Strategic Vision and now (maybe) Research 2000, I wonder how many other pollsters fudge their results and/or influence political momentum based on bogus information.

    Couldn't happen to a nicer guy. (5.00 / 1) (#16)
    by RonK Seattle on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 01:15:32 PM EST
    Kos is publicly trashing the reputation (none / 0) (#47)
    by oculus on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 02:32:28 PM EST
    of Research 2000 on DK. Has he spoken with his attorney?

    Parent
    I hope he has (5.00 / 1) (#65)
    by scribe on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 02:49:32 PM EST
    though, reading the statisticians' analysis of why the R2K results are being alleged by Kos to be bogus is, to this non-statistician with an engineering bachelor's degree, pretty persuasive.  Pointing out that the math says the kind of results (vis-a-vis errors and variations and such) R2K came out with would only happen naturally in the rarest of circumstances is pretty persuasive and would likely give Kos good insulation against a defamation action.  Moreover, if what he says is true about R2K now operating out of a Kinkos and not returning calls - all happening prior to the posts he put up today - that tells me that even if R2K could conceivably prove it was defamed, the damages would not be that much b/c the alleged defamation would have happened after the business was already gone and thus there would be no causal nexus between the two.

    In all, I don't think Kos has that much to worry about and they get props for coming out and lancing the boil before it really went septic.  Unlike other, more "respectable" outlets that bury their journalistic ... um ... peccadillos (e.g., NYT & Judy Miller, et als.)

    Parent

    Interesting take on potential damages (none / 0) (#117)
    by MKS on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 06:43:46 PM EST
    That would be one shrewd assessment by Markos....

    Parent
    He's filling a lawsuit later this week (none / 0) (#79)
    by magster on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 03:11:44 PM EST
    I'd assume that Kos is doing this pro se.

    Parent
    Why do you assume that? (none / 0) (#80)
    by oculus on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 03:16:11 PM EST
    NOT, not not not (5.00 / 1) (#86)
    by magster on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 03:25:06 PM EST
    not doing this pro se.  Must proofread.

    Parent
    Yeah, that is pouring fuel (none / 0) (#116)
    by MKS on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 06:41:47 PM EST
    on the fire....

    So much for quietly resolving things and getting a new pollster.

    Research 2000 has to sue now for defamation--if it doesn't, it could be out of business toot-sweet.

    Markos has ignited a big headache....Hope he has insurance that could pay his attorneys fees....The pollsters attorneys are by reputation good.

    Parent

    A (none / 0) (#19)
    by lentinel on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 01:18:41 PM EST
    real gem from Kagan;

    "Kagan has written in the past that the court, in (Bush v/s Gore), had been affected by the politics and policy preferences of its members. Her argument wasn't necessarily that this was a bad thing."

    Here is a prospective Supreme Court justice saying that it is not necessarily a bad thing for the Justices to have rendered a judicial decision which is affected by politics. Not to mention that this decision, highly infected by politics, determined a presidential election in favor of the politics of the members of the court.

    Maybe the lawyers who run this site can enlighten me as to why this is not completely off the wall.


    I dunno (5.00 / 1) (#31)
    by CST on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 01:44:18 PM EST
    If I recall correctly BTD has always argued that the supreme court is a political institution.  "Political" in my mind just represents a certain way one views the world.  I wouldn't expect judges to turn off that part of their brain.  I think it goes along with what Obama was saying as well in looking for "empathetic" judges.  We all view the law through the lens of personal experience.

    Consider this - Brown vs. Board was a very political decision that went against established legal precedent (Dred Scott).  That's one way it could be a very good thing.

    Parent

    Plessy v. Ferguson. (5.00 / 1) (#32)
    by oculus on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 01:46:23 PM EST
    right (none / 0) (#37)
    by CST on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 01:50:46 PM EST
    clearly not a legal scholar here.

    Parent
    I just saw Laurence Fishburne in (5.00 / 1) (#43)
    by oculus on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 02:03:28 PM EST
    "Thurgood Marshall."  Early in the show he asks if anyone has heard of the case.

    Parent
    at least I got the (5.00 / 2) (#67)
    by CST on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 02:52:05 PM EST
    "theme" right

    horribly decided civil-rights cases for 500 please.

    Parent

    What sticks in my mind.... (5.00 / 1) (#105)
    by lentinel on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 04:23:54 PM EST
    What I'm referring to -
    Sandra Day O'Connor admitted to voting in favor of Bush because she was a Republican.

    That's the kind of decision making based on politics that Kagan referred to as not necessarily being a bad thing.

    To me, it is a stomach churner.

    Parent

    Agreed (none / 0) (#122)
    by gyrfalcon on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 11:52:47 PM EST
    The definition of "politics" can be either ideology or partisanship.  I have no objection to ideology affecting SC decisions.  I expect it.  But pure political partisanship, which is what decided the outcome in 2000, is another thing altogether.

    Parent
    Brown v. Board of Education (none / 0) (#118)
    by BackFromOhio on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 09:39:07 PM EST
    was a unanimous decision

    Parent
    what if (none / 0) (#52)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 02:37:15 PM EST
    Cute (5.00 / 1) (#63)
    by ruffian on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 02:47:43 PM EST
    Reminds me of once when I slipped on the ice while walking my dog. Instead of going to fetch a cute paramedic and some hot chocolate, he stole my hat and ran off.

    Parent
    Cryptonomicon--should I finish it? (none / 0) (#62)
    by observed on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 02:46:59 PM EST
    I'm about 250 pages into Neal Stephenson's cryptonomicon (1100 page paperback edition)
    and I'm not convinced its worth finishing.
    Is there a big payoff if you read the whole thing, or is it just one meandering, entertaining detour after another, with plot tacked on for appearances sake?

    I know Cryptonomicon is from the 90's, but for comparison I think William Gibson's most recent fiction----Spook Country, for example--- is superlative. He's better than ever.
    His original speculative vision of the future has morphed into fiction about events which are almost believable in the current world, are riotously entertaining, and really make you think.
    Not to mention, his books are rather lean---a fraction of the size of Cryptonomicon.

    I thought it was worth it (5.00 / 0) (#68)
    by ruffian on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 02:52:21 PM EST
    but from what I remember it was pretty much
    one meandering, entertaining detour after another, with plot tacked on for appearances sake
    . I don't remember if there was a big payoff at the end - I would probably remember if their HAD been one, so that might be a clue.

    Have you read his Baroque Cycle? Loved those books...but they fit your description also. They total a couple thousand pages and took me a summer to read, but I was ready to start over when I was finished.

    Read Anathem earlier this year - that was harder to get into. I like it, but it was too much fantasy/sci-fi for my normal taste. Not sure I can recommend it.

    Parent

    Don't think I'll tackle the baroque cycle. (none / 0) (#90)
    by observed on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 03:35:04 PM EST
    Stephenson has fantastic descriptive abilities and a knack for teasing out unusual meanings from commonplace happenings, but he's really, really weak at characterization, IMO.


    Parent
    I think he got better (none / 0) (#94)
    by ruffian on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 03:49:26 PM EST
    at characterization with The Baroque Cycle. The main female character there, Eliza, is one of the best I've read in a modern novel. I also liked how he used Newton and Liebnitz - I have no idea how close he came to their real personalities, but they make for great characters in the books. You're right that his descriptive powers are excellent. I rarely get such strong visual images - kept wondering how he does that.

    He split the big 3 Baroque Cycle books into 9 smaller ones, so you could start with the first couple hundred pages and see how you like it!

    Parent

    I will finish Cryptonomicon. I wasn't (none / 0) (#96)
    by observed on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 04:01:37 PM EST
    seriously thinking of quitting, but I am a bit discouraged at the moment.
    It's funny how slow that read compares to the crime fiction I often read for fun.
    I took a break from C. yesterday and read a 450 page Steve Martini thriller which went down like soda. I like him, but there's nothing you have to stop and think about in his books.
    With Stephenson, you really have to read carefully to understand his complicated vignettes.

    Parent
    I know what you mean (none / 0) (#108)
    by ruffian on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 04:31:37 PM EST
    I do that too sometimes. Some books have more complicated sentence structure and ideas, and are just slower to read, but worth it. It is also fun to blaze through an easier one in a weekend though.

    Parent
    I am seriously thinking of trying Proust (none / 0) (#110)
    by observed on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 04:41:46 PM EST
    People I know who have read him have the highest praise for his writings.
    I don't think I could manage in French (being able to sort of read math papers written in French is probably not good enough).
    I would say that I was bowled over by Naipaul's descriptive abilities, more than any other writer I have read in recent years.
    His powers of concentration and attention are otherwordly. Supposedly he is  an absolutely horrid  person, and treats his women abominably.
    Oddly, I find this knowledge refreshing.


    Parent
    Never have read Proust either (none / 0) (#119)
    by ruffian on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 10:22:36 PM EST
    I would not be able to read it in French though. If you at least have a foundation it would probably be rewarding to try!

    I can't remember where I was just reminded of Naipaul over the weekend.Probably read something else that mentioned him. I've been meaning to try one of his for a while.

    I like going back to the classic or respected authors now and then and get reminded why they have lasted. I discovered Lawrence Durrell's Alexandrian Quartet over the fall-winter. You might like those too.

    Parent

    Thanks for suggesting Durrell (none / 0) (#123)
    by observed on Wed Jun 30, 2010 at 09:01:48 AM EST
    Sounds like something I would enjoy.
    That reminds me, I still have 2 books left to go in Mishima's famous tetralogy.
    It's probably been 12 or more years since I read the second one, and I simply forget to find the next,which I never see in bookstores.
    His images are absolutely haunting. I can't imagine how it is in Japanese.


    Parent
    would you remove them? (none / 0) (#83)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 03:21:45 PM EST
    A Remarkable Case of Polydactyly

    It's merely an interesting and beautiful variation rather than a worrisome thing, said Dr. Michael Treece, a St. Luke's Hospital pediatrician. I would be tempted to leave those fingers in place. I realize children would tease each other over the slightest things, and having extra digits on each hand is more than slight. But imagine what sort of a pianist a 12-fingered person would be. Imagine what sort of a flamenco guitarist. If nothing else, think of their typing skills.


    Trying to imagine how a piano teacher (none / 0) (#88)
    by oculus on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 03:28:12 PM EST
    w/5 fingers/hand would teach a person with 6 fingers/hand.  

    Parent
    I would be very tempted to remove them (none / 0) (#89)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 03:32:38 PM EST
    I think the kid would be a treated like a freak otherwise.


    Parent
    It would be a rough go... (none / 0) (#93)
    by kdog on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 03:45:59 PM EST
    for the kid, but having some extra digits would be kinda cool too...like X-Men.  Tough call.

    Parent
    I just read the extensive Wiki entry on (none / 0) (#100)
    by oculus on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 04:12:32 PM EST
    Anne Boleyn, who I had always heard had six fingers on one hand.  Wiki says no.

    P.S.  Quite interesting entry in light of my slogging my way through Hillary Mantel's novel "Wolf Hall."

    Parent

    I always thought (none / 0) (#102)
    by CST on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 04:16:53 PM EST
    she had 5 fingers with an extra nail on one pinky or something.

    This according to "the other boleyn girl"

    Also - isn't it strange that her daughter grew up to be Queen Elizabeth?  I mean, her mother was beheaded by the king... But I guess by then he had killed so many wives the first one was not so scandalous anymore.

    Parent

    He "only" had two killed (5.00 / 1) (#107)
    by ruffian on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 04:28:19 PM EST
    'Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded survived!' is the memory aide.

    I just got done listening to WolF Hall on audiobook. I liked the different twist on the story, from Cromwell's perspective. Makes it much more a political novel.  

    Parent

    I am about half way through reading (none / 0) (#112)
    by oculus on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 04:46:08 PM EST
    "Wolf Hall."  Good read.  Must finish, as Ian McEwan's "Solar" awaits me in the library queue.

    Parent
    She's the first one he had executed. (none / 0) (#103)
    by oculus on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 04:19:18 PM EST
    Katherine of Aragon died of natural causes.

    Parent
    I used to know an adult with 6 fingers (none / 0) (#95)
    by ruffian on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 03:55:53 PM EST
    on each hand. He literally used is as his calling card. His business card had a drawing of a handshake, and you have to look at it closely to see that one of the hands had 6 fingers. I never asked how it was as a kid, but he seemed like the kind of guy who would have made the most of it, and made it cool.

    Kids are always going to find something to make fun of.

    Parent

    If the doc made it through life with (none / 0) (#113)
    by coast on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 05:04:10 PM EST
    those chops, the kid can make it through with six digits.  Wow!

    Parent
    seriously (none / 0) (#114)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 05:22:06 PM EST
    n/t

    Parent
    No more fillings? (none / 0) (#85)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 03:22:55 PM EST
    I knew there was a logical reason (5.00 / 1) (#99)
    by CST on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 04:12:31 PM EST
    I was avoiding the dentist.  Holding out for something better.  I swear I'm not afraid of them...

    Parent
    That's exciting news... (none / 0) (#91)
    by kdog on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 03:42:05 PM EST
    I'd expect the ADA to fight it tooth and nail, like the first commenter in your link...sounds like something you could do yourself at home.

    If nothing else, it might get dentists to lower their prices if there is an alternative to traditional drilling and filling.

    Parent

    Question: do you think it'spossible to (none / 0) (#109)
    by observed on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 04:37:51 PM EST
    survive several hundred attacks from the world's most dangerous animal in one day?
    I am going to find out.
    (Google world's most dangerous animal if you don't know what buzzing menace I'm  referring to).