home

Thursday Night Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Thu Jan 13, 2011 at 09:48:34 PM EST
Tags: (all tags)
Share This: Digg! StumbleUpon del.icio.us reddit reddit

I'm just catching up with the news today. Here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

< Tom DeLay's Lawyer Confident of Appeal Outcome | Jon Stewart on the Tucson Memorial Service >

  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


    • Display: Sort:
    Thursday Night Open Thread | 30 comments (30 topical)

    Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

    Current Odds (none / 0) (#1)
    by CoralGables on Thu Jan 13, 2011 at 09:59:23 PM EST
    to win the BCS Championship next season.

    Notable by their absence, Auburn who just lost their QB to the NFL.

    Top 10
    Oklahoma 7/2
    Alabama 15/2
    Florida State 10/1
    Boise State 12/1
    LSU 12/1
    Oregon 14/1
    Florida 15/1
    Nebraska 18/1
    Penn State 20/1
    TCU 20/1

    Perhaps he has. Perhaps he has not. (none / 0) (#3)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu Jan 13, 2011 at 10:53:50 PM EST
    But have you never heard of the $100 handshake???

    It is a joke and a shame that coaches and schools get rich of the efforts of kids. Many of these kids will never make it to the pros. Many will not even get their degree. And many will be injured for life.

    Surely the schools could pay the players a modest $15K a year in addition to their scholarship.

    I think we need a union. A union that could protect the rights of the players.

    Parent

    No, we need a disunion (none / 0) (#4)
    by Towanda on Thu Jan 13, 2011 at 11:57:26 PM EST
    of schools and, effectively, farm teams for pro teams.  

    This week, we are seeing widespread, misinformed, and downright uneducated discussion of yet more that schools are to do; now they apparently are to determine who ought to be committed to mental institutions.  (That is, misinformed and uneducated discussion for the lack of knowledge of the relevant federal law that governs educational institutions, even a lack of curiousity as to whether there just might be such a law.)  

    Well, that might solve the overenrollments in this economy, with too little funding already for educational institutions to, um, educate.

    So free up the funding for students who want to be in college and could succeed without the insane demands upon some college athletes, constantly removed from classes to entertain us  many miles and many days away from their classrooms.  Free the athletes who don't want to be there to go straight to pro sports -- or, if the pro teams want their players to have a few years of training, let the pro teams pay the bills for farm teams.  Some sports do so.  

    All ought to do so and stop perverting the purpose of education and the possibility for students to actually get an education.  Good grades and graduation come from going to classes and to the library and the like, not from going to visiting teams' locker rooms.

    Parent

    I do think very student should have the (none / 0) (#5)
    by oculus on Fri Jan 14, 2011 at 12:21:33 AM EST
    opportunity to excel in weight lifting and Pilates for college credit.

    Parent
    What have you got against (none / 0) (#6)
    by Towanda on Fri Jan 14, 2011 at 12:41:11 AM EST
    ping pong?

    Pilates, weight-lifting, ping pong, bowling, etc., all for only a few to several thousand dollars more than a membership at a local fitness center.

    Parent

    Not a thing. I signed up for a sitar/tabla (none / 0) (#8)
    by oculus on Fri Jan 14, 2011 at 12:46:26 AM EST
    performance class until I figured out it would cost me over $600.  Must be a better and cheaper way.

    Parent
    I hope you find (none / 0) (#9)
    by Towanda on Fri Jan 14, 2011 at 12:59:09 AM EST
    a discounted membership fee for your local sitar fitness center!

    Yes, I looked at piano lessons at a local college, very costly per credit.  And I'm not looking for a  music degree.  It turns out that a lot of the same teachers do private lessons for a lot less, not for credit but for just, well, learning to play piano.

    Parent

    Community college has class piano (none / 0) (#10)
    by oculus on Fri Jan 14, 2011 at 01:27:17 AM EST
    here for minimal cost.

    Parent
    Politics and change is the art of (none / 0) (#12)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Jan 14, 2011 at 09:08:46 AM EST
    the possible (has been said).

    You might get a union to protect the players. That's just basic fairness.

    You won't get the change you refer to.

    BTW - I don't get the "free up funding." Should we start paying for K through 18? 19?

    Parent

    That would make us (none / 0) (#13)
    by Harry Saxon on Fri Jan 14, 2011 at 09:34:20 AM EST
    like those Socialistic Hellholes like, Germany, England, ect.  and we can't have that.

    Parent
    And do we get the riots (none / 0) (#15)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Jan 14, 2011 at 10:57:05 AM EST
    when we increase tuition??

    Parent
    I dunno (none / 0) (#16)
    by Harry Saxon on Fri Jan 14, 2011 at 11:12:47 AM EST
    we haven't had any yet in CA, despite the draconian cuts that have led to some unrest in a few cities.

    I'm sure you can find news articles about them from last year using Google if you are so inclined to do so.

    I doubt that any members of the Bohemian Club lose any sleep over possible student riots, but I can check if you'd like me to.

    OTOH, we have the current governor who can actually read the budget numbers in English, so don't give up on the Best Coast yet. ;-)

    Parent

    Perhaps you haven't been (none / 0) (#17)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Jan 14, 2011 at 11:20:58 AM EST
    watching the news from England.

    Parent
    I already heard about them (none / 0) (#18)
    by Harry Saxon on Fri Jan 14, 2011 at 11:50:39 AM EST
    but thanks for fulfilling my MDR of received snark today.

    `

    Parent

    You did get campus "riots" (none / 0) (#23)
    by Towanda on Fri Jan 14, 2011 at 03:00:05 PM EST
    and widespread other tuition protests last spring in California, more than in any other state, and I read that the planning is going on now for more this spring.  I saw/read a lot of coverage last year of the campus tuition protests in your state.  Perhaps see "education rights campaign."

    Parent
    Yes, they were really scary: (none / 0) (#24)
    by Harry Saxon on Fri Jan 14, 2011 at 03:39:22 PM EST
    From usnews(dot)com

    The rioters and protesters have clashed with police, resulting in arrests, according to two Daily Californian reports. Five students were arrested Monday during the UC Student Association's annual lobbying day in Sacramento. Police arrested two people off campus during riots in Berkeley early Friday morning.

    On campus on Monday, roughly 200 people silently demonstrated to draw attention to racial tensions at Berkeley and across the UC system, the Daily Californian reports. The students sat in front of Berkeley's Sather Gate before moving to California Hall to deliver a letter intended for UC-Berkeley President Robert Birgeneau. (Birgeneau wasn't on campus.)

    Such is the state of affairs at UC-Berkeley, where it seems distress is at an all-time high. The Daily Californian's editorial board writes about the tensions on campus in its March 2 editorial.

    The state of California has been dealing with countless protests--some peaceful, some violent, some destructive--since the state's university system raised fees 32 percent and slashed education funding. It only adds to the pressure Berkeley is already feeling when students are upset about perceptions of racial discrimination at schools within the UC system.

    Click or ignore Me

    Unrest would be a better term than riot, but that's the SCLWM  for you..................


    Parent

    Thus, my use (none / 0) (#25)
    by Towanda on Fri Jan 14, 2011 at 04:59:37 PM EST
    of quotation marks.

    Parent
    The last riot in the Bay Area had (none / 0) (#26)
    by Harry Saxon on Fri Jan 14, 2011 at 05:42:46 PM EST
    nothing to do with education, and really was a riot, no quotes necessary:

    The front page of the San Francisco Chronicle's website said city streets were full of "joyful mayhem" Monday night and Tuesday morning in the hours after the Giants won Game 5 of the World Series.

    Joyful mayhem is a euphemism for riots.

    Among the fires, attempted looting and general madness, here is shocking video from KTVU of a mob attacking a car, even pulling people from the car and beating them until riot police closed in -- after several frightening minutes pass.

    Click or Ignore Me

    Parent

    I've said the same thing before (none / 0) (#20)
    by republicratitarian on Fri Jan 14, 2011 at 12:55:32 PM EST
    Between the money the schools make going to bowl games and endorsements, put a significant percentage aside for when the student in no longer at the school, whether they graduate or not. Think of how much money there is in merchandising a popular jersey like Cam Newton or Tim Teebow. Those kids don't see a dime, but it's their name on the back of the jersey. If they play well, it sells more. Incentive to play better lol.


    Parent
    I don't see Michigan on that list. But (none / 0) (#7)
    by oculus on Fri Jan 14, 2011 at 12:45:20 AM EST
    my usually well-informed source tells me Hoke is the very best choice to coach the Wolverines, even though Hoke was never a U of M student.  Hope my friend is correct.

    Parent
    The Corn & Blue (none / 0) (#14)
    by CoralGables on Fri Jan 14, 2011 at 09:34:44 AM EST
    comes in at 30th on the list at 75-1

    Parent
    That, Madam, is an insult! (none / 0) (#19)
    by oculus on Fri Jan 14, 2011 at 12:29:58 PM EST


    Parent
    I'm (none / 0) (#22)
    by CoralGables on Fri Jan 14, 2011 at 01:08:28 PM EST
    a-maize-d that you might be offended. You can find your 75-1 at Bodog. With a little BTD style internet shopping you could probably find 80-1.

    Get your bet down early and avoid the last minute rush. The game will be Jan 9, 2012 in New Orleans.

    Parent

    Bet the farm, oculus! (none / 0) (#27)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Fri Jan 14, 2011 at 07:11:23 PM EST
    You could afford that swank NYC condo if you win.  

    BTW, me thinks your "well informed" friend is just a touch deluded re the new coach.  Or engaged in a little wishful thinking...

    Parent

    He thinks Miles is ethically challenged. (none / 0) (#28)
    by oculus on Fri Jan 14, 2011 at 07:33:26 PM EST
    I did mention I'd heard U of M was wrapped lightly on the knuckles for unauthorized football practices.  I was ragging Coral Gables by that "corn" dirty shot.

    Parent
    And I'm saying 75-1 odds... (none / 0) (#29)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Fri Jan 14, 2011 at 08:01:21 PM EST
    ...are too good to pass by if you're a true fan of the Corn and Blue!  

    You could probably count the number of squeaky clean programs on one hand.  After all, we're talking millions and millions of dollars for both the programs and the coaches and job security for the coaches and AD's.  Not to mention college kids going what college kids do (stupid things like stealing laptops, using drugs, drinking too much, thinking they're invincible and the like).  Human nature is hard to overcome--rules are going to be stretched and tested.

    I'll give RichRod one thing--this is a pretty classy thing to do.

    Parent

    Oh, jeeze, maybe that lot includes (none / 0) (#30)
    by oculus on Fri Jan 14, 2011 at 08:15:30 PM EST
    a blue t shirt w/a maize HAIL.

    Parent
    Perhaps. Collector's item? (5.00 / 1) (#31)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Fri Jan 14, 2011 at 08:26:53 PM EST
    I've changed my mind on Hoke.

    On what he plans to do to quickly change the culture of toughness at Michigan:
    "Well it's all going to start with what we do in the winter and our winter conditioning program and the competitions that we like to do, and just how you handle it. I think there's a lot to do with just the mental things, having your shirt tucked in, the little things like taking care of the locker room, the little things that emphasize all the things that you need to do. It's a mentality, and it's a demeanor that we want to have as a football program."

    My gawd, if they're going to tuck in their shirts, what chance do the rest of us have?!  Book that ticket to Indianapolis now.

    Parent

    NYT profile of Judge Larry Burns, who (none / 0) (#11)
    by oculus on Fri Jan 14, 2011 at 01:28:29 AM EST
    will preside of Loughner's federal criminal trial:  link

    Remember that article (none / 0) (#21)
    by CST on Fri Jan 14, 2011 at 01:06:13 PM EST
    on parenting that the WSJ printed?  Interview with the author here.

    Turns out it was a "rough draft" in the parenting sense.  Link

    "With my first daughter, Sophia. things went very smoothly, and I think I got a little cocky and I thought, 'Parenting is easy.' Then my second daughter, Lulu, came along; she's a real fireball and I got my comeuppance."

    "I'm not saying that the Chinese way is the best approach and that it's for everybody. At the end, I wondered if a hybrid approach is better"

    Not surprised it was the younger child who blew this mindset up.  We tend to get our way :)

    Thursday Night Open Thread | 30 comments (30 topical)

    Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment