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Monday Night Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Mon Jan 24, 2011 at 09:37:27 PM EST
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The critics hate Harry's Law but viewers are loving it. I like it. Far-fetched? Sure, but so was Ally McBeal and Boston Legal, two of David E. Kelley's other shows. The idea of combining a law office and a designer shoe store in the same space is unlikely to happen in real life, but it sure would be fun.

It's great to have a law show which showcases the human side of defendants and allows the lead character to pontificate against the war on drugs and over-incarceration. It's also very funny and Kathy Bates plays the role perfectly.

It's on tonight, after The Bachelor (you have to change channels though, otherwise you'll end up watching Castle, just another cop show.)

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

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    Monday Night Open Thread | 38 comments (38 topical)

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    I was supposed to be (5.00 / 3) (#1)
    by jeffinalabama on Mon Jan 24, 2011 at 11:08:21 PM EST
    "honored" tonight at a basketball game on campus. Ironically, the PA system didn't work, the AD's photographers didn't show up, and our team lost.

    Oh my, please don't honor me again. I don't know if I could stand it.

    Oh, and the arena, about the size of a high school gym, was LOUD, so I got a headache.

    thank you very much, Jeffinalabama has left the building, ladies and gentlemen...

    Almost 13-yr. old tutoree chose (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by oculus on Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 12:40:33 AM EST
    to read a non-fiction book tonight at tutoring.  And brief me on the plot, detail by detail.  This is good.

    Also, I asked him, what is a Latino/Hispanic.  He sd. he considers himself to be Mexican, as do his friends.  He was born in U.S.  His parents weren't.  Interesting.  We were watching CNN re states attempting to enact AZ-type law.  I asked him what he thought about that.  He sd. he could see both viewpoints!  

    oculus, I've got it! (none / 0) (#3)
    by jeffinalabama on Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 01:37:12 AM EST
    Angel eyes.

    Thank you, Mr. Sinatra.


    Parent

    Sweet. I like it. (none / 0) (#27)
    by oculus on Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 12:19:54 PM EST


    Parent
    Green and Mean (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 09:49:45 AM EST
    Was Genghis Khan history's greenest conqueror?

    Genghis Khan's Mongol invasion in the 13th and 14th centuries was so vast that it may have been the first instance in history of a single culture causing man-made climate change, according to new research out of the Carnegie Institution's Department of Global Ecology, reports Mongabay.com.

    Khan did it the same way he built his empire -- with a high body count.

    Over the course of the century and a half run of the Mongol Empire, about 22 percent of the world's total land area had been conquered and an estimated 40 million people were slaughtered by the horse-driven, bow-wielding hordes. Depopulation over such a large swathe of land meant that countless numbers of cultivated fields eventually returned to forests.
    Castle is NOT just another cop show (none / 0) (#4)
    by NMvoiceofreason on Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 01:48:56 AM EST
    Its romantic.

    They kissed tonight and I got lucky.

    Wife loves it, and so do I. It's not Aaron Sorkin, but what is on TV these days?

    there's a lot better than (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by Jeralyn on Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 03:42:24 AM EST
    Sorkin. I didn't even like West Wing.

    Try Breaking Bad, Justified, Damages (on dvd since it's not renewed as of now). Even the Defenders is good. Harry was great tonight, even better than last week. Weeds, Nurse Jackie, and their new shows, Shameless and Episodes.

    I could care less about two cops who did a mating dance for two years and finally kissed. Castle is as boring to me as the Closer and don't even mention Law and Order, just a terrible show.

    L.A. Law set the gold standard, and while none quite rival it, Breaking Bad is the best of all of them.

    David E. Kelley is a genius. (And for Oculus, you did know he's married to Michelle Pfiefer, didn't you?)

    I'd love to do a cartel show, from the side of the cartel members. Or a lawyer reality show, I have some good ideas. But till then, we have what we have, and Harry's is the first show to be able to get the message across in courtroom cenes that are so far-fetched you just want to applaud.

    Parent

    oscar nominations are out (none / 0) (#6)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 09:01:54 AM EST
    just saw Winters Bone. of the ones nomimated that is my pick so far. great movie.  Inception would be next for me.

    Suplex the bastards! (none / 0) (#7)
    by kdog on Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 09:07:13 AM EST
    Jesse "The Body" Ventura goes to the mat for us against the DHS/TSA.

    This laymen certainly calls it a gross violation of the 4th...hopefully the court agrees.

    I ain't got time to bleed, go Jesse! (none / 0) (#8)
    by republicratitarian on Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 09:14:27 AM EST


    Parent
    Feel bad to wish it on him.... (none / 0) (#9)
    by kdog on Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 09:30:41 AM EST
    but Jesse should go for it and run for pres in '12...he's got appeal to freedom lovers across the political spectrum, and his voice in defense of liberty is sorely needed.

    But I can't say I blame him...who needs the hassle ya know? Only psychopaths want the job.

    Parent

    you have heard of Cow and Chicken? (none / 0) (#10)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 09:45:50 AM EST
    how about goose and bull?

    Goose, Highland bull together 10 years

    "Then two weeks after its mate was killed, Hamish was born. I can remember the goose lying in the paw of the calf and they've been mates ever since."

    The goose is Hamish's constant shadow and has a bit of the green-eyed monster in her.

    "They just hang out together. The goose normally keeps the other animals away from Hamish - she is exceptionally jealous.  
    Cute, but this quote got me grinning (none / 0) (#15)
    by republicratitarian on Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 10:08:16 AM EST
    No one was talking after the incident but Mr Weytmans thinks it might have been one of the emus


    Parent
    Speaking of livestock... (none / 0) (#19)
    by kdog on Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 10:28:17 AM EST
    what are all the people raising alpacas for the tax break gonna do if the man takes away the tax break from "ranchers for tax purposes only"?
    Will there be packs of 'em roaming the streets?  

    I find that whole story very amusing...a tangled web of deception and hustle, the tax code is.

    Parent

    what the heck (none / 0) (#22)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 11:14:59 AM EST
    the animals used to be in the same area - there were geese, Highland cattle, 10 emus, a pig, 10 deer and two cattle beasts
    .

    is a "cattle beast"

    Parent

    I don't know... (none / 0) (#23)
    by kdog on Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 11:16:54 AM EST
    but it sounds delicous.

    Parent
    maybe thats (none / 0) (#25)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 11:19:40 AM EST
    what taco bell is made from.

    Parent
    Not for nothing... (none / 0) (#12)
    by kdog on Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 09:49:52 AM EST
    this lawsuit isn't gonna tell all the Taco Bell customers something they didn't already know...of course it is quasi-beef, and we like it!

    Talk about suing to state the obvious...

    man (none / 0) (#13)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 09:54:17 AM EST
    you gotta think outside the cow

    Parent
    The End of Credit Cards? (none / 0) (#14)
    by kdog on Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 10:06:47 AM EST
    Don't get too excited...only to be replaced by the "smart phone", the latest oxymoron to hit the vernacular.

    How anyone could sleep at night surrendering their economic sovereignty to banksters and hackable gadgets is beyond me...my mattress feels like Fort Knox in comparison.

    What's your address? :) (none / 0) (#16)
    by republicratitarian on Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 10:09:06 AM EST


    Parent
    Let me borrow your phone... (none / 0) (#17)
    by kdog on Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 10:16:23 AM EST
    and I'll tell ya:)

    Parent
    Touché my friend :) (none / 0) (#18)
    by republicratitarian on Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 10:18:38 AM EST


    Parent
    Harry's Law (none / 0) (#20)
    by jbindc on Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 10:34:03 AM EST
    Fun, but so outrageous with so many things that would NEVER happen.  I love Kathy Bates and Brittany Snow, so I'll keep watching for the humor aspect.

    Anyone following the situation (none / 0) (#21)
    by CST on Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 11:14:54 AM EST
    in Egypt/Tunisia/Middle East?

    I dunno about anyone else, but I always wondered about the Bush plan to "bring Democracy to the middle east".  What happens when that Democracy is toppling your ally?  What happens if this spreads, to say, Saudi Arabia (not that I think it will).

    I just hope the U.S. government stays out of this as much as possible.  Although we may find that we reap what we sow.  New Democratic regimes that don't like us very much.

    Something tells me stories like this make all leaders uneasy.  Whether they are autocratic or not.

    Somewhat following... (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by kdog on Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 11:27:30 AM EST
    the self-immolation protests that sparked it all...people so desperate and defeated they light themselves on fire...damn.

    I too hope we stay out of it and leave people to determine their own future and form their own countries in their own image.  

    And I never bought we wanted any democracy anywhere, it's just a bogus selling point for US meddling...we want governments friendly to our interests, by hook or by crook...democracy, monarchy, authoritarian dictatorships...whatever works for the ruling classes.

    Parent

    Saw self-immolation, both here and (none / 0) (#28)
    by caseyOR on Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 02:10:22 PM EST
    in VietNam during that war. Buddhist monks and nuns set themselves on fire in South VietNam. The first one I remember was a monk who was protesting President Diem's treatment of Buddhists (Diem was Catholic.) Later, Buddhist monks and nuns set themselves afire to protest the war.

    Here in the U.S. in 1965, a Quaker by the name of Morrison set himself on fire outside of Defense Secretary Robert McNamara's Pentagon office.

    It strikes me as an act of desperation, undertaken when it seems that all other avenues have failed.

    Parent

    And does it work? (none / 0) (#29)
    by jbindc on Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 02:13:20 PM EST
    People say "how tragic" and then move on. Does it really get results?

    Parent
    It did in Tunisia (none / 0) (#30)
    by CST on Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 02:14:49 PM EST
    TBD as to whether it works in Egypt or not.

    Parent
    Tunisia (none / 0) (#31)
    by jbindc on Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 02:17:05 PM EST
    short term results.  Long term / real reform - we'll see.

    Parent
    It certainly got results (none / 0) (#32)
    by CST on Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 02:22:30 PM EST
    whether those results pan out in the long term or not is a seperate issue.

    But people did not simply shrug and move on.  Obviously it will take more than burning yourself to get a functional government running.  But if the purpose is to garner enough attention to affect change, than that has been accomplished.

    Parent

    Then I will refine my question (none / 0) (#33)
    by jbindc on Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 02:32:00 PM EST
    Has self immolation ever led to long term sustainable change?

    As it is, the new Tunisian government, while backed by the US, is hanging on by a thread right now.

    Parent

    who knows (none / 0) (#37)
    by CST on Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 03:53:22 PM EST
    if it will or won't.  One flaw is that the self-immolater isn't around to find out or make it happen.  That being said, I think it's more of a personal act of desperation than anything else, so it "worked" for that person, in that they got out...

    In any event, I wouldn't say there is any specific tried and true method of overthrowing your government.  No matter what you do to topple the government, all long term sustainable change depends more on what you do to build a new one.  That being said, you usually have to topple the old one before you can build a new one.  Not always, but usually.

    Parent

    And strange to say... (none / 0) (#34)
    by kdog on Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 03:04:39 PM EST
    much better than the usual acts of the desperate...committing violent acts against others.

    Parent
    I asked the question in the run (none / 0) (#24)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 11:18:43 AM EST
    up to the war in Iraq.  "we are going to make it a democracy!!"
    ok, I said.  what happens when they elect a bunch of religious nutbags who hate us?

    I was dismissed as being negative.


    Parent

    `The Sunset Limited' (none / 0) (#35)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 03:39:50 PM EST
    Full Trailer for HBO's Cormac McCarthy Adaptation `The Sunset Limited'

    this sounds pretty amazing:

    The Sunset Limited takes place entirely in the subway tenement apartment of the ex-con, Black, who has forcibly prevented the college professor, White, from casting himself in the path of an on-rushing subway train. Over the course of several hours, while the subway trains rumble ominously, Black keeps White a virtual prisoner in his apartment while he probes the roots of White's suicidal depression and tries to convince him that life is worth living, that the antidote to despair is communion with God and with one's brothers and sisters, that the Divine principle shimmers in all. Black is no stranger to the violence of human nature. He has been convicted of murder, and he was nearly murdered himself in a knife fight in prison. But lying near death he heard God speak to him in a vision, and he has lived the rest of his life in service to the thieves and junkies of his nether world, hoping to hear the voice of God again.
    left out (none / 0) (#36)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 03:40:40 PM EST
    Tommy Lee Jones directs and plays White, with Samuel L. Jackson as Black. I love the idea of these two actors going toe to toe in one room for the duration of a feature


    Parent
    Pawlenty 2012 (none / 0) (#38)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 04:04:19 PM EST
    The motion picture event of a lifetime

    Seriously, when was the last time there was a gap this large between the excitement of a campaign ad and the excitement of the campaign it's advertising? (I know, technically it's for his book, but c'mon.) It's like watching Dukakis wrestle a bear.

    it is pretty hilarious.

    Monday Night Open Thread | 38 comments (38 topical)

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