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Saturday Night Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Sat Jun 04, 2011 at 07:16:15 PM EST
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What's on your mind this weekend? If it's something besides what we've covered, here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

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    Saturday Night Open Thread | 54 comments (54 topical)

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    A Feingold decision by Labor Day (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by Towanda on Sat Jun 04, 2011 at 09:49:59 PM EST
    about running for the open Senate seat in Wisconsin, according to family and friends there.

    If so, he will need a lot of help in fundraising, because the Dems there already are very busy trying to compete with the huge funding from out of state for the record half-dozen GOP legislators facing recall elections only a month away this summer, thanks to their insane GOP governor and legislature.

    And the state Dems' convention this weekend did announce that there definitely will be a recall drive against the governor, too -- and that would be this fall.

    And the protests are heating up again, with the budget debate again in the state Capitol.  Permits were won for a tent city called Walkerville for the governor, alluding to the Hoovervilles across that state when it was hit this hard in the Depression, too.  But at least it had a good Progressive governor then.

    FB pages of family and friends to the north of me are buzzing again with all of this activity again in Wisconsin.  Of course, without Ed Schultz, no other media are noticing the news there.

    Any word there (none / 0) (#47)
    by gyrfalcon on Sun Jun 05, 2011 at 04:49:48 PM EST
    on how those legislator recalls are heading?  Anybody in Wisc. doing any polling on them?


    Parent
    Yes, there is polling (none / 0) (#50)
    by Towanda on Sun Jun 05, 2011 at 06:11:25 PM EST
    say my friends there, who have been called by pollsters as well as robocalled, conference called, and more -- by Republicans pouring in a lot of money from, as I think that I noted, across the country.

    So I suspect that polling has been internal.

    Did you google and find any polls made public?  Then again, the elections next month just were certified about a week ago.  So the state party there, which seems quite incompetent (admittedly, my comparison is to the Chicago Dem machine), probably has scheduled a meeting in about three weeks to think about fundraising for the Dem candidates.

    Parent

    Agree with you (none / 0) (#48)
    by gyrfalcon on Sun Jun 05, 2011 at 04:50:16 PM EST
    And wouldn't your scenario be utterly delicious!

    Parent
    The Radiators Farewell Tour... (5.00 / 1) (#35)
    by kdog on Sun Jun 05, 2011 at 09:02:40 AM EST
    I'm tellin' you guys, you gotta see them.  Mighta been the best show I've ever seen...and I've seen a few.  

    Have you ever found yourself in a euphoric trans-like state from the sound of music alone?  I lost myself several times throughout an epic jammed-out two set extravaganza.  2000 bodies packed tight and undulating as a single entity...what a scene.

    It was a best of times worst of times thing...the best of shows, and I'm the worst because I shoulda been Radiating every year for the past 15 years. Stupid, stupid, stoopid.

    Suck the head, Squeeze the tip while you still can.
       

    Red Faction Origins (none / 0) (#1)
    by Capt Howdy on Sat Jun 04, 2011 at 08:06:53 PM EST
    is on SyFy right now.  we got it screened for us before I was axed.  the general consensus was it was better than we expected.
    not much about the new game (out soon) more about Red Faction Guerrilla.  the first game is worked on.

    havent been around much.  the funny thing is when I am not working and forced to sit in front of a computer hours on end I never find the time to do this.

    Well (none / 0) (#3)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Jun 04, 2011 at 08:25:46 PM EST
    do tell us how you have been doing? We sure have missed you around here!

    Parent
    aww (5.00 / 2) (#5)
    by Capt Howdy on Sat Jun 04, 2011 at 09:20:52 PM EST
    well.  I was terminated on the 14 of april and since then I have been what you might call "busy".
    the good thing is. its mostly over.  I, the dogs and even the big ole tropical fish made it alive and happy and all in one piece.  moving the fish from illinois is a good story.
    its funny.  I am pretty sure it was not their intent but by firing me when they did the company set of an odd sequence of events that led to the possibility of early retirement.  which is not something I was even really all that interested in forget the fact that it was far from a possibility.
    but its a funny thing.  when its in reach the possibility of never working again doesnt look all that bad.
    its a long story but it really all comes down to lucking into one of those "oh-my-god-I_cant-believe-how-screwed-up-the real-estate-market-is" sort of deals.  I was able to buy a property outright (and a pretty damn cool one at that).  happened on it at just the right time and miraculously I actually had access to the cash because of another funny thing which 401k I had sort of forgotten about. (another story)
    anyway.  I can work up even a little resentment against the a$$holes at Volition who did this to me.  or for me.
    its a new dawn.  its a new day.  its a new life.
    and it has a view.
    photos later.

    Parent
    oops (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by Capt Howdy on Sat Jun 04, 2011 at 09:23:59 PM EST
    what I meant was
    I can't work up even a little resentment against the a$$holes at Volition who did this to me.  or for me.

    still cant type.

    Parent

    So glad to hear you've landed on your (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by Anne on Sat Jun 04, 2011 at 09:26:29 PM EST
    feet - so many have not that I think most of us were kind of holding our breaths hoping we would not hear that you were one more casualty in this insane war against the average person.

    Will look forward to more details, but for now, just know that we're all heartily relieved for you!

    Parent

    its weird (5.00 / 3) (#10)
    by Capt Howdy on Sat Jun 04, 2011 at 09:57:32 PM EST
    how things worked out.  the whole thing.  just weird.  I know I am not the norm.  I have found that I need to curb the gushing to others.  it just seems unseemly to go on about how you never planned for squat and suddenly your comfortable retirement is pretty much assured when so many people are in such dire straits.
    the guy I bought this house from was one of them.  but I didnt feel like I was taking advantage of him because the house is his mothers, which he never really cared about and only had been trying to sell for years without success and renting to people who didnt really care about it.  which is sad.  it a very cool property.   the good thing is the amount I paid him for this house was the amount he needed himself to save his property which held his home and business.
    so it worked for everyone.

    Parent
    Resilience & gratitude (none / 0) (#14)
    by christinep on Sat Jun 04, 2011 at 10:12:07 PM EST
    An essential, powerful combo. And, Capt Howdy, you definitely show both qualities. Good, good for you. Nice to see your writing again.

    Parent
    and luck (none / 0) (#15)
    by Capt Howdy on Sat Jun 04, 2011 at 10:19:50 PM EST
    blind stupid luck.  fortune it seems really does favor the foolish

    Parent
    Better to be lucky than good.... (none / 0) (#33)
    by kdog on Sun Jun 05, 2011 at 08:26:38 AM EST
    So happy to hear lady luck shined on you Capt., I've missed the banterings of my fellow degenerate.

    Though I can't say I understand what you're on about with this never working again somehow being a bad or scary thing...we're I'm from we call that dreams coming true.

    I hear people say they'd be bored...I got too many hobbies and interests to ever find early retirement boring...and I suspect you do too.  Sh&t I could read books and listen to records all day for the rest of my life and never get bored.

    There are live to work people and work to live people I guess...I don't get living to work.

    Parent

    I am coming around (none / 0) (#42)
    by Capt Howdy on Sun Jun 05, 2011 at 12:16:45 PM EST
    to your view

    Parent
    Do tell :) (none / 0) (#30)
    by Nemi on Sun Jun 05, 2011 at 06:28:59 AM EST
    moving the fish from illinois is a good story.
    miraculously I actually had access to the cash because of another funny thing which 401k I had sort of forgotten about.


    Parent
    when I filled out the papers (5.00 / 1) (#40)
    by Capt Howdy on Sun Jun 05, 2011 at 12:11:37 PM EST
    when I started the job there I accidentally chose to put twice as much money in the 401k as I intended because I thought it was monthly and it was per paycheck.  I kept meaning to go back and fix it and it was never enough of a problem to cut through everything else so I eventually sort of forgot about it.  and the company did matching contributions.
    so
    when I went to raid the 401k to get the money to move and live till unemployment started I found to my utter amazement that I had almost 80 grand tucked away.  

    SURPRISE!

    Parent

    59.5 (5.00 / 1) (#41)
    by Capt Howdy on Sun Jun 05, 2011 at 12:15:21 PM EST
    this is another surprise at least for me and might come in handy to others here if you dont know about it.  I found out there is this thing called 59.5   (a law, a rule?) that says that when you reach the age of 59.5 you are entitled to a one time withdrawal from your 401k with no penalties or fees.  just tax.
    so I was able to grab enough cash to pay off all my debts, including the car, AND buy this freaking house outright.

    like I said weird.

    oh, and when did this magic date happen for me?
    may 8th.  which happened to be exactly the time I needed it.

    Parent

    fish story (5.00 / 1) (#43)
    by Capt Howdy on Sun Jun 05, 2011 at 12:17:17 PM EST
    another day

    Parent
    Happy to hear that everything is (none / 0) (#32)
    by MO Blue on Sun Jun 05, 2011 at 08:24:49 AM EST
    working out well for you.

    Hope you enjoy your early retirement to the fullest.

    Parent

    Three more days (none / 0) (#9)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Jun 04, 2011 at 09:52:46 PM EST


    Parent
    ha (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by Capt Howdy on Sat Jun 04, 2011 at 09:58:19 PM EST
    still very interested to see how it sells.  interest seems pretty high.  

    Parent
    Several little boys (none / 0) (#12)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Jun 04, 2011 at 10:06:27 PM EST
    and one larger boy pretty excited. There hasn't been much to be excited about though for awhile.

    Parent
    on the subject of the weirdness of it all (5.00 / 3) (#13)
    by Capt Howdy on Sat Jun 04, 2011 at 10:11:45 PM EST
    honestly it can only be explained by referencing Joseph Campbell.  seriously.

    one story.  the lawn mower.
    on the day I was fired.  I had the previous day spent literally my last 500 dollars buying a used John Deer riding lawnmower.  (good price it was in great condition) but the point is on the day I was fired it was the last freaking thing in the world I needed.  all of the good stuff happened in the next few days.  at this point I knew none of it was coming and all I knew was that I had three dollars in my wallet to last until the next pay day because of a lawn mower I needed not at all.  the truth is I had seen this coming on some level for a while. the lawn mower was, I think, and act of defiance and denial.   so driving home from work at about 10 that morning after being escorted off the property and not allowed to even go back to my desk I was thinking, the universe is laughing at me.
    then.
    almost as I had that thought my cell rang.  it was a funny little old man who had gotten my number from the lady I got the mower from who wanted to make sure I wanted to keep it because he really really wanted it.  he came to my house that afternoon and gave me a check for 500 dollars which I took directly to my bank and got some cash back from to buy food.  I am not exaggerating.  it was not, sadly, uncommon for me to spend myself out of money.  there was always food at work.  I had done this before.  

    that miraculous save would, in itself, be a pretty good story.  but that is not the end.

    as I said, over the next few days the good news started coming.  I found the money.  then I found the property and one thing was clear - I was going to need that John Deer even more here.  I have a acre to mow.  I decided I would try to return the old guys money and keep the mower.  but I never got the chance.  
    I never saw him again.
    I called his number many times.  it just rang and rang.
    he simply disappeared off the face of the earth.  he was just some kind of good fairy Joseph Campbell sent.
         

    Parent

    oh (5.00 / 1) (#16)
    by Capt Howdy on Sat Jun 04, 2011 at 10:21:43 PM EST
    he gave me the check and said he would come back the next day for the mower.  

    never saw him again.  but the check cleared and literally saved my a$$

    Parent

    Capt., good to know things are (none / 0) (#21)
    by caseyOR on Sun Jun 05, 2011 at 01:47:05 AM EST
    working out for you. I've been wondering how you are doing. So, you moved out of Illinois. Did you move back to Arkansas? Or have landed in some place you always dreamed of living?


    Parent
    I am back (5.00 / 1) (#29)
    by Capt Howdy on Sun Jun 05, 2011 at 06:10:15 AM EST
    in scenic and beautiful arkansas.

    Parent
    Fascinating exhibit at San Francisco MOMA (none / 0) (#23)
    by caseyOR on Sun Jun 05, 2011 at 01:56:22 AM EST
    Dadler, and anyone else who will be in San Francisco this summer, head to the SF Museum of Modern Art and view the Stein Exhibit. This is the collection of art amassed in the first part of the 20th century by Gertrude Stein and her brothers.

    Their collection is filled with Matisse and Picasso and so many more artists of that time. I have read about Stein's collection, and I've seen photos of her collection, but to see the works in person, wow, that would be amazing. I wish I could get down to SF to see it.

    Exhibit runs from May 21 - Sept. 6. If anyone here goes, please report back.

    Parent

    I have a timed ticket for last Fri. in June. (none / 0) (#38)
    by oculus on Sun Jun 05, 2011 at 11:24:10 AM EST
    There is a companion exhibit at the new Contemporary Jewish Museum in SF.  About the Stein family.  

    Parent
    Music to my ears (none / 0) (#44)
    by sj on Sun Jun 05, 2011 at 12:32:45 PM EST
    and balm to my heart to hear of your almost magical set of circumstances.  I've been so demoralized by the political outlook, and melancholy about missing my folks and my brother.  You have no idea how much your story changed my day, my week and probably the whole month. I am so, so happy that things are working out for you.

    Parent
    heh (none / 0) (#45)
    by Capt Howdy on Sun Jun 05, 2011 at 12:56:39 PM EST
    hey nice to be back in contact.  
    just one other eye roller.  on that day of termination, as I have come to call it along with feeling so much less cool, along with the three bucks in my wallet I had five credit cards.  all over the limit. I was hoping to settle up some of that with the Armageddon bonus due any day at that time that I was (intentionally) screwed out of.

    Parent
    Very odd (none / 0) (#27)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Jun 05, 2011 at 05:44:50 AM EST
    I'm glad you are doing well and everything is working for you.  These are some strange times right now.  My daughter is very upset about the economy and jobs, she has a pattern in head that came from her parents about how all this is supposed to work.  But she doesn't get to play this on the same field that we played on.

    Parent
    I know. (none / 0) (#31)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Jun 05, 2011 at 07:51:44 AM EST
    I have an 18 year old getting ready to figure out what he is going to do with his life. They are going to have a much harder time than even I had.

    Parent
    Casey Anthony Trial (none / 0) (#2)
    by 1980Ford on Sat Jun 04, 2011 at 08:14:03 PM EST
    Anyone else following this? It is amazing to follow the live feed and all the testimony without commercials and compare it to the media reports. CNN, HLN, truTV (all Time Warner) make a killing spinning it.

    No but who is carrying (none / 0) (#19)
    by Jeralyn on Sat Jun 04, 2011 at 11:32:38 PM EST
    the live feed if not the tv networks? Is it the court?

    Parent
    try HLN news now on facebook. (none / 0) (#20)
    by Amiss on Sun Jun 05, 2011 at 01:31:37 AM EST


    Parent
    as a florida resoident (none / 0) (#22)
    by Amiss on Sun Jun 05, 2011 at 01:52:21 AM EST
    well, I have since moved across the state line. It seems ALL of this is and has been recorded and released to networks. Florida I think is the only state that allows the jailhouse tapes released and boy are they damning, at least to me a non-law preofessional.

    Parent
    Agreed, they are damming (none / 0) (#26)
    by 1980Ford on Sun Jun 05, 2011 at 03:40:56 AM EST
    But not proof of first degree murder or even aggravated manslaughter. So far there hasn't been any proof of either in the trial and until there is, she is innocent of those charges.

    Parent
    Is there a lesser included charge (none / 0) (#36)
    by gyrfalcon on Sun Jun 05, 2011 at 09:07:58 AM EST
    in here they could find her guilty of?  It does seem to me there's a pretty good circumstantial case for her involvement somehow in the child's death, but even I don't believe she deliberately killed her and I can't see that the state has any evidence that comes close to proving that she did.

    Parent
    the forensic expert from (none / 0) (#51)
    by Amiss on Mon Jun 06, 2011 at 12:51:52 AM EST
    "the body farm" in Tennessee is to be called tomorrow I believe. He did the air samples with all of the chloroform, that should be quite interesting. And yes, there are quite a few lesser charges other than first degree murder.

    Parent
    It was interesting (none / 0) (#53)
    by 1980Ford on Mon Jun 06, 2011 at 10:43:31 PM EST
    But I suspect he will get bombed when the defense puts on its case in chief.

    Parent
    In Session does (none / 0) (#25)
    by 1980Ford on Sun Jun 05, 2011 at 03:37:21 AM EST
    Which is part of TruTV. It claims to be "gavel to gavel" but cuts away for commercials for about 1/3 of the testimony. So it is necessary to stream the live feed to hear nearly as much as the jury does.

    There is a chance the jury will find her not guilty of the most serious charges. Then many will rant and rave about the injustice when it will because of the false trial by media that didn't respect the law in the first place. As an example, some headlines report the FBI lab witness said the hair was from a decomposing body and from Caylee. That was not her testimony.

    Parent

    I thought i was the only one (none / 0) (#37)
    by loveed on Sun Jun 05, 2011 at 10:17:56 AM EST
    When the media decide the verdict before a jury has been picked, I watch.
    It's scary that a young mother who may have murder ,or it was a accident(if you've been watching the trail there's more evidence of accidental drowning than murder).Can face the death penalty. No previous record.Why is she being charged this way? The media!!!
     I also like to watch the process.And pay close
    attention to the defense case. In these high profile cases you already know the state case (we should be trouble by all the leaks coming from the prosecution).
     Where was her lawyer,during all these interviews?

     Sorry this is so long, just a few things I wanted to get off my chest.
     P.S. Baiz is a terrific lawyer.
     

    Parent

    I think she's been overcharged (none / 0) (#46)
    by gyrfalcon on Sun Jun 05, 2011 at 04:47:59 PM EST
    too, but it's not because of the media, it's because she lied spectacularly and constantly from the get-go to law enforcement.

    Parent
    Is that an excuse to charge her (none / 0) (#54)
    by 1980Ford on Mon Jun 06, 2011 at 10:48:12 PM EST
    with 1st degree murder though? Shouldn't that require solid evidence? Her lies taped on the jail really do look bad, but compare Anthony Wiener and his lies. It is a corrupt way of exercising the right to remain silent, which means the right not to confess. It is of course wrong, but lying doesn't make Wiener a criminal and it doesn't make Casey Anthony a killer.

    Parent
    I actually think the word (none / 0) (#55)
    by gyrfalcon on Mon Jun 06, 2011 at 11:31:30 PM EST
    "overcharged" rather suggests that I don't think it's a good excuse.  But the comment I was replying to was insisting it was done because of the media interest, and that's just BS in this case.

    Also, I would point out that lying for a week about a dirty picture is not even close to being in the same category as lying for three solid years, and continuing to lie, about circumstances surrounding the death of a child.  But you knew that.


    Parent

    Lying isn't the same catagory as lying? (none / 0) (#56)
    by 1980Ford on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 01:15:01 AM EST
    While the degrees of coverups are of course drastically different, they both have their own reasons for lying. Casey Anthony  had more to lose and fear if she thought she would get prison even if an accident. It is terrible that so many helped her when she lied, but that dug her in deeper. So I of course do not mean that their situations are identical but only suggest the psychological dynamics are similar. Wiener should have taken the 5th. Casey Anthony should have too instead of blaming a kidnapper. That does not mean she is guilty of murder, manslaughter or aggravated child abuse though. Plain too is doubling down on the Paul Revere thing. It is evidently not easy to face the media mob.

    Parent
    just saw (none / 0) (#4)
    by CST on Sat Jun 04, 2011 at 09:16:11 PM EST
    Team usa get crushed in a friendly vs spain.  The good news is that's the most people I've ever seen at a soccer game in the states.  Gillette is huge, but that stadium was pretty packed.  Over 60,000 people.

    I think soccer... (none / 0) (#34)
    by kdog on Sun Jun 05, 2011 at 08:38:15 AM EST
    is gonna stick and be here to stay this time.

    MLS is stronger than its ever been, finally found the right markets and are drawing well.  In another couple years NY metro area will have 2 teams...the Cosmos are coming back!  A good friend of mine who is heavily involved in the local youth soccer scene is involved...its gonna be awesome.    

    Greece vs. Ecuador at the stadium formerly known as Shea Tuesday night is gonna be jammed.

    'Bout time we got down with the world's game proper...winning a World Cup in our lifetime doesn't seem impossible anymore.

    Parent

    Although, surprisingly, a recent local poll (none / 0) (#39)
    by oculus on Sun Jun 05, 2011 at 11:27:12 AM EST
    re, if our county added a professional sports franchise, which sport do you vote for, hockey and basketball prevailed.  Soccer was #3.  But both pro games in the last year have garnered full venues:  60,000 each.  Surprising poll results.  

    Parent
    The weather forecast... (none / 0) (#17)
    by desertswine on Sat Jun 04, 2011 at 10:56:57 PM EST
    in my neck of the woods is SMOKE!  There are forest fires in Arizona and the smoke is blowing over here.  It's not so bad so far tonite but the last couple of nights its been real stinky and smokey. Tough times for people with respiratory problems or asthma.  Couldn't even use the swamp coolers because they just blew more smoke into the houses. On top of that, it hasn't rained here (the Albuquerque area)for months. Sheesh.

    And tornadoes in Mass. (5.00 / 1) (#49)
    by gyrfalcon on Sun Jun 05, 2011 at 04:51:58 PM EST
    One of them an EF 4, which is just totally unheard of.

    Parent
    It's drying out in Alabama too (none / 0) (#28)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Jun 05, 2011 at 05:47:56 AM EST
    If we get any fires here we are in some serious dry jungle trouble.

    Parent
    Been going on in S. Ga and NE Fla for (none / 0) (#52)
    by Amiss on Mon Jun 06, 2011 at 12:56:07 AM EST
    a while now. Flames have gotten within 8 miles of us and we live a mile from a Nuclear Sub base,visibility in the am on I95 is supposed to be 1/4 mile.

    Parent
    Saturday Night Open Thread | 54 comments (54 topical)

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