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Friday Night Open Thread

The 9/11 Concert for New York City was one of the best concerts ever. It also raised over $35 million. VH-1 will be replaying it on 9/11 from 4 to 10 pm and streaming it on the internet at the same time.

Here's a great 8 minute performance of "Little Pink Houses" by John Mellencamp, joined by Kid Rock around the 6 minute mark. Also don't miss the incredible violinist, particularly around the 5 minute mark. Really stellar.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

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  • Display: Sort:
    Hoping the "incredible violinist" is (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by oculus on Fri Sep 09, 2011 at 10:02:19 PM EST
    identified.  

    Miriam Sturm, I'm pretty sure (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by Edger on Fri Sep 09, 2011 at 10:36:42 PM EST
    Picture and bio of her (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by Edger on Fri Sep 09, 2011 at 10:39:19 PM EST
    I must have heard her play in "Grapes (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by oculus on Fri Sep 09, 2011 at 11:08:12 PM EST
    of Wrath."  

    Parent
    PA is covered in water (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by lilburro on Fri Sep 09, 2011 at 10:35:00 PM EST
    tried to drive from New York to Chicago these past few days (in Indiana right now).  Could not get across the state on 80 W due to the Susquehanna flooding at a level unseen for 40 years.  They shut down the turnpike from PA to Harrisburg Thursday.  Sorry if I'm repeating stuff you all already know, I haven't had internet since I left.  Anyway, I've never seen anything like it.  From Binghamton, NY down to Harrisburg, there is a giant barrier of water that only has/had a few crossing points.  Lost about six hours to the storm but that's nothing compared to those who live there.

    Wonder how my brother is faring. (none / 0) (#11)
    by oculus on Fri Sep 09, 2011 at 11:09:28 PM EST
    SW to just west of Chicago.  Glad he's driving, not biking, this trip.

    Parent
    I hope/think he will be okay (none / 0) (#12)
    by lilburro on Fri Sep 09, 2011 at 11:16:59 PM EST
    at least as far as Tropical Storm Lee goes - Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois seem mostly out of the flooding.

    Parent
    He arrived home at 3 p.m. Friday. No problems. (5.00 / 1) (#29)
    by oculus on Sat Sep 10, 2011 at 12:10:48 PM EST
    Ah - and this being TL (none / 0) (#13)
    by lilburro on Fri Sep 09, 2011 at 11:18:18 PM EST
    I posted that (but didn't get a chance to finish it) as a lead up to saying...I could not watch Obama's speech but for the most part I was greatly impressed by it, and the fighting tone is a godsend!  Depending on what "paying for it" entails, this is a guy I would enthusiastically fight for in 2012.

    Parent
    Appletini taste off this afternoon (5.00 / 2) (#20)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Sep 10, 2011 at 09:13:11 AM EST
    I have my cut up granny smiths infusing, I have my Apple pucker schnapps, my Finest Call appletini mix because I like their margarita mix but add fresh lime juice or Rosas depending on how hard I want to work, my simple syrup, and my sparkling apple cider.  I'm going to puree the apples that are infusing too and try some of that too.  We have six willing participants, should be a real mess.

    Do let us know how this turns out. (5.00 / 2) (#31)
    by oculus on Sat Sep 10, 2011 at 12:13:51 PM EST
    Preferably while you are still under the influence.

    Parent
    Tragedy of 9/11 continues (5.00 / 2) (#28)
    by MO Blue on Sat Sep 10, 2011 at 11:58:49 AM EST
    Ten Years On, Sick Ground Zero Workers Still Without Proper Care

    This weekend, the public will mourn a site of loss, recasting the painful memories and haunting fears that still hover over the aftermath at Ground Zero. But the people who worked and breathed that tragedy in the days and months following September 11 won't be at the primary commemoration ceremony for the families of victims. The Mayor's decision to limit the attendees by excluding the 9/11 first responders is an unnerving metaphor for an unhealed scar of 9/11. Many of the rescue and recovery workers who labored at Ground Zero have been plagued by a metastasizing medical crisis, aggravated by chronic political failure.



    Kind of a political miscue by the mayor, no? (none / 0) (#32)
    by oculus on Sat Sep 10, 2011 at 12:15:28 PM EST
    And,no religious leaders--too contentious, I gather.  

    Parent
    I agree with the mayor (none / 0) (#37)
    by loveed on Sat Sep 10, 2011 at 02:53:21 PM EST
    Religion to me is personal.
      Church is the place to gather,to share religious idea's.

     They would fight about who goes first. Do the Catholics go before the Jews? How much time each group gets? How many groups? Who would choose the groups?

    We would be a better country if we remember, freedom of religion


    Parent

    I think including Islam would be (none / 0) (#38)
    by oculus on Sat Sep 10, 2011 at 03:34:11 PM EST
    the point of contention re religion.  BUt why not the first responders?

    Parent
    perhaps because (5.00 / 2) (#39)
    by The Addams Family on Sat Sep 10, 2011 at 03:42:08 PM EST
    the first responders were the heroes & would necessarily upstage the craven hacks & ghouls who want to suck perpetually on the 9/11 glory t!t

    they also tend to belong to unions - can't have that front & center in this time of "austerity" & "sacrifice"

    Parent

    Not to mention the fact that (5.00 / 2) (#40)
    by MO Blue on Sat Sep 10, 2011 at 03:55:19 PM EST
    their appearance might remind people of how badly they have been treated after their initial sacrifice.

    Parent
    Much as I hate to (none / 0) (#43)
    by gyrfalcon on Sat Sep 10, 2011 at 10:06:28 PM EST
    interrupt this orgy of victimization and resentment, it's undoubtedly because of space limitations.  Just think of the numbers involved her.

    That said, I think it's an awful decision.  There should have at least been some kind of ticket lottery or something.

    Parent

    It was an awful decision (5.00 / 1) (#46)
    by MO Blue on Sun Sep 11, 2011 at 08:18:01 AM EST
    but people who point that out are having an orgy of victimization and resentment? Seems like pretzel logic to me but okay it did allow you to use your catchy little phrase.

    First and foremost I was not the one victimized but IMO the first responders sure were. Here is a little more to go along with my orgy:

    The outrage among Ground Zero emergency responders and volunteers is stoked by the belief--recently affirmed by a ProPublica investigation--that the government failed utterly to warn people in the area about the risks of the pollution, or to implement essential safety measures for workers at the site, like enforcing rules about protective gear.

    Many of the rescue and recovery workers who labored at Ground Zero have been plagued by a metastasizing medical crisis, aggravated by chronic political failure.

    For years, researchers have been uncovering fresh evidence of widespread and devastating illnesses afflicting a large portion of people exposed to the aftermath; ongoing health issues range from crippling lung and breathing problems to post-traumatic stress disorder. But adequate funding for 9/11 workers has often been ensnared in political gridlock, not to mention the general incompetence of the healthcare system.

    Cancer treatment has been specifically excluded from federal health funding, with officials arguing there has been insufficient evidence to prove any direct link between the toxins present at the site and the disease.

    But last week the results of the first large-scale study, published in the Lancet, found that firefighters who were involved on the day of the attacks and in the weeks that followed had a 19 percent higher risk of contracting cancer.

    The study looked at 9,800 male firefighters, comparing those present during and after the attacks with those who were not involved. link
     

    No victims there I guess. No need to resent how much money has been spent on useless equipment, for politically motivated terror alerts to keep people afraid so that more money can be funneled to political cronies or on dropping more "freedom bombs" but once again the government does not have money to adequately provide compensation for the "hero" of 911. Heroes of 911 in 2001 but discarded in 2011.

    But what the heck gyrfalcon can exhibit what a clever little person he/she is with a catchy little phrase. Bet that soon will rank right up there with purity trolls. Hecka a job.    

    Parent

    Oh, come on (none / 0) (#47)
    by gyrfalcon on Sun Sep 11, 2011 at 08:49:51 AM EST
    You know very well what I'm talking about, and it has nothing to do with terror alerts or cancer treatment or any of that stuff, simply the idea that those mean old city and memorial officials have excluded first responders from the memorial ceremonies out of some kind of uncaring, heartless, I don't know what, class distinction or something, I guess.

    God knows there are enough real things to be resentful of, and enough real things to feel victimized by, such as the very things you mention.

    But when it gets to the point of seeing it in the simple logistics of a crowd scene, it's become entirely senseless.

    It's a Limbaugh/Beck/Tea Party-like mindset, is what it is, only with slightly different targets.


    Parent

    That is the same argument you (5.00 / 1) (#48)
    by MO Blue on Sun Sep 11, 2011 at 09:31:47 AM EST
    forth when people were talking about Obama's  assaults on the safety net programs. According to you we had the same kind of senseless mind set then too because no one was ever, ever going to touch the safety net programs. How is that working out for you now?

    The politicians had absolutely no problem finding room for the first responders when they wanted to use them for political purposes. But now you are trying to convince everyone that there was absolutely no space available to have representatives from the first responders included in the program. Sorry, I'm not buying it. The first responders are in a major battle with the government over their treatment. So yes I do think it was a calculated decision to exclude them and not allow them any change of additional exposure or for air time to promote their cause.

    Your little "Limbaugh/Beck/Tea Party-like mindset" is not quite as clever or as original as your previous little discounting phrase but it falls in the same category.

    Parent

    Can I steal this line? (none / 0) (#44)
    by CoralGables on Sat Sep 10, 2011 at 10:19:48 PM EST
    "orgy of victimization and resentment" and place it in my file along with Jeralyn's "guilt colored lenses" for future use?

    Parent
    I'm so embarassed by this (none / 0) (#45)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Sep 11, 2011 at 08:14:17 AM EST
    At least... (none / 0) (#2)
    by desertswine on Fri Sep 09, 2011 at 09:41:16 PM EST
    he wasnt in a Gumby costume.  The clerk didn't even know who Gumby was.

    Seriously (none / 0) (#3)
    by Dadler on Fri Sep 09, 2011 at 09:44:25 PM EST
    Honolulu at least he could blend in on Waikiki a little, but Kauai???  Guy might as well have tried to do it on Pitcairn.

    I spent the evening cleaning up (none / 0) (#4)
    by andgarden on Fri Sep 09, 2011 at 09:53:54 PM EST
    cruft on my Mac. The whole thing had basically ground to a halt, and I was worried about my hard disk. Turns out that Safari had built up a page image database in the thousands (plus I had lots of fragmentation).

    I think I will have banished the dreaded beachball for the most part now.

    Twirling beachballs (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by CoralGables on Fri Sep 09, 2011 at 10:08:45 PM EST
    should be reserved for Jimmy Buffett concerts. They are not a pleasure on a monitor.

    Parent
    I love the island. (none / 0) (#14)
    by easilydistracted on Sat Sep 10, 2011 at 12:53:04 AM EST
    Laid-back as you say, but that's what makes it great. The islanders treat you like extended family. Spent two days hiking/camping the Kalahau Trail on the Na Pali Coast several years ago: an adventure I'll never forget.

    Two interesting billboards (none / 0) (#15)
    by easilydistracted on Sat Sep 10, 2011 at 01:23:29 AM EST
    observed on my trip to Austin this past weekend.
    This one
    and
    this one

    I like to have in interesting life (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Sep 10, 2011 at 09:13:51 AM EST
    Texas is nothing if not interesting

    Parent
    The Obama billboard (5.00 / 3) (#22)
    by BBQinDenver on Sat Sep 10, 2011 at 09:17:49 AM EST
    is an insult to Socialists everywhere.  If only it were true...

    Parent
    As if (none / 0) (#23)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Sep 10, 2011 at 09:38:32 AM EST
    people in the country didn't already have a low opinion of Texas...

    Parent
    There's a few of us here (none / 0) (#27)
    by easilydistracted on Sat Sep 10, 2011 at 10:50:04 AM EST
    working hard to alter that general perception and opinion you reference -- I'm just not one of them.

    Parent
    President Obama declares Texas (none / 0) (#30)
    by oculus on Sat Sep 10, 2011 at 12:11:47 PM EST
    a disaster.  

    Parent
    People living in glass houses (none / 0) (#33)
    by Politalkix on Sat Sep 10, 2011 at 12:37:58 PM EST
    should not be throwing stones :-). Like Austin and San Antonio in Texas and Atlanta in Georgia though....

    Parent
    Well (none / 0) (#34)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Sep 10, 2011 at 01:42:05 PM EST
    when Georgia produces the equivalent of George Bush...oh, wait we did produce a President that wasn't very good. I guess I'll have to take that back.

    Parent
    Ha Ha (none / 0) (#35)
    by Politalkix on Sat Sep 10, 2011 at 01:58:01 PM EST
    LBJ was also from Texas (good domestic policies, rotten foreign policies). And really, who cares what you think about President Carter! He will always be one of the most respected Presidents to me-a very intelligent and decent human being who was ahead of his times but probably not very skilled in the ways of petty DC politics. The country has been worse off for not reelecting him.

    Parent
    You (5.00 / 2) (#36)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Sep 10, 2011 at 02:47:18 PM EST
    obviously aren't old enough to remember the Carter Administration is all I can say.

    Parent
    "Intelligent and decent"? (5.00 / 1) (#41)
    by Yman on Sat Sep 10, 2011 at 05:30:46 PM EST
    Maybee.  But people also want competence.

    Probably why Obama's approval levels are headed toward Carter's ...

    Parent

    The good news ... (none / 0) (#42)
    by Yman on Sat Sep 10, 2011 at 05:34:32 PM EST
    While Carter only managed to tie GWB with a 34% EOT approval rating, he beat Johnson by 2% and Nixon handily.

    Parent
    Harsh Don... (none / 0) (#19)
    by kdog on Sat Sep 10, 2011 at 07:47:46 AM EST
    at least he's trying, nice try dude:)  

    By all rights we should all get a free weeks vacation in Hawaii on the banks. Think of it as attempted asset forfeiture...DEA does it all the time nobody bats an eye.

    NO (none / 0) (#24)
    by loveed on Sat Sep 10, 2011 at 10:01:35 AM EST
    I followed this case.

     This case and the Scott Peterson, have kept me up a night. I still pray for Scott.

     I remember his family and neighbors testifying how good of a father he was. Divorced from the mother he walked the kids to school everyday.
     There was always serious question about the evidence.
     They knew before they executed him, that he was innocent. The worst part is they did not care.
     Do you remember when Gov.Ryan of Illinois. Stop the death penalty, and commuted sentence to life? Because of shoddy evidence. I felt like the justice department needed to investigate.

     When I watching the debate, it surprised me all the cheering, when this subject came up. It was scary.

    This story is finally (none / 0) (#25)
    by easilydistracted on Sat Sep 10, 2011 at 10:30:33 AM EST
    gaining some traction nationally. I've thought for sometime this could be the achilles heel for ole Rick's hopes for the whitehouse. Frontline aired a documentary on this case early this year, as I recall. If you can find it, its worth a view.

    Are you suggesting (none / 0) (#26)
    by Rojas on Sat Sep 10, 2011 at 10:43:44 AM EST
    Dr. Nizam Peerwani is a fixer?
    The same ME that modified the manner in which state law dictates that autopsies are conducted at the request of the DOJ in the Branch Davidian incident?

    Is Mellencamp really wearing a jumpsuit? (none / 0) (#49)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Sep 12, 2011 at 02:52:11 PM EST