Pre-New Years Eve Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Mon Dec 31, 2012 at 01:55:31 PM EST
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It will be a cold New Year's Eve in Colorado. I'm staying in. If you're out and about tonight, don't drink and drive -- the cops will be out en masse.

One innovative solution: Try Uber, if you live in Denver, Washington, San Francisco, New York, Philadelphia or several other major cities. You can download the app to your smart phone and sign up now. You just send a text-- they will see your location (or you can text it.) A private car will pick you up within minutes. Usually it's not much more than a taxi, but tonight surge pricing will be in effect. Before you text, you can see on your smart phone how close the drivers are to you and how many cars are near you. They text you as the driver is approaching. No need for a credit card or to sign anything with the driver, or tip, it's all just charged to the credit card you sign up with.

Update/1/1/13:: Check out their Tumblr page with photos from New Years' Eve of their staffers around the world with their Macs. The Stockholm office is beautiful. Miami ooks like such a happy place to work -- as does Seattle. The London group looks really busy. (I don't think these are all offices- some of the staffers seem to be working from home -- the Indonesia group looks like they are at a hotel bar.) Forbes today called them "brilliant." [More...]

The first things I'm saying goodbye to in 2013: The LA Times, NY Daily News and Chicago Tribune. All have started auto-playing videos when you log on to their news sites. ABC News lost me months ago. What's left? So far, the NY Times, Wall St. Journal, CBS News. I'm going to keep calling media sites out on this because I think it is the most annoying and intrusive feature on the internet.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

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Pre-New Years Eve Open Thread | 24 comments (24 topical)

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NYE on a Monday (5.00 / 1) (#5)
by lilburro on Mon Dec 31, 2012 at 03:56:21 PM EST

blah. I'll probably pass on going out this evening and try to enjoy as much of New Year's Day as possible (instead of sleeping through half of it!). Happy New Year to all and here's to a great 2013.

Hillary Clinton's blood clot is in her head, (5.00 / 2) (#7)
by caseyOR on Mon Dec 31, 2012 at 05:06:16 PM EST

in a vein that is located between the skull and the brain behind the right ear. Her doctors have said she did not suffer a stroke or any neurological damage and is expected to make a full recovery.

Already, the speculation wolves are opining that this blood clot may make her an undesirable candidate in 2016. I'm not sure why. Dick Cheney had how many heart attacks? and nobody made much of a fuss about him being a "heart beat away". Dick Nixon had chronic phlebitis in his leg, and no one blinked an eye.

Oh well, let's ease up on 2016 speculation, and let Hillary recuperate in peace.

Get well soon, Madame Secretary.

And Reagan, for heaven's sake, had (none / 0) (#9)
by Anne on Mon Dec 31, 2012 at 05:25:05 PM EST

Alzheimer's...


Hmmm. Let's see. What did they have in common? (5.00 / 1) (#11)
by leap on Mon Dec 31, 2012 at 05:31:43 PM EST

Cheney...Nixon...Reagan... hmmm, now, oh what is it that they have in comm... Ahhhh, yes, that's right!

IOKIYAR


Also, they are all men. n/t (5.00 / 6) (#13)
by caseyOR on Mon Dec 31, 2012 at 05:50:31 PM EST

: By far the most important (5.00 / 3) (#16)
by oculus on Mon Dec 31, 2012 at 06:38:04 PM EST

factor.

Our city was mentioned on Jay Leno (5.00 / 3) (#10)
by MO Blue on Mon Dec 31, 2012 at 05:30:05 PM EST

due to a news clip that mentioned that our senior's New Years Party would count down the year at 12:00 NOON on 12/31. We are lucky that many of our seniors live to a ripe old age and still like to dance and have fun. While definitely a senior, I'm a youngster at these events.

We had snow today and I was worried that it would prevent people from attending the party which is always a big event. Even though it started to snow before the party and snowed throughout the event the streets and sidewalks stayed clear and the place was packed.

Going to a dance tonight. I haven't been out and about on New Years Eve for years so I'm really looking forward to going. Really glad the weather decided to cooperate and stop snowing.

Have a Happy New Years everyone.

Have a great time tonight, Mo Blue. (5.00 / 2) (#12)
by caseyOR on Mon Dec 31, 2012 at 05:49:59 PM EST

Dance 'til you drop.

And Happy New Year.


: Thanks Casey (5.00 / 2) (#14)
by MO Blue on Mon Dec 31, 2012 at 06:13:11 PM EST

I will be dancing up a storm tonight. It is one of the few forms of exercise that I can say I truly love.
Our senior line dance instructor was ninety-three before she had to hang up her dancing shoes and another lady in another class is ninety plus and still going strong.
I hope you have a great New Years and that 2013 brings you all things great and wonderful.

My niece posted on FB about the lovely (none / 0) (#18)
by oculus on Mon Dec 31, 2012 at 06:42:44 PM EST

snow in SL following our days at the beach on Galveston Island. She left out the cold and quite windy conditions in TX.


The neighborhood rocket launchers have started (5.00 / 1) (#19)
by ruffian on Mon Dec 31, 2012 at 07:19:24 PM EST

already sounds like the house is under attack. I gave the dogs some doggie downers and will crack open the bubbly!

Have a nice evening everyone. Let's have a great 2013!

Happy New Year, ruffian. (5.00 / 2) (#20)
by caseyOR on Mon Dec 31, 2012 at 07:23:38 PM EST

And remember, 2013 is a whole new baseball season. This year is definitely the Cubs' year.

Wow, I can't believe I am completely sober and I still typed that sentence. Guess I'd better start drinking. :-)


: Cubs Pitchers & Catchers (none / 0) (#24)
by CoralGables on Tue Jan 01, 2013 at 12:30:39 AM EST

report to Mesa in 41 days. Hope springs eternal.

OH! Thanks for the reminder!!! (5.00 / 1) (#22)
by nycstray on Mon Dec 31, 2012 at 08:28:21 PM EST

Rox! gets a bit concerned with fireworks, some a-holes shot them off on xmas and I wasn't prepared!

Luckily, I bought her some new toys today, so she'll have some party favors to enjoy, along with her doggie downer :) I'm trying to avoid the sheer terror The Dot had to fireworks and thunder by nipping this in the bud early if I can . . . Rox! is pretty good about trusting me with scary things.


Still under bombardment (none / 0) (#23)
by ruffian on Mon Dec 31, 2012 at 11:39:00 PM EST

I'm as scared as the dogs at this point. It is really loud!

Casey I believe you suckered me in last year with Cubs talk....won't get fooled again! Well, ok, maybe one more time....


I hate the (none / 0) (#1)
by Zorba on Mon Dec 31, 2012 at 02:33:51 PM EST

auto-play videos. OTOH, I suppose news sites are trying desperately to make some money, given the fact that print newspapers are a dying breed. I certainly don't know how they can continue to pay any reporters if they don't have any income. That doesn't mean that I will go to the news sites that have these obnoxious auto-play videos.
In any case, have a Happy New Year, everyone. Be safe.

: I'll continue to come here first for my news! (5.00 / 2) (#4)
by ruffian on Mon Dec 31, 2012 at 03:46:45 PM EST

J won't steer me to the annoying videos. And if she or BTD don't care enough about something to post about it I probably don't need to hear about it.

Great Pay (none / 0) (#2)
by CoralGables on Mon Dec 31, 2012 at 03:21:58 PM EST

if you can keep the job.

About 22% (7 of 32) of the NFL head coaches were fired today.

Farewell Lovie Smith, who presided over The Bears' (none / 0) (#3)
by ruffian on Mon Dec 31, 2012 at 03:43:58 PM EST

second half collapse. I didn't pay enough attention to know how much of the blame he deserves.


Isn't it the custom in the NFL to (none / 0) (#8)
by caseyOR on Mon Dec 31, 2012 at 05:10:02 PM EST

fire the head coach when the team's performance lags? Except, of course, if we're talking about the Jets. What embarassing/scandalous info does Rex Ryan have on the Jets ownership? Are there pictures?

The Bears have been sub-par for the least few seasons. They have talent, but it has not consistently meshed. Maybe a new cook to stir the pot is in order. Of course, a lot rides on just who the Bears hire to replace Lovie.


Poor Norm. Chargers won (none / 0) (#15)
by oculus on Mon Dec 31, 2012 at 06:36:01 PM EST

but he is toast. Every week the UT opines if he should be canned.


: "Norv." (none / 0) (#17)
by oculus on Mon Dec 31, 2012 at 06:39:55 PM EST

Firefox with Flashblock (none / 0) (#6)
by unitron on Mon Dec 31, 2012 at 04:07:11 PM EST

Only watch the videos you want to.

Just put a new thread (none / 0) (#21)
by Jeralyn on Mon Dec 31, 2012 at 07:35:30 PM EST

for New Year's up here.