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Saturday Open Thread: Test Your Computers by Monday

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Sat Jul 07, 2012 at 01:03:24 PM EST
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Monday the FBI will cease re-routing internet users though a clean DNS server. Or something like that.

Approximately 64,000 Americans could lose Internet access on Monday thanks to a criminal organization that infected millions of computers around the world with malware called DNSChanger. This malware was used to direct unsuspecting users to rogue servers controlled by the cyber thieves, where they manipulated users’ web browsing activity and used it for ad hijacking, allowing them to make millions of dollars in illicit fees.

Your computer may have been one of those affected by DNS-changing malware. To find out, head over to the DNS Changer Working Group. Click on the green button and then a bunch of sites in different parts of the world come up. Click on the one that says dns-ok.us. If it comes up green, you're fine. If it's red, you have problems. Or something like that.

Better safe than sorry. This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

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    Saturday Open Thread: Test Your Computers by Monday | 70 comments (70 topical)

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    man, it's always something! (5.00 / 3) (#3)
    by cpinva on Sat Jul 07, 2012 at 02:20:38 PM EST
    well, i just did a clean install of W7, on a brand new HDD. i think i'm beginning to appreciate my wife's irritation with computers. at work, i spend half my life dealing with admin crap. at home, half is spent undoing whatever someone has done to one of the computers.

    i'm awfully tempted at times to just go back to pencil/paper and my abacus, none of which has ever suffered from a debilitating virus. i have a sliderule as a backup.

    yes, i am a geek. and your point would be?

    Ringo Starr... (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by desertswine on Sat Jul 07, 2012 at 02:38:51 PM EST
    is 72 yrs old today.  Oh my...

    Gaaaahhh!!! (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by Zorba on Sat Jul 07, 2012 at 03:08:32 PM EST
    I feel old!

    Parent
    Impossible...because if it were true, that (5.00 / 2) (#10)
    by Anne on Sat Jul 07, 2012 at 03:35:36 PM EST
    would mean I am no longer as young as I thought I was.

    I'm sure the real story is that Ringo is celebrating the 30th anniversary of his 42nd birthday.

    There, don't we all feel better now?

    Parent

    Well, I'm younger than Jack Benny... (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by unitron on Sat Jul 07, 2012 at 05:09:22 PM EST
    ...and he was still celebrating his 39th birthday every year until he passed away, so...

    Parent
    I always kind of felt (5.00 / 2) (#12)
    by brodie on Sat Jul 07, 2012 at 04:16:01 PM EST
    sorry for Ringo in that he was the only member of the group who couldn't write a song.  Amusing to hear the stories the others would tell that when he would come to John or Paul with what he thought was an original tune, they'd laughingly tell him it was just a knockoff of some old R&R or blues standard.

    Good decent guy, Ringo.  And to me, he and the others of the group will always be about 25.

    Parent

    I believe he is credited (none / 0) (#16)
    by CoralGables on Sat Jul 07, 2012 at 06:54:16 PM EST
    with two completely on his own, "Don't Pass Me By" and "Octopus's Garden".

    Parent
    oddly enough, several successful bands (none / 0) (#33)
    by cpinva on Sun Jul 08, 2012 at 02:20:10 PM EST
    did exactly the same thing, The Alman Brothers come quickly to mind.

    they'd laughingly tell him it was just a knockoff of some old R&R or blues standard.


    Parent
    He looks great anyway (none / 0) (#20)
    by sj on Sat Jul 07, 2012 at 10:24:47 PM EST
    He looks like a happy man.  He is one of those people who kept getting better looking as he aged.  We should all be so lucky.

    Parent
    We checked and we're not infected, so ... (5.00 / 2) (#17)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Jul 07, 2012 at 08:05:28 PM EST
    ... to celebrate, the wife and I are going to San Francisco next week.

    Well, not really, but we'll be close, because both of us have business in the Bay Area. I'll be working on a marketing and feasibility study over in the East Bay in Walnut Creek, while she's attending a two-day conference down in Palo Alto. Then we're meeting up in The City on Friday morning, and spending the weekend with friends over on Russian Hill. I was actually supposed to go later in the following week, but I re-arranged my plans so we could be together next weekend.

    We love San Francisco. If we didn't live here in the islands, we'd probably live there.

    Favorite License Plate Evah! (5.00 / 2) (#22)
    by DebFrmHell on Sat Jul 07, 2012 at 11:25:15 PM EST
    O2BNSFO

    And you called it The City.

    (sigh)

    Parent

    My favorite was years ago (none / 0) (#28)
    by sj on Sun Jul 08, 2012 at 01:36:02 AM EST
    on a brand new TransAm:  IPD4IT

    So many thoughts on how the owner could have paid for it...

    Parent

    I saw a Porche out in CA (5.00 / 1) (#29)
    by DebFrmHell on Sun Jul 08, 2012 at 02:29:56 AM EST
    with: I O BIG

    I had a great laugh over the honesty for that one!

    And RTVRLVR!  As soon as I could get even with him at a light I was rolling down my window...

    Retriever Lover

    Parent

    I always wanted this one but it has too many (none / 0) (#30)
    by Angel on Sun Jul 08, 2012 at 09:25:04 AM EST
    letters:  LV2XLR8

    Parent
    That doesn't have too many letters (none / 0) (#44)
    by sj on Sun Jul 08, 2012 at 05:12:46 PM EST
    for either Colorado or Maryland.  Are you sure that's still true?  I'm not sure I'd want to be driving that vehicle at the end of the month on either I-95 or I-25, though :)

    Parent
    Texas. Not sure if the anything has changed but (none / 0) (#70)
    by Angel on Mon Jul 09, 2012 at 02:18:00 PM EST
    I don't want it now, driving a different vehicle.  But it was apt for the one I used to drive.  :)

    Parent
    My favorite is my sister's: (none / 0) (#48)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Jul 08, 2012 at 06:15:48 PM EST
    4GOT10.

    Parent
    I think that's clever (none / 0) (#61)
    by sj on Mon Jul 09, 2012 at 10:46:40 AM EST
    but without context it seems rather sad to me.

    Parent
    "The City" is from an ... (none / 0) (#47)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Jul 08, 2012 at 06:14:05 PM EST
    ... old logo of the NBA San Francisco Warriors when they played at the Cow Palace, prior to their short move across the Bay to Oakland in 1971. I've always admired the implied superiority that's inherent in the use of the term.

    Parent
    Enjoy. Terrific city. Love it. (none / 0) (#21)
    by oculus on Sat Jul 07, 2012 at 10:59:36 PM EST


    Parent
    lovely city, i envy you guys. (none / 0) (#34)
    by cpinva on Sun Jul 08, 2012 at 02:22:41 PM EST
    i've been there a couple of times, and just had a great time. couldn't afford to live there though. it, and boston, have just ridiculously high real estate prices.

    Parent
    Jeff, are you lurking? Please check in. (5.00 / 2) (#37)
    by oculus on Sun Jul 08, 2012 at 02:41:26 PM EST


    Barney Frank weds long-time partner (5.00 / 4) (#55)
    by caseyOR on Sun Jul 08, 2012 at 08:44:15 PM EST
    Jim Ready. The ceremony was held Saturday evening in Newton, MA, which is in Frank's Congressional district. Governor Deval Patrick officiated.

    Frank is the first member of Congress to enter into a same-sex marriage. Back in the '80s, he was the first member of Congress to come out of the closet.

    Congratulations, Barney and Jim. I hope you have years of happiness together.

    Greetings again! (5.00 / 3) (#62)
    by CST on Mon Jul 09, 2012 at 12:03:08 PM EST
    I'm currently in the Prague airport on my way to Istanbul, which wasn't originally on the agenda, but when they offer you 400 Euros to take a less convenient flight (that originally cost about $250) you take it!

    Some final notes on Germany:

    I heard the Macarena on the radio today.

    Even the trees are German, and it's weird.  By that I mean most of their forests have been planted in the last, oh probably 60 years, and they are all very organized with the trees spaced "just so".  It makes for very neatly arranged forests.

    The breweries are serious business and double as massive recycling centers.  Plus they give you 2 hours of all you can drink at the end of the tour.

    Heidelberg is just as beautiful as I remember and I highly recommend it to anyone - and with the military base there, they all speak English.

    Some old Germans still think very fondly of the occupying US forces after world war 2.  Also weird to me, but I think there might be a lesson there.

    Most people we met couldn't fathom why we would want to visit all the way from America.  Don't sell yourselves short Germans!  You have weird trees and good beer and stuff.  They find it even stranger if you speak some German, but are very happy about it.  And sometimes they are excited to speak English, which can lead to funny moments like people saying "Cheerio!" when you leave.

    They have all this stuff that's made based on American recipes.  Like peanut flakes, which I've never in my life seen in America.

    That's all for now, will update from Istanbul.  Tschuss!

    My son-in-law traveled to Germany last (5.00 / 1) (#63)
    by Anne on Mon Jul 09, 2012 at 12:16:46 PM EST
    February, on business (a company that makes machining equipment invited representatives of businesses that might want to buy their equipment to an all-expense paid dog-and-pony show); he couldn't get over the fact that, in the factories, when employees went on break, they all drank beer - usually company-provided beer.  I don't know quite how operating heavy equipment meshes with beer-drinking, but over there, people drink beer the way we drink coffee and soda.

    Sounds like you're having a great time - will look forward to a report from Istanbul!

    Parent

    Yup, a different culture (5.00 / 1) (#72)
    by NYShooter on Tue Jul 10, 2012 at 12:14:26 AM EST
    When my brother and I used to go out to lunch with my father and some of his friends years ago in the Austria/Germany border area, he and I were served beer along with the grownups. My brother was 8, and I was 5. It was very dark beer, and the waiter would put a couple of spoons of sugar into each glass and give them quite a stir. A big foamy head would form, and it was almost like an ice cream soda. "Sweet and stoned..at 5..........yummy!

    A couple of years later, when we just immigrated to Manhattan, my mother, father, and brother stopped into a small Italian restaurant. You should've seen the look on the waiter's face, and the argument that ensued, when Pop, in his broken English, ordered, "One Pizza....and 4 beers."

    lol


    Parent

    At the Prague airport? (5.00 / 1) (#65)
    by sj on Mon Jul 09, 2012 at 01:05:27 PM EST
    Did you spend any time in Prague?  I had a touch of longing to go back just reading the first line of your comment.

    I have to laugh at your desciption of German forests.  That is so in character it's almost a caricature (yes, "some my best friends..." lol).  I've only spent one night in Germany -- taking the train from Prague to Paris -- but I hear they have the very best castles.  So I most definitely want to go back.

    Parent

    Oh, and I don't know what I should say about this: (5.00 / 1) (#66)
    by sj on Mon Jul 09, 2012 at 01:09:35 PM EST
    I heard the Macarena on the radio today.
    But somehow it seems like that should not go unnoted.  Apparently you agree :)

    Parent
    We spent a couple of weeks (none / 0) (#67)
    by Zorba on Mon Jul 09, 2012 at 01:40:47 PM EST
    In Munich and surrounding areas (including a trip to Austria) a few years ago.  We loved it!  Great people, great sites to see, and really wonderful beer and beer gardens.  Yes, it was neat and clean,  it was really easy to get around, and we made several trips up to the Alps, which were truly magnificent.  All the old castles were also well worth seeing.
    Were you able to see any of Prague?  I have never been, but Mr. Zorba has been there, and it is one of his favorite cities in Europe.
    I would love to see Istanbul, too, you lucky person!  One of my brothers has been there, twice, and said it was well worth visiting.

    Parent
    Lucky duck... (none / 0) (#69)
    by kdog on Mon Jul 09, 2012 at 01:54:30 PM EST
    Have a blast CST, you've done the German beer thing, now onto Turkish hashish. I expect a full report! ;)

    Parent
    It is too hot to do anything outside (none / 0) (#4)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Jul 07, 2012 at 02:36:19 PM EST
    So we are cleansing all stored items.  Took a break from the dust, and I was talking about a Piers Morgan interview I saw with Oliver Stone and suddenly both my husband and Josh start talking about an interview Piers did with the Dalai Lama.  I didn't know Piers did this interview.  I'm not very Piers fluent, but Josh likes Piers and I guess watches him in his room.

    So my husband and Josh tell me that when Piers asked the Dalai Lama who one of his favorite world leaders is he said George Dubya Bush, and they start laughing together.  I can't get my head around this at first, I figure the Dalai Lama did it as kind of a pity thing....seeing that Dubya is so hated.  But Josh and husband will not quit howling with laughter and I feel the need to go to the kitchen to escape them but they follow me.  Josh says, "Mom, he said it, the Buddhist pope said it!"  I'm waving the air, trying to prevent the words from getting to my ears.  Josh laughs even louder and says, "And then my mom says phuck Buddhism.....mazel tov!"

    He's got your number! (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by oculus on Sat Jul 07, 2012 at 02:56:18 PM EST
    I am trimming books to take to libs for book sale next weekend.  Now I will have some shelves for collection of way too many pots.

    But no one here to hear me rant!

    Parent

    I thought for sure (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by CoralGables on Sat Jul 07, 2012 at 03:25:59 PM EST
    you'd be hanging out in Sterrett, Alabama today hanging with the virgin mary's.

    Parent
    I saw part of that interview (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by brodie on Sat Jul 07, 2012 at 04:06:48 PM EST
    Piers did with Dolly.  Had to bail out because his accent was so thick I couldn't make out a thing he was saying.  The robed guy I mean.

    But the nod to Junior makes a certain sense -- recently I came across a rumor that the Llama had CIA connections going way back.  Just a rumor but still ...

    Btw, I also came across an interesting remark he made after he'd been reading Darwin.  To the effect that there was something eerily familiar about the writings, as if Chuck had visited the Far East and a Buddhist ashram and come away with some ideas about evolution, perhaps from Buddhist texts and legends told within.  Not myself up sufficiently on Darwin to know whether he ever traveled there or studied Buddhism before publishing his major text; just something I saw surfing the net recently.

    Parent

    Here's a brief (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by brodie on Sat Jul 07, 2012 at 04:28:57 PM EST
    article from 3 years ago in the New Scientist re the Darwin-Buddhism link possibility, from an academic who interviewed the Llama.  Interesting.

    Parent
    Must continue cleansing so will (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Jul 07, 2012 at 05:28:11 PM EST
    have to read tomorrow.

    Parent
    Losing Internet access... (none / 0) (#8)
    by heidelja on Sat Jul 07, 2012 at 03:09:16 PM EST
    ...is likely a misnomer.  More like website connections not Internet access?

    A few times in the recent past this story has appeared with very little technical details provided. This story is almost a hoax in itself by the way it goes reported.

    Why have computers not been fixed when all users affected can be identified by reason they access the FBI servers to correctly reroute their connections? Rather than be shutdown and users left "lost" because they have been so routed (unknowlingly) in the past, they could be provided a webpage showing them their computers have been infected by the malware and they now absolutely need modifications which they have missed getting.  

    I don't know what all happened (none / 0) (#23)
    by DebFrmHell on Sat Jul 07, 2012 at 11:32:53 PM EST
    to mine.  I ran a diagnostics and it was
    < CRASHED >
    < CRASHED >
    < CRASHED >
    < CRASHED >
    < CRASHED >
    < CRASHED >

    All on June 20th and 21st.

    I tried to uninstall my Office 2007 and it won't let me.  A few other programs that were affected, it won't let me.  Right now I am trying to download the anti-virus from Microsoft (again) because it wouldn't let me do it last week.

    Am so not a techie.  I tried every trick that Oculus gave me and got nowhere.  It is like it is protecting itself from a clean up.

    Stupid computer.  (frownie face)

    Parent

    I can't possibly have suggested how (none / 0) (#24)
    by oculus on Sat Jul 07, 2012 at 11:38:01 PM EST
    anti-malware your computerA!!!

    Parent
    I could have (none / 0) (#25)
    by DebFrmHell on Sun Jul 08, 2012 at 12:41:02 AM EST
    sworn it was you, Oculus.  Sorry for confusion then.  I will have to search back through my comments so I can thank them properly.

    In the meantime,

    To Whomever gave me some links: thank you for your efforts.  I wish it would have worked.

    Parent

    THANK YOU! (none / 0) (#26)
    by DebFrmHell on Sun Jul 08, 2012 at 12:44:56 AM EST
    It was Unitron that tried to help me out.

    Very sorry for the mix-up!

    Parent

    It just struck my funnybone as I am a (5.00 / 1) (#27)
    by oculus on Sun Jul 08, 2012 at 12:50:49 AM EST
    Luddite!

    Parent
    Ya'kno (none / 0) (#59)
    by DebFrmHell on Mon Jul 09, 2012 at 02:01:11 AM EST
    Luddite = Wart on The Arse of "Progress"

    You really make me LOL!  

    And I firmly believe that you did read all of the footnotes to Cleopatra.

    8-)

    Who lurves ya, baby?

    Parent

    Breaking Bad comes back 7/15 (none / 0) (#18)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Jul 07, 2012 at 09:17:03 PM EST
    And I have done seasons 1, 2, 3 and am gazing longingly at season 4....

    For those that enjoy (none / 0) (#19)
    by CoralGables on Sat Jul 07, 2012 at 09:49:22 PM EST
    a very long minute by minute breakdown of how news reacts to a huge story, here is the rundown of what happened on the morning of the ACA ruling by the Supreme Court from

    ScotusBlog

    Libya (none / 0) (#31)
    by Politalkix on Sun Jul 08, 2012 at 01:23:15 PM EST
    I had fought with many here to support US involvement in Libya in overthrowing the Qadaffi regime. Even though it is too early to say that my POV has been vindicated, things seems to be moving in the right direction in that country.

    Article 1
    Article 2

    I will enthusiastically vote for President Obama in the general elections. I would have liked more prosecution of Wall Street crooks during his term in office; however apart from that I am very happy with his Presidency. He is doing better, IMO, on the issues I care about most deeply than any other President in my life time.
     

    Freedom for me... (none / 0) (#38)
    by desertswine on Sun Jul 08, 2012 at 02:42:15 PM EST
    But not for thee.

    Libya's Unintended Consequences.

    The worst-case situation has not come to pass in Libya itself. But thanks to the ripple effects from Colonel Qaddafi's fall, it's well on its way to happening in nearby Mali.

    Mali has no oil, and is  not in a strategic location, so no one really cares; thorns on every rose.

    Parent

    We all have our issues that (none / 0) (#45)
    by sj on Sun Jul 08, 2012 at 05:17:14 PM EST
    mean something to us.  Mine are strong union support, a sturdy safety net (which includes equal access to health care), equal opportunity for all, equal justice for all, and equal rights for all.

    What are your issues?

    Parent

    Reply to sj (none / 0) (#52)
    by Politalkix on Sun Jul 08, 2012 at 07:02:38 PM EST
    Issues that are most important to me
    (1)Bringing manufacturing back to America. Infrastructure development, development of a broad based economy, deemphasizing economic growth only through service sector (whatever that means)and home construction jobs.
    (2)Promotion of STEM subjects in schools to prepare kids for science and technology jobs in America.
    (3)Equal rights and social justice for all (realizing MLK's dream where people of our nation are only judged by the content of their character and work and not their gender, color of skin, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, etc.)
    (4)A just foreign policy
    (5)Providing a safety net to the disadvantaged in our society.


    Parent
    That's a good list (none / 0) (#57)
    by sj on Sun Jul 08, 2012 at 11:29:39 PM EST
    But if Obama has been addressing your issues better than any other president in your lifetime, then I think you must be much younger than I am.  But each must vote his own conscience so thank you for your response.

    Parent
    More bankster misbehavior (none / 0) (#32)
    by MyLeftMind on Sun Jul 08, 2012 at 01:29:56 PM EST
    Scandal of all scandals.

    just a suggestion guys. (none / 0) (#35)
    by cpinva on Sun Jul 08, 2012 at 02:30:59 PM EST
    as i noted in the first post, i recently did a clean install of W7, on a new HDD. i do a clean install, roughly annually, of whatever OS i'm currently using. i do this because, regardless of how good your anti-virus/malware, etc. is, something will always slip through. i save important data files to an external HDD (very cheap these days), and bring them back to the C drive (main operating drive, always) after i've completed the install. it's nice to start fresh, with the experience gained since the last clean install.

    if you don't know how to do this (it isn't hard, trust me), marry or make friends with someone who does. baking a really nice cake, once a year, for this service is a tiny price to pay! lol

    Marriage, though, seems a rather drastic (none / 0) (#36)
    by oculus on Sun Jul 08, 2012 at 02:40:17 PM EST
    way to keep computer running smoothly!

    Parent
    I am always (none / 0) (#60)
    by DebFrmHell on Mon Jul 09, 2012 at 02:06:33 AM EST
    up for marrying a plumber.  

    If he is chump-uter savvy, well, that is just the cream gravy on a Chicken Fried Steak!

    I always ask for too much....

    Parent

    Armando tackles the remainder of ACA (none / 0) (#39)
    by oculus on Sun Jul 08, 2012 at 03:06:03 PM EST
    at DK.  Very detailed and informative.  

    I wish he would cross post here (none / 0) (#46)
    by sj on Sun Jul 08, 2012 at 05:29:28 PM EST
    I don't care for DKos.  I really like Jeralyn's no profanity rule.

    Parent
    Damages Season 5 starts July 11 (none / 0) (#40)
    by Anne on Sun Jul 08, 2012 at 03:47:01 PM EST
    Looks like a Julian Assange-type case comes to Ellen and Patty's attention...

    The founder of a controversial website devoted to government and corporate transparency gets sued after his most recent information leak does not go as planned. It's the perfect stage for the ultimate showdown between the mentor and her former protégée.

    Looks like a good season ahead!

    Today I read about a new series (none / 0) (#41)
    by oculus on Sun Jul 08, 2012 at 03:53:18 PM EST
    not so loosely based on Hillary and Bill Clinton.  Weird.  

    Parent
    Sounds like "Political Animals" that (none / 0) (#42)
    by Anne on Sun Jul 08, 2012 at 04:01:36 PM EST
    will premier on USA Network on 7/15:

    Sigourney Weaver stars as former first lady and current Secretary of State Elaine Barrish Hammond who is attempting to keep her family together while simultaneously dealing with crises of the State Department and fending off the hungry DC journalist (Carla Gugino) who is bent on destroying her career.


    Parent
    Profile for the ex-husband of Weaver's (none / 0) (#43)
    by Anne on Sun Jul 08, 2012 at 04:05:23 PM EST
    character:

    Once a popular U.S. President, Bud Hammond (Ciarán Hinds) has experienced a precipitous fall from grace following his divorce from his wife Elaine, now Secretary of State. Though his rampant womanizing may have cost Bud political clout-not to mention the respect of his wife, his two sons, and the American public-he's not willing to let his legacy or his family go without a fight. Determined to restore his reputation and maneuver his way back into the good graces of the sons who resent him and the ex-wife he still loves, Bud will harness the trademark charm, intelligence, and political skill that once earned him a job as the leader of the free world. But after his many missteps, winning back the good favor of his fans and his family may prove to be the toughest challenge the former president has ever had to face.

    Yeah, I'd say there's more than a little resemblance to the Clintons...

    Parent

    It sounds cheesy. (none / 0) (#51)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Jul 08, 2012 at 06:47:56 PM EST
    I love Sigourney Weaver, but given everyone's description of the show, I think I'll take a pass on this one.

    Parent
    I'm with (none / 0) (#54)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Jul 08, 2012 at 07:51:52 PM EST
    you. It really did sound cheesy.

    Parent
    Damages: What's up with the photo (none / 0) (#53)
    by SuzieTampa on Sun Jul 08, 2012 at 07:34:15 PM EST
    of the beautiful blonde who has slit her wrists but has decided to die with her toes pointed and one hand delicately covering her breast?

    Parent
    RIP Ernest Borgnine (none / 0) (#49)
    by sj on Sun Jul 08, 2012 at 06:17:59 PM EST
    He died today at the age of 95.

    R.I.P., Ernest Borgnine (1917-2012). (none / 0) (#50)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Jul 08, 2012 at 06:46:22 PM EST
    One of Hollywood's most gifted character actors has left the building at age 95, a working stiff until nearly the end.

    When I was little, I first came upon Ernest Borgnine in the TV sitcom McHale's Navy, and thought he was hilarious -- even if the show was, as I discovered later, pretty much a retread of the old Phil Silvers show, Sgt. Bilko.

    It was not until much later, thanks to the introduction of the VCR, that I came to learn just how extraordinarily talented Borgnine was as an actor, from the abusive Sgt. Fatso Judson in From Here to Eternity to his Oscar-winning title role as the lovelorn Marty.

    I think The Wild Bunch has to be considered one of the great westerns -- and it's hard to imagine that film without Ernest Borgnine in the role of William Holden's longtime compatriot.

    Even in his later years, Borgnine kept working, and became the oldest actor to ever be nominated for both a Golden Globe (2007) and an Emmy (2009).

    Aloha to one of the greats.

    I used to watch McHale's Navy reruns (none / 0) (#58)
    by sj on Sun Jul 08, 2012 at 11:31:55 PM EST
    after school.  It always made me laugh.  Plus, it also introduced me to Tim Conway.

    Parent
    Why the stimulus failed (none / 0) (#56)
    by Slado on Sun Jul 08, 2012 at 09:46:01 PM EST
    It isn't that it wasn't big enough it's that it was implemented by the Federal Government.

    Link

    LA art (none / 0) (#64)
    by ZtoA on Mon Jul 09, 2012 at 01:02:58 PM EST
    Occulus, thanks again for suggesting the Weisman collection. I so enjoyed it. Private collections that have become public or semi-public museums really give the flavor of the collector (Frick, Gardner, Huntington, old Getty, to an extent) and this one was quirky and funny. Just inside the front door you can see way too many works to mention, but notable was the Francis Bacon right next to a Keith Haring because they both have pink in them. :)  And then there were many Sandro Chias!

    Jack Rutberg has a wonderful show now, basically a retrospective of Claire Falkenstein. My favorite  gallery show was at Frank Pictures showing  David Florimbi. Wow.

    Only got to around half of the galleries I wanted to visit, too many to list, but liked Brian Sharp at Acme, Craig Cowan photographer at http://www.couturiergallery.com/ and Jennifer Wolf at William Turner.  Good shows also at Frank Lloyd and Koplin del Rio.

    I really enjoy LA and the driving is OK if I avoid the freeways. My daughter and friends live on Abbot Kinney Blvd which is a fun and laid back neighborhood. Reminds me of Portland, but with LA weather.

    New view of Mt. Rushmore (none / 0) (#68)
    by ZtoA on Mon Jul 09, 2012 at 01:43:08 PM EST
    First, leave it just as it is but smooth out a large area right next to Lincoln. As the sun goes down and night drops begins a video projection of a head in scale with the existing carvings. And as night deepens the old carvings (which would not be lit) fade and the projection takes over the space and viewers slip into the 21st century. The projected image could be anything....Clinton, JFK, MLK, and so on. Better yet, move into reality shows, meaning that individuals (probably with corporate sponsorships) could pay to have their head projected for, say, 15 minutes. Sound could be added, and video could be in real time. Wipe out the national debt.  What would you say if you had 15 minutes as a large scale live projected presence on Mt. Rushmore?

    The kind of story I want to (none / 0) (#71)
    by brodie on Mon Jul 09, 2012 at 02:29:16 PM EST
    see more of:  Ex CIA agent says he saw "Roswell" file at headqtrs which showed actual ET craft and cadaver remains were recovered 65 years ago this month.

    About what I've long suspected.

    Wouldn't surprise me if there were other crash incidents at that time in other areas, and not just in the US.

    Alien cadavers most likely were biological androids created by et's to undertake routine Earth observations, according to some info I find credible.

    I still believe official disclosure is a number of decades off in the future.

    One poster's opinion.

    Saturday Open Thread: Test Your Computers by Monday | 70 comments (70 topical)

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