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Saturday Open Thread: Owl Farm Edition

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Sat Jun 01, 2013 at 02:36:11 PM EST
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The party at Owl Farm is about to get underway. Here's the tent with the stage the bands will be playing on. [More....]

Terrific time being had by all. Wonderful dinner for 100 plus by Chris of Cache Cache last night at Gerry and Chris Goldsteins (like the Owl Farm picnic, an annual tradition.) Both the current and former Sheriffs (my two favorite sheriffs ever -- Bob Braudis and Joe Di Salvo) joined us.

Party Favors: Dogtags.

Off to finish helping with the final party preparations. Here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

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    Saturday Open Thread: Owl Farm Edition | 110 comments (110 topical)

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    "Conscious vs. Subconscious" vol. 18 (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by Dadler on Sat Jun 01, 2013 at 03:09:47 PM EST
    LINK

    And another LINK to vol. 17

    Great day here on the SF peninsula, have a lovely one wherever you are.

    Peace.

    Arrived home yesterday morning (5.00 / 12) (#2)
    by sj on Sat Jun 01, 2013 at 04:17:12 PM EST
    Driving 1700 miles is no joke. My dog did just fine and didn't get carsick even once. She doesn't like all the night time activity at motels, though.

    The truck has been unloaded and returned and the boxes are in the right rooms. My son has been living in my house since I moved East and he'll be here for a couple of months so things are a little crowded. But overall things are in good enough shape that I think I'm going to take a nap.

    Thanks for everyone's good wishes.

    So glad you made it okay!!! (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by nycstray on Sun Jun 02, 2013 at 01:16:52 AM EST
    And that your pup handled the trip just fine.

    Don't just nap, take a few to relax and regroup. Moving that far takes a bit of an adjustment no matter how prepared one is :)

    Parent

    Congratulations. (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Jun 02, 2013 at 04:46:52 AM EST
    I always found moving to be hectic and stressful. Glad to hear that you came through the drive and you're home again in your old stomping grounds.

    Elder Daughter is going through some adjustment, living back at home again after four years on the east coast, and so are we. It takes some getting used to, I suppose, living under the same roof with your child or parent(s) again. I'm happy to have her back, but I have to admit, we got used to our empty nest really quickly this past year -- and we liked it.

    Anyway, enjoy the week and welcome home. Aloha.

    Parent

    Glad to know you arrived safe and (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by Anne on Sun Jun 02, 2013 at 09:21:15 AM EST
    sound - dodging some wicked weather in the process...thank goodness!

    Pace yourself now that you're home - it's tempting to just want everything in its place, but it isn't just getting our physical surroundings organized, it's integrating the physical and the psychological.  You're in a familiar place, but you're not the same person you were when you left - and coming face to face with the past will test who you are at present - and it helps not to be so physically tired.

    Moving is like painting - the theory of it always seems so much easier than the reality, so give yourself permission to not have to do everything overnight!

    Parent

    Thanks for the thoughtful insight (none / 0) (#11)
    by sj on Sun Jun 02, 2013 at 02:41:03 PM EST
    about not being the same person who left. I hadn't considered that and it's very true. I like your painting analogy, too. I've done an awful lot of painting in my life (I like change) and what you say is absolutely true. No painting in my immediate future though. Except for maybe the stair risers...

    Parent
    Glad you arrived safely and (5.00 / 1) (#52)
    by MO Blue on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 11:30:29 AM EST
    had help unloading etc.

    Don't try and do too much all at one time.

    Parent

    Thanks (none / 0) (#68)
    by sj on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 01:25:53 PM EST
    As it happens I need to prep for a job interview.  My mind is slowly becoming unmuddled.

    BTW, did you see my response to your I80/I70 question?

    Parent

    Good luck (5.00 / 1) (#74)
    by Zorba on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 02:56:27 PM EST
    with the job interview, sj!  Sending you all the positive energy I can!

    Parent
    Thank you (5.00 / 2) (#88)
    by sj on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 06:55:10 PM EST
    It's too soon to tell if it's in my bailiwick, but it would be working with people that I have worked with in the past that I like and with whom I worked well.

    Parent
    No I missed your response to my (none / 0) (#71)
    by MO Blue on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 02:16:07 PM EST
    I80/I70 question. Glad the strategy worked out well for you weather wise. I have to admit being prejudiced against I 70 since it seems that there are at least 2 tractor trailers for every car when I travel on it out of town. I hate to be surrounded by them and/or being hemmed in by them when they hog the lanes and slow everything down.

    Good luck on your job interview.

    Parent

    Oh, man! (5.00 / 1) (#78)
    by Zorba on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 03:15:09 PM EST
    Having travelled I70 many times, I know what you're talking about, MO Blue.
    I also hate I81, which I travelled a lot when Daughter Zorba lived in Upstate New York, plus we have close friends in Harrisburg, PA, so we still drive that way on occasion.
    Being hemmed in by tractor trailers in that Endless Mountain region is not at all fun.  Downright scary.

    Parent
    Thanks (none / 0) (#72)
    by sj on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 02:32:41 PM EST
    and true dat, about the tractor/trailers and semis.

    Parent
    So How Was Kansas ? (none / 0) (#75)
    by ScottW714 on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 03:06:51 PM EST
    Seems like more than a couple people commented on that portion of the drive.

    Parent
    Kansas is gawdawful to drive (none / 0) (#89)
    by sj on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 07:04:19 PM EST
    through whether dark or daylight.  We hit our only bad weather (a bad, if brief, rainstorm) right outside of Kansas City. And later I pulled into a rest stop to sleep for a while even though we were only a couple of hours from home at that point. The boredom is a bit dangerous when the body is tired. At least it was green this time. Last time I drove through Kansas it was winter and everything was brown. It was even MORE stark.

    Parent
    Jean Stapleton (5.00 / 2) (#3)
    by CoralGables on Sat Jun 01, 2013 at 04:57:20 PM EST
    died today. Loved her small part in You've Got Mail but my favorite with her was always the first half of this All In The Family episode

    She had an awesome career. (5.00 / 2) (#4)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Jun 01, 2013 at 06:07:30 PM EST
    I saw Jean Stapleton perform live in a 1977 All in the Family episode. Prior to the taping, Norman Lear came out to talk to us and introduce that night's cast. He also told us that we were attending one of two tapings, because they filmed each episode twice before two different studio audiences, just in case there was a problem with one or the other.

    Well, in our episode, there was a big prop fail, and it's a credit to the professionalism of Ms. Stapleton, Carroll O'Conner, Sally Struthers and Rob Reiner that their collective ability as an ensemble to ad lib caused us to not even notice. Rather, we laughed at it and considered that fail to be merely a planned part of the scene.

    The bottom of Edith's living room chair had given way as she sat down, so she sank really deep into it. I mean, it didn't throw any of them off, there was no pregnant pause while everyone figured out what to do; they just carried on without missing a beat. Gloria immediately yelled "Ma, what just happened here?" Then Archie shot back in a sarcastic tone, "Oh, jeez, whaddaya think just happened, Gloria?" And both Archie and Mike had to arise from where they were seated and then pull Edith out of her predicament -- which they did and all the while, the four of them continued their argument (natch!), and then Edith walked over and sat over on the couch with Mike.

    We never noticed the flaw until we saw the episode broadcast three weeks later, and quite obviously, they used the other taped version, because the argument they were having all took place while Edith was seated in her own chair.

    Rest in peace, Ms. Stapleton.

    Parent

    "Stifled" at last. (none / 0) (#9)
    by Mr Natural on Sun Jun 02, 2013 at 09:44:59 AM EST
    Did anybody like Archie Bunker?  

    Are there any Norman Lears on today's television?

    Parent

    I watched (5.00 / 2) (#8)
    by lentinel on Sun Jun 02, 2013 at 09:36:15 AM EST
    some videos of Nichols and May doing some of their sketches on YouTube. Really amazing. What has happened to comedy? The intelligence - combined with something that is truly funny. It seems to be a lost art.

    I think we lost a lot when we let the FCC or the commercial interests obliterate live television. I mean really LIVE. No "live on tape" bs.

    I also read an interview with Nichols and May and was moved that they gave credit to people who have deep meaning for me: Lenny Bruce and Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca.

    Lenny Bruce in particular has been lost to the generations that followed him. He was genuinely funny. Naturally, he did contact subjects that were forbidden - notably religion - which I feel was the main source of the antagonism and persecution that plagued his existence.

    Fortunately, one can hear and even see a film of him in performance.

    This is just about the cutest commercial ever. (5.00 / 2) (#12)
    by caseyOR on Sun Jun 02, 2013 at 03:30:59 PM EST
    A little girl, clearly biracial, asks her Mom about the heart healthy claims of Cheerios and then takes some action. Mom is white. the Dad is black. The kid is too cute for words.

    You will notice that YouTube has disabled comments for this video. Their hand was forced after a cesspool of racist remarks spewed all over the page. Be glad the comments are no longer available because, honestly, I don't think the stench of that kind of vile and venal hate ever washes off.

    Cheerios is not a cereal I like. It tastes kind of like cardboard, soggy cardboard when milk is added. This commercial, which I have seen on my TV, is so great that I must send kudos to General Mills.

    Just a thought. If the haters respond this viscerally to a biracial family, how many heads will explode when we see the first  commercial featuring an LGBT family? Just sayin'.

    I want to adopt that little girl! She's precious. (5.00 / 2) (#13)
    by Angel on Sun Jun 02, 2013 at 03:51:17 PM EST
    Scary and sad that we have so many hateful people in our world.

    Parent
    Love the commercial (5.00 / 1) (#19)
    by christinep on Sun Jun 02, 2013 at 05:33:04 PM EST
    And, the little girl who IS the commercial.  Yep, these years seem to have witnessed the hidden racism that was tucked beneath the surface for so long ... even with so many examples of the ugliness of racism in recent years, the ugly response of some to this ad is a different low.

    One area of disagreement: I'm one of those goofball Cheerios fans (even used to like an old, probably off-the-market health cereal called Oatios--which really tasted like cardboard!)  Go figure...When it is not old fashioned oatmeal, my breakfast is centered on Cheerios with blueberries (or blackberries or currants or whatever is there.) And the soggier the better.  It is a strange taste, I'll admit.  Comfort food, maybe.  Like "breakfast meatloaf."

    Parent

    I also like a breakfast of Cheerios (5.00 / 1) (#53)
    by MO Blue on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 11:37:32 AM EST
    I prefer it with chunks of walnuts, pecans or almonds rather than with fruit. I also like to use almond milk rather than regular milk for a lower calorie option.

    If you are going to eat boxed cereal, Cheerios is one of the best lower calorie, healthier option.

    Parent

    Although not a commercial (none / 0) (#14)
    by Zorba on Sun Jun 02, 2013 at 04:00:37 PM EST
    (It's a YouTube), I also liked this little three-year-old girl's response when asked about her mom's pregnancy.
    The parents are doing the right thing.  I know that my kids knew the correct terms for their body parts, and where babies came from, very early on.

    Link.

    Parent

    I'm with you. (none / 0) (#16)
    by Angel on Sun Jun 02, 2013 at 04:22:36 PM EST


    Parent
    I think some of it racism (none / 0) (#90)
    by TeresaInPa on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 09:33:10 PM EST
    and some of it is people thinking it is funny to be as shocking as possible on line just because they think it's fun.

    Parent
    That would be... (5.00 / 4) (#91)
    by sj on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 10:07:31 PM EST
    ... having fun in a racist sort of way.

    Parent
    that would be having fun (none / 0) (#115)
    by TeresaInPa on Thu Jun 06, 2013 at 06:25:37 AM EST
    in a juvenile kind of way. They do it was sexism too or homophobia.... you know the words, they are intended to shock and upset and get a response from other people which is the whole point.

    Parent
    Trayvon Martin (non)fight video (5.00 / 8) (#15)
    by Yman on Sun Jun 02, 2013 at 04:18:30 PM EST
    I hate to bring this up on an open thread, but remember the fight video that Mark O'Mara indicated was a video of Trayvon Martin videotaping two friends beating up a homeless man?

    It's complete BS    .

    George Zimmerman's attorneys today released a statement, backtracking on what they say a video of a fight found on Trayvon Martin's cell phone shows.

    In court Tuesday, defense attorney Mark O'Mara described it as Trayvon video-recording two friends beating up a homeless man.

    But in today's statement, O'Mara apologized and said it really shows Trayvon video-recording two homeless men fighting over a bicycle.

    Wow.

    Gonna have some heads exploding over this (5.00 / 5) (#17)
    by Angel on Sun Jun 02, 2013 at 04:27:25 PM EST
    revelation.  I won't be holding my breath awaiting apologies from certain posters who were so very, very, very sure such a video existed. Guess they'll have to find something else to use to demonize TM.  

    Parent
    Yep (5.00 / 5) (#18)
    by Yman on Sun Jun 02, 2013 at 04:34:11 PM EST
    Exactly.

    Parent
    My question is: (none / 0) (#20)
    by NYShooter on Sun Jun 02, 2013 at 06:14:12 PM EST
    why did O'Mara release the pictures to the newspaper at this particular time? My understanding is he had them for quite a while yet he released them publicly only after the 500 prospective jurors had been selected. Since they almost certainly won't be admissible for the trial, what purpose could they serve, other than to taint the jury?


    Parent
    None that I can think of. (none / 0) (#21)
    by Angel on Sun Jun 02, 2013 at 06:21:57 PM EST


    Parent
    Really -- let me guess whose. (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Jun 02, 2013 at 09:56:21 PM EST
    ;-D

    Parent
    Would this fall under professional misconduct? (5.00 / 1) (#22)
    by Angel on Sun Jun 02, 2013 at 06:29:34 PM EST


    Parent
    It would have to be ... (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by Yman on Sun Jun 02, 2013 at 08:21:02 PM EST
    ... an intentional misrepresentation.  Not sure what his explanation will be, but this will be raised at the next hearing - it'll be interesting to hear his explanation.

    Parent
    No worries... (5.00 / 2) (#32)
    by kdog on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 08:12:08 AM EST
    they'll find more character assasination ammo in the elementary school records...the verdict is already in, just gotta find new "evidence".

    Parent
    So, the focus will shift from the (5.00 / 4) (#36)
    by Anne on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 09:03:33 AM EST
    defense's characterization that Martin was the kind of kid whose friends would beat up on homeless men, to being the kind of kid who'd watch two homeless people fighting each other instead of either trying to stop it or calling for help.

    O'Mara can apologize all he wants, but the reality is that the admission that the defense was wrong about the video will fade faster than the impression of Trayvon-as-thug that his original assertion created.

    Which was, I think, the point.

    Parent

    "Which was, I think, the point" (5.00 / 3) (#41)
    by CoralGables on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 09:23:21 AM EST
    Absolutely. When you have no defense, you throw as much crap as you can. The backtrack never gets the amount of press as the original story.

    And if you need to backtrack, you do it on a Sunday morning when no one is listening.

    Parent

    I can see this new "characterization" (3.67 / 3) (#57)
    by Zorba on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 12:36:19 PM EST
    happening, absolutely.

    Parent
    Zorba (1.00 / 1) (#77)
    by AngryBlackGuy on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 03:13:10 PM EST
    Really? Let me give the Atlantic take again, which I think is spot on:

    "How that turned into Martin's friends beating up a homeless man is a little beyond us, considering there's a huge difference between two homeless men fighting and two friends beating up a homeless man."

    Parent

    I think you're picking ... (5.00 / 2) (#82)
    by Yman on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 04:17:49 PM EST
    ... a bone with Zorba that doesn't exist.  I'm reading her comment as agreeing with Anne, who's talking about the way the defense will (re)characterize the video, not that she agrees with that characterization.

    Parent
    Yes exactly, (5.00 / 2) (#83)
    by Zorba on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 04:21:52 PM EST
    Yman.  This is what I meant.  I don't agree with this at all, I am just saying that I would not be surprised if the defense uses this mischaracterization.

    Parent
    You are totally (5.00 / 2) (#84)
    by Zorba on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 04:24:57 PM EST
    Misreading my comment.  See my post #83 to Yman.
    Reread it and get back to me.  We are not on opposite sides, here, ABG.

    Parent
    I'll care (none / 0) (#95)
    by Slayersrezo on Tue Jun 04, 2013 at 10:05:07 AM EST
    When someone is sanctioned for nearly starting race riots in March and April of last year.

    Until then, wake me up when the evidence of self-defense in the case changes.

    That being said at least O'Mara and Zimmerman have class and can apologize. That's far more than I've seen from the State or Crump or some other members of his group.

    Parent

    Didn't see this posted (5.00 / 1) (#76)
    by AngryBlackGuy on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 03:11:10 PM EST
    before I posted the same story below.

    Y'all know what I think of this.  They leaked all of this negative TM information and even flat out lied about what some of the evidence was and now that the damage is done, they will retract and do what is required to avoid more serious blow back.

    Parent

    Sure they will retract, but the damage to (5.00 / 2) (#87)
    by caseyOR on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 05:25:01 PM EST
    Trayvon is done. And that is what Mara hoped to accomplish.

    Can the defense be censured in some way by the judge for releasing this, well, total lie about Trayvon? Would that get any real news coverage? Will this current defense backtrack get any real news coverage?

    I know the defense has to defend, but smearing a kid who cannot defend himself since is is, you know, dead? That just stinks.

    Parent

    Probably not (5.00 / 1) (#93)
    by jbindc on Tue Jun 04, 2013 at 08:17:31 AM EST
    Since it was released prematurely by the Orlando Sentinel - not exactly a friendly venue to George Zimmerman.

    On Thursday, in preparation for the anticipated release of the fight video, an Orlando Sentinel reporter drafted a story describing it, intending to publish it once the video had been made public. A web producer prematurely posted it to OrlandoSentinel.com Friday but quickly took it down after discovering the video had not been released. The story correctly characterized the video. After readers found a cached version of the story online Sunday, Zimmerman's attorneys released their statement and decided against posting the video.



    Parent
    The false accusation ... (5.00 / 1) (#96)
    by Yman on Tue Jun 04, 2013 at 10:33:05 AM EST
    Can the defense be censured in some way by the judge for releasing this, well, total lie about Trayvon? Would that get any real news coverage? Will this current defense backtrack get any real news coverage?


    Probably not Since it was released prematurely by the Orlando Sentinel - not exactly a friendly venue to George Zimmerman.

    ... was not the the release of the still shots from the video and accompanying description by the Orlando Sentinel, but O'Mara's completely false characterization of the video in a (broadcast) court hearing.

    Parent

    Yes, I understand (5.00 / 1) (#97)
    by jbindc on Tue Jun 04, 2013 at 10:40:31 AM EST
    But he said he might use it at trial.  As you know, lawyers say all kinds of things.  yes, he mischaracterized it, and shame on him, but he did not release it, which is why I was making the correction.  And, as I pointed out, the Orlando Sentinel is not exactly friendly to Zimmerman, so it's hard to argue they were "helping" by trying to taint the jury pool.

    That's all.

    I'm trying to stay out of the muck on both sides that has become the "discussion" on the Zimmerman case.  Too much glee shown by both those who are (allegedly) "pro-Zimmerman" (whatever that means) and those who want to ignore any bad or, rather, not so good, information about Martin.

    Parent

    Makes me wonder how often (5.00 / 2) (#98)
    by Anne on Tue Jun 04, 2013 at 10:53:19 AM EST
    O'Mara has to say, "Golly - did I say that out loud?"

    I don't have a whole lot of respect for this kind of tactic - and yes, I know it happens on both sides - and I don't like it either way.

    Parent

    The Sentinel didn't release it, either (5.00 / 2) (#99)
    by Yman on Tue Jun 04, 2013 at 11:04:45 AM EST
    They had (prematurely) posted an article accurately describing the video along with a single, still photo of the video.  The problem was not the accurate description of the video by the OS or the single, still-photo accompanying the article.  The problem was O'Mara's false characterization and description of the video in which he stated it showed TM videotaping two of his friends beating up a homeless man.  This completely false mischaracterization was then broadcast all over the media for 5 days before O'Mara was forced to apologize after the OS story became public.  This is a video that the defense knew about for the past 9 months and previously characterized as "a video connected to him in some way regarding a bicycle," but which (in the interim) magically transformed into TM videotaping his friends beating a homeless man.

    The problem was not the OS's (non)release of the video or its accurate description thereof.  It was O'Mara's utterly false, public description of the video.

    I'm trying to stay out of the muck on both sides that has become the "discussion" on the Zimmerman case.  Too much glee shown by both those who are (allegedly) "pro-Zimmerman" (whatever that means) and those who want to ignore any bad or, rather, not so good, information about Martin.

    Yep, a regular Switzerland.  I don't know who you're referring to as "those who want to ignore any bad or, rather, not so good, information about Martin", but I think the objection here is the blatantly false public description of a video by the defense.  So, yeah ... there probably are "some" who want to "ignore" (general) information that is almost certainly irrelevant and inadmissable and (as in this instance) completely false.

    Parent

    Yep (none / 0) (#100)
    by jbindc on Tue Jun 04, 2013 at 11:15:41 AM EST
    The vile and vitriol coming from those on all ends of the spectrum in Zimmerman comments is pretty rank.

    Parent
    Yep - just the reasonable one ... (5.00 / 2) (#101)
    by Yman on Tue Jun 04, 2013 at 11:46:20 AM EST
    ... in the middle, who can easily connect the dots to identify the "anti-George people" but has so much difficulty identifying "those who are (allegedly) "pro-Zimmerman" (whatever that means)" ...

    ... while ignoring the actual point and trying to blame the Orlando Sentinel's correct (non)"release" of the video in order to excuse O'Mara's completely false, public characterization of the video.

    After all - "lawyer's say all kinds of things" ...

    ... right?

    Parent

    And, it's only fair to give props (5.00 / 2) (#49)
    by jbindc on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 10:20:40 AM EST
    Where props are due.

    Gov. Robert McDonell (R-VA) announces automatic restoration of voting rights (on an individual basis) to non-violent felons.

    Even the NYT gave him a hat tip.

    Under his order, people convicted of nonviolent felonies will have their right to vote restored if they have completed their sentences, satisfied court-ordered conditions and have no pending felony charges. Although details remain to be worked out, this important move helps restore fundamental rights for a neglected part of the population.



    National security issues (none / 0) (#10)
    by Politalkix on Sun Jun 02, 2013 at 12:34:38 PM EST
    that are beyond the limited comprehension of the Sarah Palins, John McCains, Lindsey Grahams, Rand Pauls and luminaries of the tea party movement.
    link

    I love the beverage stack around (none / 0) (#23)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Jun 02, 2013 at 07:44:06 PM EST
    Hunter's photos.  Is the alcohol ratio correct though?  And is that blueberry juice?  Looks like the blueberry juice I buy.  What would Hunter think of blueberry juice?  Prententious liberals drinking?

    And it looks like he passed out... (none / 0) (#25)
    by Dadler on Sun Jun 02, 2013 at 09:19:08 PM EST
    ...in mid burrito bite or something.

    Parent
    I thought that was a cat. (none / 0) (#27)
    by desertswine on Sun Jun 02, 2013 at 10:17:00 PM EST


    Parent
    He's eating (5.00 / 1) (#59)
    by Zorba on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 12:39:20 PM EST
    a kitten???  That would be a bit over the top, even for Hunter.
    ;-)

    Parent
    It's a kitten, I know, but... (none / 0) (#29)
    by Dadler on Sun Jun 02, 2013 at 10:38:40 PM EST
    ...at first blush it reminded me of finding a friend of mine passed out in the hallway outside our hotel room in Vegas, and he literally must have done so mid bite on his carne asada burrito.

    Parent
    Well I guess it coulda (none / 0) (#30)
    by desertswine on Sun Jun 02, 2013 at 11:23:43 PM EST
    been a gato burrito.

    Parent
    At first glance... (none / 0) (#33)
    by kdog on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 08:20:24 AM EST
    I thought Mr. Thompson was pulling a tube.

    Parent
    We all see in Hunter what we (5.00 / 1) (#51)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 11:20:40 AM EST
    Most want to see :)

    Parent
    My cartoon for Hunter (5.00 / 1) (#54)
    by Dadler on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 11:39:04 AM EST
    I can't remember which number this was in my series, but it makes me think of him. (link)

    Parent
    And I already had sent this one (5.00 / 1) (#58)
    by Zorba on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 12:38:01 PM EST
    on to some of my older friends.  They loved it!     ;-)

    Parent
    For m o blue: (none / 0) (#35)
    by oculus on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 08:48:45 AM EST
    Paul Krugman:  "The geezers will be all right."

    NYT

    Thanks. Always enjoy Krugman. (5.00 / 2) (#40)
    by MO Blue on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 09:19:47 AM EST
    "The geezers will be all right." as long as the President and Congress do not comply with the plan continually being promoted to trade our benefits for more tax breaks for their pals the "Fix the Debt" CEOs.

    Unfortunately, I am not confident that any "facts" will deter Obama from his Grand Bargain objective.


    Parent

    The data just are not (none / 0) (#50)
    by KeysDan on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 10:41:59 AM EST
    cooperating.   Considering the embattlement of  Obamacare, one might think that that the Administration would be heralding its prospects for "bending the curve."  After being  immersed for four years in the need for "reform"  (from cuts to coupons) of  the ""unsustainable" social programs you might also think that "crisis" would now  give way to evaluation of steps already taken and management of readily manageable programs.

    Moreover,  headlining the findings may have the added benefit of changing the subject away from the D.C. kerfuffles.   That the Social Security and Medicare Trustees Report has, essentially, gone silent, other than to stress any concerns, shows, in my view,  that Pete Peterson's obsession and funds are still at play.

    Parent

    Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) (none / 0) (#37)
    by CoralGables on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 09:10:51 AM EST
    the longest serving Senator in New Jersey history died last night. From what I can find, Governor Christie will appoint an interim Senator. Whether that appointment holds until November 2014, or there is a need for a special election the same time as New Jersey election next Nov 5 I'm not sure.

    According to WaPo (none / 0) (#38)
    by jbindc on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 09:14:54 AM EST
    Lautenberg's death means his seat will be filled temporarily by an appointee selected by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R). And in addition to holding an election for a full term in 2014, there also will be a special election for the seat later this year.

    Christie has broad authority on setting the date for the special election. New Jersey is already holding a gubernatorial and state legislative election on Nov. 5, with the primaries being held June 4.

    Link

    Parent

    They certainly can't hold any primaries (none / 0) (#43)
    by CoralGables on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 09:32:26 AM EST
    for Senator tomorrow, so perhaps a primary date chosen by Christie later on and the general to fill the rest of the term in November. November is a logical move. It saves money since the election for Governor is then, and Christie can hope his appointee can ride some coattails and hold the seat.

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    Our hard-working members of Congress (none / 0) (#39)
    by oculus on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 09:15:53 AM EST
    travel to Moscow to investigate re deceased alled Boston Marathon bomber. Thet acknowledge Steven Seagal's help. Weird.

    NYT

    I wonder how (none / 0) (#64)
    by Zorba on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 12:56:13 PM EST
    many of our tax dollars were spent sending these congressmen to Moscow?  Do they really think that they are going to add anything of substance to the investigation?
    OTOH, I understand that the weather is usually very pleasant in Moscow this time of year.      ;-)

    Parent
    White nights. (none / 0) (#79)
    by oculus on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 03:23:01 PM EST


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    Would Those Be the Same... (none / 0) (#105)
    by ScottW714 on Tue Jun 04, 2013 at 01:20:19 PM EST
    ...people freaking out about the IRS spending ?

    Parent
    Paging Coral Gables & fishcamp... (none / 0) (#42)
    by kdog on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 09:30:07 AM EST
    Nervous about tonight?  

    Go Pacers...bring some agony of de-Heat to South Beach!

    Nervous? (none / 0) (#45)
    by CoralGables on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 09:42:06 AM EST
    Hell no. Win or lose, nothing is more fun than a Game 7. The Heat went 7 to beat the Celtics in the Conference Finals last season. I've been to one Game 7 in my life, the 1997 World Series. It was edge of your seat for every pitch. I expect the same thing tonight (wish I could justify the cost). It'll feel like life and death everytime down the court.

    Filling in for BTD... in Vegas the Heat is a 7 point favorite.

    Parent

    I hear ya... (none / 0) (#46)
    by kdog on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 09:47:43 AM EST
    on Game 7's...I was lucky enough to attend 2006 NLCS Game 7. The Endy Chavez Catch, Beltran Called Strike 3 game.  Un-freakin-real tension and electricity.  Feels like 100 years ago;)

    I'd wish you good luck tonight, but I'd be lying.  To paraphrase Scotty Appleton, I want the Heat to lose so bad my d*ck is hard.

    Parent

    Be honest (none / 0) (#47)
    by CoralGables on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 09:52:40 AM EST
    Deep down you know you want the Heat to win tonight so you can root against them for another series. Spurs/Pacers would bore you to death. Spurs/Heat will have you a huge San Antonio fan and give you rooting interests and a reason to stay hard for another two weeks.

    Also, explain to me how the Mets can sweep the Yankees and then proceed to get swept by the worst team in baseball.

    Parent

    Nope... (none / 0) (#48)
    by kdog on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 10:07:34 AM EST
    I'd much rather have a boring Finals if it insures the Heat don't win it all.  The hard on for a Heat ouster has already lasted more than 4 hrs;)

    Classic Mets, what else can I say.  The Marlins even slapped our season's saving grace Matt Harvey around, though he was in line for a cheap win till the bullpen imploded.

    Parent

    If mine lasted for more (5.00 / 2) (#55)
    by NYShooter on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 11:53:50 AM EST
    than four hours I wouldn't call my doctor, I'd grab my address book.

    Parent
    Now, now, Shooter (none / 0) (#61)
    by Zorba on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 12:48:51 PM EST
    Tsk, tsk!

    Parent
    Well, I'm not exactly nervous but... (none / 0) (#80)
    by fishcamp on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 04:02:37 PM EST
    I am concerned since Lebron threw the ball away twice in game two and Bosch and Wade just stood around last quarter of the last game.  Kinda looked like a fix to get more advertising $$ for seven games but that can't be possible...can it

    Parent
    BTW I heard tickets (none / 0) (#81)
    by fishcamp on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 04:05:33 PM EST
    are available for $7,500.

    Parent
    Stubhub (none / 0) (#85)
    by CoralGables on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 05:13:31 PM EST
    $9400 Courtside.

    You can get a $125 ticket for a standing room in the nosebleed.


    Parent

    Well, sure, fishcamp (none / 0) (#86)
    by Zorba on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 05:16:24 PM EST
    Buy us all tickets.  ;-)
    (You did say that Warren Buffett is your dad, right?  Right???)

    Parent
    Maryland v. King just decided (none / 0) (#44)
    by jbindc on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 09:40:32 AM EST
    Another 4th Amendment case.

    Held:

    When officers make an arrest supported by probable cause to hold for a serious offense and bring the suspect to the station to be detained in custody, taking and analyzing a cheek swab of the arrestee's DNA is, like fingerprinting and photographing, a legitimatepolice booking procedure that is reasonable under the Fourth Amendment.

    (Interesting dissent lineup:  Scalia, Ginsburg, Sotomayor, and Kagan).

    Yes (none / 0) (#60)
    by Zorba on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 12:43:33 PM EST
    Very interesting dissent lineup.  Every once in awhile, Scalia surprises me.
    And, BTW, I too would have voted with the dissent.

    Parent
    Apparently (5.00 / 1) (#66)
    by jbindc on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 01:10:42 PM EST
    In every Fourth Amendment case decided this term (that was not unanimous), Scalia sided with the defense and Breyer with the government.

    h/t Volokh

    Parent

    "legitimate police booking procedure" (5.00 / 2) (#67)
    by kdog on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 01:10:47 PM EST
    Only if you live in a police state.

    I too give props to the dissenters.

    Parent

    That makes you (none / 0) (#92)
    by jbindc on Tue Jun 04, 2013 at 08:13:33 AM EST
    in agreement with Sen. Ted Cruz:

    Today's unfortunate U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Maryland v. King, by a vote of 5-4, expands government power, invades our liberty, and undermines our constitutional rights. The Court held that the police can forcibly take DNA samples from people who have been arrested--but have not been tried or convicted--of a serious offense. So now the government can capture, without a search warrant, the most personal information about an individual, and use it to search vast databases for unrelated offenses.

    All 50 States already collect DNA from convicted felons. So this intrusion of liberty will matter only for those not convicted: the innocent and wrongly accused or those for whom there is insufficient evidence to convict.

    As Justice Scalia rightly noted in dissent, "As an entirely predictable consequence of today's decision, your DNA can be taken and entered into a national DNA database if you are ever arrested, rightly or wrongly, and for whatever reason."

    All of us should be alarmed by this significant step towards government as Big Brother. The excessive concentration of power in government is always inimical to liberty, and a national database of our DNA cannot be reconciled with the Fourth Amendment.

    How does it feel to agree with him?  :)

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    Feels just fine.... (5.00 / 2) (#94)
    by kdog on Tue Jun 04, 2013 at 09:49:09 AM EST
    Cruz is absolutely right, for a change.

    Reassuring to know there is still common ground to be found with the (otherwise) crazy far right.

    Parent

    I'm with kdog on this one. (5.00 / 2) (#102)
    by caseyOR on Tue Jun 04, 2013 at 12:34:33 PM EST
    I cannot stand Ted Cruz on a number of levels. Rarely do I agree with anything he says. Still, when he's right, he's right.

    His statement in this case is yet another example of the stopped clock and blind squirrel syndrome.

    Parent

    The problem is, (5.00 / 4) (#103)
    by NYShooter on Tue Jun 04, 2013 at 12:53:00 PM EST
    the dissenters lost

    I don't think the general public understands just what a horrible intrusion on privacy this decision was. You don't have to be a convicted felon for them to extract your DNA. All they have to do is stop you on the road "for weaving" (their favorite pretext) and, out come the swabs, and out go your rights. A perfectly innocent person will then have his DNA run through the National database in the most egregious invasion of your privacy (the ultimate "fishing expedition) I've ever heard of.

    Incredible, just incredible.


    Parent

    The standared for a warrantless DNA (5.00 / 2) (#108)
    by Anne on Tue Jun 04, 2013 at 02:07:08 PM EST
    search is supposed to be "arrested for a serious crime," not just any old pretext like "weaving" or jaywalking.

    That being said, I think it's a terrible ruling - the latest of many that seem to just be eating into whatever rights we have left.  

    What's next?  Taking DNA is so normal that, hey, maybe we should all have to provide a sample - newborns can be swabbed at birth.  What could go wrong?

    Parent

    Thank you for the correction, Anne (none / 0) (#109)
    by NYShooter on Tue Jun 04, 2013 at 02:18:49 PM EST
    having said that, I doubt that the "serious crime" qualifier is an insurmountable obstacle for determined police officers.

    Parent
    And we know how prone.. (none / 0) (#104)
    by kdog on Tue Jun 04, 2013 at 12:57:56 PM EST
    to honest mistakes, less than honest mistakes, and plain old sloppy work the crime labs are...and how awful the state is at keeping these databases secure and private (lol).

    I can't wait until the first poor slob gets arrested for a bag of weed, gets swabbed, and then gets tied to 20 year old rape by error.  That should be fun....not.

     

    Parent

    I Hate the Decision (5.00 / 1) (#110)
    by ScottW714 on Tue Jun 04, 2013 at 02:25:29 PM EST
    But in your scenario, seems far more likely the that if the slob is swabbed and tied to a rape he committed the rape.  

    The odds of an error in DNA and matching someone to a crime decades old would seems real close to zero. It's not like they would tie me to a rape 20 years ago considering I lived 1500 miles away.  Their would have to be more than a positive DNA.

    A far more likely scenario they take the slobs DNA today for a weed bust, and in 20 years they find out he has some sort of marker for violence or addiction or whatever Orwellian deformity and throw him behind bars.  

    Plus the whole constitution thingy.

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    What constitution? (none / 0) (#111)
    by shoephone on Tue Jun 04, 2013 at 02:28:48 PM EST


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    That's Why I Referred to it as Thingy (5.00 / 1) (#112)
    by ScottW714 on Tue Jun 04, 2013 at 03:38:33 PM EST
    I remember when Iraq was drafting a constitution and some writer stated, "Let's given the ours, we don't use it anymore".

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    Even a blind pig (5.00 / 1) (#106)
    by Zorba on Tue Jun 04, 2013 at 01:29:25 PM EST
    finds an acorn once in awhile.  So I don't feel at all bad about agreeing with him in this particular case.

    Parent
    The Chinese used to say (none / 0) (#107)
    by jondee on Tue Jun 04, 2013 at 01:46:28 PM EST
    when the wrong person says the right thing, it means nothing..

    It's quite a dance routine Sclaia has going: jumping back and forth attempting to please both Opus Dei and the Cato Institute.

    Parent

    Fort Hood suspect (none / 0) (#56)
    by jbindc on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 12:34:34 PM EST
    Going to represent himself.

    Whups (none / 0) (#62)
    by AngryBlackGuy on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 12:52:39 PM EST
    Their bad:

    "During the Tuesday, May 28th hearing, Mr. O'Mara misstated the nature of video from Trayvon Martin's cell phone which was included in the Defendant's 3rd Supplemental Discovery. He stated that the video showed "two buddies of his beating up a homeless guy," when what happened was Trayvon Martin, along with a buddy, was videotaping two homeless guys fighting each other over a bike. Though it was unintentional, it is a particular concern to us because we are and have been committed to disputing misinformation in every aspect of this case, not causing it. For that, Mr. O'Mara apologizes."

    [snip]

    "Still, Sunday's admission will provide the latest fuel to the ongoing public debate that has been raging for months about Zimmerman's innocence or guilt, and is yet another example of how both sides have been trying their case in the court of public opinion. It also raises several questions, chief among them: how the lawyers managed to make the mistake in the first place, and why it took so long for them to correct the misinformation."

    Link

    The Atlantic says what many won't (none / 0) (#63)
    by AngryBlackGuy on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 12:55:24 PM EST
    "That type of evidence might be damaging if it were actually the type of evidence the defense claimed it was, but instead it will be damaging for a haze of character discrediting and misinformation that may be impossible for any potential jury member to ignore. As The Orlando Sentinel's Rene Stutzman reports, the video was actually "two homeless men fighting over a bicycle," which Martin did film. How that turned into Martin's friends beating up a homeless man is a little beyond us, considering there's a huge difference between two homeless men fighting and two friends beating up a homeless man. But like the fabrications and over-the-top examples before it, the whole point of the defense strategy is to leave you grasping for answers."

    Link

    There was a time where people here were upset at Crump and the Martins for this sort of time.

    Way a long time ago.

    Parent

    many still are (none / 0) (#114)
    by Jeralyn on Tue Jun 04, 2013 at 11:01:50 PM EST
    upset by Crump's distorted view of the facts -- very much so. Please speak for yourself.

    In my view, the misstatement by O'Mara pales in comparison to Team Crump's misstatements and blatant distorting of the facts, many of which they since retreated from. Examples: there were two shots; Witness 8 is a minor who was so traumatized she had to be hospitalized and missed the wake; there was a conspiracy by law enforcement to avoid charging Zimmerman; and too many more to count.  One he hasn't retreated from: Tracy Martin never told Serino it wasn't his son's voice. Google is your friend. The videos of Crump making these statements are widely available. At least O'Mara apologized.

    The manipulation of public opinion by Team Crump may be the most egregious I can recall in decades. That he continues to go unchecked is astonishing. And this will be my last response to one of your unsupported and factually misguided comments. Please find a site that shares your view to post them on.  


    Parent

    Houston... (none / 0) (#65)
    by ScottW714 on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 01:01:08 PM EST
    ...has created 2.3 jobs for everyone lost in the recession.

    But, Friday we had a massive blaze that killed 4 firefighters, and seriously injured 6.  A simple restaurant fire that grew out of control.

    In an instant or close to it, a group of firefighters who had put themselves in deliberate jeopardy out of concern that people might be trapped inside the Southwest Inn were buried in burning debris.
    LINK

    Game of Thrones (none / 0) (#69)
    by Slado on Mon Jun 03, 2013 at 01:57:24 PM EST
    anyone else watch last night?

    I'm catching up on the books so I was totally shocked.

    Wow.  

    You weren't alone (none / 0) (#113)
    by Yman on Tue Jun 04, 2013 at 08:03:19 PM EST
    I read the series so I knew what was coming (with the exception of Talisa - Rob Stark's wife), but I can imagine the reaction of those who hadn't.

    Parent
    Saturday Open Thread: Owl Farm Edition | 110 comments (110 topical)

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