home

Sunday Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Sun Jul 14, 2013 at 01:54:05 PM EST
Tags: (all tags)
Share This: Digg! StumbleUpon del.icio.us reddit reddit

Here's an open thread for all topics. except George Zimmerman, who has his own threads.

< TalkLeft Appreciation Week | The Legacy of the George Zimmerman Trial >

  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


    • Display: Sort:
    Sunday Open Thread | 81 comments (81 topical)

    Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

    AN AXE LENGTH AWAY, vol. 67 (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by Dadler on Sun Jul 14, 2013 at 02:23:01 PM EST
    She knows he loves his car, but does he really love it that much? (link)

    And here's the rest of last week's comics, in case you missed any.

    Vol. 61
    Vol. 62
    Vol. 63
    Vol. 64
    Vol. 65
    Vol. 66

    Get thee to thy place of worship, my merry heathens, be that place the alter or the bedroom or both if they are, as with me, the same.

    Edward Snowden Supporters (5.00 / 2) (#2)
    by Edger on Sun Jul 14, 2013 at 02:41:11 PM EST
    facebook group

    This is a group supporting Edward Snowden, as the name suggests. We support his actions leaking information about the NSA's covert programs, the Guardian's excellent and thoughtful reporting of this story, and pressing our government to make positive change. We hope this leads to a broader discussion and action about what our privacy rights should be as Americans.
    ...
    Please keep your posts on topic and only post things that are relevant to Snowden, the NSA programs exposed by Snowden, and any group actions we may want to take in support of Snowden. We reserve the right to remove posts that are off-topic.
    ...
    Here is the original Greenwald Snowden interview [VIDEO] that sparked creation of this group, for those who never saw it, missed it, or just would like to replay it.
    I see Diane is on there (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Jul 14, 2013 at 04:13:31 PM EST
    Keen activist

    Parent
    Dilled beans (5.00 / 3) (#3)
    by Zorba on Sun Jul 14, 2013 at 02:51:05 PM EST
    And pickled peppers came out nicely.  Everything sealed properly.  Even though I've been canning for 30 years or more, I always worry about jars sealing.  I think I've only had about 3 or 4 jars that didn't seal in all those years.  (Although I did have a batch of quince jelly two years ago that didn't "jell."  I was able to reprocess them and got them to jell.)
    More broccoli today.  I think that this time, instead of blanching and freezing it, I will make it into broccoli soup base and freeze that.  Then, in the winter, all I have to do is pull one out, heat it up, and add milk or cream, plus cheese if we want broccoli cheese soup.  (Very quick meal, with some crusty bread and a small salad.). I've done this before with the broccoli, and it turned out very well.

    I canned 40 pints of peaches and peppers this (5.00 / 2) (#15)
    by Angel on Sun Jul 14, 2013 at 10:27:59 PM EST
    past Wednesday.  Not bad for a city girl!!!

    Parent
    Jam Jam Jam. I canned raspberry and (5.00 / 2) (#17)
    by caseyOR on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 01:33:04 AM EST
    marionberry jam this last week. Berries came from a u-pick farm because I have no room to grow my own.  :-(

    Ibn the dead of winter, when summer is a dim memory, and the rain is pouring down, a dollop of berry jam on toast makes for a good start to the day. Well, with a giant steaming cup of coffee, of course.

    Parent

    I'm visiting relatives this week and we discussed (none / 0) (#19)
    by Angel on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 08:06:02 AM EST
    marionberries just last night at dinner. They were telling me about a festival they went to in Oregon a couple of years ago.  Funny you bring up that berry this morning!

    Parent
    Freezing (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by squeaky on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 08:50:51 AM EST
    Another freezer idea is to have a freezer bag or container ready and save all your vegetable scraps in the freezer instead of throwing them out or composting them. They wind up providing for a nice veggie stock, whenever needed. And of course freeze the stock, and use when needed.  

    Parent
    Yes, (none / 0) (#35)
    by Zorba on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 11:49:42 AM EST
    An excellent tip, that I use myself.  A bag of veggie scraps, a bag of beef bones and scraps, and a bag of chicken bones and scraps usually reside in my freezer until I have enough of whatever to make the appropriate stock.

    Parent
    Broccoli soup (none / 0) (#4)
    by shoephone on Sun Jul 14, 2013 at 03:07:18 PM EST
    sounds like a great choice.

    I bought a book on canning two years ago, and still haven't cracked it open! Your posts are giving me the incentive. I used to help my mom can spicy cukes every summer before I became a disinterested teenager. Too bad she never left us the recipe when she passed. They were the best ever.

    Parent

    Canning's not hard, just time-consuming. (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by Anne on Sun Jul 14, 2013 at 03:21:02 PM EST
    And thank goodness for air-conditioning - I can't imagine how hot it would be having to have the stove going all day in the summer heat.

    I had hoped to get two kinds of relish made today, but only managed the dill relish.  It smelled great, so hope it tastes as good!

    Parent

    That's why I'm not cooking chili until tonight... (none / 0) (#8)
    by shoephone on Sun Jul 14, 2013 at 03:29:24 PM EST
    It's too hot to turn the stove on until then!

    With all this talk of dill, I'm going to head down to the farmer's market and get a nice, fresh bunch from the Yakima organic farm stand.

    Parent

    Fish with some fresh dill just makes my (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by Anne on Sun Jul 14, 2013 at 03:40:52 PM EST
    mouth water...and crisp, sliced cucumbers with a dollop of dill-infused creme fraiche or sour cream...yum.

    Think I might do fish tonight, and make use of what's left of the fresh dill.

    And I think I know where I can get some cucumbers...

    Parent

    LOL! (none / 0) (#14)
    by Zorba on Sun Jul 14, 2013 at 04:21:14 PM EST
    Sounds like you still have tons of cucumbers, Anne!  Poor thing!     ;-)

    Parent
    Oh, I love dill, (none / 0) (#10)
    by Zorba on Sun Jul 14, 2013 at 03:33:14 PM EST
    And use it a lot.  I'm just sorry that my own dill is not doing very well this year, and I don't know why, so I am reduced to buying it from one of our farm stands.
    Grumble, grumble, grumble.

    Parent
    Exactly so, Anne (none / 0) (#9)
    by Zorba on Sun Jul 14, 2013 at 03:30:21 PM EST
    It is time-consuming, but the results are just so much better than what you get in the stores!  Plus you know exactly what's in it.
    But I agree.  Air conditioning is wonderful!      ;-)

    Parent
    Personal note: be sure you have enough (none / 0) (#52)
    by oculus on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 01:10:25 PM EST
    pectin'

    Parent
    Oh, you should really try (5.00 / 2) (#7)
    by Zorba on Sun Jul 14, 2013 at 03:28:02 PM EST
    canning if you love gardening, shoephone!  
    Freezing is great, too, but there are lots of things that cry out for canning.  Not to mention, although I have a full-size freezer, it gets pretty full easily.  With canned stuff, all you have to do is put up another shelf.
    My kids were in 4-H when they were growing up (we do live on a farm, after all) and we taught them how to can, preserve, and grow a garden.  (Not to mention how to raise beef cattle.)  They showed all kinds of stuff, and beef, through 4-H during the County Fairs.  Mr. Zorba always liked 4-H better than Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, because the kids actually got money for what they showed (as opposed to badges or whatever), and also learned how to keep meticulous books, because their 4-H projects required this.  So they learned very practical stuff, plus how much things cost.  They know exactly where our food, meat as well as fruits and vegetables, comes from, how to raise and process it, and both of them are still excellent cooks, as well as canners and preservers.

    Parent
    Nice idea (none / 0) (#18)
    by Yman on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 07:44:33 AM EST
    I've frozen soup before, but never thought of making a soup "base".  Sounds like it would take up much less freezer space.

    Parent
    I cook (5.00 / 2) (#20)
    by Zorba on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 08:31:58 AM EST
    the broccoli and some onion in a chicken or vegetable stock, but I make it really thick.   Then I whir it in the blender, and freeze it in those four cup freezer containers.  Then, when I reheat it, I add more stock, the desired seasonings, and the milk.  Plus cheese, if we want.  The containers fit right in the shelves on the door of the freezer.
    Works fine, takes less space, and milk doesn't freeze well, anyway.

    Parent
    Yum! I'm stealing this, Zorba!! (none / 0) (#21)
    by Angel on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 08:43:30 AM EST


    Parent
    Could I ask you? (none / 0) (#29)
    by Yman on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 11:25:01 AM EST
    Do you "get it really thick" simply by simmering it for a long time to reduce/concentrate it, or do you add something to thicken it?  I make a creamy potato/ham/broccoli soup that I thicken with instant mashed potatoes and a tortilla soup I thicken with masa.

    Parent
    I should have written (5.00 / 1) (#33)
    by Zorba on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 11:41:22 AM EST
    That it's thick once I blend it, because I don't use that much stock to cook it in, and you don't want to overcook broccoli.  For soup, just until it's tender enough to blend well.
    Once it's blended, it's quite thick.  Then I can thin it further when we eat it.  I have added potatoes to soups to thicken them.  But homemade mashed potatoes, because I don't usually have instant potatoes.
    So the cream of broccoli soup is as thick as you want it to be, deepening upon how much broth or stock you use, plus the added milk.  Adding cheese to it also makes it thicker.
    For seasoning it when we're ready to eat, we like garlic, salt and fresh ground pepper, and a little freshly grated nutmeg.  The nutmeg makes a surprising difference.  Don't use too much, and it has to be whole nutmeg you grate yourself.

    Parent
    Love broccoli cheese soup (none / 0) (#23)
    by Dadler on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 08:49:14 AM EST
    My wife makes a mean batch every so often. Also a steak soup with homemade noodles that keeps me carnivorous even when I don't wanna be.

    Have fun, Z!

    Parent

    Question for the TL... (none / 0) (#27)
    by kdog on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 10:42:02 AM EST
    Food Growers Society...I've been contemplating giving my black thumb a try growing something to eat, but the area where the garden will be is very shady.  Any suggestions for what to plant next year in Zone 7 that doesn't require a ton of sun, or would I be wasting my time?

    Parent
    How much sun does it get? Is there no sun (5.00 / 1) (#39)
    by caseyOR on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 12:25:30 PM EST
    at all? Only morning sun? Only afternoon sun? There is nothing in the veggie world that you can grow with no sun at all.

    Plants that you are growing for the leaves, lettuce and chard and arugula for example, can be grown in partial or dappled shade. Here is a list of vegies that can be grown in partial daily sun.  

    Parent

    Ha! (none / 0) (#42)
    by Zorba on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 12:29:34 PM EST
    You beat me!  Great minds think alike, and all that.   ;-)

    Parent
    Two of the greatest;) (5.00 / 1) (#46)
    by kdog on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 12:43:44 PM EST
    I cleared a buncha brush (thorn bushes and weeds) from the area, the large trees around it create a full canopy so I would say it gets no direct sunlight at all, but partial all day long.

    If I can't find a better spot and decide to give it a go, I'll go with greens. Thanks ladies!

    My first thought was Long Island Sweet Corn (the best!), but even my dumb arse knew there wasn't enough sun for that.

    Parent

    Do you have any spot that gets direct sunlight? (5.00 / 1) (#53)
    by caseyOR on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 01:10:57 PM EST
    If, say, the area around the back door gets lots of sun (6 hours a day), burt is not suitable for a full garden, you can plant sun loving vegies in pots. Tomatoes can be grown in anything that is approx. the same size as a 5 gallon bucket. You can grow them in a 5 gallon bucket.

    Just about anything that needs to be staked or trellised, tomatoes and cukes and squash and pole beans, can be grown in a small space because most of the growing is vertical. I have seen people grow pole beans in the space right in front of their front porch.

    That way you take up just a little space in the sunny area. Then, in the less sunny area you can grow greens.

    Parent

    I threw together... (none / 0) (#58)
    by kdog on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 01:37:49 PM EST
    a little flower garden in a small bed under ther front window, maybe 3' x 8'.  They're only annuals so maybe next spring I could grow some grub there....that spot gets direct sun all morning, shaded in the afternoon.

    One problem might be it's right under the gutters, and if I don't stay on top of cleaning those out they overflow and pour right onto the bed when it rains heavy.

    Parent

    You can grow some veges in shade but (5.00 / 1) (#44)
    by shoephone on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 12:30:40 PM EST
    I think that most of them still need about three hours of sun a day. The best choices would be leafy veges like endive, swiss chard (this one would probably do best) and spinach. The main thing is to know how much sun the area will get and when, and also get a handle on what the soil is like there. If it's too dry you could mix with a good soil amendment (I like Gardener and Bloom's "Harvest Blend") and maybe think about doing them in a raised bed -- ditto if it gets too much moisture, because you don't want things to rot.

    You could also do some root vegetables -- beets, carrots , potatoes, etc. Carrots need a somewhat sandy soil. perfect for a raised bed.

    Good luck! If your first crop turns out well, then you may find yourself with a new obsession...

    Parent

    Kind have become obsessed... (5.00 / 2) (#56)
    by kdog on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 01:19:37 PM EST
    with just the landscaping and cleaning up the joint...once you start and see some progress you can't stop!  I even got some grass to grow in some spots (failed in others), which is more than I thought I was capable of...

    Sh*t, I gotta be prepared should the tyranny stop and I can plant the sacrament without risking my liberty or the landlady's house;)

    Parent

    Does the area (none / 0) (#41)
    by Zorba on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 12:27:47 PM EST
    get any sun at all, kdog?  Because if it gets a little, say about 3 hours a day, you can grow all kinds of greens.  Lettuce, arugula, kale, spinach, mustard greens, etc., plus herbs, and scallions.  Plus maybe some peas and some root vegetables,  but they need a bit more sun.  Bok choi and a mesclun mix probably can get by with the least sun.  I would not try tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant, because they need a lot of sun.
    If it never gets any sun, and is always really shady, then I don't know what to suggest.  I might plant a small amount of herbs, mesclun, and bok choi as an experiment, and see how they do.  If they grow okay, then you can expand the next time.

    Parent
    I look forward to return of BTD (5.00 / 8) (#5)
    by shoephone on Sun Jul 14, 2013 at 03:18:20 PM EST


    Doubt he'll return at this point. (5.00 / 2) (#25)
    by Leopold on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 09:05:08 AM EST
    I hope I'm wrong. But I can't imagine him wanting to post at this site anymore.

    Parent
    He is a lawyer (none / 0) (#26)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 10:29:22 AM EST
    He knows both sides must be argued and the world sux :). He may return.

    Parent
    Looks like he is doing 1 or 2 opinion posts (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by MO Blue on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 11:20:52 AM EST
    a week at the Big Orange. Maybe he considers that a better fit at the moment.

    Most of his posts prior to his current hiatus were about his investments in various sports betting rather than opinion pieces.

    I must have been out of town when he posted something to the affect that he would absent himself during the Zimmerman marathon. I tried to do a search on the last time "BTD" made a comment to better understand what was said but it came back with zero results. If I am doing something incorrectly, I would appreciate a link to the post or comment by BTD.

    Parent

    I searched too... (5.00 / 2) (#30)
    by kdog on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 11:33:17 AM EST
    I coulda swore he posted a comment that he was outty till Zimmermanpalooza was over...either memory fails or it got deleted.

    Parent
    I recall he said something (none / 0) (#34)
    by MKS on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 11:44:12 AM EST
    here about not being able to shoot someone just because you are loosing a fight.  And then said he would comment no further.

    Parent
    Posted by BTD on June 8 (none / 0) (#36)
    by CoralGables on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 12:10:33 PM EST
    Zimmmermanpalooza starts Monday! Are you stoked? I'll be deliberately AWOL during the trial (as opposed to the forced absence of work load.) Good luck to you all.


    Parent
    O.K. thanks for the info (none / 0) (#57)
    by MO Blue on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 01:34:11 PM EST
    I was getting ready to leave early morning of June 9th. on vacation and must have missed that post. Also, I see why I was getting zero results on my search. Senior moment: I forgot that he post under the full name of Big Tent Democrat and not BTD. Getting zero results on my search was frustrating, so thanks once again.

    Parent
    I noticed he does most of his political (none / 0) (#31)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 11:36:48 AM EST
    Opinions at Orange now.  I was pointed to some of his comments he made about the Zimmerman closing remarks.  For me they were very grounded.  If you look up his comments at Orange you can find them because it wasn't in one of his diaries.

    He will always have a sports following here I suppose.  I do love that he talks soccer, I don't always have time for it but both of my granddaughters are starting this year so having the mindset to follow it constantly won't be difficult.

    Parent

    He was quite critical of the (5.00 / 2) (#54)
    by oculus on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 01:15:24 PM EST
    prosecution's closing arguments. Maybe he is a wannabee criminal defense lawyer.

    Parent
    Don't think so :) (none / 0) (#62)
    by Leopold on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 02:09:18 PM EST
    He was critical, but for very different reasons than those expressed here.

    He is pro gun control, against SYG laws, and very much aligned with the liberal wing.

    Parent

    No disagreement here b (none / 0) (#63)
    by oculus on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 02:25:52 PM EST


    Parent
    I think he wanted better prosecution (none / 0) (#67)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 02:46:16 PM EST
    He's a planner though.  He didn't seem to think that the prosecution had much of goal to prove its burden :)

    Parent
    Guy had talent (none / 0) (#74)
    by MKS on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 03:05:22 PM EST
    but I got the impression that he was checking off boxes and was just doing his job, going through the motions suspecting it was hopeless.

    Parent
    BTD seemed most disappointed (none / 0) (#75)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 03:09:32 PM EST
    to me in La Rionda.  I tried to avoid watching the trial, I caught the first few days and after that highlights.  It just depressed me.

    Parent
    I kind (none / 0) (#37)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 12:17:11 PM EST
    of miss BTD posting around here. I hope he comes back. It seems more "personal" here than it does on the big orange. The Big Orange just seems to get more impersonal by the day.

    Parent
    You Can Email Him (5.00 / 1) (#38)
    by squeaky on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 12:20:01 PM EST


    Parent
    I have an aversion to the Orange Place (5.00 / 2) (#45)
    by shoephone on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 12:33:28 PM EST


    Parent
    Facebook added a new dimension (5.00 / 1) (#48)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 12:55:36 PM EST
    It added some personal.  The division over the NSA thing is huge though, and it's getting vicious with some of the more popular diarists so once again I'm on Facebook taking people who now have a face and a real life to me out of my feed.  If you would have freaked the hell out over it with Bush, you'd better freak the hell out of it with Obama.

    I have a quiet feed these days

    Parent

    Facebook (5.00 / 1) (#66)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 02:39:59 PM EST
    Some days it's fine and then other days it is not. Conservatives seem to fall for every conspiracy theory out there and then when someone points out that they have fallen for a conspiracy theory, they then block them. Just today two high school classmates got into it and then she sent him a private email lambasting him but he put a copy of the email up on facebook for all to see. So i guess he won in the end because now everybody on facebook knows what an idiot she is.

    Parent
    Ha ha (none / 0) (#73)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 03:00:32 PM EST
    I try to ignore the wingers.  But this dude who worked with my husband, during the Breaking Fox News that Israel hates Obama while they simulataneously gave him an award in real life, he put up a photo of Netanyahu in his youth and next to it was Obama in his youth smoking something.  Under the photos one says Netanyahu smoked terrorist while Obama smoked the ganja.

    My fingers got away from me.  Whew, I went on a tirade about since when has he been concerned about a commander in chief who served?  He voted for the administration that flew National Guard in Texas, got 20 deferments, and had horrific problems with anal cysts during Vietnam.  Our country really was at war then and just about nobody in the Bush administration could show up for it.  There was no war when Obama was of the prime age to serve in!  And Obama does smoke terrorists, ask Liberals, many of them aren't real impressed with his smoking terrorists techinques because he shoots now and dares you to ask questions later.

    I suppose it stayed up there all day and all of his soldier "friends" saw it.  I am now blocked :)  Not by his wife though :)

    Parent

    I know. (none / 0) (#77)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 03:37:39 PM EST
    I have periods of becoming a self appointed myth buster on facebook. Then they still continue with the crazy conspiracy theories and then they continue with more conspiracy theories. So most of the time I just let them roll on by and think to myself no one in their right mind is going to let you gain control of the government. So in the end they are hurting themselves and the GOP and conservatives so I just let them go at it.

    Parent
    He Seemed to Have a Real... (5.00 / 3) (#59)
    by ScottW714 on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 01:38:27 PM EST
    ...disdain for nearly everyone here.  While he never hit me with it, he would post something semi-cryptic and then get mad at anyone who did understand what the F he was talking about.  

    It all seemed to start with the GZ case, but didn't end with it.

    I hope he comes back as well.  Jeralyn is far more interested in her field than politics and her selective editing is irritating in that their is no methodology in it beyond what she doesn't like.  My opinion of course.

    I also hope we loose all the GZ baggage.  At times they are just so GD stooopid, yet for some reason, they always manage to bait some of the regulars into these absurdly ridiculous back and forths that are just plain painful to read.

    Parent

    Well I did get "hit with it" (5.00 / 1) (#60)
    by MO Blue on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 01:47:40 PM EST
    on more than one occasion and I believe it started before TL went all GZ. Having said that, I still would like him to return as I enjoyed reading his political opinions even on those occasions when I did not agree with him.

    Parent
    Are we talking about Armando? (none / 0) (#68)
    by MKS on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 02:47:31 PM EST
    He is very good at a lot of things. Chief among them is legal analysis.  

    I have generally agreed with his conclusions but have fallen back on dimly remembered legal concepts.  Armando's essays have really laid it out.

    In terms of his fights with people, they are largely gone as far as I can tell....

    Parent

    I think (none / 0) (#71)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 02:49:12 PM EST
    at one time or another BTD has gone off on everybody here about one thing or another. He's certainly done it to me.

    Yeah, I would miss the cryptic crap too.

    I don't even read the GZ threads most of the time. I read one after the verdict and I think my comment got deleted not that I really care.

    All that being said, I really liked the way BTD could analyze voting and demographics and when he talked about bargaining. Too bad Obama did not read about bargaining or learn bargaining from BTD.

    Parent

    He really is a major presence (none / 0) (#72)
    by MKS on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 02:56:06 PM EST
    in the progressive blogosphere (you reading this, Armando?)

    He is a lot less "blunt" than he used to be.

    Parent

    Sure (none / 0) (#49)
    by Leopold on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 01:07:53 PM EST
    But I remember the point when this place jumped the shark a little too much for him. He made a comment about it. Doubt he's coming back. And, to be frank, I respect him for it.

    Parent
    If he doesn't come back (none / 0) (#76)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 03:19:14 PM EST
    There is little point for some us to check in here daily.

    Parent
    What is this orange of which you speak (none / 0) (#78)
    by CoralGables on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 03:41:25 PM EST
    The only Big Orange I know is
    the Syracuse Big Orange  
    or
    Obie the Orangle Bowl mascot

    Parent
    Are you serious? If so Dailykos (none / 0) (#80)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 04:05:12 PM EST
    The Liberal blog from hell, or gateway to hell, something like that.

    I remember when Kos decided that the site should be orange.  Wow, people complained, you are hurting our eyes Kos!  It has stuck though, it's a trademark.  If you are ever at a protest that isn't tea-sterical, look for participants that have orange bandanas or neck scarves or something prominent that is orange.  They are likely Kossacks.

    Parent

    I've just always assumed (5.00 / 2) (#81)
    by CoralGables on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 04:12:39 PM EST
    you were speaking of some blog called Orange or Big Orange or something that was probably based in Texas. I've never asked because I prefer my orange with blue (47 days until kickoff)

    Parent
    I much prefer TL from before he showed up. (none / 0) (#32)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 11:40:03 AM EST


    Parent
    Well, there's a surprise. :) (5.00 / 3) (#50)
    by Leopold on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 01:08:08 PM EST


    Parent
    What is your opinion of the current TL? (none / 0) (#51)
    by oculus on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 01:08:49 PM EST
    (Or, is there it "TalkZimmerman"?)

    Parent
    Well, I was always much more interested (none / 0) (#64)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 02:28:45 PM EST
    in the politics of crime, rather than the politics of politics that TL has generally has been consumed with for the past few years (mostly via BTD).

    The politics of crime is something unique that no one else (that I know of) discusses anywhere, and J brings a completely unique sensibility to the subject, afiac.

    The politics of politics is discussed everywhere by everyone. Blah blah blah blah.

    Parent

    I Agree... (5.00 / 2) (#79)
    by ScottW714 on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 03:43:39 PM EST
    ...but for different reasons.  I think the main scope of TL has disappeared.  I, like you, like the politics of crime, but I lean more towards the macro level.  TL is stuck in the micro level, but only on a few choice cases.

    This past month, there have been more posts about one case than all other posts combined.  

    I stick around because I like most of the folks, even the ones who disagree with me, but make well thought out arguments, like yourself.

    If I just visited here today, I would not stick around.  And while it's called Talk Left, lately it's catered to an element on the other side of the fence to such a degree, that voices on the left are routinely removed, and vile comments from the right are allowed to stand when they agree with the author.

    But so long as one avoids those posts, it ain't too bad.

    Parent

    I must say... (none / 0) (#61)
    by kdog on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 02:00:49 PM EST
    the dude grew on me after that first impression...musta been the Bruce Springsteen, sports, and gambling common ground.

    Though we will never see eye to eye on political correctness! ;)

    Parent

    Ha! You and me both on those topics. (none / 0) (#65)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 02:31:54 PM EST
    It got to the point for me that I essentially only read and commented on the open threads, because the rest of them (mostly started by BTD) were so dead boring (politics politics politics).

    Parent
    I hear ya... (none / 0) (#70)
    by kdog on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 02:48:26 PM EST
    if not boring, then definitely depressing.  No interest in sausage-making, I like discussing the issues.  And just shooting the sh*t with a smart ecclectic group of knuckleheads.

    Parent
    Monday Snowden Update (5.00 / 1) (#40)
    by CoralGables on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 12:26:09 PM EST
    Nighttime in Moscow so nothing more happening today. Three days after saying he would, still no mention of Snowden filing for asylum in Russia.

    Never have so few words said so much

    Putin today on Snowden:

    "As soon as there is an opportunity for him to move elsewhere, I hope he will do that.

    When asked about what was next for Snowden, Putin replied:

    "How should I know? That's his life, his fate."

    Updated potential final landing spots for Snowden:

    1. Venezuela
    2. Sheremetyevo Airport Transit Area (up 1)
    3. Langley or JFK (up 1)  
    4. Nicaragua (down 2)
    5. The embassy of Venezuela, Nicaragua, or Bolivia in Moscow (up 1)

    Dropped from rankings recently: Russia, Iceland

    One has to wonder...during the mini press conference last Friday, how many bugs might have been planted in and around Snowden's room.

    One final comment from Putin today, with sarcasm or with a smile I don't know:

    "Such a present to us. Merry Christmas."
    Some Movement (none / 0) (#43)
    by squeaky on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 12:29:56 PM EST
    (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday he saw signs that Edward Snowden, the former U.S. spy agency contractor turned fugitive secrets leaker, was shifting towards stopping "political activity" directed against the United States

    Sounds like Putin is moving toward granting Snowden temporary asylum so he can go to Venezuela

    Parent

    I would say...not likely (none / 0) (#47)
    by CoralGables on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 12:53:00 PM EST
    Certainly not anytime soon...as in...not within the next eight weeks.

    Parent
    So Putin does have a sense of humor. (none / 0) (#55)
    by oculus on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 01:18:27 PM EST
    Are you placing money bets re your Snowden predictions?

    Parent
    Christmas in July? (none / 0) (#69)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 02:47:45 PM EST


    Parent
    NSA kids home page... (none / 0) (#12)
    by Edger on Sun Jul 14, 2013 at 04:10:36 PM EST
    Assimilate 'em before they can think

    A day in the life of an... (none / 0) (#16)
    by Edger on Sun Jul 14, 2013 at 11:08:27 PM EST
    ATTORNEY: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse?
    WITNESS: No.
    ATTORNEY: Did you check for blood pressure?
    WITNESS: No.
    ATTORNEY: Did you check for breathing?
    WITNESS: No..
    ATTORNEY: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy?
    WITNESS: No.
    ATTORNEY: How can you be so sure, Doctor?
    WITNESS: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.
    ATTORNEY: I see, but could the patient have still been alive, nevertheless?
    WITNESS: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law.

    AN AXE LENGTH AWAY, vol. 68 (none / 0) (#22)
    by Dadler on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 08:44:22 AM EST
    Good thing it comes in a bottle. (link)

    And if you missed the previous two comics:

    Vol. 67
    Vol. 66

    Sunday Open Thread | 81 comments (81 topical)

    Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment