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Thursday Open Thread

Sorry everyone, I've been swamped at work and didn't know the last open thread was full. Here's a new one, all topics welcome. I'll be back soon.

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    A Tale of Two Executives... (5.00 / 2) (#1)
    by kdog on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 01:52:07 PM EST
    Brand D Executive 1) Hugging and kissing health care heroes who have come in contact with Ebola victims.

    Brand D Executive 2) A waffling which way is the wind blowing today quarantine policy for returning health care heroes.

    The cynic in me says "guess which one is up for re-election next Tuesday?"...but I'd like to think Obama would be this admirable and set this fine example regardless.

    And I'd hate to think what Cuomo would do if his opponents actually had a prayer of winning...lock Dr. Spencer in an abandoned subway tunnel deep underground a la "Twelve Monkeys"?  

    Did you catch Christie giving a former (none / 0) (#15)
    by Anne on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 02:44:01 PM EST
    councilman from Asbury Park a big ol' cup of STFU?

    What a blowhard that guy is...

    And he's been campaigning here for Larry Hogan, the GOP nominee for governor (Hogan's a blowhard, too, so maybe that explains what makes no sense to me: why anyone would want Christie in their corner).

    Parent

    All over the news here... (5.00 / 1) (#16)
    by kdog on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 02:51:39 PM EST
    and yes, any and all politics aside, the guy is such a d*ck.  No class.

    Parent
    ... I can't see how that scene yesterday helps him with voters, save perhaps for the low-information and submissive types who are almost always impressed by such mindless displays of political d*ck-swinging. But for most everyone else, yesterday's loudmouthed performance serves to once again remind us that the guy is nothing but an emotionally insecure bully, and the very type of abrasive and stunted personality you generally DON'T want anywhere near such an important position of power.

    Parent
    Some voters do love that though (none / 0) (#105)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 08:30:20 AM EST
    That authoritarianism.  They will vote for the guy who tells them to STFU. They could give him the primary.

    I don't see that this turns on Independents though, who are the votes you must have to win Presidential elections.  That is the last group that puts up with STFU from anyone, nobody gets to be that special with them.  They want policy, they want success after combing through the details.  STFU doesn't usually get you there.

    Should make for some great election advertisments though.

    Parent

    Christie is a viable (1.00 / 1) (#106)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 08:33:48 AM EST
    Repub candidate only in the minds of Demos and the press.

    Parent
    Seriously, I would be interested (5.00 / 1) (#140)
    by MO Blue on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 11:35:34 AM EST
    in a list of the people you think would be viable Repub candidates.

    Parent
    Actual zombies might be more viable (none / 0) (#152)
    by Anne on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 12:30:11 PM EST
    than anyone I can think of in the GOP.

    Parent
    I can't think of any Republican (5.00 / 2) (#162)
    by MO Blue on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 12:46:00 PM EST
    that I would like as president either.

    But having said that, I was serious in wanting to know the Republicans Jim thinks would make good candidates.

    Parent

    Well (5.00 / 2) (#165)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 12:51:29 PM EST
    I can tell you back in 2012 Jim thought Perry of Texas was a good candidate. He said that's President Perry to you guys. You have to also realize that voters like Jim thought George W. Bush was an awesome president.

    Parent
    Heh (1.00 / 1) (#181)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 04:36:11 PM EST
    Ga, you're so busy attacking anything none Demo that you don't know when you're getting your leg pulled.

    Would Perry make a good President? Yes. He knows how to manage and that's what a President does.

    Can he get nominated? Maybe. He's clearly better prepared than last time.

    Can he get elected??

    Possibly. He would offer a very clear choice between an extension of 8 years of Obama and a new beginning. That's one of the things Reagan did.

    Parent

    Perry would make Bush look like (5.00 / 3) (#197)
    by Anne on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 11:05:48 PM EST
    a Rhodes Scholar.

    Yeesh.

    Parent

    Well, since you asked (none / 0) (#182)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 05:06:39 PM EST
    .... anyone who isn't a Democrat.

    (drum roll)  

    Seriously folks, take my candidate... Please..

    (drum roll)

    With apologies to Henny

    But if you really wanna know.

    Jindal, Walker, Perry, Haslam and yes, Romney. Come immediately to mind. Romney would be the best president with Walker a close second. Jindal the best candidate. Most of you said, "Haslam who?" He has done a very good job of running TN's government in some very hard times and is strolling to a second term. Quiet, poised and likable with no negatives beyond some family stuff. Hey, that didn't stop Carter. He could bring a lot of Independents and might bring back the Reagan Democrats.

    Walker's in a real dust up. Every union thug in the country is after his scalp but he's done what he said he'd do. A rare quality in a politician.

    If the country was in as good a shape as Texas we wouldn't be having this conversation.

    Sorry, I know you wanted me to say Cruz... But I'm saving him for Attorney General. McCain for Defense and Limbaugh for SecState.... LOL... They couldn't do worse than what we've had.

    Ben Carson for VP. He's smart, likable and a good communicator. He'd make a great President with some experience in day to politics.

    Parent

    Actually you don't need to apologize (5.00 / 1) (#186)
    by MO Blue on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 05:34:25 PM EST
    for not saying Cruz. I didn't want you to name any particular candidate. I wanted you to provide me with exactly what I asked for - a list of who in your opinion were viable Repub candidates.

    Hopefully you were joking about Limbaugh for Sec. of State but since I asked for information I do not plan to attack you for answering me.

    Parent

    Come on, (none / 0) (#187)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 05:37:33 PM EST
    can't you imagine The Big Guy across from Putin?

    ;-)

    Parent

    Site rules prohibit me (5.00 / 4) (#188)
    by MO Blue on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 05:51:21 PM EST
    from responding truthfully to this comment.

    Parent
    I can't imagine why ;-) (1.00 / 1) (#193)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 07:11:32 PM EST
    Okay, Limbaugh out. And we need a woman in. That'd be Coulter.

    Parent
    You are having too much fun (5.00 / 2) (#196)
    by MO Blue on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 09:14:58 PM EST
    trying to get a negative response from me. Sorry to spoil your party but  you will have to continue your fantasy life on your own.

    Parent
    Sorry (none / 0) (#199)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Nov 01, 2014 at 10:32:34 AM EST
    Just cutting up and I thought you would enjoy some  laughter at the thought of Limbaugh as SecState.

    Maybe we could get Maher to take the job. Since he has made both the Left and Right mad at him he'd be perfect.

    ;-)

    Parent

    Good Lord. (5.00 / 1) (#198)
    by Anne on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 11:09:29 PM EST
    That list of names could replace syrup of ipecac to induce vomiting.

    Parent
    Hey Anne (none / 0) (#200)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Nov 01, 2014 at 10:33:37 AM EST
    I'm here to serve!

    Parent
    It's gonna be a governor (none / 0) (#154)
    by jbindc on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 12:36:06 PM EST
    of former governor - one who isn't being talked about just yet, while the crazies are taking the stage in this final week of the election.  But not one of the crazy governors (I'm looking at you Rick Perry and Sarah Palin), but someone like a John Kasich, or Susanna Martinez, or Rick Snyder.

    Parent
    No (none / 0) (#163)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 12:47:44 PM EST
    primary is too short for any of them to get any traction and exposure. And GOP voters tend not to like new faces. So probably somebody who is already known.

    Parent
    Splain please (none / 0) (#108)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 08:53:42 AM EST
    I truly am interested in your take.

    Parent
    You really (none / 0) (#142)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 11:39:27 AM EST
    don't know even from living in Alabama? First of all he hugged Obama during Hurricane Sandy. These tea partiers hate the guy and frankly who is his voting base in the GOP? Republicans in New Jersey? I don't think that will get him the nomination.

    Parent
    No no no 6th (none / 0) (#145)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 11:48:04 AM EST
    I want to hear from Jim, his reasons why

    Parent
    And his reasons why are probably (none / 0) (#146)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 11:51:34 AM EST
    He prays for the Bushel of Jeb :)

    I pray for a Christie vs. Bush primary.  They can shorten that up all they want, that would be a mudfest!

    Parent

    Day One (none / 0) (#147)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 11:53:46 AM EST
    Christie says, "STFU silver spoon prince know nothing!"

    Parent
    Bush (none / 0) (#160)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 12:44:11 PM EST
    running. What a lark that would be. Bush is to the left of Obama on immigration, is actually married to a Mexican and has biracial children. Now this might be fine in the future but the far right GOP of 2014? No way Jose. LOL.

    Parent
    I Think the Base Would Also Refer... (none / 0) (#164)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 12:50:08 PM EST
    ...to him as a baby killer.  But he would probably take break for the primaries.

    Parent
    His "son says he's considering it" (none / 0) (#170)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 01:32:11 PM EST
    Trial balloon

    Parent
    I'm sure he is. (5.00 / 1) (#172)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 02:13:03 PM EST
    But he's waited too long. He's been out of office for over a decade and who exactly is his constituency in the GOP? Wall Street I would imagine but that's not going to be enough to get him the nomination. Or to get the nomination he goes full whacko and destoys his chances in the general. He can do whacko. It's what cost him his first election in FL against Lawton Chiles.

    Parent
    You gotta want him to try though (none / 0) (#173)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 02:15:58 PM EST
    Actually (none / 0) (#174)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 02:39:14 PM EST
    yes. Can you imagine the crazy that is going to come out on display if he runs?

    Parent
    Oh yeah! I say the more the merrier (none / 0) (#176)
    by ruffian on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 03:17:08 PM EST
    in the GOP primary and debates.

    Parent
    Jeb won't make it. (none / 0) (#180)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 04:28:33 PM EST
    The Repub base has had enough of Bushes. BUT if he should happen to then there's no need to spend all that time and money on an election. Just go ahead and crown whoever the Demos nominate.

    The Repub base will pull another "Romney" and just stay home.

    Which is why Jeb is getting so much attention from the Left wingers in the media.

    Parent

    Christie is too (none / 0) (#179)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 04:24:09 PM EST
    "in your face." Some may like him very much, but most people understand that to be able to get elected people have to believe that you will listen to everyone.

    Harshness wears thin pretty quickly. There is a difference between being seen as a solid, determined no nonsense type of person than being seen as someone who always goes for the jugular and tells people to STFU.

    Parent

    That former Councilman, (none / 0) (#31)
    by KeysDan on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 04:06:27 PM EST
    James Keady, "sat down" as ordered by Governor Christie, but did not "shut-up" on the MSNBC Chris Hayes show.  I sure hope that Christie's vaudevillian entertainment, apparently so admired at one point, is now just seen as bald and bullying obfuscation.

    Parent
    Big Island Update: (5.00 / 1) (#18)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 03:04:13 PM EST
    The lava flow that's presently threatening the village of Pahoa in the Puna district -- called the "June 27 flow," for the date its finger deviated from Pu'u O'o's main SE flow and started moving NE -- slowed down considerably during the overnight hours.

    This is a good thing right now, because it might allow state and county authorities more time to assess what needs to be done, not to save Pahoa, but to remove to the extent possible from the flow's path everything that's not nailed down. Because quite honestly, the current time-out will likely prove meaningless, and Pahoa will be cleaved in two within a few weeks if not sooner.

    With Big Island lava flows, what's out there on its leading edge isn't what counts, or what determines the level of damage it can cause. Rather, it's the potential volume of lava which may be following up behind it. And the Pu'u O'o vent has been a nonstop source for considerable and copious amounts of the stuff for the past 30 years running.

    Much the same thing happened in 1990 at the villages of Kalapana and Kaimu (of "black sand beach" fame) on the southeastern Puna coast. Pele's two month-long respite back then afforded people the time necessary to literally move out of harm's the famous "Painted Church" of Kalapana, Star of the Sea Roman Catholic Church, which Father Damien (now St. Damien) had built by hand back in 1870. With that church now safe, she resumed her flow and within six months had swallowed both villages whole, along with Kaimu's famous black sand beach.

    We'll see what happens. For those of you who are interested in following what's going on, the U.S. Geological Survey Observatory at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has set up a series of live webcams at Kilauea's Halema'uma'u summit and the Pu'u O'o vent in its east rift zone, and also atop Mauna Loa.

    It's been 30 years since Mauna Loa last erupted in 1984, and the its caldera at Mokuʻāweoweo (elev. 13,680 ft.) has once again been showing recent signs of expansion, a potential precursor to eruption. And as you can see from NASA's Jan. 2014 photo of the Hawaiian Islands from space, Mauna Loa is clearly visible on the southwest side of the Big Island (lower right corner of the photo). It is the largest single mountain by bulk and volume in the world, and the long black fingers emanating from its summit shows that its volcanic activity has historically had a very long reach.

    When viewing the webcams, please keep in mind that we're presently six hours behind the east coast, which will change to five hours two weeks from now, once you all go off daylight savings time. So if you check the webcams in the morning where you live, you might glimpse the bright red glow of the lava lake at Halema'uma'u and Kilauea's various active flows. But other times, you'll likely see nothing because it's still nighttime and pitch black.

    And hopefully, you'll be impressed enough by what you see that you'll want to come to the Big Island to visit the volcanoes for yourself. We're one of the very few places in the world where you can view such amazing activity in relative safety.

    Aloha.

    Thank you again for the update, Donald (none / 0) (#48)
    by Zorba on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 05:32:14 PM EST
    I have been following this because we visited the Big Island with our kids in the mid-1990's, and we fell in love with it.
    It was amazing to walk on the caldera of a volcano, and also to witness a linear vent spewing lava into the sea.  During the daylight hours, a whole lot of steam erupting as the lava hit the ocean.  Even more spectacular at night, with the vent glowing, and the sparks flying as the lava hit the water.
    It makes you really respect the power of Nature (or, let's call it Pele, at least in a volcanic zone).  It really makes you feel small and insignificant as a human being, and to realize that, indeed, there are many things that we cannot do.


    Parent
    In all likelihood, we will eventually ... (none / 0) (#64)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 07:05:04 PM EST
    ... retire to Hilo. Its 200-plus inches of annual rainfall notwithstanding, we just love it over there. It's a funky old plantation town that still very much resembles its early 20th century heyday as one of the world's great sugar producers, and the tourists who do visit that side of the Big Island generally tend to be the more adventurous types who aren't willing to settle for the nominal resort experience. Younger Daughter is presently a student at UH-Hilo, majoring in tropical agriculture.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    I live at the tip of a rain forest too (5.00 / 1) (#93)
    by ZtoA on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 10:59:29 PM EST
    a temperate rain forest. This is the heart of the west coast real rain forest. Love the descriptions of the colors of the Quinalt old growth forest. I've never visited Hawaii, but your descriptions make it seem so much more accessible!

    Parent
    I'm a UW alumnus. (5.00 / 1) (#97)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 01:30:19 AM EST
    Where you live is gorgeous. I loved spending time in the Olympic Peninsula.

    Parent
    We went to Hilo (none / 0) (#75)
    by Zorba on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 08:06:58 PM EST
    It was lovely.
    We rented a car, so we were able to go all over the Big Island.  Amazing what variety there was.  All of it wonderful.

    Parent
    This weekend (5.00 / 6) (#109)
    by jbindc on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 09:07:02 AM EST
    We are traveling to a very small town in western Pennsylvania to celebrate this man, my grandfather.

    He still is pretty cute at 100 and I can't wait.

    Happy 100th Birthday to your granddad! (5.00 / 2) (#120)
    by Anne on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 09:57:18 AM EST
    That was a delightful article, jb - thanks for sharing it.  

    Have a great time at the celebration - that's quite a milestone!

    Parent

    Many happy (5.00 / 1) (#121)
    by Zorba on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 10:01:07 AM EST
    returns to him, jb.
    100 years old!  Wow!  

    Parent
    Here's he is (5.00 / 3) (#125)
    by jbindc on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 10:24:39 AM EST
    in this year's Halloween costume (he's a Pirates fan, so it really is a costume!)

    Parent
    He looks great, jb! (5.00 / 3) (#128)
    by Anne on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 10:34:51 AM EST
    I always say that if I can be of sound mind and reasonably cooperative body and bank account, it would be okay to live to be that old - I mean, how great would it be to see my grandkids graduate from college, or get married and give me some great-grandkids?  Pretty darn great - and I suppose it's possible - my mom's still around, and at 84, she's been to the weddings of two of her grandchildren and has two great-grandkids.  

    Since it doesn't seem to be a matter of choice, I guess we can just keep our fingers crossed and hope we have sturdy enough genetic material to keep us growing old the way we want to!

    Parent

    Awwwww! (5.00 / 1) (#148)
    by Zorba on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 11:56:37 AM EST
    I agree with Anne.  He looks great!

    Parent
    Looks pretty spry for 100 (5.00 / 2) (#149)
    by MO Blue on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 12:05:27 PM EST
    From that photo, I would have never guessed he was 100 years old.

    Parent
    He gets around (5.00 / 2) (#151)
    by jbindc on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 12:27:01 PM EST
    He still live in the same house, like the article said.  My aunt from Hawaii (mentioned in the article) moved in, at least part of the year, because she has a business where she can work anywhere.  I have another aunt who lives near Pittsburgh, and my uncle and aunt, who are both retired school teachers live next door, and my mom (also quoted in the article) will come from Detroit for a month at a time to spell the others.  It's also a very small town, where we are related to many, so people are around to help if needed (I have a great aunt - his sister-in-law [my grandmother's sister], who will be celebrating her 90th birthday at Thanksgiving).  But he likes to sit and watch TV and nap, but he still goes to church occasionally, and they take him out - he went down to a baseball game in Pittsburgh this year (and if you want to see a baseball game, with pretty good seats - go with someone who's 100 and needs a wheelchair for long distances.  The ballpark will greet you as you arrive, and in many cases, offer you better seats where you are in the wheelchair accessible seats, which are upper deck and front row).  

    My aunts/uncle/mom have DVR'd baseball games for him - he doesn't always realize they aren't live.  And he's recently had trouble keeping up with the games - between all the instant replays and graphics, he sometimes gets confused, but he's still got a pretty good mind.

    He doesn't say much anymore (although with our large and crazy family, you have to be pretty aggressive to get a word in edgewise - think "My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding").  When I asked him why, he told me "I've pretty much said all I need to say."  And when I tell him he's got another good 20 years or so, he laughs and say, "Oh, no. I hope not. I'm tired.  I don't want that."

    He is truly one of the easiest people to get along with - always has been.  And except for, you know, being old, he doesn't have tons of medical problems, and very few aches and pains.  Not bad for someone with black lung.

    (I remember when we were little, he used to tell the story of the Three Croation Pigs - Pete, Mike, and John.  Same story as the regular Three Little Pigs, but we had a lot more detail, such as having names).

    My grandmother on the other side is 95, lives by herself in a two bedroom apartment, and has all of her mental faculties (and doesn't forget a trick - she can tell you something you said last week or 25 years ago). She has slowed down some, but cooks and cleans for herself, and is up to date on all the news and current events. She probably could whip a few people around here in line.

    And yet, we have heart disease in our family.  Go figure.  I'm pretty lucky.  

    Parent

    That's good stock kid... (5.00 / 1) (#156)
    by kdog on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 12:38:58 PM EST
    Has anyone researched if he's the longest living person ever to work for so many years in a coal mine?  I mean that's astounding, considering the working conditions...and he worked another full time job!  Totally astounding.

    Parent
    This is just (5.00 / 2) (#167)
    by Zorba on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 01:07:41 PM EST
    so very, very sweet.  What a guy, and what a family!  You're lucky, jb.  I don't necessarily mean about the longevity (although that's great, too, since they appear to be in relatively good health), I mean the closeness of the extended family.
    Croatian and Italian?  Yes, I can just imagine the whole thing!
    Remember, I'm Greek.  And if you think that your family is like "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," that was my family.  Mr. Zorba has always maintained that the movie was written about us.    :-D

    Parent
    We have a real courtly gentleman at church, (none / 0) (#158)
    by MO Blue on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 12:41:58 PM EST
    a relative youngster, who just had his 92nd birthday this year. He was  doing great both mentally and physically until he fell this year. That took a toll on him but he seems to to be getting around better. He still stops and helps the ladies with canes get down the steps at the communion rail. And he is out every day walking his dog. When I wished him Happy Birthday, I said he would be good for another 10 years or so and he also responded that "He hoped not."

    We have another church member who turned 102 this year. He now resides in an assisted care or nursing home facility but our paster (woman) says he still sings to her when she goes to visit.

     

    Parent

    What a great and interesting life (5.00 / 3) (#124)
    by MO Blue on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 10:16:18 AM EST
    Fantastic article. Can't imagine living to 100.

    Happy, happy birthday to your grandfather. Sounds like his birthday party will be lots of fun.

    Parent

    Yeah (5.00 / 2) (#127)
    by jbindc on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 10:30:06 AM EST
    when I talked to my aunt a couple of weeks ago, she said they already had about 250 RSVP "yes" for the party.  It's only at the church hall, and is going to only be from 12-2 on Sunday, but my grandpa loves to sing, so I know there will be Italian and Croation music (probably an accordion player), and impromptu dancing (although he can't really do that anymore).  But I know there will be REALLY good food from "the church ladies".  :)

    Parent
    The accordion music (5.00 / 1) (#130)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 10:45:01 AM EST
    is definitely his longevity secret.  Or at least one one them.  1914.  Wow he's seen a lot.

    Tell him to send a pic from his birthday party flipping off that moron Zeke Emanuel who thinks he should have been euthanized 30 years ago.

    Hope he sees 100 more.

    Parent

    Love that he will be singing (5.00 / 2) (#132)
    by MO Blue on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 10:50:05 AM EST
    at his celebration.

    Not much beats "church lady" food especially when they go all out.

    Have a great time and wish him happy from me.

    Parent

    BTW, i can't carry a tune. (5.00 / 5) (#135)
    by MO Blue on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 11:11:40 AM EST
    While they were beating on others who did not want to sing, I'm one of the few people the nuns ever told not to sing.

    If I live to be 100, I think I will sing at my celebration. No one would dare to comment on how awful it was until after I left the party.

    Parent

    MOBlue it was nun bopping... (5.00 / 1) (#177)
    by fishcamp on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 03:27:02 PM EST
    I remember it well, if I sang or not.

    Parent
    That is wonderful!! (5.00 / 1) (#143)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 11:40:16 AM EST
    I hope you have a great time!

    Parent
    That's fantastic, jb (5.00 / 2) (#155)
    by sj on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 12:37:31 PM EST
    I'm envious. I lost my last grandparent in 2000.

    It's wonderful the way you obviously treasure him and your time with him. Because he truly is a treasure :)

    Parent

    Finally... (5.00 / 2) (#168)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 01:26:11 PM EST
    ... I can reinstate my stalking project.  See you at St Marys, but you won't see me...

    Joking of course.

    I love old pics of relatives looking so cool.  Man, that guy has seen some stuff, not too many folks old enough to remember the depression and the million other things.  I just counted, 17 presidents.  If my math is right, he was eligible and may have voted for FDR all four times.  If I live as long as him, my life isn't even half over.

    This is a total money quote:

    A lifelong Democrat, Tom received letters from former U.S. President Bill Clinton and wife, Hillary and current U.S. President Barack Obama and wife, Michelle.

    Here's to your grandfather have many more...

    Parent

    He doesn't talk much about politics (5.00 / 3) (#171)
    by jbindc on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 02:10:19 PM EST
    He's an NRA member for about 60 years or so (he was a hunter until a couple of years ago).  But if you get him started he says he wouldn't vote for a Republican, because of what they did to the coal miners in the 1930s.  And he LOVES Michelle Obama - calls her "his girl".  And when I say he LOVES her, I mean he LOOOOOOVVVVVVVEEEESSSSS her.  He has a calendar of her, a couple of magazines and he just gets a smile on his face when she comes on TV or when you mention her.

    Parent
    Good to here There is Nothing... (none / 0) (#191)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 06:39:18 PM EST
    ...wrong with his sight or tastes.

    Parent
    Happy B'day to your Grandpa! (5.00 / 1) (#175)
    by vml68 on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 02:47:08 PM EST
    What an amazing life.
    You are really lucky. My paternal grandparents and my maternal grandfather died long before I was born. I only met my maternal grandmother. And, since we lived in different countries we saw each other only a handful of times and communication was always a problem because we spoke different languages. She died when I was 8 years old.
    I love hearing stories about my grandparents from my parents. You get your stories right from the source!!

    Parent
    Happy All Hallows Eve, Everyone (5.00 / 6) (#110)
    by MO Blue on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 09:09:29 AM EST
    From

    MO Blue

    MO, you look very scary... (5.00 / 2) (#126)
    by fishcamp on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 10:27:11 AM EST
    No one reconized me in that costume (5.00 / 3) (#129)
    by MO Blue on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 10:40:18 AM EST
    Which I guess is a good thing considering. It would be quite scary if everyone had said, "Hey, MO Blue, looking good today."

    I won two 1st place prizes with that costume. One party was at the Civic Center where I do water aerobics. I briefly walked in to that class in full costume. The young instructor's back was turned to me, and I tapped him on the shoulder.  He told me later that I scared him after he turned around and saw me.

    I only won 2nd. place this year even after I fluffed my wings. Photo might be included in my All Hallows Eve comment next year.  

    Parent

    That would be so awkward (5.00 / 1) (#136)
    by jbindc on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 11:12:24 AM EST
    "Hey, MO Blue, looking good today."


    Parent
    Yes it would have been awkward (5.00 / 2) (#138)
    by MO Blue on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 11:18:23 AM EST
    This year everyone recognized me even though I had long black hair instead of my normal color.

    I did have people say, "Hey, MO Blue, looking good today." this year and it was more than o.k.  

    Parent

    And (none / 0) (#113)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 09:30:37 AM EST
    Thanks for your help (none / 0) (#123)
    by MO Blue on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 10:06:26 AM EST
    Thumsnap worked much better for me. Not sure how often I will use it but wanted to show everyone here how B E A U T I F U L I looked in my award winning Halloween costume last year.

    Must not have gotten to play dress up enough as a child as I love costume parties.

    Parent

    Some pretty cool facts (5.00 / 1) (#112)
    by CST on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 09:29:15 AM EST
    about former mayor Tom Menino that I've learned in the past few days -

    He didn't get his college degree until he was in his forties.  Mind you, he was mayor of one of the most college-educated places in the country.

    According to polls of Boston residents, he had met 50% of them in person, over 300,000 people.  A poll of my friends and family supports this (I was one of the other 50%).

    He already voted in the upcoming election.

    Election quote of the day (5.00 / 1) (#144)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 11:41:53 AM EST
    " there is no momentum in either direction, which means momentum for republicans"

    My neighbor just brought over a big bag of (5.00 / 4) (#178)
    by fishcamp on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 03:46:40 PM EST
    fresh caught today, Swordfish.  A 256 lb. fish with light pink meat, meaning it had been eating shrimp.  The Swords with white meat have been eating squid.  They caught 1,700' down, about 40 miles out.  They didn't use an electric reel, which most do now, since they're so far down.  This guy reeled it in by hand, the old fashioned way.  I guess it jumped all over the ocean when he finally got it up.  Just gave my cats tiny slices, which they've never had before, and they stood staring at me for more...sorry kitties.  I know they're loaded with mercury, but at my age, that won't be what gets me.  So, I'm staying home tonight, and skipping the dangerous Islamorada bar hopping Halloween thrills.  Happy Halloween.

    Regarding the debate on polling (none / 0) (#2)
    by CST on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 01:55:08 PM EST
    In the other open thread.  Here is the NYtimes take on it.

    "In 2010, the polls underestimated the Democrats in every competitive Senate race by an average of 3.1 percentage points, based on data from The Huffington Post's Pollster model. In 2012, pre-election polls underestimated President Obama in nine of the 10 battleground states by an average of 2 percentage points."

    There are a number of reasons for this, demographic changes continue to happen after the most recent census, and polling methods tend to favor traditionally republican markets.  But there is a good reason to suspect that Dems may be under-polled even as polling outfits continue to update their methods.  Obviously I would like this to be true, but it's also a convincing argument.  I guess we'll find out on Tuesday.

    That being said (none / 0) (#3)
    by CST on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 02:01:19 PM EST
    Also in the same article:

    "The Republicans probably have a large enough advantage to withstand another round of modest polling errors. Even if there is another three- or four-point error in Colorado, for instance, the result would be a dead heat in a race that on its own is not at all sufficient for Democrats to hold the Senate. And the Republicans could just as easily counter the effect of any polling error by winning undecided voters, who tend to disapprove of Mr. Obama's performance -- along with their incumbent Democratic senator, Mark Udall.

    Even with the problems that polls have, the Republicans' advantage is clear enough to make them favorites to win the Senate. But if we wake up to the prospect of a Democratic Senate on the morning after Election Day, we should look to the challenges of modern polling as a big reason for the surprise."

    Parent

    I also (none / 0) (#5)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 02:20:34 PM EST
    have read that some polls are even using 2002 models. In the end we're just going to have to wait and see how right or how wrong the polls are next week.

    Parent
    Good information (none / 0) (#8)
    by Slado on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 02:23:33 PM EST
    But also keep in mind that the polls that favored Republicans in 2010 favor them even more so this year.

    Obama's ratings are lower etc.. etc..

    Also we're finding out that Millenials are now less favorable for Obama so even if the get out the vote machine works like it did in 2010 without Obama on the ballot and with him less favorable it might not fight against the polling as we saw in 2010 and especially 2012.

    Who knows.  I think a republican victory is likely but now that the expectations have been raised for a big win anything short of that will be spun as a victory of sorts.

    Doesn't matter much either way.  Even if Obama does somehow hold on to the Senate or loses it just barely his agenda is over except for executive action and the Hillary vs. Republican X will start in full force November 5th.

    I'm already dreading it.   2 years of nothing but 2016 talk.

    Parent

    maybe you'll get really lucky (none / 0) (#14)
    by CST on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 02:40:05 PM EST
    And Elizabeth Warren will throw her hat into the ring, so we'll have primary 2008-redux before the general election.

    Oh wait, that's not what you want :)?

    Parent

    Someone interesting will run (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by Slado on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 02:55:58 PM EST
    No way they just hand it to Hillary.

    I'm not a conspiracy theorist but the media can't just have a meaningless primary.  Somebody has to pull a surprise in NH or whatever.    

    Parent

    Not that anybody flying Brand D cares... (none / 0) (#19)
    by kdog on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 03:06:04 PM EST
    but I do...Ralph Nader calls Hillary a menace, and calls Rand Paul an ambitious phony.

    Say the word Ralph, you've got my vote again. 5th (or 6th) time is a charm!

    Parent

    Bernie, baby! (5.00 / 2) (#153)
    by NYShooter on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 12:32:35 PM EST
    Not that Sanders would have a chance of winning, but, it sure would be interesting to see just how much of a "Liberal" base there is out there.

    Parent
    Nobody (none / 0) (#32)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 04:07:51 PM EST
    is saying that Obama has great ratings but have you looked at the approval ratings for the GOP? They're even lower hence all these polls with a few points difference.

    The GOTV thing was nothing in 2010. A lot of Dems sat home. Obama did nothing IIRC.

    Well, I guess it's more interesting to talk about 2016 than anything else. One election is barely minutes old before the beltway starts talking about the next one it seems. And we have a vacuum of leadership and so here we are.

    Parent

    If he loses the Senate (none / 0) (#157)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 12:39:11 PM EST
    2016 will be a landslide for Democrats.  

    Parent
    2016 (none / 0) (#166)
    by jbindc on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 12:53:41 PM EST
    is favorable for the Dems anyway - for the same reason it is favorable to the Republicans this year.  It all depends on who is up and in what state.

    Parent
    If we have to put up with the shenanigans (5.00 / 1) (#169)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 01:31:15 PM EST
    Of a Republican majority Congress though for two years.  It will be 2008 all over again.  And then because no real issues were addressed in the anything but a Republican election we then risk a bunch of Democrats that sell out to big money again and piss the whole country off again, and no great policy gets passed and adopted.

    Parent
    They may need to update their data (none / 0) (#26)
    by jbindc on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 03:43:01 PM EST
    Colorado is trying an experiment this year - everyone got a mail in ballot, that they could mail in, or present to a voting official on election day and then vote. In 2010, around 1.77 million people voted in Colorado, so that's a good reference point (over 2 million people voted in 2012, but that was a presidential election year) So far, many more registered Republicans have voted than Democrats.

    According to returns released Monday more than 660,000 of Colorado's 3 million registered voters have already handed in their ballots.  

    Of those voters 32 percent are Democrats, 43 percent are Republicans and 24 percent are unaffiliated voters

    The numbers update as of today show 1,042,000+ votes cast - with 41.5% of the votes cast by Republicans and 32%+ cast by Democrats.  25% were cast by "Unaffiliated" -  official SOS site.

    So, while things are balancing out two new polls out show Gardner up by as little as 2 and as much as 7. Udall hasn't had a consensus lead since early September.

    As always, things could change, and Democrats could come out to vote, but I think it's reasonable to say that if they were scared of the incumbent losing, or if they were really interested in voting,  there would be many more Democratic votes than there currently are.  Now, only 17% of liberal Denver County voters have cast their ballots, so that could swing, but then again, only 22% of conservative El Paso County (Colorado Springs) voters have cast ballots as well.

    Parent

    As a volunteer for Udall (5.00 / 2) (#84)
    by christinep on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 09:32:02 PM EST
    let me just add that I sweat over the slow voting practice in Denver ... not unusual for Democrats here (usually I vote at the end as do all my Democratic friends -- who knows why, but that is another topic), but still, the push is on.  On another thread, I referenced former President Bill Clinton's rally appearances for Senator Udall earlier in the week.  Just a note here that the theme from President to Senator to local Jefferson County Congressman Perlmutter is Get That Vote Out Sooner Rather Than Later.  As you say, we'll see.

    We'll see also how well the targeting works.  That, in itself, is something ... especially as I relate back to the status (or non-status of it when walking precincts 20 or 30 years ago.)  The amount of information is incredible; and yet, you have to wonder about the limits of tech targeting.

    Certainly, one of the most significant aspects this year may be the growing understanding about why polling Colorado's Latino community has been so troubling in the past.  Per Latino Decisions (headed by a Nevada expert who correctly called the 2010 Senator Reid victory when others saw certain loss), a number of pollsters--such as Quinnipiac--demonstrably & significantly under-poll Latinos (either unstated or in the 5 to 7 percent area ... under-polling by half.)  Additionally, pollsters have tended to reach a more affluent group of Latinos and/or conduct the poll in English ... practices which, according to Latino Decisions and other Hispanic activists, ignore the realities of the Colorado Latino community (e.g., those descended from the 17th century settlers or those with recent immigration experiences in their family.)  I recommend the Latino Decisions discussions: it has certainly been an eye-opener for me.  In that regard, a poll in the past few days by Strategies 360 (as reported on Pollster.com) shows a one-point Udall lead using the cautions described by Latino Decisions as well as their own methodology ... Please note that Strategies 360 is the only polling operation that has correctly called the past two elections in Colorado.

    A special key to the Colorado Senate race then: (A) Ensure that Denver & its suburbs GOTV ... and a bit more (B) Enable the growing Latino vote.  As for the latter:  In my usual fashion, I turn to anecdotal evidence ... when a few weeks ago, my husband and I spent time in near West Denver precincts (@60% Hispanic) and were buoyed, indeed, to find tremendous support (sometimes of the anybody-but-Gardner-variety) at the 60+% level for the Democrats.  But, again, all I can say is "We'll see."

    In all honesty...even after 40 years of knocking doors and making political calls for the Dems...this one seems unknown to me.  But then, we felt the same way working in Senator Michael Bennet's 2010 campaign too....  It is the multiple-ways-of-voting thing ... besides early mail-in, there are designated drop-off points (which I used) and, on election day, in-person at selected sites until 7:00pm.  A plethora of choices; does that make it easier or more confusing or lull one or ???  I am one of a number of people who will say that no one really knows what is going to happen in Colorado.

    In closing: I would feel confident with the range of numbers--other than Repub-leaning Suffolk, Rasmussen, and Q throughout the country this year--if the opposition were the usual right-wing goomball.  But, there is a flow of anti-incumbency periodically in the country; and, this is one of those periods ... and Cory Gardner is the spiffed up, smooth brand of right-wing ideologue ... he markets well with a bright smile, but the ideology is most obviously just beneath the campaign surface.  

    Parent

    Thanks for doing the hard work (5.00 / 3) (#86)
    by dissenter on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 09:41:44 PM EST
    Our neighborhood never gets targeted by the Dems which has always made me sad. But today a Udall volunteer was going house to house reminding Dems to get their ballots in. I was so excited to see him. He wasn't coming to my house as we turned our ballots in early this year but he was hitting up some of my neighbors so I took this as a very positive sign. It looks to me like GOTV is in full force. Fingers crossed.

    Thanks again for doing the hard work. It is really appreciated.

    Parent

    Yes (5.00 / 1) (#133)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 10:59:06 AM EST
    Thank you

    Parent
    I always so appreciate your comments! (5.00 / 1) (#95)
    by ZtoA on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 11:12:49 PM EST
    I was out tonite and at my super successful sister's house too and the subject of the upcoming elections came up. I said I was very interested in what happens in CO and a couple of other states. No one seemed to be aware of the races in those states which really surprised me. It's not like I sit around all day and read the internet. But I do try to check in here every day or so. Yes, thank you for all you do!

    Parent
    Dems always vote late in Colorado (none / 0) (#46)
    by dissenter on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 05:26:06 PM EST
    Unlike other states, Dems always turn ballots in later. You don't have to mail your ballot in and lots of people procrastinate and take them to a ballot box just before or on election day. While it is true this is the first year everyone received a ballot through the mail, a lot of us have had a permanent mail in ballot for years.

    Also, a lot of big counties take longer to process the ballots and report the numbers to the secretary of state's office. I live in a republican county and this is the first year I have seen Democratic volunteers going door to door to get every Dem ballot turned in. Also, Dems do well with unaffiliated voters which are the largest voting bloc in the state.

    Don't think you can predict anything right now based on turned in ballots.

    Parent

    I haven't sent mine back yet (5.00 / 1) (#59)
    by Jeralyn on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 06:26:33 PM EST
    I always wait to the last minute and end up dropping it off on the last day. So there will be at least one more vote coming for Udall and Hickenlooper.

    Nice to see you Dissenter!

    Parent

    You Too Jeralyn! (none / 0) (#61)
    by dissenter on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 06:28:56 PM EST
    I thought (none / 0) (#49)
    by jbindc on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 05:33:27 PM EST
    this was the first year that everyone got a mail in ballot?  If so, how can you say for sure that "Dems vote later"?

    You also can't discount the "unaffiliated":

    According to Floyd Ciruli, a pollster with long experience in Colorado politics, most of the 411,000 new voters who registered during Udall's term are independents. Consequently, instead of tilting Democratic, party registration in Colorado is still evenly split, with a slight edge for Republicans among "active" voters -- the kind who participate in an off-year election. Says Ciruli: "The state is still in play." Or, as any resident of a Denver suburb will tell you: It's one-third, one-third, one-third.


    Parent
    No not first year (5.00 / 1) (#53)
    by dissenter on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 05:48:11 PM EST
    This is the first year everyone was mailed a ballot but my ballot has been sent to me in the mail for years because I requested a permanent mail in ballot. Anyone could do that. That has been on the books for years. Its common knowledge out here that Dems turn in their ballots late. That is why they have such a good GOTV operation and their candidates ultimately end up winning. They know who has voted and then they concentrate their efforts on those that have not voted yet. They get the ballots in. They often come in late though.

    Dems are the third largest political party in the state. Republicans are second and Unaffiliated is the largest. Unaffiliated tend to be fiscally conservative and socially liberal. They end up breaking for Dems because the republicans constantly put up social conservatives. Women will break heavily for Udall as will Latinos.

    I'm not saying Udall can't lose. I am saying that there is a reason the Republicans haven't won a top tier statewide race in quite awhile and if you look at early ballots over the last 10 years you will see Dem numbers climb closer to the election. They live in larger counties and it takes more time to process the ballots and get the numbers into the secy of state. Its kinda normal for CO.

    I only got my ballot in early this year to stop the phone calls to my house. It is like an election ad/polling nightmare out here. Everyone wants this election over. Everyone is sick of it.

    Parent

    One other thing (none / 0) (#55)
    by dissenter on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 05:56:02 PM EST
    Republicans vote for Dems out here all the time. There are a lot of pro choice, pro gay rights republicans out here and they vote accordingly so you can't predict anything based on returned ballots right now.

    Parent
    Welcome back. (none / 0) (#57)
    by Angel on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 06:08:55 PM EST
    I looked at your comment history and you've been around for a while but rarely comment.  Like what I've read in this thread so far.  

    Parent
    Thanks (none / 0) (#58)
    by dissenter on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 06:14:58 PM EST
    Haven't been in a space where I could do this. Nice to be back. I did keep up with you guys though. Just couldn't post.

    Parent
    Just curious (none / 0) (#82)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 09:18:14 PM EST
    I only got my ballot in early this year to stop the phone calls to my house.

    How did they know who you had voted and who you voted for?

    Parent

    It's public information, Jim. (5.00 / 2) (#89)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 10:26:05 PM EST
    When you request and receive an absentee / mail-in ballot, it's so noted on the voter rolls, and both major parties have access to the information on those rolls. Further, most states -- but not all (Hawaii being one of the few that don't) -- also require a voter to declare his or her party preference or political affiliation when they first register, and that's also part of the public record.

    While the individual votes you cast on that ballot are not officially counted and tallied until Election Day, that ballot is recorded as having officially been received by the city / county clerk's office, or whoever's in charge of collecting the ballots and counting the votes in your district. Both parties will regularly check to see who's turned in their ballots, because neither has any interest in wasting money on postage, phone banks, etc., to contact people who've already cast their votes.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Voting (none / 0) (#85)
    by dissenter on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 09:32:20 PM EST
    They don't know who you voted for as the ballots don't get counted until election day. However, the parties can check on the names of people who returned ballots. When your ballot has been returned, the signature is matched and your name is checked off as voted. Our ballots have two envelopes. One to return the ballot to the elections office (either through mail, drop off box, etc) and a second envelope which contains the actual ballot. That envelop and the ballot itself contains no identifiable information.

    It takes time to process the ballots and report numbers to the secretary of state office so that is why big counties like Denver often lag in reporting. They have a lot more ballots to deal with at election time than other counties.

    Parent

    Thanks (none / 0) (#104)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 08:30:02 AM EST
    However, the parties can check on the names of people who returned ballots. When your ballot has been returned, the signature is matched and your name is checked off as voted

    I knew they could see Party but had no idea as to name.

    That seems a violation of the privacy of the ballot box to me and shouldn't be allowed. And if the results are a bit slower, so be it.

    Parent

    Maddow did her show (none / 0) (#50)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 05:40:49 PM EST
    from CO a couple of day ago and there was a lot of information about past elections and voting habits.   Anyone interested in what may happen next week should watch it.  I'm sure it would be easy enough to find on the show site.
    One on the things discussed is how often polls have predicted republican victory incorrectly.   But it was a lot more than that.

    Parent
    Link (none / 0) (#51)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 05:46:43 PM EST
    It's on this sliding list of videos under the featured video

    Titled Colorado Voting Something

    Can't link to specific videos for some reason.

    Parent

    Right (none / 0) (#52)
    by jbindc on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 05:47:04 PM EST
    That's an argument for people who think they're going to lose. She sure did tout them all the time in 2008 and 2012 - now, not so much.

    I also posted a piece earlier about how polls have been getting better and better.

    How 2014 is like 2010, and how it's not.

    And considering the Dems this cycle are losing the support of Latinos, single women, and millenials, it does not bode well for lots of success.

    Parent

    I Don't even know what that means (none / 0) (#54)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 05:49:41 PM EST
    its not and argument at all.  It's a history lesson.  Clearly you are invested in this for some reason.  I'm not particularly but Udall will win.   Wanna bet?

    Parent
    Hello there, dissenter (none / 0) (#87)
    by christinep on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 09:49:31 PM EST
    'Mind saying what Republican county houses you?  BTW, thanks for the reminder about larger counties and voting processing times.

    Parent
    Douglas (none / 0) (#88)
    by dissenter on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 10:20:26 PM EST
    I read this (none / 0) (#4)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 02:17:54 PM EST
    earlier today and Georgia is particularly hard to poll due to the fact that the white vote is now 58% instead of 62% four years ago.

    I really think mid terms are hard to poll IN GENERAL and then you have to add the technology problems along with some other issues of people moving to cell phones. I think they're still trying to perfect their models for these kinds of things.

    Parent

    pet races (none / 0) (#7)
    by CST on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 02:23:04 PM EST
    right now for me are Georgia and NH.  Winning Georgia would be a huge statement, IMO, about the direction this country is headed.  Plus what's his face just comes across as a total jerk.  That, and I would experience significant schadenfreude seeing Scott Brown lose again.

    Parent
    What about CO? (none / 0) (#9)
    by Slado on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 02:25:54 PM EST
    If dems lose that state isn't it also a huge statement?  Don't look at single results as statements.  For every one there is a counter.

    GA is only competitive because she is an old political name.   If she didn't have the name recognition that race would be over.

    Parent

    Nope (5.00 / 1) (#33)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 04:10:35 PM EST
    Sorry. Nunn's name has very little to do with and more to do with the idiot the GOP nominated. Another old white guy who thinks the "little women" aren't capable of doing a "man's job". A guy who said in a deposition that he was proud of sending jobs to China are some such and the fact that GA has the highest UE in the nation.

    Parent
    For me, it would be (none / 0) (#36)
    by KeysDan on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 04:31:24 PM EST
    the "Nunn" name that I would have to get over.  But, of course, it would be easy, first of all, the Nunn is the daughter, Michelle, not the father, Sam, and second of all, this Nunn is running against the Jurassic Republican, David Perdue.

    Parent
    This will always be Sam Nunn to me (5.00 / 1) (#37)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 04:41:40 PM EST
    illustrating how icky it would be if a gay man was in there

    This is a photo from the Clinton era DADT debate.

    Parent

    On that subject (none / 0) (#38)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 04:47:45 PM EST
    Yes, it is always (none / 0) (#43)
    by KeysDan on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 05:19:56 PM EST
    important for the country to know what Ted Cruz thinks.  For a "Canadian" he is very patriotic--I think he sings the Star Spangled Banner in the key of ....eh.  

    Parent
    It's a cable news thing (none / 0) (#45)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 05:23:21 PM EST
    they are morally obligated to get the Hatfields opinion of any McCoy related story.

    Parent
    The other thing I like about this pic (none / 0) (#47)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 05:28:06 PM EST
    is that it looks like John Warner is lost deep in some imagined man on man sexual tableau that could unfold in that bunk.

    Parent
    less so, IMO (none / 0) (#10)
    by CST on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 02:30:03 PM EST
    Because in my mind at least Colorado is a purple state and Georgia is a red state.  So the Dems losing CO, and a swing state swinging, is less of a statement than Republicans losing GA.  

    Of course she is an old political name - otherwise she wouldn't stand a chance.

    Parent

    Al Jazeera America (none / 0) (#22)
    by ZtoA on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 03:18:07 PM EST
    reports:

    The three states' lists are heavily weighted with names such as Jackson, Garcia, Patel and Kim -- ones common among minorities, who vote overwhelmingly Democratic. Indeed, fully 1 in 7 African-Americans in those 27 states, plus the state of Washington (which enrolled in Crosscheck but has decided not to utilize the results), are listed as under suspicion of having voted twice. This also applies to 1 in 8 Asian-Americans and 1 in 8 Hispanic voters. White voters too -- 1 in 11 -- are at risk of having their names scrubbed from the voter rolls, though not as vulnerable as minorities.If even a fraction of those names are blocked from voting or purged from voter rolls, it could alter the outcome of next week's electoral battle for control of the U.S. Senate -- and perhaps prove decisive in the 2016 presidential vote count.


    Parent
    Polls can show anything at all, but, (5.00 / 2) (#159)
    by NYShooter on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 12:42:54 PM EST
    what really matters is turnout.

    When only a tiny fraction of eligible voters actually show up and vote, weird things can result.

    Parent

    That Al Jazeera article... (5.00 / 1) (#183)
    by unitron on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 05:20:08 PM EST
    ...isn't about polling, it's about voter roll purges where if somebody in another state has the same name as you, maybe just first and last, you might get "purged" and not know it 'til you go to vote, and if your name indicates that you might be among a group more likely to vote Democratic the chances of that happening are greatly increased.

    Parent
    Those commentators (none / 0) (#6)
    by lentinel on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 02:22:00 PM EST
    were getting weird last night.

    First, they get Tim Hudson - and they start putting graphics about how old he is... They they start saying it out loud - as if we couldn't read the cr@p on the screen.

    Then, an inning and a half later, Tim is retired.
    They start with graphics of how many pitchers lasted as short a time as he did. Then, they say that stuff out loud for us illiterates.

    Anyway - these guys are always searching for a tale to tell. They can't just watch a game. It has to be about something.

    I had to turn the sound down - alternating between totally off, and low enough that I could hear ambient sound, and the yacking was unintelligible although still annoyingly audible.


    It's like they forget they are on TV and (none / 0) (#12)
    by Anne on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 02:32:26 PM EST
    not the radio - that if they aren't saying anything, we can't still see the game.  It drives me nuts when they get so caught up in their conversation they forget to actually call the plays as they're happening.  Or - my favorite - going little-screen-in-the-corner so they can keep talking on a bigger screen to someone who may or may not have anything earth-shattering to say.  Grrrr.

    It's all annoying as hell when you're watching, but if you're doing things around the house and have the broadcast on, it's exactly like listening to the game on the radio.  You don't necessarily mind them reading the graphics to you if you're not in the same room to see them on the screen.

    The constant talk does usually get to me at some point - they do it with football, too - and we sometimes have to just hit the "mute" button to get a break from the droning.  

    Cheer up - baseball is over for a couple of months@


    Parent

    The exception being... (none / 0) (#21)
    by kdog on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 03:13:00 PM EST
    if your a NY Mets fan...the convo between Gary, Keith, and Ron up in the booth is usually much more entertaining than what's happening on the field.

    But in this case you guys are right...an exciting 7 Game Series speaks for itself, the booth and graphics team just needs to stay out of the way!

    Congrats San Fran, 3 in 5 years, not too shabby.  Way to represent the league playing real baseball, the National League.

    Though this year I wouldn't have minded KC outta the AL either.  A helluva season and playoff run to reward their long-suffering fans.

    Parent

    Drinking game (none / 0) (#27)
    by jbindc on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 03:43:56 PM EST
    Every time Ron tells you he went to Yale or when he says, "Back when I was playing...."

    Parent
    Double shot... (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by kdog on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 03:46:27 PM EST
    when Keith says "Oh my lord!" after a particularly boneheaded Mets blunder.

    Parent
    If you did that, ... (none / 0) (#34)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 04:12:09 PM EST
    ... you likely wouldn't make it past the sixth inning of most games.

    ;-D

    Parent

    I much prefer (none / 0) (#39)
    by Zorba on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 04:51:19 PM EST
    listening to the games than watching them on TV.
    But even when you just listen, the TV commentary is not nearly as good as the old radio commentary.
    But then, I'm an old f*rt, so what do I know?   ;-)
    Many congratulations to the Giants.
    Next year, it's the St. Louis Cardinals' turn!
    Go, Cards!

    Parent
    My grandfather used to ... (none / 0) (#91)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 10:37:23 PM EST
    ... watch Dodger games in TV in the 1980s and '90s with the sound off, while listening to Vin Scully do the play-by-play on the radio. While it took a little getting used to for me, I began to see a method to his madness.

    Parent
    I used to have the TV on w/o sound (none / 0) (#92)
    by oculus on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 10:43:22 PM EST
    so I could listen to Jerry Coleman on the radio for Padres games.

    Parent
    Lots of UNC basketball fans... (none / 0) (#185)
    by unitron on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 05:23:24 PM EST
    ...used to turn down the TV and listen to Woody Durham on the Tar Heel Sports Network on the radio.

    Parent
    You know, it wouldn't be so bad if ... (none / 0) (#41)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 04:57:24 PM EST
    ... they actually had something compelling to say, rather than simply feeling a constant need to fill in dear air. That's where I think older announcers from the prior era like Red Barber, Mel Allen, Phil Rizzuto and Ernie Harwell were so good at what they did. They knew baseball, quite obviously loved the game, and could seamlessly weave a great story into their play-by-play. They didn't just babble away mindlessly like the guys and gals on Fox Sports and ESPN.

    And speaking of old announcers from a bygone era, Vin Scully will be returning for the 2015 season at age 87, which will mark his 66th year behind the mike as the Dodgers' radio and TV voice. I grew up listening to him, and apparently the one concession he's made to age is that he's only doing the home broadcasts, with occasional road games in the Bay Area, San Diego and Phoenix, because those places are an hour or less away by plane -- but no more cross-country travel.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Vin Scully (none / 0) (#65)
    by Zorba on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 07:05:43 PM EST
    Has been announcing as long as I've been alive.
    If he is up to announcing, then, go Vin!

    Parent
    I was so looking forward (none / 0) (#184)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 05:21:26 PM EST
    to an All Bird series.

    But my Cardinals's relief pitching collapsed. I think they were tied or leading in the 7th for all but one game in NLCS.

    As for the commentators, as Dizzy said:

    "The dumber a pitcher is, the better. When he gets smart and begins to experiment with a lot of different pitches, he's in trouble. All I ever had was a fastball, a curve and a changeup and I did pretty good."

    The talking heads should apply that to themselves.

    Parent

    Jim, I can (none / 0) (#189)
    by Zorba on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 06:31:52 PM EST
    forgive you for a lot of things, just because you are a Cardinals fan.    ;-)
    Cards in 2015!

    Parent
    I was born and raised a Cardinal fan (none / 0) (#192)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 07:04:14 PM EST
    Back then the Redbirds were the only game around. I can remember sitting on the front porch listing to the radio with my grand dad and dad over a Philco radio playing on the other side of an open window.

    Stan the Man, Harry the Cat Brecheen,  Vinegar Ben Mizell, Boyer, Schoendienst, Rice behind the plate.. ah sweet were the days when I knew that someday I would be crouched back there with a rifle arm daring any runner to try and take second base...

    For next year we need enough hitting so as to not wear out the pen.

    And that was a balk. Any Little League ump would have called it.

    Parent

    Same here (none / 0) (#194)
    by Zorba on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 08:05:31 PM EST
    My folks always had the Cards games on the radio.  Always.  It was the soundtrack of my youth.
    And we got to go to Cards games every summer.  Not a whole lot- my family couldn't afford it.  But several every summer, and these opportunities were really special for us.
    St. Louis was and is one of the quintessential baseball cities.

    Parent
    Have you been to the new palace??? (5.00 / 1) (#201)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Nov 01, 2014 at 10:49:25 AM EST
    Nice and all that but somehow I miss Sportsman Park.

    IMHO the best modern stadium is in Denver. Coors Field is a marvelous place to see a game.

    Parent

    I agree (none / 0) (#13)
    by Slado on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 02:35:01 PM EST
    Tim McCarver was a gas bag but his chatter had more to do with baseball strategy and why they should or shouldn't be doing some sort of technical move during the game.

    The two color guys now just wax poetically about heart and guts and how amazing a guy sis playing and it really didn't help my knowledge of the game or explain what was going on in terms of how the game was being played.

    To me that is the main job of a color announcer in baseball.  When I'm at the park I can see it all for myself.  How the infield is playing etc...  On TV you have a small window on what's happening and the color announcer is supposed to clue you in to what your eye can't see.

    They didn't do that well.   The ESPN Radio broadcast is much better and quite frankly more entertaining because for the most part they stuck to the baseball.

    Parent

    Long before I ever moved here, ... (none / 0) (#63)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 06:48:59 PM EST
    ... the old Hawaii Islanders of the AAA-level Pacific Coast League had a longtime media director and play-by-play announcer named Chuck Leahey, who was also the sports director for the local CBS affiliate KGMB-TV. From most all accounts he was a colorful character, and is still very much-beloved and respected by longtime older residents, even though he passed away in 1982.

    In 1965, Leahey hired and took under his wing a brash 21-year-old guy named Al Michaels, who had just been fired by the NBA Los Angeles Lakers after only four games as that team's radio color man, apparently because Chick Hearn took a very strong dislike to him. Michaels sought out Leahey shortly afterward while on a trip to Honolulu with his parents and on a whim, asked him for a job.

    Michaels would serve as Leahey's sidekick at KGMB-TV and radio station KGU-AM for five years, providing color commentary on Islanders and University of Hawaii football / basketball broadcasts, announcing high school football games and working as a TV sports anchor. In 1968, Leahey promoted him to be the Islanders' play-by-play guy, while graciously consigning himself to be Michaels' color man.

    Michaels freely credits Chuck Leahey as his mentor, not only as the guy who taught him how to call a ball game, but as the person who eventually sent him packing -- only this time, in a very good way.

    Leahey had been in the broadcasting business for a very long time, and over the years he had built up a considerable network of connections with teams and stations around the country. When word came from a good friend in the Cincinnati Reds' front office that they were looking for a new play-by-play announcer for the 1971 season, he strongly recommended that they consider Al Michaels for the position, and sent them an audiotape of his protégé working an Islanders game.

    The Reds listened to that tape, were very impressed and hired Michaels on Chuck Leahey's recommendation. He was on his way.

    Listening to some of the guys who are now calling games and doing color on Fox Sports and ESPN, I have to wonder if their primary mentors and inspirations weren't game show hosts, rather than sports journalists and broadcasters.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    You ain't bad at color commentary yourself, (5.00 / 1) (#67)
    by Mr Natural on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 07:18:47 PM EST
    Donald.  In fact, you're first string.

    Parent
    ... than in broadcast. I've appeared in a few local broadcasts, podcasts and webcasts over the years on issues relating to Hawaii politics, and whenever I've listened to myself afterwards, I think I come across as overly self-conscious of the fact that I'm on the air, rather than in print.

    To that effect, I sound less than spontaneous, the sort of guy who just by listening to him, you'd think he's obviously hiding something or is guilty of something, whatever it is -- even if I'm on your side of the issue! I'm probably the one you want behind the scenes crafting the message, and certainly not out in front before the cameras and microphones delivering it.

    ;-D

    Parent

    Runoff baby (none / 0) (#11)
    by Slado on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 02:31:38 PM EST
    Tired of all the election talk?

    Too bad.

    60% chance this baby goes to overtime.

    My bet is 2 of 3 states go to a runoff with LA all but ascertain.

    AK and GA the other likely and maybe all three.

    I thinks repubs win them all if they go overtime but that won't mean more emails, more cash requests and weeks more of mind numbing analysis by the chattering classes.

    Can't wait!

    The conventional (none / 0) (#35)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 04:12:42 PM EST
    wisdom here in GA FWIW is that both the governor and the senate race are going to have a run off.

    Parent
    Sorry :) (none / 0) (#114)
    by Slado on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 09:33:41 AM EST
    I can't wait for next Tuesday.

    so tired of emails from Mitt Romeny saying ..."This is the time!"

    Parent

    Ugh (none / 0) (#117)
    by jbindc on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 09:40:27 AM EST
    Try living in Northern Virginia - where we are getting bombarded with commercials for our races, but also the Maryland races!

    Parent
    My local favorite is... (5.00 / 1) (#150)
    by kdog on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 12:10:31 PM EST
    the commercial being run by/for Rep. Tim Bishop...he starts out the commercial by stating "My opponent will tell you I am being investigated by the FBI..." and blah blah blah.  

    What ad wizard thought that was a good idea?  Off the charts unintentional comedy people.

    Parent

    I thought MA was done with Scott Brown (none / 0) (#118)
    by CST on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 09:44:10 AM EST
    but we still get the NH adds.

    Parent
    Local businesses (none / 0) (#119)
    by jbindc on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 09:45:57 AM EST
    in competitive areas hate them too.

    Parent
    The car dealer ad (5.00 / 1) (#122)
    by Zorba on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 10:03:54 AM EST
    Referenced at the end of the article is hysterical!
    Whoever thought this one up is very clever.

    Parent
    Apparently (none / 0) (#141)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 11:37:45 AM EST
    since I voted in the GOP primary this past year I am on their "list" and every day I am bombarded with the world is going to end if Nunn or Carter gets elected. Today while in the orthodontist's office with my child I saw three back to back political ads. The idea of a runoff is giving a lot of people headaches I would say.

    Parent
    Anonymous source, but...
    Report: Darren Wilson Expected to be `Eased Out' of Police Department

    A source tells MSNBC that Wilson - who fatally shot Michael Brown that touched off months of protests - will be "eased out" of the Ferguson Police Department and might resign.

    Can't see how he could stay in the dept and actually do any work there.

    Maybe they could put him in charge of (none / 0) (#29)
    by Anne on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 03:56:46 PM EST
    community relations?

    Sorry.

    Well, with the police chief reportedly being asked to step down, this seems like the next logical step.  It's all going to be for naught if the department itself doesn't undergo some major changes to its approach to policing.

    They may think that closing the door on Johnson and Wilson will make it all go away, but I don't think it's going to be that easy.

    Parent

    mayor says he's not asking chief to step down.

    Parent
    But he wants to spend more time with his family (5.00 / 1) (#40)
    by Angel on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 04:55:51 PM EST
    anyway.

    Parent
    I thought the whole department (none / 0) (#42)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 04:58:18 PM EST
    was being replaced.  No longer?

    Parent
    Original report by CNN may have been premature (none / 0) (#44)
    by MO Blue on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 05:23:08 PM EST
    Thomas Jackson, Ferguson's police chief, said Tuesday evening he would not step down despite reports to the contrary.

    But discussions among the Missouri congressional delegation, the Missouri governor's office and the St. Louis County Police have included considering replacing Chief Jackson, an official briefed on the talks told the New York Times.
    ...
    "While there is precedent and practice of the St. Louis County Police Department contracting with other municipal governments for police services, we currently have no indication that Chief Jackson's separation from the Ferguson Police Department is imminent. Furthermore, there have been no discussions between St. Louis County Police, the congressional delegation or the governor's office regarding a contract between St. Louis County Police and Ferguson." link



    Parent
    Big Eyes (none / 0) (#24)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 03:22:13 PM EST
    TRAILER

    Big Eyes is an upcoming biographical drama film directed by Tim Burton. The film will focus on the American artist Margaret Keane, whose work was fraudulently claimed in the 1950s and 1960s by her then-husband, Walter Keane. The film tells the story of their heated divorce battle wherein Margaret accused Walter of stealing her paintings. Margaret Keane will be played by Amy Adams, with Walter being portrayed by Christoph Waltz. The film is scheduled to be released on December 25, 2014, by The Weinstein Company.


    Saw the preview of this last week (none / 0) (#60)
    by MO Blue on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 06:28:03 PM EST
    when I went to see St. Vincent. It looked interesting. The other movie preview that interested me as much if not more was The Imitation Game. Film is about "Alan Turing, a key figure in cracking Nazi Germany's Enigma code that helped the Allies win World War II."

    It stars Benedict Cumberba...

    Parent

    Yes the Turing movie looks great (none / 0) (#62)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 06:42:26 PM EST
    its weird I never even knew about the fraud part of the Big Eyes story.  I never liked the art so I guess I never paid any attention to any story about it.   It's all news to me.  And fascinating. Never thought I would see a "Keane" movie but I totally will.

    Also almost embarrassed to admit I'm really looking forward to the new Ridley Scott Moses movie Exodus-Gods and Kings

    Parent

    Missed the story behind art also (none / 0) (#101)
    by MO Blue on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 06:23:43 AM EST
    According to wiki, she made the announcement that she was the painter in 1970. That was a busy time for me and I'm not sure how big of a splash the story made in the news. Anyway, I never knew the story until I saw the trailer.

    Parent
    I may even have to overcome my (none / 0) (#195)
    by ZtoA on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 08:09:48 PM EST
    theater paranoia and go see this movie. The true story behind it is making the rounds among my artist friends. This too.

    Parent
    Jian Ghomeshi is in the news (none / 0) (#25)
    by ZtoA on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 03:22:40 PM EST
    He had a very popular radio program from the CBC which was also picked up by NPR. Eight women have now come forward and accused him of assault. This article explains why it is so hard for women to press charges against a sexual abuser.

    I read about his problems this morning ... (none / 0) (#68)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 07:21:10 PM EST
    ... in the Vancouver Sun's online edition. Judging by these various media accounts, Mr. Ghomeshi sure seems like a real piece of work, to say the least.

    Parent
    Eric Frein (none / 0) (#56)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 06:00:36 PM EST
    caputered in Penn.

    It's my neck of the woods (5.00 / 1) (#81)
    by BarnBabe on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 09:05:11 PM EST
    Yep, I am a country gal. Even once lived in Canadensis. A long time ago. I was even born in Scranton. Let me list I grew up in Ft. Lauderdale and worked in San Diego for most of my career. So not all country, heh. I like to think of myself as worldly. Yeah, worldly. And my house was once my Grandfather's dairy barn. Can't get more worldly. All kidding aside, I am extremely happy that this guy has been apprehended and all in once piece. I figured it would be a shoot out resulting in more deaths and sorrow. It also created an uneasy feeling when you would leave the house at night. I was about a 30 minute drive from his house. Lots of woods and I can get lost in my own back 2 acres. It is 48 degrees right now which is good sleeping weather, if you are snug as a bug under the comforter in a big ol king size and a bathroom really close by. It is bad enough that Depend commercials have become the norm as for so many who are lucky to have them when they are needed. But this guy, well, he had the entire forest to relieve himself. He just did not want to leave a scent. But he did anyway. Maybe the next Lincoln commercial will have Matthew doing an endurance run on the highway. You know what I mean.

    Parent
    Glad balance is restored to neck of the woods (none / 0) (#83)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 09:20:45 PM EST
    one of the coolest houses I've ever seen was in an old barn.   In Pennsylvania actually.

    Parent
    For the kids too (none / 0) (#94)
    by BarnBabe on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 11:09:48 PM EST
    They showed on TV that all the local bars are thriving. As for the little kids......The good news is that Halloween is back on. Really. And,the bad news is the schools are open again.

    My house looks like a colonial but inside the 2nd floor there are lots of beams showing. I have a little barn too. Over 150 yrs old. A lot of summer memories at the farm in Penna. Who says you can't go back. Heh.

    Parent

    Wait, what? (none / 0) (#66)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 07:14:16 PM EST
    they found his soiled diapers?  He's been wearing diapers?  

    Parent
    hmmm (none / 0) (#69)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 07:23:29 PM EST
    State police Lt. Col. George Bivens, speaking at a news conference at the Blooming Grove Township Building in Pike County, said evidence found suggests the 31-year-old is still in the area being searched. That includes soiled diapers -- snipers have been known to use diapers to stay in position for long periods of time -- and a distinctive brand of cigarettes, Bivens said.

    Apparently it's not clear the diapers are his.  I guess I get the staying in one spot thing but when bloodhounds are looking for you ?  I don't think so.

    Parent

    NBC news (none / 0) (#71)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 07:33:18 PM EST
    FWIW said the diapers tested positive for his DNA. Ewww. I would hate to have been the lab person tasked with that job.

    Parent
    I guess so. (none / 0) (#70)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 07:31:41 PM EST
    That is what I read. I guess he did not want to take the time to poop in the woods.

    Parent
    The Diaper Sniper (5.00 / 1) (#73)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 07:44:51 PM EST
    how humiliating

    Parent
    He was also hiding close to mommy's (none / 0) (#76)
    by Mr Natural on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 08:15:07 PM EST
    house - according to this article.

    I'm trying hard _not _ to picture a line of Action-Whacko collectable figurines, replete with scale model assault rifles, scale model body armor, scale model gas guzzling SUVs, and more importantly, scale model Depends diapers.


    Parent

    Two new factlets today. Where the heck is (none / 0) (#74)
    by oculus on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 08:02:36 PM EST
    Burkina Faso?  What is the definition of "demonyn"?

    Burkina Faso is in western Africa, (none / 0) (#77)
    by caseyOR on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 08:22:33 PM EST
    on the hump of the continent. It is a land-locked nation bordered by, among others,  Mali, Niger, Ghana.

    Parent
    A demonym is a word used to (none / 0) (#78)
    by caseyOR on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 08:24:54 PM EST
    describe the people who live in a particular place. You are a Californian. Californian is a demonym.

    Parent
    Does that mean that Californians are ... (none / 0) (#90)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 10:31:28 PM EST
    ... demon spawn of the Left Coast? :-)

    Parent
    In your google search box, (none / 0) (#79)
    by Mr Natural on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 08:26:35 PM EST
    type definition: demonym

    What comes up will be a collection of definitions, with suggested corrections to your spelling as necessary.  Here's one:

    A demonym ˈdɛmənɪm, also referred to as a gentilic, is a name for a resident of a locality and is usually, though not always, derived from the name of a locality.

    Parent

    You Will Like This (none / 0) (#161)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 12:45:38 PM EST
    LINK

    Makes the same point without words and its pretty funny why you send something like this to a friend and tell them Google has 2.2M answers.

    Parent

    Yes, I know the answers. And so do you. (none / 0) (#80)
    by oculus on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 08:37:23 PM EST
    Per Wiki, the U.S. Has a military base in Burkana which supports our military interventions in the Sudan.

    Parent
    He's their General though oculus (none / 0) (#111)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 09:25:04 AM EST
    Not our General.  It isn't our General taking over.

    Parent
    Yes indeed. But I haven't noticed (none / 0) (#134)
    by oculus on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 11:05:41 AM EST
    anyone in power in D.C. urging  him to step aside.

    Parent
    He says he is only there for the (none / 0) (#139)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 11:18:46 AM EST
    Government transition.  At least from what I have read.  

    Parent
    I haven't had any problems (none / 0) (#98)
    by cpresley on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 01:36:11 AM EST
    accessing the site, but it doesn't show the highlights for new comments if that helps the search at all.

    any one watched (none / 0) (#100)
    by ZtoA on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 02:23:21 AM EST
    anerican horror story on the TV series?

    Someone said "I need" to watch it tonite.  I can watch on netflix, but don't know if I want to commit the time to a whole episode.

    I am a rabid fan (5.00 / 1) (#102)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 08:06:56 AM EST
    this season is double twisted.  Jessica Lang is amazing.  She will, at the very least, be nominated for an Emmy.  She won for the series last year.

    I think it's the best thing on TV.  Would you like it?   Dunno.  Just have to try it.

    I do not recommend watching a standalone episode.  It won't make sense.  IMO if you are going to watch you should start from the beginning of the season at least.

    Personally I think last season might be more your style.  It was about witches.  This year it's about a freak show.  With lots of actual "freaks".  And some great actors.  The show uses the same group of actors ea h season with an entirely different story line.

    Parent

    That said (none / 0) (#103)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 08:12:03 AM EST
    for the morbidly curious it might almost be worth watching this weeks episode (which btw is a two part Halloween special that started with a 90 minute episode last week) just to see Jessica Lange in her beyond fabulous dominatrix getup making her "client" sit on a toilet seat spiked with nails.

    Parent
    Holy $hit (none / 0) (#116)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 09:38:53 AM EST
    Oh man, see...I gotta watch that now.  Who could miss that?

    Parent
    It is 100% of your ilk ZtoA (5.00 / 1) (#115)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 09:37:49 AM EST
    Not kidding.  I watched the first season, there was so much messing with my Freud in there I had to quit after the first season was over.  It hooked me though, I couldn't just quit in mid season.  My husband watched two episodes with me and just could not do it.  He does not like his head toyed with.  My daughter loves it.  I have to be in a very specific mood to watch any of it.

    My daughter says each season is a very different story and theme.  It touches your brain though, all over, in the locked up creepy places.

    Parent

    It's way smarter (none / 0) (#131)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 10:48:44 AM EST
    than some credit it for being.  I love PreviouslyTV but I sent them a hate mail over their coverage of this series.  And I never do that.

    Parent
    It is very psychologically savvy (none / 0) (#137)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 11:15:56 AM EST
    At least the first season was. The maid in every boy's fantasy get up made my husband squirm as she went from youthful to aged to mutilated.  When the leather suit came out with various possible persons in it he jumped off the couch and said, "That's enough of this $hit :), I can't do it."  And he went out to his shop to crawl back into his comfortable shelliness :)

    Parent
    Sorry one more (none / 0) (#107)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 31, 2014 at 08:35:50 AM EST
    something you might appreciate is that this is a series very much driven by women.  All the important roles are and have been in every season women.  Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates, Angela Bassett, lead a cast of amazing women that have included a woman with Downs Syndrome and the massively overweight star of Precious Gabourey Sidibe (she got an Oscar nomination for that). Also small roles for great women.  Last year Stevie Nicks and Patti LuPone this year Patti LaBelle.

    Parent