Pro-Walker Bus Tour Ends with a Whimper

Questions arise about Joe the Plumber’s drawing power
Politics • Views: 31,219

A four-day Wisconsin bus tour paid for by the Koch Brothers and starring Joe the Plumber has fizzled to an end in Madison.

The rally, held in Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Energy Center, drew about 600 people, said Matt Seaholm, state director for the sponsoring group, Americans for Prosperity. The turnout was the largest on the 10-city tour, he said.

Meanwhile, thousands of protesters once again surrounded the state Capitol to speak out against Walker’s plan to curtail collective bargaining, though the gathering was considerably smaller than Saturday’s rally of 30,000 or so.

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548 comments
1 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:07:04pm

Moral of the story: Corporate groups are effective at research, lobbying, and running ads, but they do not do grass-roots campaigning that well. The Koch brothers need to step back a bit and find better organizers to fund.

2 Prononymous, rogue demon hunter  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:10:21pm

re: #1 Dark_Falcon

IMO, companies can astroturf just fine. It just takes more time and they didn’t anticipate the need on such short notice.

3 Gus  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:13:36pm

Suckers.

4 Simply Sarah  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:13:58pm

Clearly, what happened was that the shills wanted to unionize for better pay and benefits and that just made things awkward for everybody.

5 FreedomMoon  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:14:19pm

re: #1 Dark_Falcon

It’s not easy to buy people and their support, unless of course it’s Joe the Plumber.

6 Professor Chaos  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:16:46pm

Memo to Joe the Plumber:

Your 15 minutes has been up for quite some time now.

I order you to cease any and all supernatural activity and return forthwith to your place of origin, or to the nearest convenient parallel dimension.

7 SanFranciscoZionist  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:16:49pm

re: #5 tacuba14

It’s not easy to buy people and their support, unless of course it’s Joe the Plumber.

I’m happy to see that Joe’s fifteen minutes of fame continues.

//

8 Killgore Trout  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:17:59pm

LOL@PJM for hiring Joe the Derper after the election as if he was going to bring you awesomeness.

9 goddamnedfrank  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:18:31pm

re: #6 Girth

Memo to Joe the Plumber:

Your 15 minutes has been up for quite some time now.

I order you to cease any and all supernatural activity and return forthwith to your place of origin, or to the nearest convenient parallel dimension.

Are you a God?

10 SanFranciscoZionist  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:18:38pm

I also continue to be fascinated with the fact that all the people who wanted me to take the Tea Party seriously on the basis of their ability to turn out crowds don’t seem at all impressed with the passion of the Wisconsin protesters.

11 Gus  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:19:00pm

re: #7 SanFranciscoZionist

I’m happy to see that Joe’s fifteen minutes of fame continues.

//

What are the odds he goes bankrupt when his 15 minutes are done?

12 Kronocide  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:20:11pm

Joe The Non-Union Plumber.

13 Professor Chaos  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:20:44pm

re: #9 goddamnedfrank

Are you a God?

Yes.

14 SanFranciscoZionist  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:21:27pm

re: #11 Gus 802

What are the odds he goes bankrupt when his 15 minutes are done?

Joe: A man willing to step up so that someone else’s tax cuts wouldn’t expire.

I confess to not quite ‘getting’ the whole Joe thing.

15 SanFranciscoZionist  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:22:56pm

re: #14 SanFranciscoZionist

Joe: A man willing to step up so that someone else’s tax cuts wouldn’t expire.

I confess to not quite ‘getting’ the whole Joe thing.

I especially didn’t get the part where Pajamas Media sent him to Israel.

16 Simply Sarah  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:26:51pm

re: #10 SanFranciscoZionist

I also continue to be fascinated with the fact that all the people who wanted me to take the Tea Party seriously on the basis of their ability to turn out crowds don’t seem at all impressed with the passion of the Wisconsin protesters.

Those people are only worried about their jobs and pay and benefits, so it totally doesn’t count. It needs to be about being a True Patriot®.

17 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:28:10pm

If there weren’t a Plumbers and Pipefitters Union, would there be any group working to standardize and train plumbers and their work?

18 Kragar (Antichrist )  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:28:22pm

re: #15 SanFranciscoZionist

I especially didn’t get the part where Pajamas Media sent him to Israel.

Don’t you know, yeah yeah, Don’t you know that you are a shooting star,
Don’t you know, don’t you know. Don’t you know that you are
a shooting star, And all the world will love you just as long,
As long as you are.

19 Charles Johnson  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:28:24pm

re: #15 SanFranciscoZionist

I especially didn’t get the part where Pajamas Media sent him to Israel.

Don’t ask me. I was gone before that episode.

20 Kragar (Antichrist )  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:29:14pm

re: #17 ggt

If there weren’t a Plumbers and Pipefitters Union, would there be any group working to standardize and train plumbers and their work?

Industry standards are commie socialist dogma.

21 Gus  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:32:36pm

re: #20 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Industry standards are commie socialist dogma.

Regulations and professional standards fuel many industries. That’s something these Randian posers don’t understand. If a developer didn’t need and architect, engineer, planner, licensed plumber, carpenter, etc. Believe me. Most of the big creepy ones would build without them just to save a buck. So when a city says you need a licensed plumber you show up for the work as a licensed plumber that makes good money. Otherwise, you would show up as an unlicensed plumber or handyman making peanuts. But I guess that’s what these geniuses want: low paying careers.

22 jaunte  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:32:48pm

re: #17 ggt

There’s also a magazine from an organization with an unfortunate acronym:

Plumbing Standards Magazine is the official publication of the American Society of Sanitary Engineering (ASSE). asse-plumbing.org
23 Achilles Tang  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:32:55pm
“These are the values inspiring those brave workers in Poland … They remind us that where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost.”

—Ronald Reagan, Labor Day Address at Liberty State Park, 1980

24 Gus  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:34:26pm

re: #23 Naso Tang

Who wrote that for him?

25 SanFranciscoZionist  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:36:11pm

I love Jon Stewart: “By the way, the Westboro Baptist Church is no more a church than Church’s Fried Chicken is a church. It’s really just one pustulent family spewing perverted religious doctrine from their herpetic mouth-like assholes, who have somehow figured out how not to pay taxes.”

26 Kragar (Antichrist )  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:36:35pm

re: #24 Gus 802

Who wrote that for him?

Some commie.

27 SanFranciscoZionist  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:37:30pm

re: #17 ggt

If there weren’t a Plumbers and Pipefitters Union, would there be any group working to standardize and train plumbers and their work?

Sure. The free market would do it, and then plumbers would work for, like, fifteen cents an hour.

//

28 Achilles Tang  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:37:43pm

re: #24 Gus 802

Who wrote that for him?

His wife’s astrologer.

29 Gus  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:38:09pm

re: #26 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Some commie.

Yeah. It was a campaign speech. It worked in creating “Reagan Democrats” I guess.

30 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:39:44pm

re: #20 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Industry standards are commie socialist dogma.

ah!

kinda like traffic rules?

31 SanFranciscoZionist  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:40:18pm

re: #23 Naso Tang

Being able to bargain with the government for good wages and fair working conditions is important if the government are godless anti-American commies.

However, since the People of the Tea think that OUR current government are godless, anti-American commies, you’d think they’d want people to have some kind of protection.

32 SanFranciscoZionist  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:41:19pm

re: #28 Naso Tang

His wife’s astrologer.

I remember that whole episode. Everyone was laughing their asses off, because it was exactly like something that happens in Stranger In A Strange Land.

33 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:41:51pm

re: #27 SanFranciscoZionist

Sure. The free market would do it, and then plumbers would work for, like, fifteen cents an hour.

//

I think plumbers would always make a good buck. Just can’t get a machine to do that kind of work yet.

All he has to do is stand outside your door and wait ‘til you give-in to his price. Tools and parts aren’t cheap in plumbing either.

Not like drywall.

34 SanFranciscoZionist  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:42:11pm

re: #30 ggt

ah!

kinda like traffic rules?

An armed society is a polite society, and a car is a weapon. People can figure out how fast to drive, and when they can go through an intersection on their own, without government interference.

///

35 Amory Blaine  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:42:51pm

re: #6 Girth

Memo to Joe the Plumber:

Your 15 minutes has been up for quite some time now.

I order you to cease any and all supernatural activity and return forthwith to your place of origin, or to the nearest convenient parallel dimension.

A sewer elemental?

36 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:43:17pm

re: #32 SanFranciscoZionist

I remember that whole episode. Everyone was laughing their asses off, because it was exactly like something that happens in Stranger In A Strange Land.

I don’t remember that.

i thought it was a strange book. I liked the part where the main character turned people he didn’t like “sideways in space” effectively disappearing them.

Is that the same book?

37 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:43:55pm

re: #34 SanFranciscoZionist

An armed society is a polite society, and a car is a weapon. People can figure out how fast to drive, and when they can go through an intersection on their own, without government interference.

///

Right, I’ve heard some stories about driving in other countries that would refute that idea. …

38 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:45:02pm

re: #29 Gus 802

Yeah. It was a campaign speech. It worked in creating “Reagan Democrats” I guess.

It was designed to appeal to union voters and it worked. That having been said, the unions Gov. Walker opposes (non-police and fire government workers) have voted Democratic as a bloc regardless of of which Republican was running. They vote for Dems and then expect a salary kickback from the boss they voted in.

39 SanFranciscoZionist  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:45:13pm

re: #33 ggt

I think plumbers would always make a good buck. Just can’t get a machine to do that kind of work yet.

All he has to do is stand outside your door and wait ‘til you give-in to his price. Tools and parts aren’t cheap in plumbing either.

Not like drywall.

True, that.

40 darthstar  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:46:43pm

Walker’s WINNING! (but he’s not winning at farming)

41 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:47:23pm

updinging is still taking forever on my end.

42 SanFranciscoZionist  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:48:27pm

Apparently Brigham Young suspended one of their star basketball players for honor code violations, after he admitted to having sex with his girlfriend.

I actually admire the fact that the rules were applied to a boy. THat’s not as common in the world as one might hope.

43 Gus  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:48:49pm

re: #38 Dark_Falcon

It was designed to appeal to union voters and it worked. That having been said, the unions Gov. Walker opposes (non-police and fire government workers) have voted Democratic as a bloc regardless of of which Republican was running. They vote for Dems and then expect a salary kickback from the boss they voted in.

That’s all they vote for Democratic Party candidates? Just to get a “salary kickback”? When you’re looking at teachers for example you are looking at a by and large liberal demographic.

44 Professor Chaos  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:49:03pm

re: #31 SanFranciscoZionist

Being able to bargain with the government for good wages and fair working conditions is important if the government are godless anti-American commies.

However, since the People of the Tea think that OUR current government are godless, anti-American commies, you’d think they’d want people to have some kind of protection.

But they also think that the people who want to bargain with the godless anti-American commies in the government are themselves godless anti-American commies. Can’t have two sets of godless anti-American commies negotiating with each other.

Anyone else find it funny when someone goes on television and explains that this can’t go on because the government officials give the unions whatever they want so the unions will get those officials re-elected? If that’s how it works then how did these all these Republican governors who want to bust the unions get elected in the first place. Some conspiracy.

45 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:49:22pm

re: #41 ggt

updinging is still taking forever on my end.

Me too.

46 wee fury  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:50:40pm

re: #45 Dark_Falcon

Me too.

Same here.

47 darthstar  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:51:01pm

re: #41 ggt

updinging is still taking forever on my end.

There are pills for that.

48 Achilles Tang  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:51:08pm

re: #32 SanFranciscoZionist

I remember that whole episode. Everyone was laughing their asses off, because it was exactly like something that happens in Stranger In A Strange Land.

Now that is one I should read again, for old time’s sake.

49 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:51:10pm

re: #43 Gus 802

That’s all they vote for Democratic Party candidates? Just to get a “salary kickback”? When you’re looking at teachers for example you are looking at a by and large liberal demographic.

It’s not the only reason, but its a major factor, especially for the union. Because an increase in salary means a increase in dues.

50 SanFranciscoZionist  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:51:24pm

re: #37 ggt

Right, I’ve heard some stories about driving in other countries that would refute that idea… .

I read an interview with the imam of a mosque in New York, who said that when he came to New York City from Egypt, he was so impressed with the law-abiding, polite, safe driving of New Yorkers.

51 Achilles Tang  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:51:36pm

re: #41 ggt

updinging is still taking forever on my end.

Have you tried down?

52 HoosierHoops  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:51:49pm

re: #42 SanFranciscoZionist

Apparently Brigham Young suspended one of their star basketball players for honor code violations, after he admitted to having sex with his girlfriend.

I actually admire the fact that the rules were applied to a boy. THat’s not as common in the world as one might hope.

The only reason he got caught was because she got pregnant..Should have considered Birth Control

53 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:52:17pm

Has anyone ever posted a list if political contributions by “voting bloc”?

ie

unions
corporations
regular folks
rich folks
not-for-profits

54 Achilles Tang  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:52:22pm

re: #50 SanFranciscoZionist

I read an interview with the imam of a mosque in New York, who said that when he came to New York City from Egypt, he was so impressed with the law-abiding, polite, safe driving of New Yorkers.

I guess the first thing he did was buy a car instead of taking a cab.

55 Simply Sarah  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:52:51pm

re: #50 SanFranciscoZionist

I read an interview with the imam of a mosque in New York, who said that when he came to New York City from Egypt, he was so impressed with the law-abiding, polite, safe driving of New Yorkers.

When I visited Italy a few years back, I learned that stop signs and red lights are considered mostly offhand suggestions in some places.

56 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:53:21pm

re: #51 Naso Tang

Have you tried down?

no, want me to try it on you?

just kidding :)

I don’t downding much.

57 Achilles Tang  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:53:25pm

re: #53 ggt

Has anyone ever posted a list if political contributions by “voting bloc”?

ie

unions
corporations
regular folks
rich folks
not-for-profits

Corporations and rich folks are unlisted.

58 moderatelyradicalliberal  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:55:17pm

re: #52 HoosierHoops

The only reason he got caught was because she got pregnant..Should have considered Birth Control

Kids raised to believe in abstinence only tend not to use birth control. See Bristol Palin.

59 Achilles Tang  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:55:37pm

re: #56 ggt

no, want me to try it on you?

just kidding :)

I don’t downding much.

Me either, but be my guest since we are both pre ding era, so the totals don’t matter much.

60 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:55:38pm

Reloading is taking forever too!

and, it is not a hobby …

:)

61 SanFranciscoZionist  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:55:52pm

re: #49 Dark_Falcon

It’s not the only reason, but its a major factor, especially for the union. Because an increase in salary means a increase in dues.

This is not exactly an overpaid field.

62 Amory Blaine  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:55:55pm

re: #33 ggt

I think plumbers would always make a good buck. Just can’t get a machine to do that kind of work yet.

All he has to do is stand outside your door and wait ‘til you give-in to his price. Tools and parts aren’t cheap in plumbing either.

Not like drywall.

Plumbers and electricians are protected by building codes. Whereas many other tradespeople are not.

63 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:56:30pm

re: #59 Naso Tang

Me either, but be my guest since we are both pre ding era, so the totals don’t matter much.

Yeah, makes our post to karma ratio an unreliable indicator. of what, I’m still not sure.

64 Walter L. Newton  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:57:21pm

re: #1 Dark_Falcon

Moral of the story: Corporate groups are effective at research, lobbying, and running ads, but they do not do grass-roots campaigning that well. The Koch brothers need to step back a bit and find better organizers to fund.

Moral of the story. Walker is still governor.

65 Achilles Tang  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:57:44pm

re: #63 ggt

Yeah, makes our post to karma ratio an unreliable indicator. of what, I’m still not sure.

Gives the young upity airs sometimes.

66 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:58:58pm

The Heinlein books I read had some interesting stuff in them, but the constant sex was stupid, IMHO.

I tried to remember that that was cutting edge in his day, but for my generation it was just ho hum.

Probably a banned author in some circles even today.

67 Achilles Tang  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 8:59:29pm

Time for bed. Goodnight.

68 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:00:06pm

Having thought this matter through, I did have a thought for a compromise on the Wisconsin standoff. My proposal is as follows:

1. Give backs have already been agreed to, they stay.
2. The annual certification requirement is to be dropped.
3. The recension of collective bargaining except for salaries is likewise dropped.
4. The requirement for salary hikes to be approved by referendum is retained.
5. The right of a union to collect dues for a paycheck is retained, but said union must obtain opt-in consent to use any funds from that member for political campaigning and contributions.
6. Teacher tenure to be retained, but firing process to be streamlined for cases of misconduct (not to include subjects taught, i.e. you can’t be fired for teaching evolution).
7. No bid sale of state assets provision to be dropped. Replaced by provision requiring competitive bids.

What do you folks think of that?

69 Gus  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:00:09pm

re: #64 Walter L. Newton

Moral of the story. Walker is still governor.

Moral of the story. Walker is still a douche bag.

70 Achilles Tang  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:01:14pm

re: #66 ggt

The Heinlein books I read had some interesting stuff in them, but the constant sex was stupid, IMHO.

Speak for yourself. :0)

71 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:02:00pm

re: #70 Naso Tang

Speak for yourself. :0)

thought you were going to bed!

72 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:02:54pm

Where do you go on Windows to clean your cache?

73 Gus  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:04:13pm

re: #72 ggt

Where do you go on Windows to clean your cache?

You mean like the system cache?

74 Professor Chaos  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:04:21pm

re: #72 ggt

Where do you go on Windows to clean your cache?

You don’t want to do that near a window. The neighbors might see.

75 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:05:04pm

re: #73 Gus 802

You mean like the system cache?

yes!

76 Walter L. Newton  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:05:18pm

A couple of inches of snow up here, this was suppose to wait till tomorrow afternoon… instead, it’s snow, and I have to trudge through it in a bit. Weather geeks say we will get ANOTHER wave tomorrow night through Tuesday. That works for me, after tonight, I don’t have to worry about being on the roads until Wed.

77 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:05:30pm

re: #74 Girth

You don’t want to do that near a window. The neighbors might see.

SMACK!

78 Gus  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:05:48pm

re: #75 ggt

yes!

What’s your OS?

79 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:06:28pm

re: #78 Gus 802

What’s your OS?

Vista, I think. ..

80 SanFranciscoZionist  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:06:49pm

Something to look at, in terms of teaching salaries.

81 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:06:49pm

re: #76 Walter L. Newton

A couple of inches of snow up here, this was suppose to wait till tomorrow afternoon… instead, it’s snow, and I have to trudge through it in a bit. Weather geeks say we will get ANOTHER wave tomorrow night through Tuesday. That works for me, after tonight, I don’t have to worry about being on the roads until Wed.

I thought you had to do another overnight …

82 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:07:57pm

re: #68 Dark_Falcon

So I guess my idea doesn’t spark any interest. Sorry, I tried.

83 SanFranciscoZionist  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:08:11pm

re: #68 Dark_Falcon

Having thought this matter through, I did have a thought for a compromise on the Wisconsin standoff. My proposal is as follows:

1. Give backs have already been agreed to, they stay.
2. The annual certification requirement is to be dropped.
3. The recension of collective bargaining except for salaries is likewise dropped.
4. The requirement for salary hikes to be approved by referendum is retained.
5. The right of a union to collect dues for a paycheck is retained, but said union must obtain opt-in consent to use any funds from that member for political campaigning and contributions.
6. Teacher tenure to be retained, but firing process to be streamlined for cases of misconduct (not to include subjects taught, i.e. you can’t be fired for teaching evolution).
7. No bid sale of state assets provision to be dropped. Replaced by provision requiring competitive bids.

What do you folks think of that?

I don’t like surrendering collective bargaining. I can’t comment on the question of the firing process, since I don’t know what it currently is in Wisconsin districts.

84 Gus  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:08:20pm

XP…

Control Panel
System
Advanced
Performance - Settings
Advanced
Virtual Memory - Change
Set to “No Paging File”

Close all and then delete pagefile.sys in your C: directory.

Then go back and repeat the above step but check off “Sytem Managed Size”

85 Walter L. Newton  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:09:01pm

re: #81 ggt

I thought you had to do another overnight …

Yes, tonight, at midnight. That’s why I mentioned that this snow was suppose to wait until Monday afternoon, not Sunday, tonight. I was hoping to miss it, get tonight over with, and let it do it’s thing over the next two days. Now I have to contend with driving in it.

No big deal, I’m only 5 miles from work, but still, it’s mountain roads from here to the highway (about 2.5 miles) and I’d rather not have to drive in it. But no big problem.

86 Amory Blaine  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:10:34pm

re: #82 Dark_Falcon

So I guess my idea doesn’t spark any interest. Sorry, I tried.

I don’t know about tying all wages to inflation. In many situations, flexibility is needed for talent in highly competitive fields.

87 Gus  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:10:39pm

re: #82 Dark_Falcon

So I guess my idea doesn’t spark any interest. Sorry, I tried.

It got two updings. You know. It’s late Sunday night.

88 Amory Blaine  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:11:46pm

re: #86 Amory Blaine

I don’t know about tying all wages to inflation. In many situations, flexibility is needed for talent in highly competitive fields.

Sorry I meant to say tying them to referendums.

89 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:13:16pm

re: #84 Gus 802

XP…

Control Panel
System
Advanced
Performance - Settings
Advanced
Virtual Memory - Change
Set to “No Paging File”

Close all and then delete pagefile.sys in your C: directory.

Then go back and repeat the above step but check off “Sytem Managed Size”

so, I have to restart my system AGAIN?

bbiab

90 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:14:09pm

re: #83 SanFranciscoZionist

I don’t like surrendering collective bargaining. I can’t comment on the question of the firing process, since I don’t know what it currently is in Wisconsin districts.

Well, my third point dealt with that. It perhaps should have read:

3. 3. The revocation of collective bargaining except for salaries is likewise dropped.

I was saying that that part of the bill is to be dropped.

91 Gus  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:14:57pm

re: #89 ggt

so, I have to restart my system AGAIN?

bbiab

You can but once you delete that sys file and then go back and build a new one it builds it from scratch.

92 SanFranciscoZionist  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:15:46pm

re: #90 Dark_Falcon

Well, my third point dealt with that. It perhaps should have read:

3. 3. The revocation of collective bargaining except for salaries is likewise dropped.

I was saying that that part of the bill is to be dropped.

Gotcha. I misread that.

93 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:25:35pm

Well, I’m back. again.

94 palomino  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:26:14pm

re: #68 Dark_Falcon

Having thought this matter through, I did have a thought for a compromise on the Wisconsin standoff. My proposal is as follows:

1. Give backs have already been agreed to, they stay.
2. The annual certification requirement is to be dropped.
3. The recension of collective bargaining except for salaries is likewise dropped.
4. The requirement for salary hikes to be approved by referendum is retained.
5. The right of a union to collect dues for a paycheck is retained, but said union must obtain opt-in consent to use any funds from that member for political campaigning and contributions.
6. Teacher tenure to be retained, but firing process to be streamlined for cases of misconduct (not to include subjects taught, i.e. you can’t be fired for teaching evolution).
7. No bid sale of state assets provision to be dropped. Replaced by provision requiring competitive bids.

What do you folks think of that?

Sounds far too reasonable for Walker to agree to. Getting rid of CB to hamstring the unions is the whole point of this, balancing the budget was always secondary.

95 SanFranciscoZionist  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:27:00pm

re: #94 palomino

Sounds far too reasonable for Walker to agree to. Getting rid of CB to hamstring the unions is the whole point of this, balancing the budget was always secondary.

That’s my concern as well.

96 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:27:12pm

re: #91 Gus 802

You can but once you delete that sys file and then go back and build a new one it builds it from scratch.

I think there are programs I really need to disable, but something called Windows Defender is non-existant and the Help files say that is what I need to disable them.

97 Professor Chaos  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:27:28pm

re: #68 Dark_Falcon

Having thought this matter through, I did have a thought for a compromise on the Wisconsin standoff. My proposal is as follows:

1. Give backs have already been agreed to, they stay.
2. The annual certification requirement is to be dropped.
3. The recension of collective bargaining except for salaries is likewise dropped.
4. The requirement for salary hikes to be approved by referendum is retained.
5. The right of a union to collect dues for a paycheck is retained, but said union must obtain opt-in consent to use any funds from that member for political campaigning and contributions.
6. Teacher tenure to be retained, but firing process to be streamlined for cases of misconduct (not to include subjects taught, i.e. you can’t be fired for teaching evolution).
7. No bid sale of state assets provision to be dropped. Replaced by provision requiring competitive bids.

What do you folks think of that?

It’s my understanding (could be wrong) that #7 is in a larger budget bill and not a part of the union related bill.

Like SFZ said, I don’t know enough about the firing process to comment on WI. In general I think that obviously you need to be able to fire a bad teacher, but I think that the right has seized on the outlier horror stories and it is no where near as large a problem as some would have you believe.

Not sure about the referendum for salary increases. It effectively caps teacher pay because voters won’t approve increases and WI will lose good teachers to other states that won’t cap their pay.

98 Gus  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:30:52pm

re: #96 ggt

I think there are programs I really need to disable, but something called Windows Defender is non-existant and the Help files say that is what I need to disable them.

Oh. Hmmm. Search for Windows Defender uninstall.

If you know how to get to “Services” on your computer go there and see if you can “disable” it.

99 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:32:05pm

re: #97 Girth

It’s my understanding (could be wrong) that #7 is in a larger budget bill and not a part of the union related bill.

Like SFZ said, I don’t know enough about the firing process to comment on WI. In general I think that obviously you need to be able to fire a bad teacher, but I think that the right has seized on the outlier horror stories and it is no where near as large a problem as some would have you believe.

Not sure about the referendum for salary increases. It effectively caps teacher pay because voters won’t approve increases and WI will lose good teachers to other states that won’t cap their pay.

Well, the Chicago Tribune recently did an article on just how hard it is to fire a bad teacher, so it’s not a myth. Overblown, maybe, but not a myth.

As for salary increases, I think the referendum needed. It prevents sweetheart union deals and forces unions to take their case to the public. If some teachers leave over it, so be it.

100 Gus  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:32:14pm

re: #96 ggt

I think there are programs I really need to disable, but something called Windows Defender is non-existant and the Help files say that is what I need to disable them.

Try this…

support.microsoft.com

101 Professor Chaos  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:32:45pm

So what happens first:

1. Walker cuts a deal with the unions,
2. One or more Dems come back to the state and the bill passes,
3. Enough GOP senators say they’ve had it and kill the bill.

I think 3.

102 engineer cat  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:35:25pm

if the republican party was really serious about balancing the budget the whole debate would be completely different. and i don’t even agree that balancing the budget is the most serious issue we face in improving government

what really worries me, since my own ox is gored on this issue, is that we will someday soon get a president who agrees with the outright lie that social security is in serious trouble and needs benefits cuts

103 Amory Blaine  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:35:35pm

re: #97 Girth

Teacher pay was capped for like 15 years in Wisconsin. It was called QEO. So does that mean teachers have been getting “sweetheart deals” since the loss of QEO? Absolutely not that would be absurd.

104 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:37:56pm

re: #101 Girth

So what happens first:

1. Walker cuts a deal with the unions,
2. One or more Dems come back to the state and the bill passes,
3. Enough GOP senators say they’ve had it and kill the bill.

I think 3.

I doubt number 3 very much. Walker has staked too much in this bill. To simply kill it would be a unilateral concession of defeat. Better a long-term legislative shutdown than that. No, the GOP can do acceptably with a negotiated settlement, but not by waving a white flag. To lose is to die politically.

105 palomino  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:39:08pm

Who the hell would want to become a public school teacher now? Not only do you see a shrinking salary (that wasn’t that big to begin with for someone with at least a 4 year college degree.) But now your profession has been demonized by the right. A society that devalues its teachers isn’t really moving in a constructive direction.

106 lostlakehiker  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:39:51pm

re: #1 Dark_Falcon

Moral of the story: Corporate groups are effective at research, lobbying, and running ads, but they do not do grass-roots campaigning that well. The Koch brothers need to step back a bit and find better organizers to fund.

Astroturfing doesn’t work in Wisconsin any better than it worked in Egypt. The tide of public opinion goes where it lists, and no amount of money has anything to say about that.

Successful astroturfing, such as it is, involves generating the appearance of mass support without any need to demonstrate actual, like, mass. Letter writing campaigns are a good example. Internet polls are another.

107 SanFranciscoZionist  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:40:17pm

re: #99 Dark_Falcon

Well, the Chicago Tribune recently did an article on just how hard it is to fire a bad teacher, so it’s not a myth. Overblown, maybe, but not a myth.

As for salary increases, I think the referendum needed. It prevents sweetheart union deals and forces unions to take their case to the public. If some teachers leave over it, so be it.

I would say that ‘sweetheart union deals’ are a myth, when it comes to teaching.

As for firing, it’s tricky. I see these horror stories, and certainly, there should be some means of removing someone for misconduct without a three-ring circus. OTOH, I really do not know the extent to which this is a real problem outside of certain districts.

108 engineer cat  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:41:00pm

re: #99 Dark_Falcon

Well, the Chicago Tribune recently did an article on just how hard it is to fire a bad teacher, so it’s not a myth. Overblown, maybe, but not a myth.

my overall impression is that it is hard to attract and keep good teachers, altho i can’t cite any documentation on that point

but it certainly seems to come in at the low end of remuneration for professions requiring college degrees

109 Professor Chaos  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:41:03pm

re: #99 Dark_Falcon

Well, the Chicago Tribune recently did an article on just how hard it is to fire a bad teacher, so it’s not a myth. Overblown, maybe, but not a myth.

As for salary increases, I think the referendum needed. It prevents sweetheart union deals and forces unions to take their case to the public. If some teachers leave over it, so be it.

I didn’t say it was a myth.

The fact of the matter is that it is any union’s basic function to protect its members. Combine that with the fact that while you may be able to observe that a teacher is bad, proving it is a completely different matter that simply due to the nature of the work will take a considerable length of time, and yeah, it’s gonna take a long time to get a teacher fired.

Have the unions made it too difficult in places? Probably.

110 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:41:19pm

re: #98 Gus 802

Oh. Hmmm. Search for Windows Defender uninstall.

If you know how to get to “Services” on your computer go there and see if you can “disable” it.

There is nothing to disable, Windows Defender doesn’t exist on my computer. My computer says I need it to disable other programs that may be slowing me down that I don’t need, either at start-up or at all.

111 engineer cat  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:41:46pm

re: #105 palomino

Who the hell would want to become a public school teacher now? Not only do you see a shrinking salary (that wasn’t that big to begin with for someone with at least a 4 year college degree.) But now your profession has been demonized by the right. A society that devalues its teachers isn’t really moving in a constructive direction.

i second that

112 Gus  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:42:13pm

re: #105 palomino

Who the hell would want to become a public school teacher now? Not only do you see a shrinking salary (that wasn’t that big to begin with for someone with at least a 4 year college degree.) But now your profession has been demonized by the right. A society that devalues its teachers isn’t really moving in a constructive direction.

Where else can you get your masters degree; work 12 hours a day (yeah they’re always talking about working only 9 months) 6 days a week; deal with kids behavior problems; constantly changing teacher guidelines or testing; and kids parents for a wealthy sum of $49,051 a year!

113 lostlakehiker  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:42:51pm

re: #42 SanFranciscoZionist

Apparently Brigham Young suspended one of their star basketball players for honor code violations, after he admitted to having sex with his girlfriend.

I actually admire the fact that the rules were applied to a boy. THat’s not as common in the world as one might hope.

It’s more common in Dar al Mormon than it is in society at large. Mormons take their honor codes seriously, and will pay a price to uphold them.

114 Amory Blaine  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:44:10pm

My wife was a teacher for one brutal year in our lives. She taught 8th grade science. Three of her students were pregnant.

115 SanFranciscoZionist  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:44:13pm

re: #105 palomino

Who the hell would want to become a public school teacher now? Not only do you see a shrinking salary (that wasn’t that big to begin with for someone with at least a 4 year college degree.) But now your profession has been demonized by the right. A society that devalues its teachers isn’t really moving in a constructive direction.

I know this was on the Daily Show, but it really is hard to take this kind of demonization not so long after we got treated to a whole lecture on how taxpayer money had to go to lavish benefits for the people who’d just trashed the economy, because, heck, they might quit if we didn’t subsidize them.

116 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:44:29pm

re: #100 Gus 802

Try this…

[Link: support.microsoft.com…]

Thanks, I’ve bookmarked it.

There is nothing in my control panel that says “add or remove programs” and I don’t feel like fiddling with it anymore tonite.

Thanks!

117 Gus  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:45:18pm

re: #110 ggt

There is nothing to disable, Windows Defender doesn’t exist on my computer. My computer says I need it to disable other programs that may be slowing me down that I don’t need, either at start-up or at all.

You can look through here…

blackviper.com

Services is a good place to start. I’ve tweaked my system using Black Viper’s suggestions before.

Scroll down and look for your OS under “Black Viper’s Configuration Examples and Recommendations”.

118 lostlakehiker  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:45:19pm

re: #108 engineer dog

my overall impression is that it is hard to attract and keep good teachers, altho i can’t cite any documentation on that point

but it certainly seems to come in at the low end of remuneration for professions requiring college degrees

Teaching degrees are easier to come by than degrees in, say, organic chemistry. Working conditions are safer than, say, oceanography. A lot of what happens in the world of salaries happens for sensible economic reasons.

119 SanFranciscoZionist  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:45:55pm

re: #108 engineer dog

my overall impression is that it is hard to attract and keep good teachers, altho i can’t cite any documentation on that point

but it certainly seems to come in at the low end of remuneration for professions requiring college degrees

About half of all teachers leave the profession within five years. Most people I talk to who leave don’t talk about the money, which is not great, but you know that going in. It’s how hard it is, and the lack of respect, and the way it eats your entire life.

120 Gus  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:46:53pm

Yeah. The financial meltdown of 2008 was caused by your 7th grade social studies teacher. She’s in a UNION you know!

/Wingnut.

121 palomino  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:47:07pm

re: #112 Gus 802

Where else can you get your masters degree; work 12 hours a day (yeah they’re always talking about working only 9 months) 6 days a week; deal with kids behavior problems; constantly changing teacher guidelines or testing; and kids parents for a wealthy sum of $49,051 a year!

The idea that teachers are a bunch of fat cats is absurd. And you’re right: they take home tons of work, so the talk of them having short easy days is another right wing myth.

The movie Waiting for Superman (by the Inconvenient Truth director) makes the case that the unions do sometimes overprotect bad teachers. But it highlights a dozen other causes for the inconsistencies in public school quality. And a big part of that is underfunding in many districts.

122 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:47:14pm

I wouldn’t want to become a teacher for any salary.

123 palomino  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:49:11pm

re: #115 SanFranciscoZionist

I know this was on the Daily Show, but it really is hard to take this kind of demonization not so long after we got treated to a whole lecture on how taxpayer money had to go to lavish benefits for the people who’d just trashed the economy, because, heck, they might quit if we didn’t subsidize them.

Let’s have “shared sacrifice” as long as it’s the middle class govt employees who do most of the sacrificing. This seems to be the gop’s position.

124 engineer cat  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:49:28pm

re: #118 lostlakehiker

i think you are replied to quite well here:

re: #119 SanFranciscoZionist

125 palomino  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:50:41pm

re: #118 lostlakehiker

Teaching degrees are easier to come by than degrees in, say, organic chemistry. Working conditions are safer than, say, oceanography. A lot of what happens in the world of salaries happens for sensible economic reasons.

The point isn’t that your average teacher is Einstein. The point is that he/she is not some lazy fat cat doing no work and picking up a huge check.

126 SanFranciscoZionist  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:50:51pm

re: #109 Girth

I didn’t say it was a myth.

The fact of the matter is that it is any union’s basic function to protect its members. Combine that with the fact that while you may be able to observe that a teacher is bad, proving it is a completely different matter that simply due to the nature of the work will take a considerable length of time, and yeah, it’s gonna take a long time to get a teacher fired.

Have the unions made it too difficult in places? Probably.

Please remember that until a teacher gets tenure, they are contracted for the year, but otherwise an at-will employee. This is three years to decide if someone can do the job or not, wholly at a principal’s discretion. After that, they can still be dismissed for all sorts of stuff.

I think that in some places the unions have made it too hard to dismiss a tenured teacher, but I suspect that in many other places, school district bureaucracies are too lazy or overwhelmed to identify problem teachers and go through the process necessary to show them the door.

127 Gus  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:51:24pm

The recession was caused by teachers, unions, Muslims, atheists, homosexuals, liberals, Al Gore, abortionists and unmarried pregnant women.

Republican Party Platform 2011
Part 21: GOP Economics

//

128 SanFranciscoZionist  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:52:47pm

re: #114 Amory Blaine

My wife was a teacher for one brutal year in our lives. She taught 8th grade science. Three of her students were pregnant.

Gary Rubinstein does a quick quiz for teachers—a list of questions you must answer almost instantly with ‘yes’ or ‘no’.

“Can I go to the bathroom” with three minutes left in class is a ‘No’.

The same question from the girl who is eight months pregnant gets a ‘yes’.

I’ve only had one pregnant student that I was aware of. It was the year I taught at the charter high school, and the administration was completely stupid about the whole thing.

129 palomino  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:53:14pm

re: #127 Gus 802

The recession was caused by teachers, unions, Muslims, atheists, homosexuals, liberals, Al Gore, abortionists and unmarried pregnant women.

Republican Party Platform 2011
Part 21: GOP Economics

//

You forgot immigrants, especially those lazy illegals who spend all day picking fruit in 90 degree weather.

130 Professor Chaos  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:53:44pm

re: #105 palomino

Who the hell would want to become a public school teacher now? Not only do you see a shrinking salary (that wasn’t that big to begin with for someone with at least a 4 year college degree.) But now your profession has been demonized by the right. A society that devalues its teachers isn’t really moving in a constructive direction.

It wasn’t that long ago where the prevailing sentiment that I heard about teachers was that they should be receiving substantially higher salaries, but since everyone is more interested in getting re-elected rather than actually dealing with our problems, fuck it, let’s blame the teachers.

131 Gus  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:54:01pm

re: #129 palomino

You forgot immigrants, especially those lazy illegals who spend all day picking fruit in 90 degree weather.

That’s next. I hear those greedy bastards make something like 2 dollars an hour.

//

132 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:54:14pm

re: #127 Gus 802

The recession was caused by teachers, unions, Muslims, atheists, homosexuals, liberals, Al Gore, abortionists and unmarried pregnant women.

Republican Party Platform 2011
Part 21: GOP Economics

//

Wanted: Democratic ideas for cutting non-defense spending.

133 Kragar (Antichrist )  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:55:04pm

So, a review of my Imperial Guard uncovers I need 1 additional command squad, 2 infantry squads, a commissar, 2 Ministorum Priests and 2 more Enginseers by next weekend.

134 Kragar (Antichrist )  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:56:02pm

re: #132 Dark_Falcon

Wanted: Democratic ideas for cutting non-defense spending.

Stop paying farmers to not grow crops.

135 palomino  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:56:13pm

re: #130 Girth

It wasn’t that long ago where the prevailing sentiment that I heard about teachers was that they should be receiving substantially higher salaries, but since everyone is more interested in getting re-elected rather than actually dealing with our problems, fuck it, let’s blame the teachers.

I don’t have figures at hand, but I believe teachers in other industrialized countries are generally paid better, not to mention far less likely to be demonized for political reasons.

136 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:56:28pm

“if everybody was just like us” … .

a-the world would be at peace
b-the economy would be great
c-there would be no crime or corruption
d-god would love us . .
e-We’d just find some insignificant minute difference about each other to bitch about and demonize individuals just like some do now…

137 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:57:05pm

re: #133 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

So, a review of my Imperial Guard uncovers I need 1 additional command squad, 2 infantry squads, a commissar, 2 Ministorum Priests and 2 more Enginseers by next weekend.

why do you need priests?

138 blueraven  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:57:08pm

re: #132 Dark_Falcon

Wanted: Democratic ideas for cutting non-defense spending.


Cut Corporate welfare.

139 Kragar (Antichrist )  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:57:45pm

re: #136 ggt

“if everybody was just like us” …

a-the world would be at peace
b-the economy would be great
c-there would be no crime or corruption
d-god would love us . .
e-We’d just find some insignificant minute difference about each other to bitch about and demonize individuals just like some do now…

People who use - rather than ) to delineate bullet points are of the devil!

140 engineer cat  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:58:12pm

re: #118 lostlakehiker

by the way, lostlakehiker, i had been meaning to get back to you on the subject of the fictitious figure of $106 trillion in unfunded liabilities for social security:

So, what does the 2009 Social Security and Medicare Trustees Report actually say? Well, it says the unfunded liability is only $5.3 trillion:

Trustees Report: “For the 75-year projection period, the actuarial deficit is 2.00 percent of taxable payroll, 0.30 percentage point larger than in last year’s report. The open group unfunded obligation for OASDI over the 75-year period is $5.3 trillion in present value, and is $0.9 trillion more than the measured level of a year ago.”

facebook.com

ssa.gov

it should be noted that while people who cite the figure of $106 trillion never seem to give a time frame for these supposed liabilities, please note that in point of fact we are usually dealing with a 75 year time frame, not costs that are due right now

if the trustees of social security and medicare were really lying about the amount of the ‘unfunded liabities’ and the reality of the existence of the trust fund itself (you can read a description of it in the trustees report linked), it would be one of the biggest scandals in american history

since i haven’t heard about any such scandal in the news, i continue to believe in what the trustees report as the best information available

141 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:58:17pm

re: #138 blueraven

Cut Corporate welfare.

stop paying for cola and pork rinds with “food stamps”.

142 SanFranciscoZionist  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:59:00pm

re: #118 lostlakehiker

Teaching degrees are easier to come by than degrees in, say, organic chemistry. Working conditions are safer than, say, oceanography. A lot of what happens in the world of salaries happens for sensible economic reasons.

So, tell me why firefighters make about the same?

Better, tell me why people are acting as though getting paid this moderate salary is making teachers greedy pigs ripping off the public.

143 Gus  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:59:01pm

re: #132 Dark_Falcon

Wanted: Democratic ideas for cutting non-defense spending.

Repeal ethanol subsidies.

144 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:59:17pm

re: #139 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

People who use - rather than ) to delineate bullet points are of the devil!

I thought I hid my accordion. Have you been snooping?

145 Kragar (Antichrist )  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:59:19pm

re: #137 ggt

why do you need priests?

Eviscerators and Righteous Fury for the command squads.

146 Gus  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:59:57pm

re: #134 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Stop paying farmers agribusiness to not grow crops.

FTFY

147 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 9:59:57pm

re: #134 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Stop paying farmers to not grow crops.

I’m not opposed that. but you’d never get Dick Durbin (D) or Mark Kirk (R) (Illinois’s two Senators) to support it. Ag subsidies end up kicked back to lots of farm state senators.

148 Amory Blaine  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:00:13pm

re: #132 Dark_Falcon

Wanted: Democratic ideas for cutting non-defense spending.

Legalize pot.

149 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:00:14pm

re: #140 engineer dog

by the way, lostlakehiker, i had been meaning to get back to you on the subject of the fictitious figure of $106 trillion in unfunded liabilities for social security:

So, what does the 2009 Social Security and Medicare Trustees Report actually say? Well, it says the unfunded liability is only $5.3 trillion:

Trustees Report: “For the 75-year projection period, the actuarial deficit is 2.00 percent of taxable payroll, 0.30 percentage point larger than in last year’s report. The open group unfunded obligation for OASDI over the 75-year period is $5.3 trillion in present value, and is $0.9 trillion more than the measured level of a year ago.”

[Link: www.facebook.com…]

[Link: www.ssa.gov…]

it should be noted that while people who cite the figure of $106 trillion never seem to give a time frame for these supposed liabilities, please note that in point of fact we are usually dealing with a 75 year time frame, not costs that are due right now

if the trustees of social security and medicare were really lying about the amount of the ‘unfunded liabities’ and the reality of the existence of the trust fund itself (you can read a description of it in the trustees report linked), it would be one of the biggest scandals in american history

since i haven’t heard about any such scandal in the news, i continue to believe in what the trustees report as the best information available

There is a trust fund?

150 palomino  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:00:15pm

re: #132 Dark_Falcon

Wanted: Democratic ideas for cutting non-defense spending.

Even the tp realizes we have to cut defense. This isn’t some liberal plot to turn us into peacenik fairies.

Where are the GOP ideas for cutting spending beyond home heating for the poor and other such luxuries? They’ve targeted only discretionary domestic, a whopping 12% of the budget, for a few relatively minor cuts.

151 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:01:20pm

re: #147 Dark_Falcon

I’m not opposed that. but you’d never get Dick Durbin (D) or Mark Kirk (R) (Illinois’s two Senators) to support it. Ag subsidies end up kicked back to lots of farm state senators.

It’s all a money game, money and votes …

nasty…

152 palomino  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:02:11pm

re: #140 engineer dog

You’re right. There’s a bigger unfunded liability in the medicare part d passed back in 2002. Social Security isn’t the really big problem; it’s medicare, whose costs grow so much faster.

153 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:02:12pm

re: #143 Gus 802

Repeal ethanol subsidies.

You’ll never get support for that in Illinois. Corn’s a major crop here (only Iowa grows more).

154 freetoken  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:02:20pm

Teaching is not a career known for high income. It never has been, and never will be. The whole talk over increasing teachers’ salaries was never viable because of the nature of the education industry, which is designed just as much for the babysitting function as anything else.

155 Kragar (Antichrist )  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:03:06pm

re: #147 Dark_Falcon

I’m not opposed that. but you’d never get Dick Durbin (D) or Mark Kirk (R) (Illinois’s two Senators) to support it. Ag subsidies end up kicked back to lots of farm state senators.

Kick backs like that at all levels is part of what got us into this problem in the first place.

156 Jadespring  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:03:16pm

Chickens can be evil. >:

I feel like crap right now. One of my young hens got beat up a bit a few weeks ago. She was a small one. So I brought her inside and to get her back to good health etc etc. She was doing great and was all raring to go so I put her back out yesterday watched things for a bit and it looked fine. Thought it would be okay. Just went out to close up the coop and she was dead. The damn things pecked her to death I think. I know it happens and it’s a natural thing but I still feel like crap. It’s like big bullies beating up on the weaklings.

157 freetoken  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:03:42pm

re: #153 Dark_Falcon

There are 5 major corn states, and 5 minor ones.

The 10 Senators from the first 5 states, regardless of party, work together to protect ethanol subsidies. Anytime you can get a gang of 10 Senators to hang together you’ve got real influence in government.

158 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:03:57pm

re: #156 Jadespring

Chickens can be evil. >:

I feel like crap right now. One of my young hens got beat up a bit a few weeks ago. She was a small one. So I brought her inside and to get her back to good health etc etc. She was doing great and was all raring to go so I put her back out yesterday watched things for a bit and it looked fine. Thought it would be okay. Just went out to close up the coop and she was dead. The damn things pecked her to death I think. I know it happens and it’s a natural thing but I still feel like crap. It’s like big bullies beating up on the weaklings.

kinda like politics … .

159 SanFranciscoZionist  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:04:03pm

re: #131 Gus 802

That’s next. I hear those greedy bastards make something like 2 dollars an hour.

//

And most of them don’t even have a fruit-picking degree.

160 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:04:28pm

re: #157 freetoken

There are 5 major corn states, and 5 minor ones.

The 10 Senators from the first 5 states, regardless of party, work together to protect ethanol subsidies. Anytime you can get a gang of 10 Senators to hang together you’ve got real influence in government.

so we should invest in corn?

not gold?

161 Gus  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:04:41pm

re: #159 SanFranciscoZionist

And most of them don’t even have a fruit-picking degree.

And they don’t work during the winter months!!11ty

162 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:04:52pm

re: #150 palomino

Even the tp realizes we have to cut defense. This isn’t some liberal plot to turn us into peacenik fairies.

Where are the GOP ideas for cutting spending beyond home heating for the poor and other such luxuries? They’ve targeted only discretionary domestic, a whopping 12% of the budget, for a few relatively minor cuts.

Yeah, well on that issue the TP and I part company. And I should note they part company with the GOP leadership on that as well. Fundamentally, I expect that Tea Party activists will concede on defense spending remaining at needed levels in the interests of party unity.

163 freetoken  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:05:22pm

re: #160 ggt

so we should invest in corn?

EDIBLE SEEDS!!

Problem is, most of the corn grown in this country is not fit for human consumption.

164 engineer cat  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:05:55pm

re: #149 ggt

There is a trust fund?

read all about it

seriously, it’s described in the report, and it should clear that the federal income tax and the social security tax are two seperate streams of income, taxed at different rates and dedicated by federal law to two different purposes

people propogating lies about it - a very popular pastime lately - insist that the ss trustees are lying about its existance

165 Jadespring  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:05:58pm

re: #158 ggt

kinda like politics …

Yeah. I’m really trying to not go all metaphorical about and humanize the whole thing but that thought has crossed my mind.

166 freetoken  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:06:08pm

BTW, farm land prices are going through their own bubble, in part because of the ethanol subsidies.

167 palomino  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:06:13pm

re: #162 Dark_Falcon

Yeah, well on that issue the TP and I part company. And I should note they part company with the GOP leadership on that as well. Fundamentally, I expect that Tea Party activists will concede on defense spending remaining at needed levels in the interests of party unity.

Of course they will. Because, unless we spend as much as the rest of the world combined, we’ll never be safe. Or some such malarkey. Talk about bloat…look at the defense budget.

168 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:06:17pm

re: #163 freetoken

EDIBLE SEEDS!!

Problem is, most of the corn grown in this country is not fit for human consumption.

feed for cows and cars.

169 SanFranciscoZionist  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:06:19pm

re: #135 palomino

I don’t have figures at hand, but I believe teachers in other industrialized countries are generally paid better, not to mention far less likely to be demonized for political reasons.

Singapore has a great program. Really extensive teacher training, very competitive programs, and excellent pay, along with a stringent national curriculum.

They also have almost nothing demographically in common with the United States. But DAMN it sounds good!

170 Gus  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:06:55pm

Something to read or glance through.

Will the Real Ethanol Beneficiaries Please Stand Up?

171 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:07:17pm

re: #165 Jadespring

Yeah. I’m really trying to not go all metaphorical about and humanize the whole thing but that thought has crossed my mind.

natural selection —either accept it or buy a tin-foil hat.

172 SanFranciscoZionist  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:07:25pm

re: #141 ggt

stop paying for cola and pork rinds with “food stamps”.

Do you think people would stop applying for food stamps if they couldn’t get pork rinds?

//

173 Gus  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:07:45pm

re: #170 Gus 802

Something to read or glance through.

Will the Real Ethanol Beneficiaries Please Stand Up?

Intro:

Eight years ago, there were 61 plants producing ethanol to blend with gasoline in the United States; today there are about 200.

Eight years ago, 13 percent of those plants used a feedstock other than corn; today, just 5 percent rely on alternatives, like wood waste, sugar cane or cheese whey.

Eight years ago, a bushel of corn cost $2.37; today the price has almost tripled to $5.86.

Eight years ago, farmers owned more than 40 percent of all ethanol plants; today their share is just 16 to 19 percent.

How times have changed! Eight years ago, the ethanol industry was keeping up the pretence that corn ethanol was a “bridge” to advanced biofuels. But figures like these, derived from the Renewable Fuels Association’s (RFA) own Annual Industry Outlook, tell a different story.

Subsidized corn growers and corn ethanol producers are reaping big profits, and meanwhile the corn ethanol “bridge” has become a “destination.” So you’ve got to wonder about the other claims the industry is making.

174 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:07:45pm

re: #157 freetoken

There are 5 major corn states, and 5 minor ones.

The 10 Senators from the first 5 states, regardless of party, work together to protect ethanol subsidies. Anytime you can get a gang of 10 Senators to hang together you’ve got real influence in government.

True that.

175 SanFranciscoZionist  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:08:09pm

re: #142 SanFranciscoZionist

So, tell me why firefighters make about the same?

Better, tell me why people are acting as though getting paid this moderate salary is making teachers greedy pigs ripping off the public.

Seriously, firefighter’s salaries are a public disgrace. Jesus, this is what we pay for the people who run INTO the burning building?

176 Gus  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:08:17pm

Archer. Daniels. Midland.

177 Amory Blaine  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:08:27pm

Ethanol subsidies are only supposed to last as long as it takes to put the infrastructure to be in place for other more renewable crops to be harvested. If this infrastucture building halts or stagnates in growth or technology the subsidies should be shelved for sure.

178 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:08:47pm

re: #172 SanFranciscoZionist

Do you think people would stop applying for food stamps if they couldn’t get pork rinds?

//

No, I just want the money to go to real nutrition.

179 SanFranciscoZionist  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:09:04pm

re: #156 Jadespring

Chickens can be evil. >:

I feel like crap right now. One of my young hens got beat up a bit a few weeks ago. She was a small one. So I brought her inside and to get her back to good health etc etc. She was doing great and was all raring to go so I put her back out yesterday watched things for a bit and it looked fine. Thought it would be okay. Just went out to close up the coop and she was dead. The damn things pecked her to death I think. I know it happens and it’s a natural thing but I still feel like crap. It’s like big bullies beating up on the weaklings.

Ah. I’m sorry.

180 engineer cat  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:10:02pm

re: #132 Dark_Falcon

Wanted: Democratic ideas for cutting non-defense spending.

albusteve cited a very interesting report just the other day which included these items:

Washington spends $92 billion on corporate welfare (excluding TARP) versus $71 billion on homeland security

A GAO audit found that 95 Pentagon weapons systems suffered from a combined $295 billion in cost overruns

if these figures are for one year, they amount to about 25% of the typical federal deficit

i’ll go back now and find albusteve’s link so that you can peruse it to find “democratic ideas for cutting non-defense spending”

181 SanFranciscoZionist  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:11:13pm

re: #178 ggt

No, I just want the money to go to real nutrition.

I got that, I just wanted to point out that it might be money better spent, it just wouldn’t save money.

Now I can’t see a bag of pork rinds without thinking of you.

;)

182 freetoken  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:11:25pm

Best Undergrad College Degrees By Salary

Let’s just say Education isn’t very high on that list.

183 Gus  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:11:48pm

re: #177 Amory Blaine

Ethanol subsidies are only supposed to last as long as it takes to put the infrastructure to be in place for other more renewable crops to be harvested. If this infrastucture building halts or stagnates in growth or technology the subsidies should be shelved for sure.

Yeah. Renewable at the cost of groundwater supplies. So we’ll sacrifice our groundwater only to continue using the internal combustion engine only fueled with ethanol and other allegedly renewable resources.

184 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:12:20pm

re: #176 Gus 802

Archer. Daniels. Midland.

They’ve got a big ethanol plant in Decatur, Illinois. And they spread that money around in the Illinois way that has seen 3 Illinois governors sent to prison for corruption in less than 40 years.

185 SanFranciscoZionist  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:12:46pm

re: #182 freetoken

Best Undergrad College Degrees By Salary

Let’s just say Education isn’t very high on that list.

And it’s another year and a half to two years to get the credential, usually.

186 Professor Chaos  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:12:58pm

re: #167 palomino

Of course they will. Because, unless we spend as much as the rest of the world combined, we’ll never be safe. Or some such malarkey. Talk about bloat…look at the defense budget.

We spend as much on defense as the next 25 countries on the list combined. Can’t remember where I saw it so no link but it sounds about right.

There’s plenty to cut there, it’s where we need to start. Defense is almost 50% of discretionary spending every year.

187 engineer cat  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:13:13pm

re: #180 engineer dog

i’ll go back now and find albusteve’s link so that you can peruse it to find “democratic ideas for cutting non-defense spending”

which is here

188 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:13:26pm

re: #181 SanFranciscoZionist

I got that, I just wanted to point out that it might be money better spent, it just wouldn’t save money.

Now I can’t see a bag of pork rinds without thinking of you.

;)

There is probably an argument for the cost savings in medical care long term, but we are discussing budget cutting ideas for this round of budget talks.

189 Gus  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:13:40pm

The land and the water should be utilized for food production not for creating fuel for an antiquated engine design for mobility.

190 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:14:46pm

Sorry, but I’ve got to sign off and get to bed. I have to work tomorrow. Goodnight, all.

191 palomino  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:16:23pm

re: #186 Girth

We spend as much on defense as the next 25 countries on the list combined. Can’t remember where I saw it so no link but it sounds about right.

There’s plenty to cut there, it’s where we need to start. Defense is almost 50% of discretionary spending every year.

Even SecDef Gates and a lot of other military brass support some cuts. I don’t think they want the terrorists to win, but realize that everything (including the one-fourth of the budget represented by defense) has to be on the table for serious deficit reduction.

192 Amory Blaine  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:16:48pm

re: #189 Gus 802

The land and the water should be utilized for food production not for creating fuel for an antiquated engine design for mobility.

I think water should only be used to float giant redwoods down the the pulp mill./

J/K. :p

193 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:17:26pm

got to sleep.

Have a great morning all!

194 Professor Chaos  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:19:14pm

re: #177 Amory Blaine

Ethanol subsidies are only supposed to last as long as it takes to put the infrastructure to be in place for other more renewable crops to be harvested. If this infrastucture building halts or stagnates in growth or technology the subsidies should be shelved for sure.

Ethanol isn’t even subsidized enough for E-85 be competitive with gasoline.

My truck is flex-fuel and I experimented this summer with gasoline and E-85. E-85 is cheaper, but it’s also less efficient, so that even though gasoline is more expensive per gallon, it’s cheaper per mile.

Also, just wait until 15% ethanol fuels that were approved last year reach the pumps. Vehicles probably won’t be affected too badly, but small engines (lawn mowers, chain saws, weed trimmers, etc.) are going to take a beating. They’re just not designed for it.

195 engineer cat  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:19:18pm

re: #118 lostlakehiker

Teaching degrees are easier to come by than degrees in, say, organic chemistry. Working conditions are safer than, say, oceanography. A lot of what happens in the world of salaries happens for sensible economic reasons.

the amount we pay our teachers should reflect how we feel about the importance of educating our children

we all think there are serious problems with the quality of primary school education in this country. it should be clear that cutting teachers’ pay and demonizing them and denigrating their skills is not the way to solve this problem

196 palomino  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:23:26pm

re: #118 lostlakehiker

Teaching degrees are easier to come by than degrees in, say, organic chemistry. Working conditions are safer than, say, oceanography. A lot of what happens in the world of salaries happens for sensible economic reasons.

A lot of teachers have degrees in things like chemistry, which is why they teach, uh, chemistry.

Also physics, biology, math, history, etc.

197 Gus  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:25:31pm

I’m exhausted. Good night folks.

198 engineer cat  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:25:45pm

re: #196 palomino

A lot of teachers have degrees in things like chemistry, which is why they teach, uh, chemistry.

Also physics, biology, math, history, etc.

indeed. my first bachelor’s is in literature and linguistics. what was my career path? teach high school, work on a graduate degree, and hope that i might someday be able to get one of those very difficult to obtain university positions

i went back to school and got a degree in computer science

199 Amory Blaine  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:26:44pm

Many schools don’t get the luxury of actually having chemists or physicists on the payrolls. These fields pay so well outside of teaching that they don’t even get considered.

200 palomino  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:27:15pm

re: #198 engineer dog

indeed. my first bachelor’s is in literature and linguistics. what was my career path? teach high school, work on a graduate degree, and hope that i might someday be able to get one of those very difficult to obtain university positions

i went back to school and got a degree in computer science

And you’re by no means alone in the teaching profession. Where do people get the idea that all teachers have exactly the same kind of degree?

201 Professor Chaos  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:28:07pm

My degree is in mathematics. I thought about pursuing teacher certification but decided not to because I didn’t want to put up with all the bullshit that comes with being a teacher.

202 freetoken  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:28:45pm

re: #196 palomino

Very small numbers of science degree recipients go into primary or secondary teaching.

As for the teachers themselves… no doubt many HS science teachers have degrees in a science field, but in grade and middle schools my impression is that is not likely.

203 palomino  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:30:30pm

re: #202 freetoken

Very small numbers of science degree recipients go into primary or secondary teaching.

As for the teachers themselves… no doubt many HS science teachers have degrees in a science field, but in grade and middle schools my impression is that is not likely.

Of course not, they’ll usually make more in the private sector. The point I was making is that not all teachers have the same sort of “inferior” degree as was posited above.

204 Amory Blaine  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:32:35pm

re: #201 Girth

My degree is in mathematics. I thought about pursuing teacher certification but decided not to because I didn’t want to put up with all the bullshit that comes with being a teacher.

It most definitely is a calling.

205 freetoken  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:32:56pm

At the university from which I got my BS, none of the other physics majors were preparing for teaching, as far as I can remember.

In mathematics (my second major), which had more majors in the department than physics had in theirs, there were a few who were preparing for secondary education. However, the math department had a long running special program to promote that path.

Pre-collegiate teaching us just not an attractive career to enter for most people who are interested in the more academic fields.

206 Kragar (Antichrist )  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:33:49pm

re: #202 freetoken

Very small numbers of science degree recipients go into primary or secondary teaching.

As for the teachers themselves… no doubt many HS science teachers have degrees in a science field, but in grade and middle schools my impression is that is not likely.

I got lucky. My first HS chemistry teacher sucked, but I transferred after the 3rd week to the other teacher who also worked at Caltech.

207 Amory Blaine  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:38:08pm

re: #205 freetoken


Pre-collegiate teaching us just not an attractive career to enter for most people who are interested in the more academic fields.

Ironic.

208 Varek Raith  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:38:24pm

It’s windy as hell and snowing. Plus, my backyard looks like a pond.
Fun.

209 palomino  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:38:26pm

re: #205 freetoken

At the university from which I got my BS, none of the other physics majors were preparing for teaching, as far as I can remember.

In mathematics (my second major), which had more majors in the department than physics had in theirs, there were a few who were preparing for secondary education. However, the math department had a long running special program to promote that path.

Pre-collegiate teaching us just not an attractive career to enter for most people who are interested in the more academic fields.

Maybe the HS I attended was unusual, but all the science and math teachers had degrees in the subjects they taught.

Also, so what if their degrees are less rigorous than nuclear physics? So is accounting, marketing, hotel mgmt, whatever.

210 freetoken  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:41:51pm

re: #209 palomino

Maybe the HS I attended was unusual, but all the science and math teachers had degrees in the subjects they taught.

re: #206 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

In my HS the chem teacher had a degree in chemistry, which is fortunate as he was pretty good and I took 2 years in HS. The physics teacher likewise was pretty good and he did have his physics degree.

As I wrote earlier, I suspect many HS teachers have degrees in the fields they teach. Well, except for sex-ed, which falls often on the shoulders of the PE teachers.

211 Amory Blaine  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:41:56pm

re: #209 palomino

Maybe the HS I attended was unusual, but all the science and math teachers had degrees in the subjects they taught.

Also, so what if their degrees are less rigorous than nuclear physics? So is accounting, marketing, hotel mgmt, whatever.

No way!! If my kindergarten teacher can’t assemble an ICBM blindfolded then they’re not very effective IMHO.

212 palomino  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:45:12pm

re: #210 freetoken

re: #206 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

In my HS the chem teacher had a degree in chemistry, which is fortunate as he was pretty good and I took 2 years in HS. The physics teacher likewise was pretty good and he did have his physics degree.

As I wrote earlier, I suspect many HS teachers have degrees in the fields they teach. Well, except for sex-ed, which falls often on the shoulders of the PE teachers.

Maybe that’s why our sex ed, in general, is so dreadful.

213 Kragar (Antichrist )  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:45:19pm

re: #210 freetoken

re: #206 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

In my HS the chem teacher had a degree in chemistry, which is fortunate as he was pretty good and I took 2 years in HS. The physics teacher likewise was pretty good and he did have his physics degree.

As I wrote earlier, I suspect many HS teachers have degrees in the fields they teach. Well, except for sex-ed, which falls often on the shoulders of the PE teachers.

All my history and social studies teachers for my first 2 years of HS were also PE teachers.

214 RabbitRunner  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:47:07pm

Maybe they needed a Palin or a Bachmann to tease all the horny geezers out to their rally, or at least free beer?

215 Kragar (Antichrist )  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:48:09pm

re: #214 RabbitRunner

Maybe they needed a Palin or a Bachmann to tease all the horny geezers out to their rally, or at least free beer?

The first annual “Drill Baby Drill” hot oil wrestling and Presidential debate.

216 freetoken  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:49:17pm

re: #213 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Yeah, it seemed that way at my HS also. Coaches were not hired separately but were part of the job descriptions of other (usually male) teachers. I remember the biology teacher was also a wrestling coach, one of my history teachers was on the football coaching staff, etc.

217 Amory Blaine  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:50:38pm

re: #215 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

The first annual “Drill Baby Drill” hot oil wrestling and Presidential debate.

Definitely not going back to the League of Women Voters Days.

218 freetoken  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:50:52pm

re: #212 palomino

Maybe that’s why our sex ed, in general, is so dreadful.

It always confused me. By making “sex-ed” the province of the PE teacher, were they trying to tell me that sex is (1) and exercise, or (2) recreation?

219 Professor Chaos  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:54:06pm

re: #218 freetoken

It always confused me. By making “sex-ed” the province of the PE teacher, were they trying to tell me that sex is (1) and exercise, or (2) recreation?

Both. Also since our PE teachers also taught driver’s ed, (3) frequently done in a car at that age.

220 Varek Raith  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:55:49pm

re: #218 freetoken

It always confused me. By making “sex-ed” the province of the PE teacher, were they trying to tell me that sex is (1) and exercise, or (2) recreation?

re: #219 Girth

Both. Also since our PE teachers also taught driver’s ed, (3) frequently done in a car at that age.

Synergy!

221 Amory Blaine  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:56:25pm

re: #218 freetoken

It always confused me. By making “sex-ed” the province of the PE teacher, were they trying to tell me that sex is (1) and exercise, or (2) recreation?

Well, I got the sense that the PE teachers were on the bottom of the pecking order. If they mandate scatology I have a good idea who’ll be teaching that class.

222 Kragar (Antichrist )  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:57:08pm

Scientists’ amazing California discovery includes fishing tackle 12,000 years old

Looking for signs of ancient human settlement, they unearthed meticulously-crafted spearheads and other tools (see photo at right) that date back 12,000 years and provide insight into the lives of a seafaring culture that obtained bounty from the ocean.

The astonishing discoveries, at three sites on Santa Rosa and San Miguel islands west of Santa Barbara, strongly support the theory that during an era when the first traces of humans appeared in the archaeological record in North America, a coastal culture existed that was distinct from the well-chronicled inland Clovis culture, which consisted of big-game hunters who subsisted on mastodons and other large mammals.

223 Amory Blaine  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 10:59:51pm

Archaeology Rocks!!!

224 Kragar (Antichrist )  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 11:00:40pm

re: #223 Amory Blaine

Archaeology Rocks!!!

No, that’s geology. A common misconception.

225 freetoken  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 11:01:05pm

re: #222 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

John Hawks connects that with some other discoveries:

johnhawks.net

226 Kragar (Antichrist )  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 11:02:13pm

Anyone else have problems watching Netflix streaming videos in firefox? The audio works fine, but the video keeps freeze framing for like a second at a time, repeatedly.

227 Amory Blaine  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 11:05:15pm

re: #226 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Anyone else have problems watching Netflix streaming videos in firefox? The audio works fine, but the video keeps freeze framing for like a second at a time, repeatedly.

Sometimes it helps to restart firefox once in a while. It starts gobbling up alot of memory sometimes.

228 Kragar (Antichrist )  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 11:07:03pm

re: #227 Amory Blaine

Sometimes it helps to restart firefox once in a while. It starts gobbling up alot of memory sometimes.

I’ve been looking at the system resources, but that seems ok. I might just switch back to watching Netflix on IE.

229 NervyNews  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 11:09:07pm

extremely OT, but nevertheless interesting: Robin Williams is sporting a heavy beard for his starring role in the Broadway play Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo. The play is supposed to be very good. It’s about a tiger that wanders the streets of contemporary Baghdad searching for the meaning of life; the tiger encounters both Americans and Iraqis in search of friendship and redemption as well as Saddam’s “golden toilet.” More here.

230 Amory Blaine  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 11:09:56pm

I like the interface of WMC for netflix.

231 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 11:17:08pm

re: #6 Girth

Memo to Joe the Plumber:

Your 15 minutes has been up for quite some time now.

I order you to cease any and all supernatural activity and return forthwith to your place of origin, or to the nearest convenient parallel dimension.

hahaha nice

232 engineer cat  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 11:37:41pm

incoming horseshit alert:

“He created a deeper recession, and delayed the recovery,” Romney said Saturday, previewing his campaign message before Republicans in this influential early nominating state.

“It’s going to take more than new rhetoric to put Americans back to work — it’s going to take a new president,”

g’luck with that one, sport

233 freetoken  Sun, Mar 6, 2011 11:55:24pm

Krugman’s new article hits a point we’ve been discussing here:

But there are things education can’t do. In particular, the notion that putting more kids through college can restore the middle-class society we used to have is wishful thinking. It’s no longer true that having a college degree guarantees that you’ll get a good job, and it’s becoming less true with each passing decade.

234 Amory Blaine  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 12:21:41am

Why employee pensions aren’t bankrupting states

235 freetoken  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 1:19:44am

Get ready for the barrage of stupid:

Iowa Faith & Freedom Annual Spring Kick-Off March 7

Don’t miss the most exciting political event ever held in Iowa’s presidential caucus history! The Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition is hosting its Eleventh Annual Spring Kick Off on Monday, March 7th, at the Point of Grace Church in Waukee. This year the event has garnered wide national and international media interest. CSPAN will be broadcasting the candidate’s speeches live! Please join hundreds of other fellow Iowan’s for this historic event!

Five potential presidential candidates will be speaking – former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza Herman Cain, former Louisiana Governor Buddy Roemer, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty and former Speaker of the U.S. House Newt Gingrich. This collection of speakers marks the first event of its kind in the 2012 race with multiple potential candidates sharing the same stage!

Other distinguished guests expected to attend the event include Congressman Steve King, Governor Terry Branstad, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, other statewide elected officials, state legislators and the president of the national Faith & Freedom Coalition and Fox News contributor Ralph Reed. […]

Here’s the link for the CSPAN broadcast, as of this morning’s schedule:
c-spanvideo.org


The host organization used to be called by another name: Iowa Christian Alliance . It’s sister organization still retains the “Christian” label, and pushes the normal far right agenda, complete with promoting the usual far right/theocratic talking points. This group should not be confused with Vander Plaat’s group (of which I have written here before). Yes, there are multiple theocratic groups in Iowa maneuvering to control the coming caucuses.

I don’t know why the GOP just doesn’t change it’s name formally to the “Christian

236 freetoken  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 1:24:19am

Imagine the day when Buddy Roemer is the “reasonable” person in a group of Republicans. I guess that day is here.

237 freetoken  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 1:26:16am

re: #235 freetoken

Don’t know why my last sentence was chopped. It should have been:

“I don’t know why the GOP just doesn’t change it’s name formally to the “Christian Republican” party. Why keep up the pretense of secularism any more?”

238 researchok  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 3:32:01am

Morning, all

239 Prononymous, rogue demon hunter  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 3:36:13am

Good morning, researchok.

240 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 3:46:23am

re: #232 engineer dog

incoming horseshit alert:

“He created a deeper recession, and delayed the recovery,” Romney said Saturday, previewing his campaign message before Republicans in this influential early nominating state.

“It’s going to take more than new rhetoric to put Americans back to work — it’s going to take a new president,”

g’luck with that one, sport


FROM THE GERMAN, WITH ROMNEY

241 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 3:47:03am

re: #235 freetoken

All this reminds me of is that Godfathers really does make a decent chain pizza

242 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 3:48:12am

re: #209 palomino

Maybe the HS I attended was unusual, but all the science and math teachers had degrees in the subjects they taught.

Also, so what if their degrees are less rigorous than nuclear physics? So is accounting, marketing, hotel mgmt, whatever.

Yeah, same here, we actually had several overqualified teachers, because they just preferred teaching high school

243 researchok  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 3:50:31am

re: #241 WindUpBird

All this reminds me of is that Godfathers really does make a decent chain pizza

You are redeemed.

You didn’t say that of Dominoes.
//

244 rwdflynavy  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 4:02:05am

Good Morning Lizards!

The best pizza ever was Zeno’s Pizza in Marshalltown Iowa. My grandparents used to take me there when I would visit them and my Mom was oversea visiting my Dad on deployment.

I don’t believe it is open anymore so you are just going to have to trust me on this one.//

245 rwdflynavy  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 4:02:58am

re: #244 rwdflynavy
Also, if you are in Marshalltown, hit the Maid-Rite shop. Pure Awesomeness. See my nic for the link.

246 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 4:03:48am

re: #244 rwdflynavy

I’ve been to Marshalltown, IA.

Now really. How many people can say that? Me and rwdflynavy and 9 other people.

247 rwdflynavy  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 4:05:07am

re: #246 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

I’ve been to Marshalltown, IA.

Now really. How many people can say that? Me and rwdflynavy and 9 other people.

I spent most summers and Christmas about 10 miles west of town on my Grandparents farm. Great place to be.

248 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 4:06:27am

Just saw a picture of my wife from 15 (or so) years ago. Showed it to her and told her, “Wow. You look older now.”

(was just playing a little “Captain Obvious” joke.)

She may not speak to me a for a few weeks. I may have more time to spend here.

249 Decatur Deb  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 4:11:18am

re: #246 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

I’ve been to Marshalltown, IA.

Now really. How many people can say that? Me and rwdflynavy and 9 other people.

Archaeologists bow towards Marshalltown three times daily. All the great trowels are made there.

250 rwdflynavy  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 4:13:50am

re: #246 Fat Bastard Vegetarian
Here: #249 Decatur Deb

Archaeologists bow towards Marshalltown three times daily. All the great trowels are made there.

My Grandparents had a box of “blocks” for the grandkids to play with. The “blocks” were all reject handles from the trowel company.

251 researchok  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 4:15:59am

re: #250 rwdflynavy

Here: #249 Decatur Deb

My Grandparents had a box of “blocks” for the grandkids to play with. The “blocks” were all reject handles from the trowel company.

All I ever got from grandmother was great cake.

And pies.

And soup.

And sandwiches….

252 Decatur Deb  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 4:17:46am

re: #250 rwdflynavy

I noticed just yesterday that a couple of my spare pressure gauges, “Marsh” brand, were also made there. Vastly under-rated town. We must write to the chamber of commerce.

253 rwdflynavy  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 4:20:09am

re: #251 researchok

All I ever got from grandmother was great cake.

And pies.

And soup.

And sandwiches…

Mine made the best ice cream and a chocolate sauce that was out of this world. Plus all that stuff above.

254 researchok  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 4:20:37am

re: #252 Decatur Deb

I noticed just yesterday that a couple of my spare pressure gauges, “Marsh” brand, were also made there. Vastly under-rated town. We must write to the chamber of commerce.

Be careful.

There may be Republicans in that town.
//

255 researchok  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 4:21:27am

re: #253 rwdflynavy

Mine made the best ice cream and a chocolate sauce that was out of this world. Plus all that stuff above.

We’re probably related.

On grandma’s side.

256 rwdflynavy  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 4:21:31am

re: #254 researchok

Be careful.

There may be Republicans in that town.
//

Not anymore, my folks live about 3 hours west of there now.//

257 Decatur Deb  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 4:21:53am

re: #254 researchok

Be careful.

There may be Republicans in that town.
//

Probably are some, but I suspect they’re not crazy. Will research their TP activity.

258 researchok  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 4:22:21am

re: #256 rwdflynavy

Not anymore, my folks live about 3 hours west of there now.//

Far enough away.

They ought to be safe.
//

259 researchok  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 4:23:42am

re: #258 researchok

The town, I mean.
//

260 Decatur Deb  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 4:24:01am

The local paper is the Marshalltown Times-Republican. This could get ugly.

timesrepublican.com

261 researchok  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 4:25:16am

re: #260 Decatur Deb

The local paper is the Marshalltown Times-Republican. This could get ugly.

[Link: www.timesrepublican.com…]

Shelter time.

262 RogueOne  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 4:33:49am

re: #256 rwdflynavy

Not anymore, my folks live about 3 hours west of there now.//

They moved to NE? On purpose?

263 Decatur Deb  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 4:35:50am

The last TP rally in Marshalltown was in Jun 2010. Stand-down the Mockery Missiles.

264 Vicious Babushka  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 4:36:16am

re: #251 researchok

All I ever got from grandmother was great cake.

And pies.

And soup.

And sandwiches…

When I visited the crypt where my father is buried, I noticed that other mourners had affixed plaques over the space where their loved ones were entombed. In selecting the design of these plaques, mourners could choose a variety of little icons that would remind them of their loved one.

On many plaques for the beloved grandma, there was an icon of…a mixer and spatula.

My sister chose a very tasteful plaque for my dad with a Tree of Life.

But a freaking mixer? On a tombstone?

265 rwdflynavy  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 4:36:29am

re: #262 RogueOne

They moved to NE? On purpose?

Just shy, Glenwood Iowa. My Mom works at Offutt (retires in about 20 days).

266 RogueOne  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 4:37:15am

I find this amusing:

White House lavishes praise on Huntsman’s support for Obama
thehill.com


Chief of Staff Bill Daley on Sunday heaped praise on Huntsman (R), Obama’s ambassador to China who is resigning his post and is said to be mulling a challenge to his boss for the presidency.

“He’s done an excellent job on behalf of the Obama administration,” Daley said on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” where he was barely able to suppress a smile as he spoke.

Then Daley went into overdrive. “[Huntsman’s] support of the Obama administration, his support of the president, the things he did on behalf of the administration, and the closeness in which he worked with the president is most appreciated. And I’m sure he’ll talk about that in the Republican primary.”

I’m sure he will. That will make a very effective campaign commercial during the primaries.

267 Decatur Deb  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 4:39:33am

re: #266 RogueOne

Sneaky, those Dems.

268 RogueOne  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 4:39:48am

re: #265 rwdflynavy

Just shy, Glenwood Iowa. My Mom works at Offutt (retires in about 20 days).

I’ve been to Offutt. I ran around that neck of the woods for a few years. I had stores all over western Iowa and all of NE. Omaha had the only White Castle around so I’d make it a point to get down there every other week or so.

269 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 4:40:18am

re: #264 Alouette

I’ve seen pianos on tombstones. So, why not? Some folks use a spatula in the way that a musician uses a musical instrument.

One of the great joys of life is preparing good food that others enjoy.

270 researchok  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 4:43:08am

re: #264 Alouette

When I visited the crypt where my father is buried, I noticed that other mourners had affixed plaques over the space where their loved ones were entombed. In selecting the design of these plaques, mourners could choose a variety of little icons that would remind them of their loved one.

On many plaques for the beloved grandma, there was an icon of…a mixer and spatula.

My sister chose a very tasteful plaque for my dad with a Tree of Life.

But a freaking mixer? On a tombstone?

My daughter once asked me how to use a rotary phone- and if it was true there were TV’s without remotes.

I suspect the idea for a mixer on a tombstone came from someone of her silicone mat, microwave, nonstick-generation Food Network generation.

As an aside, when my grandmother passed I wanted a certain wooden spoon she would use and let me taste from.

That spoon is one of my most valuable treasures.

271 Vicious Babushka  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 4:43:45am

re: #269 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

I’ve seen pianos on tombstones. So, why not? Some folks use a spatula in the way that a musician uses a musical instrument.

One of the great joys of life is preparing good food that others enjoy.

My dad was a very talented artist. Nevertheless it would have been in very poor taste to put an easel and palette on his tombstone.

272 researchok  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 4:44:15am

re: #265 rwdflynavy

Just shy, Glenwood Iowa. My Mom works at Offutt (retires in about 20 days).

I’ve been to Omaha.

One of the best kept secrets in the country. Really.

273 rwdflynavy  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 4:47:40am

re: #272 researchok

I’ve been to Omaha.

One of the best kept secrets in the country. Really.

There is a great steak place called Johnny’s right next to the old stockyard. Yummy!

274 Decatur Deb  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 4:49:33am

re: #271 Alouette

My dad was a very talented artist. Nevertheless it would have been in very poor taste to put an easel and palette on his tombstone.

I’m trying to figure out why. If I had a stone, I would want my Estwing framing hammer incorporated into it.

275 freetoken  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 4:51:43am

re: #246 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

I’ve been to Marshalltown, IA.

Now really. How many people can say that? Me and rwdflynavy and 9 other people.

The closest I’ve been to Marshalltown is Nevada (which is about 25 miles west.)

276 researchok  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 4:52:58am

re: #274 Decatur Deb

I’m trying to figure out why. If I had a stone, I would want my Estwing framing hammer incorporated into it.

I’d want one of those motion detector sensors that played a message when someone walks by.

“If I knew you were coming to visit, I’d have told you where I stashed the cash. Too late now!”

277 William Barnett-Lewis  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 4:52:59am

re: #68 Dark_Falcon

Having thought this matter through, I did have a thought for a compromise on the Wisconsin standoff. My proposal is as follows:

1. Give backs have already been agreed to, they stay.
2. The annual certification requirement is to be dropped.
3. The recension of collective bargaining except for salaries is likewise dropped.
4. The requirement for salary hikes to be approved by referendum is retained.
5. The right of a union to collect dues for a paycheck is retained, but said union must obtain opt-in consent to use any funds from that member for political campaigning and contributions.
6. Teacher tenure to be retained, but firing process to be streamlined for cases of misconduct (not to include subjects taught, i.e. you can’t be fired for teaching evolution).
7. No bid sale of state assets provision to be dropped. Replaced by provision requiring competitive bids.

What do you folks think of that?

Good Morning DF! Congrats! Your a Wisconsin Democrat! That’s what they’ve been asking for all along! Except for #6 - Tenure, as such, doesn’t exist in Wisconsin and it’s quite easy to fire teachers for misconduct. Madison cans about a 4 to 8 a year for that & another 8 - 10 for not being competent. Many of those are before the end of the probationary period but it’s still not as hard to fire a bad teacher as some other places.

278 rwdflynavy  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 4:53:30am

re: #275 freetoken

The closest I’ve been to Marshalltown is Nevada (which is about 25 miles west.)

My uncle and several cousins live in Nevada!

279 freetoken  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 4:55:17am

re: #278 rwdflynavy

Nice little town, one of the few that have rolled over and died. I suspect that’s because it’s so close to Ames.

280 Decatur Deb  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 4:55:25am

re: #276 researchok

I’d want one of those motion detector sensors that played a message when someone walks by.

“If I knew you were coming to visit, I’d have told you where I stashed the cash. Too late now!”

Something like this?

Youtube Video
281 freetoken  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 4:55:39am

re: #279 freetoken

“haven’t” rolled over…

282 researchok  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 4:57:09am

re: #280 Decatur Deb

Something like this?


[Video]

Perfect!

I’ll be replaying this all day.

283 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 4:57:52am

re: #271 Alouette

My dad was a very talented artist. Nevertheless it would have been in very poor taste to put an easel and palette on his tombstone.

We disagree. But, that’s okay.

re: #272 researchok

I’ve been to Omaha.

One of the best kept secrets in the country. Really.

Time to whip out my Omaha story. I was at the “Omaha Steak House”. Asked the bartender what she recommended for a Vegetarian. She said, “I’d recommend that he go outside and READ THE BUILDING!”

She said it so fast, I asked her how long she had that joke loaded in the chamber, she said, “Oh, for quite a while. We don’t get many vegetarians around here.”

Funniest damn line I ever heard.

284 researchok  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 5:00:00am

re: #280 Decatur Deb

Something like this?


[Video]

FYI, playing video again.

285 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 5:00:42am

re: #283 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Wait, I think it was the Omaha Beef Company.

286 researchok  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 5:02:42am

BBL

287 RogueOne  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 5:02:47am

Police Commission overrules chief, says LAPD shooting was wrong
latimes.com


The civilian commission that oversees the Los Angeles Police Department has taken the rare step of rejecting a recommendation from the department’s chief, ruling that two police officers were wrong when they fatally shot an unarmed autistic man last year.

Police Chief Charlie Beck concluded after a lengthy internal investigation that the officers made serious tactical mistakes during the brief, late-night encounter, but ultimately were justified in using deadly force against Steven Eugene Washington, 27.
….
Paul Weber, president of the union representing rank-and-file officers, said he strongly disagreed with the commission’s conclusion.

“I don’t know what they expect officers to do,” he said. “Wait until one of them is shot before they react?”

What does the commission expect? This guy was walking down the street, unarmed, nothing in his hands, minding his own business…..that’s just asking to get shot in the head./

288 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 5:03:32am

re: #280 Decatur Deb

That song was made famous by … GASP! John Denver.

289 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 5:05:29am

re: #280 Decatur Deb

Has a total Tom Lehrer feel to it, doesn’t it?

290 Decatur Deb  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 5:06:59am

re: #289 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Has a total Tom Lehrer feel to it, doesn’t it?

Yeah—I was searching him and the Smothers Brothers for it.

291 RogueOne  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 5:08:21am

re: #283 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

After 2 years of living in the area (the Dakotas, NE, IA) I had had enough. I called my VP in Charlotte and told him if I “had to go another week dealing with pig farmers (with belt buckles as big as their head) telling me how they’re cowboys I’m going to go on a rampage”. They transferred me back east.

292 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 5:09:08am

re: #291 RogueOne

Then RogueOne switched to decaf…

293 RogueOne  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 5:16:01am

Stroke victim says police wrongfully arrested her on drunken charge
khou.com


DALLAS - Police have launched an investigation into the arrest of a stroke victim.

Dianne Irons slurs her words and has trouble walking. Twenty years ago, Irons had a stroke that impaired her speech.

Officers were called to her home because she and her nephew were having an argument over living arrangements. According to Irons, when officers arrived, they talked to her for a little while and then asked her to step out onto her porch, which was when she arrested for public intoxication.

Don’t go out on the porch.

294 RogueOne  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 5:21:39am

re: #293 RogueOne

More to the story:
Dallas police chief personally apologizes to stroke victim for false arrest
khou.com


Irons, a stroke patient, said she was surprised when she got a personal visit and an apology from the chief.

“I thought it was good,” she said.

Brown and the department issued a public apology to Irons as well. Irons was arrested for public Intoxication on her front porch because of her slurred speech and behavior.

The arresting officers didn’t look at her medical records despite her son saying he tried to show them. They placed Irons in the drunk tank for six hours.

Good for him.

295 FemNaziBitch  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 5:25:25am

morning all!

296 RogueOne  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 5:29:38am

Serious case of disconnect:

Karen Sypher: ‘I feel like Rosa Parks’
whas11.com


LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) — Karen Sypher is speaking out for the very first time since she was sentenced to federal prison. “I have said over and over, I feel like Rosa Parks on the back of the bus,” she said.
She addressed the congregation at Gospel Missionary Church and thanked them for their prayers. Sypher was sentenced in February to seven years and three months in federal prison for trying to extort money, cars and a home from University of Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino.

297 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 5:29:42am

re: #295 ggt

I think you mean me.

298 FemNaziBitch  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 5:34:37am

re: #297 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

I think you mean me.

Rouge is here too!

299 FemNaziBitch  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 5:35:06am

I think it’s going to be an itchy day.

300 Prononymous, rogue demon hunter  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 5:35:27am

I’m here also. But I’m trying to get work done so I can sleep.

301 FemNaziBitch  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 5:38:23am

Flamingos Drop From Siberian Sky: Locals Mystified on their way to Iran.

No joke.

302 Jadespring  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 5:38:40am

re: #296 RogueOne

Serious case of disconnect:

Karen Sypher: ‘I feel like Rosa Parks’
[Link: www.whas11.com…]

I just read a bit of the back story. I think it’s also a serious case of “I’m going to throw some hail Marys and try whatever the hell I can think of to stay out of prison. Getting Jesus appears to be one of them.”

303 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 5:40:14am

re: #301 ggt

Know what I learned yesterday about Flamingos?

They’re born white, but they turn pink because they eat shrimp.

Now. I didn’t check that to see if it is accurate. But, I heard it in “MeatSpace” so, I believe it.

304 RogueOne  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 5:40:31am

Just great. I’m sure this will end well:

Long Island Man Who Punched Snooki Joins Army
foxnews.com

Ferro made headline news after feuding with Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi over drinks at a Jersey Shore bar, ending the fight with a blow to the reality star’s face.

MTV’s footage of the assault was removed from the Season 1 episode, but has since widely circulated over the Internet.

Ferro, 25, was fired from his job as a gym teacher at North Queens Community HS after the episode aired in December, and has had trouble finding work since.

Youtube Video
305 FemNaziBitch  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 5:44:48am

I haven’t a clue who Snooki is.

In this case, is getting punched in the face a good or bad thing?

306 RogueOne  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 5:49:09am

re: #305 ggt

There should be a set standard that says if you punch a woman in the face (unless it’s self-defense) you don’t need to be given a uniform, a weapon, and combat training.

307 FemNaziBitch  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 5:49:21am

International Support For Gadhafi Led By Venezuela

this is news?

308 FemNaziBitch  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 5:50:23am

re: #306 RogueOne

There should be a set standard that says if you punch a woman in the face (unless it’s self-defense) you don’t need to be given a uniform, a weapon, and combat training.

It wasn’t staged?

309 RogueOne  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 5:51:31am

re: #308 ggt

No. He ended up losing his job as a gym teacher.

310 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 5:51:47am

re: #308 ggt

It’s reality television, silly. Nothing is ever staged in reality television.

311 FemNaziBitch  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 5:52:21am

re: #310 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

It’s reality television, silly. Nothing is ever staged in reality television.

like wardrobe malfunctions?

312 Prononymous, rogue demon hunter  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 5:53:23am

re: #303 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Know what I learned yesterday about Flamingos?

They’re born white, but they turn pink because they eat shrimp.

Now. I didn’t check that to see if it is accurate. But, I heard it in “MeatSpace” so, I believe it.

Interestingly, many organisms get some or all of their colors from bioaccumulation and biomagnification. Substances can travel up a long food chain and become even more concentrated in the process. Those shrimp the flamingos eat, for example, might gain their red coloration from the microalgae they consume.

313 FemNaziBitch  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 5:54:54am

well, it’s time for my morning nap.

have a great one all!

314 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 5:55:40am

I don’t care if it rains or freezes…

315 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 5:58:10am
Youtube Video
316 ProBosniaLiberal  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 5:58:14am

Good Morning! I just saw a story about how the US government is trying to get the Sauds to give Anti-Tank and Anti-Aircraft Missiles to the rebels in Libya. Here is to hoping the US succeeds in doing this.

317 Why I Never!  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 5:58:18am

re: #314 Gus 802

I don’t care if it rains or freezes…

Why not? And how are you?

318 Prononymous, rogue demon hunter  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 5:58:23am

re: #312 prononymous

I’ll also note the evolutionary aspect to this. What a great way for mates to determine your fitness if they can see how well you have been eating based on your visible coloration.

319 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:00:25am

re: #318 prononymous

Why fat used to be sexy.

I’m waiting on that to come back around.

320 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:00:28am

re: #317 iceweasel

Why not? And how are you?

As long as I got my plastic Jesus riding on the dashboard of my car, of course.

Just got up. Started drinking some coffee. Cigarette’s burning and was mucking around with some work related stuff. Thinking, thinking, thinking. Suddenly I thought of that song. “I don’t care if it rains or freezes…”

How are you?

321 Why I Never!  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:01:24am

re: #320 Gus 802

As long as I got my plastic Jesus riding on the dashboard of my car, of course.

Just got up. Started drinking some coffee. Cigarette’s burning and was mucking around with some work related stuff. Thinking, thinking, thinking. Suddenly I thought of that song. “I don’t care if it rains or freezes…”

How are you?

Wishing it wouldnt rain OR freeze! Otherwise, the same. Good to see you.

322 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:03:24am

re: #321 iceweasel

Wishing it wouldnt rain OR freeze! Otherwise, the same. Good to see you.

It’s kind a very light frozen drizzle here. I wouldn’t mind a day of normal rain but I suppose that would dampen my walk to the store. Rarely rains here though. I too can do without the frozen part. Good to see you as well.

323 Why I Never!  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:03:42am

Did this ever get posted here? Worth a page?

Arizona to Consider Bill Banning ‘Race-Based Abortion

It’s a month old.’

324 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:03:46am

I’ve had this episode of “Crossroads” saved on my DVR for over two years.

Here’s a reason why.

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss.

325 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:04:36am

I came upon a fork in the road and I took the one less traveled never traveled.

326 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:05:04am

re: #325 Gus 802

I came to the fork in the road and took it.

327 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:06:59am

re: #326 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

I came to the fork in the road and took it.

Came upon a fork in the road…

It looked like a spork.

328 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:08:47am

And I got trapped in the bottom of the spoon part of the spork in the road and couldn’t decide which road to take. So I sat there. A man on the bottom of a spoon.

329 darthstar  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:10:43am

Anyone seen my spork? I think someone took it.

330 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:11:36am

re: #329 darthstar

Anyone seen my spork? I think someone took it.

I came upon chopsticks in the road…

331 darthstar  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:12:49am

re: #330 Gus 802

I came upon chopsticks in the road…

Until I went to New York City, chopsticks were the closest I got to MSG.

332 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:13:58am

re: #264 Alouette

So my idea for stipulating in my will that my tombstone be a hand clawing out of the ground would probably not go over so great :D

333 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:14:09am

re: #331 darthstar

Until I went to New York City, chopsticks were the closest I got to MSG.

I haven’t used them in a while. Used to. I settled on the fork because it was a better invention.

334 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:14:50am

I’d also be okay with a gigantic stone angel Gabriel, that’d be pretty great

335 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:16:02am

re: #331 darthstar

Until I went to New York City, chopsticks were the closest I got to MSG.

really? i’ve been into MSG since I was a kid

Youtube Video

FUCK YEAH

336 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:19:04am

re: #334 WindUpBird

I’d also be okay with a gigantic stone angel Gabriel, that’d be pretty great

Just toss me in the recycle bin; in Hefty bag on the side of the road for the morning pick-up. Either that or grind me up into sausage and then serve me up at a fine yuppie restaurant — unknown to the clientele — thinking that they’re consuming the finest in “free range” sausage.

337 Political Atheist  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:20:10am

Good Morning.
Seems the hamsters are feeling much better than yesterday.

339 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:26:50am

Arizona Considering Tea Party License Plate That Would Fund Tea Party Causes

The Arizona State Senate is considering a bill to introduce specialty license plates with the Gadsden Flag phrase turned Tea Party slogan, “Don’t Tread On Me,” with funds generated by those plates going to promote the Tea Party in ways well beyond car bumpers…

340 darthstar  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:27:06am

re: #264 Alouette

But a freaking mixer? On a tombstone?

Depends…was it a Kitchenaid? Those things last forever. Now a cheap Black & Decker would never be appropriate on a tombstone, I’ll grant you that…but a Kitchenaid mixer…

341 RogueOne  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:27:53am

BlackBerry Messenger will launch on Android and iOS
bgr.com


BGR has learned from multiple trusted sources that Research In Motion is planning to bring its beloved BlackBerry Messenger app and service to Android, and eventually to iOS as well. According to our sources, RIM has not yet finalized details surrounding timing or pricing, but we have heard that the company might make the software free to all users. We’re also told strategy is still being developed, however, and RIM may end up charging users a one-time fee or even a recurring fee for access to its BBM service on third-party platforms.

342 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:28:24am

WTF has happened with Arizona? Yikes I give up. The other half of this country has regressed back into something I can’t even recognize.

I never imagined that having a black man in the White House would have such an impact on the psyche of so many Americans.

343 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:29:23am

It’s not because he’s black! Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

344 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:30:08am

re: #336 Gus 802

Please don’t bury me, down in that cold cold ground;
I’d rather have them cut me up and pass me all around;
Throw my brain in a hurricane, the blind can have my eyes;
The deaf can take both my ears, if they don’t mind the size.

-John Prine

345 Why I Never!  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:30:35am

re: #342 Gus 802

WTF has happened with Arizona? Yikes I give up. The other half of this country has regressed back into something I can’t even recognize.

I never imagined that having a black man in the White House would have such an impact on the psyche of so many Americans.

I knew it would be bad— white supremacist groups were reporting increases in membership even during the campaign season— but i had no idea it would be THIS bad and THIS widespread.

Fear of a Barack Planet.

346 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:31:12am

re: #345 iceweasel

I knew it would be bad— white supremacist groups were reporting increases in membership even during the campaign season— but i had no idea it would be THIS bad and THIS widespread.

Fear of a Barack Planet.

Image: bachmann-crazy-cropped-proto-custom_20.jpg

347 darthstar  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:31:47am

re: #343 Gus 802

It’s not because he’s black! Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Yes it is.

348 Why I Never!  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:32:18am

re: #346 Gus 802

Image: bachmann-crazy-cropped-proto-custom_20.jpg

She looks like she’s an alien trying to unzip her head.

349 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:33:26am

re: #348 iceweasel

She looks like she’s an alien trying to unzip her head.

It’s Monday! Any second now they’re going to announce another anti-abortion bill and remind us of how they’re so scared of gays, Moozlims, atheists, women, immigrants…

Again. And again.

350 Political Atheist  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:33:49am

re: #345 iceweasel

I kook forward to the vindication of the sane among us. When Obama handily wins reelection. And given an improved economy, some push back on the tea party denizens.

351 darthstar  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:33:59am

re: #349 Gus 802

It’s Monday! Any second now they’re going to announce another anti-abortion bill and remind us of how they’re so scared of gays, Moozlims, atheists, women, immigrants…

Again. And again.

Only to create jobs.

352 kirkspencer  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:34:44am

re: #199 Amory Blaine

Many schools don’t get the luxury of actually having chemists or physicists on the payrolls. These fields pay so well outside of teaching that they don’t even get considered.

Just to introduce a bit of fact into the discussion, in 1999 47% of secondary school teachers had a degree in the field they instructed and another 39% had an education degree with subject area specialization in their field. That’s per this 2004 report from the National Science Foundation.

353 Vicious Babushka  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:35:35am

re: #340 darthstar

Depends…was it a Kitchenaid? Those things last forever. Now a cheap Black & Decker would never be appropriate on a tombstone, I’ll grant you that…but a Kitchenaid mixer…

It depends on how old your Kitchenaid is. I got mine 30 years ago and it’s solid as a rock. Made in the USA. The newer ones are made in China and they’re crap. They changed the size of the mixing bowl from 5.5qt to 6qt but they kept the same motor so the whole thing overheats if you try to make a bigger batch of bread dough.

354 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:36:11am

re: #351 darthstar

Only to create jobs.

Right. And clearly we’re in the red all because of NPR and PBS funding.

Any questions?

355 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:37:17am

Clearly the cause of “urban violence” is that sewing show you hear on the radio being broadcast by your local NPR affiliate.

356 darthstar  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:37:34am

re: #350 Rightwingconspirator

I kook forward to the vindication of the sane among us. When Obama handily wins reelection. And given an improved economy, some push back on the tea party denizens.

I wish the Democrats, when they had a filibuster proof majority in the Senate and control of the House, had just acted like the Republicans under Bush and steamrolled their programs through. Health Care Reform could have been accomplished in two months and people would have been reaping the benefits before the 2010 elections. A bigger stimulus bill could have been pushed through and our recovery would be that much further along. And finally, the teabaggers would have lost most of the elections they did win because Americans like a congress that gets shit done, regardless of party.

357 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:38:40am

re: #354 Gus 802

Unfortunately, nothing is “all” of the cause. But everything needs to be looked at very carefully. Even NPR and PBS.

Even if the economy approves (I only say “if” because of the gas thing, that could shoot the recovery right in the head), we should be looking at the stuff that would be looked at in tight times.

There’s my right-wing nut-job opinion.

358 darthstar  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:38:56am

re: #353 Alouette

It depends on how old your Kitchenaid is. I got mine 30 years ago and it’s solid as a rock. Made in the USA. The newer ones are made in China and they’re crap. They changed the size of the mixing bowl from 5.5qt to 6qt but they kept the same motor so the whole thing overheats if you try to make a bigger batch of bread dough.

I don’t know how old ours is. My wife found it at a flea market for $50 about ten years ago. I use it all the time…and now that I’ve learned how easy it is to make marshmallows, I love the machine even more.

359 Decatur Deb  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:39:20am

re: #350 Rightwingconspirator

I kook forward to the vindication of the sane among us. When Obama handily wins reelection. And given an improved economy, some push back on the tea party denizens.

Under that scenario, most of the TPs turn, surly, to a compromised GOP. A significant fragment, however, empty the gun shows and start buying fertilizer.

360 darthstar  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:40:22am

re: #354 Gus 802

Right. And clearly we’re in the red all because of NPR and PBS funding.

Any questions?

You forgot the EPA. They’re the great Satan of this year’s budget - losing 30 per cent or so…

361 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:40:49am

re: #356 darthstar

Americans like a congress that gets shit done, regardless of party.

Why isn’t that inscribed in both houses of the Legislative Branch? Right below the Great Seal or something?

362 darthstar  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:42:30am

re: #361 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Why isn’t that inscribed in both houses of the Legislative Branch? Right below the Great Seal or something?

That space is reserved for corporate sponsor logos. They pay for shit NOT to get done.

363 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:42:36am

By the way, as a thank you to whoever…

Dear Whoever:

I have made as much so far this year as I made in 9 months last year.

Thank you.

FBV


(I think I’ll just make it a prayer of thanksgiving).

364 Political Atheist  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:42:49am

Jewelry trade humor
Old Joke (Last Year) “silver is the new gold”
New Joke “silver is the new platinum”
$36+ silver OUCH

365 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:42:57am

re: #357 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Unfortunately, nothing is “all” of the cause. But everything needs to be looked at very carefully. Even NPR and PBS.

Even if the economy approves (I only say “if” because of the gas thing, that could shoot the recovery right in the head), we should be looking at the stuff that would be looked at in tight times.

There’s my right-wing nut-job opinion.

NPR and PBS isn’t being looked at for fiscal reason. It’s because of perceived ideological stance of the two entities in question. This GOP vendetta against NPR and PBS we rekindled by the Ron Williams/Fox News kerfuffle. Most of the motivation behind this is to pander to their base who also hold an equally antagonistic view of NPR/PBS sometimes bordering on paranoia.

And it’s not about cuts. DeMint and Coburn want to completely defund NPR and PBS.

366 darthstar  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:43:56am

re: #363 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Good for you! 300% growth isn’t a bad target to set for oneself. Hope you hit it.

367 darthstar  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:44:24am

re: #366 darthstar

Good for you! 300% growth isn’t a bad target to set for oneself. Hope you hit it.

I meant that financally, not physically…step away from the cake.

368 Political Atheist  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:44:48am

re: #365 Gus 802

The weird thing is NPR is more centrist in content now than under GWB. No big bad boogieman to bitch and whine about. Pacifica radio used to run Galloway speeches frequently, with red hot near violent rhetoric and all.

369 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:46:36am

re: #365 Gus 802

Okay. But, I’ve wondered why we pay for it. As for PBS? There’s so much educational TV on now that has to survive on its own merits (merits meaning commercially viable).

History Channel, NGO, Science… those channels are doing great. Making money. Ain’t getting the gubmint help.

As for Radio? NPR is the only thing I’ve heard that does what NPR does. So, won’t bitch about them too much.

370 RogueOne  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:46:58am

I missed this poll last week. MSNBC is having a discussion about it now:

Daniels’s ‘Truce’ Call Finds Strong Support in WSJ Poll


The latest Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll appears to vindicate Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels‘s repeated insistence that the country needs a “truce” on fights over social issues while it grapples with its mounting economic challenges.

Nearly two thirds of Republican primary voters said they would be “more likely” to vote for a GOP primary candidate who says the party should focus more on the economy and the deficit and less on social issues such as gay marriage and abortion. Only 8% said they would be less likely to vote for such a candidate. The rest said they were unsure.

371 RogueOne  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:47:35am

re: #370 RogueOne

forgot link:

blogs.wsj.com

poll results:
online.wsj.com

372 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:47:53am

re: #369 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Okay. But, I’ve wondered why we pay for it. As for PBS? There’s so much educational TV on now that has to survive on its own merits (merits meaning commercially viable).

History Channel, NGO, Science… those channels are doing great. Making money. Ain’t getting the gubmint help.

As for Radio? NPR is the only thing I’ve heard that does what NPR does. So, won’t bitch about them too much.

I’d have to look into it.

373 Vicious Babushka  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:47:57am

re: #364 Rightwingconspirator

Jewelry trade humor
Old Joke (Last Year) “silver is the new gold”
New Joke “silver is the new platinum”
$36+ silver OUCH

All the silver products at the Zionist Mall have doubled in price since the beginning of the year.

375 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:49:31am

re: #366 darthstar

Oh, I’m just coming back. I made a third last year of what I made two years before (same company). And I don’t even work for Haliburton.

Ain’t blaming nobody. I’m just happy as shit (this week).

376 CommonCents  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:52:09am

re: #369 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

NPR is the only thing I’ve heard that does what NPR does.

What about C-SPAN? They are funded by the cable companies and seem exceptionally un-biased.

377 reine.de.tout  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:53:09am

re: #364 Rightwingconspirator

Jewelry trade humor
Old Joke (Last Year) “silver is the new gold”
New Joke “silver is the new platinum”
$36+ silver OUCH

Ouch is right!

I love silver; which has been great, since it’s been so affordable.

378 Decatur Deb  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:53:29am

re: #369 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Okay. But, I’ve wondered why we pay for it. As for PBS? There’s so much educational TV on now that has to survive on its own merits (merits meaning commercially viable).

History Channel, NGO, Science… those channels are doing great. Making money. Ain’t getting the gubmint help.

As for Radio? NPR is the only thing I’ve heard that does what NPR does. So, won’t bitch about them too much.

Look at what the “market’ has done to the history and science channel programming. Dog the Bounty Hunter and New Age crap are on channels started to provide ‘educational’ TV.

379 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:54:27am

re: #378 Decatur Deb

Look at what the “market’ has done to the history and science channel programming. Dog the Bounty Hunter and New Age crap are on channels started to provide ‘educational’ TV.

Ghost Hunters, Dog Whisperer…

What else. What channel is Jesse Ventura on?

380 Political Atheist  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:54:35am

re: #375 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

re: #366 darthstar

If not for Studio11, I would have really been hurting last year. As it is now with the day job and the studio doing better I think this can be a banner year. But, watching gas nervously. Finally I’m in a business with strong demand. Imaging and ad layout work is big. Not everyone wants that “crowd sourced” crap.

381 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:54:42am

re: #376 CommonCents

TV. I was thinking of the Radio product that I and “the generous” contributors” pay for.

382 Decatur Deb  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:55:47am

re: #379 Gus 802

Ghost Hunters, Dog Whisperer…

What else. What channel is Jesse Ventura on?

Leonard Nimoy: “In Search of Dreck”.

383 reine.de.tout  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:55:52am

re: #378 Decatur Deb

Look at what the “market’ has done to the history and science channel programming. Dog the Bounty Hunter and New Age crap are on channels started to provide ‘educational’ TV.

Don’t be talking bad ‘bout Dog the Bounty Hunter, now.

384 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:56:26am

re: #382 Decatur Deb

Leonard Nimoy: “In Search of Dreck”.

UFOs! Aliens! Martians!

Next, on The History Channel.

385 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:56:39am

re: #378 Decatur Deb

I used to call the History Channel the “Hitler was a Dick!” channel.

While I can’t stand “Dog” and those types of shows… Dirty Jobs, Mythbusters… well, those shows are frickin’ great.

386 CommonCents  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:57:38am

re: #381 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

C-SPAN3 is on XM radio

387 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:57:41am

Ice Road Truckers…

Yep. No more Frontline. No more American Experience. No more Nova. No more American Masters…

Or, they go commercial and then have to be prostituted with commercials and corporate interests.

388 reine.de.tout  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:58:11am

re: #387 Gus 802

Ice Road Truckers…

Yep. No more Frontline. No more American Experience. No more Nova. No more American Masters…

Or, they go commercial and then have to be prostituted with commercials and corporate interests.

Swamp People.
Ick.

389 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:58:58am

re: #387 Gus 802

Or, they go commercial and then have to be prostituted with commercials and corporate interests.

Therefore, you watch it? You pay for it.

Unlike PBS.

390 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:59:06am

No more Antiques Roadshow!

OK, that can go. ;)

391 Prononymous, rogue demon hunter  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:59:35am

re: #378 Decatur Deb

Look at what the “market’ has done to the history and science channel programming. Dog the Bounty Hunter and New Age crap are on channels started to provide ‘educational’ TV.

PBS and BBC are the last bastions. Attenborough for life!

392 Feline Fearless Leader  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 6:59:46am

re: #369 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Okay. But, I’ve wondered why we pay for it. As for PBS? There’s so much educational TV on now that has to survive on its own merits (merits meaning commercially viable).

History Channel, NGO, Science… those channels are doing great. Making money. Ain’t getting the gubmint help.

As for Radio? NPR is the only thing I’ve heard that does what NPR does. So, won’t bitch about them too much.

See a lot of junk on those channels - and they also trade programming back and forth (notice that a lot of History Channel and Military Channel shows are recycled from Discovery or other previous showing.)

And 2-3 hours of Nazi flying saucer conspiracy stuff made me turn off my TV. Been just listening to music instead and reading. About time to seriously consider getting the cable unplugged.

393 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:00:02am

Holy Crap! “Crazy Heart” is on “HBO In-Demand”!

Haven’t seen it yet.

Until now.

Later dudes and dudettes.

394 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:00:39am

re: #392 oaktree

See a lot of junk on those channels - and they also trade programming back and forth (notice that a lot of History Channel and Military Channel shows are recycled from Discovery or other previous showing.)

And 2-3 hours of Nazi flying saucer conspiracy stuff made me turn off my TV. Been just listening to music instead and reading. About time to seriously consider getting the cable unplugged.

2-3 hours of Nazi flying saucer conspiracy stuff made me turn off my TV…

That’s hilarious.

395 Political Atheist  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:01:44am

re: #373 Alouette

I used to buy finished goods ready to sell for $.50 a gram. Today I’ll be selling sterling casting grain for about $1.22. That’s the raw metal ready to melt into a casting at a manufacturing shop.

396 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:01:46am

re: #392 oaktree

Then we’ll need PBS again.

397 Political Atheist  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:04:10am

re: #388 reine.de.tout

Okay swamp people sucked. But those guys at Red Jacket near you are pretty cool.

Off to work I go…

398 Decatur Deb  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:04:57am

re: #396 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Then we’ll need PBS again.

And if we lose them, we’ll need unions again. I was hoping not to need to re-create the XXth Century.

399 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:08:14am

Watching the eventual demise of Huffington Post should prove interesting.

Along with the closing of the acquisition, AOL has also poached a number of talented new writers to join its newly formed team. Yahoo’s Michael Calderone has been named Senior Media Reporter, the New York Times’ Trymaine Lee has been named Senior Reporter, the New York Daily News’ Michael McAuliff has been named Senior Congressional Reporter, and The Daily’s Jon Ward has been named Senior Political Reporter. Bonnie Kavoussi will be Business Reporter, and Lucas Kavner has been named Entertainment Reporter
400 Jadespring  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:09:48am

re: #378 Decatur Deb

Look at what the “market’ has done to the history and science channel programming. Dog the Bounty Hunter and New Age crap are on channels started to provide ‘educational’ TV.

Yeah a lot of the ‘history’ stuff and shows are very fluffy and superficial as well. Some shows are kinda neat but they’re also getting fairly homogenous in terms of general content. Lots of different versions of ‘warriors and guts, and tyrants’. Sure it’s ‘history’ but it’s only aspects of history that are highly marketable.

401 Jadespring  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:11:14am

Oh and ghost hunting shows. Lots and lots of those now.

402 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:12:50am

re: #401 Jadespring

Oh and ghost hunting shows. Lots and lots of those now.

SCOOBY DOUCHE!

403 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:13:15am

Bill Daley, White House Chief Of Staff, Pressed About Lack Of Jail Time For Wall Street Culprits

WASHINGTON — White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley declined on Sunday to bring the president into the debate over why no major player in the collapse of the financial system in 2008 has gone to jail.

Appearing on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Daley, who worked as an executive at JP Morgan prior to joining the White House, said it wasn’t the role of a politician, let alone a president, to weigh in on judicial matters. Besides that, he added, the reforms that Obama instituted years after the crash occurred were indicative of his dissatisfaction with the financial sector.

“I think the president, no one has been more out front on the need for financial reform,” said Daley. “Obviously the justice system will take its place and the politicians should not engage in trying to say who should be prosecuted or who should not. That is not a responsible thing to do. You have a number of attorney generals moving forward on cases that are legitimate. But the president felt very strongly — that’s why he fought so hard for national regulatory reform — that the system has got to change…

I need a barf bag.

404 lawhawk  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:14:26am

Greets and saluts from the NYC metro area. There was a time when TLC had programming that actually related to learning; History Channel had programming related to history, and SciFi actually had science fiction.

Now? TLC has Say Yes to the Dress and about 500 wedding related shows, History Channel has 300 shows relating to paranormal activity or Nazi UFOs and wonder weapons, and SyFi (which changed its name because they couldn’t copyright/trademark SciFi) shows wrestling and the occasional science fiction show.

Bruce Springsteen once sang about 57 channels and nothing being on…. it’s now closer to 500 channels - and still nothing on.

But hey, everyone’s watching the train wreck known as Sheen-Tigerblood. I guess folks need to revel in watching someone else’s spiral into madness rather than deal with reality for a while.

405 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:14:47am

The lessor of two evils is still evil.

406 lawhawk  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:16:15am

re: #405 Gus 802

The lessor of two evils is still evil.

Lesser - unless you’re leasing two evils.

But I still think that the evil of two lessers applies to most political decisions - and it’s still evil.

407 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:17:24am

re: #405 Gus 802

The lessor lesser of two evils is still evil.

408 Jadespring  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:17:48am

re: #402 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

SCOOBY DOUCHE!

:D Hee. I watched one the other day. It was hilarious. I kept thinking man these people get paid to do this crap. What a great and fun job. I should do this.

409 Killgore Trout  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:18:44am

re: #399 Gus 802

Watching the eventual demise of Huffington Post should prove interesting.

It’ll be interesting to see what happens. AOL doesn’t have the best track record and most corporate bought blogs don’t do very well.

410 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:20:43am

re: #409 Killgore Trout

Just think. And we’ll still be here.

The left sold out to the man.

Every time I see that, it makes me happy.

411 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:23:06am

re: #409 Killgore Trout

It’ll be interesting to see what happens. AOL doesn’t have the best track record and most corporate bought blogs don’t do very well.

They’re going to have to start aiming for Slate, Salon or Politico territory. I’m pretty sure that they’re also going to lose a lot of the original audience and maybe, maybe, gain a newer audience. But when they start seeing Daily News correspondents at the helm? Meh. Doesn’t matter to me. I go to Huffington Post sometimes and most of the time the stories that interest me aren’t even written by HuffPo staff.

412 Jadespring  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:23:55am

re: #404 lawhawk

On History Channel right now…. Nazi Hunters, Tank Overhaul, MASH, World War II in HD, Battlefield Mysteries…repeat.

TLC: Say Yes to the Dress X2, Cake Boss, Kitchen Boss, A Baby Story, Bringing Home Baby X2, What Not to Wear…repeat

413 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:25:16am

re: #412 Jadespring

On History Channel right now… Nazi Hunters, Tank Overhaul, MASH, World War II in HD, Battlefield Mysteries…repeat.

TLC: Say Yes to the Dress X2, Cake Boss, Kitchen Boss, A Baby Story, Bringing Home Baby X2, What Not to Wear…repeat

What in hell? Are those real program names?

414 Prononymous, rogue demon hunter  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:25:49am

re: #404 lawhawk

I just browsed my documentaries directory containing a huge number of quality shows spanning many decades. I couldn’t find a single show from discovery, TLC, etc. I guess I have never found the stuff they produced worth anything.

415 MinisterO  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:27:10am

re: #405 Gus 802

The lessor of two evils is still evil.

True but the old landlord was much worse.

416 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:28:46am

re: #415 MinisterO

True but the old landlord was much worse.

Yeah. My brain isn’t always engaged. Would be nice to have an edit function but I guess this is kind of chat mode anyway so feck it.

418 William Barnett-Lewis  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:31:43am

re: #392 oaktree

See a lot of junk on those channels - and they also trade programming back and forth (notice that a lot of History Channel and Military Channel shows are recycled from Discovery or other previous showing.)

And 2-3 hours of Nazi flying saucer conspiracy stuff made me turn off my TV. Been just listening to music instead and reading. About time to seriously consider getting the cable unplugged.

Do it.

We turned off the dish two years ago and recycled the TV. Didn’t even miss it at Super Bowl time as the play-by-play is a thousand times better on radio.

419 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:32:03am

re: #414 prononymous

Today’s PBS programming doesn’t look too hot either.

420 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:32:53am

re: #419 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Today’s PBS programming doesn’t look too hot either.

Like the new “shaky cam” NOVA?

421 Professor Chaos  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:33:36am

re: #403 Gus 802

Bill Daley, White House Chief Of Staff, Pressed About Lack Of Jail Time For Wall Street Culprits

I need a barf bag.

2012 campaign thought:

A prospective Republican candidate could raise a lot of eyebrows and garner second looks from independents if he pledges to prosecute Wall Street. The GOP establishment would hate it, but it would play well with the teabaggers.

422 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:33:41am

Trends suck.

423 Jadespring  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:33:51am

re: #413 Gus 802

What in hell? Are those real program names?

Yes. Straight from the listing. X2 just means it’s a half hour show on twice.

Now once we get into evening on TLC we have. Ultimate Cake Off, Cake Boss (an hour this time) Cake Boss ‘Baby Special, Cake Boss(1/2 hour, Outrageous Kid Parties and 19 Kids and Counting.

Here’s the Science Channel listing for the day… Mummy Autopsy, Oasis of the Golden Mummies, Monster Moves (engineers try to move a British sub across Canada, Monster Inside of Me (icky stories about parasites) Bionic Builders (show about extreme prosthetics), Large Dangerous, Rocket Ships 2010 (rocket competition), Meteorite Men, Daily Planet (science round up news show), How it’s Made and Mutant Planet.

424 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:35:38am

re: #423 Jadespring

Yes. Straight from the listing. X2 just means it’s a half hour show on twice.

Now once we get into evening on TLC we have. Ultimate Cake Off, Cake Boss (an hour this time) Cake Boss ‘Baby Special, Cake Boss(1/2 hour, Outrageous Kid Parties and 19 Kids and Counting.

Here’s the Science Channel listing for the day… Mummy Autopsy, Oasis of the Golden Mummies, Monster Moves (engineers try to move a British sub across Canada, Monster Inside of Me (icky stories about parasites) Bionic Builders (show about extreme prosthetics), Large Dangerous, Rocket Ships 2010 (rocket competition), Meteorite Men, Daily Planet (science round up news show), How it’s Made and Mutant Planet.

That’s not even science for 3rd graders. Sounds more like “science” for 18 to 38 year old beer drinking males.

425 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:36:10am

Guys that say “dude” a lot.

426 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:38:21am

re: #423 Jadespring

Love the Science Channel.

427 garhighway  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:40:22am

re: #424 Gus 802

That’s not even science for 3rd graders. Sounds more like “science” for 18 to 38 year old beer drinking males.

The target demographic.

428 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:40:37am

re: #424 Gus 802

That’s not even science for 3rd graders. Sounds more like “science” for 18 to 38 year old beer drinking males.

Hey… they need science more than third graders!

(third graders are flipping smart!) (Ever met an 18 to 38 year old beer drinking male?)

429 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:41:05am

re: #427 garhighway

The target demographic.

For the majority of TV programming.

430 Jadespring  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:42:19am

re: #426 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Love the Science Channel.

Yes it has some interesting shows that actually get into some more involved science stuff. I’ve watched the parasite one a few times. Not for the squeamish but fascinating.

431 Jadespring  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:46:42am

There’s a few gems here and there. Mythbusters is an an awesome show. It makes science fun and interesting. Kids love it. It’s my nephew and his group of friends favorite show and they’ll choose to watch that over pretty much anything else.

432 darthstar  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:49:22am

Here’s a pic from last night. These ladies never lost their smile until they went under the knife during the butchering contest. Watching a guy take a pig apart in 40 minutes was pretty amazing…would’ve taken me a couple of hours to butcher that much meat.

433 Jadespring  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:49:58am

Oh damn. I accidently turned the channel to Antiques Roadshow. That show is evil. Now I have to wait to see what this thing is worth and oh then the next thing…oops okay just this next dodad and then bam the show is over.

434 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:51:23am

re: #433 Jadespring

Oh damn. I accidently turned the channel to Antiques Roadshow. That show is evil. Now I have to wait to see what this thing is worth and oh then the next thing…oops okay just this next dodad and then bam the show is over.

That program is like a game show.

435 darthstar  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:52:17am

re: #433 Jadespring

I call that show “Justify My Keeping This Crap”

436 garhighway  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:53:39am

A weird tale of life in NYC:

A cabbie picks up some guys in Midtown. Once in the cab, they give him a destination in the Bronx. He doesn’t want to take them there. They all go to the nearest precinct to settle the little dispute, where the cops tell him he has to do it. He still refuses, and leaves, running over two of the guys on the way AND leaving the scene.

Jeez. I’ve had my share of grumpy cabbies, but this guy takes the cake.

nytimes.com

437 Jadespring  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:54:05am

re: #435 darthstar

I call that show “Justify My Keeping This Crap”

:D This guy just showed this old book with paintings of fruit and vegetables. Missed how old it was. It was worth over 25,000 dollars. That’s good crap.

438 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:55:21am

Cry for the poor wealthy!

Some famous faces, names also get ag-land tax breaks in Colo.

Actors, captains of industry, an Ivy League astrologer, sports figures, politicians, energy giants, schoolteachers from Pasadena, Calif. All these are also considered farmers or ranchers for tax purposes in Colorado. They have secured low property taxes through agricultural designations on land they own even though they personally have little or nothing to do with producing food — the reason state legislators originally created a low property-tax rate for the agriculture sector.

In some cases, the properties where they have second, third or fourth homes were traditional working ranches before they were sold to the wealthy and became what, in real-estate lingo, are termed “gentleman ranches”

[…]

“Farm” owners

Tom Cruise
Actor
Property: Five parcels of land on a mesa northwest of Telluride, about 248 acres in a region of high-end vacation homes
Property tax: $400

Gail Schwartz
State senator
Property: 15.4 acres of partially irrigated meadowland near Basalt
Property tax: $54.52

Charlie Ergen
Media mogul
Property: The Enchanted Mesa Ranch, nearly 600 acres near Ridgway
Property tax: $3,185

Walker Stapleton
Treasurer
Property: 6.4 acres and a cabin in Gunnison County; 180 acres near Castle Rock
Property tax: $1,618; $116

Klaus Obermeyer
Ski pioneer
Property: 3.2 acres along a road that parallels Colorado 82 near Basalt
Property tax: $27.80

Goldie Hawn
Actor
Property: 34.56 acres and a 2,700- square-foot home that adjoins Kurt Russell’s property with two residences
Property tax: $2,873

439 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:55:21am

Crazy Heart is fucking amazing. Holy Shit!

Bridges is just an amazing actor.

440 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:56:10am

What a joke.

The USA is like Russia only with better PR.

//

441 darthstar  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:56:47am

re: #438 Gus 802

Me: New home on 6500 sq ft lot. Property Tax: 7,000

442 lawhawk  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 7:58:23am

re: #437 Jadespring

Heh… I love those stories of garage sale finds that turn out to be big money.

Have one of those stories myself. Went to a garage sale, and bought a small Jewish stamped metal design for $1. Turned out that it was sterling silver, and done by a pretty famous Israeli designer - worth maybe $150. Bigger versions of that design have gone for thousands.

443 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:00:02am

“Ultimately, we are interested in the question of relative standards of living and economic well-being. We need to examine trends in the distribution of wealth, which, more fundamentally than earnings or income, represents a measure of the ability of households to consume.” — Alan Greenspan

444 lawhawk  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:00:42am

re: #441 darthstar

In NJ, a home with 5700 sf of land and 1500sf home can run upwards of $8,700 in property taxes. And that’s cheap for our area. Most of the towns in Northern NJ see property taxes pushing $10k and above for less than an acre or thereabouts and less than 3k of living space. Obscene doesn’t even begin to cut it.

445 Killgore Trout  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:00:45am

Garden ponds: Invest in a liquid asset

446 Vicious Babushka  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:01:11am

re: #442 lawhawk

Heh… I love those stories of garage sale finds that turn out to be big money.

Have one of those stories myself. Went to a garage sale, and bought a small Jewish stamped metal design for $1. Turned out that it was sterling silver, and done by a pretty famous Israeli designer - worth maybe $150. Bigger versions of that design have gone for thousands.

Who was the designer?

447 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:02:31am

re: #444 lawhawk

In NJ, a home with 5700 sf of land and 1500sf home can run upwards of $8,700 in property taxes. And that’s cheap for our area. Most of the towns in Northern NJ see property taxes pushing $10k and above for less than an acre or thereabouts and less than 3k of living space. Obscene doesn’t even begin to cut it.

Forget about home ownership for the new middle class. Or at least the ones that are left. That leaves the majority of people having no choice but to rent. This of course leads to a great deal of uncertainty come retirement age.

448 MinisterO  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:02:51am

More than 77.5% of all FY2010 federal spending went to defense, social security and disability, medicare, medicaid, unemployment and interest on the national debt.

If we cut everything else out altogether - those little luxuries like education and police services - we’d still need to cut $520 Billion of annual spending on those categories to balance the budget.

Realistically it would need to be 2-3 times that.

How many of the self-proclaimed fiscal hawks are willing to do it? Ron Paul maybe, but who else?

449 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:04:17am

Image: WealthIncome07.gif

450 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:04:47am

Image: Wealth2004.gif

451 lawhawk  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:04:55am

This photo doesn’t bode well for the rebel groups. Firing machine guns at aircraft with that posture isn’t going to be successful at anything other than possibly shooting off your foot - or hitting your fellow rebels.

And yet, despite this ragtag bunch of rebels having little training and such poor knowledge of weapons and tactics, they’re holding off Khadafi and his loyalists.

452 Jadespring  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:06:16am

re: #444 lawhawk

In NJ, a home with 5700 sf of land and 1500sf home can run upwards of $8,700 in property taxes. And that’s cheap for our area. Most of the towns in Northern NJ see property taxes pushing $10k and above for less than an acre or thereabouts and less than 3k of living space. Obscene doesn’t even begin to cut it.

Mine is around two grand for 2 acres and 1500 sft house. If I get my butt in gear this year I can get it designated as a working farm and pay about 25% less. Here you have to actually being doing something ‘farm’ to get the break. It’s not automatic.

453 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:08:11am

re: #451 lawhawk

This photo doesn’t bode well for the rebel groups. Firing machine guns at aircraft with that posture isn’t going to be successful at anything other than possibly shooting off your foot - or hitting your fellow rebels.

And yet, despite this ragtag bunch of rebels having little training and such poor knowledge of weapons and tactics, they’re holding off Khadafi and his loyalists.

Waste of ammo.

454 lawhawk  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:09:34am

re: #447 Gus 802

Renting does make quite a bit of sense for many people rather than buying - not only does it allow for better mobility and ease of transition from one job to the next (don’t have to be tied to a given location should economic conditions in a location founder), but the costs could be significantly less renting versus owning.

There seems to be a growing movement to end the mortgage deduction for interest on the federal tax returns, which would increase revenues and eliminate a distortion of the real estate markets (which is why the real estate market will try and fight it particularly when the market is still a mess and recovering from the meltdown may take still more years in some areas - think Vegas and Florida).

Real estate is an investment that carries risk - and efforts to mitigate that risk have distorted the market even further.

455 Political Atheist  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:10:10am

re: #401 Jadespring

All they ever really find is the next lengthy commercial break. I think commercials are 20 minutes + of the “hour” long show.

456 Political Atheist  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:13:33am

re: #454 lawhawk

When you look at interest monies paid on a 30 year mortgage, home real estate subsidizes retail banking big time.

Take those monies away and how will the banks fund all those credit cards?
//

457 Killgore Trout  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:14:07am

I just got an email from my ISP that I might be infected with a bot. Ugh.

458 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:14:20am

re: #454 lawhawk

Renting does make quite a bit of sense for many people rather than buying - not only does it allow for better mobility and ease of transition from one job to the next (don’t have to be tied to a given location should economic conditions in a location founder), but the costs could be significantly less renting versus owning.

There seems to be a growing movement to end the mortgage deduction for interest on the federal tax returns, which would increase revenues and eliminate a distortion of the real estate markets (which is why the real estate market will try and fight it particularly when the market is still a mess and recovering from the meltdown may take still more years in some areas - think Vegas and Florida).

Real estate is an investment that carries risk - and efforts to mitigate that risk have distorted the market even further.

True. But the idea used to be to buy a home while you’re young and then you have a nest for when you retire. Once you get into renting you’ll have to keep on renting during retirement and on a very fixed income for most. If in the case you have to buy a modest home in NJ and pay 7500 in property taxes then you’ll limit who can buy those homes. This is not considering the grossly inflated (and they’re still inflated) prices of a home.

459 darthstar  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:17:28am

Okay…I wouldn’t ride this course at normal speeds…and check out the dog at about 40 seconds into the run…

Vimeo
460 [deleted]  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:17:57am
461 Jadespring  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:18:21am

re: #455 Rightwingconspirator

All they ever really find is the next lengthy commercial break. I think commercials are 20 minutes + of the “hour” long show.

Well on the show I watched a door moved! A knife went from the table to the floor but unfortunately the camera didn’t catch that. But everyone said “No I swear I didn’t touch it.” ;)

I think it’s more fun watching them with the hubby because of his commentary. “Oh he’s lying. Wanna know how I know?” So he explains the tells, body language or speech patterns that indicates people’s pants being on fire. I’ve learned more about that sort of thing watching a show like that then about ghosties and beasties.

462 Walter L. Newton  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:18:47am

And for the Denver Colorado area Lizards…

Snow will develop in western CO early Monday morning and spread across the mountains, where snow will be very heavy at times from Monday morning into Tuesday monring. A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for 1-2 feet of snow west of the Divide. Travel across the mountains of CO on Monday could be difficult to impossible at times. Snow should begin in the foothills Monday afternoon and spread into the Urban Corridor by evening. Since the track of this system remains along the souther CO border, majority of snow will occur south of I-70. Heaviest snow looks to be between 4 pm and midnight on Monday, but light snow will continue into Tuesday afternoon. Snow levels will start at 5500-6500 Monday afternoon, dropping to Plains level by Monday evening. NWS has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for the foothills from 5 pm Monday to 5 pm Tuesday for 7-12 inches of snow. My snow forecast looks lilke this:

Urban Corridor: 3-6 inches
Banana Belt foothill areas: 2-6 inches
Foothills: 6-12 inches with posisbly higher amounts in favored areas (my area).

Good.. I have two days off. Time to cozy up at a window and watch the show.

463 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:20:00am

re: #460 Mad Al-Jaffee

Yawn. Or you could have sent an email. Or you could have stayed away. Whatever.

464 darthstar  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:20:11am

re: #462 Walter L. Newton

Alpine got 16 inches last night. I’m going up Wednesday night after my conference and skiing Thurs-Sat…should be epic.

465 Decatur Deb  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:20:27am

re: #458 Gus 802

True. But the idea used to be to buy a home while you’re young and then you have a nest for when you retire. Once you get into renting you’ll have to keep on renting during retirement and on a very fixed income for most. If in the case you have to buy a modest home in NJ and pay 7500 in property taxes then you’ll limit who can buy those homes. This is not considering the grossly inflated (and they’re still inflated) prices of a home.

Through dumb luck, we were forced to buy a home in Northwest NJ, and moved away after 7-8 years. Because of the cost and tax difference, we were able to buy and pay off our house a couple years before retirement. That’s the “ideal” pattern that made us middle-middle-middle or better in retirement. The hidden cost is living in the No-Deli zone.

466 rwdflynavy  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:21:11am

re: #463 Gus 802

Yawn. Or you could have sent an email. Or you could have stayed away. Whatever.

Then how would Daddy know how much he is hated!!!!?////

467 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:22:58am

re: #465 Decatur Deb

Through dumb luck, we were forced to buy a home in Northwest NJ, and moved away after 7-8 years. Because of the cost and tax difference, we were able to buy and pay off our house a couple years before retirement. That’s the “ideal” pattern that made us middle-middle-middle or better in retirement. The hidden cost is living in the No-Deli zone.

This architect I know bought his house in the 70s. I think it was less than 10 grand. Payed for already. He’s not at retirement age yet but he hasn’t been working much because of the recession/depression. But, he’s able to pick his nose so to speak regarding having to pay rent or a mortgage. The property taxes are relatively low for an urban location. He doesn’t really obsess about having to maintain everything either so that helps.

468 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:24:25am

re: #466 rwdflynavy

Then how would Daddy know how much he is hated!!!?///

Yeah. I think it’s some goofy rite of passage. Flounce at LGF and act like you don’t care and then proceed to stalk LGF for the next 100 years.

469 122 Year Old Obama  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:25:24am

Did I just miss a flounce?

470 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:26:37am

re: #469 SteelPH

Did I just miss a flounce?

Yeah. The “pwease deweet” my account kind.

471 Stanley Sea  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:26:42am

re: #469 SteelPH

Did I just miss a flounce?

Yes. I missed it too. :(

472 Jadespring  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:26:42am

re: #469 SteelPH

Did I just miss a flounce?

Sorta. Wasn’t spectacular or anything. Just a ‘delete my account cause I can’t please’ one liner.

473 Walter L. Newton  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:27:42am

re: #464 darthstar

Alpine got 16 inches last night. I’m going up Wednesday night after my conference and skiing Thurs-Sat…should be epic.

I just drove home from work… socked in fog, temp dropping, we had about two inches last night, roads were a bit warm, so snow on the roads went from snowpack to ice pack over night. We have a few roll overs down hill toward Denver, main highway was closed going north, open now. It’s days like this that my piddling little cashier job at Kroger really feels like a bonus. I don’t have to drive downhill toward Denver, I get to enjoy all this mountain living yet not have to spend much time outside dealing with shitty weather.

My girlfriend lucked out this week. She’s doing some computer based on line live training for Exchange Server this week, from home so she doesn’t have to go downhill either.

474 lawhawk  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:27:43am

re: #458 Gus 802

So much of the decision to rent/own depends on local conditions. Too many stories about how to decide whether to buy/own is done with a national view and that just doesn’t work.

What may make sense in the NYC metro area wont work in NV or FL because of the pricing and valuations.

You have to look at the cost of renting vs owning for the time frame that you intend to own/rent to see which way will make sense (including carrying charges, lost opportunity costs, potential profit, increased principal, etc.)

It may make sense to rent in a short term situation because of the continuing issues with real estate (including access to mortgages, interest rates, job insecurity, etc.), but for those with stable jobs, income, and sufficient nest egg, buying would make sense because prices have declined and opened up buying opportunities. Just depends on your time frame and outlook.

475 Decatur Deb  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:28:14am

re: #470 Gus 802

Yeah. The “pwease deweet” my account kind.

That was Mad Al? Could it be faked? He was always kind of cool.

476 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:30:31am

re: #474 lawhawk

So much of the decision to rent/own depends on local conditions. Too many stories about how to decide whether to buy/own is done with a national view and that just doesn’t work.

What may make sense in the NYC metro area wont work in NV or FL because of the pricing and valuations.

You have to look at the cost of renting vs owning for the time frame that you intend to own/rent to see which way will make sense (including carrying charges, lost opportunity costs, potential profit, increased principal, etc.)

It may make sense to rent in a short term situation because of the continuing issues with real estate (including access to mortgages, interest rates, job insecurity, etc.), but for those with stable jobs, income, and sufficient nest egg, buying would make sense because prices have declined and opened up buying opportunities. Just depends on your time frame and outlook.

Again, true. But it’s a darn shame. My father was able to buy a house in West Islip, LI back in 1969. And this was just on his income as a copier technician for Dennison Mfg. He also had a company car and we all had Blue Cross coverage. That can never be repeated.

477 darthstar  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:31:39am

re: #469 SteelPH

Did I just miss a flounce?

re: #471 Stanley Sea

Yes. I missed it too. :(

re: #472 Jadespring

Sorta. Wasn’t spectacular or anything. Just a ‘delete my account cause I can’t please’ one liner.

Flounces get more realistically orgasmic every year.

478 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:31:42am

re: #475 Decatur Deb

That was Mad Al? Could it be faked? He was always kind of cool.

I doubt it was faked. Don’t really remember him much and he really didn’t stand out as far as being obnoxious or anything.

479 Stanley Sea  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:33:17am

re: #478 Gus 802

I doubt it was faked. Don’t really remember him much and he really didn’t stand out as far as being obnoxious or anything.

Mondays should be more exciting.

480 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:34:05am

re: #479 Stanley Sea

Mondays should be more exciting.

He should come back and flounce with more gusto!

//

481 iossarian  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:34:25am

re: #476 Gus 802

Again, true. But it’s a darn shame. My father was able to buy a house in West Islip, LI back in 1969. And this was just on his income as a copier technician for Dennison Mfg. He also had a company car and we all had Blue Cross coverage. That can never be repeated.

I hope you’re wrong there - I don’t see any reason why a large majority of the population shouldn’t be able to benefit from the country’s prosperity.

(I do accept that the super-cheap housing available through massive suburban expansion is probably not something we should repeat, though.)

482 Decatur Deb  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:34:34am

re: #478 Gus 802

I doubt it was faked. Don’t really remember him much and he really didn’t stand out as far as being obnoxious or anything.

Yeah—he was fun, a working blues harpist. It might just be that he can’t keep up contact and just wanted to clean up his loose ends. Mad Al never got into attitudes and arguments.

484 Stanley Sea  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:37:27am

re: #482 Decatur Deb

Yeah—he was fun, a working blues harpist. It might just be that he can’t keep up contact and just wanted to clean up his loose ends. Mad Al never got into attitudes and arguments.

Oh wow, that was him? I remember him posting his band/music.

hmmm.

485 RogueOne  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:38:45am

re: #484 Stanley Sea

plus he had a good lookin’ dog. Maybe Scott Walker is his cousin or something…

486 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:38:46am

re: #481 iossarian

I hope you’re wrong there - I don’t see any reason why a large majority of the population shouldn’t be able to benefit from the country’s prosperity.

(I do accept that the super-cheap housing available through massive suburban expansion is probably not something we should repeat, though.)

I don’t see anything changing. The cost of living only continues to rise. Right now we’re in a housing slump and RE prices have decline but not by much. Incomes, wages, remain very stagnant and wealth distribution continues to widen. Property taxes continue to increase every year all across America. Manufacturing will never return as it all goes to nations like China or the lowest bidder. I wish this weren’t true but I see no hope unless we make fundamental economic and social (probably cultural) changes.

487 darthstar  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:41:13am

Chris Wallace interviews someone of his own caliber.

Youtube Video
488 Decatur Deb  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:43:23am

re: #484 Stanley Sea

Oh wow, that was him? I remember him posting his band/music.

hmmm.

Yeah—he went silent a couple months ago.

489 lawhawk  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:43:38am

re: #446 Alouette

It’s by Boris Schatz, and I just saw that someone offering it up for over $300 on eBay.

490 iossarian  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:44:54am

re: #486 Gus 802

Oh, I agree with you on what would need to happen, I just think it’s less unlikely than it might seem.

Apart from anything else, China and India are going to see some pretty significant social changes themselves over the next couple of decades. The low-wage border in China in particular marches inland a few hundred miles every year.

491 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:45:23am

re: #488 Decatur Deb

Yeah—he went silent a couple months ago.

bigdaddystallings.com

492 Stanley Sea  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:46:33am

Damn commies ruin everything.

493 garhighway  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:47:21am

OT:

Since spring training is in session, it’s time for a baseball story, with that special Onion twist:

onionsportsnetwork.com

Sample paragraph:

“I can see how people might think that moving to center field would be the right thing to do,” the 36-year-old said. “I can also see—quite clearly, as a matter of fact—that none of those people are named Derek Jeter. You know, the same Derek Jeter who led the New York fucking Yankees to five World Series titles and restored the entire goddamn organization to prominence after a decade and a half of mediocrity. That Derek Jeter ring a fucking bell for anyone?”

494 Professor Chaos  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:47:57am

re: #487 darthstar

Chris Wallace interviews someone of his own caliber.


[Video]

That’s a big 10-4.

495 Jadespring  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:48:06am

re: #481 iossarian

I hope you’re wrong there - I don’t see any reason why a large majority of the population shouldn’t be able to benefit from the country’s prosperity.

(I do accept that the super-cheap housing available through massive suburban expansion is probably not something we should repeat, though.)

That super cheap housing was cheap in the short term but long term it’s much more costly in terms of long term societal up keep just in base terms of costs vs efficiency.

496 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:51:35am

Back later.

497 Decatur Deb  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:54:30am

re: #495 Jadespring

That super cheap housing was cheap in the short term but long term it’s much more costly in terms of long term societal up keep just in base terms of costs vs efficiency.

“Who has a house, has a master.”
—Cicero (supposedly)

I don’t have a house, I have a house system, and my skills and effort are part of the system. A year ago I reshingled my 2000 ft roof with Energy Star materials—working alone.

498 Feline Fearless Leader  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:54:45am

re: #474 lawhawk

So much of the decision to rent/own depends on local conditions. Too many stories about how to decide whether to buy/own is done with a national view and that just doesn’t work.

What may make sense in the NYC metro area wont work in NV or FL because of the pricing and valuations.

You have to look at the cost of renting vs owning for the time frame that you intend to own/rent to see which way will make sense (including carrying charges, lost opportunity costs, potential profit, increased principal, etc.)

It may make sense to rent in a short term situation because of the continuing issues with real estate (including access to mortgages, interest rates, job insecurity, etc.), but for those with stable jobs, income, and sufficient nest egg, buying would make sense because prices have declined and opened up buying opportunities. Just depends on your time frame and outlook.

I went from owning a house (western PA) to renting (eastern PA). The 18-20 years of owning was a wash to low loss financially since I sold in a depressed market, plus having a 12-18 month period when I was supporting an empty house’s property tax and minimal utility bills*. However, I got the benefit of having the extra space, a backyard, etc. for that time period when I had the house.

Flipside, I now don’t have to worry about snow removal, trimming hedges, mowing a lawn, etc. And with less space I spend less time and effort with chores. And I lucked out in getting a nice southern exposure so I can do some limited window-box gardening.

So there are trade-offs both ways.

* - I didn’t rent out the house in the mean time due to location, and the immediate investment necessary (not to mention time, travel and effort) to make the house into a rentable property.

499 iossarian  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:55:27am

re: #495 Jadespring

That super cheap housing was cheap in the short term but long term it’s much more costly in terms of long term societal up keep just in base terms of costs vs efficiency.

Exactly.

Having said that, some post-war development was not all that bad compared to recent efforts by Mr. Drywall McMansion. I mean, there were actually commuter towns built around *gasp* commuter rail stations (more so in Europe than the US, but still).

500 Achilles Tang  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:55:43am

re: #369 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Okay. But, I’ve wondered why we pay for it. As for PBS? There’s so much educational TV on now that has to survive on its own merits (merits meaning commercially viable).

History Channel, NGO, Science… those channels are doing great. Making money. Ain’t getting the gubmint help.

As for Radio? NPR is the only thing I’ve heard that does what NPR does. So, won’t bitch about them too much.

History Channel has half their stuff on aliens and ghosts. Science does some of the same.

Do Republicans make a distinction between PBS and NPR? I don’t think so, nor do they know what the word culture means unless it is on a bumper sticker with “gun” in front of it.

The bottom line is that it the same issue as with unions. If they don’t lean to the right, attack.

501 Jadespring  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 8:58:26am

re: #497 Decatur Deb

“Who has a house, has a master.”
—Cicero (supposedly)

I don’t have a house, I have a house system, and my skills and effort are part of the system. A year ago I reshingled my 2000 ft roof with Energy Star materials—working alone.

I wasn’t thinking of the individual sense but in terms of infrastructure support. Roads, water, energy systems, public transport, garbage removal etc etc. It’s all about efficiency costs related to density.

502 Decatur Deb  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 9:03:12am

re: #501 Jadespring

I wasn’t thinking of the individual sense but in terms of infrastructure support. Roads, water, energy systems, public transport, garbage removal etc etc. It’s all about efficiency costs related to density.

Decades ago in college, I played around with the concept of ‘single-structure cities”. (About half of NYC is one, if you look at the subways.) Do you know of Paolo Soleri’s Arcologies?

arcosanti.org

503 Jadespring  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 9:05:57am

re: #502 Decatur Deb

Decades ago in college, I played around with the concept of ‘single-structure cities”. (About half of NYC is one, if you look at the subways.) Do you know of Paolo Soleri’s Arcologies?

[Link: www.arcosanti.org…]

Cool.

504 RogueOne  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 9:16:03am

I just caught my dobe in my neighbors yard playing with their 5 yr old. Somehow she managed to climb a 5’ privacy fence.

505 Decatur Deb  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 9:19:31am

Having severe hamster issues, reboot didn’t help. Going to bail for a while.

506 Achilles Tang  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 9:21:35am

LGF still slow here, mainly on posting or New Comments

507 Prononymous, rogue demon hunter  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 9:27:04am

It just slowed down again. Within the past hour or less.

508 Walking Spanish Down the Hall  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 9:27:37am

re: #504 RogueOne

I just caught my dobe in my neighbors yard playing with their 5 yr old. Somehow she managed to climb a 5’ privacy fence.

Nothing like a graphic example of how 5’ fences don’t really mean much to a dog intent on going when the ‘play’ is.

509 Walking Spanish Down the Hall  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 9:28:37am

I got three time-outs in a row trying to access LGF. I was about to email somebody.

510 RogueOne  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 9:35:40am

re: #508 b_sharp

Nothing like a graphic example of how 5’ fences don’t really mean much to a dog intent on going when the ‘play’ is.

I’m not sure why but she loves little kids. With adults she’s a terror but with little kids she’s a lick fiend. She’s figured out that if she hits the wood fence hard enough, long enough, she can get a couple boards to break and then she can squeeze her way through. I’m tired of replacing pieces so this summer I’m putting up a new vinyl privacy fence that will, hopefully, solve the problem.

511 Political Atheist  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 9:40:53am

re: #509 b_sharp

Yeah the site has the slows again. Even as a subscriber (no waiting for slow advertising servers) it’s probably at half speed.

512 RogueOne  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 9:42:48am

I have to run but before I do:

Daniels wins Oregon straw poll
politico.com


Oregon Republicans like Mitch Daniels.

The Indiana governor won 30 percent of the vote in a weekend presidential straw poll there, The Daily Astorian reports. Mitt Romney took second place with 23 percent of the vote, and Sarah Palin received 18 percent of the vote.

Enjoy the day people!

513 Walking Spanish Down the Hall  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 9:44:26am

re: #510 RogueOne

I’m not sure why but she loves little kids. With adults she’s a terror but with little kids she’s a lick fiend. She’s figured out that if she hits the wood fence hard enough, long enough, she can get a couple boards to break and then she can squeeze her way through. I’m tired of replacing pieces so this summer I’m putting up a new vinyl privacy fence that will, hopefully, solve the problem.

Our first Shepherd, back in ‘63, had hip dysplasia, but she still managed to climb the 5’ fence whenever she wanted to explore, or follow mom.

514 Walking Spanish Down the Hall  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 9:45:13am

re: #511 Rightwingconspirator

Yeah the site has the slows again. Even as a subscriber (no waiting for slow advertising servers) it’s probably at half speed.

I’d almost think someone has it in for us.

515 Glenn Beck's Grand Unifying Theory of Obdicut  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 9:48:25am

Crap. My otherwise perfectly healthy friend just got admitted to the hospital with a blood clot in her lung. That’s fucking scary.

Now they have to figure out why she’s throwing blood clots.

516 Political Atheist  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 9:49:38am

The budget negotiations are comical. All this BS about reducing discretionary spending is sheer distractions. The real deal has to be about the big entitlements, the military and of course raising some taxes. But nearly no one is talking about those real substantial changes. Not the Dems, not Republicans.

Not one smart & sensible fiscal conservative is to be found in the entire Federal legislature.

517 wrenchwench  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 9:51:35am

re: #515 Obdicut

Crap. My otherwise perfectly healthy friend just got admitted to the hospital with a blood clot in her lung. That’s fucking scary.

Now they have to figure out why she’s throwing blood clots.

That’s the third instance I’ve heard of in two weeks; Serena Williams, somebody I follow on Twitter, and now your friend. All female.

518 Walking Spanish Down the Hall  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 9:53:34am

I’m sitting here in a school computer lab, an hour and a quarter away from home, building working units out of systems with problems, waiting for the school director to get back so I can finish up with her email conversion, feeling like crap because I missed my Allopurinol meds yesterday so every joint I’ve ever had gout in is sore and aching and fearing the drive home because it’s -25C with a -38C wind chill, all while putting together a less than notable run-on sentence.

What a day.

519 Vicious Babushka  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 9:54:05am

re: #515 Obdicut

Crap. My otherwise perfectly healthy friend just got admitted to the hospital with a blood clot in her lung. That’s fucking scary.

Now they have to figure out why she’s throwing blood clots.

Some birth control pills have been associated with a risk of blood clots.

520 Professor Chaos  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 9:55:48am

re: #516 Rightwingconspirator

The budget negotiations are comical. All this BS about reducing discretionary spending is sheer distractions. The real deal has to be about the big entitlements, the military and of course raising some taxes. But nearly no one is talking about those real substantial changes. Not the Dems, not Republicans.

Not one smart & sensible fiscal conservative is to be found in the entire Federal legislature.

But that could mean solving the problem instead of using it to get re-elected. That’s not how we do things here.

521 wrenchwench  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 9:55:50am

re: #518 b_sharp

How good is the heater in the vehicle you’ll be driving?

522 Walking Spanish Down the Hall  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 9:59:21am

re: #515 Obdicut

Crap. My otherwise perfectly healthy friend just got admitted to the hospital with a blood clot in her lung. That’s fucking scary.

Now they have to figure out why she’s throwing blood clots.

It would be nice if the human body wasn’t so kludgey, there was a well written instruction manual, and an 80 year warranty, but as it is all we can do is expect the unexpected to break down, fix what we can and value the friends and family we have while it’s possible.

I hope your friend has few problems and recovers fully. Medicine is pretty good, so her chances are are pretty good.

523 Professor Chaos  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 10:01:39am

re: #518 b_sharp

I’m sitting here in a school computer lab, an hour and a quarter away from home, building working units out of systems with problems, waiting for the school director to get back so I can finish up with her email conversion, feeling like crap because I missed my Allopurinol meds yesterday so every joint I’ve ever had gout in is sore and aching and fearing the drive home because it’s -25C with a -38C wind chill, all while putting together a less than notable run-on sentence.

What a day.

Actually I think since your sentence is a list separated by commas it’s not a run-on. The last phrase is a little suspect, but I think it’s complete.

Carry on, lizard.

/Grammar Police

524 Walking Spanish Down the Hall  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 10:03:44am

re: #521 wrenchwench

How good is the heater in the vehicle you’ll be driving?

Quite good. It’s the walk to the car, and the time it takes to warm up that is going to play havoc with my joints.

Don’t mind me, I’m just having a blue day.

525 lawhawk  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 10:05:05am

re: #522 b_sharp

80 year warranty?

I wanna live forever! /quickening

526 SanFranciscoZionist  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 10:07:23am

re: #296 RogueOne

Serious case of disconnect:

Karen Sypher: ‘I feel like Rosa Parks’
[Link: www.whas11.com…]

One of the commenters on that article says that he always saw her more as Mother Theresa…or Joan of Arc…no, wait, it was Linda Lovelace, except she has much more class.

527 Walking Spanish Down the Hall  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 10:07:38am

re: #525 lawhawk

80 year warranty?

I wanna live forever! /quickening

Get your vampire certification.

I hear being undead is the way to go these days.

528 Vicious Babushka  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 10:09:24am

re: #526 SanFranciscoZionist

One of the commenters on that article says that he always saw her more as Mother Theresa…or Joan of Arc…no, wait, it was Linda Lovelace, except she has much more class.

Sypher was sentenced in February to seven years and three months in federal prison for trying to extort money, cars and a home

Such a martyr. [snort]

529 William of Orange  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 10:09:31am

May we never forget…

New material surfaces. A never seen 17 minute video of the 9-11 attacks.

Youtube Video
530 SanFranciscoZionist  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 10:12:46am

re: #336 Gus 802

Just toss me in the recycle bin; in Hefty bag on the side of the road for the morning pick-up. Either that or grind me up into sausage and then serve me up at a fine yuppie restaurant — unknown to the clientele — thinking that they’re consuming the finest in “free range” sausage.

Some playwright requested in his will that he be cremated, and the ashes thrown in the face of the New York Times theater critic.

I’ve always liked the idea of going to one of those Body Farm places where they put the bodies in different conditions to see what happens. You contribute to science, you get visitors…

531 lawhawk  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 10:14:09am

re: #529 William of Orange

It’s footage taken from a NYPD helicopter as the WTC was aflame and the period before and after the collapses. It had been in the hands of NIST but released on a FOIA request.

532 Walking Spanish Down the Hall  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 10:17:52am

re: #530 SanFranciscoZionist

Some playwright requested in his will that he be cremated, and the ashes thrown in the face of the New York Times theater critic.

I’ve always liked the idea of going to one of those Body Farm places where they put the bodies in different conditions to see what happens. You contribute to science, you get visitors…

And you get to play with bugs without your mom getting all upset.

533 HappyWarrior  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 10:19:36am

I’m not shocked. The guy has come across as a huge jerk in the whole debate if you ask me.

534 Jadespring  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 10:22:04am

Ha ha. My cat is walking around with a dryer sheet stuck to her butt. She keeps walking nochalantly and then stopping to look “Why is this thing STILL following me?”

535 Walking Spanish Down the Hall  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 10:25:33am

re: #531 lawhawk

It’s footage taken from a NYPD helicopter as the WTC was aflame and the period before and after the collapses. It had been in the hands of NIST but released on a FOIA request.

Sorry I can’t watch it.

I remember walking into my living room looking at the TV and noticing there was a tower missing. As soon as I realized it went down with what was thought at the time to be 10s of thousands of people, my heart stumbled and I started to mumble a single word over and over again, as I willed the remaining building to stay standing. That word was no.

My brother had just been killed 8 months earlier and I was still grieving for him. Adding the people in the buildings was/is just too much.

536 Killgore Trout  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 10:25:42am

GOP getting older and whiter, I wonder why?

NH GOP Seeks To Disenfranchise Students Who ‘Just Vote Their Feelings’ (VIDEO)

537 Walking Spanish Down the Hall  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 10:27:07am

re: #534 Jadespring

Ha ha. My cat is walking around with a dryer sheet stuck to her butt. She keeps walking nochalantly and then stopping to look “Why is this thing STILL following me?”

That would be like watching the Queen walk around with toilet paper stuck to her shoe.

538 HappyWarrior  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 10:29:15am

re: #536 Killgore Trout

GOP getting older and whiter, I wonder why?

NH GOP Seeks To Disenfranchise Students Who ‘Just Vote Their Feelings’ (VIDEO)

Of course if those feelings were conservative and Republican ones, it would be fine with Mr. O’Brien but because most of us lean left, we shouldn’t be able to vote and O’Brien we have life experiences you horse’s ass. Just because you don’t like the fact we vote against your party more of then for it is no excuse at all to disenfranchise younger voters. I love seeing this from a Republican Party official i have to admit though. It’s refreshing to know how much they really value young people.

539 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 10:32:48am

Uh oh. The hamsters are on strike again.

540 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 10:33:52am

re: #539 Gus 802

Uh oh. The hamsters are on strike again.

Did someone buy the inferior grain again?

541 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 10:36:28am

re: #536 Killgore Trout

GOP getting older and whiter, I wonder why?

NH GOP Seeks To Disenfranchise Students Who ‘Just Vote Their Feelings’ (VIDEO)

Can barely hear the video.

542 Gus  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 10:41:52am

Pete King admission undermines his own case for anti-Muslim hearings
By Adam Serwer

Is Pete King backing away from his own stated reasons for holding hearings on Muslim radicalization this week?

On CNN this weekend, King seemed to quietly do just that, making an interesting admission in an exachange with Dem Rep. Keith Ellison. They were debating King’s decision to focus his hearings solely on Muslims, and King’s argument contained a telling walkback:

“We’re talking about al Qaeda,” King said. “There’s been self radicalization going on within the Muslim community, within a very small minority, but it’s there and that’s where the threat is coming from at this time.”

What a putz.

543 recusancy  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 10:46:44am

re: #542 Gus 802

Pete King admission undermines his own case for anti-Muslim hearings
By Adam Serwer

There’s been self radicalization going on within the Muslim conservative community, within a very small minority, but it’s there and that’s where the threat is coming from at this time.”

What a putz.

FIFY

544 FemNaziBitch  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 11:03:23am

re: #323 iceweasel

Did this ever get posted here? Worth a page?

Arizona to Consider Bill Banning ‘Race-Based Abortion

It’s a month old.’

Yes, it’s worth a page.

I think it is interesting that they focus on race and not other demographics like poverty level.

545 Walking Spanish Down the Hall  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 11:11:34am

re: #535 b_sharp

Sorry I can’t watch it.

I remember walking into my living room looking at the TV and noticing there was a tower missing. As soon as I realized it went down with what was thought at the time to be 10s of thousands of people, my heart stumbled and I started to mumble a single word over and over again, as I willed the remaining building to stay standing. That word was no.

My brother had just been killed 8 months earlier and I was still grieving for him. Adding the people in the buildings was/is just too much.

Wow, this is just crap.

My apologies to everyone.

I just cannot convey emotion without sounding stupid.

What I meant to say, is, what I saw shocked the shit out of me, and even though I knew it was nonsense, I tried to will the second tower to stay standing.

It hit me harder than it would have normally, had I had an ordinary year.

546 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 9:08:41pm

re: #180 engineer dog

albusteve cited a very interesting report just the other day which included these items:

Washington spends $92 billion on corporate welfare (excluding TARP) versus $71 billion on homeland security

A GAO audit found that 95 Pentagon weapons systems suffered from a combined $295 billion in cost overruns

if these figures are for one year, they amount to about 25% of the typical federal deficit

i’ll go back now and find albusteve’s link so that you can peruse it to find “democratic ideas for cutting non-defense spending”

NICE

547 jaerik  Mon, Mar 7, 2011 9:46:10pm

I would love to see entitlement reform. I think it’s completely practical to raise the retirement age by one or two years over the next several decades, especially as life expectancy grows. Obama’s deficit reduction committee came up with a number of really sensible ways to address stuff like this.

Unfortunately, even though Republicans spent decades railing against Social Security and Medicare, over the past ten years their strategy has done a complete 180.

Starting with Medicare Part D, the GOP decided that massively growing entitlements to the elderly, coupled with a focus on all their favorite “kids these days” and “society is going to hell” social issues, they could lock in a reliably-voting demographic forever. Witness “Obama wants to slash Medicare” as one of the primary talking points on Fox News during the health care debate.

You’re not going to see either party seriously consider limiting these entitlements, even though they make up the majority of the federal budget. They’re given away too much to get their votes, and nobody wants to take the first step.

548 leftynyc  Tue, Mar 8, 2011 6:43:08am

re: #118 lostlakehiker

Teaching degrees are easier to come by than degrees in, say, organic chemistry. Working conditions are safer than, say, oceanography. A lot of what happens in the world of salaries happens for sensible economic reasons.

What a crop of bullshit. Come to the South Btonx ad tell me how safe it is to be a teacher (and there are “South Bronx” neighborhoods in every single state). Tell me, how do you feel about the demonization of teachers we’re seeing all over from the republicans? But the bankers who caused a near depression? Them we have to pay millions because otherwise they may leave?!! That’s the actual fucking argument.


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