1 darthstar  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 4:24:36pm

Bear scratching himself on tree.

Youtube Video

2 b_sharp  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 4:24:52pm

Why does the comedy network force Canadians to look elsewhere for their show videos?

3 moderatelyradicalliberal  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 4:25:22pm

Aside from the fact that FOX news is a right wing propaganda outfit, is important to remember that their average viewer is 65+. Which means half of their viewers are even older! A network watched almost entirely by old people will have a lot of quacks selling medical bullshit.

4 darthstar  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 4:26:00pm

Fuck you, GOP

5 darthstar  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 4:26:34pm

re: #2 b_sharp

Why does the comedy network force Canadians to look elsewhere for their show videos?

It’s Obama’s fault.

6 b_sharp  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 4:27:01pm

re: #5 darthstar

It’s Obama’s fault.

Damned socialist.

7 b.d.  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 4:28:05pm

re: #2 b_sharp

Why does the comedy network force Canadians to look elsewhere for their show videos?

Take Ted Cruz back and we’ll let you watch the videos.

8 Vicious Babushka  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 4:28:17pm

re: #2 b_sharp

Why does the comedy network force Canadians to look elsewhere for their show videos?

Because your heads pop open when you talk.

9 moderatelyradicalliberal  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 4:29:26pm

re: #3 moderatelyradicalliberal

^^^And if you can sell medical bullshit with a straight face, you can sell any other bullshit.

See Suzanne Somers. She tells women that they can alleviate menopause symptoms by rubbing sweet potato puree in the vaginas and she’s against the ACA. Go figure.

10 makeitstop  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 4:30:48pm

re: #9 moderatelyradicalliberal

See Suzanne Somers. She tells women that they can alleviate menopause symptoms by rubbing sweet potato puree in the vaginas

Dafuq?

11 Lidane  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 4:30:55pm

Better medical advice than Faux News:

Youtube Video

12 moderatelyradicalliberal  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 4:31:05pm

re: #4 darthstar

Fuck you, GOP

[Embedded content]

And the MSM. But don’t expect the narrative to change anytime soon. You could have 15 million people signed up for the ACA and the narrative will still be “Will ObamaCare Destroy the Democrats?”.

13 Vicious Babushka  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 4:31:06pm

re: #1 darthstar

Bear scratching himself on tree.

[Embedded content]

After that nice tune, some guy comes on and makes a sales pitch for something.

14 b_sharp  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 4:31:15pm

re: #7 b.d.

Take Ted Cruz back and we’ll let you watch the videos.

Fuck no, that’s too high a cost.

15 b_sharp  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 4:31:29pm

re: #8 Vicious Babushka

Because your heads pop open when you talk.

As they should.

16 moderatelyradicalliberal  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 4:32:43pm

re: #10 makeitstop

Dafuq?

My aunt bought one of her books along time ago and told me. Ms. Somers is against any conventional medicine for dealing with menopause. Only fruits and vegetables.

She’s no different then an Africa witchdoctor claiming that herbs will cure AIDS.

17 Jack Burton  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 4:34:16pm

re: #2 b_sharp

Why does the comedy network force Canadians to look elsewhere for their show videos?

Because they aren’t your buddy pal.

18 b_sharp  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 4:34:37pm

re: #16 moderatelyradicalliberal

My aunt bought one of her books along time ago and told me. Ms. Somers is against any conventional medicine for dealing with menopause. Only fruits and vegetables.

She’s no different then an Africa witchdoctor claiming that herbs will cure AIDS.

She’s a real loon.

Her husband Al Hamel is also a goof.

19 darthstar  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 4:36:16pm
20 moderatelyradicalliberal  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 4:37:57pm

re: #19 darthstar

[Embedded content]

What a beautiful chocolate doggie! :-)

21 Skip Intro  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 4:38:29pm

The GOP alternative to the ACA.

Scribd Document

By the way, it’s my understanding that if the ACA is repealed, everyone who lost their existing insurance for whatever reason is shit out of luck. No mechanism for going back to their old, cancelled plans exists.

22 Backwoods_Sleuth  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 4:44:01pm

re: #16 moderatelyradicalliberal

My aunt bought one of her books along time ago and told me. Ms. Somers is against any conventional medicine for dealing with menopause. Only fruits and vegetables.

She’s no different then an Africa witchdoctor claiming that herbs will cure AIDS.

She’s also anti any conventional cancer treatments.

23 darthstar  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 4:45:08pm

Number of completed applications through the marketplace: 846,184
Total number of individuals included in completed marketplace applications: 1,509,883
Number of individuals determined eligible to enroll in marketplace: 1,081,592
Number of individuals who have already selected a plan: 106,185

This doesn’t figure in the over 500,000+ who have enrolled in Medicaid.

These figures are ONLY for Oct.1st - Nov.2nd

democraticunderground.com

24 moderatelyradicalliberal  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 4:45:38pm

re: #22 Backwoods_Sleuth

She’s also anti any conventional cancer treatments.

She’s not just crazy, she’s a death merchant and she’s gotten very rich doing it.

25 Lidane  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 4:46:11pm
26 darthstar  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 4:47:14pm

Headed to Mexico to join my wife for a week of surfing tomorrow. Called Verizon to turn on international roaming($15 for 1,000 minutes, and I can turn it off after I return). At the end of the call, the customer service rep asked if there was anything else she could help me with. I said, “Well, I do have a bit of laundry that needs folding.” Pregnant pause. “Well, thank you for calling Verizon and have a good trip.”

27 darthstar  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 4:48:04pm
28 Backwoods_Sleuth  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 4:48:07pm

re: #24 moderatelyradicalliberal

She’s not just crazy, she’s a death merchant and she’s gotten very rich doing it.

very true.
Like Cancer Treatment Centers of America.
Preying on last hopes only as long as your insurance and assets hold out.

29 Backwoods_Sleuth  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 4:48:29pm

re: #25 Lidane

[Embedded content]

Cuddle Puddle!

30 Decatur Deb  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 4:49:19pm

re: #23 darthstar

Number of completed applications through the marketplace: 846,184
Total number of individuals included in completed marketplace applications: 1,509,883
Number of individuals determined eligible to enroll in marketplace: 1,081,592
Number of individuals who have already selected a plan: 106,185

This doesn’t figure in the over 500,000+ who have enrolled in Medicaid.

These figures are ONLY for Oct.1st - Nov.2nd

democraticunderground.com

That’s much more encouraging. The Medicaid enrollees are considered part of the Marketplace, and so are the state varieties of CHIP. If somone applies and is directed to Medicare or VA, however, that’s not ‘scored’.

31 moderatelyradicalliberal  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 4:49:21pm

re: #28 Backwoods_Sleuth

very true.
Like Cancer Treatment Centers of America.
Preying on last hopes only as long as your insurance and assets hold out.

Also run by a right winger.

32 moderatelyradicalliberal  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 4:50:12pm

re: #25 Lidane

[Embedded content]

Awwwwwww! Big kitty cats! Where are they that it’s snowing?

33 b.d.  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 4:50:14pm

re: #26 darthstar

Have a great trip darthstar. Call us.

34 darthstar  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 4:53:02pm

re: #30 Decatur Deb

That’s much more encouraging. The Medicaid enrollees are considered part of the Marketplace, and so are the state varieties of CHIP. If somone applies and is directed to Medicare or VA, however, that’s not ‘scored’.

Applications = enrollees January 1. Republicans are running out of time to scuttle this law - which would take more than a simple GOP repeal vote in the house.

35 Skip Intro  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 4:57:11pm

re: #34 darthstar

Applications = enrollees January 1. Republicans are running out of time to scuttle this law - which would take more than a simple GOP repeal vote in the house.

I would never underestimate the possibility of gutless Dems joining in if they’re afraid of the heat.

36 darthstar  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 4:59:20pm

re: #35 Skip Intro

I would never underestimate the possibility of gutless Dems joining in if they’re afraid of the heat.

It’s fake heat. Far better for the Democrats to just let the Republicans bloviate through the end of the year, and when asked, say that their constituents seem to be connecting to healthcare.gov just fine, thank you very much.

37 Vicious Babushka  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 5:00:12pm
38 darthstar  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 5:00:27pm

If anyone followed the #AskJPM hashtag today (which was hilarious), there’s an update…

39 Decatur Deb  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 5:00:37pm

re: #35 Skip Intro

I would never underestimate the possibility of gutless Dems joining in if they’re afraid of the heat.

If the rest of our deep red states are like Alabama, there are fewer gutless Dems than days of yore. Our gutless wonders became Republicans years ago.

40 Vicious Babushka  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 5:02:07pm
41 Vicious Babushka  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 5:02:20pm
42 thedopefishlives  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 5:08:30pm

re: #36 darthstar

On that topic, I got into an argument on Facebook with a couple of programmers who think it’s absolutely unacceptable to have a failure of this magnitude. Like none of us haven’t ever grossly underestimated the scale of a project right off the bat. I’m not trying to excuse the failures - it was still broken - but it’s an understandable one.

43 darthstar  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 5:09:56pm

Fuckin’ a…this works.

blogs.scientificamerican.com

44 bratwurst  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 5:11:02pm

Dr. Keith Ablow might very well be the most loathsome TV personality I have ever seen.

I felt this way BEFORE he asserted that Newt Gingrich’s three marriages made him a stronger candidate to be president!

45 lawhawk  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 5:19:40pm

Laughable that the same GOP that has been trying to delay/defund/destroy the ACA is complaining that the federal exchange has been slow to register applicants and get them into exchanges and policies.

They wanted to prevent anyone and everyone from accessing them.

The GOP wanted to roll back all the changes that the ACA brought, including eliminating the lifetime and annual caps, the preexisting conditions, and other exclusions.

They want to repeal the provision that allows dependents to stay on parents policies to age 26.

So, now that the exchange is up and seems to be working, they want to complain that it isn’t working fast enough to get people in and that this is a sign that the program needs to be delayed/defunded/destroyed once again.

The GOP helped us get to this point by delaying at the state level whether to create their own state exchanges or force the feds to take on additional responsibilities at the last moment in an attempt to overwhelm the feds with work that could have been done much sooner and with more time to prep.

The GOP wanted to see this fail, and it must be killing them that some number are getting into exchanges and/or the Medicaid expansion in those states that went that route.

Still, there’s more than a month for people to get into the site and get policies, so it’s not a lost cause. There may indeed be a rush as the deadlines loom to get into the registries before December 15. Again, they may wait into next year and see that the doom and gloom isn’t so doomy and gloomy, and sign up before the March deadline.

Then again, with Congressional Republicans ready to meddle once again, that might keep people on the sidelines that might otherwise sign up figuring that it pays to wait.

That’s the GOP in action - keeping people on the sidelines while they preen for photos while millions remain without insurance.

The GOP plan, which isn’t so much a plan, as a devolution of health insurance, isn’t going to expand access to health insurance so much as cause more chaos and bring back subpar policies that do not provide adequate coverage for even catastrophic care. Moreover, those kinds of plans would undermine the core of the ACA - to get a wide enough cross-section of the population to make the exchanges more self-sustaining.

Here, too, insurers need to do more to get people to sign on board, and that includes providing reasonable prices, and to consider competing in areas that have until now had little or no competition among providers.

46 Romantic Heretic  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 5:24:01pm

re: #19 darthstar

[Embedded content]

I’m not sure if the cat’s using the dog as a blanket or the dog’s using the cat as a pillow.

47 lawhawk  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 5:24:58pm

re: #36 darthstar

People are getting in and are getting signed up for policies. The media will focus on the doom and gloom because that’s what they do, and it feeds the meme that the ACA is off to a disastrous start.

As if the pre-existing system was so great to begin with - where 14% of the population was uninsured and the ACA is intended to reduce the number of uninsureds by several different methods.

The numbers will add up over time, but the real test will be how many have signed up by December 15, and how many sign up by the March deadline to avoid the penalty.

Hopefully, the numbers will allow the exchanges to sustain themselves with a good mix.

48 Charles Johnson  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 5:37:11pm

“ObamaIsPinocchio,” eh?

Subtle.

49 Backwoods_Sleuth  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 5:37:45pm

re: #48 Charles Johnson

“ObamaIsPinocchio,” eh?

Subtle.

We thought so…bwahahaaa!

50 Vicious Babushka  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 5:40:23pm

Wingnut comes up with his own “Obamacare” ad that tops those lame dudebros in Colorado.

WARNING: Graphic racist crap at link, click at your own risk.

51 GlutenFreeJesus  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 5:46:40pm

re: #24 moderatelyradicalliberal

She’s not just crazy, she’s a death merchant and she’s gotten very rich doing it.

The real death panels.

52 b.d.  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 5:49:34pm

re: #50 Vicious Babushka

Wingnut comes up with his own “Obamacare” ad that tops those lame dudebros in Colorado.

WARNING: Graphic racist crap at link, click at your own risk.

Why did I click that link?

Don’t dare call them racists though.

53 Charles Johnson  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 5:50:30pm

re: #50 Vicious Babushka

Wingnut comes up with his own “Obamacare” ad that tops those lame dudebros in Colorado.

WARNING: Graphic racist crap at link, click at your own risk.

25,000 followers! Wheee!

54 Vicious Babushka  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 5:51:15pm

re: #52 b.d.

Why did I click that link?

Don’t dare call them racists though.

HURR HURR TEH DEMOCRATS IS TEH REAL RACISTS HURR HURR

55 Dark_Falcon  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 5:53:50pm

Rare ‘Asian unicorn’ caught on camera

Environmentalists in Vietnam were ebullient this week after remote cameras in a forest reserve snapped pictures of a live saola, one of the rarest large mammals on Earth.

At most a few hundred — and as few as a couple dozen — of the animals are thought to exist. Because of that rarity and its elusiveness, the saola is dubbed the “Asian unicorn.” That moniker comes despite the fact it has two closely spaced parallel horns.

“These are the most important wild animal photographs taken in Asia, and perhaps the world, in at least the past decade,” said William Robichaud, coordinator of the Saola Working Group of the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Species Survival Commission, in a World Wildlife Fund press release.

Image: 131113080728-saola-02-horizontal-gallery.jpg

The next photo in the gallery will draw out the wingnuts:

Image: 131113124113-04-endangered-species-restricted-horizontal-gallery.jpg

Purge the RhINO!!1

56 thedopefishlives  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 5:55:43pm

re: #55 Dark_Falcon

Rare ‘Asian unicorn’ caught on camera

Image: 131113080728-saola-02-horizontal-gallery.jpg

The next photo in the gallery will draw out the wingnuts:

Image: 131113124113-04-endangered-species-restricted-horizontal-gallery.jpg

Purge the RhINO!!1

Now you see, Bigfooters, if you really want to prove that Bigfoot exists, you need a picture like that. Not a blurry shot of a man in a monkey suit.

57 The Mountain That Blogs  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 5:57:08pm

re: #56 thedopefishlives

xkcd.com

58 Dark_Falcon  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 5:59:23pm

re: #56 thedopefishlives

Now you see, Bigfooters, if you really want to prove that Bigfoot exists, you need a picture like that. Not a blurry shot of a man in a monkey suit.

True, but we do have a photo for the wingnuts tonight. It’s a lesser seen publicity still from an 80’s movie:

Wolverines!

59 Interesting Times  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 6:05:24pm

re: #58 Dark_Falcon

True, but we do have a photo for the wingnuts tonight. It’s a lesser seen publicity still from an 80’s movie:

Wolverines!

The real deal:

Wolverines caught on HD video for first time

60 Dark_Falcon  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 6:09:17pm

And now a photo containing a mega-dose of Cute.

61 Charles Johnson  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 6:10:50pm
62 thedopefishlives  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 6:11:10pm

re: #58 Dark_Falcon

True, but we do have a photo for the wingnuts tonight. It’s a lesser seen publicity still from an 80’s movie:

Wolverines!

THAT KID HAS AN RPG! WE SHOULD ALL BE ALLOWED TO HAVE ONE!!!1!11

63 Backwoods_Sleuth  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 6:13:43pm

re: #61 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

bebe fangs!!!!

64 psddluva4evah  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 6:16:36pm

Well this won’t help the “Obama is Gay” wingnut rumors…lol.

Seriously though. This a nice picture from Pete Souza.

65 Amory Blaine  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 6:22:07pm

BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea DLC was released yesterday.

66 Charles Johnson  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 6:22:18pm

re: #64 psddluva4evah

Well this won’t help the “Obama is Gay” wingnut rumors…lol.

Seriously though. This a nice picture from Pete Souza.

[Embedded content]

Retweeted!

67 Charles Johnson  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 6:26:03pm

Really looking forward to American Horror Story this season. Undead slave zombies slaughtering their corrupt white masters, what’s not to like.

68 Lidane  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 6:33:25pm

re: #67 Charles Johnson

Really looking forward to American Horror Story this season. Undead slave zombies slaughtering their corrupt white masters, what’s not to like.

What I really love about this season is that both Kathy Bates and Angela Bassett are playing real people. Delphine LaLaurie and Marie Laveau were real, even if the TV show has fictionalized their lives.

69 First As Tragedy, Then As Farce  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 6:37:44pm

re: #67 Charles Johnson

Really looking forward to American Horror Story this season. Undead slave zombies slaughtering their corrupt white masters, what’s not to like.

Got slightly hooked on that a while back, now waiting on more to come to Netflix. Jessica Lange is incredible in her role.

I’m also watching “Falling Skies” for some reason, and it’s entertaining at the moment but I have the feeling the series is going to go on too long with no coherent resolution (Lost, Battlestar Galactica, The X-Files, etc).

I had high hopes for Hemlock Grove, and it turned out to be utterly terrible. I did enjoy the werewolf transformation sequence, however. The wolf shaking off the blood and gore like a wet dog and then eating the discarded chunks of its human form was a nice touch, I thought.

70 Stanley Sea  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 6:41:56pm
71 sagehen  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 6:42:36pm

re: #67 Charles Johnson

Really looking forward to American Horror Story this season. Undead slave zombies slaughtering their corrupt white masters, what’s not to like.

You realize the undead slave zombies are not actually self-directed, right? They slaughter whoever Angela Bassett wants slaughtered. Also, some of the undead zombies were the masters before they died and became Angela’s puppets.

72 First As Tragedy, Then As Farce  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 6:48:22pm

re: #70 Stanley Sea

Not to defend the shooter, but a toxicology test is generally standard procedure in a coroner’s inquest.

73 b.d.  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 6:48:42pm

re: #56 thedopefishlives

Now you see, Bigfooters, if you really want to prove that Bigfoot exists, you need a picture like that. Not a blurry shot of a man in a monkey suit.

Bigfoots are naturally blurry.

74 bratwurst  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 6:51:39pm

Maddow doing a LONG segment tonight on George W. Bush giving a keynote address at a fundraiser tomorrow night for the Messianic Jewish Bible Institute, an organization aiming to convert Jews to Christianity around the world. In the outside chance there is anyone reading this who might be confused as to why a lot of Jews don’t fully trust the pro-Israel Christian right, this would probably be a good place to start.

Local Dallas-area story on this topic: dallasnews.com

75 Stanley Sea  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 6:52:41pm

re: #72 First As Tragedy, Then As Farce

Not to defend the shooter, but a toxicology test is generally standard procedure in a coroner’s inquest.

Yeah I know. Should have tested the shooter though. That tweet was a very blunt way of saying it.

76 Lidane  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 7:12:22pm

re: #69 First As Tragedy, Then As Farce

The Blacklist has me interested. I like it a lot.

77 sagehen  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 7:34:21pm

re: #76 Lidane

Sleepy Hollow is super-cheesy good fun. And I’m LOVING this season of Person of Interest, Joss Carter finally got a great storyline of her very own. I’m losing enthusiasm for Hawaii Five-0, but not ready to completely give up yet.

78 Vicious Babushka  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 7:36:01pm

South Park “Black Friday” spoofed “Game of Thrones”

79 dog philosopher  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 7:36:34pm

re: #3 moderatelyradicalliberal

Aside from the fact that FOX news is a right wing propaganda outfit, is important to remember that their average viewer is 65+. Which means half of their viewers are even older! A network watched almost entirely by old people will have a lot of quacks selling medical bullshit.

which sent me looking for demographic information on “news” networks, which can be found here

In general, the regular audiences for most television and print news outlets tend to be older than the public as a whole. Yet there are some notable exceptions. As was the case two years ago, The Colbert Report and The Daily Show have the youngest audiences of the 24 news sources tested: 43% of Colbert’s regular audience is younger than 30, as is 39% of the Daily Show’s regular viewers. Just 23% of the public is 18-to-29.

Regular readers of the New York Times also tend to be younger than average. Nearly a third (32%) of regular Times readers - are younger than 30.

In contrast, political talk shows, particularly conservative talk programs, have older audiences. Large majorities of the regular viewers of Sean Hannity (66%) and The O’ Reilly Factor (64%) are 50 and older. Just 43% of all Americans are 50 and older. And while just 17% of the public is 65 and older, 42% of regular Hannity viewers and 40% of regular O’Reilly viewers are in that age category.

Liberal talk show audiences also skew older, but not as dramatically. Still, among regular Hardball watchers, 59% are 50 or older, and 28% are at least 65. Among regular Rachel Maddow viewers, 57% are 50 or older and 25% are at least 65.

80 Targetpractice  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 7:50:55pm

Well, I finally played Burial At Sea for Bioshock Infinite and…well…I honestly didn’t think the guys at Irrational could top the game’s original ending, but they managed exactly that..

81 Kragar  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 7:51:09pm

re: #65 Amory Blaine

BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea DLC was released yesterday.

So was X-Com: Enemy Within

82 Targetpractice  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 7:54:45pm

re: #81 Kragar

So was X-Com: Enemy Within

Yeah, I’ve spent the past couple days watching one gamer forced to retry three times (and counting) on Classic Ironman.

83 Lidane  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 8:16:17pm
84 Hercules Grytpype-Thynneghazi  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 8:20:15pm

re: #83 Lidane

[Embedded content]

Dear Ted,

We’re pretty sure that attacks on you are in fact attacks on you.

Sincerely,

The American People

85 prairiefire  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 8:25:38pm

Awesome random guy dancing at a Celtics game ~utrend.tv

86 Talking Point Detective  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 8:30:16pm

I believe this would be of interest to some folks here:

Youtube Video

An interesting analysis w/r/t the claims of a “pause in global warming.”

87 moderatelyradicalliberal  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 8:33:43pm

re: #50 Vicious Babushka

Wingnut comes up with his own “Obamacare” ad that tops those lame dudebros in Colorado.

WARNING: Graphic racist crap at link, click at your own risk.

You know what? Just fuck it. I am an angry black woman now.

88 BongCrodny  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 8:34:34pm

re: #83 Lidane

Ted Cruz: Attacks on me are really ‘directed at the American people’

First comment on that story is awesome:

His wife works for Goldman Sachs—he’s supported by multi-multi-billionares. You don’t get any more establishment and less populist than that.

89 moderatelyradicalliberal  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 8:38:21pm

re: #68 Lidane

What I really love about this season is that both Kathy Bates and Angela Bassett are playing real people. Delphine LaLaurie and Marie Laveau were real, even if the TV show has fictionalized their lives.

Oh, yes. I am loving this show so much. All of that awesome in one place. I especially love how Gabourey Sidibe keeps working when people said her career would end with Precious because of what she looks like.

90 Dark_Falcon  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 8:43:45pm

re: #87 moderatelyradicalliberal

You know what? Just fuck it. I am an angry black woman now.

Ok, but you’re not alone when it comes to that piece of crap “ad”. Because I’m the proverbial Angry White Male, and I’m angry at the honorless worm who put together that racist piece of bilge.

91 moderatelyradicalliberal  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 8:51:47pm

re: #90 Dark_Falcon

Ok, but you’re not alone when it comes to that piece of crap “ad”. Because I’m the proverbial Angry White Male, and I’m angry at the honorless worm who put together that racist piece of bilge.

Appreciate it.

92 Kragar  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 8:53:02pm

Right now, the most frustrating thing in XCOM is that I keep getting snipers and heavies, only 1 support and 1 assault right now

93 Lidane  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 9:07:21pm
94 Targetpractice  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 9:09:39pm

re: #92 Kragar

Right now, the most frustrating thing in XCOM is that I keep getting snipers and heavies, only 1 support and 1 assault right now

I’d have thought the most frustrating thing was how fucking merciless they’ve made the AI now, practically raining enemy units down on your head at every opportunity. I mean shit, I thought the Council missions in the vanilla game were bad, but they cranked that shit up to 11!

95 Kragar  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 9:41:15pm

re: #94 Targetpractice

I’d have thought the most frustrating thing was how fucking merciless they’ve made the AI now, practically raining enemy units down on your head at every opportunity. I mean shit, I thought the Council missions in the vanilla game were bad, but they cranked that shit up to 11!

I can deal with that, but keeping a team with a good mix has been almost impossible. I’m having to take 2-3 heavies per mission because I don’t have enough support or assault to round out my team.

96 Dark_Falcon  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 9:45:00pm

Good Night, All.

97 austin_blue  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 9:45:40pm

Apropos of nothing, here’s a story of how a routine event from my yoot (making dry ice volcanos), that went slightly sideways, resulted in a full-bore police initiated school lockdown. Terrorist attack! I call stupid police fail.

ktla.com

And night all. Sweet scaly dreams.

98 Lidane  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 10:38:01pm
99 Kragar  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 10:44:15pm

re: #98 Lidane

[Embedded content]

Well, I’m sure am glad the Wassilla Warbler is here to question the decisions and pronouncements made by the Pontifex of the One True Church.

100 The War TARDIS  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 11:24:19pm

The Right might be cranky about this:

Socialist candidate leading in Seattle City Council race

What are you going to do to stop it Republicans? Going to imitate your hero Breivik?

101 The War TARDIS  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 11:31:43pm

And, wow, Albania is loyal to a fault.

Syrian Chemical Weapons Seen Likely to Ship to Albania for Destruction

102 Kragar  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 11:33:58pm

Well, I see there is finally a reason to give pistol skills to snipers in XCOM.

103 The War TARDIS  Wed, Nov 13, 2013 11:58:13pm

And apparently we sent an entire Carrier Group to the Philippines.

Safe to say we pulled out our “Not fucking around” stick.

104 piratedan  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:02:22am

re: #103 ProTARDISLiberal

And apparently we sent an entire Carrier Group to the Philippines.

Safe to say we pulled out our “Not fucking around” stick.

the reports I’ve been reading is that the normal places that the Phillipines would use as distribution and warehousing centers have also been wrecked/damaged pretty severely, so an aircraft carrier can certainly handle the loading and offloading of supplies by chopper, so I can see this as a great way to try and get some goods/personnel/help distributed.

105 The War TARDIS  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:08:35am

re: #104 piratedan

From Wikipedia. Apparently, the President of the Philippines, Benigno Aquino III is getting heat:

Philippine President Benigno Aquino III is criticized by survivors, aid agencies, and the international and local media due to his inadequate response to the tragedy.

I did notice this, however:

The Philippine government responded by saying that they have dealt with the tragedy “quite well”, but the response had been slow due to the destruction of the local government infrastructures that usually were the first to respond in these events.

The problem is that there is no infrastructure. Civilization has been reset to 0. Tacloban as a city simply no longer exists. In an Island Nation like the Phillipines, help will always be slow to come. Especially so when things are wiped out after a disaster.

Hell, after Katrina, you had a similar breakdown of society in Louisiana and Mississippi.

106 Sol Berdinowitz  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:09:35am

re: #103 ProTARDISLiberal

And apparently we sent an entire Carrier Group to the Philippines.

Safe to say we pulled out our “Not fucking around” stick.

I recall when the USS Ronald Reagan was sent to Japan to provide twunami relief.

I would have loved to be on board when the captain presented his credentials and stated “We’re from the US government and we’re here to help you!”

107 The War TARDIS  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:12:31am

re: #106 Sol Berdinowitz

We had another carrier there too. The George Washington.

I still don’t like that a carrier was named after that scumbag Reagan.

But the fact that Two SuperCarriers were deployed to that disaster tells you how badly injured Japan was after that.

108 Varek Raith  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:16:36am

165-million-year-old fossil shows Chinese insects copulating

Old pr0n.

109 Sol Berdinowitz  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:18:08am

re: #108 Varek Raith

165-million-year-old fossil shows Chinese insects copulating

Old pr0n.

totally kinky, she was only, like, 160 million years old…

110 Varek Raith  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:20:48am

re: #107 ProTARDISLiberal

Next 3 carriers,
CVN-78 Gerald R. Ford
CVN-79 John F. Kennedy
CVN-80 Enterprise

111 The War TARDIS  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:21:43am

re: #110 Varek Raith

Better.

112 sagehen  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:37:08am

re: #108 Varek Raith

165-million-year-old fossil shows Chinese insects copulating

Old pr0n.

How slow do they fuck to be fossilized in flagrante?

113 Sol Berdinowitz  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:04:30am

re: #112 sagehen

How slow do they fuck to be fossilized in flagrante?

nothing like a slow, lazy session in a puddle of warm mud…

114 Decatur Deb  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 3:20:01am

Klan recruiting in Florida—the language gap.

wftv.com

Klan leader: “Well, we don’t have no way of judging where we’re putting the fliers at,”

Black recruiting target: “I think it’s shallow, this day and age,”

115 Dr Lizardo  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 3:22:41am

Morning, Lizards.

So I was reading in the local newspaper that meth is the drug of choice in my little corner of the world. There’s an ongoing study called “Project Dragon” which monitors wastewater for the presence of narcotics, and in the Moravian-Silesian Region, methamphetamine came up as the most commonly occurring narcotic present in untreated sewage.

For me, it’s sadly not a surprise, as I’ve always noticed quite a few tweakers, particularly in the downtown core, more so than I’ve seen elsewhere in the Czech Republic.

116 Sol Berdinowitz  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 3:26:55am

re: #114 Decatur Deb

Klan recruiting in Florida—the language gap.

wftv.com

Klan leader: “Well, we don’t have no way of judging where we’re putting the fliers at,”

Black recruiting target: “I think it’s shallow, this day and age,”

“shallow” is a very finely and intelligently formulated way of saying those KKK fellows are a bunch of ignorant crackers.

117 sattv4u2  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 3:50:18am

re: #115 Dr Lizardo

which monitors wastewater for the presence of narcotics

I’ve had some shitty jobs in my life ,,, but the person that has to do this ,,,,,,

/ (sorta)

118 Dr Lizardo  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 3:53:14am

re: #117 sattv4u2

which monitors wastewater for the presence of narcotics

I’ve had some shitty jobs in my life ,,, but the person that has to do this ,,,,,,

/ (sorta)

Heh. Yeah, it’s an EU project, apparently. Not exactly happy-fun-time sort of work, but interesting in its own way. I have to admit, it never would’ve occurred to me to check sewage for traces of narcotics.

119 Backwoods_Sleuth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 3:54:18am

This is just weird. It’s like a verse from “The Day the Music Died American Pie” came to life…

“GET THE DAMN BAND OFF THE FIELD,” a parent of one of the football players said at the AHS Marching Atoms “mid show” of their Senior Night performance on Nov. 8.

Band kicked off the field

edited to change the name of the song…I need more coffee…

120 sattv4u2  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 3:56:09am

re: #118 Dr Lizardo

Heh. Yeah, it’s an EU project, apparently. Not exactly happy-fun-time sort of work, but interesting in its own way. I have to admit, it never would’ve occurred to me to check sewage for traces of narcotics.

What goes in, must come out

121 Decatur Deb  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 3:58:19am

re: #118 Dr Lizardo

Heh. Yeah, it’s an EU project, apparently. Not exactly happy-fun-time sort of work, but interesting in its own way. I have to admit, it never would’ve occurred to me to check sewage for traces of narcotics.

NPR, I think did a report on high levels of hormones from birth control pills and other sources. Apparently they slip through sewage treatment into the fish in streams.

122 Dr Lizardo  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 4:02:20am

re: #120 sattv4u2

re: #121 Decatur Deb

Indeed.

There was a report that dogs in Berlin are getting high from poop when folks drop a deuce in the park. Seriously.

huffingtonpost.com

123 sattv4u2  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 4:02:46am

re: #121 Decatur Deb

NPR, I think did a report on high levels of hormones from birth control pills and other sources. Apparently they slip through sewage treatment into the fish in streams.

So now we have fish high on meth, but the good news is, they don’t get pregnant

124 William Barnett-Lewis  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 5:04:38am

re: #119 Backwoods_Sleuth

This is just weird. It’s like a verse from “The Day the Music Died American Pie” came to life…

Band kicked off the field

edited to change the name of the song…I need more coffee…

Very typical of a bad HS football coach. He’s an incompetent (only one win) and he’s blaming everyone and everything other than himself. He should be fired but most school districts don’t have the gonads to deal with staff bullies appropriately.

125 Decatur Deb  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 5:13:43am

Something interesting is happening with the Breitbrat/O’Keeffe stunt re ACA navigators—it’s dropping down a well. Google web and news searches aren’t giving top returns:

google.com

Could it be our boy Jimmy has had his 15 minutes?

126 A Mom Anon  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 5:17:44am

re: #125 Decatur Deb

One can hope. I get really discouraged that the bad guys seem to win, A LOT more than they should. And many times they get really rich doing it.

127 Backwoods_Sleuth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 5:17:45am

re: #125 Decatur Deb


It’s O’Keefe. Links come up, but it’s all the wingnut sites and they’re mostly old links.

128 Decatur Deb  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 5:21:16am

re: #127 Backwoods_Sleuth

It’s O’Keefe. Links come up, but it’s all the wingnut sites and they’re mostly old links.

Thanks—I found wingnut sites yesterday, but almost no play in serious media. TPGOP Sen Cornyn fed on it, of course.

129 darthstar  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 5:48:34am
130 darthstar  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 5:49:06am

Mornin’ everyone…I made the mistake of turning on Morning Joke when I woke up.

131 BongCrodny  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 5:55:04am

Since LGF seems to function as the headquarters of the stateside Doctor Who fan club…

The Night Of the Doctor Mini-Episode

I think I would have liked an extended run of the Paul McGann Doctor.

132 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 5:55:36am

Wingnuts still keep posting this old debunked shit.
The “FBI Statistics” map is totally bogus, it is the 2004 elections map.

133 BongCrodny  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 6:00:21am

re: #125 Decatur Deb

Something interesting is happening with the Breitbrat/O’Keeffe stunt re ACA navigators—it’s dropping down a well. Google web and news searches aren’t giving top returns:

google.com

Could it be our boy Jimmy has had his 15 minutes?

“He did that to me 20 times. Then I got smart.” — Herb Tarlek, “WKRP in Cincinnati”

134 darthstar  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 6:00:39am
135 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 6:02:17am

re: #134 darthstar

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Is that a parody site?

136 William Barnett-Lewis  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 6:04:06am

Oy. The boy’s getting himself in hot water at school with his lack of social skills coupled with frustration over some school work. Made some very inappropriate threats. I had hoped his new meds would help with some of this but we still have a heck of a hard time teaching what is and isn’t appropriate.

I know there are a couple of folks here who have struggled with similar issues in their own lives. I know there are no magic wands for this but what helps in teaching him these boundaries? I talked for a good hour with him last night and he gets it then. But in the heat of the moment, it’s out the window.

137 darthstar  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 6:05:34am

re: #135 Vicious Babushka

Is that a parody site?

Nope…links to Salon article.

138 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 6:06:37am

re: #137 darthstar

Nope…links to Salon article.

So hard to tell.

139 darthstar  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 6:11:36am
140 darthstar  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 6:16:17am

Hopefully this means Palin will call for McCain to be primaried again, then claim credit for his retiring from the Senate. I love movies where monsters eat their mothers.

141 BongCrodny  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 6:16:44am

re: #139 darthstar

[Embedded content]

I’ll cut McCain some slack when Palin goes back to being a Wasilla housewife, but not one second before.

142 Decatur Deb  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 6:18:59am

re: #136 William Barnett-Lewis

Oy. The boy’s getting himself in hot water at school with his lack of social skills coupled with frustration over some school work. Made some very inappropriate threats. I had hoped his new meds would help with some of this but we still have a heck of a hard time teaching what is and isn’t appropriate.

I know there are a couple of folks here who have struggled with similar issues in their own lives. I know there are no magic wands for this but what helps in teaching him these boundaries? I talked for a good hour with him last night and he gets it then. But in the heat of the moment, it’s out the window.

Dau1 is a teacher and mother of a seriously autistic girl (11). I’ll see if you can get a Kindle freebie on her two books on coping. (One is too young, oriented towards pre-school. The other is oriented towards adults/teachers dealing with older kids.) The books are electronic on Amazon.

143 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 6:29:26am
144 Decatur Deb  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 6:29:43am

re: #136 William Barnett-Lewis

Dau1 was doing the morning call when this came up. She said even her ‘teacher’ book was oriented to elementary school, and that too much depends on the attitude of the teachers/admins involved. I asked if she could recommend a resource suitable for higher grades, and she said there’s not much useful stuff she would endorse. She’ll write that guide when GD is older (and it won’t be very optimistic).

145 A Mom Anon  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 6:36:48am

re: #136 William Barnett-Lewis

How old is he?

I don’t know how helpful I can be. My son was suspended twice his senior year because these two assholes at school talked him into grabbing girls’ asses “because they’ll like it”, and then stood there and laughed while he got into trouble. Now he’s scared to even talk to a girl. Nice work assholes. I really wish I could beat the nonsense out of both of those kids.

One thing that did help was talking about a bubble around every person that you’re not allowed to penetrate unless the person says it’s OK. As for inappropriate words and the anger and frustration that cause them, maybe carrying a little “talisman” of some kind would help. It needs to be something that means something to your son. For my kid, it was a laminated autographed guitar pick from a concert, we put it on a little keychain and told him to remember that if he couldn’t get a grip on the anger, it meant no concerts, no new music purchases, etc. It helped. YMMV of course, but tying the behavior to something that matters provides more incentive for some kids.

146 Sol Berdinowitz  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 6:42:15am

re: #143 Vicious Babushka

That map looks like a big, fat slice of pork belly…

147 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 6:42:52am

re: #146 Sol Berdinowitz

That map looks like a big, fat slice of pork belly…

The Cornfederate States.

148 William Barnett-Lewis  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 6:44:18am

re: #145 A Mom Anon

How old is he?

I don’t know how helpful I can be. My son was suspended twice his senior year because these two assholes at school talked him into grabbing girls’ asses “because they’ll like it”, and then stood there and laughed while he got into trouble. Now he’s scared to even talk to a girl. Nice work assholes. I really wish I could beat the nonsense out of both of those kids.

One thing that did help was talking about a bubble around every person that you’re not allowed to penetrate unless the person says it’s OK. As for inappropriate words and the anger and frustration that cause them, maybe carrying a little “talisman” of some kind would help. It needs to be something that means something to your son. For my kid, it was a laminated autographed guitar pick from a concert, we put it on a little keychain and told him to remember that if he couldn’t get a grip on the anger, it meant no concerts, no new music purchases, etc. It helped. YMMV of course, but tying the behavior to something that matters provides more incentive for some kids.

He’s almost 12 and in 6th grade (Middle school here).

I like this one.

This morning before we went out to the bus stop, I picked up my stuffed turtle (I got it at 3 so it’s a pretty old battered & used stuffed toy that has been around the world from Germany to Japan to Vietnam :) and told him to be like turtle if he got frustrated. Slow, careful, gentle.

He’s in their Alternate classroom today and suspended tomorrow. He’ll get to do overdue homework and clean around the house rather than relax or play.

I also have gotten an IEP meeting arranged for Tuesday with all the necessary staff to be there so hopefully we can have a productive discussion on how to handle the behavior and homework issues we’re having.

149 A Mom Anon  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 6:44:50am

re: #144 Decatur Deb

Sadly, the resources dry up by middle school for most kids. Unless you’re really wealthy, there is not much happening for teens and young adults on the autism spectrum.

Oh, I forgot to add for William, look up John Robison and his books. I like him a lot. He just resigned from Autism Speaks because they refuse to take into account the words and stories any one who is actually autistic. There’s no one on the spectrum on their board, and this week they’re supposed to be in DC to “raise awareness” in Congress with not a single autistic person testifying. John is very candid about his life (his brother is the author Augusten Burroughs) and what it’s like to have Aspergers. He also offers a lot of practical advice about how to deal with life on the spectrum.

150 A Mom Anon  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 6:48:56am

re: #148 William Barnett-Lewis

I hope the teachers and admins at his school are flexible and willing to come up with some alternatives he can use when he’s feeling overwhelmed. He needs an outlet for his frustrations too, something physical like running, cycling, aerobics, something that he likes and doesn’t require precision. Yoga can be useful for some kids too. Let us know how he’s doing, the teen years are tough enough, even worse if you’re somehow “different”.

151 William Barnett-Lewis  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 6:50:44am

re: #150 A Mom Anon

I hope the teachers and admins at his school are flexible and willing to come up with some alternatives he can use when he’s feeling overwhelmed. He needs an outlet for his frustrations too, something physical like running, cycling, aerobics, something that he likes and doesn’t require precision. Yoga can be useful for some kids too. Let us know how he’s doing, the teen years are tough enough, even worse if you’re somehow “different”.

Last year, every morning he would start with 5 to 15 minutes spinning on this little daisywheel like thing. It seemed to help lots so I’ll have to bring that up on Tuesday.

152 A Mom Anon  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 6:53:10am

re: #151 William Barnett-Lewis
Good! we used a mini trampoline when The Teenager was that age. School is tough, I hope he can find what works for him, it’s a lot of trial and error.

153 William Barnett-Lewis  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 6:53:44am

I also suggested to him that if he starts getting frustrated to ask to go to the bathroom thinking that the walk there and back would give him a chance to calm down.

154 ObserverArt  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 6:59:45am

re: #130 darthstar

Mornin’ everyone…I made the mistake of turning on Morning Joke when I woke up.

Have you noticed whatever Joke is going off on will be the major talking points you will hear on every freaking cable and standard network news throughout the day?

Does anyone actually do any investigative work on their own or do they just copy each other or read and report all the news releases they get about that days main reports?

Wait, no need to answer that. I’m pretty sure I already know it.

155 Decatur Deb  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 6:59:46am

re: #149 A Mom Anon

Sadly, the resources dry up by middle school for most kids. Unless you’re really wealthy, there is not much happening for teens and young adults on the autism spectrum.

Oh, I forgot to add for William, look up John Robison and his books. I like him a lot. He just resigned from Autism Speaks because they refuse to take into account the words and stories any one who is actually autistic. There’s no one on the spectrum on their board, and this week they’re supposed to be in DC to “raise awareness” in Congress with not a single autistic person testifying. John is very candid about his life (his brother is the author Augusten Burroughs) and what it’s like to have Aspergers. He also offers a lot of practical advice about how to deal with life on the spectrum.

Yes—The situation with GD shifted 180 from elementary to middle school. The primary teachers and admin were amazing. The middle school comes off as harassed and overwhelmed. It’s not ill-will on their part so much as a simple triage.

156 ObserverArt  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 7:02:39am

re: #140 darthstar

Hopefully this means Palin will call for McCain to be primaried again, then claim credit for his retiring from the Senate. I love movies where monsters eat their mothers.

Can we get that eating thing to expand a bit and maybe take out a few others. Cruz, Ghomert, King…the list is so large!

157 A Mom Anon  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 7:04:33am

re: #155 Decatur Deb
Yeah, middle school is kind of a warehouse more than anything. I was literally at school EVERY DAY in 7th and 8th grade because of bullying on the bus that no one did shit about. That’s not even counting the countless meetings and conferences over “behavioral issues”. It was awful.

158 Decatur Deb  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 7:07:38am

re: #157 A Mom Anon

Yeah, middle school is kind of a warehouse more than anything. I was literally at school EVERY DAY in 7th and 8th grade because of bullying on the bus that no one did shit about. That’s not even counting the countless meetings and conferences over “behavioral issues”. It was awful.

Yup. Dau1 has quit her teaching job at the kiddie jail and started a home editing gig, knowing she’s going to wind up homeschooling.

159 lawhawk  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 7:08:05am

Greets and saluts from the NYC metro area. The President will be speaking later this morning on the ACA (11:35AM EST). He’s going to be proposing a patch/fix, but the details are yet to be made public.

No doubt that the GOP will be simultaneously blocking any fix and demanding that one be implemented that delays it indefinitely (as in fix).

160 William Barnett-Lewis  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 7:09:25am

re: #157 A Mom Anon

Yeah, middle school is kind of a warehouse more than anything. I was literally at school EVERY DAY in 7th and 8th grade because of bullying on the bus that no one did shit about. That’s not even counting the countless meetings and conferences over “behavioral issues”. It was awful.

If it came to that, there would be a new person attending our meetings. “Mr. Principal? Please meet Mr X, our attorney.” O_o I find the prospect of spending lots of money on a court case has a way of focusing their attention when nothing else will.

161 William Barnett-Lewis  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 7:11:57am

re: #158 Decatur Deb

Yup. Dau1 has quit her teaching job at the kiddie jail and started a home editing gig, knowing she’s going to wind up homeschooling.

I’d rather it didn’t come to that because of his social needs. That said, his best friend (& his little sister) back in Madison is now home schooled because the elementary school refused to address the bullying and death threats against those kids. I should probably learn what curriculum they’re using :( at least it would be secular.

162 Decatur Deb  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 7:15:34am

re: #160 William Barnett-Lewis

If it came to that, there would be a new person attending our meetings. “Mr. Principal? Please meet Mr X, our attorney.” O_o I find the prospect of spending lots of money on a court case has a way of focusing their attention when nothing else will.

Not really. Dau1 is past that point now, mostly to get the school to stick to the testing schedule and IDP. Every meeting ends in agreement, the day-to-day just gets worse. In the end the school cannot commit money it doesn’t have, and Dau is a teacher—she’s not trying to cripple them. Note GD seems much further up the spectrum.

163 ObserverArt  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 7:17:00am

re: #153 William Barnett-Lewis

I also suggested to him that if he starts getting frustrated to ask to go to the bathroom thinking that the walk there and back would give him a chance to calm down.

This gets close to what a great friend (since passed) did with his autistic son. He taught him to identify when he was feeling ‘autistic’ and when that happens he needed to calm down and do something like write or draw, listen to music or look/read a favorite book about sports (something he loved), or to go to a teacher and tell them he was felling autistic, so they could help him. It seemed after time, he started to handle his outbursts like anyone would take a few moments when frustrated or angered to calm down. It was all about teaching him self awareness.

It was amazing how when he got into his teens, he still had issues, but the big outbursts and acting out seemed to go away. He is now in his early 20s and he can get himself through a day very well. He is taking some college courses now, manages to travel about on trains (he loves trains) and visits people he knows all on his own. He wants to get his own apartment and all that, but the passing of his father put some crimps in that and set him back a bit. He moved with his mother back to her native country of Puerto Rico. Now he hangs on the beach and chills.

164 Decatur Deb  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 7:18:35am

re: #161 William Barnett-Lewis

I’d rather it didn’t come to that because of his social needs. That said, his best friend (& his little sister) back in Madison is now home schooled because the elementary school refused to address the bullying and death threats against those kids. I should probably learn what curriculum they’re using :( at least it would be secular.

Homeschool is not going to be an answer for working parents. No one said there will be an answer, especially since we use one name for a million different problems. Every kid is autistic his way.

165 A Mom Anon  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 7:21:34am

re: #161 William Barnett-Lewis
(((hugs))) to you and your son. I wish I could be more upbeat about the next few years. High school might be somewhat better, depends on the school. You might want to check that out now, just to see what’s available or to lobby the school system to put stuff in place before he gets there.

I will say this though, now that my son is out of HS, he’s grown into a really great young man who has used those negative experiences to grow up and learn what not to do. He’s got a long road ahead of him, but I’m a bit more optimistic now than I was a couple years ago. He’s one of the bravest and kindest people I’ve ever known. It does get better. IMO, public schools are not at all healthy places to learn social skills for the most part. I’m not sure why, but there’s something missing that no one seems interested in fixing.

166 William Barnett-Lewis  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 7:24:07am

re: #162 Decatur Deb

Not really. Dau1 is past that point now, mostly to get the school to stick to the testing schedule and IDP. Every meeting ends in agreement, the day-to-day just gets worse. In the end the school cannot commit money it doesn’t have, and Dau is a teacher—she’s not trying to cripple them. Note GD seems much further up the spectrum.

John actually has bigger issues from what appears to be Fetal Alcohol Effect (though not full blown syndrome). We can’t know for certain since he was adopted and we had _no_ prenatal medical records, but it appears his birth mother drank up until she knew she was pregnant. Long enough to do some damage, alas. This presents in many ways like the various spectrum problems and much of the same techniques help.

Combined this with the recent research showing that severe ADHD (like John’s) tends to become Manic/Depressive mood disorder (as John’s has) as they hit puberty and it gets all the more fun. His big med change this summer is dealing with the mood disorder but we still have to figure out the rest of it.

Thanks for letting me dump here today folks.

167 Bulworth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 7:25:09am

Whew, was starting to get a real headache, combined with a bit of nauseousness while coming in to work on the train. A breakfast sandwich and pills later I’m feeling somewhat better. Headaches for me are pretty rare.

168 A Mom Anon  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 7:38:27am

re: #166 William Barnett-Lewis

ADHD is considered on the autism spectrum, but fetal alcohol effect adds it’s own unique set of challenges. Once your son finds his niche, the thing he loves most that can transfer into a calling or occupation, he’ll find more people who he has things in common with. That right there can work wonders.

My son is lucky, he is now in a program for young people like himself at a residential school run by the State of GA. He’s going to be learning to drive, something we were told would NEVER happen when he was younger. But still, I have to sometimes bitch and fight because even at this school they want to put limitations on him. Their goal right now is to steer him into a job at Goodwill when he’s done with the program. Um no. He wants to go to trade school or college, no one’s listening. I’m biding my time for now, but I’m of the mindset that he should be allowed to spread his wings and if he fails, we’ll be there to help soften the landing. So, my job as advocate is not done yet, even though he’ll be 20 in a few months.

169 A Mom Anon  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 7:40:21am

re: #164 Decatur Deb
That last sentence should be engraved on a plaque and put in every school and every agency designed to help those with disabilities.

Every Kid is Autistic in His Own Way. Amen.

170 A Mom Anon  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 7:41:42am

OK, no dog walk no peace. BBL, have a great morning all.

171 Sol Berdinowitz  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 7:45:49am

re: #169 A Mom Anon

Every Kid is Autistic in His Own Way. Amen.

And autism is not a disease for which you can just take a blood test and be diagnosed positive or negative. it is a subjective assessment and a matter of degrees.

172 Lidane  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 7:50:37am
173 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 7:52:47am

re: #172 Lidane

[Embedded content]

Yeah, Twitchy is 100% absolutely sure CONFIRMED FACT that President Obama his very self created those lame “Obamacare” ads used by COHealthInitiative

174 Romantic Heretic  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 8:13:30am

re: #100 ProTARDISLiberal

The Right might be cranky about this:

Socialist candidate leading in Seattle City Council race

What are you going to do to stop it Republicans? Going to imitate your hero Breivik?

Shhhh! Don’t give ‘em any ideas!

175 Skip Intro  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 8:20:12am

Is there any way to keep this video from playing automatically every single time I refresh the page? Same goes for Stewart videos embedded in tweets.

176 lawhawk  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 8:20:52am

The President’s fix? 1 year extension for policies that were cancelled by the implementation of the ACA (mainly for being substandard).

In other words, you get to keep your crappy insurance that doesn’t protect you when things go really wrong for another year.

The plan will in part call for insurance policies to be renewed for one year for those who already have insurance policies in the individual market, the source said.

If an insurance company does renew a substandard plan, it would be required to do two things. First, it would have to notify the policy holder of alternative coverage options. Second, the company would have to disclose all of the benefits a policy holder will lose if she keeps an existing substandard plan.

The source noted the President may disclose additional details.

Complicating matters is that Democrats are offering their own plan, and GOPers are salivating at the opportunity to sabotage the ACA once more (on top of their already devious plans in delaying actions to commit to state exchanges and heaping problems on to the federal exchange, withholding funding, etc.)

177 Eclectic Cyborg  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 8:21:21am

re: #162 Decatur Deb

This discussion reminds me of when I was in middle school. I had (and still have) ADD, without the H component. In grades 6 - 8 I used ritalin to treat the condition with mixed results. Unfortunately the drug gave me awful headaches so eventually I went off it.

Because I was small for my age (even as an adult male I am only 5’2. Perfectly healthy, my size is purely genetics. I come from a small family) and had the aforementioned social disorder, I had a tough time making friends and became an easy target for bullies.

They harassed and assaulted me practically every single day of my grade 8 year. I was hung off a fence post, punched in the head, slammed into a locker, knocked down a flight of chairs. The list goes on and on. The abuse spread outside of school as well. They would prank call my house, chase me at the mall if they saw me and pretty much make my life miserable wherever I went.

I nearly committed suicide.

But one of the most frustrating elements of the experience was the fact that my parents and I sat in the Vice-principal’s office FOUR TIMES to discuss my situation and not once, NOT ONCE was anything done to help it.

As a result, I spent the last two weeks of my grade 8 year at home.

Fortunately things got better for me in high school and even moreso in college. My ADD went unmedicated for around 15 years until I finally got a script for adderall a couple of years ago. That medicine works better for me than the ritalin did though I don’t take it all the time.

It’s always difficult for me to explain to non-ADD people what it’s like to have this condition. My mind is not wired the same as other people, it just operates differently. I can’t really put into words exactly HOW it’s different but I am acutely aware that it is.

178 lawhawk  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 8:21:58am

re: #175 Skip Intro

Seems that Comedy Central did something with the videos that has them set to autoplay every time. Very annoying - and tough to figure out where the video is coming from on a longer thread (with an embedded video link). Ugh. Hope they fix that.

179 Lidane  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 8:23:31am
180 Bulworth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 8:25:10am

re: #179 Lidane

Sounds like another guy with issues (see Fischer, Bryan).

181 Eclectic Cyborg  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 8:25:59am

re: #179 Lidane

[Embedded content]

Because straight couples never, ever abuse children.

God, I hate these kinds of arguments.

182 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 8:27:29am
183 GeneJockey  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 8:29:48am

Is anyone else having the COmedy Central videos autoplaying whenever the page is loaded/reloaded? Not only the one in the OP, but also the Scarborough one on yesterday’s thread.

184 Backwoods_Sleuth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 8:31:28am

I’ve been able to pause the video in this thread to stop it, but the one that was in a tweet yesterday couldn’t be shut off at all.

185 Lidane  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 8:31:41am

re: #183 GeneJockey

Is anyone else having the COmedy Central videos autoplaying whenever the page is loaded/reloaded? Not only the one in the OP, but also the Scarborough one on yesterday’s thread.

Ugh. Yes. It’s annoying.

186 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 8:31:51am

re: #183 GeneJockey

Is anyone else having the COmedy Central videos autoplaying whenever the page is loaded/reloaded? Not only the one in the OP, but also the Scarborough one on yesterday’s thread.

In my browser settings, all plugins are disabled until I request them.

187 Lidane  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 8:36:28am

Circular firing squad ahoy!

188 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 8:38:37am

Boehner is being a total jackass about ACA, and there’s this, too.

Live video: Gas pipeline explosion in Ellis County prompts evacuations

thescoopblog.dallasnews.com

Unbelievable that Rs are trying to get so much revenge simply because this country elected a Black President.

(And did I tell you I despised Charter with a white hot passion?)

189 Dr Lizardo  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 8:38:38am

re: #187 Lidane

Circular firing squad ahoy!

[Embedded content]

Fire! Ready! Aim!

Heh. Good to see Barton getting some measure of comeuppance for the all the shit he peddles as truth.

190 Eclectic Cyborg  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 8:44:02am

Louisiana may strip SNAP benefits from those who abused glitch to score “free” groceries

The Jindal administration vowed late Wednesday to strip food stamp benefits from recipients who misled retailers about their spending limits during a technical malfunction.

Recipients who walked away with groceries that exceeded their food stamp balances face losing their benefits for a year, two years or permanently depending on how many prior infractions they have. Exactly how many stand to be punished is unclear.

More than 12,000 transactions generated insufficient funds notices once the electronic benefit transfer, or EBT, system came back online Oct. 12 and retailers could process stored transactions.

However, retailers might have repeatedly run transactions through in an attempt to get payment on groceries sold when the system was down.

Suzy Sonnier, secretary of the state Department of Children and Family Services, said the Jindal administration will start with the most egregious cases first.

“We must protect the program for those who receive and use their benefits appropriately according to the law. We are looking at each case individually, addressing those recipients who are suspected of misrepresenting their eligibility for benefits or defrauding the system,” Sonnier said in a prepared statement.

191 Skip Intro  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 8:45:54am

re: #176 lawhawk

The President’s fix? 1 year extension for policies that were cancelled by the implementation of the ACA (mainly for being substandard).

In other words, you get to keep your crappy insurance that doesn’t protect you when things go really wrong for another year.

Complicating matters is that Democrats are offering their own plan, and GOPers are salivating at the opportunity to sabotage the ACA once more (on top of their already devious plans in delaying actions to commit to state exchanges and heaping problems on to the federal exchange, withholding funding, etc.)

He just killed his own plan. I really feel sorry for the people who trusted him and gave up their existing plans. They’re so totally screwed now.

192 Targetpractice  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 8:52:18am

re: #176 lawhawk

The President’s fix? 1 year extension for policies that were cancelled by the implementation of the ACA (mainly for being substandard).

In other words, you get to keep your crappy insurance that doesn’t protect you when things go really wrong for another year.

Complicating matters is that Democrats are offering their own plan, and GOPers are salivating at the opportunity to sabotage the ACA once more (on top of their already devious plans in delaying actions to commit to state exchanges and heaping problems on to the federal exchange, withholding funding, etc.)

And, of course, the insurance companies will be announcing next year’s rate hikes next fall, just in time for the election. And any action that extends crap insurance for a year or more is going to send the insurance companies into a tizzy, as they’ll have to rework their numbers to assume that massive influence of new policies they were promised isn’t coming atop those who will simply take the penalty in ‘15.

193 Skip Intro  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 8:54:29am

re: #192 Targetpractice

And, of course, the insurance companies will be announcing next year’s rate hikes next fall, just in time for the election. And any action that extends crap insurance for a year or more is going to send the insurance companies into a tizzy, as they’ll have to rework their numbers to assume that massive influence of new policies they were promised isn’t coming atop those who will simply take the penalty in ‘15.

The GOP will now claim that if Obama had just done this when they were holding the government hostage they wouldn’t have had to do it, so that’s all Obama’s fault, too.

Fox News/talk radio is going to milk this for months.

194 Targetpractice  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 8:55:59am

re: #193 Skip Intro

The GOP will now claim that if Obama had just done this when they were holding the government hostage they wouldn’t have had to do it, so that’s all Obama’s fault, too.

Fox News/talk radio is going to milk this for months.

That’s if they don’t make the distinction about the individual mandate and declare that, since he’s already letting people keep shitty insurance for a year, why not let those who don’t have insurance skate for a year as well? It’s only “fair.”

195 Lidane  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 8:58:35am

I’ll just be over here in the corner watching a corgi on a twisty slide:

Youtube Video

196 FemNaziBitch  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:00:13am
Two Very Important Lines Crossed Last Month, and It Means Big Things for Our Energy Security:
For the first time in nearly two decades, we’re importing less foreign oil than we’re producing domestically — and we’re using less overall. That’s a really big deal. Get the facts below, and pass them on.

Infographics at link.

How is everyone?

197 FemNaziBitch  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:01:05am

re: #195 Lidane

I’ll just be over here in the corner watching a corgi on a twisty slide:

[Embedded content]

Brat Puppy does that at the playground —same type of equipment too!

198 Eclectic Cyborg  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:01:26am

re: #196 FemNaziBitch

Infographics at link.

How is everyone?

But…But…KEYSTONE XL!!

199 FemNaziBitch  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:03:06am

re: #193 Skip Intro

The GOP will now claim that if Obama had just done this when they were holding the government hostage they wouldn’t have had to do it, so that’s all Obama’s fault, too.

Fox News/talk radio is going to milk this for months.

If the GOP had just cooperated and collaborated on this it could be a Win for everybody.

They could be emphasizing their contribution during the election cycle instead of their efforts to destroy it.

Nice going on the Positive’s there, GOP.

200 Skip Intro  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:03:51am

re: #194 Targetpractice

That’s if they don’t make the distinction about the individual mandate and declare that, since he’s already letting people keep shitty insurance for a year, why not let those who don’t have insurance skate for a year as well? It’s only “fair.”

The problem here is that the exchanges will only get a small fraction of the people they were expecting, so the insurance companies will raise their rates on these policies to cover their cost/risk.

This is a huge clusterfuck if he actually does it.

201 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:04:10am

Not only are Boehner and the Rs wrong on ACA, they’re wrong on ENDA, too.


If people can’t see the roadblocks that have been thrown in the road for this President, they need to see about getting some help.

Upton Bill attempts to restart the charge to overturn ACA and destroy health care ins coverage for tens of millions.

thehill.com

202 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:05:04am
203 Targetpractice  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:05:57am

re: #200 Skip Intro

The problem here is that the exchanges will only get a small fraction of the people they were expecting, so the insurance companies will raise their rates on these policies to cover their cost/risk.

This is a huge clusterfuck if he actually does it.

Just putting the idea forward is a clusterfuck. Now the GOP’s got him on record acknowledging that the latest media hype (“millions losing their plans!”) is a legitimate concern and so will spend the next year putting forth various “fixes” that will get increasing support from red state Dems as they run scared from the polls.

204 Skip Intro  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:07:36am

re: #199 FemNaziBitch

If the GOP had just cooperated and collaborated on this it could be a Win for everybody.

They could be emphasizing their contribution during the election cycle instead of their efforts to destroy it.

Nice going on the Positive’s there, GOP.

When was the last time the GOP ran on their “positives”? This is the party of No!, Hell No!, and Over Our Dead Body No!.

The people who vote GOP wouldn’t accept anything less, and it appears Obama is going to give them exactly what they’ve demanded.

I hope I’m completely wrong about all of this.

205 bubba zanetti  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:09:20am

re: #200 Skip Intro

The problem here is that the exchanges will only get a small fraction of the people they were expecting, so the insurance companies will raise their rates on these policies to cover their cost/risk.

This is a huge clusterfuck if he actually does it.

I’m not sure about that - I think a lot of people will go to the exchanges to get the subsidy, or to get a policy that doesn’t totally suck, or to actually get insurance because they have a pre-existing condition.

I essentially fall into all of the above three. I’m not going back to my cancelled policy.

The people complaining about their coverages being cancelled have consistently demonstrated they haven’t actually shopped around and understood their full options.

206 FemNaziBitch  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:10:50am

re: #202 Vicious Babushka

[Embedded content]

I’m getting a Ayn Randian “It’s not the role of Government to ________” with this whole debacle.

I hear a lot of “It’s not the government’s responsibility to ________”.

I want to just scream. “No it’s not the People’s (aka government in the USA) RESPONSIBILITY, it’s a CHOICE we have made collectively to have the government administer entitlements. For a generation or two now.

GET OVER IT. “

207 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:12:14am
208 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:12:57am

Obesity, Not Old People, Is Making Healthcare Expensive
A new report in the Journal of the American Medical Association clarifies some misconceptions about our medical system.

theatlantic.com

At age 72, I’ve put on close to 10 lbs in the last 6 mos, but it hasn’t changed my overall health costs—yet. It’s back to heavy discipline to get it off to prevent another surge in blood sugar.

209 lawhawk  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:14:00am

Let’s see.

There are about 5% of the population nationally that is potentially affected by coverages being withdrawn because grandfathered plans are being cancelled by insurers (even though the law allows them to continue - they’re grandfathered but which have to meet minimum ACA requirements that include coverage through age 26, preexisting conditions, and eliminating lifetime caps, etc.).

That number - which is 15 million people is far less than the number who are currently without insurance - 48 million, or roughly 15% of the population.

Some amount of upheaval was expected, and even necessary to rejigger the marketplace to expand to cover these folks who weren’t able to get insurance up until now.


The law as written, and the promulgated regulations (and they are quite lengthy) allowed insurers to maintain grandfathered plans in place as long as they contained the aforementioned changes. Everyone wants to ignore this. The media and GOP have fixated on the problems with the exchange rollout and combined with the loss of substandard policies, ignoring that insurers could have kept those policies active by adjusting them to conform. They have not done so.

The President’s fix isn’t much of a fix so much as undercutting the exchanges’ operation.

210 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:15:19am

THIS ASSHOLE TURNING SHIT UPSIDE DOWN AS USUAL
Translated to “Normal”
GOP shut the government down when they didn’t get their way

211 A Mom Anon  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:15:45am

re: #203 Targetpractice

Shit. I cannot wait to see how much this increases the costs of insurance in the coming months. Wonderful. Just great.

One thing I wish they would change in the ACA is going off the cost of just insuring the main policy holder and not the cost of insuring the entire family when looking at the 9.5 percent of income limit on costs. In our family(I know I’ve mentioned this several times, but it applies here)it costs less than 200 a month to insure my husband through work. But the company doesn’t pay a dime to insure my son and myself. With me on the policy, it jumps to over 400 a month, with our son on it, it doubles again to over 800. (we have a stand alone policy that includes dental for our son which is 90 a month, but I’m scared to death to find out what it isn’t covered if something happens to him) Why shouldn’t that factor into what we can get or what we pay? It also sucks that the extra 400 a month to insure our son on The Husband’s plan is the same amount whether we had 1 kid or 10. That’s bullshit.

The GOP always passes up the chance to be heroes and make things better, instead choosing the route of being assholes and then delighting in it. That’s the kind of shit I have a very hard time forgiving.

212 Targetpractice  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:17:30am

It’s election year politics, which is what actually makes me begin to question if the criticism that President Obama doesn’t have enough experience for the job might have some legitimacy to it. Going weak-kneed now, less than a month into the creation of a major new social safety net program, and actively undermining it will do nothing but lead to the program’s downfall and his party’s as well. Almost guaranteed that Republicans will not simply accept this “fix” and will demand more, as well as demanding another “extension” in the weeks ahead of the election.

213 Skip Intro  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:17:56am

re: #210 Vicious Babushka

THIS ASSHOLE TURNING SHIT UPSIDE DOWN AS USUAL
Translated to “Normal”
GOP shut the government down when they didn’t get their way

[Embedded content]

Gosh, I think I predicted they’d say exactly that somewhere above.

Imagine my surprise.

214 FemNaziBitch  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:19:13am

re: #209 lawhawk

What? Only like 50-55% of people are covered under work insurance plans? We are a country of deadbeats!

215 Targetpractice  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:19:33am

re: #210 Vicious Babushka

THIS ASSHOLE TURNING SHIT UPSIDE DOWN AS USUAL
Translated to “Normal”
GOP shut the government down when they didn’t get their way

[Embedded content]

Cue cries of “It was really Obama’s shutdown!” and “Obama cost us $24 billion!”

216 Skip Intro  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:20:31am

re: #215 Targetpractice

Cue cries of “It was really Obama’s shutdown!” and “Obama cost us $24 billion!”

Obama just handed that to them on a silver plate.

217 lawhawk  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:22:43am
218 klys  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:22:57am

A drive-by frustration vent, brought to you by my mother’s MBFing about the government shutdown and the current press issues with the ACA.

ARGH.

/another hour before I leave for the airport, and at this point thank God.

219 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:24:49am

Prudence & MikeAndy: AMERICAN IDIOTS

220 Skip Intro  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:25:46am

re: #205 bubba zanetti

I’m not sure about that - I think a lot of people will go to the exchanges to get the subsidy, or to get a policy that doesn’t totally suck, or to actually get insurance because they have a pre-existing condition.

I essentially fall into all of the above three. I’m not going back to my cancelled policy.

The people complaining about their coverages being cancelled have consistently demonstrated they haven’t actually shopped around and understood their full options.

Let me explain your new dilemma, assuming Obama does what it sounds like he’d going to do.

First, those rates you think you have? Forget them.

They’re based on a certain number of people signing up at the exchanges. If Obama says “never mind, just keep what you have”, those numbers are going to be a fraction of what was planned for.

Therefore, the insurance rate you’ll be paying will go up above whatever it is that you’ve been quoted. This, of course, will keep even more people from signing up.

There are many things Obama could have done regarding the ACA. Agreeing with the GOP talking points was the worst choice he could have made.

221 FemNaziBitch  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:28:15am

Insanity, thy name is Texas:

Since then, lawmakers have steadily funneled more than $36 million away from family planning and preventative women’s health care and into the Alternatives to Abortion program. According to general appropriations figures, from 2009 to 2013, Texas legislators consistently upped the dollar amount CPCs receive, setting a financial record this past legislative session. Over the next two years, CPCs will see an additional $10.3 million in taxpayer money from the state budget.

Also Paged

222 Dr Lizardo  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:29:48am

Well, Lizards, we all knew this was going to happen someday, and most of us would’ve guessed that it would be Japan to make it happen.

Would you have sex with a ROBOT? Japanese designers create virtual reality experience that lets men get intimate with Manga characters

dailymail.co.uk

223 Targetpractice  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:30:37am

Then again, upon looking deeper into the White House proposal, it’s possible that first impressions are in error. Unlike ideas proposed in Congress, it doesn’t require insurance companies to extend the existing policies another year, just allows them to offer the option to customers. And when they send the letter saying such to their customer, they must also list what the policy will not cover as well as what options there are to seek other policies, including any state and federal exchanges open to the policy holder. At the same time, the companies cannot offer non-compliant plans to new customers, which nips that in the bud.

Looks like the White House is trying to shift the onus onto insurance providers by making them responsible for deciding if the cancellations will continue.

224 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:31:13am

OH HAI AMERICA-LOVING, COMMUNISM-HATING PATRIOTS!

225 Skip Intro  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:32:33am

re: #223 Targetpractice

T

Looks like the White House is trying to shift the onus onto insurance providers by making them responsible for deciding if the cancellations will continue.

Color me confused. I thought the law required them to cancel. Has the law been changed?

226 Mike Lamb  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:32:36am

re: #223 Targetpractice

Then again, upon looking deeper into the White House proposal, it’s possible that first impressions are in error. Unlike ideas proposed in Congress, it doesn’t require insurance companies to extend the existing policies another year, just >allows them to offer the option to customers. And when they send the letter saying such to their customer, they must also list what the policy will >not cover as well as what options there are to seek other policies, including any state and federal exchanges open to the policy holder. At the same time, the companies cannot offer non-compliant plans to new customers, which nips that in the bud.

Looks like the White House is trying to shift the onus onto insurance providers by making them responsible for deciding if the cancellations will continue.

It sounds more like the WH is quoting the regs for emphasis.

228 Mike Lamb  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:35:06am

re: #225 Skip Intro

Color me confused. I thought the law required them to cancel. Has the law been changed?

No, policies never had to be canceled. The plans were grandfathered in under ACA. Anyone losing their plans is doing so based on a decision made by the insurance company and is not ACA related. They just have to replace the shitty plans that are canceled with an ACA compliant plan.

229 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:35:29am

re: #222 Dr Lizardo

Well, Lizards, we all knew this was going to happen someday, and most of us would’ve guessed that it would be Japan to make it happen.

dailymail.co.uk

That’s just fucking sad.

230 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:35:37am

re: #227 FemNaziBitch

TODAY in Weird:

Fetish Club “Slave Master” Guilty of Animal Porn, Faces Sentence for Flogging Slaves in Front of Boy

people like this are why we in the fetish community get a bad name.

231 William Barnett-Lewis  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:37:20am

re: #222 Dr Lizardo

Well, Lizards, we all knew this was going to happen someday, and most of us would’ve guessed that it would be Japan to make it happen.

dailymail.co.uk

Considering the hyper uh “realistic” dolls that have been for sale there for years, I’m only surprised it’s taken this long to go to the next step.

232 klys  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:37:26am

re: #225 Skip Intro

Color me confused. I thought the law required them to cancel. Has the law been changed?

It has always been up to the insurance companies whether they continued to offer these plans, which were allowed as grandfathered in.

Just like it’s always been up to the insurance companies to offer the plan at all, and they were always able to cancel your insurance out from under you at any point.

A lot of people seem to be discovering this for the first time, though.

233 FemNaziBitch  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:38:40am

Texas Public Schools

Because comparing kids to toothbrushes is a good thing..

/

234 Mike Lamb  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:38:45am

re: #232 klys

It has always been up to the insurance companies whether they continued to offer these plans, which were allowed as grandfathered in.

Just like it’s always been up to the insurance companies to offer the plan at all, and they were always able to cancel your insurance out from under you at any point.

A lot of people seem to be discovering this for the first time, though.

And it is, as the Church Lady often said, a real mystery as to what might be causing this new epiphany…what could it be?

235 Targetpractice  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:39:02am

re: #225 Skip Intro

Color me confused. I thought the law required them to cancel. Has the law been changed?

The law says that grandfathered plans can be kept so long as no significant changes (dropping benefits, jacking up co-pay/deductible, lowering lifetime cap) were made. Also the plans could not be sold to new customers past the date the law took effect. The cancellations have been coming primarily because insurers can’t pump those policies for more money and will only watch the pools for those plans shrink as people drop out to get better insurance or go on Medicare.

236 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:39:26am

Bryan Fischer is Derping up a storm.

237 klys  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:40:34am

re: #234 Mike Lamb

And it is, as the Church Lady often said, a real mystery as to what might be causing this new epiphany…what could it be?

Apparently these people have never had their insurance changed without their input before.

That would be nice.

238 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:40:48am

*EYEROLL*

239 Targetpractice  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:41:47am

re: #238 Vicious Babushka

*EYEROLL*

[Embedded content]

Making them responsible for deciding who they will and won’t insure is an “impossible burden”?

240 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:42:53am

re: #239 Targetpractice

Making them responsible for deciding who they will and won’t insure is an “impossible burden”?

Wait, I thought selling policies to people with pre-existing conditions was the “impossible burden.”

241 klys  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:44:18am

I just want to smack a lot of the media coverage on this. It’s not hard to lay this out in a language that people are capable of understanding with a minimum of brain power if they’re willing to listen.

Well, this sort of assumes that people are willing to listen. So maybe that part is hard.

But for fuck’s sake. It’s really apparent that a lot of people have no fucking clue how insurance works, so start with a simple description that will at least help people understand WHY more people need to be enrolled for prices to be low, etc., Go over how the fact that pre-existing conditions no longer exist (and no lifetime cap on benefits, etc.) means that some costs will be higher but people can no longer be excluded or dropped from coverage. Point out the costs that get passed on when someone goes to the ER without insurance.

You don’t even have to advocate for free market versus single payer solutions. JUST LAY OUT SOME OF THE FACTS.

Argh.

242 bubba zanetti  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:44:35am

re: #220 Skip Intro

Let me explain your new dilemma, assuming Obama does what it sounds like he’d going to do.

First, those rates you think you have? Forget them.

OK, and with the subsidy a similar deductible non-shit policy is still cheaper for me, and I actually get more than two doctor visits covered. And should I have to change my policy, I don’t have to be worry about being rejected because of pre-existing conditions*.

* which were overlook either because I have a shit policy, or I got lucky

243 Skip Intro  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:45:17am

re: #234 Mike Lamb

And it is, as the Church Lady often said, a real mystery as to what might be causing this new epiphany…what could it be?

Maybe because it’s due to all of those cancellation notices going out. You expect consumers to be experts on health care law?

And while I don’t have the link at the moment, I’m sure the California State Insurance Commissioner stated that no California plans were eligible for grandfatherd status (which is odd, because mine is).

Is it any wonder that people are confused?

244 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:45:47am
245 Internet Tough Guy  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:45:48am

Lol Bryan is mad. What did I miss?

I can use some good news; I just walked out of the company’s health care talk.

246 klys  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:46:30am

re: #243 Skip Intro

Maybe because it’s due to all of those cancellation notices going out. You expect consumers to be experts on health care law?

And while I don’t have the link at the moment, I’m sure the California State Insurance Commissioner stated that >no California plans were eligible for grandfatherd status.

Is it any wonder that people are confused?

I like this magical world people lived in where their insurance was totally under their control and couldn’t be changed by the insurance company at the drop of a hat or the whiff of bigger profits.

Must be a nice world.

///

247 Targetpractice  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:46:39am

re: #241 klys

I just want to smack a lot of the media coverage on this. It’s not hard to lay this out in a language that people are capable of understanding with a minimum of brain power if they’re willing to listen.

Well, this sort of assumes that people are willing to listen. So maybe that part is hard.

But for fuck’s sake. It’s really apparent that a lot of people have no fucking clue how insurance works, so start with a simple description that will at least help people understand WHY more people need to be enrolled for prices to be low, etc., Go over how the fact that pre-existing conditions no longer exist (and no lifetime cap on benefits, etc.) means that some costs will be higher but people can no longer be excluded or dropped from coverage. Point out the costs that get passed on when someone goes to the ER without insurance.

You don’t even have to advocate for free market versus single payer solutions. JUST LAY OUT SOME OF THE FACTS.

Argh.

It’s best at times like these to assume that when Chuck Todd was sniffing at the idea that it’s the job of reporters to report the facts, he was speaking for the entire industry. They’re not interested in presenting facts and informing people, they’re interested in providing enough controversy that people will tune in and thus sit through commercials just to see what the whole mess is about.

248 Ian G.  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:47:11am

re: #132 Vicious Babushka

Wingnuts still keep posting this old debunked shit.
The “FBI Statistics” map is totally bogus, it is the 2004 elections map.

[Embedded content]

I really just don’t get it. Are wingnuts REALLY that clueless that none of them go, “hey, wait a minute, is Vermont really the most dangerous part of this country”?

My guess is that, as it always is with religious radicals, questioning the faith is the greatest of sins. If right-wing Jesus says Vermont is the most crime-riddled state in the union, it must be.

249 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:47:53am

re: #248 Ian G.

I really just don’t get it. Are wingnuts REALLY that clueless that none of them go, “hey, wait a minute, is Vermont really the most dangerous part of this country”?

My guess is that, as it always is with religious radicals, questioning the faith is the greatest of sins. If right-wing Jesus says Vermont is the most crime-riddled state in the union, it must be.

Upper Minnesota, it must be all those Canadian drug gangs.

250 klys  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:49:34am

Ok, really, now to the airport.

One of the planes is supposed to have wifi, so hopefully I’ll be back to annoy converse with you all.

251 bubba zanetti  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:49:53am

Also, I don’t know what percentage of cancelled policies this applies to, but when my shit policy was cancelled I was offered a new shit policy that was ACA compliant (they apparently added bare-bones maternity coverage) and about $20 more a month. But no subsidies.

I’m not taking that one either.

252 FemNaziBitch  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:50:04am
After surviving oppression and persevering against all odds, Dr. Kakenya Ntaiya is an undeniable leader for girls’ empowerment and education in Kenya. For her courage and vision, she was named a CNN Hero of the Year Top 10 finalist, and today she needs your vote to be named Hero of the Year.

Cast your vote HERE. You can vote once a day, and voting continues through Nov. 17. To share with your family and friends, use hashtag #girlsareheroes to continue the conversation and help Kakenya better the lives of girls in Kenya. If she is recognized as Hero of the Year, Kakenya will receive a total of $300,000 to assist in her girls’ empowerment and education efforts. In her words,

Vote Early, Vote Often!

Oh, it’s not a Chicago election —well, then, just vote.

253 bratwurst  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:51:10am
254 lawhawk  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:51:52am
255 Bulworth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:53:36am

re: #238 Vicious Babushka

UNPOSSIBLE!!!

Also, too: Unconstitutional!!!

256 FemNaziBitch  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:54:20am

re: #241 klys

But for fuck’s sake. It’s really apparent that a lot of people have no fucking clue how insurance works,

Add to that, the current model isn’t really insurance as we are used to insurance. It is a Risk Management Plan, but it’s been a long, long time since health insurance worked like auto, home or life insurance works.

I’m beginning to think it’s more like an annuity —or promise to pay. The risk management being in the collective pool of money being wisely invested and spent as opposed to the writing of individual policies and riders.

If that makes any sense at all …

257 Ian G.  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:55:09am

re: #217 lawhawk

[Embedded content]

Remember, it only matters if middle-aged, upper-class white people are inconvenienced. That’s why the Worst Thing In The World during the shutdown was some closed monuments and parks. The GOP-voting grayhair in the RV wants to visit Yosemite, dammit! Who cares if some minorities can’t eat?

As it is now. Some single mother working as a cashier at a clothing store can get health insurance now? Who gives a damn? There’s a financial analyst who has to get a new plan! TYRANNY!!!!1

258 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:55:25am

What a stupid little bedwetter he is.

259 FemNaziBitch  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:55:54am

re: #246 klys

I like this magical world people lived in where their insurance was totally under their control and couldn’t be changed by the insurance company at the drop of a hat or the whiff of bigger profits.

Must be a nice world.

///

technically, the policy can’t be changed in the middle of a policy period —except with group policies thru large employers —if it doesn’t rain on the 2nd Tuesday in January in the year of your birth …

Health insurance hasn’t worked like other insurance in a long time.

260 FemNaziBitch  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:57:04am

re: #257 Ian G.

Remember, it only matters if middle-aged, upper-class white people are inconvenienced. That’s why the Worst Thing In The World during the shutdown was some closed monuments and parks. The GOP-voting grayhair in the RV wants to visit Yosemite, dammit! Who cares if some minorities can’t eat?

As it is now. Some single mother working as a cashier at a clothing store can get health insurance now? Who gives a damn? There’s a financial analyst who has to get a new plan! TYRANNY!!!!1

QFT

261 Dr Lizardo  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:57:41am

re: #231 William Barnett-Lewis

Considering the hyper uh “realistic” dolls that have been for sale there for years, I’m only surprised it’s taken this long to go to the next step.

I won’t be long before someone pairs up those hyper-realistic dolls with a robot and, well…….that’s that.

262 Eclectic Cyborg  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:58:04am

re: #221 FemNaziBitch

Insanity, thy name is Texas:

Also Paged

CPC = Crisis Pregnancy Centers?

263 Ian G.  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:58:08am

re: #258 Vicious Babushka

What a stupid little bedwetter he is.

[Embedded content]

Tweet him some kind of survey about how college-age women like to have sex. He’ll be in a spittle-flecked rage in no time.

264 Bulworth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:58:19am

re: #224 Vicious Babushka

OH HAI AMERICA-LOVING, COMMUNISM-HATING PATRIOTS!

Um, uh, wut?

I can’t wait for the history books fifty years from now when they try to explain how a segment of the U.S. population began begging for the Russian dictator to take over America. //

265 Bulworth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:59:15am

re: #257 Ian G.

Yeah, this.

266 FemNaziBitch  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:59:24am

Tony Perkins: Denying women birth control is “why the Pilgrims came here”

Really? It’s about the PIlgrims now? How far back can we go?

267 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:59:24am

re: #257 Ian G.

Remember, it only matters if middle-aged, upper-class white people are inconvenienced. That’s why the Worst Thing In The World during the shutdown was some closed monuments and parks. The GOP-voting grayhair in the RV wants to visit Yosemite, dammit! Who cares if some minorities can’t eat?

As it is now. Some single mother working as a cashier at a clothing store can get health insurance now? Who gives a damn? There’s a financial analyst who has to get a new plan! TYRANNY!!!!1

Veterans can’t get in to pay their respects at a memorial shrine? DISASTER!!!!11!!!

Veterans are homeless and hungry?
FUCK ‘EM.

268 FemNaziBitch  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:59:35am

re: #262 Eclectic Cyborg

CPC = Crisis Pregnancy Centers?

yup

269 Eclectic Cyborg  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 9:59:50am

re: #233 FemNaziBitch

Texas Public Schools

Because comparing kids to toothbrushes is a good thing..

/

PLEASE page that, if you haven’t already. That’s a terrible analogy.

270 FemNaziBitch  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:01:11am

re: #269 Eclectic Cyborg

PLEASE page that, if you haven’t already. That’s a terrible analogy.

Done.

271 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:01:37am

HURR HURR

272 GeneJockey  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:01:55am

re: #264 Bulworth

Um, uh, wut?

I can’t wait for the history books fifty years from now when they try to explain how a segment of the U.S. population began begging for the Russian dictator to take over America. //

For a while, I thought it was incorrect to think of wingnuts as authoritarians. After all, they were always talking about freedom! But they are so in love with the idea of a leader as Daddy, making the tough decisions for them, punishing the wicked (which never includes them), just doing things that need to be done without bothering to explain them or justify them, that it became obvious that yes, they really DO want a dictator.

273 Bulworth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:03:25am

re: #271 Vicious Babushka

It’s true: PBO has no constitutional authority to direct the executive branch of government or to involve himself in the implementation of public policy. //

274 Eclectic Cyborg  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:04:07am

Obama’s original “you can keep your plan” promise was misguided. The fact is, these are private insurance companies making these decisions. The President has no influence or involvement on them whatsoever. It just wasn’t physically possible for him to keep that promise.

On another note, I really think he’s a bit too much of a people pleaser sometimes. I’d love to see him grow a spine and REALLY take some of these other politicians to task for their stupidity.

275 Bulworth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:04:50am

re: #272 GeneJockey

They loves them some Putin if he persecutes teh gay.

276 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:05:36am

re: #273 Bulworth

It’s true: PBO has no constitutional authority to direct the executive branch of government or to involve himself in the implementation of public policy. //

HE HAS NO CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY TO BE TEH PRESIDENT CAUZ HE’S ONLY 3/5 OF A PERSON!!!!111!11!!1!1!1TY

277 The War TARDIS  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:05:57am

Moffat gave the Whovians a surprise today:

Youtube Video

The scene that shows how the 8th Doctor died and regenerated.

This makes all of the Big Finish Audio stories canon.

It also ages up the Doctor

Last we were aware, he was 1,300.

Now, his age looks to be no less than 2,022 years old.

Or, in layman’s terms, older than the Coliseum. Also, makes the age difference between him and Rose (1,702 years), and him and Clara (1,998 years). River being a bit weird make that age gap uncertain, but it is certainly more than a millennium.

278 FemNaziBitch  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:08:23am

Did I tell you that Ian McDonald is an awesome writer?

I think I might actually have a lay-non-maths-person handle on Quantum Physics now.

279 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:08:38am

DEATH SPIRALS!!!!!!!

280 Feline Fearless Leader  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:09:28am

re: #249 Vicious Babushka

Upper Minnesota, it must be all those Canadian drug gangs.

Or moose with guns.
//

281 FemNaziBitch  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:10:52am

What I can’t get about Fox viewers —the obvious manipulation they accept.

Barbie Doll “news” people, the glamour make-up, tight fitting bodices, leg shots, high heels. They guys are all nerds in ill fitting suits and bad hair. It’s like the really, really cheap soft porn we used to get on cable in high school. So stupid, it was more comedy than porn.

282 FemNaziBitch  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:11:49am

re: #280 Feline Fearless Leader

Or moose with guns.
//

Youtube Video

283 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:12:21am

re: #281 FemNaziBitch

What I can’t get about Fox viewers —the obvious manipulation they accept.

Barbie Doll “news” people, the glamour make-up, tight fitting bodices, leg shots, high heels. They guys are all nerds in ill fitting suits and bad hair. It’s like the really, really cheap soft porn we used to get on cable in high school. So stupid, it was more comedy than porn.

You got PORN in high school? What high school did you go to?

284 Varek Raith  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:12:27am

What’s got the wingnuts in a tizzy today?

285 kirkspencer  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:12:28am

re: #271 Vicious Babushka

HURR HURR

[Embedded content]

No constitutional authority to do what? State how he’s planning to modify regulations? Did Fisher fail civics in high school? Or… did his homeschooler fail to cover that?

286 Bulworth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:22:42am

re: #285 kirkspencer

Duh. He has no constitutional authority to be president. //

287 FemNaziBitch  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:23:15am

Antarctica Not Melting: Ice Levels At Record High

288 Bulworth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:23:17am

re: #279 Vicious Babushka

I love the smell of death spirals in the morning….

289 FemNaziBitch  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:23:47am

re: #283 Vicious Babushka

You got PORN in high school? What high school did you go to?

cable TV came late to our part of the world.

290 Targetpractice  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:24:05am

re: #277 ProTARDISLiberal

Moffat gave the Whovians a surprise today:

[Embedded content]

The scene that shows how the 8th Doctor died and regenerated.

This makes all of the Big Finish Audio stories canon.

It also ages up the Doctor

Last we were aware, he was 1,300.

Now, his age looks to be no less than 2,022 years old.

Or, in layman’s terms, older than the Coliseum. Also, makes the age difference between him and Rose (1,702 years), and him and Clara (1,998 years). River being a bit weird make that age gap uncertain, but it is certainly more than a millennium.

Wow.

291 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:32:49am

HURR HURR
DISRUPTING THE ECONOMY=CEO’s of Aetna & UHC might not get their 8-figure salaries!

292 Targetpractice  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:34:59am

re: #291 Vicious Babushka

HURR HURR
DISRUPTING THE ECONOMY=CEO’s of Aetna & UHC might not get their 8-figure salaries!

[Embedded content]

Really? Can anyone remember Republicans putting up a bill prior to the shutdown that was focused on people keeping their policies, rather than simply allowing folks to skip out on the penalties for not having a policy?

293 Mike Lamb  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:38:25am

re: #291 Vicious Babushka

HURR HURR
DISRUPTING THE ECONOMY=CEO’s of Aetna & UHC might not get their 8-figure salaries!

[Embedded content]

Let’s see the proposed legislation that included a fix that didn’t entail complete repeal without any replacement.

294 Bulworth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:41:12am

re: #291 Vicious Babushka

Stockman really shouldn’t be discussing complex policy and economic matters without adults present.

295 FemNaziBitch  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:41:39am

Why my recent spate of Arctic Shipping and Oil and Gas reserve Posts:

This, from my fb

and this:

Antarctica Not Melting: Ice Levels At Record High
Climate change alarmists struggle to understand how ice can increase with global warming.

Let’s not use propaganda to confuse the Arctic from Antarctica.

Regardless, IIRC, both are melting.

296 GeneJockey  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:44:49am

Apropos the discussion above regarding kids On The Spectrum and schools - my older boy has ASD (The Artist Syndrome Formerly Known As Prince Aspergers) as well as severe social anxiety. We homeschooled him on our own till Middle School (Mrs. Jockey is a fully credentialed K-12 teacher), then sought some help from the District.

The Middle School Spec. Ed. office could not have been more helpful, though my wife’s thoroughness in seeking professional evaluation and help was a big boon - she came to the IEP with 3 identical binders full of testing results, evaluations, etc. They agreed that there simply was not a class that was appropriate for his mix of high intelligence, social anxiety, and the usual problems with social interactions that come with ASD, so they paid for one of his Speech Path. specialists, and provided a retired teacher to come to the house for an hour a day, 4 days a week to work with him.

High school was a totally different story. By this time, he was aware of being isolated and wanted to be ‘normal’, and the District’s head of Spec. Ed. told us about a class he thought would be a great fit. He painted a rosy picture of the experienced, caring teachers who go out of their way to help the kids fit in, etc.

Yeah, right. It turns out the class was composed of Emotionally Disturbed and Autistic kids, none of whom were even of average intelligence, whereas our son is extremely bright and possessed of a sardonic, sarcastic sense of humor. The class was all about CONTROL, and keeping the kids quiet. The academic aspect was absent.

After the first month, he kept getting suspended for the stupidest little shit. One day, they even had the School Police Officer talk to him because he’d made an offhand comment about me owning guns that had made another student anxious. He was getting more and more miserable. As we came up to the IEP meeting, we paid a hefty chunk of money to have his Developmental Pediatrician sit in on the class to evaluate it. “TOTALLY wrong for him” was her assessment.

And the Dstrict agreed, in the sense that they found him to be wrong for the class. So they found him another class. I went and talked to the teacher. Basically, it was the Hoodlum Class - the place they put kids with discipline problems. I came home and told my wife that no way in hell was he going to that class.

At the IEP, we told them we were pulling him out, but we weren’t going to ask for any funding, because we were tired of focusing on what was WRONG with him. Back to homeschooling for a year, then we found what promised to be a great fit, though very expensive. Once again, the promise didn’t pan out. The teachers had no idea how to deal with his anxiety issues, and after a couple months we pulled him from there, as well.

Overall, his schooling was almost entirely homeschooling, with a few classes at the community college, and probably about 5 years work with 2 Speech Path. specialists. I felt he needed to have some closure around High School AND the diploma that we couldn’t get through the system. We signed him up for the GED test. I looked into it carefully. There are 5 sections, and you have to pass all of them, but if you fail one or more you can just take them again till you pass. I reassured him about this when he went to take the different sections, ‘If you don’t pass the first time, it’s not a big deal. Just do your best.’

He took the test, then we went on vacation. When we came back, I checked the mail. There was an envelope from the State. Full of trepidation, I opened it and peered in….

He had scored in the 92nd to 97th percentile on every single section.

Since then, he’s taken a number of classes at the Community College, though not yet putting together a program, and he’s done well. And he’s finally reached the point of wanting to do something with his life, so he’s finally motivated to do more than just the minimum. And he’s surprised us by having friends come over, about whom we’d never heard.

I used to worry endlessly about him, but I don’t as much anymore. So many parents of kids On The Spectrum think what their kid is at 10 is what they’ll be forever. It’s not true. They grow up, they change, they learn coping strategies, they mature. They surprise you.

297 GeneJockey  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:48:37am

Figures. I write the Great American Novel, and by the time I post it, everyone else has pissed off upstairs.
/////

298 FemNaziBitch  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:49:36am

re: #297 GeneJockey

Figures. I write the Great American Novel, and by the time I post it, everyone else has pissed off upstairs.
/////

eh-cut ‘n paste and repost.

I just did.

299 ObserverArt  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:56:41am

re: #274 Eclectic Cyborg

Obama’s original “you can keep your plan” promise was misguided. The fact is, these are private insurance companies making these decisions. The President has no influence or involvement on them whatsoever. It just wasn’t physically possible for him to keep that promise.

On another note, I really think he’s a bit too much of a people pleaser sometimes. I’d love to see him grow a spine and REALLY take some of these other politicians to task for their stupidity.

This may be an awkward point to make, but there may two factors involved in this. Race and Childhood.

Many African Americans have learned to never show anger due to the bounce back and stereotypes that come with it. So over time they have chosen to not rock the boat and for many a good reason.

His childhood of never having a consistent father and being raised by his mother and grandmother could figure in to also not being an in-your-face kind of guy.

People are who and what they are due to many reasons. I like who he is and it is one of the reason I voted for him. But it is true, in the political water full of sharks that will eat anyone alive to get power and money, a reasoned man may appear weak. That is a sad reflection of our society.

Yeah, It sucks. And please forgive me if this comment upsets anyone, sometimes a conversation along these lines can be difficult and finding neutral words can be difficult.

300 ObserverArt  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:59:03am

re: #283 Vicious Babushka

You got PORN in high school? What high school did you go to?

He may have been on the AV team and part of the photography club at a Catholic school!

///

301 GunstarGreen  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:09:23am

re: #42 thedopefishlives

On that topic, I got into an argument on Facebook with a couple of programmers who think it’s absolutely unacceptable to have a failure of this magnitude. Like none of us haven’t ever grossly underestimated the scale of a project right off the bat. I’m not trying to excuse the failures - it was still broken - but it’s an understandable one.

As a programmer myself, I’d ask those jackasses how well they think they’d do if their project had half of the company execs holding over 50 meetings attempting to completely and totally defund it.

Watching Republicans carp about PPACA site issues is the political equivalent of watching Tanya Harding gesticulating wildly and shouting, “I TOLD YOU NANCY KERRIGAN COULDN’T SKATE!”

302 A Mom Anon  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:14:17am

re: #296 GeneJockey

Yep. If I had listened to the doctors and other “concerned people” when my son was 3-10 yrs old, I would have given up and put him into an institution. And then gone home and blown my brains out.

They said he’d never read. He started reading before kindergarten.
They said he’d have a hard time learning to talk. Um yeah, try shutting him up now, especially when it comes to music.
They said he’d never graduate. He did, late, but he did. It was a horrible struggle, but he did it.
They said he’d probably never learn to drive. He’s about to start evaluations for driver’s ed. The school he’s in now seems to think he’ll be able to successfully get his license if he takes the process seriously.
They were right about the social things, having a girlfriend, or any friends really. But honestly, I don’t lay all the blame at his feet or blame autism either. I blame intolerant mean spirited people taking advantage of his kindness and big heart just as much, if not more than autism. His High School made no effort at all to be inclusive, NONE.

I guess the point is, not even the experts are always right, sometimes they’re totally wrong and then some.

303 GeneJockey  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:23:59am

re: #302 A Mom Anon

Yep. If I had listened to the doctors and other “concerned people” when my son was 3-10 yrs old, I would have given up and put him into an institution. And then gone home and blown my brains out.

They said he’d never read. He started reading before kindergarten.
They said he’d have a hard time learning to talk. Um yeah, try shutting him up now, especially when it comes to music.
They said he’d never graduate. He did, late, but he did. It was a horrible struggle, but he did it.
They said he’d probably never learn to drive. He’s about to start evaluations for driver’s ed. The school he’s in now seems to think he’ll be able to successfully get his license if he takes the process seriously.
They were right about the social things, having a girlfriend, or any friends really. But honestly, I don’t lay all the blame at his feet or blame autism either. I blame intolerant mean spirited people taking advantage of his kindness and big heart just as much, if not more than autism. His High School made no effort at all to be inclusive, NONE.

I guess the point is, not even the experts are always right, sometimes they’re totally wrong and then some.

There are so many ‘experts’, but none of them actually live in your kid’s head. They peer in from the outside, and make judgments based on that limited view, but as you know, ASD is highly idiosyncratic. The one generalization you can make about it is that any generalization you make will be wrong in a large number of cases.


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