Obama Announces Fix for Cancelled Health Plans

While the media goes into unison negative mode
• Views: 19,945

Today President Obama announced a proposal to allow Americans whose health insurance was scheduled to be cancelled to keep their plans for another year.

Most of this Politico article is dedicated to a barrage of negativity, which is how the entire US media is playing this story today. So let’s skip all the hand-wringing and cut right to the important facts:

The law includes a provision allowing people who, at the time of its passage, had coverage that did not meet the law’s standards to keep their plans, assuming they hadn’t changed plans or seen their plans cancelled since 2010. The proposed fix is “an expansion of the grandfathering principle,” a senior administration official said, allowing insurance companies to retract cancellation notices and provide those cancelled plans for an additional year.

Insurers can re-enroll only those whose plans were slated to be cancelled, and not take in new customers, as Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) has proposed in a bill slated for a Friday floor vote. The Upton bill “would undermine the Affordable Care Act and the marketplaces,” the senior administration official said, while Obama’s plan is aimed at giving consumers “more information, additional choices including keeping their own plans.”

The Department of Health and Human Services will reach out to state insurance commissioners on Thursday and tell them that, in order to ensure a “smooth transition,” insurance companies serving the individual and small-group markets can reintroduce the plans they’d intended to cancel, another senior administration official said.

Insurers, meanwhile, will be informed that they have the option of choosing to reach out to consumers whose plans have been cancelled and offer to provide them for an additional year. Risk pools would be adjusted to offset the change.

Looks like the outrage factory will have to find something new to complain about now — and don’t worry, they will.

Jump to bottom

259 comments
1 erik_t  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:45:05am

Can I get fries with my nothingburger?

2 Bulworth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:46:36am

Hey look over there—BENGHAZI!!!

/

3 bubba zanetti  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:47:38am

re: #1 erik_t

Can I get fries with my nothingburger?

Sure, would you like your burger cooked medium-rage?

4 Kragar  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:47:50am

Congratulations. You can keep an insurance policy that provides almost zero coverage, costs too much and you can be dropped from at the drop of a hat.

Whoopedy-doo. You won.

5 Learned Pie Of Zion  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:51:38am

There is a hatchling spammer.

6 dog philosopher  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:51:44am

the president has gotten out in front of the problem and deftly finessed the issue by splitting the difference with the republican fix and putting the onus back on the insurers

the insurers should never have introduced plans after the 2010 grandfather deadline without telling their customers that they were crappy plans with a guaranteed drop dead date. now they will have to reap what they sowed

7 Bulworth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:52:19am

re: #6 dog philosopher

But why doesn’t the President lead……….???????
////

8 GeneJockey  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:54:19am

I wrote a post on the thread two floors down while it was still the top thread, but when I posted it you’d all pissed off upstairs. Here it is, again.

Apropos the discussion above downstairs 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.

9 Learned Pie Of Zion  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:54:24am

Spammer hatchling has posted a page full of spam.

10 Targetpractice  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:54:43am

re: #4 Kragar

Congratulations. You can keep an insurance policy that provides almost zero coverage, costs too much and you can be dropped from at the drop of a hat.

Whoopedy-doo. You won.

Only if the insurance company allows you to. Note that nowhere in the “fix” is the requirement that these policies be renewed, just the option to do so. So the cancellations will likely continue.

11 FemNaziBitch  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:55:47am
12 missliberties  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:56:05am

I missed the presser, but I hear from the media something something Obummer, socialism, the end of America.

The policy is workable and I want it to work, because I want to be able to have the freedom to keep my healthcare, even if I decide to change jobs.

13 missliberties  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:57:14am

re: #6 dog philosopher

IN Kentucky they were able to fine the insurers who canceled policies without informing the customer of the choices available.

14 GeneJockey  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:57:21am
15 Kragar  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:58:16am

I don’t know what is worse, not having enough people to do a job right in the allotted time or being given a known fuck up as help, then having to explain why you didn’t give him anything to do.

16 FemNaziBitch  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:59:08am

re: #9 Vicious Babushka

Spammer hatchling has posted a page full of spam.

No way, I’ve used up every possible Pages slots today.

17 Bulworth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:59:32am

So the basic issue, just so I understand, is that if a person had a policy that originated in 2010 and which remained unchanged until now, was always grandfathered in. No matter how crappy the plan was.

However, if a person had a substandard policy in 2010, but their insurer subsequently changed the policy, then that policy was originally subject to ACA standards, and subject to cancellation.

What I don’t quite get is whether these cancelled policies were the result simply of their original policies being renewed the next year or whether they were changed in some way to disqualify the grandfathering provision.

18 Charles Johnson  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:59:45am

re: #9 Vicious Babushka

Spammer hatchling has posted a page full of spam.

Spammer is an ex-hatchling.

19 Backwoods_Sleuth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 10:59:58am

re: #13 missliberties

IN Kentucky they were able to fine the insurers who canceled policies without informing the customer of the choices available.

Yep. Kentucky fined Humana back in September over the cancellation letters.

20 Bulworth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:00:06am

re: #18 Charles Johnson

Never shed the egg shells.

22 GeneJockey  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:00:53am

re: #15 Kragar

I don’t know what is worse, not having enough people to do a job right in the allotted time or being given a known fuck up as help, then having to explain why you didn’t give him anything to do.

The latter. There are some folks who not only don’t accomplish anything themselves, they actually reduce the productivity of others. There was a postdoc I worked with who not only didn’t do dick in his year in our lab, but also was so obnoxious that other folks in the group would avoid the lab when he was there.

23 Targetpractice  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:01:51am

This “fix” seems more about stripping away the insurance providers excuses about how they’d love to keep these plans going, but they can’t under the law. They’re now being offered the opportunity to do so for a year, so now we get to see critics try to come up with new excuses.

24 GeneJockey  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:02:13am
25 dog philosopher  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:03:44am

re: #18 Charles Johnson

Spammer is an ex-hatchling.

pining for the fjords is he?

26 Dr. Matt  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:04:54am

re: #11 FemNaziBitch

Poll: Conservatives more offended by rainbow flag than confederate flag

Teahadists are the most politically correct whiners ever,

27 Kragar  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:05:36am

re: #22 GeneJockey

The latter. There are some folks who not only don’t accomplish anything themselves, they actually reduce the productivity of others. There was a postdoc I worked with who not only didn’t do dick in his year in our lab, but also was so obnoxious that other folks in the group would avoid the lab when he was there.

“I can’t get this done by Friday.”
“You can have X. He’s not doing anything.”
“There is a reason for that. I thought you wanted this by Friday.”

“Hey, can you update the servers?”
“I don’t know. How do you do that?”
“That was literally the first thing you were taught, and what you have to do before you do any other taskings, like you’ve been doing for months.”
“Where do you keep the documentation for that?”
“Go die in a fire.”

28 Political Atheist  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:06:24am

What is just killing me is how boxed in Obama is. Even a fair fix is treated with disdain. One of the banned from some time ago sends me “Obama Lied” screeds, and denies Bill Clinton lied about sex with Monica. weird.


Apparently the very worst thing Obama can do is fix this or try.
Sad how unfair all this is.

29 Learned Pie Of Zion  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:06:34am

re: #18 Charles Johnson

Spammer is an ex-hatchling.

Busted!

30 Targetpractice  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:06:45am

re: #25 dog philosopher

pining for the fjords is he?

He’s run down the curtain and join the bleedin’ choir invisible.

31 ObserverArt  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:08:20am

I just posted this to a comment by Eclectic Cyborg from the John Stewart thread just downstairs. I wanted it to be seen as I think it important to this whole conversation about the politics behind the ACA. I make some of these comments based on growing up in an mixed African American/European Immigrant White middle/lower class neighborhood in the 50s and 60s. I ran with a lot of local kids and spent much time in a lot of local friends homes for lunch, snacks, hanging out, etc.

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.

32 chadu  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:09:16am

re: #11 FemNaziBitch

In conclusion: For these conservative Americans, a symbol of equality is more offensive than the official flag of a traitorous regime founded on white supremacy and the enslavement of millions of people. Glad we got that cleared up.

Sweet Baby Jebus Buddha in a Disco wept.

33 Targetpractice  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:10:01am

re: #28 Political Atheist

What is just killing me is how boxed in Obama is. Even a fair fix is treated with disdain. One of the banned from some time ago sends me “Obama Lied” screeds, and denies Bill Clinton lied about sex with Monica. weird.

Apparently the very worst thing Obama can do is fix this or try.
Sad how unfair all this is.

Speakin’ of Bubba, his remarks yesterday left me with a sour taste in my mouth. Makes me remember quite starkly that he was the one who helped sell GOP welfare “reform” and still counts it as part of his “legacy.”

34 Bulworth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:13:31am

re: #28 Political Atheist

If the fix is just allowing the insurance companies to still provide the policies then the fix isn’t really a fix, but if the fix requires the insurance company to still offer the policies then GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER OF HEALTHCARE NO MOAR FREE MARKET!11!1

got it. //

35 GeneJockey  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:13:37am

re: #27 Kragar

“I can’t get this done by Friday.”
“You can have X. He’s not doing anything.”
“There is a reason for that. I thought you wanted this by Friday.”

“Hey, can you update the servers?”
“I don’t know. How do you do that?”
“That was literally the first thing you were taught, and what you have to do before you do any other taskings, like you’ve been doing for months.”
“Where do you keep the documentation for that?”
“Go die in a fire.”

I’m dealing with a similar version of that:

“Is there somewhere we can fit X into this effort? Would that speed things up like we asked without having to hire someone new?”

“Uh, no. He can’t be relied on to do anything he hasn’t already done. Only one person in the group can talk to him, and she’s not part of that effort. Training him would take lots of her time, which you wanted her to use for other important projects, and we couldn’t trust him to do this unsupervised anyway.”

But then that leads to the discussion - what do you do with someone who isn’t a BAD worker, or a bad person, but you can’t get the work you need from. Can you justify keeping them on? Can you justify firing them? How do you deal with the inevitable hit to everyone else’s morale when you lay him off? Fortunately, it’s not my decision and he’s not my direct report.

36 FemNaziBitch  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:14:49am

I haven’t signed-on to twitter in a few. I have a new friend or two.

I guess I’m so used to my old wingnut friends defriending me or ignoring me that it didn’t occur to me that there may be new people out there.

:0

37 Learned Pie Of Zion  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:16:57am
38 Tim TeaBro  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:17:06am
While the media goes into unison negative mode

Thine media doth not carry the water of life for for thine administration

Chuckulous Toddinious

39 Ace-o-aces  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:17:23am

re: #4 Kragar

Congratulations. You can keep an insurance policy that provides almost zero coverage, costs too much and you can be dropped from at the drop of a hat.

As an alternative, they can upgrade to a better plan and then opt to have an insurance company executive kick them in the nuts twice a year. Works out about the same.

40 Bulworth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:17:34am

So is the media still punching itself silly over these cancelled policies?

41 Backwoods_Sleuth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:18:09am

re: #34 Bulworth

If the fix is just allowing the insurance companies to still provide the policies then the fix isn’t really a fix, but if the fix requires the insurance company to still offer the policies then GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER OF HEALTHCARE NO MOAR FREE MARKET!11!1

got it. //

I always wondered why FREE MARKETS!!11!! doesn’t count as “free stuffs”.
Maybe the President should look into that…he could call it “Obamamarkets” and we could watch heads explode.

42 A Mom Anon  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:19:00am

re: #8 GeneJockey

I left a reply to you downstairs in that thread…

43 GeneJockey  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:19:20am

re: #38 Tim TeaBro

Thine media doth not carry the water of life for for thine administration

Chuckulous Toddinious

“Even the liberal media….”

I’ve always been amazed at the belief on the Right that the media were in thrall to Obama, just because they didn’t lie about and insult him like Fox News. Yet another aspect of living in different realities, like two circles on a Venn Diagram that touch tangentially, if at all.

44 Bulworth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:21:19am

I sure do hope congressional Democrats will stop wetting the bed for at least a moment now.

45 FemNaziBitch  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:23:35am

Gloria Steinem to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom ON MY BIRTHDAY!!!

46 Bulworth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:23:47am

Has Darrell Issa announced a date for his committee’s hearing on the Obamacare Talking Points?

Maybe a whistleblower will leak the TALKING POINTS to Jon Karl.

We just have concerns….

//

47 Tim TeaBro  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:23:54am

Conservatism’s greatest hope right now is a FUBAR’ed website.

Getting the web portal resolved is not a concept worth even considering because Socialism.

48 GeneJockey  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:24:19am

re: #42 A Mom Anon

I left a reply to you downstairs in that thread…

I replied to your reply there, too.

49 William Barnett-Lewis  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:24:24am

re: #8 GeneJockey

Thank you for adding this to our discussion earlier. It’s helpful for me to hear at this point in time.

50 FemNaziBitch  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:24:53am

Convicted Rapist Lawmaker Loses Concealed Gun License, Goes Apeshit

Man, there is alot out there today to share. I’m done Paging.

51 William Barnett-Lewis  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:25:01am

re: #11 FemNaziBitch

This is my surprised face.

52 GeneJockey  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:26:25am

re: #49 William Barnett-Lewis

Thank you for adding this to our discussion earlier. It’s helpful for me to hear at this point in time.

I used to wake up in the middle of the night worrying about my son. Now, not so much. Good luck.

53 Stoatly  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:26:41am

re: #11 FemNaziBitch

Poll: Conservatives more offended by rainbow flag than confederate flag

Then they may not love this quite as much as I do:
Youtube Video

54 FemNaziBitch  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:26:57am

re: #50 FemNaziBitch

UPDATE:

Unfortunately, the revocation of Patterson’s concealed carry permit won’t affect his ability to actually carry; a 1990 Idaho law exempts elected officials — everyone from the governor all the way down to the city toilet inspector, which is an elected position I made up to inject levity into a borderline-rage-inducing state of terminal American gunmania — from needing permits before carrying concealed weapons. I kind of get the reasoning behind that law. I mean, politicians are upright citizens! No constituents would be dumb and gullible enough to elect a convicted rapist, and no rapist would have the hubris to think that a rape conviction wouldn’t be discovered by a dogged journalist, right?

55 Kragar  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:27:27am
56 FemNaziBitch  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:27:56am

re: #53 Stoatly

Dogs stood at attention to the audio on that.

:)

57 Bulworth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:28:08am

Maybe Lara Logan and CBS’ 60 minutes will conduct a one-year investigation, dependent on one sketchy source, into the Truth about Obama’s keep your insurance policy if you like it promise, preceded by Logan accepting a prestigious journalism award from Accuracy In Media.

//

58 Kragar  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:28:38am

The Southern expression “The South will rise again” is the regional equivalent of “DEATH TO AMERICA!”

59 erik_t  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:29:21am

I was happy with my insurance, but I recognized that many other people were getting bent over a fucking barrel, so I would have said the system wasn’t working.

I know that I’m a dirty damned atheist kenyo-muslim heathen, but I’m not okay with other people suffering. What we do for the least of our brothers and sisters is the most important.

I wonder if there’s some religion out there that would suit me. Would Bryan Fischer be able to offer any suggestions?

60 Bulworth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:30:11am

re: #59 erik_t

If you hate America why don’t you just leave???!!11

//

61 GeneJockey  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:30:18am

re: #57 Bulworth

Maybe Lara Logan and CBS’ 60 minutes will conduct a one-year investigation, dependent on one sketchy source, into the Truth about Obama’s keep your insurance policy if you like it promise, preceded by Logan accepting a prestigious journalism award from Accuracy In Media.

//

And Lindsey Graham will hold up nominations until all the people who wanted to keep their scam plans are allowed to testify.

Then, when it turns out they could get actual insurance for cheaper, he’ll mumble something about ‘questions that need to be answered’ and still hold up the nominations

62 erik_t  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:31:07am

re: #61 GeneJockey

And Lindsey Graham will hold up nominations until all the people who wanted to keep their scam plans are allowed to testify.

Then, when it turns out they could get actual insurance for cheaper, he’ll mumble something about ‘questions that need to be answered’ and still hold up the nominations

WAS OBAMA GOLFING WHILE AMERICANS WERE LOSING THEIR HEALTH CARE PLANS!?

63 Kragar  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:31:12am

re: #59 erik_t

I was happy with my insurance, but I recognized that many other people were getting bent over a fucking barrel, so I would have said the system wasn’t working.

I know that I’m a dirty damned atheist kenyo-muslim heathen, but I’m not okay with other people suffering. What we do for the least of our brothers and sisters is the most important.

I wonder if there’s some religion out there that would suit me. Would Bryan Fischer be able to offer any suggestions?

Looking for a savior? Why not Zoidberg?

(V)(;,,;)(V)

64 Bulworth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:32:06am

re: #61 GeneJockey

And Lindsey Graham will hold up nominations until all the people who wanted to keep their scam plans are allowed to testify.

That’s the least he could do. ///

65 Ming  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:36:25am

re: #4 Kragar

Congratulations. You can keep an insurance policy that provides almost zero coverage, costs too much and you can be dropped from at the drop of a hat.

Whoopedy-doo. You won.

I’m sorry to say, to many Republicans, that IS victory, simply because it undermines the Affordable Care Act. “Universal coverage” wasn’t supposed to include “almost zero coverage”.

So in my opinion this undermines the ACA, but I hope only to a small extent. Assuming more and more people get coverage through the ACA, and assuming that eventually (in one year?) the ACA’s minimum standards are applied, America will be on the road to universal coverage that we can all be proud of.

I’m cautiously optimistic that this will be the case.

66 Kragar  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:37:50am

Meanwhile, I’ve had this stuck in my head for days now

“Mama, we all go to hell…”

Youtube Video

67 GeneJockey  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:38:06am

re: #59 erik_t

I was happy with my insurance, but I recognized that many other people were getting bent over a fucking barrel, so I would have said the system wasn’t working.

I know that I’m a dirty damned atheist kenyo-muslim heathen, but I’m not okay with other people suffering. What we do for the least of our brothers and sisters is the most important.

I wonder if there’s some religion out there that would suit me. Would Bryan Fischer be able to offer any suggestions?

I’m REAL tired of the crocodile tears from the Right about people who are getting reamed by their insurance companies not getting to continue getting reamed by their insurance companies, or that actual insurance costs more than sending a check in every month for ‘coverage’ that doesn’t cover anything; or about how people aren’t able to sign up as easily as promised.

It all boils down to throwing anything at the wall to see if it sticks. It’s the worst form of cynical politicking, because they really don’t give a flying fuck about anyone that poor. They have no alternative, because they don’t care whether people who are not well off can’t get healthcare without going bankrupt - If they wanted to get sick without going bankrupt, they should have gotten rich first!.

68 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:38:08am

The question that seems to be making the rounds now is,

“Does Obama have the constitutional authority to stop cancellations for a full year and reinstate those already cancelled?”

Asked by those who didn’t bother consulting the Constitution for the answer before they asked the question.

69 Political Atheist  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:38:30am

re: #33 Targetpractice

At least he acts like it was an error, not some “damn lie”. What a year. Again we have the wingnut/moonbat convergence against a sitting Pres. Of curse no one wants to admit nothing this transformational ever goes smoothly. Not from business, not from government not from anywhere.

70 Absalom, Absalom, Obdicut  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:39:20am

Please note: Even with a flu shot, the flu can goddamn suck.

71 FemNaziBitch  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:39:31am
72 FemNaziBitch  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:40:35am

re: #70 Absalom, Absalom, Obdicut

Please note: Even with a flu shot, the flu can goddamn suck.

yes, yes it can.

With herd compliance, it can be catastrophic.

73 Bulworth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:40:41am
Americans have until March 31 for sign up for a plan, but people must select and pay for a plan by Dec. 15 for coverage to start Jan. 1.

money.cnn.com

This seems like an interesting detail to keep in mind.

74 GeneJockey  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:40:43am

re: #71 FemNaziBitch

Schlafly Warns Of Amnesty For Polygamous Muslims On Welfare

That’s almost as good in jamming stuff together as ‘Gordon Ramsay Sex Dwarf Eaten by Badger’.

75 erik_t  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:41:09am

re: #71 FemNaziBitch

Schlafly Warns Of Amnesty For Polygamous Muslims On Welfare

Alfred, my smelling salts, and make all possible haste!!!

///////

76 Bulworth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:41:40am

re: #74 GeneJockey

I’ve been asked to recommend candidates for today’s Win The Internet Award and I’ve this post to the top of my list.

77 Ian G.  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:44:48am

re: #11 FemNaziBitch

Poll: Conservatives more offended by rainbow flag than confederate flag

Remember when gays seceded from the country and started a massive war that left 600,000 dead all so they could keep straights as private property?

//////

78 GeneJockey  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:45:19am

re: #76 Bulworth

I’ve been asked to recommend candidates for today’s Win The Internet Award and I’ve this post to the top of my list.

That’s almost as much of an honor as being nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in Medicine*!

*10 points to anyone who remembers the reference.

79 Learned Pie Of Zion  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:45:59am

HURR HURR

80 Kragar  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:46:00am

re: #70 Absalom, Absalom, Obdicut

Please note: Even with a flu shot, the flu can goddamn suck.

Yeah, I didn’t get around to getting the shot and have been sick for the last week or 2.

81 William of Orange  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:47:50am

A mayor on crack cocaine…
An immense child porn ring dismantled…


Who said Toronto was a dull city??

82 Absalom, Absalom, Obdicut  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:50:55am

re: #80 Kragar

Yeah, I didn’t get around to getting the shot and have been sick for the last week or 2.

Even with it, I am draggin’. Two days of incoherence, or maybe more, time kind of dilated for awhile.

Luckily, I was reading the novel Louisiana for school, which is a novel that eschews standard mechanisms of time, space, and identity, so it all made total sense.

83 FemNaziBitch  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:52:04am

re: #82 Absalom, Absalom, Obdicut

Even with it, I am draggin’. Two days of incoherence, or maybe more, time kind of dilated for awhile.

Luckily, I was reading the novel Louisiana for school, which is a novel that eschews standard mechanisms of time, space, and identity, so it all made total sense.

Do you recommend that book?

84 Backwoods_Sleuth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:52:24am

re: #80 Kragar

Yeah, I didn’t get around to getting the shot and have been sick for the last week or 2.

I was at the doctor on Tuesday morning and, after we got the regularly scheduled stuff out of the way, she asked if I wanted a flu shot.
I asked “Is that the completely clog up your head, cough up your lungs, ache all over, and feverish sweating more than I ever had during menopause?”
She said “oh, ok, you’ve already had the flu. See you again in four months…”

85 Bulworth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:53:15am

re: #79 Vicious Babushka

Because the policy is substandard or was issued after 2010? /

86 Kragar  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:54:22am
87 FemNaziBitch  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:54:51am

I got 4 hours sleep last night.

bbl

88 Learned Pie Of Zion  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:54:55am

re: #85 Bulworth

Because the policy is substandard or was issued after 2010? /

OBAMA JUST PERSONALLY WENT AROUND AND CANCELLED 5 MILLION RANDOM POLICIES AND THEN HE LIED ABOUT IT1!!!11!!!!1

HE LIED AND LIED AND LIED AND LIED AND LIED AND LIED AND LIED!!!!1!!!!!!!

89 Kragar  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:55:42am

re: #87 FemNaziBitch

I got 4 hours sleep last night.

bbl

Anything more than 5 is self indulgence.

90 Learned Pie Of Zion  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 11:56:45am

Yeah Steve what’s yours? Taking Ted Nugent as your prom date?

91 Backwoods_Sleuth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:00:39pm

re: #79 Vicious Babushka

HURR HURR

[Embedded content]

92 Bulworth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:01:05pm

re: #87 FemNaziBitch

I’ve been sleeping a bit better, fortunately. Hope you get better rest tonight.

93 GeneJockey  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:01:16pm

re: #90 Vicious Babushka

Yeah Steve what’s yours? Taking Ted Nugent as your prom date?

[Embedded content]

Keep in mind that Steve Stockman IS a flaming disaster, and a constant reminder of just how dumb you can be and still get elected to Congress from Texas - a one-man argument AGAINST representative government.

94 Bulworth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:02:25pm

re: #90 Vicious Babushka

Is that Steve Stockman discussing public policy without an adult present again? He’s been warned…

95 lawhawk  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:05:10pm

Well, this is just shitty. The UN has upped the death toll significantly as a result of Haiyan/Yolanda to over 4,400.

The United Nations on Thursday raised the death toll from the monster typhoon that ravaged the Philippines to more than 4,400 — almost double the previous figure and far higher than an estimate given by the Filipino president.

The U.N. also said that more than 900,000 people had been displaced by the storm, perhaps the most powerful ever to strike land, and that nearly 12 million people had been affected in some way.

It warned that fuel in the devastated city of Tacloban was expected to run out within days.

The U.N. put the death toll at 4,460, up from 2,357 earlier in the day, said Amanda Pitt, a spokeswoman for the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. She cited the Philippine government in reporting the figure.

President Benigno Aquino predicted earlier this week that the toll would be 2,000 to 2,500, and said that higher estimates had been influenced by “emotional drama.”

On the sixth day after Typhoon Haiyan slammed into the Philippines, packing 195 mph wind and overwhelming surges of water, the USS George Washington arrived off the coast to begin moving aid to increasingly desperate survivors. The George Washington arrived with 5,000 sailors and two cruisers for support.

The police chief in Tacloban was sacked for making the 10,000 fatality guestimate, but the toll keeps rising towards that grim mark.

And there are parts of the country that have yet to see relief aid, and places like Tacloban are a mess with inadequate relief and a sense of lawlessness.

96 Aunty Entity Dragon  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:05:27pm

re: #75 erik_t

Alfred, my smelling salts, and make all possible haste!!!

///////

Come on, Concorde!
szzzzzzzzz…Thump!

…Message for you, Sir!

97 Absalom, Absalom, Obdicut  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:06:42pm

re: #83 FemNaziBitch

Do you recommend that book?

Yes, if you like extremely difficult but beautiful things that you may not remember afterwards.

98 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:07:02pm

re: #71 FemNaziBitch

Schlafly Warns Of Amnesty For Polygamous Muslims On Welfare

Obviously the senile Schlafley is mixing Muslims with fundie Mormons.

99 GeneJockey  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:07:51pm

re: #97 Absalom, Absalom, Obdicut

Yes, if you like extremely difficult but beautiful things that you may not remember afterwards.

Are you sure it’s actually any good, then? Maybe that was an hallucination?

100 Kragar  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:08:18pm

re: #97 Absalom, Absalom, Obdicut

Yes, if you like extremely difficult but beautiful things that you may not remember afterwards.

Sounds like the first time I went to Shinjuku .

101 Eclectic Cyborg  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:09:59pm

If anyone is interested, Sharknado is now on Netflix streaming.

102 Kragar  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:10:57pm

re: #101 Eclectic Cyborg

If anyone is interested, Sharknado is now on Netflix streaming.

My older girl was estatic to see that.

My youngest and I have been preparing our riffs.

103 Aunty Entity Dragon  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:12:34pm

re: #82 Absalom, Absalom, Obdicut

Even with it, I am draggin’. Two days of incoherence, or maybe more, time kind of dilated for awhile.

Luckily, I was reading the novel Louisiana for school, which is a novel that eschews standard mechanisms of time, space, and identity, so it all made total sense.

I just finished Blood Meridian by Cormac Mccarthy.

I am not recommending that for anyone right now. Not so much a Western as a long look into a combination horror/road trip/Road Warrior/apocalyptic/Hobbesian nightmare that will have you ready to break out a box of razor blades and end it all. Think of listening to the really grim bits by Pink Floyd while on a bad acid trip and watching A Clockwork Orange.

I wish I wrote with a quarter of the skill the author has, and some of the quotes in the book are utterly compelling. For all that, it was not even remotely enjoyable.

104 Kragar  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:18:50pm

I might have to dig out my copy of Abnett’s Necropolis again. Its been a while.

105 Feline Fearless Leader  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:20:13pm

re: #63 Kragar

Looking for a savior? Why not Zoidberg?

(V)(;,,;)(V)

“Where has our messiah gone?”

“Someone opened a can of anchovies.”

:p

106 Bulworth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:20:24pm
But setting aside the merits, Obama’s remedy is a justified comeuppance for carriers who defaulted beneficiaries into obscenely expensive plans, which they characterized as “comparable” to the canceled coverage, without apprising them of their options, and blamed the whole disruption on Obamacare. It’s a scolding reminder to particular insurance companies that their lack of integrity exacerbated a problem that might have been contained if they hadn’t acted with such avarice. They are now reaping the whirlwind.

salon.com

107 lawhawk  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:27:08pm

re: #106 Bulworth

But remember, this is all Obama’s fault and the pre-existing insurance system was peachy for the individual market. /

108 GeneJockey  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:30:46pm

re: #107 lawhawk

But remember, this is all Obama’s fault and the pre-existing insurance system was peachy for the individual market. /

All those uninsured people were by choice!
//

109 Backwoods_Sleuth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:35:43pm

Wow, I thought Rand Paul’s derp on twitter was bad.
I just visited his official & verified FB page.
YOWSER!

facebook.com

110 dog philosopher  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:38:48pm

re: #90 Vicious Babushka

Keep in mind this flaming disaster is Obama’s defining

a few thousand people get fooled by their insurance company and the tea party declares the end of the world and the resuscitation of zombie ronald reagan

111 ObserverArt  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:41:10pm

Alright, the pres is in Cleveburg!!! And right off he gets in a mention of the Browns! Woof…Woof.*

Looks like the crowd is enthusiastic. They must not have been hanging on the words of the Washington talkin’ heads about Obama is losing American and stuff.

I can’t wait for him to get into the healthcare issues and see how they react.


*This year it can be said without hiding under a rock!

112 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:41:28pm

re: #103 Aunty Entity Dragon

I just finished Blood Meridian by Cormac Mccarthy.

I am not recommending that for anyone right now. Not so much a Western as a long look into a combination horror/road trip/Road Warrior/apocalyptic/Hobbesian nightmare that will have you ready to break out a box of razor blades and end it all. Think of listening to the really grim bits by Pink Floyd while on a bad acid trip and watching A Clockwork Orange.

I wish I wrote with a quarter of the skill the author has, and some of the quotes in the book are utterly compelling. For all that, it was not even remotely enjoyable.

I felt that way about The Road, also. When a destroyed civilization’s remaining survivors have descended into such acts as roasting infants for food to stay alive, why would you want to survive, or have your child survive, in such a bleak, destroyed landscape?

113 Feline Fearless Leader  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:44:56pm

A bit of industrial news related to exploitation of the Marcellus Shale.

wvmetronews.com

114 missliberties  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:46:40pm

re: #28 Political Atheist

“Apparently the very worst thing Obama can do is fix this or try.
Sad how unfair all this is.”

I don’t know how he gets out of bed every morning with all the obstruction being thrown his way from every angle.

115 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:51:29pm

re: #109 Backwoods_Sleuth

Wow, I thought Rand Paul’s derp on twitter was bad.
I just visited his official & verified FB page.
YOWSER!

facebook.com

And that Mangione family? What RP has on his FB and the FN report is not entirely truthful. After all, the Mangiones aren’t just your average middle class family…

newyorker.com

116 Bulworth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:51:34pm

re: #114 missliberties

I like how he basically just agreed to do what the congressionalmedia bedwetters wanted him to do and they’re still bitching. “How’s it supposed to work????!??!?1”

117 Backwoods_Sleuth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:52:17pm

re: #115 Justanotherhuman

And that Mangione family? What RP has on his FB and the FN report is not entirely truthful. After all, the Mangiones aren’t just your average middle class family…

newyorker.com

Rand Paul wouldn’t recognize the truth if it smacked him upside the head.

118 Aunty Entity Dragon  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:53:04pm

re: #112 Justanotherhuman

yeah. I realized after I wrote that comment that it applied pretty equally to The Road as well.

If anything, however, the scenes of savagery and bloodshed in Blood Meridian are simply off my personal scale of calibration. I have nothing to even compare them too. Director Ridley Scott had thought about filming Blood Meridian, but admitted in an interview that the violence alone would give the movie a double X rating.

119 Bulworth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:53:46pm

re: #115 Justanotherhuman

WTFISGDS?

Couldn’t Faux have at least tried to find a nonpartisan but affected family

120 Backwoods_Sleuth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:54:37pm

Drink this, drill, baby drillers…

121 Backwoods_Sleuth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:55:29pm
122 lawhawk  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:56:57pm

re: #121 Backwoods_Sleuth

So, how will the GOP spin this…. wait for them to complain that we no longer have sway with the Saudis or that a deal with Iran will undermine the shift. Watch…

123 Bulworth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:58:00pm

Oh well. Despite the president’s “fix”, the ACA is still in big trouble, according to the fine folks at MoveOn.org, who would like me slip them some cash to make sure the law stays alive. /

124 Backwoods_Sleuth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:58:10pm

hahahaaaa!

125 Backwoods_Sleuth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:58:56pm

re: #122 lawhawk

So, how will the GOP spin this…. wait for them to complain that we no longer have sway with the Saudis or that a deal with Iran will undermine the shift. Watch…

Obama must kiss a Saudi!!!
On. The. Mouth.

126 GeneJockey  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 12:59:02pm

re: #121 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

Wait, I thought Obama’s environazi EPA was killing American oil production and making us dependent on the MOOOOZLIMZ!!!!

127 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:00:32pm

“We are not going to gut this law.” Pres Obama, saying it will be fixed, and, in spite of the naysayers, “we’re going to make sure Obamacare works.”

Lazy reporters and pundits are just playing Chicken Little these days.

128 Backwoods_Sleuth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:00:44pm

re: #126 GeneJockey

Wait, I thought Obama’s environazi EPA was killing American oil production and making us dependent on the MOOOOZLIMZ!!!!

gas is the new thang…and the GOPers know a thing or two about gas/hot air…

/

129 Kragar  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:01:18pm

re: #121 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

Now, based on conservative logic, that should mean that oil and gas prices should start seeing a sharp decline in the weeks and months ahead.

130 urbanmeemaw  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:02:42pm

re: #117 Backwoods_Sleuth

Or the ferret that sits atop his head.

131 Targetpractice  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:03:03pm

re: #122 lawhawk

So, how will the GOP spin this…. wait for them to complain that we no longer have sway with the Saudis or that a deal with Iran will undermine the shift. Watch…

For one thing, they’ll spin it as happening “in spite of” the President, declaring that the oil industry has made great strides despite his efforts to “kill” it.

132 GeneJockey  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:03:42pm

Wait, I know what they’ll say!

OBAMA’S JUST BENEFITTING FROM THE PROGRAMS BUSH PUT IN PLACE!!! ANY DAY NOW, HIS ENVIRONAZI EPA’S BLOCKIGN OF OIL PRODUCTION WILL DRIVE IT ALL BACK THE OTHER WAY!!!!

133 bubba zanetti  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:05:26pm
134 GeneJockey  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:05:37pm

It wouldn’t occur to them that the high price per barrel of oil would make US production of oil more profitable than it was when oil was under $50/bbl.

135 BongCrodny  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:05:53pm

re: #112 Justanotherhuman

I felt that way about The Road, also. When a destroyed civilization’s remaining survivors have descended into such acts as roasting infants for food to stay alive, why would you want to survive, or have your child survive, in such a bleak, destroyed landscape?

I just read a pretty decent book in that same dystopian genre called Rivers, a first novel by Michael Farris Smith.

It’s set at some point in the future, after the entire Gulf Coast area has been declared a permanent disaster area. Years of ferocious storms have caused the government to draw a boundary some 90 miles north of the coastline. At some point it was simpler to not rebuild any more, and if you chose to stay down there instead of heading for safer territory, you were on your own — there is no law any more, and the storms have effectively shuttered all forms of mass communication.

“It beat against the roof and it beat into the church where pieces of roof were missing above the choir loft and the baptismal. He rolled under a pew, his shoulder throbbing as the hail attacked the earth and what was left of the church, the sound of a hundred hardworking men and their sledgehammers. The lightning snapped and the crack of snapping wood and the scurrying of four-legged creatures sharing the church with him. He rolled over onto his stomach and crossed his good arm and put his head down and his other arm lay limp at his side. More thunder and more lightning and more hail as he lay shivering.”

It’s dark, but not quite as bleak as The Road
.
I’ve read a lot of books this year, but I haven’t read one I’ve liked better.

136 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:06:59pm

According to my grandson, this will be an improvement over the Cisco router we now have. He says this dual band will allow him to have more speed for his gaming and for our Netflix also, so I bit the bullet, and he’s gone to pick one up. We’ll see.

bestbuy.com

Issue w/Charter was not just us, but an “area” problem which is ostensibly fixed now. A problem for over 2 wks now, and I have demanded credit on the next bill for loss of connection and inconvenience for the many hours it was not working and they agreed.

137 Skip Intro  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:07:03pm

re: #133 bubba zanetti

[Embedded content]

Welcome to reality.

138 freetoken  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:07:37pm
Most of this Politico article is dedicated to a barrage of negativity, which is how the entire US media is playing this story today.

Politico’s stated intention is to be part of the inner circuit of DC machinery, by making, essentially, entertainment for the political class.

The rest of the nation get the collateral damage.

139 Kragar  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:09:32pm

re: #135 BongCrodny

I’ve come to the realization that no movie studio will ever attempt to turn one of my favorite scifi books into a movie, simply because no one could handle the logistics behind portraying the Battle of Stalingrad set in the city from Blade Runner.

140 Eclectic Cyborg  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:10:19pm

Capitalism, GOP style

Company fines woman $3500 for negative review (yes, you read that right!)

A few years ago, Jens husband ordered a bunch of trinkets from a website that appears to deal in the sort of odds and ends one might find at a Spencer’s Gifts. But 30 days after he ordered it, the products hadn’t arrived and PayPal canceled the transaction, she tells KUTV.com.

She wanted to know why the items never showed up, so she did what any logical customer would do and called up the company to get some information. Unfortunately she couldn’t reach anyone, so she channeled her frustration into a negative review on RipoffReport.com.

“There is absolutely no way to get in touch with a physical human being,” it says, accusing the company of having “horrible customer service practices.”

Done and done, right? Wrong. Fast forward three years later when her husband got an email from the company (which means someone works there after all, eh?) demanding that the post be taken down or they would be fined.

The company cited a “non-disparagement contract” within its terms of sale with a clause that it says gives it the right to demand such a fine:
“In an effort to ensure fair and honest public feedback, and to prevent the publishing of libelous content in any form, your acceptance of this sales contract prohibits you from taking any action that negatively impacts kleargear.com, its reputation, products, services, management or employees.”

If you violate that contract, the clause says a consumer has 72 hours to remove the post or face the $3,500 fine. If it’s not paid, the delinquency is then reported to credit bureaus.

“This is fraud,” the woman says. “They’re blackmailing us for telling the truth.”

She and her husband attempted to get RipoffReport.com to pull the review but were told that wasn’t going to happen, and the credit bureaus say that because the company claims the charge is valid, the credit dent will remain.

When KUTV.com dug a little deeper, the news team found that the company had an “F” rating from the Better Business Bureau in 2010 (two years after the order was placed) for “not delivering products purchased online in a timely manner.”

The company also claimed in an email to KUTV.com via an unidentified person that the $3,500 fine and the alleged threat of removing the post or facing the fine wasn’t blackmail, just a “diligent effort to help them avoid [the fine].”

The news station spoke to a First Amendment attorney who pretty much said exactly what we’re thinking — this is unheard of.

“I think this is outrageous that a company like this would force a consumer to relinquish their first amendment rights to speak about their product as a condition of sale,” Hunt said. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

I really hope this company gets dragged into the courts and gets the smack down laid on them. This is really, REALLY messed up.

141 Backwoods_Sleuth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:10:34pm

hmmmm….

WASHINGTON D.C., Nov. 13: A senior Member of Congress and reform advocates are charging Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and federal appeals court Judge Diane Sykes with violating judicial ethics by agreeing to headline the Federalist Society’s annual fundraising dinner tomorrow evening in Washington, DC.

Common Cause, Alliance for Justice, and U.S. Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-NY, sent a letter of complaint about Justice Thomas’ conduct to Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. They have also filed a formal ethics complaint with the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals against Judge Sykes, who will be “interviewing” Thomas as the main feature at tomorrow evening’s black-tie fundraiser.

Reformers, senior lawmaker charge Justice Thomas and federal appellate judge Diane Sykes with violating judicial ethics

142 Targetpractice  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:11:17pm

re: #139 Kragar

I’ve come to the realization that no movie studio will ever attempt to turn one of my favorite scifi books into a movie, simply because no one could handle the logistics behind portraying the Battle of Stalingrad set in the city from Blade Runner.

I used to think no studio would take up World War Z…and in hindsight, I wish so much that I had been right.

143 Targetpractice  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:13:03pm

re: #133 bubba zanetti

[Embedded content]

And I immediately made the mistake of looking at the comments. That much stupid should hurt.

144 Amory Blaine  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:13:31pm

Here we go again. The democratic party punching itself in the face. It seems like some people under Obama’s tutelage have no clue what they’re up against. This is serious fucking business and I’m not getting the message that they get that.

145 Eclectic Cyborg  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:14:09pm

re: #142 Targetpractice

I used to think no studio would take up World War Z…and in hindsight, I wish so much that I had been right.

I think a World War Z film could be really good if it were presented in a fake documentary style.

146 Amory Blaine  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:14:40pm

re: #141 Backwoods_Sleuth

Diane Sykes was married to the RW radio troll Charlie Sykes. As detestable as they come. Thanks for the link.

147 Kragar  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:15:23pm

re: #142 Targetpractice

I used to think no studio would take up World War Z…and in hindsight, I wish so much that I had been right.

The only thing the book and the movie share is the title. There was no movie made based on the book.

148 Targetpractice  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:15:35pm

re: #145 Eclectic Cyborg

I think a World War Z film could be really good if it were presented in a fake documentary style.

It would work great as a miniseries. As a motion picture? It was an utter fucking disaster.

149 Kragar  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:16:10pm

re: #145 Eclectic Cyborg

I think a World War Z film could be really good if it were presented in a fake documentary style.

It would have been better run as a mini-series or TV show done Ken Burns style.

150 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:16:54pm

re: #141 Backwoods_Sleuth

hmmmm….

Reformers, senior lawmaker charge Justice Thomas and federal appellate judge Diane Sykes with violating judicial ethics

Gawd, I hope they eventually get something that will stick. Thomas is just another fucking embarrassment to this country. As is Sykes.

151 wrenchwench  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:18:23pm

re: #140 Eclectic Cyborg

Capitalism, GOP style

Company fines woman $3500 for negative review (yes, you read that right!)

I really hope this company gets dragged into the courts and gets the smack down laid on them. This is really, REALLY messed up.

Something is missing there. If the customer never got the goods, there is no contract, because there was no purchase.

152 Targetpractice  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:18:26pm

The Battle of Yonkers is one of those scenes of the book that would be awesome on film…but probably will never be made because the Army would scream bloody murder at being portrayed on film as utter morons.

153 ObserverArt  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:18:51pm

re: #120 Backwoods_Sleuth

Drink this, drill, baby drillers…

[Embedded content]

You know, now that you mention that line…I haven’t heard it used in awhile. I wonder why?

154 Eclectic Cyborg  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:20:33pm

This kind of thing always brings tears to my eyes…

San Francisco to become Gotham City for boy battling cancer

Five-year-old Miles dreams of being Batman in his very own Gotham City. On Friday, San Francisco will become that city for the youngster from Tulelake in Siskiyou County, who is battling leukemia.

Thanks to a Make-A-Wish Foundation event, Miles will be called in to save the day as “Batkid” when villains steal Giants mascot Lou Seal, attempt to rob a downtown bank and perform other evil deeds.

Miles’ crime-solving day is part of the foundation’s mission to turn dreams into reality for sick children.

100% Pure awesome right there.

155 freetoken  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:21:31pm

re: #144 Amory Blaine

In a world where it is more important to push an image of “doing something” and “concern”, substantive but not-flashy dies quickly.

The “concern” industry continually forces this sort of faux change.

Additionally, the Democratic Party has now for decades been defined as the “We’re not Republicans” coalition and getting the choir on the same page is nearly impossible save for a couple of issues. Alas, the Democratic Party isn’t any more functional than the GOP in so many ways.

156 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:22:45pm

VB, are you still around? Familiar with this area?

Crews battle chemical plant fire on Detroit’s east side; evacuations ordered

freep.com

157 Kragar  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:24:26pm

re: #152 Targetpractice

The Battle of Yonkers is one of those scenes of the book that would be awesome on film…but probably will never be made because the Army would scream bloody murder at being portrayed on film as utter morons.

I don’t think it showed them as morons, just that they didn’t understand the threat and how conventional weapons and tactics didn’t work.

158 dog philosopher  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:26:10pm

re: #145 Eclectic Cyborg

I think a World War Z film could be really good if it were presented in a fake documentary style.

fox news has announced they will lend their expertise in this area

159 Eclectic Cyborg  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:27:31pm

re: #157 Kragar

I don’t think it showed them as morons, just that they didn’t understand the threat and how conventional weapons and tactics didn’t work.

Precisely. That was the whole point the subjects in the book made. At first, they approached fighting Zombies the same way they would traditional targets but learned very quickly that standard combat techniques just weren’t going to work against “Zack”.

It’s like the scene in Independence Day where Will Smith’s entire squadron of fighters gets shot down by the Aliens. It wasn’t foolish to attack, they were just completely unprepared for what they were up against.

160 dog philosopher  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:28:13pm

re: #151 wrenchwench

Something is missing there. If the customer never got the goods, there is no contract, because there was no purchase.

good point

:-)

also, it is not legal to enforce a clause in a contract that requires somebody to give up any of their civil rights

161 erik_t  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:29:31pm

re: #160 dog philosopher

good point

:-)

also, it is not legal to enforce a clause in a contract that requires somebody to give up any of their civil rights

There’s also that truth-as-absolute-defense-against-libel thing.

162 Backwoods_Sleuth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:29:45pm

re: #146 Amory Blaine

Diane Sykes was married to the RW radio troll Charlie Sykes. As detestable as they come. Thanks for the link.

I just paged this and gave you a h/t for that added info. Thanks!

163 Achilles Tang  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:30:40pm

It’s not over, because while my previous plan was grandfathered and could be continued with the same cover/deductible/out of pocket; it still apparently has to comply with parts of the ACA, and hence the new premium will go from $458 to $567 per month.

If that is my case, I suspect it will be the same for post 2010 plans and there will still be squeels of anguish (never mind that my plan was increased by 33% between 2010 and 2013 without the ACA.

164 Amory Blaine  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:32:09pm

re: #155 freetoken

This is a big problem. We got elections in 2014. Scott Walker and Paul Ryan are up. We have fledgling candidates that have a shot. With the stark difference in HC premiums between WI and Minnesota we had a giant hammer to bonk them on the head. Both these men are terrible leaders and they need to be pushed out ASAP. The DNC have to know the spin this gets is going to have the legs to cast vibes until November.

165 BongCrodny  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:32:59pm

re: #145 Eclectic Cyborg

I think a World War Z film could be really good if it were presented in a fake documentary style.

Either that, or as some sort of anthology series. A lot of the stuff that was only hinted at in World War Z would make good stand-alone episodes.

166 Flying Squirrel Girl  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:34:13pm

re: #163 Achilles Tang

If I have my RW talking points in order, I believe that those 2010-2013 increases in your premiums were also the direct result of Obamacare. And everyone knows that before 2010 there were never any increases in insurance premiums, ever.

167 Skip Intro  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:38:57pm

re: #164 Amory Blaine

This is a big problem. We got elections in 2014. Scott Walker and Paul Ryan are up. We have fledgling candidates that have a shot. With the stark difference in HC premiums between WI and Minnesota we had a giant hammer to bonk them on the head. Both these men are terrible leaders and they need to be pushed out ASAP. The DNC have to know the spin this gets is going to have the legs to cast vibes until November.

We like to make fun of Reinhold Reince Priebus here, for good reason, but the Democrats have his equivalent in Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

I am not encouraged.

168 dog philosopher  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:40:17pm

re: #167 Skip Intro

We like to make fun of Reinhold Reince Priebus here, for good reason, but the Democrats have his equivalent in Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

I am not encouraged.

what do you have against debbie wasserman schultz?

169 Dr Lizardo  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:41:10pm

re: #118 Aunty Entity Dragon

yeah. I realized after I wrote that comment that it applied pretty equally to The Road as well.

If anything, however, the scenes of savagery and bloodshed in Blood Meridian are simply off my personal scale of calibration. I have nothing to even compare them too. Director Ridley Scott had thought about filming Blood Meridian, but admitted in an interview that the violence alone would give the movie a double X rating.

The only people I want to see directing “Blood Meridian” is the Coen Brothers.

With Daniel Day Lewis as Judge Holden.

170 Skip Intro  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:41:14pm

re: #168 dog philosopher

what do you have against debbie wasserman schultz?

She isn’t a very good leader of the DNC.

171 Dr Lizardo  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:42:08pm

re: #165 BongCrodny

Either that, or as some sort of anthology series. A lot of the stuff that was only hinted at in World War Z would make good stand-alone episodes.

“World War Z” would be best done as a pseudo-documentary in the style of Ken Burns’ “The Civil War”.

172 Bulworth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:43:14pm

So the Landrieu “keep your plan” bill would let people keep their crappy plans—and thus stay out of the exchanges—indefinitely. F0ck that.

173 Targetpractice  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:44:03pm

re: #159 Eclectic Cyborg

Precisely. That was the whole point the subjects in the book made. At first, they approached fighting Zombies the same way they would traditional targets but learned very quickly that standard combat techniques just weren’t going to work against “Zack”.

It’s like the scene in Independence Day where Will Smith’s entire squadron of fighters gets shot down by the Aliens. It wasn’t foolish to attack, they were just completely unprepared for what they were up against.

The impression from the guy on the ground in the novel was that the brass in charge had no fucking clue what they were fighting, so they approached it as just another big and flashy battle that would be over in a matter of hours. Add atop that the massive amount of overcompensation (latrines when locals still had water, MOPP gear when there was no indication the pathogen was airborne, AA gear out in the open) and it gave every indication that morons were in charge.

174 Targetpractice  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:45:35pm

re: #172 Bulworth

So the Landrieu “keep your plan” bill would let people keep their crappy plans—and thus stay out of the exchanges—indefinitely. F0ck that.

Election year bullshit. The ACA should not be sacrificed to save her reelection campaign.

175 Amory Blaine  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:50:22pm

Hopefully there won’t be a need for further major changes.

176 leftynyc  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:52:12pm

re: #170 Skip Intro

She isn’t a very good leader of the DNC.

Let’s see - under Wasserman Schultz the Democrats won seats in both the house and the senate in 2012 (and the Presidency). What more do you want from her?

177 erik_t  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:52:55pm

re: #172 Bulworth

So the Landrieu “keep your plan” bill would let people keep their crappy plans—and thus stay out of the exchanges—indefinitely. F0ck that.

It is a hard thing to save idiots from themselves.

On the plus side, I suppose, nobody would ever be able to enroll for those plans again. Anybody who ever got good work coverage, and then said LOLBYE to their shitty shit plan, would forever leave those ranks. The numbers would probably be relatively minuscule in short order.

I don’t like it, but it would be a steadily declining problem.

178 ObserverArt  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:57:34pm

re: #170 Skip Intro

She isn’t a very good leader of the DNC.

Skip…you have to remember that old line of “you can’t herd cats!”

Elephants on the other hand will follow the pack nose to tail!

: )

179 Kragar  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:58:15pm

re: #177 erik_t

It is a hard thing to save idiots from themselves.

On the plus side, I suppose, nobody would ever be able to enroll for those plans again. Anybody who ever got good work coverage, and then said LOLBYE to their shitty shit plan, would forever leave those ranks. The numbers would probably be relatively minuscule in short order.

I don’t like it, but it would be a steadily declining problem.

This whole keep your plan nonsense only affects a tiny percentage of policy holders across the entire country, and once they actually get a real plan, they’ll probably realize how badly they had been getting screwed for years.

Which is precisely what the GOP is scared of.

180 dr. klys  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:58:25pm

Greetings from 38,000 feet.

Technology is an amazing, wonderful thing.

181 Amory Blaine  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:59:01pm

There will be more positive stories coming soon though so that’s good. Real stories, not made up bullshit.

182 Kragar  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 1:59:29pm

re: #180 klys

Greetings from 38,000 feet.

Technology is an amazing, wonderful thing.

HE’S ON THE WING OF THE PLANE!

183 dr. klys  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:00:30pm

re: #182 Kragar

HE’S ON THE WING OF THE PLANE!

/checks out the window

Nope.

Oh yeah, I scored an exit row window seat for the four hours from EWR to DEN.

184 Targetpractice  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:00:43pm

re: #182 Kragar

HE’S ON THE WING OF THE PLANE!

There’s…something on the wing. Some…THING!

185 Kragar  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:00:44pm
186 Targetpractice  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:02:02pm

re: #179 Kragar

This whole keep your plan nonsense only affects a tiny percentage of policy holders across the entire country, and once they actually get a real plan, they’ll probably realize how badly they had been getting screwed for years.

Which is precisely what the GOP is scared of.

Think the part of the “fix” that’s gonna cause a lot of tooth grinding from the GOP is the requirement that renewal letters have to include a list of what is not covered by the policy as well as alternatives including the insurance exchanges.

187 Backwoods_Sleuth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:02:07pm

bwahahaaaa!

Sarah Palin is signing books today at a Walmart near Wausau, Wisconsin. There’s a big religious-music-in-schools controversy there, so it makes sense that the former Alaska governor would stop by to promote her book about “protecting the heart of Christmas.”

It’s no surprise, too, that Palin - with the help of Walmart - would keep reporters at a distance.

“About 8 media members and myself now locked in back room,” Wausau Daily Herald reporter Theresa Clift, who is covering the Palin event, tweeted this morning. “We aren’t allowed to talk to guests here to see Palin.”

Reporters covering Sarah Palin’s book signing are locked in a room at Walmart

188 ObserverArt  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:02:26pm

re: #174 Targetpractice

Election year bullshit. The ACA should not be sacrificed to save her reelection campaign.

I had posted a comment in the side page on Congress Dems concern about Obamacare this morning. I think a portion of it fits right to your comment! Quoted below:

I guess they need to fear for their elected jobs, many for how many terms now? Maybe their biggest fear is they don’t want to have to go back into the public sector as they too might have to actually go through this mess if they go into business/practice for themselves. After all, they get such good healthcare being an elected government official.

I wonder if it is time that America put in place term limits so we get people in and out of the Congress. Maybe then they will realize since they have limited time, they actually have to perform a job to accomplish something.

Who knows, they might actually become public servants again instead of public dependents.

/blockquote>

189 dog philosopher  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:02:31pm

re: #178 ObserverArt

Skip…you have to remember that old line of “you can’t herd cats!”

Elephants on the other hand will follow the pack nose to tail!

: )

looks like christie will be following the same path as dole, mccain and romney from despised ‘liberal’ and rino “who i will never vote for under any circumstances” to hold-your-nose anything’s-better-than-that-communist

190 dr. klys  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:05:11pm

It is the first exercise out with the Surface on a plane, since I didn’t boot up on the flight out here for anything other than doing homework.

I gotta say, the smaller screen is definitely nice when dealing with the cramped conditions we encounter when flying these days. The guy next to me has his 17” out to watch movies and even in the exit row he’s struggling with the screen angle. I’m currently reporting 7 hours of battery life after easily half an hour+ usage - not the new MacBook Air, but not too shabby.

On the other hand, you can only use the “metro” version of IE (which is touch optimized) if it is your default browser. So I had to set it to my default for the duration of the flight (since I’m not supposed to use my Bluetooth mouse according to Southwest’s regs right now). I believe the exact words on discovering this was “bloody piece of shit software”.

So Lizards, if you are ever wondering why it won’t start in anything other than desktop mode, now you know. I solved it for you. Feel free to curse Microsoft; now that the husband is no longer employed by them I’m allowed to do so.

191 Skip Intro  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:07:34pm

re: #176 leftynyc

Let’s see - under Wasserman Schultz the Democrats won seats in both the house and the senate in 2012 (and the Presidency). What more do you want from her?

It’s saying shit like this that makes me have to wonder about these people.

Regarding “you can keep your health care” after the cancellation notices started flowing:

“It was not a lie, let’s just be very clear. When the president and myself and every other Democrat talked about that if you like your health care you can keep it, that was referring to the overwhelming majority of Americans who had health care,” she said. “The reality of Obamacare is, not only are they able to keep their health care, but it is very likely going to cost less and have better benefits.”

Actually, it was, um, not exactly the truth, as the President’s decision today shows. I expect this kind of weaseling around from the GOP. I expect better from the DNC.

192 dog philosopher  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:08:32pm

re: #187 Backwoods_Sleuth

Sarah Palin is signing books today

as soon as they explain to her what they are

193 Amory Blaine  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:09:42pm

This just happened at Children’s Hospital in Milwaukee

Parents were frantic during Children’s Hospital lockdown

Police shoot, arrest man with gun on building’s seventh floor

The frantic mother of a newborn baby struggled to get to the seventh floor of Children’s Hospital, shouting into a cellphone, “He’s going to shoot my baby!” according to a woman on the elevator with her.

The mother refused to let anyone else push the elevator buttons, said Samiee Cornish, 18, who was on the elevator as police pursued a man wanted on a felony warrant around noon Thursday.

When the elevator doors opened on the seventh floor, the woman “flew out,” Cornish said. Through the open door, Cornish saw a swarm of police. Almost immediately, an officer pushed the mother back onto the elevator and pushed the “down” button.

“She just kept screaming and screaming,” Cornish said.

Over the loudspeaker, a voice announced “Code blue: Hospital lockdown.”

The hospital was locked down for about two hours Thursday after Milwaukee police shot and arrested Ashanti Hendricks, 22, who was visiting a baby on the Newborn Progressive Care Unit of the hospital.

Hendricks was shot in the wrist after he threatened officers with a gun, authorities said. No one else was injured.

194 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:12:22pm

re: #187 Backwoods_Sleuth

bwahahaaaa!

Reporters covering Sarah Palin’s book signing are locked in a room at Walmart

Since when are customers called “guests”—esp at Walmart?

195 Amory Blaine  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:14:47pm

re: #187 Backwoods_Sleuth

There’s like 20 boxes of donuts there!! So what’s the problem?

196 Amory Blaine  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:16:54pm

Hmm.. be locked in a room with a tower of donuts and 2 tanks of coffee, or word salad..

197 Kragar  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:17:00pm

Rep. Broun derails science hearing to ask why EPA chief doesn’t have Obamacare

The correct answer is “because you’re a fucking idiot Broun.”

198 Backwoods_Sleuth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:17:13pm

re: #195 Amory Blaine

There’s like 20 boxes of donuts there!! So what’s the problem?

yeah, I saw that in the link.
At least it was donuts and not the infamous Bible Spice moose chili or caribou jerky she keeps bragging on…or even those Spudnuts she was hawking a few years ago.
I’m still laughing.

199 Backwoods_Sleuth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:17:53pm

re: #196 Amory Blaine

Hmm.. be locked in a room with a tower of donuts and 2 tanks of coffee, or word salad..

true…that’s actually a no-brainer.
Oh wait…I forgot who we were talking about…

200 dog philosopher  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:18:00pm

re: #190 klys

“metro” version of IE

does it use hair care products and get skin peels?

201 dr. klys  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:18:15pm

re: #198 Backwoods_Sleuth

yeah, I saw that in the link.
At least it was donuts and not the infamous Bible Spice moose chili or caribou jerky she keeps bragging on…or even those Spudnuts she was hawking a few years ago.
I’m still laughing.

The end result of this comment was now I want a baked potato with chili and Southwest does not offer those.

:(

202 Backwoods_Sleuth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:18:49pm

re: #194 Justanotherhuman

Since when are customers called “guests”—esp at Walmart?

It’s Wisconsin! They are so close to Canada they like to think the politeness sneaks across the border…

203 dr. klys  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:18:55pm

re: #200 dog philosopher

does it use hair care products and get skin peels?

I note I am using this under protest because Chrome’s touch interface is kind of crap and I’m not allowed to use my Bluetooth mouse. :(

204 Political Atheist  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:20:00pm

re: #191 Skip Intro

It was not a lie, it was an error. Much like “read my lips no new taxes”. I think the term is “aspirational”. A very costly error.

205 makeitstop  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:21:22pm

re: #190 klys

Feel free to curse Microsoft; now that the husband is no longer employed by them I’m allowed to do so.

Your hubby used to work for the Evil Empire? Same thing with my wife!

They said she could keep her gig if she moved to Redmond. We love NY, so she told them no way.

206 dog philosopher  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:22:54pm

re: #203 klys

I note I am using this under protest because Chrome’s touch interface is kind of crap and I’m not allowed to use my Bluetooth mouse. :(

i think pads will be the computer design of the future once they stop saying “mom!! he’s still touching me!!!”

a few design bugs left to be worked out in the everything-by-touch GUI, regardless of application or OS

207 thedopefishlives  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:22:58pm

re: #205 makeitstop

Your hubby used to work for the Evil Empire? Same thing with my wife!

They said she could keep her gig if she moved to Redmond. We love NY, so she told them no way.

I’ve been to Redmond once. Beautiful town, if you like the Pacific Northwest. Honestly, though, not really my cup of tea.

Evening Lizardim from the unseasonably warm and beautifully clear wild north country. How go things among the lizardfolk?

208 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:23:35pm

Take that, naysayers!


Yeah, whatever happened to that can-do attitude? We put a man on the moon, damn it.

That was 44 years ago. And this is just health care insurance coverage, nowhere close to being as complicated, except for those who want to see it fail.

209 Skip Intro  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:24:02pm

re: #204 Political Atheist

It was not a lie, it was an error. Much like “read my lips no new taxes”. I think the term is “aspirational”. A very costly error.

Considering the ammunition it’s given to the GOP, it may turn out to have been a fatal “error”.

210 dr. klys  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:24:21pm

re: #205 makeitstop

Your hubby used to work for the Evil Empire? Same thing with my wife!

They said she could keep her gig if she moved to Redmond. We love NY, so she told them no way.

In his case, his group got sold to (insert other tech company here) as of September.

We had a wonderfully tense month or so where they managed to announce the deal (with no details relevant to workers) while we were on vacation in Canada (so he missed all the first information sessions) and it was unclear if it was just the product or the employees as well.

He’s still in the same office, even, because the new company doesn’t have a Silicon Valley campus built yet and is renting the space out from Microsoft.

Mostly what this meant was when I encountered bugs in the software (especially in Office for Mac, which is based in Silicon Valley), I bitched a lot at him. Also when the TV didn’t work, as that’s his working group.

211 ObserverArt  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:24:46pm

Just fired off a nice little heated (but not too much) email to Senator Mary Landrieu.

Who’s up next? Hmmm. My good Ohioan buddy Johnny (Dick) Boehner?

Grrrrrrrr…

212 dog philosopher  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:25:00pm

re: #209 Skip Intro

Considering the ammunition it’s given to the GOP, it may turn out to have been a fatal “error”.

“a week is a lifetime in politics”

213 Amory Blaine  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:25:07pm

Walker just announced he’s delaying his dropping of 74,000 people from medicaid.

214 makeitstop  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:25:21pm

re: #207 thedopefishlives

I’ve been to Redmond once. Beautiful town, if you like the Pacific Northwest. Honestly, though, not really my cup of tea.

My wife - in many ways the prototypical New Yorker - would cringe any time she had to visit the Mothership.

I still remember her coming home after her first trip out there and telling me that she couldn’t stand the drivers there - ‘They stop at yellow lights!!!

My wife. Lil’ Ms. Road Rage. :)

215 dr. klys  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:25:37pm

re: #207 thedopefishlives

I’ve been to Redmond once. Beautiful town, if you like the Pacific Northwest. Honestly, though, not really my cup of tea.

Evening Lizardim from the unseasonably warm and beautifully clear wild north country. How go things among the lizardfolk?

I am on a plane!

So really I am desperate for distraction, since I paid my $8 for WiFi.

216 dr. klys  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:26:25pm

re: #214 makeitstop

My wife - in many ways the prototypical New Yorker - would cringe any time she had to visit the Mothership.

I still remember her coming home after her first trip out there and telling me that she couldn’t stand the drivers there - ‘They stop at yellow lights!!!

My wife. Lil’ Ms. Road Rage. :)

Nobody uses their horn in CA. Like, nobody.

I heard more horns when I was home at the parents’ this week than I had for the previous two years in CA. It’s freaky.

217 Amory Blaine  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:27:11pm

Scott Walker to delay moving residents from Medicaid to federal health exchange

Responding to the troubled rollout of Obamacare, Gov. Scott Walker said Thursday he would delay for three months his plan to move more than 70,000 state residents out of state health coverage and into an online federal insurance market.

At a Capitol news conference, the Republican governor said he would call lawmakers in for a special legislative session in early December to pass the change and keep those 77,500 patients from losing their state BadgerCare Plus coverage in January before the federal insurance program is ready to accept them.

Walker said he wouldn’t take any additional federal Medicaid money to keep the recipients on BadgerCare and instead would pay for the extra cost by delaying the roughly similar cost of adding a new group of more than 80,000 slightly poor adults to the state program.

218 thedopefishlives  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:27:45pm

re: #215 klys

I am on a plane!

So really I am desperate for distraction, since I paid my $8 for WiFi.

The one and only time I ever had a flight canceled, I ponied up for the Wifi in the O’Hare terminal. What did I do with it? Sat in a corner by the baggage claim and played World of Warcraft. No, I’m not a gamer geek, not at all.

219 dog philosopher  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:29:25pm

re: #213 Amory Blaine

Walker just announced he’s delaying his dropping of 74,000 people from medicaid.

i just knew he was a devoted follower of marx and castro

220 dr. klys  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:29:45pm

re: #218 thedopefishlives

The one and only time I ever had a flight canceled, I ponied up for the Wifi in the O’Hare terminal. What did I do with it? Sat in a corner by the baggage claim and played World of Warcraft. No, I’m not a gamer geek, not at all.

I would totally be testing if that would work except this is new enough (got it last week) that WoW is not installed on it yet.

CivV is, but I’m also taking advantage of the opportunity to chat with the husband at work, and tabbing out of that doesn’t work well.

(WTF, Microsoft autocorrect. Tabbing is a valid and useful word, stop changing it to gabbing.)

221 dr. klys  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:31:07pm

I’m going to assume I’m somewhere above the Chicago area right now (based totally on time estimates, since it’s cloudy) and wave hi to all our Chicago Lizards.

/wave

222 thedopefishlives  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:32:12pm

re: #220 klys

I would totally be testing if that would work except this is new enough (got it last week) that WoW is not installed on it yet.

CivV is, but I’m also taking advantage of the opportunity to chat with the husband at work, and tabbing out of that doesn’t work well.

(WTF, Microsoft autocorrect. Tabbing is a valid and useful word, stop changing it to gabbing.)

Yeah, games are designed to kind of take over the desktop. When my wife goes in-game during the days when the kids are asleep, I usually sign into the Mobile Armory because her Facebook chat gets awful quiet.

223 Backwoods_Sleuth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:32:24pm

re: #206 dog philosopher

total upding for “mom!! he’s still touching me!!!”

224 Backwoods_Sleuth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:33:20pm

re: #207 thedopefishlives

I’ve been to Redmond once. Beautiful town, if you like the Pacific Northwest. Honestly, though, not really my cup of tea.

Evening Lizardim from the unseasonably warm and beautifully clear wild north country. How go things among the lizardfolk?

My feet have been cold since 4 am.
I haz a grumpy…

225 ObserverArt  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:34:23pm

re: #191 Skip Intro

It’s saying shit like this that makes me have to wonder about these people.

Regarding “you can keep your health care” after the cancellation notices started flowing:

>”It was not a lie, let’s just be very clear. When the president and myself and every other Democrat talked about that if you like your health care you can keep it, that was referring to the overwhelming majority of Americans who had health care,” she said. “The reality of Obamacare is, not only are they able to keep their health care, but it is very likely going to cost less and have better benefits.”

Actually, it was, um, not exactly the truth, as the President’s decision today shows. I expect this kind of weaseling around from the GOP. I expect better from the DNC.

Skip, I know you are miffed with all this, as am I. I am stuck in this insurance vortex right now myself. But keep in mind the political realities. Democrats by their nature have always been a bit gimpy.

I would suggest you keep your scope sighted on the Republicans. None of this would be going down as it is if they did 1/8th of their jobs.

May I suggest you turn your anger into emails and start firing them off to everyone you are disappointed with. If enough of America fires up their email software and sends them off it can be at the very least cathartic!

We all still have voices. Let them hear them.

By the way, I told Ms. Landrieu that if she is doing what she is doing to save her job, she deserves to lose it anyway, and maybe her Democratic supporters will be the reason for it. It was worded just like that. Keep the anger down and the wording clean.

226 dr. klys  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:34:38pm

It is that awesome moment where you can watch the Earth’s shadow creep upward as the counterpoint to sunset, drawing a dark line above the clouds.

There are definitely some awesome parts to flying.

227 Backwoods_Sleuth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:35:12pm

re: #212 dog philosopher

“a week is a lifetime in politics”

Seems like recently it’s just days or even hours.

228 thedopefishlives  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:35:39pm

re: #224 Backwoods_Sleuth

My feet have been cold since 4 am.
I haz a grumpy…

Thicker socks.

229 Learned Pie Of Zion  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:36:08pm

re: #156 Justanotherhuman

VB, are you still around? Familiar with this area?

Crews battle chemical plant fire on Detroit’s east side; evacuations ordered

freep.com

Not familiar with that area at all. I work in Dearborn.

230 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:37:37pm

re: #217 Amory Blaine

Scott Walker to delay moving residents from Medicaid to federal health exchange

So basically, he’s not doing anything positive.

231 Amory Blaine  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:38:00pm

re: #221 klys

~wave

Regular peanuts or honey coated?

232 dr. klys  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:39:07pm

re: #224 Backwoods_Sleuth

My feet have been cold since 4 am.
I haz a grumpy…

I wore flipflops walking around NYC yesterday.

As an aside to that, if you are a Lizard near NYC at all and you like Shakespeare even the tiniest bit, you are doing yourself a HUGE disservice if you don’t get tickets to see Twelfth Night during its current run on Broadway.

I went yesterday with my sister and we had cheap seats and it was still one of the most phenomenal performances of Shakespeare I have ever seen in my life. The comedic timing was fantastic and I look at this play in a whole new light now after having see this.

Also, you get Stephen Fry as Mavolio. And if you are at all a costume geek, what they have done is just outright incredible.

233 Backwoods_Sleuth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:39:41pm

re: #214 makeitstop

My wife - in many ways the prototypical New Yorker - would cringe any time she had to visit the Mothership.

I still remember her coming home after her first trip out there and telling me that she couldn’t stand the drivers there - ‘They stop at yellow lights!!!

My wife. Lil’ Ms. Road Rage. :)

Back when I lived in Illinois, I had a friend visit from a state which will remain nameless…
We were headed to a convention in downtown Chicago, the hour was dark before dawn, we were at a stoplight in the Loop and a vehicle was in front of us.
He was stunned that I just quietly waited for the light to turned green, saying “back home, we’d just ram push that vehicle through the intersection … there’s no other traffic!”
Things that make ya say YIKES!

234 dr. klys  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:39:44pm

re: #231 Amory Blaine

~wave

Regular peanuts or honey coated?

Regular. With salt.

Because peanuts actually exist to convey salt to the mouth, I am in full agreement with my father on this.

235 Targetpractice  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:40:39pm

One other thing that’s driving me up the wall is the characterization of the response to this media-inspired nothingburger as a “fix.” A fix implies that something was broken, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. One of the goals of the ACA was to institute a basic level of coverage and to cut people’s risk from bankruptcy in the event of a major medical ailment. So the movement of millions of Americans off crap insurance policies and onto ACA-compliant plans is not a bug, it’s a feature.

236 Backwoods_Sleuth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:40:57pm

re: #217 Amory Blaine

“slightly poor”? Wondering what that is…

237 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:43:06pm

re: #229 Vicious Babushka

Not familiar with that area at all. I work in Dearborn.

Yeah, I remember that, but thought since you talk about Detroit a lot and live in MI you’d be more familiar with the city than those of us who haven’t even ever been there. : )

238 Backwoods_Sleuth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:43:52pm

re: #228 thedopefishlives

Thicker socks.

on my shopping list…

239 ObserverArt  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:43:59pm

re: #235 Targetpractice

One other thing that’s driving me up the wall is the characterization of the response to this media-inspired nothingburger as a “fix.” A fix implies that something was broken, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. One of the goals of the ACA was to institute a basic level of coverage and to cut people’s risk from bankruptcy in the event of a major medical ailment. So the movement of millions of Americans off crap insurance policies and onto ACA-compliant plans is not a bug, it’s a feature.

Bravo…bingo…amen…to that!

Again, language has been so butchered.

240 thedopefishlives  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:44:08pm

re: #236 Backwoods_Sleuth

“slightly poor”? Wondering what that is…

They only make $99,999/yr.

241 Backwoods_Sleuth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:45:03pm

re: #240 thedopefishlives

They only make $99,999/yr.

heh…

242 Amory Blaine  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:45:08pm

re: #230 Justanotherhuman

I think it’s helpful in the way that the delay won’t contribute to the immediate confusion as his plan was starting 01/01/14. Now it will be likely until April.

243 thedopefishlives  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:45:36pm

re: #241 Backwoods_Sleuth

heh…

Sorry. I’m in a good mood and my snark is showing.

244 Backwoods_Sleuth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:46:21pm

re: #243 thedopefishlives

Sorry. I’m in a good mood and my snark is showing.

It was most excellent snark!

245 ObserverArt  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:46:57pm

re: #229 Vicious Babushka

Not familiar with that area at all. I work in Dearborn.

I’ve always wondered about calling a part of Detroit the east side. Wouldn’t that be right in the ol’ Detroit River???

My thinking is most of the time the center Downtown area is the middle of the compass and everything is east/south/west/north of it. Detroit…Downtown literally runs right along the river.

246 Amory Blaine  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:48:07pm

re: #236 Backwoods_Sleuth

“slightly poor”? Wondering what that is…

It’s between vaguely poor and moderately poor.

247 ObserverArt  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:49:44pm

re: #243 thedopefishlives

Sorry. I’m in a good mood and my snark is showing.

I’m in an iffy mood due to today’s “news” and my snark is bursting!

And with that…time to fix dinner and check out some stuff that may bring me back to a restful state!

248 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:49:52pm

re: #240 thedopefishlives

They only make $99,999/yr.

No, to Walker, that would be people who make grand salaries, like $25K/yr, as opposed to PT minimum wage workers.

249 dr. klys  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:49:56pm

Taking a break from my airplane natterings, here’s some on topic commentary:

It’s been absolutely amazing the past few months to watch the ability of the media to drive the direction of the narrative. It really makes you wonder who is pulling the strings and making decisions regarding what the storyline will be, as it ends up remarkably consistent across the major news networks (and that is, unfortunately, inclusive of Fox).

(Ok, slight aside, the sunset is lighting up the clouds from below and it is gorgeous.)

THAT kind of power makes the refusal of the media to check facts and do their due diligence even more damning, but nobody seems to care - as long as they’re getting eyeballs, they’re making money, and so what does factual accuracy matter? Why educate your public? I think it’s naïve to pretend there was a golden age on this in the past, but it does feel like today’s excesses are worse; certainly the partisanship that goes along with it feels worse. Of course, in some ways I’m too young to know, so I appreciate the input of the older Lizards in that regard. My reference points are really very vaguely Clinton, Bush the stupider, and now Obama, and even in the reign of Bush the stupider, Democrats seemed willing to have a dialogue that Republicans are happy to completely shut down.

But it doesn’t seem like it takes much to drive the narrative in the direction desired. Look at the dropped insurance story: hype the fact that people are having policies cancelled (without mentioning that insurance companies could really do this before at any point without much justification) and neglect to highlight the fact that there are other possibilities (which are sometimes not highlighted in the letter). Add confirmation bias. Don’t point out that this is a feature, not a bug in the free market system. And wait for it to be picked up.

Kind of disgustingly simple and straightforward.

250 Backwoods_Sleuth  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:50:13pm

re: #246 Amory Blaine

It’s between vaguely poor and moderately poor.

Oh, I finally figured it out!
It’s the poorz who have refrigerators, microwaves, teevees and such…

251 Stoatly  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:52:41pm

re: #215 klys

I am on a plane!

So really I am desperate for distraction, since I paid my $8 for WiFi.

Always think of this when WiFi on a Plane is involved:
Liveleak Video
(If the airline doesn’t allow streaming vid, there will be irony…)

252 dr. klys  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:54:41pm

re: #251 Stoatly

Always think of this when WiFi on a Plane is involved:
[Embedded content]


(If the airline doesn’t allow streaming vid, there will be irony…)

It vaguely allows it with the note that high bandwidth stuff works …poorly.

253 jamesfirecat  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 2:59:01pm

re: #159 Eclectic Cyborg

Precisely. That was the whole point the subjects in the book made. At first, they approached fighting Zombies the same way they would traditional targets but learned very quickly that standard combat techniques just weren’t going to work against “Zack”.

It’s like the scene in Independence Day where Will Smith’s entire squadron of fighters gets shot down by the Aliens. It wasn’t foolish to attack, they were just completely unprepared for what they were up against.

The analogy has its weaknesses though.

We as humans don’t think that much much about what to do if we run up against weird energy shields that we don’t understand how they work and can only be defeated by a deus ex machina.

Zombies on the other hand is something that we as a human society are familiar with the principles of, I would expect our army to be better prepared to deal with a possible zombie plague than I both an alien invasion because zombies are going to be much easier to analyze and plan for in advance and we just need to figure out what particular type of zombie they are.

254 Political Atheist  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 3:14:20pm

re: #209 Skip Intro

Looks that way now but this is too short a perspective. Problems will be solved, people will get medical help like never before and that will prevail as the legacy. Takes time. Funny, as willing as I am to call out Obama on some things, Ithink he is getting screwed by the opposition and surprisingly his fair weather allies that work the indy and left side of the aisle.

255 Learned Pie Of Zion  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 4:57:30pm

re: #194 Justanotherhuman

Since when are customers called “guests”—esp at Walmart?

Since they call their menial wage slaves “associates”

256 Skip Intro  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 5:27:29pm

re: #254 Political Atheist

Looks that way now but this is too short a perspective. Problems will be solved, people will get medical help like never before and that will prevail as the legacy. Takes time. Funny, as willing as I am to call out Obama on some things, Ithink he is getting screwed by the opposition and surprisingly his fair weather allies that work the indy and left side of the aisle.

Including, of all people, Senator for Life and Beyond, Dianne Feinstein.

The only thing I can think of as to why she’s doing this is that she’s afraid she’ll lose her plum committee assignments if the GOP retakes the Senate.

wonkette.com

257 MPH  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 7:02:48pm

Nothing to see here. Let’s move on, please.

258 krypto  Thu, Nov 14, 2013 7:27:17pm

I guess finding something new to replace this is tough for the GOP.

Fox is currently trying to revive Benghazi.

259 mipatel  Fri, Nov 15, 2013 11:30:37am

the problem here is that states can opt-out. WA state insurance commissioner has decided not to allow this here. kind of a bummer. my wife and son are on a plan that was cancelled.


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